Future of Kettering General Hospital raised in the House

Future of Kettering General Hospital raised in the House: Keeping to his election promise to find out the truth about plans for Kettering General Hospital, the new MP for Corby and East Northants, Andy Sawford, asked a question about possible cuts to its services in the House of Commons on Tuesday (November 27). Evening Telegraph

Measuring patient involvement is hard, but we must do it

Measuring patient involvement is hard, but we must do it: The Department of Health’s Mandate is clear, the objective spelled out in plain language: the NHS must become dramatically better at involving people with long-term conditions in their own healthcare and empowering them to manage their care and treatment. Sondra Roberto looks at how we can measure whether this objective is met. The Health Foundation

Highest-ever HIV cases in gay men

Highest-ever HIV cases in gay men: The number of gay and bisexual men being diagnosed with HIV in the UK reached an "all-time high" in 2011, according to the Health Protection Agency. BBC News

New professional body for health visitors is launched

New professional body for health visitors is launched: The Institute of Health Visiting has launched today. It has been established as a UK centre of excellence to support the development of consistently high-quality health visiting practice. NHS Employers

Mental health service failing thousands in crisis every year

Mental health service failing thousands in crisis every year:

Services are understaffed, under resourced, and overstretched, says MIND Related items from OnMedica New commissioning guidance on mental health services GPs to get better mental health discharges Recession hits men’s mental health worst Labour throws down gauntlet on mental health Mental and physical healthcare should be integrated

Alcohol strategy consultation

Alcohol strategy consultation: This consultation seeks views on a number of measures set out in the government's alcohol strategy. It seeks views on five key areas: a ban on multi-buy promotions; a review of mandatory licencing conditions; health as a new licencing objective; cutting red tape for responsible businesses; and minimum unit pricing. The consultation will run for 10 weeks from 28 November 2012 until 6 February 2013.

• Consultation document and supporting documents 
• Online form

'Ofsted' planned for hospitals

'Ofsted' planned for hospitals: An Ofsted-style system of ratings for hospitals and care homes is set to be considered.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ordered a review of the way that information on NHS and social care services is given to patients and the public which will look at the way in which a new ratings system could help improve standards of care across the health and social care system. However, Mr Hunt said he was not advocating a ... Healthcare Today

'NICE nanny state' parking cost claims are untrue

'NICE nanny state' parking cost claims are untrue: “Raise cost of parking to force motorists to walk! Nanny watchdog’s plan to get Britain fit”, is the strident yet inaccurate headline in the Daily Mail.

This was prompted by the publication of guidelines produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), designed to encourage more people to walk and cycle for the benefit of their health.

NHS survey highlights safety concerns

NHS survey highlights safety concerns: Survey of NHS professionals indicates 'efficiency savings' are not working, staff morale is low and services are being cut
Patient care is being damaged by the NHS's efforts to meet the government's savings drive, according to two-thirds of respondents to the Guardian healthcare network's latest survey of NHS professionals.

NHS trust criticised for 'catalogue of mismanagement' over £411m PFI deal

NHS trust criticised for 'catalogue of mismanagement' over £411m PFI deal: Peterborough and Stamford NHS trust used 'hopelessly inaccurate' projections to sign unaffordable contract, auditors report
Mistakes and reckless misjudgment by a major hospital led to it signing an unaffordable PFI contract that has left it with the largest deficit in the NHS, a scathing National Audit Office report has revealed.

NHS patients experience 'contempt and cruelty', says Jeremy Hunt

NHS patients experience 'contempt and cruelty', says Jeremy Hunt: Patients experience "coldness, resentment, indifference" and "even contempt" in some hospitals, the Health Secretary has claimed in a hard-hitting speech about NHS care. The Daily Telegraph

Baby boomers 'facing unseen health crisis'

Baby boomers 'facing unseen health crisis': THE Baby-boomer generation is facing an unexpected health crisis because the Government has failed to grasp that they will be far poorer than expected in old age, experts claim. The Daily Telegraph

Schizophrenia: The shame of silence, the relief of disclosure

Schizophrenia: The shame of silence, the relief of disclosure:
I do not fear schizophrenia as I once did, or maybe it would be truer to say that I have a changed attitude to madness. It is not the death sentence it once appeared. It is possible to survive and be happy. The Independent

New staff health improvement report

New staff health improvement report: A new report has called for a board level lead to take proactive responsibility for staff health improvement and wellbeing in every NHS trust in England. RCN/RCP