Published20 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterNearly 1,000 people with advanced Parkinson’s disease are to benefit from a new treatment that involves wearing a portable kit 24 hours day.NHS England is to roll out the treatment, Produodopa, which uses a pump to steadily release medicine into the bloodstream round the clock.Many people currently need to take more than 20 pills a day to control their symptoms – with an inconsistent effect.Others have to be treated through a permanent feeding tube. Produodopa is a combination of two drugs – foslevodopa and foscarbidopa. It works by turning foslevodopa into the chemical dopamine, which helps transmit messages between the parts of the brain and nerves that control movement.That helps manage Parkinson’s symptoms, such as excessive movement or tremors.The infusion enters the patient’s bloodstream through a cannula under the skin and is controlled by a small, automatic pump, releasing a steady flow of the treatment 24 hours a day to stay on top of symptoms. It also has the option of a manual boost if needed.Many patients currently taking a large number of tablets to control their symptoms say they worsen later in the day and during the night.Parkinson’s implant restores man’s ability to walkTai Chi may slow Parkinson’s symptoms by years – studyCould Parkinson’s could be detected early with AI scans?James Palmer, NHS England’s medical director for specialised services, said the drug’s rollout was “great news”.”This important therapy will now offer a vital new option on the NHS for those who aren’t suitable for other treatments such as deep brain stimulation,” he said. “We hope it will help nearly 1,000 patients to manage their symptoms more effectively and go about their day with a better quality of life.”The drug has recently been approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, after successful clinical trials.Image source, NHS EnglandJohn Whipps, 70, took part in the research and says his life is much more “plan-able” now that he is on the new treatment.”Before this, I was on nearly 20 tablets a day just for my Parkinson’s symptom control, and then all the other tablets on top of that,” he said.”And I would frequently wake in the middle of the night with internal tremors and take more tablets, but this pump just keeps running through the night.”I couldn’t plan to do anything, as you don’t know if you’re going to have an off day and need to stay at home.”Another participant in the trial, Phil, 52, from Cornwall, said he previously had to take 25 tablets daily and his symptoms fluctuated through the day, becoming worse at night.”At night, I was normally not able to turn over in bed, or get up for the toilet, and if I did manage it, I was at risk of falls,” he said.”Whilst wearing the pump, it delivered the drug whilst I was sleeping, enabling me to turn over at night, and get up for the toilet which made a huge difference at night.”It is hoped the new treatment will also some benefit patients who currently receive drugs through a permanently placed feeding tube into the gut.Parkinson’s disease, a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, affects around 128,000 people in England, according the NHS.Parkinson’s UK describe it as “the fastest growing neurological condition in the world”.Laura Cockram, from the charity, said Produodopa could be a “life-changing option” for some people.”It won’t be suitable for everybody though, and people with Parkinson’s should speak to their consultant or Parkinson’s nurse to see whether it’s an option for them,” she added. More on this storyPesticide maker used ‘weak’ data on Parkinson’sPublished3 days agoParkinson’s implant restores man’s ability to walkPublished6 November 2023Tai chi may slow Parkinson’s symptoms, study findsPublished25 October 2023AI scans could detect Parkinson’s, scientists sayPublished22 August 2023Blood test spots Parkinson’s risk before symptomsPublished7 December 2023’There is life after Parkinson’s diagnosis’Published8 December 2023Related Internet LinksHomepage – Parkinson’s UKNHS EnglandNICE – The National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterTens of thousands of people with Jewish ancestry will be offered genetic tests to find out if they have an increased risk of developing some cancers.People with Jewish ancestry are far more likely to have inherited faulty BRCA genes than the general population. Those born with impaired BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a greater risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer. The NHS England screening programme is part of a drive to detect cancer early.Women who have faulty BRCA genes have been found to have up to a 72% chance of developing breast cancer and 44% chance of developing ovarian cancer, compared with 11.5% and 1.5% respectively for the general population.People who are found to have defective BRCA genes, known as being BRCA positive, will be given early access to cancer detection services such as mammograms or MRI scans. They may also be offered preventative surgery or medication, and advised to make risk-reducing lifestyle changes.Home testingAnyone aged over 18 who has at least one Jewish grandparent is eligible for screening, under the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme . Previously, people had to meet more stringent criteria to be tested, meaning fewer had qualified for the programme. The tests can be ordered online and completed at home, by taking a sample of saliva and sending it off to a laboratory.Everyone carries BRCA genes, which repair DNA damage and usually help to protect against cancer. However, it is estimated that a fault in one of those genes affects about one in every 400 people, with Jewish people six times more likely to be affected.There is a 50% chance of someone who has a faulty BRCA gene passing it on to any children.However, having an altered BRCA gene does not mean a person will definitely develop cancer. Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said the testing programme had “the potential to save lives”.”We know it can be daunting finding out whether or not you have an altered BRCA gene, and some people may feel they’d rather not know – but finding out early means people can get the support they need from the NHS,” Mr Johnson said. ‘Not worth the risk’Image source, Jonathan KayeKatie Kaye, a Jewish mother-of-two who is BRCA positive, said she was “thrilled” about the rollout, highlighting how screening had previously been difficult for some to access.Ms Kaye, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, said she was tested after her mother died of breast cancer aged 35.”I decided it was the best option. That way I could decide what I wanted to do,” she said”I have young kids, and the thought of not being around for them is not an option.”Ms Kaye plans to have a preventative double mastectomy this summer, followed by surgery to remove her ovaries next year.”It will be nice not to have it hanging over me,” she said.She said she could understand why people might avoid being tested, but added, “it’s silly to bury your head in the sand – it’s not worth the risk”.During a pilot phase of the programme, 5,000 people of with Jewish ancestry came forward for testing, 80 of whom were found to have defective BRCA genes.The aim of the national rollout is to test 30,000 people over the next two years.Nicole Gordon, chief executive officer of the charity Jnetics – which has worked with the NHS on the rollout – described the programme as “a huge opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help mitigate against the impact of hereditary cancer, and ultimately save lives”.”We want to ensure that this programme reaches as many people as possible,” said Lisa Steele, chief executive of Chai Cancer Care, who also worked alongside the NHS on the testing programme.Cancer Research UK estimates 5-10% of all diagnosed cancers are linked to an inherited faulty gene, but that figure is not specific to BRCA genes.NHS England said it “continues to roll out innovations to catch cancers early – when treatments are more likely to be successful”. More on this storyBreast cancer gene linked to Orkney islandsPublished16 March 2023Ovarian cancer link to paternal genesPublished15 February 2018Cancer survival ‘unaffected by faulty gene’Published12 January 2018’Screen more’ for cancer risk genesPublished1 December 2014Related Internet LinksJewish BRCA – Jewish BRCANHS EnglandThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published10 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterTens of thousands of people with Jewish ancestry will be offered genetic tests to find out if they have an increased risk of developing some cancers.People with Jewish ancestry are far more likely to have inherited faulty BRCA genes than the general population. Those born with impaired BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a greater risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer. The NHS England screening programme is part of a drive to detect cancer early.Women who have faulty BRCA genes have been found to have up to a 72% chance of developing breast cancer and 44% chance of developing ovarian cancer, compared with 11.5% and 1.5% respectively for the general population.People who are found to have defective BRCA genes, known as being BRCA positive, will be given early access to cancer detection services such as mammograms or MRI scans. They may also be offered preventative surgery or medication, and advised to make risk-reducing lifestyle changes.Home testingAnyone aged over 18 who has at least one Jewish grandparent is eligible for screening, under the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme . Previously, people had to meet more stringent criteria to be tested, meaning fewer had qualified for the programme. The tests can be ordered online and completed at home, by taking a sample of saliva and sending it off to a laboratory.Everyone carries BRCA genes, which repair DNA damage and usually help to protect against cancer. However, it is estimated that a fault in one of those genes affects about one in every 400 people, with Jewish people six times more likely to be affected.There is a 50% chance of someone who has a faulty BRCA gene passing it on to any children.However, having an altered BRCA gene does not mean a person will definitely develop cancer. Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said the testing programme had “the potential to save lives”.”We know it can be daunting finding out whether or not you have an altered BRCA gene, and some people may feel they’d rather not know – but finding out early means people can get the support they need from the NHS,” Mr Johnson said. ‘Not worth the risk’Image source, Jonathan KayeKatie Kaye, a Jewish mother-of-two who is BRCA positive, said she was “thrilled” about the rollout, highlighting how screening had previously been difficult for some to access.Ms Kaye, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, said she was tested after her mother died of breast cancer aged 35.”I decided it was the best option. That way I could decide what I wanted to do,” she said”I have young kids, and the thought of not being around for them is not an option.”Ms Kaye plans to have a preventative double mastectomy this summer, followed by surgery to remove her ovaries next year.”It will be nice not to have it hanging over me,” she said.She said she could understand why people might avoid being tested, but added, “it’s silly to bury your head in the sand – it’s not worth the risk”.During a pilot phase of the programme, 5,000 people of with Jewish ancestry came forward for testing, 80 of whom were found to have defective BRCA genes.The aim of the national rollout is to test 30,000 people over the next two years.Nicole Gordon, chief executive officer of the charity Jnetics – which has worked with the NHS on the rollout – described the programme as “a huge opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help mitigate against the impact of hereditary cancer, and ultimately save lives”.”We want to ensure that this programme reaches as many people as possible,” said Lisa Steele, chief executive of Chai Cancer Care, who also worked alongside the NHS on the testing programme.Cancer Research UK estimates 5-10% of all diagnosed cancers are linked to an inherited faulty gene, but that figure is not specific to BRCA genes.NHS England said it “continues to roll out innovations to catch cancers early – when treatments are more likely to be successful”. More on this storyBreast cancer gene linked to Orkney islandsPublished16 March 2023Ovarian cancer link to paternal genesPublished15 February 2018Cancer survival ‘unaffected by faulty gene’Published12 January 2018’Screen more’ for cancer risk genesPublished1 December 2014Related Internet LinksJewish BRCA – Jewish BRCANHS EnglandThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published33 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterPlaying a musical instrument or singing could help keep the brain healthy in older age, UK researchers suggest. Practising and reading music may help sustain good memory and the ability to solve complex tasks, their study says.In their report, published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, they say music should be considered as part of a lifestyle approach to maintain the brain. More than 1,100 people aged over 40, with a mean age of 68, were studied.Scientists at the University of Exeter observed their brain function data as part of a wider study that has been finding out how brains age, and why people develop dementia. They looked at the effects of playing an instrument, singing, reading and listening to music, and musical ability.The researchers compared the cognitive data of those in the study who engaged in music in some way in their lives, with those who never had.Their results showed that people who played musical instruments benefitted the most, which may be because of the “multiple cognitive demands” of the activity. Playing the piano or keyboard appeared to be particularly beneficial, while brass and woodwind instruments were good too. Simply listening to music did not appear to help cognitive health.The benefit seen with singing might be partly because of the known social aspects of being in a choir or group, the researchers say.”Because we have such sensitive brain tests for this study, we are able to look at individual aspects of the brain function, such as short-term memory, long-term memory, and problem-solving and how engaging music effects that,” lead author Prof Anne Corbett told the BBC. “Certainly this confirms and cements on a much larger scale what we already know about the benefits of music. “Specifically, playing an instrument has a particularly big effect, and people who continue to play into an older age saw an additional benefit,” she said. Public health messageIn the study, people who read music regularly had better numerical memory.Prof Corbett said: “Our brain is a muscle like anything else and it needs to be exercised, and learning to read music is a bit like learning a new language, it’s challenging.”Researchers did not test potential benefits of taking up a musical hobby for the first time later in life, but Prof Corbett said she believed, based on current evidence, it would be “very beneficial”.Image source, Stuart DouglasProf Corbett said that, although more research was needed, promoting musical education could form a “valuable” part of a public health message, as would encouraging older adults to return to music in later life.”The message is around how people can proactively reduce their risk of cognitive decline or dementia, and really thinking about engaging with music as a way of doing that. This study does suggest that it could be part of a much wider lifestyle approach to improving brain health as you age.” However, she said: “It would be naïve to think taking up a musical instrument would mean you won’t develop dementia. It’s not as simple as that.”Dementia UK said the results were “positive”.”The ability to make or play music – whether by singing or playing an instrument – can continue even when people living with dementia have lost other abilities and means of communication,” the charity’s Caroline Scates said.”If you know someone living with dementia who enjoys, or has enjoyed, singing or playing an instrument, it can be beneficial to keep these instruments or sheet music to hand for them to play or read.”Stuart Douglas, 78, has played the accordion regularly since the age of eight. He said it kept his brain “active” and said it helps others too.”We regularly play at memory cafes so have seen the effect that our music has on people with memory loss and, as older musicians ourselves, we have no doubt that continuing with music into older age has played an important role in keeping our brains healthy.”The study was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.More on this storyBrain check-up tool aims to cut dementia riskPublished18 January 2023Puzzle solving ‘won’t stop mental decline’Published11 December 2018How music helps the brainPublished28 September 2018Exercise ‘keeps the mind sharp’ in over-50sPublished25 April 2017Music ‘boosts good mood chemical’Published9 January 2011Related Internet LinksNational Institute for Health and Care Research – NIHRHome – University of ExeterPROTECT StudyThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published19 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterTens of thousands of children who became overweight or obese during the pandemic could face “lifelong health consequences”, researchers say.Obesity rates rose sharply among 10- and 11-year-olds in England and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.Measures aimed at children under five are now needed to tackle childhood obesity, the researchers warn.The government said it was taking “strong action” to encourage healthier food choices.A prolonged absence from school, a lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits have been blamed for rising obesity levels in children during periods of Covid restrictions.Between 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, the proportion of overweight and obese Year 6 primary school children, aged between 10 and 11, went from 35.2% to 40.9%, with people from deprived areas disproportionately affected.Researchers used BMI data from the government’s National Child Measurement Programme, which weighs and measures about one million Year 6 pupils annually in England.The number of overweight and obese pupils of that age decreased the following year, but it was still higher than before the Covid lockdowns. This increase represents a cohort of an additional 56,000 children, researchers from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and University of Southampton say – based on this snapshot.Based on existing data linking childhood obesity to adolescent and adult obesity, they conclude that many of those children are at greater risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, strokes, arthritis and some types of cancer.”What the data shows is that the pandemic is likely to have lasting effects on physical health in the children,” Prof Keith Godfrey, the report’s lead author, said.There was a larger increase in weight gain among Reception pupils aged four and five, but that has now reverted to its previous level.Prof Godfrey said this was likely to be because of the Year 6 pupils’ more advanced “developmental stage”. “In the older children, the dietary and physical activity habits that were developed during the pandemic became more embedded and did not revert back,” he said.The devastating effect of the pandemic on childrenEarly interventionThe researchers say measures to tackle childhood obesity aimed at pre-school children are needed and are likely to be more effective than measures focused on older children. “At the moment the interventions largely centre around a sugar tax, which has probably been effective to a degree, but it needs a much wider engagement.”Changes to certain food placements in shops, a ban on fast food stores next to schools, and increased priority of physical activity in nurseries and pre-schools should be introduced into new policies, Prof Godfrey told the BBC.He said government funding was needed to narrow the gap in health outcomes between advantaged and disadvantaged people.”Those from less advantaged communities have less access to healthy foods and less access to opportunities for physical activity. It doesn’t come down to personal choice or to parenting preferences or behaviours,” he said. Image source, Southampton UniversitySara Stanner, science director at the British Nutrition Foundation, said childhood obesity rates were already “worryingly high” before the pandemic and that this study “underlines the need for action, particularly in areas of deprivation”.”With many children starting school already overweight, it’s important that we intervene in early life. “Tackling obesity needs action across many areas of our society, but supporting children’s health in the early years should be a key part of any approach,” Ms Stanner said.The Department for Health and Social Care said it was trying to tackle obesity across all socio economic groups. A spokesperson said: “We require labelling on pre-packed foods to set out a variety of information to aid shoppers, including a list of ingredients and nutritional data, and we have introduced legislation to restrict the placement of foods high in fat, sugar or salt in supermarkets.”It said it also runs a Healthy Start scheme, encouraging healthy diets for families from lower-income households.Cost to societyThe researchers also used economic data to conclude additional people living with obesity as a result of the pandemic could eventually cost the UK economy more than £8bn in total, including £800m in healthcare costs.”Given that the current epidemic of childhood obesity has yet to completely play out into adulthood, there are concerns that productivity actually might worsen as a consequence of this rise,” Prof Godfrey said.More than 90% of children in the two age groups in England are measured and weighed in the National Child Measurement Programme each year, which researchers say is representative of the population.The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.More on this storyChildhood obesity shows slight fall in EnglandPublished19 October 2023Pandemic sees big rise in obese childrenPublished17 November 2021Child mental health not improved since lockdownPublished30 September 2021The devastating toll of the pandemic on childrenPublished30 January 2021Related Internet LinksNational Institute for Health and Care ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareNIHR Imperial Biomedical Research CentreNHS DigitalSouthampton Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of SouthamptonThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published33 minutes agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporter, BBC NewsRemoving the largest glass of wine from sale cuts the total amount people drink by 7.6%, a four-week trial in 21 pubs, bars and restaurants suggests.With the largest measure, 250ml – equal to a third of a bottle – off the menu, more 125ml and 175ml glasses of wine were sold.Customers bought the same amount of wine by the bottle, but overall, less volume of wine was sold daily.Sales of beer and cider stayed the same as did the venues’ overall takings.”Value for money” was likely to have been a factor in the drop in the amount of wine sold, the University of Cambridge researchers say.However, they believe the policy should now be “considered” for trial by licensing authorities.’Value for money’The study’s lead author, Prof Dame Theresa Marteau, said: “What it tells us is that people are very sensitive to cues in their environment.” And the results were “in keeping” with existing evidence people ate less if served smaller portions of food.”People are sensitive to the size of containers and serving size,” Dame Theresa said.”And these have tended to get bigger and so we’ve consumed more. “So the focus of my research group is on whether or not we can reverse-engineer our environments to see whether we can reduce our consumption to improve everybody’s health.But, Dame Theresa said financial constraints were also likely to have affected drinkers’ behaviour.”A 250ml glass of wine usually costs less than the cost of two 125 ml glasses. Value for money is therefore likely to be one factor influencing a decision to buy larger rather than smaller glasses of wine.”No safe level of alcohol consumption, study says She added she believed the strategy “merits consideration” to added to licensing regulations.”It does seem quite a relatively simple way of reducing the amount of alcohol that that we’re consuming, often without our awareness.”This, in turn, might “shift our social norm” and make people drink less at home.Image source, Charlotte LysterCharlotte Lyster, licensee of the Prince Albert pub in Stroud, Gloucs, told BBC News most of her customers had been “fine”.”They said, ‘I’ll just have another one,’ but actually they didn’t,” she said.”People drink in rounds – so when they finished one, they would wait for someone else to go to the bar.”And many had stuck to the smaller measures even after the trial had ended.Customers ‘happy’All the venues were in England – most in London. Lauren Johns, licensee of the Three Compasses in Dalston, said most of her customers had also been happy with smaller glasses of wine. Those who did complain tended to be over the age of 50, she said.”There was no major reaction.” “I was interested to do this study as I thought people might buy a bottle instead – but it turns out people would just buy a medium glass.”Regular or heavy drinking is a contributing factor in many diseases, causing three million deaths worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization.A Department of Health and Social Care official said: “The UK chief medical officer’s low-risk drinking guidelines recommend not regularly exceeding 14 units of alcohol a week.”And we continue to promote the guidelines in England, online and by encouraging producers to include them on alcoholic-drinks labels.”More on this storyServing size labelling leaves many confused- surveyPublished28 July 2023No alcohol safe to drink, study confirmsPublished24 August 2018Does glass size matter to wine drinkers?Published14 December 2017Wine drinkers urged to drop glass sizePublished25 November 2015Smaller portions call to tackle obesityPublished15 September 2015Related Internet LinksDepartment of Health and Social Care – GOV.UKSchool of Clinical MedicineThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published41 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterPeople who cannot burp suffer embarrassment, anxiety and depression because of the condition, on top of physical pain, researchers say.Retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD) causes abdominal bloating, “socially awkward” gurgling noises from the chest and neck, and flatulence.The research was carried out by a group of Texan university academics.They said many doctors are “unfamiliar” with the disease, leaving patients “underserved”.They added that more research into, and more awareness of, R-CPD were needed. The group added there is a need to investigate “the severity that this syndrome has on a patient’s daily life, including its mental and social implications”, because it can negatively affect sufferers’ quality of life,.R-CPD, also known as “no burp syndrome”, occurs when the cricopharyngeal muscle in the throat is unbale to relax to allow gas to pass upwards.Botox allows man to burp again after 20 years’Tormenting people’Yakubu Karagama, an ear, nose and throat consultant at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, said the condition had been “tormenting people for a long time”. “When you eat something or drink, you have this pain. Some patients have to lie down so that the gas will come up, and some people have to stick their finger in their mouth to force themselves to be sick, so that the gas will come out with it.”Mr Karagama told the BBC that since 2016 he had been treating people with this condition with Botox injections, which work by relaxing the cricopharyngeus muscle.He said the treatment had been “life-changing” for “almost every single patient” on whom he had operated.However, it is currently available as a private treatment only because there is little awareness of the condition among the health profession, Mr Karagama said.”You can imagine if I said to you ‘I can’t burp’. This is the problem. Most people would laugh at it.”People don’t understand the physiology of burping,” he said.Mr Karagama said it was not known how many people have the condition, but he believed it was common.”A lot of people don’t even know that the symptoms they’re having is because of this condition. The majority of the patients that have presented to my clinic said that they’ve had this all their life.” He said funding was needed to undertake clinical research into the condition, which he said people were suffering with “unnecessarily”.An NHS England spokesperson said: “While the clinical evidence of this condition is extremely limited due to the small number of people who have come forward with it, NHS staff enact clinical advice from NICE [the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence], which sets out the care and services suitable for patients with a specific condition or need.”This study, based on their survey of 199 people unable to burp, concluded there was “very limited awareness” of the condition among health professionals, and improved understanding of the disease could increase diagnosis and treatment rates.This would lead to an improved quality of life for patients, the authors said.Researchers found half of people with symptoms of R-CPD discussed them with their primary care provider, but that 90% of those said they did not receive adequate help.The study notes a general “prevalence of psychiatric symptoms” in people with disorders which are difficult to diagnose.”Therefore, it is paramount to explore the mental health implications of this condition,” the authors say.R-CPD was only recently officially given a name by a US academic 2019 when the first scientific paper on it was published.More on this storyBotox allows man to burp again after 20 yearsPublished30 September 2021Related Internet LinksClinical Research Institute – Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterSchool of Medicine – Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published7 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, NWASBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporter Too many repeat medication requests over Christmas could harm sick patients and potentially risk lives, the north-west of England’s NHS 111 out-of-hours advice service has warned.It had a big increase in such requests over last year’s festive period.Its director Dan Ainsworth told the BBC this was “avoidable” and puts the service under “significant” pressure.NHS England urged people in need of repeat prescriptions to organise them before the Christmas break.The call centre, which is managed by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), said it received 20% more calls about routine prescriptions in December 2022 compared with the previous month – 8,139 compared with 6,794. Prescriptions are often requested because a patient has run out of long-term medication and failed to organise a fresh supply with their GP before Christmas, Mr Ainsworth said.’Significant pressure'”The service is already under significant pressure, and what we’ve seen over the last few years is an increasing demand through those bank holiday periods from patients who haven’t made arrangements to collect their ongoing medication.”He added that on one bank holiday last December, call handlers took more than 2,000 such requests in a single day.He said for some “acutely unwell” patients calling 111 “every second counts”, and that a large number of prescription requests would slow down its response to the most sick callers.Asked if it could cost lives, Mr Ainsworth told the BBC: “Potentially, absolutely.”Mr Ainsworth said he realised some such calls to 111 were necessary, but he believed they were “avoidable in in almost every circumstance” if people planned their medication supplies.Between the start of December 2022 and the end of February, the service received 3,000 more calls for repeat medication than it did during the months from June to August, according to NWAS’s data.NWAS said the issue is a consistent problem on bank holidays throughout the year.”The longer your GPs are closed, the bigger the pressure on the one-on-one service,” Mr Ainsworth said.During the three-day August bank holiday weekend, 111 call handlers in the region took 1,634 such calls, compared with 879 on the same days the previous week – an 86% increase. The overall increase in calls from all patients was just 19.5%. Mr Ainsworth said extra staff had been employed in the north-west’s 111 and 999 call centres to help manage demand over the winter period, but he remained “worried” about the next few months.More on this storyNHS 111 software outage confirmed as cyber-attackPublished6 August 2022NHS 111 call-wait times reduced to two minutesPublished27 NovemberRelated Internet LinksNWAS – North West Ambulance ServiceNHS EnglandThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published34 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterA decades-long decline in smoking in England has nearly ground to a halt since the pandemic, a study suggests. The rate of decline slowed from 5.2% in the years before the pandemic to just 0.3% between April 2020 and August 2022, according to the research.The lead researcher said it was likely more young people were taking up smoking and “bold” action was needed.The government said it was taking “bold action” to make England smoke-free, including raising the legal age.Based on surveys with 101,960 adults representative of the population, researchers estimated 16.2% smoked in June 2017, falling to 15.1% by the start of the pandemic, in March 2020, but just 15% in August 2022, since when the the slower rate of decline has remained consistent.Office for National Statistics data also shows a year-on-year decline in smoking between 2000 and 2020.Anti-smoking effortsThe study suggests a 120% rise in the proportion of people giving up, during the pandemic, and a 40% rise in the number of attempts to quit.But these were offset by a rise in the number of people taking up the habit, including an increase among 18- to 24-year-olds. In 2019, the government set a target for England to be “smoke-free” by 2030. But the researchers, from University College London (UCL), say this will be missed and are urging the government to “reignite” anti-smoking efforts. Social isolationLead author Dr Sarah Jackson, of UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, told BBC News the results suggested a “step change” in young people smoking, at the start of the pandemic.”It definitely does seem like progress in reducing the number of young adults taking up smoking has slowed down,” she said. Researchers noted higher levels of stress and social isolation among younger adults during the pandemic.But Dr Jackson said others factors could also be to blame and warned against complacency.’Uniquely lethal'”It’s really concerning there has almost been the assumption that we have solved the problem of smoking among young people,” she said.Young adults may start smoking because they believed e-cigarettes were equally bad for them, Dr Jackson said.”There has a been lot of talk about vaping and there has been a real disconnect about the risks of vaping and risks of smoking among young people,” she said.”The risks of vaping are substantially lower than the risks of smoking. “Smoking is uniquely lethal, yet most of the concern is about young people vaping.”The researchers supported a government proposal to raise the smoking age, which would mean a child turning 14 this year could never legally buy cigarettes. Pledge to end smoking in England by 2030Smoking age should rise, Rishi Sunak says How dangerous is vaping?The research, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the journal BMC Medicine, also suggests, between April 2020 and August 2022:Smoking decreased among 45- to 65-year-olds The stall in the decline of smoking was most pronounced among advantaged social groups Former smokers relapsing back into the habit may also account for some of the slowing of the declineThe switch to homeworking during the pandemic may have contributed to loneliness and poor mental health, making people less inclined to quit smoking, the researchers said.But manual workers may have had more financial disruption, leading to smoking becoming less affordable.The charity Action on Smoking and Health said smoking rates would decline in response to government action, as they had historically. “The ambitious programme recently announced by the government can put us on track,” chief executive Deborah Arnott said, “but no time must be lost in turning words into action.”The Department of Health and Social Care said it had doubled funding for stop-smoking services, helping 360,000 people quit, and was planning to provide a million free vapes to smokers. Wales has a 2030 smoke-free target, while Scotland’s is 2034.More on this storySmoking age should rise until it is banned – SunakPublished4 OctoberHow dangerous is vaping – and why the concern over young vapers?Published12 SeptemberCigarettes could carry anti-smoking message insertPublished14 AugustScotland ‘could miss smoking target by 16 years’Published25 February 2020Pledge to end smoking in England by 2030Published23 July 2019Related Internet LinksUCLDepartment of Health and Social CareThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Aurelia FosterHealth reporterPeople in England will be able to book all their routine vaccinations on a mobile app or online within the next three years under NHS plans.Health bosses want to build on the Covid vaccination programme in order to increase uptake of other potentially life-saving jabs.Currently, jabs other than for flu and Covid must be booked over the phone. NHS England also wants to increase community outreach in areas where the take-up of some jabs is low.Under the plans, 16 jabs for vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and human papillomavirus (HPV), will be available to book online by the end of 2026.The new booking system will generate vaccination invitations and appointment alerts. It will also allow people to view their, and their children’s, medical and vaccination records online. Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “To ensure as many people get vaccinated as possible, we need to make sure the programme fits around people’s lives.”She said the plans also aimed “to reach people who would not typically come forward for their jabs”.MMR vaccine rates dipHPV jabs to help eliminate cervical cancer, NHS saysVaccine bus to target hard-to-reach peopleImage source, NHS Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said vaccinations were one of the biggest defences against disease and ill-health, so it was vital that everyone eligible could access them. “We saw during the Covid-19 pandemic that this is not always as straightforward as sending out an invitation, and also saw the devastating impact low vaccination rates can have on communities,” he said.Under the strategy, health professionals will undertake community work to improve “vaccine confidence”, following a drop in uptake of some vaccinations – including the MMR jab – in some areas.Additionally, vaccines will be offered more widely in non-NHS settings, such as sports centres, shopping centres and people’s homes, NHS England said.Innovative approachesProf Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, welcomed the plans. She said: “The link between uptake rates and vaccine confidence and accessibility is critical and I welcome this renewed focus by NHS England on innovative delivery approaches responding to local need.”Around nine in 10 children in England have received their pre-school immunisations, with flu vaccination rates among the highest in the world, NHS England said. However, this strategy is aimed at increasing rates still further.Currently, more then 33 million people have signed up to the NHS app. This autumn so far, 5.1 million NHS flu and Covid vaccines been booked in total online – 1.2 million via the app.More on this storyWatch for child measles, UK doctors warnedPublished21 NovemberNHS promises to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040Published15 NovemberCovid and flu winter jabs to be brought forwardPublished30 AugustCovid-19 vaccination bus for hard-to-reach peoplePublished1 February 2021Related Internet LinksNHS EnglandThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.