Behind the Headlines

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UK position worsens in 'early death league'

Tuesday Mar 5 2013

UK falling behind in 'early death league'

“The UK is lagging behind progress by similar countries on many indicators for ill-health” BBC News reports, based on a potentially influential study which generated a wide range of media coverage…

Reports of 'HIV cure' are premature

Monday Mar 4 2013

Global news coverage has been dominated by the potentially groundbreaking news that a child born with HIV appears to have been ‘cured’ of the infection. The Guardian reports that US doctors have made medical history…

90% of doctors support Liverpool Care Pathway

Friday Mar 1 2013

“Ninety per cent (of doctors) would be prepared to be placed on the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway programme if they were nearing death” is the reassuring news in today’s Metro...

Swine flu jab narcolepsy risk very small

Wednesday Feb 27 2013

Swine flu vaccine link to narcolepsy established

There have been reports in the media today that the Pandemrix vaccine, used during the swine flu epidemic of 2009-10, increases children’s risk of developing narcolepsy...

New antiviral may help in flu fight

Friday Feb 22 2013

New anitviral may overcome flu resistance

‘Flu drug shows promise in overcoming resistance’, reports BBC news, saying that scientists have found a way to permanently block the flu virus from spreading to other cells...

New NICE guidelines for NHS fertility treatment

Wednesday Feb 20 2013

NHS-funded IVF to be offered to over 40s

New standards set out for treating fertility problems dominate the health news. The coverage is based on updated infertility guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)…

Unsafe sex linked to rise in HIV rates in gay men

Monday Feb 18 2013

Unsafe sex causes rise in HIV rates in gay men

"The number of gay and bisexual men contracting HIV rose…because of an increase in numbers having unprotected sex," The Guardian reports. The story is based on a study of men who have sex with men...

Could being kept in the dark cure lazy eye?

Friday Feb 15 2013

Being kept in the dark could cure lazy eye

‘Keeping children with a lazy eye in the dark for ten days could help them see better', reports the Daily Mail, somewhat irresponsibly, following research actually involving kittens. The Mail reports on a study looking at…

Social care reforms announced

Monday Feb 11 2013

Most of the UK media is covering the announcement made in Parliament by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary State for Health, about proposed changes to social care…

Social care reforms announced

Monday Feb 11 2013

Most of the UK media is covering the announcement made in Parliament by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary State for Health, about proposed changes to social care…