Wednesday 12 July 2017

Abusive caller who phoned Northamptonshire's ambulance service 999 line 1,868 times, jailed for six months

Abusive caller who phoned Northamptonshire's ambulance service 999 line 1,868 times, jailed for six months Northamptonshire's ambulance service has seen an abusive caller, who rang 999 1,868 times and cost the NHS £30,936, handed a six month prison sentence. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Big cuts planned to public health budgets

Big cuts planned to public health budgets Central government cuts have forced councils to reduce planned spending on vital public health services such as sexual health clinics and reducing harm from smoking, alcohol and drugs by £85 million, according to new analysis by The King’s Fund.

The analysis, based on Department of Communities and Local Government data, shows that councils in England are planning to spend £3.4 billion on public health services in 2017/18. But on a like-for-like basis (to exclude the impact of changes to how budgets are calculated over different years) councils will spend only £2.52 billion on public health services in 2017/18 compared to £2.60 billion the previous year. Once inflation is factored in, we estimate that, on a like-for-like basis, planned public health spending is more than 5 per cent less in 2017/18 than it was in 2013/14. The King's Fund

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Councillors' perceptions of Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships

Councillors' perceptions of Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships This survey of local councillors finds that less than a quarter of respondents are confident that STPs will succeed and that the majority feel that they have not been involved with shaping, commenting on or approving of the plans. The report argues that STPs should be more democratically accountable through local health and wellbeing boards, which should also be given a legal duty to sign off the plans. Local Government Association

The C word: how we react to cancer today

The C word: how we react to cancer today This report argues that with cancer diagnoses becoming more common than marriage in the UK, there is a greater need for the public to be better informed about the reality of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The report explores people's experiences when receiving a cancer diagnosis and how best to support patients following diagnosis. Macmillan

Theresa May urged to appoint learning disability commissioner

Theresa May urged to appoint learning disability commissioner The "shocking" case of a man with learning disabilities and terminal cancer has led to a call for the prime minister to appoint a commissioner for learning disabled people's rights.

Ian Shaw, 34, spent nine years in secure hospitals before being moved into community care last year.

The cancer was found and his parents say the units should have spotted it.

Sir Stephen Bubb, author of two reports on secure units, has told Theresa May Ian's case highlights ongoing failures.

Sir Stephen told the BBC that Ian's story was "all too typical".

"It has led me to believe that institutional care is at root abusive and we must close these institutions." BBC News

Contaminated blood scandal inquiry announced

Contaminated blood scandal inquiry announced A UK-wide inquiry will be held into the contaminated blood scandal that left at least 2,400 people dead, the prime minister has confirmed.

A spokesman for Theresa May said it would establish the causes of the "appalling injustice" that took place in the 1970s and 1980s.

Thousands of NHS patients were given blood products from abroad that were infected with hepatitis C and HIV.

It's been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. BBC News

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Measles 'tragedy' kills 35 across Europe

Measles 'tragedy' kills 35 across Europe Thirty-five people have died in the past year from measles outbreaks across Europe, the World Health Organization has warned.

It described the deaths - which can be prevented with vaccination - as an "unacceptable tragedy".

A six-year-old boy in Italy was the latest to die from the infection. More than 3,300 measles cases have been recorded in the country.

The most fatalities - 31 - have been in Romania.

But there have also been deaths in Germany and Portugal since June 2016. BBC News

ITV News reveals scale of NHS vacancies that threatens closed wards and cancelled operations

ITV News reveals scale of NHS vacancies that threatens closed wards and cancelled operations An ITV News investigation has revealed the scale of vacancies in NHS hospitals stretching across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Some hospitals reported more than 1,000 vacancies with the biggest gaps, at every trust, in nursing.

Others admitted crucial roles have remained unfilled for years, despite repeated advertising.

ITV News asked every acute trust in the country to disclose how many staff posts were vacant.

In total 92 trusts responded to our Freedom of Information request.

Cleaners at London hospitals stage seven-day strike over pay

Cleaners at London hospitals stage seven-day strike over pay More than 700 cleaners, security guards, catering staff and porters walk out after Serco refuses 30p a an hour pay rise

Domestic staff in London hospitals have begun a week-long strike in a dispute with private contractor Serco over low pay and job cuts, with organisers saying it is the biggest cleaners’ strike in the UK’s history.

Hospitals that are part of Barts Health NHS trust were expected to face serious consequences as more than 700 cleaners, security guards, catering staff and porters employed by Serco walked out on Tuesday. The action came after a ballot resulted in 99% of workers voting to strike. Continue reading... The Guardian

Margaret Willcox: ‘Relations with the NHS are tense. But we will rise above it

Margaret Willcox: ‘Relations with the NHS are tense. But we will rise above it’ We must pursue integration with the health service despite our differences, says the president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services

As president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass), Margaret Willcox finds herself in an unusual position. In the mounting friction between health and social care, she’s a leading figure on one side of the fence who also spent half her career on the other side – starting out as a nurse. Continue reading... The Guardian

Delaying emergency surgeries increases deaths

Delaying emergency surgeries increases deaths A report on a Canadian hospital showed the high figure of risk for serious injuries or life-threatening conditions. Hospitals in England cancelled 4,093 urgent procedures during 2016. The Daily Mail