Collaboration is key to achieving better models of care

Collaboration is key to achieving better models of care In 2015, my 20-month-old son was diagnosed with type one diabetes. Motivated by this devastating diagnosis, my partner and I set up DigiBete and partnered with Leeds Children’s Hospital to assist us in achieving our mission of helping families and communities understand the principles of good diabetes care. Capturing diverse patient and family voices has given us a rich – and sometimes raw – insight into the complexities and challenges faced by patients and families living with a long-term condition. The Health Foundation

Guidance: Health matters: preventing STIs

Guidance: Health matters: preventing STIs A professional resource for local authorities and commissioners on the prevention of five common sexually transmitted infections. Public Health England

Preventing falls in people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments

Preventing falls in people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments This guide contains information to help staff in public health, health services and social care to prevent falls in people with learning disabilities. It is also intended to help falls prevention services to provide support that is accessible to people with learning disabilities. The guide can be used by family carers, friends and paid support staff to help them think about what risks may contribute to falls and how to reduce such risks. Public Health England

The causal effect of hospital volume on health gains from hip replacement surgery

The causal effect of hospital volume on health gains from hip replacement surgery This study investigates the causal effect of hospital volume on health gains from hip replacement surgery in the English NHS. It exploits a unique dataset, which links routine hospital records and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for all public hospitals in England. Centre for Health Economics

Brexit: Health leaders issue new no-deal warning

Brexit: Health leaders issue new no-deal warning Health leaders have written to Boris Johnson issuing new warnings on the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

In a letter to the prime minister, the heads of 17 royal colleges and health charities across the UK say clinicians are "unable to reassure patients" their health and care will not be affected.

They go on to say they have "significant concerns about shortages of medical supplies".

Government said it was working with the health sector on "robust preparations". BBC News

See also:

• RCP and 16 other signatories send open letter to PM calling for health to be at heart of Brexit negotiations Royal College of Physicians 
• Brexit: Health leaders warn PM about medicine shortages and flu The Independent

NHS bosses ordered to 'stick to script' that no-deal Brexit must happen on 31 October if necessary

NHS bosses ordered to 'stick to script' that no-deal Brexit must happen on 31 October if necessary NHS chiefs have been ordered to repeat Boris Johnson’s claim that a no-deal Brexit must be carried out in October if necessary, in a controversial government memo.

All communications sent by NHS England and other agencies must be “aligned to this script” and Downing Street’s weekly “top lines”, it says. The Independent

See also:

• NHS told to follow government line on Brexit HSJ

World health chiefs call for more studies on microplastics in drinking water

World health chiefs call for more studies on microplastics in drinking water More research into the health risks posed by rising amounts of microplastics in drinking water should be conducted, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) chiefs.

Scientists believe the threat is potentially three-fold – the physical risk of the particles themselves, the chemicals leached from degraded plastics and “biofilms”. The Independent

See also:

• WHO calls for more research into microplastics and a crackdown on plastic pollution World Health Organization
• Microplastics in drinking-water (report) World Health Organization
• Initial evidence shows microplastics pose ‘minimal health risk’ BBC News

Older adults can boost longevity 'with just a little exercise'

Older adults can boost longevity 'with just a little exercise' Even a small increase in light activity, such as washing dishes, a little gentle gardening, or shuffling around the house, might help stave off an early death among older adults, researchers say.

Being sedentary, for instance, by sitting for long periods of time, has been linked to an increased risk of developing many conditions, including heart disease, as well as an early death. The Guardian

See also:

• Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis (open access) The BMJ
• Ulf Ekelund and Thomas Yates: “Sit less—move more and more often”: all physical activity is beneficial for longevity The BMJ
• Every step you take (editorial) The BMJ
• Just one slow walk a day could lower risk of early death, study finds The Independent

Abortion clinic buffer zones ruled legal by Court of Appeal as it says protesters can be forced 100m away

Abortion clinic buffer zones ruled legal by Court of Appeal as it says protesters can be forced 100m away An abortion clinic buffer zone has been ruled legal by the Court of Appeal, which has said protesters can be forced to stand 100m away.

In a landmark ruling, campaigners lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the country's first protest-free "buffer zone" outside a Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Ealing. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Create protest-free ‘safe zones’ outside every abortion clinic, campaigners urge Priti Patel The Independent
• Ban on protests outside abortion clinic upheld OnMedica

One in five pensioners pops seven pills every day in the UK

One in five pensioners pops seven pills every day in the UK Millions of pensioners are being given drugs they don't need due to 'systematic failings' in the NHS, a startling report warns today.

Two million over-65s – 20 per cent of pensioners – now take at least seven different medications each day, it found. Some 39 per cent are on at least five prescription drugs.

And the overwhelming majority of pensioners – 86 per cent – are taking at least one medicine. The Daily Mail

See also:

• More harm than good: Why more isn;t always better with older people's medicines (report) Age UK
• Age UK calls for a more considered approach to prescribing medicines for older people Age UK
• Two million Britons are taking seven different prescription drugs The Daily Telegraph
• Older people at risk from being on various drug regimens – report The Guardian
• Two million pensioners on multiple drugs could suffer severe reactions – report ITV News

Hospitals are letting doctors QUIT an official NHS pension scheme

Hospitals are letting doctors QUIT an official NHS pension scheme Hospitals are allowing doctors to quit an official NHS pension scheme which is causing consultants to cut their hours.

Several NHS trusts are putting their own schemes in place amid mounting frustration over government inaction to reform a punitive tax on pensions.

Controversial pension reforms introduced in 2016 mean top consultants and GPs are cutting their hours to avoid a tax bill on their pensions that can run into tens of thousands. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Pension crisis: trusts take matters in their own hands The BMJ
• Pension tax reform needs to be swift to tackle doctors’ sense of injustice The BMJ
• NHS hospitals offer doctors cash in bid to tackle growing pensions crisis The Daily Telegraph