A teacher called over a dozen therapists to find mental health care following a miscarriage.

An EMT spent months looking for one after a suicide attempt.

They couldn’t find any in-network provider able to see them. Now they're suing their insurer.
https://www.propublica.org/article/emblemhealth-ghost-network-mental-health-lawsuit-new-york?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Law #Health #MentalHealth #Lawsuit #Healthcare #Insurance #NewYork

A new study, published by the BMJ suggests that the effects of weight-loss drugs last less that two years after cessation of use, with patients (users) regaining weight.

For the pharmaceutical firms this is, of course, good news as it means once people are hooked in to the treatment they'll continue use, but bad news for public health budgets as it suggests an ongoing financial commitment for many (all) patients prescribed the drugs.

#WeightLoss #BigPharma #NHS #health
https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj-2025-085304

Her Parenting Time Was Restricted After a Positive Drug Test. By Federal Standards, It Would've Been Negative.
---

Child welfare systems vary widely in what they count as a positive drug test. One state’s level is so low that Air Force pilots can fly with up to 400 times more opiates in their system.
https://www.propublica.org/article/drug-testing-thresholds-child-welfare?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post

#News #Health #Hospital #Drugs #Testing #Parenting #Family #Children

Roy Lilley (NHSManagers.net) has a grim prediction for social care in 2026:

'Expect Councils to reduce the size of existing care packages as their new method for meeting savings targets, making care packages shorter & even harder to access for those with only moderate needs...often tipping them into higher need and A&E.

As demand grows faster than the availability of affordable, state-funded care packages' the crisis in social care will deepen with knock-on effects for the NHS.

#care #health

More evidence (should you need it) of the costs of the ongoing crisis in the NHS; between 10-20% of people having a stroke either die unnecessarily or end up with a disability due to shortages of consultants in stroke units or delays in treatment related to staff shortages.

Its not like we don't know how to treat strokes, rather this suggests a failure to coherently manage the NHS workforce (linked to budgetary & political pressures) costs patients dearly.

#health #NHS
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/05/nhs-shortage-stroke-specialists

Amazing if true and if it works in humans.

“The team administered a single shot of E. americana intravenously to mice with colorectal cancer, and it completely eliminated tumors in every treated animal. What's more, the response wasn’t just rapid but appeared to provide ongoing protection. When the mice were later re-exposed to cancer cells, none developed new tumors, suggesting the treatment had triggered long-lasting immune memory.”

https://newatlas.com/cancer/frog-reptile-microbes-cancer/

#Health #Science

Roy Lilley (NHSManagers.net) has a grim prediction for social care in 2026:

'Expect Councils to reduce the size of existing care packages as their new method for meeting savings targets, making care packages shorter & even harder to access for those with only moderate needs...often tipping them into higher need and A&E.

As demand grows faster than the availability of affordable, state-funded care packages' the crisis in social care will deepen with knock-on effects for the NHS.

#care #health

Weight-loss drugs offer a classic conundrum for local Integrated Care Boards;

on one hand, the treatment is cost-effective as despite its high price the reduction in future NHS expenditure on that patient drops even more.

But, long-term savings do not pay for immediate costs, and so many ICBs have set threshold criteria for weight loss drugs higher that recommended by NICE, leading (inevitably) to a 'post-code lottery'...which is what you get in a devolved quasi market!

#NHS #health
h/t FT

Weight-loss drugs offer a classic conundrum for local Integrated Care Boards;

on one hand, the treatment is cost-effective as despite its high price the reduction in future NHS expenditure on that patient drops even more.

But, long-term savings do not pay for immediate costs, and so many ICBs have set threshold criteria for weight loss drugs higher that recommended by NICE, leading (inevitably) to a 'post-code lottery'...which is what you get in a devolved quasi market!

#NHS #health
h/t FT