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Labour plan to install party loyalist as NHS Chair

Labour plans to remove the chair of NHS England if it wins the election, replacing him with a party loyalist to help implement its strategy to revive the health service. The party is considering candidates such as former health secretary Alan Milburn, ex-home secretary Jacqui Smith, and Sally Morgan, who was Tony Blair’s political secretary, to replace Meddings. He is…
Ben Kemp
July 2, 2024
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Student develops rapid, pain-free home test for cervical cancer

A new test designed to detect cervical cancer by identifying HPV strains in menstrual blood has been developed by a student in London. Named Papcup, this device could potentially replace painful smear tests and delivers results in just 15 minutes. The test was created by Sânziana Foia, a postgraduate bioengineering student at Imperial College London. Traditional smear tests require an…
Ben Kemp
July 1, 2024
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Media Monitoring: 20 – 26 June

Devon GP Practices Slash Antibiotic Use by Nearly Two Thirds GP practices in Devon have reduced antibiotic prescriptions by nearly 65% as part of efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. The initiative involved better diagnostic practices, patient education, and adherence to guidelines. This reduction aligns with the broader UK national strategy to minimize unnecessary antibiotic use.   NHS England Drops Planned…
Ben Kemp
June 25, 2024
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Labour pledges 10-year R&D budgets for growth and development

Labour has unveiled a plan to invigorate regional development with long-term research and development (R&D) budgets. Deputy leader Angela Rayner announced that the party would establish 10-year budgets for R&D institutions funded by taxpayers, aiming to create 650,000 “new high-quality jobs that will be created as Britain shifts to clean power by 2030, with many more in sectors like AI…
Ben Kemp
June 25, 2024
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AI blood test predicts Parkinson’s up to seven years early

A team of researchers, led by scientists at UCL and University Medical Center Goettingen, Germany, have developed a simple blood test that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict Parkinson’s up to seven years before the onset of symptoms. The research, published in Nature Communications, found that when a branch of AI called machine learning, analysed a panel of eight blood based…
Ben Kemp
June 25, 2024
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Media Monitoring: 13 – 19 June

  Call to change ‘outdated’ prostate cancer guidance  Prostate Cancer UK urges an update to outdated guidance that limits proactive testing for high-risk men. Current guidelines require men to request tests, which many don't know to do, increasing health risks and inequalities. Revised guidelines could reduce deaths and NHS costs by enabling early detection and treatment​.   Integrated care systems…
Ben Kemp
June 18, 2024
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NHS set to be worse off than in austerity years – The Nuffield Trust

The Nuffield Trust has examined the health pledges in the manifestos of all three major parties with startling results. The think tank has indicated that the proposed NHS budgets under the Conservative and Labour party manifestos for the upcoming general election would result in lower spending than during the 2010-2015 austerity period up until 2029. The Nuffield Trust's analysis shows…
Ben Kemp
June 18, 2024
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Media Monitoring: 6 – 11 June

Major cause of Inflammatory Bowel Disease discovered A groundbreaking piece of research has been published this week that could lead to greater understanding of Crohn’s and Colitis and possibly new treatments in the future. Using genetic analysis, the researchers found a section of genetic code (DNA) that is active in macrophages. Macrophages are a type of immune cell that cause…
Ben Kemp
June 11, 2024
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New flu biomarkers discovery could lead to personalised vaccine schedules

Researchers have identified new biomarkers that could enable personalised flu vaccination schedules, ensuring longer-lasting immunity. The findings were presented at the European Society of Human Genetics meeting and involves classifying individual immune responses to predict who may not be adequately protected by standard flu vaccines. By using multiomics technology, the study analysed blood samples to identify predictive markers, aiming to…
Ben Kemp
June 11, 2024