Here are the three key medical news stories from this week – including: Matt Hancock being appointed Health Secretary, new advice from the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV regarding a new sexually transmitted infection – and it’s been reported that a total of 661 people in Scotland required treatment for brain injury after alcohol misuse between 2016-17.
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Matt Hancock has been appointed Health Secretary, replacing Jeremy Hunt. He has held a number of ministerial roles since becoming an MP in 2010. Hancock has moved from Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) secretary to head the Department of Health and Social Care.
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Experts warn that a little known sexually transmitted infection could become the next superbug unless people become more vigilant. The infection, Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), often has no symptoms but can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can leave some women infertile and can cause resistance to antibiotics.
The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV is launching new advice, and its draft guidelines detail how best to spot MG. Paddy Horner, who co-wrote the guidelines, said: “We are asking the government directly to make this funding available to prevent a public health emergency waiting to happen and which is already spiralling out of control.”
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It’s been reported that a total of 661 people in Scotland required treatment for brain injury after alcohol misuse between 2016-17, the equivalent of nearly two people a day.
The Scottish government said it had invested £746m to tackle alcohol and drug abuse in the past 10 years and would be delivering an additional £20m a year to further improve services.
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