KGH in bottom five for A&E waiting times

KGH in bottom five for A&E waiting times Just four hospital trusts in England hit a lower rate for A&E waiting times targets than Kettering General Hospital.

New NHS statistics for A&E attendances between January and March this year show just 68.8 per of patients were seen in less than four hours.

That’s well below the target of 90 per cent.

KGH’s chief operating officer Rebecca Brown says the department is not fit for purpose. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire's air ambulance charity welcomes positive CQC report

Northamptonshire's air ambulance charity welcomes positive CQC report The Air Ambulance Service charity has welcomed a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into the standard of emergency and urgent care it provides following a comprehensive inspection of services. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS Digital failing to uphold patient interest

NHS Digital failing to uphold patient interest The Health and Social Care Committee raises serious concerns about NHS Digital’s ability to protect patient data, in its report into Memorandum of understanding on data-sharing between NHS Digital and the Home Office.

See also:

• GP patient data must not be treated like the Yellow Pages, demands College Royal College of General Practitioners
• Stop sharing NHS data with Home Office, officials told The Daily Telegraph
• Home Office sharing NHS data shows 'blatant disregard' for GP-patient trust GPonline
• Government 'failing to act on serious concerns about NHS data sharing' raised by doctors The Independent
• MPs attack NHS Digital for 'inappropriate' sharing of GP patient data Pulse

The promise of healthtech: how digital innovators are transforming the NHS

The promise of healthtech: how digital innovators are transforming the NHS Technological innovation is one way in which the NHS can sustainably relieve the demographic and financial pressure it faces. This report surveys the digital health market and identifies the trends that are contributing to its growth and also highlights the major barriers to innovation in the NHS. Public

Integrated commissioning for better outcomes: a commissioning framework

Integrated commissioning for better outcomes: a commissioning framework This practical tool, a product of joint project with NHS Clinical Commissioners, updates the Commissioning for better outcomes framework 2015 to better reflect the changing commissioning landscape. The resource consists of a commissioning framework and commissioning standards which support continuous improvement. Local Government Association

A solution to one of America’s biggest problems

A solution to one of America’s biggest problems There's a huge shortage of caregivers to look after America's ageing population. In Minnesota, they've come up with a creative solution. BBC News

Scarlet fever cases surge to more than twice seasonal average

Scarlet fever cases surge to more than twice seasonal average Cases of scarlet fever reported in England since September have surged to twice the average level for this time of year, public health officials have said. GPonline

See also:

• PHE urges vigilance in spotting signs of scarlet fever Public Health England

NHS trusts ‘fritter away’ millions of public money outsourcing staff to private companies, Unison says

NHS trusts ‘fritter away’ millions of public money outsourcing staff to private companies, Unison says NHS trusts are spending millions of pounds outsourcing staff to new private companies, research suggests.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Unison has revealed that NHS trusts in England are “shelling out” huge amounts of money on consultants.

The new arms-length private companies appeal to NHS trusts because they can reduce their VAT payments, and cut the pay and pensions for any new staff, Unison has said. The Independent

See also:

• NHS trusts are spending millions outsourcing staff to private companies UNISON

Plans to extend personalised health budget scheme

Plans to extend personalised health budget scheme Around 350,000 people could soon qualify for right to select and pay for treatments through bespoke care plan

Hundreds of thousands of people with mental health conditions and physical disabilities could be given the option of a personalised NHS budget for their own care needs under government proposals.

People with learning difficulties and dementia are among around 350,000 who could have the right to select and pay for treatments that improve their health and wellbeing through a bespoke care plan agreed with medical professionals. For children and people unable to manage the money, parents or carers will be able to manage the budget. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Why are personal budgets not used more in mental health? The Guardian
• More people to access personal health budgets under Government plans Pulse

• YO

Hospital trusts accused of ‘backdoor privatisation’

Hospital trusts accused of ‘backdoor privatisation’ Union fears the setting up of wholly owned subsidiaries will create two-tier workforce.

Hospital trusts are spending millions of pounds setting up arm’s-length private companies, which health unions fear will turn staff transferred into them into “second-class employees”. Continue reading... The Guardian

I've been an NHS doctor for five years. The Home Office wants to deport me

I've been an NHS doctor for five years. The Home Office wants to deport me Dr Luke Ong was five months away from becoming a GP when he made a simple error with his application to remain in the UK

A year ago I had a stable job working as a trainee GP in Greater Manchester and was due to qualify in February this year. I was in a relationship, had my own car and everything was great.

But for the last eight months my life has been a living hell.

I chose general practice because I like having the time to sit with patients and build up a relationship Continue reading... The Guardian

Top medical journals accused of skewing research after receiving MILLIONS in ‘bribes’

Top medical journals accused of skewing research after receiving MILLIONS in ‘bribes’ Several of the top medical journals in the US have found to be raking in millions of dollars from pharmaceutical companies, a practice that calls the reliability of those journals into question.

Nearly two thirds of medical research in the US is underwritten by companies, totaling more than $100 billion annually.

This is potentially problematic because companies have a financial stake in study results and thus could have an incentive to publicly report results that put them in a favorable light and conceal less flattering findings.

Reports have revealed that many top medical journals may be financially motivated to publish the studies that are unfairly skewed in favor of drug firms both through printing fees and payments to journal editors. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The Corruption of Evidence Based Medicine Dr J. Fung blog