Monthly Archives: July 2011

More than five weeks on, elderly and disabled are still waiting for a phone line

Residents hanging on for phone line

Published on Saturday 30 July 2011 08:00

RESIDENTS left without a phone line for more than a month have slammed a communications giant for “fobbing them off”.

Disgruntled householders at the new 13-bungalow Olaman Walk development, in Peterlee, said they were told by their telephone suppliers they would have landlines installed ready for moving in on June 20.

But more than five weeks on, they are still waiting.

‘Breast cancer screening saves lives’

A study published today in the British Medical journal has found breast cancer screening had “little detectable impact” on reducing death rates from the disease. Dr Sarah Rawlings from Breakthrough Breast Cancer insists screening programmes are still important in saving lives.

 

6:51PM BST 29 Jul 2011 

Dr Rawlings said the study did not take results from breast cancer screening in England but instead compared breast cancer death rates in three pairs of similar territories: Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland; Sweden to Norway; and The Netherlands to Flanders in Belgium.

“It is estimated that 1,400 lives are saved every year by women attending breast screening,” Dr Rawlings said.

“It would be a real shame if women over the age of fifty who are eligible for breast screening now stop going because of this report.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8670523/Breast-cancer-screening-saves-lives.html

Stem cell treatment ‘could prevent MS brain damage’

It is hoped these new trials will eventually lead to a proven treatment and a reduction in the draw of overseas treatments.

A major new global clinical trial will test whether stem cells can be safely used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), it was announced today.

8:39AM BST 29 Jul 2011

 It will investigate if cells can slow, stop and even reverse damage to the brain and spinal cord caused by active multiple sclerosis lesions. The results will advance medical knowledge ”by years”, scientists said.

The £10 million trial, involving up to 200 patients around the world, is due to start later this year and will last between three and five years.