CQC says improvements still needed in East Midlands Ambulance Service

CQC says improvements still needed in East Midlands Ambulance Service East Midlands Ambulance Service still needs to improve in a number of areas, according to a report released by the Care Quality Commission. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Ambulance trust misses care targets BBC Northamptonshire

Improving results from adult inpatient survey at Northampton General Hospital

Improving results from adult inpatient survey at Northampton General Hospital The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the results of the 2013 survey of adult inpatients, which includes a random sample of Northampton General Hospital (NGH) inpatients discharged during June 2013. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital rated 'about the same' as other NHS trust in England by Care Quality Commission Northampton Herald and Post
• NGH pleased with improving results from adult inpatient survey Northampton General Hospital

Government response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report into public expenditure on health and social care

Government response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report into public expenditure on health and social care This paper sets out the government’s response to the 18 conclusions and recommendations made in the House of Commons Health Select Committee report. Department of Health

• Report
• House of Commons Health Select Committee report

Mental health cuts cost NHS millions

Mental health cuts cost NHS millions Mental health cuts are costing the NHS millions long-term as reduced preventive measures mean more people are ending up in hospital, a report says. BBC News

See also:

• Investing in recovery Making the business case for effective interventions for people with schizophrenia and psychosis. Rethink Mental Illness
• Mental health director leads drive for improved psychosis care NHS England

'Millions wasted' on flu drug

'Millions wasted' on flu drug Hundreds of millions of pounds have been wasted on Tamiflu, a drug for flu that may work no better than paracetamol, a landmark analysis says. BBC News

See also:

• Tamiflu & Relenza: how effective are they? The Cochrane Collaboration
• Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children (systematic review) The Cochrane Library
• Tamiflu: drugs given for swine flu 'were waste of £500m' The Daily Telegraph
• Drug trials: test match | Editorial The Guardian

Prescription cost analysis, England, 2013

Prescription cost analysis, England, 2013 Prescription cost analysis provides details of the number of items and the net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. Health & Social Care Information Centre

Painkiller use linked to irregular heartbeat

Painkiller use linked to irregular heartbeat “Painkillers used by millions of Britons have been linked to higher risk of an irregular heartbeat that could trigger a stroke,” the Mail Online reports.

This headline follows the publication of a long-term study that aimed to find out whether older adults developed atrial fibrillation. The researchers looked at whether adults who had developed the condition had used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) recently, previously or not at all.

Health and social care to share £5bn integration funding

Health and social care to share £5bn integration funding Councils and NHS commissioners are set to share a pooled budget of more than £5bn to deliver integrated health and social care services, a government minister has confirmed. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS spending doubles on private ambulances used for 999 calls

NHS spending doubles on private ambulances used for 999 calls Senior medics and safety campaigners fear patient safety is being jeopardised by relying on private firms to answer emergency calls as expenditure doubles in three years. The Daily Telegraph