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NHS hospital price war looms; blood pressure ‘switch’ discovered and why the Mail is claiming a ‘great victory’

By Nigel Praities

Our roundup of health news headlines on Thursday 7 October.

The Mail is claiming a ‘great victory' for itself this morning after NICE reversed their decision to not recommend the use of several drugs for mild Alzheimer's disease.

They claim the scalp of NICE after draft guidance from the institute published this week allowed the drugs Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl to be funded on the NHS. ‘Common sense has won the day' claims the newspaper.

The Guardian is reporting that new Department of Health guidance will encourage competition between NHS hospitals, resulting in them undercutting each other on price to attract patients. Unions warn this will result in a ‘race to the bottom' on prices and will put the quality of patient care at risk.

The Telegraph also reports on new NICE guidance that recommends women who undergo fertility treatment on the NHS could be rationed to one embryo at a time to prevent multiple births.

The newspaper also reports on a ‘blood pressure breakthrough'. Researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Nottingham say they have found the first step in the process of developing hypertension.

The scientists, who have spent 20 years researching the hormones rather optimistically say they hope to develop a way of inhibiting the ‘switch' that allows angiotensins to overproduce and create high blodd pressure. Might be another 20 years then.

Spotted a story we've missed? Let us know, and we'll update the digest throughout the day...

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