Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Admissions to Northampton care home 'suspended' after its GP services are halted
Admissions to Northampton care home 'suspended' after its GP services are halted A Northampton care home is among four to stop taking new admissions after concerns about "wider health support" being provided at the centres. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Don't talk about the money?
Don't talk about the money? At Healthwatch Essex, I’d like to think we’re pretty clear on what we do. We are ‘an independent voice for the people of Essex… helping to shape and improve health and social care’. We do this by capturing people’s lived experience and then using this insight to make a positive case for change.
One of our unwritten rules has always been: ‘Don’t talk about the money.’ This hasn’t been easy, and there are plenty of people in the media and from interest groups who would have us lobby for more cash for the NHS and/or social care. But I’ve always resisted this. Funding is, after all, a matter for government. Getting involved in political arguments could compromise our independence, and doesn’t hold much sway with the people we’re trying to influence either – local NHS trusts or commissioners, for example, who don’t determine their own budgets anyway. The King's Fund
One of our unwritten rules has always been: ‘Don’t talk about the money.’ This hasn’t been easy, and there are plenty of people in the media and from interest groups who would have us lobby for more cash for the NHS and/or social care. But I’ve always resisted this. Funding is, after all, a matter for government. Getting involved in political arguments could compromise our independence, and doesn’t hold much sway with the people we’re trying to influence either – local NHS trusts or commissioners, for example, who don’t determine their own budgets anyway. The King's Fund
Measles outbreak across Europe
Measles outbreak across Europe Measles is spreading across Europe wherever immunisation coverage has dropped, the World Health Organization is warning.
The largest outbreaks are being seen in Italy and Romania.
In the first month of this year, Italy reported more than 200 cases. Romania has reported more than 3,400 cases and 17 deaths since January 2016.
Measles is highly contagious. Travel patterns mean no person or country is beyond its reach, says the WHO.
For good protection, it's recommended that at least 95% of the population is vaccinated against the disease.
But many countries are struggling to achieve that. BBC News
The largest outbreaks are being seen in Italy and Romania.
In the first month of this year, Italy reported more than 200 cases. Romania has reported more than 3,400 cases and 17 deaths since January 2016.
Measles is highly contagious. Travel patterns mean no person or country is beyond its reach, says the WHO.
For good protection, it's recommended that at least 95% of the population is vaccinated against the disease.
But many countries are struggling to achieve that. BBC News
'Unclear' how GP services can be maintained in face of workforce crisis, warns DDRB
'Unclear' how GP services can be maintained in face of workforce crisis, warns DDRB It is unclear how general practice services can be delivered five to 10 years from now given the growing workforce crisis facing the profession, the independent doctors and dentists review body (DDRB) has warned. GP Online
Health unions and MPs condemn 'derisory' 1% pay rise for NHS staff
Health unions and MPs condemn 'derisory' 1% pay rise for NHS staff Cap on salary increases will see some staff earn just £5 extra a week while facing soaring costs and greater workload
About 1.3 million NHS staff are to receive a 1% pay rise that will see nurses, midwives and radiographers earn barely £5 a week more next year, in a move that prompted a furious reaction from health unions.
The government’s decision to limit NHS wage increases to 1% a year or freeze them for the seventh successive year led its own advisors to warn that the policy must end. Salary caps could exacerbate already serious understaffing in the NHS by making it less attractive to work for, especially as workloads are growing, the NHS pay review body (PRB) concluded. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
About 1.3 million NHS staff are to receive a 1% pay rise that will see nurses, midwives and radiographers earn barely £5 a week more next year, in a move that prompted a furious reaction from health unions.
The government’s decision to limit NHS wage increases to 1% a year or freeze them for the seventh successive year led its own advisors to warn that the policy must end. Salary caps could exacerbate already serious understaffing in the NHS by making it less attractive to work for, especially as workloads are growing, the NHS pay review body (PRB) concluded. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Independent report: National Health Service Pay Review Body 30th report: 2017 Department of Health
- Independent report: Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration 45th Report: 2017 Department of Health
- Government accepts 1 per cent uplift for NHS staff NHS Employers
'An unrealistic pressure': mothers on what it's like to breastfeed
'An unrealistic pressure': mothers on what it's like to breastfeed The majority of women stop breastfeeding after two months, despite health experts’ advice to continue to at least six. We speak to mothers about their experiences
Almost three-quarters of women in England start breastfeeding after giving birth, but less than half are still doing so two months later according to NHS and Public Health England data.
PHE recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, as does the World Health Organization, because it boosts a baby’s ability to fight illness and infection. But a survey of 500 mothers commissioned by PHE found that fears about breastfeeding among women included that it could be painful (74%), prevent them from taking medication (71%) and be embarrassing in front of strangers (63%). Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Almost three-quarters of women in England start breastfeeding after giving birth, but less than half are still doing so two months later according to NHS and Public Health England data.
PHE recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, as does the World Health Organization, because it boosts a baby’s ability to fight illness and infection. But a survey of 500 mothers commissioned by PHE found that fears about breastfeeding among women included that it could be painful (74%), prevent them from taking medication (71%) and be embarrassing in front of strangers (63%). Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
The NHS is terminally ill – cracking down on sunscreen and cough syrup won't cure it
The NHS is terminally ill – cracking down on sunscreen and cough syrup won't cure it Never mind that sunscreen and gluten free foods have been considered prescription-worthy on the NHS up until now – this is a fairly benign embarrassment as far as public service blunders go.
The £100 million that could be saved per year by cutting back on 10 products currently prescribed on the NHS – including ointments, Omega 3 fish oil, and painkillers – is chump change in the grand scheme of the £15 billion spent on medicine overall.
Nevertheless, it is right for NHS England to review its prescription services and find savings, even comparatively small ones, wherever they can. The Daily Telegraph
The £100 million that could be saved per year by cutting back on 10 products currently prescribed on the NHS – including ointments, Omega 3 fish oil, and painkillers – is chump change in the grand scheme of the £15 billion spent on medicine overall.
Nevertheless, it is right for NHS England to review its prescription services and find savings, even comparatively small ones, wherever they can. The Daily Telegraph
Analysis: The NHS spends millions prescribing common painkillers, sunscreen and gluten-free food
Analysis: The NHS spends millions prescribing common painkillers, sunscreen and gluten-free food The NHS spent more than £100m prescribing common painkillers last year as well as £14m on gluten-free bread and nearly £4m on sunscreen.
The analysis by The Telegraph comes on the same day that NHS chief, Simon Stevens, has announced the NHS will no longer pay for patients to have common over-the-counter medicines and free-from food.
Under the plans outlined by Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, patients will have to cough-up for things like painkillers, sunscreen and gluten-free food.
It forms part of an effort reduce health service spending by £1bn. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
The analysis by The Telegraph comes on the same day that NHS chief, Simon Stevens, has announced the NHS will no longer pay for patients to have common over-the-counter medicines and free-from food.
Under the plans outlined by Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, patients will have to cough-up for things like painkillers, sunscreen and gluten-free food.
It forms part of an effort reduce health service spending by £1bn. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Prescription clampdown must not disadvantage vulnerable patients, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
- Prescription cuts are a 'creeping retreat' for NHS The Daily Mail
- NHS prescribing overhaul must not create postcode lottery to cut costs, GPs warn GPonline
- All the medicines under review in NHS consultation on 'low value' treatments The Independent
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