New diagnostic department at NGH to divert away from A&E

New diagnostic department at NGH to divert away from A&E A new diagnostic department has been set up at Northampton General Hospital to divert patients with 13 common conditions away from A&E. The trial 'ambulatory care centre' is in a converted area of the hospital close to the accident and emergency ... Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton General Hospital staff alerted CQC to poor care - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Northampton General Hospital staff alerted CQC to poor care Some complaints made to a health watchdog about the standard of care on a ward at Northampton General Hospital were made by staff, it has emerged. The Chron revealed last week that Cedar Ward, which mainly looks after elderly patients, is undergoing ... Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Thirty NHS trusts 'set for deficit'

Thirty NHS trusts 'set for deficit' Thirty NHS hospital trusts in England expect to be in deficit by the end of this financial year, it has been revealed. BBC News

Cancer drugs fund 'to be extended'

Cancer drugs fund 'to be extended' A £400m fund will enable a scheme providing life-enhancing cancer drugs to continue until 2016, the prime minister announces. BBC News

See also:

• Press release: Thousands of patients to benefit from £400 million cancer package Department of Health

New EU Directive on public procurement

New EU Directive on public procurement This briefing provides an overview of key aspects of the new EU public procurement Directive and its implications for the health service. NHS Confederation

Hip replacement deaths drop by a half since 2003

Hip replacement deaths drop by a half since 2003 “Death rates following hip replacement surgery fell by half in England and Wales,” reports the BBC News website.

Its headline is based on a new study in The Lancet which looked at data from the National Joint Registry (NJR) over the course of eight years. The registry is an NHS database recording outcomes in artificial joint operations such as hip and knee replacements.

Mental health: Guardianship cases fall by a fifth

Mental health: Guardianship cases fall by a fifth The use of Guardianship orders under the Mental Health Act fell by 20 per cent in England in 2012/13, according to figures released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre .

A National Health Service for patients

A National Health Service for patients This paper from Civitas proposes the creation of new Patient-led Commissioning Groups (PCGs) – these would be mutuals set up by non-profit membership organisations such as trade unions, friendly societies or cooperatives which would allow patients to take direct control of commissioning.

• Paper
• Civitas - blogs 

Nearly 8,000 doctors face being struck off

Nearly 8,000 doctors face being struck off GMC says doctors who refuse to provide information on revalidation are at risk OnMedica

Third of maternity units refusing home births due to staff shortages

Third of maternity units refusing home births due to staff shortages One third of maternity units are refusing women home births because they cannot cope with demand, according to a new report. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Half of all maternity wards turn away women in labour: Report says lives are at risk because units are 'bursting at the seams' The Daily Mail

GPs told: get better or face closure

GPs told: get better or face closure NHS's first chief inspector of primary care says sanctions will be used to drive improvements in general practice.

Health insurance firm forced to drop misleading advert about NHS deaths

Health insurance firm forced to drop misleading advert about NHS deaths Website wrongly accused the NHS of causing 13,000 needless deaths.

Third of maternity units refusing home births due to staff shortages

Third of maternity units refusing home births due to staff shortages One third of maternity units are refusing women home births because they cannot cope with demand, according to a new report.The Daily Telegraph

Stressed nurses 'forced to choose between health of patients and their own'

Stressed nurses 'forced to choose between health of patients and their own'

Nurses are enduring “unprecedented” levels of stress and ill health as a result of staff cuts and overwork, forcing them to choose between their patients’ wellbeing and their own, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said. The Independent

See also:

• Stress on nurses putting patients at risk, warns RCN The Guardian

Depressed children need more support, says Nice

Depressed children need more support, says Nice More needs to be done to improve care and support for children who suffer from depression, health experts have said. The Independent

Kings Mill Hospital: Nurses in tears as 'horrendous' understaffing hits patients, says watchdog

Kings Mill Hospital: Nurses in tears as 'horrendous' understaffing hits patients, says watchdog

Nurses were reduced to tears by their workload at a Nottinghamshire hospital where understaffing contributed to patients being left hungry and dehydrated, the NHS watchdog has reported. The Independent