National and International News
Thousands sent vCJD epidemic warning
Thousands of patients have been sent warnings by the Government telling them that they may have been exposed to vCJD through blood plasma products.
The Telegraph 21/09/04
In search of an alternative
We make millions of visits to complementary medicine practitioners, but scientists dismiss them and the NHS won't pay them, finds Anna Ford.
The Telegraph 21/09/04
Increases in funding for NHS may not improve care
Spending on the NHS is rising at least 50 per cent faster than the number of patients being treated, a think-tank report said yesterday.
The Independent 21/09/04
Thousands warned over vCJD
Thousands of patients were warned today they may have been exposed to vCJD through blood plasma products.
The Independent 21/09/04
Healthcare fails to keep pace with NHS spending
Healthcare activity in Britain has risen only half as much as NHS spending, analysts revealed today.
The Guardian 21/09/04
US consortium offers £1.5bn for Warner Chilcott
Women's healthcare business Warner Chilcott has been approached with a £1.5bn cash offer by a consortium of American private equity companies, believed to include the Blackstone Group.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Seroxat and Prozac 'can make people homicidal'
Evidence that antidepressant drugs like Seroxat and Prozac could make people homicidal is being ignored by the body responsible for regulating medicines in the UK, a leading expert said yesterday.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Regular migraines linked to brain damage
Frequent sufferers of migraines have an increased risk of brain damage, researchers said today.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Unemployed 'trapped in housing ghettos'
Government housing policies and social landlords' practices are unintentionally creating pockets of unemployment and deprivation, Whitehall's Social Exclusion Unit warned today.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Patients warned of vCJD risk
Thousands of patients have been warned they may have been exposed to vCJD through blood plasma products.
The Guardian 21/09/04
New medical research
A new blood test for ovarian cancer, which can develop without obvious warning signs, has been announced in Cancer Research (Sept 15). The test seeks evidence of hypermethylation - a mechanism that cancer cells use to turn off genes that help to prevent tumours developing, say researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Centre, who say the test has not produced any negative results in 70 test subjects.
The Times 21/09/04
NHS gets tough on abuse
THE NHS is striking back at abusive patients with a new armoury of legal weapons.
The Times 21/09/04
Jet-set nurses set for lift-off
THERE might not have been any "mass invasion" of Eastern European workers into Britain after the expansion of the European Union earlier this year, but we may instead see an influx of public-sector workers commuting by jet from poorer countries in the former Communist bloc, a workforce expert predicts.
The Times 21/09/04
Care homes face staffing crisis
ELDERLY people's care homes face a severe crisis of staffing and a need for dramatically increased numbers of beds, according to three reports.
The Times 21/09/04
It was Blair's duty to tell us if his son Leo had MMR jab
Richard Horton, the editor of The Lancet, dissects the MMR controversy in a new book.
The Times 21/09/04
Bulimia is bigger threat for fat children
CHILDREN who eat too much or become overweight are more likely to develop bulimia nervosa - the bingeing and purging eating disorder - when they are adults, researchers have found.
The Times 21/09/04
Hope for doomed leukaemia children
A NEW drug could save the lives of many children with leukaemia who have not responded to other treatments.
The Times 21/09/04
NHS advised to measure health benefits
SPENDING on healthcare in Britain is rising nearly twice as fast as the amount of care provided, according to the Office of Health Economics.
The Times 21/09/04
Witness the event
Concern has been raised over a birth control patch after claims it has caused blood clot-related deaths in America, reports say.
Sky News 21/09/04
Woman GP flaunted affair with patient
A female GP flaunted an affair with one of her patients and helped him bug the office of a colleague, a medical committee heard today.
Daily Mail 21/09/04
ASTHMA DRUG 'LEFT GIRL DEAD'
A FATHER has told how his five-year-old daughter died after falling ill from the effects of a common asthma treatment drug.
Daily Record 21/09/04
More blood problems
The Department of Health is writing to more than 6,000 haemophiliacs and other recipients of blood plasma products.
Channel 4 News 21/09/04
New US guidelines on prevention of VTE
The American College of Chest Physicians has published revised guidelines on the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), updated from their previous version published in 2001. They make recommendations covering a wide range of situations, and include suggestions for preventing VTE due to long-distance travel.
UKMiCentral 21/09/04
Lib dems pledge to move asylum decision making to independent agency
Responsibility for making decisions on asylum applications would be removed from the Home Office and transferred to an independent agency under proposals announced by the Liberal Democrats at their party conference this week, writes Amy Taylor. C
Communitycare.co.uk 21/09/04
UK warns on mad cow exposure
Six thousand Britons are to be told they may have been exposed to the human form of mad cow disease through blood products, the government said on Tuesday.
CNN 21/09/04
UK scraps embryo fee hike
The British government's fertility watchdog has scrapped plans for a 30-fold increase in embryo research license fees, The Scientist has learned. The news was greeted with great relief by researchers.
The Scientist 21/09/04
Human cells produce morphine
Researchers in Germany have found solid evidence that human cells can generate morphine. Their findings, reported this week in PNAS, may help resolve years of debate.
The Scientist 21/09/04
Living on your own could be the key to avoiding obesity
RESEARCHERS may have discovered the key to avoiding obesity - live on your own.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Youth Antidepressant Use Down Due to Risks-Medco
The number of children and teenagers taking antidepressants has fallen more than 20 percent this year after U.S. warnings the medicines may increase suicidal tendencies among youth, pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. said on Tuesday.
Reuters 21/09/04
Warning over 'Tragedy' Amid Hospital Closures
An MSP warned health minister Malcolm Chisholm that proposed hospital unit closures could end in "tragedy".
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Food Standards Agency Appoints New Director
The Food Standards Agency has today announced the appointment of Gill Fine as its Director of Consumer Choice and Dietary Health. Gill joins from Sainsbury's where she is Head of Food and Health. She takes up her post with the Agency on 11 October.
Catering UK 21/09/04
Health clinic opens doors
A NEW multi-purpose clinic providing a range of therapies has opened in Lothian.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
One-stop-shop wins award
AN £8 million complex bringing together health, community and council services has scooped a top national award.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Transfusion patients warned of increased vCJD risk
Rated 3 in National and International News on Sep 21, 2004 at 18:52:20 GMT.
Six thousand former NHS patients who have received blood plasma products will be told this week if they have an increased risk of developing the human form of CJD.
Northern Ireland On The Internet 21/09/04
Device to save hospitals billions
Imagine a computer program so clever, it senses the level of pain a patient is in and measures the exact amount of pain relief and sedative drugs they need.
CNN 21/09/04
Landmark tobacco trial begins
After five years of legal wrangling, the nation's largest cigarette-makers are meeting federal lawyers in court for the trial phase of the government's record $280 billion civil racketeering suit against the tobacco industry.
CNN 21/09/04
Call for combined HIV and TB care
Health experts say combining TB and HIV testing and treatment could save the lives of up to 500,000 HIV positive Africans a year.
BBC Health News 21/09/04
Dr Daniel's 'miracle' cure
Yesterday this doctor claimed to have found a herbal treatment for cancer. Is she brave or irresponsible? Sarah Ebner reports.
The Guardian 21/09/04
The experts run for cover
Doctors are afraid to give evidence in child abuse trials in case they are vilified in the media and carpeted by the GMC. There are fears that their silence is putting children at risk. Clare Dyer reports.
The Guardian 21/09/04
'I love him. I miss him and I can't imagine things ever being the same again'
A year after her husband's stroke, Julie Green tells Joanna Moorhead about the impact on her family.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Crash Britons to be released from hospital
An investigation is under way into a bus crash on the Canary Islands which killed two Britons and injured more than 40 more.
Channel4 News 21/09/04
Poisonous detritus of the electronic revolution
Thousands of tonnes of 'e-waste', some of it highly toxic, is being sent illegally from Britain to Africa and Asia.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Zoe Williams: They tuck you up
Whenever a nightly TV show finishes, it's natural to experience feelings of withdrawal; and in the chasm between the end of Cosmetic Surgery Live and the white-knuckle excitement of the Labour party conference, those feelings will be all the more intense.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Blue notes
I'm shedding pounds and worrying about my health, which means depression cannot be far away.
The Guardian 21/09/04
Cancer remedy claims dismissed
Rated 3 in National and International News on Sep 21, 2004 at 06:45:38 GMT.
Experts have dismissed claims a herbal remedy can treat cancer.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
Clue to 'blocking' bowel cancer
Scientists say they have found a way to prevent bowel cancer from growing.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
Gel may 'replace pills and jabs'
Medication in a gel form could replace hard to swallow pills and painful injections, Indian scientists hope.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
India to cross-check Aids numbers
India's health ministry is to appoint private consultants to determine how many people in the country are infected with the Aids virus.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
Cannabis chemical pregnancy link
A cannabis-like chemical may be important for normal pregnancy, US researchers believe.
BBC Health News 19/09/04
Body clocks 'hinder' space travel
Researchers think the human body clock could hinder space exploration.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
Diabetics 'must test blood more'
Diabetics should be checking their blood sugar levels more regularly to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes, US research shows.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
Child 'overeaters' become bulimic
Children who are overweight and eat too much risk the binge eating disorder bulimia as adults, say psychiatrists.
BBC Health News 20/09/04
Defeating the demons
Obsessive compulsive disorder ruins people's lives, says actor and screenwriter Ian Puleston-Davies, but it can be treated.
The Telegraph 20/09/04
Hotelier, 85, risks prison in GP protest
AN 85-YEAR-OLD hotel owner says she is prepared to go to prison in protest as part of a bid to restore full-time medical cover to an Orkney island.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Asthma drug's effects killed five-year-old girl
A FATHER has told how his five-year-old daughter died after she became ill from the effects of a common asthma treatment drug.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Help doctors beat a stealthy killer
GPs are being urged to help identify as many as 300,000 people across the UK thought to be unwittingly carrying hepatitis C - a slow burning, blood-borne viral infection that can lead to cancer and liver failure if it's not picked up and treated. Most people who become infected make a full recovery, but one in three will go on to develop liver cancer or irreversible liver failure 20 to 30 years later. If the infection is picked up soon enough, modern antiviral drugs can prevent most of the long-term damage, but fewer than 5,000 people received such treatment last year.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Immediate Breast Repair After Mastectomy Okay
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who undergo mastectomy for breast cancer can have their breast rebuilt at the time of surgery without delaying chemotherapy, if this treatment is also needed, new research shows.
Reuters 21/09/04
High-Dose Morphine Safe for Hospice Patients
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The use of high or very high doses of morphine is safe for hospice patients being cared for at home, and does not reduce life expectancy, according to a report in the journal Cancer.
Reuters 21/09/04
Obese victims at greater risk of dying from crashes and other accidents
OBESE people who are the victims of car crashes or other accidents are significantly more likely to die of their injuries than other patients, research claimed today.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Future of GPs' system still unclear
Uncertainty continues to surround the future of core software used by more than half of England's GP surgeries, despite an attempt by the national programme for IT in the NHS to clarify its plans.
Computer Weekly 21/09/04
Openness will improve public IT success
In the first of a series on the IT policies of the main political parties, the Liberal Democrats explain why they support publication of Gateway Reviews
Computer Weekly 21/09/04
Put lives before money
Supporting People is an initiative that enables the vulnerable to live independently in the community. Without it, they would probably be homeless or in institutional care. Clearly, it is a good thing. Uptake confirms its value. Since its inception in April last year, local authorities responsible for the most deprived areas in Scotland have marshalled resources to make sure they qualify for funds to help the elderly, the homeless, the victims of domestic violence, the mentally ill and those damaged by alcohol and drug addiction. Rarely can the adage, if you don't ask you don't get, have been put to better use in the public sector.
The Glasgow Herald 21/09/04
WHEN EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE IS A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
SCOTLAND is the world's asthma capital, but a recent report claimed there were shocking failures in how we managed the disease.
Daily Record 21/09/04
VITAL: ASK THE DOC
WHAT can I do to cure the stye in my eye?
Daily Record 21/09/04
Half-Ton Man Winning Diet Battle
A man who once weighed half a ton is shedding the pounds on a life-saving diet at a South Dakota hospital.
The Scotsman 21/09/04
Our sums add up, insist Lib Dems as they unveil tax rise for the rich
The Liberal Democrats tried to quash accusations that their "sums don't add up" yesterday as they unveiled "fully costed" spending plans to raise the top rate of tax to 50 per cent for the highest earners.
The Independent 21/09/04
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Photos found at hospital
I WORK on the Intensive Care Unit at Arrowe Park Hospital. Some photos were left in the relatives waiting room on Friday, September 3.
Wirral Globe 21/09/04
Silver Surfers
NHS Direct, for example, has an easy-to-use encyclopaedia that helps you find out more about health problems. You can also search for local services, including GPs, dentists, pharmacists and opticians. Just type in your postcode and NHS Direct gives details of your nearest place, including their address, phone number and opening hours.
Warrington Guardian 21/09/04
100m investment to bridge the North-South divide
A MAJOR 100m partnership, to help the North of England close the gap on the richer South, was unveiled by the Deputy Prime Minister yesterday.
Daily Post 21/09/04
Orders to cut booze crimes
NEW measures to combat alcohol-related crime in Liverpool are being introduced by the city council.
Liverpool Echo 20/09/04
Smokeless Liverpool in 12 months plan
SMOKING could be banned in Liverpool's shops, restaurants and pubs within 12 months.
Daily Post 21/09/04
Routes wrangle 'threat to trams'
MERSEYTRAVEL last night accused Liverpool city council of jeopardising the entire three-line Merseytram project.
Daily Post 21/09/04
Cats - the perfect stress buster
CATS really are the perfect stress buster says Lesley Park, who is "owned" by two of them.
Runcorn World 21/09/04
Strategy to help Halton's senior citizens
PLANS to improve the health and wellbeing of older, vulnerable people is a key feature of the new community strategy.
Runcorn World 21/09/04
Our son's brave battle
Stephen Bailey talks to the parents whose young son suffers from a rare disorder which affects only one in 3,000 children.
Runcorn World 21/09/04
Lancashire and Cumbria News
Families oppose children's home
RESIDENTS in the Whitehall area of Darwen are fighting plans to open a private children's home near their houses.
Lancashire Evening Telegraph 20/09/04
Pubs sign up for no-smoking zones
ALMOST 400 East Lancashire pubs could take their first step towards becoming smoke-free zones by the end of the year after five pub chains agreed to ban smoking at the bar.
Lancashire Evening Telegraph 20/09/04
Health chiefs will finally face public
HUNDREDS who attended the mass public meeting have vowed to voice their protests again this Monday to the local health authority.
Bury Times 21/09/04
Better-deal campaign for elderly
AGE Concern in Bury is launching a new campaign to urge the elderly to stand up for their rights and tackle ageism.
Bury Times 21/09/04
Greater Manchester News
Alternative college course for therapists to study
ALTERNATIVE therapists can now study for a degree in looking good and feeling great.
Bolton Evening News 20/09/04
Chief executive wants to develop 'huge potential'
DAVID Fillingham is a man on a mission. The 44-year-old father of two took over the reins at the Royal Bolton Hospital as its new chief executive two weeks ago.
Bolton Evening News 20/09/04
Safer sex campaign is launched
AN alarming rise in sexually transmitted infections across Greater Manchester has led to a radio station taking action.
Bolton Evening News 20/09/04
Drink up for cancer charity
DRINK up and help cancer patients - that's the message to coffee lovers in Trafford this month.
Sale and Altrincham Messenger 21/09/04
Wake up to realities of modern NHS
I AM writing in reply to Roger Bannister's letter of September 10: "Hospital profits are put before hygiene."
Bolton Evening News 21/09/04
Hospital under Tory spotlight
THE Royal Bolton Hospital will be put in the spotlight at this year's Conservative Party conference.
Bolton Evening News 21/09/04
Walk this way
DO you think you are getting enough exercise? For a variety of reasons - age and existing health conditions being the main ones - my wife and I have been fitting in what exercise we can manage for a few years now writes Frank Elson.
Bolton Evening News 21/09/04
