Nursing Times
April 2010

View all stories from this issue.

‘Leftover’ stem cells may aid recovery

“Thousands of heart patients’ lives could be saved by a breakthrough in stem cell research,” the Daily Mirror reported.
DNA swap and inherited disease

“Dozens of human embryos with three parents have been created by British scientists,” reported the Daily Mail. Many papers covered the news of an experimental research technique that aims to prevent genetic disorders.
Do fizzy drinks cause early ageing?

“Drinking too much pop can speed up the ageing process,” the Daily Mail reported.
Genetics and kidney disease

Scientists have made a “revolutionary” discovery that could help explain the causes of kidney disease, according to BBC News. The news comes from a new study that checked the DNA of over 90,000 people, comparing the presence of specific DNA variants to kidney function. It found that 13 variants are associated with altered kidney function.
Mephedrone ban comes into force in UK

A ban on synthetic stimulant mephedrone has come into force across the UK.
Pigment disease 'reduces cancer risk'

People with vitiligo “may have natural protection against skin cancer”, according to BBC News. The condition, which causes pale skin patches due to a loss of pigment, was previously assumed to increase the risk of serious skin cancers, such as malignant melanoma.
£36m funding to tackle Scotland's 'drinking culture'

Health boards across Scotland are to share £36m to help tackle the country’s “drinking culture”, health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
ACA and ERIC announce conference dates

The ACA and ERIC have announced details of their 2010 conferences, in Harrogate and Birmingham respectively
Acupressure helps teenagers quit smoking

Researchers have found that auricular acupressure combined with multimedia instruction for smoking cessation is effective in helping in adolescents quit.
Acupuncture 'eases dentist fear'

“Acupuncture can help cure patients of a fear of the dentist’s drill,” according to The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper says that research shows that just one five-minute session of acupuncture can reduce anxiety and enable people who have previously avoided the dentist to have treatment.
ADHD mechanisms probed

Children with ADHD may respond to instant rewards “in the same way as they do to medication”, says the BBC.
AfC must not be subverted to cut nurse pay, warns Burnham

Health secretary Andy Burnham has warned trusts not to use contractual loopholes to pay nurses’ less in response to budget pressures.
Agenda for Change pay bands

Pay rates from 1 April 2010
Alcohol consumption causing high UK cancer rates

A health expert is highlighting the UK’s alcohol intake after comparing US and UK figures on cancer.
Antibiotic-based lock solutions not recommended for CRBSI prevention

New research suggests that antibiotic-based lock solutions are not effective at preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI)
Are public service cuts inevitable?

As the general election campaign gets under way, all the main political parties are looking for ways to slash the deficit. Are cuts in the NHS and the wider public sector inevitable? Have your say in the Nursing Times poll
Are you compassionate, or too busy to care?

Overdue or over-egged? Beyond the Bedpan puts compassion tests to the test
Babies to get barcoded wristbands

A Northamptonshire hospital believes it could be the first in the country to simultaneously create a barcoded wristband for newborn babies and a sticky label for heel prick tests.
Bariatric surgery reduces pregnancy risks in obese women

Obese women who undergo bariatric surgery before conceiving have a significantly lower risk of developing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy than those who have it afterwards, US researchers have found.
BBC1 new series: taking children to A&E by emergency transport services

An eight part series about the life-saving work of the Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS) will be aired on BBC1 starting the 4th of May.
Be realistic about pay, RCN head tells nurses

The head of the Royal College of Nursing has said nurses must be “realistic” about salary rises in the near future.
Bladder cancer risk from eating meat

Experts say that cooking meat at high temperatures or until it is well done could make bladder cancer more likely.
Blood test could reduce unnecessary arthritis treatment

A straightforward blood test could pave the way for a “new era” of targeted rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment, a report has claimed.
Botox provider regulation scheme goes live

A voluntary registration scheme has been launched for practitioners and organisations that provide injectable cosmetic treatments, such as Botox.
Bowel test 'slashes cancer deaths'

A new bowel cancer test “cuts deaths by 40 per cent”, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Brain surgery 'could reduce Parkinson's symptoms'

New research published by charity Parkinson’s UK has shown the quality of life for someone with Parkinson’s disease could be improved by brain surgery.
Breast screening ‘is beneficial’

“Breast cancer screening saves the lives of two women for every one given unnecessary treatment,” reported The Daily Telegraph.
Britain leads in robotic heart surgery

Britain is leading the world in heart surgery after using a robotic arm for the first time to “short circuit” a patient’s heart.
Brown pledges support for specialist nurses at RCN Congress

Prime minster Gordon Brown has promised a bigger role for specialist nurses if Labour continue in government after the general election.
Burnham commits financial support to student nurses

Health secretary Andy Burnham has made an “in principle commitment” to financially supporting as many student nurses as possible.
Call for hospitals to report knife injuries

Hospitals should provide police with information when patients are admitted to emergency departments with knife injuries, the Liberal Democrats said today.
Call to ban trans fats to cut heart attacks

A team of health experts has said thousands of lives could be saved and heart attacks prevented by banning trans fats in the UK.
Cameron's absence 'not a slur on nurses'

David Cameron is the only main party leader not to address delegates at this year’s Royal College of Nursing Congress, ahead of the general election.
Cancelled NHS operations reach new high

The Scottish Conservative Party has said cancelled operations have risen to an all time high in Scotland since it became a devolved nation.
Cancer care election challenge issued

A group of cancer experts have challenged political parties to explain how they would cut waits for diagnosis and treatment of the disease, which they said offered the greatest hope of saving lives and improving life expectancy.
Cancer survival rates improve

Survival rates for the four most common cancers in England have improved, according to a round-up from the Office for National Statistics.
Cancer tests 'can lead to anxiety'

Men could potentially be distressed by prostate cancer screening, according to BBC News. The website said that even if a tissue sample shows no signs of cancer, men can experience increased levels of distress and doctors should warn men about how testing may affect their mood.The research behind this news tracked men’s mood and anxiety from an initial blood test until three months after a tissue sample confirmed that they did not have cancer. The results showed that a small propor
Carbohydrates and heart problems

The Daily Telegraph reported that a “diet high in white bread and pasta ‘can double chance of heart disease’”. The news comes from a study of 47,000 Italians, which found the link in women but not men.
Charity backs call for reorganisation of cardiac units

A national children’s heart charity has expressed its support for a report calling for the reorganisation of congenital cardiac surgical services in England.
Childhood obesity targeted in new public health initiative

The government has launched a sister campaign to Change4Life to help halt the rising tide of childhood obesity.
Children's cardiac units should merge, report says

Several children’s heart surgery units should stop performing operations and merge with bigger, specialist centres to improve patient safety and care, according to a new report.
Chilli source of pain?

The “hot” substance found in chilli peppers is key to killing pain, reported the BBC.
Choc full of goodness?

Chocolate is officially “good for you”, according to The Guardian. We can now apparently rejoice at the thought that munching our Easter eggs will make us less likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
Chocolate and depression

“The blues make you crave chocolate,” according to the Daily Mail, while the BBC reports that “Chocolate lovers are more depressive”.
ConvaTec unveil new packaging

ConvaTec are implementing a new standardised packaging design across the Wound Therapeutics range.
Cotrimoxazole and warfarin combination increases UGI tract haemorrhage risk

A study has suggested that cotrimoxazole may significantly increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract haemorrhage among older patients taking warfarin.
Crucifix row nurse loses tribunal

A Christian nurse who refused to remove a crucifix at work has lost her discrimination claim against Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust.
Dark chocolate reduces blood pressure in liver disease patients

High blood pressure experienced by patients with liver damage can be reduced by eating dark chocolate, a new study has revealed.
Data leaks most serious in NHS

More serious data breaches have taken place within the NHS than any other UK organisation since the end of 2007, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Dealing with the dreaded Norovirus

The infection control team and the Royal Free Hospital on the secrets of a successful battle against the norovirus outbreak
Dementia sufferers 'need full life'

A study by the Alzheimer’s Society shows dementia sufferers can still enjoy a full life, and has led to fresh advice for families.
Diet 'affects' Alzheimer's risk

“Eating lots of nuts, fish and poultry while cutting down on red meat and butter could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” reported The Times. These findings come from a study of over 2,000 elderly people in New York.
Diets alone 'will not shift weight'

“Dieting without exercise ‘will NOT help you lose weight’,” reported the Daily Mail. It said scientists believe that this may be because of “a natural compensatory mechanism that reduces a person’s physical activity in response to a reduction in calories”.
Do you want a national nurses' uniform, or just a clean one?

Recent developments in nurse uniforms have provoked a furious debate among readers. Beyond the Bedpan stokes the fire
Doctor urges limit on number of patients per nurse

Laws should be changed to limit the number of patients a nurse should care for in hospitals, according to a doctor in Greater Manchester.
Dumped medical waste provokes hospital warning

An investigation has been launched after tonnes of hospital waste was dumped at an old airfield in Suffolk, the Environment Agency said.
Election manifestos ignore free prescription promise

The promised abolition of prescription charges for people with long-term conditions has not been included in any of the three main political parties’ election manifestos.
ERIC launches summer campaign to help children with enuresis

Thousands of children and young people who dread summer sleepovers and holidays because they have enuresis (bedwetting) will be able to access information through a new awareness-raising campaign.
Exercise in pregnancy and baby size

“Aerobic exercise during pregnancy ‘produces lighter babies’,” reported The Times. It said researchers have found that women who trained on exercise bikes for 40 minutes up to five times a week had babies who were 143g lighter on average than babies of women who did not exercise.
'Facebook causes syphilis' - a case study in media mismanagement

Dr Petra Boynton on how dramatic headlines cause problems for healthcare professionals.
Father son chats help stub out underage smoking

Fatherly chats can help prevent young people from taking up smoking, analysis carried out at Cardiff University has discovered.
Five-minute bowel cancer test could save thousands of lives

A one-off screening test for bowel cancer later in life could help cut the risk of dying from the disease by about 40% potentially saving more than 6,000 lives a year, according to a study published in the Lancet.
Florence Nightingale Foundation invites scholarship applications

The Florence Nightingale Foundation is pleased to announce that, in 2009, it awarded 30 Research and 25 Travel Scholarship to be undertaken in 2010.
Former nursing student jailed for NHS fraud

A former overseas nursing student at Thames Valley and Surrey universities has been jailed for defrauding the NHS of over £18,000.
Foundation trusts failing to listen to staff, warns RCN

Foundation trusts are operating a “closed door” culture that excludes staff and patients from important decisions, Royal College of Nursing research warns.
Google diagnosis 'not advisable'

Using Google to help diagnose ill children is highly unlikely to provide sound medical advice, researchers have found.
Health Debate 2010

Want to hear first hand what the three main parties have to say on health? Watch a health hustings event hosted by the Royal College of Nursing, The King’s Fund, NHS Confederation and the British Medical Association.
Health secretary apologises over organ donor error

Health secretary Andy Burnham said he deeply regrets the distress caused to grieving families as it emerged around 800,000 people had their wishes about the use of their organs wrongly recorded due to an error.
Heart attack risk indicated by calcium in arteries

The presence of calcium in arteries could help doctors predict the risk of a heart attack, research has claimed.
Heart pump fitted successfully in teen

A Tyneside teenager has become the youngest and smallest person in the world to be fitted with a life-changing artificial heart pump.
HIV research paves way for groundbreaking new drugs

New drugs could be developed for HIV sufferers after a team of scientists identified a new process in which the virus attacks the immune system.
Hospital patient dies after contracting rare HCAI

A Staffordshire hospital has confirmed that a kidney patient died after developing a rare strain of a hospital infection.
Hospital trusts unaware of failure to meet standards, says CQC

Around half of the trusts that had conditions placed on their registration with the Care Quality Commission had been unaware there were problems.
Hospital's infection control measures criticised

Infection control measures at Borders General Hospital in Melrose have been criticised after inspectors raised concerns over the risk to staff and patients.
HPA issues volcanic ash advice

The Health Protection Agency has reassured people in the UK that ash from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will not cause “serious harm”.
HPV tests may aid cancer screenings

British scientists say that cervical cancer screening intervals could be extended for women aged 30 and over if doctors replaced smear tests with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.
ICU patients 'should wear earplugs'

Earplugs and eye masks should be given to patients in intensive care wards to help them get a better night’s sleep and aid their recovery, researchers have said.
Idea to dock pay during sick leave proves unpopular

A discussion of docking pay for the first five days of sick-leave got an largely unfavourable reception from the Congress.
Irish nursing leaders oppose deal on pay and reform

A major Irish nursing union has recommended its members reject a government deal that guaranteed wages would not be cut in return for acceptance of service reforms.
'It's lovely to see the patients settling into a routine'

In her latest instalment from the front line of the Haiti relief effort, Fi Stephenson talks about training student nurses and establishing routines.
Junior doctors caring for up to 400 patients a night

Hospital doctors may be responsible for up to 400 patients a night and junior doctors may often be the most senior person on duty, according to a report from the Royal College of Physicians.
Labour and Tories set out health plans to woo electorate

Both main political parties have launched their manifestos pledging extended 8am-8pm GP opening hours, free choice of hospital providers and an extension of foundation trusts.
Labour pledges personalised care revolution

Personalised healthcare tailored to the needs of individual patients is a centrepiece of Labour’s general election manifesto.
Labour's election manifesto promises 'personal, accountable and tailored' NHS

Labour’s manifesto for the general election will today propose a major shake-up of public services that could see underperforming hospitals taken over by management teams from more successful organisations.
Lack of exercise and poor diet identified as 'fatal behaviours'

Four “fatal behaviours” that combine to increase the chances of dying, including a lack of exercise and poor diet, have been identified by scientists.
Leaders clash over healthcare in election TV debate

The leaders of the three main parties made history last night as they crossed swords in the first ever televised prime ministerial general election debate.
Leg Ulcer Forum announce study day

The Leg Ulcer Forum have announced a study day
Lib Dems unveil manifesto with pledge to put nurses in charge of wards

The Liberal Democrats have unveiled their election manifesto, pledging to put nurses and other frontline staff in charge of wards or unit budgets, and allowing staff to establish employee trusts - giving them a say over how their service is run.
Lighter babies for exercising mums

Women who carry out aerobic exercise during pregnancy have lighter babies than those who do no exercise, a new study has revealed.
Lithium ruled out for treating ALS

Lithium should not be used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to an article published in The Lancet Neurology.
Local nurse returns from helping throusands in Haiti

Milton Keynes A&E nurse, Hannah Warren, returned from a two week volunteer journey to Haiti with the international charity, Mercy Ships.
Major parties line up on need to protect specialist nurses

All three parties have said they oppose cuts to specialist nurse posts or their reassignment to general ward duties.
Male bladder symptoms increase with age

The prevalence of urinary incontinence, over active bladder, and other lower urinary tract symptoms increase in older men and affect quality of life.
Maternity units turn away two women a day

The Conservatives have claimed that two women a day were turned away from England’s maternity units last year.
Medical dramas raise patient expectations and increase litigation risk

Medical dramas like Holby City increase the risk of litigation by raising patient expectations to unreachable levels, the Royal College of Nursing’s Congress heard.
Men 'more likely' to have chlamydia

Men’s attitudes to unprotected sex and STI screening are putting their sexual health at risk, a leading pharmacy group has claimed.
Menopause transition associated with stress urinary incontinence

A study exploring the effects of age and menopause on urinary incontinence (UI) in midlife has identified a relationship between menopausal transition and stress UI.
Mentors - is it still difficult to fail students?

In 2003, research for the Nursing and Midwifery Council revealed that nurses often found it hard to fail the students they were mentoring – even when they had serious concerns about their competencies. Is this still the case? Nursing Times wants your views
Mid Staffs nurses face fresh criticism after Facebook food fight

Two nurses from Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust posted photos of themselves on Facebook having a food fight in a clinical area around a month after the trust received scathing criticism over standards from the Healthcare Commission.
Midwives: Complete an online study and earn £20

Midwives can earn £20 for taking part in an online study.
Mixed sex wards scrapped at 95% of trusts

Most NHS trusts in England have eliminated mixed-sex accommodation, the Government has announced.
Mobile compression device safer than medication for preventing blood clots

A mobile compression device is safer and equally effective as medication at preventing blood clots after hip replacement surgery, say US researchers who studied 400 patients undergoing hip replacement surgery.
Monitor norovirus for 14 days in elderly patients

A recent study has suggested that elderly patients infected with norovirus should be monitored for infectivity for at least 14 days after the onset of symptoms.
Morning sickness linked to genes

Women whose mothers experienced severe morning sickness are three times more likely to develop the condition in their own pregnancy, research suggests.
MRSA in nose differs between patients

Patients carry vastly different amounts of MRSA in their noses, a potential indicator for their risk of developing an infection after surgery, a study has found.
National dementia charity changes its name

The charity for dementia, which provides Admiral Nurse services, has changed its name to Dementia UK.
Near death experience is a trick of the mind, say researchers

Cardiac arrest patients who have had so-called near-death experiences tend to have higher levels of carbon dioxide in their body, causing a possible trick of the mind triggered by a chemical reaction in the body, researchers have claimed.
Near death experiences and CO2

“Near death? It’s a gas”, exclaimed a headline in the Daily Express. The newspaper said a study has shown that near-death experiences, “such as seeing life flash before one’s eyes” or “intense feelings of joy and peace”, may be linked to levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the Daily Mail, the researchers believe that CO2 may alter the chemical balance of the brain and trick it into seeing lights, tunnels or dead people.
New digital nurse training tool unveiled at US conference

A new training programme combines digital technology with real-life nursing scenarios.
New drug may prevent relapse in MS patients

Pharmaceutical company Novartis has revealed its Gilenia drug reduces relapse rates in patients with multiple sclerosis.
New drug to stop cancer spread?

The Daily Express has reported of a “drug hope in the battle to stop cancer spreading”. It said that scientists have found a new group of molecules that could stop the spread of cancer and “lead to new drugs”.
New migrane drug could offer hope to sufferers

A new migraine drug could offer pain relief for patients with existing heart conditions and those who do not respond to current treatments.
New model could improve fever diagnosis and treatment

Early treatment of fever in young children may be improved by a computerised diagnostic model that outperforms clinical judgement, according to a study published on bmj.com.
New NHS nurse uniforms 'cause rashes'

A £1.5m programme to introduce colour-coded NHS uniforms in Wales could be scrapped after scores of nurses complained that the items caused painful rashes.
New prostate drug approved by EU regulators

Regulators have passed GlaxoSmithKline’s prostate drug Duodart for use in the EU, the company has announced.
New recommendations for spinal condition

A set of recommendations has been published to improve the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with the painful and disabling spinal condition Ankylosing Spondylitis.
News on fry-ups overcooked

“A bacon fry-up at breakfast could be the healthiest start to the day,” according to the Daily Express. Several other papers also optimistically declared that a fried breakfast is a healthy option, based on a study in mice.
NHS hospital closures 'may improve patient care'

A group of leading doctors has defended the closure of some accident and emergency units and other hospital services, claiming they could actually improve patient care and save money in the long run.
NHS launches new meningitis vaccination

A new meningitis vaccination for children has been launched which experts predict could save thousands of lives.
NHS not a 'soft touch' for cuts, warns union

A union leader is to warn political parties against making cuts in the NHS and pledge to build alliances to fight attacks on the service.
NHS set to save billions as drug patents expire

Healthcare providers could save as much as £3.3bn a year when patents on leading drugs expire in 2014, independent market analyst Datamonitor has claimed.
NHS stalking policy drawn up after staff followed

Scotland’s largest health board has said it had started to draw up a policy on stalking after staff had been followed, photographed and harassed.
NICE changes dronedarone guidance

NICE has changed draft recommendations on the use of dronedarone (Multaq) for atrial fibrillation – a disturbanceof the heart’s rhythm.
Nicotine containing products focus of public consultation

The MHRA has launched a public consultation into the licensing regime of products containing nicotine.
'No benefit' from brain games

Brain-training computer games “do not make users any smarter”, according to The Daily Telegraph. Various other news sources reported that popular celebrity-endorsed games are no more effective at boosting intelligence than spending time surfing the internet.
Nurses - stop slacking and get back to work

Nurses are lazy, sickie-taking slackers who are about to bring down the NHS. There, we said it.
Nurses asked to contribute to workforce study

Nurses are being asked to contribute to one of the largest nursing workforce studies ever undertaken.
Nurses in Wales get colour coded uniforms

Nurses at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen became the first to wear the country’s national colour-coded uniforms for hospital nursing staff.
Nurses' jobs 'at risk'

Efforts to cut NHS spending could put more than 5,600 jobs at risk in England, leaving the system under “real strain”, it is claimed.
Nurses publish 'incredibly easy' guide to critical care

Husband and wife nurse team, Lee and Judith Cutler, have published a book drawing on their combined experience of critical care nursing.
Nurses vote to challenge perception of 'gold-plated' pension

Delegates at RCN Congress voted overwhelmingly yesterday to challenge the media over the term “gold-plated” pensions.
Nurses will be at the heart of NHS reforms, Nick Clegg vows

Nurses will be “right at the heart” of delivering reformed services under the Liberal Democrats, party leader Nick Clegg has promised.
Nursin' USA - 'I was shocked at the level of sickness absence on NHS wards'

Our resident American nurse Sarah Morgan on why loyalty to friends and colleagues is a great motivation for reducing staff sickness levels.
Nursin' USA - Why I love nursing in the UK

In the spirit of positive thinking, our resident American nurse Sara Morgan explains why she loves being a nurse in the UK.
Nursing in Haiti - a week like no other

Nursing Times’ resident Haiti-based nurse Fi Stephenson on a moving week in the the earthquake-hit country
Nursing in Haiti - recharged and back to work

Nursing Times’ resident Haiti-based nurse Fi Stephenson on a productive hiatus and joyful welcome back to the earthquake-hit country
Nursing Times survey: do you plan to vote?

Do you plan to vote in the general election next week?
Nursing Times team get on their bikes for charity

The Nursing Times team is taking to the streets to raise money for two major health charities.
Obesity and alcohol 'mar NHS progress'

A study blames Britain’s alcohol and junk food culture for undermining ‘considerable progress’ in the NHS.
Organ donors could get cash incentives

Registered organ donors could be placed on a transplant priority list and have their funeral expenses partly paid to encourage more organ and tissue donations, suggests a report published today.
Osteoporosis drug 'could prevent breast cancer spread'

An osteoporosis drug could be used to prevent the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body, a study has suggested.
Panorama to reveal soaring price of obesity and preventable disease

A generation of children could die before their parents because preventable diseases such as obesity and tooth decay are reaching epidemic levels, doctors at one of the UK’s leading hospitals warned.
Paralympic medal winner backs public health campaign

Paralympic medal winner Ian Jones joined more than a hundred nurses, schoolchildren, visitors and patients to take part in a campaign promoting dance as excercise.
Parties clash over health issues

The three main political parties all accused each other of “failing the NHS” before last night’s televised debate between the Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders.
Parties 'overambitious' with spending cut plans

Britain’s political parties have been “overambitious” with their spending cut plans, according to a think tank that warned clearing the country’s deficit would need sweeping public service cuts.
Patient care in Colchester praised

Steps being taken to improve the quality of patient care in Colchester hospitals have been praised by the chief executive of the NMC.
Patient engagement site launched by Picker Institute

A website designed to help the NHS improve its public profile has been launched by the Picker Institute Europe.
Patients and paperwork - how good care planning can make better carers of us all

Marjorie Lloyd, author of A Practical Guide to Care Planning in Health and Social Care, care planning and how to make it work for you.
PCTs to replace community nurses with Facebook app

Several PCTs have announced plans to replace over 50 per cent of community nurses with state-of-the-art Facebook applications that could save the NHS millions of pounds.
People ignorant of obesity link to poor health

Most people are ignorant to the fact that a flabby waist makes them more likely to suffer from cancer, heart disease and diabetes, a survey suggests.
Pioneering treatment for baby born with no pulse

A newborn baby at risk of suffering a brain injury was given xenon gas by a British hospital, the first in the world to try the treatment.
Poll reveals 'education gap' for blood clots risks

Healthcare professionals should do more to make hospital patients aware of the risk of blood clots, a report has suggested.
Popular fruit and veg may lack phytonutrients

Obvious choices of fruit and vegetables may lack phytonutrients which protect the heart and arteries and prevent cancers, new research has suggested.
Pregnant women given free multivitamins

Pregnant and breast feeding women, and children up to the age of four are being given free “Healthy Start” multivitamins as part of a government pilot programme in Cardiff.
Premature ejaculation and genes

“Premature ejaculation could be passed to men genetically”, the Daily Mail reported. It said that researchers have found that men with the condition are more likely to have a genetic abnormality.
Prescribe heroin on NHS, says Peter Carter

Heroin should be prescribed on the NHS, according to Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary Peter Carter.
PromoCon continue business after fire guts offices

PromoCon, a charity providing impartial advice about continence products, has held its annual Continence Symposium, despite its offices being affected by a fire in December.
Prone positioning does not decrease risk of VAP

Prone positioning does not decrease the occurrence of ventilator associated-pneumonia in ICU, according to a recent study.
Prostate cancer increases blood clot risk

New research has shown a man’s chances of suffering blood clots in his legs or lungs can more than double if he has prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer surgery less likely for poorer men

Rich men are more likely to be given curative prostate cancer treatment than those from poorer backgrounds, research has found.
Prostate tests 'cause men distress'

Research suggests prostate cancer tests can cause significant psychological distress among men.
Public unaware of scale of NHS cutbacks

93% of the public are unaware of the level of savings the NHS will have to make over the next three years, according to a new poll for the RCN.
Queen meets nurses at new cancer centre

Nurses met the queen when she opened a new state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre earlier this week.
Randstad Care wins BUPA nursing recruitment contract

Randstad Care, a leading recruitment specialist for the health and social care sectors, has won a contract to provide permanent nursing staff in the UK for BUPA.
Rats addicted to 'junk food'

“Junk food may be addictive in the same way as heroin or cocaine,” The Independent reported. It said researchers have found that a high-calorie diet of fatty, sugary food leads to compulsive overeating in rats and causes changes to the brain similar to those in humans who are addicted to the drugs.
RCN considers 0% alcohol limit for driving

The Royal College of Nursing council will consider whether to adopt a 0% alcohol limit for driving.
RCN welcomes out-of-hours healthcare report

The Royal College of Nursing Scotland has welcomed a report from Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee on the provision of out-of-hours healthcare.
Researchers highlight fatal children's respiratory disease

Up to 200,000 children under five around the world could be dying each year from acute lower-respiratory tract infections caused by the respiratory syncytial virus, according to Edinburgh researchers.
Rise in children treated after violent attacks

Hospitals have seen a slight fall in the number of people needing treatment after being injured in violent attacks, but the number of children treated after attacks has risen, academics have revealed.
Risk management: surgeon and Formula One star compare notes

Formula One racing driver Mark Webber spoke to clinicians in Nottingham this month about the similarities between surgery and motorsport.
Royal Free closes A&E after power failure

The Royal Free Hospital in London was forced to close its accident and emergency department today after a power failure.
Schoolgirls help launch HPV vaccine campaign

Over 150 Bradford schoolgirls helped launch a local campaign last week to persuade teenagers to complete the three jab HPV course.
Scientists fight cancer with viruses

A new type of therapy using modified viruses can help destroy cancer cells, according to The Guardian.
Silver dressing use 'unsupported'

The NHS’s decision to use silver wound dressings despite doubts over their effectiveness is costing the service millions of pounds every year, experts have claimed.
Single use washbowls save time and lower infection risk

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust has introduced single-use pulp washbowls to improve infection prevention and environmental performance.
Smoking 'is down to your genes'

“Genes determine why some smoke,” according to The Independent, which said that smokers may be able to blame their genes for their addiction.
Smoking tendencies linked to genes

Genetics may be responsible for smokers finding it difficult to quit, scientists have said.
Specialist nurses save NHS £100m a year

Specialist nurses save millions of pounds a year by reducing emergency admissions and readmissions to hospital, RCN research has shown.
Study casts doubt on on five-a-day cancer theory

A European study of cancer and nutrition has found only a “modest” link between the claim that five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can stave off cancer.
Study highlights new therapeutic option for nocturnal hypoventilation

A recent study published in the journal Thorax has suggested that high-intensity non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is more effective at controlling nocturnal hypoventilation in COPD patients than conventional low-intensity NPPV.
Sunshine during pregnancy 'cuts risk of MS'

Researchers in Australia have claimed that babies born in sunnier months are at a greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life.
Survival rates for very premature babies fail to improve

Survival rates for very premature babies born before 24 weeks have failed to improve over the last 15 years, despite more vigorous attempts to keep them alive, a study reveals.
Suspended midwife investigated by police

A midwife suspended after colleagues raised concerns about her working practices is being investigated by police and health authorities, it has been revealed.
Swine flu bill less than feared

The bill picked up by the Welsh Assembly for dealing with swine flu was £30m smaller than some estimates, it has been revealed.
'Tanning culture' leads to rise in skin cancer

The deadliest form of skin cancer is around five times more likely to emerge in people in their 60s and 70s than it was in their parents 30 years ago, a study has revealed.
Tanning sunbeds are addictive, study finds

A third of sunbed users may become addicted to tanning, a study has found.
The continence nurse, the ward nurse and the district nurse: a carer’s view

Dr Carolyn French expresses her positive and negative experiences with different nurses while caring for her ill partner
The COPD strategy can only fulfil its potential if nurses are trained

The COPD strategy offers a huge opportunity to transform patient care, but how will nurses deliver this agenda if they are not trained and educated to do so, asks Monica Fletcher
The psychology of sunbeds

Sunbed sessions are “as addictive as alcohol or drug abuse”, according to the Daily Mail.
Thousands of nurses could lose their jobs, Tories say

Thousands of NHS nurses will lose their jobs over the next five years under Labour’s “secret” cost-cutting plans, the Tories have claimed.
Tories call for locally sourced NHS hospital food

The Tories want details of food served in NHS hospitals published so the public can see if ingredients are locally sourced.
Tories to slash public sector pay

The Tories would slash up to £2bn from the public sector payroll within a year as part of moves to bring the deficit under control, it has been revealed.
Treating secretory otitis media with nasal spray may prevent surgery

Treating children with secretory otitis media with a bacterial nasal spray could prevent the need for surgery, a recent study has shown.
Treatment care bundles cut mortality by 15%

Patient mortality at three London hospitals have been cut by almost 15 per cent after introducing treatment care bundles, according to a study published online in the BMJ.
Treatment checklists cut deaths by 15%

Treatment “checklists” have led to a 15 per cent reduction in patient deaths in three hospitals, research has shown.
Trekking the Great Wall of China - mission accomplished

Nurse Jenny Greenfield reaches her goal after a long and winding trek
Trekking the Great Wall of China - the final countdown

Nurses Jetta Chita and Jenny Greenfield are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign
UK women's early death rate on a par with Albania

Premature death rates among women in Britain are on a par with those in Slovenia and Albania, a study has shown.
'Unsustainable' nurse pensions attacked by business leaders

Business leaders have renewed their demand for a review of nurses’ and other public sector pensions, calling for a shift from “unsustainable” final salary schemes.
Upload of patient care records suspended

Medical records will not be uploaded to a central computer system in some parts of the country until the public is made more aware of the move, the government has agreed.
Viruses 'used to target cancer'

Modified viruses could soon be used to target cancer cells in humans, a study has revealed.
Vitamin pills 'of benefit' in pregnancy

“Providing vitamin supplements to poorly nourished women during pregnancy may reduce the risk of them giving birth to underweight babies,” The Independent reported.
Vitamin supplements may reduce cancer risk

New research has suggested that vitamin and calcium supplements could help prevent cancer in the long run.
Ward closures from norovirus increase

Hospitals have been hit by a three-fold increase in ward closures and infections from the winter vomiting bug in the past four years, figures show.
Warning over MP3 risk to hearing

“Listening to MP3 players at high volume increases the risk of deafness in later life,” The Independent reported. It said earphones that fit into the ear canal can intensify music volume, which can reach over 120 decibels, the same level of noise as a jet engine.
Warning over return of swine flu

The H1N1 strain of swine flu, which became a worldwide pandemic last year, will probably still be the main type of flu people suffer from in the coming months, scientists have said.
Welsh nurses receive lesson in cancer care

The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer hosted its first nurses information day in Cardiff on April 22, 2010.
Which political party deserves the nursing vote?

Armed only with the shiny sword of truth, Beyond the Bedpan slashes through the political foliage to reveal the facts behind the main parties’ health policies.
Women should be screened for continence problems following childbirth, says research

Healthcare professionals should actively screen for continence problems among women following childbirth. This is the conclusion of study which identified that bladder symptoms have a profound effect on postpartum women who frequently adopt ineffective management strategies.
Women warned over chlamydia testing

Researchers have urged women to have a chlamydia test every time they have a new sexual partner, even if it was just a few months since their last test, because screening alone is unlikely to cut their chances of pelvic disease.
Workers claim managers are inaccessible

Only one in 10 workers say their bosses are accessible, usually describing them as authoritarian, bureaucratic or secretive, according to a new report.
Young iPod users at risk of noise-induced hearing loss

A link between listening to loud music and a loss of hearing has been highlighted in a study that claims some young people are listening to music at the same volume as a jet engine.

Nursing TimesApril 2010

Nursing Times
April 2010