Tuesday 31 May 2016

VIDEO: NGH is officially a ‘baby-friendly’ hospital

VIDEO: NGH is officially a ‘baby-friendly’ hospital Northampton General Hospital has scooped a prestigious baby friendly award from Unicef. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Detailed guide: NHS providers: shared planning guidance for 2016/17 to 2020/21

Detailed guide: NHS providers: shared planning guidance for 2016/17 to 2020/21 The leading national health and care bodies in England have come together to publish shared planning guidance for the NHS, setting out the steps to help local organisations deliver a sustainable, transformed health service and improve the quality of care, wellbeing and NHS finances. Monitor

The battle for breath: the impact of lung disease in the UK

The battle for breath: the impact of lung disease in the UK The British Lung Foundation funded a three-year epidemiological research project: The respiratory health of the nation. This report presents the results. It details the overall extent and impact of lung disease across the UK. It also takes a closer look at the impact of 15 major lung conditions. This report aims to be of use to policymakers, researchers, health care providers and professionals, and the commercial health care sector, patients and patient groups to inform strategies to improve lung health and lung disease outcomes in the UK.

National Paediatric Diabetes Audit Report

National Paediatric Diabetes Audit Report This 2014/15 report, funded by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), covers care processes received as well as the outcomes for children and young people with diabetes who attended Paediatric Diabetes Units between 1st April 2014 - 31st March 2015.

The report also highlights deficiencies in care and variability in outcomes, showing that there is much still to be done to ensure that all children and young people are supported to manage their diabetes and avoid future complications. Recommendations for staff in paediatric diabetes units, commissioners and parents are made to help drive the necessary improvements in care identified. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Statistics on Smoking, England - 2016

Statistics on Smoking, England - 2016 This statistical report presents a range of information on smoking which is drawn together from a variety of sources. The report aims to present a broad picture of health issues relating to smoking in England and covers topics such as smoking prevalence, habits, behaviours and attitudes among adults and school children, smoking-related ill health and mortality and smoking-related costs. Health and Social Care Information Centre

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Care home scandal families' plea to PM

Care home scandal families' plea to PM Families of victims of the Winterbourne View scandal write to the prime minister demanding he shuts outdated care home institutions. BBC News

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Medic urges mediation over care rows

Medic urges mediation over care rows The NHS could save millions of pounds if families and doctors were offered mediation when they disagreed on a treatment, a leading consultant says. BBC News

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WHO seeks to allay Zika Olympics fears

WHO seeks to allay Zika Olympics fears The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has moved to tackle the Zika virus, amid calls for the Rio Olympics to be postponed over the outbreak. BBC News

National Obesity Forum faces backlash over 'extremely dangerous' diet advice

National Obesity Forum faces backlash over 'extremely dangerous' diet advice The National Obesity Forum is reportedly due to 'disown' the report which has been accused of making 'unsubstantiated' claims. The Independent

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NHS 'turning away children referred for mental health help'

NHS 'turning away children referred for mental health help' Research finds 28% of children referred for support in England – including some who had attempted suicide – received no help

The government’s investment in children’s mental health services has come under fire after it emerged that more than a quarter of young people referred for support in England last year were sent away without help, including some who had attempted suicide.

A review of mental health services by the children’s commissioner discovered 13% of youngsters with life-threatening conditions were not allowed specialist treatment, according to the BBC. Even those with the most serious illnesses who secured treatment faced lengthy delays, with an average waiting time of 110 days, the Times said. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Hospital transformation plans could break deadlock on restructuring

Hospital transformation plans could break deadlock on restructuring Sustainability and transformation plans are intended to force answers to difficult local questions – but care must be taken not to create a new set of problems.

The NHS is showing impressive ingenuity in finding ways round the chaos caused by Andrew Lansley’s reforms, but some of the solutions risk causing a new set of long-term problems.

From the structure and role of the regulators to the commissioning of primary care, the NHS has gradually stitched together a tapestry of organisations and processes to do what needs to be done, then backfilled the governance to ensure it stays within the law. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS GPs are paid £350million a year to look after their 'ghost patients' who have died

NHS GPs are paid £350million a year to look after their 'ghost patients' who have died There are now 2.5 million non-existent patients lurking on surgery lists and the NHS is having to fork out £141 for each one, which equates to an average of £43,750 per surgery. The Daily Mail

NHS hotline refuses to send out midwife forcing dad to deliver his own baby

NHS hotline refuses to send out midwife forcing dad to deliver his own baby Hampshire-based Labour Line service had arranged to send two midwives to Bryony Fugard but refused on the event because she lived over the border in Berkshire. The baby is how healthy. The Daily Mail

3,000 local chemists could close this year after £170m subsidy cut prompts fears for elderly and rural dwellers

3,000 local chemists could close this year after £170m subsidy cut prompts fears for elderly and rural dwellers Thousands of local chemists could close after the Government said it would withdraw a vital subsidy prompting rural and elderly campaign groups, as well MPs from all parties to warn that pensioners and vulnerable people could have to travel further to get vital medicines.

Alastair Burt, a health minister, admitted a quarter of the community chemists in England - up to 3,000 out of 12,000 pharmacies - are likely to close as a result of the Government’s decision to withdraw the £170million subsidy in the current financial year. The Daily Telegraph

Dutch hospitals building 'XL-sized' wards for growing number of obese patients

Dutch hospitals building 'XL-sized' wards for growing number of obese patients Dutch hospitals are building special “XL” rooms for obese patients, as the Netherlands’ historically slim and long population gets fatter.

A leading hospital, Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, confirmed that new rooms currently being built will be able to support patients weighing up to 36 stone.

These special rooms will be about 20 sq ft larger, with beds that are eight inches wider, and stronger toilets. The Daily Telegraph