Shifting attention to acute medical wards would benefit staff and patients Organising care at the NHS front line, a report from The King’s Fund, focuses on the logistical barriers to delivering the best care for acutely ill medical patients. Its starting point is the lived experiences of clinical staff based on acute medical units, and general medical and geriatric inpatient wards.
These clinical areas are in the eye of a perfect storm, created by rising emergency attendances, falling bed numbers and more patients stranded in hospital due to increasingly inadequate community health and social care capacity. Acute care staff are often the ‘shock absorbers’ for these system problems – the one place that can never say no, yet often feeling unable to influence solutions outside the hospital walls. Their own morale, retention and engagement can suffer, perpetuating a vicious circle. But are some of the solutions in their own gift? The King's Fund
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
The NHS and technology: turn it off and on again
The NHS and technology: turn it off and on again With all the excitement around the upcoming general election, it would be quite understandable to have missed the announcement that the Department of Health’s long awaited response to Dame Fiona Caldicott's review of data security, consent and opt-outs has been delayed due to the pre-election period.
As well as being another example of how perpetual political campaigns add uncertainty to policy, this threatens to inject further rigor mortis into a debate that is in sore need of advancement. With UK e-Health Week taking place this week, it offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the state of technology within the NHS. The King's Fund
As well as being another example of how perpetual political campaigns add uncertainty to policy, this threatens to inject further rigor mortis into a debate that is in sore need of advancement. With UK e-Health Week taking place this week, it offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the state of technology within the NHS. The King's Fund
The role of the independent sector in the NHS
The role of the independent sector in the NHS A briefing from the NHS Confederation looks at the role of the independent sector in the NHS and dispels some myths.
HIV doctor alert prompts recall of patients
HIV doctor alert prompts recall of patients An appeal has gone out to retest 400 patients treated by a doctor who was later diagnosed with HIV.
NHS officials said the locum was employed at three hospital trusts between June 2010 and February 2015.
These were Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.
While emphasising the risk is low, letters offering testing have been sent to the patients identified.
The largest number of affected patients is 223 in Nottingham. There were 120 at Chesterfield and 57 in Cornwall. BBC News
NHS officials said the locum was employed at three hospital trusts between June 2010 and February 2015.
These were Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.
While emphasising the risk is low, letters offering testing have been sent to the patients identified.
The largest number of affected patients is 223 in Nottingham. There were 120 at Chesterfield and 57 in Cornwall. BBC News
Patient dies after 54 years in same Airdrie hospital
Patient dies after 54 years in same Airdrie hospital Ex-soldier James Morris is thought to have spent longer in a single NHS hospital than anyone else. BBC News
BMA demands more NHS funding as two thirds of doctors report cuts
BMA demands more NHS funding as two thirds of doctors report cuts The BMA has called on all political parties in the general election to commit to increasing NHS investment after two thirds of doctors reported funding cuts over the past year. GPonline
One in 30 locum doctors earn £1200 for ten-hour NHS shift, reveal new figures
One in 30 locum doctors earn £1200 for ten-hour NHS shift, reveal new figures One in 30 locum doctors earns £120 an hour, it has been revealed – said to be the highest rates since pay caps were introduced for agency staff working in the NHS.
New data shows average hourly pay for locums between October and December increased by 1.4 per cent to £64.17, while rates for specialists were more than double the agreed wage cap as the health service struggles to cope with staff shortages. The Independent
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New data shows average hourly pay for locums between October and December increased by 1.4 per cent to £64.17, while rates for specialists were more than double the agreed wage cap as the health service struggles to cope with staff shortages. The Independent
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Labour to pledge immediate halt of hospital closures
Labour to pledge immediate halt of hospital closures Manifesto will commit to giving people a say in reforms to local NHS services after halting Tory restructuring plans
Labour has promised to immediately stop the proposed closures of A&Es and other health services across England and instead carry out a full-scale review of controversial government plans.
The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, revealed that a flagship commitment in his party’s manifesto, to be published later this month, will be a moratorium on so-called sustainability and transformation plans (STPs). Continue reading... The Guardian
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Labour has promised to immediately stop the proposed closures of A&Es and other health services across England and instead carry out a full-scale review of controversial government plans.
The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, revealed that a flagship commitment in his party’s manifesto, to be published later this month, will be a moratorium on so-called sustainability and transformation plans (STPs). Continue reading... The Guardian
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Enough ambulances? Why gearing the service to local weather will help
Enough ambulances? Why gearing the service to local weather will help Heatwaves and cold snaps each strain the emergency services but bespoke weather forecasts would aid planners says study
It may seem obvious that if the temperature drops below 2C (35.6F) and you need an emergency ambulance it will probably take longer for the crew to reach you – after all there is going to be ice on some surfaces and potentially more people involved in accidents.
What is more surprising is that an ambulance is also likely to take longer to reach you in the target time of eight minutes if the temperature exceeds 20C (68F). In this case it is the increase in incidents such as heart attacks caused by high blood pressure and breathing difficulties that creates a sudden rise in the need for ambulances. Continue reading... The Guardian
It may seem obvious that if the temperature drops below 2C (35.6F) and you need an emergency ambulance it will probably take longer for the crew to reach you – after all there is going to be ice on some surfaces and potentially more people involved in accidents.
What is more surprising is that an ambulance is also likely to take longer to reach you in the target time of eight minutes if the temperature exceeds 20C (68F). In this case it is the increase in incidents such as heart attacks caused by high blood pressure and breathing difficulties that creates a sudden rise in the need for ambulances. Continue reading... The Guardian
Doctor reveals he resented treating the 'drunken brigade'
Doctor reveals he resented treating the 'drunken brigade' Senior consultant Gautam Das has hit out at the rise of drunks in hospitals. In a frank confession the NHS doctor of 26 years said heart attack patients should be given priority over drunk patients. The Daily Mail
Blame is putting off budding surgeons
Blame is putting off budding surgeons "Politics is destroying British heart surgery." This is the blunt conclusion of Stephen Westaby, retiring after 35 years as an NHS cardiothoracic surgeon, who was for most of his career at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. In his recently published memoir, Fragile Lives: A Heart Surgeon's Stories of Life and Death on the Operating Table, Westaby tells of his emergence from "a grimy council estate" in Scunthorpe to become an innovator in the use of mechanical pumping devices for the treatment of intractable heart failure in patients considered too ill to receive a transplant. The Daily Telegraph
Priory criticised after releasing anorexic teen without care package five days before suicide
Priory criticised after releasing anorexic teen without care package five days before suicide The Priory released a severely anorexic teenage girl without telling her parents she was at risk of suicide five days before she walked in front of a train.
An inquest into the death of 15-year-old Pippa McManus found the private hospital also failed to organise proper aftercare for the teenager, who took her own life.
A jury at stockport Coroner’s court heard how on the day she died, Pippa had argued with her family over excessive use of the gym and warned she was going to kill herself.
The court found staff at The Priory Hospital Altrincham had developed “no relationship” with people who could have help safeguard the teen once she was released, despite having cared for her for a year. The Daily Telegraph
An inquest into the death of 15-year-old Pippa McManus found the private hospital also failed to organise proper aftercare for the teenager, who took her own life.
A jury at stockport Coroner’s court heard how on the day she died, Pippa had argued with her family over excessive use of the gym and warned she was going to kill herself.
The court found staff at The Priory Hospital Altrincham had developed “no relationship” with people who could have help safeguard the teen once she was released, despite having cared for her for a year. The Daily Telegraph
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