Health

A baby boy from Scotland has passed away after a courageous fight with a rare form of cancer. Jura Kerr-Lidell was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue tumour, when he was just four months old. His parents, Nicole and Struan, had to endure the agony of watching their son undergo gruelling chemotherapy and surgery, only to lose him on January 6, 2024. A lump in his nappy The nightmare began when Nicole noticed a lump in Jura’s nappy while changing him. She took him to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where doctors initially thought it was…

The Baby Box Scheme, which provides essential items for newborns and their parents, has been praised by families and health professionals in Scotland. The scheme, which was launched in 2017, aims to reduce inequality and improve health outcomes for babies and children. What is the Baby Box Scheme? The Baby Box Scheme is a universal initiative that offers a free box of items to every expectant parent in Scotland. The box contains around 40 items, such as clothes, blankets, books, toys, and a mattress, that can help parents care for their baby in the first few months of life. The…

A rare diagnosis Lynne McLean was only 38 years old when she was diagnosed with myeloma, a rare and incurable type of blood cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. She had been feeling unwell for months, with symptoms such as fatigue, back pain, weight loss, and frequent infections. She initially thought it was due to stress, as she was working as a nurse and caring for her two young children. But when she went to the doctor for a routine blood test, she was shocked to learn that she had cancer. Myeloma is a very aggressive…

Scotland has been recognised for its efforts to improve the quality and sustainability of its care sector by attracting and retaining migrant workers, according to a report by the UK Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Migrant workers fill the gaps in care workforce The MAC, an independent body that advises the UK government on migration issues, published its report on the impact of migration on the health and care workforce on 29 March 2023. The report found that migrant workers play a vital role in delivering health and care services across the UK, especially in areas where there are skills shortages…

A man from Dundee had to be rushed to the hospital after he tore a hole in his throat by trying to stop a sneeze. The 34-year-old man, who has not been named, felt a tickle in his nose and clamped his mouth and nose shut to stifle the sneeze. However, this caused a sudden increase in pressure in his throat, which ruptured his pharynx, the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity. A rare but serious complication The man said he felt a popping sensation in his neck and then noticed swelling and pain. He also…

Imported Mountain Dew, Swedish Fish and Jolly Ranchers contain banned additives Consumers in Scotland are being warned about the potential health risks of buying imported American snacks online or from local shops. Trading Standards officers have found that some popular products such as Mountain Dew, Swedish Fish and Jolly Ranchers contain artificial colours that are banned in the EU due to their link to cancer. The banned additives are known as azo dyes and they include Allura Red (E129), Sunset Yellow (E110), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124). These colours are widely used in the US food industry to make products more appealing, but they have been…

Scientists in Dundee have made a major discovery that could lead to new cancer treatments with fewer side effects. They have found how some cancer drugs can target specific proteins that are essential for the survival of cancer cells. The role of protein kinases in cancer Protein kinases are enzymes that regulate the activity of other proteins by adding phosphate groups to them. They are involved in many cellular processes, such as growth, division, survival, and movement. However, when protein kinases are mutated or overexpressed, they can cause cancer by driving uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to cell death. There are more…

NHS Scotland faces staff shortage crisis The NHS in Scotland is facing a staff shortage crisis, as almost 7,000 roles for doctors, nurses, midwives and other health professionals are lying empty across the country. According to the latest figures from NHS Scotland, the vacancy rate for consultants has risen by 11.7 per cent in the past year, reaching 13.9 per cent in June 2023. This means that one in seven consultant posts are unfilled, with some specialties such as psychiatry, radiology and emergency medicine having even higher gaps. The situation is also alarming for other staff groups, such as nurses and midwives,…

The NHS is facing a severe crisis in its accident and emergency (A&E) departments, with record numbers of patients waiting for more than four hours to be seen. The situation has been worsened by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has put immense pressure on the health system. However, one Scottish health board may have found a way to improve the performance of its A&E services, by implementing a new model of care that focuses on patient flow and teamwork. The problem of A&E waiting times According to the latest figures from Public Health Scotland, only 81.8% of patients who attended…

The problem of unsafe homes Thousands of Scottish homes are too risky for ambulance crews to attend alone, according to a new report by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS). The report reveals that there are more than 3,000 addresses across Scotland where paramedics need police or fire service backup before entering, due to the potential threat of violence, abuse, or hazardous substances. The report, which was obtained by The National through a Freedom of Information request, shows that the number of unsafe homes has increased by 12% since 2019, when there were 2,700 such addresses. The report also indicates that some areas…