Organ donors to decide who they help

The new guidance for transplant teams states that in some exceptional cases people will be able to request that their, or a family members, organs are given to a member of their family or close friend if they die.

The government claims the new measures will provide greater flexibility in the allocation of organ donations.

Announcing the new rules, health minister Ann Keen said: 'This change is greatly welcomed, as it will bring much needed clarity to what is a sad and difficult time for the family of a deceased donor and a family member or close friend who could benefit from donation.

'Although requests to allocate an organ donated after death are likely to be rare, we want to ensure that the system is as fair as it can be and the wishes of organ donors and their families are taken into account. We hope these latest changes encourage more families and close friends to talk about their wishes before it is too late.'

Chris Rudge national clinical director for transplantation, added: 'With this change in policy, a significant balance has been struck between the wishes of those who agree to donate their organs unconditionally and the need to allocate organs on the basis of clinical need.

'This guidance will bring clarity to what is a complex situation and give frontline staff the necessary support in working with the families of deceased donors and organ recipients, at a time that is stressful for both parties.'

There are around 10,000 people in Britain currently in need of a transplant, with health officials claiming an average of one three people dying every day because of a shortage of organs.
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NHS breat cancer screening scheme backed

The NHS breast cancer screening programme has gained support from a new report stating that the number of lives saved justifies any over-treatment occurring.

Produced by experts from the Wolfson Institute for Preventive Medicine at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, the report also contradicts recent findings from Danish experts that raised issues with the benefits of mammography.

According to the latest study, which analysed 80,000 women, breast cancer screening saves the lives of two women for every one who may get treatment without necessarily requiring it.

Designed to spot dangerous tumours, mammography can also detect harmless lumps that leave some women facing unwarranted anxiety and surgery, but researchers argue this is better than missing them altogether.

'For every case like this, screening saves two women who would have otherwise died from breast cancer. This shows that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms,' said Professor Stephen Duffy, who carried out the latest analysis.

More than 45,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, more than 12,000 of which die from the disease.
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Travellers offered meningitis vaccine

A new meningitis vaccine will protect British travellers from the four major strains of the disease.

The vaccine will be available for the first time in Europe, and will particularly be of use to anyone travelling to countries including Africa and Saudi Arabia.

The new vaccine, Menveo, will hopefully protect anyone travelling to the so-called 'Meningitis Belt'. It has been licensed for use for anyone over 11-years-old.

Children in the UK have been vaccinated against meningitis C since 2000, but there is no routine vaccination in the UK against the other strains.

Linda Glennie, who is head of research at the Meningitis Research Foundation, told the BBC the next step was to find out 'if this vaccine has a potential wider use than just travel'.

The foundation estimates that there are around 3,500 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This means that every day nine people become ill with the diseases.

The highest burden of meningitis in the world is in the Meningitis Belt of sub-Saharan Africa, where epidemics can strike up to a quarter of a million people in a single year, with tens of thousands dying.
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