Dealing with NHS financial pressures – what do the public think? Growing financial pressures in the NHS mean that commissioners and providers are faced with increasingly tough choices about how to prioritise their spending.
These ‘unpalatable decisions’ are clearly laid out in a recent blog by the chair of Vale Royal Clinical Commissioning Group, which is a compelling but depressing read. He is a natural optimist, but outlines the glass-half-empty feeling of trying to find savings in his primary, community and mental health budgets while knowing the extra pressure this will put on already overstretched GPs and on patients. The King's Fund
Thursday, 30 June 2016
Evidence says don’t get distracted by creating new roles to deliver integrated care
Evidence says don’t get distracted by creating new roles to deliver integrated care There is limited evidence to support the creation of new roles to deliver integrated care. Indeed the available evidence suggests that working with the existing workforce to create more flexible and multi-skilled teams that can work across boundaries is as, if not more, effective, says a report published today by The King’s Fund
Waiting time policies in the health sector
Waiting time policies in the health sector The main purpose of this briefing is to discuss waiting time policies in the health sector from an international perspective and to highlight which policies have worked in the last decade in OECD countries. It also looks at how to compare waiting times internationally and where the UK stands in those international figures. Office of Health Economics
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust boss Katrina Percy keeps job
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust boss Katrina Percy keeps job The chief executive of the much-criticised Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust will keep her job, it has been announced.
The trust had been rapped over the way it investigated patient deaths with calls for Katrina Percy to resign.
An investigation commissioned by NHS England found only 272 of the 722 deaths in the trust over the previous four years were dealt with properly.
But Ms Percy will continue in her role, interim chair Tim Smart has said. BBC News
The trust had been rapped over the way it investigated patient deaths with calls for Katrina Percy to resign.
An investigation commissioned by NHS England found only 272 of the 722 deaths in the trust over the previous four years were dealt with properly.
But Ms Percy will continue in her role, interim chair Tim Smart has said. BBC News
Nearly one in four deaths 'avoidable'
Nearly one in four deaths 'avoidable' Almost a quarter of all deaths in England and Wales were potentially avoidable, figures for 2014, published by the Office for National Statistics, suggest. BBC News
Nine out of 10 patients say NHS is underfunded, major poll reveals
Nine out of 10 patients say NHS is underfunded, major poll reveals More than nine out of 10 people in the UK believe the NHS is underfunded and 42% would support paying more through taxation to support it, according to researchers. GP Online
What will scrapping bursaries mean for occupational therapy students?
What will scrapping bursaries mean for occupational therapy students? Bursaries for OT undergraduates are about to disappear, so university students will need to apply for loans
Student places on accredited occupational therapy degrees are currently commissioned by the NHS, which also pays tuition fees. The health service contributes to living expenses, and an additional means-tested amount – up to a maximum of £4,442 outside London – is available.
But it’s all change from September next year. The commissioning system in England is due to be abolished, and occupational therapy (OT) university students, along with other allied health profession undergraduates, will have to apply for a loan to cover their tuition fee costs and apply for a maintenance loan. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Student places on accredited occupational therapy degrees are currently commissioned by the NHS, which also pays tuition fees. The health service contributes to living expenses, and an additional means-tested amount – up to a maximum of £4,442 outside London – is available.
But it’s all change from September next year. The commissioning system in England is due to be abolished, and occupational therapy (OT) university students, along with other allied health profession undergraduates, will have to apply for a loan to cover their tuition fee costs and apply for a maintenance loan. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Staff and skills shortages at Bristol hospital 'put children at risk'
Staff and skills shortages at Bristol hospital 'put children at risk' Report says ward for children recovering from heart surgery was under strain, but parents say review did not go far enough
Young heart patients who were treated at a Bristol hospital were “put at risk of harm” because of staff shortages and a lack of skills, a major review has concluded.
More than 200 families contacted the review, which the NHS ordered after some parents expressed concern that their children may have died unnecessarily following treatment at the Bristol Royal hospital for children. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Young heart patients who were treated at a Bristol hospital were “put at risk of harm” because of staff shortages and a lack of skills, a major review has concluded.
More than 200 families contacted the review, which the NHS ordered after some parents expressed concern that their children may have died unnecessarily following treatment at the Bristol Royal hospital for children. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Referendum decision is a bitter pill for the NHS and social care
Referendum decision is a bitter pill for the NHS and social care The most insidious effect of the vote will be to discourage EU talent from working in the health service
The vote to leave the EU is likely to inflict significant damage on the health service.
In the next few months, the biggest threat to the NHS comes from a recession-driven round of additional spending cuts hitting non-ringfenced budgets such as social care. It would be political suicide for a government led by a pro-Brexit prime minister to cut NHS spending itself, since more funding for the NHS was at the centre of the Vote Leave campaign. That exploitation of the health service gives NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens a little leverage with the government – but not much.
The UK is part of a worldwide marketplace for talent. We have just made it more difficult to attract the best. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
The vote to leave the EU is likely to inflict significant damage on the health service.
In the next few months, the biggest threat to the NHS comes from a recession-driven round of additional spending cuts hitting non-ringfenced budgets such as social care. It would be political suicide for a government led by a pro-Brexit prime minister to cut NHS spending itself, since more funding for the NHS was at the centre of the Vote Leave campaign. That exploitation of the health service gives NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens a little leverage with the government – but not much.
The UK is part of a worldwide marketplace for talent. We have just made it more difficult to attract the best. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- What now for the NHS? NHS Employers
- Brexit 'will make NHS staff shortages worse' BBC News
- NHS moves to reassure worried EU nurses OnMedica
- Brexit camp 'played up' £350m NHS windfall pledge, says RCGP GP Online
- I’m not UK born and bred – will my patients now care? The Guardian
Why asking your GP for antibiotics is IMMORAL, doctor claims: Millions set to die from 'man made disaster only patients and doctors can fix'
Why asking your GP for antibiotics is IMMORAL, doctor claims: Millions set to die from 'man made disaster only patients and doctors can fix' Medical ethics expert, Dr Alberto Giubilini, from Oxford University, says resistance of infections to survive antibiotics is a man made problem which patients, doctors and world governments must fix. The Daily Mail
Nurofen pills do NOT target joint or back pain, says watchdog
Nurofen pills do NOT target joint or back pain, says watchdog Nurofen has been banned from claiming its painkillers target specific problems - such as joint and back pain - after an advertising watchdog branded its TV advert 'misleading'. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Integrating care in Southwark and Lambeth: what we did and how we did it
Integrating care in Southwark and Lambeth: what we did and how we did it SLIC was set up in 2012 as a partnership of commissioners and providers to work together with citizens to improve the value of care in Southwark and Lambeth. This evaluation report outlines the achievements of SLIC, highlights its key successes and challenges, and shares lessons learned. It explains how care was integrated in Southwark and Lambeth and includes a ‘Framework for Success’ as a resource for others undertaking similar programmes of transformation. Southwark and Lambeth Integrated Care
Rebooting the cap: improving protection from catastrophic care costs
Rebooting the cap: improving protection from catastrophic care costs The government has postponed the ‘capped cost’ reforms to care funding in England until April 2020. Following this announcement, social care campaigners have questioned whether the ‘capped cost’ reforms will be postponed again before 2020, or scrapped completely. This report explores the options for the government in rebooting the capped cost reforms, arguing that the current pause in implementation presents an opportunity to adapt the reforms to developments in health and social care policy, and address potential downsides to the ‘capped cost’ model, such as the risk of unintended consequences. The Strategic Society Centre
US Healthcare records offered for sale online
US Healthcare records offered for sale online Three US healthcare organisations are reportedly being held to ransom by a hacker who stole data on hundreds of thousands of patients. BBC News
Bullying rife in obs and gynae
Bullying rife in obs and gynae At least 14% of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology say they have been the victims of bullying or other forms of intimidation, according to the first ever investigation into incidents of this kind. OnMedica
See also:
See also:
Parents fear mental health 'life sentence'
Parents fear mental health 'life sentence' A new survey reveals that many parents fear a diagnosis of mental illness will amount to a "life sentence" for their child. The research commissioned for MQ Mental Health, a new charity which supports and funds research into mental health, reveals that 67% of parents who took part in the survey said they would worry that their son or daughter might never recover from a mental illness. And 74% were concerned that mental health issues might get worse over time. OnMedica
Occupational therapists' role: 'We save money and improve quality of life'
Occupational therapists' role: 'We save money and improve quality of life' New campaign by the College of Occupational Therapists highlights the role the profession can play in an increasingly integrated health and care system
When the College of Occupational Therapists commissioned a survey about the image of the profession, the answer came back that it was seen by decision-makers as “nice to have” rather than essential. Its leaders are determined to change that.
In a major new campaign, called Improving Lives, Saving Money, the college is aiming to demonstrate the key roles that occupational therapists (OTs) can play in a changing and increasingly integrated health and care system. More to the point, it will spell out what cash the system can save by making better use of their skills. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
When the College of Occupational Therapists commissioned a survey about the image of the profession, the answer came back that it was seen by decision-makers as “nice to have” rather than essential. Its leaders are determined to change that.
In a major new campaign, called Improving Lives, Saving Money, the college is aiming to demonstrate the key roles that occupational therapists (OTs) can play in a changing and increasingly integrated health and care system. More to the point, it will spell out what cash the system can save by making better use of their skills. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
NHS staff shun 'transparency register' listing payments from drugs firms
NHS staff shun 'transparency register' listing payments from drugs firms The identities of hundreds of NHS doctors and officials receiving payments from drugs firms are likely to be kept secret despite the publication of a new “transparency register” this week, the Telegraph can disclose.
Up to half of medics and other health service staff working for pharmaceutical companies alongside their day jobs have refused permission for their names to be included in a new online database.
The publication of the register follows recent controversy over the practice of NHS staff being paid by drugs companies, with the industry claiming the data would allow the public to see which officials were receiving funds from the firms. The Daily Telegraph
Up to half of medics and other health service staff working for pharmaceutical companies alongside their day jobs have refused permission for their names to be included in a new online database.
The publication of the register follows recent controversy over the practice of NHS staff being paid by drugs companies, with the industry claiming the data would allow the public to see which officials were receiving funds from the firms. The Daily Telegraph
Women 'can choose holiday or car, but get little choice in childbirth'
Women 'can choose holiday or car, but get little choice in childbirth' Women can choose their holiday and type of car - but get little choice of how to give birth, the head of a recent NHS national maternity review has said.
Baroness Julia Cumberledge said it was “not acceptable” that one in three mothers-to-be are being denied a choice of where and how they have their child. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Baroness Julia Cumberledge said it was “not acceptable” that one in three mothers-to-be are being denied a choice of where and how they have their child. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Guidance: Diabetic eye screening: consent and cohort management
Guidance: Diabetic eye screening: consent and cohort management This document provides guidance for local NHS diabetic eye screening programmes on patient consent, cohort management and how to manage exchanges of information between healthcare providers. Public Health England
Championing the needs of the transgender community
Championing the needs of the transgender community The Chair of the NHS England Gender Task & Finish Group looks at what NHS England is doing to improve health services for transgender and non-binary people.
#LoveOurEUStaff campaign
#LoveOurEUStaff campaign Find out more about our #LoveOurEUStaff campaign, encouraging support for EU staff working in the NHS following the referendum result. NHS Employers
World class stroke care is achievable: Latest quarterly Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) results
World class stroke care is achievable: Latest quarterly Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) results The thirteenth report from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) reveals today that 25 stroke services scored an overall ‘A’ score for the quality of care they provide for patients, demonstrating that a world class service is achievable.
It is evident that services are maintaining the improvements made in recent quarters as 26 services achieved this outstanding grade in the corresponding quarter last year. Achieving an ‘A’ score is a considerable accomplishment and these latest results show that, although the audit sets the bar high to attain a top grade, it is possible. The Royal College of Physicians
See also:
It is evident that services are maintaining the improvements made in recent quarters as 26 services achieved this outstanding grade in the corresponding quarter last year. Achieving an ‘A’ score is a considerable accomplishment and these latest results show that, although the audit sets the bar high to attain a top grade, it is possible. The Royal College of Physicians
See also:
- Stroke patients waiting three hours to get to hospital The Daily Telegraph
Exclusive: Prescribing overhaul to boost patient safety backed by 84% of GPs
Exclusive: Prescribing overhaul to boost patient safety backed by 84% of GPs More than four in every five GPs believe that the current prescribing model should be overhauled so that every prescription can be traced back to the doctor who issued it, according to a GP Online survey.
50% drop in rate of hospital acquired foot ulcers, audit shows
50% drop in rate of hospital acquired foot ulcers, audit shows Only 1.1% of inpatients with diabetes developed a new foot lesion during their admission to hospital in 2015 – halving from the 2.2% rate when inpatient auditing began in 2010.
The new figures come from the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA), carried out by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, in collaboration with Diabetes UK.
However, since 2010, similar improvements in the other two main hospital inpatient harms - severe hypoglycaemic episodes and the severe life-threatening and wholly preventable condition diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) - have not occurred. OnMedica
The new figures come from the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA), carried out by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, in collaboration with Diabetes UK.
However, since 2010, similar improvements in the other two main hospital inpatient harms - severe hypoglycaemic episodes and the severe life-threatening and wholly preventable condition diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) - have not occurred. OnMedica
Government cuts are brewing a sexual health crisis
Government cuts are brewing a sexual health crisis Rising demand for sexual health care amid reduced budgets and privatisation puts further strain on an under-resourced sector
Sex has got a lot to answer for. The UK is facing a rising demand for sexual health and contraceptive care. Unacceptable levels of sexual coercion and female genital mutilation (FGM) are being reported, sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses are increasing [pdf], and the UK still has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in western Europe.
Despite all of this, key services are facing monstrous budget cuts alongside so many other sectors of our increasingly weary NHS. This means clinic closures, the dissolution of preventative health programmes, further pressure on already overloaded GP practices, and horrifying long-term financial costs.
Sexual health services play a key role in protecting the health of the nation ... sufficient funding is crucial 'Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Sex has got a lot to answer for. The UK is facing a rising demand for sexual health and contraceptive care. Unacceptable levels of sexual coercion and female genital mutilation (FGM) are being reported, sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses are increasing [pdf], and the UK still has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in western Europe.
Despite all of this, key services are facing monstrous budget cuts alongside so many other sectors of our increasingly weary NHS. This means clinic closures, the dissolution of preventative health programmes, further pressure on already overloaded GP practices, and horrifying long-term financial costs.
Sexual health services play a key role in protecting the health of the nation ... sufficient funding is crucial 'Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Second American patient found with superbug resistant to antibiotics of last resort
Second American patient found with superbug resistant to antibiotics of last resort A second American patient has been infected with a superbug that is highly resistant to antibiotics of last resort, scientists announced on Monday.
Virologists found the rare mrc-1 gene, which causes the resistance, in a strain of E coli from a patient in New York, according to findings published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
"We are very close to seeing the emergence of enterobacteria that will be impossible to treat with antibiotics," said Lance Price of George Washington University. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Virologists found the rare mrc-1 gene, which causes the resistance, in a strain of E coli from a patient in New York, according to findings published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
"We are very close to seeing the emergence of enterobacteria that will be impossible to treat with antibiotics," said Lance Price of George Washington University. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Dying patients given needless treatment, major study finds
Dying patients given needless treatment, major study finds More than a third of dying elderly patients receive "invasive and potentially harmful" treatments in their last weeks of life, the biggest review of its kind has found.
Analysis of data from 1.2 million patients worldwide found patients being subjected to "excessive" and unnecessary treatments that make no difference to the course of their illness.
Researchers said some of the pressure stemmed from families who struggled to accept that nothing more could be done for their loved ones, and expected "heroic" interventions from doctors. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Analysis of data from 1.2 million patients worldwide found patients being subjected to "excessive" and unnecessary treatments that make no difference to the course of their illness.
Researchers said some of the pressure stemmed from families who struggled to accept that nothing more could be done for their loved ones, and expected "heroic" interventions from doctors. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Non-beneficial treatments in hospital at the end of life: a systematic review on extent of the problem (open access) International Journal for Quality in Health Care
- Families cause loved ones to suffer at the end of life by 'begging doctors for unnecessary treatments' The Daily Mail
Monday, 27 June 2016
Guidance: Health matters: preventing bowel cancer
Guidance: Health matters: preventing bowel cancer This resource for health professionals and local authorities focuses on how bowel cancer affects people so that fewer people develop bowel cancer and
more eligible people take part in screening. Public Health England
more eligible people take part in screening. Public Health England
Children and young people's mental health - policy, services, funding and education
Children and young people's mental health - policy, services, funding and education This briefing provides an overview of mental health service provision for children and young people in England. It looks at key government policies on children and young people's mental health, government inquires, and school interventions. House of Commons Library
Comparator report on patient access to cancer medicines in Europe revisited
Comparator report on patient access to cancer medicines in Europe revisited A new report that compares the cancer situation in EU28 plus Norway and Switzerland. The report builds on a previous comparative study conducted in 2005 and provides a comprehensive view of the development of cancer in Europe over the past two decades.
The report shows that the number of people diagnosed with cancer continue to increase in Europe, up by 30 percent between 1995 and 2012 due to a growing and ageing population. Despite this growth and an increased spending on cancer medicines the overall spending on cancer care has remained stable at around six percent of total health expenditure largely due to a shift towards outpatient care. Swedish Institute for Health Economics
See also:
The report shows that the number of people diagnosed with cancer continue to increase in Europe, up by 30 percent between 1995 and 2012 due to a growing and ageing population. Despite this growth and an increased spending on cancer medicines the overall spending on cancer care has remained stable at around six percent of total health expenditure largely due to a shift towards outpatient care. Swedish Institute for Health Economics
See also:
NHS psychiatric patients' records found in filing cabinet sold on eBay
NHS psychiatric patients' records found in filing cabinet sold on eBay A couple, who bought second-hand office furniture on eBay, discovered records relating to psychiatric patients from a former NHS Trust administrative body in a filing cabinet, in what is seen as an extremely rare case of a physical data breach. International Business Times
Public Health Service 'ill-equipped' to provide treatment for cannabis users despite surge in numbers seeking help, experts warn
Public Health Service 'ill-equipped' to provide treatment for cannabis users despite surge in numbers seeking help, experts warn Researchers argue that the lack of available treatment and understanding around cannabis dependency is a major public health concern, with users often being ignored. The Independent
The other NHS crisis: the overworked nurses who are leaving in despair
The other NHS crisis: the overworked nurses who are leaving in despair The junior doctors’ dispute may be nearly over, but another crisis is brewing in the nursing profession, where staff shortages, a lack of recruitment and funding cuts have left many feeling they cannot carry on in the job they love
At what point is a qualified nurse – who entered the NHS expecting long hours and low pay – pushed so far that they can no longer carry on? For Stacey, a 27-year-old nurse from Liverpool, it was when she had become so broken that she felt she had lost every one of the “five Cs” that are instilled in nurses during their training: commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
At what point is a qualified nurse – who entered the NHS expecting long hours and low pay – pushed so far that they can no longer carry on? For Stacey, a 27-year-old nurse from Liverpool, it was when she had become so broken that she felt she had lost every one of the “five Cs” that are instilled in nurses during their training: commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
The NHS has a mountain to climb in its planned programme of change
The NHS has a mountain to climb in its planned programme of change Health service leaders focus on change at the NHS Confederation conference – but as funding growth slows, it will be ‘bloody tough’
There was something akin to desperation in the speeches by health service leaders at last week’s NHS Confederation conference in Manchester.
Wisely, there was little attempt to inspire the troops with misplaced rhetoric. The contributions from the two chief executives – NHS England’s Simon Stevens and NHS Improvement’s Jim Mackey – were business-like and practical. The unspoken title was “this is how we get out of this mess”.
Many of the plans are a long way from ready – a lot of additional work will need to be done Continue reading... The Guardian
There was something akin to desperation in the speeches by health service leaders at last week’s NHS Confederation conference in Manchester.
Wisely, there was little attempt to inspire the troops with misplaced rhetoric. The contributions from the two chief executives – NHS England’s Simon Stevens and NHS Improvement’s Jim Mackey – were business-like and practical. The unspoken title was “this is how we get out of this mess”.
Many of the plans are a long way from ready – a lot of additional work will need to be done Continue reading... The Guardian
Parents of Bristol heart hospital victims fear whitewash report
Parents of Bristol heart hospital victims fear whitewash report The mother of a four-month-old girl who died after undergoing heart surgery at a scandal hit hospital has slammed an independent report due to be published this week, claiming it is biased towards the hospital.
Emma Poton’s daughter, Lacey-Marie, died in 2013 just ten minutes after returning home from the Bristol Children’s Hospital where she had undergone a heart procedure.
She was one of seven youngsters treated on Ward 32 of the hospital who lost their lives, prompting a major independent review which will be published on Thursday. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Emma Poton’s daughter, Lacey-Marie, died in 2013 just ten minutes after returning home from the Bristol Children’s Hospital where she had undergone a heart procedure.
She was one of seven youngsters treated on Ward 32 of the hospital who lost their lives, prompting a major independent review which will be published on Thursday. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Drug firm accused of 'appalling deception on a grand scale'
Drug firm accused of 'appalling deception on a grand scale' A pharmaceutical company has been accused of "appalling deception on a grand scale" after surreptitiously attempting to market prostate cancer drugs to doctors.
Astellas UK has been suspended as a member of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) over "serious breaches" of the trade group’s code of practice.
The actions relate to an event held by the company in 2014, when more than 100 doctors were invited to an “educational event” in Milan to share their expertise about prostate cancer.
In fact, an investigation found that doctors were chosen because they had limited knowledge of the sector, in the hope they would be persuaded to prescribe Xtandi – a new prostate cancer drug. The Daily Telegraph
Astellas UK has been suspended as a member of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) over "serious breaches" of the trade group’s code of practice.
The actions relate to an event held by the company in 2014, when more than 100 doctors were invited to an “educational event” in Milan to share their expertise about prostate cancer.
In fact, an investigation found that doctors were chosen because they had limited knowledge of the sector, in the hope they would be persuaded to prescribe Xtandi – a new prostate cancer drug. The Daily Telegraph
NHS ambulance trust allegedly 'rehired six senior managers after spending £1m making them redundant'
NHS ambulance trust allegedly 'rehired six senior managers after spending £1m making them redundant' An ambulance trust has been criticised over its decision to allegedly rehire six senior managers after spending £1 million making them redundant.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is said to have paid an average of more than £150,000 in redundancy to each of the members of staff, spending £922,984 in total, a Freedom of Information request showed. The Daily Telegraph
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is said to have paid an average of more than £150,000 in redundancy to each of the members of staff, spending £922,984 in total, a Freedom of Information request showed. The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 24 June 2016
Challenging traditional relationships and embracing shared decision-making
Challenging traditional relationships and embracing shared decision-making The NHS Confederation conference last week was a busy affair; quieter, I’m told, than previous years but nonetheless a meeting place for reconnection, sharing and networking.
For me the most impact was made by the personal story told by a truly extraordinary lady: Kate Allatt. Her story touched me, stuck with me and points the way towards a new and powerful relationship between patients and the services they receive. It also points the way to a new and important leadership model for every aspect of health care and its delivery. The King's Fund
For me the most impact was made by the personal story told by a truly extraordinary lady: Kate Allatt. Her story touched me, stuck with me and points the way towards a new and powerful relationship between patients and the services they receive. It also points the way to a new and important leadership model for every aspect of health care and its delivery. The King's Fund
Commissioning through competition and cooperation (final report)
Commissioning through competition and cooperation (final report) This project investigated how commissioners in local health systems managed the interplay of competition and cooperation in their local health economies, looking at acute and community health services. Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System
Funding for mental health
Funding for mental health The Mental Health Network has produced an infographic highlighting the need for government funding and depicting the current financial position of NHS mental health trusts. NHS Confederation
Embrace the new hub culture – Dr Mark Williams
Embrace the new hub culture – Dr Mark Williams A Staffordshire GP explains why Clinical Hubs are vital to the future of primary and urgent care: Urgent care is the term usually given to work that takes place in emergency departments, Out of Hours, minor injury units and walk in centres. NHS England
E-cigarettes should not be banned in public, medical experts warn
E-cigarettes should not be banned in public, medical experts warn 'A ban on using e-cigarettes in public places could be damaging, as it may put off smokers from using e-cigarettes to help them quit,' says Rosanna O'Connor from Public Health England. The Independent
BMA: Junior doctors' strikes significantly improved Hunt deal
BMA: Junior doctors' strikes significantly improved Hunt deal Johann Malawana tells annual conference that strikes led to recognition of weekend work, fair pay and safeguarding of hours.
Strike action by junior doctors had forced “significant improvements” to the government’s proposed changes to their NHS contracts, the medics’ leader has said.
Dr Johann Malawana, the chair of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee, said trainee medics would have had “completely unacceptable proposals” imposed on them by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, if they had not staged walkouts. They included the first all-out strikes by doctors in the NHS’s history. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Strike action by junior doctors had forced “significant improvements” to the government’s proposed changes to their NHS contracts, the medics’ leader has said.
Dr Johann Malawana, the chair of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee, said trainee medics would have had “completely unacceptable proposals” imposed on them by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, if they had not staged walkouts. They included the first all-out strikes by doctors in the NHS’s history. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Junior doctors' contract deal: what was agreed The Guardian
'Give patients 30-minute appointments': Spending more time with a GP 'is more cost effective than many prescription drugs'
'Give patients 30-minute appointments': Spending more time with a GP 'is more cost effective than many prescription drugs' Glasgow patients living with chronic conditions like diabetes who had appointments of 30 to 45 minutes were in better health a year later than those who spent 10 minutes with their GP. The Daily Mail
Why I fear for NHS cancer patients: Doctor says we are no longer getting the best treatments available – and those who go private are more likely to survive
Why I fear for NHS cancer patients: Doctor says we are no longer getting the best treatments available – and those who go private are more likely to survive Cancer care is heavily affected by NHS budgets, and expensive drugs are a large proportion of the concerns, Dr Ruth Kagan, a GP in London, told The Hippocratic Post. The Daily Mail
Nigel Farage: £350 million pledge to fund the NHS was 'a mistake'
Nigel Farage: £350 million pledge to fund the NHS was 'a mistake' Nigel Farage has admitted that it was a "mistake" to promise that £350million a week would be spent on the NHS if the UK backed a Brexit vote.
Speaking just an hour after the Leave vote was confirmed the Ukip leader said the money could not be guaranteed and claimed he would never have made the promise in the first place. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Speaking just an hour after the Leave vote was confirmed the Ukip leader said the money could not be guaranteed and claimed he would never have made the promise in the first place. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Technical problems lead to X-ray delays at KGH
Technical problems lead to X-ray delays at KGH Technical problems because of a new system have caused delays in receiving radiology results at KGH, it has been revealed. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Doctors’ leaders call for opt-out system for organ donation
Doctors’ leaders call for opt-out system for organ donation Doctors’ leaders have today called for an opt-out system to be put in place for organ donation.
Voting today at the British Medical Association’s Annual Representative Meeting, a motion was passed which urged doctors to lobby the Governments in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to implement an opt-out system similar to the one put in place in Wales in 2015.
See also:
Voting today at the British Medical Association’s Annual Representative Meeting, a motion was passed which urged doctors to lobby the Governments in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to implement an opt-out system similar to the one put in place in Wales in 2015.
See also:
- BMA to push for 'opt-out' organ donation system The Daily Telegraph
- Doctors to lobby for opt-out organ donor system The Guardian
- Give us UK wide opt-out system for organ donation, say doctors’ leaders OnMedica
Supporting the Development of Community Pharmacy Practice within Primary Care
Supporting the Development of Community Pharmacy Practice within Primary Care A new report that argues community pharmacy in England, with approaching 11,700 pharmacies, represents health on the high street and within our communities.
The NHS needs clinical pharmacists within general practice, urgent care and out of hours, nursing homes and many other multidisciplinary teams. But the NHS also needs clinical pharmacists within a community pharmacy setting and a strategy for community pharmacy to deliver its potential. New NHS Alliance
See also:
The NHS needs clinical pharmacists within general practice, urgent care and out of hours, nursing homes and many other multidisciplinary teams. But the NHS also needs clinical pharmacists within a community pharmacy setting and a strategy for community pharmacy to deliver its potential. New NHS Alliance
See also:
Has NHS failure become the new norm?
Has NHS failure become the new norm? With both the doctors' and nurses' annual conferences taking place in Belfast and Glasgow respectively, this would normally be a week when the state of the NHS takes top billing.
But not this year. The coverage is pretty muted. Of course, the EU referendum has something to do with that.
However, there is also a sense that something else is at play. After months of deadlock in the junior doctor dispute and a constant barrage of negative headlines about missed targets, there seems to be a certain weariness that has crept in when it comes to the debate around the state of the health service. BBC News
But not this year. The coverage is pretty muted. Of course, the EU referendum has something to do with that.
However, there is also a sense that something else is at play. After months of deadlock in the junior doctor dispute and a constant barrage of negative headlines about missed targets, there seems to be a certain weariness that has crept in when it comes to the debate around the state of the health service. BBC News
Abortion demand 'soars' amid Zika fear
Abortion demand 'soars' amid Zika fear Fears over the Zika virus have contributed to a "huge" increase in number of abortions in Latin America, researchers suggest. BBC News
Unmanageable GP workload threatens safety of patient care, warns GP leader
Unmanageable GP workload threatens safety of patient care, warns GP leader Unmanageable workload, too few doctors, and too little resource are threatening the delivery of safe, quality care to patients, the leader of the UK’s GPs has warned. OnMedica
What makes a good leader in today's NHS?
What makes a good leader in today's NHS? In a climate where many NHS staff are demoralised and the service is facing unprecedented demand, how do leaders meet challenges?
Good leadership is often credited with being able to save the NHS. For individuals willing to take on leadership roles, the rewards can be great. However, with a general feeling of demoralisation in the workforce and services facing unprecedented demand, the challenges are even greater.
Marcus Powell, director of leadership and organisational development at The King’s Fund, recognises that leaders get “buffeted in all sorts of situations” and that they must have the ability to absorb problems and make sure their team feels safe. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Good leadership is often credited with being able to save the NHS. For individuals willing to take on leadership roles, the rewards can be great. However, with a general feeling of demoralisation in the workforce and services facing unprecedented demand, the challenges are even greater.
Marcus Powell, director of leadership and organisational development at The King’s Fund, recognises that leaders get “buffeted in all sorts of situations” and that they must have the ability to absorb problems and make sure their team feels safe. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Britain to open refuges to support child victims of sexual abuse
Britain to open refuges to support child victims of sexual abuse Child houses inspired by Icelandic scheme will tackle ‘public health emergency’ of abuse and offer young people expert care
Child refuges for victims of sexual abuse are to be set up in the UK to cope with the public health crisis from the scale of offences against young people.
Inspired by the Barnahus in Iceland, the child houses will provide young people with a supportive, child-friendly environment in which to talk about their experiences. Continue reading... The Guardian
Child refuges for victims of sexual abuse are to be set up in the UK to cope with the public health crisis from the scale of offences against young people.
Inspired by the Barnahus in Iceland, the child houses will provide young people with a supportive, child-friendly environment in which to talk about their experiences. Continue reading... The Guardian
I take opioids to treat chronic pain. Stigmatizing them will harm me
I take opioids to treat chronic pain. Stigmatizing them will harm me | Sonya Huber The push to blame the nation’s epidemic on too many prescriptions could have negative ramifications for patients who rely on them for pain management
A recent visit to one of my doctors started out in the usual way, with a review of my current medications. I have rheumatoid arthritis, an incurable autoimmune disease, so my list of medications is fairly long. The doctor paused when she reached Tramadol, a mild opioid I use sometimes before bed when pain threatens to steal sleep.
“You need this every night?” she asked. This caring doctor I’d trusted for years stiffened as if on alert. I could practically read on her face the March 2016 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accused doctors of creating the opioid crisis and recommending that the “vast majority of patients” with chronic pain not be treated with opioids. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
A recent visit to one of my doctors started out in the usual way, with a review of my current medications. I have rheumatoid arthritis, an incurable autoimmune disease, so my list of medications is fairly long. The doctor paused when she reached Tramadol, a mild opioid I use sometimes before bed when pain threatens to steal sleep.
“You need this every night?” she asked. This caring doctor I’d trusted for years stiffened as if on alert. I could practically read on her face the March 2016 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accused doctors of creating the opioid crisis and recommending that the “vast majority of patients” with chronic pain not be treated with opioids. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
'Pointless' to diagnose dementia if no help is on offer
'Pointless' to diagnose dementia if no help is on offer It is "pointless" to diagnose patients with dementia when there is no help available for them, leading doctors have said.
Medics accused ministers of caring more about “hitting targets” to drive up diagnosis rates than about ensuring that support was available for the most vulnerable.
The Government drive has seen a near doubling in diagnoses in the last six years. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Medics accused ministers of caring more about “hitting targets” to drive up diagnosis rates than about ensuring that support was available for the most vulnerable.
The Government drive has seen a near doubling in diagnoses in the last six years. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Awareness campaign about Female Gential Mutilation (FGM) launched in Northants after 30 cases reported in in six months
Awareness campaign about Female Gential Mutilation (FGM) launched in Northants after 30 cases reported in in six months Northampton General Hospital recorded 30 cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in a six-month period, figures released by Northamptonshire Police have revealed.
The county force has launched an awareness campaign timed to coincide with the run-up to the summer holidays, when children may be at a higher risk of being taken abroad to have FGM carried out. Northamptonshire Telegraph
The county force has launched an awareness campaign timed to coincide with the run-up to the summer holidays, when children may be at a higher risk of being taken abroad to have FGM carried out. Northamptonshire Telegraph
What can England learn from Scotland?
What can England learn from Scotland? I was in Glasgow last week speaking at the annual NHS Scotland conference. I took the opportunity to meet national and local leaders to discuss areas of common concern. Three programmes of work in Scotland hold particular interest for the NHS in England. The King's Fund
Survey finds decline in clinical academics in UK medical schools
Survey finds decline in clinical academics in UK medical schools A new survey shows a decline in the numbers of medical clinical academic staff in contrast to the increase in consultants across the NHS over the past five years. Medical Schools Council
Preparing your nurses and midwives to revalidate in September
Preparing your nurses and midwives to revalidate in September The NMC is urging nurses and midwives due to revalidate in September to plan ahead. Find out what you can do to support them. NHS Employers
Let workers self-certify illness for 14 days, say GPs
Let workers self-certify illness for 14 days, say GPs Workers should be able to self-certify sickness for up to two weeks to help reduce unnecessary GP appointments, doctors say. BBC News
See also:
See also:
Government ‘in denial’ about state of NHS funding crisis, say doctors’ leaders
Government ‘in denial’ about state of NHS funding crisis, say doctors’ leaders The government is in denial about the state of the funding crisis facing the NHS, the head of the doctors’ union has said.
Addressing the BMA’s annual representative meeting (ARM) in Belfast, yesterday, Mark Porter, chair of BMA Council, said that year-on-year funding cuts have left almost every acute trust in England in the red, with trusts facing a deficit of more than £2bn, a 20-fold increase in two years.
The UK spends less of a share of its wealth on healthcare than the EU average, and cuts of £200m to public health have affected many services locally, including sexual health and smoking cessation services. OnMedica
Addressing the BMA’s annual representative meeting (ARM) in Belfast, yesterday, Mark Porter, chair of BMA Council, said that year-on-year funding cuts have left almost every acute trust in England in the red, with trusts facing a deficit of more than £2bn, a 20-fold increase in two years.
The UK spends less of a share of its wealth on healthcare than the EU average, and cuts of £200m to public health have affected many services locally, including sexual health and smoking cessation services. OnMedica
'Single most important act' to improve child health is to stop using fossil fuels, expert says
'Single most important act' to improve child health is to stop using fossil fuels, expert says The “single most important action” to improve the health of the world’s children would be to stop using vast amounts of fossil fuels, a leading health expert has claimed after reviewing scientific research on the effects of air pollution.
Doing so would lead to fewer children suffering from asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental problems that lower IQ, Professor Frederica Perera said. There would also be fewer premature babies and children born with a low birth weight. The Independent
Doing so would lead to fewer children suffering from asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental problems that lower IQ, Professor Frederica Perera said. There would also be fewer premature babies and children born with a low birth weight. The Independent
Making NHS data public is not the same as making it accessible – we can and should do better
Making NHS data public is not the same as making it accessible – we can and should do better How should we explain hospital statistics to the parents of potential patients? Christina Pagel and David Spiegelhalter’s website helps make sense of them
Knowing your child needs heart surgery is daunting for any parent. Being able to reassure yourself that survival rates at your child’s hospital are in line with UK’s very high standards could help ease at least some of the anxiety. But would parents know where to look and if they did find them, how easy are the statistics to understand?
The NHS is increasingly publishing statistics about the surgery it undertakes, following on from a movement kickstarted by the Bristol Inquiry in the late 1990s into deaths of children after heart surgery. Ever more health data is being collected, and more transparent and open sharing of hospital summary data and outcomes has the power to transform the quality of NHS services further, even beyond the great improvements that have already been made. Continue reading... The Guardian
Knowing your child needs heart surgery is daunting for any parent. Being able to reassure yourself that survival rates at your child’s hospital are in line with UK’s very high standards could help ease at least some of the anxiety. But would parents know where to look and if they did find them, how easy are the statistics to understand?
The NHS is increasingly publishing statistics about the surgery it undertakes, following on from a movement kickstarted by the Bristol Inquiry in the late 1990s into deaths of children after heart surgery. Ever more health data is being collected, and more transparent and open sharing of hospital summary data and outcomes has the power to transform the quality of NHS services further, even beyond the great improvements that have already been made. Continue reading... The Guardian
Widow to take fight to save frozen embryos to court
Widow to take fight to save frozen embryos to court Samantha and Clive Jefferies had been about to start fertility treatment with embryos when army veteran died suddenly
The widow of a Falklands war combat medic will go to the high court on Wednesday in an effort to prevent the couple’s frozen embryos from being destroyed.
Samantha Jefferies, 42, and her husband Clive were about to start fertility treatment with embryos they had created when he died suddenly in 2014 from a brain haemorrhage. He was 51 years old. Continue reading... The Guardian
The widow of a Falklands war combat medic will go to the high court on Wednesday in an effort to prevent the couple’s frozen embryos from being destroyed.
Samantha Jefferies, 42, and her husband Clive were about to start fertility treatment with embryos they had created when he died suddenly in 2014 from a brain haemorrhage. He was 51 years old. Continue reading... The Guardian
Leading doctor: let me choose an assisted death
Leading doctor: let me choose an assisted death One of Britain’s leading doctors has said she would want the choice of an assisted death after watching her father struggle through his terminal illness.
Dr Clare Gerada, former chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners spoke out during a British Medical Association (BMA) conference debate on assisted dying. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Dr Clare Gerada, former chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners spoke out during a British Medical Association (BMA) conference debate on assisted dying. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Thirty cases of Female Genital Mutilation discovered in Northamptonshire
Thirty cases of Female Genital Mutilation discovered in Northamptonshire Thirty cases of Female Genital Mutilation were discovered by Northampton General Hospital at the start of last year, it has been revealed..
Women who had been victims of the practice, common across many African cultures, were finding that it was causing complications in childbirth years after the original abuse took place.
And now a group of medical and law enforcement specialists in the county have created a team to tackle the problem and to get the message out that FGM is child abuse, it is illegal and will not be tolerated.
The multi-agency campaign is being funded by Northamptonshire Police which is aware there were at least 18 cases in which girls aged between five and 14 years old were at risk of having this procedure carried out. Northants Herald and Post
See also:
Women who had been victims of the practice, common across many African cultures, were finding that it was causing complications in childbirth years after the original abuse took place.
And now a group of medical and law enforcement specialists in the county have created a team to tackle the problem and to get the message out that FGM is child abuse, it is illegal and will not be tolerated.
The multi-agency campaign is being funded by Northamptonshire Police which is aware there were at least 18 cases in which girls aged between five and 14 years old were at risk of having this procedure carried out. Northants Herald and Post
See also:
- Female Genital Mutilation in Northamptonshire (video) Heart
- FGM Campaign In Northamptonshire Heart
- Campaign to raise awareness of FGM ITV News
- Raising awareness of FGM: "I don't want my daughter to go through that pain" ITV News
- Campaign against Female Genital Mutilation launched Northamptonshire Police
- Female Genital Mutilation Awareness Campaign Launched Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board
Public perceptions of the NHS
Public perceptions of the NHS BritainThinks were commissioned to conduct an online survey of 1240 adults living in England to question their perceptions of the NHS as of June 2016. The survey concentrates on general perceptions of the NHS, public health and seven-day services. The BMA
The Zero Suicide Policy challenges – Dr David Fearnley
The Zero Suicide Policy challenges – Dr David Fearnley The Medical Director at Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust looks at the Zero Suicide Policy introduced at the Trust in 2015 and the impact that deaths from suicide are having: Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Yet prevention remains difficult NHS England
Sugar and public health
Sugar and public health This briefing by POST summarises the health risks associated with eating a diet high in sugar and outlines the policy options that might best enable people to limit their sugar consumption. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Endless winter in NHS 'puts patients at risk'
Endless winter in NHS 'puts patients at risk' The NHS is stuck in an "endless winter" with hospitals left in chaos struggling to cope, doctors and nurses say. BBC News
See also:
See also:
Hard-and-fast prostate radiotherapy 'a win-win for NHS'
Hard-and-fast prostate radiotherapy 'a win-win for NHS' The NHS could save money and patients' time by giving fewer but stronger doses of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, say experts. BBC News
Virgin set to take over outstanding GP practice forced to close by £400,000 cuts
Virgin set to take over outstanding GP practice forced to close by £400,000 cuts A GP practice in Essex rated outstanding by the CQC will be taken over next month by the private provider Virgin Care after £400,000 cuts to PMS funding forced existing partners to hand in their notice. GP Online
See also:
See also:
The NHS needs a strong dose of tech investment
The NHS needs a strong dose of tech investment The health service could do with an IT injection to help it bring its 1950s-style processes into the 21st century
The announcement of £4.2bn in funding to move the NHS towards a digital, “paper-free” future raises challenges and rekindles memories of past attempts.
In fairness, the NHS gets less credit than it should for its progress with technology. GP surgeries are computerised, the health service has excellent technology for transferring data around the country, digital imaging and online referrals, and the largest secure email service in the world.
Digital services can ensure the NHS continues providing world-leading universal care Continue reading... The Guardian
The announcement of £4.2bn in funding to move the NHS towards a digital, “paper-free” future raises challenges and rekindles memories of past attempts.
In fairness, the NHS gets less credit than it should for its progress with technology. GP surgeries are computerised, the health service has excellent technology for transferring data around the country, digital imaging and online referrals, and the largest secure email service in the world.
Digital services can ensure the NHS continues providing world-leading universal care Continue reading... The Guardian
BMA chief attacks David Cameron over 'safe in my hands' NHS promise
BMA chief attacks David Cameron over 'safe in my hands' NHS promise Mark Porter accuses government at doctor’s union conference of breaking pledges to protect and fund the health service
The leader of Britain’s doctors has accused David Cameron and George Osborne of betraying their promises that the NHS was safe in Conservative hands and would be funded properly.
Dr Mark Porter claimed that the government’s pursuit of a seven-day NHS, its dispute with junior doctors and cuts to public health showed it could not be trusted with the health service. Continue reading... The Guardian
The leader of Britain’s doctors has accused David Cameron and George Osborne of betraying their promises that the NHS was safe in Conservative hands and would be funded properly.
Dr Mark Porter claimed that the government’s pursuit of a seven-day NHS, its dispute with junior doctors and cuts to public health showed it could not be trusted with the health service. Continue reading... The Guardian
The most vital skill a doctor can have? Listening, says academic who urges medics to embrace 'the old-fashioned approach'
The most vital skill a doctor can have? Listening, says academic who urges medics to embrace 'the old-fashioned approach' The medical profession has certainly been enhanced by the advancement of technology. But has it been at the expense of doctors listening intently? Peter Whorwell thinks so. The Daily Mail
NHS has fewer beds per head than Romania, doctors warn
NHS has fewer beds per head than Romania, doctors warn Britain has half as many hospital beds for its population as Romania, leading doctors have said, amid warnings that NHS trusts are “bulging at the seams".
Consultants said bed shortages meant they could only do only a third of the operations they were able to carry out in the 1960s.
Doctors at British Medical Association (BMA)’s annual meeting said patients were being harmed by cuts which have left Britain with far fewer beds than almost every country in Europe.
They called for an “urgent re-evaluation” of bed numbers, amid fears that plans to tackle a spiralling deficit could endanger patients further. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Consultants said bed shortages meant they could only do only a third of the operations they were able to carry out in the 1960s.
Doctors at British Medical Association (BMA)’s annual meeting said patients were being harmed by cuts which have left Britain with far fewer beds than almost every country in Europe.
They called for an “urgent re-evaluation” of bed numbers, amid fears that plans to tackle a spiralling deficit could endanger patients further. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Monday, 20 June 2016
Northampton parents of terminally ill baby locked in court fight with doctors to keep him alive
Northampton parents of terminally ill baby locked in court fight with doctors to keep him alive Parents of a terminally ill baby who were told their son has just one year to live have been forced into a High Court battle with doctors to keep him alive.
Frank Musselwhite, 39, and Danielle Manuel, 22, were devastated when little Rimari was born with severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) on April 10.
The cruel condition is caused by deterioration in the nerve cells connecting the brain and spinal cord to the body’s muscles.
Rimari cannot breathe or swallow unaided, requires 24-hour care and a ventilator, and his parents say they were told he is unlikely to see his first birthday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Frank Musselwhite, 39, and Danielle Manuel, 22, were devastated when little Rimari was born with severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) on April 10.
The cruel condition is caused by deterioration in the nerve cells connecting the brain and spinal cord to the body’s muscles.
Rimari cannot breathe or swallow unaided, requires 24-hour care and a ventilator, and his parents say they were told he is unlikely to see his first birthday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The future of social care
The future of social care The King’s Fund has a long history of analysis and comment on social care issues but has traditionally been a health-focused organisation, so in my new role as Fellow in Social Care Policy I’m keen to help expand our work in this area.
I hope that my appointment is representative not only of a broader commitment to the importance of social care for good health and wellbeing, but also a wider recognition that without good, personalised and sustainable social care, the NHS cannot remain the vital institution it has been and must continue to be.
I hope that my appointment is representative not only of a broader commitment to the importance of social care for good health and wellbeing, but also a wider recognition that without good, personalised and sustainable social care, the NHS cannot remain the vital institution it has been and must continue to be.
More school nurses needed to tackle childhood mental health crisis
More school nurses needed to tackle childhood mental health crisis At least three children in every classroom now suffer from a mental health problem.
But an RCN survey shows that without substantial investment in school nursing it won’t be possible to provide them with effective mental health support.
The number of school nurses has fallen by 10% since 2010 to only 2,700 caring for more than 9 million pupils.
The survey reflects the significant pressure on the current school nursing workforce. Royal College of Nursing
See also:
But an RCN survey shows that without substantial investment in school nursing it won’t be possible to provide them with effective mental health support.
The number of school nurses has fallen by 10% since 2010 to only 2,700 caring for more than 9 million pupils.
The survey reflects the significant pressure on the current school nursing workforce. Royal College of Nursing
See also:
Pregnant women with epilepsy need ‘specialist care’ to reduce preventable deaths, new guidelines reveal
Pregnant women with epilepsy need ‘specialist care’ to reduce preventable deaths, new guidelines reveal While most women with epilepsy give birth safely, healthcare professionals must do more to control the condition in pregnant women, according to new guidance. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
See also:
See also:
- Epilepsy in Pregnancy (Green-top Guideline No.68) Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Pregnant women with epilepsy 'need specialist care' BBC News
NHS student bursary cut 'reckless', unions say
NHS student bursary cut 'reckless', unions say Plans to scrap bursaries for student nurses and other front-line staff in England are reckless, unions and charities are warning. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Student bursaries Royal College of Nursing
- Student nurses: Plan to scrap bursaries criticised (video) BBC News
- Health chiefs warn of 'reckless’ cuts in student nurse funding The Guardian
- Health chiefs warn of 'reckless' cuts in student nurse funding The Independent
Sickle cell disease: Nurses need better training, says health union
Sickle cell disease: Nurses need better training, says health union The NHS needs nurses to be better trained in dealing with people who have Sickle Cell Disease, a health union warns. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Nurses call for greater awareness of sickle cell disease Royal College of Nursing
Exclusive: GP prescribing system has 'failed to learn lessons from Shipman'
Exclusive: GP prescribing system has 'failed to learn lessons from Shipman' Flaws in the primary care prescribing system - highlighted earlier this week by GP Online - show that the NHS has failed to take on board recommendations from the inquiry into serial killer Harold Shipman, according to senior GP. GP Online
First national mental health priority is to hold CCGs to account, says Murdoch
First national mental health priority is to hold CCGs to account, says Murdoch The newly appointed National Mental Health Director told NHS Confederation yesterday (16 June) that her first priority is to hold commissioners to account on mental health care.
Claire Murdoch, who was appointed in April and officially began the post this week, said: “We need to have a clearer way of holding our commissioners transparently to account on what they’re doing in mental health.”
She also laid out ambitious targets to be achieved by 2020 as part of the government’s commitment to improving mental health care.
These included ensuring that at least 50% of hospitals had 24-hour psychiatric liaison services, that the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) programme reached 25% of people in need, reducing suicides by 10%, and ending the practice of placing children in out of area psychiatric services. National Health Executive
Claire Murdoch, who was appointed in April and officially began the post this week, said: “We need to have a clearer way of holding our commissioners transparently to account on what they’re doing in mental health.”
She also laid out ambitious targets to be achieved by 2020 as part of the government’s commitment to improving mental health care.
These included ensuring that at least 50% of hospitals had 24-hour psychiatric liaison services, that the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) programme reached 25% of people in need, reducing suicides by 10%, and ending the practice of placing children in out of area psychiatric services. National Health Executive
North Middlesex A&E staff describe unit as unsafe and unsupported
North Middlesex A&E staff describe unit as unsafe and unsupported Report reveals treatment allegedly so poor that doctors working at unit would not advise their friends and relatives to use it
Staff working in a troubled A&E unit have criticised it as “unsafe, unsupported and relentless” because its care is putting patients at such serious risk, a secret NHS report reveals.
Treatment at North Middlesex hospital’s emergency department is allegedly so poor that none of the doctors interviewed who work in it would advise their friends or relatives to seek medical help there, according to the unpublished report by Health Education England (HEE), the NHS’s workforce agency. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Staff working in a troubled A&E unit have criticised it as “unsafe, unsupported and relentless” because its care is putting patients at such serious risk, a secret NHS report reveals.
Treatment at North Middlesex hospital’s emergency department is allegedly so poor that none of the doctors interviewed who work in it would advise their friends or relatives to seek medical help there, according to the unpublished report by Health Education England (HEE), the NHS’s workforce agency. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Patients need a more active role in healthcare decision-making
Patients need a more active role in healthcare decision-making Sharing decision-making with patients and the wider community can improve care, help internal NHS collaboration and engage vulnerable people.
As a passionate supporter of patient engagement, I have come to value the significance of patient experience in improving leadership practices that deliver better care.
Over the last year, I have met health and social care leaders, including those in the community and voluntary sectors, to discuss ways to involve patients and communities in planning, developing and delivering sustainable, person-centred services. The aim of our work is to align patient and community leadership with clinicians and managers. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
As a passionate supporter of patient engagement, I have come to value the significance of patient experience in improving leadership practices that deliver better care.
Over the last year, I have met health and social care leaders, including those in the community and voluntary sectors, to discuss ways to involve patients and communities in planning, developing and delivering sustainable, person-centred services. The aim of our work is to align patient and community leadership with clinicians and managers. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
NHS boss says promise of £8bn in extra funding may be far from enough
NHS boss says promise of £8bn in extra funding may be far from enough Simon Stevens uses major speech to NHS leaders to remind Jeremy Hunt that 2014 blueprint said up to £21bn may be needed
The boss of the NHS has told Jeremy Hunt that the health service may need closer to £21bn extra over the next few years, far more than the £8bn ministers have promised.
In pointed remarks made on Friday and aimed at the health secretary, Simon Stevens said people should not “rewrite history” on the exact sums the NHS in England will need by 2020. Hunt has repeatedly stressed that the government has pledged to boost the NHS budget by £8bn over that period because that is the amount set out in a blueprint unveiled in 2014 called the NHS Five Year Forward View, which Hunt, David Cameron and George Osborne now call “the Stevens plan”. Continue reading... The Guardian
The boss of the NHS has told Jeremy Hunt that the health service may need closer to £21bn extra over the next few years, far more than the £8bn ministers have promised.
In pointed remarks made on Friday and aimed at the health secretary, Simon Stevens said people should not “rewrite history” on the exact sums the NHS in England will need by 2020. Hunt has repeatedly stressed that the government has pledged to boost the NHS budget by £8bn over that period because that is the amount set out in a blueprint unveiled in 2014 called the NHS Five Year Forward View, which Hunt, David Cameron and George Osborne now call “the Stevens plan”. Continue reading... The Guardian
Cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi 'too pricey for the NHS'
Cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi 'too pricey for the NHS' The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence rejected the drug, which has been shown in clinical trials to improve lung function and respiratory symptoms in people with cystic fibrosis. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
BMA says Brexit claims on NHS are 'farcial and fatuous'
BMA says Brexit claims on NHS are 'farcial and fatuous' Campaigners for Brexit have made "farcial and fatuous" claims about the benefits of Britain leaving the EU, the head of the British Medical Association has said.
In a keynote speech to hundreds of doctors at the union's annual conference, Dr Mark Porter will condemn claims by Vote Leave that the NHS would receive billions of pounds of extra funding were the UK to vote to leave the EU.
Boris Johnson and Michael Gove have said that the health service would get a "£100m a week cash transfusion" if Britain left the NHS.
But the BMA chief will say the claim is "based on fantasy figures" which are designed to deceive the public. The Daily Telegraph
In a keynote speech to hundreds of doctors at the union's annual conference, Dr Mark Porter will condemn claims by Vote Leave that the NHS would receive billions of pounds of extra funding were the UK to vote to leave the EU.
Boris Johnson and Michael Gove have said that the health service would get a "£100m a week cash transfusion" if Britain left the NHS.
But the BMA chief will say the claim is "based on fantasy figures" which are designed to deceive the public. The Daily Telegraph
Scrap pay limits for agency doctors, medics say
Scrap pay limits for agency doctors, medics say Doctors are to call for the removal of limits on pay for locum doctors, following Government attempts to clamp down on “extortionate” payments.
Medics will urge the British Medical Association (BMA) to launch a campaign against the restrictions – and to boycott hospitals which try to enforce them.
The new limits were introduced last November in an attempt to stop the NHS spending up to £3,500 per doctor, per shift. The Daily Telegraph
Medics will urge the British Medical Association (BMA) to launch a campaign against the restrictions – and to boycott hospitals which try to enforce them.
The new limits were introduced last November in an attempt to stop the NHS spending up to £3,500 per doctor, per shift. The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 17 June 2016
Tackling bullying and harassment in the NHS - new resources launched
Tackling bullying and harassment in the NHS - new resources launched The Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group (HSWPG) has launched new resources and an infographic to support NHS organisations to develop cultures where staff are free from the fear of intimidating behaviour. NHS Employers
New care models and staff engagement: all aboard
New care models and staff engagement: all aboard This publication brings together the experiences of four vanguards which are placing staff at the centre of new care models. The vanguards featured recognise that those on the front line of care have the best ideas about how to improve it – but need to feel empowered to do so. NHS Confederation
Proportion of women giving birth recorded as smokers falls to lowest level since series began in 2006/07
Proportion of women giving birth recorded as smokers falls to lowest level since series began in 2006/07 New figures show the national annual percentage of women recorded as smokers at the time of giving birth has fallen below the national target. Health and Social Care Information Centre
'A massive shock' - suffering from anorexia in later life
'A massive shock' - suffering from anorexia in later life New research by the BBC's Breakfast programme shows an increase in the number of people in England and Wales who are middle-aged or elderly and struggling with eating disorders. BBC News
Cut the frills?
Cut the frills? Rebecca Rosen, a GP from a busy London practice, says pressures on the service risk "budget airline" style medicine. BBC News
What Do Health Visitors Contribute to Infant Mental Health?
What Do Health Visitors Contribute to Infant Mental Health? Health visiting is the public health profession of today, the profession that builds relationships with every child in the country to support their early relationships and ensure that every child matters. Dr Cheryll Adams, Executive Director for the Institute of Health Visiting which featured as a primary partner of the UKs first infant mental health awareness week last week shares her thoughts about health visitors and their public health role for babies life chances. Huffington Post UK
Dentists refusing to fix their mistakes costing patients hundreds of pounds, new analysis finds
Dentists refusing to fix their mistakes costing patients hundreds of pounds, new analysis finds Problems with dental care are up 9 per cent from last year with issues including dentists cracking healthy teeth during treatment, fillings that came out and dentures that did not fit. The Independent
Drug combination for fighting skin cancer approved for NHS use
Drug combination for fighting skin cancer approved for NHS use Medicines regulator NICE moves at record speed to approve nivolumab for use with ipilimumab in melanoma patients
A combination of two immunotherapy drugs for advanced skin cancer has been approved for general use in the NHS, raising hopes that the deadly disease will be stalled and perhaps eradicated in many more patients.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved nivolumab for use with ipilimumab within a couple of months of the combination getting a licence. Patients with advanced melanoma in England and Wales will be the first in Europe to get it, says NICE. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
A combination of two immunotherapy drugs for advanced skin cancer has been approved for general use in the NHS, raising hopes that the deadly disease will be stalled and perhaps eradicated in many more patients.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved nivolumab for use with ipilimumab within a couple of months of the combination getting a licence. Patients with advanced melanoma in England and Wales will be the first in Europe to get it, says NICE. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
NHS to offer free devices and apps to help people manage illnesses
NHS to offer free devices and apps to help people manage illnesses Health service seeks to use of technology to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
Millions of people will receive devices and apps free on the NHS to help them manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease in an major drive to use technology to reduce patient deaths.
NHS England’s chief executive, Simon Stevens, has backed the move as a significant expansion of self-care that could help prevent patients becoming seriously unwell and needing hospital treatment.
Continue reading... The Guardian
Millions of people will receive devices and apps free on the NHS to help them manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease in an major drive to use technology to reduce patient deaths.
NHS England’s chief executive, Simon Stevens, has backed the move as a significant expansion of self-care that could help prevent patients becoming seriously unwell and needing hospital treatment.
Continue reading... The Guardian
Seven day GPs really DO cut weekend A&E admissions and ambulance call outs - by 20%
Seven day GPs really DO cut weekend A&E admissions and ambulance call outs - by 20% When clinics stayed open seven days, visits to A&E units at local hospitals dropped 10 per cent across the week and 18 per cent at weekends, Sussex University researchers found. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Northampton dad who lost three pints of blood through head wound waited six hours for ambulance
Northampton dad who lost three pints of blood through head wound waited six hours for ambulance A Northampton man who was knocked unconscious for eight minutes after a fall was forced to wait six hours to be seen by paramedics. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Leadership in the NHS: thoughts of a newcomer
Leadership in the NHS: thoughts of a newcomer Marcus Powell joined The King’s Fund earlier this year as Director of Leadership and Organisational Development, having spent his whole career outside the NHS in the private sector. This paper contains his initial observations about leadership in the NHS. The King's Fund
Better mental health for all: a public health approach to mental health improvement
Better mental health for all: a public health approach to mental health improvement This report focuses on what can be done individually and collectively to enhance the mental health of individuals, families and communities by using a public health approach. It is intended as a resource for public health practitioners to support the development of knowledge and skills in public mental health. It presents the latter from the perspective of those working within public health, giving valuable interdisciplinary perspectives that focus on achieving health gains across the population. Faculty of Public Health
Stepping up to the place: The Key to successful health and care integration
Stepping up to the place: The Key to successful health and care integration Bringing together health and social care has been a constant and dominant policy theme for many decades, and many places around the country are already demonstrating the potential to do things differently.
We - the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Association, NHS Clinical Commissioners and NHS Confederation - believe it is time to put integrated systems and services to the test, to translate aspirations into action, and to ensure they deliver for our citizens.
So we have come together to describe what a fully integrated, transformed system should look like based on what the evidence tells us.
See also:
We - the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Association, NHS Clinical Commissioners and NHS Confederation - believe it is time to put integrated systems and services to the test, to translate aspirations into action, and to ensure they deliver for our citizens.
So we have come together to describe what a fully integrated, transformed system should look like based on what the evidence tells us.
See also:
Six principles for engaging people and communities: putting them into practice
Six principles for engaging people and communities: putting them into practice This document is about creating person-centred, community-focused approaches to health, wellbeing and care. It builds on the proposed new relationship with patients and communities set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View. It aims to complement a wider suite of products to be produced by national bodies for the health and care system as it moves forward with the implementation of innovations in care delivery. National Voices
Edward Mallen suicide: Mental health care 'not fit for purpose' says father
Edward Mallen suicide: Mental health care 'not fit for purpose' says father The father of a teenager who took his own life has said his death proves the mental health system in England is "not really fit for purpose".
Edward Mallen, 18, took his own life at Meldreth rail crossing near Cambridge on 9 February 2015.
His GP had said the boy should be seen by mental health professionals within 24 hours but an NHS health trust deemed him not to be at significant risk.
The trust has admitted "things... could have been done better".
Mr Mallen, who was expected to take up a place at Cambridge University, killed himself shortly after his 18th birthday. BBC News
Edward Mallen, 18, took his own life at Meldreth rail crossing near Cambridge on 9 February 2015.
His GP had said the boy should be seen by mental health professionals within 24 hours but an NHS health trust deemed him not to be at significant risk.
The trust has admitted "things... could have been done better".
Mr Mallen, who was expected to take up a place at Cambridge University, killed himself shortly after his 18th birthday. BBC News
'Safety concerns' at ambulance trust
'Safety concerns' at ambulance trust One of the UK's busiest ambulance services is being investigated after reports of bullying and harassment and a dispatch system described as "unfit for purpose". BBC News
See also:
See also:
- South West NHS 111 service rated inadequate BBC News
- Ambulance service which abandoned patient calls warned to improve The Daily Telegraph
- NHS 111 service putting patients 'at risk of harm' The Guardian
Exclusive: GPs demand urgent overhaul of 'unsafe' NHS prescribing system
Exclusive: GPs demand urgent overhaul of 'unsafe' NHS prescribing system Millions of GP prescriptions cannot be traced to the individual doctor that issued them because the NHS has failed to overhaul a system that is a relic of the 1950s, GP leaders have warned. GP Online
Health experts call for illegal drug use and possession to be decriminalised
Health experts call for illegal drug use and possession to be decriminalised The “war on drugs” has failed in terms of public health and drug use should be decriminalised, two leading organisations have said.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) said the personal possession and use of all illegal drugs should no longer be considered a criminal offence.
While the bodies still support criminal charges for people who deal drugs, they said users should instead be referred for treatment and help. The Independent
See also:
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) said the personal possession and use of all illegal drugs should no longer be considered a criminal offence.
While the bodies still support criminal charges for people who deal drugs, they said users should instead be referred for treatment and help. The Independent
See also:
- Taking a New Line on Drugs Royal Society for Public Health
- Health bodies call for drugs to be decriminalised BBC News
- War against substances has failed say experts at RSPH and FPH The Daily Mail
- 'War on drugs has failed': public health bodies call for drug use to be decriminalised The Daily Telegraph
Don Berwick: I have growing confidence in NHS's ability to deliver change
Don Berwick: I have growing confidence in NHS's ability to deliver change American healthcare expert speaks highly of ‘vanguard sites’ – but says change could take some time.
As the financial crisis mounts and performance deteriorates, renowned American healthcare expert Don Berwick says he has a “high and growing” confidence in the ability of the NHS to find a way through, with staff determined to change the way they deliver care – but central interference could wreck ambitions.
Berwick built an international reputation as president and chief executive of the US-basedInstitute for Healthcare Improvement, bringing a scientific approach to the quality, safety and cost of healthcare systems. Continue reading... The Guardian
As the financial crisis mounts and performance deteriorates, renowned American healthcare expert Don Berwick says he has a “high and growing” confidence in the ability of the NHS to find a way through, with staff determined to change the way they deliver care – but central interference could wreck ambitions.
Berwick built an international reputation as president and chief executive of the US-basedInstitute for Healthcare Improvement, bringing a scientific approach to the quality, safety and cost of healthcare systems. Continue reading... The Guardian
Stephen Dorrell: We can't just keep bailing out A&E
Stephen Dorrell: We can't just keep bailing out A&E The NHS Confederation chair, and former health secretary, says funding urgent care cannot be at the expense of preventing illness. The NHS must start working with councils, public health and housing
As the NHS family gathers for its annual showpiece conference this week, anyone expecting that family’s new patriarch to speak in its narrow interest is in for a rude shock. For Stephen Dorrell, chair of the NHS Confederation, is going to tell the movers and shakers of the health service that neither they – nor the service – have any future unless they start to think and act very differently. And quickly.
If the NHS is not yet on its knees, it is surely sinking to them. Hospitals in England ended the 2015-16 financial year with unprecedented debts of almost £2.5bn; the plan to realise savings of £22bn by 2020 looks dead in the water; and of a rash of performance indicators out last week, all moving either in the wrong direction or alarmingly little in the right one for the time of year, the most concerning was a record number of patients stuck in hospital when ready for discharge.
Manchester city council’s chief executive, Sir Howard Bernstein, is one of the most influential people in healthcare
It would be without precedent for any advanced society not to devote some proceeds of economic growth to health and care Continue reading... The Guardian
As the NHS family gathers for its annual showpiece conference this week, anyone expecting that family’s new patriarch to speak in its narrow interest is in for a rude shock. For Stephen Dorrell, chair of the NHS Confederation, is going to tell the movers and shakers of the health service that neither they – nor the service – have any future unless they start to think and act very differently. And quickly.
If the NHS is not yet on its knees, it is surely sinking to them. Hospitals in England ended the 2015-16 financial year with unprecedented debts of almost £2.5bn; the plan to realise savings of £22bn by 2020 looks dead in the water; and of a rash of performance indicators out last week, all moving either in the wrong direction or alarmingly little in the right one for the time of year, the most concerning was a record number of patients stuck in hospital when ready for discharge.
Manchester city council’s chief executive, Sir Howard Bernstein, is one of the most influential people in healthcare
It would be without precedent for any advanced society not to devote some proceeds of economic growth to health and care Continue reading... The Guardian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)