Flu levels have continued to fall in the past week with swine flu no longer even the dominant strain in circulation.
The numbers of people going to their GP with flu is now a third of what it was at its peak over Christmas, the Health Protection Agency data showed.
The outbreak had been driven by the swine flu virus, but cases have fallen recently.
The number of deaths linked to flu now stands at 338.
That is up from 254 last week, but the majority of those deaths did not occur during the past seven days. Instead, it has been taking labs several weeks to identify the reasons for deaths.
The GP data for England showed flu consultations stood at 41 per 100,000 people - a fall from just over 66 last week. Rates also fell across the rest of the UK.
Thursday 27 January 2011
Tuesday 25 January 2011
Drug reduces lung cancer deaths, Swiss study finds
Drugs used to treat breast cancer may also be useful in tackling lung cancer, according to research in Switzerland.
The study, published The Cancer Journal, showed that anti-oestrogens reduced the number of deaths from lung cancer.
The authors said the research, if backed up, could have substantial implications for clinical practice.
Cancer Research UK warned that large scale clinical trials were needed before any conclusions could be made.
Hormones have long been associated with some forms of cancer.
Tamoxifen, which cancels out the sex hormone oestrogen, was first used to fight breast cancer more than 40 years ago.
Some studies have shown that increasing levels of oestrogen, through hormone replacement therapy, increase the risk of lung cancer.
The study, published The Cancer Journal, showed that anti-oestrogens reduced the number of deaths from lung cancer.
The authors said the research, if backed up, could have substantial implications for clinical practice.
Cancer Research UK warned that large scale clinical trials were needed before any conclusions could be made.
Hormones have long been associated with some forms of cancer.
Tamoxifen, which cancels out the sex hormone oestrogen, was first used to fight breast cancer more than 40 years ago.
Some studies have shown that increasing levels of oestrogen, through hormone replacement therapy, increase the risk of lung cancer.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Minimum alcohol price levels planned by coalition
Ministers have unveiled plans for a minimum price for alcohol in England and Wales.
They say banning shops and bars from selling drinks for less than the tax paid on them will send a signal that they are serious over cheap alcohol.
It works out at 38p for a can of weak lager and £10.71 for a litre of vodka.
Health campaigners say that is too low to have an impact, but the drinks industry described the proposals as a "pragmatic solution".
In their coalition agreement, the Conservatives and Lib Dems pledged: "We will ban the sale of alcohol below cost price."
Under government proposals the ban is on sales of alcohol below the rate of duty plus VAT, rather than including the cost of producing the drinks.
Last year, the Scottish Parliament rejected plans for a minimum price per unit of alcohol of 45p, after opposition MSPs said the move would penalise responsible drinkers and could be illegal under European competition law.
Announcing the plans for England and Wales, Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said it acknowledged "concern over how cheaply some alcoholic drinks are being sold" and the link between alcohol and disorder.
They say banning shops and bars from selling drinks for less than the tax paid on them will send a signal that they are serious over cheap alcohol.
It works out at 38p for a can of weak lager and £10.71 for a litre of vodka.
Health campaigners say that is too low to have an impact, but the drinks industry described the proposals as a "pragmatic solution".
In their coalition agreement, the Conservatives and Lib Dems pledged: "We will ban the sale of alcohol below cost price."
Under government proposals the ban is on sales of alcohol below the rate of duty plus VAT, rather than including the cost of producing the drinks.
Last year, the Scottish Parliament rejected plans for a minimum price per unit of alcohol of 45p, after opposition MSPs said the move would penalise responsible drinkers and could be illegal under European competition law.
Announcing the plans for England and Wales, Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said it acknowledged "concern over how cheaply some alcoholic drinks are being sold" and the link between alcohol and disorder.
Thursday 13 January 2011
Early medical abortions: bid to change the law
Women having an early medical abortion should be allowed to take some of their pills at home, a charity says.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is seeking a change in the law so women can choose where they complete their treatment.
Women currently have to make two visits and are given pills each time.
The Department of Health opposes the change, which would bring England, Scotland and Wales into line with countries including Sweden and France.
Early medical abortions involve taking two sets of pills. These are taken 24 to 48 hours apart in order to induce a miscarriage.
They are available to women seeking abortion in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
After an initial consultation, women have two appointments with a doctor and both times are given a set of pills.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is seeking a change in the law so women can choose where they complete their treatment.
Women currently have to make two visits and are given pills each time.
The Department of Health opposes the change, which would bring England, Scotland and Wales into line with countries including Sweden and France.
Early medical abortions involve taking two sets of pills. These are taken 24 to 48 hours apart in order to induce a miscarriage.
They are available to women seeking abortion in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
After an initial consultation, women have two appointments with a doctor and both times are given a set of pills.
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Call to create 'one-stop shop' for health research
A new body to regulate all health research in the UK should be established, according to a report by the Academy of Medical Sciences.
The authors described the current system as a disaster, which was stifling medical advances.
They blame red tape for the decline in the UK's share of clinical research.
Health Secretary for England, Andrew Lansley, said the government would consider how the recommendations could be implemented.
The report argues that creating a Health Research Agency would make approving projects quicker and cheaper.
Bureaucratic Nightmare
The UK has been falling behind in clinical trials.
Global figures show that in 2000, 6% percent of patients taking part in trials were from the UK. Six years later that figure had more than halved.
Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, who wrote the report, blamed red tape, saying: "The current system of regulation is making it increasingly difficult to initiate health research.
"We have found unequivocal evidence that health research in this country is being jeopardised by a regulatory framework that has become unnecessarily complex and burdensome."
Professor Peter Johnson, who is from Cancer Research UK and took part in the report, said: "It takes an average of 621 days between awarding a research grant and the first patient taking part in the trial.
"We've built a Rolls Royce and are driving it down a cart track."
The authors described the current system as a disaster, which was stifling medical advances.
They blame red tape for the decline in the UK's share of clinical research.
Health Secretary for England, Andrew Lansley, said the government would consider how the recommendations could be implemented.
The report argues that creating a Health Research Agency would make approving projects quicker and cheaper.
Bureaucratic Nightmare
The UK has been falling behind in clinical trials.
Global figures show that in 2000, 6% percent of patients taking part in trials were from the UK. Six years later that figure had more than halved.
Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, who wrote the report, blamed red tape, saying: "The current system of regulation is making it increasingly difficult to initiate health research.
"We have found unequivocal evidence that health research in this country is being jeopardised by a regulatory framework that has become unnecessarily complex and burdensome."
Professor Peter Johnson, who is from Cancer Research UK and took part in the report, said: "It takes an average of 621 days between awarding a research grant and the first patient taking part in the trial.
"We've built a Rolls Royce and are driving it down a cart track."
Thursday 6 January 2011
Old pandemic flu vaccine to fill jabs shortfall
Old vaccines left over from the swine flu pandemic will be used to plug the shortfall in this winter's supplies.
The government made the announcement amid reports that GPs in some parts of the country were running out of vaccines.
It comes as the death toll in the flu outbreak climbed by 11 in the past week to reach 50 across the UK.
However, there were signs the number of new infections were beginning to level off, officials said.
The latest figures are hard to interpret because of the Christmas break.
The number of patients going to see their GP with flu fell by a fifth last week, but surgeries were shut for two out of the five days.
The government made the announcement amid reports that GPs in some parts of the country were running out of vaccines.
It comes as the death toll in the flu outbreak climbed by 11 in the past week to reach 50 across the UK.
However, there were signs the number of new infections were beginning to level off, officials said.
The latest figures are hard to interpret because of the Christmas break.
The number of patients going to see their GP with flu fell by a fifth last week, but surgeries were shut for two out of the five days.
Tuesday 4 January 2011
Back-to-school flu surge expected
Experts are warning there could be a surge in flu cases as people return to work and school following the Christmas holidays.
Parents are being urged to remain vigilant over the threat of flu, but High Street pharmacies have been refusing to vaccinate under-18s.
Anxious parents seeking to buy the jab to protect their children have been turned away empty handed.
Children who are otherwise healthy do not qualify for a free NHS flu jab.
But the Department of Health says there is nothing to prevent pharmacies offering the vaccine to children on a private patient basis.
However, some pharmacies say they are unable to vaccinate children because it would breach company policy or regulatory rules.
Flu expert at St Barts and the Royal London Hospital
Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Lloyds pharmacy said they were unable to offer the jab to children.
A spokeswoman for Lloyds pharmacy said this was something they were looking to potentially change.
"We understand that there is frustration from parents who want to vaccinate their children this winter and we will look to review this to consider if in future flu seasons we can offer flu vaccinations to younger patients."
Parents are being urged to remain vigilant over the threat of flu, but High Street pharmacies have been refusing to vaccinate under-18s.
Anxious parents seeking to buy the jab to protect their children have been turned away empty handed.
Children who are otherwise healthy do not qualify for a free NHS flu jab.
But the Department of Health says there is nothing to prevent pharmacies offering the vaccine to children on a private patient basis.
However, some pharmacies say they are unable to vaccinate children because it would breach company policy or regulatory rules.
Flu expert at St Barts and the Royal London Hospital
Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Lloyds pharmacy said they were unable to offer the jab to children.
A spokeswoman for Lloyds pharmacy said this was something they were looking to potentially change.
"We understand that there is frustration from parents who want to vaccinate their children this winter and we will look to review this to consider if in future flu seasons we can offer flu vaccinations to younger patients."
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