What the papers said in the week ending 5 February 2021
There is good news from the successes of medical science:
Hopes for early detection and treatments for some cancers:
- NHS cancer patients to get pioneering genetic test to find best treatments | Cancer | The Guardian
- Scientists developing single test to detect risk of four cancers in women | Cancer | The Guardian
- First patients of pioneering CAR T-cell therapy ‘cured of cancer’ | Cancer | The Guardian
- People in England surviving cancer for longer, NHS reports | Cancer | The Guardian
Bright sunshine days and less gloom in the evenings counters a shift to diabetes: Pre-diabetes study finds benefit in brighter days and dimmer evenings | Diabetes | The Guardian
- And we learn that poor health in middle age predicts a greater chance of dementia in late life Association between age at onset of multimorbidity and incidence of dementia: 30 year follow-up in Whitehall II prospective cohort study | The BMJ
- Two or more chronic health problems in middle age ‘doubles dementia risk’ | Dementia | The Guardian
These are insights which will guide strategies for a healthier future
Joy too in the preparations for the Queen’s Jubilee: Gareth Southgate urges UK to hold huge ‘thank you’ party for Queen’s jubilee | Monarchy | The Guardian
And in the celebration of the continuing talent of a 97 year old: Ruth Slenczynska: the pupil of Rachmaninov still releasing music at 97 | Classical music | The Guardian
And in the realisation of how many different species of tree grace the earth: Global count estimates Earth has 73,000 tree species – 14% more than reported | Trees and forests | The Guardian
Covid’s shadow is with us, but the picture is changing and its interpretation uncertain:
- What was deemed unacceptable is being accepted pragmatically: Ministers plan to scrap vaccine mandate for NHS staff in England | NHS | The Guardian
- We are pleased that visits to care homes can now be allowed – but this has not led to immediate satisfaction for everyone: Covid outbreaks leave hundreds of care homes in England closed to relatives | Social care | The Guardian
- The spread of immunity and some waning of the potency of newer variants of the virus give some room for optimism: Covid: Europe set for ‘long period of tranquillity’ in pandemic, says WHO | World Health Organization | The Guardian
It is refreshing and informative to read that experts confess that they have learned things during the pandemic that have corrected their previous beliefs: ‘The case for masks became hugely stronger’: scientists admit their Covid mistakes | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Vaccines have been created and do work, school closures should have been resisted, masks are useful, people are not comfortable with intrusive surveillance, missed cases amongst people travelling are a problem, and boosters are not as important as was thought
Aspects of the economy, especially the spiralling costs of fuel and food threaten the wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly those who are already struggling: Rishi Sunak tells Britons to brace for even higher energy costs in autumn | Cost of living crisis | The Guardian
- ‘Why is no one up in arms?’ Six householders on the menace of fuel poverty | Energy bills | The Guardian
- Annual UK grocery bill could rise by £180 amid cost of living squeeze | Food & drink industry | The Guardian
- UK interest rate rise predicted as cost of living crisis deepens | Interest rates | The Guardian
The distribution of funds to help is reported to be making differences between the rich and the poor worse instead of better: Levelling-up: some wealthy areas of England to see 10 times more funding than poorest | Inequality | The Guardian
Worries:
There is concern that the NHS is not able to respond as it would wish to the needs of very ill people: ‘They were overwhelmed’: Families tell of deaths waiting for NHS urgent care | Hospitals | The Guardian
- Ambulance wait figures outside hospitals in England highest for five years | Hospitals | The Guardian
- And additional concern that elements of the NHS are being lost: US healthcare giant’s takeover of GP practices lands in high court | Healthcare industry | The Guardian
The tensions between Russia and the Ukraine are rising Ukraine crisis: Putin accuses US of ignoring Russian security concerns | Russia | The Guardian
Environment vulnerability is confirmed in the oceans: Extreme heat in oceans ‘passed point of no return’ in 2014 | Oceans | The Guardian
Fraud is a prevalent and sometimes hidden crime: Government faces urgent call to tackle Britain’s ‘fraud epidemic’ | Scams | The Guardian
- Johnson and Patel’s claims about falling crime ‘misleading’, says UK watchdog | Crime | The Guardian
Some reassurances:
Postage stamps are acquiring extra dimensions: Royal Mail adds scan codes to stamps offering digital extras | Royal Mail | The Guardian
There is support for an old-fashioned but effective addition to the spectrum of care services: Bring back the convalescent homes of old | Letters | The Guardian
Australia is showing what recycling can do: ‘Liquid gold’: Australian scientists look to recycle human urine to fertilise city parks | Australia news | The Guardian
Wild crows are recruited to Keep Sweden Tidy: Swedish Start-Up Employs Crows to Help Free the Country’s Streets from Cigarette Butts | The Weather Channel – Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
A digger in Devon found the remains of animals from the distant past: Remains of woolly mammoth found on Devon building site | Palaeontology | The Guardian
Perspective:
The Churches’ only headline relates to the antics of a rogue priest: Village priest ‘Don Euro’ jailed for extortion after sex worker blew whistle | Italy | The Guardian
A modest clock stopped when the school in Aberfan was destroyed along with the lives of children and teachers 9.13am 21.10.1966 by a sliding waste-tip. There had been warnings and warnings but no one took action Family of Aberfan rescuer give stopped clock to Welsh museum | Wales | The Guardian
When will we ever learn?
David Jolley
A personal selection compiled by the Chair of Christians on Ageing
