Wednesday 3 December 2014

More mental health teams to be based at police stations and courts

More mental health teams to be based at police stations and courts Another thirteen trial schemes are to launch in April 2015 to place mental health professionals in police stations and courts. These schemes aim to ensure people who come into the criminal justice system with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities are recognised and are promptly referred into health and other services to get the treatment or support they need.

These new schemes, called Liaison and Diversion (L&D) will join the existing ten areas that have been taking part in a two year trial that began in April 2014, to join up police and courts with mental health services. This will mean half of the English population will be covered by such schemes from April 2015. The model will be independently evaluated to inform a business case for services to cover all of the English population by 2017/18.

By identifying someone brought into a police station or involved in court proceedings who may have a mental health problem or other vulnerabilities, L&D schemes can ensure an individual is supported through the criminal justice system and into the right mental health or social care service. It can also help the police and courts to do their jobs by providing up-to-date information on a person’s state of mind; as well as benefit the individual’s health, contribute to a reduction in re-offending, and reduce the likelihood that the individual will reach crisis-point.

For many offenders who have a mental health issue or vulnerability, prison can make their situation worse. Nearly half of all prisoners have anxiety or depression, and nearly a third of all 13-18 year old who offend have a mental health issue.

The new model has already seen over 8,400 children, young people and adults come through the service while going through the justice process.

The new L&D schemes are now delivering a service to everyone who needs it regardless of their age. Services are available 24/7 and ensure that across the trial areas they will be provided with the same level of care and service.

The thirteen additional schemes will be:
  • Northamptonshire Criminal Justice Team whole of Northamptonshire

Midwife-led units safest for straightforward births

Accident and emergency survey 2014

Accident and emergency survey 2014 Read the results of our latest survey which asked people about their experiences of accident and emergency (A&E) departments in 2014. Care Quality Commission

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Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) reports

Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) reports These two reports from SSNAP show that despite steady progress in the care of stroke patients in the UK, there are still major shortages of both nurses and doctors. The organisational audit measures the staffing levels, resources and facilities available in every hospital that cares for stroke patients acutely whilst the annual patient care audit provides answers to questions about the type of patient having a stroke, whether or not they are being treated quickly enough, receive enough therapy, where patients go for treatment including after their hospital stay, and whether they get the clot-busting drugs they require. Royal College of Physicians
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VIDEO: Is TTIP really a threat to the NHS?

VIDEO: Is TTIP really a threat to the NHS? There are fears the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership could open health services to privatisation. BBC News

One fifth of young adults reported taking illicit drugs last year

One fifth of young adults reported taking illicit drugs last year A report published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows one in five 16-24 year olds in England and Wales (18.9 per cent) reported they had taken illicit drugs in 2013-14, an increase on 2012-13 (16.2 per cent).

HIV evolving into less deadly form

HIV evolving into less deadly form “HIV is evolving to become less deadly and less infectious,” BBC News reports.

A new study showed that HIV adapts to a person’s immune system, and that some of these adaptations may reduce the virulence of the virus.

The research team looked specifically at HIV in Botswana and South Africa. It found that over time, human immune system proteins, in addition to the use of HIV drugs, may have forced the virus to change into less virulent forms.

This is consistent with the theory that viruses get less virulent over time. The optimal evolutionary strategy for a virus is to be infectious (so it creates more copies of itself) but non-lethal (so its host population doesn’t die out). The "poster boy" for successful long-living viruses is, arguably, the family of viruses that cause the common cold, which has existed for thousands of years.

The authors warn that HIV, even at the reduced virulence, can still trigger the onset of AIDS.

Similarly, this study does not show that HIV virulence in the UK is decreasing, and that the virus remains life-threatening.

Women with mental illness miss out on breast cancer screening

Women with mental illness miss out on breast cancer screening More must be done to support vulnerable women called for mammography. OnMedica

Judge rules NHS must consult patients on primary care changes

Judge rules NHS must consult patients on primary care changes Patient of surgery threatened by funding changes wins High Court challenge against NHS. OnMedica

Autumn Statement: Cameron WILL have to cut NHS spending, warns senior Tory

Autumn Statement: Cameron WILL have to cut NHS spending, warns senior Tory A rising star of the Conservative right has been secretly recorded suggesting David Cameron may have to renege on his pledge to protect NHS spending if the Tories win next May’s general election. The Independent

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