In a recent announcement the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) unveiled its strategic approach to artificial intelligence (AI),
as it sets out to embrace the transformative potential of AI in healthcare regulation.
Building upon the Government's white paper 'A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation', released in 2023, the MHRA outlined five key strategic principles guiding
its adoption of AI.
These principles encompass safety, security, and robustness; appropriate transparency and explainability; fairness, accountability, and governance; and
contestability and redress.
A science-led organization, the MHRA was tasked with providing an independent view of its approach to AI in medicine and science, aligning with a government
white paper.
Recognising its role in UK's goal to be a science and tech leader by 2030, MHRA is tasked to evaluate AI's opportunities and risks across regulatory, public
service, and evidence-based decision-making area.
Good news for patients whose epilepsy cannot be controlled by standard anti-seizure drugs! Next month, NHS England will introduce a cutting-edge laser beam
therapy that can prevent seizures in these individuals.
Known as Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), the advanced treatment targets the part of the brain causing seizures without the need for invasive surgery,
the health service said.
The new fibre optic laser therapy is being offered at King's College Hospital in London and The Walton Centre in Liverpool. Starting from June, it will be gradually
extended to eligible patients across England.
Each year, it is expected to benefit up to 50 epilepsy patients in England who are resistant to standard anti-seizure medications.
"This groundbreaking new treatment will change the lives of those with severe epilepsy improving quality of life and providing much-needed assurance," said Andrew
Stephenson, Minister of State for Health.
Extending its support for the Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC), the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is asking pharmacists in England to share their
experiences of patients denying prescriptions due to financial issues.
PDA members who have practiced in the country within the last 12 months are asked to complete the Prescription Charges Coalition survey by Sunday 28 January.
The PCC is an alliance of more than 50 organisations campaigning to abolish unfair prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England.
All members of the coalition, including PDA and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), understand that if patients do not receive their prescribed medicines due to the
cost, their health may deteriorate, and this can increase costs for the National Health Service (NHS).
NHS England has launched a cloud-based platform that links recently-retired consultants, who still hold a licence to practice, with secondary care providers
who need additional help with their waiting lists.
It has been developed to make it easier and more flexible for retired doctors to return to the health service as part of the Long Term Workforce Plan.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard in June 2023 announced the NHS Emeritus pilot scheme, which is expected to help reduce long waits for elective care.
Initially, the scheme will run for a year across England, and if successful, it may be expanded to cover other work areas.
Health Minister Andrew Stephenson commented: "Returning consultants will bring invaluable experience and knowledge, and the new digital platform will match
highly-skilled consultants with the NHS trusts that require their expertise, providing high quality care and alleviating pressures on high demand areas.
In a significant move to enhance the working conditions of over 50,000 postgraduate doctors in the National Health Service, NHS England has unveiled a
series of measures aimed at providing greater choice and opportunities to the new entrants in the medical profession.
With flexible rotas, reducing payroll errors, and easing the financial burden of course fees, the NHS has taken steps to address the issues faced by junior
doctors in order to support their well-being.
In recent announcement, 83 per cent of senior doctors and dentists accepted the government's pay offer.
Alongside the junior doctors who still fighting for fair pay and recognition, the senior medical professionals demanded that the authorities help them tackle
issues pertaining underfunding and overworking in the NHS.
Junior doctors in training also often face challenges with frequent moves between trusts, leading to short notice changes in work schedules and duplicated
inductions when transitioning to new hospitals.
As a measure taken by the health serivces, the committee aims to review the minimum legal requirements for statutory and mandatory training, potentially halving
the time burden for such training and allowing doctors to spend more time caring for patients as part of the long-term workforce plan.
After receiving approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the NHS is preparing to roll out a new combination treatment
for brain tumours in children and young people in England.
Dabrafenib with trametinib would be the first ever targeted treatment for children (aged 1-17) with gliomas that have a specific genetic mutation, the health
service said.
The treatment, which can be taken at home, has been found to slow the progression of the disease by over threefold compared to standard chemotherapy in children
with low-grade gliomas that have a BRAF V600E mutation. Clinical trials have shown that it causes fewer side-effects than chemotherapy.
NICE approved the combination treatment on Wednesday 24 April. It will be available on the NHS in the coming months.
Within 24 hours of the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton's, cancer diagnosis, National Health Service (NHS) England saw a 373% spike in visits to its
cancer page, highlighting the growing focus on cancer awareness.
Similarly, charities like Macmillan Cancer Support charity experienced increased traffic, with nearly 100,000 visits to their support pages since the announcement.
Traffic to the NHS website's cancer symptoms page surged significantly, recording a remarkable 4,172 visits within three hours of the release of the Princess's
video message.
This sudden increase translated to an average of one visit every three seconds, a substantial rise from the 1,922 visits recorded during the same timeframe a week
earlier.
Notably, visits to the symptoms page peaked immediately after the announcement, with 1,678 visits recorded between 6 pm and 7 pm on the day of the announcement.
The National Health Services England (NHSE) is poised to revolutionise diabetes management with the introduction of the 'artificial pancreas', also known
as the Hybrid Closed Loop system, to treat type 1 diabetes. This pioneering initiative, endorsed by the National Institute of Health Care and Excellence (NICE),
represents a global first in healthcare innovation.
With 269,095 individuals grappling with type 1 diabetes in England, the Hybrid Closed Loop system is set to cater to tens of thousands of children and adults across
the nation.
This cutting-edge device operates by seamlessly monitoring blood glucose levels and autonomously adjusting insulin dosage through a pump, by eliminating the need
for regular insulin injections.
Furthermore, it holds the promise of averting life-threatening hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemia episodes, mitigating significant risks associated with the condition.
To facilitate the identification of beneficiaries, NHSE has allocated a substantial sum of £2.5 million, ensuring that those who could benefit from this innovative
solution receive the necessary support.
Online vape store GoSmokeFree analysed data from NHS Stop Smoking Service in England from April to September 2023 to determine the number of individuals
in each of the nine UK regions who reported successfully quitting smoking after setting a quit date.
The findings showed that the South East has the highest number of successful quitters, with 1,226 smokers per 100,000 reporting to have given it up.
The Isle of Wight is the most successful area to quit smoking in the South East with 3,124 people quitting per 100,000 smokers.
Of the 4,294 individuals who set a quit date in this region, 803 admitted to not being able to achieve their target.
A spokesperson from the online retailer noted that overcoming nicotine withdrawals and mental challenges can be exceptionally difficult when attempting to quit
smoking.
General practitioners (GPs) across England have made a resolute stand against proposed alterations in the 2024/25 national GP General Medical Services (GMS)
contract put forth by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England.
This firm opposition coincides with the declaration of an extended six-month strike by 33,869 junior doctors within the NHS, advocating for full pay reinstatement
and reforms in the pay recommendation process.
The latest survey conducted by the British Medical Association (BMA) has revealed that an overwhelming 99.2% of GPs in England are against any changes to the
existing contract.
The proposed amendments, slated for implementation from April 1st, 2024, encompass a meagre national practice contract baseline funding uplift of just 1.9%,
notably falling short of recent inflation rates.
This corroborates with GP Online poll that recently unveiled widespread GP dissatisfaction with proposed changes to the national GMS contract. 83% of GPs in
favour of strikes cite pay and funding concerns, while burnout, high workloads, and patient safety also fuel discontent.
Seven NHS trusts in England are set to begin trials of new wireless technologies to help improve patient care and strengthen connectivity in A&Es and
ambulance bays.
They have been awarded around £1 million as part of NHS England's Wireless Trials programme, which aims to leverage advanced wireless technologies to enhance
patient care and experiences while freeing up more staff time.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust will introduce an innovative approach of combining satellite and cloud-based wireless solutions to enhance connectivity
across its 10 hospital sites and wider community services.
At Mid Cheshire and Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS trusts, wireless trackers will be installed on medical equipment and hospital beds. This will allow real-time
monitoring and location tracking, enabling easy accessibility for staff to locate necessary items promptly.
Many people with advanced Parkinson's disease are currently required to take more than 20 pills a day to manage their symptoms, while some necessitate
treatment through a permanent feeding tube.
Soon, patients will only be required to wear a portable kit to get a continuous dose of the medication delivered into their bloodstream 24 hours a day.
This innovative treatment, called Produodopa, will now be made available on the NHS, providing benefit to nearly 1,000 people with advanced Parkinson's disease,
according to a BBC report.
James Palmer, NHS England's medical director for specialised services, told the publication that the drug's rollout will offer "a vital new option on the NHS for
those who aren't suitable for other treatments such as deep brain stimulation."
He added that the new therapy will help patients manage their symptoms "more effectively" and improve their quality of life.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has submitted evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB), emphasising on the recruitment and retention of NHS
pharmacists.
It has urged the PRB to help the NHS achieve two important objectives - ensuring that pharmacists can achieve well-rewarded and the service is viewed as an a
ppealing alternative by student pharmacists.
The PDA suggested that for the NHS to remain competitive, the PRB should focus its pay approach on employees within Bands 5-8 this year.
It recognised that the last recommendation from the PRB was a "flat rate increase" and it left those working in the above-mentioned bands feeling "unhappy",
which led to the CSP taking strike action over pay for the first time in their history.
A drug dealer who was operating as an "unlicensed chemist" and selling prescription drugs online has been jailed for six years, according to Essex Police.
The convict, identified as 49-year-old Christopher Depp, aka David Jones, was supplying a range of drugs from his home to "vulnerable people" using the postal
service, local police revealed on Friday (February 16).
Police conducted a search operation at his address in Wood Street, Chelmsford, in July last year and found more than 50,000 pills and tablets of varying types,
stashed in toolboxes and spaces around the property.
To process the large-scale sale and shipping of controlled drugs across the UK, Depp had set up a room in his property as an office space.
He promoted the sale of medications through various social media platforms and messaging applications, and accepted payment from his large customer base
using "fraudulently obtained" bank accounts.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has become the first healthcare system in the world to provide a new blood group genotyping test for people with
rare inherited blood disorders.
From Monday (22 January), thousands of patients suffering from sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia will get access to the world-first 'blood matching'
genetic test, which will help reduce their risk of transfusion side effects while offering more personalised care.
In England, it is estimated that around 17,000 people are living with sickle cell disorder, with 250 new cases reported each year, and there are about 800
thalassaemia patients, with less than 50 new cases a year.
Health Minister Andrea Leadsom said: "Thousands of people living with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia will be eligible for this new world-first blood
test which is set to transform their care.
The STADA Health Report 2024, published today, has revealed a significant decline in satisfaction with national healthcare systems across Europe, with a
notable drop seen in the UK, Germany, and Kazakhstan.
According to the report, satisfaction with the UK's healthcare system dropped sharply by 11 percentage points in just one year, falling from 67 percent in 2023
to 56 percent in 2024, likely fuelled by "post-pandemic pressure on the National Health Service (NHS)." In 2020, satisfaction stood at 85 percent before declining
to its current level.
In terms of discontentment over healthcare, Britain is followed closely by Kazakhstan and Germany, where satisfaction fell by 10 and 8 percent respectively in
one year.
The 10th annual health report released by global healthcare leader STADA Arzneimittel AG, the parent company of Thornton & Ross, is based on a survey of over
46,000 respondents aged 18 to 99 across 32 countries, with around 2,000 respondents in each country.
A continuous decline in satisfaction levels has been observed since 2021. Overall satisfaction with healthcare systems in Europe was recorded at 74 percent in
2020, just before the pandemic. This figure dropped to 71 percent in 2021, 64 percent in 2022, and 61 percent in 2023.
Parents are advised to check their children's hair often as cases of head lice infestations are increasing in the UK amid rising temperatures.
Superdrug has reported a significant 121 per cent surge in sales of its head lice treatment spray, according to Wales Online.
The high-street chemist explains that head lice are particularly prevalent during this time of year as the warmer weather triggers infestations.
Head lice and nits (head lice eggs) are very common in young children and are picked up by head-to-head contact. The pesky insects make your head feel itchy.
The National Health Service (NHS) recommends taking immediate action against head lice as soon as they are detected. It is not necessary to see a GP for head
lice treatment.
Despite being more connected than ever, the majority of Europeans are experiencing feelings of loneliness. The STADA Health Report 2024, released on Monday,
revealed that over half (52 per cent) of Europeans "always, often or occasionally" feel lonely.
Although the younger generation reports the highest levels of overall happiness, they are the ones most affected by this current loneliness epidemic.
Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of Europeans aged 18 to 35 reported feeling lonely, compared to 41 percent of those aged 55 and older - according to the report,
based on a survey of over 46,000 respondents aged 18 to 99 across 32 countries.
Extensive screen time is contributing to increased loneliness among younger people. Europeans under the age of 34 are much more likely to spend long hours on
their devices (41 per cent) than those aged 35-54 (22 per cent) and those over 55 (13 per cent).
The survey found that people who spend a "long" or "fair" amount of time on social media were significantly more prone to feelings of loneliness compared to
those who restrict their screen time. Moreover, extensive screen time was also associated with more intense feelings of loneliness.
As the general election campaign continues, Labour is set to introduce a series of policies aimed at supporting small businesses.
On Saturday, Sir Keir Starmer, alongside shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and other shadow cabinet ministers, is expected to unveil the party's plans for the sector.
Key proposals include an overhaul of the business rates system to enable high street shops to compete with online giants and ensure access to high street
banking services by accelerating the establishment of banking hubs.
Labour will also commit to addressing the issue of late payment of invoices by requiring large businesses to disclose their payment practices and "revitalise" high
streets by tackling antisocial behaviour.
Sir Keir described small businesses as "the beating heart of driving growth and creating jobs for local people."
Long appointment wait times, embarrassment, and lack of trust are causing thousands of Brits to avoid visiting doctors, according to new research by
Newfoundland Diagnostics.
With 1 in 4 individuals resorting to A&E due to the lack of available GP appointments, which adds to the NHS burden, the medical self-testing brand believes that
educating the nation on at-home testing can help ease the strain on the health service.
The research revealed the top five reasons why Brits avoid visiting doctors for medical testing:
Appointments taking too long to book (28 per cent)
Embarrassment around their illnesses (15 per cent)
Preference for at-home testing (12 per cent)
Not having time (10 per cent)
Lack of trust in the NHS or their GP (7 per cent)
The research team cautioned that delaying care can worsen conditions, resulting in more severe cases that place greater strain on the NHS.
