What will a seven-day NHS mean for healthcare professionals?
A pilot scheme shows it can be done, but spreading staff more thinly over a longer working week risks breakdown of the service
David Cameron’s promise of a seven-day NHS has been met by scepticism from health professionals. A lack of funding and staff could make the prime minister’s dream difficult to realise, but some GP surgeries and hospital departments are already experimenting with extended opening hours. So what might a seven-day health service mean for an already stretched workforce? And what can others learn from professionals currently trialling the new working week?
In October 2013, the government announced a £50m pilot scheme to help GPs provide a seven-day service, with a further pot of £100m allocated last September for a second wave in 2015/16. Guardian
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Tuesday, 16 June 2015
Every complaint matters: a seven-point plan for the NHS and social care
Every complaint matters: a seven-point plan for the NHS and social care
This action plan lays out seven points of action for the government to reform the health and social care complaints system that will create an effective and compassionate system that both gives patients what they need and ensures the NHS and social care services can learn from their mistakes. Healthwatch
Action plan
Healthwatch news
This action plan lays out seven points of action for the government to reform the health and social care complaints system that will create an effective and compassionate system that both gives patients what they need and ensures the NHS and social care services can learn from their mistakes. Healthwatch
Action plan
Healthwatch news
Public Health England: health and justice report 2014
Public Health England: health and justice report 2014
This report details the important changes in the health and justice system and discusses the public health needs of people in prisons and other prescribed places of detention. It found that this group experienced a number of health inequalities, including suffering a higher burden of chronic illnesses, mental health and substance misuse problems than the general public. It argues that improving health in prisons can help deal with entrenched inequalities, ultimately benefiting the health of the communities to which the majority of prisoners return, while tackling substance misuse problems in prisons also helps to reduce re-offending rates.
Report
Press release
This report details the important changes in the health and justice system and discusses the public health needs of people in prisons and other prescribed places of detention. It found that this group experienced a number of health inequalities, including suffering a higher burden of chronic illnesses, mental health and substance misuse problems than the general public. It argues that improving health in prisons can help deal with entrenched inequalities, ultimately benefiting the health of the communities to which the majority of prisoners return, while tackling substance misuse problems in prisons also helps to reduce re-offending rates.
Report
Press release
Watchdog criticises dentists over new patient claims and waiting lists
Watchdog criticises dentists over new patient claims and waiting lists
Report from Which? says over a third of dental surgeries claiming to take new cases turn away patients
A third of dentists who claim they are accepting new patients do not, while many that do leave their patients with lengthy waits, consumer watchdog Which? has found. Its team of undercover researchers found that of the 500 dental surgeries advertised as accepting new patients on NHS Choices, 37% said they did not have availability, while of those that could offer an appointment, 36% said they would have to wait two weeks. One surgery said it would be eight to nine months before an appointment would be available.
Which? said it was asking the Competition and Markets Authority to step in over the problem, which it said was part of a wider issue of poor information and communication in dentistry. Its investigation found that some researchers were asked to pay deposits for NHS appointments, and in one case were told this was non-refundable if the appointment was missed - even though neither of these practices is permitted under government legislation. Guardian
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Report from Which? says over a third of dental surgeries claiming to take new cases turn away patients
A third of dentists who claim they are accepting new patients do not, while many that do leave their patients with lengthy waits, consumer watchdog Which? has found. Its team of undercover researchers found that of the 500 dental surgeries advertised as accepting new patients on NHS Choices, 37% said they did not have availability, while of those that could offer an appointment, 36% said they would have to wait two weeks. One surgery said it would be eight to nine months before an appointment would be available.
Which? said it was asking the Competition and Markets Authority to step in over the problem, which it said was part of a wider issue of poor information and communication in dentistry. Its investigation found that some researchers were asked to pay deposits for NHS appointments, and in one case were told this was non-refundable if the appointment was missed - even though neither of these practices is permitted under government legislation. Guardian
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VIDEO: Stroke drug to be reviewed amid fears
VIDEO: Stroke drug to be reviewed amid fears
A leading drug used to treat strokes is being reviewed following concerns that it could do more harm than good. BBC News
A leading drug used to treat strokes is being reviewed following concerns that it could do more harm than good. BBC News
Unsafe asthma prescribing 'must end'
Unsafe asthma prescribing 'must end'
Tens of thousands of people with asthma in the UK are not getting the right medicines to keep their condition safely under control, according to an audit. BBC News
Tens of thousands of people with asthma in the UK are not getting the right medicines to keep their condition safely under control, according to an audit. BBC News
Older women 'ignoring cervical cancer danger'
Older women 'ignoring cervical cancer danger'
A fifth of cases and almost half of deaths are in women over 64, a study shows, but the current screening programme does not cover this age group
Health experts have called for NHS screening for cervical cancer to be rolled out to women over 64 after research found one in five new cases is diagnosed in this age group.
Around 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year and it is the most common cancer in women under the age of 35. Guardian
Related: Women who avoid cervical screening tests risk their lives, say campaigners
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A fifth of cases and almost half of deaths are in women over 64, a study shows, but the current screening programme does not cover this age group
Health experts have called for NHS screening for cervical cancer to be rolled out to women over 64 after research found one in five new cases is diagnosed in this age group.
Around 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year and it is the most common cancer in women under the age of 35. Guardian
Related: Women who avoid cervical screening tests risk their lives, say campaigners
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Campaigners to march on Department of Health over calls for safe NHS staffing levels
Campaigners to march on Department of Health over calls for safe NHS staffing levels
Patient safety campaigners will march on the Department of Health this week to call for safe staffing levels on NHS wards. Independent
Patient safety campaigners will march on the Department of Health this week to call for safe staffing levels on NHS wards. Independent
New tool helps emergency staff tackle coercive control
New tool helps emergency staff tackle coercive control
Frontline medical staff have limited amounts of time with victims, but can insist on a private meeting away from the abusive partner
There’s a new domestic abuse crime – but how will people spot it?
“There is a huge fear – a realisation that in the short window paramedics have, if you undermine the very fragile and co-dependent abuser-victim relationship, you can make matters so much worse,” says senior paramedic Amanda Williams, service improvement manager at Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
Part of Williams’ role involves delivering training and supporting the development of paramedics throughout the trust. As a paramedic, this has included exploring the difficulties of managing domestic abuse in a pre-hospital setting. Guardian
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Frontline medical staff have limited amounts of time with victims, but can insist on a private meeting away from the abusive partner
There’s a new domestic abuse crime – but how will people spot it?
“There is a huge fear – a realisation that in the short window paramedics have, if you undermine the very fragile and co-dependent abuser-victim relationship, you can make matters so much worse,” says senior paramedic Amanda Williams, service improvement manager at Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
Part of Williams’ role involves delivering training and supporting the development of paramedics throughout the trust. As a paramedic, this has included exploring the difficulties of managing domestic abuse in a pre-hospital setting. Guardian
Continue reading...
The elephant in the exhibition hall: What we did and didn’t hear from national health service leaders at Confed’s 2015 conference
The elephant in the exhibition hall: What we did and didn’t hear from national health service leaders at Confed’s 2015 conference
After attending the NHS Confederation 2015 conference, Natalie Berry reflects on the the current mood amongst the top tier of the NHS as the election dust settles and the reality of delivering the NHS Five Year Forward View amidst financial pressures really bites. Health Foundation
After attending the NHS Confederation 2015 conference, Natalie Berry reflects on the the current mood amongst the top tier of the NHS as the election dust settles and the reality of delivering the NHS Five Year Forward View amidst financial pressures really bites. Health Foundation
Transforming services for people with learning disability
Transforming services for people with learning disability
The five sites will bring together organisations across health and care that will benefit from extra technical support from NHS England. The sites will be able to access a £10m transformation fund to kick-start implementation from autumn 2015. NHS Networks
The five sites will bring together organisations across health and care that will benefit from extra technical support from NHS England. The sites will be able to access a £10m transformation fund to kick-start implementation from autumn 2015. NHS Networks
Learning Disability Week is all about listening
Learning Disability Week is all about listening
‘Hear My Voice’ is the theme of this year’s Learning Disability Week which runs from today.
The week aims to give people and their families a voice in shaping services – bringing their ‘lived experience’ and perspective to NHS England’s work programme, helping to co-design new and better services.
Dr Dominic Slowie, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Learning Disability, explained: “When we are working to improve quality of care for this vulnerable group the most efficient place to start is by asking the people using the services what is working and what isn’t?
“We’ve engaged with many individuals and groups representing people with learning disabilities who have provided valuable perspectives and challenges. This has enabled us to focus and prioritise our work.
“We are in an exciting time of transformation in the NHS for a vulnerable population who have felt undervalued and not listened too for far too long.”
The week also reinforces NHS England’s commitment to improving the health and outcomes of people with learning disabilities and autism, and transforming services to improve the quality of care throughout peoples’ lives.
‘Hear My Voice’ is the theme of this year’s Learning Disability Week which runs from today.
The week aims to give people and their families a voice in shaping services – bringing their ‘lived experience’ and perspective to NHS England’s work programme, helping to co-design new and better services.
Dr Dominic Slowie, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Learning Disability, explained: “When we are working to improve quality of care for this vulnerable group the most efficient place to start is by asking the people using the services what is working and what isn’t?
“We’ve engaged with many individuals and groups representing people with learning disabilities who have provided valuable perspectives and challenges. This has enabled us to focus and prioritise our work.
“We are in an exciting time of transformation in the NHS for a vulnerable population who have felt undervalued and not listened too for far too long.”
The week also reinforces NHS England’s commitment to improving the health and outcomes of people with learning disabilities and autism, and transforming services to improve the quality of care throughout peoples’ lives.
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