Friday 9 March 2012

Simple actions 'cut NHS no-shows'

Simple actions 'cut NHS no-shows': Measures as simple as getting patients to write down the time of their doctor's appointment themselves can cut non-attendance rates, a study suggests. BBC News

The week: issue 238

The week: issue 238:
In this week’s edition, read about the Secretary of State’s NHS Constitution announcement about changes to whistleblowing and the set up of a new expert group chaired by Professor Steve Field. Department of Health
Download ‘the week’: issue 238, 2 – 8 March 2012 (PDF, 55KB) 

    Weekend working 'needed in NHS'

    Weekend working 'needed in NHS': Hospital consultants should consider working weekends to cut the spike in deaths on Saturdays and Sundays, a doctors' leader says. BBC News

    Clinicians to get £1bn to lead NHS IT locally, says Lansley

    Clinicians to get £1bn to lead NHS IT locally, says Lansley: Doctors and nurses will no longer have to 'bend over backwards' to fit in with technology, says Health Secretary E-Health Insider

    Abuse of vulnerable adults statistics

    Abuse of vulnerable adults statistics: The Information Centre has published 'Abuse of Vulnerable Adults in England 2010-11: Final Report, Experimental Statistics'. Some key facts are that in 2010-11, 62 per cent of the referrals were from women. Sixty one per cent were for older adults aged 65 and over. Almost half of the referrals (49 per cent) were for adults with a physical disability, 23 per cent were for mental health clients, 20 per cent were for learning disabled clients and the remaining 7 per cent were for adults with a substance misuse problem or other vulnerable adults. NHS Information Centre

    CQC report: Meeting the health care needs of people in care homes

    CQC report: Meeting the health care needs of people in care homes: Source: Care Quality Commission (CQC)

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the results of a review of how older people and people with learning disabilities living in care homes access healthcare services, whether they have choice and control over their healthcare and whether they receive care that is safe and respects their dignity. Inspection teams visited 81 care homes within 9 PCT areas, interviewing managers, residents and staff, observing care and examining case files.
     
    Key findings with respect to medication were as follows:
     
    . Over half of homes (59%) indicated that they offered residents the option to self-administer their medicines, although only a small number of case files (4%) seen during the review contained evidence of self-administration of medicines.
     
    . The majority of homes (93%) indicated that they 'always' recorded medicines errors and had arrangements in place to learn from errors relating to prescribing, monitoring, dispensing or administering ...

    NHS Diabetes report: Foot care for people with diabetes- the economic case for change

    NHS Diabetes report: Foot care for people with diabetes- the economic case for change:
    A new report published by NHS Diabetes sets out the cost to both patients and the NHS of poor quality diabetic foot care. The report shows that around £650 million is spent on foot ulcers or amputations each year. Around 7% of people with diabetes currently have, or have had, a foot ulcer, which can lead to amputation, and 50% of people who have a major amputation die within 2 years; many of these amputations could be avoided with the right care. NHS Diabetes is calling on the NHS to set up specialist diabetes foot care teams as a matter of urgency, as these have been shown to reduce amputations by up to two thirds. NHS Diabetes

    Developing the role of the clinical academic researcher in the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions

    Developing the role of the clinical academic researcher in the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions:
    This strategy document outlines the increase in research training that will be offered to nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. The aim is to put research at the heart of frontline services and that successful applicants will be able to develop research projects that inform the care that they deliver for their patients on a daily basis.

    The NHS constitution for England

    The NHS constitution for England:
    This updated constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. In addition to this, the Health Secretary has announced the formation of a new independent expert panel which will contribute to a Government report on the NHS Constitution.

    The health and social care experiences of black and minority ethnic older people

    The health and social care experiences of black and minority ethnic older people:
    This briefing has been updated to look at changes in policy and outcomes for older black and minority ethnic people since 2008. It considers the ongoing relative scarcity of resources on this subject, but also relevant documents such as the dementia and diabetes strategies.

    Monitor to publish 'blacklist' of health services

    Monitor to publish 'blacklist' of health services: The regulator Monitor is set to be given the go-ahead to publish an annual blacklist of health services which must be reconfigured.
    An amendment to the Health Bill will see the regulator identify each year where services are being “put at significant risk” by the configuration of those health care services. The NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups in affected areas would also be notified,... Healthcare Today

    Doctors threaten to withdraw labour

    Doctors threaten to withdraw labour: A protest at changes to NHS pensions could see doctors cancelling non-emergency work.
    They are actively discussing the move and while the British Medical Association has ruled out an all-out strike, it is set to ballot members on other forms of industrial action. The precise forms of action have not yet been decided but could include taking all contractual breaks or refusing to engage in commissioning activity an... Healthcare Today

    Labour uses e-petition to win Commons debate on Health Bill

    Labour uses e-petition to win Commons debate on Health Bill:
    MPs will get one last chance to derail the Health Bill after Labour used a e-petition calling for the reforms to be scrapped to secure a House of Commons debate. The Independent

    NHS managers 'must support whistleblowers' under constitution

    NHS managers 'must support whistleblowers' under constitution: Hospital managers must pledge to support whistleblowing staff, under changes being made to the NHS Constitution. The Daily Telegraph

    NHS trusts can raise half of cash from private patients, say Lords

    NHS trusts can raise half of cash from private patients, say Lords: Lords have agreed to allow NHS trusts to derive up to half their income from private patients, in a move described by Labour as "the starkest sign yet" of how the health service will be if the Government's reforms are passed. The Daily Telegraph

    Helping more people die at home would save NHS cash: charity

    Helping more people die at home would save NHS cash: charity: Helping more people to die at home rather than in hospital could save the NHS millions of pounds, a charity has calculated. The Daily Telegraph