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Health Check: 23/05/2012

23/05/2012

BBC World Service - Health Check, 23/05/2012

Spanish health reforms; Eating for two when pregnant; Taking therapy to the streets

Controversial Spanish health reforms; Do pregnant women really need to eat for two?; Taking therapy to the streets

SPANISH HEALTH REFORMS
In order to reduce Spain's budget deficit in line with European Union targets, Spain has recently announced health reforms which aim to cut $7 billion, or 10% of the government’s total spending on health. Currently health care in Spain is financed through general taxation and is free to everyone, but under new plans, controversial measures are being introduced. For example illegal immigrants will no longer be entitled to free health care except in emergencies and there is going to be a co-payment system, where patients are expected to contribute towards the cost of drugs. 

Some critics believe the reforms put Spain on the road away from universal healthcare towards an insurance-based system. Others think that these measures are essential if Spain is to deal with the economic crisis.  Claudia Hammond speaks to Professor Manel Peiro, Director of Health Care Management at ESADE Business School and Dr Hixinio Beiras, a cardiologist and member of the Spanish Federation of Associations for the Defence of Public Health.  

HEALTH MYTH – EATING FOR TWO
This week’s medical myth is: Is it true that if you are pregnant you should eat more, because you are eating for two after all? Professor Patrick O’Brien, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at University College London Hospital, sets the record straight.

STREET THERAPY
Confusingly, there are many different types of therapy that exist, but it is usually very clear where, traditionally, any therapy takes place. It is generally in an office or a consulting room and lasts for 50 minutes to an hour.  But four years ago, on a street in North London, a young clinical psychologist called Charlie Alcock approached a group of young people who were in gangs and committing all sorts of anti-social behaviour on the local social housing estate. She began giving them a completely new form of therapeutic delivery, called “street therapy”.

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