Guidance on restoring the balance of mental health commissioning

Guidance on restoring the balance of mental health commissioning Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2014/15 to 2018/19, published in December 2013, describes NHS England’s ambition for the years ahead and its ongoing commitment to focus on better outcomes for patients. As part of the suite of tools that accompany the planning guidance that assist commissioners with their planning considerations to maximise the best possible outcomes for their local communities Parity of Esteem: transformative ideas for commissioners, outlines how CCGs can achieve parity of esteem between physical and mental health by allocating their resources differently through the provision of an evidence base, case studies and a guide to managing, securing and evaluating services. NHS England

GPs 'complacent' over HIV risk

GPs 'complacent' over HIV risk Complacency by doctors is leading to late diagnosis of HIV, a health group worker alleges. BBC Inside Out East

See also:

• VIDEO: HIV patients 'going undiagnosed' BBC 

NHS death rates 'should be ignored'

NHS death rates 'should be ignored' A key measure of hospital death rates should be ignored, according to the expert who is leading the NHS review into them. BBC News

NHS medical records rules 'broken'

NHS medical records rules 'broken' Medical records appear to have been wrongly given to the insurance industry by the health service, the NHS admits. BBC News

Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) clinical audit, July - September 2013 public report

Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) clinical audit, July - September 2013 public report This report finds that huge improvements have been made in the quality of stroke care and services over the past years as measured by previous national stroke audits and it is anticipated that similar improvements will be demonstrated through future SSNAP quarterly reports. Royal College of Physicians

Gum disease may be linked to arthritis

Gum disease may be linked to arthritis "Brushing your teeth well could help prevent arthritis," the Mail Online advises after scientists found that the bacteria that causes gum disease – P. gingivalis – may also damage joints. But the Mail's advice – though well meaning – is premature. This study involved mice and did not assess whether tooth brushing reduced the risk of arthritis.

That said, this was interesting research that provided a plausible and coherent mechanism whereby the common gum bacteria P. gingivalis caused the worsening of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

We can't leave mentally ill people at the mercy of unregulated therapists | Patrick Strudwick

We can't leave mentally ill people at the mercy of unregulated therapists | Patrick Strudwick MPs must vote on Friday to remedy the fact that patients are exposed to untrained, unethical mental health professionals.

NHS medical records database could help prevent disease, senior doctors say

NHS medical records database could help prevent disease, senior doctors say Lord Darzi and Lord Crisp have joined a group of health professionals to defend the NHS medical records database, days after it was put on hold following concerns about data sharing. The Daily Telegraph