The Keogh Mortality Review

The final report of the Keogh Review into 14 NHS trusts has now been published:

• Review into the Quality of Care and Treatment Provided by 14 Hospital Trusts in England

See also:

• Press release: Jeremy Hunt sets out plans to tackle mediocrity and inadequate leadership in the NHS Department of Health
• Keogh review on hospital deaths published NHS Choices
• Keogh announces new mortality measure E-Health Insider
• 'Trapped in mediocrity': The damning verdict on the NHS as report reveals 14 hospitals had higher than expected mortality rates The Independent
• Analysis: Hospital mediocrity isn't the problem - it's the failure to address it The Independent
• NHS inquiry: trust by trust, the Keogh Report's findings The Daily Telegraph
• Jeremy Hunt accused of turning NHS deaths into 'political capital' The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt: inspectors found evidence of poor care at NHS hospitals The Guardian
• Another NHS crisis? This is no way to run a public service The Guardian
• Keogh Review: 'ostrich approach' not an option NHS Confederation
• RCN responds to Keogh review RCN
• Our reponse to Sir Bruce Keogh's review of hospitals with high mortality rates The King's Fund
• Failing hospitals: Are there more out there? BBC News

Whither public health policy: conspiracy or cock-up?

Whither public health policy: conspiracy or cock-up? Whilst Public Health England has been busy releasing useful tools to help local areas benchmark their performance against others, Whitehall has been largely quiet on the public health policy front (with the exception of the Secretary of State’s welcome focus on reducing premature mortality). 

NHS hospitals expanding private work

NHS hospitals expanding private work One in six hospitals in England have introduced new private treatment options this year, an investigation reveals. BBC News

More care, less pathway: a review of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP)

More care, less pathway: a review of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) This report sets out recommendations regarding the LCP and end of life care following an independent review chaired by Baroness Julia Neuberger. The recommendations include phasing out the LCP and replacing it with an individual end of life care plan; an end to incentive payments for use of the LCP and other similar approaches; and a new system-wide approach to improving the quality of care for the dying.

• Report
• Rapid evidence review
• Snapshot review of complaints in end of life care
• Department of Health - news

Resources for commissioners of women's health services

Resources for commissioners of women's health services This new new e-resource aims to support CCGs and NHS England in the commissioning of women’s health services. It brings together standards for hospital-based obstetric and gynaecological care with community-based sexual and reproductive healthcare advice. It is also accompanied by a digital booklet, which provides a brief introduction to the medical specialties and highlights examples of best practice and innovation in UK health organisations.

• Commissioning resource
• Digital booklet
• RCOG - news

Named GP for people dying in the community

Named GP for people dying in the community GPs should give dying patients their phone number for OOH emergencies. OnMedica

What questions should we be asking about end-of-life care?

What questions should we be asking about end-of-life care? The Liverpool care pathway was one element in a system that needs refocusing on how, rather than just where, people die

With the current focus on the Liverpool care pathway (LCP), there is a lot of talk about how people's end-of-life wishes are taken into account.

This is a very specific example of where a tool designed to improve co-ordination between professionals has sometimes been poorly implemented to the detriment of patients and their families.

But focusing on the LCP alone means we fail to see the wood for the trees.

Researchers cut 130,000 from number of UK dementia sufferers

Researchers cut 130,000 from number of UK dementia sufferers

The number of people with dementia in the UK could be significantly lower than previously thought, according to new research. The Independent

See also:

• Dementia rates fall as public health improves The Daily Telegraph
• Risk of developing dementia down 25% in two decades, but caseload still rising because we are living longer The Daily Mail
• Dementia rate has fallen by a quarter in 20 years OnMedica
• Dementia risk 'reducing', figures show BBC News