Thursday 30 April 2015

How can we plan the future NHS workforce with incomplete information?

How can we plan the future NHS workforce with incomplete information? Discussions about the NHS workforce have been prominent in the current election campaign and arose during the recent health debate. The main parties have made various pledges about increasing the numbers of NHS staff. Conveniently round numbers such as ‘20,000 more nurses’ or ‘5,000 more GPs’ have hit the headlines, but is there the money to fund these roles or the eager trainees to fill them?

Before we get to those questions we need to think about whether we actually need more staff on this scale. All of the anecdotal evidence we’ve gathered on access problems and an increasing reliance on agency nurses suggests the answer is a very emphatic ‘Yes’. However, our recent report Workforce planning in the NHS demonstrates that we don’t know nearly enough about the numbers or nature of the workforce currently delivering NHS-commissioned services.

From compliance to commitment: should the NHS look to the Danish on how to accelerate change and improvement?

From compliance to commitment: should the NHS look to the Danish on how to accelerate change and improvement? It’s a time of great change for the Danish in their approach to health care quality improvement and the Danish system has many similarities with the NHS, albeit on a smaller scale. So what can the NHS learn from the Danish approach? asks Clare Allcock. The Health Foundation

Antibiotics 'not being protected'

Antibiotics 'not being protected' Three-quarters of countries do not have plans in place to preserve antimicrobial medicines, the World Health Organization says. BBC News

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More older carers 'risking health'

More older carers 'risking health' The number of older carers in England is rising, with signs the responsibility of looking after loved ones is damaging their health, research suggests. BBC News

NHS close to breaking point says British Medical Journal

NHS close to breaking point says British Medical Journal The leading medical journal said public safety is at risk and the next five years are set to be the ‘most challenging’ the Health Service in England has faced as it is 'stretched to breaking point'. The Daily Mail

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Digital revolution brings data challenges for NHS

Digital revolution brings data challenges for NHS Digital health technology could redefine healthcare for the better, but data security remains the greatest challenge

Alongside its industrial cousin, the digital revolution has created fundamental and irreversible changes to our way of life. Those changes are particularly apparent in the healthcare sector and from a UK perspective, digitally enabled services are a vital element in the strategy that the NHS is using to head off the £30bn black hole that will otherwise exist in its budget by 2020.

While the majority of us expect that goods and services be available within a couple of taps of a smartphone or tablet, in a healthcare context, a sizeable group of the population are either late adopters or remain seriously concerned about data security. Add to that the moral concerns that exist in relation to the commercialisation of patient data and you see the extent of the challenge that the NHS needs to overcome before it is able to realise substantial savings through use of digital health technology. Continue reading... The Guardian

GPs are exhausted, A&E is overrun and hospitals are broke. What went wrong?

GPs are exhausted, A&E is overrun and hospitals are broke. What went wrong? Each day this week we are looking at key election issues. Today we examine the NHS, and the claim that the coalition’s plan for market-based healthcare was based on a mistaken belief that doctors are driven by self-interest.

When Stephanie Di Georgio, a Kent GP, sat down at a medical conference last year in Liverpool to hear the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, she expected to be annoyed. A partner in a busy practice by the sea in Deal, Kent, she had almost given up on medicine because of the stress of dealing with shrinking budgets while the pressure built up to do more.

So much was done so fast in an unprecedented squeeze Continue reading... The Guardian

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British expats from outside Europe must pay for NHS hospital care

British expats from outside Europe must pay for NHS hospital care A bill for 150 per cent of the cost of treatment will be handed to Britons living outside the European Economic Area if they don't have insurance. The Daily Telegraph

Richest one per cent will live over eight years longer on average than those living in poorest parts of UK by 2030, say experts

Richest one per cent will live over eight years longer on average than those living in poorest parts of UK by 2030, say experts People living in the some of the country’s richest areas will, by 2030, live more than eight years longer on average than those living in some of the poorest, leading experts have said. The Independent

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Child becomes first patient to be cured of potentially fatal illness using 3D-printed biodegradable implant

Child becomes first patient to be cured of potentially fatal illness using 3D-printed biodegradable implant A three-year-old boy has become the first patient in the world to be cured of a potentially fatal illness with a biodegradable implant made to the patient’s exact specifications by 3D printing technology, doctors have said. The Independent

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Head, hands and heart: asset-based approaches in health care

Head, hands and heart: asset-based approaches in health care This report summarises the theory and evidence behind asset-based approaches in health care and wellbeing and gives details of six case studies, describing these approaches in action. It sets out some of the opportunities and challenges in adopting asset-based approaches for improving health and wellbeing and explores some of the key principles for developing health assets and the evidence and mechanisms of impact on health outcomes of asset-based projects in the UK. The Health Foundation

Using apps in clinical practice guidance

Using apps in clinical practice guidance This guidance was developed in April 2015 to provide clinicians and medical app developers with important information about the use of apps in clinical practice. Royal College of Physicians

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Facing the Future Together for Child Health

Facing the Future Together for Child Health A new set of standards, developed jointly by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing. It builds on the Facing the Future: Standards for Acute General Paediatric Services expanding them to acute care outside the hospital. The standards apply across the unscheduled care pathway and aim to improve health care and outcomes for children and young people with acute illness.

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Nursing shortage preventing access to crucial training, says RCN

Nursing shortage preventing access to crucial training, says RCN Nursing staff are missing out on essential training and Continued Professional Development because of staff shortages and a lack of funds. Royal College of Nursing

The opportunities of person-centred care and support – Martin Routledge

The opportunities of person-centred care and support – Martin Routledge In the second half of his two-part blog Martin Routledge, Director of the Coalition for Collaborative Care, poses a question:

So, what else can we all do to make sure that Vanguards and IPC help light the blue touch paper for person-centred care rather than fizzling out like a damp squib? NHS England

Court grants assisted suicide review

Court grants assisted suicide review Disability rights campaigners who say assisted suicide policy in England and Wales is too "liberal" win permission to bring a legal challenge. BBC News

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Homeopathy on the NHS to be reviewed

Homeopathy on the NHS to be reviewed Health officials are to review the use of homeopathy on the NHS after a group of doctors accused them of wasting money on “deceitful” treatments which do not benefit patients.

Liverpool NHS has said it will review its funding of the alternative medicine after it was threatened with judicial review by a pro-science charity. The Daily Telegraph

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GP vacancy rate at highest ever, with 50% rise in empty posts

GP vacancy rate at highest ever, with 50% rise in empty posts GPs are finding it increasingly harder to recruit, with almost one in ten GP partner positions currently vacant, shows a Pulse survey

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No evidence organic milk in pregnancy lowers a baby's IQ

No evidence organic milk in pregnancy lowers a baby's IQ "Pregnant women who switch to 'healthier' organic milk may be putting the brain development of their unborn babies at risk," The Guardian reports after researchers found organic milk had lower levels of iodine than standard milk.

Iodine is needed for the healthy function of the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones are needed for the development of the brain and spinal cord in an unborn baby. This means a sufficient iodine intake during pregnancy is important, as it is throughout life.

As a result of different farming systems, milk produced from grass-fed organic cows during the summer is known to contain less iodine than standard milk.

This study compared samples of milk taken from supermarkets during the winter. It found that in the winter, organic milk still contains around a third less iodine than standard milk. This is regardless of fat content. But the iodine content in a normal 346ml glass of organic milk was still enough to provide the recommended daily iodine intake.

Despite the headlines, the researchers did not actually look at the effects of milk consumption on any measure of child health, including intelligence. The study also did not consider the iodine content of other dairy products or non-dairy sources, such as eggs, fish and certain grains.

This study therefore does not provide any evidence to suggest drinking organic milk during pregnancy could have a negative impact on a child's IQ.

But it is worth being aware that organic milk is likely to contain less iodine than standard milk, so you may need to balance your intake through other sources.
Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Reading and was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Food Chemistry.

It was funded by the University of Reading, and the authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The media headlines give the impression the study found evidence organic milk can harm babies' development. This is not the case.

First online assessment aid for coeliac disease set to launch

First online assessment aid for coeliac disease set to launch Aims to find undiagnosed half a million estimated to have condition. OnMedica

Don't treat students as customers when it comes to mental health

Don't treat students as customers when it comes to mental health Applying customer service metrics to student mental health is potentially dangerous and ignores the complexity of care needed Continue reading... The Guardian

Government derailing of salt reduction programme put people at greater risk of heart disease and strokes, says leading expert

Government derailing of salt reduction programme put people at greater risk of heart disease and strokes, says leading expert The Coalition government derailed the UK’s hugely successful salt reduction programme, putting the public at a greater risk of heart disease and stroke, a leading expert has said. The Independent

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Measuring Vital Signs: An IOM Report on Core Metrics for Health and Health Care Progress

Measuring Vital Signs: An IOM Report on Core Metrics for Health and Health Care progress Enthusiasm for performance measurement in both the public and private health care sectors has helped to create a serious problem: a massive proliferation of measures. In response, the Institute of Medicine has identified a set of standardized measures, along with steps for implementing and refining them. The Commonwealth Fund

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Northampton mum has parking appeals turned down after leaving car to rush baby with meningitis to hospital

Northampton mum has parking appeals turned down after leaving car to rush baby with meningitis to hospital A mum from Northamptonshire got a £90 parking fine after leaving her car at a GP surgery so she could rush her son to hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Person-centred care and support presents a moment of opportunity – Martin Routledge

Person-centred care and support presents a moment of opportunity – Martin Routledge In the first of a two-part blog on person-centred care and support the Director of Coalition for Collaborative Care examines opportunities coming from the Five Year Forward View. NHS England

Alcohol detox centre 'saves NHS millions'

Alcohol detox centre 'saves NHS millions' The unit pioneering a different way of dealing with alcoholics. BBC News

Nurse jailed for attacks on patients

Nurse jailed for attacks on patients A former nurse is jailed for 18 years for raping unconscious women at a hospital in Oxfordshire. BBC News

Parents 'may pass anxiety on to their children'

Parents 'may pass anxiety on to their children' The Mail Online has given stressed-out parents one more thing to worry about, saying: "Anxiety is 'catching' and can be passed on to children", adding that, "Attitudes of over-anxious parents can severely affect children's behaviour".

The study that prompted these headlines used an interesting "children of twins" study design intended to filter out the influence of genetics, which is known to have an effect on anxiety.

To do this, researchers studied patterns of anxiety in families of identical twins, who are genetically identical, and in families of non-identical twins.

They found there was some link between anxiety and neuroticism (a tendency to have negative thought patterns) in parents and their adolescent children.

There was no evidence that genetics was playing a significant role, but modest evidence that non-genetic factors were. This suggested that anxiety, far from being hardwired into DNA, might be passed on in other ways, such as through learned or mimicked behaviour.

In the Mail Online, journal editor Dr Robert Freedman said: "Parents who are anxious can now be counselled and educated on ways to minimise the impact of their anxiety on the child's development."

This suggestion seems a touch premature – as noted by the researchers, there is a chicken and egg situation here that has not been resolved. Do children worry because they sense their parents are worried, or do parents worry because they see their children are worried about something?

NHS England may trial equipping patients with wearable tech

NHS England may trial equipping patients with wearable tech NHS England is looking for up to six population test beds in the country which could be used to trial new technologies, digital services and other innovations. GP Online

Physician associates as good as GPs, only cheaper

Physician associates as good as GPs, only cheaper Health outcomes the same for same day appointment patients, study shows. OnMedica

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Only genuine understanding from politicians can save the NHS

Only genuine understanding from politicians can save the NHS The health service is a fiercely debated issue in the election. Those seeking responsibility for it must show better understanding of its realities Continue reading... The Guardian

Cumbrian hospital midwife admits mistakes contributed to babies' deaths

Cumbrian hospital midwife admits mistakes contributed to babies' deaths Former midwife at Furness general hospital will not dispute 77 allegations regarding her treatment of 14 patients, a tribunal has been told.

A former midwife is not going to fight claims that her actions contributed to the deaths of two babies, a misconduct tribunal has been told.

Marie Teresa Ratcliffe, who worked at Cumbria’s Furness general hospital, did not attend her hearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in Stratford, east London, and did not send a lawyer to represent her. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Ovarian cancer: we need better access to BRCA testing

Ovarian cancer: we need better access to BRCA testing There is innovative work being done to combat ovarian cancer, which women have a one in 50 chance of developing, but as yet there is no accurate test for early diagnosis. The Daily Telegraph

Monday 27 April 2015

Chief fears hospital now 'too small'

Chief fears hospital now 'too small' A hospital is now too small to cope with a growing population, a senior manager says. BBC Northamptonshire

New 300-space single-storey car park approved for Northampton General Hospital site

New 300-space single-storey car park approved for Northampton General Hospital site Planning permission has been granted by Northampton Borough Council for a new 300-space single-storey decked car park on the Northampton General Hospital site. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Putting care back into health care

Putting care back into health care When health care can deliver so much that could never have been imagined when the NHS was set up, have we lost sight of the basic principles of care? asks Jo Bibby. The Health Foundation

Community nursing safe staffing - have your say

Community nursing safe staffing - have your say Have your say on the current NICE consultation and call for evidence on safe staffing in community nursing care settings. NHS Employers

HIV home test kit goes on sale in UK

HIV home test kit goes on sale in UK The first HIV self-test kit that allows people to get a fast result at home has gone on sale in the UK. BBC News

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Another nail in coffin of MMR-autism link

Another nail in coffin of MMR-autism link Even in children already at higher risk of autism, there’s no relative increase with MMR jab. OnMedica

Far more NHS contracts going to private firms than ministers admit, figures show

Far more NHS contracts going to private firms than ministers admit, figures show Figures detailing who is being awarded contracts to provide clinical services appear to undermine government’s claim 6% of NHS budget goes to private firms

Profit-driven firms have been winning far more NHS contracts than ministers admit and privatisation has increased significantly under the coalition government, the latest evidence shows.

Two new sets of figures, detailing who is being awarded contracts to provide NHS clinical services, both challenge the government’s claim that only 6% of the service’s budget goes to private firms. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Diabetics' amputation risks increased as NHS foot checks missed

Diabetics' amputation risks increased as NHS foot checks missed Too many people with the disease are not receiving recommended annual test of the health of their feet, says Diabetes UK

More than 400,000 diabetics are at risk of having an amputation because they do not get what are meant to be annual NHS checks on their feet, campaigners are warning.

One in seven people with type 2 diabetes and almost three in 10 sufferers with type 1 are not receiving the recommended annual test of the health of their feet, claims Diabetes UK. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Rationing care is a fact of life for the NHS

Rationing care is a fact of life for the NHS It’s one of the toughest issues the health service has to face, but it should be debated openly, honestly and without political interference

This week’s survey by HSJ revealing that 39% of clinical commissioning groups it contacted wereconsidering rationing care to save money in the coming year highlights one of the murkier areas of health policy and raises a number of difficult questions.

Rationing is nothing new, of course. When waiting lists stretched to many months and even years, treatment was often rationed simply by the patient dying before they reach the operating table. Heart surgery was a striking example of this. The long waits in A&E departments acted as another form of rationing. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS hit by stealth cuts of £2bn as tariffs received for medical procedures are reduced

NHS hit by stealth cuts of £2bn as tariffs received for medical procedures are reduced Hospitals across England have suffered a “stealth cut” amounting to more than to £2bn since 2010, because of reductions in the amounts paid to fund standard medical procedures, according to new research. The Independent

Children suffering from mental health conditions put in prison cells for want of suitable hospital beds

Children suffering from mental health conditions put in prison cells for want of suitable hospital beds More than 200 children, some as young as 12, were held in police cells while suffering mental health crises last year, because of a lack of suitable hospital beds, figures obtained by The Independent on Sunday reveal.

Friday 24 April 2015

Email claiming changes to Isebrook Hospital, Wellingborough and Rushden police, fire cover is false, say Conservatives

Email claiming changes to Isebrook Hospital, Wellingborough and Rushden police, fire cover is false, say Conservatives An email claiming Rushden Fire Station is closing and services from Isebrook Hospital are being relocated is false. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Manifesto pledges: more money for the NHS... problem solved?

Manifesto pledges: more money for the NHS... problem solved? As Ipsos MORI has been reporting for some months now, the NHS is a big issue for the public, and now nearly half of all Britons surveyed (47 per cent) say the NHS and health care is their top concern when deciding how they’ll vote in the general election. The public’s concerns have been reflected in the political parties’ manifesto promises – a combination of more money and a long shopping list for how the extra cash will be spent (more doctors, more nurses…24/7 motherhood, and a free prescription for apple pie). But what do the promises add up to, and is the NHS safe in anyone’s hands? (And why is the politician’s favourite number 8,000,000,000?) The King's Fund

How is the NHS performing? April 2015

How is the NHS performing? April 2015 As the NHS begins a new financial year and we move from one parliament to another, it is clear from the performance on key headline targets and standards and from our latest survey of finance directors that the NHS will face huge challenges this year.

It now seems certain that hospitals and other NHS providers in England overspent their budgets in 2014/15 by more than £800 million. This is despite nearly £900 million being provided by the Treasury or switched from capital budgets to plug the growing black hole in NHS finances. According to the regular survey undertaken for the report, almost 60 per cent of trust finance directors said that they were dependent on additional financial support or had drawn down their reserves in 2014/15.

The financial outlook for 2015/16 is even gloomier, with two-thirds of hospitals concerned about staying within budget over the next year. Although commissioners are more optimistic, 40 per cent of finance leads from clinical commissioning groups are also concerned about whether they will be able to balance the books in 2015/16. The King's Fund

What can improvement contribute to solving the NHS productivity puzzle?

What can improvement contribute to solving the NHS productivity puzzle? While we may not yet have the full answers to meeting the productivity challenge, the good news is that we know quality improvement is possible, and that we have gone some way to understanding what it takes to make successful change happen, says Will Warburton. The Health Foundation

Stonewall release the Healthcare Equality Index 2015

Stonewall release the Healthcare Equality Index 2015 The 2015 healthcare equality index has been announced. Is your organisation in the top 10? NHS Employers

Spot the difference

Spot the difference Are there more similarities than differences in the parties' plans for the NHS. BBC News

NHS Choices aims to aggregate

NHS Choices aims to aggregate NHS Choices plans to become an aggregator platform for a more integrated system of NHS services, its head of business development has said. E-Health Insider

Asthma cure 'within five years,' researchers hope

Asthma cure 'within five years,' researchers hope "Asthma cure could be in reach," The Independent reports. Researchers have discovered that protein molecules called calcium-sensing receptors play a pivotal role in asthma. Drugs known to block these proteins already exist.

In asthma, the immune system mistakes harmless substances, such as pollen, as a threat. White blood cells and inflammatory proteins then collect in the airways. The inflammation causes the airways to constrict, leading to the breathing difficulties associated with asthma. This study found these proteins stimulate calcium-sensing receptors, which leads to further inflammation of the airways.

The research used mouse models of asthma and human airway tissue taken from asthmatic and non-asthmatic people. The researchers found increased numbers of these calcium-sensing receptors compared with healthy lung tissue. They concluded that this is one of the reasons for the exaggerated inflammatory response that occurs in asthma.

The drug calcityrol, which is used to treat osteoporosis, is known to block the actions of the receptors. It reduced inflammation of the airways when used in mice.

However, it is not clear that calcityrol could be a "cure" for asthma, as the initial inflammatory response by the immune system would still occur.

Though calcityrol pills are safe as a treatment for osteoporosis, it is not known whether the dose required to be effective in reducing the inflammation found in asthma would be safe.

The researchers plan to develop a version of the drug that can be inhaled to maximise its effectiveness and minimise side effects. They expect human trials to commence in a couple of years.

Two in five GPs work in federations, but most oppose hospital-led integration

Two in five GPs work in federations, but most oppose hospital-led integration Around 40% of GPs say their practice has joined a network or federation to deliver new models of provision, according to the latest data released from the BMA's largest ever poll of the profession. GP Online

Man wins thousands from NHS after wife made to look like 'Michelin man'

Man wins thousands from NHS after wife made to look like 'Michelin man' Man wins thousands of pounds in compensation for experiencing a nervous shock the moment he saw his wife "looking like the Michelin man" following a botched operation, in landmark NHS test case. The Daily Telegraph

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Private sector providers of GP services being outperformed by traditional practices

Private sector providers of GP services being outperformed by traditional practices Private sector and other alternative providers of GP services in the NHS do not do as well as traditional GP practices, an expert analysis has found. The Independent

World's first viable malaria vaccine could prevent millions of cases - and be available within months

World's first viable malaria vaccine could prevent millions of cases - and be available within months The world’s first viable malaria vaccine could be available by as early as October, after final trial results confirmed its potential to prevent millions of cases of the deadly disease every year. The Independent

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Thursday 23 April 2015

Calls for investment in town hospital

Calls for investment in town hospital

Election candidates in Northampton call for more investment in the town's hospital. BBC News - Northampton

Facts, figures and views on health and social care

Facts, figures and views on health and social care


Nuffield Trust has published facts and figures about health and social care in the run up to the general election.

It covers NHS finances, the NHS workforce, A&E performance, quality of care and social care. NHS Networks

More ....

Uses and abuses of performance data in healthcare

Uses and abuses of performance data in healthcare


This report describes how efforts to improve standards of patient care in the NHS are being undermined by performance measures that encourage ‘gaming’ and sap professional motivation. It makes a series of recommendations to tackle practices that distort the reliability of the information used to manage the standards of care delivered to patients. It outlines how better healthcare data from English hospitals has, overall, led to greater transparency. NHS Evidence
Report
Dr Foster - news

Scientific peer reviews are a 'sacred cow' ready to be slaughtered, says former editor of BMJ

Scientific peer reviews are a 'sacred cow' ready to be slaughtered, says former editor of BMJ

The peer review process – long considered the gold standard of quality scientific research – is a “sacred cow” that should be slaughtered, the former editor of one of the country’s leading medical journals has said. Independent

Asthma cure could be in reach as scientists make 'incredibly exciting' breakthrough

Asthma cure could be in reach as scientists make 'incredibly exciting' breakthrough

An outright cure for asthma could be possible in five years if researchers establish that existing drugs for people with brittle bones can be safely used to treat sufferers’ lungs. Independent

Election 2015: five questions on NHS funding that campaigns are avoiding

Election 2015: five questions on NHS funding that campaigns are avoiding

Political parties need to be honest about the money required for their health service proposals and the Five Year Forward View

Related: Election 2015: what do party pledges mean for NHS staff?

NHS funding matters because you get what you pay for. The level of funding has a key role in defining how well we can care for patients, how many staff we can employ, the drugs we can afford and the innovations we can adopt. So it’s no wonder that the debate on future NHS funding has been one of the main features of the general election. But there remain five vital questions that none of the campaigns have answered. Guardian

Continue reading...

NHS 'will miss £22bn efficiency savings target', says thinktank

NHS 'will miss £22bn efficiency savings target', says thinktank


King’s Fund warns that NHS will need even more than the £8bn extra a year it has asked for

The NHS is highly unlikely to make the £22bn of efficiency savings it has agreed and so is likely to need the next government to give it even more than the £8bn extra a year it has already asked for from the Treasury, the King’s Fund warned on Thursday. The thinktank’s gloomy prognosis is based on a survey of the views of finance directors of hospital trusts and other NHS organisations, amajority of whom voiced deep pessimism about the target.

Last October Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, committed the service to plugging £22bn of the expected £30bn gap in its finances by 2020 through productivity gains of 2% or 3% a year between now and 2020. Since then the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have promised to provide the other £8bn by 2020 from government funds, though Labour has refused to do the same. Guardian

Continue reading...

Exercise 'not key to obesity fight'

Exercise 'not key to obesity fight'

Physical activity has little role in tackling obesity - and instead public health messages should squarely focus on unhealthy eating, doctors say. BBC News

Exclusive: Fifth of GP practices drop extended opening hours amid rising pressure

Exclusive: Fifth of GP practices drop extended opening hours amid rising pressure

A fifth of GPs have dropped an extended hours service in the past year as workload and funding pressures take their toll on primary care services, a GPonline poll has revealed. GP Online

Updated guidance for professionals who provide care after death

Updated guidance for professionals who provide care after death

It aims to help ensure that a person who has died is cared for and that there is well co-ordinated support which respects the wishes of the deceased and their families.

Care After Death is aimed at the different professionals involved in care and support for people just before and after death, including: nurses, doctors, mortuary staff, ambulance staff, pathologists and funeral directors.

Ebola drug cures infected monkeys

Ebola drug cures infected monkeys

An experimental drug has cured monkeys infected with the strain of the Ebola virus present in West Africa, US-based scientists say. BBC News

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Uses and abuses of performance data in healthcare

Uses and abuses of performance data in healthcare Measurement of performance in the healthcare sector is essential for transparency and accountability, and to support improvement. However, these improvements are undermined by weaknesses in the generation of data and metrics. This report outlines five steps that are not currently being addressed by policy but could significantly reduce data abuse and increase the benefit that can be gained through the use of performance data. Dr Foster

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Exploring the role of communications in quality improvement

Exploring the role of communications in quality improvement Too often we see communications being done as an afterthought by those expert in other fields or it is the preserve of specialists who are isolated from clinical work, but it's a key component of improvement work, says Dr Alan Willson. The Health Foundation

Why isn’t care planning happening in the NHS?

Why isn’t care planning happening in the NHS? In 2006, a government White Paper promised that they would be given the opportunity to shape their own care plans and successive governments have reconfirmed their commitment to this policy. Why has there been so little progress since? asks Angela Coulter. The Health Foundation

An inspector calls: An insider’s guide to preparing for a CQC inspection

An inspector calls: An insider’s guide to preparing for a CQC inspection This briefing provides an account of what mental health providers can expect during an inspection, how to prepare, and some top tips from those who have taken part in an inspection so far.

It draws on the learning of the pilot process, which saw 14 mental health organisations inspected, many of which attended the Mental Health Network learning event in October 2014. NHS Confederation

Bowel cancers 'spotted too late'

Bowel cancers 'spotted too late' Thousands of people in England are dying from bowel cancer because their disease is not being spotted early enough, warns a charity. BBC News

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Mindfulness 'as good as drugs for preventing depression relapse'

Mindfulness 'as good as drugs for preventing depression relapse' "Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be as good as pills at stopping people relapsing after recovering from major bouts of depression," The Guardian reports.

Researchers wanted to see if a type of therapy known as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) could be an effective alternative treatment to antidepressants for people with majordepression at high risk of relapse.

MBCT combines the problem-solving approach of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with mindfulness techniques. These are designed to fix your awareness on the "here and now" instead of having unhelpful thoughts about the past and the future.

In a two-year clinical trial, people already taking antidepressants were assigned to a MBCT programme with a view to reducing or stopping their medication, or were asked to continue antidepressants alone. With support from their GP and therapist, around 70% of the mindfulness group were able to stop taking antidepressants.

The trial suggests MBCT might help some people with major recurrent depression reduce or cut out their medication. However, between four and five people out of every 10 in the trial relapsed within two years, regardless of their treatment. Depending on your perspective, the treatments were equally good or equally bad.

NHS private hospital stitched up as it had huge improvements in standards

NHS private hospital stitched up as it had huge improvements in standards The health watchdog that damned the NHS's first privately run hospital ignored a spot check by its own inspectors that found huge improvements in standards at the Cambridgeshire site. The Daily Mail

NHS to 'extend rationing' of healthcare in bid to balance books

NHS to 'extend rationing' of healthcare in bid to balance books Survey of clinical commissioning group bosses reveals that smokers and obese people will be among those denied surgery and other treatment.

The NHS plans to dramatically increase rationing of patients’ access to care and treatment in an effort to balance its books, a new survey of health bosses reveals.

Almost two in five of England’s 211 clinical commissioning groups are considering imposing new limits this year on eligibility for services such as IVF, footcare and hip and knee replacements.  Continue reading... The Guardian

Election 2015: what do party pledges mean for NHS staff?

Election 2015: what do party pledges mean for NHS staff? The NHS is centre stage in the parties’ manifestos; there are subtle yet significant differences between their commitments.

With the NHS as one of the general election’s highest-profile topics, it is remarkable how little the political parties disagree. All are offering billions more in funding, greater support for mental health and dementia, faster access to GPs and more integration between health and social care. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Surgeon who punched patient up to 10 times in face to 'fix broken cheekbone' is struck off

Surgeon who punched patient up to 10 times in face to 'fix broken cheekbone' is struck off Professor Ninian Peckitt erased from medical register after hearing told he curled hand into fist, pulled it back six inches and repeatedly struck patient under anaesthetic. The Daily Telegraph

Tuesday 21 April 2015

What are the parties promising on health and social care? An animated guide to the manifestos

What are the parties promising on health and social care? An animated guide to the manifestos The NHS is one of the key issues in the 2015 general election. This website looks at some of the big questions in health and social care and sets out the policies and pledges made by the main parties in England. The King's Fund

Staff health, wellbeing and engagement

Staff health, wellbeing and engagement This infographic highlights key facts and figures about why staff experience matters. It sets out, in an easy-to-digest format, the importance of staff health and wellbeing and engagement. NHS Employers

When one door closes...: research into the closure and commissioning of care homes throughout England

When one door closes...: research into the closure and commissioning of care homes throughout England As care home operators seek to maintain quality of care in the face of inadequate local authority fee levels and rising costs, this research highlights the impact on registered bed levels throughout England. The research finds that the number of beds in newly registered homes mirrors the number of beds simultaneously falling out of the market and finds that several regions are showing a net bed reduction. Healthcare Property Consultants

Facts, figures and views on health and social care

Facts, figures and views on health and social care This pack sets out statistics, figures and facts surrounding health and social care in the lead up to the general election. It covers NHS finances, the NHS workforce, A&E performance, quality of care and social care. The Nuffield trust

I could not survive another day: Improving treatment and tackling stigma: lessons from women’s experience of abortion for severe pregnancy sickness

I could not survive another day: Improving treatment and tackling stigma: lessons from women’s experience of abortion for severe pregnancy sickness  Difficulty obtaining swift treatment and support for severe and debilitating pregnancy sickness means some women feel they are left with no option but to end otherwise wanted pregnancies, the charities British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Pregnancy Sickness Support

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Why you should drink (water) before you drive

Why you should drink (water) before you drive "Not drinking enough water has same effect as drink driving," The Daily Telegraph reports. A small study found participants made more mistakes on a driving simulator task when they were mildly dehydrated than when they had plenty of fluids.

This was a small trial of 12 men, studying the effect of mild dehydration on performance during a driving task. The men had a day of being hydrated or fluid-restricted prior to spending two hours in a driving simulator showing a view of a monotonous dual carriageway.

This was a crossover trial, meaning that all men acted as their own control, undertaking both hydrated and dehydrated conditions one week apart.

The researchers found men in the dehydrated state made around double the number of driving errors during the two-hour drive compared with the hydrated group.

Overall, the detrimental effects of dehydration on wellbeing and physical and mental performance are well-publicised, so the results are entirely plausible. But the study has many limitations, so it cannot provide solid proof.

Treating sepsis early could save 12,500 lives a year

Treating sepsis early could save 12,500 lives a year A group of leading doctors, led by Professor Jonathan Cohen of Brighton and Sussex Medical School, has warned that a radical new approach is needed to the way hospitals detect and treat sepsis. The Daily Mail

How to save the NHS – by the people who work for it

How to save the NHS – by the people who work for it The NHS is a top election issue – both Labour and the Conservatives promise they would pump in billions to save it. But what do the people on its frontline – the workers who know it best and care for it most – think it needs?

I have been a paramedic for the NHS for 13 years. We are under a lot of pressure; an ambulance crew in my service is often sent out on 10-14 calls a day. Some calls can take an hour, to an hour and a half – and we work 12-hour shifts. The majority of the time we have to work overtime, anything from 20 minutes to several hours.

Make advertising for fast-food outlets less prominent, make healthy foods more visible

Cuts in auxiliary services are really hitting our patients – they need stimulation and their carers need a break

You can’t find the extra people you need because the NHS cut back on the number of student nurses it was training Continue reading... The Guardian

Every political party is talking nonsense about the NHS

Every political party is talking nonsense about the NHS Until we see honest collaboration at the very top of the NHS, you probably shouldn't take the main parties' promises too seriously, says Dr Phil Hammond. The Daily Telegraph

Pregnant women employ ‘doulas’ for support during labour as NHS cuts hit

Pregnant women employ ‘doulas’ for support during labour as NHS cuts hit Pregnant women are hiring companions to hold their hands through labour for fear of being left without help and support by midwives. The Independent

Monday 20 April 2015

Violet leads mental health campaign

Violet leads mental health campaign A woman from Higham Ferrers is leading a national campaign calling for more funding for mental health services.

Violet Skinner, 31, has shared her own experiences with NHS mental health services in a video produced by the mental health charity Mind as part of the campaign. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire people have helped raise £2million to be spent on improving care for breast cancer patients at county hospitals

Northamptonshire people have helped raise £2million to be spent on improving care for breast cancer patients at county hospitals The people of Northamptonshire have been thanked for helping raise £2 million to improve breast cancer care in the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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The contracting NHS – can the NHS handle the outsourcing of clinical services?

The contracting NHS – can the NHS handle the outsourcing of clinical services? This report argues that the NHS is poorly equipped
to monitor the quality, safety and value for money of health services outsourced to private providers .

This is further complicated by the outsourcing of contract monitoring from CCGs to Commissioning Support Units, which are themselves soon to be privatised. Centre for Health and the Public Interest

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Beyond the manifestos: prospects for the NHS after the election

Beyond the manifestos: prospects for the NHS after the election The deafening silence on NHS funding I wrote about last autumn has given way to a cacophony of commitments and contested claims as election day approaches. The cacophony reached a crescendo this week following the Conservatives’ promise last weekend to find an extra £8 billion a year for the NHS by 2020/21 and the release of the parties’ election manifestos. A discordant note was struck by David Nicholson, who pointed out that even with commitments to spend more money the NHS is still facing unprecedented pressures and financial challenges.

What then are we to make of the commitments made by the three main political parties?

Analysis of the Green Party’s health pledges in the manifesto

Analysis of the Green Party’s health pledges in the manifesto All this week, we have been blogging on the launch of the election manifestos. Last but not least is our take on the Green party manifesto. On Tuesday when the party released its manifesto ‘For the Common Good’ it set out a series of policies that would represent quite a significant departure from the status quo. The Health Foundation

Labour warns of fewer nurses in NHS

Labour warns of fewer nurses in NHS There will be 2,000 fewer NHS nurses in England over the next four years according to projections, Labour says, but the Conservatives say the figures are old. BBC News

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Survey reveals Parkinson's hostility

Survey reveals Parkinson's hostility A survey of 2,000 people with Parkinson's finds that more than half have experienced rudeness or hostility from the public. BBC News

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Discovery could 'boost immune system's cancer fighting ability'

Discovery could 'boost immune system's cancer fighting ability' The media is awash with news of a breakthrough that is "turbocharging the immune system to kill all cancers" (The Daily Telegraph) and a "game-changing new way to fight cancer" (The Independent).

Both of these vivid headlines are debatable – the first because the technique has only been looked at in one type of cancer, and the second because it has only been examined in lab mice.

Researchers were actually looking at a way to overcome "exhaustion" of the body's immune system when its killer cells (called CD8 T cells) have too much to deal with. They wanted to find out how to increase the number of these killer cells, and memory cells that help the immune system "remember" cancers and viruses.

The researchers used genetic techniques in mice to study CD8 T cells. They discovered a protein, lymphocyte expansion molecule (LEM), which helps increase the number of CD8 T cells, improving the mice's ability to fight viruses or cancer cells. The LEM protein is a new discovery, and the researchers hope they can produce treatments for human diseases based on it.

Thousands of patients' data excluded from NHS dementia target data

Thousands of patients' data excluded from NHS dementia target data NHS England says it is closer to its dementia diagnosis target than Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) figures suggest. GP Online

‘Grave concern’ over growing violence against doctors

‘Grave concern’ over growing violence against doctors Incidents reported from every part of the world. OnMedica

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Patients should be able to expect compassion from clinicians

Patients should be able to expect compassion from clinicians Healthcare professionals cannot become emotionally overwhelmed by every case they deal with, but patients and families need support and empathy Continue reading... The Guardian

HIV patients in UK are living longer, new data reveals

HIV patients in UK are living longer, new data reveals Figures released by House of Commons to HIV charity Positively UK show number of people seeking medical care with the virus as secondary diagnosis has risen by 301% since 2003-4

The number of patients with HIV being admitted to hospital in England has more than doubled in a decade – suggesting those with the virus are living for longer, official statistics show.

There were 29,870 admissions in 2013-14, compared with 12,796 in 2003-04, with the rise predominately down to the big increase in the number of cases where the patient’s HIV was not the primary reason for treatment. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS executives 'earn £35 million in pay rises' despite funding crisis

NHS executives 'earn £35 million in pay rises' despite funding crisis Some hospital bosses took home more than £1 million pounds last year, while others were accused of exploiting loopholes to maximise their pay packets. The Daily Telegraph

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Friday 17 April 2015

Vandals made to pay for Northants medical centre damage

Vandals made to pay for Northants medical centre damage Six vandals who caused hundreds of pounds of damage to a medical centre have been made to cough up £600 and write letters of apology. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Analysis of UKIP’s health pledges in the manifesto

Analysis of UKIP’s health pledges in the manifesto Over the course of this week, we’ve been writing blogs on the political parties’ manifestos. A common theme across the major parties has been the fact that they have been relatively sedate with few surprises. The UKIP manifesto offers a slightly more eclectic mix of proposals – including a few that you might also spot in the other parties’ manifestos. The Health Foundation

Bad backs cost the UK 31 million days of work

Bad backs cost the UK 31 million days of work Our back pack outlines the measures that need to be taken to reduce the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). NHS Employers

Joint review of investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in health and care sector

Joint review of investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in health and care sector The Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England and representatives of the voluntary sector are working together to review how government invests in the voluntary sector in health and care. This interim report outlines the findings of the review so far and highlights the challenges that the voluntary sector has experienced, as well as the potential benefits and value that collaboration could bring to the health and care sector. Voluntary Sector Health and Care

Disaster doctor sent into hospital

Disaster doctor sent into hospital A doctor usually deployed for major disasters is sent into Worcestershire Royal Hospital's A and E department. BBC News

Paper cuts

Paper cuts For an idea that has been promoted by major figures in UK healthcare policy for more than two years, there is still a large degree of uncertainty about what is meant by a 'paperless' NHS. E-Health Insider

NHS dementia diagnosis targets missed despite 'harmful' DES

NHS dementia diagnosis targets missed despite 'harmful' DES Efforts to boost dementia diagnosis rates have fallen short of NHS England's aims despite a controversial incentive scheme for GPs, official figures show. GP Online

Many teens try e-cigarettes but few become regular users

Many teens try e-cigarettes but few become regular users Frequent use is highest amongst existing smokers. OnMedica

Weekend opening hours for GPs would save TWO MILLION unnecessary A&E visits - and the NHS £194 million, experts say

Weekend opening hours for GPs would save TWO MILLION unnecessary A&E visits - and the NHS £194 million, experts say A pilot of seven-day opening at four London surgeries resulted in an eight per cent drop in A&E visits, which experts say would translate into two million fewer visits nationally. The Daily Mail

Former NHS boss pours cold water on party leaders' election pledges

Former NHS boss pours cold water on party leaders' election pledges Former NHS in England boss David Nicholson says none of the parties’ pledges on the NHS will alter the grim reality of the service’s fast-crumbling finances.

A year after stepping down as boss of the NHS in England, David Nicholson has spoken truth unto power with a series of statements about the service that politicians will find uncomfortable.

He is saying that despite the parties’ bidding war over extra money for the NHS, none of their pledges will alter the grim reality of the service’s fast-crumbling finances. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Austerity is having a 'profoundly disturbing' effect on Britain's mental health, say experts

Austerity is having a 'profoundly disturbing' effect on Britain's mental health, say experts Austerity and cuts to benefits designed to drive people to work is having a “profoundly disturbing” effect on the people’s mental health, according to a letter signed by hundreds of psychotherapists, councillors and other experts in the field. The Independent

Lariam: Hundreds of British soldiers suffering from mental illness after being given anti-malarial drug

Lariam: Hundreds of British soldiers suffering from mental illness after being given anti-malarial drug The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been accused of knowingly risking the mental health of its own soldiers after new figures showed that nearly 1,000 British servicemen and women have required psychiatric treatment after taking a discredited anti-malarial drug. The Independent

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Wednesday 15 April 2015

Community nurse deficit 'scandalous'

Community nurse deficit 'scandalous' The loss of more than 900 community nurses in five years in the east of England is "scandalous", the Royal College of Nursing says. BBC News East

Reconfiguring NHS services: necessary but fraught with difficulties

Reconfiguring NHS services: necessary but fraught with difficulties With the NHS facing growing pressures on all fronts, following the general election the next government is likely to begin a new round of NHS service reconfiguration planning. In addition, work will continue to implement the new care models – such as urgent and emergency care networks and modernised maternity services – set out in the NHS five year forward view. So what are the challenges around service reconfiguration? And what evidence is available to help guide this planning process?

At the beginning of April, the National Institute for Health Research published the final version of the report, Insights from the clinical assurance of reconfiguration in the NHS, written by The King’s Fund. When writing the report, we had access to more than 100 reports written by experienced clinicians (the National Clinical Advisory Team) who offered independent expert advice on proposed service reconfigurations. We sought to learn about reconfigurations: what drove them, what lessons could be learned, what evidence was used in planning the changes, and what ultimately happened. Those considering any type of health service reconfiguration should read the report, along with our companion publication on the evidence base for reconfiguration.

Analysis of the Conservative Party’s health pledges in the manifesto

Analysis of the Conservative Party’s health pledges in the manifesto The additional £8bn that is the absolute minimum needed to close the NHS funding gap has taken on iconic status, so you may be surprised to learn that the figure doesn’t actually appear in the NHS Five Year Forward View… The Health Foundation

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GP services face 'retirement crisis'

GP services face 'retirement crisis' GP services are facing a crisis, with a third of doctors considering retirement in the next five years, a British Medical Association poll suggests. BBC News

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Breath test shows promise in diagnosing stomach cancer

Breath test shows promise in diagnosing stomach cancer "A simple breath test could help predict whether people with gut problems are at high risk of developing stomach cancer," BBC News reports. The test is designed to detect a distinctive pattern of chemicals associated with stomach cancer.

The study involved 484 people with a known diagnosis – 99 who had established stomach cancer and others who had different stages of pre-cancer.

Pre-cancer is when abnormal changes have affected certain cells and these changes could trigger cancer at a later date. Not all cases of pre-cancer will progress to "full-blown" cancer.

Overall, the study found that the breath analyser had fairly high accuracy for distinguishing between established cancer and pre-cancer. However, it was less reliable at distinguishing between the different severities of pre-cancer.

The researchers suggest that this could possibly provide a new method of screening for stomach cancer, allowing a method of surveillance for people with pre-cancer. However, it is far too early to say whether this idea could come to fruition.

The breath test could potentially be of value when combined with other methods in the diagnosis of stomach cancer or pre-cancer. However, further study will need to confirm that the test is reliable and that it gives any additional benefit over standard methods.

How lessons from the building industry are transforming mental health services | Denis O’Rourke

How lessons from the building industry are transforming mental health services | Denis O’Rourke A new single contract for all providers is moving services away from high-cost, bed-based provision to supporting people to live in their own homes, at a much lower cost.

Lambeth has some of the highest rates of mental health diagnosis in the country, and commissioning mental health services is one of the biggest challenges facing the council and the local NHS. This is why we as a council have joined forces with Lambeth clinical commissioning group (CCG), GPs and service providers, such as the South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, and voluntary and community-sector organisations – Thames Reach and Certitude – to operate under an “alliance contract”.

Pioneered by the construction industry, this is a new way of working, where providers have one contract, a single performance framework aligned to objectives and shared risks. Contract incentives are focused on the rehabilitation and recovery of service users rather than on existing assets or activity (such as secure residential settings). And all partners have an equal stake in getting – and then keeping – people well.

Our living well network brings together services from all sectors to provide support before people reach a crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian

Politicians scramble to make NHS promises, but forget social care at their peril

Politicians scramble to make NHS promises, but forget social care at their peril Are commitments for personal midwives and thousands more doctors and nurses what is really needed?

Coming in the middle of a general election campaign, a gathering of adult social care leaders in England this week will have no politicians speaking. But it will still feature one comedian.

The spring seminar of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) will conclude with a set by Laurence Clark, a professional comic who has cerebral palsy. He is fascinated by how people react to his condition and has in the past tested this by sitting in a wheelchair on the street, shaking a bucket for absurd causes. Continue reading... The Guardian

How the NHS can improve care for dementia patients

How the NHS can improve care for dementia patients Treating people with dementia costs the health service £4.3bn a year, the illness currently affects more than 800,000 people.

There are over 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK and numbers are expected to double within 30 years. Yet, despite the push for better dementia care, education and training in dementia for healthcare professionals remains patchy.

This gap in training is caused by a fixation on a “hospital only” model, instead of addressing the shift towards community care, according to the Dementia today and tomorrow report (pdf) for the Alzheimer’s Society. The document, published in February, calls for targeted initiatives so that appropriate education and training is provided for all staff across the NHS and social care. Continue reading... The Guardian