Bowel surgery robot 'significantly improves outcomes'
Mr Trickett continued: "Using our da Vinci robot, we have seen a decrease in the length of a hospital stay, fewer complications, including surgical site infections, and fewer readmissions."The da Vinci surgery robot was introduced in July 2023 and 500 patients across the UK have benefited from it.It has been used primarily for cancers, but also treats conditions such as endometriosis, diverticular disease, colitis and Crohn's disease. Dr Mark Roland, chief medical officer, added: "It is fantastic to see this remarkable piece of equipment being put to such good use. "The potential to treat more patients means we can make sure that our local community receives the best possible care."
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Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
Welsh A level student's study on cannabis sees her land place at Oxford University
Welsh A level student's study on cannabis sees her land place at Oxford University Ariana Howells from Barry has a place to study biochemistry at Oxford after becoming interested in how medical cannabis has helped her mum who has Crohn's disease Ariana Howells from Barry with her mum Sam and dad David A project on cannabis and three A*s have got a Welsh A level student into Oxford. Ariana Howells from Barry has a place to study biochemistry at Oxford University's St Hilda's College after becoming interested in how medical cannabis has helped her mum who has Crohn's disease. Ariana, 18, who got 13 A*s at GCSE at St Cyres school in Penarth won an A level scholarship to study at Cardiff Sixth Form College and during her time there she's also worked at Wales' first and only medical cannabis clinic. You can follow our live updates as pupils collect their results here Cardiff Sixth Form College on Newport Road (Image: PA Media) Opening her A level results this morning Ariana got A*s in biology, chemistry, maths, and an A in English literature plus a standout 97% in her Extended Project Qualification which looked at the role of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in sleep and mental wellbeing. Ariana became interested in the potential medical properties of cannabis while working at her parents' clinic, the first and only medical cannabis clinic in Wales. The high flying student's interest in the class B drug is more than academic. Her mother Sam has Crohn's disease and says medical cannabis has played a crucial role in improving her quality of life. Article continues below Crohn's disease is a life-long condition characterised by inflammation of the digestive tract which affects around one in 350 people in the UK. Even at its mildest, it can cause symptoms that have a major impact on quality of life including: stomach pain, diarrhoea, weight loss and fatigue. After Sam found her symptoms eased with medical cannabis she and husband David opened the first medical cannabis clinic in Wales, Cannabis Clinic Cardiff. Ariana has spent the last two years helping with administration and learning about the evolving science behind the plant-based treatment at her parent's virtual clinic which has patients from around Wales. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here 'Seeing my mum's condition and the way cannabis helped her and the patients who visit our clinic really opened my eyes to its medical potential," she said. "My dad is also a senior psychiatrist, so I've grown up in a household where science and care come together.' Studying for her A levels and extended project Ariana said she was shocked to find there was little research into the medical properties of THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. The budding scientist would like to one day work in the area of new drug development and mental health research. She said her interest has been driven by what she has found out from her mother's experience and working with other patients at the clinic. 'There were only seven studies worth citing,' Ariana said, 'I expected clearer answers, but what I found was a real need for more in-depth, unbiased research. This is something I want to keep exploring at university and beyond.' The teenager believes cannabis may have medical properties that can transform lives. "There's still stigma and strong media opinions, but science is about asking difficult questions and being open to where the evidence leads.' Sam said she and her husband David, who opened their virtual clinic four years ago, are proud of their only child's ambition and drive. Sam said that she first tried medical cannabis before it was made legal in the UK in 2018. "Crohn's is very difficult to treat and there is no clinical evidence that cannabis brings it into remission but it brings my symptoms under control," said Sam. Medical cannabis was legalized in the UK in 2018 and can be prescribed by specialist doctors for certain conditions. It is not available on the NHS except in rare cases, and is usually accessed through private clinics. To be eligible, patients typically need a diagnosed condition that hasn't responded to conventional treatments Ariana said she worked "incredibly hard" to smash her A levels and get into Oxford. Instead of socialising she would come home and study. Article continues below Now the hard work has paid off she knows there is more hard work ahead, but said she is driven by her enthusiasm to find new medical breakthroughs and address the lack of research and evidence on the medical cannabis which has helped her mother and others.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
DWP paying up to £749.80 every month to people with stomach issues
The Department for Work and Pensions is said to pay £187 per week to those with certain health conditions. For those with this stomach issue, you could be entitled to a monthly £750 People suffering from gastrointestinal health conditions could be entitled to up to £749.80 every four weeks from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The latest DWP figures reveal that over 36,000 people across the UK are claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for such conditions. You might be eligible for PIP if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. You can qualify even if you're working or receiving other benefits, with the amount you receive each week depending on how challenging you find everyday tasks and mobility. This comes after reports of ' DWP state pensioners are set to be given 'extra £352' completely free '. Those who can claim the highest payments will receive between £29.20 and £187.45 each week - or £116.80 and £749.80 per month - with the payment period for PIP set at four weeks. Many people may be put off from claiming PIP due to uncertainty about whether their condition qualifies. However, it's crucial to understand that it's how the condition impacts your daily life that determines the level of financial support you're awarded, reports reports Chronicle Live. The DWP recognises the following gastrointestinal disabilities, which have been divided into sub-groups as qualifying conditions for PIP: Diseases of the stomach, oesophagus and duodenum Oesophageal varices Oesophagus, stomach and duodenum Hiatus hernia /gastroesophageal reflux disease /reflux oesophagitis Peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal)/gastritis Diseases of the colon Colon - Other diseases of / type not known Constipation Diverticular disease / diverticulitis Diseases of the small bowel Small bowel - Other diseases of / type not known Coeliac disease Inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's disease Ulcerative colitis Diseases of the rectum and anus Anorectal abscess Fistula in anus Haemorrhoids Rectal prolapse Rectum/anus - Other diseases of / type not known Congenital disorders of the GI tract Cleft lip Cleft lip with cleft palate Hirschprung Disease Tracheo-oesophageal fistula/atresia Other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract Attention to artificial opening colostomy/ileostomy/ stoma - no underlying diagnosis Gastrointestinal tract - Other diseases of / type not known Qualifying illnesses also include IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), Abdominal hernias and Benign tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money Understanding PIP PIP is divided into two components: the daily living and Mobility. You might be eligible for the daily living part of PIP if you require assistance with: preparing food eating and drinking managing your medicines or treatments talking, listening and understanding washing and bathing using the toilet dressing and undressing reading managing your money socialising and being around other people You might qualify for the mobility part of PIP if you need help with: physically moving around working out a route and following it leaving your home It's not necessary to have a physical disability to receive the mobility component. You might also be eligible if you struggle with mobility due to cognitive or mental health conditions, such as anxiety. Assessment of task difficulty The DWP will evaluate how challenging you find daily living and mobility tasks. They'll consider each task based on: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you whether you require assistance to do it, from either a person or extra equipment how often your condition affects this activity How to apply for PIP You can initiate a new claim by contacting the DWP, all the information you need to apply can be found on If you need assistance understanding or applying for PIP you can: use easy read guides which explain PIP; get help from Citizens Advice; or watch PIP video guides with British Sign Language.
Glasgow Times
11-08-2025
- Glasgow Times
Three new cancer drugs approved for use for NHS Scotland
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) approved the drug brentuximab vedotin, also known as Adcetris, which can be used together with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma – an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. (Image: Image from PA) SMC vice chair Graeme Bryson said the treatment could 'help increase how long people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have before their cancer gets worse'. Meanwhile, zanubrutinib, also known as Brukinsa, was accepted to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma – a rare type of the blood cancer non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The SMC has also approved the drug ripretinib – also known as Qinlock – to treat adults with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours, which are a rare type of cancer of the digestive system. In addition to these drugs it has agreed the NHS can use mirikizumab, also known as Omvoh, for adults with Crohn's disease, a lifelong condition which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. READ NEXT: Rock band to play huge headline show in Glasgow Graeme Bryson said: 'The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHS Scotland. 'Brentuximab vedotin, used together with chemotherapy, could help increase how long people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have before their cancer gets worse. 'Ripretinib provides a fourth-line treatment for advanced gastro-intestinal stromal tumours where currently there is no standard treatment available. 'Zanubrutinib offers an additional oral targeted treatment option for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have already received one or more lines of treatment. 'Mirikizumab offers an additional treatment option for people with moderate to severe Crohn's disease whose disease is not controlled on standard or biologic treatment.' READ NEXT: Two teens nicked after 'DPD van chased' through streets by cops However, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) said it could not approve a new treatment for patients with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because of a lack of evidence around its cost-effectiveness. It also rejected the drug dupilumab, also known as Dupixent, as a treatment on the NHS for adults with COPD that is controlled on current standard treatments. Bryson said: 'The committee was unable to accept dupilumab for treating patients with COPD as the company's evidence around the cost-effectiveness of the treatment was not sufficient. We would welcome a resubmission from the company.' Joseph Carter, head of the charity Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, added: 'If the cost effectiveness of dupilumab for use by NHS Scotland can be improved, we are hopeful that the Scottish Medicines Consortium will revisit its decision. 'With an estimated 241,000 people living with COPD in Scotland, there is hope that this drug could help guide research for other targeted therapies. 'More lung research is desperately needed to enable a breakthrough to help better control or even cure COPD.'
