RECENT NEWS

A study has found new evidence for a link between the body clock hormone melatonin and type 2 diabetes. The study found that people who carry rare genetic mutations in the receptor for melatonin have a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

The Government has launched a national cancer campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. Featuring real GPs, the Be Clear on Cancer bowel cancer campaign encourages people who have had blood in their stools or loose stools for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

Statistics show heart attack death rates dropped dramatically in the early years of the new millennium, falling by more than half.

General Electric (GE) has invested in Check- Cap, a developer of an ingestible imaging capsule that may help detect colorectal cancer. The investment is being made through the GE healthymagination Fund, an equity fund that makes investments in highly promising healthcare technology companies.

The majority of NHS Trusts are set to increase their use of safety-engineered medical devices, and a third (32%) have already improved healthcare worker safety by moving to a partial or total ‘safety device only’ policy in light of forthcoming legislation on sharps injury prevention, according to a new report from MindMetre Research.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Government’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor, has announced that £500,000 of Government-funding has been made available for new research into antibiotic resistant bacteria.

A study published in the journal Science says that an existing cancer drug appears to improve many of the effects of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.

The SIGH Group, incorporating Caterham Surgical Supplies, is moving to larger premises in the Croydon area, following significant growth of the company and increased demand for its products and services.

The National Association of Assistants in Surgical Practice (NAASP) and the Association of Perioperative Practice (AfPP) have announced that the NAASP will, from 30 June, cease to exist, instead becoming part of a special interest arm of AfPP, with a view to providing a stronger voice within this sector of healthcare.

Ovarian cancer patients who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are significantly more likely to survive the disease than women without these faulty genes, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A study at St George’s, University of London, has found that the benefits of aspirin are more modest than previously believed. People without a history of cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack or stroke) are unlikely to benefit from a regular dose of aspirin, given the risk of internal bleeding.

Three major projects are to receive over £1 m of Government funding to enable them to develop new and improved health-economics tools or products that will assist and improve the design and evaluation of diagnostic clinical trials for infectious agents.

A paper published in the February edition of the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) points out that surgery could be missing out on some of the best graduates. It highlights the fact that, although women who apply for surgical training are proportionately more likely to be appointed than men, surgery remains a predominately male profession.

Pall Medical is to hold a series of free-to-attend educational seminars, dubbed ‘training masterclasses’, across the UK focusing on current guidelines for prevention of waterborne diseases in healthcare premises, and their implications for healthcare estates teams, clinical personnel involved with augmented care such as treating burns victims and ICU patients, microbiologists, and infection control staff.

Building on the success of the inaugural Florence Nightingale Foundation Conference, the second annual conference will be taking place on 8th & 9th March 2012 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London.This Conference is aimed at senior professionals across all aspects of healthcare delivery and is relevant to everyone in healthcare.

Fewer people per 100,000 population aged below 75 are now dying from respiratory disease compared to nearly a decade ago.

Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley has announced that Professor Viv Bennett has been appointed as the first director of nursing in the Department of Health and the Government’s principal advisor on public health nursing.

Building on the progress made on healthcare associated infections in 2011, the Government has announced its latest ambition for the NHS.

The latest in a series of good practice guides to support commissioners in designing high quality, evidence-based services to improve outcomes for patients and to help the NHS make better use of resources has been published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

A drive to free up nurses’ time to spend on patient care has been announced by Prime Minister, David Cameron.