Government cannot boost economic growth ‘until mental health crisis tackled’
Experts warn that the Government cannot boost economic growth without addressing the mental health crisis affecting young people. A coalition of four mental health organisations has called for urgent action, rejecting claims that the crisis is exaggerated or over-medicalised. The statistics are alarming: one in five children and young people struggle with anxiety or depression, and the number of 16-34-year-olds who say mental ill health limits their ability to work has quadrupled in a decade. The economic impact is staggering, with an estimated £24 billion lost annually in workplace productivity and £1 trillion in lifetime lost earnings. Additionally, the cost of delays in accessing support stands at £295 million per year. Campaigners are urging the Government to increase investment in mental health services, improve early intervention, and investigate social media’s role in rising mental distress. The government has pledged £26 million for new crisis centres and plans to provide specialist mental health professionals in schools, but critics say the response remains inadequate.
Starmer under fire amid row over Chagos deal cost
Keir Starmer has faced criticism in parliament over the UK’s agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, amid reports that the cost of the deal had risen from £9bn to £18bn. Both the Government and Mauritius denied the £18bn figure but have not provided an alternative amount. Under the agreement, the UK would retain a lease on Diego Garcia (home to a UK-US military airbase) for 99 years. However, the deal was paused for review after Donald Trump’s re-election, as some US Republicans fear it could benefit China. Mauritius’ new prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, has criticised the deal negotiated by his predecessor, citing concerns over inflation-proof payments. Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of 'shovelling money to Mauritius’ while cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. Labour argues that growing international legal pressure has made the UK’s control of the islands unsustainable, while critics argue no binding international ruling has been made. The future of the military base remains a key point of debate.
700,000 women to be screened for cancer using AI technology
Hundreds of thousands of women in the UK will be screened for breast cancer using AI technology in a groundbreaking trial designed to reduce waiting times and improve early detection. The £11 million trial will involve nearly 700,000 patients, replacing one of the two radiologists typically used to review mammograms with AI. Experts believe AI could increase accuracy and speed up diagnoses, allowing radiologists to focus on other areas of patient care. The trial will take place in thirty sites nationwide, with different AI technologies being tested to determine the most effective. Smaller studies have already suggested that AI may be better than human doctors at detecting breast cancer from mammograms. However, with a 40% shortfall in consultant radiologists expected by 2028, medical leaders emphasise the need for continued investment in screening services. Health secretary Wes Streeting, himself a cancer survivor, has pledged to prioritise early detection and patient care in the upcoming National Cancer Plan.
Lucy Letby: expert panel say they did not find murders
A panel of fourteen neonatal experts has questioned the convictions of Lucy Letby, claiming they did not find murders in their medical examination of evidence. Letby, a former neonatal nurse, was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Her legal team continues to challenge the verdicts, with her case now under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). At a press conference, retired medic Dr Shoo Lee argued that medical failings, not murder, were responsible for the babies' deaths. He cited poor hospital procedures, staff shortages, and delays in care as contributing factors. His evidence was previously rejected in Letby’s failed appeals. The CCRC is now assessing her case, though it does not determine guilt or innocence. Meanwhile, Letby is serving fifteen whole life orders in prison, with previous appeals unanimously dismissed by judges.
