Northampton nursing home criticised by watchdog after the service is found to be unsafe

Northampton nursing home criticised by watchdog after the service is found to be unsafe A Northampton care home, which provides personal care for up to 46 elderly people, has been rated as 'requires improvement' in four areas by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC has carried out a comprehensive one-day inspection at Southfields House in Farmhill Road back in September after the watchdog had received a number of concerns over the management of medicine and how the service was being operated.

The report found breaches of four regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Winter pressures on health: an alternative perspective

Winter pressures on health: an alternative perspective Anyone who has spent time working in the NHS will hear the term ‘winter pressures’ and immediately think of the whole range of challenges the service faces at this time of year: increased demand from flu and norovirus, cancelled operations, medical ‘outliers’, and staffing shortages. All of them making a job - demanding at the best of times - more challenging for NHS staff. The Health Foundation

Uses of the Mental Health Act: is the data fit for purpose?

Uses of the Mental Health Act: is the data fit for purpose? People generally seek health care services voluntarily. A singular exception is people with serious mental health problems who are assessed as posing a risk to themselves or others, and are compulsorily admitted to hospital under the Mental Health Act. Given the necessary but exceptional powers under the Act to deprive people of their liberty and provide treatment without their consent, it is imperative that we understand how these powers are used. Yet, as a result of changes in the way data is collected, we do not have accurate figures on how often the Act is used. This is unacceptable. The King's Fund

Fear of legal action impacting on way GPs practise

Fear of legal action impacting on way GPs practise A significant number of GPs say the fear of being sued is a major factor in their decisions to order more tests, make more referrals or prescribe medication – according to survey results published by a leading medical protection organisation.

In the survey of over 1300 UK GPs by the Medical Protection Society (MPS), 87% said they are increasingly fearful of being sued. 84% said the fear of being sued has resulted in them ordering more tests or making more referrals and 41% said it has resulted in them prescribing medication when not clinically necessary.

The survey results follow research by Imperial College London showing that four in five doctors who have been the subject of a complaint also now practise more ‘defensively’. Medical Protection Society

See also:

• Four in five GPs ordering needless drugs and tests for fear of being sued, amid soaring small claims by patients The Daily Telegraph
• Most GPs practise 'defensive medicine' due to fear of being sued GPonline

NHS England consults on freeing up 136 million to boost frontline NHS care by curbing prescription costs

NHS England consults on freeing up 136 million to boost frontline NHS care by curbing prescription costs NHS England has launched a public consultation on proposals to rein in prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ products such as dandruff shampoo and drops for tired eyes, freeing-up up to £136 million to expand other treatments for major conditions such as cancer and mental health problems.

Ending routine prescribing for minor, short-term conditions, many of which will cure themselves or cause no long term effect on health, would free up NHS funds for frontline care.

The consultation does not affect prescribing of items for longer term or more complex conditions or where minor illnesses are symptomatic or a side effect of something more serious.

NHS diabetes prevention programme exceeds expectations and more than 110,000 people ‘at risk’ offered help

NHS diabetes prevention programme exceeds expectations and more than 110,000 people ‘at risk’ offered help A flagship NHS diabetes prevention scheme has succeeded in signing up significantly more people than expected according to a comprehensive progress report published today (20 December) in leading academic health journal, Diabetic Medicine.

The report which is co-authored by experts from NHS England, Public Heath England and the charity Diabetes UK, charts the positive impact made by the Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme during the early phase of its roll-out.

Around 90 per cent of all people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to obesity and there is strong evidence to suggest it is preventable. A lack of exercise, poor diet and being overweight are all risk factors for developing the disease over time and the programme is designed to stop or delay onset through a range of personalised lifestyle interventions. NHS England

Maternity mistakes: 276,000 incidents logged in two years

Maternity mistakes: 276,000 incidents logged in two years Tens of thousands of mothers and babies in England were harmed by potential lapses in maternity care in the past two years, the BBC has learned.

More than 276,000 incidents were logged by worried hospital staff between April 2015 and March 2017 - the equivalent of one mistake for every five births.

Most were minor or near misses, but almost a quarter of the incidents led to the mother or baby being harmed - and in 288 cases there was a death.

Ministers said safety must be improved.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC it was his "top priority". BBC News

See also:

• 400 maternity errors a day at NHS hospitals, figures show The Daily Mail

Help those who find decision-making difficult, urges NICE

Help those who find decision-making difficult, urges NICE Health and social care professionals should help those with the mental capacity to make decisions, but who find this difficult —even if you disagree with their choices, says new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
People should not be assessed as lacking mental capacity because they make choices that professionals don’t recommend, the draft guidance says.

And health and social care services should also take all reasonable steps to help people who lack mental capacity to be involved in decisions made on their behalf. OnMedica

Rise in mental health patients sent hundreds of miles from home for treatment 'hugely concerning', experts say

Rise in mental health patients sent hundreds of miles from home for treatment 'hugely concerning', experts say Exclusive: NHS spends £83m treating people out of area.

Mental health groups have said a significant increase in the number of mental health patients being treated miles away from home is “hugely concerning”.

Patients who have spent birthdays and Christmas a five-hour drive from their loved ones told The Independent that it made the already “scary process” of being admitted even harder.

They added it was also a “totally counterproductive” use of NHS funds as private facilities are generally the only place with spare capacity. The Independent

‘Drugs are too expensive for the NHS – and people are paying with their lives’

‘Drugs are too expensive for the NHS – and people are paying with their lives’ Don’t blame the NHS for denying vital medication, say members of a new activist group, Just Treatment. Blame the pharma companies hooked on huge profits.

Arms aloft, activist and breast cancer patient Emma Robertson emerged from the UK headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer last month wearing a bright blue T-shirt. Emblazoned on the back in bold yellow letters were the words: “No drug should ever cost a life”.

We need to ensure the pressure is on the drug companies who set the prices as well as the system that allows them to do so Continue reading... The Guardian