Researchers from the US have developed a method of transforming skin cells directly into brain cells. Stem cell technology has previously been able to change the skin cells into stem cells first, and then into brain cells, but the method has problems. The process can activate some cancer causing genes in the newly made skin [...]

The School Food Trust have issued some new food guidelines for nurseries, childminders and other preschool service providers. The guidelines will first be introduced in five local authorities and then rolled out in 2012. Two years ago, an independent panel of experts called for clearer guidance on food and nutrition for preschool services. The experts [...]

The French government have recommended that women who have received a faulty breast implant made by the French firm Poly Implant Prothese have them removed as a precautionary measure. The French government have confirmed that they will cover the cost of the removal for the estimated 30,000 women in France who have received the implant. [...]

A report from the NHS Information Centre suggests that up to a third of all diabetes related deaths could be avoided by better management of the condition. Diabetes prevents the body from using glucose properly and can cause kidney failure or heart failure if it is not managed properly. It affects over 2 million people [...]

A review of the private healthcare sector by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has raised some issues that could lead to a referral to the Competition Commission. The OFT highlighted three key issues in its review. There was a lack of information that patients, healthcare providers and GPs could use to compare for both [...]

Recent research has indicated that patients admitted to hospital at the weekend have a higher risk of dying than those admitted during the week. The figures from research company Dr Foster indicate that across 147 hospital trusts, there was a 10% increase in the number of deaths at a weekend than during the week. On [...]

The Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria have received a shortfall in donations from international donors which they say will badly affect efforts to fight the diseases. The worldwide funding body issues grants to a variety of projects intended to fight some of the most deadly diseases around the world. They had asked [...]

A new study into the human sense of smell will give hope to people who lose the ability to detect smells, say researchers. They say people may be able to practice to improve their sense of smell, or their sense of taste which is closely linked. The research was carried out on rats by a [...]

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has revised their instructions around the amount of paracetamol a child should be given. Paracetamol is very commonly used to relieve the symptoms of childhood illnesses such as teething pains, colds and common viruses. More than 8 in 10 children will be given the drug before they are [...]