- Saturday, April 20, 2024
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak wants to eliminate the “sick-note culture” which he claims has become a lifestyle choice for some and was taking a heavy toll on the country's welfare bill. Sunak wants to strip GPs of their power to sign people off work and said that if the Tories…
SCOTTISH Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, has said that the country should do its own version of the Cass review on gender services, reported The Times. Sarwar encouraged the Scottish government to detail its reaction to the report concerning the care of children experiencing gender confusion in England. According to him,…
A COMMON type 2 diabetes test may be inaccurate for tens of thousands of south Asians in the UK, a new study has shown, prompting calls for more research. A genetic variant almost exclusive to people with south Asian heritage affects the accuracy of the diabetes haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test,…
The National Health Service (NHS) in England is now accepting bookings for the free spring Covid-19 booster vaccine starting Monday, April 15. This booster vaccine is available to citizens aged 75 or older, as well as anyone in care homes for older adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed and aged…
A scandal has erupted at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, with allegations of a cover-up involving a group of consultant neurosurgeons accused of suppressing warnings about patient safety, according to reports. According to whistleblower Mansoor Foroughi, who served as a consultant neurosurgeon at the hospital, concerns regarding high death rates…
A LEADING fertility doctor has urged more British Asians to sign-up as sperm and egg donors after a recent report found the birth rates after IVF (vitro fertilisation) were lower among black and Asian patients than their white counterparts. Research found that while the average IVF birth rate per embryo…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak paid tribute to British Muslims as Eid was celebrated on Tuesday (9) at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In his festive message, the prime minister also said Britain was making efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. Protests have been held for weeks…
The Rishi Sunak government on Thursday increased the income required to sponsor someone coming to the country on a family visa as part of the government's plan to cut immigration. From Thursday, the minimum income requirement needed to bring a family member to the UK will go up to £29,000…
A former NHS manager has been jailed for three years for defrauding a GP surgery in High Wycombe. Nabeel Asghar, 43, of Brands Hill, High Wycombe, was jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court last month. Asghar served as the Practice Manager at Hughenden Valley Surgery on Valley Road, working on a…
Healthcare for children and young people grappling with gender identity issues should be "holistic" and providers should exercise "extreme caution" around prescribing hormone treatments to older teens, an eagerly-awaited independent UK review said on Wednesday. The four-year probe of gender identity services for the cohort, led by retired paediatrician Hilary…
Private hospital chain Spire Healthcare, which often treats NHS-funded patients, is under scrutiny following the recent deaths of some patients under its watch, reports BBC. In one such case, Nafisa Khan was referred to Spire East London by NHS for a gallbladder operation in September 2021. The morning after her…
As the world marks World Health Day on April 7, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has directed its attention to the theme of 'My Health, My Right.' In light of the myriad crises facing humanity, from diseases to disasters to conflicts and climate change, ensuring people's right to health has…
An Asian-origin neurologist Dr Ashvini Keshavan is part of a research team in the UK that has been awarded a major grant this week for dementia research. The team will build on recent breakthroughs in potential dementia blood tests and generate the evidence needed for them to be used more…
One of the best doctors in the country died in a NHS-run hospital from a condition he was an expert in treating, his wife said during an inquest in Manchester Coroners Court, according to media reports. Professor Amit Patel was the first person to be qualified in stem cell transplantation…
Senior doctors in England have voted to accept an improved offer from the government on pay and conditions, easing some pressure on National Health Service (NHS) after months of disruptive strike action. The British Medical Association (BMA) trade union said on Friday about 83 per cent of senior doctors, also…
One person died and dozens were infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in an outbreak linked to three types of eye drops manufactured by an Indian company, according to media reports. Health officials said at least 52 people had been infected by the burkholderia cepacia bacteria, a superbug that can be fatal…
The University College London and the University of Oxford are conducting research on Alzheimer's and dementia-oriented diseases in the UK, with a total of 5000 volunteers participating. The five-year project will take blood samples for the test of dementia, which will raise the hope that there will be better facilities…
An Asian-origin couple from Coventry has launched a fundraiser to donate cold cots to hospitals, after a stillborn baby was born to them, BBC reports. A cold cot is a refrigerated infant bed that allows parents to spend more time with their deceased baby. Satveer Kaur Binning was more than…
The National Health Service (NHS) in England is set to introduce an 'artificial pancreas', a groundbreaking device poised to benefit thousands living with type 1 diabetes. This technology continually monitors blood glucose levels and automatically adjusts insulin delivery via a pump. Backed by £2.5 million from NHS England, local systems…
YUVAN THAKKAR, a British Indian teenager diagnosed with cancer, says he is now able to enjoy the things he loves after life-changing treatment thanks to a fund set up by the NHS to make innovative therapies accessible to thousands of patients. According to NHS England, 16-year-old Thakkar from Watford near…
CANCER screening services must be more culturally competent and sensitive to the needs of south Asians - especially women, a leading doctor has told Eastern Eye. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the first person of colour to lead the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association (BMA), said south Asian women were less…
NHS waiting times for operations could be slashed drastically if patients had their elective surgeries done at worldclass hospitals in India. This was one of the radical ideas put forward last Tuesday (19) by senior Indian corporate leaders at a business conference in London. Another was for undergraduates and postgraduates…
Public satisfaction with the NHS has plunged to a historic low with long waiting periods and staff shortages cited as main concerns, according to the British Social Attitudes survey. Just 24 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the NHS in 2023, and this is five percentage points…
Mustafa Suleyman, a prominent figure in Artificial Intelligence (AI), recently took the helm of Microsoft's newly formed consumer AI division, Microsoft AI. Suleyman's background is far from that of a typical tech CEO. Mustafa Suleyman's upbringing was shaped by his family in London. His father, a Syrian taxi driver, instilled…
Lenmeldy, a new gene therapy for the rare and fatal childhood disease metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), has become the world's most expensive drug, at a whopping $4.25 million (£3.350 million). MLD is a brutal illness that strikes toddlers and affects their ability to walk and talk. It's a heartbreaking reality for…
ONE of Britain’s first ethnic minority members of parliament has told Eastern Eye of his regret at not being able to “move the dial forward” in the fight against racism, while urging the current generation to do more. Keith Vaz was the first Asian MP for nearly sixty years when…
DR CHIRAG BAKHAI is a GP in Luton, as well as a primary care advisor to the NHS Diabetes programme. He says: “If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, it’s important to know what you can do to stay well and avoid potential complications. “The Healthy Living programme offers evidence-based…
THE NHS, said the former chancellor Nigel Lawson, is the closest thing the English have to a religion. So it follows that its creator would be deified as a God in certain circles. Nye, playing at the National Theatre until 11th May, tackles the complexities of one of the great…
Nitin Sawhney and Arooj Aftab are among the leading South Asian talents at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. The popular British festival returns to Somerset’s Worthy Farm from June 26-30. Nitin, an award-winning musician, producer, and composer, will be one of the performers for the West Holts Stage. Singer-songwriter, producer,…
National Health Services (NHS) England has recently announced a significant shift in its approach to gender identity services, confirming that children will no longer be routinely prescribed puberty blockers. This decision follows a review that highlighted a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. Previously,…
ANY Asian doctor, nurse, or indeed anyone who has worked for the National Health Service (NHS) should go and see Nye at the National Theatre. The play tells of the battles that the Welsh Labour politician, Aneurin (“Nye”) Bevan, had with Winston Churchill and the Tories, some people in his…
IT was a great privilege for Westcombe Group to have the opportunity to support and attend GG2’s Diversity and Leadership Awards on 5th March. It was so inspiring to hear from so many inspiring speakers and see so many leaders win recognition of their success. Amazing Awards The evening celebrated…
LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…
While political parties are promising to boost the UK's economic growth, the high level of the economic inactivity rate in the country remains a cause for concern, BBC reports. The number of people not employed or actively looking for work has remained high in recent years, ever since it first…
Akshata Murty, the wife of British prime minister Rishi Sunak, has lauded her mother Sudha Murthy as a prominent female role model in business. During an International Women's Day celebration at Downing Street, Akshata emphasised the significance of mentors for women and girls in the business world. As part of…
Pulse oximeters record higher readings in people with certain skin tones, or AI-enabled medical devices may have a bias against some population groups - these are some of the findings of an independent review of medical devices. The government has announced measures to tackle such biases in the design and…
A 62-year-old German man has reportedly received 217 doses of the Covid vaccine against medical advice, as detailed in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The shots were obtained and administered privately over 29 months. Despite concerns, the man has shown no adverse effects, according to researchers from the University of…
The Award-winning British Indian musician Nitin Sawhney, who had to withdraw from Australia’s premier world music festival WOMADelaide due to a medical emergency, has revealed that he ‘had a heart attack’ a few days ago. Known for musical scores in over 70 films, including for a screen adaptation of Salman…
COMMUNITY pharmacists can play a key role in an integrated NHS and help improve patient care, an influential business leader in the sector has said. Bharat Shah, who co-founded Sigma Pharmaceuticals, said stronger collaboration among primary healthcare providers can provide patients with the best possible care by fostering a unified…
Lord Jitesh Gadhia, chairman of the British Asian Trust, was recognised for over three decades of public and community service with the GG2 Hammer Award at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (5). After coming to Britain as a refugee from…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
A review led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden exposed numerous instances of racist and discriminatory behaviour within Nottingham hospitals' maternity services, the BBC reported. The investigation, prompted by concerns over 1,813 cases involving stillbirths, maternal or infant deaths, or instances of harm, has since expanded to include 70 additional cases.…
A pioneering study published in the journal Thorax reveals that poorly managed asthma releases a volume of greenhouse gases equivalent to that produced by 124,000 homes annually in the United Kingdom. The research, conducted in the United Kingdom, emphasizes the critical need for improved asthma care to mitigate greenhouse gas…
PLAYING Winston Churchill in a play at the National Theatre is another step towards inclusivity in the arts, actor Tony Jayawardena told Eastern Eye. The 45-year-old will be seen playing the iconic former British prime minister in the play, Nye, which is based on the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan…
HARMEET grew up in a vibrant multicultural corner of east London, with her parents, sister and grandparents. And from an early age, she was always encouraged to use her voice to help others. “This ranged from translating information from English to Punjabi for older relatives and supporting my mother to…
SERVICES in community pharmacies are expanding, and your local pharmacist is now able to provide medication for seven common conditions, without needing a GP appointment first. Going to your local pharmacy offers an easy and convenient way to get advice on minor health concerns. Pharmacists have long been pillars of…
Hospital junior doctors in England started a five-day strike on Saturday (24), continuing their extended dispute over pay with the government which shows little indication of resolution. Junior doctors -- those below specialist, consultant level -- started joining picket lines from 0700 GMT, as part of a walkout that will…
A 25-year-old British Indian doctor, who combined his passion for music with his medical career by forming a band with fellow healthcare professionals, has kicked off his first nationwide tour in the UK with the launch show in London recently proving a sell-out. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya started the indie-rock…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
HEALTH experts have urged West Midlands residents to get the measles vaccine as cases in the region are spreading in “disproportionately high rates”. Figures published earlier this month showed 329 of 465 (71 per cent) cases across England from October to February were in the region. The sharp rise over…
More than 33 million individuals, comprising three-quarters of the adult population in England, have already registered with the NHS App. Enhanced with new features and functionalities, the App simplifies health management, and a fresh campaign by NHS England aims to boost its usage among more people. With options such as…
RESEARCHERS have called for more equitable access to drug treatment and support for people in minority ethnic groups after a study found they faced barriers such as stigma and lack of culturally competent services or ones they have no faith in them. Funded by the Department of Health and Social…
ENGLAND’S health service will move about 40,000 pending child consultations for ADHD, autism and other conditions from its main waiting list, a person with direct knowledge of the change said, trimming the politically sensitive list ahead of an expected election. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to reduce wait times…
THE life-saving issue of organ donation, which is rarely discussed, has directly affected many within the south Asian community due to a shortage of donors and subsequent lack of matches. Farhan Sattar was one of those affected, who didn’t get a lifesaving heart donation in time and sadly passed away…
London’s Overground train lines have never before had the attention of the iconic underground. The tube map was a popular hit straightaway in the 1930s, a design classic copied the world over. The Overground lines have kept a low profile on the map’s periphery, with its 114 stations hiding behind…
A physician responsible for managing several coronavirus admissions has been suspended for secretly attending to private patients during NHS hours at the peak of the pandemic. Dr Enson Thomas, 58, a consultant for nearly 21 years, from Bromham, near Bedford, was appointed as the Covid-19 Lead by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak on Saturday (17) made a direct appeal to voters to stick with his plan to turn things around as he made a plea for the Tory family to come together to beat Labour party in a general election later this year. Writing in The Daily Telegraph,…
NHS England is set to introduce a groundbreaking treatment for individuals suffering from advanced Parkinson's disease, benefiting up to 1,000 patients. This innovative approach involves a wearable device that administers medication continuously throughout the day and night. The treatment, known as Produodopa, leverages a pump system to deliver a constant…
The most recent TB annual report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), published on Thursday (15), indicates a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases in England. While the figures for 2022 were stable, with 4,380 reported incidents nearly mirroring the 2021 count of 4,411, provisional data for 2023 paints a…
ACCESS to GPs in England is worse in areas where more ethnic minorities live, according to a recent analysis by The Guardian. The highest proportion of ethnic minority neighbourhoods have significantly fewer GPs per 100,000 patients compared to areas with a predominantly white British population, the report said. Experts attribute…
LADY SHREELA FLATHER, who has died, aged 89, came into her own when she entered the House of Lords in 1990, the first ethnic minority woman to be given a peerage. Her passing last week was announced by the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who said: “My Lords, I…
MARIA SOBOLEWSKA, a professor of political science at the University of Manchester, told Eastern Eye Muslim voters’ discontent with the Labour Party would more likely be felt in by-elections rather than the general election. She said although the Israel-Gaza situation was important to Muslim voters, during a general election, it…
DENTISTS in England will receive cash to accept new patients amid a critical shortage of state-funded dental care. Announced last Wednesday (7), the plan is backed by £200 million in government funding. It comes as the number of dentists providing care in the NHS stands at its lowest level in…
LABOUR is “haemorrhaging” the Muslim vote, which will have a negative impact when Britain holds the general election, expected later this year, party MPs have told Eastern Eye. Late on Monday (12), Labour withdrew its support and suspended for its candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali, following criticism of remarks he…
NHS England's top medical training official has issued a heartfelt apology to the relatives of Dr Vaish Kumar, 35, who took her own life. Dr Kumar faced undue stress after being incorrectly informed that she had to undergo an additional six months of training before she could commence a new…
In England, the NHS's dependence on international staff has hit a record high, with one out of every five workers hailing from outside the UK. This diverse workforce spans 214 nations, including countries as varied as India, Portugal, Ghana, and smaller states like Tonga, Liechtenstein, and the Solomon Islands. Analysis…
King Charles III expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to well-wishers on Saturday (10), in his first statement following his shock announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace said Monday that Charles had begun treatment, but did not specify what type of cancer he has. "I would like to…
A diamond ring journeyed nearly 100 miles from Suffolk to the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) in London, where it was “miraculously” found in a set of scrubs, much to the relief of its owner, Radhika Ramasamy, a consultant anaesthetist at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in Bury St Edmunds.…
Allegations have surfaced that prime minister Rishi Sunak is the primary obstacle in resolving the ongoing doctors' strikes in England, a situation that is exacerbating the NHS waiting lists crisis, an exclusive report in The Guardian said. Despite repeated warnings from health officials and NHS England, Sunak's apprehension about setting…
THIS was a tale of two anniversaries. As Big Ben chimed 11pm on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom had formally left the European Union. Yet the fourth anniversary of that moment passed without a great deal of fanfare last week. The media sparring between the remnants of the referendum…
In a new development in the realm of cancer treatment, the UK has embarked on a pioneering journey by incorporating cancer patients into an international trial of an experimental mRNA therapy, known as mRNA-4359. This innovative approach, which is currently under evaluation at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is at…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged that his government had fallen short in reducing the significant backlog of patients awaiting hospital treatment within the health service, conceding a failure to fulfill one of his key promises ahead of an upcoming election. Sunak set out five major policy pledges at the start…
A new study has revealed that drug use in minority ethnic groups is shaped by a complex mix of cultural norms, mental health issues, gender, and migration experiences. The study was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), in collaboration with RSM UK Consulting, and published on January…
Ambika Mod will shortly be seen in the lead role of Emma Morley in the Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel One Day. The 14-episode series takes the audience on a 20-year journey through the comedic romance of Emma and Dex, played by Leo Woodall. Each episode revisits the couple…
Under a proposed race equality act, the Labour Party aims to broaden the scope of existing equal pay rights, currently afforded to women, for the first time, to include BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) workers, alongside individuals with disabilities, an exclusive report by The Guardian said. This initiative aims…
PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak is under pressure to cut immigration as new figures indicate Britain must construct 156,000 homes annually to accommodate influx, reported The Times. The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) predict that net migration will add an additional 6.1 million people to the UK population…
FINDING an NHS dentist is becoming increasingly difficult in the UK, forcing those who can pay to the private sector and those who cannot to avoid treatment altogether – or take matters into their own hands. Increasing numbers of dentists are turning their backs on the NHS in favour of…
MANY British Asian families are badly affected as poverty has increased in the UK to around pre-pandemic levels, a new report said. The UK poverty 2024 report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last Tuesday (23) said Asian households also have higher rates of child poverty, very deep poverty and persistent…
CANCER RESEARCH UK analysis shows one in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime, with around 375,400 cases diagnosed each year. Cancer is when cells divide in an uncontrollable way, and if left untreated, these abnormal cells can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms can be caused…
A new NHS England survey has revealed that a significant number of south Asians, 64% to be precise, are experiencing mental health concerns. Among those surveyed, 42% reported experiencing depression, while 29% faced generalised anxiety disorder. The silver lining, however, is that 65% of those who sought professional help for…
A special review has been ordered to examine the NHS trust that was treating a 32-year-old man diagnosed with schizophrenia and mental illness, who tragically stabbed three individuals to death, including a British-Indian teenager, in Nottingham last year. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said a rapid review of Nottinghamshire Healthcare…
THE NHS Race and Health Observatory on Wednesday (24) launched a learning and action network designed to address stark disparities in maternal, perinatal and neonatal health outcomes for women from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. Data shows alarmingly higher rates of maternal and baby deaths amongst black and Asian…
TRIBUTES have been paid to British Indian medical student, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, who was stabbed to death in Nottingham, in June last year. Her parents and brother said their family's lives had been "shattered in a moment" following the tragic incident. Grace 'heroically and valiantly' fought that attacker while protecting…
THE NHS has suspended a GP in Harrow and a prominent figure in the recently banned Islamist terror group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The action was taken against Dr Wahid Asif Shaida after the Home Office proscribed Hizb ut-Tahrir, leading to potential prison sentences for its supporters. Dr. Shaida, also known as…
THE UK’s public health protection agency last Friday (19) sounded a “national call to action” for more measles jabs for children because of falling vaccination rates and fears that a current outbreak could spread. Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that measles was spreading among…
THE Labour party said it would aim to save £10 billion by cutting waste and reforming the health service if in power, saying these measures could free up cash to spend on frontline care. The NHS emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic in crisis, crippled by long waiting lists, ambulance delays…
ENGAGING in even a simple positive daily activity can have a profound impact on your mental health. When Mariam Habib escaped an abusive marriage while pregnant with her second child, she faced barriers that inhibited her. As a single parent, she faced many pressures. She recognised the toll this was…
A Turkish doctor, Dr Ogün Erşen, who specialises in weight loss "holidays" abroad, advised an undercover BBC reporter to gain weight to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery. Despite the reporter having a BMI within the healthy range of 24.4, Dr Erşen instructed her to "eat some snacks" to increase her…
THE number of women in Britain dying during pregnancy or soon afterwards has reached its highest level in almost two decades, a new study reported last Thursday (11). The figures from MBRRACEUK, which monitors maternal deaths, stillbirths and infant deaths and their causes, showed black women and those from deprived…
IT is a truth universally acknowledged that a political leader with an election to fight must be in want of campaign advice. As Rishi Sunak embarks on the most challenging re-election campaign of any British prime minister in living memory, there is no shortage of pitches about the best spells…
BRITAIN is on course to elect its most diverse parliament ever following the general election later this year, a thinktank has said, while a leading Conservative parliamentarian has urged MPs to better engage with ethnic minority voters. Based on current candidate selections, a record number of ethnic minority MPs are…
BRITISH Asians have a higher rate of catching the life-threatening condition sepsis compared to other population groups, a study found. The illness, which kills around 48,000 people every year in the UK, occurs when the body overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Leading doctors…
The rise in registered patients who might not exist has seen a dramatic increase, climbing almost two-thirds over the past five years, according to recent data. Dubbed ‘ghost patients,’ this phenomenon occurs when GP practices have more patients on their lists than the actual population count. This mismatch raises concerns,…
In the last 12 months, new analysis from NHS England indicates that almost three million individuals underwent urgent cancer checks. This number represents a surge of over a quarter compared to pre-pandemic levels. The government emphasises the critical nature of early disease detection in enhancing survival rates. However, cancer charities…
Junior doctors in England on Wednesday (3) commenced the longest consecutive strike witnessed in the seven-decade history of the NHS. Junior doctors -- those below consultant level -- started a six-day walkout, in a major escalation of their long-running pay dispute with the UK government. The industrial action comes at…
Health chiefs warned this weekend that Rishi Sunak's goal for the NHS, aiming to eradicate wait times surpassing 65 weeks by March, might fall short due to impending NHS strike action. The health system braces for an unprecedented six-day national strike by junior doctors in England starting Wednesday (3) at…
London’s skyline was lit up as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve 2024, with the grandest fireworks, lights, and drone spectacle ever seen over the River Thames. With over 100,000 attendees and millions watching worldwide, London commenced the year with a stunning exhibition of fireworks, lights, and drones,…
Former chancellor and home secretary Sajid Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced last Friday (29). Javid, who represents Bromsgrove, served under three different prime ministers in six different Cabinet posts, including as culture secretary,…
A British Indian doctor with the NHS decided to get musical during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, but what started as a one-man bedroom project has been gaining popularity with booked out shows. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya, 25, started the indie-rock band named Gulz during his university days as a medical…
After last week's junior doctor strike, almost 88,000 NHS appointments had to be cancelled, predominantly comprising over 86,300 hospital check-ups and operations. Additionally, around 1,500 community and mental health appointments were affected by the strike, the BBC reported. This strike marks a part of ongoing disruptions, with over 1.2 million…
During the Christmas holidays, Rishi Sunak shared a quirky skit inspired by the 1990s Hollywood film 'Home Alone' on social media. The post included the message “Merry Christmas from Downing Street,” aiming to showcase the prime minister's humorous side during the festive period. The 43-year-old can be seen hard at…
THE government has said it will raise its controversial minimum salary requirement for family visas in stages "to give predictability" to immigrant families. It unveiled a raft of measures earlier in December, aimed at cracking down on record levels of migration - a key battleground issue in the general election…
JUNIOR doctors in England ramped up their industrial action on Wednesday (20), beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said…
ASIANS represent a larger proportion of IVF patients in the UK at 15 per cent, the latest data from the fertility regulator has revealed. Black and Asian patients had lower birth rates from fertility treatment when compared to other ethnic groups, according to analysis from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology…
MPs and immigration experts have criticised ministers for “deliberately targeting” British Asian families in their quest to get immigration figures down. Home secretary, James Cleverly, announced last week (13) that from April 2024, the minimum salary threshold for UK nationals and permanent residents applying to bring family members to join…
THE boxer Adam Azim has been praised for drawing attention to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as experts warned about the stigma against the condition in the Asian community. Azim, 21, has spoken of being diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and his father taking him to a boxing…
THE King's charity, formerly the Prince's Foundation, is under scrutiny as it is compelled to return £110,000 to the Indian government. The funds were earmarked for an NHS alternative medicine clinic championed by Charles, which never materialised. The proposed clinic, aimed at integrating Indian traditional medicine into the UK's healthcare…
WHAT did we learn from 2023 about the state of the nation? It was a year that showed how identity can both unite and divide Britain today, depending not only on events at home and abroad, but on how our public conversations are led too. If Britain needs more bridging…
Public discontent surged on Saturday (9) night, over the new Tory visa rules and the government's perceived love only toward the rich, which could compel numerous British families to face the tough choice of separation or leaving the country. The announcement by home secretary James Cleverly last week outlined that…
POLITICAL analysts said the impact on Muslim voters of Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict will only become clear over the next decade. Many Labour councillors and MPs have criticised Sir Kier for refusing to call for a ceasefire in the region. Dozens of councillors…
A LEADING Conservative parliamentarian has warned fellow Tory politicians they face a decision to either “unify or die” as party infighting threatens to derail the leadership of prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On Tuesday (12) Sunak narrowly won in his latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda. The way in which…
On December 18, a ballot for industrial action by doctors will be returned to the British Medical Association. That is not new, except it is, because this time it’s specifically by a group of doctors virtually unheard of both in public and, sometimes, the NHS. They are called specialist, associate specialist…
The Oxford West and Abingdon Conservatives have chosen Dr Vinay Raniga, an award-winning dental surgeon, as their parliamentary candidate, The Oxford Mail reported. Throughout the Covid pandemic, Dr Raniga was redeployed from the oral and maxillofacial surgery department at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, to the frontline ICU. Recognised for his…
HEART ATTACKS account for approximately 80,000 hospital admissions in England each year, and at least seven out of 10 people survive them. This number rises to nearly nine out of 10 (94 per cent) for those who get to the hospital and get the right care. Although chest discomfort is…
RISHI SUNAK did not imagine that his premiership would end up like this. His intention was to lead an economy-first government, rebuild trust in politics and deliver on many fronts. Sunak has become the embattled leader of a single-issue government and mutinous party. Every week seems to be immigration week…
The announcement of a new 12-month hybrid programme and exhibition took place in Leeds, on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, aiming to address the overrepresentation of black and South Asian men detained under the Mental Health Act. The initiative, called Remembering What’s Forgotten is co-founded by Synergi-Leeds, which seeks to redress…
JUNIOR doctors in England will take further strike action later this month and in January, their trade union said on Tuesday (5), after weeks of talks with the government failed to end a long-running dispute over pay. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents nearly 200,000 doctors in Britain, said…
Groups representing skilled professionals and students from India on Tuesday (5) expressed concerns over a lack of clarity around the UK government's latest visa crackdown, branding the ban on family dependants as “unfair”. Home secretary James Cleverly tabled a five-point plan in parliament on Monday that would see foreign care…
The home secretary, James Cleverly, has introduced a series of measures aimed at reducing the influx of migrant workers and their dependents into the UK. Speaking to MPs on Monday, Cleverly expressed that the current level of migration is excessive and needs to be reduced. He said, “Today I can…
INDIA has ordered an investigation into allegations of a cash-for-kidney scam against a prominent Delhi hospital, official sources said on Tuesday (4). It follows a report in the Sunday Telegraph (3) which claimed “desperate young villagers” from Myanmar are flown to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and “paid to donate their kidneys…
The embattled Conservative government unveiled a raft of measures Monday aimed at cracking down on record levels of migration -- a key battleground in a general election expected next year. The UK announced it would raise the minimum salary threshold for a skilled worker visa and prevent overseas health and…
Racial justice is essential in all democracies and progressive societies, which seek to learn from historical examples of persecution, incarceration, and enslavement on the basis of race. Anti-slavery and civil rights movements in the North America and Europe led to greater freedoms, alongside campaigns to tackle gender disadvantage and discrimination.…
A report by MPs has concluded that NHS “inaction” over more than a decade is resulting in unnecessary deaths among black, Asian, and minority ethnic transplant patients. An inquiry into organ donation in the UK highlighted a “double whammy of inequity” faced by minority ethnic and mixed heritage individuals, The…
ANY “drastic” measures to cut immigration to the UK have the potential to “kill the economy”, a leading businessman has told Eastern Eye. Annual net migration hit a record of 745,000 last year and has stayed at elevated levels since, data showed last Thursday (23). Prime minister Rishi Sunak came…
At the Covid inquiry, Matt Hancock asserted that tens of thousands of lives might have been spared had the UK implemented a lockdown three weeks earlier. He described Boris Johnson’s Downing Street operation as affected by a "culture of fear." Hancock detailed instances of his staff encountering mistreatment from Dominic…
THE British Asian business community clearly has done well, as the Eastern Eye Asian Rich List 2024 shows. The entry point to get onto the list 13 years ago was £25 million. Last year it was £120m, and this year the figure has gone up to £125m. Even allowing for…
LEICESTER’S hospitals are set for a once-in-a-generation transformation to modernise services and improve care, writes Hannah Richardson. The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) revealed plans for the city’s three hospital sites, with huge changes set to be delivered by the end of the decade. Simon Barton, UHL’s deputy…
Foreign care workers invited to the UK to address staffing shortages are facing severe exploitation, with some being paid as little as £5 an hour while being charged exorbitant fees, The Guardian reported. A trade union, Unison, highlighted cases where workers were paid below the legal minimum wage, faced unexpected…
THE government and medical trade unions said on Monday (27) they had reached a deal which could see an end to months of disruptive strike action by senior doctors in England. The Department of Health and Social Care said the offer would reform the pay structure for senior doctors, known…
Senior Conservatives have raised concerns that Rishi Sunak's stance against human rights laws, potentially enabling the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda, might jeopardise the Northern Ireland peace process. These MPs echoed worries expressed by the White House, underscoring that Downing Street's reported intentions to disregard parts of the Human…
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new draft guidance for the NHS, suggesting that women dealing with problematic menopause symptoms should have the option of receiving talking therapy, specifically cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), in addition to or instead of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This guidance,…
THERE is a surge in Indian students accelerating visa applications to bring their dependents to the UK ahead of the government-imposed ban in January, The Telegraph reported. Education agents are capitalising on this trend, charging inflated prices to secure spots at UK universities before the impending Home Office deadline, which…
Researchers at Bangor University have discovered that individuals who strictly adhered to Covid lockdown measures during the pandemic are currently experiencing more pronounced mental health challenges. The study has revealed that those who initially followed the restrictions most closely when the pandemic began are now more prone to suffering from…
James Cleverly is the first-ever Black British home secretary, though no national newspaper noticed enough to devote even a sentence or two to that fact. It would surely have made headlines five years ago. No Black or Asian politician had held any great office of state before 2018. Yet Cleverly’s…
The UK's medicines regulator has given approval for a groundbreaking gene therapy, Casgevy, to potentially treat two hereditary blood disorders. This innovative treatment, designed for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, marks a significant milestone as the first licensed therapy using the CRISPR gene-editing tool, pioneered by Nobel Prize-winning inventors…
From next month, nearly half a million women in England will gain access to the contraceptive pill directly from pharmacies without requiring a GP appointment. The Pharmacy First scheme will also extend its services to include treatments for urinary infections and various common conditions, the BBC reported. NHS England highlighted…
The prime minister has shown that “he has a backbone” by sacking his controversial home secretary, south Asian Conservative parliamentarians and grassroots members have told Eastern Eye. Rishi Sunak fired Suella Braverman on Monday (13), five days after she wrote a Times newspaper article in which she criticised the Met…
The NHS will visit thousands of people in England’s lung cancer hotspots with giant inflatable lungs this month, to raise awareness of potential cancer symptoms and help catch cancer earlier. The Let’s Talk Lung Cancer roadshow, run between NHS England and Roy Castle Lung Foundation, kicks off as new survey…
To mark his 75th birthday, King Charles III hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace to honour Indian nurses, midwives, and global medical professionals dedicated to the NHS. Indians lead the estimated 150,000 international nurses and midwives currently working in the NHS, which is also celebrating its 75th anniversary year.…
In the UK, the state of cancer care has reached a critical point, and experts in the field are warning that patients may face fatal consequences due to the government's decision to eliminate a dedicated plan aimed at addressing the disease. With waiting times for NHS cancer treatment hitting a…
TO HER party, Suella Braverman was able to say things which the prime minister thought but could not voice. To his critics, Rishi Sunak was the man who stabbed Boris Johnson in the back and someone whose party did not elect him as its leader. Braverman gave him a shield…
HOSPITAL administrators are warning about plans to curtail additional bed openings due to a lack of funds, particularly during the winter months. NHS Providers, which represents managers, conveyed this message following the Treasury’s rejection of a plea for an additional £1 billion to cover strike-related costs. The group also mentioned…
Hospital administrators are issuing warnings about the necessity to curtail plans for additional bed openings due to a lack of funds, particularly for winter preparedness. NHS Providers, representing managers, conveyed this cautionary message following the Treasury's rejection of a plea for an additional £1 billion to cover strike-related costs. The…
PROMINENT British Asian GP, Dr Nikki Kanani, has announced that she will step down from her current role at NHS England next month after serving six years. She worked as the medical director for primary care overseeing the establishment of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and the formulation of a fresh…
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple) in North West London to partake in the Diwali festival on Monday (13). During this busy period, the Labour Leader received a guided tour from senior swamis and trustees, interacting with volunteers supporting the temple as…
KING CHARLES III turns 75 on Tuesday (14), showing no sign of a let-up in activity just over a year since he became king after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Halfway through his eighth decade, the head of state is due to spend the day carrying out…
NOTHING has been done to protect south Asian and black medical staff or patients, despite their disproportionate number of deaths during Covid, doctors have told Eastern Eye. They have warned that if a pandemic were to happen tomorrow, more people of colour would die unnecessarily. Medical experts have previously told…
Thousands of women facing a higher risk of breast cancer are set to receive aid through a risk-reducing drug, now approved for use by the NHS. The state-funded health service made the announcement on Tuesday (7), marking a significant step in preventing the disease. Anastrozole, a long-standing breast cancer treatment…
The support on offer for patients at their GP practice is expanding, thanks to thousands more healthcare staff working in local communities. NHS England is raising awareness of the support available, following a survey that reveals that almost one third (31%) of South Asian people in England are unaware of…
The prevalence of dementia in England and Wales is anticipated to nearly double, reaching 1.7 million by 2040, according to a study by University College London. This rise is occurring at a much faster rate than previously expected and is linked to widening social inequalities, obesity, and unhealthy lifestyles, The…
In a landmark independent review of services provided by NHS Talking Therapies it has been identified that psychotherapy services must be better tailored to meet the specific needs of Black and minoritised ethnic groups. Over a decade of anonymised patient data has revealed historical disparities in access and outcomes for…
Jasbir Pahal, a 44-year-old teaching assistant, and a mother of four, tragically died in November 2022, after experiencing a severe stroke during the weekend, an inquest has heard. Jasbir’s husband, Satinder Pahal accused the hospital of not promptly transferring her to a facility equipped with 24-hour treatments to remove blood…
FOREIGN doctors received lower pay and reduced benefits compared to their UK counterparts under a controversial scheme in English hospital trusts, an investigation has revealed. Doctors from outside the UK arrive at NHS trusts as ‘fellows’ under the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ medical training initiative (MTI) scheme, spending two-years…
In a tragic incident in Mumbai, India, a mother, and her young son from Aberdeen lost their lives in a fire on Monday (23). Dr Glory Valthaty, 43, and her eight-year-old son, Joshua, were visiting relatives when the building they were staying in (Veena Santoor) became enveloped in fire and…
DO not expect any more parties in Downing Street this week to mark the anniversary of Rishi Sunak becoming prime minister. It was an understated moment of British social history, as Britain’s first Asian prime minister walked into Number 10 alone, with a few words about fixing mistakes to get…
BBC broadcaster Naga Munchetty has told MPs her diagnosis of adenomyosis - where the womb's lining grows into its muscular walls - came decades after doctors dismissed her symptoms and told her to “suck it up” despite suffering from heavy periods, repeated vomiting and incapacitating pain. In her testimony before…
A HIGHER proportion of British Asian children are classed as overweight compared to other groups, according to government data. Experts have expressed concerns over the disproportionate number of youngsters of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin who are having weight problems when they turn 10 or 11. Some 36.2 per cent…
AS THE weather cools, people tend to see more of their friends and family indoors, which increases the risk of catching colds, flu and Covid-19. This is why the NHS has once again offered vaccines to those most vulnerable to infection. Dr Nikki Kanani, a GP and director of clinical…
QUANTEXA founder and chief executive Vishal Marria advocated that a domestic company with the “right intentions” should be hired to manage NHS data instead of awarding the contract to an American company. His London-based data analytics firm is attempting to strike a deal to link up hospital data where Palantir,…
RESEARCHERS have called on the government to prioritise funding towards analysing the impact of racism on mental health, saying countries such as the US were “way further ahead” in this area. A study by the Centre for Mental Health and King’s College London found that both past and present experiences…
NEW radical plans for the NHS are being rolled out across GP surgeries in England, which are now working with a wide range of health practitioners so you or a family member have access to the most efficient patient care. The introduction of over 29,000 new health and care staff…
The local hospital trust and the University of Leicester have collaborated to create a new pregnancy app tailored for south Asian women in Leicestershire. Named Janam, the app which was launched on Thursday (12) is available for free and offers pregnancy-related information in six languages. It features visual aids such…
THE NHS offers amazing opportunities to be a part of its inspiring team and kickstart a rewarding and illustrious career. With more than 350 varied and rewarding roles to choose from, the UK Government’s investment in better pay, and one of the UK’s best pension plans, the NHS offers you…
Noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, known for helming such iconic films as Mr. India (1987), Bandit Queen (1994), Elizabeth (1998), and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), was involved in an accident in Manchester. The BAFTA Award winner took to social media platform X to share the news with his fans and…
BRITISH Indians are among the happiest people in the country, who feel they have worthwhile lives, according to government research. They scored 7.67 in their average happiness score which was the second highest after the Asian Other category - compared to 7.64 for those of Bangladeshi origin, 7.57 for people…
TEAM captains at the cricket World Cup usually find it an advantage to bat second, to know what they must do to win the game. The 2023 party season broke with decades of political tradition by putting Rishi Sunak in to bat first, though the Liberals, Labour and the Conservatives…
THE shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said pharmacists were key to the modernisation of the NHS as he paid tribute to the sector at the annual Pharmacy Business Awards last Wednesday (4). Independent community pharmacists were in the spotlight at the event, which recognises the contribution of the sector in…
MEDICAL experts have voiced their outrage over an NHS training course that perpetuates racial stereotypes, with critics calling it "discriminatory" and "racist." The controversy surrounds a module within the course that suggests "Asian men" may avoid making eye contact during medical care because it is considered disrespectful in their culture,…
AS A first-time father, Tushar Srivastava struggled to keep track of routine health visits for his infant son and related parenting tasks, so he resorted to jotting them down on Excel. Soon, though, it became clear to him that other parents were in the same boat, so he came up…
WE SHOULD not forget that Covid took a terrible toll on the Asian community during the pandemic – and now, ominously, a new variant, BA.2.86, is making the rounds. “Honestly, we don’t know too much about it,” said my local pharmacist. Should masks again be mandatory on the London Underground…
A proposed visa fee hike announced by the government will become effective from Wednesday (4), when a visit visa for under six months will cost £15 more and student visas will be £127 more expensive for travellers from around the world, including Indians. Following the legislation tabled in Parliament last…
In anticipation of the winter season, individuals are being encouraged to receive flu vaccinations to alleviate the strain on the NHS. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a stark warning, emphasising the serious effects of the flu. According to data, during the 2022/23 winter, deaths from flu surpassed…
GOVERNMENT is set to increase visa fees and immigration health surcharges for migrants in a move aimed at generating additional revenue. However, a minister has expressed concerns that these increases may not effectively reduce record-high levels of immigration, reported The Times. From October 4, the cost of most visa and…
AMIR KHAN, the TV doctor, admits that he delved into parts of his own life in writing his first novel, How (Not) To Have An Arranged Marriage. Khan is a familiar figure to audiences, with regular appearances on Lorraine, This Morning and Good Morning Britain. He has also been in…
A PIONEERING Asian doctor who served in the NHS for nearly four decades and was a respected community leader passed away last week at the age of 96. Dr Shivkumar Oza MBBS, FRCS (Lon), was the general secretary of the Overseas Doctors Association in Nottingham and was known for supporting…
RISHI SUNAK was not at last year’s Conservative Party conference. Having lost the party leadership election, he kept a low profile in his Yorkshire constituency to not distract from then prime minister Liz Truss’s chance to set out her vision. A chaotic week of u-turns trying to contain the implosion…
A British Indian teenager, who died from a rare disease while in a legal fight with the NHS trust in the UK to allow her to travel abroad for an experimental trial that she hoped could prolong her life chances, has been named for the first time after court restrictions…
SEEMA MALHOTRA MP and healthcare workers have urged South Asians to sign up to become organ and stem cell donors at an event held in the House of Commons, a statement said. The awards ceremony was hosted by the MP to recognise the work of volunteers for Upahaar, a charity…
A nationwide survey released on Tuesday (19) ahead of Stoptober, a national annual quit smoking campaign has found that nearly all (95%) ex-smokers notice positive changes in their lives as early as two weeks after quitting. The quit smoking campaign, under the umbrella brand "Better Health Let's Do This," led…
THE lead of an independent review investigating into clashes in Leicester last year has refuted suggestions that the authorities overlooked decades of deepening divides in the city. Dozens of people were arrested after community tensions erupted in August and September 2022 and led incidents of vandalism and attacks on places…
A coroner has urged to implement the Martha's Rule following the tragic death of nine-year-old who succumbed to a Strep A infection shortly after being sent home from the hospital with a diagnosis of tonsillitis. Riya Hirani was discharged from Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow with instructions for over-the-counter pain…
The government has confirmed that an upcoming increase in visa fees will come into effect on October 4. Under the new pricing structure, visit visas for stays under six months will incur an additional cost of GBP 15, while student visas will see an increase of GBP 127 for applicants…
After the tragic death of a 16-year-old boy three days following the consumption of a protein shake, a coroner has recommended that health warnings be included on protein shake products. During the inquest, it was revealed that Rohan Godhania fell ill shortly after consuming a widely-used dietary supplement, commonly used…
THE government said on Thursday (14) it would invest £200 million of extra funding in the NHS to help boost its resilience during the busy winter months. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has made cutting NHS patient waiting lists one of his five top priorities ahead of a national election expected…
New research has suggested that depression may directly lead to the development of type 2 diabetes by causing inflammation in vital organs. Prior studies have shown that individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to experience depression. However, it remained uncertain whether depression caused type 2 diabetes, vice versa, or…
DESPITE a government crackdown on colourful vape products being marketed to children, the Tory party has received a substantial six-figure donation from a company associated with such vapes, the Times reported. In May, the Tory party recorded a £350,000 contribution from Supreme 8 Ltd, ranking as their third-largest donation in…
A new survey published last week by NHS England has revealed a lack of confidence among south Asians in recognising the symptoms of a heart attack, with nearly half (44%) in the community saying they were not confident that they could recognise the signs. Furthermore, almost half (48%) claimed they…
New research has revealed that a daily aspirin pill can reduce the risk of developing diabetes in old age. The study involved 16,209 healthy adults aged 65 and above in Australia and the US, with half of them taking a daily low dose of 100mg aspirin and the other half…
Women in England are being encouraged to actively participate in shaping reproductive health policy by sharing their personal experiences related to various issues. The government's initiative to conduct this survey follows a commitment made by ministers over a year ago to seek women's input on matters including periods, contraception, fertility,…
NOBODY knows whether Nigel Farage will try to play a prominent role in the next General Election. The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader is currently taking a break from electoral politics, to build his profile as a broadcaster both in Britain and America. Yet Farage has found an unusual…
JUNIOR and senior doctors in England plan to take joint strike action for the first time, the British Medical Association (BMA) union said on Thursday (31), threatening further disruption to the NHS in a long-running dispute over pay. The BMA, which represents nearly 200,000 doctors, said junior doctors in England…
A new pilot project supported by the NHS Race and Health Observatory was announced today (31) to increase the number of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority patients taking part in potentially life-enhancing breast cancer clinical trials. The project is in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, Roche Products Ltd, and two…
Laughter may benefit individuals with heart disease, a new study conducted in Brazil suggests. A team of scientists embarked on a groundbreaking clinical trial, investigating whether engaging in "laughter therapy" could mitigate the risk of heart attack and stroke. The study, involving adults diagnosed with coronary artery disease, revealed that…
THE head of a review into maternity care in Nottingham said there is a “recurring theme” of midwives not listening to women who say they are in labour, writes Anna Whittaker. Donna Ockenden is running the largest maternity review in NHS history at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH). As part…
THE NHS announced plans on Tuesday (29) to expand blood pressure checks to more locations within the community, including barbershops and places of worship. It is part of a major drive to prevent strokes and heart attacks. The NHS said it would apply the learning from its Covid vaccination programme…
THE trade deal between the UK and India is facing uncertainty due to disagreements over the former's request for stricter regulations on the manufacturing of affordable generic medicines, reported The Telegraph. India's negotiators have opposed the proposal to extend drug patents before allowing the production of less expensive alternatives. This…
The annual Vogue 25 list has been a platform to honour remarkable women who are driving British society forward since its establishment in 2018. According to British Vogue, this year's lineup is not only incredibly impressive but also features pioneering individuals achieving success on their own terms, including some renowned…
SENIOR NHS doctors in England will strike for three consecutive days during the ruling Conservative Party's annual conference in October, the British Medical Association (BMA) said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday. The strikes from Oct. 2-4 would be the longest period of action so far, the BMA said.…
KRISHNENDU MAJUMDAR has called a wrap after three years as chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), to be succeeded by his deputy, Sara Putt. Majumdar was the first nonwhite person to occupy the post since Bafta was set up 76 years ago on April 16,…
RACISM has no place in the National Health Service, the health secretary has told Eastern Eye. His comments come after doctors’ leaders made clear that medics of colour were more likely to face complaints and disciplinary hearings than their white colleagues. Two years ago (August 2021) this newspaper revealed that…
A UK-born Indian-origin consultant paediatrician at a hospital in northern England is among those who raised concerns and helped convict a nurse found guilty of killing seven babies by a UK court. Dr Ravi Jayaram, from the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, said some of those lives could have…
The NHS has congratulated local students receiving their A Level, T Level or BTEC results today, calling on anyone not sure of their career path to consider joining the NHS through the final remaining nursing and midwifery degree places available. Already this year, 31,430 people in England have signed up for a…
RISHI SUNAK has said his upcoming visit to India for a G20 summit early next month will be “special” as Britain’s first Asian prime minister returns to the homeland of his grandparents. Sunak is scheduled to travel to New Delhi in September – his first as prime minister since taking…
INDIAN high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, has said that a global Britain and an internationalist India must be closer partners in this age of geopolitical strife. "Fortunately, the foundation for ties that transcend our complex history exists: a living bridge of two million Indian-origin Britons, 950 Indian investor…
MINISTER for children, families and wellbeing, Claire Coutinho, could be made chief secretary to the Treasury next month when prime minister Rishi Sunak is expected to reshuffle his cabinet, a media report suggested. Coutinho MP would be a politically attractive appointment to succeed John Glen in the Treasury department, The…
Aiming to enhance early cancer detection, NHS authorities are set to eliminate approximately two-thirds of their cancer waiting time targets. The intention is to streamline the existing nine targets down to three, with the support of renowned cancer experts and the objective of modernising outdated standards, the BBC reported. However,…
Just days after he was announced as the eighth contestant of the much-anticipated Strictly Come Dancing, Adam Thomas has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a long-term health condition. The Waterloo actor, who has already begun his training as he joins Les Dennis, Bobby Brazier, Angela Rippon, and many…
A top medical professional has cautioned that the unyielding approach of prime minister Rishi Sunak, concerning healthcare workers' pay is likely to trigger additional strikes in the NHS. The British Medical Association (BMA) council chair, professor Philip Banfield, stressed that until a "credible offer," was received, medical practitioners may feel…
The government said the strike launched by hospital doctors in England on Friday (11) to demand a 35-per cent pay increase served "only to harm patients". The four-day stoppage comes with health chiefs estimating that the repeated industrial action had cost the health service £1 billion. The British Medical Association…
Walking 2,337 steps a day has been linked to a reduced risk of disease, challenging the popular notion of aiming for 10,000 steps for good health. Research indicates that as few as 2,337 daily steps can help lower the risk of premature death, and health benefits increase with higher step…
NHS and Care Volunteers Responders urgently call upon compassionate individuals to volunteer their time in collecting and delivering food shopping and prescriptions to vulnerable people in their local communities. Accessing essential items has become a significant challenge for many vulnerable individuals, making everyday activities like grocery shopping difficult or impossible.…
HOSPITAL doctors in England on Friday (11) launched a new walkout in a dispute with the government over pay in the latest strike action to hit the NHS.The four-day strike by junior doctors comes amid record patient waiting times due to a large pandemic backlog and strikes across the economy…
Switching to a vegetarian diet for several months has the potential to decrease the susceptibility to heart attacks and strokes, a study shows. The research involved nearly 2,000 individuals with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, who abstained from consuming meat for an average period of…
A study has revealed that England's screening programme has successfully averted 20,000 instances of bowel cancer over the course of a decade. The initiative, which initially targeted individuals aged 60 and above, since 2006, is now set to extend its reach to those aged 50 and older starting in 2025.…
AS part of the October booster programme, free coronavirus and flu vaccines will be extended to individuals aged 65 and above, as well as to health and social care workers and adults with weakened immune systems. Eligible people can receive the vaccine at GP surgeries and pharmacies. The eligibility requirements…
SENIOR doctors in England plan to strike again in September unless the government agrees to more pay negotiations, their union said on Monday (7). But the health department restated that its last pay offer was "final." The NHS has been disrupted by healthcare workers walking out in demand of pay…
AROUND one million people will get heart and lung tests under the new NHS scheme which plans to clear record waiting backlogs, The Telegraph reported. The new plan allows GPs to refer more patients directly for checks for heart disease and common lung conditions without referring them to a specialist. According…
First Minister of Wales, Prof Mark Drakeford MS, recognised Professor Hasmukh Shah BEM for his long-standing service to the NHS at a BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) event in Wales last Sunday (30). Shah has worked for almost 50 years in NHS and was recognised for his…
First minister Humza Yousaf of Scotland has unveiled a plan for citizenship and passports in the event of an independent Scotland. The proposal, titled "Citizenship in an independent Scotland," outlines the rights and entitlements of citizens, migrants, and British nationals following the country's potential departure from the union. The prospectus…
PEOPLE from an ethnic minority with learning disabilities have a life expectancy that is almost half that of their white counterparts, a survey has shown, sparking calls for a “quantum change” in care provided to the group. Research by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, published on Tuesday (25), found…
England is expected to witness a surge in the number of people living with major health conditions, which will rise nine times faster than the healthy working-age population, according to projections by the Health Foundation. The analysis reveals that by 2040 nearly one in five people will have health conditions…
IT WAS fun catching Shomit Dutta’s play, Stumped, at Hampstead Theatre before the run ended. The two-hander involves an entertaining, though not always friendly, conversation between the great Nobel Prize winning playwrights, Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett, played by Andrew Lancel and Stephen Tompkinson respectively, as they wait in a…
LABOUR’S failure to take former prime minister Boris Johnson’s old parliamentary seat in the by-election last week shows the party still has a long way to go to win power, leader Sir Keir Starmer said last Saturday (22). The party won in Selby and Ainsty, a once-safe Conservative parliamentary seat…
A NATIONAL exhibition celebrating the role of migrants in the NHS opened in Leicester in June and will tour the country later in the year. The Migration Museum’s Heart of the Nation aims to highlight the contribution of those who moved to the UK to work in the NHS, which…
A 16-year-old resident of Ealing, west London, named Rohan Godhania tragically died after drinking a protein shake he purchased from a supermarket on August 15, 2020. Rohan fell ill after consuming the protein shake and died three days later, succumbing to irreversible brain damage due to a rare genetic condition…
Senior Conservatives are advising Rishi Sunak, to consider calling for a spring election next year. Campaign strategists within the party believe that this plan is gaining momentum and could potentially help minimise losses in the wake of Thursday's byelections, where the Tories experienced a significant swing against them. The idea…
THE government on Saturday (22) announced a significant package of new measures to boost the health and wellbeing of women and girls, a statement said. To mark the first anniversary of Women’s Health Strategy, a raft of actions are also being taken to support women and their families who are…
The British Medical Association (BMA) consultants committee chairman, Dr Vishal Sharma, has suggested that a pay rise of approximately 12% for NHS consultants could potentially end the ongoing strikes. Dr Sharma said that any offer above inflation would be sufficient to present to BMA members. The comments were made in…
ENGLISH hospitals were braced on Thursday (20) for the latest doctors' strike to hit the state-run health service, with managers warning it will leave "routine care virtually at a standstill". The two-day strike by consultants comes amid record patient waiting times due to a vast pandemic backlog and multiple strikes…
A new drug called donanemab has emerged as a potential breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's, following a global trial that confirms its ability to slow cognitive decline, the BBC reported. This antibody medicine targets a specific protein that accumulates in the brains of those with Alzheimer's during the early…
A NEW study has found black and Asian women are experiencing higher rates of stillbirth at Derby and Burton’s hospitals, writes Eddie Bisknell. It comes three months after Derbyshire officials said ethnicity was not felt to be a factor in rising local stillbirth rates. Data from the University Hospitals of…
BRITAIN’S oldest medical union last Saturday (15) criticised government plans to increase the amount migrant workers pay to use the NHS, in order to cover public-sector wage increases. Prime minister Rishi Sunak last week approved recommendations to boost wages of teachers, doctors and police by between five and seven per…
Eastern Eye can reveal that the Indian High Commission has written to a UK university urging it to investigate claims of racism and discrimination made by students from its country. It follows complaints from more than 80 learners from India at Leicester’s De Montfort University (DMU). The High Commission sent…
A review conducted by the NHS Race and Health Observatory has raised concerns about the focus on skin colour in routine health checks for newborns. The Apgar score, traditionally used to assess a baby's health immediately after birth, includes checking whether the baby is "pink all over," but the report…
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported a rise in measles cases across London, with two-thirds of cases in England occurring in the capital in the last six months. In England, one out of every ten children lack full protection from both doses of the MMR vaccine, and in…
SENIOR doctors in England will hold two days of strikes in August, their union - the British Medical Association (BMA) - said on Monday (17), dismissing a six per cent pay rise announced by the government last week as a "savage" real-terms wage cut. Consultant-level doctors in Britain's publicly funded…
Critics have slammed Rishi Sunak's plan to fund a public sector pay rise by increasing fees charged to migrants for visa applications and NHS access. Unison which represents 1.3 million public service workers and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants call the policy "deeply unfair" and "deliberately divisive,"…
The fees and health surcharge paid towards the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) by visa applicants from around the world, including Indians, are poised to experience a "significant" increase, according to prime minister Rishi Sunak's announcement on Thursday (13). The British Indian leader, who faced pressure to implement the…
Politicians, researchers and pharmacy leaders called on the government to make community pharmacy a "fundamental" part of clinical services at an event at the House of Commons on Wednesday (13). At the launch of a research publication carried out by the University of Bath in conjunction with Sigma Pharmaceuticals, community…
DOCTORS in England on Thursday (13) staged the biggest walkout in the history of the UK's state-funded National Health Service, prompting fears for patient safety. The unprecedented five-day stoppage over pay and staff retention is the latest in eight months of industrial action across the NHS, which is already reeling…
On the NHS's 75th birthday, a major fundraising campaign was launched to improve the maternity building at Northwick Park Hospital, supported by a £500,000 donation from Lord Swraj Paul. Having been introduced to the hospital by local MP Barry Gardiner, the entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Lord Paul, formed a close connection…
THE LABOUR candidate to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has said the former prime minister played a part in ethnic minorities losing “trust in democracy and public life”. Danny Beales is the Labour candidate for the byelection in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which became…
A new poll revealed that half of Scots believe the first minister is doing a bad job, while only a small minority (23 per cent) believe that he is performing well. According to the YouGov survey, fewer than a fifth of voters said that Humza Yousaf is performing well in key…
LEVELS of racism in the NHS are unacceptable, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned, as he cautioned that institutional racism “harms patients and drives psychiatrists and other health practitioners out” of the health service. In his valedictory address as president, Dr Adrian James also criticised employers…
THE NHS is the closest thing that the English people have to a religion, former Chancellor Nigel Lawson once complained. Did last week’s Westminster Abbey service to mark the National Health Service’s 75th birthday not rather prove his point? “We gather in thanksgiving for both the grace of God and…
In a significant development towards advancing cancer treatments, the UK government has forged a major agreement with BioNTech SE, renowned for its collaboration with Pfizer in developing a Covid-19 vaccine. The primary objective of this agreement is to propel the development of revolutionary cancer treatments. Expanding upon a previous memorandum…
RACISM within the NHS costs the health service an estimated £2.3 billion a year, the former head of the British Medical Association (BMA) has told Eastern Eye, as he warned such discrimination also led to patient safety being compromised. A recent BMA survey said racism is “widespread” within the medical workforce.…
Research suggests that taking vitamin D supplements later in life can reduce the risk of heart attacks. In the largest trial of its kind, a five-year study involving 21,315 Australians aged 60 to 84 was conducted. The participants were randomly assigned to either a group that received a monthly tablet…
MOST of us know someone in our family who has suffered from diabetes, or cancer, or had a heart attack or stroke. Doctors have known for a long time that south Asians are more susceptible to certain diseases. For example, we’re five times more likely than white people to develop…
I LEARNT about the really hot Naga chillis, which have their origins in Bangladesh, at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival from Joy Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds in Dorchester. Chillis apparently have their hotness measured by the Scoville scale, abbreviated to SHU. By this measure of heat…
THE NHS in England will get more than 300,000 staff under a new plan announced by the government last Friday (30) to deal with a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses. The NHS, which marked its 75th birthday on Wednesday (5), is facing an estimated workforce shortfall of 360,000 by…
Britain celebrates 75 years of its National Health Service (NHS) on Wednesday (05), with royals, politicians, staff, and patients who all express pride in its past and a firm determination that it will endure in the future, despite the challenges it currently faces. Launched on July 5, 1948, by a…
A KETTERING man who “squeezed the life out” of his wife and two children has been jailed for life with a minimum of 40 years in custody. Saju Chelavalel, originally from the south Indian state of Kerala, strangled Anju Asok, 35 to death with a dressing gown cord before killing…
Leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has revealed a new memorial dedicated to his late wife, Lady Aruna Paul, at London Zoo. Alongside this unveiling, he also made a significant announcement of a GBP 1 million donation to the University of Wolverhampton. The donation will be used for constructing a new…
A group of Conservative MPs called on prime minister Rishi Sunak on Monday (3) to do more to cut immigration, saying he risked further eroding the trust of voters who lent the party their vote in 2019 if he failed to take action. The group of MPs, many elected for…
THE National Health Service (NHS) in England will get more than 300,000 staff under a new plan announced by the government on Friday (30) to deal with a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses. The publicly funded NHS, which marks its 75th birthday on Wednesday (5), is facing an estimated…
THE Windrush generation helped build the NHS in the face of prejudice and systemic racism, issues that still exist today, health leaders said, as they called for “robust action” to address inequalities. Senior leaders of the NHS attended an event in London last Thursday (22) to celebrate the 75-year contribution…
I CAME to this country from Guyana in 1963. I was five years-old and it took two weeks on a ship to get here. I came here with my aunty Babs (Barbara Dettering) who is one of the Saints of Bristol. If you go to Bristol, you will see my…
SENIOR doctors in English hospitals are to stage industrial action for only the third time, forcing the cancellation of routine operations for patients, their union announced on Tuesday (27). Consultant doctors will strike on July 20 and 21 to press the government for better pay - just after a five-day…
THE most number of care workers sponsored for work visas in UK were from India (33 per cent), followed by Zimbabwe (16 per cent), Nigeria (15 per cent) and the Philippines (11 per cent), a new report has revealed. The study by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford…
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Britain's main nursing trade union, on Tuesday (27) announced that it had been unable to obtain a new mandate for strike action in England. This development temporarily ends the possibility of additional strikes by tens of thousands of nurses, which has already disrupted a…
The Migration Museum is set to launch "Heart of the Nation: Migration and the Making of the NHS," a national touring exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS). The exhibition will debut at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery on June 30, 2023. It aims to highlight the…
A recently released report, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service (NHS), highlights that the UK's performance on crucial health metrics is a matter of "serious concern" and falls behind comparable countries. The report, conducted by the King's Fund charity, examined the health systems of 19 similar nations.…
Kabir Garg, a 33-year-old junior doctor from Lewisham, south-east London, has been sentenced to six years in jail for his role in operating a chat site on the dark web dedicated to sharing child sexual abuse images. Garg, who worked as a psychiatrist for the South London and Maudsley NHS…
A WEST BROMWICH crime group which abused government-backed Covid loans to run a drugs empire during pandemic lockdowns has been jailed. The 10-member gang, led by Kamaljit Singh Chahal and his nephew Bhipon Chahal, used a ‘Thank You NHS’ van to transport heroin and cocaine across the West Midlands to…
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York has emphasised the importance of cancer screenings following her own experience with the disease. The 63-year-old, who was previously married to Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles, recently underwent successful surgery after breast cancer was detected during a routine mammogram screening. According to…
The contribution of migrants from the Caribbean and the rest of the Commonwealth is being celebrated on Thursday (22) as the UK marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship bringing workers from the West Indies. Known as the "Windrush generation", thousands of people came to…
Health officials have issued a warning about a heart disease emergency in England, calling for prioritisation of NHS heart care due to the occurrence of nearly 100,000 excess deaths since March 2020. Disturbing figures from official government data indicate that more than 500 individuals are losing their lives unnecessarily each…
MAJOR events will be held across Britain this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Windrush on Thursday (22), a statement said. As part of the celebrations, the Windrush flag is being raised in more than 200 locations across England and Wales, including at the Houses of…
THE Father and the Assassin, which was staged at the National Theatre in May last year – and won Indhu Rubasingham Eastern Eye’s Art Culture and Theatre Award (ACTA) for best director – is returning later this year. Written by Anupama Chandrasekhar, the play looks at Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on…
The decision by the British government to extend the delay on implementing rules that would prohibit multi-buy deals on high-fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) foods and drinks has generated disappointment among health campaigners. They argue that this postponement will not contribute to the financial relief of struggling families. On Saturday…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has revealed how he shared barfi (Indian sweets) made by his mother with Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Ukrainian president's recent visit to Downing Street. Sunak, 43, posted a reel last weekend on his official Instagram account of an interview during which he shared the moment his…
ENGLAND’S world cup winning cricketer Adil Rashid is among the British Asian names recognised in King Charles’s inaugural Birthday Honours List announced today. With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 11 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, the list showcases the immense…
HOW do you solve a problem like Boris? Rishi Sunak will hope to have fewer political headaches once the former prime minister leaves parliament, but will know we will all be hearing much more from Johnson. His statement resigning as an MP was one of his more Trumpian moments -…
With the next UK general election looming over the horizon, upwardly-mobile British Indians will be a critical voter constituency in various parts of the country. In recent times, there has been a fraying of relations between the wider British Indian population and the Labour Party. In the 2015 general election,…
Hospital doctors in England have embarked on a new 72-hour strike over pay, commencing on Wednesday (14). This action has raised concerns among health officials, who anticipate significant disruptions to patient care and healthcare services. The strike, led by junior doctors below the consultant level, commenced at 7:00 am (0600…
Leading doctors have called for all hospitals to start providing appointment letters in other languages to prevent patients whose first language is not English getting a delayed diagnosis. It comes after a report found that NHS trusts often send letters about radiology appointments only in English and expect a patient’s…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak standing up to Boris Johnson could be the making of him as a leader, an Asian parliamentarian told Eastern Eye. Sunak on Monday (12) revealed that his predecessor had asked him to “do something that I wasn't prepared to do,” in relation to the latter’s resignation…
SIR IVAN MENEZES, alcoholic drinks giant Diageo’s long-serving Indian-origin chief executive, has passed after surgery on a stomach ulcer. He was 63. His death came on Monday (5) with his family at his side, the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka said in a statement, crediting him for…
The UK government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at improving accessibility to obesity drugs and reducing waiting lists in the National Health Service (NHS). Valued at £40 million ($50 million), this two-year pilot programme seeks to explore innovative ways of providing obesity medications to individuals outside of hospital settings,…
“IT has been an extraordinary journey,” said Alford Gardner, once a 21-year-old former Royal Air Force (RAF) serviceman returning to seek work in Britain and now navigating, in his mid-90s, becoming a crucial living link to an iconic moment in the making of modern Britain. Gardner is one of the…
A major NHS trial has shown promising results for a blood test that can detect over 50 types of cancer, researchers from Oxford University said. According to media reports, the test accurately identified two-thirds of cancers among 5,000 individuals who had visited their GP with suspected symptoms in England or…
SCOTTISH first minister Humza Yousaf was accused of 'incompetence' after latest figures revealed a 39 per cent increase in the number of patients dying on waiting lists, reported The Times. Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, said that the fundamental basis of our National Health Service (NHS) was founded on the…
Have you ever been in a rut with your health and fitness? Perhaps you’ve lost the zest for life and don’t feel like yourself. Or maybe you don’t have time to get to the gym, but you’d like to feel fitter, healthier, and more energised? Most of us have been…
Britain's proposed illegal migration law will lead to more people missing vital medical treatment for fear of detention, large bills and deportation, say charities and health workers. The Illegal Migration Bill, currently making its way through parliament, would prevent tens of thousands of migrants arriving in the country via irregular…
Diabetes UK and Tesco recently launched a campaign during Diabetes Prevention Week (22-28 May 2023), urging men aged 40 and under to take a free and simple check to assess their risk of type 2 diabetes. The campaign emphasised the importance of proactive measures and not waiting for symptoms to…
Individuals with type 2 diabetes may benefit from exercising in the afternoon rather than the morning, to effectively control their blood sugar levels, research suggests. A team from Harvard Medical School conducted a study involving 2,416 patients who were encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles. The participants were divided into groups…
HEALTH secretary Steve Barclay said on Sunday (28) that the government would not negotiate on pay with the nurses' union, as the threat of further strikes looms. The government's offer, which includes a one-off payment equivalent to 2 per cent of salaries in the 2022/23 financial year and a 5…
INDIANS top the tally of skilled worker and student visas issued by the UK over the past year, according to official immigration statistics released on Thursday (25). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data collated by the UK Home Office shows that Indians were the top nationality for cross-sector skilled…
NHS doctors and nurses, who are not getting the salary rises they think they deserve – and I am, like most of the public, sympathetic to their cause – are threatening to quit Britain for the sunny beach life of Australia where their wages will apparently double overnight. There are…
Ministers are looking at the future of community pharmacy in England in a “bigger way” and have a vision to go “beyond the Scotland model”, the CEO of the Pharmaceutical Service Negotiating Committee has said. Community pharmacy in England has long campaigned for a Scotland-style “Pharmacy First” service which allows…
Britain recruited a record number of international nurses in the last financial year to plug hospital staffing shortages, with as many as 10 per cent coming from so-called 'red-list' countries where health staff should not be actively recruited. Britain has long hired from abroad to staff its state-run National Health…
How much is immigration mainly a question of numbers? Record levels of net migration certainly create a political headache for the Prime Minister. The figure was just over half a million, when the statistics were last published six months ago. This week’s statistics, published on Thursday, will be higher still. They…
Junior doctors in England, represented by the British Medical Association (BMA), have announced plans to hold additional strikes in June. Following the collapse of pay negotiations with the government on Monday (22) without a resolution, the doctors’ union said the strikes will take place from June 13 to 17. The…
A councillor has made history as Coventry’s first Lord Mayor to wear a turban in a move hailed as an example of the city’s diversity, reports Ellie Brown. Born in the Punjab region of India, councillor Jaswant Singh Birdi moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has served as a…
On Friday (19), Google emerged victorious in a lawsuit filed on behalf of 1.6 million individuals regarding the transfer of medical records from a UK hospital trust to the US tech giant. The Royal Free London NHS Trust, an entity within the public National Health Service (NHS), had shared patient…
The Chase star Paul Sinha says he is “fighting as hard as ever” in his Parkinson’s battle - as he makes his Loose Men debut. The comedian, 52, was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological disorder in May 2019, after he experienced the symptom of a “sudden-onset, frozen right shoulder”. During…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is “committed” to reducing legal migration into the UK although he did not set any target for his government. The annual net migration into Britain was 226,000 in 2019 which Sunak’s predecessor Boris Johnson pledged to reduce. But the figure is expected to…
The UK on Thursday (18) launched a call for evidence to invite views on how best to prevent, early diagnose, treat, and manage the six major groups of conditions, a statement said. It will inform a Major Conditions Strategy and will help people to stay in better health for longer,…
British Indian children are being diagnosed with autism nearly two years later on average than white British youngsters, according to a new study. Toddlers of Indian origin in the UK were diagnosed at 68 months, compared to 48 months for their white counterparts. Researchers also found that British Indian parents…
A new exhibition in London will explore the untold history of the Indo-Caribbean community, its curator has said, as she hoped the display would become a starting point for people to learn and research further. As a part of its 20th anniversary, the Museum of London Docklands will this weekend…
A trade union representing senior doctors in England said its members had begun voting on Monday (15) on whether to take industrial action after the government failed to put forward a "satisfactory" offer on pay. The British Medical Association (BMA) is urging consultant doctors to vote in favour of strike…
The coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday (7) featured the Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor, the Punjabi poet Daljit Nagra and several Asian women in bright pink outfits from the Bradford-based SongGeet choir. The “wonderful Sonam Kapoor”, described as “one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars”, introduced a virtual choir from…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who worked in his mother's pharmacy as a young boy growing up in Southampton, was back in his hometown on Tuesday (9) to unveil plans for an expanded role for pharmacists with the aim of reducing wait times for patients wanting to see a GP. Sunak,…
The government has urged those who have not yet received their first and/or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to do so before the offer ends on June 30. The NHS vaccination programme has already administered over 146 million Covid-19 jabs across England, with 40 million adults receiving both dose.…
A new study published on Friday (5) revealed that only one NHS Trust offers training to its staff focused on how to intervene when they witness sexual harassment at work. The research published in JRSM Open was based on responses from 199 NHS Trusts received by Dr Sarah Steele of…
RISHI SUNAK acknowledged the Muslim community’s “incredible contribution” to the UK as the prime minister hosted an Eid reception at Downing Street on Wednesday (3). British Muslims are helping the country succeed in a wide range of fields including business, sports, NHS and armed forces, he said. Sunak, whose private…
The Conservatives, led by prime minister Rishi Sunak, are anticipating significant losses in Thursday's (4) local council elections, marking their first major electoral challenge since Sunak assumed leadership in the midst of a tumultuous period last year, which saw the UK with its third leader in a matter of weeks.…
Nurses in England walked out again on Monday (1), with some critical services due to be hit for the first time. The industrial action is the latest stoppage in an increasingly bitter dispute with the government over pay and conditions. The 28-hour strike, which started at 8:00 pm on Sunday…
The UK government on Monday (24) said it was applying for a court order to stop a strike by nurses in the state-run National Health Service from going ahead. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he was acting on a request from NHS Employers, which represents hospital groups in England and…
For the second year in a row, on May 1st, 2023, some of the best comedians in the circuit will gather at Leicester Sq Theatre in London to raise money for Sikh Your Mind, a mental health charity that aims to increase awareness of mental health difficulties within the Sikh…
A breakthrough study by Diabetes UK, called the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT), has found that going on an 800-calorie-a-day “soup and shake” diet for three months can permanently reverse type 2 diabetes. After adhering to the daily diet for three months and successfully maintaining their weight loss, patients were…
A cross-party Parliament committee has criticised the lack of information on Britain's ongoing negotiations with India for a free trade agreement (FTA). The House of Commons International Trade Committee said on Friday (21) that in many cases, it gleaned more detail on the talks from reports in the Indian media…
Books like Preventable: How a Pandemic Changed the World & How to Stop the Next One become essential reading because they are so timely. The best-seller from Devi Sridhar, now available in paperback, highlights past pandemics and traces the Covid-19 outbreak, from its detection in Wuhan, China, to its devastating…
THE BRITISH Gujarati community is home to some of the great success stories of modern Britain. The largest part of the British Indian community in the UK, British Gujaratis have remarkable family stories that also tell the story of Britain’s changing relationship with India over the past 150 years. I…
Ministers have been asked to set a definitive target to eliminate “appalling” disparities in maternal deaths as research has shown that black women are almost four times more likely to die from childbirth than white women. The Women and Equalities Committee also said on Tuesday (18) the government and NHS…
The British government has announced that approximately 4,000 UK Armed Forces veterans and healthcare workers will be provided with a premier vantage point across from Buckingham Palace in London during the Coronation of King Charles III. A specially constructed grandstand will accommodate around 3,800 seats, where military veterans, employees from…
Nurses in England have rejected an offer of a five per cent pay rise and set out plans for further strikes, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's attempts to end the dispute and potentially further straining the country's health service. About 54 per cent of nurses who took…
An Indian-origin mastermind of a fake designer clothing scam has been convicted of tax fraud in the UK. Socks manufacturer Arif Patel, 55, was accused of trying to steal around £97 million through VAT repayment claims on false exports of textiles and mobile phones with the help of a criminal…
Junior doctors in Britain began a four-day strike on Tuesday (11) over pay that is likely to cause unprecedented disruption to the health service, prompting the government to warn of a risk to patient safety. Tens of thousands of junior doctors — qualified physicians who make up nearly half of…
A new research has underscored the disparities in mental health support for South Asian patients with kidney disease, a statement said. The study from the University of Hertfordshire recommended specialist, culturally-adapted approaches for patients who face barriers in accessing mental health screening and care. According to the research, South Asians…
Nearly 900 nurses could be recruited from overseas in just four years by Swansea Bay University Health Board to plug workforce shortages and staff new operating theatres. A report said the health board was on track to employ 350 overseas nurses in 2022-23, having hit a target of 130 the…
England has rolled out a spring campaign to vaccinate its most vulnerable population against Covid-19 as infections have increased to their highest level this year.Some five million people, including those aged 75 and more as well as anyone having a weakened immune system, are eligible for the jab, the NHS…
Supermarket chain Asda has allowed its employees to keep track of their earnings in real-time and access their pay flexibly to cope with the cost-of-living pressures.It has tied up with the financial wellbeing app Wagestream to enable its 140,000 workers to get paid up to 50 per cent of their…
Healthcare support workers in the NHS play a vital role in providing excellent care to patients, so if you want to gain experience in the NHS it’s a great place to start. There are over 30 different types of roles available across all NHS care settings from hospitals, GP practices, people’s homes…
East London-based food wholesaler Wanis International Foods has been honoured by the Business Champions Awards for its community and charity work. They won the Business Community Award, presented by BBC news legend Huw Edwards. Trading for nearly six decades, Wanis has been recognised for their strong record of charitable and…
Sir Ivan Menezes, who on Tuesday (28) announced his retirement as Diageo CEO, has been credited for transforming the company into the world’s leading producer of premium drinks.Under his leadership, it accounted for 10 per cent (£2 billion) of the UK’s total food and drinks exports. It has sales in…
A review of one of England's largest NHS trusts has revealed a toxic work environment and repeated instances of bullying. The Bewick report was commissioned after BBC Newsnight reported that staff at University Hospitals Birmingham felt a culture of fear had compromised patient care. Among the report's criticisms was the…
Scotland's next first minister Humza Yousaf has pledged to deliver independence for his country and return it to the European Union. In his acceptance speech on Monday (27), when he became the first Asian elected to lead the Scottish National Party (SNP), Yousaf also paid tribute to his grandparents and…
Singer Bombay Jayashri Ramnath suffered a "health setback" in the UK, her spokesperson said on Friday. According to the statement posted on the renowned singer's Instagram Stories, Jayashri Ramnath, who is in the country for a music tour, received "timely medical intervention" from the National Health Service (NHS) and is…
BRITAIN’S pharmacy sector is in crisis and at risk of a significant collapse, according to Janet Morrison, chief of the team that negotiates pharmacy’s national contract with the government. Pharmacy, which relies heavily on income from prescriptions, cannot afford to “carry on with the current format of a contract…
A major study has suggested that feeding babies a spoonful of peanut butter before they reach six months old can prevent up to three-quarters of peanut allergies. The prevalence of peanut allergies has increased threefold in recent years, with one in 50 children in the UK now affected and susceptible…
WITH their heroic work done during the Covid-19 pandemic and underfunding that has led to strikes, the National Health Service (NHS) has been at the forefront of people’s minds. More people than ever before have been appreciative of the amazing work done by the NHS and that is why heart-warming…
Unions representing healthcare workers in England agreed a final pay offer with the British government on Thursday (16), potentially bringing an end to some strikes affecting the state-run National Health Service (NHS). Prime minister Rishi Sunak has been under growing pressure to quell the worst run of worker unrest in…
WHETHER it is the timely subject of the National Health Service (NHS) being pushed to breaking point by an unforgiving government or an interesting cast that sees a young British Asian actor has a prominent role, among acting legends, there are a lot of interesting aspects associated with Allelujah. This…
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, based at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, also popularly known as the ‘Neasden Temple’ in London, observed International Women's Day (IWD) by hosting an inspiring conference on Sunday (12). The organisation's celebration of IWD (celebrated on 8th March every year) demonstrates its ongoing commitment to women…
A survey has revealed that more than 30 per cent of NHS staff often thought about leaving, and 17 per cent wanted to quit as soon as they find another job, a media report said. The health service’s 2022 survey said that the number of 'unsatisfied' employees at NHS reached…
FED UP with a government he says doesn't care, Poh Wang plans to go on strike with tens of thousands of other British junior doctors next week, saying he is overworked, underpaid and burdened with a student loan he cannot imagine paying off. The 28-year-old says he and his colleagues…
THIS National Careers Week, the 'We Are the NHS' campaign is highlighting the inspiring stories of senior South Asian staff and the exciting and varied nursing roles available across the NHS. When Asha Day’s younger siblings were born prematurely, she knew she had to step up to help her mother.…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak, Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham and pathbreaking lawyer Ayesha Vardag were among the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (7). Sunak took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award for smashing through the ultimate glass ceiling by…
MEMBERS of the Muslim community had the lowest rates of suicide in England and Wales in the past decade, latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed. A survey published on Monday (6) also found that the rates of suicide were lower across the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish,…
THE York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has made offers to 107 medical staff following a recruitment trip to Kerala. A report presented to the board stated that following the recruitment trip to Kerala, India, the trust has made offers to 97 registered nurses (RN) and 10 allied…
THE mortality rates for different ethnic communities continued to decline between January and November 2022, when Omicron was the dominant Covid variant, the new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed. During the period, mortality rates decreased for males and females from the Bangladeshi, black Caribbean, Pakistani and Other…
RISHI SUNAK had the best day of his premiership to date on Monday (27), unveiling his renegotiated Brexit deal in Windsor. It is just over a century since the Royal proclamation of 1917 rebranded the House of Saxe-Coburg as the House of Windsor and Sunak clearly took inspiration from that…
NURSES in England will pause planned strike action to enter "intensive talks" with the British government on pay and conditions, both sides said on Tuesday (21), in the first sign of a break in a long-running dispute. Britain is experiencing its largest wave of strike action in decades, involving hundreds…
NOMINATIONS are now open for the Coronation Champions awards for volunteers organised by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and supported by the Queen Consort, statement said. The awards will celebrate extraordinary volunteers across the country who have been contributing to their communities. Individuals, charities and organisations can submit nominations for…
Professor Meghana Pandit, who was appointed as the interim chief executive officer (CEO) of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in July last year, has now been made permanent with effect from March 1. The Council of Governors of trust approved her appointment. Pandit's appointment on a permanent basis came…
Free sugars refer to sugars that are added to a food by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer, as well as sugars that occur naturally in honey, syrups, and unsweetened fruit juice. It's important to note that free sugars do not include the sugars that are naturally present in whole fruits…
The results of a survey conducted by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) have revealed that pharmacists in England are reporting that the rising cost of living is affecting patients' ability to pay for their prescribed medications. According to the RPS, the survey was conducted among its community pharmacist members in…
Health justice lawyer Priti Krishtel was named along with four other US-based experts last week to the O’Neill-Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination and Global Health. The three-year commission, the secretariat of which is based out of the O'Neill Institute at Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC, includes almost 20…
Representatives from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and regional partners said on Monday that they are planning a visit to India this month to explore "sustainable routes” for workforce recruitments from Kerala, the biggest supplier of nursing graduates to the UK. Health Education England (HEE), part of the NHS…
A government review into Home Office’s hostile environment policies has revealed that it had disproportionately affected people of colour in UK. The report said that Indians, Pakistanis, Nigerians and Bangladeshis were most likely to be affected by these policies rather than Albanians and Brazilians who are the top five nationalities…
Kourtney Kardashian Barker, a well-known American TV personality, has been involved in the wellness sector for some time. However, her recent launch of a vitamin and supplement line under the brand Lemme Purr has faced a lot of flak on social media. The latest addition to the line is a…
Chandulal Parekh, 94, from Stanmore has become one of the first patients to be treated on a virtual ward for diabetes at Northwick Park Hospital, London, a statement said. The initiative is part of government’s recent announcement that it wants at least 10,000 patients being treated at home in ‘virtual…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday (7) urged Londoners to give blood as hundreds of new donors are needed every day to help patients in the capital, a statement said. Khan worked with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to host the first ever blood drive at the Royal Docks on…
An NHS double-decker bus will be touring the country from Monday, to help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and to encourage people to visit their GP for potentially lifesaving checks if they have a symptom. In partnership with Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator,…
A number of Indian medical experts on Monday supported calls from an eminent British Indian cardiologist for a full safety review into the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, administered in India as Covishield, over feared serious side effects such as heart attack and stroke. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a National…
Going to the bathroom 'just in case' before a long car ride or big walk is a common practice, but a pelvic floor specialist has warned that it may not be good for the bladder in the long run, despite providing peace of mind, the Mirror reports. The expert has…
Rishi Sunak has spoken of his motivation behind taking on the top job at 10 Downing Street in the wake of intense political turmoil last year as his “dharma”. In a televised interview with ‘Talk TV’ host Piers Morgan at his Downing Street home to mark 100 days in the…
Rishi Sunak marked his 100th day in office as the first non-white British Prime Minister on Thursday with a slick new video for social media pledging to deliver change, amidst multiple challenges, including spiralling inflation. The UK's first Indian-origin Prime Minister took charge at 10 Downing Street a day after…
Rhinoplasty, often called a "nose job," is a surgical procedure to alter the shape of the nose by reshaping the bone or cartilage. It is one of the most frequently performed plastic surgeries. Tragically, a 21-year-old woman, Karen Julieth Cárdenas Uribe, recently passed away following a catastrophic nose job procedure.…
A paramedic who was sexually assaulted by a patient in London has spoken out about her ‘sickening’ experience and urged people to report offensive behaviours to seek justice.Ilford resident Naveed Ahmed, 35, who groped London Ambulance Service (LAS) paramedic Charlotte Miller and exposed himself was jailed for nine months in…
THE wellbeing market is set to boom this year and it’s hardly surprising. The return of ‘normal life’ happened at such an immense speed in 2022 that it left many feeling quite exhausted. Last year, gym memberships soared, menopause became mainstream, and more people than ever ran marathons. A global…
Night Shyamalan’s latest film Knock at the Cabin, which is based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World, has received positive first reactions. The film screened on January 25 ahead of its theatrical release on February 3. Knock at the Cabin, which marks the talented…
DOWNING STREET had a make-over last week. There were hanging lanterns in the staircases alongside the portraits of former prime ministers. Cherry blossom and auspicious orchids decorated the reception rooms. Rishi Sunak was celebrating Lunar New Year, noting that the year of the rabbit’s traditional association with peace and prosperity…
Accident and emergency departments in UK hospitals are reeling under enormous pressure due to a shortage of beds and strikes by staff during the thick of flu season.A record 54,532 people waited for more than 12 hours once arriving at A&E in December, according to NHS England.The average wait for…
A Leicester woman believes her ailing father would not have died if he had received prompt treatment during the Christmas-New Year period when the healthcare system came under pressure.Gurmukh Banwait, 75, complained of breathing difficulties on December 26 but there were delays in the ambulance service. On December 28, he…
Junior doctor Vaishnavi Kumar who took her own life in June last year blamed Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), where she worked, for her extreme step, according to her suicide note.“I am sorry mum, I can blame the whole thing on the QEH,” she said in the note revealed by…
The joint committee on the draft mental health bill has said that mental health racial bias still persists and may even be getting worse. The report urged ministers to use legislation to address racial disparity which is prevalent in the mental health sector in England and Wales, The Guardian reported.…
Nurses across England began two days of strikes over pay on Wednesday, threatening fresh disruption for patients in the creaking state-run health service, as new figures showed inflation still surging. The walkout comes after nurses held their union's first stoppage in more than a century last month, joining a wave…
Long-time Tory supporter Lord Rami Ranger CBE has hosted a special dinner in support of the Maidenhead Conservative association at the Carlton Club in London on January 11. Former prime minister Theresa May MP was the guest of honour and Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was the special guest at…
Malayalam actor Mamta Mohandas has revealed that she has been diagnosed with vitiligo, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes the skin to lose colour. Taking to her Instagram account, the actor of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ fame has posted selfies, along with the hashtags – autoimmune disease, vitiligo, ‘embrace the…
It is estimated that in the UK, trichotillomania, or TTM, affects around 350,000 people. and most of them are women. According to the NHS, TTM, also known as trich, is when a person cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair. They may reportedly pull out the hair on…
An NHS nurse in Croydon who called colleague 'the black one' to be struck off from service for misconduct and racist behaviour, according to a report. Katrina Mclaughlin, who was a registered nurse with Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, was suspended with the intention of being struck off after the…
A junior doctor in Birmingham has said that he sometimes 'doesn't have time to eat' during demanding 13-hour shifts as thousands of doctors plan going on strike over pay and conditions. Dr Shivam Sharma is one among many who is willing to vote in favour of industrial action saying this…
According to data from the NHS, 1 in 3 drivers who are killed in road traffic accidents is over the legal alcohol limit. Also, each year, there are reportedly 280 fatalities due to drink driving. After losing his 18-year-old son to drink driving, a US-based neurosurgeon Dr Brian Hoeflinger has…
A new report published on Thursday (12) by NHS Blood and Transplant has shown that there is a significant requirement for more organ donors of Black and Asian heritage to help the growing number of patients seeking life-saving transplants. NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted on Wednesday he had used private healthcare in the past, breaking weeks of silence over whether he had any experience of Britain's state-run National Health Service which is in a state of crisis. With thousands of nurses and ambulance workers on strike over pay,…
The current round of strikes among British ambulance workers is terrifying for patients in need of urgent care, prime minister Rishi Sunak said, while trade unions have blamed the government for not stepping in sooner to resolve the pay dispute. "What's terrifying is that right now, people not knowing whether…
TWO years is a long time in politics, but only a short time in government. That challenge of political pace-making presented different dilemmas to Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, as the prime minister and Labour leader, respectively, gave keynote speeches last week to kickstart the penultimate year of this…
British actor Jameela Jamil recently revealed that she suffers from a rare genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). According to the Ehlers-Danlos website, EDS is a group of 13 “heritable connective tissue disorders” caused by genetic changes that affect connective tissue. Taking to her Instagram page, Jameela shared a video…
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday called for "bold and radical" action to reform the crisis-hit state healthcare system as he held emergency talks with health leaders. After years of underfinancing, the NHS state-funded health service is struggling to meet the demand for emergency medical care during a particularly…
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will on Saturday meet leaders of England's health service, as it faces one of its toughest-ever winters as flu and COVID-19 spread amid strike action by frontline staff who say high inflation has eroded their salaries. Ambulances have been queuing outside hospitals, facing long waits to…
A new analysis of National Health Service (NHS) data has revealed a lack of coordination which is limiting insight into how online healthcare services and apps are used by ethnicity and to tackle health inequalities. A new report published on Friday (6) by the NHS Race and Health Observatory reviews…
English singer Adele has revealed that she is suffering from a debilitating back condition called sciatica. The 34-year-old award-winning singer who was seen limping across the stage at a New Year’s Eve concert, told her fans, “I have a wobble these days because I have really bad sciatica.” According to…
CHRISTMAS DAY was the first time that a king’s speech has been televised to the nation. King Charles’s Christmas message took care to acknowledge the economic anxieties many people are facing, praised the contribution of public services and the civic spirit shared across faiths in modern Britain. This tradition began…
A top dietician has warned that calorie counting does not help with weight loss and is in fact ‘complete nonsense.’ Calorie counting refers to keeping account of the number of calories you eat. It is a method to maintain your weight. Professor Tim Spector, a nutrition expert reportedly claims that…
New NHS figures reveal a record number of 'foreign objects' including scalpel blades, swabs, gauze, drill bits, and other surgical tools, were left in patients during surgeries conducted in 2021/22. According to an analysis last year, surgeons supposedly fished out these objects from inside patients. Blunders that involve items that…
A 58-year-old Birmingham man died after waiting for three hours for an ambulance on Christmas Eve. His daughter, Minnie Rahman, took to Twitter to describe the tragedy and said that he died with his presents still unwrapped only ten feet away. After no beds could be found in the Midlands,…
Ahead of the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to increase the focus on players’ fitness and has thus, reintroduced the Yo-Yo test and Dexa scans as criteria for the selection of the Indian national team. India is set to…
There are many illnesses and ailments that can leave us feeling debilitated and interfere with the way we go about our daily lives. In fact, we all feel different kinds of physical pain in our lives from time to time. However, certain conditions can cause severe pain which can affect…
Patients’ inability to get preventive drugs during the pandemic has contributed to the surge in excess deaths since the spring, experts believe.Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, warned ministers that several middle-aged people are dying of heart conditions because they did not get blood pressure medicines during…
The 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush in the UK, which marked a key moment in the country's history of migration, is a "Diamond Jubilee for modern, diverse Britain", according to campaigners. Voices from across British society – from sport and culture to politics, faith and business…
For a woman from Manchester, her Sickle Cell condition was so painful that she once thought it might end her life, but a new revolutionary NHS treatment gave her a new hope and she now feels "as if she has wings". Sanah Shaikh is one of the first patients in…
More patients in millions across England are benefitting from easier access to their health records and medical services through the NHS (National Health Service) App, as sign-ups went past 30 million -- including seven million new ones in the year that just went by. The app, which launched four years…
A hospital in South Yorkshire accidentally texted patients mass "aggressive lung cancer" messages instead of extending them their intended "Merry Christmas" greetings, CBS News reported. The text messages were sent to the patients at Askern Medical Center in South Yorkshire, Doncaster on December 23. Patients were also asked to fill…
Rishi Sunak struck a cautious note with his first New Year message as British Prime Minister on Saturday (31) as he warned that the UK’s problems won’t go away in 2023, at the end of an “tough” 12 months. The 42-year-old Indian-origin leader, who took charge as the UK’s Prime…
A Cambridge professor who is a leading global figure in the economics of the natural environment, Professor Sir Partha Sarathi Dasgupta; COP-26 president Alok Sharma and drinks company Diageo’s CEO Ivan Menezes are among prominent Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honour’s List published late last Friday…
The NHS informs that osteoporosis is a health condition that makes bones weak, which makes them fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis is usually diagnosed after 50 years of age when one suffers back pain, poster change or fractures. However, years before such symptoms appear, it can affect your…
Researchers from the University of Oxford on December 22 released findings from a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of the antiviral treatment molnupiravir against Covid-19 – the first treatment tested in the ongoing PANORAMIC (Platform Adaptive trial of NOvel antiviRals for eArly treatMent of COVID-19 In the Community) trial. In…
A British army veteran from Bristol has been nicknamed Rambo by colleagues after he survived multiple shrapnel wounds in battle with Russian troops in Ukraine. Shareef Amin, 40, a former soldier in Britain's 1st Battalion 'The Rifles', suffered injuries to every limb but said that he is ready to do…
NHS bosses want interview panels to prepare a report explaining why they hired a white person over someone from an ethnic minority background, according to a report. Staff at the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust in north London are told to prepare reports justifying why the successful candidate was 'suitable’…
Social care workers are being deployed to crowded hospitals in Scotland to cope with pressure during the Christmas season. Shortages of hospital beds have resulted in long queues of patients at hospitals and the cold weather during December and early January could compound the situation with surges in Covid-19 and…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday he was disappointed about disruption caused by strikes by unions representing workers in sectors including rail, health and border staff. "I'm really sad and disappointed about the disruption that has been caused to so many people's lives, particularly at Christmas time," Sunak…
Saju Chelavalel, accused of murdering his wife, a National Health Service (NHS) nurse and her two children under seven, reportedly choked them to death, The Sun reported. The accused has appeared in court. Chelavalel has been charged with the killings of Anju Ashok, 35, and the two kids -- Jeeva Saju,…
England reported 94 deaths, including those of 21 children, from scarlet fever and invasive strep A infections so far this season the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Thursday. The British government last week said it was enacting protocols to ease shortages of penicillin medicines used to treat strep…
THE bosses of 20 mental health organisation have written an open letter to the prime minister to step in and stop suicides which are being caused by the cost-of-living crisis. The message, seen by Eastern Eye, warns Rishi Sunak that “people living in the most deprived 10 per cent of…
A Gravesend couple is suing a GP whose negligence they believe has left their son with a now-irreversible heart complication. Azlan Chowdhury, 10, who loves football, could die if he goes for a kickabout due to Kawasaki disease which was not diagnosed in time when he was six months old,…
Britain's health minister Steve Barclay on Wednesday said people should use their common sense as the healthcare system will be under pressure as ambulance workers strike on Wednesday. "I think just use their common sense the system will be under very significant pressure," he told BBC News. "I think people…
Birmingham Edgbaston’s MP Preet Gill has urged the health secretary to hold a public inquiry into the alleged “toxic culture” at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) that has had an “alarming impact” on staff and patient care. In a letter to Steve Barclay, Gill said she was “inundated” by messages from…
An experienced plastic surgeon stored dozens of serious category child abuse images in his phone, a court heard.Mansoor Khan, 53, has been facing three charges of making indecent images of children following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).He was arrested and suspended from Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust in…
According to a recent survey in the UK, it was found that on average, in a week, Brits spend three and a half hours sitting on the toilet. Nowadays, many people spend a lot of time sitting in the toilet, as this place tends to provide some kind of refuge…
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he is “determined” to tackle the migrant crisis which is eating into the UK’s taxpayers’ money.As the number of migrants and asylum seekers illegally crossing the English Channel in small boats has already reached record levels, the government’s policy to deport them to Rwanda…
The male suspect being questioned by UK police in connection with the murder of an Indian nurse and her two children has been charged with three counts of murder and will appear in court on Monday (19). Saju Chelavalel, 52, known locally as the husband of the deceased nurse Anju…
A 52-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the triple murders of an Indian nurse and her two young children discovered with serious injuries at their home in Kettering is continued to be questioned, the police said on Saturday (17). Northamptonshire Police named the victims on Friday as 35-year-old Anju Asok…
Anxiety is “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure,” informs The American Psychological Association. People may feel anxious due to several different things. According to the NHS, this could include phobias, the current cost of living, or conditions such as OCD…
URGENT action needs to be taken to tackle racial health inequalities in maternity care, the NHS’s policy lead on race equality has told Eastern Eye, after a damning report found that the majority of interventions over the last 40 years did not include a specific focus on race, ethnicity or…
Former health secretary Sajid Javid has called for an “honest debate” on funding the NHS to make the health organisation sustainable for the future.He did not specify how it should be funded but suggested the UK should emulate Germany and France which run hybrid health systems.In Germany, employees pay seven…
During a recent episode of The Checkup With Dr David Agus on Paramount+ the 84-year-old, actor and activist Jane Fonda spoke about her struggle with both the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia which she supposedly battled during her teens. According to health experts, an eating disorder is defined as a…
Blackburn’s Issa brothers are planning to build a dental practice in the northern English town with a local councillor calling it a step “in the right direction”, a media report said.The building is expected to come up on a site where St Peter’s church once stood in the south-western outskirts…
UK nurses on Thursday staged an unprecedented one-day strike as a "last resort" in their fight for better wages and working conditions, despite warnings it could put patients at risk. Up to 100,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are stopping work…
An NHS campaign backed by South Asian healthcare professionals is encouraging people with potential cancer symptoms to come forward for life saving checks. Despite abdominal and urological cancers making up nearly half of all cancer diagnoses in England, as well as two in five cancer deaths, new data reveals that…
Derbyshire’s Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust chairman Prem Singh who is leaving office on Thursday has said bullying and racism still run through the state-funded organisation.His retirement caps his 47-year-long health service, having started as a nurse in 1975 around the time he relocated to the UK from Malaysia…
As the weather gets colder, more of us naturally take to gather indoors, especially as the festive celebrations get underway. However, the reality is that with Covid-19 and flu around, the most vulnerable amongst us, including those with long-term health conditions, are still at risk of getting seriously ill from…
Now with the temperature dropping, you may now have to worry about a seasonal genital concern. A midwife has warned that the change in temperature can supposedly be problematic for your private parts and can cause a 'winter vagina' which can be bad news for your sex life. Mary Burke,…
Abolition of non-domicile tax status would not drive people away from Britain, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said, citing ‘a case in point in Downing Street’.Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty agreed to pay taxes in the UK on her worldwide income after her non-dom status became the subject…
Preet Kaur Gill MP has sought an independent inquiry into the allegations of historic toxicity and bullying at University Hospitals Birmingham.She said reviews already announced by the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) would not go far enough.The MP Birmingham Edgbaston MP and shadow cabinet minister for international…
It has been noted that generally, by the time women in the UK have their first child they are over the age of 30 – this is up from 26.4 years in the mid-1070s. According to experts, women are most fertile in their twenties and fertility tends to decline after…
The NHS Race and Health Observatory has been calling for the development of a central data repository to map improvements around reducing poor outcomes in maternal and neonatal healthcare for Black, Asian and ethnic minority women. And now, a new research carried out by the independent health organisation, the University of…
SHANTI PANCHAL ON HIS ART JOURNEY AND NEW PUBLIC WORK Venture into Brixton tube station in London and you will see a stunning piece of art by Shanti Panchal. The magnificent mural titled Endurance is a beautiful reproduction of a large-scale water colour artwork about the power of community, represented…
More than 10,000 patients have been given a faulty knee replacement, thereby doubling the risk of joint failure, the Telegraph reveals. In October, the manufacturer of the implant which has been in use since 2003, reportedly withdrew it from the market. Apparently, the UK health regulator the Medicines and Healthcare…
Britain’s universities have tied up with consultancy organisations which recruit Indian students with an offer that they can bring their families to the UK, a media report said. The universities pay commissions to the agents who market “graduate visas” and help potential Indian students get visas for their dependents, according…
Six school children in the UK have died this winter after contracting Strep A as the outbreak of this life-threatening disease continues to spread across Britain. The Strep A bacteria can be life-threatening and lead to scarlet fever, which was widespread in the Victorian era, the Daily Mail informs. While…
According to the NHS, acne is a common skin condition that can affect most people at some point. Though it is commonly linked to hormonal changes levels during puberty, it can start at any age. And although acne cannot be cured, it can be controlled and managed with proper treatment.…
The British government is looking at bringing in the military to help keep public services running if key workers, including in the state-run NHS, take strike action, the chairman of the governing Conservative Party said on Sunday (4). Britain is already grappling with industrial action in a range of sectors,…
As part of the UK government and NHS's commitment to tackle health inequalities for those in need of life-saving transplants or regular blood transfusions, funding worth £700,000 to address the shortage of organ, blood, and stem cell donors from Black, Asian and mixed ethnic backgrounds has been announced. In a…
A primary school child in Buckinghamshire died of Strep A as the total number of fatalities from the bacterial infection in the UK has gone up to four.Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, 4, died on November 14, following a cardiac arrest, his family confirmed, saying “nothing will replace” the loss.Ali’s grieving mother…
Finance trustee at St John Ambulance, Mohan Mansigani, has received his Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from HRH The Princess Royal – the charity’s Commandant-in-Chief (Youth) – during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, November 30. St John Ambulance is England’s leading first…
An independent investigation will be conducted into the death of a five-year-old boy who could not be admitted to a South Yorkshire hospital apparently because of the shortages of “beds and doctors”.Yusuf Mahmud Nazir who had suffered a throat infection was taken to Rotherham Hospital but the staff expressed their…
Civic leaders, MPs, experts and senior doctors have warned that the UK is sitting on a “ticking time bomb of disparities” among south Asian and black communities. They told Eastern Eye that the 2021 census figures, released on Tuesday (29 November) should raise concerns among government. They urged ministers to…
A survey comprising 1, 400 people conducted by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) has found that two-thirds of those suffering from ear wax were told that the removal of ear wax services was no longer available on the NHS. Therefore, as many GPs are no longer offering…
England's government agency responsible for responding to public health emergencies said mistakes at a testing laboratory led to misreporting of tens of thousands of positive COVID-19 cases as negative and may have resulted in the deaths of about 20 people. Britain has one of the highest coronavirus death tolls in…
Alzheimer's Society and professor Sir John Hardy on Wednesday (30) hailed 'game-changing' results for Alzheimer's drug lecanemab which can slow cognitive decline in patients. Preliminary data from a trial of lecanemab was released in September and found it slowed cognitive decline by 27 per cent across an 18-month period. The…
NHS doctor and TV presenter Ranj Singh took exception to a 'racist' joke at the British Curry Awards delivered by a 'white guest presenter'. He quoted the host as saying on Monday night: “Why has India never won the World Cup? Because every time they get a corner, they build…
According to health officials, compared to a single case of diphtheria in 2020, there have now been 50 confirmed cases of the disease discovered in migrants in the UK since the start of 2022. The 50 cases of this disease this year is a significant increase from last year, as…
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) UK has hosted activities in 44 shakhas (branches) across the country as part of the UK Parliament week observations for the sixth year, a statement said. UK Parliament week, which takes place in November, targets to involve the entire young population, including members of the…
Multilingual street champions will be present in the streets of London over the next few weeks to give free advice and information about Covid-19 and flu vaccinations, a statement said. The NHS, Department of Health and Social Care and UK Health Security Agency are working with local communities to share…
With the temperatures dropping and heating bills increasing this winter, in the UK, many people may rely on the hot water bottle to keep warm. However, a doctor has issued an urgent warning regarding injuries that can be caused due to this warming appliance. Though hot water bottles are an…
A five-year-old boy who died of new pneumonia on Monday could have been saved if a South Yorkshire hospital positively responded to the pleas for his treatment, his family said. Yusuf Mahmud Nazir, who went back home after Rotherham General Hospital said it had no doctors or beds to treat…
"We're tired. We're fed up. We need a pay rise now to make a living," said Ameera, a senior nurse in a London hospital who is going on strike. Dates for the nursing's first strike in 106 years were announced on Friday, as union leaders and health workers blamed overwork,…
Pregnant women are eligible for both free flu and Covid-19 booster vaccine this winter. Pregnancy can be an exciting, yet vulnerable time for any woman, but Covid-19 fears and isolation have added an extra strain. It feels like it is all behind us now, but viruses like Covid-19 and flu…
Indian students have for the first time overtaken Chinese as the largest group of foreign students studying in the UK with a massive 273 per cent hike in visas granted over the past few years, according to the country’s official immigration statistics released on Thursday (24). The UK Home Office…
According to data obtained from the NHS, Victorian-era diseases are making a comeback, reports the Mirror. The ‘Victorian’ or ‘Dickensian’ diseases that are remarkedly on the rise include scarlet fever and malnutrition. Over the past few months, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reportedly revealed that scarlet fever and…
With the cost of living crisis forcing the NHS nurses to visit food banks and take strike action, one young chef Niaz Caan, from London’s Brick Lane has taken it upon himself to bring a nutritious hot meal to weary hospital staff members this winter and to also appeal to…
In the UK, the misuse of alcohol is estimated to cost the NHS £3.6 billion a year. Also, crime related to alcohol in England and Wales was estimated to cost society about £11.4 billion a year. At present, a report has suggested that an increasing number of relationships are breaking…
A grieving family has alleged that racial stereotyping by a hospital in London led to the death of one of its senior members, whose Hepatitis C remained undiagnosed for decades, Channel 4 News reported. Sultana Chowdhury, who had moved to the UK from Bangladesh in the late 1980s, was allegedly…
In February, the National Institute for Health, and Care Excellence (NICE) approved a weekly jab for obese patients with weight-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, or for those at high risk of a heart attack, as losing weight can help protect against these health issues. However, when in May,…
Around 10 million people in the UK live with Raynaud’s disease, a condition which is often triggered by cold weather and icy temperatures. However, over three-quarters of people in England have never heard of this disease, which is more common in females, and especially among young women and teenagers, the…
According to the NHS, the cause of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is not fully understood, but a few things are thought to increase an individual’s risk of developing the condition. Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth recently revealed that he is at a high risk of developing Alzheimer's, The Sun informs. The 39-year-old…
A west London man died within a year of a kidney transplant as the doctors had not realised the organ the patient had received had been cancerous, an inquest heard. Parminder Sidhu, 49, who was working as a DHL airside loader, underwent the transplant at Hammersmith Hospital in April 2021.…
Dr Mohammad Muneeb Khan, an NHS doctor and consultant clinical oncologist at Queen's Centre for Oncology and Haematology has claimed that spending 30 seconds every day in the early morning sun could cut the risk of getting cancer. According to the doctor who is based in Yorkshire, spending just 30…
The first medication people reach for to alleviate headaches, pains or fever is paracetamol or acetaminophen. However, scientists have now warned people who take paracetamol over a strange and dangerous side effect. A study has found that those who take the drug, which is the UK’s most trusted painkiller are…
Some 21 months after becoming paralysed waist-down and having undergone multiple spinal operations, an NHS surgeon is creating history on Thursday. Mohammed Belal is set to become the first doctor in the UK to conduct surgery after being paralysed. The neuro-urology surgeon, who suffered spinal injuries when he was hit…
BAFTA Breakthrough recently unveiled its creatives for the year 2022. This Is Going To Hurt star Ambika Mod is among the 33 talents across film, TV, and game who have been selected for the 2022 edition of Bafta Breakthrough. Mod, who was also chosen as a 2022 Screen Star of…
One way of saving money on essential medicines and medical supplies is to take advantage of online deals and discounts such as this Lloyds Pharmacy discount code, so that you can stay within your budget. How much does the average family spend? Recent statistics show that the healthcare costs have increased over the past…
English television personality Olivia Attwood has revealed that she dropped out of the British survival reality show in a jungle environment - I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! after a couple of days of shooting due to being “dangerously anaemic,” the Independent, reports. The condition was spotted during a…
A recent study claims that slightly unripe bananas can help to reduce the risk of cancer in people with a family history of the disease. Many Britons enjoy this potassium-rich fruit as part of a healthy breakfast, as a snack or simply to get a boost of energy during the…
According to an analysis published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people who are “economically inactive” and have left the workforce due to long-term sickness has risen by almost half a million and is around 2.5 million this summer. In 2019, this number was around 2.0…
British Asians experienced a much larger fall than other groups in planned hospital care during the pandemic, new analysis has revealed, highlighting how the health emergency worsened racial disparities. While age- and sex-standardised procedure rates fell by 44 per cent in the white group, the drop in elective procedure rates…
Doctors have warned that trendy vitamin IV drips do not work and may be dangerous. In the past few years, celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Chrissy Teigen have all posted on social media, pictures of themselves undergoing the therapy – triggering an increase in its popularity with clinics…
Ten million people who were born abroad live in Britain today. The Office of National Statistics tells the story of the ten million in numbers. Foreign-born residents rose from 7.5 million, 13.4% of the population, to 16.8%, almost one in six. Just over a third, 3.6 million, came from the…
The government must embrace immigrants who take risks setting up businesses, create jobs, and contribute billions of pounds to Britain’s economy. That is the call from MPs and business leaders who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They have told this newspaper that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, should be ashamed…
More than 300 doctors representing diverse specialties took part in the annual conference and gala awards dinner of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) UK was held at the City Hall in Cardiff, Wales, between Friday (4) and Sunday (6). BAPIO represents Indian-origin doctors working in the…
Depression and anxiety affect one in five adults in the UK. Doctors often prescribe exercise as a treatment for those suffering from depression. Now, a study has suggested that a third of people at risk of mental health issues can avoid it with regular exercise. A study involving more than…
The family of Nadia Sharif, 17 who took her own life at West Lane Hospital in 2019 amidst a slew of mental health failures has called for changes so that patients at the hospital are not treated like "locked-up animals". An investigation into the deaths of Nadia, and two other…
British researchers announced Friday they have cured a man who was continually infected with Covid for 411 days by analysing the genetic code of his particular virus to find the right treatment. Persistent Covid infection - which is different to long Covid or repeated bouts of the disease - occurs…
LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…
A row has broken out over a Diwali message that was sent on the morning of the festival on October 24 to the employees of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and the trust has launched an internal review of the matter. The controversial email, which made reference to the…
Having received her own flu and COVID-19 booster doses at her local pharmacy this week, Dr Nikki Kanani, Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England, and deputy lead for the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programmme, has recorded a video message encouraging others to get vaccinated without delay. The doctor states,…
Amid an obesity crisis in the UK and the US, experts have suggested that slapping cigarette-style warnings on sugary drinks may be able to help tackle child obesity. In the UK, every four in 10 children are either overweight or obese. Also, more than half of the adults fall into…
We often think of protein bars as healthy snacks, but did you know that they could be making you fat? A study has discovered that those people who ate a protein bar daily were more likely to put on weight in a week’s time compared to those who did not…
One of the biggest causes of high blood pressure is the consumption of salt, experts warn. This in turn increases cardiovascular disease. Having high blood pressure (BP) which is also called hypertension means your heart needs to work much harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. Approximately…
A GP has revealed that any changes inside your mouth can be indicative of some deadly diseases. From mouth ulcers to a geographic tongue, NHS GP, Dr Rachel Ward of Woodlands Medical Centre in Didcot explains what the inside of your mouth really means for your health. Also, be aware…
Rishi Sunak is already a marmite prime minister, writes Barnie Choudhury. Feted by his MP colleagues but rejected by the Conservative grass roots just six weeks ago (September 5). They accuse Sunak of causing Johnson’s downfall, rather than accept that it was the fault of his once next-door Downing Street…
According to the NHS, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects around seven million people in the UK. It is also one of the main causes of death in the nation. Some of the common signs of a person’s risk for CVD include high levels of stress, high blood pressure, and diabetes. However,…
Rishi Sunak made his first speech as Britain's prime minister on Tuesday (25), acknowledging the mistakes of his predecessor Liz Truss while vowing to fix the economy, lead with integrity and fulfil the promises of the Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto. Below are the highlights from Sunak's speech: ON THE ECONOMY…
The NHS has launched a new campaign to encourage South Asian community to consider nursing as a career, the health service said in a statement. The ‘We Are The NHS’ campaign by NHS England, now in its fifth year, has been revamped to champion the extraordinary work of South Asian…
Art on the Underground presents ‘Endurance’, a new large-scale public commission at Brixton Underground Station by Indian-born artist Shanti Panchal, launching November 10 and will be on view for a year. The work at Brixton will be Panchal’s first public artwork since his 1993 tiled mural for the London Borough…
New research released this week reveals almost 6 in 10 South Asians regularly experience anxiety (57%). Despite Sunday being the traditional day of rest and recreation for most, as the weekend draws to a close, many begin to worry about the week ahead with lack of sleep (57%), juggling family…
There are many causes of obesity including the regular consumption of processed and fast food, trans fatty acids, and sugar, combined with large portion sizes and decreased physical activity. But a new University of Michigan study suggests that air pollution too may affect weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and…
Experts warn that this winter could be the first time we see the effects of a so-called ‘twindemic’, with people catching both Covid and flu at the same time, increasing their risk of serious illness. Don't worry, Dr Harpreet Sood and Dr Madhvi Joshi provide vital tips... GPs Harpreet Sood…
British-Indian businessman Karan Bilimoria has disagreed with UK home secretary Suella Braverman that Indians are the "largest group of people who overstay" their visas in the UK. Speaking with Economic Times Online over phone, Lord Bilimoria, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, said he was surprised because the…
The renowned reader of BBC News at Six, George Alagiah has declared that he will be taking time off from presenting after scans discovered that his bowel cancer has spread further. The 66-year-old newsreader was first diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer back in 2014. He later revealed that the…
NHS Volunteer Responders are calling for people in England to step forward and volunteer. There is a high demand for volunteer support at local sites to help deliver the COVID-19 vaccination programme as 26 million people will be invited to come forward for the booster jab. We need people from…
Covid cases in the UK are still on the rise across the nation but Brits also have to be highly alert about another type of highly infectious viral illness called norovirus. Also referred to as “the winter vomiting bug,” though it can affect people all year round, norovirus is one…
British health officials on Wednesday (12) warned that non-urgent hospital operations could be cancelled due to a shortage in blood stocks, calling for more supplies. The warning came as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which collects blood and other tissues, issued its first "amber alert" warning. "Asking hospitals to limit…
London mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday (11) urged eligible Londoners to get their Covid booster and flu vaccine to reduce the threat of a ‘twindemic’ this winter. He received both vaccines at a pharmacy in Tooting on Tuesday morning after being invited due to his severe asthma, a statement said.…
Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter actor, Florence, and the Machine frontwoman Florence Welch, and model Cara Delevingne have been struggling with dyspraxia, a condition that impacts coordination skills, the Mirror reports. Though the causes of dyspraxia are not known, according to the NHS premature babies have a higher risk of developing…
NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and the Met Office’s joint cold weather plan for England which was updated this week have advised Britons to 'speak to your GP before starting any exercise this winter'. A section in the plan entitled ‘main public health messages’ states that individuals…
More than 300,000 members of Britain's largest nursing union will begin voting on Thursday over a strike to demand a pay rise that keeps up with soaring inflation, the biggest ballot in its 106-year history. The Royal College of Nursing said it had been forced into the move after years…
