NHS plan to achieve earlier cancer diagnosis and save lives
Patients are to be given the option to refer themselves for cancer tests, as part of an NHS England bid to diagnose an extra 10% of people early. It said it would start testing new ways of speeding up diagnosis, including offering patients the option to book appointments directly with a hospital or testing unit ahead of seeing a GP. The body will also fund further trials of a pioneering form of radiotherapy. Currently, around 25% of cancer diagnoses are made too late. The plans are part of a drive to improve cancer survival rates in England, which are below the European average. Simon Stevens, Chief Executive, NHS England, said, ‘It's time for a fresh look at how we can do even better - with more focus on prevention, earlier diagnosis and modern radiotherapy’
Bishop joins calls for an end to indefinite detention of migrants
An Anglican bishop is among those backing a call on all prospective MPs to pledge a time limit on the detention of migrants. The campaign he is supporting is being led by Citizens UK, the alliance of civil society organisations. Jonathan Clark, the Area Bishop of Croydon within the Church of England, said: 'Detaining people indefinitely in prison-like conditions without judicial oversight is unjust, ineffective and inhumane. That’s why [we] are calling on people of goodwill across the country to join them in taking this issue to their parliamentary candidates in the UK general election. We will ask politicians to pledge their support for a time limit on the detention of adults – and to work with us to make it happen.’ Independently, some 30 charities and NGOs are specifically calling for a time limit of 28 days’ detention. Eiri Ohtani, coordinator, Detention Forum, explained:‘The practice of locking up migrants indefinitely has no place in Britain.’
NI council calls for quango to drop Christian bakery case
A local council in Northern Ireland is calling for a taxpayer-funded equality quango to drop its legal case against a Christian-run bakery.(Previously reported in Prayer Alert.) Members of Craigavon Borough Council voted 13 to 8 in support of Ashers Baking Company, which is facing court action for declining to make a pro-gay marriage campaign cake last year. Councillor Philip Moutray tabled the proposal, as the case could have significant financial implications for Ashers. He explained: ‘I am appalled at the targeting of a small bakery because of its Christian beliefs. The commission has tens of thousands of pounds of pu blic money at its disposal. Ashers haven’t resources like that’, he added. Moutray also put forward the motion in light of DUP plans to amend equality legislation to introduce a conscience clause.The DUP has launched a consultation on introducing a conscience clause, which closes on 27 February.’
Doctors warn of patient misery as A&E crisis hits planned surgery
Thousands of patients whose operations have been cancelled because of the growing turmoil in the UK’s A&E departments are facing prolonged anxiety, discomfort and pain while they wait for a new date for their surgery. A sharp rise in the number of procedures hospitals are postponing has prompted the leader of Britain’s surgeons to warn that patients affected will suffer ‘considerable distress’. Clare Marx, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: ‘The continued rise in the number of operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons remains of deep concern. Telling a patient that they cannot have the operation they have waited and planned for can cause considerable distress to the individual and their family. As surgeons we are doing our best to manage our patients’ conditions and to make sure they can have the surgery at a time when they need it.’
Paris attack highlights Europe's struggle with Islamism
In the heart of Europe in 2015, the killing of cartoonists and journalists for allegedly insulting God still comes as a shock, despite the rising number of such attacks in recent years. The battle within Islam itself between Sunni and Shia, so evident in the wars of the Middle East, and the fight between extremist interpretations of Islam such as those of Islamic State and Muslims who wish to practice their religion in peace, is now being played out on the streets of Europe with potentially devastating consequences for social cohesion. These latest shootings may be the work of "lone wolves" but their consequences will ripple across Europe and provoke much soul-searching about the failure of integration over the past decades. Immigrant communities are already being viewed with increasing suspicion in both France and Germany, with their significant Muslim populations, and even in the UK.
Germany: Protesters take to the streets to oppose rise of far-right
Thousands of Germans demonstrated in four cities on Monday in opposition to the weekly rallies in Dresden against the perceived ‘Islamisation’ of Europe that have attracted growing numbers of supporters. Organizers of the demonstrations in Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne and Dresden said they were rallying against racism and xenophobia to promote a message of tolerance instead. Businesses, churches, Cologne’s power company and others kept their buildings and other facilities dark in solidarity with the demonstrations against the ongoing protests by the group calling itself Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West, or Pegida. The square around the Cologne Cathedral was plunged into darkness as thousands joined the demonstration. Cologne Cathedral provost Norbert Feldhoff told n-tv that shutting down the lights was an attempt to make the Pegida demonstrators think twice about their protest.
Paris attack highlights Europe's struggle with Islamism
In the heart of Europe in 2015, the killing of cartoonists and journalists for allegedly insulting God still comes as a shock, despite the rising number of such attacks in recent years. The battle within Islam itself between Sunni and Shia, so evident in the wars of the Middle East, and the fight between extremist interpretations of Islam such as those of Islamic State and Muslims who wish to practice their religion in peace, is now being played out on the streets of Europe with potentially devastating consequences for social cohesion. These latest shootings may be the work of "lone wolves" but their consequences will ripple across Europe and provoke much soul-searching about the failure of integration over the past decades. Immigrant communities are already being viewed with increasing suspicion in both France and Germany, with their significant Muslim populations, and even in the UK.
Germany: Protesters take to the streets to oppose rise of far-right
Thousands of Germans demonstrated in four cities on Monday in opposition to the weekly rallies in Dresden against the perceived ‘Islamisation’ of Europe that have attracted growing numbers of supporters. Organizers of the demonstrations in Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne and Dresden said they were rallying against racism and xenophobia to promote a message of tolerance instead. Businesses, churches, Cologne’s power company and others kept their buildings and other facilities dark in solidarity with the demonstrations against the ongoing protests by the group calling itself Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West, or Pegida. The square around the Cologne Cathedral was plunged into darkness as thousands joined the demonstration. Cologne Cathedral provost Norbert Feldhoff told n-tv that shutting down the lights was an attempt to make the Pegida demonstrators think twice about their protest.
The Queen spoke of Jesus as the Prince of Peace in her Christmas message
Over Christmas and the New Year, the Queen spoke of Jesus as ‘an inspiration and an anchor’. In her annual Christmas message the Queen spoke about reconciliation and forgiveness, describing Jesus as a ‘role model’ of these qualities. In the message, broadcast on Christmas Day, she said: ‘For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people, of whatever faith or none.’ The monarch’s annual Christmas speech, which was first delivered by George V in 1932, is one of the rare occasions when the Queen gives her own views on events in the nation and around the world
Trinity Broadcasting Network launchesTBN-UK on Freeview
Trinity Broadcasting Network, the world's largest religious television broadcaster, announced that on 5 January 2015 it launched its newest network, TBN UK, on Freeview channel 65, the UK's free-to-air digital terrestrial television service. The neworkt reaches 95 percent of the television households across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, bringing 24-hour Christian programming to a combined total of approximately 26 million UK homes. TBN Vice President Matthew Crouch said that the launch of TBN UK represents one of the most significant commitments in the history of the 42-year-old global faith-and-family television group, ‘While TBN has been available in the UK through cable and satellite,’ he explained, ‘this will be the first time that over 65 million individuals across the British Isles will have access to a broad range of faith-and-family programming 24 hours a day.’