Update on rising scarlet fever across England

Update on rising scarlet fever across England Public Health England has reported a continued increase in cases of scarlet fever across England with 1319 new cases between 21 to 27 March, the highest weekly total recorded in recent decades (data available from 1982 onwards).

A total of 10,570 cases of scarlet fever have now been reported since the season began in September 2015.

Scarlet fever is a seasonal illness which should be treated with antibiotics and cases of the illness usually peak at this time of year.

Make time to talk performance

Make time to talk performance This toolkit for NHS managers provides practical support to help you deal confidently with performance management challenges such as managing under-performing staff, reviewing performance and giving constructive feedback. NHS Employers

Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation

Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation The first report of the Commission on children and young people’s mental health. This  new research has revealed the problems young people face when trying to access mental health care which include:

• Services turn away, on average, nearly a quarter (23%) of children and teenagers referred to them by their GPs, teachers or others.
• Once a referral is accepted, young people often have to wait many months for treatment. There was also significant variation in waiting times between providers. 
• Big differences in the amount spent on children’s mental health in different areas and regions. 

Finally the report also looks at government policy on children’s mental health, such as the publication of Future in Mind – a transformation plan published in March 2015 along with a pledge of £1.25bn of funding over the next five years. CentreForum

See also:

• Concerns over reporting of deaths of youngsters in mental health units The Daily Mail
• Mental health services turn away 23% of under-18s referred to them The Guardian
• Mental Health Specialist Support Denied To Almost A Quarter Of Young People And Children Huffington Post UK

Mental health deaths 'under-reported'

Mental health deaths 'under-reported' A charity for bereaved families is demanding the government investigates the way deaths of young people in mental health units are recorded.

Research by Inquest suggests at least nine young people have died in England as in-patients since 2010.

Health Minister Alistair Burt told BBC Panorama he didn't know the figure and is calling for further research.

The Department of Health has now accepted there have been at least four deaths. BBC News

See also:

• Sara's Story: The diary of a teenager who died in the mental health system BBC News
• Tragedy as nine young people died while patients in mental health units The Mirror

Next doctors' strike 'will damage trust'

Next doctors' strike 'will damage trust' An all-out strike by junior doctors will "irreparably damage" trust and the reputation of the profession, NHS England's medical director says. BBC News

See also:

• NHS chief Bruce Keogh warns junior doctors not to go ahead with their planned all-out strike The Daily Mail
• Huge NHS walk-out now inevitable after Government refuses to re-open talks with junior doctors over pay and conditions The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors' strikes increasingly hard to justify, says regulator The Guardian
• All-out junior doctors’ strike unethical and reckless, says NHS chief The Guardian
• Withdrawing emergency cover crosses a line – it will damage trust in doctors (Bruce Keogh) The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt should not impose junior doctors' contract, say senior NHS officials The Independent

Huge leap to mass produced platelets

Huge leap to mass produced platelets Scientists have made a significant leap towards mass producing platelets - the part of the blood that forms clots. BBC News

English language requirements for foreign doctors are not fit for purpose

English language requirements for foreign doctors are not fit for purpose The International English Language Testing System does not prepare overseas doctors for different dialects and colloquialisms, or a busy A&E

I had been teaching English to medical professionals for over a decade before Dr Ubani – theGerman-trained doctor whose patient died during his first shift in the UK – hit the headlines. The GMC doubted not only Ubani’s clinical competency, but also his English language skills, and he was struck off.

Until June 2014, when the GMC revised its criteria, those certified in the EU had been virtually exempt from control either clinically or linguistically. Today, the International English Language Testing System (Ielts) is used as a means of ensuring fitness to practice for all overseas doctors. Much has changed since 2008 when Ubani was practising, but as I help prepare a group of overseas recruits as part of an NHS induction programme, I can’t help wondering to what extent the Ielts is actually fit for purpose. Continue reading... The Guardian

Millions being spent each year on prescriptions for widely available items

Millions being spent each year on prescriptions for widely available items More than 1.1million prescriptions were written for toothpaste. There were another 4.7million prescriptions for Rennie, Gaviscon and similar indigestion remedies, costing £26.4million. The Daily Mail

Zika Virus can now be transmitted sexually and vaccine development continues

Zika Virus can now be transmitted sexually and vaccine development continues Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis experts developed Zika mice models and found the male sexual organs had higher levels of the virus than the brain or spinal cord. The Daily Mail