The truth about whether trendy nicotine patches really do work as a cheap alternative to weight-loss jabs... and their side effects
One day last August, a young man arrived at a busy hospital in Toronto, Canada, displaying what doctors later described as 'bizarre' behaviour.
Agitated, nothing he said made any sense. He was unable to sit upright in a chair – instead slumping on the floor – and was in a state of complete and total confusion.
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BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
NHS, defence, education and more in focus for voters in government's Spending Review
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing more difficult choices in the Spending Review on will sets the budgets for all government departments over the next few review will confirm how much taxpayers' money will be spent on the NHS, defence, police, education and other public services used by millions, as well as how much money the government plans to invest in projects like new public she makes her final preparations, people living in Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire outlined what they think her priority should be. 'The NHS is on its knees' Melissa Marley, 32, has spent the last two years studying at the University of Huddersfield to become a midwife but has quit her course after amassing debt of £60,000 and said there was "no hope for jobs at the end of it".The mother-of-three would like the chancellor to put more money into the NHS because it is "on its knees" and added "people abroad would kill for a system like that, so it needs protecting". Originally from Wakefield, she went back into education in 2021 to provide a better life for her began training as a nurse in 2022 before training as a midwife in well as £20,000 of tuition fees, she also owes about £40,000 in her maintenance grant accrued through her studies over the past few was originally going to defer due to health issues but decided to stop her course and is now hoping to become a maternity support role supports midwives, rather than being a midwife said the lack of jobs in midwifery was "sad because there are so many people putting so much work in. "They are working hard, having to miss times with their family, their children and then to have nothing at the end of it is sad". 'A less stable world' Pensioner John Addison agreed that a big part of the Spending Review had to be more funding for the NHS .He said that it was "hard work getting appointments".Mr Addison expressed his concern about spending on defence - and how more money was needed for that. He explained that he worried about the future for his grandchildren and younger people growing up in a less stable said that the Army had "been run down lately so we need to up it a bit because you never know what is around the corner with what's going off in the world." Earlier this month, a British defence review published recommendations which welcomed the government's ambition to spend 3% of Gross Domestic Product by 2034 but warned "as we live in more turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster."Several Nato allies have already committed to spending more than 5%. School buildings 'in a terrible state' Bill and Pauline Wardlaw would like to see funds focused on the education system and investing in the future. Bill was particularly concerned about problems with school said they were in "a terrible state" which meant "children are going to school in inadequate buildings and a lot of money should be spent getting them up to a decent standard".Pauline agreed with her husband but would also money spent on ensuring infrastructure around new housing estates is in place. She said when new housing is built "they need to make sure there is provision for the people that they are going to put in those houses - like doctors, education, schools etc because it is just not there".Ms Wardlaw was also frustrated with trying to get a GP appointment: "It's three weeks before you can see a doctor unless you ring up at 08:00 and then you are in a queue." 'Support for mums is needed' Beth Flannagan-Jones was out with her 16 month old daughter wanted to see more cash targeted at activities and support groups for mothers and babies. She said toddler groups could help mums who felt "alone".Ms Flannagan-Jones said there were "a couple of options but many of them are private and you have to pay for them"."If you have not got a lot of money and are on a budget I think a few more council groups and mum groups are missing," she added. 'Green investments need oversight' Pensioner David Lumb acknowledged the cuts to winter fuel allowance had been damaging to Labour party as some older people relied on the payment. He backed a more targeted approach to the benefit - which seemed to chime with the announced on Monday changes to the level the benefit would be paid at, meaning 75% of pensioners would now be eligible. His biggest priority was the NHS citing "the way the nation relied" on the service during the pandemic. However, Mr Lumb said he would also like to see more investment in green initiatives, but when it comes to home insulation he said it depended on "how efficiently it is done". "Quite often the government sponsor these things and they aren't properly monitored," he added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rossendale man 'did not know what was wrong until I got NHS text'
A man who did not know he had a potentially fatal stomach aneurysm has warned people that ignoring an NHS screening invitation would be like playing "Russian roulette" with your Flatley, from Rossendale in Lancashire, received a text message from the NHS asking him to go for a routine abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. These tests are offered to men in the year they turn Flatley, who said he had never previously heard of AAA, did not realise that the text message would ultimately save his life."Ignoring the invite is like Russian roulette," he said. "It's a few minutes that could save your life." The 65-year-old added: "After clicking the link in the text message, and reading what AAA is, I knew that it was important and I called."AAA is a bulge in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the aorta delivers oxygen-rich blood around the body. According to the NHS, about 82% of people with untreated AAA will die from ruptures - which occur in about 1 in 10,000 people annually - are often over 65 with additional risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure and a family history of aneurysms are particularly susceptible. Despite feeling well, a 9cm aneurism was found during Mr Flatley's ultrasound screening test in to the NHS, anything larger than 5.5cm is considered to be large and will require treatment."The nurses, who were brilliant, phoned Blackburn Hospital and about an hour and a half later I was in a meeting with the consultant," Mr Flatley said."It happened very fast - it was amazing care." 'Completely painless' Less than three weeks later, Mr Flatley had an operation to repair his repair surgery replaces the weak section of the aorta - the aneurysm - with a piece of man-made tubing known as a Flatley said he was allowed home to recuperate after eight days in AAA screening test is designed to detect any swelling at an early stage, thereby reducing the patient's chances of a potentially fatal Michael Gregory, NHS England's north-west regional medical director, said: "Many men who come forward for screening have never heard of AAA, but the scan is completely painless."If there is no aneurysm detected, you don't need to have any more scans and if we do detect an aneurysm, it can be treated early and monitored." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Mixed ratings for surgery at Bournemouth and Poole hospitals
Surgical departments at two hospitals run by the same NHS trust have received mixed reviews from Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it revisited Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital in January due to previous said Bournemouth "required improvement" due to safety and leadership issues, but Poole achieved a "good" Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust said it had addressed a number of concerns and was proud of its "skilled" and "caring" staff. The CQC reports said operations at the two sites were frequently cancelled due to a lack of staff, beds or January, 234 patients had surgery cancelled on the day of the 57% of patients had to wait more than 18 weeks to be seen and treated, according to figures from the NHS trust. Bournemouth's surgical department was rated "good" for being effective, caring and there had been "near misses relating to equipment not always being available" and "frequent oxygen cylinder shortages on wards".Inspectors also reported "cluttered corridors" and out-of-date equipment including a throat tube introducer that expired in April CQC concluded: "The high number of issues showed a lack of senior leadership oversight."Poole Hospital was found to have improved since its last report in 2023, when inspectors found safety CQC said internationally-educated nurses had been successfully introduced at both sites to reduce staff NHS trust's chief executive Siobhan Harrington said: "I am very proud that the CQC reports highlight that colleagues across our surgical services are skilled, capable and passionate about providing the best possible care. "Patients also told the CQC that they were treated with kindness and warmth, even when our services were busy."The CQC shared with us where improvements were needed and we immediately addressed a number of concerns." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
