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Work harder to justify a pay rise? My exhausted brain can’t make the sums add up. Perhaps I should have studied maths a bit longer at school, so says A&E consultant and myHSN director, Dr Jenny Waters.
It seems like an over-simplification to suggest that the NHS is broken because the staff aren’t working hard enough but that is exactly what Steve Barclay, health secretary, said this week.
As PM Rishi Sunak flies around the country in a military jet on the taxpayer’s coin, Mr Barclay has suggested that NHS staff must “earn” their pay rise. He also adds that striking healthcare workers are holding patients to ransom! Lets see if the numbers really do add up – the most recently published NHS staffing figures tells us these things:
- Nursing vacancies stood at 11.9% last year
- Staff sickness was at 6% last year
- Nurses have had an inflation-related pay cut over last 10 years of 20%
That means nurses are working to cover a staffing deficit of 18% whilst receiving the wages of someone working 4 days a week. Exactly how much harder is Steve Barclay expecting nurses to work?
I wonder how much harder Mr Sunak was able to work by spending £1400 on jet fuel for his meeting?
Anyway, welcome to this week’s myHSN Week in Health – a round-up of the biggest health news this week, and what it means for you.
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Brain check tool to cut dementia risk
Cake in the office is like passive smoking
Patients stopping anti-depressants told to taper dose
Chemotherapy before surgery slashes bowel cancer risk of return
Nurse and ambulance workers co-ordinate strike action
Oily fish reduces kidney disease risk
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Brain check tool to cut dementia risk
What?
A new Alzheimer’s UK web-based tool aims to train those in their 40s and 50s to perform regular ‘check-ups’ of their brain to reduce the risk of dementia.
Why?
The new tool comprises a series of questions designed to test your current thinking, and offers suggestions on ways to train your brain. A population more likely to reach older age means the risk of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia, increases. This tool is seen as a means to provide a quick check-up for those entering riskier ages.
How (does it affect you)?
If you are 40-50 years old, this tool is aimed at you. Through increasing the awareness of our mind and how it can slow with age, the risk of developing dementia in later life might be reduced. Why not try it out today?
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Cake in the office is like passive smoking
What?
Professor Susan Jebb of the Food Standards Agency compares passive smoking to bringing cake into the office.
Why?
Eating a piece of cake in the office every so often is clearly not as dangerous as smoking. However, the culture of sweets in the workplace puts us at greater risk of obesity and developing conditions like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Passive smoking is the exposure of non-smokers in the room to the dangers of smoking. The feeling is that tempting sweet treats contribute to a similar negative health effect in the long run.
Professor Jebb goes on to say that the occasional cake or similar in the office is:
Becoming an everyday occurrence and was “no longer special”.
“[It] comes from a place of generosity and kindness, wanting to share,” she said. “There’s something very important about sharing food with colleagues.
“But what is happening now is it’s happening every single day and that means that it’s no longer special.”
How (does it affect you)?
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, consider a healthier sharing platter, such as a bowl of fruit instead. Ultimately, we are the masters of our own destiny, but next time do think twice about taking that extra piece of cake in the office.
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Patients stopping anti-depressants told to taper doses
What?
In new guidance from NICE (National Insititude for Health and Care Excellence), patients taking anti-depressants who wish to stop, are instructed to taper their doses gradually.
Why?
Antidepressants can cause worrying symptoms if stopped suddenly. These include headaches, mood swings and stomach problems, amongst others.
This guidance was published in response to a growing number of adults in the UK who wish to come off antidepressants. While this is reasonable, it must be done in a gradual manner, and ideally with the help of the prescriber, be that a GP or a psychiatrist.
How (does it affect you)?
If you take anti-depressants and wish to come off them, this news is a useful reminder that it is possible to do so safely. This should be done in cooperation with your prescriber. It should be said, if feelings of anxiety or depression return after beginning a taper, contact your GP and make a plan together about alternative strategies. This could include new medication or trying talking therapies. For example, IAPT is an easy access service where patients are able to self-refer for talking therapies.
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Chemotherapy before surgery slashes bowel cancer risk of return
What?
In research published this week, giving chemotherapy before surgery has been shown to reduce the risk of bowel cancer returning by up to 28%. Chemotherapy was given after surgery to all patients in the trial, however only around half received it before surgery too.
Why?
Chemotherapy is often given after surgery (adjuvant) to kill any remaining cancer cells in the body and reduce the risk of cancer returning. Many types of surgery do give chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant), but this is the first trial in colon cancer to show a benefit here too.
It does seem obvious that giving more chemotherapy would mean less cancer overall. However, doctors have often been reluctant to give chemotherapy before and after surgery, due to possible risks to the patient. These include possible harm from the chemotherapy, or delays while waiting for a chemotherapy course to finish leading to a chance for the cancer to progress, meaning it could no longer be cured.
How (does it affect you)?
This is trial data and will not be used in the NHS yet. These findings may become common practice in the coming year or so, once NICE approves its use. If you have bowel cancer and are due to have surgery, ask your doctor if there are trials where you can receive a similar treatment regimen.
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Nurse and ambulance workers co-ordinate strike action
What?
Nurses and ambulance workers are due to strike at the same time in the UK, bringing widespread disruption to the NHS. The strikes are in response to salaries that are seen as not fit for purpose.
Why?
Nurses and ambulance workers have been subjected to year-on-year real-terms pay cuts. Even though salaries have increased, inflation has meant the money does not go as far. The strikes are seen as a final attempt to get the government to listen to the demands of these groups. While talks are ongoing, the government’s offers have not been deemed acceptable to the health workers’ unions.
How (does it affect you)?
On strike days, ambulances will take longer to arrive to all but the most urgent of emergencies such as cardiac arrest. Late stage pregnancies or urgent wound will not be prioritised, for example however. Nurses will provide emergency and cancer care. Other services like CNS care and district nurses may be affected. See this article for a breakdown of the strike days.
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Oily fish reduces kidney disease risk
What?
In findings published this week, oily fish has been shown to reduce the risk of developing kidney problems. This is related to its omega-3 content, and was not seen in plant-based omega 3 source e.g. flaxseed.
Why?
Omega-3 is seen as a superfood to some. Indeed, we have covered it extensively here at myHSN. Now for the first time, its benefits have been shown to extend to kidney disease. The trial measured the number of people developing chronic kidney disease. The participants who took animal-derived (e.g. fish) omega-3, had a reduced risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
How (does it affect you)?
It may be a good idea to check whether omega-3 is a supplement you’re taking. There is good quality evidence to suggest it has beneficial effects on the heart, kidneys and joints. For vegans or vegetarians, though the benefits seem to be less with plant-based omega-3, the health effects remain largely positive. As always, taking non-prescribed health supplements without the supervision of a healthcare professional is at your own risk.
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As always, best wishes from myHSN!
