Some assembly required: implementing new models of care

Some assembly required: implementing new models of care Understanding the lessons learnt from the new care models programme will be vital in helping NHS leaders develop more effective ways of delivering care in the future. This report examines how vanguard sites have made changes and offers crucial insight into the challenges and enablers in developing new care models.

It sets out 10 lessons for those seeking to systematically make changes across services in their area. These are based on first-hand accounts of clinicians and managers from the new care models programme’s vanguard sites. These sites have worked through the complexities of bringing together professions and organisations to develop place-based models of better coordinated care for people with complex health and social care needs. The Health Foundation

Online Mental Health Support for Young People

Online Mental Health Support for Young People The report offers insight into the efficacy of online counselling for children and young people. The report focuses exclusively on Kooth online counselling, our user data (April 2016 - April 2017) along with feedback from Kooth users and commissioners.

The report finds Kooth online counselling is popular and effective in increasing access to care and
providing choice. The anonymous nature of the service was found to be a big benefit for children
and young people. Education Policy Institute

See also:

• Non-white children are less likely to access traditional mental health services, report finds The Independent

We must do better on baby deaths and injuries - Hunt

We must do better on baby deaths and injuries - Hunt The NHS in England must do better at learning from mistakes to cut the number of baby deaths and injuries in childbirth, the health secretary says.

There are an estimated 1,000 cases a year where babies unexpectedly die or are left with severe brain injury.

That is out of nearly 700,000 births, which, Mr Hunt said, showed the NHS provided safe care for most.

But, he added, all unexplained cases of serious harm or death would now be independently investigated.

The Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch, set up earlier this year, will be tasked with reviewing cases. BBC News

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt pledges to make childbirth safer The Daily Mail
• Coroners could get powers to probe stillbirths, in bid to tackle Britain's poor maternity safety record The Daily Telegraph
• Four out of five full-term baby deaths in UK could be prevented, says study The Guardian

'Third of mothers' experience mental health issues

'Third of mothers' experience mental health issues More than a third of mothers have experienced mental health issues related to parenthood, according to an online survey of 1,800 British parents by the BBC Radio 5 live and YouGov.

The study revealed that, in comparison, 17% of fathers had experienced similar issues.

More than two-thirds of the affected mothers sought professional help - suffering from conditions such as acute stress, severe anxiety and postpartum depression. BBC News

Scarlet fever cases hit 50-year high in England

Scarlet fever cases hit 50-year high in England Scarlet fever hit its highest level in England for 50 years, with more than 17,000 cases reported in 2016 - research in the Lancet shows.

The disease has been on the rise since 2014, but experts have so far failed to find a reason for the recent increase.

Doctors are urging the public to be aware of symptoms, which include a rosy rash, and seek help from their GP.

Data for 2017 suggests the rate may be falling, but experts remain cautious, saying it is "too early to tell".

The bacterial disease, though highly contagious, is not usually serious and can be treated with antibiotics.

It is most common among children under 10. BBC News

Ethical hackers to boost NHS cyber-defences

Ethical hackers to boost NHS cyber-defences The NHS is spending £20m to set up a security operations centre that will oversee the health service's digital defences.

It will employ "ethical hackers" to look for weaknesses in health computer networks, not just react to breaches.

Such hackers use the same tactics seen in cyber-attacks to help organisations spot weak points.

In May, one-third of UK health trusts were hit by the WannaCry worm, which demanded cash to unlock infected PCs. BBC News

People with disabilities have the right to good health too | Fiona Ritchie

People with disabilities have the right to good health too | Fiona Ritchie Year-long campaign will focus on disability and health inequalities, challenging providers to improve services

Should being in good health look different for someone who is deaf? How do you know if a person with autism is unwell if they cannot tell you? These are among the questions all social care professionals – from care managers to nurses – should be asking to tackle the significant health inequalities experienced by people with disabilities.

For the 13.3 million people in the UK who live with a disability, being as healthy as possible should be a given, but too often their medical needs are neglected or ignored. Barriers to accessing services, a lack of knowledge and skills among staff, and a failure to prevent problems are among the causes highlighted by the World Health Organisation. Continue reading... The Guardian

Britain has highest numbers of overweight people in the EU

Britain has highest numbers of overweight people in the EU Britain has been shamed as the obesity capital of the EU.

This country has the highest rates in the bloc with nearly 30 per cent of women and just under 27 per cent of men overweight.

Other health figures are also worrying, showing we are second worst at exercising and have one of the highest rates of heavy drinkers.

Britons are also near the top of an international table for having dangerously high cholesterol levels.

The statistics follow a warning that it has become normal to be vastly overweight, with this country following the lead of the US, the world’s most obese nation. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Men are putting on weight – and the diagnosis is grim The Guardian