Doctors have warned that unconscious infants and children must be put in the recovery position, after a study revealed that other techniques, including slapping, were being used as an alternative. The European study, which involved more than 550 children, revealed that only a quarter of children were placed in the recovery position by adults who […]
The World Health Organization has warned of the likelihood of the Zika virus spreading across all countries in the Americas. The virus, which has now been identified in several countries in Central, South and North America, has been associated with serious birth defects and some countries have already encouraged women to delay getting pregnant until more information […]
A group of MPs has warned that due to a deficiency in the UK’s ability to manufacture vaccines, the country is vulnerable to epidemics like Ebola, which claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people in West Africa in its largest ever outbreak. According to the Science and Technology Committee, Britain “lacks the capacity” to […]
Under new rules, nurses and midwives coming from the EU to the UK will now be asked to confirm they are fluent in the English language. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have introduced the move to bring the nursing profession in line with doctors, who are already checked in this way for the safety […]
Patients with MS (multiple sclerosis) are displaying “remarkable” improvements following treatment normally used for cancer, according to doctors in Sheffield. Around 20 patients have been given bone marrow transplants using stem cells from their own blood in the past three years and some patients can now walk again, having being paralysed before. The treatment is […]
A charity has warned that patients admitted to hospital with dementia in England are subjecting their health to a ‘Russian roulette’. During a review, The Alzheimer’s Society says it has found “shocking” indications that care is variable and poor. The charity called for all hospitals to publish a yearly statement of dementia care, including information […]
The Head of the NHS has said that the NHS will enforce a “sugar tax” of its own in England’s health centres and hospitals in a bid to tackle the increasing obesity problem. Simon Stevens, chief executive, told a newspaper that he proposed a tax of 20% on all sugary foods and drinks in NHS […]
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has said that labels on food and drinks should show the amount of activity required to burn off the calories they contain and the food and drink industry believe the idea is worth looking into. They argue that people misjudge the amount of time needed to work off […]
Pregnant women in Britain should soon get a more accurate and safer test for Down’s syndrome through the NHS in a bid to reduce miscarriage risk. The test is backed by the UK National Screening Committee, who has said it would decrease anxiety in expectant mothers. The move would prevent the need for invasive procedures, […]
Figures have shown that around one in seven cases of bereaved families have blocked organ donations from 547 UK registered donors since 2010. In a bid to make such “overrides” more of an exception, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) have said they will no longer formally seek the consent of families. Alternatively, families will be […]