Monday, 24 November 2014
Five Northampton GP surgeries to be inspected after ‘high-risk’ issues found
Five Northampton GP surgeries to be inspected after ‘high-risk’ issues found Five GP surgeries in Northampton are set to be visited by inspectors after data suggested patients risked having sub-standard care. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
RCN warns of “turning back the clock” in mental health care
RCN warns of “turning back the clock” in mental health care Mental health services across the UK are under unprecedented strain, with a steep fall in nurse numbers and available beds at a time of rising demand, according to a new report published by the Royal College of Nursing.
See also:
See also:
- Frontline First: Turning back the clock? RCN report on mental health services in the UK Royal College of Nursing
- Mental health nursing cuts warning BBC News
- Video: Mental health services 'under unprecedented strain' BBC News
- Thousands of mental health jobs axed in last 4 years despite surge in sectioned patients, report claims The Daily Mirror
- Call to reverse 'unacceptable' mental health cuts ITV News
And our survey says...
And our survey says... What impact has the Berwick report had on the NHS? In conjunction with Monitor and the Trust Development Authority, we sent a survey out to every NHS provider in England. John Illingworth discusses the findings in this blog. The Health Foundation
Evaluating health and wellbeing interventions for healthcare staff: key findings
Evaluating health and wellbeing interventions for healthcare staff: key findings This guidance encourages NHS organisations to improve the evaluation of their internal health and wellbeing programmes. Findings from the research show that financial pressure on the NHS will make it increasingly difficult for NHS boards to justify their own staff health and wellbeing programmes - unless more evidence and rigor is developed to assess their value. NHS Employers
NHS staff stage four-hour strike
NHS staff stage four-hour strike Nurses, midwives, ambulance staff and other NHS workers are staging a four-hour strike on Monday. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Northamptonshire public warned strike could cause ambulance delays in non-life threatening cases Northampton Chronicle and Echo
- Strike action by ambulance staff could affect Northants Northamptonshire Telegraph
- NHS workers to stage four-hour strike as pay dispute continues The Guardian
Air dryers 'blown away' by paper towels in germ tests
Air dryers 'blown away' by paper towels in germ tests "Hand dryers 'splatter' users with bacteria," The Daily Telegraph reports.
The headline is prompted by an experimental study that compared the potential transfer of germs to the surrounding environment, users and bystanders when using three methods of hand drying:
Testers wore gloves coated in a solution of bacteria. Air samples taken after drying with the hand dryers showed significantly higher bacterial counts than when drying with paper towels, and were highest for the jet air dryers.
They then assessed the potential for spread to users and bystanders, this time using the proxy of gloves coated in black paint and a white body suit.
They found there was no contamination of the body after towel drying, but paint spots were on the body after the use of air dryers, which again was higher with jet dryers than standard warm air dryers.
One important limitation of this study is it essentially replicates the scenario of someone going to the toilet and then proceeding straight to the hand dryer without washing their hands first.
A more suitable test may have been to coat the gloves with the marker, wash them with soap and water as recommended, and then proceed to the hand dryers.
But the overall message of this study is consistent with current hand washing recommendations, including the use of disposable paper towels in healthcare settings.
The headline is prompted by an experimental study that compared the potential transfer of germs to the surrounding environment, users and bystanders when using three methods of hand drying:
- paper towels
- warm air dryers – the sort you see in most public toilets
- modern "high-tech" jet air dryers, such as the Dyson Airblade model
Testers wore gloves coated in a solution of bacteria. Air samples taken after drying with the hand dryers showed significantly higher bacterial counts than when drying with paper towels, and were highest for the jet air dryers.
They then assessed the potential for spread to users and bystanders, this time using the proxy of gloves coated in black paint and a white body suit.
They found there was no contamination of the body after towel drying, but paint spots were on the body after the use of air dryers, which again was higher with jet dryers than standard warm air dryers.
One important limitation of this study is it essentially replicates the scenario of someone going to the toilet and then proceeding straight to the hand dryer without washing their hands first.
A more suitable test may have been to coat the gloves with the marker, wash them with soap and water as recommended, and then proceed to the hand dryers.
But the overall message of this study is consistent with current hand washing recommendations, including the use of disposable paper towels in healthcare settings.
Fears Government is concealing levels of A&E overcrowding
Fears Government is concealing levels of A&E overcrowding Fears have been raised that the true scale of the looming A&E crisis is being concealed after the Government delayed the publication of key annual figures revealing how busy casualty departments are. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
How has the NHS improved patient safety?
How has the NHS improved patient safety? New research shows a positive response to the Berwick report and significant progress but further action is needed.
It has been just over a year since Professor Don Berwick produced his review of patient safety in England, offering a distinct shift in emphasis from the focus of the Francis inquiry. Most notably, it stated that “rules, standards, regulations and enforcement have a place in the pursuit of quality, but they pale in potential compared to the power of pervasive and constant learning”.
The review team was specifically asked how the NHS can “make zero harm a reality”. They came back and said sorry, this is just not possible (my paraphrasing), but instead filled the report with the broader ambition of a “continual reduction of harm”. Continue reading... The Guardian
It has been just over a year since Professor Don Berwick produced his review of patient safety in England, offering a distinct shift in emphasis from the focus of the Francis inquiry. Most notably, it stated that “rules, standards, regulations and enforcement have a place in the pursuit of quality, but they pale in potential compared to the power of pervasive and constant learning”.
The review team was specifically asked how the NHS can “make zero harm a reality”. They came back and said sorry, this is just not possible (my paraphrasing), but instead filled the report with the broader ambition of a “continual reduction of harm”. Continue reading... The Guardian
Number of GPs seeking to leave UK and work abroad doubles under coalition
Number of GPs seeking to leave UK and work abroad doubles under coalition Pressures of UK’s ageing population take heavy toll on NHS morale – and endanger patient safety, say doctors’ leaders
The number of GPs applying to leave the NHS annually to practise abroad has doubled under the coalition, raising fresh concerns over its handling of the health service.
The exodus risks exacerbating the current backlogs in GP practices and the pressures on A&E departments, according to the Royal College of GPs, which has warned that 600 practices may close in the next year due to poor recruitment and retention of staff. The most recent patient survey reports that one in four patients now wait a week or more to see their local doctor. Continue reading... The Guardian
The number of GPs applying to leave the NHS annually to practise abroad has doubled under the coalition, raising fresh concerns over its handling of the health service.
The exodus risks exacerbating the current backlogs in GP practices and the pressures on A&E departments, according to the Royal College of GPs, which has warned that 600 practices may close in the next year due to poor recruitment and retention of staff. The most recent patient survey reports that one in four patients now wait a week or more to see their local doctor. Continue reading... The Guardian
Non-emergency police and NHS helplines back up after disruption
Non-emergency police and NHS helplines back up after disruption Callers to 111 and 101 numbers had been unable to get through for several hours on Saturday due to technical difficulties
Disruption to the non-emergency helplines for the police and the NHS was resolved on Saturday after callers were unable to get through for several hours.
The NHS 24 helpline – accessed by dialling 111 – was hit by a “technical difficulty” for several hours, leaving the service unavailable for callers around the UK. Continue reading... The Guardian
Disruption to the non-emergency helplines for the police and the NHS was resolved on Saturday after callers were unable to get through for several hours.
The NHS 24 helpline – accessed by dialling 111 – was hit by a “technical difficulty” for several hours, leaving the service unavailable for callers around the UK. Continue reading... The Guardian
Police forced to take patients to hospital as ambulances fail to show
Police forced to take patients to hospital as ambulances fail to show A stroke patient died after an hour's wait for paramedics, The Telegraph can disclose, as a national inquiry is launched into how ambulance chiefs are using police officers to fill the gaps in their service. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- Police: Stop using us as ambulance drivers The Daily Telegraph
NHS chiefs will have to repay redundancy payoffs if rehired within a year
NHS chiefs will have to repay redundancy payoffs if rehired within a year NHS managers who receive large redundancy packages will have to repay it if they are rehired in a new NHS post within a year, under new changes to be introduced. The Daily Telegraph
Benefit changes mean a choice of 'eat or heat' for an increasing number of families
Benefit changes mean a choice of 'eat or heat' for an increasing number of families Soaring numbers of families with disabled children are being forced to go without food or heating because they can no longer afford the basics, a major study shows. The Independent
Patients leave end-of-life care choice to medics, survey finds
Patients leave end-of-life care choice to medics, survey finds Major decisions about how people are cared for at the end of their lives are being left to doctors – despite fewer than one in 10 patients wanting this to happen. The Independent
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