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Almost 70,000 children missing out on mental health treatment

Almost 70,000 children are missing out on mental health care they should be eligible to receive as the NHS falls short of key targets, The Independent has revealed.

An internal analysis, seen by The Independent, shows in England the NHS has fallen short of a target, set in 2019, for 818,000 children to receive at least one treatment session from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in 2023.

The actual number of children who received treatment in the 12 months to December was 749,833, falling short of the target by around 9%.

The figures came as the government announced this week it would expand the number of early access mental health hubs for children to cover 50% of the country by 2025. However, campaigners urged ministers to commit to covering the entire country to help “turn the tide on the crisis” in children’s mental health services.

The NHS analysis shows, as of December, CAMHS in the South West was furthest away from its targets with 78% of children seen out of those eligible. In London, 80% of the target was achieved and in the North West 105%.

Laura Bunt, chief executive at YoungMinds, said: “Referrals to mental health services are at a record high with more young people than ever in need of support with their mental health. We know that many young people are struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic, facing intense academic pressure to catch up on lost learning, a cost of living crisis and increasing global instability.

“Every young person should be able to access mental health support when they need it, but too many don’t get it until things get much worse.  Services continue to be significantly underfunded and the number of young people receiving treatment falls woefully short of what is needed. To turn the tide on this crisis, the government must prioritise young people and their mental health by investing in prevention and early intervention.”

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Source: The Independent, 2 March 2024

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Almost 7,000 waiting for lifesaving transplants in the UK

NHS Blood and Transplant have estimated that almost 7,000 people are waiting for lifesaving transplants in the UK, the highest number in six years.

During the first peak of the pandemic last year, several key services have had to be closed reveals the analysis from April 2020 to March 2021, although most were rapidly reinstated and 80% of NHS transplant work went ahead. 

Figures from the report found 474 patients died while waiting for organs, a higher number than the year before and the majority of patients were waiting for kidney transplants. 

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Source: BBC News, 15 July 2021

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Almost 7,000 junior doctors at risk of falling behind on training after helping to fight Covid

Almost 7,000 junior doctors who treated patients during the Covid pandemic are at risk of falling behind with their training, potentially causing staffing shortages and costing taxpayers a potential £260m.

The worst-case scenario estimate of the impact of the pandemic on frontline medics has prompted ministers to inject an extra £30m to try to help doctors finish training so they can progress their careers.

Ensuring medics progress into their next roles is viewed as crucial to ensuring the health service has the doctors it needs to try and reduce the massive waiting list for operations caused by the pandemic.

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Source: The Independent, 20 May 2021

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Almost 600,000 in England awaiting gynaecological treatment, figures show

The government has been accused of “deprioritising women’s health” as analysis shows that almost 600,000 women in England are waiting for gynaecological treatment, an increase of a third over two years.

There are 33,000 women waiting more than a year for such treatment, an increase of 43%, according to Labour analysis of data from the House of Commons library.

It found that there is no region in England that meets the government’s target for cervical cancer screening of 80% coverage, with just over two-thirds of women (68.7%) having been screened in the past five and a half years.

Also, one in four women (26%) with suspected breast cancer waited more than a fortnight to see a specialist in the year to September 2023.

Under two-thirds (66.4%) of eligible women have been screened for breast cancer in the last three years, with just two English regions meeting the 70% coverage target.

The NHS target in England is that 92% of patients have a referral-to-treatment time of less than 18 weeks.

The figures come after the government pledged to end decades of gender-based health inequalities through a new women’s health strategy for England.

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Source: The Guardian, 22 April 2024

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Almost 6,000 people harmed by prescription errors in NHS last year

A pregnant woman who died after being given the wrong dosage of drugs was one of almost 6,000 people harmed and 29 killed following prescription errors in the NHS in England last year.

Figures from NHS England show that 98 hospital trusts experienced an increase in the number of prescription errors reported in 2021, including cases where patients were given the wrong drug, wrong dosage or were not given medicine when needed. Meanwhile, the number of errors fell at 105 trusts.

Leeds Community healthcare trust had a sixfold increase in prescription errors – with 111 errors, up from just 17 in 2020. At the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital errors rose from 60 to 193, while Herefordshire partnership university NHS trust had 55 errors, up from 20 in 2020.

The NHS said that some trusts still did not have a fully funded plan to introduce electronic prescribing, meaning they are still run at least partially using paper notes.

Peter Walsh, the chief executive of Action against Medical Accidents, said: “These are very disappointing statistics and behind every one there is a story of personal suffering or tragedy. What is particularly frustrating is that prescription errors are probably easier to avoid than many things that go wrong in healthcare".

“We are particularly concerned about vulnerable people such as elderly or disabled people in care homes, who may be more at risk because they may be less able to check for themselves and because they tend to get a less personalised service than the average patient.”

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Source: The Guardian, 26 September 2022

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Almost 38,000 mental health appointments miss vital 72-hour window

Nearly 38,000 vital follow-up appointments with mental health patients were missed at the time when they were most at risk of suicide, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has said.

The medical body has called for “urgent action” to ensure more people are seen for follow-ups within 72 hours of their discharge from inpatient care, to prevent them from falling “through the cracks when they are so vulnerable”.

The risk of suicide is highest on the second and third days after leaving a mental health ward, but 37,999 follow-up appointments with patients were not made within this timeframe in England between April 2020 and May 2022.

According to NHS data, of the 160,430 instances when patients were eligible for follow-up care within 72 hours after discharge from acute adult mental health care, only three-quarters (76%) took place within that period.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is calling for more trained specialists to check on those perceived to be at risk, which they say requires more staffing and funding.

The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Adrian James, said: “We simply can’t afford to let people fall through the cracks at a time when they are so vulnerable. It’s vital that our mental health services are properly staffed and funded to offer proper follow-up care and help prevent suicides.

“Staff are working as hard as they can to provide high-quality care, but it’s clear that current resources are not enough to meet these targets. We need urgent action to tackle the workforce crisis and achieve the suicide prevention goals set out in the NHS long-term plan.”

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Source: The Guardian, 22 August 2022

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Almost 30% of Covid patients in England readmitted to hospital after discharge

Nearly a third of people who were discharged from hospitals in England after being treated for COVID-19 were readmitted within five months – and almost one in eight died, a study suggests.

The research, which is still to be peer-reviewed, also found a higher risk of problems developing in a range of organs after hospital discharge in those younger than 70 and ethnic minority individuals.

“There’s been so much talk about all these people dying from Covid … but death is not the only outcome that matters,” said Dr Charlotte Summers, a lecturer in intensive care medicine at the University of Cambridge who was not involved in this study.

“The idea that we have that level of increased risk in people – particularly young people – it means we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

There is no consensus on the scale and impact of “long Covid”, but scientists have described emerging evidence as concerning. According to recent figures provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a fifth of people in England still have coronavirus symptoms five weeks after being infected, half of whom continue to experience problems for at least 12 weeks.

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Source: The Guardian, 18 January 2021

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Almost 2,000 doses of ‘dangerous’ illegal weight-loss jabs seized in raids

Illegal weight-loss medication has been seized from a farm and home in Lincolnshire suspected of being involved in a criminal network making and selling fake jabs.

Almost 2,000 doses of the dangerous “skinny jabs” were seized in two raids by officers from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Lincolnshire Police.

Manufacturing equipment, suspected pharmaceutical ingredients, packaging and commercial vehicles were also found in the raids. The street value of the finished weight-loss products alone was estimated to be more than £250,000.

The raids were in response to reports of people “becoming unwell” or finding the products were “ineffective” after using the unregulated drugs, Lincolnshire Police said.

Health officials warned the unlicensed products are potentially deadly and are often made with “no regard for safety, sterility, or quality”.

Dr Zubir Ahmed, health innovation and patient safety minister, said: “We will not allow criminals to profit by exploiting people looking for help with their weight.

“Do not buy weight-loss medicines from unregulated sources. Safe, effective, licensed treatments can make a real difference for those who need them – but they must come from a registered pharmacy, with a valid prescription.”

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Source: The Independent, 2 March 2026

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Almost 18,000 more people could die of cancer due to coronavirus, study shows

The coronavirus pandemic could lead to almost 18,000 more deaths from cancer in England over the next year and there could also be a 20% spike in fatalities of newly diagnosed cancer patients, according to research by University College London (UCL) and DATA-CAN, the Health Data Research Hub for Cancer.

The figures stem from real-time hospital data for urgent cancer referrals and chemotherapy attendances, which have experienced a 76% and 60% fall, respectively.

Professor Peter Johnson, the NHS Clinical Director for Cancer, has urged people to not hesitate in seeking help or being checked after worrying research showed nearly half of the public have concerns about seeking help.

Moreover, the poll by Portland revealed 1 in 10 people would not contact their GP even if they discovered a lump or a new mole that remained for a week or more.

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Source: BBC News, 28 April 2020

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Almost 100,000 facing excessive wait for serious cardiac care in England

Almost 100,000 people with serious heart problems, including some “living on borrowed time”, are enduring long waits for potentially life-saving NHS care because hospitals are so busy.

Some of them are in such poor health they will have a heart attack and die as a consequence of facing such “dangerous” long delays, the British Heart Foundation has warned.

The number of patients in England being forced to wait more than the supposed maximum 18 weeks for cardiac treatment has trebled since Covid-19 struck, from 32,186 in February 2020 to an unprecedented 96,321, a BHF analysis of published NHS England data shows.

They are waiting for procedures such as having a stent or balloon inserted to reopen a blocked artery, a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator fitted, or open heart surgery, including bypasses or valve replacement operations. Others urgently need to have an echocardiogram, CT or MRI scan to help doctors decide on treatment.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, a consultant cardiologist who is also the BHF’s associate medical director, said: “Cardiac care can’t wait. Without timely treatment, heart patients may be living on borrowed time.”

“Tens of thousands of people feel in limbo, waiting many months or even years for cardiac surgery, invasive heart procedures or important diagnostic tests. During this time they could quite quickly become much sicker, and tragically some could even die before they can receive the heart care they so desperately need,” she added.

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Source: The Guardian, 16 June 2022

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Almost 100,000 could unknowingly have potentially deadly heart valve disease

Experts have estimated that almost 300,000 people in Britain could have a potentially deadly heart valve disease called aortic stenosis - including almost 100,000 who are unaware they have it.

The condition carries a high death rate if left untreated and occurs when the main valve which takes blood from the heart stiffens and narrows.

Many people do not know they have the disease and only discover they do when it is too late for treatment.

An international team of scientists, including experts from the Universities of Glasgow and Southampton, set out to research the extent of the disease in the UK.

Their study, published in the journal Open Heart, estimated that in the UK in 2019 there were 291,448 men and women aged 55 and over with severe aortic stenosis.

Of these, an estimated 68 per cent would have symptoms. This means an estimated 92,389 people have the disease and do not know it.

The authors went on to estimate that more than 172,000 (59%) who have the disease will “die within five years without proactive management”.

They concluded that aortic stenosis is a “common condition” in the UK but warned that “without appropriate detection and intervention, survival prospects are likely to be poor”.

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Source: The Independent, 25 January 2022

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Almost 10 million people in England could be on NHS waiting list

Almost 10 million people across England could be waiting for an NHS appointment or treatment, 2 million more than previously estimated, according to a survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS survey of about 90,000 adults found that 21% of patients were waiting for a hospital appointment or to start receiving treatment on the NHS.

When extrapolated, this equates to 9.7 million people. In January, the waiting list stood at 7.6 million, according to official NHS statistics.

The survey found that the delays were most prominent among 16-24-year-olds, one in five of whom said they had experienced waiting times of more than a year.

Conducted in January and February, the survey was part of the annual winter coronavirus infection study of adults aged 16 and over.

The ONS said the survey was the first of its kind to assess the experiences of adults awaiting hospital appointments, tests or medical treatments. It said the data was experimental, based on self-reported data, and may differ from other statistics on waiting lists.

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Source: The Guardian, 3 April 2024

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Almost 1.7 million hernia mesh implanted in NHS in 20 years

Almost 1.7 million people have had hernia mesh surgery in the NHS since 2004, figures released by the NHS have revealed.

The statistics do not include people who’ve had hernia mesh in private hospitals.

Nobody can say how many are now suffering complications – because patients are not tracked for their lifetime.

Yet campaigners and academics globally say it can take many years for mesh to cause problems- so the scale of suffering falls into a black hole of missing data.

Moreover, support groups show that patients are being implanted with hernia mesh in their thousands ever year – but nobody is being given fully informed consent of the potential risks such as pain, loss of mobility, loss of sex life and losing the ability to have children. Also autoimmune diseases and allergies caused by the plastic mesh material.

The figures came to light thanks to a Written Parliamentary Question asked by MP Sharon Hodgson, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm.

In its response, The Department of Health say: “Clinicians are expected to inform patients about risks associated with recommended treatments, including reasonable alternatives, to enable informed consent and a balanced patient decision.”

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Source: Sling the Mesh, 25 March 2025

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Almost 1.7 million hernia mesh implanted in NHS in 20 years

Almost 1.7 million people have had hernia mesh surgery in the NHS since 2004, figures released by the NHS have revealed.

The statistics do not include people who’ve had hernia mesh in private hospitals.

Nobody can say how many are now suffering complications – because patients are not tracked for their lifetime.

Yet campaigners and academics globally say it can take many years for mesh to cause problems- so the scale of suffering falls into a black hole of missing data.

Moreover, support groups show that patients are being implanted with hernia mesh in their thousands ever year – but nobody is being given fully informed consent of the potential risks such as pain, loss of mobility, loss of sex life and losing the ability to have children. Also autoimmune diseases and allergies caused by the plastic mesh material.

The figures came to light thanks to a Written Parliamentary Question asked by MP Sharon Hodgson, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for First Do No Harm.

In its response, The Department of Health say: “Clinicians are expected to inform patients about risks associated with recommended treatments, including reasonable alternatives, to enable informed consent and a balanced patient decision.”

But campaign group Sling The Mesh says that the majority of people are told hernia mesh is ‘not the mesh in the media’, or it is a new mesh, or that this is a gold standard treatment and that mesh receives undeserved negative attention.

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Source: Sling the Mesh, 25 March 2025

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Almost 1.5m patients lose their GP as hundreds of practices close

Nearly 1.5 million patients have lost their GP in the last eight years after the closure of almost 500 practices, research has suggested.

Issues around recruitment were a factor in the closure of about two-fifths of the surgeries, while workloads and inadequate premises were also cited as triggers.

The investigation, by Pulse magazine, revealed for the first time the number of premises that have closed for good since 2013. Previously, research has identified the number of practices where GP partners have returned their contracts, or certain branches have closed or merged with others.

Prof Martin Marshall, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The impact of a practice closing on its patients and neighbouring practices can be considerable. As such, a decision to close a practice will be one of the most difficult a GP partner can make. When the reason for closing a practice is workload pressures, and not being able to fill vacancies, then this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

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Source: The Telegraph (29 August 2022)

 

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Almost 1 in 10 may have Long Covid, research finds

Almost one in 10 people in England think they could have long Covid, according to analysis of national data.

University of Southampton researchers examined information collected by NHS England that showed 4.8% of people reported having the condition.

The analysis of more than 750,000 responses to the GP Patient Survey also found that 9.1% of people believe they may have long Covid.

Long Covid is a chronic condition induced by Covid-19 infection, with symptoms including fatigue, feeling short of breath, brain fog, and heart palpitations.

The information also shows higher rates of long Covid in deprived areas and people with particular ethnic backgrounds, parents, carers and those with another long-term condition.

Professor Nisreen Alwan, who co-authored the study, said the analysis "adds further evidence of the unfairness of long Covid", with people who are "already disadvantaged in society more likely to be affected".

"It also shows us that many people aren't sure if they have it, and may need diagnosis, treatment and support."

He said the condition was "still a very significant issue impacting individuals, families, the economy and wider society".

"We need to do more to prevent it, diagnose it, and properly support people who are affected by it," he added.

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Source: BBC News, 18 March 2025

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Allow all pharmacy staff to prepare and assemble medication without supervision, says Community Pharmacy Scotland

Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) is calling for all pharmacy staff to be allowed to prepare and assemble medication without requiring supervision from a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

Its comments came in its response to a Department of Health and Social Care consultation on pharmacy supervision, published on 7 December 2023, which sets out proposals to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and The Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

The consultation includes proposals to enable pharmacists to authorise pharmacy technicians to carry out, or supervise others carrying out, the preparation, assembly, dispensing, sale and supply of medicine; to enable pharmacists to authorise any member of the pharmacy team to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions in the absence of a pharmacist; and to allow pharmacy technicians to supervise the preparation, assembly and dispensing of medicines in hospital aseptic facilities

In its response, the CPS disagreed with the first of these proposals, arguing that “the preparation and assembly of [pharmacy] and [prescription-only] medications can be safely carried out from a registered pharmacy premises, without requiring supervision by a Responsible Pharmacist or an authorised pharmacy technician”.

CPS also said there is “a major flaw in the logic” of the government proposal because “it relies heavily on individuals rather than on safe systems”, making the proposed new way of working “vulnerable to changes in personal circumstance”.

“The environment, technology, training, conditions and [standard operating procedures] in the community pharmacy setting have a bigger effect on safety of preparation and assembly than supervision by an individual,” the response said.

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Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal, 12 February 2024

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Allergy pens recalled after death of girl, 18

One of the main brands of adrenaline auto-injector pen, which can save lives during serious allergy attacks, is being recalled in the UK after the death of a teenager whose family say the product failed.

Shante Turay-Thomas, 18, died in September last year after it is claimed that her adrenaline pen did not work although she tried it twice. She told her mother, “I’m going to die,” as she succumbed to an allergic reaction to hazelnuts. Her death was the subject of an inquest hearing last month, which resumes this week.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed this weekend that all batches of Emerade auto-injector had been recalled from pharmacies after an error was identified that can cause some pens to fail to activate. Between July and November, the agency said it had been made aware of 16 suspected activation failures. The agency said it was aware of two fatalities of patients reported to have used the pens but the fault had not been confirmed as a contributor to the deaths.

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Source: The Times, 8 December 2019

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Allergy emergencies double in recent years in England

Dangerous allergic reactions are rising in England and now cause some 25,000 NHS hospital stays a year, according to data gathered by the NHS and analysed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Health officials say the rate has more than doubled over 20 years, prompting them to issue advice reminding people how to recognise allergies and respond.

For severe food-related allergic reactions, the rise in admissions is even greater.

The figures suggest anaphylaxis is on the increase, though some of the rise could be attributed to the growth in population.

Anaphylaxis can be fatal and develop suddenly at any age.

People who know they are at risk should always carry two adrenaline pens which they, or someone else, can administer in an emergency.

In addition, people at risk of an anaphylactic reaction should regularly check the contents of their adrenaline pens have not expired. They should see a pharmacist to get a new one if a pen is close to expiring.

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Source: BBC News, 28 July 2023

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Alleged bullying, harassment and toxic culture at hospital revealed in leaked report

Staff members at Wales' largest hospital have faced disciplinary proceedings after a "toxic culture" leaving some feeling unsafe at work was uncovered.

The leaked Cardiff and Vale health board internal review included reports of "bullying and harassment" and "violent and aggressive" behaviour at a University Hospital of Wales (UHW) department.

The investigation, which was completed in August 2024 but not made public, found "systemic failure at all levels" and "unchecked" poor behaviour at the Cardiff HSDU unit, which is responsible for the sterilisation and decontamination of medical equipment.

The health board said it had acted "robustly and fairly" to deal with the "historic allegations".

It said five members of staff had since been "subject to disciplinary action", and that "leadership oversight, management arrangements and team culture" had also been strengthened.

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Source: BBC News, 3 February 2026

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Allegations of bullying within maternity programme of HSIB

It was created with the very best of intentions – to help hospitals learn lessons when a baby or mother is harmed or dies.

But a Channel 4 News investigation has been hearing that the maternity programme of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch – or HSIB – was riddled with flaws.

One former senior staff member spoke to Channel 4 about bullying within the organisation and failings which could have led to harm.

In a previous report, Channel 4 heard from the mothers of Beatrice and Marnie, who were stillborn and other parents have come forward with their experience.

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Source: Channel 4 News, 16 May 2023

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All women must be able to access to safe abortion services, says WHO

The World Health Organization has published new guidelines on abortion aimed at tackling the unsafe care that leads to up to 39 000 maternal deaths and millions of women being admitted to hospital with complications every year.

When carried out using a method recommended by WHO, abortion is a safe procedure. Tragically, however, only half of all abortions take place under such conditions, with unsafe abortions causing around 39 000 deaths globally. Most of these deaths are in lower-income countries – with over 60% in Africa and 30% in Asia – and among those living in the most vulnerable situations.

“Being able to obtain safe abortion is a crucial part of health care,” said Craig Lissner, acting Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. “Nearly every death and injury that results from unsafe abortion is entirely preventable. That’s why we recommend women and girls can access abortion and family planning services when they need them.”

Evidence shows that restricting access to abortions does not reduce the number of abortions that take place. In fact, restrictions are more likely to drive women and girls towards unsafe procedures. In countries where abortion is most restricted, only 1 in 4 abortions are safe, compared to nearly 9 in 10 in countries where the procedure is broadly legal. 

“It’s vital that an abortion is safe in medical terms,” said Dr Bela Ganatra, Head of WHO’s Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Unit. “But that’s not enough on its own. As with any other health services, abortion care needs to respect the decisions and needs of women and girls, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and without stigma or judgement. No one should be exposed to abuse or harms like being reported to the police or put in jail because they have sought or provided abortion care." 

“The evidence is clear – if you want to prevent unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, you need to provide women and girls with a comprehensive package of sexuality education, accurate family planning information and services, and access to quality abortion care,” Dr Ganatra added.

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Source: BMJ. 9 March 2022

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All vulnerable people to be vaccinated by ‘late spring’ says head of NHS

All vulnerable people will have been offered a coronavirus vaccination by “late spring” the head of NHS England has said as he warned the health service was “back in the eye of the storm.”  

In a New Year message, Sir Simon Stevens described 2020 as the “toughest year” and he paid tribute to nurses, doctors, therapists and other NHS staff including hospital cleaners, carers and volunteers as well as care home staff.

Sir Simon visited a new vaccination centre on Monday saying: “We think that by late spring with vaccine supplies continuing to come on stream we will have been able to offer all vulnerable people across this country Covid vaccination. That perhaps provides the biggest chink of hope for the year ahead.”

His comments came as the NHS in London was said to be “teetering on the edge” as latest data showed the numbers of hospital admissions in the capital jumped more than 200 per cent since the end of lockdown on 2 December.

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Source: The Independent, 29 December 2020

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All people in England who have smoked to be offered middle-age lung screening

Everyone who has ever smoked in England is to be offered lung screening in middle age under plans to detect and treat cancer earlier.

Lung cancer kills about 35,000 people every year, and is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for one in five. It also has one of the worst cancer survival rates, which is largely attributed to diagnoses at a late stage when treatment is less likely to be effective.

Millions of people will be invited for lung checks in an effort to improve survival rates. About a million screenings of people aged 55 to 74 will be carried out every year under the programme.

It follows a successful pilot of the scheme in deprived areas of the country where people are four times more likely to smoke. It resulted in more than 2,000 people being detected as having cancer, 76% of them at an earlier stage compared with 29% outside the programme in 2019.

“Identifying lung cancer early saves lives, and the expansion of the NHS’s targeted lung health check programme is another landmark step forward in our drive to find and treat more people living with this devastating disease at the earliest stage,” said the chief executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard.

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Source: The Guardian, 26 June 2023

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All patients' Covid test results to become visible to GPs

GP systems will now be updated in 'near-real time' to reveal the result of Covid-19 tests taken by all of their patients.

GPs will not need to act on the information, which will be visible on systems whether the patient tested positive or negative. This will apply to all patients where it has been possible to identify the patient's NHS number, NHS Digital said.

EMIS Health chief medical officer Shaun O’Hanlon said: "Technology has played a pivotal role in the response to COVID-19 across the board and keeping the medical record up to date with COVID-19 test results means everyone who can share that record has a full picture of the patient’s health, including the patient themselves via Patient Access."

"This will not only help day to day patient care, and it will also help on a wider population health level, as data-led insight relies on full and complete medical records as analysts continue to research COVID-19 and its short- and long-term impact on the nation."

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Source: Pulse, 20 July 2020

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