Seven days in medicine: 4-10 March 2020
BMJ 2020; 368 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m955 (Published 12 March 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;368:m955
Workforce
UK will still attract overseas doctors, says government
The government insisted that it would continue to attract doctors from overseas despite publishing legislation to end free movement of people after the UK’s exit from the European Union. The Immigration Bill, introduced on 5 March, will pave the way for the biggest shake-up of the UK’s immigration system for decades, creating a new points based system from 1 January 2021 that grants visas based on people’s skills, qualifications, salary, and profession. Kevin Foster of the Home Office promised a new fast track NHS visa, costing applicants £464 (€532; $604) rather than £928. (Full story doi:10.1136/bmj.m942)
Obesity
Medical leaders call for end to “stigmatising” language
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and more than 100 medical and scientific organisations around the world called for an end to “unscientific, stigmatising language” around obesity. In a consensus statement published in the journal Nature Medicine on 4 March the organisations argued for strong policies and legislation to prevent weight based discrimination. The RCP highlighted that, while an estimated 19 million people in the UK were obese, many felt too stigmatised or ashamed to discuss their weight with a doctor despite the associated risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and poor mental health. (Full story doi:10.1136/bmj.m858)
Vaping
Half of smokers think nicotine vaping is just as harmful
Deaths from vaping in the US have led over half (56%) of smokers in England to believe that nicotine vaping products are as harmful as smoking (42%) or …
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