Nursing Times
October 2009

View all stories from this issue.

Does a virus cause ME?

The front page of today’s Independent asks whether scientists have found the cause of ME (myalgic encephalitis), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The newspaper reported that researchers have found a ‘strong link’ with a retrovirus called XMRV.
'False hope' from fertility tests?

Several newspapers have reported that women should not rely on high street fertility tests to determine how many childbearing years they have left. They say that health experts have warned that home test kits that check the biological clock “could give women false hope”, with the Daily Mail saying that even though the tests show how many eggs a woman has left, they do not reveal anything about their quality. The reports also say that the tests do not take into account factors that ca
Ian Dalton's swine flu update - latest evidence is positive, but we must stay vigilant

In his weekly update for HSJ and Nursing Times, national director for NHS flu resilience Ian Dalton discusses the latest developments in UK swine flu preparations
Ian Dalton's swine flu update - preparing to deliver the vaccination programme

In his weekly update for HSJ and Nursing Times, national director for NHS flu resilience Ian Dalton discusses what is being done to prepare for the upcoming swine flu vaccination programme
Shared beds increase SIDS risk

Several newspapers have reported on research into cot deaths, or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The DailyTelegraph and The Times report that half of cot deaths ‘happen when babies are sleeping with their parents’ while the Daily Express says that one in four cot deaths are linked to ‘swaddling of babies’.
£1.5m spent on private care for NHS staff, say Lib Dems

The NHS spent £1.5m over the last three years paying for its staff to receive private healthcare, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.
80% of carer funds 'go missing'

Up to 80% of funding provided by the government to support carers is not reaching the intended targets, figures from two charities reveal.
A win for the whistleblowers, and how to look odd naked

Beyond the Bedpan throws its considerable weight behind Margaret Haywood, waves a patronising finger at the NMC, and is dumbfounded by a ‘tanorexic’
ACA announce the 2010 Dorothy Mandelstam Award

This annual award acknowledges the pioneering continence work of Dorothy Mandelstam who was a founder member of the Association for Continence Advice (ACA)
Alcohol abuse will push hospital admissions past a million, experts warn

Alcohol abuse in England could push the number of related NHS hospital admissions above one million in two year’s time, according to the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPH).
Andrew Lansley pledges to cut a third of NHS admin spending

Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley has promised that a Tory government would cut spending on NHS admin by a third.
Another big rise in swine flu cases

There were 78,000 new cases of swine flu in England in the past week, up from 53,000 the week before, new estimates show.
Antidepressants 'work immediately'

Antidepressants start to work immediately even though patients may not notice the effects until months later, according to a report published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
Antipsychotics associated with significant weight gain in children

Children and adolescents who take second-generation antipsychotic medication are significantly more likely to experience weight than those who do not, latest research suggests.
Antiviral prophylaxis: guidance on the use of prophylaxis with antiviral medicines during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic

This guidance sets out the circumstances in which it may be appropriate to offer a course of prophylactic antiviral medicine to patients with a serious underlying medical condition or who are pregnant during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic.
Apprentice winner secures NHS deal

Yasmina Siadatan, winner of this year’s series of The Apprentice, secured her first major deal for Sir Alan Sugar’s business empire - with the NHS.
Arthritis pain centre to be created

A unique research facility evaluating the pain involved in arthritis is to be set up in Nottingham, tasked with investigating why the disease can cause such high levels of suffering.
Audio website to help with long-term conditions

An audio website has been launched by to help people with long-term conditions.
Award-winning nurses get royal seal of approval

Heather Carrick from Glasgow and Julie Chambers from Belfast were named as winners in the prestigious national WellChild Awards 2009.
Better mental health treatment 'may have stopped murder'

The death of a man stabbed by a mental health patient could have been averted if the teams caring for him had been adequately supported to provide ‘assertive’ treatment.
Binge drinking should be tackled regionally, research suggests

Tackling binge drinking needs to be done on a regional basis, according to new research showing that people in different areas of the country drink for different reasons.
Boost for Scottish telehealth

More patients in Scotland could soon have the chance to conference with their GPs via a webcam after the announcement of new plans to integrate NHS 24 with the Scottish Centre for Telehealth.
Breast cancer gene discovered by scientists

Scientists have identified a gene linked to more than half of all breast cancers, providing them with ‘vital information’ about how the disease is spread.
Bullying in the workplace - what nurses can do about it

Nursing Times’ resident Happy Nurse Claire Westwood on coping with bullying in the workplace
Call for early hospital discharge to avoid swine flu MRSA risk

A rise in hospital infections may accompany a second wave of swine flu, according to the MRSA Working Group.
Can sweets turn you sour?

“Lots of sweets makes kids thuggish adults,” said the Mirror today. The newspaper reports that research has found that more than two in three people (69%) with a violent record by the age of 34 had “scoffed confectionery” every day when they were 10 years old. The newspaper quoted experts who think that this aggression comes from not learning patience in childhood.
Cancer from mother to child

“Scientists prove cancer can be passed on in the womb,” reported The Guardian today. The newspaper said that in the first proven case of cancer cells crossing the placental barrier, a mother had passed on leukaemia to her unborn child.
Cancer nurse's innovative service slashes length of stay

A cancer nurse from Manchester has been recognised for introducing an innovative service that has slashed the average length of patient stays.
Cancer research centre to be built in London

A world-class cancer centre is to be built at University College London, to join a growing list of similar centres nationwide.
Care home reopens with Alice in Wonderland tea party

Residents, staff and friends of Bupa’s Maypole Nursing Centre dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland to celebrate the reopening of the home following a £442,000 refurbishment.
CCTV to be trialled in A&E departments

The Welsh Assembly has announced that the use of CCTV cameras are to be piloted at four A&E departments from December.
Cervical cancer screening rates increase

The number of women screened for cervical cancer has gone up for the first time since 2002, according to a national report published this week.
Charlotte Church launches critical care appeal

Singing star Charlotte Church has launched a children’s hospital appeal in Cardiff to raise money for a critical care unit.
Child asthma pumps questioned

According to several newspapers, the inhaled drug Ventolin may not work for one in ten children with asthma.
Childhood cancer survivors at increased risk of suicidal thoughts

Adult survivors of childhood cancer have an increased risk for suicidal thoughts, even decades after their cancer treatment has ended, latest research suggests.
Clinical guidelines accredited for NHS Evidence

Evidence-based clinical guidelines and information on the latest medicines and treatments from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Evidence (NICE) are being made available on the NHS Evidence website.
Clinicians may be forced to apologise for medical negligence

NHS clinicians could in future be made to apologise if patients are harmed due to medical negligence.
Clocks going back could help epilepsy patients, says expert

The extra hour of morning light gained as the clocks go back today could make all the difference to patients with epilepsy.
CMO urges nurses to get swine flu vaccine

The Chief Medical Officer has urged all priority groups, including frontline health and social care workers, to get vaccinated against swine flu.
Commission logs on to new ideas

Nurses can spread new ideas by creating their own social networking sites, according to the innovation lead for the Prime Minister’s Commission on the future of nursing and midwifery.
Community hospital reopens after campaign

Primary care nurses from Oxfordshire PCT celebrated the reopening of a community hospital in Oxford last week.
Concern as swine flu cases double

The Chief Medical Officer has spoken of his concern over the doubling of swine flu cases.
Continuity of care essential in mechanical ventilation weaning

Ethnographic study carried out at Nottingham University Hospitals has concluded that continuity of care and expertise are essential in weaning from mechanical ventilation
Contraception clinics see 17,000 rise in visitors

A report has shown that the number of people using NHS community contraception clinics rose to 1.3 million in the year to March 2009, an increase of 7% on the previous year.
CQC calls for closer scrutiny after out-of-hours GP kills patient

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report has urged health care managers to review the quality of their out-of-hours service over fears that some private GP companies do not meet basic standards.
CQC warns 47 trusts over poor performance

One in nine NHS trusts are performing badly or failing to improve and must ‘do better for their patients’, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.
Dementia support 'inadequate', says report

A leading bioethics think tank has criticised the NHS for failing to provide adequate support to people newly diagnosed with dementia.
DH issues new regulations for health and social care providers

A new system of registration for health and social care providers has been published by the Department of Health.
Diabetes cases rise by 145,000 in one year

Diagnosed cases of diabetes have risen by more than 145,000 in the space of a year, new figures have shown.
Diabetes early warning signs in over seven million people

An estimated seven million people in the UK have early warning signs of diabetes, researchers have warned.
Diabetes injection more effective than orlistat for weight loss

Medical trials have revealed a diabetes injection, tested at 19 different hospitals, appears to help weight loss more than leading anti-obesity druh orlistat.
Diabetes risk cut by healthy diet and weight loss

The threat to people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced by a healthy diet and losing weight, according to a report in published online by The Lancet.
Digital kidney guide wins media award

The Kidney Patient Guide, an online discussion forum and information centre for sufferers of kidney disease, has won an award at the Fresh Media and Digital Awards.
Doctors should screen for depression, say NICE

New NICE guidance is advising doctors to screen people for depression if they are suffering from a long-term illness.
Down's syndrome trend examined

Several newspapers have reported on the steep rise in Down’s syndrome pregnancies, said to be due to recent shifts to later motherhood.
Drug errors in care homes

A study has found an “alarming” level of drug errors in care homes, The Guardian reported. The study in question looked at 256 elderly people from 55 care homes in England. The mistakes included errors in dosage and how the drugs should be taken.
Ed Balls to visit school nurses

Children, schools and families secretary Ed Balls has pledged to visit frontline school nurses to get a firsthand idea of their work pressures.
Epilepsy drugs 'risk schizophrenia'

Young people who take drugs to control epilepsy in early life may be at risk of developing schizophrenia when they are older, according to new research.
Excess weight distribution linked to blood clots

There is a direct relationship between weight distribution and blood clots, a 10-year study has revealed.
Exercise 'helps cancer patients'

Exercise and training regimes of the kind undertaken by athletes can help cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, according to a trial report published by BMJ.
Foetus kick charts 'unreliable'

Counting the number of times a baby has kicked should not be relied upon to check a foetus’ wellbeing, research has suggested.
Former health secretary calls for 'sunlight' in Tory health policy

The most recent Conservative health secretary has said Andrew Lansley must articulate a clearer and more inspiring vision of the Conservatives plans for the health service.
Former hospital chief exec criticises A&E plan

A former hospital chief executive has waded into an ongoing dispute over the future of A&E services in Telford.
Frostbite used to fight cancer

Frostbite is being used by Scottish doctors to fight prostate cancer tumours in a procedure called cryotherapy, it has been revealed.
Gene therapy to aid lung transplants

“Donated lungs that have to be discarded because they are not good enough for transplant can now be repaired and made suitable for patients,” The Times has reported.
Genes linked to deadly cancers

Scientists have discovered a total of 231 previously unknown genes associated with head and neck cancers.
Girls 'embarrassed' by HPV vaccine

One in five girls think the HPV vaccine is embarrassing because it is for a sexually transmitted infection, researchers have revealed.
Gout chemical 'may help' Parkinon's

Researchers have concluded that urate, a naturally occurring chemical in the blood that is known to cause gout, “appears to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease”, BBC News has reported.
Gout linked to Parkinson's disease

Researchers have found that an antioxidant associated with gout could slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
GPs and NHS managers to have pay frozen

A pay freeze for 750,000 public sector high earners, including senior NHS managers, GPs, council chiefs and judges, has been announced by chancellor Alistair Darling.
GPs step in as postal strike hits swine flu vaccination plan

GPs are planning to circumnavigate the postal strike in order to ensure vulnerable patients are vaccinated against swine flu.
Guidance on sickness certification in response to the swine flu pandemic

This document clarifies that the existing arrangements for provision of medical certificates or self-certification have not changed in light of the swine flu pandemic.
Half of diabetes sufferers experience hypoglycaemic episodes

Half of people with type two diabetes regularly experience mild to moderate hypoglycaemic episodes, latest survey results suggest.
Has the Pill shaped Hollywood?

The Pill may have “changed women’s taste in men”, according to the Daily Mail, which reports that a new study has found that the hormone-based contraceptive suppresses a woman’s interest in masculine men and makes boyish men more attractive.
Health after retirement

“Work is good for you, especially after you’ve retired,” says the Daily Mail. The newspaper and others report that workers who drop everything at retirement age are at greater risk of heart attacks, cancer and other major diseases than those who ease their way into old age by taking a part-time job.
Health secretary pledges more health visitors in wake of Baby P tragedy

Stemming the flow of health visitors leaving the NHS is a priority in the aftermath of the Baby P scandal, health secretary Andy Burnham has told the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA) conference.
Hospital death rates linked to poor training

Hospital death rates are more to do with poorly-trained medical staff than complications from major surgery, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Hospital put on 'lockdown' as staff are exposed to toxic chemical

Medical staff working at Newcastle General Hospital had to be decontaminated after coming into contact with a woman who had been exposed to a toxic chemical.
Hospital staff reinstated after 'lying down game' suspensions

Staff suspended from a Swindon hospital for playing internet game the ‘lying down game’ while on duty have been reinstated.
HPV vaccine in the clear

A pathologist has confirmed that the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine did not cause the death of Natalie Morton, the schoolgirl from Coventry.
Ian Dalton's swine flu update - the vaccination programme begins

National director for NHS flu resilience Ian Dalton reports that the swine flu virus is not spreading as a fast as first feared, but vigilance is still required as the vaccination programme begins
Improving medicines information can reduce pain for cancer patients

Proper information on painkillers can cut the pain that a cancer patient experiences by a fifth, research has suggested.
Investigation launched after child sex offender lands NHS job

The circumstances under which a child-sex offender got a job as an NHS occupational therapist are being investigated by Essex health-service bosses.
Investigation launched after woman demands all-white maternity team

Hospital staff have complained to the Equality and Human Rights Commission after a woman in labour demanded an all-white team to deliver her baby.
Jigsaws and dementia diagnosis

“A failing memory may not be the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease,” according to the BBC. It reported that a study has found that “spatial skills, such as reading a map or completing a jigsaw, seem to be the first to falter”.
Key to a long life found (again)

The Daily Express claims that a “wonder pill can lengthen your life by 25 years” and that researchers have found the key to the “elixir of life”.
Knife and gun crime injury admissions fall

New figures have shown that fewer people were admitted to hospital last year with gun or knife crime injuries.
Knife crime nurse activist branches out into film

A Liverpool nurse who teaches first aid to young offenders is to appear in a film about knife crime.
Liquid food 'aids cancer recovery'

Defying conventional wisdom and giving cancer patients liquid food after surgery could lead to faster recoveries and millions of pounds in savings, according to research.
London hospital facing £400k fine for missing targets

St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London faces being fined £400,000 a month for missing patient care targets as a result of the troubled NHS IT programme, MPs have heard.
Loneliness and cancer risk

It said that scientists have found that the stress and anxiety caused by social isolation can speed up the growth of cancers.
Low-cost leg ulcer dressings as effective as expensive alternatives

The NHS could save millions of pounds a year after new research indicated that low-cost dressings for leg ulcers work just as well as more popular and expensive alternatives.
Medication errors affect three quarters of care home residents

Overworked care-home staff, poor teamwork and lack of training mean three quarters of elderly residents are subject to medication errors.
Mediterranean diet can prevent depression

Depression is less likely in people eating a Mediterranean diet of whole grains, fruit, vegetables and nuts, research has suggested.
MHRA issues warning over 'extremely poisonous' herbal valium

Using so-called ‘herbal valium’ drugs, which contain the plant aconite, could prove deadly, according to the MHRA.
Middle age fat and life-span

‘Middle-age spread can knock years off your life,’ the Daily Mail has warned, saying that piling on weight in middle age can cut your chances of living to an old age by 80%.
Migraines linked to stroke risk

Women taking the pill are more at risk of a stroke, the Daily Express has warned. The paper reports new research that shows that women who suffer from migraines double their risk if they take the pill. Several news sources have covered this research, although each has focused on different aspects of its findings.
Migraines linked to stroke risk

People who experience migraines with aura - temporary visual or sensory disturbances - are twice as likely to suffer a stroke, according to the BMJ.
Minimally invasive surgery best for stress incontinence

Less invasive surgical treatments for stress urinary incontinence in women are just as effective as traditional open surgical approaches, according to a Cochrane review.
Minister calls for NHS trusts' transparency over management consultants

NHS organisations will have to be more transparent about their use of management consultants in future, health minister Mike O’Brien has said.
Minister defends decision to withdraw kidney cancer drugs

A decision to withdraw three life-prolonging drugs used to treat patients with kidney cancer has been backed by Health Minister for Wales Edwina Hart.
Mixed success on mortality rate reductions

There has been mixed success in meeting targets in reducing mortality rates for specific causes, the latest data from the Department of Health shows.
Mobile phones 'distract walkers'

Research suggests that “people chatting on mobile phones are oblivious to their surroundings and can pose a risk to themselves and others,” The Daily Telegraph reported today.
Mountains of the Moon, legacy of a star, and fun and games with the BNP

The BNP, Jade Goody and a royal drama - it can only be Beyond the Bedpan time. The weekend starts here
MRSA screening branded 'unethical'

Mandatory MRSA screening for elective patients in England is unethical, according to a leading microbiologist. .
MS symptoms delayed by new drug

Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms may be delayed by a new drug if given to the patients when they are in the early stages of the illness.
New book tells extraordinary tale of sex change nurse

A 76-year-old ex-soldier who underwent a sex change operation before becoming a nurse has had her life story published.
New clinical knowledge summaries released

The NHS clinical knowledge summaries have been updated and new topics have been added, including angina, diarrhoea and and gastroenteritis
New clues on deadly blood infection

Scientists have identified an antibody that could “minimise the major internal bleeding seen in traumas like bullet wounds and car crashes”, according to BBC News. The research in question found that mice, primates and humans who had serious blood infections (sepsis) also had high levels of a protein called histone in their blood.
New credit union will offer loans and savings accounts to NHS staff

The Scottish Government has created a credit union which all NHS staff in Scotland will be eligible to join.
New director of nursing and patient safety appointed at London trust

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, London, has appointed Alison Robertson as its new Director of Nursing and Patient Safety.
New emergency care hospital for North East

A new emergency care hospital is to be built in Northumberland after plans were approved at a trust board meeting.
New IVF test 'trebles chances'

Several newspapers report today on a “dramatic IVF breakthrough” that screens embryos for genetic defects and greatly increases the chance of a woman becoming pregnant.
New nasal spray to treat pain in cancer patients

An intranasal fentanyl spray (Instanyl) has been launched for the treatment of breakthrough pain experienced by patients with cancer.
NHS appoints liver disease clinical director

The Department of Health is to recruit an NHS national clinical director to lead the development of a national strategy to combat liver disease.
NHS boards forced to apologise after failing to spot fatal haemorrhage

The death of a man from a haemorrhage has resulted in two NHS health boards being ordered to apologise for failing to provide adequate care and treatment.
NHS cancer patients 'endangered' by slow GP referrals

NHS patients with stomach or oesophageal cancer are being endangered because of a lack of urgency by GPs in referring them to hospital, according to the National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit.
NHS Direct fails to reach elderly

A Welsh health council has revealed that elderly people still lack sufficient knowledge about NHS Direct despite successive campaigns to raise awareness of the service.
NHS to outlaw 'ageist' treatment

The NHS will outlaw age discrimination in the provision of treatment and care from 2012, Health Secretary Andy Burnham has pledged.
NICE defends decision to reject breast cancer drug

The rejection of Tyverb (lapatinib) for use by the NHS against an aggressive form of breast cancer has been justified by NICE.
NICE to consult on childhood constipation guidelines

NICE have issued draft guidelines on chldhood constipation.
NMC attacks 'vast inconsistency' of nurse whistleblowing

Nurses and midwives are not reporting poor care because of bad whistleblowing procedures, the NMC has said.
NMC urges nurses to clarify swine flu role

Nurses are being urged by the NMC to find out exactly what is expected from them if there is a surge in the swine flu epidemic.
NPSA urges safety checks after nine patient deaths

Nine patient deaths due to poorly-managed oxygen supplies have prompted the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to urge hospitals to check their equipment.
Number of children prescribed drugs for ADHD and depression rises

New figures show a rise in the number of children being given prescriptions for drugs to treat ADHD and mental health problems.
Nurse training cuts slammed by RCN

The Scottish Government has been criticised by a the RCN for its proposed cuts to the nursing training budget.
Nurse wins £1,000 in hospital lottery

A nurse has won £1,000 in the Southampton Hospital Charity Lottery first birthday celebrations.
Nurses develop diabetes education resource

New RCN accredited resource to support nurse education in Type 2 diabetes therapy
Nurses will be replaced by evil robots - you have been warned

Following a fine tradition of blowing a legitimate topic of debate out of all proportion, Beyond the Bedpan has its say on downgrading nurse roles. It’s not pretty
Nurses' workshop to shape the future of nursing

Nurses and midwives across the east of England were invited to take part in a workshop, which will help to shape the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery.
Nursing lecturer awarded Queen’s Nurse title

A senior lecturer in nursing at the University of Chester has been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
Nursing Times, 20 October 2009

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Nursing Times, 3 November 2009

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Obese women 'risk IVF stillbirths'

The risk of premature babies and stillbirths after IVF is linked to a women’s obesity levels, a study has found.
One in five teenagers has high blood pressure, study suggests

Many teenagers already have at least one major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, with one in five 14 and 15 year-olds already experiencing high blood pressure, latest study results suggest.
Online masterclass: Planning for winter influenza - assessing the potential impact on HCAIs

Have you planned for early discharge during the winter influenza season? Does your winter preparedness plan include provision for MRSA patients?
Organ donors increase by a million

The number of people prepared to donate organs increased by a million last year, according to the NHS’s Organ Donation Taskforce Implementation Programme.
Paracetamol could reduce success of vaccines

Giving paracetamol to children who have received vaccinations, in anticipation that they may later feel unwell, may reduce the effect of the vaccine, according to research published in The Lancet.
Patient death after swallowing anti-freeze prompts call for law change

Calls have been made for a law change after it emerged a woman suffering from depression died when paramedics respected her request to not be treated after she swallowed anti-freeze.
Patient safety incidents rise 12% in six months

The number of patients who have been involved in safety incidents while undergoing NHS treatment has risen by 12% in six months.
PCTs doubtful over arthritis drug after 'thumbs down' from NICE

Doubts have been raised over whether the ‘smart’ drug Tocilizumab, which treats rheumatoid arthritis, will be made available on the NHS.
'People call me nurse'

Poem submitted by Rebecca Oliver
Placebo effect 'starts in the spine'

‘Research suggests that the placebo effect works, in part, by blocking pain signals in the spinal cord from arriving at the brain in the first place’, The Times reported. The newspaper said the spinal cords of 15 healthy volunteers had been scanned while they received laser ‘pinpricks’ to their hands.
Publicity failing to improve sexual health behaviour

Publicity about sexual health and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) has failed to affect the behaviour of more than half of sexually active single people, research has found.
QNI website gains national recognition

The Queen’s Nursing Institute’s 150th anniversary of district nursing website has received two national accolades.
Quarter of babies born by Caesarean

Around a quarter of babies born in England are delivered by Caesarean section, the latest figures have shown.
Racial health inequalities targeted by CQC

Ethnic minorities struggle to get the right healthcare and the outcome can be worse than for other patients, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.
RCN calls for views on government social care plans

The RCN has launched an online consultation asking members for their views on the future of the social care system in England.
RCN issues recession guidance for struggling nurses

The RCN has issued advice on how nurses can cope with financial uncertainty during the recession.
RCN votes to scrap charitable status

The Royal College of Nursing has voted in favour of changing the RCN’s legal status so it is no longer a charity, and establishing a charitable foundation as a separate body.
Rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab backed by report

A new report by Roche claims that its rheumatoid arthritis drug RoActemra (tocilizumab) is more effective than methotrexate (MTX) alone in achieving clinical remission.
Rise in Down's syndrome diagnoses linked to older mothers

The number of babies diagnosed with Down’s syndrome has risen sharply in the last 20 years - largely due to women delaying motherhood, research has revealed.
'Robo-pets' and smart fridges point to future of elderly care

Technologies like ‘robo-pets’ and talking walking frames could be used in the future by councils to take care of elderly people in their homes, cutting down on care home bills.
Ros Moore announced as new chief nursing officer

Scotland has a new Chief Nursing Officer who is expected to take up her role at the beginning of 2010 - and she ‘can’t wait to get started’.
Salbutamol asthma inhaler will not prevent attacks for one in 10 children

One in 10 children using a salbutamol inhaler to treat asthma may have a gene mutation with stops the medication from preventing attacks, research has found.
Salford student becomes first deaf male nurse

A student from the University of Salford has become the first deaf male nurse to enter the nursing register using British Sign Language (BSL) as his first language.
Schizophrenia murders 'exceptionally rare and unpredictable'

The chances of someone being killed by a stranger suffering from schizophrenia are one in 14 million, researchers have claimed.
Seasonal flu jab programme launched in England

The national seasonal flu vaccination campaign has been launched today in England.
SIDS advice ignored by a quarter of mothers

Many parents are ignoring warnings over co-sleeping with babies, despite a study concluding that it is a factor in over half of sudden infant death sysdrome (SIDS) cases
Six things NHS organisations can do to prepare for the swine flu vaccination programme

The Social Partnership Forum has identified the top six things that NHS organisations can do now in preparation for the impending vaccine administration.
Sleep deprivation and memory

“The forgetfulness brought on by insomnia may be countered with drugs,” BBC News has reported.
Sperm 'made from stem cells'

Men and women may no longer be needed to create babies, according to the front page of the Daily Mail, which says that scientists have created ‘sperm and eggs from stem cells’. Other newspapers predict that the research could lead to human sperm being produced within five years.
Staff sickness absence rates 'must fall further'

NHS bosses in Scotland must do more to reduce the rate of sickness absence, a senior minister has said.
Stroke prevention therapies under-used in elderly, says review

Standard stroke prevention therapies could by effective in the very elderly, a journal review has claimed, but are under-used for this demographic.
Stroke risk linked to shingles

The risk of a stroke is increased by a third in patients already suffering from shingles, according to the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Student nurses warned over 'wild' freshers week behaviour

The NMC has warned new student nurses and midwives not to go ‘too wild’ during freshers’ week.
Students champion swine flu awareness with ‘viral man’ campaign

Students at the University of Chester have created an innovative public health campaign to raise awareness amongst students about swine flu.
Study calls on nurses to support students with diabetes

Nurses need to be aware of the disruption that young people with type 1 diabetes experience to their self-care routines if they go to university, suggests a study.
Sugary soft drinks linked to high blood pressure

New research shows that high fructose corn syrup, a common sweetener added to sugary soft drinks and processed food, can contribute to high blood pressure.
Survey prompts childhood obesity alert for Asians

Childhood obesity among Britain’s South Asian population is a future health time bomb, according to the NHS Evidence update for ethnicity and health.
Swine flu and oxygen therapy

A study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Assocation looked at the outcomes of people with severe respiratory complications from swine flu and who required a specific treatment to oxygenate their blood.
Swine flu cases fewer than feared

The second wave of swine flu is well under way, but peak numbers may be lower than feared, according to the chief medical officer.
Swine flu deaths rise to 12 in Scotland

Two men suffering from swine flu have died, taking the total number of deaths in Scotland from the virus since the start of the outbreak to 12.
Swine flu six times more likely to hospitalise diabetes patients

The impact of swine flu among Britain’s 2.4 million diabetes patients may seriously disrupt NHS hospital and GP services, says the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD).
Swine flu threat prompts government to offer former nurses £100 to re-register

A possible shortage of nurses and midwives caused by another swine flu outbreak has prompted the Scottish government to offer to pay former nurses £100 to re-register.
Swine flu vaccination to start as death toll rises

Swine flu related deaths in the UK have shot up to 106, with the number of new cases rising to 27,000 in the last week, the Chief Medical Officer has revealed.
Talks begin on direct payment personal health budgets

Care services minister Phil Hope has announced consultations with primary care trusts to consider schemes for direct payment personal health budgets.
Thousands of overs 65s denied mental health services

Tens of thousands of people over the age of 65 are being denied access to specialist mental health services because of ‘arbitrary’ age limits, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says.
Today's babies will live a century

“Most babies born in the past few years in the UK will live to be 100 if current trends continue,” The Guardian has today reported. The newspaper said that despite the elderly having more long-term illnesses, such as cancers and heart conditions, people will survive them because they will receive earlier diagnosis and better treatment.
Toolkit aims to help school children with continence problems

A new toolkit has been launched to help health professionals in primary and secondary schools support children and young people suffering with continence problems.
Trust accused of 'complacency' over legionella outbreak

A hospital trust in Liverpool has been forced to pay £48,000 after unsafe levels of legionella bacteria were found in its bathing water supply.
Trust admits doctoring waiting time figures to hit target

Nottingham University Hospitals trust has apologised following its admission it doctored figures to give the impression it had met Government waiting time targets.
Trust apologises after nurses refuse to lift 15-stone patient

A refusal by nurses to lift a 15-stone A&E patient at a Blackpool hospital has prompted an apology from local NHS bosses.
TV stars back campaign to improve health through dance

Dance stars including Arlene Phillips, Capital Radio’s Lisa Snowdon and Strictly Come Dancing pro Darren Bennett joined Public Health Minister Gillian Merron to launch their campaign to get 100,000 people more active through dance in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.
Twitter could provide 'innovative solutions' for long-term conditions

Research by a Bournemouth University web professional suggests that social networking website Twitter could be an effective means of delivering improved quality of life to people suffering from long-term conditions.
Ugandan adventure for psychiatric nurse

A nurse from Manchester took has spent her holiday visiting a health clinic in Uganda which is on the frontline of the battle against Aids.
Unions react to public sector pay policies

Unions have welcomed a government pledge to honour the three-year pay deal for nurses but expressed concern at Tory plans for a pay freeze.
UNISON want your views on student nurse bursaries

The Department of Health has launched a major consultation on the review of the NHS bursary scheme for student nurses
University boosts nursing provision with visiting professors

Buckinghamshire New University has appointed two new visiting professors, David Foster and Janice Sigsworth, to its nursing and healthcare team.
Weight loss pills vs anti-fat jab

“Patients given a new anti-obesity drug lost more than a stone in weight in five months,” said The Times. The injectable drug, liraglutide, was reported as being almost twice as effective as other treatments in the study. The Daily Mail wrongly reports that the drug has been licensed for use in obese patients in the UK since July.
Welsh assembly pledges £16.5m for hospital projects

Two hospital projects in Wales are to receive millions of pounds to revamp their services, the Welsh Assembly has announced.
Welsh hospitals prepare for swine flu

Hospitals in Wales are preparing for an increase in cases of swine flu by buying in ventilators, according to the Welsh Assembly.
Whistleblowing nurse Margaret Haywood reinstated

Margaret Haywood, a nurse who had been struck off for whistleblowing and exposing her concerns over poor standards of care, has described herself as ‘absolutely delighted’ to have been reinstated on the register.
White wine 'erodes teeth'

“White wine rots your teeth… and brushing makes it worse,” claimed the Daily Mail today. The newspaper said that white wine is more damaging to your teeth than the effects of red wine, wearing the tooth enamel away more quickly.
Why women want to be men, and the hospital that thinks it's a zoo

After a recent and well-deserved dressing down from readers, Beyond the Bedpan keeps a low profile by questioning women’s place in society and cockroaches’ place in Scottish hospitals
Wii Fit Plus endorsed by NHS

The Nintendo Wii Fit Plus is the first computer game to be endorsed by the Department of Health and marketing material will bear the NHS’s Change4Life logo when it goes on sale on Friday.
Womb transplant 'years away'

Widespread coverage has been given to reports that the first human womb transplant could take place within two years.
Working time directive costs lives, says study

Cuts in doctors’ working hours to meet EU rules could be costing lives, a study by the Royal College of Surgeons has claimed.
World's largest breast cancer study will interview 60,000 women

Researchers are about to embark upon the world’s largest study into the causes of breast cancer, which will require 60,000 female volunteers.

Nursing TimesOctober 2009

Nursing Times
October 2009