Get into Medicine UK
National Health Service
No more grey hair?
From Sky News: A cure for grey hair which means millions will be able to throw away messy dyes may not be too far off, researchers have said. Scientists found people who are going grey develop “massive oxidative stress” via an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle, which causes hair to bleach itself … Continue reading
111 Troubles
From the BBC: The new NHS non-emergency 111 telephone service in England is in a fragile state in a number of areas ahead of bank holiday weekend, NHS bosses admit. Reports have been emerging for weeks of calls going unanswered and poor advice being given, leading to hospitals being inundated with patients. The problems plaguing … Continue reading
97% of GPs have recommended placebos
From the BBC: In a poll, 97% of 783 GPs admitted that they had recommended a sugar pill or a treatment with no established efficacy for the ailment their patient came in with. The PLOS One study authors say this may not be a bad thing – doctors are doing it to help, not to … Continue reading
Suicide rates
From the BBC: Some 6,045 people killed themselves in 2011, an increase of 437 since 2010. The highest suicide rate was among men aged between 30 and 44. About 23 men per 100,000 took their own lives. On average, across both sexes, 11.8 people per 100,000 population killed themselves in 2011, up from 11.1 people … Continue reading
Do self-help books work?
From the BBC: Prescribing self-help books on the NHS is an effective treatment for depression, a study suggests. Patients offered books, plus sessions guiding them in how to use them, had lower levels of depression a year later than those offered usual GP care. More than 200 patients who had been diagnosed with depression by … Continue reading
Consolidating Hospitals
From the BBC: Dr Lee believes a hospital near the M4 could serve 650,000 patients in south Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and south Oxfordshire. He said: “It’s challenging the perception of what a hospital is for. It’s very emotive and there is a certain sentimentality people feel towards their local hospitals. “It challenges the make-do-and-mend which has … Continue reading
Squeezing Medical Pay & Conditions
From the Guardian: Moves to force hospitals to provide routine surgery and scans over weekends are expected to accelerate this week when NHS medical chiefs outline policies to ensure more seven-day cover. GPs will also be expected to open surgeries for appointments rather than leaving patients to wait or use out-of-hours services. Moves towards 24/7 … Continue reading
Changing a (Healthcare) Culture
From the BBC: … when trying to deliver the right kind of care, the health service often addresses regulation, standard setting, inspection and monitoring. This approach aims to improve scrutiny and accountability, which most people would agree is a “good thing”. But there is a risk that a constant focus on targets, procedures and performance … Continue reading
Full Hospitals
From the BBC: Hospitals should run at about 85% capacity to give them room to cope with surges in demand, and figures show the NHS average hovering around that mark. According to the analysis, if only midweek figures are taken into account, the average capacity figure for 2011-12 was 88%. It rose to 90% if … Continue reading
Attacked by patients
From The Telegraph: Overall assaults on NHS staff in England reached almost 60,000 last year, an increase of more than three per cent on the previous year. The steepest rise was seen in assaults by patients who were undergoing treatment and whose condition contributed to the attack. This means that a criminal conviction is unlikely, … Continue reading
