4 hours agoShareSaveJack FenwickPolitical correspondentShareSaveFamily handoutMore than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government’s approach to tackling addiction.Research from King’s College London, shared exclusively with BBC News, found that there were 39,232 opioid-related deaths between 2011 and 2022, more than 50% higher than previously known.The error has been blamed on the government’s official statistics body not having access to post-mortem reports or toxicology results.Data on specific drug deaths is a major driver of policy and it is understood the government is now working with coroners to improve the reporting of deaths.The number of opioid deaths per million people in England and Wales has almost doubled since 2012, but this new study means the scale of the problem is likely to be even greater.Researchers from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality at King’s used data from coroners’ reports to calculate a more accurate estimate of opioid-related deaths.Opioids include drugs such as heroin that come from the opium poppy plant, as well as synthetically-made substances like fentanyl.The Liberal Democrats have said the government needs to “urgently investigate” how the error was made.The reliability of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data relies on coroners naming specific substances on death certificates, something which often does not happen.Specific substances such as heroin are instead sometimes only included on more detailed post-mortem reports or toxicology results, which the ONS does not have access to.Government data on overall drug deaths, which does not name specific substances, is not affected by the error, but ministers’ decision-making is generally influenced by the more granular statistics.The body that oversees police commissioners says correct data on opioid deaths could have led to more funding and better treatment for front-line services such as police forces and public health.Ben was 27 when he died from a heroin overdose in 2018, but his death was ruled as “misadventure” and was never included on the official opioid death statistics.His addiction began with cannabis when he was a teenager and progressed to using aerosols and eventually heroin.”Ben was just a very kind person. We miss him, we all miss him every day,” said his mother Hilary.At one point, she said Ben appeared to “turn a corner”.He was awarded a place in a rehab facility, but shortly before he was set to move in, Hilary got the phone call she had always dreaded.”I think what happened is, he wasn’t using,” she said. “They think probably about three months and his tolerance had gone down.”Ben’s family believe that different treatment and support for drug addicts could have helped him.Dr Caroline Copeland, who led the new research, said drug policies “will not have the desired impact unless the true scale of the problem is known”.She added: “We need to alert coroners to the impact that not naming specific drugs as the cause of death has on the planning and funding of public health policies.”The research, which has been peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, focused specifically on opioid deaths, but similar undercounts are thought to exist in data about deaths from other drugs too.Further work by King’s College London has found that 2,482 cocaine-related deaths have also been missed off ONS statistics over the last 10 years.David Sidwick, the drugs lead for the National Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, told the BBC the organisation would “be pushing hard” for more treatment funding, in light of the faulty statistics.Mr Sidwick, who is also a Conservative police and crime commissioner, said more accurate data would lead to “better decisions about the amount of funding required for treatment” and suggested “new treatment methods” such as buprenorphine, a monthly injection that can help heroin users overcome addiction. Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, said: “I dread to think of the lives that may have been lost due to damaging policies based on faulty stats.”She added: “The government now needs to step up, launch an investigation and ensure that the ONS is given access to the data it needs so that it can never make this error again.”The ONS, which helped with the research, said it had warned that “the information provided by coroners on death registrations can lack detail” on the specific drugs involved.A spokesperson added: “The more detail coroners can provide about specific drugs relevant to a death will help further improve these statistics to inform the UK government’s drug strategy.”The flaw in the ONS system is not present in Scotland, where there are no coroners and where National Records Scotland (NRS) is responsible for collating official statistics.Unlike the ONS, the NRS does receive more detailed pathology reports, but differences in how deaths are reported across the UK make it difficult to compare.The opioid undercounting raises further questions about the under-fire ONS, which has been accused of failing on several statistical fronts recently.Data sets on job markets and immigration have been criticised and earlier this year a government review said the ONS had “deep-seated” issues which needed tackling.A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer.”

People living in the UK and following a diet close to the Mediterranean diet are more likely to have better gum health, with potentially lower amounts of gum disease and inflammation.
Findings from a King’s College London study indicate that people not following a Mediterranean – style diet tended to have more severe gum disease, especially if they consumed red meat frequently.
In these patients, the researchers observed higher levels of circulating inflammatory markers, such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
However, patients whose diets were rich in plant-based food which are typical of a Mediterranean diet, such as legumes, vegetables, fruits and olive oil, showed lower levels of various inflammatory markers.
The research, published on September 15 in the Journal of Periodontology, evaluated 200 hospital patients enrolled in the King’s College London Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Biobank by performing dental exams, taking blood samples, and asking them about their diets through questionnaires.
The Mediterranean diet is known for its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. It has been associated with a lower risk of developing major diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and certain cancers.
There is substantial evidence showing that diet might play a role on human health by affecting the immune system and moderating inflammation. This depends on the composition of molecules in the diet, which include macronutrients, micronutrients and phytochemicals. Plant-based diets can contain more of these molecules which can lead to lower inflammation.
Dr Giuseppe Mainas, first author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at King’s College London, said: “Our findings suggest that a balanced, Mediterranean-type diet could potentially reduce gum disease and systemic inflammation.
“We observed that there may be a connection between periodontal disease severity, diet, and inflammation. These aspects should be holistically considered when assessing the treatment for periodontitis in patients. Our research offers an important starting point that can lead to more research to better understand the relationship between foods intake and gum disease.”
Professor Luigi Nibali, lead author and a Professor of Periodontology from King’s College London said: “There is emerging evidence about the role that a balanced diet might have in maintaining a periodontal healthy status. Our research shows the potential effect that a nutrient-dense, plant-rich diet could play in improving the nation’s gum health. Nevertheless, more investigation is needed to develop personalised approaches to help people manage their gum health.”

The committee, whose members were appointed by the health secretary and include vaccine skeptics, will meet on Thursday to review recommendations for several shots.

The parasitic infection schistosomiasis affects an estimated 200 million people globally, many of them children. But campaigns to identify and treat it face formidable hurdles.

16 hours agoShareSaveJamie CoulsonYorkshire health correspondent andSteve JonesYorkshireShareSaveBBCA woman whose baby daughter was stillborn after failings in her care during pregnancy has said the government’s planned rapid review of maternity care in England will not deliver “justice” or “accountability”.During her pregnancy, Lauren Caulfield was under the care of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust, but her daughter, Grace, died in the days before her birth in 2022.Ms Caulfield, 28, a member of the Maternity Safety Alliance, said she believed the review would not look at “deep-rooted issues” in maternity services.The Leeds and Bradford hospital NHS trusts, whose maternity services are to be examined as part of the review, said they supported its aims.’Shallow and surface-level’Members of the Maternity Safety Alliance – a group of families harmed by poor maternity care in several NHS trusts across England – have taken part in a number of meetings with the Department of Health in recent weeks ahead of the announcement.They said Health Secretary Wes Streeting had “broken promises” over how the investigation would be run and what it would examine, and that they had been left feeling “used”.Ms Caulfield said: “All we have had is briefing sessions and being told what they are going to do, rather than being part of this process.”The timescale given for the review, which is due to report back by December, would make its findings “shallow and surface-level”, she said.”[It] isn’t going to look at the deep-rooted issues in maternity services.”An independent investigation by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch found numerous failings in Ms Caulfield’s care by both Leeds and Bradford teaching hospitals.”If I don’t push for improvements, no one will ever do anything about it,” Ms Caulfield said.’Positive experience’Professor Mel Pickup, chief executive for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We fully support the aim of the investigation, that will have families at its heart, to develop one set of national recommendations to drive improvements in maternity and neonatal services across England.”Every year, thousands of women give birth in our hospitals and community, and we want each and every one of those women to receive excellent care and have a positive experience with us. “In the majority of cases this is happening, but not always, and we know that isn’t good enough.”Meanwhile, Dr Magnus Harrison, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We welcome the inclusion of Leeds in the national maternity and neonatal investigation and fully support its focus on improving maternity and neonatal safety across the country.”We recognise we have not always delivered the highest quality of care to every family, and we are extremely sorry to the families who have lost their babies or had poor experiences when receiving care in our hospitals. “Families will be at the heart of this national investigation, and we are fully supportive of this.”More on this storyRelated internet links

Drs Chris and Xand sit down with Professor Stella Volpe, the Head of the department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise at Virginia Tech in the US.

Against the backdrop of high market demand for effective anti-ageing cosmetics, a team of Chinese researchers assessed the clinical effectiveness of a 0.1 % pterostilbene-containing skincare emulsion against a control emulsion over 28 days with 31 participants.
The study employed a double-blind, split-face design, comparing the left and right sides of the face and using advanced instruments along with subject self-assessments. The set of instruments used, together with the findings, is reported in the team’s published article in the Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology.
“Our results indicated that the pterostilbene emulsion remarkably improved skin elasticity, firmness, and reduced wrinkles, such as forehead, undereye, and Crow’s feet wrinkles, shares co-author Zhiyuan Chen, Founder of Guangzhou Luanying Cosmetics Co., Ltd. “It also increased the thickness of the epidermis layer, enhanced collagen and elastic fibers, and minimized skin pores.”
Compared to the control emulsion, the pterostilbene emulsion brought about statistically significant improvements, and all subjects expressed higher satisfaction with the pterostilbene emulsion. These results collectively demonstrated the superior anti-aging efficacy of the pterostilbene emulsion through multiple mechanisms.
According to corresponding author Xueping Chen, the findings advance our understanding of pterostilbene’s role in skincare by providing evidence of its potent anti-ageing effects and supporting its use as an active ingredient in cosmetics. “It also offers a new perspective on natural compounds’ applications in the skincare industry,” says Chen. “The significant improvements in various skin parameters and the subjects’ positive feedback highlight the effectiveness of pterostilbene, which may change the way we approach anti-ageing skincare formulations.”
The authors propose a longer study period to fully understand the impact of pterostilbene.

A large portion of the global population with diabetes remains undiagnosed or is not receiving optimal care, according to a new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a global network of collaborators conducted the analysis of the diabetes care cascade for all ages, both sexes, and 204 countries and territories from 2000 to 2023.
In 2023, an estimated 44% of people aged 15 and older with diabetes are unaware of their condition. Underdiagnosis was greatest among young adults — despite facing higher risks for long-term complications.
Among those who were diagnosed, 91% were on some form of pharmacological treatment. However, of those receiving treatment, only 42% had their blood sugar levels managed optimally. This translates to just 21% of all people with diabetes globally having their condition under optimal management.
Despite improvements over two decades, the research also found substantial regional diagnosis and treatment disparities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. High-income North America had the highest rates of diagnosis, while high-income Asia Pacific showed the highest rates of treatment among diagnosed individuals. Southern Latin America had the highest rates of optimal blood sugar management among those treated. In contrast, Central sub-Saharan Africa faced the largest gaps in diagnosis, with less than 20% of people with diabetes being aware of their condition.
“By 2050, 1.3 billion people are expected to be living with diabetes, and if nearly half don’t know they have a serious and potentially deadly health condition, it could easily become a silent epidemic,” said Lauryn Stafford, first author and researcher at IHME.
Given the pace at which cases are rapidly rising, the research underscores the urgent need for investment in screening programs for younger populations and access to medications and glucose-monitoring tools, especially in underserved regions. In 2022, the WHO set a target to have 80% of people with diabetes clinically diagnosed by 2030.
The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

You may not be aware that most of the medicines that have been approved for treatment are rooted in nature.
For example, the bark of willow trees has been called nature’s aspirin because it contains a chemical called salicin. The human body converts salicin into salicylic acid, which relieves pain and fights fevers.
New research by William Chain, associate professor in the University of Delaware’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and his lab, uses a molecule found in a tropical fruit to offer hope in the fight against liver-related cancers, one of the world’s top causes of cancer deaths.
Using a process called natural product total synthesis, Chain and his lab group have invented a pathway that uses widely available chemicals to create molecules found in a guava plant that are known to fight these deadly cancers. The work was published in one of the leading chemistry publications, the international journal Angewandte Chemie.
The research provides scientists around the world with an easy and low cost method to create large amounts of the naturally-occurring molecules, and opens doors to more effective and cheaper treatments.
“The majority of clinically approved medicines are either made from a natural product or are based on one,” Chain said. “But there aren’t enough natural resources to make enough treatments. Now chemists will be able to take our manuscripts and basically follow our ‘recipe’ and they can make it themselves.”
The discovery invites collaboration with scientists around the world.

“We are the first ones to pave that road, and other people can repave it any which way. Find the shortcuts if they have to. But since we entered into that unknown territory, I think we helped shed light on this unknown pathway that can get us there. And I think that’s the cool part,” said Liam O’Grady, doctoral student in Chain’s lab and the article’s first author.
The potential impact is enormous. The number of liver and bile duct cancer cases has grown dramatically in recent years, with one in 125 men and women globally projected to be diagnosed with hepatocellular cancer over the course of their lives.
In the United States, chemotherapies for liver cancers are a multi-billion-dollar health burden and the current five-year survival rates for late-stage liver cancers are under 15%. In 2025 in the US alone, more than 42,000 people will be diagnosed and over 30,000 will lose their battle.
The team is working with the National Cancer Institute on the next steps for the process, and whether the guava molecule may be effective in fighting other types of cancers.

Fourteen NHS trusts are to have their maternity services examined over what has been described as “failures in the system”, the government has said.The inquiries are part of a rapid review of maternity care in England that was announced in June.Health Secretary Wes Streeting said bereaved families had shown “extraordinary courage” in coming forward with issues dating back more than 15 years.Some of the families have severely criticised the review and Streeting’s handling of it, describing the investigation as “not fit for purpose”.The NHS trusts that will be examined are:Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Bradford Teaching HospitalsUniversity Hospitals of Leicester Leeds Teaching HospitalsSandwell and West Birmingham Gloucestershire HospitalsYeovil District Hospital Oxford University HospitalUniversity Hospitals Sussex Barking, Havering and Redbridge University HospitalsQueen Elizabeth, Kings Lynn University Hospitals of Morecambe BayEast Kent Hospitals Shrewsbury and Telford HospitalBaroness Amos, who will chair the review, said she was committed to ensuring “the lived experience of affected families are fully heard” and that the 14 investigations would allow her “to develop recommendations… that will drive improvements across maternity and neonatal services nationwide”.Improved maternity care may have prevented the deaths of over 800 babies lives in 2022-23, according to research by the baby loss charities Sands and Tommy’s.Streeting opted for the rapid review instead of a national inquiry into maternity care, which many families have been calling for. The review was due to be completed by December, but will now not report until Spring 2026. Baroness Amos says she will aim to produce interim findings around Christmas.The review will examine the experience of families and staff within England’s struggling maternity services and investigate why the recommendations from previous maternity inquiries in Morecambe Bay, East Kent, and Shrewsbury and Telford have not led to sustained improvements.Past inquiries have revealed issues including ignoring women’s voices, poor leadership, a failure to learn from safety incidents and a toxic culture. Yet families are still repeatedly reporting substandard care. There will also be “particular attention” paid to examining why black and Asian families have noticeably poorer outcomes, said Baroness Amos.The Department of Health said the trusts had been chosen based on data analysis and the views of families, as well as to ensure a geographical and demographic mix.The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the focus on these trusts would “create real anxiety among women, families and staff” at the 14 trusts. It added that the review would need to re-build a world class maternity system. “Too many women and babies are not getting the safe, compassionate care they deserve and the maternity workforce is on its knees, with staff leaving the profession,” said the college’s president, Prof Ranee Thakar.The strongest criticism of the review, however, comes from the Maternity Safety Alliance (MSA) – a group of families harmed by poor maternity care in several NHS trusts across England. Having engaged in a number of meetings with Streeting in recent weeks, they said the health secretary had “broken promises” over how the investigation would be run and what it would examine, and that they had been left feeling “used”.They are particularly critical of the decision not to investigate the role of NHS regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission and NHS Resolution, the health service’s insurance and litigation arm. “The review seems to have already decided that all the responsibility for these 800 deaths a year lies squarely with NHS trusts and the clinicians who work in them,” said Tom Hender, who lost his son Aubrey in 2022. “That’s just not true – the whole system is in crisis and we need a whole system approach.”The investigation is “not fit for purpose” and will not achieve what Streeting said it would, the MSA said, adding: “It is clear that only a statutory public inquiry can end the crisis in maternity care.”The two families who successfully campaigned for an investigation into maternity care in Shrewsbury and Telford are more positive about the review, describing it as “an important and brave first step”. But the parents of Kate Stanton-Davies and Pippa Griffiths also said it would be “safer” if the review proceeded at a slower pace, adding that proper mental health support had to be provided to those families sharing their experiences. “It’s not enough to have a nominal support figure in the room and an email address for follow-up,” they said in a statement.The ongoing challenges facing maternity services were highlighted last week. On Monday, a review of care at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS trust found that the deaths of nine babies between 2020 and 2023 could have been prevented. Then on Friday, a report found that NHS trusts rated over half their maternity and neonatal buildings as being unsatisfactory, with 7% saying they ran a serious risk of imminent breakdown.Meanwhile, the chief executive of the doctor’s regulator, the General Medical Council, is expected to say that a “toxic” culture of cover-up in the NHS was leading to poor maternity outcomes. Charles Massey is due to tell a conference in Manchester that “patient safety is falling victim to unhealthy culture” and that “the unthinkable – harm to mothers and their babies – is at risk of being normalised”.