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Gay doctors and patients in the UK fear discrimination

A new report by the British Medical Association (BMA) says that gay and lesbian patients are often reluctant to reveal their sexuality to their doctors because they fear their treatment will suffer.

20 Jun 2005

Super GP surgeries to be developed within grounds of top hospitals

Medical experts say the development of super-surgeries within hospital grounds, or practices being taken over by the elite NHS trusts is a very real possibility.

20 Jun 2005

Hygiene squads all set to hit dirty hospitals

In an effort to reduce infections among patients, independent investigators are to carry out random spot checks on hospital hygiene.

20 Jun 2005

Blood emergency declared in New York supply

As a result of last week's extreme humidity and high temperatures, blood donations fell by 25% leaving the community blood supply at risk and in a critical state far below what is required to adequately serve local patients.

19 Jun 2005

BMA calls on government to tackle healthcare skills drain at G8

The G8 nations must address the exodus of healthcare workers from the developing world if they are to tackle global poverty, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing tell the government today (Friday 17 June, 2005).

16 Jun 2005

European working time directive may put doctors' and patients' lives at risk

Introduced in August 2004, it aims to reduce working hours in order to improve workers’ health and safety, but the current NHS shift system could threaten doctors’ and, moreover, patients’ safety, argue Professor Roy Pounder and colleagues.

16 Jun 2005

BMA calls on trusts to stop removing junior doctors' on-call accommodation

Commenting on an editorial in Friday’s British Medical Journal warning that shift systems for junior doctors may affect patient safety, Mr Simon Eccles, chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctors’ Committee, says today (Friday 17 June, 2005):

16 Jun 2005

Survey reflects need for continued focus on patient safety

A survey of Calgary Health Region employees and physicians indicates the Region continues to make progress in improving patient safety, but further action is required to address specific areas of concern such as the reporting of hazards.

15 Jun 2005

Prevalence of public health care institutions challenges vendors of refurbished medical imaging equipment

Even as health care systems across Europe recognise the potential of medical imaging equipment in diagnosing diseases and fuel demand for cost-effective refurbished medical imaging equipment, market participants face several crucial issues.

15 Jun 2005

When it comes to alcohol problems British doctors come second to publicans and bar staff

A British Medical Association chief says that as many as one in 15 British doctors has had a problem with alcohol or drugs.

14 Jun 2005

Surgical tools were washed in hydraulic fluid, many report lingering health problems

In a quite shocking revelation it has been discovered that as many as 3,800 patients at two hospitals run by Duke University Health System were operated on last year with instruments that were washed in hydraulic fluid instead of detergent.

14 Jun 2005

Patients lives at risk because of in-adequate out-of-hours service

Out-of-hours services by general practicioners have come under strong criticism with doctors claiming that the provision is putting patients lives at risk.

12 Jun 2005

Ethical dilemmas need round the clock advice

Ethics support is needed everywhere healthcare is provided; therefore anyone providing healthcare should have round-the-clock access to appropriate sources of ethical advice, says a new report from the Royal College of Physicians.

9 Jun 2005

Research looks at palliative care services in hospitals

In more and more hospitals across the U.S., patients turn to palliative care specialists to provide relief from pain, help in making difficult medical decisions and support for their families and those who care for them.

9 Jun 2005

Northern Ireland is leading the way with a strategy aimed at reducing the impact of respiratory disease

'A Healthier Future: A Strategic Framework for Respiratory Conditions', is a consultation document which sets out a 10-year framework for preventing respiratory disease, and for improving treatment and care for people with respiratory conditions.

9 Jun 2005

Breakthrough on chronic disease management by GPs

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that the Australian Government’s introduction of chronic disease items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) would deliver a double benefit to GPs and their patients.

9 Jun 2005

Depressed in N.Y. no better off

A watchdog group, says in a new report, that depressed New Yorkers are still getting poor medical care. This complaint comes a year after health management organizations in the city were urged to do better.

7 Jun 2005

Solving the hospital crisis with mathematical, statistical and software tools

Melbourne researchers are hoping to ease the strain of bed shortages and limited resources in Australian hospitals in a project to develop mathematical, statistical and software tools that will enable hospital managers to see where queues or available resources exist within the hospital system.

6 Jun 2005

Embarrassing hospital row resolved - everyone takes bibles home with them

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, in the continuing row over whether bibles and other religious literature left at the side of patients beds constitute a risk of MRSA infections, now says it will give the ward bibles to patients to take home.

6 Jun 2005

God awful row over hospital bibles link to MRSA bug

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust are on the verge of a very embarrassing public relations disaster after the trust's chaplain stalled a request from Gideons International to be allowed to replace patients' bedside Bibles.

5 Jun 2005