Our interview with Julia Hartley-Brewer on Talk Radio this morning covered the updated advice that aspirin should not be used to prevent heart attacks because it has an unacceptable level of side effects, particularly the risk of bleeding, which can be serious. We have observed cerebral (brain) bleeds in patients on preventative aspirin, and for this reason, we have not advised taking low-dose aspirin to ward off heart attacks.
Commitment to Other Measures for Heart Health
We remain committed to other measures, including statin therapy (as discussed on the radio), to lower cholesterol and reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes.
Increased Risk of Major Bleeding with Regular Aspirin Use
A review of 164,225 people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies found that regularly taking aspirin increases the chances of major bleeding by more than 40 percent.
Effective Triage to Reduce A&E Waiting Times
In other news, we have often suggested that A+E waiting time can be reduced by better triage at the outset instead of letting all patients wait for hours without screening them. So we are delighted with the news that in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, waiting times in A&E have fallen under a new initiative, which places a senior nurse near the front doors to turn away non-emergency patients.
Redirecting Patients to GP Clinics and Pharmacies
No one is sent home under the policy but is simply redirected to GP clinics and pharmacies.
Warning of Pressure on Hospitals
Senior A&E doctors warn that hospitals are teetering on the edge of safety. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine says that the pressure has intensified this month after a quieter start to the year.
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