Group items tagged

Major health, care and research bodies, including the Department of Health and Social Care and the Office for National Statistics, should establish a national health data service in England to improve patient care and research - an NHS-commissioned review has recommended. Professor Cathie Sudlow's independent review of the UK health data landscape concluded that "complex and inefficient" data systems prevent and delay crucial analysis of health conditions affecting millions of people across the UK. The review - 'Uniting the UK's health data: a huge opportunity for society', published on 8 November 2024 - stressed the need for coordinated action across multiple organisations and stakeholders to ensure the greatest benefits for patients and the public from health-relevant data. They identified several barriers to using health data for public benefit and set our five recommendations for overcoming these barriers and transforming the national health data ecosystem. These include the establishment of a national health data service for England, embedded within existing organisational structures but with accountable senior leadership and a ring-fenced budget. Professor Sudlow said: "We are simply not maximising the benefits to society from the rich abundance of health data in the UK.

New data released on Friday (July 1) shows how public support has continued to grow despite a lack of progress on the policy front, 15 years since a smokefree legislation in Britain prohibited smoking inside public spaces such as offices, shops and pubs. This was demonstrated by a new report 'Fifteen Smokefree Years' summarising results from the annual survey carried out since 2007 by YouGov for the public health charity Action on Smoking and Health. Around three quarters (74 per cent) of those who participated in survey supported the government's Smokefree 2030 ambition. The report said: "The public are way ahead of the government, and right behind recommendations made to the Health and Social Care Secretary for the forthcoming Tobacco Control Plan by Javed Khan's independent review." Three quarters (76 per cent) support making tobacco manufacturers pay a levy to fund tobacco control and smoking cessation, 83 per cent support requiring retailers to be licensed to sell tobacco, 70 per cent support increased investment in public education campaigns, 67 per cent support warnings on cigarettes, and 62 per cent support making seating areas outside restaurants, pubs and cafes smokefree.

health * Health And Fitness * Health Benefits * health information * Health Net * Health News * Healthy Life * Mental Health * public health * Sleeping Healthy

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on government proposals to eliminate modern slavery from the NHS supply chain. This initiative follows a recent government review which revealed that over 21 per cent of NHS suppliers are at high risk of involving modern slavery in the procurement of medical equipment, particularly surgical instruments, gloves, gowns, uniforms, and face masks. The proposed measures would require public bodies procuring goods and services for the NHS to work with suppliers to identify risks and put forward solutions. These new regulations would apply to all public bodies procuring health goods and services, including NHS trusts, integrated care boards, and local authorities. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "The NHS is a public service built on compassion and equality, values which are completely antithetical to the heinous evil of modern slavery." "These new measures will ensure vital checks are made and public bodies act to stamp out the crimes of slavery and human trafficking." He also stated that his government will ensure the NHS leads the fight against modern slavery.

Transitioning from analogue to digital is one of three major "shifts" the government has deemed essential for the future of the NHS. These shifts, with the other two being the moving from hospital to community care and from sickness to prevention, will also form the foundation of the 10-Year Health Plan. The question is: are the public ready to embrace this digital transformation, which would involve sharing their health data for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems within the NHS? Results from a UK-wide poll show that the majority of people (75 per cent) are willing to share some of their health data for AI development. The survey commissioned by the Health Foundation included more than 7,000 members of the public (aged 16 years and older). Nearly 60 per cent expressed willingness to share information about their eye health, with 58 per cent open to sharing details about the medications they are taking, and 57 per cent willing to disclose any long-term illnesses they live with.

canola oil * cooking oil diesel * Health And Fitness * health care * healthiest cooking oil * Home Health Care * olive oil * public health * saffola cooking oil * United Health Care * used cooking oil * Women For Health * Women To Women Health

"Raise awareness of pharmacies as places of primary health care provision," advocates the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), emphasising the need for universal recognition of pharmacists as essential healthcare professionals. Despite significant advancements in pharmacy practice, many policymakers and members of the public still view pharmacies primarily as commercial enterprises rather than essential providers of healthcare services. The FIP is leading a campaign to change this perception, advocating for pharmacies to be recognised as vital components of primary health care. Primary health care is crucial for achieving "health for all." In 2018, the Declaration of Astana saw governments recommit to strengthening primary health care to achieve universal health coverage. FIP, a signatory to this declaration, has since been dedicated to enhancing the role and impact of pharmacies in primary health care.

The World Health Organization said on Sunday (May 29) that monkey pox constitutes a "moderate risk" to overall public health at global level after cases were reported in countries where the disease is not typically found. "The public health risk could become high if this virus exploits the opportunity to establish itself as a human pathogen and spreads to groups at higher risk of severe disease such as young children and immunosuppressed persons," WHO said. As of May 26, a total of 257 confirmed cases and 120 suspected cases have been reported from 23 member states that are not endemic for the virus, the health agency said in a statement. There has been no reported fatalities so far. WHO also said that the sudden appearance of monkeypox at once in several non-endemic countries suggests undetected transmission for some time and recent amplifying events. The agency added that it expects more cases to be reported as surveillance in endemic and non-endemic countries expands. Monkeypox is an infectious disease that is usually mild, and is endemic in parts of west and central Africa. It is spread by close contact, so it can be relatively easily contained through measures such as self-isolation and hygiene.

The government has launched a new 'Better Health' campaign to help people working towards healthier weight and reduce the risk of being hospitalised with Covid-19. The campaign launched in partnership with 15 weight management and physical activity partners will provide both free and discounted offers for weight management. Public health minister Maggie Throup said the campaign will focus on improving adults' health and help them to achieve a healthier weight. It will also include focus on the risk of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and up to 12 types of cancer, to reducing the probability of hospitalisation with Covid-19. Besides highlighting these health conditions, the campaign will emphasise how these could be prevented by losing excess weight.

A new report has highlighted that the public places a higher value on medicines for severe medical conditions, such as terminal cancer, than the thresholds currently used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The study, conducted by the Office of Health Economics (OHE), found a misalignment between NICE's current 'severity modifier'-which determines whether a medicine is recommended for coverage on the National Health Service (NHS)-and the UK public's preference for prioritising health gains for more severe diseases. The research, commissioned and funded by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), also indicated that the public is willing to pay more for medicines used to treat patients with severe disease. Titled 'Understanding Societal Preferences for Priority by Disease Severity in England and Wales,' the report suggested that NICE's current severity modifier may be limiting access to innovative treatments for NHS patients. The ABPI has called on the government and NICE to adopt a more flexible approach when assessing medicines for severe conditions.

Regular health screenings are an essential part of maintaining wellness, and one vital test for women is the Pap smear. Known for its role in early detection of cervical cancer, the Pap smear is a simple yet powerful tool that can potentially save lives. In this blog, we will explore the significance of Pap smears, what the procedure involves, and how often you should get tested. The Importance of Regular Local Screenings Staying on top of your health requires vigilance, and regular local screenings play an indispensable role in this effort. Local screenings, like Pap smears, are essential in detecting potential health issues at their earliest stages, making treatments more effective and improving outcomes. By participating in these routine checks, you not only safeguard your health but also contribute to broader public health efforts by identifying and addressing potential outbreaks or health trends within the community. Whether that's HPV and Pap tests in Singapore or a mammogram in the US, local screenings are crucial for maintaining overall wellness. This is especially true for Pap smears, as they play a significant role in detecting and preventing cervical cancer.

A groundbreaking research project has revealed that the public is urging the government to prioritise primary and community care over hospitals. The study also found a strong public willingness to pay higher taxes to enhance NHS services. The Health Foundation and Ipsos UK conducted the research, combining nationwide polling with in-depth public deliberative workshops. These workshops, held in King's Lynn, Leeds, and London, constitute one of the most comprehensive public consultations about the future of the NHS in England. The study published on 16 May underscores the public's desire for a redistribution of NHS resources. If the NHS budget remains unchanged, 60 per cent of those polled believe the government should focus on improving access to community-based services like general practice and dentistry.

On World Pharmacists' Day, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI (PSNI) thanked pharmacists working in every sector of pharmacy in Northern Ireland (NI) for their continued service to the public. The theme of this year's International Pharmaceutical Federation's World Pharmacists' Day, (25 September 2022) was 'Pharmacy united in action for a healthier world'. In acknowledgement of the day, Dr. Jim Livingstone, president of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said: "The theme of this year's World Pharmacists' Day, 'Pharmacy united in action for a healthier world' highlights pharmacy's positive impact on health around the world and seeks to further strengthen solidarity amongst the profession. "In Northern Ireland, pharmacy played a prominent role in primary health care throughout the pandemic and remains the public's most trusted and accessible frontline health care profession. "As pharmacy continues to develop additional services for the public and encompasses broader roles for pharmacists than ever before, it is essential, no matter what pharmacy sector pharmacists practise in, that the Pharmaceutical Society NI's Code (Professional standards of conduct, ethics and performance for pharmacists in Northern Ireland) remains at the core of pharmacists' practice. It is through this adherence to the Code, that pharmacy remains a united profession, providing positive health outcomes for patients and maintaining public trust.

Released on Monday morning, the election manifesto shared by the Liberal Democrats pledges to "strengthen patients' rights" by tackling public health inequalities and providing early access to community services. The Liberal Democrats Party's manifesto promises to address the issues at both the "front and back doors" of the National Health Service (NHS), which the party claims has been plunged into crisis by the Conservatives. Pledging to invest in public health and early access to community services, the party aims to "work towards a fairer and more sustainable long-term funding model for pharmacies and build on the Pharmacy First approach to give patients more accessible routine services and ease the pressure on GPs." The pledge also includes making prescriptions for people with chronic mental health conditions free on the NHS, as part of a wider commitment to review the entire schedule of exemptions for prescription charges.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and an increasing number of African countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). This decision follows the guidance of an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts who met on Wednesday (14 August 2024) to review data from WHO and affected countries. Considering the potential for the virus to spread further within African countries and potentially to other continents, the experts identified the upsurge of mpox as a PHEIC. A key factor in the declaration was the emergence and rapid spread of a new virus strain, clade 1b, in the DRC last year. While there has been a recent increase in mpox cases in the UK, no Clade 1 mpox cases have been confirmed so far, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Awareness weeks, such as National Self-Care Week (18-24 November 2024), are crucial for spreading important public health messages. At the Self-Care Forum, we believe these weeks are essential for encouraging better health choices. Pharmacists: Key Players in Self-Care Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to support self-care. They can provide advice on managing common ailments, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes. During National Self-Care Week, pharmacists can promote self-care practices and educate the public on preventive health measures. And the Self-Care Forum has a variety of free self-care aware fact sheets that are perfect resources to support people's health. Impact of Preventable Illnesses Preventable illnesses significantly impact lives and healthcare systems: In 2021/22, there were 125,612 avoidable deaths in England and Wales. Cardiovascular disease causes 168,000 deaths annually in the UK. Preventable conditions consume 40 per cent of the NHS budget. Long-term sickness cost the UK economy £21 billion in 2022/23.