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People dying at home ‘lack support’, heavy drinking still costing NHS dear and Darzi plans smoking ban in London parks

People dying at home are not getting 24-hour support from the NHS, a report on the BBC says this morning.

According to charity Sue Ryder, only 7% of CCGs have made a 24-hour helpline and palliative care support available.

Sue Ryder chief executive Heidi Travis said: ‘People who are dying, their carers and their families should be able to access the care they want, when they want.

‘Unfortunately many areas of the country simply don’t have the services in place to make this ambition a reality.’

Heavy drinkers are costing the NHS £21.8bn a year despite the number of high risk drinkers falling by around half a million in the last year, The Guardian reports.

According to a study on the nation’s drinking habits by charity Alcohol Concern, the number of people regularly drinking over the safe limits fell from 10.0 m in 2010-11 to 9.6 m in 2012-13.

But Jackie Ballard, chief executive of Alcohol Concern said: ‘This shouldn’t detract from the overall figures which clearly demonstrate the significant burden that alcohol is placing on the NHS and on the health of individuals.’

Lastly, Lord Darzi has announced plans to ban smoking in London’s parks and famous land-marks such as Trafalgar Square.

Apparently the plan has already been endorsed by Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies, according The Telegraph.

Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City where smoking in Central Park is already outlawed, said it worked there.

He said it ‘helped us extend life expectancy by nearly three years over my time as mayor’.

 


          

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