Fewer children drinking but some consume 28 units per week

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A recent survey the the independent Schools Health Education Unit has indicated that fewer children are drinking alcohol, but some as young as 12 years old are consuming 28 units of alcohol per week.

The survey indicated that 4% of 12 and 13 year olds reported that they drink 28 units of alcohol or more per week.

Nearly 84,000 children between the ages of 10 and 15 in over 1000 schools across the UK were involved in the survey. A variety of health related questions were asked and the responses relating to alcohol were mixed.

The results of the survey suggested that whilst more teenagers are remaining teetotal, those that do drink are also more likely to consume alcohol to excess.

When compared to previous years surveys, fewer children confirmed that they had been drunk in the week before the survey. However, 11% of pupils aged between 14 and 15 confirmed that they had drank over 10 units of alcohol in the previous week.

Simon Antrobus from Addaction, the drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity, said: “Children who drink at younger ages are the ones who need help most. We also know that children whose parents misuse alcohol are more likely to develop their own problems later in life”

The government have indicated that they are taking measures to prevent alcohol abuse in young people. Fines for selling alcohol to underage drinkers have been doubled to £20,000. The period of voluntary closure that any business caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers as a measure to avoid prosecution has been increased from 48 hours to 2 weeks.

Private medical insurance UK

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Many UKers are interested in private medical insurance. The decision to take out a private medical insurance policy can be a big one, as there are hundreds of companies, each offering different options and packages. First of all, there are both pros and con to taking out a private policy.

The biggest pro is that you have faster service. Most Britts are aware of the long wait times with the NHS. A private policy can drastically reduce that wait time. When your medical services are private, you have the freedom to choose which doctors or specialists you would like to have take care of you. Often you will have the same doctor care for you through your full treatment. You also get more personalized care. Your physician will be able to spend more time with you, educating you on your symptoms, the procedures you are undergoing, cures, etc.

You also receive help from your insurer. For example, they often have a claims team that deals in “specialist” areas, such as cancer, or other illnesses and conditions that require a specialist. They will be able to advise you, and help you select the best caregiver for your condition.

In short, with a private medical insurance policy you get more personalized, catered care. In some cases, this can mean the difference between life and death. Prompt care can also mean that you experience much faster relief from symptoms that were uncomfortable, or even debilitating.

On the other hand, the down side of private medical insurance begins with the fact that it may come at a high cost to you. Not all conditions are covered with every policy, and it can be difficult to know which policy to choose. Premiums are based on your medical history, age and physical health. You can find policies that cover specific long term illnesses and conditions, but for the most part the policies cover only short term illness and injuries.

Some people rush too quickly into selecting a policy, without reading the fine print, only to find that they did not understand the terms correctly. This can be frustrating; as you are paying for a service you thought you had, only to learn that you did not have it. Those considering private medical insurance should consult with a third party financial consultant, who can offer unbiased presentation of the differences in insurance companies and policies.

Also, within a private insurance company network, doctors and specialist may not be as tightly networked as they are in the NHS. This can mean that coordinating appointments between different offices and specialists can be more difficult.

Explore the options thoroughly in order to decide what is right for you.

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Potential new stem cell fertility treatment

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A recent study in infertile mice has successfully created working sperm cells from stem cells and has allowed the mice to then go on and give birth to fertile pups.

The research, which was carried out by a team in Japan, has been hailed as ‘hugely exciting’ by fertility experts.

The researchers in Kyoto were able to take stem cells from mouse embryos and use them to grow primordial germ cells (PGCs). When these cells were injected into the infertile mouse, they were able to develop into normal sperm cells and were successfully used to fertilise eggs.

The fertilized eggs were transplanted into the female mouse and led to a successful birth. The offspring were also shown to be healthy and fertile.

The research team has suggested that it may be possible to use the same procedure in humans using stem cells which are created from adult skin cells.

Dr Allan Pacey, from the University of Sheffield, said: “This has huge implications for furthering our understanding of how sperm are made, but may also one day lead to a clinical application whereby we could make sperm for infertile men.” He added that most previous attempts to create sperm cells from embryonic stem cells have been unsuccessful. These attempts have often led to offspring which were unhealthy and died early. He has said that whilst this recent study is a big step forward, much more research needs to be done to refine the process before it can be used in humans.

Welcome

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Welcome to the LNR Gastro trainees website. This is a new innovation and we hope you find it useful. On this website you will find a job description for Specialist Training as well as links to other relevant websites. There is also a calendar of important training dates and courses.

LNR Deanery provides high quality training in clinical gastroenterology with the opportunity to undertake quality research.

Leicester has also been selected as a national bowel cancer screening centre.

Midlands, not middle-of-the-road