First rule of complementary therapy? Recognise ‘red flags’ that indicate a serious medical problem
The College of Medicine’s Dr Toh Wong, a GP trainer, discusses how complementary therapists must feel confident in reporting potentially serious conditions to doctors when necessary… What do red flags have to do with complementary therapy? One of the biggest…
Doctors and complementary therapists need to work together for better patient outcomes
GP Trainer Dr Toh Wong shares how his London conference has proved an important building block in helping complementary therapists and doctors work in a more cohesive way to improve patient care… The last three years has seen a torrent…
Dr Zoe Harcombe: ‘Why the Eat-Lancet plant-based diet is nutritionally deficient’
The EAT-Lancet Commission released details of the controversial Eat-Lancet diet in January. Here, ahead of the College of Medicine’s Food On Prescription Conference in October 2019, author and researcher Dr Zoe Harcombe, who specialises in examining public health dietary guidelines,…
Patrick Holden: ‘We’re paying for cheap food with our health and our planet’
In this interview originally published by Borough Market, Ellie Costigan asks Patrick Holden why our food system needs to change to prevent irreversible climate change and a biodiversity catastrophe… Patrick Holden is the founder of the Sustainable Food Trust, a charitable…
“We need evidence to prove social prescribing works”, says former children’s tsar
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green was the first Children’s Commissioner for England and is a former president of the British Medical Association. An influential figure on children’s health and development for more than 40 years, here, Aynsley-Green debates the role social…
Taxing cigarettes has worked: is it now time to do the same with bad food?
Simon Tuckey has spent much of his career in the food industry in the UK and overseas. Here, he debates the idea that obesity has become so costly to the NHS it’s time to use financial mechanisms to reduce food…
How to make GPs stay? Work to reduce lifestyle-related illnesses putting such strain on the NHS
Heather Richards, Director of Nutrition at the Sano School of Culinary Medicine, writes on how GPs need to be better equipped on nutrition if the burden on the healthcare system is to be reduced… Nutrition knowledge for healthcare professionals and involvement…
‘People come to a yoga class feeling anxious – when they leave they’re able to cope better with life’s pressures’
Davy Jones has been teaching yoga for 12 years and practising for 20. He is chair of the Brighton Yoga Foundation and, here, explains how the organisation is helping to reach out to diverse areas of the community: Yoga is…
Healthcare professionals should be lobbying against climate change: the population’s health depends on it
Dr James Szymankiewicz is a GP working in North Devon. He is currently Vice Chair of the GP Collaborative Board representing the 22 North Devon practices. He’s also the current Chair of Devon Local Nature Partnership which focuses on enhancing Devon’s natural environment. Here,…
Case study: How an impromptu acupuncture session helped prevent a hospital referral
Jens Foell is a peripatetic GP who uses acupuncture within his practice when appropriate. Here, he explains how he turned to his needle kit to treat an elderley patient presenting with acute myofascial pain… Bian Que is a prominent figure in…
Student doctors need social prescribing in their toolkit: the nation’s future health depends on it
Bogdan Chiva Giurca, Chair of the National Social Prescribing Student Champion Scheme, offers insight how the current generation of trainee doctors are being taught social prescribing… Developing a national consensus for teaching social prescribing within UK medical schools, the Social…
How to best support a patient? Start actually listening to them!
Damien Ridge, Professor of Health Studies and Head of Psychology at the University of Westminster, writes on how healthcare professionals need to look more closely at patient evidence… “In thinking about the College of Medicine’s mission to empower patients, I…
When the side-effects of medicine outweigh the benefits: How over-prescribing is making us sick
South London GP James Le Fanu published his book, Too Many Pills: How Too Much Medicine is Endangering Our Health and What We Can Do About It, earlier this year. A regular writer on medicine and science for the Sunday…
How to fix public health? A new breed of GP is needed…
College of Medicine founder, senior GP and NHS England social prescribing champion, Dr Michael Dixon, told gponline.com this week that public health needs to be ‘built around general practice’, with an increased role for volunteers. Here, Dr Luke Allen, GP Academic Clinical…
The NHS has a duty of care to prevent doctor burn-out – for the well-being of staff AND patients
Professor David Peters, Clinical Director in the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, warns the NHS urgently needs a Charter of Compassionate Practice to prevent staff demoralised by excessive workloads from leaving the healthcare system… The NHS…
How everyday foods could help fight depression and dementia
Health Guide, herbal practitioner and Pukka strategist Simon Mills on how everyday plants including cocoa and turmeric could help health problems associated with inflammation… Ground-breaking new research suggests that inflammation could be a key contributor to depression, dementia and other pressing…
How a theatre director changed the way I interact with my patients
London-based GP, acupuncturist and Lu Jong yoga teacher Deniah Pachai explains how a book on communication by British voice coach and director Patsy Rodenburg OBE has changed the way she communicates… I could never have imagined that an author who writes…
Should doctors recommend acupuncture for pain?
Mike Cummings, College of Medicine Lead for Acupuncture within Medicine and Medical Director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, expresses his views on whether doctors should prescribe acupuncture… The evolution of this debate[1], should doctors recommend acupuncture for pain?, has…
The mouth reflects whole body health – but what does integrated care mean for dentists?
Professor Sonia Williams holds the Emeritus Chair in Oral Health Services Research at the University of Leeds and was awarded the MBE for her work in child and ethnic minorities dental health. Here, Professor Williams explores how integrated oral health…
How health inequality in Crawley has been transformed and the town now boasts the UK’s lowest emergency admission rates
GP Dr Amit Bhargava explains why the north-west Sussex town of Crawley has one of the lowest rates of emergency admissions in the country – and has been recognised as the most dementia-friendly community in the UK. The town, close…
How increased education on Integrative Medicine is changing the way GPs help patients
Dr Elizabeth Thompson, Academic Director for the Diploma for Integrative Medicine, which launched in Bristol in 2017, explains how the course is helping students develop a critical and enquiring approach to a variety of therapeutic interventions: The Diploma Development Team…
Social exclusion kills: Society’s healthcare systems can and must help
Medical Director for the charity Pathway, Dr Nigel Hewett OBE has been instrumental in recognising the need for healthcare systems to practise ‘Inclusion Health’. Here, Dr Hewett explains why medical professionals must work together to bring down the high mortality rates experienced by…
Israel’s life expectancy rates match East London’s but the UK spends double the amount on healthcare
GP Sir Sam Everington OBE, Chairman of Tower Hamlets CCG, examines whether the UK’s life expectancy rates could be dramatically improved by focusing on social determinants and a better use of technology: In the East End of London the difference in life…
Dr Michael Dixon on Radio 4’s Today programme: “We need to find the right fit for patients, not just reach for a pill”
Dr Michael Dixon appeared on the Today programme on Radio 4 on 5th January 2018…below is a transcript of the comments Dr Dixon made in discussion with presenter John Humphrys: ON MOVING AWAY FROM PRESCRIBING TABLETS “Too often we reach…
European Congress for Integrative Medicine to be held in London in 2020
The European Congress on Integrative Medicine will be hosted in London in 2020, it has been announced. It is the first time the long-established event, which offers a forum to facilitate the advancement of healthcare that combines conventional medicine with evidence…
Short bursts of activity are beneficial to health, say updated guidelines
Partaking in just a few minutes of exercise can still benefit health, new guidelines in the UK state. It was previously recommended that at least ten minutes of exercise was needed to have any positive impact on health. However, the…
Positive thinkers live longer because they’re better at ‘bouncing back’, new study says
Being optimistic could extend life, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Looking on the bright side could even help people achieve “exceptional longevity”, reaching 85 or older. The research, carried out…
Omega-3 fats offer ‘zero benefit’ for type 2 diabetes, says research
People with type 2 diabetes get little or no benefit from taking fish oil supplements, new research says. A study, commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and published by the British Medical Journal, took in data from 83 trials…
Poor sleep can ‘increase risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease and strokes’
People who consistently struggle to sleep well could be at a higher risk of heart failure, strokes and coronary artery disease, according to new research. Scientists at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden studied data on the sleep patterns of 1.3million…
New research finds herbal tea beneficial for thyroid and liver function
A new paper by the University of the West of England (UWE) and herbal well-being company Pukka Herbs has reviewed available clinical evidence and shows that drinking herbal teas are beneficial for a range of health conditions. In a review…
Bacteria found in the gut of top athletes could improve physical performance
New research has suggested that high performance athletes have different biomes to those who exercise more moderately or not at all. A special type of gut bacteria, veillonella, was found in the digestive microbiomes of elite athletes and scientists believe…
UK’s growing opiate crisis: How do GPs find a safer solution for people in pain?
An article in February this year in The Sunday Times highlighted the dramatic increase in the use of opioids, with addiction rates – including overdoses and deaths – surging in line with a huge rise in the number of painkillers…
Obesity increases risk of disease and early death ‘significantly’, says new research
The impact on health of being overweight has been highlighted in a major new study, with Public Health England calling for ‘sustained action’ to tackle obesity going forward. The research, which will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity…
UK’s top supermarkets ‘misleading shoppers’ on healthy food, investigation finds
The UK’s leading supermarkets – including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons – are marketing some products as ‘healthy choices’ to shoppers when they’re laden with bad fats, sugar and salt, a new investigation has claimed. BBC Radio 5 Live sent researchers…
‘It’s social prescription at its best’: College of Medicine joins Duchess of Cornwall at Lambeth Food Co-op
WATCH VIDEO: The College of Medicine’s Chair Dr Michael Dixon has praised a community-led food co-operative in Lambeth, calling the project ‘social prescription at its very beginning and very best’. Dr Dixon joined HRH Duchess of Cornwall in the London…
College of Medicine welcomes NHS link workers plan
An army of advisers will be recruited to help patients live fitter, healthier lives and combat anxiety, loneliness and depression under plans to ramp up social prescribing set to be launched by NHS England this week. Around half of GP…
Could exercise reverse dementia? Study finds activity hormone may protect brain
Cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s could be helped by a hormone that is naturally released during exercise, according to a study in Brazil and the US. Scientists researched the effects of irisin, a protein emitted by the body during…
Superfood spirulina could help reduce blood pressure, says new research
Blood pressure could be lowered by a form of algae, according to a new study. Superfood spirulina (arthrospira platensis), technically a bacteria, was found to contain a protein that helps arteries to ‘relax’ by researchers at the Mediterranean Neurological Institute…
Type 2 diabetes leads to mental decline in middle-age, new research says
Patients with diabetes Type 2 are more likely to have increased mental decline during later life, new research says. The new study, carried out by the University of Tasmania, found that memory and verbal fluency declined significantly in elderly people with…
Life expectancy disparity: Poor people living in England are likely to die around ten years before rich
People growing up in poverty in England have a life expectancy of ten years less than their richer peers. A new study says the gap between rich and poor is getting wider when it comes to life span. And children…
The arts are an ‘indispensable tool’ in helping the NHS, Matt Hancock tells The King’s Fund
The Health and Social Care Secretary said the NHS should look to ‘social cures’ including music, dance and reading to reduce pressure on the health service. Speaking at The King’s Fund in London, Conservative minister Matt Hancock told the audience…
Health Secretary unveils bespoke health advice to extend life by five years by 2035
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has unveiled a new government healthcare strategy that hopes to extend life expectancy in the UK by five years. The Conservative plans, which will use personal data and will be officially unveiled in…
Doctors should take cookery lessons to offer patients better advice on nutrition
GPs should consider taking cookery courses so they’re better placed to advise patients on healthy eating, which in turn could reduce the country’s Type 2 diabetes rate. Britain’s obesity problem is currently the worst in Europe, with around two thirds…
College of Medicine welcomes Theresa May’s new policy on social prescribing to combat loneliness
The College of Medicine has welcomed the news that social prescribing will be offered within primary care by 2023. The Prime Minister announced on October 15th that GPs in England will be able to prescribe activities including dance, cookery and…
Scientists link common painkiller to increased risk of heart problems
A popular painkiller has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke, according to a new study published in the BMJ. Researchers at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark found that the commonly-used painkiller diclofenac was associated with an…
Social prescribing should become ‘normal practice’ for GPs, says Health Secretary
The new Health Secretary has backed plans to dramatically increase social prescription on the NHS, saying GPs and healthcare professionals should advise patients that playing sport and being sociable are key to their health. Matt Hancock said growing evidence suggested…
Hard-to-spot ‘micro-organs’ hold key to how the body ‘remembers’ returning infections
Scientists believe they’ve come a step closer to understanding how the body ‘remembers’ to fight illnesses. Researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, say they’ve discovered ‘micro-organs’, tiny banks of cells that act as a central…
Two thirds of GPs think engaging with the arts can help to prevent ill health
A survey of GPs has revealed that nearly two thirds of them think that the arts can make a significant contribution towards preventing ill health among the public. More than 1,000 general practitioners were questioned in the research for AESOP…
Cycling is great exercise…but is your saddle hurting your health?
Author of Keep Healthy After Cancer, leading oncologist Professor Robert Thomas examines the rarely discussed negative effects of cycling on male health – and how diet can help… Whether you’re commuting, being a weekend-warrior in a gruelling sportif or just having…
Prescription drugs addiction is increasing in England, say health chiefs
The number of people in the UK taking strong painkillers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills long-term is rising, health chiefs have warned. In a new review by Public Health England, research found that 25 per cent of adults regularly use such…
Prue Leith is latest star name to try to improve hospital food, saying meals should give ‘pleasure and comfort’
Television star Prue Leith, a judge on Channel 4 baking show The Great British Bake Off, is set to advise hospital caterers on how to improve food for patients. The high-profile recruitment comes after the government announced in June that it…
The College of Medicine launches online evidence-based Self Care Toolkit ‘to empower patients’
A new online health website has launched to help give patients more control of their health. Our Health Directory, found at ourhealth.directory, has been created by the College of Medicine to offer a reliable, evidence-based user-friendly online guide to a…
Is the UK lagging behind when it comes to supporting complementary medicine?
A new report from the World Health Organisation red flags that the UK is not doing enough to support complementary medicine, says the College of Medicine’s Chair Dr Michael Dixon. The WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019 aims…
Five superfoods you’ve never heard of (but may well be in your smoothie soon!)
Wind back the clock twenty years and words that are now part of the healthy eating lexicon; spirulina, quinoa, wheatgrass etc were once alien concepts to most of us. Fast forward a decade or so and what foods might soon…
‘We don’t do it for clinical improvements, we do it to relax patients’: How complementary therapies are helping Manchester hospital’s renal unit
Glamourous 80-year-old Ann Critchley, who travels to the Salford Hope dialysis unit three times a week for her four hourly dialysis sessions, was quick to praise the work of Christine, her therapist as she massaged deep into Ann’s ankles and…
A stroke knocks life sideways but the creative arts can help re-build confidence
Life after a stroke is a journey home, home to one’s post stroke self and the familiarity of family and actual home. However, as Odysseus found on his return from Troy, the journey does not always go as planned. Recovery…
How the College of Medicine marked first International Social Prescribing Day
Thursday March 14th marked the very first International Social Prescribing Day, designed to highlight the importance and significance of social prescribing within healthcare and its potential benefits for well-being for people across the world. Social prescribing is a healthcare model…
Explainer: How does social prescribing actually work?
It’s the healthcare buzzword that has moved from the periphery to the mainstream thanks to the government’s 2018 pledge to inject £4.5million into NHS social prescribing. Ahead of National Social Prescribing Day on March 14th 2019…here’s what you need to…
‘More than five ingredients? Put it back!’ Sano School of Culinary Medicine founder Heather Richards on clean eating, healthy food myths and keeping motivated…
London-based Heather Richards founded the Sano School of Culinary Medicine in 2017 with her husband Doug in a bid to provide education on real, nutritionally-balanced food. Here, she speaks to the College of Medicine about convincing children to enjoy wholesome food over…
‘Three years ago I couldn’t even walk into a shop’: Five women reveal deeply personal stories on how yoga transformed their lives
The ancient art of yoga remains powerfully in tune with modern life, with everyone from stressed-out office workers to time-poor parents and life-long yogis finding sanctity on the mat. However, for some, yoga hasn’t just been an occasional soul-soother but…
Doctors should take cookery lessons to offer patients better advice on nutrition
GPs should consider taking cookery courses so they’re better placed to advise patients on healthy eating, which in turn could reduce the country’s Type 2 diabetes rate. Britain’s obesity problem is currently the worst in Europe, with around two thirds…
Losing weight soon after a diabetes Type 2 diagnosis could prevent long-term damage, says new research
Patients with Type 2 diabetes should try and lose weight as soon as they’re diagnosed – to have the best chance of countering the disease, says new research. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body stops producing insulin and currently…
“There is still much shame surrounding ‘invisible pain’ conditions”: The Countess of Devon on how integrative medicine helps her to live better with fibromyalgia
The Countess of Devon, AJ Langer-Courtenay, first shot to fame on US television shows including My So-Called Life. After marrying her husband, Charles Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon, the Californian, 44, now resides in Powderham Castle, near Exeter. The…
Holidays could be more effective than eating well and exercise for health, study says
How much holiday people take a year could have a direct impact on health, scientists in Sweden have found. A 40-year study carried out by the University of Helsinki concluded that men who took less than three weeks’ annual leave…
Cutting carbohydrates could damage health, Havard study finds
People trying to lose weight by excluding carbohydrates from their food intake could damage their long-term health, according to a new study by the Harvard School of Public Health. The research, carried out on 15,400 adults aged 45 to 64 over…
Dining at least two hours before bedtime could cut risk of some cancers
The southern Mediterranean lifestyle, where dinner is often served very late in the evening, could be putting people at risk from certain cancers. Sitting down to eat a big meal within two hours of going to bed could increase the…
Minor changes to diet could ‘supercharge’ the metabolism (and let you eat cheese and biscuits)
An indulgent final course of cheese and biscuits could actually promote weight loss, according to a leading Kings College professor whose new book suggests making small tweaks to how we eat could boost the metabolism and keep weight stable. Professor Tim…
Fish oil could alleviate side effects during some cancer treatments
Taking a fish oil supplement could help reduce painful side effects in patients being treated for breast and bowel cancer, suggests new research. Two studies show that omega-3 fatty acids could help alleviate pain that some treatments cause including joint…
A Mediterranean diet boosts good bacteria levels in the microbiome, says new research
The benefits of a Mediterranean diet on health are well documented but new research shows that eating a diet rich in fish, vegetables, legumes, fruit and olive oil could offer a significant boost to levels of good bacteria in the…
Drinking three cups of coffee a day may decrease coronary calcification, finds research
A new study by a Brazilian university suggests drinking three cups of coffee daily could help to decrease coronary calcification – but drinking too much could have a negative impact. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo found that people…
Eating lentils could help to reduce decline in blood vessel health, says research
They are the simplest of legumes…but new research from a Canadian university suggests that lentils could help fight high blood pressure. A research team at the University of Manitoba found that blood vessel health could be improved by eating the…
Dance can help Britain’s health crisis, says Darcey Bussell ahead of conference
Dance and dance fitness can play a significant role in keeping the nation healthy says former Royal Ballet star Darcey Bussell. The Strictly Come Dancing judge will tell delegates at a conference in April that dancing can have an impact…
KEEPING NATURE IN MIND
Woodland Resilience Immersion for GPs
Sleep and Self-Care: Restoring Balance in our Busy Lives
