Friday 30 August 2019

What should be done to fix the crisis in social care? Five priorities for government

What should be done to fix the crisis in social care? Five priorities for government Adult social care in England needs fixing – and has done for decades. Increasing numbers of people are unable to access social care and care providers are at risk of collapse. Yet successive governments continue to duck reform, and people and their families continue to suffer unnecessarily. The Health Foundation

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More than 160 NHS leaders say a lack of investment is putting patients at risk of harm at their NHS trust

More than 160 NHS leaders say a lack of investment is putting patients at risk of harm at their NHS trust A new survey released today by NHS Providers has found that 82% (161) of NHS trust leaders think that the current climate of restricted capital funding poses a medium or high risk to patient safety, and could undermine plans to transform the NHS.

Despite the prime minister’s welcome commitment to allow the NHS to spend an additional £1.8bn, the survey reveals the scale of the challenge of NHS capital funding that still exists, and the direct impact this has on everyone who relies on the health service.

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No deal Brexit: Flu vaccine delays "very likely"

No deal Brexit: Flu vaccine delays "very likely" Doctors and NHS leaders have warned that a no-deal Brexit would make it "likely" there will be a delay in flu vaccine supply this year.

They say the EU departure date coincides with the winter season in a way that creates "a perfect storm for the NHS".

Major flu vaccine manufacturer Sanofi said delays in deciding what strains of flu to use in the vaccine mean over a million doses will have to be imported after 31 October. BBC News

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MPs highlight 'secret scandal' of radiotherapy access as NHS dispute figures

MPs highlight 'secret scandal' of radiotherapy access as NHS dispute figures Politicians have criticised the “secret scandal” of poor radiotherapy provision amid a dispute with the NHS over how many cancer patients may not be getting treatment.

A report from MPs across the political spectrum estimates that 20,000 patients are missing out on treatment each year.

The report said it had observed “consensus” and “widespread acknowledgement” of the estimate, based on analysis from the charity Action Radiotherapy of Government data. ITV News

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I'm a medical student, and I'm gay. Work would be simpler if I were heterosexual

I'm a medical student, and I'm gay. Work would be simpler if I were heterosexual Does the pledge for doctors to be honest include our sexuality? If I tell the truth, I risk losing patient trust to homophobia

I’m a medical student heading into my sixth and final year, and I am a gay woman. I feel like my work as a healthcare professional would be much simpler if I were heterosexual.

When medical students (and the wider medical community) work on a ward, getting to know the patients is important. We have time to sit and chat with patients about their grandchildren, their dogs and where they went on holiday when they were young. In turn, most people like to know a bit about us. Forming a human connection with people under your care, especially those who are older or prone to loneliness, is essential in building a trusting patient-doctor relationship. I hit a sticking point time and time again. I’m asked if I have a husband, a boyfriend, children, or plans to marry someone soon. The Guardian

Number of people accessing NHS dentist falls to 10-year low

Number of people accessing NHS dentist falls to 10-year low Access to NHS dentists is now the worst it has been for a decade, new figures suggest, with just half of adults undergoing regular checks.

Statistics from NHS Digital show just 50.2 per cent of adults have seen a dentist in the last two years - a drop from 52.5 per cent less than a year ago. The Daily Telegraph

Antibiotic resistance "could kill humanity before climate change does" warns England's chief medical officer

Antibiotic resistance "could kill humanity before climate change does" warns England's chief medical officer Antimicrobial resistance could soon kill at least 10 million people per year and wipe out humanity "before climate change does", England's chief medical officer has warned.

Professor Dame Sally Davies also cautioned the post-Brexit UK against importing meat or fish from countries that "misuse" antibiotics while rearing livestock. The Daily Telegraph

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NHS has lost 600 GPs in one YEAR despite pledges from Government to tackle the downward spiral

NHS has lost 600 GPs in one YEAR despite pledges from Government to tackle the downward spiral The NHS has lost almost 600 GPs in the last year as its recruitment crisis continues, figures show.

Almost as many family doctors left the health service between June 2018 and June 2019 as did in the entire three years to March.

Doctors' union the British Medical Association said falling GP numbers mean strained GPs are risking their own health to catch up with huge workloads. The Daily Mail

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UK's healthcare spend is the second lowest in the G7 and average for Europe

UK's healthcare spend is the second lowest in the G7 and average for Europe The UK has the second lowest healthcare spending of the G7 nations and spent £2,989 per person in 2017.

Among comparable countries, the US had by far the biggest outgoing - spending £7,736 ($9,433) per person on average - but had a lower life expectancy.

Figures released by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) ranked 36 countries by how much their healthcare costs each year. The Daily Mail

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Thursday 29 August 2019

Northamptonshire County Council: £8m of planned savings target to be missed

Northamptonshire County Council: £8m of planned savings target to be missed Finances at a cash-crisis council are still not on track, with forecasts predicting £8m of £41m savings needed in 2019-20 will not be made.

After its financial collapse in 2018, Northamptonshire County Council will cease to exist from spring 2021, with two new unitary authorities planned.

The Conservative-run authority set out planned savings in its February budget.

But the council's scrutiny committee heard £5.8m of planned children's services savings looked unachievable. BBC Northampton

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Will linked data finally show us what happens after the ambulance arrives?

Will linked data finally show us what happens after the ambulance arrives? Sarah Scobie takes a closer look at new ambulance response standards, explores the variation in how providers are performing, and argues the case for a single national ambulance dataset. Nuffield Trust

Guidance: Wellbeing and mental health: applying All Our Health

Guidance: Wellbeing and mental health: applying All Our Health Evidence and guidance to enable healthcare professionals make improvements against wider factors that affect health and wellbeing in mental health. Public Health England

Billion fewer cigarettes smoked in England a year

Billion fewer cigarettes smoked in England a year The number of cigarettes smoked each year in England has fallen by more than a billion, according to analysis by Cancer Research UK.

The charity says average monthly cigarette consumption fell by a quarter between 2011 and 2018 - equating to 118 million fewer cigarettes smoked each month.

Only 16% of adults in England smoke, latest data shows. BBC News

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Pinterest to direct vaccine searches to health sites

Pinterest to direct vaccine searches to health sites Pinterest users searching for vaccine-related information will be directed to results from "public health organisations".

Last year, the social platform stopped showing results for vaccine searches to tackle the spread of misinformation.

Social media companies are facing increasing scrutiny over how they moderate content on their sites.

In recent months, other firms including Facebook have taken some steps to address vaccine misinformation. BBC News

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Health unions warn no-deal Brexit could cause ‘fatal’ medicine shortages

Health unions warn no-deal Brexit could cause ‘fatal’ medicine shortages Health union leaders have issued a stark warning that a no-deal Brexit could “devastate” the NHS and cause fatal medicine shortages arguing “no responsible government should take that risk”.

A joint statement signed by 11 organisations called on the government to take no deal off the table, the day after prime minister Boris Johnson received the Queen’s permission to suspend parliament for more than a month ahead of the EU withdrawal date. The Independent

'People think of straitjackets': the podcast unveiling reality in a psychiatric hospital

'People think of straitjackets': the podcast unveiling reality in a psychiatric hospital A nurse wants to shift outdated perceptions of mental health by giving patients a voice

“We’re all seen as people catching flies in their mouth and talking to Jesus while wearing tin helmets,” says Chris Dowling*, who is being treated for mental health problems that include depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Mental health needn’t be that debilitating, but even my own family … it’s almost as if they think it’s contagious. They steer clear of me,” he adds. “We have to shift the outdated Victorian connotations of what mental health is.” The Guardian

Health watchdogs are being taken to court over claims they have breached human rights

Health watchdogs are being taken to court over claims they have breached human rights The health watchdog is being taken to court over claims it has breached human rights by not approving a drug to treat a cruel and deadly syndrome.

NICE controversially rejected the only available medication to treat one type of Batten disease for use on the NHS in England in draft guidance in February.

Outraged families – including the parents of a boy once cradled by Prince Harry in hospital – launched legal action to get cerliponase alfa available.

The High Court has now announced it will hold a judicial review into legality of the decision. Lawyers fighting to overturn the decision claim it was unlawful. The Daily Mail

National shortage of common contraceptive pills could lead to unplanned pregnancies, experts warn  

National shortage of common contraceptive pills could lead to unplanned pregnancies, experts warn A nationwide shortage of contraceptive pills could lead to a wave of unplanned pregnancies, experts have warned.

Women are struggling to get hold of several common birth control pills, such as Lestrin and Cilest.

Leading brands have confirmed there are problems in the manufacturing process - but have given little indication of when it will be resolved. The Daily Mail

More patients are dying from blood poisoning than anticipated at 28 NHS trusts

More patients are dying from blood poisoning than anticipated at 28 NHS trusts More patients are dying from sepsis than anticipated at 28 NHS trusts in England, MailOnline can reveal.

Deaths from the silent killer at Tameside and Glossop NHS Foundation Trust are 38 per cent higher than expected over the past six years.

In real terms, 517 patients died from sepsis - a violent immune response to an infection - at the trust in Ashton-under-Lyne, well above the 373 deaths expected.

The NHS denies excess deaths are necessarily avoidable, saying the rate given for each trust is based solely on a national average. The Daily Mail

Wednesday 28 August 2019

Implementing health in all policies: Lessons from around the world

Implementing health in all policies: Lessons from around the world Health in all policies is an established approach to improving health and health equity through cross-sector action on the wider determinants of health: the social, environmental, economic and commercial conditions in which people live.

Our collection of case studies looks at practical attempts to implement this around the world. The nine case studies offer valuable insights into the practicalities of delivering a health in all policies approach in different contexts, sectors and levels of government. The Health Foundation

Good Childhood Report 2019

Since 2009 children and young people have become increasingly unhappy. Based on the latest figures we estimate a quarter of a million children are unhappy with their lives, with factors like friends, school and appearance all playing a role.

We are calling on the Government to introduce national measurement of well-being for all children aged 11-18 to be undertaken through schools and colleges once a year. This would enable the experiences of young people to be recorded and issues acted upon for future generations.

The Good Childhood Report 2019 is the eighth in our annual series and alongside the latest trends in children’s well-being, also looks at family, financial circumstance, multiple disadvantage and what children and young people think about the future. The Children's Society

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Navigating the uncharted waters: population ageing in the UK

Navigating the uncharted waters: population ageing in the UK This report argues that the UK’s unprecedented population ageing poses a set of daunting, yet not insurmountable, challenges for policymakers, institutions and health care providers to design better solutions fit for an ageing society. It calls for health policy reforms that focus on preventing, rather than curing disease to enable people to stay active and healthy for longer. International Longevity Centre - UK

    Ageist Britain?

    Ageist Britain? This report aims to shine a light on the issue of casual ageism and the impact that it has on all of us. It highlights how ageism can have real life consequences, promotes exclusion and can affect physical and mental health. SunLife

      Muckamore Abbey: CCTV reveals 1,500 crimes at hospital

      Muckamore Abbey: CCTV reveals 1,500 crimes at hospital CCTV footage has revealed 1,500 crimes on one ward of Muckamore Abbey Hospital in County Antrim, the police officer leading the investigation has said.

      The incidents happened in the psychiatric intensive care unit over the course of six months in 2017-18.

      Police are investigating allegations about the physical and mental abuse of patients. BBC News

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      Mental health problems are the main cause of sick days for NHS staff, figures show -

      Mental health problems are the main cause of sick days for NHS staff, figures show Mental health problems like stress, depression and anxiety are the most common reason NHS staff in England take sick days, analysis of NHS Digital statistics shows.

      Workers took a total of 17.7 million days of sick leave between December 2017 and November 2018.

      Of these, almost a quarter or 4.2 million were taken due to stress, anxiety, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. The Independent

      Homeopathic treatment has been dismissed as quackery by doctors — so why do people keep taking the medicine?

      Homeopathic treatment has been dismissed as quackery by doctors — so why do people keep taking the medicine? Homeopathy is the Marmite of alternative medicine. It’s “gentle and safe – yet effective”, according to TV personality Jo Wood, one of several celebrities offering an enthusiastic endorsement on the British Homeopathic Association website. She “always” used it for her children, who now use it for theirs, she explains. Or it’s “tap water masquerading as medicine”, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England said recently. It’s “witchcraft”, says the British Medical Association (BMA). iNews

      Cyber attack on NHS would trigger full Nato response, says alliance's general secretary

      Cyber attack on NHS would trigger full Nato response, says alliance's general secretary A cyber strike similar to the computer hack that crippled NHS hospitals in 2017 could trigger a revenge attack from all Nato allies, its general secretary has warned.

      Jens Stoltenberg cited the WannaCry ransomware attack as an example of a “serious cyber attack” that would be viewed by Nato as requiring a response from all members of the alliance. The Daily Telegraph

      High blood pressure pills will be offered to 720,000 more NHS patients

      High blood pressure pills will be offered to 720,000 more NHS patients UK health watchdog, NICE, has confirmed plans it suggested in March to recommend doctors offer blood pressure pills to patients with high blood pressure and a 10 per cent risk of heart disease. The Daily Mail

      How social media is fuelling a deadly conspiracy: More modern parents are shunning the MMR jab

      How social media is fuelling a deadly conspiracy: More modern parents are shunning the MMR jab Anna Watson is not the kind of woman you would expect to be accused of putting young lives at risk.

      She is a much respected primary school teacher who lives in the affluent Londonsuburb of Kingston-upon-Thames with her businessman husband, their two children, aged 13 and 15 — and the family dog. The Daily Mail

      Tuesday 27 August 2019

      Looking ahead to the Spending Review

      Looking ahead to the Spending Review Sally Warren considers the importance of the upcoming Spending Review for health and social care and outlines how the numbers are only part of the funding problem, as services are struggling to make joined-up and long-term plans. The King's Fund

      “We’re made to feel invisible” Barriers to accessing cervical screening for women with physical disabilities

      “We’re made to feel invisible” Barriers to accessing cervical screening for women with physical disabilities New research has found that women with physical disabilities are struggling to access potentially-life saving cervical screening.

      A lack of equipment, clear policies and, in parts of the country, substandard care is putting this group at increased risk of cervical cancer. Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust

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      HRT: Medical leaders demand government action over shortages

      HRT: Medical leaders demand government action over shortages Medical profession leaders have called for an urgent meeting with government officials to discuss ongoing shortages of hormone replacement therapy.

      Hundreds of thousands of women going through the menopause are on HRT either through tablets, patches or gels.

      Many have suffered ill effects because their HRT product is out of stock. BBC News

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      Opioid crisis: Johnson & Johnson hit by landmark ruling

      Opioid crisis: Johnson & Johnson hit by landmark ruling Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson must pay $572m (£468m) for its part in fuelling Oklahoma's opioid addiction crisis, a judge in the US state has ruled.

      The company said immediately after the judgement that it would appeal.

      The case was the first to go to trial out of thousands of lawsuits filed against opioid makers and distributors.

      Opioids were involved in almost 400,000 overdose deaths in the US from 1999 to 2017, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BBC News

      Dutch doctor faces trial in landmark euthanasia case

      Dutch doctor faces trial in landmark euthanasia case A Dutch doctor has appeared in court after performing euthanasia on a patient suffering with severe dementia.

      Prosecutors say the doctor did not do enough to verify consent. It is the first such case since the Netherlands legalised euthanasia in 2002.

      The 74-year-old patient was suffering from Alzheimer's disease when she died in 2016. BBC News

      'There was no hope': Treatable disease often mistaken for Alzheimer's

      'There was no hope': Treatable disease often mistaken for Alzheimer's When John Searle started to fall down and lose his memory, he thought it was the early signs of dementia. But it turns out he has a rare - and often undiagnosed - condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. The good news is it's treatable. BBC News

      Patients ‘at risk’ as NHS spends £92m on private ambulances and taxis

      Patients ‘at risk’ as NHS spends £92m on private ambulances and taxis Major ambulance trusts are increasingly relying on private ambulances to attend 999 calls, an investigation has found.

      England’s ambulance trusts spent more than £92 million in the last year on private ambulances and taxis to transport patients, Press Association (PA) research found.

      Some trusts said they rely on private ambulances due to a chronic shortage of NHS staff and ongoing problems with recruitment. The Independent

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      Public sector to launch 'mass legal battle' over pension reforms

      Public sector to launch 'mass legal battle' over pension reforms Teachers and doctors claim changes to pensions in 2015 were ‘discriminatory’

      Mass legal claims on behalf of teachers and doctors alleging that changes to their pensions in 2015 were discriminatory are being launched against the government.

      After successfully winning a similar pension case on behalf of judges, the London law firm Leigh Day is preparing employment tribunal cases for public sector workers. The Guardian

      Does Amazon have answers for the future of the NHS?

      Does Amazon have answers for the future of the NHS? The technology behemoth is preparing a move into the healthcare market, but critics fear profit will come before patients and privacy

      Enthusiasts predicted the plan would relieve the pressure on hard-pressed GPs. Critics saw it as a sign of creeping privatisation and a data-protection disaster in waiting. Reactions to news last month that Amazon’s voice-controlled digital assistant Alexa was to begin using NHS website information to answer health queries were many and varied.

      US-based healthcare tech analysts say the deal is just the latest of a series of recent moves that together reveal an audacious, long-term strategy on the part of Amazon. From its entry into the lucrative prescription drugs market and development of AI tools to analyse patient records, to Alexa apps that manage diabetes and data-driven experiments on how to cut medical bills, the $900bn global giant’s determination to make the digital disruption of healthcare a central part of its future business model is becoming increasingly clear. The Guardian

      Soaring numbers of pensioners left 'stranded' in hospital for weeks 

      Soaring numbers of pensioners left 'stranded' in hospital for weeks Rising numbers of elderly patients are being left “stranded” in hospital for more than three weeks amid a growing social care crisis, an investigation reveals.

      Last year Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, pledged to bring an end to the “long stay” culture on the wards, promising quicker assessments and more support at home for those who are well enough to be discharged.

      Health officials warned that a 10-days in a hospital bed could mean pensioners “aged” by a decade, in terms of lost muscle mass. The Daily Telegraph

      Hospital appointments cancelled 10 times in a row amid NHS chaos

      Hospital appointments cancelled 10 times in a row amid NHS chaos Hospital patients are having vital appointments cancelled more than 10 times in a row, amid growing chaos across the NHS.

      A Daily Telegraph investigation reveals soaring numbers of patients - many elderly - are suffering repeated cancellations, with notice only given in some cases the night before via letters dispatched by taxi.

      In other cases, patients have been left waiting years to see a hospital doctor after their NHS slot was axed again and again.

      Doctors pushing new drugs don't have to admit they are funded by the pill's makers

      Doctors pushing new drugs don't have to admit they are funded by the pill's makers A bright hope has suddenly appeared in depression therapy: the 'party' drug, ketamine. Known best as a horse tranquilliser, it is also used as an anaesthetic in hospitals.

      But ketamine can cause soaring highs and is used illegally, with potentially nightmarish results; the drug is addictive and can trigger psychosis.

      Recently, leading depression experts lined up at a London briefing to explain how an engineered version of the drug, called esketamine, promises a breakthrough in providing fast-acting help to sufferers of treatment-resistant depression. The Daily Mail

      NHS plans sex change advice in Skype calls for children as young as THREE at controversial clinic

      NHS plans sex change advice in Skype calls for children as young as THREE at controversial clinic Children as young as three could be helped to change gender by doctors on the basis of just a Skype phone call under plans being considered by the NHS.

      A controversial clinic, which helps thousands of children to change gender every year, says that it has become so overwhelmed by patients that it could be forced to set children on a path to a new sex on the basis of 'telemedical' appointments. The Daily Mail

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      Scientists create 'Baxter' the robot who can assist the elderly amid a shortage of nurses

      Scientists create 'Baxter' the robot who can assist the elderly amid a shortage of nurses Scientists have created a robot that may be able to help the elderly perform tasks amid a shortage of nurses in the UK.

      Named Baxter, it has two arms and 3D printed 'fingers', allowing it to step in when a person is struggling with things such as getting dressed.

      Artificial intelligence allows the robot to detect when assistance is needed and learn about the owners difficulties over time. The Daily Mail

      Patients at risk in NHS after MailOnline investigation exposes cheating student doctors -

      Patients at risk in NHS after MailOnline investigation exposes cheating student doctors Thousands of student doctors and nurses are paying other academics to write their university essays, a MailOnline investigation reveals.

      Hundreds of shadowy websites peddle essays on all topics from asthma to cancer, allowing student medics to avoid writing essays themselves.

      Dr Thomas Lancaster of Imperial College London said that this calls into question the integrity of NHS staff and raises concerns about other forms of malpractice. The Daily Mail

      Friday 23 August 2019

      Rushden medical centre put into special measures after being judged unsafe

      Rushden medical centre put into special measures after being judged unsafe A Rushden medical centre has been put into special measures after being declared unsafe.

      The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has handed the Lakeside Healthcare at Rushden an inadequate rating and warned that if it does not improve in six months, the Lakeside Healthcare Group could be stopped from operating the service. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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      Campaign launched to raise £10,00 for 'Magic Carpet' for county's dementia patients

      Campaign launched to raise £10,00 for 'Magic Carpet' for county's dementia patients A health charity is hoping to raise £10,00 for an innovative piece of sensory equipment that will primarily be used at The Forest Centre at St Mary's Hospital in Kettering.

      The Northamptonshire Health Charity, which supports the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has launched a fundraising drive to raise £10,000 to purchase a 'Magic Carpet' piece of sensory equipment. Northamptonshire Telegraph

      Nottinghamshire and Northampton ICSs focus on working as a system

      Nottinghamshire and Northampton ICSs focus on working as a system Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS) is seeking to “do things once at a system level” – including setting clinical standards and thresholds. Amanda Sullivan, chief executive of the six clinical commissioning groups within the ICS, told a recent event that at the place level systems are focused on coordinating care and supporting primary care networks. Primary Care Commissioning

      Sobering realities revealed by NHS workforce figures, says NHS Employers

      Sobering realities revealed by NHS workforce figures, says NHS Employers Commenting on the latest workforce statistics published by NHS Digital, Sue Covill, director of development and employment at NHS Employers, said: “These figures reveal some sobering realities. In mental health and learning disability nursing, for example, they show staff numbers have significantly fallen over the last decade, while demand for care and services is continuing to grow. NHS Employers

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      NHS patient data 'worth £5 billion' to private companies

      NHS patient data 'worth £5 billion' to private companies A controversial new report has suggested the NHS could cash in on its patient records by opening them up to private companies. The report estimated that the 55 million patient records held by the NHS could have a value of several billion pounds to a commercial organisation, however campaigners have been quick to warn that without significant safeguarding, this is open to “abuse from commercial exploitation.” Consultancy.uk

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      Four-in-one pill prevents third of heart problems

      Four-in-one pill prevents third of heart problems A daily pill containing four medicines can cut the number of heart attacks and strokes by a third, a study shows.

      The polypill contains blood-thinning aspirin, a cholesterol-lowering statin and two drugs to lower blood pressure.

      The researchers - in Iran and the UK - said the pill had a huge impact but cost just pennies a day. BBC News

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      Listeria outbreak: NHS hospital sandwich deaths ‘due to dramatic public health cuts’

      Listeria outbreak: NHS hospital sandwich deaths ‘due to dramatic public health cuts’ The deaths of 18 people, including six linked to an outbreak of listeria, were down to “systematic failures” in public health following “dramatic” budget cuts, according to a former health chief.

      Professor John Ashton described 18 deaths linked to separate deadly outbreaks of listeria and streptococcus earlier this year as “serious failures” of the system. iNews

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      I work in A&E. I see the brutal reality of the UK's homelessness crisis every day

      I work in A&E. I see the brutal reality of the UK's homelessness crisis every day Rising numbers of homeless people have an impact on the NHS, but healthcare services can’t solve the problem alone

      Sam’s in his mid-20s, give or take a couple of years, and has attended the hospital where I work six times in the last four months. He’s alright, he reckons, but he’s got a skin infection on his foot that just won’t shift. I have another look at his foot, send some skin swabs to the lab and we try a different kind of dressing on it.

      I prescribe another course of antibiotics for this recurring skin infection, but the reason it persists is because Sam’s sleeping on the floor outside a tube station, not a lack of medication. He tells me that his family are hundreds of miles away, that his mates just don’t have any space for him, that he can’t go back to a hostel because it’s just too difficult for him to avoid alcohol there, that he’s fed up and has exhausted all available options. The Guardian

      Health watchdog rules AGAINST the NHS offering cannabis-based drug to children with epilepsy 

      Health watchdog rules AGAINST the NHS offering cannabis-based drug to children with epilepsy Health watchdogs today have ruled against approving a cannabis-based drug for children with rare forms of epilepsy on the NHS.

      NICE said there was not enough evidence Epidiolex was a cost-effective or that it worked long term.

      Epidiolex is almost entirely based on CBD, a compound found in marijuana that is not psychoactive therefore does not give a 'high'. The Daily Mail

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      Government launches review into food served in NHS hospitals

      Government launches review into food served in NHS hospitals The Government has announced it will carry out a major review into the quality of food being served in NHS hospitals.

      Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith will be involved, in hope of improving the health and taste of meals for all staff and patients.

      Disgruntled patients have for years complained about meals plated up in hospitals, including greasy bacon and carrots that look like plastic. The Daily Mail

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      Thursday 22 August 2019

      Collaboration is key to achieving better models of care

      Collaboration is key to achieving better models of care In 2015, my 20-month-old son was diagnosed with type one diabetes. Motivated by this devastating diagnosis, my partner and I set up DigiBete and partnered with Leeds Children’s Hospital to assist us in achieving our mission of helping families and communities understand the principles of good diabetes care. Capturing diverse patient and family voices has given us a rich – and sometimes raw – insight into the complexities and challenges faced by patients and families living with a long-term condition. The Health Foundation

      Guidance: Health matters: preventing STIs

      Guidance: Health matters: preventing STIs A professional resource for local authorities and commissioners on the prevention of five common sexually transmitted infections. Public Health England

      Preventing falls in people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments

      Preventing falls in people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments This guide contains information to help staff in public health, health services and social care to prevent falls in people with learning disabilities. It is also intended to help falls prevention services to provide support that is accessible to people with learning disabilities. The guide can be used by family carers, friends and paid support staff to help them think about what risks may contribute to falls and how to reduce such risks. Public Health England

        The causal effect of hospital volume on health gains from hip replacement surgery

        The causal effect of hospital volume on health gains from hip replacement surgery This study investigates the causal effect of hospital volume on health gains from hip replacement surgery in the English NHS. It exploits a unique dataset, which links routine hospital records and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for all public hospitals in England. Centre for Health Economics

          Brexit: Health leaders issue new no-deal warning

          Brexit: Health leaders issue new no-deal warning Health leaders have written to Boris Johnson issuing new warnings on the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

          In a letter to the prime minister, the heads of 17 royal colleges and health charities across the UK say clinicians are "unable to reassure patients" their health and care will not be affected.

          They go on to say they have "significant concerns about shortages of medical supplies".

          Government said it was working with the health sector on "robust preparations". BBC News

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          NHS bosses ordered to 'stick to script' that no-deal Brexit must happen on 31 October if necessary

          NHS bosses ordered to 'stick to script' that no-deal Brexit must happen on 31 October if necessary NHS chiefs have been ordered to repeat Boris Johnson’s claim that a no-deal Brexit must be carried out in October if necessary, in a controversial government memo.

          All communications sent by NHS England and other agencies must be “aligned to this script” and Downing Street’s weekly “top lines”, it says. The Independent

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          World health chiefs call for more studies on microplastics in drinking water

          World health chiefs call for more studies on microplastics in drinking water More research into the health risks posed by rising amounts of microplastics in drinking water should be conducted, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) chiefs.

          Scientists believe the threat is potentially three-fold – the physical risk of the particles themselves, the chemicals leached from degraded plastics and “biofilms”. The Independent

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          Older adults can boost longevity 'with just a little exercise'

          Older adults can boost longevity 'with just a little exercise' Even a small increase in light activity, such as washing dishes, a little gentle gardening, or shuffling around the house, might help stave off an early death among older adults, researchers say.

          Being sedentary, for instance, by sitting for long periods of time, has been linked to an increased risk of developing many conditions, including heart disease, as well as an early death. The Guardian

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          Abortion clinic buffer zones ruled legal by Court of Appeal as it says protesters can be forced 100m away

          Abortion clinic buffer zones ruled legal by Court of Appeal as it says protesters can be forced 100m away An abortion clinic buffer zone has been ruled legal by the Court of Appeal, which has said protesters can be forced to stand 100m away.

          In a landmark ruling, campaigners lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the country's first protest-free "buffer zone" outside a Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Ealing. The Daily Telegraph

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          One in five pensioners pops seven pills every day in the UK

          One in five pensioners pops seven pills every day in the UK Millions of pensioners are being given drugs they don't need due to 'systematic failings' in the NHS, a startling report warns today.

          Two million over-65s – 20 per cent of pensioners – now take at least seven different medications each day, it found. Some 39 per cent are on at least five prescription drugs.

          And the overwhelming majority of pensioners – 86 per cent – are taking at least one medicine. The Daily Mail

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          Hospitals are letting doctors QUIT an official NHS pension scheme

          Hospitals are letting doctors QUIT an official NHS pension scheme Hospitals are allowing doctors to quit an official NHS pension scheme which is causing consultants to cut their hours.

          Several NHS trusts are putting their own schemes in place amid mounting frustration over government inaction to reform a punitive tax on pensions.

          Controversial pension reforms introduced in 2016 mean top consultants and GPs are cutting their hours to avoid a tax bill on their pensions that can run into tens of thousands. The Daily Mail

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          Wednesday 21 August 2019

          Concerns over bed blocking for mental health patients in Northamptonshire

          Concerns over bed blocking for mental health patients in Northamptonshire Bed blocking caused mental health patients to spend more than 2,000 extra days stuck in hospital at the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust last year.

          A leading charity has called for more investment in community care, to help vulnerable patients return to their homes safely.

          Figures from NHS Digital show the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust lost 2,330 bed days in 2018-19 because of delays discharging mental health patients who were fit to leave hospital – the equivalent of more than six years. Daventry Express

          Will a digital NHS reap the rewards policy-makers are aiming for?

          Will a digital NHS reap the rewards policy-makers are aiming for? Sarah Scobie looks at the track record of digital developments in the health service and wonders whether we are overestimating the benefits of a digital NHS. Nuffield Trust

          Towards equality for mental health: developing a cross-government approach.

          Towards equality for mental health: developing a cross-government approach This report considers the steps that must be taken if the ambition of ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health is to be achieved in England. Its starting point is the belief that improving the nation’s mental health cannot be achieved through a focus on health services alone and that a more ambitious, cross-government approach to mental health is also required. Mental Health Foundation

          New NHS plan to help patients avoid long hospital stays

          New NHS plan to help patients avoid long hospital stays Action to help tens of thousands more people avoid lengthy spells in hospital is being rolled out nationwide as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

          NHS doctors, nurses and other staff are being encouraged to ask themselves ‘Why not home? Why not today?’ when planning care for patients recovering from an operation or illness, as part of a campaign – called ‘Where Best Next?’ – which aims to see around 140,000 people every year spared a hospital stay of three weeks or more. NHS England

          Ageing confidently: supporting an ageing workforce

          Ageing confidently: supporting an ageing workforce It is estimated that by 2035, over half of all adults in the UK will be over 50 years of age. This report proposes several recommendations to provide older people and employers with the support needed to unlock the potential of this demographic and enable older people to access the benefits of work. It states that without a concerted effort to increase the opportunities for older workers, individuals, businesses and the economy will suffer. Among the recommendations are enhanced healthcare support through improvements in occupational health, training in mental health first aid and further support for those aged 55 and over from the Work and Health Programme from the Department of Work and Pensions. Centre for Social Justice

          Professionalism and Cultural Transformation (PACT) toolkit

          Professionalism and Cultural Transformation (PACT) toolkit This toolkit aims to educate and empower staff to improve professionalism within their workplace, helping organisations move towards making the NHS the best place to work. The toolkit is based on tried and tested work undertaken by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and is designed to help staff embed the PACT programme in their organisation. It contains practical information, advice and solutions to equip staff to deal with unprofessional attitudes and behaviours in the workplace. NHS Employers

          New drug for people who can bleed uncontrollably

          New drug for people who can bleed uncontrollably Christopher Stephens has haemophilia A - his body lacks a protein that makes blood clot. A simple graze can mean the two-year-old bleeds uncontrollably.

          To avoid this he needs treatment every few days with a drug put into his bloodstream via a tube in his chest.

          But now, NHS England has agreed to fund a new therapy for patients like him. BBC News

          More schoolchildren 'rejecting cigarettes'

          More schoolchildren 'rejecting cigarettes' Secondary-school pupils in England appear to be rejecting cigarettes in greater numbers than ever before.

          The most recent survey in a series that began in the 1980s indicates just 16% of the pupils have ever smoked tobacco, down from 19% in 2016 and 49% in 1996.

          However, a quarter of the 13,000 pupils surveyed, from 193 schools across England, have tried drugs. BBC News

          Over fifty NHS leaders sign letter urging PM to address 'crisis in social care'

          Over fifty NHS leaders sign letter urging PM to address 'crisis in social care' More than 150,000 members of the public have signed a petition and over 50 health leaders have put their signatures to an open letter - calling on the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to urgently address the escalating crisis in care.

          The petition, believed to be the largest of its kind, urges the Prime Minister to end social care cuts which have left many older people in England unable to access the care and support they need.

          Both the petition and signed letter were organised by the NHS Confederation which leads the Health for Care coalition of 15 national health organisations who have joined forces to make the case for social care. carehome.co.uk

          ‘Nothing less than offensive’: Fury after NHS region denies IVF to single women

          ‘Nothing less than offensive’: Fury after NHS region denies IVF to single women An NHS region has barred single women from receiving IVF treatment - a policy that has been condemned as discriminatory by a Labour MP.

          NHS South East London’s guidelines state that women who seek fertility treatment should be in a “stable relationship”.

          “Because of the known disadvantage that providing assisted conception to a single woman would cause both the child and the mother, funding of assisted conception for single women is not available,” the policy reads. The Independent

          Air pollution linked to mental health issues, research suggests

          Air pollution linked to mental health issues, research suggests People who grow up in areas with poor air quality are more likely to develop depression and bipolar disorder in later life, a new study has suggested.

          Analysis of health data from millions of patients found a “significant link” between mental health disorders and exposure to air pollution, especially in childhood.

          The research, based on population data from the US and Denmark, is the latest of a number of studies to link air quality to ill health. The Independent

          See also:

          What’s the best remedy against anti-vaxxers? Reverse public health cuts

          What’s the best remedy against anti-vaxxers? Reverse public health cuts | Doug Brown Fragmented NHS services and a lack of specialist knowledge are behind the rise in measles cases – not social media

          The UK is a world leader in vaccine research and provision and an early adopter of many new vaccines. This has had a profoundly positive effect on the nation’s health, affording protection to our children and decreasing rates of infectious disease. Unfortunately, immunisation has been prominent in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. The Guardian

          You can’t replace the GP with an algorithm – so don’t try to, Matt Hancock

          You can’t replace the GP with an algorithm – so don’t try to, Matt Hancock | Eleanor Morgan The government wants to replace NHS health screening with AI. But for many people, face-to-face consultations are a lifeline

          The health secretary has announced a proposed overhaul of NHS health screening that could scrap GP consultations for millions of people, replacing them with online programmes and AI. The idea is that the one-size-fits-all system for routine health MOTs offered to those over 40 has become old hat. The Guardian

          Children are growing up in shipping containers due to lack of council housing, report finds

          Children are growing up in shipping containers due to lack of council housing, report finds Children are being raised in shipping containers and office blocks because councils do not have enough accommodation to house, an official report has found.

          Almost a quarter-of-a-million children could be without a permanent home in England and are instead living in “unfit” accommodation - including the likes of office blocks, shipping containers and B&Bs. The Daily Telegraph

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          Tuesday 20 August 2019

          Improved NHS care neurological conditions to save 2,500 hospital trips

          Improved NHS care neurological conditions to save 2,500 hospital trips People living with brain and nerve conditions like Parkinson’s could benefit from quicker diagnosis and better coordinated care as part of a new NHS initiative, which is also set to free up millions of pounds to reinvest in patient care.

          NHS experts have joined forces with seven leading charities to produce a toolkit that will help local health groups improve services for people with conditions including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Parkinson’s, including rolling out fast-tracked blood tests and and consultant appointments over Skype for those who want them.

          Up to 2,500 emergency admissions to hospital a year could be avoided for patients with these conditions as a result, with up to £10 million freed up to fund improved services. NHS England

          Journals retract more than a dozen studies from China that may have used executed prisoners’ organ

          Journals retract more than a dozen studies from China that may have used executed prisoners’ organ In the past month, PLOS ONE and Transplantation have retracted fifteen studies by authors in China because of suspicions that the authors may have used organs from executed prisoners.

          All of the original studies — seven in Transplantation, and eight in PLOS ONE — were published between 2008 and 2014. Two involved kidney transplants, and the rest involved liver transplants. Two other journals, the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and Kidney International, have recently issued expressions of concern for the same reason. Retraction Watch

          See also:

          Why is the UK seeing a rise in measles cases?

          Why is the UK seeing a rise in measles cases? The UK has lost its measles-free status three years after the virus was eliminated in the country.

          Cases of the potentially deadly infection have been going up, with too few people being vaccinated.

          Measles can be prevented through two doses of the MMR vaccine - something that is offered free by the NHS to all young children in the UK. BBC News

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          The little-known spinal injury 'costing the NHS millions'

          The little-known spinal injury 'costing the NHS millions' Failure to identify and treat a little-known spinal condition probably costs the NHS hundreds of millions a year, according to a leading consultant.

          Cauda equina syndrome requires surgery within hours to avoid damage to the bowel, bladder, sexual organs and legs.

          And it can be triggered by the most seemingly innocuous of body movements. BBC News

          Part of £1.8bn NHS cash boost 'is money already saved up', leaked letter claims

          Part of £1.8bn NHS cash boost 'is money already saved up', leaked letter claims A £1.8bn cash boost for the NHS announced by Boris Johnson will largely be paid for with money that hospitals already have, a leaked letter has said.

          The prime minister said earlier this month: "Don't forget that this is £1.8 billion of new money. It wasn't there 10 days ago."

          But a letter - obtained by Health Service Journal and also seen by Sky News - says £1bn of the total will be funded by raising the Department for Health and Social Care's spending limit.

          See also:

          Hospital forced to spend £129k replacing every single lock after disgruntled employee stole masterkey and began crime spree 

          Hospital forced to spend £129k replacing every single lock after disgruntled employee stole masterkey and began crime spree A hospital has been forced to spend almost £129,000 on changing all of its 1,500 locks after a thief with "inside knowledge" stole a master key to commit break-ins.

          Gareth Parkin knew the Royal Derby Hospital "like the back of his hand" after working there as a gardener and maintenance worker for four years.

          He then "abused his knowledge" to carry out his spate of offending, Derby Crown Court prosecutor Joey Kwong said. The Daily Telegraph

          Hospitals treat 1,000 dementia patients a day because basic social care is so poor

          Hospitals treat 1,000 dementia patients a day because basic social care is so poor Poor social care has driven up emergency admissions of dementia sufferers to nearly 1,000 a day.

          The number of dementia patients admitted to hospital in an emergency has soared by a third in four years, official NHS figures reveal.

          Experts said many patients were ending up in hospital ‘in crisis’ as a result of basic failings in social care. The Daily Mail

          Monday 19 August 2019

          Making local government finance even more local

          Making local government finance even more local A welcome change in recent years has been NHS voices speaking out for more funding for local government. Aside from the key question about how much funding is available, there are important developments afoot in local government about its distribution that merit understanding from NHS colleagues too. The outcome of these reforms will have real impact whether resources available in local areas match local need – getting this right or wrong matters for the local system’s ability to deliver on our collective ambitions for improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities. The King's Fund

          Papworth marks first 'successful' UK heart transplant

          Papworth marks first 'successful' UK heart transplant The son of the UK's first "successful" heart transplant patient 40 years ago has spoken about how his father "became a celebrity overnight".

          Keith Castle, then aged 52, lived for more than five years after surgery at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire in August 1979.

          His son, Keith Jnr, is meeting the surgeon Sir Terence English, 86, to mark the anniversary. BBC News

          Candida auris: The new superbug on the block

          Candida auris: The new superbug on the block The drug-resistant fungus, Candida auris, was only discovered 10 years ago, but is now one of the world's most feared hospital microbes.

          There have been outbreaks across the world, and new research shows higher temperatures may have led to an increase in infections.

          The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for better understanding of who is most vulnerable to reduce risk.

          Here is everything you need to know about this new superbug. BBC News

          The NHS Is Slowly Cancelling Free IVF – And This Is The Impact It's Having

          The NHS Is Slowly Cancelling Free IVF – And This Is The Impact It's Having Amber Izzo had been trying for a baby for two years when her doctors diagnosed her with two blocked fallopian tubes, and told her she would need to use IVF to conceive.

          But a year later, the 24-year-old is no closer to becoming a parent – and not for medical reasons. Instead, it’s because her local NHS fertility clinic has cancelled services, after the funding was cut by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Huffington Post UK

          Work visa delays prove costly to foreign doctors, and the NHS

          Work visa delays prove costly to foreign doctors, and the NHS Complex immigration rules are putting patients at risk as hospitals struggle to fill vacancies, campaigners say

          Foreign doctors are being prevented from starting work in the NHS by visa delays that risk putting further stress on hospitals and can land medics with significant bills.

          Dozens of doctors have raised concerns about the “complicated and increasingly costly” process, with some warning they will lead to staff shortages and potential risks to patients. Problems have arisen this month as many doctors start jobs or switch to new roles in August. The Guardian

          NHS says sepsis monitoring system has saved hundreds of lives

          NHS says sepsis monitoring system has saved hundreds of lives Trials of digital alert technology had ‘major impact’ on deadly form of blood poisoning

          Trials of new digital alert technology to monitor hospital patients with sepsis have saved hundreds of lives, the NHS has said.

          Plans to roll out the “action and alert” technology across England as part of the NHS Long Term Plan are under way after trials at three hospitals. The Guardian

          See also:

          PM say social media firms must share responsibility for rising spread of Measles in UK as he attacks antivaxx misinformation

          PM say social media firms must share responsibility for rising spread of Measles in UK as he attacks antivaxx misinformation The Prime Minister has said social media firms must share the responsibility for the rising spread of measles in the UK as he attacked antivax misinformation.

          Boris Johnson will on Monday set out plans to improve vaccination rates on a visit to a hospital in the South West, following a rise in cases of measles.

          In the first quarter of 2019 there were 231 confirmed cases of measles, just three years after the World Health Organisation declared the UK measles-free. The Daily Telegraph

          See also:

          Doctors ordered to stop half-day closing at surgeries and threatened with £40k funding axe

          Doctors ordered to stop half-day closing at surgeries and threatened with £40k funding axe The NHS is launching a major crackdown on GP surgeries which close for half-days during the week, the Mail can reveal.

          Officials have identified 722 practices in England – a tenth of the total – which regularly close their doors for at least four hours at a time, including lengthy lunch breaks or midweek afternoons off.

          They say that if these surgeries remained open, an additional 287,000 appointments would be available every year. The Daily Mail

          Friday 16 August 2019

          Shifting responsibilities: who cares?

          Shifting responsibilities: who cares? Following a recent survey of adult carers in England, Lucina Rolewicz examines what's behind the findings and argues what might help matters in future. Nuffield Trust

          International migration and the healthcare workforce

          International migration and the healthcare workforce This analysis draws on all currently available data to set out how many migrants work in health care in the UK and explore their age structure, location and changes over time. It also presents data on specific health workers in England, such as hospital nurses and general practitioners. Office for National Statistics

            Children's oral health: position statement

            Children's oral health: position statement New analysis has found that more than 100,000 hospital admissions for children under the age of ten in England due to tooth decay over a three year period. This statement calls on the new government to stand by previous commitments in the Childhood Obesity Plan and Prevention Green Paper to improve children's oral health in England. Royal College of Surgeons

              NHS trust IT spend up more than £150m since WannaCry

              NHS trust IT spend up more than £150m since WannaCry NHS trusts have upped their IT spending by at least £152 million since 2017’s WannaCry ransomware attack, according to figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

              Research by government policy think tank, Parliament Street, revealed that 65 NHS trusts spent a total of £612m on IT in the 2018/19 financial year, compared to a spend of £495m in the previous year and £460m in the year directly preceding WannaCry. Digital Health

              'Hundreds' seek private clinics for medical cannabis

              'Hundreds' seek private clinics for medical cannabis Hundreds of people in the UK are turning to private clinics for medical cannabis, BBC News has been told.

              Since its legalisation in November 2018, there have been very few, if any, prescriptions for medical cannabis containing THC on the NHS.

              And this has led some patients, with conditions such as epilepsy and MS, to pay up to £800 a month privately.