Number of LGSS staff to return to control of Northamptonshire County Council

Number of LGSS staff to return to control of Northamptonshire County Council A number of LGSS staff will be returning to the direct control of Northamptonshire County Council as it comes to grips with the full extent of its finances.

The professional finance and democratic services teams working for Northamptonshire will be repatriated back to One Angel Square, after councillors on the LGSS Joint Committee agreed to the changes in Milton Keynes. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Outpatient services: A more intelligent approach needed

Outpatient services: A more intelligent approach needed Following our new briefing, co-author Nigel Edwards looks at the lessons that emerged from our recent work on outpatients – arguing that improving experts’ productivity without just making them work harder is the big challenge for many systems. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Rethinking outpatient services: Learning from an interactive workshop Nuffield Trust

Diversity should be a strategic priority

Diversity should be a strategic priority Maya Angelou, the acclaimed US poet and activist said, ‘We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.’ Yet in my experience, discussions on diversity in health and care can often polarise people. The King's Fund

NHS could free up £480m by limiting use of temporary staffing agencies

NHS could free up £480m by limiting use of temporary staffing agencies The NHS could free up £480m to reinvest into NHS services and improve patient care if trusts filled temporary vacancies with workers from a ‘staff bank’ instead of using expensive staffing agencies.

Temporary staff, such as doctors and nurses supplied by agencies, cost on average 20% more than those from the NHS’s own ‘staff banks’ despite doing the exact same job.

Bank staff tend to come from internal pools of workers who are already employees of the NHS trust and have agreed to work flexible shifts.

As bank staff generally work within the trust, their use increases the likelihood of a patient being treated by the same healthcare professional throughout their care. NHS Improvement

See also:

• Health chiefs urge hospital trusts to only use agency staff as a 'last resort' The Daily Mail
• NHS still wasting £480m a year on temporary staffing from private agencies, watchdog says The Independent

The good childhood report 2018

The good childhood report 2018 This report examines the state of children’s well-being in the UK. It finds that one in six (16 per cent) of more than 11,000 children aged 14 surveyed reported self-harming. It looks at the reasons behind the unhappiness which increases the risk of children self-harming. The report urges the Government to make sure that every child can talk to a counsellor in their school. The Children's Society 

The Brexit White Paper on future relations and alternative proposals

The Brexit White Paper on future relations and alternative proposals This briefing paper looks at some of the proposals in the White Paper, their reception in the UK and EU, and any corresponding provisions in the DExEU ‘alternative white paper’. It discusses medicine and access to health care. House of Commons Library

Numbers of elderly in 24-hour care set to double by 2035

Numbers of elderly in 24-hour care set to double by 2035 The number of people aged 85 and over needing 24-hour care is set to double, says a new study, as an expert warns the care system is "at breaking point".

The study, published in the Lancet Public Health journal, analysed the projected health needs of the elderly in England between 2015 and 2035.

It found that the number of 65-year-olds and over needing round-the-clock care is also set to rise by a third.

The government says adult social care reforms will be set out in the autumn. BBC News

See also:

• Forecasting the care needs of the older population in England over the next 20 years: estimates from the Population Ageing and Care Simulation (PACSim) modelling study Lancet Public Health
• Modelling the growing need for social care in older people (comment) Lancet Public Health
• Carers not 'glorified bottom wipers' BBC News
• Britain faces a deepening care crisis for the elderly The Daily Mail
• Number of over-65s needing 24-hour care 'to rise by third over next 20 years' The Daily Telegraph
• Social care needs for over-85s predicted to double in next 20 years The Guardian
• Social care crisis: Over-85s needing 24 hour care set to double by 2035, major study shows The Independent

High suicide risk for 'men in construction'

High suicide risk for 'men in construction' The suicide rate among low-skilled male labourers is three times higher than the national average for men, according to figures by the ONS. BBC News

Dentists say fines deterring poor patients

Dentists say fines deterring poor patients The British Dental Association says a "huge fall" in people on low incomes going to the dentist in England is because they fear being wrongly fined when they claim for free treatment.

The most recent annual figures show almost 370,000 fines for people accused of "misclaiming" for free dental care.

But dentists say many of these are innocent confusions over paperwork and that many are overturned when challenged.

The NHS says that anyone entitled to free care should be able to access it. BBC News

See also:

• ​Low income patients turn away as ministers say 'don't run the risk' British Dental Association

'Life changing' asthma treatment that burns away muscle in airways could help 200,000 at risk of suffocating attacks

'Life changing' asthma treatment that burns away muscle in airways could help 200,000 at risk of suffocating attacks A specialist asthma treatment is to become widely available on the NHS in a move that will bring relief to patients suffering frequent "terrifying" attacks.

In changes proposed by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which recommends what treatments are funded on the NHS, patients with asthma that cannot be controlled with inhaler medication will receive bronchial thermoplasty.

Nice have said the procedure is safe and can reduce the severity and frequency of attacks. The Independent

See also:

• New “life changing” procedure can be offered to adults with severe asthma on NHS NICE
• New asthma treatment set for wider NHS distribution BBC News
• New treatment for severe asthma cases gets go-ahead for use in NHS The Guardian

Women should have the same midwife throughout pregnancy – here's why

Women should have the same midwife throughout pregnancy – here's why Healthcare in the UK has been a political football for decades. Despite the constant mantra that the NHS is the “envy of the world”, everyone knows there are problems. In my clinical area – maternity care – the Morecambe Bay scandal, where midwifery was found to be seriously sub-standard, and the fact that the UK has persistently high rates of pre-term birth, reveal that all is not well. The Independent

NHS bosses urge hospitals to send patients to private firms

NHS bosses urge hospitals to send patients to private firms Warning that announcement from NHS England will waste scarce funding and prompt private providers to increase prices

NHS bosses have urged hospitals to send patients to be treated by private healthcare firms in a bid to reduce the increasing number of patients waiting for planned operations.

The move has sparked claims that it will waste scarce NHS funding and that profit-driven operators will use the service’s desperation to cut waiting lists to charge higher prices.

Between 2010-11 and 2016-17, health spending increased by an average of 1.2% above inflation and increases are due to continue in real terms at a similar rate until the end of this parliament. This is far below the annual inflation-proof growth rate that the NHS enjoyed before 2010 of almost 4% stretching back to the 1950s. As budgets tighten, NHS organisations have been struggling to live within their means. In the financial year 2015-16, acute trusts recorded a deficit of £2.6bn. This was reduced to £800m last year, though only after a £1.8bn bung from the Department of Health, which shows the deficit remained the same year on year. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS bosses launch urgent drive to address 'significant under delivery of elective activity' Health Service Journal

Why modern medicine is a major threat to public health

Why modern medicine is a major threat to public health | Aseem Malhotra Most patients will derive no health improvement from medication. We should tackle the root causes of disease instead

When former airline pilot Tony Royle came to see me last year to seek reassurance that it was OK to participate in an Ironman event, having stopped all his medications 18 months after suffering a heart attack, I was initially a little alarmed.

But after talking to him, I realised he had made an informed decision to stop the medication after suffering side effects, and instead had opted for a diet and lifestyle approach to manage his heart disease. Continue reading... The Guardian

Scandal-hit NHS Trust faces calls for wider investigation into deaths on maternity unit

Scandal-hit NHS Trust faces calls for wider investigation into deaths on maternity unit A scandal-hit trust is facing calls for a wider probe into dozens of deaths at a hospital's maternity unit, it was reported last night.

The Government is already investigating Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust after former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt ordered an independent inquiry in 2017 into seven deaths at the unit.

A failure to properly monitor the baby's heart rate was a contributory factor in five of the deaths

The announcement prompted a further 16 cases to come forward, and Senior midwife Donna Ockenden was appointed to review all 23 cases of alleged poor care last year. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Dozens more maternity failings exposed at scandal hit trust Health Service Journal

Disease X: China ignores UK request to share samples of flu virus with pandemic potential

Disease X: China ignores UK request to share samples of flu virus with pandemic potential Requests by UK experts to Chinese authorities for samples of the latest strain of a dangerous and evolving avian influenza virus, known as H7N9 have so far been ignored, the Telegraph has learned.

The news comes on the back of revelations earlier this week by the United States’ government that China has, for over a year, refused its requests to share lab samples of the same strain of avian influenza virus.

To date there have been 1,625 cases of H7N9 – a virus which usually circulates in poultry – in humans including a spike in cases in 2017, which prompted US researchers to request samples of the virus from Chinese authorities. The Daily Telegraph

Doctors who run GP surgeries earn £111,500 a year but patient satisfaction is at an all-time low

Doctors who run GP surgeries earn £111,500 a year but patient satisfaction is at an all-time low NHS figures have revealed the average salary for all GPs in the health service is now £92,500, but experts say difficulty recruiting new doctors means staff are having to work longer hours. The Daily Mail

Meningitis risk for millions as more than half of Britons don't know which jabs they have had

Meningitis risk for millions as more than half of Britons don't know which jabs they have had Research by British charity the Meningitis Research Foundation surveyed 2,000 people and discovered nearly one in ten think they've never had a vaccination or cannot remember having one. The Daily Mail

Government proposes energy drinks ban for children

Government proposes energy drinks ban for children  The sale of energy drinks could be banned in England to anybody under 18, amid fears they are damaging children's health, the prime minister has said. The government has launched a public consultation on its plans to make it illegal to sell the drinks to children. Energy drinks contain high levels of sugar and caffeine and have been linked to obesity and other health issues.
The government is asking for views on what age the ban should apply to, but gave under 16 and under 18 as options. BBC News

NHS campaign aims to encourage patients to check free prescription eligibility - The Pharmaceutical Journal

NHS campaign aims to encourage patients to check free prescription eligibility  A nationwide campaign to help crack down on patients claiming free prescriptions when they are not eligible is to be launched on 10 September 2018.
‘Check before you tick’ is being run jointly by NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to encourage patients to check their eligibility, using a new online eligibility checker, before ticking the free prescriptions box. It will also highlight the possible consequences of making an incorrect claim. Pharmaceutical Journal

Millions miss out on vital diabetes health checks

Millions miss out on vital diabetes health checks Fewer than half of the population in England who should be receiving the preventative NHS Health Check have had one, according to a new analysis by Diabetes UK. The charity has analysed NHS Health Check data and found that less than half of over 40-year-olds eligible for an NHS Health Check in the last five years have actually received one.
Launched in England in 2009, the programme offers a five-yearly check-up to everyone aged 40 to 74 with the aim of spotting early signs of type 2 diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, heart disease and dementia. OnMedica

How to start mental health conversations with your employees - People Management Magazine

How to start mental health conversations with your employees With one in six people experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week, creating an open and supportive work culture has never been more important. Starting a conversation on mental health may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.
From regularly checking in with your team to encouraging them to open up, you can support them in a few, simple steps ... People Management

Children forced to travel hundreds of miles for NHS mental health treatment

Children forced to travel hundreds of miles for NHS mental health treatment NHS England figures reveal some under-18s sent as far as 285 miles for inpatient services. Children and young people with serious mental health problems are receiving treatment as far as 285 miles away from their homes, despite a pledge to end such practice, because bed shortages in some areas are so severe.
Experts say sending highly troubled under-18s to units far from their family and friends can be frightening for them, reduces their chances of recovery and increases their risk of self-harm. Guardian

Teenagers who smoke and drink suffer ill effects by age of 17

Teenagers who smoke and drink suffer ill effects by age of 17 Teenagers who smoke and drink alcohol are causing visible damage to their arteries by the age of 17, a study has revealed. Tests showed stiffening of the arteries had begun by this relatively young age.

These physical changes have been linked with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel problems, such as stroke and heart attack, in later life.

But the study also found that the arteries of teenagers who stopped smoking or drinking returned to normal. BBC News - Health

See also:

• Teenagers who binge drink and smoke are increasing their risk of heart attacks and strokes as their arteries are already stiffening by 17 - but quitting can reverse the damage Mail Online

Quarter of 14-year-old girls in UK 'self-harmed in last year'

Quarter of 14-year-old girls in UK 'self-harmed in last year' Nearly a quarter of 14-year-old girls in the UK said they had self-harmed, a report suggests.

A survey of 11,000 children found 22% of the girls and 9% of the boys said they had hurt themselves on purpose in the year prior to the questionnaire.

Rates of self-harm were worst (46%) among those who were attracted to people of the same or both genders.

The Children's Society report said gender stereotypes and worries about looks were contributing to unhappiness. BBC News - Health

See also:

• The Good Childhood Report 2017 The Children's Society 
• Quarter of 14-year-old girls self-harm, study finds, amid warning of 'crisis in children's mental health' The Telegraph

Northampton brain injury charity fear end is in sight without formal funding in face of cuts

Northampton brain injury charity fear end is in sight without formal funding in face of cuts A Northampton charity supporting adults with brain injuries fear they "won't be here in two years" without funding.

Headway Northampton run a large day centre in Kings Heath where they help people who have sustained brain damage learn to live with their injuries.

But after losing out on grants and bearing the brunt of the county council's financial crisis, they now fear they will fold in as little as two years - and think other healthcare charities will follow. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The end is nigh for paper prescriptions

The end is nigh for paper prescriptions Paper prescriptions will as good as disappear under a shakeup to allow more electronic authorising of medicines, the health and social care secretary has announced.

Regulations that prevent GPs sending prescriptions to pharmacies digitally in some circumstances will be dropped with the aim of saving the NHS £300m by 2021. The changes will also benefit patients, the Department for Health and Social Care says: it will mean they have to spend less time waiting in pharmacies and GP practices, repeat prescriptions will be able to be collected from the pharmacy instead of having to visit the GP first, and they will not have to worry about losing paper prescriptions. OnMedica

No-deal Brexit: Plan to maintain medicine supplies 'could cost £2bn'

No-deal Brexit: Plan to maintain medicine supplies 'could cost £2bn'  Campaign group Best for Britain warns of cost to health secretary’s stockpiling strategy

The health secretary’s plan to set aside six weeks’ worth of vital medicines to avoid supply disruptions in the event of a no-deal Brexit could cost up to £2bn, campaign group Best for Britain warns today.

Matt Hancock wrote to healthcare providers last week, saying the government would set in motion plans to “ensure the UK has an additional six weeks’ supply of medicines in case imports from the EU through certain routes are affected”. The Guardian

Judge overturns south London hospital's ban on heart surgeon

Judge overturns south London hospital's ban on heart surgeon Marjan Jahangiri was excluded from St George’s pending disciplinary investigation

A heart surgeon excluded from working at a hospital pending disciplinary proceedings has said she is delighted to win the latest stage of a high court fight.

Prof Marjan Jahangiri had been excluded by bosses at St George’s in Tooting, south London, pending a disciplinary investigation into allegations made against her. The Guardian

Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba: GMC boss told position is 'untenable'

Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba: GMC boss told position is 'untenable'  Medics have called for the head of the General Medical Council (GMC) to stand down over his handling of the case of a doctor who was struck off.

Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba has won her bid to be reinstated over the death of six-year-old Jack Adcock in 2011.

Hospital doctors have said GMC chief executive Charlie Massey's position was "untenable". BBC News

See also:

• HCSA warns GMC Chief Executive position 'untenable' Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association 
• Doctors demand resignation of GMC head over handling of Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba case The Daily Telegraph
• Doctors tell medical council boss his position is 'untenable' over Bawa-Garba case The Independent

The mental health chatbot

The mental health chatbot Chatbots are being taught to assist people in dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The bots do not treat or diagnose - but human therapists have some reservations about the tech. BBC News

Abortion pill will be allowed to taken at home in England, under new plan

Abortion pill will be allowed to taken at home in England, under new plan Women in England will be allowed to take an early abortion pill at home, under a government plan due to take effect by the end of the year.

Currently, women ending a pregnancy in its first 10 weeks must take two pills at a clinic, 24 to 48 hours apart.

Under the new plans, which will bring England into line with Scotland and Wales, the second pill can be taken at home.

This avoids the risk of women miscarrying while on the journey home. BBC News

Health Secretary pledges to overhaul NHS IT system

Health Secretary pledges to overhaul NHS IT system Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has vowed to overhaul the NHS IT network, saying it would be unacceptable in any other 21st-century organisation.

The “bleary eyed” minister, who replaced Jeremy Hunt in July, said he saw first hand how staff were hindered by poor technology as he shadowed front-line staff during an overnight shift. ITV News

NHS boss: 'Run failing hospitals like Tesco to improve them' - iNews

NHS boss: 'Run failing hospitals like Tesco to improve them' Failing hospitals should be run like supermarket chains if they are to improve, the boss of one of the country’s best-rated trusts has said.

Sir David Dalton, chief executive at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, said groups of hospitals should work together to implement best practice – much like a chain of Sainsbury’s or Tesco stores.

He argued that the 135 separate acute non-specialist trusts in England, all with “different ways of doing things”, were “a key reason why standards in care vary so dramatically in what is meant to be a national health service”. iNews

Syphilis diagnoses are booming - it's clear sexual health needs an overhaul

Syphilis diagnoses are booming - it's clear sexual health needs an overhaul | Richard Vize Responsibility for services is shared by NHS and councils and there is little evidence of a united effort on prevention

The health and social care select committee has launched an inquiry into sexual health. The move comes as serious infections are rising and funding is falling, hitting services of vital importance to young people and many others.

There is a widespread feeling among public health staff that the NHS no longer sees public health as its problem Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS maternity units were forced to close 287 times last year

NHS maternity units were forced to close 287 times last year Labour says turning away expectant mothers is ‘disgrace’ and blames Tories for midwife shortage

Almost half of maternity units at hospitals in England were closed to expectant mothers at least once during 2017, research by Labour has found, with the party blaming staff shortages and other resourcing problems.

Freedom of information (FoI) requests by Labour identified almost 300 occasions when maternity units were closed and expectant mothers Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• England in maternity crisis with almost half of units turning mothers away, Labour warns The Independent

More than four in five MPs want extra funding to be found for social care

More than four in five MPs want extra funding to be found for social care More than four in five MPs want extra funding to be found for social care, polling reveals.

The survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) comes ahead of a green paper this autumn, which will examine how best to fund care of the elderly and disabled.

Earlier this year Theresa May announced a £20bn boost for the NHS. But plans about how best to fund long-term care of the elderly were pushed back, having last year proved politically toxic. The Daily Telegraph

Trailblazing female heart surgeon 'forced out' from unit by colleagues 'envious of her success'

Trailblazing female heart surgeon 'forced out' from unit by colleagues 'envious of her success' A leading cardiac surgeon claims she was suspended from a heart unit criticised for soaring death rates because colleagues were envious of her success.

Professor Marjan Jahangiri, the first female professor of cardiac surgery in Europe, claims she was subjected to a "campaign of bullying and harassment", and in one instance was anonymously sent a dead animal and a decapitated doll in the post.

She has asked the High Court to issue an order lifting her exclusion from St George's Hospital in south west London with immediate effect. The Daily Telegraph

Every GP surgery in England should hire a mental health expert to tackle depression, experts say

Every GP surgery in England should hire a mental health expert to tackle depression, experts say Every doctor's surgery in England is being encouraged to employ mental health therapists.

The therapists will focus on common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, particularly in people with long-term physical illnesses like diabetes and heart conditions.

NHS England is encouraging GPs to bring mental and physical health services under one roof after a survey found two in five patient appointments are now for mental health. The Daily Mail

Scandal of the 3.6million NHS 'ghost patients': Huge numbers still registered at practices have either died or moved away... but GPs receive £151 for each one despite a crackdown pledge

Scandal of the 3.6million NHS 'ghost patients': Huge numbers still registered at practices have either died or moved away... but GPs receive £151 for each one despite a crackdown pledge A staggering 3.6 million patients who do not exist are registered with GPs' surgeries, a Mail on Sunday investigation reveals today.

Despite a crackdown launched three years ago on so-called 'ghost patients', the numbers have risen at a rate of almost 6,000 a week.

Doctors in England receive an average of £151 a year for each patient on their books, whether they see them or not. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GPs receiving payments for 3.6 million 'ghost patients' The Daily Telegraph
• NHS: GPs have up to 3.6 million 'ghost patients' on books - report The Guardian

Reducing emergency admissions: unlocking the potential of people to better manage their long-term conditions

Reducing emergency admissions: unlocking the potential of people to better manage their long-term conditions This briefing summarises research that explores the link between how well patients feel able to manage their long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes and depression and their use of health care.

The findings show the NHS could reduce avoidable health care use and improve people's quality of life, if they were better supported to manage their long-term conditions.

It also points to solutions and calls for national policy makers and the local NHS to take action now, including by prioritising support for self-management in the NHS long-term plan. The Health Foundation

Information for the health and care sector about planning for a potential no-deal Brexit

Information for the health and care sector about planning for a potential no-deal Brexit This collection of resources brings together guidance, correspondence and news for people involved in the health and care sector. Service providers should consider this guidance in the context of their existing business continuity plans. The latest guidance published covers regulation, testing and labelling if the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with 'no deal'. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Nuffield Trust response to Brexit technical notices on healthcare Nuffield Trust
• Don't hoard medicines for Brexit, health secretary says The Guardian
• Government tells drug companies to stockpile six weeks' worth of medicine in case of no-deal Brexit. The Independent

Mental health problems among GPs 'deeply concerning' but not surprising given workload pressures, says College

Mental health problems among GPs 'deeply concerning' but not surprising given workload pressures, says College She said: "GPs, indeed most healthcare professionals, are renowned for putting their patients' health before their own – and given the intense pressures currently facing general practice, this very high proportion of GPs living with mental health problems is deeply concerning, but not a total surprise.

"GPs work incredibly hard, often putting in 12-hour days in clinic, making upwards of 60 patient contacts a day, and dealing with huge amounts of administrative work. This relentless workload will inevitably take its toll on both doctors' physical and mental health and wellbeing, however resilient they may be. Royal College of General Practitioners

See also:

• New workforce figures 'demoralising and distressing' to struggling GPs, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners

Anti-vaccine myths are being promoted by social media bots and Russian trolls, study finds

Anti-vaccine myths are being promoted by social media bots and Russian trolls, study finds Online arguments trying to trick people into believing vaccines are spreading across the internet, according to a new study.

Social media bots and trolls are sewing division by promoting "anti-vaxx" conspiracy theories and other myths, the new research has found.

Experts suggest that the arguments are being used to divide the country as well as to trick them into clicking on malicious links and other attacks. The Independent

See also:

• Weaponized Health Communication: Twitter Bots and Russian Trolls Amplify the Vaccine Debate American Journal of Public Health
• Russia trolls 'spreading vaccination misinformation' to create discord BBC News
• What's behind the 'anti-vax' movement? BBC News
• Russian trolls and Twitter bots are driving the global anti-vaxxer movement online, study reveals The Daily Mail
• Russian trolls and bots fuelled anti-vaccination debate The Daily Telegraph

Cornish hospital says sorry after 'neglect' of woman who died

Cornish hospital says sorry after 'neglect' of woman who died Katy Lowry, a 30-year-old with disabilities, died after failure to carry out basic checks

A hospital has apologised to the family of a woman with disabilities who died after staff failed to carry out basic checks when she was admitted suffering from a bout of vomiting.

Katy Lowry, 30, who had physical and learning disabilities, collapsed and died shortly after arriving at the Royal Cornwall hospital. Continue reading... The Guardian

I’ve been told to wait three years for a wheelchair that ‘can go outside’

I’ve been told to wait three years for a wheelchair that ‘can go outside’ | Frances Ryan It is surely a societal failure when 5,000 children wait months for an NHS chair, while others receive no help to cover costs

One of my abiding childhood memories was being given my first wheelchair. Until I was six, I had to resort to a large buggy, a mass of translucent plastic frames and ugly grey wheels. It was through the charity Whizz-Kidz that I finally got my first wheelchair, a streamlined seat in midnight purple. I remember taking my newfound freedom to my local Morrisons, home of the shiniest floor in town. I had gone from being trapped in plastic to sitting in a rocket ship, throwing myself down the crisps and snacks aisle.

A decade later, I had outgrown the chair and my family were back to working out how we would pay for a new one – this time a pricier, electric wheelchair that cost at least £5,000. My mum wrote to the board of local charities, we saved what we could, and Whizz-Kidz again filled in the rest.

Turning to charity feels particularly disconcerting if you’re disabled​​. It’s reminiscent of the pre-welfare state era Continue reading... The Guardian

Patient diagnosed with deadly MERS virus in Leeds as fellow passengers on flight from Middle East sought

Patient diagnosed with deadly MERS virus in Leeds as fellow passengers on flight from Middle East sought A man has been diagnosed with the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in England - the first such diagnosis in this country since 2013.

Health officials said the case involves a patient who was initially admitted to a hospital in Leeds before being transferred to Royal Liverpool Hospital, which treats respiratory infectious diseases.

The man is believed to have fallen ill after flying to Britain from the Middle East, where he lives. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MERS-CoV case in England Public Health England

British women now among top drinkers in the world

British women now among top drinkers in the world British women are now among the world's biggest drinkers - matching men drink for drink, a major global study published in The Lancet reveals.

The figures, which track 195 countries across the globe, show that the UK is almost unique in having no difference in the amount of alcohol men and women consume.

Experts described the trends as “alarming”, warning of growing rates of liver disease among middle-aged women who had continued the “ladette” drinking habits of their youth. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• No level of alcohol consumption improves health The Lancet
• Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 The Lancet
• No alcohol safe to drink, global study confirms BBC News
• No safe level of alcohol consumption, major study concludes The Independent
• Alcohol sales would fall nearly 40% if everyone in England drank within guidelines, research finds The Independent

Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts have unsafe bed occupancy levels

Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts have unsafe bed occupancy levels Two thirds of hospital trusts had unsafe bed occupancy levels between the start of April and end of June, NHS figures have revealed.

Damning statistics published today show 131 trusts - which run hospitals - were at least 85 per cent full, the safe limit set by health chiefs.

Two even reported 100 per cent occupancy rates during the busy three-month period - Oxford Health Foundation Trust and Bedford Hospital Trust. The Daily Mail

Councils' care spending spirals as other services cut

Councils' care spending spirals as other services cut The plight of Northamptonshire County Council has highlighted the perilous financial state of local authorities.

One of the key pressures they face is the cost of looking after children and vulnerable adults - which has been spiralling as services elsewhere are cut back.

Ahead of latest official figures that are expected to show more overspending, the BBC has been looking at how it is playing out on the ground. BBC Northampton

Consultation on new strategy to support people with autism in Northants

Consultation on new strategy to support people with autism in Northants A new strategy about how people with autism in Northamptonshire are supported has been drawn up.

The county council is currently consulting on the strategy which is a redesign of the current service and people have until October 5 to have their say on the proposals.

The strategy is a joint initiative between the county council, the Corby and Nene clinical commissioning groups and the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire family 'will keep fighting' for drug to treat toddler's rare illness after it was rejected for NHS use

Northamptonshire family 'will keep fighting' for drug to treat toddler's rare illness after it was rejected for NHS use The parents of a Northamptonshire two-year-old say they are 'devastated' after a health body has decided not to recommend a treatment for use on the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Comprehensive geriatric assessment: needs assessment tool

Comprehensive geriatric assessment: needs assessment tool The Nuffield Trust, in collaboration with clinical investigators at the Universities of Leicester, Southampton and Newcastle, is part of a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded project to research acute hospital care for frail older people. The aim of the work is to inform NHS managers, clinicians, patients and the public about how best to organise hospital services for frail older people.

See also:

• The Hospital Frailty Risk Score Nuffield Trust

Personal Health Records adoption toolkit

NHS Digital tool supports personal health record development NHS Digital has produced a new toolkit to support local NHS organisations to develop personal health records (PHRs).

PHRs give patients secure access to information about their health, care and wellbeing. The new toolkit is based on research we carried out across the country. It contains guidance, standards, user research findings and gives advice and best practice on building or delivering a PHR.

Patient waited 62 hours for ambulance

Patient waited 62 hours for ambulance A patient waited 62 hours for an ambulance, while four trusts took more than 24 hours to respond to 999 calls, new figures have shown.

The longest delays in the UK were recorded by Welsh Ambulance Service, which kept four patients waiting for more than 50 hours.

A spokesman said the figures were "not typical" and "represent the extreme end of the waiting time spectrum".

The Patients Association said they were "extremely concerning". BBC News

See also:

• Patient waits two-and-a-half days for ambulance as worst delays revealed The Daily Telegraph

Rise in diabetes 'to cause surge in heart disease and strokes'

Rise in diabetes 'to cause surge in heart disease and strokes' Heart attacks and strokes in England are set to surge in the next 20 years as diabetes cases linked to lifestyle increase, a charity has warned.

The number of diabetics is projected to rise by one million by 2035, largely driven by more cases of type 2 diabetes and increasing rates of obesity.

This could lead to a 29% rise in heart attacks and strokes linked to diabetes, the British Heart Foundation said.

The charity said "bold action" was needed to tackle the obesity epidemic. BBC News

Radiologist shortage 'affecting cancer care' in the UK

Radiologist shortage 'affecting cancer care' in the UK A shortage of senior radiologists around the UK is causing delays for patients, and affecting cancer and other medical care.

Radiologists' leaders say the situation is unacceptable and must be tackled by ministers.

Figures suggest their workload of reading and interpreting scans has increased by 30% between 2012 and 2017.

But the number of consultant radiologists in England has gone up by just 15% in that time.

The figures, given to the BBC by the Royal College of Radiologists, also suggest the number of these senior posts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has remained static over that period. BBC News

Steam treatment for big prostates approved on NHS

Steam treatment for big prostates approved on NHS The NHS can start offering a new steam treatment for benign prostate enlargement, says the regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

The procedure is minimally invasive and can be done under local anaesthetic without an overnight hospital stay.

It involves passing a small probe up the urethra to inject a puff of steam into the troublesome area.

The steam kills off some of the enlarged tissue to ease symptoms. BBC News

See also:

• Transurethral water vapour ablation for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia NICE

Two in five GPs have experienced mental health problems, finds survey

Two in five GPs have experienced mental health problems, finds survey Two in five GPs have suffered from a mental health condition, according to a survey of over 1,000 GPs.

The survey, carried out by mental health charity Mind, revealed that 40% had experienced mental health problems, including conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

It also found that GPs are more likely to turn to friends and family for support than their own doctor.

The BMA GP Committee has urged for more action on tackling the 'unmanageable' and 'unsafe' workloads which are damaging GP mental health. Pulse

STI that causes flesh-eating ulcers found in UK for first time

STI that causes flesh-eating ulcers found in UK for first time A sexually transmitted disease which causes flesh-eating ulcers to erupt on the genitals has been diagnosed in the UK for the first time.

The rare STI donovanosis is typically only found in tropical countries and up until now, there had been no recorded breakouts in UK.

However, a Freedom of Information request from online pharmacy chemist-4-u.com found a woman, aged between 15 and 25, was diagnosed with the STI in Southport in the last 12 months. The Independent

Woman gives birth in coastguard helicopter over Cornwall

Woman gives birth in coastguard helicopter over Cornwall Torran MacDonald was born 426 metres above Penzance on the Cornish coast

A woman has thanked medical staff and aircrew who helped in the birth of her son, who was born inside a helicopter almost half a kilometre above the Cornish coast.

Torran MacDonald was born in a coastguard helicopter over Penzance on Saturday night, weighing 3.4kg (7lb 8oz), after his mother, Alicia MacDonald, went into labour while visiting the Isles of Scilly. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS to offer tracking tests for women at high risk of ovarian cancer

NHS to offer tracking tests for women at high risk of ovarian cancer Women with the “Jolie” gene will be offered NHS surveillance so they can attempt to preserve their fertility while protecting themselves from cancer.

Under the pilot scheme, women who carry a faulty BRCA gene but do not want to have their ovaries removed will undergo regular blood tests so they can be alerted if the threat of cancer rises.

It means those women can avoid such surgery – which pushes them into menopause – or delay it until they have completed a family. The Daily Telegraph

Patients with a cough are told to reach for HONEY instead of calling their GP for antibiotics

Patients with a cough are told to reach for HONEY instead of calling their GP for antibiotics People suffering from a cough should drink honey and lemon rather than take antibiotics, official new health advice has declared.

It insists that drugs should not be the first line of treatment for coughs.

The advice, published today by NHS watchdog Nice and Public Health England, has been drawn up as part of the battle against superbugs. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Acute cough (including acute bronchitis): antimicrobial prescribing (consultation) NICE
• Use honey first for a cough, new guidelines say BBC News
• Buy a jar of honey, don’t trouble your doctor with a cough, patients told The Daily Telegraph
• Promote honey rather than antibiotics for coughs, doctors told The Guardian

Getting the right leadership in place

Getting the right leadership in place ‘Your most important job will be replacing me’ said my chief executive when I started as Chair at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust four and a half years ago. There have been a few other challenges along the way, but fundamentally she’s right. Getting the right leadership team in place for the trust and keeping them there is the single biggest contributor to our success and the wellbeing of our patients and staff. It’s a job that is becoming more and more difficult as The King’s Fund and NHS Providers’ research into NHS leadership demonstrates.

NHS data security: protecting patient records

NHS data security: protecting patient records Using Freedom of Information legislation, sixty-eight NHS trusts were asked for information on patient records which were reported 'missing' over the 2017-2018 financial year. This revealed that nearly 10,000 patient records were lost over this period. Parliament Street

Maternal request caesarean research highlights postcode lottery

Maternal request caesarean research highlights postcode lottery Results of a nationwide Freedom of Information Act request show that the majority of Trusts in the UK make the process of requesting a caesarean lengthy, difficult or inconsistent adding anxiety and distress to women at a vulnerable time. And lawyers acting for the charity are concerned that at least one Trust may be acting unlawfully. Birthrights

See also:

• Women 'being denied Caesarean choice' BBC News
• 'I had a haemorrhage after being denied a Caesarean' BBC News
• 74 per cent of hospitals do not respect a woman's right to choose a c-section The Daily Mail
• Women being denied Caesarean births The Daily Telegraph
• One in six NHS trusts do not offer caesareans on request – charity The Guardian
• I would demand another Caesarean in a heartbeat – when a hospital refuses an elective C-section, that’s patriarchy in action The Independent

100,000 carers missing: how ending free movement could spell disaster for elderly and disabled people

100,000 carers missing: how ending free movement could spell disaster for elderly and disabled people Ending freedom of movement after Brexit could mean more than 100,000 fewer adult social care workers by 2026, and a 26% increase in the ratio of over-75s to care workers.

The findings come from a new analysis by think tank Global Future, which is making the case for continuing free movement after Brexit for low-skilled social care workers from the European Union to protect the adult social care sector and the millions of elderly and disabled people who rely on it.

See also:

• Brexit will leave UK short of 380,000 care workers by 2026, analysis suggests The Independent
• EU citizens will not be 'turfed out' of UK in event of no-deal Brexit, says Dominic Raab The Independent

Children 'getting sight problems because of eye test delays'

Children 'getting sight problems because of eye test delays' Children are developing permanent problems with their vision because they are not being given eye tests early enough, optometrists have warned.

An Association of Optometrists survey of 1,200 people indicated a quarter of school-age children had not been taken for a sight test by their parents.

Of parents surveyed, 52% thought tests would be given in primary school.

While some schools do offer screening, the tests are less comprehensive than those provided free on the NHS. BBC News

Superdrug hack: Data thieves claim to have information on 20,000 customers

Superdrug hack: Data thieves claim to have information on 20,000 customers Superdrug has been targeted by hackers claiming they had access to tens of thousands of customers' personal details including dates of birth and phone numbers.

The high street chain it had been contacted by someone who claimed that they had obtained the details of approximately 20,000 customers.

The company confirmed that 386 of the accounts had been compromised and said was it was working to establish the exact number. The Independent

NHS unprepared for no-deal Brexit, leaked letter warns

NHS unprepared for no-deal Brexit, leaked letter warns Letter highlights risk of drug shortages and spread of disease

Hospitals face running out of drugs in a chaotic no-deal Brexit, the group that represents NHS hospital and ambulance service has privately warned.

Poor co-ordination by ministers and health service bosses means there has been a failure to prepare for the UK to be left without a Brexit deal, a leaked letter from NHS Providers said. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Brexit: NHS managers warn about impact of no deal BBC News
• NHS fears over no-deal Brexit highlight risk to patients, Labour says The Guardian
• No-deal Brexit could see hospitals run out of medicine, reveals leaked letter from health chief The Independent

Anti-vaxxers are still spreading false claims as people die of measles

Anti-vaxxers are still spreading false claims as people die of measles | Helen Stokes-Lampard We still don’t have a full uptake of the MMR vaccine. As a GP I know how vital it is to regulate online misinformation and reassure parents

In the early 2000s, after the link between the MMR vaccine and autism was thoroughly debunked, healthcare professionals, including GPs and our teams, worked hard to re-establish public confidence in vaccinations. It took years to restore, but uptake rates in children receiving the MMR vaccine began to improve and there was a time, not so long ago, when we thought we had eradicated measles entirely.

That is why recent data about the surge in measles cases across Europe will come as distressing news – even to us here in the UK. However, it backs up concerns that were published last month in the British Journal of General Practice. The World Health Organization has reported that a total of 41,000 people in the European region were infected in the first six months of 2018 – up from 23,927 cases in 2017 and 5,273 in 2016. Of the cases reported so far this year, 37 deaths have been recorded.

Getting the public invested in the benefits of vaccination is key to its success Continue reading... The Guardian

Country's top nurse resigns in the wake of misleading NHS pay blunder

Country's top nurse resigns in the wake of misleading NHS pay blunder Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, announced she will step down from her role at the end of August. The college said they parted ways by 'mutual agreement'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Janet Davies steps down as Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Royal College of Nursing
• Nursing union chief falls on her sword after NHS pay blunder The Daily Telegraph
• RCN chief steps down over nurses’ pay anger OnMedica

Outbreak of West Nile virus kills 22 in Europe

Outbreak of West Nile virus kills 22 in Europe Health officials have warned there has been a spike in mosquito-borne West Nile virus this year, with 401 recorded human cases across Europe, with most in Serbia, Italy and Greece. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Detailed guide: West Nile virus: epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention Public Health England

Facilitating complex systems research for public health

Facilitating complex systems research for public health How do we turn the tide on seemingly intractable conditions such as diabetes and heart disease when their causes are so entwined with the environments we live in?

Public health researchers and policy makers have long understood that the causes of ill health are complex. Yet the biomedical research model, with its focus on linear associations between cause and effect, remains at the forefront of research and practice. In recent years, the case has been made for a change of direction and the need for a ‘complex systems model of evidence for public health’.  The Health Foundation

Measles cases hit record high in Europe

Measles cases hit record high in Europe Cases of measles in Europe have hit a record high, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

More than 41,000 people have been infected in the first six months of 2018, leading to 37 deaths.

Last year there were 23,927 cases and the year before 5,273. Experts blame this surge in infections on a drop in the number of people being vaccinated.

In England, there have been 807 cases so far this year. The WHO is calling on European countries to take action.

Public Health England say the outbreaks in England are largely due to people who have travelled to areas of mainland Europe that have had outbreaks. BBC News

See also:

• Measles outbreaks across England Public Health England
• Measles epidemic in Europe hits record high, World Health Organisation warns The Independent

Unexplained baby deaths rise for first time in three years

Unexplained baby deaths rise for first time in three years The number of babies dying from unexplained causes in England and Wales has risen for the first time in three years, data shows.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there were 219 deaths caused by sudden infant death syndrome (Sids) or without a known cause in 2016. This was up from 195 the previous year and the highest number since 2013, when there were 252 deaths.

The numbers have been described as deeply concerning by the Lullaby Trust charity, which raises awareness of Sids. The Guardian

The only way is ethics: a new approach to outsourcing social care

The only way is ethics: a new approach to outsourcing social care e Outsourcing public services, especially to the private sector, has been the model of choice in the UK for around 30 years. Nowhere has this been more the case than in adult social care, where private companies account for the vast majority of provision in both the care home and homecare market. The Guardian

16 nurses from same Arizona intensive care unit pregnant at same time

16 nurses from same Arizona intensive care unit pregnant at same time A group of 16 nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Banner Desert Medical Centre in Mesa, Arizona have astounded co-workers by all becoming pregnant at the same time.

The nurses only discovered how many of them were simultaneously expecting children when they all happened to join a Facebook group chat for pregnant workers at the hospital. The Independent

Midwives under fire after newborn baby choked to death when his 'dog tired' mother fell asleep while breastfeeding

Midwives under fire after newborn baby choked to death when his 'dog tired' mother fell asleep while breastfeeding A coroner has criticised hospital midwives after a newborn baby died when his “dog tired” mother fell asleep as she was breastfeeding him.

Louie Bradley choked to death after his mother, Ann, had been taught a feeding technique that went against national advice, an inquest heard.

Bolton assistant coroner John Pollard said it was “extraordinary” that the new mother was left alone in bed with her baby when she was “dog tired” after a long labour. The Independent

The NHS needs to cash in its data

The NHS needs to cash in its data As the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, there has been a period of reflection, and an outpouring of nostalgia, about the contribution the service has made to the country since its foundation in 1948. And quite right too.

But as the UK embarks on its journey outside the European Union, and the NHS faces up to the cost pressures created by the nation’s ageing population, there is a need now to focus on what the service will look like over the next 70 years. Key to this will be ensuring that the UK makes the most of some incredible advances in medical technology and artificial intelligence. The Daily Telegraph

Growing number of women over 50 are turning to IVF

Growing number of women over 50 are turning to IVF According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates IVF in the UK, 223 babies were born to women in their 50s over the past 10 years, with 42 cases in 2016 alone. The Daily Mail

Cocaine deaths quadruple in seven years

Cocaine deaths quadruple in seven years There were 432 deaths related to the drug in England and Wales in 2017, compared with 371 the previous year and 112 in 2011, figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Rise in cocaine deaths prompts calls for government action The Guardian

Struggling Northampton A&E's new unit nears completion

Struggling Northampton A&E's new unit nears completion Hospital beds and equipment have begun to arrive at a struggling emergency department's new assessment centre.

It is hoped the 60-bed unit at Northampton General will help staff to work out the appropriate treatment for each patient and reduce waiting times.

A hospital manager blamed "dangerous overcrowding" in A&E for the death of an 85-year-old man in March.

The Nye Bevan building, named after the health minister who set up the NHS in 1948, is on track to open in October. BBC Northampton

Unitary bid for Northamptonshire revealed

Unitary bid for Northamptonshire revealed Northamptonshire councils will submit a bid to central government for two unitary authorities - however, the authorities say the new councils will not deliver a cost saving.

Details have been released on Friday about the plan to reorganise local governance in Northamptonshire and scrap its current two tier system and replace it with a unitary system.

All eight Northants councils had been told by the secretary of state for local government James Brokenshire in May to work together on a bid following the financial failing of Northamptonshire County Council. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Plans for local government overhaul in Northamptonshire revealed BBC Northampton
• Northamptonshire County Council 'bought rugby hospitality box' BBC Northampton
• The facts and figures behind proposed Northamptonshire unitary model Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Unitary bid: Consultation showed only 37 per cent want two unitaries Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton GP placed in special measures as CEO says inadequate inspection result 'was anticipated'

Northampton GP placed in special measures as CEO says inadequate inspection result 'was anticipated' The chief executive of a Northampton GP practice has admitted a recent inadequate rating of a surgery "was anticipated".

The Care Quality Commission inspected Kings Heath Practice in May and published their report this week.

It was rated 'good' in the caring category, requires improvement in the responsive category, and inadequate in the safe, effective, well-led categories as well as overall. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Sustainability and transformation partnerships

Sustainability and transformation partnerships This briefing, aimed at STPs, focuses on the improvements in quality of care that pharmacists and their teams bring to care home residents, care home providers and the NHS. It highlights how pharmacists in care homes can improve medicines safety, reduce admissions to hospital and support end of life care. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

'I broke every bone in my face - and survived'

'I broke every bone in my face - and survived' NHS reorganisations are not very popular - but Tom Locke probably owes his life to one.

The 41-year-old was inspecting pigeon nests on his roof at home in Hythe on the Kent coast last October when disaster struck.

He fell from his ladder on his balcony plummeting three storeys on to his patio below, breaking his leg, arm, wrist, shoulder and every bone in his face.

But rather than being taken to a local hospital he was ferried by air ambulance to London's King's College Hospital more than 60 miles away.

According to doctors who treated him, the decision saved his life. BBC News

See also:

• Changing the System - Major Trauma Patients and Their Outcomes in the NHS (England) 2008–17 (open access) EClinicalMedicine

Rise in type 2 diabetes in young people in England and Wales

Rise in type 2 diabetes in young people in England and Wales The number of children and young people being treated for type 2 diabetes in England and Wales has gone up from 507 to 715 in four years, new figures show.

More than three-quarters were also obese, according to the NHS data.

Child health experts said the rise was "alarming" and the childhood obesity epidemic was "starting to bite".

Councils said more needed to be done to tackle the obesity crisis in children, particularly among minority ethnic groups, who were most affected. BBC News

See also:

• National Paediatric Diabetes Audit 2016-17 Care Processes and Outcomes Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

GPs to consult patients using new Government NHS app from 2019

GPs to consult patients using new Government NHS app from 2019 The new NHS app could support GP video consultations from next year, according to NHS Digital.

A freedom of information request from technology magazine Gizmodo to NHS Digital, revealed that an update to the app in 2019 could enable GPs to hold video consultations with their patients.

However, the information also revealed that only patients at certain practices will be able to use all the features of the app when it first launches to the public in December. Pulse

NHS kept using 'danger syringes' in bid to save money, investigation claims

NHS kept using 'danger syringes' in bid to save money, investigation claims At least nine people died because the NHS used syringe pumps that did not meet internationally approved safety standards in a bid to save cash, it has been claimed.

Thousands of lives were put at risk as Britain’s health service continued to use equipment other countries had banned, an investigation by The Sunday Times reports.

Experts say the number of fatalities linked to the pumps may actually be many times higher – but no record was ever made because of “institutional indifference” to elderly patients in their final days. The Independent

Government's ‘care Isa’ plans will only work for minority of wealthy people, Tory MP warns

Government's ‘care Isa’ plans will only work for minority of wealthy people, Tory MP warns A senior Tory MP has condemned plans for a new “care Isa” to fund end of life treatment, arguing that it would only work for a “small minority of wealthy people” who can afford to invest.

The Isa - which would be exempt from inheritance tax - is reportedly being considered by the government in an effort to solve the country’s social care crisis.

But Sarah Wollaston, the chair of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, has said the plans were a “colossal mistake” and she claims that they would not solve the crisis “at all”. The Independent

US multinational buys into UK rehab centres as demand grows

US multinational buys into UK rehab centres as demand grows Eli Global invests in private clinics amid fears of shortage of publicly funded facilities

The UK private rehab market is set to grow exponentially, one of the largest addiction firms in the country has said after receiving US investment.

Addiction treatment centres have reported increases in the number of people seeking help, and concerns have been raised that cuts to drug and alcohol services mean some addicts are being cut adrift. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hospital patients to be told to get up and dressed to avoid 'pyjama paralysis'

Hospital patients to be told to get up and dressed to avoid 'pyjama paralysis' Hospital patients across the country will be told to get up and dressed in the daytime in a bid to end “pyjama paralysis” which can cause premature frailty.

Britain’s chief nursing officer will today launch a national campaign to get patients moving after pilot schemes found that getting patients out of bed boosted their health and got them home earlier.

Earlier this year, Prof Jane Cummings asked wards to try a 70 day “challenge” to get patients up, dressed, and moving wherever possible. The Daily Telegraph

End of rip-off hospital phone charges under Ofcom crackdown

End of rip-off hospital phone charges under Ofcom crackdown "Rip off" phone bills for worried friends and family calling relatives recovering in hospital are set to become a thing of the past under an Ofcom crackdown.

The telecoms regulator will for the first time start to regulate the cost of 070 numbers, which currently hit consumers making 2.6 million calls a year with charges of around 50p a minute.

Draft Ofcom plans show it is planning to cap the amount providers of 070 numbers can charge your phone company - for example BT, Vodafone or EE - when you call them, to bring them in line with standard mobile tariffs. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals make £260k from vending machines with high-calorie snacks

Hospitals make £260k from vending machines with high-calorie snacks Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust generated £260,000 between 2013 and 2018. If the UK's other 134 trusts did the same, it would've created £34 million from the sale of crisps, drinks and sweets. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire's NHS shows 'notable examples of outstanding practice' finds glowing watchdog report

Northamptonshire's NHS shows 'notable examples of outstanding practice' finds glowing watchdog report A Northamptonshire health trust has improved its Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating after inspectors found outstanding practice in all areas during a visit earlier this summer.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, headed by Angela Hillery, provides a range of services across the county to 733,000 people including mental health, learning disability, community health and prison health services.

The trust was rated as good following an inspection in January 2017 but on CQC’s return inspectors found a number of improvements had been made resulting in it receiving the top 'outstanding' rating. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Through the eyes of GP trainees: workforce of the future

Through the eyes of GP trainees: workforce of the future There is a workforce crisis in general practice with the GP workforce declining while workload increases. The NHS’s struggle to retain GPs is highlighted by a 2.2 per cent decline in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs to 33,062 in September 2017 compared to September 2016. A recent GP survey found that 39 per cent of respondents (and 62 per cent of respondents aged 50+) planned to leave ‘direct patient care’ by 2022. The King's Fund

See also:

• Average GP works just three-and-a-half days a week despite six-figure salaries The Daily Mail

Government missing opportunity with e-cigarettes

Government missing opportunity with e-cigarettes The Science and Technology Committee publishes its Report, E-cigarettes. The Report reviews the current evidence base on the harmfulness of e-cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes and looks at the current policies on e-cigarettes, including in NHS mental health units and in prisons. The Committee concludes that e-cigarettes should not be treated in the same way as conventional cigarettes.

• Read the report summary
• Read the report conclusions and recommendations
• Read the full report:: E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes, estimated as 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes, are too often being overlooked as a stop smoking tool by the NHS. Regulations should be relaxed relating to e-cigarettes’ licensing, prescribing and advertising of their health benefits. Their level of taxation and use in public places must be reconsidered.

See also:

• E-cigarettes can be key weapon against smoking, say MPs BBC News
• Relaxing vaping laws would cut smoking deaths, say MPs The Guardian
• Smoking ban should not apply to e-cigarettes and vaping should be allowed at work, in pubs and on trains, MPs say The Independent

Ordinary residence guide: determining local authority responsibilities under the Care Act and the Mental Health Act

Ordinary residence guide: determining local authority responsibilities under the Care Act and the Mental Health Act This guide has been created to support the ambitions of the Transforming Care programme to improve services and support for children, young people and adults with a learning disability, autism or both a learning disability and autism who may display behaviour that challenges, and significantly reduce the number of people in inpatient settings. Local Government Association

The 'So what, what next?' project: supporting people with a learning disability, autism or both to use their skills and interests to play a part in the community

The 'So what, what next?' project: supporting people with a learning disability, autism or both to use their skills and interests to play a part in the community The So what, what next? project was designed by the Transforming Care empowerment steering group to look at ways of supporting people with a learning disability or autism who have recently been discharged from hospital to explore their skills and passions and to find ways to contribute these to their local communities. This report outlines how the findings and learning from the project. Local Government Association