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17/11/2010
Other UK News In Brief
BMA Scotland Comment On Annual Report
Upon the publication of the annual report of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Charles Saunders, Chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish Public Health Medicine Committee has discussed developments. He commented: “The report demonstrates that Scotland is making progress to reduce the incidence of premature deaths from conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease, bringing us into line with the rest of Western Europe. However there remains a significant challenge to reduce the epidemic of liver disease largely caused by the heavy drinking culture that is prevalent across all society in Scotland. As a nation, we are making progress to reduce premature death but this trend is not mirrored in deprived communities, notably in the west of Scotland. Here, death rates from liver disease, cancer and suicide remain far higher than average and life expectancy remains lower than in neighbouring, more affluent communities. Whilst we recognise that these are difficult times financially, cutting the public health budget, particularly in these areas, would be counterproductive.” He added: “Much more must be done to address the social determinants of health inequalities. Access to employment, education, good quality housing and the ability to make healthy choices the easy choices are essential if we are to reduce the gap between the richest and poorest in society. The BMA has called on politicians to support the introduction of health impact assessments for all government policy to ensure that health and health inequalities are taken into account by all ministerial departments and portfolios. This is a practical measure that could help to close the health inequalities gap.”
Elderly Man Dies In Window Fall
The body of an elderly man has been discovered at a roadside in Devon. It is believed the man, in his 80s, died after falling from a top-floor flat in Paignton. The road has been cordoned off around a block of flats in Gerston Road. A police spokesman said an investigation had established there were no suspicious circumstances involved in the man's death. A report is being prepared for the South Devon Coroner.
Limited Enthusiasm Over Government’s Personal Health Record Project
An internet-accessible personal health organiser developed as part of the National Programme for IT in the National Health Service, is proving significantly less popular than anticipated, a research team from the University of London has found. Instead of the predicted 5-10% of the population signing up to HealthSpace, only 0.13% of those invited got as far as activating the full functionality of their personal health record, bmj.com reported. Professor Trisha Greenhalgh from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry led the team and was joined by researchers from University College London and Raft Consulting. They studied uptake of HealthSpace from its release in 2007 until mid-2010. HealthSpace is free but users must register online for a basic account or in person for an advanced account. Early business plans anticipated that between 5 and 10% of the over-16 population would become HealthSpace users. It was also predicted that patients would access their summary care records and notify their GP of errors, thereby driving up data quality in NHS medical records. In fact, only 2,913 people (0.13% of those invited to open an advanced HealthSpace account) actually did so, and the research team did not find a single person who had accessed their summary care record. Problems included a complex registration process, a “clunky” user interface, the need to enter much of the data oneself, limited functionality which did not seem to match how people actually looked after their own health, and the low levels of knowledge about, or interest in, the product from healthcare staff. The recent emergence of rival products from commercial IT companies including Microsoft’s HealthVault, and GoogleHealth have raised questions about the place of a standard-issue personal health organiser from the NHS.
(BMcN/GK)
Upon the publication of the annual report of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Charles Saunders, Chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish Public Health Medicine Committee has discussed developments. He commented: “The report demonstrates that Scotland is making progress to reduce the incidence of premature deaths from conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease, bringing us into line with the rest of Western Europe. However there remains a significant challenge to reduce the epidemic of liver disease largely caused by the heavy drinking culture that is prevalent across all society in Scotland. As a nation, we are making progress to reduce premature death but this trend is not mirrored in deprived communities, notably in the west of Scotland. Here, death rates from liver disease, cancer and suicide remain far higher than average and life expectancy remains lower than in neighbouring, more affluent communities. Whilst we recognise that these are difficult times financially, cutting the public health budget, particularly in these areas, would be counterproductive.” He added: “Much more must be done to address the social determinants of health inequalities. Access to employment, education, good quality housing and the ability to make healthy choices the easy choices are essential if we are to reduce the gap between the richest and poorest in society. The BMA has called on politicians to support the introduction of health impact assessments for all government policy to ensure that health and health inequalities are taken into account by all ministerial departments and portfolios. This is a practical measure that could help to close the health inequalities gap.”
Elderly Man Dies In Window Fall
The body of an elderly man has been discovered at a roadside in Devon. It is believed the man, in his 80s, died after falling from a top-floor flat in Paignton. The road has been cordoned off around a block of flats in Gerston Road. A police spokesman said an investigation had established there were no suspicious circumstances involved in the man's death. A report is being prepared for the South Devon Coroner.
Limited Enthusiasm Over Government’s Personal Health Record Project
An internet-accessible personal health organiser developed as part of the National Programme for IT in the National Health Service, is proving significantly less popular than anticipated, a research team from the University of London has found. Instead of the predicted 5-10% of the population signing up to HealthSpace, only 0.13% of those invited got as far as activating the full functionality of their personal health record, bmj.com reported. Professor Trisha Greenhalgh from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry led the team and was joined by researchers from University College London and Raft Consulting. They studied uptake of HealthSpace from its release in 2007 until mid-2010. HealthSpace is free but users must register online for a basic account or in person for an advanced account. Early business plans anticipated that between 5 and 10% of the over-16 population would become HealthSpace users. It was also predicted that patients would access their summary care records and notify their GP of errors, thereby driving up data quality in NHS medical records. In fact, only 2,913 people (0.13% of those invited to open an advanced HealthSpace account) actually did so, and the research team did not find a single person who had accessed their summary care record. Problems included a complex registration process, a “clunky” user interface, the need to enter much of the data oneself, limited functionality which did not seem to match how people actually looked after their own health, and the low levels of knowledge about, or interest in, the product from healthcare staff. The recent emergence of rival products from commercial IT companies including Microsoft’s HealthVault, and GoogleHealth have raised questions about the place of a standard-issue personal health organiser from the NHS.
(BMcN/GK)
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26 November 2009
Scottish Anti-Booze Bill Welcomed
Doctors have today welcomed the introduction of legislation that aims to curb excess boozing in Scotland. The BMA Scotland said that the Alcohol (Scotland) Bill was timely, and called on politicians to put party politics aside and support the measures outlined in the legislation.
Scottish Anti-Booze Bill Welcomed
Doctors have today welcomed the introduction of legislation that aims to curb excess boozing in Scotland. The BMA Scotland said that the Alcohol (Scotland) Bill was timely, and called on politicians to put party politics aside and support the measures outlined in the legislation.
30 June 2005
Public ‘concerned’ about central health records computer
Members of the public are “seriously concerned” about government plans to hold health records on a central computer, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.
Public ‘concerned’ about central health records computer
Members of the public are “seriously concerned” about government plans to hold health records on a central computer, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.
30 June 2010
Deaths In Work-Related Accidents Dropping
There's been a more welcome 'fall' on building sites and other work places as new figures released today revealed that the number of people killed at work in Britain fell last year to a record low.
Deaths In Work-Related Accidents Dropping
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28 May 2014
More People Accept NHS Health Check
More people than ever before are accepting the offer to attend an NHS Health Check according to new figures from Public Health England (PHE). The figures, published today, show that in the last year over 1.
More People Accept NHS Health Check
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12 September 2013
Salmonella Outbreak In England And Wales Has Links To Cooked Meat
Investigations show that an outbreak of salmonella seen in England and Wales has links to the consumption of cooked ham bought from small independent butchers' shops. The results of tests carried out by environmental health officers on the product did not show the presence of salmonella although it did reveal other hygiene issues.
Salmonella Outbreak In England And Wales Has Links To Cooked Meat
Investigations show that an outbreak of salmonella seen in England and Wales has links to the consumption of cooked ham bought from small independent butchers' shops. The results of tests carried out by environmental health officers on the product did not show the presence of salmonella although it did reveal other hygiene issues.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
