Wednesday, 20 October 2010

douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood

PETA threaten to douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood

Tuesday Oct 19 2010

PETA has reportedly threatened to douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood as they are so incensed by her new handbag line.

The singer-turned-fashion-designer unveiled her new collection of carry cases at New York Fashion Week last month. The accessories are made from crocodile, lizard and calf leather, which has infuriated the animal rights organisation.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is renowned for staging protests about the use of animal hides in fashion, and has publicly criticised a number of celebrities, including UK Vogue editor Anna Wintour, for wearing fur. The organisation has apparently been writing to Victoria to express their upset at her line, and is now planning a daring stunt when she next visits the UK.

“PETA have been on Victoria's back for weeks, sending email after email, and even publicly Tweeting her, posting things like, 'Skins are never posh, Posh.’ But it's not as if Victoria is going to the Everglades and strangling the crocs with her bare hands,” a source told British newspaper The Daily Mirror.

“PETA know she is high profile and that whatever stunt they pull will garner mass publicity. One of the ideas being mooted is that Victoria gets covered in a bucket of animal blood - cow or lizard - at her next UK public appearance. Another rather sick suggestion was to pelt crocodile feet at her when she goes to an editors' lunch in London next month.”

The animal welfare group plan to use fake blood and feet to make their point.

Victoria is said to be taking the threats seriously, so has upped the amount of security which accompanies her.

“Everyone is entitled to personal opinion and choice, but as with all Victoria Beckham products, the handbags are made to the highest quality and design. These skins sit strictly within the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations, and are monitored at every step of production. The skins are farmed in America under very tight guidelines,” Victoria’s spokesperson said.

Cover MediaNo other country is with so many types of products from protected species such as Switzerland. The main reason for this is the watch industry. Each year it imported more than a million watch bands from species protected reptiles. Most of them are crocodiles, snakes and lizards are also used in the watch industry.

No mercy: the snakes are tortured to death. sf

Hardly known, with what cruel methods of snakes and lizards are hunted and killed. The "Observations" shows how the so-called Bindewaranen be the same after catching your legs tied tightly over his back. transported in plastic bags, they have to remain for days; until they finally reach the slaughterhouse. There they are killed in painful ways.

Importers show themselves ignorant

David Senn, professor of zoology at the University of Basel and reptiles originally researcher, has seen the "Rundschau" material: "I'm shocked. This is clearly animal cruelty. The consequence would be that no decent jeweler offering more such leather. "

Swatch responded

The watch group Swatch responded to the shocking images. The Far Eastern Group Division Procurement Services (FEPS) shall promptly investigate whether leather can be used from the Far East and possibly reviewing the sources of supply on site, announced Swatch. Such products from such dubious sources have in the company's product line have no place.

Ignorant demonstrates the President of the Swiss Watch Industry Association, Jean-Daniel Pasche. Compared with the "Rundschau" he explains, "Until now, the question of animal welfare in our institutions has not been discussed. So I can not comment. "

Snakes torturous death

Even in the fashion industry find bags, belts and shoes made of exotic leather, particularly from snake skin, big sales. Especially "in" is Python. In the last five years, 250,000 products from Python have been imported into Switzerland. The products come in large part from wild-caught animals Indonesian.

Pythons are killed with hammer blows to the head. As the "Rundschau" images show, many of the snakes after the beating continued for hours. The Pythons are filled with water so that your skin tightens and place the worker from the skins to a straight cut.

Die Schlangen werden mit Wasser aufgefüllt.

So the skin is stretched, the hitting - still alive - filled with water. sf

During the procedure of watering, individual animals move still strong. Professor Senn: "The still alive. One must assume that this is extremely painful for these animals. "

douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood

PETA threaten to douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood

Tuesday Oct 19 2010

PETA has reportedly threatened to douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood as they are so incensed by her new handbag line.
The singer-turned-fashion-designer unveiled her new collection of carry cases at New York Fashion Week last month. The accessories are made from crocodile, lizard and calf leather, which has infuriated the animal rights organisation.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is renowned for staging protests about the use of animal hides in fashion, and has publicly criticised a number of celebrities, including UK Vogue editor Anna Wintour, for wearing fur. The organisation has apparently been writing to Victoria to express their upset at her line, and is now planning a daring stunt when she next visits the UK.
“PETA have been on Victoria's back for weeks, sending email after email, and even publicly Tweeting her, posting things like, 'Skins are never posh, Posh.’ But it's not as if Victoria is going to the Everglades and strangling the crocs with her bare hands,” a source told British newspaper The Daily Mirror.
“PETA know she is high profile and that whatever stunt they pull will garner mass publicity. One of the ideas being mooted is that Victoria gets covered in a bucket of animal blood - cow or lizard - at her next UK public appearance. Another rather sick suggestion was to pelt crocodile feet at her when she goes to an editors' lunch in London next month.”
The animal welfare group plan to use fake blood and feet to make their point.
Victoria is said to be taking the threats seriously, so has upped the amount of security which accompanies her.
“Everyone is entitled to personal opinion and choice, but as with all Victoria Beckham products, the handbags are made to the highest quality and design. These skins sit strictly within the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations, and are monitored at every step of production. The skins are farmed in America under very tight guidelines,” Victoria’s spokesperson said.
Cover Media

Probiotic drinks do not aid health, watchdog says

By Harry Wallop

Wednesday October 20 2010

Probiotic drinks and yogurts, popular with millions of consumers trying to eat healthily, do not aid people's digestion, a leading European food watchdog has ruled.

Products such as Yakult, which are sold at a premium over standard yogurts, cannot be proved to either boost the immune system or aid digestive health, it has been ruled.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has examined more than 800 health claims from food companies, including those submitted by the multi-billion pound probiotic industry.

EFSA's independent panel of scientists found that the claims that these products could strengthen the body's defences, improve immune function and reduce gut problems were either so general as to be inadmissible, or could not be shown to have the claimed effect.

In a separate ruling, the panel examined a dossier of 12 studies submitted by Yakult for its own strain of probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus casei shirota. It found that all were inadequate to support the company's claim that its products maintained immune defences against the common cold.

EFSA's ruling is being challenged by the industry, but if these appeals fail the companies will no longer be allowed to market the foods as aiding digestion or helping the immune system in future.

Yakult in its most recent television advert states: "Yakult's billions of friendly bacteria help keep your gut healthy and a healthy gut helps make for better digestion and stronger natural defences."

Danone said none of its products were subject to yesterday's ruling as it had withdrawn its claims that Actimel and Activia boosted the immune system and aided digestive health. However, in its most recent advert, fronted by Martine McCutcheon, it said its yogurts were "good for your digestive health".

The company added in a statement: "EFSA has not yet completed its review of all probiotic products and Danone remains fully confident of the science backing its products."

Yakult, in a statement, said it was very disappointed with the ruling. It said: "The company wishes to discuss the evaluation process, scientific criteria and this outcome with EFSA.

"Taking into consideration the outcome of this assessment by EFSA, we will focus all our efforts on the preparation and submission of new health claim dossiers. With the benefit of further guidance, the company anticipates a positive EFSA opinion in due course."

- Harry Wallop

Paying by cash helps keep you healthy

Shoppers at supermarkets should avoid using credit or debit cards if they want to put less junk food in their baskets and more fruit and vegetables. Photo: SXC

Also in Diet & Fitness

By Harry Wallop

Wednesday October 20 2010

Paying for food in cash could help shoppers stick to a healthy diet, according to scientists.

Shoppers at supermarkets should avoid using credit or debit cards if they want to put less junk food in their baskets and more fruit and vegetables.

According to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, shoppers found it "painful" to pay for products with cash. This meant they restricted the buying of items which were not good for them.

The authors of the report, published in America, wrote: "Cash payments are psychologically more painful than card payments, and this pain of payment can curb the impulsive responses to buy unhealthy food items."

The authors conducted an analysis of actual shopping behaviour of 1,000 households over a period of six months. They found that shopping baskets had a larger proportion of food items rated as impulsive and unhealthy when shoppers used credit or debit cards rather than cash. In follow-up studies they found that people held back from putting unhealthy food in their baskets when paying in cash because of the "pain" of paying in cash, and that the effect is stronger in consumers who are more sensitive to the pain of payment.

"The notion that mode of payment can curb impulsive purchase of unhealthy food products is substantially important," the authors wrote. "The epidemic increase in obesity suggests that regulating impulsive purchases and consumption of unhealthy food products is a steep challenge for many consumers."

The study also found that those who paid by cards were also more likely to make impulse purchases, which were invariably less healthy.

The authors Manoj Thomas from Cornell University, Kalpesh Kaushik Desai, from the State University of New York, Binghamton and Satheeshkumar Seenivasan from the State University of New York, Buffalo, suggested that there may be a connection between rising obesity and the increased use of paying by plastic in America.

More than a third of American adults are classed as obese. And nearly 40pc of all purchases in 2006 were paid by credit and debit cards. The report said: "The relationship between these trends suggests that self-control is not entirely volitional; it can be facilitated or impeded by seemingly unrelated contextual factors that influence people's visceral feelings."

- Harry Wallop

Chocolate cholesterol claims spark debate

18 October 2010 Last updated at 00:56

Chocolate cholesterol claims spark debate

Bars of dark chocolate can contain more than 200 calories and 16g of fat

An ingredient of dark chocolate may help diabetics control dangerously high cholesterol levels, it is claimed.

Chocolate with high levels of cocoa solids is rich in polyphenols, which other studies suggest can reduce the risk of heart disease.

The Hull University study found cholesterol fell in a small number of diabetics given bars rich in this ingredient.

But Diabetes UK said the high fat and sugar content would outweigh benefits.

High cholesterol levels are a particular problem for many diabetes, and are linked strongly to an increased risk of heart disease.

The Hull study, published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, tested the theory that chemicals found in cocoa beans could influence this.

“Start Quote

The tiny health benefit of this compound found in cocoa-rich chocolate would be hugely outweighed by the fat and sugar content.”

End Quote Dr Iain Frame Diabetes UK

A total of 12 volunteers with the type II form of the condition were given identical chocolate bars, some enriched with polyphenols, over a 16 week period.

Those given the enriched bars experienced a small improvement in their overall cholesterol "profile", with total cholesterol falling, and levels of so-called "good" cholesterol rising.

Sensible approach

Professor Steve Atkin, who led the study, suggested that it could mean a reduction in heart risk.

He said: "Chocolate with a high cocoa content should be included in the diet of individuals with type II diabetes as part of a sensible, balanced approach to diet and lifestyle."

However, there were some concerns from researchers at Diabetes UK that the message would be interpreted as a "green light" to eat more chocolate.

They pointed out that even bars with the highest levels of cocoa solids would contain high levels of fat and sugar, and could end up doing more harm than good.

Regular bars of two of the UK's best selling varieties of dark chocolate each contain more than 200 calories and up to 16 grams of fat.

Dr Iain Frame, director of research at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said he was unconvinced by talk of health benefits.

"On no account should people take away the message from this study, conducted in only 12 people, that eating even a small amount of dark chocolate is going to help reduce their cholesterol levels.

"The tiny health benefit of this compound found in cocoa-rich chocolate would be hugely outweighed by the fat and sugar content.

"The design of the study is also somewhat unrealistic as they asked participants to eat only around half the size of a normal, dark chocolate bar every day for eight weeks.

"It would, however, be interesting to see if further research could find a way of testing whether polyphenols could be added to foods which weren't high in sugar and saturated fat such as chocolate," Dr Frame said.

Monday, 18 October 2010

Nagoya, Japan

'Ten years' to solve nature crisis, UN meeting hears

Nagoya, Japan

Delegates will consider adopting new set of targets for 2020 that aim to tackle biodiversity loss

The UN biodiversity convention meeting has opened with warnings that the ongoing loss of nature is hurting human societies as well as the natural world.

The two-week gathering aims to set new targets for conserving life on Earth.
Japan's Environment Minister Ryo Matsumoto said biodiversity loss would become irreversible unless curbed soon.

Exhibit in paper outside the convention centre in Nagoya

Much hope is being pinned on economic analyses showing the loss of species and ecosystems is costing the global economy trillions of dollars each year.
Ahmed Djoghlaf, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), described the meeting in Nagoya, Japan, as a "defining moment" in the history of mankind.

"[Buddhist scholar] Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki said 'the problem of nature is the problem of human life'. Today, unfortunately, human life is a problem for nature," he told delegates in his opening speech.

Referring to the target set at the UN World Summit in 2002, he said:
"Let's have the courage to look in the eyes of our children and admit that we have failed, individually and collectively, to fulfil the Johannesburg promise made by 110 heads of state to substantially reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010.
"Let us look in the eyes of our children and admit that we continue to lose biodiversity at an unprecedented rate, thus mortgaging their future."
Earlier this year, the UN published a major assessment - the Global Biodiversity Outlook - indicating that virtually all trends spanning the state of the natural world were heading downwards, despite conservation successes in some regions.

“Start Quote

We are about to reach a threshold beyond which biodiversity loss will become irreversible”

End Quote Ryo Matsumoto Japanese environment minister

It showed that loss and degradation of forests, coral reefs, rivers and other elements of the natural world was having an impact on living standards in some parts of the world - an obvious example being the extent to which loss of coral affects fish stocks.

In his opening speech, Mr Matsumoto suggested impacts could be much broader in future.
"All life on Earth exists thanks to the benefits from biodiversity in the forms of fertile soil, clear water and clean air," he said.
"We are now close to a 'tipping point' - that is, we are about to reach a threshold beyond which biodiversity loss will become irreversible, and may cross that threshold in the next 10 years if we do not make proactive efforts for conserving biodiversity."
Climate clouds
In recent years, climate change has dominated the agenda of environmental politics.
And Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, suggested there is a lack of understanding at political levels of why tackling biodiversity is just important.

Newly discovered katydid in Papua New Guinea (6 September 2009)

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity

"This is the only planet in this Universe that is known to have this kind of life," he said.
"This fact alone should give us food for thought, But more importantly, we are destroying the very foundations that sustain life on this planet; and yet when we meet in these intergovernmental fora, society somehow struggles to understand and appreciate what it is what we're trying to do here, and why it matters."
On the table in Nagoya is a comprehensive draft agreement that would tackle the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, as well as setting new targets for conservation.
At the heart of the idea is the belief that if governments understand the financial costs of losing nature, they can adopt new economic models that reward conservation and penalise degradation.
A UN-sponsored project called The Economics of Ecosytems and Biodiversity (TEEB) calculates the cost at $2-5 trillion per year, predominantly in poorer parts of the world.
Jane Smart, head of the species programme at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said that although the problem was huge and complex, there were some encouraging signs.
"The good news is that when we carry out conservation, it does work; we increasingly know what to do, and when we do it, it works really really well," she told BBC News.
"So we need to do a lot more conservation work, such as protected areas - particularly in the sea, in the marine realm - we need to save vast areas of ocean to protect fish stocks - not to stop eating fish, but to eat fish in a sustainable way."
Triple win
Governments first agreed back in 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit that the ongoing loss of biodiversity needed attention. The CBD was born there, alongside the UN climate convention.
It aims to preserve the diversity of life on Earth, facilitate the sustainable use of plants and animals, and allow fair and equitable exploitation of natural genetic resources.
The UN hopes that a protocol on the final element - known as access and benefit sharing (ABS) - can be secured here, 18 years after it was agreed in principle.
However, the bitter politicking that has soured the atmosphere in a number of UN environment processes - most notably at the Copenhagen climate summit - looms over the Nagoya meeting.
Some developing nations are insisting that the ABS protocol be signed off before they will agree to the establishment of an international scientific panel to assess biodiversity issues.
The Intergovernental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is due to be signed off during the current UN General Assembly session in New York.
Many experts - and Western governments - believe it is necessary if scientific evidence on the importance of biodiversity loss is to be transmitted effectively to policymakers.

Sunday, 17 October 2010

SNP to cut NHS management by 25%

16 October 2010 Last updated at 16:39

SNP to cut NHS management by 25%

Nicola Sturgeon told the conference that savings must be made

The number of senior NHS bosses in Scotland will be cut by a quarter in the next four years, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

She said the move would help fund policies such as SNP plans to abolish prescription charges by next April.

Ms Sturgeon told the SNP conference the cut was part of health department savings to free up £100m a year.

But she said frontline NHS spending would be protected, in the face of UK spending cuts.

Analysis

Brian Taylor Political editor, BBC Scotland

In her speech, Nicola Sturgeon announced - alongside that move to scrap prescription charges - that she wants to reduce senior management numbers in the NHS by twenty five per cent over the next four years.

This could be serious money: £25m a year, £100m when added to other non-clinical efficiency savings.

But, again, it's long-term, it's nebulous.

It does not get people out on the streets - or divert voters to rival parties.

Handled carefully - and it will be - the strategy is to find savings which generate cash but don't frighten the voters or inspire populist campaigns of protest.

Read Brian Taylor's blog

Addressing delegates in Perth, the deputy SNP leader also rallied party supporters, ahead of next May's Holyrood election.

Ms Sturgeon said that, with the costs of healthcare rising fast, the NHS was facing financial challenges and would have to continue to make tough efficiency savings, without compromising patient care.

She said: "Over the lifetime of the next parliament, health boards will be expected to cut the number of senior managers by 25%.

"Not because we don't value the work that managers do, but because when budgets are tight we must spend every penny that we possibly can directly on patient care.

"That saving, together with other non-clinical efficiency savings, will release more than £100m a year - money that will help to protect services, ensure the highest quality of patient care and protect the fundamental values of our NHS."

Click to play

Nicola Sturgeon announces the abolition of prescription charges in Scotland

Ms Sturgeon went on to reaffirm her government's commitment to abolishing prescription charges next April, despite huge funding pressures ahead.

Over the last few years, the charges have been gradually cut from the previous level of almost £7, and the health secretary said the sick should not have to pay for "Labour's economic mess".

Ms Sturgeon also announced that the programme to test whether young athletes are at increased risk of sudden cardiac death will be extended for a further two years, through additional funding of £150,000.

And, ahead of Chancellor George Osborne's Spending Review next Wednesday, which will determine the level of Treasury funding for the Scottish budget, Ms Sturgeon said the SNP government was making a "clear commitment" to pass on the proceeds of any rise in NHS spending south of the border.

SNP conference 2010

She said: "at a time when our revenue budget overall is facing significant cash cuts, there will be no revenue cash cuts in the budget for our NHS - instead, funding for our National Health Service will rise in line with the commitment we have given".

Turning to next year's Scottish Parliament election, Ms Sturgeon said the SNP had achieved much in its first term in office, including cutting crime to its lowest level in 32 years, putting 1,000 more police on the streets and helping 80,000 businesses through the recession by cutting or abolishing business rates.

Ms Sturgeon said SNP First Minister Alex Salmond was in "a different league" to the other parties, while launching an attack on Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray.

She said Glasgow's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in four years' time was an opportunity to "tell the world we are a proud and confident nation".

Ms Sturgeon went on: "Which makes it all the more important that, when that moment comes, we do not have a first minister who has built his career by talking Scotland down.

"Someone who is relentlessly negative. Someone who takes every opportunity to tell the world that Scotland is too small, too weak and too poor to be independent.

"The last thing - the very last thing - Scotland will need, when we have a chance to shine on the world stage, is Iain Gray as first minister."

Expressing her party's commitment to independence, Ms Sturgeon said that, just 200 days from the election, the SNP, "have what it takes to win".

"If we pull together as a country, we can and we will emerge stronger and more successful," she told delegates.

"That is our task. To unite Scotland in a common purpose. The purpose of making our country better. The purpose of making our country independent.

"Together we can and we will make Scotland better."

Severn barrage tidal energy scheme expected to be axed

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is to make an announcement on energy policy on Monday

Plans for a controversial £30bn Severn barrage tidal energy project stretching from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset to Cardiff are expected to be scrapped.

Computer generated imaged of how the Severn barrage could look

Secretary of State for Energy Chris Huhne is expected to make the announcement in Parliament on Monday.
Reports suggest the scheme is to be axed as it is not "financially viable" and that instead he will give the go-ahead to new nuclear power stations.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change could not confirm or deny it.

Supporters of the tidal project, which would link Lavernock Point near Cardiff, to Brean Down near Weston-Super-Mare, claimed it could generate 5% of Britain's electricity.

Dr Rob Kirby, an independent expert on the Severn Estuary, has worked on the project for the last 40 years.
Dr Kirby, who has worked with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the Severn barrage, said: "The government's view is that it's too big a project to approach in financial terms.
'Environmental fundamentalism'
"Raising the money in this financial climate would be too much of a challenge.
"The barrage has been killed off for the moment by environmental fundamentalism because environmentalists have always objected to the Severn barrage.
"It's quite unambiguous - the Cardiff to Weston (barrage) can only benefit the environment and those who say otherwise are not telling the truth."
Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said scrapping the barrage would be "equally disastrous" for the economy and the environment.

“Start Quote

We're messing with nature in too big a way”

End Quote Chris Witts River Severn historian

"Not only is Chris Huhne turning his back on the proposed barrage scheme that would have created hundreds of good quality green jobs for Welsh people, it appears that he decided to abandon in its entirety the idea of using the Severn estuary as a generator of electricity.

"The proposed barrage would have produced 5% of the UK's energy needs - equivalent to two nuclear power stations."
The proposals caused concern among environmental groups, including the RSPB and Friends of the Earth Cymru, concerned about the impact on wildlife in the estuary.
Chris Witts, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Gloucester City Council and a River Severn historian, said: "I'm delighted if the barrage is to be scrapped.
"We're messing with nature in too big a way. I hear stories from around the world that barrages have created problems and I wouldn't want to see problems created on the Severn.
"I'm not against getting energy from the Severn but not with a barrage on this scale."
The 10-mile (16km) barrage proposal - known as the Cardiff-Weston barrage - is one of five shortlisted schemes to harness renewable energy from the tides of the Severn Estuary, which has the second-largest tidal range in the world with 42ft (12.8m) tides.
The barrage would harness water power using a hydro-electric dam, but would be filled by the incoming tide rather than by water flowing downstream.

Friday, 15 October 2010

Why care home drug errors happen

By Hannah Goff
BBC News health reporter

When inspectors said thousands of care home residents were being given the wrong medication - the image of a grotty, poorly run nursing home reared its stereotypical head.

How could something so simple as giving a patient their daily dose of tablets be going so wrong, so many times over?

There is concern about over-use of sedatives on elderly patients

But according to care professionals, management of residents' medication is one of the most complex areas of running a nursing home.

And unless fail-safe practices are adhered to, the results can be very damaging to both the resident and the care worker.

Adrian Webb, who runs a specialist mental health unit for elderly mentally ill people in central Manchester, says the main problem is that there are so many people in the chain.

An ordinary patient would take their GPs' prescription to the pharmacist and then, presumably, take the medication in the advised dose.

Each stage of the process there is potential for error.

Adrian Webb

In the case of a care or nursing home resident, there are so many more people inputting into the system.

The prescription might be written by a GP or consultant.

The pharmacist then has to make it up, then it will go to the staff in the home for storage and then a number of different people may be involved in the issuing the medication to patients.

Mr Webb, who is a registered nurse and oversees the distribution of drugs in the Victoria Park Nursing Home, says: "At each stage of the process there is potential for error.

"It has been known for prescriptions to come from doctors that are incorrect.

"But it's very easy for someone to type 100 instead of 10, for example."

Spotting errors

In the Victoria Park Nursing Home, which he runs with his wife, he checks every prescription that arrives from the doctor and pharmacist for errors.

And because he is a registered nurse, he has some knowledge of the kind of doses that ought to be expected and the drugs that are used.

He recalls one instance of receiving a batch of drugs which came from the pharmacist in the wrong dose.

The only way he knew it was incorrect was because he happened to know the higher dose pills were a different colour.

Here, it was his nursing experience which allowed him to spot the error.

But in a care home, where the administering of medicine is not carried out by a nurse, it is questionable whether a mistake such as that would have been noticed.

'Do not disturb'

"If you have not trained as a nurse are you really going to have the confidence to challenge the doctor or pharmacist about his prescription?," asks Mr Webb.

He also says the fact that a nurse could potentially lose his or her job over a medication error tends to focus the mind.

But Laura, a care assistant in the North West, who has worked in three homes for the elderly and one for people with learning disabilities over the past four years, says medication issues are taken extremely seriously indeed.

She said she spent the majority of her breaks drinking her coffee in front of a poster detailing what to do if a drug error occurs.

There are sheets for everybody coming into the home whether they are there for long or short term care and careful records of what medication is distributed, she says.

"The team leader is responsible for handing out the medication.

"There's a sign on the trolleys saying do not disturb while giving out medication and they are not disturbed," she said.

It's using the so-called chemical cosh instead of more skilled techniques to look after someone

Clive Evers
Alzheimer's Society

As in Mr Webb's nursing home, Miss Bates says the person giving out medication is focussed on that job and is not allowed to run off and answer a phone, for example.

But director of information at the Alzheimer's Society, Clive Evers argues the high turnover of staff and their limited training can been the odds are stacked against good practice.

"The workforce is very under-resourced and under-recognised. There is very limited training of staff.

"This is a workforce that would not be allowed to operate with children but they are allowed to work with adults in this way."

With up to 70% of people in care homes suffering from some form dementia, one might expect staff to have training in how to deal with their symptoms.

Care staff say drugs are closely monitored

But guidelines have only recently been adopted by the watchdog, the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

One of the other key worries in care homes is the over-use of anti-psychotic drugs and sedatives.

Over-medication is something that Mr Webb fights against in his nursing home for elderly patients with challenging behaviour.

Patients can take months to get over the heavy sedatives they are given during a visit to hospital, he says.

Good working relationships with GPs and consultants however allows his staff a certain level of control over what the patient is given.

"We give the minimum amount that is needed and it is reviewed regularly.

"We favour as little medication as possible to allow people to be themselves. The more medication people are on - the more problems they have."

But according to Mr Evers, not all homes have even this limited control over what their residents are prescribed.

"Neuroleptics (drugs) are used to limit behaviour that the care workers are not trained to deal with.

"It's using the so-called chemical cosh instead of more skilled techniques to look after someone. And unfortunately we know that this is still happening."

Thursday, 14 October 2010

Public 'misled' by drug trial claims

13 October 2010 Last updated at 08:31

Public 'misled' by drug trial claims

By Michelle Roberts Health reporter, BBC News

Drugs need to undergo extensive testing in trials before approval

Doctors and patients are being misled about the effectiveness of some drugs because negative trial results are not published, experts have warned.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, they say that pharmaceutical companies should be forced to publish all data, not just positive findings.

The German team give the example of the antidepressant reboxetine, saying publications have failed to show the drug in a true light.

Pfizer maintains its drug is effective.

Reboxetine (Edronax), made by Pfizer, is used in many European countries, including the UK.

But its rejection by US drug regulators raised doubts about its effectiveness, and led some to hunt for missing data.

This is not the first time a large drug company has come under fire about its published drug trial data.

Trial information

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was criticised for failing to raise the alarm on the risk of suicidal behaviour associated with its antidepressant Seroxat.

GSK rejected claims that it improperly withheld drug trial information.

“Start Quote

Our findings underline the urgent need for mandatory publication of trial data”

End Quote The research authors

But GSK has also been forced to defend itself over allegations about hiding negative data regarding another of its drugs, Avandia, which is used to treat diabetes.

Now researchers from The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care say there is unpublished trial data for Pfizer's antidepressant reboxetine that should be made public because it could change views about the drug.

Dr Beate Wieseler and colleagues carried out their own assessment of reboxetine, looking at the results of 13 trials, including eight previously unpublished trials from the manufacturer Pfizer.

They found the drug was no better than a placebo in terms of remission and response rates. And its benefit was inferior when compared with other similar antidepressants.

Furthermore, a higher rate of patients had side effects with reboxetine than with placebo. And more stopped taking the drug because of side effects compared with those taking a placebo or a different antidepressant.

Biased picture

The researchers said there has been a publication bias and this had overestimated the benefit of reboxetine and underestimated potential harm. And, they said, it was a widespread problem that applied to many of the drugs in use today.

"Our findings underline the urgent need for mandatory publication of trial data," they say in the BMJ.

They warn that the lack of all information means policy makers are unable to make informed decisions.

In the US, it is already a requirement that all data - both positive and negative - is published. The UK is also striving to achieve this.

The UK's regulator, the MHRA, said: "There is a European initiative to provide public access to the results of clinical trials. The currently planned timeline is that this information could become available in late 2011/early 2012."

A spokeswoman for Pfizer said: "In the UK, Pfizer's reboxetine is licensed for the acute treatment of depressive illness/major depression and for maintaining the clinical improvement in patients initially responding to treatment.

"This medicine presents an effective treatment option to clinicians for the use in patients suffering from these conditions.

"Pfizer discloses the results of its clinical trials to regulatory authorities all around the world. These regulatory authorities carefully balance the risks and benefits of each medication, and reflect all important safety and efficacy information in the approved product labelling.

"Pfizer will review the meta-analysis relating to reboxetine published in the British Medical Journal on 13th October 2010 in detail and will provide further comment after completing the review."

Others lay at least some of the blame with the medical journals that publish drug trial data.

In response, the BMJ has promised to devote an entire issue to the topic next year.

BMJ Editors Dr Fiona Godlee and Dr Elizabeth Loder said: "It is time to demonstrate a shared commitment to set the record straight."

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Salt and fat content 'too high' in child hospital meals

Salt and saturated fat levels in food should be kept low to guard against the risk of diseases, campaigners say

There is too much salt and fat in the food served to children in hospital, a survey suggests.

Research from Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) found 85 of the 189 child hospital meals tested would be too unhealthy to be served in schools.

The meals exceeded salt and fat limits for school lunches introduced in 2008.

Campaigners want ministers to bring in nutritional guidelines for hospital food. The Department of Health said it was concerned about the findings.

The research also found that one in three of all 451 meals surveyed would be classified as "red" for saturated fat or salt, according to the Food Standards Agency's traffic light labelling scheme.

A chicken tikka masala and rice served in a hospital, for example, was found to contain 14 times more salt (2.2g) and 8.5 times more saturated fat (6g) than a chicken and vegetable balti with rice, served in a school.

“Start Quote

When such great progress has been made on what pupils are eating in school it is shocking that children in hospitals are being ignored”

End Quote Professor Graham McGregor Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine

A hospital lasagne contained nearly six times more salt than a lasagne served in schools - 3.2g compared with 0.57g.

The survey found that pizza in hospital contained nearly double the amount of salt of a school version (2.43g compared with 1.35g per portion).

A sticky toffee sponge pudding with butterscotch was also 6 times higher in saturated fat than a similar pudding served in a school (19g compared with 3g per portion).

Diet-related diseases

The findings came from a survey carried out by Cash and campaign group Sustain, which looked at the nutritional content of meals which were provided by leading hospital food suppliers across the UK.

They then compared them with the nutritional standards set out for schools - which set out limits for particular meals.

Professor Graham McGregor, from the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine and chairman of Cash, said: "With everything we know about the risk of children developing high blood pressure and diet-related diseases such as obesity, it is vital to keep their consumption of salt and saturated fat as low as possible, while still being appetising."

Diet guidelines

No more than 6g salt a day
Men - no more than 30g saturated fat a day
Women - no more than 20g saturated fat a day

Source: NHS

"When such great progress has been made on what pupils are eating in school it is shocking that children in hospitals are being ignored."

The government introduced mandatory school nutritional guidelines in 2008 to try to make sure that children were given the right mix of energy and nutrients in their school lunches.

A survey by the School Food Trust this year shows that 41% of primary school pupils now eat school lunches, an increase of 2.1% on 2008-09.

MP Joan Walley believes there should be legal nutritional standards for food served in all public sector institutions, like hospitals, care homes, universities and in the armed forces - not just schools.

She said: "It is really important that children are served food in hospital which they like, but we must also make sure that it is nourishing and healthy for them to eat."

She has introduced a bill to Parliament and says the onus is now on the government to accept it.

A Department of Health spokesman said they were concerned about the survey's findings.

"We recognise the importance of good quality food for patients of all ages, both in terms of improving their health and in relation to their overall experience of services.

"Tools are available to support caterers in assessing the nutritional content of meals."

Saturday, 9 October 2010

NHS errors mean 57 patients had ops on wrong body part

8 October 2010 Last updated at 18:15

NHS errors mean 57 patients had ops on wrong body part

That was the right patient wasn't it?

Fifty-seven patients underwent operations on the wrong part of their body last year due to NHS errors, figures show.

The National Patient Safety Agency says these were some of the 111 so-called "never events" in 2009-2010.

These are very serious, preventable patient safety incidents which the government says should not occur.

The Department of Health has added 14 other kinds of incidents to the official list, taking it to 22.

The list includes medical instruments and swabs left in the body after surgery, the wrong route of administration of chemotherapy, death or injury resulting from the transfusion of the wrong blood type and death by falls from unrestricted windows in places such as mental health hospitals.

Hospitals can have funding withheld if a never event occurs.

Wrong-site surgery refers to an operation on the wrong limb or organ (for example wrong knee, wrong eye, wrong kidney) or on the wrong person.

“Start Quote

No one wants these to happen, therefore we will not pay hospitals when these events occur. ”

End Quote Professor Sir Bruce Keogh NHS Medical Director

After wrong-site surgery, the second highest number of never events (41) related to misplaced feeding tubes in adults and children.

This puts patients at risk of being fed directly into the respiratory tract.

'Unsafe care'

Data on never events from previous years was collected differently and cannot be compared, according to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).

Health minister Simon Burns said that unsafe care must not be tolerated.

"We are committed to extending the system of 'never events'. We will introduce clear disincentives through non-payments, just as there will be clear incentives for quality.

"Across the NHS there must be a culture of patient safety above all else. These measures will help to protect patients and give commissioners the powers to take action if unacceptable mistakes happen."

NHS Medical Director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, agreed: "Never events by their very name should never occur in a modern NHS.

"The proposed list includes avoidable incidents with serious adverse consequences for patients. No one wants these to happen, therefore we will not pay hospitals when these events occur.

"This will send a strong signal to leaders of the organisation to learn from their mistakes so they don't happen again," he said.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

PETA threaten to douse Victoria Beckham in lizard blood

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Probiotic drinks do not aid health, watchdog says

Paying by cash helps keep you healthy

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Chocolate cholesterol claims spark debate

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Monday, 18 October 2010

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Sunday, 17 October 2010

SNP to cut NHS management by 25%

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Friday, 15 October 2010

Why care home drug errors happen

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Public 'misled' by drug trial claims

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Sunday, 10 October 2010

Salt and fat content 'too high' in child hospital meals

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Diet guidelines

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Saturday, 9 October 2010

NHS errors mean 57 patients had ops on wrong body part

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