DR MAX PEMBERTON: This is the REAL reason why there's been an explosion in cases of ADHD - and why we should all be scared of the consequences
To be blunt, yes, I do believe ADHD is being wildly overdiagnosed. I also worry that the surge in cases is starting to have a damaging impact on the day-to-day lives of everyone.
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ITV News
12 minutes ago
- ITV News
'World-first' gonorrhoea vaccine now offered at sexual health clinics in England
A vaccine for gonorrhoea is now available at sexual health clinics in England as part of a world-first scheme. The vaccination programme is expected to save the NHS £7.9 million over the next decade and combat increasing levels of antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease. The move aims to tackle rising levels of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) after cases in England topped 85,000 in 2023, the highest since records began in 1918. The free jab will be on offer from Monday to patients at the highest risk of the STI, including gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a bacterial STI. The vaccine is an existing jab, known as 4CMenB, that is currently used to protect people against the meningococcal B disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in the routine childhood programme and given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. The programme is targeted at those most at risk and could prevent up to 100,000 cases. Gonorrhoea disproportionately impacts specific communities, such as those in deprived areas, people of black Caribbean ethnicity, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Patients getting the gonorrhoea vaccine will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B at their appointment. Ashley Dalton, the minister for public health and prevention, said: 'Rolling out this world-leading gonorrhoea vaccination programme in sexual health clinics in England represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels. 'This government's world-first vaccination programme will help turn the tide on infections, as well as tackling head-on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. 'I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination, to protect not only yourselves but also your sexual partners.'
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
World-first vaccine rolled out across England amid record levels of infection
England has launched a world-first gonorrhoea vaccination programme, aimed at curbing soaring infection rates and tackling the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant strains. The initiative comes after cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) in England reached a record 85,000 in 2023, the highest since records began in 1918. Available free of charge from Monday at sexual health clinics, the jab is being offered to those at highest risk. This includes gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a bacterial STI. The vaccine, an existing jab known as 4CMenB, is currently used to protect against meningococcal B disease, which can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in the routine childhood programme and given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. Officials anticipate the programme will save the NHS £7.9 million over the next decade. The programme could prevent up to 100,000 cases of gonorrhoea, according to doctors. The STI disproportionately impacts specific communities, such as those in deprived areas, people of black Caribbean ethnicity, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Patients getting the gonorrhoea vaccine will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B at their appointment. 'Rolling out this world-leading gonorrhoea vaccination programme in sexual health clinics in England represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels,' Ashley Dalton, the minister for public health and prevention, said. 'This government's world-first vaccination programme will help turn the tide on infections, as well as tackling head-on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. 'I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination, to protect not only yourselves but also your sexual partners.'
Telegraph
13 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Lord Kinnock urges Rachel Reeves to launch a VAT raid
Lord Kinnock has urged Rachel Reeves to launch a VAT raid on private healthcare. The former Labour leader said the move would give the NHS 'vital funding' as it looks to slash waiting lists. It is estimated that removing the VAT exemption for private healthcare firms would raise £2 billion – if work the private sector does for the health service is exempt. The Chancellor is looking to fill a black hole of up to £30 billion in her autumn budget as economic growth remains sluggish and recent u-turns on welfare reform and winter fuel need to be paid for. Labour promised in its manifesto not to raise the headline rate of income tax, national insurance or VAT, but has applied VAT to private school fees. The party has already been accused of breaking the pledge by hiking employers' national insurance in the last budget, but a raid on private healthcare could get the Chancellor around the commitment by not raising the headline rate. Lord Kinnock, who lost two general elections for his party, told the i newspaper: 'Introducing VAT on private health provision could provide vital funding for the NHS and social care. 'After 14 years of underinvestment, many people are turning to private healthcare not out of choice, but because they cannot afford to wait. This has increasingly led to unequal access to care. 'Ending the VAT exemption to generate much-needed revenue is a reasonable and widely supported step.' The former Labour leader's comments come after he used an interview with Sky News last month to back a wealth tax, which led to weeks of speculation over whether such a policy would be implemented. The Chancellor appeared to shut down the speculation last week by saying Labour had already 'got the balance right' on wealth taxes after it increased capital gains tax and abolished non-dom status. It is feared any tax raid on private healthcare would lead to longer NHS waiting lists by making it more expensive for people to skip the queue by going private. Such an effect would echo that of the VAT raid on private schools, which has led or will lead to the closure of 44 schools according to Telegraph analysis. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has previously said Labour will use the private sector for 'as long as it takes' to get waiting lists down. Data from private healthcare analyst LaingBuisson suggested 4.68 million people now have private medical insurance, the highest proportion since 2008. The raid on private healthcare was backed by the Good Growth Foundation think tank, which was founded by former Labour candidate Praful Nargund. It said private health companies had enjoyed bumper profits as people have turned to them to avoid a lengthy NHS wait, meaning any raid would amount to a windfall tax. Polling of more than 2,000 people for the think tank found 55 per cent of the public backed the raid, with just 17 per cent against the move. Mr Nargund, who stood unsuccessfully for Labour against Jeremy Corbyn at last year's general election, said: 'We are sleepwalking into a two-tier healthcare system, and we have to back our NHS. 'The NHS is in a dire state: from 8am GP scrambles to months-long waits for cancer care, this is simply not good enough. People are being forced to go private for care they should get for free. 'That's not a system in need of tweaks – it's a system on the brink, in need of major reform. A windfall tax on private healthcare would be a bold, fair first step to fund the innovation and change we need in the NHS.' A spokesperson for the Independent Healthcare Providers Network told the i newspaper: 'With record demand for both NHS and privately funded treatment, along with increasing numbers of employers providing medical insurance to keep their staff healthy, we would strongly warn against any changes to the tax system which may dis-incentivise people from accessing the healthcare that they need to live full and productive lives.' A Government spokesperson told the newspaper: 'Thanks to this Government's record investment, reforms and the hard work of NHS staff, we've cut the waiting list by over 260,000 since July 2024, which also fell for the first time in 17 years in April and May outside of the pandemic. On top of this, we have also delivered 4.6 million appointments – more than double the two million we promised.'
