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