Nurse’s NHS work with Northampton teens funded by insurance firm

Nurse’s NHS work with Northampton teens funded by insurance firm An NHS nurse who specialises in teen pregnancy and sexual health is being paid for by an insurance company after national health bosses ended her funding. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The silence on public health in the election debate

The silence on public health in the election debate As the election campaign has got into full swing, politicians have been seeking to outbid each other on funding for the NHS. And there has been extensive discussion – what do the bids mean; will they be enough; and, perhaps most importantly, when exactly will the cash be delivered?

However, there has been almost total silence on public health. Looking back, the contrast with the last election is stark. In 2010, the Conservatives were promising a Department of Public Health, the headquarters of health across government and public health – and public health even merited its own separate section in the coalition agreement. We have recently given our verdict on the coalition’s record on public health, so no more of that here.

So why is the debate so different this time round, and why does it matter?

One giant step for NHS Citizen – Tim Kelsey

One giant step for NHS Citizen – Tim Kelsey The NHS Citizen project has reached its initial aim – developing a design for how NHS England can improve citizen participation and accountability.

Heart failure drug digoxin linked to premature death

Heart failure drug digoxin linked to premature death "A heart drug taken by 250,000 Britons can actually hasten death," the Mail Online warns today. An analysis of previous research on digoxin, used to treat heart failure and heart rhythm abnormalities, suggests that it can raise the risk of premature death.

The analysis pooled the results of 19 different studies investigating whether digoxin – used in the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation – increases the risk of death from any cause.

Overall, the review found that people taking digoxin had a 21% higher risk of death from any cause compared to people not taking the drug.

The risk increase was slightly higher for people taking digoxin for atrial fibrillation (29%) than for heart failure (14%).

Though an effective drug, digoxin has long been known to have potentially serious adverse effects and always needs to be used with care. However, in this analysis, it is difficult to know how much of the higher risk of death is due solely to digoxin, and how much is due to health differences between the people who were and were not taking the drug. People who were prescribed digoxin may have had more severe health problems and these may have increased their mortality risk.

If you are taking digoxin and you have any concerns, or any new or worsening symptoms, do not stop taking your medication, but contact your health professional as soon as possible.

Mental health spending cuts forecast

Mental health spending cuts forecast Mental health trusts in England are forecasting significant cuts to their funding over the next four years, figures seen by the BBC suggest. BBC News

Concern over UK maternal death rates

Concern over UK maternal death rates UK fails to make top ten countries for best maternal health as women in the UK are more than twice as likely to die during pregnancy and in childbirth than those in Poland, Austria or Belarus, according to a new report. OnMedica

See also:

• State of the World's Mothers 2015: The Urban Disadvantage (free registration required) Save the Children

Average GP appointment waiting times to hit two weeks by next year

Average GP appointment waiting times to hit two weeks by next year The average waiting time for a GP appointment in a year’s time will hit two weeks as they continue to increase, a Pulse survey has revealed.
The survey of more than 700 GPs across the UK reveals that one in four practices currently have a two-week wait for an appointment - an increase on the one in five who said this when the same survey was done last year.

It also reveals that 6% of GPs say patients are currently having to wait longer than three weeks, while almost 20% say the wait will be longer than three weeks in a year’s time. Pulse

See also:

• Average GP waiting times 'will hit two weeks' family doctors predict The Daily Telegraph
• GPs claim they are so overworked standards of care are 'dangerous' The Daily Mail

UK has fewer doctors, nurses, hospital beds and medical equipment than others

UK has fewer doctors, nurses, hospital beds and medical equipment than others A report examining healthcare in 34 countries across the world found there were just 2.8 doctors and 8.2 nurses per 10,000 of the population in the UK compared with averages of 3.2 and 8.9 respectively. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The NHS: How does it compare? (free registration required to download the report) The Economist Intelligence Unit
• Is the NHS lagging behind other health systems? BBC News
• UK lagging behind most of Europe on health OnMedica
• RCGP response to Economist Intelligence Unit report on the NHS Royal College of General Practitioners

74 per cent of British men will be overweight by 2030

74 per cent of British men will be overweight by 2030 By 2030 nearly 39 million adults will be overweight or obese in the UK, a rise of more than six million. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Proportion of overweight and obese males and females to increase in most European countries by 2030, say latest projections by WHO UK Health Forum
• Women's obesity timebomb laid bare: Two-thirds of them will be overweight by 2030 warns WHO The Daily Mail
• Nearly 75% of men and 65% of women in UK to be overweight by 2030 – study The Guardian
• Three in every four British men will be obese by 2030, says the World Health Organisation The Independent

NHS doctors working in private healthcare 'on the side' directly harming health service, says senior consultant

NHS doctors working in private healthcare 'on the side' directly harming health service, says senior consultant NHS doctors who work in private healthcare “on the side” are directly harming the health service, a senior consultant has said. The Independent

See also:

• Private work 'takes from NHS care' BBC News
• Unethical NHS doctors drive up waiting times to attract private patients The Daily Telegraph
• Ban NHS doctors from private work, hospital consultant says The Guardian

Deadly DNP diet pills warning: Interpol issues global alert over 'imminent threat' posed by slimming drug

Deadly DNP diet pills warning: Interpol issues global alert over 'imminent threat' posed by slimming drug The world police agency Interpol has issued a global health warning over the threat posed by deadly “diet pills” which can cause the taker to overheat and “literally cook” from the inside. The Independent

See also:

• International 'diet pill' warning BBC News