NHS staff shortages mean patients miss out on early bowel cancer diagnosis

NHS staff shortages mean patients miss out on early bowel cancer diagnosis Around 1,100 people in England could miss out on the chance of an early stage bowel cancer diagnosis through screening each year because of NHS staff shortages, according to new calculations released by Cancer Research UK.

See also:

• NHS staffing shortage means 1,100 people with bowel cancer in England are being diagnosed too late The Daily Mail
• Short-staffed NHS failing on bowel cancer detection in England The Guardian

Improving behavioral health care in the emergency department and upstream

Improving behavioral health care in the emergency department and upstream This paper provides actionable guidance for hospital emergency departments and their community partners to create a compassionate, seamless, and effective system of care that is respectful of and works with patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders who present to the emergency department. The paper includes: a framework for a better system of care that comprises four key components: processes, provider culture, patients, and partnerships; high-leverage changes and specific change ideas; suggested measures; practical tips and examples; and resources and tools. Free registration is required to access the document. Institute for Healthcare Improvement

NHS pension rules may prompt 'mass exodus' of leaders in next two years, report suggests

NHS pension rules may prompt 'mass exodus' of leaders in next two years, report suggests More than two in five senior NHS leaders either plan to or are considering leaving the health service because of recent pension changes, a report has suggested, warning of an “exodus” of leaders and managers in the next two years.

A survey of trust executive directors by NHS Providers, which received responses from 188 of the 223 trusts in England, found 44 per cent of NHS leaders planned to leave the health service because of the pensions crisis. People Management

Long ambulance delays 'affect thousands each week'

Long ambulance delays 'affect thousands each week' Heart attack, stroke and burns victims are among the seriously ill and injured patients waiting over an hour for an ambulance to arrive in England and Wales, a BBC investigation shows.

The delays for these 999 calls - meant to be reached in 18 minutes on average - put lives at risk, experts say.

The problems affect one in 16 "emergency" cases in England - with significant delays reported in Wales.

NHS bosses blamed rising demand and delays handing over patients at A&E. BBC News

See also:

• Ambulance service: 'Waiting system beyond a joke' BBC News
• Heart attack, stroke and burns victims wait up to FIVE HOURS for an ambulance The Daily Mail

Diabetes patients hit by glucose monitor shortage

Diabetes patients hit by glucose monitor shortage The company behind a blood sugar monitor that has changed the lives of thousands of diabetics has been forced to apologise after supplies ran short.

Pharmacies have been turning patients away as deliveries of healthcare firm Abbott's Freestyle Libre Sensor are delayed by two or three weeks.

Abbott has said it is working hard to fulfil all the orders, but gave no further explanation.

Diabetes.co.uk says almost 30,000 people in the UK use the device. BBC News

Coronavirus: How worried should we be?

Coronavirus: How worried should we be? A virus - previously unknown to science - is causing severe lung disease in China and has also been detected in other countries.

More than 100 people are known to have died from the virus, which appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.

There are already more than 4,500 confirmed cases, and experts expect the number will keep rising.

A new virus arriving on the scene, leaving patients with pneumonia, is always a worry and health officials around the world are on high alert.

Can this outbreak be contained or is this something far more dangerous? BBC News

See also:

• Wuhan novel coronavirus and avian flu: advice for travel to China Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: Australia plans island quarantine as foreigners leave Wuhan BBC News
• Coronavirus: Hong Kong to slash border travel as virus spreads BBC News
• Britons on coronavirus airlift from Wuhan WILL be quarantined The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Scientists hail 'game changer' as version of deadly virus grown in laboratory The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: British Airways suspends all flights to mainland China as outbreak spreads The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: Australian scientists first to recreate deadly virus outside China The Independent
• Coronavirus: Hundreds could be quarantined in UK military base after being evacuated from Wuhan The Independent

Urgent inquiry ordered into 'witch-hunt' at West Suffolk hospital

Urgent inquiry ordered into 'witch-hunt' at West Suffolk hospital Hospital bosses under fire for trying to find whistleblower who wrote to patient’s family

The government has ordered an urgent inquiry into the local hospital of the health secretary, Matt Hancock, after the Guardian revealed its unprecedented “witch-hunt” for a whistleblower.

Third of UK doctors report burnout and compassion fatigue

Third of UK doctors report burnout and compassion fatigue BMA says medics’ wellbeing is suffering as a result of strain on NHS

Almost a third of UK doctors may be suffering from burnout, stress and “compassion fatigue”, according to a survey that has raised concern about excessive workloads in the NHS.

A&E doctors and GPs are the most likely to feel burnt out. They have the highest levels of exhaustion and stress, the survey, published in the BMJ Open journal, found. The Guardian

See also:

• Resilience, burnout and coping mechanisms in UK doctors: a cross-sectional study (open access) BMJ Open
• Third of UK doctors have high levels of burnout, with GPs among most at risk GPonline