Friday, September 17, 2004

Cheshire and Merseyside News


Blood cells an asthma drug target

White blood cells could be good targets for future asthma drugs, US researchers hope.

BBC Health News 17/09/04

Kids create new sign language

A new sign language created over the last 30 years by deaf children in Nicaragua has given experts a unique insight into how languages evolve.

BBC Health News 17/09/04

Re: Heal thyself

Sir - The medical profession is to blame for the white male shying away from admission to medical school (letter, Sept 9).

The Telegraph 17/09/04

More than four million Chinese have schizophrenia: study

More than four million people in China have schizophrenia, a major factor in the country's phenomenal rate of suicide, according to a study to be published on Saturday.

Yahoo News 17/09/04

Doctors raise doubts over suicide verdicts

Miscarriages of justice are "almost certainly" taking place because of a mistaken belief that it is possible to calculate from blood analysis at a postmortem examination how many tablets somebody swallowed before they died, a group of eminent scientists and doctors says today.

The Guardian 17/09/04

Antidepressant prescriptions: protect the children

An FDA advisory panel has recommended that all antidepressants carry a 'black box' warning.

Yahoo News 17/09/04

Me and my girl

When her youngest child was diagnosed with Down's syndrome, Kathy Evans thought her world would fall apart. One year on, she talks about the joy she has brought.

The Guardian 17/09/04

A good deal for disabled children

We welcome the close attention paid to the needs of disabled children and their families in the government's fresh approach to children's health (NHS plans revolution in care for children, September 16). At long last, the way is open for disabled children to be included fully in mainstream services. The challenge now is to ensure the new National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services succeeds.

The Guardian 17/09/04

Health authorities bungle payouts to elderly

Rated 3 in National and International News on Sep 17, 2004 at 05:54:32 GMT. (0 views)
The government yesterday named and shamed strategic health authorities that bungled the administration of compensation for thousands of vulnerable older people who were unlawfully charged for NHS care.

The Guardian 17/09/04

Be discreet about your aids to beauty

NOT ONLY are more and more of us faking it, we are also less and less worried about other people knowing. Quite the opposite - it is a positive virtue to boast about our implanted breasts, trail our tummy tucks and flaunt our fuller lips.

The Times 17/09/04

Being drunk is no excuse

Rated 3 in National and International News on Sep 17, 2004 at 05:50:33 GMT. (0 views)
A BLITZ on drunken yobs who plague city centres was unveiled by David Blunkett last night.

The Sun 17/09/04

Bug may be link to Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease may be caused by a bacterial infection responsible for a similar bowel disorder in cattle, sheep and goats, researchers say.

Daily Star 17/09/04

Bug may be link to Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease may be caused by a bacterial infection responsible for a similar bowel disorder in cattle, sheep and goats, researchers say.

Daily Express 17/09/04

Cancer fighter gets MRSA

A GRANDAD who was beating cancer now has just days to live after getting the MRSA bug from a bed sore.

The Sun 17/09/04

Schools fail to stop truancy by thousands

SERIAL truanting in England's schools is increasing as policies to curb absenteeism fail to tackle the 'stubborn minority' who miss up to five weeks of lessons a year.

The Times 17/09/04

Secret Tory tape reveals tough line on asylum

THE Tory leadership is preparing a tougher line on immigration and asylum in an attempt to win back UK Independence Party supporters who dislike foreigners.

The Times 17/09/04

Cheshire and Merseyside News

PARENTS WIN PHONE MAST BATTLE

PARENTS in Chester have told of their relief after controversial plans for a mobile phone mast were thrown out.

Chester Evening Leader 16/09/04

Adoption crisis created by acute shortage of parents

WIRRAL Council is failing to find families for children in care.

Daily Post 16/09/04

Countess gives Deaf Centre the thumbs up

Rated 3 in Cheshire and Merseyside on Sep 17, 2004 at 07:16:55 GMT. (0 views)
A ROYAL visit rounded off a triumphant team effort, as HRH The Countess of Wessex officially opened the modernised and revamped Warrington Deaf Centre.

Warrington Guardian 16/09/04

Health fair will tackle the burning issues of the day

Rated 3 in Cheshire and Merseyside on Sep 17, 2004 at 07:14:21 GMT. (0 views)
A CHIP pan blaze will be keeping firefighters on their toes, when they give a safety demonstration at Golborne Asda on Saturday, September 18.

Newton Guardian 16/09/04

Adult fitness programme launched

MP Andy Burnham put on his running shoes to launch a new adult fitness programme in Lowton High School.

Newton Guardian 16/09/04

Lessons in good parenting

STRESSED-out parents can share ideas and learn new ways to cope with their children at new short courses in Haydock.

Newton Guardian 16/09/04

Help at hand

DEAF people in Newton needing emergency help from paramedics should find things a bit easier in the future.

Newton Guardian 16/09/04

Disabled? Get a train elsewhere

FRUSTRATED wheelchair users who hoped new legislation would make Earlestown Station accessible, will still be forced to catch a taxi out of town.

Newton Guardian 16/09/04

Familes fear for children's safety

FAMILIES living near a contaminated Crewe brook which they say is putting children's lives at risk have slammed an improvement plan as totally inadequate.

Crewe Guardian 16/09/04

Bug may be link to Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease may be caused by a bacterial infection responsible for a similar bowel disorder in cattle, sheep and goats, researchers say.

Daily Post 17/09/04

Active project boss says goodbye

EDGE Hill's volunteering project co-ordinator Andrea Rannard said goodbye to colleagues and students after managing the Active Community Fund volunteering project for the past 12 months.

Ormskirk Advertiser 16/09/04

New start with NHS

A SPECIAL Job Shop is being held by Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust on Thursday, September 23, at 1st Floor, Skelmersdale Concourse shopping centre between 10am and 4pm.

Ormskirk Advertiser 16/09/04

You're not alone

GOING home is planned for stroke patients from the day they are admitted.

Widnes World 16/09/04

Uncertain future for surgery plans

A PLAN which could leave Upton Rocks residents without a GP's surgery within easy reach of their homes, has been put 'on hold' following a wave of angry protest.

Crewe Chronicle 16/09/04

Cumbria and Lancashire News
Don't forget your winter 'flu jabs

Health chiefs are making an early start on a 'flu campaign in a bid to cut the amount of people hit by the debilitating illness.

Lancashire Evening Post 16/09/04

Taking steps to cut child road deaths

Preston is winning the battle to improve child road safety, it was declared today.

Lancashire Evening Post 16/09/04

Smoking control plans are 'not good enough'

Health chiefs today said plans to banish smokers to a small room in scores of the city's pubs are not good enough and has called for a total ban.

Lancashire Evening Post 16/09/04

Battling Alex's donor card campaign cheer

A CARLISLE teenager whose life has been transformed following a kidney transplant is saying thank-you in the only way she can.

Carlisle News and Star 16/09/04

Who killed baby Kieran?

A CORONER has ruled that a three-month-old Cumbrian baby was shaken to death.

Carlisle News and Star 16/09/04

Phone mast anger

FURIOUS residents battling plans to erect a 60ft mobile phone mast at St Ives Business Park in Blackburn claim they have not been consulted.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 16/09/04

Use old hospital site for extra car parking

SEEING the Preston Citizen's headline: 'Families in a jam over traffic', and the residents' concerns regarding parking at and in the vicinity of the Royal Preston Hospital (RPH) has prompted me to write this letter.

The Citizen 16/09/04
Beware of malaria

Rated 3 in Lancashire and Cumbria on Sep 17, 2004 at 07:05:03 GMT. (1 views)
I WOULD like to request your help in urging all people travelling to a malarial country to seek health advice from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist well in advance of travelling.

The Citizen 16/09/04

Leigh firm heads fight against MRSA

A LEIGH company is in the forefront of the fight to beat the killer hospital superbug MRSA.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/09/04

Abuse of old people must be halted

I HAVE been appalled recently by so many reports of frail elderly people being abused by care workers in so-called nursing homes up and down the country.

The Citizen 16/09/04

Surgery loss is a nonsense

THE proposal to downgrade emergency surgery provision at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital is a nonsense.

The Citizen 16/09/04

NHS discrimination for people with dementia

ANYONE who saw Panorama recently will have been horrified at the discrimination faced by people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia who are denied access to health care.

The Citizen 16/09/04

It is 'business as usual' in maternity unit

I WOULD like to state for the record that it is very much "business as usual" at Fairfield's maternity unit (Mums will choose to go elsewhere, Letters, September 3).

Bury Times 16/09/04

A sample of medical life

TEENAGERS became "young doctors" for the week at Fairfield General Hospital.

Bury Times 16/09/04

Day to clue up on diabetes

DIABETICS and their carers are being invited to a special conference on the condition.

Bury Times 16/09/04

Fairfield nurses jobs rush

A record number of nurses are applying for paediatric posts at Fairfield Hospital, despite the uncertainty over the future of women and children's services.

Bury Times 16/09/04

Health chief denies cottage hospital is to close

MENTAL health bosses have denied that Ramsbottom Cottage Hospital will close -- despite a leaked report to the Bury Times proposing it should shut.

Bury Times 16/09/04

Doctors backing protest

TOP doctors at Fairfield Hospital have spoken out against plans to axe women's and children's services which could mark the end of its special care baby unit.

Bury Times 16/09/04

'Superbug' fears raised by patients' watchdog

HEALTH watchdogs are to meet hospital bosses after a 'bug watch' on wards across East Lancashire raised "some concerns".

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/09/04

Greater Manchester News

Underage alcohol sales crackdown

MORE than 650 licensed premises were caught selling alcohol to children in an eight week crackdown, it was announced today.

Manchester Evening News 16/09/04

Toxicology tests after death 'unreliable'

RELIANCE on inaccurate methods of measuring drug levels in the blood after death have "almost certainly" led to miscarriages of justice, experts claimed today.

Manchester Evening News 16/09/04

Dentists set to quit store

DENTAL patients were today looking for a new practice in the wake of Boots' decision to pull out of dentistry.

Bolton Evening News 16/09/04

Rochdale tops decay league

CHILDREN in Rochdale are to get free toothpaste after figures revealed they have some of the worst teeth in the country.

Asian News 16/09/04





Posted by Kieran at 10:04 am 0 comments

Thursday, September 16, 2004

National and International News
NHS plans revolution in care for children

A 10-year blueprint for revolutionising children's health services in England was presented by the government yesterday as a world first in setting comprehensive standards of paediatric care.

The Guardian 16/09/04


Wealthy businessman 'conned' NHS out of £55,000

The NHS yesterday announced it had taken action against its first suspected "health tourist".

The Guardian 16/09/04

Public domain

Swansea has seen the future and it's out of order. An ambitious plan to modernise the city's services around IT has become the focus for a nasty confrontation between council managers and staff.

The Guardian 16/09/04

Patient progress

North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust is simplifying patient care by integrating standalone databases into a central networked system. This will simplify maintenance and make it easier to gain a clearer picture of a patient's history with the hospital. It will also reduce the time wasted in duplicated data entry. The index is based on the trust's iSoft Patient Manager system, because this is known to hold an accurate record of 350,000 patients and their validated NHS number. This has already been combined with the operating theatre management system, Sapphire Theatre. Using SeeBeyond's eGate Integrator as the main engine, the project is now moving on to merge information from its pharmacy records.

The Guardian 16/09/04

Putting children first

The first ever national plan for personalised child-centred health and social care services was launched today by Health Secretary John Reid and Education Secretary Charles Clarke.

NHS Direct 16/09/04

Lethal hospitals are no laughing matter

What a way to run a country. Here in the Palace of Westminster I can hardly hear myself type for the noise of police choppers overhead. Outside, there are people lying in the road, some of them with broken heads.

The Telegraph 16/09/04

Re: Doctors need to be honest

Sir - I am a geriatrician who has spent my professional life trying to reduce pain and misery by helping to develop methods of preventing pressure sores. This has brought me into contact with innumerable elderly, dying and very sick patients (letters, Sept 8).

The Telegraph 16/09/04
Re: Overturning medical ethics

Sir - The Mental Capacity Bill will, contrary to the assertions of some (letters, July 31), overturn a traditional principle of medical ethics.

The Telegraph 16/09/04

Re: A complete waste of time

Sir - The Rev Dennis Nadin reflects what many of us who go on government working parties have come to understand - they are a complete waste of time (letters, Sept 14).

The Telegraph 16/09/04


Notebook

Channel 5's obsession with plastic surgery continues each weekday night. Like most actors, I found myself watching each gruesome operation from behind splayed fingers and wondering if perhaps a couple of thousand quid wisely spent wouldn't give me a year or two more leeway in casting interviews.

The Telegraph 16/09/04

'We can't leave them to suffer alone'

Thousands of Britons are dying of a lung disease that has been largely ignored. James Meikle on the extreme surgery that may be the best way to treat a secret epidemic/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,13026,1305080,00.html
The Guardian 16/09/04

No health check for Isoft

The Department of Health said yesterday it had no plans to seek additional information on the financial health of Isoft, the software company that is a crucial supplier to the £6bn programme to update technology across the National Health Service.

The Guardian 16/09/04

Superbug putting off patients

Almost half of the public are nervous about having to go into a hospital because of the risks of the MRSA superbug, a survey has revealed.

The Guardian 16/09/04

In brief - Rule of thumb at GP's surgery

Patients can view their medical records and book a doctor's appointment by scanning their thumbprints at their GP surgery in a trial in Sydenham, south-east London.

The Guardian 16/09/04

Thinking small

A new integrated approach to the treatment of children and young people was described yesterday by the health secretary as "a world first". The new policy is a response to Sir Ian Kennedy's inquiry into the unnecessary deaths of children undergoing heart surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary that delivered its 530-page report on how to achieve higher quality of care for children across the NHS in 2001. Since then, teams of health, social care and education specialists have been engaged in drawing up the new national service framework (NSF). The response from specialist services and pressure groups yesterday was warm and enthusiastic.

The Guardian 16/09/04

Doctor's orders

If you have high blood pressure, there may be an unexpected benefit of treatment with a beta-blocker drug: a lowered risk of bone fracture. A report in the Journal of the American Association found that in people who were prescribed beta-blockers such as Inderal, the risk of a fracture was reduced by 20 per cent even when other factors known to alter fracture risk, such as smoking and body weight, were taken into account.

The Times 16/09/04

Indigestion

Even as you read this my wife and I will be returning from a few days in foie gras country. After exploring local caves (my wife's interest), we always find time to sample the area's delicacies. Delicious as they are, there can sometimes be a price to pay: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, indigestion with severe heartburn. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) has just adjudicated on the treatment of severe recurrent dyspepsia and heartburn from gastro-intestinal reflux, but some of its critics have suggested that Nice has not been definite enough about suggesting that the best treatments for it are proton-pump inhibitors. Losec is the best known, but slightly better is Nexium. If lunch, or dinner, has been too rich and an attack of indigestion occurs, the secret is not to wait for trouble. A simple antacid such as Rennie Duo usually does the trick; if not, Losec or Nexium taken before going to bed will work like magic.

The Times 16/09/04

A gut feeling for pigs

Pigs have had a poor press recently because there is evidence that bird flu has been transmitted to them. This could lead in time to the development of a new strain of flu that could attack people, who, because of the virus's novelty, would have no resistance to it. Nor would the current vaccines be helpful.

The Times 16/09/04

Three steps we will take for a fairer asylum system

Out on the doorstep, asylum remains a major concern. My point is this: there have been abuses; there are still. But they are being dealt with. And they should not be exploited for baser political reasons.

The Times 16/09/04

Babies to have multiple check-ups in first year

Every baby will receive a minimum of eight health check-ups before their first birthday as part of the most radical overhaul to child health in 50 years, officials said yesterday.

The Times 16/09/04

Egyptian 'conned NHS out of £55,000 in care'

A wealthy Egyptian businessman accused of travelling to London to obtain free health care for more than a decade has had all his assets frozen and been barred from leaving Britain.

The Times 16/09/04

The matter of life and death

Mike Leigh's controversial Vera Drake has just won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival; Kitty Kelley's new book on the Bush dynasty is posing uncomfortable questions for the US President. And in Britain, Tony Blair is under pressure to reform the abortion laws. Virginia Ironside takes a very personal look at an issue that still divides us like no other

The Independent 16/09/04

Cannabis may help combat cancer

The chemical in cannabis that produces a high may help to combat the spread of cancer, research suggests.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Clearing algae 'can curb malaria'

Clearing algae from pools and rivers could significantly reduce the spread of malaria, according to research carried out in Mexico.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Tories finger firms on health

It will be up to employers to improve the health of their employees and reduce the burden on the NHS under new Tory plans.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Thumbprints access health records

Patients are accessing their medical records by scanning their thumbprints at their GP surgery.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Molecule 'key' for male fertility

Scientists have discovered a molecule that plays a key role in the development of sperm.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Human genome hits halfway mark

Four years after publishing a draft of the human genetic sequence, researchers have hit the halfway mark in producing the "gold standard" version.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Double syringe blood test 'hope'

Around 6% of blood tests are thought to be contaminated A US scientist has developed a 'double-barrelled' syringe which he says could make blood tests more reliable.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Doctors urge tax break on sports

Tax relief should be offered on sports activities to help combat growing rates of obesity, doctors have said.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Bush and Kerry battle over science

The leading international science journal Nature has focussed the US presidential election campaign on science by asking both President George Bush and Senator John Kerry for their views on the major issues.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Body can 'heal dementia itself'

Scientists have harnessed the body's own natural defences against infection to make a treatment for dementia.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Howard attacks 'forgetful' Blair

Michael Howard accused Tony Blair of failing to tackle hospital superbug MRSA, during a commons clash which saw Mr Blair forget what he had been asked.

BBC Health News 16/09/04

'Health tourist's' assets frozen

The assets of an Egyptian man accused of unlawfully obtaining free NHS care have been frozen in the first case against an alleged "health tourist".

BBC Health News 16/09/04

Cheshire and Merseyside News

'Outbreak is not to blame for deaths'

LEIGHTON Hospital bosses have moved to allay fears over the deaths of five patients who contracted a bug.

Northwich Chronicle 15/09/04

'Head injury led doc to walk off'

A DOCTOR who left a man to die after a car crash only acted in the way he did because he had banged his head in the accident, it has been claimed.

Liverpool Echo 15/09/04

4.5m to stop city rot

Liverpool's World Heritage Status and the success of the ECHO's Stop the Rot campaign have helped attract a massive pot of money to regenerate derelict historic buildings. Catherine Jones

Liverpool Echo 15/09/04

Making hoax emergency calls cost lives and money, fireman warns

A WINSFORD firefighter is warning hoax callers that they are risking people's lives and face the prospect of prosecution if they make malicious phone calls.

Winsford Guardian 16/04/06

Drug support is a Footstep away comment

ARE you suffering because someone in your family is addicted to drugs?

Widnes World 16/09/04

24 hour targets

STROKE patients will soon be scanned within 24 hours, health chiefs have vowed.

Widnes World 16/09/04

2,000 patients forced to find new doctors

MORE than 2,000 patients face finding a new doctor with the closure of the Upton Rocks practice.

Widnes World 16/09/04

Hospital will offer privacy to women

WARRINGTON Hospital will treat female patients in a dedicated women's health room once the final phase of modernisation is completed at its accident and emergency department.

Warrington Guardian 16/09/04

Let's get alleygates up

I AM writing to express my anger to those residents in French Street who have objected against the alleygates. I would just like to say, thanks to them our entry now looks very untidy and will more than likely attract gangs and rubbish dumping.

St Helens Star 16/04/06

Concerns for safety of refuse workers

A MIDDLEWICH pensioner has voiced concerns about the safety of refuse workers operating recycling vehicles in the town.

Middlewich Guardian 16/09/04

Residents back a total ban on public smoking

LIGHTING up in Crewe might be a thing of the past after 83 per cent of Cheshire residents supported a smoking ban in public places.

Crewe Guardian 16/09/04

Superbug putting off patients

Almost half of the public are nervous about having to go into a hospital because of the risks of the MRSA superbug, a survey has revealed.

Crewe Chronicle 16/09/04

Disgraceful performance by care trust

Rated 3 in Cheshire and Merseyside on Sep 16, 2004 at 03:23:45 GMT.
So, the Warrington Primary Care Trust has lost its previously gained two stars and been zero-rated (only one of 14 in the country and the only one in Cheshire and Merseyside).

Warrington Guardian 16/09/04

Health care shake-up to restore old system

Rated 3 in Cheshire and Merseyside on Sep 16, 2004 at 03:19:27 GMT.
LIVERPOOL'S front-line health services are in line for yet another major reorganisation - only two years after the previous shake-up.

Daily Post 16/09/04

DEAF AWARENESS FOR AMBULANCE STAFF

AMBULANCE staff are being taught how to communicate effectively with patients who have hearing problems.

Chester Evening Leader 16/09/04

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Public backing for new medical centre

RESIDENTS living near a Carlisle community garden have given their backing to plans to build a new medical centre on the site.

Carlisle News and Star 16/09/04

Unemployment static in Cumbria

UNEMPLOYMENT in Cumbria was almost unchanged last month,at 1.8 per cent of the workforce.

Carlisle News and Star 16/09/04

Nurses voiced fears for Toby

NURSES caring for tragic baby Toby Woods in the weeks before his death raised concerns about how he was treated by his mother, an inquest heard.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 16/09/04

A&E plan backed by senior staff

SENIOR hospital staff have stepped into the debate over the future of Chorley's A&E provision with the message: "Our department is not closing down".

The Citizen 16/09/04

Greater Manchester News

The last gasp for smoking?

AN OVERWHELMING majority of Cheshire residents would support a ban on smoking in public places.

Wilmslow Express 16/09/04

'Closure could be final'

MENTAL health patients have warned they could be driven to suicide if health bosses push ahead with controversial plans to axe two mental health wards at Hope Hospital.

Salford Advertiser 16/09/04

Caesarian birth hospital success

TAMESIDE Hospital is leading the way on reducing Caesarian births - with the lowest delivery rates in the North West and third best in the UK.

Tameside Advertiser 16/09/04

Nurse anger at link to Shipman

A PARISH nurse in Hyde has reacted angrily to reports she has been appointed to help heal the spiritual wounds left by mass murderer Dr Harold Shipman.

Tameside Advertiser 16/09/04

Doctors' anger at Shipman summons

DOCTORS in Hyde have rubbished accusations they were responsible for a catalogue of alleged failures that allowed Dr Harold Shipman's killing spree to continue.

Tameside Advertiser 16/09/04

Fellow doctors back Hyde GPs

FELLOW doctors have rallied in support of the six Hyde GPs facing professional misconduct charges over Harold Shipman's killing spree.

Tameside Advertiser 16/09/04
Dentists desert the NHS

MORE dentists than ever are closing their doors on NHS patients in Tameside.

http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/index/articles/article_id=5130.html

Dirty wards warning

ONE in 10 hospital wards in the north west are dirty and dusty, says a watchdog group which aims to tackle the deadly superbug MRSA.

Manchester Evening News 16/09/04

Health chiefs find cure for bad debts

THE financial state of the Bolton Primary Care Trust is looking healthy after clearing millions of pounds worth of debt in just two years.

Bolton Evening News 16/09/04







Posted by Kieran at 8:24 am 0 comments

Sunday, September 12, 2004

National and International News


New drive to fight asthma in children comment

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:23:09 GMT.
Hospitals, schools and doctors' surgeries will be told to overhaul the way they treat children with asthma under reforms to be unveiled by ministers this week.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=560824

Mental health tsar attacks draft Bill's 'hysterical' critics comment

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:21:59 GMT.
Senior official hits back at those who have labelled the Government's controversial reforms as 'unfit for the 21st century'

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=560827

Untrained and out of control: health chiefs target rogue plastic surgeons comment

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:20:49 GMT.
We do more nips and tucks than anywhere else in Europe but, until now, little has been done to rein in unscrupulous and untrained surgeons

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=560840

Binge drinkers 'risk babies with birth defects' comment

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:17:30 GMT.
All-party group calls for warning labels on alcohol bottles as EU considers use of shock images to deter smokers

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1302625,00.html

Salt victim backs food campaign

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:16:25 GMT.
Penny Kidwell had a hectic lifestyle before she suffered a devastating stroke at the age of 32. 'I was always at airports, grabbing a sandwich, before catching the next flight for my company,' she recalls. The long hours, the uncertainty and a fast-food diet ended when she collapsed at her parents' home in Devon and found herself paralysed down one side.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1302590,00.html

NHS seeking new solutions with a hat trick

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:15:00 GMT.
NHS managers have long been accused of focusing on little other than money and waiting-list targets, but their creativity is about to be unleashed thanks to a training programme known as the Six Hats Method, pioneered by the management guru Edward de Bono.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1302600,00.html

Fewer carrots, more of the stick

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:13:48 GMT.
Alan Milburn will have a new target in his sights: the 2.7 million people who claim incapacity benefit

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1302415,00.html

Focus: MMR: Repairing the damage

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:06:02 GMT.
Andrew Wakefield's claim that MMR was linked to autism has been debunked. Now experts must repair the damage done

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2761-1257350,00.html

MMR vaccine: Facts versus fantasies

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:04:56 GMT.
Children began receiving it in 1988 to provide immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). It is given at 13-15 months when immunity provided from mother to baby begins to wear off. About 10% of children do not develop antibodies, so a pre-school booster is given.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2761-1257927,00.html

Lack of doctors

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:03:27 GMT.
Every year thousands of top A-level students are turned away from medical schools while the NHS recruits thousands of doctors from around the world to help run hospitals. The reason there are not enough training vacancies for doctors is not simply bad planning or lack of government funding. For many years the British Medical Association has advised the government to restrict places to about 4,000 a year.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1257281,00.html

GPs ‘forced to guess’ child doses

Sep 12, 2004 at 14:00:59 GMT.
A QUARTER of children are routinely given the wrong prescriptions by their GPs, resulting in medical complications, illness and even death, a new survey has revealed.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1258285,00.html

Focus: Sick children pay high price for use of adult drugs

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:58:47 GMT.
Doctors are using adult medicines to treat children — often with tragic results, writes Camillo Fracassini

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1258046,00.htmlJenny Hjul: NHS received first aid, when major surgery was needed

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:53:46 GMT.
There is nothing quite like the NHS to bring governments out in hives. Such is its sanctity, so iconic is its status, that prime ministers or health ministers who dare to trifle with it do so at their peril. Even Margaret Thatcher at her union-bashing best couldn’t bring herself to privatise it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1257938,00.html

Fears of litigation prevent routine cancer exams

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:50:51 GMT.
Doctors are failing to carry out routine examinations for breast and prostate cancer for fear of offending patients or being accused of assault.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1257630,00.html

Jobless steered onto the sick list

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:49:03 GMT.
The crisis over Britain’s mounting incapacity benefit bill is being fuelled by jobcentre staff who routinely encourage dole applicants to make claims for sickness when they have only minor ailments.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1258417,00.html

NIP & YUK!

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:42:07 GMT.
Plastic surgery patient Paula King has told why she had mounds of disgusting fat cut away from her stomach - then showed off her WOUNDS on live TV.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=14632030%26method=full%26siteid=55768%26headline =nip---yuk--name_page.html

'Cosmetic Surgery Live' scenes defended

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:40:20 GMT.
A woman has told The People why she decided to show off her plastic surgery wounds on Five's controversial show, Cosmetic Surgery Live.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds15742.html

FURY AS £3.5M BABY UNIT FACES THE AXE

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:34:58 GMT.
Britain's top maternity unit is facing closure - just a year after it opened.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=14632091%26method=full%26siteid=55768%26headline =fury-as--pound-3-5m-baby-unit-faces-the-axe-name_page.html

Hospitals' faiths bias is revealed

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:32:30 GMT.
Hospital patients and staff of religions other than Christianity have limited access to religious and spiritual care, an Edinburgh University survey has found.

http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=8080&PHPSESSID=f6c087d4ef63cf7ab660d715 6cfb9247

Focus: An injection of competition

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:30:38 GMT.
A new health insurance firm backed by Dermot Desmond will take on VHI and Bupa — and should stimulate action on the way the market is regulated, write Douglas Dalby and Jane Suiter

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1256909,00.html

Tread Carefully When Stubbing Out Smoking, Warns Law Firm

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:28:59 GMT.
The results of a high profile campaign show the tide has definitely turned against smoking in the workplace but employers should tread carefully when trying to stub out this age-old problem.

http://www.legal-uk.co.uk/leg_news.taf?_function=detail&_record=209091&_UserReference=B0E 894390FBFABFDC4EEABD2&_start=1

Equipment boosts survival rates

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:24:57 GMT.
Life-saving heart equipment must be distributed to communities nationwide to stop people dying needlessly from sudden cardiac arrests.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/thehealthnews.html?in_article_id=31 7482&in_page_id=1797&in_a_source=

'Diagnosis by call centre'

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:22:49 GMT.
Out-of-hours calls to GPs will soon be answered by call-centre workers with no medical training in many areas.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/thehealthnews.html?in_article_id=31 7457&in_page_id=1797

A daughter's farewell

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:16:18 GMT.
Few people knew that Caron Keating had cancer — or of her seven-year quest for a cure. This is the untold story of her final years

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1244104,00.html

7.5 Million Britons Would Consider Cosmetic Surgery

Sep 12, 2004 at 13:06:42 GMT.
New research from the Body Beautiful Show has revealed that 20% of women (4.9 million) and 12% of men (2.6 million) want cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance; with waistline worries topping both men's and women's lists as the area most in need of the surgeon's knife.

http://www.woman-uk.co.uk/wom_news.taf?_function=detail&_record=208295&_UserReference=A6F 91BC7EE750ECCC4EEC2B3&_start=1

Prostate test 'all but useless'

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:30:08 GMT.
Thousands of men may have unnecessarily undergone an invasive operation to remove their prostate, sometimes suffering impotence and incontinence as a result, because of a screening test which was yesterday written off as all but useless.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1302085,00.html

Medical trials of cannabis show positive results

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:29:11 GMT.
Research could soon show that cannabis could be a helpful long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis sufferers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,2763,1302145,00.html

Bullish line by Reid on merits of NHS

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:27:51 GMT.
The health secretary, John Reid, told his European counterparts yesterday that Britain's tax-funded NHS will be able to cope with the health needs of an ageing population better than their social insurance systems.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,7369,1302237,00.html

Surgeons praise UK heart op safety

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:26:17 GMT.
Heart surgeons announced yesterday that cardiac operations are as safe in the UK and Ireland as anywhere in the world, but drew back from publishing league tables of individual consultants' death rates.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1302206,00.html

The fear of uncertainty

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:22:33 GMT.
Many new students find it tougher to adapt to university than they imagined. Barbara Lantin explains why.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2004/09/11/hstud11.xml&sSheet=/h ealth/2004/09/11/ixhmain.html

More surviving heart surgery

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:19:12 GMT.
The percentage of adults who die as a result of common heart surgery is lower in Britain than in the United States, a study of 210,000 patients showed yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;sessionid=JJ4MOEAUY32ZVQFIQMFSM54AVCBQ0JVC?xml =/news/2004/09/11/nheart11.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/09/11/ixnewstop.html&secureRefresh=true& _requestid=64389

How the fit and fabulous stay that way: Ty, 32

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:09:32 GMT.
Hip hop musician Ty, 32, loves Nigerian food and t’ai chi but also has a weakness for girlie drinks.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254738,00.html

The P45 exercise plan - 1

Sep 11, 2004 at 11:04:25 GMT.
Three breakfasts a day and canapés in trendy bars was standard fare for the deputy editor of The Face — but then redundancy inspired Tom Whitwell to break rocks and get fit

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254611,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254611_2,00.html

How to cheat at eating ... coleslaw

Rated 1 in Health; News on Sep 11, 2004 at 11:02:14 GMT.
Juliette Kellow taste tests a selection

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254588,00.html

A feast for the mind

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:34:55 GMT.
Can you turn a bitter experience into something sweet? Her great-grandmother Lilla’s recipe for survival in a Japanese concentration camp gave Frances Osborne food for thought

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254590,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254590_2,00.html

Sex with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson

Rated 1 in Health; News on Sep 11, 2004 at 10:32:07 GMT.
I am 58 and for the past year or so have had a problem in that, when aroused, my erection bends upwards and is not long enough or hard enough for penetration. My doctor says that there is no cure. Is there any way that we can continue to have sex?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254735,00.html

Irma Kurtz: Moving on: My partner's too nice

Rated 1 in Health; News on Sep 11, 2004 at 10:29:17 GMT.
Fifteen years ago I fell in love with a woman while I was on holiday alone, recovering from cancer — now totally cured. I was at a low ebb after months of treatment, but she completely transformed my life — picked me up and gave everything meaning again. She’s bubbly and enthusiastic about everything — it was just what I needed. Three years later, we were married. We have no children; I never really wanted them, though she did.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254993,00.html

Mark Henderson: Junk medicine: Hidden agendas

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:25:34 GMT.
Today’s scientists often complain that they are forced to operate in a climate of suspicion. Since the BSE crisis a decade ago, public faith in the objective nature of their work has been significantly eroded. Scientific opinion and advice that was once taken largely on trust now rarely passes unquestioned. To win support, the researcher must not only show that her methods and conclusions are sound. She must also convince the public of her honourable intentions.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254606,00.html

Dr Copperfield: Inside the mind of a GP: Drug costs

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:21:38 GMT.
A computer glitch let my patients find out the true cost of their drugs. Brilliant

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254609,00.html

Don’t leave me this way

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:19:13 GMT.
We recently enjoyed a lovely two-week family summer holiday but my 18-month-old son has not settled back into nursery, which he attends full-time. He cries and clings to me when I leave him there. The staff say he has been crying during the day and is not eating very much. He started nursery a year ago and settled in easily then — he seemed to enjoy being there. His unhappiness is very upsetting for all of us. What can we do?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254921,00.html

Monstrous good luck

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:17:00 GMT.
It’s nearly 2ft long, eats birds and mice, starves for nine months every year and is one of only two venomous lizards in the world. If it bites you it won’t let go and its venom can cause extreme pain, swelling, and vomiting. It has also provided the answer to one of the key puzzles faced by scientists looking for new treatments for diabetes.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254920,00.html

Gym mistress: Amanda Platell: View from the exercise bike

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:14:41 GMT.
It is unusually peaceful on the exercise bikes this morning. For the first time I can remember, I cycle alone.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254615,00.html

Nice men don't shout

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:11:54 GMT.
What do you do when a mate loses it? Bruce Millar takes the manly approach — horror and fear.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1255000,00.html

Bodylicious: Bits and pieces

Rated 1 in Health; News on Sep 11, 2004 at 10:09:06 GMT.
Anna Shepard looks at teeth cleaning products

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254612,00.html

Sorted: Eco-friendly cleaning products: Green germ warfare

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:07:15 GMT.
If you’re a devil with the dishwashing, a demon with the duster or a harpie with the Harpic, you may be doing the dirty on Mother Nature. Research has shown that more chemical pollution of the environment comes from domestic use of household products such as detergents and cosmetics than from the industries that produce the chemicals in the first place. So think before you flush — and try out these greener, cleaner products.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254596,00.html

Too posh to wash

Sep 11, 2004 at 10:03:58 GMT.
All of a sudden, I want to be unhygienic. I am sitting with Britain’s foremost celebrity scrubbers, Kim and Aggie, of TV’s How Clean is Your House? And Kim is in full flow. “If you are having guests, never leave them a bar of soap at the sink. You should have a pump-type soap dispenser,” she decrees. “You don’t want to share someone’s soap, they could have eczema. And you should leave them paper towels. It’s not fanaticism. It’s just showing a bit of thought.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254597,00.html

Sleep is the answer

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:58:14 GMT.
Ever woken up with the solution to the problem that was bugging you all day? You’re not alone. According to a new survey, nearly a third of us have our best ideas while in bed. Sadly for British industry, just 11 per cent of us have good ideas at work. Clearly we should be allowed to sleep on the job.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254709,00.html

Putting kids before costs

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:56:12 GMT.
The Government is finally tackling health in schools. But is it enough?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254722,00.html

Darian Leader: Analyse this: Teenage suicide pacts

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:53:05 GMT.
The tragic story of the suicide pact made by two teenage girls highlights a problem not only about bullying but about the unconscious processes at play during adolescence.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254718,00.html

On-line casinos lure women into hidden addiction

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:49:08 GMT.
Women and middle-class teenagers are now as likely to have a flutter as betting-shop punters because of the boom in internet casinos.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1256136,00.html

Don't forget the pills

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:36:55 GMT.
From remembering where we left our keys to recalling the names of acquaintances, we could soon be taking drugs that boost our memories

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254724,00.html

Interview: Kirsty Young: The show must go on

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:34:52 GMT.
TV’s Kirsty Young has always been a driven woman but, she tells Tim Teeman, a brush with death from meningitis early in her career made her even more ambitious

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254594,00.html

Foetal detraction

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:32:19 GMT.
Is the binge-drinking culture among young women boosting the number of babies born with severe mental disabilities, asks Lisa Grainger.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1254608,00.html

Moody? You’ve got PMT, mate

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:26:31 GMT.
Men suffer from the same monthly mood swings, loss of concentration and pain as premenstrual women, scientists said yesterday.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1256113,00.html

Cannabis study confirms benefit to MS patients

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:21:10 GMT.
Cannabis-based medicines may have long-term benefits for multiple sclerosis patients, a trial has shown.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1256116,00.html

Cannabis extract may slow symptoms of MS, study says

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:13:43 GMT.
Multiple sclerosis sufferers were offered a glimmer of hope yesterday by research suggesting cannabis can help to slow the disease.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=560551

Death rates of heart surgeons revealed

Sep 11, 2004 at 09:00:05 GMT.
Heart surgeons publicly counted their dead for the first time yesterday.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=560559

Cheshire and Mersey News

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Greater Manchester News

Posted by Kieran at 10:08 pm 0 comments

Sunday, September 05, 2004

National and International News


Ist Birthday issue - Editor's letter

A year ago Body&Soul had one thing on its mind. Was there an audience for a brand new section covering stem-cell research and sex advice, mammograms and marathons, Atkins and acupuncture? Everything, in short, that we talk about when we talk about health.

The Times 04/09/04

65pc rise in calls by self-harm children

Children as young as five are deliberately hurting themselves according to the authors of a new report which suggests there has been a massive escalation in the problem over the last decade.

The Observer 05/09/04

At last, an early warning system for baby's blues

The baby gurgles and giggles, pokes out its tongue and grasps a proffered finger. Then, inexplicably, it starts to cry.

The Independent 04/09/04

Cancer patients let down by insurers

Cancer sufferers are having their private health insurance withdrawn for vital follow-up treatment.

The Independent on Sunday 05/09/04

Catherine Bailey: If it feels good, do it

“Although I don’t think of myself as being good looking, I am lucky because the way I look is all to do with my genes — my mother, whose age I won’t divulge, looks fantastic. But as a model there is also pressure to look good. I divide my time between Devon, where my son Sascha is at school, and London. When I am in the country I am just Sascha’s mother, which is much easier as there are no expectations as to how I am supposed to look or dress. I live in my jeans and cowboy boots, and rarely look in the mirror. In London it’s different, I tend to think about how I dress for starters.

The Times 04/09/04

Joan Bakewell: Sunny side always up

“People tell me that I look younger than I am, but I don’t accept that. I think this is what people can look like when they’re 71, if they take a bit of trouble with their looks. Women are staying stylish for longer nowadays. I mean, when was the last time you saw an old woman in granny specs, with carpet slippers and grey hair in a bun?

The Times 04/09/04

Dr Copperfield: Inside the mind of a GP: Preventing illness

We've become so obsessed with preventing illness, we've forgotten quality of life.

The Times 04/09/04

Simon Crompton: Stories behind the headline

When is a consultant not a consultant? When he’s a consultant podiatric surgeon, apparently.

The Times 04/09/04 and Graphic

DIY allergy test kits 'can give false diagnoses'

A growing number of families are using unproven DIY allergy kits to test whether their children's behaviour is being affected by common foods or substances.

The Observer 05/09/04

Angela Gheorghiu: Happy on the inside

Knock a decade off your age with top tips from four celebrities and expert advice on the diet, exercise and beauty regimes to keep you looking great and feeling fabulous.

The Times 04/09/04

Nigel Havers: Never act your age

“I always thought that I looked rather odd. But when I was about 30 I grew into my looks. I had a youthful appearance for a long time, which annoyed me, but my first marriage was to someone eight years older than me and we made a pact that I would always add a few years to my age. When we divorced and I remarried, I took a few off. Once at an audition and they asked how old I was. I said: ‘How old do you want me to be, 42? OK, I’m 42.’ I think that’s the way to do it. My age has always been a mystery; I’ve always been running away from it, one way or another.

The Times 04/09/04

Health food that is saltier than sea

A Sainsbury's “health” food has been identified in a new study as one of the saltiest foods in Britain, with a concentration almost 50% greater than sea water.

The Sunday Times 05/09/04

Mark Henderson: Junk medicine: Seeking the elixir of life

Don’t bet on a cure for ageing — evolution has stacked the odds against it

The Times 04/09/04


How the fit and fabulous live that way: Paddy Haynes, 81

Daredevil Paddy Haynes, 81, says staying young is a state of mind — and dates with dishy pilots.

The Times 04/09/04

Loving it: The seven ages of sex

Relationships are a game of roulette, says Suzi Godson, the ball can go round the wheel at any age.

The Times 04/09/04

Most MPs want ban on public smoking

A ban on smoking in public places, including pubs and shopping centres, is supported by a majority of MPs.

The Independent on Sunday 05/09/04

Julie Myerson and Oscar Humphries: Attitude

Why Julie Myerson loves her wrinkles and Oscar Humphries revels in being reckless.

The Times 04/09/04

Obesity hormone 'cure for infertility'

Injections of a hormone that is normally a factor in obesity can help to kick-start the ailing reproductive systems of overly thin women, new research has shown.

The Observer 05/09/04

On the streets of binge Britain

Every weekend, Britain's town centres are transformed into scenes of drunken mayhem and soaring levels of violence. Jay Rayner visits the front line and asks whether licensing laws are to blame or a drinks industry that has wooed a generation with cheap alcopops and vodkatinis.

The Observer 05/09/04

Patients 'in fear on mental care wards'

A disturbing report into the state of Britain's psychiatric units will be published this week, showing that many patients feel threatened and unsafe in the very places where they are treated.

The Observer 05/09/04
The Independent on Sunday 05/09/04

Patient is held over murder of banker

A psychiatric patient was charged last night with the murder of a banker, who was killed in a frenzied knife attack while cycling through a London park.

The Times 04/09/04

Prisoner suicides rise to record level in overcrowded jails

A record number of inmates killed themselves in English jails last month, triggering concerns about the ill effects of the prison population rising so rapidly.

The Independent 04/09/04

Radical behaviour

Dump the potions and the wrinkle creams: just eat yourself younger. Dark-coloured foods can help the years fall away, says Simon Crompton

The Times 04/09/04
The Times 04/09/04

Sex with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson

I’m a 16-year-old girl and in a great relationship with my 17-year-old boyfriend. We’ve been together for six months and he wants to have sex with me. I think that I want to have sex with him. But I’m a bit nervous and don’t know what to expect. Am I ready? Am I ready for love?

Times 04/09/04

Survival rate is very healthy

Reports suggest that Bill Clinton had been suffering increasingly severe chest pains and breathlessness for some days before he was admitted to hospital.

The Times 04/09/04

The latest breakthroughs, tips and trends

The dream of immortality has taken a step closer to being realised this week with the announcement of a breakthrough which, in the shorter term, promises new hope for transplant patients.

The Times 04/09/04
The Times 04/09/04 Graphic 1 and Graphic 2

The wonder drug that can transform a story

The press's fascination with health scares and miracle cures is enough to make you feel queasy.

The Independent on Sunday 05/09/04

Waiting list row blights Brighton

Tony Blair's opportunities for showcasing Labour's NHS achievements at the party conference in Brighton this month were blighted yesterday when the local hospitals were implicated in a waiting list fiasco.

The Guardian 04/09/04

Weight Watchers slim for free on the NHS

Doctors will be allowed to refer fat patients to slimming clubs such as Weight Watchers for free courses at the taxpayer’s expense under a new initiative to tackle the obesity epidemic.

The Sunday Times 05/09/04

Posted by Kieran at 4:56 pm 0 comments

Wednesday, July 28, 2004

National and International News


Better-off seek more cancer advice

A breast cancer study has shown that, after treatment, women from deprived areas suffer from higher levels of anxiety and are less well-informed than affluent women.

The Scotsman 28/07/04

Bid to boost care of self-harmers

People who deliberately harm themselves are being offered inadequate treatment, according to a health service watchdog.

BBC Health News 28/07/04
The Guardian 28/07/04
The Independent 28/07/04
NHS Direct 28/07/04

Communications News: Safe sex week calls on young to get help early

The sexual health charity FPA will launch its largest-ever multimedia campaign during Sexual Health Week to encourage young people to seek advice about sexually transmitted infections as soon as they notice any symptoms.

ThirdSector 28/07/04

Crisis over rise of 'silent sex' disease

Nearly 90,000 Brits now have infertility-causing sex disease chlamydia, it was revealed yesterday.

The Mirror 28/07/04
Financial Times 28/07/04
The Times 28/07/04*
The Times 28/07/04*
The Times 28/07/04*
The Times 28/07/04
The Independent 28/07/04

Curing by postcode

A new method of mapping out illness will help to pinpoint NHS spending

The Times 28/07/04

Doctor's orders: tea tonic

Drink plenty of tea to keep your blood pressure down. A Taiwanese study has found that the odds of developing hypertension were cut by nearly half among people who drank one small cup a day, and by about two thirds among those who drank 20 ounces or more. There was no difference between those drinking green and black tea, it said.

The Times 28/07/04

DoH reveals plans to abolish NHS Estates

NHS Estates is to be closed, raising questions about the future of its £2.1bn ProCure 21 partnering programme.

Contract Journal 28/07/04

Fat Street

Can 200 Brummie slimmers save obese Britain?

The Mirror 28/07/04
The Independent 28/07/04

Health secretary approves 14 PFI hospitals

Fourteen private-finance hospitals worth more than 4bn were given the go-ahead yesterday by John Reid - in part to let constructors and financiers plan for the work.

Financial Times 28/07/04
The Guardian 28/07/04
The Times 28/07/04
The Independent 28/07/04*

'Last obstacle' to smoking ban removed

A ban on smoking in public places moved a step closer today when the chief medical officer said one of the last obstacles had been removed.

The Guardian 28/07/04

Lithium Isn't Much Help for Teens with Mania

New York (Reuters Health) - Mania, often a component of bipolar disorder, can be treated with lithium, but it doesn't seem to be very effective for adolescents with the condition.

Reuters 28/07/04

Pain Assessment in Nursing Homes Varies Widely

New York (Reuters Health) - Pain is a frequent companion for many nursing home residents, and it often goes unattended because of a breakdown in communications, investigators report.

Reuters 28/07/04

Pesticides found in 43% of fruit and vegetables traces of pesticide

More than four out of ten items of fruit, vegetable and cereals on sale in Britain contain traces of pesticide, according to a new report which reveals the extent of chemical contamination in the food chain.

The Independent 28/07/04

Raj Persaud: A doctor's diagnosis - the NHS is not recovering

Managerial inefficiency is endemic and, as a result, quality of care continues to deteriorate.

The Independent 28/07/04

Rural GPs 'aghast' at out-of-hours reforms

A group of rural GPs have written to Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, Jack McConnell, the First Minister, and Malcolm Chisholm, the health minister, voicing concerns at new arrangements for out-of-hours calls.

The Scotsman 28/07/04

Surprising market leadership

You wouldn't normally expect public services to be in the forefront of anything very significant, much less local authorities. However, while it is only a minority of local authorities that have implemented enterprise (corporate) performance management as yet, it is clear, at least in some respects, that those that have are ahead of most of their private counterparts.

IT Analysis.com 28/07/04

Warning on UK's 'hidden HIV crisis'

The UK's "hidden" HIV crisis and the need to tackle it is being highlighted by England's Chief Medical Officer.

IC Network 28/07/04

Cheshire and Mersey News

Child offenders face drug tests in pilot programme

Liverpool is to pilot a scheme which will involve the drug testing of child offenders as young as 14.

Daily Post 28/07/04

Cutting-edge future for Mersey healthcare

Merseyside can look forward to the most technologically advanced health care in Europe, thanks to a massive £1bn hospital building programme announced yesterday.

Daily Post 28/07/04
Daily Post 28/07/04

Emergency stars

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service (MRAS) is performing well overall according to the latest NHS annual performance ratings.

Southport Champion 28/07/04

Hospital Thanks

Allow me to thank doctors, nurses and ward staff on Ward 14 of Arrowe Park Hospital.

Wirral Globe 28/07/04

Public burial for organ row babies

The funerals of 1,000 unidentified babies caught up in the Liverpool organ retention scandal will be public events.

Liverpool Echo 27/07/04

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Equality group faces closure

Bury Racial Equality Council is staring at extinction after a second plea for cash help was turned down.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/07/04

October date for views on future of baby unit

Campaigners fighting to save Fairfield's Special Care Baby Unit will have to wait three months before they can make their views officially known.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/07/04

Greater Manchester News

Heart transplant boy in dog attack

A terrified four-year-old awaiting a heart transplant was scarred for life when he was savaged by a dog.

Manchester Evening News 28/07/04

Other Bits and Pieces

Boy's designer baby surgery makes history

Five-year-old Charlie Whitaker has made British medical history by becoming the first child to receive a transplant from his "designer baby" brother

Yorkshire Post 28/07/04

Posted by Kieran at 9:13 am 0 comments

National and International News


4bn hospital projects green light

Health Secretary John Reid has given the go-ahead for 15 new NHS hospital development projects in England, together worth a total of 4 billion.

Evening Standard 27/07/04
The Guardian 27/07/04
BBC Health News 27/07/04
IC Network 27/07/04

86 per cent of nursing chiefs say design of hospital buildings improve the performance and morale of NHS nurses

BE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) has today urged the Government to consider the role and importance of hospital design as a way to improve the performance and morale of staff within the NHS. In a major new research report[1], 86 per cent of Directors of Nurses surveyed believed that the design and functioning of hospital buildings impacts significantly on the performance of nursing staff working within them.

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment 27/07/04

Alarm over West Nile virus cases

Holidaymakers heading for Europe, the US and Canada were last night warned to protect themselves against mosquito bites in a bid to keep the potentially deadly west Nile virus out of Britain.

The Guardian 27/07/04

Automated messaging service provides safety lifeline for lone waterboard workers

Utility uses automated mobile alert service to monitor staff in the field

Computer Weekly 27/07/04

'Balloon' may save unborn threatened by lung condition

Hundreds of unborn babies afflicted with a common but often fatal foetal abnormality may be saved by a pioneering keyhole surgery technique in the womb, according to research published today.

The Independent 27/07/04*
The Guardian 27/07/04*
The Times 27/07/04*
The Times Graphic 27/07/04*

BBC to tackle weighty issue

It has made over our front rooms, transformed our gardens, and told us what not to wear. Now the BBC is embarking on its toughest challenge yet - helping the nation lose weight.

The Guardian 27/07/04*

Benzodiazepine Use and Hip Fractures in the Elderly

Conclusion: The incidence of hip fracture appears to be associated with benzodiazepine use. Contrary to several previous studies, short half-life benzodiazepines are not safer than long half-life benzodiazepines. Hip fracture risk is highest during the first 2 weeks after starting a benzodiazepine and declines thereafter.

Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1567-1572

Blair urged to ban public smoking

The World Medical Association has called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to show "political courage" and ban smoking in all public places in the UK.

IC Kent 27/07/04

Bosses urged to go green

More businesses are taking note of their environmental responsibilities but bosses who break the law face large personal fines, according to a new report.

ePolitix.com 27/04/07
The Independent 27/07/04*

Britons 'more vulnerable to terrorism than 60 years ago'

The 24-hour convenience culture has hit Britons' ability to cope with emergencies ranging from a simple power cut to a major terrorist strike, a senior policeman warned yesterday.

The Independent 27/07/04*
The Times 27/07/04*

Careful how you go

As the world becomes a smaller place, we must be aware that along with new sights, sounds and experiences come new illnesses. It has been estimated that up to 80% of travellers will experience sickness while away. This may often be minor, such as sunburn or diarrhoea, but UK doctors are seeing increasing amounts of rare tropical conditions. Malaria, dengue fever and even rabies are on the increase - all contracted abroad with symptoms developing at home.

The Guardian 27/07/04

Concern over 'hidden' HIV cases

Action is needed to cut the number of people unaware they are infected with HIV, England's Chief Medical Officer is expected to say.

BBC Health News 27/07/04

Debt warning on NHS finances

NHS Trusts could be driven to bankruptcy by the Government’s key policy to improve health service funding, the public spending watchdog cautioned yesterday.

The Times 27/07/04*

Diagnosis of Intra-amniotic Infection by Proteomic Profiling and Identification of Novel Biomarkers

Intra-amniotic infection (IAI) is commonly associated with preterm birth and adverse neonatal sequelae. Early diagnosis of IAI, however, has been hindered by insensitive or nonspecific tests.

JAMA. 2004;292:462-469

Doctors fear for Scotland's teenage drinkers

Hundreds of children as young as 11 are being admitted into Scotland’s hospitals every year with alcohol poisoning, according to a new report.

The Times 27/07/04*

Doctors ordered to warn of antidepressant dangers

Doctors will be required to warn all patients under 30 of the suicide risk posed by the antidepressant Seroxat following an investigation into the drug by a European medical agency, it emerged today.

The Guardian 27/07/04

Doctor's orders

Don’t drink too much coffee if you are diabetic. Researchers at Duke University in North Carolina found a strong correlation between caffeine intake at mealtimes and increased levels of glucose and insulin among people with type 2 diabetes.

The Times 27/07/04

Euthanasia director quits

A second senior figure in the Voluntary Euthanasia Society (VES) has stepped down in a dispute over the expulsion of a former chairman, according to reports yesterday. Jean Davies has resigned as a director just days after the resignation as president of the broadcaster Sir Ludovic Kennedy.

The Independent 27/07/04

Fury at fall in mental health trust ratings

Mental health charities describe the performance of mental health trusts as “dismal” and say it is a scandal that almost one in 10 got zero stars. Rebecca Ellinor reports.

Care and Health.com 27/07/04

Government is accused of playing politics with food safety

Tony Blair is being urged by ministers and the meat industry to resolve a row in Government about scrapping a key BSE control over the safety of British beef.

The Times 27/07/04*

MPs criticise support scheme

The government's new funding programme to help 1 million vulnerable housing tenants has been criticised by a committee of MPs today after going £1bn over budget.

The Guardian 27/07/04*

NHS IT benefits 'not being realised'

The government may be wasting billions of pounds on IT projects for the NHS, including those covering online appointments with GPs and electronic patient records, a thinktank warned today.

The Guardian 27/07/04
Silicon.com 27/07/04
Full IPPR Report

Lifetime Nonnarcotic Analgesic Use and Decline in Renal Function in Women

Conclusion: Higher lifetime use of aspirin and NSAIDs is not associated with renal function decline, but high acetaminophen use may increase the risk of loss of renal function. The absolute risk of renal function decline due to even high lifetime analgesic intake seems to be modest.

Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1519-1524

Men's Health MOT

You don't need to be a petrol-head to know that whatever car you happen to park in the garage, if you stop looking after it, you end up paying the price. Every engine needs an oil change; the air filter cleaning out and the cylinders checked and greased every once in a while and for most of us guys at least, keeping our cars happy also keeps us happy so we don't mind doing it.

Funny then, that we don't have the same attitude about keeping our own engines in good order (by which I mean heart and lungs rather than gasket and piston). Twice as many women visit the doctor than do men and even if there are twice as many 'women's problems' for them to talk about, that's still no excuse.

Woman-UK 27/07/04

Randomized Trials of Vitamin E in the Treatment and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Conclusion: The ORs and CIs provide strong support for a lack of statistically significant or clinically important effects of vitamin E on cardiovascular disease. The use of agents of proven lack of benefit, especially those easily available over the counter, may contribute to underuse of agents of proven benefit and failure to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1552-1556

Raynsford unveils council joint working plan

They will be structured around three key themes: children and young people; safer and stronger communities; and health and older people. Local agreements are the first strand of the 10-year vision for local government currently being compiled by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in consultation with councils.

The Guardain 27/07/04*

Self-harm becoming 'epidemic'

The number of Britons deliberately harming themselves is reaching "epidemic" levels, according to an NHS watchdog.

The Guardian 27/07/04
The Independent 27/07/04*
The Independent 27/07/04*

Seize the daytime

A controversial new drug has sounded a wake-up call for narcoleptics.

The Times 27/07/04*

Sex infections on rise

Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise, health protection experts warned today.

The Guardian 27/07/04
The Independent 27/07/04*
Reuters 27/07/04
The Sun 27/07/04
Tiscali News 27/07/04
Yahoo News 27/07/04

Stem cells hope in stroke therapy

Master cells taken from foetuses may help to repair the brain damage suffered by stroke victims, a new study of rats has suggested.

The Times 27/07/04*

Suicidal woman failed by mental services

A suicidal young woman was helped to die by her father after being failed by the mental health team assigned to her case, a scathing report concluded yesterday.

The Times 27/07/04*

Trials and errors

You could end up on a new wonder drug or on a useless placebo. So would you be a guinea pig if your GP suggested it? Sophie Petit-Zeman on clinical trials

The Guardian 27/07/04

Uric Acid Level as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Middle-aged Men

Conclusion: Serum uric acid levels are a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease mortality in healthy middle-aged men, independent of variables commonly associated with gout or the metabolic syndrome. Serum uric acid measurement is an easily available and inexpensive risk marker, but whether its relationship to cardiovascular events is circumstantial or causal remains to be answered.

Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1546-1551

We are left footing the PFI bill

Jarvis, one of the country's leading PFI contractors, is on the brink of collapse. With debts of £230m and bank covenants broken, the group's banks have given Jarvis a waiver against the breaches until the end of the week, the effective deadline for the group to produce its results for the year.

The Guardian 27/07/04*

Cheshire and Mersey News

Ambulances win cash reward

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service is to receive up to £500,000 extra funding after hitting response time targets to get ambulances to life-threatening emergencies.

Daily Post 26/07/04

Blame for patients in superbug crisis

Claims that most MRSA superbug infections are caused by patients cluttering wards with their belongings were today criticised by victims.

Liverpool Echo 26/07/04

Hospital says crime fight wins a clean bill of health

Crime at University Hospital Aintree has fallen by 40% in the past year since new safety measures were introduced.

Daily Post 26/07/04*

Hospitals win cash rewards for hitting waiting time targets

Five Merseyside hospital trusts are to receive up to £500,000 extra funding after hitting crucial waiting time targets in their accident and emergency departments.

Daily Post 27/07/04*

Rap for TV show sex by Mersey health boss

Merseyside's public health chief has criticised Channel Four's Big Brother after two of its housemates romped under a table.

Liverpool Echo 27/07/04

Water pollution cases rise by 25pc

Pollution incidents in the water industry rose by 25% last year - but pollution caused by industry generally is down.

Daily Post 27/07/04

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Advice for the protection of public health following the fire on Tuesday, 27 July 2004 at Lancaster Synthesis, White Lund Industrial Estate, Morecambe.

Members of the public are advised to avoid bodily contact with the water of the River Lune at any point between Skerton Weir in Lancaster and Ashton Hall south (downstream) of Lancaster.

Lancaster.gov.uk 27/07/04

Leaflet aims to beat terrorists

An emergency leaflet is being launched to help Lancashire residents prepare for disasters.

Preston Today 27/07/04

Greater Manchester News

Drug tests for young suspects

Arrested teenagers as young as 14 will be tested for drugs in an experiment in Manchester.

Manchester Evening News 27/07/04

Health chiefs pay tribute to retired hospital boss

The chairman of the Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust board has said former chief executive John Brunt was "under a lot of stress and pressure".

Bolton Evening News 27/07/04

Hospital wins top rating in league table

Hospital bosses in Leigh are celebrating after they were recognised as being one of the best performing hospitals in the country.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 27/07/04*

Plan for six new health centres

Multi--million pound health centres are planned for Bolton.

Bolton Evening News 27/07/04

Sex scourge of Big Brother

Brother's steamy scenes are encouraging young people to "play Russian Roulette" with sex, a top health boss said today.

Manchester Evening News 27/07/04

Smoking ban for town centre shoppers

SPINDLES and Town Square shopping centre will be virtually smoke free from September 1.

Oldham Chronicle 27/07/04

Two care home staff suspended

Two members of staff have been suspended after allegations of abuse at a council-run care home in Farnworth.

Bolton Evening News 27/07/04*

Posted by Kieran at 6:13 am 0 comments

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