#019 · 10 March 2024

¡Hola PopHealth readers!

¿Como estais?

If you haven’t guessed, I’m back from (another) trip to Spain, hence the tardiness in the latest newsletter. I was really hoping to get one out before last weekend, as there have been some great health stories circulating in the media. I just couldn’t do it. Taking a break sometimes feels like both the cure and the cause. I just couldn’t get on top of everything at work and home to make time for it in a way that was good for me. You know?

So, where have I been? I was in Valencia, celebrating the 40^th birthdays of two of my oldest friends. It was my first time in Valencia, and I loved it (it’s true that I do seem to love everywhere I visit in Spain). We stayed in the old quarter near the cathedral, with the most beautiful buildings and squares, and so much tasty food just a stone's throw away. It was also the opening ceremony of las Fallas, a festival celebrating the arrival of spring – complete with fireworks and ninots (effigies) to rival Lewes’ bonfire night traditions in the UK.

During a walking tour, we discovered that Valencia’s patroness saint (there are seven across Spain) is The Virgen de los Desamparados – Our Lady of the Forsaken. A symbol of hope and help for people with mental health problems and illness, dating back to the 1400s. I found that was kinda cool and very apt and soothing for my anxiety that was triggered ahead of the trip.

I could spend the whole newsletter talking about this trip, but that’s not why you are here. So, I’ll leave you with two recommendations in case you have your own Valencia plans in the near future:

Other than Valencia, I’m excited to share that an article I wrote for the HCA (Healthcare Communications Association) was published a couple of weeks ago. The latest issue of its creative journal, Innovation Uncovered, is focused on DEI in healthcare. My contribution is a personal, yet actionable piece on igniting working-class representation in healthcare advertising. There is loads of great stuff in there for anyone working in healthcare marketing – you can download a copy here.

Please let me know what you think of the article! And share the publication with your network. It all helps.

Right then, shall we dive into it?

NHS Pharmacy First has launched

The NHS Pharmacy First scheme finally launched in England at the end of January. Through the scheme, patients in England can now get treatment for seven common conditions, directly from their local pharmacy without needing to see a GP.

The initiative aims to ease the increasing pressure on GP services and to give patients quick and accessible care if they have one of the following conditions: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles or uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.

To launch the scheme, the team at M&C Saatchi have developed a cute TVC to bring the different conditions to the forefront, by changing the pharmacy signs to stuff like “it burns when I pee pharmacy” and “he’s got an itchy rash pharmacy”. And it’s all ingeniously set to the Kenny Rogers track, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In), made famous by the movie The Big Lebowski.

Great stuff, anyways I am sure the Pharmacy First scheme is welcomed by anyone and everyone who struggles to get a doctor's appointment. It’s the top conversation in the family WhatsApp group here!

At work, it is making me think about the evolving role of the pharmacist as a key touch point for patients and a key customer for pharma companies. Both are significant from a communications point of view, and both need careful consideration.

For instance, will patients see Pharmacy First for what it is, or does it open the floodgates for the pharmacist being the go-to for everything? Especially when people still struggle to get their doctor appointments, or just happen to be picking up a repeat prescription because there has been no review or contact with a GP in years.

Pharma companies could play an active role in supporting the flow of footfall into the pharmacy for the appropriate reasons and help pharmacists with tricky conversations and referrals back to primary care. With the increasing responsibilities of pharmacists, it’s important to acknowledge that whatever approach you choose, it is not at the expense of their already stretched mental capacity.

Are you working with pharmacists right now? I’d love to hear about it!

“Generation Sick Note”

If you’re in the UK, you probably saw the controversy surrounding the “Generation Sick Note” headline coming out of the Daily Mail newspaper at the end of February. And if you missed it, here’s the topline… a new report from the Revolution Foundation (funded by the Health Foundation) found:

• More than 1 in 3 18–24-year-olds report experiencing symptoms that indicate a common mental health disorder

• Young people with mental health problems are more likely to be out of work than their healthy peers

• Poor mental health can significantly impact a young person’s experience of education, and limit their ability to succeed in the job market

The figures are alarming, but the reaction is even more concerning. Instead of using this piece of research as it was meant - to explore the relationship between mental health and work outcomes, and to question what policy change is required to support young people to thrive in the working world – it was weaponised by the media to spark controversy, exacerbate generational divides, and hinder progress around the mental health conversation.

Mind’s response to the negative media cycle was spot on:  It’s a succinct rebuttal that captures the essence of the issue.

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It’s a succinct rebuttal that captures the essence of the issue.

What was your reaction? If you work in healthcare, regardless of therapy area, has it got you thinking about how your organisation might better support patients with mental health problems in the workplace? What about your staff? And, perhaps more importantly, the future talent pool that will make up your workforce.

For more vital information and statistics on the matter, I encourage you to check out Young Minds for a factual representation of the mental health landscape for young people.

Alabama Supreme Court ruling on frozen embryos

I can’t help but feel “urgh” with this one, so let’s stick to the facts. Here’s the deal:

On 21^st February, the Alabama Supreme Court made a significant ruling, in that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The decision stemmed from cases brought forward by three couples who had frozen embryos destroyed in an accident at a fertility clinic. In their ruling, the justices (judges for the UK folk) cited anti-abortion language, stating that:

This ruling left so many Alabama women hoping to build a family through IVF in a state of uncertainty and limbo.

IVF represents hope for so many, yet clinics were forced to pause their activities in light of the ruling. However, In the last few days, a new bill has been passed to protect doctors from legal liability raised in the court’s decision. As a result, clinics in Alabama are now beginning to resume IVF services.

Allow me just to say this: Stop regulating women’s bodies!

 🤩 Celeb Spot 🤩

OK, maybe I am cheating a bit this week as it’s aesthetics…

Demi Lovato has stepped up as the latest celebrity to help Merz challenge the behemoth that is Botox in the anti-wrinkle market,  as the new brand partner for their “smart toxin” Xeomin.

OK, those are the big stories that caught my attention over the past couple of weeks. Now, here are the other headlines I’ve enjoyed. As always, not strictly health-related, but they’re eclectic and great sources of inspiration. Enjoy!

📺 Following her departure from Weight Watchers, Oprah will host a TV special on weight Loss drugs on 18^th March – titled Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution

🧠 Scientists have successfully grown ‘mini-organs’ from cells shed by foetuses in the womb, potentially paving the way for more personalised interventions

🚘 Have you been thinking about switching to an electric vehicle? Do it for the kids!

⌨️ New font who dis? Bye Calibri, hello Aptos. My eyes and typing fingers are loving it

🚫 I need more NO in my life – dive into the science of how to stop saying yes

🎤 The V&A is looking for a Swiftie to add to its roster of superfan advisors, which already includes Pokémon, emojis and Crocs.

🍔 McDonald’s is embracing its omnipresence in anime culture with a new campaign (from W+K) and new anime series in development with Studio Pierrot (makers of Naruto) 

Alright, does that wrap us up for the issue? Maybe one last thing from me. You may have noticed the absence of mention of a particular day that landed on Friday: International Women’s Day.

While it’s important to celebrate women’s achievements, and the incredibly strong women I am lucky to be surrounded by, I hold some scepticism towards the day itself. Every female success story is the result of damn hard work, starting from behind. Every step-in progress is great, but we are talking about a chasm here – health, wealth, pay, promotions, legal protections, poverty, homelessness, human rights…

If you missed my annual rant, you can find it here.

It’s Sunday morning, and it’s Mother’s Day in the UK, so I am off to be spoiled by all the men in my life, indulge in homemade afternoon tea (it’s far too expensive to go out), read my new book (Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow) and playing some Pokémon on the Nintendo Switch is highly likely. This evening, Mr EML and I will be watching Shōgun (Disney+) and catching up on the latest episode of Solo Levelling (Crunchyroll). What are you watching right now? We’d love some more recommendations.

Let me know what you think of this week's issue. As always, if you come across any intriguing health-related stories, please send them my way. If you found something interesting and insightful in this issue, please forward on to a friend or colleague. And finally, if you haven’t already, please subscribe to get POPhealth straight to your inbox!

Until next time,

EML ✌️