Tuesday 8 November 2011

Public services across Northamptonshire will be affected by biggest day of strikes this month

Public services across Northamptonshire will be affected by biggest day of strikes this month:

UNIONS in Northamptonshire are gearing up for their “biggest ever” day of strike action on November 30. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Is the GP contract a barrier to integrated care?

Is the GP contract a barrier to integrated care?: Anna Dixon discusses the need to rethink how we commission and contract with primary care if the ambitions of integrated care are to be realised. (Blog, 4 Nov 2011) Kings Fund

Spotting the signs of dementia

Spotting the signs of dementia:

A new campaign to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of dementia has being launched. Aimed at encouraging more people to seek an early diagnosis of dementia, the campaign targets the family and friends of people at risk of dementia who are likely to be the first to see the signs and can encourage their loved one to see their GP.






Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by specific brain disorders. The most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease, but it can also be the result of a stroke or mini-strokes.


Dementia is progressive, which means that the symptoms will get worse over time. It can happen to anyone and there is currently no cure, but treatments can slow the progression of the disease. There are also ways to help keep it manageable.



An early diagnosis can help people with dementia get the right treatment and support, and help those close to them to prepare and plan for the future. With treatment and support, many people are able to lead active, fulfilling lives.



With many people seeing relatives at Christmas, the timing of the campaign aims to encourage people to look for signs of dementia in their relatives . The Alzheimer’s Society had 43 per cent more calls to its helpline in January this year than in December 2010.



A TV advert and leaflet(PDF) have been developed. The TV advert tells the story of a daughter as she becomes aware that her dad is struggling in a number of situations, such as leaving pans on the hob and forgetting where his car is parked. While accepting it was a hard issue to raise with him, the message is that acting on her concerns and getting help means she can keep the dad she knows for longer.



Useful links


Dementia resources


Alistair Burns dementia blog


Dementia content on NHS Choices


Alzheimer’s Disease International


Alzheimer’s Research UK


Dementia Action Alliance


Dementia UK

Department of Health

Painkillers cost NHS £442m a year

Painkillers cost NHS £442m a year: The NHS in England spent more than £440m last year on painkillers, with the biggest bill in the north. BBC News

NHS cancer diagnosis times fall

NHS cancer diagnosis times fall: NHS cancer diagnosis times across the UK have come down significantly in recent years, figures show. BBC News

Hospital bed-blocking 'rising'

Hospital bed-blocking 'rising': Hospitals in England are finding it more difficult to discharge vulnerable patients because of a lack of community care, data obtained by the BBC suggests. BBC News

Online services 'isolating' elderly people

Online services 'isolating' elderly people: Pushing services online can isolate elderly people and force them into their 'hermetically sealed box', warns WRVS Public Service

DH to revamp interoperability toolkit

DH to revamp interoperability toolkit: The Department of Health is to revamp the interoperability toolkit and has called for users to join an "information sharing challenge." E-Health Insider News

DH and Intellect draft 'vibrant' plan

DH and Intellect draft 'vibrant' plan: Intellect and the Department of Health Informatics Directorate have published a draft plan to develop a "healthy and vibrant" NHS IT marketplace. E-Health Insider News

Practices face higher indemnity fees after RCN cuts practice nurse cover

Practices face higher indemnity fees after RCN cuts practice nurse cover: GP practices could be forced to pay higher indemnity fees after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) cut back its cover for practice nurses. GP Online

An involving service: ambulance responses in urban and rural areas

An involving service: ambulance responses in urban and rural areas: This briefing aims to help NHS organisations engage with local leaders, communities and other public services about the issues and challenges ambulance services face in rural areas. NHS Confederation

Inpatient care for people with diabetes: the economic case for change

Inpatient care for people with diabetes: the economic case for change:

This report calls for more investment in specialist diabetes care to reduce the estimated £600 million excess spend on treating diabetes in hospitals.


The Kings Fund

Economic regulation in health care: what can we learn from other regulators

Economic regulation in health care: what can we learn from other regulators:
This report argues that Monitor may fail to fulfil its new responsibilities as the economic regulator for health care unless the government provides greater clarity about its role. As Monitor takes on its new role, the new report looks at what can be learned from the experience of regulators in other sectors such as telecoms and utilities.
The Kings Fund

'Weak' evidence NHS exercise schemes work

'Weak' evidence NHS exercise schemes work: Evidence that NHS exercise schemes work is "weak", according to research published today (Monday). The Telegraph

Emergency Care Assistants replace paramedics for 999 calls as cuts hit ambulance trusts

Emergency Care Assistants replace paramedics for 999 calls as cuts hit ambulance trusts: Medical support staff with as little as eight weeks training are responding to 999 emergency calls instead of qualified paramedics at half of ambulance trusts as they impose frontline cuts, the Daily Telegraph has found.

NHS blunders have killed 8000 patients in 13 years, figures show

NHS blunders have killed 8000 patients in 13 years, figures show: Thousands of patients have been killed because of errors within the NHS over the past 13 years, it has been claimed. The Telegraph

Get quick and easy access to hundreds of indicators with the NHS Information Centre's new indicator portal

Get quick and easy access to hundreds of indicators with the NHS Information Centre's new indicator portal: One thousand indicators covering a wide range of population health topics have been bought together in the NHS Information Centre's new indicator port...