Blogs

BHA launched the first issue of their new magazine, 'Health Equalities', on 25 April. The magazine contains articles on work with the Roma community, male sexual abuse, health and human rights, trans people and healthcare, HIV testing in the African communities, disability related harassment, TB in ethnic minorities and hepatitis C, as well as an article by Lenny Henry on sickle cell, screening and dads.

"Psychiatrist Suman Fernando claims that under the coalition government there is a "huge" risk of race "falling under the radar altogether".

Fernando, 80, has this week launched his latest initiative, an informal inquiry into the effects on individuals of a diagnosis of schizophrenia – a serious condition applied to some groups more than others, and especially to black men. "When the label of schizophrenia is attached to people it can cause serious problems through increasing stigma and undermining the humanity of people," he explains.

More than 400,000 babies will be screened for debilitating, rare inherited conditions as part of a ground-breaking pilot to see if more rare illnesses can be identified early on and get babies the best treatment possible so they stand a good chance of leading long, happy lives.

Currently every baby born in the UK – around 700,000 a year – is tested for one of five illnesses, including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell.

"The number of GPs who believe that the government's health reforms in England will improve patient care is falling, a BBC poll suggests.

Just 12% agreed that putting GP-led groups in charge of the budget would mean patients saw a "noticeable" improvement.

That figure was 23% when a similar poll was carried out in September 2010."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17604351

A response from the King's Fund
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/press/press_releases/bbc_gp_poll.html

Community Matters is offering a day of free consultancy up until Summer 2012 to any voluntary or community sector group that is working or looking to develop work with children, young people and families.

It might be that you do not know how to tackle a new project, or you need support looking over organisational strategies.

If you are interested in the free consultancy support offer, visit: www.communitymatters.org.uk/content/517/Consultancy-and-Direct-Support, or email: kierra.box@communitymatters.org.uk.

"Half of people with diabetes in the UK also have high blood pressure, which can have "hugely damaging" consequences, a charity has warned.

Diabetes UK said the most recent figures, from a national audit of more than 2 million people with the condition, showed just 50.7% were meeting their blood pressure target."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/10/diabetics-warned-high-bloo...

"It is difficult to predict what effect the new Health and Social Care Act will have on patients, service users and carers. The bill was like a giant treatment decision, with the benefits uncertain and the risks considerable.

National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities, has found it impossible, during the last year, to gauge accurately how the act's provisions would affect direct patient care and treatment. Hence there could be no simple "for or against" position on the bill – but there was a lot of pushing to improve it."

A new BME Cancer Support Service and Drop-in, supported by Macmillan Inclusion User Involvement Grant and BHA, will be run on a fortnightly basis at BHA, 'The Venue' 609 Stretford Road, Old Trafford, M16 0QA. The service will be launched on Thursday 19 April 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, with guest speakers, information and advice, food and refreshments.
To confirm your attendance or for further details contact Marcella Turner on 0161 874 2159 or email marcella@theBHA.org.uk.

"Manchester researchers are to receive over £6m to develop a new internet-based tool to help improve diagnoses made by nurses and doctors in GP surgeries. NHS Greater Manchester will be handed almost £6.3m by the government to try to improve safety for patients."

Read more at: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/health/s/1488613_manche...

"Ministers have been accused of risking patient health in favour of a "crude" immigration policy after government documents revealed that almost half of the nurses from abroad now working in the NHS will be forced to leave Britain under new plans."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/25/migrant-nurses-nhs

"According to the coalition's own estimates, plans to prevent non-EU immigrants from staying in the UK from 2016 if they earn under £35,000 could take many hundreds of nurses out of the NHS."

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=19283