People urged to stay away with Kettering General Hospital on ‘black alert’

People urged to stay away with Kettering General Hospital on ‘black alert’ People are being urged to avoid going to A&E and find alternative care as Kettering General Hospital struggles to find beds for its patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Changes in the behaviour and health of 40 to 60 year olds

Changes in the behaviour and health of 40 to 60 year olds These two reports present the results of analysis of health-related questions on obesity, smoking, drinking and general health conditions from the Health Survey for England. The reports show how the behaviour and health of people aged between 40 and 60 has changed over the last 20 years. Public Health England

NHS screening plan for type 2 diabetes 'inaccurate'

NHS screening plan for type 2 diabetes 'inaccurate' The NHS programme for screening those at high risk of type 2 diabetes is unlikely to have much impact, an Oxford University study in the BMJ suggests.

It concluded that inaccurate blood tests would give too many people an incorrect diagnosis, while lifestyle changes had a low success rate.

But the director of the NHS programme said its approach was based on "robust evidence". BBC News

See also:

• Efficacy and effectiveness of screen and treat policies in prevention of type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis of screening tests and interventions The BMJ
• Screen and intervene to prevent diabetes? (editorial) The BMJ

Dementia rates 'higher near busy roads'

Dementia rates 'higher near busy roads' People who live near major roads have higher rates of dementia, research published in the Lancet suggests.

As many as 11% of dementia cases in people living within 50m of a major road could be down to traffic, the study suggests.

The researchers, who followed nearly 2m people in Canada over 11 years, say air pollution or noisy traffic could be contributing to the brain's decline.

UK dementia experts said the findings needed probing but were "plausible". BBC News

New organ named in digestive system

New organ named in digestive system A part of the digestive system is reclassified as an organ, called the mesentery. BBC News

Exclusive: Loss of control and time dominate GP fears over working at scale

Exclusive: Loss of control and time dominate GP fears over working at scale Loss of independence, not having enough time to develop a network or federation and concerns over funding are the top three issues GPs say are putting them off working at scale, a poll reveals. GP Online

Second doctors’ union will participate in national contract negotiations

Second doctors’ union will participate in national contract negotiations Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association will join the BMA in future national contract negotiations. OnMedica

NHS groups 'paying millions to private firms that block GP referrals'

NHS groups 'paying millions to private firms that block GP referrals' Referral management centres being used by some NHS bodies to scrutinise patient referrals to hospitals, BMJ inquiry finds

NHS organisations are paying millions of pounds to private firms that stop patients being referred to hospital by their GPs, an investigation has found.

Controversial referral management centres are used by some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to scrutinise patient referrals to hospitals by family doctors. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Referral management schemes: good for whom? The BMJ
• It is vital CCGs spend their budgets to provide better support for local GPs, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• How hospital chiefs spend millions to STOP you being treated: Four in ten trusts are sifting through GPs letters and sending back any deemed unnecessary The Daily Mail 
• NHS spends millions on private companies that block GP referrals, investigation finds The Independent
• The BMJ reveals private firms run one-third of CCGs' schemes to screen GP referrals MedicalXpress

2016 was the worst year in NHS history – we must fight for its survival

2016 was the worst year in NHS history – we must fight for its survival The NHS is under unprecedented pressure after its annus horribilis. We must demand a rethink on its current trajectory before it’s too late

The last 12 months have been the worst in the history of the NHS. Our health system is under pressure like never before. The moment of crisis many warned of has arrived, and it is not clear that the NHS can be retrieved from this state of affairs.

We used to say that flailing A&Es represented an early warning sign that the health service was under pressure. And so that has proven to be. England’s major A&Es are under record strain with black alerts being regularly sounded, and in some instances wards turning patients away. Last year the A&E crisis spread to other sectors. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• What does 2017 hold for public services? The Guardian
• The social care crisis is pulling NHS trusts further underwater The Guardian

Scientists identify rogue proteins behind Alzheimer's disease

Scientists identify rogue proteins behind Alzheimer's disease The treatment of Alzheimer's Disease could be revolutionised after a breakthrough discovery by US scientists. The Daily Mail