Wednesday 28 March 2012
Rise in hospital payout packages
Rise in hospital payout packages: The cost of exit packages paid out by hospitals in the East of England in a bid to cut staff numbers increases significantly, the BBC has learned. BBC Northamptonshire
Self-management of diabetes in Hospital
Self-management of diabetes in Hospital:
The aim of the document is to improve the safety of the in hospital management of diabetes.
Diabetes care is very individualised, especially if that person is using insulin. It follows that the person with the greatest expertise in managing diabetes is commonly the individual themselves. Allowing patients to self manage their diabetes in hospital should significantly improve patient safety. The correct support structures need to be provided to ensure that this is properly monitored but this must be done without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. NHS Networks
The aim of the document is to improve the safety of the in hospital management of diabetes.
Diabetes care is very individualised, especially if that person is using insulin. It follows that the person with the greatest expertise in managing diabetes is commonly the individual themselves. Allowing patients to self manage their diabetes in hospital should significantly improve patient safety. The correct support structures need to be provided to ensure that this is properly monitored but this must be done without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. NHS Networks
Sustainable health and social care, the environment and finance
Sustainable health and social care, the environment and finance:
A key finding is that improving efficiency at the operational level is unlikely to be sufficient. A more fundamental transformation in service models will be needed, with a greater emphasis on prevention, shifting care upstream, better integration and co-ordination of care, and an ongoing focus on maximising value for patients. NHS Networks
A key finding is that improving efficiency at the operational level is unlikely to be sufficient. A more fundamental transformation in service models will be needed, with a greater emphasis on prevention, shifting care upstream, better integration and co-ordination of care, and an ongoing focus on maximising value for patients. NHS Networks
Leaked document warns of NHS risk
Leaked document warns of NHS risk: Costs of GP care may rise and health emergencies could be harder to manage following the NHS shake-up, a leaked document warns. BBC News
MPs attack breast implant stance
MPs attack breast implant stance: The stance taken in England on replacing PIP breast implants - at the centre of a health scare - "flies in the face of common sense", MPs say. BBC News
News analysis: What the squeeze on GP prescribing means for the NHS
News analysis: What the squeeze on GP prescribing means for the NHS: As the NHS struggles with a burdensome efficiency drive, GPs are increasingly concerned about how the squeeze on prescribing will affect patients, clinical freedom and workload. GP Online
The care of frail older people with complex needs: time for a revolution
The care of frail older people with complex needs: time for a revolution:
The Sir Roger Bannister Health Summit, held at Leeds Castle, Kent in November 2011, offered The King’s Fund an opportunity to invite academics, practitioners, policy-makers and representatives from patient and voluntary organisations to discuss the care of frail older people with complex health problems. This briefing summarises the discussions.
The Sir Roger Bannister Health Summit, held at Leeds Castle, Kent in November 2011, offered The King’s Fund an opportunity to invite academics, practitioners, policy-makers and representatives from patient and voluntary organisations to discuss the care of frail older people with complex health problems. This briefing summarises the discussions.
Dementia 2012: a national challenge
Dementia 2012: a national challenge:
This report describes how well people are living with dementia in 2012 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Alzheimer’s Society will provide an annual report on how well people are living with dementia to help chart progress and opportunities for action, year on year.
This report describes how well people are living with dementia in 2012 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Alzheimer’s Society will provide an annual report on how well people are living with dementia to help chart progress and opportunities for action, year on year.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2010/11
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2010/11:
The CQC have published their second annual report on the use of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in care homes and hospitals throughout 2010/11.
The CQC have published their second annual report on the use of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in care homes and hospitals throughout 2010/11.
Putting people first through shared decision-making and collective involvement
Putting people first through shared decision-making and collective involvement:
This paper argues that everyone who provides or receives healthcare services needs to play a role in greater decision-making. It explores what it means to put people first when commissioning and providing services, and sets out what is known about the benefits.
This paper argues that everyone who provides or receives healthcare services needs to play a role in greater decision-making. It explores what it means to put people first when commissioning and providing services, and sets out what is known about the benefits.
Government proposes 40p minimum price per unit of alcohol
Government proposes 40p minimum price per unit of alcohol:
According to data analysed by the Guardian, if the government sets the minimum price for alcohol at 40p it could increase the price of a fifth of supermarket drink offers.The paper said more than 1,000 offers were priced under 40p per unit and would not be able to be sold after 2014, when the new laws come into effect. It quotes government analysis which says: "the cost of the minimum price for the average drinker ... Healthcare Today
According to data analysed by the Guardian, if the government sets the minimum price for alcohol at 40p it could increase the price of a fifth of supermarket drink offers.The paper said more than 1,000 offers were priced under 40p per unit and would not be able to be sold after 2014, when the new laws come into effect. It quotes government analysis which says: "the cost of the minimum price for the average drinker ... Healthcare Today
Report reveals stark dangers in opening up NHS services
Report reveals stark dangers in opening up NHS services: Patients denied treatment, forced to pay for care and faced worsening health after changes to physiotherapy provision
A controversial example of private companies being allowed to provide NHS services has resulted in patients in pain being denied treatment, forced to go private and enduring "extended suffering".
Those are the findings of an internal NHS report into how patients fared when physiotherapy services in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire were opened up to "any willing provider" – a version of which will start affecting a range of NHS community and mental health services in England from Sunday.
The report is a secret internal "review" conducted by practice-based commissioner Principia Rushcliffe, a social enterprise that in 2009 used the Labour government's opening up of NHS community services to replace the NHS as the sole local provider of musculoskeletal services for people with neck and back pain with nine private providers. But a massive overspend in the planned £55,000 treatment budget in 2010 led to Principia last year bringing in drastic restrictions on patients' ability to access the care they needed.The Guardian
A controversial example of private companies being allowed to provide NHS services has resulted in patients in pain being denied treatment, forced to go private and enduring "extended suffering".
Those are the findings of an internal NHS report into how patients fared when physiotherapy services in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire were opened up to "any willing provider" – a version of which will start affecting a range of NHS community and mental health services in England from Sunday.
The report is a secret internal "review" conducted by practice-based commissioner Principia Rushcliffe, a social enterprise that in 2009 used the Labour government's opening up of NHS community services to replace the NHS as the sole local provider of musculoskeletal services for people with neck and back pain with nine private providers. But a massive overspend in the planned £55,000 treatment budget in 2010 led to Principia last year bringing in drastic restrictions on patients' ability to access the care they needed.The Guardian
It's time to talk about quality of death
It's time to talk about quality of death: Too often we forget that health care should be about providing a good quality of death as well as a good quality of life, says Chris Skidmore.
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily TelegraphHundreds of EU doctors have 'not undergone language tests'
Hundreds of EU doctors have 'not undergone language tests': Eight out of ten EU doctors working as GPs in the NHS have never had their language skills tested despite being ordered to by ministers.
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
'Inadequate and slow' regulator criticised over faulty breast implant scandal
'Inadequate and slow' regulator criticised over faulty breast implant scandal:
The medicines regulator failed to exercise proper vigilance over cosmetic surgery in the PIP breast implant scandal which has left thousands of women fearing for their safety, a parliamentary committee will say today. The Independent
The medicines regulator failed to exercise proper vigilance over cosmetic surgery in the PIP breast implant scandal which has left thousands of women fearing for their safety, a parliamentary committee will say today. The Independent
GPs' shares in private firms raise alarm
GPs' shares in private firms raise alarm:
Swathes of senior GPs stand to profit from the Government's contentious NHS reforms through shares they hold in private medical companies, research has found, raising further concerns about potential conflicts of interest within the health system. The Indepdendent
Swathes of senior GPs stand to profit from the Government's contentious NHS reforms through shares they hold in private medical companies, research has found, raising further concerns about potential conflicts of interest within the health system. The Indepdendent
Why are dementia patients being 'locked up'?
Why are dementia patients being 'locked up'?:
Elderly patients with dementia “are being illegally locked in their rooms” to make them easier to manage, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The claim is based on a new report looking at how well hospitals and care homes safeguard the human rights of people who cannot make decisions about their own care. It focused on the legal obligations around confining and securing individuals who may be at risk of harming themselves, such as some people with dementia, brain injuries or severe learning difficulties.
In its second annual report on the subject, the Care Quality Commission, England’s regulator of the quality of health and social care, analysed a sample of 1,212 inspection reports on care homes, NHS hospitals and independent hospitals. The CQC said that although many homes and hospitals have developed good practice around implementing legally-required safeguards, some are not meeting their obligations in this area. For example, some homes and hospitals are still confused about the safeguards and when they apply, and many staff have never received any training about them. In practice, this could mean that people’s liberty is removed – for example, they may be made to stay in their rooms – without the legal safeguards being in place.
The Commission also noted that applications to confine people rose to 8,982 in 2011, compared with 7,157 the previous year. Fifty-five per cent of these applications were authorised, compared with 46% the previous year. However, this does not necessarily mean that more people are being deprived of their liberty overall, as implied in some papers. It means that when considering depriving someone of their liberty, more homes and hospitals adhere to legal guidelines than previously.
Depriving someone of their liberty means taking away their freedom to do or live as they wish. For example, this includes:
The legal safeguards are there to ensure that these kinds of measures are considered only when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other less-restrictive way to make sure they get the care and treatment they need.
The safeguards can be used for adults aged 18 or over in hospitals and care homes. People who may need this protection include those with severe learning disabilities, people suffering from dementia and those with brain injuries.
The authors of the report also say they found several instances where doors were locked to make it easier to manage residents’ behaviour when short-staffed without any consideration of the legal framework for the deprivation of liberty.
In less than half of NHS hospitals, reference was also made to the use of restrictions or restraints such as bedrails and locked rooms and “rapid tranquillisation”. Most of these had been used without considering legal safeguards.
The CQC also notes that although the number of applications for authorisation rose significantly in 2010/11, the 9,000 applications put forward were still far lower than the 18,600 that the Department of Health had predicted.
Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive said: “The safeguards are vital to ensure that a person’s best interests are carefully considered, their needs fully understood, their wishes taken into account and their human rights properly respected.”
Locked up and sedated: Huge rise in number of dementia patients being 'restrained' by hospital staff and carers. Daily Mail, March 27 2012
NHS Choices
The claim is based on a new report looking at how well hospitals and care homes safeguard the human rights of people who cannot make decisions about their own care. It focused on the legal obligations around confining and securing individuals who may be at risk of harming themselves, such as some people with dementia, brain injuries or severe learning difficulties.
In its second annual report on the subject, the Care Quality Commission, England’s regulator of the quality of health and social care, analysed a sample of 1,212 inspection reports on care homes, NHS hospitals and independent hospitals. The CQC said that although many homes and hospitals have developed good practice around implementing legally-required safeguards, some are not meeting their obligations in this area. For example, some homes and hospitals are still confused about the safeguards and when they apply, and many staff have never received any training about them. In practice, this could mean that people’s liberty is removed – for example, they may be made to stay in their rooms – without the legal safeguards being in place.
The Commission also noted that applications to confine people rose to 8,982 in 2011, compared with 7,157 the previous year. Fifty-five per cent of these applications were authorised, compared with 46% the previous year. However, this does not necessarily mean that more people are being deprived of their liberty overall, as implied in some papers. It means that when considering depriving someone of their liberty, more homes and hospitals adhere to legal guidelines than previously.
What are the legal safeguards?
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (often referred to as “the safeguards”) came into effect in 2009 as part of a legal framework set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Their aim is to ensure that people who are mentally incapacitated, and therefore unable to make decisions for themselves, have their human rights protected when they are deprived of their liberty.Depriving someone of their liberty means taking away their freedom to do or live as they wish. For example, this includes:
- making someone stay in their room and not allowing them to leave or make visits home or see family and friends when they want to
- giving someone medicines against their will
- staff making all decisions about someone’s treatment, including choices about care options
The legal safeguards are there to ensure that these kinds of measures are considered only when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other less-restrictive way to make sure they get the care and treatment they need.
The safeguards can be used for adults aged 18 or over in hospitals and care homes. People who may need this protection include those with severe learning disabilities, people suffering from dementia and those with brain injuries.
How do these safeguards work?
For a person to be deprived of their liberty, the care home or hospital must apply for authorisation to their “supervisory body” (an NHS care trust or a local authority). The supervisory body has to undertake six different assessments, including one specifically looking at whether deprivation of liberty would be in a person’s best interests. It then makes a decision on whether or not to approve the application. In England only primary care trusts or local councils can give permission to take away someone’s liberty, so they need to understand how the law works.What does the CQC report say?
The report has several key findings, outlined below:- Many care homes and hospitals have developed “positive practice” around the process, notably involving people and their carers in the decision-making process relating to deprivation of liberty.
- However, there appears to be some confusion about what constitutes deprivation of liberty, which can cause “inconsistent practice” between homes and hospitals.
- Some providers have still not trained their staff in the safeguards, two years after their introduction. Between a quarter and a third of care homes have not provided their staff with training on the safeguards and, in some cases, only the manager has received training.
- There is a “gap in information” on the role of the “supervisory bodies”, which needs to be addressed.
- While the number of applications for authorisations under the safeguards has risen, there continue to be areas that need to be addressed.
- The CQC also says there are concerns about the complexity of the safeguards, which it intends to discuss with the Department of Health.
How often are people "locked in their rooms"?
The report does not answer this question, but it notes that about a tenth of care homes in their sample mentioned the use of restrictions or restraints, mostly involving doors being locked or the use of bedrails. In some care homes, it says, these practices are in operation without any consideration of whether they might constitute a deprivation of liberty.The authors of the report also say they found several instances where doors were locked to make it easier to manage residents’ behaviour when short-staffed without any consideration of the legal framework for the deprivation of liberty.
In less than half of NHS hospitals, reference was also made to the use of restrictions or restraints such as bedrails and locked rooms and “rapid tranquillisation”. Most of these had been used without considering legal safeguards.
Why are so many deprivation of liberty applications being rejected?
Not all applications for safeguards are approved, and the CQC says there were a number of reasons why authorisation was not granted for nearly half the applications. In the vast majority (81%) of the cases that were turned down this was because the requirement that deprivation of liberty be in the best interests of the person was not satisfied. In the rest of these cases, other requirements – such as the “mental capacity requirement” - were not met.The CQC also notes that although the number of applications for authorisation rose significantly in 2010/11, the 9,000 applications put forward were still far lower than the 18,600 that the Department of Health had predicted.
What does the CQC conclude?
The CQC says that tackling the problem is a high priority and it plans to ask councils, healthcare trusts and other organisations to contribute to a pilot study that is being developed to improve the collection of information.Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive said: “The safeguards are vital to ensure that a person’s best interests are carefully considered, their needs fully understood, their wishes taken into account and their human rights properly respected.”
Links To The Headlines
Dementia patients locked in rooms to make them, easier to manage. The Daily Telegraph, March 27 2012Locked up and sedated: Huge rise in number of dementia patients being 'restrained' by hospital staff and carers. Daily Mail, March 27 2012
NHS Choices
Caring for our future: what service users say
Caring for our future: what service users say:
What do service users think about adult social care and what are their fears for the future?
This report shares the results of a consultation held in November 2011 on social care reform. The consultation was carried out by Shaping Our Lives in association with the Centre for Citizen Participation at Brunel University, and was supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The study: read more
What do service users think about adult social care and what are their fears for the future?
This report shares the results of a consultation held in November 2011 on social care reform. The consultation was carried out by Shaping Our Lives in association with the Centre for Citizen Participation at Brunel University, and was supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The study: read more
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