Tuesday 23 July 2019

Heat health advice: 2019

Heat health advice: 2019 Warmer weather forecasts for parts of England have prompted advice to take care from Public Health England.

Social workers and a new Mental Health Act: final report

Social workers and a new Mental Health Act: final report This inquiry report is in response to the Independent Review of the Mental health Act 1983. The inquiry looks at the integration of health and social care, and how social workers’ role can be enhanced in new legislation, in order to uphold the human rights of children and adults suffering ill mental health. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work

    UK newborn baby screening 'not good enough'

    UK newborn baby screening 'not good enough' UK babies are missing out on checks for rare but serious health conditions, putting lives at risk, according to a report from the charity Genetic Alliance UK.

    The NHS offers newborns a blood test to screen for up to nine conditions.

    Many other European countries look for 20 or more illnesses and the US screens for more than 50, the charity says.

    The UK National Screening Committee says its recommendations are based on evidence and are regularly reviewed. BBC News

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    Transgender treatment: Puberty blockers study under investigation

    Transgender treatment: Puberty blockers study under investigation England's only NHS youth gender clinic lowered the age at which it offers children puberty blockers, partly based on a study now being investigated.

    The study's full findings have not been published - but early data showed some taking the drugs reported an increase in thoughts of suicide and self-harm.

    The clinic said data was from a "small sample" and so no "meaningful conclusion" could be drawn from it. BBC News

    Mentally ill children sent hundreds of miles for NHS treatment due to lack of beds

    Mentally ill children sent hundreds of miles for NHS treatment due to lack of beds Mentally ill children are being forced to travel hundreds of miles for NHS treatment, with one child sent 339 miles from their home, an investigation has found.

    Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows that a lack of inpatient beds close to youngsters’ homes means they must be treated in units away from family and friends in other parts of the country.

    The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the charity Young Minds said this can slow down recovery and be frightening for children, some of whom are at risk of self-harm or suicide. The Independent

    Greedy parking enforcement companies are issuing hefty fines to carers and nurses

    Greedy parking enforcement companies are issuing hefty fines to carers and nurses Private companies are issuing hefty penalty charge notices – sometimes even in a hospital’s own car park

    Community nurse Gemma Hayes was on call and on a tight schedule. She left her car in the residents’ car park of a block where her last patient of the day lived and displayed her professional carer’s badge on the dashboard. When she returned she’d been charged £60.

    “I was allocated 30 minutes for the call but spent an extra 45 minutes unpaid overtime as the elderly, housebound patient had additional needs,” says Hayes, who earns £24,200 and regularly works an extra unpaid hour on top of her eight-hour shifts. “I appealed, offering confirmation that I was carrying out a patient visit. It was rejected.

    Changes in the law are unlikely to have any effect on rising charges. The Guardian

    Matt Hancock 'buries' health proposals likely to displease Boris Johnson

    Matt Hancock 'buries' health proposals likely to displease Boris Johnson Green paper on smoking and sugar tax is released late in evening without alerting media

    The health secretary, Matt Hancock, is facing questions after apparently burying important proposals aimed at tackling smoking, drinking and poor diets by releasing them on Monday evening without alerting the media.

    The government’s green paper on the prevention of ill-health appeared on the gov.uk website at 7.22pm, hours after Hancock clashed with Theresa May, who had personally championed the plans. The Guardian

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    GP receptionists will offer patients appointments at chemists, in bid to take pressure off family doctors 

    GP receptionists will offer patients appointments at chemists, in bid to take pressure off family doctors GPs’ receptionists will divert patients to see pharmacists in a bid to relieve pressure on family doctors.

    The NHS plan aims to prevent 20 million GP appointments, with many of those telephoning for help instead offered a “same day” slot at a local chemist.

    Health officials said the moves would mean more accessible and convenient access to services. The Daily Telegraph

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    One in three consultants and GPs may be hit by tax rules which are fuelling soaring waiting lists 

    One in three consultants and GPs may be hit by tax rules which are fuelling soaring waiting lists One in three senior medics could be hit by NHS pensions rules which are fuelling soaring waiting lists, health officials have warned.

    Today ministers opened a consultation on changes to the operation of the scheme, amid a growing crisis as doctors refuse to work overtime.

    Treasury rules means that high earners can end up paying tax rates of more than 90 per cent on earnings over £110,000 a year - which include rises in the value of pensions. The Daily Telegraph

    Dementia costs crisis deepens after it emerges 770,000 people have been refused state support

    Dementia costs crisis deepens after it emerges 770,000 people have been refused state support More than 770,000 elderly people have been refused state support since the Government pledged to reform the broken care system.

    The shocking figure emerged amid growing pressure on the new prime minister to tackle the social care crisis that burdens families with crippling dementia costs. The Daily Mail