Thursday 15 October 2015

Simon Stevens’ vision for the NHS: welcome but challenging to deliver

Simon Stevens’ vision for the NHS: welcome but challenging to deliver In his keynote address at our annual integrated care summit, Simon Stevens gave what was arguably his most important speech since he took up post. His speech contained three big messages. The King's Fund

State of Care report launched

State of Care report launched Today marks the launch of the State of Care report, an annual overview of health and adult social care in England.

Analysis shows that, despite increasingly challenging circumstances, many services have managed to either improve or maintain quality. More than 80 per cent of GP practices and six out of ten of adult social care services inspected  have been rated as good or outstanding. Of the hospitals rated, 38 per cent were also found to be good or outstanding.

However, alongside these encouraging findings, there remains significant variation in quality and an unacceptable level of poor care. Up to 31 May 2015, 7 per cent of acute, primary medical and adult social care services had been rated as inadequate.

Safety is our biggest concern across all of the services we inspect. Over one in 10 hospitals and a similar proportion of adult social care services have been rated as inadequate for safety, alongside 6 per cent of GP practices and out-of-hours services. Care Quality Commission


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People with mental ill health and hospital use: Exploring disparities in hospital use for physical healthcare

People with mental ill health and hospital use: Exploring disparities in hospital use for physical healthcare The aim for this work is to improve understanding of how people with mental ill health use hospital services differently from those without. The differences observed should help those planning services so that resources are adequately assigned and influence future policies to continue striving towards parity of esteem. Quality Watch

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NMC introduces new language requirements for EU nurses and midwives

NMC introduces new language requirements for EU nurses and midwives From 18 January 2016, new language requirements come into force for EU nurses and midwives wishing to join the register. What does this mean for your workforce? NHS Employers

Study probes why patients ignore advice

Study probes why patients ignore advice UK researchers are beginning a million pound study to try to find out why many of us do not follow medical advice or stick with treatment. BBC News

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VIDEO: Three years in hospital, miles from home

VIDEO: Three years in hospital, miles from home A boy with learning disabilities and autism who has been kept at a specialist hospital hundreds of miles from his home for three years faces further delays to his release. BBC News

Scottish Ebola nurse 'critically ill'

Scottish Ebola nurse 'critically ill' Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated for complications from Ebola, is now "critically ill" after her condition deteriorates. BBC News

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GPs urged to refer more via two-week cancer pathway to reduce deaths

GPs urged to refer more via two-week cancer pathway to reduce deaths GP practices have been urged to increase use of the two-week cancer pathway, after a study in the BMJ found that low referral rates through the scheme were linked to higher death rates in patients. GP Online

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Social care, health and housing rise to the challenge of integration

Social care, health and housing rise to the challenge of integration Changes in the care landscape are benefiting service users as support becomes more holistic

New roles are emerging and new career paths are being developed as social care, health and housing rise to the challenge of integrated services. At the same time, the job specs of existing posts are changing and new core skills are being added as organisations across the sectors, and those working for them, respond to the developing landscape.

In Greenwich, south London, care navigators are being employed to guide service users through the integrated health and care system and, crucially, prevent the need for individuals to repeat their story to other professionals. The new role, which is already being copied elsewhere in the country, is said to have achieved £900,000 savings in domiciliary care costs alone in 2013. Continue reading... The Guardian

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The medical innovation bill seeks to save lives. In fact it will endanger them | Katherine Murphy

The medical innovation bill seeks to save lives. In fact it will endanger them | Katherine Murphy This bill would remove safeguards that protect patients and entitle them to compensation and allow treatment based on anecdotal evidence

Any medical innovation that saves lives and provides better outcomes for patients has to be a good thing. But a private member’s bill which goes before the Commons on Friday and which purports to make it easier to save lives is an ill-judged, dangerous and unnecessary attempt at legislation in this area.

The basic tenet of the access to medical treatments (innovation) bill is that doctors should be able to try untested drugs and treatments on patients without the fear of medical negligence claims. This fear of litigation, it is argued, stifles innovation, although neither the bill’s author, Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris, nor his backers seem able to provide any real evidence to support this claim. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS report into safe staffing levels delayed after talks with Westminster

NHS report into safe staffing levels delayed after talks with Westminster The health watchdog NICE had been told by NHS England to suspend its research on safe staffing levels in June. The Independent

Woman with broken back forced to sit on wooden chair in A&E for four hours

Woman with broken back forced to sit on wooden chair in A&E for four hours Diane King says it's not NHS staff's fault, it's those running it. The Independent