A comparison between GP average list size and local A&E four hour targets

A comparison between GP average list size and local A&E four hour targets A blog piece looking for a correlation between GP numbers, list sizes and A&E problems from a Northamptonshire based GP. Dr H. Moss.com

Hospital discharge a major risk for homeless patients

Hospital discharge a major risk for homeless patients The report follows a survey of 184 community nurses and other health professionals working in this field during autumn 2014. Queens Nursing Institute

Clegg backs plan to reduce suicides

Clegg backs plan to reduce suicides The government is calling for a fundamental overhaul of how the NHS tackles suicides, inspired by a programme from the US. BBC News

See also:

• Press release: Nick Clegg calls for zero suicides across the NHS Department of Health
• Miliband pledges mental health push BBC News
• Nick Clegg calls on NHS to commit to 'zero suicides' ITV News
• Lib Dems announce campaign for NHS to set ‘zero suicide’ goal The Guardian
• Nick Clegg has let down mental health patients after failing to meet targets The Mirror

Dentists 'not clear about costs'

Dentists 'not clear about costs' People could be paying too much for dental treatment because dentists are not being clear about their prices, research by Which? has found. BBC News

See also:

• Dentists breach NHS rules with unclear pricing and guidance The Independent

Nurses at breaking point as number off work with stress soars

Nurses at breaking point as number off work with stress soars Health unions say more demanding and longer shifts are ratcheting up the pressure caused by understaffing.

The number of nurses taking time off due to stress has soared as the NHS has struggled to cope with rising demand for care. Responses to freedom of information requests submitted to NHS organisations by the Observer show that both the number of nurses on stress-related leave and the amount of time taken off are up significantly in the past three years in London, Scotland and Wales.

The figures have prompted claims by health unions that the NHS’s 400,000 nurses are being stretched to breaking point as a result of having to work more demanding and longer shifts at a time when understaffing and the increasing complexity of illnesses add to pressures. Continue reading... The Guardian

Ambulance staff told to leave patients at A&E departments if they have not been admitted after 45 minutes

Ambulance staff told to leave patients at A&E departments if they have not been admitted after 45 minutes Ambulance staff in some areas have been told to leave emergency patients at accident and emergency departments if they have not been admitted after 45 minutes, according to a report. The Independent

See also:

• A&Es miss four-hour waiting time for 15th week running as health bosses warn the 'unprecedented' pressure on the NHS shows no signs of abating The Daily Mail
• A&E crisis: Hospitals again fail to meet waiting time target The Daily Telegraph
• NHS hospital waiting times in England still failing to meet target The Guardian

NHS to extend 999 call time limits to ease pressure on strained services

NHS to extend 999 call time limits to ease pressure on strained services The NHS is to allow 999 call handlers three times as long to decide whether to dispatch an ambulance, in an attempt to ease pressure on stretched emergency services. The Independent

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Ambulance service in England Department of Health
• New pilots to improve speed and medical accuracy of ambulance calls NHS England
• Ambulance response times WILL be lengthened to three minutes The Daily Mail
• NHS to give ambulances longer to get to calls to try and hit targets The Daily Telegraph
• Ambulance services to trial new system to cut response times The Guardian
• Pilots will give 999 call handlers longer triage time OnMedica