Media captionKen Baxter said donating his brain after he dies is his way of “doing his bit” Older people in Wales are being urged to think about donating their brains after they die to help scientists researching dementia. Researchers at Cardiff University are not actively recruiting at the moment but are still keen to hear […]
Media captionWearable tech could help stroke patients Scientists in the US are developing wearable sensors to speed up the recovery of stroke patients. The sensors are able to send information to doctors continuously. The team developing the system says it could allow therapists to more closely monitor the effectiveness of their care. Details of the […]
Media captionHealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt discusses deaths caused by drug errors Drug errors in England cause appalling levels of harm and deaths, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says, as data suggests mistakes are being made. GPs, pharmacists, hospitals and care homes may be making 237 million errors a year – the equivalent of one mistake made […]
Image copyright ICR Image caption The mini-tumours can be used to predict if a patient will respond to therapy Scientists have been able to predict how cancer patients will respond to therapy by growing miniature versions of their tumours in the laboratory. They say the groundbreaking work could lead to “smarter, kinder and more effective […]
Media captionThe truth about fruit tea Sipping acidic drinks such as fruit teas and flavoured water can wear away teeth and damage the enamel, an investigation by scientists has shown. The King’s College London team found that drinking them between meals and savouring them for too long increased the risk of tooth erosion from acid. […]
Image copyright Getty Images Scientists say they have settled one of medicine’s biggest debates after a huge study found that anti-depressants work. The study, which analysed data from 522 trials involving 116,477 people, found 21 common anti-depressants were all more effective at reducing symptoms of acute depression than dummy pills. But it also showed big […]
Image copyright PA The NHS in England has nearly 100,000 jobs unfilled, a situation described as “dangerously” understaffed. The total represents one in 12 of all the posts in the health service and would be enough to staff 10 large hospitals. It includes 35,000 nurse posts and nearly 10,000 doctor vacancies. The figures have been […]
Image copyright MHRA Image caption A small number of Ventolin Accuhaler units are affected by the fault Three batches of Ventolin Accuhaler and Seretide Accuhaler asthma inhalers have been recalled because they do not deliver the full number of doses. The MHRA – the body that regulates the devices – warned that patients may find […]
Image caption The mesh implants are used to ease incontinence and to support organs The government has ordered a review into how UK authorities responded to concerns over three major medical problems. Baroness Julia Cumberlege has been asked to look at the pregnancy test Primodos, vaginal mesh implants and epilepsy drug sodium valproate cases. All […]
Image copyright Alfie’s Army Facebook Image caption Alfie Evans suffers from an undiagnosed neurological degenerative condition Doctors can stop providing life support to toddler Alfie Evans who has a mystery illness against his parents’ wishes, the High Court has ruled. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital argued that continuing to treat the 21-month-old from Bootle, Merseyside was […]
