RECENT NEWS

The government has announced that it will invest £200 million with the aim of boosting resilience in the NHS and helping patients get the care they need as quickly as possible this winter.

​Thousands of people could be spared from a hip fracture each year if a new method to identify the risk of osteoporotic fractures were to be introduced in healthcare. This is the view of the researchers at Lund University in Sweden who are behind a new 3D-simulation method. The results were recently published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Nearly 70 per cent of adolescents and young adults with ulcerative colitis stop taking medication to treat the disease within a year of diagnosis. The findings come from a study published in the British Journal of General Practice, led by researchers at Imperial College London, University College London and St George’s University London.

An NHS Trust that has pioneered the use of robotic-assisted surgery in the UK has become the first to complete 10,000 cases using the da Vinci Surgical System.

A survey of UK surgical workforce members, recruited via surgical organisations, has found that sexual misconduct in the past 5 years has been experienced widely, with women affected disproportionately.

The results of the latest annual survey of hospital inpatients published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) show patient satisfaction levels have remained largely static since 2021, but indicate a longer term decline in most areas compared to previous years. They also highlight growing frustration with waiting times and reveal that four in ten people scheduled for planned treatment said their health deteriorated while waiting to be admitted.

Ministers have rejected a call by the Public Accounts Committee to pay higher salaries to boost the NHS’s digital workforce to allow it to compete with the private sector.

Researchers at ESC Congress issued a stark warning that hours of inactivity during childhood could be setting the stage for heart attacks and strokes later in life. The study found that sedentary time accumulated from childhood to young adulthood was associated with heart damage – even in those with normal weight and blood pressure.

At this year’s ESC Congress, the shocking cost of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the EU was revealed in the most comprehensive analysis since 2006. Figures presented at the conference showed that CVD cost the EU an estimated €282 billion in 2021. Health and long-term care accounted for €155 billion (55%) of these costs, equalling 11% of EU health expenditure. The analysis was a collaborative effort by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the University of Oxford, UK.

People and businesses are invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer as thousands complain of ‘botched’ procedures.

GP practices in Slough are achieving significantly improved hypertension outcomes following the introduction of a new digitally led approach to identifying, diagnosing, and managing patients with hypertension (high blood pressure). It is hoped that their successes will serve as a blueprint for other primary care services nationwide.

An award-winning team of GP educators is helping GPs reduce stress and use time more effectively through an innovative, free set of training resources designed to promote calm, enjoyable consultations.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria get extra nutrients and thrive when antibiotics kill ‘good’ bacteria in the gut, according to new research led by Imperial College London scientists. The study could lead to better patient risk assessment and ‘microbiome therapeutics’ treatments to help combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

All NHS regions should properly consult patients on how to improve outcomes, says the Medical Technology Group in its latest report. Research into the structures, policies and processes of the country’s 42 Integrated Care Systems found that, while there are examples of best practice, 40 percent of them have no formal patient involvement in Board meetings and subcommittees in place.

Air Sentry has been announced as a sponsor of the World Health Organization's Inaugural European conference on Indoor Air. While the event in Geneva is already oversubscribed, the event can be joined online for free. If you are unable to attend live, registration will also give access to the recorded conference for later viewing.

An exciting innovation competition has launched with the aim of inspiring the workforce of NHS Ayrshire & Arran to improve patient care.

Elsevier Health's 'Clinician of the Future 2023' report has found that almost half of all doctors and nurses are eager for physicians to utilise AI in the future, to support their clinical decision-making, further affirming the need to drive a technological shift in healthcare.

​The London Clinic and Bupa UK Insurance have launched a new Specialist Centre for prostate cancer, giving Bupa customers rapid access to diagnostic tests and treatment from leading oncology experts.

Innovators seeking to bring their products to the NHS are still facing a lengthy and complex process, according to the Medical Technology Group. In its latest 'Deja Review' report, the MTG warns that patients and clinicians are missing out on the benefits provided by medical technology.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has highlighted ethnic and socio-demographic inequalities in mortality rates for common physical health conditions.