Wednesday 30 March 2016

Woman from Northampton called NHS crisis line...and had to wait two days to see a doctor

Woman from Northampton called NHS crisis line...and had to wait two days to see a doctor


A woman from Northamptonshire claims she was unable to find help on a mental health crisis line for two days.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Strictly Northampton smashes event record to raise £45,000 for Cynthia Spencer Hospice

Strictly Northampton smashes event record to raise £45,000 for Cynthia Spencer Hospice


A record-breaking cheque for more than £45,000 was handed over to Cynthia Spencer Hospice at a special event hosted the event’s sponsor, Aspers Casino last week.
Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Concern over 'all-out' doctors' strike

Concern over 'all-out' doctors' strike


Medical leaders say the planned all-out strike by junior doctors in England at the end of April could be damaging to patients and should be suspended.
BBC News

WHO downgrades Ebola health risk

WHO downgrades Ebola health risk


Ebola is no longer an "extraordinary health event" and the risk of the virus spreading is low, the World Health Organization says.
BBC News

Guidance: Prostate cancer risk management programme: PSA test benefits and risks

Guidance: Prostate cancer risk management programme: PSA test benefits and risks


The Prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP) aims to help primary care give clear and balanced information to asymptomatic men who ask about testing for prostate cancer.

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is available free to any man aged 50 or over who requests it, after careful consideration of the implications.

Men concerned about the risk of prostate cancer should receive clear and balanced information about the advantages and disadvantages of the PSA test, biopsy and treatments for prostate cancer. This means men can make informed decisions about whether or not to have a PSA test.
Public Health England

Anorexia: Stimulating brain with magnetic fields reduces symptoms of eating disorder

Anorexia: Stimulating brain with magnetic fields reduces symptoms of eating disorder


Anorexia is characterised by an intense fear of being overweight.
Independent

Can concussion be tested for with a 'simple' blood test?

Can concussion be tested for with a 'simple' blood test?

"A new blood test can detect a concussion up to a week after a head injury," the Daily Mail reports. The test involved checking for biomarkers, which are substances created by a specific biological condition or state.

In this case researchers looked at two biomarkers – proteins called glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1).

These proteins are known to be associated with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. These types of injury can result in concussion, which is short-lived loss of mental function.

The study included more than 500 people with suspected brain injury. Researchers found both proteins were sometimes present in the blood.

There were higher levels of UCH-L1 in the early stages after injury, while GFAP was found to be a relatively good indicator for up to a week after injury.

However, the two biomarkers were not always detectable in people with a brain injury. One in five people assessed by researchers did not have GFAP and 1 in 10 did not have UCH-L1.

As the tests were not able to correctly identify all people with and without a brain injury, these two biomarkers would not meet the requirements for a stand-alone diagnostic test.

Concussion ideally needs to be diagnosed by a health professional trained in assessing patients with head injury. You should visit your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if you or someone in your care has a head injury.