Tag

Nhs England

All articles tagged with #nhs england

health16 days ago•7 min saved

UK teens increasingly prescribed antidepressants as specialist access lags

BBC analysis shows about 70,000 under-18s in England are prescribed antidepressants each year, with guidelines urging psychiatrist assessment first. But long waits for specialist help have some GPs prescribing or starting treatment outside guidelines to avoid leaving patients untreated, while others refuse. Antidepressants are used for depression, anxiety, bedwetting and pain and can have side effects; the NHS notes workforce growth but record demand remains, prompting calls for more accompanying mental health support and timely CAMHS access.

via BBC|

#antidepressants #camhs #gps

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Interim report flags racism and staffing gaps in English maternity care

An interim review led by Baroness Amos finds maternity and neonatal services in England are failing too many families, with capacity pressures causing delays, poor staff relationships, structural racism and discrimination, outdated facilities, and insufficient bereavement support; six key issues are identified and final recommendations are due in April, prompting calls for urgent action and stronger accountability, possibly including a statutory inquiry.

via BBC|

#accountability #health #maternity-care

health1 month ago•4 min saved

England GPs offered £3,000 annual bonus to steer weight‑loss drug prescriptions

England’s health strategy will pay GPs £3,000 a year plus about £1,000 for referring patients to weight‑loss programmes to increase NHS prescriptions of the drug Mounjaro; Wegovy remains prescribed only through NHS weight‑loss services. Access to these drugs on the NHS remains tightly restricted (BMI thresholds and health conditions), with rollout described as patchy. Experts say the incentives may help access but won’t widen eligibility, and concerns about workload and realistic patient eligibility persist as the NHS aims to shift toward prevention and reach an expected 220,000 Mounjaro users by 2028.

via BBC|

#gp-incentives #health #mounjaro

health2 months ago•2 min saved

NHS to test AI-guided robotics for faster lung cancer diagnosis

NHS England will pilot AI-assisted analysis of lung scans paired with robot-guided biopsies at Guy’s and St Thomas’ to speed detection of small nodules, aiming to screen all smokers and ex-smokers by 2030 and diagnose more cancers earlier, potentially speeding treatment and reducing invasive procedures.

via The Guardian|

#ai #biopsy #health

health2 months ago•65 min saved

Bowel cancer screening threshold cut to boost early detection

NHS England will lower the home bowel cancer screening threshold for the FIT test from 120 to 80 micrograms of blood per gram of feces, making screening more sensitive and enabling earlier detection of cancers and high‑risk polyps. The change is expected to identify about 600 additional cancers and 2,000 more high‑risk polyps each year, with digital NHS App alerts and a nationwide rollout by March 2028, potentially reducing late‑stage diagnoses and saving around £32m a year.

via The Telegraph|

#bowel-cancer #early-detection #fit-test

health2 months ago•5 min saved

NHS to fund abiraterone for thousands of high‑risk prostate cancer patients in England

England will start funding the prostate cancer drug abiraterone on the NHS for high‑risk patients whose cancer hasn’t spread, expanding access to about 7,000 men a year and potentially saving hundreds of lives after years of campaigning and supportive trial data from STAMPEDE; the treatment will be available within weeks.

via BBC|

#abiraterone #health #nhs-england

healthcare2 years ago•6 min saved

Navigating Transgender Care: Insights from NHS England and Europe

A report commissioned by NHS England recommends further research on gender-affirming care for transgender youth and young adults, urging caution in the use of hormone therapies due to poor quality of published studies. The report calls for increased workforce, regional outlets for care, investment in research, and improved quality of care to meet international guidelines. It emphasizes the need for holistic care and early discussions with families, while also highlighting the lack of long-term follow-up data on minors receiving treatment. The recommendations aim to guide and shape the use of gender-affirming care in children and potentially impact youth patients in England accessing such care.

via ABC News|

#gender-affirming-care #healthcare #medical-research

health2 years ago•3 min saved

NHS England Bans Puberty Blockers for Children

NHS England has announced that children with gender dysphoria will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers due to insufficient evidence of their safety and clinical effectiveness. The decision follows a public consultation and review of available evidence, with new regional services for under-18s with gender dysphoria set to open next month without the use of puberty blockers, except for those participating in clinical trials. The move has been welcomed by the government but has raised concerns from LGBTQ+ rights groups and praise from organizations advocating evidence-based policymaking in gender identity services.

via The Guardian|

#childrens-health #gender-dysphoria #health

healthcare2 years ago•3 min saved

NHS England Bans Puberty Blockers for Trans Youth

NHS England has announced that trans youth will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, except as part of clinical research trials, which has been met with disappointment from trans youth charity Mermaids. The decision is seen as a blow to access to gender-affirming healthcare in England, with concerns raised about the impact on trans youth waiting for treatment. The move comes amid broader changes in trans healthcare in the UK, including the planned closure of the Tavistock clinic and its replacement with regional service centers.

via PinkNews|

#gender-affirming-healthcare #healthcare #mermaids

health2 years ago•4 min saved

"Enhanced Cancer Screening Protocol for Lynch Syndrome Patients in England"

NHS England will offer regular cancer checks to thousands of people with Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that raises the risk of bowel cancer by up to 80%. The move aims to detect cancers early and save lives. Lynch syndrome, which affects an estimated 175,000 people in England, can be identified through a simple blood test, and those affected can have regular colonoscopies from a young age. The initiative is expected to improve outcomes for people with Lynch syndrome and is part of efforts to improve cancer care in England.

via BBC.com|

#bowel-cancer #cancer-screening #genetic-testing

health2 years ago•3 min saved

"24-Hour Wearable Drug Pump Produodopa Now Available for Parkinson's Patients on NHS"

NHS England is set to provide Produodopa, a new treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease, to nearly 1,000 patients. The treatment involves a portable pump that delivers a steady flow of medication into the bloodstream 24 hours a day, aiming to improve symptom control and quality of life for patients who struggle with the inconsistency of current oral medications. The drug has been approved for NHS use after successful clinical trials and is expected to offer a life-changing option for some patients, although it may not be suitable for everyone with Parkinson's disease.

via BBC.com|

#health #medication #nhs-england

health2 years ago•3 min saved

"Jewish Community to Receive BRCA Tests for Cancer Risk Detection"

The NHS in England is launching a genetic testing program to offer BRCA gene tests to people with Jewish ancestry, who are at a higher risk of inheriting faulty BRCA genes linked to breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Those found to have defective BRCA genes will receive early access to cancer detection services and may be offered preventative surgery or medication. The program aims to test 30,000 people over the next two years and has the potential to save lives by detecting cancer early and providing necessary support.

via BBC.com|

#brca-genes #cancer-risk #genetic-testing

health2 years ago•3 min saved

"Urgent Measles Vaccination Campaign Targets Unprotected Millions Amid Rising Outbreaks"

NHS England is launching a campaign to vaccinate millions of children against measles as cases rise across the country. More than 3.4 million children are at risk due to low MMR vaccine uptake, particularly in areas like the West Midlands and London. The campaign aims to contact over four million parents and young adults to address missed doses. Health officials attribute the rise in cases to factors such as difficulty in accessing appointments, fear of catching Covid-19, and lingering concerns about the MMR vaccine's safety. The legacy of a debunked study linking the vaccine to autism has also contributed to low vaccination rates among young adults.

via BBC.com|

#health #measles #mmr-vaccine

healthcare-and-medicine2 years ago•2 min saved

"Personalized Cancer Care: NHS Utilizes Whole-Gene Screening"

A study of 13,000 cancer patients in England has shown that analyzing the entire genetic code of cancer patients can help tailor treatments to individuals, leading to better outcomes. The study, published in Nature Medicine, found that genetic changes in most brain, bowel, and lung cancers could guide decisions about surgery or specific treatments. Whole-genome sequencing revealed genetic variations that may make patients more susceptible to cancer and helped identify different sub-types of cancer, guiding doctors in choosing the correct treatment. The study, led by Genomics England and NHS England, has created a resource for clinicians to better predict outcomes and tailor treatments, paving the way for precision oncology in mainstream cancer care.

via BBC.com|

#cancer-care #genetic-code-analysis #healthcare-and-medicine