Tuesday 24 January 2017

Smart TMS Announces rTMS alliance with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Smart TMS Announces rTMS alliance with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust London-based Smart TMS has announced that it will be working in partnership with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) to explore the provision of rTMS treatment for depression. The alliance will see Smart TMS working with NHFT for provision of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for both NHS and private patients in London and Northamptonshire.

rTMS, or Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is an innovative alternative to medication for treating depression. It is a clinically proven, non-invasive treatment which utilises the power of magnetic energy to directly stimulate precisely targeted areas of the brain.

The treatment was approved by NICE in 2015 for treating depression; yet as a new treatment, is not widely available in the UK, with just 3 NHS trusts and a handful of private clinics offering the service.

Northampton nurse who skipped appointments and covered-up failings struck-off

Northampton nurse who skipped appointments and covered-up failings struck-off A Northampton nurse has been struck off after it was proved she lied about treating patients. Stephanie Patricia Chesterman was struck off the nursing register and given an 18-month interim suspension order for misconduct and repeated dishonesty.

She lied about visiting patients, did not provide proper treatment and care, and falsely documented her appointments to cover for her failings, a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel heard. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The conundrum of children’s and young people’s health: time to address it

The conundrum of children’s and young people’s health: time to address it In the past few years, our focus here at The King’s Fund - on integration, new models of care and, increasingly, place-based population health systems - has been concerned with the physical and mental health of adults, often older people. But we are increasingly aware of some of the trends, issues and conundrums when it comes to the health of children and young people.

Why do I say conundrums? Well for a start, some important trends in children’s and young people’s health have been moving in opposite directions.

Banks face mental health challenge

Banks face mental health challenge Banks must offer basic account options, as given to other vulnerable people, to assist those struggling with mental health conditions, a think tank says.

Mental health problems affected everyday activities such as budgeting and paying bills, the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) said. BBC News

Organ trafficking

Organ trafficking Alert raised after patients from UK, Canada and Australia develop complications following kidney transplants. BBC News

GPs will not be forced into seven-day opening despite PM's comments, officials confirm

GPs will not be forced into seven-day opening despite PM's comments, officials confirm GP practices will not be compelled to open seven days a week or beyond current core hours, despite Downing Street briefings last week, DH and NHS England officials have told GP leaders. GP Online

GP referrals blocked as NHS sees four-fold rise in hospitals on top alert

GP referrals blocked as NHS sees four-fold rise in hospitals on top alert GPs continued to face blocks on routine referrals as the number of NHS hospitals declaring the highest possible level of alert more than quadrupled in the second week of 2017, official data show. GP Online

Dementia patients need more support at diagnosis

Dementia patients need more support at diagnosis A survey of the experiences of patients with dementia and their families reveals that there is a serious shortage of information available regarding services and support following diagnosis.

Patient watchdog group Healthwatch UK spoke to more than 1,000 patients and their families and visited 120 care home to find out more about the experiences of dementia care, from the help provided by GPs, to the support offered through hospitals and social care.

Healthwatch says cases of dementia are on the rise. Around 700,000 people in England have the disease currently, and this figure is expected to increase to over a million by 2025. OnMedica

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NHS offers paramedics a £10,000 bonus to tackle 999 crisis

NHS offers paramedics a £10,000 bonus to tackle 999 crisis Ambulance trusts across the country are offering paramedics sign-on bonuses of up to £10,000 in a desperate attempt to fill gaping vacancy lists - including 'golden hellos' and relocation expenses. The Daily Mail

Chilling menace of HACKERS holding the NHS to ransom

Chilling menace of HACKERS holding the NHS to ransom Having your operation cancelled because of a bed shortage or an infection on the ward is something patients dread but, these days, have learned to expect.

However, patients in three North Lincolnshire hospitals were recently offered a very different excuse: hackers had brought down the trust's computer system, forcing the cancellation of all appointments for two days.

Even car park barriers were affected, and the hospitals had to resort to pen and paper.

The network had been taken over by a malicious virus which encrypted files: the hackers demanded a ransom to unlock them. The Daily Mail

Hidden generation of mentally ill pensioners suffering in silence, charity boss warns

Hidden generation of mentally ill pensioners suffering in silence, charity boss warns A hidden generation of mentally ill pensioners is suffering in silence because they do not want to be a “burden”, the head of a charity helpline has warned.

Sophie Andrews, chief executive of The Silver Line, said increasing numbers of old people are phoning the charity with problems such as depression, but they refuse to tell their family or their doctor meaning the problems go unrecorded and untreated.

While mental health problems among the young are increasingly making their way onto the political agenda, the elderly are going largely unnoticed, said Ms Andrews. The Daily Telegraph