Campaigners have submitted an open letter to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), urging the Minister for Primary Care and Public Health to
freeze prescription charges to keep people with long-term conditions alive and well.
The campaign is led by the Prescription Charges Coalition, which represents over 50 organisations, including Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Pharmacists'
Defence Association (PDA).
Currently, the prescription charge is £9.65 per item, and campaigners have asked the government to freeze it for 2024 and 2025 as people living with long-term
health conditions in England are "being forced to choose between heating, eating, and taking their vital medication on a daily basis."
In 2023, a study conducted by the Prescription Charges Coalition revealed that almost 10 per cent of survey participants had skipped medication in the previous
year due to the cost of prescriptions. This led to increased physical and mental health problems, as well as impacted the time they took off work.
Laura Cockram, Chair of the Prescription Charges Coalition and Head of Campaigns at Parkinson's UK, expressed deep concern that a further rise in the charge this
year will lead to people skipping or not taking the full dose of their medication, which will affect their health and put more pressure on the already under
pressure NHS.
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) has raised concerned about rising cases of scabies in the UK, and suggested that the current shortage of
medicines is contributing to the outbreak.
Usually, this skin condition is treated using topical creams or oral medication in more severe cases, but shortage of scabies drugs has been reported since May 2023.
Both permethrin 5% cream and malathion liquid, which are two main topical treatments for scabies, are in limited supply in the U.K.
Paula Geanau, a spokesperson for BAD, told Fox News Digital on Friday (19 January) that the rate of scabies is double the seasonal average, with three cases
per 100,000 of the population recorded at the end of November by the Royal College of GPs.
Trust leaders involved in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) have warned that further delays in the government scheme will lead to more patient harm,
disappointment among staff, and higher costs for taxpayers.
According to NHS Providers, delays in the government scheme that promised 40 new hospitals in England by 2030 are draining millions of pounds from scarce NHS
funds every month.
Some trusts are compelled to spend over £1 million a month from their under-pressure budgets due to spiraling cost pressures, on-hold building projects, and the
bill for having to patch up deteriorating sites.
While there has been some progress over the past year, trust leaders remain apprehensive that "uncertainty over funding and shifting timetables risks putting
their promised buildings further out of reach."
A Labour Party analysis of NHS trust figures has revealed that around 148,000 people died last year while waiting for treatment in England.
This is more than double the figure recorded in 2017/18, which stood at around 60,000 deaths. It even surpasses the mortality rate observed in 2021, during
the peak of the Covid pandemic.
The Labour Party obtained the data through a freedom of information request sent to every NHS trust in England. Out of the 169 acute and community trusts
contacted, 80 responded.
The total number of deaths reported by the respondents was 61,396. Extrapolating this figure to all trusts would suggest a total of 148,227 deaths.
Drug shortages have become a global issue, with many countries struggling to maintain a consistent supply of common medications, including antidepressants,
immunosuppressants and drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and ADHD.
Earlier last month, the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), the trade body for off-patent medicines, warned that 111 products were facing supply
problems, the highest on record in the UK, and more than double the number recorded at the start of 2022.
More than half of products affected (55) are branded generic drugs, which represent 10 per cent of prescription products used in the UK.
The trade body blamed the escalating rebate rate of the government's voluntary scheme for branded medicine pricing and access (VPAS) for these shortages, but
Brexit is also cited as another reason for the problem.
A recent UNISON survey has unearthed disturbing findings regarding the prevalence of sexual harassment among NHS staff across the UK. With data collected from
over 12,000 healthcare workers, the survey sheds light on the challenges faced by frontline workers in their workplace environments.
Approximately 10 per cent of healthcare professionals reported instances of sexual harassment during their tenure, with nearly 29 per cent of those experiencing
harassment also reporting incidents of sexual assault.
Shockingly, 50 per cent of respondents reported being leered at or subjected to suggestive gestures, while a quarter faced unwelcome sexual advances or demands
for favors.
The most common complaint, voiced by 61 per cent of those affected, was the experience of unwanted crude banter or jokes in the workplace.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have added five more medicines that cannot
be hoarded or exported from the UK market.
The government has taken the following action to address the "critical shortage" of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs.
In a crucial development on October 9, this strategic move aims to enable wholesalers to fulfil their legal obligation to supply these essential medicines to
patients across the UK.
The updated list of drugs incorporated "all" available strengths and pharmaceutical formulations, ensuring comprehensive coverage for patients' medical needs.
A new study by oral health brand Aquafresh has revealed how the societal pressure of having the "perfect" Hollywood smile affects children's self-esteem.
The study, which included 2000 parents and children aged 4-11, found that nearly 1 in 2 British children have experienced low confidence because of how their
teeth look.
More than 80 per cent of children reported feeling less confident with their smile due to missing teeth (20 per cent), teeth not being "white" (20 per cent), wonky
teeth (19 per cent), and gappy teeth (13 per cent).
An additional 36 per cent have experienced embarrassment when smiling or laughing because of their dental appearance.
The pressure for perfect teeth not only affects children but it's also a concerning issue for parents.
It has been reported that several Austrians have been taken to the hospital after injecting fake Ozempic, as confirmed by health regulator.
Austria's Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) confirmed that the patients have suffered hypoglycaemia and seizures.
It is believed that the injections contained insulin instead of the weight loss drug, semaglutide.
The health regulator has urged doctors and patients to verify their medication stocks.
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)'s decision to withdraw gluten free prescriptions for people with coeliac disease across Leeds and Calderdale
has disappointed Coeliac UK.
In a statement released on Thursday, the charity, which provides support and advice to those living with the disease, has raised "grave concerns" about the decision,
warning that it will have a detrimental impact on the coeliac community.
The policy is currently implemented across the ICB's other places including Bradford district and Craven, Kirklees and Wakefield district, preventing coeliac
patients from accessing gluten free bread and flour mix on prescription.
NHS West Yorkshire ICB wants to align its gluten free prescribing guidelines across its five places.
But the charity is worried that the additional cost of gluten free staple products will poses a real challenge to maintaining the gluten-free diet, which is the
only treatment for the condition.
The National Health Service(NHS) has reported a record number of attendances at Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments and emergency admissions for any
June, reflecting significant pressure on healthcare services amidst hot weather and recent strikes by junior doctors.
Last month, hospitals across the UK handled over 2.29 million A&E attendances and more than 536,884 emergency admissions, marking increases of 3.1 per cent
and 7.2 per cent respectively compared to the previous year.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, acknowledged the strain on frontline teams:
"Frontline teams are continuing to work exceptionally hard under significant pressure to provide the best care they can for patients."