Public health

UK most obese country in Western Europe, says OECD report

Nearly 27% of adults in the United Kingdom are obese, according to statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.…

Public Health England to consider removing travel vaccinations from NHS prescriptions

A review by Public Health England (PHE) on whether travel vaccinations should be removed from NHS prescriptions has been requested by the chief executive of NHS England.…

Putting the rise of STIs in England into context

Laura Waters explains the rise of STIs in the UK, the possible reasons behind it and possible solutions, and considers the challenges posed by the current economic climate.…

Puerto Rico hurricane damage could lead to drug shortages

The damage wreaked by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in September 2017 could have serious repercussions for patients who rely on medicines and healthcare products manufactured there.…

WHO announces plan to slash cholera cases by 90%

Health officials from around the world have pledged to reduce cholera deaths by 90% by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced.…

Big drop in new HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men

Public Health England credits better testing and uptake of anti-retroviral therapy, as well as the use of the preventative PrEP among gay and bisexual men, while among heterosexual men and women late-stage HIV infection diagnosis remained high.…

AMR: time is running out, we need action now

AMR is one of the biggest threats to modern medicine and the global economy, yet millions of people are unaware of its potentially catastrophic implications.…

Stoptober campaign backs e-cigarettes for the first time

The annual Stoptober campaign is for the first time highlighting e-cigarettes as aids to quitting smoking, stating that e-cigarettes are a “great way to combat nicotine cravings and carry a fraction of the risk of cigarettes”.…

Big increase in opioid prescriptions and related hospital admissions since 2000

The proportion of patients prescribed opioids and Z-drugs doubled between 2000 and 2012, according to the results of a study into prescribing patterns in dependence-forming medicines, by the Public Health Research Consortium.…

Pharmacists screening for AF in hi-tech partnership

Pharmacists are to use hand-held devices to test patients for atrial fibrillation (AF) as part of a hi-tech partnership in London.…