Tuesday 17 April 2018

Steep rise in reported assaults against NHS staff

Steep rise in reported assaults against NHS staff Last year in England physical assaults on NHS staff rose by nearly 10% compared to 2015/16, according to new figures published today (Tuesday) by UNISON and HSJ.

The figures were obtained following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request – submitted by HSJ working on behalf of UNISON – to all the 244 NHS trusts in England. Answers were received from 181 organisations.

The biggest increase was in the acute sector, with reported attacks on health workers in hospitals with an A&E department up a staggering 21%, says UNISON. There were 18,720 assaults in 2016/17 in the acute trusts who responded, compared to 15,469 the previous year.

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Independent NHS, Simpler Quangos

Independent NHS, Simpler Quangos A new report out by the TaxPayers’ Alliance shows that the NHS could save nearly £800 million by merging various NHS management bodies.

The report advocates reducing the number of quangos from 19 to 7:
  • This would save approximately £760 million.
  • This would also release top managerial time to improve efficiencies in the system.
  • And granting more independence to NHS England would free it from meddling politicians.
  • Savings to the Department of Health could save a further £40 million.
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Strategic direction for sexual assault and abuse services

Strategic direction for sexual assault and abuse services This strategic document outlines how services for victims and survivors of sexual assault and abuse, in all settings of the health and care system, need to evolve between now and 2023. It sets out six core priorities that NHS England will focus on to reduce inequalities experienced.

Sustainable improvement change model

Sustainable improvement change model NHS England’s sustainable improvement team has published an updated and enhanced version of the change model.

The model, originally developed in 2012 with hundreds of health and care staff, is a framework for any project or programme that is seeking to achieve transformational, sustainable change. The refreshed version of the model includes a PDF guide and a series of supporting diagnostic tools to use in your work.

Mortality in the UK

Mortality in the UK In the United Kingdom, there has been a long-term downward trend in both the number of deaths and the crude death rate. This briefing discusses the rise in number of deaths and crude death rate since 2011. House of Commons Library

The 'nanobots' and 'ninja polymers' transforming medicine

The 'nanobots' and 'ninja polymers' transforming medicine With advances in stem cell research and nanotechnology helping us fight illnesses from heart disease to superbugs, is the fusion of biology and technology speeding us towards a sci-fi future - part human, part synthetic? BBC News

GP trainee 'cautiously optimistic' as Home Office drops deportation bid

GP trainee 'cautiously optimistic' as Home Office drops deportation bid The Home Office has dropped its bid to deport a Manchester-based doctor who faced being kicked out of the UK just five months before he was due to qualify as a GP - after more than 300,000 people signed a petition to support him. GPonline

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Universities are a key resource for the NHS. Why are they so underused?

Universities are a key resource for the NHS. Why are they so underused? The UK’s research ecosystem is fragmented. We need more collaboration to pool expertise and improve public health

Good public health is central to the success of our cities, nations and regions. It’s an area in which higher education has a key role to play, since working to address local and global health challenges and develop cutting-edge drug therapies is deeply rooted within academic institutions. Yet universities are still an underused resource in tackling local public health problems.

The main obstacle is the absence of organisations that connect universities and the NHS. In the UK, there are just six Academic Health Science Centres, which bring together research, education and clinical practice to translate research swiftly into patient care and ensure that patient interactions contribute to the generation of new knowledge. These AHSCs are not spread evenly around the country: three are in London, and one in Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester.

A commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of local communities is fundamental to every university’s purpose Continue reading... The Guardian

UK leads fight to eliminate blindness

UK leads fight to eliminate blindness The UK is stepping up efforts to help eliminate trachoma, a painful bacterial infection that can lead to permanent loss of sight among some of the poorest people in the world.

At this week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London the UK's international development secretary, Penny Mordaunt, has pledged an extra £20million to provide sight-saving antibiotics and surgery to people in 10 Commonwealth countries. The Daily Telegraph