Blog

This week is the second Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week lead by Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK. The aim of the awareness week is to encourage all mums and mums-to-be who are struggling with their emotions to speak out and get support rather than suffer in silence.

On 9 February 2018, the European Medicines Agency published its recommendation that sodium valproate should not be used in pregnancy unless the woman has a form of epilepsy that is unresponsive to other anti-epileptic drugs.

When shoulder dystocia occurs during birth it can be a medical emergency, but there are various recognised and effective techniques that are used to safely release the shoulder thereby avoiding any injury to the baby. The most common, and serious, of which is Erb’s palsy.

On 26 March 2018, Southern Health NHS Trust was fined £2 million over the death of two vulnerable patients in its care, which the Trust admitted were “both preventable and should not have occurred”. We take a look at the history to the case as well as the regulatory investigations that led to a prosecution of the NHS Trust in the criminal court and a significant fine being imposed.

A significant increase in the number of deaths in England and Wales this January and February have rung alarm bells amongst health experts who believe the NHS is struggling to cope.

Is the Government doing enough to establish the cause of the increase, putting in place the changes and resources necessary to stop the trend, and ensuring those who are sick get appropriate and timely treatment?

Judith leach considers the Headway Brain injury identification card introduced last year to assist those following a head injury where their actions and behaviours can cause them to be mistakenly considered drunk and disorderly.

Lucy Crawford takes a look at the latest CQC survey on UK maternity services, published last week, and reviews whether it is showing any real progress on patient safety.

All professionals can be (and often are) sued if they are negligent. But there seems to be a special sympathy for medical professionals who are facing a negligence claim.

With recent research showing that up to 237 million drug errors may be being made every year, should the government be doing more about the harm that is being caused?

Researchers at Edinburgh University have been using blood tests and CT scans to identify what factors increase the likelihood of individuals suffering a further stroke again in the future, following a specific type of stroke. The study is published in Lancet Neurology and was funded by the Medical Research Council, Stroke Association and Wellcome Trust.

Rosie Hodgetts takes a look at the recent delays in the NHS, and what you can do if you have experienced one.

What are Changing Places toilets, and what difference do they make? Abigail Ringer explains.

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure often marketed or described as a ‘quick fix’ solution to weight problems. But does this make it any less risky?

Cosmetic surgery and cosmetic procedures have increased in popularity in recent years, especially among certain demographics. What does this mean for people’s mental health?

Paul Rumley reacts to the news that the NHS will begin to use AI to diagnose heart conditions this summer.

Hillsborough is now a part of the public consciousness; everyone knows the story of that tragic day in 1989. Recommendations to change the law could help ensure other families don’t have the same experience as those of the 96.

Children’s Grief Awareness Week is about raising awareness of the need of those affected by the loss of a parent or sibling and emphasising the free, professional support available. Here’s why it’s important to our team.

A recent article in the Guardian asked why people in the UK don’t have as much weight loss surgery as on the continent. I’m not sure this piece explains the full picture.

Recently we discussed how new techniques were helping with stroke rehabilitation. Here, Judith Leach explores how singing can improve speech after brain damage.

When you lose your sight as a result of negligence, it can be reassuring to know how compensation can help you adjust to a new way of life. Lucy Crawford explains the 6 ways it can go towards changing your life for the better.

The quest for the perfect smile has led to a cosmetic dentistry boom in recent years, with experts estimating that the 100 largest dental firms have increased their turnover by almost 25% in four years. Ben Lees explores the trend and helps you understand what to look out for if you are considering treatment.

There’s often a long road to rehabilitation after someone suffers a stroke, so new ways to assess and progress patients along are very welcome. Lucy Norton looks at how two occupational therapy students from the University of Essex hope to change things, following a placement at Colchester General Hospital.

Cosmetic breast surgery remains the most common surgical cosmetic procedure for women, with 7,732 operations in 2016. Ben Lees explores this popular procedure from a legal perspective.

What does World Cerebral Palsy Day stand for, and what does it hope to achieve? Abigail Ringer explains.

Ben Lees looks at what this popular procedure consists of, and what you should look out for if you are undergoing the surgery.