Friday 1 December 2017
Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability
Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability This publication sets out the government’s strategy on the future of work, health and disability. We will take action across 3 settings – welfare, the workplace and the health system, to transform employment prospects for disabled people and people with long term health conditions. It includes the government’s commitment to see one million more disabled people in work over the next 10 years. Department of Health
Room to improve: the role of home adaptations in improving later life
Room to improve: the role of home adaptations in improving later life This report finds that making small changes to older people’s homes, such as installing handrails, ramps and level-access showers, alongside carrying out simple home repairs, could play a significant role in relieving pressure on the NHS and social care and reduce costs by millions of pounds each year. It also shows that minor home aids and adaptations can greatly improve quality of life for people who are losing mobility. Centre for Ageing Better
Sharing data in line with patients' reasonable expectations
Sharing data in line with patients' reasonable expectations The National Data Guardian have been looking at the circumstances under which health and care data may be shared, and the role that patients’ reasonable expectations play in shaping these circumstances. Part of this work has been examining how implied consent is used within health and care settings to share patient data and support individual care. These reports cover two events examining this, and the importance of understanding patient expectations.
Mental health statistics annual report includes information on children for first time
Mental health statistics annual report includes information on children for first time A breakdown of statistics on young people who have been referred for treatment or assessment with mental health services in England has been published today by NHS Digital.
This is summarised in counts of people who had an open referral at some point in 2016/17 regardless of whether they accessed services in the period.
16-17-year-old females were most likely to have had an open referral with mental health and learning disabilities services out of all young people3, according to figures in the Mental Health Bulletin 2016-17.
11 per cent (69,000) of 16-17-year-old females in England are known to have had an open referral with NHS funded secondary mental health, learning disabilities or autism services during 2016/174. Two per cent (1,300) of this group were admitted to hospital as part of their referral.
During the same period, eight per cent of 16-17-year-old males (52,000) in England are known to have had an open referral with these services.
Users of these statistics should bear in mind that the numbers presented in this year's bulletin do not include information from all providers of services5.
In total, more than 2.6 million people are known have had an open referral with mental health services at some point during the year. 560,000 of these were under 18 years of age.
See also:
This is summarised in counts of people who had an open referral at some point in 2016/17 regardless of whether they accessed services in the period.
16-17-year-old females were most likely to have had an open referral with mental health and learning disabilities services out of all young people3, according to figures in the Mental Health Bulletin 2016-17.
11 per cent (69,000) of 16-17-year-old females in England are known to have had an open referral with NHS funded secondary mental health, learning disabilities or autism services during 2016/174. Two per cent (1,300) of this group were admitted to hospital as part of their referral.
During the same period, eight per cent of 16-17-year-old males (52,000) in England are known to have had an open referral with these services.
Users of these statistics should bear in mind that the numbers presented in this year's bulletin do not include information from all providers of services5.
In total, more than 2.6 million people are known have had an open referral with mental health services at some point during the year. 560,000 of these were under 18 years of age.
See also:
Briefing: Substance misuse services
Briefing: Substance misuse services In 2016, in response to early inspections under our new comprehensive inspection approach, we wrote to all registered independent sector residential drug and alcohol treatment providers to make them aware of our concerns about the safety of care being provided to people undergoing withdrawal from drugs and/or alcohol. We asked providers to take action to address any issues in their own services.
This briefing presents the concerns identified during our inspections. It also gives an example of good practice, and gives a number of actions and recommendations. Care Quality Commission
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This briefing presents the concerns identified during our inspections. It also gives an example of good practice, and gives a number of actions and recommendations. Care Quality Commission
See also:
'Not enough funding to hit waiting time targets'
'Not enough funding to hit waiting time targets' He warned waiting lists would get longer if the Budget did not deliver enough extra cash.
Now Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, has begun to spell out the consequences, as he sees things, of the chancellor's decisions.
Thursday's NHS England board meeting was peppered with phrases such as "difficult decisions" and "tough choices".
In essence, its leaders were saying there was not enough money to hit key waiting-time targets next year (2018-19) and deliver the range of care patients might expect.
Even after the Budget allocation of extra funding, NHS England says its income over and above inflation will rise at a slower rate (1.9%) next year than this year. BBC News
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Now Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, has begun to spell out the consequences, as he sees things, of the chancellor's decisions.
Thursday's NHS England board meeting was peppered with phrases such as "difficult decisions" and "tough choices".
In essence, its leaders were saying there was not enough money to hit key waiting-time targets next year (2018-19) and deliver the range of care patients might expect.
Even after the Budget allocation of extra funding, NHS England says its income over and above inflation will rise at a slower rate (1.9%) next year than this year. BBC News
See also:
- Treatment for dementia, arthritis and blindness could be further rationed, health chiefs signal The Daily Telegraph
- NHS bosses say waiting time targets will have to be abandoned next year The Guardian
- NHS says expect longer patient waiting times after Philip Hammond's budget denies crucial funds The Independent
Portsmouth hospital missed lung cancer cases
Portsmouth hospital missed lung cancer cases A hospital failed to spot cases of lung cancer because it did not check patients' chest X-rays properly, the Care Quality Commission has found.
The health watchdog found that three patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth suffered "significant harm".
It emerged that junior doctors complained they had been asked to carry out specialist radiology work without the appropriate training.
The CQC has now launched a review of NHS radiology services in England.
All NHS bodies have been instructed to provide details about their backlogs, turnaround times, staffing and arrangements for routine reporting of images. BBC News
The health watchdog found that three patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth suffered "significant harm".
It emerged that junior doctors complained they had been asked to carry out specialist radiology work without the appropriate training.
The CQC has now launched a review of NHS radiology services in England.
All NHS bodies have been instructed to provide details about their backlogs, turnaround times, staffing and arrangements for routine reporting of images. BBC News
See also:
- The Chief Inspector’s letter to all acute and specialist NHS trusts Care Quality Commission
I was falsely accused by an NHS whistleblower. It destroyed my career
I was falsely accused by an NHS whistleblower. It destroyed my career After months of distress, the trust found there was no case to answer, but I was left living with depression and struggled to pay legal bills.
Until a couple of years ago, I had a good career and an unblemished record as an NHS manager: I had spent decades working my way up to a senior level, and had a responsible job in a hospital trust. Then I came in one morning and was summoned to see the chair, who handed me an envelope and had me escorted off the premises. What happened next was a miscarriage of justice that wrecked my career, did huge damage to my family, and cost the NHS an experienced manager.
The trust had received allegations about me and several other executives from a number of whistleblowers: I was accused of lacking integrity, being dishonest and negligent, bullying and misusing funds. I was sent home while an exhaustive investigation was launched, and entered a process of slow torture. Continue reading... The Guardian
Until a couple of years ago, I had a good career and an unblemished record as an NHS manager: I had spent decades working my way up to a senior level, and had a responsible job in a hospital trust. Then I came in one morning and was summoned to see the chair, who handed me an envelope and had me escorted off the premises. What happened next was a miscarriage of justice that wrecked my career, did huge damage to my family, and cost the NHS an experienced manager.
The trust had received allegations about me and several other executives from a number of whistleblowers: I was accused of lacking integrity, being dishonest and negligent, bullying and misusing funds. I was sent home while an exhaustive investigation was launched, and entered a process of slow torture. Continue reading... The Guardian
GPs ordered to stop prescribing treatment for dandruff, cold sores and coughs
GPs ordered to stop prescribing treatment for dandruff, cold sores and coughs GPs will be ordered to stop funding thousands of over-the-counter remedies for dandruff, cold sores, and coughs and colds in a bid to clamp down on waste across the health service.
More than 3,000 products currently funded by the NHS will no longer be routinely prescribed, under proposals to reduce the £650m spent annually on drugs which do not require without prescription.
Health officials pledged to bring down the £9billion drugs bill by stopping all prescriptions for some treatments, and widely restricting others.
Under the proposals, GPs will be told to stop routinely funding remedies for 36 conditions - including dandruff, cold sores, verrucas and insect bites - which be bought cheaply over the counter. The Daily Telegraph
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More than 3,000 products currently funded by the NHS will no longer be routinely prescribed, under proposals to reduce the £650m spent annually on drugs which do not require without prescription.
Health officials pledged to bring down the £9billion drugs bill by stopping all prescriptions for some treatments, and widely restricting others.
Under the proposals, GPs will be told to stop routinely funding remedies for 36 conditions - including dandruff, cold sores, verrucas and insect bites - which be bought cheaply over the counter. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Prescription curbs to free up hundreds of millions of pounds for frontline care NHS England
- College reassured GPs will retain freedom to prescribe following NHS England board meeting Royal College of General Practitioners
- Patients may not be able to get painkillers on the NHS The Daily Mail
- NHS confirms low value treatment blacklist and plans OTC prescribing limits GPonline
- Thank God the NHS has come to its senses over homeopathy The Independent
- Green light for ban on prescription of ‘low value products’ on NHS OnMedica
Care homes are breaking the law by charging residents after death, says watchdog
Care homes are breaking the law by charging residents after death, says watchdog Care homes are breaking the law by charging wealthier residents fees after they have died, a regulator has said.
People who pay for their own care are also being charged £12,000 year more each than the fees paid by councils, equivalent to a total shortfall of £1bn a year, the Competition and Markets Authority said.
Its study found that wealthier residents were being overcharged by thousands of pounds because councils are failing to provide homes with enough money to cover the places they fund for poorer residents. The Daily Telegraph
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People who pay for their own care are also being charged £12,000 year more each than the fees paid by councils, equivalent to a total shortfall of £1bn a year, the Competition and Markets Authority said.
Its study found that wealthier residents were being overcharged by thousands of pounds because councils are failing to provide homes with enough money to cover the places they fund for poorer residents. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Care homes market study: final report Competition and Markets Authority
- Care homes: Self-funders 'pay £1bn of unfair charges and fees' BBC News
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