‘Gamechanging’ breast cancer pill to be offered on NHS in England and Wales

Thousands of women with advanced breast cancer in England and Wales are to be offered a “gamechanging” twice-a-day pill on the NHS after a U-turn by the medicines watchdog.Experts hailed the decision as a “landmark moment”. As many as 3,000 women every year could benefit from capivasertib for hormone receptor (HR)-positive HER2-negative breast cancer that has certain genetic mutations and has spread.The drug, also known as Truqap and made by AstraZeneca, blocks an abnormal protein molecule AKT that drives cancer cells to multiply – helping to slow or stop the spread of the disease.Claire Rowney, the chief executive of charity Breast Cancer Now, welcomed the green light from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) but said its initial rejection of the pill had led to treatment delays

One in four women in England have serious reproductive health issue, survey finds

More than a quarter of women in England are living with a serious reproductive health issue, according to the largest survey of its kind, and experts say “systemic, operational, structural and cultural issues” prevent women from accessing care.The survey of 60,000 women across England in 2023, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and analysed by academics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, found that 28% of respondents were living with a reproductive morbidity, such as pelvic organ prolapse, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, or cervical, uterine, ovarian or breast cancer.Almost a fifth (19%) of women reported experiencing severe period pain in the last year, and 40% of respondents reported heavy menstrual bleeding. More than 30% of participants aged 16-24 reported severe period pain.Stark ethnic inequalities were revealed by the survey

Lady Howarth of Breckland obituary

After her social services career was blighted by fallout from a high-profile child protection scandal, Valerie Howarth nevertheless went on to become a leading authority on children’s welfare and one of the first “people’s peers” created by Tony Blair.As the first chief executive of Childline, Howarth led the confidential counselling service for children and young people through its early years of explosive growth. Through her further work with numerous charities and care regulators, and her active crossbench role in the House of Lords, she made an enduring impact on policy and practice.Howarth, who has died of cancer aged 84, was director of social services for Brent, north London, at the time of the killing of a four-year-old girl, Jasmine Beckford, by her stepfather. Jasmine had been in care but had been returned to the family

Hospitals in England offered unlimited bonuses for taking patients off waiting lists

Hospitals in England are being offered unlimited bonus payments to remove people they decide do not need treatment from their waiting lists amid warnings that thousands of patients most in need are still facing unacceptable delays.The waiting list for hospital treatment fell for the sixth month in a row in February, according to data published on Thursday.But health experts warned that cancer patients in particular were still suffering devastating waits for vital treatment and long waits in A&E were higher than the same point last year.In an attempt to cut waiting lists and free up consultants to see those most in need, NHS trusts have this week been ordered to “validate” their entire waiting list.This will involve reviewing every patient and removing anyone who could be treated elsewhere or does not need an appointment with a specialist

Tell us: what have you never quite understood about weight loss drugs?

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have burst into public awareness over the last few years, promising dramatic results and stirring up big questions.Originally developed for diabetes, these medications are now being prescribed for weight management. But the science, ethics, and long-term effects of these drugs are still being explored.In a new video series on our It’s Complicated Youtube channel, we’re investigating the major questions behind some of today’s most confusing topics – and weight loss drugs are at the top of that list.What do these medications actually do to the body? Who should take them, and who decides? Are they reshaping how we think about obesity, health, and personal responsibility? We’ll be speaking with experts to better understand the science and the social impact, and we want to make sure we’re answering the questions you have

England’s ‘complex’ health and care system harming patients, report says

Navigating England’s “complex” health and care system is “extremely difficult” and carers and patients are experiencing burnout, distress and harm as a result, a damning report says.There were frequent failures by NHS and care organisations in coordinating care for people with long-term health conditions, the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) found. Figures show 41% of adults and 17% of children have at least one long-term health issue.The report said patients unable to navigate the health and care system were getting sicker as a result, missing vital appointments, and their care could be delayed or forgotten about, meaning they may need more intensive and expensive treatment in future or longer stays in hospital.Patients and carers had to retell their health history to different health and care providers, the research showed