Online UK Health News Roundup from Health-on-Line

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, June 29, 2012 (Press-News.org) Welcome to the health and wellbeing news roundup from Health-On-Line.

There are always new and interesting things happening in the world of healthcare, and it's sometimes difficult to keep track of all the latest developments - so here at Health-on-Line we've compiled this short guide to some recent health stories that have made the news. If you'd like more information about affordable health cover from Health-on-Line, please visit our website or give us a call on 01202 544 255.

MRSA rates in steep decline
Cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continue to decline in number, with recent figures showing that the number of cases has fallen to an all-time low. MRSA - often referred to as a 'superbug' because of its resistance to treatment - is spread through skin contact, and is associated with a variety of infections, some of which can in rare cases be life-threatening.

However, while there are now far fewer instances of MRSA infection, recent findings show that the battle against MRSA is still not over - with 6% of hospital patients in England still acquiring some form of infection during their time in hospital. According to the NHS Choices website, private sector hospitals had a "significantly lower prevalence of healthcare associated infections" at a rate of 2.2%.

Healthcare inequalities and the 'postcode lottery'
Described by The Guardian newspaper as 'wide regional disparities in patient treatment' - and known more popularly as 'the postcode lottery' - is the inconsistent quality of healthcare in the UK getting any better?

The government's Atlas of Variation project, which aims to map healthcare service use, shows that the answer, so far, is 'not yet'.

Examples covered by the Guardian include:

- Three per 100 000 of over 74s admitted to care homes in Devon and Cornwall, compared with 190 in Northumberland - this is despite Devon and Cornwall being "noted for their large elderly populations".
- Three times as many angioplasty operations carried out in Peterborough compared to County Durham. Obviously there will be some difference in demand between these areas -
however, the article points out that angioplasty procedures are carried out "at low rates" in general when "compared to other developed nations".
- Anti-dementia drug treatments prescribed 25 times more in Lancashire than in Kent - a possible reason being variation in the ability of local GPs to spot the disease early.

Could price halt cancer drug breakthrough?
New skin cancer drug vemurafenib is unlikely to be made available through the NHS, reports Cancer Research UK this week. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - the UK healthcare guidance body - believes that despite its efficacy in relieving symptoms, vemurafenib's price and as yet unproven long-term benefits mean it will not be approving it for NHS use.

Health-on-Line has recently been acquired by AXA PPP healthcare - one of the biggest and best-trusted names in UK financial services, and also works with some of the best hospitals and medical specialists across the country. An FSA regulated health insurance company based in Dorset, UK, Health-on-Line offers affordable health insurance for individuals and businesses looking for the best inexpensive medical cover available.

Website: www.health-on-line.co.uk