Health

Hundreds of patients who suffered from the malpractice of a former neurosurgeon have marched to the Scottish Parliament to demand a public inquiry into his actions. Sam Eljamel, who worked at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, is accused of performing unnecessary and harmful operations on dozens of people, leaving many with permanent disabilities and chronic pain. The march for justice The patients, who call themselves the Victims of Sam Eljamel (VOS) group, organised the march on Monday, February 19, 2024, to coincide with the first day of the new parliamentary session. They were joined by supporters, campaigners, and politicians, who urged…

Border Force seizes millions of vapes in a year The UK Border Force has intercepted more than 4.5 million illegal vapes at the border between January and October last year, according to new data released to the BBC. This is a four-fold increase from the previous year, when 988,064 vapes were seized. The illegal vapes are either counterfeit, non-compliant with safety and quality standards, or smuggled to avoid customs duties. The surge in illegal vapes poses a serious threat to public health and the environment, as they may contain harmful chemicals, higher nicotine levels, and faulty batteries. Moreover, they are…

The impact of Covid-19 on dental services The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a severe disruption to dental services in Scotland, leaving many NHS patients without access to regular or urgent care. According to a BBC investigation, four out of every five NHS dentists in Scotland are not accepting new adult patients for treatment on the health service. In nine local authorities, there are no dentists taking on adult NHS patients at all. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of NHS practices are not accepting new child patients. The pandemic has also created a huge backlog of patients who need routine or complex dental…

A baby boy from Scotland has been diagnosed with an ultra rare condition that affects less than 100 people in the world. The baby, named Louie Smith, was born 12 weeks early and suffered from frequent episodes of apnoea, a sudden stop in breathing. His parents noticed that his hands and back would go rigid during these episodes and decided to seek medical help. What is Louie’s condition? Louie’s condition is called THRA-related congenital hypothyroidism. It is a genetic disorder that affects the thyroid gland, which produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development. People with this condition have low…

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…