Public health
New analysis from Blood Cancer UK shows that blood cancer survival in the UK lags behind similarly wealthy nations, with around one million years of life lost from blood cancer from 2009 to 2019 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. During Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September, Blood Cancer UK has released its comprehensive Action [...]
NHS messages prompting gym-goers to look out for potential signs of cancer will appear in the changing rooms of hundreds of Better leisure centres this summer. Stickers reminding people to check themselves regularly are set to feature on mirrors in more than 240 leisure centres run by Better, the UK’s largest leisure charitable social enterprise. [...]
Chemical engineers have developed a new treatment that traps and treats PFAS substances—widely known as “forever chemicals”—in a single, integrated system. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in manufacturing consumer goods like waterproof clothing due to their resistance to heat, water and stains. However, they are also pollutants, often ending up in surface [...]
Smoking rates among mums-to-be in England are at an all-time low, new figures have revealed. This year also saw the biggest annual fall in smoking during pregnancy since records began, meaning 6,000 fewer pregnant women smoked when compared to the previous 12 months, protecting thousands of babies from potential harm. NHS England is working to [...]
A new study has demonstrated that personal memories of Covid-19 lockdowns can predict declines in psychological wellbeing of children and adolescents. The study investigated personal memories among children and adolescents of Denmark's the first lockdown in 2020, and how this may have impacted their psychological wellbeing over the following year. The findings revealed that the [...]
Researchers have discovered how the hospital superbug Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), rapidly evolves resistance to the frontline drug vancomycin, which is used for treatment in the UK. C. diff is a type of bacteria which often affects people who have taken antibiotics and is responsible for approximately 2,000 deaths annually in the UK. Currently, the [...]
A new study has revealed that participating in creative activities can improve mental health as much as being employed. Published in Frontiers in Public Health, the study researchers have suggested that promoting the public’s access to artistic activities could provide a major boost to public mental health. For the study, the team analysed a sample [...]
A new patient flow system has been deployed at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to help healthcare professionals enhance patient safety and make the most of bed availability for patients. Miya Flow, from health tech company Alcidion, went live across Royal Bolton Hospital at the end of May, and has been supporting clinical teams as they [...]
Researchers have developed an implantable device to detect and respond to opioid overdose. In preclinical models, the subcutaneously implanted device was able to continuously monitor vital signs and delivered naloxone automatically and rapidly when it detected opioid overdose. The opioid epidemic continues to have devastating effects, exacerbated by the increasing presence of fentanyl in illicit [...]
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies from birth onwards as new whooping cough data shows laboratory confirmed cases rising to over 10,000. The latest data for England shows cases of whooping cough peaked in May but continue at high levels, with 2,427 cases reported [...]
