Daily digest March 9 2015

NHS online tool predicts when someone may have a heart attack

The NHS has launched a calculator that predicts when a person may have a heart attack or stroke – and compares their ‘heart age’ with their biological age.

Health experts said the online tool would give individuals a ‘wake-up call’ and encourage those at risk into making lifestyle changes to protect themselves from heart disease, the UK’s biggest killer.

Read more on the Telegraph website: click here

Hunt under fire for refusal to publish critical NHS report

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has been accused of undermining his own plan for a ‘transparency revolution’ in the NHS by refusing to publish a report that is said to be critical of the government’s handling of the health service.

The report by the Conservative peer Stuart Rose was submitted to the government in December and was due to be made public before the general election in May.

Read more on the Independent website: click here

Lack of care leaves half a million cancer patients to cope alone

More than half a million cancer patients in the UK are being let down by failings in basic care, a leading charity has warned.

Macmillan Cancer Support says this includes some 160,000 patients who are effectively left housebound because they are unable to walk, drive or use public transport.

More than 100,000 are not receiving enough help with routine tasks such as washing, dressing, going to the toilet or collecting their prescriptions.

The lack of support from the NHS and local councils leaves patients feeling distressed, lonely and humiliated, says the Macmillan report.

Read more on the Daily Mail website: click here