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