Articles by Martin Bagot

Technology

NHS random blood testing in A&Es uncovers shocking numbers with undiagnosed HIV

Thousands of people are living with undiagnosed diseases such as HIV, routine blood testing in A&Es has found. An NHS initiative to routinely conduct blood tests on people who turn up on emergency wards has found over 4,000 people living with undiagnosed hepatitis B and C, which can lead to liver cirrhosis. The UK Health Security Association has published the results of its bloodborne virus (BBV) testing programme at 34 A&Es in areas of highest HIV prevalence. It is part of a Government drive to end new HIV transmissions by 2030. One in every 2,000 people tested had HIV and half of these had late-stage disease. Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton said: “This groundbreaking programme continues to be a huge success, identifying infections that would otherwise have gone undiagnosed. By making testing a routine part of emergency care, we're connecting patients with lifesaving treatment earlier and helping to protect the wider community. “It also helps us in our goal to end new HIV transmissions by 2030, which depends on better access to testing and treatment. Every new or untreated diagnosis we identify represents someone who can now get the care they need.” HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. The NHS says that once people get HIV, they have it for life, but proper medical care can control the virus. Hepatitis attacks the liver and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. One in 240 people tested was found to have hepatitis B while one in 1,276 people tested had hepatitis C. The BBV programme saw A&E patients automatically tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C unless they opted out. Some 70% of eligible people agreed to be tested. In the first 33 months of the scheme the following infections were identified in patients who were then offered life saving treatment: Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England medical director, said: “The rollout of blood-borne virus testing in NHS emergency departments has been a gamechanger for the early detection of HIV and viral hepatitis – enabling thousands more people to get access to life-saving treatments, which prevent long-term health issues and reduce the chance of passing the viruses on to others.” Dr Sema Mandal, Consultant Epidemiologist and deputy director at the UKHSA, said: "The pioneering NHS opt-out testing programme in emergency departments is helping us reach thousands of people who did not know they were living with HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Many of these individuals might never have been tested otherwise – missing the chance to access life-saving treatment. "What we're seeing is a clear and urgent need to do more to tackle these serious infections. The high number of new diagnoses across all three conditions shows just how many people are living with undiagnosed bloodborne viruses. “We must improve awareness, expand testing and diagnosis and ensure people are supported into care and treatment. Early diagnosis can help prevent years of ill health and save thousands of lives."

Technology

Too hungover to work - report finds workplace drinking culture driving sickies

Workplace drinking cultures are driving absences and Gen Z workers are struggling to keep up, a report shows. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found 31% of workers called in sick during the last year after work-related drinking. Its nationally representative survey of 2,000 working-age adults found 24% said they sometimes felt pressured to drink when they didn’t want to - rising to 38% among employees aged 18 to 24. Heavy drinkers were three times more likely to exhibit presenteeism - defined as being at the workplace more hours than is required - than moderate drinkers. Dr Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at the IPPR, said: “We often think of alcohol harm as a public health issue, but this research shows it’s a national economic problem. “When nearly half of young professionals are calling in sick after workplace drinking, it’s not just a hangover - it’s a productivity crisis. If the government is serious about growth, it needs to take alcohol harm seriously too.” The IPPR paper, ‘Taking stock: counting the economic costs of alcohol harm’, found 22% of Brits reported working while hungover and 29% observed colleagues being tired or sluggish after drinking. Young workers and senior executives are among the most affected groups. Generation Z refers to people born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, typically from 1997 to 2012. While Gen Z may be drinking less overall, the report finds they are disproportionately affected by workplace alcohol harm. Some 43% of 18 to 24-year-olds reported calling in sick after drinking at work-related events. Over a third said they felt pressured to drink to fit in or progress professionally. Sebastian Rees, head of health at IPPR, said: “Employers have a huge opportunity here. By shifting away from alcohol-centric cultures and offering real support, they can boost wellbeing, improve performance, and build more inclusive workplaces. This isn’t about banning drinks — it’s about giving people the choice to thrive without pressure.” It comes after experts warned parents who introduce their children to alcohol at home could be doing lasting harm, experts have warned. A report has found early introduction of alcohol dramatically increases the chances of binge-drinking, alcoholism as well as harming the developing brain of teenagers. The Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) report, led by behavioural psychologist Dr Anna Sallis, was presented before MPs at an event in Parliament. Kate Winstanley, director of CAP, said: “Too many parents still mistakenly believe that giving alcohol to children at home will teach them to drink responsibly or reduce the risk of them getting alcohol elsewhere. “Our report shows that every year earlier a child is given alcohol, their risk of binge drinking and alcohol harm including as an adult will increase. They are also more, not less, likely to obtain alcohol elsewhere if their parents allow them to drink.”