[ad_1] A scheme to support GPs to provide care and advice to patients which avoids them joining long NHS hospital waiting lists is being expanded in England, the government says.GPs will work more closely with specialists to access expert advice quickly for patients with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, menopause symptoms and ear infections.Backed by £80m of funding, its ambition is to help two million people receive faster and
[ad_1] Members of the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed the text of a legally binding treaty designed to better tackle future pandemics.The pact is meant to avoid the disorganisation and competition for resources seen during the Covid-19 outbreak.Key elements include the rapid sharing of data about new diseases, to ensure scientists and pharmaceutical companies can work more quickly to develop treatments and vaccines.For the first time, the WHO itself
[ad_1] Jim ReedBBC NewsReporting fromSupreme Court, LondonPamela TickellBBC News, North East and CumbriaBBCParents of the deceased children heard doctors involved in their care could be namedDoctors in two end-of-life cases can be named, the Supreme Court has ruled, after the parents of two children said they wanted to "tell their story".Isaiah Haastrup, aged 12 months, and six-year-old Zainab Abbasi were at the centre of life support treatment disputes at the
[ad_1] Laura Goodwin and Ken BanksBBC ScotlandBBCBrian Watt, with dog Winnie, says he tries to have a healthy lifestyle after his diagnosis in 2016Northern Scotland has one of the highest rates of Huntington's disease in the world, according to a new study.Huntington's is a hereditary disorder that slowly damages the brain, affecting the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink, make decisions and live independently. There is currently no cure.The study
[ad_1] Michelle RobertsDigital health editor, BBC NewsGetty ImagesAdverts from six companies selling liquid Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) have been banned in the UK for trivialising the risks and exploiting women's insecurities around body image. All of them appeared on Facebook or Instagram and used time-limited deals to "irresponsibly pressurise" customers into booking, says the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).One ad, for example, tried to entice customers with an "exclusive opportunity" to
[ad_1] The popularity of disposable e-cigarettes or vapes has fallen ahead of a UK-wide ban on their sale on 1 June, a study has found.Researchers believe vape users are switching to refillable and rechargeable vapes in anticipation of the ban.The percentage of people aged 16-24 who mainly use disposable vapes has dropped by nearly half in the last year from 63% to 35%, according to University College London (UCL) research.Overall
[ad_1] Aileen MoynaghBBC News NI health reporterBBCJennifer Cousins said she "never felt settled" before her diagnosesA woman who was privately diagnosed with ADHD said the first time she took medication for it was "life-changing".Jennifer Cousins said it was "unfair" that there are no commissioned services for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Northern Ireland. A condition that affects people's behaviour, the 42-year-old said she was always trying new things, never
[ad_1] Ashley John-BaptisteBBC News InvestigationsGetty ImagesBlood test results have been leading to misdiagnoses and unnecessary hospital referrals, GPs have told the BBCAn NHS provider that won a £2bn contract to deliver blood-testing services for hospitals and GPs is failing to deliver reliable results, according to medical professionals.Synnovis, a public-private partnership between the medical company Synlab and Guy's and St Thomas' and King's College hospital foundation trusts, secured the contract in
[ad_1] Michelle RobertsDigital health editor, BBC NewsGetty ImagesScientists believe they have found a new effective antibiotic for gonorrhoea, which could be one of the most promising in decades. Gepotidacin can treat and clear the sexually transmitted infection just as well as existing antibiotics and appears to be able to tackle some emerging drug-resistant 'superbug' strains too, say researchers in The Lancet journal. The work was funded by pharmaceutical company GSK
[ad_1] Patients with advanced skin cancer could be fast-tracked to take part in a "revolutionary" trial of a new cancer vaccine.The needle-free injection boosts the immune system's response and helps it attack and recognise cancer cells to help stop the disease returning.The trial is being coordinated by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, which is based at the city's university, and is aiming to expand the number of patients able to
