Latest news with #PrimaryCare
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Patients with penicillin allergy may benefit from further tests, study suggests
Removing incorrect labels could help improve care for patients while tackling antibiotic resistance and saving money for the NHS, they said. For the Alabama trial, published in the Lancet Primary Care and led by the University of Leeds, researchers recruited 823 patients from 51 GP practices in England. Those taking part had no history of severe reactions to penicillin. Some patients were tested for a penicillin allergy, with either an oral dose of the antibiotic or a small injection under the skin. If there was no immediate reaction, patients were given a three-day course of penicillin to take at home, where they were monitored by the research team. Of the 365 people tested for an allergy, some 234 had an oral test, with 13 testing positive, while 131 had a skin test, three of which were positive. Elsewhere, 128 patients had an oral test after a skin test, with 14 testing positive for an allergy. Overall, the study found 30 patients tested positive for a penicillin allergy, while 335 – or 92% – tested negative. After three months, 276 patients had the allergy removed from their medical records. And after 12 months, allergies were removed from the records of 321 patients, or 88% of the group that was tested. Dr Jonathan Sandoe, lead author and associate clinical professor in microbiology at the University of Leeds School of Medicine and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'Antibiotics have been life-saving drugs since the late 1930s, but we are now in an era where microbes are evolving to resist the effects of current antibiotics. 'The global challenge of antibiotic resistance is causing people to die of common infections, so it is vital to find ways to improve how antibiotics are used. 'Assessing people with penicillin allergy labels is one way we can achieve this.' Patients who had the allergy check also had fewer antibiotics overall, the study suggests. As part of the study, researchers analysed the cost-effectiveness of allergy testing based on the NHS model. They said that although results may vary in different countries, the study observed 'tendency towards reducing consultations, days in hospital, and emergency admissions' which 'suggest that the penicillin allergy assessment pathway is cost-effective in the short run and increasingly likely to be so over longer follow-up periods'. Researchers now suggest that 'access to penicillin allergy assessment for patients should be widened'. Dr Sandoe added: 'This research shows that removing incorrect penicillin allergy labels has the potential to improve patient experiences, reduce health costs and tackle bacterial resistance. 'Now, we need to work together with policymakers and patients to help the NHS to address this issue.' Professor Sue Pavitt from the University of Leeds, who jointly led the study, said her mother Rosie Woollard had a penicillin allergy added to her medical records in the 1950s. She had been prescribed the antibiotic for mastitis – a common infection usually linked with breastfeeding – and developed a rash. Prof Pavitt said: 'My mum was vigilant and avoided taking penicillin from that day, but her allergy was never checked. 'It may have been a simple reaction to the other substances used in manufacturing the tablet or her rash was just a consequence of the infection. 'When my mum got older and had more underlying health problems, we noticed that when she had an infection, she often needed two or three courses of different antibiotics before the infection would clear. 'Each round of antibiotics took a toll on her wellbeing, appetite and ability to bounce back until the infection was under control.' Professor Sue Pavitt (right) with her mother Rosie Woollard and brother Bernard (left) (Sue Pavitt/PA) Ms Woollard developed repeated urinary tract infections later in life and died at the age of 91. Her cause of death was recorded as an antimicrobial infection. Prof Pavitt said: 'Antibiotic allergy and resistant bugs are complex concepts to understand – she was our barometer to see if we were explaining things clearly. 'She was also instrumental in making the Alabama trial open to older people with multiple long-term conditions, a group that is often excluded from research but important to reach. 'This research is in part her legacy and shows the value of preserving antibiotics, so that we can keep fighting infections with these important medicines.' Christopher Butler, a professor of primary care in the Nuffield department of primary care health sciences at the University of Oxford, said: 'It's this kind of research question that has a huge impact on improving care for individuals, improving cost-effectiveness of what we do as clinicians, and helps us preserve the precious shared resource of of antibiotics to all of us and to future generations.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
UK launches fund to support people with health conditions return to work
The UK Government has launched the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, a pilot programme designed to assist individuals with health conditions return to work while simultaneously easing the workload on general practitioners (GPs). With £1.5m ($2.01m) in financial support, the initiative is set to benefit 15 regions. This approach tackles an issue where, out of the 11 million electronic fit notes issued in primary care across England last year, 93% indicated that individuals were 'not fit for work', without providing any alternative support. Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), WorkWell sites will bridge this gap by connecting patients to local services that offer work and health advice. The investment will enable the hiring of professionals within GP practices. Additionally, the programme will focus on enhancing the skills of occupational therapists and physiotherapists. UK Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Every person we help back into work isn't just transforming their own life - they're contributing to our communities, our economy and breaking the cycle that's been holding Britain back.' The initiative is exploring alternative methods to reduce the administrative burden on GPs. With 90% of fit notes being issued by doctors, the new funding will investigate how other healthcare professionals can contribute to a more supportive system for both patients and employers. The WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund aligns with the government's ten-year Health Plan. The government has also made strides in increasing the number of GPs, with recruitment initiatives. As part of a broader effort to reduce waiting lists and improve healthcare accessibility, the government has deployed specialist clinical teams and opened new community diagnostic centres operating seven days a week. This initiative complements a £100m investment in Connect to Work programmes. Evidence from the WorkWell pilot will inform a wider strategy on work, health, and skills, as part of the government's Plan for Change. Each of the 15 WorkWell pilot sites will receive a share of the £1.5m fund, amounting to £100,000 per site, to support up to 56,000 individuals by early 2026. "UK launches fund to support people with health conditions return to work" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Patient satisfaction with GP services improves, survey finds
Patient satisfaction with GP services has improved, new figures suggest. The latest GP patient survey, which is carried out by Ipsos for NHS England, found 75% of 702,000 respondents had a good experience at their practice, up slightly from 74% in 2024. Some 70% also said their overall experience of contacting their family doctor was good, up year-on-year from 67%. Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said: 'Primary care delivers 90% of the interactions people have with the NHS. 'With public satisfaction in the NHS declining, improvements to how people access care from their GP, pharmacy, dentistry, and other primary care teams is therefore vital. 'It's promising that this year's findings show modest increases in people's overall experiences of GP, including an increase in the number of people given a choice of time, day or location for their most recent appointment, which we know from previous years' results directly links to improvements in overall experience. 'However, our recent research shows there is a gap between the choices people want and the ones they get.' More than half (53%) said it was easy to get in touch with their practice on the phone, up from 50% in 2024, while 51% said it was easy using the practice website, up from 48% last year. Elsewhere, almost half (49%) told the survey it was easy getting in touch using the NHS App, up from 45% 12 months ago. More than one in five people (22%) said they last contacted their practice online, up from 17% in 2024. Those who last contacted their practice on the phone dropped by 68% to 62%. It comes as the Government's 10-year health plan aims to make better use of technology in the health service. Part of the blueprint includes major changes to make the NHS App the 'full front door to the entire' health service. Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation, said: 'Shoring up general practice needs to be at the heart of the Government's approach to delivering the 10-year health plan. 'Although improvements are reported in ease of access, over one third of patients still find accessing their general practice difficult, and there are marked differences in experience between those living in the richest and the poorest areas.' Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England's national director for primary care and community services, said: 'The results reflect patients now being able to use the NHS App for more services, better phone systems to easily book an appointment, and the hard work of our general practice teams – but there is still more to do to improve patients' satisfaction and experience. 'We will introduce further improvements including training more GPs and increasing the number of dentists, building online advice into the NHS App, establishing neighbourhood health centres in every community, and making it even easier to see your general practice team when you need to instead of having to turn to A&E.' Elsewhere, 88% of those who responded to the survey said their experience with pharmacy services was good, up from 87% last year. Reacting to the findings, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'While these figures show things are heading in the right direction, we know that there are still patients who are struggling to access the care they need, despite GPs working to their limits and beyond.'
South Wales Argus
18-06-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Mounjaro and Ozempic warning for holiday travel insurance
The last year has seen a huge increase in the number of people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and liraglutide (Saxenda). Others may be taking tablets such as Orlistat or Alli. Travel insurance providers are warning that the growing number of Brits turning to these breakthrough drugs for weight management could lose their cover and face huge medical bills abroad if they don't declare their usage when arranging travel insurance. Review your ICB's local policy about treating patients with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management in a primary care setting and visit: — We are Primary Care (@PrimaryCareNHS) June 12, 2025 Many don't want to admit they are taking the weight-loss drugs, or think that if they buy it privately online, it doesn't need to be declared. Niraj Mamtora, director at Forum Insurance, says: 'Weight-loss medications like Ozempic are transforming lives across the UK, but too many travellers don't realise the insurance implications. If you're using these drugs, you must declare both the medication and the condition it's prescribed for. 'Failure to do so is not a minor oversight - it's a serious breach of your travel insurance contract. If you need medical help overseas and haven't declared your medication, your claim can be refused and your policy cancelled. The financial consequences can be severe.' What happens if you don't disclose weight-loss jabs on your travel insurance? 'Non-disclosure is a gamble that's simply not worth taking," says Niraj. "If you don't declare your medication or the underlying condition, your insurer is within their rights to refuse any claim, even if it seems unrelated. 'Many travellers only discover too late that their travel insurance claims are rejected, leaving them without support and facing potentially huge bills. Do I Need Travel Insurance? "With the average medical claim abroad now exceeding £1,700, and costs rising significantly with age, being properly covered is more important than ever.' 'Skinny Jab' weight loss medication is surging According to The Pharmacist website 1.5 million UK citizens used weight-loss jabs in March 2025, and the number is believed to be growing each month. 'Recent NHS data shows that between March 2024 and February 2025, more than 83,000 unique patients in England were dispensed Ozempic, while over 344,000 people received a prescription for weight-loss medications overall in the past year," says Niraj. 'With new drugs entering the market and millions more eligible for these treatments, the number of Brits travelling with prescription weight-loss medication is set to rise further.' Recommended reading: What to do if you are travelling abroad while taking weight-loss medication Declare all pre-existing medical conditions and any medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, when purchasing travel insurance. If you are taking medication without a prescription or for off-label use, you must disclose this, as it can affect your travel cover. Carry a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter when travelling with medication, and check the rules of your destination country regarding bringing in prescription drugs. Remember that insurance claims related to undeclared conditions or medications can be refused, even if the issue seems unrelated.
Glasgow Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Mounjaro and Ozempic warning for holiday travel insurance
The last year has seen a huge increase in the number of people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and liraglutide (Saxenda). Others may be taking tablets such as Orlistat or Alli. Travel insurance providers are warning that the growing number of Brits turning to these breakthrough drugs for weight management could lose their cover and face huge medical bills abroad if they don't declare their usage when arranging travel insurance. Review your ICB's local policy about treating patients with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management in a primary care setting and visit: — We are Primary Care (@PrimaryCareNHS) June 12, 2025 Many don't want to admit they are taking the weight-loss drugs, or think that if they buy it privately online, it doesn't need to be declared. Niraj Mamtora, director at Forum Insurance, says: 'Weight-loss medications like Ozempic are transforming lives across the UK, but too many travellers don't realise the insurance implications. If you're using these drugs, you must declare both the medication and the condition it's prescribed for. 'Failure to do so is not a minor oversight - it's a serious breach of your travel insurance contract. If you need medical help overseas and haven't declared your medication, your claim can be refused and your policy cancelled. The financial consequences can be severe.' What happens if you don't disclose weight-loss jabs on your travel insurance? 'Non-disclosure is a gamble that's simply not worth taking," says Niraj. "If you don't declare your medication or the underlying condition, your insurer is within their rights to refuse any claim, even if it seems unrelated. 'Many travellers only discover too late that their travel insurance claims are rejected, leaving them without support and facing potentially huge bills. Do I Need Travel Insurance? "With the average medical claim abroad now exceeding £1,700, and costs rising significantly with age, being properly covered is more important than ever.' 'Skinny Jab' weight loss medication is surging According to The Pharmacist website 1.5 million UK citizens used weight-loss jabs in March 2025, and the number is believed to be growing each month. 'Recent NHS data shows that between March 2024 and February 2025, more than 83,000 unique patients in England were dispensed Ozempic, while over 344,000 people received a prescription for weight-loss medications overall in the past year," says Niraj. 'With new drugs entering the market and millions more eligible for these treatments, the number of Brits travelling with prescription weight-loss medication is set to rise further.' Recommended reading: What to do if you are travelling abroad while taking weight-loss medication Declare all pre-existing medical conditions and any medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, when purchasing travel insurance. If you are taking medication without a prescription or for off-label use, you must disclose this, as it can affect your travel cover. Carry a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter when travelling with medication, and check the rules of your destination country regarding bringing in prescription drugs. Remember that insurance claims related to undeclared conditions or medications can be refused, even if the issue seems unrelated.
