International, National & Local Health & Social Care News

Brittle bone changes revealed

Scientists have mapped out a chemical chain reaction which helps cause osteoporosis in women after the menopause.

BBC Health News 06/08/03

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Depressed GP found hanged was a perfectionist

A doctor who was suffering from depression has apparently taken her own life, feeling she could not do enough to help her patients.

The Guardian 06/08/03
The Times 06/08/03

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Drugmaker Merck gives up on Medco

Merck plans to spin offits Medco Health Solutionsunit to shareholders in two weeks, closing a bitter chapter in which the US drugmaker attempted to expand into the distribution of prescription drugs.

The Financial Times 06/08/03

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Dutch alert on 'sperm for sale'

Dutch authorities are investigating a private company which has unveiled plans to deliver "fresh" sperm to prospective parents. John Michaels, 35, a Dutch-Australian entrepreneur, is planning to launch Baby Donors International next month and his website - babydonors.com - is already taking orders.

The Guardian 06/08/03

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Graduate suicide blamed on internet pharmacies

Liam was driven to suicide after spending two tortuous years dependent on powerful cocktails of prescription drugs that he was able to buy with ease over the internet.

The Independent 06/08/03

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Green tea 'can block cancer'

Green tea's ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists suspected, research suggests.

BBC Health News 06/08/03

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Health watchdog to monitor risks of everyday chemicals

Public health officials yesterday promised the first national system for monitoring the long term effects of low-level chemical and radiation exposure.

The Guardian 06/08/03

Love-making is no joke, says therapist

THE British face a lifetime of sexual inadequacy because of their innate fear of taking love-making seriously, Austria’s leading sex doctor said yesterday.

The Times 06/08/03

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Mosquitoes found in UK raise threat of tropical diseases

Health officials are to monitor the presence of foreign insects amid increased fears that lethal tropical diseases could hit Britain.

The Independent 06/08/03
The Times 06/08/03

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NHS narrows down field for £2.3bn IT contracts

Capita and McKesson are among the big information technology and service companies to have lost out in a bid to become prime providers under the National Health Service's plan to transform its IT.

The Financial Times 06/08/03

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Pension review for NHS expects its critics

The body carrying out the review of the National Health Service pension scheme has admitted that it expects criticism.

The Financial Times 06/08/03

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Stress blamed for public sector's lead in lost days

Health and council workers take one day off sick for every four working weeks, according to a survey that highlights the public sector's effort to deal with stress, illness and absenteeism.

The Financial Times 06/08/03

Ten babies born via new IVF technique

Ten babies, including one set of twins, have been born to women whose IVF treatment included a controversial embryo screening procedure which has only recently been allowed in Britain.

The Guardian 06/08/03

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The long and short of depression

A new study into the length of the gene that transmits serotonin among brain cells may hold the key to a better understanding of this illness

The Guardian 06/08/03

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Traumatic stress test for children

Children who need hospital treatment for injury can develop post-traumatic stress, and experts have developed a simple test for it.

BBC Health News 06/08/03

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Cheshire & Merseyside News

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DRUG REHAB CENTRE TO OPEN SOON

Planning chiefs at the city council gave permission last month for the rehab centre to open at Aqua House, Boughton, and now NHS Trust bosses have confirmed that they hope to be in by the end of the year.

Chester Evening Leader 06/08/03

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GPs turned off by health care reform

MANY doctors are becoming disillusioned with their involvement in Primary Care Trusts, preventing them from delivering their key roles and responsibilities, according to a new paper.

The Liverpool Echo 05/08/03

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Plan to treat children at home

A SCHEME was being launched today to treat more children at home rather than in hospital.

Liverpool Echo 05/08/03

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Cumbria & Lancashire News

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Lindsey's war on internet food sites

A BOLTON woman is campaigning for a ban on internet sites which give tips to anorexics on how to fool doctors and family into thinking they are eating healthily.

Bolton Evening News 05/08/03

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Sex disease rise blamed on behaviour

A HUGE rise in the levels of sexual diseases will not be reduced unless behaviour is modified, warns a top Bolton doctor. Numbers of people contracting diseases such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia in Bolton, have gone up by 130 per cent in the last five years.

Bolton Evening News 06/08/03

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Greater Manchester News

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Dentist suspended over 'NHS fraud'

The General Dental Council's professional conduct committee barred Tameside-based Peter Coffey from working for two months after finding him guilty of a string of offences.

Manchester Evening News 05/08/03

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'Tormented' GP found hanged

Dedicated GP Dawn Harris, 38, was found hanged at her home in Holcombe Brook, Bury, by her husband Michael Churchill.

Manchester Evening News 05/08/03

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International, National & Local Health & Social Care News

Bodybuilders risk death by using insulin booster bought from diabetics

Diabetics are selling their life-saving insulin to bodybuilders who use the drug as a performance booster.

The Independent 05/08/03
BBC Health News 05/08/03

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Botox regulars are given a loyalty card

A cosmetic surgery group is to introduce a loyalty card scheme under which regular customers are rewarded with free treatments.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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Eye checks 'could save NHS billions'

Screening programmes for the early detection of serious eye diseases would not only save sight but could save billions of pounds each year, a new report claims.

The Liverpool Echo 04/08/03

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Hospitals flout fire safety rules

Many NHS hospitals are potential firetraps and are failing to meet safety standards, BBC News Online has learnt.

BBC Health News 05/08/03

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I give up

I've been bombarded with pro- and anti-smoking bumf since starting this column. Anything from Forest, the smokers' rights group, is the best. The Forest belief system is based on the theory that the world is in the evil grip of a bunch of power-crazed non-smokers.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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Like a duck to water

What better way to cool off on a hot summer's day than by taking a dip? If you have the confidence, that is. With 100,000 children unable to swim at the age of 11, we're becoming a nation of doggy-paddlers.

The Independent 05/08/03

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My girl is plagued with tonsillitis

MY DAUGHTER, who is nearly six, has suffered with tonsillitis for about two years. She sees our GP every couple of months

The Times 05/08/03

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NHS trust becomes first employer to be given official stress warning

An NHS trust has become the first organisation in the country to receive an official Government warning about stress levels in the workplace.

The Independent 05/08/03
The Times 05/08/03

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Patients mark foundation hospitals down

The government's method of selecting foundation hospitals was condemned as a fraud yesterday after the Liberal Democrats exposed glaring inconsistencies in the official data of the NHS.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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Scientists to check CJD transplant risk

The government is planning tests to establish whether the deadly human form of BSE might be accidentally transferred from organ and tissue donors to patients undergoing transplant surgery.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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Sexual Health Week 4-10 August 2003
BBC Health News 05/08/03

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Study arts, die young

To be, or not to be - an arts, science, medicine or engineering student? That is the question following a study last week which suggests that what you study could affect your long-term health. According to a new report by Dr Peter McCarron and colleagues at Queen's University Belfast, science and engineering students have the best chances of living a longer, healthier life, followed by medical students, and then those in law and art.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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The alternative to HRT?

IS THERE an alternative to HRT? After the reports last year that researchers had stopped the major US Women’s Health Initiative Study into hormone replacement therapy because of increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia, many menopausal women — and doctors — were left floundering for other options.

The Times 05/08/03

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The taboo that killed my brother

When James had his first seizure, we were on a family holiday in the south of France. He and I were sharing a bedroom in our holiday villa when in the early hours of one morning, I awoke to grunts and irregular breathing patterns from the adjacent bed. After he did not respond to his name, I turned on the light to see his body convulsing under the sheets.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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Tory plan for health checks on immigrants 'unworkable'

A Tory call for new immigrants and asylum-seekers to undergo compulsory health tests was condemned yesterday as "extremist and unworkable".

The Independent 05/08/03

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What not to wear

Last week, men all over Britain loosened their ties - and it had little to do with the soaring temperatures. In an announcement sure to please proponents of "dress-down Friday", a US study revealed that wearing your tie too tightly might increase your risk of developing the eye disease glaucoma.

The Guardian 05/08/03

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Work stress 'increases heart attack risk'

Workplace stress increases the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, according to new research.

BBC Health News 05/08/03

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Cheshire & Merseyside News 05/08/03

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Work stress 'ups heart attack risk'

Exposure to stress in the workplace significantly increases your chances of dying from a heart attack or a stroke, research has claimed.

Liverpool Echo 05/08/03

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Cumbria & Lancashire News

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Addicts to help drugs fight

PRESCRIPTION drug addicts in the North West are being sought for a campaign to stop others becoming addicted.

Bolton Evening News 04/08/03

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Children who skip school to go to work

HUNDREDS of Bolton youngsters are working illegally, say council officials. Now, in a bid to clamp down on youngsters working long hours for low pay, Bolton Council has appointed a Child Employment Officer.

Bolton Evening News 04/08/03

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Greater Manchester News

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Labour accused after critical report

THE ruling Labour group on Trafford council has been slammed by the Tories following a damning report into its services for children. The row blew up during an emergency council meeting.

Manchester Evening News 05/08/03

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International, National & Local Health & Social Care News

Alarm over cost and viability of London hospital project

The National Health Service is about to spend £1bn on a white elephant at the St Mary's teaching hospital site in west London, senior staff have warned.

The Financial Times 04/08/03

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Caffeine kick-starts a day in the office

COFFEE has been described as the most commonly used addictive drug in the world. Although reliance on it is ubiquitous, its over-consumption is a feature of Western life.

The Times 04/08/03

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Call for health checks for immigrants

All immigrants entering the UK should be screened for infectious diseases, the Tories have said. Shadow health secretary Liam Fox said that the adoption of compulsory screening for immigrants and asylum seekers was essential to prevent such diseases being brought into the country.

BBC Health News 04/08/03

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Coffee before exercise 'helps fight the flab'

DRINKING a cup of coffee before taking exercise can increase stamina while helping to promote weight loss.

The Times 04/08/03

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Outrage at new block on Aids drug

South Africa's first national Aids conference opened yesterday with a withering attack on the government for its decision to restrict the use of a key drug.

The Guardian 04/08/03

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Sunscreen blamed for cancer

Sun worshippers may be increasing their risk of developing skin cancer by using sunscreens that encourage them to stay too long in the glare, researchers say.

The Independent 04/08/03

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Tories call for public health commissioner

AN INDEPENDENT public health commissioner charged with issuing frank advice on sensitive issues such as Aids and obesity would be created by the Tories under plans announced today.

The Times 04/08/03

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Tories pledge to cut 'health tourism'

The Conservatives last night raised the stakes in the battle for Britain's health agenda by warning that the government's failure to modernise its approach to public health is creating a "time bomb" of diseases which could "swamp the NHS".

The Guardian 04/08/03

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Unsafe sex fuelling infection crisis

Widespread ignorance of sexually transmitted diseases is contributing to a growing crisis in sexual health, according to a report. The Family Planning Association (FPA) found that despite repeating public health campaigns, many people were still failing to use condoms.

BBC Health News 04/08/03

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Walkers warned of tick threat

WALKERS have been warned to be on their guard against a tiny blood-sucking insect after cases of a potentially fatal disease rose dramatically.

The Times 04/08/03

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'Worn out' cigarette warnings must change

CIGARETTE packets should carry pictures of cancer-ravaged organs to stop smokers becoming complacent about health warnings, a study has recommended.

The Times 04/08/03
BBC Health News 04/08/03

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Cheshire & Mersey News

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Chemical fears as waste site is found

CHEMICAL drums and waste metals which were dumped in a village 50 years ago have been uncovered. Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council made the discovery at the site of a former tip in Smithy Lane, Willaston.

The Chester Chronicle 01/08/03

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Claims that visitors may be treated

DAY trippers to Southport will be able to use our hospital because they don't know the way to Ormskirk, claims Southport Party councillor Margaret Brown.

Liverpool Echo 01/08/03

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Environmentalists investigate waste dump

ENVIRONMENTALISTS are to investigate possible health risks associated with a chemical waste dump near Frodsham.

Chester Chronicle 01/08/03

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London 'is TB capital of the west'

The Tories have defended their controversial plans for health tests for all new asylum seekers, warning that London was now "the TB capital of the western world".

The Liverpool Echo 04/08/03

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Parents blasts hospital after daughter is taken ill

A BIRKDALE couple have blasted the service at Ormskirk's A&E department after their six-month-old baby was treated at the hospital.

The Liverpool Echo 01/08/03

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Street scheme for Chester community

A CHESTER community is to be transformed into a pioneering 'neighbourhood of the future'- and local people are being asked to help in its design.

The Chester Chronicle 01/08/03

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Cumbria & Lancashire News

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Critical shortage of Asian organ donors

THE need for organ donation in Bolton's Asian communities is up to three times higher than the general population.

Bolton Evening News 04/08/03

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Greater Manchester News

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National and International News

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Deadly cancer secret revealed

Scientists have found the location of an important new gene which pre-disposes people to skin cancer.

BBC Health 01/08/03

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Dentists urge changes to soft drinks

They are among the most closely guarded and profitable recipes in existence.

BBC Health 01/08/03

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Great for Jennifer, bad for Slim-Fast: winners and losers in the Atkins phenomenon

The soaring popularity of the Atkins Diet has seen 2 million Britons declare war on their waistlines. But it is not just flab that is feeling the pinch.

The Independnet 02/08/03

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Maternal diet vital to offspring

Scientists have produced startling evidence of just how profound the effect a mother's diet is on her offspring.

BBC Health 01/08/03

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Test helps target cancer care

A gene test could reduce unnecessary treatment for women with breast cancer, research has found.

BBC Health 01/08/03

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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Greater Manchester News

National and International News

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Cancer risk in chilli products

Consumers were yesterday warned to throw away chilli products containing a banned red dye that could cause cancer.

The Guardain 01/08/03

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Child disorders and their diagnosis

No doubt there are parents who are not doing as good a job as they might, and professionals who label children too readily after diagnostic assessment, but, like the professionals she disparages, Professor Priscilla Alderson (report, July 28) earns her money through work concerning children and judges them by exhibited behaviours.

The Times 01/08/03

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Children can sue over abuse claims

Children who are wrongly diagnosed as suffering from child abuse can sue doctors and social workers, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

BBC Health 31/07/03
The Guardian 01/08/03
The Guardian 31/07/03

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Dentists abused after queue problem

Staff at a dental surgery who were forced to turn away hundreds of people queueing to get on their NHS list have been subjected to abusive phone calls.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Doctors may sue over hours

Junior doctors say they may sue hospitals which breach a new agreement limiting their working hours.

BBC Health 01/08/03

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Flat-tum mums

Trying to pull in her floppy stomach is the last thing a new mother thinks of in the days after giving birth. But even if it seems impossible, this is precisely what she should be doing.

The Times 01/08/03

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Is there a third way?

Many parents remain unconvinced the MMR vaccination is safe, as illustrated by this week's appeal court ruling that two children must have the controversial jab, against their mothers' wishes. But, as Kate Watson-Smyth discovered, those who have opted for single injections are now finding there isn't enough vaccine to go round.

The Independent 01/07/03

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NHS struggling to fill posts

The NHS is still struggling to recruit key staff, official figures reveal.

BBC Health 31/07/03
The Guardian 01/08/03

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Only home smoking ban 'protects children'

Opening a window or wafting away smoke do nothing to reduce children's exposure to tobacco, researchers have found.

BBC Health 01/08/03

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SA anti-Aids drug shock

Campaigners have expressed alarm at the possibility that the South African Government could withdraw its approval for the anti-Aids drug Nevirapine.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Secret of long life is to become scientist

For a long life, study science. For the best chance of an alcohol-related death, try medicine, dentistry or the veterinary sciences. If low blood pressure is an ambition, enrol on a divinity course.

The Guardian 01/08/03

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Test helps target cancer care

A gene test could reduce unnecessary treatment for women with breast cancer, research has found.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Tooth loss link to heart disease

Losing teeth due to gum disease could indicate a person has cardiovascular disease before they show any symptoms, researchers say.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Warning over ear implants

All children who receive cochlear implants to restore their hearing should be vaccinated against meningitis, doctors have warned.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Chemists 'not under threat' says minister

Community chemists in Warrington will not be put under threat by new measures to raise the quality of services, says the Government.

Warrington Guardian 31/07/03

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Doubts raised over reliability of out-of-hours medical service

Warrington's GPs had to rally round at the weekend to ensure that patients got 24-hour care, after an agency which is used to provide an out-of-hours service for the town pulled out due to staff shortages.

Warrington Guardian 31/07/03

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Hospitals urged to bid for freedom

Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday urged Merseyside's high-flying hospitals to bid for freedom from Whitehall control.

Daily Post 31/07/03

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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Last chance to look at plans

Plans for the new £11 million Darwen Health Centre are on show in Darwen Library until tomorrow.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph 31/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

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Daniel’s 999 calls for help ‘ignored’

A schoolboy hero who raced to the aid of a teenager who collapsed in the street says 999 operators repeatedly ignored his pleas for help and dismissed his calls as a juvenile prank.

Salford Advertiser 31/07/03

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Hospital baby boom

A baby boom is causing staffing headaches for bosses at Christie Hospital.

South Manchester Reporter 31/07/03

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Star system unfair, say 999 bosses

Ambulance chiefs have called for a rethink on NHS performance ratings after failing in an appeal to be awarded top marks.

Bolton Evening News 31/07/03

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Why research on older people is so essential

The National Audit Office has recently commented on the "long-term" efficacy of all forms of Hip-Joint Prostheses, pointing out that a significant minority of orthopaedic surgeons were not using `'prosthetic'' joints in keeping with the guidelines of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Bolton Evening News 31/07/03

National and International News

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A flash in the pan or a risk?

Exhibitionism is far from harmless behaviour

The Times 31/07/03

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Ambulance plan hits a £4m bump

Forty new ambulances worth £4m have been mothballed after a health authority belatedly found that they could not cope with speed bumps.

The Guardian 31/07/03

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Avoid the Amin fate

Many remember the dictator Idi Amin of Uganda only because of his atrocities. He killed hundreds of thousands of his opponents, and those whose company no longer amused him, and exiled tens of thousands of Asians from Uganda. It was said that the contents of his deep-freeze did not bear investigation — no one would want his ice cubes in a drink.

The Times 31/07/03

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Concern as Blair expands foundations scheme

The prime minister today announced plans to more than double the size of the controversial foundation hospitals reform programme, prompting criticism from the scheme's opponents.

The Guardian 30/07/03
The Guardian 30/07/03
Daily Post 31/07/03

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Bedwetting 'linked to breathing problems'

Bedwetting could be linked to breathing problems, researchers have suggested.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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We lost your trust, Blair admits

PM tries to switch focus to domestic issues as he admits Iraq dossier affair has dented public's faith

The Guardian 31/07/03
a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,3604,1009243,00.html">The Guardian 31/07/03

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Brit binge-drinking v the French habit of tippling

The residents of some small towns in the Dordogne have complained that their culture is being eroded by a British invasion. In some places, 25 per cent of the property is owned by British nationals. The French are not persuaded that we have a right to be there just because that part of France was British before the Hundred Years War. Rather, their ire is raised by the sight of such obvious examples of British culinary traditions as stacks of baked beans and rows of Marmite in their stores.

The Times 31/07/03

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Cut health care for illegal migrants says Byers

All asylum seekers who fail to register with the government should be deprived of access to British schools and hospitals, the former cabinet minister Stephen Byers said yesterday in a controversial speech designed to reassure working class voters that Labour understood their concerns about immigration.

The Guardian 31/07/03

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Doctors threaten legal action on hours

Junior doctors threatened legal action against the NHS yesterday after evidence that three out of four hospitals in England are failing to meet a statutory deadline for reducing working hours to a safe weekly limit.

The Guardian 31/07/03

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Excitement over weight loss drug

Monkeys given a new hormone-like compound lost a massive seven per cent of their body weight - in just one week.

BBC Health News 30/07/03

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Heart op girl leaves hospital

A two-year-old Pakistani girl, whose heart surgery in India has come to symbolise hopes of friendship between South Asia's nuclear rivals, has left hospital.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Israel performs pioneer sunlight surgery

Doctors in Israel have successfully used sunlight to perform surgery on rats.

BBC Health 30/07/03

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Gene fault 'leads to Alzheimer's'

Scientists have discovered how the faulty production of an enzyme can lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Judges call MMR link to autism ‘junk science’

Medical evidence of a link between autism and the MMR vaccine was dismisssed as “junk science” by the Court of Appeal yesterday when it ruled that two girls should be immunised against their mothers’ wishes.

The Times 31/07/03
The Independent 31/07/03

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Labour donor loses vaccine contract

The company at the heart of a row over Labour donors has failed to win a £45.2m government contract for smallpox vaccine, it was announced yesterday.

The Independent 31/07/03

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More elderly care places lost

The shortage of care places available for the elderly is worsening, according to figures seen by the BBC.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Prescription spending up

Spending on prescriptions rose to £6.8 billion in England last year, up 8.5% from the previous year, latest figures have shown.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Public domain

When bank managers move from one branch to another, they see the same computer screens. When doctors move from one NHS hospital to another, they almost always change IT systems as well. Scarcely any two NHS hospitals run exactly the same combinations of computer software and hardware.

The Guardian 31/07/03

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Radiation lessons of Hiroshima bomb

A study into the impact of the Hiroshima bomb has concluded that current safety limits on radiation exposure are correct.

BBC Health 31/07/03

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Too painful to walk

Although it was reported this week that many thousands of cases of intermittent claudication (characterised by extreme pain on walking) are missed, the symptoms are usually so consistent that if a patient is given enough time to talk, they will nearly always reveal clues that make the diagnosis easy.

The Times 31/07/03

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Twins decision angers doctors

Nigerian doctors are heading for a confrontation with their government over a decision to send Siamese twins to an American hospital for an operation to separate them.

BBC Health 30/07/03

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Virtual taster could help elderly diets

Elderly people could be able to eat a wider range of foods thanks to a "tasting device" designed by scientists.

BBC Health News 30/07/03

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Woman's horror at moth in ear

A woman has described her shock at discovering that she had a dead moth stuck in her ear.

BBC Health 30/07/03

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Doctor saves life of boy, 4

A Knutsford doctor told this week how he saved the life of a little boy while on holiday in Spain.

Knutsford Guardian 30/07/03

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Emergency calls hit record-breaking high

Ambulance crews in Widnes and Runcorn are feeling the heat after being tested to the limit by sweltering summer weather which has sent emergency calls across Cheshire and Merseyside rocketing.

Runcorn Weekly News 31/07/03

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Health Trust's 'one star' rating

The hospital trust serving Runcorn and Widnes has received a 'one star' rating for the second year in a row.

Runcorn World 30/07/03

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Heart-attack drugs trial for paramedics

Paramedics have been given special 'clot-busting' drugs in a bid to cut the number of heart-attack deaths in South Cheshire.

Crewe Chronicle 30/07/03

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Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich residents who are addicted to prescription drugs could help to prevent others coming to harm.

More than 1.2 million people in Britain are long-term addicts of drugs said to be more dangerous and addictive than heroin.

Northwich Guardian 30/07/03

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Region's hospitals are top performers

The region's hospitals and primary care trusts have fared well in the latest patient surveys by the Commission for Health Improvement.

Daily Post 30/07/03

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Teams appeal for OD action

Halton Council has joined Drug Action Teams across the north west to launch a campaign aimed at reducing the number of overdose deaths.

Runcorn World 30/07/03

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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Dissatisfied with NHS

Regarding Mr James Grubb's praise for a new hospital to be built at Queen's Park, Blackburn (Letters, July 23) we still have two very good hospitals as yet, but with a long waiting list which I am led to believe is not only due to bed shortages but also specialists' services.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 30/07/03

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'Mystery man' bids to retain surgery

An anonymous businessman with deep-rooted Stacksteads connections is hoping to ensure the village retains its doctors' surgery, after submitting an outline planning application for a new site.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 30/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

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Hospital staff fury over car park cash plan

Staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital are being ask to pay for a car park extension out of their own wages. Every member of staff at the hospital in Farnworth has received a letter asking them to contribute £48-a-year - even though it will not guarantee them a car park space.

Bolton Evening News 30/07/03

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The start of the last drag?

After three years out of the headlines, Pat Karney, for more than a decade one of Manchester town hall's highest-profile politicians, is back in the thick of controversy. The one-time "councillor for fun", instrumental in creating Manchester's 24-hour city image, is about to lock horns with the pub, bar and club scene he did so much to promote.

Manchester Evening News 30/07/03

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National and International News

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An autumn virus, then suddenly I was deaf

When the writer Meredith Hooper lost her hearing without warning, she thought that it would be permanent. Our correspondent explains some of the causes of sudden deafness

The Times 30/07/03

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Anti-depressant offers brain tumour hope

Hope of a longer life is being offered to brain tumour sufferers by research carried out by a Hampshire-based charity.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Barbecue cancer warning

Barbecues poison the air with toxins and could cause cancer, research suggests.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Blair confronts rebels over elite hospitals

A defiant Tony Blair will today risk further isolation from Labour MPs and trade unions by announcing plans to more than double the size of his controversial foundation hospitals reform programme.

The Times 30/07/03

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Blair hails big expansion of private surgical clinics

Tony Blair will seek to shift attention from the David Kelly affair today when he announces a big expansion of private health care to cut NHS waiting lists.

The Independent 30/07/03

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Blair prepares to talk up public sector successes

Tony Blair will today attempt to shrug off a month of crisis by pointing to falling crime figures and improvements in school performance and NHS waiting lists as proof that the government's public sector reform programme is beginning to deliver results.

The Guardian 30/07/03

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Brain scans 'reveal baby thoughts'

A burst of brain activity recorded by scientists could offer clues to a baby's level of understanding of the world around it.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Cancer targets not speeding care

The government's two-week target is failing to have a significant impact on waiting times for breast cancer treatment, research has found.

BBC Health 29/07/03
The Guardian 30/07/03

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Cash switch clashes with 'value' pledge

Millions of pounds intended for services for people with learning disabilities has been spent on other things by cash-strapped strategic health authorities (SHAs).

The Guardain 30/07/03

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China's last Sars patients recover

Chinese media say the country's last 12 Sars patients now have no more symptoms of the pneumonia-like disease and are no longer infectious, even though they are still in hospital with complications.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Decision due on MMR ruling

The Court of Appeal will decide on Wednesday whether to overturn a High Court order forcing two women to have their children vaccinated with the controversial MMR jab against their will.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Early diagnosis is vital for this most baffling and distressing kind of hearing loss

Sudden deafness is one of the most baffling kinds of hearing loss. Deafness can be divided into two categories. Conductive deafness occurs when the passage of sound vibrations to the inner ear is impeded (perhaps because of fluid in the middle ear, or a hole in the eardrum). The second category is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), caused by damage to the cochlea (the acoustic nerve). In a related condition — sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) — a sufferer may go to bed with normal hearing and wake partially or completely deaf in one ear. In 99.9 per cent of cases the loss is in one ear, and it is often accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ear). Occasionally SSNHL can be brought on by trauma — head injuries, surgery, loud explosions — or viruses such as mumps and herpes, and possibly also measles and German measles. But about 95 per cent of new cases of SSNHL — up to 1,000 a year in Britain — have no known cause.

The Times 30/07/03

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Falling babies risk brain injury

Simple household falls may be more likely to produce severe brain injuries in babies than previously thought, say researchers.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Health: Patience the key in Labour's struggle to transform NHS

The NHS was practically moribund when Labour won power in 1997 but the Blair Government delayed for two years before attempting emergency resuscitation. It has since ordered the largest injection of funds in the NHS's history and launched a recovery plan that would make Aneurin Bevan's eyes gleam with envy. But that initial delay could prove fatal. The big question now is: can the NHS deliver before ministerial and public patience runs out?

The Independent 30/07/03

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'Heart share' athletes compete

Two men - connected by a transplant which gave one the other's heart - are battling for medals at a unique competition.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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HIV patients at risk of cancer

HIV patients living without the benefit of modern drugs are far more vulnerable to several different types of cancer, say researchers.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Male suicide rate high

Suicide is the single biggest cause of accidental or violent death among men in England and Wales, statistics show.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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McDonald's trumpets healthy sales

Fast-food giant McDonald's has thanked what it called "a dramatic new difference in service, taste and relevance" for signs of a revival in its fortunes.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Pills for everything

Thousands of children are on drugs to control their behaviour. But are they really ill or just the products of poor parenting?

The Guardian 30/07/03

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Screen break

Many patients stuck in hospital long for a break from the tedium. And at St Thomas' in London, they get it - as the cinema comes to them. Sarah Ebner reports.

The Guardian 30/07/03

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Shipman's nurse sues for £100,000

The nurse who worked alongside Harold Shipman is suing him and the health authority for £100,000 damages over the stress she suffered working with the mass murderer.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Surgery knife siege ends

A doctor who was taken hostage by an armed man has been freed.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Take gas bill to get NHS treatment

Patients going for routine treatment at NHS hospitals in England will have to present a gas bill, passport or other proof of identity to prove eligibility for free care, John Hutton, the health minister, said yesterday.

The Guardian 30/07/03

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Taste of tradition

For Asian men, smoking is second nature and a sign of belonging - but some areas are more committed than others in providing help for them to quit. Tina Bexson reports.

The Guardian 30/07/03

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Tough call to shame young pretenders

The government should introduce a national standard for organisations seeking to involve young people and should make it "a positive factor" in distribution of funding, the outgoing director of the Carnegie Young People Initiative says today.

The Guardian 30/07/03

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WHO steps up polio fight

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a programme of mass polio immunisation in the four countries where the disease remains a major problem.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Centre plans set to improve your health

Plans for a new medical centre serving Appleton and Stretton are unveiled this week - and residents can influence how it will be run.

Warrington Guardian 29/07/03

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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£1.8m development for single homeless opens

A £1.8 million flagship scheme to help single homeless people in Bury has finally opened following weeks of uncertainty.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/07/03

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Ending a town's housing woe

Ostensibly, , Burnley is in the grip of a grim paradox in being named as one of the worst places in the country for homelessness while having almost 4,000 empty houses.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/07/03

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More young "depressed"

Depression is "prevalent" among Bury's young people, a survey has found.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/07/03

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Patient's Passport scheme flawed, says MP

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice today spoke of his concerns about the Conservative Party's plans for a Patient's Passport. He said the voucher scheme would subsidise payment for private operations by 60 per cent of the cost in the NHS.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

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Alert as doctor gets hepatitis

Hundreds of women will be offered blood tests after it was revealed a doctor at a Greater Manchester hospital has hepatitis C.

Manchester Evening News 29/07/03

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National and International News

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A vaccination too far?

Our 20-month-old son is up-to-date with all his immunisations, but two weeks ago our GP invited him for an Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) booster. According to the letter there has been a recent rise in Hib cases. Our son’s red child health book does not mention Hib. Is it new? Is it safe?

The Times 29/07/03

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Advanced booking scrapped by GPs

GP surgeries across the country are scrapping advanced appointments so that they can meet a government waiting time target.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Boy flies to US for skin cure

A three-year-old Worcestershire boy who could die if he is exposed to sunlight has flown to the US for treatment.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Cancer growth genes uncovered

Research into the human genome has highlighted dozens of genes which may influence the growth of cancer cells.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Chemical nerve signal discovered

Scientists have found a chemical which can influences the direction of nerve cell growth - and say it could help repair damaged spinal cords.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Clampdown on health tourists

Health tourists who use bogus business trips to get thousands of pounds worth of free health service treatment are to be banned under a government crackdown.

The Times 29/08/07
The Guardian 29/07/03

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Death count 'may have found Shipman'

A system for analysing the numbers of deaths at each GP practice might have helped reveal Dr Harold Shipman's killing spree, say researchers.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Europe 'winning cancer battle'

There were fewer deaths from cancer across Europe in 2000 than had experts had predicted, it has been revealed.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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'How many anaesthetics are too many? And what is meant by a portion of fruit or veg?'

I am a 39-year-old male and, within the last two years, I have had between 15 and 20 operations under general anaesthetic. I have been told that the effects of a general anaesthetic can take up to six months to work its way out of one's system. Is this true? I now get extremely tired at lunchtime each day and would be interested to know if there is any link. What are the cumulative effects of such a high number of general anaesthetics likely to be? Are there any recommended safety limits on the number of anaesthetics one should have?

The Independent 28/07/03

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Hyperactivity 'just high spirits'

Children diagnosed with behavioural disorders may simply need to be allowed to "let off steam", an expert has claimed.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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'I felt like a freak'

Twenty-five years after the birth of the first test-tube baby, actress Connie Hyde tells Lucy Ward about her experience of IVF - and why it isn't yet the miracle infertility cure.

The Guardian 29/07/03
The Independent 28/07/03

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Junk food ads 'should be banned'

Adverts which promote junk food for children should be banned, says the government's food watchdog.

BBC Health 29/07/03

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London treatment for injured Ali

An Iraqi boy who lost both arms in a bombing raid on Baghdad is travelling to London to have artificial limbs fitted.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Lottery fund awards £500,000 to drug trial that will give addicts free heroin

The National Lottery's Community Fund has awarded a £500,000 grant to fund a scheme that will provide drug addicts with heroin, The Independent can reveal.

The Independent 29/07/03

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NHS and police team-up in malpractice crackdown

All NHS trusts will set up joint investigation teams with the police to speed up checks on doctors and nurses suspected of abuse and malpractice, under measures to be presented at the Shipman inquiry.

The Guardian 29/07/03

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Record number of doctors banned for serious misconduct

A record number of doctors were banned from practising medicine last year after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council, the doctors' disciplinary body.

The Independent 29/07/03

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Sars all-clear for Hong Kong patients

Fears of a renewed Sars outbreak in Hong Kong have been quelled by the results of tests on 18 people suspected of having the illness.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Scientists postpone labour

Scientists have found a way to postpone labour which they hope could eventually be used to prevent premature births.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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So few births at home

Home births have a lot going for them — there is increasing acceptance that they are not only safe but actually beneficial in normal pregnancies.

The Times 29/07/03

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Tight ties could damage eyesight

Wearing your tie too tight could put you at increased risk of blindness, say doctors.

BBC Health 28/07/03
The Independent 29/07/03

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Unemployment 'triples suicide risk'

Unemployment increases a person's risk of suicide by up the three times, researchers have found.

BBC Health 28/07/03

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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New mum dies after 10 days

A mother who dreamed of having a child following a miscarriage three years ago has died just 10 days after giving birth to a daughter.

Daily Post 28/07/03

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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It's all in the brains

A wheelchair that can be moved by brainpower could transform the lives of severely disabled people.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/07/03

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Model died of rare condition

A mother today spoke of her heartache after experts revealed her son died from the rare condition linked to the death of international footballer Marc Vivien Foe.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/07/03

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Tips to beat the barbecue blues

one in ten families in Blackburn and Darwen suffer food poisoning as a result of a barbecue which goes wrong, new figures have revealed.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

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Family's plea to missing doctor

The family of missing hospital doctor Richard Stevens have made an emotional appeal to him to let them know he is safe, exactly one week after he disappeared.

Manchester Evening News 28/07/03

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Older people setting the fitness pace

More people over the age of 50 in Wigan are getting fit than ever before thanks to exercise schemes.

Bolton Evening News 28/07/03

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Super hospital

These days it seems to be common practice to run our hospitals down, so I would just like to say, after having a major operation and three weeks' stay in the Royal Bolton Hospital, that I couldn't have been treated and cared for better if I had been a member of the Royal Family.

Bolton Evening News 28/07/03

National and International News

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Banking on your genes

Will you be joining the Biobank? Half a million of us will soon be asked to give samples of our DNA in a radical long-term plan to conquer disease. Jo Revill asks who will profit from the data

The Observer 27/07/03

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Electrodes in brain to 'switch off' pain

Hundreds of patients who are in agonising long-term pain following serious injury or a stroke could have their lives transformed by surgery that involves implanting electrodes in the brain.

The Observer 27/07/03

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'Factory clinics' to cut NHS lists

An American private healthcare firm will launch the first of a new wave of 'surgery factories' in Britain next month under radical plans to slash NHS waiting lists.

The Observer 27/07/03

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'Freebase' nicotine - why some some cigarettes may be more addictive

Some brands of cigarette are likely to be far more habit-forming than others because of the amount of highly addictive "freebase" nicotine they produce.

The Independent 28/07/03

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GPs' fingers are on the button not on the pulse

More than two million patients are being banned from making advance appointments to see their family doctor so surgeries can meet the latest government waiting times target.

The Times 28/07/03

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Hyperactive? Just go to a park and climb a tree

Professor claims that behavioural 'syndromes' are normal childhood restlessness of generation stuck at home.

The Times 28/07/03

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Inefficient public services 'are wasting £70bn a year'

As much as £70 billion is being wasted by the UK Government every year because of inefficiency in the public services, a new independent study suggests.

The Times 28/07/03

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New rules on breast implants to aid safety

New safety measures for breast implants are to be introduced on September 1, the Department of Health said yesterday.

The Times 26/07/03
The Independent 26/07/03

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Ritalin use and abuse fears

Where there is an illness there is often a drug and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is no different.

The Times 28/07/03

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'Shipman spotters' to be taken on by hospital trusts

Every hospital in the country is to appoint a “Harold Shipman spotter� to prevent another mass murderer striking in the health service.

The Times 28/07/03

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Tense? Angry? Let's measure how stressed you really are

Scientists at Oxford University have pioneered the world's first test for accurately measuring stress. A simple blood sample could be used to select people for the right jobs, help drivers know when to take a break, monitor stress at work and diagnose those in need of medical help.

The Independent 27/07/03

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Tough-case bonus for social workers

Ministers want to attract more recruits into social work by paying a premium rate to the staff who take on the toughest cases.

The Times 28/07/03

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Why do we tell porkies to our GP?

If I had been George Best, exposed earlier this month by the News of the World for being in the pub, I'd have been less worried about the headlines, or the reaction of the long-suffering Alex Best, than I would have been about the fact that my eminent liver surgeon would belatedly discover that I was back on the wine boxes.

The Observer 27/07/03

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Why training gap should get the big e

Those in most need of the opportunity to learn new skills are the least likely to get the chance. But now the NHS is leading the way in tackling the problem by introducing a new computer based learning project. Colin Cottell reports

The Guardian 26/07/03

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Women to be offered abortions at home

British women are for the first time to be offered drug-induced abortions at home under plans drawn up by a leading family planning organisation.

The Independent 27/07/03

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Donor mum tells of fears for brave son

A teenager is fighting for his life again three months after his mother donated her kidney to save him.

Liverpool Echo 25/07/03
Daily Post 25/07/03

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Teenagers urged to take up mumps vaccination

An outbreak of mumps in Cheshire has led to a health warning urging teenagers to get an emergency vaccination.

Chester Chronicle 25/07/03

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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Dentists have abandoned their patients

I am at the end of my tether having searched across East Lancashire for a dentist willing to treat my family on the NHS. I was finally pointed by NHS Direct to the last dental practice in the whole of the region which would still accept new NHS patients.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 26/07/03

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Health centre controversy: See the plans - and have your say

People will be able to have their say on plans for the controversial £11million Darwen Health Centre which will go on show today for the first time.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 26/07/03

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Stomach bug led to death

A woman died from complications picked up after she was prescribed antibiotics for an infection caused by a hip replacement, an inquest heard.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 26/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

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£190m face-lift will transform health

Health chiefs have unveiled plans to build a top notch hospital to rocket Stockport into the next century.

Stockport Express 25/07/03

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Country-wide sightings of missing doctor

Police are investigating a number of new sightings of missing doctor Richard Stevens.

Manchester Evening News 26/07/03

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Davenport GP slammed over shipman deaths

The Shipman Inquiry into a botched investigation which let the former Hyde GP carry on killing, has criticised a Davenport doctor.

Stockport Express 25/07/03

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So upset with hospital care

A doting daughter has slammed low staffing levels at Tameside Hospital after she was left to discover the body of her terminally-ill mother.

Tameside Advertiser 25/07/03

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Stroke service hit by funding withdrawal

Crucial services for stroke victims are being halved because Stockport Primary Care Trust (PCT) cannot increase its funding by £14,000 a year.

Stockport Express 25/07/03

International, National & Local Health & Social Care News

Coffee can save alcohol drinkers from cirrhosis

DRINKING three or more cups of coffee a day can almost halve the risk of cirrhosis of the liver, according to a new study in Norway.

The Times 25/07/03

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End of infertility within a decade, say doctors

The end of infertility is within sight, scientists said yesterday, anticipating the possibility within a decade of solving the biggest remaining problem by growing new eggs and sperm from stem cells for people who can no longer produce them.

The Guardian 25/07/03
The Times 25/07/03
BBC Health News 25/07/03

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Grief eased for euthanasia families

FAMILIES whose loved ones die as a result of euthanasia suffer less harrowing grief and fewer symptoms of stress than do those whose relations die of natural causes, according to a Dutch study.

The Times 25/07/03
BBC Health News 25/07/03

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MS drug could fight Sars

A drug used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis may also be effective against the deadly Sars virus, according to scientists.

BBC Health News 25/07/03

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No patient too long in tooth for dentist

Duncan Cowie examined his handiwork yesterday after being asked to provide new teeth for a 200-year-old crocodile skeleton at Aberdeen University.

The Times 25/07/03

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Stress can make acne worse, researchers say

Hormones produced by raised stress levels have been found to aggravate acne. More than 85 per cent of people suffer the disorder at some point in their lives, although scientists are still unsure exactly what triggers it.

The Independent 24/0/7/03

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The Priory launches do-it-yourself therapy

The Priory chain of clinics, which has helped a host of celebrities and the public triumph over problems, is launching a range of own-brand self-help products.

The Independent 24/07/03

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Cheshire & Merseyside News

Concern over more maternity closures

A GOVERNMENT report has slammed the closure of small maternity units - just weeks after the decision was made to shut one in Liverpool.

Daily Post 24/07/03

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Future fears for hospital

HALTON hospital is being purposely run down by its managing NHS Trust to ease £5m debts, according to an insider.

Runcorn Weekly News 24/07/03

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Panic alarms for staff at hospital

PANIC alarm sensors are to be placed in all areas of a Liverpool hospital after a sharp increase in attacks on staff.

Daily Post 24/07/03

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NHS to slash waiting times

Ellesmere Port & Neston Primary Care Trust (PCT) has unveiled its corporate plan, which is centred on guidelines laid down by the Government and priorities based on the needs of the towns.

Ellsmere Port Pioneer 24/07/03

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Cumbria & Lancashire News

Backing grows for doctor left out in the cold

Dr Mahesh Chandra, who ran his Blackburn Road surgery on his own, handed in his resignation to Bolton's Primary Care Trust, believing he could return as a locum after 28 days.

Bolton Evening News 24/07/03

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Families' vigilance over killer allergy

How to cope when nuts can be deadly for your child

Bolton Evening News 24/07/03

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Hospital food is top notch

PATIENTS in Bury Hospital are getting excellent food, a new report has claimed. The national Patient Environment Action Team gave the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust top marks -- awarding its directors £100,000 to make further improvements.

Bolton Evening News 24/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

A kiss, then doctor vanished

THE frantic wife of a doctor who has been missing for four days told how she kissed him goodbye before he left for work and disappeared.

Manchester Evening News 24/07/03

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Hospital where mum's the word

MUM's the word at Christie Hospital where 20 nurses have become pregnant.
The world-renowned cancer centre, in Withington, has almost five per cent of the nursing workforce on maternity leave or about to go.

Manchester Evening News 24/07/03

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New breakthrough in cancer battle

MANCHESTER scientists believe they have found the way a virus triggers cancer in some people. Research carried out at the Paterson Institute, at Christie Hospital, has found that the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects a cell and causes it to divide out of control.

Manchester Evening News 24/07/03

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International, National & Local Health & Social Care News

Acne 'made worse by stress'

The skin condition acne may be worsened by stress, research has found.
Scientists found that college students with acne were vulnerable to a worsening of their condition during examination periods.

BBC Health News 23/07/03

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Dear doctor

I am becoming nervous about vaccinating my baby. She is only a month old and I am already sceptical about MMR. But now I have heard that the injections they have at two, three and four months old contain mercury. Is it true and should I avoid them?

The Guardian 22/07/03

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Diet dissenters swing into Atkins

It may have worked wonders for Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Zeta-Jones and half the people in your office, but Dr Robert Atkins' high-protein, low carbohydrate diet seems to be falling from favour.

The Guardian 23/07/03

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Fats ain't what they used to be

First they told us they were bad for us. Then carbohydrates were the enemy. So are fats our friends or our foes?

The Guardian 22/07/03

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Fertility watchdog to review egg donation

The fertility watchdog, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, is to review egg giving - the practice by which a woman will donate all her eggs from the first cycle of fertility treatment (when she is stimulated with powerful drugs to superovulate) to a recipient who cannot produce eggs of her own. In some clinics the donor is then offered cut-price treatment on the second cycle of fertility treatment.

The Independent 22/07/03

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Go vegan and cut deadly cholesterol, say scientists

Never mind expensive drugs or new-fangled margarines, scientists say they have devised a simple diet that dramatically reduces cholesterol without any need for medication

The Independent 23/07/03

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Health service IT contractors plan £700m merger

Two of the main providers of software systems to the national health service are to merge in a near-£700m deal.

The Guardian 23/07/03

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I give up

In 1998 Florida University doctors announced that they were using antidepressants to help treat nicotine addiction. "This is a very, very tenacious addiction," said psychiatrist Dr Douglas Eaton. "This is as hard an addiction to beat as heroin or cocaine - it's right up there with the biggies."

The Guardian 22/07/03

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Instrument sale to GSK lifts Tepnel 10%

Shares in Tepnel Life Sciences rose more than 10 per cent yesterday after the biotechnology group sold a DNA purification system to GlaxoSmithKline.

Financial Times 23/07/03

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Killer in the garden

Breakfast in the back garden may not sound particularly dangerous, but for Jane Murray it was the prelude to a tragedy. Within a matter of hours of sharing breakfast with her husband, she was in a coma. The wasp took less than five seconds to deliver its deadly sting, but it was another three years before Jane Murray died. She spent the remaining time in a coma.

The Guardian 22/07/03

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New study rejects MMR link to autism rise

A link between the rise in autism and the MMR jab has been comprehensively rejected by a study that claims to have found "compelling evidence" the triple vaccine is safe.

The Independent 22/07/03

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NHS attacks 'must be stopped'

Action must be taken to curb the "shocking" levels of violence experienced by NHS staff, MPs have said.

BBC Health News 23/07/03

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NHS 'neglecting' older nurses

The NHS is neglecting the needs of older nurses - and thus failing to make the most of their valuable experience, a report has found. The study, by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found that NHS hospitals focus on nurturing young recruits at the expense of their more experienced colleagues.

BBC Health News 23/07/03

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Rate of murder in cot deaths is far lower than alleged

The number of cot deaths caused by murder has been overestimated, a medical study says today.

The Independent 22/07/03

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Regulators face Yondelis dilemma

European pharmaceutical regulators will today face an ethical dilemma as they decide whether to approve Yondelis, a controversial new cancer treatment developed by Zeltia, the Spanish biotechnology company.

Financial Times 23/07/03

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Take violent patients to court - MPs

MPs want more prosecutions of violent patients who threaten NHS staff, saying the existing "zero tolerance" approach has failed to bring reductions in physical or verbal abuse and that many incidents are still not reported.

The Guardian 23/07/03

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The scribes of good health in the grip of listeria

"This morning I have already written and rewritten my to-do list three times, and it still doesn't seem to be getting any shorter," complained the editor of Women's Health (August) in her introductory letter. "What's more I've started making extra lists of more important things that need doing, the idea being that I prioritise."

The Guardian 23/07/03

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Wildlife fear leaves GM safety debate unresolved

The most serious potential harm from growing genetically modified crops in Britain is their effect on farmland wildlife, and this cannot yet be predicted, the Government's review of GM science said yesterday.

The Independent 22/07/03

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Cheshire & Merseyside News

Foreign nurses 'exploited'

Nurses from overseas who come to work in British hospitals and care homes face racism, exploitation and isolation, a report claims.

The Liverpool Echo 22/07/03

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Hospital hit by TB scare

Around 1,400 patients have been contacted after a member of staff at a top Northern Ireland hospital was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Liverpool Post 22/07/03

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MPs urge protection for NHS staff

Frontline health workers are to be taught how to deal with violence and aggression in one of the largest ever NHS training exercises.

Liverpool Echo 23/07/03

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Cumbria & Lancashire News

An obsession fuelled by fear

OCD is a condition that leaves sufferers slavishly following bizarre, self-imposed rituals and routines and Paul Gascoigne himself has spoken frankly about it.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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Concern as hospital doctor goes missing

POLICE were today becomingly increased concerned for the safety and welfare of a doctor who has been missing from his home for 24 hours.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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Fattening food for thought

SO, food portions have grown so big in restaurants over the last 40 years that they're making us obese.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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Fluoride: Let the public vote, says MP

Bolton North-east MP David Crausby fears the chemical could be added to supplies against the people's wishes if a new bill currently going through Parliament is given the go ahead.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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Parent power is simply magic

SPARE a thought for the families of chidren born with a disability the next time you're inclined to moan about tough family life.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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New drive to beat drugs

A CAMPAIGN to give parents and carers more information about drugs was launched in Burnley.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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School deserve a tanning

WE may not get massive amounts of hot sunshine in this country but when we do, look out.

Liverpool Echo 22/07/03

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Support for doctor wanting to work

SUPPORT for a recently retired family doctor who was told he could not retract his resignation is gathering pace.

Bolton Evening News 22/07/03

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Greater Manchester News

Lifesaver on the line

TEN minutes could have separated life and death for little Bridget Noctor. But thanks to quick-thinking `telephone nursing' by Eileen Walter, the three-year-old got the speedy treatment she needed for meningitis and meningoccocal septicaemia and she is well on the road to receovery.

Manchester Evening News 23/07/03

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Mystery of missing doctor

IT LOOKS like a scene for the start of a busy working day. The jacket is on the back of the chair and the security pass lies on the desk next to piles of paperwork.

Manchester Evening News 23/07/03

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