Med-e-zine

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Med-e-zine is a dedicated online newsletter providing stories from around the world with regard to technology and the medical sector. From the latest government guidelines and Department of Health directives on online ordering, diagnosis and other e-solutions to emerging technologies and debates involving the implementation of technology within the health service and private sector.

The Trafford General Hospital that was the birthplace of the NHS has delivered its last ever baby.

Little Oscar Cooper weighed in at 7lbs 4oz when he came into the world at Trafford General’s maternity unit on Tuesday.

Oscar was the final delivery for the maternity unit, which has closed as part of a major reorganisation of children’s and maternity services in Greater Manchester.

His proud parents Chloe and Paul Cooper, from Sale, were delighted that he had claimed a special place in the history of the hospital, where health minister Aneurin Bevan launched the NHS in 1948.

Chloe, 30, said: “He is our first baby and it’s an amazing feeling to finally see him.

“We knew the maternity unit here at Trafford General was closing and we were really glad we made it in because it’s a lovely unit and if Oscar had arrived on his due date he would have been born in another hospital.

“It’s excellent that we were able to have him here and very special that he is the last baby who will be born on the unit.”

Morag Olsen, director of nursing and operations, said: “It is the end of an era at Trafford General Hospital. Our maternity service has been very highly thought of and has delivered many thousands of babies over the years. I am very proud of what our maternity staff have achieved and I am delighted that they will continue to care for local women and babies in their new roles at other hospitals.”

Trafford General’s maternity and special care baby units have been closed as part of a region-wide reorganisation of children’s and maternity services called Making it Better.

Staff from Trafford General’s maternity and special care baby units are taking up new posts at Wythenshawe and Saint Mary’s hospitals, where they will continue to care for Trafford women and their babies.

Health bosses in Norfolk said they will continue to tackle the causes of diabetes as new figures show one in five patients admitted to hospital suffers with the condition.

The first diabetes audit of NHS hospitals found that while 4pc of the UK population have diabetes, 20pc of hospital patients have the disease.

Some are being treated for the direct consequences of diabetes – many can fall into comas or suffer kidney failure – while others suffer heart attacks or strokes which can increase if someone has diabetes.

It is believed a major reason for the rise in type 2 diabetes each year is the increasing number of people who are overweight or obese.

In the NHS Norfolk area, which has a population of about 750,000, about 30,000 people are registered with diabetes, which equates to about 4pc.

Jonathan Williams, NHS Norfolk’s assistant director of public health, said: “There are a number of reasons why people may develop diabetes, such as genetic factors or as a result of a heart attack or stroke, but obesity is also associated with being a cause of diabetes. “Therefore, by maintaining a healthy weight – by taking regular exercise and having a well-balanced diet – you can reduce your risk of developing this life-changing and very serious condition.

“It is estimated that more than 80pc of people diagnosed with type-two diabetes are overweight and are five times more likely to succumb to cardiovascular disease than people who do not have diabetes.

“Due to the links between diabetes and a number of other serious conditions, such as these, this may be an indication as to why the proportion of people in hospital with diabetes may be higher than that in the general population.”

This year it is expected that the prevalence of diabetes will rise to more than 5pc in some areas with there is a minimum of 25,000 new cases expected over the next decade.

Some 2.6m people in the UK have diabetes, with 2.3m having the type 2 version linked to obesity, smoking, alcohol or lack of exercise.

The government’s diabetes tsar Dr Rowan Hillson said all patients with diabetes should be given access to specialist advice to ensure potentially lethal complications were not missed.

The NHS is poised for a round of budget cut within the next six months.  Due to Government spending cuts, many departments have had their 2010 budgets slashed, meaning job losses are almost certain to be on the horizon.