Monday 4 November 2019

UK flu epidemic: US deaths prompt expert warning about virus

UK flu epidemic: US deaths prompt expert warning about virus A life-threatening flu epidemic could hit the UK this winter, experts have warned.

Health officials confirmed two cases in the US where flu has caused deaths, including a four year old boy in California who died last month, and another child of the same age who died in New York this week.

It has been warned that these cases could indicate a severe outbreak of the virus, which is usually common between October and March. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Don't weaponise the NHS

Don't weaponise the NHS The NHS is always a hot topic for political debate. People care about it, passionately. Our health service, for all its challenges, continues to command overwhelming public support – the polls show it’s what makes us most proud to be British. It’s understandable that, come election time, politicians will look to harness that popularity, inevitably casting themselves as champions and defenders of the NHS.
This political potency is often helpful for the NHS. But it becomes counter-productive when the NHS is used as a political weapon. Frontline NHS leaders are worried that is already starting to happen in this election. NHS Providers

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Demand for NHS burns care soars over bonfire night and diwali

Demand for NHS burns care soars over bonfire night and diwali Top doctors from the NHS and St John Ambulance have teamed up to urge revellers to stay safe during Guy Fawkes Night and Diwali celebrations, as new figures reveal thousands end up in hospital each year due to firework and bonfire injuries. NHS England

Heart failure hospital admissions rise by a third in five years

Heart failure hospital admissions rise by a third in five years The number of people being admitted to hospital due to heart failure has risen by a third in the last five years, according to a new analysis by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Heart failure admissions have reached record levels in England, rising from 65,025 in 2013/14 to 86,474 in 2018/19 - a 33 per cent increase. This is three times as fast as all other hospital admissions, which have risen by 11 per cent in the same period.

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Allergies: Teenagers needing hospital treatment up 65% in five years

Allergies: Teenagers needing hospital treatment up 65% in five years The number of children who received hospital treatment for allergies has increased by 65% across England in the past five years, figures have revealed.

In 2013-14, 2,873 teenagers sought treatment whereas in 2017-18 it was 4,743, data from NHS Digital shows.

Allergy UK said this could be because this was the age when sufferers started taking responsibility for themselves. BBC News

Tens of thousands of operations cancelled because of staff shortages and faulty equipment, NHS figures show

Tens of thousands of operations cancelled because of staff shortages and faulty equipment, NHS figures show Tens of thousands of people have have had their operations cancelled because of staff shortages and faulty medical equipment, according to newly revealed NHS figures.

The number of procedures called off by hospitals for non-clinical reasons has increased by 32 per cent in the last two years, the statistics obtained via a freedom of information (FOI) request. Almost 4,000 more were scrapped in 2018 than in 2016.

They also show that of the 79,000 operations to be cancelled last year, 20 per cent were scrapped because of staffing issues and equipment failures. The Independent

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Home Office decried for blocking NHS scheme to use more trainee doctors from overseas

Home Office decried for blocking NHS scheme to use more trainee doctors from overseas Expansion of initiative to tackle staff shortages is part of health service’s long-term plan

The Home Office is blocking plans already agreed by the health secretary and NHS bosses to let more overseas doctors come to Britain to help tackle the health service’s staff shortages.

It has refused to allow the planned expansion of the medical training initiative (MTI) to go ahead, despite its inclusion in the government-backed NHS long-term plan. The Guardian

Report reveals severe lack of services for UK opioid painkiller addicts

Report reveals severe lack of services for UK opioid painkiller addicts Just two free services specifically deal with opioid painkiller addiction in the UK, according to a report seen by the Guardian, prompting experts to warn that there could be a “hidden epidemic” of sufferers.

Clinicians worry that those experiencing an addiction to opioids prescribed by GPs feel uncomfortable at traditional drug misuse treatment centres, causing them to not seek help.

The shortage was disclosed in a recent Public Health England report on prescription drug dependence, but has been unreported until now. Other experts consulted by the Guardian said they were unaware of any other such service.

People may be living longer - but they face up to 13 years of living in poor health, charity warns

People may be living longer - but they face up to 13 years of living in poor health, charity warns People may be living longer - but they face up to 13 years of living in poor health, an elderly care charity has warned.

Last month the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data which predicted that the number of over 85s in the UK was set to double in 25 years amid fears of an escalating social care crisis.

Now an analysis of ONS local authority data by the charity, Independent Age, shows that although people are living longer, the ageing population are spending longer in ill health. The Daily Telegraph

Thousands of cancer patients miss out on NHS help for fatigue because of lack of funding

Thousands of cancer patients miss out on NHS help for fatigue because of lack of funding Tens of thousands of patients with incurable cancer are missing out on NHS support, a charity has warned.

Macmillan Cancer Support says 136,000 sufferers may live with the disease for several years thanks to advances in treatment, but struggle to plan for the future.

It said 77 per cent of them – more than 100,000 – are ‘not getting the support they need’ for problems such as pain, fatigue or trouble sleeping due to a lack of NHS staff and resources. The Daily Mail

NHS to trial Group B Strep infection screening in pregnant women in a bid to protect newborns

NHS to trial Group B Strep infection screening in pregnant women in a bid to protect newborns The NHS will conduct a major trial into Group B Strep screening in pregnant women in a bid to protect newborns from deadly illnesses.

The £2.8million study will compare what is considered the 'gold standard' ECM test, as well as the 'bedside test', with current standards of care.

If rolled out in NHS hospitals, the tests could prevent Group B Strep (GBS) infection in around 350 babies every year. The Daily Mail