Thursday 5 May 2016

Raunds woman wins two-year fight for best drugs after getting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood

Raunds woman wins two-year fight for best drugs after getting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood A woman has finally won her fight for the best possible treatment after contracting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood given to her by the NHS. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Causes of GP crisis revealed in new analysis

Causes of GP crisis revealed in new analysis New research exposes for the first time the extent of the crisis in general practice, finding that the overall number of consultations (face-to-face and telephone) has increased by 15 per cent over the past five years, three times the rate of increase in the number of GPs.

Understanding pressures in general practice is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the pressures facing the profession. The report analyses 30 million patient contacts from 177 practices and includes extensive research with GP practices and trainees.

As well as a growth in the number of consultations, it shows that general practice’s workload has become more complex and intense. The King's Fund

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NHS double standard for people with dementia in care homes

NHS double standard for people with dementia in care homes The NHS is providing a second-class service to many of the 280,000 people with dementia who live in care homes in England.

An Alzheimer’s Society investigation has uncovered that almost half of care home managers feel the NHS isn’t providing residents with dementia adequate and timely access to vital services like physiotherapy, continence and mental health services. This has led to instances where people have been left bed-bound, incontinent and sedated because the health service is too slow in responding to their needs.

It also revealed that one in five care homes surveyed are being wrongly charged by GP practices for services that should be free on the NHS – up to as much as £36,000 a year. The total cost of GP charges to care homes is estimated to exceed £26 million a year.

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The 3rd national emergency department survey of alcohol identification and intervention activity

The 3rd national emergency department survey of alcohol identification and intervention activity This research shows that emergency departments in England have increased the level of alcohol screening for adults - with the offer of specialist support for those attending with alcohol-related health problems and for those who frequently attend. However, it also shows that while most emergency departments attending to under-18s ask them about their drinking few do so routinely. It concludes that this needs to improve to ensure young people considered to be at risk of developing drink-related ill health receive the specialist support they need. Alcohol Research UK

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Clinical pharmacists could have a positive impact on patient care in A&E

Clinical pharmacists could have a positive impact on patient care in A&E Clinical pharmacy training should be considered as part of national advanced practice planning, says Health Education England in the wake of a report that considered the impact of pharmacists on A&E.

Junior doctors' dispute: Proposal aimed at breaking deadlock

Junior doctors' dispute: Proposal aimed at breaking deadlockA proposal aimed at breaking the deadlock in the junior doctors' dispute through fresh talks has been made by 22 medical colleges and faculties.

They want planning for the imposing of new junior doctors' contracts in England to be postponed for five days. In return, the British Medical Association is asked to suspend for five days any new threats of strikes.

The BMA said it was prepared to agree, but the government said it was too late to suspend bringing the contracts in.

However, the "door remains open" for talks, the Department of Health said. BBC News

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Quarter of UK care homes 'risk closure'

Quarter of UK care homes 'risk closure' More than a quarter of care homes in the UK are in danger of going out of business within three years, figures obtained by BBC Radio 4 suggest. BBC News

Google's DeepMind shouldn't suck up our NHS records in secret

Google's DeepMind shouldn't suck up our NHS records in secret The revelation that 1.6 million patients’ records are being used by the company’s artificial intelligence arm rings alarm bells

When it was revealed that Google’s London-based company DeepMind would be able to access the NHS records of 1.6 million patients who use three London hospitals run by the Royal Free NHS trust – Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free – it rang alarm bells.

Not just because the British fiercely guard their intimate medical histories. Not just because Google, a sprawling octopus of a company with tentacles in all our lives, wishes to “organise the world’s information”. Not just because patients are unlikely to have consented to Google having this information. Continue reading... The Guardian

Care on camera: what it's like to be a nurse in 2016 - in pictures

Care on camera: what it's like to be a nurse in 2016 - in pictures To mark the Royal College of Nursing’s centenary, the college is running a photography competition which received more than 800 entries. The shortlist of 50 has been announced and you can vote for your favourite here Continue reading... The Guardian

Judge overturns 'absurd' NHS decision not to treat narcoleptic 17-year-old

Judge overturns 'absurd' NHS decision not to treat narcoleptic 17-year-old NHS England has been ordered by the High Court to treat a teenager with a severe neurological condition

The judge in the case criticised the organisation for a "thoroughly bad decision" and "absurd" policy.

Mr Justice Collins said he would issue a mandatory order against NHS England after deciding it had acted unlawfully.

It is denying funding for the drug sodium oxybate to treat a 17-year-old's severe narcolepsy. The Daily Telegraph

More pensioners admitted to hospital with alcohol issues

More pensioners admitted to hospital with alcohol issues The number of pensioners being admitted to hospital because of alcohol is on the rise, new figures from Public Health England show. The Daily Mail