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Arthritis drug caution advised by New Zealand experts

An expert New Zealand committee reviewing the safety of a group of arthritis drugs called COX-2 inhibitors has reinforced UK advice cautioning against their routine use where safe and effective alternatives are available.

21 Dec 2004

New advice on anti-inflammatory drugs called Cox-2 Inhibitors, including Celebrex

Patients who are taking Celebrex, Bextra and Arcoxia should make a non-urgent appointment with their GP to review their treatment. Patients who have established heart disease or who are at high risk of stroke will have their treatment changed.

21 Dec 2004

Chiropractic, osteopathy or manipulative spinal manipulation followed by exercise provides significant relief of back pain symptoms

A new study of back pain treatments, co-ordinated by researchers at the University of York, has found that spinal manipulation, in the form of chiropractic, osteopathy, or manipulative physiotherapy, followed by a programme of exercise, provides significant relief of symptoms and improvements in general health.

13 Dec 2004

PCT waste fears as patients shun new treatment centre

Patients prefer to wait nine months for orthopaedic operations rather than be treated within ten weeks by a new independent treatment centre, a referral centre has found.

13 Dec 2004

Patients and GPs agree on out of hours care

New research published today (Wednesday 8 December 2004) by DPP: Developing Patient Partnerships shows that high quality care and good access to health professionals are key concerns for both patients and GPs.

8 Dec 2004

Guidance about the use of chaperones for intimate examinations is difficult to implement fully in general practice

The conduct of intimate examinations in medical settings has been a subject of controversy for many years. As such, the medical royal colleges, the General Medical Council, and the defence organisations now recommend that these examinations are not done by unaccompanied doctors.

3 Dec 2004

Spinal manipulation combined with exercise program offers effective treatment for back pain

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is applauding a new study from the Medical Research Council (MRC) that shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care performed by doctors of chiropractic – combined with an exercise program offers effective treatment for those suffering from back pain.

29 Nov 2004

British parents admit responsibility lies with them to tackle childhood obesity

More than 80% of parents say that they intend to be more accountable for their child's weight and four in five believe that measures set out in the Government's White Paper last week would go a long way to help them combat obesity in their children.

29 Nov 2004

Men with prostate cancer are being seen more quickly and receiving better care according to a britsih Government report

Men with prostate cancer are being seen more quickly and receiving better care according to a report launched today by Health Minister, Lord Warner at the National Prostate Cancer Conference.

9 Nov 2004

Australian trial set to transform nursing home care

Medications trolleys in nursing homes may soon become mobile medical centres. The University of New South Wales has won a $300,000 grant to develop and trial a new point-of-care system that will allow nursing staff to manage medications, check patients’ clinical signs and streamline administration and clinical interaction with patients’ GPs.

8 Nov 2004

BMA warns of crisis in community hospitals

GPs working in Community Hospitals Community Hospital GPs are underpaid and feel undervalued and exploited, says the British Medical Association (BMA) in its evidence to the Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body (DDRB). It calls for immediate action to resolve the issue across the UK.

5 Nov 2004

The Royal Society of Medicine Press has published new Primary Care Guidelines for the Management of Females with Epilepsy

These guidelines were produced following a multidisciplinary consensus meeting of epilepsy experts and cover such topics as the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, preconception counselling and the management of epilepsy during and after pregnancy.

3 Nov 2004

Gastric acid-suppressive medications may increase risk of developing pneumonia

Individuals who use gastric acid-suppressive medications may be at an elevated risk of developing community-acquired pneumonia, according to an article in the October 27 issue of JAMA.

28 Oct 2004

Call for a Senate Inquiry into the pharmacy industry in Australia

With the current Pharmacy Agreement expiring on 30 June 2005 and the current Senate configuration in place until the same date, Dr Glasson said the timing is perfect for a comprehensive review of the protected environment in which the pharmacies operate.

26 Oct 2004

Agreement reached on new community pharmacy contract

Patients in the UK will gain a better service from their local pharmacist as Government plans for a more flexible, modernised service moved a step further towards implementation, Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced today.

25 Oct 2004

GPs need more help from PCOs to be ready for Freedom of Information Act

GPs are looking to primary care organisations (PCOs) to help them meet their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act that comes into force next year.

13 Oct 2004

RACGP welcomes Victorian state ban on smoking in pubs and clubs

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Victorian Faculty today welcomed the State Government announcement of an end to smoking in pubs and clubs by 2007.

12 Oct 2004

GP registrar training budget remains in place

The BMA's GP Committee for Wales (GPC Wales), the Welsh Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Department for Post Graduate Studies for Wales jointly welcomed the Welsh Assembly Governments assurances that there would be no reductions in the GP Registrar training budget for Wales during this financial year.

11 Oct 2004

Women should aim for half an hour’s gentle exercise three times a week to aid their recovery from breast cancer

Currently the standard treatment for breast cancer involves no exercise therapy. However, the initial findings from a Cancer Research UK trial has shown that exercise therapy and lifestyle counselling could hasten recovery and improve the long-term physical and mental well being of women who are recovering from breast cancer.

8 Oct 2004

Sick could be thousands of dollars out of pocket if the Federal Labor Government abolishes the Medicare Safety Net

AMA (WA) President Dr Paul Skerritt said the plan to scrap the Medicare Safety Net, which complements the successful PBS Safety Net, will hit people hard when they are most vulnerable.

7 Oct 2004