Northamptonshire worst in country as 900 patients are STRANDED in our hospitals

Northamptonshire worst in country as 900 patients are STRANDED in our hospitals Nine hundred patients are currently stranded in Northamptonshire hospitals, making it the worst situation in the country.

Northamptonshire County Council’s director of adult social services says that despite huge efforts to try to improve the situation, as fast as people are being sent home more people are arriving at the doors of the county’s two hospitals.

Ninety over-65s are currently being admitted each day, which is twice the national average. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The UK spends less on capital in health care than other comparable countries

The UK spends less on capital in health care than other comparable countries As a share of GDP, the UK spends far less on capital in health care than comparable OECD countries.

In 2016, the UK spent 0.27% of GDP on capital in health care, compared to 0.51% in the OECD. Low capital spending has meant NHS Trusts are unable to purchase the newest technology, while also facing a significant and rising maintenance backlog. The Health Foundation

Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention

Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention This guidance from the DHSC and Department of Education is for health services, social care services and special education settings. It sets out how to support children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties who are at risk of restrictive intervention. Department of Health and Social Care

RCPCH prevention vision for child health

RCPCH prevention vision for child health In advance of the Department of Health and Social Care's prevention green paper, this strategy paper from the RCPCH sets out their proposals for how to transform the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the UK. It states that he amount of free sugar in baby food should be reduced and the government should place a “moratorium” on public health funding cuts. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Select batches of Parkinson's and epilepsy medicines recalled

Select batches of Parkinson's and epilepsy medicines recalled Certain batches of three medicines for Parkinson's, epilepsy and blood clots are being recalled in the UK, and patients are being asked to arrange a new prescription via their GP.

The affected prescription-only medicines are Neupro, Vimpat and Clexane with a B & S Healthcare label, the UK's medicine regulator said.

The drugs may not have been stored correctly before reaching patients. BBC News

See also:

• FMD Alert: Class 2 (MDR 123-05/19) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Hospitals spend millions to remove flammable cladding

Hospitals spend millions to remove flammable cladding Hospitals are facing disruption and huge bills because of flammable cladding.

One trauma unit with Grenfell-style cladding has been closed for almost two years.

A senior worker there says it's having a knock-on effect on the rest of the hospital

The Department of Health and Social Care says it's working with trusts on remedial work. BBC News

NHS Digital cyber chief puts emphasis on 'protecting patient information'

NHS Digital cyber chief puts emphasis on 'protecting patient information' A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for NHS Digital has said one of his aims in the role will be to ensure patient information is protected.

Speaking at the Digital Healthcare Show, Dan Pearce, said one of his main priorities was to “protect patient safety”.

Pearce, who told the audience he had only been in the job for six weeks, also said he hopes to “protect the reputation of the health system” and ensure there is “patient trust” in terms of their data. Digital Health

Snake oil or panacea: can technology improve student mental health?

Snake oil or panacea: can technology improve student mental health? Universities are hoping that new technologies will ease rapidly growing demand for student mental health services, but the evidence they work isn’t always there. The Guardian

Three quarters of toddlers eat too much, fuelled by 'healthy snacks' which are no better than sweets

Three quarters of toddlers eat too much, fuelled by 'healthy snacks' which are no better than sweets Three quarters of toddlers are eating too much - because parents are feeding them supposedly “healthy” snacks which are actually no better than sweets.

A Public Health England investigation of more than 1,100 foods aimed at babies and infants warns that some fruit-based products are three-quarters sugar.

Health officials today called for a Government crackdown, warning that parents were being fooled into thinking they were making the right choices for their children, as a result of misleading claims. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Just how much sugar is in 'healthy' snacks for children? The Guardian

Doctors' union doesn't take sexual harassment seriously, members say

Doctors' union doesn't take sexual harassment seriously, members say The British Medical Association's members feel 'actively discouraged' from complaining about sexism, they said amid an investigation sparked by Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Female medics were groped and propositioned by one of BMA's former leaders, conference hears The Daily Telegraph

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate'

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate' A Northampton health care practice responsible for 11,500 patients across the town has been branded inadequate by the healthcare watchdog.

Maple Access Partnership has thousands of patients on its roll. Based in a purpose-built office in Hazelwood Road, it also offers health care to rough sleepers at Oasis House and holds the county's Violent Patients Contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Maple Access Partnership Care Quality Commission 

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal  In 2011, Wigan Council had to make unprecedented savings after significant cuts in funding from central government. Drastic measures were needed, including a radical reshaping of the relationship between the council and residents. This became known as the Wigan Deal. This report provides an independent critique of the Wigan Deal drawing on in-depth research, including interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups with members of the public and evidence from data analysis. It explores what local authorities, NHS organisations and others can learn from Wigan’s journey of transformation. The King's Fund

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients The College has also stated that there is an urgent need for more independent research into the effects and impact of interventions for gender dysphoria, particularly for children and young people – and that there needs to be greater consistency around regulation of gender identity care and services, as well as greater clarity for doctors from the General Medical Council on the issue.

Its new position statement on the role of the GP in caring for gender-questioning and transgender patients, was approved by the College’s governing Council on Saturday. Royal College of General Practitioners

The real story of winter

The real story of winter What was the real story of winter for trusts, their patients, and hard pressed frontline staff? This briefing examines winter 2018/19 for the provider sector. It urges health leaders not to draw false comfort from the noticeable absence of stories about ‘winter pressures’ in the media earlier this year. NHS Providers

Care cuts inevitable in 'fragile and failing' system

Care cuts inevitable in 'fragile and failing' system Further cuts to care services in England will be needed in the coming year, council chiefs are warning.

Local authorities plan to spend £22.5bn in 2019-20 on services for older people and younger adults with disabilities.

That represented a rise of £400m on last year but was not enough to keep up with demand and inflation, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) said.

It warned services were "fragile and failing", after surveying 151 councils. BBC News

See also:

• Human cost of failing to address the crisis in adult social care Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
• ADASS budget survey 2019 Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
• Social care system ‘no longer fit for purpose’ The King's Fund
• Calls for government cash as Northamptonshire adult social care already £6m overspent Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Thousands of old and disabled people could be impacted by social care cuts, report says The Independent

'Every suggestion' HPV vaccine will cut cervical cancers

'Every suggestion' HPV vaccine will cut cervical cancers The success of the HPV vaccination offers hope of one day eradicating cervical cancer, say scientists who carried out a major review of evidence.

Vaccination against the human papilloma virus, which causes most cervical cancers, began over a decade ago.

A Lancet review of 65 studies covering 60 million people showed a fall in HPV cases and in pre-cancerous growths.

Over decades, this should translate into a significant fall, and possible eradication, of the cancer they said. BBC News

See also:

• Cervical cancer could be eliminated within decades, scientists say The Daily Telegraph
• Cervical cancer ‘could be eliminated’ by widespread HPV vaccination programmes, study finds The Independent

E-cigarettes: How safe are they?

E-cigarettes: How safe are they? San Francisco has become the first US city to ban sales of e-cigarettes. Yet in the UK they are used by the NHS to help smokers quit - so what is the truth about the safety of e-cigarettes? BBC News

See also:

• San Francisco becomes first US city to ban e-cigarettes BBC News

NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open face-to-face practices in bid to tackle growing crisis

NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open face-to-face practices in bid to tackle growing crisis The NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open physical practices in an attempt to address growing shortages of doctors in many parts of the country.

Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS will announce that companies offering NHS patients appointments by Skype must also open a local surgery offering face-to-face appointments.

It follows warnings that hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgery amid a deepening crisis across the country, which is hitting rural areas hardest. The Daily Telegraph

Junior doctors end five-year NHS pay row by accepting a new contract

Junior doctors end five-year NHS pay row by accepting a new contract Junior doctors have finally accepted a new contract – ending a bitter five-year dispute that included the first all-out strike in NHS history.

They will receive an 8.2 per cent pay rise over the next four years and increased weekend and overnight pay thanks to a £90million investment from the Government.

The long-running contract dispute saw thousands of junior doctors go on strike in 2016, two years after initial talks broke down. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Junior doctors contract deal is positive for the NHS, says NHS Employers NHS Employers
• Junior doctors agree new contract to end four-year dispute The Guardian

Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries

Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries Hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgeries, according to a national survey.

Coastal and rural areas are suffering the most with elderly and vulnerable patients being forced to travel further for appointments.

The research showed 1,946 villages are now at least three miles from their closest GP practice – 162 more than two years ago.

Some patients were required to travel up to 14 miles in rural areas.

Among the districts hit worst are South Gloucestershire, South Northamptonshire and Cornwall. The Daily Mail

Cancer patients asked to help shape future of care in Northampton

Cancer patients asked to help shape future of care in Northampton Northampton patients undergoing cancer treatment could help shape the future of care in the town.

Northampton General Hospital is asking for people who are undergoing or recently completed cancer treatments to help them develop a new service for patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Investigation into NHS Property Services Limited

Investigation into NHS Property Services Limited Today’s report by the National Audit Office has found that NHS Property Services Limited (the Service) lacks the powers it needs to make its tenants sign lease agreements and pay their rent, which has contributed to increasing levels of outstanding debt.

The Service was established in December 2011 to manage, maintain and improve NHS properties in England and facilities previously owned by strategic health authorities and primary care trusts. It operates 2,900 properties with an estimated value of £3.8 billion, and has approximately 6,950 tenants.

The Service has no effective way of getting tenants to sign formal rental agreements. Since 2013-14 the percentage of tenants without leases has increased from nearly two-thirds to 70%. The Service has improved the quality of data it holds and introduced a new billing system in 2017, but many bills are still disputed, particularly by tenants without rental agreements.

Hidden no more: dementia and disability

Hidden no more: dementia and disability According to domestic law and international convention, dementia is a disability. Thousands of people who responded to an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) inquiry agreed that they see dementia as a disability. But they told the APPG that society is lagging behind and failing to uphold the legal rights of people with dementia. The evidence reveals that, across the country, people with dementia are not having their disability rights upheld. This report seeks to highlight the human impact that this has on people living with dementia. It focuses on themes of equality, non-discrimination, participation and inclusion. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia

Essex Strep A outbreak: Twelve people dead

Essex Strep A outbreak: Twelve people dead Twelve people have died in a "very serious" outbreak of a rare contagious bacterial strain, it has emerged.

Thirty-two people across Essex have been infected with the invasive Group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection.

Public Health England (PHE) warned there was a "high risk" of further fatalities from the "ongoing outbreak".

It began in Braintree but cases have been found around Chelmsford and Maldon, a Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) report said. BBC News

See also:

• Twelve die in Essex as rare bug infects dozens of vulnerable elderly The Daily Telegraph
• 12 killed by rare bacterial infection in Essex The Independent

Struggling mums to get mental health help via text

Struggling mums to get mental health help via text Women who are struggling with mental health issues during pregnancy or after giving birth will now be able to get help by sending a text message.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust claims its Mum's Mind message service is the first of its kind for the NHS.

Mothers can text the service if they are struggling with problems like anxiety, panic attacks and depression. BBC News

Boris Johnson filmed telling Tory members NHS 'needs reform'

Boris Johnson filmed telling Tory members NHS 'needs reform' Boris Johnson has been filmed at a private garden party telling Conservative members that the NHS absolutely needs to be reformed, as he fired them up for a general election by asking them to be ready to “wallop Jeremy Corbyn”.

The frontrunner to be Conservative leader and prime minister was videoed giving a rabble-rousing stump speech to members in Sutton Coldfield on Saturday, the day after the Guardian revealed that police had been called to his girlfriend’s flat following a late-night altercation.

Asked by one party member what he would do with the NHS, Johnson told the crowd the health service was a “crowning glory” but was “not getting the kind of support and indeed the kind of changes and management that it needs”, suggesting he as prime minister would aim to undertake an overhaul of the health service. The Guardian

Scrap upfront NHS charges for migrants, says BMA

Scrap upfront NHS charges for migrants, says BMA Policy has resulted in deaths and been heavily criticised by MPs and health charities

Britain’s doctors have urged ministers to scrap controversial rules that force migrants to pay upfront before they can receive NHS care for serious illnesses such as cancer.

The British Medical Association has become the first body representing medical staff to call for the complete abolition of the charges, which have been heavily criticised by MPs and health charities. The Guardian

Simple prostate cancer test could diagnose five years early and prevent thousands of invasive operations

Simple prostate cancer test could diagnose five years early and prevent thousands of invasive operations A simple urine test could detect aggressive prostate cancer five years before treatment is needed and save thousands of men from invasive surgery.

Researchers said the simple test could make a “huge difference” to men with suspected disease, giving many the all-clear, without having to undergo biopsies.

The £100 test - which could be offered within three years - is much more sensitive than current methods, picking up how aggressive the disease is and at what point men will need treatment. The Daily Telegraph 

See also:

• Prostate cancer: New urine test hope BBC News

Prince Charles criticised after becoming patron of homeopathy group

Prince Charles criticised after becoming patron of homeopathy group The Prince of Wales has come under fire after he became the patron of a homeopathy group, the Faculty of Homeopathy, which supports registered medical professionals with alternative treatment.

Following the announcement on Tuesday, Prince Charles came under criticism from scientists for associating himself with a group that is dedicated to a practice whose worth has come under question and which is banned by the NHS. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Prince Charles becomes patron of homeopathy group The Guardian

Whooping cough warning as cases are 27% higher than last year

Whooping cough warning as cases are 27% higher than last year Whooping cough appears to be making a resurgence across England and Wales as official data reveals the infection is on the rise.

Government statistics show 1,596 cases of pertussis – its medical name – have been reported so far this year.

In comparison, just 1,233 cases had been reported at the same time point last year, according to Public Health England. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire's health commissioning groups facing 'significant financial challenges'

Northamptonshire's health commissioning groups facing 'significant financial challenges' Northamptonshire’s commissioner of health services only just managed to balance its books last year and used all of its contingency reserve to do so.

There was just a £40,000 surplus on the £941m of spending carried out by the county’s two clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which say ‘they continue to face significant challenges on delivering their commissioning objectives in 2019/20’.

A huge £4m has to come out of the reserves of the larger Nene Commissioning Group to make the books balances and £561,000 has been taken from the Corby contingency reserve, which means the health commissioning groups will no longer have a financial buffer. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Warehoused: seriously ill patients sent far from home to locked, private wards

Warehoused: seriously ill patients sent far from home to locked, private wards People with severe mental ill health are being routinely ‘warehoused’ in locked private wards hundreds of miles from homes for want of NHS care close to home, an investigation reveals.

Research by The Doctor magazine has found that five million people live in CCG (clinical commissioning group) areas in England with no NHS wards at all for mental health rehabilitation, a service that helps people with severe illness get their lives back on track.

While some CCGs pay for such beds in the NHS, most depend heavily on private hospitals and care homes – and increasingly so, data released under Freedom of Information laws reveals.

Hundreds of private beds are hours and hours away from patients’ homes, analysis of 2,600 journeys found. Seven hundred are sold to CCGs as ‘locked rehab’, a type not recognised in NHS guidance – raising concerns about patient care and human rights. BMA

See also:

• Thousands of NHS patients are being 'warehoused' The Daily Mail
• NHS pays firms £181m to care for patients with serious mental illness The Guardian

Research into the impact of pensions tax in the NHS

Research into the impact of pensions tax in the NHS NHS Employers commissioned First Actuarial to investigate the growing evidence suggesting that the changes in recent years to the annual and lifetime allowances are influencing the behaviour of NHS staff. The purpose of the research was to find out: how widespread pensions tax charges are in the NHS; the size of pensions tax charges faced by affected employees; and any impact of these charges on the working behaviour of employees – and how this impacts the objectives of the NHS and on the NHS Pension Scheme.

NHS long-term plan: legislative proposals

NHS long-term plan: legislative proposals This report welcomes, in principle, NHS England and NHS Improvement's proposals to promote collaboration, especially the proposal to repeal section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and revoke the regulations made under it. The Health and Social Care Committee believes that collaboration, rather than competition, is a better way for the NHS and the wider health and care system to respond to today's challenges. Health and Social Care Committee

Child obesity drive 'stalled by Brexit'

Child obesity drive 'stalled by Brexit' The drive to tackle child obesity has stalled with a raft of measures stuck in Brexit backlog, it is being claimed.

A ban on energy drink sales to under-16s, clearer calorie labelling and a crackdown on junk food advertising were all promised by ministers when they launched the revamped obesity strategy.

But a year on none of the key measures has been introduced in England.

Both Labour and campaigners said it showed progress had stopped - but the government said it was still on track. BBC News

See also:

• Public and health experts give green light to new PM to push on with plans to tackle obesity Obesity Health Alliance

Judges overturn 'forced abortion' ruling

Judges overturn 'forced abortion' ruling A woman has won an appeal against a court ruling that would have seen her mentally ill daughter forced to have an abortion.

She appealed a decision made last week granting permission for specialists to end the pregnancy.

Three Court of Appeal judges in London upheld the appeal, overturning the previous decision.

Lord Justice McCombe, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Peter Jackson will give reasons at a later date. BBC News

NHS ‘treating minority ethnic doctors as outsiders’

NHS ‘treating minority ethnic doctors as outsiders’ Bosses failing to offer support, says report into reasons for excessive disciplinary action

Doctors from ethnic minorities are too often treated as outsiders by their NHS bosses and peers and not given the support they need, according to an investigation into why they are twice as likely to face disciplinary action as white doctors.

A report commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulatory body for doctors, talks of “multiple and intricately linked” factors behind the disproportionate number of referrals of doctors from ethnic minorities by their employers. The Guardian

NHS consultants 'turning down work to avoid huge pension tax'

NHS consultants 'turning down work to avoid huge pension tax' Some doctors are even retiring early, report finds, prompting concerns over care quality

Senior doctors in the NHS are reducing their hours, turning down extra work and even retiring early to avoid being hit with huge tax bills on their pensions, a report reveals.

The findings have prompted concern that waits for treatment will grow longer, patients will receive inferior care and understaffing will worsen because hospitals have too few doctors available. The Guardian

Medicalising everyday life doesn’t help anyone’s mental health

Medicalising everyday life doesn’t help anyone’s mental health | Adrian Massey Not all suffering is mental illness. Pretending it is raises false hopes and puts pressure on an already strained NHS

I have a growing sense of unease about the Americanisation of British society’s attitude towards mental health. In the 1980s, British audiences smiled bemusedly at neurosis-laden Woody Allen films and the normality with which American television and cinema treated notions of therapy, meds and interventions. To a British ear, the protagonists of these human melodramas could seem self-absorbed, foolish and narcissistic; figures of fun to be pitied for their inability to maintain a stiff upper lip and their ignorance of the power of a strong cup of tea. Yet now these are all concepts that have been normalised in Britain too. The Guardian

NHS trust baby deaths review uncovers hundreds of new cases

NHS trust baby deaths review uncovers hundreds of new cases A review into the deaths and injuries of babies at a scandal-hit maternity unit has uncovered hundreds of new cases.

NHS Improvement has found more than 300 new cases of concern at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SATH).

It is understood that the new cases include still births and deaths of babies in the final stages of labour. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Hundreds more cases in Shropshire baby deaths review BBC News

Court battle looms as around 250 women prepare to sue breast implant manufacturer

Court battle looms as around 250 women prepare to sue breast implant manufacturer Breast implants are leaving women suffering from 'brain fog' and anxiety, according to official figures.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recorded 32 reports of women having psychological reactions to breast implants.

Taken from the past five years, the figures show women believe their implants are having negative impacts on their brains as well as their bodies.

The revelation comes as 250 women are preparing to sue the manufacturer of a commonly used implant in the UK, Allergan. The Daily Mail

Shakeup for GP surgeries next month: find out which new network your practice joins

Shakeup for GP surgeries next month: find out which new network your practice joins GP surgeries across Northamptonshire will launch new networks next month in the biggest shake-up of primary care services in 15 years.

Sixteen new networks across Northamptonshire will launch from July 1 with some surgeries joining alliances with practices from neighbouring towns.

The new primary care networks – which are part of the NHS 10-year plan – will each have a pharmacist and a new position of social prescriber. These will be professionals who will link up patients with services from the voluntary sector that may boost their health or mental wellbeing, such as walking groups or social clubs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Collaboration in the NHS is a good thing but there's a risk of it becoming cosiness

Collaboration in the NHS is a good thing but there's a risk of it becoming cosiness Our Director of Strategy Helen Buckingham responds to the Health Select Committee’s "NHS Long-Term Plan: legislative proposals" report. Nuffield Trust

Do you work for a racist organisation?

Do you work for a racist organisation? This blog is the first in a three-part series that reflects on our experience of diversity and inclusion at The King's Fund.

Overspill beds in use for routine care

Overspill beds in use for routine care Thousands of beds designated for expected high demand are having to be used for routine care, a BMA investigation of hospitals in England has revealed.

Pressure on NHS trusts has meant that many hospitals are having to resort to using their escalation beds – which are supposed to be reserved for emergencies and periods of high demand such as wintertime, on a daily basis.

Data was released following a series of Freedom of Information requests by the BMA which asked acute trusts in England how many core and escalation beds they had open and occupied from 3 March this year onwards.

See also:

• NHS hospital patients are routinely being treated in emergency beds The Daily Mail
• NHS pressures sees emergency  beds used all year round, BMA warns The Daily Telegraph
• NHS hospitals using temporary 'escalation beds' all year round The Guardian
• NHS hospitals forced to use emergency beds all year round to cope with demand, BMA warns The Independent
• NHS forced to use emergency beds to cope with rising demand – BMA ITV News

Holidaymakers urged to put MMR checks top of any travel plans

Holidaymakers urged to put MMR checks top of any travel plans PHE and travel industry call on holidaymakers and other travellers to check their MMR vaccinations are up-to-date, as measles outbreaks continue across Europe. Public Health England

Carers’ breaks: guidance for commissioners and providers

Carers’ breaks: guidance for commissioners and providers New guidance from SCIE and Carers UK sets out how social care and health commissioners and providers can extend and improve regular breaks for carers and the family and friends they support.

The guidance includes almost 30 practice examples of how organisations are using a wide range of resources and services to support carers to have a break: from hotels offering free stays, to GP prescriptions for breaks.

Residents in care homes 'missing out on dental care'

Residents in care homes 'missing out on dental care' The teeth of people living in care homes in England are being left to rot, dentists say.

The warning comes after the Care Quality Commission found that residents did not always have access to dentists and were not getting the support they needed to look after their teeth.

Its inspectors visited 100 homes caring for elderly and disabled people.

It comes as the British Dental Association highlighted a number of distressing cases of decay and neglect. BBC News

See also:

• Dentists call for dental revolution in care homes British Dental Association
• CQC calls for improvements to oral health in care homes Care Quality Commission
• Smiling matters: oral health care in care homes Care Quality Commission

Family brand terminal illness assessments 'degrading'

Family brand terminal illness assessments 'degrading' Susan Hill was 63 when she became terminally ill with motor neurone disease.

But when she claimed for personal independence payments (PIP), to pay her carers, she was forced to carry out "bizarre" physical tests, such as standing on one leg, as part of her benefit assessment.

Mrs Hill, of Bargoed, has since died and her family have called for an end to what they called "degrading" examinations.

"You have to prove to this person that you are terminally ill. It's not right," said her daughter Laura.

The Department for Work and Pensions said it was looking into how it can improve its processes. BBC News

See also:

• Family of MND patient: End assessments for terminally ill BBC News

‘Alarming rise’ in reports of care home abuse in England

‘Alarming rise’ in reports of care home abuse in England Exclusive More than 67,500 allegations of mistreatment received by CQC last year as watchdog launches inquiry into how mistreatment by staff went unaddressed at Whorlton Hall hospital.

There has been a dramatic increase in reports of abuse at care homes in England, official figures reveal, as the sector’s watchdog investigates why warnings from whistleblowers and its own inspectors went unheeded.

In 2014 there were 37,060 reported allegations of abuse received by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), compared with 67,590 in 2018 – an increase of 82 per cent. The total number of allegations for the four-year period was 251,679. The Independent

NHS to open first ever gambling clinic for children

NHS to open first ever gambling clinic for children Some 55,000 children classed as having an addiction, with online gaming sites blamed

The first NHS gambling clinic for children is opening amid growing concern that the rise of online gaming sites and targeted adverts is fuelling a problem among young people.

There are 55,000 children classed as having a gambling problem in Britain, according to the Gambling Commission, which also found that 450,000 are gambling regularly – more than those who have taken drugs, drunk alcohol or smoked. The Guardian

Why is life expectancy faltering?

Why is life expectancy faltering? For the first time in 100 years, Britons are dying earlier. The UK now has the worst health trends in western Europe – and doctors and experts believe that the impact of austerity is a major factor

In a few days, a team of researchers, statisticians and geographers will gather at University College London to tackle an issue of increasing concern for doctors and health experts. They will investigate why many UK citizens are now living shorter, less healthy lives compared with the recent past.

The emergence of faltering life expectancy in Britain has caused particular alarm because it reverses a trend that has continued, almost unbroken, for close to 100 years. Over this period, lives have lengthened continuously, blessing more and more British people with the gift of old age. The Guardian

Nye Bevan relative was 'let down by NHS' before dying of lung cancer

Nye Bevan relative was 'let down by NHS' before dying of lung cancer A relative of Nye Bevan, the founder of the NHS, died after doctors failed to tell him he had lung cancer for 15 months, an inquest heard.

Roderick Bevan, who died aged 66 in May 2018 after NHS doctors diagnosed his condition, would have survived but for the failure of two sets of doctors..

A coroner ruled that the errors amounted to “neglect”. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS founder's relative died after 'neglect' by hospital trusts The Guardian

NHS boss admits hospitals now need MORE beds

NHS boss admits hospitals now need MORE beds The boss of the NHS has admitted the health service went over the top with bed closures and needs to start opening them again.

Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, suggested at a conference that the policy had had disastrous results.

He said the remaining beds are now 'overly pressurised' and more should be made available to ease hospitals' workloads.

There were around 130,000 hospital beds available in March last year, compared to 144,000 in 2010. The Daily Mail

Flu outbreak battering Australia is on its way to the UK, experts fear

Flu outbreak battering Australia is on its way to the UK, experts fear Shock figures show 93,000 have already caught influenza this year in the nation - seven times more than the entirety of 2018, according to figures from the Australian government. The Daily Mail

Landmark new equipment at Kettering General Hospital will speed up diagnosis of lung cancer

Landmark new equipment at Kettering General Hospital will speed up diagnosis of lung cancer Patients with suspected lung cancer or tuberculosis will be able to get a quicker diagnosis at Kettering General Hospital after it received £160,000 in new equipment.

The hospital has launched a new procedure to help speed up the diagnosis of lung cancer – the third most common diagnosed cancer in England, but the one which accounts for the most deaths. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Rekindling hope in public services

Rekindling hope in public services In the late 1960s the psychologist Martin Seligman made a name for himself by exploring how animals respond to the experience of powerlessness. His research involved delivering electric shocks to dogs in a series of carefully constructed experiments. He found that when the dogs had no control over what happened to them, over time they became passive and stopped trying to avoid the shock. In subsequent tests they did not attempt to stop the electricity, even when given the power to do so. The King's Fund

Healthcare insight report: Reducing avoidable emergency admissions

Healthcare insight report: Reducing avoidable emergency admissions The UK’s rising tide of emergency admissions has been well documented, and Dr Foster wants to support NHS organisations to reduce these where possible. This healthcare insight report details an extensive analysis of avoidable emergency admissions over a five-year period, and in doing so highlights a number of actions that can be taken towards preventing them.

Designing integrated care systems (ICS) in England

Designing integrated care systems (ICS) in England This guide sets out the different levels of management that make up an integrated care system, describing their core functions, the rationale behind them and how they will work together. NHS England

Top surgeon appointed first NHS clinical director for violence reduction

Top surgeon appointed first NHS clinical director for violence reduction The NHS has appointed its first clinical director for violence reduction to help prevent stabbings and other violent crime.

Martin Griffiths, a lead surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust in London, has spent the past decade visiting schools to lecture on the dangers of carrying weapons as well as saving lives on the operating table. His appointment as Clinical Director for Violence Reduction in London comes after another weekend of bloodshed, which saw three more people killed in the capital. NHS England

'Living drug' offers hope to terminal blood cancer patients

'Living drug' offers hope to terminal blood cancer patients NHS patients with lymphoma have for the first time been given a pioneering treatment that genetically reprogrammes their immune system to fight cancer.

Mike Simpson, 62, from Durham, says his cancer is now "on the run".

The therapy, called CAR-T, is a "living drug" that is tailor-made for each patient using their body's own cells

Doctors at King's College Hospital, London, said some patients were being completely cured in a way that had "never been seen before". BBC News

Inside Italy's war over vaccines

Inside Italy's war over vaccines Scientists say, repeatedly, that vaccines have never been safer - or more effective. So why do some people still refuse to trust them?

Outbreaks of diseases are happening in countries where they haven't been seen for decades. And number of people choosing not to vaccinate their children seems to be on the rise. It's one of the top 10 global health risks this year, according to the WHO.

BBC Population Reporter Stephanie Hegarty went to Italy, where vaccines have become a big issue in recent years, to explore a debate that's riddled with misinformation and fake news. BBC News

NHS Learning Disability nurse numbers plummet

NHS Learning Disability nurse numbers plummet Learning Disability (LD) Nursing needs urgent investment to attract more staff to the profession.

This is the message from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) as new analysis shows the number of LD nurses in NHS inpatient and secure units has dropped by almost 60% in a decade.

The College’s call comes as LD nurses from across the country gather at a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords today [Friday 21 June] to mark 100 years since the first “mental deficiency nurses” were registered in England. OnMedica

See also:

• Number of NHS learning disability nurses plummets in last decade Royal College of Nursing

UK teenagers far less likely to have underage sex than a decade ago, study shows

UK teenagers far less likely to have underage sex than a decade ago, study shows British teenagers are far less likely to have sex while underage than those born just a decade earlier, a study has found.

One in 30 (3.2 per cent) “Generation Z” 14-year-olds had engaged in “heavy” intimate activities, including oral sex and penetrative intercourse, the University College London research found. The Independent

NHS inpatient satisfaction falls for first time in six years

NHS inpatient satisfaction falls for first time in six years Chief inspector of hospitals says mounting pressure on system is having ‘dire impact’

Hospital patients are facing growing delays in getting a bed, help from staff or relief from their pain because surging demand for care is undermining how well they are looked after, the NHS care regulator has said.

The proportion of people admitted to hospital who are satisfied with their care fell last year for the first time in six years, an official survey of 76,000 patients found.

One in 10 (11%) inpatients said they should have been admitted to hospital “a lot” sooner – the highest percentage in a decade. The Guardian

See also:

• Confidence and trust in hospital staff high but overall improvements in people’s inpatient experience have stalled Care Quality Commission 
• Royal College of Nursing responds to CQC’s annual survey of hospital inpatients RCN
• The King's Fund responds to the 2018 national adult inpatient survey The King's Fund
• Satisfaction with hospital care falls as pressure mounts on NHS, finds CQC The BMJ
• Health bosses call for more volunteers to help bolster struggling NHS staff The Daily Mail
• Patient satisfaction with waiting times falls HSJ

Patients sent home from hospital with no advice on how to cope, watchdog finds

Patients sent home from hospital with no advice on how to cope, watchdog finds Record numbers of patients are being sent home from hospital without being told how to look after themselves, a watchdog has found.

A major report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals the proportion of patients - 60 per cent - given written advice on how to cope in the aftermath of a hospital stay has reached a 10-year low.

The regulator also sounded “alarm bells” that a significant proportion of patients discharged with medication - 44 per cent - are not being told about possible side-effects to watch out for. The Daily Telegraph

Rude doctors may endanger their patients, study suggests

Rude doctors may endanger their patients, study suggests When you're choosing a doctor to perform your surgery, you certainly want to know their credentials - but it might be worthwhile to find out if they are generally a good person, too, a new study suggests.

Some doctors argue that a degree of coldness helps them remain objective in emotionally charged situations.

But new research from Vanderbilt University suggests that some go too far and disrupt the sense of teamwork in their operating rooms.

The new study found that the patients whose surgeons were described as “unprofessional” by nurses and support staff were at 14 percent higher risks of complications. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Study on Co-Worker Concerns Published in JAMA Surgery – June 19, 2019 Vanderbilt University
• Use of Unsolicited Patient Observations to Identify Surgeons With Increased Risk for Postoperative Complications JAMA Surgery

NHS hospitals accused of 'disgraceful privatisation' for charging £18,000 for hip replacements

NHS hospitals accused of 'disgraceful privatisation' for charging £18,000 for hip replacements An NHS hospital trust has cancelled a scheme allowing patients to pay to be added to its waiting list.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had been accused of 'disgraceful' privatisation for trying to charge £18,000 for hip replacements.

Rationing means the thresholds for some operations have grown higher and people may be expected to live with severe pain before qualifying to get the ops for free.

But the hospital trust, near Liverpool, had a price list on its website offering paying customers various operations which they didn't qualify for. The Daily Mail

Detailed guide: Mental health data and analysis: a guide for health professionals

Detailed guide: Mental health data and analysis: a guide for health professionals Guidance for commissioners and health professionals to make decisions about mental health services and interventions based on data and analysis. Public Health England

Health staff are suffering serious sexual harassment at work

Health staff are suffering serious sexual harassment at work Nurses, care assistants, cleaners and other NHS staff have suffered lewd sexual insults, groping and even rape while at work, according to research published by UNISON today.

Being leered at or subjected to offensive ‘banter’ and suggestive gestures are regular occurrences for some of the nearly one in ten (8%) healthcare staff who reported being sexually harassed in the past year.

Verbal abuse (64%), such as unwanted remarks and jokes was the most common complaint, according to the report It’s Never Ok,released on the penultimate day of UNISON’s annual conference in Liverpool.

See also:

• It's Never Ok: a report on sexual harassment against healthcare staff UNISON
• One in 12 NHS staff sexually harassed at work, study finds The Guardian

Beyond the NHS: addressing the root causes of poor health

Beyond the NHS: addressing the root causes of poor health This report argues that a radical change of direction is required and focuses on how to develop and deliver a social model of health. It claims that the greatest socioeconomic challenges of our time, from poor-quality housing to knife crime, from skills’ deprivation to in-work poverty and homelessness, are also our greatest health challenges. Centre for Progressive Policy

Children's hospices 'to shut if NHS does not increase funding'

Children's hospices 'to shut if NHS does not increase funding' Children's hospices in England will be forced to cut services or shut unless the NHS increases its funding, a charity has warned.

Together for Short Lives, which helps terminally ill children, highlighted a "dangerous cocktail" of higher costs and a drop in state funding.

Its report examined funding for 27 of the 34 children's hospices in England.

But NHS England said funding for children's end-of-life care was "going up every year". BBC News

See also:

• Make good your promise to properly fund children’s hospices, charity tells NHS England boss as cuts hit care for seriously ill children Together for Short Lives

MMR Vaccine: 'I was told why did you vaccinate your child?'

MMR Vaccine: 'I was told why did you vaccinate your child?' An increase in mumps and measles outbreaks have led to concerns over the number of people not being vaccinated. Certain communities have particularly low vaccination rates.

Immunologist Dr Aayesha Hassan is fighting misinformation and distrust within the UK Somali community. BBC News

'Pigswill. Slop. Not fit for dogs.' Is hospital food that bad?

'Pigswill. Slop. Not fit for dogs.' Is hospital food that bad? Pigswill, slop and not fit for dogs. These are just some of the comments the Campaign for Better Hospital Food has received over the years from patients to describe the meals served up in hospitals.

It goes to show how bad a reputation hospital food has - and news that pre-packaged sandwiches and salads may have given patients listeria has just reinforced those impressions.

Even many staff cannot stomach it, it seems. A recent poll by Unison, which represents nurses and health care assistants among others NHS staff, found more than half would not eat what they serve up to patients. BBC News

Child mental health crisis exacerbated by closure of 1,000 Sure Start centres, says top psychiatrist

Child mental health crisis exacerbated by closure of 1,000 Sure Start centres, says top psychiatrist Massive cuts to pre-school children’s centres in poorer areas have heaped pressure on children’s mental health services and are fuelling the UK’s current crisis, a leading child psychiatrist has said.

About 1,000 Sure Start centres providing early years health and education services have closed in the past decade, according to Dr Bernadka Dubicka, who leads the child and adolescent mental health faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

These services have been shown to prevent thousands of hospital admissions a year and save the NHS millions but have seen their budgets cut by two-thirds under the government’s austerity programme. The Independent

Vital medicine supplies at risk if UK crashes out of EU, MPs warned

Vital medicine supplies at risk if UK crashes out of EU, MPs warned Shortages could occur within weeks of no-deal Brexit, pharmaceutical industry says

Crashing out of the EU on 31 October would have serious implications for hospitals, patients and pharmacies, with shortages of some medicines within weeks, MPs have been told by the pharmaceutical industry.

Critical medicines and short shelf-life medicines – some of which may need to be refrigerated until they are consumed – would be most vulnerable in a no-deal scenario, parliament’s Brexit select committee heard on Wednesday. The Guardian

Hospital bed cutbacks have gone too far, NHS England boss says

Hospital bed cutbacks have gone too far, NHS England boss says Policy has left hospitals unable to cope with rise in patient numbers, Simon Stevens says

Shutting beds has left hospitals unable to cope with the growing number of patients needing care and needs to stop, the head of the NHS has admitted.

In a surprise U-turn, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said the policy had gone too far and that hospital beds had become “overly pressurised” as a result of years of closures. The Guardian

NHS plans for faster treatment of stroke 'will save thousands of lives'

NHS plans for faster treatment of stroke 'will save thousands of lives' Small hospitals must stop treating stroke emergencies in order to save thousands of lives, England's top doctor will today say.

The national medical director will say NHS trusts across the country must centralise services, so that victims get the right help sooner.

Professor Stephen Powis will say hospitals should follow a controversial model pioneered in London and Manchester, which is now saving around 170 lives a year. The Daily Telegraph

NHS to send surgeons into schools to combat knife crime epidemic

NHS to send surgeons into schools to combat knife crime epidemic Surgeons will be sent into schools under NHS plans to combat Britain’s epidemic of knife crime.

The health service has appointed its first “violence reduction” tsar in a bid to cut levels of violence, by educating children about the consequences of stabbings.

The radical schemes will also see youth workers helping victims of gang crime while they are still being treated in hospital to help break the cycle of violence. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Surgeons set to visit schools as NHS appoints first knife crime and violence reduction tsar The Independent

NHS 'covered up' a report telling them to change 'unsatisfactory' children's cancer services

NHS 'covered up' a report telling them to change 'unsatisfactory' children's cancer services  A Hospital in London has been accused of covering up a report criticising its children's cancer services.

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust's hospital in Sutton was told in 2015 the way it treats children with cancer was causing unnecessary stress and danger.

Transferring young patients between hospitals for different types of care puts their health at risk, experts said, and was even deemed to have led to at least one child 'dying in terrible agony'.

But bosses at the hospital trust did not act on the report, according to an investigation by the Health Service Journal. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS accused of 'burying' damning child cancer report after patients unnecessarily 'died in agony' The Daily Telegraph

Investing in the NHS long term plan

Investing in the NHS long term plan This briefing analyses the challenges now facing health and social care and looks at the implications of the plan for activity levels and workforce in the NHS in England. It sets out funding scenarios for areas of health spending outside NHS England’s budget (including NHS workforce, capital investment, the prevention agenda and adult social care) and examine the potential impact on wider public spending. The findings of this analysis are supported by a separate survey of NHS front-line leaders carried out by NHS Confederation. The Health Foundation

See also:

• NHS needs extra £8bn or long-term plan will fail, say hospital bosses The Guardian
• Theresa May's flagship NHS plan set to fail because of dithering on social care, NHS bosses say The Independent

Vive la révolution in population health management

Vive la révolution in population health management In a guest blog, Andi Orlowski of Imperial College Health Partners explains why population health management has become so important for health systems all over the world – and why it is different from the previous approaches we have taken in public health or within the NHS. Nuffield Trust

Lives 'destroyed by NHS eating disorder failures'

Lives 'destroyed by NHS eating disorder failures' Lives are being lost and destroyed by the failure of the NHS in England to provide care for people with eating disorders, MPs and campaigners say.

They say more than a million people have an eating disorder, but specialist help is often difficult to access.

It leaves patients relying on GPs who lack the skills and training to help.

The warnings have been made in two separate reports - by charity Beat and the cross-party Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. BBC News

See also:

• Serious lack of training for doctors on eating disorders, Committee report finds Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
• Postcode lottery of adult eating disorder services putting lives at risk Beat Eating Disorders
• Patients with eating disorders are dying because doctors have a 'serious lack of training' The Daily Mail
• Doctors with almost no training in eating disorders leave anorexics feeling under pressure to get thinner The Daily Telegraph
• Doctors’ failings on eating disorders ‘are costing lives’ The Guardian
• Lack of eating disorder training ‘causing preventable deaths’ as patients feel they have to be dangerously underweight to get help The Independent

District nurses are the hidden heroes of the NHS – so why are they being cut?

District nurses are the hidden heroes of the NHS – so why are they being cut? District nurses treat patients and tend to the dying in their own homes. They save the NHS billions by helping keep patients out of hospital. But cuts means their numbers have fallen by almost half in 10 years. iNews

Infant mortality rates rise for third consecutive year, hitting poorest communities hardest

Infant mortality rates rise for third consecutive year, hitting poorest communities hardest Infant mortality rates in England and Wales have risen for the third year in a row with families in the poorest communities worst affected, official data shows.

Between 2016 and 2017 the infant mortality rate rose from 3.8 deaths per 1,000 births, to 3.9 per 1,000, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. The Independent

Women are unaware of alcohol’s link to breast cancer risk

Women are unaware of alcohol’s link to breast cancer risk Women’s awareness of alcohol’s role in boosting breast cancer risk is poor, indicates research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Alcohol consumption is estimated to be responsible for between 5% and 11% of cases of breast cancer, with the risk increasing in tandem with the amount consumed, but only one in five women attending breast clinics and screening appointments and only half of the staff questioned at one NHS UK centre knew that alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer, the study found. OnMedica

Telling people to eat fewer burgers won't solve shocking health inequality

Telling people to eat fewer burgers won't solve shocking health inequality | Richard Vize Lifestyle advice helps, but the government must tackle the root causes of poor health to improve life expectancy

Media coverage of the relentless advice to eat less, eat better, and do more gives the impression that the growing problem of health inequalities could largely be solved simply by badgering enough people into laying off fried chicken.

The excitement around the Henry programme (Health, Exercise, Nutrition for the Really Young) in Leeds, which claimed to have reduced childhood obesity by helping parents give children choices while maintaining boundaries, shows how seductive this narrative can be (and it should be noted that there is a lively debate in the British Medical Journal about exactly what the programme achieved). The Guardian

NHS forced to prioritise staff wellbeing to tackle escalating crisis

NHS forced to prioritise staff wellbeing to tackle escalating crisis With 100,000 vacancies across trusts in England, trusts hope new initiatives will help them retain employees

What do ice lollies, Zumba classes, improvised comedy and tea trolleys have to do with saving the NHS? They are all being used to improve the workforce’s wellbeing, stress levels and work-life balance – and so, their employers hope, mitigate the health service’s escalating staffing crisis.

Across the NHS, employers are finally doing more to help staff deal with the stresses and strains of their jobs, such as long hours and shift patterns that disrupt family life and sleeping routines, and the increasingly intense demands of giving patients high-quality care. The Guardian

Trust for vaccines higher in UK than most of Europe, major survey finds

Trust for vaccines higher in UK than most of Europe, major survey finds People in the UK trust vaccines more than European neighbours, with the French the most sceptical in the world, according to new research.

A first-of-its-kind survey of more than 140,000 people in more than 140 countries found 79 per cent of the world's population think vaccines are safe with 92 per cent of parents saying their children have been vaccinated.

The report, conducted by biomedical research charity Wellcome, found there is less certainty about the safety of vaccines in high-income regions, with 72 per cent of people in Northern America and 59 per cent in Western Europe agreeing they are safe. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• World survey reveals people trust experts but want to know more about science Wellcome
• Low trust in vaccines 'a global crisis' BBC News
• What are vaccines, how do they work and why are people sceptical? BBC News
• Immunisation: Why we do it and how 'herd immunity' works BBC News
• ‘I got lockjaw thanks to my mum’ BBC News
• Social media fuelling anti-vaxxer movement with Europeans the most sceptical in the world, global poll shows The Independent

Eight NHS hospitals hit by listeria outbreaks as Hancock signals plans to bring catering in-house

Eight NHS hospitals hit by listeria outbreaks as Hancock signals plans to bring catering in-house Eight NHS hospitals have been hit by the listeria outbreak which has killed five patients, the Health Secretary has revealed.

Matt Hancock made the disclosures as he said he was keen to see the health service take NHS catering back in-house, in a bid to improve safety.

The Health Secretary on Monday named six NHS hospitals which have been hit by the outbreak, linked to pre-packed sandwiches and salads, as he vowed to “take the necessary steps” to restore trust in hospital food.

They include two - Leicester Royal Infirmary, and Royal Derby Hospital - in which patients have died. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Listeria outbreak: More affected hospitals named BBC News

The NHS fast-track the introduction of 'game changing' new cancer drugs

The NHS fast-track the introduction of 'game changing' new cancer drugs The NHS is to fast-track the introduction of 'game changing' new cancer drugs that target tumours according to their genetic make-up.

Tumour agnostic drugs can treat a wide range of cancers regardless of where they originate, such as the breast or lungs.

They work by blocking an enzyme which helps the tumour to grow. In trials, 75 per cent of tumours responded.

Children are expected to benefit the most, as well as those with rare cancers who don't have many treatment options. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Game-changing cancer drugs which can attack all tumours will be fast-tracked by NHS The Daily Telegraph

Cybercriminals could hack into medical devices used in NHS hospitals

Cybercriminals could hack into medical devices used in NHS hospitals Cybercriminals could hack into medical devices used in NHS hospitals, security specialists have warned.

The US-based cybersecurity firm CyberMDX lifted the lid on security flaws in hospital wards' workstations which are connected to the internet.

NHS trusts have been warned hackers could gain access to medical software that would enable them to control and cut off IV pumps.

This could lead to 'catastrophic' consequences if they were to block the delivery of chemotherapy drugs or tamper with insulin doses, one expert said. The Daily Mail

Theresa May calls for mental health to be priority

Theresa May calls for mental health to be priority Every new teacher in England will be trained in how to spot early warning signs of mental illness, under a plan being unveiled by Theresa May later.

Mrs May, using some of her remaining political authority before leaving office, has called for improvements in preventing problems.

"Too many of us have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of mental illness," says Mrs May.

Labour's Barbara Keeley said the prime minister only offered "warm words".

The shadow minister for mental health said the "reality" was support services being "stretched to breaking point". BBC News

BAME doctors more likely to be investigated than white ones

BAME doctors more likely to be investigated than white ones Nine years ago, a patient died under the care of surgeon David Sellu. He was jailed but his conviction was quashed on appeal.

Mr Sellu believes his race had an impact on how his case was handled, and he has raised concerns about how the General Medical Council (GMC) treats black and ethnic minority doctors.

Figures obtained by a BBC Freedom of Information request suggest the GMC is more likely to investigate complaints against BAME doctors than those who are white. BBC News

Listeria outbreak: Health secretary orders NHS food review

Listeria outbreak: Health secretary orders NHS food review A "root and branch" review of hospital food has been ordered by the health secretary after two more deaths were linked to an outbreak of listeria.

The number of deaths related to pre-packed sandwiches and salads at hospitals had risen from three to five, Public Health England said on Friday.

It said evidence suggested the deceased ate the products before 25 May.

Products from the Good Food Chain, which supplied to 43 NHS trusts, have been withdrawn and production halted. BBC News

See also:

• Update on listeria cases being investigated Food Standards Agency
• Listeria cases being investigated Public health England
• Hancock pledges hospital food overhaul after listeria deaths The Guardian
• Minister orders review into hospital food after more listeria deaths The Guardian
• Listeria outbreak: Health secretary orders NHS food review after five deaths linked to hospital sandwiches The Independent
• Hospital sandwich death toll rises to five as two more fatal cases of listeria poisoning confirmed The Independent

End-of-life care not 'culturally competent'

End-of-life care not 'culturally competent' A study has been launched to try to boost the number of black and Asian people using end-of-life care services.

Figures suggest black and Asian patients are 20% less likely to seek palliative help than their white counterparts.

There is concern they feel excluded by the way the services are currently set up.

The researchers, from Leicester, plan to use their results to develop national guidance to improve access. BBC News

Opiate addiction in UK in the over-40s triples in 12 years

Opiate addiction in UK in the over-40s triples in 12 years The number of people over 40 receiving treatment for opiate addiction has tripled in just 12 years, a report has found.

In 2018, 75,000 people over the age of 40 were in treatment for dependence on illegal opiates such as heroin – compared to 25,000 in 2006, a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) found.

Over the same period, those in treatment for opioid addiction under the age of 30 fell from 60,000 to 13,000. The Independent

See also:

• Number of older opiate users in treatment has tripled Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
• ACMD report: ageing cohort of drug users Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

NHS care providers left autistic children at risk of self-harm

NHS care providers left autistic children at risk of self-harm Inquiry finds needs of highly troubled under-18s in Staffordshire were neglected

Potentially suicidal autistic children with mental health problems in Staffordshire have been left at risk of self-harm after receiving inadequate and unsafe care, according to a damning leaked internal NHS report.

An inquiry, sparked by parents’ serious concerns, found that the needs of highly troubled under-18s in the county were neglected as a result of significant failings in care provision by the two NHS-funded providers in the area. The Guardian