Opening up GP surgery hours

Health ministers have ordered doctors to make themselves more accessible, at times that suit the patient rather than the doctor, so expect that grumpy receptionist to become a little less unyielding.

And as part of the campaign to increase access to your GP, doctors will be encouraged to allow patients to e-mail their symptoms, to be dealt with in a virtual surgery.

More effective disease diagnosis

You will start to hear diseases spoken about in a different way, for example asthmas rather than asthma.

What's going on? It's a long overdue recognition that diseases are not usually one uniform condition but may comprise several distinct varieties, each of which respond to treatments in a different way. Recognising a disease phenotype (its physical characteristics) more accurately is likely to lead to more effective treatment.

Access to patient records

Expect a big showdown over access to patient records. Researchers want access to the 50 million records held by the NHS so that they can identify patients with particular conditions and seek their participation in clinical trials. The row isn't about whether someone should or shouldn't be included in a trial, just whether they can be approached by researchers, so-called consent to consent.

Critics says this would be a breach of trust and that privacy should be the overriding consideration. Researchers say that using patient information in this way will benefit the health of individuals and society

Over-the-counter drugs

The prescription pad is dead, almost. More and more traditionally prescription-only medications will become available over the counter next year. These may include antibiotics for cystitis and fat-busting obesity treatments, such as Orlistat.

No brand names, please

From next year the NHS will prepare to dispense only generic non-branded products, even if the doctor issues a prescription using a brand name. For example, when a prescription is handed in for Calpol or a Ventolin inhaler, the patient will receive an unbranded paracetamol children's suspension or an “own-label” salbutamol inhaler.

Cosmetic surgery for teens

More teens are approaching plastic surgeons to treat embarrassing conditions such as male breast growth and enlarged female genitalia, and doctors expect numbers to continue to grow. Awareness of these conditions has increased in the past year, mainly through the TV and internet, and more teens are realising that these ailments, which start in puberty, are treatable with surgery.

Let's talk about feelings

Mental health charities expect the financial gloom to trigger depression and other mental health issues, and are encouraging people to address these as early as possible. The charity Mind is launching a campaign targeted at men, encouraging them to be more open about their mental health. Men are four times more likely than women to experience depression after redundancy.

Organ swaps

There will be a growth in organ swaps next year. Run by the Human Tissue Authority, “pooled” donations are for patients who cannot find a match within their friends or family. The patient signs up to the pool with a friend or family member, who agrees to donate their organ to someone else in the pool if a match is found for their loved one.

BEAUTY

Stem cells and hair

Every hair on our head grows from a follicle and every follicle originates from a stem cell in our scalp. Scientists will next year unveil a new product that protects these stem cells against damage and degradation, acting as an insurance policy against future hair loss. Unfortunately, it won't treat existing hair loss.

Bodylifts

Surgeons predict that body-sculpting - whole body liposuction that radically alters body shape - will be big news. The eight-hour operation slims legs, flattens tummies and removes love handles, and only requires three days recovery. However, new bodies don't come cheap; the procedure costs about £10,000.

Beautynomics

Gone are the days of three types of skin: normal, combination and dry. From next year, scientists will tailor face creams exactly to your skin, by examining your genetics. By taking skins cells from the top layer of skin, via a sticky Sellotape-like strip, scientists hope to delve into the genetics of a person's skin cells and tailor face creams to their individual biology.

Neon make-up

Every recession seems to encourage women to look jollier. Cue fluorescent make-up, Mintel, the market research group, predicts that it will be one of the top playful distractions next year.

Virtual reality hair

Hair products that have been developed using virtual hair will reach the market.

By analysing the hair of 3,000 people in 80 countries, scientists have formulated a computer model of a full head of hair, taking into account its mechanical and physical properties. By simulating different atmospheric conditions, such as wind and rain, researchers will use this system to develop hair styling products that will effectively de-frizz, smooth or volumise.

NUTRITION

Childhood obesity

Next year will by the year of slim children. Researchers have realised that most overweight children are already obese by the age of 5, and so the diet and lifestyles of pre-schoolers will be under the spotlight. Expect more ranges of pure, natural and health-boosting toddler foods to hit the shelves. Plus researchers will be investigating how a pregnant woman's diet affects the health and weight of her child in later life.

Enhancing taste

Food will taste better. Scientists will develop eating strategies that enhance flavour, in an effort to help people to consume less. One team recently revealed that eating ice cream from a cone tastes better that eating it from a spoon, as the mixture forms a thin layer across the whole of the tongue. Expect more techniques next year. Plus, chefs are predicting spices to make a comeback, as people will be buying cheaper cuts of meat.

Chocolate

Experts believe that chocolate sales will thrive as people seek respite from the financial doom and gloom. And yet scientists are warning that our favourite sweet may be in peril, with the cacao tree blighted by disease and drought. Researchers will get busy investigating how to save the tree, and decoding its DNA.

Animal welfare

Expect a big push for an improvement in animal health and welfare. As food production becomes increasingly industrialised,

the food chain is feeling the pressure. Experts believe this is leading to bugs, such as E.coli, and other contamination slipping into food production. The best way to prevent this from happening, they say, is to go back to the source of the food - the livestock - and ensure that animals are reared in healthy living conditions and are vaccinated against disease.

SCIENCE

Research by supercomputer

Scientists will be using supercomputers to find new drugs for diseases. The Grid is a network of 11 computing centres in ten countries, which together create the greatest data processing capacity ever seen. It was designed to process data from the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, the facility investigating the origins of the Universe, but scientists are hoping to use it in the coming years to crunch reams of data from biological experiments, and create a shortlist of the drugs that are most likely to offer the potential for disease cures.

Stem cells

The US President-elect, Barack Obama, looks likely to lift the ban on providing public funding for human embryonic stem-cell research. This will allow American universities to perform research on the controversial cells, paving the way for new treatments for a range of conditions, from spinal cord injury to Parkinson's. Further, after years of anticipation, it is widely believed that the first human trial of human embryonic stem cells will begin next year. The American company Geron is hoping to get federal approval to conduct a trial of stem cell treatments in spinal cord patients.

Artificial carers for the elderly

In an effort to cope with the ageing population, scientists will next year investigate how to harness the power of technology to allow people to remain in their homes for longer.

One avenue of research is computer carers. A team of Canadian researchers recently developed an artificial intelligence system that prompts people with moderate dementia to wash their hands.

Sniffing out cancer

The enose - an array of sensors on a chip that react to the molecules in the air, pictured below - is soon to be used in health: the enose will “sniff” exhaled breath to monitor lung infection. Coming soon is a test for lung cancer, depending on the presence of certain chemicals in the breath.

Unlocking addiction

Scientists are hoping finally to get to grips with the neuroscience of addiction, to find out why some people are more prone to addiction to others, whether it be drink, drugs, nicotine or gambling. And considering that these vices become more common in an economic downturn, this research is urgently required.

Liquid bones

Scientists have developed a form of liquid bone that can be used as a bone graft in surgery. The toothpaste-like substance, developed by the Nottingham company Regentec, is injected into the body and hardens within 15 minutes The material degrades and allows new bone to replace it gradually. The mixture may enter clinical trials next year.

開放全科醫師的門診時間

歷任衛生大臣都已經命令醫生們配合患者而不是醫生自己的時間而使得接觸更加方便，因此希望粗暴的接待人員少一點生硬。

加強接觸您的全科醫師的運動的內容之一就是要鼓勵醫生們允許患者把其癥狀用電子郵件傳達過來進行一個虛擬門診。

提高疾病診斷效率

你要開始用另外的方式聆聽病情闡述，比如說氣喘類疾病而不是氣喘。

怎么回事? 有一個老生常談的共識，疾病通常并非一種單一的病況而可能包括幾種顯性類型，每一類型又對應著不同的治療手段。更準確地鑒別一種疾病表型(其物理特性)容易產生更有效的療法。

接觸病歷

接觸病歷估計有一番大比拼。研究者們想要接觸國民醫療保健體系控制的五千萬份病歷，以便鑒別病況特殊的患者，并尋求他們對臨床試驗的參與。問題不在于哪個應該或不應該參加試驗，只是他們能否被研究者們接觸到，所謂的你情我愿。

批評家們說這會違反信用而隱私應優先于考慮。研究者們說這樣使用患者信息將有益于個人和社會的健康。

非處方藥

處方箋幾乎絕跡。越來越多傳統處方藥到明年都可以通過柜臺購買。其中可能包括膀胱炎和減肥藥所用抗生素，比如Orlistat （奧利司他）。

請不要用品牌

從明年起，國民醫療保健體制將籌劃只發放非品牌通用藥品，即使醫生開出使用品牌的處方。例如， 當交來一個處方需要Calpol 或一支喘樂寧氣霧劑，患者將得到一支無品牌的兒童用撲熱息痛懸浮液或是一支 “自有標簽” 沙丁安醇氣霧劑。

青少年的美容手術

越來越多青少年找到整形外科醫生來治療羞于啟齒的病況，如男子隆胸和女性生殖器擴大，醫生們預期人數將繼續上升。去年主要通過電視和網絡人們已經提高了對這些病況的關注，越來越多的青少年正在認識到，青春期發生的這些癥狀可以通過手術治好。

讓我們談談感覺

各個精神健康慈善機構預期金融低迷會引發抑郁癥及其它精神健康問題，都在鼓勵人們盡早說出癥狀。Mind慈善會正在發起一個針對男性的運動，鼓勵他們更加公開其精神健康狀況。裁員后男人患抑郁的機會是女人的四倍。

器官交換

明年器官交換會增多。人體組織監管局組織的“混合” 捐獻是為了未能從朋友或家人找到配型的患者。患者同其一位朋友或家人簽約混合捐獻庫，而其朋友或家人同意若為其親愛的人找到配型就捐獻器官給器官庫中的其他人。

美容

干細胞和頭發

我們頭上的每根頭發都是從每個毛囊開始生長的，而每個毛囊均來源于我們頭皮里的每個干細胞。明年，科學家將揭開一種新產品的面紗，保護這些干細胞免受損害和分解，作為防止未來脫發的一個保全之策。不幸的是，它不能治療當前的脫發。

瘦身

外科醫生預測塑身- 能徹底改變體形的全身抽脂術 – 將會是大新聞。八小時的手術使腿變得修長、肚皮變得平坦、腰間贅肉消失，而且只需三天的恢復期。然而，新造的身體可不便宜；手術過程要花費大約一萬英鎊。

美容經濟學

三類皮膚：中性、混合型和干性的日子一去不復返了。從明年開始，科學家們將通過檢查您的遺傳學因素而為您的皮膚恰到好處地調配面霜。利用一條粘膩的類似Sellotape的膠帶把皮膚細胞從皮膚表層吸出，科學家們希望探究一個人的皮膚的遺傳特性，按其各自的生物特性而調配面霜。

夜上濃妝

每次經濟蕭條似乎都促使女性看起來更加快活。Mintel市場咨詢公司預測，熒光化妝將是明年最好玩的娛樂之一。

虛擬現實頭發

用虛擬頭發開發出的頭發產品將會面市。

通過分析80個國家的3000人的頭發，考慮頭發的力學和物理特性，科學家們已經設計了一個有滿頭黑發的計算機模特。通過模擬風雨等各種天氣狀況，研究者們將利用此系統開發有效去卷、平滑或蓬松的美發產品。

營養

兒童肥胖癥

明年將是瘦孩子的一年。研究者們已經認識到，大多數超重孩子5歲時就已發胖，所以學齡前兒童的飲食和生活習慣將會曝光。預計會有更多種純凈天然保健的兒童食品擺上貨架。此外，研究者們還要 調查孕婦的飲食怎樣影響其孩子日后的健康和體重。

增味

食物將會更好吃。科學家們將研究出增味飲食策略以幫助人們少吃。 有一個研究小組最近發現，從蛋筒中比從調羹中吃冰淇淋更好味，因為冰淇淋混合物在整個舌頭上形成薄薄的一層。預計明年將有更多技術。此外，大廚們預測調味料會回歸，因為人們將要買便宜點的肉片。

巧克力

專家們相信，巧克力會暢銷，因為人們將從金融厄運和低迷中尋求喘息之機。但科學家們警告說， 由于可可樹因疫情和干旱而枯萎，我們最喜愛的甜食可能面臨危險。研究者們將忙于調查如何搶救可可樹并破解其DNA密碼。

動物福利

動物健康福利方面預計將大為改善。由于食品生產越來越工業化，食物鏈正在感受壓力。專家們相信這正在讓大腸桿菌等細菌及其它污染物混入食品生產中。他們說，防止它發生的最好方法就是回歸食物的源頭- 家畜- 并保證動物在衛生的生活條件下飼養和免疫。

科學

利用巨型計算機的研究

科學家們將利用巨型計算機來尋找新的抗病藥物。Grid是一個分布于十個國家的11個計算中心組成的網絡，形成有史以來最大的數據處理能力。它原是為瑞士的大型強子對撞機處理數據而設計的，該機構是研究宇宙起源的，但科學家們希望在未來幾年利用它來分析浩繁的生物實驗數據，篩選出最可能治愈疾病的一系列藥物。

干細胞

美國當選總統巴拉克·奧巴馬看來要取消為人類胚胎干細胞研究提供公共基金的禁令。這將允許美國各大學開展對這種頗有爭議的細胞的研究，為開發從脊髓損傷到帕金森癥等一系列疾病的新療法掃清道路。而且，經過多年企盼，人們廣為相信，第一次人類胚胎干細胞的人體試驗會于明年開始。美國Geron 公司希望獲得聯邦政府的批準，開展一次脊髓患者的干細胞治療試驗。

老人的人工護理員

為應對老齡化人口，科學家們將在明年研究如何控制科技實力讓人們居家時間更長。

一個研究方向是電腦護理員。最近一個加拿大研究小組開發了一種人工智能系統，提示中度癡呆的患者洗手。

嗅出癌癥

電子鼻- 植于芯片上的一組傳感器，對空氣分子產生反應，如下圖所示- 即將用于保健：電子鼻會 “嗅” 呼出的空氣以監控肺部感染。很快就有一個肺癌試驗，根據氣息中的一些化學物質存在與否而進行。

解除上癮

科學家們希望最終掌握成癮的神經科學，找出為什么有人比他人更易于成癮的原因，不管是飲酒、毒品、尼古丁還是賭博。鑒于這些惡習在經濟低迷中更為常見，該研究是當務之急。

液態骨

科學家們已經開發出一種液態骨，可用作手術中的骨移植片。把英國諾丁漢Regentec公司開發的這種牙膏似的物質注入體內，15分鐘內硬化，然后物質降解，被新骨逐漸代替。明年該復配物可進入臨床試驗。