Wellingborough cooks proud to reach national NHS chef finals

Wellingborough cooks proud to reach national NHS chef finals Two Isebrook Hospital workers have been named as some of the best NHS chefs in England.

Despite their kitchen being a cramped ‘cupboard’, Natasha Day and Kerrey Healey made it to the final eight of the national competition.

The pair proved their culinary expertise in the contest held by NHS England and NHS Improvement, to highlight the importance of nutrition in hospitals and the skills and dedication of the chefs working in the NHS. Northamptonshire Telegraph

More than 200 men attend prostate cancer testing event in Northampton supported by ex-England cricketer Allan Lamb

More than 200 men attend prostate cancer testing event in Northampton supported by ex-England cricketer Allan Lamb A prostate cancer testing event was held in Northampton over the weekend supported by a former England and Northamptonshire cricketer.

Around 240 men attended the event at the County Ground in Abington where they each underwent a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Raised PSA levels may suggest a prostate problem, but not necessarily cancer, according to charity Prostate Cancer UK. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

State of the provider sector

State of the provider sector Trust leaders are predicting a winter like none they have ever seen before, according to new findings from NHS Providers.

And the long-range forecast is just as worrying, according to the membership body for every NHS hospital, mental health, community and ambulance service in England.

The great majority (85%) of the 183 leaders from 121 trusts who responded to the annual State of the provider sector survey are more worried about this winter than any previous one in their NHS careers. Many (86%) are concerned that their trusts will not have the capacity to meet demand for services over the next 12 months.

See also: 

• RCN responds to NHS Providers’ report on waiting lists and winter pressures Royal College of Nursing
• NHS backlogs: Fewer than half of trusts will meet targets on waiting lists and cancer The Daily Mail
• Fewer than half of NHS trusts expect to meet targets on waiting lists and cancer Evening Standard
• NHS staff ‘petrified’ of how bad winter will be at hospitals in England The Guardian
• NHS trusts forced to compromise on quality and waiting times amid financial squeeze, CEOs warn The Independent
• NHS trusts say they cannot hit key waiting list and cancer targets The Independent
• NHS and social care system in ‘most perilous position in memory’ The Independent
• NHS trusts say they cannot hit key waiting list and cancer targets ITV News
• NHS leaders more concerned about this winter than any previous one Sky News

The NHS needs to ramp up treatment volumes if waiting lists are to start falling any time soon

The NHS needs to ramp up treatment volumes if waiting lists are to start falling any time soon NHS waiting lists have continued to rise this year, and in September 2022 there were 7.1 million incomplete waiting list pathways in England. This is 60% higher than prior to the pandemic in February 2020 (4.4 million), and 17% higher than at the end of 2021 (6.1 million). Tackling this backlog of care is a key priority for the government and the health service. Here, we review our earlier projections for NHS waiting lists and, in light of their relative success, consider what those projections imply for the evolution of waiting lists over the coming year. Institute of Fiscal Studies

See also:

• NHS leaders are working flat out to tackle the backlog of care and make as much progress as they can NHS Confederation

Breaking point: Securing the future of sexual health services

Breaking point: Securing the future of sexual health services Local sexual health services are at breaking point as attendance has skyrocketed whilst funding has reduced, a new Local Government Association report published today has warned.

See also: 

• Sexual health services at 'breaking point' as attendance skyrockets, councils warn The Daily Mail

Health bosses seek strike deal as talks take place

Health bosses seek strike deal as talks take place A deal must be found to end the NHS strikes ahead of the "winter onslaught", health managers say.

NHS Providers interim chief executive Saffron Cordery said the "last thing" the NHS needed was prolonged industrial action as winter hits.

She said there was no doubt patients would lose out, with longer waits for hospital treatment.

Unions in England are meeting ministers on Tuesday after Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members voted to strike. BBC News

See also:

• Speech: Nurses going on strike is in nobody’s best interest Department of Health and Social Care
• Nurses' strike will fuel inflation and 'help no one', Health Secretary warns The Daily Mail
• Co-ordinated strikes by NHS staff could bring hospitals to standstill The Daily Telegraph
• Thousands of NHS workers not paid enough to live on, new figures show The Independent
• Health secretary to meet six unions in bid to avert wave of strikes across NHS The Guardian

Type 1 diabetes trial to identify at-risk children

Type 1 diabetes trial to identify at-risk children Researchers are recruiting 20,000 children for a trial to try to identify those at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

If left undiagnosed or untreated, the condition can lead to life-threatening complications.

The trial, led by the University of Birmingham, could mean access to new treatments for children at high risk. BBC News

Sunak omits target of 6,000 more GPs from brief for health secretary

Sunak omits target of 6,000 more GPs from brief for health secretary Rishi Sunak has fuelled concerns that the government will miss its target of recruiting 6,000 more GPs in England, which was promised in the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

The prime minister omitted the pledge from his appointment letter to the health secretary, Steve Barclay, laying out expectations for what should be delivered by March 2024. The Guardian

See also:

• The Government should have the good grace to admit it is not meeting its GP recruitment targets BMA

Alzheimer’s jab failed to meet goal on reducing memory decline, company says

Alzheimer’s jab failed to meet goal on reducing memory decline, company says A new jab for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s has failed to show it can slow down a decline in memory and thinking, according to pharmaceutical giant Roche.

The drug, gantenerumab, is an antibody medicine that held much promise as it entered phase three clinical trials. The Independent

Night light from street lamps and phones can raise risk of diabetes

Night light from street lamps and phones can raise risk of diabetes Streetlights and smartphones can raise the risk of diabetes by more than a quarter, new research has found.

Artificial light at night alters the human body clock, thereby impairing the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels.

Among the lights which could have a harmful effect are street, car and shopfront lamps as well as the light from smartphones and tablets. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Outdoor light at night in relation to glucose homoeostasis and diabetes in Chinese adults: a national and cross-sectional study of 98,658 participants from 162 study sites (abstract) Diabetologia
• Too much artificial light at night could raise the risk of type 2 diabetes by more than a quarter The Daily Mail

Experts develop online tool that predicts a woman's miscarriage risk

Experts develop online tool that predicts a woman's miscarriage risk Experts have developed an online tool to predict a woman's chances of a having a miscarriage.

The online calculator asks women a series of health questions and uses an algorithm to work out their likelihood of a successful pregnancy.

They are then offered given personalised advice on tests, treatment and lifestyle changes.

Researchers from the University of Warwick worked alongside Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research. The Daily Mail

A THIRD of independent chemists are at risk of closing within two years

A THIRD of independent chemists are at risk of closing within two years Tim Gibbs's marathon working hours are typical of people who run our independent community pharmacies. He opens his shop in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight at 8.30am and works until 6pm. The Daily Mail