- Friday, April 19, 2024
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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.…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Diabetes UK estimates that one in three adults in the UK have pre-diabetes, meaning their blood glucose levels are above normal but below the threshold for a diabetes diagnosis. Around 90% of those with diabetes have type 2 diabetes which is usually caused by obesity. Type 2 diabetes is a…
A bank holiday on the day of the Queen’s funeral has prompted the postponement of thousands of “non-urgent” surgeries and clinic appointments, media reports said on Tuesday. “The day of the State Funeral will be treated as a bank holiday so please go ahead and start rescheduling patients,” openDemocracy quoted…
High-tech goggles will be worn by community nurses on home visits to free up time with patients, as part of a cutting-edge NHS pilot. As long as a patient consents, the virtual-reality-style headset can transcribe the appointment directly to electronic records, reducing time-consuming admin for nurses, a release from NHS…
Based on a previous study led by the University of Leeds in 2019, it was found that those who walk or cycle to work regularly are less likely to get heart disease. The findings of this study were published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology and according to the…
Home-testing kits that can help detect early-stage bowel cancer will be rolled out to 58-year-olds in England for the first time, as part of a major expansion of the life-saving screening programme. People aged 58 will now receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) if and when eligible, which can detect…
Britain's only dedicated gender identity clinic for transgender children and young people could face mass legal action from about 1,000 families for medical negligence, media reports said. The Tavistock Centre has been accused of rushing youngsters into taking life-altering puberty blockers. Last month, England's national health service announced that the centre…
Foreign doctors – including from south Asia – are increasingly filling shortages in the NHS as the proportion of medics hired from within the UK has gone down over the past seven years, analysis by the BBC has revealed. International doctors accounted for 34 per cent of the recruitment in…
LGBT+ groups of various political parties have urged the government to take urgent action to stop the monkeypox virus from becoming endemic in the UK. In a letter to health secretary Steve Barclay, the LGBT+ groups of major political parties called for more doses of vaccine to support the targeted…
THE NHS is encouraging people with symptoms such as a long-standing persistent cough to visit their GP for potentially lifesaving checks in its latest campaign to catch lung cancer earlier when it is easier to treat. The launch of the latest Help Us Help You campaign, on World Lung Cancer…
Britain's only dedicated gender identity clinic for transgender children and young people is to close, England's national health service announced on Thursday (28), in response to recommendations from an expert review. The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has been instructed to shut down its Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS),…
Studies show that those who experience stress often turn to increased alcohol consumption and misuse. Additionally, when people experience periods of financial or emotional stress, they often consume more alcohol. Experts are of the opinion that the pandemic, COVID-19 has caused many psychological, medical and sociological problems, including increased alcohol…
THOUSANDS of people a year with advanced breast cancer will benefit from a life-extending drug that has been fast-tracked onto the frontline of NHS patient care. The drug, alpelisib, will be used in combination with the hormone therapy, fulvestrant, to target the gene that causes fast-growing tumours. Up to 3,000…
In a move to mark the 74th anniversary of the NHS’s creation by the postwar Labour government on July 5, drones will be flown to deliver chemotherapy drugs to cancer patients in England, to help avoid long journeys required to collect them. In the trial run, the devices will reportedly…
DEDICATED mental health staff to help children and young people in GP practices and blood pressure checks in betting shops are among initiatives devised and delivered by new integrated care systems that come fully into force on Friday (1). Boosting health checks in the community to find people with health…
PEOPLE experiencing a mental health emergency will be able to access more care in the community, such as through crisis houses and safe havens, and those detained under the Mental Health Act will benefit from landmark reforms which provide patients with more control over their care and treatment. A £150…
STUDENTS are set to benefit from a better integration of mental health services to prevent them falling through the gaps at university. The new scheme will bring together university, National Health Service (NHS) and mental health services to create regional partnerships that could include physical hubs that students can visit…
More than half of black and minority ethnic (BME) NHS leaders considered leaving the health service in the last three years because of their experience of racist treatment while performing their role as an NHS leader, according to an NHS ConfederationThe online survey, conducted between April and May this year,…
THE number of people on the waiting list for diagnostic tests has dropped and two-thirds fewer people are waiting for more than two years for elective care, new figures have shown, as the National Health Service (NHS) continues to make progress in the biggest catch-up in health service history. The…
THOUSANDS of new mental health experts will be on hand to support people in their local GP practice amid a record demand for services, the head of the NHS announced on Saturday (11). Fully trained experts from local NHS trusts will offer people with severe mental health problems such as…
A new study has revealed that NHS nurses from minority ethnic backgrounds were overlooked for promotion due to structural racism, according to a report. It added that white nurses are twice as likely as black and Asian colleagues to be promoted in the NHS, the Guardian reported. A survey of almost…
The Mind mental health charity said mainstream services often fail to provide therapies that meet a person’s cultural or language needs and they are not referred to the right support. It comes after a study in May by the Mental Health Foundation found that people from a black, Asian or…
A record three million people have received vital NHS cancer tests from March 2021 to Feb 2022 compared to 2.4 million people referred before the pandemic, the latest data revealed. Even at the peak of the Omicron wave, referrals for suspected cancer were at 116 per cent of pre-pandemic levels…
THE UK on Tuesday (12) started a call for evidence to form a new 10-year mental health plan to level up mental health across the country and put mental and physical health on an equal footing. People with lived experience of mental health conditions and those who support people with…
LEADING Muslim doctors have urged those eligible to have a spring booster jab this Ramadan as it does not break the daylight hours fast, NHS said in a statement. Resident TV doctor Dr Nighat Arif, a GP in Buckinghamshire, and Dr Farzana Hussain, a senior GP in East London and…
UK health secretary has said that an increase in Covid infections following the easing of coronavirus restrictions was ‘expected’. Sajid Javid told Sky News that there is no “cause for concern” despite the number of people in hospital with Covid climbing back above 10,000. Daily Covid cases in the UK have…
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with the support of NHS England and NHS Improvement, has launched a major new national campaign, to increase the number of those eligible attending their cervical screening in England. The new Help Us Help You – Cervical Screening Saves Lives campaign urges…
HEALTH secretary Sajid Javid on Monday (28) launched England’s first rare diseases action plan which aims to speed up diagnoses and care.The initiative will allow the healthcare workforce to support patients better by leveraging the UK’s technology, Javid said.There are more than 7,000 rare diseases, affecting an estimated 3.5 million…
Business and doctors’ leaders have criticised the government’s decision to stop free lateral flow tests in April. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced the decision in his “living with Covid” statement to parliament on Monday (21). He told MPs that all Covid restrictions would end in England on Thursday (24)…
A new NHS campaign is encouraging people struggling with their mental health to seek confidential help from NHS talking therapies. Research shows that nearly half of South Asians put off seeking professional help and the NHS is encouraging them to make use of a range of free services available for anxiety,…
Victims and survivors of sexual and domestic abuse are being encouraged to come forward for NHS help and care, as part of a major campaign backed by a £20m boost to specialist services. Two new clinical lead roles for domestic violence and sexual assault are also being created, alongside dedicated…
ALLEGATIONS of Islamophobia within the Conservative party have been deeply damaging. They go against the fundamental social fabric of what the party stands for – to promote equality of opportunity to all for a better life, regardless of colour, background or creed. Such allegations must quite rightly be investigated. There…
BRITAIN will this week begin offering vaccinations to children aged between five and 11 who are most at risk from coronavirus, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) said on Sunday (30). Britain has been slower than some other countries in offering the shots to 5-11-year-olds, and is not planning to…
BRITAIN on Monday (10) put the biggest private health companies on high alert to deliver crucial treatments such as cancer surgery should Omicron overwhelm National Health Service hospitals in England. The United Kingdom's death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic stands at 150,154, the world's seventh worst official Covid toll after…
HOSPITAL staff absences due to Covid have more than doubled in a month in England as the virus surge puts strain on beds, according to data published Friday (31). The number of hospital staff ill or self-isolating due to the virus rose from 11,375 on November 29 to 24,362 on…
England is building temporary hospitals to deal with a potential overspill of inpatients as surging virus cases put the country's health service on a "war footing", officials said Thursday. Fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant, daily cases have ballooned, standing at more than 183,000 on Wednesday. NHS England said…
ENGLAND is building temporary hospitals to deal with a potential overspill of inpatients as surging virus cases put the country's health service on a "war footing", officials said Thursday (30). Fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant, daily cases have ballooned, standing at more than 183,000 on Wednesday (29). NHS…
BRITAIN has administered booster shots to more than one-third of its population amid surging cases of new infections. The health department said “a record” 745,000 people received a third jab in the UK on Thursday (16) alone, taking the total to more than 25 million. Health secretary Sajid Javid said…
AT LEAST one person has died in the UK after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, prime minister Boris Johnson said. The death on Monday (13) is the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain. Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in Britain, Johnson…
A NEW research backed by the NHS has urged to scrap the term “BAME” as it “erases identities”, The Telegraph reported. The NHS Race and Health Observatory launched a four-week consultation with the public in July on how best to collectively refer to people from black, Asian and minority ethnic…
A study has pointed out that the system for assessing who should pay for NHS services “incentivises racial profiling”, The Guardian reported. The study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has said that overstretched NHS staff sometimes racially profiled patients in order to determine who was not “ordinarily resident”…
Sadiq Khan: Bring back police enforcement on mask wearing More south Asians will catch and die from Covid during the traditional winter health crisis unless the government toughens its stance on vaccinations and mask wearing in public places. That is the warning from the British Medical Association, the London mayor,…
THE UK has set up a new menopause taskforce to help women to get cheaper and easier access to Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) to relieve symptoms of menopause. The action was taken following commitments made in Parliament at the second reading of Carolyn Harris MPs’ private members’ bill. The taskforce…
PATIENTS waiting for vital NHS health checks are experiencing mental health issues due to the stress over postponed tests and surgeries, an Asian health campaigner has warned. Following the coronavirus pandemic and the overwhelming strain on the country’s healthcare resources, the NHS has had to postpone many key assessments tests…
Experts tell annual conference sector must scale up its integration process PHARMACIES will need to scale up integration and innovation processes in order to meet the growing demand from patients, guests and panellists said at the sixth annual Pharmacy Business Conference held online last Tuesday (21) and Thursday (23). Spread…
THE booster doses have been rolled out in England and with the first shot been given to an NHS staff. The booster jab will be given to the over 50s, health and care workers and younger adults with certain health conditions. Those eligible should receive a booster at least six…
A NEW survey has revealed that one in three (32.7 per cent) black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) workers in NHS mental health trusts have experienced abuse, reported The Guardian. For BAME workers across the NHS, the rate is more than one in four (28.9 per cent. According to an…
PROF KAILASH CHAND OBE, 73, would have "almost certainly survived" if an ambulance had arrived earlier, his son has claimed. The former leader of the British Medical Association, died after suffering a cardiac arrest in July. Prof Chand, who lived in Didsbury, after his death, was paid rich tributes by…
NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDERS is reaching out to the south Asian community, calling for more steward volunteers to support Britain's Covid-19 vaccination drive at the local inoculation sites. There is a growing need for steward volunteers and the NHS is calling for help to get the community vaccinated. Getting…
A joint initiative of two organisations that represent the 213 NHS care trusts have informed ministers that the NHS needs a £10bn annually to cover the costs of Covid-19 and tackle the huge treatment backlog, The Guardian reported. The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers have said that without this extra…
BRITAIN'S Health Department said it has not made any decision on Covid-19 vaccines for 12 to 15 year olds after the Telegraph reported the National Health Service (NHS) planned vaccinations from the first week children return to school in September. "No decisions have been made on vaccinating 12-15 year olds…
THERE was a 22 times increase this year in the number of people waiting more than three months for NHS tests when compared to 2019 mainly due to the backlog created by the pandemic, The Guardian reported. Almost 124,000 patients are waiting more than three months for NHS tests including…
“Colonial attitudes” leading to “disciplinary dice loaded against minority medics” The chair of the British Medical Association is demanding an independent investigation into the way south Asian and black doctors are being disciplined. Freedom of information figures obtained by Eastern Eye reveal that over the past 10 years, the General…
ALL 16 and 17-year-olds in England will be offered their first Covid-19 vaccine dose by August 23, according to a target set by British health secretary Sajid Javid. Javid said on Sunday (15) that offering young people the vaccine by that date will allow the teenagers in that age bracket…
THE latest data has revealed that as many as 1,560 children in England aged 18 or under have type 2 diabetes which has historically only been diagnosed in people over the age of 40, The Guardian reported. Following the release of 2019-20 data, Diabetes UK charity has urged the government…
BRITAIN is taking a cautious approach as it decides how many under-18s should receive the Covid-19 vaccine. A scientist says there is a "delicate balance" between benefits and risks when it comes to inoculating the under-18s. As of now 75 per cent of UK adults have had both the shots,…
A NEW survey has revealed that more than a third of NHS doctors have recently experienced verbal abuse including threats, The Guardian reported. Treatment delays and changes to the health service during Covid have increased abusive behaviour towards staff, it added. The British Medical Association (BMA) survey said that half…
PREGNANT women are more likely to become seriously ill from Covid-19 and should get themselves vaccinated, department of health and social care said today (3) while announcing the launch of England’s largest clinical trial to figure out the best interval time between the two doses of Covid-19 for pregnant women.…
BRITAIN is set to offer Covid vaccine booster dose to more than 32 million Britons from early next month, as per a report on Sunday (1). The Covid booster dose campaign is expected to start as soon as Sept 6 to ensure that the rollout is completed by early…
OXIMETERS can overestimate the amount of oxygen in black and minority ethnic people, NHS England and NHS Race and Health Observatory said on Sunday (1). Official NHS guidance has been changed for the use of blood oxygen monitors after it was found that they may not be as accurate…
Rishi Sunak tops annual ranking of most influential Asians in the UK PANDEMIC heroes who went above and beyond their call of duty have been honoured in a special edition of the GG2 Power List, which ranks the 101 most influential Asians in Britain. Thirty Asian doctors, nurses and researchers…
Over half south Asians still unprotected The vaccine minister, Nadim Zahawi, is urging south Asians not to waste the chance of getting a Covid vaccination. He also backed family doctors who are demanding patients continue to wear masks in surgeries, even though restrictions were lifted last week (19). In an…
THE Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and NHS England have joined forces to work with pharmacy colleagues internationally in countries such as India - supporting them in the fight against Covid. RPS and the NHS have been working closely with the UK government, including through the British High Commission in India,…
LONDON has the lowest uptake of Covid-19 vaccine in England, with more than one third of people in the capital city have not had their first dose of a jab, recent data shows. The data from NHS England show 55 per cent have not had a second dose. Across England,…
NHS is set to invite more than half a million people for their second Covid jab early as part of a last minute vaccine dash ahead of Freedom Day, state media reports, as daily new infections in England crossed 42, 000. In the coming few days, more than 65…
THE NHS depends on black and minority ethnic staff (BAME) to provide high quality, reliable and safe care to patients – and has done so since its inception in 1948. They enrich the NHS with their skills, enthusiasm and diverse perspectives, and their continuing contribution has been highlighted by the…
FOR months those against taking the Covid vaccines have been spreading fake news about the vaccine. They include false claims that the Covid vaccine contains pork, and so they cannot be taken by Muslims. In WhatsApp messages, south Asians have been told the vaccine will make women infertile. Others simply…
Eastern Eye and its sister paper, Garavi Gujarat, have been telling the story of the pandemic and campaigning to make sure south Asians take the opportunity to get vaccinated. Dr Nikita Kanani, a working GP, as well as a director in NHS England, recognised our work and told this personal story…
DR NIKITA KANANI is a working GP, as well as a director in NHS England. What have the past 18-months been like for her? “It’s been very mixed. The first half, as a frontline clinician, and in my national role, was exhausting and quite upsetting at times. I’ve worked in…
AT LEAST one in three south Asians, aged 18 or over, is still not fully protected from the Covid virus, Eastern Eye can reveal. Despite the government spearheading a “concerted community-led effort” to persuade minority communities to get vaccinated, the latest figures reveal that about 67 per cent of “Asians…
THE vaccine booster programme that starts later this year would offer Covid vaccine and a flu jab at the same time using high street pharmacies, The Times reported. This week, NHS executives will outline a “one in each arm” programme that will run from September, ahead of a winter surge…
ANY adult in England can receive Covid-19 vaccination over this weekend as ‘grab a jab’ campaign is underway across the country. The new cases continue to be on the rise, latest figures say, while media reports claim that a new variant has been reported in the UK. Under this…
SCIENTISTS are set to roll out a breakthrough blood test that can accurately detect 50 types of cancer, even before any clinical signs or symptoms of the disease start to appear in the body. Also piloted by NHS England, the test is aimed at people at higher risk of…
BRITAIN'S vaccination programme continues to roll on at an unprecedented pace as new data reveals more than three in five adults in the United Kingdom have received a second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. With 75,188,795 million doses administered in total, 43,448,680 million people across the UK have now been…
HEALTHCARE leaders have warned that the NHS will not survive without the contribution of overseas staff, following reports a life peer was vowing to end the health service’s reliance on foreign workers. Baroness Dido Harding has apparently pledged to make the NHS less reliant on non-UK workers, if she becomes…
THERE is a rise in demand for mental health services for children and young people because of the coronavirus pandemic. In order to meet the increased demand, NHS England has announced a £40 million funding boost for mental health services, saying the young people have been "hit hard" by the…
COVID booster jabs will be available by autumn, health secretary Matt Hancock said, as the country saw more than one million Covid-19 vaccines getting booked over the weekend after the NHS opened its vaccination for all remaining adults. Saying that the results from trials of different combinations of vaccines…
AN artificial intelligence (AI) tool to help diagnose heart attacks, an algorithm to fast-track lung cancer detection and an app to help in anxiety and depression- these are among the 38 winner AI-projects that have been chosen to receive £36 million-boost by NHS AI Lab. Announcing the winners of the…
AROUND 1,000 NHS patients with type 1 diabetes will take part in a trial of systems that continually monitor blood sugar levels and automatically adjust the amount of insulin given via a pump, according to a report in The Times. Made by Medtronic, the device is the first hybrid closed-loop…
THE COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with the progress made in the reduction of breast cancer deaths, a media report claimed on Tuesday (15), saying thousands of fewer patients in Britain have started treatment for the disease in the past year as compared with the year before. About 38,000 fewer…
BRITAIN'S Covid-19 vaccine rollout achieved another milestone as over 70 million doses have now been administered to adults in the country, according to the latest figures published on Friday (11). With 70,253,625 million doses administered in total, 41,088,485 million people across the UK have now been vaccinated with a first…
IN England for the first time the number of people waiting for hospital treatment has surpassed five million, according to latest NHS figures. The NHS England data reveals 5.12 million people had been waiting at the end of April. However, the number facing waits of over a year has fell…
CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak may be ready to delay the final reopening of the UK by up to four weeks, a report said, amid speculation that the government is contemplating extending restrictions beyond June 21 due to a rise in Covid cases. Although Sunak has in the past been regarded as…
By Nadeem Badshah SOME British Asian patients are missing vital phone calls from hospitals while waiting lists are at record levels, doctors have warned. Medics have come across cases of people not answering their phone or failing to attend appointments as they are unable to attend with a family…
LEADING comedians have come together to raise awareness about hepatitis C and its risk factors in British South Asian communities. Hep C, Ki? is a new campaign by Gilead Sciences and The Hepatitis C Trust, with the support of NHS England, that uses comedy to breakdown barriers of stigma and…
THE NHS Race and Health Observatory, supported by three regulators, on Friday (28) urged healthcare leaders to ensure that policies and processes are fair, inclusive and in line with the 2010 Equality Act. The Observatory along with Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council, and the Care Quality Commission have…
THE European Union’s new plan would allow Britons who have had both jabs to holiday across Europe. As per the government’s plan those who have vaccinated themselves with both the doses of COvid-19 vaccine can fly to France, Spain, Italy, and other countries without taking a Covid test or quarantine…
The NHS today announced a £160 million initiative to tackle waiting lists and develop a blueprint for elective recovery as early reports show the health service is recovering faster after the second wave of the pandemic. Indicators suggest operations and other elective activity were already at four-fifths of pre-pandemic levels…
Minority ethnic groups in general and South Asians, in particular, had a higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and of COVID-19 related hospitalisations, intensive care (ICU) admissions and deaths during the second wave of the pandemic in the UK compared to the first, according to a new observational study…
Sir Simon Stevens will step down as head of NHS England at the end of July and become a peer, the government has announced on Thursday (29). He will leave his role after being in charge for seven years, and also having overseen the Covid vaccination rollout to all adults.…
By Nadhim Zahawi Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment LAST Saturday (24), I found myself in an unlikely location to see the work of vaccinators and volunteers delivering a jab a minute and bringing us closer to saving countless more lives. The pop-up vaccination site in north-east…
IN Britain, people aged 44 and above will now be able to book their Covid-19 jab starting on Monday (26) as the UK's National Health Service (NHS) vaccine programme expands further to more younger age groups. Around half a million 44-year-olds will receive a text message inviting them to get…
VACCINE uptake from all ethnic minority backgrounds has tripled in the UK, outpacing the national average across all ethnicities, a top official has said. "Two months ago, on behalf of the NHS, I set out our action plan to boost uptake across people from ethnic minority backgrounds. And I’m pleased…
THE UK has launched a new Antivirals Taskforce to identify treatments for patients who have been exposed to Covid-19 to stop the infection spreading and speed up recovery time. The Taskforce will search for the most promising novel antiviral medicines that can be taken at home and support their development…
In order to encourage people fasting during Ramadan to get the coronavirus vaccine, the Al-Abbas Islamic Centre in Birmingham is to offer the jab after sunset and late in the evening. The centre is offering vaccination appointments on Friday and Saturday after 9pm. The service is being offered in partnership…
DOCTORS from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds say key risk assessments have still not taken place, or have not been acted on. Of 2,000 doctors who responded to the BBC News poll, 328 said their risks hadn't been assessed at all, while 519 said they had had a…
BRITAIN will have to wait for fresh shipments of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines as its manufacturer in India has been asked to prioritise the needs of that country first. A spokesperson for the Serum Institute of India (SII) said, “Five million doses had been delivered a few weeks ago to the…
UK prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday indicated that the best safety endorsement he can think of for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is to confirm that he would be receiving the jab as he now qualifies under an expanded vaccination drive. As the NHS marked the 100th day of its vaccination…
By Nadeem Badshah MATERNITY care needs an “urgent” shake-up, according to experts who welcomed an inquiry into how alleged racism in the NHS impacts the care provided to pregnant women. Women from south Asian backgrounds face nearly twice the risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth compared to white women,…
THE NHS on Monday (8) celebrated the vital role that hundreds of thousands of women have played in the pandemic effort across the service, to mark the International Women’s Day. It hosted a conference on Monday, led by chief people officer Prerana Issar who will be joined by leading women…
“Vaccine hesitancy” because Asian communities do not trust government, says top doctor Exclusive By Barnie Choudhury Politics is interfering “far too much” with caring for sick patients during the pandemic. That is according to the chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul. Speaking during the second Ramniklal Solanki…
by LAUREN CODLING AS THE world celebrates International Women’s Day on Monday (8), it is important to reflect on the progress made during a challenging year for many. Eastern Eye spoke to several influential women to find out what they have learnt about themselves during the last 12 months and…
THE NHS on Monday (1) started vaccinating people aged 60 to 63 years. The health service will invite almost two million people in this age group this week. Letters explaining how they can make an appointment to get the vaccine through the national booking service have already been sent, a statement…
CELEBRITIES and doctors urge people to get checked for lung cancer if they test negative for Covid-19 but have a cough for more than three weeks. In a new film, Sir Andrew Strauss, the ex-England cricket captain, who lost his wife to lung cancer, and television presenter Gaby Roslin, who…
By Amit Roy PRINCE CHARLES has expressed concern that some members of the ethnic minorities are not taking the vaccine. He told a webinar organised by the British Asian Trust (BAT), of which he is the founder patron: “In view of my concern about the health and welfare of…
AS part of the national NHS cervical screening programme, more than 31,000 women will be given kits to carry out smear tests to screen for the Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer. It is the first time home smear tests have been trialled in England and…
THE NHS will open 40 dedicated mental health support hubs for its staff across the country to offer free service and confidential advice. Staff can access services over the phone with onward referral to online and one-to-one expert help from qualified mental health clinicians, therapists, recovery workers and psychologists, a…
THE UK on Saturday(13) launched a new Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Plan to boost vaccine uptake in vulnerable and under-served groups. It describes how the government and NHS England are partnering with directors of public health, charities and the faith sector to increase vaccine take up and ensure equal access. Data…
By Nadeem Badshah MENTAL HEALTH problems in children have been overlooked in the fight against Covid 19 and a long-term action plan is needed, according to British Asian parents, MPs and experts. Parents have revealed the challenges of lockdown and remote learning on their children and shared their advice for…
THE UK will launch an inquiry on Tuesday(9) to investigate alleged systemic racism in the NHS maternity care, with support from the UK charity Birthrights. The inquiry, led by Barrister Shaheen Rahman QC, will examine how claimed racial injustice – from explicit racism to bias – is leading to poorer…
THE new £7.6million health and wellbeing fund will support 19 projects to promote nutrition, learning, language development and mental health during pregnancy and post birth in black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Set up across the country, these 19 projects include a number of innovative schemes aimed at levelling…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIANS have been urged to take the coronavirus vaccine as doctors expressed concerns that “fake news” was causing many from the community to reject it. Rumours claiming that the vaccines contain alcohol and animal products (such as beef and pork) have been circulating on social media and…
BRITAIN opened ten new mass vaccination centres, including a rugby ground, racecourse, food court and a cathedral, on Monday(18) to deliver Covid-19 vaccines. With the new sites, there will be 17 such centres offering people an alternative to GP-led and hospital services, with more to follow, the National Health Service…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN communities need tailored and culturally sensitive support services to tackle mental health issues, doctors have said, as studies showed how the pandemic has led to a surge in those seeking help. In December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said ethnic groups suffered a “triple whammy…
NHS England has said that it had made plans to vaccinate all frontline staff against Covid-19 in the next few weeks following the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Nikita Kanani, the Nation Health Service(NHS) medical director for primary care, said the vaccine will be administered to "all health and social…
AS 2020 drew to a close last Thursday (31), Eastern Eye asked some prominent people to reflect on the year and reveal their hopes for 2021. We asked them: a. What have you learned about yourself in the past year? b. How would you reflect on 2020 and what are…
FORMER chief executive of Reckitt Benckiser Rakesh Kapoor has joined the board of NHS England. Kapoor,62, stepped down as the CEO of the UK multinational consumer goods company in September 2019. He was one of the top paid executives in the UK. "For over seven decades, the National Health Service…
By Amit Roy MY LATE mother used to tell us five brothers and sisters: “Nothing much happened today, it was very quiet, but years from now you will look back and realise these were the happy days.” How we all yearn for a return to some sort of normality. It…
GENERAL practitioners in Britain have been given new guidance allowing them to use Pfizer Inc’s extra Covid-19 vaccine doses “at their discretion”, NHS England said. The development came a day after US regulators issued a similar guidance. Every vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was expected to include five doses, but…
A NEW inquiry launched to assess the impact of Covid-19 on English pharmacies has warned that without urgent government intervention, financial pressure will cause irreparable damage to the sector. The flash inquiry conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy (APPG) found that while pharmacy teams have been responding to…
AS SOCIAL INTERACTIONS ARE LIMITED AMID THE PANDEMIC, FEELINGS OF ANXIETY AND BOREDOM ARE COMMON BUT HELP IS AVAILABLE Christmas is around the corner and after weeks of being apart from our loved ones a temporary lifting of some restrictions will allow families to meet during the festive season. It…
by LAUREN CODLING COMMUNITY leaders have questioned why ethnic minority groups have not been prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine, as the UK became the first country in the world to roll out the immunisation on Tuesday (8). As Eastern Eye went to press, the shot became available at 50 hospitals…
A 90-year-old British grandmother became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 jab following its clinical approval. Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, said it was "the best early birthday present" and added: "My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it. If…
By NADEEM BADSHAH GPs will see patients and also administer Covid vaccine LEADING GPs have called for support to help them deal with “workload pressures” during the upcoming rollout of a coronavirus vaccine. Family doctors are set for a hectic few months with a Covid-19 jab expected to be unveiled…
THE NHS will launch more than 40 ‘Long Covid’ specialist clinics at the end of November to help thousands of patients suffering debilitating effects of the virus months after being infected. The clinics will bring together doctors, nurses, therapist and other NHS staff to physical and psychological assessments of those…
THE NHS has launched an early intervention service in 18 sites across the country to support 16-25 year olds in the early stages of eating disorders. The expanded service will target care to those who have been living with a condition for fewer than three years. They can be contacted…
COMMUNITY VOICES and celebrities have urged South Asians in the UK to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in new NHS campaign. Celebrity chefs Atul Kochhar, Anjum Anand and media medic Dr Ranj Singh are part of the inaugural campaign supported by the South Asian Health Foundation, the British Association…
THE NEW mental health campaign by Public Health England (PHE) provides NHS-endorsed, practical tips and advice to help children and young people’s mental wellbeing. Available on the Every Mind Matters website,the campaign is designed to help parents and carers spot the signs that children may be struggling with their mental…
New figures show over one in five in intensive care with COVID is Asian By Barnie Choudhury Leaders of doctors’ groups have accused the government of “letting down” south Asian communities in its handling of the pandemic. Their criticism comes as new figures show that in the past month, 170…
Businessmen, frontline healthcare staff as well as charity workers and volunteers are among Asians in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List, whose publication in June was delayed in order to recognise “unsung heroes” of the coronavirus pandemic. Billionaire brothers Zuber Vali Issa and Mohsin Issa, who last week acquired Asda…
By Priyankur Mandav PHARMACY LEADERS have warned ministers and NHS officials that Test and Trace discrepancies could lead to widespread pharmacy closures for two weeks, risking timely supply of medicines to local communities. Their warning comes following reports of several incidents where entire community pharmacy teams have been told by…
By Professor Kamlesh Khunti AS IS now known, the burden of Covid-19 has not been equal, with people from ethnic minorities being at increased risk of infection, severe disease and death compared to white populations. At the University of Leicester, we were the first ones to raise concerns about…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN healthcare staff have revealed the stress and exhaustion they have suffered during the pandemic, as data revealed the BAME workforce is suffering from increased mental health problems during the crisis. In interviews with Eastern Eye, a number of doctors have revealed the trauma of seeing BAME…
by LAUREN CODLING A BREAST cancer survivor who had a daughter through surrogacy has spoken out about ending the stigma of the disease among Asians, as she urged more involvement from the community. Kreena Dhiman, 40, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 33. Although now in remission, she…
NHS England has asked General practitioners (GPs) to ensure that patients can access face-to-face appointments. In a letter sent to all GP practices, NHS said that GPs should communicate, through online or verbal conversations, to the public that face-to-face is also available besides video and phone consultations. Those who fail…
OVER 1,300 local chemists have urged Rishi Sunak – whose mother was a pharmacist – to save community pharmacies that are “unable to survive” without government funding. In a letter to the chancellor, they also cautioned the chancellor that without support the “inevitable result” will be mass closures leading to…
THE NHS will offer free weight-loss diets soup and shake to thousands with Type 2 diabetes across England as part of a new health drive starting on Tuesday (1), after the very-low-calorie plans have shown to improve patients’ life chances. NHS England said diabetes is estimated to cost the health…
THE NHS has launched a ‘brilliant scheme’ offering financial support for the caring of children or family members of doctors returning to general practice. Qualified GPs rejoining the NHS or coming from abroad will now be able to claim up to £2,000 if “family responsibilities would be a barrier to…
DOMESTIC HOMICIDE victim Jessica Patel’s family has urged people to "open their eyes, ask questions and never assume everything is okay" to root out the "act of evil" as an independent review called for measures to curb domestic abuse and honour-based violence. The Domestic Homicide Review, which primarily focused on…
AN ASIAN doctor has said her career in medicine sets her “soul on fire” as she revealed she’s fortunate to get paid for what she loves doing. Dr Farzana Hussain is a GP at Project Surgery, Newham, and is one of 12 NHS workers who was photographed by Rankin, as…
PREGNANT women from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds should be given additional support as they face a “heightened risk” due to Covid-19, the NHS England has said. Recent research from Oxford University showed that 55 per cent of the pregnant women admitted to hospitals due to Covid-19 were…
By Barnie Choudhury SIXTEEN of the 17 doctors who died during the time it took Public Health England to carry out its review into the disproportionate number of Asian and black people dying from coronavirus were BAME, Eastern Eye has learnt. The British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, also…
NHS England’s top doctor has urged parents to be alert to signs as children could experience anxiety, distress or low mood when they return to school after months away. Britain partially reopened schools on Monday (1). Professor Prathiba Chitsabesan, associate national clinical director for children and young people’s mental health…
By Amit Roy THE proportion of patients with diabetes who have died from Covid-19 has gone up from 26 per cent to 32 per cent, according to the latest research from NHS England. New figures show that 7,466 coronavirus patients who have died in hospitals in England had type 2…
By Barnie Choudhury and Rithika Siddhartha DOCTORS’ leaders have urged NHS managers to carry out “proper risk assessments” for frontline black, Asian and ethnic minority staff who are treating Covid-19 patients. Their recommendation comes as new analysis by the Guardian newspaper on Monday (25) showed that among healthcare workers who…
Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, raising concerns of Sikh frontline workers who say that the masks they have been supplied with do not pass "fit tests". Gill noted that many Sikhs working in primary care settings, such as doctors and dentists, in…
DIABETIC people face a "significantly higher risk" of dying due to Covid-19 complications, according to NHS research. About a third of coronavirus deaths in English hospitals were associated with diabetes, the study said. People living with type 1 diabetes are at three and a half times the risk, and people…
By Amit Roy A LEADING diabetes doctor has advised British Asians on how they can reduce their risks from Covid-19 by taking up NHS programmes aimed at dealing with the disease. The comments from Prof Partha Kar, national speciality adviser for diabetes for NHS England, follow the publication last week…
by LAUREN CODLING AN NHS leader has urged the public to seek medical attention if they need it, as experts warn delays in getting treatment due to Covid-19 could lead to a long-term risk to people’s health. Dr Nikita Kanani is one of several medical professionals who are backing the…
THE UK's coronavirus death toll has crossed 40,000, by far the worst yet reported in Europe. As per official figures released on Tuesday (12), the hospital death toll went up by 425 to 27,194 over the past 24 hours -- a steep rise from yesterday's 222. The latest data from…
Hancock vows action as ethnic communities bear brunt of Covid infections. By Shailesh Solanki HEALTH SECRETARY Matt Hancock has promised to urgently deliver “robust findings” from the inquiry into why black, Asian and minority ethnic communities appear to have disproportionately suffered from the coronavirus pandemic. In an exclusive interview with…
British Sikh doctors are campaigning for a better procurement strategy by the National Health Service (NHS) for personal protective equipment required on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in hospitals after a number of them were forced away from key roles due to their beards. The Sikh Doctors Association had…
The death toll from the novel coronavirus in UK hospitals, care homes and the wider community rose by 315 to hit 28,446 on Sunday (3), the latest government figures revealed. The latest figures indicate that the UK’s toll is now edging closer to that in Italy, one of the worst…
SENIOR doctors have demanded “immediate” government action to tackle the disproportionate number of deaths among ethnic minority communities suffering from the Covid-19 virus. Although the government announced on April 16 that it would launch an inquiry into why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds appear to be…
The UK came together on Tuesday (28) for a minute’s silence in the honour of hundreds of healthcare and other workers who have lost their lives on the frontline of the coronavirus fightback across the country. British prime minister Boris Johnson led the tributes with chancellor Rishi Sunak at 10…
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday (28) he was "very worried" at signs of a coronavirus-related syndrome emerging in children, but stressed it needed more research and remained rare. The NHS issued an alert at the weekend about a small number of children presenting an unusual set of symptoms,…
The UK recorded its lowest daily death toll from the novel coronavirus in a month at 413 on Sunday, with its total number of hospital deaths climbing to 20,732. UK environment secretary George Eustice announced the update during the daily Downing Street briefing in London and revealed that hospitalisations from…
The Labour party on Friday (24) announced a review into the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s minority ethnic populations. Labour party Leader Keir Starmer hosted a digital roundtable alongside ministers from his shadow cabinet and representatives from Britain’s minorities communities to kick-start the process of analysing…
Health secretary Matt Hancock has thanked British Muslims for staying at home over Ramadan. All mosques in the UK will be closed for the month of Ramadan, which begins today, to ensure there is no congregational prayers and social distancing guidelines are maintained. Furthermore, key Muslim figures such as Mayor…
The UK's Covid-19 death toll in hospitals rose by 616 to 18,738 by 1600 GMT on April 22, the health department said on Thursday (23). It added that 138,078 people had tested positive for coronovirus so far. England's Covid-19 death toll in hospitals, meanwhile, rose by 514 to 16,786. NHS…
By Barnie Choudhury THE body which represents dentists in the UK has told Eastern Eye that it is disappointed with the government directive that self-employed members who earn more than £50,000 will not get help from a Covid-19 grant scheme. About one in four of the 11,800 practices which are…
PEOPLE of Indian origin in England have emerged as the worst-affected minority group in the coronavirus crisis, according to official data on Covid-19 deaths in hospitals across the country. Figures released this week by the NHS England show that of the 13,918 patients who died in hospitals till April 17…
by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has claimed the disproportionate number of ethnic minorities affected by coronavirus has “highlighted the structural inequalities in our society”. Speaking to Eastern Eye on Tuesday (21), the mayor said it was important to recognise that the Covid-19 virus was “affecting some communities disproportionately…
Coronavirus-related deaths were about 41 per cent higher in England and Wales than the government's hospital-only figures in the week up to April 10, according to official data released on Tuesday (21). The latest figures, which was released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows that there were…
THE latest data released by NHS England has revealed that 16.2 per cent of COVID-19 victims in the UK are from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. It also shows that these communities account for 35 per cent of all the coronavirus patients in intensive care. But, BAME constitutes…
By Nadeem Badshah THE family of a squash champion who died from a previously undiagnosed heart condition have been praised for helping to increase the number of people tested in the UK. Neil Desai, 22, who represented England in squash, died in 2008 from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. At that…
Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson was making "very good progress" on Saturday in his recovery in hospital from coronavirus, officials said, as the number of deaths in Britain from the disease approached the grim milestone of 10,000. The 55-year-old leader was spending his second full day out of intensive care…
The Labour Party on Saturday (11) joined calls alongside doctors doctors for a probe into the disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic (BAME) medics dying from the novel coronavirus in the country. The move comes as UK health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that 19 NHS workers have died with…
Indian-origin doctors in the UK have initiated an in-depth research into the role of ethnicity in greater susceptibility of BAME communities to develop more critical symptoms of Covid-19. A report by the UK's Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) this week had revealed that the country’s ethnic minority…
By Amit Roy THE chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) council has written to the home secretary, Priti Patel, pointing out that international doctors are dying in the service of the NHS and suggesting the government waive the health surcharge doctors have to pay at least during the period…
A record 854 people have died of COVID-19 in the UK on Tuesday (7), taking the total to 6,227. NHS England has confirmed 758 deaths, with authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland announcing a further 96 between them. Patients were aged between 23 and 102 years old, and 29…
THE UK has reported 434 fatalities in a day, the lowest toll in almost a week. The worst day so far was April 4, when UK reported 708 deaths. On Sunday, the total fatalities were 621. Monday’s (6) figure represents a 30 per cent drop from the day before. The…
Dr Nishant Joshi, 31, terms the government's updated guidance to make personal protective equipment essential for NHS staff a "victory", after a "battle" to ensure proper protection for frontline workers. Joshi had used social media channels over the past few weeks to speak out against the shortage of PPE for…
THE UK’s coronoavirus death toll has gone up by 24 per cent to 2,921, with 33,718 confirmed Covid-19 cases, said a health ministry statement on Thursday (2). This was the third day in a row that the country witnessed one-day high increases in the death toll. NHS England said that…
Dominic Raab has announced that the UK government was planning to charter special flights to bring back British nationals who find themselves stranded in the Covid-19 worldwide travel lockdown. The UK foreign secretary and his counterparts from about 20 countries had held discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar…
THOUSANDS of people across the UK took to their balconies and door steps on Thursday (26) evening to applaud health workers who are battling the spread of coronavirus - an emotional show of solidarity during the nation's worst crisis since World War Two. Clapping, banging pots and pans, cheering and…
By Nadeem Badshah ASIAN shopkeepers have revealed they are struggling with low stock levels after panic buying by shoppers over coronavirus fears. Stores have seen a spike in sales of toiletries, rice, atta flour and spices since the virus outbreak, but some shops have been unable to restock due to…
REPORTS reached me at the weekend that some Asian shopkeepers were engaging in profiteering, with fresh green chillis, for example, marked up to £17.99 per kg and karela (bitter gourd) priced at £9.99 per kg. Other reports spoke of hoarding. One house was apparently packed to the rafters with bags…
By Nadeem Badshah CAMPAIGNERS have backed plans to allow hospitals to refuse to treat racist, sexist and violent patients to tackle growing levels of abuse suffered by NHS staff. From April, any patient or hospital visitor behaving in a racist or abusive way could be barred from receiving care unless…
STAFF from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds face worsening incidence of bullying, harassment and abuse, says latest NHS England data. Last year saw the highest spike in cases since the NHS started filing Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) reports in 2016. The number of BME staff reporting ill-treatment by…
by LAUREN CODLING A LEADING psychiatrist has urged the government to invest in more mental health support for gambling addicts as new figures revealed that the number of gambling-related hospital admissions has more than doubled in the past six years. The call for action comes weeks after NHS England data…
By Nadeem Badshah MINISTERS have been urged to step up in 2020 and tackle problems faced by Asian families looking after a disabled loved one. Campaigners say there remains a low uptake among south Asians for accessing some support services. They have also highlighted the high number of benefits…
NHS ENGLAND’S Ed Waller has outlined plans for pharmacists to play a bigger clinical role in primary care, writes Priyankur Mandav. Speaking at the fourth annual Pharmacy Business Conference in London last Thursday (26), Waller, who is NHS England’s director of primary care strategy and NHS contracts, said “thousands of…
by LAUREN CODLING AN ASIAN doctor says she is “flattered” to be ranked the second most influential GP in the UK. Dr Nikita Kanani, NHS England’s Medical Director for Primary Care, was one of 20 other BAME doctors unveiled on the PulsePower50. Published by British primary care magazine Pulse, the…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH ASIAN parents are being urged to set a healthier example for their families after figures showed children of Bangladeshi origin have the second-highest rates of being overweight. Government data published earlier this year showed that 44 per cent of British-Bangladeshi youngsters aged 10-11 were classed…
A DENTIST based in Birmingham is believed to have collected more than £192,000 from the NHS by making inflated claims for treatment, Birmingham Crown Court heard on Tuesday (9). Naveed Khaled is said to have obtained money after claiming patients were given complex treatment, when in fact they were just…
by LAUREN CODLING MEDICAL professionals have slammed the “rampant discrimination” within the NHS as a new report showed that BAME representation at senior levels is declining. Findings released last week by the NHS Confederation showed the number of ethnic minority chairs and non-executive directors of NHS trusts in England has…
Sigma Pharmaceuticals founder and CEO Bharat Shah has been appointed a CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Mr Shah, who founded leading pharmacy wholesaler Sigma Pharmaceuticals from the back of his chemist shop in Watford in 1982, received the award for ‘services to business, economic growth, exporting, independent…
By Rashmita Solanki On arriving at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show 2019, I came across a quote that Gertrude Jekyll, a British horticulturist and garden designer: “The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies”. For many the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the “seed…
BY LAUREN CODLING AN Asian teenager has spoken of the demands on her time as a young carer and student, as a new report showed that carers from an ethnic background are more likely to be isolated from support services and are often relied upon to translate between family members…
by Nadeem Badshah THE disproportionate number of British Asians doing fewer than 30 minutes of exercise a week can be tackled by sports organisations having a more diverse workforce, campaigners believe. They have also called for GPs to do more to promote physical activity after government figures showed nearly a…
by Nadeem Badshah THE NHS has been urged to tackle its recruitment crisis by again turning to doctors from south Asia in order to reduce the workload of stressed GPs. Health bosses are offering £18,500 as “relocation support” to British GPs working abroad if they return home. It is part…
by Nadeem Badshah URGENT action is needed to improve access to GPs in deprived towns and cities with large Asian communities, according to health experts. Research showed rich and poor people in England receive different standards of care from the NHS, with families living in deprived areas waiting longer to…
BRITONS are being encouraged to know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers as well as they know their PIN numbers as part of a government drive to cut 150,000 heart attack, stroke and dementia cases over the next decade. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can lead to heart attack and stroke, and…
An 11-year-old Indian-origin boy has become the first patient to receive a pioneering new cancer therapy by the NHS and is recovering in a children's hospital in London. Yuvan Thakkar suffers from relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and received the ground-breaking treatment known as Kymriah - a type of immunotherapy…
by NADEEM BADSHAH SOME Asian families are hiding the fact that their relatives have conditions such as autism and also prevent them from going out in public, campaigners have said. Support groups believe there remains a stigma about seeking help for loved ones with learning disabilities and suffering from diseases…
by LAUREN CODLING A FATHER has urged men to speak out if they suspect they have signs of postnatal depression, as he revealed his own struggles with the mental health condition. Professor Viren Swami has suffered with postnatal depression since his son was born in 2017. He told Eastern Eye…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS have been urged to engage with free programmes to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as a new long-term NHS plan which promised to save up to 500,000 lives was announced on Monday (7). The 10-year plan includes doubling the Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) by 2023-24,…
by Nadeem Badshah THE mounting workload of doctors needs to be urgently addressed to prevent more stressed-out medics leaving the NHS, health campaigners have cautioned. They have warned of a “brain drain” depriving UK hospitals of talent. A General Medical Council (GMC) survey found a quarter of young doctors feel…
by Nadeem Badshah BRITISH ASIAN cancer patients who are suffering in silence need more support to encourage them to speak to their families about their illness, experts have urged. They have called for the government and mainstream health groups to reach out more to ethnic minorities diagnosed with the disease. Some are not telling anyone about their diagnosis,…
by Nadeem Badshah A DANCE a day to a Bollywood song keeps the doctor away. This is the result of a pilot scheme where a jig to Indian film hits are being prescribed on the NHS which has seen GPs’ workloads reduced. The project has seen people sent to dance…
Under new plans unveiled by British prime minister Theresa May to increase ethnic minority representation in the workplace, employers may soon be asked to release their race pay gap statistics. May said minorities often “feel like they are hitting a brick wall” at work, and she has launched a consultation…
by LAUREN CODLING SENIOR doctors have welcomed the launch of a new support scheme designed to help tackle mental health within NHS staff, as recent statistics revealed 40 per cent of GPs have experienced anxiety or depression. The NHS announced the new mental health support system last Friday (5), as…
Public Health England wants adults across the country to take a free Heart Age Test to find if they are at risk of a heart attack or stroke, the leading cause of death for men and the second leading cause of death for women. The Heart Age Test is free…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS have been warned to pay attention to their health by leading medical professionals, as a “diabetes epidemic” is predicted to trigger a rise in heart attack and strokes by 2035. The number of people suffering from potentially fatal medical conditions due to diabetes is predicted…
A healthcare professional, who was recently awarded for her work to improve the quality of patient care in NHS, has said her dream is to start a rehabilitation and re-employment centre in India. Kashmira Sangle, who trained as a physiotherapist in Maharashtra before moving to the UK in 2003, was…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN doctors have not only contributed to the NHS by working in the health service but helped “create” it, an influential doctor has said as the public healthcare system celebrates its 70th anniversary on Thursday (5). Professor Mayur Lakhani CBE, president of The Royal College of General…
by NADEEM BADSHAH CALLS FOR ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY ON ASSAULTS LEADING doctors have called for a campaign to tackle the rising number of NHS workers being attacked while at work. Hospital trusts in England reported 56,500 assaults in 2016-2017, up 10 per cent on year before, which has been blamed on…
Weight loss in people over 60 could be a sign of cancer, a new study has shown. The research by Oxford University found that losing weight is an important symptom of cancer and it has been linked to at least 10 types of the disease. People over 60 with unexplained…
by NADEEM BADSHAH A GROWING number of south Asian doctors are leaving the UK to work in cities like Dubai because of work pressures, according to a group for overseas medics. The United Arab Emirates, Australia and Canada are the three most popular countries for south Asians who worked for…
by LAUREN CODLING SOUTH ASIAN children are the most likely to be overweight or obese in the UK, a new study has found. Fifty per cent of south Asian boys and 40 per cent of girls were shown to be overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school,…
An doctor based in London had warned against the cyber-hack of the NHS just days before it crippled the country's network. Krishna Chinthapalli, a neurology registrar at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, had said an increasing number of hospitals could be shut down by ransomeware attacks in an article…
LEADING Asians from the NHS have called for action after a new national survey found that racism and discrimination against minority staff was widespread in the NHS. The experiences of BME and white workers from a 2015 staff survey at every NHS trust across England were published last Thursday (2)…
NORTH East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee (NEL LPC) has launched a report setting out its vision for pharmacy which attempts to place the profession at the forefront of healthcare across local communities based on the high street clinic model. With pharmacy’s funding set to be squeezed in the coming years,…