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Insomniacs ‘may die younger’, surge in alcohol-related admissions, and hospital staff get ‘adapting to life in Norfolk’ sessions

By Gareth Iacobucci

Our roundup of the health news headlines on Wednesday 1 September.

To the Independent first, which reports on the outcome of the GMC disciplinary hearing of Dr Freddy Patel, which ruled that the pathologist who carried out the first autopsy on Ian Tomlinson, the newspaper seller who died at last year's G20 protest, acted in a way that amounted to misconduct in two earlier post-mortem examinations.

Trust the Daily Mail to bring us the unsettling news that men who suffer insomnia may end up dying younger, according to scientists.

Also in the Mail, we read that more than 1,500 men and women are admitted to hospital every day because of alcohol – up 65% in only five years.

And it must be public health awareness day at the Mail, which also reports that obesity is avoidable. Apparently, the fat gene can be beaten… in the gym. Who knew?

And finally, here's a great And Finally story, with the Guardian reporting that a Norfolk hospital has organised 'adapting to life in Norfolk' sessions for Portuguese staff unaccustomed to the ‘everyday expressions' of the locals. DD suspects they'll need more than a couple of sessions…

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

Daily digest