With the National Health Service under intense financial pressure, leading healthcare directors and academics debate over whether access to medical care should depend on personal lifestyle choices.
TONIGHT – Monday, 12th of October, the Edinburgh Union will host its next debate of the term on one of Britain’s most urgent healthcare and ethical questions with the motion: This House Would Prioritise NHS Patients With Healthy Lifestyles.
Under increasing financial strain, the National Health Service faces pressure concerning resource allocation. The proposition that patients should take accountability for their health, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, has raised concerns over medical ethics.
However, the widening gaps in health outcomes and equality make the question of healthcare rationing and patient responsibility more urgent than ever.
The debate brings together a panel of healthcare leaders and academic experts.
Arguing for the proposition to prioritise patients with healthy lifestyles is Dr Shaun O’Connell, Former Joint Medical Director at the Vale of York CCG, who implemented a controversial 2016 policy asking obese patients and smokers to lose weight or quit cigarettes at the risk of delays to routine operations.
On the opposition, he will face Jonathan Pugh, Deputy Director of the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford, and Richard Cookson Professor for the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York.
This event will take place in Rainy Hall at New College, with doors opening at 6:30 pm and the debate commencing at 7 pm. Continuing with Edinburgh Union tradition, audience members will have the opportunity to challenge guest speakers and deliver speeches during the debate.
Euan Morgan, President of the Edinburgh Union, said:“The question of NHS resource allocation is central to the future of the United Kingdom’s healthcare system.
“By bringing the architect of one of the UK’s most controversial health policies face-to-face with medical ethicists, we are providing the rigorous debate the Edinburgh Union was built for.
“We are pleased to offer students the floor to challenge these experts in order to engage with a policy issue that impacts every citizen.”
New research from Make It Scotch reveals over half (52%) of adults in Scotland have experienced or suspect they have experienced low iron.
With almost half (49%) of Scots taking on – or planning to take on – a new fitness challenge, there’s no better time to get the nation talking about iron.
To mark World Iron Awareness Week (12-18 October), the brand is teaming up with Saltire Tides, Scotland’s only all-female crew taking on this year’s World’s Toughest Row, to get the nation talking about iron, energy and diet.
Brand new research released to mark World Iron Awareness Week (12-18 October) reveals that more than half of adults in Scotland have experienced, or suspect they have experienced, low iron at some point in their lives. Almost a third (29%) have received a formal diagnosis of iron deficiency, while 14% say they are currently living with low iron levels.
The findings expose a knowledge gap. While most people know iron helps reduce fatigue (67%), fewer realise it also contributes to the normal function of your immune system (46%) and even mental function (43%).
Confusion runs deeper when it comes to food sources: over half (56%) of Scots know beef is a source of iron, yet barely one in seven (15%) realise that lamb and pork contribute to the improvement of iron absorption when eaten with other foods containing iron such as green vegetables and beans.
With almost a third (29%) of Scots having taken on a new fitness challenge in the past two years, and a fifth (20%) planning to within the next 12 months, Make It Scotch is determined to close this gap. The brand is teaming up with Saltire Tides, Scotland’s only all-female crew taking on the World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic this December, to raise awareness of just how much iron matters, and where to get it.
Ellen Clark, Jenna Volpert and Lauren Wilde-Arnold are about to put their own iron levels to the ultimate test when they take on one of the most extreme endurance tests on the planet.
Setting off in December from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, the trio will row more than 3,000 nautical miles completely unsupported, all the way to Antigua.
All working as healthcare professionals, the Scottish women are aiming to cross in under 40 days, which would break the current record for a female trio on this route. To do it, they’ll row in shifts around the clock, surviving on minimal sleep while battling 40ft waves, salt sores and total physical exhaustion for weeks at sea.
During the row, the crew expect to burn through around 5,000 calories a day just to keep going, while juggling hydration, recovery, protein, carbs – and iron, which becomes even harder to maintain under that level of sustained physical stress.
Jenna Volpert, a trainee paediatric surgeon and Saltire Tides team member said:“We’re going to be asking a lot of our bodies out there – rowing in shifts around the clock with barely any sleep, for weeks on end – so getting our iron levels right isn’t optional for us. It’s essential.
“I’ve actually had my own experience with iron deficiency in the past, and I know first-hand how much it can impact fitness and training.
“That’s why we’ve made a huge effort to ensure we’re fuelling our bodies with the highest quality produce and the best nutrients we can find. Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Prime Scottish Pork are a big part of that plan, especially in the final weeks before we set off.”
Emma Health, Director of Marketing at Quality Meat Scotland added:“What’s brilliant about teaming up with Saltire Tides is that they’re not just talking about the importance of iron in everyday life and fitness, they’re living it.
“Every stroke they take during their training and every mile they row on the Atlantic is powered by how well they’ve fuelled their bodies, and that’s the most honest demonstration of why iron matters that we could ask for.
“Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Prime Scottish Pork are sitting in supermarket fridges and on butchers’ counters across the country, and most people have no idea that pairing them with other foods as part of a healthy balanced diet helps your body absorb even more iron. We hope this partnership will change that.”
For recipe inspiration to support your overall health and wellbeing or more information on Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb or Prime Scottish Pork, please visit Make it Scotch.
Some of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks, including the Kelpies and Glasgow Science Centre, will light up blue on Monday 12 October for World Arthritis Day as Arthritis UK calls for a dedicated Scottish action plan for arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
The illuminations will highlight the impact of MSK conditions on the 1.7 million people in Scotland who live with them — around one in three — many experiencing daily pain, fatigue and reduced mobility.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of World Arthritis Day and Arthritis UK’s 90th anniversary. It offers an opportunity to celebrate progress in research and support while highlighting how much work remains.
More than 4,500 people have signed the charity’s ‘Don’t Turn Your Back on Arthritis’ open letter to First Minister John Swinney, calling for a dedicated MSK Action Plan.
The proposed plan would help people get a diagnosis and support sooner, improve access to rehabilitation and supported self-management, and help them stay active and independent.
It would also provide stronger national leadership and investment in MSK health.
Edinburgh nurse Rebecca Murray was 12 when she woke with a hot, swollen elbow. Initially dismissed as a swimming injury, her symptoms led to a year of appointments and unsuccessful treatments before she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Pain and fatigue forced her to give up competitive swimming, while at school she often had to fight for support.
“At such a young age, it felt like I’d lost a big part of who I was after my diagnosis,” she said. “It’s an invisible illness that many people wrongly associate with older age.”
Originally from Aberdeenshire, Rebecca found support through Arthritis UK’s Young People and Families Service, which connected her with others facing similar challenges.
“At times, I have felt pretty hopeless with my condition, but the friends and connections I made through Arthritis UK really helped change not only my outlook on my condition, but the outlook on my life.”
Michaela Brown, 34, from Campbeltown, manages three forms of arthritis while raising her daughter as a single mum. She said: “On World Arthritis Day, I want people to understand that arthritis affects younger people too. I’m 34, and it affects my work, my family life, and what I can do with friends.
“We need a dedicated MSK Action Plan for Scotland, covering earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, physiotherapy and support to stay active and in work.
For those of us living in rural communities, it must also address the long journeys and practical difficulties of getting specialist care.
We need support that reflects the everyday reality of living with arthritis.”
Lauren Bennie, Head of Arthritis UK Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 90th anniversary and the progress we have made in research support and awareness over the last nine decades.
“However, for the 1.7 million people in Scotland living with a musculoskeletal condition, there is still plenty of work to be done. Arthritis remains one of Scotland’s few major health conditions without a dedicated strategy.
“Unfortunately, it is all too common to wait too long for a diagnosis, treatment, or the support people need to live independently. Lighting up these landmarks is a small way of saying to those experiencing this, you are not alone, and your voices are heard.
“We are calling on the First Minister to face the facts about arthritis and commit to Scotland’s first-ever MSK Action Plan.”
The campaign will continue throughout the autumn, with Arthritis UK also working to secure the first dedicated debate on arthritis in the Scottish Parliament.
The landmarks taking part are:
University of Glasgow Tower
Glasgow Science Centre
Ness Bridge
The Falkirk Wheel
The Kelpies
People can add their names to the open letter and call on the First Minister to face arthritis head-on at:
Talking about our emotions should never feel taboo.
This #WorldMentalHealthDay let’s not just check in with those around us, but let’s also create space for open and honest conversation about our mental health.
Let’s move past “I’m fine”.
For tips, advice and support on talking about mental health, check out our website: https://shorturl.at/KZ8RX
Raising awareness of help available this Baby Loss Awareness Week
Social Security Scotland is highlighting the financial support available to families that have lost a baby this Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 – 15 October 2026).
Families that already receive qualifying benefits can apply for additional support if they have experienced a stillbirth or have lost their baby after being born.
Bereaved families may be able to access Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment to help relieve financial pressures if their baby has died. In addition, Funeral Support Payment is available to help cover the costs of a baby’s funeral.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Losing a baby can have a devastating impact on families. During a time where parents should be able to grieve the loss of their infant, many are faced with added financial pressures that can make their loss even harder to process.
“This Baby Loss Awareness Week, I am letting families know about the package of financial help the Scottish Government offers to help ease some of those strains, giving parents the chance to mourn without added financial worries.”
An estimated 1 in 4 people in the UK experience pregnancy or baby loss. Social Security Scotland recognises the profound impact loss can have on families and is committed to providing support to clients and colleagues.
Social Security Scotland’s Deputy Director of People and Place, Nicola Rudnicki, added: “We understand that losing a baby is one of the hardest experiences a family can face.
“For families looking to apply for support, our teams are specially trained to manage bereavement cases with compassion and respect, meaning our clients can speak to our colleagues knowing they will be treated with dignity.
“We are also proud to have signed Miscarriage UK’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge, recognising that every loss matters and reaffirming our commitment to creating a supportive and understanding environment for those affected by pregnancy and baby loss.”
Rowena Pailing, Director of Bereavement Support Services, Community and Volunteering, Sands commented:“Baby loss has a huge emotional impact. It can also have a financial impact.
“At Sands, we hear from families who may be struggling because of their employment situations, or who are concerned about funeral costs. We would encourage anyone who loses a baby to check whether they are eligible for financial help from Social Security Scotland.”
Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 – 15 October 2026) brings people together to create a supportive space to share their experiences about pregnancy and baby loss. The awareness week also marks the annual Wave of Light memorial on 15 October where families around the work are invited to light a candle at 7pm in remembrance of all babies that have died too soon.
Sands is the charity speaking up about pregnancy and baby loss, saving babies’ lives and supporting bereaved families.
Are you currently studying for a career in healthcare? Want to make a difference to the patient experience?
Apply to become a Bridge Builder Volunteer today!
Bridge Builders support patients to attend and engage with their outpatient appointments, providing practical and emotional support throughout their healthcare journey.
Andy Burnham announces £48 million industry partnership to back dementia research and speed up the development of new treatments
PM announces £48 million industry partnership to back dementia research and speed up the development of new treatments
Dementia to be one of the first priorities for the new Health Data Research Service that will join up NHS and research data for the first time to help new drugs reach patients faster
Comes alongside commitment to deliver a new National Care Service and reform social care to improve support for people living with dementia and their families
People living with dementia and their families will benefit from a major new partnership making it easier to join clinical trials and helping promising new treatments reach patients faster.
The Government is investing £33 million through the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, alongside funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK and Gates Ventures, to tackle one of the biggest barriers to dementia research: recruiting enough people into clinical studies to test promising new treatments.
The investment will support the work of The BARBARA Alliance, a UK-wide not-for-profit partnership bringing together government, industry, academia, charities and people with lived experience of dementia.
Its flagship programme, BARBARA, will create a single, co-ordinated platform linking the UK’s health data, research and clinical trial capabilities, making it easier for researchers to find participants and for people across the UK to take part in studies. By tackling one of the biggest bottlenecks in dementia research, the programme will help speed up clinical trials and bring promising new treatments to patients faster.
Dementia remains one of the greatest health and social care challenges facing the country. Nearly one million people are living with the condition in the UK today, and around one in two people will be affected by dementia in their lifetime, either living with the condition, being a carer or both.
The condition places enormous pressure on families, carers, the NHS, and social care services. Dementia is estimated to cost the UK more than £42 billion a year, with the vast majority of costs falling on social care and unpaid care provided by family and friends, and the cost to the NHS at £7 billion.
Yet too few people currently take part in dementia research, compared to other diseases. Anybody over the age of 18 years old can sign up, with or without a dementia diagnosis or memory concerns through the NIHR’s Join Dementia Research service. Taking part gives people the chance to contribute to the search for better treatments and help bring hope to the millions of families affected by dementia.
Speaking ahead of the Innovation Nation Summit, the Prime Minister said there was no reason why Britain could not lead the world in the search for new dementia treatments and that for too long dementia has been treated as something to be managed later on in life rather than a condition which can be properly treated and ultimately cured.
Today’s investment forms part of the Prime Minister’s wider mission to improve support for people living with dementia and their families. Alongside plans for a National Care Service, the Government is backing research that could help people live independently for longer and ease pressure on health and care services.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Dementia is a devastatingly cruel disease, not only for those who live with it, but for the families who care for them. For too long, we have accepted dementia as something to be managed later in life, rather than a disease we can defeat. I don’t accept that. In fact, I have real hope that we can come together and do exactly that.
“I want Britain to be the country that makes the breakthrough and delivers the cure for dementia the world has been waiting for. That is why I am making dementia research a national priority – by backing the NHS, universities, researchers and industry to drive the breakthroughs we desperately need.
“This investment goes hand in hand with our plans for a National Care Service, helping ensure that people living with dementia get the care and support they need, and giving families peace of mind that their loved ones will be cared for.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “This cruel disease has done so much damage to families across our country, and for too long we have lacked the tools to fight back. This investment will help us turn the tide on dementia, helping us to speed up diagnosis, accelerate research and give more people the chance to take part in trials that could transform their futures.
“We are also determined to ensure that every person living with dementia gets the care they deserve, and that no family is left to fend for themselves when a loved one needs support. So, alongside this new investment, we will ensure that the treatment of dementia is one of the central priorities of our new National Care Service.
Hilary Evans-Newton CBE, Chair of the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme and Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We know that people affected by dementia want the opportunity to be part of the search for better treatments. More than 90% we’ve surveyed told us they would like to take part in research, helping to shape a better future for everyone affected by the condition.
“The BARBARA Alliance has been created to change that. By tackling the barriers to dementia research and speeding up recruitment to clinical trials, this funding will help more people contribute to breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment.”
CEO of the BARBARA Alliance Jessamy Baird MBE said: “The BARBARA Alliance was essential in clearing some of the barriers that are preventing our life sciences sector from delivering new treatments to patients.
“What makes us different is our work across the whole sector, working with people with lived experience of dementia, charities, commercial companies, the NHS, and regulators,
“Taking part in a trial not only means that someone can contribute to the future course of the disease, they also get the opportunity to receive interventions, treatments and better care, which can help them and their loved ones.”
Kaivan Khavandi, SVP, Head of R&D Translational & Development Sciences, GSK said: “Our partnership in The BARBARA Alliance is a crucial step to advance research into dementia.
“By working together with the UK government and other partners, we aim to create a more dynamic and agile way to accelerate scientific trials. We’re proud to be a founding member and believe the partnership will help bring much-needed innovation to patients faster.”
Ken Rhodes, Vice President of Neuroscience research at Bristol Myers Squibb said: By bringing together unique datasets that advance AI/ML approaches, BARBARA will help the Alzheimer’s field ask better questions and accelerate progress for patients in need.
“Consortia like The BARBARA Alliance are critical in Bristol Myers Squibb’s efforts to explore both symptomatic and disease-modifying approaches, all in service of our ultimate ambition to bring medicines to patients faster.”
Niranjan Bose Managing Director, Health & Life Sciences, Gates Ventures said: “Recruiting the right people, at the right time, remains one of the biggest bottlenecks in developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The UK has a remarkable opportunity to change that by bringing together its strengths in health data, the NHS, AI, research and clinical trials.
“The BARBARA Alliance is exactly the kind of investment the field needs — making it easier for people to find and participate in research, while connecting data, research and clinical capabilities across the UK, and a faster path for researchers to evaluate promising new treatments and recruit participants more efficiently. Gates Ventures is proud to support this partnership and its ambition to turn scientific progress into treatments that reach patients faster.”
The Prime Minister also announced that dementia will be one of the first priorities for the new Health Data Research Service (HDRS), a flagship commitment of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.
Backed by up to £600 million from Government and the Wellcome Trust, HDRS will bring NHS and research data from across the UK into a single, secure system for approved research. Scientists will be able to identify eligible patients and recruit participants more quickly.
Britain has some of the world’s most powerful health data, but it is fragmented across different systems and organisations. Joining it up will help researchers understand how diseases develop, find suitable participants and translate discoveries into treatments.
By making dementia one of its first priorities, HDRS will help cement Britain’s position as a global leader in dementia research while giving more people the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge studies and clinical trials.
The service will also complement the work of The BARBARA Alliance, which will help more people take part in trials, while the Health Data Research Service will give scientists the evidence and insight needed to design better studies and drive new discoveries which could bring treatments to patients faster.
The announcement comes a week after the Prime Minister set out a new settlement for older people, bringing together a State Pension that continues to rise every year with plans for a National Care Service that would provide free personal care for older people.
As people live longer, the systems designed to support them have not kept pace. The current social care system is too often failing older people, their families and care workers, while placing growing pressure on the NHS. The proposed National Care Service would be built on the same founding principles as the NHS, ensuring everyone can access the support they need and helping people live independently for longer.
Under the plans, older people would be entitled to a basic level of free personal care, including support with everyday activities such as washing, dressing, eating and personal hygiene. The reforms are intended to give families greater peace of mind, protecting people from the fear that needing care later in life could leave them without the support they need.
As part of her review, Baroness Casey has been asked to provide recommendations on how and when to build up the national care service. Her work will include public deliberation to ensure the public’s priorities are reflected in recommendations and ongoing cross-party talks seeking to build political consensus.
Yesterday’s announcement also follows the launch of UKRI’s £80 million Dementia Challenge last week, which will test nine innovative technologies in the NHS, including faster MRI brain scans and remote cognitive assessments, to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
The programme aims to help ensure 92% of people receive a diagnosis within 18 weeks of referral, up from around 60% today, by rapidly scaling innovations that prove they work in real-world settings.
Together with the new investment in clinical trials, this marks a major step towards turning Britain’s scientific strength into hope for millions of families affected by dementia, while reducing the financial burden on families and the state.
Expanded Hospital at Home services, a public awareness campaign and targeted investment to reduce waiting lists are all part of a newly-unveiled health preparedness plan for winter.
A collective effort is critical in the months ahead to ease pressures on the NHS, Health Secretary Angela Constance said as she launched the new national winter health plan.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Health Secretary set out several actions to provide guidance to health and social care systems ahead of winter, including:
an increased focus on community care, with over 10,000 patients benefiting from an expansion of Hospital at Home service
a Home First approach to healthcare
a new public awareness campaign to help people access the right care, in the right place, at the right time which will launch at the end of October
renewed calls for eligible patients to get vaccinated against seasonal viruses – including flu – which hospitalised almost 6,700 people last winter
winter-specific planned care funding from the £90 million announced earlier this year to reduce waiting lists for operations and procedures
further implementation of a new national plan to improve the flow of patients through hospital and free up bed capacity.
Ms Constance said: “A collective effort will be critical in the months ahead as we look to support our NHS through the winter. There is a role for everyone in Scotland to play.
“Seasonal illnesses, including flu, are already beginning to circulate, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination when invited. Last winter, almost 5,000 adults and 1,700 children in Scotland were hospitalised as a result of flu. Getting vaccinated protects you and those around you.
“It’s also important people know how and where to access care. Attendances at A&E remain extremely high, and many people could be treated more appropriately in services closer to home.
“A&E should be used for emergencies. Choosing the right service can help people receive advice and treatment more quickly while ensuring emergency care remains available for those who need it most.”
