Friday 10 June 2016

The King's Fund responds to latest A&E performance statistics

The King's Fund responds to latest A&E performance statistics Commenting on the new performance statistics published today by NHS England, John Appleby, Chief Economist at The King’s Fund, said:

'Today’s figures show the NHS struggling to meet many of its key performance targets in the face of rising demand and huge financial pressures. At a time of year when we should be seeing performance figures starting to fall back in line with targets, instead we see a worrying picture of the extreme pressure hospitals are under.  The King's Fund

Guidance: Outsourcing outpatient pharmacy services

Guidance: Outsourcing outpatient pharmacy services This guidance for NHS trusts, including chief pharmacists, informs all stakeholders involved in outsourcing of outpatient pharmacy services of their responsibilities during this process.

The document includes a template letter to help make sure a consistent message is sent to pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers about these arrangements. Contact pharmacyqueries@dh.gsi.gov.uk if you have any queries.  Department of Health

NHS staff crisis 'worse than cash woes'

NHS staff crisis 'worse than cash woes'  The growing crisis in workforce morale is a greater risk to the NHS than the financial problems it is grappling with, a leading health expert says.  BBC News

Physical activity advice in GP practices could save 1,000 lives a year

Physical activity advice in GP practices could save 1,000 lives a year  An intervention by GPs to promote physical activity in patients could save 1,000 lives a year and help the UK to meet international health targets, according to a coalition of leading health charities.  GP Online News

Exclusive: GPs could face bank fines after confusion over payments

Exclusive: GPs could face bank fines after confusion over payments GP practices in Oxfordshire were forced to delay regular payments and could face bank fines after confusion over the transfer of GMS contract funding to their accounts last month.  GP Online News

Air pollution emerges as a leading factor for stroke

Air pollution emerges as a leading factor for stroke  Air pollution – including environmental and household air pollution - has emerged as a leading risk factor for stroke worldwide.

A study,* published in The Lancet Neurology journal, associates air pollution with about a third of the global burden of stroke in 2013. OnMedica News

NHS missing targets in emergency and elective care

NHS missing targets in emergency and elective care  The NHS performance statistics published this week, reveal missed targets for both emergency and elective care.


The data, for April 2016, also shows a long-term trend of greater volumes of both urgent and emergency care. Emergency admissions are up by 3%, diagnostic tests by 6.4% and A&E attendance by 2.3%.

The statistics reveal that in the case of urgent and emergency care in April, the NHS constitution standards were not met for A&E waiting times or ambulance standards. OnMedica News

EU referendum: What effect would Brexit really have on the NHS?

EU referendum: What effect would Brexit really have on the NHS? As one of the most authoritative voices on the NHS, Dr Sarah Wollaston's defection from Leave to Remain side has put each side's claims about the health service back into the spotlight. The Independent

Investigations into baby deaths often inadequate, says study

Investigations into baby deaths often inadequate, says study Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says reviews into baby deaths often exclude parents and are of poor quality

Inadequate investigations are regularly being carried out into the circumstances surrounding the births of stillborn babies, children who die at less than a week old and those who suffer brain injuries during labour, according to government-funded research.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)found that reviews into such cases often excluded parents – in a quarter of cases they did not even know an investigation was taking place – and impartial experts.Continue reading...  The Guardian