Self-injectable cholesterol drug alirocumab is in the pipeline

Pharmaceutical giants Sanofi and Regeneron have developed a potentially ground-breaking new cholesterol drug – currently named ‘alirocumab’ – which analysts are predicting could be a massive sensation and bring in billions of dollars for its creators if the late-stage trials prove successful.

The new cholesterol-lowering drug is self-injectable and belongs to a class of biotech medicines named PCSK9 inhibitors, providing a different method of clearing the fatty deposits that can cause clogging within the arterial walls leading the way to a high risk of poor health, heart disease, strokes and other health complications.

Bad cholesterol, commonly referred to as “low density lipoprotein,” is one of the primary factors behind clogged arteries. If your body is generating sufficient amounts of good cholesterol, or “high density lipoprotein,” this helps the bad cholesterol to be cleared from the arterial walls and subsequently removed from the bloodstream via the liver. However, if you are low on good cholesterol, levels of bad cholesterol will rise and result in clogging in the arterial walls.

Health experts believe that PCSK9 inhibitors could be the biggest breakthrough in the fight against heart disease in two decades, since statins such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor have emerged.

Alirocumab contains man-made antibodies that target a particular protein which stops the body from getting rid of the bad LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. They differ from the statins as statins actually prevent the liver’s production of LDL cholesterol.

Results from the new drug tested in a 100-patient trial are imminent and Sanofi are hopeful it may reach the market in two years’ time. Unfortunately, success will probably hinder on the results of more long-term clinical studies comprising on thousands of patients – and more reliable and trusted results will probably not be available for another five years from such studies.

Following tests in the initial Phase III study, alirocumab was found to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol by up to an incredible 72% and it is now being pitted against Merck’s Zetia, which has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels by around 19-24%.

Alirocumab is likely be prescribed to those with genetically-high cholesterol levels, patients deemed ‘high risk’ and who are not reaching cholesterol targets on whichever statin they are taking, and patients who could have a low tolerance to statins.

Speaking at a conference earlier this month, Sanofi’s CEO Chris Viehbacher said the French drugmaker may consider doubling its stake in Regeneron, clearing having faith in the ability and success of alirocumab.

He commented: “When you look at the number of patients who are willing to inject themselves daily for diabetes, and you know a lot of those patients are also going to be in your patient population for PCSK9, I actually think that the injectable part is not going to be as big a barrier as people think. I think it is going to be a paradigm shift for healthcare and a potentially huge opportunity for us.”

Unfortunately, the need for alirocumab to be injected and the high costs involved will deter many and pricing will be a major issue in the UK as the NHS already facing numerous deficit-cutting measures. Certainly the new drug, if and when it eventually hits the market, will be substantially more expensive than statins – currently prescribed to around 7 million people in the UK.

Regular exercise could lead to weight gain

Are you attending the gym for what you assume are sufficient workouts for keeping weight gain at bay – only  to find that the lbs. are actually creeping on you?

If so, you are not alone and a new survey has actually surprisingly discovered that over a quarter of recently enlisted gym-goers actually gain weight soon after starting to attend regular sessions at the gym. The primary reason for the weight gain is because soon after beginning to exercise at the gym, people to tend to reward themselves with ‘treats’ after working out, negating the main reasons for exercising in the first place!

Diet company Forza Supplements quizzed 1,000 gym users on their diet and exercise habits, finding that a staggering 39% merely burn around 300 calories during each visit to the gym.

To put this into perspective, that amount of exercise would not even be enough to burn off the calories in a bar (62.5g) of Snickers, which has 319 calories, and is only just sufficient enough to burn off the calories in a twin bar of Twix (58g), which has a total of 284 calories.

If people are not aware of the calories in such treats, in addition to those in other ‘reward’ foods such as crisps, or even a glass of wine (about 109 calories), it can mean gym goers are liable to put on weight over time. Interestingly, 42% believed that regular exercise meant they should be able to deviate from their diet plans.

The poll discovered that people attending regular gym sessions gave them a ‘feeling of complacency’ which impacted their ability at adhering to a recommended calorie intake per day.

It was found that 26% actually put gain weight following regular exercise, whilst almost a half (49%) reported no changes in their weight, whilst only 25% actually said they managed to lose weight.

Also found in the survey was the fact that the majority of exercise enthusiasts usually go to the gym on average between three and four times a week, and whilst there they then exercise for between 40 minutes and an hour on average.

For every ten gym users, four will burn between 300 and 500 calories in a gym session. Only a quarter however only burn off between 200 to 300 calories, whilst 10% burn just 100 to 200 calories and 4% less than 100 calories. Perhaps the last two groups should ask themselves why they bother to attend the gym!

A reason why going to the gym could cause people to put weight on is that exercising is causing an increase in metabolism and increasing people’s appetites. In fact, over half surveyed (53%) claimed their gym sessions had managed to significantly boost their appetites.

Nearly half also admitted they exercise prior to a night out on the town to ‘compensate’  for the huge amount of calories they are inevitably going to consume during the course of the night through alcohol. Many party-goers also tend to finish their night in the nearest takeaway and burgers, pizzas and kebabs can then add hundreds of calories on top of the calories within the alcohol.

Luisa Zissman, runner-up in The Apprentice, commented: “Who hasn’t had a guilt inspired exercise session? We all do it – work out furiously in the gym to get brownie points ahead of a night on the town. You know you are going to consume a stack of calories by boozing and drinking – so why not burn off a load beforehand.”

UK pledge £1 billion in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria

The UK will give £1 billion to the Geneva-based Global Fund over the next three years in the help to combat AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has announced at the United Nations in New York. Ms Greening said fighting preventable diseases was “in all of our interests.”

The Global Fund was founded in 2002 and is the world’s largest donor of funds to fight the three deadly and infectious diseases, proving prevention, treatment and care programmes.

The initiative is believed to have helped to save 8.7 million lives and 5.3 million people with HIV are now benefiting from antiretroviral therapy, 11 million new TB cases have been detected and treated and 340 million insecticide treated nets have been given to families to provide protection from malaria.

Britain’s staggering £1 billion pledge will save “a life every three minutes” and now doubles the current amount of money being donated and leaves the UK only second to the United States as the biggest donor of funds.

Throughout the next three years the UK will be involved in the delivery of vital antiretroviral treatment to an additional 750,000 people who have HIV, in addition to an extra 32 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets and over a million people will receive treatment for TB.

The Department for International Development has predicted that the generous funding provided by the UK will save the lives of 590,400 people between 2014 and 2016. This equates to one life saved every three minutes.

“AIDS, TB and malaria are among the world’s biggest killers despite being entirely preventable and treatable,” Ms Greening said at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on Monday, where spoke on the new funding.

She continued: “The Global Fund has already helped save millions of lives but we must keep up the momentum if we are to beat these diseases for good. It is in all our interests to help people live longer, healthier, more productive lives so we all need to play our part in working towards a world free of HIV/Aids, malaria and TB.”

Bono, frontman for rock band U2 co-founder of the One foundation, said: “The UK’s pledge of up to a billion pounds for the fight against Aids, TB and malaria means what once seemed impossible could now be within our grasp. Through this smart investment in one of the most effective disease-fighting funds in history, we could witness the defeat of these global killers in our lifetime. David Cameron and Justine Greening have given us a billion reasons to believe we can do it, but Britain’s pledge will only be delivered if others step up too. Australia, Canada, Germany: your move.”

Prevention of malaria has improved significantly in recent times. The World Health Organisation’s World Malaria Report for 2012 stated that 50 countries were on target for lowering malaria incidence by 75% between 2000 and 2015. Moreover, 30 million insecticide-treated nets were given out during January and July of 2013 through Global Fund-supported programmes.

TB, the world’s second biggest infectious killer after HIV/AIDS, is slowly declining, albeit slowly. Funding from the Global Fund has resulted in detection and treatment of 11 million smear-positive cases of TB, up from 9.7 million at the end of 2012.

It was calculated that as of 1 July the Global Fund had helped to pioneer programmes resulting in 5.3 million people with HIV to receive antiretroviral therapy, up from 4.2 million at the end of 2012.
If you are travelling abroad and require malaria medication for prevention and treatment, Doxycycline, Malarone, Paludrine, and Jungle Formula Maximum Pump Spray are options worth considering.  In addition, don’t forget to check the NHS Fit For Travel website where you will find the recommended malaria medication for your destination.

More men fear hair loss than impotence

Hair loss and suffering with impotence are probably amongst men’s biggest worries and the cause for a great deal of anxiety.

However, a new study suggests that hair loss could actually surprisingly be a bigger concern to men than their performance in the bedroom. It could be that hair loss degrades confidence to the extent that many men feel this will affect their ability to find a partner in the first place.

The survey of 2,000 males found that an incredible 94% feared going bald, compared to 89% who feared about experiencing erectile dysfunction and losing their ability to perform in the bedroom.
Other things that caused fear for the men survey included going grey, feared by 75% of the men (although becoming a ‘silver fox’ never did George Clooney any harm!), whilst 64% were concerned about putting weight on. This is perhaps unsurprising when health experts have stated that by 2050 obesity is predicted to affect 60% of adult men, 50% of adult women and 25% of children.

In addition, 61% were terrified of losing their teeth, 45% had a fear of needing to wear glasses at some point, 31% were worried about losing their hearing and suffering with bad breath was feared by 24% – although the revolutionary and massively popular CB12 mouthwash has now helped with this problem for both men and women.

None of these fears compared to hair loss however. Psychotherapist Toni Mackenzie was not shocked by the survey’s findings.

She said: “Hair loss can be genuinely distressing for men. It can’t be easily disguised and people think its fair game for jokes, unlike things like putting on weight or going grey. Men who lose their hair are expected to take insults with good humour. The pressure this causes can have a huge effect on men’s self-confidence, which has knock-on effects on their physical and mental wellbeing.”

Ian Watson, of HIS Hair Clinics, commented: “Going bald is just too personal to be funny. I lost my hair in my 20s. I’ve had countless people rub my head like a lucky Buddha and been called everything from baldilocks to Fester. It soon becomes downright upsetting.”

The findings back up other surveys carried out this year, such as one recently commissioned by pharmaceutical and cosmetics company Alpecin, producers of the hugely popular Alpecin caffeine shampoo for hair loss. Their survey discovered that losing hair is an increasingly bigger concern for 21-30 year old men. There are countless studies, articles, and media stories that portray attractiveness as being a key factor in success and for many people hair is associated with attractiveness.

The fact that there are an estimated 6 million men in the UK suffering from hair loss, this equates to a huge amount of stress and fear. However, Medical Specialists Pharmacy are able to offer the prescription-only medication Propecia (finasteride), which is commonly used to treat male pattern baldness and works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which thought to cause hair loss.  It is obtainable following a quick and easy 4 step process which includes an online consultation with one of our in-house doctors. Propecia is priced from as little as £47.58 per month.

Other options in addition to Propecia include Regaine Foam and Regaine Lotion, as featured in numerous television adverts. Obtainable from Medical Specialists Pharmacy from as little as £49.95 and £59.95 respectively, Regaine products contain the active ingredient Minoxidil which is clinically proven to help prevent further hereditary hair loss, showing success in 4 out of 5 men. It works by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles which helps to strengthen existing hair and stimulate secondary hair growth.

Gastroenteritis spreads amongst 130 passengers on luxury cruise ship

It has been confirmed that a sickness and diarrhoea bug has been transmitted to dozens of passengers during a 12-night luxury cruise.

An estimated 130 people on board The Black Watch – a Fred Olsen cruise ship – have contracted gastroenteritis; an inflammatory condition of the stomach and bowel (large intestine) that is usually caused by infection.

The ship had departed on 8 September with 778 guests on board, sailing from Fife to Scandinavia, and then to the Russian city of St Petersburg.

After the ship returned to Rosyth on Friday, 29 people were said to be still unwell with gastroenteritis. Specialist cleaners and health inspectors have now been drafted in to clean and fumigate the ship.

A Fred Olsen spokeswoman said: “Fred Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm, during Black Watch’s 12-night Scandinavia and St Petersburg cruise, there was an outbreak of a gastroenteritis-type illness, and every effort was made to contain the illness, in accordance with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines onboard medical protocols. Black Watch returned to Rosyth on Friday, where she is currently undergoing an intensive cleaning and sanitisation programme, which includes a complete ship fumigation by professional external contractors. Representatives from the local health authorities and Rosyth Port Health have been on board the ship this morning, and have confirmed that they are satisfied with the containment and preventative measures being undertaken by the ship It is frustrating that, even with the extra preventative and containment measures that were put in place, a number of guests on board suffered from this illness, which is common in hospitals, schools, hotels, cruise ships and other areas where people are in close proximity.”

In the UK around one in five people catch an infection causing gastroenteritis each year, with the most common causes in adults being the norovirus and from food poisoning. The infection is highly contagious through virus, bacteria or parasites and can be picked up through poor hygiene, and then transmitted to others if the person affected does not wash their hands after going to the toilet and then touches objects, contaminating them.

The time between catching an infection and an onset of the symptoms can vary according to what type of infection you have. It may be anything from one hour to a few weeks, but normally it is between one and three days.

The common symptoms are:

. Nausea.
. Repeated episodes of diarrhoea (3 or more times in 24 hours). Loose, watery stools may contain blood and mucus.
. Fever – With a temperature of 38–39C (100.4–102.2F).
. Headaches.

Dehydration is a major problem associated with gastroenteritis because your body is losing so much water through vomiting and diarrhoea. It is recommended to drink at the very minimum 2 litres (3.5 pints) of water each day, plus 200ml (a third of a pint) of water each time you pass diarrhoea.

In addition, antidiarrhoeal medications are used to ease symptoms of diarrhoea. Loperamide hydrochloride – contained in the popular Imodium Plus caplets – is a commonly used antidiarrhoeal medication to treat gastroenteritis. Loperamide hydrochloride helps to reduce diarrhoea by slowing down an overactive bowel. This helps your digestive system get back to normal, leading to firmer stools. By restoring this delicate balance, you can feel better sooner and have the confidence to get on with your day.

Plans to ban smoking in prisons – riots predicted

Smoking looks set to be banned in all prisons across England and Wales following the ministry of justice confirming a pilot scheme will be rolled out next year that will forbid smoking in every part of a prison, including cells and exercise yards.

Instead, inmates will be offered nicotine patches in an attempt to help them beat any cravings. The pilot scheme will commence in the spring of 2014, starting in Exeter and Eastwood Park Women’s Prison, before gradually introduced in more prisons over the course of a 12-month period.

The plans have been formulated out of fear that those inmates and prison officers who do not smoke may decide to launch compensation claims against the Prison Service because of the secondhand/passive smoking they are being subjected to. The dangers of secondhand smoking  is a topic that Medical Specialists Pharmacy have previously highlighted.

However, the issue of forbidding prison inmates from smoking could be viewed as a human rights issue and cause a string of legal challenges. Some even fear there is a very real prospect of inmates rioting in prisons all across England in Wales. If some criminals have a violent nature to begin with, denying them a highly addictive substance such as nicotine could cause total pandemonium.

Not only are cigarettes addictive – and about 80% of the 84,300 prison inmates smoke – but it is also seen as a valuable prison currency that is regularly traded on the prison wings. Not being able to light up as they see fit, will probably not go down too well.

Prisoners are currently given the freedom to smoke outside in the exercise yards and within their cells due to the fact it is deemed to be their “permanent or temporary home”. Bad behaviour can already result in a temporary smoking ban but the universal ban will anger the more exemplary, well-behaved inmates who look forward to cigarette breaks as an escape from the tedium of prison life.

Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, agrees with the proposed smoking ban but told The Times it would be difficult to implement.

He said: “There is no pretending otherwise. It could cause disturbances but they have done it successfully in Canada and in young offender institutions in England and Wales. We welcome this move. It is our policy to have smoke-free prisons for our members. We will work with the ministry to make sure it works effectively.”

In addition, there are those who say that prisoners already have a cushy life. It seems it is a weekly occurrence for stories to emerge of inmates posting pictures to their Facebook accounts showing just how cushy their life actually it.

Dee Edwards, of the R and K Foundation, a crime victims’ group, said: “Prisoners are already better fed and cared for than pensioners so why should they be treated any different to the rest of society? It’s getting to point where you can’t even smoke outside a building now so I don’t see why prisoners shouldn’t be banned. If you have a low level criminal who smoke 20 a day may be it will even act as a deterrent if they think they could do to jail and not be able to smoke.”

However, Mark Johnson, chief executive of the prisoner charity User Voice, says that smoking is a “human right” and believes that prisoners who smoke may decide to take legal action if it is banned.

Counterfeit condoms seized in Russia, policeman rejects bribe

On Tuesday members of a southern Russian police force confirmed they had apprehended a male in connection with the sale of counterfeit condoms and the subsequent attempt – and failure – to bribe a police official.

Rostov Region police released a statement saying: “The police learned that the man was selling a well-known brand of condoms wholesale online. Finding that the salesman was not connected to the production company, police officers carried out a test purchase by ordering 15,000 items.”

The suspect apprehended in police custody had initially personally delivered the counterfeit condoms on a truck from the Ukraine, and was arrested as he attempted to load the condoms onto another vehicle.

The statement also revealed that on the very same day the man was detained, he had tried to bribe a policeman with 40,000 rubles ($1,237) for ‘looking the other way’ and not seizing the counterfeit condoms. Unfortunately for the counterfeiter, the policeman did the correct thing and followed protocol, reporting the attempted bribe to his superiors.

With the prevention of the fake condoms making their way to the unsuspecting public, the cargo was seized and police are expected to begin a criminal case on attempted bribery charges.

However, what is unclear from the statement released by the police, is the actual danger that counterfeit condoms can pose. None of the counterfeit condoms are properly sterilised and their quality is almost always so substandard that they can easily rupture during use and thus cannot protect against sexually transmitted infections or even act as a viable contraception method.

Governmental agency has seen an alarming rise in the circulation of counterfeit condoms and have even enlisted the help of specially trained sniffer dogs who have assisted in a series of raids as the MHRA look to crackdown on the production and sale of the poor quality condoms. The practice is said to cost the UK up to around £400 million in lost tax, additional healthcare and welfare.

Your sexual health should never be compromised and all contraception such as condoms should only be obtained from a trusted and reputable source such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy.

Coincidentally, it is actually still Sexual Health Week (running up to the 22^nd) and to support the week and raise awareness, Medical Specialists have been giving away 1,000s of free condoms this week with all sexual health products. Whether this be Viagra, Cialis, Azithromycin, or a Clamelle chlamydia test kit, you will receive free Skins condoms!

In addition, during Sexual Health Week we are running a fantastic promotion on Durex Performa condoms,  slashing the price of a pack of individually wrapped 72 Durex Performa condoms by half…yes half! These can be yours today for the rock bottom price of just £30!

Junk food at supermarket checkouts is worsening the obesity crisis

Parents – have you ever been stood in a supermarket shopping queue that seems to never decrease in size, this whilst simultaneously being nagged endlessly by your children for chocolate and/or sweets which are convenient placed right at the end of each and every checkout. If so, you are not alone, and this is the dilemma faced by millions of parents around Britain who are being harassed by their children into buying the unhealthy junk food stacked up at the checkouts.

In fact, a new survey has found that a staggering 90% of shoppers believe this cunning sales tactic is partly contributing to obesity and surely now the Government will be forced to push through legislation aimed at stopping this practice, and easing the spiralling obesity crisis.

On Monday a campaign was launched called ‘Junk Free Checkouts’ which does exactly what it says on the tin – aims to make supermarket checkouts free of junk and help to put an end to the ‘pester power’ of children who almost bully their parents into buying them unhealthy and high sugary treats that are placed near the tills.

The initiative was announced by the British Dietetic Association and the Children’s Food Campaign, following the results of a nationwide survey in which 78% of people complained that junk food at supermarket checkouts is ‘annoying’. Moreover, 83% of respondents said they had been nagged by their children for junk food at the checkouts and 75% have relented and bought junk for their children due to incessant pestering.

There was almost 2,000 people who completed the Chuck the Junk Survey, mainly comprising of women, of which two thirds had children.

Supermarkets have been pressured by health campaigners for a number of years to stop selling unhealthy junk food at their tills as they say it is blatantly targeted at easily swayed children and the promotional offers do not help matters on what has been described as the ‘guilt lanes’.

Speaking on behalf of the British Dietetic Association, obesity specialist Linda Hindle commented: “Retailers are unwilling to stop pushing unhealthy food at the checkout and queuing areas. It may be lucrative for them but, as our survey found, it is deeply unpopular with customers and nudges purchasing behaviour in the wrong direction. If retailers can’t act on their own, then we hope to see robust action from the Government to tackle this problem.”

The issue was raised in Government back in July when health minister Anna Soubry blasted supermarkets for the cynical store layouts which make it particularly difficult for parents with young children. However, she then ruled out any clampdown on the sweet and chocolate guilt lanes in shops and supermarkets, merely days after making a vow to get rid of them.

Some of the worst offenders in this regard have found to be Asda, Morrisons and Tesco, all stocking an alarming amount of junk food at their tills.

Campaigners have hit out at Supermarkets for seemingly not acting on promises to improve their methods in selling confectionery in the wake of a 2003 investigation by the independent watchdog the Food Commission.

There are those who say that stocking checkout aisles with chocolate and sweets is a calculating ploy by the supermarkets to tempt shoppers into a sugar rush after a long, laborious trek around the supermarket.

Professor of marketing at EM-Lyon Business School, Agnes Nairn, said that shoppers could change their buying habits by the point of reaching the checkout. “Consumers are more likely to go for something unhealthy when they are tired because they aren’t able to make the rational decision they would make otherwise,” she said. “Although they all know that a chocolate egg is not as good for them as fruit salad, if you have to do that in a hurry, they make the wrong choice.”

Coleshill in Warwickshire is dubbed the Viagra capital of England

According to the tourism website Within Warwickshire, the market town of Coleshill in North Warwickshire ‘boasts a number of quirky curiosities’ and interesting attractions, such as one of the finest and biggest church steeples across the county. This is the Church of St Peter and St Paul, which has an incredible 52-metre steeple dating back to the 13th century.

Unfortunately, the church steeple may take on a new, if slightly humorous, significance after Coleshill has been given the moniker of the ‘Viagra capital of England’, having the highest number of NHS prescriptions per 1,000 men in the country for the erectile dysfunction medication.

New NHS figures show that the residents of Coleshill, which according to a 2001 census has a population of just 6,343, are the biggest Viagra consumers in the country. The stats show that 55 in every 1,000 men in Coleshill are being prescribed Viagra by their GP, in addition to other popular anti-impotence medications such as Cialis and Levitra.

The sleepy market town was way ahead of its closest contender for the title of ‘Viagra capital’ – Wychavon, across the border in Worcestershire, where there are 43 prescriptions issued for every 1,000 men.

The rest of the top 5 comprised of Dartford in Kent, in third place (42 per 1,000 men), followed by Hastings in East Sussex (41 per 1,000 men) and East Lindsey in Lincolnshire (40 per 1,000 men).

So why has Coleshill managed to claim the title it has? A local landlord believes the number of pubs in the town may be a contributing factor. Simon Kennedy, 38, spoke to the Sunday Times and said: “It’s a strange one. It is an old coaching town and there are a lot of pubs. I don’t know if that might be a factor. Perhaps they need some assistance after visiting all the pubs? There are only a couple of chemists in the town so they must be well stocked up on Viagra.”

Some residents are happily quick to speak about their use of Viagra. Al Gorman, a male stripper, admits to using Viagra, and raved about the wonders of the little blue pill: “It boosts my private life and my work life."

The divorced father of three says: “I use Viagra all the time. I want to perform well and don’t want to let anyone down. I’m not surprised we have more users than anywhere else in the country, because we’re more fun.”

Martin Raybone, a 63-year-old insurance assessor, added: We’re a fun bunch in Coleshill and it seems most of us enjoy happy, healthy sex lives. We have nothing to complain about here – there’s no aggro, no litter and we’re no Victor Meldrew brigade. People have well-paid jobs and decent pensions, and we like to go out or stay in and have a good time.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, the lowest number of people receiving prescriptions for erectile dysfunction medication were in areas such as London, Cambridge and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Although, it could be that those living in cities are more like to acquire such medications through private means such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy, in order to avoid a possible excruciatingly embarrassing face-to-face visit with a GP and the efficiency and speed of obtaining Viagra, Cialis, etc. through the internet and then delivered to their chosen destination the very next day.

Children given Calpol could be more likely to develop asthma

A major study has found a possible link between paracetamol – the primary ingredient of Calpol medicines – and the risk of children developing asthma.

Calpol is the most popular painkiller in Britain; given to 84% of babies during the first six months of their life, but there are presently no warnings in regards to the possible health risks of the medicine.
In fact, the study, conducted by Spanish scientists, suggests that children who are given Calpol just once each month could be around five times more likely to develop asthma.

Moreover, even those having the medicine just once a year could be up to 70% more at risk claim the researchers behind the study, who have stated their belief that paracetamol may help to explain rising cases of childhood asthma.

Researchers from the University of Da Caruna in northern Spain asked parents of 10,371 children aged 6 to 7, and 10,372 children aged 13 to 14 whether their children were suffering from asthma and if so, the severity of it. Those involved in the study were schoolchildren from six areas in Galicia in Spain, between 2006 and 2007.

In addition, researchers asked the parents how frequently their children were given paracetamol during the previous year and how often during the time they were of infant age.

Children in the younger age group given the medicine at least once a month were apparently over five times more times likely to have asthma and those given it just once a year were found to be approximately 70% more at risk.

However, there are those who have called into question the validity of the study. As the study assessed paracetamol use and asthma symptoms (wheezing) at the same time, it is viable that children with asthma symptoms are simply more likely to be given paracetamol by their parents to help with the symptoms, as opposed to paracetamol directly contributing to the asthma.

Dr Martin Scurr, a GP in London, says it is difficult to draw conclusions from the study and further research needs to be carried out.

“It could be that children with asthma are more likely to get coughs and colds and then are given Calpol by their mothers,” he said. “At the moment Calpol is the best we have – and it’s all we have so there is no reason to stop using it.”

Asthma was assessed by asking parents and children only about episodes of wheezing and as such, may not represent an accurate medical diagnosis of asthma. Also, as the paracetamol usage/frequency was self-reported, it is unlikely to be 100% accurate.

Therefore, it would be wrong to suggest a definite connection between paracetamol use and asthma. As with all medicines, paracetamol should only be given to children if it is required.

The number of children developing asthma in Britain has more than doubled in the last 50 years, with many studies being carried out to find out why, and health experts at loggerheads as to what reasons are causing the increase.

An estimated 1.1 million youngsters in Britain are suffering from the lung condition, and added to 4.3 million adults who have asthma, it causes 1,400 deaths each year in the UK.

Visit the ‘Asthma and Allergies’ area of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website today for a full list of all the preventer and reliever inhalers we provide for suitable patients.

If you have already been prescribed an inhaler, have lost your inhaler, or run out and cannot get a prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help your asthma symptoms. You can undergo a quick and easy confidential online consultation with one of our GMC-registered Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription which is passed to our in-house RPSGB–registered Pharmacists and dispensed to a location of your choice, all within just 24 hours!*

*Allow extra time for overseas deliveries.

Online Pharmacy to give away 1,000s of condoms for Sexual Health Week

 Sexual Health Week 2013 will take place this year from 16 to 22 September and is one of many national campaigns which Medical Specialists Pharmacy are proud supporters of.  Therefore we have teamed up with Skins Condoms to give out free condoms to any patient who obtains sexual health products during that particular week, such as Viagra, a Clamelle chlamydia test kit, Durex play vibration rings, etc. You are guaranteed to get more bang for your buck during Sexual Health Week with Medical Specialists Pharmacy.


The words ‘sexual health’ will always be synonymous with condoms, but choosing the right condom can be tricky. One massively popular type is the ‘long love condoms’, as nicknamed by the German scientists who devised them. They are an excellent method of ensuring sexual health AND prolonging yours and your partner’s sexual excitement – quite handy when bearing in mind that Medical Specialists Pharmacy research has found that 20% of women rate their most recent sexual partner has having a poor to very poor performance, and almost a third (32%) want their man to last longer in bed.

One particular ‘long love’ condom is the Durex Performa, which has a special non-spermicidal Benzocaine lubricant cream inside the teat end of the condom to help control climax for longer lasting lovemaking and better sex. This is of course a fantastic bonus on top of its other main functions of preventing an unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection! Of course, we do realise there are some people who are somewhat careless, and this is why Medical Specialists Pharmacy can supply the Levonelle 1500 morning after pill in addition to a range of treatments for sexually transmitted infections such as herpes and chlamydia.

However, with regards to condoms, an important factor to take into account is that there are often reports of counterfeit condoms in circulation around the country by their millions. A cheap and poorly-made counterfeit condom is unlikely to provide any of its main functions, let alone the added bonus you can get from condoms such as the Durex Performa.

Therefore, condoms and other contraception methods should only be obtained from a reputable source such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy, and during Sexual Health Week we will be offering a fantastic bargain on the previously mentioned Durex Performa condoms,  slashing the price of a pack of individually wrapped 72 Durex Performa condoms by half…yes half! For the unbelievably low price of just £30.00 this bundle can be yours.

For those unaware, Sexual Health Week has been pioneered by the Family Planning Association (FPA) in partnership with Brook, with the theme remaining as last year’s XES We can’t go backwards campaign.

The aims of the national campaign are to protect and promote sexual health and contraception services by fighting government budget cuts, policy changes, and more specifically; the lack of easy access to contraception due to closures of sexual health centres or alterations to their opening hours.
Both FPA and Brook have stated they receive a large number of calls from worried and unhappy members of the public, being denied basic access to the advice, products and services that they require.

However, calls they probably won’t receive are the types of calls Medical Specialists receive on a daily basis – distressed men who are having problems in the bedroom. Whether this is in the form of erectile dysfunction and/or premature ejaculation, each problem can place a great deal of stress onto relationships and cause a huge loss of self-esteem for the male.

The fact we receive so many calls is a positive thing as it means that the majority of men are no longer suffering in silence, but some still are. Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are viewed as genuine medical conditions and as such, require treatment. This may come in the form of lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking or managing stress, but in most cases erectile dysfunction usually requires treatment through a type of medication known as a Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. On the other hand, premature ejaculation can be treated with a medication known as Priligy in addition to those wonderful long love condoms which can also help you last longer in the bedroom!

Smokers are encouraged to join the Stoptober challenge

For the second consecutive year, the anti-smoking campaign ‘Stoptober’ will be running and aimed at encouraging smokers to quit smoking for 28 days in October.

Public Health England (PHE) is behind the campaign which begins on October 1^st and promotion for it has already begun across England and Wales. PHE state that 2012’s challenge was an overwhelming success, with over 275,000 people registering for last year’s Stoptober, of which 160,000 managed to finish the 28 day challenge.

The 28 day time length for the challenge is not simply an arbitrary number; health experts say that a smoker who quits for 28 days, and abstains from cigarettes, could add a week onto their lifespan, every 28 days, for the rest of their life.

The benefits to stopping smoking


Those who quit usually experience physical improvements such as a better sense of taste and smell, more energy, a delayed onset of facial aging and wrinkles, whiter teeth, fresher breath and better sex due to improved blood flow and stronger erections for men.
In the longer term, those who quit smoking can significantly reduce the risk of suffering from heart disease and a wide range of cancers such as lung cancer, on top of preserving the health of those around you as there will now be no secondhand smoke.

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, said: “One in two long-term smokers die as a result of smoking, this is the single biggest cause of premature death taking more than 100,000 lives in the UK and costing the NHS up to £2.7 billion each year. Life is precious and Stoptober is all about supporting and encouraging each other to quit – potentially adding years to your life. Taking part in the challenge is a first step to a longer and healthier life, so have a go by stopping with Stoptober.”

Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, added: “Campaigns such as Stoptober, along with the support provided by local stop smoking services, play a huge role in helping people to stop. Whilst smoking prevalence across the country as a whole is falling steadily, it remains high in some parts. We want every smoker to consider making a quit attempt this October and join the thousands of people who are feeling the benefits from stopping smoking last year.”

However, there are also major monetary benefits to be felt from giving up cigarettes – particularly important when considering how difficult it is for many families in the current financial climate. By quitting smoker, the average smoker can expect to save more than £150 a month and nearly £2,000 a year – if we take £7.77 for the cost price of a packet of cigarettes and an average daily consumption of 13 cigarettes per smoker. Incredibly, it was estimated that during last year’s Stoptober campaign £25 million was saved by 160,000 people from not buying cigarettes.

Those who want to sign up for Stoptober will receive a free stop-smoking pack, a 28-day mobile phone app and text support via daily updates and advice on quitting.

If you are a smoker who is aged 18 or above and wants to quit, you do not need to wait for Stoptober to begin. Quit today with the help of Medical Specialists Pharmacy. You can obtain the smoking cessation medication Champix following an online consultation with one of Medical Specialists’ GMC registered doctors. Champix works out from as little as just £75.00 per pack and mimics the effect of nicotine on the body, reducing the urge to smoke and relieving withdrawal symptoms. It can also decrease the enjoyment you experience of smoking if you are still smoking whilst on the treatment.

Los Angeles crackdown on counterfeit Viagra and Cialis

Just miles from the popular Los Angeles International Airport – the airport more commonly known as ‘LAX’ and used by countless celebrities – lays a warehouse and a federal officer sat beside an X-ray machine.

No, the machine is not scanning any passengers’ luggage, but is actually scouring mail for contraband forbidden from entering the United States.  Moving on a belt operating at least three times quicker than your typical airport security scanner, three or four packages at a time are whizzed along and made visible on a monitor to the federal officer.

The packages may include a whole variety of things such as counterfeit clothing, fresh produce, unlawful steroids, children’s toys and Cuban cigars. All have been sent there via the U.S. Postal Service, and, according to federal law, the officer has the power to open anything deemed to be of a suspicious nature.

At airports across the United States such as LAX, ports and border crossings, federal officials are efficient and quick to prevent any drugs from making their way onto the streets. Usually emanating from Central or South America, cocaine and marijuana are common problems for officials – but surprisingly not the biggest problem.

In fact, it is pharmaceutical products which are their biggest issue currently, with counterfeit drugs coming in by their thousands from Asia (usually China). Some of the most copied medications are erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra and Cialis, but counterfeiters will produce fakes of anything from cholesterol to cancer drugs. Often the packaging will be so expertly made that it is difficult to separate from the genuine product.

Customs operates within an incredible 38,000 square feet facility in the Los Angeles-area and is one of seven such sites nationwide that is responsible for the scanning of international mail. The site is open for 17 hours a day, seven days a week, and an estimated 1 million to 1½ million pieces of mail are processed each month.

Authorities say that roughly 5% of the mail they scan is ‘problematic’. Most of these dubious packages are containing counterfeit drugs, which are usually dangerous in three ways: either they have too much of the active ingredient, have too little of it or some will have none at all.

Matthew Bassiur, vice president of global security for Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant behind erectile Viagra, Champix, and other popular medications, says: “What patients don’t realize is that if they go online and they purchase from a rogue website — one that’s not legitimate — then they may be playing Russian roulette with their lives. It’s really that simple. The counterfeiters are getting really good at making these look just about identical to the real products. We have to bring it back to our laboratories to test it and find out whether it’s authentic product.”

Large multinational drug corporations like Eli Lilly and Pfizer have spent millions of dollars in the fight against counterfeit drugs and finding those behind such scams that they have teams especially devoted to anti-counterfeiting measures. Joining forces with federal agents and government prosecutors, these teams help to build solid cases against those involved with the production and sale of counterfeit drugs.  Usually, the penalty is severe. In August, a South Korean man who tried to smuggle 40,000 counterfeit erectile dysfunction pills into LAX was sentenced by a federal judge in Los Angeles to 2½ years in prison. The fake pills, including copies of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, were discovered in a golf bag and other luggage after he had returned to the United States from a trip to China.

If you are a male suffering with erectile dysfunction, safety and peace of mind is assured by obtaining genuine erectile dysfunction medication from a reputable and trusted source such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy. We are fully registered online Pharmacy with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), in addition to being a member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Our team of Doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and our Pharmacists are registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

Viagra and other medications for male impotence such as Cialis or Levitra are obtainable with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Computer game controllers are ‘five times dirtier than a toilet seat’

If somebody was to ask you what you would think is the dirtiest place or item in your house, a place that harbours the most bacteria, you’d be forgiven for assuming it is the toilet area in your bathroom.

In fact, day-to-day chores such as sorting the dirty laundry, taking out the bins and scrubbing the bathroom can leave us grubby and reaching for the hand wash.

Surprisingly though, there are some unlikely things in the home that can spread large amounts of bacteria, according to new research.

The study, conducted by Domestos and Unicef, found that although almost third of people believe it is the toilet seat that is the grubbiest place in the home, high contaminated things are actually more likely to be things such as computer games controllers, toys and even the arms of your sofas.

The researchers involved in the study decided to swab different areas of a typical average house to test for bacteria including E. coli, APC and Enterobacteriaceae.

On average, it was determined that the average toilet seat has around 1,600 germs per 100 cm2, but there were a significantly higher number of germs found on children’s play equipment.

The most bacteria-laden object in most homes is actually the garden trampoline, researchers discovered. With bacteria levels of around 640,000 per 100cm2, they are the worst offenders for germs. Also in the garden area, bikes and balls both had around 14,000 per 100cm2.

In what is shockingly nearly fives that of an average toilet seat, it was found that a typical games controller remarkably has about 7,863 germs per 100cm2. This is almost the same as an average fridge handle, which clocks up roughly 7,474 germs per 100cm2.

Results from the study also show that three out of five people are under the assumption that children pick up germs primarily at nursery or school. The study authors however say that we should be more cautious of germs on our sofas, with a staggering 12 times more germs on the arms of a sofa than on the average toilet seat.

Environmental health expert Dr Lisa Ackerley said: “Hand washing is probably the most cost-effective and simple way to reduce disease, whether in the UK or in the rest of the world. Literally, our safety, and that of others, is in our hands. By making sure we have clean hands, we prevent passing our germs on to others and we also make sure we don’t get sick from infections left behind by other people.”

Clemence Brunet from Domestos, added: “It’s alarming to see that despite the care we give our favourite toys and household items, they’re still grubbier than the average toilet seat.”

The common causes of hair loss explained

Hair loss can be a deeply distressing experience for many people and the cause of a huge loss of self-esteem, even resulting in depression and severely impacting a person’s social life.
Although primarily attributed to men, hair loss can happen to both men and women. Many do not realise, but there are actually around 8 million women in the UK alone who are suffering with some degree as hair loss.

Even celebrities are prone to suffering with hair loss, with Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney forking out thousands of pounds on multiple hair transplants in the last two years in a rather costly and apparently futile bid to fight his thinning hair.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy have previously looked at some of the best foods for healthy hair, but what a large number of our patients want to know is why they have lost hair in the first place.
Obviously there is a familial aspect when considering causes of hair loss as baldness tends to be hereditary. Looking at parents, grandparents, etc. can usually give you a good idea regarding your chances of keeping hold of a strong and healthy head of hair. You only have to look at Prince William, his father Prince Charles, and Prince William’s grandfather Prince Philip to see how genetics plays its part in hair loss.

In many cases, there are numerous ways to treat male hair loss and female hair loss such as Propecia (for men), Dianette (for women) and Regaine (for men and women), just to name a few.
However, here Medical Specialists list some of the common causes of hair loss:

. Male pattern baldness (MPB)

So common that many would barely bat an eyelid upon seeing a male who is experiencing MPB.  By the age of 60, two thirds of men will have experienced hair loss which is typified by the hair receding at the temples and leaving behind an ‘M’-shaped hairline. Fortunately, topical treatments such as Minoxidil (Regaine) and oral medications such as Finasteride (Propecia) can halt the process and even regrow hair in some cases.

. Physical stress

Physical trauma such as surgery, a car accident or severe illness can cause temporary hair loss. This type of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium and usually involves widespread thinning of the hair on the scalp rather than bald patches. The hair may feel thinner than before but then begin to grow back properly within around six months.

. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a common condition affecting millions of women in the UK and alters the way in which a woman’s ovaries function. The three main features are having high levels of ‘androgens’ (male hormones), ovaries that do not regularly ovulate (release eggs), and cysts that develop within the ovaries.  Just two of these lead to a diagnosis of PCOS. Whilst PCOS can cause facial hair growth, it may also result in thinning hair and hair loss. Many cases of PCOS are treated through birth control pills such as Yasmin, which blocks testosterone via its potent anti-androgen. Should you be unable to take birth control pills, you may be prescribed Spironolactone by your doctor.

. Pregnancy

Hair loss related to pregnancy normally occurs after delivery of the baby, instead of during pregnancy. Whilst a woman is pregnant, many hairs enter into a resting phase – part of the normal hair cycle.  The average head can lose around 100 hairs a day, but not all at once, so it is not noticeable. Pregnancy results in your hormones preventing those hairs from falling out, resulting in thicker and fuller hair. However, when the hormones return to normal, the extra hairs will start shedding.  You are not balding – your hair is just beginning the process of getting back to how it was in your pre-pregnancy state. Hair loss during pregnancy is much less common and should be discussed with your doctor as it could be the result of a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

. Lack of protein

Although there is little scientific evidence to definitely state a particular diet has a direct impact on hair growth, it is generally believed that if you are not getting enough protein in your diet, this can be bad for hair growth as hair itself is mostly made of protein. Therefore, a protein deficiency could cause dry or brittle hair, or hair loss in certain cases. Some foods rich in protein which are great for healthy hair include: eggs, nuts, salmon, chicken, whole grains and beans.

. Lack of iron

If you are losing hair, there is a chance you may have an iron deficiency.  Iron helps to create red blood cells and these work at transporting oxygen around the body. If there is not enough oxygen, the hair bulb may be unable to generate new hair cells, resulting in much slower hair growth. Some foods rich in iron which could help against hair loss include: dried fruit, beans, red meat, liver, egg yolks, molluscs, spinach, nuts, dark chocolate, tofu and whole grains.  If you suspect you may be suffering from anaemia and this is causing your hair loss, you should be first diagnosed by your own doctor, who can carry out a simple blood test. It is not advised to start taking iron supplements on your own accord and risk overloading on iron, which can be very dangerous.

. Lupus

The autoimmune disease Lupus causes the body’s own immune system to attack healthy tissue. The hair loss could be mild and happen whilst shampooing or brushing your hair. If the hair loss is more severe, it may fall out in patches and there is usually a rash that appears on the scalp.

Graphic warnings on cigarette packets ignored by teens

Government and anti-smoking campaigners’ efforts to deter youngsters from beginning to smoke or carrying on the habit if they already do, have been dealt a major blow this week after a new study suggests that the picture and text warnings on the back of cigarette packets have little impact on teenage smokers.

Research published online in the journal Tobacco Control says that despite images such as those showing diseased lungs and tumours being quite effective at deterring young people from smoking in comparison to text warnings, they are usually printed on the back of cigarette packets. This therefore lessens their visibility and effectiveness.

The research in Tobacco Control  was led by Dr Crawford Moodie from Stirling’s Centre for Tobacco Control Research at the University of Stirling and is based on two surveys – the first comprising of over 1,000 11 to 16-year-olds in the UK in 2008 and a second survey which quizzed a further 1,000 in 2011.

Questions included in the survey were designed to look at how effective the visibility and impact of the warnings on packs were, in addition whether or not they were easy to understand, believable, and exactly how persuasive they were.

The majority of the teenagers questioned in both surveys (68% to 75%) claimed they had never smoked a cigarette, 17% to 22% had ‘experimented’ with cigarettes, whilst approximately one in 10 of the teenagers were alarmingly already regular smokers. This was defined as smoking at least one cigarette every week.

Half of the teenagers in both of the surveys had either ‘often’ or ‘very often’ spotted the warnings on cigarette packs, and roughly one in five had read them very often or had studied them closely.
The number of teenagers who said the warnings had deterred them from smoking had risen between the two surveys, but not amongst those who regularly smoked.

For regular smokers, where the warnings on cigarette packets had put them off having a cigarette, there was drop in the proportion of teens from 32% to 23%.

The ability to recollect pictures on the packets showing diseased lungs, rotten teeth and neck cancer, stood at a pitiful 10% and three text warnings on the back of packs that did not include any supporting images were only remembered by under 1% in both surveys.

The study authors comment: “As warnings need to be salient to be effective, positioning pictorial warnings only on the less visible reverse panel limits their impact.”

Back in 2008, the UK became the third European Union country to print pictorial health warnings to on the backs of cigarette packets, in an attempt to urge more people to stop smoking. However, in the subsequent five years, it appears the same images are not having the same effect. In fact, five years of the same images may have led to a ‘wear out’ factor, particularly amongst those who smoke often.

“Positioning pictorial warnings only on the back of packs may have had a deterrent effect on never and experimental smokers, but for most measures no significant differences were observed. The impact on regular smokers was negligible,” the authors added.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: “The evidence is clear: warnings on cigarette packs help deter young people from taking up smoking, and the larger and more graphic they are the better. However, to be really effective, picture warnings need to be on the front of the packs. Currently the EU doesn’t allow this but next week the European Parliament is due to vote on a directive which will require larger picture warnings on the front of all cigarette packs. The tobacco industry is lobbying hard against this. ASH urges MEPs not to let the tobacco industry succeed in its multimillion- pound campaign to delay the vote and derail the directive.”

Israeli soldiers are to be provided with Viagra

Israeli armed forces are used to highly demanding orders and expectations from the Israel defence ministry. However, the soldiers’ performance in other areas will soon be boosted after the defence ministry ordered supplies of the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra for its troops.

According to Haaretz newspaper in Israel, “1,200 tablets of 100 mg sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra,” has been requested and will be provided as a treatment for soldiers with sexual performance problems. The sildenafil tablets have been asked for specifically for soldiers, and not for any other personnel such as defence ministry employees.

However, this request for sildenafil citrate may surprise many as the Israeli Army have not always been so generous to active duty soldiers who are seeking help in that department. Haaretz mentions that in 2005 the Israeli Army forbid those in its Air Force from taking Viagra prior to any flights in case any blurred vision was experienced.

The sildenafil tablets are amongst a long list of 105 items being sought by defence chiefs who are usually more occupied with procuring the most up-to-date military hardware. Other items which feature on the list include tyres, devices to warm the wounded and sweet chilli sauce.

The defence ministry decided not to provide a comment on the tender, citing privacy concerns. There should be no embarrassment though, Viagra’s popularity as a treatment for erectile dysfunction has skyrocketed around the globe since its launch 15 years ago and indeed, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) have spent a huge amount of money on helping soldiers overcome the same problem.

An investigation by Texas newspaper The Austin American-Statesmen, actually found the DOD spent over $380 million on erectile-dysfunction drugs during 2002 to 2012.

Previously, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are also believed to have sought another erectile dysfunction drug – ‘the weekend pill’ Cialis – for helping to keep pilots more alert and awake when during flights at high altitudes.

This followed a study of 51 Israeli mountaineers who attempted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, said that they had reduced altitude sickness when they took Cialis. Interestingly, the majority of those who were taking Cialis also managed to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.

It is not just Cialis that has demonstrated other uses though, and the potential of Viagra seems to know no limits as the ‘little blue pill’ shows proficiency in many other areas than male impotence.  For example, studies have suggested Viagra could help to boost baby growth in the womb, fight obesity and even help plants to grow.

Two thirds of nurses consider quitting due to stress

Nearly two thirds of nurses have mulled over the idea of quitting their job in the previous year because of stress, a new survey has discovered.

A poll of 10,000 staff conducted by The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found that 62% have considered leaving their job in the last 12 months.

The Tory-led coalition have thus far abolished 5,000 nursing posts in just three years as government attempt to reduce NHS costs by a £20billion by 2015. The job losses were shown in figures released last week from the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

This has caused current staff to become overburdened as the extra workload is piled on them, and difficulty in delivering the quality care that they desire. In fact, over 80% of respondents stated their workload had risen in the last 12 months, and 61% said they had been too busy to give the care they had wanted.

The situation has clearly deteriorated since the last survey was conducted in 2011. Back then, it was found that 54% of nurses had thought about quitting in the 12 months following David Cameron’s election as Prime Minister in 2010, with 68% reporting an increase in workload and 55% said they were too busy to give the care they wanted.

Interestingly – and damning for the coalition government – the previous survey before the 2011 one showed that just 24% of nurses had contemplated quitting in the last 12 months. This of course was when Labour were in power.

However, it is not just longer hours and heavy workload that is causing the stress as between 2010 and 2012 nurses were hit with a pay freeze, only to receive the news of the 1% cap on rises from April this year until 2016. Therefore, it is no wonder stress levels have gone up in the NHS and the results from the RCN survey should come as little surprise.

Rachael McIlroy, from the RCN said: “Salaries have remained static while household bills are rising, and people are finding it really hard. Extra unpaid hours is an issue because there are too few staff, and job security is an acute concern. The pay freeze, staff shortages and negativity following the Francis inquiry means nurses feel hard done by.”

The Francis inquiry showed countless examples of disgraceful poor care and neglect by certain nurses at Stafford Hospital, which led to a government commissioning a review into suspiciously high mortality rates at 14 hospitals.

Then following this, a damning report spearheaded by NHS medical chief Sir Bruce Keogh stressed it was the “inadequate numbers of nursing staff” primarily to blame for the problems.