Other UK News In Brief

Doctors Encourage Flu Vaccination

With reports of an increase in H1N1 cases emerging in Scotland, doctors have urged patients who are eligible for the winter flu vaccination to contact their GP practice. 

The vaccine programme continues throughout the winter months for those people most at risk from the flu bug. 

By having the vaccination, patients aged over 65 and those under 65 ‘at risk’ can protect themselves from the effects of flu, and in doing so, reduce winter pressure on Scotland’s busy hospitals.

 The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, will be one of the main strains of seasonal flu this winter, and doctors are already seeing reports of increasing numbers of cases. This year’s vaccination includes protection against the H1N1 strain of flu. Also, this year, it is recommended that pregnant women not in the high-risk groups who have not previously been vaccinated against H1N1 flu have the seasonal flu jab.

 Dr Dean Marshall, Chairman of the BMA’s Scottish General Practitioners Committee, said:

 “For most of us, flu makes us feel miserable, but doesn’t actually pose any serious risks to our health. Unfortunately, for the more vulnerable, it can cause serious complications and even lead to death. It is important that the flu campaign reaches as many vulnerable and ‘at-risk’ people as possible because it is inevitable that there will be more cases of flu this winter. The vaccination, however, can reduce both the likelihood of getting flu and the severity of the illness of those unfortunate enough to catch it.

 GPs are prepared for this winter’s battle against the flu bug. Across the country, surgeries have put in place the systems needed to reach and protect as many older and at risk people as possible. 

Flu can be very serious for those at risk, so take up your GP’s offer of a vaccination and be protected this winter.”

Lord Davies Responds To Women On Boards Review

Lord Davies of Abersoch has responded to the Confederation of British Industry's response to his review into the lack of women on British company boards. In a statement he said: "The CBI has today submitted a detailed response to the call for evidence as part of my review into women on boards. I welcome the hard work that has been put into this and their recommendations will help to inform the final report that I will present to Government in February. I am pleased to see that this issue has got a strong push behind it from business, but as the recently published Cranfield report highlighted there has been too little movement on diversity in the boardroom for too long. To see a step change on this we need everyone to pull together, British businesses and their shareholders, the Government and the headhunting profession, to deliver the changes that will help women to achieve these roles." Lord Davies was tasked by Vince Cable on 6th August to develop a business strategy to increase the number of women on the board of listed companies in the UK. Lord Davies is expected to report his findings to government in February 2011. The call for evidence as part of Lord Davies review of the lack of women on British boards closed on Tuesday 30th November 2010, after receiving more than 2,600 responses.

Government Focuses On Simple Financial Products

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban MP, has announced the publication of a consultation document on Simple Financial Products. The consultation sets out proposals for financial products that will help promote personal responsibility, enable consumers to compare products and understand product features more clearly. The proposals will also help to encourage competition between providers. The Government is now seeking input from consumer groups, the financial services industry, and other interested parties, to develop simple products further. Mark Hoban said: "The Government is committed to helping consumers take responsibility for their finances. In order to do this they need to be able to make sense of the huge range of financial products in the market. Simple financial products will help them to do that, by providing a safe choice and a common benchmark against which other products can be compared. This is one of a series of reforms to ensure that consumers get a better deal from financial services".

(BMcN/GK)