Health
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Hospitals closures and democracy – don’t treat us like turkeys By Roger Steer
The People’s Inquiry into London health services held a series of meetings over the autumn, culminating in a lively meeting in Lewisham hospital on 6 December. The Chair of the Inquiry, Roy Lilley, posed the question at the end: why is it so difficult to engage with local people over questions of reconfiguring health services? Continue reading
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UK Enters GMO Free 2014 Despite Paterson’s Support for Biotech
“We’re celebrating a GM-free 2014 in UK fields – long may it continue. We congratulate the millions of UK farmers and shoppers standing up for what is right for their businesses and families, and we’re standing right beside them. Continue reading
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Fukushima, a Global Conspiracy of Denial By William Boardman
If there is any government or non-government authority in the world that is addressing the disaster at Fukushima openly, directly, honestly, and effectively, it’s not apparent to the outside observer what entity that might be. Continue reading
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NHS carelessly slings out care.data plans to 26.5 million Brits By Kelly Fiveash
NHS England has confirmed that the Better Information Means Better Care leaflet would be posted to 26.5 million household over the next four weeks. Patients who don’t want their medical records shared on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s so-called care.data system are required to contact their GP surgery to opt out of that information being stored… Continue reading
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Britain: Mental health services reach breaking point By Mark Blackwood
The emotional support charity Samaritans is currently receiving a call every six seconds to its 24-hour telephone helpline, from people in distress, feeling suicidal or struggling to cope. Last year, some 600,000 people expressing suicidal feelings called the charity. Continue reading
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NHS: Health is a right, not a reward for being born in the right place By Alex Langford
Don’t let the Daily Mail fool you. The vast majority of migrants work hard and pay tax. On average, they actually put 34% more into our economy than they take out, roughly £22 billion a year – compared with native Britons who contribute 11% less than the amount they take out. They fill vital holes… Continue reading
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OurNHS in 2013 – some highlights
OurNHS is on a publishing break until the New Year. Why not check out some of our stories you may have missed? Continue reading
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British NHS director promotes ‘restructuring’ of accident and emergency departments By Ajanta Silva
Keogh wants to implement a two-tier system of A&E services within five years. Up to 70 A&E units will become Major Emergency Centres, while the remaining 70-100 units will be downgraded to ordinary non-specialist Emergency Centres. At the same time, Keogh says people should be encouraged to get help from alternative sources—the NHS 111 emergency… Continue reading
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Mid Staffs and the great hospital scale-back? By Diana Smith
Mid Staffordshire hospital is ‘unsustainable’, we are told. But is the controversy being used to test drive a dramatic scaling-back of hospital provision, especially for mothers and children, elsewhere in the country? Continue reading
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Wave of Radiation from Fukushima Will Be 10 Times Bigger than All of the Radiation from Nuclear Tests Combined
As nuclear engineer and former nuclear executive Arnie Gundersen notes, the wave of radioactive cesium from Fukushima which is going to hit the West Coast of North America will be 10 times greater than from the nuclear tests. Continue reading
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U.S. Navy Sailors Sue TEPCO over Cluster-Fukushima Snafu By William Boardman
The core of this story is the lawsuit filed December 21, 2012, by attorney Paul C, Garner of Brooks & Associates of Encinatas, California, on behalf of nine plaintiffs (including a one-year-old), all of whom “were among the members of the U.S. Navy crew and attached to the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), whose home port… Continue reading
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End double standards in evaluating GMO safety studies – say scientists
The controversy about the Séralini et al. study, which reported negative health effects of Monsanto’s NK603 GM maize and Roundup herbicide fed to rats over the long term,[1] is still going on. According to a new review published in Environmental Sciences Europe, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) used unscientific double standards to dismiss the… Continue reading
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NHS regulations are unfair: they’ll stop us tax dodging! By Richard Whittell
The healthcare companies taking over NHS provision are lobbying regulators to allow their tax avoidance schemes to continue. Continue reading
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Hospital closure clause battle heats up today By Caroline Molloy
Stormy scenes are likely in parliament today as the government tries to “rush through” changes that will make it far easier to close hospitals without public consultation. The changes face fierce opposition from doctors, 38 Degrees, the British Medical Association and charities. Continue reading
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“Why I do and why you should fight for our #NHS” By Glen Chisholm
By the law of averages it is highly unlikely that if you’re reading this in the UK, that you have had no experience of the NHS. I’ve had many myself; from being born in an NHS hospital to trips for sports injuries over the years, from treatment for a heart problem to watching my father… Continue reading
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Read This Before You Take That Statin By Barbara Roberts and Martha Rosenberg
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.” Yet in its 2011-2012 financial statement, the AHA noted $521 million in donations from non-government and non-membership sources and many well-known large drug companies, including those who make and market statins, contribute amounts… Continue reading
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Brand new OurNHS guide to NHS campaigning and resources
10 December 2013 — Our NHS A brand new guide to NHS campaigning and resources from OurNHS’s own archives and across the web. Continue reading
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Resources – Get information on what’s happening to your local NHS
10 December 2013 — Our NHS What to ask and how to ask it. Part of the OurNHS Resource Guide. Continue reading