Five years ago this week the National Social Prescribing Network was founded. What started as a spark of an idea has become a hugely successful movement that has seen social prescribing move from the periphery into mainstream health. In a…
Gut bacteria affects how immune system responds to Covid, studies say
Bacteria in a person’s gut could determine how seriously they’re affected by symptoms of Covid, two new studies in Asia have found. Research carried out by scientists at the University of Hong Kong found that some people diagnosed with the…
‘Link workers are bringers of hope’: Social prescribing features on BBC One’s Countryfile
Social Prescribing featured on BBC One’s Countryfile this weekend, with presenter Anita Rani meeting Dr Marie Polley to discuss finding solutions to problems without medical intervention. Anita joined Dr Polley, who is co-Chair of the Social Prescribing Network, to discuss…
Lockdown depression: ‘A GP who has time to engage properly with a patient can reduce the need for a referral’
The rise in the number of people being referred for depression – particularly during lockdown – could be directly linked to a reduced number of GPs, the College of Medicine’s Chair has said. Depression rates continue to rise in the…
“I’ve given daily Zoom exercise classes since March” Physio Sarah Bazin on keeping people fit during lockdown
Chartered Physiotherapist, Sarah Bazin, was given the task of creating a free exercise programme for College of Medicine members – and a wider audience – back in late March. Here, Sarah, who worked as a NHS physio for 40 years,…
Hope for the Future: what do College members aspire for in healthcare in 2021?
A new year is upon us, and despite the extraordinary challenges that we’ve faced in 2020, we remain hugely optimistic for the year ahead. To mark the dawn of 2021, the College asked our friends and members – many of…
The College of Medicine looks to the year ahead – as we prepare to publish our 10-year manifesto
In his festive message, College of Medicine Chair Dr Michael Dixon discusses the unfathomable year that has been 2020, including chinks of light centred around community, kindness and our many, free online classes, which have now reached thousands of people.…
Two doctors changed the way we treat stomach ulcers – so, could adopting a similar approach to Type 2 Diabetes be just as effective?
In the latest installment of his regular column for the Daily Mail, Dr Michael Mosley offers a fascinating insight into how two doctors discovered a cheaper, more effective way of treating stomach ulcers – but found it took winning a…
New research finds turmeric could have theraputic use for practitioners – including easing pain
New research has examined the effects of the spice turmeric as a theraputic option for GPs and practitioners. The yellow-coloured spice – which contains the compound curcumin – has long been used as a herbal remedy for conditions associated with…
Dr Michael Dixon: ‘Let’s look to social prescribing to tackle loneliness’
College of Medicine Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, this week spoke at the Westminster Insight conference on Tackling Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older People. Here is the abridged address he gave on how social prescribing can help to transform the…
Dr Michael Dixon pens a new book on life as a Devon GP – and how integrated medicine has influenced his practice and his patients…
College of Medicine Chairman Dr Michael Dixon, a longstanding GP in the village of Cullompton, Devon, has written a new book – perfectly placed for the present-buying season – about his extraordinary life working in General Practice in a rural…
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green: Covid-19 has had a damaging effect on children – but there is an opportunity to ‘re-set’
Children may be more resistant to Covid-19 but the pandemic has still had a disproportionate effect on their lives, says Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, a member of the College of Medicine’s Scientific Advisory Council and former UK Children’s Commissioner. Writing…
As we await a vaccine, could herbs and spices be an ally in fighting off Covid-19?
While positive news about potential vaccines have offered a chink of light in finding a way to outwit Covid-19, looking to Mother Nature – sunlight, herbs and plants – might help us to improve our resilience in the meantime, say doctors. Research…
Loneliness spikes as dark nights and lockdown take their toll on mental health
New statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that levels of loneliness have heightened in recent weeks with the arrival of darker evenings and a second lockdown – with one in four people reporting increased feelings of…
Ten years of the College of Medicine: We celebrate a decade of huge achievement
The College of Medicine is celebrating its tenth birthday and, on November 12th, its Chair, executives and members threw an almighty Zoom party to mark a decade that has seen social prescribing, which remains at the very core of the…
Plant biologist’s research finds roadside weed kills breast cancer cells without damaging healthy ones
A plant biologist who has dedicated years of research to proving that a roadside weed could help successfully target breast cancer cells has produced her strongest evidence yet. In her latest research, Professor Alessandra Devoto, from Royal Holloway, University of…
Fighting for the arts in a pandemic: ENO Chair says directors doubled up as ‘covid marshalls’ to get La Bohème back on the stage
English National Opera Chairman Dr Harry Brunjes, vice-president of the College of Medicine, reflects on the ENO’s first socially-distanced production… In the theatre world it certainly has been ‘the season of darkness’ with a predicted ‘winter of despair’, but hopefully…
Obituary: Hugh MacPherson
College of Medicine members may have heard of the very sad death of Hugh MacPherson, who was a member of the College’s Scientific Advisory Council, Chaired by Professor Sir Stephen Holgate. Hugh passed away in August, aged 72, from pancreatic cancer.…
Head of College of Medicine’s Scientific Advisory Council, Professor Stephen Holgate, is honoured with a knighthood
Professor Stephen Holgate, the College of Medicine’s Head of Scientific Advisory Council, has revealed that he’s “absolutely thrilled” to have received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list 2020. Currently Professor of Immunopharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine at…
Matt Hancock: ‘There is no downside to vitamin D’ – as evidence grows that it could help in Covid-19 fight
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he now supports people taking vitamin D, amid growing evidence that those who are deficient in the ‘sunshine vitamin’ fare worse when infected with Covid-19. The College of Medicine has long advocated taking Vitamin…
Brushing your teeth properly reduces risk of oral cancer, scientists say
Brushing your teeth thoroughly could help to prevent oral cancer, new research finds. Scientists at the University of California found that the bacteria that builds up around teeth when regular brushing is absent was responsible for pathogens that enhanced tumour…
Freddy Jacquin interview: “Most people are willing to give hypnosis a go… so why won’t the NHS prescribe it?”
Since lockdown began back in late March, hypnotist Freddy Jacquin has been offering Freddy’s Free Friday Therapy, offering College of Medicine followers and the general public the chance to log on to a live session (now on the last Friday…
‘We have achieved so much but there is so much yet to do…’ Dr Michael Dixon addresses Westminster Health Forum social prescribing Conference
The College of Medicine’s Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, made a keynote address at the Westminster Health Forum Conference on September 17th…here, we share his address in full… ‘I am most grateful to the Westminster Health Forum for organising this third…
English National Opera launches breathing programme – using singing techniques – for patients recovering from Covid-19
What started as a Zoom meeting between four College of Medicine physicians; Dr Michael Dixon, Sir Sam Everington, Professor Ajit Lalvani and Dr Harry Brunjes, has sparked a new, nationwide initiative with the English National Opera. The topic was COVID-19…
Losing weight cuts the risk of a raft of obesity-related health problems, new study finds
A major new study has found that shedding weight significantly cuts the risk of developing a group of chronic health conditions – with a loss of 13 per cent body weight reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42…
