Northampton signs up to 'digital doctors' app where GPs video call patients for appointments

Northampton signs up to 'digital doctors' app where GPs video call patients for appointments Over 100,000 patients in Northampton can now book appointments and speak to their GP about their health concerns - by video calling from their smartphone.

A partnership of 10 Northampton GPs has signed up to provide healthcare to patients in the town through Swedish app LIVI. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton woman may have survived had she not waited nine hours to be taken to hospital -

Northampton woman may have survived had she not waited nine hours to be taken to hospital
Criticism has been levelled at the ambulance service covering Northampton and the NHS's 111 service, after an inquest found woman could have survived if she had not waited nine hours to be taken to hospital.

Diana Gudgeon died of multi-organ failure on May 25 last year, three days after being diagnosed with a water infection by her GP.

But deputy coroner for Northamptonshire, Hassan Shah, has now written to the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and NHS 111 in a bid to prevent further deaths. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How doctors in leadership roles establish and maintain a positive patient-centred culture

How doctors in leadership roles establish and maintain a positive patient-centred culture This report finds that positively-engaged leaders, from diverse backgrounds, are key to transforming organisational cultures. However, they are often unprepared and unsupported for the challenges of leadership during the early stages of their management careers. It makes the case for support for senior healthcare leaders to help them overcome challenges that can impact on patient care. General Medical Council

Lyme disease: Older white women 'at highest risk'

Lyme disease: Older white women 'at highest risk' Older women are at most risk of contracting Lyme disease, a study suggests - and parts of southern and south-west England are "hotspots".

There are around 3,000 cases of the disease - a bacterial infection carried by ticks - each year in the UK.

But experts say everyone should become aware of the characteristic bulls-eye rash and flu-like symptoms.

More than 2,300 hospital patients with the condition were analysed between 1998 and 2015. BBC News

Dental surgeons urge England's schools to go sugar-free

Dental surgeons urge England's schools to go sugar-free Dental surgeons are calling for the government in England to encourage all schools to go sugar-free in a bid to combat tooth decay.

They say it is essential to cut sugar in school meals to tackle a condition affecting a quarter of five-year-olds.

Dentists also want more supervised teeth-brushing in schools and guidelines on healthy packed lunches. BBC News

See also:

• Schools face calls to BAN cakes and sweets as more than 100 children a DAY have rotten teeth removed The Daily Mail
• War on sugar could see the death of some of Britain's best loved sweets The Daily Telegraph

NHS boss suspended on full £185k pay in Rotherham gets new job in Devon – and is suspended on full £300k pay

NHS boss suspended on full £185k pay in Rotherham gets new job in Devon – and is suspended on full £300k pay A health boss who stayed off work for nine months while being investigated over accusations of bullying continued to receive his £300,000 salary, it has been revealed.

George Thomson pocketed the cash from struggling Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust despite being absent between March and December 2018 as his behaviour was probed. The Independent

Salt levels in picnic foods dangerously high, health group warns

Salt levels in picnic foods dangerously high, health group warns Action on Salt calls for compulsory, front-of-pack, nutritional labelling.

One in four savoury picnic foods contain dangerously high levels of salt and almost half are worryingly high in saturated fat, a health group has warned.

Action on Salt found that a typical picnic basket could contain more than 5g of salt, almost the recommended daily limit for an adult, which is 6g a day. Excessive salt consumption has been blamed for thousands of cases of heart disease, stroke and cancer. The Guardian

See also:

• Pick Wisely When You Picnic as NEW Survey Exposes Dangerously High Salty Finger Foods That Could Put Your Health at Risk Action on Salt

Emergency medical supplies could be airlifted into UK after Brexit

Emergency medical supplies could be airlifted into UK after Brexit An "express" freight service will be set up in an effort to ensure the UK does not run out of essential medical supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Supplies could be airlifted into Britain, under the plans, which aim to prepare for all eventualities.

Health officials have invited bids to tender for a 12 month contract to deliver emergency medicines and short-life treatments within 24 hours. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• New service to deliver urgent medicines and medical products into UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Government says EU citizens living in UK will not have to pay for NHS care The Independent

Patient, 25, is encouraged to find another GP practice after sharing a critical link on Facebook

Patient, 25, is encouraged to find another GP practice after sharing a critical link on Facebook A patient has been encouraged to find another GP practice after sharing an article that criticised the surgery on Facebook.

Bosses at Culcheth Medical Centre wrote to the 25-year-old, telling her that staff often 'monitor' the social media of patients.

They printed off the unidentified woman's post on a community Facebook page - a link from about the practice in her local newspaper. The Daily Mail