Tuesday, 14 March 2017
NHS looking for more blood donors in Kettering
NHS looking for more blood donors in Kettering As Mother’s Day approaches, NHS Blood and Transplant is asking Kettering residents to think about mothers and children whose lives have been saved by blood donations as they appeal for more donors. Northamptonshire Telegraph
NHS financial pressures are having a widespread but often unseen impact on patient care
NHS financial pressures are having a widespread but often unseen impact on patient care NHS financial pressures are increasingly affecting patient care, often in ways that go unseen, according to a new report by The King’s Fund.
Understanding NHS financial pressures finds that access to and quality of care are both being affected in different ways across the NHS. While public attention tends to focus on high-profile examples of rationing such as restricting access to some types of treatment, the report authors warn that financial and other pressures are also affecting patient care in ways that often go 'under the radar'.
The authors looked in detail at four services – testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, district nursing, elective hip replacement and neonatal care – to explore the impact of financial pressures on patient care.
See also:
Understanding NHS financial pressures finds that access to and quality of care are both being affected in different ways across the NHS. While public attention tends to focus on high-profile examples of rationing such as restricting access to some types of treatment, the report authors warn that financial and other pressures are also affecting patient care in ways that often go 'under the radar'.
The authors looked in detail at four services – testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, district nursing, elective hip replacement and neonatal care – to explore the impact of financial pressures on patient care.
See also:
- The impact of NHS financial pressures – a mixed picture The King's Fund
- NHS nursing cuts leave patients dying on their own The Daily Mail
- NHS rationing 'leaving dying patients to suffer in pain' report warns The Daily Telegraph
- Dying patients waiting hours for pain relief in NHS funding shortfall The Guardian
- Rationing of NHS services ‘leaving patients in pain and distress’, says new report The Independent
STPs: a call for ‘extraordinary’ leadership
STPs: a call for ‘extraordinary’ leadership As we highlighted in our recent report, the 44 sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) submitted by areas across England are ambitious visions that now need to evolve into credible plans that address the financial and operational challenges facing the NHS and its partners.
While the detail of each proposal varies - because each plan is designed to meet local needs - they all have something in common. Together, they represent a major transformational change in the delivery of health and social care in England.
The success of STPs will depend on high levels of collaboration across and between organisations that historically have little experience of working together to deliver change at the scale and pace that now seems essential. And with STPs bringing together as many as 32 organisations in an area, this is a real challenge. The King's Fund
While the detail of each proposal varies - because each plan is designed to meet local needs - they all have something in common. Together, they represent a major transformational change in the delivery of health and social care in England.
The success of STPs will depend on high levels of collaboration across and between organisations that historically have little experience of working together to deliver change at the scale and pace that now seems essential. And with STPs bringing together as many as 32 organisations in an area, this is a real challenge. The King's Fund
People with dementia and learning difficulties detained in care without checks due to “failing” law
People with dementia and learning difficulties detained in care without checks due to “failing” law Thousands of vulnerable people with dementia and learning disabilities are being detained in hospitals and care homes without the appropriate checks, due to a law unfit for purpose according to a report from the Law Commission.
Often those who lack the mental capacity to consent – like certain people with dementia or learning disabilities – need to be detained in a place like a hospital or care home when it is in their best interests. For example, a dementia patient may be kept in their care home to prevent them from wandering off, which could put them in danger. This is known as a deprivation of liberty and a proper authorisation process should be in place to ensure that this is done lawfully.
But since a landmark legal case in 2014, which widened the definition of who was subject to the “Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards”, local authorities have been under increased administrative pressures. As a result last year 100,000 people who required the authorisation did not receive it.
See also:
Often those who lack the mental capacity to consent – like certain people with dementia or learning disabilities – need to be detained in a place like a hospital or care home when it is in their best interests. For example, a dementia patient may be kept in their care home to prevent them from wandering off, which could put them in danger. This is known as a deprivation of liberty and a proper authorisation process should be in place to ensure that this is done lawfully.
But since a landmark legal case in 2014, which widened the definition of who was subject to the “Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards”, local authorities have been under increased administrative pressures. As a result last year 100,000 people who required the authorisation did not receive it.
See also:
- Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Law Commission
- People with dementia 'failed' by deprivation of liberty law BBC News
- Thousands of dementia patients wrongly locked up in homes The Daily Mail
- 50,000 families caring for relatives at home risk breaking the law by locking them in The Daily Telegraph
Understanding devolution: a critical appraisal of the Greater Manchester devolution deal
Understanding devolution: a critical appraisal of the Greater Manchester devolution deal This paper presents an assessment of the devolution process in Greater Manchester so far and highlights key issues for consideration for future devolved local areas. The analysis identifies the integration of health and social care as the service area which will undergo the greatest change in terms of public service reform in devolved regions. New Economics Foundation
Thousands of Welsh NHS staff's data stolen in hack
Thousands of Welsh NHS staff's data stolen in hack Details of thousands of medical staff in Wales have been stolen from a private contractor's computer server.
Names, dates of birth, radiation doses and National Insurance numbers of staff who work with X-rays were copied as hackers accessed Landauer's system.
The Welsh NHS described the data breach as "deeply disappointing" and it has started an investigation.
The Welsh Government and information commissioner have been informed and Landauer has been asked to comment.
Affected staff all use radiation dose meter badges to measure their exposure while working with X-rays. BBC News
Names, dates of birth, radiation doses and National Insurance numbers of staff who work with X-rays were copied as hackers accessed Landauer's system.
The Welsh NHS described the data breach as "deeply disappointing" and it has started an investigation.
The Welsh Government and information commissioner have been informed and Landauer has been asked to comment.
Affected staff all use radiation dose meter badges to measure their exposure while working with X-rays. BBC News
Personal injury discount rate cut may be 'legally flawed'
Personal injury discount rate cut may be 'legally flawed' Medical indemnity experts have written to the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss, expressing concern that her decision to cut the discount rate applied to personal injury claims may be "legally flawed".
Last month, the Lord Chancellor cut the discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75%. Doctors' indemnity organisations immediately expressed concern that the move will increase the size of compensation payments leading to significant new costs for the NHS and a dramatic increase in the cost of indemnifying its members. OnMedica
Last month, the Lord Chancellor cut the discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75%. Doctors' indemnity organisations immediately expressed concern that the move will increase the size of compensation payments leading to significant new costs for the NHS and a dramatic increase in the cost of indemnifying its members. OnMedica
Why is there so little social diversity in medicine?
Why is there so little social diversity in medicine? Only 7% of students across the UK are privately educated, but 26% of medical students went to fee-paying schools
Medicine in the UK has traditionally been deemed an elite profession that excludes those from low socioeconomic groups. A mere 7% of students are privately educated, but 26% of medical students went to fee-paying schools.
However, when you look closely at the figures, many students leave school at 16, and 18% of 16- to 18-year-olds are in fact privately educated; the proportion is even higher for those studying science subjects. Suddenly, the figure of 26% of privately educated medical students seems to reflect numbers studying sciences at school. It is not surprising that the majority of doctors come from more affluent backgrounds. Continue reading... The Guardian
Medicine in the UK has traditionally been deemed an elite profession that excludes those from low socioeconomic groups. A mere 7% of students are privately educated, but 26% of medical students went to fee-paying schools.
However, when you look closely at the figures, many students leave school at 16, and 18% of 16- to 18-year-olds are in fact privately educated; the proportion is even higher for those studying science subjects. Suddenly, the figure of 26% of privately educated medical students seems to reflect numbers studying sciences at school. It is not surprising that the majority of doctors come from more affluent backgrounds. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS data loss scandal has prompted five inquiries, ministers say
NHS data loss scandal has prompted five inquiries, ministers say Government accused of ‘huge cover-up’ over its response to outcry over 515,000 lost test results and doctors’ letters
The NHS’s loss of more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence is so serious that it has triggered five separate investigations, ministers have admitted.
The disclosure has prompted claims that the scale of the loss of 515,000 test results and doctors’ letters was hidden in “a huge cover-up”. It raises fresh questions for the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has publicly championed openness in the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS’s loss of more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence is so serious that it has triggered five separate investigations, ministers have admitted.
The disclosure has prompted claims that the scale of the loss of 515,000 test results and doctors’ letters was hidden in “a huge cover-up”. It raises fresh questions for the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has publicly championed openness in the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian
Doctors could be forced to work for NHS for at least five years under plans for 'home grown' expansion
Doctors could be forced to work for NHS for at least five years under plans for 'home grown' expansion Doctors could be forced to work in the UK for at least five years after completing their training, under plans by Jeremy Hunt to expand the supply of home-grown doctors.
The Health Secretary will today unveil plans for the largest ever expansion in the NHS medical workforce, training an extra 1,500 doctors a year.
The scheme means the number of junior doctors will expand by one quarter, in an effort to ensure Britain is less reliant on overseas doctors, in the years after Brexit.
Today Mr Hunt said the plans were part of efforts to create “the safest healthcare system in the world” while ensuring value for money.
It costs the taxpayer £230,000 to train a doctor, over and above fees paid by individuals. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
The Health Secretary will today unveil plans for the largest ever expansion in the NHS medical workforce, training an extra 1,500 doctors a year.
The scheme means the number of junior doctors will expand by one quarter, in an effort to ensure Britain is less reliant on overseas doctors, in the years after Brexit.
Today Mr Hunt said the plans were part of efforts to create “the safest healthcare system in the world” while ensuring value for money.
It costs the taxpayer £230,000 to train a doctor, over and above fees paid by individuals. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- News story: More undergraduate medical education places Department of Health
- Doctors could be forced to pay training if they leave NHS The Daily Mail
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