RECENT NEWS

Women experiencing painful reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding are frequently finding their symptoms ‘normalised’ and their ‘pain dismissed’ when seeking help, a new report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has warned.

Science and tech leaders from the UK and Switzerland have agreed to update the landmark science and research agreement between the two countries, to focus work on some of today’s most pressing challenges, from boosting public health to making the shift to green energy.

​Johnson & Johnson MedTech has joined leading surgeons from around the world to initiate a standardised classification system for the global evaluation and reporting of surgical site outcomes (SSOs). Experts from across surgical specialties and healthcare disciplines aim to develop a standardised approach for surgeons and wound care teams to more fully capture the scope and incidence of postoperative complications, enabling improved approaches to prevention.

Vanguard Healthcare Solutions and South Warwickshire University Trust are delighted to announce that their work together on a collaborative project to establish a surgical hub has been shortlisted for the Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative at the HSJ Partnership Awards.

The government has announced that it will unveil a refreshed workforce plan in the summer, focused on shifting care from hospitals and into the community. In a recent statement, the government said that: "too much care is being delivered in hospitals because of historic underinvestment in the community."

​Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has won funding from the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Alliance to bolster its cancer care service with digital cancer care platform, Careology.

Cambridge scientists have developed a urine test for early detection of lung cancer. The test, the first of its kind, detects ‘zombie’ cells that could indicate the first signs of the disease.

Bank staff are much more likely to face discrimination compared to the national average — with almost half of cases not handled effectively. In a survey of over 2,306 people working within a bank role, a quarter (25%) had experienced or witnessed discrimination. Alarmingly, 47% of bank staff who reported discrimination felt their cases were not managed effectively.

Clean air technology specialist, Howorth Air Technology, which designs, manufactures, and assembles ultraclean air equipment for use in operating theatres, and for the pharma, biotechnology, and life science industries, is moving its headquarters to ‘a flagship north-west development’ to meet growing demand and its future expansion plans.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that vast swathes of Britain is still below pre-pandemic levels for life expectancy.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has published the results of its consultation on the rules, standards and guidance by which it will regulate physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs). It will begin regulating PAs and AAs from 13 December. The consultation, which ran between March and May this year, attracted more than 3,000 responses, from individuals as well as organisations.

The Clinical Services Journal and Arka Medical will be hosting a FREE webinar on 'Role of Glove Quality in Maximising Staff Safety'. Taking place on Monday December 16th at 15:00 GMT, the webinar will feature leading expert Dr. Jon Otter - an active researcher in the field of infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance, and the Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Women at risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy will now have access to at-home testing as part of an initiative from Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT) to make GDM testing more accessible and improve health equity across their patient population.

HSSIB have published a report examining the case of a patient who did not receive time critical Parkinson’s medication while attending an emergency department. The report charts the first in a series of investigations exploring patient safety events in NHS organisations to understand why patients may not receive medications as planned.

The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) has announced the launch of the ABHI Middle East Accelerator, a transformative programme designed to support UK HealthTech companies in scaling their operations across the dynamic Middle Eastern healthcare landscape.

Most young people who were confirmed to have long Covid three months after a positive PCR test had recovered within 24 months, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

Fibre optics are a means of transmitting information at incredibly high speeds; however, the technology can be used for more than just providing a fast internet connection. Researchers reporting in ACS Sensors have developed an optical fibre sensing system that could help medical professionals monitor patients for complications after a traumatic brain injury.

Children will no longer be exposed to TV adverts for junk food products as new law confirms the final details of advertising restrictions. Ads on television will only be allowed past the 9pm watershed from October 2025 as part of plans to curb childhood obesity.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, has announced plans for a Men’s Health Strategy at a Men’s Health Summit held in partnership with Movember, hosted by Arsenal and the Premier League.

The Institute of Decontamination Sciences' annual conference recently took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, bringing together decontamination scientists and experts from across the UK. IDSc Chair, Trevor Garcia, emphasised the vital need for education for the decontamination sector and the importance of attending events such as the annual conference, in order to update knowledge and share experiences.