Wednesday 28 February 2018

Dogs introduced on wards at Northampton General Hospital to help provide comfort to patients

Dogs introduced on wards at Northampton General Hospital to help provide comfort to patients A cocker spaniel and great dane have been headhunted to work on the wards at Northampton General Hospital to provide familiarity and comfort to poorly patients.

Indie the cocker spaniel and Anya the Great Dane were recruited as part of The Pets as Therapy (PAT) scheme at Northampton General Hospital, which aims to bring joy and companionship to patients through volunteer visitors and their pets. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Social services on the brink as backlog of vulnerable Northamptonshire adults awaiting a social worker hits 2,000

Social services on the brink as backlog of vulnerable Northamptonshire adults awaiting a social worker hits 2,000 The extent of underfunding at Northamptonshire County Council means some 2,000 vulnerable adults have not yet been assigned a social worker.

Yesterday, Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet approved a set of proposals aimed at saving £9.9 million in next year's budget. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2017: Results and trends from the British Social Attitudes survey

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2017: Results and trends from the British Social Attitudes survey Nuffield Trust and The King's Fund present results and analysis from the annual British Social Attitudes survey. This year's results show a sharp, alarming drop in public satisfaction with the NHS.

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New national data opt-out

New national data opt-out A new, national data opt-out system will be introduced in May 2018. This will give patients a clear choice on how their identifiable health and care information is used for purposes beyond their individual care. NHS Digital

Improving care for people with diabetes and a learning disability

Improving care for people with diabetes and a learning disability This set of resources and tools aims to support providers and services improve care for people with diabetes and a learning disability. The resources focus on improving the diagnosis of diabetes and learning disabilities, making reasonable adjustments to services and communicating with people with learning disabilities. Diabetes UK

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2016/17

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2016/17 This annual report uses data from monitoring and inspection visits undertaken during 2016/17 and finds limited or no improvement in the key concerns that have been raised in the previous years. It concludes that mental health services are not doing enough to ensure that people whose liberty has been restricted under the Mental Health Act are able to exercise their rights; and that this situation is not improving. Care Quality Commission

Most UK cannabis 'super strength skunk'

Most UK cannabis 'super strength skunk' Most cannabis being sold illegally in the UK is super-strength skunk linked to a higher risk of psychotic mental health episodes, an analysis of 995 samples seized by the police suggests.

In 2016, 94% of police seizures were high-potency marijuana, compared to 85% in 2008 and 51% in 2005.

The drug contains more of the psychoactive ingredient THC than some other types of cannabis, such as hash.

Researchers from King's College London say users should be warned of this. BBC News

'I prayed to die' after FGM aged six, says victim

'I prayed to die' after FGM aged six, says victim A victim of female genital mutilation (FGM) says she "prayed to die" after the procedure was carried out on her aged six.

Ahead of an international conference in Bristol aimed to promote zero tolerance of the practice, Hibo Wadere said she wouldn't wish it "on her worst enemy".

Some 137,000 girls and women are currently affected by FGM in England and Wales, the NSPCC says. BBC News

GP practices given cash back for not sending patients to hospital 

GP practices given cash back for not sending patients to hospital GP practices are being given “cash back” for preventing patients from going to hospital, under “profit-share” agreements, which were last night condemned by patients’ groups.

An investigation reveals that one in four NHS authorities has introduced financial incentives for GP practices which reduce the number of patients referred to hospital.

They include schemes which mean practices can keep up to half of all savings generated, if they stop any rise in the numbers going to hospital, despite an ageing population. Others receive an extra £5 for every patient kept out of hospital, if referrals are cut by 10 per cent, under a £1.4m scheme. The Daily Telegraph

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Diabetes is fastest modern health crisis as cases double

Diabetes is fastest modern health crisis as cases double The number of diabetes cases in Britain has doubled in just 20 years, making it the fastest growing modern health crisis.

Almost 3.7million people have been diagnosed with the condition, according to Diabetes UK.

Soaring obesity levels are being blamed for a spike in Type 2 diabetes patients, up by 1.9 million since 1998. The Daily Mail

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