RECENT NEWS

A ground-breaking study investigating a life-threatening and contagious gut infection has launched in the UK - with researchers recruiting the first patient in the world to test a new preventative therapy.

Results from the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA) in England and Wales have been published by the National Cancer Audit Collaborating Centre (NATCAN). The findings demonstrate improvements in early diagnosis across England and Wales but also highlight delays to treatment and ongoing variation in access to care.

The NHS could be facing a “second surge” in norovirus as the vomiting bug reaches its highest level so far this winter. The latest figures show the average number of patients in hospital with norovirus each day this week rose to over 1,000 for the first time this winter (1,012).

Four fifths of England’s integrated care boards (ICBs) - responsible for planning health services for their local population - would need to at least double their number of general practitioners to meet staffing standards considered safe for patients, finds an analysis of NHS workforce data, published by The BMJ.

Menopausal hormone therapy (commonly known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT) is not associated with an increased risk of death, finds a Danish study of over 800,000 women published by The BMJ.

Booster vaccines reduced the risk of COVID‑19–related hospitalisation and death, according to a new study of over 3 million adults who had the autumn 2022 vaccine in England.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in common foodborne bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter continues to be a public health concern across Europe, according to a new joint report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The government is launching a new childhood immunisation campaign, to reverse the decline in uptake, by providing clear, trusted information and making it easier for families to access vaccines.

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP), the UK’s leading organisation dedicated to progressing safer surgery, has announced the launch of The Big Perioperative Natter; a landmark live online experience for everyone working in operating theatres across the country.

HCA Healthcare UK is expanding its network, with a new £17 million outpatient, primary care and diagnostics centre located directly next to St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Stock Exchange.

A gathering of some of the most respected and forward-thinking minds in surgery will take place at The Surgeon Show 2026 on Friday, 20 February, at The Minster Building, Central London.

Hundreds of people with advanced bladder cancer across the UK can now receive three rather than six chemotherapy cycles after research involving Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation and the University of Sheffield led to a change to NHS treatment guidelines. For patients, this means fewer toxic side effects and a better quality of life during treatment.

Abbott has announced its Volt Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System is being used in procedures across the UK to treat people with atrial fibrillation (AFib). Fifteen NHS hospitals are taking part in a pioneering pilot that seeks to confirm the positive impact the Volt PFA System could have on patients in Britain and its wider healthcare system, through improved outcomes and increased efficiency.

A study comparing one- and three-month antibiotic treatments to prevent active tuberculosis (TB) finds that a high percentage of patients successfully completed both regimens and suffered few adverse side effects.

Mount Sinai researchers have identified a cellular mechanism linking infections from influenza A viruses (IAVs) to cardiovascular disease, providing critical insights on how influenza can damage the heart and increase the risk of a heart attack or other major cardiovascular event.

NHS Supply Chain has demonstrated how Value Based Procurement can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce systemwide costs through a pioneering programme evaluating second-generation surgical mesh.

Siemens Healthineers is to co-lead a major EU research initiative dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies has announced the expansion of its manufacturing and process development presence in the North East of England to support vital biomanufacturing innovative medicines and vaccines in the UK.

New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that smoking prevalence among 12 to 30-year-olds in England could drop below 5% decades earlier than expected, if the government progressively raises the age of tobacco sale.

Nuffield Health has announced the appointment of two new Governors. The appointment of Dominic Dodd and Dr Sam Barrell will further strengthen the Nuffield Health Board, bringing significant experience in healthcare management and clinical leadership.