Friday, 3 March 2017
Revealing Northamptonshire's staffing predicitions would impact on employees' 'mental health' claim bosses
Revealing Northamptonshire's staffing predicitions would impact on employees' 'mental health' claim bosses Despite the county’s five-year NHS savings plans costing £720,000 to produce, health bosses have refused the Chron’s attempts to see predicted staff numbers because it would “impact on the mental health” of employees. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Northampton nurse struck off for trying to use morphine-like drug for period pain
Northampton nurse struck off for trying to use morphine-like drug for period pain A nurse who worked at Northampton General hospital has been struck off after trying to dispense drugs for her own use.
Northampton mental health hospital speaks out after Channel Four documentary
Northampton mental health hospital speaks out after Channel Four documentary Bosses at a Northampton mental health hospital have hit back at a Channel Four documentary in which a former minister said he believed a patient had been treated like a “prisoner”.
The episode of Dispatches last night saw producers interview two ex-patients at St Andrew’s Hospital, following its “requires improvement” Care Quality Commission rating of September 2016. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
See also:
The episode of Dispatches last night saw producers interview two ex-patients at St Andrew’s Hospital, following its “requires improvement” Care Quality Commission rating of September 2016. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
See also:
- Dispatches - Under lock and key (available until 31/3/17) Channel 4
- Northampton MP and mental health charity call for review of St Andrew's following Channel Four documentary Northampton Chronicle and Echo
- Dispatches Investigation Finds Shocking Treatment Of Child Mental Health Patients Huffington Post UK
Sicker patients the main reason for A&E winter pressures
Sicker patients the main reason for A&E winter pressures Sicker patients with more complex conditions are the main reason for worsening performance in A&E departments, according to The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report.
Eighty per cent of NHS finance directors who responded to our latest survey identified higher numbers of patients with severe illnesses and complex health needs as a key reason for the pressures on A&E units, while 70 per cent cited delays in discharging patients from hospital. This contrasts with 27 per cent who pointed to poor access to GPs and 20 per cent who identified shortages of clinical staff as key factors.
The survey also highlights the huge effort made by the NHS to prepare for increased pressure on services during the winter. More than 70 per cent of the trusts surveyed increased their staff, while 80 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) paid for extra resources in primary care. Other common measures included postponing planned treatment, paying private companies to take on NHS work, and paying higher rates to recruit more agency staff. The King's Fund
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Eighty per cent of NHS finance directors who responded to our latest survey identified higher numbers of patients with severe illnesses and complex health needs as a key reason for the pressures on A&E units, while 70 per cent cited delays in discharging patients from hospital. This contrasts with 27 per cent who pointed to poor access to GPs and 20 per cent who identified shortages of clinical staff as key factors.
The survey also highlights the huge effort made by the NHS to prepare for increased pressure on services during the winter. More than 70 per cent of the trusts surveyed increased their staff, while 80 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) paid for extra resources in primary care. Other common measures included postponing planned treatment, paying private companies to take on NHS work, and paying higher rates to recruit more agency staff. The King's Fund
See also:
- Elective treatment on the back-burner? The King's Fund
The state of care in NHS acute hospitals
The state of care in NHS acute hospitals The state of care in NHS acute hospitals 2014 to 2016 presents findings from our programme of NHS acute comprehensive inspections.
The report captures what we have learned from three years’ worth of inspections. It gives a baseline on quality that is unique in the world – and also shows that it is possible, even in challenging times, to deliver the transformational change that is needed if the NHS is to continue delivering high-quality care into the future.
Most hospitals are delivering good quality care and looking after patients well. Our reports highlighted many examples of how hospitals are improving and continuing to improve the quality of care they offer, even though there are constraints. We encourage trusts to follow this good practice to improve their own services.
But we also found that some trusts have blind spots about the quality of care they are delivering in a particular core service, even in some trusts rated good overall.
All hospitals told us that patient safety was their top priority, but too often they did not have an effective safety culture or reliable systems to ensure this. Many of the inefficiencies we saw can be avoided, such as hospital acquired infections, or are caused by poorly coordinated care. Care Quality Commission
The report captures what we have learned from three years’ worth of inspections. It gives a baseline on quality that is unique in the world – and also shows that it is possible, even in challenging times, to deliver the transformational change that is needed if the NHS is to continue delivering high-quality care into the future.
Most hospitals are delivering good quality care and looking after patients well. Our reports highlighted many examples of how hospitals are improving and continuing to improve the quality of care they offer, even though there are constraints. We encourage trusts to follow this good practice to improve their own services.
But we also found that some trusts have blind spots about the quality of care they are delivering in a particular core service, even in some trusts rated good overall.
All hospitals told us that patient safety was their top priority, but too often they did not have an effective safety culture or reliable systems to ensure this. Many of the inefficiencies we saw can be avoided, such as hospital acquired infections, or are caused by poorly coordinated care. Care Quality Commission
See also:
- Four in five hospitals 'not safe enough' in England BBC News
- 80 per cent of hospitals failing patients The Daily Mail
- NHS stands on a burning platform, top CQC inspector warns The Daily Telegraph
- NHS 'standing on burning platform' of outdated acute care model The Guardian
Research and analysis: Universal health visiting service: mandation review
Research and analysis: Universal health visiting service: mandation review The Department of Health commissioned this review following the transfer of commissioning of public health services for children aged 0 to 5 years to local authorities in October 2015.
The review considered the:
The review found widespread support for the regulation of these services to continue and for future arrangements to be considered alongside other regulated public health services. Public Health England
The review considered the:
- impact of this transfer
- support for existing and continued regulation
- evidence of service transformation
- risks to sustainability from a range of perspectives using data from different sources
The review found widespread support for the regulation of these services to continue and for future arrangements to be considered alongside other regulated public health services. Public Health England
Five year forward view for mental health: one year on
Five year forward view for mental health: one year on This report marks the anniversary of the publication of the Five year forward view for mental health. It highlights the progress made in the first year of the programme, and takes a look at the achievements that need to be built upon to deliver next year and beyond. NHS England
Local support for people with a learning disability
Local support for people with a learning disability Good progress has been made by the Department of Health and NHS England in setting up a programme to close hospital beds for people with a learning disability, but the programme is not yet on track to achieve value for money, the National Audit Office has found.
Delivering an outcomes-based NHS: creating the right conditions
Delivering an outcomes-based NHS: creating the right conditions This briefing summarises a seminar given by Dr Nicholas Hicks, the co-founder and chief executive of Capitated Outcomes-Based Incentivised Care (COBIC). The briefing describes COBIC's outcomes-centred approach that has been adopted by NHS services across England and how it brings together commissioners, providers, other professions, patients and carers. It discusses a case study where COBIC worked with Bedfordshire CCG to improve musculoskeletal care and outcomes, and to decrease costs. Office of Health Economics
NHS 'overcharged' by drug makers' non-compete deal, says CMA
NHS 'overcharged' by drug makers' non-compete deal, says CMA Two pharmaceutical firms have been accused of pushing up the price of a "lifesaving" NHS drug by striking a deal not to compete with each other.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in provisional findings that Actavis and Concordia fixed the market for hydrocortisone tablets.
Hydrocortisone treats life-threatening conditions such as Addison's disease.
A pack of the tablets almost doubled in price for the NHS to £88 while the deal was in place, the CMA said. BBC News
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in provisional findings that Actavis and Concordia fixed the market for hydrocortisone tablets.
Hydrocortisone treats life-threatening conditions such as Addison's disease.
A pack of the tablets almost doubled in price for the NHS to £88 while the deal was in place, the CMA said. BBC News
Health watchdog warns over online pharmacy services
Health watchdog warns over online pharmacy services People should be wary of buying medications on the internet after an investigation found "widespread failings" at some online providers, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.
The watchdog inspected 11 internet prescription services in England, finding some "potentially presenting a significant risk to patients".
The regulator said while some providers were well-run, others "cut corners".
The CQC says it will visit providers and close any putting patients at risk. BBC News
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The watchdog inspected 11 internet prescription services in England, finding some "potentially presenting a significant risk to patients".
The regulator said while some providers were well-run, others "cut corners".
The CQC says it will visit providers and close any putting patients at risk. BBC News
See also:
- Online healthcare services Care Quality Commission
Exclusive: NHS England report reveals hundreds of GP practices facing five-figure funding cuts
Exclusive: NHS England report reveals hundreds of GP practices facing five-figure funding cuts Nearly 800 GP practices faced average losses worth more than £50,000 per year under the national PMS contract review, with around 200 at risk of being unable to manage losses safely for patients, an NHS England assessment obtained by GPonline reveals.
Physical restraint in mental health units is traumatising women all over again
Physical restraint in mental health units is traumatising women all over again When a woman or girl is admitted to a mental health unit, her expectation should be of a caring, supportive environment where she can get the treatment she needs to get better. Unfortunately, we now know from Agenda’s latest research on restraint that many are instead in an environment where physical force has become shockingly routine.
Agenda is an alliance of more than 70 organisations campaigning on behalf of women and girls at risk. We decided to ask for data about the use of restraint because previous research we carried out on mental health trusts’ strategies and policies – as part of our Women in Mind campaign – showed that most were failing to take into account women’s specific needs. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Agenda is an alliance of more than 70 organisations campaigning on behalf of women and girls at risk. We decided to ask for data about the use of restraint because previous research we carried out on mental health trusts’ strategies and policies – as part of our Women in Mind campaign – showed that most were failing to take into account women’s specific needs. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS's biggest challenge is convincing the public it has a plan
The NHS's biggest challenge is convincing the public it has a plan People blame immigration and cuts for the NHS crisis. The health service needs to communicate what is really going on
The British public has begun to talk of an NHS in crisis. This is a perception based on headlines decrying the state of the service; reports from healthcare staff (the NHS is the UK’s biggest employer; most people have at least one person in their social circle who works in it); and occasionally participants’ own bad experiences (although most still receive a great service – a tension that can give rise to “I was lucky” syndrome). Meanwhile, according to Ipsos Mori’s January issues index, 49% of respondents said that the NHS is one of the biggest issues (pdf) facing Britain today, a nine-point jump since December 2016 and its highest level since April 2003.
Public opinion abhors a vacuum. In the absence of a clear, concerted and disciplined message, people fill the gaps with their own assumptions, experiences and prejudices. Months of dire headlines have told them the NHS is in trouble, but the public are seeing and hearing little to tell them why, how, or what can be done about it. So they draw their own conclusions. Continue reading... The Guardian
The British public has begun to talk of an NHS in crisis. This is a perception based on headlines decrying the state of the service; reports from healthcare staff (the NHS is the UK’s biggest employer; most people have at least one person in their social circle who works in it); and occasionally participants’ own bad experiences (although most still receive a great service – a tension that can give rise to “I was lucky” syndrome). Meanwhile, according to Ipsos Mori’s January issues index, 49% of respondents said that the NHS is one of the biggest issues (pdf) facing Britain today, a nine-point jump since December 2016 and its highest level since April 2003.
Public opinion abhors a vacuum. In the absence of a clear, concerted and disciplined message, people fill the gaps with their own assumptions, experiences and prejudices. Months of dire headlines have told them the NHS is in trouble, but the public are seeing and hearing little to tell them why, how, or what can be done about it. So they draw their own conclusions. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS England chief brings in new rules on ward bed closures
NHS England chief brings in new rules on ward bed closures Hospitals to prove quality of patient care in community before losing beds, under criteria to be introduced by Simon Stevens
Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, has acted to make it much more difficult for hospitals to slash their supply of beds, after the dramatic loss of the facilities in recent years was widely blamed for exacerbating the winter crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, has acted to make it much more difficult for hospitals to slash their supply of beds, after the dramatic loss of the facilities in recent years was widely blamed for exacerbating the winter crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Justify every single bed you ditch, hospitals are told The Daily Mail
- Thousands of hospital beds 'must not be slashed' orders head of NHS The Daily Telegraph
Drugs firm lower the costs of 14 key cancer drugs
Drugs firm lower the costs of 14 key cancer drugs Drugs giants including Bayer, Novartis and Pfizer have lowered the costs of 14 key cancer medicines after the NHS threatened to stop paying for them following a review of costs. The Daily Mail
NHS should 'do God' new guidance suggests, with doctors urged to ask the dying about their religious views
NHS should 'do God' new guidance suggests, with doctors urged to ask the dying about their religious views Doctors must not be afraid to do God, new NHS advice suggests, as medics are urged to ask the dying about their spiritual and religious preferences.
The guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says hospital staff need to do more to ensure that the individual preferences of patients are addressed, as well as their medical needs.
Doctors and nurses will be encouraged to ask patients about their “spiritual, cultural, religious and social preferences,” opening up conversations on matters such as life after death. The Daily Telegraph
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The guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says hospital staff need to do more to ensure that the individual preferences of patients are addressed, as well as their medical needs.
Doctors and nurses will be encouraged to ask patients about their “spiritual, cultural, religious and social preferences,” opening up conversations on matters such as life after death. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- People who are dying should be asked about their spiritual beliefs, says NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Care of dying adults in the last days of life Quality standard QS144 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Don't be afraid to talk to dying patients about God. NHS The Daily Mail
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