New system to improve safe use of medicine at Kettering General Hospital

New system to improve safe use of medicine at Kettering General Hospital Kettering General Hospital has been awarded £820,000 to introduce a new high-tech electronic system that will improve the safe use of medicines for patients. It made a successful bid to NHS Improvement to fund a new Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) system. KGH’s chief pharmacist, Duane McLean, said: “We are absolutely delighted our bid has been successful. “Basically it will enable us to start changing the way medicines are prescribed and administered at the hospital." Northamptonshire Telegraph

Primary care should 'direct' community health teams - official review - Health Service Journal

Primary care should 'direct' community health teams - official review Community health teams have not integrated with GP services and should in future be “based in” and “under the clinical and service direction” of primary care networks, the author of a government review of general practice has said.

The review of the GP partnership model, led by Hampshire GP Nigel Watson, was published today. HSJ

See also:

• GP partnership review: final report King's Fund

‘You can’t rehabilitate someone into society when they’re locked away’ | Saba Salman

‘You can’t rehabilitate someone into society when they’re locked away’ | Saba Salman Despite government pledges to halve the use of inpatient units, many learning disabled people are being denied life in the community

When Julie Newcombe visited her learning disabled son, Jamie, he was subdued and nursing a swollen arm.

Staff at the care unit in the south of England where he had been living for a few weeks said that Jamie, 23, who has autism and intermittent mental health issues, became distressed and hit a care worker. The Guardian

Liver transplant 'game changing' treatment approved

Liver transplant 'game changing' treatment approved A new procedure for storing livers donated for transplant has been hailed a "game changer" and approved for use on the NHS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) say perfusion machines could increase the number of livers that can be safely used for transplantation. BBC News

New set of CPD principles launched by NHS staff representatives - Nursing Times

New set of CPD principles launched by NHS staff representatives Continuing professional development should be each nurse’s responsibility but be “made possible and supported” by their employer, according to new guidance designed to drive forward training.

Professional bodies and unions have launched a new set of principles for continuing professional development (CPD) and lifelong learning in the health and social care workforce. Nursing Times

GPs prescribe more opioid drugs for pain in poorer areas of England - The Guardian

GPs prescribe more opioid drugs for pain in poorer areas of England People living in deprived areas of England are more likely to be prescribed opioid drugs for pain relief than those in wealthier parts of the country, according to research.

A study found GPs in parts of Blackpool and St Helens prescribe the highest levels of opioids in England. Five areas in north-east England and four areas in the north-west were among the top 10 highest prescribers. The Guardian

Health secretary pushes chancellor for NHS pension tax reform - www.professionalpensions.com

Health secretary pushes chancellor for NHS pension tax reform Chancellor Philip Hammond is being pressed to tackle the impact of pensions allowances on the NHS' ability to recruit and retain staff.

GPs and other medical practitioners have consistently raised issues around how the lifetime allowance for pensions tax relief limits their incentive to save into their pension fund, health secretary Matt Hancock said. Professional Pensions

£150 DNA test could tell if you have the genes for a long life

£150 DNA test could tell if you have the genes for a long life A new DNA test could predict whether a person has the genes for a long life. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh were able to identify the 10 per cent of the population who could expect to live five years’ longer than the those scoring in the bottom 10 per cent.

Researchers said saliva tests could become available for as little as £150, for those who wanted to know their genetic life chances. The Telegraph

The ultrasound scan you can do yourself

The ultrasound scan you can do yourself US company Butterfly Networks has produced an ultrasound scanner that plugs into an iPhone and can be bought by anyone for $2,000 (£1,555).

Its inventor, Jonathan Rothberg, claims it will have as much impact on healthcare as the stethoscope did 200 years ago. BBC News

Air pollution, obesity and vaccine hesitancy climb WHO list of global health threats

Air pollution, obesity and vaccine hesitancy climb WHO list of global health threats Air pollution, obesity and vaccine hesitancy are three of the global health threats the World Health Organization has pledged to make a priority in 2019.

In a belated set of new year resolutions WHO has listed the 10 greatest health threats the world faces and sets out how it will tackle them over the next 12 months. The Telegraph

Junior doctors repeatedly working past shift end, NHS data shows

Junior doctors repeatedly working past shift end, NHS data shows Tens of thousands of junior doctors are working past the end of their shifts because hospitals are so understaffed, NHS figures show.

Almost 36,000 trainee doctors in England have worked beyond their contracted hours more than 63,000 times since 2015.

The figures, obtained by the Health Service Journal website, show nearly 36,000 junior doctors have filed an “exception report” since 2015. Trainee medics were given the right to do this after their longrunning contract dispute with the government in 2014-16. The Guardian