Northamptonshire MPs call for radical plan to change adult social care and health services

Northamptonshire MPs call for radical plan to change adult social care and health services  Northamptonshire’s MPs have told the county’s health and council bosses that they need to come up with a radical plan to combine health and adult social care if they are going to attract more funds from government.

A model such as the one in Greater Manchester in which health and adult social care are provided by one organisation is being advocated by MPs who yesterday (June 27) met health and council leaders in Westminster to discuss the way out of the current crisis in which 900 patients are currently stranded in hospital beds. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS blunders claiming 11,000 lives every year amid 'blame game' culture

NHS blunders claiming 11,000 lives every year amid 'blame game' culture Eleven thousand patients a year may be dying as a result of NHS blunders amid a "blame game" culture between staff, health chiefs have warned.

A new safety strategy says thousands of lives may be being lost - with older patients most likely to fall victim - because errors are being repeated as medics “close ranks”.

NHS leaders will on Tuesday unveil plans to save 1,000 lives a year within five years, under a radical strategy to ensure all staff - however junior - are trained to act if they spot risks. The Telegraph

See also:

• 11,000 NHS patients die every year 'because staff are too afraid to admit mistakes' Mail Online

Newly diagnosed cancer patients should be prescribed fitness plans

Newly diagnosed cancer patients should be prescribed fitness plans Newly diagnosed cancer patients should be given exercise and nutrition plans in order to boost their chances of recovery and survival, charities say.

Experts said that those about to embark on treatment should be given personalised recommendations about their lifestyles, in order to “maximise” their resilience to treatment.

The report by Macmillan Cancer Support, the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the National Institute for Health Research Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration called for the introduction of “prehabilitation" as soon as possible after a diagnosis. The Telegraph

Boys more likely to need help for 'back to school asthma'

Boys more likely to need help for 'back to school asthma' Boys with asthma are twice as likely as girls to visit their GP with worsening symptoms during the first weeks of the new school year, research suggests.

It found a tripling of appointments related to "back to school" asthma in England.

Being exposed to new viruses at school and a relaxed use of inhalers over the holidays could be factors, experts say.

Asthma could turn into "a ticking time bomb" during the summer holidays, Asthma UK said. BBC News

See also:

• Child asthma cases can triple at the start of the school year, researchers warn Mail Online
• Take steps to keep symptoms under control and help prevent 'back to school asthma', says RCGP RCGP
• Boys most likely to see GP for back to school asthma OnMedica

Why it’s important to review the care of people with dementia

Why it’s important to review the care of people with dementia Healthwatch - As dementia is a degenerative condition, The Care Act states that people are entitled to regular reviews to ensure care meets their changing needs. However, when Heatlhwatch analysed data from 97 local councils, it found people were not getting what they were entitled to. King's Fund

Early cancer detection and survival to be prioritised by NHS

Early cancer detection and survival to be prioritised by NHS Monitoring one-year survival will be central to measuring progress in transforming cancer care, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced today. Screening programmes will be overhauled and diagnosis made faster and more accurate with new state-of-the-art technology as part of a blueprint for rapidly improving cancer detection and survival announced by Matt Hancock.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Health and Social Care Secretary set out how the NHS will deliver on its commitments to improve early detection of cancer. GOV.UK

NHS unable to guarantee medicines supply in the event of a no deal

NHS unable to guarantee medicines supply in the event of a no deal Plans to transport medicine in the event of a no-deal Brexit must be reactivated 'within the next days or weeks' to prevent shortages, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens has said.

Speaking before the Health and Social Care Committee in the Commons last week (25 June), Mr Stevens said it is 'critical' that transport plans are reactivated as the NHS is 'completely dependent' on additional cross-ferry links. Pulse

Digital GP provider stopped children's appointments after CQC warning - Health Service Journal

Digital GP provider stopped children's appointments after CQC warning - Health Service Journal An online GP provider suspended appointments for under 18s after the Care Quality Commission raised concerns over the sharing of data, the regulator has revealed, but the provider was rated “good” overall.

Inspectors were concerned that parents using the Push Doctor app could prevent consultations from being shared with their child’s NHS GP, according to a CQC report. HSJ

Exclusive: NHS England attempted to alter independent report on child cancer care - Health Service Journal

Exclusive: NHS England attempted to alter independent report on child cancer care - Health Service Journal NHS England engaged in an unprecedented attempt to interfere with an independent clinical body’s report into child cancer services, seeking to have a recommendation on co-location of intensive care services removed, HSJ has learned.

The independent organisation NCEPOD, or National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, has confirmed it was asked to remove a recommendation from a report published in December.

The charity’s chair Ian Martin told HSJ the body was concerned about the request “as it has never happened before” and he said it put the “independent clinical voice, on which we rely, at risk”.

It is the latest example of NHS England’s attempts to limit wider exposure of clinical concerns around co-location of intensive care services with child cancer units. HSJ

Surrey’s Pregnancy Advice Line to Be Expanded Nationwide

Surrey’s Pregnancy Advice Line to Be Expanded Nationwide To help fulfill its goal of halving maternity-related deaths by 2025, the NHS Long Term Plan aims to expand nationwide the Surrey Heartlands Pregnancy Advice Line, which provides new and expectant mothers guidance on labor, breastfeeding, and other pregnancy-related health problems. The 24-hour advice line, staffed by midwives, averages 126 calls per day and has already helped some 20,000 women in the past year. The Commonwealth Fund

NHS opens first ever cannabis clinic as mind-altering 'skunk' fuels psychosis among users

NHS opens first ever cannabis clinic as mind-altering 'skunk' fuels psychosis among users The NHS has opened the UK’s first ever cannabis treatment clinic in response to soaring levels of “skunk”-induced psychosis.

Users of skunk, an especially potent form of cannabis, are presenting with symptoms of psychosis at an alarming rate according to the psychiatrist leading the pilot clinic based in King’s College London.

Dr Marta Di Forti described cannabis-induced psychosis as a “crisis” which cannot be ignored. Tens of thousands of people are affected she told The Mail on Sunday. The Telegraph

Are you happy to share your health data?

Are you happy to share your health data? From automated eye scans to analysing the cries of new-born babies, faster drug development to personalised medicine, artificial intelligence (AI) promises huge advances in the field of healthcare. But major challenges remain.

At the recent AI for Good Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, we were told how AI could speed up the development of new drugs, lead to personalised medicine informed by our genomes, and help diagnose diseases in countries suffering from underdeveloped health services and a chronic shortage of doctors. BBC News

Homeless people are 60 times more likely to visit A and E

Homeless people are 60 times more likely to visit A and E Research reveals extent of health issues compared with general population in England.

Homeless people in England are 60 times more likely to visit A&E in a year than the general population, according to a study that reveals the extent of health problems among those who sleep rough or are stuck in temporary accommodation. The Guardian