Thursday 23 February 2017

‘Teflon’ Jeremy Hunt and the de-politicisation of the NHS

‘Teflon’ Jeremy Hunt and the de-politicisation of the NHS Is Andrew Lansley’s grand reform of the NHS – otherwise known as the 2012 Health and Social Care Act – actually working? Or at least one part of it?

That might seem a truly daft question when the health service is clearly under enormous pressure, with plenty of normally sober people bandying about the word ‘crisis’.

But consider this. The NHS has had its fair share of financial crises before. This time round, however, everyone knows how far and how fast things are deteriorating because these days a plethora of data – about waiting times, delayed discharges, cancelled operations and the like – is published that simply did not exist before. The King's Fund

Maternal mental health - women’s voices

Maternal mental health - women’s voices The results of a survey of over 2300 women about their experiences of mental health problems during and after pregnancy.

Women have spoken out frankly about their experiences of perinatal mental health problems, engagement with healthcare professionals and the quality of NHS and social care received. The results present a stark picture of how services are letting down some of the most vulnerable women in our society, and provides key recommendations for healthcare professionals, managers, providers, commissioners and policy-makers. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

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Reducing admission of full term babies to neonatal units

Reducing admission of full term babies to neonatal units We want to reduce harm leading to avoidable admissions to neonatal units for babies born at or after 37 weeks.

We've identified that over 20% of admissions of full term babies to neonatal units could be avoided. By providing services and staffing models that keep mother and baby together we can reduce the harm caused by separation.

We want all maternity and neonatal services to work together to identify babies whose admission to a neonatal unit could be avoided and to promote understanding of the importance of keeping mother and baby together when safe to do so. NHS Improvement

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NHS 'rapped' over leaks of A&E data

NHS 'rapped' over leaks of A&E data NHS leaders in England have been asked by the statistics watchdog to rethink current policies that delay publishing official data on accident and emergency waiting times.

This follows two separate leaks to BBC News of A&E data for January, which suggested the worst performance by hospitals since records began.

NHS England and the regulator NHS Improvement have been told by the UK Statistics Authority to review the practice of publishing the data six weeks after collecting it.

Their leaders have been asked to "to determine how you could reduce the time lag in publication". BBC News

Global alliance now needed to drive down obesity, argue experts

Global alliance now needed to drive down obesity, argue experts The UK action plan to curb the rise in childhood obesity is “severely limited,” and a global alliance of health bodies is now needed to get results, argue experts in an analysis* published in The BMJ today. OnMedica

Five-a-day becomes 10-a-day as scientists urge people to eat more fruit and vegetables

Five-a-day becomes 10-a-day as scientists urge people to eat more fruit and vegetables Increasing the portions of fruit and vegetables consumed each day from five to 10 could significantly reduce a person's risk of heart disease and cancer, a new study has found.

While eating the recommended five a day still helps reduce disease risk, the highest benefits are seen when people consume double that, researchers found.

The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, also identified which fruit and vegetables provided the greatest protection against disease. The Independent

Thousands of doctors trained in Europe 'may quit UK after Brexit'

Thousands of doctors trained in Europe 'may quit UK after Brexit' BMA warns of impending ‘disaster’ as its research shows 40% of doctors who qualified in EEA may leave because they feel less welcome

About 12,000 doctors trained in European countries could quit the UK because they feel less welcome following the Brexit vote, according to a survey of overseas medics.

About two in five doctors who qualified in European Economic Area countries are considering leaving the UK in light of the referendum result, research by the British Medical Association reveals. Continue reading... The Guardian

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GPs miss chances to save the life of victims of domestic abuse

GPs miss chances to save the life of victims of domestic abuse More than 400 people were murdered by partners or ex-partners in three years in England and Wales. Report says doctors fail to spot those at risk

GPs are missing vital opportunities to intervene and potentially save the lives of people experiencing domestic abuse, a leading charity has warned.

Two women are murdered every week in England and Wales by a current or former partner. The latest crime statistics show that 332 women and 78 men were killed by their partners or ex-partners between March 2012 and March 2015. An analysis of 24 domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) from murders committed over the same period show that in more than half of the cases examined, doctors missed vital opportunities to identify risks and seek help for the victim.

In one case the offender rang the surgery requesting a home visit for an injection to 'put [the victim] to sleep' Continue reading... The Guardian

Rising numbers turn to alcohol to get a good night's rest

Rising numbers turn to alcohol to get a good night's rest A quarter of adults say they drink alcohol before nodding off, up from 16 per cent four years ago, according to a survey of 5,002 British men and women. The Daily Mail

Obese patients denied surgery and told to exercise instead

Obese patients denied surgery and told to exercise instead A cost-cutting scheme being imposed by two health trusts in Cheshire will refuse the operations to anyone with a body mass index above 35. The Daily Mail

Warn gym users about steroid risks, says watchdog

Warn gym users about steroid risks, says watchdog Gym owners should warn their customers not to use dangerous steroids in a bid to stem the rise of body-enhancing drug abuse fuelled by “selfie” culture, health experts have said.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence wants gyms to actively “target people who are taking, or considering taking, image and performance-enhancing drugs”.

The newly published guidance is part of an effort to crack down on the spiralling abuse of anabolic steroids, which crime analysts believe are taken by more than 60,000 people a year. The Daily Telegraph

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