Scottish Health News | Herald Scotland http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health Scottish Health News | Herald Scotland Copyright 2012 Herald & Times Group all rights reserved 2012-02-10T07:40:04Z Strategy on C. Diff 'could be wrong' http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/strategy-on-c-diff-could-be-wrong.16692806 HOSPITALS may be adopting the wrong strategy for combating a notorious bug. 'Give disabled people control, not cuts' http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/give-disabled-people-control-not-cuts.16686967 Offering people with disabilities greater control over the budgets for their own care and support must not be a cover for cuts, according to the trade union Unison. The war against superbugs http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/the-war-against-superbugs.16666602 THEY have been the scourge of hospital wards for years and caused or contributed to the deaths of more than 5000 Scots over the past decade. The routine hospital visit which led to the death of a grandmother http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/the-routine-hospital-visit-which-led-to-the-death-of-a-grandmother.16666657 WHEN Helen McCafferty went into hospital for treatment for an irregular heartbeat, her daughter Linda expected it would be a routine procedure. New app shows booze toll on looks http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/new-app-shows-booze-toll-on-looks.16666634 SMARTPHONE users will be able to download a "drinking time machine" app from this week which has been developed to show how regularly boozing too much can rapidly accelerate the ageing process. Free vitamin D call amid fear for children's health http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/free-vitamin-d-call-amid-fear-for-childrens-health.16662669 HEALTH campaigners have called on the Scottish Government to provide free vitamin D supplements after advice was re-issued for pregnant women and children to take it daily. Number of E.coli infections up 19% http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/number-of-ecoli-infections-up-19-x.16643961 SCOTLAND'S infections watchdog has reported a "substantial increase" in the number of E.coli cases last year, with positive tests for the bacteria up by 19%. Decline in memory is linked to heart failure http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/decline-in-memory-is-linked-to-heart-failure.16635745 HEART failure, which affects around 900,000 people in the UK, is linked to a decline in mental processes and a loss of grey matter in the brain, according to new research. Spike in stillbirths prompts inquiry into cause http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/spike-in-stillbirths-prompts-inquiry-into-cause.16633626 AN investigation has been launched to establish the cause of an unexplained spike in stillbirths in one of Scotland's health boards. Pharmacists join drive to raise awareness of strokes http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/pharmacists-join-drive-to-raise-awareness-of-strokes.16626784 SCOTS pharmacists are joining the fight against strokes as part of a nationwide drive to raise awareness of the symptoms. NHS dentist opens in island's capital http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/nhs-dentist-opens-in-islands-capital.16626815 A PERMANENT NHS dental clinic has opened on an island two years after the area's private practice closed. Student film on blind golf up for an award http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/student-film-on-blind-golf-up-for-an-award.16624592 Of all sports to play blind, the one which involves hitting a ball for hundreds of yards in the hope of getting it in a hole the size of a teacup seems a less than obvious choice. Fertility clinic criticised by pro-life lobby http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/fertility-clinic-criticised-by-pro-life-lobby.16564502 PRO-LIFE campaigners have criticised a Scottish fertility clinic for introducing a screening test that checks for genetic abnormalities before eggs are implanted into a woman. Trainee nurse intake cut by 10% http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/trainee-nurse-intake-cut-by-10-x.16596921 SCOTLAND'S largest nursing body has attacked "unsustainable" cuts to student numbers after the Scottish Government announced this year's intake of trainee nurses and midwives would be cut by 10%, taking it to its lowest level in 15 years. U-turn on breast implant removal http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/u-turn-on-breast-implant-removal.16597036 A COSMETIC surgery firm that supplied more than 400 Scots with the banned PIP breast implants has performed a U-turn after initially refusing to pay for former patients to have them removed. 'Low interest' in bid to tackle superbug http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/low-interest-in-bid-to-tackle-superbug.16597220 EFFORTS to establish an infection control working group in a hospital affected by a deadly superbug failed due to a lack of interest, an inquiry has heard. Call for crackdown on pubs serving drunk customers http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/call-for-crackdown-on-pubs-serving-drunk-customers.16585739 THE chief constable of Scotland's largest police force has called for more action to tackle pubs and nightclubs that serve alcohol to already drunk customers after a woman suffered a serious head injury following a marathon drinking session. MSP sets out new case for assisted suicide http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/msp-sets-out-new-case-for-assisted-suicide.16576273 A REVISED bid to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland has been launched amid criticism that a change in the law would put the elderly at risk. New eating disorder facility opens http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/new-eating-disorder-facility-opens.16576005 PEOPLE with eating dis-orders in the south and east of Scotland are to benefit from a new £500,000 facility. Letter will have to be ... http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/letter-will-have-to-be.16579055 Pre-registration form: A document that someone could download and complete at any time, whether ill or healthy, indicating that at some future date they may wish to consider an assisted suicide. DNA could explain riddle of poor health in Glasgow http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/dna-could-explain-riddle-of-poor-health-in-glasgow.16565898 THE health of the most deprived residents of Scotland's biggest city could be impaired even before they are born, according to genetic research. Grants for prostate cancer research http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/grants-for-prostate-cancer-research.16566060 RESEARCHERS in Scotland will share more than £360,000 in funding for prostate cancer studies after a charity unveiled its biggest research grant to date. Stem cell treatment for vision hailed a success http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/stem-cell-treatment-for-vision-hailed-a-success.16569829 A CONTROVERSIAL trial treatment for vision loss using human embryonic stem cells has produced "ground-breaking" early results, it has been claimed. Doctors back midwives in court action http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/doctors-back-midwives-in-court-action.16544169 TWO doctors have offered their support to two Catholic mid-wives who have launched a legal bid against Scotland's biggest health board to avoid overseeing abortions. Poll shows loneliness of Scots with major illnesses http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/poll-shows-loneliness-of-scots-with-major-illnesses.16548228 ALMOST one-quarter of Scots using social networking websites have only had one friend to turn to when faced with a serious problem like cancer, a study has found. Talking would have helped me http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/talking-would-have-helped-me.16548282 Friends didn't know what to say. Vale of Leven Hospital C. diff inquiry: expert discovers 10 more deaths http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/vale-of-leven-hospital-c-diff-inquiry-expert-discovers-10-more-deaths.16541551 A SUPERBUG outbreak originally thought to have killed 18 people may have been responsible for 28 deaths, according to an independent expert. Exercise 'cuts cancer death risk by 30%' http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/exercise-cuts-cancer-death-risk-by-30-x.16522817 CANCER sufferers can cut their chances of dying from the killer disease by nearly one-third if they take exercise, it has been revealed. Doctors will take action on pension reform http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/doctors-will-take-action-on-pension-reform.16526920 TWO out of three GPs are prepared to take industrial action over Government pension reforms amid claims it would force them to work longer and cause the loss of their lucrative final salary scheme. Ryan, 3, recovering after bone marrow transplant http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/ryan-3-recovering-after-bone-marrow-transplant.16510249 A three-year-old Scots leukaemia patient who was chosen to be the face of a national campaign has undergone a life-saving transplant operation.