By Gareth Iacobucci
Our roundup of news headlines on Thursday 11 February 2010
The Daily Telegraph picks up on Pulse's exclusive investigation showing that the NHS is driving down the amount they pay for out-of-hours GP services despite widespread criticisms of the system.
The Times covers the findings of a major review of health inequalities, which has concluded that people living in the poorest areas of England will suffer about 17 more years of ill health and disability on average than those in wealthier areas.
Political skullduggery is on the agenda this morning, with the Times reporting that secret cross-party talks between Andy Burnham, Andrew Lansley and Norman Lamb over long-term care for the elderly broke down after the Conservatives just couldn't resist the urge to release a poster attacking Labour's ‘death tax' proposals.
There is widespread (if you'll pardon the expression) coverage of the so-called ‘obesity epidemic' this morning, with The Daily Mail focussing on the angle that the numbers admitted to hospital for being grossly obese have increased by almost 60 per cent in a year and eightfold in a decade.
The Mail also bring us a good old fashioned scare story this morning, by reporting that drugs used to combat anxiety like valium are addictive in the same way as heroin.
The BBC report that the National Pandemic Flu Service, set up to dispense drugs to patients in England without the need to see doctors, has closed down.
The Beeb also picks up on the results of a civil service survey, which shows that one in eight Department of Health staff have experienced bullying or harassment at work. Rumours that regular calls from the Pulse newsdesk have contributed to this figure are completely unfounded.
Spotted a story we've missed? Let us know and we'll update the digest throughout the day...
Daily Digest
