RECENT NEWS

The RCN recently warned that the economic downturn could be the greatest threat to nursing and patient care in living memory, following the publication of a report of a roundtable discussion attended by health policy experts.

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield has officially opened a new PET/CT scanning centre at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. The centre provides a permanent home for the latest in cutting-edge diagnostic technology to NHS patients in the city and the surrounding area.

Australian scientists have found that Vitamin D may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Figures showing that people living in Tasmania are seven times more likely to develop MS than Queenslanders had suggested a link between sunlight exposure and the disease. Researchers at the Menzies Institute have now found that taking more vitamin D may also reduce the symptoms of the disease.

Hospital admissions for obesity in England have risen by 60% in the last year and by 360% compared to five years ago, according to figures released by The NHS Information Centre. These latest figures coincide with the publication of YouGov research, commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology, which shows that young Brits (18-24 year olds) are unaware of the health issues obesity can cause. While most correctly identified the links with diabetes (80%) and high blood pressure (81%), less than a third knew it could cause cancer of the colon (28%).

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has published strengthened guidelines for NHS organisations on how to communicate with patients, their families and carers when something goes wrong.

Scientists have countered findings of previous clinical trials by showing that giving supplemental oxygen to animals during a stroke can reduce damage to brain tissue surrounding the clot.

A new centre for the collection of vital cord blood donations has been opened by Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron.

A leading healthcare charity representing operating theatre professionals has warned of cancelled operations if predictions of a swine flu pandemic come to pass.

New guidance, produced by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and NHS organisations across England and Wales, has been released aimed at ensuring safer systems are in place to treat patients needing oxygen.

The Royal College of Nursing has published results from its 2009 Employment Survey, which highlights how pressures on workload and staffing levels can impact on patient care.

One in four patients, undergoing common surgery such as hernia repair or gallbladder removal are confused and worried about their operations after researching them on the internet, according to a new study published in the Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Around a million more people registered to become organ donors in the last year, figures show.

People admitted to English hospitals in an emergency on the first Wednesday in August have, on average, a 6% higher mortality rate than people admitted on the previous Wednesday.

A study that included twins has found that the risk of hip fracture is significantly increased following a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with analysis also suggesting a genetic predisposition to the development of CVD and fractures.

People with heart failure are being better diagnosed and treated than they were three years ago, according to the results of the National Heart Failure Audit.

People with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, may be at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke, according to a study published in the October issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

In 2008, out of 2.2 million women who were sent an invitation for screening, 1.7 million attended – around 73%. Now experts are predicting that if all women attended screening when invited, then around 600 extra lives could be saved each year.

A national survey of people’s experiences of acute mental health inpatient services reveals that many feel they were let down in some important aspects of the care they received, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The BMA has uncovered Department of Health data that estimates that junior doctor staffing rotas in the UK were short by almost 3,000 doctors at the end of 2008.

The Care Quality Commission performance ratings show that the NHS is performing well against a rigorous assessment on quality, with more Trusts rated “excellent” or “good”.