Recognising the importance of physical health in mental health and intellectual disability: achieving parity of outcomes

Recognising the importance of physical health in mental health and intellectual disability: achieving parity of outcomes This report finds that a person in England and Wales with intellectual disability will die about 16 years earlier than average, and more than double the number die before the age of 50 and that their experience of NHS healthcare is often poor. It calls for this inequality to be urgently addressed and aims to identify what actions need to be taken to support doctors and the medical profession in changing the status quo in the UK. British Medical Association

The NHS was not a major issue during the 2010 election, so what should we expect in 2015?

The NHS was not a major issue during the 2010 election, so what should we expect in 2015? The government’s record on the NHS will be at the heart of the election debate. The good news for the coalition is that the unprecedented slowdown in NHS funding since 2010 has not yet had a serious, adverse impact on patient care.

Today we publish the health questions from NatCen's British Social Attitudes Survey 2013, which show that public satisfaction with the NHS remains high. The bad news is that a significant amount of capital was expended on the reforms enshrined in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, at a time when the last thing the NHS needed was a destabilising, top-down reorganisation.

Breastfeeding 'cuts childhood asthma risk'

Breastfeeding 'cuts childhood asthma risk '“Breastfeeding DOES cut the risk of asthma, says landmark study of 250,000 babies over 30 years,” the Mail Online reports. A major review has found a link between breastfeeding and reduced childhood asthma rates.

The headlines follow a large review of the link between breastfeeding and the risk of asthma in children from the general population. The researchers included 117 observational studies published between 1983 and 2012, which looked at whether a child had previously had asthma, or had experienced recent asthma or wheezing (in the previous 12 months).

Better Care Fund ‘built on flawed logic’

Better Care Fund ‘built on flawed logic’ Nuffield Trust says Government is right to review Fund. OnMedica

Much of NHS £10bn diabetes spend ‘wasted’

Much of NHS £10bn diabetes spend ‘wasted’ Most waste is on treating complications that good care could have prevented. OnMedica

See also:

• The Cost of Diabetes Report Diabetes UK

GPs to vote on charging patients for appointments

GPs to vote on charging patients for appointments Health campaigners criticise plan to deter patients from failing to turn up to surgeries as 'profiteering from the most vulnerable'

Health campaigners have expressed alarm over plans by GPs to vote on charging patients for appointments.

The proposal is aimed at saving the NHS tens of millions of pounds a year by deterring patients from failing to turn up to appointments. Continue reading... The Guardian

Then what? Special inquiry in discharge from hospitals, care homes and secure mental health units

Then what? Special inquiry in discharge from hospitals, care homes and secure mental health units Tens of thousands of people are potentially being sent home without proper support when they leave hospital or a care home. People can be left isolated in our communities and end up in crisis that could have been prevented.

This problem was escalated to us early on by the Healthwatch network as an area of significant concern.
We understand unsafe discharge can have the biggest impact on homeless people, people with mental health conditions and older people

Because of this, our inquiry will focus on the concerns of people from these three consumer groups being discharged from hospitals, care homes and secure mental health units. Healthwatch England

See also:

•  What happens when the vulnerable leave hospital? Channel 4 News
• Hospitals send dementia patients to homes without food or heating The Daily Telegraph

All newborns to undergo heart tests

All newborns to undergo heart tests Babies will undergo tests to check for heart defects, NHS screening committee rules. The Daily Telegraph

Satisfaction with A&E at lowest level for six years

Satisfaction with A&E at lowest level for six years Dissatisfaction with accident and emergency departments increases as waiting times rise. The Daily Telegraph