Health chiefs in bank holiday warning over A&E

Health chiefs in bank holiday warning over A&E: Health chiefs are warning people not to visit the accident and emergency department at Kettering General Hospital during the bank holiday weekend unless they really need to be there. Evening Telegraph

CCG with £17m 'deficit legacy' says allocation could be wrong - Health Service Journal

CCG with £17m 'deficit legacy' says allocation could be wrong - Health Service Journal:

CCG with £17m 'deficit legacy' says allocation could be wrong Health Service Journal Nene CCG's April finance board paper state it was expecting to have overspent on its 2012-13 shadow budget by between £16m and £18m at the end of the year, mostly due to unexpectedly high demand for hospital care. The overspend was due to be offset ... Contact the Library is you would like a copy of this article

NHS Launches Online Video Consultations Service Using Saypage Telehealth ... - PR Web (press release)

NHS Launches Online Video Consultations Service Using Saypage Telehealth ... - PR Web (press release):

NHS Launches Online Video Consultations Service Using Saypage Telehealth ... PR Web (press release) Towards the end of 2012, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) identified Saypage as the most suitable provider able to meet the security and quality needs of the NHFT. The Saypage Telehealth Platform provides a solution compatible ...

GPs to vaccinate two-year-olds against flu from September

GPs to vaccinate two-year-olds against flu from September: The government has brought forward plans to begin routine vaccination of children against flu, as it confirmed its shingles, rotavirus and meningitis C programmes. GP Online

See also:

• Improved vaccination programme announced NHS England

Measles epidemic tops 1,000 cases

Measles epidemic tops 1,000 cases: The number of cases in the Swansea measles epidemic tops the 1,000 mark, but about 5,000 youngsters still need vaccinations, health officials say. BBC News

See also:

• MMR catch-up campaign in England NHS Employers

Smoking 'poses bigger risk to women'

Smoking 'poses bigger risk to women': Women may be more vulnerable to smoking-related diseases than men, studies suggest. BBC News

Rapid expansion of GP role 'risks undermining patient care'

Rapid expansion of GP role 'risks undermining patient care': GPs' role is widening significantly and could force a major overhaul of selection criteria and training programmes for the profession, a study has found. GP Online

NHS iPhone app to help troops with mental illnesses

NHS iPhone app to help troops with mental illnesses: An iPhone app that has been developed by a network of NHS trusts is being offered free of charge to members of the armed forces suffering from mental health issues Public Service

Increasing protection for staff who raise concerns in the public interest

Increasing protection for staff who raise concerns in the public interest: This page outlines pending changes under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act which received Royal Assent on 26 April 2013. NHS Employers

The hospital complaints system: a case for urgent treatment?

The hospital complaints system: a case for urgent treatment?: This report highlights systemic problems leading to missed opportunities to learn from mistakes and make NHS hospitals better. A 2012-13 analysis of the main reasons why patients, their families and carers brought their complaint to the ombudsman after their hospital has
failed to deal with it include poor explanations, no acknowledgement of mistakes, inadequate financial remedy and unnecessary delays.

• Report
• Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman - publications

See also:

• Grumbles, gripes & grievances: the role of complaints in transforming public services NESTA

Advocacy: models and effectiveness (IRISS)

Advocacy: models and effectiveness (IRISS): This briefing draws on evidence in relation to advocacy with both
children and adults and on literature from the fields of health and social care.  It outlines the key elements of the most prevalent models of advocacy and identifies good practice, as well as the limitations of advocacy models.  It aims to provide an overview of the evidence base of what works in relation to advocacy provision.

• Briefing
• IRISS - publications

Jeremy Hunt insists health budget is safe

Jeremy Hunt insists health budget is safe: Health secretary claims top-level support against budget raids as ministers submit offers of departmental cuts to Treasury.
Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is confidently claiming the support of David Cameron and Nick Clegg in his attempts to prevent other government departments raiding his protected budget in the spending review on 26 June.

Sussex Police plan to fit dementia patients with GPS tracking devices to reduce costly call-outs

Sussex Police plan to fit dementia patients with GPS tracking devices to reduce costly call-outs: A police force plans to fit dementia patients with GPS tracking devices in a bid to reduce the number of costly call-outs to search for patients who regularly go missing. The Independent

See also:

• GPS tags for dementia patients The Daily Telegraph
• VIDEO: GPS devices for people with dementia BBC News

Stroke survivors and their families left to deal with the emotional impact alone, says report

Stroke survivors and their families left to deal with the emotional impact alone, says report: Stroke survivors and their families feel abandoned by health and social services after being left to deal with the emotional impact of stroke alone, a report reveals today. The Independent

See also:

• Feeling Overwhelmed: The emotional impact of Stroke: The Stroke Association
• Stroke 'emotional support needed' BBC News

In-depth case study: Improving patient flow

Improving patient flow This learning report uses two case studies to illustrate the problems caused by poor flow through and between services by patients, and provides practical examples of how focusing on flow can improve quality, use available capacity effectively and save money The Health Foundation