General Practitioner News and Research

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Better management of asthma possible

Better management of asthma in the community is not only possible, but has the potential to reduce the impact of the disease on people’s lives, according to a report by the Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring (ACAM) , a collaborating unit of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

30 Aug 2005

No show patients cost the health service millions each year

According to a new survey, missed appointments costs the National Health Service in the UK £21m.

25 Aug 2005

Study shows potential treatment for brain cancer

A compound that kills cancer can sneak past the blood brain barrier, which protects the brain from foreign substances, to do its work in fighting a particularly invasive brain cancer, according to a new Saint Louis University animal study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Online Early Edition the week of Aug. 22.

22 Aug 2005

Effective new tool to improve management of stroke patients

The Stroke Transfer of Care (ToC) document was launched nationally today, following a successful pilot, to improve the delivery and continuity of care for those who have suffered a stroke.

22 Aug 2005

Losing weight cuts breast cancer risk

An international team of scientists has found that young women who carry a breast cancer gene, can reduce their risk of the disease by up to 65% by attaining a healthy bodyweight.

21 Aug 2005

Old-fashioned methods best at getting rid of head lice in children

Old-fashioned methods of getting rid of head lice in children are far more effective than current chemical treatments, researchers revealed recently.

15 Aug 2005

Habit memory - humans clearly can acquire and retain knowledge through repetition

Humans have a "robust" capacity to learn and retain new information unconsciously, retaining so-called habit memory even when conscious or declarative learning is absent, memory experts at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the San Diego Veterans Affairs Health System report in the July 28, 2005 issue of Nature.

27 Jul 2005

UK health services regulator says NHS still leaves a lot to be desired

The UK Healthcare Commission, in its second annual report to Parliament, says that a quarter of people waited more than two days for an appointment with their GP, despite Government assurances that almost everyone can see a doctor within 48 hours.

23 Jul 2005

Doctor shortage looms as baby boomers retire

The retirement of 'baby boomer' doctors and nurses will place unprecedented pressure on Australia's medical workforce in the next 20 years, according to a study by two University of Sydney researchers.

21 Jul 2005

Diagnosing diabetes early saves lives

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that while 520,000 Australians have been diagnosed with diabetes, there are probably as many again who remain undiagnosed, exposing them to serious complications caused by the disease, including kidney disease, heart attacks and eye problems.

19 Jul 2005

Use of antibiotics increases risk of developing antibiotic resistance

A new study has shown that a prescription of antibiotics taken within the previous two months doubles the chances of patients carrying antibiotic resistant bacteria. The same effect was not seen in patients who had had antibiotics prescribed within the previous 12 months.

19 Jul 2005

Scotland's doctors quiz Health Secretary on smoking

Scotland's doctors today took the opportunity to ask the English Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, what steps her Government was taking to protect workers in England from the deadly effects of second hand smoke, in light of moves towards a comprehensive ban in Scotland.

28 Jun 2005

Do singlehanded general practices have a future in the NHS

Between 1994 and 2004, the number of singlehanded general practitioners in England fell from 2,959 to 1,918 (from 11% to 6% of all general practitioners). This contrasts sharply with the United States, where 46% of family practitioners and 34% of general internists were practising alone in 1998.

27 Jun 2005

Patients in hospital are at greater risk of dying at weekends

A new report by an independent health analyst, says hospital patients are at greater risk of dying at weekends.

27 Jun 2005

New Zealand Ministry of Health warns Influenza B can be serious health risk to children and young people

A currently-circulating strain of influenza has not been common in New Zealand since 1987 and means children and young people can be at particular risk of serious illness, the Ministry of Health says.

21 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

Combination of over-the-counter pharmacy drugs and prescription drugs dangerous

A British Medical Association (BMA) study is warning that combining over-the-counter pharmacy drugs with prescription medicine can be dangerous. The study authors say there is an over-use of pharmacy drugs as people try to manage their own health rather than going to a doctor.

14 Jun 2005