Wednesday 22 January 2020
2019: The health policy year in 12 charts
2019: The health policy year in 12 charts To paraphrase a wise man: health policy moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. So, as we start 2020 let’s take a quick look back at some of the key events that shaped national policy in 2019. The King's Fund
HPV vaccine drives cancer causing infections down to very low levels
HPV vaccine drives cancer causing infections down to very low levels The latest PHE data confirms that HPV16 and 18 infections are now at a very low level in young sexually active women with high vaccination coverage. Public Health England
Deaths in prison: A national scandal
Deaths in prison: A national scandal A report exposing dangerous, longstanding failures across the prison estate and historically high levels of deaths in custody. Deaths in prison: A national scandal offers unique insight and analysis into findings from 61 prison inquests in England and Wales in 2018 and 2019.
The report details repeated safety failures including mental and physical healthcare, communication systems, emergency responses, and drugs and medication. It also looks at the wider statistics and historic context, showing the repetitive and persistent nature of such failings.
Every four days a person takes their life in prison, and rising numbers of ‘natural’ and unclassified deaths are too often found to relate to serious failures in healthcare. INQUEST
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The report details repeated safety failures including mental and physical healthcare, communication systems, emergency responses, and drugs and medication. It also looks at the wider statistics and historic context, showing the repetitive and persistent nature of such failings.
Every four days a person takes their life in prison, and rising numbers of ‘natural’ and unclassified deaths are too often found to relate to serious failures in healthcare. INQUEST
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Determinants of mental health
Determinants of mental health This first briefing from the Centre’s Commission for Equality in Mental Health finds that mental health inequalities are closely linked to wider injustices in society. Inequalities in wealth, power and voice are linked to poorer mental health. Exclusion, discrimination, violence and insecurity all increase our risk of poor mental health and explain why some groups of people face markedly higher rates of mental ill health than others. The briefing explores actions that can be taken, from communities and local services to national policies, to reduce mental health inequalities. Centre for Mental Health
One in six GP practices have closed or merged under NHS England
One in six GP practices have closed or merged under NHS England One in six GP practices covering 5.4m patients have closed or merged since NHS England became operational in April 2013, analysis by GPonline shows.
Dementia patients being 'dumped in hospital'
Dementia patients being 'dumped in hospital' Dementia patients are being dumped in hospitals in England because of a lack of community care, a charity says.
The Alzheimer's Society called for action, highlighting data showing one in 10 dementia patients spends over a month in hospital after being admitted.
The figures also suggested the overall number of emergency admissions among people with dementia is rising - with some patients yo-yoing back and forth.
Ministers said they were "determined" to tackle the problems. BBC News
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The Alzheimer's Society called for action, highlighting data showing one in 10 dementia patients spends over a month in hospital after being admitted.
The figures also suggested the overall number of emergency admissions among people with dementia is rising - with some patients yo-yoing back and forth.
Ministers said they were "determined" to tackle the problems. BBC News
See also:
- Alzheimer’s Society analysis of NHS England’s Hospital Episode Statistics dataset 2012/13 to 2017/18 Alzheimer's Society
- Soaring numbers of dementia patients admitted to hospital as emergencies, then stuck there for months The Daily Telegraph
- Emergency dementia admissions to hospitals up 35% in five years The Guardian
- Emergency dementia admissions up by one third OnMedica
Family told brain-damaged girl no longer qualifies for NHS-funded care
Family told brain-damaged girl no longer qualifies for NHS-funded care The family of a nine-year-old girl with severe brain damage have been told her NHS-funded home care could end because she no longer qualifies for help.
Tehyah Solan-Clarke, from Saddleworth, suffered damage to 90% of her brain after a series of strokes in 2014.
Her care was due to end in January, before Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams' intervention led NHS bosses to agree to meet her family.
An NHS spokesman said the meeting would determine "safe and appropriate" care. BBC News
Tehyah Solan-Clarke, from Saddleworth, suffered damage to 90% of her brain after a series of strokes in 2014.
Her care was due to end in January, before Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams' intervention led NHS bosses to agree to meet her family.
An NHS spokesman said the meeting would determine "safe and appropriate" care. BBC News
Coronavirus: UK 'to monitor flights from China' as precaution
Coronavirus: UK 'to monitor flights from China' as precaution The UK is to begin monitoring flights arriving from China, as part of a series of precautionary measures after the spread of a new coronavirus.
The measures, to be announced by the health secretary later, will apply to flights from Wuhan to London Heathrow.
Public Health England have upgraded the risk to the UK population from very low to low, the transport secretary said.
Chinese authorities have advised people to stop travel into and out of Wuhan, the city at the heart of the outbreak. BBC News
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The measures, to be announced by the health secretary later, will apply to flights from Wuhan to London Heathrow.
Public Health England have upgraded the risk to the UK population from very low to low, the transport secretary said.
Chinese authorities have advised people to stop travel into and out of Wuhan, the city at the heart of the outbreak. BBC News
See also:
- Guidance: Wuhan novel coronavirus: background information Public Health England
- China coronavirus: What we know so far BBC News
- New China virus: US announces first case BBC News
- New China virus: Fourth person dies as human-to-human transfer confirmed BBC News
- New China virus: 'Wash your hands, be honest with your doctors' BBC News
- People around China queue to buy face masks amid fears of an outbreak of deadly virus The Daily Mail
- China's virus may have been lurking in animals for DECADES before adapting to infect humans The Daily Mail
- Passengers from virus-hit region of China to be separated at Heathrow The Daily Telegraph
- Coronavirus outbreak in China rises to 440 cases with 9 deaths The Daily Telegraph
- Chinese health officials say virus could mutate and spread further as they warn: ‘Don’t go to Wuhan, don’t leave Wuhan’ The Independent
- 'Nobody wants to be first in the nation with this': US town attempts to contain deadly coronavirus The Independent
- China coronavirus: What are the symptoms, where has it spread and is there treatment? The Independent
- As a virologist, I can tell you all you need to know about the coronavirus – and why you can stop panicking The Independent
How a hypothetical design has the potential to change how we view euthanasia
How a hypothetical design has the potential to change how we view euthanasia In order to die with dignity, more people are planning their own death. But what happens when that person has dementia? Such a moral dilemma must be approached with creative thinking, says Marije de Haas. The Independent
GPs in revolt over NHS England's plan to increase their workload
GPs in revolt over NHS England's plan to increase their workload Leaders say move to force overstretched surgeries to take on five new duties unworkable
GPs are warning that overstretched surgeries could close and waiting times get even longer if NHS bosses force them to take on extra work, including regular visits to care homes.
Family doctors in England claim that NHS bosses’ plans for them to assume five new duties of care from April are “unacceptable and completely unworkable” given the widespread acute shortage of GPs. The Guardian
GPs are warning that overstretched surgeries could close and waiting times get even longer if NHS bosses force them to take on extra work, including regular visits to care homes.
Family doctors in England claim that NHS bosses’ plans for them to assume five new duties of care from April are “unacceptable and completely unworkable” given the widespread acute shortage of GPs. The Guardian
Workforce crisis leaves the NHS teetering on the brink - but there is a way forward
Workforce crisis leaves the NHS teetering on the brink - but there is a way forward | Kailash Chand Ministers must act where others have failed and put prevention rather than treatment at the heart of the healthcare system
The NHS workforce shortage is forcing staff to work long hours with no breaks, and go lengthy spells without eating, drinking, sitting down or using the toilet. And when they are that hungry, exhausted and overstretched, they make mistakes.
This crisis comes after a year that, judged by any standards, was one of the worst in the history of the NHS. During a decade of decline, all the key indicators in the health service worsened, with more than 4.5 million patients now on waiting lists for treatment – more than ever before. The Guardian
The NHS workforce shortage is forcing staff to work long hours with no breaks, and go lengthy spells without eating, drinking, sitting down or using the toilet. And when they are that hungry, exhausted and overstretched, they make mistakes.
This crisis comes after a year that, judged by any standards, was one of the worst in the history of the NHS. During a decade of decline, all the key indicators in the health service worsened, with more than 4.5 million patients now on waiting lists for treatment – more than ever before. The Guardian
NHS must admit its errors quicker of face £4.3bn payouts to laywers
NHS must admit its errors quicker of face £4.3bn payouts to laywers The NHS must admit its failings quicker or face paying out legal fees of up to £4.3 billion, a former Tory health secretary has said.
Stephen Dorrell spoke out after an investigation revealed NHS estimates of how much services would pay to lawyers if all the current claims they are facing go ahead.
Last year the NHS paid out £2.4 billion for negligence claims. The Daily Telegraph
Stephen Dorrell spoke out after an investigation revealed NHS estimates of how much services would pay to lawyers if all the current claims they are facing go ahead.
Last year the NHS paid out £2.4 billion for negligence claims. The Daily Telegraph
Cervical cancer rates show a 'steep rise' among women in their late 20s, charity warns
Cervical cancer rates show a 'steep rise' among women in their late 20s, charity warns Cervical cancer rates among young women have surged as screening uptake has hit a record low, experts have warned.
Incidence of the disease among 25- to 29-year-olds increased 54 per cent in the last decade, according to Cancer Research UK analysis.
The figures - compiled from official registries in England, Scotland and Wales - comes after years of 'stalling and stagnating' progress on cervical cancer, the charity warned. The Daily Mail
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Incidence of the disease among 25- to 29-year-olds increased 54 per cent in the last decade, according to Cancer Research UK analysis.
The figures - compiled from official registries in England, Scotland and Wales - comes after years of 'stalling and stagnating' progress on cervical cancer, the charity warned. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Cervical cancer progress falters as screening uptake hits record lows Cancer Research UK
- Cervical cancer cases soaring among women in their late 20s The Daily Telegraph
- Cervical cancer rises among young women as progress on deadly disease ‘stalls’ The Independent
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