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Londra Gazete, 11 August 2022 LondraGazete.com/English 9

Children under 10 will get

polio boosters as virus

returns to UK after 40 years

CHILDREN under 10 are set to
be offered polio vaccine boosters
amid a rise in the amount of the
virus detected in London's sewa-
ge works.
Health authorities plan to give
children the shots regardless of
NHS backlog of longest-wait where they are on their polio vac-
cine schedule, in a bid to prevent
patients slashed in England what would be the first commu-
nity outbreak of the disease in
the UK since the 1970s.
THE number of people waiting up beds for Covid patients. Polio can cause symptoms inc-
longer than two years for routine The situation pushed people into luding a high temperature, tired-
operations in England has fallen borrowing thousands of pounds ness, headaches, vomiting and
from 22,500 at the start of the for private treatment. muscle pain. In rare and extreme
year, to fewer than 200, according To reduce the backlog, patients cases it can lead to more serious
to NHS figures. have been offered travel and ac- symptoms that affect the brain cine uptake is lower," Dr Vanessa
This excludes more than 2,500 commodation costs to be treated in Children across Greater Lon-
who are complex cases or chose not an alternative part of the country. and nerves. don will be offered the shots from Saliba, consultant epidemiologist
to travel for speedier treatment. In England, large numbers have Earlier this year officials found Wednesday, the Daily Mirror re- at UKHSA, said.
NHS England said it had achieved been sent to private hospitals for traces of the poliovirus in sewage ported. “Most of the UK population will
the first milestone in its plan to surgical procedures, while com- samples collected from north and “Most of the UK population will be protected by vaccination in
eliminate backlogs caused by Cov- munity diagnostic centres have east London. be protected by vaccination in childhood but it’s clear that Vac-
id. been set up to deliver thousands of Officials stressed that the risk childhood but it’s clear that Vac- cine Derived Poliovirus (VDPV)
But a record 6.6 million people to the public from this was "very cine Derived Poliovirus (VDPV) could potentially spread, particu-
are still waiting for hospital treat- checks and scans. low" but that it was important to could potentially spread, particu- larly in communities where vacci-
NHS England promised to “vir-
ment. keep vaccines up to date. larly in communities where vac- ne uptake is lower."
There is still a mountain to climb, tually eradicate” the list of people
experts say, to reduce the number – waiting more than two years for
currently about 400,000 – waiting treatment, by the end of July. `
more than a year. And winter will It has now shrunk to 168 pa- Victims of racism more likely to suffer
probably bring more delays and tients, who mostly live in the South
pressure. West – the area worst affected by memory loss, study suggests
But eliminating 18-month waits Covid staff absences and pressure
– currently affecting about 50,000 on the health service. PEOPLE who experience “What’s shocking about the- communities within the UK.
– by April 2023 is next on the gov- In addition to the 22,500 people racism are more likely to ex- se findings is that racism and “Everyone deserves ap-
ernment’s agenda. waiting two years or more at the perience memory problems discrimination doesn’t just propriate care when they face
The numbers of people waiting start of the year, a further 43,500 in later life, a new study has have an immediate impact on the immense challenges of
a long time for routine hospital who would have waited more than suggested. people from ethnic minority dementia, but we know too
treatment have soared during the two years by the end of July had Results of two US-based communities, but can also many support services aren’t
past two years throughout the UK, also been treated, NHS England studies suggest past discrimi- lead to long lasting effects on culturally aware, and we’ve
as operations were cancelled to free said. natory events experienced by brain health, increasing the heard from people in these
people from Black, Asian and chance of memory and thin- communities that this is lea-
minority ethnic backgrounds king problems developing la- ving them feeling unsuppor-
People resorting to ‘DIY dentistry’ can have long-lasting effects ter in life. ted and isolated.”

on brain health on even the “Of the 900,000 people li- The number of Black and
PEOPLE are resorting to “DIY Across England, 91 per cent of oldest in the population. ving with dementia in the Asian people living with de-
dentistry” because they are unable to NHS practices were not accepting Following the unveiling of UK, 25,000 are from ethnic mentia is expected to double
get an appointment with the NHS, a new adult patients (4,933 of 5,416), this research at Alzheimer’s minority communities, so by 2026 with the steepest inc-
health official has warned. rising to 97 per cent in the East Mid- Association International while these are American stu- rease expected in South Asian
Some have been forced to make lands, and 98 per cent in the South Conference 2022 in the US, dies, it’s clear more also needs communities, according to
teeth out of resin and others have West, North West and Yorkshire and the UK’s leading Alzheimer’s to be done to support these the Alzheimer’s Society.
pulled out their own teeth because the Humber. charity has called upon the
of the “dire” situation with NHS den- The BDA previously said that since government to fulfil its ple-
tistry, national director of Health- March 2020, some 3,000 dentists dge to fund more dementia
watch England Louise Ansari said. are understood to have moved away research.
The claims come as a survey by the from NHS work entirely. Previous reviews indicate
British Dental Association (BDA) A BDA poll of 2,200 high street that Black people are more
and the BBC found that the majority dentists in England found that 45 at risk of dementia but less
of NHS dental practices in the UK are per cent have reduced their NHS likely to receive a timely diag-
unable to offer appointments to new commitment since the start of the nosis due to multiple barriers
adult patients. pandemic. in accessing healthcare.
Some 8,533 dental practices across The figure also found that 75 per Dr Richard Oakley, Asso-
the UK that were believed to hold cent are “likely” to reduce, or further ciate Director of Research
NHS contracts were reached out to reduce, their NHS commitment in at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
as part of the survey. the next 12 months.