Discussion of the sugar levy has focused on effectiveness and moral/political hazards. I want to focus on one problem that makes those redundant: Does it make scientific sense? Not obviously. A popular narrative: In the past, we thought obese people were that way because they lacked willpower and ate too much food, particularly fat, which […]
health
Sugar Tax is nothing more than a money spinning effort
I’ve recently lost a substantial amount of weight. That’s not a humblebrag, it’s going to be relevant, I promise. It’s taken the best part of 20 years to find something that works for me, and I’ll come back to that later. How our society discusses diet and weight was mostly to blame for why it’s […]
Judith Jolly writes: Lib Dem Brexit health win in the Lords
In the midst of all the Brexit chaos, I want to take a moment to reflect on a significant and unreported win for the Liberal Democrats against the Conservative Government. A few months ago, a Bill was introduced into Parliament which seemed fairly uncontroversial – it’s aim was to replicate our reciprocal healthcare arrangements with […]
29 November 2018 – today’s press releases (the 500 miles edition)
Later than usual this evening, as I’ve spent the evening at a Proclaimers concert, courtesy of my lovely wife… it wasn’t 500 miles away… PM leaving us in the dark on immigration Cable: May “running scared” of real opposition Lib Dems warn BBC that ‘Brexit debate’ may breach Ofcom code Government has let down victims […]
A Basis for a National Health and Well-Being Policy?
The Frome Model of Enhanced Care is a GP focussed, community serving and using way of creating, assessing and delivering comprehensive health and well-being skills, services and attitudes, in, with and for a community, at a low to negative net cost. Its administration is remarkably inclusive, heterarchical or flat. It is so attractive that it […]
Scottish Conference passes groundbreaking policy on ME
A year ago, Emma Walker hadn’t got round to joining the Liberal Democrats. She finally took the plunge in November 2017 and since then has made a massive impact. She’s launching a pioneering recruitment campaign (of which more in due course) and at last week’s Scottish Conference, she proposed her motion on ME. ME Action […]
Vince Cable writes…We need to catch up with our European neighbours in fighting Cancer
Cancer is traumatising. It is universal, leaving no family untouched. I saw this first-hand. Cancer took my first wife, Olympia, in 2001. To repeat what I wrote in my memoirs, that experience showed me that whatever may be said in criticism of the NHS, the capacity of the system to deliver high quality, sophisticated treatment […]
Does Vince look fat in this?
Not a question I’ve heard, but I got your attention! The way we view men and women is still fundamentally flawed. I imagine our Lib Dem male MPs have several suits they use in cycle, only having to choose a shirt and tie. But our women MPs? It’s a different matter, though it shouldn’t be. […]
Sick absence figures reveal extent of strains on NHS staff as 45 million hours lost in Scotland alone
Last year, my husband spent 51 days in hospital. He received excellent care from compassionate and skilled staff at what was an absolutely terrifying time for us. That experience gave us an insight into the strains and stresses that the NHS faces. The most common refrain from staff was that it was so stressful and […]
Lamb: Government failing abysmally on GP target
Embed from Getty Images Last week a study highlighted that almost a million EU workers could leave the UK after Brexit simply because they “feel less welcome and valued” in the country and in their jobs. The impact that is going to have on our health service and the wider economy is severe. Today, it […]