Emergency ambulances being rushed to ‘do not resuscitate’ patients in Northamptonshire

Emergency ambulances being rushed to ‘do not resuscitate’ patients in Northamptonshire Care homes in Northamptonshire are frequently requesting ambulances under blue lights for pensioners who do not want to be resuscitated. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

KGH opens new extension to A&E department

KGH opens new extension to A&E department Kettering General Hospital has opened the new extension to its A&E department to help improve care facilities for its sickest patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Revealed: Google AI has access to huge haul of NHS patient data

Revealed: Google AI has access to huge haul of NHS patient data A data-sharing agreement obtained by New Scientist shows that Google DeepMind's collaboration with the NHS goes far beyond what it has publicly announced

See also:

• Google given access to patient records BBC News
• Google given access to healthcare data of up to 1.6 million patients The Guardian
• NHS shares 1.6 million patients' medical records with Google as part of data-sharing agreement The Independent

Introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives a major success

Introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives a major success The introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives has been a major success, with the majority of those due to renew their registration revalidating successfully. Nursing and Midwifery Council

Is the NHS underdoctored, underfunded and overstretched?

Is the NHS underdoctored, underfunded and overstretched? The answer to that question is yes according to a some senior medical voices.

It was posed at a special conference on the state of the NHS in England convened by the British Medical Association. The meeting highlighted again the financial stresses and recruitment pressures currently gripping the health service and the widespread debate about how to face up to these challenges. BBC News

The third highest cause of death in the United States is mistakes by medical staff

The third highest cause of death in the United States is mistakes by medical staff Mistakes by medical staff have been ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States in a new study. The Independent

See also:

• Medical errors now the THIRD leading cause of death in the US, experts warn The Daily Mail

The Sunshine rule: a quick guide

The Sunshine rule: a quick guide Under government plans, clinical commissioning groups and hospital trusts will be required to keep a list of gifts and payments from pharmaceutical companies to NHS staff

The rule, or rather set of initiatives, will mean senior medical staff in England and Wales will have to declare gifts and hospitality received from pharmaceutical companies, or they could be dismissed and or prosecuted under the Bribery Act. If found guilty, they may face unlimited fines or imprisonment. NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and NHS hospital trusts will be responsible for maintaining registers that will document the pharma-related business interests of medics, rather like the UK parliament’s register of MPs’ financial interests. Continue reading... The Guardian

BMA chief urges juniors to 'take a step back' before indefinite strikes

BMA chief urges juniors to 'take a step back' before indefinite strikes Junior doctors need to "take a step back" before considering indefinite strikes the head of the British Medical Association has said, amid signs of divisions in the union.

Hospitals have been warned to prepare for a wave of strikes, after leaked emails showed the union’s junior doctors committee is considering escalating industrial action, in the wake of the first ever full walkout by medics in the history of the NHS.

But Dr Mark Porter, the head of the BMA, on Tuesday suggested that junior doctors should “take soundings” and think hard before going too far. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MP Lucy Allan says 'trainee doctors holding NHS ransom' BBC News
• Junior doctor strikes show 'profound failure' of government on NHS, says BMA chair GP Online

The men dying of embarrassment: Nearly HALF won't talk about a mole or lump because they 'don't want to make a fuss'

The men dying of embarrassment: Nearly HALF won't talk about a mole or lump because they 'don't want to make a fuss' Men are more likely to get cancer in general and those who work in 'masculine' industries - such as building and construction - are most at risk, the cancer charity Macmillan found. The Daily Mail