Wednesday 18 December 2019

Northamptonshire NHS provider rated outstanding for a second time

Northamptonshire NHS provider rated outstanding for a second time Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has been rated outstanding overall for the second time, following its recent watchdog routine inspection.

During September-October this year the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected NHFT services and found they were well-led and caring, giving the highest rating possible of outstanding overall.

The trust provides a variety of mental health and community health services across Northamptonshire for adults of working age and older adults at 25 locations. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Raft of recommendations made for health services after review of woman's death at Northampton General Hospital

Raft of recommendations made for health services after review of woman's death at Northampton General Hospital A raft of recommendations have been made for health services to review their processes after a woman died at Northampton General Hospital.

A safeguarding adults review (SAR) heard concerns were raised by 'Andrea's'estranged husband and doctor about her health deteriorating in 2017, according to a report published yesterday (Tuesday, December 17). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering hospital 'sorry' over failure to spot broken neck

Kettering hospital 'sorry' over failure to spot broken neck A hospital failed to spot an 86-year-old woman had a broken neck following a fall at a nursing home, a review has revealed.

The woman, referred to as Mrs Webster in the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Review, was admitted to Kettering General Hospital in 2017.

She was transferred to another hospital but the correct CT scans were not passed on so the break was missed.

She was later re-admitted to Kettering hospital where she died.

Kettering General Hospital has apologised. BBC Northampton

After the election

After the election In his victory speech on the steps of Downing Street the Prime Minister declared the NHS to be his government’s ‘top priority’. But what might this mean in practical terms for the NHS? And does a focus on the NHS come at the expense of the wider health and care agenda? The King's Fund

The state of medical education and practice in the UK

The state of medical education and practice in the UK The 2019 report includes new research and data on the wellbeing of the profession, clinical leadership and trends in medical training.

The UK is increasingly reliant on the world market for doctors at a time when peoples’ aspirations for work-life balance are changing. If the UK is to attract and retain a high-quality medical workforce, we must have more flexible working and training arrangements in place.

We now have two years of evidence that shows that doctors are still working in pressurised environments. GPs are at particular risk of burnout due to these pressures and two thirds (65%) of GPs reported working beyond their rostered hours every day.

Over a quarter (28%) of doctors reported feeling unable to cope with their workload at least once a week. There’s also evidence of how these pressures have had an impact on patient care and safety. General Medical Council

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Nursing students to receive £5,000 payment a year

Nursing students to receive £5,000 payment a year All nursing students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back. Department of Health and Social Care

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Complaints about the NHS in England: Quarter 1 2019-20

Complaints about the NHS in England: Quarter 1 2019-20 In this quarterly report we have published more information about our casework than in previous reports, as part of progress towards our strategic commitment to publish the majority of our casework online.

For the first time, we have published data and information from the first quarter of this year on the complaints we received, assessed and investigated about health organisations, and recommendations we have made to the organisations we investigate. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman 

Detection of retained vaginal swabs and tampons following childbirth

Detection of retained vaginal swabs and tampons following childbirth The report highlights the potential for physical and psychological harm to women if swabs and tampons used after childbirth are accidentally left in the vagina.

The report comes after we looked at the case of a 30-year old woman who had a surgical tampon inserted after the birth of her first child. It was left in and not discovered until five days after leaving hospital.

We’ve made one safety recommendation to NHS England/Improvement as a result of this investigation. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

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Motor neurone disease 'linked to cholesterol'

Motor neurone disease 'linked to cholesterol' Scientists say they have discovered a possible underlying cause of the neurological disorder, motor neurone disease (MND).

The University of Exeter team says it has found evidence that MND is linked to an imbalance of cholesterol and other fats in cells.

It says the research could lead to more accurate diagnosis and new treatments.

MND affects around 5,000 people in the UK and causes more than 2,000 deaths a year. BBC News

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At least 280,000 people homeless in England with tens of thousands more at risk, Shelter report reveals

At least 280,000 people homeless in England with tens of thousands more at risk, Shelter report reveals At least 280,000 people are currently homeless in England, with tens of thousands more at risk of losing their accommodation, Shelter’s annual report reveals.

This marks an increase of several thousand since last year and 23,000 since the charity’s first report in 2016, with the analysis suggesting one in 200 people are now sleeping rough, or living in hostels and temporary accommodation. The Independent

Safety fears for hundreds of ‘hidden’ children on ventilators

Safety fears for hundreds of ‘hidden’ children on ventilators Experts have warned hundreds of “hidden” children who rely on machines to help them breathe at home are at significant risk of harm due to staff shortages, poor equipment and a lack of training.

The number of children who rely on long-term ventilation is rising but new research has shown the dangers they face with more than 220 safety incidents reported to the NHS between 2013 and 2017.

In more than 40 per cent of incidents the child came to harm, with two needing CPR after their hearts stopped. Other children had to have emergency treatment or were rushed back to hospital. The Independent

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Catalogue of errors by Norfolk hospital led to death of baby

Catalogue of errors by Norfolk hospital led to death of baby Harris James died in 2015 after doctors at James Paget hospital misdiagnosed a heart complaint

A “sweet and affectionate” six-month-old boy died when doctors misdiagnosed his heart complaint as pneumonia, a highly critical report by the NHS ombudsman has revealed.

Harris James died in 2015 after a catalogue of errors by staff at James Paget hospital in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The hospital then compounded his parents’ anguish by mishandling his mother’s complaint and failing to apologise for its failings. The Guardian

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Poorest die most often from emergency surgery, research finds

Poorest die most often from emergency surgery, research finds Patients from most deprived areas in England have 29% greater risk of dying than those from wealthiest parts

Poor people are much more likely than wealthy people to die after undergoing emergency surgery, according to new research.

Patients from the most deprived areas have a 29% greater risk of dying than those from the wealthiest districts, the study from University College London found. The Guardian

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Women over 50 should lose weight to cut breast cancer risk: study 

Women over 50 should lose weight to cut breast cancer risk: study Most women over 50 should lose weight to cut their breast cancer risk, a major study suggests.

The Harvard research on more than 180,000 participants found those who lost the most weight cut their risk by up to a quarter.

One in eight women in the UK will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. The Daily Telegraph

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Air pollution is making the NHS winter crisis worse, 175 doctors warn

Air pollution is making the NHS winter crisis worse, 175 doctors warn Air pollution is leading to a spike in cases of asthma and bronchitis and heaping pressure on the struggling NHS, leading doctors have warned.

A group of 175 doctors and health professionals have warned the Prime Minister there is a 'public health crisis' on hospital wards and GP surgeries as thousands of people arrive with respiratory conditions. The Daily Mail

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