Tuesday 31 October 2017
Guidance: Data security and protection for health and care organisations
Guidance: Data security and protection for health and care organisations This document sets out what all health and care organisations will be expected to do to demonstrate that they are putting into practice the 10 data security standards recommended by the National Data Guardian. Department of Health
Professionalism animations to support nurses and midwives
Professionalism animations to support nurses and midwives Three animations demonstrate how nurses and midwives could use the Enabling professionalism framework to reflect on practice and challenge poor behaviour.
Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) from the four countries of the UK, supported by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), have today launched three animations that outline how nurses and midwives can use the Enabling professionalism in nursing and midwifery practice guide to reflect on their practice. Nursing and Midwifery Council
Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) from the four countries of the UK, supported by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), have today launched three animations that outline how nurses and midwives can use the Enabling professionalism in nursing and midwifery practice guide to reflect on their practice. Nursing and Midwifery Council
NHS pay rise conditional on boost in productivity, Jeremy Hunt suggests - The Independent
NHS pay rise conditional on boost in productivity, Jeremy Hunt suggests - The Independent Philip Hammond will only fund a pay rise for doctors and nurses if the NHS becomes more productive, Jeremy Hunt has suggested.
The Health Secretary hinted the Chancellor had agreed to discuss a pay rise in parallel with looking at “the ways that we could improve productivity”. The Independent
See also:
Lifting the cap: the fiscal and economic impact of lifting the NHS pay cap King's Fund
NHS bosses issue 'cry for help' after years of Government funding cuts The Independent
The Health Secretary hinted the Chancellor had agreed to discuss a pay rise in parallel with looking at “the ways that we could improve productivity”. The Independent
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Lifting the cap: the fiscal and economic impact of lifting the NHS pay cap King's Fund
NHS bosses issue 'cry for help' after years of Government funding cuts The Independent
No end in sight for GP workforce crisis, warns think tank
No end in sight for GP workforce crisis, warns think tank Numbers of staff in primary care are 'moving further away from the government target of net growth of 5,000 more' full-time equivalent GPs by 2020, a report by the Health Foundation warns.
Report calls for better mental health support in the workplace
Report calls for better mental health support in the workplace "Up to 300,000 people with long-term mental health problems have to leave their jobs each year, a report says," writes BBC News. This was just one of the UK media outlets that published the findings of a report looking at the extent of mental ill health in the workplace, and the related economic and social costs. NHS Choices
Mental health costs employers '£33 billion to £42 billion a year FMWorld
Thriving at Work: a review of mental health and employers Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health
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Thriving at Work: a review of mental health and employers Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health
The £97m bill for 'midwife shortage'
The £97m bill for 'midwife shortage' UK maternity units are turning to expensive temporary staffing arrangements such as overtime and agency staff to plug gaps in midwife rotas, union leaders say.
Royal College of Midwives data showed the bill hit nearly £100m in 2016, with services having to pay hourly fees twice as high as the normal rates. BBC News
Royal College of Midwives data showed the bill hit nearly £100m in 2016, with services having to pay hourly fees twice as high as the normal rates. BBC News
The Front Line In The Battle For The Nation's Mental Health Isn't The NHS - HuffPost UK
The Front Line In The Battle For The Nation's Mental Health Isn't The NHS - HuffPost UK Half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14 and after school, the average adult will spend 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime. The front lines in the battle for good mental health in the UK are not within our NHS, they are in our nation's schools, colleges, universities and workplaces. By the time we reach the NHS, all too often we've already reached crisis point. HuffPost
Young people 'not receiving mental health care they need' - BBC News
Young people 'not receiving mental health care they need' - BBC News Young people are facing long waiting times and unequal access to mental health services, a review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.
The commissioner said this could be "putting young people's lives at risk". BBC News
See also:
Review of children and young people's mental health services: phase one report Care Quality Commission
The commissioner said this could be "putting young people's lives at risk". BBC News
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Review of children and young people's mental health services: phase one report Care Quality Commission
I’ve been a cancer nurse for over 30 years – things have never been so bad
I’ve been a cancer nurse for over 30 years – things have never been so bad
This morning, we had nine new patients on the ward. They will all need support to manage the rollercoaster that is having cancer. The Guardian
This morning, we had nine new patients on the ward. They will all need support to manage the rollercoaster that is having cancer. The Guardian
Rotten state of children's teeth in England exposed in hospital data
Rotten state of children's teeth in England exposed in hospital data Twice as many children under the age of 10 receive hospital treatment for tooth decay as those treated for broken arms, figures for England show.
There were 34,205 cases of patients under 10 needing hospital treatment for dental caries in the year to March, the youngest less than a year old, according to the faculty of dental surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons. The Guardian
There were 34,205 cases of patients under 10 needing hospital treatment for dental caries in the year to March, the youngest less than a year old, according to the faculty of dental surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons. The Guardian
NHS trusts accused of backdoor privatisation over subsidiary firms
NHS trusts accused of backdoor privatisation over subsidiary firms Health trusts have been accused of taking a first step towards privatisation by transferring the employment of support staff to new subsidiary companies.
At least three NHS foundation trusts in Yorkshire, the West Country and northern England have set up firms with the intention of taking thousands of workers off the NHS’s books. The Guardian
At least three NHS foundation trusts in Yorkshire, the West Country and northern England have set up firms with the intention of taking thousands of workers off the NHS’s books. The Guardian
GPs to vote on breaking away from NHS to set up private model
GPs to vote on breaking away from NHS to set up private model GPs are threatening to break away from NHS and calling on their union to help them set up a "private alternative model," in a vote next week.
The motion, due to be debated by a national conference of doctors next week, follows repeated claims by the British Medical Association that the health service is at breaking point. The Telegraph
The motion, due to be debated by a national conference of doctors next week, follows repeated claims by the British Medical Association that the health service is at breaking point. The Telegraph
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Monday 30 October 2017
Kettering General Hospital celebrates its 120th birthday
Kettering General Hospital celebrates its 120th birthday Kettering General Hospital is celebrating its 120th birthday today (Monday, October 30). Over that time the hospital has supported the healthcare needs of millions of local people from the cradle to the grave. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Rising pressure: the NHS workforce challenge
Rising pressure: the NHS workforce challenge This report analyses the profile and trends of the NHS workforce. It also focuses on two pressure points: the impact of the removal of the NHS bursary on student nurse numbers, and staff retention.
It has found increasing cause for concern. The report highlights that national policy and planning for the NHS workforce in England is not fit for purpose. It shows high staff turnover and workforce instability, and a drop in the number of trainee nurses.
The report outlines the growing gap between the national rhetoric of short-term announcements and policies addressing the NHS workforce, and the reality of no overall strategy and falling staff numbers. The Health Foundation
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It has found increasing cause for concern. The report highlights that national policy and planning for the NHS workforce in England is not fit for purpose. It shows high staff turnover and workforce instability, and a drop in the number of trainee nurses.
The report outlines the growing gap between the national rhetoric of short-term announcements and policies addressing the NHS workforce, and the reality of no overall strategy and falling staff numbers. The Health Foundation
See also:
- Number of NHS managers rises as nursing recruitment falls The Daily Mail
- Number of NHS managers recruited soars as shortage of nurses grows The Daily Telegraph
- NHS England workforce planning 'not fit for purpose', says report The Guardian
NHS pressures – future trends
NHS pressures – future trends We are aware that the NHS is under growing pressure, with A&E attendances, waiting times and admissions all on the rise in recent years. We are undertaking regular analysis on our new pressure points in the NHS webpage, where we have highlighted several worrying trends as spiralling demand outstrips the ability of services to cope.
Based on current trends, our assessment is that unless urgent action is taken, millions more patients will be waiting for longer than four hours for treatment in A&E, and there will be dramatic rises in the number of people waiting on trolleys for treatment, or at home for non-emergency elective procedures. The British Medical Association
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Based on current trends, our assessment is that unless urgent action is taken, millions more patients will be waiting for longer than four hours for treatment in A&E, and there will be dramatic rises in the number of people waiting on trolleys for treatment, or at home for non-emergency elective procedures. The British Medical Association
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Sharing experiences improves well being of healthcare staff
Sharing experiences improves well being of healthcare staff Healthcare staff who regularly share the emotional, social or ethical challenges they face in the workplace experience less psychological distress, improved teamwork and increased empathy and compassion for patients and colleagues, a new study commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research reports.
In the first in-depth study in the UK, researchers from the University of Surrey, Kings College London, the University of Sheffield and The King’s Fund examined the impact of Schwartz Center Rounds®(Rounds), on both clinical and non-clinical staff. Rounds are monthly forums that offer a safe space for staff to share experiences with colleagues and to discuss the challenges they face in their work and its impact on them. University of Surrey
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In the first in-depth study in the UK, researchers from the University of Surrey, Kings College London, the University of Sheffield and The King’s Fund examined the impact of Schwartz Center Rounds®(Rounds), on both clinical and non-clinical staff. Rounds are monthly forums that offer a safe space for staff to share experiences with colleagues and to discuss the challenges they face in their work and its impact on them. University of Surrey
See also:
- A Longitudinal National Evaluation of Schwartz Centre Rounds®: an intervention to enhance compassion in relationships between staff and patients through providing support for staff and promoting their wellbeing NHS National Institute for Health Research
- NHS staff should be given a 'safe space' The Daily Mail
The new disability confident standard
The new disability confident standard Important information and useful resources to support organisations to achieve the new disability confident standard. NHS Employers
Police handling a third more mental health cases, figures suggest
Police handling a third more mental health cases, figures suggest The number of mental health cases dealt with by police in England and Wales has risen by more than a third in three years, figures obtained by Labour show.
There were 215,000 such cases in 2016-17 - up from 155,000 incidents in 2013-14, freedom of information figures from 23 of 43 forces suggested.
Shadow police minister Louise Haigh said forces were "at breaking point".
The government said £30m of funding to improve community-based places of safety was "having an impact". BBC News
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There were 215,000 such cases in 2016-17 - up from 155,000 incidents in 2013-14, freedom of information figures from 23 of 43 forces suggested.
Shadow police minister Louise Haigh said forces were "at breaking point".
The government said £30m of funding to improve community-based places of safety was "having an impact". BBC News
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IVF: Patients face postcode lottery for treatment
IVF: Patients face postcode lottery for treatment Nearly 90% of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) fail to offer would-be-mothers the recommended three cycles of IVF treatment, new figures show.
Of the 208 CCGs in England, only 24 meet national guidelines and seven offer no treatment at all.
Couples trying to conceive through IVF have described the disparity as "crazy and unfair".
Campaign group Fertility Fairness has urged the government to intervene.
Its figures are based on Freedom of Information requests sent to CCGs across England, of which all 208 replied. BBC News
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Some NHS regions fail to fund any IVF treatment, report finds - The Times The Times
Of the 208 CCGs in England, only 24 meet national guidelines and seven offer no treatment at all.
Couples trying to conceive through IVF have described the disparity as "crazy and unfair".
Campaign group Fertility Fairness has urged the government to intervene.
Its figures are based on Freedom of Information requests sent to CCGs across England, of which all 208 replied. BBC News
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Some NHS regions fail to fund any IVF treatment, report finds - The Times The Times
The nurse hired to combat cancer myths online
The nurse hired to combat cancer myths online A cancer charity has appointed a digital nurse to combat "fake news" online, which they say leaves patients "scared and at risk of bogus cures".
Macmillan Cancer Support found two-fifths of people with cancer looked up information about their diagnosis on the internet.
One in eight of those went online because they didn't fully understand what their doctor had told them.
Glaswegian nurse Ellen McPake, who landed the job, says she wants to correct the misinformation that exists. BBC News
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Macmillan Cancer Support found two-fifths of people with cancer looked up information about their diagnosis on the internet.
One in eight of those went online because they didn't fully understand what their doctor had told them.
Glaswegian nurse Ellen McPake, who landed the job, says she wants to correct the misinformation that exists. BBC News
See also:
- Cancer charity hires 'fake news' nurse to warn patients off bogus cures The Daily Telegraph
NHS Airbnb-style scheme 'not ruled out' by minister
NHS Airbnb-style scheme 'not ruled out' by minister The idea of NHS hospital patients recuperating in Airbnb-style accommodation has not been ruled out, health minister Philip Dunne has said.
Southend Hospital had been linked to a trial where hospital patients could be discharged to people's spare rooms.
The hospital distanced itself from the idea following criticism by politicians and health groups.
But Mr Dunne told BBC Radio 5 live he "wouldn't immediately reject it" as "one's got to trial different things".
The pilot scheme, proposed in Essex, would have seen some 30 hospital patients staying in local residents' spare rooms instead of in hospital while they waited to be discharged. BBC News
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Southend Hospital had been linked to a trial where hospital patients could be discharged to people's spare rooms.
The hospital distanced itself from the idea following criticism by politicians and health groups.
But Mr Dunne told BBC Radio 5 live he "wouldn't immediately reject it" as "one's got to trial different things".
The pilot scheme, proposed in Essex, would have seen some 30 hospital patients staying in local residents' spare rooms instead of in hospital while they waited to be discharged. BBC News
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Grenfell Tower mental health response 'largest of its kind in Europe'
Grenfell Tower mental health response 'largest of its kind in Europe' Psychologist leading response says at least 11,000 people may have been affected, and that 1,300 have already been seen
The mental health response following the Grenfell Tower fire is the biggest operation of its kind in Europe, a doctor has said, with the number of people affected likely to exceed 11,000.
The unprecedented need following the blaze has transformed the Central and North West London NHS Trust (CNWL) into “the largest trauma service in the UK”, according to Dr John Green, the psychologist leading the mental health response to the tragedy. Continue reading... The Guardian
The mental health response following the Grenfell Tower fire is the biggest operation of its kind in Europe, a doctor has said, with the number of people affected likely to exceed 11,000.
The unprecedented need following the blaze has transformed the Central and North West London NHS Trust (CNWL) into “the largest trauma service in the UK”, according to Dr John Green, the psychologist leading the mental health response to the tragedy. Continue reading... The Guardian
UK at risk as more than 500,000 missing out on flu jab, says Labour
UK at risk as more than 500,000 missing out on flu jab, says Labour Government is accused of failing to take threat seriously after vaccination targets missed and publicity spending cut
More than half a million adults over 65 and almost 350,000 toddlers could miss out on their flu vaccinations after a failure to meet government targets, Labour has said.
The warning comes amid fears that Britain could be hit by its biggest flu outbreak in years this winter following major outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand. Continue reading... The Guardian
More than half a million adults over 65 and almost 350,000 toddlers could miss out on their flu vaccinations after a failure to meet government targets, Labour has said.
The warning comes amid fears that Britain could be hit by its biggest flu outbreak in years this winter following major outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand. Continue reading... The Guardian
Philip Hammond tells Jeremy Hunt he will not fund pay rise for nurses unless NHS made more efficient, Health Secretary suggests
Philip Hammond tells Jeremy Hunt he will not fund pay rise for nurses unless NHS made more efficient, Health Secretary suggests Philip Hammond has told Jeremy Hunt he will not provide extra money for a pay rise for doctors and nurses unless the NHS becomes more efficient, the Health Secretary has suggested.
Mr Hunt said the Chancellor had made clear that “if we can have a negotiation and look at some of the ways that we could improve productivity” then he will be “willing to have a discussion” about the possibility of handing over more money.
The Health Secretary announced earlier this month that the public sector pay cap, which has limited increases to one per cent, will be abolished for the NHS. The Daily Telegraph
Mr Hunt said the Chancellor had made clear that “if we can have a negotiation and look at some of the ways that we could improve productivity” then he will be “willing to have a discussion” about the possibility of handing over more money.
The Health Secretary announced earlier this month that the public sector pay cap, which has limited increases to one per cent, will be abolished for the NHS. The Daily Telegraph
NHS Trust apologises after transgender woman's medical records are sent to another patient
NHS Trust apologises after transgender woman's medical records are sent to another patient An NHS Trust has apologised to a transgender woman whose medical records were sent to another patient by mistake.
Imperial College Trust admitted it had breached patient confidentiality after records belonging to Sarah Preece, a patient undergoing gender reassignment surgery, were placed in the wrong file.
Ms Preece only learned of the mistake when another patient wrote to inform her that she had received files containing highly sensitive information, including details of her surgery. The Daily Telegraph
Imperial College Trust admitted it had breached patient confidentiality after records belonging to Sarah Preece, a patient undergoing gender reassignment surgery, were placed in the wrong file.
Ms Preece only learned of the mistake when another patient wrote to inform her that she had received files containing highly sensitive information, including details of her surgery. The Daily Telegraph
Friday 27 October 2017
Tell us how county council's £9.8million of cuts will hit you and Northampton, urges Healthwatch
Tell us how county council's £9.8million of cuts will hit you and Northampton, urges Healthwatch Healthwatch Northamptonshire wants residents hit by the upcoming £9.6million worth of county council cuts to tell them how they will be affected.
They say the council's planned cuts to libraries, children's services and bus subsidiaries could have a direct impact on health and wellbeing in the county.
It comes after the council announced they would need to find nearly £12million in savings to balance the budget by the end of September 2018. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
They say the council's planned cuts to libraries, children's services and bus subsidiaries could have a direct impact on health and wellbeing in the county.
It comes after the council announced they would need to find nearly £12million in savings to balance the budget by the end of September 2018. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Review of children and young people's mental health services: Phase one report
Review of children and young people's mental health services: Phase one report This report looks at the quality and accessibility of mental health services for children and young people. It summarises the current state of knowledge from across a range of sources.
The Prime Minister asked us to conduct a review of quality and access across the system of mental health services for children and young people. This report marks the first phase of that review.
The report brings together the insights and experiences of many different people and organisations. It summarises the current state of knowledge, the problems and challenges, and the effect of these problems and challenges on children and young people and their families and carers. Care Quality Commission
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The Prime Minister asked us to conduct a review of quality and access across the system of mental health services for children and young people. This report marks the first phase of that review.
The report brings together the insights and experiences of many different people and organisations. It summarises the current state of knowledge, the problems and challenges, and the effect of these problems and challenges on children and young people and their families and carers. Care Quality Commission
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Investigation: WannaCry cyber attack and the NHS
Investigation: WannaCry cyber attack and the NHS The WannaCry cyber attack had potentially serious implications for the NHS and its ability to provide care to patients. It was a relatively unsophisticated attack and could have been prevented by the NHS following basic IT security best practice. There are more sophisticated cyber threats out there than WannaCry so the Department and the NHS need to get their act together to ensure the NHS is better protected against future attacks. National Audit Office
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Social care spending up £556m as costs also rise
Social care spending up £556m as costs also rise Annual spending by local authorities on social care rose by £556 million in 2016/17 to £17.5 billion, new figures show.
That constitutes a 3.3 per cent increase in cash terms and a 1.0 per cent increase in real terms. It is the first time social care expenditure has risen in real terms since 2009/10.
In 2016/17 Local Authorities were able to raise the council tax precept by two percent for the first time in order to fund adult social care. This raised an additional £382 million.
The Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report published by NHS Digital shows that, while expenditure has risen, there has been minimal change in activity, which may be linked to the increasing costs in the provision of care.
That constitutes a 3.3 per cent increase in cash terms and a 1.0 per cent increase in real terms. It is the first time social care expenditure has risen in real terms since 2009/10.
In 2016/17 Local Authorities were able to raise the council tax precept by two percent for the first time in order to fund adult social care. This raised an additional £382 million.
The Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report published by NHS Digital shows that, while expenditure has risen, there has been minimal change in activity, which may be linked to the increasing costs in the provision of care.
Public health: everyone's business?
Public health: everyone's business? This is the second report in the Provider Voices series. It uses 12 interviews with health leaders from a range of trusts and other parts of the service to help gain a better understanding of NHS providers’ role in shaping and delivering public health and care. NHS Providers
Why it is so difficult to develop new antibiotics
Why it is so difficult to develop new antibiotics Over-reliance on and misuse of antibiotics has led to warnings of a future without effective medicines. Why is it so difficult for scientists to discover new drugs?
It's a tale of scientific discovery taught the world over: the serendipitous find of a mould that revolutionised modern medicine.
Almost 90 years ago, Alexander Fleming returned from holiday to find Penicillium on Petri dishes left in his basement laboratory at St Mary's Hospital in London.
By the 1950s, the golden age of antibiotic discovery, an array of new medicines was being found.
Today, scientists are searching for a new breakthrough, testing microbes in sources as diverse as soil, caves and Komodo dragon blood, as well as developing new, lab-made synthetic drugs. BBC News
It's a tale of scientific discovery taught the world over: the serendipitous find of a mould that revolutionised modern medicine.
Almost 90 years ago, Alexander Fleming returned from holiday to find Penicillium on Petri dishes left in his basement laboratory at St Mary's Hospital in London.
By the 1950s, the golden age of antibiotic discovery, an array of new medicines was being found.
Today, scientists are searching for a new breakthrough, testing microbes in sources as diverse as soil, caves and Komodo dragon blood, as well as developing new, lab-made synthetic drugs. BBC News
The hopes and fears of young people facing life-limiting conditions
The hopes and fears of young people facing life-limiting conditions A pioneering project has begun which aims to get young people with life-limiting conditions to express their emotions and opinions. BBC News
Sharp rise in number of children admitted to intensive care in England
Sharp rise in number of children admitted to intensive care in England Researchers warn that the increase in children admitted to paediatric intensive care units since 2009 is putting additional pressure on overstretched services
The number of children admitted to intensive care in England has risen sharply since 2009, putting additional pressure on already overstretched health services, researchers have warned.
A study of admissions to paediatric intensive care units in England found a nearly 15% increase from 2004 to 2013, with a larger than expected rise against population growth from 2009 onwards. In Wales there was a more than 2% rise over the period studied. Continue reading... The Guardian
The number of children admitted to intensive care in England has risen sharply since 2009, putting additional pressure on already overstretched health services, researchers have warned.
A study of admissions to paediatric intensive care units in England found a nearly 15% increase from 2004 to 2013, with a larger than expected rise against population growth from 2009 onwards. In Wales there was a more than 2% rise over the period studied. Continue reading... The Guardian
Having a mental illness doesn’t mean you can’t work – I’m proof
Having a mental illness doesn’t mean you can’t work – I’m proof Government research has confirmed that mental health costs the nation £99bn. It doesn’t make financial sense for employers to discriminate
It’s official. The government-commissioned Thriving at Work report has found that many of us are not, in fact, thriving at work. About 300,000 of us with long-term mental health problems lose their job each year in the UK. For me, this is news alongside sky is blue; Liverpool FC are perpetually underachieving; David Davis understands the Brexit process as much as he does superstring theory.
There’s a crisis safety net when individuals reach the nadir, and that’s it Continue reading... The Guardian
It’s official. The government-commissioned Thriving at Work report has found that many of us are not, in fact, thriving at work. About 300,000 of us with long-term mental health problems lose their job each year in the UK. For me, this is news alongside sky is blue; Liverpool FC are perpetually underachieving; David Davis understands the Brexit process as much as he does superstring theory.
There’s a crisis safety net when individuals reach the nadir, and that’s it Continue reading... The Guardian
Three lessons from Houston that could help your city fight the diabetes crisis
Three lessons from Houston that could help your city fight the diabetes crisis I’ve worked in public health for 20 years but my peers and I were completely caught off guard by the true picture of the city’s obesity and diabetes problem
Diabetes is such a global crisis that it unavoidably brings us together. Over the past two years Houston has been getting to grips with the problem, as one of the first members of a coalition called Cities Changing Diabetes.
On 26 and 27 October, our city is hosting the US’s first global summit on urban diabetes in order to share what we’ve learned. So here are three unexpected things our experience has taught us that could help other cities in their fight. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Diabetes is such a global crisis that it unavoidably brings us together. Over the past two years Houston has been getting to grips with the problem, as one of the first members of a coalition called Cities Changing Diabetes.
On 26 and 27 October, our city is hosting the US’s first global summit on urban diabetes in order to share what we’ve learned. So here are three unexpected things our experience has taught us that could help other cities in their fight. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Houston's health crisis: by 2040, one in five residents will be diabetic The Guardian
- Diabetes: the scourge of city living The Guardian
Stop rationing cataracts until patients are nearly blind, NHS warned
Stop rationing cataracts until patients are nearly blind, NHS warned The NHS must stop rationing cataract surgery, or delaying it so long that elderly patients are almost blind, new national health service guidance states.
Investigations have found that patients who are losing their sight are waiting up to 15 months for cataract surgery, amid a stark postcode lottery across the health service
Thousands of sufferers are being forced to wait as their eyesight deteriorates, with some going untreated until they are nearly blind. The Daily Telegraph
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Investigations have found that patients who are losing their sight are waiting up to 15 months for cataract surgery, amid a stark postcode lottery across the health service
Thousands of sufferers are being forced to wait as their eyesight deteriorates, with some going untreated until they are nearly blind. The Daily Telegraph
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NHS must help staff who have to deal with terror attacks
NHS must help staff who have to deal with terror attacks The NHS must plan for the devastating long term effects on staff dealing with mass casualty terror attacks, such as the Manchester suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande gig which killed 22 innocent concert-goers, warns a new report.
Experts claim the physical and psychological complications of such atrocities on medical staff who have to deal with the repercussions of the horrific events are 'severe, under-reported, and underappreciated'. The Daily Mail
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Experts claim the physical and psychological complications of such atrocities on medical staff who have to deal with the repercussions of the horrific events are 'severe, under-reported, and underappreciated'. The Daily Mail
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Thursday 26 October 2017
Direct route to Northampton A&E will close next month for building work
Direct route to Northampton A&E will close next month for building work A main entrance to Northampton General Hospital will be closed next month while developers crane in pieces of a new building.
The Cliftonville entrance to the hospital, off Billing Road, will be closed to all vehicles except ambulances between November 13 and December 11. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The Cliftonville entrance to the hospital, off Billing Road, will be closed to all vehicles except ambulances between November 13 and December 11. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Sustainable primary care provides a platform for system change
Sustainable primary care provides a platform for system change In the final blog in our series about the transformation of the Canterbury health system in New Zealand, Vince Barry, Chief Executive of Pegasus Health, looks at how building sustainable primary care creates a platform for change. The King's Fund
Thriving at Work: a review of mental health and employers
Thriving at Work: a review of mental health and employers Thriving at Work sets out what employers can do to better support all employees, including those with mental health problems to remain in and thrive through work.
It includes a detailed analysis that explores the significant cost of poor mental health to UK businesses and the economy as a whole. Poor mental health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year, with an annual cost to the UK economy of between £74 billion and £99 billion.
The review quantifies how investing in supporting mental health at work is good for business and productivity. The most important recommendation is that all employers, regardless of size or industry, should adopt 6 ‘mental health core standards’ that lay basic foundations for an approach to workplace mental health. It also details how large employers and the public sector can develop these standards further through a set of ‘mental health enhanced standards’. The review also makes a series of recommendations to government and other bodies. Department of Health & Department for Work and Pensions
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It includes a detailed analysis that explores the significant cost of poor mental health to UK businesses and the economy as a whole. Poor mental health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year, with an annual cost to the UK economy of between £74 billion and £99 billion.
The review quantifies how investing in supporting mental health at work is good for business and productivity. The most important recommendation is that all employers, regardless of size or industry, should adopt 6 ‘mental health core standards’ that lay basic foundations for an approach to workplace mental health. It also details how large employers and the public sector can develop these standards further through a set of ‘mental health enhanced standards’. The review also makes a series of recommendations to government and other bodies. Department of Health & Department for Work and Pensions
See also:
- 300,000 people lose jobs each year due to poor mental health BBC News
- Mental health sick notes should ease people back to work, says Government-commissioned report The Daily Telegraph
- Mental health problems are forcing thousands in UK out of work – report The Guardian
- Up to 300,000 people with long-term mental health issues lose their jobs each year OnMedica
The non-executive director's guide to NHS data: part one
The non-executive director's guide to NHS data: part one This briefing is the first in a new series of guides to be launched by the NHS Confederation in association with healthcare intelligence provider CHKS. The guides are for non-executive directors (NEDs) and aim to show how data can be used to drive improvement, provide effective oversight and support the transformation of care. The first guide considers data in acute care settings. It will be followed by a further three publications over 2017/18. NHS Confederation
People like us? Understanding complaints about paramedics and social workers
People like us? Understanding complaints about paramedics and social workers This research, carried out by the University of Surrey, sets out to improve understanding of the reasons for the disproportionately high number and nature of complaints to the HCPC about two professions - paramedics from across the UK, and social workers in England. It also considers what preventative action could be taken to address the issues and themes brought out in the report. Health & Care Professions Council
Hospital backs away from 'Airbnb beds' plan
Hospital backs away from 'Airbnb beds' plan A hospital has backed down over plans for patients to recuperate in people's homes as part of an Airbnb-style trial.
Southend Hospital in Essex said it has no plans to "support the pilot at this time".
The trial by healthcare start-up CareRooms involves 30 hospital patients staying in local residents' spare rooms while waiting to be discharged. BBC News
See also:
Southend Hospital in Essex said it has no plans to "support the pilot at this time".
The trial by healthcare start-up CareRooms involves 30 hospital patients staying in local residents' spare rooms while waiting to be discharged. BBC News
See also:
- Southend hospital set to pilot Airbnb-style scheme BBC News
- Airbnb-style stays for recuperating patients to ease hospital bed-blocking The Daily Telegraph
- NHS may rent spare rooms to ease bed crisis The Guardian
Patients face 'distressing readmissions'
Patients face 'distressing readmissions' The number of patients in England being readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge has risen by nearly a quarter in the last four years, a watchdog has said.
Figures compiled by Healthwatch suggest one in five of these potentially distressing readmissions happen 48 hours after being sent home.
The watchdog warns patients may be being rushed out early.
NHS England says it is impossible to know the reasons for the readmissions.
An emergency readmission occurs when a patient needs to go back into hospital unexpectedly for further treatment, within 30 days of having been discharged.
Readmissions in such a short space of time raise concerns about patients being discharged unsafely, and about the pressure on hospitals to free up beds. BBC News
Figures compiled by Healthwatch suggest one in five of these potentially distressing readmissions happen 48 hours after being sent home.
The watchdog warns patients may be being rushed out early.
NHS England says it is impossible to know the reasons for the readmissions.
An emergency readmission occurs when a patient needs to go back into hospital unexpectedly for further treatment, within 30 days of having been discharged.
Readmissions in such a short space of time raise concerns about patients being discharged unsafely, and about the pressure on hospitals to free up beds. BBC News
NHS cost cutting leaving disabled people 'interned' in care homes
NHS cost cutting leaving disabled people 'interned' in care homes Disabled people in the UK face being “interned” in care homes due to NHS cost-cutting measures, in what amounts to a potential breach of their human rights, it has emerged.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned a new policy that caps funding for NHS care outside hospital means disabled people may be prevented from living at home with their families despite being well enough to do so.
Out of hospital care, known as continuing healthcare, can be arranged in a care home, nursing home, hospice or a person’s own home. But the EHRC said the new funding caps, which have been rolled out in at least 44 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the UK, set an upper limit on the provision of care in a person’s home, which for many is not sufficient to meet their care needs. The Independent
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned a new policy that caps funding for NHS care outside hospital means disabled people may be prevented from living at home with their families despite being well enough to do so.
Out of hospital care, known as continuing healthcare, can be arranged in a care home, nursing home, hospice or a person’s own home. But the EHRC said the new funding caps, which have been rolled out in at least 44 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the UK, set an upper limit on the provision of care in a person’s home, which for many is not sufficient to meet their care needs. The Independent
To those who take antibiotics – the resistance crisis is not your fault | Hannah Flynn
To those who take antibiotics – the resistance crisis is not your fault | Hannah Flynn A new government campaign suggesting that growing antimicrobial resistance is the fault of patients is lazy and dishonest
Singing and dancing pills are the latest weapon to be pulled out of the NHS’s public health armoury, in a last-ditch battle to beat antibiotic resistance. The animated capsules are featured in Public Health England’s Keep Antibiotics Working campaign, which was unveiled earlier this week, and aims to encourage patients to use fewer antibiotics. Yet like all other attempts to curb the impending antibiotic Armageddon, it will fail. Why? Because it is based on the lazy assumption that patients are to blame.
We should be in a strong position to curb the threat of antimicrobial resistance in the UK, as our comparatively non-interventionist approach to illness (necessitated by having one of the lowest spends per capita on healthcare in the western world) has meant we have a much stronger grip on prescribing than many other places. This is admirable and should be celebrated more than it is, yet this is exactly why a campaign encouraging people to use fewer antibiotics is destined to fail. Patients aren’t the decision-makers here.
Using antibiotics as growth agents has been banned in the EU since 2006, but it isn’t in the US Continue reading... The Guardian
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Singing and dancing pills are the latest weapon to be pulled out of the NHS’s public health armoury, in a last-ditch battle to beat antibiotic resistance. The animated capsules are featured in Public Health England’s Keep Antibiotics Working campaign, which was unveiled earlier this week, and aims to encourage patients to use fewer antibiotics. Yet like all other attempts to curb the impending antibiotic Armageddon, it will fail. Why? Because it is based on the lazy assumption that patients are to blame.
We should be in a strong position to curb the threat of antimicrobial resistance in the UK, as our comparatively non-interventionist approach to illness (necessitated by having one of the lowest spends per capita on healthcare in the western world) has meant we have a much stronger grip on prescribing than many other places. This is admirable and should be celebrated more than it is, yet this is exactly why a campaign encouraging people to use fewer antibiotics is destined to fail. Patients aren’t the decision-makers here.
Using antibiotics as growth agents has been banned in the EU since 2006, but it isn’t in the US Continue reading... The Guardian
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Sick children like my daughter don't get enough information – so I made an app
Sick children like my daughter don't get enough information – so I made an app When my daughter had cancer she was told nothing about hospital environments or her treatment. I want to use her experience to benefit others
Tuesday 29 November 2011 was the darkest of days. On that day six years ago, my wife and I listened in stunned silence as we were given the news that our 13-year-old daughter, Issy, had a rare bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma.
That was the start of a year of treatment that involved six hospitals, 18 rounds of chemotherapy, numerous blood transfusions, a failed stem cell harvest, an operation to remove her sacrum and an eight-week NHS-funded trip to the US, where she received proton beam therapy. Continue reading... The Guardian
Tuesday 29 November 2011 was the darkest of days. On that day six years ago, my wife and I listened in stunned silence as we were given the news that our 13-year-old daughter, Issy, had a rare bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma.
That was the start of a year of treatment that involved six hospitals, 18 rounds of chemotherapy, numerous blood transfusions, a failed stem cell harvest, an operation to remove her sacrum and an eight-week NHS-funded trip to the US, where she received proton beam therapy. Continue reading... The Guardian
'Attention seekers' cost the NHS £1.7 million a year
'Attention seekers' cost the NHS £1.7 million a year 'Attention seekers' who pretend to be ill are costing the NHS £1.7million a year, official figures reveal.
The number of hospital beds taken up by patients with fake disorders has more than trebled in the past decade, according to NHS Digital statistics. Each faker is estimated to cost the NHS between £800 to £900 a day.
Experts believe the problem is driven by 'Dr Google' as people can readily access medical information to fool doctors into believing they are unwell.
Nearly 100 people were treated for Munchausen's syndrome by the NHS between 2015 and 2016, resulting in a cumulative 1,966 days in hospital, figures add. Munchausen's syndrome is a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill. The Daily Mail
The number of hospital beds taken up by patients with fake disorders has more than trebled in the past decade, according to NHS Digital statistics. Each faker is estimated to cost the NHS between £800 to £900 a day.
Experts believe the problem is driven by 'Dr Google' as people can readily access medical information to fool doctors into believing they are unwell.
Nearly 100 people were treated for Munchausen's syndrome by the NHS between 2015 and 2016, resulting in a cumulative 1,966 days in hospital, figures add. Munchausen's syndrome is a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill. The Daily Mail
Wednesday 25 October 2017
‘You need a whole system to work for the whole system to work’
‘You need a whole system to work for the whole system to work’ Recently, the Fund hosted a visit by leaders of the health system in Canterbury, New Zealand. In this guest blog – the second of three drawing on experiences shared during the visit – David Meates, Chief Executive of the Canterbury District Health Board, explains how organisations within the Canterbury health system have moved from playing the ‘blame game’ to working together to provide the best possible care for the local population. The King's Fund
Towards an effective NHS payment system: eight principles
Towards an effective NHS payment system: eight principles This report sets out eight principles for a future payment system, primarily arguing that clarity of purpose is required to refocus the system’s many objectives. It argues that that now is the ideal time to review the system, with vanguards and STPs already changing the way that care is delivered, while a two-year fixed payment by results tariff offers space for reform. The Health Foundation
Children and young people's mental health – the role of education: government response
Children and young people's mental health – the role of education: government response In May 2017, two Commons Select Committees published a joint report which examined key issues relating to children and young people's mental health across education and health care. This report outlines the government's response to the recommendations arising in the original inquiry report. House of Commons Education and Health Committees
Use of resources assessment: a brief guide for acute non-specialist trusts
Use of resources assessment: a brief guide for acute non-specialist trusts The Use of resources assessment framework aims to improve understanding of how effectively and efficiently NHS providers are using their resources. By the end of 2019, all acute non-specialist trusts will have undergone an assessment. This briefing provides an overview for non-specialist acute trusts on the agenda for the onsite visit and other useful information. NHS Improvement
Postnatal depression: Call for new fathers to be screened
Postnatal depression: Call for new fathers to be screened A man who suffered depression after the birth of his son has called for all new fathers to be screened for the illness.
"I remember I was in a car park one day and I just broke down crying," said Mark Williams of Bridgend-based Fathers Reaching Out charity.
Both Mr Williams and his wife suffered from postnatal depression after the traumatic birth of their child.
He wants mental health checks for all new parents but there are currently no plans to change the guidelines. BBC News
"I remember I was in a car park one day and I just broke down crying," said Mark Williams of Bridgend-based Fathers Reaching Out charity.
Both Mr Williams and his wife suffered from postnatal depression after the traumatic birth of their child.
He wants mental health checks for all new parents but there are currently no plans to change the guidelines. BBC News
E-cigarettes: Cross-party group of MPs launches inquiry
E-cigarettes: Cross-party group of MPs launches inquiry MPs are to carry out an inquiry into e-cigarettes amid concerns there are "significant gaps" in what is known about them and how they are regulated.
The science and technology committee will look at their effectiveness as a stop-smoking tool and the impact of their growing use on health.
Nearly three million people in the UK now "vape" regularly - four times more than in 2012. BBC News
The science and technology committee will look at their effectiveness as a stop-smoking tool and the impact of their growing use on health.
Nearly three million people in the UK now "vape" regularly - four times more than in 2012. BBC News
Hackers breach top plastic surgery clinic
Hackers breach top plastic surgery clinic A high-profile plastic surgery clinic has said it is "horrified" after hackers allegedly stole data during a cyber-attack.
London Bridge Plastic Surgery (LBPS) said its IT experts and police found evidence of the breach.
A group claiming to be behind the breach said it had "terabytes" of data, the Daily Beast news site reported.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating the attack. BBC News
London Bridge Plastic Surgery (LBPS) said its IT experts and police found evidence of the breach.
A group claiming to be behind the breach said it had "terabytes" of data, the Daily Beast news site reported.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating the attack. BBC News
Ambulances failing to reach the most seriously ill patients in time
Ambulances failing to reach the most seriously ill patients in time Ambulances are failing to reach dying and critically ill patients fast enough with the system at breaking point, an ITV News investigation has found.
Paramedics are expected to reach the most serious emergencies - such as cardiac arrests or strokes - within eight minutes.
But our research has revealed that thousands of patients in England have had to endure delays well in excess of that target, with some forced to wait for several hours.
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Paramedics are expected to reach the most serious emergencies - such as cardiac arrests or strokes - within eight minutes.
But our research has revealed that thousands of patients in England have had to endure delays well in excess of that target, with some forced to wait for several hours.
See also:
- Critically ill patients wait over 30 minutes for ambulance The Daily Mail
Jane Flint: ‘Having an atheist chaplain is about patient choice’
Jane Flint: ‘Having an atheist chaplain is about patient choice’ The first non-religious pastoral carer in the NHS on why patients need someone to just be there – to hear their stories or bear witness to their pain, whatever their beliefs.
The stress of coming into hospital can take its toll on patients and relatives alike and Jane Flint’s role as a member of the chaplaincy at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust is to offer emotional and spiritual support to patients, visitors and staff. The difference between her and the other 12 chaplains is that she is an atheist. Duties are the same as for the other chaplains bar offering prayers, rituals or a religious perspective. “It was wonderful to have you with me. Just knowing that there was someone available who had similar beliefs to mine and that you were coming to see me or I could ask for a visit made such a difference to the rest of my time in hospital,” wrote a former NHS patient.
Like them, Flint will see non-religious and religious people alike who request her services. The role, says Flint, is about “just being there”, whether to hear people’s life stories, to provide a sounding board, or to bear witness to somebody’s pain. It can be about conducting a service for a miscarried child, or for a person who was all alone in life; it can be to provide company, or to give someone time. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The stress of coming into hospital can take its toll on patients and relatives alike and Jane Flint’s role as a member of the chaplaincy at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust is to offer emotional and spiritual support to patients, visitors and staff. The difference between her and the other 12 chaplains is that she is an atheist. Duties are the same as for the other chaplains bar offering prayers, rituals or a religious perspective. “It was wonderful to have you with me. Just knowing that there was someone available who had similar beliefs to mine and that you were coming to see me or I could ask for a visit made such a difference to the rest of my time in hospital,” wrote a former NHS patient.
Like them, Flint will see non-religious and religious people alike who request her services. The role, says Flint, is about “just being there”, whether to hear people’s life stories, to provide a sounding board, or to bear witness to somebody’s pain. It can be about conducting a service for a miscarried child, or for a person who was all alone in life; it can be to provide company, or to give someone time. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Are hospital chaplains a waste of NHS money? The Guardian
Could science fiction save NHS data and improve our health?
Could science fiction save NHS data and improve our health? The most persistent fear for healthcare in 2100 was about the exploitation of genetic data. But health data could be a huge force for good. We need an open debate now
The NHS lurches its way through funding crises and organisational dilemmas. It faces the challenge of antibiotic resistance and it must ponder the deeply conflicted question of the uses and abuses of new technology. Its short-term horizon is so thronged with urgent problems that it would be a surprise if anyone had the spare capacity to consider how things could look by the end of the century.
A new social enterprise, Kaleidoscope Health & Care, however, decided it would be useful to try to raise the collective medical gaze into the very long term. Last year it organised a science fiction short story competition and invited writers to consider healthcare in 2100. The winners are announced on Thursday. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS lurches its way through funding crises and organisational dilemmas. It faces the challenge of antibiotic resistance and it must ponder the deeply conflicted question of the uses and abuses of new technology. Its short-term horizon is so thronged with urgent problems that it would be a surprise if anyone had the spare capacity to consider how things could look by the end of the century.
A new social enterprise, Kaleidoscope Health & Care, however, decided it would be useful to try to raise the collective medical gaze into the very long term. Last year it organised a science fiction short story competition and invited writers to consider healthcare in 2100. The winners are announced on Thursday. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Homeowners offered £1,000 to host NHS patients in spare rooms in 'Airbnb-style scheme'
Homeowners offered £1,000 to host NHS patients in spare rooms in 'Airbnb-style scheme' The NHS is piloting a new ‘Airbnb’-style scheme in which homeowners will be paid £1,000 a month to ‘host’ patients in their spare rooms in a bid to combat bed blocking.
Start-up company CareRooms is working with trusts and councils in Essex to link up members of the public with patients who have had a minor procedure - such as a knee operation - but who live alone or have no family to help them convalesce.
In return for fees of up to £1,000 a month, hosts are asked to ‘welcome the patient, cook three microwave meals a day, and offer conversation,’ the Health Service Journal (HSJ) has discovered. The Daily Telegraph
Start-up company CareRooms is working with trusts and councils in Essex to link up members of the public with patients who have had a minor procedure - such as a knee operation - but who live alone or have no family to help them convalesce.
In return for fees of up to £1,000 a month, hosts are asked to ‘welcome the patient, cook three microwave meals a day, and offer conversation,’ the Health Service Journal (HSJ) has discovered. The Daily Telegraph
£15,000 robot to look after elderly in Southend care home
£15,000 robot to look after elderly in Southend care home Care homes plan to use robots to interact with the elderly – raising fears they could become a cheap replacement for staff.
A £15,000 robot is to patrol care homes and seek out elderly residents in Southend to talk to.
And a separate British trial starting this month will use robots to bolster staff at homes in the UK, Poland and Greece.
It is hoped that they will eventually be able to monitor pulses and signs of illness in order to alert staff. The Daily Mail
A £15,000 robot is to patrol care homes and seek out elderly residents in Southend to talk to.
And a separate British trial starting this month will use robots to bolster staff at homes in the UK, Poland and Greece.
It is hoped that they will eventually be able to monitor pulses and signs of illness in order to alert staff. The Daily Mail
Three people bitten by crocodiles in England last year
Three people bitten by crocodiles in England last year Three people were rushed to hospital after being bitten by crocodiles in England last year, Government figures show.
One adult was even attacked by the dangerous reptile in a 'residential institution', often used in statistics to define a care home.
The bizarre incidents, normally seen in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia, were released by NHS Digital and formed part of a table of the weirdest hospital admissions. The Daily Mail
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One adult was even attacked by the dangerous reptile in a 'residential institution', often used in statistics to define a care home.
The bizarre incidents, normally seen in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia, were released by NHS Digital and formed part of a table of the weirdest hospital admissions. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2016-17 NHS Digital
- Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2016-17: External causes (table download) NHS Digital
Tuesday 24 October 2017
How IoT and virtual reality can make the NHS great again - Information Age
How IoT and virtual reality can make the NHS great again Northampton General Hospital launched its own AR app in response to the increasing number of customers who were consuming their information digitally. Information Age
Whole-system transformation needs whole-system engagement
Whole-system transformation needs whole-system engagement Recently, the Fund hosted a visit by leaders of the health system in Canterbury, New Zealand. In this blog, the first of three drawing on experiences shared during the visit, Chris Ham focuses on how Canterbury’s leaders began transforming care and the results they delivered. The King's Fund
Tobacco control policy overview
Tobacco control policy overview The Government’s new tobacco control plan was published in 2017, and seeks to reduce smoking overall and target this inequality in smoking rates. This briefing paper provides a summary on the tobacco control plan, tobacco control policies and smoking cessation services. House of Commons Library
Performance tracker: autumn 2017
Performance tracker: autumn 2017 This report finds that the government has spent over £10 billion in five years just to keep troubled services - such as hospitals and prisons - going and argues that the extra funding is not solving underlying issues that public services are facing. In the analysis of health and social care services, it finds that hospitals are spending more with no sign of improvement in key pressure points; adult social care is lacking a clear plan for what happens once emergency funding has run out; and GP numbers are not rising despite plans to improve services. The report calls for urgent action on policy and decision making in order to deal with the building pressures on public services. Institute for Government
County care markets update 2017
County care markets update 2017 This independent report, authored by LaingBuisson, shows that people who pay for their own care are paying weekly fees almost 50 per cent higher than councils, due to cuts in local authority funding and rising demand for services. The analysis shows that self-funders are filling a gap of £670 million per year in England's counties. County Councils Network
How operating theatres are wasting two hours a day
How operating theatres are wasting two hours a day NHS hospitals could carry out 280,000 more non-emergency operations a year by organising operating theatre schedules better, a new study suggests.
The research, which looked at data from 2016, found more than two hours were wasted each day on the average operating list.
The study says avoidable factors like late starts led to the loss of time.
The analysis, seen by the BBC ahead of publication, looked at theatres in 100 NHS Trusts in England.
A total of 1.64 million routine surgical procedures were carried out in 2016, including eye, ear, nose and throat operations and orthopaedic procedures. BBC News
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The research, which looked at data from 2016, found more than two hours were wasted each day on the average operating list.
The study says avoidable factors like late starts led to the loss of time.
The analysis, seen by the BBC ahead of publication, looked at theatres in 100 NHS Trusts in England.
A total of 1.64 million routine surgical procedures were carried out in 2016, including eye, ear, nose and throat operations and orthopaedic procedures. BBC News
See also:
- NHS operations: 280,000 more 'could be carried out with better schedules' The Daily Telegraph
- NHS operating theatres in England ‘wasting two hours a day’ The Guardian
Dentist fines: Mistakes over addresses hitting thousands
Dentist fines: Mistakes over addresses hitting thousands Many fines incorrectly imposed after dental treatment are because of mistakes over patients' addresses, says a health watchdog.
The latest figures show 385,000 fines were issued in the last financial year - and dentists say tens of thousands of £100 fines have been wrongly applied.
Healthwatch in Kirklees says problems with address records are a big factor.
The NHS accepts this accounts for some of the incorrect fines and says it is planning an information campaign.
The British Dental Association (BDA) last week called for urgent action to tackle a wave of £100 fines being wrongly applied to dental patients who had free treatment, with particular concerns about confusion among vulnerable people. BBC News
The latest figures show 385,000 fines were issued in the last financial year - and dentists say tens of thousands of £100 fines have been wrongly applied.
Healthwatch in Kirklees says problems with address records are a big factor.
The NHS accepts this accounts for some of the incorrect fines and says it is planning an information campaign.
The British Dental Association (BDA) last week called for urgent action to tackle a wave of £100 fines being wrongly applied to dental patients who had free treatment, with particular concerns about confusion among vulnerable people. BBC News
Pregnant and ill migrants going without medical care as Government intensifies NHS immigration policy
Pregnant and ill migrants going without medical care as Government intensifies NHS immigration policy Pregnant and seriously ill migrants are going without medical care because they are afraid of receiving bills they cannot pay and subsequently being referred to the Home Office, new studies show.
Research, seen exclusively by The Independent, shows a third of vulnerable migrants requiring medical treatment had been deterred from seeking timely healthcare because of concerns that their information would be shared with the Home Office as a result of the NHS charging process.
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Research, seen exclusively by The Independent, shows a third of vulnerable migrants requiring medical treatment had been deterred from seeking timely healthcare because of concerns that their information would be shared with the Home Office as a result of the NHS charging process.
See also:
- Policing health tourism should not be the role of doctors says Royal College of GPs in response to the introduction of charges for non-EU patients for NHS treatment Royal College of General Practitioners
- Overseas patients charged up to £15,000 for operations under new NHS rules The Daily Telegraph
- Today marks the day when a founding principle of the NHS is destroyed – and doctors like me are being told to help The Independent
- NHS charging rules: Doctors and nurses accuse Government of ‘deliberate cruelty’ with upfront payments and ID checks The Independent
Women fought for abortion rights. Fifty years on, the service is in crisis
Women fought for abortion rights. Fifty years on, the service is in crisis The NHS has been outsourcing the procedure and failing to train specialist staff. Now hundreds of women can’t get an abortion, putting their lives at risk
Half a century after abortion was made legal in England, Scotland and Wales, outsourcing of NHS services and a subsequent lack of specialist doctors mean that hundreds of women each year are prevented from having an abortion, sometimes seriously threatening their health, according to leading medics.
“The system is broken. It’s in crisis. Not fit for purpose,” says professor Lesley Regan, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Continue reading... The Guardian
Half a century after abortion was made legal in England, Scotland and Wales, outsourcing of NHS services and a subsequent lack of specialist doctors mean that hundreds of women each year are prevented from having an abortion, sometimes seriously threatening their health, according to leading medics.
“The system is broken. It’s in crisis. Not fit for purpose,” says professor Lesley Regan, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Continue reading... The Guardian
Government health officials attack Calvin Harris for tweet
Government health officials attack Calvin Harris for tweet Government health officials have attacked superstar Calvin Harris after he controversially claimed the flu jab is a 'neurotoxin shot'.
The Scottish DJ, who has 12.7 million followers on Twitter, became embroiled in a row on the social media site after telling them the vaccine contains mercury.
His false allegations were dismissed by various experts, including Mail on Sunday's resident GP Dr Ellie Cannon, with whom he engaged in a war of words. The posts have since been deleted.
Angry doctors were concerned that his claims may deter millions from getting the flu jab - leaving them vulnerable to the dreaded Aussie flu outbreak that is expected to blight the UK in the coming weeks. The Daily Mail
The Scottish DJ, who has 12.7 million followers on Twitter, became embroiled in a row on the social media site after telling them the vaccine contains mercury.
His false allegations were dismissed by various experts, including Mail on Sunday's resident GP Dr Ellie Cannon, with whom he engaged in a war of words. The posts have since been deleted.
Angry doctors were concerned that his claims may deter millions from getting the flu jab - leaving them vulnerable to the dreaded Aussie flu outbreak that is expected to blight the UK in the coming weeks. The Daily Mail
Monday 23 October 2017
KGH appoints new chief executive
KGH appoints new chief executive Kettering General Hospital has appointed a new chief executive.
Simon Weldon, who is currently director of operations and delivery with NHS England, will take up the post in April of next year.
His current responsibilities include the oversight of key national delivery programmes including non-elective, primary care, mental health, cancer and transforming care.
One of his key recent achievements has been the development of the urgent and emergency care transformation programme at a national level. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Simon Weldon, who is currently director of operations and delivery with NHS England, will take up the post in April of next year.
His current responsibilities include the oversight of key national delivery programmes including non-elective, primary care, mental health, cancer and transforming care.
One of his key recent achievements has been the development of the urgent and emergency care transformation programme at a national level. Northamptonshire Telegraph
"Am I meant to be okay now?": stories of life after treatment
"Am I meant to be okay now?": stories of life after treatment This report argues that the health and care system is failing to support recovering cancer patients with the physical and emotional trauma following treatment. It argues that the lack of appropriate aftercare is also placing pressure on the NHS with as cancer patients have 60 per cent more A&E attendances and 50 per cent more contact with GPs, 15 months after diagnosis. Macmillan
Health tourism charges come into force in England
Health tourism charges come into force in England Providers of NHS treatment are required from Monday to make sure patients in England are eligible for free care - and to charge them up front if not.
The measures apply to planned, non-urgent care - A&E, maternity, general practice and infectious disease treatment remain free to all.
The government hopes it will contribute to £22bn of savings needed in the NHS.
But the British Medical Association said the changes may prevent vulnerable people getting treatment they need.
Under the new measures, patients will be asked where they have lived in the last six months.
If they have lived abroad, they will be asked to show documentation that they are entitled to free NHS care, such as a non-UK European Health Insurance Card. BBC News
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The measures apply to planned, non-urgent care - A&E, maternity, general practice and infectious disease treatment remain free to all.
The government hopes it will contribute to £22bn of savings needed in the NHS.
But the British Medical Association said the changes may prevent vulnerable people getting treatment they need.
Under the new measures, patients will be asked where they have lived in the last six months.
If they have lived abroad, they will be asked to show documentation that they are entitled to free NHS care, such as a non-UK European Health Insurance Card. BBC News
See also:
- Guidance on overseas visitors hospital charging regulations Department of Health
- The hospitals with no-one to keep tabs on health tourists The Daily Mail
- 'Health tourists' to be charged upfront for NHS care The Daily Telegraph
- NHS to ask patients for bank statements to check they qualify for free health care The Daily Telegraph
- Fears for NHS over scheme to stop 'health tourists' The Daily Telegraph
- Overseas patient charges could leave GPs swamped as last bastion of free NHS GPonline
- Pregnant British woman ordered by NHS to prove she is from UK to receive free treatment The Independent
Patients need rest, not antibiotics, say health officials
Patients need rest, not antibiotics, say health officials More patients should be told to go home and rest rather than be given antibiotics, according to health officials.
Public Health England (PHE) says up to a fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary as many illnesses get better on their own.
Overusing the drugs is making infections harder to treat by creating drug-resistant superbugs.
PHE says patients have "a part to play" in stopping the rise of infections. BBC News
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Public Health England (PHE) says up to a fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary as many illnesses get better on their own.
Overusing the drugs is making infections harder to treat by creating drug-resistant superbugs.
PHE says patients have "a part to play" in stopping the rise of infections. BBC News
See also:
Children waiting up to 18 months for mental health treatment – CQC
Children waiting up to 18 months for mental health treatment – CQC NHS watchdog’s report sounds alarm that accessing care for under-18s in England takes so long, amid self-harm concerns
Children with mental health problems are waiting up to 18 months to be treated, a government ordered report will reveal next week in an indictment of the poor care many receive.
A Care Quality Commission report into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) will warn that long delays for treatment are damaging the health of young people with anxiety, depression and other conditions. Continue reading... The Guardian
Children with mental health problems are waiting up to 18 months to be treated, a government ordered report will reveal next week in an indictment of the poor care many receive.
A Care Quality Commission report into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) will warn that long delays for treatment are damaging the health of young people with anxiety, depression and other conditions. Continue reading... The Guardian
Was the children's tsar right to rip chunks out of the NHS boss?
Was the children's tsar right to rip chunks out of the NHS boss? Anne Longfield provoked a reaction but the confrontation is in danger of obscuring the issues around mental health services she wanted to highlight
The mauling of NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens by children’s commissioner Anne Longfield over mental health services is a rare example of brutal disputes between officials breaking out in public.
The children’s commissioner for England, a post created in 2004, exists to stand up for the rights of children, particularly on issues affecting the most vulnerable.
Longfield’s argument that the system is driven by crisis rather than early intervention applies to the entire NHS Continue reading... The Guardian
The mauling of NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens by children’s commissioner Anne Longfield over mental health services is a rare example of brutal disputes between officials breaking out in public.
The children’s commissioner for England, a post created in 2004, exists to stand up for the rights of children, particularly on issues affecting the most vulnerable.
Longfield’s argument that the system is driven by crisis rather than early intervention applies to the entire NHS Continue reading... The Guardian
Technology and innovation are key to saving the NHS | Alan Milburn
Technology and innovation are key to saving the NHS | Alan Milburn Throwing money at healthcare is not enough – we need to take advantage of advances in knowledge to better target care
The NHS is the core of our care system. It has remarkable strengths and, by international standards, is as competitive, efficient and – in outcomes per pound spent – as good as anything in the world. But, as is becoming increasingly clear, it faces formidable challenges. The population is ageing. Chronic diseases such as diabetes are becoming more prevalent and already absorb most of the NHS budget. Costs are rising but budgets and funding are not. Since it was created, the NHS budget has risen by 3.7% in real terms each year. In the last few years it has grown by less than half that rate. The impact on performance and waiting times is obvious. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS is the core of our care system. It has remarkable strengths and, by international standards, is as competitive, efficient and – in outcomes per pound spent – as good as anything in the world. But, as is becoming increasingly clear, it faces formidable challenges. The population is ageing. Chronic diseases such as diabetes are becoming more prevalent and already absorb most of the NHS budget. Costs are rising but budgets and funding are not. Since it was created, the NHS budget has risen by 3.7% in real terms each year. In the last few years it has grown by less than half that rate. The impact on performance and waiting times is obvious. Continue reading... The Guardian
Rising numbers of NHS hospitals charging disabled patients to park
Rising numbers of NHS hospitals charging disabled patients to park Rising numbers of NHS hospitals are charging disabled patients and visitors for parking, official figures show.
The statistics reveal that 139 hospital sites insist on such payments, even though the Health Secretary has described them as a “stealth tax on the vulnerable”.
Labour said the situation was “a disgrace” with patients being forced to pay the price for a financial crisis in the health service.
The figures from NHS Digital for 2016/17 show average parking costs at some trusts are as high as £3.20 an hour. The Daily Telegraph
The statistics reveal that 139 hospital sites insist on such payments, even though the Health Secretary has described them as a “stealth tax on the vulnerable”.
Labour said the situation was “a disgrace” with patients being forced to pay the price for a financial crisis in the health service.
The figures from NHS Digital for 2016/17 show average parking costs at some trusts are as high as £3.20 an hour. The Daily Telegraph
Public forced to 'pay twice over' for high cost drugs, campaigners say
Public forced to 'pay twice over' for high cost drugs, campaigners say Pharmaceutical companies are “ripping off” the public by charging taxpayers twice over and pricing too many drugs out of reach of the NHS, a campaign group claims.
A report by Global Justice Now says the NHS is spending £1bn a year on medicines made by companies which were awarded significant sums of public money.
In other cases, companies which benefitted from major research funds have priced drugs so high that the NHS cannot afford them, the report claims. The Daily Telegraph
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A report by Global Justice Now says the NHS is spending £1bn a year on medicines made by companies which were awarded significant sums of public money.
In other cases, companies which benefitted from major research funds have priced drugs so high that the NHS cannot afford them, the report claims. The Daily Telegraph
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Friday 20 October 2017
Northampton A&E swamped by over 400 patients in 'busiest day ever'
Northampton A&E swamped by over 400 patients in 'busiest day ever' Northampton General Hospital A&E saw its "busiest day ever" this week with over 400 patients asking for help in a single day.
The hospital has been running at the highest level of escalation - OPEL 4, previously known as "black alert" - for most of the week, meaning the lack of free beds might send patients out of town for treatment.
The department also saw its second busiest day ever this week, but hospital officials say they were able to deal with the record numbers and managed to see four-out-of-five patients within four hours.
Northampton General Hospital A&E saw 402 patients on Monday and 355 on Tuesday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The hospital has been running at the highest level of escalation - OPEL 4, previously known as "black alert" - for most of the week, meaning the lack of free beds might send patients out of town for treatment.
The department also saw its second busiest day ever this week, but hospital officials say they were able to deal with the record numbers and managed to see four-out-of-five patients within four hours.
Northampton General Hospital A&E saw 402 patients on Monday and 355 on Tuesday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Northamptonshire people urged to take up flu vaccine offer
Northamptonshire people urged to take up flu vaccine offer People in Northamptonshire who are the most vulnerable to flu are being urged to protect themselves and their family this winter by having a vaccination.
Flu is a highly contagious viral infection that anyone can catch and is most common over the winter period.
Getting the flu jab or nasal spray is one of the most effective ways to reduce potential harm from the seasonal flu virus.
The vaccination is offered for free to those at increased risk from the effects of flu, including: children aged two to eight, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with long-term health conditions, carers and front-line health and social care workers. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Flu is a highly contagious viral infection that anyone can catch and is most common over the winter period.
Getting the flu jab or nasal spray is one of the most effective ways to reduce potential harm from the seasonal flu virus.
The vaccination is offered for free to those at increased risk from the effects of flu, including: children aged two to eight, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with long-term health conditions, carers and front-line health and social care workers. Northamptonshire Telegraph
How does the NHS work? A never-ending story
How does the NHS work? A never-ending story ‘Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated.’ So said Donald Trump earlier this year as he set out to overhaul Barack Obama’s signature health care policy, the Affordable Care Act.
It may have come as a surprise to the US President, but those working in health policy across the globe have long been aware of the complexities of providing health care for millions of people in a way that is efficient, safe and equitable. The King's Fund
It may have come as a surprise to the US President, but those working in health policy across the globe have long been aware of the complexities of providing health care for millions of people in a way that is efficient, safe and equitable. The King's Fund
Policy paper: Personalised health and care 2020: service user vision
Policy paper: Personalised health and care 2020: service user vision How the government and national health and care organisations aim to use information technology within current programmes, to improve health and social care services in England. Department of Health
Care home bed provision and potential end of life care need in people aged 75 or older in England
Care home bed provision and potential end of life care need in people aged 75 or older in England This briefing presents data that describes the availability of residential and nursing home places together with the older population and the number of deaths. National End of Life Care Intelligence Network
Literature review: the economic costs of lung disease and the cost effectiveness of policy and service interventions
Literature review: the economic costs of lung disease and the cost effectiveness of policy and service interventions This report, conducted by York Health Economics Consortium on behalf of the British Lung Foundation and British Thoracic Society, identifies published evidence on the economic costs of lung disease and the cost-effectiveness of different NHS activities, programmes and campaigns to combat lung problems.
Pollution linked to one in six deaths
Pollution linked to one in six deaths Pollution has been linked to nine million deaths worldwide in 2015, a report in The Lancet has found.
Almost all of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, where pollution could account for up to a quarter of deaths. Bangladesh and Somalia were the worst affected.
Air pollution had the biggest impact, accounting for two-thirds of deaths from pollution.
Brunei and Sweden had the lowest numbers of pollution-related deaths.
Most of these deaths were caused by non-infectious diseases linked to pollution, such as heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. BBC News
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Almost all of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, where pollution could account for up to a quarter of deaths. Bangladesh and Somalia were the worst affected.
Air pollution had the biggest impact, accounting for two-thirds of deaths from pollution.
Brunei and Sweden had the lowest numbers of pollution-related deaths.
Most of these deaths were caused by non-infectious diseases linked to pollution, such as heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. BBC News
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'Handful of changes' make cancer
'Handful of changes' make cancer British scientists have worked out how many changes it takes to transform a healthy cell into a cancer.
The team, at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, showed the answer was a tiny handful, between one and 10 mutations depending on the type of tumour.
It has been one of the most hotly debated issues in cancer science for decades.
The findings, published in the journal Cell, could improve treatment for patients. BBC News
The team, at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, showed the answer was a tiny handful, between one and 10 mutations depending on the type of tumour.
It has been one of the most hotly debated issues in cancer science for decades.
The findings, published in the journal Cell, could improve treatment for patients. BBC News
Government warned of 'dangerous blind spot' over violent attacks on NHS staff
Government warned of 'dangerous blind spot' over violent attacks on NHS staff The Government has been accused of creating a “dangerous blind spot” over the scale of attacks on NHS staff after it revealed it no longer collects information on hospital assaults.
Ministers admitted for the first time that they will rely on an optional staff survey to tot up the number of attacks - a move branded “totally inadequate” by nursing leaders.
Physical assaults on NHS staff rose by 4 per cent from 67,864 in 2014/15 to 70,555 in 2015/16, according to NHS Protect, which collected data on attacks until it was quietly axed earlier this year. The Independent
Ministers admitted for the first time that they will rely on an optional staff survey to tot up the number of attacks - a move branded “totally inadequate” by nursing leaders.
Physical assaults on NHS staff rose by 4 per cent from 67,864 in 2014/15 to 70,555 in 2015/16, according to NHS Protect, which collected data on attacks until it was quietly axed earlier this year. The Independent
NHS waiting times: hospital bosses fear 'a return to 1999'
NHS waiting times: hospital bosses fear 'a return to 1999' Four NHS trust chief executives publicly raise concerns about service struggling amid tight budgets and staffing problems
Hospital bosses have taken the unusual step of publicly drawing attention to the NHS’s declining ability to treat patients quickly enough, with one comparing lengthening waits for care to the huge delays last seen in 1999.
Four NHS trust chief executives in England have posted comments on Twitter since Tuesday lamenting the challenges the service is facing while it struggles with a tight budget and mounting staffing problems.
Difficult to watch - Feels like a return to 1999 - this time with virtually no social care. We need to urgently integrate health & care. Continue reading... The Guardian
Hospital bosses have taken the unusual step of publicly drawing attention to the NHS’s declining ability to treat patients quickly enough, with one comparing lengthening waits for care to the huge delays last seen in 1999.
Four NHS trust chief executives in England have posted comments on Twitter since Tuesday lamenting the challenges the service is facing while it struggles with a tight budget and mounting staffing problems.
Difficult to watch - Feels like a return to 1999 - this time with virtually no social care. We need to urgently integrate health & care. Continue reading... The Guardian
Giving birth to my stillborn daughter was horrific. NHS staff saved us from despair
Giving birth to my stillborn daughter was horrific. NHS staff saved us from despair At every stage the experience and understanding of the midwives and doctors guided us through this traumatic experience
One night when I was expecting my first child, I woke up with a start. I was due to give birth any day and it was obvious to me that my baby had stopped moving. At midnight, my husband and I dashed to triage where we were seen by a friendly but unconcerned midwife. She nonchalantly pulled out a Doppler and placed it on my stomach to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. There wasn’t one. She didn’t tell us that, but it was obvious by the silence. At my last checkup two weeks before, the midwife had been able to find the heartbeat almost instantly.
A series of consultants were led to the room, each with increasing seniority. They took turns placing the doppler on different parts of my stomach to find the heartbeat. The silence continued. Someone was found to operate the ultrasound machine so they could see the baby; my husband told me not to look. Eventually a consultant took my hand and told me she was sorry, the baby was gone. The most senior consultant was called to verify that devastating news and from that moment a world of NHS services we never imagined existed enveloped around us. Continue reading... The Guardian
One night when I was expecting my first child, I woke up with a start. I was due to give birth any day and it was obvious to me that my baby had stopped moving. At midnight, my husband and I dashed to triage where we were seen by a friendly but unconcerned midwife. She nonchalantly pulled out a Doppler and placed it on my stomach to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. There wasn’t one. She didn’t tell us that, but it was obvious by the silence. At my last checkup two weeks before, the midwife had been able to find the heartbeat almost instantly.
A series of consultants were led to the room, each with increasing seniority. They took turns placing the doppler on different parts of my stomach to find the heartbeat. The silence continued. Someone was found to operate the ultrasound machine so they could see the baby; my husband told me not to look. Eventually a consultant took my hand and told me she was sorry, the baby was gone. The most senior consultant was called to verify that devastating news and from that moment a world of NHS services we never imagined existed enveloped around us. Continue reading... The Guardian
One in five children obese by the time they leave primary school
One in five children obese by the time they leave primary school Record numbers of children are leaving primary school fat with one in five now obese, shocking figures suggest. NHS data shows that 9.6 per cent of children are dangerously overweight by the time they start school - an increase from 9.3 per cent the year before.
By the time children reach the age of 10 and 11, 20 per cent are obese, the statistics for 2016/17 show. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
By the time children reach the age of 10 and 11, 20 per cent are obese, the statistics for 2016/17 show. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
NHS 'not screening for some forms of cancer costing lives'
NHS 'not screening for some forms of cancer costing lives' Hundreds of women are dying needlessly each year because the NHS is failing to screen for genetic forms of cancer, a charity has warned.
Some 29 per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not offered genetic testing to see if their family might also be at risk.
Ovarian Cancer Action said around one in six cases are linked to the mutated BRCA gene – famously carried by Angelina Jolie – which significantly increases their risk. The Daily Mail
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Some 29 per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not offered genetic testing to see if their family might also be at risk.
Ovarian Cancer Action said around one in six cases are linked to the mutated BRCA gene – famously carried by Angelina Jolie – which significantly increases their risk. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Acting on BRCA: Breaking down barriers to save lives Ovarian Cancer Action
Thursday 19 October 2017
Two arrested in Latimer Grange care home neglect inquiry
Two arrested in Latimer Grange care home neglect inquiry Two people have been arrested by police investigating allegations of neglect at a Northamptonshire care home.
The pair were detained after allegations that include criminal offences against current and past residents of Latimer Grange Care Home.
Insp Kev Wooldridge, of Northamptonshire Police, said safety of residents was their "primary concern".
Officers started looking into the care home in Burton Latimer following a BBC investigation in June. BBC Northampton
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The pair were detained after allegations that include criminal offences against current and past residents of Latimer Grange Care Home.
Insp Kev Wooldridge, of Northamptonshire Police, said safety of residents was their "primary concern".
Officers started looking into the care home in Burton Latimer following a BBC investigation in June. BBC Northampton
See also:
- Two arrested by police investigating alleged neglect at Burton Latimer care home Northamptonshire Telegraph
Brexit may be dominating political debate, but the NHS cannot be ignored
Brexit may be dominating political debate, but the NHS cannot be ignored Party conference season saw some positive noises about politicians’ plans for the NHS. But serious issues have still not been addressed, says Anita Charlesworth.
Autumn is upon us. For young people that means heading off to university, for politicians it’s off to party conferences. Attending a party conference bears striking similarities to fresher’s week. The parallels between university life and political conferences were most stark at Labour, which is reinventing the party conference as we know it.
The main parties’ conferences are now over and the dust is settling on the post-election landscape. The NHS’s position in that landscape is complex. The health service clearly matters to the public – according to one poll it was second only to Brexit in shaping people’s voting decisions in the last election. However, despite the service’s undoubted salience, it’s also clear that the focus of Westminster is fundamentally elsewhere. The Health Foundation
Autumn is upon us. For young people that means heading off to university, for politicians it’s off to party conferences. Attending a party conference bears striking similarities to fresher’s week. The parallels between university life and political conferences were most stark at Labour, which is reinventing the party conference as we know it.
The main parties’ conferences are now over and the dust is settling on the post-election landscape. The NHS’s position in that landscape is complex. The health service clearly matters to the public – according to one poll it was second only to Brexit in shaping people’s voting decisions in the last election. However, despite the service’s undoubted salience, it’s also clear that the focus of Westminster is fundamentally elsewhere. The Health Foundation
Public engagement – pitfalls, barriers and benefits
Public engagement – pitfalls, barriers and benefits It is often argued that the intensity of the public’s relationship with the NHS insulates the service from necessary change. However, like any relationship, it is not quite as straightforward as that. The King's Fund
New technology, earlier diagnosis and better coordination of care in cancer
New technology, earlier diagnosis and better coordination of care in cancer The NHS is on-track to transform cancer services in England by 2020/21 according to a report published today by NHS England’s National Cancer Programme. The report details the investment the NHS is making in cancer transformation, including £130m over the period 2016/18 in new and upgraded radiotherapy equipment and £200m over the next two years. NHS England
Emergency department survey 2016
Emergency department survey 2016 The CQC asked people about their experiences of emergency departments. This report contains the analysis of the results. Patients were generally positive when answering questions about their interactions with staff. Positive responses were also received to questions asking about information provision and communication regarding care and treatment whilst in the emergency department. However, there were less positive results for questions asking about: receiving timely pain relief; emotional support; and information provision when leaving the emergency department. Care Quality Commission
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