Tag: NHS

Posted on

For most of us eating less and taking moderate exercise will help with our general health and weight loss… and then we have DRUGS!!!

Medical syringe

Fat profits for the pharmaceutical sector again.

The maker of weight-loss drug ‘Wegovy’ has become Europe’s most valuable company, dethroning the French luxury conglomerate LVMH.

Is there an irony here…? Exploitation of the obese, or a genuine attempt to help? It is used in the fight against diabetes too.

It’s a business after all

Wegovy is a brand name for ‘Semaglutide‘, a prescription medicine used for weight loss in obese or overweight adults with other weight-related medical issues. It works by regulating appetite and reducing calorie intake, leading to weight loss and helping with weight management.

Wegovy was launched in the UK on 4th September 2023 and is available on the NHS as an ‘option‘ for weight management in line with NICE guidance, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. However, only people with the highest medical need may qualify for the drug, as it is in short supply and its use will be restricted – but celebrities have direct access – do they have the ‘highest medical needs’? Of course they do.

Clinical trials

Wegovy has been shown to be effective in clinical trials, achieving up to a 15% reduction in body weight after one year. It has also been found to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in obese people with cardiovascular disease by 20%.

To get Wegovy on the NHS, eligible adults would need a referral to an NHS specialist weight management service, which would usually be made by a GP. Alternatively, Wegovy can be obtained privately, but it may be expensive and not covered by insurance.

Watercolour image of a generic medicine bottle. Wegovy is a brand name for ‘Semaglutide‘, a prescription medicine used for weight loss in obese or overweight adults with other weight-related medical issues.

Shares rose after the Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk, launched the popular drug in the UK.

At the close of trading on Monday, 4th September 2023, the company had a stock market valuation of $428bn (£339bn).

The drug is now available on the National Health Service in the UK and also via private outlets.

Obesity treatment

Wegovy is an obesity treatment that is taken once a week which tricks people into thinking that they are already full, so they end up eating less and losing weight.

Famous personalities such as Elon Musk are among the reported users of the drug, which has gained traction in Hollywood and with the public more widely since it was approved by regulators in the US in 2021.

Wegovy and Ozempic – a diabetes treatment with similar effects – have been described as ‘miracle’ drugs. Would that be a ‘miracle for the user or for the pharmaceutical company – or both perhaps?

Experts warn the drug is not a quick fix nor a ‘substitute for a healthy diet and exercise’.

In trials, users often put weight back on after stopping treatment.

‘Supply restriction as production ramps up’

There has been a global shortage of the drug, so only limited is awailable for the NHS in the UK.

The company said it will continue to restrict global supplies as it works to ramp up manufacturing.

While the findings still have to be fully reviewed, experts agreed the results were potentially significant.

Exercise, eat less and take… Wegovy!!

Posted on

NHS Strike action again, with nearly 8 million waiting in the queue

Consultants and doctors joint strike

British Medical Association-organised strike

Consultants and junior doctors in England are holding their first joint strike in the history of the NHS.

Waiting list

The latest data from NHS England, states the number of people waiting to start routine hospital treatment is at a record high of 7.68 million at the end of July 2023. This is up from 7.57 million in June 2023 and the highest since records began in August 2007. 

The waiting list has increased by more than 3 million since February 2020, the last full month before the start of the pandemic. The NHS is facing many different challenges due to the impact of Covid-19 on its services, staff and resources. This data suggests that the waiting list was already at 4 million even before the pandemic hit.

The latest strike action is a major factor now contributing to the NHS waiting list. Some reports suggest that over 850,000 routine operations and procedures have been cancelled so far this year, 2023 due to strike action alone.

Factors that may have contributed to the historical rise in the waiting list

  • The suspension or reduction of non-urgent care during the peak of the pandemic to free up capacity for Covid-19 patients.
  • The ongoing infection prevention and control measures that limit the number of patients that can be treated safely in hospitals.
NHS Strike action again, with nearly 8 million waiting in the queue
  • The staff shortages and burnout that affect the availability and productivity of the workforce.
  • The increased demand for health services as people seek help for conditions that were delayed or worsened by the pandemic.
  • Strike action.

The NHS is working hard to tackle the backlog and improve access to care for patients

  • Increasing funding and capacity for elcare, such as by opening more operating theatres, expanding community services and using the independent sector.
  • Implementing new models of care, such as virtual consultations, digital triage and shared decision making, to reduce unnecessary referrals and appointments.
  • Prioritising patients based on clinical urgency and need, rather than waiting time alone, to ensure that those who would benefit most from treatment are seen first.
  • Supporting staff wellbeing and retention, such as by offering flexible working, training and development opportunities and mental health support.

What about health education?

Government action

The government has also pledged to invest an extra £36 billion over the next three years to help the NHS recover from the pandemic and reform social care. However, some experts have warned that this may not be enough to address the underlying issues that affect the NHS performance and quality, such as workforce planning, public health funding and health inequalities.

How did it get so bad?

Lack of money or management failures? It has to one of these two. Throwing funds at an already badly managed ‘business’ will just amplify the problem allowing even more waste. And as the ‘system’ tackles the problem, more and more people will needlessly continue to suffer.

Fix our health service by fixing the people first!