RECENT NEWS

A series of new measures will be introduced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with support from partners to make it faster and easier to gain approval and to run clinical trials in the UK. These changes represent the biggest overhaul in UK clinical trials regulation in over 20 years and will help to make the UK one of the best countries in the world to conduct clinical research for patients and researchers.

A region-wide study in more than 50,000 patients with atrial fibrillation has found reduced risks of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in those who started statins within a year of diagnosis compared with those who did not. The findings were presented at EHRA 2023, the annual congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) – a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

COVID-19 case rates decreased in week 15 in all age groups, regions, and most ethnic groups. Data from Respiratory Datamart suggests that SARS-CoV-2 positivity remains stable at 7.8% compared to 8.3% in the previous week. The highest positivity was seen in the group of those aged 65 years and over at 11.1%.

Chronic wounds are a major health problem for diabetic patients and the elderly – in extreme cases they can even lead to amputation. Using electric stimulation, researchers in a project at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the University of Freiburg, Germany, have developed a method that speeds up the healing process, making wounds heal three times faster.

RCN Congress offers an opportunity to network with peers, hear from exceptional keynote speakers and take part in hot-topic debates about the issues affecting the nursing workforce.

A novel software tool set to improve the management of elderly atrial fibrillation patients with multiple conditions is being designed by the EU-funded and ESC-coordinated EHRA-PATHS consortium. The latest updates on this clinical innovation were presented at EHRA 2023, the annual congress of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) – a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

The Personalised Care Institute (PCI), commissioned by NHS England, has launched lifelike virtual reality training on shared decision making (SDM) for healthcare professionals, after research by the Patients Association found that nearly half (46%) report gaps in their knowledge and most (70%) would like to learn more.

Owen Mumford has been awarded a distinction in the prestigious Red Dot awards for innovative product design for its Aidaptus single-use auto-injector launched in 2021. Aidaptus wins the Red Dot award for the category Product Design 2023.

Effective management of depression through psychological therapy is associated with a lower likelihood of heart disease and stroke, according to research published today in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Research supported by the UCLH Biomedical Research Centre has revealed how air pollution can cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

The number of people waiting longest for elective treatment has dropped for the third month in a row as services dealt with the busiest winter on record, new figures show.

New data published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) provide the first published evidence that a positive safety climate and adherence to standard precautions predict key healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) and occupational health outcomes among patients and healthcare workers, respectively. The findings highlight features within hospitals’ organisations and safety climates that could be modified to improve these outcomes.

HSIB’s latest report reinforces that specific guidance, detailed multi-agency information and improved access to specialist safeguarding support is crucial for ED clinicians that suspect a baby or young child’s injuries are non-accidental.

​A new study involving 437,704 participants suggests that those experiencing hearing loss and not using hearing aids may have a higher risk of developing dementia than people without hearing loss or those who use hearing aids.

Three in every four people survive their cancer the first year after being diagnosed, with rates of survival for some cancers even higher, according to NHS England's latest figures.

Cardiff based Eakin Healthcare Surgical, part of the Eakin Healthcare Group, has unveiled a new brand identity as part of its gradual transition to the Eakin Healthcare branding.

Harrogate-based charity, AfPP, are pleased to announce the launch of an investigative initiative into the moving and handling training that is provided within the perioperative environment. AfPP are committed to improving patient care by enhancing the skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals who work around the operating theatre.

A recent study conducted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has found that most clinicians feel they haven’t received enough training on health inequalities and would like more as part of their medical education.

For patients with high blood pressure in their pulmonary arteries caused by chronic blood clots, complications after a minimally invasive balloon angioplasty have decreased substantially over the last decade, a Michigan Medicine-led study finds.

NHS England and Health Education England have legally merged to create a new, single organisation to lead the NHS in England.