Thursday 1 November 2012

Contraceptive pill now more popular than the condom among 15-year-old girls attending NHS community contraceptive clinics

Contraceptive pill now more popular than the condom among 15-year-old girls attending NHS community contraceptive clinics: Fifteen-year-old girls attending an NHS community contraceptive clinic were – for the first time - more likely to opt for the oral contraceptive pill ...IC News

Why the drugs don't work: Scientist discover why statins aren't effective in 40% of patients

Why the drugs don't work: Scientist discover why statins aren't effective in 40% of patients: A team from McMaster University in Canada said high levels of the protein resistin in the blood could stop statins from working effectively. Daily Mail

Change4Life launch drink app

Change4Life launch drink app:
A smartphone app has been released as part of the nationwide Change4Life campaign to help people see the impact alcohol can have on their health, waist and wallet.
The enhanced online drinks checker is designed to raise awareness of the health impacts of drinking over the lower risk guidelines on a regular basis and comes at a time that some nine million drinkers in England are potentially putting their health at...Healthcare Today

Liverpool Care Pathway use 'must not be driven by other agendas'

Liverpool Care Pathway use 'must not be driven by other agendas': Dr Peter Saunders from the Care Not Killing Alliance says Liverpool Care Pathway is a "very good tool" but there has to be full transparency about its use. Telegraph

Genetic profiteering: scandal of firm 'hiding vital breast cancer data'

Genetic profiteering: scandal of firm 'hiding vital breast cancer data':
The company that makes the world's biggest-selling gene test for breast and ovarian cancers is refusing to share groundbreaking knowledge that could benefit patients, academics claim.
Independent

Hospital admissions rise 'due to fragmented NHS' - Telegraph.co.uk

 
Hospital admissions rise 'due to fragmented NHS'
Telegraph.co.uk
"As part of the current NHS reforms the Government should consider piloting a full-scale integrated care model which is proven to deliver better care for patients. This model would sit alongside the new Clinical Commissioning Groups as a way of driving ...

New NICE briefings on inequalities and population health, the Public Health Outcomes Framework and alcohol

New NICE briefings on inequalities and population health, the Public Health Outcomes Framework and alcohol: NICE have published three new public health briefings for local government on Inequalities and population health, the Public Health Outcomes Framework and Alcohol. These documents are aimed at local authorities and their partner organisations in the health and voluntary sectors, in particular those involved with health and wellbeing boards. Local government is preparing to take [read the full story...]
The Mental Elf

PCTs to be added to the EPS authorisation directions from 1 February 2013

PCTs to be added to the EPS authorisation directions from 1 February 2013:
The national electronic prescriptions service (EPS) directions evaluation panel has approved a further 21 primary care trusts (PCTs) to be added to the EPS authorisation directions.  The next stage will involve the PCTs being listed here as the beginning of the 3 month notice period. This will bring the total number of authorised PCTs to 137 from 1 February 2013.
Release two of the electronic prescription service (EPS R2) allows the electronic transfer of prescriptions between prescribers and dispensers. Dispensing contractors can deploy EPS R2 whenever they want.  Prescribers however cannot use electronic signatures needed for EPS R2 until their PCT is included in the EPS directions.
To ensure that there is a level playing field and all dispensing contractors have an opportunity to respond to their local prescribers’ change in status, there must be a 3 month notice period between any announcement that a PCT will be added to the directions’ schedule and the updated directions being issued.  This will allow dispensing contractors an opportunity to prepare to receive electronic prescriptions.
The list of the 21 PCTs to be added to the directions are:
  • Bassetlaw PCT
  • Bath and North East Somerset PCT
  • Bedfordshire PCT
  • Buckinghamshire PCT
  • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT
  • Coventry Teaching PCT
  • Derby City PCT
  • Derbyshire County PCT
  • Ealing PCT
  • Hounslow PCT
  • Luton PCT
  • NHS Barnsley PCT
  • NHS Dudley PCT
  • NHS Milton Keynes PCT
  • NHS North Yorkshire & York PCT
  • NHS Portsmouth PCT
  • NHS Sefton PCT
  • NHS Warwickshire PCT
  • NHS Wirral PCT
  • Peterborough PCT
  • Sandwell PCT
Read the list of PCTs to be added to the directions on 1 December 2012 on the Department of Health website.

Department of Health

Flu drug recalled following ‘qualify defects’

Flu drug recalled following ‘qualify defects’:
Novartis asked to withdraw 160,000 doses of Agrippal
OnMedica