Research and analysis: Northamptonshire: abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme

Research and analysis: Northamptonshire: abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme This document sets out observations and recommendations from the quality assurance (QA) visit to Northamptonshire General Hospital. Public Health England

Engaging local people: a guide for local areas developing Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs)

Engaging local people: a guide for local areas developing Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) This document is for teams developing STPs in each of the 44 footprint areas, and the statutory organisations which form part of them. It is intended to clarify the expectations on stakeholder involvement, in particular patient and public participation. It also covers legal duties around engagement and consultation and will be of particular interest to communication and engagement leads for STPs and footprint leaders.

Sweden’s Esther Model for Improving Care of Elderly Patients with Complex Needs

Sweden’s Esther Model for Improving Care of Elderly Patients with Complex Needs The Esther model in Jönköping County, Sweden, seeks to improve care for elderly patients with complex care needs—symbolically known as “Esthers”—by persistently focusing on what is best for them. The Commonwealth Fund

See also:

• How an Information System Can Reduce Health Risks Among the Elderly: Sweden’s Senior Alert Program The Commonwealth Fund

Number of written complaints about NHS falls by 4 per cent

Number of written complaints about NHS falls by 4 per cent  New figures show there were 198,739 written complaints received over the last financial year(2) - the equivalent of around 544 per day - which was 8,668 (4.2 per cent) fewer than in 2014-15. NHS Digital

Emergency contraceptive affected by other medicines - regulator issues new guidance

Emergency contraceptive affected by other medicines - regulator issues new guidance Women needing the emergency contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel should tell their healthcare professional if they are currently taking medicines for epilepsy and certain serious infections, or herbal remedies such as St John’s Wort as these may reduce how well the emergency contraceptive works. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Sharp rise in care delays 'piles pressure on hospitals'

Sharp rise in care delays 'piles pressure on hospitals' A sharp rise in waits for care services is piling the pressure on the NHS in England, hospital bosses are warning. BBC News

See also:

• The daily struggle to discharge patients BBC News

PrEP HIV drugs: court hears NHS England appeal

PrEP HIV drugs: court hears NHS England appeal NHS England is challenging high court ruling that it has power to commission ‘game-changing’ prevention strategy

A legal battle is being fought out in the court of appeal over who pays the bill for a service to block HIV infection.

The high court ruled that NHS England has the power to commission PrEP, which has been described as a “game-changer” in the fight against HIV/Aids. Continue reading... The Guardian

Doctors urge inquiry into Jeremy Hunt's NHS 'weekend effect' claims

Doctors urge inquiry into Jeremy Hunt's NHS 'weekend effect' claims Letter signed by doctors and scientists including Stephen Hawking accuses health secretary of misrepresenting evidence

Stephen Hawking, Robert Winston and a number of senior doctors are urging Theresa May to hold an inquiry into Jeremy Hunt’s claim that 11,000 patient deaths a year are caused by a lack of medics on duty in hospitals at weekends.

In a letter to the Guardian they claim the health secretary has caused a “devastating breakdown of trust between government and the medical profession” by misrepresenting the evidence on the “weekend effect”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The evidence of an NHS weekend effect is shaky | Letter from Neena Modi, David Owen, Robert Winston, Stephen Hawking and others The Guardian

Jeremy Hunt faces High Court battle over junior doctors' contracts

Jeremy Hunt faces High Court battle over junior doctors' contracts Unprecedented walkouts by thousands of junior doctors over a new contract could be averted by a High Court case next week, medics say.

Up to 50,000 doctors have been asked by unions to take part in week-long strikes, starting next month, despite concerns that the actions could cost lives.

On Monday, the Health Secretary will face a judicial review application over the way the contract is being introduced. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt 'abused power' over junior doctor contract, court will hear OnMedica

Hospital hid cancer operation error from dead woman's family

Hospital hid cancer operation error from dead woman's family The family of a mother-of-three who died two days after she had an operation to remove a kidney was not told about a surgical error.

Cancer patient Deborah O'Hara had undergone surgery to remove a kidney at University Hospital Coventry during which the blood supply from two arteries was cut off.

The hospital failed to report the error to her family or to the coroner's office when it reported her death last June. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Family not told of cancer op error at Coventry hospital BBC News