A study, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, found that patients with breast, melanoma, testicular and endometrial cancers are more likely to be referred to a specialist after just one or two consultations. However, patients with some less common cancers such as multiple myeloma, pancreatic, stomach and ovarian cancer, as well as patients with lung and colon cancers and lymphomas are more likely to require three or more visits to their family doctor before they are referred to a hospital specialist.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/242106.phpNHS watchdog plans abandoned
The Government has "abandoned" plans to create powerful local organizations capable of holding hospitals and social care authorities to account, campaigners claim today. Under Government plans, existing organisations that act as the "eyes and ears" of patients, called Local Involvement Networks (Links) are to be replaced by Local Health Watch groups in April 2013. Originally, Links leaders were pleased, believing the Government was committed to giving health campaigners sharper teeth. They say ministers quietly unveiled new plans last Monday that will see these new bodies stripped of their 'statutory body' status - although not statutory powers - and forced to become accountable to local authorities.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9106799/NHS-watchdog-plans-risk-another-Mid-Staffs.html
As people live longer and medical technology improves, more and more of us will have a surgical implant before we die. We are also getting cremated in larger numbers - and so there is often some expensive metal left among the ashes. Where does it go? Ortho Metals, recycles metal implants from cremated human bodies. That's everything from steel pins to titanium hips and cobalt-chrome knees. Strange it may be, and a bit macabre perhaps, but this kind of recycling is a growth industry. "I know the existence of five or six competitors that we have, most of them in the United States," says Verberne, whose company is based in the Dutch city of Zwolle.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16877393The myth of the eight-hour sleep
We often worry about lying awake in the middle of the night - but it could be good for you. A growing body of evidence from both science and history suggests that the eight-hour sleep may be unnatural.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783
The dispute is over pension changes, which would see the highest earning doctors' contributions rising to 14.5%. Doctors' representatives are holding an emergency meeting to decide whether or not to ballot for industrial action. If the British Medical Association council decides to go ahead, it will be the first time doctors have been balloted for action since 1975.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17156525GP salaries hit £90,000 but it’s still not enough, they say
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/health/gp_salaries_hit_90_000_but_it_s_still_not_enough_they_say_1_1957078Ghost patients: GPs overpaid says Audit CommissionGPs have been paid for thousands of patients on their lists who have moved practice, died or been forced to leave the country, according to a report by the Audit Commission. Their report identified more than 95,000 patients who needed removing from GP lists in England and Wales. Deleting these records has saved £6.1m, the commission said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17138584Drug Companies Should Have to Report Payments to Doctors
Previous research has found that drug company payments to doctors can influence treatment decisions and contribute to higher health care costs by promoting the use of more expensive drugs and medical devices. Many doctors receive payments from drug and medical device companies each year -- sometimes totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds in exchange for giving lectures and providing advice to the companies.
“ A GP will see only around eight cases of cancer a year, on average, among hundreds of people with symptoms that might indicate cancer, so making appropriate referral decisions can be challenging”
Quote from Jessica Harris Cancer Research UK
'Great potential' for new cancer diagnosis tool’
Physicists using a particle accelerator at Daresbury in Cheshire, believe they may have come up with a new diagnostic tool for a particularly aggressive form of throat cancer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9694000/9694219.stm
A new treatment for advanced skin cancer almost doubles survival times, according to an international study. Doctors say 132 patients in the US and Australia who were given the drug vemurafenib gained several extra months of life. Research in the New England Journal of Medicine found those in the study lived an average of 16 months, compared with nine months on conventional treatment.
Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) has been recommended for approval in Europe. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17128925'Pharmacy on a chip' gets closer
The futuristic idea that microchips could be implanted under a patient's skin to control the release of drugs has taken another step forward. US scientists have been testing just such a device on women with the bone-wasting disease osteoporosis. The chip was inserted in their waist and activated by remote control.
A clinical trial, reported in Science Translational Medicine, showed the chip could administer the correct doses and that there were no side effects.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17050551
Care Quality Commission chief executive quits amid criticism of regulator's failure to adequately police hospitals and care homes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/23/nhs-watchdog-cynthia-bower-resigns
5,200 classrooms of UK kids start smoking every year
Every year around 157,000 children aged 11-15 start smoking – that’s enough to fill 5,200 classrooms or make up nearly 14,000 junior football teams. These shocking figures, revealed in a new analysis by Cancer Research UK, highlight the ongoing scale of the tobacco problem, and underline the importance of sustained action to discourage young people from starting to smoke, including by introducing plain packaging for all tobacco products as soon as possible. Almost one million children – those aged 15 and under – in the UK have tried smoking at least once – around 27 per cent of children.
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressrelease/2012-02-22-157000-UK-kids-start-smoking-every-year?rss=truehttp://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/call-for-more-action-on-young-smokers.16817884Bullying manager resigns at Swindon hospital
A manager at Swindon's Great Western Hospital (GWH) has resigned prior to a 24-hour strike by support workers. Porters, cleaners, and domestic staff, who walked out on Tuesday over allegations of managerial "bullying and harassment”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-17110593
Stobhill Lung Cancer Support Groups Eric Byrne gave his backing to a new programme to help increase the early detection of cancer in Scotland. Eric was joined by fellow cancer survivors and Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon at the launch of the Detect Cancer Early initiative, at Springburn Health Centre in Glasgow.
http://lungcancer.healthunlocked.com/blogs/139054/patient-advocate-launches-scotlands-detect-cancer-early-plan?ref=email_dailyCancer
One in three people will be affected by cancer at some stage in their life. We've more information on the most common types affecting people in the UK along with the general treatment, diagnosis process, and care you'll receive if you're diagnosed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/cancer/index.shtml
Stobhill Lung Cancer Support Group lose their lung nurse specialists
Notification from our local lung nurses. "Unfortunately due to changes to the service and a lack of resources, we have been advised that we can no longer facilitate the support group. It will still be possible for you to meet in the Boardroom and I am happy to book that up for you. It will be necessary for someone to sign for and collect the key for the boardroom from the office upstairs and to return it at the end of meetings".
Due to 'restructuring’, the lung nurses will no longer be able to attend our meetings. The group will have to discuss how we proceed at the next meeting in March, would be grateful if everyone could attend. NHS changes: Critics 'not invited' to PM's meeting
Some of the fiercest critics of the planned NHS reforms say they have not been invited to a meeting about the changes with David Cameron. The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing, which want the bill to be withdrawn, say they have not been asked to Monday's event. Labour accused the prime minister of a "last-ditch desperate bid to shore up collapsing support" for the bill. Downing Street would not disclose who had been invited to the meeting.
(Could it be just yes men , or is that being too cynical).
Is it too late to stop the NHS overhaul? Why 2012 is a big year for the NHS Q&A: The NHS shake-up How the NHS works in rest of UK Conservative support shrinks as voters turn against NHS bill• Tories down four points to 36% in latest Guardian/ICM poll
• Labour up one point on 37%, Lib Dems down two on 14%
• Majority of respondents (52%) want NHS bill dropped
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/20/conservative-support-shrinks-voters-nhsOver two-thirds of people do not trust the government's handling of the NHS, a poll commissioned by BBC 5 Live's Victoria Deryshire programme suggests
The Good Care Guide aims to give relatives a place to go to share their views on the service they have received from care homes and nurseries. Its backers say it will provide "real, honest feedback on what is available".
Continue reading the main story Related Stories
Elderly care scrutinised in new plansGuilty pleas over hospital abuseModel agencies 'ban' sun beds
The directors of Next, Storm, Elite, Premier Model Management, Oxygen, and Union say they have committed themselves to a zero-tolerance approach to sun bed use for all of their models. The scheme is part of Cancer Research UK's R UV UGLY. Campaign, which was set up to raise awareness of the dangers of using sun beds. The move comes ahead of London Fashion Week, which begins today [17 February]. Models 1, FM, Nevs, First and D1 have also committed to the policy. It will affect both models already signed to the agencies and aspiring models who want to be represented by them. Sarah Doukas, the managing director of Storm Model Management, said: "Supporting this campaign makes perfect sense as the wellbeing of our models is of paramount importance and we take a serious approach to their health. "We recommend that they choose safer options if they require a tan - spray tans are easy to apply and can last a week."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17060637
The consumer watchdog Which is hoping that people power can be used to drive down the cost of our energy bills. It has launched a campaign to persuade more people to switch providers to find the cheapest tariff. It says customers are missing out on billions of pounds of savings and it wants bill payers to group together to negotiate better rates.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17040979THE BIG SWITCH
We cannot guarantee an energy company will offer a cheaper deal, but the more people who sign up for The Big Switch, the stronger our bargaining power will be. So please tell your friends and family to join. You can share the link www.whichbigswitch.co.uk via facebook or Twitter. Registration is free and you are under no obligation to switch – the choice is always yours. Once we have more information about the deal, we’ll be able to provide you with a personalised savings estimate. It’s then up to you whether you decide to go ahead and complete the switch or stick with your current deal.
Thanks for supporting The Big Switch.
Richard Lloyd.
Which, Executive Director
https://www.whichbigswitch.co.uk/
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