How shocking flaws in the way we treat dementia and other serious illnesses are being covered up by highly respected medical journals
Every day, research published in highly respected medical journals informs life-changing health decisions – from which vaccines to give our children, to ways to reduce our dementia risk.
And we trust that medical advice is based on good evidence. But could that trust be under threat?
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Telegraph
35 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Cancer deaths cost UK economy £10bn a year
People dying early from cancer costs the UK economy £10.3 billion a year, according to the most comprehensive analysis of its kind. Researchers from Cancer Research UK calculated the number working years lost to the disease, alongside people's expected economic output in that time. They found that cancer deaths among young adults aged 25 to 49 were having a significant effect on overall economic output, costing £3.2 billion every year. When it comes to cancer type, lung cancer accounts for the biggest overall earning loss to the economy of £1.7 billion a year, with 54,000 total productive years of life lost. Bowel cancer accounts for £1.2 billion, with 39,000 years lost, while brain cancer accounts for £0.75 billion, and 26,000 years, and pancreatic £0.61 billion, and 20,000 years. The figures relate to lost earnings and do not include carer costs for looking after people with cancer or the cost of diagnosing or treating the disease. In an accompanying report, Cancer Research UK said improving cancer survival and catching the disease early could boost economic growth. In his foreword to the study, Ian Walker, the executive director of policy, argued that 'cancer isn't just a health challenge, but also an economic one'. He added: 'Current evidence shows that focusing on prevention and early detection and diagnosis is both the right thing to do for people affected by cancer, and the smart thing to do in economic terms.' Overall, each individual adult cancer death was found to cost an average of £61,000 to the economy. The impact was particularly big if people died when younger, owing to the larger loss in terms of working life. In 2023, some 119,000 years were taken from the future working lives of adults under 50, amounting to £3.2 billion in lost output. In the future, losses could grow even more as cancer cases and deaths are projected to rise, with half a million cases diagnosed every year by 2040. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'Cancer has an immeasurable impact on patients and their loved ones. But this report reveals there is also a significant economic cost. 'At a time of tight budgets and overstretched services, the Government can't afford to wait any longer. 'The upcoming national cancer plan is an opportunity to transform cancer survival in England. 'Action to prevent more cancers and diagnose them early will give people more moments with those they love, while relieving pressure on the NHS and building a stronger, healthier economy.' As part of its plan, the charity wants the Government to take further action on smoking, obesity and alcohol, all of which contribute to cancer. It also wants to see earlier diagnosis, including fully rolling out lung screening across England, and prioritising research. Annalisa Belloni, lead economist at the charity, said: 'The Government won't deliver growth without delivering for people affected by cancer. 'Dedicating energy and resources to tackling this disease shouldn't be seen as a cost – it's a necessary investment.'
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bradford midwives tell of 'heartbreaking' struggle to find work
Midwives have told of their "heartbreaking" struggle to find work - despite the apparent shortage of staff in the Rodbourne and Sophie Rooke fought off tough competition to secure training at the University of Bradford, and looked forward to their dream roles as government data suggested about 2,500 more midwives were both students were advised to seek "back-up plans" due to a shortage of positions available - with many from their cohort still without Royal College of Midwives said: "The number of full-time working midwives has not kept pace with the growing amount of complexity facing services." Before Ms Rodbourne, 28, was accepted to study midwifery, she had worked in a care home and had always known her role in life was to care for two children aged nine and four, going back to university as a mature student took a lot of planning, and she had to complete an access course and A levels before beginning her training. Her work paid off and three years ago she was accepted to study with 45 others who she described as being "like a family". 'Passion' for care work But in September last year, reality hit in a way she found "heartbreaking". Her cohort were told it was going to be "difficult with jobs this year" and were warned to have "back-up plans". Ms Rodbourne was one of the "lucky ones" and secured a job in Bradford but said: "It didn't feel like a time of celebration, almost like mourning, because you'd secured a job but many had not."About 75% of the cohort have now secured work but many have taken fewer hours at the hospital trusts in the hope more of their year can find Rodbourne said: "You can't be a midwife if you don't care."You've got to care about it and every single one of these women at Bradford are passionate and they care and they deserve it and it's heartbreaking to see some of them haven't got a job." Sophie Rooke, 34, was inspired to take up midwifery following the traumatic birth of her oldest has three girls aged 10, eight and five, and said although the care she received while giving birth was good it "could have been better".During her first two years at university, Ms Rooke said the job situation locally was "not that bad".But she said, in September 2024 as third-year students, they were told "ladies you need plan Bs as you're not all going to get jobs".She found it "truly awful" and said her husband must have "had enough of her crying".Ms Rooke said she even applied for a job in Bolton about 45 miles away but withdrew as it was not "viable" to commute that far, particularly with three children of her own to care for. In the end, Ms Rooke did not need a "plan b" and has secured work at Airedale NHS Foundation has also taken fewer hours in the hope more of her cohort can secure work. Sarah Flower, Assistant Professor of Midwifery at the University of Bradford, is helping to teach the next generation of Flower said her trainees were entering the profession at a "really exciting time, but a really challenging time".She said: "To support them into midwifery at the moment is a real privilege because they can make such a huge difference for women and families."The course in Bradford runs for three years and has tapped into the latest technology to help trainees learn - including using AI headsets and birth work closely with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust. Ms Rooke called on the government to "take note", saying: "All the reports are that the care isn't there but the care is not there because the staff's not there."Ms Rodbourne added: "If adequate amounts of funding were made available it would solve a lot of things in maternity."The Department of Health this week announced a national investigation into maternity care in "rapid" inquiry will urgently look at the worst-performing maternity and neonatal services in the will begin this summer and report back by December. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
The Independent
44 minutes ago
- The Independent
Vegan diet beats Mediterranean diet when it comes to jump-starting weight loss, scientists find
Switching to a vegan diet can help promote weight loss by reducing inflammation, a new study suggests. Scientists compared a plant-based diet with a so-called 'Mediterranean diet' – one that includes moderate amounts of fish, poultry, dairy and eggs – and found that eliminating these altogether resulted in a net reduction in the body's production of acid. Researchers in the four-month study, which has been published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found that switching to a low-fat vegan diet could slash the body's overall acidity, a change that was associated with weight loss. "Eating acid-producing foods like meat, eggs, and dairy can increase the dietary acid load, or the amount of acids consumed, causing inflammation linked to weight gain," said Hana Kahleova, a co-author of the study. "But replacing animal products with plant-based foods like leafy greens, berries, and legumes can help promote weight loss and create a healthy gut microbiome,' Dr Kahleova explained. In the study, 62 overweight adults were randomised to follow either a Mediterranean or a low-fat vegan diet for 16 weeks, separated by a four-week cleansing period, followed by an additional 16 weeks on the alternate diet. Researchers closely monitored participants' dietary records to calculate their acid load – a measure of the net acid production in the body from the foods we eat. For instance, scientists say food like meat, fish, eggs, and cheese causes the body to produce more acid, a change linked to chronic inflammation and that can lead to increased body weight. In comparison, they say plant-based diets are more alkaline and are associated with weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and lower blood pressure. Researchers found that the acid load significantly decreased under a vegan diet, with no significant change on the Mediterranean diet. This reduction, scientists say, is associated with significant weight loss, which remained even after adjusting for changes in calorie intake. Participants in the study experienced weight loss by up to 5 kg (13 lbs) on the vegan diet, compared with no change on the Mediterranean diet. Scientists recommend more consumption of alkalising food such as leafy greens, broccoli, beets, asparagus, garlic, carrots, and cabbage, as well as fruits like berries, apples, cherries, apricots, or cantaloupe. Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, peas, beans, or soy and grains like quinoa or millet can also have an alkalising effect, they say. 'The alkalising effect of a vegan diet may be an independent mechanism by which a vegan diet promotes weight loss,' researchers concluded.
