Press release: Earlier diagnosis of bladder cancer could improve survival rates in women New research by Public Health England’s (PHE) National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), presented at the Cancer Outcomes Conference 2015 in Belfast, shows that survival rates for bladder cancer in women are worse than men by around 10%.
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
NHS England to take forward safe staffing approach
NHS England to take forward safe staffing approach Simon Stevens has announced that NHS England will take forward work on safe staffing as part of wider service improvement. NHS Employers
New blood test for viral infections shows promise
New blood test for viral infections shows promise "New test uses a single drop of blood to reveal entire history of viral infections," The Guardian reports.
Every time you are infected by a virus, your immune system produces specific types of antibodies in response. These antibodies remain in your body long after the infection has gone. The new test, called VirScan, is able to assess all these antibodies, building up a detailed immune "history" of viral infections.
Researchers looked at how well the test performed on blood samples from more than 500 people from North and South America, Africa and Asia.
The test correctly identified most of the people with known infections – though there were cases of both false negatives (saying an infection was not present even though it was) and false positives (wrongly diagnosing infection when there was none).
The test could theoretically be expanded to cover other types of organisms that cause human disease, such as bacteria, but this has not been tested yet. The test will also need to be updated as new viruses are discovered or as they change.
This test should be thought of as being at an early stage, likely to undergo further development and testing before it is ready for wider use.
Every time you are infected by a virus, your immune system produces specific types of antibodies in response. These antibodies remain in your body long after the infection has gone. The new test, called VirScan, is able to assess all these antibodies, building up a detailed immune "history" of viral infections.
Researchers looked at how well the test performed on blood samples from more than 500 people from North and South America, Africa and Asia.
The test correctly identified most of the people with known infections – though there were cases of both false negatives (saying an infection was not present even though it was) and false positives (wrongly diagnosing infection when there was none).
The test could theoretically be expanded to cover other types of organisms that cause human disease, such as bacteria, but this has not been tested yet. The test will also need to be updated as new viruses are discovered or as they change.
This test should be thought of as being at an early stage, likely to undergo further development and testing before it is ready for wider use.
Hospitals warn fines harming care
Hospitals warn fines harming care Hospitals are warning that fines for missing targets are in danger of threatening patient care. BBC News
BMA defends decision to double leaders' pay
BMA defends decision to double leaders' pay The BMA has defended a decision to double the pay of its senior officers as necessary to attract the right people to lead the organisation. OnMedica
See also:
See also:
- BMA Chief Officers' remuneration British Medical Association
GMC approves development of single UK medical licensing assessment
GMC approves development of single UK medical licensing assessment Doctors will now take same test regardless of whether they qualified in the UK or overseas. OnMedica
Mail investigation finds Thornbury Nursing Services billed NHS hospitals £43m
Mail investigation finds Thornbury Nursing Services billed NHS hospitals £43m A nursing agency once owned by an offshore company in the Cayman Islands charged the NHS £43million last year to supply staff, it can be revealed. The Daily Mail
NHS and internet of things: 'The future of care is about the patient taking control'
NHS and internet of things: 'The future of care is about the patient taking control' Internet-connected devices could impinge strict data security rules. But for doctors and nurses already monitoring their patients remotely, it’s a no-brainer
Healthcare is seen as one of the most promising arenas for the internet of things. The potential for doctors and nurses to monitor patients remotely through internet-connected devices could lead to a much more efficient health system – with fewer needless checkups and quicker identification of problems.
NHS England is beginning to experiment, through its NHS Test Bed programme. But it is early days for most healthcare professionals. The NHS has a reputation for introducing new technologies later than other organisations – and there are specific concerns with the internet of things. These include problems integrating data from devices with heavily-secured patient record systems, as well as concerns about overloading professionals with data. Continue reading... The Guardian
Healthcare is seen as one of the most promising arenas for the internet of things. The potential for doctors and nurses to monitor patients remotely through internet-connected devices could lead to a much more efficient health system – with fewer needless checkups and quicker identification of problems.
NHS England is beginning to experiment, through its NHS Test Bed programme. But it is early days for most healthcare professionals. The NHS has a reputation for introducing new technologies later than other organisations – and there are specific concerns with the internet of things. These include problems integrating data from devices with heavily-secured patient record systems, as well as concerns about overloading professionals with data. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS needs savings of £22bn? Only a magician could find that | Polly Toynbee
The NHS needs savings of £22bn? Only a magician could find that | Polly Toynbee The closures and mergers planned for our health service over the next three years will prove universally unpopular. Expect a huge outcry, even from Tories.
You could call what’s happening in the NHS an Adolf: in diving that’s a front somersault with three-and-a-half twists. U-turn doesn’t begin to capture the magnitude of the policy change in direction. The gigantic liner sent into a chaotic reverse by the Lansley Act is in danger of sinking, so the government appears to have suspended ideology, just praying Simon Stevens, at the helm of NHS England, can stop the capsize and save their skins.
Related: NHS 'will miss £22bn efficiency savings target', says thinktank
Blame is poured on failing hospitals but the fault is often not one unit but a faulty network Continue reading... The Guardian
You could call what’s happening in the NHS an Adolf: in diving that’s a front somersault with three-and-a-half twists. U-turn doesn’t begin to capture the magnitude of the policy change in direction. The gigantic liner sent into a chaotic reverse by the Lansley Act is in danger of sinking, so the government appears to have suspended ideology, just praying Simon Stevens, at the helm of NHS England, can stop the capsize and save their skins.
Related: NHS 'will miss £22bn efficiency savings target', says thinktank
Blame is poured on failing hospitals but the fault is often not one unit but a faulty network Continue reading... The Guardian
Welsh health board put in special measures amid human rights concerns
Welsh health board put in special measures amid human rights concerns Independent investigation says regimes at hospital run by Betsi Cadwaladr University health board may have violated patients’ rights
A health board in Wales has been put in special measures after a report identified “serious and outstanding concerns”.
Last month a report revealed patients suffered institutional abuse at a mental health ward at one of the hospitals run by Betsi Cadwaladr University health board, which covers north Wales and part of mid Wales. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
A health board in Wales has been put in special measures after a report identified “serious and outstanding concerns”.
Last month a report revealed patients suffered institutional abuse at a mental health ward at one of the hospitals run by Betsi Cadwaladr University health board, which covers north Wales and part of mid Wales. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Health board put in special measures BBC News
Doctor on sick pay who worked as locum at another hospital is ordered to pay back £100k
Doctor on sick pay who worked as locum at another hospital is ordered to pay back £100k Gynaecologist Dr Anthony Madu secretly carries out well-paid locum work while getting sick pay from another hospital. The Daily Telegraph
Simple changes could save NHS £1.5bn, says Labour peer
Simple changes could save NHS £1.5bn, says Labour peer The NHS could save nearly £1.5bn a year by making simple changes such as buying cheaper latex gloves, improving the management of shift patterns and better oversight of annual leave, according to a new report. The Independent
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