Macmillan centre at Northampton General Hospital receives award for standard of care

Macmillan centre at Northampton General Hospital receives award for standard of care A specialist cancer support centre based at Northampton General Hospital has received an award for that standard of care it provides.

The Macmillan Information and Support Centre helps around 3,000 local people and their families every year, with help and support as well as wellbeing activities. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Mental health crisis cafe opens in Kettering for teenagers

Mental health crisis cafe opens in Kettering for teenagers A crisis cafe for teenagers struggling with their mental health will run every Thursday evening in Kettering.

The crisis cafe at Youth Works, Rockingham Road, will offer a safe place for children aged 12 to 18 to go and receive support for their mental health. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Gender reassignment treatments for young people to get expert review

Gender reassignment treatments for young people to get expert review The use of hormone treatments for young people who want to undergo gender reassignment is to be examined by experts, it has emerged.

The announcement by NHS England comes just weeks after the start of a landmark legal challenge to the prescribing of drugs to delay puberty. The case has been brought against the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust, which runs the UK’s only gender-identity development service (GIDS). The Guardian

Personality disorder: new position statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Personality disorder: new position statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists This Position Statement emphasises the importance of a timely and accurate diagnosis of Personality Disorder. It also provides a blueprint for the types of services needed to ensure that this group of patients receive the optimum care possible and sets out how best to implement these ambitions. Royal College of Psychiatrists

BMA spells out Brexit-day message to EU doctors: 'You are welcome here'

BMA spells out Brexit-day message to EU doctors: 'You are welcome here' Doctors' leaders have told European NHS staff that they are 'welcome here' on the day that the UK prepares to exit the EU. GP Online

NHS Trusts spent £20 million battling whistleblowers, workplace discrimination claims and employment disputes

NHS Trusts spent £20 million battling whistleblowers, workplace discrimination claims and employment disputes NHS Trusts have spent nearly £20 million in four years battling whistleblowers, defending claims of workplace discrimination and fighting employment disputes, the Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

Data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) has revealed that a minority of healthcare trusts, often advised by the same law firms, are repeatedly running up huge legal bills. The Telegraph

Beyond Brexit: The multiple challenges facing the NHS

Beyond Brexit: The multiple challenges facing the NHS Brexit, like everything else will of course affect health and social care in the UK but will we notice any immediate difference on February 1? No.

The all-important transitional period means that everything will pretty much stay the same until our trade and future relationship is agreed with the EU at the end of December 2020.

There are a number of issues that Brexit will through up, number one is staffing. ITV News

See also:

• Trump will demand the NHS pays more for US drugs after Brexit Business Insider
• Post-Brexit trade deal with US will see NHS drug prices rise, says diplomat iNews

Brexit day: Pharmacists could retrain as doctors to boost NHS

Brexit day: Pharmacists could retrain as doctors to boost NHS Pharmacists and paramedics will be helped to become doctors through a fast-track conversion course as ministers seek to use Brexit to loosen medical training rules, The Times has learnt.

EU rules requiring doctors to do a five or six-year medical degree could be scrapped as Britain seeks to resolve an NHS workforce crisis by making it easier for experienced staff to retrain. The Times

See also:

• Paramedics nurses and pharmacists could train to be doctors in three years NHS staffing crisis Mail Online
• Boris Johnson vows to solve NHS crisis using post-Brexit freedoms to fast-track staff Express.co.uk

Two people in Britain test positive for coronavirus

Two people in Britain test positive for coronavirus Public Health England (PHE) is urgently trying to trace anyone who came into contact with the two people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the UK.

England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said: “We can confirm that two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive. The patients are receiving specialist NHS care and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus.” The Guardian

See also:

• 'Use tissues and wash hands': UK launches coronavirus public advice campaign The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Government launches public health campaign BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK donates £20m to speed up vaccine BBC News
• GP coronavirus advice updated as first two UK patients test positive GP Online
• UK government pledges £20 million to help develop coronavirus vaccine OnMedica
• Press release £20m announced to fund vaccines for coronavirus and other infectious diseases GOV.UK

National Apprenticeship Week 2020

National Apprenticeship Week 2020 National Apprenticeship Week 2020 is taking place from 3–9 February and employers across the NHS and beyond will be hosting a range of events and activities to raise awareness of the benefits that apprenticeships can bring to organisations.

This year’s theme is ‘look beyond’ and aims to dispel current myths regarding apprenticeships and highlight how apprenticeships can help expand people’s future career options and diversify the workforce for employers. NHS Employers