Mental health 'must be considered more' as part of diabetes care Two diabetes specialists are encouraging healthcare professionals to become “facilitators, not fixers”, as a way of empowering people with long-term conditions.
Dr Charles Fox and Dr Anne Kilvert, consultants from Northampton General Hospital, run a specialist diabetes counselling and empowerment course for healthcare professionals, which focuses on training participants to work with people to identify ways of improving their own diabetes care. The Diabetes Times
Wednesday, 15 May 2019
Consultation outcome: The proposed reorganisation of local government in Northamptonshire
Consultation outcome: The proposed reorganisation of local government in Northamptonshire The Secretary of State has carefully considered the responses to this statutory consultation and other relevant information.
He has now made a decision on implementing the locally-led proposal from Northamptonshire councils to abolish the 8 existing councils in Northamptonshire and replace them with 2 new councils of North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
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He has now made a decision on implementing the locally-led proposal from Northamptonshire councils to abolish the 8 existing councils in Northamptonshire and replace them with 2 new councils of North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
See also:
- Northamptonshire: Unitary authorities plan approved BBC Northampton
- Northamptonshire's eight councils will be replaced with two super authorities by April 2021 Northamptonshire Telegraph
NHS figures reveal mental health spending postcode lottery
NHS figures reveal mental health spending postcode lottery NHS data showing how much local areas across England are planning to spend on mental health services over the next year has revealed significant variation, according to analysis by the mental health charity Mind.
Mental health services have been underfunded for decades, resulting in poor quality services and long waiting times for treatments. In 2016, the NHS committed to investing £1.6bn in these services by 2020/21, and a further £2.3bn a year by 2023/24 as part of its Long Term Plan.
Mental health services have been underfunded for decades, resulting in poor quality services and long waiting times for treatments. In 2016, the NHS committed to investing £1.6bn in these services by 2020/21, and a further £2.3bn a year by 2023/24 as part of its Long Term Plan.
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Active ageing
Active ageing This report, written in conjunction with care home provider Anchor Hanover, highlights the costs of physical inactivity in older people to the NHS and estimates that by 2030, this could be as much as £1.3bn. It also outlines the human cost of inactivity in later life, illustrating how inactivity not only contributes to poorer physical health, but also cognitive decline, reduced emotional wellbeing and loneliness. Demos
Frail elderly 'failed by care deserts'
Frail elderly 'failed by care deserts' The system for looking after frail older people in England is falling apart, with what are being dubbed "care deserts" emerging, a charity says.
An analysis carried out for Age UK indicates about 30% of areas now have no residential care beds.
The situation is even worse for nursing homes - needed for the most frail - with more than 60% having no places.
Recruiting staff and keeping services running were proving a real challenge some areas, the charity said. BBC News
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An analysis carried out for Age UK indicates about 30% of areas now have no residential care beds.
The situation is even worse for nursing homes - needed for the most frail - with more than 60% having no places.
Recruiting staff and keeping services running were proving a real challenge some areas, the charity said. BBC News
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- At least 1.3 million pensioners have no free care home beds in their area The Daily Telegraph
Doctors used as 'guinea pigs' in opioid painkiller promotion
Doctors used as 'guinea pigs' in opioid painkiller promotion "Everybody said, 'It's fantastic going to New York. It's like being on a film set.' So, that was very exciting for me."
Dr Cathy Stannard was one of a group of UK pain specialists flown to New York in the early 2000s.
They had stayed in a smart hotel, eaten in upscale restaurants and attended Broadway shows, she told BBC Radio 4's File on Four programme - all courtesy of a pharmaceutical company.
The trip had been presented as an educational package, an opportunity to meet "international thought leaders" from the world of pain management, she said.
She had known the company footing the bill manufactured opioid painkillers.
But she had not known that, around that time, some pharmaceutical companies would monitor the prescribing rates of the individual doctors who attended such paid-for trips, deliberately targeting those they thought they could influence. BBC News
Dr Cathy Stannard was one of a group of UK pain specialists flown to New York in the early 2000s.
They had stayed in a smart hotel, eaten in upscale restaurants and attended Broadway shows, she told BBC Radio 4's File on Four programme - all courtesy of a pharmaceutical company.
The trip had been presented as an educational package, an opportunity to meet "international thought leaders" from the world of pain management, she said.
She had known the company footing the bill manufactured opioid painkillers.
But she had not known that, around that time, some pharmaceutical companies would monitor the prescribing rates of the individual doctors who attended such paid-for trips, deliberately targeting those they thought they could influence. BBC News
What do patients really think about NHS staff?
What do patients really think about NHS staff? What do patients really think of the NHS – and those who work for it? As language experts, that was the question my colleague Gavin Brookes and I set out to answer when NHS England tasked us with making sense of comments patients leave online. It was no easy task – we collected a total of 228,000 comments from the NHS Choices website, coming in at a huge 29 million words. Our findings have now been published in the BMJ and as a book. The Independent
NHS compensation payouts for injuries and misdiagnosis double in five years
NHS compensation payouts for injuries and misdiagnosis double in five years NHS compensation payouts for delayed diagnosis, accidental harm or deaths have doubled in the past five years - topping £655m.
In 2013-14, £327m was administered for treatment delays, failures and misdiagnosis, in 1,406 cases.
There were 1,789 cases in 2017-18, meaning the number of cases where damages were paid has increased, but at a slower rate to the spiralling costs.
Among these cases were 1,100 patients who suffered a delay or failure in treatment and 679 who were misdiagnosed or suffered a delay in being diagnosed. The Independent
In 2013-14, £327m was administered for treatment delays, failures and misdiagnosis, in 1,406 cases.
There were 1,789 cases in 2017-18, meaning the number of cases where damages were paid has increased, but at a slower rate to the spiralling costs.
Among these cases were 1,100 patients who suffered a delay or failure in treatment and 679 who were misdiagnosed or suffered a delay in being diagnosed. The Independent
Mental health services in crisis are abandoning patients to meet targets
Mental health services in crisis are abandoning patients to meet targets | Jay Watts Vulnerable patients are being ‘off-rolled’ at a rate unheard of five years ago, thanks to the relentless focus on outcome
Off-rolling has recently become a buzzword in the world of education. It refers to the removal, by various means, of students from schools’ records who are deemed too complicated or who don’t make the statistics look good. However, it’s not just education. Off-rolling is common in mental health services and disproportionally affects those most vulnerable and marginalised.
Off-rolling takes three main forms. The first is prematurely discharging patients from secondary mental health services such as community mental health teams. Traditionally, one could expect better care if one had moderate to severe mental health difficulties, as opposed to mild problems, as funding was based on clinical need. However the relentless obsession with targets and outcome privileges services that give good optics.
Patients can find their behaviour framed as attention-seeking or manipulative, based more on discrimination than fact. The Guardian
Off-rolling has recently become a buzzword in the world of education. It refers to the removal, by various means, of students from schools’ records who are deemed too complicated or who don’t make the statistics look good. However, it’s not just education. Off-rolling is common in mental health services and disproportionally affects those most vulnerable and marginalised.
Off-rolling takes three main forms. The first is prematurely discharging patients from secondary mental health services such as community mental health teams. Traditionally, one could expect better care if one had moderate to severe mental health difficulties, as opposed to mild problems, as funding was based on clinical need. However the relentless obsession with targets and outcome privileges services that give good optics.
Patients can find their behaviour framed as attention-seeking or manipulative, based more on discrimination than fact. The Guardian
Green therapy: how gardening is helping to fight depression
Green therapy: how gardening is helping to fight depression A growing movement is promoting the role gardening can play in patient recovery and rehabilitation
Sydenham Garden feels out of step with its surroundings in urban south London. Fringed by houses on most sides, with a school on its doorstep, it is hard to imagine that this small patch of green space is bringing a new lease of life to people struggling with their mental health.
The site, run by the Sydenham Garden charity trust, is just under an acre and boasts a wellbeing centre with gardens, a nature reserve and activity rooms. Therapeutic gardening sessions are held weekly, and are run by experienced staff, who are in turn supported by a team of volunteers. The Guardian
Sydenham Garden feels out of step with its surroundings in urban south London. Fringed by houses on most sides, with a school on its doorstep, it is hard to imagine that this small patch of green space is bringing a new lease of life to people struggling with their mental health.
The site, run by the Sydenham Garden charity trust, is just under an acre and boasts a wellbeing centre with gardens, a nature reserve and activity rooms. Therapeutic gardening sessions are held weekly, and are run by experienced staff, who are in turn supported by a team of volunteers. The Guardian
'Deaths of despair' rising among middle-aged Britons, report warns
'Deaths of despair' rising among middle-aged Britons, report warns Deaths from suicide, drug and alcohol overdoses are rising among middle-aged Britons, the Institute of Fiscal Studies has warned as it launches a major five-year study into social inequality.
The think tank said the increase in such fatalities, dubbed “deaths of despair”, may be linked to a process of "cumulative disadvantage for less-educated people".
Such deaths, which include drink-related liver disease, among 45-54-year-olds in England continued to rise between 1993 and 2017. The Daily Telegraph
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The think tank said the increase in such fatalities, dubbed “deaths of despair”, may be linked to a process of "cumulative disadvantage for less-educated people".
Such deaths, which include drink-related liver disease, among 45-54-year-olds in England continued to rise between 1993 and 2017. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Inequalities in the twenty-first century: introducing the IFS Deaton Review Institute of Fiscal Studies
NHS threatening millions with fines for validly claiming free prescriptions, investigation finds
NHS threatening millions with fines for validly claiming free prescriptions, investigation finds The NHS is harassing millions of vulnerable patients by threatening them with fines for validly claiming free prescriptions and dental treatment, an investigation has found.
MPs last night called for urgent reform after a National Audit Office (NAO) report revealed there has been a significant increase in the sending of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) over the last five years.
The forms are intended to crack down on patients fraudulently claiming to be exempt from the standard £8.80 prescription charge, such as those aged 60 or over and children under 16. The Daily Telegraph
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MPs last night called for urgent reform after a National Audit Office (NAO) report revealed there has been a significant increase in the sending of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) over the last five years.
The forms are intended to crack down on patients fraudulently claiming to be exempt from the standard £8.80 prescription charge, such as those aged 60 or over and children under 16. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Investigation into penalty charge notices in healthcare National Audit Office
- NHS fines for 1.7 million people overturned, watchdog finds BBC News
- Prescription exemption rules are “overly complex” and cause genuine mistakes, says watchdog The BMJ
- NHS fraud crackdown sees millions in fines dished out to elderly, sick and others eligible for free treatment The Independent
- Free scrip eligibility checks must be simpler and quicker OnMedica
Doctors are advised to CUT their hours to get a larger pension
Doctors are advised to CUT their hours to get a larger pension Doctors have been advised to cut their hours so they get a bigger pension – triggering fears of a new NHS staffing crisis with ‘unimaginable consequences’.
The British Medical Association has issued guidance for NHS consultants explaining how reducing their hours could lead to an increased pension under new tax rules.
Critics said the way the tax system incentivises doctors to work less was ‘complete lunacy’ and will increase staff shortages and waiting times. The Daily Mail
The British Medical Association has issued guidance for NHS consultants explaining how reducing their hours could lead to an increased pension under new tax rules.
Critics said the way the tax system incentivises doctors to work less was ‘complete lunacy’ and will increase staff shortages and waiting times. The Daily Mail
Health Secretary orders review of the health impact of air pollution
Health Secretary orders review of the health impact of air pollution The Government's Department of Health and Social Care will produce an in-depth review of how bad air pollution is for people's health, it has announced.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has commissioned the investigation which will reveal the true dangers of dirty air and how they will affect people in the future.
His announcement comes just two months after Public Health England – also a government department – released its own report on how to improve air quality. The Daily Mail
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has commissioned the investigation which will reveal the true dangers of dirty air and how they will affect people in the future.
His announcement comes just two months after Public Health England – also a government department – released its own report on how to improve air quality. The Daily Mail
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