East Midlands Ambulance Service report sees improvement

East Midlands Ambulance Service report sees improvement A troubled ambulance trust has seen some "significant" improvements but still faces challenges, a new report has found.

The Care Quality Commission said East Midlands Ambulance Service's emergency and urgent care services were no longer rated as inadequate for safety.

But it confirmed continuing problems with response times and incident investigation.

Overall, the trust continues to be rated as requires improvement. BBC Northamptonshire

See also:

• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust Care Quality Commission
• Northampton's ambulance service makes progress but maintains 'requires improvement' amid bullying claims Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Investigation reveals Northampton General Hospital pays women £14k less than men

Investigation reveals Northampton General Hospital pays women £14k less than men Women at Northampton General Hospital are paid £14,570 less than men, a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Chronicle & Echo reveals.

This investigation looked at the differences in average pay of male and female employees at Northampton General Hospital

It is not the case that women were paid less than men for doing the same job.

However, the top roles, and therefore the highest-paid roles, were largely dominated by men. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hospital's 'heartfelt thank you' to Northamptonshire's generous donors who funded new cancer treatment ward

Hospital's 'heartfelt thank you' to Northamptonshire's generous donors who funded new cancer treatment ward A £650,000 refurbishment for a chemotherapy suite at Northampton General Hospital has been almost entirely funded by local donations.

'Thousands' of Northamptonshire's local fundraisers were thanked at an official opening yesterday (June 12) for donating over £500,000 towards the renovation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

CCG lay members, non-executive directors and STP governance and engagement

CCG lay members, non-executive directors and STP governance and engagement This report, published in partnership with NHS England, summarises the discussions at four regional workshops which focused on the role of lay members and non-executive directors in STPs. It discusses the importance of governance and accountability and developing working relationships across STP footprints. It also captures a number of case studies highlighting where there has been good practice in involving lay members and non-executive directors across STPs. NHS Clinical Commissioners

The shrinking value of the commissioning pound

The shrinking value of the commissioning pound This briefing shows that rising inflation, along with a growing population, has resulted in a real terms decrease in the value of the CCG funding allocations. The analysis projects that by 2019/20, CCG funding will diminish by £5.72 per person on average when compared with 2016/17 funding. NHS Clinical Commissioners

NMC announces radical overhaul of nursing education

NMC announces radical overhaul of nursing education New education consultation gives patients, the public and healthcare professionals the opportunity to shape the future of nursing.

From hospitals and schools to care homes and the work place, over 650,000 nurses deliver high quality care to millions of people across the UK every week.

With a changing population, more care in the community and advancing technology, care must be delivered differently. The launch of a vital consultation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) seeks views on a wholesale review of the standards that UK trained nurses will need to meet before they can work as a registered nurse. The views of the public will be vital in helping to shape what nursing will look like in 2030.

Jeremy Hunt urged to rethink NHS funding as he retains health secretary role

Jeremy Hunt urged to rethink NHS funding as he retains health secretary role GP leaders have called on Jeremy Hunt to radically review the government's NHS spending plans after he was re-appointed as health secretary following last week's general election. GPonline

Nursing in the UK was already in crisis. Brexit is making it worse

Nursing in the UK was already in crisis. Brexit is making it worse Derisory pay rises, the abolition of NHS bursaries and an ageing workforce mean 24,000 unfilled job vacancies. And now EU27 nurses no longer want to work here

The shockwaves of the huge destructive force of a banking crisis, followed by austerity, followed by the Brexit vote, just keep hitting. Among the various consequences to have been reported in the days since the election – rising inflation among them – is a 96% drop in nurse applications from the EU. Which means, in short, that nearly every nurse in the rest of Europe who might have come to Britain to work this year now isn’t going to. Continue reading... The Guardian

Is an NHS community hospital near you being closed or downgraded?

Is an NHS community hospital near you being closed or downgraded? As part of the government’s plans to transform the NHS community hospitals across England face closures or bed losses. Tell us how your area is affected

The NHS has announced ambitious plans, backed by the government, to remodel the health service in England. The sustainability and transformation plans (STPs), as they are known, include big changes to the role of many hospitals, including the rundown of A&E and maternity units. The aim is to plug a £22bn black hole in health service funding.

There are plans in many parts of England to reduce the number of beds in community hospitals and to shut some of those hospitals altogether. These hospitals play a key role in helping rehabilitate mainly elderly patients, for example those who’ve just had a spell in hospital. Continue reading... The Guardian

I shunned studying medicine to become a nurse. Here's why

I shunned studying medicine to become a nurse. Here's why Unlike doctors, nurses spend extended periods of time with patients, building a relationship founded on trust

“A nurse?

“You want to be … a nurse?” Continue reading... The Guardian

3,000 cut price physicians to work at GPs and hospitals

3,000 cut price physicians to work at GPs and hospitals The NHS currently employs 300 'physician associates', who study for just two years and earn a third of a doctor's salary, but will increase this number to 3,000 by 2020 under government plans. The Daily Mail

Two thirds of men unaware of family prostate cancer danger

Two thirds of men unaware of family prostate cancer danger One in every eight British men will develop the disease in their lifetime, a figure that rises to one in four among black men. The cancer is easily dealt with if diagnosed early. The Daily Mail

EXPOSED: How the NHS pays millions to private surgeons

EXPOSED: How the NHS pays millions to private surgeons The general assumption is that going private means getting the best and fastest care. But while this will be true for many, there is growing concern about patients being at risk of needless treatment or botched surgery in the private sector.

The NHS is far from immune, but the private sector seems to face particular problems with lack of scrutiny over what surgeons are doing. The Daily Mail

Nurses told to shape up so they are fit enough to do their jobs

Nurses told to shape up so they are fit enough to do their jobs Nurses have been told to shape up so they are fit enough to do their job and to set an example to patients, in new standards from their regulator.

Amid spiralling obesity levels, the watchdog’s new rules for the first time say that Britain’s 650,000 nurses and midwives have a “professional responsibility for adopting a healthy lifestyle”.

More than half of NHS staff are obese or overweight, contributing to a £5bn annual bill for the health service on conditions caused by obesity.

Nurses will be told they must “maintain a level of personal fitness and wellbeing required to meet people’s needs for mental and physical care,” amid concern that too many are too unfit to carry out physical tasks.

The standards, from the Nursing Midwifery Council, follow repeated efforts to encourage NHS staff to slim down. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (draft) Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Overweight nurses told to beat the bulge The Daily Mail