Kettering General Hospital's half a billion rebuild could be a reality in a decade

Kettering General Hospital's half a billion rebuild could be a reality in a decade Bosses at the ageing hospital, some parts of which date back to the 1890s, were already celebrating the news that they were in line for a £46m new urgent care hub.

Late last year they were also told that they were on the Government's manifesto list of 40 hospitals that could be in line for new buildings.

After the budget this Spring the trust is expected to be handed a portion of £100m of seed money to develop a business case to prove that Kettering General Hospital needs a total rebuild. This will be the first of many hurdles that the trust needs to pass during the process. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Katie Fisher: ‘I’m not trying to blame anyone for our mental health failings’

Katie Fisher: ‘I’m not trying to blame anyone for our mental health failings’ The head of St Andrew’s, the biggest independent provider of NHS mental healthcare, on her plans to downsize and hand over services

Few bosses would nurture an ambition to shrink their operations by half. But Katie Fisher admits this is her vision for St Andrew’s Healthcare, the UK’s biggest independent charitable provider of NHS mental healthcare, and she intends to make a start this year by closing at least 100 of its 860 beds.

St Andrew’s, founded in 1838, has been under sustained fire over the quality of its services, most recently last week when the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectorate identified “repeated and systemic failings” in procedures and governance. The charity’s specialist provision for adolescents has been in special measures since last spring, and remains closed to new admissions, and the organisation has faced outrage over the treatment of an 18-year-old, known as Bethany, whose father claimed she was kept in seclusion at St Andrew’s for two years and fed through a hatch. The Guardian

NHS funding bill enters Parliament

NHS funding bill enters Parliament The NHS Long Term Plan Funding Bill will enshrine in law an extra £33.9 billion a year by 2024 for the NHS. Department of Health and Social Care

Hernia mesh implants used 'with no clinical evidence'

Hernia mesh implants used 'with no clinical evidence' "Too many" types of hernia mesh implants are being used on NHS patients with little or no clinical evidence, the BBC has been told.

New data shows more than 100 different types of mesh were purchased by NHS Trusts from 2012 to 2018 in England and Scotland, leading to fears over safety.

The meshes can cut into tissue and nerves, leaving some people unable to walk, work or care for children.

The regulator MHRA said there was a clinical need for the devices. BBC News

Women who had botched operations left with no payouts

Women who had botched operations left with no payouts A cosmetic surgeon who botched operations and had inadequate medical insurance showed a lack of professional integrity, and dishonesty, a medical tribunal has said.

Dr Arnaldo Paganelli was found to have breached his patients' trust - and some are still waiting for compensation.

He worked privately for The Hospital Group in Birmingham and the small print of the contract given to patients told them to check their doctor's insurance. BBC News

As an NHS doctor, I'm really stretched - a few more minutes with a patient would help us give compassionate care

As an NHS doctor, I'm really stretched - a few more minutes with a patient would help us give compassionate care I’ve always found it difficult to describe why I wanted to be a doctor. It was really an instinct: a desire to one day be able to do something useful in a challenging situation. I’m lucky that following this path has worked out. I (mostly) love my job as a paediatrician working in a London Trust, and I really love the NHS. I also know I’m lucky to have made it this far whilst still caring about my patients and remaining physically and mentally intact myself. iNews

Mid Staffs scandal: 10 years on, inquiry chair worries NHS staff too scared to speak up

Mid Staffs scandal: 10 years on, inquiry chair worries NHS staff too scared to speak up Ten years on from the Mid Staffordshire NHS trust scandal, the man who led the inquiry into one of the worst care disasters in the service’s history has said he remains worried about the safety of patients and a culture that leaves staff too frightened to speak up.

Sir Robert Francis QC said some safety risks highlighted a decade ago remain unresolved and he threw his weight behind calls for senior managers in the NHS to be regulated. The Independent

See also:

• Lack of transparency on patient complaints risks confidence in the NHS, warns Mid Staffs inquiry chair The Independent

As NHS delays increase, we must not accept this crumbling system as the new norm

As NHS delays increase, we must not accept this crumbling system as the new norm | Zara Aziz It’s taking longer to see a GP due to the fallout from rushed hospital discharges. All services must be properly funded and staffed

A&E figures have made headline news, reportedly treating the smallest number of patients within four hours (68.6%), their lowest since the 95% target was set in 2004.

Due to delays in seeing and admitting patients through A&E, ambulance services are facing significant pressures. In the last year 21,663 patients were forced to wait for at least an hour with crews, the highest number ever recorded by the NHS. And once admitted, 2,347 people waited for 12 hours or more on a trolley. The Guardian

Dads cluttering up maternity wards and making women self-conscious about breastfeeding, say midwives

Dads cluttering up maternity wards and making women self-conscious about breastfeeding, say midwives New and expectant fathers treating maternity units “like hotels” are making mothers uncomfortable and risking patient safety, midwives have complained.

Staff have raised concern with NHS bosses that the current policy of encouraging men to be present on wards is putting women off breastfeeding. The Daily Telegraph

Around one in five adults were abused as children, first ever ONS analysis finds

Around one in five adults were abused as children, first ever ONS analysis finds Around one in five adults were abused as children, according to the first ever analysis conducted by the official government statistics body.

The research studies emotional, physical and sexual abuse - as well as domestic violence - from threats and belittlement to beatings and rape.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data estimates that 8.5 million people aged between 18 and 74 were abused or witnessed abuse as children before the age of 16. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Child abuse in England and Wales: January 2020 Office for National Statistics

GPs are in revolt over a drive to spot cancer sooner by making regular visits to care home patients

GPs are in revolt over a drive to spot cancer sooner by making regular visits to care home patients GPs are in revolt over targets that require them to visit care homes once a fortnight and spot cancer much earlier.

The measures are part of a five-year contract agreed with NHS officials to encourage surgeries to work together to improve care.

But family doctors say the terms are excessive given intense staffing pressures and the demands of a growing and ageing population. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Four in five GP partners plan to reject proposed NHS deal The Daily Telegraph

One in six women who suffer the heartbreak of a miscarriage end up with PTSD

One in six women who suffer the heartbreak of a miscarriage end up with PTSD One in six women suffer from long-term PTSD symptoms following a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, research suggests.

Scientists quizzed 650 women who lost their baby about their psychological state following the heartbreaking news.

Almost a third of women suffered from post-traumatic stress a month later. Others were plagued with anxiety and depression, as well as feelings of guilt and shame. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression following miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy: a multi-center, prospective, cohort study (abstract) American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Miscarriage can lead to 'long-term post-traumatic stress' BBC News
• Early miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy may trigger post-traumatic stress disorder Tommy's