Latest news with #UCLH
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS patients told to brace for strikes up to Christmas
Patients must brace themselves for the possibility of doctor's strikes until Christmas, the head of the NHS has warned. Junior doctors will on Sunday enter the third day of a five-day strike over pay, with NHS leaders warning that further walkouts are almost inevitable in the coming months. The latest talks between the Department of Health and the British Medical Association (BMA) have made little progress. 'This could be a marathon. We could be doing this until Christmas or maybe beyond,' David Probert, chief executive of University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and deputy chief executive of NHS England told The Sunday Times. Junior doctors have a strike mandate that runs until 6 January, but union leaders have suggested industrial action could intensify this autumn. Consultants and mid-grade doctors were sent indicative strike ballots last week in response to a government pay offer of 4 per cent, which they branded 'an insult'. The ballots close on 1 September. Elsewhere in the NHS, the GMB union is considering action among ambulance and hospital staff after 67 per cent of members voted to reject a 3.6 per cent pay offer on Friday. The Royal College of Nursing is also due to announce the result of its pay ballot this week, with sources reporting a 'strong turnout'. Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, warned that it will take a 'huge effort' to keep hospital waiting times down during a prolonged period of disruption. 'We know that continued disruption over the coming months could see a snowball effect for patients and for staff,' he said. 'We've seen that before and it has taken a huge effort over the last year to build momentum back up on reducing waiting lists and times.' Despite efforts to restart dialogue, tensions have escalated in recent days. Tom Dolphin, chair of the BMA council, said the union was consulting lawyers after both Sir Jim and the health secretary, Wes Streeting, signalled they may try to restrict striking doctors from taking on locum shifts, often a key source of income. Junior doctors are demanding a 26 per cent pay rise to reverse what the BMA says is a real-terms pay cut since 2008. The government argues it has already acted; last year, Mr Streeting awarded junior doctors a 28.7 per cent pay rise over three years, which brought an end to the previous wave of strikes. But medics say that increase followed years of pay erosion and still leaves salaries well short of 2008 levels in real terms, particularly given the sharp spike in inflation since 2021. There are signs, however, that public support for the strikes is beginning to slip. A YouGov poll last week found that just 34 per cent of the public backed the strikes, down from 59 per cent in March 2023. A majority of 52 per cent now say they are opposed.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
NHS patients told to brace for strikes up to Christmas
Patients must brace themselves for the possibility of doctor's strikes until Christmas, the head of the NHS has warned. Junior doctors will on Sunday enter the third day of a five-day strike over pay, with NHS leaders warning that further walkouts are almost inevitable in the coming months. The latest talks between the Department of Health and the British Medical Association (BMA) have made little progress. 'This could be a marathon. We could be doing this until Christmas or maybe beyond,' David Probert, chief executive of University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and deputy chief executive of NHS England told The Sunday Times. Junior doctors have a strike mandate that runs until 6 January, but union leaders have suggested industrial action could intensify this autumn. Consultants and mid-grade doctors were sent indicative strike ballots last week in response to a government pay offer of 4 per cent, which they branded 'an insult'. The ballots close on 1 September. Elsewhere in the NHS, the GMB union is considering action among ambulance and hospital staff after 67 per cent of members voted to reject a 3.6 per cent pay offer on Friday. The Royal College of Nursing is also due to announce the result of its pay ballot this week, with sources reporting a 'strong turnout'. Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, warned that it will take a 'huge effort' to keep hospital waiting times down during a prolonged period of disruption. 'We know that continued disruption over the coming months could see a snowball effect for patients and for staff,' he said. 'We've seen that before and it has taken a huge effort over the last year to build momentum back up on reducing waiting lists and times.' Despite efforts to restart dialogue, tensions have escalated in recent days. Tom Dolphin, chair of the BMA council, said the union was consulting lawyers after both Sir Jim and the health secretary, Wes Streeting, signalled they may try to restrict striking doctors from taking on locum shifts, often a key source of income. Junior doctors are demanding a 26 per cent pay rise to reverse what the BMA says is a real-terms pay cut since 2008. The government argues it has already acted; last year, Mr Streeting awarded junior doctors a 28.7 per cent pay rise over three years, which brought an end to the previous wave of strikes. But medics say that increase followed years of pay erosion and still leaves salaries well short of 2008 levels in real terms, particularly given the sharp spike in inflation since 2021. There are signs, however, that public support for the strikes is beginning to slip. A YouGov poll last week found that just 34 per cent of the public backed the strikes, down from 59 per cent in March 2023. A majority of 52 per cent now say they are opposed.
Metro
5 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Man's deadly brain cancer disappears after experimental drug trial
Chloe Johnson Published July 23, 2025 4:47pm Link is copied Comments Ben Trotman, 43, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer where patients typically die within 12-to-18 months, in October of 2022. Now, however, he is showing no signs of the disease after being administered the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab (Picture: Marie Mangan/UCLH/PA Wire) Two months are receiving ipilimumab, Trotman married his wife Emily and, in April 2025, they welcomed their daughter, Mabel. At the time of diagnosis, a family friend recommended that Trotman should be referred to The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at UCLH, where they met consultant medical oncologist Dr Paul Mulholland. Mulholland recruited Trotman to a clinical trial he was running, in which Trotman would be the first in the world to receive the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab to treat glioblastoma prior to standard treatment. Now aged 43 - two years and eight months on from having this treatment - Ben's scans are clear with no signs of tumour (Picture: UCLH) Trotman's wife, Emily, said: 'Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience. We were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live. Had we not met Dr Mulholland, that would have been it for us. We felt we had a lucky break in an otherwise devastating situation' (Picture: Marie Mangan/UCLH/PA Wire) Now, a new immunotherapy trial for this deadly form of cancer is now set to enrol 16 people over an 18-month period, following the remarkable outcome which saw Trotman's tumour vanish. The NHS study has been established in memory of Baroness Margaret McDonagh, who succumbed to the disease. Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP, sister to the Baroness, led a fundraising campaign to raise more than £1 million to cover the costs of the new trial. Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma will receive the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab prior to standard treatment, building on a previous study involving the same drug (Picture: Getty) Dame McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on brain tumours, said: 'My beloved sister Margaret was appalled to discover that there had been no advances in brain cancer treatment for decades when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Changing this was Margaret's final campaign and one that I have continued in her memory. I am so grateful to the many people who knew and respected Margaret, who have come together and helped to raise funds and campaign for this new trial that we are calling Margaret's Trial' (Picture: Marie Mangan/UCLH/PA Wire) Consultant medical oncologist, Dr Paul Mulholland, who is leading the new trial, said of Ben's recovery: 'It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn't have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumour that was initially visible on scans. We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumour at bay – and it has so far, which we are delighted to see' This new treatment will be administered at the NIHR UCLH's Clinical Research Facility and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The patients will receive the drug ipilimumab before proceeding to standard treatments that may include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Mulholland said of the trial: 'The crucial element of this trial is that patients will have their immune system boosted by the drug before they have any other treatment, when they are fit and well enough to tolerate the immunotherapy' (Picture: Getty) Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man's Deadly Brain Tumor Vanishes After Taking Breakthrough Drug: ‘Lucky Break in a Devastating Situation'
A man with one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer is now hopeful for the future after his tumor completely disappeared thanks to a breakthrough drug. In October 2022, Ben Trotman was 40 years old when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare form of terminal cancer that kills more than 10,000 Americans a year, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. Glioblastoma, also known as GBM, has no known cure. Standard treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor (if possible), followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The disease is considered a highly invasive tumor in the central nervous system because its cells reproduce extremely quickly. Those who are diagnosed with the malignant tumor have a median survival rate of about 14 to 14.5 months. Following his diagnosis, Trotman was referred by a friend to The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). There, Dr. Paul Mulholland, a consultant medical oncologist, recruited Trotman to be the first patient in his clinical trial. The trial involved him receiving the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab to treat his glioblastoma before undergoing any standard treatment. Afterward, Trotman began radiation and chemotherapy. 'The crucial element of this trial is that patients will have their immune system boosted by the drug before they have any other treatment, when they are fit and well enough to tolerate the immunotherapy,' Mulholland said in a press release. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Two years and eight months after being the sole participant in the clinical trial, Trotman, now 43, is tumor-free, and his scans have come back clear. 'It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn't have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumour that was initially visible on scans,' Mulholland explained. 'We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumour at bay, and it has so far, which we are delighted to see.' Mulholland added that his goal is to find a cure for the 'devastating disease' that is glioblastoma, and he's hoping to move forward with additional patients. Trotman is now married to wife Emily, and the couple welcomed daughter Mabel in April. The couple told the hospital that the clinical trial gave Trotman his life back. 'Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience,' Emily said. 'We were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live. Had we not met Dr. Mulholland, that would have been it for us. We felt we had a lucky break in an otherwise devastating situation.' 'We obviously don't know what the future holds, but having had the immunotherapy treatment and getting these encouraging scan results has given Emily and I a bit of hope,' Trotman added. 'We are focused on rebuilding the life we thought we had lost and enjoying being parents.' The new father said he's hoping that his brain cancer journey will give others hope and inspire more patients to participate in the next clinical trial. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Dame Siobhain McDonagh — member of parliament of the UK who lost her sister from glioblastoma in 2023 — led a fundraising campaign and raised more than €1 million to cover the costs of the next trial. 'My beloved sister Margaret was appalled to discover that there had been no advances in brain cancer treatment for decades when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma,' McDonagh said. 'Changing this was Margaret's final campaign and one that I have continued in her memory. I am so grateful to the many people who knew and respected Margaret who have come together and helped to raise funds and campaign for this new trial that we are calling Margaret's Trial.' Mullholland recalled meeting Margaret. 'When I met Margaret, she said to me, 'What can I do to support you to cure this disease?'" 'I am incredibly grateful to her and to Siobhain, whose campaigning and fundraising in her sister's memory has led to this new clinical trial opening for patients with this most aggressive form of brain cancer that has such a poor prognosis.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man's deadly brain cancer tumor disappears after experimental drug trial
A man with the deadliest form of brain cancer has no signs of the disease after taking an experimental drug. Ben Trotman was 40 when he was diagnosed in 2022 with glioblastoma, the most aggressive cancerous brain tumor. Patients typically live an average of 15 months after diagnosis, and the five-year survival rate is just 6.9%. Trotman was referred to The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), where he was treated by consultant UCLH medical oncologist Dr. Paul Mulholland, as detailed in a press release. Ancient 'Pharaoh's Curse' Fungus Shows Promise In Killing Cancer Cells As the only person enrolled in a trial that ultimately closed due to lack of patients, Trotman received a medication called ipilimumab, a targeted immunotherapy treatment. Ipilimumab is an antibody that binds to a protein on immune cells (T cells). It keeps cancer cells from suppressing the immune system so it can then attack and kill the cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Read On The Fox News App Trotman also received radiation and chemotherapy. More than two years later, his quarterly scans show no signs of cancer. "It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn't have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumor that was initially visible on scans," his oncologist, Mulholland, said in the release. "We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumor at bay — and it has so far, which we are delighted to see." Two months after receiving the ipilimumab, Trotman married his wife, Emily. In April 2025, they welcomed their daughter, Mabel. "Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience — we were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live," Emily Trotman said in the release. "Had we not met Dr. Mulholland, that would have been it for us. We felt we had a lucky break in an otherwise devastating situation." Ben Trotman added, "We obviously don't know what the future holds, but having had the immunotherapy treatment and getting these encouraging scan results has given [us] a bit of hope." "We are focused on rebuilding the life we thought we had lost and enjoying being parents." Mulholland and his team have now opened another clinical trial for patients who have been newly diagnosed with glioblastoma. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Sixteen patients will be recruited for the trial, which is sponsored by UCL. The treatment will be administered at the NIHR UCLH's Clinical Research Facility and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, according to the press release. The patients will receive ipilimumab before proceeding to standard treatments that may include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. "The crucial element of this trial is that patients will have their immune system boosted by the drug before they have any other treatment, when they are fit and well enough to tolerate the immunotherapy," Mulholland said in the release. The Win-Glio trial — nicknamed "Margaret's Trial" — is funded by the efforts of Dame Siobhain McDonagh, sister of Margaret McDonagh, a London woman who died of glioblastoma in 2023 and was treated by Mulholland. For more Health articles, visit Ben Trotman said he is "delighted" that the new trial is moving forward with the same immunotherapy drug he received. "It will give people newly diagnosed with glioblastoma some hope."Original article source: Man's deadly brain cancer tumor disappears after experimental drug trial
