Tuesday 19 February 2013

NHS delays mean another operation for Cohen

NHS delays mean another operation for Cohen: A schoolboy from Northampton faces another gruelling operation after delays in NHS treatment meant a special hole he needs in his abdomen healed over. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Safer mental health services toolkit

Safer mental health services toolkit: Based on the findings of the national confidential inquiry into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness, this toolkit provides suggestions for best practice on the practical steps health professionals and managers can take to help improve service safety and reduce risk. Centre for Mental Health and Risk

Infection prevention and control in care homes: information resource published

Infection prevention and control in care homes: information resource published: An information resource and summary for care workers on the prevention and control of infection in care homes has been published.

NHS information service for parents reaches 100,000 signups

NHS information service for parents reaches 100,000 signups: More than 100,000 people have already signed up to receive online advice about looking after their baby – and a quarter of these are fathers.

Nursing and Midwifery Council hit with £150k data breach fine

Nursing and Midwifery Council hit with £150k data breach fine: The loss of three DVDs containing evidence from vulnerable children has led to a breach of the Data Protection Act Public Service

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service: fifth annual report

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service: fifth annual report: This annual report provides statistical information on the continued increase in referrals to this statutory advocacy service and makes recommends to clinical commissioning groups and local authorities about its use for those who lack capacity. It also provides an overview on the service over the past five years.

Measuring up: the medical profession's prescription for the national obesity crisis

Measuring up: the medical profession's prescription for the national obesity crisis: This report sets out recommendations from a range of medical professions - from surgeons to psychiatrists to paediatricians to GPs -
on tackling the obesity crisis in the UK. The recommendations include food-based standards to be made mandatory for hospitals; £300m over the next three years to be spent on increasing the provision of weight
management services; and a duty on sugary soft drinks.

Unsafe sex linked to rise in HIV rates in gay men

Unsafe sex linked to rise in HIV rates in gay men: "The number of gay and bisexual men contracting HIV rose…because of an increase in numbers having unprotected sex," The Guardian reports.
The story is based on a study that used UK data on HIV and sexual risk behaviour among men who have sex with men (MSM). The data was used to build computer models to estimate the impact of various factors on HIV rates since the 1980s.

Ministers pledge to reduce child mortality

Ministers pledge to reduce child mortality: UK figures now among the worst in Europe as regional variations in quality of care for young people are branded 'unacceptable'
A new national pledge to reduce child deaths is to be announced by the government.

Why is the NHS still using snail-mail?

Why is the NHS still using snail-mail?: Email between patients and doctors would be cheaper and quicker, so why isn't it being used, asks the Patient from Hell.

NHS still obsessed with waiting time targets, says ex-A&E tsar

NHS still obsessed with waiting time targets, says ex-A&E tsar: Hospital waiting time targets are still being "pushed very heavily" despite the Health Secretary's promise to scrap them and focus on better patient care, a former Government adviser has said. The Daily Telegraph

Coronavirus cases may be 'tip of the iceberg'

Coronavirus cases may be 'tip of the iceberg': The deadly new coronavirus replicates faster than SARS and the four British cases so far may be the tip of the iceberg, scientists have warned. The Daily Telegraph

Difficulty making an appointment the number one reason people might delay seeing GP

Difficulty making an appointment the number one reason people might delay seeing GP: More than a third of people in Britain might delay seeing a doctor over symptoms they think could be serious because of difficulty making an appointment, a study has revealed. The Independent