Reno, Nevada, has been named the happiest place to live in America, chosen as an reformative and affordable ‘modern boomtown’ with fair weather and creative outlets year round.

The city was chosen by Outside, based on factors including overall well-being, public land and affordability, and climate change and inclusivity. 

Millions of surveys were scoured to assess the best urban areas in the US for well-being, before the researchers looked at house and rental prices and general walkability.

Reno was ultimately judged the best in class, undertaking massive transformations to become more inclusive and accessible, attracting major companies like Amazon and Tesla without losing sight of its local arts and crafts culture.

Reno placed above Wilmington, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Charlottesville, Hood River, Minneapolis, Glenwood Springs, Harrisburg and Plano to clinch the top spot among regions with a population between 5,000 and 500,000.

Reno, Nevada

Population: 273,448

Median house price: $550,000

Percentage parkland: 5%

Outside described Reno as a ‘modern boomtown’, bustling with green, open spaces, climbing gyms and a summer arts festival as part of a local revival. 

The outlet noted ‘ample public land and mountain vibe’ in its decision to award the city the top spot in the rankings.

With a new bike trail attracting cyclists, and nearby Lake Tahoe welcoming in skiers, the city has enough adventure for locals and tourists year-round, making it a go-to destination inclusive of all.

Wilmington, Delaware

Population: 71,569

Median house price: $255,000

Percentage parkland: 6.8%

Well-connected Wilmington neighbors Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Washington D.C., offering walkability and community to residents.

Delaware’s largest city is built at the meeting point of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, and has had its riverfront revitalized in recent years.

Wilmington boasts nearly 70 parks, including the 178-acre Brandywine Park and the Alapocas Run, a 415-acre space filled with hiking and biking trails.

Outside reports that the city has an inclusive local culture, with LGBTQ+ community leader Dinea Elliott Collins saying: ‘When I travel to other parts of the country, I realize how safe and comfortable I feel in Wilmington.’ 

New Orleans, Louisiana 

Population: 369,749

Median house price: $360,000

Percentage parkland: 23%

Some 80 per cent of residents in New Orleans live within a ten-minute walk of a park, making the city one of the most attractive for residents who enjoy outdoor spaces.

Culturally, the city has many attractions bringing visitors each year – from the colonial-era French Quarter to St Charles Avenue and Magazine Street’s rows of antique shops.

New Orleans remains one of the country’s most-visited cities for its deep and complex history, preserving its past in a number of significant museums.

In 2016, the city was also ranked the best in the US for live music, cocktail hour and cheap eats – but last for safety.

Outside references the city’s culture and cuisine, friendliness towards LQBTQ+ people and ‘underrated’ green spaces in awarding it third place. 

Cincinnati, Ohio   

Population: 309,513

Median house price: $272,750

Percentage parkland: 17 per cent

In the late 1800s, Cincy was dubbed the ‘Paris of America’, due to ambitious architectural projects that still line the streets of its urban center.

Developed as a river town for shipping, the city remains an industralized hub with a large economy attractive to large employers and a quaint market pavilion for merchants to sell local produce.

It also remains one of the greenest, with 88 per cent of residents living ten-minutes from a park – and a temperate climate ensuring beautiful year-round vistas to be found in the city’s 365 parks and recreation areas.

Benefitting from large-scale immigration from Germany in the 1840s, the city also benefits from a rich brewing tradition and has more than 80 organizations still making local beer – surely pushing it up the rankings for happiest places to live.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Population: 45,373

Median house price: $456,000

Percentage parkland: 10 per cent

The independent city of Charlottesville is much smaller than most of its competitors but boasts the same balance of work opportunities and scenic getaways shared by the country’s happiest.

Outside notes the city’s local University of Virginia has given Charlottesville a ‘vibrant startup culture’, with high rates of graduates and low unemployment. 

The city’s commercial district, The Corner, also provides Charlottesville with a number of college bars and restaurants, as well as a considerable nightlife scene.

Around the city, a 20-mile trail offers hikers and bikers a picturesque loop lined with places beautiful riverside spaces, and a number of breweries are ‘scattered throughout the surrounding countryside’, according to Outside.

Hood River, Oregon

Population: 8,352

Median house price: $656,750

Percentage parkland: 4

The small town of Hood River is noted for its rich outdoors activities, leading with a ‘vast network’ of trails and spaces to surf the Columbia River.

The town is only an hour east of Portland and remains connected to local hubs, but retains an independent presence and rich local food scene helped by its rural farms. 

While rents are a little higher than in other happy cities, Hood River has taken steps to build new developments for residents on lower incomes.

The city is also taking strides towards reflecting ambitions of racial and social equity in policymaking.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Population: 425,096

Median house price: $340,000

Percentage parkland: 15 per cent

Minneapolis scored 97 on Outside’s ranking for cyclists, and was this year voted number one in People for Bikes’ annual large-city ratings. 

With 180 parks, the city offers residents lush scenery joined together by an expansive network of cycle paths and trails.

The city is also noted for its investment into low-income neighborhoods and its ‘excellent’ hospitals.

Outside notes that the murder of George Floyd in 2020 ‘revealed serious problems with law enforcement’ in the city.

The police department has reportedly undergone a number of reforms in the years since.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Population: 10,264

Median house price: $726,720

Percentage parkland: 2

The resort city of Glenwood Springs placed eighth on Outside’s list of the top 15 happiest places to live in the US, credited for its hot springs and easy access to outdoor sports activities.

The town is situated in the Rocky Mountains at the meeting point of the Roaring Fork River and the Colorado River, creating stunning vistas. 

Since the 1980s, coordinated investment has transformed the town’s geography to better accommodate hikers and cyclists, building modern trails and reducing congestion in the center.

The region’s newfound popularity has, however, pushed up housing costs – which officials are looking to tackle with new affordable housing projects. 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Population: 50,183

Median house price: $176,000

Percentage parkland: 8

The Pennsylvania capital has long been a desirable destination for young families with affordable housing and vibrant cultural outlets.

In 2010, the city was ranked the second best place in the country to raise a family, after Des Moines, Iowa.

Since then, Harrisburg has attracted steady growth in the number of bars, concerts and events – in turn building a significant music and entertainment scene in recent years.

Again, the city benefits from local mountains, cycling trails and spaces to kayak for those keen on soaking up the local environment. 

Plano, Texas

Population: 289,547

Median house price: $540,000

Percentage parkland: 3

Plano, Texas, ranked tenth in Outside’s list of the happiest places to live in the US.

The city is one of the larger nominations, the 72nd most populous city in the country, and remains one of the fastest growing.

Steadily, Plano has attracted grown into a significant business hub and the headquarters of many major corporations.

Still, the city itself enjoys 85 parks and public pools – and preserves access to two nature preserves around the town, spanning some 1,000+ acres in total.

Plano now boasts a lively music and entertainment scene, a host of restaurants – and a farmers’ market. 

Anchorage, Alaska 

Population: 287,145

Median house price: $400,000

Percentage parkland: 80

Alaska’s largest city is 80 per cent parkland, despite hosting nearly 300,000 people, and spans 1,706 square miles – making it the fourth-largest by area in the United States.

Surprisingly, though, the city remains highly walkable and accessible to cyclists – relying on a trail network covering more than 500 miles. 

According to the Anchorage Park Foundation, 95 per cent of residents say the trails make the city a great place.

Others cite the wildlife and fantastic views, as well as the city’s investment in preserving and celebrating local history and languages.

Madison, Wisconsin

Population: 272,903

Median house price: $395,000

Percentage parkland: 14

Between two lakes, Madison enjoys vast landscapes and more than 280 parks, increasingly accessible as the city invests in new tracks and trails.

In winter, residents can also enjoy the city’s sports scene – including ice skating, hockey, ice fishing and cross-country skiing.

One of the most accessible cities by bike, residents can quickly zip between the city’s 18 conservation parks and a bustling city, known for its museums and galleries.

Madison is the fastest-growing city in the state, featuring a lively technology sector and exciting opportunities in health start ups.

Frederick, Maryland 

Population: 82,175

Median house price: $435,000

Percentage parkland: 7.8

Frederick is just an hour from Baltimore and Washington D.C., and is one of the more walkable cities on the list.

Nearly 90 per cent of residents live within ten minutes of a park – and sprawling public lands make the city ideal for hikers.

Frederick is home to a number of antique shops and themed events, preserving its unique culture – while continuing to invest in new arts and entertainment outlets.

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Population: 261,256

Median house price: $430,000

Percentage parkland: 14

With 244 miles of shoreline, St Petersburg is ideal for beachgoers and fishers.

As well as celebrating a number of professional sports teams, the city is also home to quieter activities, like the Salvador Dali Museum, a number of libraries and the Chihuly Collection.

Residents can enjoy the city’s breadth of historical districts, all with unique draws and cultural artefacts.

St Petersburg may not be the most walkable city on the list, but remains attractive to cyclists and rollerbladers. 

Tacoma, Washington

Population: 221,776

Median house price: $472,500

Percentage parkland: 7

Tacoma is a little smaller than St Petersburg but still enjoys 46 miles of coastline and beaches.

The city is home to 120 parks and remains fairly accessible by foot and by bike, connecting large forests and outdoor spaces with the cultural hubs in the city.

Nearby, Tacoma also has access to Mount Rainier – and is only 90 minutes from the slopes at Crystal Mountain.

Cleaning up Commencement Bay and the Dune Peninsula in recent years have opened up the city’s natural spaces for visitors to enjoy. 

A fascinating reworked world map reveals the most popular bucket list experiences in countries around the globe – and it’s visiting the Maldives that’s number one.

On the map – generated using Google search data – country names have been supplemented with their residents’ most-searched-for bucket-list experiences. Researchers drew up a list of 119 bucket-list items and studied 12 months of Google data in 219 countries to ascertain the top bucket-list items for each nation.

A separate breakdown shows the top bucket-list experience favoured by residents of each U.S State.  

Visiting the Maldives tops the global list, compiled by travel firm Kuoni, thanks to being the most popular bucket-list experience in 122 countries around the world, including the UK, Australia and the U.S. Kuoni says: ‘With gorgeous white sandy beaches, tropical blue waters and dreamy sunsets, it’s easy to see why so many people want to experience this the most in their lifetime.’

Visiting Bora Bora earns second place because a total of 19 countries – including Hungary and Aruba – appear to be searching for the bucket-list experience. Kuoni says the South Pacific island offers holidaymakers ‘a serene sanctuary to unwind and relax in as they enjoy the bright white sandy beaches and laid-back island lifestyle’.

Seeing the Mona Lisa ranks third, as it’s top in 16 countries. ‘The painting by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most instantly recognisable pieces of art in the world, drawing in countless visitors each year,’ says Kuoni.

In fourth place it’s visiting Italy’s colourful Cinque Terre region (top in 11 countries), while seeing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – at 830m/2,722ft in height the world’s tallest skyscraper – is fifth, as it’s number one in nine countries.

The UK is home to two of the top 10 – visiting Stonehenge (top in three countries) and Big Ben (top in two countries) take joint seventh and joint eighth place respectively.

The U.S is home to four of the top 10 – climbing the Statue of Liberty is sixth (top in four countries), seeing Times Square is joint seventh (top in three countries), seeing the White House is joint eighth (top in two countries) and getting splashed at Niagara Falls is joint ninth (top in one country).

A series of regional maps were also produced to show the breakdown of the results more clearly across the globe.

In Europe, visiting the Maldives is top in 28 countries including France and Spain, while exploring the Cinque Terre region is top in Malta, Greece and Cyprus. In Ukraine, it’s seeing Stonehenge that is number one.

Moving across the Atlantic to North and Central America, exploring the Maldives is top in 20 countries including Canada, Turks and Caicos and Barbados. It’s seeing the Mona Lisa that reigns supreme in Mexico and Guatemala while seeing the Northern Lights tops the podium in El Salvador.

While the Maldives is the most searched-for bucket-list experience overall in the U.S, the map that breaks down each U.S State reveals that a visit to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial – a giant sculpture of U.S presidents that’s been carved into a South Dakota peak – tops the list for 30 states including Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

Visiting the Kentucky Derby is also popular, with nine states including Delaware, New Hampshire and Vermont searching for this experience the most. Kuoni says: ‘Usually held on the first Saturday in May each year, the horse race is known for being the fastest two minutes in sports and is the first leg of the American Triple Crown – the perfect experience for a thrilling weekend away.’

Travelling down to South America, seeing the Sagrada Familia is top in Paraguay while seeing the Northern Lights is top in Venezuela. Visiting the Maldives again reigns triumphant in several countries, including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

In Africa, the Maldives is once again the most popular travel bucket list item, with an impressive 45 countries – such as Egypt and Zimbabwe – searching for it the most.

The Mona Lisa is also popular, with three countries – South Africa, Guinea-Bissau and Tunisia – searching for a visit to this impressive piece of art more often than any other bucket-list experience.

Looking to Asia, visiting the Maldives also tops the list in several countries, including South Korea and Laos. Visiting Yosemite is top in Yemen, while in Turkmenistan, the preference is to visit Big Ben. In Malaysia, it’s seeing Times Square that’s number one, while in Pakistan, it’s visiting the ancient city of Pompeii.

In Oceania, meanwhile, 13 countries have a visit to the Maldives at the top of their list. They include New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu. Climbing the Statue of Liberty takes the gold medal in Guam while visiting Bora Bora tops the leaderboard in French Polynesia.

Kuoni’s research also produced a ranking of the world’s most popular bucket-list experiences based on search volume alone. Interestingly, even though some places are incredibly popular globally, they rank as number one in very few countries. 

An example of this is Niagara Falls, which ranks as the second most popular experience worldwide in terms of search volume, with more than 24million searches over 12 months, but only takes the top spot in one country – Guam. 

Commenting on the research, Kuoni says: ‘With travel now back to normal for many countries after a few years with restrictions in place, there’s more opportunity to get back out there to explore and tick off things from your bucket list, whether that be travelling far away or keeping things closer to home.’

Ageing and genetics are among the best-known unavoidable factors that can increase the risk of developing dementia.

But experts have now published a definitive list of 16 other ways that increases a person’s likelihood of developing the memory-robbing condition.

Being obese, smoking and not doing enough exercise are some of the more obvious habits that could leave you vulnerable to the syndrome that affects almost 1million Brits and 7million Americans. 

But tooth loss, not getting enough sleeping and eating too much ultra-processed foods also make the list. 

The list was compiled by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), a federation of 100 Alzheimer’s associations around the globe.

Alzheimer’s disease, where certain proteins build-up in the brain impeding its function, is the most common cause of dementia accounting for around two out of three cases. 

ADI said even if just 12 of the 16 risk factors identified were addressed 55.6million cases of dementia could be prevented by 2050. 

They warned that many studies, which can point to everything from eating blueberries to drinking champagne as ways to reduce dementia risk, are confusing people about the real steps they can take to reduce their risk. 

Dementia is not a disease unto itself but rather the consequence of another condition.

It is characterised by progressive memory loss and difficulties doing daily activities, robbing people, particularly the elderly of their independence. 

Alzheimer’s, as already discussed, is one of the leading causes of the condition.

Another leading cause is vascular problems, where the blood supply to the brain is cut off by a stroke or a series of ‘mini-strokes’. 

There is no cure, but people can take action to reduce their risk of developing the condition. 

ADI convened a panel of respected experts to report the latest evidence on reducing dementia risk.

They found a total of 16 risk factors that were within people’s control, though some are easier to achieve than others. 

A dozen matched up with those already identified by a leading 2020 study published in the journal The Lancet. 

Some factors impacted our physical health like high blood pressure, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, smoking, exposure to air pollution and diabetes.

These could contribute to dementia risk by impacting our cardiovascular health, influencing our risk of strokes and the general health of our brains.

Another factor which impacted brain health, repeated head injuries through for example rugby or boxing, also appears to increase dementia risk. 

Other factors have less of a physical impact on our brains but are related to how we use them and are associated with an increased risk of dementia.

These were hearing loss, depression, a lack of education, and social isolation. 

But in addition to these 12, ADI researchers identified another four risks. 

One was a poor diet and in particular one containing ultra-processed foods UPF). 

Such foods, which contain a variety of emulsifiers, preservatives, and artificial flavourings and sweeteners have recently come under the spotlight after researchers uncovered a potential link to their consumption and poor cardiovascular health.

While ADI highlighted a number of studies linking UPF consumption with cognitive decline they acknowledged that the exact mechanism by which it increases dementia risk is unknown.

However, the report pointed to UPF consumption being linked to other known dementia risk factors like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease as one possible explanation. 

Untreated sight loss was another factor identified by the ADI report.

They said, similar to hearing loss, the exact mechanism behind how it increased dementia risk was unclear.

Theories include that vision loss leads to the brain overworking to compensate for the lack of this sense, a concept called cognitive load, losing sight being linked to lower opportunities for brain stimulation, and a general increased risk of social isolation and poor psychological health. 

Tooth loss was another dementia factor identified by the ADI report. 

They cited research that found losing a tooth was linked to a 1.1 per cent increase in dementia risk, and that losing 20 of your pearly white raised the risk to 31 per cent.

Much like hearing loss being treated with hearing aids, tooth loss being treated with dentures seemed to mitigate this increased risk of developing dementia.

How exactly tooth loss influenced dementia risk was unclear.

However, the ADI report said tooth loss could simply be an indicator that someone is forgetting to practice good oral hygiene and therefore is an early sign of dementia, rather than a cause.

But they added there is some evidence that poor oral hygiene, and a consequential increase in gum disease, could cause an overall rise in inflammation in the body, harming the brain. 

Getting a good night’s rest was the final of the four factors detailed in the ADI report.

While acknowledging studies are mixed the ADI report suggested poor sleep patterns in middle age may contribute to a higher risk of dementia in later life.

The ADI report cited one study of 180,000 US Army veterans that found those with insomnia had a 26 per cent chance of developing Alzheimer’s over the next eight years.

A possible explanation is that sleep helps flush out a build-up of the proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, so a sustained lack of sleep inhibits this process, leading to rise in dementia risk. 

Despite concluding there were 16 modifiable risk factors for dementia, ADI noted there are ‘many other’ habits identified through other studies not included in the report. 

ADI’s chief executive Paola Barbarino said she hoped the report would help people make informed lifestyle choices to reduce their dementia risk. 

‘Almost 200 stories are published on dementia diets every day, pointing to the latest research on everything from blueberries to champagne,’ she said.

‘The reality is the conversation is far more nuanced than that.

‘Some of these risk factors require a degree of personal choice from individuals, like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, while others require government action, like air quality, and access to education.’ 

She added that while new breakthrough drugs to treat Alzheimer’s offer a source of hope to millions with disease, prevention offered a way to avoid dementia now. 

‘The old adage states that prevention is better than a cure – and in the absence of a cure, risk reduction is the best tool we’ve currently got available,’ she said,   

‘We understand it’s not always easy, but we can’t blueberry our way out of this, nor will there be a silver bullet magic pill for some time.’

Dame Louise Robinson, a professor of primary care and ageing at Newcastle University and co-chair of ADI’s medical and scientific advisory panel, added: ‘Research increasingly shows that dementia can be delayed or even prevented by targeting our lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, and social connections.’

‘Healthy hearts, healthy bodies, and healthy brains, should be our mantra.’

The ADI report also featured accounts from people currently living with dementia.

One of these was Emily Ong, a Singaporean women who was diagnosed with dementia in 2017 at the age of 51.

She emphasised that taking steps to reduce dementia risk didn’t stop after a diagnosis, as improving your health could slow the progression of the condition. 

‘I immediately sought advice on nutrition and ways to slow progression, and to continue to live well,’ she said. 

‘The kitchen is the heart of my home and I love to cook, so I have adapted recipes, cook more with family and introduced more dementia-friendly kitchen equipment like see-through kettles.’

An estimated 900,000 people in the UK and approximately 7million people in the US are living with dementia.

The condition is considered a rising global health concern as people continue to live longer and it puts an increasing burden on health care systems including in the UK.

Treating and caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is estimated to cost Britain £25billion each year, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK, the vast majority of that being in social care spending.

Never-ending NHS strikes have sent the waiting list for routine ops to another all-time high as the health service battles its busiest ever summer.

England’s backlog, for procedures like hip and knee replacements, now stands at 7.6million, official figures revealed today. 

It means roughly one in seven people across the country are currently stuck in the system awaiting care. More than 380,000 patients have gone a year without being treated, often in agony.

Months of walk-outs by junior doctors, nurses and other NHS workers demanding inflation-busting pay rises have dented efforts to tackle the record backlogs which built-up during Covid.

Hundreds of thousands of procedures and appointments have had to be cancelled, heaping extra pressure onto struggling hospitals. 

Junior doctors, seeking a salary hike of 35 per cent, will tomorrow stage their fifth strike in the ongoing dispute, walking out for four days from 7am.

Consultants, who earn in excess of £100,000, on average, will take to their own 48-hour picket line from August 24. 

Further action is planned for September if the Government ‘refuses to agree to pay talks’.

Experts today said the NHS is battling an ‘eternal winter’ and urged for ministers to break the deadlock with unions so the backlog can finally start shrinking. 

Summer months usually offer hospitals a break ahead of the usual busy spell, when seasonal pressures like flu and norovirus typically kick in. 

But NHS England said this summer is ‘on trajectory to be the busiest in NHS history’.

Some 4.42million attendances in A&E were recorded over June and July.

This is a rise of 42,500 on the previous high, when 4.37 million were recorded in 2022. 

Monthly performance data released today shows the overall waiting list has shot up from 7.47million in May. 

It marks the highest total since NHS records began in August 2007. 

Around 4.4million were stuck in the system when the pandemic reached the UK. 

More than 7,000 patients had been waiting for more than 18 months in June – down slightly from 11,000 figure logged the previous month.

The Government had set the target of eliminating this backlog by April, apart from those who have exceptionally complex cases or had chosen to wait longer.

Rishi Sunak made cutting waiting lists one of his 2023 priorities, pledging in January that ‘lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly’.

However, he has acknowledged that strikes across the health service are making the task ‘more challenging’.

As part of the plan to tackle the backlog, health chiefs announced yesterday patients will be matched to hospitals further from their home. 

People waiting for diagnosis or treatment on the NHS will be given a profile detailing their symptoms or treatment needs and how far they are prepared to travel.

These would be reviewed by managers at 650 private and NHS providers around the country who can take over their care if they have spare capacity.

Some consultations may be performed remotely by doctors hundreds of miles away from the patient.

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS England’s national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: ‘Today’s data is a reminder of the significant pressure on staff with this summer currently on trajectory to be the busiest in NHS history, all while industrial action continues to disrupt services.

‘Despite this, hard-working staff are delivering improvements in urgent and emergency care waiting times while also tackling the backlog by doing more tests and checks than any July on record and seeing record numbers of people with suspected cancer.

‘While tomorrow the NHS will see a fifth round of junior doctor strike action with thousands of appointments and procedures likely to be postponed, the NHS will need to prioritise emergency care once again.

‘So please continue to use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency and 111 online for any other health concerns, while GPs and pharmacies are also unaffected by strikes.’

Separate A&E performance data for July shows emergency departments faced their second busiest July ever, with 2.1million attendances.

Three-quarters of emergency department attendees (74 per cent) were seen within four hours.

NHS standards set out 95 per cent should be admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour window.

Meanwhile, 23,934 patients who sought help in emergency departments were forced to wait more than 12 hours. 

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the figures show urgent and emergency care and ‘the NHS as a whole’ remains ‘under immense strain’. 

He added: ‘It is pleasing that the number of patients waiting 12 hours in emergency departments have reduced compared to this time last year. 

‘This all comes at a time of the year previously associated with some respite for staff but, as we have said before, the eternal winter that now exists in the NHS is again putting hard- working staff at risk of exhaustion.

‘Along with the failure of the Government and the BMA to reach a settlement and seeming intransigence that this will be the “final” offer, the situation is deeply alarming.

‘The consequence of this in particular will almost certainly mean a continuation of strikes with inevitable disruption to patient care and an inability to implement urgently needed plans to prevent the similar appalling scenes witnessed last winter being seen again this winter.’ 

He said: ‘There is, without doubt, more trouble ahead in the NHS. It is still possible to change the trajectory for the upcoming winter, but the window of opportunity is growing more narrow by the second.

‘Urgent action is needed to ensure winter plans are implemented effectively and in full. 

‘If not we will inevitably be back in a situation where we face calls for national major incident type plans. We simply cannot wait to hit that scenario again.’

Rory Deighton, director of NHS Confederation’s Acute Network, also said: ‘Given the difficulties the NHS is facing it is unsurprising but regrettable that the overall elective waiting list has increased to 7.57million, with activity levels dropping lower than pre-pandemic levels.’

He added: ‘Imagine where the NHS could be now if industrial action had not been allowed to rumble on.’

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, added: ‘Trust leaders’ efforts to recover urgent and emergency care – and to bring down the waiting list – must be backed nationally with proper support. 

‘This includes better government funding in workforce and capital, including beds and vital equipment, and a solution for the challenges in social care. 

She added: ‘The strikes divert trusts’ resources from bearing down on backlogs to managing the disruption they cause. 

‘It’s vital the government and unions talk to find a resolution to the pay dispute. There can be no delay.’

NHS data on cancer waiting times also showed just six in ten cancer patients were seen within the two-month target. 

Almost 6,600 patients were left waiting more than 62 days to start treatment for surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, after an urgent referral from their GP. 

NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this time-frame. This target has not been met nationally since December 2015. 

Professor Pat Price, leading oncologist and founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, said: ‘These figures confirm that cancer treatment performance remains around record low levels and that deadly delays remain baked into cancer treatment with over four in 10 cancer patients waiting far too long. 

‘The Government need to break this drumbeat of monthly and quarterly failure and take decisive action to boost treatment capacity. 

‘It’s ominous that in the vital cancer treatment area of radiotherapy, performance actually worsened. 

‘This isn’t just a red flag for cancer, it’s a siren blaring the need for immediate action to tackle the crisis.’

Latest ambulance figures for July also show waiting times fell significantly. 

This is despite ambulances services facing their busiest month since May 2022, with 707,000 calls last month.

Heart attack and stroke patients in England, known as category two callers, had to wait an average of 31 minutes and 50 seconds for paramedics to arrive, shaving five minutes off the previous month. 

The NHS target is 18 minutes, however.

Ambulances took an average of eight minutes and 21 seconds to attend the most life-threatening category one calls, such as cardiac arrests. The NHS target stands at seven minutes. 

CAB Payments confirms it WILL list on the London Stock Exchange following City disappointment after WE Soda scrapped UK share listing

• The initial public offering for CAB Payments took take place as early as July
• Earlier today WE Soda dealt London a blow by axing LSE listing plans  

By Jane Denton For Thisismoney

Updated: 08:03 EDT, 15 June 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

POPULAR MONEY SECTIONS
Take me to…

Half a MILLION hospital appointments will be slashed each year in a bid to reduce the NHS waiting list: GPs, opticians and clinics will be asked to carry out further tests

• Chiefs claim streamlining services will stop ‘unnecessary’ hospital visits 

By Kate Pickes For Daily Mail

Updated: 19:55 EDT, 28 May 2023

They’re often described as man’s best friend, having been loyal pets for up to 40,000 years.

But a new study suggests that when it comes to getting on with humans, not all dog breeds are equal.

Researchers from the University of Helsinki have revealed the dog breeds with the highest and lowest levels of human sociability.

Their findings suggest that bull type terriers, teacup dogs and golden retrievers are officially ‘man’s best friends’.

In contrast, livestock guardian dogs, Asian primitive breeds and primitive sighthounds are least enamoured in our company.

In the study, the team set out to investigate the personality differences between dog breeds.

‘The breed of the dog is the most important determinant underlying personality differences,’ said Dr Milla Salonen, lead author of the study.

‘All dogs are individuals, and all breeds have different traits, but the breeds differ in what kind of personality most dogs within each breed have.’

The team collected an enormous behavioural survey dataset containing information on 11,000 dogs across 300 different breeds. 

These were were then categorised into 52 groups.

The data revealed a strong link between breed and seven personality traits.

These were insecurity, training focus, aggressiveness/dominance, energy, dog sociability, human sociability, and perseverance.’

In terms of human sociability, bull type terriers topped the list, followed by teacup dogs, Golden Retrievers, Jack Russell Terriers and Dachshunds.

At the other end of the scale, livestock guardian dogs, Asian primitive breeds, primitive sighthounds and Northern hunting spitzes were found to be the least sociable with humans.

Aside from breed, several other factors were also found to influence a dog’s sociability with humans.

Female dogs were found to score more highly than male dogs, while human sociability decreased with age.

Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that regardless of the breed, dog owners should try to familiarise their pets with humans from an early age.

‘Our findings indicate that new owners should familiarize their puppies as much as possible with unfamiliar people, places and animals,’ Dr Salonen said.

‘Of course, socialization must always be done on the puppy’s terms, which means that the puppy must not be forced into frightening situations.’

The study comes shortly after research revealed that owners with good relationships with their dog actually have the same personality as them.

These doting dog parents match with their pup on levels of warmth, enjoyment of outdoor exercise and selflessness with possessions.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany reviewed 29 published papers on dog-owner relationships. 

This revealed that strong bonds were also fostered when the dog was actually more open, agreeable and neurotic than their human.

You may be left ‘chuffed’ or ‘gutted’ by the results of this study, which reveals the top ten most loved and hated British slang terms.

Analysts compared the proportion of upvotes and downvotes awarded to different words and phrases listed on the website Urban Dictionary.

This revealed that the most popular word is ‘chuffed’, defined as ‘to be pleased, gratified and satisfied’, as 96 per cent of its votes are positive.

It is said to originate from the word ‘chuff’, which means swollen with fat, according to the researchers at Letter Solver.

But the worst rated word was ‘mug’, meaning ‘someone who has been treated like an idiot or been severely naïve’, which received 37.1 per cent downvotes.

It is thought it could have evolved from the surname ‘Muggins’, which was typically given to characters presented as foolish or easily tricked in comics in the mid-19th century.

The term could also be influenced by ‘mug’, meaning an unattractive face, and came from the 17th century drinking mugs shaped like grotesque faces.

‘Gutted’ came out as the second most popular term, which received a share of 94.7 per cent positive votes from Urban Dictionary users.

This term describes extreme disappointment and, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, originated from prison slang.

It likely evolved from the literal definition of the word, as devastation can sometimes feel like your insides have been mercilessly stripped out.

In third place came ‘zonked’, which means extremely tired, as 93.3 per cent of its votes were positive.

The Online Etymology Dictionary says that ‘zonk’ is a slang term from the mid 20th century, meaning to hit someone hard or put them in a stupor, so the term likely evolved from that.

In fourth and fifth place were ‘Bob’s your uncle’ and ‘Argy bargy’, receiving 90.3 pre cent and 88.7 per cent upvotes respectively.

The former phrase, meaning ‘there you have it’ or ‘it’s as simple as that’, is thought to have come from around 1887.

This is when then-Prime Minister Robert ‘Bob’ Gascoyne-Cecil appointed his nephew to be Chief Secretary for Ireland in an act of nepotism.

Therefore, life is very simple and easy if Bob is indeed your uncle, hence the evolution of the phrase.

‘Argy bargy’ has been a part of British English since the second half of the 19th century, and is thought to be a lighthearted, sing-song version of the word ‘argue’.

To compile the lists, analysts searched for 205 typical British slang terms on Urban Dictionary and arranged them by their share of upvotes.

This also revealed the least popular words and phrases coined on the tiny island, with ‘mug’ right at the bottom of the list.

The second least popular word was ‘graft’, which received 34.1 per cent downvotes, and means to work hard.

It is thought to be related to the phrase ‘spade’s graft’, which refers to the amount of earth that one stroke of a spade will move, and came from the Old Norse word for digging. 

But, in recent years, ‘grafting’ has been more often used to describe working hard to pursuit someone romantically, thanks to the success of British reality TV shows like ‘Love Island’. 

Coming third was ‘mooch’, which means ‘someone who wants something for free’ and ‘takes and takes but doesn’t give back’, according to Urban Dictionary.

This is its definition in the US, and sometimes across the pond too, however its more popular British definition is to mean an aimless, relaxing walk.

It is thought to originate from the Old French word ‘muchier’, meaning to ‘hide, skulk or lurk’.

‘Grim’ and ‘fluke’ came fourth and fifth on the list of least popular British slang words, with 31.2 per cent and 30.8 per cent downvotes respectively.

The former means something disgusting, and has origins in many ancient European languages, while the latter means ‘an occurrence based solely on luck or chance’.

It originally referred to the flat end of an arm of an anchor in the 1560s, but later became the word for a whale’s tail as they are similar in shape.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, it began to be used to mean a lucky strike as a reference to the whale’s use of its flukes to get along rapidly.

NHS patients are getting CANCER and being left in so much pain they can’t climb stairs because of record 7.2m-long waiting list, nation’s top GP warns

• Latest NHS data shows there were 7.21million patients queuing for operations
• Professor Kamila Hawthorne said patients have been left feeling ‘forgotten’ 
• Patients should be seen within 18 weeks but target has not been met since 2016 

By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter For Mailonline

Updated: 05:00 EDT, 8 May 2023

The politics of a group vacation are always hard to navigate.

Despite the excitement of going away on a trip, there might be a small amount of anxiety lurking in the back of your mind.

Dozens of questions may crop up: will everyone get along, will that one stingy friend pay their fair share or will someone’s partner clean up after themselves?

To avoid this group travel friction, FEMAIL has enlisted the help of two etiquette experts Elaine Swann and Jackie Vernon-Thompson to help your vacation go as smoothly as possible – without the risk of losing any friends.

Is this the right trip for you? Questions to ask before you agree to go on a group vacation

Before you even set off, Elaine, who is CEO of The Swann School Of Protocol, advises people to consider a few things during the planning stages and the first is budget.

‘It’s important to keep in mind the demographic and budget of the folks you have invited along,’ she told DailyMail.com.

‘My recommendation is to try to make sure if you do invite folks who are at different income ranges that you find something that is more of a happy medium. For example, try to avoid too many luxury experiences when you have folks who have a more modest budget.’

The second piece of advice Elaine has is to provide people with a variety of options for each element of the vacation.

‘Maybe you’re going to say, “We’re going on this particular sightseeing excursion, this is the one, but what would you all like to have – do you want the three-hour or the four-hour one?” This is where you keep some control of it, but then give folks options, so it feels like it’s a concerted effort.’

Other things to discuss are dietary preferences, how much activity is happening on the holiday and who else is invited?

Jackie, who is CEO of From The Inside-Out School of Etiquette, also recommends finding out what will be expected of you money-wise and have ‘a full understanding of what is needed for the trip’ when it comes to the dress code and what activities will be happening.

She reminded people to have the right travel documents before beginning your journey to avoid any anxiety or disappointment on your part, as well as the group’s.

‘I recall traveling with a group from Florida to England, then to Paris. We arrived in England smoothly. However, after a few days, it was time to travel to Paris. One of our dear friends did not have the proper documents to continue the journey with us,’ Jackie explained.

‘She was forced to return to the States alone. Some were in tears and just disappointed. She was certainly in tears. That reality left the group somewhat down and just confused about the whole ordeal.’

Keeping the peace: When sharing a vacation home or room, be a considerate housemate

Remember proper decorum, Elaine warns, and that includes ‘everything from what we’re lounging around the house in to lovemaking.’

Cleaning up after yourself is also ‘paramount,’ she added, and making sure you’re leaving a ‘small footprint’ in shared spaces.

She said if you’re sharing the living room or the bathroom, keep your belongings together and pick up after yourself.

‘Don’t be afraid to pick up something that needs to be done. Part of it is not only just picking up after ourselves, but also taking pride in the place that you live.

‘So if there is a person who isn’t as a tidy as you are, don’t take a stance and create a silent war by saying I’m not picking up after that person, instead make the environment peaceful and enjoyable.

‘If you have to go the extra step because someone doesn’t have to, then so be it.’

As for who gets first dibs on the bathroom in the morning, Elaine recommends people ‘try and get in sync with the household.’

For example, if everyone tends to get up for breakfast at a certain time integrate it into your routine during the vacation, she said.

Another habit to avoid is ‘not hogging the time in the bathroom or the television.’

‘Keep in mind that you are sharing this space so the time has to be shared as well,’ Elaine added. 

As for splitting the household costs, ‘everyone should certainly carry their weight and pay their fair share.’

‘Find out in advance what’s required of you. If there isn’t anything that’s set in stone then make some sort of offering to equitably take part in the home,’ Elaine said.

‘For example, you might say, “You know what? We’ll handle breakfast today… or either lunch or dinner….” Figure out what type of area you can contribute in if there isn’t a specific thing that’s set aside.

‘You can either contribute to groceries or you can either contribute by covering the cost of the meal for everyone for a particular part of the stay.’

As for sharing a room, Jackie suggests laying some ground rules with your intended roommate beforehand.

‘Do they prefer the bed closest to the door or the window? Are they a night owl and one who watches TV into the late hours? Find out if they prefer to shower first or last? And don’t be bashful about sharing your preferences as well,’ she told DailyMail.com.

And on the off chance you’ll be rooming with a stranger, the etiquette expert advises you to contact the person in advance and ‘establish some sort of rapport prior to the event.’

‘That way you will not be total strangers to each other once you arrive at the room,’ Jackie said. 

Also be respectful of people’s time, Jackie added.

‘It is not proper etiquette to be late for any gathering or event while traveling with a group. It is rude to have everyone waiting for you time and time again,’ she said.

‘This situation [can leave] the group agitated, frustrated, and at times, disrespected that you are taking their time for granted. Respecting each other’s time is very important.’

It is a group vacation, but can you spend time by yourself? Yes, but it’s about balance

If you’re going on a group vacation, there is an expectation that you spend time with the people you’re traveling with.

But it is ‘acceptable’ to break away or do an activity on your own ‘on occasion, however, within reason,’ Elaine said.

‘You don’t want to go on this group vacation say hello when you get there and then they don’t see you again until you come together to leave because that defeats the entire purpose of it. So find a balance,’ she added.

‘For example, the group might decide they want to go on an ATV ride or an elephant ride, or something to that effect, and you just don’t have the desire to do so.

‘If there’s something that either you can’t afford or don’t have the desire to do or maybe even too tired to do, opt out of it, but make sure that you put forth the greatest effort to reconnect with the group within a short period of time.’

If you want to dine on your own for a few meals, always communicate this to your group, Jackie added.

‘Discuss with the host if they expect you to dine with them for breakfast, lunch and dinner,’ she said.

‘If you desire, share with the host that you may at times dine elsewhere a couple times. 

‘You don’t want to be a no-show, leaving the host and other guests wondering where you are. Informing the host prior to the experience is always proper etiquette.’

As for splitting the bill during meal times, Jackie said if people had concerns have a meaningful conversation and express your worries.

And when it comes to a mix of singles and couples on a vacation, Elaine reminds planners to make sure the activities they select can be done by both parties.

If the activity requires people to pair up make sure there’s enough in the group to do that, she added.