Friday 6 September 2013

Have your say on health services

Have your say on health services  A series of roadshows are being held in the county where people can give their views on health services in the area. Evening Telegraph

Corby doctor in line for top award - Northamptonshire Telegraph

Corby doctor in line for top award - Northamptonshire Telegraph He is now vice-chariman of Corby CCG, which recently celebrated the opening of the town's urgent care centre. Driven by a passion to improve patient care and provide health services on the doorstep for Corby residents, the doctor's success has resulted ...

Nurses set to face three-year checks

Nurses set to face three-year checks Nurses and midwives in the UK will face three-yearly checks from 2015 to improve standards of care under proposals being put forward.  BBC News

Press release: Ten million pound cash boost to improve the health of homeless people

Press release: Ten million pound cash boost to improve the health of homeless people It is estimated that homeless people attend A&E up to six times more than people with a home - and that currently 70 per cent of homeless people are discharged back onto the street without their housing or on-going care needs after hospital being properly addressed.
The projects are run by voluntary sector organisations who will work with the NHS and local government to make sure homeless people get the best possible support and care after they leave hospital. This will help reduce the number of homeless people who are readmitted to hospital.
Some of the organisations receiving funding will provide:
  • Specialist training for hospital staff on the needs of homeless people;
  • Support to make sure their care continues after discharge;
  • Teams to support homeless people find accommodation that takes into account their health needs; and
  • 14 care beds for people discharged from hospital thanks to over £1million from the fund.
Department of Health

Use the Jab-o-meter in your local campaign

Use the Jab-o-meter in your local campaign The Jab-o-meter from Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is now available for you to use. NHS Employers

NMC launches consultation on strengthened registration process for applicants from overseas

NMC launches consultation on strengthened registration process for applicants from overseas The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched a consultation on the introduction of a test of competence for overseas applicants to the UK register – those trained outside the EEA (European Economic Area). 

NHSmail2 procurement this year

NHSmail2 procurement this year The procurement of NHSmail2 will start this year, using the Public Services Network framework. EHI News

Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service: supporting carers and building resilience

Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service: supporting carers and building resilience
This case study looks at Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service, which provides care co-ordination, and specialist palliative care and support to patients with advanced dementia living at home. It is part of a research project undertaken by The King’s Fund and funded by Aetna and the Aetna Foundation in the United States to compare five successful UK-based models of care.
The King's Fund 

Could a heart attack test save thousands of women's lives?

Could a heart attack test save thousands of women's lives? "£5 blood test will save thousands of women," shouts the front page of the Daily Mail in very large print.
This headline is based on a study recently presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Amsterdam.
The research looked at the effects of changing the diagnostic threshold levels of a blood test used to help diagnose heart attacks.
When someone with symptoms of a heart attack turns up at A&E, doctors will carry out an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a blood test to measure levels of an enzyme called troponin. Troponin levels are raised when heart muscle is damaged.
Only limited information is available on this study's methods and the patients included, but preliminary results suggest that lowering the diagnostic threshold for troponin in women (rather than using the same threshold for men and women) may improve our ability to correctly diagnose women who have symptoms of heart attack.

Cleanliness does not 'cause dementia'

Cleanliness does not 'cause dementia' “Being too clean could increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s,” The Sun has reported, while the Daily Mail reports that “an obsession with being too clean and hygienic could lead to a higher risk of dementia”.
The reports refer to research into the association between a country’s economic development, sanitation and clean water, the prevalence of infectious bugs, and a statistical estimate of Alzheimer’s disease.
Countries with higher levels of pathogens, poorer sanitation and hygiene systems and lower economic development had lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease. However, flaws in the research limit our ability to draw conclusions based on the study’s results.
Media reports suggesting that being clean causes Alzheimer's disease cannot be backed up because the study can’t prove cause and effect. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are largely unknown, with genetic factors and age being the most established risk factors. If there is a link between a country’s economics and sanitation and risk of Alzheimer’s disease, it could be due to confounding from other environmental and sociodemographic factors, rather than being a direct effect of sanitation and pathogen exposure alone.

New carbon footprint tool launched

New carbon footprint tool launched This tool will help companies estimate the carbon footprint of tablet medicines in blister packs in a way that is relatively quick and easy. It is part of the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to help reduce its impact on the environment through sustainable practices including management of carbon footprints. NHS Networks