A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care

A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care People from certain groups in society sometimes experience poorer quality care at the end of their lives because providers do not always understand or fully consider their needs, according to A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care”, a new review published by the Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Dying elderly forced into to hospital against their will, report into end of life care finds  The Daily Telegraph
• End-of-life care report show minority groups face 'poor-quality' service The Independent

Funding mental health at local level: unpicking the variation

Funding mental health at local level: unpicking the variation A new survey has found that the government’s commitment to parity of esteem between mental and physical health services is being undermined by a failure to ensure funding increases reach the frontline.

The report surveyed finance directors in mental health trusts and chief finance officers in clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to understand how the parity of esteem commitment is being implemented locally. More than half (55%) of England’s mental health trusts responded, along with 10% of CCGs. The report, Funding mental health at local level: unpicking the variation reveals that:

• Only half (52%) of providers reported that they had received a real terms increase in funding of their services in 2015/16.
• There is limited confidence that funding increases will be delivered this year, with only a quarter (25%) of providers saying they were confident that their commissioners were going to increase the value of their contracts for 2016/17.
• There is a lack of alignment between commissioners and providers over what it means to implement parity of esteem – there is confusion over what services should be covered, and how much investment should be made.

The report calls for greater clarity and transparency from the government and leaders of the arms-length bodies. NHS Providers and the Healthcare Financial Management Association

See also

• Funding parity of esteem: mind the gap NHS Providers
• Mental health services must get the funding they need The Guardian
• NHS mental health funding is still lagging behind, says report The Guardian

Guidance: Mental health crisis care: health based places of safety funding

Guidance: Mental health crisis care: health based places of safety funding This guidance document sets out how local crisis care concordat groups can apply for funding to increase the capacity and number of health based places of safety.

If someone is having a mental health crisis and they come to the attention of the police, they may need to be taken to a place of safety – somewhere that is designated as safe under the Mental Health Act.

The best place of safety is in a health setting, so that people, including children and young people, get the care they need for their mental health.

This funding programme aims to increase and improve health based places of safety and continue to reduce police cells being used as an alternative. Bids for a share of the £15 million fund will be managed by the Department of Health.

This is part of the mental health crisis care agreement (Crisis Care Concordat) to support people in a mental health crisis. More information about the mental health Crisis Care Concordat is available. Department of Health

See also:

• News story: New funding for safe places for people in mental health crisis Department of Health

The apprenticeships levy - what you need to know

The apprenticeships levy - what you need to know Ahead of key changes to apprenticeships policy, NHS Employers have published a fact sheet which provides information on the apprenticeships levy, how much employers will have to pay, and how they can access funds to pay for apprenticeship training and assessments.

Junior doctors talks to begin later

Junior doctors talks to begin later Fresh talks aimed at ending the dispute over a new contract for junior doctors in England will get under way later. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors deserve credit for rejoining talks says Government The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors prepare for fresh talks over contracts The Guardian
• Junior doctors: Jeremy Hunt's claim patients more likely to die at weekends undermined by study The Independent
• Study Casts Doubt On Hunt's Doctor Contracts Sky News

Unpaid carers in England 'struggling'

Unpaid carers in England 'struggling' Unpaid carers in England are struggling to get the support they need despite new laws introduced to help them, a report by Carers UK says. BBC News

See also:

• State of Caring 2016 Carers UK

Mother of nine-year-old boy with autism and depression describes struggle for treatment in 'broken system'

Mother of nine-year-old boy with autism and depression describes struggle for treatment in 'broken system' “When I wake up there’s this horrible feeling down inside me... I could just kill myself and I wouldn't have to face today.”

Those are the words of nine-year-old Paul, who has been “failed” by local NHS provision for children’s mental health in Norfolk. The Independent

DeepMind has best privacy infrastructure for handling NHS data, says co-founder

DeepMind has best privacy infrastructure for handling NHS data, says co-founder Google’s artificial intelligence company hits back in row over data-sharing agreement for medical records

Google’s DeepMind has hit back at criticism of its partnership with London’s Royal Free hospital to develop an app that helps doctors and nurses rapidly identify and treat acute kidney injuries.

DeepMind’s co-founder, Mustafa Suleyman, said the company was better placed than any other to handle sensitive medical data, given its long history of securing highly personal information from other fields. He said: “As Googlers, we have the very best privacy and secure infrastructure for managing the most sensitive data in the world. That’s something we’re able to draw upon as we’re such a core part of Google.” Continue reading... The Guardian

Crackdown on free access to NHS services for migrants

Crackdown on free access to NHS services for migrants Non-EU migrants entering the UK are to be charged for using the National Health Service, under plans to be set out in the Queen’s Speech.

The bill, which will be published on May 18, will seek to make new arrivals pay for diagnostic tests and scans, prescriptions, ambulance trips, NHS dental services, eye care and even emergency medical care, in a move the government hopes will save up to £500 million per year. The Daily Telegraph