Almost 400 appointments cancelled at Northampton General Hospital on day of doctors’ strike

Almost 400 appointments cancelled at Northampton General Hospital on day of doctors’ strike Almost 400 appointments have been cancelled at Northampton General Hospital today as a result of the junior doctors’ strike. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Consultants cover striking doctors' jobs at Northampton General Hospital (Video) Northants Herald and Post
• Northampton General Hospital release statement as 400 appointments are cancelled due to strike Northants Herald and Post

PHE urges parents to vaccinate against measles, mumps and rubella

PHE urges parents to vaccinate against measles, mumps and rubella Experts are calling for all parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) when the vaccine is offered, or for them to take it up now if they didn’t have it at the scheduled time.

MMR vaccine is offered routinely to infants in England, as part of the NHS Childhood Immunisation Programme, from 12 months of age with a second dose offered at 3 years and 4 months of age. Those who missed out will remain susceptible to the diseases, but are still recommended to get the vaccine. Public Health England

The commissioning of specialised services in the NHS

The commissioning of specialised services in the NHS NHS England’s spending on specialised services has increased at a much greater rate than other parts of the NHS, according to today’s report from the National Audit Office. Although NHS England took responsibility for commissioning these services three years ago, it still does not have an agreed overarching service strategy, consistent information from all providers on costs, access to services and outcomes or how efficiently services are being delivered.

Specialised services are provided to patients who have rare conditions or who need a specialised team working together at a centre. There are currently 146 specialised services covering a diverse range of conditions including renal (kidney), specific mental health problems and rare cancers. National Audit Office

See also:

• NHS spending on specialist services for rare diseases threatening everyday care budget, watchdog warns The Independent

Pushing the call button on unsafe staffing: who will come to our aid?

Pushing the call button on unsafe staffing: who will come to our aid? This report presents the results of a UK-wide annual survey of nursing professionals and it finds that almost 63 per cent of respondents said that they felt there were inadequate numbers of staff on the wards to ensure safe, dignified and compassionate care. 67 per cent of those surveyed believed that staffing levels had deteriorated since last year's survey and 68 per cent had considered leaving their role in the previous year. Unison

Shaping the future of medical revalidation: interim report

Shaping the future of medical revalidation: interim report This report presents emerging findings from a study into the regulatory impacts of revalidation. It finds that the majority of GMC licensed doctors are engaged in an annual appraisal process but scepticism was expressed about whether revalidation has led to improved patient safety. The majority of responsible officers surveyed felt that the numbers of concerns about doctors had not increased since the introduction of revalidation. The report also highlights the lack of awareness on the part of patients and the public on revalidation and the purposes of the process. General Medical Council

A paperless NHS: electronic health records

A paperless NHS: electronic health records This briefing outlines the current use of electronic health records in the NHS in England in relation to the pledge that the NHS will be paper-free by 2020. House of Commons Library

New report sheds light on GP practice workforce

New report sheds light on GP practice workforce  New official figures published today detail all staff who provide health and care services within the GP practice workforce. Health and Social Care Information Centre

Junior doctors' strike: Second all-out stoppage begins

Junior doctors' strike: Second all-out stoppage begins Junior doctors have started their second all-out strike in England, walking out of both routine and emergency care in protest at the imposition of a new contract.

The stoppage lasts from 08:00 BST until 17:00 BST with consultants and nurses staffing A&E and intensive care. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Employers responds to junior doctors full walk out NHS Employers
• NHS England update on industrial action by junior doctors NHS England
• Hospitals 'coping with all-out strike'  BBC News 
• VIDEO: Doctors' strike 'disproportionate' BBC News
• NHS 'hopes patients stay away' BBC News
• Devastated, disappointed and in pain - would you support the strike? BBC News
• Former BMA chief explains why his fellow NHS doctors make him despair The Daily Mail
• Jeremy Hunt admits junior doctors strike has killed his career The Daily Mail 
• Comment: Junior doctors beware: this reckless strike could be your last The Daily Telegraph
• Who is to blame for the junior doctors' strike – Jeremy Hunt, or the BMA? What readers said The Daily Telegraph 
• Junior doctors across England strike for second day The Guardian
• Almost 80% of junior doctors took part in all-out strike, NHS says The Guardian
• A&Es across England quiet as striking junior doctors picket hospitals The Guardian
• Seven-day deceptions at the heart of the junior doctors’ strike The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt doesn’t understand junior doctors. He co-wrote a book on how to dismantle the NHS The Guardian
• Hunt asks GPs to work harder during juniors’ strike OnMedica

Urgent action needed to improve air quality following diesel emissions scandal, MPs say

Urgent action needed to improve air quality following diesel emissions scandal, MPs say 'The Government must act now to tackle this public health emergency,' Commons' environment committee says. The Independent

See also:

• Clean Air Zones urged for pollution hotspots, says Committee report House of Commons Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee
• More clean air zones needed, say MPs BBC News

Should yoga be part of NHS care?

Should yoga be part of NHS care? A Manchester GP practice is prescribing yoga for patients – and even plans to create its own on-site studio to host classes

Some patients at The Docs city-centre surgery in Manchester emerge from the consulting room, minus a prescription, but clutching a voucher for a free yoga class courtesy of staff at the practice who are convinced that yoga deserves a more prominent part in NHS care.

The tickets entitling the bearers to a 45-minute class at the nearby Studio 25 were initiated by one of the partners, Dr Matthew Joslin. He developed them following powerful Facebook support for an open letter he wrote to the NHS in January appealing for greater incorporation of the Indian exercise and mindfulness techniques into day-to-day healthcare. The letter received 17,000 Facebook shares. Continue reading... The Guardian

Mental health laws would diminish stigma and improve the lives of millions

Mental health laws would diminish stigma and improve the lives of millions We have a chance to help those with mental illness, but need legislation to frame policy, professionalise treatment and fight prejudice


I have seen the negative impact of the UN’s failure to incorporate mental health within the millennium development goals (MDGs). Working on various mental health projects in several African countries, I saw how the health budgets of resource-strapped countries were diverted towards MDG projects. Many NGOs providing essential community psychiatric support were near collapse, or forced to alter their objectives to secure sufficient funds.

For mental health legislation to have any real effect, there must be the political will to support it. Continue reading... The Guardian

Delays in MMR immunisation raise the risk of a measles outbreak

Delays in MMR immunisation raise the risk of a measles outbreak In March, doctors expressed concern they were seeing the start of a measles outbreak in London and the South East. The Daily Mail