What the papers said in the week ending 13 May 2023
The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke clearly and effectively for real and ethical government in rejecting the proposed Immigration Bill UK migration bill impractical and morally unacceptable, says Justin Welby | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian
His other claim to headlines related to a speeding offence – but looks likely to reveal problems with the system rather than condemning him beyond the basic fine: Justin Welby says he tried three times to resolve speeding ticket fine | Justin Welby | The Guardian. Other drivers may come to thank him for this
Less happily, the former Archbishop of York has been judged to have failed in his handling of a complaint about sexual abuse by a priest: Sentamu rejects report findings that he failed to act on child sexual abuse claim | John Sentamu | The Guardian
Advances in science:
It will soon be possible for sleep deprivation to be identified by a blood test. This has impications for safe/unsafe driving: Experts divided on ethics of testing and punishing tired drivers | Sleep | The Guardian
- Blood test for sleepy drivers could pave way for prosecutions | Medical research | The Guardian
- Sleep apnoea could be behind ‘sleepy driving’ | Sleep apnoea | The Guardian
New techniques have introduced DNA from a third party into the eggs of women at risk of carrying genes for inherited conditions: the practice raises further ethical questions: First UK baby with DNA from three people born after new IVF procedure | Science | The Guardian
Treatment of chronic pain with antidepressant medication is called into question by a systematic review. Chronic pain is a common and dreadful condition. Many people have found help from an antidepressant prescribed as a component of their treatment – The authors of the review have declared that their failure to be sure that antidepressants help in this situation does not mean that they do not work. Advice from several sources advises patients and doctors to continue treatment when it appears to be helping: ‘Little evidence’ whether or not most antidepressants work for chronic pain | Health | The Guardian
The potential for good from new technology is welcome: the hazards of irresponsible use need to be avoided: AI poses existential threat and risk to health of millions, experts warn | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian
A small number of people with psychosis may be victims of an auto-immune process. This opens the possibility of effective treatment: Call for psychosis treatment overhaul after evidence of autoimmune trigger | Mental health | The Guardian
Care:
The current chaos within the NHS is associated with more illnesses going unidentified and untreated: Patients getting sicker as they face long waits for NHS care, says top GP | NHS | The Guardian
The government has reacted to the problems patients have in gaining access to doctors by suggesting that some work can be taken on by pharmacists: Not without training and extra costs: Pharmacies in England to offer prescriptions for seven conditions amid surgery crisis | Health | The Guardian
The recent enthusiasm for new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, which may be ill-founded, has sparked accounts of the stress of living with dementia and people’s desperate wish for a cure: ‘Part of you dies as well’: the toll of caring for loved ones with dementia | Dementia | The Guardian
- Help using proven approaches to care and therapy will be more appropriate: Not enough is being done to confront the tragedy of dementia | Dementia | The Guardian. Dementia is not a tragedy if it is dealt with with respect and realism
There are more calls for strategies to reduce the prevalence of the feeling of loneliness: A complicated business of definition, characteristics, aetiology and means of prevention and help. Loneliness is not confined to older people but features in some older lives More must be done to fight the scourge of loneliness | Loneliness | The Guardian
- The Guardian view on loneliness: private pain should be a public priority | Editorial | The Guardian
Other matters:
We must learn from mistakes: Lessons must be learned from the Post Office scandal | Post Office | The Guardian
We recognise cultural differences in communal responses to outrage. The French make their view more clearly known: We French will always find a reason to ‘râler’ | France | The Guardian
Parks are important for our physical, mental and spiritual health. The special needs of all users should be taken into account in designing them and maintaining them: Women should help design UK parks to tackle safety fears, says study | Violence against women and girls | The Guardian
Bread and butter is becoming a little more affordable: Sainsbury’s cuts prices of own-label bread and butter | J Sainsbury | The Guardian
Older people are more often remaining hosts to grown up children. New dimensions of relationship and mutual support to be explored: Number of adults living with parents in England and Wales rises by 700,000 in a decade | Housing | The Guardian
Traditional crafts will need support if they are to survive: From boatbuilding to barge painting, traditional British crafts at growing risk | Heritage | The Guardian
Environmental change and carelessness combine to increase fire risk: Record number of serious outdoor fires tackled in England in summer 2022 | England | The Guardian
Independent railway companies have found it difficult to cope: The government has had to take over yet another railway – and yet it still balks at full nationalisation | Christian Wolmar | The Guardian
Changes in the economy hit ordinary people: Soaring interest rates to cost UK mortgage holders £12bn in extra payments | Interest rates | The Guardian
Waiting for a change in the age when pensions are to be paid are causing less furore here than in France: Postponing state pension age decision ‘not exactly a sign of strength’, Jacob Rees-Mogg tells Tories – as it happened | Politics | The Guardian
Distancing ourselves from the laws of Europe is recognised to have dangers – some to be ameliorated: The Guardian view on scrapping EU rules: the threat remains | Editorial | The Guardian
War:
The war between Russia and Ukraine goes on – with hazards across boundaries: UK sending long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, says defence minister | Defence policy | The Guardian
David Jolley. Chair of Christians on Ageing in a personal capacity.
