NHS budget/finance issues  crept from the number two spot to number one this month. NHS financial ‘waste’ problems, such as £2.5 billion spent on “unneeded part-time staff” last year or complaints over the NHS spending millions on foreign nurse contracts annually, have been daily top stories. The concern over whether or not the current funding platforms for the NHS are sustainable have led to a flurry of stories criticising GP services, NHS hospital reputations and NHS staff. However, while these complaints are plentiful, the concern over privatisation efforts have some British citizens worried about what these financial issues will mean for the future of their healthcare and their wallets. According to The Independent, the Labour party has expressed worry that the “NHS needs protecting from US trade deals” while they also signed a bill that is meant to limit NHS privatisation efforts. 

With December at our doorstep and the Christmas holiday fast approaching, the inevitable temptations of a cheeky Christmas pudding or a mulled wine on a cold evening are here to stay until the New Year. Journalists have spent much of November focusing on nutrition/diet/food stories by reminding us which foods are not only best for our waistlines, but also our long-term health. Alcohol intake or lack of knowledge concerning calorific values have become an increasingly important public health issue with headlines such as ‘Why are Britons too fat?” and ‘Yoghurt slashes risk of diabetes’ undoubtedly trying to take a preventative health approach. 

Speaking of colder weather, public health climbed up to number 13 this month in reference to the annual winter bug epidemic sweeping Britain. According to The Times , ‘Public Health England has warned that the winter vomiting bug is rife now, with 18 outbreaks of norovirus in hospitals this month alone. Additionally, it was reported that a survey of 2,000 Britons found that the average citizen catches a cold every 10 weeks due to close contact with others on daily commutes – ‘Tis the season for tube bugs. Stay healthy everyone!

And finally, just because it’s getting dark too early these days doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. We have some great news for coffee drinkers: it was reported that the acid in coffee helps to keep weight off. Check out the coffee shops that we at Aurora are lucky enough to have across the street from us on Leather Lane ( Prufrock or Department of Coffee and Social Affairs). After all, it’s good for your health! Your morning routine just got that much better.