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Statins raise diabetes risk by 9%
Statins raise the relative risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but the absolute risk is low when balanced against the beneficial impact of statins on the rate of coronary events, according to UK-led research group.
18 February 2010
Include lung health checks in vascular screening, experts urge
The British Lung Foundation is calling for a simple lung health check to be included in the NHS Health Checks programme.
18 February 2010
Practice ratings website receives hundreds of complaints over ‘offensive or unsuitable’ comments
Exclusive: The Government’s NHS Choices website has had to investigate more than 260 comments left by patients about GP practices over complaints that they are ‘offensive or unsuitable’, since launching the rating facility in October.
18 February 2010
Regulator gives private firm Clinicenta ‘zero stars’
Exclusive: A company drafted in by NHS managers to cut GP referrals to hospital provided a poor service and may have ‘put patients at risk’, an official report obtained by Pulse concludes.
17 February 2010
Accreditation will spare GPs Care Quality Commission checks
GP practices that do the RCGP's accreditation scheme are set to be spared inspections by the Care Quality Commission.
17 February 2010
GPs deliver 10 demands to rescue primary care
GPs are demanding the end of patient survey pay targets, swingeing cuts to Darzi centre contracts and a halt to the creeping fragmentation of primary care, in the biggest test of the profession’s opinion in the run-up to the general election.
17 February 2010
Medical school aptitude tests ‘inherently biased’, study finds
Aptitude tests designed to increase diversity and fairness and widen access to medical schools for women and less advantaged students are failing because they have ‘inherent gender and socioeconomic bias’, a BMJ study has found.
17 February 2010
RCGP set for female chair
Exclusive: The RCGP looks set to have its first female leader in recent years, with two women the frontrunners in the race to replace Professor Steve Field as chair.
16 February 2010
Row over Darzi centre ‘paid five times as much per consultation’
GPs have become embroiled in a bitter row over claims Darzi centre consultations are costing the NHS five times more per consultation than those at standard practices.
16 February 2010
Asthma inhaler discontinued
GPs are being advised to review their asthma patients’ prescriptions after drug firm Teva said the inhaler Beclazone would no longer be available.
16 February 2010
