Monday 29 February 2016
Former nurses given guaranteed job offer in new recruitment drive at Northampton General Hospital
Former nurses given guaranteed job offer in new recruitment drive at Northampton General Hospital A new campaign to encourage former nurses to return to practice has been launched by Northampton General Hospital and the University of Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Nine new ambulances could be on the way for Northamptonshire
Nine new ambulances could be on the way for Northamptonshire A loan of £1.2m from the wider NHS could be set to pay for nine new ambulances to cover Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Change is good for patients and Allied Health Professionals – Helen Marriott
Change is good for patients and Allied Health Professionals – Helen Marriott The Allied Health Professions Medicines Project Lead at NHS England gives her views on the impact new legislation relating to prescribing, supply and administration of medicines will bring to the quality of care patients receive from eligible Allied Health Professions (AHPs). NHS England
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Thousands of NHS posts lie vacant
Thousands of NHS posts lie vacant Tens of thousands of nursing and doctor posts are vacant and many NHS trusts are looking overseas to fill them, according to a BBC Freedom of Information request. BBC News
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- Health trusts reveal thousands of doctor and nursing vacancies The Daily Mail
- Thousands of NHS doctor and nursing posts are vacant The Daily Telegraph
Tech could offer the NHS 'quick wins'
Tech could offer the NHS 'quick wins' The relationship between the NHS and information technology has not always been smooth.
But, in this week's Scrubbing Up Dr Rob Watson says we shouldn't give up hope - and there is potential for technology to improve the way the health service works, for doctors and patients. BBC News
But, in this week's Scrubbing Up Dr Rob Watson says we shouldn't give up hope - and there is potential for technology to improve the way the health service works, for doctors and patients. BBC News
Ebola nurse discharged from hospital
Ebola nurse discharged from hospital Scots nurse Pauline Cafferkey is discharged from a London hospital after being admitted for a third time since contracting Ebola. BBC News
More tooth decay among English children
More tooth decay among English children The number of children in England having their teeth removed because of decay has increased for the fourth year in a row, figures suggest. BBC News
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Cold homes cost the NHS £1billion a year: Every health trust wastes £27,000 a day treating patients with preventable illnesses, says charity
Cold homes cost the NHS £1billion a year: Every health trust wastes £27,000 a day treating patients with preventable illnesses, says charity Every health trust wastes more than £27,000 a day treating patients with health problems caused by living in cold housing, a charity has said. The Daily Mail
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Junior doctors will boycott review into poor morale
Junior doctors will boycott review into poor morale Medics’ representatives say they won’t discuss morale during dispute over pay and hours, which the review ignores
Junior doctors are preparing to boycott a review into falling morale among medics, the Guardian understands, casting doubt on the inquiry, which was announced on the same day the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, vowed to impose a controversial new contract.
The Department of Health may now be forced to overhaul the terms of the independent review of junior doctors’ poor morale, announced by Hunt earlier this month. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Junior doctors are preparing to boycott a review into falling morale among medics, the Guardian understands, casting doubt on the inquiry, which was announced on the same day the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, vowed to impose a controversial new contract.
The Department of Health may now be forced to overhaul the terms of the independent review of junior doctors’ poor morale, announced by Hunt earlier this month. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Childhood obesity strategy delayed further, government admits
Childhood obesity strategy delayed further, government admits Campaigners say delay in publication is ‘unforgivable’ and fear tax on sugary drinks will be rejected
The already delayed childhood obesity strategy will not be published until the summer, the government has said, and campaigners say it is unlikely to include a sugar tax.
“It is a very complex issue and there is a lot of work going on to get it right,” said a Department of Health spokesperson. “There are a lot of different issues that need considering and we want to make sure it is right when we put it out. David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt have said they want it to be a game-changing moment.” Continue reading... The Guardian
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The already delayed childhood obesity strategy will not be published until the summer, the government has said, and campaigners say it is unlikely to include a sugar tax.
“It is a very complex issue and there is a lot of work going on to get it right,” said a Department of Health spokesperson. “There are a lot of different issues that need considering and we want to make sure it is right when we put it out. David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt have said they want it to be a game-changing moment.” Continue reading... The Guardian
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- How did Britain get so fat? The Daily Telegraph
- GP leaders condemn obesity strategy delay OnMedica
Ambulances referred by NHS 111 service deliberately delayed under secret trust policy, inquiry finds
Ambulances referred by NHS 111 service deliberately delayed under secret trust policy, inquiry finds Ambulances dispatched after people called the NHS 111 helpline were deliberately delayed under a secret policy authorised by a senior health service executive, a leaked report seen by The Daily Telegraph reveals.
Up to 20,000 patients were subject to deliberate delays under the covert operation, which forced high-risk cases in the South East to automatically wait up to twice as long if their call was referred from the helpline.
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Up to 20,000 patients were subject to deliberate delays under the covert operation, which forced high-risk cases in the South East to automatically wait up to twice as long if their call was referred from the helpline.
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- Our response to Daily Mail story about 111 service Care Quality Commission
Friday 26 February 2016
Hospitals in East face £441m deficit
Hospitals in East face £441m deficit The deficit facing hospitals in the east of England has increased by 70% in a year to £441m, the BBC can reveal.
How does the public think we should fund social care?
How does the public think we should fund social care? There is general agreement that the success story of our ageing population comes at a price. We face the prospect of devoting a larger proportion of our national wealth to paying for good health and social care that more of us will need.
But agreement about how this should be done has been elusive despite the best efforts of numerous independent reviews, commissions, White Papers and Green Papers over the past two decades. England remains one of the few advanced western countries that has not grasped the nettle of reform, and recently there have been calls for another independent commission with all-party support. The King's Fund
But agreement about how this should be done has been elusive despite the best efforts of numerous independent reviews, commissions, White Papers and Green Papers over the past two decades. England remains one of the few advanced western countries that has not grasped the nettle of reform, and recently there have been calls for another independent commission with all-party support. The King's Fund
Offer end-of-life choices, report says
On the brink The future of end of life care A report from The End of Life Care Coalition which says that 48,000 people experienced poor care at the end of life and details how people are being failed by the system.
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The vanguards summed up and explained
The vanguards summed up and explained With March marking a year since the first wave of vanguards were announced, a new animation and suite of factsheets shine a light on what the sites are up to and what's in store for patients and communities across the country. NHS Confederation
Guide for health professionals on special educational needs and disability
Guide for health professionals on special educational needs and disability The Departments for Health and Education have issued a guide for health professionals on the support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Time to Change launch tools to support mental health professionals tackle stigma and discrimination
Time to Change launch tools to support mental health professionals tackle stigma and discrimination Time to Change has worked with mental health professionals, practitioners and people using services to develop new training materials and tools to specifically encourage open dialogue amongst mental health teams about the positive changes. NHS Employers
Maternity matters: what does a great service look like?
Maternity matters: what does a great service look like? Healthwatch Cumbria has worked in partnership to find out the views of women and their significant others regarding their maternity services. The survey took place in Cumbria and North Lancashire during November 2015. There were 1234 respondents. The survey found there were generally high levels of satisfaction with the care received at all steps of pregnancy and after the birth of the baby. However there were comments about how services could be improved.The themes of most significance were; the importance of continuity of care, consistency of information, postnatal support for breastfeeding, support to make informed choices and accessible, local services.
Neurological patient care 'lacking'
Neurological patient care 'lacking' An MPs' report says health services for people with neurological conditions in England are patchy and poorly co-ordinated. BBC News
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- Services to people with neurological conditions: progress review Public Accounts Select Committee
New NHS cancer drugs fund approved
New NHS cancer drugs fund approved Cancer patients are promised faster access to innovative medicines by NHS England. BBC News
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GP rescue package could be two months away, admits NHS England chief
GP rescue package could be two months away, admits NHS England chief A promised package of support measures for general practice could be another two months away, NHS England's chief executive has said. GP Online
Junior doctors: New contract 'risks disrupting medics' sleep patterns'
Junior doctors: New contract 'risks disrupting medics' sleep patterns' Expert assessment submitted to MPs says excessive working hours could put the safety of patients at risk. The Independent
Cash-strapped hospitals ask for a £1.5bn rebate
Cash-strapped hospitals ask for a £1.5bn rebate 80 NHS trusts in England have written to local authorities claiming they are eligible for an 80% discount on business rates
Cash-strapped hospitals are trying to avoid paying taxes and win a £1.5bn rebate in a move that could have a major impact on the finances of local authorities.
At least 80 NHS trusts in England have written to local authorities claiming they are eligible for an 80% discount on business rates through a loophole in the tax system. The number of applications represents roughly half of the NHS acute trusts in the country. Continue reading... The Guardian
Cash-strapped hospitals are trying to avoid paying taxes and win a £1.5bn rebate in a move that could have a major impact on the finances of local authorities.
At least 80 NHS trusts in England have written to local authorities claiming they are eligible for an 80% discount on business rates through a loophole in the tax system. The number of applications represents roughly half of the NHS acute trusts in the country. Continue reading... The Guardian
How much choice do NHS patients really have?
How much choice do NHS patients really have? Provider choice, personal health budgets and birth budgets mean patients increasingly have a say in their care, but there is still a long way to go
The days of “doctor knows best” when patients had to accept, unquestioningly, the decisions health professionals made for them are long gone. These days, the emphasis is on helping patients make informed decisions. But how much choice do patients really have?
The idea of patient choice has started to gain traction in the past two decades, with the gradual introduction of options relating to place and time of appointments: one notable milestone was the launch in 2006 of the Choose and Book electronic appointment system, which enabled patients to make outpatient appointments by phone or over the internet. This was replaced by the NHS e-referral service in 2015. Reorganisation of the NHS extended patient choice further(pdf), to the extent of giving patients the ability to choose a GP anywhere in the country. Continue reading... The Guardian
The days of “doctor knows best” when patients had to accept, unquestioningly, the decisions health professionals made for them are long gone. These days, the emphasis is on helping patients make informed decisions. But how much choice do patients really have?
The idea of patient choice has started to gain traction in the past two decades, with the gradual introduction of options relating to place and time of appointments: one notable milestone was the launch in 2006 of the Choose and Book electronic appointment system, which enabled patients to make outpatient appointments by phone or over the internet. This was replaced by the NHS e-referral service in 2015. Reorganisation of the NHS extended patient choice further(pdf), to the extent of giving patients the ability to choose a GP anywhere in the country. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS staff survey reveals pressures and positives of work on the frontline
NHS staff survey reveals pressures and positives of work on the frontline Latest findings from annual survey show engagement and cohesion among staff but highlight challenges facing system and areas most in need of improvement.
What’s it like to work in the NHS? Read any newspaper, watch any news programme, and any casual observer would likely form a singular impression: it’s rough out there. Coverage of the NHS of late has been dominated by two towering issues that are hugely important to staff and patients alike: pressures on the system, and junior doctors’ pay and conditions. We have already seen strikes and with the prospect of a new contract being imposed, there is now the unprecedented threat of a full walkout of junior doctors.
With workforce issues taking centre stage, this week’s publication of the 2015 NHS staff survey is particularly timely. The NHS staff survey is the foremost source of evidence about what it’s like to work in the health service in England. Covering 297 participating NHS organisations and collated from just under 300,000 responses, it is understood to be the biggest workforce survey anywhere in the world and offers unparalleled insight into staff experiences. Continue reading... The Guardian
What’s it like to work in the NHS? Read any newspaper, watch any news programme, and any casual observer would likely form a singular impression: it’s rough out there. Coverage of the NHS of late has been dominated by two towering issues that are hugely important to staff and patients alike: pressures on the system, and junior doctors’ pay and conditions. We have already seen strikes and with the prospect of a new contract being imposed, there is now the unprecedented threat of a full walkout of junior doctors.
With workforce issues taking centre stage, this week’s publication of the 2015 NHS staff survey is particularly timely. The NHS staff survey is the foremost source of evidence about what it’s like to work in the health service in England. Covering 297 participating NHS organisations and collated from just under 300,000 responses, it is understood to be the biggest workforce survey anywhere in the world and offers unparalleled insight into staff experiences. Continue reading... The Guardian
Thursday 25 February 2016
Free breastfeeding support cafe in Northampton will close next month
Free breastfeeding support cafe in Northampton will close next month A cafe in Northampton set up to support breastfeeding mums is to close next month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Ebola 'devastates long-term health'
Ebola 'devastates long-term health' Most people who survive infection with Ebola will have long-term health problems, according to doctors. BBC News
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Breast cancer screening at 10-year low
Breast cancer screening at 10-year low The proportion of women in England taking up their initial invitation for breast cancer screening is at its lowest level in a decade, figures show. BBC News
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- Breast cancer: proportion of women screened after their first invitation falls to decade low Health and Social Care Information Centre
Exclusive: One in three GPs say urgent cancer scans are being blocked
Exclusive: One in three GPs say urgent cancer scans are being blocked Nearly one in three GPs in England have had a referral on the two-week cancer pathway bounced back or downgraded to 'non-urgent' in the past 12 months, a GP Online poll reveals.
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Pharmaceutical companies cause doctors to receive biased information about drugs 'costing hundreds of thousands of lives'
Pharmaceutical companies cause doctors to receive biased information about drugs 'costing hundreds of thousands of lives' The number of elderly patients being admitted to hospital due to adverse drug reactions is 'one in three'. The Independent
Meningitis jabs for all under-11s to be debated by MPs as petition hits over 700k
Meningitis jabs for all under-11s to be debated by MPs as petition hits over 700k Public support for the campaign rocketed after parents shared heart-breaking photographs of two-year-old Faye Burdett, from Kent, who died of the infection on Valentine's Day. The Daily Mail
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Smart care: how Google's DeepMind is working with NHS hospitals
Smart care: how Google's DeepMind is working with NHS hospitals A smartphone app piloted by the NHS could improve communication between hospital staff and help patients get vital care faster
Google DeepMind, the tech giant’s London-based company most famous for its groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence, is developing a software in partnership with NHS hospitals to alert staff to patients at risk of deterioration and death through kidney failure.
The technology, which is run through a smartphone app, has the support of Lord Darzi, the surgeon and former health minister in the Blair government who is director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London.
Everybody has a smartphone ... but the people saving lives every day are hampered by using desktop computers Continue reading... The Guardian
Google DeepMind, the tech giant’s London-based company most famous for its groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence, is developing a software in partnership with NHS hospitals to alert staff to patients at risk of deterioration and death through kidney failure.
The technology, which is run through a smartphone app, has the support of Lord Darzi, the surgeon and former health minister in the Blair government who is director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London.
Everybody has a smartphone ... but the people saving lives every day are hampered by using desktop computers Continue reading... The Guardian
‘Mental health is an easy target’ says head of one of largest UK trusts
‘Mental health is an easy target’ says head of one of largest UK trusts Claire Murdoch of Central and North West London NHS trust argues that adequately funded mental health services are an essential part of taking pressure off acute hospitals.
By any standard, last week was a big one for mental health. David Cameron was promising a “mental health revolution” and proclaiming a £1bn annual boost for services by 2020, and there was the long-anticipated report from an independent taskforce for NHS England that lays bare the chronically underfunded state of mental health services and detailed recommendations for improvements.
Claire Murdoch, the chief executive of Central and North West London NHS foundation trust was keenly following developments. Her trust, one of the largest in the UK, delivers 300 different health services for people with a range of physical and mental health needs across 150 sites. She says the report is “hugely significant”.
It makes economic sense to invest in people’s mental health Continue reading... The Guardian
By any standard, last week was a big one for mental health. David Cameron was promising a “mental health revolution” and proclaiming a £1bn annual boost for services by 2020, and there was the long-anticipated report from an independent taskforce for NHS England that lays bare the chronically underfunded state of mental health services and detailed recommendations for improvements.
Claire Murdoch, the chief executive of Central and North West London NHS foundation trust was keenly following developments. Her trust, one of the largest in the UK, delivers 300 different health services for people with a range of physical and mental health needs across 150 sites. She says the report is “hugely significant”.
It makes economic sense to invest in people’s mental health Continue reading... The Guardian
What's next for the nursing profession?
What's next for the nursing profession? Shifting care in the NHS from hospitals to homes could bring major changes to the way nurses work.
As 2016 takes hold, what will the year bring for nurses? It’s going to be a time of fresh challenges – this spring sees the introduction of professional revalidation with nurses being required to prove they are fit to practise. The government’s consultation on its controversial decision, announced in last autumn’s spending review, to abolish student nurse bursaries and replace them with loans, is also due to get underway. Its starting point will be how the new system will work – there will be no debate on whether bursaries should have been scrapped in the first place.
But the next 12 months also heralds new opportunities for the profession. Nurses are already breaking ground and playing a pivotal role in the vanguard sites – those pilot projects set up across the NHS that are testing new ways of working to deliver the government’s vision for the NHS in England, as outlined in the Five Year Forward View. Continue reading... The Guardian
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As 2016 takes hold, what will the year bring for nurses? It’s going to be a time of fresh challenges – this spring sees the introduction of professional revalidation with nurses being required to prove they are fit to practise. The government’s consultation on its controversial decision, announced in last autumn’s spending review, to abolish student nurse bursaries and replace them with loans, is also due to get underway. Its starting point will be how the new system will work – there will be no debate on whether bursaries should have been scrapped in the first place.
But the next 12 months also heralds new opportunities for the profession. Nurses are already breaking ground and playing a pivotal role in the vanguard sites – those pilot projects set up across the NHS that are testing new ways of working to deliver the government’s vision for the NHS in England, as outlined in the Five Year Forward View. Continue reading... The Guardian
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- The role of nursing is changing – and demand is greater than ever The Guardian
- Why I love my nursing job: a personal look at the profession The Guardian
- Nurses will be key to the success of NHS seven-day healthcare The Guardian
- Mental health nurse: 'it's all about the relationship with our patients' The Guardian
- What it takes to pursue a career in mental health nursing The Guardian
- 'Pillars of the community': why the NHS needs more district nurses The Guardian
- The ward manager: 'You don't go into nursing for the money' The Guardian
- The NHS is desperately short of nurses. Could a new role hold the answer? The Guardian
- Acute nursing: 'You never know what's going to come through your door' The Guardian
Zika crisis to 'get worse before it gets better', warns WHO chief
Zika crisis to 'get worse before it gets better', warns WHO chief World Health chief Margaret Chan says virus is a "bigger menace" than any other recent major health scare in terms of its geographical spread. The Daily Telegraph
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Wednesday 24 February 2016
People in Northamptonshire urged to use right service as pressure mounts
People in Northamptonshire urged to use right service as pressure mounts People across Northamptonshire are being urged to use the right NHS service for their symptoms and to keep the hospital free for the seriously ill or injured.
Health leaders at NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) issue the public message following the sustained high number of attendances and admissions at the county's A&E departments during the busy winter period.
Both hospitals continue to see large numbers of people who are acutely ill and need high priority hospital care. As a result, teams across the counties hospitals are under significant pressure in meeting this demand.
Northampton General Hospital is asking anyone planning to visit the hospital to stay away if they or their family members have flu or flu-like symptoms. Northants Herald and Post
Health leaders at NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) issue the public message following the sustained high number of attendances and admissions at the county's A&E departments during the busy winter period.
Both hospitals continue to see large numbers of people who are acutely ill and need high priority hospital care. As a result, teams across the counties hospitals are under significant pressure in meeting this demand.
Northampton General Hospital is asking anyone planning to visit the hospital to stay away if they or their family members have flu or flu-like symptoms. Northants Herald and Post
What steps can be taken towards quality improvement in the NHS?
What steps can be taken towards quality improvement in the NHS? The NHS in England faces the immense challenge of bringing about improvements in patient care at a time of growing financial and workload pressures.
In a new report, we argue that the NHS urgently needs to adopt a quality improvement strategy if it is to rise to this challenge. All NHS organisations need to build in-house capacity for quality improvement and to commit time and resources to acquiring the necessary capabilities. They should do so by learning from the experience in trusts such as Salford, Sheffield and Wigan where quality improvement is well established. The King's Fund
In a new report, we argue that the NHS urgently needs to adopt a quality improvement strategy if it is to rise to this challenge. All NHS organisations need to build in-house capacity for quality improvement and to commit time and resources to acquiring the necessary capabilities. They should do so by learning from the experience in trusts such as Salford, Sheffield and Wigan where quality improvement is well established. The King's Fund
2015 NHS Staff Survey results show progress despite pressures
2015 NHS Staff Survey results show progress despite pressures Find out more about the 2015 NHS Staff Survey and access the results. NHS Employers
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The right medicine: improving care in care homes
The right medicine: improving care in care homes This report reviews the current available evidence to investigate what the role of pharmacists should be in care homes. It argues that pharmacists could have a significant role in reducing the use of unnecessary and harmful medicines; improving end of life care; and providing more co-ordinated care. Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Hunt's 6,000 deaths 'were unverified'
Hunt's 6,000 deaths 'were unverified' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt used unverified and unpublished study data to back his policy plans for a seven-day NHS, the BBC understands. BBC News
Junior doctors set to hold more strikes
Junior doctors set to hold more strikes BMA announces three 48-hour strikes and that it will seek judicial review over junior doctors' contracts. BBC News
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- Junior doctors: fight against imposition begins British Medical Association
- Junior doctor contract negotiations Department of Health
- BMA announces further industrial action NHS Employers
- Government 'wrong' in junior doctors row BBC News
- Junior doctors announce THREE 48-hour strikes and to fight imposed contract with a judicial review The Daily Mail
- Junior doctors' contracts: New wave of 48-hour strikes confirmed The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors plan three 48-hour strikes as BMA demands contract judicial review GP Online
- Junior doctors announce three 48-hour strikes The Guardian
- Junior doctors launch legal challenge to Jeremy Hunt's decision to impose new contract The Independent
- Junior doctors strikes: BMA announces three new 48-hour walkouts over contract The Independent
GP trainee recruitment target likely to be missed, NHS officials admit
GP trainee recruitment target likely to be missed, NHS officials admit Health Education England (HEE) is 'likely' to miss its GP trainee recruitment target, board papers reveal, despite assurances to MPs in December that the government's goal of adding 5,000 GPs to the workforce by 2020 would be met. GP Online
How Big Pharma greed is killing tens of thousands around the world: Patients are over-medicated and often given profitable drugs with 'little proven benefits,' leading doctors warn
How Big Pharma greed is killing tens of thousands around the world: Patients are over-medicated and often given profitable drugs with 'little proven benefits,' leading doctors warn The group of eminent UK experts - including the Queen's former doctor - have warned that many medicines - such as statins - are less effective than thought. The Daily Mail
Bursary reform is good for students, nurses and the NHS
Bursary reform is good for students, nurses and the NHS Extending student finance reforms will create up to 10,000 more health degree places, says Ben Gummer, under-secretary of state for health
Ordinarily, it is not possible to hear anything in the chamber of the House of Commons, other than the voices of those present. But back in 2010, the sound of the protest in Parliament Squarecould be heard several times during the debate on reform of student finance. The sound and fury made it all the more clear just how important it was that we got the decision right.
Most politicians want to widen opportunity, even if sometimes we disagree on how to do it. The arguments on either side back then were earnestly made. What we can now see, with the benefit of four years’ data, is that those who proposed reform have been proved comprehensively right. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Ordinarily, it is not possible to hear anything in the chamber of the House of Commons, other than the voices of those present. But back in 2010, the sound of the protest in Parliament Squarecould be heard several times during the debate on reform of student finance. The sound and fury made it all the more clear just how important it was that we got the decision right.
Most politicians want to widen opportunity, even if sometimes we disagree on how to do it. The arguments on either side back then were earnestly made. What we can now see, with the benefit of four years’ data, is that those who proposed reform have been proved comprehensively right. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Involving the public is crucial for NHS success
Involving the public is crucial for NHS success Engaging with the people who pay for and use healthcare services is vital to improve quality and efficiency.
David Bennett, the outgoing chief executive of healthcare regulator Monitor said in a recent interview that he “would get rid of the idea of foundation trusts having [public] membership”. Instead, he argued that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should take on an accountability role. Continue reading... The Guardian
David Bennett, the outgoing chief executive of healthcare regulator Monitor said in a recent interview that he “would get rid of the idea of foundation trusts having [public] membership”. Instead, he argued that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should take on an accountability role. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS is our national religion – but there’s no miracle funding cure | Frank Field
The NHS is our national religion – but there’s no miracle funding cure | Frank Field It’s time for a Bevan-type reform of health finances – the public would make greater NI contributions into a ringfenced mutual organisation to secure the NHS’s future.
The NHS is the one postwar act to which the public are committed. It has become, in Nigel Lawson’s indicative phrase, Britain’s national religion. That is why politicians invariably play safe, knowing that the gods can most easily be assuaged with offerings of money. Yet the gods are getting more and more demanding and we live in an age of public austerity.
It must be doubted if the government believes its own rhetoric on safeguarding the NHS budget in real terms. NHS inflation is higher than the government calculates, the older we get as a nation the greater our health demands, and modern technology feeds that demand. So is the solution simply more money? The answer is an emphatic “yes”, but in assuaging the gods we need to change fundamentally the politics of health. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS is the one postwar act to which the public are committed. It has become, in Nigel Lawson’s indicative phrase, Britain’s national religion. That is why politicians invariably play safe, knowing that the gods can most easily be assuaged with offerings of money. Yet the gods are getting more and more demanding and we live in an age of public austerity.
It must be doubted if the government believes its own rhetoric on safeguarding the NHS budget in real terms. NHS inflation is higher than the government calculates, the older we get as a nation the greater our health demands, and modern technology feeds that demand. So is the solution simply more money? The answer is an emphatic “yes”, but in assuaging the gods we need to change fundamentally the politics of health. Continue reading... The Guardian
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Research and analysis: Northamptonshire: diabetic eye screening programme
Research and analysis: Northamptonshire: diabetic eye screening programme This document sets out observations and recommendations from the quality assurance (QA) visit to Northamptonshire. Public Health England
Making it safer to cross professional boundaries
Making it safer to cross professional boundaries The evidence is clear: NHS organisations that are enthusiastic about co-operation and team-working, both within and across boundaries, are more likely to deliver compassionate, high-quality care. Successful teams take the time to stop and ask themselves what they could change and do better. But few teams in the NHS – at all levels – take the time to reflect. With the pressure they are under, it’s simply seen as a luxury.
However we believe it’s not a luxury but an essential, basic requirement of high-performing teams – especially when team members come from very different professional backgrounds.
A new toolkit, commissioned by NHS Future-Focused Finance and developed by The King’s Fund, aims to help address this by supporting collaboration between finance and clinical staff.
However we believe it’s not a luxury but an essential, basic requirement of high-performing teams – especially when team members come from very different professional backgrounds.
A new toolkit, commissioned by NHS Future-Focused Finance and developed by The King’s Fund, aims to help address this by supporting collaboration between finance and clinical staff.
Maternity review sets bold plan for safer, more personal services
Maternity review sets bold plan for safer, more personal services Maternity services in England must become safer, more personalised, kinder, professional and more family-friendly.
That’s the vision of the National Maternity Review, which publishes its recommendations for how services should change over the next five years.
The NHS England commissioned review – led by independent experts and chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege – sets out wide-ranging proposals designed to make care safer and give women greater control and more choices. NHS England
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That’s the vision of the National Maternity Review, which publishes its recommendations for how services should change over the next five years.
The NHS England commissioned review – led by independent experts and chaired by Baroness Julia Cumberlege – sets out wide-ranging proposals designed to make care safer and give women greater control and more choices. NHS England
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Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution The report starkly sets out the dangerous impact air pollution is currently having on our nation’s health. Each year in the UK, around 40,000 deaths are attributable to exposure to outdoor air pollution which plays a role in many of the major health challenges of our day. It has been linked to cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and changes linked to dementia. The health problems resulting from exposure to air pollution have a high cost to people who suffer from illness and premature death, to our health services and to business. In the UK, these costs add up to more than £20 billion every year.
The report also highlights the often overlooked section of our environment - that of indoor space. Factors such as, kitchen products, faulty boilers, open fires, fly sprays and air fresheners, all of which can cause poor air quality in our homes, workspaces and schools. Royal College of Physicians
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The report also highlights the often overlooked section of our environment - that of indoor space. Factors such as, kitchen products, faulty boilers, open fires, fly sprays and air fresheners, all of which can cause poor air quality in our homes, workspaces and schools. Royal College of Physicians
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New Winterbourne View report reflects on progress made and challenges ahead
New Winterbourne View report reflects on progress made and challenges ahead Sir Stephen Bubb, tasked with leading the work into establishing stronger safeguards and support for adults with learning difficulties after the scandal of abuse at Winterbourne View, has published his latest and final report: Time for change: the challenge ahead.
In the report, commissioned by NHS England, Sir Stephen acknowledges the progress made in the last year by the transforming care programme, but speaks of significant challenges ahead and expresses views on how best to meet them. Department of Health
In the report, commissioned by NHS England, Sir Stephen acknowledges the progress made in the last year by the transforming care programme, but speaks of significant challenges ahead and expresses views on how best to meet them. Department of Health
Tax rises 'will not cover' care costs
Tax rises 'will not cover' care costs Planned council tax rises will not bring in enough money to cover the rising cost of social care, local authorities in England warn. BBC News
Junior doctors are planning the first full walkout in the history of the NHS
Junior doctors are planning the first full walkout in the history of the NHS Junior doctors are preparing to stage the first full walkout in the history of the NHS.
According to leaked plans drawn up by the BMA, the medical union’s Junior Doctor Committee is planning a string of crippling strikes. Metro
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According to leaked plans drawn up by the BMA, the medical union’s Junior Doctor Committee is planning a string of crippling strikes. Metro
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- Junior doctor contract negotiations British Medical Association
- Junior doctors 'planning a full NHS strike': Staff could escalate action to force Government to 'put their money where their mouth is' over new contracts The Daily Mail
- BMA draws up plans for string of crippling NHS strikes The Daily Telegraph
- Doctors’ union cannot justify any more strikes The Express
- Further junior doctor strikes 'inevitable' as BMA considers escalation GP Online
- Junior Doctors Are Being Put Into The Firing Line Because of Short-Sighted Government Health Policy The Huffington Post
- Junior doctors: Escalating strike action may include 'first ever full walkout' The Independent
European advice launched on heart failure
European advice launched on heart failure Acute heart failure carries a higher risk of death than heart attack, but care lags 30 years behind.
This is the conclusion, of the first European advice on emergency care for patients with acute heart failure published this week. OnMedica
This is the conclusion, of the first European advice on emergency care for patients with acute heart failure published this week. OnMedica
Homeopathy 'quackery' should be cut from NHS, campaigners urge after study finds it ineffective
Homeopathy 'quackery' should be cut from NHS, campaigners urge after study finds it ineffective Campaigners have welcomed the latest study to show that homeopathy "treatments" are no more effective than a placebo, and called for the technique to be cut from the NHS. The NHS spends £5 million a year on homeopathy. The Independent
North London hospital tells patients in A&E to 'go home unless their condition is life-threatening'
North London hospital tells patients in A&E to 'go home unless their condition is life-threatening' North Middlesex Hospital in Edmonton says it received 450 admissions in just one Friday night shift. The Independent
FGM is 'akin to male circumcision, breast implants and designer vagina ops': Gynecologists argue genital 'nicks' that don't harm girls should be legalized
FGM is 'akin to male circumcision, breast implants and designer vagina ops': Gynecologists argue genital 'nicks' that don't harm girls should be legalized Milder forms of female genital mutilation should be classified in the same way as male circumcision and breast implants to stop it being 'demonised,' a controversial new report has claimed.
Changes to the way female genital mutilation is defined and viewed are needed to protect young women from more serious forms of cutting, a team of experts argued.
The gynaecologists suggest a small surgical 'nick' - a minimal procedure they compare to male circumcision - that slightly changes the look of a young woman's external genitalia should be legally allowed.
In a paper published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, they say mild forms are no worse than cosmetic procedures such as breast implants or 'designer vaginas' western women pay for.
But the experts stress the procedure should not alter the function or the sensory capacity of a young woman's genitalia. The Daily Mail
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Changes to the way female genital mutilation is defined and viewed are needed to protect young women from more serious forms of cutting, a team of experts argued.
The gynaecologists suggest a small surgical 'nick' - a minimal procedure they compare to male circumcision - that slightly changes the look of a young woman's external genitalia should be legally allowed.
In a paper published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, they say mild forms are no worse than cosmetic procedures such as breast implants or 'designer vaginas' western women pay for.
But the experts stress the procedure should not alter the function or the sensory capacity of a young woman's genitalia. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Female genital alteration: a compromise solution Journal of Medical Ethics
- Cutting slack and cutting corners: an ethical and pragmatic response to Arora and Jacobs’ Female genital alteration: a compromise solution’ Journal of Medical Ethics
- Not all cultural traditions deserve respect Journal of Medical Ethics
- Harm reduction and female genital alteration: a response to the commentaries Journal of Medical Ethics
- Female genital mutilation: multiple practices, multiple wrongs (editorial) Journal of Medical Ethics
- Legalise genital ‘nicks’ argue two US doctors OnMedica
Campaign to raise awareness of sepsis 'could save 14,000 lives a year'
Campaign to raise awareness of sepsis 'could save 14,000 lives a year' Thousands of lives could be saved each year if more was done to combat sepsis, a charity has said. The UK Sepsis Trust said 14,000 lives could be saved across the UK each year. The Daily Mail
The spirit of healthcare: the NHS's £25m brigade of chaplains
The spirit of healthcare: the NHS's £25m brigade of chaplains Nowadays they can come from any religion or none, but some say health service money is misspent on the 900-strong force.
The NHS spends millions each year on employing more than 900 hospital chaplains to provide religious and spiritual care to patients even though the proportion of the population defining itself as non-religious is growing.
There were 916 NHS chaplaincy posts in 2015, according to new data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The number has fallen almost 20% in the past five years, down from 1,107 in 2010. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS spends millions each year on employing more than 900 hospital chaplains to provide religious and spiritual care to patients even though the proportion of the population defining itself as non-religious is growing.
There were 916 NHS chaplaincy posts in 2015, according to new data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The number has fallen almost 20% in the past five years, down from 1,107 in 2010. Continue reading... The Guardian
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MPs 'to debate meningitis B vaccine within weeks'
MPs 'to debate meningitis B vaccine within weeks' Members of Commons committee tasked with discussing record-breaking petition acknowledge that subject cannot be ignored. The Daily Telegraph
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Monday 22 February 2016
NHS England, Government and BMA agree new GP contract for 2016/17
NHS England, Government and BMA agree new GP contract for 2016/17 NHS England, the Government, and the British Medical Association’s General Practitioners Committee have reached agreement on changes to the GP contract in England for 2016/17, to take effect from 1 April 2016.
The new contract will see an investment of £220 million for 2016/17 – part of this will provide a pay uplift of one per cent for GPs.
This agreement is the start of a process for investment, support and reform in general practice which both sides are working together to deliver, with a bigger package due to be announced soon. NHS England
The new contract will see an investment of £220 million for 2016/17 – part of this will provide a pay uplift of one per cent for GPs.
This agreement is the start of a process for investment, support and reform in general practice which both sides are working together to deliver, with a bigger package due to be announced soon. NHS England
Action urged on learning disability care
Action urged on learning disability care The government's "failure" to create a charter of rights for people with learning disabilities means a new commissioner is needed to "protect and promote" them, a report says. BBC News
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Transgender consultation-wait 'too long'
Transgender consultation-wait 'too long' Transgender people face "unacceptably long" waits for an initial consultation with the NHS before a further three-year wait for surgery. BBC News
NHS could be part-privatised if UK and EU agree controversial TTIP trade deal, expert warns
NHS could be part-privatised if UK and EU agree controversial TTIP trade deal, expert warns The Government would not be able to make key decisions about the NHS because ministers would be constrained by the trade deal, the report warns. The Independent
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Junior doctors furious after new 'example' rotas show them working three weekends in a row
Junior doctors furious after new 'example' rotas show them working three weekends in a row Jeremy Hunt has claimed they would never have to work 'consecutive weekends' under the new contract. The Independent
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The 340 labour ward blunders EVERY DAY from doctors to midwives
The 340 labour ward blunders EVERY DAY from doctors to midwives Most errors are classed as ‘near misses’ or low injury but some have tragic consequences with 151 women and newborns dying on maternity wards across the UK last year, figures reveal. The Daily Mail
Petition calling for meningitis B vaccine to be given to all children under 11 becomes the most signed in Downing Street history
Petition calling for meningitis B vaccine to be given to all children under 11 becomes the most signed in Downing Street history Nearly 600,000 people signed the document on the Parliament website following the death of two-year-old Faye Burdett and her parents’ heartbreaking plea for all children to be vaccinated. The Daily Mail
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- Mother releases images of final moments of son who died from meningitis The Daily Telegraph
- Meningitis B petition now most signed in parliamentary history The Guardian
- Meningitis B: Petition calling for vaccine breaks Government website record The Independent
- Meningitis: Private stocks of vaccine running out amid unprecedented demand The Independent
Why ARE health chiefs denying lung cancer patients the wonder drug that brought this woman back from the brink?
Why ARE health chiefs denying lung cancer patients the wonder drug that brought this woman back from the brink? Three years ago, Demi Pestell, from Northampton, former diving instructor from Northampton was effectively handed a death sentence when doctors warned she had just weeks to live. The Daily Mail
NHS deficit climbs to £2.3bn
NHS deficit climbs to £2.3bn Figures for first nine months of financial year come as regulators insist efforts to control rising costs are beginning to have an impact
The NHS deficit in England rose to nearly £2.3bn in the first nine months of the financial year, official figures have confirmed.
Following a sharp rise on the £1.6bn reported by trusts after six months, regulators insisted efforts to get a grip on rising costs were beginning to have an impact. They added, however, that pressures created by rising demands for care, high costs and problems with being able to discharge medically fit patients to suitable care outside hospital remained. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS deficit in England rose to nearly £2.3bn in the first nine months of the financial year, official figures have confirmed.
Following a sharp rise on the £1.6bn reported by trusts after six months, regulators insisted efforts to get a grip on rising costs were beginning to have an impact. They added, however, that pressures created by rising demands for care, high costs and problems with being able to discharge medically fit patients to suitable care outside hospital remained. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Funding is welcome, but root causes of mental illness are growing
Funding is welcome, but root causes of mental illness are growing Rise in rough sleepers, children living with an alcoholic parent and prison suicides show that more money is just the start.
The impression is being created of unstoppable momentum towards expansion and improvement of mental health services. Reports, cash and pledges of action are piling up. But it is hard to identify what will change and from where the money will come. Meanwhile, the problems that give rise to mental illnesses are growing.
Hitting hyperbolic heights this week, NHS England promised “the biggest transformation of mental health care across the NHS in a generation”. In the wake of the report (pdf) by the Mental Health Taskforce, led by Mind chief executive Paul Farmer, NHS England pledged to help millions more people and invest more than £1bn a year by 2020–21. Continue reading... The Guardian
The impression is being created of unstoppable momentum towards expansion and improvement of mental health services. Reports, cash and pledges of action are piling up. But it is hard to identify what will change and from where the money will come. Meanwhile, the problems that give rise to mental illnesses are growing.
Hitting hyperbolic heights this week, NHS England promised “the biggest transformation of mental health care across the NHS in a generation”. In the wake of the report (pdf) by the Mental Health Taskforce, led by Mind chief executive Paul Farmer, NHS England pledged to help millions more people and invest more than £1bn a year by 2020–21. Continue reading... The Guardian
Europe's framework for clinical trials is good news for UK scientists and patients
Europe's framework for clinical trials is good news for UK scientists and patients Ignore the propaganda of the leave campaigns: the real story of the clinical trials directive is one of UK scientists working with the EU to benefit UK patients.
As the EU referendum approaches, anyone looking to the leave campaigns for guidance on how EU membership affects UK science will find repeated references to the evils of the clinical trials directive. The message is that the EU “is hostile to the networks of scientists and entrepreneurs that the world needs to solve problems (e.g. the Single Market’s disastrous Clinical Trials Directive).”
Can the EU really be trying to prevent researchers from developing vital new medicines? If true, it would be shocking. But what do scientists themselves think? And what is the real story with clinical trials in Europe? Continue reading... The Guardian
As the EU referendum approaches, anyone looking to the leave campaigns for guidance on how EU membership affects UK science will find repeated references to the evils of the clinical trials directive. The message is that the EU “is hostile to the networks of scientists and entrepreneurs that the world needs to solve problems (e.g. the Single Market’s disastrous Clinical Trials Directive).”
Can the EU really be trying to prevent researchers from developing vital new medicines? If true, it would be shocking. But what do scientists themselves think? And what is the real story with clinical trials in Europe? Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS 111 service might be unfit to diagnose children, says Royal College of Paediatricians president
NHS 111 service might be unfit to diagnose children, says Royal College of Paediatricians president Professor Neena Modi says this is question mark over whether or 111 call handlers - who are not medically trained - should be carrying out assessments. The Daily Telegraph
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Friday 19 February 2016
Swingeing £84m cuts to be scaled back to £65m at Northamptonshire County Council
Swingeing £84m cuts to be scaled back to £65m at Northamptonshire County Council Sweeping plans to cut £84 million from Northamptonshire County Council’s budget next year have been scaled back by about £20 million following a public outcry. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Where will my child go? ask parents after Northampton disability club is axed after county council cutbacks
Where will my child go? ask parents after Northampton disability club is axed after county council cutbacks A Saturday club that provides parents of disabled children in Northampton a few precious hours respite is to be axed as part of service cuts. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Delivering the benefits of digital health care
Delivering the benefits of digital health care This report sets out the possibilities to transform health care offered by digital technologies, with insight about how to grasp those possibilities and benefits from those furthest on in their digital journey. The Nuffield Trust
Developing a Framework for Evaluating the Patient Engagement, Quality, and Safety of Mobile Health Applications
Developing a Framework for Evaluating the Patient Engagement, Quality, and Safety of Mobile Health Applications This issue brief describes criteria for evaluating mobile apps for high-need, high-cost populations based on their potential to improve patient engagement and on their quality and safety. The authors then discuss results of their efforts to test and refine those criteria using a sample of apps available through the Apple iOS and Android app stores. The Commonwealth Fund
Person-centred care in Europe: a cross-country comparison of health system performance, strategies and structures
Person-centred care in Europe: a cross-country comparison of health system performance, strategies and structures The document provides an overview of the different approaches taken to providing quality healthcare across Europe. It looks specifically at the person-centred care interpretations and strategies taken in England, Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. It aims to advance understanding of the ways in which different national services have chosen to focus on the needs of their users and have adapted to address financial pressures and efficiency challenges. The Picker Institute Europe
New blood test to spot heart conditions
New blood test to spot heart conditions A new blood test could help diagnose people with inherited heart conditions, the British Heart Foundation says. BBC News
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- Development of a Comprehensive Sequencing Assay for Inherited Cardiac Condition Genes (open access) Journal of Cardiovascular Translational research
Sugar tax 'would cut future obesity'
Sugar tax 'would cut future obesity' A 20% tax on sugary drinks in the UK would prevent 3.7 million people becoming obese over the next decade, a report predicts. BBC News
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VIDEO: 'Racism was rife in mental health system'
VIDEO: 'Racism was rife in mental health system' One of the most comprehensive studies of mental health care in England ever conducted has sharply criticised provision for men of African and Caribbean heritage. BBC News
Scotland sets out health and social care blueprint for next decade
Scotland sets out health and social care blueprint for next decade The Scottish government has set out a blueprint for the future of health and social care services over the next 10 to 15 years.
The National Clinical Strategy aims to deliver a range of improvements and reforms to modernise the way care is provided, taking account of the nation’s ageing population, the shift to more multidisciplinary working, and rapid advances in research and technology. OnMedica
The National Clinical Strategy aims to deliver a range of improvements and reforms to modernise the way care is provided, taking account of the nation’s ageing population, the shift to more multidisciplinary working, and rapid advances in research and technology. OnMedica
Number Of Children Waiting In A&E With Mental Health Problems Soars, New Figures Show
Number Of Children Waiting In A&E With Mental Health Problems Soars, New Figures Show The number of children with mental health problems forced to spend long hours in A&E has soared under the Tory-led Government, new figures reveal.
The total number of cases of under-18s reporting to NHS Accident and Emergency units with 'psychiatric conditions' – and having to wait more than the Government’s target of four hours - has nearly trebled since David Cameron came to power in 2010.
The number was 769 in 2010/11, but has leapt to 2,197 in 2014/15- an increase of 185.7% - according to new Parliamentary answers by ministers. The Huffington Post
The total number of cases of under-18s reporting to NHS Accident and Emergency units with 'psychiatric conditions' – and having to wait more than the Government’s target of four hours - has nearly trebled since David Cameron came to power in 2010.
The number was 769 in 2010/11, but has leapt to 2,197 in 2014/15- an increase of 185.7% - according to new Parliamentary answers by ministers. The Huffington Post
E-cig revolution? Only 1 in 6 smokers has converted
E-cig revolution? Only 1 in 6 smokers has converted 78% of current smokers have either used e-cigs and disliked them, or never want to try them. The Independent
Doctors warn new contract will lead to worse outcomes for cancer patients
Doctors warn new contract will lead to worse outcomes for cancer patients More than 470 doctors have written to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, about the negative effects new terms will have on cancer care in England.
More than 470 cancer doctors have written to Jeremy Hunt to say imposing a new contract will have “negative effects” on cancer care in England.
The letter, which has been signed by consultants and junior doctors working in oncology, said the health secretary’s decision to impose a contract would only damage the recruitment of cancer doctors and would do nothing to retain doctors already in the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian
More than 470 cancer doctors have written to Jeremy Hunt to say imposing a new contract will have “negative effects” on cancer care in England.
The letter, which has been signed by consultants and junior doctors working in oncology, said the health secretary’s decision to impose a contract would only damage the recruitment of cancer doctors and would do nothing to retain doctors already in the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian
An NHS tax? Osborne won’t like it, but the public will
An NHS tax? Osborne won’t like it, but the public will Converting national insurance into a tax for health and social care – which cannot be treated separately – would be the best way of funding the NHS
The NHS is one of our most cherished institutions. The Commonwealth Fund, a private American foundation that supports independent research on health, judged it to be overall the best, and easily the best value for money, of any national system of healthcare. Yet today it faces an existential crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS is one of our most cherished institutions. The Commonwealth Fund, a private American foundation that supports independent research on health, judged it to be overall the best, and easily the best value for money, of any national system of healthcare. Yet today it faces an existential crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian
Leicester hospital in swine flu outbreak as 14 cancer patients diagnosed with illness
Leicester hospital in swine flu outbreak as 14 cancer patients diagnosed with illness Affected patients at Leicester Royal Infirmary put into isolation and given antiviral drugs as hospital wards they were in are closed. The Daily Telegraph
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Thursday 18 February 2016
Northampton parents call for change in the law after being denied independent inquest as baby son was ruled stillborn
Northampton parents call for change in the law after being denied independent inquest as baby son was ruled stillborn A couple from Northampton were forced to sue a hospital for negligence over the death of their son so the tragedy could be investigated independently. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
NHS trusts' deficit estimated at £2.3 billion as NHS financial crisis deepens
NHS trusts' deficit estimated at £2.3 billion as NHS financial crisis deepens NHS trusts are forecasting an end-of-year net deficit of around £2.3 billion finds the latest quarterly monitoring report from The King’s Fund. The estimate, based on survey responses from 83 trusts, comes as NHS national bodies are imposing stringent financial controls in an effort to reduce the deficit to £1.8 billion by the end of the financial year. This underlines the risk that the Department of Health will breach parliamentary protocol by overspending its budget.
The regular survey of NHS finance directors carried out for the report also highlights increasing concerns about quality of care as the financial crisis deepens. For the first time since the survey began in 2011, more than half of trust finance directors (53 per cent) said that quality of care in their local area has worsened in the past year. Nearly as many (48 per cent) clinical commissioning group finance leads agreed. The King's Fund
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The regular survey of NHS finance directors carried out for the report also highlights increasing concerns about quality of care as the financial crisis deepens. For the first time since the survey began in 2011, more than half of trust finance directors (53 per cent) said that quality of care in their local area has worsened in the past year. Nearly as many (48 per cent) clinical commissioning group finance leads agreed. The King's Fund
See also:
- The story behind the figures: what NHS finance directors are telling us The King's Fund
- Health service finances 'getting worse' BBC News
- NHS finance directors warn care deteriorating as budgets are squeezed The Independent
- NHS: General practice also suffering from cash crisis, experts argue The Independent
- NHS providing poorer care as funding crisis deepens, says survey The Guardian
- General practice key to survival of NHS, say experts OnMedica
Will the Mental Health Taskforce report make it off the shelves?
Will the Mental Health Taskforce report make it off the shelves? Dubbed ‘The five year forward view for mental health’, the much-awaited report from the independent Mental Health Taskforce chaired by Paul Farmer is an important document.
It gives an honest diagnosis of current shortcomings in mental health care in England, and a detailed analysis of how best to target available resources in the future. It follows hot on the heels of last week’s report from the Commission on Acute Adult Psychiatric Care, which gave a similarly frank assessment of the need for improvement. The King's Fund
It gives an honest diagnosis of current shortcomings in mental health care in England, and a detailed analysis of how best to target available resources in the future. It follows hot on the heels of last week’s report from the Commission on Acute Adult Psychiatric Care, which gave a similarly frank assessment of the need for improvement. The King's Fund
At the heart of health: realising the value of people and communities
At the heart of health: realising the value of people and communities This report explores the value of people and communities at the heart of health, in support of the NHS Five Year Forward View vision to develop a new relationship with people and communities. It finds that person- and community-centred approaches for health and wellbeing have potential to improve outcomes for individuals, support the development of strong and resilient communities and, over time, help reduce demand on formal health and social care services. Nesta
NHS delivers ambitious IT project - believed to be the biggest of its kind
NHS delivers ambitious IT project - believed to be the biggest of its kind An NHS IT project has successfully completed the final phase of its plan to move the entire technological backbone of the NHS from a private company to in-house, public sector management. Health and Social Care Information Centre
NHS 'never events' total a 'disgrace'
NHS 'never events' total a 'disgrace' More than 1,000 NHS patients in the past four years have suffered from medical mistakes so serious they should never happen, according to analysis by the Press Association. BBC News
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- Scalpels left inside bodies, wrong organs removed and patients falling out of windows: The 1,200 victims of serious NHS blunders in the past year The Daily Mail
- Testicle removal mistake among 1,100 NHS 'never events' The Daily Telegraph
- Serious errors such as operating on wrong patient still occurring in NHS The Guardian
Mum shares photo of dead girl's meningitis
Mum shares photo of dead girl's meningitis A mother shares an image of her two-year-old daughter before her death from meningitis to campaign for vaccines to be given to all children. BBC News
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GP two-week cancer referrals need 'root and branch' overhaul, say hospital doctors
GP two-week cancer referrals need 'root and branch' overhaul, say hospital doctors The two-week wait cancer pathway is overwhelming hospitals with inappropriate referrals and delaying access to vital treatments, say surgeons who have called for an overhaul of the process. GP Online
Drug trials not reported in line with ethical and legal demands, British Medical Journal says
Drug trials not reported in line with ethical and legal demands, British Medical Journal says Less than one in three of completed clinical trials led by investigators were published within two years of completion. The Independent
The number of doctors applying to work abroad surged by 1,000 per cent on the day Jeremy Hunt imposed new contract
The number of doctors applying to work abroad surged by 1,000 per cent on the day Jeremy Hunt imposed new contract The Health Secretary has been accused of acting as a recruiting agent for Australian hospitals. The Independent
Hospital trusts threatened with cuts if they refuse to impose new contracts
Hospital trusts threatened with cuts if they refuse to impose new contracts Health Education England says implementation of contract will be key criterion for making decisions on investment in training.
The government has told hospital foundation trusts that they could lose funding for training programmes if they refuse to impose the new contract for junior doctors.
The threat comes in a letter from Health Education England, the Department of Health body responsible for education and training, to chief executives of NHS trusts in England. It states that decisions on awarding funding for training posts will hinge in part on whether a trust decided to rebel against Jeremy Hunt over the new national contract. Continue reading... The Guardian
The government has told hospital foundation trusts that they could lose funding for training programmes if they refuse to impose the new contract for junior doctors.
The threat comes in a letter from Health Education England, the Department of Health body responsible for education and training, to chief executives of NHS trusts in England. It states that decisions on awarding funding for training posts will hinge in part on whether a trust decided to rebel against Jeremy Hunt over the new national contract. Continue reading... The Guardian
Unpaid carers can't keep on plugging gaps in the NHS and social care
Unpaid carers can't keep on plugging gaps in the NHS and social care More people need care than get it, and the gap is growing. Support for family carers is vital.
The Care Act, which came into force in April 2015, for the first time puts unpaid carers on an equal footing with those they care for. So what has the impact been on the lives of carers?
Over the next few months I will be working with the Carers Trust and a team of experts by experience and professionals to try and answer that question. The Care Act: One Year On Commission will be holding hearings, calling for evidence and listening to carers of all ages. We are keen to get the views of frontline practitioners, and ask carers to complete a quick online survey.
It is family and friends, who out of love, solidarity, circumstance or duty find themselves taking on a caring role Continue reading... The Guardian
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The Care Act, which came into force in April 2015, for the first time puts unpaid carers on an equal footing with those they care for. So what has the impact been on the lives of carers?
Over the next few months I will be working with the Carers Trust and a team of experts by experience and professionals to try and answer that question. The Care Act: One Year On Commission will be holding hearings, calling for evidence and listening to carers of all ages. We are keen to get the views of frontline practitioners, and ask carers to complete a quick online survey.
It is family and friends, who out of love, solidarity, circumstance or duty find themselves taking on a caring role Continue reading... The Guardian
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Teenage boy with no arms and legs told to 'prove' his disability by Department for Work and Pensions
Teenage boy with no arms and legs told to 'prove' his disability by Department for Work and Pensions Edward Bright lost his limbs to meningitis when he was seven. The Daily Telegraph
Third of panel overseeing NHS drugs procurement being paid by pharmaceutical firms
Third of panel overseeing NHS drugs procurement being paid by pharmaceutical firms Ten senior officials on the Department of Health's Pharmaceutical Market Support Group also act as consultants to drugs companies. The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday 17 February 2016
What is happening to NHS waiting times?
What is happening to NHS waiting times? On 11 February NHS England published its Combined performance summary, which provided data on a number of key waiting times commitments. Here we take a closer look at the statistics on 18-weeks, diagnostics and A&E. What does the data tell us? The King's Fund
Information as Therapy
Information as Therapy This paper sets out sets out a 5 point plan for healthcare providers focusing on ensuring high quality health information is integrated into healthcare delivery. The paper positions good health information and the health care professional’s ability to support this as central to the two pillars of the House of Care. It highlights evidence showing that information and support improve outcomes and patient experience, and argues that not providing such ‘therapy’ must be considered sub-standard care. Captive Health
Press release: Be Clear on Cancer: ‘blood in pee’ campaign returns
Press release: Be Clear on Cancer: ‘blood in pee’ campaign returns Public Health England launches a nationwide ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign with the aim of raising awareness of a key symptom for both bladder and kidney cancers – blood in pee.
Don’t feel alone in championing person-centred care – Dr David Paynton
Don’t feel alone in championing person-centred care – Dr David Paynton NHS England is working with the Royal College of GPs to build a Network of Champions to promote person-centred care and support local organisations to implement it.
Britain Imbalanced: Why now is the time to tackle obesity in Britain
Britain Imbalanced: Why now is the time to tackle obesity in Britain This report looks at the scale and cost of obesity (economic and human) and makes a number of recommendations for tackling the problem. Policy Exchange
'Shocking' sugar levels in hot drinks
'Shocking' sugar levels in hot drinks There are "shocking" amounts of sugar in some hot drinks sold in High Street cafe chains, a campaign group warns. BBC News
WHO backs GM mosquito trials over Zika
WHO backs GM mosquito trials over Zika The World Health Organization backs trials of genetically-modified mosquitoes that could be used in the fight against the Zika virus. BBC News
Lack of co-ordination between services undermining patient care, GPs warn
Lack of co-ordination between services undermining patient care, GPs warn Four out of five UK GPs say care for one of their patients has been undermined in the past month because of a lack of co-ordination between health and care providers, a report has warned. GP Online
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See also:
- Under Pressure: What the Commonwealth Fund’s 2015 international survey of general practitioners means for the UK The Health Foundation
- RCGP response to Health Foundation report on pressures facing UK general practice Royal College of General Practitioners
New visa rules mean foreign doctors will leave the health service, says BMA
New visa rules mean foreign doctors will leave the health service, says BMA NHS already facing risk of a workforce crisis as junior doctors in England consider the new contract imposed on them. The Independent
NHS hospitals reject financial targets and set up clash with regulators
NHS hospitals reject financial targets and set up clash with regulators Hospitals were told they would have to eliminate soaring budget deficits by the end of the next financial year. The Independent
One GP covers out of hours for 900,000 patients in Cambridgeshire
One GP covers out of hours for 900,000 patients in Cambridgeshire Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, called for an urgent investigation by the health watchdog after a whistleblower told him one care firm had no GPs on call at night in some areas. The Daily Mail
How do we pay for the NHS we want?
How do we pay for the NHS we want? The NHS is under pressure like never before with junior doctors united against the introduction of a new contract. At a Guardian Live event, the Guardian’s deputy editor Paul Johnson asked an expert panel how the NHS can continue to strive for and deliver quality care
NHS England boss Simon Stevens is expected to make £20 billion in efficiency savings by 2020 and the UK is falling behind Finland and Slovenia in terms of health care spend. John Appleby of the Kings Fund warned that Britain’s status as an increasingly “low spender” might mean the NHS cannot deliver improvements in quality of care patients want.
On top of this, the aging population and a creaking social care system reeling from local council cuts are putting even more pressure on NHS resources and frontline staff. Is it time for radical rethink of how we pay for the care we expect? At a Guardian Live event in London, a panel of experts debated their vision for the future. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS England boss Simon Stevens is expected to make £20 billion in efficiency savings by 2020 and the UK is falling behind Finland and Slovenia in terms of health care spend. John Appleby of the Kings Fund warned that Britain’s status as an increasingly “low spender” might mean the NHS cannot deliver improvements in quality of care patients want.
On top of this, the aging population and a creaking social care system reeling from local council cuts are putting even more pressure on NHS resources and frontline staff. Is it time for radical rethink of how we pay for the care we expect? At a Guardian Live event in London, a panel of experts debated their vision for the future. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS’s future is digital – but not if we simply replicate poor paper processes
The NHS’s future is digital – but not if we simply replicate poor paper processes Unlocking the potential of IT to transform healthcare requires using technology to reimagine how we work and designing it to make people’s job easier
Information technology often makes things worse, rather than better, is the view held by many senior doctors. If the previous government throwing £10bn at the problem under the National Programme for IT hasn’t solved it, they argue, what would?
Having completed a substantial piece of research on the subject, which is published today, I am convinced the future of healthcare is digital, but it requires sophisticated clinical, technical and change-management expertise to realise the potential benefits. Continue reading... The Guardian
Information technology often makes things worse, rather than better, is the view held by many senior doctors. If the previous government throwing £10bn at the problem under the National Programme for IT hasn’t solved it, they argue, what would?
Having completed a substantial piece of research on the subject, which is published today, I am convinced the future of healthcare is digital, but it requires sophisticated clinical, technical and change-management expertise to realise the potential benefits. Continue reading... The Guardian
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