Thursday 24 March 2016

Northamptonshire families speak of anguish after drastic disability benefit cuts

Northamptonshire families speak of anguish after drastic disability benefit cuts Families in the north of the county have spoken of their anguish after their disability benefits suffered drastic cutbacks following medical assessments. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Medics admit causing death of Northampton man after missing blocked artery

Medics admit causing death of Northampton man after missing blocked artery A Northampton woman whose partner died after medics at Kettering General Hospital failed to diagnose a blocked artery has been awarded a six-figure settlement. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton school failed to report signs of neglect in siblings, inquiry into death of baby boy finds

Northampton school failed to report signs of neglect in siblings, inquiry into death of baby boy finds A damning report into the death of a nine-week-old baby from co-sleeping with his Northampton mother has criticised professionals for not spotting signs of neglect in the family. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What has the impact been of recent caps on NHS agency staff spend?

What has the impact been of recent caps on NHS agency staff spend? Almost four months to the day since the first caps on agency spending were introduced by Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority – and with new framework agreements due to come into force next week – what do we know about the impact of these measures so far? The King's Fund

Junior doctors to stage A&E walkout

Junior doctors to stage A&E walkout Junior doctors in England are escalating strike action next month to include a walkout of emergency care.

It will be the first time doctors have refused to provide cover in areas such as A&E and intensive care - the strikes so far have hit routine care.

The British Medical Association said it had been left with "no choice" in its fight against the government's plan to impose a new contract.

The all-out stoppages will take place from 08:00 to 17:00 on 26 and 27 April. BBC News

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New figures released on hospital admissions for eating disorders

New figures released on hospital admissions for eating disorders  Latest analysis of hospital admissions for eating disorders is released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

Zika: World Health Organisation waiting for $4m from members to tackle virus

Zika: World Health Organisation waiting for $4m from members to tackle virus Zika has been linked to microcephaly, which can cause babys to be born with smaller than normal heads. The Independent

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The shocking 'postcode lottery' of cancer care: Patients in some areas up to 12% less likely to survive the disease

The shocking 'postcode lottery' of cancer care: Patients in some areas up to 12% less likely to survive the disease Survival rates for cancer have improved - 70 per cent of people now live for one year after being diagnosed. However, wide variations exist the country, Office for National Statistics figures show. The Daily Mail

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Investing in social care is essential to balance the NHS books

Investing in social care is essential to balance the NHS books Mental health and social care are the poor relations to the health service.

News that Simon Stevens originally asked the Treasury for £16bn goes some way to explaining why the NHS is under such strain. After the longest period of financial constraint in its history, with three quarters of NHS providers reporting deficits amounting to £2.3bn by the end of quarter three, balancing the books is looking tricky to say the least.

So the NHS is faced over the next 12 months with balancing the books while simultaneously transforming the way it does business. Yet, fundamental to that transformation are two things: mental health and social care.

It is easy to fall into the trap of seeing social care as just an adjunct to the NHS Continue reading... The Guardian

Sexual health and cancer support: libraries in Coventry "reach people that the NHS won't"

Sexual health and cancer support: libraries in Coventry "reach people that the NHS won't" Coventry’s Central Library runs health-related events and a mental health drop-in service, reaching people that the NHS can’t.

You expect to see books in a library. You might not expect free sperm keyrings – available in classic white or translucent with red sparkles – along with the offer of sexual health advice and 60-second HIV tests.

That is why staff from the Coventry and Warwickshire partnership NHS trust’s integrated sexual health service set up a stand in Coventry’s Central Library every Thursday. “Being here, we get to the people who can’t get to us,” says Steven Clay, a senior sexual health nurse.

Libraries are about the general health and wellbeing of the population Continue reading... The Guardian

GPs should prescribe a walk in a national park for obese patients, say ministers

GPs should prescribe a walk in a national park for obese patients, say ministersThe Government is backing a scheme being trialled in Dartmoor and Exmoor under which GPs are encouraged to hand out prescriptions for more exercise, rather than more drugs, to combat ailments. The Daily Telegraph