New governors elected to champion local healthcare across Northamptonshire

New governors elected to champion local healthcare across Northamptonshire Championing healthcare across Northamptonshire will be the aim of new governors who have been welcomed into their roles following an election.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has welcomed nine new representatives this week following the election process for its council of governors. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Burnt out or something more? Examining the real root cause of NHS workforce challenges

Burnt out or something more? Examining the real root cause of NHS workforce challenges Happy doctors result in happier, healthier patients, as evidenced by the growing body of literature linking higher satisfaction levels among healthcare staff to improved patient satisfaction and care outcomes.

Recognising this, the NHS has several initiatives intended to track and improve staff occupational wellbeing. One initiative is the NHS Staff Survey, launched in 2003 and administered annually across England. In March 2023, the NHS published results from the 2022 Survey against a backdrop of high attrition and widespread workforce shortages. Considering these challenges and the planned Government announcement of a new NHS Workforce Plan, we sought to examine the reasons staff are increasingly dissatisfied. LCP

See also:

• Workplace discrimination and equality driving NHS acute staff shortages Hospital Times

Looking outward: international lessons for health system reform

Looking outward: international lessons for health system reform This report examines what policymakers in Britain can learn from abroad to help address four core challenges that stand in the way of building a world-leading health system: the health creation challenge; the centralism challenge; the healthcare delivery challenge; and the fiscal challenge. It draws on insights from health systems in both high income, and low- and middle-income countries to draw out lessons on successful transformation. Reform

Removing barriers to shared decision-making

Removing barriers to shared decision-making PIF and the Patients Association worked with NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) to look at ways of making it easier for patients to take part in shared decision-making. They delivered a co-production programme with the My Life Choices panel of local people and the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire personalised care team and developed and implemented patient information to support people with hip, knee, and joint pain to make treatment decisions. This report, developed with input from My Life Choices, outlines the key findings and recommendations. It also shares the co-produced resources developed throughout the project. Patient Information Forum

Record number of doctors and nurses in the NHS helping to cut waiting lists

Record number of doctors and nurses in the NHS helping to cut waiting lists There are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS helping to deliver extra appointments, speed up diagnoses and tackle the Covid backlog, according to data published today by NHS England.

There are over 1.27 million full-time equivalent staff working in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies in England - over 51,500 more people compared to a year ago which is an increase of 4.2%. Department of Health and Social Care

Faster diagnostic tests for cancer patients in latest NHS drive

Faster diagnostic tests for cancer patients in latest NHS drive Hospitals are being asked to work towards a 10-day turnaround when delivering diagnostic test results to patients who have received an urgent referral for suspected cancer, as part of new plans to see and treat people for cancer as early as possible.

This means hundreds of patients waiting to have cancer ruled out or diagnosed in some cases, are set to receive this news faster, helping to relieve anxieties or enabling treatment to start sooner. NHS England

Hidden high blood pressure in young people revealed

Hidden high blood pressure in young people revealed A "considerable" number of young people in England - about 170,000 aged 16 to 24 - unknowingly have risky high blood pressure, experts are warning.

That is about five in 100 young men and one in 100 young women, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Although it may not cause symptoms or problems to begin with, it puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is responsible for about half the heart attacks and strokes in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Risk factors for undiagnosed high blood pressure in England: 2015 to 2019 Office for National Statistics

Whorlton Hall verdicts: Can further scandals be prevented?

Whorlton Hall verdicts: Can further scandals be prevented? The conviction of four care workers for mistreating patients at a specialist hospital in County Durham has once again underlined the vulnerability of people with learning disabilities and autism in such places. The government describes the abuse as a "terrible set of events that should never have happened". There have been many official promises of better, more appropriate services. Despite that, change remains slow. BBC News

See also:

• Whorlton Hall: Four guilty of ill-treating secure unit patients BBC News
• Staff are convicted of mistreating vulnerable patients at NHS-funded hospital The Daily Mail
• Four staff at specialist hospital guilty of mistreating vulnerable patients The Independent
• Four staff at specialist hospital guilty of mistreating vulnerable patients ITV News

Sudanese NHS doctor 'betrayed' after being refused entry onto evacuation flight to UK

Sudanese NHS doctor 'betrayed' after being refused entry onto evacuation flight to UK An NHS doctor trapped in Sudan after visiting family for Eid has urged the government to fly him back to the UK, saying he feels "betrayed" after being turned away from evacuation flights.

Sudanese-born Dr Abdulrahman Babiker is due back on shift as a registrar at the Manchester Royal Infirmary on Tuesday.

Despite having a UK work permit, he cannot board an evacuation flight as they only accept UK passport holders.

BBC Two's Newsnight has learned of at least 24 NHS doctors in this position. BBC News

See also:

• Agonising choice of NHS doctor fleeing Sudan has left her riddled with worry and guilt Sky News

Nurses forced to cut strike short after High Court ruling

Nurses forced to cut strike short after High Court ruling This weekend’s nurses’ strike will be cut short after the High Court ruled part of the walkout was unlawful.

Tens of thousands of nurses had planned to finish the 48-hour strike at 8pm on 2 May, but will now end the walkout at midnight on 1 May after the government brought action against the Royal College of Nursing. The Independent

See also:

• Outcome of the RCN strike High Court action NHS Employers
• NHS Employers respond to nurse strike High Court ruling NHS Employers
• RCN responds to High Court decision on strike action Royal College of Nursing
• Statement from the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay MP
• Nurses' strike in England to be cut short after court ruling BBC News
• Court rules second day of nurses strike unlawful Channel 4 News
• Pat Cullen condemns government for 'taking its own nurses to court' The Daily Mail
• Nurses' union chief 'dragged strike dispute through court to fire up her members' The Daily Telegraph
• Nurses to cut short strike as court rules second day of action unlawful The Guardian
• 'Darkest day' for nurses as strike action cut short by High Court ruling ITV News
• Nurses' strike: RCN union calls off part of 48-hour strike after High Court deems it unlawful Sky News

Almost one in three doctors investigated by GMC ‘have suicidal thoughts’

Almost one in three doctors investigated by GMC ‘have suicidal thoughts’ Almost one in three UK doctors investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC) think about taking their own life, a survey has found.

Many doctors under investigation feel they are treated as “guilty until proven innocent” and face “devastating” consequences, the Medical Protection Society (MPS) said.

The regulator pursues too many cases against doctors for minor alleged matters and often takes months, and sometimes years, to make a ruling, it added. The Guardian

Pharmacies pause rollout of NHS England's over-the-counter contraception service over lack of funding

Pharmacies pause rollout of NHS England's over-the-counter contraception service over lack of funding The Department for Health and Social Care had previously announced the service would start on Monday this week - something the sector says was "imposed, not agreed". Pharmacies have now paused plans for the rollout, criticising the government for not putting more funding into the service. Sky News

New operation launched in Northants to help some early-stage cancer patients

New operation launched in Northants to help some early-stage cancer patients A new way of treating certain early-stage bowel and rectum cancers without major abdominal surgery is being introduced to Northamptonshire.

It involves using minimally invasive key-hole surgery techniques to remove early-stage tumours – and some advanced benign polyps that cannot be removed with endoscopic procedures - through the anal opening rather than though major radical surgery of the rectum. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Care home placed in special measures by watchdog

Care home placed in special measures by watchdog A care home has been rated inadequate and placed into special measures following a "deterioration" since a watchdog's last visit.

The Conifers Residential Care Home in Rushden, Northamptonshire, provides accommodation and personal support for up to 10 people with mental health conditions, sensory impairments, physical disabilities and those with dementia.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said its latest inspection in January was prompted after concerns about accidents and incidents. BBC Northampton

See also:

• The Conifers Residential Care Home in Rushden placed in special measures after being rated inadequate by CQC Northamptonshire Telegraph

Clinical investigation booking systems failures: written communications in community languages

Clinical investigation booking systems failures: written communications in community languages This investigation focuses on the systems used by healthcare providers to book patient appointments for clinical investigations, such as diagnostic tests and scans.

This investigation examines the safety implications of patient communications, produced by booking systems, that do not account for the needs of the patient. In addition, it looks at why patents are ‘lost to follow-up’ after an appointment is cancelled, rescheduled or not attended. Lost to follow-up is the term used to describe a patient who does not return for planned appointments (whether for continued care or evaluations) or is no longer being tracked in the healthcare system when they should be. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• NHS warned over writing to patients in English after child dies The Independent

Working with the VCSE as system partners – from warm words to actions

Working with the VCSE as system partners – from warm words to actions As we publish our new report on addressing barriers to partnership working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, Helen Gilburt takes a look at three fundamental principles needed to create change. The King's Fund

Healthy people, prosperous lives: The first interim report of the IPPR Commission on Health and Prosperity

Healthy people, prosperous lives: The first interim report of the IPPR Commission on Health and Prosperity The UK is getting poorer and sicker, at the same time as the country is facing a challenging economic outlook. After rapid progress on life expectancy in the 20th century, the UK has rising rates of death and impairment – including higher prevalence of long-term conditions and greater rates of multimorbidity.

Good health has its own value – but this paper tests its relationship with prosperity. Good health is vital to an enjoyable and meaningful life, free from avoidable pain, anxiety and, in the worst cases, premature death. But it is also a crucial determinant of our economic prospects, both at an individual and a national level. Institute for Public Policy Research

See also:

• Britain’s poor record on health costs economy £43bn a year, says report The Guardian

Family Consultation Day Report on deaths of people with mental ill health, a learning disability or autism

Family Consultation Day Report on deaths of people with mental ill health, a learning disability or autism This report highlights how bereaved families can face persistent challenges following the death of their loved one in mental health services. The authors of the report heard from 14 family members who were bereaved by deaths in the care of mental health services or settings for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, and had faced or were going through inquests and investigations. Key concerns raised were around lack of candour, transparency and accountability. Families also highlighted the inadequate levels of communication between families and the bodies responsible for care. Inquest

NHS to expand soups and shakes for people with type 2 diabetes

NHS to expand soups and shakes for people with type 2 diabetes Thousands more people with type 2 diabetes across England will benefit from NHS soup and shake diets, as new data shows its effectiveness at helping people lose weight.

The radical programme, first piloted by the NHS in 2020 as part of its Long Term Plan, will expand so that it can provide access to patients in every part of the country by March 2024 – it is currently available in 21 areas of England.

Patients can benefit if they have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last six years with referrals made by local GPs. NHS England

Midwives in England accept NHS pay offer

Midwives in England accept NHS pay offer Midwives in England have voted to accept the latest NHS pay offer, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says.

The offer covers two years and includes an additional one-off amount for 2022/23 and and 5% rise for 2023/24.

Nurses with the Royal College of Nursing have already turned down the offer and they plan more strike action. Members of the Society of Radiographers also voted against it.

The RCM said the offer was "not perfect" but was a "step forward". BBC News

See also:

• Midwives say yes to England NHS pay offer Royal College of Midwives
• England nursing strikes: legal challenge latest Royal College of Nursing
• Government confirms High Court application against the Royal College of Nursing strike next week Royal College of Nursing
• Midwives in England vote to accept NHS pay offer The Guardian
• Barclay ‘wasting public money’ with legal action against nursing strike The Guardian
• Midwives vote to accept latest NHS pay offer ITV News
• Nurses' strike: Health secretary Steve Barclay urges union to call off walk-out ahead of court case Sky News

Ex-minister predicts ‘battle royale’ over US firm’s bid for NHS data contract

Ex-minister predicts ‘battle royale’ over US firm’s bid for NHS data contract A former cabinet minister has warned that there could be a “battle royale” over a £480m NHS data software contract sought by the controversial US tech firm Palantir, whose chair has accused the UK health service of “making people sick”.

David Davis, the Conservative former Brexit secretary who previously led the campaign against ID cards, said he was one of those with serious privacy concerns about Palantir’s bid. He is among at least a dozen MPs and peers across the political spectrum who are pressing the government for more reassurances about how patient data will be treated as the new data operating system is built. The Guardian

UK on verge of new dawn for dementia treatments, says taskforce chair

UK on verge of new dawn for dementia treatments, says taskforce chair Today’s generation of elderly people could be the last to face the spectre of untreatable Alzheimer’s disease, according to the co-chair of the government’s new dementia mission.

Hilary Evans, the chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, appointed by ministers last month, said the world was “on the cusp of a new dawn” for dementia treatments that meant devastating neurodegenerative illness would no longer be regarded as an inevitable part of old age. The Guardian

Britain’s Covid research led the world – why have our clinical trials fallen off a cliff?

Britain’s Covid research led the world – why have our clinical trials fallen off a cliff? | Andrew Pollard Pressures on the NHS, a lack of doctors and post-Brexit delays are hampering our ability to develop cutting-edge drugs

The UK’s remarkable capability and capacity in clinical research was catapulted on to the world stage during the pandemic. The Recovery trial, led by Oxford University, studied existing drugs in seriously ill patients with Covid-19 and identified the first proven and effective life-saving treatments. The Guardian

Britain's bored of boosters: Slowest ever start to Covid vaccine drive

Britain's bored of boosters: Slowest ever start to Covid vaccine drive Britain's current Covid booster jab drive is the slowest yet, MailOnline can reveal amid growing fears over Arcturus.

Just 1million doses were dished out in the first three weeks of the campaign.

This is dwarfed by the huge take-up seen during last spring's top-up programme, when nearly 1.4million jabs were administered over the same period. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS delivers one million spring covid jabs NHS England
• 'My daughter's long Covid is not nonsense' BBC News
• The Arcturus Covid-19 subvariant is spreading in Australia - but expert says it’s no cause for alarm The Guardian
• Tory MP who compared Covid vaccines to the Holocaust expelled by party The Independent
• With the NHS Covid app set to close, where are we at with the virus? ITV News
• Andrew Bridgen: MP kicked out of Tory party after comparing COVID vaccines to Holocaust Sky News
• Long Covid: 'I'm grieving my life,' says former tennis pro forced to retire at 21 Sky News
• 'Arcturus': What we know about the new COVID variant that's dominating in India Sky News

War on cancer will see ALL patients receive test results within 10 days under NHS plans

War on cancer will see ALL patients receive test results within 10 days under NHS plans Patients will receive cancer test results within ten days under new NHS plans aimed at boosting survival rates, the Mail can reveal.

NHS England has written to local managers demanding they speed up the time they take to arrange, conduct and analyse the likes of blood checks and MRI scans.

This means doctors can start treatment sooner, when the disease is easier to treat, or rapidly relieve patients' anxiety if giving the all-clear. The Daily Mail

Women in Northamptonshire encouraged to reach out for support during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

Women in Northamptonshire encouraged to reach out for support during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week Free community drop-in sessions and online webinars are being offered across Northamptonshire for pregnant women and new parents to get support with their mental health.

As part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week (1 – 7 May) Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s (NHFT) Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) is delivering sessions and webinars throughout the week at libraries across the county. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Caremark - one of the UK's home care companies - expands its services into Northampton

Caremark - one of the UK's home care companies - expands its services into Northampton Caremark, one of the largest home care companies in the UK, has expanded its services into Northampton to meet the community's demands and help ease pressures on the region's health and social care systems. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Supporting people living with dementia: evidence from research

Supporting people living with dementia: evidence from research This briefing distils the research evidence on what can enable people to maintain independence and wellbeing, and how best to support people living with dementia to have a quality of life grounded on what matters to them, and to their carers and family members. Institute of Public Care

Can videoconference appointments help to reduce carbon emissions?

Can videoconference appointments help to reduce carbon emissions? In this blog, Dr David Ross, consultant chest physician at NHS Western Isles, discusses how videoconference appointments have helped to reduce carbon emissions in the Outer Hebrides. Royal College of Physicians

Alternative to epidural recommended for women in labour

Alternative to epidural recommended for women in labour Women in labour should be offered an alternative to an epidural spinal block injection, say new draft guidelines for the NHS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending remifentanil, which is a fast-acting morphine-like drug given into a vein.

Women control the medication themselves, by pressing a button to get more of the drug for pain relief.

A timer ensures the user cannot administer too much of it. BBC News

See also:

• Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies (update) Guideline in development [GID-NG10360] NICE
• All mums-to-be with a BMI over 25 will be warned of extra risks they face in pregnancy under new health guidelines The Daily Mail
• New drug will deliver pain relief to women in labour who don't want an epidural The Daily Mail

Superbug study to invite 2,000 stool samples

Superbug study to invite 2,000 stool samples Up to 2,000 people in England will be asked to submit samples of their poo so scientists can find out more about levels of superbugs in the population.

Health officials want to design better ways of tackling bacteria that no longer respond to medicines - known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

It kills thousands of people every year in the UK and over a million globally.

Using antibiotics for the wrong reasons has made the problem worse, experts say. BBC News

See also:

• New study launched to assess levels of antimicrobial resistance in healthy people UK Health Security Agency

Priory Group whistleblowers 'concerned for patient safety'

Priory Group whistleblowers 'concerned for patient safety' Two former senior managers at a large mental health care provider have told the BBC they had concerns about the safety of patients and staff.

The whistleblowers claim they felt pressure to cut costs and fill beds.

The Priory Group, which receives more than £600m of public money each year, is the biggest single private provider of mental health services to the NHS.

The company denies the claims and says it successfully treats tens of thousands of patients each year.

It adds its services "remain amongst the safest in the UK". BBC News

The NHS COVID app is closing down - but is the pandemic really over?

The NHS COVID app is closing down - but is the pandemic really over? Following its September 2020 launch, the NHS COVID app soon became integral to British pandemic life - it was needed to board flights, enter bars and restaurants, and store essential COVID vaccine information. But its end does not mean the pandemic is over. Sky News

See also:

• Mild Covid can lead to long-term impact on cardiovascular health, study claims The Independent
• Long-Term Adverse Effects of Mild COVID-19 Disease on Arterial Stiffness, and Systemic and Central Hemodynamics: A Pre-Post Study (open access) Journal of Clinical Medicine

‘I waited nine months then had to move house to get any mental health care’

‘I waited nine months then had to move house to get any mental health care’ New data reveals one-fifth of young people “always feel anxious” amid worsening mental health crisis.

A student nurse said she felt “abandoned” as she struggled to get the mental health support she needed amid a worsening mental health crisis among young people.

Niamh O’Connor has had an eating disorder for six years, which led to her being admitted to hospital. When she left at the end of 2020, she found herself on a waiting list for nine months but it was only when she moved house that she says she was finally offered care. The Independent

‘Dog flu’ adapting to infect humans, warn scientists

‘Dog flu’ adapting to infect humans, warn scientists A “dog flu” virus is adapting in the direction of being able to infect people, scientists have warned.

The virus is descended from a type of bird flu called H3N2, which first infected dogs in roughly 2006 and has now evolved to become a mammalian-adapted form of avian influenza. The Independent

See also:

• Increased public health threat of avian-origin H3N2 influenza virus caused by its evolution in dogs (open access) eLife
• Viruses: How avian influenza viruses spill over to mammals (open access) eLife
• Now be prepared for DOG FLU! Mutated form of avian influenza is 'creeping' towards infecting humans The Daily Mail

NHS nurses' strike could 'overwhelm' hospitals and leave patient safety in 'precarious position'

NHS nurses' strike could 'overwhelm' hospitals and leave patient safety in 'precarious position' Striking nurses will put patients at risk if they plough ahead with plans to withdraw 'life and limb' care over this Bank Holiday weekend, health leaders warn today.

The Royal College of Nursing will order members to walk out of A&E, critical care and cancer wards for the first time, in a major escalation of industrial action.

But the NHS Confederation, which represents healthcare organisations, says the 48-hour picket from 8pm on Sunday could lead to wards being 'overwhelmed'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS leaders warn nurses’ strikes will put A&E in ‘precarious’ position The Daily Telegraph
• When is the next nurses’ strike? Health Secretary Steve Barclay could take legal action Evening Standard
• Warning over urgent and emergency care as nurses’ strike approaches The Independent

Prevention at scale through ICSs: lessons from tobacco control

Prevention at scale through ICSs: lessons from tobacco control The independent review of integrated care systems (ICSs) led by Patricia Hewitt, published earlier this month, reinforces the crucial role that ICSs have to play in prevention of ill health. But while there is widespread agreement that this is important, what has sometimes been less clear is exactly what that role should look like, and how it is distinct from the role of local authority public health teams. It’s a key question as ICS leaders grapple with the wider issue of what should happen at system, place and neighbourhood level. Recent examples from tobacco control highlight how ICSs can complement and reinforce work at other levels and help deliver potentially significant population health benefits by doing so. The King's Fund

Young people at risk of disease as concerning numbers miss out on life-saving vaccines

Young people at risk of disease as concerning numbers miss out on life-saving vaccines Data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that uptake of the adolescent vaccines offered to 13 and 14 year olds who were in school year 9 during the 2021 to 2022 academic year has fallen, leaving many young people unprotected from life-threatening diseases.

The teenage (Td/IPV) booster is the last routine dose for tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and provides young people with long-lasting protection into adulthood. The MenACWY vaccine helps protect young people against 4 types of meningococcal disease.

These rare but serious diseases can cause life-threatening illness leading to hospitalisation, permanent disability and even death. UK health Security Agency

See also:

• Teenagers at risk after drop in vaccine take-up BBC News
• Vaccine uptake among children in England has fallen since start of pandemic The Guardian
• Alarm as fewer young people protected against meningitis The Independent
• Fall in adolescent vaccines uptake puts young people at risk Pulse
• More teenagers unprotected from serious diseases as vaccine uptake falls Sky News

Urgent and emergency care improvement guide same day emergency care flow

Urgent and emergency care improvement guide same day emergency care flow This guide has been designed for providers and systems to consider embedding as good practice to reduce ambulance handover delays. The contents have been drawn from the Winter Improvement Collaborative which was set up to identify solutions to the problems facing the system over the winter period. Members of the collaborative were asked to co-design a series of plans and potential improvement measures, to be adapted and trialled at local level. NHS England

See also:

• Urgent and emergency care improvement guide same day emergency care pathways NHS England
• Urgent and emergency care improvement guide to direct access NHS England
• Urgent and emergency care improvement guide specialty support to the urgent and emergency care pathway/internal professional standards NHS England
• Urgent and emergency care improvement guide to contact hubs for primary, ambulance and clinical calls NHS England

NHS set to save £7 billion thanks to world-leading medicine pricing scheme

NHS set to save £7 billion thanks to world-leading medicine pricing scheme The NHS will save £7 billion by the end of 2023 thanks to a 5-year agreement with the pharmaceutical industry, which ensures the NHS can continue to be one of the fastest health systems in the world to roll out innovative medicines. Department of health and Social Care

Ministers start legal move to cut nurse strike short

Ministers start legal move to cut nurse strike short Health Secretary Steve Barclay is to ask judges to rule whether part of the next nurse strike is unlawful.

The government wants the High Court to assess whether Tuesday - the last day of the walkout in England - falls outside the Royal College of Nursing's six-month mandate for action.

It believes the mandate will have lapsed by Tuesday - the 48-hour strike is due to start at 20:00 BST on Sunday. BBC News

See also:

• NHS strike action in England House of Commons Library
• NHS Employers statement on legality of RCN strike action NHS Employers
• Government confirms High Court application against the Royal College of Nursing strike next week Royal College of Nursing
• England nursing strikes: legal challenge latest Royal College of Nursing
• Nurses' strikes may be cut short as Health Secretary goes to High Court The Daily Telegraph
• Government to seek court order to stop next month’s nursing strike Evening Standard
• Ministers apply to high court to stop part of nurses’ strike in England The Guardian
• Government to face nursing union in court as Steve Barclay confirms legal action over strike The Independent
• Government confirms legal action over nurses' strikes ITV News
• Nurses' strike: Health Secretary Steve Barclay says he is 'left with no choice but to proceed with legal action' Sky News

Covid: No evidence shielding helped - Swansea uni study

Covid: No evidence shielding helped - Swansea uni study There is no evidence that shielding benefited vulnerable people during the Covid pandemic, according to a study.

Swansea University compared 117,000 people shielding in Wales with the rest of the population of three million.

The study found deaths and healthcare usage were higher among shielding people than the general population. BBC News

See also:

• Did the UK's public health shielding policy protect the clinically extremely vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales? Results of EVITE Immunity, a linked data retrospective study (open access) Public Health
• No evidence that shielding reduced Covid infections in Wales Swansea University
• Arcturus has already killed 5 Brits: New Covid strain makes up one in 40 new cases The Daily Mail
• Britain 'should open up spring Covid booster drive to ALL over-50s amid Arcturus fears' The Daily Mail
• Covid inquiry orders ministers to hand over all WhatsApps on pandemic The Daily Telegraph
• Five die with Arcturus variant in UK as strain spreads globally The Independent
• Arcturus mapped: Is new Covid-19 variant in your region? The Independent
• Covid inquiry demands Tory ministers hand over WhatsApp messages The Independent

Biting cost of NHS dental treatment revealed as patients avoid care

Biting cost of NHS dental treatment revealed as patients avoid care The price of NHS dental treatments has risen by 8.5%. The British Dental Association has warned that patients are avoiding treatments due to the cost. ITV News

See also:

• Ministers must rethink outrageous charge hikes British Dental Association
• NHS dentistry crisis: Crowdfunding my new teeth has changed my life BBC News
• 'Care homes are being deprived of dental services' BBC News
• Costs leave one quarter of patients delaying or avoiding treatment Dentistry
• One in four delay or go without NHS dental treatment ‘due to cost’ Evening Standard
• NHS dentistry crisis grows with less than half of children seeing a dentist in past year, research suggests Sky News

150000 NHS doctors and nurses opt out of pensions amid pay dispute

150000 NHS doctors and nurses opt out of pensions amid pay dispute NHS workers have stopped paying into their pensions in an attempt to boost their take-home pay amid a long-running salary dispute.

More than 150,000 people opted out of the NHS pension scheme between April and December last year, according to a freedom of information request submitted by the wealth manager Quilter. The Daily Telegraph

NHS ambulance staff in England quitting for less stressful, better paid jobs

NHS ambulance staff in England quitting for less stressful, better paid jobs NHS ambulance trusts in England are struggling with high staff turnover as key workers leave the crisis-hit service for less stressful or better paid work, according to figures obtained by the Observer. 

Data sourced under the Freedom of Information Act reveals the backdrop to recent ambulance strikes, with sickness rates above pre-pandemic levels and low levels of staff retention.

A 'skinny jab' is no quick fix for obesity - and no excuse to let junk food companies off the hook

A 'skinny jab' is no quick fix for obesity - and no excuse to let junk food companies off the hook | Sarah Boseley Rather than board the injection bandwagon, Britain should be taxing unhealthy food and clamping down on marketing

Humankind has been freed from the threat of disease by some wonderful, transformative inventions, from smallpox injections to the Covid vaccinations. With all due respect, I don’t think the so-called skinny jab is one of them. The Guardian

New Alzheimer's drug can 'remove' harmful proteins associated with the disease, experts claim

New Alzheimer's drug can 'remove' harmful proteins associated with the disease, experts claim Experts have hailed a 'significant step forward' in the quest for an Alzheimer's treatment after a drug was found to remove harmful proteins linked to the condition.

Tau is one of the main proteins linked with the disease, forming 'tangles' which can interfere with brain cells and slow the ability to think and remember.

Now, for the first time, researchers have been able to lower levels of the protein with a 'gene silencing' approach. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Tau-targeting antisense oligonucleotide MAPTRx in mild Alzheimer’s disease: a phase 1b, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (open access) Nature Medicine

The GP will see you now... but only for a couple of minutes!

The GP will see you now... but only for a couple of minutes! More than 51million GP appointments lasted five minutes or less last year as patients were 'rushed' out the door, official figures suggest.

Patients are typically offered ten-minute consultations but more than one in six (17.2 per cent) were ended after less than half that time.

Campaigners warn doctors who cut visits short risk missing symptoms and storing up more serious problems for the future. The Daily Mail

Therapy dog helps children with eating disorders

Therapy dog helps children with eating disorders A new therapy dog is helping young people who are being treated for eating disorders to be put at ease and laugh, his trainer said.

Sipho, the 10-month-old labradoodle puppy, goes with his owner, Bronwyne Stott, a paediatric nurse, to The Brambles, in Duston, Northampton.

Ms Stott, who works for the service run by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), said: "He instinctively seems to know who is feeling anxious or vulnerable and will sit with his chin on their foot."

She said when he greets patients the entrance "they immediately feel more relaxed". BBC Northampton

Kettering Hospital needs to get its act together, says MP

Kettering Hospital needs to get its act together, says MP The hospital where a ward was accused of failing children "needs to get its act together as quickly as possible", an MP said.

Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire has been warned by the care regulator about its children's and young people's services.

Philip Hollobone, MP for Kettering, said: "The situation is clearly not acceptable."

The trust's chief executive apologised to those who felt let down. BBC Northampton

Highbury Residential Care Home in Rushden rated inadequate by CQC and placed in special measures

Highbury Residential Care Home in Rushden rated inadequate by CQC and placed in special measures he bosses of a Rushden care home are ‘disappointed’ after being rated inadequate, but determined to meet the actions the CQC has asked them to take.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Highbury Residential Care Home in Irchester Road as inadequate and placed it in special measures following an inspection in February. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• CQC rates Northamptonshire care home inadequate and places it in special measures Care Quality Commission

Five principles for implementing the NHS Impact approach to improvement in England

Five principles for implementing the NHS Impact approach to improvement in England The NHS is facing an unprecedented range of workforce, financial and performance pressures. The time has come to think and act differently and to do so at pace. What is needed is a strategy and management system capable of maximising the impact and spread of the many promising NHS-led innovations, service improvements and new technologies.

The new NHS Impact approach to improvement could help to meet this need. It rightly articulates the importance of taking an aligned and integrated approach to improvement delivery and capability building across NHS provider organisations and integrated care systems (ICSs). The Health Foundation

Restoring public confidence in the NHS will be no easy feat

Restoring public confidence in the NHS will be no easy feat With the latest British Social Attitudes survey showing that public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded, Professor Sir John Curtice looks back at satisfaction with the health service over the years and points out that the lesson for policy-makers is much the same as two decades ago. Nuffield Trust

NHS England business continuity management toolkit

NHS England business continuity management toolkit This document highlights the need for Business Continuity Management (BCM) in NHS organisations so that they can maintain continuity of key services in the face of disruption from identified local risks. Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (as amended), all NHS organisations have a duty to put in place continuity arrangements. The toolkit is driven by the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle along with being updated in line with both ISO 22301 principles, as well as the Business Continuity Good Practice Guidelines 2018. NHS England

Mental health services to face surprise spot-checks after series of abuse scandals, watchdog warns

Mental health services to face surprise spot-checks after series of abuse scandals, watchdog warns Unannounced and out-of-hours spot-checks on mental health services are set to ramp up following a string of abuse scandals, The Independent can reveal.

The Care Quality Commission’s new mental health chief Chris Dzikiti said he was “saddened” by “unacceptable” scandals in the last six months, warning the regulator “will use the powers [it has] to hold people to account.”

Court may need to decide if nurses' strike is legal

Court may need to decide if nurses' strike is legal The leader of Royal College of Nursing has said the health secretary's legal action against the nursing union's strike is "cruel" and "unacceptable".

Pat Cullen told the BBC members believe the government is punishing nurses for rejecting the government's pay offer.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay is to challenge whether the RCN has a mandate for its 48-hour walkout on 30 April.

Ms Cullen said that if the court found against the union, it would "never do anything illegal". BBC News

See also:

• RCN responds to NHS Employers statement on a legal challenge to the next nursing strike Royal College of Nursing
• RCN responds to government 'letter before action' and threat of interim court order to stop entire 48-hour nurse strike Royal College of Nursing
• NHS urges Steve Barclay to intervene in legal row over nurses' strike The Daily Mail
• RCN strike presents serious risk to NHS treatment The Daily Telegraph
• RCN chief: legal action over nurses’ strikes is ‘blatant threat’ The Guardian
• Health Secretary gives nurses' union until midday to call off upcoming strikes ITV News
• Health Secretary Steve Barclay to pursue legal action to stop nurses' strike Sky News
• Nurses strikes: Union boss says members are being 'treated as criminals' Sky News

Woman's bowel cancer spotted by artificial intelligence

Woman's bowel cancer spotted by artificial intelligence A woman who was part of a study using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect bowel cancer is free of the disease after it was found and removed.

Jean Tyler, 75, from South Shields, took part in a study called Colo-Detect as part of a trial at 10 NHS Trusts.

In the trial the AI flags up tissue potentially of concern to the medic carrying out the colonoscopy, which could be missed by the human eye.

About 2,000 patients from 10 NHS trusts have been recruited for the trial. BBC News

The 'lung MOT' scan trucks helping to diagnose lung cancer earlier in deprived areas

The 'lung MOT' scan trucks helping to diagnose lung cancer earlier in deprived areas People in deprived areas are now more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at an earlier stage, thanks to the success of trucks offering chest scans in supermarket car parks, the NHS has said.

For the first time ever, data shows more than a third of people diagnosed with lung cancer from the most deprived 20% of England had the disease detected at stage one or two in 2022 (34.5%) - up from 30% in 2019.

Now at 43 sites across the country, the mobile trucks scan those most at risk from lung cancer, including current and ex-smokers. Sky News

See also:

• NHS lung cancer trucks boost early diagnoses in deprived areas of England The Guardian

England’s ambulance crews spend 1.8m hours a year on mental health callouts

England’s ambulance crews spend 1.8m hours a year on mental health callouts Ambulance crews in England are spending 1.8m hours a year – the equivalent of 75,000 days – dealing with patients with mental health problems, new NHS figures reveal.

Labour’s Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said the data showed that lack of help for people experiencing mental ill health was adding to the strain on the hard-pressed ambulance service. The Guardian

Woman who miscarried fined by NHS for claiming free prescription while pregnant

Woman who miscarried fined by NHS for claiming free prescription while pregnant A woman who suffered a miscarriage has been fined by the NHS for claiming a free prescription during her pregnancy.

Sadie Hawkes lost her baby before she had received the maternity exemption certificate that entitled her to free prescriptions throughout her pregnancy and the first year after birth. She has now been sent a demand for £56.10 for medication issued the week before her miscarriage. She’s been told that she can’t apply for a certificate retrospectively as she is no longer pregnant. The Guardian

Regulator to review safety concerns over medicines courier used by NHS

Regulator to review safety concerns over medicines courier used by NHS The care regulator has launched a review of serious and significant concerns raised by patients, clinicians and health groups about the safety and reliability of the services of Britain’s biggest medicines delivery business, the Guardian can reveal.

Sciensus is paid millions of pounds each year by the NHS to transport vital drugs and medical items to the homes of about 200,000 people with conditions including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and HIV.

Gonorrhoea IS spread by kissing: Game-changing study overturns decades of medical advice

Gonorrhoea IS spread by kissing: Game-changing study overturns decades of medical advice Gonorrhoea really can be spread by kissing, leading scientists now claim. 

For decades, sexual health experts have insisted 'the clap' couldn't spread through snogging, and is instead transmitted through unprotected sex.

But researchers say the evidence is now clear enough that the guidance should be changed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A systematic review of kissing as a risk factor for oropharyngeal gonorrhoea or chlamydia (abstract) Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Worried about a mole? Here's where you can get it checked out at drop-in Kettering skin cancer sessions

Worried about a mole? Here's where you can get it checked out at drop-in Kettering skin cancer sessions Those worried about a mole or skin lesion will be able to have them checked by a doctor or nurse at drop-in Kettering sessions next month.

Kettering General Hospital is holding a three-day skin surveillance event to help identify problems like skin cancer as early as possible. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Understanding and supporting mental health in infancy and early childhood: a toolkit to support local action in the UK

Understanding and supporting mental health in infancy and early childhood: a toolkit to support local action in the UK This resource aims to support service leaders, commissioners and policy teams to develop a whole-system approach to support the mental health of babies and young children, and to enable them to develop the capacities to be mentally healthy throughout their lives. Evidence shows that the mental health needs of babies and young children – which present differently than in older children and young people – are not well understood and often overlooked. 

This toolkit acknowledges that it can be harder for professionals to work together to promote and protect mental health at this life stage, as understanding varies across sectors. It suggests practical steps to help all services play their role and work together and will facilitate shared understanding, and constructive discussions about the needs of babies and young children in local communities. UNICEF UK

Living (and dying) as an older person in prison

Living (and dying) as an older person in prison Tough conditions in prison disproportionately affect older prisoners, and they tend to be in poorer health than the general population. This new Nuffield Trust report funded by The Health Foundation uses hospital data to look at the health care needs of those older people in prison. It finds significant health care needs associated with frailty, which has implications for the prison service in managing increasing numbers of older people as the population continues to age.

See also:

• What does it mean to be an older person in prison? Nuffield Trust

NHS Data - Maximising its impact for all

 NHS Data - Maximising its impact for all There is more that can be done to make the most of NHS healthcare data. By maximising the opportunity to use data-driven innovations to improve healthcare, people in the UK and the NHS will benefit, says a new white paper from Imperial College London.

NHS delivery and continuous improvement review: recommendations

NHS delivery and continuous improvement review: recommendations This report contains the findings and recommendations of the delivery and continuous improvement review conducted by Anne Eden. It looked at how improvement-led delivery can enhance the quality of outcomes for our patients, communities and our health and care workforce. It recommends establishing a national improvement board to agree a small number of shared national priorities on which NHS England, with providers and systems, will focus improvement-led delivery work. It also recommends launching a single, shared ‘NHS improvement approach’ and co-designing and establishing a Leadership for Improvement programme. NHS England

Millions wait more than a fortnight to see a GP in England

Millions wait more than a fortnight to see a GP in England Nearly five million patients each month in England wait more than a fortnight for a GP appointment, NHS figures show, which Labour is calling "unacceptable".

The government says it expects all patients needing a GP appointment to be seen within two weeks.

The Royal College of GPs says 85% of appointments happen within two weeks and nearly half on the same day. BBC News

See also:

• Appointments in General Practice, February 2023 NHS Digital
• Millions waiting more than a fortnight for GP appointments each month The Independent
• Almost five million patients wait over two weeks for a GP appointment each month, claims Labour Pulse

Herpes deaths: NHS trust lied about virus links, inquest hears

Herpes deaths: NHS trust lied about virus links, inquest hears The mother of a young woman who died with herpes said she was "disgusted" with an NHS trust which "lied" about the potential cause of the virus.

Kim Sampson and Samantha Mulcahy died with herpes after the same obstetrician at the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust carried out their Caesareans.

Yvette Sampson's daughter had been "fit and healthy" until she gave birth on 3 May 2018, an inquest has heard.

She said the trust had lied about links between the two mothers' deaths. BBC News

NHS threatens legal action to block second day of nurses’ strike

NHS threatens legal action to block second day of nurses’ strike The NHS has launched a legal challenge that could end in the high court to block the second day of an upcoming strike by tens of thousands of nurses.

Officials at NHS Employers wrote to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on Wednesday saying the union’s plans for a two-day strike were unlawful. The Guardian

See also:

• Strike action in England: RCN strongly resists NHS legal threat Royal College of Nursing
• Patient safety at risk without exemption of key mental health services from next wave of nursing strikes NHS Confederation
• NHS threatens legal action to BLOCK second day of May Day nurses' strike The Daily Mail
• Nurses told their next strike is illegal The Daily Telegraph
• NHS threatens legal action to block second day of nurses’ strike Evening Standard
• NHS mental health leaders call for nurses’ strike staff exemption The Guardian
• NHS tells nurses that planned strike is illegal The Independent
• RCN says it will ‘forcefully resist’ any attempt to derail strike action Nursing Notes

Funding and mental health staff retention go ‘hand-in-hand’ – NHS chief

Funding and mental health staff retention go ‘hand-in-hand’ – NHS chief Boosting the mental health workforce to improve services goes “hand-in-hand” with the funding available, the chief executive of NHS England has said.

Amanda Pritchard told MPs support services had significantly improved under plans to give mental health parity of esteem with physical health, but said bolstering staff recruitment and retention was key to further progress. Evening Standard

MPs told of long wait before response to child eating disorders improves

MPs told of long wait before response to child eating disorders improves It will take at least two years for guidance aimed at saving the lives of children and young people with acute eating disorders to be consistently followed, a senior NHS official has admitted.

Campaigners have warned that people are dying because guidance on medical emergencies in eating disorders (Meed) introduced last year is not regularly being implemented by specialists. Evening Standard

Catching Covid can trigger deadly side effect months later, study finds

Catching Covid can trigger deadly side effect months later, study finds Patients with severe Covid who require mechanical ventilation are likely to develop a potentially life-threatening disease within six months of getting the infection, according to a study.

Covid-19 patients requiring ventilation are 16 times more likely to develop ventricular tachycardia than those who did not have a severe infection, according to research by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The Independent

See also:

• Severe COVID-19 linked with 16-fold risk of life-threatening heart rhythm within 6 months European Society of Cardiology
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 20 April 2023 World Health Organization
• First person dies with new Covid variant as cases rise globally The Independent

Diet high in fruit and vegetables can slash miscarriage risk by almost two-thirds, study finds

Diet high in fruit and vegetables can slash miscarriage risk by almost two-thirds, study finds Eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables can slash the chances of miscarriage by up to 61 per cent, research suggests.

Women who ate a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, seafood, dairy products, eggs and grain had a lower miscarriage risk than those who ate the least.

And those with a diet high in processed foods – such as many breakfast cereals, junk foods and anything altered from its natural state – had double the risk. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The association between dietary patterns and risk of miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis (open access) Fertility and Sterility

The old wives' tale really IS true! Major review rules drinking cranberry juice can prevent UTIs

The old wives' tale really IS true! Major review rules drinking cranberry juice can prevent UTIs It's the old wives tale that has divided opinion for decades.

Cranberry juice really can help stop urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to the largest review of evidence to date.

A global study looking at the benefits of cranberries found cranberries – in juice or taken as supplements — cut the risk of repeat UTIs in women by more than a quarter. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections Cochrane Library

Kettering hospital ward accused of failing children inadequate

Kettering hospital ward accused of failing children inadequate The safety of a ward accused of failing children has been rated as inadequate by inspectors.

The care regulator warned Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire over its children's and young people's services.

Inspectors' worries include sepsis treatment, staff numbers, dirt levels and not having an "open culture" where concerns can be raised without fear.

The trust's chief executive apologised to those who felt let down. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Kettering General Hospital Services for Children and Young People Care Quality Commission
• KGH is undertaking a significant review of the way it delivers children’s services following an inspection by the CQC Kettering General Hospital
• Warning notice for KGH's children's services as they are rated inadequate by CQC Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Children's services at Kettering General branded 'inadequate' after out-of-date medicine and equipment left lying around Northants Live

Patients’ artwork brightens Berrywood Hospital in Northampton thanks to charity

Patients’ artwork brightens Berrywood Hospital in Northampton thanks to charity Eye-catching artwork, to reinvigorate the communal areas of a Northampton hospital, has gone on display as part of creative project involving inpatients.

The striking creations have been introduced at the Wheatfield Unit, at Berrywood Hospital, through inpatient occupational therapy sessions which supports people whose health, environment or social circumstances make it difficult for them to take part in the activities that matter to them. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Postcode lottery for FGM provision in largest UK study of survivor experiences of healthcare

Postcode lottery for FGM provision in largest UK study of survivor experiences of healthcare Survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) have expressed concern over deficiencies in healthcare provision in many parts of the UK, in the largest study of its kind.

Newly published research produced by the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham reveals how survivors of FGM highlight a ‘postcode lottery’ of inconsistent healthcare provision across the UK.

See also:

• Views of female genital mutilation survivors, men and health-care professionals on timing of deinfibulation surgery and NHS service provision: qualitative FGM Sister Study National Institute for Health and Care Research

Junior doctors' strike: Medical chiefs call on third party to broker talks

Junior doctors' strike: Medical chiefs call on third party to broker talks An independent organisation should be brought in to help broker a deal in the pay dispute between junior doctors and the government, medical leaders say.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which brings together leading doctors and surgeons, said prolonged industrial action was having a "serious impact".

Last week's strike by junior doctors resulted in nearly 200,000 cancelled appointments and operations. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors' industrial action - Academy Council statement update Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
• Unite announces further NHS strikes at ambulance trusts and hospitals Unite
• Official death data doesn’t tell us whether junior doctors’ strikes cost lives Full Fact
• More ambulance workers to strike after early May bank holiday BBC News
• Striking nurses 'put cancer patients at risk': Royal College of Nursing comes under growing pressure The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors call for co-ordinated strikes with nurses minutes after rejecting government offer The Daily Mail
• Ambulance workers to strike alongside teachers and nurses The Daily Telegraph
• Health workers announce fresh strikes in pay row Evening Standard
• Medical leaders call for arbitration to resolve junior doctors’ dispute The Guardian
• Medical leaders call for third party to 'rapidly engage' junior doctors and government in strike negotiations Sky News

‘Failure at every level’ led to children’s homes abuse, report says

‘Failure at every level’ led to children’s homes abuse, report says Ofsted was warned on more than 100 occasions about incidents at children's homes whose residents faced "horrific" abuse, a report has revealed.

An expert panel criticised inadequate leadership at the Hesley Group, which ran the homes, as well as failures of regulation.

The review lead said a "major overhaul" of the safeguarding system was needed.

BBC News revealed children were reportedly punched, kicked and fed chillies at homes Ofsted rated "good".

See also: 

• Safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
• Experts demand major overhaul of safeguarding system to protect children with disabilities from abuse at children’s homes Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
• Statement on Phase 2 of the review into alleged abuses against disabled children in residential settings Children's Commissioner
• Urgent calls for reform after horrific abuse of young people at private care homes The Guardian
• England’s most vulnerable children needlessly put at risk in residential ‘institutions’, investigator warns iNews
• BBC investigation reveals more abuse at Hesley Group care homes Learning Disability Today

‘Healthy’ doctor died after reaction to Covid vaccine, inquest rules

‘Healthy’ doctor died after reaction to Covid vaccine, inquest rules A “fit and healthy” doctor died of “unintended consequences of vaccination” after a rare reaction to the AstraZeneca Covid jab, a coroner has ruled.

As an NHS clinical psychologist and frontline health worker, Dr Stephen Wright, 32, of Sevenoaks, Kent, was among the earliest groups of people to be given the vaccine during the pandemic. He died 10 days later. The Independent

See also:

• Doctor's death due to AstraZeneca Covid vaccine reaction - inquest BBC News
• 'Healthy' doctor died after rare AstraZeneca Covid jab reaction Evening Standard
• Doctor died from rare reaction to AstraZeneca Covid jab, UK coroner rules The Guardian
• 'Healthy' doctor, 32, died after rare severe reaction to AstraZeneca COVID jab, coroner concludes Sky News

Campaign launched to encourage more Black people to give blood - with data showing they only make up 1% of donors

Campaign launched to encourage more Black people to give blood - with data showing they only make up 1% of donors People of Black heritage are more likely to develop diseases such as sickle cell, which is the fastest growing genetic condition in the UK, and doctors say the best treatment is using blood that is an ethnic match. Sky News

Type 2 diabetes really can be REVERSED by losing weight: Effects last five years, trial confirms

Type 2 diabetes really can be REVERSED by losing weight: Effects last five years, trial confirms A soup and shake diet being rolled out on the NHS can reverse type 2 diabetes for at least five years, new research has shown.

Almost a quarter of people in remission from diabetes two years after starting a low-calorie diet were still free of the condition three years later.

Experts say it is further evidence that lifestyle changes rather than medication can help beat the disease, described last week as a ‘rapidly escalating crisis’ in the UK. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Weight loss can put type 2 diabetes into remission for at least 5 years, direct study reveals Diabetes UK

Suspected cancer patients are having to wait up to 6 MONTHS to see a doctor and a year for treatment

Suspected cancer patients are having to wait up to 6 MONTHS to see a doctor and a year for treatment Suspected cancer patients face an agonising wait of up to two years for a diagnosis and a year to start treatment, damning figures reveal. 

The ‘unacceptable’ delays could give tumours time to spread, slash survival chances and make treatment more expensive, charities warn.

The NHS should offer people a first appointment with a specialist within two weeks of receiving an urgent referral from a GP. The Daily Mail