Flu Season Changing

A study suggests that climate change is affecting the flu virus.

Although our winters are warmer due to the change in climate, scientists believe that this is simply shifting the flu season to an alternative time of year.  The study conducted by researchers at Arizona State University in the US say the season now starts earlier, lasts longer and produces a more virulent strain of the virus.  So instead of starting in winter, the virus is now opting for spring or autumn according to their mathematical link between annual climate patterns and epidemics in the US.

The university’s Mathematical, Computational and Modelling Sciences department suggests that part of the problem is that people are less likely to protect themselves in milder weather by having the flu jab and are therefore more susceptible in the weeks after winter.

Female Hair Loss

It is estimated that around six million women in Britain suffer from hair loss yet the topic remains taboo as many suffer in silence preferring to try to deal with the problem themselves.

Hair loss is generally seen as a male problem but increasing research has shown that female baldness is now becoming more common.  Although there are many reasons for hair loss in women Dr Matthew Harries, a consultant dermatologist at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, says he would check for underactive thyroid, iron deficiency and anaemia all of which could trigger thinning.  Hormonal problems, such as polycystic ovaries, can also cause hair loss.

Dr Harries went on to comment: “There are not a huge number of treatments available, and the main treatment for female hair loss isn’t prescribable on the NHS.  The problem is a lot of women who get dismissed by their GP then end up going to see non-medical people.  There are some good qualified trichologists but there are also people out there who offer treatments that cost a lot without there being much evidence of their effectiveness.”

Nursing Personnel Launches Free Android, iPhone and iPad APP

Nursing Personnel Part of Medical Professional Personnel (MPP) has today launched it’s Free Android, iPhone and iPad APP.

The application is one of the first in the healthcare recruitment sector that enables medical and nursing staff to search the latest healthcare permanent and temporary jobs in the NHS and Private sector.

Nursing Personnel’s app will allow healthcare workers to:

• View all available work nationwide (by distance from your home)
• Book/Request work
• Update Availability
• View booked work and reference numbers
• View received and processed timesheets
• Additional features will be available soon

The App is available to all registered and authorised Nursing Personnel agency workers. For further information contact Nursing Personnel on 0845 122 0414 or www.nursing-personnel.com

Family Mealtimes Reduces Child Obesity

Researchers have found that by simply spending twenty minutes at the table for a family meal can reduce the chances of a child becoming obese.

Dr Barbara Fiese, from University of Illinois, said: “Children whose families engaged with each other over a 20-minute meal four times a week weighed significantly less than kids who left the table after 15 to 17 minutes.  Over time, those extra minutes per meal add up and become really powerful.”

From a study of 200 family mealtimes, testing the cumulative effects of socioeconomic factors and mealtime behaviours of families with children in primary school, they found that families who considered shared mealtimes important were less likely to have an obese child.  It also found that families who talked and positively interacted together at mealtimes were more likely to have healthy-weight children.

Midwives Shortage

Maternity services are at a “tipping point” the Royal College of Midwives has warned.

A baby boom combined with a national shortage of midwives is putting patient safety and care into question.  The RCM has reported a 50 per cent rise in the number of births over the past few years and says more midwives are urgently needed.  A report being published by the RCM tomorrow accuses David Cameron of going back on a pre-election promise to increase the number of midwives by 3000 and says an extra 5000 are needed in England alone to deal with the highest birth rates in 40 years.

‘The State of Maternity Services’ report also reveals that more than half of NHS trusts had to close their doors an average of seven times a year and divert women to other maternity hospitals.