Tuesday 10 December 2019

Tree of Light shines at Northampton hospital to remember those who are no longer with us

Tree of Light shines at Northampton hospital to remember those who are no longer with us Dozens turned out to remember their loved ones who won't be here this Christmas at the 'Light Up a Life' event last week. The Tree of Light, at the Billing road entrance of Northampton General Hospital, has been dedicated to over 140 loved ones who have passed away or who have been gifted a light by a loved one. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton Saints spread Christmas cheer at Northampton General Hospital

Northampton Saints spread Christmas cheer at Northampton General Hospital  Northampton Saints players took a break away from the rugby pitch to spread some Christmas cheer to patients, visitors and staff at Northampton General Hospital. More than 25 players visited wards and departments including the A&E department, Esther White and Walter Tull wards, the oncology department, Haematology, Chemotherapy, Talbot Butler ward and the children’s wards, Disney and Paddington. Here they spent a few hours chatting with patients and handing out Christmas presents, as part of the Travis Perkins Big Christmas Toy Appeal. Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

Online prescribing 'must get safer'

Online prescribing 'must get safer' More deaths could occur unless action is taken to keep people safe when obtaining medications from online health providers, says a UK coroner.

Nigel Parsley has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock highlighting the case of a woman who died after obtaining opiate painkillers online.

Debbie Headspeath, 41, got the medication, dispensed by UK pharmacies, after website consultations.

Her own GP was unaware of what she had requested from doctors on the internet.

The Suffolk coroner has now written to the Department of Health asking for urgent action to be taken. BBC News

Surgeons withdraw support for heart disease advice

Surgeons withdraw support for heart disease advice European clinical guidelines on how to treat a major form of heart disease are under review following a BBC Newsnight investigation.

Europe's professional body for heart surgeons has withdrawn support for the guidelines, saying it was "a matter of serious concern" that some patients may have had the wrong advice. BBC News

BMA backs stop-gap plan to end pension tax trap but demands GP guarantees

BMA backs stop-gap plan to end pension tax trap but demands GP guarantees The BMA has formally backed short-term plans to tackle punitive pension tax rules that have forced thousands of doctors to reduce their working hours - but has demanded further assurances for GPs. GP Online

Anorexia deaths not being properly recorded by NHS, inquest hears

Anorexia deaths not being properly recorded by NHS, inquest hears Anorexia deaths are not being properly recorded by the NHS, an inquest into the death of a young woman with the condition has heard.

Maria Jakes, 24, who died in September 2018 after battling with the eating disorder for more than 10 years, was one of five anorexia fatalities to occur within the Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust (CPFT). The Telegraph

GPhC survey paints a picture of the pharmacy workforce

GPhC survey paints a picture of the pharmacy workforce
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published the findings of its second major survey, which asked pharmacists and pharmacy technicians about their roles and responsibilities, work settings, employment and practice and future work plans.

The GPhC commissioned Enventure Research, an independent research organisation, to carry out the survey over summer 2019. Over 18,000 registered pharmacy professionals (23% of professionals on the register) responded to the online survey. General Pharmaceutical Council

More than 200000 NHS devices still running Windows 7

More than 200000 NHS devices still running Windows 7 NHS Trusts are still using more than 200,000 devices running the 10-year-old Window 7 operating system, which is due to reach End of Life next year.

That's according cloud computing firm Citrix, which recently obtained the information through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Computing.co.uk

'Rip-off' hospital parking charges top £250m a year with relatives charged £100 a visit

'Rip-off' hospital parking charges top £250m a year with relatives charged £100 a visit Hospitals are charging relatives more than £100 to visit the sick amid record charges of more than £250 million a year, an investigation reveals.

One in three NHS trusts increased their prices in the last year, with overall charges rising by 10 per cent, the findings show. The Telegraph

See also:

Next NHS staff shortages will include radiographers, as courses close

Next NHS staff shortages will include radiographers, as courses close Radiography and nursing degree courses may be at risk of closure, academics are warning – at a time when the NHS is wrestling with a recruitment crisis.

The Council of Deans of Health has now drawn up an “at risk” list of university courses struggling to attract and retain enough students following the removal of the student bursary in 2017. The courses include: radiography, mental health nursing, learning disability nursing, podiatry and prosthetics. The list also includes orthoptics, which is the provision of devices such as splints, braces and helmets, which help people recover from injury. The Guardian

Thousands of patients die waiting for beds in hospitals – study

Thousands of patients die waiting for beds in hospitals – study Almost 5,500 patients have died over the past three years because they have spent so long on a trolley in an A&E unit waiting for a bed in overcrowded hospitals, a study by leading NHS doctors has found. The Guardian