Clare Horton writes
Good morning and welcome to the daily live blog from the Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network. Throughout the day, we'll be bringing you news, comment and analysis from around the web.
The Guardian reports that doctors' surgeries in some of the UK's most deprived areas are using premium-rate numbers that can leave patients facing hefty bills. The Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, has found that GPs' surgeries in the South Wales valleys are among those using such numbers.
There's also news that patients harmed by treatments based on unfounded claims, or hit with crippling costs from them, have collaborated with medical charities to produce a guide to the risks of "miracle cures" that are often found advertised online.
Elsewhere, the Telegraph reports that Sir David Nicholson, the outgoing head of the NHS, has been accused of a “systemic cover-up” after official figures disclosed that hospitals have spent more than £4?million on secret gagging orders.
Death rates in children's intensive care units are at an all-time low despite increasing admissions, reports the BBC. It says the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network found the death rate was 3.8% in 2012 - despite admissions rising 5% from 18,596 in 2011 to 19,516 in 2012.
And the Independent reports on a study by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, which claims legalising and taxing cannabis could help the Government reduce the deficit by as much as £1.25bn – without necessarily causing significant damage to public health.
If there's a story, report or event you'd like to highlight – or you would like to share your thoughts on any of the healthcare issues in the news today – you can get in touch by leaving a comment below the line or tweeting us at @GdnHealthcare.
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