Latest news with #JacobGeorge
ABC News
15 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Doctors at Westmead Hospital to hold vote of no confidence in health district chief executive, amid delayed cancer scans
Doctors at Sydney's Westmead Hospital are calling for their chief executive to stand down over allegations of patient safety concerns and delayed cancer diagnoses. In a letter sent to hospital staff, the Medical Staff Council said it plans to hold a vote of no confidence in Western Sydney Local Health District's chief executive, Graeme Loy, on Thursday evening. Senior doctors say for the past five years they have raised concerns about unacceptable clinic wait times for routine scans that can detect preventable cancers, with some patients waiting up to three years. "You will be aware that the [Medical Staff Council] has advocated for many years for improvement in patient care including excessive delays in clinic review, procedures and surgical admissions," deputy chair of the Westmead Medical Staff Council Jenny King wrote in the letter. "This has been a particular concern for those patients with a positive faecal occult blood screen. "The issue of failure to provide care for those patients at high-risk malignancy has long been documented," Dr King wrote. Western Sydney Local Health District, Health Minister Ryan Park and NSW Health have been contacted for comment. The revolt among staff came after the dismissal of Westmead's head of gastroenterology department, Jacob George, last week, who raised concerns with management about the lengthy wait times. One senior doctor at Westmead, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, believed Professor George's dismissal was retaliation for speaking out. "For many years we have been struggling to have our concerns listened to, and the executive has been aware," the doctor said. The ABC understands wait times have impacted cancer diagnosis screenings in several departments including cardio, renal, dermatology and gastroenterology. The senior doctor said the delays could mean hundreds of patients who have cancer are in the dark about their disease, or receive late diagnoses. "It's a major risk and it's something we shouldn't be letting people down on," the doctor said. "If you have a possible cancer, we like to get a colonoscopy done within 30 days, but patients are waiting months, and the risk is the cancer has disseminated." Kathryn Austin, Australian Medical Association NSW president, said the issues were symptomatic of a lack of investment in staffing in public hospitals. "There has not been the investment in workforce that we need and the workforce is who deliver the care to patients," she said. "It's a sad state of affairs that it's come to this point and the clinical concerns haven't been addressed." A vote of no confidence has no binding power and does not mean Mr Loy will be dismissed from this role if passed. But the senior doctor said the significance of an unanimous vote would be hard to ignore. "If we don't win, the whole of public health is threatened," the senior doctor said.
Al Jazeera
04-06-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Fight for the Pacific – Episode 3: China's Pacific Wave
In 'China's Pacific Wave', the episode delves into the economic tug-of-war between the United States and China in the Pacific, seen through the experiences of locals like Jacob George, a Vanuatuan customary land owner confronting Chinese encroachment, and Maikolo Ikahihfo, a Tongan stall owner amid the rise of Chinese businesses. Highlighting the Pacific nations' growing debts to China, this episode examines the vulnerabilities and economic sovereignty concerns of these aid-reliant island nations, which received more than $40bn in development assistance from 2008 to 2021. Ronna Lee's story in Samoa adds a personal dimension, exploring cultural links between the Pacific and China. This episode underscores the challenges faced by Pacific nations, such as dependency on limited income sources and climate change threats, and questions their role in the larger geopolitical game: are they merely pawns, or active agents in their destiny amidst intense global power dynamics? Fight for the Pacific, a four-part series, showcases the Pacific's critical transformation into a battleground of global power. This series captures the high-stakes rivalry between the US and China as they vie for dominance in a region pivotal to global stability. The series frames the Pacific not just as a battleground for superpowers but also as a region with its own unique challenges and aspirations.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
High blood pressure cases rise – three ways to prevent hypertension at home
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition that affects a third of adults in the UK and can cause stroke, heart attack and kidney failure if left untreated A dietician has shared some ways to lower blood pressure at home. High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – affects one in three adults across the UK, significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and even dementia. Often going under the radar without any symptoms, many people often are oblivious to their condition until it causes other health issues. Despite the NHS rolling out health checks for those over 40 and pharmacies offering blood pressure screenings, the number of hypertension diagnoses continues to rise, especially among younger people. The NHS has previously reported that a lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits, and excessive alcohol consumption are the biggest risk factors for hypertension, but chronic stress can also be a cause. Professor Jacob George, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Dundee, expressed his concern to the Daily Mail: "I've been doing this clinic for 20 years. When I started, roughly one in five people with hypertension referred to me were below the age of 30. That's easily doubled. "Now I'd say one in three referred to me are young, and obesity is the main driver – it really is one of the biggest challenges we face." Now, dietician Courtney Kassis has shared her top tips that she urges clients to follow in order to naturally bring down their blood pressure or prevent the condition entirely. "My client just [lowered his blood pressure] in one month after our first appointment," the nutrition specialist said in her video. "Here are three nutrition strategies I recommend to all of my clients with high blood pressure that can improve your numbers within weeks." Limit processed foods and added sugar "Number one, limit processed foods and added sugars. Insulin resistance and overall inflammation is very closely tied to elevated blood pressure," she said. "Limit foods like sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates that cause significant blood sugar spikes. And ultra-processed foods with inflammatory ingredients that can also drive elevated insulin levels and inflammation." According to the British Heart Foundation, eating too many ultra-processed foods increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. More than half of the typical British daily diet is made up of ultra-processed food, including breakfast cereals, ready meals, frozen pizzas, sweets and biscuits. Eat more whole foods "Second is eat more whole foods. Incorporating more non-starchy veggies, low-glycaemic fruits, nuts and seeds regularly will deliver essential nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and fibre, crucial for managing blood pressure," Courtney said. The NHS advises that we should all strive to consume at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, which should constitute about a third of the food we eat each day. This could be fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced. Starchy foods, such as pasta, rice and potatoes, should also account for a third of our daily food intake, serving as a good source of energy. We should also aim to include some protein in every meal. This could come from dairy, vegetable sources like lentils and beans, or lean cuts of meat and mince. It's also recommended to have at least two portions of fish every week, one of which should be an oily variety like salmon or mackerel. Swap out table salt Courtney suggested a swap when it comes to salt: "When it comes to salt, swap your table salt for sea salt which contains essential minerals for blood pressure control. Sea salt in moderation can provide these essential minerals." Both table salt and sea salt, along with all other types of salt, can contribute to high blood pressure if consumed excessively due to their sodium content, according to the British Heart Foundation. The NHS reports that adults should not consume more than 6g of salt a day (around one levelled teaspoon). Consuming too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you suspect you have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing it, the NHS advises scheduling an appointment with your GP. This is also recommended if you're over 40 years old and haven't had your blood pressure checked in more than five years. Some pharmacies and workplaces also provide blood pressure tests.
