News Headlines

Drug resistant swine flu probed

(BBC 20/11/2009)

Health officials are investigating the possible person-to-person spread of a Tamiflu-resistant strain of swine flu. The strain has infected a small number of patients at the University Hospital Wales, in Cardiff, all of whom had serious underlying health conditions. One patient apparently developed resistance to the antiviral drug, and the strain was then passed on to others at the hospital. If confirmed, this would be the first case of its kind in Europe.

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Swine flu death toll in Scotland reaches 40

(The Scotsman 20/11/2009)

ANOTHER swine flu death was announced today, bringing the death toll in Scotland to 40 since the outbreak began. The adult, who had underlying health problems, was from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Any death from H1N1 is a tragedy... "Fortunately this is a mild illness for most, but people with underlying health conditions are at greater risk of complications which is why we are prioritising the vaccine for this group."

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Misconceptions about sexual health are widespread

(BBC 20/11/2009)

One in four young people mistakenly believes it is impossible to get pregnant through having sex standing up, a survey shows. The Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families commissioned the poll to highlight misconceptions about safe sex. The poll, of 2,000 people aged 16-50, found 19% were unaware a woman could get pregnant while having a period. A similar number thought withdrawing before ejaculation was completely safe.

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Scientists make mad cow discovery

(BBC 20/11/2009)

Scientists at the University of Leeds say they have made a significant discovery which could help in the treatment of "mad cow disease". The team found a protein which assists in the development of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and its human form Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD). The protein Glypican-1 was found to cause other proteins in the nervous system to become abnormal. Professor Nigel Hooper said the find may also help to fight Alzheimer's.

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Thousands of Vicks spray recalled

(BBC 20/11/2009)

Procter & Gamble has announced it is recalling 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray after small traces of bacteria were found in the product. Bottles shipped to the US, the UK and Germany are being recalled after traces of the B. cepacia bacteria were found at a German plant in Gross Gerau. The firm said no illnesses had been reported, but the bacteria can affect people with lung problems. It added that consumers who have the medication should no longer use it.

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NHS told to say sorry for errors

(BBC 20/11/2009)

The NHS should learn to say sorry to patients when mistakes are made, a health watchdog says. The National Patient Safety Agency, which monitors errors in England, said a simple apology can even reduce formal complaints and legal action. The group has also issued a number of tips to NHS trusts in a bid to create a more open culture about mistakes. The Action Against Medical Accidents patient group said "Being open when things go wrong" was important.

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New skin 'may help burns victims'

(BBC 20/11/2009)

French researchers say they have found a way of using human embryonic stem cells to create new skin which could help serious burns victims. They say the stem cells grew into fully formed human skin 12 weeks after being grafted on to mice. The researchers, writing in the Lancet journal, say the skin could solve the problems of rejection that burns patients currently face. One stem cell expert said they had made an important advance.

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'Enzyme clue' to breast tumours

(BBC 20/11/2009)

Scientists have identified an enzyme that is crucial for turning breast tissue into tumours, according to a study published in the journal Cell. The Institute of Cancer Research says blocking the enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX) reduced the size and frequency of tumours in mice. They say LOX stiffens collagen, a major component of the supportive tissue in the breast. A cancer charity said the study added to knowledge about how tumours develop.

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Patients' confidential records on stolen ambulance laptop

(The Scotsman 20/11/2009)

THE confidential records of 600 NHS patients have been stolen after a laptop was taken from an ambulance headquarters. The laptop, which was stolen from the Scottish Ambulance Service headquarters in Morningside, Edinburgh, held the names, addresses and details of treatments for 600 patients. It is understood the information was protected by a password but was not encrypted. It was taken between 4:15pm on Tuesday and 7:30am on Wednesday.

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Too few Scots for own transplant organ pool

(The Scotsman 20/11/2009)

THE Scottish population is not large enough to provide the number of organs needed for transplant operations, and an independent Scotland would have to remain in the UK-wide pool of organ allocation, the Scottish Government has conceded. According to the latest consultation paper from the SNP's National Conversation, organ arrangements are one area of cross-border health co-operation that should continue if the Union is broken up.

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£1m project to cut cancer risk

(The Scotsman 20/11/2009)

ADULTS at risk of developing a form of cancer that claims the lives of more than 3,500 Scots a year are to be offered a focused programme of support to improve their health in a £1 million research project led by scientists at Dundee University. Men and women who could develop colorectal cancer will be given help to tackle a range of risk factors, including their body weight, diet and physical activity, in the hope that the changes will reduce the chances of developing the disease.

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Children under five to get swine flu jab as death toll rises to 39

(The Scotsman 20/11/2009)

HEALTHY Scots children under the age of five are to be given the swine flu jab. Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that the first under-fives would be offered the injection from mid-December. It is hoped that there will be enough vaccine to inoculate all 260,000 eligible children in Scotland by the new year. The health secretary took the step, which was in line with moves elsewhere in the UK, yesterday as the Scottish swine flu death toll reached 39.

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Swine flu vaccination: NHS prepares next step

(World health - EU Monitor 19/11/2009)

The swine flu vaccination programme will be extended to offer children over six months and under five protection against the virus. Extending the vaccination programme to young children is supported by the panel of experts that provide advice on vaccination issues. Children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu. Young children also have high rates of admission to critical care and, sadly, there have been some deaths.

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Deaths not linked to H1N1 vaccines: WHO

(World health - EU Monitor 19/11/2009)

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Thursday the H1N1 vaccine had been cleared of blame for 41 deaths which health authorities worldwide had investigated after suspicions they might have been caused by the inoculation. The U.N. agency reaffirmed that the pandemic vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine used for more than 60 years. It also voiced concern that some pregnant women and others at risk were shunning it because of a fear of side-effects.

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Hope over Down's learning problem

(BBC 19/11/2009)

US research has raised hopes of developing a drug therapy to reverse the learning problems associated with Down's syndrome. At birth children with Down's syndrome are not developmentally delayed, but memory problems often mean they soon tend to fall behind. The new study, in mice, pinpoints the key defects in the brain, and suggests a possible way to tackle them. The study appears in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

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Bullying link to eating disorders

(BBC 19/11/2009)

Almost half of young people with eating disorders believe bullying contributed to their illness, it is claimed. The charity Beat has carried out the biggest ever study linking the two behaviours, which has been seen exclusively by Radio 1 Newsbeat. Researchers spoke to more than 600 16 to 25-year-olds suffering from anorexia, bulimia or overeating. Of those, 91% said they had been bullied, while 46% said they believed that bullying had contributed to their eating disorder.

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Liver cancer drug 'too expensive'

(BBC 19/11/2009)

A drug that can prolong the lives of patients with advanced liver cancer has been rejected for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the cost of Nexavar - about £3,000 a month - was "simply too high". But Macmillan Cancer Support said the decision was "a scandal". More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer every year in the UK and their prognosis is generally poor.

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Critical care beds shortage fear

(BBC 19/11/2009)

There could be a shortage of intensive care beds for children this winter because of swine flu, experts say. Cambridge University researchers used official government predictions to look at how UK hospitals would cope. They said during a peak week half of the 300-plus beds could be taken up by flu patients, putting strain on units that are often running close to full. But the government said the NHS should be able to cope - albeit with some emergency measures put in place.

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Alcohol 'protects men's hearts'

(BBC 19/11/2009)

Drinking alcohol every day cuts the risk of heart disease in men by more than a third, a major study suggests. The Spanish research involving more than 15,500 men and 26,000 women found large quantities of alcohol could be even more beneficial for men. Female drinkers did not benefit to the same extent, the study in Heart found. Experts are critical, warning heavy drinking can increase the risk of other diseases, with alcohol responsible for 1.8 million deaths globally per year.

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Immune tribe 'indicates CJD hope'

(BBC 19/11/2009)

Darwinian natural selection could help halt human "mad cow disease", experts say after finding a tribe impervious to a related fatal brain disorder. The Papua New Guinea tribe developed strong genetic resistance after a major epidemic of the CJD-like disease, kuru, spread mostly by cannibalism. Medical Research Council experts assessed more than 3,000 survivors of the mid-20th Century epidemic. Their findings appear in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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New weapon against superbugs

(The Scotsman 19/11/2009)

SCOTTISH scientists have developed a chemical to tackle infections such as MRSA by mimicking the body's ability to fight bacteria. The new compound could be added to detergents or used as a coating for hospital equipment in efforts to fight superbugs and cut infections. The researchers hope the chemical could be ready to use in products within two years. The compound is able to trap and release the gas nitric oxide, also produced by our own immune systems to kill bugs.

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Many 'have doubts over flu jab'

(BBC 18/11/2009)

The government has a long way to go to convince the public to have the swine flu vaccine, an exclusive survey for the BBC suggests. Half of the 2,000 people polled said they were happy to have the jab, but safety and the fact the virus was mild put off many of those who had doubts. An overwhelming majority felt NHS workers should get the jab to protect their patients. The government said it was "strongly recommending" people get the jab. The UK vaccination programme is already well under way.

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Tiny chip could diagnose disease

(BBC 18/11/2009)

Researchers have demonstrated a tiny chip based on silicon that could be used to diagnose dozens of diseases. A tiny drop of blood is drawn through the chip, where disease markers are caught and show up under light. The device uses the tendency of a fluid to travel through small channels under its own force, instead of using pumps. The design is simpler, requires less blood be taken, and works more quickly than existing "lab on a chip" designs, the team report in Lab on a Chip.

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NHS manager left £800,000 debts

(BBC 18/11/2009)

An NHS manager who oversaw care for terminally ill cancer patients in Birmingham and part of Staffordshire left her organisation with debts of more than £800,000 after overspending on advertising, consultants and printing costs, it has been revealed. Melanie Young had been working as the manager of the palliative care network, part of the Pan-Birmingham Cancer Network, which links together all the city's hospitals, trusts and hospices that provide cancer services.

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European antibiotic awareness day

(Health Protection Agency 18/11/2009)

Today (18th November 2009) marks the second annual European Antibiotic Awareness Day, established to highlight the problem of increasing antibiotic resistance and the need for prudent use of antibiotics. Figures from the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption project, which monitors antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in countries across Europe, suggest that antibiotic use in many countries remains too high.

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Admissions up before A&E target

(BBC 18/11/2009)

The number of A&E patients admitted to hospital rises dramatically in the last ten minutes of the waiting target, statistics for England show. The NHS Information Centre finds two thirds of patients still waiting in the last minutes of the four hour target are admitted, compared to 21% overall. The College of Emergency Medicine says meeting targets may be a factor, but other issues are also at play. The majority of A&E patients were seen within three hours, figures show.

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Private health scheme suspended

(BBC 18/11/2009)

A scheme which provides private health care on the NHS has been suspended following the death of a patient. NHS London, the strategic health authority for the capital, has begun an investigation into the fatality and some other incidents. The out-of-hospital services are run by Clinicenta in 20 boroughs across north London. The company said it was co-operating fully with the NHS London investigation.

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Concerns over social care plans

(BBC 18/11/2009)

The government's plan to offer the most vulnerable people free social care in their own homes in England has been met with a cool response. Charities and care homes said other groups of people could lose out. It comes while the government is consulting on a much wider reform of social care, prompting suggestions it has been drawn up for the election. It would take until next autumn to implement the bill which was announced in the Queen's Speech.

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Ceramic implant inserted in skull

(BBC 18/11/2009)

A police officer is thought to be the first person in the UK to have part of her skull replaced with a ceramic implant. Pc Linda Butt, 45, underwent surgery after she was diagnosed with five brain tumours and surgeons had to cut away part of her skull to get to them. The £5,000 ceramic plate will in time knit together with the remaining bone. The operation was carried out by consultant neurosurgeon Tony Belli at Southampton General Hospital.

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Mother death hospital prosecuted

(BBC 18/11/2009)

A hospital in Swindon is to be prosecuted on health and safety charges over the death of a nurse shortly after she gave birth. Mayra Cabrera, a 30-year-old theatre nurse, had a drug used in epidurals pumped into her arm at the Great Western Hospital on 11 May, 2004. She died of a heart attack after giving birth to her son, Zac, who survived. The Health and Safety Executive has told the hospital it is prosecuting over alleged "safety breaches".

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Older addicts 'lose will to live'

(BBC 18/11/2009)

Research to be published in Glasgow suggests rates of suicide among addicts aged over 35 may be higher than previously thought. The Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) said older drug users need more support. Of 55,000 chaotic drug users in Scotland, 15,000 or more than 25%, are believed to be 35 or over but they have said services often ignore their needs. SDF chief executive David Liddell said they have been taking drugs for so long, they have simply given up.

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NHS staff have a hard enough job without false TV role models

(BBC 18/11/2009)

TV hospital dramas can be exciting and entertaining but they are often filled with unprofessional behaviour, says Antony Sumara who runs the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Hospital Trust. He argues in this week's Scrubbing Up that such programmes are painting the NHS and its doctors and nurses in a poor light and not reflecting real hospital life. If you work in the NHS you either avoid NHS-based soap operas like the plague or watch them as an unofficial sofa critic.

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Pain relief patch advert banned

(BBC 18/11/2009)

A press advert for a pain relief patch endorsed by tennis champion Virginia Wade has been banned on the grounds it could be misleading. Makers Lifes2good said five clinical studies showed the Pain Ease Patch could speed up recovery from back pain, sciatica, arthritis and fibromyalgia. But the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that the evidence was "not sufficiently robust" to justify that.

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Pregnant women refusing to take swine flu vaccination, say doctors

(World health - EU Monitor 18/11/2009)

More than half of patients being offered a vaccine against swine flu are refusing to be immunised, a snapshot survey suggests today. A poll of 107 GPs found that some people were concerned about possible side-effects of the jab while others believed there was no need to have it because the virus typically caused mild illness. GPs are inviting those at high risk from swine flu, including pregnant women, health workers and those with asthma, heart disease or diabetes, to have vaccinations.

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Thyroid 'risk from pre-eclampsia'

(BBC 18/11/2009)

Pregnant women with the potentially dangerous condition pre-eclampsia may be more likely to suffer from thyroid problems, research suggests. Teams from the US and Norway found those with the condition had a raised risk of an under-active thyroid, which can lead to fatigue and depression. They say women showing signs of pre-eclampsia need thyroid checks as well as standard heart and kidney checks. The study appears in the British Medical Journal.

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One in six youths eats daily takeaways or ready meals

(The Scotsman 18/11/2009)

ONE in six young people eat a readymade meal or takeaway every day, according to a poll. Under-18s typically have three or more such meals a week, while 16 per cent say they eat them at least once a day. The study of 3,000 people was released by Siemens and The Stroke Association to raise awareness of the risks of eating too much salty food. Eating a dangerous amount of salt, combined with too little exercise, increases blood pressure and the risk of stroke.

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Frying fish 'reduces health benefits'

(The Scotsman 18/11/2009)

HOW fish is cooked helps to determine how healthy it is for the heart, a study suggests. Frying is not the way forward, say experts. Baked or boiled fish is a better source of omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to protect the heart, they argue. Researchers in the US studied omega-3 consumption among more than 82,000 men and almost 104,000 women. Men at the top end of the intake scale were 23 per cent less likely to die from heart problems than those at the bottom.

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One baby is stillborn every day in Scotland - and understaffed hospitals 'are key factor'

(The Scotsman 18/11/2009)

BABIES in Scotland are dying because of overstretched staff and pressure on NHS services coupled with a lack of research into stillbirths, campaigners claim today. Last year, 325 babies were stillborn in Scotland - almost one death every day and a rate that has changed little since the 1980s. A further 168 babies died within four weeks of birth. Today, Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, will present a report to the Scottish Parliament setting out the problems to be addressed.

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New diabetes therapy to save patients from needle

(The Scotsman 18/11/2009)

SCOTTISH patients with severe diabetes could be freed from daily injections of insulin with the launch of a groundbreaking new cell transplant service. The treatment involves extracting islets - the cells that produce insulin - from a donated pancreas. The cells are then injected into the liver of the patient with Type 1 diabetes - those who rely on insulin injections to control their condition. The service will initially help a small number of patients with the most serious cases of diabetes.

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Half of women denied vitamin A source

(The Scotsman 18/11/2009)

ALMOST half Britain's women may lack an important source of vitamin A (derived from beta-carotene) due to a genetic defect, research has shown. The micronutrient helps the immune system ward off common infections such as flu and is important for healthy skin. Vitamin A can be obtained from certain foods such as dairy products, liver and eggs. But another key source is beta-carotene, the orange pigment in carrots, which is converted into the vitamin in the body.

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