July - 2022

Alcohol deaths from pandemic drinking are predicted to rise

Heavy home drinking during the pandemic may have set habits that will lead to rises in alcohol-related deaths and illness in England, forecasters warn. The work, commissioned for the NHS, suggests even under the best-case scenario of people cutting back to pre-pandemic boozing levels, there could be 1,830 extra deaths within two decades. At worst it could be 25,000, along with a million extra hospital admissions. Experts say the findings are a wake-up call. The warnings come

Nearly half a million more adults on antidepressants in England

Nearly half a million more adults in England are now taking antidepressants compared with the previous year, according to NHS figures. The number of prescriptions for children and teenagers has also risen. From 2021-22, there was a 5% rise in the number of adults receiving them - from 7.9 million in the previous 12 months to 8.3 million. It is the sixth year in a row that there has been an increase in both patients and prescriptions. An estimated 83.4 million antidepressant d

Kellogg's loses court case over sugary cereal supermarket offers

Kellogg's will not be allowed to promote sugary cereals in supermarket special offers, a court has ruled. In-store promotions on food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar will be restricted under new rules for England. Food giant Kellogg's had taken the government to court arguing the rules did not take into account the nutritional value of added milk. But the Royal Courts of Justice ruled in favour of the government. Kellogg's said it was "disappointed". "It makes little sen

Bowel cancer: How to check your poo

Dame Deborah James, who has died from bowel cancer at the age of 40, told everyone to check their poo as part of her campaign to raise awareness of the disease. We answer the questions that many are asking about one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. How do I spot bowel cancer? There are three main things to look out for: blood in your poo that happens for no obvious reason - it may be bright red or dark red a change in how you poo - such as going to the toilet mor