Monday 2 December 2013

New NGH birth centre opens its doors

New NGH birth centre opens its doors Northampton General Hospital's new birth centre opens for business on Monday 2 December, the first midwife-led unit in the county. NGH News

GP panel to scrutinise whether operations are necessary

GP panel to scrutinise whether operations are necessary Everyone needing hip replacements or their tonsils removed will have their case scrutinised by a panel of Northamptonshire doctors as the NHS takes radical measures to save money. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

St Andrew’s Hospital must make “urgent improvements” to Adolescents Service after highly critical inspection

St Andrew’s Hospital must make “urgent improvements” to Adolescents Service after highly critical inspection St Andrew’s Hospital has been told it needs to make “urgent improvements” following an unannounced inspection of one of its departments, which revealed it failed to meet eight national standards for quality and safety. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Two deaths at virus-hit home

Two deaths at virus-hit home The county coroner is looking into the deaths of two people from a Northampton care home following an outbreak of winter vomiting. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

MP to raise forced Caesarean claim

MP to raise forced Caesarean claim An MP is to raise the case of a woman who he says had her baby forcibly removed by Caesarean section, and taken by social services in Essex. BBC News

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What's up, Doc? Comics in the clinic

What's up, Doc? Comics in the clinic How comic strips can improve medics' bedside manners. BBC News

HIV care 'at risk from NHS changes'

HIV care 'at risk from NHS changes' HIV care is at risk from the changes to the reorganisation of the NHS in England, doctors who specialise in treating it warn. BBC News

Interactive map of dementia services

Interactive map of dementia services The Department of Health has today published a new interactive online map, bringing together existing information on dementia services in England.

Updated standards for NHS leaders

Updated standards for NHS leaders Standards for members of NHS boards and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) governing bodies have been revised to reflect the findings of the Francis report and other subsequent reviews. NHS Employers

Is Christmas weight gain harder to lose?

Is Christmas weight gain harder to lose? "Most of us gain 2lb over Christmas and never lose it," is the uncheerful news on the Mail Online website. It reports on a study that found that volunteers gained around 0.8kg between November and January that they then struggled to lose.

Patient suicide: the impact of service changes

Patient suicide: the impact of service changes This report argues that mental health service providers looking after patients at risk of suicide need to reduce absconding on in-patient wards and boost specialist community services like crisis resolution to reduce deaths. National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness

Reducing violence and aggression in A&E: through a better experience

Reducing violence and aggression in A&E: through a better experience This report provides evidence that accident & emergency departments could improve patient experience, increase staff wellbeing and save money by implementing a new, proven design solution created by studio PearsonLloyd. The two-pronged solution called ‘A Better A&E’ incorporates a ‘Guidance Solution’ - signage to guide and reassure patients, and a ‘People Solution’ - a programme to support staff in their interactions with frustrated, aggressive and sometimes violent patients through communications training and reflective practices.

Polypharmacy and medicines optimisation: making it safe and sound

Polypharmacy and medicines optimisation: making it safe and sound Polypharmacy – the concurrent use of multiple medications by one individual – is an increasingly common phenomenon that demands attention at clinical policy and practice level. Driven by the growth of an ageing population and the rising prevalence of multi-morbidity, polypharmacy has previously been considered something to avoid. It is now recognised as having both positive and negative potential, depending on how medicines and care are managed. This report offers the terms ‘appropriate’ and ‘problematic’ polypharmacy to help define when polypharmacy can be beneficial. It traces the occurrence of polypharmacy in primary and secondary care, and in care homes. It also explores systems for managing polypharmacy and considers it in the context of multi-morbidity and older people, offering recommendations for improving care in both cases. The King's Fund

Reported assaults against NHS staff in England rose 6% last year

Reported assaults against NHS staff in England rose 6% last year But staff and employers need to do more to report and prosecute offenders, says NHS Protect. OnMedica 

More hospitals to be investigated over Jimmy Savile allegations

More hospitals to be investigated over Jimmy Savile allegations Jeremy Hunt says 32 hospitals are under investigation over links to claims of sexual abuse by presenter.

Liverpool Care Pathway being 'rebranded' not axed

Liverpool Care Pathway being 'rebranded' not axed Plans show Liverpool Care Pathway is being rebranded, not abolished, say doctors. The Daily Telegraph

More than a thousand care home residents die thirsty

More than a thousand care home residents die thirsty Exclusive: figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the extent of neglect as the vulnerable left dehydrated. The Daily Telegraph

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