Northamptonshire County Council: Commissioners take over authority

Northamptonshire County Council: Commissioners take over authority Two government-appointed commissioners have been sent in to run a financially troubled council.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said Tony McArdle and Brian Roberts would be in place at Northamptonshire County Council until 2021.

It comes after spending controls were imposed in February, but the council has since managed to balance its books.

Earlier this year a government report found serious failings at the council and said it should be scrapped. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Brokenshire says he’ll give broken shire a fresh start Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Who are the men appointed to help run the county’s finances? Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Bill for commissioners could top £1,170,000 Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Government taskforce sent in to turn around Northamptonshire County Council finances Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton brain injury service praised for ‘exceptional leadership’

Northampton brain injury service praised for ‘exceptional leadership’ Staff at a 'Good' Northampton brain injury service have been praised by a watchdog for their ‘caring and compassionate’ approach in a recently published inspection report. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The 35 medicines that will NOT be available on NHS prescription by end of this month

The 35 medicines that will NOT be available on NHS prescription by end of this month The NHS will be banning free prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ medicines such as constipation and athletes foot by the end of this month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mapping the NHS winter

Mapping the NHS winter This report highlights the scale of pressures faced by NHS trusts and front line staff through the toughest winter on record. It reveals that the number of people coming in to A & E over winter period, between December 2017 and March 2018, rose to more than 5.8 million. It also shows how, despite record numbers of patients being treated, services were unable keep up with demand. It sets out what must be done to ensure the health service is ready next time. NHS Providers

What can England learn from the long-term care system in Japan?

What can England learn from the long-term care system in Japan? This report examines the lessons that can be drawn from a country that has demonstrated it is possible to achieve fundamental social care reform despite formidable demographic, economic and social pressures. Nuffield Trust

Sleep-ins - a tipping point?: an independent survey to assess the impact of the sleep in pay crisis on the future of social care

Sleep-ins - a tipping point?: an independent survey to assess the impact of the sleep in pay crisis on the future of social care This report assesses the impact of ‘sleep-in’ pay on the future of the care sector. It highlights the potential rate of collapse in care services – finding that 30 per cent of people are likely to have their services disrupted in the next year as providers are forced to hand back contracts. Voluntary Organisations Disability Group

Last minute cancelled operations hits highest number since 1994

Last minute cancelled operations hits highest number since 1994 The extreme pressures in accident and emergency departments during March have had a knock-on effect on spiralling waiting times for planned surgery, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has warned. The RCS is also concerned that over 25,000 operations were cancelled at the last minute, despite NHS England guiding hospitals to cancel operations in advance during January.

See also:

• The King's Fund response to the latest NHS performance statistics The King's Fund
• 25,000 patients had their operation cancelled at the last minute this year The Daily Mail
• Record numbers of NHS operations cancelled at last minute The Daily Telegraph
• Record number of NHS operations cancelled at last minute The Guardian
• Ex-Minister Says 'Hostile' Immigration Policy Behind Record NHS Operation Cancellations Huffington Post UK

Cancer delays 'leave patients at risk'

Cancer delays 'leave patients at risk' The lives of cancer patients are being put at risk, experts say, as the NHS struggles to see people quickly enough.

Patients are meant to start cancer treatment within 62 days of it being suspected, but nowhere in the UK has achieved this for more than two years.

It means one in six patients is now waiting longer than they should, the BBC analysis of official figures found. BBC News

App technology allows medics to view 999 patients

App technology allows medics to view 999 patients A new app which allows air ambulance services to view patients before they arrive to treat them is being trialled in two areas of England.

The GoodSam app sends a link to the 999 caller's mobile phone, which opens live streaming.

Medics can then assess how seriously ill a patient is before setting off. BBC News

The NHS has stopped sharing data with the Home Office – now it must halt passport checks on patients

The NHS has stopped sharing data with the Home Office – now it must halt passport checks on patients While it is framed as a necessary cost saving measure, the reality is that it is a policy designed to use fear as a tool to stop people accessing care and to identify those who could face deportation. The Independent

UK universities call for joined-up mental health care for students

UK universities call for joined-up mental health care for students We must not fail a generation, says chair of group, urging better links between home and campus services

Mental health services are failing to adequately support students when they leave home and move to university, allowing them to fall through the gaps at a time of increased vulnerability and stressful new pressures, according to research.

With suicide rates among students on the rise and a sharp increase in demand for mental health support – as much as three-fold in some institutions – universities have acknowledged in a report that current services are letting students down. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hammond and Hunt in battle over NHS funding boost

Hammond and Hunt in battle over NHS funding boost Exclusive: Chancellor wants to knock £2bn off health secretary’s push for extra £5.2bn a year.

Jeremy Hunt and Philip Hammond are at loggerheads over how much more money the NHS should get to fulfil Theresa May’s pledge for a long-term funding deal to rescue the service.

The health and social care secretary and chancellor have been competing for the prime minister’s backing for their starkly different visions of how much extra cash the beleaguered service in England needs. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS staff will soon be able to sign up for extra shifts using an app

NHS staff will soon be able to sign up for extra shifts using an app Doctors and nurses will soon be able to sign up to shifts on their phones to cut reliance on expensive agency staff.

Thousands of NHS workers will be able to opt to work extra hours for extra pay using phone ‘apps’ as part of a trial.

The apps on their phones will receive notifications of when shifts become available and let staff sign up to work instantly. The Daily Mail

Britain may face another Mid Staffs hospital scandal, health official warns

Britain may face another Mid Staffs hospital scandal, health official warns Britain may shortly face another Mid Staffs hospital scandal, according to the leader of the Royal College of Nursing.

Janet Davies warns nursing shortages are as bad as they were during the crisis, adding the number of vacancies has reached a 'critical' stage.

Up to 1,200 patients died as a result of poor care between January 2005 and March 2009 at Stafford hospital, which is run by the Mid Staffordshire NHS hospital trust.

A report into the incident claimed it occurred due to 'a chronic shortage of staff, particularly nursing staff'. The Daily Mail