Shortage of organ donations led to 457 deaths last year, says NHS

Shortage of organ donations led to 457 deaths last year, says NHS

Reluctance to talk about transplants leaves families unsure of potential donors’ wishes and a reluctance to donate A reluctance to talk about transplants is contributing to a deadly shortage of organs donation, the NHS has said after figures revealed more than 450 patients waiting for a new organ died last year because families, unsure of their deceased…

Tenth of men aged 50 ‘have heart age 10 years older’

Tenth of men aged 50 ‘have heart age 10 years older’

One-tenth of 50-year-old men have a heart age 10 years older than they are, heightening their risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke, a study suggests. The Public Health England analysis is based on responses from 1.2 million people to its Heart Age Test – 33,000 of whom were men aged 50. The organisation also predicts…

NHS faces ‘worst winter in recent history’ without £350m emergency bailout, warn hospital chiefs

NHS faces ‘worst winter in recent history’ without £350m emergency bailout, warn hospital chiefs

The NHS will suffer its worst winter in recent history if it does not receive a £350m emergency bailout, hospital chiefs have warned. The cash is desperately need to fund extra staff and beds, with waiting times and bed shortages remaining “stubbornly bad,” according to NHS Providers, which represents NHS chief executives. The government has given…

UK needs to act urgently to secure NHS data for British public, report warns

UK needs to act urgently to secure NHS data for British public, report warns

Algorithms based on NHS records could seed an ‘entirely new industry’ in AI-based diagnostics and mint billions for tech companies, strategic review reveals The government must act urgently to ensure that patients and UK taxpayers – not just tech companies – gain from new commercial applications of NHS data, an independent review of the UK life sciences…

One in three sick notes are for mental health problems, ‘alarming’ report shows

One in three sick notes are for mental health problems, ‘alarming’ report shows

One in three “sick notes” handed out by GPs are now for mental health problems, amid soaring levels of anxiety across Britain, official figures show. The new data – from the first such investigation across the NHS – reveals that in total, more than 5 million people are being signed off work every year. Mental…