What the papers said in the week ending 14 January 2023
Controversies within the Churches attract headlines:
- Pope Francis speaks well of a cardinal who had been accused of malpractices, but found not guilty: Pope Francis pays tribute to controversial cardinal George Pell | George Pell | The Guardian
- A bishop who remains opposed to women priests, is welcomed: Why are female clergy cheering for a bishop who doesn’t believe in female priests? | Martine Oborne | The Guardian
- And the Church of England will fund services in countries which suffered as a result of slavery: C of E’s historic slavery fund – worth £100m but how far will it stretch across communities? | Slavery | The Guardian
Progress in science and health research spawns new hopes:
- More people may avoid illnesses by taking statins: New statins guidance could make extra 15m people eligible in England | Statins | The Guardian
- Some women may be protected against dementia by taking HRT: HRT ‘potentially important’ in reducing women’s dementia risk | Health | The Guardian
- This is a bold claim and needs time to be confirmed, previous such reports have not been enduring: HRT not linked to increased risk of dementia, says study | Menopause | The Guardian
- And an artificial pancreas may offer a new life to people with Type 1 Diabetes: NHS in England to offer artificial pancreas to help manage type 1 diabetes | Diabetes | The Guardian
Unhappily the provision and delivery of services to people in need are not working well.
- There is lack of funding and lack of personnel – There are strikes motivated by a wish to improve conditions and services, so that the benefits of knowledge are used effectively: NHS strikes still going ahead despite Rishi Sunak’s U-turn on pay talks | Industrial action | The Guardian
- Record number of cancer patients in England waiting over three months for treatment | Cancer | The Guardian
- A few hours as a patient in A&E confirmed it to me – the Tories are bleeding out the NHS | George Monbiot | The Guardian
- Attempts to clear hospital beds by diversion of patients to care homes reveal a complex of problems which cannot be so easily solved: Care providers ask for doubled fees to care for people discharged from hospitals | Social care | The Guardian
- Sweeping social care reforms can wait – homes need money and workers right now | John Harris | The Guardian
Struggles with environmental challenges and changes are recognised, and some solutions are being considered:
- We will reduce the accumulation of plastic waste: Single-use plastic cutlery and plates to be banned in England | Plastics | The Guardian
- Can we reduce dependence on cars and their use of petrol? ‘Entrenched car culture’ leaves millions of Britons in transport poverty | Transport | The Guardian
- Not using the car is easy – for those living in cities | Letters | The Guardian
- MPs to hear plan to get rural households to run heating on vegetable oil | Energy | The Guardian
- Despite public health measures – influenza is taking its toll: Flu season in England is worst for a decade, says health secretary | NHS | The Guardian
- Loss of pollinators affects the beauty of the land, but also has indirect effects on human health and survival: Global pollinator losses causing 500,000 early deaths a year – study | Insects | The Guardian
- We worry about the extreme cold and violent winds – but heating of the world is a big problem: Twelve European countries broke temperature records in 2022 | Extreme weather | The Guardian
- Oceans were the hottest ever recorded in 2022, analysis shows | Climate crisis | The Guardian
- UK weather: flooding and travel disruption after heavy rain | UK weather | The Guardian
- Prefabricated buildings may make it more possible to support an expansion of crofting communities: How community crofting experiment could help repopulate the Highlands | Scotland | The Guardian
Other proposals:
An attempt to penetrate space from Cornwall was not successful: Disappointing end to UK space mission as satellites fail to reach orbit | Space | The Guardian
Applied Philosophy may make contributions to our prison crisis: too many prisoners and not enough positive thinking. The power of philosophy in prison | Prisons and probation | The Guardian
Lentils prescribed as part of a support package for people in financial difficulties, have promise: ‘Cheap and delicious’: it’s lentils to go on Belfast’s cost of living frontline | Northern Ireland | The Guardian
This is better than punishment of those least able to cope: Call to end forced installation of UK prepayment meters after millions suffer without power | Energy bills | The Guardian
Christmas is past, but champions of festive foods will not be dampened: Bread sauce fans of the world unite | Food | The Guardian
Art from the past continues to be valued and seen to be therapeutic: ‘Astonishing’ Pompeii home of men freed from slavery reopens to public | Italy | The Guardian
But the last word must go the teacher and pupils who are researching best hedging: Scientist enlists pupils to see how hedges can make greener schools | Access to green space | The Guardian
David Jolley. Chair of Christians on Ageing. In a personal capacity
