Former nurses asked to walk the wards again with the University of Northampton

Former nurses asked to walk the wards again with the University of Northampton Experienced nurses are being encouraged to sign up for a retraining course with the University of Northampton and walk the wards again.

Return to Professional Practice (RtP) lets qualified nurses who have had a break from practice enhance to hone their existing knowledge and skills so that they can confidently return to the profession.

Although there has been a national decrease in nurses registered to work in the UK, the University of Northampton and local NHS healthcare providers are collaborating on a first of its kind recruitment drive to address this and attract nurses and doctors to relocate to live and work in Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Why aren’t we realising our ambitions for children’s health?

Why aren’t we realising our ambitions for children’s health? ‘Stop,’ said a chirpy chugger as I walked down Tottenham Court Road last week, ‘do you care about children?’ ‘Yes, of course,’ I thought, while avoiding eye contact and not stopping.

Who cares about children? Most of us, I think, including successive governments that have outlined lofty ambitions along the lines of ‘Britain should be the best country in the world for children’, as in the most recent Conservative Party manifesto. The King's Fund

Over 150,000 annual deaths from lung cancer, lung and heart disease

Over 150,000 annual deaths from lung cancer, lung and heart disease Public Health England has launched a national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ awareness campaign which prompts people with symptoms of some of the leading causes of death in England to see their doctor.

Lung cancer, heart disease and lung disease cause more than 150,000 deaths in England each year. Early diagnosis can save lives and improve the quality of life of those living with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common form of lung disease that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Getting out of breath doing things you used to be able to do, or having a cough that has lasted for 3 weeks or more, could be a sign of lung disease, including lung cancer. Breathlessness can also be a sign of heart disease. As well as prompting anyone with these symptoms to see their GP, the campaign also calls on people to look out for each other and encourage friends and family to act.

News story: Reducing delays for people moving from hospital to social care

News story: Reducing delays for people moving from hospital to social care In a written ministerial statement Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced measures to support the NHS and local government in reducing delays for people being discharged from hospital to local social care services. Department of Health

One in three nursing homes in England 'fail safety'

One in three nursing homes in England 'fail safety' More than a third of England's 4,000 nursing homes are failing on safety, according to inspectors.

Drug errors, lack of staff and falls were highlighted by the Care Quality Commission in its review.

Safety was also a major issue in other services for the elderly and disabled, including care homes and home help.

The CQC said the failings were "completely unacceptable", as it unveiled the full findings of its new inspection regime for the care sector.

The new "tougher" system was launched in 2014, amid concerns problems were going undetected. BBC News

See also:

• The state of adult social care services 2014 to 2017 report published Care Quality Commission
• One in four care homes unsafe, says watchdog as experts criticise 'Russian roulette' in social care The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals told to stop wasting millions of appointments by dumping work on GPs

Hospitals told to stop wasting millions of appointments by dumping work on GPs GP leaders have warned hospitals to adhere to clauses in their contracts that ban work being dumped on practices, as the NHS published new guidance on the interface between primary and secondary care. GPonline

Number of dementia sufferers set to hit 1.2 million by 2040, predict Alzheimer's experts

Number of dementia sufferers set to hit 1.2 million by 2040, predict Alzheimer's experts The number of people living with dementia in England and Wales will rise to 1.2 million by 2040 as life expectancy increases, new research suggests.

Around 767,000 people with dementia, a degenerative brain condition that mostly affects those over 65, currently live in the two countries, estimated scientists from University College London and the University of Liverpool.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), noted that fewer people appear to be newly diagnosed with the disease each year. This is mainly due to “improvements in healthcare and adopting healthier lifestyles”, said lead author Sara Ahmadi-Abhari. The Independent

See also:

• Sharp focus on Alzheimer's may help target drugs BBC News
• Dementia cases to soar past a million in the next 25 years The Daily Mail
• 1.2 million people in England and Wales will have dementia by 2040 – study The Guardian

Why I am leaving nursing: 'Morale is the lowest I have ever seen it'

Why I am leaving nursing: 'Morale is the lowest I have ever seen it' More nurses are leaving than joining for the first time on record. We asked you to tell us why and here was your response

The number of nurses and midwives leaving the profession has risen by 51% in four years, with higher numbers leaving than joining for the first time on record. We asked our readers who are nurses why they are going – here is their response. Continue reading... The Guardian

Homeless people are dying without dignity

Homeless people are dying without dignity Our research shows that terminally ill homeless people are dying in hostels without support, but there are alternatives

The number of people sleeping on London’s streets has doubled since 2010. Figures released last week showed that 2,700 people were sleeping on London’s streets in the last quarter.

Rough sleeping is the side of homelessness that we see on a daily basis, but homelessness extends far beyond this. It includes people who are living in hostels, squatting or sofa surfing. Our research, released on 4 July, has, for the first time, explored in detail how terminally ill homeless people are supported when they are approaching the end of their lives. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS prescription fines double in a year

NHS prescription fines double in a year The NHSBSA collected £13,277,877 during 2016-17 in England and said mistakes cost NHS millions. But the BMA said people on low incomes and with long-term illnesses were often hit. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Patient prescription fines 'double in a year' BBC News

Hospital is sued after it didn't spot cancer

Hospital is sued after it didn't spot cancer This is the latest in a string of scandals facing Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust where more than 11,000 X-rays have allegedly gone reported since the beginning of this year. The Daily Mail