New world-first blood test to transform cancer treatment
The liquid biopsy detects tumour DNA mutations from a blood sample, allowing for faster access to therapies tailored to the genetic profile of the disease; a pilot scheme showed treatment decisions were made 16 days faster compared to tissue biopsies.
The NHS will also use the test for breast cancer patients to check for a wider range of genetic variants, potentially benefiting 5,000 women a year, and is exploring its use for other cancers like pancreatic and gallbladder cancer.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, hailed liquid biopsies as ushering in a new era of personalised cancer care, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new testing will "give thousands of people peace of mind".
Rebeca Proctor, a stage 4 lung cancer patient, benefited from the liquid biopsy by receiving targeted treatment (brigatinib) after it revealed an ALK genetic mutation, giving her "her life back".
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The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
If doctors think Brits will support their latest strike here's why they're mistaken – people are not stupid
WHAT on Earth was Labour expecting? Coming to power last year, it awarded junior doctors a 22 per cent pay rise. 3 3 And simultaneously abolished legislation brought in by the Conservatives to make it harder for public sector unions to hold the country to ransom. Twelve months later and the British Medical Association has come back for more. This time it is demanding an even bigger, 29 per cent rise for junior doctors (who now like to be called "resident doctors" to disguise the fact they are still in training). The union has announced a five-day strike if it doesn't get what it wants. Health Secretary Wes Streeting seems to be taken aback, along with the rest of the Government, but he shouldn't be. It was obvious that by caving into the BMA last year, he would embolden it. Under the new rules, the BMA does not need a majority of its members to vote in favour of strike action, and neither does it have to worry about the now-repealed law brought in by the Conservatives which guaranteed minimum service levels on strike days. Something, however, has changed since last year to thwart the BMA's ambitions. It has suffered a collapse in public support. Prior to last year's pay award, a majority of the public appeared to support junior doctors' strikes. Junior Doctors Announce Five-Day Strike in July Amid Ongoing Pay Dispute Now, according to a YouGov poll, only 33 per cent support strike action, and 49 per cent oppose it. The BMA seems to think that doctors hold such an esteemed position in the minds of the UK public that it can get away with anything. Perhaps it remembers all the clapping on the doorsteps during the Covid pandemic and thinks that people will forever after react in the same way, even when they are having appointments and operations cancelled due to a five-day strike. But it is sadly mistaken. We all, rightly, applaud doctors for what they do, especially when they go out of their way to help us. But there are limits. Last year's pay rise for junior doctors was way above that offered to any other group of workers. So, too, is the 5.4 per cent rise which junior doctors have been awarded this year. To come back and ask for an even bigger rise, and expect the public to nod in support, shows a detachment from reality. People are not stupid. They can see the Government is deep in debt, and that Britain is heading for fiscal disaster if the Government continues to spend more than it earns in revenue. They can see, too, that the BMA's claim junior doctors need a 29 per cent rise to restore their earnings to 2008 levels is spurious to say the least. It is based on calculations using the Retail Prices Index, a long-discredited measure of inflation which tends to run well ahead of the official index now used for almost everything, the Consumer Prices Index. There are plenty of workers whose pay has fallen back in real terms over the past decade and a half, and for good reason. 3 Britain has been struggling to achieve any meaningful economic growth. Productivity is static, and in the public services has fallen lower than it was in 1997 when Tony Blair came to power. The Government had an opportunity to link last year's pay award to improved working practices, with the aim of improving lamentable NHS productivity, but chose not to do so. The public can also see doctors have a generous pension scheme, with taxpayers contributing an extra 23.7 per cent of doctors' pay in the form of pension contributions. When doctors retire, they will enjoy guaranteed, index-linked payouts. Few, if any, private sector workers enjoy pensions which are anything like as generous. Index-linked payouts Streeting has at least acknowledged the generosity of doctors' pensions, suggesting he might be prepared to offer pay rises in return for lower pension entitlements. As for the claim junior doctors were being paid less per hour than baristas in high street coffee shops, even the BMA has given up on that propaganda. Actually, with overtime payments, some of the junior doctors going on strike could be earning in excess of £100,000 a year. It is important to remember, however, that not all junior, or 'resident', doctors support these strikes. Only 55 per cent of BMA members actually voted in the ballot. Moreover, not all junior doctors are members of the BMA. Of the 77,000 working in the NHS the BMA claims 48,000. Many doctors have been horrified by the prospect of more strikes, with Lord Darzi and Lord Winston both condemning them in recent days. It even led to Lord Winston's resignation from the BMA. Doctors are being badly served by the BMA, which is really just a trade union like any other. Many may at present be pleased with last year's pay award, but the BMA is taking them down a blind alley of militant unionism which is unlikely to end well. What has always marked out the medical profession is very high levels of public support.
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why zero-hours contracts could be here to stay in new blow to workers' rights
A proposed crack down on zero-hour contracts in the workplace have suffered a setback today. Flagship plans by the Government to halt zero-hour contracts in the workplace have been scuppered by peers in the House of Lords. The House of Lords backed by 264 to 158, majority 106, a move to change the legal requirement for an employer to offer guaranteed hours to an employee's right to request the arrangement. Peers went on to inflict a further blow on the Labour front bench in supporting by 267 votes to 153, majority 114, a measure to exempt employers from having to make a payment to a worker if a shift was cancelled with at least 48 hours' notice. The defeats came as the Employment Rights Bill, which has already been through the Commons, continued its passage through the upper chamber. The changes made by peers to the draft law paves the way for a parliamentary tussle, known as 'ping-pong', where the legislation is batted between the two Houses until agreement is reached. The proposed workers' rights reforms also introduce new restrictions on 'fire-and-rehire' processes when employees are let go and then re-employed on new contracts with worse pay or conditions. In addition, the Bill strengthens trade unions and gives workers certain 'day one' rights, such as sick pay, paternity leave and the right to request flexible working. Proposing his alternative to the proposed zero-hours provision, Liberal Democrat Lord Goddard of Stockport acknowledged the need to tackle the 'exploitative' use of the practice that left workers in 'precarious employment circumstances'. But he added: 'That said, our amendment reflects that shared objective, while offering a more practical and balanced view. 'The amendment changes legislation from an obligation to offer guaranteed hours to a right to request them. 'Furthermore, it maintains that when a such request is made, the employer must grant it.' He added: 'Our amendment seeks a fair balance, protecting workers from exploitation while preserving the flexibility which is crucial for many industries to function.' But opposing the move, Labour peer Baroness Carberry of Muswell Hill, a former assistant general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, warned: 'I very much fear that it undermines the purpose of the Bill, which is trying to deal with the problem of zero-hours contracts.' She said: 'What the amendment doesn't take account of is the imbalance of power in workplaces and the characteristics of employees who are working on zero-hours contracts.' Arguing those on zero-hours contracts were 'the least empowered workers', Lady Carberry added: 'So the right to request guaranteed hours in those circumstances is not a real right at all. 'And then how many of those workers, vulnerable as they are, might come under pressure not to press for guaranteed hours 'This formulation of the amendment leaves open the path to some of those worst employers to make sure that they don't end up offering guaranteed hours to workers on zero-hours contracts.' However, Tory shadow business minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom said: 'It makes no sense to require employers to offer guaranteed hours to employees who don't want them. 'The Government appears to misunderstand or simply disregard the autonomy of the individual worker. 'Imposing this administrative burden, especially on small employers, to calculate and offer guaranteed hours where they are neither wanted nor needed, is an unnecessary and unavoidable cost. 'We therefore strongly support the right to request amendment proposed by Lord Goddard which better respects worker choice and employer flexibility.' Responding, business minister Baroness Jones of Whitchurch said: 'We believe the duty to make a guaranteed offer should lie with the employer. 'This is the best way to ensure that all qualifying workers benefit from the right guaranteed hours when they want them. 'If a worker on an exploitative zero-hours contract had to request the guaranteed outcome, they may feel less able to assert their right to those guaranteed hours, and they would lose out as a result. 'It's quite right to highlight the imbalance of power in the workforce for these individuals, and this is particularly true when workers take up a new job.' She added: 'A right to request model could create undesirable barriers, making it especially difficult for vulnerable workers on exploitative zero-hours contracts to access their right to those guaranteed hours, especially as many workers are younger and often in their first job. 'As the Bill is currently drafted after receiving an offer from the employer, qualifying workers will be empowered to make a decision based on their individual circumstances. 'If a worker wants to retain their zero-hours contract, as many will, they can do so by rejecting the offer.'
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK children taken to hospital after using vapes laced with Spice
An increase in vapes contaminated with synthetic drug Spice has led to secondary school children being rushed to hospital. The lab-made drug which mimics the effects of cannabis but with much stronger consequences, can cause breathing problems, heart attacks and seizures. Other symptoms include feeling dizzy, vomiting, heart racing, sweating, anxiety, and paranoia. Police have warned of a national increase in vapes being contaminated with spice in secondary schools and in severe cases children have been taken to hospital. It comes after a study in a university-led study last year heard from headteachers who reported children collapsing and ending up in hospital. 'We've seen vomiting and behaviour changes, and we've had an incident where there were concerns that a child was having a fit. The reactions can be very, very broad,' PSCO Jon Akehurst from Wiltshire Police warned. Working with Bath University, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council, police are using a new device to test any suspected contaminated vapes to prevent any further harm to students. "I'd urge parents to have conversations with your child about the dangers and risks as well as what happens if they do use a vape which is contaminated with something,' PCSO Akehurst said. "Make it clear that if you do take these things, it has an impact on your life,' he added. Officers are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of using contaminated vapes from the health effects to the impact it can have on your life. PCOS Akehurst warned that there can be many different reactions to the lab-made drug. "You may have a substance addiction; you might need it constantly, it's going to cost you money, and you could end up in debt. There are real-life consequences for anyone taking drugs. If you are concerned about your child, there are people that can help and support you,' he said. The stark warning comes after an investigation by the University of Bath found one in six vapes confiscated from schools contained Spice. The study published in July last year saw vapes confiscated in 38 schools in England, finding more than 16 per cent contained the synthetic form of cannabis. Professor Chris Pudney, from the university's department of life sciences, conducted the tests using the device that instantly detects synthetic drugs. Professor Pudney said: "We know children can have cardiac arrests when they smoke spice, and I believe some have come quite close to death. 'Headteachers are telling me pupils are collapsing in the halls and ending up with long stays in intensive care.'
