Hand-held computers replacing patient charts at Northampton General Hospital to alert staff to patients in danger

Hand-held computers replacing patient charts at Northampton General Hospital to alert staff to patients in danger A new hand-held computer has been introduced at Northampton General Hospital to help quickly alert nurses to deteriorating patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• New mobile technology for NGH nurses means less paper, more care for patients NGH News
• New technology at Northampton General Hospital means less paper work for nurses Northampton Herald & Post

How do people become good managers of their own health?

How do people become good managers of their own health? Within the general population some people actively focus on reaching and maintaining good health, while others are more passive about the whole thing. So what makes the difference?

Another £240m on offer for NHS trusts to go digital

Another £240m on offer for NHS trusts to go digital NHS trusts and now local authorities, can apply for part of £240m of funding to digitise and integrate patient information across the health and care sector, driving improvements in patient care. NHS England 

Patient empowerment: for better quality, more sustainable health services globally

Patient empowerment: for better quality, more sustainable health services globally This report takes a global perspective on how to empower patients to play a more active role in their care. Drawing lessons from over 100 innovative case studies submitted to the review, it outlines how much the UK has to learn from high, middle and low income countries – and how these lessons should be applied. At the same time, the report also highlights the UK’s strengths, its important role historically in supporting the global patient empowerment agenda, and how it can continue to play a leading role internationally. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health

Electronic cigarettes: reports commissioned by Public Health England

Electronic cigarettes: reports commissioned by Public Health England These reports, commissioned by PHE, examine the evidence on risks and opportunities presented by electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes takes a broad look at the issues relating to e-cigarettes including their role in tobacco harm reduction, potential hazards, potential benefits and regulation. E-cigarette uptake and marketing examines use of e-cigarettes by children and young people, the scale and nature of current marketing and its implications, in particular in relation to its potential appeal to young people.

• Electronic cigarettes
• E-cigarette update and marketing

Brits eating too much salt, sugar and fat

Brits eating too much salt, sugar and fat  “Too much sugar, salt and fat: healthy eating still eluding many Britons,” The Guardian reports, while the Daily Mail rather bizarrely warns of a “fruit juice timebomb”. Both papers are covering a major survey that looked at the nation’s eating habits over recent years.

The survey found that, overall, adults and children are eating too much saturated fat, added sugar and salt. We are also not getting the recommended levels of fruit, vegetables, oily fish and fibre that our bodies need.

Support to help children with complex health needs overcome the barriers to ‘An Ordinary Life’

Support to help children with complex health needs overcome the barriers to ‘An Ordinary Life’ The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities is launching a package of new support materials to raise awareness of the aspirations of children with complex health needs and their families.

Physical care of psychiatric patients to receive major boost

Physical care of psychiatric patients to receive major boost Over 300,000 people with serious mental illness to receive comprehensive physical health checks OnMedica

See also:

• Mental health staff to introduce physical ‘MOT’ to reduce deaths NHS England
• Health MoTs for psychiatric patients BBC News

Do plans for transforming primary care stand up to scrutiny? | Richard Vize

Do plans for transforming primary care stand up to scrutiny? | Richard Vize Richard Vize looks at the contrasting proposals from politicians and NHS leaders on shifting resources from hospitals to communities.

The focus of the NHS and politicians is finally shifting to where the transformation in healthcare needs to take place primary care services. Who should commission them, how much money they should get and what they should do are all being debated.

It is striking that one of Simon Stevens' first actions as NHS England chief executive has been to tackle the paralysis in primary care development, by acceding to clinical commissioning group calls for a much bigger role in developing primary care. His invitation to CCGs to demonstrate how they would use additional powers to improve quality and put their local NHS on a "sustainable path" is a major step forward in turning the talk about shifting resources from hospitals to communities into action. Continue reading... The Guardian

Exploitation of care workers leaving elderly at risk - peer

Exploitation of care workers leaving elderly at risk - peer Elderly put at risk by care industry which leaves workers 'undervalued, underpaid and undertrained' warns Baroness Kingsmill. The Daily Telegraph