Hi Tories, you do know your manifesto commitment was to ban all smoking by anyone born after 2009 and that Sunak praised this as a world-leading initiative that would ‘save more lives than any other decision we could take’. You know that, yes?

Improving disabled access to UK’s public transport ‘almost impossible’. More than half of people with complex disabilities find public transport inadequate, with issues including overcrowding, a lack of staff support and negative attitudes. theguardian.com/society/articl…

Will Labour resist the ‘killer tactics’ of industry’s enemies of public health? A new report lays down a challenge to Keir Starmer to take on vested interests of food, drink and tobacco companies. theguardian.com/society/articl…

Most people in the UK now believe they will have to spend their own money on private healthcare for routine services such as dentistry, physiotherapy and counselling because they won’t be able to get them quickly on the NHS, new research has found. theguardian.com/society/articl…

Social care chiefs sound alarm at UK Labour’s ‘deafening silence’ on sector. “For decades, successive UK governments have failed to take responsibility for a growing social care crisis. This government must not continue that pattern,” theguardian.com/society/articl…

What’s behind the large rise in food allergies among children in the UK? New study finds a large increase in food allergies in young children since 2008. theconversation.com/whats-behind-t…

Newly qualified NHS midwives left devastated due to lack of jobs caused by financial constraints. "In one week, there was 12,000 hours extra work across Scotland unpaid by midwives, so we know there is a huge workload and we don’t have the midwives.” glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-…

Anyone trying to use public services can see the impact of years of cuts. The notion that the public sector is bloated is ridiculous

“I’ve read hundreds of diary entries to quantify the restorative power of Scotland’s lochs and rivers.” Diary entries revealed people’s strong appreciation of Scotland’s freshwater environments. theconversation.com/ive-read-hundr…

At least 16 children and young people have died of suicide or drug overdoses while in the Scottish care system since 2021, the youngest of whom took their own life at just 11 years old. theferret.scot/suicide-self-h…

Glasgow health initiative to be expanded across city. The programme works with local communities to remove barriers and help people access a variety of activities and services to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. heraldscotland.com/news/24557438.…

Extra cash for mental health would help UK more than new roads, study says. LSE report suggests chancellor should downgrade projects such as Lower Thames Crossing in favour of services. theguardian.com/business/artic…

Socio-economic inequalities are the biggest driver of health inequalities. Put simply, poverty kills. Having welfare advisors in our general practices as part of a trusted team improves access and reduces stigma for people with financial stress impacting on health. @deependGP

PCBs: these toxic pollutants were banned decades ago but still pose a huge threat. Due to their persistence and toxicity, strict regulation of PCBs should continue to be a top priority – from efforts to locate and destroy all existing stocks to monitoring. theconversation.com/pcbs-these-tox…

Shona Robison confirms £500 million cut to public services. Cuts include around £115m from health, including £18.8 from mental health services. heraldscotland.com/news/24560222.…

People with greater mental resilience may live longer. Peer-reviewed study finds link between higher mental resilience and lower risk of death, especially in women theguardian.com/society/articl…

Are National Treatment Centres making a difference? As of July this year, there were 23,813 operations scheduled - a year-on-year increase of 8.8%, and up 21% on July 2022. But still less than pre-pandemic. heraldscotland.com/news/24560016.…

Hospital Inquiry hears health boss tried to stop whistleblower. In a submission to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, Dr Redding claimed there was a "profound culture of fear and bullying" at the board which put more people off speaking out. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Air pollution harms male fertility while women face similar risk from noise. Environmental pollutants may have different effects on male and female reproduction, research in BMJ suggests. theguardian.com/society/articl…

You might be struggling to find a dentist, but self-dentistry is a very bad idea. The results of much DIY dentistry are nothing to smile about. theconversation.com/you-might-be-s…