Traditionally, the vast majority of cancer services take place in hospitals, but new thinking and new technology are rapidly changing this landscape, particularly because of the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of healthcare services. In this blog, from our On Cancer publication, Dr Philip Crosbie and Dr Dónal Landers outlines how delivering services at […]
Disadvantage and disease: finding solutions to inequalities in cancer
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed focus to the great health inequalities between different communities in our society. Looking at cancer care, these inequalities exist across the whole cancer pathway from uptake in screening, likelihood to present early with symptoms, participation in clinical trials, diagnosis and access to treatments. In this blog, from our On […]
Too close to the sun: The health benefits and economic case for banning sunbeds
Melanoma skin cancers are the UK’s fifth most common cancer, causing over 2,000 deaths each year. Over 85% of cases are preventable, with excessive exposure to ultraviolet light the most common cause, including the ultraviolet light used in sunbeds. The cancer risk from sunbeds is well known, but a new study has outlined the stark […]
Child of the North: Pregnancy and early years
Evidence makes it clear that exposure to adversity and stress has vast potential to negatively influence the trajectory of a person’s health and wellbeing throughout their life. In this blog, Professor Pamela Qualter and Dr Anna Sanders present the key findings of a Child of the North report, co-authored with colleagues from Newcastle, Bradford, Sheffield, […]
Rapid diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections
The rapid and accurate diagnosis of fungal infections is crucial to effective treatment and ultimately saves lives. Diagnostics are often not widely available in low income countries leading to inappropriate and delayed treatments. This is the case for a serious fungal infection called chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), and often for other fungal infections associated with […]
No quick fix: the long-term needs of sexual assault survivors
Around 1 in 5 women will experience sexual assault at some point in their life. The results can be devastating for victims and survivors. They not only have to deal with the psychological trauma of the assault, but often suffer physical harm and social consequences, including financial ones, as a result. The impact of these […]
Improving air quality in urban areas
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, thought to cause between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year. It has also been linked with the development and worsening of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and lung cancer, exacerbates asthma and hay fever, and worsens the outcomes of respiratory infections such […]
Institutional abuse and neglect: time for policy and regulatory reform?
Attention to the abuse and neglect of people in institutional settings is at the forefront of existing and proposed policy agendas. Investigations, reviews and calls for action feature in the workload of the Joint Committee on Human Rights; the Health and Social Care Select Committee; the Equality and Human Rights Committee and the Care Quality […]
Incorporating health and wellbeing into housing developments
Despite the health, social and environmental benefits of high-quality housing developments, delivering healthy and sustainable homes and neighbourhoods remains a challenging task. In this blog, Caglar Koksal outlines how housing developers and local authorities can work together to create healthy, high-quality homes while also addressing long-standing health and housing inequalities. High-quality developments deliver positive public […]
How the digital healthcare revolution leaves the most vulnerable behind
Digital technology in healthcare was vital during the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure that people maintained access to health services when they were not available in-person. However, the move to digital healthcare disadvantaged some patients and placed them at risk of greater inequality and vulnerability. Here, Dr Omer Ali, Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, Dr Claudia Pagliari […]