Other UK News In Brief

Government Clampdown On Alternative Pet Remedies

Alternative remedies which could be dangerous to pets are being targeted by the Government in a major drive to improve animal health and welfare. Some herbal and homeopathic products are claiming medicinal benefits without scientific proof, meaning they may not properly treat or prevent serious diseases, leaving pets at risk. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s (VMD) Director of Operations, John FitzGerald, said: “Some of these products are claiming to be effective and safe when no scientific evidence has been presented to us to show they are. Animal owners have a right to know if a product does what it claims. The products claim to treat diseases which can cause serious welfare problems and in some circumstances kill animals if not properly treated. So in some cases owners are giving remedies to their pets which don’t treat the problem.” A number of unauthorised products are being targeted, which include homeopathic ‘nosodes’ - which are derived from diseased animal tissues, animal food supplements - known as neutraceuticals, and herbal liquids, powders and pellets - sold as herbal wormers. From now on, the VMD will be contacting manufacturers to ensure that they demonstrate the products are safe and provide the benefits which they claim to. If this is not the case the manufacturers will be required to re-brand the products to make it clear they are not medicinal.

Medical Students Support No Up-Front Tuition Fees



Following the publication of the Green Paper 'Building a Smarter Future' the British Medical Association’s Scottish Medical Student’s Committee have aired their views. The paper sets out a range of options for the future of Scotland's universities, including funding solutions which maintain the tradition of the state being the primary provider by maximising income to higher education. Tuition fees for Scottish students remain off the table and other solutions are being brought forward for discussion. Commenting on the publication of the Scottish Government’s Green Paper on the future of higher education in Scotland, Dima Nassif, Co-Chair of the BMA’s Scottish Medical Student’s Committee, said:

 “The Green Paper looks at a wide range of options for sustaining and improving the Scottish higher education sector and the BMA will be scrutinising these before formally responding.

 It is clear that urgent action is required to ensure that Scottish higher education does not suffer because of the huge funding cuts being planned for universities in England. However, it is vital that Scotland does not follow the English model of introducing a financial burden on graduates so high that many will be left with enormous student loans which they will never be able to repay.
 Entry to medical school should be based on aptitude not wealth, and students from less well off backgrounds must not be deterred from studying medicine by the prospect of huge debts.”

 Miss Nassif, a third year medical student at Edinburgh University, added: 

“The Browne Review recognised that there are priority courses such as medicine that are important to the wellbeing of society and to the economy and highlighted that there would remain a vital role for public investment to support priority courses and the wider benefits they create. It is important that there is the same recognition in Scotland.”



Plumbers Sentenced For Carrying Out Illegal Gas Work

Two plumbers from Hertfordshire who put people at risk by illegally working on domestic gas appliances have been sentenced. Paul Fromet, from Cheshunt, and Michael Wright, from Waltham Cross, were asked to fit a boiler in a house in Hargrave Road, Chevington, Suffolk that was due to be rented out by the landlord. Bury St Edmunds Magistrates’ Court heard that a complaint had been made about the installation to Gas Safe which was then passed to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and an investigation followed. Neither plumber was registered with Gas Safe, the compulsory registration scheme for gas engineers. The boiler had not been adjusted to run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which supplied the property. As a result of this failure, tests on the boiler during operation showed that it was producing exceptionally high levels of carbon monoxide – more than 200 times the manufacturers’ specification. Both men admitted breaching gas safety regulations. Mr Fromet and Mr Wright received a two-year conditional discharge and were ordered to pay costs of £250 each.

(BMcN/GK)