Thursday 7 April 2016

Midlands ambulance services 'in merger talks'

Midlands ambulance services 'in merger talks' Troubled East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) is struggling financially and has some of the worst response times in England.

It is thought the trust's non-executive directors want to merge with West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Both trusts said discussions on a "range of options" had taken place but talks were at an early stage. BBC News

Invisible and In Distress: Prioritising the Mental Health of England’s Young Carers

Invisible and In Distress: Prioritising the Mental Health of England’s Young Carers Caring roles taken on by children and young people can be a risk factor for their mental health. We know from the 2011 Census that for young carers doing more than 50 hours of care a week they are five times more likely to report that their health is ‘not good’ and there is evidence that they have significant levels of mental health need that are not being addressed.

This report sets out recommendations based on discussions with young carers, sector leaders and young carers services in the Carers Trust network.

See also:

National congenital heart disease audit

National congenital heart disease audit The NHS is achieving very good outcomes for congenital heart surgical operations as well as improvements in antenatal detection of infant heart problems, according to the national congenital heart disease audit. NHS England

Mental Health: times they are a changing – Professor Tim Kendall

Mental Health: times they are a changing – Professor Tim Kendall In the latest of a series of blogs introducing a number of senior appointments within NHS England, the newly appointed National Clinical Director for Mental Health looks at what he sees as his main challenges. NHS England

CQC tells Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to take urgent action to improve governance arrangements to ensure patient safety

CQC tells Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to take urgent action to improve governance arrangements to ensure patient safety Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has been told that it must make significant improvements to protect patients who are at risk of harm while in the care of its mental health and learning disability services. Care Quality Commission

See also:

NHS eating disorder care waits revealed

NHS eating disorder care waits revealed Wide discrepancies exist in waiting times for mental health treatment for eating disorders in England, a BBC investigation finds. BBC News

Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march'

Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march' The world is facing an "unrelenting march" of diabetes which now affects one-in-11 people, the World Health Organization has warned. BBC News

See also:

Warning over DIY teeth whitening kits

Warning over DIY teeth whitening kits Councils in England and Wales are calling for tougher penalties for "rogue" beauticians who offer teeth whitening using dangerous kits. BBC News

UK toddlers’ diet cause for concern’

UK toddlers’ diet cause for concern’ Young kids getting too much energy, protein and salt, but not enough iron or vitamin D. OnMedica

NHS expects 'difficult' second day of doctors' strike

NHS expects 'difficult' second day of doctors' strike Hospitals are readying themselves for challenges as the walkout over seven-day working continues.

NHS officials are bracing themselves for a “difficult” second day of strike action by junior doctors.

Junior doctors are on strike in a bitter dispute with the government over a new contract. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

Birth defect and paralysis may just be tip of the Zika iceberg

Birth defect and paralysis may just be tip of the Zika iceberg Top global Zika experts have now linked the mosquito-borne virus to encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis, as well - serious infections that can cause paralysis and permanent disability. The Daily Mail

NHS spends £15m a year on TAXIS to ferry patients to and from hospital appointments

NHS spends £15m a year on TAXIS to ferry patients to and from hospital appointments Some trusts are spending more than £700,000 annually - £2,000 a day - figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show. The Daily Mail