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#GPnews: Substance abuse increasing in baby boomers

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First ‘pharmacy-led’ practice set up in bid to counter GP shortage

350 fewer GPs than 2015 despite promises of 5,000 more by 2020 

12:00 Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust has refused funding for ECG equipment because the fundraising attempts were ‘insulting and demeaning’.

The Ludlow Hospital League of Friends raised money through its annual bed push, which saw men dressed as female nurses, the Guardian among others reports.

The chief executive of the trust, Jan Ditheridge, and its chair, Mike Ridley, explained: ’The presentation of men dressed as female nurses in a highly sexualised and demeaning way is wrong, very outdated and insulting to the profession.’

They added: ’Many people kindly and selflessly raise money for our organisation, and especially for our hospitals. We are eternally grateful for that.

’It isn’t OK to portray healthcare professionals in this way. We have previously asked that this doesn’t happen and therefore don’t think it’s right to accept any money associated with this activity.

’I’m sure the event was organised with the best intentions and we are sorry if it’s made people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.’

Peter Corfield, chairman of the League of Friends, said: ’This bed push is a traditional thing, it’s taken place each summer in Ludlow for past 30 years. The whole thing is a light-hearted fundraiser.

9:20 Experts have called for urgent action to tackle rink and drug misuse among baby boomers, the Guardian reports

Recent figures revealed that half a million adults aged between 55 and 74 were admitted to English hospitals with alcohol-related conditions in 2015/16 – more than any other group. It comes as alcohol abuse is on the wane for all other age groups. 

 Dr Tony Rao, co-chair of the Older People’s Substance Misuse working group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: ’Overall, whether you look at [hospital] admissions, whether you look at daily drinking, whether you look at deaths, older people – particularly baby boomers – are pulling away significantly in their health risks from millennials.’