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Who will be in Rishi Sunak’s cabinet? [The Times Predictions]
Health Secretary:
The Times argues, Sunak will want a safe pair of hands, but will also want a reformer who in the longer term is prepared to tackle some of the systemic problems facing the health service. The Times proposes Michael Gove, Steve Barclay, and Robert Jenrick are the most likely candidates.
Levelling-up secretary:
The Times argues Sunak may decide to keep current Levelling-up Secretary, Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, in the post to rebuild trust among the red wall seats that are key to winning the next election.
Source: The Times, 24 October 2022
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How will Rishi Sunak tackle the crisis in the NHS and what are his health policies?
How will Rishi Sunak tackle the crisis in the NHS and what are his health policies?
The Evening Standard reports the policy proposals put forward by Rishi Sunak to address the challenges in the NHS:
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Backlogs: Mr Sunak has said the NHS backlog is the “biggest public service emergency” facing the UK and has vowed to make it his “number one public service priority”. There are currently over eight million Britons waiting for routine hospital treatment. To help combat delays, Mr Sunak has pledged to create a “backlogs taskforce” which he claims will help to “triage and treat patients” more quickly.
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Missing appointment fines: Mr Sunak’s main health policy during the last leadership election was bringing in a £10 penalty for missing appointments as part of efforts to tackle the backlog. But health leaders are sceptical over whether the policy would work. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the “cost of administrating” the policy would be “as much as anything you raise by it”.
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Surgical hubs: Mr Sunak has vowed to roll out private-sector style “surgical hubs” across the country to help the NHS tackle the backlog.
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Diagnostic centres: Mr Sunak has pledged to expand the Community Diagnostics Centre (CDCs) network by 200 locations. CDCs offer blood tests, CT and MRI scans among other diagnostic services in locations such as shopping malls and city centres. Ministers claim they will speed up the diagnostic process by offering testing closer to home and eliminating unnecessary hospital trips. About £2.3 billion of the funding was earmarked for diagnostic services, but it is uncertain whether Mr Sunak will revive the proposals in No10.
Source: Evening Standard, 24 October 2022
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US: Juul discusses possible bailout with two of its biggest investors
Juul Labs Inc is in talks with two of its investors about a bailout that could help it avoid a bankruptcy filing, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Hyatt Hotels heir Nick Pritzker and California investor Riaz Valani are considering putting up money to cover the e-cigarette maker's operations and near-term legal liabilities, the report said. The bailout would help Juul stay in business and pursue the resolution of a dispute with federal regulators over whether its products can remain on the US market, according to the report.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June banned the sale of Juul's e-cigarettes.
Source: Reuters, 25 October 2022
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Study: Smoking tied to earlier death in dialysis patients
Current and former smokers face worse outcomes while undergoing dialysis, according to a study published in the journal Nephrology.
Researchers at Kocaeli University Hospital in Turkey, and colleagues used data from 56,512 adults who began dialysis (more than three months) between 1990 and 2016. Patient demographics, initial dialysis modality, presence of comorbidities, and smoking history were predictors. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.
The researchers found that former and current smokers had a higher risk for all-cause mortality, as well as a higher risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. Similarly, smoking was associated with higher mortality from respiratory failure among current and former smokers.
"This study underlines the negative impact of smoking in [the] dialysis population. Evidence that smokers have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancers while on dialysis as compared to never-smokers was added to the literature," the authors write.
"New guidelines and preventive measures should be designed according to different age groups."
Source: Medical Xpress, 24 October 2022
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Parliamentary questions
PQ1: Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco - EU Law
Asked by Martyn Day, SNP, Linlithgow and East Falkirk
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, whether EU-derived regulations which restrict the marketing and distribution of tobacco and vaping products will be transferred into UK law and not lapse on 31 December 2023.
Answered by Dr Caroline Johnson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DHSC
The Government is currently reviewing how the powers provided by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill can be used, including which retained law should be repealed, reformed or preserved. Any such reforms to tobacco control will not reduce the United Kingdom’s current standards. Maintaining patient safety and public health will remain paramount and the Government continues to work with a range of organisations and stakeholders.
Source: Hansard, 20 October 2022
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