National and International News

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Contraceptive pill advert pulled

An advert for a contraceptive pill has been withdrawn after Catholics and other groups complained to the advertising watchdog.

BBC Health News 22/12/04
Daily Mail 22/12/04

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Doctor faces jail for faking MMR blood tests

A doctor is facing up to 10 years in jail after admitting faking blood tests to trick parents into believing that the separate inoculations he gave their children for measles, mumps and rubella were effective.

The Telegraph 22/12/04

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Behold the world's smallest baby - larger than life

SHE was 9in long when she was born and weighed under 8oz, about the weight of a fizzy drink can or a mobile phone.

The Times 22/12/04
The Guardian 22/12/04
Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Porn actress cleared of suicide charges

A PORN actress who was accused of aggressively feeding her disabled husband paracetemol was cleared yesterday of aiding and abetting his attempted suicide.

The Times 22/12/04

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Graphic: The push for painkillers

Graphic: The push for painkillers

The Times 22/12/04

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No drug is without any side-effects

IN SEPTEMBER Vioxx (rofecoxib) was withdrawn because it was found that patients taking it in the long term had a higher incidence of strokes and heart attacks than would be expected. At the time it was hoped that this problem would be caused by a peculiarity specific to Vioxx.

The Times 22/12/04

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Heart and stroke fears for million on painkillers

HUNDREDS of thousands of patients taking commonly prescribed painkillers should have their treatment reviewed by a doctor after growing concerns about possible health risks, a government watchdog said yesterday.

The Times 22/12/04
The Telegraph 22/12/04
Reuters 20/12/04
Reuters 21/12/04
Reuters 20/12/04
The Guardian 22/12/04
Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Scientists are alarmed by Ruth Kelly's strict beliefs

LEADING scientists are concerned that the new Education Secretary’s conservative views on stem-cell research could affect vital science in Britain.

The Times 22/12/04

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Deal for private care

ABOUT 1,000 NHS patients in Glasgow on the orthopaedic waiting list are to be seen, diagnosed and, if need be, treated in the private sector under a deal agreed yesterday.

The Times 22/12/04

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Small but deadly

Nanotechnology, using microscopic particles, may offer huge benefits to mankind. But let them loose in the human body, studies have found, and they will wreak havoc

The Independent 22/12/04

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Doctors call for radon-proof homes to cut cancer deaths

Doctors are calling for a change in the way houses are built to protect against radon gas, which causes 1,000 deaths a year in the UK. Described as the "worst environmental pollutant", radon is colourless and inert, and seeps up from the ground exposing people who breathe it to radiation, which can cause lung cancer.

The Independent 22/12/04
Medical News Today 21/12/04
The Guardian 22/12/04
BBC Health News 21/12/04
Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Investigation into child deaths finds 28 'unsafe' rulings

Twenty-eight parents convicted of killing their children after cot deaths or shaken baby syndrome could win substantial compensation after being told by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, that the evidence against them was "unsafe".

The Independent 22/12/04
The Telegraph 22/12/04
BBC Health 21/12/04

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Half a million pensioners 'are under-nourished'

Half a million older people in Britain are risking ill health because they cannot afford to eat enough, a charity warned today.

The Guardian 22/12/04
BBC Health News 22/12/04
Daily Mail 22/12/04

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Help for neglected older prisoners

We represent a range of voluntary organisations, but our common ground is an interest in the conditions for, and treatment of, older prisoners, whose number trebled in the decade to 2002 (Prisons accused of ignoring age trend, December 14).

The Guardian 22/12/04

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Six dangers for Labour

Fourth, the shift, by stealth, towards privatisation in health, housing and education, including the proposed cutbacks in civil service employment described as modernisation but actually a throwback to the Victorian era, when the marketplace and not the polling station ruled our lives.

The Guardian 22/12/04

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Canada approves cannabis drug

The prospects of using cannabis to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis were given a boost yesterday after Canadian regulators gave the go-ahead for a compound called Sativex to be developed by Britain's GW Pharmaceuticals.

The Guardian 22/12/04
BBC Health 21/12/04

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Ghosts of sisters past

At least Scrooge's spectral guests came only on one Christmas eve. For staff in hospitals around Britain, visits from beyond the grave could happen any night of the year. Mark Gould on the haunted wards where paranormal events can trouble even clinical minds

The Guardian 22/12/04

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Inquiry into fee-charging ATMs opens

Cash machine charges are excessive, unfair and on the increase, Citizens Advice told a group of MPs today.

The Guardian 22/12/04
The Guardian 22/12/04
The Telegraph 22/12/04

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Beith condemns Whitehall email destruction plan

It is no "coincidence" that a new Whitehall directive to destroy emails more than three months old comes just before the new Freedom of Information Act opens them up to public scrutiny, a senior MP complained today.

The Guardian 22/12/04

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Secret killings of newborn babies trap Dutch doctors in moral maze

Call for new rules to end dilemma for medical and legal professions

The Guardian 21/12/04

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Seaman has breast surgery on the Navy

The Royal Navy has paid for two sailors - one of them a man - to have cosmetic breast surgery.

The Telegraph 21/12/04

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Cancer fight needs to be 'more aggressive'

More aggressive measures to cut smoking and promote a healthy lifestyle are needed to reduce cancer deaths in the future, experts have said.

The Telegaph 20/12/04

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I was a prime suspect for rabies

Alarm bells rang when Verité Reily Collins told her Slovakian hotel doctor she had been bitten by a shepherd's dog – but worse was to come when she tried to get the rabies booster vaccine in Britain

The Telegraph 21/12/04

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Proof that acupuncture works – up to a point

Acupuncture significantly reduces pain and improves function in those suffering osteoarthritis of the knee, according to research published yesterday.

The Telegraph 22/12/04
Reuters 20/12/04

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BAA told to pay up for wheelchair assistance

The airports company BAA was found guilty of discrimination against disabled passengers yesterday and ordered to pay a half share of the cost of providing wheelchair assistance at Stansted.

The Telegraph 22/12/04

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Medics Answer AIDS Pill Drug Resistance Charge

A key anti-HIV/AIDS drug distributed in Africa causes drug resistance in pregnant women, but only if they ignore doctors' orders on how to take the pills, medical officials said on Monday.

Reuters 20/12/04

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Lung Symptoms Not Tied to First Gulf War Service

Ten years after their deployment, veterans of the Gulf War in 1990-1991 do not seem to be more likely than normal to develop lung or breathing problems, investigators report.

Reuters 20/12/04

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Canadian Man Jailed for Role in E. Coli Outbreak

Two brothers involved in a deadly tainted-water scandal that killed seven people in the small Ontario town of Walkerton were sentenced on Monday, one to a term in jail and the other to house arrest.

Reuters 20/12/04

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Meat Industry Sees No End Yet to Japanese Ban

No end is in sight to Japan's ban on imports of a U.S. beef, the head of a U.S. beef industry delegation said on Tuesday after a two-day visit to Japan aimed at speeding efforts to ease the ban.

Reuters 21/12/04

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New Tobacco Advertising Laws Come Into Effect

New controls on tobacco advertising came into effect in Britain on Tuesday, the latest step in a government campaign against smoking.

Reuters 21/12/04

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Don't Compromise Safety, Says Drug Import Report

Cheaper imported prescription drugs should not come at the expense of safety, said a U.S. government report issued on Tuesday that highlighted the problems of ensuring the medicines are equivalent to those purchased in the United States.

Reuters 21/12/04
Reuters 21/12/04

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Many Kids with ADHD Not Followed After Diagnosis

Children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are prescribed stimulant medication rarely receive optimal follow-up care, the results of a new study suggest.

Reuters 21/12/04

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Asthma Therapy Compliance Poor in Many Patients

Despite the high risk of exacerbation and even death, high-risk patients discharged after asthma hospitalizations often prematurely stop using prescribed corticosteroids, researchers report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Reuters 21/12/04

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Poor Sleep in Late Pregnancy Tied to Tougher Labor

First-time mothers who get little sleep late in pregnancy may have a longer labor and higher odds of a cesarean section than women who are more well-rested, a new study suggests.

Reuters 21/12/04

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Rare Pneumonia Found Among U.S. Soldiers in Iraq

A rare and sometimes deadly pneumonia has hit 18 U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq, and Army medical investigators are at a loss to explain the cause, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Reuters 21/12/04

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False Perception About Holidays and Dying

The common perception that terminally ill people try to hang on until after a major event like their birthday or a big holiday isn't true, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Reuters 21/12/04
BBC Health News 22/12/04

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Study Finds Genetic Link to Lung Cancer

Lung cancer appears to run in families, researchers said on Tuesday, though exposure to tobacco smoke is still the dominant cause of the disease even for those who may be genetically predisposed.

Reuters 21/12/04

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Knowing Metabolic Rate May Help Dieters

Devices that measure metabolic rate can tell dieters how many calories they need to eat each day to lose weight, according to experts.

Reuters 21/12/04

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Smelling Citrus Oils Prevents Asthma in Rats

A key ingredient in the aroma from citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons appears to protect rats from the symptoms of asthma, new research shows.

Reuters 22/12/04

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'Artificial life' comes step closer

Researchers at Rockefeller University in the US have made the first tentative steps towards creating a form of artificial life.

BBC Health News 18/12/04

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Mobile phones 'alter human DNA'

Radio waves from mobile phones do harm body cells and damage DNA, a laboratory study has shown.

BBC Health News 21/12/04

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Kick in the teeth over check-ups

Dentists have warned the Scottish Executive that they might not be able to meet its pledge of providing free dental checks for everyone by 2007.

BBC Health News 20/12/04

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Talent 'changes way brain works'

Scientists have uncovered clues about how the brain learns from watching the actions of others.

BBC Health News 22/12/04

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South rings 999 for minor injuries

Southerners are five times more likely to dial 999 than Northerners if they are suffering from a sore, swollen ankle, a survey has revealed.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Smoking ban option for N Ireland

The Government is considering a ban on smoking in public places in Northern Ireland, it has been confirmed.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Non-emergency patients blocked

Patients arriving at hospital accident and emergency departments with colds and hangovers will be redirected to GPs and pharmacists, NHS chiefs said.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Consultant jobs left vacant
Rated 3 in National and International News on Dec 22, 2004 at 06:42:55 GMT.
Many hospital consultant posts in the NHS remain unfilled for months with trusts making no attempts to find staff to fill them, a survey has revealed.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Cancer causes quarter of all deaths

Cancer caused a quarter of all deaths in England and Wales last year, official figures showed.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Oils 'could kill deadly bugs'

Essential oils normally used in aromatherapy could be used to kill deadly MRSA bacteria, scientists have said.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Pre-dinner walk 'cuts heart risk'

Taking a long walk before eating a high-fat Christmas dinner could help to protect the heart, research suggests.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Cosmetic surgeon struck off

A Harley Street cosmetic surgeon who left a woman's face as "one huge weeping swollen crust" has been struck off.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Ostriches help knee injuries

Ostriches jogging on treadmills are helping scientists investigate the running habits of Tyrannosaurus rex, it has been reported. The studies are also shedding light on human locomotion and may help in the treatment of knee injuries.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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Hope for heart disease vaccine

A vaccine against heart disease could be on the horizon following new research into ways of harnessing the immune system to prevent clogged arteries, it was revealed today.

Daily Mail 21/12/04

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New powers to tackle drug driving

Police will have powers to conduct roadside tests of motorists they suspect of driving under the influence of drugs.

Daily Mail 22/12/04

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New bid to cut NHS waiting lists

Tough new targets to tackle Wales's high NHS waiting lists are set to be announced by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Daily Mail 22/12/04

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Late Bus Binge Drink Fears

TORY borough councillor Fiona Bruce says the town's new late-night bus service is encouraging young people to drink for longer.

Warrington Guardian 21/12/04

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Don't get food poisoning this Christmas

WARRINGTON Trading Standards is urging people to avoid food poisoning this Christmas by following a few simple guidelines.

Warrington Guardian 21/12/04

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Nurses scoop the Lotto

OVERJOYED nurses were in shock this week after scooping a million pounds on the lottery!

Runcorn World 21/12/04

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Baby lives a dream

A BABY whose skin blisters and peels off from everyday contact became a handsome prince last week.

Knutsford Guardian 21/12/04

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Distraught father in 1m claim over grief

A GRIEVING father is attempting to mount a legal battle to secure more than £1m in damages from a loan company which tried to recoup £40,000 while his daughter was dying of a brain tumour.

Daily Post 21/12/04

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Pregnant missing woman in danger

FEARS are growing that a missing mother-to-be and her baby will die if she does not get medical attention.

Liverpool Echo 21/12/04

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Health centre blow

THE future of Nantwich's multi-million pound health centre has been thrown into doubt because of problems over the site.

Nantwich Chronicle 21/12/04

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Man, 63, is hit with hospital ban order

A STRICT banning order has been slapped on a man who made a string of needless 999 calls and abused nurses at Leighton Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.

Crewe Chronicle 21/12/04

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Incinerator is a real possibility

MID Cheshire will get an incinerator - unless 45% of all household waste is recycled every year.

Northwich Chronicle 21/12/04

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Jamie ready to take steps to recovery

THE new year is looking brighter for little Jamie Hopley as he prepares to take his first steps.

Crewe Chronicle 21/12/04

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Kicked in the teeth

A NORTHWICH couple who have devoted their lives to the NHS say the health service has let them down in their time of need.

Northwich Chronicle 21/12/04

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We have to bring an end to UK's child poverty shame

NSPCC advisers are lobbying the government to end child poverty and deprivation following a damning report by a leading social think-tank.

Daily Post 20/12/04

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Where is hospital's apology?

THE family of a Sandbach woman who died after high risk brain surgery during which a microscope failed have demanded an apology from hospital chiefs.

Sandbach Chronicle 21/12/04

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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Dental treatment 'better in prison'

A DENTIST has branded East Lancashire's NHS dental care a disaster and said people would get better treatment in prison.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 21/12/04

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Christmas break for SAD illness

THE BUILD-UP to Christmas is helping the people of East Lancashire forget about their winter woes, a doctor has claimed.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 21/12/04

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Greater Manchester News

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Homeless facing season of sorrow

HUNDREDS of children will wake up homeless in Manchester on Christmas Day, a shock report has revealed.

Manchester Evening News 21/12/04

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Hole in wall, hole in poor's pocket

THE poor are most likely to pay to withdraw money from cash machines, a committee of MPs heard yesterday.

Manchester Evening News 22/12/04

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'Smoke ban' for Northern Ireland

THE government is considering a ban on smoking in public places in Northern Ireland, it was confirmed today.

Manchester Evening New 22/12/04

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Pilot service for young disabled

A NEW social work service for young disabled adults is being piloted in the borough.

Bury Times 21/12/04

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Hospital to be smoke free zone

THE Royal Bolton Hospital will become smoke-free early next year.

Bolton Evening News 21/12/04

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National and International News

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Pfizer CEO Defends Celebrex, Won't Recall It

Pfizer Chief Executive Hank McKinnell said on Sunday doctors should be made aware of the health risks in prescribing Celebrex to their patients, but the company does not plan to recall its popular arthritis drug.

Reuters 19/12/04

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Singaporeans Risk Fines in Drive Against Dengue Fever

Singapore is to fine people who allow mosquitoes to breed in their homes in a bid to curb dengue fever, a sometimes fatal disease that has soared to a 10-year high in the island-state.

Reuters 18/12/04

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Iressa Drug Failure Deals AstraZeneca Fresh Blow

AstraZeneca Plc suffered its third setback in two months on Friday as lung cancer drug Iressa failed to help patients live longer in a major clinical trial, sending its shares down more than 8 percent.

Reuters 17/12/04

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42 Million Americans Not Screened for Colon Cancer

About 60 percent of Americans aged 50 or older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer -- some 42 million people -- have not yet been screened, researchers report.

Reuters 17/12/04

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False-Positive Cancer Screening Results Costly

Screening for cancer quite often produces a false-positive result, and this can lead to costly -- and ultimately unnecessary -- follow-up testing, according to a new report.

Reuters 17/12/04

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OTC Acne Products as Good as Prescription Meds

Over-the-counter (OTC) benzoyl peroxide cream clears up acne as well as prescription antibiotics -- and at a fraction of the cost, according to new study findings released Friday.

Reuters 19/12/04
BBC Health News 19/12/04

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Depression Ups Diabetes Risk in Middle-Aged Women

Results of a new study provide more evidence that being depressed increases the likelihood of developing diabetes.

Reuters 17/12/04

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Doctors Say Avoid Pfizer's Bextra -Medical Journal

Doctors writing in a prominent medical journal on Friday recommended that physicians stop prescribing Pfizer Inc.'s Bextra painkiller, just as a large study found the drug maker's sister drug, Celebrex, doubled risk of heart attacks.

Reuters 17/12/04

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Pfizer's Celebrex Lifts Heart Attack Risk in Trial

Pfizer Inc. on Friday said its popular Celebrex arthritis drug more than doubled the risk of heart attack in a large cancer-prevention trial, a setback that comes just weeks after Merck & Co. recalled its similar Vioxx drug due to heart safety risks.

Reuters 17/12/04

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U.S. Expands Group Recommended for Flu Vaccine

U.S. officials who just weeks ago worried that the nation's flu shot supply would run short said on Friday they are expanding the group of people who should get the vaccine so that doses do not go to waste.

Reuters 18/12/04

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Five People in Japan May Have Bird Flu Virus

Five people in Japan may have been infected with the bird flu virus after an outbreak among chickens in February, but there is no risk they will develop symptoms and no chance of more infections, the government said on Saturday.

Reuters 18/12/04

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The deadly cocktail dumped on our shores

The seas and beaches around the British Isles are polluted with a cocktail of man-made detritus, including anti-tank missiles, phials of anthrax vaccine, drums of toxic chemicals and even parts of Ministry of Defence missile systems, according to one of the most authoritative reports on the marine environment.

The Observer 19/12/04

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Cherie turns to alternative health guru

She has dabbled with rebirthing, acupuncture and even crystal healing. But Cherie Blair's fascination with alternative therapies has reached new heights as a devotee of a health guru specialising in the practice of 'thought field therapy'.

Daily Mail 18/12/04

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'No regrets about losing breasts'

Vikki Jones says she has no regrets about losing both of her breasts to prevent cancer.

BBC Health News 18/12/04

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Prostate cancer treatment concern

One in three men with slow-growing prostate tumours are not getting the best treatment - and could be risking their sex lives, experts warn.

BBC Health News 19/12/04

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Safety scare over arthritis drug

Users of an anti-arthritis drug linked by a study to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes have been urged not to panic.

BBC Health News 18/12/04

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Now mobile phone masts can be built right next to schools

Ministers give in to legal ruling that health concerns should not prevent rapid rise in the number of transmitters

The Independent 19.12/04

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Civil servants are ordered to delete millions of emails

Tony Blair was savaged over his commitment to new freedom of information laws yesterday as it emerged that civil servants are being ordered to destroy millions of emails less than a fortnight before they will become publicly accessible.

The Independent 19/12/04
The Times 18/12/04

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Dr John Briffa: Eye on the pies

You have heart disease, so you cut out the mince pies, right? Wrong... Dr John Briffa reveals why it's time we started chewing the fat

The Observer 19/12/04

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Crushed by grief and fear, we now had to decide: should mum die?

Jay Rayner admired his mother, the health campaigner Claire, for making a living will. But when she fell desperately ill and was put on a life-support machine, the document supposed to ease her family's pain brought a new emotional crisis

The Observer 19/12/04

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You've got to laugh

It's the latest wacky game to come out of Westminster: John Reid bingo. The Health Secretary's addiction to telling the same humorous anecdotes has become so intense, seasoned Reid spotters are keeping a record of his quips. The Health Service Journal, the industry bible for any self-respecting NHS manager, is monitoring the competition with keen attention. So far, John's hilarious, albeit regular, comparison of himself with Sven-Göran Eriksson (both foreigners managing English teams, sigh) looks set to go to the top of the table. But we have high hopes for this Prescottian observation made recently at the National Institute for Clinical Excellence: 'As you know yourself, the proof of the pudding is in the eating here and there is a lot of eating being done by others of the pudding being produced.' Watch out, Little Britain, you've got competition now.

The Observer 19/12/04

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Deep frying tonight

Who are these people who thought the deep-fried Mars bar was a myth? Dr David Morrison of NHS Greater Glasgow said he had never seen one and didn't know anyone who had tasted one, so he set out to prove it was an urban tall-tale. 'I was certainly surprised by the results,' he said.

The Observer 19/12/04

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Life is sacred: that's what Christmas really means

The essential message of Christmas is that in the birth of Jesus "we see our God made visible and so are caught up in the God we cannot see". He didn't come to condemn us, or to manipulate and control us. He didn't come with any worldly ambition to be successful or powerful. He came speaking the language of vulnerable, self-giving love which respects the dignity and worth of every person. It is a proclamation of the Good News that every human life is sacred because it reflects the image and likeness of the living God.

The Telegraph 19/12/04

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Abortion service and GP face police inquiries over 'unlawful terminations'

Two police investigations have been launched into the roles played by Britain's largest abortion provider and a senior GP in arranging illegal late-term terminations for healthy pregnant women in this country.

The Telegraph 19/12/04

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Letters to the Editor: Ending life is a heavy burden

WHEN Baroness Warnock tries to expand what may be a valid personal choice into some blueprint, she generalises over what is usually an agonising decision, often leaving the survivors with years of mental anguish (News Review, last week). The attempt to justify the notion of the elderly considering suicide on what may include financial grounds is grotesque. Why pay to imprison criminals, when hanging is so much cheaper? What about the cost of those with Aids and cancer? Has she considered doing away with the NHS? It is a massive burden, if burden is to be her watchword. Once you start, where do you stop?

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Letters to the Editor: Ending life is a heavy burden

WHEN Baroness Warnock tries to expand what may be a valid personal choice into some blueprint, she generalises over what is usually an agonising decision, often leaving the survivors with years of mental anguish (News Review, last week). The attempt to justify the notion of the elderly considering suicide on what may include financial grounds is grotesque. Why pay to imprison criminals, when hanging is so much cheaper? What about the cost of those with Aids and cancer? Has she considered doing away with the NHS? It is a massive burden, if burden is to be her watchword. Once you start, where do you stop?

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Letters to the Editor: Ending life is a heavy burden

WHEN Baroness Warnock tries to expand what may be a valid personal choice into some blueprint, she generalises over what is usually an agonising decision, often leaving the survivors with years of mental anguish (News Review, last week). The attempt to justify the notion of the elderly considering suicide on what may include financial grounds is grotesque. Why pay to imprison criminals, when hanging is so much cheaper? What about the cost of those with Aids and cancer? Has she considered doing away with the NHS? It is a massive burden, if burden is to be her watchword. Once you start, where do you stop?

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Fish oil really does make you think faster

YOUR mother was right: eating up your fish really is good for the brain. Scottish scientists have discovered that fish oil helps to keep dementia at bay and slows the brain’s ageing process.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Elderly to sue over nursing fee 'theft'

ELDERLY patients who have faced illegal charges for long-term care in nursing homes have started legal action against the state, writes Dearbhail McDonald.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Letters to the Editor: Smoke screen

CLAIMS that the Scottish parliament has no right to legislate for smoke-free enclosed public places (McConnell faces retreat on smoking ban, News, last week) is a pipe dream, created by those who oppose a ban. Public health is well within the remit of devolution.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Doctor calls for curbs on paracetamol

A LEADING doctor has called for tough curbs on the sale of paracetamol to tackle an “epidemic” of suicides involving the painkiller.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Police angry over having to recruit disabled officers

SOME of Scotland’s most senior police officers have condemned human rights laws that remove a blanket ban on recruiting people who are severely disabled or have suffered from mental illness.

The SundayTimes 19/12/04

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Doctor crisis makes Scotland sick nation of Europe

SCOTLAND has fewer doctors than almost every other country in Europe. We trail behind relatively poor countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and Greece.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Fight to prove acne drug caused suicides

A BUSINESSMAN whose son committed suicide while taking the acne treatment Roaccutane has spent almost £500,000 on independent research to try to prove that the drug causes depression.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Billy Smart begs doctors to continue cancer care

BILLY SMART, heir to the £30m circus fortune, has made a dramatic plea for doctors to continue his treatment for cancer, which it is believed will otherwise kill him within six weeks, writes David Leppard.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Airwave hackers spark computer alert

ALMOST two-thirds of wireless computers installed in offices, homes and public buildings have no basic security safeguards and can be snooped on by amateur hackers, according to a Sunday Times investigation.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Middle classes eat more junk food and exercise less

THE diet of many Britons — particularly among the middle classes — has got worse despite the millions of pounds spent on healthy eating campaigns, a study has revealed.

The Sunday Times 19/12/04

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Boom for cosmetic surgeons

Cosmetic surgeons have reported an all-time high in line-busting injectable treatments as women attempt to get a new face for Christmas.

Mail on Sunday 19/12/04

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Mind your back, shoppers urged
Rated 3 in National and International News on Dec 19, 2004 at 09:18:13 GMT.
Christmas shoppers are risking an injury in the mad dash to buy presents and prepare for the festive season, physiotherapists have warned.

Mail on Sunday 19/12/04

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Drunken yobs face 80 pound on-the-spot fines

Police have been given the power to issue on-the-spot fines to anyone buying or selling alcohol to under-18s in a government crackdown on Christmas and New Year binge-drinking. The penalty for drunk and disorderly behaviour has also been increased, from 50 to 80 pounds.

The Independent 18/12/04
The Guardian 18/12/04

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Magic mushrooms are forced underground by tough new penalties

Magic mushrooms are to be outlawed, with tough penalties for supplying or possessing the hallucinogenic fungi, under laws proposed by the Home Office yesterday.

The Independent 18/12/04

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Computers that really are a pain in the neck

Laptop use may be causing serious long-term back and arm problems, says Sean Coughlan

The Guardian 18/12/04

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Top hospitals get cuts in red tape

The government yesterday lit a bonfire of NHS red tape and promised to halve form-filling by foundation hospitals whose irritation about bureaucracy was disclosed by the Guardian.

The Guardian 18/12/04

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New ruling in premature baby case

A high court judge gave doctors more discretion yesterday to decide on the treatment of Charlotte Wyatt, the tiny premature baby clinging to life in a hospital oxygen box, after a breakdown in the relationship between the doctors treating her and her parents, Darren and Debbie.

The Guardian 18/12/04

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Doctors failing 3m patients

Three million people in the UK have doctors who are not fit to practise, according to the former president of the General Medical Council, which registers and disciplines all doctors.

The Guardian 18/12/04

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Medical units help control binge drinking

Temporary medical units set up to cope with Christmas binge drinking have been declared a success.

The Telegraph 18/12/04

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MASH-style units tackle Black Friday's drunken casualties

Millions of revellers were celebrating the first night of the holiday last night. For the emergency services, it was shaping up to be the traditional Black Friday.

The Telegraph 18/12/04
Daily Mail 18/12/04

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Lifting the curtains on disability

Imagine the scene - the hero returns to his native village, tackles a series of obstacles and wins the respect of his local community and the hand in marriage of the girl he loves.

BBC Health News 18/12/04

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'Too few' to teach future doctors

Medical education will suffer unless more doctors are encouraged to follow academic careers, warn experts.

BBC Health News 18/12/04

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'Headphones' brain monitor hope

Scientists have devised a way of checking brain fluid levels which they say should eventually reduce the need for painful lumbar punctures.

BBC Health News 18/12/04

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Millions face cut in winter fuel payouts

The future of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners was cast into doubt last night after the Government refused to rule out major cutbacks after the election.

The Telegraph 18/12/04

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Bhutan bans sale of all tobacco products

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan yesterday became the first country in the world to ban outright the sale of all tobacco products.

The Telegraph 18/12/04

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'Fitness licences' for GPs are put on hold

The General Medical Council's plans to test doctors' fitness to practise every five years have been put on hold by the Government.

The Telegraph 18/12/04

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Make drink-drive tests tougher, urge doctors

A cut in the legal blood alcohol level would prevent 50 drink-drive deaths a year, the British Medical Association said yesterday.

The Telegraph 18/12/04

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How the fit and fabulous stay that way: Benjamin Pring

Cirque de Soleil dancer Benjamin Pring, 30, swapped a job in insurance for one throwing spears

The Times 18/12/04

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Take the wraps off a new you

Sold as a quick fix way to lose weight, body wraps can involve multiple indignities. But does all the scrubbing, oiling and pulping really work?

The Times 18/12/04

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Too much of a good thing

Last Christmas my son, then aged 4, didn’t enjoy the experience. He complained of tummy pains and of feeling sick, and he was bad-tempered all day. I think that he was overwhelmed by it all. How can we help him to feel more relaxed and to enjoy it this year?

The Times 18/12/04

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The Christmas dinner diet
Rated 3 in National and International News on Dec 18, 2004 at 21:26:17 GMT.
Festive fare doesn’t have to be an artery-clogging recipe for disaster — you can have your cake and feel good about eating it.

The Times 18/12/04

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How to cheat at eating ... Christmas pudding

Woulda ... CHRISTMAS PUDDING Fat 13.1g per 100g Price £7.99 for a 454g pudding Verdict Just one portion of this posh pud — which contains 6 per cent champagne, plus brandy and sherry — will help you to eat, drink and be merry. It’s also packed with a belt-busting 15g of fat per portion, which, disappointingly, turns greasy as the pudding starts to cool. There’s lots of juicy fruit, pecans, almonds and walnuts, though. Great for a one-off indulgence, but be ware — you can have too much of a good thing. 324 calories

The Times 18/12/04

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A special treat

Stuck for inspiration on what to buy your partner for Christmas? A gift voucher for a luxurious spa is small, tasteful — and slips nicely into an envelope

The Times 18/12/04

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Sex with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson

After 27 years of marriage I am getting divorced. I have never made love to anyone other than my wife and, at 49, although I am excited, I am also filled with trepidation. Can you tell me what I should expect?

The Times 18/12/04

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Magic memories that still sparkle

How to retain a sense of spirituality over a festival that has been steadily overtaken by consumerism? We asked three creative sparks to recall the Christmas that held the most meaning for them.

The Times 18/12/04

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Winter sun brings light

A trip to Tenerife transformed the life of one disabled boy for the better, says Carol Midgley

The Times 18/12/04

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Disturbing the peace?

Merry old yuletide can feel a strange and troubled time of year. You can blame it on the pressure, the commercialism and the fact that global warming’s banjaxed your chances of a white Christmas. But I blame the personnel. It’s not only family members gathered around who betray their deep strangeness over the festive season — the entire pantheon of traditional Christmas characters is, in fact, a feast of festive dysfunction. They need treatment, urgently.

The Times 18/12/04

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England’s bravest heart

Nothing could shrink Ben Cohen’s resolve during the rugby World Cup. Not his grief over his father’s violent death, not even the ice-cold baths he endured as part of his training

The Times 18/12/04

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Collectively crazy

THE report this week about contaminated herbal medicines in America sounded alarming. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that one fifth of the Ayurvedic medicines on sale in Boston contained dangerous levels of lead, mercury and arsenic. As the same remedies are on sale in Britain, should we be worried?

The Times 18/12/04

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Pukka herb remedies

WE AREN’T just hunter gatherers, we are born hoarders, too. And now neurologists have discovered why so many of us habitually collect anything from classic cars to coathangers.

The Times 18/12/04

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Junk medicine: Flu virus

For once, scare stories about a flu pandemic should be taken seriously
The Times 18/12/04

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Analyse this: Prison marriages

IT MAY seem a more unlikely marriage than Charles and Camilla, or even Peter Andre and Jordan, but the man known as the Yorkshire Ripper is soon to wed a woman who has been writing to him and visiting him in prison for more than a decade.

The Times 18/12/04

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Dr Copperfield: Inside the mind of a GP

Doctors don’t do much harm — and red tape won’t stop a homicidal maniac

The Times 18/12/04

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Exploding sex myths

Burst condoms are routinely blamed for chance pregnancies and STDs. Really? John Naish reports on the results of a Body&Soul test

The Times 18/12/04

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Paralysed by a quest for perfection

Black market botox has cost the health of a doctor and his patients

The Times 18/12/04

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Doctor's foetal injections are a sensation for the paralysed

AT A clinic near the Fragrant Hills of Beijing, a doctor is injecting foetal tissue into the spines of paraplegics.

The Times 18/12/04

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It's hip to help the homeless

There are various Christmas in London fantasies that you think about but never get around to doing: skating at Somerset House; going to see a Nutcracker; buying a goose at Spitalfields; having an elegant pre-Christmas lunch with friends in Soho; breaking the ice on the bathing ponds of Hampstead Heath; and helping out at a hostel on Christmas Day. Now, though, there is one of those fantasies that you’ll have to write off, thanks to public demand. And it is helping out at a homeless hostel! I wish I had put 20 pounds on that in August — the odds would have been astronomical. I could have paid for an elegant pre-Christmas lunch with friends in Soho.

The Times 18/12/04

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'I literally had to have alcohol'

IT ALL started rather innocently. James Ford and his friends would wait for darkness, sneak out of their school dormitory and head for the woods, where they would take it in turns to drink from a bottle of vodka.

The Times 18/12/04

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Underage drinking is sentencing youth to life of ill-health

LIVER damage, once regarded as an affliction of portly middle-aged and older men, is becoming increasingly common among teenagers and young adults, girls as well as boys.

The Times 18/12/04

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Three stages on the way to liver failure

THERE is no simple equation to link alcohol consumption with cirrhosis. It depends on how much you drink, on gender — women are more at risk than men — and on individual genes.

The Times 18/12/04

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Smoke ban bill 'is most important in a generation'

PRISON cells, designated hotel rooms, hospices and long-stay residential homes are likely to be the only exemptions when the ban on smoking in public places in Scotland becomes law in the spring of 2006.

The Times 18/12/04

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Weekly wash led to death

A WOMAN died because she washed her husband’s work clothes every week, an inquest was told yesterday. Cheryl Williams, 52, had no idea that his overalls were contaminated with lethal asbestos.

The Times 18/12/04

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Athlete told: You've had a broken neck for 37 years

A FITNESS instructor has been told that she is lucky to be alive after walking around with a broken neck since birth.

The Times 18/12/04

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Huge blow for patients and makers as arthritis drug fails

Millions suffering the crippling disease will be left wondering if it is safe to take pills for pain relief.

The Times 18/12/04

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Iressa no better than placebo

ASTRAZENECA yesterday revealed that its cancer drug Iressa had turned out to be no better than a placebo in treating lung cancer.

The Times 18/12/04

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Parents' best hope over death of son

GODFREY FOWLER and his wife, Sissel, intend to use the Freedom of Information Act to find out how their son died.

The Times 18/12/04

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The right to know: a guide to digging out the truth

IN THEORY, the Freedom of Information Act, which comes into force on January 1, gives every British citizen sweeping new powers to obtain information held by any public body.

The Times 18/12/04

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NHS bid to cut red tape

Hospitals, primary care trusts and ambulance services in England will be forced to collect less data on a range of subjects as part of measures to cut red tape.

Daily Mail 18/12/04

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Food scares traced back 100 years

Food scares such as those over BSE and E.coli and fears over additives are nothing new and were suffered by consumers 100 years ago, historians claim.

Daily Mail 18/12/04

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Painkiller backed despite risks

US drugs giant Pfizer admitted it had found an increased risk of heart attacks with patients taking its top-selling painkiller Celebrex - but has no plans to remove it from the market.

Daily Mail 18/12/04

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Cheshire and Mersey News

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Parents mourn their brave girl

FOR four-and-a-half years Hollie Tate fought to survive. Born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, much of her short life was spent in hospital recovering from endless operations.

Southport Visiter 17/12/04

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Mast fears prompt dad to keep daughter from school

A FATHER has taken his daughter out of school because he fears a mobile phone mast on the building is damaging her health.

Southport Visiter 17/12/04

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Beating AIDS myths

MYTH-BUSTING was top of the agenda f or Skelmersdale campaigners on World Aids Day recently.

Ormskirk Advertiser 15/12/04

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Cities unite in ciggie war

LIVERPOOL and London have joined forces in a bid to outlaw smoking in every workplace in the two cities.

Ormskirk Advertiser 15/12/04

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WRVS's cash boost for hospital

UNIVERSITY Hospital Aintree received an early Christmas present when they were given a cheque for £250,000.

Maghull & Aintree Star 16/12/04

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Remember to get your flu jab

PUBLIC health officials are urging anyone who has still not had their flu jab this winter to get themselves protected.

Maghull & Aintree Star 16/12/04

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Pledge to solve ambulance crisis

AMBULANCE managers and unions last night pledged to work together to resolve staffing and pay disputes after allegations the service was heading for crisis point.

Daily Post 17/12/04

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Mother arrested after baby is found dead

DETECTIVES have arrested a woman from Liverpool on suspicion of murdering her baby daughter.

Daily Post 17/12/04

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James' fight against time

THE parents of a desperately sick little boy are hoping for the best Christmas present of all - the gift of life.

Nantwich Chronicle 15/12/04
Chester Chronicle 17/12/04

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Expert says Sutcliffe should confess before he marries

HANDWRITING expert Diane Simpson who analysed the mind of Peter Sutcliffe, says the Yorkshire Ripper should only be allowed to marry if he confesses to all his crimes.

Chester Chronicle 17/12/04

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Company wins 10m NHS deal

A CHESTER software company has won a 10m contract to provide a computer system which will help revolutionise how NHS staff are paid.

Daily Post 17/12/04

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Hospital closes virus-hit wards

A HIGHLY contagious winter vomiting virus has struck the Countess of Chester Hospital for the second time in two years.

Chester Chronicle 17/12/04

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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Shaken baby: dad faces jail

A FATHER-of-three who may have left his tiny only son half blinded after shaking him in a fit of temper has been warned he will probably go to jail.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/12/04

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Mother's heart attacked by viral infection

A 67-YEAR-OLD woman died suddenly after her heart was attacked by a viral infection.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/12/04

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Greater Manchester News

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We must end this 'car smog' killer

WHILST walking the two miles to work I was struck by the horrendous air quality which I, along with the students of the local schools and colleges, have to breathe.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Bid for better homes for mentally ill OAPs

ELDERLY people with mental health problems could benefit from a £6.5 million bid for new homes.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Service to help hospital visits

PATIENTS spending Christmas in hospital will be able to join in the celebrations with family and friends thanks to a free door-to-door transport service over the festive period.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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I say: long live the NHS

DURING the May bank holiday of 2004, I had the misfortune to become very ill and, as a result, was admitted to Fairfield General Hospital. It was a touch-and-go situation whether I survived, but thanks to the excellent care and attention of all the NHS medical personnel, doctors, nurses, carers and physiotherapists, I survived the ordeal.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Blood donor appeal

THE National Blood Service is calling for people in the borough to give a little bit more this Christmas.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Smoke deaths peak in the north west

MORE people die from smoke-related illnesses in the north west than in any other English region.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Mayor on tour of NHS centres

PRESTWICH NHS Walk-In Centre received a visit on Wednesday from the Mayor of Bury, Coun Barry Briggs, but it was not for personal medical reasons.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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A 'disgrace' not to have told us

AS reported recently, the WRVS will no longer be taking meals to the elderly and disabled as they have been doing for the past 50 years.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Doctors' festive fears

SENSIBLE drinking over the festive holidays is just what doctors in the borough have ordered.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Not left out in the cold

PATIENTS spending Christmas in hospital will be able to join in the celebrations with family and friends thanks to a free door-to-door transport service over the festive period.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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First Citizen's healthy walk-out

Health centres in the borough received a visit from the Mayor of Bury, Coun Barry Briggs, but it was not for personal medical reasons.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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New life for heart op Alastair

HEART patient Alastair Vinden, who was so critically ill in hospital he had to cancel his 40th birthday celebrations, is getting back on his feet after undergoing life-saving surgery in Germany.

Bury Times 17/12/04

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Ambulance meeting

THERE will be a monthly meeting of the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service board on Wednesday, December 22.

Bolton Evening News 18/12/04

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Sexual survey

DISABLED people are being encouraged to join in a nationwide survey on disabled people and sexual health. To get a copy of the Let's Talk Sex anonymous questionnaire, through disabled charity Scope, visit www.disabilitynow.org.uk or call 0845 120 7001.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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Health headline ready for big push

STAFF at an NHS helpline are gearing up for their busiest time of the year.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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Black Friday so busy for paramedics

PARAMEDICS dealt with a sharp rise in incidents in Greater Manchester on Friday night.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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Awards for victims of strokes

NOMINATIONS are being invited for the 2005 Life After Stroke Awards.

Bolton Evening News 18/12/04

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Walklers raise coronary care cash

A SPONSORED walk has raised £3,000 toward life-saving equipment at Bolton's Coronary Care Unit.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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Drinkers at risk of 80 pound spot fines

Drunken Christmas and New Year yobs are being targeted in a tough Government crackdown on binge-drinking launched today.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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GP tells of court charge ordeal

A FAMILY doctor cleared of assaulting his patients has spoken about his two years of hell.

Bolton Evening News 18/12/04

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No smoking tops festive present list

PARENTS are being encouraged to give their children the best present of all this Christmas - stopping smoking.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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Now winter virus hits care home

ELDERLY residents at a Bolton care home are being confined to their rooms after an outbreak of the Winter Vomiting Disease.

Bolton Evening News 18/12/04

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Second award for midwives

MIDWIVES in Bolton have received national recognition for their work - for the second time this year.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04
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Teen pregnancy alert

HEALTH chiefs have been given the tough task of cutting teenage pregnancy in Bolton by 50 per cent over the next six years.

Bolton Evening News 18/12/04

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Winter illness hits wards

THREE wards have been closed to admissions at the Royal Bolton Hospital after an outbreak of the winter sickness disease.

Bolton Evening News 17/12/04

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National and International News

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Brain-damaged boy awarded -3.85m

A boy who will need round-the-clock care for the rest of his life has been awarded £3.85 million damages in the High Court over hospital errors during his birth.

Daily Mail 14/12/04

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Call for Aids drugs to be free

Aids medicines must be free for everyone who needs them in the developing world, or there will be no hope of reaching the UN target of three million being treated by 2005, doctors, economists and institutions say today.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Child poverty at home and abroad

Both Unicef and Save the Children are deeply committed to child survival and continue to support health programmes that seek to cut mortality rates (Letters, December 13). Indeed, over half of Unicef's budget is devoted to basic child-survival programmes and it is now the world's largest single purchaser of childhood vaccines for developing countries. Save the Children supports health systems and responds to health emergencies in 33 countries.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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A testing time

There is still a strong stigma attached to tuberculosis, as Deborah Turner found out when her teenage daughter was suspected of having it

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Dieting may cut Parkinson's risk

Low-calorie diets may reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease scientists say.

Daily Mail 13/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04

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Government 'too scared' to impose tough smoking ban

The government was today accused of lacking "political courage" for failing to introduce a stringent ban on smoking in public places.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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'Dangerous' hospital toy removed

Hospital bosses have defended their decision to remove a rocking horse from their waiting room amid claims it was too dangerous for sick children to ride.

Daily Mail 13/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04

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Suffering servants

What are civil servants for? Once upon a time, this question was never asked. Civil servants were held in high esteem, their existence unchallenged. The image of the bowler-hatted gentleman in Whitehall was as reassuring as the friendly local bobby on the beat.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Worm eggs 'may help bowel disease'

Swallowing thousands of eggs from parasitic worms could be an effective treatment for a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder, researchers said.

Daily Mail 14/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04

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Poor people 'more likely to be murdered'

The poorer you are the more likely you are to be murdered, new research has found.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Banned additives in award-winning wine

Thousands of bottles of award-winning South African wine sold and consumed in the course of last year were deliberately adulterated with an illegal flavouring additive, an investigation has revealed.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Food fight

It's not really the season to feel sorry for Bernard Matthews, but he's not been having everything his own way of late. The Scottish executive has been getting tough with food companies as part of a new drive to improve school meals, and it has had Norfolk's most famous turkey farmer in its sights.

The Guardian 14/12/04
The Guardian 14/12/04

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Work stress linked to heart attacks


High-pressure work deadlines can cause a six-fold increase in the risk of suffering a heart attack in the following 24 hours, a study has suggested.

Daily Mail 14/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04

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Trip over?

Magic mushrooms have never been more popular. More than 400 apparently legal 'shroom' shops have sprung up in the past two years, and growing kits have become a must-have Christmas present. So why has the government suddenly turned tough on sellers? Stephen Moss investigates

The Guardian 14/12/04

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David Adam counts the cost to your body of the office party

If so, read this. David Adam on exactly what you'll be doing to your body as you sink that fourth (or was it sixth?) glass of wine

The Guardian 14/12/04

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'Living wills' are necessary

The government's mental capacity bill is welcome, but care must be taken to ensure that the scope of power given to professionals and carers is not too wide, says Edward Nally

The Guardian 14/12/04
The Telegraph 14/12/04
The Independent 14/12/04
The Times 14/12/04
The Times 14/12/04
The Times 14/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04
The Times 14/12/04
The Times 14/12/04

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Q&A: living wills

Living wills would be placed on a statutory footing under legislation being considered by parliament. But what are they and why have they roused as much concern as support? David Batty reports

The Guardian 14/12/04

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The enemy within

Nobody mentions amnesia as a side-effect. But in the middle of the night I remember that it is Anne Fine who I'm interviewing on Friday. Perplexing emails have been arriving from colleagues, asking whether I should be doing an interview this week, to which I've replied that I'm not. Suddenly, I wake, bolt upright, the whiteboard in my head blank no longer: Oh yes, I am due to meet a former "children's laureate". To top that, for days I have been thinking Anthony's birthday is a week away, only, yikes, it's tomorrow.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Is nursing a profession in crisis?

The nursing profession is under fire. Government pressure for nurses to expand their roles and take on more responsibility has led to claims that they are shunning traditional caring and becoming 'too posh to wash'.

Daily Mail 14/12/04
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Efficiency in the NHS

Foundation trusts spend hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money each year (Threat to Blair plan for NHS, December 13). Efficient and detailed systems of "red tape" are essential to ensure they deliver improved outcomes to patients. Even if Mr Blair privatises the hospitals, regulatory control will continue to be essential and, if the US health care system is Mr Blair's guide, the costs of "bureaucracy" will rise from the modest 5% of NHS expenditures now to the over 30% that has been demonstrated by American research.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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Regulator urges all hospitals to cut Whitehall ties

An unpublished proposal to prepare all NHS hospitals in England for independence from Whitehall by 2008 was revealed by the foundation hospitals regulator yesterday, in response to a Guardian survey questioning trusts' readiness to survive on their own.

The Guardian 14/12/04

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MPs call for action over cell suicides

More should be done to protect vulnerable and mentally ill offenders from suicide or other causes of death while in custody, a committee of MPs and peers says today.

The Telegraph 14/12/04
The Independent 14/12/04

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Dogs study gives clue on brains

A new theory to explain rapid evolutionary changes that alter physical appearance has emerged from a study of dogs, it has been revealed.

Daily Mail 14/12/04

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Homeless households double under Labour

The number of homeless households forced to live in temporary accommodation has more than doubled since Labour came to power, figures showed yesterday.

The Telegraph 14/12/04

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Police probe baby drugs claims

Police have been called in to investigate claims that a hospital involved in a legal fight over the treatment of a seriously ill baby has been administering drugs to hasten the child's death.

Daily Mail 14/12/04

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Marriage 'is good for men's health'

Researchers have confirmed what women have believed for years: Marriage can be good for a man's health.

The Telegraph 14/12/04
Daily Mail 14/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04
The Times 14/12/04

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Google plans massive virtual library

Google, the internet search company, has announced a link-up with Oxford University, as well as major universities in America, that will lead to the creation of an online library.

The Telegraph 14/12/04

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British women 'Europe's biggest drinkers'

New research shows British women aged 18 to 24 are "by far the largest drinkers of alcoholic drinks in Europe" and have overtaken men for binge drinking.

The Telegraph 14/12/04
Daily Mail 14/12/04
BBC Health 14/12/04

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CJD man 'no longer terminally ill'

A schoolboy soccer star struck down with variant CJD is no longer regarded as terminally ill, it has emerged.

Daily Mail 14/12/04
The Telegraph 14/12/04

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Keep taking the tablets

The Government drugs watchdog says that doctors are over-prescribing antidepressants. Not so, says Virginia Ironside. In a world full of unrealistic expectations, Prozac can be a life-saver - and she's the proof

The Independent 14/12/04

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Hospitals probe 'degrading' journey

Bosses at two hospitals are investigating claims that a disabled stroke victim endured a 570-mile ambulance journey without food, drink or toilet breaks.

Daily Mail 14/12/04
BBC Health News 14/12/04

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A Question of Health

Why can't I see properly when driving at night? And how can I finally get rid of the eczema that's plagued me since childhood?

The Independent 14/12/04

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A mouthful of trouble

Mercury fillings are now linked to a range of symptoms, from chronic anxiety to Alzheimer's. Should we have them removed?

The Independent 14/12/04

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Drink link to surge in liver disease

Alcohol-related liver damage among young people has increased dramatically in recent years, fuelled by the binge-drinking culture, an expert said.

Daily Mail 14/12/04

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Health Check: 'With such a lack of empathy, you wonder why these doctors chose medicine'

Here is a tale from a just-qualified doctor of life as a medical student. "In one clinic, after saying goodbye to a charming family, the doctor turned to me and said, 'You meet some wonderful people in this profession. It's a shame not all patients are like that; some are ungrateful. Take all these blacks: they sit around in council houses; unemployed; complaining all the time. They are so lazy'.

The Independent 14/12/04

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Keeping hope alive

Boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy face the devastating prospect of slowly wasting away, and then dying young. A revolutionary new gene therapy could change that

The Independent 14/12/04

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vCJD sufferer stable after taking experimental drug

A man who contracted variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (vCJD), the human form of BSE, has become the first sufferer no longer regarded as terminally ill after taking an experimental drug.

The Independent 14/12/04

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Life expectancy to reach 100 within two generations

Life expectancy at birth could reach 100 in the next 60 years on present trends, researchers reported yesterday.

The Independent 14/12/04

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Unsafe pavement risk to pedestrians

Almost a third of pavements in England are in need of repair, putting pedestrians at risk of injury, experts have warned.

Daily Mail 14/12/04

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Surgery ditches classics for pop

A doctors' surgery has injected some uplifting pop tracks into its waiting room repertoire after patients complained about its "heavy" classical collection.

Daily Mail 14/12/04

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Open verdict after drugs mix-up

A coroner has recorded an open verdict into the death of a 77-year-old woman who was mistakenly hooked up to a respiratory stimulant.

BBC Health News 14/12/04

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Mother to challenge abortion laws

A mother has been granted permission to challenge government guidelines which allow young girls to have abortions without their parents' knowledge.

BBC Health 14/12/04

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Watchdog sacks health trust boss

he chairman of one of the UK's first foundation hospitals has been removed from his job after millions of pounds worth of debt were run up.

BBC Health News 14/12/04

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Dutch consider infant euthanasia

Doctors in the Netherlands are calling for new laws allowing them to end the lives of newborn babies with intolerable and incurable illnesses.

BBC Health 14/12/04

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Inquiry into ill baby's treatment

Parents of a seriously ill baby claim doctors are treating her with levels of morphine that could speed up her death.

BBC Health News 14/12/04

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A personal consultation with Dr Thomas Stuttaford

Every Wednesday at noon he answers a different health question. Tomorrow he will deal with queries on the use of antidepessants. www.timesonline.co.uk/talkingpoint

The Times 14/12/04

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NHS waiting lists

Sir, The reduction in the NHS hospital waiting list (report, December 4) is to be welcomed. However, one of the ways in which this has been achieved has been by delaying necessary pre-operative X-ray investigations. This causes unnecessary suffering, prolongs pain and may prejudice the outcome of any surgery, should it be required.

The Times 14/12/04

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Elderly inmates left to fend for themselves

ELDERLY prisoners are having to 'pay' fellow inmates in chocolate and cigarettes to push their wheelchairs because staff refuse to do it, according to a report published today.

The Times 14/12/04

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Couch potato children 'are actually fighting fit'

THE image of a generation of 'couch potato' children who are uninterested in exercise may be a myth, according to research published yesterday.

The Times 14/12/04

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Cheshire and Merseyside News

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City shame on child poverty

MERSEYSIDE is a child poverty blackspot and home to one in eight of the nation's poorest children.

Liverpool Echo 13/12/04

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Cumbria and Lancashire News

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11 arrested on train over 'racist abuse'

POLICE arrested 11 men on a Burnley-bound train over claims two Asian passengers were racially abused.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 13/12/04

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Eye patients see reason for praise

PATIENTS undergoing eye surgery in East Lancashire are being offered round-the-clock support after surgery.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 13/12/04

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Lorry ban should cut death toll

THE Grane Road has a terrible record of death and injury going back many years.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph 13/12/04

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Greater Manchester News

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Support your local dentist

THERE is a common misconception that most dentists have gone private.This not the case. Most dentists in Bolton work predominantly within the NHS.

Bolton Evening News 13/12/04

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