Vaccine plea to pregnant women as deadly virus surges
NHS England has observed a steady increase in RSV cases since early 2025 and is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies.
RSV is a significant health concern, being a leading cause of death among babies and the primary reason for hospital admissions for children, though it typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most adults.
Pregnant women can receive the RSV jab from 28 weeks of pregnancy, and older adults aged 75-79 will also be invited for vaccination in the coming weeks.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency indicates the vaccine is highly effective, preventing 72 per cent of hospital admissions for babies and 82 per cent for older adults.
Urgent warning over virus dangerous to newborns as cases surge abroad
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The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Patients whose lives were ruined after being ‘needlessly given cancer drug for years' sue NHS trust
More than 20 patients who say their quality of life was wrecked when they were needlessly given a highly toxic cancer drug are suing the NHS trust involved. Some people were prescribed temozolomide – which should normally be used for only six months – for more than a decade during treatment by the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. They say the overprescribing left them with side-effects including secondary cancers and crippling fatigue. Earlier this year the Care Quality Commission was looking into at least 14 cases, but lawyers say more are emerging all the time. An investigation by lawyers Brabners found that, over the past two decades, numerous patients with brain and spinal tumours under the care of Professor Ian Brown were routinely exposed to prolonged and in some cases 'unnecessary' use of the chemotherapy drug, which has severe side-effects including extreme fatigue, confusion, sickness and seizures. The time periods temozolomide was given for allegedly ran contrary to medical and scientific guidelines. Standard NHS procedure is to use the drug over six months, and the drug manufacturer advises it be used for up to 12 months. One man said he was prescribed it for nearly two years longer than necessary, suffering extreme fatigue and low mood as a result. A woman in her twenties said she was misdiagnosed with cancer, receiving the drug needlessly for about eight years. Some patients are now having treatment for secondary cancers allegedly linked to overuse of temozolomide, the lawyers claim. Others claimed its prolonged use left them unable to pursue career ambitions and normal day-to-day activities because the chemotherapy was debilitating, with a long recovery time. Some reported loss of fertility or abnormal blood test results. The legal team says data shows that the trust's spending on the drug of £3.6m from 2009 to 2024 is 10 times that of other NHS oncology departments. The lawyers are now calling for an extended patient safety review and independent investigation, focusing in particular on treatment received by patients under Prof Brown dating back to 2006. The trust has been conducting an internal patient safety review, covering 2017 to 2023, when Prof Brown retired. A patient who identified only as Michael received an extra 22 cycles of temozolomide at the trust, despite his scans being stable. Prof Brown was not present during consultations, and Michael said he was always seen by a clinical nurse specialist. After suffering extreme fatigue and low mood, he learnt through news reports of mistreatment –not from the trust – that he should not have remained on treatment for so long, according to his lawyers. Another patient, identified only as Becky, says she received at least 100 cycles of the drug unnecessarily after being misdiagnosed with a brain tumour. Fiona Tinsley, head of medical negligence at Brabners, said: 'The extent of this scandal, and the physical and mental impact it has had on Prof Brown's patients cannot be underestimated.' She added: 'We believe there are many more patients out there who haven't yet come forward and some who may have sadly passed away. 'While we welcome the ongoing investigations being undertaken by the General Medical Council and Royal College of Physicians, we believe a full independent inquiry is necessary – including an extension of the trust's own review back to 2006 – not only to ensure justice for victims, but that processes are put in place to better identify and prevent such failings happening again.' A spokesperson for the trust told The Independent: 'We have comprehensively reviewed and spoken to all individuals who were receiving temozolomide (TMZ) treatment at the end of 2023 to ensure appropriate support and care plans are in place. 'A glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumour with fewer than two per cent of patients surviving longer than 10 years. This is an extremely complex condition and all modes of treatment – surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy – carry the risk of complications and side-effects. 'National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines recognise that clinicians can exercise professional judgment appropriate to individual circumstances when offering treatment to patients. 'We have commissioned the Royal College of Physicians to conduct an independent review of a representative cohort of patients who received greater than 12 cycles of adjuvant TMZ between 2017 and 2023. 'As this process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." It's understood that CQC inspectors have been in touch with the trust to understand the details, and seek assurances that patients are not at risk. The regulator will be reviewing more information to judge whether it needs to be involved.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The priming skin serum that banishes breakouts to leave skin glowing - and it uses a VERY unique ingredient: 'My skin has never looked so clear'
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Clear skin can be difficult to achieve, especially if you have blemishes. You might find that you're either dealing with a breakout or the marks left behind. Both of those concerns are a job for the 47 Skin Anti-Blemish and Scar Repair Serum. This powerful serum takes no prisoners, working on contact to kill off 99.9 percent of the bacteria responsible for blemishes. There's nothing else like it, and it's all thanks to the unique compound known as Silver Chitoderm. 47 Skin Anti-Blemish and Scar Repair Serum Bacteria can run rampant on your skin, causing stubborn breakouts that are difficult to control. This serum works like a dream, killing 99.9 percent of them to leave skin clearer and brighter. In addition to reducing blemishes and marks, it also imparts moisture to give your skin a softer feel. You can even use it as a makeup primer! The results are astonishing, with many users sharing their impressive before and after results. Buy here Shop The brand harnessed the protective and healing properties of silver and coupled them with Chitoderm, which is formulated to create a protective and supportive barrier on the surface and essentially keep the silver right where it needs to be. Because the silver is concentrated right where you need it, it can target those unwanted marks with precision. Whether your concern is a blemish or a spot, you can rely on it to eradicate the bacteria and leave skin calmer and clearer. According to Dr. Sunil Chopra, a consultant dermatologist who founded the London Dermatology Centre, 'It decreases the production of melanin, which is often elevated in scars, reducing pigmentation over time.' And, unlike so many other treatments formulated to minimize those marks, 47 Skin's formula won't leave skin feeling tight and parched. In fact, it has the opposite effect thanks to ingredients like shea butter that soften skin to leave it feeling smoother and looking plumper. The beauty of the formula is that it works overtime, even doubling as a primer for makeup. That's key, because if you regularly wear makeup, you know how helpful primer can be — but very few offer the powerhouse skin care benefits that this serum delivers. The proof is in the consumer studies consisting of over 9,300 participants. Of those, a whopping 94 percent said they would buy the serum again, while 92 percent experienced a reduction in their spots. A whopping 90 percent said they had fewer scars, too. It's proven so effective that users have shared jaw-dropping before and after images revealing clarity and a brighter complexion. 'This is an excellent product. It has really smoothed out my complexion. The delivery was quick to boot. Very pleased,' raved one shopper. 'The acne has visibly decreased, as have my scars and uneven skin tone,' shared another. 'Overall it just looks so much better.' A third customer summed it up perfectly, stating: 'My skin has never looked so clear.' If you're chasing results like those, the 47 Skin Anti-Blemish and Scar Repair Serum could be just what your routine needs!
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
UK scientists find genes linked with chronic fatigue syndrome
Aug 6 (Reuters) - Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said on Wednesday they have discovered differences in the DNA of people with chronic fatigue syndrome that should help dispel the notion that the debilitating condition is psychological or driven by laziness. Their study found eight areas of genetic code that are different in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) than in healthy volunteers. The finding provides 'the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person's chance of developing the disease,' the researchers said in a statement. The key features of the condition include worsening of fatigue, pain and brain fog after even minor physical or mental activity. Very little has been known about the causes of ME/CFS, and there is no diagnostic test or cure. The condition is believed to affect around 67 million people worldwide, the researchers said. The DecodeME study analyzed DNA samples from 15,579 people who reported having chronic fatigue on a questionnaire and 259,909 people without it, all of European descent. Gene variants that were more common in people reporting ME/CFS were linked to the immune and nervous systems, according to a report of the study that has not yet been peer-reviewed. At least two of the gene regions relate to how the body responds to infection, which aligns with reports that the symptoms often start after an infectious illness, the researchers said. Another gene region has previously been identified in people with chronic pain, another common symptom of the condition. The findings 'align with decades of patients reporting on their experiences,' researcher Andy Devereux-Cooke said in a statement, adding that they "should prove game changing in the ME/CFS research field.' 'These results will not mean that a test or cure will be developed straight away, but they will lead to a greater understanding," he said. Scientists who were not involved in the study said using volunteers who self-reported chronic fatigue syndrome rather than restricting participation to those with a diagnosis from a medical professional somewhat weakened its conclusions. They called for larger studies to replicate the results. Substantial work will be necessary 'to translate these findings into new treatments," said Dr. Jackie Cliff, who studies infection and immunity in ME/CFS at Brunel University of London. "This will take considerable investment in academia and by industry.'
