RECENT NEWS

Commenting on the Health and Social Care Bill for the NHS in England, Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the BMA, said: “Ploughing ahead with these changes as they stand, at such speed, at a time of huge financial pressures and when NHS staff and experts have so many concerns, is a massive gamble. “

Researchers at University College London (UCL) have discovered that combining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing with MRI scans could provide an early indication of a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Fewer than one in ten people believe that radiotherapy is a modern cancer treatment according to the results of a YouGov survey.

A nine-week independent trial at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust of a Nanoclave UV cabinet has proved successful. The cabinet utilises ultraviolet (UVC) light to eradicate problematic pathogens on a broad range of medical equipment and electronic devices.

Following the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showing that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) produces a 41% reduction in fatal and non-fatal first recurrent cardiovascular disease events,

NHS staff who injure their backs in the course of their work cost taxpayers over £400 million a year, according to a new publication by the national charity BackCare. Each year, over 80,000 nurses injure their backs at work and 3,600 health care workers are forced to retire early.

Denmark has the highest cancer rates in the world, with about 326 people out of every 100,000 developing cancer each year, according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics.

A multi-centre, observational clinical study, the “B-Ahead U.K. Trial”, is to use technology in development from BrainScope Company to aid in the assessment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion in A&E.

A recent Royal College of Physicians audit has identified that 100,000 people in the UK are at risk from an undiagnosed heart condition, familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).

The National Audit Office report, The procurement of consumables by NHS acute and Foundation Trusts, was issued in February. The main findings of the report point to the fact that NHS hospitals often pay more than they need to when buying basic supplies.

Bio Products Laboratory has formally transferred to a limited company, Bio Products Laboratory Limited, which is, ultimately, wholly owned by the Department of Health.

Scientists at Cancer Research UK have discovered that a single gene – known as FOXA1 – controls the oestrogen-fuelled growth of breast cancer cells.

Scientists at Imperial College London, in partnership with clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, have installed a highresolution solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer in St Mary’s Hospital.

According to research undertaken by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), cancer patients have a five-fold increased risk of developing listeria than people with other underlying conditions – and those with cancers of the blood have the greatest risk.

The second round of the national clinical audit of occupational health (OH) care on depression detection and management of staff on long-term sickness absence in England demonstrates that higher quality care is now being delivered.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs four district general hospitals with emergency departments in Greater Manchester, currently has 16 consultant vacancies in emergency medicine.

The National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS) has dealt with its highest number of referrals in a six month period, as NHS organisations prepare for revalidation.

An industry Study Day at Girton College, Cambridge, staged by Tutela Medical, revealed that moves are being made towards the common assessment of temperature monitoring, audits, quality management systems and both documents and controls.

Sandra James, chair of RCN Council, has been awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List. Sandra has been an RCN activist for over 30 years and has been given the honour for 40 years of dedication to nursing in the UK and Guernsey.

National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) has won its funding bid, albeit with a reduced grant, to carry on its undertaking to review patient care in hospitals.