Tuesday 30 December 2014

Significant rise in call-outs for Northamptonshire’s ambulance service

Significant rise in call-outs for Northamptonshire’s ambulance service

The number of call-outs for the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) in December rose by more than 5,000 since the same month last year. Evening Telegraph

News story: Ebola case confirmed in Scotland

News story: Ebola case confirmed in Scotland

The Scottish government has confirmed a case of Ebola in an individual in Scotland, who travelled to Glasgow from Sierra Leone.

The patient will be transferred for treatment in isolation at the Royal Free hospital in London.

The UK has well established and practised infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease. These procedures will be strictly followed while the patient is in transit and when receiving treatment at the Royal Free hospital.

The UK government is working closely with the Scottish government to ensure the patient receives the best possible treatment.

The confirmed case of Ebola in Scotland was a healthcare worker returning from Sierra Leone. They had left Sierra Leone on 28 December and had been a passenger on flight AT596 from Freetown to Casablanca, flight AT0800 from Casablanca to London, and transferred at Heathrow to flight BA1478 for onward travel to Glasgow.

Are we too obsessed with NHS targets?

Are we too obsessed with NHS targets?

Are we too obsessed with NHS targets? BBC News

Tiny microscope can take agonising wait out of cancer tests 

Tiny microscope can take agonising wait out of cancer tests 

Scientists have developed the world's smallest microscope which is inserted into the body, allowing doctors to 'see' cancer and make an instant, precise diagnosis. Mail

Red meat triggers toxic immune reaction which causes cancer, scientists find

Red meat triggers toxic immune reaction which causes cancer, scientists find

Scientists at the University of California discovered that the human body views red meat as a foreign invader and launches an immune response. Telegraph

Prescription fraud plan criticised

Prescription fraud plan criticised

Pharmacists strongly criticised plans to strengthen checks at the counter for entitlement to free prescriptions in England. BBC News

Many breast cancer patients struggle with aftermath of disease, finds charity

Many breast cancer patients struggle with aftermath of disease, finds charity


Debilitating side-effects and depression among most common issues raised by those calling helpline two years after diagnosis

One in six breast cancer patients are still struggling with the aftermath of the disease and its treatment more than two years on from diagnosis, a charity has found.

Breast Cancer Care said the results of a survey of 1,228 people, who had been diagnosed two or more years previously and had called its helpline, illustrate the importance of the phone line and the need for the public to help keep it going. Guardian

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Lying on Facebook causes paranoia and memory problems

Lying on Facebook causes paranoia and memory problems

Lying on Facebook is common — but doing so could cause paranoia and memory problems. Independent

Jab that can banish allergies in two months: Substance is injected directly into a lymph node in the groin rather than under the skin

Jab that can banish allergies in two months: Substance is injected directly into a lymph node in the groin rather than under the skin

The treatment involves injecting small amounts of an allergen - such as a protein from pet fur - into the patient's body over a period of time, so that the body slowly becomes accustomed. Mail

Diet advice from overweight GPs more likely to be ignored, finds survey

Diet advice from overweight GPs more likely to be ignored, finds survey


Poll suggests need for NHS staff to be role models to help convince public of importance of losing weight, says health body

Britons are much less likely to follow advice from health professionals such as GPs and nurses if the health professionals are overweight or obese, a new survey shows.

Polling commissioned by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) found that 41% of people would be less likely to take advice about adopting a healthy diet from an NHS member of staff who was carrying extra pounds, while just 17% said they would heed it. Guardian

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