May - 2016

GPs praised for 'dramatic' cut in antibiotic prescriptions

GPs in England have "dramatically" reduced the number of antibiotics they give to patients, latest figures show. NHS Improvement says prescriptions for all types of antibiotic were down by more than 2.6 million on the previous year to about 34 million in 2015-16. They say it is a "fantastic result" and shows doctors are being careful not to over-prescribe them. It is part of a wider drive to stop harmful infections developing resistance to antibiotics. In the UK, the largest

More people caring for someone with cancer - survey

The number of people caring for someone with cancer in the UK has risen to almost 1.5 million, new figures show. According to one leading charity, this is an increase of almost a third in the past five years. Family and friends are now spending an average of 17.5 hours a week looking after a loved one who is affected, said Macmillan Cancer Support. One in five of those surveyed care for someone with cancer for more than 35 hours a week. Amy Jones, 20, has given up college to

Zika virus may reach Europe this summer

The Zika virus could spread to Europe this summer, although the likelihood of an outbreak is low to moderate, the World Health Organization has said. Areas most at risk are those where Aedes mosquitoes may spread the virus, like the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia and the island of Madeira. Countries with a moderate risk include France, Spain, Italy and Greece, while the risk in the UK is low. The UN agency is not issuing any new travel advice at this time. The WHO is c

Salt consumption down - but not enough

Adults in England have cut their average salt consumption by nearly a gram in the last decade, but at 8g per day it is still above the recommended 6g for good health, figures reveal. The data from Public Health England is based on measurements taken from a random sample of 689 adults. Three quarters of the salt we eat is in foods we buy, and there has been a push for industry to cut salt levels. High salt can raise blood pressure, which increases the risk of strokes. Voluntar