NGH appoints two specialist vaccination nurses to support pregnant mums and new babies

NGH appoints two specialist vaccination nurses to support pregnant mums and new babies Northampton General Hospital has appointed two specialist nurses to support pregnant mums and their new babies by providing a dedicated vaccination service.

With over 25 years’ experience between them in community nursing, schools and clinics, Julie Cowan and Gillian Thomason aim to provide a one-stop support service at NGH by providing whooping cough and flu vaccinations to pregnant women. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS reform timeline

NHS reform timeline This interactive timeline brings 70 years of reform and change in the National Health Service to life, charting the evolution of this public institution from its inception in the post-war years through to the present day. Nuffield Trust

End of life care for adults: service delivery

End of life care for adults: service delivery This draft guideline, open for consultation, covers organising and delivering end of life care services for adults approaching the end of their life. It aims to ensure that people have access to end of life services in all care settings, according to their needs and wishes. It also includes advice on services for carers and other people important to adults who are approaching the end of their life. The consultation closes on 7 June 2019 at 5pm. NICE

Gosport hospital deaths: Families await police review

Gosport hospital deaths: Families await police review Relatives of hundreds of patients who died after being given painkillers at a hospital are due to hear if a new criminal investigation will take place.

An inquiry that ended last summer found more than 450 patients died after they were given "dangerous" levels of the drugs at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

A review of evidence has been carried out by Kent and Essex Police over the past six months.

The findings will be shown to relatives at a meeting in Fareham later. BBC News

Urine test to end 'smear fear'

Urine test to end 'smear fear' Women who are too anxious or embarrassed to go for a smear test could instead provide a urine sample to be screened for cervical cancer, research suggests.

A trial found urine testing was as good at detecting a virus called HPV that is a big risk factor for the cancer.

Bigger trials are still needed but experts said self-testing could be a game-changer for women.

The number of people going for smear tests is lower than ever in the UK. BBC News

'I want justice': contaminated blood victims speak out

'I want justice': contaminated blood victims speak out t Maria Fletcher and Nicholas Sainsbury describe how the NHS scandal has affected them

The long-awaited inquiry into the treatment of haemophiliacs who were given contaminated blood products is to begin on Tuesday. Below, two victims of the scandal describe what happened to them. The Guardian

See also:

• Contaminated blood scandal: Inquiry hearings to begin BBC News
• Contaminated blood scandal: Martin's story BBC News
• Tainted blood scandal: Government accused of 'damage limitation' over extra funding as inquiry begins The Daily Telegraph

Severely obese people in middle age 50% more likely to die early, study finds

Severely obese people in middle age 50% more likely to die early, study finds High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes among the risks, according to analysis of data on 2.8 million NHS patients

People who are severely obese in middle age are 50% more likely to die early than those of a healthy weight, according to a large study of UK data.

The research shows people with the highest levels of obesity are running a high risk of a range of serious illnesses and premature death, with 12 times the risk of type 2 diabetes, 22 times the risk of sleep apnoea and nearly four times the risk of heart failure compared to those who are of normal weight. The Guardian

Instagram vows to remove content that encourages eating disorders such as anorexia after being challenged by health secretary

Instagram vows to remove content that encourages eating disorders such as anorexia after being challenged by health secretary Instagram has agreed to remove content promoting eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia after being challenged by the Health Secretary.

Matt Hancock today hosted a round table with social media companies to discuss online harms including suicide, eating disorders and anti-vaccination messages.

Instagram, the image sharing app, said it is taking action to remove harmful content which encourages eating disorders in vulnerable teenagers. The Daily Telegraph

Invest money in 'getting the basics right' before taking the NHS on a 'digital revolution'

Invest money in 'getting the basics right' before taking the NHS on a 'digital revolution' Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been told to 'get the basics right first' before embarking on a 'digital revolution' of the NHS.

The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) has said the biggest priority should be computer systems that do not crash while a doctor is writing a prescription.

It also wants to see technology that streamlines a patient's care by allowing medics to communicate from different areas of the NHS. The Daily Mail

See also:

• College calls on Health Secretary to make NHS a world leader in tech by getting the basics right first Royal College of General Practitioners