Tuesday 2 April 2013

What Northants health service changes mean to you - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

What Northants health service changes mean to you - Northampton Chronicle & Echo:

Northampton Chronicle & Echo


What Northants health service changes mean to you
Northampton Chronicle & Echo
Northamptonshire will fall under the wing of three main CCGs. As one of the largest CCGs in the country, Nene CCG will cover most of the county, including 350 GPs and 625,000 patients. The rest of the county is covered by the Corby CCG, the smallest in ...

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Northamptonshire pilot for ‘rural paramedics’

Northamptonshire pilot for ‘rural paramedics’:
Rural areas of Northamptonshire may be given paramedics who will only serve a small local area, in response to fears about emergency coverage in villages. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hepatitis B scare at Northampton General Hospital

Hepatitis B scare at Northampton General Hospital:
Two NGH patients were given emergency immunisations after unknowingly using the same blood cleaning machine as a man with Hepatitis B. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Trainee GP denies sexual assault at surgery

Trainee GP denies sexual assault at surgery:
A trainee GP employed at a surgery in Northampton has appeared in court after he was charged with sexually assaulting a female patient during a medical examination. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Breastfeeding service in Northampton to close again

Breastfeeding service in Northampton to close again:
A breastfeeding support service in Northampton is set to close for the second time after the NHS decided not to fund it. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities

Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities:
The Department of Health funded the inquiry which identified failings in understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, use of information systems and co-ordination of care. NHS Networks

All A&E and hospital inpatients to be asked if they would recommend services from today

All A&E and hospital inpatients to be asked if they would recommend services from today:
NHS England hailed the introduction of the friends-and -family test in hospitals as a major step forward in its drive to give patients a greater voice.
From 1 April 2013, every patient in England who visits an A&E, and all patients who stay in hospital overnight will be asked whether they would recommend the service they used to their friends and family members.
Patients will have six choices of answer, ranging from “extremely likely” to “extremely unlikely.” They will then be invited to answer follow-up questions to give more detail on the reasons for their answer. Results, drilling down to individual wards, will be published on NHS Choices, allowing the public to compare patient feedback and make choices about their care.
Individual hospitals and wards will use this real-time feedback, alongside other information, to identify and tackle concerns at an early stage, improve the quality of care they provide, and ensure recognition of the very best care so that best practice can be spread around the health service.
The introduction of the Friends and Family Test was a key commitment in “Everyone Counts”, the planning guidance for the NHS published by NHS England (formerly NHS Commissioning Board) in December 2012.
Over the coming years, NHS England will manage and oversee the rollout of the Friends and Family Test to all NHS-funded services. Maternity services will be next to introduce the question, in October
Tim Kelsey, NHS England’s National Director for Patients and Information, said: “The Friends and Family test is an important first step in changing the nature of the relationship between the NHS and the people it serves. To make improvements, and make them quickly, it is vital that we welcome honest, up-to-the-minute feedback from our patients, listen to them and act upon their views.
“When regular feedback from patients reaches ward or A&E staff, it can have a tremendous impact in a really short space of time. I’d encourage all patients to give their feedback whenever they are asked to do so – we are eager to hear their views.”
Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “The Friends and Family test is a really simple way for patients to let us know if we could improve the standard of care we’re giving, and that’s really important. Giving compassionate care is at the heart of what we do and listening to the experiences and feedback of patients is central to NHS values.” NHS Commissioning

Cancer survivors deserve 'care plan'

Cancer survivors deserve 'care plan': All cancer patients should receive a 'recovery package' at the end of their treatment offering ongoing support, the government has announced. BBC Health News

Charity urges more diabetes checks

Charity urges more diabetes checks: Only one in five people with diabetes in England and Wales are meeting targets for keeping their condition under control, a charity warns. BBC Health News

Male bowel cancer 'on the increase'

Male bowel cancer 'on the increase': Male bowel cancer rates have increased by more than a quarter in 35 years - but the figure is much less for women, a Cancer Research study suggests. BBC Health News

Data flows transition manual

Data flows transition manual:
The major re-organisation of health and social care bodies taking place on 1st April 2013 will result in significant changes to data flows. To support transition arrangements the Department of Health, NHS England and the NHS Information Centre have developed this advisory note and FAQs which describe the practical steps bodies need to take to ensure information flows for purposes other than direct care are handled safely, securely and lawfully. King Fund Blogs

GPs call for rethink on delayed 111 health hotline

GPs call for rethink on delayed 111 health hotline:
The 111 non-emergency health phoneline will not be operational nationwide until June and is currently in full use for less than half of the population of England, NHS England has said.
The service, intended to take the weight off an overburdened 999 network, was originally due to come into full effect on Monday, but lines in 23 areas are not yet in operation.
"Everyone should have a service in place by June," said an NHS England spokeswoman. "Each service will be assessed before it goes live. Some are provided by ambulance services and some are provided by companies that have been successful winning contracts."
GPs welcomed the delay, saying it was an opportunity to rethink the way the system worked, amid concern that it is increasing the burden on clinics because of a lack of adequate advice that could avoid the need for callers to attend accident and emergency clinics or GP surgeries.
NHS England said the 111 hotline for the north of Tyne & Tees area was switched on on Monday, albeit with the NHS Direct 0845 number still running as a backup, bringing to 23 the number of areas of England where the service is in full use. In another 23 areas it is not in use or is in partial use, with full switchover dates set between now and June.
The free round-the-clock service is for "when you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency", public information produced by the NHS explains. It should be used by people who think they need to go to A&E or another urgent NHS service, as well as those who do not know whom to call or do not have a GP to contact. In areas where the number is not yet in full operation, the 0845 NHS Direct number remains available as a backup.
Fourteen different organisations are providing the service, including NHS Direct, seven local ambulance services, and private companies including Harmoni, which is running 111 in three London areas, and Derbyshire Health United.
"Going slowly is what we asked for and is what they should have planned for initially," said Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's general practitioners' committee. "The original plan to have 111 as a standalone service from 1 April hasn't materialised.
"The key problem is they don't have the capacity to take on the number of calls that the system is generating. We also need greater clinical involvement with nurses and doctors to work alongside the call handlers."
The Patients Association said last week it was very concerned about the imminent introduction of the 111 helpline, citing confusion as to when people are supposed to use it and concern about outcomes in pilot areas such as Manchester. Guardian

GPs accused of conflict of interests

GPs accused of conflict of interests:
Doctors who take over two-thirds of the NHS budget from today will award contracts to companies they are also involved in, critics have warned. Independent

Get back on the ward: patients tsar tells nurses to talk less and care more

Get back on the ward: patients tsar tells nurses to talk less and care more:
Nurses should be encouraged to spend less time less time talking and more time caring for patients by removing out-of-the-way nursing stations, the head of the Government's review into patient complaints has suggested. Independent