RECENT NEWS

New guidance announced by Health Minister Ann Keen states that all hospitals with emergency departments should establish an acute oncology service that can quickly identify the symptoms and treat patients who develop severe side-effects from chemotherapy, as well as undiagnosed cancer patients who present as emergencies. Commenting on the guidance, National Cancer Director Mike Richards said:

According to the National Joint Registry (NJR) 6th Annual Report, a record amount of data on hip and knee joint replacement procedures has been requested by orthopaedic surgeons, suppliers and manufacturers of joint replacement implants and patients.

The Royal College of Nursing has urged the Government to “look to the lessons of history” when considering health spending cuts. The comments were made as part of a live podcast involving Howard Catton, head of policy and implementation, and Gerry O’Dwyer, senior employment relations adviser at RCN.

New research points to huge inequalities in both national prevention policies and levels of cardiovascular mortality seen across the EU.

Results of a clinical trial published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions demonstrate that an infusion of blood that is “supersaturated” with oxygen (SS02) can reduce the amount of damaged heart muscle immediately following a life-threatening heart attack.

Researchers from Bradford are to spearhead a project to improve patient safety after being awarded a £2 million grant by the National Institute for Health Research.

US scientists have found evidence of a virus in malignant human prostate cancer cells. The virus, xenotropic murine leukaemia virusrelated virus (XMRV), is already known to be capable of causing leukaemia and sarcomas in animals.

Researchers have warned that brain scans paid for privately, by healthy people who want to allay fears about undiagnosed brain cancer and stroke, may do more harm than good.

The Patients’ Association recently published Patients Not Numbers, People Not Statistics which highlights 16 emotive accounts that reflect, in the association’s view, “a consistent pattern of shocking standards of care” in the NHS.

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found a link, in mice and in human brain tissue, between high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis.

The NHS has started 2009/10 in a strong position by sustaining delivery on key priorities such as reducing waiting times and healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), according to the Department of Health.

More needs to be done to place the health and well-being of NHS staff, alongside quality, at the heart of how the health service operates, according to the latest findings of an independent review.

Sponsored by an educational grant from Welch Allyn, the Completing the Picture educational meeting in Scotland will take place on Wednesday 11th November at The Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld. This free one-day educational event is tailored especially for clinical and biomedical engineers

London Health 09 is now open for registration and the agenda is complete. Visit the website to see a full list of speakers including Ruth Carnell, Cynthia Bower, Leo Boland and Pam Chester.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has urged NHS Trusts to respond to the tragic death of Baby P by delivering major improvements in compliance with measures to safeguard children.

New systems being trialled for assessing and reviewing patients may have a negative effect on junior doctor training, according to a new study of acute care at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Following the announcement of his resignation, the former health minister, Lord Ara Darzi gave his first interview to the BBC on Newsnight, which examined the future of NHS funding.

Statistics recently published reveal that people living in deprived areas are around three times more likely to die from a stroke than those in the least deprived.

NHS hospitals across England and Wales are being alerted to the risks of using suprapubic catheters after a number of patients suffered severe harm or fatal injuries as a result of error.

A new report aimed at increasing the number of doctors from lower income groups was branded “a missed opportunity” by medical and student leaders, for “failing to address the full extent of the soaring financial cost of studying medicine in the UK”.