March - 2022

Rules on free lateral flow and PCR Covid tests published

Free Covid tests will still be available for some groups, including NHS staff caring directly for patients, the government has confirmed as it winds down the service for the public. From 1 April, most people will have to pay for a lateral flow test in England. It is part of the government's 'living with Covid' plan, although levels of the virus are high, with an estimated one in 16 people infected in the UK. Some free testing will continue during April in Scotland and Norther

Social media may affect girls’ mental health earlier than boys’, study finds

Social media may affect the wellbeing of girls and boys at different ages, according to research that raises the prospect of windows of vulnerability in adolescence. Psychologists found that girls who increased their time on social media between the ages of 11 and 13 were less satisfied with their lives one year later, with the same trend playing out in boys aged 14 to 15. The researchers found no link between social media and wellbeing at other ages, except at 19 years old,

Pregnant women to receive life-saving pre-eclampsia check

A simple blood test can help spot pre-eclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition in pregnancy, and should be offered to women on the NHS, new draft guidelines for England say. Early diagnosis of this disorder, which affects up to 6% of pregnancies, can save lives, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says. The test checks the health of the placenta, which provides nutrients and oxygen to the baby in the womb. And it can warn early of any problem. Man

Severe morning sickness: Gene found as cause for condition Duchess of Cambridge had

A gene has been discovered as the main cause for the same severe morning sickness condition the Duchess of Cambridge suffered from in a 'breakthrough' study. Finding a cause for the often misunderstood, debilitating illness now provides the hope of new treatments for the one to three in 100 pregnant women who experience its debilitating effects. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is much worse than normal pregnancy symptoms, with nausea and vomiting far more severe. It has been asso

Covid: Spring booster jab launches for over-75s and high risk in England

People aged 75 and over, residents in care homes and those with weakened immune systems can now book an extra booster jab against Covid in England. It comes as official figures show infection rates are rising in all age groups - including the over-70s. The rollout follows recommendations from the UK's vaccine advisers who say additional jabs will help boost protection for the most vulnerable. Spring boosters are already being rolled out in Wales and Scotland. A wider booster

Patients go private over ear wax removal waiting times

A charity that campaigns for deaf people has said it is concerned about the numbers able to access ear wax removal on the health service. Traditionally ear-syringing was a service provided by GPs. However, since 2018 removal of ear wax is no longer on the list of core services that surgeries must offer. Hearing loss charity RNID said it was important the services were accessible and that not everyone could afford the option of paying privately. The Health and Social Care Boar

Sleeping in the dark may help to protect your health, study suggests

Sleeping in the dark may reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, a new study suggests. Exposure to overhead lighting during sleep at night, compared to sleeping in a dimly lit room, harms heart function during sleep and affects how well the body responds to insulin the next morning, researchers found. They suggest it is important for people to avoid or minimise the amount of light exposure during sleep, and that if people are able to see things well, it is probably to

Single jab to protect newborns from RSV cuts risk of illness by 75%

A single jab that can protect a newborn child against respiratory syncytial virus for their first winter reduces the risk of illness by 75 per cent, new data show in a world-first breakthrough. RSV is responsible for roughly 29,000 paediatric hospitalisations every year and about 80 child deaths, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. There is currently no vaccination, treatment or preventative medicine and companies have spent decades searching for a way to combat the virus.

Plans to ban unlicensed Botox providers in England

Beauty practitioners offering Botox-style injections or dermal fillers could be required to have a licence, as part of government plans to protect patients in England. It is hoped this will ensure consistent standards in an industry previously called the "Wild West" by MPs. Industry bodies say the consultation on new rules is welcome and want changes implemented quickly. Currently, anyone can offer the treatments, with few restrictions. 'Physically scarred' Health and Social

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