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Woman with two wombs makes history - The Guardian 21st December 2006

A 23-year-old British woman is thought to have made medical history by giving birth to three babies in two wombs. In September this year, Hannah Kersey, from Northam in Devon, had twins who were conceived in one womb, and a third daughter who grew in another.

World first as woman with two wombs takes home her triplets - The Times 21st December 2006

A condition that can put mother and baby at risk - The Times 21st December 2006

Union anger as 400 ambulance staff get notice - The Guardian 21st December 2006

The Yorkshire ambulance service sent redundancy notices to 400 NHS staff yesterday in a move condemned by unions as "cruel and disgraceful." The trust said it needed to reorganise staffing to meet government targets and establish a "best in class" service. It hoped compulsory redundancies could be kept to a minimum and paramedics would not be affected.

Ambulance service to cut 400 jobs - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Headed for the rocks - The Guardian 21st December 2006

The NHS's ill-starred computer project is in the news again. After polls showed that most doctors and patients oppose a compulsory national database of medical records, health minister Lord Warner produced a report on Monday and promised an opt-out. But don't break out the champagne yet. The report was cleverly spun; hidden in an appendix is confirmation that you can opt out of the Summary Care Record, but not the Detailed Care Record.

£750m cottage hospital plan under way - The Guardian 21st December 2006

The first of a new generation of NHS cottage hospitals will be announced by the Department of Health today, kickstarting a £750m programme to move minor operations away from the big general hospitals and closer to people's homes. Lord Warner, the health minister, will sign a deal to build community hospitals to serve patients living on the fringes of Sunderland, Bristol, Gosport and Minehead. They will provide minor surgery, medical tests and follow-up care for about 75,000 patients a year.

Survey of overweight children 'worse than useless' - The Guardian 21st December 2006

A government project to measure and tackle childhood obesity significantly underestimates the problem, partly because overweight children are opting out, an official report warned yesterday. Health campaigners said the study showed the National Childhood Obesity Database (NCOD) was "worse than useless" because of gaps in the statistics.

Child obesity study fails at weigh-in - The Telegraph 21st December 2006

Low turnout for obesity testing - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

More than 100 teenagers a month have second abortion - The Independent 21st December 2006

More than a hundred teenage girls a month go into a hospital or clinic to have an abortion for the second time, figures from the Department of Health reveal. They include at least one girl under 18 who has had at least six abortions. The statistics on multiple abortions in England and Wales, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, will provide fuel for those demanding stricter abortion laws.

Mothers and babies infected in hospital outbreak of PVL - The Independent 21st December 2006

An outbreak of a PVL superbug struck the maternity unit of a hospital in Plymouth leaving 10 mothers and their babies with severe infections, The Independent has learnt. Emma Lynch, one of the mothers, developed an abscess almost eight inches long, which required emergency surgery, and her daughter, Daisy, had a boil on her breast which required lancing when she was two weeks old. Daisy has since had 14 courses of antibiotics in an attempt to clear her of the bug, which is resistant to treatment.

Cancer girl, 8, battles doctors for right to halt 'gruelling' treatment - The Times 21st Deceember 2006

An eight-year-old girl who has had cancer for six years may be forced to carry on receiving gruelling radiotherapy treatment against her will, according to her parents. Leah-Beth Richards told her family that she does not want to go through the painful treatment any more and her parents have said that they support her decision. But they say that they have been threatened with legal action by the hospital treating their daughter if they let her refuse radiotherapy.

Hospital pays £18,000 for baby's death - The Telegraph 21st December 2006

A mother whose baby died 20 minutes after her delivery because of a shortage of beds in a maternity unit has been awarded £18,000 in compensation. Because of administrative failings, Janine Howarth, 35, had to wait almost three days in an ante-natal ward before being induced. Her daughter, Caitlin, died after contracting pneumonia from an infection in the foetal fluid which could have been prevented had she been born earlier.

NHS 'failings' in baby death case - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

You may look thin - and be too fat - The Telegraph 21st December 2006

Research highlighting the danger of fat around vital organs could change the way we tackle obesity, reports Nic Fleming. MRI scans on four guinea pigs had surprising results Expanded waistlines in the aftermath of mid-winter celebrations are not an invention of the modern Christian age. Over-indulgence was at least as important in the pagan Scandinavian festival of Yule and Roman holiday of Saturnalia as today's overdosing on turkey, mince pies, chocolate and sherry.

Binge-drinking among women has doubled - The Telegraph 21st December 2006

The number of girls and young women drinking to excess has risen dramatically in a decade, NHS statistics released yesterday confirm. The figures chart the rise of the "ladette" culture, which emerged in the 1990s.

Reduction in number of inadequate smear tests - Daily Mail 20th December 2006

Fewer women are having repeat smear tests due to inadequate first tests, according to figures out today. The Information Centre for health and social care analysis showed that a new screening test, liquid-based cytology (LBC), has significantly reduced the number of inadequate tests.

Fewer repeat smear tests required - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Some patients waiting two or more years for hip surgery - Daily Mail 20th December 2006

Patients in some areas who need hip replacements and other orthopaedic operations are still having to wait more than two years for NHS treatment, figures show. Almost one in four waits longer than 12 months for an operation after referral by their GP. For 3 per cent, the delay is twice that.

Anger over egg donation licence - BBC Health News 21st December 2006

The UK's fertility regulator has amended a licence to allow stem cell researchers to recruit egg donors not already having medical treatment. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has been criticised for making the decision during a public consultation on the issue.

Doubt on Gulf War chemical claim - BBC Health News 21st December 2006

Gulf War veterans suffering mystery illnesses after returning from the 1991 conflict were probably not poisoned by pesticides, researchers say. Exposure to chemicals has been blamed for veterans' symptoms such as depression, poor sleep and mood swings.

Bowel problems 'pregnancy risk' - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Inflammatory bowel disease doubles the risk of pregnancy complications, a study says. Researchers found women with disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were more likely to have underweight and premature babies.

Junk food ad crackdown 'flawed' - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

A crackdown on junk food advertising to children will not be effective as the programmes most watched by children will not be covered, campaigners say. Unhealthy food ads during TV programmes targeted at under-16s are to be banned from the end of March, Ofcom has said.

Baby died after injection error - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

A six-week-old boy died after air was mistakenly injected into his bloodstream during a routine operation, a Swansea inquest has heard. Aaron Havard died in April 2002 at the city's Singleton Hospital.

NHS Direct to launch on Freeview - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

The health advice service NHS Direct is to be made available to 6.4 million homes through a Freeview channel. Viewers will be able to access an interactive 150-page service on Channel 108, it was announced on Wednesday.

Baby Charlotte to leave hospital - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Severely disabled Charlotte Wyatt is to be discharged from hospital to go into foster care. Charlotte, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, has spent the first three years of her life in hospital.

Researchers 'grow' heart arteries - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Scientists are to use an £84,000 grant to try and "grow" test tube arteries for use in heart bypass operations. The researchers hope to prove arteries can be grown outside the body from human skin cells.

NHS dental places 'still limited' - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Patients still face a postcode lottery in trying to have dental treatment under the NHS, BBC research has shown. Six of Wales' 22 local health boards were without a dentist offering new NHS places, while others were only able to offer an appointment in 12 months.

No charges over hospital deaths - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

No one will face prosecution over the deaths of 10 elderly patients at a Hampshire hospital. The deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between the late 1990s and 2002 were the subject of a lengthy investigation by Hampshire police.

Gut bacteria levels may contribute to obesity - The Guardian 21st December 2006

Body weight could be down to more than simply what you eat - according to a new study, how you digest your food is also an important factor. Scientists have found that the bacteria in human guts, which help to break down food, differ in lean and obese people. "Our findings suggest that obesity has a microbial component, which might have potential therapeutic implications," wrote the researchers, led by Jeffrey Gordon of Washington University in Missouri, in today's issue of Nature.

Guardian Weekly - The Guardian 21st December 2006

Circumcision can halve the risk of a man acquiring the HIV infection that leads to Aids, US scientists reported last week. Two major trials, in Kenya and Uganda, have confirmed what doctors and campaigners have thought for several years.

'Surgery is not the answer' - The Telegraph 21st December 2006

A pioneering clinic in India aims to develop a childhood vaccine to prevent heart disease in later life, reports Victoria Lambert Professor Vijay Kakkar has the gentle demeanour of a man into whose hands you would happily entrust your heart, should disease and circumstance require it. And you would be wise to do so. For the professor is a world-renowned vascular surgeon and research scientist whose career has spanned more than 40 years.

Lifting the Blues - Liverpool Echo 20th December 2006

EVERTON stars brought some festive cheer when they visited youngsters at Alder Hey children's hospital. The Blues first team squad spent more than an hour with patients and handed out gifts at the West Derby hospital yesterday.

One step away for trusts seeking foundation status - Liverpool Echo 20th December 2006

TWO Wirral NHS trusts have been given backing by the Department of Health in their bid to become foundation hospitals. Wirral NHS Hospital Trust and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust say they are delighted that Lord Warner, Minister for NHS Reform, and Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health have backed their bids.

Hospital anguish - Crewe Chronicle 20th December 2006

CHRISTMAS had been blighted for hundreds of Leighton Hospital workers worried about losing their jobs. More than 300 have been re-interviewed for clerical posts they have held for years as part of a massive shake-up to save costs.

Christmas ruined by hospital job fears - Northwich Chronicle 20th Dcember 2006

HUNDREDS of Leighton Hospital workers are worried sick about losing their jobs. More than 300 have been re-inter-viewed for clerical posts they have held for years as part of a massive shake-up to save costs.

Patients have a say - Northwich Chronicle 20th December 2006

PATIENTS will be given the chance to comment on the access arrangements at their GP practice. A national survey, Your Doctor, Your Experience, Your Say, has been launched, and next month questionnaires will be issued to a sample of patients from every practice in Mid Cheshire.

Seconds out for first hospital changes - The Warrington Guardian 20th December 2006

THE first phase of money-saving improvements at Warrington Hospital has been completed. Bosses claim that the new 64-bed emergency management unit will mean that patients receive faster diagnosis and treatment.

Cash benefits this winter - The Warrington Guardian 20th December 2006

ELDERLY people in the town are being urged to seek help in the cold weather through the Government's Warm Front Scheme. Under the scheme, households in receipt of certain benefits could be eligible for a grant of up to £2,700 to help pay for central heating and insulation.

Fined for treating parients quickly - Carlisle News & Star 20th December 2006

CUMBRIA’S hospitals could be fined for treating patients too quickly, leaked government plans have revealed. The proposals – which would affect trusts nationwide – have been condemned as “ridiculous”.

Rovers' team of hospital winners - Lancashire Telegraph 20th December 2006

BLACKBURN Rovers players said they were touched by the stories of children they met while handing out presents at Royal Blackburn Hospital. The squad took time out from their busy training schedule to visit the children's unit at the hospital yesterday

Protest at Hope over hospital changes - Manchester Evening News 20th December 2006

MUMS, midwives and politicians took to the streets in a bid to save Salford's maternity and baby wards. More than 200 people picketed the entrance to Hope Hospital's maternity unit in Eccles Old Road, which is now set to close. This means children will not routinely be born in the city after 2011.

Knifed footballer hails 'true heroes ' of the NHS - Manchester Evening News 20th December 2006

FOOTBALLER Ronnie Wallwork, recovering at home from multiple knife wounds, has praised the "real-life heroes" of the NHS.

New qualification for nurses - The Bolton News 20th December 2006

DENTAL nurses are being given the opportunity to train towards an NVQ in oral health care dental nursing. The qualification, which is being organised by the Bury Primary Care Trust in collaboration with the Manchester Dental Hospital and the North-west Deanery, will mean nurses can register with the General Dental Council.

Pharmacist can make it better - The Bolton News 20th December 2006

FAMILY doctors are urging people suffering from simple ailments to consult their chemist rather than go to their GP. Pharmacists are trained to help people choose the right medicine for conditions like colds and sore throats and can treat many other everyday ailments, such as constipation, indigestion and coughs.

No hiding place for A&E yobs - The Bolton News 20th December 2006

PATIENTS who abuse staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital will be tracked down and fined by the police. Doctors, nurses and security staff will pass on contact details of the patients to the police in what is believed to be the first scheme of its kind in the country.

Listen to this edition of Another 15 Minutes...Health News from Fade

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Contents

Click on content link below to go to the news from that section: this will open a web page if you receive this by email

National News
International News
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Greater Manchester News
Podcast

Smiles amid the tears - The Guardian 20th December 2006

In her last interview before returning to the US, the head of the Royal College of Nursing goes moist eyed as she tells John Carvel why the NHS is the 'cat's miaow' - a treasure she would love to take home with her

Leading questions - The Guardian 20th December 2006

How are public sector professions falling foul of anti-discrimination laws? There is no recognition of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in the regulations governing training and entry and progress in professions such as social work, nursing and teaching.

Some private hospitals falling short of minimum standards - The Guardian 20th December 2006

The patchy quality of private hospitals in England is revealed by the Healthcare Commission for the first time today in a guide for patients showing how each establishment performed at the most recent inspection. The health watchdog found 6% of acute hospitals in the independent and charitable sectors failed to meet at least five of the 32 minimum standards, which included safety, cleanliness and quality of care.

Failings of private hospitals exposed - The Independent 20th December 2006

Healthcare watchdog checks reveal patchy standards in private hospitals - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

A shining example - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

Ministers deny it, but the truth is out there - The Guardian 20th December 2006

Mental health services have been disproportionately affected by cuts in 2006. Adding insult to injury, the government has refused point blank to accept that this is the case, writes Mary O'Hara

It's curtains for the NHS if it won't act on patients' views - The Guardian 20th December 2006

Staff need help to involve patients, and the organisation needs to promote change based on patients' views, writes Simon Fanshawe

Letters When the fizz falls flat - The Guardian 20th December 2006

Patrick Butler is right to urge caution about the rhetoric that surrounds the third sector (Too much faith in third sector fizz, Opinion, December 13). Pigeon-holing organisations by sector - charities are dynamic and innovative, public bodies are bureaucratic - is dangerous. The truth is each sector contains its fair share of heroes and villains. We must find a way of transforming public services rather than simply transferring them between sectors.

Letters extra Third Sector Fizz - The Guardian 20th December 2006

Husband tells of grief at wife's superbug death - The Independent 20th December 2006

Maribel Matula Espada and her husband Wen were overjoyed when they discovered they were about to have their first child. Despite a difficult labour followed by an emergency Caesarean, Mrs Espada, a nurse in Stoke-on-Trent, gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, the hospital in which she had worked for four years.

Nurse who had just given birth was first victim of new MRSA - The Times 20th December 2006

Husband to sue over sudden MRSA death - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

Three new MRSA cases at hospital - Daily Mail 19th December 2006

MRSA victim was nurse at hospital - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Orthopaedic patients kept waiting for over 2 years - The Times 20th December 2006

Some patients needing orthopaedic surgery are still waiting more than two years for treatment, according to new figures. The latest official statistics on NHS performance with regard to the 18-week waiting times target showed that some specialities were performing particularly poorly.

Patients wait year for hip surgery - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

Trauma care - The Times 20th December 2006

Recommendations on configuration of hospital services from knowledgeable and widely representative groups have failed to gain recognition from ministers (letter, December 4) and the present situation is no different. In 2000 the joint Royal College of Surgeons of England and British Orthopaedic Association report Better Care for the Severely Injured recommended that audit of outcome of trauma care, including quality-of-life measures as well as mortality figures, should be maintained by a national trauma research network. It also recommended that “the achievement of audited standards of trauma care with satisfactory outcomes should determine a hospital’s reception of severe injuries rather than its size or apparent catchment area”.

Hospital parking - The Times 20th December 2006

The Government’s newly revised guidance to hospitals on car parking charges (Income Generation. Car Parking Charges — Best practice for implementation) is a step in the right direction. Cancer patients spend hundreds of pounds on parking charges to attend hospital for life-saving treatment. Our research has shown that parking discounts are random and poorly advertised and only 9 per cent of hospitals with cancer centres provide free parking for all cancer patients. Too many patients and their families suffer financial hardship — and high parking charges are the most widespread.

Son of school head dies of meningitis - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

The 17-year-old son of a Northamptonshire school head teacher has died of suspected meningitis, it was confirmed last night. Alex Grimshaw, a guitarist with a thrash metal band called Legion of Fury, is believed to have died suddenly of meningococcal meningitis after going to bed complaining of a headache.

Brown's fears of malaria allayed - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

UK Athletics have insisted that medical provisions are in place to tackle the threat of malaria and other diseases before the World Cross-Country Championships in Kenya in March. The national governing body were responding to fears raised by the Canada-based British runner, Jon Brown, who said yesterday that he did not want to go to the championships because they are being held in an area where malaria can be contracted.

Black cohosh 'does not ease menopause symptoms' - Daily Mail 19th December 2006

A popular herbal menopause treatment does almost nothing to help with hot flushes, according to a new US study. Researchers found that 351 women given black cohosh got around the same amount of relief as those who took a dummy pill.

Bedclothes that will tell if your heart is failing - Daily Mail 19th December 2006

Bedclothes that keep a check on the heart while you sleep could help thousands of people with cardiac problems. Sensors in the pillow case and bed sheet can predict if a patient with heart failure is about to take a turn for the worse. The sensors can alert doctors to the problem and prompt them to take action that could save the patient's life.

What's your poison? Festive drinks compared - Daily Mail 19th December 2006

The season to be merry is in full swing and many of us will be enjoying more than an occasional festive drink. Your choice of tipple will not only determine how you feel the next day, but your long-term health. Drinking too much of any form of alcoholic drink is bad for you - according to the Foods Standards Agency, women can drink up to three units of alcohol a day and men up to four without a significant risk to their health.

A simple recipe for beating panic attacks - Daily Mail 19th December 2006

Jane Clarke's books are read by millions and she acted as adviser to Jamie Oliver on his School Dinners programme. Here she answers your questions on panic attacks and the benefits of nuts: My GP says I've been suffering from panic attacks. When one comes on, my heart races, I sweat and feel incredibly anxious. Although he has suggested medication, I wondered if there is anything diet-wise that can help.

'Don't ban our lifeline' plead joint pain sufferers - Daily Mail 19th December 2006

Patients and GPs have revolted after a drug that beats joint pain was outlawed by the NHS watchdog. The drug has been linked with 300-400 suicides a year. Here we look at four options nutritional experts suggest, which are unlikely to cause you harm: On New Year's Day, a drug called co-proxamol used by 1.7 million people to treat joint pain will vanish from the market and GPs, rheumatologists and patients are up in arms.

New bird flu outbreak in Vietnam - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Vietnam has confirmed a lethal H5N1 bird flu outbreak among its domestic poultry in the south of the country. Some 5,500 ducks and 500 chickens have died in the last two weeks in two provinces on the Mekong Delta, health ministry officials said.

Secrets of skin cancer fightback - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

The deadliest form of skin cancer appears to cheat chemotherapy by disguising itself as a normal cell. Malignant melanoma kills more than 1,700 people each year in the UK, and can be hard to treat even with powerful anti-cancer medication.

NHS dental places 'still limited' - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Asbestos cancer drug block review - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

NHS drugs advisors are to reconsider their decision to block a drug for people with asbestos-related cancer. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had said Alimta (pemetrexed disodium) should not be used in England and Wales.

Three test positive for polonium - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Three more people have tested positive for the radioactive substance thought to have killed former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. Tests on two members of staff at the Millennium Hotel and one at the Sheraton Hotel, both in London, showed low-level exposure to polonium-210.

No charges over hospital deaths - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Ambulance staff in strike threat - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Ambulance staff in the West country may strike over Christmas in a dispute involving pay and conditions. Unison members employed by the Great West Ambulance Service are considering limited strike action.

Husband wins £3m over sex problem - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

A man who lost his sexual inhibitions after suffering a severe head injury at work has won more than £3m. Stephen Tame, 29, fell from a gantry while working in a cycle warehouse in Wickford, Essex, in January 2002.

Libya sentences nurses to death in HIV infection case - The Independent 20th December 2006

Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor were condemned to death in Libya yesterday for deliberately infecting children with HIV. It was the second time the six had stood trial for the crimes. Their first trial ended with the same verdict in May 2004.

The Big Question: Why have five nurses and a doctor been condemned to death in Libya? - The Independent 20th December 2006

Gaddafi faces outrage as nurses on mercy mission are sentenced to die - The Times 20th December 2006

Experts blame hospital hygiene - The Times 20th December 2006

Libya is condemned over death sentences - The Telegraph 20th December 2006

Libya firm on HIV death sentences - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Medics await Libya court verdict - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

High vitamin D levels cut MS risk - BBC Health News 20th December 2006

Higher levels of vitamin D in the blood may lower the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), research suggests. Previous studies have suggested vitamin D may have a protective effect - but the evidence has been inconclusive.

French bird flu scare evaporates - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Veterinary experts in France say 4,000 chickens on a north-eastern farm did not die of bird flu. The chickens probably suffocated when a ventilation problem caused overheating in the chicken shed at Sarrey, in the Haute-Marne region, the experts said.

France testing dead birds for flu - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

Baby died after overdose at Alder Hey - Liverpool Daily Post 20th December 2006

A BABY died after being given an overdose of a blood-thinning drug, an inquest heard yesterday. Madison Perry, who was two-and-a-half months old, was given 10 times the correct dose of Heparin after nurses misread her prescription.

Honour for cancer work - Liverpool Echo 19th December 2006

A PENSIONER volunteer for Marie Curie Cancer Care in Liverpool has won an accolade at the charity's national achievement awards in London. Beryl Hemphill was awarded the Bernard and Diana Robinson Special Commendation, in recognition of her outstanding dedication to the charity.

The National Elf Service adds a sparkle to cancer centre - Liverpool Echo 19th December 2006

SANTA'S little helpers are in charge at a Wirral cancer centre this Christmas. Every year, different wards and departments at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology compete for the best Christmas decorations award.

Hospitals ban first-class post - Liverpool Daily Post 19th December 2006

FIRST-CLASS mail has been banned by a debt-ridden hospital trust as part of a raft of measures to save £15m. Board members at Southport and Ormskirk hospitals yesterday approved a rescue package to help pull the trust out of deficit, including putting parking charges up to £3 a visit.

Failure to talk to public delays private GP plan - Liverpool Daily Post 19th December 2006

PLANS to open Merseyside’s first privately run GP surgery were delayed because health executives did not consult the public fully enough. Sefton Primary Care Trust last night admitted it needed to involve patients more in the plan to commission an independent company to run the new clinic in Maghull.

Warnings over bogus collectors for cancer hospice - Liverpool Daily Post 19th December 2006

A CANCER charity has been left without valuable donations after bogus collectors targeted homes in the South Liverpool area. Last night fundraisers at Marie Curie Cancer Care, Liverpool, warned local residents not to give donations intended for the charity to door-to-door collectors unless they have verified that they are genuine.

Mobile breast screening unit is launched - Warrington Guardian 19th December 2006

A NEW mobile breast-screening unit has been set up in the car park of the Royal British Legion in Culcheth. The breast-screening unit is open to women who are eligible for the screening service offered by Warrington Primary Care Trust.

Special squads tackle violence in the home - Carlisle News & Star 19th December 2006

POLICE have formed specialist squads throughout Cumbria to handle domestic violence over Christmas and the New Year. A dedicated unit of officers has been formed in each force area – north, west and south – to respond to all calls of violence in the home if tempers flare during the festivities.

Council leader fury at ‘one-off’ baby unit closure - Lancashire Telegraph 19th December 2006

BURNLEY'S maternity unit was shut for 10 hours - after just two members of staff went off sick. The leader of Burnley Borough Council Gordon Birtwistle has branded the situation "absolutely diabolical" and said the hospital should have enough staff to cover two absences.

Award just the tonic for Karen - Lancashire Telegraph 19th December 2006

A NELSON health worker is all smiles after winning the Lancashire Priory Nursing Award for work undertaken at the University of Central Lancashire. Karen Walker, 29, from Vernon Street, received the award for demonstrating outstanding understanding of professional issues in the final module of her pre-registration nursing course.

A place to ask those difficult questions- The Bolton News 19th December 2006

A CENTRE where young people can get advice on pregnancy and sexual health enjoyed high praise when a government minister visited. Beverley Hughes, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, was at the Parallel Young Person's Health Centre to see work to tackle soaring rates of teenage pregnancy in Bolton.

How to make sure that baby is healthy - The Bolton News 19th December 2006

EXPERTS have launched an advice leaflet to help parents ensure they have healthy babies. Bosses at Bolton Primary Care Trust have worked with Folic Acid Action and Larkhill Laboratories to produce the leaflet, which highlights why the vitamin is so important for women planning a pregnancy.

Listen to this edition of Another 15 Minutes...Health News from Fade

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Contents

Click on content link below to go to the news from that section: this will open a web page if you receive this by email

National News
International News
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Greater Manchester News
Podcast

Nurse and patient were killed by MRSA variant - The Guardian 19th December 2006

The two people who died after becoming infected with a lethal strain of bacterium not seen before in UK hospitals were a patient and a healthcare worker at the North Staffordshire NHS University hospital, it was confirmed yesterday. The hospital said the deaths occurred in March and September this year. Only after the second death, "which set alarm bells ringing", according to a spokesman, did the hospital discover that a variant of the "superbug" MRSA was to blame. This form of MRSA, which has been detected in the community and killed a young marine after a leg injury became infected, produces a toxin called PVL - panton valentine leukocidin - which kills white blood cells, damaging the body's immune system and making it unable to fight off other infections such as pneumonia.

Nurse killed by new strain of superbug had just given birth - The Independent 19th December 2006

More cases at MRSA hospital - The Times 19th December 2006

Hospital workers and patients die from MRSA - The Telegraph 19th December 2006

Hewitt paid visit to MRSA death hospital - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

Epidemic warning on superbug that can kill in 24 hours - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

Sit back, relax and do nothing - The Guardian 19th December 2006

When we're not toiling we busy ourselves with social commitments and exercise. What became of rest? We shouldn't feel guilty napping on the sofa this Christmas, writes Vicky Frost

Minister admits U-turn on NHS database amid privacy fears - The Guardian 19th December 2006

The government gave a categorical assurance yesterday that NHS patients would have an absolute right of veto on any part of their medical records being uploaded to a national database. The health minister Lord Warner confirmed a report in the Guardian on Saturday that the government was abandoning an attempt to oblige GPs to provide a medical summary on every patient for a centralised electronic record.

A question of consent - The Guardian 19th December 2006

The Big Question: Should we fear plans to put medical records on a national database? - The Independent 19th December 2006

Patients can keep their details secret after computer U-turn - The Times 19th December 2006

Climb-down on NHS computer files records - The Telegraph 19th December 2006

Do you trust the NHS to use online records correctly? - The Telegraph 19th December 2006

Patients allowed to block NHS e-records - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

Patient veto for e-care records - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

'Is it a crime to want to be well?' - The Guardian 19th December 2006

For six years, Mark and Lezley Gibson supplied cannabis to sufferers of multiple sclerosis. The police knew what they were doing - but turned a blind eye. Now, however, the 'Canna-Biz Two' have been convicted of dealing. They talk to Patrick Barkham

'DNA diets' under the microscope - The Guardian 19th December 2006

Scientists are warning internet users about web-based companies which offer tailored diets to counter genetic vulnerability to certain cancers and other illnesses. Some sites are charging up to £1,000 for genetic testing and a dietary plan. But top scientists in the emerging field say the claims of some websites are "pie in the sky". The rise in the marketing of "nutrigenomic" testing and diets on the internet is now the subject of an ethical inquiry funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Plans for a world-class medical hub call for a different mindset - The Guardian 19th December 2006

In the spirit of festive giving, Tony Blair has thrown his support behind an adventurous new initiative aimed at making London and the south-east of England the place to be for biomedical research and development. At a meeting at No 10 last week, the prime minister said the proposed Global Medical Excellence Cluster (Gmec) will help the UK make the most of the world-class medical research and development being done in universities, by businesses and in the NHS. "With the rise of China and India, and competition from the US, developing science and technology and the links between academia and industry are of central importance to the economy," Blair said.

Chocolate helps ME sufferers - The Times 19th December 2006

Eating 1½oz (45g) a day of a dark chocolate that contains 85 per cent cocoa solids and is rich in polyphenol flavonoids can combat the tiredness caused by chronic fatigue syndrome, or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a study by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust found. Steve Atkin, who conducted the study, said that those who took part did not gain significant weight. There is no cure for ME and treatment focuses on the symptoms.

Are you an invisible fatty? - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

Although I've always been pretty happy about my body, I admit I'm no Adonis. I am one of those annoying people who can pretty much eat what they like, do no exercise, and never seem to gain weight (at 5ft 9in I weigh ten stone). And I hardly lead what you'd call a healthy lifestyle. I sit in front of a computer all day and the most exercise I get is the occasional trip to the deli five minutes down the road for a BLT.

Are we really what we eat? - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

Do detox diets work? Are we what we eat? It's a question we put to the test with the help of the UK's leading scientists, setting up a number of experiments using the latest research techniques. To assess the effectiveness - or not - of detoxing, we took ten female volunteers between the ages of 19 and 33, who had been partying hard at a rock festival, and whisked them away to country cottages in Devon. Five were put on a detox regime designed by a group of eminent dieticians, including Nigel Denby from Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Hospitals in London. The other five acted as "controls" and followed a normal, healthy diet.

A flexible friend to kick-start your heart - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

A thin, 2ft-long flexible tube that can be implanted in only 15 minutes looks set to revolutionise treatment for heart disease. The device, a radical new design of defibrillator, is inserted in the groin while the patient is awake and snaked through a vein until it gets to the heart. It is narrow enough to go through veins without impeding blood flow.

'I don't drink or smoke - so why did I get mouth cancer?' - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

For several years after my father's death in 2001 from prostate cancer, I would pick up the phone to talk to him and it would hit me that he wasn't around. Even though I was an adult when he died, he's left a huge gap - the thought that my boys could lose me at their tender age fills me with sorrow. It all began in the early summer, when I was shaving. I could feel a lump on my neck and from certain angles I could see it. My glands tend to come up when I have a sore throat, so I wasn't too worried. But it kept growing and a couple of weeks later, when it was the size of a quail's egg, I went to my GP.

GP's blunder forced me to have a leg amputated - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

This time two years ago, I had the world at my feet. It might sound like an unforgivable pun, but I had reached a point in my life where I was experiencing a great deal of contentment.

Amy lost her first child at 22 weeks. Yet all it took to save her second baby was one single stitch - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

My miscarriage happened last year when I was 22 weeks' pregnant. Up until then my pregnancy had seemed to be going well - my 12-week scan and then 20-week scan, when we learned we were expecting a baby boy, had been fine.

Depression: the great happy pill betrayal - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

The Christmas holiday period is the toughest time of year for many. More people commit suicide during the festive season, and the Samaritans helpline expects to receive a call every six seconds as people confront their loneliness or mounting debts. At this time of celebration, it is a sobering thought that, as a nation, we are becoming less successful at beating misery - and that's a year-round problem

NHS funding for kids' braces slashed by 20 per cent - Daily Mail 18th December 2006

Parents are being forced to pay thousands of pounds for braces for their children's teeth after the Government slashed the number of youngsters eligible for free treatment. Rationing of orthodontic treatment means more than 7,000 children and teenagers with crooked teeth are being turned down for braces and other corrective dental work each month, orthodontists have warned.

Most physio graduates out of work - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

Most physiotherapy graduates have struggled to get a job this year due to NHS cutbacks, industry leaders say. A Chartered Society of Physiotherapy poll found that seven out of every 10 physios who graduated in 2006 had not yet found a job.

Hospital gives new mums five-star treatment - The Guardian 19th December 2006

Wealthy new mothers in Shanghai will soon be able to sing away the postnatal blues at a luxury hospital that boasts a karaoke room, a golf course, a swimming pool and tennis courts, the state-run media reported today. Dubbed China's first "five-star medical institution", the Xiyue Postnatal Hospital will open on Christmas Day and despite room charges of up to £660 per night, half the beds are already booked, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Heady future for China's ancient potions - The Telegraph 19th December 2006

In the gleaming research facility at Pudong, Shanghai, the heart of China's booming biotech industry, a group of scientists is on the hunt for the next blockbuster cancer treatment. They are already enjoying some success: phase II clinical trials of their prototype drug, designed to help sufferers of head and neck cancer, are under way in the US.

Alcohol 'may prevent arthritis' - BBC Health News 19th December 2006

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol each day could protect against arthritis, a study of mice has found.In the Swedish study, mice whose water contained 10% alcohol had a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Bug closes hospital ward - Liverpool Echo 18th December 2006

FAZAKERLEY hospital is asking visitors to stay away after an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea closed a ward. Last week beds on Ward 9 were closed to avoid spreading the bug around the hospital.

Whistle-blower wins inquiry into GP cover - Liverpool Echo 18th December 2006

THE company which runs out-of-hours GP cover across Merseyside is under investigation after a former executive raised serious concerns about its standards. Whistle-blower Roy McNally has made a series of allegations against Urgent Care 24, including claims patients with life-threatening illnesses were not identified fast enough and performance figures were falsified.

Hospitals to face fines for treating too many patients - Liverpool Daily Post 18th December 2006

HOSPITALS across Merseyside and Cheshire face multi-million pound fines if they treat patients too quickly, under shock new government plans. The punishments are designed to stop hospitals generating extra cash by performing more operations than agreed with community health organisations.

Lung surgeon gets lifetime achievement accolade - Liverpool Daily Post 18th December 2006

ONE of Britain’s busiest lung surgeons, who once operated on around 600 patients a year, has been honoured for his lifetime of achievements. Ajab Soorae was one of the first to use keyhole surgery in Liverpool and helped perfect a technique to reduce the volume of cancer sufferers’ lungs in the mid- 1990s.

Priory to open clinic - Warrington Guardian 18th December 2006

A MULTI-MILLION pound hospital for patients with mental health problems will create 300 jobs. The Priory Group has confirmed it is building a private, medium security hospital in Dans Road, near Fiddlers Ferry.

Don't risk health - get flu jab - Warrington Guardian 18th December 2006

THE Health Protection Agency is urging people who are eligible for a flu vaccination to make sure they receive it. Uptake rates for flu immunisation are slightly down on last year, which is worrying health experts. The jab is still available and it is not to late to take up the offer.

£1,000 raised for hospice - Carlisle News & Star 18th December 2006

JENNIFER Irving and friend Lynda Chandler raised £1,000 for the Eden Valley Hospice by doing what they are good at.

£10m award lifts baby unit into the super class - The Bolton News 18th December 2006 - The Bolton News 18th December 2006

MILLIONS of pounds, extra specialist staff and new wards - these are just some of the benefits the Royal Bolton Hospital will see now it has been chosen as one of the region's maternity super-centres. An estimated £10 million has been awarded to the hospital to refurbish and extend its neo-natal ward, community services and other children's facilities.

Woman sent death threats to doctor - The Bolton News 18th December 2006

A WOMAN who sent her father's ashes to the doctor she blamed for his death has been jailed indefinitely. A judge at Bolton Crown Court imposed an open-ended prison sentence on 48-year-old Jacqueline Szulimowski, who threatened to kill Dr Arnand Prasad in a letter sent from jail while she was serving a sentence for previous threats to him.

Listen to this edition of Another 15 Minutes...Health News from Fade

Monday, December 18, 2006

Contents

Click on content link below to go to the news from that section: this will open a web page if you receive this by email

National News
International News
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Greater Manchester News
Podcast

First person: Michelle Mullen - The Guardian 18th December 2006

Michelle Mullen had it all: good job, money, and a busy social life. Then she went to her doctor with numbness and blurred vision, and everything changed ...

First Step opens up new paths with work skills - The Guardian 18th December 2006

Trust offers employment to hundreds with long-term mental health problems

Publishers aim to pile on the pounds with new diet books - The Observer 17th December 2006

As the obesity crisis deepens, the new year will unleash a slew of books offering the perfect guide to shifting the flab. Here are the titles fighting for your cash ...

Nurses in pensions crisis could lose £31m HQ - The Observer 17th December 2006

The Royal College of Nursing may have to sell its London headquarters to developers because of looming financial problems and a £42m pensions deficit. The Georgian building near Harley Street - valued at £31m - may be converted into apartments or a luxury hotel.

Catholic church in new sex abuse row - The Observer 17th December 2006

Diocese is shaken as former altar boy takes legal action claiming that negligence exposed him to priest who was 'a danger to children'

A place to be young, a place to be safe ... - The Observer 17th December 2006

Hundreds of thousands of young Britons live with acute mental illness. Denis Campbell visits one project making them feel wanted and valued

High-dose fertility drugs put mothers and babies at risk - The Observer 17th December 2006

Thousands of infertile women who undergo IVF treatment are risking themselves and their embryos because they are receiving too many strong hormonal drugs, new research reveals today. More than 10,000 children - around 1.5 per cent of all live births - are born in the UK each year using the treatments. For years, clinics have chosen to place several embryos in the womb to give the best possible chance of a pregnancy, often leading to multiple pregnancies that are dangerous in themselves because they can lead to premature delivery.

Brothels and safe red light areas are the only way forward - The Observer 17th December 2006

Prostitution policy in Britain is a disgrace created by the interlinking scandals of political cowardice and public indifference. Sex workers lead difficult and dangerous lives and the truth is that most people, including politicians, don't care what happens to them.

No 10 'blocked move to legalise prostitution' - The Observer 17th December 2006

Mary Riddell: Men: prostitution's driving force - The Observer 17th December 2006

Additional Story
Addiction that drove victims to life on the street - The Guardian 16th December 2006

Harm caused by sex worker stereotypes - The Guardian 16th December 2006

The many reasons to take a Victorian view of prostitution - The Telegraph 18th December 2006

Patients win right to keep records off NHS computer - The Guardian 16th December 2006

The government has bowed to privacy concerns about a new NHS computer system and conceded that patients should be allowed a veto on information about their medical history being passed from their GP to a national database.

How patients' protests forced a rethink on NHS computer records - The Guardian 16th December 2006

Electronic care records go ahead - BBC Health News 16th December 2006

Gym will fix it in any number of ways - The Guardian 16th December 2006

We may have become a nation of gym obsessives, but it is not the dream of abs of steel which draws us in. The huge growth in the popularity of health clubs and gym membership is actually driven by our hunt for friendship and social interaction, according to a new study.

So you want to work in Health and social care - The Guardian 16th December 2006

This is one of the biggest employment sectors in the UK. The roles are varied: from doctors and nurses, ambulance staff and support staff within the NHS, to working in social care in a hospital, an educational setting or a residential home. The graduate starting salary is currently estimated at pounds 10,000 to pounds 25,000, jumping to anything from pounds 19,000 to a wholesome pounds 48,000-plus after training.

Couple guilty of giving cannabis to MS patients - The Guardian 16th December 2006

A couple who gave thousands of chocolate bars laced with cannabis to multiple sclerosis patients for pain relief were found guilty yesterday of conspiring to supply the drug.

Cannabis chocolate makers guilty - The Times 16th December 2006

Cannabis chocolate trio convicted - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

Liver disease from hepatitis C expected to double in 10 years - The Guardian 16th December 2006

The number of people suffering from severe liver diseases caused by hepatitis C will double in the next 10 years, putting serious strain on transplant services, health watchdogs warned yesterday.

Superbug infections could be controlled by isolation - The Independent 18th December 2006

Britain has the worst record for tackling superbug infection among big European nations, according to a report that reveals the full scale of the MRSA crisis. The findings will add to the pressure on the Government to invest hundreds of million of pounds in new hospital beds to help the NHS get back to the low infection rates of 25 years ago.

PVL: New strain of superbug targets the young, and its latest victim is an NHS nurse - The Independent 18th December 2006

A nurse and a patient have died from a deadly new strain of MRSA after a superbug outbreak at a hospital. The Health Protection Agency said three other nurses in the West Midlands hospital were among eight people who contracted the new, more lethal strain of MRSA, four of whom have infections including boils and abscesses. Two have died.

Hospitals on alert for fast strain of MRSA that kills young and healthy - The Times 18th December 2006

MRSA strain kills two in hospital - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

Britain's booziest Christmas ever - The Independent on Sunday 17th December 2006

Price wars in supermarkets and drink promotions in pubs are making alcohol cheaper than ever. And we're lapping it up, as this exclusive survey for the 'IoS' reveals. Which is why police are calling for a ban on advertising aimed at young drinkers and doctors are warning of record levels of liver disease. Sophie Goodchild and Marie Woolf report

Taxi drivers' knowledge helps their brains grow - The Independent on Sunday 17th December 2006

Satellite navigation systems can stunt your brain, preventing it from developing, according to scientists. They have discovered that taxi drivers have actually grown more brain cells because of all the knowledge they keep in their heads. When the scientists compared the brains of taxi drivers with those of other drivers, they found the cabbies had more grey matter in the area of the brain associated with memory.

Bishop 'might have suffered stroke' - The Independent on Sunday 17th December 2006

Doctors are investigating whether a minor stroke may to be blame for the erratic behaviour of the Bishop of Southwark, who was found on his doorstep with head wounds after a night out.
The Right Rev Tom Butler has come under increasing pressure to explain the bizarre events that occurred when he left a Christmas drinks reception at the Irish embassy earlier this month.

Doctors told not to wear ties to stop spread of MRSA bug - The Independent on Sunday 17th December 2006

Doctors have been told not to wear ties on hospital wards because they could spread the MRSA superbug to patients. Hospital consultants, working at Brighton and Sussex Hospitals Trust, have been told that they should leave their ties at home because they are not cleaned as frequently as other clothes and could spread germs. The MRSA bug, which is spread by lack of cleanliness, is responsible for hundreds of deaths. The rules have been introduced to try to reduce one of the highest rates of MRSA infection in the country.

Doctors told to cast off ties - The Sunday Times 17th December 2006

Tie ban for doctors to stop spread of MRSA - The Telegraph 18th December 2006

School obesity tests distorted - The Independent on Sunday 17th December 2006

Parents of fat children are being blamed by ministers for the failure of an attempt to measure the nation's childhood obesity crisis. The results of a survey that was supposed to weigh and measure every reception class pupil suggested children are getting lighter. But data was distorted as not enough local health trusts did the tests and, where they did, parents of fat children refused to give permission for them to be weighed.

Ikea gives staff chance to get on their bikes - The Independent 16th December 2006

Ikea, the Swedish retail chain, showed its green credentials yesterday by giving all 9,000 of its workers a free bicycle.

Cloning benefits oversold, says stem-cell scientist - The Times 18th December 2006

The medical promise of therapeutic cloning has been oversold and its unreasonably high profile risks turning the public against more promising aspects of stem-cell research, according to one of Britain’s most respected experts in the field. Cloning research “clearly upsets the general public” yet it has limited potential for treating disease and adds little to scientific understanding of human biology, according to Professor Austin Smith of the University of Cambridge.

Comment: Jenny Hjul: Let GPs go private to do their job well - The Sunday Times 17th December 2006

General practitioners enjoy special status within the NHS, being the most public face of healthcare because they have most contact with the public. Just about everyone has at some time had reason to see “their doctor” (note the possessive article). People are more likely to know the name of their doctor than that of any other public servant. But though GPs are paid out of the public purse, few of us think of them as public-sector workers. They run their practices very much as private businesses — as independent contractors and for profit, and have done since 1948.

The real experts on underage sex - The Sunday Times 17th December 2006

In all this talk about lowering the age of consent in Scotland, shouldn't we take time to talk to the children. When Paul lost his virginity to an older girl, he never thought he might be committing a crime. Emma, his first girlfriend, was a year older than him at 15 and already sexually experienced. But when her parents discovered the nature of their relationship, it was 14-year-old Paul who was threatened with the law.

Health: Laser eye surgery - The Sunday Times 17th December 2006

For anyone who wears glasses or contact lenses the promise of perfect vision is hard to resist. Corrective laser eye surgery first became widely available in 1988 and has become increasingly popular. An estimated 100,000 people underwent the operation this year — three times the number who did a decade ago. There are 93 clinics in Britain currently offering the operation.

Kit bag: Essential gear for post-operative care - The Sunday Times 17th December 2006

Healthier climes? - The Times 16th December 2006

Choosing to live abroad can lead to problems in medical care
The headline was certainly eye-catching: “5.5 million Britons opt to live abroad”. That’s almost three quarters of London’s population or five Birminghams’ worth.

Ministers deny children braces on NHS - The Sunday Telegraph 17th December 2006

Thousands of children are being denied dental braces and other corrective treatment on the NHS after the Government changed the rules on who is eligible. Orthodontists, who specialise in the correction of irregular teeth and work mainly with children and teenagers, are now turning away more than 7,000 patients a month, patients who, this time last year, would have been given braces on the NHS.

Back from the brink - The Telegraph 16th December 2006

Collingham Gardens is one of the dwindling number of residential psychiatric units for under-14s, a last resort for the parents of severely disturbed children. Angela Neustatter sees how the right treatment can turn despair into hope

Mistletoe and wine? It'll end in tears - The Telegraph 16th December 2006

Christmas is the season of unexpected health hazards. The familiar joys of the festive season are almost upon us: the wine and wassailing, the gift-giving, food and festivity; the stress-related ailments, trips to A & E, weight gain, walloping hangovers and embolism-inducing credit-card bills.

Obese should have health warnings on their clothes - Daily Mail 15th December 2006

Oversize clothes should have obesity helpline numbers sewn on them to try and reduce Britain's fat crisis, a leading professor said today.

Watchdog finds cardiac 'failings' - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

A NHS trust has promised an action plan for the cardiac centre at Swansea's Morriston Hospital after a health watchdog found difficulties remain. A Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) review of the centre found "many failings" over several years.

Kicking causes most severe injury - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

Kicking somebody during a fight can be more dangerous than using a sharp or blunt weapon, research shows. A study of 25,000 people admitted to A&E found use of feet was more likely to inflict serious injury than blunt or sharp objects or fists.

Plea over funds for elderly care - BBC Health News 18th December 2006

Many vulnerable elderly people will be condemned to "isolation and dependency" if the government does not provide extra funds for care, campaigners say.

More baby research funds demanded - BBC Health News 17th 2006

Babies' lives are being jeopardised by a lack of funding looking at the cause of premature births, a charity claims. Action Medical Research said £3.7m - just 0.3% of the total research budget - was spent on research in this subject during the year 2004-2005. However, a Department of Health spokeswoman said research spending in the area actually stood at £6m a year.

Dieters do calories, not exercise - BBC Health News 17th 2006

Twice as many dieters count calories to lose weight rather than exercise, a poll has found. Calorie counting is most popular with women - half opt to count their food intake, compared with a third of men. Yet 59% of the 2,000 people surveyed by GlaxoSmithKline Nutritional Healthcare realised exercise makes the greater contribution to personal health.

Hospital in baby deaths inquiry - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

An investigation is under way into the sudden deaths of four babies at the neonatal unit of Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

Fears over hepatitis C awareness - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

Thousands of people are still being diagnosed with the severe liver disease hepatitis C in England despite a major awareness campaign, figures show.

Obesity 'could bankrupt the NHS' - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

The rising levels of obesity could bankrupt the NHS if left unchecked, a British Medical Journal report warns.

Donor crisis 'fuels IVF tourism' - BBC Health News 14th December 2006

British couples desperate for a baby are travelling abroad for fertility treatment because of a shortage of egg donors in the UK.

Medics face death while Libya uses HIV children as diplomatic pawns - The Observer 17th December 2006

The death in Libya six weeks ago of nine-year-old Marwa Annouiji from Aids was much more than just another developing world statistic. In her short, life, dominated by illness, the frail child was a pawn in a high-level game of international relations.

Medics await their fate in Libyan HIV case - The Independent 18th December 2006

HIV positive and forced by poverty to breastfeed - The Telegraph 16th December 2006

As she breastfeeds her three-month-old twins, James and John, Asina Ajabu is playing a lottery with lives that have barely begun.

The babies who are murdered to order - Daily Mail 15th December 2006

The plastic bag looks as if it contains meat. But then a right leg is taken from it and placed surgically on the morgue table, followed by the left one. Then the torso. The head follows, a gaping cavity where the brain used to be.

Drug resistant TB 'more severe' - BBC Health News 16th December 2006

The problem of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis may be even more severe than previously thought, experts warn.

Fitness 'cuts colon cancer risk' - BBC Health News 16th December 2006

Keeping physically active can significantly cut the risk of colon cancer, international research shows.

Breast cancer drop linked to HRT - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

A drop in breast cancer cases may be due to women eschewing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), experts say.

Delhi doctors begin hunger strike - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

Doctors from India's most prestigious medical institute have begun a hunger strike in the capital Delhi.

Canon calls for legal sex workers - Liverpool Echo 15th December 2006

A SENIOR Merseyside churchman last night called for the legalisation of prostitution and drugs to protect women working on the streets. Dr John Elford, former Canon of Liverpool Cathedral, last night slammed the Government's "self-righteous" attitude which he said was criminalising vulnerable young women and putting their lives at risk.

I started drinking at 11 ... by 15 I was on 16 cans a day - Liverpool Echo 15th December 2006

IT'S the time of year when many people drink to excess. Chief feature writer Paddy Shennan speaks to a Merseyside teenager who has come through her own binge-drinking hell

Unit named best in the UK - Ormskirk Advertiser 14th December 2006

IT’S a small specialist unit headed by one doctor, but Ormskirk Hospital’s dermatology unit has beaten established teaching centres in major cities to be named the best in the country.

Super ‘shock’ for Sarah - Ormskirk Advertiser 14th December 2006

EDGE Hill University midwifery graduate Sarah Batt, pictured left, has won an impressive prize for excelling in her studies.

Hospitals plead for cash to halt deadly superbugs - Liverpool Daily Post 14th December 2006

HOSPITALS across the region are to bid for a share of £50m national funding to fight superbugs on their wards. Health executives last night announced they want £300,000 to help stop the spread of deadly MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C-Dif), at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals.

Hospitals in cash bid to fight superbugs - Liverpool Echo 14th December 2006

999 crew could not get to footballer - Liverpool Echo 14th December 2006

AMBULANCE staff have met council officers to come up with a series of contingency plans after a second footballer was left waiting in agony for paramedics on a council sports pitch.

Student's health alert over nurse 'burnout' - Ellesmere Port Pioneer 14th December 2006

A STUDENT nurse from Ellesmere Port says cutbacks at the Countess of Chester Hospital are having a 'devastating' effect on patient care. The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, says there is a shortage of nurses, which is leading to unsafe working conditions, low morale and burnout.

Drug Deal s or Mercy Missions? - Carlisle News & Star 16th December 2006

Exhausted, angry, and tearful, Lezley Gibson sat in the dock, shaking her head, silently mouthing the words: “It’s just not fair”. The 42-year-old former hairdresser, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 21 years ago, had just heard Judge John Phillips explain a court ruling that effectively scuppered her defence in this week’s gruelling cannabis trial.

Cannabis Choc 3 Guilty - Carlisle News & Star 16th December 2006

Cannabis couple Guilty - Carlisle News & Star 15th December 2006

Couple guilty of giving cannabis to MS patients - The Guardian 16th December 2006

Cannabis chocolate makers guilty - The Times 16th December 2006

Cannabis chocolate trio convicted - BBC Health News 15th December 2006

Mental health officer attacks services - Lancashire Telegraph 15th December 2006

A LEADING mental health officer has launched a stinging attack on the NHS's "cinderella" psychiatric services. Krys Wiczkowska, who has quit Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust, said red tape and low investment were letting patients down. And she said patients were being given too many anti-depressant tablets instead of face-to-face help.

Diabetes girl’s amazing boost - Lancashire Telegraph 15th December 2006

A DARWEN mother is urging children with diabetes to change their diet after her daughter remarkably improved her condition by slimming. Liesl Robinson, who herself dropped three dress sizes, started her daughter Chloe on the diet and her insulin injections have now been halved.

The ‘silent epidemic’ of alcohol abuse - The Bolton News 16th December 2006

AN epidemic of alcohol abuse is sweeping through Bolton's pensioner population.
Research carried out at the Royal Bolton Hospital has revealed residents as old as 90 are being admitted with evidence of serious alcohol abuse. Doctors at the hospital are warning the problem is getting worse.

Tragedy of cancer sufferer Martin - The Bolton News 16th December 2006

A CANCER sufferer died at the age of 34 - just two days after being diagnosed with the disease. Martin Pover was in hospital surrounded by his family when doctors delivered the shattering news. Medics had thought he was suffering from tuberculosis before tests revealed the true nature of his condition.

Fairfield: What's staying - or going - Bury Times 16th December 2006

THE future of Fairfield Hospital's maternity and children's services is set to change dramatically within the next five years. Here are the services that will stay - and those to be axed.

Smoking ban: How it will work - Bury Times 16th December 2006

COUNCIL and health bosses have held talks to ensure Bury is ready to implement the upcoming ban on smoking next summer. The Smoke Free Bury Forum, made up of representatives from Bury Council and Primary Care Trust (PCT), will spend the next few months making plans for how the ban for smoking in indoor public places will work in Bury when it becomes law on July 1.

'Scandal' of OAPs out in the cold - Bury Times 16th December 2006

OLD folk are at risk because they cannot afford to heat their homes, say local Liberal Democrats. They are calling on the Government to increase winter fuel payments and offer better incentives to people to insulate their homes and cut fuel bills.

Wanted this Christmas: A pint of your blood - Manchester Evening News 16th December 2006

THE National Blood Service has launched an appeal asking people in the north west to give blood in the run-up to Christmas. The charity says blood stocks fall by about 10 per cent approaching the festive period, which can often be the busiest time of the year for hospitals.

No reprieve for 'elderly' ward - Manchester Evening News 16th December 2006

A HOSPITAL ward which provides rehabilitation care for the elderly will be the first casualty of a £14m cash crisis.

Town hall to start smoking ban early - Leigh Journal 15th December 2006

SMOKING will be banned by Bolton Council six months before the country is forced to stub it out. Lighting up is already outlawed at most local-authority offices and buildings, but a new smoke-free policy will be expanded to include the remaining premises in the new year.

Leaflet offers advice to stay healthy this winter - The Bolton News 15th December 2006

SOARING rates of illness over the festive and winter period have prompted health bosses to publish a leaflet telling people how to stay healthy. Bolton Primary Care Trust has produced the leaflet, which is full of tips on how to keep well during the cold months, as the extra rates of illness is a huge drain of hospital and GP services.

Bolton people are among the worst for taking exercise - The Bolton News 15th December 2006

PEOPLE in Bolton are among the worst in the country for taking exercise, according to a new survey into UK fitness levels. Sport England has revealed that residents in the borough exercise less than people in most other areas of the country. Of 354 local authorities, Bolton is ranked at 312, with just 18.3 per cent of people taking part in sport or exercise for the recommended 30 minutes, three times a week.

Manifesto for a healthier Bolton - The Bolton News 15th December 2006

A PLEDGE to improve the ailing health of Bolton's population has been signed by borough health bosses.The manifesto for improving health services in the town, entitled Better Health for Bolton, was officially launched at an event at the Reebok Stadium. Falling life expectancy, chronic heart and liver disease, and high rates of cancer have prompted health chiefs to draw up the action plan.