Medical Centre

Among the many public health challenges facing the UK, the issue of equitable access to vaccinations stands out, particularly for adult migrants who might have missed critical immunisations due to disrupted healthcare services in their countries of origin or during the migration process. Our recent in-depth study published in Vaccine provides valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of adult migrants regarding catch-up vaccinations and outlines strategies to improve their immunization coverage. The study focused on adult migrants in the UK, including refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, and those without recourse to public funds. It used in-depth interviews to gather data on migrants' experiences with and attitudes towards vaccination since arriving in the UK. Despite the UK having guidelines for offering catch-up vaccinations, the study revealed a significant lack of awareness and implementation at the primary care level. One of the critical findings wa...

Too many people in the UK are not physically active enough; leading to an increased risk of health problems. Counting the number of steps you take each day is a good way to monitor and increase your physical activity.  But how many steps should you take? 10,000 steps daily is a reasonable target for an active adult. For older people or those with medical conditions that limit their physical activity, a smaller number of steps may be sufficient. The common recommendation of 10,000 steps per day is often used as a benchmark for a healthy activity level and it's a good target for active adults looking to maintain or improve their overall health.  What about specific groups? For older adults, as mobility and energy levels can decrease with age, a lower step count might be a more realistic target and can still be beneficial. Even 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day can significantly benefit older adults. In fact, any amount of physical activity is beneficial.  For those with chronic ...

Our article in the Journal of Medical Internet Research " Regulatory Standards and Guidance for the Use of Health Apps for Self-Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Scoping Review " explores current landscape of health app regulation within Sub-Saharan Africa. In the digital age, health apps have become vital tools for managing health and wellness, significantly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where such innovations can leapfrog traditional healthcare barriers.  However, the proliferation of health apps also presents a challenge: ensuring these apps are safe, effective, and beneficial to the users. This is the focus of a recent scoping review from Imperial College London, which evaluates the current regulatory standards and guidelines for health apps dedicated to self-management across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Current Landscape of Health App Regulations The review highlights a critical gap: while health apps hold tremendous potential to support disease management and health p...