Configuration of ‘scale’ services finalised

Configuration of ‘scale’ services finalised:
The outcome of the business review and assurance process for the majority of the ‘scale’ commissioning support services has been agreed.  For the full story see issue 4 of the commissioning support bulletin. NHS Commissioning Board

Patients 'lost sight' at NHS hospital private clinic

Patients 'lost sight' at NHS hospital private clinic: Six people may have permanent eye damage due to firm's alleged failure to provide proper follow-up careSix people are feared to have suffered irreversible sight loss because of the failings of a privately run clinic at an NHS hospital, raising fresh fears about the government's plans to open up the health service to the commercial sector.In an unprecedented move, GPs have been advised to consider alternative clinics for their patients because of "worrying concerns" about the services offered at a ...Kings Fund Health News

UK doctors must prepare for the rise of the ePatient

UK doctors must prepare for the rise of the ePatient: Doctors and other healthcare professionals must prepare for the rise of ePatients in the coming years and keep apace with the evolving digital landscape.This is according to the 2012 version of Learning to manage Health Information, a clinical education guide that has been running since 1999.Its aim is to understand the digital world and healthcare professionals working requirements within it.read more Kings Fund Health News

UK government to create four new eHealth centres

UK government to create four new eHealth centres: A consortium of ten UK government and charity groups has invested ;19 million to create a series of eHealth research centres.The four eHealth Centres of Excellence will be based in London, Manchester, Dundee and Swansea, and should be up and running by the end of the year.The Medical Research Council, which is leading the consortium, said the Centres would: Harness the wealth of UK electronic health records to improve patient care and public health.  Image caption:  ... Kings Fund Health News

Eye surgeons unite to condemn rationing of cataract operations by half of NHS trusts

Eye surgeons unite to condemn rationing of cataract operations by half of NHS trusts: Eye surgeons are warning that the rationing of cataract operations by more than half of NHS trusts is putting thousands of patients at risk. Kings Fund - Health News

Cardiovascular benefits and diabetes risks of statin therapy in primary prevention: analysis of JUPITER trial

Cardiovascular benefits and diabetes risks of statin therapy in primary prevention: analysis of JUPITER trial: Source: Lancet

In view of data suggesting that statins may increase the risk of diabetes, the balance of benefit and risk of their use in primary prevention has become controversial. An analysis of participants from the JUPITER trial was therefore undertaken to address the balance of vascular benefits and diabetes hazard of statin use.
 
The JUPITER trial involved 17,603 men and women without previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes who were randomised to rosuvastatin 20 mg or placebo and followed up for up to 5 years for the primary endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, admission to hospital for unstable angina, arterial revascularisation, or cardiovascular death) and the protocol-pre-specified secondary endpoints of venous thromboembolism, all-cause mortality, and incident physician-reported diabetes. In this analysis, patients were stratified on the basis of having none or at least one of four major risk factors for developing diabetes: metabolic syndrome, impaired fasting ... NeLM News

One in four deaths 'not properly recorded'

One in four deaths 'not properly recorded': Doctors failing to accurately record up to a quarter of hospital deaths, study suggests. Telegraph