Antibiotic call over hospital care tubes

Antibiotic call over hospital care tubes Fewer children would develop infections in intensive care if the plastic tubes used to deliver drugs straight into their veins were coated in antibiotics, a study in The Lancet suggests. BBC News

Exclusive: NHS officials declare 20% of GP practices 'vulnerable' in parts of England

Exclusive: NHS officials declare 20% of GP practices 'vulnerable' in parts of England More than 20% of GP practices in parts of England have been identified as 'vulnerable' by NHS officials administering an emergency support fund. GP Online

Final-year medical students face delay to job offers

Final-year medical students face delay to job offers Students say UK Foundation Programme Office hold-up is a blow at a time when morale is already low due to junior doctor contracts row

Thousands of final-year medical students have been left with no idea where they will begin work after the body responsible for making job offers took a last-minute decision not to publish the results of their applications on Thursday.

Students due to hear news of where they were starting their first jobs expressed anger and frustration after the examining body admitted it would not be publishing the details on time.
Continue reading... The Guardian

Leading hospital under CQC scrutiny over high heart surgery death rate

Leading hospital under CQC scrutiny over high heart surgery death rate Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham must report surgery results weekly to inspectors, who considered closing unit

One of the country’s best-known hospitals has been told to report weekly to inspectors on the results of its adult heart operations after it was discovered too many of its patients were dying during and after treatment.

The Guardian can reveal that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham before Christmas after it was alerted to the high death rate in open-heart surgery. Calculations by the Guardian suggest that 17 people may have died over the last three years who should have survived. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The history of heart surgery failures: tragedies born of arrogance not malpractice The Guardian

How much are junior doctors paid, and why are they threatening to strike?

How much are junior doctors paid, and why are they threatening to strike? As the British Medical Association prepares for industrial action, ending in the first 'all out' strike by medics in the history of the NHS, we examine the issues.The Daily Telegraph

Sepsis diagnosis numbers hits 400 a day with over-prescription of antibiotics blamed

Sepsis diagnosis numbers hits 400 a day with over-prescription of antibiotics blamed  Experts say the rise in Sepsis is down to several reasons, including resistance to antibiotics, the aging population and more patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. The Daily Mail

Nigerian nurse worked in UK hospitals for decade before she was detected as illegal immigrant

Nigerian nurse worked in UK hospitals for decade before she was detected as illegal immigrant Medic struck off after being able to avoid detection for ten years without being questioned about immigration status or producing correct documentation. The Daily Telegraph