Privatisation in the English NHS: fact or fiction?

Privatisation in the English NHS: fact or fiction? With general election campaigning so far having a heavy focus on ‘privatisation’ and the NHS, Helen Buckingham and Mark Dayan take a closer look at this often thorny issue. Nuffield Trust

Tackling poor health outcomes: the role of trauma-informed care

Tackling poor health outcomes: the role of trauma-informed care Over the past few months I’ve been interviewing, reading and writing about the provision of health and care services to people who sleep rough. One concept has particularly stood out to me from what I’ve heard: trauma. It’s something I’ve been hearing more about recently, both in this research and in other health and care contexts. The King's Fund

Combined Performance Summary

Combined Performance Summary NHS performance statistics for urgent and emergency care, planned care, cancer and mental health. NHS England

See also:

• Combined Performance Summary: September–October 2019 Nuffield Trust
• Today’s figures highlight that the NHS in England is desperately struggling to stay afloat The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to today's NHS England's combined performance summary The King's Fund
• Figures show we could be on track for 100,000 trolley waits Nuffield Trust
• A&E waiting times hit worst-ever level BBC News
• NHS reports worst waiting times on record Channel 4 News
• A&E waiting times are now the worst since records began The Daily Telegraph
• A&E waiting times in England hit worst-ever level The Guardian
• It’s Narnia on the wards: the NHS is in permanent winter crisis now The Guardian
• 'This will almost certainly get worse': Hospital A&E waiting times hit worst level on record The Independent
• War veteran, 99, left 'crying out in pain' on A&E trolley for 10 hours The Independent
• NHS A&E figures are 'a source of shame for all politicians' as health service records worst ever performance levels iNews
• NHS England records worst A&E waiting times in 15 years Sky News

Caring for doctors Caring for patients

Caring for doctors Caring for patients A new independent report into the wellbeing of doctors and medical students

In 2018 we commissioned Professor Michael West and Dame Denise Coia, to carry out a UK-wide review to help tackle the causes of poor wellbeing faced by medical students and doctors.

Their report, Caring for doctors, Caring for patients, includes eight recommendations to help deliver safe, supportive and inclusive environments, and compassionate cultures across the UK. The General Medical Council

See also:

• Acting on wellbeing solutions could make UK health services a model for the world The General Medical Council
• The King's Fund responds to the General Medical Council's new report on the wellbeing of doctors The King's Fund

Using population health management to work differently

Using population health management to work differently Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS are using population health management to crunch data on demographic and activity trends and forecast population demand on their health and care system.

This enables them to establish the cause of health deterioration in different population groups and future impact on patients and services. Finding these patients early enough could prevent or delay the onset of complex and debilitating conditions which would not only improve that person’s health but would avoid cost increases across the NHS and social care sector. Healthcare Financial Management Association

#WonderfulWomenDo launched on a wave of celebration and positivity across health and care

#WonderfulWomenDo launched on a wave of celebration and positivity across health and care Get involved and support the new social media campaign #WonderfulWomenDo from the Health & Care Women Leaders Network - share the amazing things so many of you do each day to support one another. NHS Employers

Severe allergic reactions rise in children in England over past five years

Severe allergic reactions rise in children in England over past five years The number of children being admitted to hospital in England with a severe allergic reaction has risen every year for the past five years.

NHS figures show 1,746 children were treated for anaphylactic shock in 2018-19, up from 1,015 in 2013-14.

The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died in 2016 after eating a baguette containing sesame, called the increase "deeply alarming".

Scientists say environmental factors could be to blame for more allergies. BBC News

Half of British adults have 'no idea' about nutrition, research claims

Half of British adults have 'no idea' about nutrition, research claims British adults admitted they did not have a balanced diet because they were bad with portion sizes, food groups or nutritional information on food labels, when the were surveyed for a new poll.

Half of the 2,000 adults questioned said they had "no idea" how much protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar, dairy and fruit and veg they are supposed to eat.

Around 49 per cent admitted they were not au fait with portion sizes.

As a consequence, nine in 10 said their diet probably lacked balance. The Independent

The social care crisis is killing the NHS

The social care crisis is killing the NHS The latest NHS performance statistics are ghastly – hospitals and, let’s not forget, their staff, are working flat out in the face of rising accident and emergency attendances with record numbers of patients being forced to wait hours to be seen.

But the true horror lies a little deeper in the stats and, while it will attract fewer headlines, the frightening reality is there for all to see: the collapse of social care is dragging down the health service (requires registration). The Independent

My daughter died of dementia at 42. I'm angry doctors took so long to diagnose her

My daughter died of dementia at 42. I'm angry doctors took so long to diagnose her As a nurse I’m used to dealing with illnesses, but not enough is known about this cruel disease. I want to increase awareness

My daughter Anna was 36 when she started to exhibit strange, inexplicable behaviours, both at work and at home. Anna was a clinical trials research nurse in a busy hospital. She was also a wife, and a mum to two young sons.

Her behaviours escalated to the point where it was not safe for her to be at home. She would clap, bang her head, whistle, wail, take off her shoes and run like a child in the hospital corridors, eat any food she could lay her hands on, bite and chew inappropriately. Worse than that was her complete lack of empathy and inhibition. She was forced to give up her job and had to come and live with us, her parents. The Guardian

Allergens must be listed on menus, coroner says, as figures show soaring hospitalisations of children

Allergens must be listed on menus, coroner says, as figures show soaring hospitalisations of children Allergens must be listed on menus, a coroner has said, as new figures show the number of children hospitalised as a result of severe reactions has risen by 70 per cent in five years.

Owen Carey died after unwittingly eating buttermilk in a burger restaurant, despite having made staff aware of his dairy allergy when he went out to celebrate his 18th birthday with his family.

Yesterday the coroner warned of a risk of future deaths, if menus were not forced to contain clear information. The Daily Telegraph

Send patients texts to remind them to take statins, doctors say

Send patients texts to remind them to take statins, doctors say Sending patients text messages to remind them to take their statins could save thousands of lives a year, a study suggests.

Cardiologists say the simple tactic – known as 'nudging' – could also include emails or phone calls.

Millions of people are prescribed statins to lower their cholesterol levels, drastically slashing their risk of heart attacks and strokes.

But figures suggest as little as six per cent of patients adhere to their prescription of the pills, which cost pennies and are proven to be life-saving. The Daily Mail