Northamptonshire County Council's crisis meeting begins

Northamptonshire County Council's crisis meeting begins Angry residents gathered outside an emergency meeting of a cash-strapped local authority earlier to protest about proposed cuts to services.

Northamptonshire County Council, which must save £70m by March, met to discuss how to tackle the funding crisis.

Council leader Matthew Golby said councillors had to examine "what we can realistically provide" for residents.

The Conservative-led council has been forced to impose spending controls twice in six months.

It has vowed to protect children and vulnerable adults but a financial expert warned essential services may be "cut to the very bone". BBC Northampton



See also:

• Public hit out at councillors as no firm service cut details come to light Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Redundancy programme' and 'radical service reductions' will be debated at next Northamptonshire County Council crisis meeting Northampton Chronicle and Echo

'They deserve life to be happy' - caring for a child with mental health issues

'They deserve life to be happy' - caring for a child with mental health issues There are nearly seven million people in the UK who care for a loved one and it's estimated that up to 1.5 million of those care for someone with mental health problems.

Shelagh cares for her daughter Ailidh who has had complex mental health issues since she was 12.

Ailidh is now 21 and has been diagnosed with atypical anorexia, anxiety, depression and PTSD. BBC News

Government must change plans to let hospitals investigate own whistleblowing cases, MP say

Government must change plans to let hospitals investigate own whistleblowing cases, MP say Government plans for a new NHS whistleblowing service have come in for criticism from MPs over “conflict of interest” concerns about letting NHS hospitals investigate themselves.

The introduction of a statutorily independent Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) to investigate cases of compromised patient safety was supported by a joint Lords and Commons committee.

But allowing the HSSIB to accredit NHS trusts and foundation trusts run their run their own internal investigations was a step too far, the committee said. The Independent

Brexit warnings released by NHS hospital serving Dominic Raab’s constituents

Brexit warnings released by NHS hospital serving Dominic Raab’s constituents A hospital serving Dominic Raab’s constituents has released an internal document identifying potential Brexit risks, warning that an expectation for a flow of funds into the health service after leaving the EU “may be false”.

The paper from Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – situated in the Brexit secretary’s local area – outlines how NHS officials have highlighted the possibility of staff shortages and how “costs may go up”. The Independent

See also:

• French drug maker Sanofi stockpiling for Brexit BBC News

Trainee nurses given 500 free tickets to Glastonbury 2019 amid staffing crisis

Trainee nurses given 500 free tickets to Glastonbury 2019 amid staffing crisis Offer from Michael Eavis is to encourage more into nursing profession, after NHS trust admits ‘there are no more nurses in Somerset’

Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis is to give away up to 500 tickets for the 2019 event to trainee nurses in the Mendip area, where the festival is based.

Speaking at Shepton Mallet’s summer fete in July, Eavis said he made the decision following a conversation with the local NHS trust chairman, who had complained about a lack of trainees. Continue reading... The Guardian

Knife crime 'epidemic' is straining the NHS, surgeon warns

Knife crime 'epidemic' is straining the NHS, surgeon warns A rise in stabbings across England, not just in London, is putting extra pressure on the NHS and victims are getting younger and more severely injured, according to Nottingham surgeon Adam Brooks. The Daily Mail