Should free personal care be available in England? Imagine you live in Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, and, as you get older, find you can no longer get dressed by yourself. You ask your local council for help in your home but discover that, because you have savings of more than £23,250, you will need to pay for it yourself. Welcome to the English social care system.
Now imagine being in the same situation but living in Coldstream, a mile or so over the border in Scotland. Now when you ask for the same kind of help, you will receive it, following assessment, free of charge. Welcome to the Scottish social care system. The King's Fund
Friday, 8 June 2018
Government must improve preventive care outside hospitals
Government must improve preventive care outside hospitals The Public Accounts Committee report warns hospitals, GPs, community services and social care need to work together more effectively.
Emergency admissions to hospitals continue to rise, despite the NHS’s efforts to reduce them.
It is lamentable that nearly 1.5 million people could have avoided emergency admissions in 2016–17 if hospitals, GPs, community services and social care had worked together more effectively.
It is frustrating that NHS England and partners are making some progress in reducing the impact of emergency admissions for patients and hospitals when they do happen, but no impact on reducing the numbers of admissions that could have been avoided.
NHS England needs to deliver on its five-year plan to move care into the community and out of hospitals. This move is overdue.
See also:
Emergency admissions to hospitals continue to rise, despite the NHS’s efforts to reduce them.
It is lamentable that nearly 1.5 million people could have avoided emergency admissions in 2016–17 if hospitals, GPs, community services and social care had worked together more effectively.
It is frustrating that NHS England and partners are making some progress in reducing the impact of emergency admissions for patients and hospitals when they do happen, but no impact on reducing the numbers of admissions that could have been avoided.
NHS England needs to deliver on its five-year plan to move care into the community and out of hospitals. This move is overdue.
See also:
Investigation into NHS spending on generic medicines in primary care
Investigation into NHS spending on generic medicines in primary care During 2017, the prices of certain ‘generic’ medicines purchased by pharmacies for the NHS increased unexpectedly, placing what NHS England described as a “significant unbudgeted pressure” on clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
Today’s investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) sets out the possible causes of the price increases from 2017-18 and how the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England responded in order to maintain the supply of generic medicines for patients and manage spending. The NAO has examined price increases that affected certain ‘generic’ medicines, as opposed to ‘branded’ medicines that are sold under the name given by the company that made them.
See also:
Today’s investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) sets out the possible causes of the price increases from 2017-18 and how the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England responded in order to maintain the supply of generic medicines for patients and manage spending. The NAO has examined price increases that affected certain ‘generic’ medicines, as opposed to ‘branded’ medicines that are sold under the name given by the company that made them.
See also:
- How a £1.59 pack of tablets is sold to the NHS for £113.10 The Daily Mail
Horizontal or vertical: which way to integrate? - approaches to community services integration and consequences for emergency hospital activity
Horizontal or vertical: which way to integrate? - approaches to community services integration and consequences for emergency hospital activity The Transforming Community Services required PCTs to decide how they organised the community health services they delivered; vertically integrate with an acute trust, horizontally integrate with a mental health trust, or set up a stand-alone community trust or Community Interest Company? This report explores the impact this choice had on the level and growth in emergency hospital use in older people and considers the wider implications for the NHS as it develops new models of care and integrated care systems.The Strategy Unit
Behind the headlines: the battle to get care at home
Behind the headlines: the battle to get care at home This report illustrates the experiences by many older people and their families as they try to get the care at home they need. It finds that the provision of homecare services has fallen by three million hours since 2015. It calls for the Government to prop up the current system with substantial added investment, as well as bringing forward proposals for placing care on a sustainable financial footing for the future. Age UK
That Age Old Question
That Age Old Question A new report examining how attitudes to ageing can affect our health and wellbeing.
The findings reveal that ageist views are held across the generations, and that an ageing society is viewed by many as a challenge rather than an opportunity. We are making a number of recommendations aimed at addressing some of the key drivers and negative consequences of societal ageism. Royal Society of Public Health
See also:
The findings reveal that ageist views are held across the generations, and that an ageing society is viewed by many as a challenge rather than an opportunity. We are making a number of recommendations aimed at addressing some of the key drivers and negative consequences of societal ageism. Royal Society of Public Health
See also:
- Millennials feel most negatively about ageing report finds The Independent
The children who hear 'terrifying' voices
The children who hear 'terrifying' voices One in 12 children is thought to persistently hear voices that are not there. Sometimes they tell them they are worthless. Now new research suggests the reaction of adults can affect the voices they hear in future.
"It's like being in a crowded room. All you can hear is all these multiple different voices having a go at you," Laura Moulding tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.
The 21-year-old hears voices around her almost constantly, and has done since childhood. BBC News
"It's like being in a crowded room. All you can hear is all these multiple different voices having a go at you," Laura Moulding tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.
The 21-year-old hears voices around her almost constantly, and has done since childhood. BBC News
Britons most proud of NHS, survey finds
Britons most proud of NHS, survey finds The NHS has topped a list of Britons’ most cherished institutions as it prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, according to an annual consumer survey.
More than half (54%) of adults include the health service in their list of “British things” that make them most proud, significantly ahead of British history (38%), the British armed forces (34%) and even the royal family (28%), according to the 28th Mintel British Lifestyles report.
However support for these institutions is much higher among older consumers, with 66% of those aged 65 and older saying they are proud of the NHS compared with 21% of 16 to 34-year-olds. ITV News
More than half (54%) of adults include the health service in their list of “British things” that make them most proud, significantly ahead of British history (38%), the British armed forces (34%) and even the royal family (28%), according to the 28th Mintel British Lifestyles report.
However support for these institutions is much higher among older consumers, with 66% of those aged 65 and older saying they are proud of the NHS compared with 21% of 16 to 34-year-olds. ITV News
One in 10 GP practices could be forced to close by 2022, BMA warns
One in 10 GP practices could be forced to close by 2022, BMA warns One in 10 GP practices in England may be forced out of business over the next four years - potentially driving 6m patients to find a new family doctor, the BMA has warned. GPonline
I'm an oncologist who got breast cancer. This is what I learned
I'm an oncologist who got breast cancer. This is what I learned Cancer is not a battle, hair loss does matter – and even doctors like me can’t prepare for the effects of chemotherapy
In August 2017, during the last month of my maternity leave, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Initially, I was plagued by memories of the young patients I had discharged home or to the hospice for end-of-life care. Thankfully they are few – but they are the ones you remember. My experience of being on the other side of the consultation desk will shape my future career and it has helped me to understand what goes on for patients. It has been an education in patience, humility and gratitude. Continue reading... The Guardian
In August 2017, during the last month of my maternity leave, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Initially, I was plagued by memories of the young patients I had discharged home or to the hospice for end-of-life care. Thankfully they are few – but they are the ones you remember. My experience of being on the other side of the consultation desk will shape my future career and it has helped me to understand what goes on for patients. It has been an education in patience, humility and gratitude. Continue reading... The Guardian
Home Office prevented asylum seeker's urgent cancer treatment
Home Office prevented asylum seeker's urgent cancer treatment Woman with advanced breast cancer was deemed ineligible for free NHS care
A 38-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer was denied potentially life-saving chemotherapy for nearly six weeks after the Home Office deemed her ineligible.
Kelemua Mulat, who has metastatic breast cancer in her abdomen and bone cancer in her spine, was refused urgent hospital treatment on 27 April after a Home Office official decided her asylum claim did not meet strict criteria. Continue reading... The Guardian
A 38-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer was denied potentially life-saving chemotherapy for nearly six weeks after the Home Office deemed her ineligible.
Kelemua Mulat, who has metastatic breast cancer in her abdomen and bone cancer in her spine, was refused urgent hospital treatment on 27 April after a Home Office official decided her asylum claim did not meet strict criteria. Continue reading... The Guardian
What part of the NHS do people most complain about?
What part of the NHS do people most complain about? NHS Digital figures released today showed 49,580 written complaints were made in quarter four - 4,000 more than in October to December. In total, there was 186,000 made over 12 months. The Daily Mail
Dying patients do not get the best palliative care unless they have cancer
Dying patients do not get the best palliative care unless they have cancer Cancer patients receive roughly twice the palliative care time that other incurable diseases receive, according to a new study.
Patients with progressive and incurable diseases like dementia, liver failure, Parkinson's and strokes typically spend around half as much time receiving end-of-life care in hospices than patients with cancer.
Leeds University researchers analysed information about 42,000 deaths in the UK in 2015 and found patients with cancer were typically referred to hospices 53 days before their deaths, compared to 27 days for other terminal patients. The Daily Mail
Patients with progressive and incurable diseases like dementia, liver failure, Parkinson's and strokes typically spend around half as much time receiving end-of-life care in hospices than patients with cancer.
Leeds University researchers analysed information about 42,000 deaths in the UK in 2015 and found patients with cancer were typically referred to hospices 53 days before their deaths, compared to 27 days for other terminal patients. The Daily Mail
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