That bright star to the south tonight, with a slight golden hue to it, is actually the planet Saturn and it's at its brightest and closest to Earth this weekend.

The UK’s overprescription epidemic - a special @thetimes.com podcast on my recent reporting of this huge, wicked problem. An absolute delight to be joined by @jkdhesi.bsky.social to give us her expert view on this "threat to patient safety". Have a listen and share: pod.link/1501716010/e...

The UK’s overprescription epidemic

Listen to The UK’s overprescription epidemic from The Story wherever you get your podcasts!

pod.link

A simple genetic blood test could tell GPs which medicines are the safest and most effective for elderly patients taking multiple prescriptions, researchers behind a pioneering new trial believe www.thetimes.com/article/dc4a...

A simple test could solve the overprescription crisis

Genetic analysis could help GPs tailor medicines to stop older patients taking dangerous mixtures

thetimes.com

Scotland’s free personal care system is a cautionary tale for Andy Burnham: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Why Scotland’s free social care is a cautionary tale for Andy Burnham

There are dozens of models the prime minister could follow for his proposed national care service: but looking north is not the answer, say experts

thetimes.com

Scotland’s free personal care system is a cautionary tale for Andy Burnham: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Why Scotland’s free social care is a cautionary tale for Andy Burnham

There are dozens of models the prime minister could follow for his proposed national care service: but looking north is not the answer, say experts

thetimes.com

Contact made. Thank you to all those who re-posted this. You're all like the online version of the Baker Street Irregulars and I love you for it. #watchthisspace

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · last wk.

If you were the person who posted me the internal document from a north London hospital in a white A4 envelope - thank you I have it. But I really need to speak with you - I will keep it confidential! Please reach out by DM or at shaun.lintern@sundaytimes.co.uk

If you were the person who posted me the internal document from a north London hospital in a white A4 envelope - thank you I have it. But I really need to speak with you - I will keep it confidential! Please reach out by DM or at shaun.lintern@sundaytimes.co.uk

Burnham confirms social care reforms will deliver a service free at point of use, with everyone contributing to pay for it, but changes won't begin for years and rest on him winning the next election. He's pushed it back to same timetable as Starmer. No solution for 5 years+?

Does the shingles vaccine reduce the risk of developing dementia? The science isn't as solid as some claim, but private vaccinations are soaring. Was great to speak to @apsmunro.bsky.social to understand where we are at on the evidence: www.thetimes.com/article/f980...

Sales of £460 shingles jab double after claims it wards off dementia

The middle-aged are lining up at Boots for the Shingrix vaccine but experts urge caution over studies claiming it can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 20%

thetimes.com

NHS staff investigated over access to dead teenager Oliver McGowan's medical records www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NHS staff investigated over access to dead teenager's medical records

Oliver McGowan, who died in 2016, may have had his medical records accessed inappropriately after his death by NHS staff in Bristol.

bbc.co.uk

"The now enormous gearing between the large revenue budget and the small capital budget means relatively small transfers would represent big increases in capital spending" - @healthfoundation.bsky.social suggests Treasury should allow revenue to capital transfers www.health.org.uk/sites/defaul...

Dozens of readers have contacted The Sunday Times with their own experiences of the polypharmacy crisis. A common complaint is that requests for a medication review never happened. Some ended up in hospital, some saw relatives die: www.thetimes.com/article/c7fd...

Dad died after a fall. Was his prescription of 10 drugs to blame?

Millions of elderly people are given too many medications. Readers have shared their stories of side-effects, from nausea to kidney failure

thetimes.com

It's almost time for the #MJAawards Take a look at our feature journalism shortlist here: mjauk.org/focus-on-our...

Focus on our feature of the year finalists - Medical Journalists’ Association

With just three weeks to go until our glittering 2026 MJA Awards ceremony, it’s time to share some more details of our fantastic finalists. The full shortlist for this year has been announced but we t...

mjauk.org

Lucy Letby: Thirlwall inquiry lays bare the responsibility of NHS management – here’s what needs to change for the future, by @profjudithsmith.bsky.social theconversation.com/lucy-letby-t...

Lucy Letby: Thirlwall inquiry lays bare the responsibility of NHS management – here’s what needs to change for the future

The report described the number of ways that management and organisational faults contributed to the tragedies that occurred at the hospital.

theconversation.com

Researchers at the University of Cambridge said that regardless of “what or how we read”, sitting down with a book is linked to improved health and problem solving www.thetimes.com/article/fa07...

Any type of reading is the most marvellous medicine, say scientists

Researchers from the University of Cambridge collated data to reveal the incredible benefits of sitting down with a book, comic or magazine at any age

thetimes.com

This is a routine part of my discussion with patients. These medicines are associated with memory problems which may not be reversible when you stop them. The foundation of shared decision making.

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · 4w ago

🚨 Millions of elderly Britons take drugs known as anticholinergics - they can have serious side-effects and have been linked to a risk of dementia but patients aren't routinely warned. Another aspect of the polypharmacy crisis: www.thetimes.com/article/b5fb...

www.acbcalc.com

Imo, mostly due to lack of resource, people generally are kept on drugs without expert review. Particularly true of older generations

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · 4w ago

🚨 Millions of elderly Britons take drugs known as anticholinergics - they can have serious side-effects and have been linked to a risk of dementia but patients aren't routinely warned. Another aspect of the polypharmacy crisis: www.thetimes.com/article/b5fb...

🚨 Millions of elderly Britons take drugs known as anticholinergics - they can have serious side-effects and have been linked to a risk of dementia but patients aren't routinely warned. Another aspect of the polypharmacy crisis: www.thetimes.com/article/b5fb...

Doctors prescribe drugs without mentioning dementia risk

Common medicines for diabetes, bladder control and depression can be associated with serious side-effects for older people

thetimes.com

Assisted dying bill fails to pass the Commons. MPs voted against by 286 votes to 270.

We are pleased to see the BGS featured in an article in Sunday Times focused on polypharmacy and the need to improve healthcare for older people, including a quote our President, Professor Jugdeep Dhesi. buff.ly/eRgQU1W

I'm sorry what - 468 THOUSAND Baby Boomers turn 80 this year? 🤯 3.1 million people over 80?? I guess I should probably have known that but I'm genuinely gobsmacked

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 EXC: An over-prescribing epidemic is sending 1,000 elderly patients to A&E every single day - a consequence of a fragmented NHS unprepared for the ageing silver tsunami heading its way as 468k baby boomers turn 80 this year: www.thetimes.com/article/ddf4...

🚨 EXC: An over-prescribing epidemic is sending 1,000 elderly patients to A&E every single day - a consequence of a fragmented NHS unprepared for the ageing silver tsunami heading its way as 468k baby boomers turn 80 this year: www.thetimes.com/article/ddf4...

Mixing pills sends 1,000 elderly people a day to A&E

Our investigation shows millions are at risk of avoidable reactions to overprescribed drugs

thetimes.com

A...erm...shocking story ⚡️⚡️ Your regular reminder the NHS now faces a £16bn backlog maintenance bill. Of that £3.5bn is so critical its classed as a high safety risk.

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 EXC: A power failure forced @GreatOrmondSt to declare an incident and close a total of 9 of its 15 operating theatres last week after crucial ventilation systems stopped working. It came a week after 2 nurses were electrocuted in an operating theatre: www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

I started my career as a health journalist writing about frail elderly care but it feels like this has fallen off the agenda in recent years. I'm pleased The Sunday Times is backing my deep dive into the topic over the coming weeks. Let me know what you think is needed.

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 EXC: An over-prescribing epidemic is sending 1,000 elderly patients to A&E every single day - a consequence of a fragmented NHS unprepared for the ageing silver tsunami heading its way as 468k baby boomers turn 80 this year: www.thetimes.com/article/ddf4...

🚨 EXC: A power failure forced @GreatOrmondSt to declare an incident and close a total of 9 of its 15 operating theatres last week after crucial ventilation systems stopped working. It came a week after 2 nurses were electrocuted in an operating theatre: www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

Power cut halted child surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Procedures on six children had to be stopped as ventilation systems were out of action at the hospital, which has a big maintenance bill

thetimes.com

The crisis of over-prescribing costs the NHS an estimated £2.21 billion a year.

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 EXC: An over-prescribing epidemic is sending 1,000 elderly patients to A&E every single day - a consequence of a fragmented NHS unprepared for the ageing silver tsunami heading its way as 468k baby boomers turn 80 this year: www.thetimes.com/article/ddf4...

Excellent article Shaun. The Jean Bishop centre, Dan, Anna and rhe team are fantastic. And fabulous to see quotes from @jkdhesi.bsky.social and some of the excellent @gerisoc.bsky.social work.

🚨 EXC: An over-prescribing epidemic is sending 1,000 elderly patients to A&E every single day - a consequence of a fragmented NHS unprepared for the ageing silver tsunami heading its way as 468k baby boomers turn 80 this year: www.thetimes.com/article/ddf4...

Mixing pills sends 1,000 elderly people a day to A&E

Our investigation shows millions are at risk of avoidable reactions to overprescribed drugs

thetimes.com

The measles outbreak in Enfield saw 250 suspected cases - it began in a primary school with 40 unvaccinated cases then spreading into unvaccinated Somali and traveller families. Catch up clinics didnt work, but call / recall by GPs saw more vaccinations than any month since 2018

Shaun Lintern@shaunlintern.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 A growing number of children are "sitting ducks" for preventable diseases as uptake for all vaccinations for 1-yr-olds fall again: www.thetimes.com/article/fcdc...