This month’s public health news in brief

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Men fear stripping off  in front of doctors

Men are less likely to have health check-ups because of homophobia, a study has suggested. Men fear taking off their shirts or dropping their trousers in front of male GPs because of gay connotations involved in undressing in front of the same sex. They also do not like attending GP services because waiting rooms are usually full of women’s magazines and “coughing grannies”.
Nursing Standard, 5 April

Unions call for urgent NHS job loss meeting
Health unions have demanded an urgent meeting with health secretary Patricia Hewitt on the devastating round of job losses sweeping through the NHS. The unions have accused trusts of adopting a “slash and burn” policy on shedding jobs.
Nursing Standard, 5 April

Nurses get pay rise
Nurses received a 2.5% pay rise and junior doctors a 2.2% increase from April, the government said. The Royal College of Nursing had been calling for a 3% increase for nurses, and had warned that staff may stop doing unpaid overtime if they were offered less.
Nursing Times, 4 April

Women drinkers suffer higher blood pressure
Women drinkers have higher blood pressure than their male counterparts, particularly at work and when spending time with their partners, according to Canadian researchers. A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension analysed the effects of gender and alcohol consumption on ambulatory blood pressure over a 24-hour period. Reference: Am J Hypertens 2006; 19: 136-139
Nursing Times, 14 March