Northampton hospital given award by global children's charity for top baby care

Northampton hospital given award by global children's charity for top baby care Northampton General Hospital has been accredited by UNICEF UK for being a 'baby friendly' hospital for the second time.

This award recognises the hospital care for mothers and babies, the information parents receive about breastfeeding and the support given to patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What does the public think about the NHS and Brexit?

What does the public think about the NHS and Brexit? Since 1983, NatCen’s British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey has asked a representative sample of adults in England, Scotland and Wales about their views on the NHS and health and care issues. The King’s Fund sponsors a selection of questions in the survey, and in last year’s survey, conducted between July and October 2018, we included questions on the potential impact of Brexit on the NHS. While much has changed since the survey was conducted, the findings are nonetheless interesting, giving a picture of where people’s views were at that point. The King's Fund

Human: Solving the global workforce crisis in health care

Human: Solving the global workforce crisis in health care Mark Britnell describes the practical achievements he has seen around the world that could enhance our capacity to care by 20% – if we reframe the debate on workforce planning. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• No country is an island: UK and international health workforce mobility The Health Foundation

Neuro numbers 2019

Neuro numbers 2019 This report shows that the number of neurological cases has now reached at least 14.7 million in England. This equates to more than one in six people living with one or more neurological conditions. The report also highlights that the prevalence of neurological conditions will continue to increase due to an ageing population, improvements in diagnosis and advances in neo-natal care. In response to this new data, The Neurological Alliance is calling for neurology to be prioritised by the health and care system to ensure the needs of this growing patient group are met. The Neurological Alliance

Men as allies

Men as allies In this report, the Health & Care Women Leaders Network, delivered by NHS Confederation and NHS Employers, explores some of the important actions and behaviours men can take to support the development of female leaders in the NHS. The report was compiled following conversations with a number of male senior leaders who shared their views on the barriers facing women getting to leadership roles in the NHS and how those can be overcome. It also includes contributions from a Tweet chat held by the network on the topic of men as allies in January 2019.

Exploring dementia and agitation: how public policy needs to respond

Exploring dementia and agitation: how public policy needs to respond With 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, there is a significant need to understand how to improve quality of life for them and their carers. This report summarises a number of key findings from the MARQUE project, led by Prof Gill Livingston from UCL. MARQUE (Managing Agitation and Raising Quality of Life in Dementia) is the largest ever study involving people living in care homes. International Longevity Centre UK

BMA threatens legal action over 'discriminatory' NHS pension scheme

BMA threatens legal action over 'discriminatory' NHS pension scheme The BMA is to help GPs and other doctors sue the Government over the NHS pension scheme if ministers refuse to admit the scheme discriminates against younger members.

BMA solicitors have today written to the health secretary Matt Hancock - as well as to the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland's Department of Health - to warn of legal action that will accuse the Government of discriminating against doctors by forcing some of them to join a pension scheme. Pulse

NHS signals end of four-hour A&E target

NHS signals end of four-hour A&E target The four-hour A&E target may be dropped under plans announced by NHS England.

NHS bosses have unveiled plans for an overhaul of the A&E target alongside changes to waiting times for cancer, mental health and planned operations.

It said the targets were becoming outdated. But it comes after many of them have been missed for years.

Instead of aiming to see and treat virtually all A&E patients in four hours, the sickest patients will be prioritised for quick treatment. BBC News

See also:

• NHS to test new rapid care measures for patients with the most urgent mental and physical health needs NHS England
• The King's Fund responds to plans to pilot changes to NHS waiting times targets The King's Fund
• Testing out new targets is a big improvement on the usual directive approach The Nuffield Trust
• A&E four-hour target to be scrapped The Daily Telegraph
• Pilot scheme moves NHS closer to ending four-hour A&E target The Guardian
• NHS waiting times: A&E four-hour target set to be scrapped, plans reveal The Independent
• NHS waiting targets must not be binned to save managers’ blushes The Independent

The world is not prepared for a global flu pandemic, experts warn

The world is not prepared for a global flu pandemic, experts warn The world would quickly run out of flu vaccine in the event of a global pandemic despite efforts to improve production capacity, experts have warned.

Speaking at the launch of the World Health Organization’s new global influenza strategy Martin Friede, co-ordinator of immunisation, vaccines and biologicals at the WHO said that although the world is in better shape to combat a flu pandemic than ever before it is still "not prepared enough". The Daily Telegraph

Skype-style GP appointments could 'make it harder for doctors to spot deadly sepsis'

Skype-style GP appointments could 'make it harder for doctors to spot deadly sepsis' Dr Susan Hopkins, a senior doctor at Public Health England, warned using video appointments could slow down doctors' ability to identify and treat sepsis, which can become deadly within hours. The Daily Mail

Pen-pushers blocking cash for dementia care — leaving families to pick up the bill

Pen-pushers blocking cash for dementia care — leaving families to pick up the bill 160,000 people a year receive funding and the majority are elderly with dementia, costing the NHS £3 billion. But it’s mired in controversy. Peter and Grace Loppolo, from Reading, tell their story. The Daily Mail