Government's suicide prevention strategy needs greater focus on implementation

Government's suicide prevention strategy needs greater focus on implementation The Government has published a progress report on its suicide prevention strategy but it must take tangible action to ensure effective implementation. So says the Health Select Committee in its final report on suicide prevention.

See also:

• How suicidal patients are being failed by GPs The Daily Mail
• Suicide prevention services stalling due to lack of funding, parliamentary inquiry warns The Independent

News story: NHS-funded nursing care rate for 2017 to 2018

News story: NHS-funded nursing care rate for 2017 to 2018 The reduction follows a review of agency costs by Mazars LLP in 2017

Registered nursing care for eligible nursing home residents is funded by the NHS, with the standard weekly rate per patient currently set at £156.25. This was a 40% increase on the 2015 to 2016 rate following an earlier review of the overall rate by Mazars in 2016.

In announcing the 40% increase last year, the government committed to further review the contribution of agency staff costs to the rate. In line with Mazars’ latest evidence on agency costs, the government will now reduce the agency cost component of the rate by £3.29 to allow for lower agency costs. This reduction is partially offset by an uplift in the remainder of the rate by 1.7% to reflect overall nursing wage pressures. Department of Health

Sickle cell and thalassaemia: checks and audits to improve quality and reduce risks

Sickle cell and thalassaemia: checks and audits to improve quality and reduce risks Each NHS screening programme has a defined pathway(s). The pathways show how the individual undergoing screening moves form one stage of the pathway to the next. Checks are needed at each stage to ensure the individual moves seamlessly and safely through the pathway unless they chose not to. If these checks are not in place there is risk that an individual does not complete the pathway or the pathway is delayed unnecessarily. Public Health England

Schools must do more on mental health, say School Reporters

Schools must do more on mental health, say School Reporters Grace, 16, has been bullied for the past nine years, has moved schools twice, struggled with suicidal thoughts and taken medication for anxiety and depression.

At one point, she says, "there was no-one to turn to in the school and I felt so low I didn't want to go on".

According to research for BBC School Report, half of teenagers with mental wellbeing issues try to cope alone.

And a third said they were not confident enough to speak to a teacher.

At her lowest point, Grace made a "suicide video", which she posted on YouTube.

"I'd get beaten up every week," she says.

"Teachers wouldn't do anything. I even heard the teachers talking about me behind my back." BBC News

Four-hour accident and emergency waits rise 300% at some hospitals

Four-hour accident and emergency waits rise 300% at some hospitals The number of patients waiting four or more hours at A&E has risen more than 300% at some hospitals, it has emerged.

In total, 2.2 million patients were not seen within the target time in 2015-16 - more than double the one million figure in 2013-2014.

The Royal College for Emergency Medicine (RCEM) says there is a "large and systemic problem" caused by a lack of hospital beds.

NHS England said hospitals were under pressure but continuing to cope. BBC News

See also:

• Doctors warn of increasing safety risks amid hospital overcrowding The Daily Telegraph

GP practices could merge into 1,500 'super hubs' under NHS reforms

GP practices could merge into 1,500 'super hubs' under NHS reforms Thousands of GP practices across England could be closed as general practice provision shifts into 1,500 super hubs delivering care for populations of around 40,000 patients, a health minister has suggested. GP Online

Not enough GPs for A&E triage plans, says Wollaston

Not enough GPs for A&E triage plans, says Wollaston Government plans to put GPs in every A&E by this winter are not possible with the current primary care workforce, the chair of the House of Commons health select committee has said. GP Online

Greater overdose risk when opioids combined with benzodiazepines

Greater overdose risk when opioids combined with benzodiazepines Taking pain-relieving opioid drugs together with benzodiazepines for anxiety or sleep problems is associated with greater risk of opioid overdose, a study published in The BMJ had found. OnMedica

NHS patients could face wait to access life-saving drugs

NHS patients could face wait to access life-saving drugs New rules mean health bosses in England can delay rollout of expensive treatments after approval by Nice

Patients could face delays accessing drugs on the NHS after health bosses agreed that the most expensive treatments can be stalled.

Even when a drug has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) – which already has strict rules on affordability – bosses at NHS England can now slow down its delivery to patients. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NICE gets go-ahead to fast-track more drug approvals National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• NHS to introduce £20m cap on new drugs BBC News
• Patients could face three-year wait for new drugs on NHS The Daily Mail
• Drugs costing 8p a day could be  hit by 'devastating' NHS rationing plan The Daily Telegraph

Depression reported in almost half of NHS psychotherapists

Depression reported in almost half of NHS psychotherapists Almost half of all NHS psychotherapists feel depressed, a shocking new survey reveals.

Known to be suffering from one of its worst winters in decades, the ongoing crisis is taking its toll on staff.

Cuts to services, a lack of respect and poor career progression were among the most popular causes. The Daily Mail

See also:

• New Savoy survey shows increasing mental health problems in NHS psychotherapists British Psychological Society

Doctors missed 11 chances to treat chess champion before he died of chronic asthma, inquest hears

Doctors missed 11 chances to treat chess champion before he died of chronic asthma, inquest hears Doctors missed 11 opportunities to treat a nine-year-old chesschampion in the months before he died of chronic asthma, an inquest heard.

Michael Uriely, who was one of the UK's brightest prospects in the game, was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London twice in the days before his death after he suffered violent coughing and vomiting fits which left him struggling to breathe.

The national chess champion, from St John's Wood, north-west London, died on August 25 2015, five days after being discharged from the hospital for the second time.

In the months before his death the Westminster Under School pupil was also seen by NHS GPs, as well as having private doctor appointments. The Daily Telegraph