Doctors in Northampton area sign thousands off sick, many with mental health problems

Doctors in Northampton area sign thousands off sick, many with mental health problems Doctors in the Northampton area sign 67 fit notes every day, many for mental health conditions, according to the latest NHS figures. GPs working in the NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group area issued a total of 24,409 notes between October 2017 and September 2018.

People in work need a fit note, previously called a sick note, if they are off work for more than seven days. Up to that point they can self-certify that they are unwell.

Mental health is the most significant single cause. Of the notes signed in Nene, 4,237 or 17% were issued for mental health problems. A further 2,553 were the result of musculoskeletal conditions such as back problems. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Rothwell tops obesity scales

Rothwell tops obesity scales Rothwell weighs in at number one when it comes to the rate of obesity in the north of the county. The town has the highest ratio of adults identified as obese based on GP registers, closely followed by Desborough. The figures, published by NHS Digital, show every single district in the parliamentary consituencies of Kettering and Wellingborough has an estimated higher rate than the national average. In the Corby and East Northants constituency every area bar three is above the national average, which is 9.7 per cent. Northants Telegraph

Investigation into the management of health screening

Investigation into the management of health screening The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that the proportion of eligible adults receiving health screening is inconsistent across different areas in England and that services are not operating to the ‘agreed standards’.

All the screening programmes investigated 1 failed to meet the ’standard’ target for the percentage of eligible people attending screening appointments in 2017-18. However, the bowel screening programme nearly achieved the target with coverage2 of 59.6% against a standard target of 60%. For the first time in 2017-18, the Department also set a ‘lower threshold’ target3, which all, except for the cervical programme, met. The cervical programme achieved coverage of 72% against a standard target of 80% and a lower threshold of 75%. National Audit Office

See Also:

• Health screening 'not meeting targets', report finds BBC News - Health
• NHS England cervical screening backlog revealed by watchdog The Guardian
• Smear results for 150,000 women left in backlog amid NHS failings The Telegraph

Participation: its impact on services and the people who use them

Participation: its impact on services and the people who use them This research found that the impact of using participation approaches within health and social care was positive overall where most reported either health or economic outcomes, and only a small number of projects reported social outcomes. It concludes that co-production methods such as peer support, volunteering and co-delivery of services were beneficial, particularly for more efficient use of services and cost savings. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert

Research and analysis: UK One Health Report: antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in animals and humans

Research and analysis: UK One Health Report: antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in animals and humans A joint report on antibiotic use in animals and humans and antibiotic resistance in the UK between 2013 and 2017. Gov.UK

'Trauma packs' being stockpiled in UK over fears of no-deal Brexit

'Trauma packs' being stockpiled in UK over fears of no-deal Brexit Emergency “trauma packs” flown into the UK during terrorist attacks are being stockpiled in Britain by the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson over concerns of a risk to life from border delays in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The company said the move was being made due to the danger posed to the “routine and rapid” provision of the vital emergency equipment it provides to the NHS in times of emergency from a distribution plant in Belgium.

Hospitals do not generally keep large stocks of such emergency packs due to the risk of the devices or medicines contained within them running past their product shelf life. The Guardian

NHS England to ban GPs from advertising private services

NHS England to ban GPs from advertising private services Move seeks to prevent further ‘blurring’ of divide between NHS-funded and private care

GPs are being banned from advertising private healthcare services in their surgeries and from allowing for-profit family doctor firms to offer care there, amid growing concern that it is prompting patients to pay for treatments that they could receive for free.

The move by NHS England is intended to stop the divide between NHS-funded and privately paid-for GP care becoming ever more “blurred”. It will stop GP practices from charging patients to see a doctor more quickly or for other services that under the NHS should be free. But it will allow them to keep seeking fees for signing passports, providing medical reports for insurance or other purposes, or for physiotherapy. The Guardian

Innovative HIV prevention projects reached 170,000 people in 2018

Innovative HIV prevention projects reached 170,000 people in 2018 PHE is funding 14 projects to help develop innovative, community-led ways of preventing HIV NHS Networks

£8.7bn shortfall in prevention spending

£8.7bn shortfall in prevention spending A survey of local authority leaders estimates an £8.7bn shortfall in spending on preventive services. NHS Networks