Critically ill patients in African hospitals aren’t getting the care they need: new survey: When someone falls critically ill, hospitals are expected to provide life-saving care. But in many African countries, intensive care units are rare. Critically ill patients are treated in general hospital wards, and the provision of essential emergency and critical care is …
Doctors rank patients’ own assessment of their illness as least important in diagnosis – new study: Ground Picture/Shutterstock Medical paternalism, where “doctors know best” and patient views and opinions are considered to be of lower importance, is viewed as increasingly unacceptable. We are in an age where patient-centred care and shared-decision making is encouraged between …
There’s no norovirus outbreak in the UK – so why is a sharp rise in patients being reported?: Norovirus causes symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and persistent nausea. Kateryna Kon/ Shutterstock A sharp rise in the number of hospital beds occupied due to patients suffering with norovirus has been reported by the NHS this year. …
Patients’ beliefs about illness matter: the case of elephantiasis in rural Ghana: Would you take medication for an illness you didn’t believe you had? Or if you disagreed with healthcare workers about the cause of your condition? This is the dilemma of many people who live in areas of Ghana where a mosquito-borne disease called …
Why a doctor’s empathy is important for keeping patients safe: fizkes/Shutterstock Avoiding fatal patient safety failures requires “a more empathetic and collaborative approach from doctors”, the UK’s parliamentary and health service ombudsman, Rob Behrens, recently argued in The Times. Reporters from the Times Health Commission, which aims to highlight health sector problems and suggest solutions, …
ADHD drug shortages are affecting patients in the UK – here’s why they’re happening: It's hoped shortages will be resolved soon. DavidPinoPhotography/ Shutterstock Millions of people in the UK who take drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are facing difficulties getting their prescriptions filled due to shortages. These shortages are currently affecting four of …
Long COVID patients are much more likely to have multiple organ abnormalities: It wasn’t that long ago that some people speculated that long COVID was all in the mind – a psychosomatic illness. Thankfully, that period of speculation is now behind us. We have compelling evidence that long COVID is very real and very harmful. …
Existential crisis: how long COVID patients helped us understand what it’s like to lose all sense of identity and purpose in life: Celiafoto/Shutterstock Lucy* used to be known fondly as the “iron lady” by colleagues at work. In her mid-50s and still the main breadwinner for her family, she had always thought of herself as …
Body mass index: why practitioners are relying on it less when looking at a patient’s health: BMI has many limitations. Rawpixel.com/ Shutterstock Body mass index has long been used by doctors as the standard method for measuring health – and often still is. But earlier this month, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a new …
Three in five long COVID patients have organ damage a year after infection: Rick_Jo/Shutterstock The latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests that more than 1.2 million people in the UK report living with long COVID for 12 months or more. Several studies have confirmed that symptoms can persist in people with long …
Five reasons physical activity is important for cancer patients: Physical activity during cancer treatment can help improve mental and physical health outcomes. Dmytro Zinkevych/ Shutterstock You might know that physical activity can help lower your risk of getting many common types of cancer. But what many of us don’t realise is just how important physical …
Breast cancer patients in South Africa may find it hard to stick to treatment: here’s what they told us: Adherence to treatment plans, particularly chemotherapy is complex. Yaw Niel/Shutterstock Worldwide, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. It’s also the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. The incidence of breast cancer is expected …
Breast cancer patients in South Africa are battling to maintain treatment because of high transport costs: Transport is the most common reason a patient doesn't follow their treatment regimen. Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images South Africa has a two-tiered health system. Public health services – which are largely provided free of charge – …
Mini bio-devices could help TB patients stick to their treatments: Handheld devices like this one, used for testing blood sugar levels, could help TB patients monitor their own drug levels. Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock Imagine the scenario: you’ve been told you have a disease that will kill you. But, the doctor adds, your life can be saved if …
HIV patients in Botswana get adequate treatment but not all of them – one group is slipping through the cracks: Franco Volpato/Shutterstock HIV remains a major public health challenge globally. Around 38 million people are estimated to be living with the infection. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the HIV epidemic. Close to two thirds …
Tanzanian TB patients have a lower quality of life than people who haven’t had the disease: Survivors face ongoing disability and increased mortality risks beyond treatment completion. PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images Numerous researchers have documented the quality of life and mental health of specific population groups. Examples include people living with HIV, the elderly, …
Tavistock Clinic fallout: what the courts would consider in a litigation by former patients: Clinical judgements and the clinical counselling at the Tavistock Centre, which since 1989 has provided the UK’s only gender identity clinic for children and young people, now seem set to be examined by the courts in clinical negligence claims brought by …
South African doctors call for law reform, fearing a harsh penalty if patients die: Shutterstock In November 2021 the South African Medico-Legal Association joined other with leading healthcare organisations in South Africa in urging the government to review the culpable homicide law and its application in healthcare settings. The South African Medico-Legal Association represents medical …