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Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
GP doctors' surgeries are changing and carried out 7million more appointments
GP practices have delivered a third more appointments than before the coronavirus pandemic - but trouble may be brewing with family doctors threatening strike action GP practices have carried out seven million more appointments last year according to new NHS data. Practices delivered 31.4 million appointments in June which is up 32% on the same month pre-pandemic. GP surgeries host more non-doctor staff like physiotherapists who now carry out more appointments, while around a third are not face-to-face. There were 383.3 million appointments in the last 12 months, compared to 375.7 million in the previous year. It comes as the British Medical Association says its GPs members could strike unless they can help run new 'community hub' health centres being set up across the country in a major reform. Amanda Doyle, NHS England National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said: 'General practice teams have been working exceptionally hard to boost access and turn our services around, with today's data showing important progress as over 7 million additional appointments were delivered in the past year. 'While services improve and patient satisfaction has started to rise, we know more needs to be done to improve access, which is why we remain committed to working with the government on delivering the 10-year plan to boost access and improve primary care services for patients.' The Government's Ten Year Health Plan will establish 300 new 'neighbourhood health centres' across England to help keep people out of hospitals. They will offer scans, checkups, straightforward treatment, and broader life help. They will include doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, counsellors, physios, health visitors, weight-loss specialists and even job advisers - but so far little guidance has been issued on who will run them. GPs want to lead new centres and are said to be 'alarmed' by hospital leaders' attempts to make themselves central to the plans. The BMA has written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and health minister Stephen Kinnock setting out six demands on pay, contract funding and how much extra money they will get to work in and run the hubs. The BMA wants its demands met by mid-September to avert a strike among family doctors. Office for National Statistics polling in England shows 72% of people found contacting their GP practice easy, which was up from 60% less than a year ago in September 2024. Some 73% of patients rated their overall GP experience as good compared with 67% last year. The latest GP Patient Survey also shows 53% found it easy to contact their practice by phone, up from 50%, while 49% found the NHS app easy to use which is almost double the 25% figure from the previous year. The Government announced last week that an extra 2,000 GPs have been recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). Health Minister, Ashley Dalton, said: 'Through our 10 Year Health Plan we are shifting care from hospitals to community. Our Plan for Change will deliver Neighbourhood Health Services that will put GPs at the heart of delivering more personalised, proactive care in local areas when it is more convenient for patients. We are on a mission to rebuild our health service and give people better access to care when they need it." Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly Brits, said: "Any improvement in access to GPs is welcome but it is far too early to be blowing trumpets. On the ground it is still frustratingly difficult for patients to see an actual GP. "I suspect that many of these increased appointments are with other practice staff, where patients are often diverted for an initial diagnosis. GPs are still an elusive species in many parts of the country. And to celebrate the fact that less than half of patients find the NHS app easy to use is weird. Many older patients are unable to use the app at all because they do not have a smartphone or are unable to manipulate small screens."
India.com
26-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
This village is called 'Cobra Capital of India/, has highest snake population in the country, name is..., located in...
Snakes are undoubtedly one of the most mysterious creatures in the world. They are a part of several cultures. In some cultures, these creatures represent evil and in others, they are worshipped like gods. In India, people worship these creatures. Especially cobras have a significant place in Hindu mythology. The Indian cobra is often associated with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Hindus celebrate Naga Panchami to honour snakes. However, these venomous serpents are among nature's deadliest hunters and they show no mercy on their prey. Apart from myths and worships, there are some regions in India that are known for their high snake populations. One such place is located in Western Ghats of Karnataka. Agumbe Village The small village covers 3 square km at an elevation of about 2,700 feet. It is also termed as the 'Cherrapunji of the South' because of its weather and heavy rainfalls. The village has a population of around 600 people. Agumbe is surrounded by dense rainforests, beautiful waterfalls and hills. All these make it a paradise for nature explorers. Rich Wildlife Unique and rare fungi such as Meliola agumbensis, Tarenna agumbensis, Hygromaster agumbensis, and Dactylaria agumbensis are discovered here. All these discoveries are named after the village. Cobra Capital Of India Agumbe is the house of the king cobra and it is the area's flagship species. In this village famous herpetologist Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker established the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS). It is the place where the country's first radio telemetry project on king cobras was started. Herpetologists usually works in the field observing creatures in their natural habitats. They also observe their behaviour, physiology, genetics, and evolution. Notably, Herpetologists play a crucial role in conservation efforts, especially for endangered species. The king cobra, the world's longest venomous snake, plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance. As a top predator, it mainly feeds on other snakes—including dangerous ones like kraits and cobras. This helps keep the snake population under control, which in turn supports a healthy food chain. Without predators like the king cobra, certain snake species could grow in number too quickly, potentially leading to issues like habitat degradation, spread of disease, or shortage of food for other animals.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Cobra Capital of India: The Indian village has the highest snake population in the country
In Indian culture, snakes have long been prayed to, but they have also been frightening creatures. In ancient scriptures and modern-day rituals, serpents, especially cobras, have a significant place in mythology and daily life. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Indian cobra, with its iconic hood and deadly venom, is often associated with deities like Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Festivals such as Naga Panchami celebrate these creatures in Hinduism. However, beyond the myths and festivals, certain regions in India are known for their high snake populations. One such place is Agumbe, a small village in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Often referred to as the " Cobra Capital of India " Which Indian state has the highest population of snakes? Located in the green Western Ghats of the nation is Agumbe, a tiny village in Karnataka covering just 3 square kilometers at an elevation of about 2,700 feet. It is also popularly called the "Cherrapunji of the South" because of its heavy rainfall. With a small population of around 600 people, the area is surrounded by hills, dense rainforests, and waterfalls, making it a paradise for nature explorers and wildlife researchers. Apart from that, Agumbe is home to rich wildlife. Unique fungi like Meliola agumbensis, Tarenna agumbensis, Hygromaster agumbensis, and Dactylaria agumbensis have all been discovered here and named after the village. This region also houses many exclusive species of the Western Ghats, such as the Malabar gliding frog, Malabar hornbill, and the Malabar pit viper. It's even known to have rare and majestic animals like melanistic leopards and solitary tusker elephants. Cobra Capital of India Perhaps the most iconic resident of Agumbe is the king cobra , which is the area's flagship species. Agumbe is the village where renowned herpetologist Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker established the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS), where India's first radio telemetry project on king cobras began. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The king cobra is also known to be the world's longest venomous snake, and plays a crucial role in the local biodiversity by controlling the population of other snakes as an apex predator in its habitat. Unlike most snakes, its diet primarily consists of other snakes, including venomous species like kraits and other cobras. By keeping the snake population in check, it helps regulate the food chain and prevents overpopulation of certain species, which could otherwise disrupt the ecological balance. Credits: Canva
