New children's commissioner at 'failing' Northamptonshire council

New children's commissioner at 'failing' Northamptonshire council The government has appointed a new commissioner at a crisis-hit council's children's services department.

Andrew Christie has replaced Malcolm Newsam, who announced he would be leaving his role at Northamptonshire County Council last month.

Mr Newsam took up the role in 2018 after an Ofsted report found people in its care were at "potential risk".

In July, inspectors said the authority was still "failing to keep children safe". BBC Northampton

The deteriorating state of the NHS estate

The deteriorating state of the NHS estate In recent years, the charmingly named ERIC (Estates Returns Information Collection) data collection has contained some deeply alarming news about the condition of NHS buildings and equipment. The King's Fund

Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters

Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters This toolkit, based on research of suicide clusters, is part of Public Health England's support for the government’s suicide prevention strategy.

Departmental overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019

Departmental overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019 This report is designed to provide a quick and accessible overview of the Department and its performance over the last year. It focuses on the Department’s responsibilities and how it spends its money, key developments in its areas of work and findings from our recent reports. National Audit Office

Pathway navigator ‘critical’ to cutting lung cancer waiting times say experts

Pathway navigator ‘critical’ to cutting lung cancer waiting times say experts An admin role, described as ‘critical’ in helping to cut lung cancer waiting times and speeding up diagnoses, continues to face national funding challenges says a new report by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC).

According to Pathways Matter – the first report to track uptake of NHS England’s National Optimal Lung Cancer Pathway [NOLCP] guidance and identify barriers – the appointment of a patient pathway navigator can help to more than double the number of lung cancer patients receiving treatment by day 49.

However, securing funding for the role remains ‘challenging’, according to interviews among 17 of the 19 Cancer Alliances.

See also:

• Pathways matter: A review of the implementation of the national optimal lung cancer pathway UK Lung Cancer Coalition
• 'Woefully poor NHS equipment leading to lung cancer delays' ITV News

Ending smoking in the UK could lift over a million people out of poverty

Ending smoking in the UK could lift over a million people out of poverty Analysis of Government data carried out for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that the deadly addiction of tobacco, and the enormous profits of the tobacco industry, drive over a million (1,011,000) people into poverty in the UK.

Seven out of ten adult smokers want to stop smoking, and three quarters regret ever having started, but most did so as children, before realising how hard it is to quit. More than two thirds of those who try smoking go on to become regular smokers, developing an expensive and often lifelong addiction causing disease, disability and premature death.

See also:

• Smoking and poverty 2019 ASH
• Smoking link to poverty highlighted OnMedica

Clinical research improves health of UK economy and NHS

Clinical research improves health of UK economy and NHS The value of clinical research to the NHS, the UK economy and jobs market has been evaluated in a new report, which provides an assessment of the economic impact of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network's (NIHR CRN) activities to support clinical research in England. Medical Xpress

Fat found in overweight people's lungs

Fat found in overweight people's lungs Fatty tissue has been found in the lungs of overweight and obese people for the first time.

Australian researchers analysed lung samples from 52 people and found the amount of fat increased in line with body mass index.

They said their findings could explain why being overweight or obese increased asthma risk.

Lung experts said it would be interesting to see if the effect could be reversed by weight loss. BBC News

See also:

• Fatty Airways: Implications for Obstructive Disease (abstract) European Respiratory Journal
• Overweight people develop fat in their LUNGS and it can make it harder for them to breathe The Daily Mail
• Obese people are 'drowning in their own fat', as it blocks airways in the lungs, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• Fat accumulates inside lungs of overweight people, study finds The Independent

Female doctors called 'naughty girls' amid toxic 'old boys' club' at BMA

Female doctors called 'naughty girls' amid toxic 'old boys' club' at BMA The British Medical Association has an “old boys’ club” culture which has seen women “treated as of less importance” and subjected to lewd sexual remarks and advances, a damning investigation has found.

The independent review of sexism and bullying at the medics union describes a “toxic” environment, in which professional women are addressed in demeaning teams such as “naughty girls, little ladies and wee lassies”.

Daphne Romney QC was commissioned by the BMA to carry out the investigation after female doctors spoke out against sexual harassment and sexism by senior members of the trade union. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Report into sexism at the BMA published The BMA
• BMA apologises to female doctors over sexism The Guardian
• Women bullied and harassed at ‘toxic’ British Medical Association, scathing report into sexism says The Independent
• BMA apologises for appalling sexism and harassment OnMedica