Tests to diagnose cancer underfunded and staff overstretched

Tests to diagnose cancer underfunded and staff overstretched NHS services for diagnosing cancer are underfunded, understaffed, and key waiting time targets are being missed, according to two new reports from Cancer Research UK

See also:

• Scoping the future: an evaluation of endoscopy capacity across the NHS in England Cancer Research UK
• Horizon scanning: an evaluation of imaging capacity across the NHS in England Cancer Research UK
• NHS cancer services lagging behind rest of Europe The Daily Telegraph
• GPs denied access to cancer diagnostic tools due to NHS underfunding GP Online
• NHS cancer diagnosis services understaffed and need a cash injection to meet rising demand, say experts The Independent

Poor Beginnings: Health Inequalities among young children across England

Poor Beginnings: Health Inequalities among young children across England Simply by growing up in a certain part of England a child under five is more likely to have poor health that will impact the rest of their lives

The first five years of a child's life are critical to their future development. This new report is based on official data published by Public Health England. It looks at four key measures of young children's health and well-being - obesity, tooth decay, accidental injury and 'school readiness'. The report provides a clear picture of the health of children under five years old living in England and shows how growing up in different areas of the country has a dramatic effect on their lives. National Children's Bureau

See also:

• Child health data 'shows regional gaps' BBC News
• VIDEO: 'Every child needs best start in life' BBC News
• Child health subject to 'shocking' postcode lottery, says charity The Guardian

Action demanded on weekend NHS risk

Action demanded on weekend NHS risk The case for improving hospital care at weekends is "simply unassailable", medical chiefs say, as new figures on death rates are published. BBC News

See also:

• Increased mortality associated with weekend hospital admission: a case for expanded seven day services? The BMJ
• Seven day care - our view Royal College of Surgeons
• VIDEO: Weekend death figures explained BBC News
• VIDEO: Following a consultant working weekends BBC News
• Is there a Monday to Friday culture in the NHS? BBC News
• NHS weekend: 7-day services explained BBC News
• 11,000 people die annually because they go to hospital on weekend The Daily Mail
• 'The weekend effect' means 11,000 extra NHS deaths a year The Daily Telegraph
• Hospital patients admitted at weekends ‘15% more likely to die’ The Guardian
• NHS hospitals must share staff and resources to reduce deaths of patients admitted on weekends, says top doctor The Independent

Seven-day GP opening 'unachievable'

Seven-day GP opening 'unachievable' The goal of seven-day GP opening is unachievable in this Parliament and risks destabilising services, the Royal College of Surgeons says. BBC News

See also:

• GP access a top priority for NHS NHS England
• More than one in 10 GP roles in England vacant Royal College of General Practitioners 
• VIDEO: 'It's impossible being a GP' BBC News
• Plans for seven day practices are 'pie-in-the-sky', GPs warn The Daily Telegraph

Update on the current Cancer Drugs Fund list

Update on the current Cancer Drugs Fund list The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) has today completed a further review of the effectiveness of treatments it funds to ensure it delivers the best outcomes for patients.

Professor Peter Clark, Chair of the Cancer Drugs Fund and an oncologist, said: “There is no escaping the fact that we face a difficult set of choices, but it is our duty to ensure we get maximum value from every penny available on behalf of patients. We must ensure we invest in those treatments that offer the most benefit, based on rigorous evidence-based clinical analysis and an assessment of the cost of those treatments.”

NHS 'had no mental health beds left'

NHS 'had no mental health beds left' An NHS trust was told there were no mental health beds available across England for its patients, its medical director says. BBC News

High rise in indemnity costs for GPs, survey shows

High rise in indemnity costs for GPs, survey shows ‘Frightening figures’ may fuel recruitment crisis OnMedica

Breast cancer care quality threatened by lack of specialist nurses

Breast cancer care quality threatened by lack of specialist nursesA near 20% rise in cases of breast cancer in UK in last decade has not been matched by increase in specially trained staff

A shortage of specialist nurses to help people with breast cancer is threatening the quality of care, a charity has said.

A near 20% rise in newly diagnosed cases in England over the last decade has not been matched by increases in nurses, according to Breast Cancer Care. Continue reading... The Guardian

Tattoos to 3D printing: five inventions that will revolutionise healthcare

Tattoos to 3D printing: five inventions that will revolutionise healthcare People know more about their car than their own health. With these technologies, that is about to change

Most people know they are sick or their health is at risk because of symptoms – pain, temperature, swelling, rash etc. These are the alarm bells that drive people to doctors. However, new epidemics like obesity and type 2 diabetes can start causing damage a long time before symptoms appear, and no alarms go off.

Today we can meet these challenges with new allies. Beyond the health and fitness uses, the new world of wearables (external surface sensors) and, in time, digestibles (nanoparticle sensors that can transmit information from within), offer the opportunity to restore control back to us. Advances in biotechnology as well as material science offer us alternatives never before dreamed possible. Continue reading... The Guardian