CEO behind Lloyds Pharmacy blames NHS for upcoming closure of Northampton branch

CEO behind Lloyds Pharmacy blames NHS for upcoming closure of Northampton branch The CEO in charge of Lloyds Pharmacy has hit at the NHS over the planned closure of a Northampton branch for "doubling" its rent costs.

Lloyds Pharmacy announced this morning (August 2) it would shut it its branch at the Weston Favell Health Centre on Oct 31.

CEO of McKesson UK - which controls Lloyds - Toby Anderson says he thinks the closure is "at odds with the NHS' ambitions" and has scolded NHS Properties Ltd for problems over rent charges. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Pharmacy at Northampton shopping centre's healthcare hub will close before end of year Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Finances are a cause for concern says Kettering General Hospital

Finances are a cause for concern says Kettering General Hospital Kettering General Hospital has said its financial position is a cause for concern.

Accounts for the latest financial year show that the acute hospital finished up with a deficit of £28.9m.

The hospital’s annual governance report says: “This marked an underachievement against the £27.4m deficit plan. This overall finance picture remained challenging financially, in particular staffing costs in some areas across the trust and in ensuring safe staffing levels in clinical areas. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Carers saving Treasury £billions every year “set up for a fall” by design of Carer’s Allowance

Carers saving Treasury £billions every year “set up for a fall” by design of Carer’s Allowance The Work and Pensions Committee calls on DWP to completely reassess its approach, consider writing off debts due to its own protracted administrative failures in its report on the Overpayments of Carer’s Allowance.

Carers are being disproportionately heavily penalised for years of DWP administrative errors or their own honest mistakes, in a confusing and outdated system where the IT cannot even adapt a basic information letter within a year, says the Work and Pensions Committee in a new report

See also:

• Carers bullied by government, MPs say BBC News

Case study: working in a multidisciplinary team

Case study: working in a multidisciplinary team A case study from NHS England shows how wider teams of clinicians, social workers and other health and care professionals could help people to avoid hospital.

Boris Johnson announces £1.8bn one-off cash boost for NHS hospitals

Boris Johnson announces £1.8bn one-off cash boost for NHS hospitals Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a one-off cash boost of £1.8bn for NHS hospitals in England.

Of this, almost £1bn will be available immediately to go towards new equipment and upgrades to 20 hospitals.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Johnson said he was "determined to deliver" the promises of the Brexit referendum campaign and increase NHS spending.

But Labour said it fell "significantly short" of the amount needed by the NHS and would not reverse years of cuts. BBC News

See also:

• PM announces extra £1.8 billion for NHS frontline services Department of Health and Social Care
• New short-term capital funding boost for NHS in England will only scratch the surface The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the government announcement of new NHS funding and changes to NHS pensions The King's Fund
• New NHS funding desperately needed to improve quality of patient care NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers welcomes NHS capital investment but warns more is needed to deliver long term improvements NHS Providers
• PM’s funding announcement only a fraction of what is needed to really upgrade 20 hospitals Nuffield Trust
• Royal College of Nursing comments on funding announcement for NHS in England Royal College of Nursing
• Royal College of Physicians responds to capital funding announcement Royal College of Physicians 
• Hospitals in England set to receive £850m revealed BBC News
• Is NHS buildings boost all it seems? BBC News
• Boris Johnson pledges hospital upgrades in Leave-voting seats as he attempts to see off Brexit Party threat The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson promises £1.8bn to boost the NHS The Guardian
• Boris Johnson's £1.8bn NHS pledge dismissed as inadequate by Labour The Guardian
• NHS funding: the 20 hospital projects due to receive £850m The Guardian
• Boris Johnson’s £1.8bn NHS cash boost 'a drop in the ocean', health experts warn The Independent

Alzheimer's blood test 'one step closer'

Alzheimer's blood test 'one step closer' Researchers say they can accurately identify people on track to develop Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear, which could help the progress of drug trials.

US scientists were able to use levels of a protein in the blood to help predict its build-up in the brain.

UK experts said the results were promising - and a step towards a reliable blood test for Alzheimer's to speed up dementia research. BBC News

See also:

• High-precision plasma β-amyloid 42/40 predicts current and future brain amyloidosis (abstract) Neurology

Children’s cancer ward closes to new admissions after breakout of rare infection

Children’s cancer ward closes to new admissions after breakout of rare infection A children’s cancer ward has been closed to new admissions after three of its patients contracted infections.

The three youngsters are being treated at ward 6A at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.

The hospital has been under scrutiny after two patients in January contracted an infection linked to pigeon droppings. The Independent

Patients are switching GP practices to 'get around' rationing of services like IVF

Patients are switching GP practices to 'get around' rationing of services like IVF Patients are switching GP practices to try and 'get around' rationing of services such as IVF, a health minister has claimed.

Jackie Doyle-Price criticised the 'unacceptable' disparity in health treatments across the UK for creating postcode lotteries.

She claims women are signing up with surgeries further away from their own home because their own CCG does not offer enough rounds of IVF. The Daily Mail