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Ben Kemp

UKHSA Chief Executive Dr Jenny Harries honoured with Damehood HighlightsHighlights Archive

UKHSA Chief Executive Dr Jenny Harries honoured with Damehood

Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, has been made a Dame in the Queen’s New Year honours list for her outstanding contribution to public health. Some of her colleagues have also been honoured by Her Majesty, including Jonathan Turner, Head of Scientific and Technical Services, who has been awarded an MBE and Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director of…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results HighlightsHighlights Archive

Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results

UKHSA has announced that from 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device test results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test. This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, most people with positive lateral…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
Portable prostate cancer test could revolutionise early detection HighlightsHighlights Archive

Portable prostate cancer test could revolutionise early detection

A new portable and rapid prostate cancer test could give populations most at risk of prostate cancer, such as African-American men, a fast, convenient route to diagnosis. The inexpensive test, which mirrors the now-familiar two-strip lateral flow test device, can give results in around 15 minutes following the application of a drop of blood. The cube-shaped 1.6 inch reader measures…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud HighlightsHighlights Archive

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes guilty of fraud

Infamous Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been found guilty of defrauding investors after a months-long trial. Prosecutors successfully argued that Holmes knowingly lied about her diagnostic equipment which she claimed could diagnose a myriad of diseases from a few drops of blood. Holmes claimed to be innocent of all 11 charges and was subsequently found not guilty of just four,…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
DASA Market Exploration – Seeking Novel Drug-Driving Test Methods/Point of Contact Testing Membership NewsMembership News Archive

DASA Market Exploration – Seeking Novel Drug-Driving Test Methods/Point of Contact Testing

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) are running on behalf of the Home Office, seeking information on innovative methods to support more efficient handling of drug drive cases. Ideas could be at any stage of development. Currently, the evidence required for drug driving court proceedings involves a blood sample, which must be sent to a Forensic Service Provider (FSP) for…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
IFU Reminder Membership NewsMembership News Archive

IFU Reminder

There have been some recent postings and discussions on various social media platforms and other online forums about the use of lateral flow tests. Some people have been encouraging users to use throat swabs, regardless of what the instructions for use of the product stipulates should be used. As those involved in the supply chain of these products, I am…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
NHS England announces 10 priorities for 2022/23 HighlightsHighlights Archive

NHS England announces 10 priorities for 2022/23

In a recent document, NHS England has detailed their 10 key priorities for 2022/23. Chief among them is the need to focus on restoring services, meet new demands and clear the backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The full list is as follows: Invest in the workforce Respond to COVID-19 more effectively Tackle the elective care backlog Improve the responsiveness…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
Lateral flow device and UK manufacturing capability Membership NewsMembership News Archive

Lateral flow device and UK manufacturing capability

As many of you will have seen there has been a lot of media attention to the source of the lateral flow tests provided by Test & Trace to the population over the last week, as well as concerns about lack of supply. This has led to political speculation, significantly on Wednesday and Thursday this week regarding why UK manufacturers,…
Ben Kemp
January 7, 2022
New HMRC newsletter on Community, Common Transit and Transport International Routiers (TIR) Export Working PartyExport Working Party Archive

New HMRC newsletter on Community, Common Transit and Transport International Routiers (TIR)

HMRC have uploaded a newsletter containing updates and guidance on Community, Common Transit and Transport International Routiers (TIR). The newsletter contains information about errors with transit declarations originating from Great Britain. Click here to see the newsletter.
Ben Kemp
December 20, 2021