Category Archives: Health

Economic, Government, Health, Society

IT systems in the NHS are pitifully weak. It must get on top of cyber-crime

RANSOMWARE

Ransomware

The message that appears if encryption occurs.

Two days ago, the NHS was hit by a major cyber-attack using ransomware. Computer screens suddenly announced that files and data were unavailable unless the user paid a fee. In some Health Board Trusts, phones stopped working, too; patients were advised not to go to A&E, and the full effect of this attack will not be known until this week when many employees may find that their computers will not function. The virus is worming its way through networks that could yet reap much more havoc. While state organisations like the NHS have many questions to answer, including the pitiful support they have given to their IT systems – including the running of out-of-support Windows XP systems – holding the nation’s healthcare hostage in this way is an unconscionable criminal act. It is also a wake-up call to the British state. Our newfound reliance upon electronic communications leaves the country vulnerable to extortion.

Of course, it is important to keep pace with technological change, especially if it promises to save money and streamline record keeping. But putting so many eggs in one basket does incur risk – and there have been many warnings before now that the NHS is struggling to keep things in good order. Last month, Barts Health, England’s largest trust, had to cancel at least 136 operations and “hundreds” of chemotherapy sessions after its IT systems went down; it also suffered a ransomware attack in January. It is feared that some trusts are continuing to use outdated software that might be more exposed to attack.

This is why patients have often expressed nervousness about the reliance upon NHS databases, particularly the notion of a national one. No matter how many assurances are made to the public that such arrangements are airtight, the criminals always seem to find a way to get in. The solution is obviously to tighten security; equally it is imperative that users take care – a system is only as strong as its most fallible point. Either way, it is now up to the security services to act and act fast. Cyber-crime – which has previously hit companies such as TalkTalk – costs the economy billions and puts lives at risk. The Government has to get on top of it. It has failed in its duty of care by taking necessary measures in protecting the most sensitive of information.

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Government, Health, Politics, Society

Theresa May pledges an overhaul of the Mental Health Act

BRITAIN

MHA 1983

The prime minister, Theresa May, has announced that the Mental Health Act 1983 will be overhauled if the Conservative Party win the General Election on 8 June.

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised the biggest shake-up of mental health provision for 30 years if re-elected to tackle the “burning injustice” of current treatment.

In a major policy announcement before the General Election next month, the Conservative leader has pledged to scrap the “flawed” 1983 Mental Health Act after concluding it is “unfit for purpose”.

A string of policies designed to end discrimination in mental health treatment and make provision suitable for the 21st century will be implemented instead.

Ten thousand more NHS staff will be assigned to mental health work in the next three years to boost treatment under the Tory plans.

A teacher in every primary and secondary school will be trained in mental health first aid to identify signs that children are developing anxiety or depression.

Discrimination laws will be toughened up to protect employees with mental health issues while Samaritans charity helpline will be Government funded until 2022.

The pledges will form part of the Conservative manifesto and come after the Prime Minister named improving mental health as a key priority when she took office.

Mrs May said: “On my first day in Downing Street last July, I described shortfalls in mental health services as one of the burning injustices in our country.

“It is abundantly clear to me that the discriminatory use of a law passed more than three decades ago is a key part of the reason for this.

“So today I am pledging to rip up the 1983 Act and introduce in its place a new law which finally confronts the discrimination and unnecessary detention that takes place too often.”

The Act was written at a time when mental health issues did not have the same level of understanding or prominence in public debate as today.

The legislation has been criticised by campaigners after the number of detentions under the Act increased by 43 per cent in the last decade.

There are also concerns the law is fuelling discrimination. In 2014-15, close to 60 per cent of black people in hospital with mental illness were detained – compared to around 40 per cent for white people.

In a recent report the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of healthcare services, strongly criticised the legislation.

It said the Act “may disempower patients, prevent people from exercising legal rights, and ultimately impede recovery or even amount to unlawful and unethical practice”.

Part of the problem, according to Tory sources, is that mental health case law built up over the years is all based on the old legislation.

Therefore, Mrs May will repeal the Act and bring forward a Mental Health Treatment Bill in its place.

Schools and hospitals will also see changes under the Tory plans. Ten thousand extra workers will be put on mental health provision in the NHS.

It remains unclear whether all the places will be new hires or current workers already employed by the NHS.

Sources insist no new funding is needed for the scheme because money has been carved out of the current Health Department budget.

However, campaigners are likely to criticise the failure to promise billions of extra spending on mental health that they have demanded.

The Tories’ wider plan for NHS spending will be published in the manifesto later this month.

The additional mental health training is to be provided by a charity within the Third Sector and will cost the Government £2 million.

The courses, described as “comprehensive” by Tory sources, will equip teachers to spot developing mental health issues in children and tackle psychotic episodes.

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Fitness, Health

A 7-minute workout by a leading physiologist…

Health & Fitness

For real results exercise must be a regular habit. Use weights for both strength and speed, an excellent way of improving fitness, metabolism and general wellbeing.

If you’ve renewed your commitment to getting fit now that spring is in full swing, you may be wondering how much time that goal will require.

If you want your workouts to produce real results, exercise has to be a regular habit, says Chris Jordan, the exercise physiologist who came up with the 7-minute workout. Jordan’s now-viral routine, officially called the “Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout” is designed to give you the benefits of a trip to the gym in just a few minutes.

“Skipping workouts can prevent you from achieving optimal results, whatever your specific fitness goal,” Jordan says.

To start seeing results from your fitness plan — whether you’re looking for physical signs like leaner limbs and toned muscles or psychological ones like improved mood and higher energy levels — you should aim to exercise at least three to five days each week. And that doesn’t mean simply lifting a few weights on those days.

“You should aim to do cardiovascular exercise [like running on a treadmill, riding a bike, or doing high-intensity interval training] three to five days each week and resistance training [like planks, squats, or leg raises] two to three days per week,” Jordan says.

The results you see will vary based on your current fitness level. If you’re new to regular workouts and start doing resistance training two or three days each week, you may start building muscle in just a few weeks. But if you’ve been a regular at a gym or yoga studio for several months, you’ll want to step it up a notch and work your body at least four days per week.

Jordan suggests interspersing different types of workouts to target various regions of your body. This will help you avoid fatigue and maximize your time. Here’s an example five-day training plan:

Monday: Cycling and upper body resistance training, like arm raises

Tuesday: Yoga and lower body resistance training, like squats

Wednesday: Running and upper body resistance training, like bench presses

Thursday: Rest

Friday: Boxing and lower body resistance training, like leg raises

Research suggests you can also use high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which combines the cardiovascular benefits of cycling or running with resistance training, to achieve the same or similar results. If you like HIIT, the 7-minute workout is a great place to start.

Whichever workout you try, however, the most important thing is to keep doing it.

“To achieve results,” says Jordan, “consistency is key.”

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