Top stories
GP workforce declines by over 400 in just three months
Politicians urged to take immediate action to avoid GPs leaving NHS
15:05 A hot bath lowers people’s blood pressure as much as one hour of intense exercise, according to a new study.
Loughborough University researchers were testing whether ‘passive heating’ had health benefits typically associated with exercise.
They found in their trial that their exercise group burned more calories, but peak blood sugar levels after eating was lower in the bath group.
They also found that taking hot baths reduced inflammation, reports the Sun.
12:00 A sharp rise in measles cases in Europe has been linked by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to vaccine scepticism.
The Independent reports that anti-vaccine movements are thought to have contributed to low rates of vaccine uptake in countries with spikes of infections, such as Romania and Italy.
Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, said: ‘Today’s travel patterns put no person or country beyond the reach of the measles virus.
‘Outbreaks will continue in Europe, as elsewhere, until every country reaches the level of immunisation needed to fully protect their populations.’
11:15 Advice on how to more safely co-sleep with babies isn’t getting through to parents because the health service only advises them not to do so, reports the BBC.
Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire, NICE advisor Elaine McInnes said parents who feel ‘judged’ may lie to health visitors about co-sleeping, meaning the guidance does not come across.
Mother Shona Haigh said: ‘I had no information from my health visitor and midwife. She told me that they wouldn’t give me any information because they don’t want you doing it.’
09:30 The Plain English Campaign (PEC) has criticised the NHS for using ‘goobledygook’ words and phrases to explain everything from major incidents to hospital closures, reports the BBC.
Campaign spokesperson Steve Jenner suggested this is done on purpose.
He said: ‘If you use impenetrable language it means the public has no clue what is going on. I can’t help thinking that suits the NHS sometimes.
‘What this jargon is describing is very important. It should be articulated very clearly.
‘We expect doctors to clearly explain themselves. It should be the same for the NHS management.’
An example used is the ‘ambulatory care pathway’ meaning, in plain English, that the patient can go home after being seen in hospital.
