Latest news with #DepartmentForHealth
Sky News
29-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Supermarkets to introduce healthy food standard under government plans to tackle obesity
A healthy food standard will be introduced for supermarkets and other retailers as part of government plans to tackle obesity levels in the UK. As part of a government initiative aimed at taking some pressure off the NHS, food retailers and manufacturers will "make the healthy choice the easy choice" for customers in a country with the third highest adult obesity levels in Europe. Supermarkets will be required to report sales data and those that fail to hit targets could face financial penalties, Nesta, the innovation agency which initially developed the policy, suggested. Businesses will be free to choose how to implement the new healthy food standard, which aims to make their customers' average shopping healthier. Measures could include reformulating products and tweaking recipes, changing shop layouts, offering discounts on healthy foods, or changing loyalty schemes to promote healthier options. Obesity is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The new scheme, announced on Sunday by the Department for Health and Social Care, is part of the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan, through which the government is seeking to shift from sickness to prevention to alleviate the burden on the NHS. 2:40 Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Obesity has doubled since the 1990s and costs our NHS £11bn a year, triple the budget for ambulance services. Unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable. "The good news is that it only takes a small change to make a big difference. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by around 200 calories a day - the equivalent of a bottle of fizzy drink - obesity would be halved. "This government's ambition for kids today is for them to be part of the healthiest generation of children ever. "That is within our grasp. With the smart steps we're taking today, we can give every child a healthy start to life." Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: "It is vital for the nation that the food industry delivers healthy food, that is available, affordable and appealing." 1:22 An 'important step' Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: "Businesses can play a major role in supporting people to make healthy choices, and this important step could help to reduce rising obesity rates. "Being overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK, and is linked with 13 different types of the disease. "The UK government must introduce further bold preventative policies in both the upcoming 10-year health plan and National Cancer Plan, so that more lives can be saved from cancer." Some of the UK's biggest supermarkets appear to have reacted positively to plans for a new standard of healthy food, with Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, saying: "All food businesses have a critical part to play in providing good quality, affordable and healthy food. "At Tesco, we have measured and published our own healthier food sales for a number of years now - we believe it is key to more evidence-led policy and better-targeted health interventions. "That's why we have called for mandatory reporting for all supermarkets and major food businesses and why we welcome the government's announcement on this. "We look forward to working with them on the detail of the Healthy Food Standard and its implementation by all relevant food businesses." Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, said: "We're passionate about making good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone and have been championing the need for mandatory health reporting, across the food industry for many years. "Today's announcement from government is an important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well. "We need a level playing field across the entirety of our food sector for these actions to have a real and lasting impact."
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
How hot does it have to be for schools to call off Sports Day in the UK – and can I stop my child from taking part?
SOME schools have considered cancelling Sports Day as the UK faced soaring temperatures over the last few days. National School Sports Week was set to take place from June 16 to 22, but several schools around the UK cancelled the event due to 30C temperatures. 1 Some parents, however, have criticised this change and suggested teachers were "turning kids soft". For very hot days, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has made the recommendation that children not take part in "vigorous physical activity". Additionally, they point out that: "Lessons can be adapted for hot weather when sedentary activities are more appropriate." Temperatures between 26-32 degrees Celsius can cause signs of fatigue and exhaustion when taking part in prolonged exercise. Whilst currently there is no maximum legal temperature limit for fitness classes, risks have been associated with exercise when temperatures reach these highs. The National Governing Body for Group Exercise outlines that these high temperatures can "cause signs of fatigue and exhaustion when taking part in prolonged exercise." Moreover, they highlight: "Temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius present risks of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which must be taken very seriously." Below are steps that can be taken to avoid heat stroke for children. The National Education Union suggest avoiding the midday sun during sport days that are hot. Therefore classes should be held in the early morning or late afternoon, as well as conducted under shady areas where available. Map reveals where temps will hit glorious 33C this weekend – as revellers soak up the sun in parks, beaches & festivals On top of that, "students should be encouraged to wear suitable hats, t-shirts and sunglasses, and to regularly apply sun screen and drink lots of water," due to the increased risk of sunburn. Scheduling of sports days and other outdoor activities can also be moved to earlier in the summer or spring term. Teachers should also be educated on recognising the signs of heat stress or exhaustion in children. This will ensure students do not suffer from heat stroke and the risks associated with exercising during extreme temperatures. These include looking out for heat-related symptoms like dizziness, nausea, high body temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, red skin that may be sweaty or dry, fast heartbeat or shall breathing. Schools are not generally advised to close during hot weather, but there are steps that can be taken to ensure children are safe and comfortable in these conditions. An amber alert from the Met Office"indicates adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat, with the wider population likely to experience some adverse health effects, e.g., sunburn or heat exhaustion," according to the Joint Union Heatwave Protocol. On top of that, "Where a Red Alert is issued for extreme heat, school and college employers must ensure that an immediate, additional risk assessment is carried out and the control measures indicated are enacted, which could include full or partial closure of the site, if the risk assessment deems this necessary." Therefore, issuing of a red alert by the Met Office is justifiable means for schools to be closed down for the safety of children.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Every baby in England will get new health test under £650million NHS plan
EVERY newborn baby in England will receive a fresh health test following a hefty £650million investment. The scheme will see babies' DNA mapped in order to assess their risk of contracting hundreds of diseases. 1 More than half a billion pounds will be pumped into the move, The Telegraph reported. Gene technology will be instrumental in "leapfrogging disease, so we're in front of it rather than reacting to it", Health Secretary Wes Streeting said. The tests will sequence newborn's DNA by extracting blood samples from their umbilical cords shortly after they have been born. The move is part of a 10-year health plan, due to be published early next month, which will put an emphasis on personalised medicine. It is hoped that the change will catalyse the end of blanket screening for issues including high cholesterol and blood pressure after the problem has become entrenched in patients. The Department for Health and Social Care said that genomics - the study of genes - and AI would be used to "revolutionise prevention" and provide faster diagnoses and an "early warning signal for disease". Mr Streeting said: 'The revolution in medical science means that we can transform the NHS over the coming decade, from a service which diagnoses and treats ill health, to one that predicts and prevents it. 'Genomics presents us with the opportunity to leapfrog disease, so we're in front of it rather than reacting to it. 'With the power of this new technology, patients will be able to receive personalised health care to prevent ill health before symptoms begin, reducing the pressure on NHS services and helping people live longer, healthier lives. 'Our 10-year plan will build on the founding promise of the NHS, so that it provides health care free at the point of risk, not just need.' Mum shares heartbreaking photo of baby boy fighting for life as a warning - after she found him coughing and drooling It comes after hospitals began screening of newborn babies for genetic illnesses in a world-first NHS study last year. Thirteen clinics in England now carry out blood tests on more than 500 infants, ahead of plans to roll it out to 40 hospitals nationwide. Heel-prick tests check for nine rare but serious illnesses. The new DNA study aims to identify 200 more. NHS chief exec Amanda Pritchard said: 'If we can diagnose and treat children for rare genetic conditions years earlier, we have the power to help stop debilitating conditions. "This will be life-changing for families.' Plus, a new test could detect prostate cancer in 15 minutes or less, experts have claimed. The 'breakthrough' blood test was able to diagnose men with prostate cancer with 90 per cent accuracy in a new study. Scientists from Aston University, Birmingham, developed a new method that analyses crystal-like structures in dehydrated blood. Professor Igor Meglinski said the non-invasive technique can detect prostate cancer before symptoms appear with up to 90 per cent accuracy. "This breakthrough opens new avenues for cancer diagnosis and monitoring, representing a substantial leap forward in personalised medicine and oncology," he said.
The Sun
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Morrisons & Sainsbury's told to make major change to stores as government warns supermarkets ‘stop promoting' product
SAINSBURY'S and Morrisons have received a stern warning from the government in relation to a popular product. The two major chains have been instructed to stop 'promoting' the item as they could be in breach of the law. 2 2 According to the BBC, the two supermarkets received a letter instructing them to remove any adverts which displayed heated tobacco products. Heated tobacco differs from cigarettes and vapes as it uses an electrical current to directly warm up the tobacco. This produces a vapour which can be inhaled. Smoking advertisements were banned in 2002 by the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. The ban covered any products which could be "smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed". Since the heated tobacco products produce a vapour - not a smoke - advertising laws are much murkier. Speaking about the letter, a spokesperson for Sainsbury's said: 'We offer a range of age-restricted products under our strict Think25 policy, including this heated tobacco device which is advertised. 'This is an alternative to cigarettes and is fully compliant with current legislation. We recognise the deeply complex and emotive nature of this topic. 'We remain in close contact with the Government and industry partners and are planning our transition to ensure we also comply with planned incoming legislation." A spokesperson for Morrisons said: "We only received a letter at the end of May. "We are just in the process of reviewing it and will respond back to the Department for Health and Social Care in due course." The Department of Social Care have been approached for comment by The Sun. Starmer CONFIRMS smoking ban plan with cigarettes to be banished from pub gardens Previously, a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson told the BBC: "In May, we wrote to supermarkets reiterating that the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002… applies to all tobacco products currently on the market, and formally requested they stop advertising and promoting heated tobacco products in stores. "All tobacco products are harmful to health." The proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill will tighten existing advertisement laws and has received the backing of prominent Labour politicians, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Baroness Meron. So far, the bill has passed in the House of Commons and awaits the approval of the House of Lords. Another key component of the bill is a proposed ban on the sale of tobacco to people born on or after 1 January 2009. It is hoped that this will create a "smokefree generation', driving down cancer rates and other health problems. The move was aimed to prevent young people from buying the single-use devices and becoming addicted to tobacco. Traders who continue selling the product face a £200 fine and repeat offenders face prison time.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Four London hospitals to get state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines, ministers announce
Cutting-edge radiotherapy machines will be rolled out in 28 hospitals across England, four of those being based in London to speed up cancer treatment, ministers have announced. A £70 million Government investment will see linear accelerator (Linac) machines rolled out at hospitals across the nation from August. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new technology would "free up capacity so that thousands more patients are treated on time". The Linac machines are being prioritised in hospitals where existing machinery is over a decade old. The latest technology is safer for patients than older radiotherapy machines, and can more closely target tumours and cause less damage to health tissue. The machines are particularly effective with harder to reach areas of the body, like the chest and pelvis. READ MORE: High cholesterol doctor shares three 'smell symptoms' which are 'early red flags' READ MORE: 'I'm a doctor - weight loss jabs like Mounjaro can come with 3 big side effects' The Department for Health and Social Care claims the new Linac machines could reduce the number of hospital visits patients have to make for radiotherapy treatment. It says that by March 2027, up to 27,500 additional treatments per year will be delivered, including up to 4,500 receiving their first treatment for cancer within 62-days of referral. Mr Streeting said: "There is a revolution taking place in medical technology which can transform treatment for cancer patients. But NHS hospitals are forced to use outdated, malfunctioning equipment thanks to 14 years of under-investment under the previous government. "Thanks to the investment this Government is making in our NHS, we will provide more cancer patients with world-class, cutting-edge care." He added: "By reducing the number of hospital visits required and preventing cancelled appointments, these state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines free up capacity so that thousands more patients are treated on time. As a cancer survivor, I know just how important timely treatment is. These machines are part of the investment and modernisation that will cut waiting times for patients, through our plan for change." NHS national clinical director for cancer Professor Peter Johnson said: "Radiotherapy is essential for many cancer patients, so it's great news that the investment in new machines means that some will need fewer rounds of treatment, as we bring in more sophisticated techniques. These machines will deliver more precise treatment for patients, which helps them to recover sooner, as well as enabling the NHS to treat people more efficiently as we continue in our efforts to catch and treat more cancers faster." Charity Macmillan Cancer described the announcement as an "exciting step forward for cancer treatment in England". Kate Seymour, head of external affairs at the charity, added: "Many people across the country are facing long delays for care but today proves that better is possible. "Investment in cutting-edge technology is essential to bring down waiting times and help more people with cancer get the best care the UK has to offer, whoever and wherever they are." Shadow health secretary Edward Argar said: "This capital investment in new radiotherapy machines should be welcomed by everyone. It builds on previous investment in diagnostics by the previous Conservative government, with upgrades to provide more state-of-the-art new CT and MRI scanners. Today's announcement mirrors this in treatments, with new equipment to improve access to radiotherapy after diagnosis. "But ensuring an early diagnosis remains key to tackling cancer, being able to access the treatment these machines can provide, and to getting better outcomes for patients, so alongside investment in new kit, it is vital the Government reinstates the early cancer diagnosis targets they dropped recently." The 28 hospital trusts receiving an upgraded scanner are: – Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust – Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust – United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust – University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust – Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust – Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust – Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust – Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust – Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust – Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust – University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust – South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – The Christie NHS Foundation Trust – Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust – The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust – University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust – Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust – University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Barts Health NHS Trust – Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Looking for more from MyLondon? 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