NHS push to stamp out ‘silent killer' with at-home testing
Over 100,000 at-home hepatitis C tests have been requested since the service began, including a surge after the Infected Blood Inquiry's final report in May 2024.
Hepatitis C, often called a 'silent killer', can lead to severe liver damage if undiagnosed, but is treatable with antiviral tablets.
Among those diagnosed, seven in ten are from deprived communities, with common risk factors including injecting drug use, though a small number are linked to contaminated blood.
NHS England has also introduced a system for new GP registrants to identify those who received blood transfusions before 1996, aiming to find more victims of the infected blood scandal.
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The Guardian
13 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK health firms ‘misleading' parents with claims over milk teeth ‘treatments'
Companies are making thousands of pounds by misleading parents with claims that collecting stem cells from their children's teeth can be a treatment for diabetes and autism, an investigation has found. Tooth stem cell banking, also known as dental pulp cell banking, involves parents collecting and sending lost milk teeth to a laboratory where stem cells are harvested from the dental pulp. Firms that advertise tooth banking services claim these stem cells can be used in treatments for conditions such as diabetes and autism. The investigation, by Emma Wilkinson and published in the BMJ, found that three companies in the UK offer tooth stem cell banking – BioEden, Future Health Biobank and Stem Protect. The service costs about £1,900, with a £95 annual storage fee. On its website, Future Health Biobank says it has released 26 tooth stem cell samples for treatment, including for autism, type 1 diabetes and knee cartilage regeneration. Stem Protect states on its website that tooth stem cells can be used for cleft palate repair and HIV/Aids among other conditions, and says 'medical trials into autism and cerebral palsy involve the pulp found inside teeth and offer hope for hundreds of conditions'. BioEden's website claimed stem cell therapy had been described as the 'next frontier' for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and that the company had 'already witnessed the remarkable evidence of these ongoing developments' among its customers. However, experts have expressed doubts about the medical value of tooth stem cell banking. 'There is a lack of evidence and a paucity of research using dental pulp stem cells to treat patients,' said Jill Shepherd, a senior lecturer in stem cell biology at the University of Kent. 'There's no evidence to suggest stem cells stored from a child's milk tooth would ever be needed to treat that child.' Sufyan Hussain, an investigator on the UK arm of a global clinical trial evaluating stem cell therapy, said there was not a definitive answer regarding the 'optimal source of stem cells for future diabetes therapies'. 'This highlights how emotive this matter can be, as parents naturally want the best possible outcomes for their children,' Hussain said. 'While we remain hopeful about future treatments, there is also a risk that companies might exploit these hopes to generate additional revenue.' Tim Nicholls, assistant director of policy, research and strategy at the National Autistic Society in the UK, said it was 'outrageous' that tooth stem cell procedures are being advertised to parents with the claim of 'treating' autism. He added: 'Autism is not a disease or illness; it cannot be treated and there is no cure. It is dangerous and morally bankrupt to target potentially vulnerable people with expensive procedures that could, in fact, cause harm.' In response to the BMJ article, Future Health Biobank said it was looking at how information on its site is presented in order to ensure 'readers can clearly distinguish between client experiences and formally published clinical outcomes'. A spokesperson for Stem Protect said: 'We have made no unfounded claims, and our website has been reviewed and approved by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). We remain committed to ensuring stem cell banking is presented as a valuable resource, backed by evidence and transparency.'
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Role model' Gobowen nurse receives national award
A Shropshire nurse leader described as "a role model in every sense" has been given a national award for her compassionate Roberts, who is a sister on the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, has been awarded a Cavell Star accolades are given to nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers who show exceptional Roberts was nominated by a colleague at the hospital in Gobowen, near Oswestry, after she supported a patient with learning difficulties, who was a high-level tetraplegic after breaking his neck. "Sister Cath is the heart of MCSI," said student nurse associate Sophie Podmore, who nominated said Ms Roberts "consistently goes above and beyond" for patients and staff"."We recently cared for a patient with learning disabilities who built a remarkable bond with Cath," she said."Despite the complexities of his care, she went above and beyond to ensure he understood everything, taking time to explain each step of his care in a way that made him feel secure and heard."She's a role model in every sense."Ms Roberts said the man had no family nearby, and came to the hospital with only the clothes on his back."I got a grant from the League of Friends for him and went shopping," she said."I was so grateful to the League, who gave us a grant of £100. I went to Primark and got absolutely loads of clothes and shoes. He was over the moon."Sophie nominated me for going out of my way for him, but this is what we do for our patients."She said the award was "absolutely awesome", and that she felt "really humbled" to receive it. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
43 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
World's first smartphone test for type 2 diabetes launches in UK & could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes
The Government has hailed the app as a 'potential game-changer' in the fight against diabetes The Government has hailed the app as a 'potential game-changer' in the fight against diabetes as results come in within minutes, instead of the days or weeks it can currently take 'GAME-CHANGER' World's first smartphone test for type 2 diabetes launches in UK & could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE world's first smartphone test for type 2 diabetes has launched in the UK. The app-based check is designed to make it easier for people to spot their risk and could help cut complications such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease, which are often linked to diabetes. 3 A finger-prick blood test gives results in minutes with the new app Credit: Getty 3 The NHS is piloting the new smartphone test in the North East Credit: Getty Patients place a drop of blood from a finger-prick onto a chip, which is then scanned by the PocDoc app to give results almost instantly. NHS trusts in Cumbria and the North East are the first to roll it out, with a nationwide launch planned later this year. The Government has hailed the app as a 'potential game-changer' in the fight against diabetes as results come in within minutes, instead of the days or weeks it can currently take. Around 5.2 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes, with cases still rising - and a further 1.3 million thought to be undiagnosed. Read more on diabetes SNACK ATTACK Mum horrifies people after sharing her haul of 32 pizzas & 14 blocks of cheese 'Enabling screening for type 2 diabetes risk including blood biomarkers via a smartphone app is something that has never been done before,' said PocDoc chief executive Steve Roest. Professor Julia Newton, medical director at HI NENC, said the test could reach people who struggle with conventional health checks. "Most people over the age of 40 are invited for an NHS health check every five years, but depending on where you live a large chunk don't attend," she said. "One of the reasons we've found is accessing a health check in a conventional setting. "So if those tests are made more easily available, which this test does, then we have the opportunity to reach far more people." She added: "If you consider the number of people with diabetes who go onto have heart attacks and strokes, if we can manage their risk before it becomes a problem that will reduce admissions to hospital, reduce mortality, and reduce complications from diabetes, such as kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke disease." High blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes are all dubbed 'silent killers' - should we really be that worried? The HbA1c finger-prick test is considered the gold standard blood test. This is because it shows average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months, giving a clearer picture than daily checks. Steve said the app fits directly with Health Secretary Wes Streeting's 10-year NHS plan, spotting illnesses earlier, tailoring care, and shifting more testing and diagnosis into homes and communities. 'There's a huge gap in screening for preventable diseases,' he said. 'Right now, the system, not just in the UK but worldwide, cannot find, assess, and diagnose enough people to make a dent in tackling heart attacks, strokes, and type 2 diabetes.' Health minister Stephen Kinnock told The i Paper that the app rollout was important because type 2 diabetes is on the rise across England. 'This is a potential game-changer and exactly the type of technology we want to see in the NHS as part of the 10 Year Health Plan – bringing our health service firmly into the 21st century and care directly into people's homes. 3 'We will make using the NHS as simple and convenient as online banking or shopping, while helping companies bring new technology into the health service more quickly.' The seed of the device was planted 30 years ago when Steve was a teenager and witnessed his father having a catastrophic stroke in his early forties, due to undiagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD). 'Using smartphones to deliver diagnostics is exactly what could have saved my dad from having so many [health] problems. He's cost the NHS a fortune,' Steve said. Around £9bn is spent on treating complications arising from diabetes, such as heart disease, kidney problems, and nerve damage. Studies suggest that the annual cost of the disease could increase to £16.9 bn in the next 25 years. The app's launch comes 24 hours after the Government announced the biggest shake-up of diabetes care in a decade. Around 750,000 patients with CVD or early-onset diabetes would benefit from fat jabs sooner, rather than keeping them for the later stages of treatment, new guidance states.
