In this issue

News: Health Ministers Reappointed

News: 'Happy pills' investigation

News: Fertile ground for new APG

News: Foundation bill clears second Commons hurdle
The government's plan to create foundation hospitals has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons despite a modest rebellion by Labour MPs, writes Tom Price.
Tom Price

News: Shocking therapy a treatment of 'last resort'

Diary

Viewpoint: Gross profits?
Lord Rea on childhood obesity and advertising
Lord Rea

Unplanned, unwise and unwanted
The re-organisation of the public health laboratories risks unnecessary fragmentation during a time of biological and chemical threat, says Paul Burstow MP
Paul Burstow MP

The return of an old menace
The government must realise that there is a link between the London TB crisis and the dearth of affordable housing, writes Tom Brake MP
Tom Brake MP

Over Exposed
Britain is facing a skin cancer epidemic with rates exceeding even those of Australia. Jearelle Wolhuter reports.
Jearelle Wolhuter

Bitter Pill For Mill Hill
The Medical Research Council's proposal to move a North London research institute has highlighted its unpopular management style - damned by a recent select committee report, writes Simon Greaves.
Simon Greaves

Time to fill the gap
Unable to register with a dentist himself, Simon Thomas MP has first hand experience of the crisis in NHS dental provision.
Simon Thomas

Tapping into Success
Fluoridation of the water supply is a proven method of cutting dental cavities in children, argues Andy Burnham MP.
Andy Burnham MP

Milk of human kindness
One of the main obstacles to encouraging more mothers to breastfeed is the attitude of people in our society, says Julia Drown MP.
Julia Drown MP

Hard labour
Under-resourced maternity departments are struggling to provide adequate services - putting the lives of socially excluded mothers and babies at risk, reports Sally Dawson.
Sally Dawson

A deadly silence
Pre-eclampsia is the most common, serious complication of pregnancy yet the condition receives a scandalous lack of publicity, writes Barbara Follett MP.
Barbara Follett

Cradle of civilisation
Worldwide more than eight million babies die before, or just after, birth each year. Claire Puddephatt and Anthony Costello outline how a global commitment to improving the health of newborns would deliver social and economic benefits for us all
Claire Puddephatt and Anthony Costello

The lost children
Failed and ignored, the system is not fulfilling its obligations to autistic children and their parents, writes Dr Stephen Ladyman.
Stephen Ladyman

Lessons of the 'golden hour'
Ian Gibson MP reports on major breakthroughs in battlefield care
Dr Ian Gibson

The panic weapon
Dirty bombs, containing radioactive material, may not cause mass casualties but they are the ultimate weapon of psychological terror, writes Jolyon Kimble.
Jolyon Kimble

Time to change the script?
Tom Price examines some of the problems with the current system of prescription charging.
Tom Price

Clinical trials
Tom Price examines how the NHS can reduce the increasing legal bill for medical negligence.
Tom Price

Culture shock
The NHS style of working is changing, says Richard Sarson, but is it moving fast enough?
Richard Sarson

Breaking the sound barrier
Tom Price looks at how digital technology is helping in the fight against hearing loss.
Tom Price

Testing Times
Greater use of in-vitro diagnostics could help to unlock many of the problems besetting healthcare delivery today, writes Professor Chris Price.
Professor Christopher P Price

Changing the record
Richard Sarson finds that, after a shaky start, the NHS IT Tsar is making up for lost time in his attempt to drive the NHS into the 21st century.
Richard Sarson

Out of the system
The mentally ill face particular problems when it comes to accessing welfare benefits, reports Sally Dawson.
Sally Dawson

With friends like these...
Who you know determines how healthy you are, writes Dr Raj Persaud
Dr Raj Persaud

Gut reaction?
Testing positive for the bug H-pylori is so highly predictive of stomach abnormality that some experts believe prioritising patients carrying the infection could be the most cost effective way to target resources, reports Sally Dawson
Sally Dawson