Wednesday, 16 November 2016
“Use A&E at KGH and NGH wisely”: health leaders’ warning as hospitals experience high demand
“Use A&E at KGH and NGH wisely”: health leaders’ warning as hospitals experience high demand Health leaders are urging people to use services wisely as KGH and NGH are experiencing extremely high numbers of A&E attendees. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
900 people have had a reduction in care fees after Northamptonshire woman’s court case
900 people have had a reduction in care fees after Northamptonshire woman’s court case A court victory by a Northamptonshire woman has so far seen 900 cared-for adults being given full or partial refunds of their County Council fees. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
NHS faces difficult winter as demand for care increases
NHS faces difficult winter as demand for care increases Big rises in demand for health care mean the NHS is heading into winter with its finances under pressure and performance against several key indicators at their worst level for more than a decade, according to the latest quarterly monitoring report (QMR)
The report, which covers the period July to September, shows that the NHS is now treating more patients than ever before. Increasing demand for services is reflected in the number of GP referrals, which increased by about 3 per cent over the past year, while emergency admissions via A&E are 4 per cent higher than in the same quarter last year. The King's Fund
The report, which covers the period July to September, shows that the NHS is now treating more patients than ever before. Increasing demand for services is reflected in the number of GP referrals, which increased by about 3 per cent over the past year, while emergency admissions via A&E are 4 per cent higher than in the same quarter last year. The King's Fund
Commensality – or bring back the lunch break
Commensality – or bring back the lunch break Mayo Clinic is widely acknowledged to be a high-performing academic medical centre delivering excellent care to patients. Established more than 150 years ago, it is a not-for-profit system led by doctors and based on multispecialty medical practice. At our annual conference, one of Mayo Clinic’s leaders, Steve Swensen, shared learning and found a receptive audience.
Steve explained that Mayo Clinic appeals to the intrinsic motivation of its 64,000 staff to provide the best possible care to patients. Decisions are made through consensus in a system he described as a democracy, not an autocracy. A key belief is that staff will perform to the best of their abilities if they are valued, supported and encouraged both to carry out their work and improve it. The King's Fund
Steve explained that Mayo Clinic appeals to the intrinsic motivation of its 64,000 staff to provide the best possible care to patients. Decisions are made through consensus in a system he described as a democracy, not an autocracy. A key belief is that staff will perform to the best of their abilities if they are valued, supported and encouraged both to carry out their work and improve it. The King's Fund
Community mental health survey 2016
Community mental health survey 2016 Around two thirds of respondents reported a positive experience of their overall care: when asked to evaluate their overall experience on a scale of 0 to 10, 65% rated this with a score of seven or above. The results for some questions asking about contact with staff were also positive.
However, substantial concerns remain about the quality of care some people using community mental health services receive. There has been no notable improvement in survey results in the last year.
The survey results suggest scope for further improvements in a number of areas including: involvement in care, crisis care, care planning and reviews. Care Quality Commission
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However, substantial concerns remain about the quality of care some people using community mental health services receive. There has been no notable improvement in survey results in the last year.
The survey results suggest scope for further improvements in a number of areas including: involvement in care, crisis care, care planning and reviews. Care Quality Commission
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NHS cuts: Why they terrify people in power
NHS cuts: Why they terrify people in power NHS England's handling of the hospital cuts programme seems a fairly ham-fisted way of going about a major review of local health services.
But there are understandable reasons why bosses fell into such a secretive and controlling approach. It is known as the Richard Taylor effect.
In the late 1990s, people in Kidderminster started rallying against plans to downgrade their local hospital. It prompted Richard Taylor, a retired local doctor, to put himself forward to become an MP.
He was successful, taking the Wyre Forest seat in the 2001 election from Labour, as an independent candidate promising to fight the cuts.
His majority was 18,000, in what was the shock result of a fairly routine second election win for Tony Blair.
Since then, those at the top of the NHS and politicians have tried to tread very carefully through the minefield of health service "reconfiguration" (as they like to call it in NHS circles). BBC News
But there are understandable reasons why bosses fell into such a secretive and controlling approach. It is known as the Richard Taylor effect.
In the late 1990s, people in Kidderminster started rallying against plans to downgrade their local hospital. It prompted Richard Taylor, a retired local doctor, to put himself forward to become an MP.
He was successful, taking the Wyre Forest seat in the 2001 election from Labour, as an independent candidate promising to fight the cuts.
His majority was 18,000, in what was the shock result of a fairly routine second election win for Tony Blair.
Since then, those at the top of the NHS and politicians have tried to tread very carefully through the minefield of health service "reconfiguration" (as they like to call it in NHS circles). BBC News
Call for assistant nurse role rethink
Call for assistant nurse role rethink The creation of new nursing assistant posts should be scrapped and money invested in "real nurses", experts say after research suggested the use of lower skilled posts was a risk.
Rollout of the new nursing associate roles starts in England in December.
Research in the BMJ Quality and Safety journal linked the use of junior care roles to higher death rates.
But ministers rejected the criticism, saying the new posts were on top of investment in fully qualified nurses. BBC News
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Rollout of the new nursing associate roles starts in England in December.
Research in the BMJ Quality and Safety journal linked the use of junior care roles to higher death rates.
But ministers rejected the criticism, saying the new posts were on top of investment in fully qualified nurses. BBC News
See also:
- Nursing skill mix in European hospitals: cross-sectional study of the association with mortality, patient ratings, and quality of care BMJ Quallity and Safety
- Patients one fifth more likely to die in hospitals with fewer qualified nurses The Daily Telegraph
- NHS nursing assistants could raise risk of death for patients, says study The Guardian
- Government accused of putting patients' lives at risk with one of lowest rates of qualified hospital nurses in Europe The Independent
- Diluting nursing skill mix linked to higher patient mortality risk, finds major study Nursing Times
Breast cancer 'more often advanced' in black women
Breast cancer 'more often advanced' in black women Black women in England are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancer than white women, figures show. BBC News
One in four women miss 'smear test'
One in four women miss 'smear test' At least one in every four women invited for cervical cancer screening in England last year failed to attend, latest figures show. BBC News
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NHS patients being put 'at risk' because of cybersecurity flaws
NHS patients being put 'at risk' because of cybersecurity flaws A Sky News investigation has discovered the NHS trusts putting patients at risk by not protecting their data online.
Seven NHS trusts, serving more than two million people, spent nothing on cybersecurity in 2015.
Sky News worked with security experts to find serious flaws in their cybersecurity, which could be easily exploited by relatively unskilled hackers.
Hacker House was able to find misconfigured email servers, outdated software and security certificates, along with NHS trusts' emails and passwords, through public searches.
Seven NHS trusts, serving more than two million people, spent nothing on cybersecurity in 2015.
Sky News worked with security experts to find serious flaws in their cybersecurity, which could be easily exploited by relatively unskilled hackers.
Hacker House was able to find misconfigured email servers, outdated software and security certificates, along with NHS trusts' emails and passwords, through public searches.
It’s time to pay attention to mental health IT
It’s time to pay attention to mental health IT Technology can play a significant role in mental health, but has been largely overlooked by both initiatives and funding. However, things are about to change. Computer Weekly
Testing sore throats at pharmacies won’t solve anything | Margaret McCartney
Testing sore throats at pharmacies won’t solve anything | Margaret McCartney Research has already shown this test does not help beyond normal care. The NHS must stop wasting money on inadequately tested but popular political policies
Are GPs to throw away the traditional box of wooden tongue depressors? People with sore throats are soon to be offered a new service – at the pharmacy. The NHS Innovation Accelerator, an organisation responsible for helping “with the adoption of promising new treatments and technologies”, has approved a new Sore Throat Test and Treat service that NHS England says is “evidence based and cost saving”.
My head is in my hands. This is neither evidence based nor shown to be cost effective, and may actually make pressure on the NHS worse.
Faced with a wait for to see a GP, it means effectively people will be able to access care faster if they pay for it Continue reading... The Guardian
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Are GPs to throw away the traditional box of wooden tongue depressors? People with sore throats are soon to be offered a new service – at the pharmacy. The NHS Innovation Accelerator, an organisation responsible for helping “with the adoption of promising new treatments and technologies”, has approved a new Sore Throat Test and Treat service that NHS England says is “evidence based and cost saving”.
My head is in my hands. This is neither evidence based nor shown to be cost effective, and may actually make pressure on the NHS worse.
Faced with a wait for to see a GP, it means effectively people will be able to access care faster if they pay for it Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Biggest problem with NHS is that everyone thinks it's free
Biggest problem with NHS is that everyone thinks it's free What I am about to say is tantamount to heresy in this country — particularly for a doctor. But I’m going to be honest with you: I don’t care about the NHS.
Not in the slavish, dogmatic way most people claim to care about the NHS, anyway.
Let me explain. Nothing matters to me more than that we have the most efficient, equitable healthcare system that delivers the best possible care for everyone — for the lowest amount of money. The Daily Mail
Not in the slavish, dogmatic way most people claim to care about the NHS, anyway.
Let me explain. Nothing matters to me more than that we have the most efficient, equitable healthcare system that delivers the best possible care for everyone — for the lowest amount of money. The Daily Mail
Street protests could halt hospital closures - NHS boss
Street protests could halt hospital closures - NHS boss Hospital closures planned to shore up NHS finances could be derailed if enough people take to the streets in protest, a health service chief has said.
Chris Hopson, leader of England’s hospitals sector, said public unrest and opposition by local MPs could scupper so-called Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), which are billed as crucial to the long-term viability of the health service.
On Monday the respected think tank The King’s Fund heavily criticised health bosses for trying to organise the sweeping closure of hospitals and NHS units in secret, moves which it said could put lives at risk. The Daily Telegraph
Chris Hopson, leader of England’s hospitals sector, said public unrest and opposition by local MPs could scupper so-called Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), which are billed as crucial to the long-term viability of the health service.
On Monday the respected think tank The King’s Fund heavily criticised health bosses for trying to organise the sweeping closure of hospitals and NHS units in secret, moves which it said could put lives at risk. The Daily Telegraph
12,000 strokes could be prevented if patients eligible for statins and other drugs were prescribed pills
12,000 strokes could be prevented if patients eligible for statins and other drugs were prescribed pills Half of people who are eligible for statins are not prescribed the drug in a ‘missed opportunity’ which is contributing to 12,000 needless strokes a year, a study has shown.
Around one third of strokes could be prevented in Britain annually if cholesterol busting pills, anti-clotting drugs and medication to lower blood pressure were prescribed as intended.
Current recommendations by the health watchdog Nice suggest that anyone with a 20 per cent risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years should take statins. But research by the University of Birmingham found that just 49 per cent of those eligible were prescribed the drugs. The Daily Telegraph
Around one third of strokes could be prevented in Britain annually if cholesterol busting pills, anti-clotting drugs and medication to lower blood pressure were prescribed as intended.
Current recommendations by the health watchdog Nice suggest that anyone with a 20 per cent risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years should take statins. But research by the University of Birmingham found that just 49 per cent of those eligible were prescribed the drugs. The Daily Telegraph
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