Wednesday 24 September 2014

Care Act is needed to avoid a social care ‘crash’: Northamptonshire County Council leader

Care Act is needed to avoid a social care ‘crash’: Northamptonshire County Council leader Failure to change the social care system could lead the whole system to ‘crash’ in the next decade, the leader of Northamptonshire County Council is expected to announce to the authority tomorrow. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Carers at breaking point

Carers at breaking point Based on the experiences of over 5,000 carers, this analysis examines the causes of carer breakdown, the impact of crisis and what support can prevent carers’ mental and physical health breaking down. More .....  Carers UK

Emergency surgery policy briefing

Emergency surgery policy briefing This briefing sets out the main challenges facing emergency surgery, and the high-level actions the Government and other policy-makers can take to support patients who require emergency surgical care. It highlights concerns about variations in mortality rates following emergency surgery and argues for clearer protocols and standards on how patients undergoing emergency surgery should be treated and for the NHS to measure outcomes for patients much more rigorously by publishing audits. Royal College of Surgeons 

Watch less TV to prevent obesity, says NICE

Watch less TV to prevent obesity, says NICE “Take TV-free days to combat obesity, health experts urge,” The Guardian reports. This is one of a range of new recommendations from National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE)draft guidelines that are designed to help adults and children maintain a healthy weight.

Although the headlines have largely focused on TV (as well as other types of screen time, such as smartphones), the recommendations cover a range of health-related behaviours, such as walking to work and avoiding fizzy drinks.

This draft guidance is mainly aimed at people in organisations who set up, pay for, or put into practice programmes that aim to help people maintain a healthy weight and prevent excess weight gain. The guidance is designed to help them know what sorts of behaviours these programmes should target.

Respect patient autonomy and share decision-making, doctors reminded

Respect patient autonomy and share decision-making, doctors reminded Reminder comes in wake of recent high profile disputes between doctors and patients about care. OnMedica

Urgent and emergency care is in crisis action is needed now

Urgent and emergency care is in crisis action is needed now Political parties take the issues seriously but NHS is running out of time.

Why dont we charge people who go to A&E?
How to reduce the pressure on A&E departments

Urgent and emergency care (UEC) needs some urgent and emergency care. A victim of its own success, it is facing relentless rising demand up by nearly 7% in the last five years despite programmes designed to reverse the trend.

The range of pressures on UEC has also widened. Patients coming through the doors could need anything from immediate cardiac care to emergency mental health intervention. They might also arrive with less serious needs but still be in need of immediate care, whether for physical or mental health, or in the social care sector. So-called winter pressures are no longer confined to winter this summer has been busier than last winter. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS faces week of industrial action by up to 500,000 staff

NHS faces week of industrial action by up to 500,000 staff Unions set to announce four-hour strike and other actions amid anger over Jeremy Hunts denial of 1% pay rise

The NHS is to be hit by strike action over pay for the first time in 32 years amid staff anger at being denied a 1% salary rise by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Up to nine unions representing around 500,000 NHS personnel, including nurses and midwives, are set to take part in coordinated action next month intended to force Hunt into a U-turn on a policy that has led to a widespread feeling of betrayal. Continue reading... The Guardian

Nurses' anger over pay boost for NHS senior managers

Nurses' anger over pay boost for NHS senior managers Nurses accuse ministers of 'seriously warped priorities' after figures show pay boost for managers was six times that of junior staff. The Daily Telegraph

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Ageism in the NHS may mean elderly trauma patients suffer worse care: doctors

Ageism in the NHS may mean elderly trauma patients suffer worse care: doctors The elderly who suffer broken bones in falls and accidents are not getting specialist care because of ageism in the NHS, doctors have warned. The Daily Telegraph

Ebola outbreak: 164 NHS health workers volunteer to join the fight in Africa

Ebola outbreak: 164 NHS health workers volunteer to join the fight in Africa At least 164 NHS staff have joined the fight against West Africa’s Ebola outbreak, less than a week after England’s top doctors issued a nationwide call for volunteers. The Independent

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NHS will get £2.5bn boost funded by mansion tax and and levy on tobacco firms, pledges Ed Miliband

NHS will get £2.5bn boost funded by mansion tax and and levy on tobacco firms, pledges Ed Miliband An incoming Labour Government would give the NHS a £2.5bn injection, funded by a mansion tax, a levy on tobacco firms and closing tax loopholes exploited by hedge funds, Ed Miliband announced today. The Independent

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