Three challenges and a big uncertainty for the NHS in 2015

Three challenges and a big uncertainty for the NHS in 2015 The NHS faces three major challenges in 2015.

The first is to prepare for the spending review that will be initiated after the election. National bodies, led by NHS England, have set out their views on future spending requirements in the NHS five year forward view, and the major parties have all acknowledged the need for additional funding. While this is welcome, it is not yet clear whether any of the parties will commit to finding an additional £8 billion a year by 2020/21.

News story: New Year’s Honours for health and social care

News story: New Year’s Honours for health and social care People from the health and care community make up 7% of all honours, including 8 nurses who received MBEs. Department of Health

See also:

• Frontline NHS staff given honours BBC News

Mental heath patients can put services to the test

Mental heath patients can put services to the test Patients using mental health and community health services are able to give feedback on their experiences of care and treatment from today.

This comes as the Friends and Family Test (FFT), a real time patient feedback tool that is already operating for some hospital services such as maternity and A&E, continues to be rolled out across the NHS.

Mental Health and Community Health are the latest two areas to start gathering information from thousands of patients across the country – a move that comes a month after FFT went live across all 8,000 GP practices in England where up to one million people see their doctor every day.

From today, patients receiving treatment on mental health wards, or receiving medication, counselling or therapy for conditions such as depression, dementia, stress, drug or alcohol addiction, will all be able to give feedback on the services they receive. It will also include services for children receiving care for conditions like autism or support for things like eating disorders or the effects of bullying.

Experimental drug for UK Ebola nurse

Experimental drug for UK Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey, the UK nurse being treated for Ebola, is receiving an experimental anti-viral drug and blood from survivors of the disease, doctors say. BBC News

See also:

• Covering Ebola from the frontline BBC News

Coming up, in 2015

Coming up, in 2015 A clear direction for NHS IT was set in 2014; but could be disrupted by the general election due on 7 May. E-Health Insider

Gagging of NHS whistleblowers just means more patients will die

Gagging of NHS whistleblowers just means more patients will die Politicians and NHS bosses are fond of proclaiming that patient safety is their highest concern. But so often that is just empty rhetoric, says GARY WALKER, a former NHS boss. The Daily Mail

Sexual violence soars in UK hospitals

Sexual violence soars in UK hospitals Records show 50% rise in reports of sexual attacks, with more than 1,600 in past three years.

A hidden outbreak of sexual abuse in British hospitals has been disclosed in new figures revealing that more than 1,600 attacks were reported to police in the last three years. Continue reading... The Guardian

Making NHS seven-day service could threaten patients’ safety, say doctors

Making NHS seven-day service could threaten patients’ safety, say doctors Plans are unfunded, undefined, unrealistic and would see routine operations cancelled on weekdays, says BMA.

Doctors have warned that plans to transform the NHS into a seven-day service are a waste of vital resources that could threaten the quality of care during the week and prove a danger to patient safety.

In a strongly worded attack, the British Medical Association accuses NHS England of pushing ahead with an “unfunded, undefined” strategy that is “wholly unrealistic” given the health service’s chronic staffing and financial problems. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'Wholly unrealistic' and 'underfunded': Medical chiefs blast plans to open GP surgeries at weekends amid claims it will threaten patient safety The Daily Mail

Mental health ‘emergencies’ expected to reach highest figures this winter

Mental health ‘emergencies’ expected to reach highest figures this winter Former health minister Paul Burstow says if trend continues, numbers treated for mental health issues in A&E could soar to over a million for the first time

The number of people with a mental health condition admitted to hospital as an emergency is likely to reach its highest level ever this winter, a former health minister has warned. Continue reading... The Guardian

Cancer is the best way to die and we should stop trying to cure it, says doctor

Cancer is the best way to die and we should stop trying to cure it, says doctor Dr Richard Smith said cancer gave sufferers time to say goodbye and pain could be endured through 'love, morphine, and whisky'. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Stop wasting billions trying to cure cancer It's the best way to die, says top doctor The Daily Mail
• Cancer is 'best death' so don't try to cure it, says doctor The Independent

A&E departments under 'intense pressure' on New Year's Eve

A&E departments under 'intense pressure' on New Year's Eve A&E departments around the country reported intense pressures today ahead of one of the busiest nights for ambulance call outs. The Independent

See also:

• A&E departments pushed to breaking point by New Year's Eve The Daily Mail
• A&E's worst week in history with record number of emergencies admitted The Daily Telegraph
• Ambulance services close to breaking point as year’s busiest night approaches The Guardian
• NHS emergency care on wobbly legs The Guardian