Chest X-rays miss nearly quarter of lung cancers, review finds

Chest X-rays miss nearly quarter of lung cancers, review finds Lung Cancer is being missed at an early opportunity in almost a quarter of cases due to the use of out-dated X-rays, researchers have found.

A review in the British Journal of General Practice reveals that despite being the recommended method for investigating suspicious symptoms, such as persistent coughs or chest aches, X-rays miss up to 23 per cent of patients with the disease. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Sensitivity of chest X-ray for detecting lung cancer in people presenting with symptoms: a systematic review (abstract) British Journal of General Practice
• X-rays inadequate to diagnose lung cancer OnMedica

Cancer patients reluctant to bother overworked NHS staff

Cancer patients reluctant to bother overworked NHS staff Cancer patients are suffering side-effects of treatment in silence because they are afraid of bothering overworked NHS staff, a new survey reveals.

More than two thirds of newly diagnosed cancer patients questioned by Macmillan Cancer Support said they are not getting all the help they need - estimated to be about 300,000 people across the UK. The Daily Telegraph

Number of over 85s in UK to double in 25 years, amid fears of social care crisis escalating

Number of over 85s in UK to double in 25 years, amid fears of social care crisis escalating The number of over 85s in the UK is set to double within the next 25 years, new data reveals, amid fears of the social care crisis escalating.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published data showing national population projections.

Researchers found that the UK population is set to rise by 3 million (or 4.5%) in the next decade, from around 66.4 million in mid 2018 to around 69.4 million in mid 2028. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• National population projections: 2018-based Office for National Statistics
• UK population expected to pass 70 million by 2031 The Guardian
• UK population set to rise by 3 million in next decade due to net migration increases The Independent

Parents have a moral duty to give their children the MMR jab warns Health Secretary Matt Hancock

Parents have a moral duty to give their children the MMR jab warns Health Secretary Matt Hancock Parents who shun the MMR jab are endangering the lives of babies and seriously ill children, the Health Secretary warns today.

Matt Hancock says unvaccinated youngsters may catch measles themselves and then infect vulnerable, high-risk patients.

He says that while parents might think their decisions on jabs are a 'personal choice' and 'nobody else's business', they in fact have a 'moral' duty. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'This isn’t hippy stuff': Totnes parents defiant over vaccines The Guardian

Well-being cafe inspired by Kettering man who killed himself

Well-being cafe inspired by Kettering man who killed himself A mother whose son took his own life five years ago said a mental health cafe named after him aims to fulfil his ambition "to make his name".

Johnny's Happy Place on Rockingham Road, Kettering, was founded after the death of Johnny Mackay in October 2014.

Johnny's mother Denise Mackay said: "He used to say to me 'Mummy one day I'm going to rock the world, I'm going to make my name'.

"He didn't, but we are trying to do that." BBC Northampton

These are the 10 worst GP practices in Northampton ranked for patient satisfaction

These are the 10 worst GP practices in Northampton ranked for patient satisfaction The majority of patients surveyed at all the practices in Northampton were happy with their GPs - but these ones had the lowest scores. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

National roll-out of electronic prescription service

National roll-out of electronic prescription service The service will help GPs and pharmacists prescribe and dispense medicines faster and more securely and make it easier for patients to pick up repeat prescriptions. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS e-prescriptions roll-out aims for £300m savings by 2021 Computer Weekly
• NHS will scrap paper prescriptions next month in bid to save £300m over two years The Daily Mail
• NHS to scrap paper prescriptions under plan to save £300m The Guardian

Cancer research: Scientists seek clues to how disease 'is born'

Cancer research: Scientists seek clues to how disease 'is born' British and American scientists are teaming up to search for the earliest signs of cancer in a bid to detect and treat the disease before it emerges.

They plan to "give birth" to cancer in the lab to see exactly what it looks like "on day one".

It is just one of the research priorities of the new International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection. BBC News

See also:

• British and US scientists in £55m bid to detect cancers before tumours even appear The Daily Mail
• £55m Anglo-US research alliance to boost early cancer detection rates The Guardian

Air pollution is now a ‘health emergency’, head of NHS England warns

Air pollution is now a ‘health emergency’, head of NHS England warns The head of NHS England has warned of a “health emergency” as new figures revealed hundreds more children and adults are suffering cardiac arrests, strokes or severe asthma attacks because of days of high air pollution.

Stunted lung growth in children and links between pollution and lung cancer was also found by researchers who looked at nine cities across England. The Independent

See also:

• Higher air pollution days trigger cardiac arrests and hospitalisations King's College London
• Personalising The Health Impacts Of Air Pollution: Interim Statistics Summary For A Selection Of Statements King's College London
• Air pollution 'triggers hundreds more heart attacks and strokes' BBC News
• NHS boss declares air pollution 'health emergency' The Daily Mail
• NHS boss announces air pollution 'emergency' as major study shows our dirty air is killing us The Daily Telegraph
• Scores more heart attacks and strokes on high pollution days, figures show The Guardian
• Two North Northants councils say what they are going to do about climate change Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS hospital fined £135,000 after a 350 per cent rise in breaches of ban on mixed sex wards

NHS hospital fined £135,000 after a 350 per cent rise in breaches of ban on mixed sex wards An NHS hospital has been fined £135,000 after a 350 per cent increase in breaches of rules banning mixed sex wards.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recorded 809 breaches of mixed-sex accommodation rules in the 12 months ending in August - up from 177 the previous year.

The NHS says trusts are expected to have a “zero-tolerance” approach towards placing men and women on the same wards, which it says is essential for ensuring safety, privacy and dignity for patients. The Daily Telegraph

Google gets green light to access FIVE YEARS' worth of sensitive patient data from NHS

Google gets green light to access FIVE YEARS' worth of sensitive patient data from NHS Google has been given the go-ahead to access five years' worth of sensitive NHS patient data.

In a deal signed last month, the internet giant was handed hospital records of tens of thousands of patients up and down England.

New documents show the data will include medical history, diagnoses, treatment dates and ethnic origin.

The news has raised concerns about the privacy of the data, which could now be harvested and commercialised. The Daily Mail

New children's commissioner at 'failing' Northamptonshire council

New children's commissioner at 'failing' Northamptonshire council The government has appointed a new commissioner at a crisis-hit council's children's services department.

Andrew Christie has replaced Malcolm Newsam, who announced he would be leaving his role at Northamptonshire County Council last month.

Mr Newsam took up the role in 2018 after an Ofsted report found people in its care were at "potential risk".

In July, inspectors said the authority was still "failing to keep children safe". BBC Northampton

The deteriorating state of the NHS estate

The deteriorating state of the NHS estate In recent years, the charmingly named ERIC (Estates Returns Information Collection) data collection has contained some deeply alarming news about the condition of NHS buildings and equipment. The King's Fund

Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters

Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters This toolkit, based on research of suicide clusters, is part of Public Health England's support for the government’s suicide prevention strategy.

Departmental overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019

Departmental overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019 This report is designed to provide a quick and accessible overview of the Department and its performance over the last year. It focuses on the Department’s responsibilities and how it spends its money, key developments in its areas of work and findings from our recent reports. National Audit Office

Pathway navigator ‘critical’ to cutting lung cancer waiting times say experts

Pathway navigator ‘critical’ to cutting lung cancer waiting times say experts An admin role, described as ‘critical’ in helping to cut lung cancer waiting times and speeding up diagnoses, continues to face national funding challenges says a new report by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC).

According to Pathways Matter – the first report to track uptake of NHS England’s National Optimal Lung Cancer Pathway [NOLCP] guidance and identify barriers – the appointment of a patient pathway navigator can help to more than double the number of lung cancer patients receiving treatment by day 49.

However, securing funding for the role remains ‘challenging’, according to interviews among 17 of the 19 Cancer Alliances.

See also:

• Pathways matter: A review of the implementation of the national optimal lung cancer pathway UK Lung Cancer Coalition
• 'Woefully poor NHS equipment leading to lung cancer delays' ITV News

Ending smoking in the UK could lift over a million people out of poverty

Ending smoking in the UK could lift over a million people out of poverty Analysis of Government data carried out for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that the deadly addiction of tobacco, and the enormous profits of the tobacco industry, drive over a million (1,011,000) people into poverty in the UK.

Seven out of ten adult smokers want to stop smoking, and three quarters regret ever having started, but most did so as children, before realising how hard it is to quit. More than two thirds of those who try smoking go on to become regular smokers, developing an expensive and often lifelong addiction causing disease, disability and premature death.

See also:

• Smoking and poverty 2019 ASH
• Smoking link to poverty highlighted OnMedica

Clinical research improves health of UK economy and NHS

Clinical research improves health of UK economy and NHS The value of clinical research to the NHS, the UK economy and jobs market has been evaluated in a new report, which provides an assessment of the economic impact of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network's (NIHR CRN) activities to support clinical research in England. Medical Xpress

Fat found in overweight people's lungs

Fat found in overweight people's lungs Fatty tissue has been found in the lungs of overweight and obese people for the first time.

Australian researchers analysed lung samples from 52 people and found the amount of fat increased in line with body mass index.

They said their findings could explain why being overweight or obese increased asthma risk.

Lung experts said it would be interesting to see if the effect could be reversed by weight loss. BBC News

See also:

• Fatty Airways: Implications for Obstructive Disease (abstract) European Respiratory Journal
• Overweight people develop fat in their LUNGS and it can make it harder for them to breathe The Daily Mail
• Obese people are 'drowning in their own fat', as it blocks airways in the lungs, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• Fat accumulates inside lungs of overweight people, study finds The Independent

Female doctors called 'naughty girls' amid toxic 'old boys' club' at BMA

Female doctors called 'naughty girls' amid toxic 'old boys' club' at BMA The British Medical Association has an “old boys’ club” culture which has seen women “treated as of less importance” and subjected to lewd sexual remarks and advances, a damning investigation has found.

The independent review of sexism and bullying at the medics union describes a “toxic” environment, in which professional women are addressed in demeaning teams such as “naughty girls, little ladies and wee lassies”.

Daphne Romney QC was commissioned by the BMA to carry out the investigation after female doctors spoke out against sexual harassment and sexism by senior members of the trade union. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Report into sexism at the BMA published The BMA
• BMA apologises to female doctors over sexism The Guardian
• Women bullied and harassed at ‘toxic’ British Medical Association, scathing report into sexism says The Independent
• BMA apologises for appalling sexism and harassment OnMedica