Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate'

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate' A Northampton health care practice responsible for 11,500 patients across the town has been branded inadequate by the healthcare watchdog.

Maple Access Partnership has thousands of patients on its roll. Based in a purpose-built office in Hazelwood Road, it also offers health care to rough sleepers at Oasis House and holds the county's Violent Patients Contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Maple Access Partnership Care Quality Commission 

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal  In 2011, Wigan Council had to make unprecedented savings after significant cuts in funding from central government. Drastic measures were needed, including a radical reshaping of the relationship between the council and residents. This became known as the Wigan Deal. This report provides an independent critique of the Wigan Deal drawing on in-depth research, including interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups with members of the public and evidence from data analysis. It explores what local authorities, NHS organisations and others can learn from Wigan’s journey of transformation. The King's Fund

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients The College has also stated that there is an urgent need for more independent research into the effects and impact of interventions for gender dysphoria, particularly for children and young people – and that there needs to be greater consistency around regulation of gender identity care and services, as well as greater clarity for doctors from the General Medical Council on the issue.

Its new position statement on the role of the GP in caring for gender-questioning and transgender patients, was approved by the College’s governing Council on Saturday. Royal College of General Practitioners

The real story of winter

The real story of winter What was the real story of winter for trusts, their patients, and hard pressed frontline staff? This briefing examines winter 2018/19 for the provider sector. It urges health leaders not to draw false comfort from the noticeable absence of stories about ‘winter pressures’ in the media earlier this year. NHS Providers

Care cuts inevitable in 'fragile and failing' system

Care cuts inevitable in 'fragile and failing' system Further cuts to care services in England will be needed in the coming year, council chiefs are warning.

Local authorities plan to spend £22.5bn in 2019-20 on services for older people and younger adults with disabilities.

That represented a rise of £400m on last year but was not enough to keep up with demand and inflation, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) said.

It warned services were "fragile and failing", after surveying 151 councils. BBC News

See also:

• Human cost of failing to address the crisis in adult social care Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
• ADASS budget survey 2019 Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
• Social care system ‘no longer fit for purpose’ The King's Fund
• Calls for government cash as Northamptonshire adult social care already £6m overspent Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Thousands of old and disabled people could be impacted by social care cuts, report says The Independent

'Every suggestion' HPV vaccine will cut cervical cancers

'Every suggestion' HPV vaccine will cut cervical cancers The success of the HPV vaccination offers hope of one day eradicating cervical cancer, say scientists who carried out a major review of evidence.

Vaccination against the human papilloma virus, which causes most cervical cancers, began over a decade ago.

A Lancet review of 65 studies covering 60 million people showed a fall in HPV cases and in pre-cancerous growths.

Over decades, this should translate into a significant fall, and possible eradication, of the cancer they said. BBC News

See also:

• Cervical cancer could be eliminated within decades, scientists say The Daily Telegraph
• Cervical cancer ‘could be eliminated’ by widespread HPV vaccination programmes, study finds The Independent

E-cigarettes: How safe are they?

E-cigarettes: How safe are they? San Francisco has become the first US city to ban sales of e-cigarettes. Yet in the UK they are used by the NHS to help smokers quit - so what is the truth about the safety of e-cigarettes? BBC News

See also:

• San Francisco becomes first US city to ban e-cigarettes BBC News

NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open face-to-face practices in bid to tackle growing crisis

NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open face-to-face practices in bid to tackle growing crisis The NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open physical practices in an attempt to address growing shortages of doctors in many parts of the country.

Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS will announce that companies offering NHS patients appointments by Skype must also open a local surgery offering face-to-face appointments.

It follows warnings that hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgery amid a deepening crisis across the country, which is hitting rural areas hardest. The Daily Telegraph

Junior doctors end five-year NHS pay row by accepting a new contract

Junior doctors end five-year NHS pay row by accepting a new contract Junior doctors have finally accepted a new contract – ending a bitter five-year dispute that included the first all-out strike in NHS history.

They will receive an 8.2 per cent pay rise over the next four years and increased weekend and overnight pay thanks to a £90million investment from the Government.

The long-running contract dispute saw thousands of junior doctors go on strike in 2016, two years after initial talks broke down. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Junior doctors contract deal is positive for the NHS, says NHS Employers NHS Employers
• Junior doctors agree new contract to end four-year dispute The Guardian

Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries

Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries Hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgeries, according to a national survey.

Coastal and rural areas are suffering the most with elderly and vulnerable patients being forced to travel further for appointments.

The research showed 1,946 villages are now at least three miles from their closest GP practice – 162 more than two years ago.

Some patients were required to travel up to 14 miles in rural areas.

Among the districts hit worst are South Gloucestershire, South Northamptonshire and Cornwall. The Daily Mail