Latest news with #Intervention
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Private ops for common conditions are rocketing due to NHS restrictions, new figures reveal
Graeme Wakerley, a retired haematologist, was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and had no choice but to pay for surgery NOT WAITING AROUND Private ops for common conditions are rocketing due to NHS restrictions, new figures reveal Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRIVATE medical procedures for common conditions are rocketing as the NHS restricts access or stops funding them altogether, new figures reveal. Operations such as cataract surgery went up by 39 per cent, hernia repair by 110 per cent and tonsillectomies by 105 per cent - with procedures like these deemed 'of limited value' by the NHS. 1 Private hernia repairs have gone up 110 per cent Credit: Getty Analysis of the latest data from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) also revealed private admissions in England for breast reductions have increased by 61 per cent, and circumcision by 118 per cent. While carpal tunnel syndrome treatment (64 per cent), and adenoid removals (145 per cent) are all on the increase, according to statistics. The numbers have risen since the introduction of a list of procedures aimed at guiding NHS commissioners away from funding these treatments. The Evidence-based Intervention (EBI) list was created to reduce the number of medical or surgical interventions which could be inappropriate for some patients in some circumstances- and to save the NHS money. Jim Easton of Practice Plus Group hospitals, which performed the analysis, said: "It is correct that there are proper eligibility criteria to ensure that only those people who will benefit from surgery are offered it. "In the last six years, however, through a combination of the COVID backlog, increasing financial pressures on the NHS, and the growing list of procedures they actively try to restrict, we have seen a marked increase in people in debilitating pain or discomfort who are perfect candidates for surgery but can't get the referral. "The NHS needs to take care to ensure the EBI programme is not drifting from one intended to benefit patients and reduce unnecessary interventions to one that is more intent on cost-cutting. "More and more patients are voting with their feet and continuing to seek out these surgeries even if they have to pay for them. "The EBI list has also created a postcode lottery, for example, where in one area it has adopted the list in its entirety and someone would find it almost impossible to get the treatment they need, in another, the NHS commissioners have recognised their population needs and adapted the list. "The knock-on effect in not offering these treatments is the gradual disappearance of specialists with enough experience in delivering them, or enough younger doctors trained to perform them." NHS wait lists rise again Graeme Wakerley, 71, a retired haematologist who worked for many years in the NHS, was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia in 2023 but was unable to access surgery via them, so he chose to pay for Wellsoon private healthcare from Practice Plus Group. He said: "A scan showed that the hernia wasn't strangulated which meant it wasn't considered dangerous and I would not be able to get surgery to fix it. "The GP explained that unless it's strangulated, you're in severe pain or mental anguish, there was no point in applying for funding as I wouldn't get surgery. "Even when you do get on the list meaning it's serious and you're in severe pain, there would be a two-year wait for hernia surgery." "So, I had no choice but to pay. I have heard of many other people in similar situations. GPs are having to advise people to go private for surgery because there are so many restrictions on funding."
Irish Examiner
31-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Tuam babies' burial site to be sealed off as mass grave exhumation begins in June
The entire burial site of the Tuam babies will be forensically sealed off and monitored around the clock, as specialist teams prepare for Ireland's first exhumation of a mass grave next month. In an email sent Friday evening to the Tuam Babies Family Group, which includes many relatives of those buried at the site, the Director of the Intervention said his team is 'still on track to begin the excavation of the site in the second half of June' — although a start date has not yet been confirmed. Daniel MacSweeney who was appointed to oversee the exhumation two years ago, explained that 'Once works start, the entire site will be forensically sealed. We will erect 2.4-meter hoarding and put in place 24-hour security monitoring'. He continued 'It is expected that the works on the site may take up to 24 months to complete. 'During this time, the Memorial Garden will not be accessible. If you would like to visit the Memorial Garden, you should try to do so before mid-June.' The exhumation follows 11 years of public pressure after local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children believed to be buried on the grounds of the former mother and baby home. The institution, which primarily housed unmarried mothers, was run by the Bons Secours nuns on behalf of Galway County Council. It operated between 1925 and 1961. After the nuns sold the land and left Tuam, the children who died there were left buried on the property. A test excavation carried out in October 2016 and January 2017 revealed a "significant quantity of human remains" — belonging to babies aged between 35 foetal weeks and 2 to 3 years. Read More Oldest survivor of Tuam mother and baby home to purchase first home after fundraising appeal The remains were found dumped in 18 of 20 chambers of a disused sewage tank. This discovery sparked international outrage and was reported across major global news outlets. Tuam Mother and Baby home survivor Carmel Larkin, aged 70 attends to flowers left at the Virgin Mary shrine as a vigil is held at the Tuam Mother and Baby home mass burial site on August 25, 2019 in Tuam, Ireland. Picture:The intervention has come after more than a decade of campaigning from families of children who died there as well as Ms Corless. Mr MacSweeney told families and survivors: 'I am writing to update you, the people most impacted by the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, about the intervention.' He said this is 'the first step towards restoring dignity in death to those inappropriately buried at the site. We will confirm the exact date very soon.' Family members of the children who died in Tuam as well as survivors will be invited to the first perimeter of the forensically sealed site on July 8. Mr MacSweeney explained that 'additional dates will be added if needs be.' A family liaison officer, Paula Kennedy has been appointed to support families with details for the visits. He continued: 'I also want to let you know that we have begun further engagement with the Tuam Community and in particular the residents near the estate adjoining the Memorial Garden. 'We will host an information evening on 6th June. Most residents have received further information relating to the site works and the Information Evening.' Anna Corrigan, who was at the heart of the original exposure of the Tuam babies' burial scandal alongside Catherine Corless, said: 'It is almost surreal that this is happening. It is a day we thought would never arrive — and now it's happening next month. 'It is a small light at the end of the tunnel, I hope we find all of the children and that the mothers and my own mother included, Bridget Dolan, will be given some form of justice for what was perpetrated on them and the children will have some dignity in death. 'We still have to wait to see what is uncovered and how many children will be found, how many will be identified, or will we be left with lingering questions when this is all over.' Further information can be found on
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
CFTRI: Nutrition programme for malnourished children launched in Mysuru
The CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru, has launched a 'Nutrition Intervention Programme' aimed at improving the nutritional status of malnourished preschool children in the Mysuru district. This initiative is being implemented with financial support from Bank Note Paper Mill India Pvt. Ltd. (BNPM), Mysuru, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The programme is a collaborative effort involving CSIR-CFTRI, the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services (DHFW), and the Directorate of Women and Child Development (DWCD). A total of 600 malnourished preschool children have been selected for the programme, with 500 children set to receive nutritional support through scientifically formulated food kits. These kits, developed by CSIR-CFTRI, consist of high-energy and high-protein supplementary foods fortified with key micronutrients such as Iron, Vitamin A, and Zinc. The food kits will be distributed monthly for a period of six months. The impact of the intervention will be assessed through comprehensive evaluations of the children's anthropometric and biochemical parameters, carried out in collaboration with the Mysore Medical College and Research Centre (MMCRI), according to a release. Protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue to pose significant public health challenges among preschool children in India. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, nearly one-third of children under five years are underweight or stunted, and 62% suffer from anaemia. 'These deficiencies not only impair physical growth but also hinder cognitive development, compromise immunity, and disrupt metabolic functions. Studies have shown that undernourished children face a heightened risk of developing non-communicable diseases later in life, with many of these developmental impairments being irreversible if not addressed early,' the release added. In response to this issue, the nutrition intervention programme has been launched. The programme was launched on Thursday at CSIR-CFTRI. Thalikerappa, managing director of BNPM, was the chief guest on the occasion. B. Basavaraj, deputy director of DWCD, Mohammed Shiraz Ahmed, reproductive and child health officer of DHFW, and Sridevi Annapurna Singh, director of CSIR-CFTRI, who presided over the event, were present. During the launch, nutrition supplement kits were symbolically distributed to five children. Jyothi Lakshmi, senior principal scientist at CSIR-CFTRI, provided insights into the programme and highlighted the institute's long-standing research and interventions in combating malnutrition. Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, in her address, emphasised that the success of previous nutrition programmes conducted in Nanjangud and Purulia (West Bengal) has inspired the expansion of such initiatives. She underlined the importance of larger sample sizes for better validation and encouraged continued collaboration with government departments, local healthcare providers, and CSR-backed organisations to combat malnutrition effectively. Dharanikumara, chief general manager of BNPM, along with medical experts from MMCRI, including Nayas Pasha, Rangaswamy, and Shubha Jayaram, were also present.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Exhumation of Tuam babies' mass grave to begin in June, confirms intervention director
The long-awaited exhumation of the Tuam babies' mass grave will get underway in June, the Director of the Authorised Intervention has revealed. A statement issued on Tuesday morning on behalf of Daniel MacSweeney, who is leading the works in Co Galway, said the intervention – the first of its kind in Ireland – 'is due to start in the second half of June this year, pending the appointment of the excavation contractor.' Mr MacSweeney said he expects to confirm exact dates in mid-May when the excavation contractor and forensic team have spoken to the 'families of people who were in the Tuam institution, survivors, advocates, residents living in proximity to the site, and others who have been most impacted.' He explained that the burial site will be 'forensically sealed at all times during the excavation," and that the team is "hoping to facilitate on-site visits for survivors and family members at the beginning of the excavation.' In 2014, local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children who died in the religiously run home from 1925 to 1961. Since then, a number of test excavations in 2016 and 2017 confirmed that the remains of children found at the site were from the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. When the nuns sold the land in the early 2000s, they exhumed the remains of their colleagues who were buried in the nearby Bon Secours private hospital but left the children in the mass grave. There was outrage all over the world when the story emerged that 796 children were buried in large chambers in a septic tank on the grounds of the home and were not given a proper burial. In 2014, local historian Catherine Corless uncovered the names of 796 children who died in the religiously run home from 1925 to 1961. Picture: Laura Hutton/ A Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the circumstances of 14 homes and four county homes, and survivors received a State apology in 2021. Families and campaigners have long called for the children to be removed from the site and given a proper burial. Mr MacSweeney added: 'Our work is centred around the people and groups who have been most impacted by the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam. 'This includes families, survivors, and the Tuam community. Our work will be conducted in accordance with international standards and best practice, and in keeping with our core values. 'Substantial and meaningful planning has gone into this unique and incredibly complex excavation. As part of this, we are in the process of appointing a talented, high-calibre multidisciplinary forensic team and a main excavation contractor. 'The excavation will take place in two parts. Further details on the forensic approach being taken will be shared at the start of the excavation.' Annette McKay's sister, Mary Margaret O'Connor, died while in the Tuam home in 1943. She told the Irish Examiner, 'I am absolutely delighted that finally we have concrete news. 'It is very emotional considering it has taken us over 10 years to get to this point, where we finally might see the end of a terrible story and we can lay these little ones to rest.' For more information about the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam, see
Associated Press
19-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
EvolutionIQ's AI-Powered Specialist Intervention Optimizes Workers' Compensation Claims Management
NEW YORK, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EvolutionIQ, a leader in AI-driven claims solutions, has announced the findings of its latest case study highlighting the impact of its Intervention product on workers' compensation claims. The case study reveals how AI-powered Intervention enables insurance carriers to engage medical specialists earlier, improve referral accuracy, and drive better claim outcomes—leading to more efficient case management and improved experiences for injured workers. The workers' compensation industry is facing rising claim complexity, increased regulatory demands, and workforce challenges, making proactive, AI-driven claims management more essential than ever. Revolutionizing Claims Handling with AI 'Claims professionals are managing heavier caseloads than ever before, and they need tools that help them act with greater precision,' said Mike Saltzman, Co-CEO of EvolutionIQ. 'This study demonstrates that AI-powered Intervention is a game-changer, getting the right resources deployed at the right time—not only reducing inefficiencies but also driving better recovery outcomes for injured workers.' EvolutionIQ's Intervention product continuously monitors structured and unstructured claims data, identifying claims that require medical specialist involvement earlier than traditional methods. By providing claims teams with clear, explainable AI-driven recommendations, the solution empowers them to proactively take action rather than reactively. The Future of AI in Workers' Compensation The adoption of AI-powered solutions like EvolutionIQ's claims insights platform is reshaping claims management, shifting the industry from a reactive to a proactive approach. As more workers' compensation carriers embrace this technology, the claims process is becoming more efficient, precise, and aligned with the needs of injured workers and claims teams alike. EvolutionIQ, a CCC Intelligent Solutions company, pioneered Claims Guidance technology in 2019. Its AI-powered solutions guide insurance claims professionals to their highest potential impact on bodily injury claims, including specific next-best-action guidance and medical synthesis and insights. EvolutionIQ improves the claimant experience and delivers better claim outcomes to claimants, carriers, and their customers. The company serves group disability, individual disability, and workers' compensation markets worldwide.
