Hope on the health horizon – 8 headlines to cheer pioneering health progress

Another day, another depressing NHS headline. Delays, compromised care and staff and patient suffering. Amid such a turbulent time for the healthcare system that we hold so dear to our hearts, its hard not to feel despondent. 

Yet alongside these enormous challenges, teams of scientists, engineers and clinicians are quietly pioneering a different healthcare path.  Where disease prevention and management becomes a closer reality rather treating sickness. 

As a team of storytellers, we monitor the health news every day. So on this momentous day, where the development of an artificial pancreas has been announced, transforming the care of 100,000 people in England and Wales with Type 1 diabetes, it felt right to pause and recognise the incredible innovations that all too often get eclipsed as a brief media moment in time. 

Here are 8 of the top headlines that gave us reason for optimism, just from the last 4 weeks:

Millions of Britons join DNA health revolution (The Times)

UK scientists make 'revolutionary' potential breakthrough in breast cancer treatment (The Express)

UK plan for national mRNA cancer vaccine advance (BBC News)

Brain cancer vaccine that 'turns cells into killers' being developed (Sky News)

Robot prostate surgeons help London hospital set world record (Evening Standard)

 ‘Plasters’ made from human stem cells could patch holes in kids’ hearts and save them from repeat ops (The Sun)

 Alzheimer's drug lecanemab hailed as momentous breakthrough (BBC News)

 Scientists develop world's first test for pancreatic cancer (Daily Mail)

The moral of this short story. Health is complex, challenging and too often orientated around short-term targets. We need to look to the long-term future with optimism. Increasingly, cancer is within the crosshairs of science. This alone is cause for celebration. 

As storytellers and publishers we need to give greater focus to progress. Of course hailing the breakthrough innovations but also recognising the smaller steps that positively contribute towards good health – the greatest prize of all - and something to give us hope.