Investigation ordered into adult social care facilities in Northampton

Investigation ordered into adult social care facilities in Northampton An investigation will be held into adult social care facilities in the Northampton area ahead of the local government reorganisation which will form two new unitary authorities in 2020.

Councillors on Northampton Borough Council’s scrutiny committee have been tasked by the authority to carry out the investigation to ‘identify future demand patterns’ so that any new unitary authority is ‘able to better plan for the needs of older people in the future’. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering General Hospital: X-ray delays 'did not harm patients'

Kettering General Hospital: X-ray delays 'did not harm patients' A hospital says delays in the reporting of X-ray results has resulted in "no cases of patient harm".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) had raised concerns about waiting times for radiology results at Kettering General and two other NHS hospitals in England.

It has now called for a limit on how long it takes to report scan results.

Kettering's chief executive Simon Weldon said a backlog, caused in part by the move to a new reporting system in 2016, had "almost been dealt with". BBC Northampton

See also:

• X-ray problems at KGH prompt national review Northamptonshire Telegraph

The determinants of health care expenditure growth

The determinants of health care expenditure growth This paper considers the detailed breakdown of hospital inpatient expenditures across the period 2007/08 to 2014/15. Decomposition techniques are used to unpick the observed rise in expenditure into a component due to a change in the distribution of characteristics, for example, greater prevalence of morbidity, and a component due to structural changes in the impact of such characteristics on expenditures (coefficient effects, for example, due to technological change). Centre for Health Economics

Low NHS morale is 'heartbreaking', says Matt Hancock

Low NHS morale is 'heartbreaking', says Matt Hancock Seeing how NHS staff feel "undervalued" is "heartbreaking", the new Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

In his first speech since taking the job, Mr Hancock also said he was horrified at the level of bullying reported by staff.

The British Medical Association welcomed the sentiment but said it needed to be underpinned by action.

Mr Hancock, the former digital and culture secretary, also said £487m is to be spent on technology for the NHS. BBC News

IVF: NHS couples 'face social rationing'

IVF: NHS couples 'face social rationing' Eight out of 10 of CCGs in England do not offer IVF to couples if one partner has previous children.

The parents of the world's first IVF baby - born 40 years ago next week - would not have got the procedure on the NHS in most of England today because of "social rationing", a charity has said.

NHS IVF is unavailable to couples in many areas if either of them has children from a previous relationship.

One mother said not meeting such criteria was "crippling".

Fertility Network UK said action was needed to keep fertility treatment available for all. BBC News

MPs in plea for mental health checks for new mothers

MPs in plea for mental health checks for new mothers Women could get regular mental health checks during and after pregnancy if a campaign by two MPs is successful.

Mental illness related to birth issues has been raised by the Labour MP for Stockton South, Dr Paul Williams, and South West Bedfordshire Conservative, Andrew Selous.

In a debate on Wednesday they called for six-weekly checks for all mothers.

Funding could be available after the government said it was investing £365m into the condition from 2015 to 2021. BBC News

'Dangerous complacency' to global HIV epidemic risks resurgence

'Dangerous complacency' to global HIV epidemic risks resurgence A "dangerous complacency" in the response to the global HIV pandemic is risking a resurgence of the disease, according to a report.

Experts said a stalling of HIV funding in recent years was endangering efforts to control the illness.

As things stand, the world is no longer on course to end the pandemic by 2030 - a target agreed by UN member states, say experts in The Lancet.

They call for urgent changes in how the disease is treated and controlled. BBC News

The NHS is giving £1bn a year away to private companies – this is Jeremy Hunt's legacy

The NHS is giving £1bn a year away to private companies – this is Jeremy Hunt's legacy According to the BBC, the NHS is now spending a staggering £1bn a year buying in care from private companies.

The broadcaster said its data showed that the bill has been racked up by hospitals, ambulances and mental health trusts.

Private firms are sometimes used when operations might otherwise be cancelled because NHS hospitals are swamped with emergencies. Sometimes the money is spent on hospitals buying places in care homes for elderly patients to free up beds. Sometimes private ambulance crews are called upon to transport less serious cases so NHS crews can concentrate on the really serious cases. The Independent

My husband's stroke showed me the best and worst of the NHS

My husband's stroke showed me the best and worst of the NHS Seeing the service from a different perspective forced me to assess my priorities and influenced how I treat my own patients

In March 2012, my husband had a stroke. He was 34. I recognised the signs within seconds, called 999 and had a hospital bag ready by the time the ambulance arrived four minutes later. Sam’s speech was slurred and he had lost 50% of his vision. In A&E, I held the sick bowl as he vomited again and again. As he was rushed off for a scan, I was in complete shock. In true English fashion I went to get a cup of tea. But the restaurant was closed and the vending machine broken; it was then that I cried. Continue reading... The Guardian

World's biggest tobacco firm under fire over 'disgraceful' PR stunt

World's biggest tobacco firm under fire over 'disgraceful' PR stunt NHS staff told to reject offer by makers of Marlboro cigarettes to help them quit smoking

The world’s biggest tobacco firm has been accused of staging “a digraceful PR stunt” by offering to help NHS staff quit smoking to help mark the service’s 70th birthday.

Philip Morris International (PMI), which makes Marlboro cigarettes, is under fire for apparently trying to breach global rules which stipulate that tobacco manufacturers should be treated as pariahs. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• World's biggest cigarette company offered tobacco products to doctors and nurses to mark NHS 70th birthday The Independent

Cannabis for medicinal use should be allowed, says Government drugs council

Cannabis for medicinal use should be allowed, says Government drugs council Doctors should be allowed to prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients in the UK, the official body which advises the Government on drugs has said.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) said there is "evidence of medicinal benefit of some of these products in certain circumstances" and recommended they should be able to be prescribed as long as they meet appropriate safety standards. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Advice on scheduling of cannabis-derived medicinal products Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
• Medicinal cannabis 'should be available on prescription' BBC News
• Doctors should be able to prescribe medical cannabis, Home Office adviser concludes The Independent