Wednesday 1 April 2015

Minority governments, the NHS and some stark parallels with the past

Minority governments, the NHS and some stark parallels with the past What will the likely effects on health care be if the general election fails to return a majority government? Maybe looking back to the 70s will give us a good idea of what the future might hold, says Edward Davies. The Health Foundation 

Health innovation manifesto: capitalising on science and technology to build a more active and efficient NHS

Health innovation manifesto: capitalising on science and technology to build a more active and efficient NHS This manifesto sets out actions for the next government in order to make the best use of health innovations in the NHS. It argues that more needs to be done to ensure that ongoing investment and our excellence in science and technology does not go to waste. Concerted action can make innovation in these areas yield rich dividends for health in this country, benefiting the NHS, patients and populations, and over-burdened health budgets too. PHG Foundation

Care system 'gets biggest shake-up'

Care system 'gets biggest shake-up' Major changes to the care system in England, dubbed the biggest shake-up for 60 years, are being introduced, while Scotland merges NHS and care budgets. BBC News

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NHS business plan highlights IT goals

NHS business plan highlights IT goals Digital inclusion and patient access to health records are among NHS England's main IT aims for next 12 months, according to its new business plan. E-Health Insider

New NMC Code: what nursing staff need to know

New NMC Code: what nursing staff need to know A new code now governs standards of practice for nurses and midwives and it’s vital that RCN members engage with it. Daniel Allen reports. Royal College of Nursing

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Healthy diet could cut risk of Alzheimer's disease

Healthy diet could cut risk of Alzheimer's disease "A new diet could more than halve a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," the Mail Online reports.

In a new study, researchers looked at the effects of three diets on the risk of developingAlzheimer's disease. These were:
  • a standard Mediterranean-type diet
  • the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet (DASH) – designed to reduce blood pressure
  • Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) – this combines elements of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet
The study found older people whose usual diet was close to any one of these three healthy diets were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those eating less healthily.

The researchers say they found the greatest effect from the MIND diet, which is rich in green leafy vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and berries, even if people didn't follow it closely. Participants who did stick rigorously to the MIND diet were 52% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

This large observational study can't show that the diets protected against Alzheimer's, only that there seems to be a link between eating a healthy diet and a lower risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. The three diets weren't compared directly, so we can't be sure which one is best.

Politicians say all the right things about mental health – but where’s the action? | Simon Wessely

Politicians say all the right things about mental health – but where’s the action? | Simon Wessely It’s not enough to legislate for parity of services between mental and physical health. Without a change of mindset and proper funding nothing will change

In the aftermath of last week’s horrific plane crash in the Alps, attitudes to mental health seem to have taken a step backwards after years of progress. We now need a more positive approach to mental illness.

For the past few years, the main political parties have been trying to outdo each other when it comes to talking up what they would do to improve mental health services. They have all shown a firm commitment to NHS England’s manifesto in kind, the Five Year Forward View, which seeks to link up health and social care, shift the focus from secondary to community care, and bridge the divide between mental and physical health. Continue reading... The Guardian

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Why relationships should be put at the heart of the NHS

Why relationships should be put at the heart of the NHS People with strong relationships are 50% more likely to survive life-threatening illnesses, research shows.

When someone is diagnosed with a long-term health condition such as cancer or dementia or experiences a stroke, the NHS has a duty to provide the best physical care possible. Every healthcare professional will know that this is vitally important, but will also realise that the full picture of a patient’s health and wellbeing is more complicated. One aspect of treatment and management that often gets overlooked is relationships.

Strong relationships with partners, family and friends are a crucial part of making life with a long-term health condition better. In fact, there is clear evidence that good-quality relationships can prevent, delay or minimise the effects of health conditions. People with strong relationships are 50% more likely to survive life-threatening illness than those with weaker ones. Ultimately, high-quality relationships can improve health and wellbeing for the 15 million people in the UK living with long-term physical or mental health conditions and potentially reduce pressure on the public purse. Continue reading... The Guardian

Seven in ten bosses do not think mental illness merits time off work

Seven in ten bosses do not think mental illness merits time off work Survey by AXA PPP reveals worrying attitude among managers towards employees suffering from stress, anxiety or depression. The Daily Telegraph

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Election promises to make it easier to get GP appointments will be 'challenging', say experts

Election promises to make it easier to get GP appointments will be 'challenging', say experts Labour and Conservative election promises to make it easier to get a GP appointment will be “challenging” to achieve within the next five years, experts have said. The Independent