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Yoga and meditation have existed for many thousands of years and recently they have grown in popularity with the trend in following a health-conscious lifestyle. While some people are still sceptical about their potential health benefits, others have fully embraced the two practices and made them part of their daily wellbeing routine. So, what are the potential health benefits of yoga and meditation?

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More people are drinking coffee than ever before. In the UK we now drink approximately 95 million cups of coffee per day. With an increase of 25 million over the last 10 years, many are probably asking themselves: is coffee healthy for us?

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During the last few weeks, world media has been covering the subject quite extensively, but what is COVID-19 and what can you do to protect yourself from contracting the virus? Here is a quick overview on what we know about the coronavirus so far.

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Physical activity is key for a healthier and happier life - the more you do, the better. Given the overwhelming evidence, it seems it’s no longer a surprise that exercise is good for us, but there are still some health benefits which may not be as obvious.

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Our bodies use salt to maintain our fluid levels, a balance of fluid and sodium is necessary for the health of our hearts, livers and kidneys. Sodium is also needed for muscle and nerve function. But a diet which is high in salt can cause raised blood pressure, which may put us at risk of heart disease and stroke.

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In the workplace, there are many different things that could be influencing our health in a negative way and therefore making us ill. However, there are several precautions we can take, that may be beneficial to us and our wellbeing.

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Diabetes is one of the greatest health crisis facing our nation. Over 4 million people in the UK are now living with diabetes, meaning that 1 in every 16 people have the condition. Many of us are aware of some of the general things surrounding diabetes, but with so many facts and figures how much do we actually know about the condition?

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At the beginning of this new year, millions of us will have made resolutions to help make a positive change in our lives. For many, these will include exercising more, losing weight or eating more healthily. Although a lot of us will start the year with the hope of change, the NHS calculates that only 1 in 10 of us will stick to our resolutions and suggest that we could be setting ourselves up to fail by trying to change our lifestyles too radically.

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With 1 in 8 Britons identifying themselves as vegetarian or vegan, it is important to know whether or not this diet can give our bodies all the nutrients and vitamins they need. When it comes to getting our essential nutrients, we may need to think about how we plan on getting enough of what our bodies need. Without proper consideration and understanding, we could be missing out on essential nutrients such as calcium, iron and vitamin B12.

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As 2019 draws to an end, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of our clients and brokers for your continued support and valued business. This year has been a busy and successful year thanks to all of you.
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Christmas songs, family gatherings and an array of parties seem to be what Christmas is about for many. But with 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing mental health problems each year, the festive period could be a time of anxiety, financial pressure and loneliness.
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Overweight children tend to grow up to be overweight adults, which can lead to a range of different health problems. Children and teens who are obese could also suffer with mental health problems or low self-esteem as a result.

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For some, the cold season may come as a welcome change to the hot summer we experienced in the UK this year. But with the winter chill settling in, it can be more challenging than ever to stay active, fight off those colds and resist the unhealthy temptations of comfort food and party drinks. Find below 7 easy tips to help you stay healthy over the winter months.
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Suffering with a common cold can take its toll on anybody. The combination of a fever, chills and nasal congestion isn’t pleasant. Although a cold can hit us at any time of the year, colds tend to occur more during the autumn and winter seasons. This could be due to us spending more time indoors and breathing in re-circulated air.
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Most of us have seasons that we don’t particularly look forward to, with our mood sometimes going from energetic in the summer to sleepy in the winter. This is quite natural – but if the change in seasons has a bigger effect on your mood that leads to feelings of depression, you could be suffering from SAD, a mental health disorder.

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For those who aren’t allergic to nuts but still don’t eat them, it may be time to bring them into your diet. According to the Independent a handful of nuts a day could help keep the doctor away, but how true is this and what health benefits do nuts offer us?
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With effect from 1st October 2019, Freedom Health Insurance is excited to be offering all individual clients the option to fix the insurance premium for two years when you take out a new Freedom Elite or Freedom Essentials policy. more

Not so long ago, seasonal eating wasn’t seen as a food trend – this was just the way we ate. Nowadays we can go into a supermarket at any time of the year and find apples, carrots, potatoes and almost any type of fruit and veg even if they are not in season. Despite this, eating seasonally has its own benefits.
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Our spine allows us to stand upright and move freely. But having to constantly use it also means there is a multitude of ways in which we can damage it. In fact, spine conditions like backache are very common in the UK, with 8 out of 10 people being affected by low back pain at some point in their lifetime, reports the NHS.
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Freedom is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for not just one, but two categories in this year’s Health Insurance & Protection Awards! more

Packed with nearly 90 billion nerve cells and weighing just over three pounds, the human brain is full of many wonders, many of them still left undiscovered. Uncover 5 unusual things that you probably didn’t know about your brain.
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What feels better than a good night’s sleep? By getting enough sleep we should wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. But nowadays sleep can often get neglected even though it is vital to good health.

We need sleep just like we need food and air. Without sleep our body systems and brain don’t function at their best. According to the NHS, 1 in 3 of us suffer from sleep deprivation which directly affects not only our mental and physical health, but also the quality of our waking life. more

Struggling to find out whether private health insurance (also known as private medical insurance) is worth it for you? You’re not alone. Making sense of it all can be quite the uphill battle. At Freedom Health Insurance, we want all UK residents to be aware of the health care options they have available to them. That’s why we have put together this helpful guide to understand why health insurance can be a good option for you.
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Dementia can have a very detrimental and upsetting effect on sufferers and their families, yet incidence of the syndrome is on the rise. Alzheimer’s Society revealed that there are 850,000 people with dementia currently in the UK, with this number predicted to rise to over 1 million by 2025 and 2 million by 2051. Knowing what the risk factors are and taking action now could help you reduce the risk of developing dementia in older age.
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Term has started for many new university students, as exciting as this new chapter can be it is important to remember to look after your health and wellbeing.  more

Our taste buds constantly regenerate, so what’s to say we couldn’t retrain them to like the foods we don’t like? Over the years we develop our own preferences to food, these can come from habits, our upbringing, culture and memories. But just because we have these preferences now, does it mean they will always be the same?
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Are you considering private health care and want to understand the factors that make up the UK private health insurance cost? Health insurance, also known as private medical insurance (PMI), covers the cost of private medical treatment for ‘acute conditions’ that start after your policy begins. It works in a similar way to any other insurance – you pay monthly or annual fees, and your insurer pays out for all or some of the cost of the eligible private medical treatment you receive. The cost of UK private health insurance depends on 4 main factors. more

Migraine is one of the most common diseases in the world, with around 1 in 7 people being affected by a type of migraine. And although the most occurring symptom is the throbbing headache, migraines are much more complex and can also disturb the vision, cause sensitivity lo light, sound and smells, can provoke sickness and vomiting and can force a person to stay in bed for days, impacting their social and working life (Migraine Trust).
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Many of us believe that the fridge is the best way to keep our food fresh and make it last longer. We have become used to storing a lot of our weekly food shopping in the fridge, however several foods keep better at room temperature. Here are some foods you should be leaving out of your fridge.
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Snacking (consuming food and drinks between your regular main meals) is a widespread habit in the UK with 95% of people admitting to snacking (Mintel, 2019). But while it might be easy and tempting to reach for something delicious but unhealthy like chocolate, biscuits and crisps, learning how to choose your snacks wisely can keep energy levels up, satisfy your cravings and help form healthier habits.
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We all know that bees have an important role in pollination, but how much do we know about the substantial contribution they have in keeping us healthy through the effect they have on our environment and food production, and even in supporting the economy?
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As we move deeper into the summer and the weather is warming up, many of us are planning holidays and days out. But as you might find yourself outdoors more often this season you will also be around more insects. This increases your risk of being bitten, so it is important to know what to do if you ever get a tick bite and how to prevent the Lyme disease that could be caused by them.
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The month of June is Scleroderma Awareness Month and we want to take this opportunity to raise awareness about this rare and little-understood condition.
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In this fast-paced world, most of us know what it’s like to feel tired and sluggish fairly. These feelings can frequently be put down to our habits and routines and with a few simple lifestyle changes, we might be able to bring the vitality back into our lives. Consider these simple, actionable tips to boost your energy and mood.
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Springtime brings an abundance of healthy and delicious produce packed with many of the nutrients our bodies need this time of year. It’s also a great time for cleansing and detoxing after winter’s dense foods and nature is kind enough to provide us with leafy greens, asparagus and radishes, all perfect for a nourishing, refreshing salad.
Besides, eating seasonally is not only good for your health, it could also be cheaper, more environmentally friendly and can support your local farmers!
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Following broker feedback, we’ve reviewed the age limit on our Freedom Elite private medical insurance policy for child dependants on group schemes. As a result we are pleased to be increasing the maximum age.
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We generally all set ourselves healthy habit goals for the new year. Whether it’s becoming fitter, healthier or wiser, it is often challenging to stick with new habits for longer than a few months. To make it easier for you to stay motivated, we put together 5 easy-to-follow habits everyone can incorporate into their busy lives.
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We have steadily grown as a business and we have continuously invested in our competent and experienced team. As a result, we are delighted to have moved to much larger, more contemporary offices to enable us to achieve our growth plans and continue to provide the high-quality customer service that you’ve come to expect from us. more

Bad breath is something that we may all have been conscious of at some point in our lives, and one of the reasons why we may buy gum and mints, to keep our breath minty fresh. But could there be more to bad breath than just brushing your teeth and having the odd minty treat?

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Nothing compares to a long warm bath after a cold day. Except an ice-cold shower after a sizzling day out in the summer sun. Regardless of what you prefer, there are a number of potential advantages and disadvantages to the way you take your shower. After reading this article, you may even want to think about changing your showering routine!

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A recent article in the Guardian says that between 10% - 25% of adults are allergic to pollen and this allergy (also referred to as ‘hay fever’) can provide a lot of discomfort for sufferers.  If you are one of the hay fever sufferers, we have put together some tips for how to deal with it.

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It might sound odd to hear that the bacteria that lives in your gut may affect your mood, but could such a thing be possible? Some researchers believe that it could.

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The gluten free market has boomed over the past few years and is thought to be worth over £200 million. The BBC reports that UK supermarkets are increasingly stocking their ‘free from’ shelves, particularly with products without dairy or gluten. Consumers are now associating this type of products with a natural and healthy lifestyle in general and not just an alternative for people suffering from an intolerance to these foods. In this article we will focus on gluten related disorders and on the benefits and disadvantages of a gluten free diet.

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Losing hair is a normal part of life, according to the NHS we lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day usually without noticing. Despite this, hair loss can be very upsetting for some and it can happen to anyone. It’s important to speak out about hair loss and break any stigmas.

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Turmeric is commonly used in curries, and you may use it to add spice to many dishes. It has long been considered an Indian home remedy for many illnesses because of its claimed anti-oxidant properties, but how truthful are these claims and are these backed by scientific research?

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Following feedback, we’ve taken the opportunity to review and increase the limits for the optional psychiatric cover on our Freedom Elite product.

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Could you imagine a world without antibiotics? Potentially deadly infections and diseases unable to be treated by the infection-fighting drug. This could be a dangerous future, with the government warning that without effective antibiotics, even routine operations and minor surgery could become high risk procedures. In this article we’ll be looking at what we need to know about antibiotic resistance and the things we can do to stop it or limit its effects.

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We spend around a third of our lives asleep, according to the Mental Health Foundation. Sleep is a necessity for all of us, our bodies need it to function just as much as we need food, drink and air to breath. The NHS reveals that not only can lack of sleep leave you feeling grumpy and lacking focus, it can also put you at risk of serious medical conditions. It is important to understand the reasons that may be causing your lack of sleep, and how to solve them.

Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next day is also known as insomnia, according to the NHS. Here are 7 reasons that could affect our sleep and different ways to help solve them.
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According to a YouGov survey reported in the Guardian, 61% of British people were reported to have bought foods because they were promoted as superfoods, possibly fuelled by the increased awareness around healthy eating and natural foods movement. With more and more people opting for superfoods, are they truly ‘super’ or are we being misled? 
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Everyone will feel anxious at some point in their lives: feeling nervous with the sensation of butterflies fluttering in your stomach. Feeling anxious from time to time is normal, but for those who suffer with anxiety, that anxious feeling is more frequent and much stronger. Anxiety UK reports how common anxiety is in the UK, with more than 1 in 10 people likely to have a ‘disabling anxiety disorder’ at some stage in their life. 
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Martin and Ashley from Lesson Moore, an independent intermediary based in the West Country visited our offices to gain an insight into how we work and to spend time with the underwriting and claims teams.  more

Tis’ the season to be jolly and with it, a number of bad habits may become established that could seriously affect your health and joy. Here are some tips to help you to stay healthy over this Christmas period.
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As 2017 draws to a close, the Freedom Health Insurance team would like to thank all our clients and brokers for choosing and working with us. Because of you, 2017 has been a very busy and successful year. As 2017 draws to a close, the Freedom Health Insurance team would like to thank all our clients and brokers for choosing and working with us. Because of you, 2017 has been a very busy and successful year. 
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Did you know that the longest moustache in the world is 4.29 m (14ft) long!? That’s no easy feat but our Freedom team has set themselves a similar challenge (though on a smaller scale), all for a good cause. This November, our brave guys (and ladies) will be growing their moustaches (or wearing fake ones) to support the #Movember movement and raise money and awareness for men’s health.
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More great news. Freedom Health Insurance has been shortlisted at the 2018 Moneyfacts Consumer Awards in the Health Insurance Provider of the Year category. But now we need your help!
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Last Thursday night saw the announcement of the winners of the highly coveted 2017 Health Insurance Awards. more

The shortlists for this year’s Health Insurance Awards have been announced and we are delighted to have been voted onto the shortlist in two categories: Best Customer Service by a Provider and Best Individual PMI Provider.
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According to the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) life expectancy in the UK has doubled over the last 200 years and approximately 16% of the population is aged over 65 years. As you get older, it’s even more important to stay active if you want to stay healthy and maintain your independence later in life, according to the NHS. 
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The hype surrounding the health benefits of coconut oil is hard to miss. The Guardian reports that celebrity endorsements have helped raise UK sales of coconut oil over the past four years from £1m to a staggering £16.4m last year. But are the claims of the oil’s health benefits true? Or are some of these a double-edged sword? 
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a common and often preventable cause of death worldwide. It affects about one in every 1,000 people in the UK according to the NHS Choices and over 10 million people in Europe and the USA, according to the World Thrombosis Day organisation. 
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Summer is now in full swing! And the sun is up, giving us our essential vitamin D (that helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body), summer tans, and a big smile on all our faces. Many of us love the sun and cannot wait to get out in the lovely hot weather, but we need to be careful and learn how to stay protected in the sun at all times.
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Summer is here and Wimbledon is on. The perfect time to have a glass of fresh, cold lemonade and get your tennis rackets out in this Wimbledon fever! Tennis can be a fun sport to watch and an even better sport to play, but how many of these physical and psychological health benefits of tennis were you aware of?
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We all have our daily habits, and some of them are considered to be beneficial to our health and wellbeing. However, things are not always as straight forward as advertising and media lets us believe. 
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The success of Freedom Health Insurance as a personal and friendly PMI business has always rested on our absolute focus on our customers.  more

A report published in 2014 by Dementia UK showed that in 2013 there were 815,827 people living with dementia within the UK (approximately 1.3% of the total population), with 775,502 of these people being aged 65 years old or over. (1) 
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At a glittering ceremony in London last evening, the health insurance industry discovered who had won each of the coveted Health Insurance Awards 2016. more

According to a recent study, it is estimated that people suffering from depression are up to 60% more likely to develop diabetes (1). The study was carried out by King’s College London and examined 160,000 pairs of twins. The use of twins is thought to help explain the possible genetic links between the two illnesses. 
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Following our success at the 2015 Health Insurance Awards, we are absolutely delighted that we have been shortlisted again for 2016 in two categories.
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The concept of ‘superfood’ refers to some foods which are thought to have certain health benefits. There are many debatable opinions about what a superfood is and their effects on a person’s health, with claims that superfoods can boost intelligence and physical ability, lighten depression or slow the aging process (1). more

Sugars found in food and drinks are known as ‘free sugars’. They are often added to food or naturally occur in drinks such as fruit juice. Whilst they are high in energy, there are some concerns over the effect of having too much sugar in our daily diets. (1)
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There have been stories in the news about scientists’ ability to predict breast cancer years before the disease develops. How close are we to achieve this in practice and at a large scale? more

A bad night’s sleep could make you feel a little grumpy in the morning, but how does it affect your body and long term health? We’ve collected together details from a number of respected medical sources so that you see what losing a few hours of shut-eye might do – and even when sleep deprivation might actually be beneficial. more

You may have seen the story in the news about the three-year-old girl in America who developed type 2 diabetes ⁽¹⁾. One of the doctors involved tentatively suggests that this may be the youngest case of type 2 diabetes in the world, but it is difficult to know for certain as not all cases of diabetes are recorded. more

Freedom Health Insurance has created a list of dos and don'ts for patients to help to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. more

In the past few years, vaping – the use of e-cigarettes – has become more popular. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) estimates that in the UK today, there are 2.6 million adults using electronic cigarettes (1), and the amount of current smokers who also use the devices has risen from 2.7% in 2010 to 17.6% in 2014 (1). more

At a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel last Thursday, Freedom Health Insurance was announced as the winner of one of the industry’s most coveted awards.
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Freedom is absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for not just one, but two Awards at the Health Insurance Awards 2015. more

Freedom has improved its Elite Hospital List to give more clients access to additional top London facilities.
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See coverage Freedom Health at the HI awards 2012 more

Up to 70% of UK GPs are unable to refer a patient for further treatment on the NHS according to a report carried out by ComRes and commissioned by the private healthcare provider BMI Healthcare. more

The study investigated the average time for consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) during the month of July 2012 in England reported on both the length of waiting time and how many patients were seen within 18 weeks of referral. more

Rare and uncommon conditions will be nationally commissioned from April 2013. more

World class research takes place at Leicester’s Hospitals more

NHS hospitals are being encouraged by the Government to set up branches abroad in an effort to generate income for NHS service. more

A new report 'Older People and Emergency Bed Use - Exploring Variation' highlights a fourfold variation in the rate of hospital bed use by older people admitted as an emergency more

Research by ABTA (Consumer Trends) highlights that as many as one in five British holidaymakers are travelling  uninsured. more

Health living pharmacies may soon be on your high street more

Happiness may be dependent on where you live... more

The criteria for referring patients to cancer specialists may need changing... more

The Department of Health has announced that physiotherapists and podiatrists will be authorised to prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatories by 2014. more

A recent survey, shows that there are an increasing number of GPs asking patients about private healthcare.

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