HIV infections hit record high - The Guardian 25th November 2008

Record numbers of people in the UK are living with HIV, with more than half of newly diagnosed infections found in heterosexuals, figures revealed today.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that in 2007 an estimated 77,400 people had the virus, up from 73,000 in the previous year. More than a quarter of those infected remained unaware of their status.

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tags: HIV, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Statisitical Data, Health, News, UHN, The Guardian

Additional Stories

1. Background: The search for the elusive cure for Aids - The Guardian 26th November 2008
2. Sharp rise in heterosexual HIV cases - The Independent 26th November 2008
3. ‘Straight’ HIV transmission doubles in four years - The Times 25th November 2008
4. HIV cases double in just four years among British men and women having ’straight’ sex - Daily Mail 25th November 2008
5. Rise in UK HIV numbers continues - BBC Health News 25th November 2008

Pubs face happy-hour ban in plans to curb binge drinking - The Guardian 26th November 2008

Local authorities are to be given the power to ban happy hours, all you can drink offers and other price promotions in troublesome pubs and bars, as part of a drive to tackle Britain's binge drinking culture.

The package to be unveiled next week is also expected to include cigarette-style health warnings on television advertising for drinks, and labels on cans and bottles spelling out their alcohol-unit content.

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tags: Legislation, Alcohol, Health, News, UHN, The Guardian, Local Authorities

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1. Pubs and clubs told to bring an end to happy hours - The Times 26th November 2008

Ray Jones on the required support for and confidence in all working in child protection following the Baby P case - The Guardian 26th November 2008

I fear that we are about to make the most vulnerable children less likely to be protected, as we destabilise and destroy one of the safest child protection systems in the world. Children are not protected by procedures and records. They are protected by skilled, confident and competent workers, such as social workers, health visitors, doctors and police officers, who are closest to the children and their families. These professionals need the stability, time and management support, and the public confidence, to be able to do their jobs well.

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tags: Local Authorities, Social Services, NHS, Child Protection, Quality, Health, News, UHN, The Guardian

Additional Story

1. Perter Beresford on the underlying failings of agencies and practitioners leading to the Baby P tragedy - The Guardian 26th November 2008
2. Baby P councillors cling on to their jobs as opposition leaders bid to oust them - Daily Mail 25th November 2008

David Brindle on the reforms needed in the care system of older and disabled people - The Guardian 26th November 2008

A landmark report calls for reform of a care system that older and disabled people find unfair, unaffordable and unable to meet their needs

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tags: Health, News, UHN, The Guardian, Social Services, Older People, Financial Management, Health Service Economics

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1. Green light for care law overhaul - The Guardian 26th November 2008

Zoe Williams: Pro-choice taboo - The Guardian 26th November 2008

It doesn't make you a eugenicist to speak up for the right to abort a foetus that may have Down's

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tags: The Guardian, Health, News, UHN, Abortion, Disabilities, Ethics

Are vitamin supplements actually bad for us? - The Independent 26th November 2008

Next time you visit your local chemist, pause in the aisle containing vitamin supplements, and take in the quantities and varieties of pills and potions on offer. Tiny boxes and bottles stretch as far as the eye can see, affirming that even in these cash-strapped times, the gorging of such "miracle cures" continues to be big business.

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tags: Vitamins, Health, News, UHN, The Independent

Catalogue of NHS data losses makes shocking reading - The Independent 26th November 2008

Confidential patient information has been lost in scores of cases, according to a catalogue of NHS data losses released last night.

Files, computers and memory sticks containing details of thousands of patients have been lost according to details released under the Freedom of Information Act.

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tags: Data Protection, NHS, Health, News, UHN, The Independent

Additional Story

1. NHS lost patient details 135 times in two years - The Times 26th November 2008

'Fit notes' bid to cut £100bn sickness bill - The Independent 25th November 2008

Sick notes are to be replaced with "fit notes" in a bid to cut down the £100bn cost to the economy of workers' ill-health, the Government announced today.

The system of doctors giving workers a sick note if they are ill has not changed since the NHS was created in 1948.

Ministers said that, under plans to "significantly reduce" ill-health at work, doctors will instead issue fit notes which will specify what workers are able to do.

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tags: Disabilities, Social Security, Sick Leave, Health, News, Primary Care, UHN, The Independent, Human Resources

Additional Stories

1. ‘Fit notes’ replace sick notes to keep patients working - The Times 26th November 2008
2. Fewer staff to be signed off under new 'fit' notes - The Telegraph 25th November 2008
3. Sicknotes to be replaced with electronic 'fit notes' in bid to cut £100bn ill-health bill - Daily Mail 25th November 2008
4. Ministers back 'fit note' plans - BBC Health News 25th November 2008

First national gambling addiction clinic opens - The Times 25th November 2008

The NHS has opened its first ever clinic for people addicted to betting.

The National Problem Gambling Clinic began treatment in Central London today trying to help break addictions as well as offering practical advice on dealing with debt problems. The condition affects around a quarter of a million Britons.

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tags: Gambling, Addiction, Mental Health, Psychology, Health, News, UHN, The Times

Additional Story

1. First NHS gambling clinic opens with one patient aged just 16 - but is Labour to blame for this new disease? - Daily Mail 25th November 2008

Expensive lung cancer drug to be available on the NHS - The Telegraph 26th November 2008

Lung cancer sufferers are to be given an expensive life-prolonging drug on the NHS under a deal with manufacturers to cut the medication's price.

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tags: Health Service Economics, Financial Management, Lung Cancer, Drug Therapy, NHS, Health, News, UHN, The Telegraph

'Quack foods' that claim to aid weight loss are 'waste of money' - The Telegraph 26th November 2008

Consumers are wasting billions of pounds on 'quack' foods that promise to help them lose weight, a nutritional expert has warned.

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tags: Diet, Nutrition, Obesity, Health Service Economics, Financial Management, Health, News, UHN, The Telegraph

Nurses told not to call patients 'love' - The Telegraph 26th November 2008

Nursing staff will be told that addressing older people in their care as "dearie" or "love" is inappropriate.

They should always speak to elderly patients "courteously and respectfully" and ask them how they prefer to be known, under the new advice being drawn up by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

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tags: Professional Discipline, Ethics, Health, News, UHN, Nursing, The Telegraph

Additional Stories

1. Where is the 'love'? And nurses could be banned from calling sick patients 'dearie' if PC brigade have their way - Daily Mail 26th November 2008

2. Ban on calling old patients love - BBC Health News 26th November 2008

Baby boy ‘murdered by mother’ after being handed back by social services - The Telegraph 26th November 2008

A three-month-old baby suffered severe brain damage and died after being shaken by his mother weeks after being handed back to her by social services, a court has heard.

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tags: Jurisprudence, Child Abuse, Homicide, Health, News, Child Protection, Social Services, UHN, The Telegraph

Additional Story

1. Mother accused of murdering 16-month-old baby son after changing her mind over having him adopted - Daily Mail 25th November 2008

14-year-old girls to be taught about their 'right' to have an abortion - The Telegraph 26th November 2008

Schoolgirls as young as 14 could be forced to watch a film that teaches them they have the right to choose an abortion.

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tags: Sex Education, Abortion, Ethics, Health, News, UHN, Schools, The Telegraph

Calorie counting to put boozers off drink: A pint of lager equals a sausage roll - Daily Mail 26th November 2008

Bottles of wine and beer could soon carry labels warning of their calorie content.

Experts believe binge drinkers, not deterred by information about how much alcohol a drink contains, might think again if they knew how fattening it was.

The message would be most likely to hit home with image-conscious young drinkers and women.

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tags: Alcohol, Obesity, Health, News, UHN, Daily Mail

Whistleblower nurse could be struck off for Panorama exposé of appalling abuse of elderly patients - Daily Mail 25th November 2008

A nurse who exposed appalling neglect of the elderly at an NHS hospital began a fight to save her career today.

Margaret Haywood, 58, faces a series of disciplinary charges over a secret film she made for a BBC Panorama programme.

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tags: Elder Abuse, Health, News, Whistleblowing, Ethics, Nursing, Professional Discipline, UHN, Daily Mail, Mass Media

Meet Millie, 7, who still smiles despite disease so rare it affects just FOUR people worldwide - Daily Mail 25th November 2008

Brave Millie Smith can still break into a beaming smile despite suffering from a medical condition which is so rare that it has no name and affects just four people in the world.

She was diagnosed at 16 months when tests revealed she had strands missing from her eighth chromosome.

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tags: Genetics, Health, News, Disabilities, Children, UHN, Daily Mail

Rate alcohol and tobacco like illegal drugs, says top scientist - Daily Mail 25th November 2008

The harm done by tobacco and alcohol should be rated on the same system as illegal drugs, a leading scientist said today.

Professor Sir Gabriel Horn who chaired a special committee on drug use, warned that dependency on drink and cigarettes was spiralling out of control and urgent measures were needed to curb their misuse.

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tags: Health, News, UHN, Daily Mail, Smoking, Alcohol

Care ‘failing the terminally ill’ - BBC Health News 26th November 2008

Terminally ill people and their families are being let down by failings in end of life care, a watchdog says.

The National Audit Office said while most people wanted to die at home, the majority ended their days in hospital.

The report said families, hospices and care homes in England needed more help to provide better end of life services.

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tags: Palliative Care, Health, News, UHN, Quality, BBC Health News

Stop smoking drug concerns raised - BBC Health News 26th November 2008

It was launched as a wonder drug. A tablet to take the pain out of kicking the killer weed.

Since it appeared on the market two years ago in the UK, almost 400,000 prescriptions for Champix have been written.

Across the world, that figure is currently sitting at nine million.

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tags: Health, News, UHN, Smoking Cessation, Drug Therapy, Adverse Effects, BBC Health News