Tuesday 7 June 2016

Real time bus information now available at NGH

Real time bus information now available at NGH  Patients, visitors and staff at NGH can now get up-to-the minute information about local buses that serve the hospital.
Working in partnership with Northamptonshire Highways, NGH now provides real time information about bus services that operate near the hospital and surrounding area from screens installed at the hospital's two main entrances, Cliftonville and Billing Road.

Kettering General Hospital to increase disabled parking spaces after access concerns

Kettering General Hospital to increase disabled parking spaces after access concerns  Kettering General Hospital is to increase the number of disabled parking spaces it offers after a backlash from users over a ‘disgusting’ lack of bays.
Work is under way to move spaces from the access road in front of the Rockingham Wing to the hospital’s main reception area.



Ramadan 2016 begins

Ramadan 2016 begins  The holy month of Ramadan starts today. As supportive employers, NHS trusts should consider the needs of people fasting and accommodate them wherever possible. Accommodating religious belief and practices during Ramadan is about being responsive to employees’ needs. It does not necessarily mean extra time off, it is about offering flexibility around existing holiday entitlement, working patterns or break periods. As supportive employers, NHS trusts have recognised that it is good practice to accommodate staff requests wherever possible.  NHS Employers

The impact of taxation and signposting on diet: an online field study with breakfast cereals and soft drinks

The impact of taxation and signposting on diet: an online field study with breakfast cereals and soft drinks  This report presents the results of a large scale study where a nationally representative sample of 1,000 participants were asked to make real purchases within an online supermarket platform. The study captured the effect of price changes, and of the signposting of such changes, for breakfast cereals and soft drinks. It found that taxation was an effective means of altering food purchasing, with a 20 per cent rate being sufficient to make a significant impact.  Centre for Health Economics


Bed-blocking delays 'up to five years'

Bed-blocking delays 'up to five years' 
Delays in releasing elderly patients from hospital could continue for up to five years, NHS England boss Simon Stevens has warned. So-called bed-blocking is estimated to cost the service about £820m a year.
A recent report by the National Audit Office said delays in discharging patients from hospitals in England had risen by nearly a third over two years. BBC News

Plans to scrap nurse bursaries will lead to staff shortages

Plans to scrap nurse bursaries will lead to staff shortages  Government plans to scrap student nurse bursaries will lead to an even greater staff shortage in the NHS.

This is the warning from the Royal College of Nursing, which has released the results of a survey of over 17,000 nurses, two-thirds of whom say they would not have studied nursing if they’d had to take out a full student loan and pay fees.

The RCN says this suggests the government’s proposal will put off thousands of potential nurses.  ONMedica News

Children with mental health issues face 'decade of delay' before receiving support

Children with mental health issues face 'decade of delay' before receiving support - ITV News
Many children with mental health issues face a delay of as much as a decade between first displaying symptoms and actually getting help, leading to problems becoming "entrenched", a new report has revealed. According to the Centre for Mental Health report, while three quarters of parents of children with mental health problems seek help, only one quarter of children receive any support....
ITV News

Force food firms to reduce salt and sugar content, charities urge

Force food firms to reduce salt and sugar content, charities urge
Alliance of top health charities also calls for mandatory smaller portions and other action to reduce early deaths by 250,000

Ministers should force food firms to put less salt and sugar in their products, introduce smaller portions and limit their sponsorship of sports events, an alliance of leading health charities has urged.

The group also wants GPs to prescribe exercise for patients much more often, and the government to consider a blanket ban on alcohol advertising as part of a concerted drive to stop so many people dying early.  The Guardian  Continue reading...