Today’s top health stories

April 19, 2012

BBC News Online has reported on a study published in Nature, which has revealed breast cancer should be classified as 10 separate diseases. According to the journal, the categories could help improve treatment by allowing tailored drugs to be used according to a patient’s specific type of breast cancer. The international team of scientists looked at frozen breast cancer samples from around 2,000 women at hospitals in the UK and Canada. Cancer Research UK described the findings as a “landmark” and added it would begin using the new criteria in clinical trials if funded.

The creation of health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) marking the return of public health to local authorities is a “seismic shift and a significant opportunity” says the Guardian. However, it highlights there are limits to representation, and that not everyone with a local stake will be able to sit on the new bodies. The report argues while some HWBs will not have district council representation there remains opportunities for districts to be involved, including ensuring limited funds are being spent more efficiently.

The HSJ has reported on a letter issued by the Chairman of Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts, who issued a negative assessment of savings acute trusts must be prepared to make over in the coming three years. David Bennett wrote to trust CEOs stating cost improvement plans would have to be delivered “on an even more ambitious scale going forward,” following predictions for saving requirements rose from 4.5% to 5.5% for the next two financial years.

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