Latest Nursing News

Nurses warn over needle injuries	19 Nov 2008
Nurses are calling for safer needles, after a poll suggested nearly half of them have been accidently jabbed. The Royal College of Nursing said ...more
Technology to eradicate malaria	19 Nov 2008
Emerging technologies could boost supplies of essential plant-based drugs to combat and ultimately help eradicate malaria, says a report. In the ...more
Windpipe transplant breakthrough	19 Nov 2008
Surgeons in Spain have carried out the world's first tissue-engineered whole organ transplant - using a windpipe made with the patient's own stem ...more
Cancer waiting targets 'not met'	19 Nov 2008
The NHS in Scotland is still failing to hit a cancer waiting time target set in 2000, new figures have revealed. Grampian health board had the ...more
Computer virus affects hospitals	19 Nov 2008
Three London hospitals have been forced to shut down their entire computer systems for at least 24 hours after being hit by a virus. St ...more
Care home trio guilty of neglect	18 Nov 2008
Three care home workers have been found guilty of wilfully neglecting a patient and each given a conditional discharge. Alan Sayers, 52, who had ...more
Addiction service to help doctors	18 Nov 2008
Doctors and dentists who have an addiction or other health problems often leave it late to seek help because they fear being recognised or worry ...more
Donor opt-outs 'not off agenda'	18 Nov 2008
An "opt-out" system for organ donation is not off the agenda in Scotland, according to the health secretary. Nicola Sturgeon said a system of ...more
Woman talks of 'dungeon' hospital	18 Nov 2008
A woman who recently gave birth in the Royal Maternity hospital in Belfast has described the delivery suite as "a dungeon". Julianne Scott was ...more
Norovirus spreads to second ward	18 Nov 2008
Visiting restrictions have been extended at a Norfolk hospital after an outbreak of a winter vomiting bug spread to a second ward. Norfolk and ...more
Patients to be screened for MRSA	17 Nov 2008
Patients at two hospitals will be routinely screened for the MRSA bug before undergoing operations. All adult patients set to have surgery at ...more
More Britons join suicide clinic	17 Nov 2008
The UK has the third highest number of people registered with the Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas, a BBC investigation has found. The number of ...more
Prison's mental health 'scandal'	17 Nov 2008
Inadequate mental health care provision at a young offenders' institution has been criticised as scandalous by Wales' children's commissioner and an ...more
Surgeon suspended for misconduct	17 Nov 2008
A surgeon in Cornwall has been suspended for three months by the General Medical Council for misconduct. The GMC ruled on Thursday that Hans ...more
Patient 'on trolley for 18 hours'	17 Nov 2008
A woman says she spent 18 hours on a trolley in a Telford hospital. Gillian Bennett, from Ketley, in Shropshire, went to the Princess Royal ...more
Protest over hospital demolition	14 Nov 2008
Campaigners are due to protest against the demolition of buildings at a former psychiatric hospital as the site is prepared for future ...more
Hospital patients' records stolen	14 Nov 2008
The medical records of almost 2,000 patients have been stolen from two hospitals in East Yorkshire. The Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS ...more
Doctor's call on children's A&E	14 Nov 2008
A senior paediatrician has called for designated children's emergency centres following the death of a baby the day after she was discharged from ...more
More GP surgeries to extend hours	14 Nov 2008
Efforts are being made to extend opening hours at more Gloucestershire GP surgeries by Christmas. Latest figures show that more than half of the ...more
Inquiry into deaths of brothers	14 Nov 2008
Investigations involving police, social services and health workers are under way after the deaths of two young brothers in Manchester. The bodies ...more
Three wards closed by Norovirus	13 Nov 2008
Three wards at Taunton's Musgrove Park hospital have been closed to new admissions to enable to the hospital to contain an outbreak of ...more
Cancer scan uses radar technology	13 Nov 2008
The first breast screening system to use safe radio waves rather than radiation-producing X-rays is being successfully trialled. The new scan, ...more
Town hospital loses medical unit	13 Nov 2008
Patients needing emergency medical care will no longer be treated at Bridlington Hospital but transferred 17 miles to Scarborough. The acute ...more
Baby born after ovary transplant	13 Nov 2008
A healthy baby girl has been born in London following the world's first transplant of an entire ovary, it has been reported. The 39-year-old ...more
GPs oppose private clinic plans	13 Nov 2008
Doctors from Oxfordshire will meet an opposition politician to object to plans to set up a private so-called polyclinic in Banbury. The doctors ...more
Baby died day after medical check	12 Nov 2008
A nine-month-old baby died from multiple organ failure the day after being sent home from hospital, an inquest heard. Aleesha Evans's parents were ...more
'WWII photo nurse' leads parade	12 Nov 2008
A 90-year-old who says she is the nurse being kissed in Times Square in one of World War II's most famous photos is to lead the New York Veterans Day ...more
Hospital hygiene measures praised	12 Nov 2008
Hygiene standards have been praised at a hospital after Healthcare Commission inspectors made an unannounced visit. The spot-check was carried out ...more
Doctors 'rely on chemo too much'	12 Nov 2008
Doctors are being urged to re-think their approach to giving chemotherapy during care at the end of life. A review of 600 cancer patients who died ...more
Inspectors to fight hospital bugs	12 Nov 2008
A new team of inspectors is to be formed to combat hospital acquired infections. The inspectors will have the power to go into any hospital in any ...more
Nursing home assault boss jailed	11 Nov 2008
A nursing home owner has been jailed for 12 weeks for assaulting an elderly resident in his care. Daniel Purgaus was convicted of attacking ...more
Seriously ill girl allowed to die	11 Nov 2008
A terminally ill girl has won the right to refuse treatment after a hospital ended its bid to force her to have a heart transplant. Herefordshire ...more
Health chiefs admit birth errors	11 Nov 2008
Hospital officials paid out £104,000 after admitting that poor medical care contributed to the premature death of a baby born with severe brain ...more
Frozen embryos' health benefit	11 Nov 2008
More evidence has emerged that babies born from frozen embryos are healthier than those that develop from fresh embryos, researchers say. Three ...more
Local MPs petition over hospital	11 Nov 2008
Some local MPs are to petition the Health Secretary Alan Johnson about the management of a hospital which is being investigated by a watchdog. The ...more
New pay deal for island's nurses	10 Nov 2008
Nurses in Guernsey have voted to accept a new local pay offer of 12% over the next three years in a deal to attract more nurses to the ...more
Nurse struck off over porn e-mail	10 Nov 2008
A nurse on an old people's ward who sent sexually explicit images of an elderly woman to colleagues has been struck off. Steven Bowmaker, 37, used ...more
Free housing for junior doctors	10 Nov 2008
All junior doctors training in Wales have been told they can stay free in hospital accommodation until July 2010. Health Minister Edwina Hart had ...more
Free housing for junior doctors	10 Nov 2008
All junior doctors training in Wales have been told they can stay free in hospital accommodation until July 2010. Health Minister Edwina Hart had ...more
Complaints spark hospital inquiry	10 Nov 2008
Services at one of England's leading children's hospitals are being investigated after complaints from its own consultants. A review of services ...more
Prison plan for former hospital	7 Nov 2008
A former psychiatric hospital could become a prison under new proposals. A meeting involving the owners of the North Wales Hospital site in ...more
Protesters angry at ward closures	7 Nov 2008
Protesters have attended a trust board meeting to complain over cuts at a West Midlands hospital. About 4,000 people have signed a petition ...more
Doctors fail to spot broken back	7 Nov 2008
A 70-year-old man might not have died if his broken spine had been diagnosed at two Greater Manchester hospitals, an inquest has heard. Coroner ...more
Watchdog looks at 'confusing' NHS	7 Nov 2008
A finance watchdog is asking NHS patients in Wales to tell them of their experiences in booking emergency GP appointments and using A&E ...more
Premature births 'are increasing'	7 Nov 2008
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of babies being born prematurely in England, a charity has warned. Tommy's baby's charity highlights ...more
Hospitals pilot new ward scheme	6 Nov 2008
A ward management scheme to give nurses more time for patient care is being piloted at two Essex hospitals. NHS North East Essex has introduced the ...more
Young hospital patients get space	6 Nov 2008
Teenage patients at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham are getting a new room of their own. It means those too old for children's wards but ...more
Hospital investigates baby deaths	6 Nov 2008
A west London hospital Trust has begun a "rigorous" investigation into the deaths of two babies at a hospital. Imperial College Healthcare NHS ...more
Cancer genetic blueprint revealed	6 Nov 2008
Scientists have decoded the complete DNA of a cancer patient and traced her disease to its genetic roots. The Washington University team ...more
Anorexic treatment delay concern	6 Nov 2008
Delays in the treatment of an anorexic 18-year-old woman who "literally wasted away" have been criticised by a coroner in Norfolk. Charlotte ...more
Safety fears over nanocosmetics	5 Nov 2008
Cosmetics containing tiny "nano" particles are being used widely despite unresolved issues surrounding their safety, a consumer watchdog ...more
Cancer patients 'not taking drug'	5 Nov 2008
Many breast cancer patients are risking their lives by failing to take the tamoxifen they are prescribed, University of Dundee research ...more
Will the NHS top-up plans unravel?	5 Nov 2008
On paper it sounds so simple - top-ups are only to be allowed under strictly regulated conditions. The extra drugs are to be administered away ...more
Forces mental illness figures out	5 Nov 2008
Nearly 4,000 new cases of mental health disorder were diagnosed among armed services personnel last year, according to the Ministry of Defence ...more
Unit secures cleanliness standard	5 Nov 2008
A Suffolk hospital which is battling to reduce the spread of superbugs has achieved an international quality rating for cleanliness. Ipswich ...more
The baby being used to train medics	4 Nov 2008
Meet baby Gertrude. She has been seen by every junior doctor and nurse in paediatrics at St Mary's Hospital, London. She has had breathing ...more
Landmark NHS top-ups decision due	4 Nov 2008
Patients in England are due to hear whether they will be able to top up NHS care by paying for drugs privately. People are currently excluded from ...more
Rainfall autism theory suggested	4 Nov 2008
Increased rainfall, or something linked to it, may be connected to the development of autism, scientists say. The theory is based on child health ...more
Third delay for hospital opening	4 Nov 2008
The opening of a community hospital in north Wales has been delayed for a third time, it has been announced. The £13.5m Ysbyty Alltwen in Tremadog, ...more
Patients to be screened for MRSA	4 Nov 2008
Hospital patients in Nottinghamshire are to be screened for MRSA infections before undergoing surgery, health officials have confirmed. Nottingham ...more
More staff plan for accident unit	3 Nov 2008
Health chiefs who have had to close a local accident centre (LAC) several times due to staff shortages are attempting to recruit new nurses. Neath ...more
Tougher mental health rules begin	3 Nov 2008
A controversial reform of mental health laws allowing compulsory treatment in the community has been launched. Patients released from hospitals in ...more
Hospital reveals development plan	3 Nov 2008
Plans to redevelop a Northamptonshire Hospital to improve facilities for mental health and learning disability services are to go on ...more
Brain receptor schizophrenia clue	3 Nov 2008
Scientists say they may have found why people with schizophrenia have abnormal electrical waves in their brains. The Newcastle University team ...more
Tories plan faster drug approval	3 Nov 2008
The Conservatives have promised to cut the approval time for new NHS drugs from an average of 18 months to between three and six months. The party ...more
Rethink call on organ donor move	31 Oct 2008
A Scottish nurse who overruled her dying husband's organ donation wishes has said the government should think twice before changing the law. A ...more
New £19m hospital plans approved	31 Oct 2008
A new £19.3m hospital is to be built in a Worcestershire town. The facility in Seaford Court, off Worcester Road, Malvern, was granted planning ...more
Patient data breach at hospital	31 Oct 2008
NHS bosses in Lanarkshire have apologised after sensitive patient documents were left unattended and removed from Wishaw General hospital. It ...more
Technology improves patient care	31 Oct 2008
Researchers in Dundee will use the latest computer technology to improve hospital care for disabled patients. They are developing an electronic ...more
NHS board must make £36m saving	31 Oct 2008
NHS Highland has confirmed it will have to make efficiency savings of £36m, after Labour claimed its deficit had doubled under the SNP ...more
Nursing home patients 'may move'	30 Oct 2008
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has said it could move virtually all its patients out of a County Antrim nursing home. Earlier this ...more
Baby unit gaps 'still a concern'	30 Oct 2008
Units dealing with sick and premature babies in Scotland are still facing worrying shortages of nurses, a charity has warned. Premature baby ...more
Patient given pioneering lung op	30 Oct 2008
A 55-year-old man has received a life-saving transplant using lungs from a donor which were made to breathe outside the body, it has been ...more
Health trusts tackle infections	30 Oct 2008
Health trusts across Northamptonshire are starting a five-week campaign to promote the need to tackle hospital infections. Each week there ...more
Old blood 'boosts infection risk'	30 Oct 2008
Storing donated blood too long increases the chance of an infection, US researchers claim. The risk of blood poisoning or pneumonia doubled once ...more
Anti-war protester to sue police	29 Oct 2008
A retired nurse is planning legal action after she was injured during an anti-war demonstration. Maureen Stephenson, from Waltham Forest in east ...more
Fall in hospital beds in Wales	29 Oct 2008
The number of hospital beds in the health service in Wales has fallen according to the latest annual figures. The assembly government statistics ...more
Chile HIV error minister resigns	29 Oct 2008
Chile's health minister has resigned after a hospital failed to tell dozens of patients they had tested positive for HIV, which can lead to ...more
'Full' artificial heart implant	29 Oct 2008
Scientists say they have a working prototype of a fully artificial heart ready for implanting in humans. The device beats almost exactly like the ...more
NHS alcohol services 'struggling'	29 Oct 2008
The NHS is failing to get a grip on the growing alcohol problems in England, a watchdog says. The National Audit Office said local health bosses ...more
Jab hope for rheumatoid arthritis	28 Oct 2008
A monthly injection could halt rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in half of all patients, trial data suggests. The antibody drug tocilizumab works in ...more
Cancer plan aims to reduce deaths	28 Oct 2008
An action plan designed to dramatically cut cancer deaths and improve the lives of survivors has been unveiled by the Scottish Government. As part ...more
Screening hope for pre-eclampsia	28 Oct 2008
A blood test that screens pregnant woman for pre-eclampsia long before symptoms develop could be available in the next five years, doctors ...more
Call to reduce cancer drug cost	28 Oct 2008
Patient groups are calling for a pharmaceutical firm to cut the cost of a bone marrow cancer drug so it can be used by the NHS in England and ...more
Housing agreed for hospital site	27 Oct 2008
Plans to revitalise the site of a former hospital in Surrey have moved a step closer following council approval. The scheme would see 322 new ...more
E.coli probe at baby death ward	27 Oct 2008
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has begun an investigation into the deaths of two babies following an outbreak of E.coli at a hospital in ...more
Vomiting virus hits hospital ward	27 Oct 2008
A ward at Jersey General Hospital has been closed to new admissions after an outbreak of Norovirus. Six patients and three nursing staff on the ...more
One-stop' embryo test unveiled	27 Oct 2008
A gene mapping test could tell parents-to-be if embryos are affected by almost any inherited disease, UK scientists have claimed. The team from ...more
Hospital's waiting list success	27 Oct 2008
Moves to cut the number of people waiting for more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment at West Suffolk Hospital are proving a success. The ...more
NHS 'not making enough use of IT	24 Oct 2008
The health service must be more innovative in its use of everyday technology to improve care for patients, experts say. The King's Fund health ...more
Site chosen for 'super hospital'	24 Oct 2008
A site has been chosen for a new hospital for Teesside. An NHS Joint Committee recommended that the £420m, 660-bed "super hospital" be built at ...more
Bid to ease grief of sudden death	24 Oct 2008
A former nurse is on a mission to improve support and care for those whose loved ones have suddenly died. Carole Adam worked in the trauma ...more
New medical centre plan at Haslar	24 Oct 2008
A plan has been announced to develop Royal Hospital Haslar into a new medical facility when it shuts in 2009. The site in Gosport will be handed ...more
Health chiefs back fluoride plan	24 Oct 2008
Hampshire health bosses have backed plans to add fluoride to tap water in Southampton and west Hampshire. Southampton City Primary Care Trust wants ...more
Sickness bug leaves wards closed	23 Oct 2008
Two wards at a Cambridgeshire hospital remain closed after an outbreak of a sickness and vomiting bug. Wards six and 10 at the Edith Cavell Hospital ...more
NHS makes good progress on waits	23 Oct 2008
Ministers have praised the NHS in England for reaching an important milestone in the drive to get hospital waiting times down to 18 weeks. The ...more
Is the NHS wise to rack up debt?	23 Oct 2008
The first patients to be admitted to the new St Helens Hospital this week would no doubt have been impressed. From its state-of-the-art operating ...more
Depression 'doubles' early birth	23 Oct 2008
Women who are severely depressed during pregnancy have twice the risk of their babies coming early, a study suggests. Researchers monitored 791 ...more
Debates on organ presumed consent	23 Oct 2008
Public debates will be held across Wales to examine a system of "presumed consent" for organ donations. Health Minister Edwina Hart said the need ...more
Freezing kills off kidney tumours	22 Oct 2008
Kidney cancer patients are being offered new hope of a cure with a treatment that kills tumours by freezing them. Radical cryotherapy, as its ...more
Warning on workers' mental health	22 Oct 2008
The UK needs a major rethink of workers' mental health amid the current economic uncertainty, government advisers have said. More than 450 ...more
Minister praises hospital staff	22 Oct 2008
Health minister Ben Bradshaw praised staff at Great Ormond Street children's hospital for their "incredible work" following a fire last month. Mr ...more
Science minister urges investment	22 Oct 2008
The UK's science minister has urged the government not to abandon investing in science amid the financial crisis. Lord Paul Drayson told the BBC ...more
Hospital virus prompts visit ban	21 Oct 2008
Visitors are being told to stay away from a Norfolk hospital after an outbreak of norovirus. Restrictions have been imposed on two wards, Knapton ...more
Hospital in bid to ease pressure	21 Oct 2008
A&E patients have been urged to consider visiting a GP or health centre before going to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for treatment. ...more
Backing for physio self-referral	21 Oct 2008
Patients in England should soon be able to bypass GPs and self-refer to physios and a host of other health staff, after ministers gave the plan their ...more
Blood test for vCJD 'unrealistic'	21 Oct 2008
Screening donated blood for vCJD is unrealistic and would scare away donors, government advisors say. Tests for vCJD could be available in 18 ...more
More cash for night nurse service	20 Oct 2008
Health bosses have revealed plans to spend £300,000 on expanding night nursing services in north Cumbria. Currently one community nurse cares for ...more
GP referral bonuses 'ridiculous'	20 Oct 2008
A scheme that pays bonuses to GPs for not referring patients to hospital has branded "absolutely ridiculous" by a patient group. Oxfordshire ...more
Fatty acids clue to Alzheimer's	20 Oct 2008
Controlling the level of a fatty acid in the brain could help treat Alzheimer's disease, an American study has suggested. Tests on mice showed ...more
Dirty equipment 'poses op danger'	20 Oct 2008
One in four hospital trusts in England is failing to meet national standards on the cleanliness of surgical equipment, a watchdog has reported. ...more
Vaccine call for 'silent killer'	20 Oct 2008
When little Nayeem Hossain became sick at his home in a village in Bangladesh, his family were desperately worried. Doctors at the local clinic ...more
Diabetes aspirin use questioned	17 Oct 2008
Aspirin should not routinely be used to prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes, Scottish research suggests. The British Medical Journal ...more
Unused drugs costing NHS millions	17 Oct 2008
As much as £1 worth of every £20 spent on prescription drugs is never used by patients, according to the NHS. A Scottish GP has called for a ...more
Call to end doctor abortion power	17 Oct 2008
Women should not need the permission of two doctors to have an abortion, top medical law and ethics specialists say. The 85 experts have signed a ...more
Specialist heart nurses appeal	17 Oct 2008
Specialist nurses are needed in Bristol to deal with patients who have the heart condition arrhythmia, according to the The British Heart Foundation. ...more
Elite NHS trusts 'lack ambition'	17 Oct 2008
The government's flagship policy to set hospitals in England free of central control has failed to live up to expectations, MPs say. The Commons' ...more
Hospital rated excellent in check	16 Oct 2008
An Oxfordshire hospital has been rated as "excellent" in national annual review of the NHS in England. The Oxfordshire Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, ...more
Blaze ravages hospital buildings	16 Oct 2008
More than 60 patients have been evacuated following a fire at a psychiatric unit in north London. About 100 firefighters tackled the blaze at ...more
NHS reassurance over cancer move	16 Oct 2008
No cancer services will move from Cornwall to Devon until the outcome of two hospital services reviews are known, NHS South West has said. There ...more
Hospitals get third 'weak' rating	16 Oct 2008
Services at Cornwall's acute hospitals have been rated "weak" for the third year running. However, the score for financial management has gone up ...more
'Botched op' surgeon must retrain	15 Oct 2008
surgeon accused of botching breast cancer operations will have to undergo retraining before she is allowed to work again at Barnsley Hospital. An ...more
Specialist baby care 'stretched'	15 Oct 2008
Staffing shortages are stretching specialist baby care units to the limit, campaigners say. Premature baby charity Bliss found just 20% of UK ...more
Call to extend C. diff inquiry	15 Oct 2008
The daughter of a woman who died with C. diff in Altnagelvin hospital has called for a public inquiry to be extended to all health trusts. On ...more
Insurers eye NHS top ups market	15 Oct 2008
The insurance industry has told the BBC if top up payments are allowed on the NHS the potential new market is "enormous". The Association of ...more
Hospitals 'allowing top up care'	14 Oct 2008
The BBC has learned that payments to top up NHS care - supposedly banned - are happening at 30 hospitals across the UK. Professor Mike Richards, ...more
Mental health plans are approved	14 Oct 2008
NHS Dumfries and Galloway has approved plans to develop a multi-million pound mental health facility in the area. The £27m state-of-the-art ...more
Brain boost drugs 'growing trend'	14 Oct 2008
Increasing numbers of people are using prescription drugs like Ritalin to boost alertness and brain power, say experts. Up to a fifth of adults, ...more
Hospital gets infection all-clear	14 Oct 2008
A Surrey hospital ordered to improve its infection control by the health watchdog has been given the all-clear following a second inspection. ...more
Too few surgeons for cancer ops	14 Oct 2008
One in 10 hospital trusts in England and Wales does not have enough specialist surgeons doing operations for gullet cancer, figures show. The ...more
Coroner questions nurse training	13 Oct 2008
A coroner has raised questions about the quality of nurse training, at an inquest into the death of a 91-year-old woman who was given a fatal ...more
Hospital warning over stomach bug	13 Oct 2008
Visitors are being asked to stay away from a Norfolk hospital if they have recently had a stomach bug or have been in close contact with someone who ...more
Deaths lead to transplants review	13 Oct 2008
Heart transplants at a London hospital are being reviewed after four people died within a month of their operations. They died after four ...more
'Nanotech search' for antibiotics	13 Oct 2008
UK researchers are using microscopic "nanoprobes" to find new drugs to tackle antibiotic resistance. The tiny ultra-sensitive probes can measure ...more
Gastric band patients 'at risk'	13 Oct 2008
Patients who go for obesity surgery abroad are being exposed to unnecessary risk because of inappropriate surgery. An undercover investigation by ...more
More than 700 nurses jobs 'to go'	10 Oct 2008
More than 700 nursing posts are under threat as part of wider plans to cut almost 2,500 health service jobs over the next three years. Health ...more
New £24m hospital given go-ahead	10 Oct 2008
A landmark multi-million pound project to build a new community hospital and health centre in Derbyshire has been given the financial go-ahead. ...more
Hospital's £12m equipment upgrade	10 Oct 2008
A Dorset hospital is to spend £12m on new equipment and two new operating theatres to cut the number of cancelled operations and keep waiting times ...more
Thousands 'at risk' of sight loss	10 Oct 2008
Up to half a million people in England and Wales risk losing their sight because they have undiagnosed glaucoma, specialists say. They want ...more
Complaints 'do not improve NHS'	10 Oct 2008
Vital lessons which could be learned from complaints to the NHS are ignored, a public spending watchdog says. The largest ever review of the ...more
GPs 'paid more for working less'	9 Oct 2008
Family doctors in England are working less, but paid more after the introduction of a new contract "failed to live up to expectations", MPs said. ...more
Testicles 'are stem cell source'	9 Oct 2008
The cells in a man's testicles may be able to do a lot more than just make sperm - they could provide any cell type in his body. German and UK ...more
Hospital bug infection rate falls	9 Oct 2008
Cases of hospital bugs MRSA and clostridium difficile have fallen in Scotland, new figures have revealed. Data published by Health Protection ...more
Probiotics 'worthless' for eczema	8 Oct 2008
'Friendly' bacteria found in yoghurt and health drinks have no effect on the symptoms of eczema and may occasionally cause gut problems, evidence ...more
Patients get anti-blindness drug	8 Oct 2008
A revolutionary treatment for an age related eye disease that leads to blindness is being made available to patients in Essex paid for by the NHS. ...more
Independent review team is named	7 Oct 2008
The independent team which will review management at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) has been named. The joint review was ordered by ...more
Dementia patients 'suffer stigma'	7 Oct 2008
The stigma surrounding dementia makes life much harder for many patients, research suggests. A survey by the Alzheimer's Society found patients ...more
Smoking 'costs the NHS billions'	7 Oct 2008
Treating smokers costs the NHS in England £2.7bn a year, compared with £1.7bn a decade ago, a report claims. Anti-smoking group Ash says the cost ...more
Hospital cleaning chemical fears	6 Oct 2008
Hospitals have been warned not to over-dilute cleaning chemicals amid fears that this could boost antibiotic resistance in bacteria. A US study ...more
Maternity unit gets £61K upgrade	6 Oct 2008
A £61,000 upgrade of maternity facilities is due to take place at Chippenham Community Hospital in Wiltshire. The work which is scheduled for 13 ...more
Web ban after nurse bared breasts	3 Oct 2008
Hospital staff were banned from using networking websites when a photograph of a nurse baring her breasts appeared on Facebook. Northampton ...more
Mixed reception for health move	3 Oct 2008
Work has begun on modernising services for people with mental health problems and learning difficulties, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said. ...more
New twist in brain obesity riddle	3 Oct 2008
The discovery of another way in which the body appears to control how much it eats could shed fresh light on obesity. US researchers said poor ...more
Assisted suicide court review due	2 Oct 2008
A woman with multiple sclerosis is staging a High Court challenge to clarify the law on assisted suicide. Debbie Purdy, 45, from Bradford, is ...more
Colonial clue to the rise of HIV	2 Oct 2008
The arrival of colonial cities in sub-Saharan Africa at the dawn of the 20th Century may have sparked the spread of HIV. US experts analysed one ...more
Computers could read mammograms	2 Oct 2008
A computer plus one expert are as effective at spotting breast cancer as the two experts usually used to read a mammogram in the UK, research ...more
Cancer and heart death rates down	1 Oct 2008
Fewer people in Northern Ireland are dying from cancer and heart disease, a government watchdog has found. Life expectancy has increased to 76 ...more
Child mental health care warning	1 Oct 2008
Mentally ill children are still being failed by the NHS in England, the children's commissioner says. Sir Al Aynsley-Green acknowledged progress ...more
Retired nurses fear for cottages	30 Sep 2008
Families of retired nurses say their health is being affected by uncertainty over the future of their homes. The 24 flats at John Howard Cottages ...more
Penicillin bug genome unravelled	30 Sep 2008
Dutch researchers have decoded the DNA sequence of the fungus which produces penicillin. It is hoped that uncovering the genome of Penicillium ...more
Breastfeeding 'cuts cancer risk'	30 Sep 2008
Breastfeeding for a year over the course of a woman's life helps cut the risk of breast cancer, research says. The World Cancer Research Fund ...more
Journey to unlock 'out of body' mysteries	29 Sep 2008
In September, medical teams at 25 hospitals across the world revealed they were undertaking the largest study of its kind into near death experiences ...more
Genetic clues to sleep disorder	29 Sep 2008
Genetic research could shed light on what is happening in people with the mysterious sleep disorder narcolepsy. The condition causes extreme ...more
Graphic images to target smokers	29 Sep 2008
The UK will next week become the first European country to introduce graphic images on cigarette packets to warn about the dangers of smoking. ...more
Devon health services ranked top	26 Sep 2008
Plymouth and the rest of Devon are the best in England for out-of-hours doctors' services and treatment at accident and emergency units. The ...more
New community hospital bid backed	26 Sep 2008
Proposals for a £35m community hospital in Northamptonshire have been approved by the local primary care trust (PCT). The plans to turn the ...more
Hospice care in patients' homes	26 Sep 2008
Eight nurses who lost their jobs when a private hospital closed and went on to form a palliative care charity have launched a new hospice service. ...more
School's jab ban 'not justified'	25 Sep 2008
A Roman Catholic school's decision to prevent girls receiving the cervical cancer vaccine on its premises was "disappointing", a health boss said. ...more
Pharmacy advice 'frequently poor'	25 Sep 2008
Staff at pharmacies are frequently giving inappropriate and occasionally dangerous advice to patients, a survey has suggested. Staff at Which? ...more
Calendar for hospice death bride	24 Sep 2008
Colleagues of a former nurse who died 90 minutes after getting married are launching a calendar in her memory. Elaine Stephenson, 48, wed her ...more
Deal to offer extra GP services	24 Sep 2008
GPs' surgeries in Wales will be able to open in the evening and at weekends in return for extra funding, under a £16m agreement with the assembly ...more
Four ambulance delay at hospital	24 Sep 2008
Four ambulances were held up a hospital's accident and emergency unable to offload their patients after the unit became full. Bronglais Hospital ...more
Organ decision debate goes public	23 Sep 2008
A series of debates are to be held to gather public opinion on "presumed consent" for organ donations in Wales. Health Minister Edwina Hart wants ...more
Thousands oppose new health plan	23 Sep 2008
More than 5,500 people in Glasgow have written letters opposing plans to move health visitors out of GP practices. The letters to NHS Greater ...more
Nurses for all secondary schools	22 Sep 2008
Efforts are under way to recruit more nurses into schools in Wales to tackle issues such as obesity, sexual health problems and drug and alcohol ...more
Nursing home closed amid inquiry	22 Sep 2008
An investigation by police and social services is under way after 33 elderly people were moved out of a nursing home "for their own protection". ...more
Hay fever allergies on the rise	22 Sep 2008
The number of people suffering from hay fever has soared in recent years, figures suggest. GP diagnoses of allergic rhinitis, which includes ...more
Tackling 'stigma' of incontinence	19 Sep 2008
Many people with incontinence refuse to tell their family and friends, but Louise Price is different. Mrs Price, 35, from Newport, talks openly ...more
Junk food ad rules 'not working'	19 Sep 2008
Adverts for unhealthy foods are still appearing during TV programmes seen by children, despite curbs introduced in January, a consumer watchdog has ...more
NHS adding charge for cancer drug	19 Sep 2008
A woman who is buying a cancer drug the NHS refuses to provide has found she is being charged more for purchasing it through the health service. ...more
Study into near-death experiences	18 Sep 2008
A large study is to examine near-death experiences in heart attack patients. Doctors at 25 UK and US hospitals will study 1,500 survivors to see ...more
Financial challenge for Welsh NHS	18 Sep 2008
Some NHS bodies in Wales will face "serious financial challenges" according to a report by the Auditor General for Wales. However, Jeremy ...more
New hospital site in Dover agreed	18 Sep 2008
Health chiefs have backed plans to build a new hospital in Dover. Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) agreed plans for the complex ...more
Targets 'damage NHS trauma care'	18 Sep 2008
The NHS in England is failing to provide adequate care to some of the most severely injured patients because of targets, leading doctors have said. ...more
Medal for 'life-saving' RAF nurse	17 Sep 2008
An RAF nurse has been recognised for helping save the life of a Hampshire serviceman in Iraq. Lance Corporal Rory McKenzie, 29, from Aldershot, ...more
Cancer mum to get £10,000 pay out	17 Sep 2008
A mother given months to live after a hospital failed to diagnose her skin cancer has been given an emergency £10,000 pay-out by health chiefs. ...more
Newborn found on hospital trolley	17 Sep 2008
A newborn girl has been found abandoned on a hospital trolley. The baby, thought to have been born on Tuesday, was found shortly before 2030 BST ...more
Fears voiced over new superbugs	16 Sep 2008
A leading microbiologist says he fears a major outbreak of new strains of community superbugs unless public monitoring is given more resources. ...more
Poor health 'due to wet climate'	16 Sep 2008
Scotland's poor health record could be directly linked to a lack of sunshine, a scientist has said. Dr Oliver Gillie linked the "extreme" weather ...more
Diagnosis too late for cancer mum	16 Sep 2008
A young mother has been given months to live after a hospital failed to diagnose that she had skin cancer. Tara Jones, 26, of Treorchy in the ...more
Breast cancer vaccine hope raised	15 Sep 2008
A new vaccine has completely eliminated a type of breast cancer tumour in tests on mice, say researchers. The vaccine targets breast cancer ...more
'Our children have been let down'	15 Sep 2008
and Steven Bangham feel they have been seriously let down by the services meant to provide care for their two sick children. Both their children, ...more
NHS art therapy for schizophrenia	15 Sep 2008
Government advisers are expected to recommend art therapy on the NHS for people with schizophrenia. The National Institute of Clinical and Health ...more
NHS sees annual productivity fall	12 Sep 2008
The NHS has seen a year-on-year fall in productivity despite the billions of pounds of investment in the service, latest figures show. The data ...more
Heart damage prevention hope	12 Sep 2008
US researchers have identified a protein which reduces the extent of damage caused by a heart attack and may prove useful during bypass surgery. ...more
Inside Medicine: Sexual dysfunction nurse	11 Sep 2008
In a series focusing on medical specialties, the BBC News website meets sexual dysfunction and urology nurse Anne Storey. Her speciality is ...more
Trust bans woman from hospitals	11 Sep 2008
A woman from Herne Bay has been banned from entering any hospital or contacting NHS staff anywhere in Kent. Jackie Palmer, of Spenser Road, is ...more
Mental health care 'still flawed'	11 Sep 2008
Almost half of community mental health patients in England are unable to access any out-of-hours care, an NHS inspectorate survey suggests. The ...more
Elderly on 'wrong drug levels'	10 Sep 2008
More than half of nursing home patients are being prescribed inappropriate levels of calming drugs like tranquilisers, a new study suggests. It ...more
Ambulance provision a 'priority'	10 Sep 2008
Ambulance provision in the North West will be a "priority", the new chair of health watchdog, the Western Health and Social Services Council, has ...more
Health chiefs set out future care	10 Sep 2008
NHS chiefs have been setting out the future of health care in the South East with health minister Lord Darzi, who has visited the region. ...more
Nurse helps save colleague's life	9 Sep 2008
A nurse who was on her way home to celebrate her birthday saved the life of colleague at a Tyneside hospital. Jill Crichton had just finished a ...more
Diet 'Affects Arteries of Foetus'	9 Sep 2008
Researchers from the University of Southampton have warned that mothers-to-be who diet during pregnancy are putting their children at risk of heart ...more
Inflation-busting wages claimed	8 Sep 2008
Teachers, nurses and manual workers in Jersey have asked for a pay rise above the rate of inflation. The claims are all higher than the 3.2% ...more
Town centre hospital plans backed	8 Sep 2008
Plans to build a new hospital in the centre of Dover have been backed by Kent County Council. The Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust is ...more
Isotope shortage may delay scans	8 Sep 2008
Hundreds of important NHS hospital tests could be put on hold due to a worldwide shortage of a radioactive isotope, doctors have warned. Three of ...more
£3.5m plan to handle extra births	5 Sep 2008
Plans to enable Craigavon Area Hospital to handle 300 additional births each year have been announced. It is part of an expansion of ...more
Fear for hospital children's ward	5 Sep 2008
Health bosses have been warned they face a fierce campaign from locals if they decide to shut the children's ward at Perth Royal Infirmary. ...more
Nurse jailed for rash rape deceit	4 Sep 2008
A nurse has been jailed for nine years after telling a teenage girl that sex was the best cure for a skin rash. Edgar Cordova, 37, tricked the ...more
Barcodes to stop IVF lab mix-ups	4 Sep 2008
Doctors at Liverpool Women's Hospital have helped develop a barcode system to prevent mix-ups in IVF treatment. The system works by providing a ...more
Day surgery 'could save millions'	4 Sep 2008
Increased use of day surgery involving no overnight stay in hospital could save £8m a year, according to an official report. Audit Scotland said ...more
Nurse guilty over toddler injury	3 Sep 2008
A nurse of 31 years could be struck off for a series of failings over a two-year-old girl's head injury. Doreen Roberts, from Builth Wells, ...more
Protests over A&E closure plans	3 Sep 2008
Hospital staff in County Durham, who claim a casualty unit is under threat, are staging a protest. Health workers at Bishop Auckland Hospital ...more
Sacked nurse refuses cash payout	2 Sep 2008
A psychiatric nurse sacked for speaking out about NHS spending cuts says she has refused a settlement because the public needs to hear about her ...more
Views sought on hospital status	2 Sep 2008
People are being urged to comment on whether Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital should opt for NHS foundation status. If the University Hospital of ...more
Fresh rules to beat hospital bugs	1 Sep 2008
New guidelines for people visiting their sick relatives have been introduced by the Western Heath Trust in a bid to cut down on infection. ...more
Health centres adopt clean hands	1 Sep 2008
Doctors' surgeries and health centres run by Bristol Primary Care Trust (PCT)are to adopt the national Clean Your Hands NHS campaign. It aims to ...more
Nursing chief executive suspended	1 Sep 2008
The chief executive of a Jersey nursing charity has been suspended. Karen Huchet was suspended from her post at Family Nursing and Home Care on ...more
Hero nursery nurse given degree	1 Sep 2008
A former nursery nurse who protected youngsters from a machete attack will receive an honorary degree later. Lisa Potts, 33, was injured in the ...more
New delay for hospital's opening	29 Aug 2008
A new delay to the opening of a new community hospital has been called a "great disappointment" by health managers. The £13.5m Ysbyty Alltwen in ...more
Trust centralises emergency ops	29 Aug 2008
Emergency surgery at a Kent NHS trust is being centralised so that all urgent operations are carried out at one hospital instead of two. ...more
Clerical error saved cancer man	28 Aug 2008
A retired schoolteacher who only had a prostate cancer test after a clerical error says the mistake saved his life. When he joined a new doctors' ...more
Man charged after BB gun in A&E	28 Aug 2008
A man from Londonderry has appeared in court charged with possessing a BB gun with intent in the A&E department of Altnagelvin Hospital on Tuesday. ...more
Casualty plan to go to watchdog	27 Aug 2008
Plans for GPs to take over the running of the minor casualty unit at Swansea's Singleton Hospital are to go before NHS watchdogs for approval next ...more
Anger over mother's A&E treatment	27 Aug 2008
The son of an elderly woman who was left in a waiting room in Altnagelvin hospital covered in blood has said he is angry at his mother's treatment. ...more
Ward reopens after C.diff scare	26 Aug 2008
A hospital ward in Fife which was closed because of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile has reopened. NHS Fife said none of the seven patients ...more
Islanders get 24-hour health care	26 Aug 2008
Rathlin Island is to get round-the-clock nursing cover, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said. A nurse currently provides care for the 75 ...more
Patients 'too fat to fit' scanner	22 Aug 2008
Patients above a certain weight have had appointments for MRI or CT scans cancelled because of fears they are too big to fit in the scanner. MRI ...more
Two nursing homes guilty of poor care	22 Aug 2008
Two nursing homes in Donegal have been found guilty of abuse and poor care of residents. Two nurses were disciplined over the treatment of a man ...more
'Remote nurse' aids home patients	22 Aug 2008
A "remote nurse" system which allows patients to monitor their own health at home is being tested in Cornwall. Participants enter their data into ...more
Increased beds for town hospital	22 Aug 2008
Health managers have agreed to double the number of general medical beds at a Wiltshire community hospital. The decision to increase the number ...more
Medical Students ask for end of life Care Skills	24 Jun 2008
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's largest, independent medical student organization, announces the commencement of the ...more
Amorous Nurse Struck Off	24 Jun 2008
A 57 year old registered nurse from Romney Marsh, Kent has been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register for inappropriate ...more
Tories promise NHS targets revamp	24 Jun 2008
Focusing on survival rates instead of waiting times would save thousands of lives, Conservative leader David Cameron says. He said his party ...more
DNA pioneers to get new £197m lab	24 Jun 2008
A £67m investment by the government has cleared the way for the rebuilding of the internationally-renowned Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). ...more
Men to be screened for aneurysms	24 Jun 2008
The first NHS screening programme offered just to men is to be rolled out in Scotland in three years' time, BBC Scotland has learned. From 2011 ...more
Pain 'missed' in premature babies	24 Jun 2008
Premature babies undergoing medical procedures may be in pain even if there is no obvious physical hint of it, brain scans reveal. University ...more
Anaesthetics 'could worsen pain'	24 Jun 2008
Some general anaesthetics could actually worsen the pain following surgery, say scientists. So-called "noxious" anaesthesia drugs - used commonly ...more
New 'Lifelike' dummy for medic training	24 Jun 2008
Medical students at the University of Glamorgan are to train on a revolutionary dummy which moves and feels like a real patient. The state-of-the ...more
999 calls disc 'lost' by courier	24 Jun 2008
The Scottish Ambulance Service has admitted that a package containing contact information has been lost. The computer disc from its Paisley ...more
Ex-minister backs assisted death	24 Jun 2008
Former health minister Lord Warner has backed calls for a law change to allow assisted death for terminally-ill patients who want to die. Dignity ...more
Scrap NHS targets to save lives, say Conservatives	24 Jun 2008
NHS targets will be scrapped under a Conservative government in a bid to save up to 38,000 people who are dying unnecessarily in Britain's hospitals ...more
Alan Johnson wants NHS nurses judged on how smiley they are	24 Jun 2008
Health Secretary Alan Johnson wants nurses to be judged on how smiley, caring and compassionate they are as part of new quality measures in the NHS. ...more