Month: January 2013

At least 15,000 people marched in protest against proposals on Saturday

A decision is expected later on plans to close the Accident and Emergency department at Lewisham Hospital in south-east London and downgrade its maternity unit.

The proposal came after neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT) ran up debts of £150m.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce whether an “urgent care” ward will replace the A&E.

At least 15,000 people marched in protest on Saturday.

‘Dangerous precedent’

By Branwen Jeffreys Health correspondent, BBC News

Similar schemes have seen a fall in incidents of violent crime

A coalition pledge to make hospitals share violent crime data with police is being carried out in only a third of areas in England, an audit shows.

The government has written to hospitals and chief constables for an explanation after the Department of Health audit.

Accident and emergency departments are meant to share information about where knife or gun attacks are happening with the police and local council.

By Branwen Jeffreys Health correspondent, BBC News

Similar schemes have seen a fall in incidents of violent crime

A coalition pledge to make hospitals share violent crime data with police is being carried out in only a third of areas in England, an audit shows.

The government has written to hospitals and chief constables for an explanation after the Department of Health audit.

Accident and emergency departments are meant to share information about where knife or gun attacks are happening with the police and local council.

A customer selects vegetables at a supermarket in Prague June 14, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/David W Cerny

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Vegetarians are one-third less likely to be hospitalized or die from heart disease than meat and fish eaters, according to a new UK study.

Earlier research has also suggested that non-meat eaters have fewer heart problems, researchers said, but it wasn’t clear if other lifestyle differences, including exercise and smoking habits, might also play into that.

The headquarters of Fresenius is pictured in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt February 24, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Johannes Eisele

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Fresenius Medical Care’s focus on a life-threatening illness and its buying power with suppliers mean the world’s biggest kidney dialysis provider may cope better with cuts in U.S. healthcare spending than many investors think.

FMC’s shares have slumped about 10 percent over the past three months on expectation the United States, battling to rein in its budget deficit, will reduce funds for state-run health schemes like Medicare that account for about 30 percent of the German company’s revenues.