News

nerve agents Introduction to the Salisbury attack? Nerve agents have made many news headlines following the poisoning of Russian spy Sergei Skripal,66, and his 33-Year old daughter Yulia in Salisbury on the 4th March. Whilst there is no doubt this attack will have political implications for Russia’s relationship with the West there are still questions surrounding the short and long-term effects of nerve agents on the body, their previous use and the risk they pose to the public. What are nerve agents? Nerve agents are chemicals usually liquid at room temperature with little or no smell that act on the…

Two cannabis-based medicines used to treat epilepsy and multiple sclerosis has been approved for use by NHS England. The move is a welcome step forward following repeated campaigns by the families of two children, Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley. The guidelines approved by NICE will help MS and epilepsy sufferers but any cannabis medicine that contains active THC as a painkiller - remains banned. Many charities say thousands of people have been left in limbo, Need2Know Books explains why. Change in the law in 2018 made it legal for doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis however many GPs have still been…

Though the human body has a tremendous capability to heal itself, wound healing can stall and create chronic non-healing wounds due to a variety of reasons such as ischemia, bacterial contamination, and chronic inflammation. IDTechEx Research have published a comprehensive report, “Advanced Wound Care Technologies 2020-2030”, explaining why the incidence of chronic wounds is set to rise drastically in the next 10 years, and how electronic devices and other emerging technologies can address this upcoming challenge. Previously, IDTechEx Research have reported on several different roles that electronics can play in the wound care process, including even preventing wounds from forming…

GP Pressures “My job makes me feel utterly, totally stressed, depressed and suicidal. I realise I have to change something soon to save my sanity.” “Not being able to deliver safe or quality care is both demotivating and frightening – how long before I make a major mistake, because I am just too drained and shattered to pick up on an important cue?” “I am shocked to see how many GPs in early or mid-career are solving this problem on an individual basis by cutting down their sessions or moving out of general practice altogether.” These are just some of…

  Anti-Slavery Day, on Thursday 18th October, provides an opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery. Slavery is the fastest growing organised-crime in the world, hidden in plain sight, and many are unaware it exists in communities and businesses. Figures released by the National Crime Agency in 2017 stated that 116 different nationalities were victims of modern slavery here in the UK*. There are 13,000 suspected victims in the U.K. but this only scratches the surface and currently there are over 550 live policing operations in the UK relating to Modern Slavery. The NHS, West Midlands Police,…

Covid 19 is having a significant effect on our mental as well as our psychical health with recent studies showing that as much as half of people in the UK have been experiencing high levels of anxiety during the pandemic. On May 28th in an attempt to combat growing mental health concerns the government released an additional £4.2m of funding as part of a £750 million package for the voluntary sector for mental health charities including Samaritans, Young minds, Bipolar UK. This comes on top of the £5 million already pledged at the start of mental health awareness week in…

Users of high-potency cannabis are four times more likely to report associated problems, and twice as likely to report anxiety disorder, than users of lower-potency strains, according to new research from the University of Bristol. Published today on JAMA Psychiatry the research uses data from Children of the 90s, a long-term health study that recruited more than 14,000 pregnant women and their babies born in and around Bristol in the early 1990s and has been following their health and development ever since. This is the first research of its kind to look at data from a general population sample, with…

Supporting the economic and healthcare needs of the North East of Scotland was the focus of an interactive virtual event hosted Robert Gordon University (RGU) this week. Many of the university’s stakeholders from across the region came together for the event on Monday, December 7 which explored RGU’s role in supporting the region’s public health priorities and its engagement with partners to stimulate economic development. Colin Hunter, Chair of the Board of the Governors who hosted the event said, “Our annual stakeholder event is an opportunity for members of the public to hear from RGU about how its strategic priorities…

A new treatment for stimulating the growth of new blood vessels in the heart will be investigated by researchers at the University of Bristol thanks to funding of over £100,000 from national charity Heart Research UK. A heart attack is caused by a blockage of one or more coronary arteries of the heart, which prevents blood and oxygen reaching the heart muscle. Treatment for heart attacks include reopening the blocked coronary artery with stents or bypass surgery, though there are limitations with these treatments. Reopening coronary arteries is often insufficient to achieve a complete salvage of the heart, and the…

laser surgery consultation If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it’s likely you’ve heard about laser eye surgery - a common medical procedure to correct vision in one or both eyes. Laser (or LASIK, short for laser-assisted in situ keratomiluesis) treatment has become popular in recent years as it offers a convenient, relatively painless procedure that can reduce or eliminate the need for visual aids. However, as with all forms of surgery it’s not without its risks, and if you’re unsure of what to expect, this guide may help. Put simply, LASIK surgery uses a laser to alter the shape…

Withings announces Pulse HR, a water-resistant fitness tracker offering HR measurement, connected GPS tracking, smartphone notifications with an outstanding battery life of 20 days. Issy-les-Moulineaux, France – November 14, 2024 – Just two months after the official return of Withings, the French digital health company today announced Pulse HR, a new addition to their range of health and fitness trackers that features heart rate monitoring, multisport features and connected GPS capabilities. Committed to offering premium designed connected devices, Pulse HR brings a classic fitness tracker design option to Withings‘ range, while still offering the key features people enjoy in the…

SpineGym Core Exerciser A recent study by a leading market research company* specialising in medical devices, has revealed the SpineGym Core Exerciser to be an excellent device for improving and maintaining abdominal, back and paraspinal core muscles and producing immediate results. The study completed in 2014 involved critical appraisals of the SpineGym by leading physiotherapists in the area of rehabilitation, sports injury and occupational health, together with in-depth feedback from personal trainers. A further study with end users was also undertaken with impressive results. SpineGym is an ideal exercise for anyone looking to prevent their deep muscles becoming passive and…