Monday 20 August 2012

Flu fighter 2012/13: Campaign update

Flu fighter 2012/13: Campaign update: Read the latest update about the 2012/2013 NHS staff seasonal flu campaign. NHS Employers

Cancer diagnosis for one in four older people by 2040

Cancer diagnosis for one in four older people by 2040:

The charity Macmillan Cancer Support has warned that almost a quarter of older people will have had a cancer diagnosis by 2040. And it forecasts that the number of people aged 65 and over who will be cancer survivors is set to triple from 1.3 million in 2010 to 4.1 million.
The charity funded research by King’s College London which was published on the British Journal of Cancer’s website and revealed...Healthcare Today

NHS waiting times rise for first time in a year: official figures

NHS waiting times rise for first time in a year: official figures: Number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks to be seen increases for first time in a year amid cuts concerns. Health News

Legionnaires' outbreak 'over', says Health Protection Agency

Legionnaires' outbreak 'over', says Health Protection Agency:
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in which two people died has been declared over. Independent

Template occupational health services SLA launched

Template occupational health services SLA launched: NHS Health at Work has launched a template service level agreement, which can be adapted locally for occupational health units to use with their providers. NHS Employers

HPA press release: Confirmed case of Anthrax in injecting drug user in England

HPA press release: Confirmed case of Anthrax in injecting drug user in England:
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued a press release to confirm that it is aware that a person who injected drugs (PWID) has died in hospital in Blackpool with confirmed anthrax infection. The HPA is also aware of an ongoing outbreak of anthrax amongst PWID affecting a number of countries in Europe. Seven cases have been identified since early June: one in Scotland, three in Germany, two in Denmark, and one in France. The source is presumed to be contaminated heroin.
 
It is unclear as yet whether the current case and a case in Scotland at the end of July are linked to the outbreak in Europe but the HPA will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days and weeks.
 Health Protection Agency (HPA)

RPS publishes online pharmacist prescriber resource

RPS publishes online pharmacist prescriber resource: Source: RPS

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has developed a new area of their website covering pharmacist prescribers which provides information to users about pharmacist prescribers and prescribing, how to qualify as a prescriber, details of training courses and signpost existing prescribers to key documents that will be relevant to their daily practice. NeLM News
 

Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.

Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.:
Related Articles
Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.
J Health Serv Res Policy. 2012 Apr;17(2):87-93
Authors: Gridley K, Spiers G, Aspinal F, Bernard S, Atkin K, Parker G
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To explore some of the key assumptions underpinning the continued development of general practitioner-led commissioning in health services.

METHODS: Qualitative data from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS were considered against England's plans for GP-led commissioning. These data were collected through in-depth interviews with a total of 187 professionals and 99 people affected by services in 10 different primary care trust areas across England between 2008 and 2009.

RESULTS: Internationally, GPs are seen to have a central position in health systems. In keeping with this, the English policy places emphasis on the 'pivotal role' of general practitioners, considered to be ideally placed to commission in the best interests of their patients. However, our evidence suggests that general practitioners do not always have a pivotal role for all patients. Moreover, it is planned that the new commissioning groups in England will not be subject to top-down performance management and this raises the question of how agreed quality standards will be met under the proposed new system.

CONCLUSIONS: This paper questions the assumption that GPs are best placed to commission health services in a way that meets quality standards and leads to equitable outcomes. There is little evidence to suggest that GPs will succeed where others have failed and a risk that, without top-down performance management, service improvement will be patchy, leading to greater, not reduced, inequity.

PMID: 22315464 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Not tackling infections in homeless could spark epidemics

Not tackling infections in homeless could spark epidemics:
Tuberculosis 34 times higher in homeless people
Onmedica Online