Special measures Kettering hospital to expand A&E

Special measures Kettering hospital to expand A&E A hospital in special measures has announced £2.4m of improvements to its "cramped" emergency department.

In February, inspectors said Kettering General "requires improvement", an upgrade on 2017's "inadequate" rating.

The hospital sees 93,000 A&E patients per year - 180 on some busy days - which has doubled in the past 20 years.

An adjoining fractures clinic will be moved and a new area opened by Christmas to treat minor injuries, which make up about 40% of cases. BBC Northampton

See also:

• KGH begins £.24 million expansion to improve A&E care Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton hospital urges patients to pick treatment over commitments as NHS faces worst cancer figures on record

Northampton hospital urges patients to pick treatment over commitments as NHS faces worst cancer figures on record Northampton General Hospital is urging patients to choose treatments over commitments in the face of the 'worst' national NHS figures on record for treating cancer.

National figures suggest the NHS is on course for its worst annual targets for cancer treatment waiting times record.

The NHS aims to have patients into hospital for their first treatments within 62 days of first-referral by their GP. Hospitals aim to have 85 per cent of patients treated in this time. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How much would NHS costs rise if there’s no Brexit deal?

How much would NHS costs rise if there’s no Brexit deal? With it still possible the United Kingdom will leave the European Union without a deal, Mark Dayan looks at the impact that would have on NHS costs. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• NHS faces £2.3bn cost of no-deal Brexit, report warns The Independent

WHO Report on Surveillance of Antibiotic Consumption: 2016 - 2018 Early implementation

WHO Report on Surveillance of Antibiotic Consumption: 2016 - 2018 Early implementation Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to health and human development, affecting our ability to treat a range of infections. Treatments for a growing number of infections have become less effective in many parts of the world due to resistance. The link between antimicrobial resistance and use of antimicrobials is well documented. However, little information is available on antimicrobial use in low-income countries. This report presents 2015 data on the consumption of systemic antibiotics from 65 countries and areas, contributing to our understanding of how antibiotics are used in these countries. World Health Organization

See also:

• 'Urgent action' is needed to tackle global misuse of antibiotics The Daily Mail
• WHO warns 'urgent action' is needed to tackle global misuse of antibiotics The Daily Telegraph
• Antibiotics vital for fighting drug resistant superbugs drastically overused in many countries, WHO report warns The Independent

Measles outbreaks across England

Measles outbreaks across England Public Health England is advising the public to ensure they have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine after outbreaks of measles are confirmed across England.

Encouraging people to choose self care for life

Encouraging people to choose self care for life More than 22 million people are being targeted as part of Self Care Week.

Under the banner of “Choose Self Care for Life” the aim is to engage and empower people to better look after their own health.

Whether it is about self-treatable conditions, long term conditions, or lifestyle choices to ensure better physical health and mental wellbeing, this week raises awareness of the huge benefits of people looking after themselves better. NHS England

Focused review of suicides among armed forces personnel

Focused review of suicides among armed forces personnel This focused review of suicides in service personnel (SP) aims to identify additional measures for preventing suicide. This report is based on evidence drawn from a review of defence publications, an examination of published statistics relating to suicide, a systematic review of the academic literature, interviews with 53 key stakeholders across defence, a national and international benchmarking exercise and an original academic study of self-harm in the UK. Ministry of Defence

Britain's first specialist wound hub to open

Britain's first specialist wound hub to open Terror attack victims and injured soldiers are among those set to benefit from Britain's first specialist wound research centre.

Staff are developing new techniques to treat burns, with the goal of achieving scar-free healing within a generation.

It will also give mental health support to those with physical injuries.

The Centre for Conflict Wound Research at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be opened by the The Countess of Wessex later on Tuesday. BBC News

Long waits for Transgender NHS appointments 'putting lives at risk'

Long waits for Transgender NHS appointments 'putting lives at risk' Transgender campaigners are warning that lives are being put at risk, as people are being left waiting months or even years for the earliest stages of treatment to help them undergo gender reassignment on the NHS.

In most cases, people seeking hormone treatments or surgery must be seen by one of the country's seven Gender Identity Clinics.

Three years ago, an ITV News investigation found that there were 4000 adults on the waiting list at GICs across the country, with an average wait of 8 months.

In 2018, people are facing waits of up to two years at the most in-demand clinics. ITV News

Too many baby deaths avoidable, report into NHS finds

Too many baby deaths avoidable, report into NHS finds Each Baby Counts project analyses cases of stillbirth, neonatal death and babies born with brain damage

Seven out of 10 stillbirths, neonatal deaths and babies brain damaged at birth could be avoided if the NHS provided better care during labour, a new government-funded report has found.

The inquiry identified lack of staff, the pressure on maternity units and a failure by midwives and obstetricians to follow guidelines as common factors in such events. The Guardian

See also:

• Each Baby Counts: Themed report on anaesthetic care Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Home Office scraps scheme that used NHS data to track migrants

Home Office scraps scheme that used NHS data to track migrant s Secret data-sharing deal dropped after legal action by Migrants’ Rights Network

The Home Office has abandoned a controversial “hostile environment” scheme using NHS data to track down patients believed to be breaching immigration rules.

In the face of a legal challenge brought by the Migrants’ Rights Network, a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Health, NHS Digital and the Home Office is being scrapped. The Guardian

NHS trust uses children of staff in hard-hitting campaign against violence

NHS trust uses children of staff in hard-hitting campaign against violence New posters put up by an NHS trust feature young children urging people not to attack hospital workers.

The North Tees and Hartlepool NHS trust, in North East England, is using the images of its own staff's children to try and reduce violence.

More than one in six workers at the trust (15 per cent) say they have experienced violence from patients, relatives or the public over the last year.

And, as another busy winter approaches, bosses have launched the campaign promoting their zero-tolerance approach to 'unacceptable' abuse. The Daily Mail

Paramedics will now be taught self-defence because the police 'don't turn up' when they're attacked

Paramedics will now be taught self-defence because the police 'don't turn up' when they're attacked Paramedics will be given self-defence lessons because over-stretched police no longer respond quickly enough to their calls for help.

South Western Ambulance Service staff will be given the training after its boss revealed assistance from police has been 'reduced'.

Restraint training, known as safer holding training, has already been given to five per cent of staff at the service and will be rolled out to the rest over the next two years.

It comes after it was reported incidents relating to violence and aggression against SWAS staff had almost doubled in a year up to 1,049 in 2017/18. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Self-defence lessons for paramedics because police failing to respond The Daily Telegraph