Guidance: Childhood flu programme: information for healthcare practitioners

Guidance: Childhood flu programme: information for healthcare practitioners This document on the flu vaccination and vaccination programme includes information on:

• what flu is
• the flu vaccine
• dosage
• administering the vaccine
• advice on vaccinating children with an egg allergy
• further resources

View and download the accompanying childhood flu programme 2019 training slideset. Public Health England

Care of neurological patients found wanting

Care of neurological patients found wanting A report from the Neurological Alliance says that the experiences of neurological patients remain poor.  Neuro Patience presents the findings of the 2018/19 National Neurology Patient Experience Survey. The report covers three main themes – accessible, personalised and holistic care and support (which includes social care, mental health and financial security). Overall the 2018/19 results show that people’s experiences remain poor. NHS Networks

Changes to the friends and family test

Changes to the friends and family test NHS England has overhauled the friends and family test, the standardised feedback tool used by NHS organisations. Patients will no longer be asked whether they would recommend the service but will be asked instead “Overall, how was your experience of our service?” and asked to select one of six responses. NHS Networks

NHS extends staff retention scheme

NHS extends staff retention scheme The NHS is extending a scheme that has helped keep more than 1,000 nurses, midwives and other clinicians in the NHS. A “transfer window” lets staff move within the NHS between areas while developing new skills. Rewards from local businesses like discount gym membership and targeted mentoring for new joiners are among the incentives used to keep them. NHS Networks

Change or collapse: lessons from the drive to reform health and social care in Northern Ireland

Change or collapse: lessons from the drive to reform health and social care in Northern Ireland  The health and social care system in Northern Ireland has seen seven fundamental reviews setting out major changes of direction in the last 20 years. Each has delivered a similar verdict: the country needs to reduce its reliance on hospitals, centralise some services for a critical mass at a smaller number of sites, and focus more on prevention and keeping people healthy. This report examines the factors that may be helping or hindering efforts to improve the health and social care system in Northern Ireland today. It aims to be of interest to health leaders across different countries, especially in the rest of the UK. The King's Fund
Report

Improving cyber security in the NHS

Improving cyber security in the NHS This white paper from the Institute of Global Health Innovation finds that the NHS remains vulnerable to cyber-attack, and must take urgent steps to defend against threats which could risk the safety of patients. It outlines a number of key measures for NHS trusts to implement in order to increase cyber resilience. These initiatives include employing cyber security professionals in their IT teams, building ‘fire-breaks’ into their systems to allow certain segments to become isolated if infected with a computer virus, and having clear communication systems so staff know where to get help and advice on cyber security.
White paper
More detail

Chief people officer: Prioritise NHS staff for mental healthcare

Chief people officer: Prioritise NHS staff for mental healthcare  The NHS’ chief people officer has said NHS staff should be prioritised for receiving mental healthcare because of the “stressful” nature of the job. Prerana Issar, who started as chief people officer for NHS England and Improvement in April, proposed the idea during a Twitter chat earlier this week about how to make the NHS a great place to work. Health Service Journal

Former health minister rejoins controversial drug maker's PR agency

Former health minister rejoins controversial drug maker's PR agency  James O’Shaughnessy’s employer represents firm refusing to cut price of cystic fibrosis drug. Former health minister James O’Shaughnessy has rejoined the PR consultancy Portland, whose clients include a US drug company which is refusing to drop the price of an important cystic fibrosis drug to a level the NHS can afford.
Lord O’Shaughnessy had dealings with the company, Vertex, while he was a health minister from 2016 until December last year. In April last year, he wrote a letter to the company, with fellow minister Steve Brine, asking it to negotiate a “responsible and proportionate” price for the drug Orkambi. The Guardian

Government launches new training scheme to help teachers spot difference between pupil stress and mental health issues

Government launches new training scheme to help teachers spot difference between pupil stress and mental health issues Teachers risk mistaking exam stress for mental health issues, as the Department for Education launches a new training scheme to help them spot the difference. One representative from every state school in the country will be offered a mental health training workshop as part of a £9.3 million Government scheme.
Jaime Smith, director for mental health and wellbeing in schools at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children which will oversee the training, said that the pilot, which ran in 1,500 schools, showed that the training improved teachers' understanding about “what they can do to keep children in schools and support them in schools before referring onto specialist services, so only making that referral when it’s necessary”.
Ms Smith added that teachers need to “understand the difference” between a clinical diagnosis when someone might suffering from something serious, to normal levels of stress. The DfE has already published new guidance on mental health and behaviour in schools, in which teachers are encouraged to refer children on to external specialists if they display symptoms of mental health issues. The Telegraph

Record numbers struggle to see GP - and most can't see the one they want

Record numbers struggle to see GP - and most can't see the one they want  Most patients who want to see their own GP can no longer get an appointment with them, according to new figures suggesting the days of the family doctor are over.

The statistics show record numbers of patients struggling to even get through on the telephone, and increasingly long waits for an appointment. For the first time, the majority of patients who wanted to see a particular doctor were unable to do so, the survey of more than 770,000 patients shows. The Telegraph