The secrets to beating the 8am scramble for GP appointments by the people who really know - the receptionists! And at least one of them is VERY surprising...
They're often painted as the grim-faced gatekeepers of the overstretched NHS. Manning the phone lines to surgeries, GP receptionists have long borne the brunt of patients' growing frustration with the primary care system.
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Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sticks and stones may break your bones but words WILL really hurt you: Researchers say childhood taunts are as bad for adult mental health as violence
It's been a playground retort to bullies for generations of children. But it seems 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me', may not be true after all. Verbal abuse of children could be as damaging to their mental health in adulthood as physical abuse, according to researchers. Those exposed to such abuse when young were likely to feel disconnected, pessimistic, and emotionally unwell in later life, a study of more than 20,000 adults in England and Wales found. Adults who were physically abused as children had a 52 per cent higher chance of experiencing low mental wellbeing. This stood at around 64 per cent for those who had been subjected to solely verbal abuse. While verbal abuse had this marginally higher impact, researchers said the difference was not statistically significant and further studies would be needed. Being exposed to both types increased the risk by 115 per cent, the study led by Liverpool John Moores University found. Professor Mark Bellis, the study's lead author, said: 'Our research shows verbal abuse in childhood may inflict mental health scars as deep and enduring as those caused by physical abuse.' The prevalence of verbal abuse has risen in recent decades 'eroding the long-term mental health benefits we should see from reducing physical abuse', the study, published in BMJ Open, suggested. It found the prevalence of child physical abuse halved from 20 per cent among those born between 1950 and 1979 to 10 per cent among those born in 2000 or later. But when it came to verbal abuse, the prevalence rose from 12 per cent among those born before 1950 to around 20 per cent among those born in 2000 or later. Researchers said an estimated one in six children endure physical abuse, primarily from family members and caregivers. One in three are subjected to verbal abuse. Jessica Bondy, founder of Words Matter, which aims to end childhood verbal abuse by adults, said: 'We must act now to confront the lasting harm caused by cruel, critical or controlling language. 'We need to build children up – not knock them down. 'The mental health of the next generation and our shared future depend on it.'
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
I'm feeling the pressure, Eluned Morgan says after year as first minister
First Minister Eluned Morgan says she is feeling the pressure as she gears up her party for the next Senedd election following her first year in the the past few months polls have suggested Labour may lose its lead in a Welsh parliamentary election for the first time since the a year in charge, the Welsh Labour leader said she had a "historic responsibility" and knew when she took the job her party would be in for a "tough time".Meanwhile she said the UK government was "probably" not listening to her at the time she made a landmark speech criticising Sir Keir Starmer's government. Opposition parties accused Morgan of "drift," "dithering" and "failure" in her first year on the job, claiming the "same old problems remain". Morgan took over her party after a tumultuous period, following the ousting of Vaughan Gething by senior figures in the Welsh short stint as first minister was dominated by a donation of £200,000 from a man previous convicted of illegally dumping waste to his preceding leadership was installed without a contest after other potential candidates ruled themselves then the first minister has sought to focus on a small list of priorities - particularly on reducing long NHS to the BBC Wales podcast Walescast on Wednesday, Morgan said the "longest waits are definitely heading in the right direction".When it was pointed out to her that two-year waits had risen recently, she said there was a "particular problem" in the north Wales health board, Betsi said: "I am pulling my hair out."But, look, we're all over them."Morgan said the health board were getting some treatments "out into the independent sector, because you know what you're getting there", as well as opening a new orthopaedic released in July said those waiting more than two years went up by 6.5% on the previous month, to just under 10,300. 'We have to remind people of what's at stake' Morgan said Labour had to take the challenge facing the party seriously."I think we've got to remind people of what's at stake, things that they see every day in their lives, free prescriptions, free bus passes, free school meals."Every time you win an election, it gets more difficult for the time after and of course, there's a historic responsibility, and there's a responsibility as the first woman leader as well. "So yeah, of course, I'm feeling the pressure." A significant moment in her term in office came in May, when Morgan delivered a speech in Cardiff Bay's Norwegian Church that was scathing of UK government by Morgan as the Red Welsh Way, the first minister promised to "call out" Labour in Westminster if ministers got "it wrong for Wales".The first minister said the Welsh government had received more cash for coal tips and rail from the UK government."So is it enough? No, I want more. I'll always want more, and I'm not going to apologise for that."Morgan said she thought the UK government had "started sitting up and paying a bit more attention to us since I made the Red Welsh Way speech".Asked if she made the speech because she was not being listened to at the time, Morgan said: "I think that that was probably the case at that time, but that is no longer the case. Since then the engagement has been transformed."Morgan said she speaks to Sir Keir "at least once a month... probably more than any other first ministers had in the past". The Welsh Labour leader also defended her party's selection procedures, amid a row over how long the process is said it was slow because of the party was "trying to make sure we do due diligence well". 'Internal political nonsense' The first minister took over after months of bickering within her to BBC Radio Cymru podcast Gwleidydda with Vaughan Roderick, she said: "I think it's important that we concentrate on what's important to the people of Wales."Morgan said she felt "hesitant" when she took the reins but things had "calmed down a lot" since then."I was confident I could fix that and quite quickly that's what happened," she said Labour must concentrate on voters' priorities rather than "internal political nonsense".Responding to the suggestion people within Welsh Labour were briefing against one another, she said she "hated" that kind of politics."I think we should rise above that, and I don't think there's a political split in the party," she added. What have other parties said? Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Darren Millar, said: "One year on and nothing has changed. "Whether it's 20mph speed limits slowing Wales down, or Labour's plans to waste £120m on more politicians in the Senedd, the same old problems remain."Plaid Cymru Senedd member Heledd Fychan, said: "Eluned Morgan's first year as first minister is encapsulated by a record of failure: from missing her own target to eliminate two-year NHS treatment waits, to faltering educational outcomes and rising levels of poverty in our communities."Reform, which is hoping to win its first Senedd seats next May, said: "From day one, she promised leadership and delivery. What we got was drift, dithering, and distraction. "Public services are buckling, the economy is stagnant, and the people of Wales are being let down by a first minister more interested in headline-chasing than hard graft."Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said it was "fantastic" Wales had a female first minister and leading a party "was harder when you're a woman"."But the thing I've been thinking about a lot is that she doesn't stand up to Keir Starmer," she said. "She promised to do that. She promised to make sure Wales' voice was strong and I don't see that."
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
I'm a celebrity doctor & never judge mums for using Mounjaro – trying to diet & exercise on zero sleep is overwhelming
A CELEBRITY doctor has defended sleep-deprived mums who are turning to fat jabs to lose weight. Dr Punam Krishan, who starred on Strictly Come Dancing with Gorka Marquez, took to social media to give her opinion on the flab-busting medication. 4 4 About half a million Brits use weight loss drugs - and the number is expected to double in the next year. Of those, Mounjaro is regarded by some as the King Kong of fat jabs. Dr Punam, 42, said: "There is a lot of noise right now about weight loss jabs. It's everywhere on social media, in magazines, in WhatsApp groups and I understand and I get the curiosity. "But behind every decision to start one of these medications is usually a much bigger story which your GP gets to hear and these are stories that deserve understanding and compassion, not judgement, criticism or to become the subject of gossip." The telly doc, a resident on BBC Morning Live and Radio Scotland added: "I see women all the time, especially mums in their 30s, 40s and 50s who have spent years trying everything to manage their weight. "They've dieted, exercised, cut out carbs, counted calories, tried intuitive eating and still felt stuck. "Then you add in the poor sleep, the high stress, the hormonal chaos of perimenopause, the mental load of family life, a demanding job like oh my gosh. It's no wonder so many people feel completely overwhelmed by it all. "Now for some, the decision to try something like Mounjaro is about their weight affecting their health. So things like blood pressure, diabetes risk, heart disease, sleep apnea or joint pain. "For others it's about confidence, it's wanting to feel more like themselves again. but whatever the reason, it is personal and it deserves support, not shame." Mounjaro works by suppressing your appetite, making people feel fuller for longer. I've lost nearly 6 stone in 9 months on fat jabs - trolls call me 'lazy' & say it's the 'easy way out' but I don't care The injections are licensed for patients with type 2 diabetes and to assist those who are clinically obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or over). One jab is administered each week but the duration is dependent on someone's weight. The drugs can be prescribed by a practitioner - such as a doctor, nurse or a pharmacist-independent prescriber. But increasingly, many have been buying them through online pharmacies without sufficient checks or information about side effects including headaches and even pancreatitis. Dr Punam told her 119,000 Instagram followers: "Sadly we are seeing a lot of misuse and there is loads and loads of misinformation out there. That really worries me as a doctor. "These are serious medications and I believe that people deserve proper information before jumping in to take them." 4 4 And the practicing GP — who has son Aanish and daughter Ellora to Tory MSP hubby Dr Sandesh Gulhane — insisted that weight loss jabs are "not a magic fix". She added: "Long-term weight management still depends on the basics. "So nourishing food, movement that protects your muscle, your sleep, your stress levels, cutting back on alcohol and just looking at underlying health issues that may be contributing like thyroid function or perimenopause. "If the root cause isn't addressed, the weight will often just come back when you stop the medication. "And one more thing that I really really want to say clearly is if you are on one of these jabs then please tell your GP. "I know some people feel embarrassed or a bit worried. They think that we might judge them but that's just not the case. We're not here to tell you off. We're here to keep you safe. "Don't ever ignore new or persisting symptoms. It's always better to get things checked out. "The one tip that I always give my patients is to have a quick look at your pee. The colour of your urine is important. "If it is clear or light straw coloured, great, but if it is looking dark yellow and concentrated, you probably need to drink more. "I'm also seeing a bit of muscle loss in some people and that is not something that we want. So if you're not eating enough or you're not moving much, then your body starts to break down muscle alongside the fat. "You don't need to go daft at the gym, but even just doing some body weight strength training exercises two to three times a week can really help to protect your muscle and keeps your metabolism ticking over." What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Mounjaro and Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
