Rise in teenagers being admitted to hospital due to self harming in Northants

Rise in teenagers being admitted to hospital due to self harming in Northants There has been a sharp rise in the number of 15 to 19-year-olds being admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals due to self harming.
Latest figures revealed in the county’s annual public health report show that 485 young people were admitted to a hospital after harming themselves in 2016/17. The number of hospital admissions has almost doubled in the past five years. Exam stress, social media pressure, bullying and confidence issues have been identified as some of the reasons why more and more of the county’s 15 to 19-year-olds are hurting themselves. Northampton Chronicle & Echo
See also:

• Public Health and Board Reports: Director of Public Health Annual Report Northamptonshire County Council

KGH appoints new chief operating officer

KGH appoints new chief operating officer Kettering General Hospital has announced the appointment of its new chief operating officer. Joanna Fawcus brings a wealth of valuable experience from within the NHS. She is currently deputy chief operating Officer at James Paget University Hospital Foundation Trust and has worked for the NHS for over 20 years, holding senior positions both in acute trusts across the East Midlands and in NHS Improvement. Joanna replaces Rebecca Brown who left the trust in June to take up the position of chief operating officer with University Hospitals of Leicester.  Northamptonshire Telegraph

Life expectancy gap between rich and poor in Northamptonshire

Life expectancy gap between rich and poor in Northamptonshire Men living in deprived areas of Northamptonshire are dying nine years earlier than those in affluent areas, according to a newly published report.
The life expectancy figures are revealed in the 2017/18 annual public health report written by the county council’s director of public health Lucy Wightman.
The report also records that those living in more deprived areas of the county spend 13 fewer years in good health than those in richer areas. The average life expectancy for a Northamptonshire woman is 83 years and 79 years for a man. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

News story: SACN publishes 'Feeding in the first year of life' report

News story: SACN publishes 'Feeding in the first year of life' report Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has published its report on ‘Feeding in the first year of life’, providing recommendations on infant feeding from birth up to 12 months of age.

The last review of infant feeding was undertaken by SACN’s predecessor Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) in 1994 and formed the basis for government recommendations in the UK.

SACN recommends babies are exclusively breastfed until around 6 months of age and continue to be breastfed for at least the first year of life. Additionally, solid foods should not be introduced until around 6 months to benefit the child’s overall health. This represents no change to current government recommendations. SACN concludes breastfeeding makes an important contribution to infant and maternal health. This includes the development of the infant immune system, while not breastfeeding is associated with a higher risk of infant hospital admission for infectious illness. Gov.UK

See also:

• Independent report. Feeding in the first year of life: SACN report Gov.UK
• Too many babies overfed, experts fear BBC News - Health
• Official guidance for parents confused over what to feed their babies Mail Online

Fish oil for a healthy heart 'nonsense'

Fish oil for a healthy heart 'nonsense' Taking omega-3 fish oil supplements is often touted as a simple way to protect your heart - but experts say the evidence that it does any good is flimsy at best.
Cochrane researchers looked at trials in over 100,000 people and found little proof that it prevented heart disease.
They say the chance of getting any meaningful benefit from taking omega-3 is one in 1,000. Eating oily fish, however, can still be recommended as part of a healthy diet. BBC News - Health

See also:

• Scientific expert reaction to Cochrane Review on omega-3 fatty acids Cochrane
• Buy more vegetables instead of omega-3 supplements to improve heart health, report says The Telegraph
• Intervention review: Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease The Cochrane Library

Veterans in Crisis: ‘We must find out if international suicide rates are reflected in UK’

Veterans in Crisis: ‘We must find out if international suicide rates are reflected in UK’
A psychologist at a leading veterans charity says it is important that more research is carried out in order to find out if a spike in military veteran suicides among the UK’s allies is also reflected among British ex-service personnel.

Dr Dominic Murphy, a senior clinical lecturer at Combat Stress, says that the lack of data on the issue is a “red light” for those concerned about veterans’ welfare. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

See also:

• Veterans in Crisis: Northamptonshire coroner supports our appeal to log ex-military suicides Northampton Chronicle & Echo

NHS trusts face worryingly high levels of senior vacancies

NHS trusts face worryingly high levels of senior vacancies  A near-toxic mix of pressures facing NHS organisations, coupled with a culture of blaming individual leaders for failures beyond their control, means NHS trusts are facing significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining senior leaders, according to a new report from The King's Fund and NHS Providers. King's Fund

See also:

• Leadership in today's NHS:delivering the impossible (report) King's Fund 
• NHS trusts facing leadership crisis as senior posts go unfilled On Medica

NHS spending to strain public finances for next 50 years, OBR warns

NHS spending to strain public finances for next 50 years, OBR warns Extra health funding for an ageing population will add to deficit, Treasury forecast says.
Extra health funding and a population that is ageing faster than previously expected will add to the burden of spending over the next 50 years, according to the Treasury’s independent forecaster.
The £20bn boost to the health budget by 2021-22 promised by Theresa May, coupled with falling immigration – which will cut the number of young and working age people – will increase the public deficit unless the government moves to increase taxes or take other measures to reduce spending, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said. The Guardian

Guidance: Learning disabilities and CQC inspection reports

Guidance: Learning disabilities and CQC inspection reports In 2014 an interim analysis examined the main Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection reports of 63 trusts and reported relatively little mention of people with learning disabilities within these reports. Subsequently, the CQC has changed their inspection regime to include specific questions and follow up questions regarding the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities in acute hospitals. Gov.UK