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Lung cancer diagnoses in UK women set to overtake men for first time
The number of women diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK is expected to overtake men this year for the first time, with 27,332 and 27,172 cases respectively.
Cancer experts said the “very stark” figures reflected historical differences in smoking prevalence, specifically that smoking rates peaked much earlier in men than women.
Ministers must do more to help smokers to quit, says Alizée Froguel, Cancer Research’s prevention policy manager. Smoking is by far the biggest cause of the disease. But funding cuts have meant that there aren’t enough public health campaigns to encourage people to quit smoking, and many people don’t have access to the services that will support them to do so.
Women are regularly reminded of the importance of checking for lumps in their breasts and attending mammogram appointments. We now need them to be just as vigilant about potential lung cancer symptoms and going for lung screening, if invited says Paula Chadwick, the chief executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
There are many different symptoms of lung cancer. People are likely aware that a persistent cough is a sign of lung cancer, as well as with shortness of breath, repeat chest infections, coughing up blood, extreme tiredness or unexplained weight loss. However, very few know that back or shoulder pain, a lump in your neck or clubbed fingers can also be indicators of the disease.
Last month it was announced that everyone who has ever smoked in England is to be offered lung screening in middle age under plans to detect and treat cancer earlier. About a million screenings of people aged 55 to 74 will be carried out every year.
Source: The Guardian, 5 July 2023
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Review to tackle ‘growing epidemic’ of vaping
The British Medical Association (BMA) will review the potential dangers of vaping in a bid to tackle the “growing epidemic” of e-cigarette usage.
At its annual representative meeting in Liverpool on Wednesday, the BMA was urged to explore the dangers of vaping, as well as calling for plain packaging on e-cigarettes in line with tobacco and cigarettes.
Dr Naabil Khan told delegates: “We have a role and a duty to protect our populations. This can only be achieved through strong and sustainable additions to policy which ensure we address the growing epidemic.”
Dr Penelope Toff, chair of the BMA Public Health Medicine Committee, said: “The area of most concern is that, with their bright colours and packaging, stylised designs, sweetshop-inspired flavours and relatively inexpensive price, these products are clearly being made to appeal to children and young people.”
“Action must be taken to stop these products being accessed by children''
Source: The Independent, 5 July 2023
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Matthew Taylor: The NHS needs a new social contract
Writing in the times, Mathew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, states that it’s with good reason that the NHS consistently ranks as one of the most trusted and loved institutions in the UK.
As we prepare to mark this historic occasion, we will celebrate many of the NHS’ notable achievements, but the public are not blind to the challenges that the NHS faces and what it needs to survive and thrive for another 75 years.
The public also see a lack of staffing as one of the major barriers holding the NHS back. The recent publication of the long-awaited NHS workforce plan in England offers hope that we will finally get the staff we need. This will come through a combination of better retention and increasing supply side reforms, notably through increasing medical and nursing school places and ramping up degree apprenticeships.
Yet, it’s not just about the money, it’s also about changing the way we deliver healthcare. At the heart of this, must be a drive to proportionately shift resources out of acute hospitals and upstream into community-based services, primary care and prevention.
Resolving the fundamental question of how we fund our social care system for an ageing population is equally crucial. If we fail to sort this, then the workforce plan is going to have less impact. It’s one of the reasons why we have written to the prime minister calling for an equivalent workforce plan for social care.
All of this needs to be backed up by a cross-government strategy for our national health, not just policies for the NHS. This is vital given that most policy that impacts the health of the nation — from gambling and food regulation to housing and air quality — is made outside the NHS.
Finally, we need a new social contract with the public, one in which we offer more and expect more. The 75th anniversary is an opportunity for a national conversation about a more ambitious relationship between NHS and patients. Our own recent research shows the potential of technology in empowering patients to better manage and monitor their own health. At its heart it must be based on an ambitious and honest partnership between the NHS and those it serves.
Source: The Times, 6 July 2023
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Written Questions
Asked by Rachael Maskell, Labour, York Central
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to ban the use of vaping devices in vehicles that contain children.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to ban vaping in all public indoor spaces
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to ban all vape advertising
Answered by Neil O'Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
‘’The Government recently ran a call for evidence on youth vaping that explored a range of themes including building regulatory compliance, the appearance and characteristics of vapes, their marketing and promotion, the role of social media, the environmental impact of vapes and the vape market. The call for evidence closed on 6 June. We are now carefully examining the responses to identify opportunities to reduce youth vaping and we will explore issues such as vape advertising, plain packaging and colours, vaping in public places and the use of vapes in vehicles with children. We will publish our response in early Autumn which will outline our next steps’’
Source: Hansard, 4 July 2023
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Parliamentary Questions
Asked by Lord Storey, Liberal Democrat, Life peer
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increasing number of children and young people vaping
Asked by Lord Storey, Liberal Democrat, Life peer
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to banning the sale of flavoured vapes which may be attractive to children and young people
Answered by Lord Markham, Conservative
The Government assessment is that youth vaping has increased. Over the past decade, the use of vapes by children has been consistently low. However, data collected in NHS Digital’s Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England survey showed that in 2021 9% of 11 to 15 year old children currently used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018.
It is illegal to sell nicotine vapes to children and we are concerned about the recent rises in youth vaping, particularly because of the unknown long-term harms. To address this the government announced in April a call for evidence on youth vaping and £3 million of additional funding through the creation of an illicit vapes enforcement squad to tackle underage sales.
Our youth vaping call for evidence closed on the 6 June. This call explored a range of issues and asked questions related to the appeal of vapes to children. We are analysing responses and the evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products. This will include an assessment of the appeal of flavours. We will publish the response early this autumn to outline our next steps.
Source: Hansard, 5 July 2023
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