AI assistant Dora eases NHS pressure for cataract surgeries
Mr Konstantopoulos is a consultant ophthalmologist at the university, as well as ophthalmology clinical lead for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.He said Hampshire and Isle of Wight hospitals had made "massive strides" in reducing waits for cataract surgery."Dora has enabled this by allowing us to develop a single point of access for referrals, reducing the burden of administrative processes and providing clear options to patients," he said.Data from the NHS shows around 15,000 patients undergo cataract surgery in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight every year.A patient survey carried out by the NHS from July to December in 2024 showed 92% of the 310 patients asked were "extremely satisfied" with their experience using Dora.Mr Konstantopoulos said: "Using Dora has also allowed us to free-up time for our nursing teams to concentrate on more surgical work, while Dora makes the phone calls and completes the administration duty."We have had some great feedback from patients who have said that Dora is very clear and easy to understand. "She also engages and interacts with patients and can understand what they are saying and asking."
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The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer issues last-ditch appeal as thousands of doctors to strike
Thousands of resident doctors are beginning a five-day strike after talks with the Government collapsed over pay. Resident doctors will take to picket lines across England from 7am on Friday in a move which is expected to disrupt patient care. Members of the public have been urged to come forward for NHS care during the walkout, and are being asked to attend appointments unless told they are cancelled. GP surgeries will open as usual and urgent care and A&E will continue to be available, alongside NHS 111, NHS England said. Sir Keir Starmer made a last-minute appeal to resident doctors, saying the strikes would 'cause real damage'. 'The route the BMA Resident Doctors Committee have chosen will mean everyone loses. My appeal to resident doctors is this: do not follow the BMA leadership down this damaging road. Our NHS and your patients need you,' he wrote in The Times. He added: 'Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage.' 'Behind the headlines are the patients whose lives will be blighted by this decision. The frustration and disappointment of necessary treatment delayed. And worse, late diagnoses and care that risks their long-term health. 'It's not fair on patients. It's not fair on NHS staff who will have to step in for cover for those taking action. And it is not fair on taxpayers. 'These strikes threaten to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year, choking off the recovery.' It comes after Wes Streeting sent a personal letter to NHS resident doctors, saying: 'I deeply regret the position we now find ourselves in.' The Health Secretary said while he cannot pledge a bigger pay rise, he has been committed to progress to improve doctors' working lives. He also said he does not now believe the British Medical Association's resident doctors committee (RDC) has 'engaged with me in good faith' over bids to avert the strike. In the letter sent on Thursday afternoon to resident doctors, Mr Streeting said: 'I wanted to write to you personally about the situation we find ourselves in. 'This Government came into office, just over a year ago, with a great deal of sympathy for the arguments that resident doctors were making about pay, working conditions and career progression. 'I was determined to build a genuine partnership with the… RDC to make real improvements on all three fronts. 'We have made progress together. While some of my critics in Parliament and the media believe I was naive to agree such a generous pay deal to end the strikes last year, I stand by that choice.' Mr Streeting said resident doctors have now had an average 28.9% pay award under Labour. He added: 'Strike action should always be a last resort – not the action you take immediately following a 28.9% pay award from a Government that is committed to working with you to further improve your lives at work. 'While I've been honest with the BMA RDC that we cannot afford to go further on pay this year, I was prepared to negotiate on areas related to your conditions at work and career progression, including measures that would put money back in the pockets of resident doctors.' Mr Streeting said that based on talks with the BMA aimed at averting strikes, he had been determined to tackle the 'arduous' training pathway, and 'I made it clear that I was prepared to agree actions to reduce the costs you face as a result of training'. He said he had also been looking at the cost of equipment, food and drink, and 'was prepared to explore how many further training posts could be created – additional to the 1,000 already announced – as early as possible'. Mr Streeting said talks had been progressing but 'I no longer believe that they (RDC) have engaged with me in good faith'. The Health Secretary continued: 'I deeply regret the position we now find ourselves in. 'The public, and I am sure many of you, do not understand the rush to strike action.' Mr Streeting later said there is 'no getting around the fact that these strikes will hit the progress we are making in turning the NHS around'. He added: 'But I am determined to keep disruption to patients at a minimum and continue with the recovery we have begun delivering in the last 12 months after a decade-and-a-half of neglect. We will not be knocked off course.' Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, told the PA news agency health staff will be working 'flat out' to see as many patients as they can during the strike, after NHS England made clear it wants as much pre-planned care as possible to continue. He said: 'Striking doctors should think carefully if they are really doing the right thing for patients, for the NHS and for themselves… 'The strike will throttle hard-won progress to cut waiting lists, but NHS trust leaders and staff will be working flat out to see that as many patients as possible get the care they need.' It is understood that NHS chief Sir Jim Mackey had told trust leaders to try to crack down on resident doctors' ability to work locum shifts during the strike and earn money that way. Leaders have also been encouraged to seek 'derogations', where resident doctors are required to work during the strikes, in more circumstances, the Health Service Journal (HSJ) reported. Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said: 'These strikes were not inevitable – the Government entered negotiations with the BMA in good faith… 'The impact of these strikes and the distress they will cause patients rests with the BMA.' The BMA has argued that real-terms pay has fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'. The union is taking out national newspaper adverts on Friday, saying it wants to 'lay bare the significant pay difference between a resident doctor and their non-medically qualified assistants'. It said the adverts 'make clear that while a newly qualified doctor's assistant is taking home over £24 per hour, a newly qualified doctor with years of medical school experience is on just £18.62 per hour'. RDC co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said in a statement: 'Pay erosion has now got to the point where a doctor's assistant can be paid up to 30% more than a resident doctor. 'That's going to strike most of the public that use the NHS as deeply unfair. 'Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago, but unfortunately they've seen their pay erode by more than 21% in the last two decades. 'We're not working 21% less hard so why should our pay suffer? 'We're asking for an extra £4 per hour to restore our pay. It's a small price to pay for those who may hold your life in their hands.' The statement said Mr Streeting had had every opportunity to prevent the strike, but added: 'We want these strikes to be the last we ever have to participate in. 'We are asking Mr Streeting to get back around the table with a serious proposal as soon as possible – this time with the intent to bring this to a just conclusion.' Resident doctors are qualified doctors in clinical training. They have completed a medical degree and can have up to nine years of working experience as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to five years of working and gaining experience to become a GP. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the framing of the BMA advertising campaign was 'disingenuous'. 'Given their repeated use of debunked ways of measuring inflation to overstate their pay claims, it follows a pattern of deliberately misleading calculations from the BMA,' a spokesperson said. 'The average annual earnings per first year resident doctor last year was £43,275. That is significantly more, in a resident doctor's first year, than the average full-time worker in this country earns. 'Resident doctors in their second year earned an average of £52,300 last year and at the top end of the scale, resident doctors in specialty training earned an average almost £75,000 – this is set to increase further with this year's pay award.' The Conservatives accused Labour of having 'opened the door' to fresh strikes with a 'spineless surrender to union demands last year'. Shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew said: 'They handed out inflation-busting pay rises without reform, and now the BMA are back for more. 'They are disrupting care, ignoring patients and gambling with lives. 'This is a betrayal of the NHS and those who rely on it. 'The public deserves hospitals where the doctors are on the frontline rather than the picket line. 'But every day Labour refuses to stand up to union overreach, Britain moves closer to a health service run on the unions' terms rather than the patients'.'
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Weight loss jabs could be key to controlling asthma in thousands of Brits, say scientists
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WEIGHT loss jabs could help control asthma symptoms in obese people, a study suggests - and it's not just about losing weight. The drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with asthma, who are "often resistant" to steroids, researchers said. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Asthmatic people who used weight loss jabs had less severe symptoms - even if they didn't lose much weight Credit: Getty Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels and dull hunger pangs. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes - Ozempic is a key example. Several types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including Wegovy or Mounjaro. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like sleep apnoea, dementia and stroke. Now, an international team of experts are exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. "We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids." People with a BMI of 30 or more have a much higher risk of having asthma than those with a lower BMI, according to the American Lung Association. It said extra weight around the chest and abdomen can constrict the lungs and make it more difficult to breathe. But research also suggests that fat tissue produces inflammatory substances that might affect the lungs and up the risk of asthma. Early Warning Signs of an Asthma Attack Having asthma can also increase the risk of obesity, as symptoms can make it harder to be physically active and long-term steroid use can increase hunger, NHS Cambridge University Hospitals Trust suggests. For the new study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics "should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases". Prof Price added: "We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. "In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR WEIGHT LOSS JABS ON THE NHS? NHS eligibility for weight loss injections has expanded but still lags behind the number who could potentially benefit from taking them. Wegovy, medical name semaglutide, is only available for weight loss through specialist weight management clinics. Patients are typically expected to have tried other weight loss methods before getting a prescription. They may be eligible if their body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30, or higher than 27 if they have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. Mounjaro, known as tirzepatide, is also available from GP practices but currently only to patients with a BMI of 40 or higher (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) plus four weight-related health conditions. The medicines are currently being rationed to the patients most in need. NHS watchdog NICE estimates that more than three million Brits will ultimately be eligible. The GLP-1 injections are prescribed separately by GPs for people with type 2 diabetes, and patients should discuss this with their doctor. "Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further." Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: "Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs." Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. "Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. "Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. "It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. "More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment." It's though that 7.2 million people in the UK have asthma, according to Asthma + Lung UK. Meanwhile, 64 per cent of adults aged 18 and above in England were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity between 2023 and 2024.
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Weight loss jabs could be key to controlling asthma in thousands of Brits, say scientists
WEIGHT loss jabs could help control asthma symptoms in obese people, a study suggests - and it's not just about losing weight. The drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with asthma, who are "often resistant" to steroids, researchers said. 1 Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels and dull hunger pangs. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes - Ozempic is a key example. Several types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including Wegovy or Mounjaro. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like sleep apnoea, dementia and stroke. Now, an international team of experts are exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. "We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids." People with a BMI of 30 or more have a much higher risk of having asthma than those with a lower BMI, according to the American Lung Association. It said extra weight around the chest and abdomen can constrict the lungs and make it more difficult to breathe. But research also suggests that fat tissue produces inflammatory substances that might affect the lungs and up the risk of asthma. Having asthma can also increase the risk of obesity, as symptoms can make it harder to be physically active and long-term steroid use can increase hunger, NHS Cambridge University Hospitals Trust suggests. For the new study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics "should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases". Prof Price added: "We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. "In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR WEIGHT LOSS JABS ON THE NHS? NHS eligibility for weight loss injections has expanded but still lags behind the number who could potentially benefit from taking them. Wegovy, medical name semaglutide, is only available for weight loss through specialist weight management clinics. Patients are typically expected to have tried other weight loss methods before getting a prescription. They may be eligible if their body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30, or higher than 27 if they have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. Mounjaro, known as tirzepatide, is also available from GP practices but currently only to patients with a BMI of 40 or higher (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) plus four weight-related health conditions. The medicines are currently being rationed to the patients most in need. NHS watchdog NICE estimates that more than three million Brits will ultimately be eligible. The GLP-1 injections are prescribed separately by GPs for people with type 2 diabetes, and patients should discuss this with their doctor. "Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further." Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: "Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs." Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. "Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. "Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. "It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. "More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment." It's though that 7.2 million people in the UK have asthma, according to Asthma + Lung UK. Meanwhile, 64 per cent of adults aged 18 and above in England were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity between 2023 and 2024.
