Today, UKHSA and Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed the first detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected in the UK. There is currently no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitos in the UK and the risk to the general public is very low. While one agrees …
Continue reading West Nile Virus
Category:News Reports
Lercanidipine Recall
A batch of the blood pressure drug Lercanidipine is being recalled as the wrong dose has been printed on the packaging. See the full details at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/patients-urged-to-check-packs-of-blood-pressure-medicine-lercanidipine-after-labelling-error and in a BBC report at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7kpwn9l4o.
Morning-after pill to be made free at pharmacies in England
The BBC is reporting that the morning-after pill is to be made free at pharmacies in England. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8eprd9n5plo. Valid until 31 December 2025
New Unit at Northwick Park Hospital
Northwick Park Hospital has been awarded money by the government to build a new 32-bed unit. Further details inthe hospital’s press release at https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/news/hospital-to-build-new-unit-8670 and a BBC report at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66249118.
High Levels of Abuse of Doctors
There was an article in the Guardian this past week reporting on a survey conducted by the Medical Protection Society. The survey questioned almost 1000 doctors and found 56% of them had either directly experienced or witnessed abuse by patients (or their relatives). This included physical abuse (which is probably at least common assault) and …
Continue reading High Levels of Abuse of Doctors
Ealing Hospital to Offer More Support to Veterans
Ealing Hospital is aiming to work better for ex-armed service personnel both as staff and patients. More on Ealing Today.
Polio Vaccine Boosters for Children
Lots of news breaking in the media that around 1 million children aged 1 to 9 years are to be offered a booster polio vaccination. This follows the discovery of polio virus in the sewage from eight north and east London boroughs after the initial discovery some months ago. (Note: Ealing is not affected, but …
Continue reading Polio Vaccine Boosters for Children
Scarlet Fever
Concerns are being raised at the increasing prevalence of Scarlet Fever – which mostly affects under 16s. It is a Streptococcal infection, so the treatment is likely to be a course of antibiotics. As far as I’m aware there is no vaccine against Scarlet Fever. Although not that common these days, compared with 100+ years …
Continue reading Scarlet Fever
Immune Amnesia
This is rather interesting. And yes, you did read that correctly: your immune system can suffer from amnesia and forget everything it knows. It is commonly caused by measles – and is a very excellent reason to get your measles vaccination. Other virus can do this too, just not as efficiently as measles. The measles …
Continue reading Immune Amnesia
10% of Prescribed Drugs “Useless”
A review, ordered by the government in 2018 and published this week, concludes that overprescribing is a major problem. The review found that one in 10 drugs dispensed by GPs and pharmacists are pointless and potentially harmful. Moreover around one in five hospital admissions in over-65s are caused by the adverse effects of medicines – …
Continue reading 10% of Prescribed Drugs “Useless”