Children's Commissioner says creating Northamptonshire children's trust will be 'messy and complicated'

Children's Commissioner says creating Northamptonshire children's trust will be 'messy and complicated' Creating Northamptonshire’s children’s trust will be ‘messy and complicated’ according to the government -appointed commissioner sent in to make improvements.

In a frank discussion with Northamptonshire County Council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday (Feb 26) Andrew Christie laid bare the risks of moving the inadequate children’s service into a new trust at the same time as shutting down the county council and creating two new unitary authorities. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Coroner 'concerned' about A&E overcrowding deaths

Coroner 'concerned' about A&E overcrowding deaths A coroner has raised concerns about deaths in A&E after an 85-year-old died at an "overcrowded" hospital.

There were "several lapses and omissions" in the way Mohan Acharya was monitored at Northampton General Hospital, an inquest heard.

Hassan Shah said even though these did not contribute to his death, he would be writing to the government with a prevention of future deaths report.

The hospital trust said it accepted the coroner's conclusion. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Coroner orders report to shine spotlight on Northampton's overcrowded A&E's after inquest 85-year-old man's death Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Successes and shortcomings: health policy lessons

Successes and shortcomings: health policy lessons With Nigel Edwards’s speech at this year’s Nuffield Trust Summit looking back at lessons from 40 years of health policy, here he runs through some policy highlights and failures over that time – and argues how we can do better in future.

Social care can’t cope alone with the cost of the living wage

Social care can’t cope alone with the cost of the living wage The cost to local authorities of commissioning social care is heavily affected by the rate of careworker pay. The impending 6.2 per cent rise in the national living wage is richly deserved by care staff but, along with rising demand for services and workforce shortages, may be more than the sector can bear. The King's Fund

Nurse numbers increase by 8,570 in the past year

Nurse numbers increase by 8,570 in the past year The number of nurses has gone up as the government works to increase nursing numbers in the NHS by 50,000 in the next 5 years. Department of Health and Social Care

Specialised services: transforming delivery for patients

Specialised services: transforming delivery for patients This report shows how NHS specialised services are adapting to a changing environment to deliver world class and innovative care for patients and service users. It shares the opinions of leaders from trusts and the wider health and care sector on key issues and looks at the key role specialised services play in delivering the ambitions of the long term plan. NHS Providers

Primary Care Networks: briefing paper for VCSE sector organisations

Primary Care Networks: briefing paper for VCSE sector organisations This briefing paper explains a new way in which health and care services are being organised locally across England and explores how VCSE organisations might supply knowledge, expertise and training to help PCNs develop. The authors argue that this could be vital in making sure PCNs become more closely engaged with their local communities. National Voices

Coronavirus: First Welsh case among three new UK diagnoses

Coronavirus: First Welsh case among three new UK diagnoses Three more cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK, including the first one in Wales.

Two new patients in England contracted the virus while in Iran, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

Public Health Wales said it was working to identify close contacts of the Welsh patient, who is from the Swansea area and was infected in northern Italy before returning to the UK.

The new cases bring the total number in the UK to 19. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19: self-isolation for patients undergoing testing Public Health England
• College urges patients not to contact their GP for Covid-19 holiday cancellation letters Royal College of General Practitioners
• Coronavirus: Where are we with a vaccine? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Watch how germs spread BBC News
• How would the UK tackle a coronavirus outbreak? BBC News
• WHO director says countries must 'act aggressively now to contain coronavirus' The Daily Mail
• NHS would sacrifice most vulnerable patients' critical care during coronavirus surge, medics admit The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus suspect was wrongly told to go to hospital where he sat in a packed waiting room The Daily Mail
• The NHS is woefully ill-equipped for coronavirus - but there is hope The Daily Telegraph
• What is coronavirus, how did it start and could the outbreak grow bigger? The Daily Telegraph
• 'They have no idea': government failing on coronavirus, say GPs The Guardian
• Coronavirus: England only has 15 beds for worst respiratory cases The Guardian
• Coronavirus spreads around the world – in pictures The Guardian
• Coronavirus in the UK: Outbreak poses shutdown threat to Britain, with festivals banned and schools closed for months iNews
• Coronavirus spread triggers historic stock market plunge across globe as recession fears grow The Independent
• Coronavirus: Football games and concerts could be banned for two months if pandemic hits UK, says chief medic The Independent
• NHS announces wider surveillance testing for COVID-19 OnMedica

Thousands of depression cases 'linked to universal credit'

Thousands of depression cases 'linked to universal credit' A study has linked a spike in mental-health problems among the unemployed with the rollout of universal credit and other government welfare changes.

The number of unemployed people with psychological distress rose 6.6% between 2013 and 2018, it suggests.

And this represents an extra 63,674 people in England, Wales and Scotland - 21,760 of whom became clinically depressed over the period.

The government highlighted the study found no causal link. BBC News

See also:

• Effects on mental health of a UK welfare reform, Universal Credit: a longitudinal controlled study (open access) Lancet Public Health

Heather Planner died after being given other patient's medicine

Heather Planner died after being given other patient's medicine An 87-year-old woman died after her carers gave her the wrong medication, a coroner was told.

Heather Planner, from Butler's Cross in Buckinghamshire, died at Wycombe Hospital on 1 April from a stroke.

Senior coroner Crispin Butler heard three staff from Carewatch Mid Bucks had failed to spot tablets handed over by the pharmacy were for a male patient. BBC News

Boy, nine, wins £17million NHS payout after he was left brain damaged

Boy, nine, wins £17million NHS payout after he was left brain damaged A nine-year-old boy has won a £17 million payout from the NHS after medics left him brain damaged by failing to ensure he got the proper nutrition when he was born.

The child's blood sugar levels fell dangerously low after his birth at Hertfordshire's Lister Hospital, and now needs 24-hour care and cannot do anything for himself.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffers from body-wide cerebral palsy, severe visual impairment and epileptic seizures which sometimes strike more than once a day. The Daily Mail

Healthcare watchdog personally steps in to end 'risk of continuing harm' to young people at Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital

Healthcare watchdog personally steps in to end 'risk of continuing harm' to young people at Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital After three years of failures, the CQC has put Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital on its last warning.

Young patients being "dragged" on the floor, "a risk continuing harm" and incidents of bullying being passed off as "a bit of fun".

This is what the healthcare watchdog found in its latest inspection of how children and young people are being cared for at Northampton's St Andrew's Hospital Fitzroy House - leading them to put the site on its very last warning. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Man, 85, 'died after nine-hour A&E wait'

Man, 85, 'died after nine-hour A&E wait' An 85-year-old man died after a nine-hour wait in A&E and "several lapses and omissions" in the way he was monitored, an inquest has heard.

Mohan Acharya died from pneumonia and acute renal failure at Northampton General Hospital on 8 March 2018.

Emergency medicine consultant Dr Mike Pearce said the hospital "should have done more observations".

But he added the failings were "unlikely to have directly contributed" to Mr Acharya's death. BBC Northampton

See also:

• 'Dangerous overcrowding' was not major factor in death of 85-year-old who died in Northampton's A&E, inquest hears Northampton Chronicle and Echo

UK strategy for rare diseases: 2020 update to the implementation plan for England

UK strategy for rare diseases: 2020 update to the implementation plan for England A summary of the strategy's progress and actions for the government and partner organisations for 2020. Department of Health and Social Care

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2017/18 update

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2017/18 update This report updates the Centre for Health Economics’ time-series of NHS productivity growth for the period 2016/17 to 2017/18. Between 2016/17 and 2017/18, NHS productivity grew by 1.26 per cent when using the mixed measure of NHS input growth, which includes a direct (volume) growth measure for NHS staff and an indirect (based on expenditure data) growth measure for materials and capital. The report also considers a range of alternative scenarios including using a fully indirect measure of growth inputs. Centre for Health Economics

Coronavirus: How is the UK planning for an outbreak?

Coronavirus: How is the UK planning for an outbreak? Coronavirus has been seen in more than 30 countries, with signs it is getting a foothold in Europe. But what is the government planning to do if there is a major outbreak in the UK and how prepared is the NHS? BBC News

See also:

• CMO for England announces 2 new cases of novel coronavirus Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19: Health Secretary's statement to Parliament Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• New surveillance system for early detection of COVID-19 Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: decontamination in non-healthcare settings Public Health England
• Two more coronavirus cases confirmed in UK BBC News
• Coronavirus: Five countries, five responses BBC News
• Coronavirus: How to self-isolate BBC News
• Britain's hospitals have 'little fuel in the tank' to cope with coronavirus, warn experts The Daily Mail
• Is Britain heading for a coronavirus lockdown amid confusion over dangers from Europe The Daily Mail
• Health Secretary confirms anyone who self-isolates because of coronavirus WILL get sick pay The Daily Mail
• Shocking animation shows how the new coronavirus has outpaced SARS, MERS or Ebola The Daily Mail
• Keep offices and schools open despite coronavirus fears, ministers urge The Daily Telegraph
• Network of 100 GP practices to carry out coronavirus surveillance testing GPonline
• Coronavirus: no reason to close schools for now, minister says The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Patients could be denied lifesaving care if virus overwhelms NHS hospitals The Independent
• Spike in coronavirus cases across Europe sees rest of world overtake China for Covid-19 infections The Independent
• Coronavirus could kill half a million Britons and infect 80% of UK population, government documents indicate The Independent

Hundreds of social care residents allegedly sexually assaulted, watchdog reveals

Hundreds of social care residents allegedly sexually assaulted, watchdog reveals Hundreds of elderly and vulnerable social care residents have allegedly been sexually assaulted in just three months, a shock new report from the care regulator has revealed.

According to the Care Quality Commission there were 899 sexual incidents reported by social care homes between March and May 2018. Almost half were categorised as sexual assault.

In 16 per cent of the cases members of staff or visiting workers were accused of carrying out the abuse. The Independent 

See also:

• Build a culture that supports people's sexual needs and keeps them safe from harm, says new report Care Quality Commission
• Promoting sexual safety through empowerment (report) Care Quality Commission

Food poisoning twice as common as previously thought, Standards Agency reveals

Food poisoning twice as common as previously thought, Standards Agency reveals Food poisoning is twice as common as previously thought, the Food Standards Agency has revealed as it warns lettuce is the most common culprit turning diner green.

Around 2.4 million cases of food poisoning are occurring every year - more than double the estimate in 2009, according to the Food Standards Agency. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• FSA research suggests new higher estimates for the role of food in UK illness Food Standards Agency

Practice that looks after Northamptonshire's 'violent, vulnerable patients' rated 'safe' again by watchdog

Practice that looks after Northamptonshire's 'violent, vulnerable patients' rated 'safe' again by watchdog A Northampton town centre health care practice has now been rated 'safe' again by the CQC following a scathing report six months ago.

Maple Access Partnership was scolded by inspectors in June after the watchdog criticised it for failing to show it had "the capacity and skills to provide safe care". Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering hospice appeals for support for new home

Kettering hospice appeals for support for new home A Kettering hospice has appealed for support as it searches for a new home - with the north of the county potentially facing zero inpatient beds if it can't find one by 2023.

Cransley Hospice's lease on its cramped nine-bed inpatient unit adjoining St Mary's Hospital is nearing an end and won't be renewed by landlord Extracare. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Prisoners missing out on hospital treatment, new research reveals

Prisoners missing out on hospital treatment, new research reveals New research shows four in ten hospital appointments made for prisoners are cancelled or missed and that over one in ten pregnant prisoners gave birth either in prison or on their way to hospital in 2017/18. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Locked out? Prisoners' use of hospital care Nuffield Trust
• Prisoners suffer cancelled appointments and poorer healthcare The Independent

Guidance: Health matters: smoking and mental health

Health matters: smoking and mental health This edition of Health Matters focuses on smoking among people living with a broad range of mental health conditions. Public Health England

See also:

• Case study: Designing a smoking cessation intervention Public Health England

Research and analysis: Older people’s hospital admissions in the last year of life

Research and analysis: Older people’s hospital admissions in the last year of life This report explores the relationship between hospital admissions and age, sex, cause of death in people aged 75 years and older, who comprise the majority (~69 per cent) of all people who die. The hospital admissions considered include emergency admissions, planned admissions and day cases. It describes the number and type of admissions and the proportion of admissions that were emergency admissions within 30 days of a previous discharge. Public Health England

NHS key statistics: England, February 2020

NHS key statistics: England, February 2020 This briefing summarises NHS demand, performance and capacity of services in England. It covers A&E statistics, waiting lists, ambulance data, delayed discharges, staffing levels including doctors and nurses, and more. House of Commons Library

The Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission This briefing explains the statutory role and powers of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC is responsible for the registration, inspection and monitoring of health and adult social care providers, including independent providers, under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. House of Commons Library

Sickest patients 'facing hours stuck on trolleys'

Sickest patients 'facing hours stuck on trolleys' Many of the most seriously ill patients are waiting for hours on trolleys and in corridors as the NHS struggles to find them beds, BBC research shows.

Nearly a quarter of patients admitted on to wards during December and January in England faced delays of more than four hours before a bed could be found.

It has created a backlog outside hospitals with patients brought in by ambulance facing long waits too.

Experts warned there was "little in the tank" to cope with the coronavirus. BBC News

See also:

• Working in A&E for the NHS: 'Every day is relentless' BBC News
• 'Corridor nursing' becoming norm in packed A&Es, warn medics The Guardian
• Treating A&E patients in hospital corridors becoming ‘norm’, nurses warn The Independent

Coronavirus: UK patients face 'random' tests to check spread

Coronavirus: UK patients face 'random' tests to check spread Tests for coronavirus are being increased to include people displaying flu-like symptoms at 11 hospitals and 100 GP surgeries across the UK.

The tests will provide an "early warning" if the virus is spreading, Public Health England medical director Prof Paul Cosford said.

It comes as more schools closed or sent staff and pupils home following trips to Italy, which has over 300 cases. BBC News

See also:

• Secretary of State makes new regulations on coronavirus Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: primary care briefing note NHS England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance to assist professionals in advising the general public Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: specified countries and areas Public Health England
• Coronavirus: What are health officials saying? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Will I get paid if I self-isolate? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Outbreak spreads in Europe from Italy BBC News
• Coronavirus: Tenerife hotel with hundreds of guests locked down BBC News
• Pupils in Cornwall told to self-isolate after ski trip to coronavirus-hit Lombardy region of Italy The Daily Mail
• As the coronavirus goes global, what should we expect? The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus advice updated on patients returning from Italy and other affected countries GPonline
• Britons returning from coronavirus-hit Italy told to self-isolate The Guardian
• Coronavirus: UK schools close and isolate pupils as pandemic fears grow The Independent
• Northampton school says it is following Government coronavirus advice "to the letter" after students' Italy ski trip Northamptonshire Telegraph

Coroner says GPs' knowledge of anorexia 'woeful'

Coroner says GPs' knowledge of anorexia 'woeful' A coroner said GPs' knowledge of eating disorders was "woeful and inadequate" after an inquest into the death of a severely anorexic woman.

Madeline Wallace, from Peterborough, died in January 2018 from sepsis.

Coroner Sean Horstead told the inquest at Huntingdon Law Courts "different clinical decisions" would not have prevented her death.

He delivered a narrative conclusion saying Miss Wallace died of natural causes caused by severe anorexia. BBC News

NHS failing stroke patients with 'postcode lottery rehabilitation'

NHS failing stroke patients with 'postcode lottery rehabilitation' Report warns provisions have ‘devastating consequences’ for patients in England.

Patients are failing to recover properly from a stroke or heart attack because the NHS offers too little rehabilitation for people discharged from hospitals, a report has warned.

“Patchy provision” means those with arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other long-term conditions also miss out on care that can make a huge difference to their health and quality of life, according to the report from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP), Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the charity Sue Ryder.

Only 15% of those with lung problems deemed eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation are referred for it.

Just 50% of people who have had a heart attack or stroke have cardiac rehabilitation after being discharged.

Most cancer patients do not receive rehabilitation before they have treatment, even though that can boost the chances of success. The Guardian

See also:

• Community rehabilitation: Live well for longer (report) Right to Rehab
• Manifesto for community rehabilitation Right to Rehab
• NHS will ‘pay the price’ if at-home rehab not offered to patients ITV News

Doctors need to stop moaning and take responsibility for improving NHS, leading medical chief says

Doctors need to stop moaning and take responsibility for improving NHS, leading medical chief says Doctors should stop moaning and blaming the Government for the NHS's problems, a leading medical chief has claimed.

Professor Carrie MacEwen, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said the health service had been given a 'substantial sum' of public money from ministers and had the power to use it wisely. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Academy statement on professionalism Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Dementia care costs set to rise by 93 per cent in next 10 years in Northamptonshire

Dementia care costs set to rise by 93 per cent in next 10 years in Northamptonshire The cost of caring for loved ones living with dementia in Northamptonshire is set to soar by a frightening 93 per cent over the next decade.

Research by the Alzheimer’s Society shows that many families are being forced to sell their homes and empty their life savings to pay for care because they do not qualify for state support.

Latest figures show overall care costs across Northamptonshire will rise from £366million to £676m in 2030. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mental health services: meeting the need for capital investment

Mental health services: meeting the need for capital investment There there has been prolonged under-investment in facilities across the English NHS. However, while restricted capital funding is affecting all sectors of the NHS, there is a particular need for capital investment within the mental health sector. This briefing summarises the findings of a survey NHS Providers sent to NHS mental health trusts and foundation trusts to gather further evidence on the sector’s capital funding needs, to support the case they are making for the sector to receive its fair share of capital investment in future. NHS Providers

Time is running out: UK women facing fatal delays in ovarian cancer diagnosis

Time is running out: UK women facing fatal delays in ovarian cancer diagnosis Women’s lives are being lost because of delays in ovarian cancer diagnosis, according to our new report: “Time is running out: The need for early diagnosis in ovarian cancer”.

The contrast is stark. A woman with an early stage diagnosis of ovarian cancer has an over 90 per cent chance of surviving the disease. Yet one in five women (20 per cent) are too ill to receive any treatment by the time they finally receive a diagnosis, and a third of women (32 per cent) die within a year of their diagnosis.

Our latest report highlights the way that lives are needlessly being lost due to lost time: the time it takes for a woman to visit her GP, the time it takes for a GP to consider ovarian cancer as a potential diagnosis, and the time it takes to carry out diagnostic tests. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We're calling on UK governments to commit to action. Target Ovarian Cancer

See also:

• Thousands of women's lives are being lost to ovarian cancer because of needless delays in diagnosis The Daily Mail

Poorest women's life expectancy declines, finds report

Poorest women's life expectancy declines, finds report Life expectancy among women living in the poorest communities in England has declined since 2011, says a report warning of growing health inequalities.

Overall, life expectancy growth has stalled over the past decade - for the first time in 100 years.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was "still much more to do".

The largest decreases were seen in the most deprived areas of north-east England, while the biggest increases were in the richest parts of London.

Similar trends can be seen right across the UK, the report said. BBC News

See also:

• Fair Society Healthy Lives (The Marmot Review) Institute of Health Equity
• Wake-up call to government on immigration and health inequalities NHS Employers
• Life expectancy grinds to a halt in England for the first time in 100 YEARS The Daily Mail
• Health in England 'faltering' after 10 years of austerity, warns damning Marmot review GPonline
• Austerity blamed for life expectancy stalling for first time in century The Guardian
• The Guardian view on inequality and health: a matter of life and death | Editorial The Guardian

Coronavirus: Britons returning from Italy told to self-isolate

Coronavirus: Britons returning from Italy told to self-isolate Britons returning from northern Italy are being told to self-isolate in the UK if they show coronavirus symptoms.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said those people coming back from north of Pisa are asked to stay at home for 14 days.

The advice also applies to anyone who recently returned from Italy's quarantined towns even if they have no symptoms, he said. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: UK 'well prepared' to deal with cases, says government BBC News
• Coronavirus: Worst-hit countries boost containment efforts BBC News
• Coronavirus: The race to find the source in wildlife BBC News
• Coronavirus: NHS hospitals banned from stockpiling protective masks The Independent

Adults to be automatically enrolled as organ donors under new law

Adults to be automatically enrolled as organ donors under new law All adults in England will be automatically enrolled as organ donors unless they choose to opt out, under a new law due to come into force in May.

MPs are set to approve the system “deemed consent” on Tuesday as part of a bid to boost the number of transplants on the NHS.

It is estimated that the opt-out method, known as Max and Keira’s law, will lead to an additional 700 organ transplants each year by 2023 and cut down the list of 5,200 people waiting for life-changing surgery. The Independent

Guilt and anger surface as infected blood inquiry hears evidence

Guilt and anger surface as infected blood inquiry hears evidence Some victims’ diagnosis of HIV and hepatitis C was withheld from them for years, hearing told

The guilt of infected blood donors and the anger of victims whose diagnosis of HIV and hepatitis C was withheld from them for years has emerged as evidence given in secret was read out to a public hearing in London.

On Monday witnesses who did not want to appear in person had their testimony delivered by intermediaries who interviewed them for the infected blood inquiry. It is examining how as many as 30,000 people became severely ill after being given contaminated blood products by the NHS in the 1970s and 80s; many have since died.

The infected blood inquiry will investigate how thousands of people with the blood-clotting disorder haemophilia were given blood products by the NHS which were contaminated with the HIV virus and hepatitis C. The Guardian

Open-backed NHS gowns which leave patients worried about flashing their buttocks should be scrapped

Open-backed NHS gowns which leave patients worried about flashing their buttocks should be scrapped Anyone who has ever had to walk along a hospital corridor wearing an open-back NHS gown — split from shoulder to buttocks — can confirm it is an undignified experience.

Even if it fits, the slightest draught can cause the gown to flap open, giving anyone passing a glimpse of the nether regions — or, if you're lucky, a pair of paper pants.

Although they're meant to be worn mainly in operating theatres and for X-rays, many patients get stuck in the gowns for the entire time they're in hospital. The Daily Mail

See also:

• David Oliver: There’s no dignity in hospital gowns The BMJ

Award nomination for Northampton mental health nurse's podcast about life in a psychiatric hospital

Award nomination for Northampton mental health nurse's podcast about life in a psychiatric hospital A Northampton mental health nurse's podcast aimed at demystifying what life is like at a psychiatric hospital has been nominated for a national award.

On the Ward, hosted by John-Barry Waldron from St Andrew's Hospital, is on the shortlist for 'student innovation in practice' at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2020. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The risks of NHS reorganisation: lessons from history

The risks of NHS reorganisation: lessons from history With it reported that ministers might be considering a ‘power grab’ for the NHS, Nigel Edwards looks at lessons from the past that the government would do well to heed. Nuffield Trust

What can we learn from the updated GP contract?

What can we learn from the updated GP contract? Good news rarely makes the headlines. So, after the furore caused by draft service specifications for primary care networks (PCNs) and the rejection of the revised GP contract by GP leaders last month , the sudden outbreak of peace between the BMA and NHS England went relatively unnoticed. Here are four reasons why this is a significant moment. The King's Fund

New pharmacy referral service to help patients avoid hospital readmission

New pharmacy referral service to help patients avoid hospital readmission Patients who have recently been discharged from hospital will get greater support from local pharmacy teams to manage their medicines. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Rapid spread raises fears of global pandemic

Coronavirus: Rapid spread raises fears of global pandemic Fears are growing that the coronavirus outbreak could reach pandemic scale as more cases emerge around the world.

Most infections are in China but other nations like South Korea, Italy and Iran are battling the virus, which causes respiratory disease Covid-19.

A pandemic is when an infectious disease spreads easily from person to person in many parts of the world.

About 77,000 people in China, where the virus emerged last year, have been infected and nearly 2,600 have died. BBC News

See also:

•  Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS update on new cases of coronavirus confirmed today NHS England
• Coronavirus: how will the NHS cope? Nuffield Trust
• Coronavirus: Four new UK cases among ship evacuees BBC News
• Coronavirus: Venice Carnival closes as Italy imposes lockdown BBC News
• Coronavirus: South Korea declares highest alert as infections surge BBC News
• Coronavirus: North Korea quarantines foreigners BBC News
• Coronavirus: More to leave quarantine as cruise Britons isolate BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Narrowing window' to contain outbreak, WHO says BBC News
• World is on the brink of a coronavirus pandemic, warn virologists, as four more cases emerge in Britain The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: Scientists ‘pass first hurdle’ towards creating vaccine The Independent
• Europe death toll rises as outbreak nears pandemic ‘tipping point’, UK reports new cases and infection spreads in Middle East The Independent
• Coronavirus: Evacuees released from two-week quarantine in Milton Keynes Sky News

Painkillers 'mask, not kill' long-term pain

Painkillers 'mask, not kill' long-term pain Excessive use of painkillers is on the rise. Now the NHS in Sunderland, which has one of the highest prescribing rates, is running a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of long-term use.

Jazmine Allen, 23, who already has a 10-year history of using prescription painkillers, is taking part in the 'Painkillers Don't Exist' campaign - which aims to raise awareness that the medications can simply be masking the pain rather than "killing" it - and encouraging patients to seek support from their GPs. BBC News

Fall in school nurses prompts fears that children’s lives are ‘at risk’

Fall in school nurses prompts fears that children’s lives are ‘at risk’ The number of nurses in schools has fallen in recent years, prompting fears that pupils’ lives are being put “at risk”.

Teaching assistants are being asked to carry out medical interventions, such as injections, without adequate training or support, the GMB union, which represents school staff, has said. The Independent

See also:

• 'Lives at risk' as 11% of school nurses lost in just four years GMB Union

Tory cuts to councils making local patients’ groups ‘unviable’, health secretary warned

Tory cuts to councils making local patients’ groups ‘unviable’, health secretary warned Cuts to council budgets are making watchdog organisations for local patients “unviable”, the health secretary has been warned.

In a letter seen by The Independent, Sir Robert Francis QC, chair of Healthwatch England, said that funding to dozens of its branches, which are statutory bodies set up to champion patient interests locally, has been cut by 37 per cent since 2013.

Sir Robert, who chaired the public inquiry into the Stafford Hospital care scandal, told Matt Hancock that the cuts risked “stifling” the voices of patients across the country.

Hospital ‘bed blocking’ numbers hit highest level since 2017

Hospital ‘bed blocking’ numbers hit highest level since 2017 The number of patients stuck in hospitals because they could not be transferred is at its highest quarterly level since 2017, reversing years of progress amid ongoing crises in health and care services.

“Delayed transfers of care” – often known as “bed blocking” – rose in the mid-2010s as austerity hit council-run adult-care services, meaning hospitals were unable to discharge patients into the community.

The number of “delayed days” in the NHS increased from an average of 114,000 a month in 2012 to more than 200,000 in October 2016, before extra funding and higher council taxes brought the numbers back down. The Guardian

Nurses to carry out surgery under NHS plans to slash waiting times

Nurses to carry out surgery under NHS plans to slash waiting times Nurses will be trained to perform surgery under new NHS measures to cut waiting times.

Nursing staff will be urged to undertake a two year course to become “surgical care practitioners” as part of the drive to slash waiting times but critics have warned it will worsen the nursing shortage. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Nurses will be trained to perform surgery under radical plan to slash NHS waiting times The Daily Mail

Two MILLION more people could become diabetic by 2025

Two MILLION more people could become diabetic by 2025 A national obesity crisis could see another two million people become diabetic in the next five years.

The number of people with 'pre-diabetes' – those on the brink of type 2 diabetes and who must take urgent action – has leapt from an average of 1.3million to almost two million in only a year.

Already a sixth of the entire NHS hospitals budget is spent treating those with diabetes, which affects an estimated record four million people in Britain, costing taxpayers £14billion a year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Two million in UK at risk of type 2 diabetes as obesity crisis grows The Guardian
• Record two million people at risk of type 2 diabetes amid ‘growing obesity crisis’ The Independent

Oxfordshire plans to become the first 'smoke-free' county in England

Oxfordshire plans to become the first 'smoke-free' county in England Oxfordshire is planning to become the first 'smoke-free' county in England as local health chiefs want to kick the habit by 2025.

Government officials hope to slash the number of people smoking in the UK to just five per cent of the population by 2030.

But Ansaf Azhar, the county council's director of public health, wants Oxfordshire to achieve the target in just five years' time. The Daily Mail

Northampton student nurse who will do 'everything in his power' for equality shortlisted for diversity award - Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton student nurse who will do 'everything in his power' for equality shortlisted for diversity award A young man who will do ‘everything in his power’ for equality in his role as a student nurse has been nominated for a diversity award.

Solomon Jones, who is ‘born and bred Northampton’, is halfway through his four-year Open University course.

The 22-year-old has worked as a healthcare assistant and an apprentice nurse for nearly two and half years, but has actually been employed by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) for four years. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health visitors’ fear for children’s wellbeing due to relentless service cuts

Health visitors’ fear for children’s wellbeing due to relentless service cuts Public health budget cuts have left health visiting services unable to offer the minimum level of support in many areas

Many health visitors across England have been robbed of their ability to protect vulnerable families by devastating cuts to public health budgets. That is the headline finding of an annual survey of health visitors in England, published by the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), alongside calls to ring-fence new funding for the profession.

See also:

• Health Visiting in England: State of Health Visiting in England Institute of Health Visiting
• Public health budget cuts have decimated health visiting services OnMedica

Tackling social inequalities to reduce mental health problems

Tackling social inequalities to reduce mental health problems We all have mental health and we can all experience mental health problems, whatever our background or walk of life. But the risks of mental ill-health are not equally distributed.

The likelihood of our developing a mental health problem is influenced by our biology, and by the circumstances in which we are born, grow, live and age.

Those who face the greatest disadvantages in life also face the greatest risks to their mental health. Mental Health Foundation

Evaluation of the Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) programme: final evaluation report

Evaluation of the Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) programme: final evaluation report Integrated Personal Commissioning (IPC) is an approach to joining up health and social care, and other services where appropriate. This report outlines the findings of an independent evaluation of IPC and finds that whilst IPC costs more than standard care, it resulted in positive patient experience and increased social care quality of life. Centre for Health Economics, University of York

Walk-in GP services divert more patients from A&E but may not be cost-effective

Walk-in GP services divert more patients from A&E but may not be cost-effective An analysis of the impact of GP-led health centres - around 250 of which were set up between 2008 and 2012 following a review by Lord Ara Darzi under former prime minister Gordon Brown - found that GP services divert significant numbers of patients away from A&E. GPonline

See also:

• Convenient primary care and emergency hospital utilisation (abstract) Journal of Health Economics

NHS 'took 18 months to help after suicide attempt'

NHS 'took 18 months to help after suicide attempt' Poor treatment and aftercare for people who self-harm or attempt suicide is putting their lives at risk, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says.

Many patients treated in A&E for self-harm do not receive a full psychosocial assessment from a mental health professional to assess suicide risk.

Simon Rose, who has attempted suicide many times, told BBC News it once took 18 months to receive aftercare.

NHS England said reducing suicide rates was an "NHS priority".

See also:

• End the treatment lottery putting the lives of self-harming patients at risk Royal College of Psychiatrists

Coronavirus: Britons on Diamond Princess cruise ship to disembark and fly home

Coronavirus: Britons on Diamond Princess cruise ship to disembark and fly home An evacuation flight for Britons trapped on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan has been delayed by a day, the British embassy has said.

About 70 UK nationals who have spent 16 days in quarantine on the liner had expected to fly home on Friday.

But the flight is "logistically complicated" and will now leave on Saturday, the embassy says.

The group are expected to land in Wiltshire before being quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral. BBC News

See also:

• British coronavirus cruise couple say hospital is 'best place' BBC News
• US scientists have completed a coronavirus vaccine The Daily Mail
• British coronavirus cruise ship airlift is DELAYED The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Britons aboard Diamond Princess cruise ship will arrive back in the UK on Saturday The Daily Telegraph

The poster project spreading 'happiness and kindness' to NHS staff

The poster project spreading 'happiness and kindness' to NHS staff Artist Andy Leek is best known for his posters spreading positive, motivational messages in cities around the world.

In his latest project, his notes directly address NHS staff workers.

Over 600 of the posters have appeared in staff rooms and breakout areas around the UK. BBC News

NHS hails next generation of surgical robots to help treat bowel cancer

NHS hails next generation of surgical robots to help treat bowel cancer Next generation surgical robots have been hailed by doctors as “a leap forward in surgical precision” in the UK.


Western General Hospital in Edinburgh was first to use the new Versius robotic arm technology in Europe, followed by Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Trust in Buckinghamshire.

The tool is used to perform minimal access surgery – also known as keyhole or laparoscopic surgery – and could reduce patient recovery times and pain. ITV News

Patients at risk in ‘crumbling’ mental health wards, NHS leaders warn

Patients at risk in ‘crumbling’ mental health wards, NHS leaders warn Patient safety is at risk in “crumbling” NHS mental health hospitals starved of the money needed to improve dilapidated buildings, new data has revealed.

Hundreds of vulnerable mentally ill patients are still being cared for in 350 old dormitory-style wards, 20 years after the NHS was told to provide all patients with en-suite rooms.

A lack of funding to refurbish hospitals has also meant too many wards still have ligature points that patients can use to try to harm themselves. The Independent

Hospitals wrongly medicating thousands of dementia patients

Hospitals wrongly medicating thousands of dementia patients Almost two-fifths of NHS hospitals are medicating dementia patients with anti-psychotic drugs rather than offering alternative therapies, it has emerged.

Experts have warned the trend is concerning and goes against guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) which says alternatives should be tried to help prevent patients becoming agitated and confused in hospital. The Independent

See also:

• Almost 40% of hospitals do not offer non-drug therapies to distressed dementia patients Pharmaceutical Journal

UK’s expensive visa fees 'could deter NHS staff and scientists'

UK’s expensive visa fees 'could deter NHS staff and scientists' High cost of entry under immigration overhaul will put off applicants, says thinktank

The UK’s “sky-high” visa fees could deter vital NHS staff and the “brightest and best” scientists that Boris Johnson wants to attract with his new immigration policy, experts have warned.

Nurses, lab technicians, engineers and tech experts who currently flock to the UK from the EU may not be able to afford to do so if the prime minister’s proposed immigration overhaul becomes law.  The Guardian

Scientists discover new antibiotic that kills bacteria resistant to all known drugs

Scientists discover new antibiotic that kills bacteria resistant to all known drugs Scientists have discovered a new antibiotic that can kill even the toughest superbugs that have become resistant to all other known drugs, a new study reveals.

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers ran about 6,000 molecules through their artificial intelligence program, searching for those that could kill E. coli.

Of all those, the AI picked out exactly one that appeared most effective against the bacteria and didn't structurally resemble any of the 1,700 FDA-approved compounds included in their library. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• AI discovers antibiotic to treat drug-resistant diseases for first time The Independent

Concerns raised about health effects of Northamptonshire's high radon levels and air quality

Concerns raised about health effects of Northamptonshire's high radon levels and air quality Concerns have been raised about the poor quality of indoor air in Northamptonshire, particularly the effects on children who are on average spending just over an hour a day outside.

Respiratory problems among children may be exacerbated by indoor air pollution in homes, schools and nurseries, according to the study, published last month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• The inside story: Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 
• UK maps of radon Public Health England

What are health inequalities?

What are health inequalities? Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people. There are many kinds of health inequality, and many ways in which the term is used. This means that when we talk about ‘health inequality’, it is useful to be clear on which measure is unequally distributed, and between which people. The King's Fund

What does the 2019 NHS Staff Survey truly tell us about how staff needs are being met?

What does the 2019 NHS Staff Survey truly tell us about how staff needs are being met? Chronic excessive workload in the NHS is causing staff stress and illness, and results in health care professionals quitting the service and patients not getting the quality of care they expect. Such workloads have become like the pattern in the wallpaper we no longer see. But we must acknowledge, address and continue to address this issue. It can’t be right that a sector focused on promoting the health and wellbeing of our population is putting at risk the health and wellbeing of 1 in 20 of its national workforce (increasing to 1 in 9 if we also include social care). The King's Fund

Improving health by tackling market failure

Improving health by tackling market failure This long read explores what market failure is, its relevance for health, and how the government might intervene to improve the population’s health.

We look at two examples: the success of reducing smoking and how we might use a market failure approach to tackle obesity. The Health Foundation

1 in 5 Mental Health Patients Don't Feel Safe in NHS Care

 1 in 5 Mental Health Patients Don't Feel Safe in NHS Care A new survey published today by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found that one in five people did not feel safe while in the care of the NHS mental health service that treated them.

Over half of people with mental health problems in England also said they experienced delays to their treatment, while four in ten (42%) said that they waited too long to be diagnosed.

Sharp rise in lung disease deaths over past 27 years

Sharp rise in lung disease deaths over past 27 years Numbers of people dying or experiencing disability due to chronic respiratory diseases over the past three decades have risen sharply, according to an analysis of data from 195 countries. OnMedica

See also:

• Trends and risk factors of mortality and disability adjusted life years for chronic respiratory diseases from 1990 to 2017: systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (open access) The BMJ

Number of people with dementia in Europe to almost double by 2050

Number of people with dementia in Europe to almost double by 2050 The number of people with dementia in Europe is set to almost double by 2050, on the basis of current trends across the continent, concludes a report from Alzheimer Europe.

The report, which draws on recent studies and population trends data, charts changes in the prevalence of the disease for 37 countries. It shows that nearly 10 million people were living with dementia in 2018, a figure that is projected to rise to just under 19 million by 2050─equivalent to 3% of the total population of Europe OnMedica

Coronavirus: Britons on Diamond Princess cruise ship to be flown home

Coronavirus: Britons on Diamond Princess cruise ship to be flown home Britons stranded on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan will be able to board an evacuation flight home on Friday, the foreign secretary has said.

Only those who are showing no signs of illness will be able to travel, and they will be quarantined on their return to the UK, it is understood.

Those who have tested positive will remain in Japan for treatment. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Two passengers dead from quarantined Diamond Princess BBC News
• Japan faces mounting criticism as expert blows whistle on coronavirus cruise failures The Daily Telegraph
• I work at a walk-in health centre. The coronavirus super-worriers are a problem The Guardian
• Experts fear false rumours could harm Chinese cooperation on coronavirus The Guardian
• Coronavirus: South Korean city faces 'unprecedented crisis' after spike in cases The Guardian
• Coronavirus may spread faster than WHO estimate Medical News Today

'I want Matt Hancock to look at this photograph': Mother releases picture of her cradling stillborn baby who died because of NHS maternity failings

'I want Matt Hancock to look at this photograph': Mother releases picture of her cradling stillborn baby who died because of NHS maternity failings A tear rolling down her cheek, Stephanie Broadley holds her baby son Beau for the first and final time.

Beau had been stillborn minutes before the photograph was taken, after avoidable mistakes by midwives at the hospital in Grimsby.

The 28-year-old from North East Lincolnshire has released the picture to highlight what she says is the failure to learn from mistakes in maternity services and she called on health secretary Matt Hancock to take urgent action. The Independent

Woman plays violin while undergoing brain surgery – video

Woman plays violin while undergoing brain surgery – video A musician played the violin while surgeons operated on her brain to remove a tumour at King’s College hospital in London. The medical team asked Dagmar Turner, 53, to play the instrument to ensure parts of the brain that control delicate hand movements and coordination were not damaged during the millimetre-precise surgery. Turner was diagnosed in 2013 with a brain tumour after suffering a seizure during a symphony. The Guardian

See also:

• Patient plays violin during her brain surgery BBC News

The facemask that can spot tuberculosis: Gadget being tested by the NHS

The facemask that can spot tuberculosis: Gadget being tested by the NHS Bacteria expelled from the patient's mouth is collected in the 'world-changing' mask, designed by researchers at the University of Leicester and the University of Pretoria. The Daily Mail

Isolation 'pods' for anyone who goes to Northampton General Hospital with coronavirus symptoms

Isolation 'pods' for anyone who goes to Northampton General Hospital with coronavirus symptoms Two 'pods' for anyone who goes to Northampton General Hospital (NGH) with symptoms of coronavirus have been set up opposite the emergency department.

A hospital trust spokesman said NHS 111 pods mean patients can be kept isolated and avoid causing unnecessary pressure in A&E, as per national guidance.

“Over the coming weeks, many people may need to self-isolate at home for a period to reduce this virus' spread," the spokesman added. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Coronavirus: Health Secretary's statement to Parliament Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: British couple on cruise ship 'test positive' BBC News
• Thirty doctors quarantine themselves over coronavirus fears The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus death toll climbs to more than 2,000 with more than 75,000 cases recorded across world The Daily Mail
• GPs need more clarity to make sure resources are available to tackle coronavirus The Guardian
• UK hospital apologises for signs to coronavirus isolation facility The Guardian

NHS staff morale improves but too many facing abuse

NHS staff morale improves but too many facing abuse NHS staff say they are now happier and more likely to recommend their organisation as a place to work than last year, but too many still experience unacceptable abuse from patients and the public.

569,000 NHS employees across 300 separate organisations responded to this year’s NHS Staff Survey, with the results showing staff morale has improved across the NHS.Staff also reported that the quality of care in the NHS has improved over the last year, with more than seven in 10 saying they would recommend their organisation to their family and friends for treatment, a proportion that has increased every year for the past five years. NHS England

See also:

• Violence against NHS staff: letter to the workforce Department of Health and Social Care
• Signs of improvement in staff survey results but too many staff facing violence, bullying and harassment NHS Employers
• NHS Staff Survey Results: Results for the 2019 NHS Staff Survey NHS Survey Coordination Centre
• NHS staff survey highlights difficulty of achieving '50,000 more nurses' pledge The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the results of the NHS Staff Survey 2019 The King's Fund
• Matt Hancock says assaults on NHS staff will not be tolerated as data shows 28% have been abused The Daily Mail
• One in four NHS staff bullied, harassed or abused, survey finds The Guardian
• Abusive NHS patients to be banned from receiving non-emergency care The Independent

The health of the nation: a strategy for healthier longer lives

The health of the nation: a strategy for healthier longer lives This report aims to help set the UK on a clear path to achieve the government's goal "for everyone to have five extra years of healthy, independent life by 2035." It proposes policy and cross-sector collaboration to narrow the life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest. All Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity

Training in Addiction Psychiatry: Current Status and Future Prospects

Training in Addiction Psychiatry: Current Status and Future Prospects This report looks into addictions psychiatry provision and how we can support and reinvigorate the decreasing number of training posts across the UK. Royal College of Psychiatrists

See also:

• Addiction psychiatry will be ‘wiped out in next 10 years’, warns Royal College OnMedica

Children facing uncertain future, experts warn

Children facing uncertain future, experts warn No country offers a child both the chance of a healthy upbringing and an environment fit for their future, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

Experts say climate change and harmful advertising encouraging fast-food consumption and under-age drinking are putting children at risk.

The UK was ranked among the top 10 countries in the world for the overall health and wellbeing of children.

However, it fell behind in safeguarding the environment for their future. BBC News

See also:

• A future for the world’s children? (open access) A WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission
• Every child in the world is under threat as decades of health improvements begin to stall The Daily Mail

Heart doctors 'held back stent death data'

Heart doctors 'held back stent death data' Doctors working on a clinical trial for treatment of heart disease held back key data, Newsnight has been told.

The Excel trial tested whether stents were as effective as open heart surgery at treating patients with a heart problem called left main disease.

The data suggested more people fitted with stents were dying after three years.

It was eventually published - but only after treatment guidelines that partly relied on the trial had been written. BBC News

Care provider Hft to shut services due to 'underfunding'

Care provider Hft to shut services due to 'underfunding' A care charity that provides services for about 90 adults in Oxfordshire says it will shut them by the end of May.

Hft, which runs several services in Milton, near Didcot, said running them was leaving it with a £5,000 shortfall every week.

Its chief executive said that was the result of "chronic underfunding of adult social care". BBC News

Work visa shake-up: What the new migration system means for the NHS, social care, hospitality and construction

Work visa shake-up: What the new migration system means for the NHS, social care, hospitality and construction Ministers have warned businesses they have less than a year to prepare for the new immigration system to be put in place.

The Home Office is launching a campaign of outreach to ensure that firms are prepared to lose access to a pool of lower-skilled EU migrants.

The department says: "UK businesses will need to adapt and adjust to the end of free movement, and we will not seek to recreate the outcomes from free movement within the points-based system. As such, it is important that employers move away from a reliance on the UK's immigration system as an alternative to investment in staff retention, productivity, and wide investment in technology and automation." iNews

See also:

• New points-based immigration system looks set to make our social care crisis even worse The Health Foundation

Thousands of patients potentially harmed by undelivered NHS mail

Thousands of patients potentially harmed by undelivered NHS mail Safety inquiry launched after private contractor failed to send 28,563 confidential letters in IT bungle

The NHS has launched a patient safety inquiry after a private contractor failed to send more than 28,000 pieces of confidential medical correspondence to GPs, the Guardian can reveal.

NHS bosses are trying to find out if any patients have been harmed after 28,563 letters detailing discussions at outpatient appointments were not sent because of a mistake by Cerner, an IT company. The Guardian

See also:

• Bungling IT firm 'lost 30000 NHS letters to patients' sparking an inquiry The Daily Mail

St Andrew's Healthcare: Overhaul for 'failings' mental health charity

St Andrew's Healthcare: Overhaul for 'failings' mental health charity A mental health hospital charity which made "repeated and systemic failings" in its leadership is to overhaul its current services.

Several concerns were raised at St Andrew's Healthcare, based in Northampton, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The charity will replace its facility at Fitzroy House, which could hold 110 patients, for a smaller service.

Chief executive Katie Fisher said its current model of care was "wrong". BBC Northampton

Record number of people visit Northampton's A&E for help with mental health crises

Record number of people visit Northampton's A&E for help with mental health crises More people than ever went to Northampton's A&E last year asking for help with their mental health.

Northampton General Hospital was visited 1,870 times in 2018/19 by people suffering from a mental health episode.

It compares to 1,214 people in 2016/17, a jump of more than a third in just two years. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

First Patients Begin Gene Therapy Treatment For Blindness As Part Of NHS Long Term Plan

First Patients Begin Gene Therapy Treatment For Blindness As Part Of NHS Long Term Plan The first patients have received a revolutionary new gene therapy that can restore eyesight as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. Babies born with an inherited retinal disorder, known as Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), have poor sight which swiftly deteriorates, with many ultimately losing their vision completely in childhood. NHS England

The health, safety and wellbeing of shift workers in healthcare environments

The health, safety and wellbeing of shift workers in healthcare environments The guidance explores: how shift work can impact on health, safety and wellbeing; what can employers and employees do; and the importance of partnership working on shift working patterns. NHS Employers

Advancing population health management

Advancing population health management Population health management (PHM) – the use of data to identify specific groups within a population that may have similar characteristics and similar needs, and develop targeted interventions to meet those needs – was a notable theme of the NHS Long Term Plan. But it’s something that clinical commissioners have been doing for some time. This report brings together PHM stories from ten different areas of England – led by clinical commissioners – to demonstrate the progress that has been already been made in advancing this approach to healthcare, and what more will need to be done. NHS Clinical Commissioners