Monday 3 March 2014

KGH pays out thousands of pounds

KGH pays out thousands of pounds Kettering General Hospital has revealed it had to pay out hundreds of thousands of pounds in one-off ‘unexpected’ payments last year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England publishes revisions to Staff Friends and Family Test

NHS England publishes revisions to Staff Friends and Family Test NHS England has published revised plans for the NHS Staff Friends and Family Test (SFFT). NHS Employers

VIDEO: 'Millions lost' to missed appointments

VIDEO: 'Millions lost' to missed appointments The NHS says it has lost millions of pounds in the last year because of the number of patients failing to turn up for appointments. BBC News

Thousands pledge to 'change NHS'

Thousands pledge to 'change NHS' Thousands of people working across the NHS are doing something different to improve care as part of NHS Change Day. BBC News

Stethoscopes could spread hospital infections

Stethoscopes could spread hospital infections "Stethoscopes 'more contaminated' than doctors hands," BBC News reports after new Swiss research has suggested that the much-used instrument may spread bacteria inside hospitals, including MRSA.

The BBC reports on an observational study involving 71 patients carried out at a Swiss university teaching hospital. Doctors were asked to perform a routine physical examination of these patients. None of the patients had an active skin infection, but around half were known to be colonised with MRSA before the examination took place.

Integrating behavioral health across the continuum of care

Integrating behavioral health across the continuum of care This guide explains the value of integrating physical and behavioural health services and the importance of measuring integration efforts. It offers several frameworks and models to use for behavioural health integration and provides a list of strategic questions for hospital and care system leaders to begin integrating behavioural health or to enhance current efforts. Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence

Preventing loneliness and social isolation in older people

Preventing loneliness and social isolation in older people This briefing looks specifically at the prevention of isolation and loneliness amongst older people, with a particular focus on what practitioners in the fields of health and social care should bear in mind when working to tackle this important and growing issue. The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services

Act now to improve eye care services

Act now to improve eye care services The report includes case examples from a series of four workshops held across England to develop an action plan for eye care. It contains recommended actions for commissioners, NHS England, ophthalmologists, optometrists and general practitioners. Medical Management Services

Mental health units 'are heading for a Mid Staffs scandal', warns senior psychiatrist

Mental health units 'are heading for a Mid Staffs scandal', warns senior psychiatrist Sue Bailey, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, says funding cuts are to blame.

Britain's senior psychiatrist has warned that the mental health sector is heading towards its own Mid Staffs scandal, as it emerged that NHS patients are being treated in a hospital where staff were recently accused of using injections and seclusion as threats.

Professor Sue Bailey, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said she was increasingly concerned that mental services were approaching a "tipping point" with funding being cut despite a record 50,000 uses of the Mental Health Act to detain patients in hospital for assessment or treatment in 2012-13.

NHS data will not be sold to insurance companies, Jeremy Hunt says

NHS data will not be sold to insurance companies, Jeremy Hunt says Insurance companies will not be able to buy patient medical records through the NHS data scheme, the health secretary has announced. The Guardian

See also:

Twitter could help NHS safety, says campaigner

Twitter could help NHS safety, says campaigner

Hospital bosses and senior doctors should be encouraged to join Twitter to talk openly to patients who have been let down by NHS hospitals, a leading safety campaigner has said. The Independent

Cancer patients denied radiotherapy in 'cruel' failure of Cameron's cancer pledge

Cancer patients denied radiotherapy in 'cruel' failure of Cameron's cancer pledge A pledge by David Cameron to ensure all cancer patients have access to advanced radiotherapy treatment has been broken, according to a government report. The Daily Telegraph