Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has declared a critical incident due to the substantial strain on its services, prompting concerns about the trust's ability to provide adequate care.

Officials at the trust, which operates the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, have reported a surge in patients visiting the Accident and Emergency department, with a notable increase in cases involving respiratory issues.

In addition to the high volume of patients, the trust is facing challenges in discharging individuals who are ready to leave the hospital, resulting in a significant backlog.

In response to the critical incident, the trust is urging people to only visit the Accident and Emergency department if absolutely necessary and is requesting that families and carers arrange for their loved ones to be taken home as soon as possible after being contacted.

According to a spokesperson for the trust, the past week has seen an unprecedented demand for services, particularly in the Accident and Emergency department, leading to prolonged waiting times for patients.

This critical incident follows a similar incident in January, which was triggered by a combination of rising demand, winter infections, and staff absenteeism, resulting in unacceptable delays.

Currently, over half of the trust's adult beds are occupied by patients aged 80 and above, whose complex health issues can have a greater impact on their well-being compared to younger patients.

The trust is emphasizing the importance of discharging patients as soon as they are well enough to leave, and is asking families and carers to prioritize making arrangements to take their loved ones home when contacted.

The trust aims to discharge over 200 patients today and is encouraging the public to use healthcare services responsibly to help alleviate the pressure on the hospital.

Patients with scheduled appointments have been advised to attend as planned unless they receive alternative instructions.

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding that temporary reductions in selfish behavior can be achieved by stimulating specific areas of the brain.

A recent study conducted at the University of Zurich involved 44 participants who were tasked with dividing a sum of money between themselves and an anonymous partner, allowing scientists to observe their decision-making processes.

The experiment utilized electrical current to stimulate the frontal and parietal regions of the brain, located at the front and rear of the skull, respectively. When these areas were stimulated simultaneously, participants exhibited a greater willingness to share their funds.

According to Prof Christian Ruff, a lead author of the study, the observed effects were consistent, albeit modest in scale.

Statistical analysis revealed a notable increase in participants' willingness to allocate funds to others, indicating a shift in their behavior.

The findings not only provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying fundamental human behavior but may also have implications for the treatment of certain brain disorders characterized by impaired social behavior.

Prof Ruff noted that some individuals struggle with profound social difficulties due to an inability to consider others' perspectives, leading to consistently selfish behavior, and suggested that this discovery could potentially be used to address such issues.

However, the effects of the brain stimulation were found to be short-lived, suggesting that repeated application may be necessary to achieve lasting changes.

Prof Ruff likened the potential effects of repeated stimulation to the benefits of regular exercise, stating that consistent application over a prolonged period could lead to significant changes in behavior, much like the physical adaptations that occur with regular gym attendance.

This latest discovery builds upon a previous study in which researchers monitored brain activity while participants engaged in a similar money-sharing game, providing a foundation for the current findings.

The earlier study identified two brain regions that appeared to be synchronized, with neural activity occurring at the same frequency, when participants made more generous decisions.

These brain areas are known to play a crucial role in decision-making and empathy, enabling individuals to distinguish between their own feelings and those of others.

When participants made selfless decisions, the regions responsible for empathy and decision-making were found to be communicating with each other.

The researchers sought to investigate whether electrical stimulation could be used to influence this communication and promote more selfless decision-making.

One participant who underwent the brain stimulation test described the experience as a gentle, soothing sensation, comparable to a warm shower or light rain on the scalp.

The participant reported making decisions while receiving the stimulation without feeling any external influence on their choices.

The discovery of a consistent neural pattern associated with selfless decision-making across multiple individuals suggests that altruism may be an innate, evolutionarily conserved trait that enables humans to care for one another.

Prof Ruff emphasized the clinical significance of this finding, highlighting the potential to modify and influence this neural mechanism.

Dr Jie Hu, a co-author of the study, noted that the research provides evidence of a causal relationship between brain activity and decision-making, demonstrating that targeted stimulation can alter an individual's sharing behavior.

By manipulating communication within a specific brain network using non-invasive stimulation, the researchers observed a shift in participants' decisions, influencing the balance between self-interest and altruism.

Addressing concerns about the potential implications of this research, Prof Ruff assured that the experiment was conducted with strict adherence to medical regulations and ethical guidelines, ensuring the well-being and informed consent of all participants.

The neuroscientist drew a distinction between the controlled, medically regulated nature of the experiment and the often-subliminal influences of social media and advertising, which can affect behavior without explicit consent.

Prof Ruff suggested that, in contrast to the experiment, the impacts of social media and advertising on brain function and behavior are often unforeseen and uncontrolled, highlighting the importance of careful consideration and regulation in such contexts.

The government has confirmed that NHS staff in England will receive a 3.3% pay increase in the upcoming financial year.

This pay award applies to approximately 1.4 million health workers, including nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, and porters, but excludes doctors, dentists, and senior management.

Although the Department of Health and Social Care initially proposed a lower figure, it has accepted the recommendation of the independent pay review body to demonstrate its commitment to NHS staff, resulting in a higher pay rise than initially suggested.

However, several health unions have expressed disappointment with the announced pay award.

Prof Nicola Ranger, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), noted that the 3.3% increase falls short of the current consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate of 3.4%, which measures the rise in prices over the past year.

Prof Ranger stated, "A pay award that is lower than the current inflation rate is unacceptable, and unless inflation decreases, the government will be imposing a real pay cut on NHS workers."

She criticized the government's approach, saying, "This strategy of making last-minute decisions is not an appropriate way to treat individuals who are essential to a system in crisis."

Prof Ranger indicated that she would wait to see the pay awards for the rest of the public sector and doctors before deciding on a course of action.

The RCN had previously reacted strongly to the 5.4% pay increase received by resident doctors last year, compared to the 3.6% increase received by nurses, which they described as "grotesque".

Prof Ranger emphasized, "Nursing staff will not accept being treated with disrespect, as has happened in the past when they were given lower pay awards than other groups."

Helga Pile, head of health at Unison, the largest health union, commented, "NHS staff who are already under financial pressure will be outraged by another pay award that fails to keep up with inflation."

"Once again, they are expected to deliver more while their pay effectively decreases, as it falls behind the rising cost of living," she added.

In response, the government argued that the pay award is actually above the forecasted inflation rate for the coming year, which is around 2%.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated, "This government greatly values the outstanding work of NHS staff and is committed to supporting them."

The pay increase is expected to be implemented by the start of April.

However, the government did not provide a timeline for the announcement on doctors' pay, as the pay review body responsible for making recommendations on their pay has yet to submit its report to ministers.

The government is currently engaged in negotiations with the British Medical Association regarding the pay of resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors.

Members of the BMA recently voted in favor of strike action, granting them a six-month mandate for walkouts, and there have been 14 strikes so far in the ongoing dispute.