Northamptonshire: CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together

Northamptonshire: CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together The Care Quality Commission has published its findings following a review of health and social care services in Northamptonshire.

This report is one of 20 targeted local system reviews looking specifically at how older people move through the health and social care system, with a focus on how services work together. The reviews look at how hospitals, community health services, GP practices, care homes and homecare agencies work together to provide seamless care for people aged 65 and over living in a local area.

The review found there was a system-wide commitment to serving the people of Northamptonshire but that services had not always worked effectively together. It highlighted a number of areas where improvements are needed to ensure those responsible for providing health and social care services work better together.

See also:

• Northamptonshire healthcare systems 'not working well together'. BBC Northampton

The NHS 10-year plan: how should the extra funding be spent?

The NHS 10-year plan: how should the extra funding be spent? The government has announced increases in NHS funding and has asked the NHS to come up with a 10-year plan for how this funding will be used. After eight years of austerity, there is now an opportunity to tackle the issues that matter most to patients and communities and to improve health and care. Our new long read explores the priorities and opportunities for the NHS and social care. The King's Fund

Safe medical staffing

Safe medical staffing The RCP's Guidance on safe medical staffing working party report aims to help those planning and organising core hospital medical services to answer the question: ‘How many doctors or their alternatives, with what capabilities, do we need to provide safe, timely and effective care for patients with medical problems?'. Royal College of Physicians

See also:

• NHS 'hasn't got a clue' how many doctors it needs, say experts launching safe staffing plan The Independent

Removing the student nurse bursary has been a disaster

Removing the student nurse bursary has been a disaster Two years on from the removal of the NHS student bursary, applications to nursing degree courses have plummeted by a third in England.

Numbers applying to begin training in September 2018 have dropped 12% compared to the same time last year, resulting in a total decline of 16,580 since March 2016, the last year students received financial support through the bursary.

The fall in mature student numbers has been even more extreme, with a 16% drop by the June application deadline compared to the same point last year, and a total decline of 40% since June 2016. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• Nursing applicants at the 30 June deadline UCAS 
• 12% fall in England’s nurse training applications in past year OnMedica

Learning from deaths: guidance for NHS trusts on working with bereaved families and carers

Learning from deaths: guidance for NHS trusts on working with bereaved families and carers This guidance advises trusts on how they should support, communicate and engage with families following a death of someone in their care. It sets out different stages following a death and calls on trusts to involve families throughout by providing bereavement support, signposting families to advice and advocacy support along with examples of how trusts are working with families and good practice guidance on specific subjects. NHS England

In good health: a report following the All Party Pharmacy Group's 2018 inquiry into long term conditions

In good health: a report following the All Party Pharmacy Group's 2018 inquiry into long term conditions This report highlights the opportunities for community pharmacies to deliver and improve care for patients with long-term conditions. It outlines four key actions that would enable long-term conditions to be managed in a community setting and argues that these actions should be implemented by 2020. All-Party Pharmacy Group

Public health approaches to reducing family violence

Public health approaches to reducing family violence This report provides an introduction to the subject of family violence and looks at the evidence on using a public health approach to reducing family violence. It examines the evidence on what a public health approach tells us about family violence and which public health interventions are effective in reducing violence. Local Government Association

A sustainable adult social care and support system for the long term: moving the conversation on

A sustainable adult social care and support system for the long term: moving the conversation on Ahead of the green paper on the future of adult social care, this paper outlines the view of sector experts on issues at the heart of the debate to help define what a system fit for future generations might look like. Local Government Association

Polypharmacy: getting our medicines right

Polypharmacy: getting our medicines right This draft guidance outlines the size of the challenge of problematic polypharmacy and highlights the work being done to address it. It makes clear recommendations to organisations and individuals involved with medicines as part of the care of the people they serve. Views are being sought on this draft guidance and responses will be accepted until 28 August 2018. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Over 400 GPs at risk of deportation as NHS is unable to sponsor their visas

Over 400 GPs at risk of deportation as NHS is unable to sponsor their visas NHS England has reached out to GP practices in an 'urgent' bid to find sponsors for 400 international GPs due to complete their training this month.

It had hoped to be able to act as a ‘proxy sponsor’ itself to secure the visas for the newly-qualified GPs but an email seen by Pulse said NHS England was ‘unlikely’ to be able to do so.

According to the email, there are more than 400 non-EEA students in the GP training system due to qualify at the end of July. Pulse

See also:

• College ‘disappointed’ by reports that plans to cut red-tape on GP recruitment have fallen through Royal College of General Practitioners
• More than 400 overseas trainee GPs could be thrown out of England The Daily Mail

Don't dismiss tech solutions to mental health problems

Don't dismiss tech solutions to mental health problems The words “mental health” and “crisis” now appear to be yoked together. About a quarter of us will suffer from a clinical psychological disorder over the next year, but most people will receive no help at all. The question is no longer about whether we have a problem, but what we are going to do about it.

We don’t lack high-quality, evidence-based psychological treatments for many mental health problems. These treatments have been verified by dozens of clinical trials. What we are short of is the skilled clinicians to deliver them. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'Virtual reality cured my fear of heights' BBC News

Sharp rise in under-19s being treated by NHS mental health services

Sharp rise in under-19s being treated by NHS mental health services There were a record 389,727 ‘active referrals’ in England in April, NHS figures show

Almost 400,000 children and young people a year in England are being treated for mental health problems, the highest number ever, NHS figures show.

There were a total of 389,727 “active referrals” for people aged 18 or younger in April, a third higher than the same month two years ago, according to the latest statistics published by NHS Digital. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS Trust puts up posters reminding surgeons to check identity of patients before operating

NHS Trust puts up posters reminding surgeons to check identity of patients before operating Two hospitals have put up posters in operating theatres reminding surgeons to make sure they have got the right patients.

Oxford University Trust introduced the posters at John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals after four patients received the wrong operation from May to June this year. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Two NHS hospitals have put up posters reminding  surgeons to check they have the right patient The Daily Mail

211,000 patients have been waiting 6 MONTHS for treatment

211,000 patients have been waiting 6 MONTHS for treatment Some 4.08 million patients in May were waiting to start treatment - the highest total since 4.19 million in August 2007, according to figures released by NHS England. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS operation waiting lists reach 10-year high at 4.3m patients The Guardian
• NHS waits of six months or longer up 50 per cent in a year with hundreds of thousands 'left in pain' The Independent