Announcements

Revealed: scandal of NHS charges putting pregnant migrant women at risk

Vulnerable women face huge bills before giving birth, campaigners say. The health of pregnant woman and their unborn babies is being put at risk due to fears around NHS charging, with some trusts demanding upfront fees for maternity care or wrongly charging those who are exempt, it has been claimed. 

No fewer than 11 women die of ovarian cancer every day in the UK, equivalent to more than 4000 per annum.1 About 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK and the incidence has remained stable since the early 1990s.

NHS pilots pregnancy screening that may cut racial disparities in baby deaths

Stillbirth and perinatal death rates are comparatively high for black and Asian babies in the UK, studies have shown. Now the Tommy’s National Centre for Maternity Improvement, led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives, has successfully designed and trialled a tool that could help end the scandal.

Campaigners call for action over UK’s ‘shameful’ lung health

The UK has the highest death rate for lung conditions in western Europe, research reveals, prompting calls from health leaders for urgent action to tackle the “national scandal”

Thousands of girls as young as 11 in England hiding signs of ‘deep distress’

Thousands of girls as young as 11 are hiding signs of “deep distress” from their parents and teachers, according to an “alarming” report that reveals a “growing gulf” between the mental health of girls and boys.

Daily record reported that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of pretending the problems with the NHS were all caused by the pandemic. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar reeled off a list of statistics that showed how the health service had struggled before Covid.

Covid: Millions of vaccine doses destroyed in England

BBC reported that Around 4.7 million Covid vaccine doses – 4% of the total – ended up as wastage in England by the end of October 2021, a government report reveals. AstraZeneca shots made up 1.9m. The National Audit Office which scrutinises spending of public money, says the wastage is far lower than projected for the country’s most ambitious vaccination programme ever.

Covid-19 tests: Southern Health Trust investigates ‘inaccurate’ results

BBC reported that an investigation is underway at the Southern Health Trust in Northern Ireland after almost 200 people were possibly given an inaccurate Covid test result. A trust spokesperson told BBC News NI it appears the issue may be linked to one bottle of solution used within the laboratory.

England extends at-home abortion pill offer

BBC reported that a six-month extension has been applied to a temporary policy that allows women to take medical abortion pills at home. The measure was initially introduced when Covid hit, so that women would not have to visit a clinic and, instead, could access treatment after a telephone or online consultation.

New Maternity Disparities Taskforce to explore reasons for disparities in maternity care and address poor outcomes for women from ethnic minority communities and those living in deprived areas