Latest news with #BartsHealth
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The nine acid reflux foods to avoid – and two that soothe heartburn
Acid reflux can happen to everyone from time to time. The burning feeling – also known as heartburn – is caused when stomach acid slides back up the oesophagus, where it can burn the lining of the throat and cause an unpleasant feeling in the chest and mouth. 'We're normally protected from that by a muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus called the lower oesophageal sphincter,' says Dr Sean Preston, a consultant gastroenterologist at Barts Health and London Digestive Centre. 'But if that relaxes, you get stomach acid coming back up, which causes a burning sensation.' While acid reflux is an occasional and normal occurrence for most people, more frequent bouts can lead to a diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD. So, how can you tell when your acid reflux is serious? And which foods can help soothe or worsen your heartburn? What is GERD? When to see a doctor Foods that cause acid reflux Two foods that can help How to prevent acid reflux Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD (known as GERD in the United States), is a chronic condition. It's more commonly diagnosed in people who are older, have a higher BMI, smoke, or do less physical activity at work. 'Whether you should worry about it depends on how long that acid reflux has been happening for,' explains Dr Preston. 'If it's a young, otherwise healthy patient and it's been happening a couple of times a week for a few weeks, then I'd treat them with antacids and over-the-counter remedies. If they were older and it was happening over a longer period of time, I'd wonder why it wasn't responding to those simple treatments, and have a look down there with my gastroscope.' Those suffering with a GERD stomach have a relaxed lower oesophageal sphincter, meaning the stomach acid can travel back up the oesophagus and cause heart burn. Untreated GORD can in some cases cause damage to the oesophagus, which can lead to more serious medical conditions. 'When the cells start to change in the lower oesophagus to adapt to a constantly acidic environment, that's called Barrett's Oesophagus which is a pre-cancerous condition [an issue which could become cancerous] and that's when you need to have regular gastroscopies to make sure those cellular changes don't progress,' says Dr Preston. Modern research has also linked GORD to anxiety disorder. One 2018 study speculated that anxiety may relax the lower oesophageal sphincter, cause muscle tension, and increase stomach acid production, all of which would contribute to increased acid reflux. Megan Hallet, a registered nutritionist for hormone tracking app, Hormona, says you should see a doctor: 'If it gets in the way of your day to day life. For example, it makes eating or working difficult; if you have difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing, consult your doctor as soon as possible. If there you're undergoing treatment but symptoms get worse, see your doctor, or if you have had unexplained weight loss (meaning that you haven't changed your diet or exercise).' While it is uncomfortable, acid reflux is rarely life-threatening and can be treated with antacids – medicines which neutralise the stomach acid. However, if you're prone to acid reflux, it's also worth avoiding the foods that are well known to trigger it. Bad news for anyone who enjoys a full English with plenty of bacon and sausages. Fatty acids – which are loaded into both the red meat itself and the way it is cooked – prolong the time it stays in your stomach, making it more likely to cause acid reflux than a lower fat meal. 'A fatty meal also stimulates production of a hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK) which acts directly on the lower oesophageal sphincter to relax it and allows the acid to go back into the oesophagus, so a meaty meal is a bit of a double whammy,' says Dr Preston. Full English breakfasts aside, we tend to eat these richer, fattier, meat-based meals in the evenings when we're more likely to be lounging on the sofa afterwards or getting into bed – a perfect storm for a bout of acid reflux. 'When you're lying down, you haven't got gravity helping send the stomach acid downwards, which makes it a bit more likely to rise up to your oesophagus,' explains Dr Preston. 'Avoid eating or drinking for three hours before going to bed.' As with meat, the fat content of dairy food will also keep it in the stomach longer, potentially allowing more time for the stomach acid to rise. 'Dairy also features a carbohydrate called lactose,' says Dr Preston. 'A lot of people have some intolerance to lactose, so you're not breaking down those molecules and they're not being absorbed. That results in bloating and discomfort so you'll have indigestion symptoms. That may well make you notice the acid reflux a bit more readily.' If you've ever found it difficult to walk straight after a few too many drinks, you'll know all about how alcohol affects muscle coordination. The oesophageal sphincter is one such muscle and alcohol causes it to relax in the same way, which allows the acid to rise up the oesophagus. 'One of the worst alcohol options for heartburn is champagne or other carbonated drinks,' says Dr Preston. 'The bubbles will create gas in your stomach, which forces the acid upwards. Combined with the dilation of the oesophageal sphincter, you end up with the recipe for bad acid reflux.' In much the same way as dairy products containing lactose contribute to bloating, sugar does too. 'It doesn't actively cause the acid reflux, but it does make it a lot more obvious,' says Dr Preston. 'If you add in the carbonation of some of these drinks, it can make those heartburn symptoms much more apparent.' According to Dr Preston, spicy foods are one of the more 'idiosyncratic' causes of acid reflux. 'Some people can get away with eating a lot of spicy food, while others have a tiny bit of curry and end up in a lot of trouble,' he says. In particularly spicy dishes, including things made with chilli, you'll find a chemical called capsaicin. 'In the same way as fat, capsaicin delays gastric emptying which just allows more time for the stomach acid to rise up the oesophagus,' says Dr Preston. The other issue with spicy food is that if you've already had some damage to your oesophagus from previous incidences of acid reflux, 'the direct effect of spicy or acidic food will cause irritation to the lining of the oesophagus,' adds Dr Preston. Again, this one tends to make things worse if your oesophagus is already inflamed. 'If you have non-erosive acid reflux, citrus and other acidic foods are usually tolerated, but if you have erosive acid reflux, it's pouring acid on an open wound,' explains Dr Preston. In much the same way as alcohol, caffeine has a direct effect on the oesophageal sphincter. 'When caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream, it acts on the muscle and relaxes it,' says Dr Preston. 'The muscle is like a clenched fist in its resting state to prevent acid coming back. If you were you drink a double espresso, that would relax, allowing acid to come up from the stomach into the oesophagus, so it'd be no longer acting as a tight sphincter.' You'd also be wise to avoid the hot chocolate (or any chocolate at all) as this contains a chemical called methylxanthine which will also relax that sphincter. 'Any fats will delay gastric emptying, but some affect people more than others,' says Dr Preston. 'Trans fats, which tend to be found in processed foods, might affect you, while saturated fats from dairy products don't. Some people can tolerate some fats and not others. Some patients with acid reflux can tolerate fats, some can't. There are a lot of nuances in it, but in general terms, patients with acid reflux should avoid fatty food.' While it is a popular remedy for digestive issues including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), to help relax the muscles in the stomach, peppermint may also exacerbate acid reflux. One of the ways that peppermint can help is by relaxing certain muscles, but this isn't targeted – a substance that relaxes one muscle could relax all of them, including the vital clenched sphincter that prevents acid reflux. 'In spite of the dairy content, some people may see a benefit in eating milk or yogurt if they're having acid reflux,' says Dr Preston. 'They provide a cooling buffer which will neutralise the acid coming back.' 'You can also chew a plant called slippery elm, which contains mucilage,' adds Dr Preston. 'This is a gel-like substance which helps coat and protect the oesophageal lining.' 'I see clients with so many different triggers for acid reflux,' says Hallett. 'The first suggestion I would make is to create a food diary. It might be something very specific to you. The digestive system goes all the way from your mouth to your anus, and if there's a problem with anything along the way, be it in your stomach, or the gut, things can get backed up and you end up with acid reflux.' Mindful eating is also key to banishing acid reflux, Hallett explains. 'Eat slowly, put the phone away and don't watch television while you are having meals. 'Chew every single bite and don't eat on the go. That will avoid air bubbles getting into your stomach, allowing your stomach to process things more fully so it doesn't get overinflated. Some might want to have smaller meals, more often, rather than eating large meals which lead to an overfilled stomach.' Dr Preston has one more left-field option that could help people whose evenings are being spoiled by acid reflux when they lie down – a position that makes it easier for stomach acid to rise up. 'Stick a couple of bricks under the head of the bed,' says Dr Preston. 'This allows you to use gravity as a method of taking the stomach acid down into the small intestine, rather than the oesophagus.' By Megan Hallett, a woman's health nutritionist It depends on the individuals triggers – but the type of bread and what you pair with it may have an impact too. For example, if you're triggered by white bread because of the sugars, or white bread with lots of butter or fats such as cheese, the sugar and fat may be the issue for someone. Swapping to whole grain and reducing the fat content may help. If not, forgo the bread completely and observe any change in symptoms to understand if it is a personal trigger. There aren't many evidence-based foods that neutralise stomach acid in the same way as antiacids. But there are foods that can help support digestion and coat the oesophageal lining to reduce irritation. High-fibre foods, such as bananas, apples and wholegrains, may help to move food through the system, while hydrating foods – melon, cucumber, and lettuce –may provide a cooling effect that helps to soothe. Ginger tea is also anti-inflammatory, and eases irritation in the digestive tract. Milk and dairy may be a trigger for some, for others it may provide relief and cooling. Yes, for most people, they should be fine. But if you are sensitive to dairy or fats, avoid cooking your eggs with lots of butter or cream, as these may relax the lower oesophageal sphincter which could allow acid to flow up. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Senior NHS nurse who was told to remove 'anti-Semitic fruit bowl' from video call background launches legal action
A British-Palestinian NHS nurse who says he was told to remove a background on his video calls because it could be perceived as 'anti Semitic' has launched legal action against his employer. Ahmad Baker, a senior nurse, claims hospital bosses complained about the image of a fruit bowl containing watermelons - which have been adopted as a symbol of Palestine. Barts Health NHS trust, which runs Whipps Cross hospital in north London where Mr Baker works, has banned staff from displaying symbols seen as politically or nationally affiliated. The ban was introduced in March this year and applies to uniform, workstations, laptops and iPads. However, Mr Baker and two other members of staff have argued that the measures are disproportionate and discriminatory to those with pro-Palestinian beliefs. He claims he was threatened with disciplinary action for displaying the watermelon symbols on his wallpaper as they could be seen as 'anti Semitic'. Mr Baker told The Guardian: 'As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. 'Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting. 'I've worked for the NHS for over a decade – this is not the inclusivity I thought we stood for.' Mr Baker has launched the legal action alongside other trust employees Dr Aarash Saleh, a respiratory consultant at Whipps Cross, and Dr Sara Ali, a haematology registrar. The group is arguing that the policy amounts to indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and is disproportionate to those with pro-Palestinian beliefs. They have also pointed to the fact that Barts Health NHS trust has openly supported Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The group have started a CrowdJustice page to help them raise money to fight the case. More than £16,000 has already been raised of a £50,000 target. On the page they wrote: This legal case is about how senior executives at Barts Health NHS Trust have imposed a new uniform policy to ban any visible expressions of support for Palestinians as they suffer unprecedented potentially amounting to a genocide. 'Barts Health's decision has followed direct pressure from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a pro-Israel lobby group. 'Please support us in opposing this discriminatory policy which contravenes NHS core values and basic rights of expression.' A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS trust said: 'We recognise the distress that global conflict has for our diverse workforce and continue to support their wellbeing as they serve our patients. 'However, as an NHS organisation our primary responsibility is care for patients.'
The Guardian
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS nurse ordered to remove ‘antisemitic' video of watermelon launches legal action
A senior NHS nurse who says he was ordered to remove his video with a background showing a fruit bowl containing a watermelon because it could be perceived as antisemitic has launched legal action against his employer. Ahmad Baker, who is British-Palestinian and works at Whipps Cross hospital, north London, is one of three medical staff claiming Barts Health NHS trust's ban on staff displaying symbols perceived as politically or nationally affiliated is disproportionate and discriminatory. Watermelons became symbols of Palestine amid censorship of the Palestinian flag because of its similar colours. Barts, which runs five London hospitals, introduced the ban in March in its updated uniform and dress code policy, which extends to items on workstations, laptops and iPads, even if staff are working from home and not seeing patients. The policy says it is in keeping with the trust's responsibility to be 'completely apolitical and non-biased in our care', but the claimants point to Barts' support for Ukraine. Baker said: 'As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting. 'I've worked for the NHS for over a decade – this is not the inclusivity I thought we stood for.' Baker, along with Dr Aarash Saleh, a respiratory consultant at Whipps Cross, and Dr Sara Ali, a haematology registrar who previously worked at the Royal London hospital, claim the policy amounts to indirect discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, disproportionately affecting staff who wish to express pro-Palestinian beliefs, particularly considering events in Gaza. They also say that it say it unlawfully discriminates against them because of their anti-Zionist views, which were found to be a protected belief under the Equality Act by an employment tribunal last year. Baker has also raised separate claims of direct discrimination and harassment. Ali said: 'To suggest that expressing support for the Palestinians who are facing one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in recent history is somehow threatening, after the trust had rightly expressed support for Ukraine, is not only manifestly discriminatory but is antithetical to the values of universal empathy and compassion that underpin our practice as healthcare workers.' A letter before action sent on behalf of the healthcare staff by Liana Wood from the law firm Leigh Day also argues that there was 'inappropriate consultation' with a pro-Israel advocacy group, while sidelining internal staff voices. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), having complained to the trust about pro-Palestinian symbols worn by staff, published an article on its website about the new policy eight days before it was officially implemented. Saleh said: 'It's especially troubling that UKLFI publicly announced the policy before the trust itself had communicated it to staff – this raises serious concerns about transparency and whose voices were prioritised in the process.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The medics, who are crowdfunding their legal costs on the CrowdJustice platform, are seeking the removal of key provisions of the policy, a declaration from the employment tribunal that discrimination has taken place, and compensation for injury to feelings they have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the policy. Wood said: 'Trusts must take care not to impose disproportionate restrictions on expression, especially where those restrictions appear to be targeted at a specific group or belief.' A spokesperson for Barts said: 'We recognise the distress that global conflict has for our diverse workforce and continue to support their wellbeing as they serve our patients. However, as an NHS organisation our primary responsibility is care for patients.' They said the policy aimed to 'uphold political neutrality, creating an inclusive culture at work, and a safe space for patients in their time of need'.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
London hospital buildings in unacceptable state
Looking around the dilapidated wards of Hillingdon Hospital in north-west London, Health minister Karin Smyth says she "knows people deserve better services"."I'm from Hillingdon, so I really do understand the difficulties that staff are working in here," she told BBC was the only London trust to get the go-ahead for a new hospital as part of the current New Hospital Programme. Ms Smyth said the state of hospital buildings across London was "unacceptable".London's hospitals have been given about £160m of emergency cash from an Estates Safety Fund to try to keep them running until they can be replaced, but trusts say the money is not enough to cover the repairs needed. Ms Smyth said: "We know there's been disappointment, a lot of delays, but this new government has got on with the review - we want to see this got on with now."She added: "When we came in as a new government last July, there wasn't funding for any of these schemes beyond March."We understand the disappointment in other communities - but we have sought to put this programme now on a firm financial footing for the first time. That didn't happen before." Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, is not dissimilar to DeGaris, the chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust, described it as having "really substandard facilities".It was due to be rebuilt by 2026, but following a review of the New Hospitals Programme, the work has been delayed. Now the only part to be rebuilt before 2033 is the car trust estimates the delays to rebuilding the hospital will cost £200m. At St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, walls are crumbling around government has delayed the building of a new hospital there until 2035. In the meantime, the hospital's trust has been given £25m from the government for repairs to energy systems, electrical systems, water systems, ventilation systems, fire safety works and drainage works. But this must be shared between St Mary's, Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals. The trust estimates it will spend over £100m on repairs at St Mary's Hospital alone until it is rebuilt. St Helier Hospital, in south London, was given the go-ahead for a new hospital in 2020, but that has now been delayed until 2033. The hospital, which opened in 1941, recently reported having to knock down a ward due to sinking foundations and windows falling trust that runs it, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Our ageing hospitals are deteriorating faster than we can fix them."It estimates the costs of the delays to upgrades needed to both St Helier, and Epsom hospitals will amount to an additional £150m a has been given £12m as part of the Estates Safety Fund. Last month, Ken Welch, former director of facilities, estates and supplies at St Helier Hospital, said the condition of the buildings raised serious concerns."I've seen a lot in 30 years working in the NHS, but the condition of the buildings at St Helier is among the worst," he said."I'm seriously concerned about the risk of fire, particularly with the growing use of corridor care. But most of all, I'm worried about the safety of the patients."
Times
31-05-2025
- General
- Times
The NHS has a vaccine problem: staff don't want the jab
Doctors, nurses and other frontline NHS staff are shunning the flu vaccine in ever-greater numbers, with almost nine in ten staff at one of England's largest hospital trusts unvaccinated last winter. Barts Health Trust, which has more than 18,750 staff working in six hospitals in east London, had the worst results in England, managing only 12.9 per cent, or 2,416, frontline staff getting vaccinated. This includes nurses and doctors working at the Royal London in Whitechapel, a major trauma centre treating some of the most seriously injured and sick patients in the capital. The dire take-up is symptomatic of a problem on NHS wards across England. New data shows the number of NHS staff getting the seasonal flu vaccine over winter has crashed to 37.5 per cent — its lowest level in almost 15 years. This year's drop of 5.3 percentage points is the fourth consecutive year that vaccination rates have fallen since the pandemic. The flu vaccine is essential to prevent widespread sickness in hospitals. A bad flu season can lead to tens of thousands of deaths, particularly in elderly patients and those already ill with other conditions. More than 22,500 excess deaths were linked to flu in the winter of 2017-18. An outbreak can also lead to staff shortages, cancelled operations and put patients at risk of being infected by staff who are meant to be caring for them. The rapid fall is another sign of the wider phenomenon of 'vaccine fatigue' that is being blamed for a rapid decline in vaccinations, including those designed to protect children from deadly diseases such as measles. The UK Health Security Agency said there was also complacency about the threat of some diseases and the agency was working to make sure parents were educated about the risks of not vaccinating their children. Last week, it emerged efforts to eradicate cervical cancer in England by 2040 were at risk of being derailed because of a crash of 17 percentage points in children getting vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV. 'The number of NHS staff getting vaccinated is very low, it is worrying,' said Heidi Larson, a professor of anthropology and founding director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It tracks public sentiment towards vaccines and has been running since 2010. • Pharmacies running out of flu vaccine as NHS restricts free jabs Larson said vaccine fatigue and wider falls in vaccination rates were being seen globally but particularly in Europe and western nations. 'It's a mix of things going on,' she said. Since the pandemic, people had reacted against a sense of being controlled and forced to have jabs. 'A lot of people were kind of bullied, almost, in a positive sense, to get the first Covid dose in the UK. It was very successful but there was this sense of control and people have said in our studies they resented taking that vaccine. Some people, maybe subconsciously, are angry about having been pushed into taking them. They feel enough is enough towards vaccines. What I see is a sort of societal PTSD and within that some people are now saying they won't get vaccinated as a reaction.' The pandemic had also made more people aware of vaccines and the science behind them and prompted more people to go online where, Larson said, they were confronted by 'toxic information'. Urgent action was needed to reverse the decline but she warned the NHS and government against a 'top-down command and control campaign', which could make matters worse. Instead, more nuanced conversations using peer influencers and community leaders were needed. According to the UK Health Security Agency's official statistics, released last month, 37.8 per cent of frontline health workers across hospitals and GP practices had a flu vaccination between September and February. This is the lowest since 2010-11 when 35 per cent of staff were vaccinated. • Treat the sickest and forget targets, Wes Streeting tells NHS GP surgeries managed more vaccinations — with 52 per cent of staff getting the jab — but this was down 10 per cent on the year before. Among staff groups, doctors were the most vaccinated but still achieved only 42 per cent. Only 38 per cent of nurses had the vaccine and the lowest level was among support staff, with 34 per cent. During the winter, almost 75 per cent of over-65s had a flu vaccine. The number of people with longer-term health conditions being vaccinated fell to 40 per cent. Similar falls were seen in primary school children and toddlers but coverage among secondary school children hit almost 45 per cent — the highest yet. More than 7,750 deaths were linked to flu in 2024-25, double the number the year before. London, as a region, had the lowest vaccination rate at 31 per cent but this was more than double the performance of Barts Health Trust. One senior consultant at Barts Health Trust, who had the jab, said they were shocked at the results and blamed apathy by some staff. They said: 'I had mine from a vaccine champion who visited different clinical areas to vaccinate staff.' Managers needed to do better, they said, adding: 'They should be spending summer finding out why staff didn't get it, rather than just doing the same again next winter.' Caroline Alexander, chief nurse at Barts, said: 'We understand that vaccine fatigue and hesitancy is a real concern for staff. While this challenge is not new and was heightened during the pandemic, we have been actively working to address it through a targeted communications campaign in collaboration with NHS England aimed at dispelling myths and building trust around vaccines.' She said the trust had offered mobile clinics and drop-in sessions in hospitals and sent trained vaccinators to wards and departments. Before next winter the trust would be highlighting the dangers of not having the flu vaccine. The best-performing trust was South East Coast Ambulance Trust, which managed a vaccination rate of 74 per cent. A spokesman there said it had a proactive campaign with vaccinators visiting workplaces with incentives such as 'free coffee for a jab'. It also used real-time data to track who had been jabbed to help target staff and teams with low uptake levels. Other problems include hesitancy by black and minority ethnic staff and communities towards vaccines. The NHS has also scrapped payments made to hospitals for encouraging more staff to have jabs. • Combined flu and Covid vaccine could be ready by this winter Those eligible for a free jab include all over-65s and any adult with specific risk factors such as diabetes. Pregnant women are also eligible along with schoolchildren and residents in care homes. The jabs are changed each year to reflect which viruses are dominant. This year the vaccine protected against four types of influenza. A vaccine cannot give you flu and is generally considered safe and effective. People can suffer mild reactions and side-effects but serious complications are extremely rare. The NHS has included messages on staff pay slips to try to increase vaccinations as well as working with medical colleges to design better messaging for staff groups. Sir Stephen Powis, the NHS England medical director, said: 'NHS trusts have a mandatory obligation under the NHS standard contract to make a flu vaccine offer to 100 per cent of their frontline staff every year.'
