Northamptonshire cancer survivor joins forces with Macmillan to break the ‘menopause taboo’

Northamptonshire cancer survivor joins forces with Macmillan to break the ‘menopause taboo’  A Northamptonshire cancer survivor, who faced the menopause in her twenties as a result of her cancer diagnosis, has joined forces with Macmillan to help other women going through the experience and break the taboo.

Now she’s working with the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support team at Northampton General Hospital to co-design an early menopause workshop to encourage women to seek support for their symptoms. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS at 75: What are we up against? – with Professor Jagjit Chadha and Anita Charlesworth

NHS at 75: What are we up against? – with Professor Jagjit Chadha and Anita Charlesworth The fact the NHS survives by a kind of miracle is one of its endearing British features – so said former health secretary, Kenneth Clarke. Well, can that miracle continue? 

As we approach the NHS’s 75th birthday in July, we’re launching a series of three podcast episodes setting out the big questions facing the health service. This first episode explores current pressures on the NHS, economy and wider society and what the future might hold.  

What are the questions that policymakers may face as the population’s health and care needs change over the coming decade? How can the UK economy power the investment needed for health services to survive and thrive? And how can more long-term thinking help to foster good health and economic productivity? Podcast from The Health Foundation

People's experience with thyroid disease: survey results

People's experience with thyroid disease: survey results One in twenty people in the UK have a thyroid problem, with women six times more likely to suffer from the condition than men. This survey of people with thyroid disorders was carried out to collect information on patients’ experience from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis/treatment and on the effects of thyroid disease, before and after diagnosis / treatment, on their wellbeing and labour market engagement. University of Aberdeen

Cost of living - a barrier to healthcare for the most vulnerable

Cost of living - a barrier to healthcare for the most vulnerable The cost of living is having a detrimental impact on people's decisions about their healthcare. But if you are disabled, on means-tested benefits or aged 18-24, you're more likely to avoid vital health services due to the fear of extra costs. We set out immediate actions for the government and the NHS. Healthwatch England

Research: Malaria in the UK: annual report

Research: Malaria in the UK: annual report Malaria does not occur naturally in the UK but travel-associated cases are reported in those who have returned to the UK or arrived (either as a visitor or migrant to the UK) from malaria-endemic areas.

This report presents data on malaria imported into the UK, based on figures reported to the UK Health Security Agency's Malaria Reference Laboratory (MRL).

Chief Medical Officer for England on vaping

Chief Medical Officer for England on vaping The key points about vaping (e-cigarettes) can be easily summarised. If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape; marketing vapes to children is utterly unacceptable. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Quitters’ aid or addiction risk? Growing debate over vape regulation The Guardian

‘Smart bandages’ could improve outcomes for patients with non-healing wounds

‘Smart bandages’ could improve outcomes for patients with non-healing wounds Pioneering new technology could help patients with non-healing wounds avoid infections and the need for antibiotics, scientists say.

Wirelessly powered, environmentally friendly “smart bandages” have been developed by a team of scientists from the UK and France, with the University of Glasgow and the University of Southampton leading the research.

The bandage could help improve the quality of life for people with chronic non-healing wounds as a result of conditions such as cancer, diabetes or damaged blood vessels, they said. The Independent

See also:

• Wirelessly Powered Drug-Free and Anti-Infective Smart Bandage for Chronic Wound Care (abstract) IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems
• Wirelessly powered 'smart bandage' could provide drug-free wound care Medicalxpress

What is the standoff between Covid inquiry and Cabinet Office about?

What is the standoff between Covid inquiry and Cabinet Office about? Wrangling over Boris Johnson’s notebooks and WhatsApp messages continues in earnest, with the government and the official Covid inquiry locked in a standoff over what should be shared. The Guardian

See also:

• No 10 denies cover-up over Boris Johnson Covid WhatsApps BBC News
• Ministers dodge Covid inquiry questions on care home deaths until after election The Daily Telegraph
• Former Johnson aide at centre of Covid inquiry battle over private messages The Daily Telegraph
• Sunak accused of trying to cover up ministers’ actions during pandemic The Guardian
• Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp row descends into farce as senior Tories call for Sunak to end dispute The Independent
• The Covid-19 inquiry timeline and what it's hoped it will achieve ITV News
• Prime minister Rishi Sunak says government is 'cooperating with COVID inquiry' Sky News

Dangerous lab leaks happen far more often than the public is aware

Dangerous lab leaks happen far more often than the public is aware | Alison Young At biological research facilities across the United States and around the world, hundreds of safety breaches happen every year at labs experimenting with dangerous pathogens. Scientists and other lab workers are bitten by infected animals, stuck by contaminated needles and splashed with infectious fluids. They are put at risk of exposures when their protective gear malfunctions or critical building biosafety systems fail.

And, like all humans, the people working in laboratories make mistakes and they sometimes cut corners or ignore safety procedures – even when working with pathogens that have the potential to cause a global pandemic. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid: Top Chinese scientist says don’t rule out lab leak BBC News
• Covid lab leak theory should not be ruled out, top Chinese scientist says The Guardian
• 'Don't rule out' COVID-19 lab leak theory, Chinese scientist says Sky News

Warning that life-saving research is being put on hold due to delays

Warning that life-saving research is being put on hold due to delays Life-saving research is on hold due to a three-month backlog in approving medical trials, MailOnline can reveal.

Any study involving giving humans drugs must be signed off by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

These can include testing new medications and vaccines for the UK's biggest killers, such as dementia, cancer and heart disease. The Daily Mail

NHS bosses could be set for a summer of chaos as doctors' union hints that pay offers aren't enough

NHS bosses could be set for a summer of chaos as doctors' union hints that pay offers aren't enough NHS bosses are braced for a summer of chaos after union leaders suggested a 50 per cent pay hike would not be enough to stop senior doctors from striking.

In comments unearthed by the Daily Mail, officials from doctors' union the British Medical Association (BMA) said that if ministers were to offer consultants 50 per cent it would still be just a 'drop in the ocean'.

See also:

• Health Secretary Steve Barclay rules out new pay offer for nurses despite 'constructive' meeting with RCN chief Sky News

CQC case reveals ‘degrading’ conditions in England care home as Covid hit

CQC case reveals ‘degrading’ conditions in England care home as Covid hit The depth of suffering in care homes in England as Covid hit has been laid bare in a court case exposing “degrading” treatment with residents being “catastrophically let down”.

Care levels at the Temple Court care home in Kettering collapsed so badly in April 2020, when ministers rushed to free up NHS capacity by discharging thousands of people, that residents were left lying in their own faeces, dehydrated, malnourished and suffering necrotic, infected wounds, the Care Quality Commission found. Fifteen of its residents died with Covid in the first weeks of the pandemic. The Guardian

Community Network survey on waiting times in children and young people's services

Community Network survey on waiting times in children and young people's services The Community Network, hosted by NHS Providers and NHS Confederation, has published the findings of a survey looking at long waits in children and young people’s community services. The briefing highlights the scale of the challenge, the impact long waits have on children and young people, their families, and staff morale, as well as outlining some core asks for national and local policy makers.

See also:

• Children waiting for community health services risk being 'overshadowed' as health leaders call for cross-government action NHS Providers

Caring in a complex world: perspectives from unpaid carers and the organisations that support them

Caring in a complex world: perspectives from unpaid carers and the organisations that support them Unpaid carers – anyone who provides care, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support – play a key role in the health and care system. Caring can be a big commitment and carers themselves also need support with their own health and wellbeing. Yet, it’s also clear that carers are not always able to access the support they need. 

We set out to understand the current picture of local support available for unpaid carers in England. We looked at what evidence is available for different types of support, what carers and professionals involved in commissioning and delivering services for carers prioritise, and what are the barriers and facilitators of access to these different types of support. The King's Fund

Where does specialist public health sit across the UK?

Where does specialist public health sit across the UK? There are four nations in the UK, three Crown Dependencies and 14 UK overseas territories. Public health functions look very different across these 21 administrations. This explainer aims to provide an overview of where functions sit in different nations. Association of Directors of Public Health

No more free vapes for kids

No more free vapes for kids A loophole that allows retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England is set to be closed under new plans announced by the Prime Minister today to clamp down on youth vaping.

This comes as recent NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11 to 15 year old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Vaping: Government plans underage crackdown BBC News

New NHS Measures To Improve Eye Care and Cut Waiting Times

New NHS Measures To Improve Eye Care and Cut Waiting Times The NHS is today publishing new clinical guidance which could reduce waiting times for eye care services for patients in England.

As part of a wide-ranging list of evidence-based interventions designed to improve the quality of care, the guidance proposes patients get access to more sophisticated diagnostic imaging before they are referred to a consultant.

As well as reducing a patient’s anxiety while waiting for a hospital appointment, it will also ease pressure on ophthalmology services and free up vital clinical time by prioritising those who really need to be seen by a specialist. NHS England

Met Police to stop attending mental health calls

Met Police to stop attending mental health calls The Met Police's plan to stop attending emergency mental health incidents is "potentially alarming", a former inspector of constabulary has said.

From September, officers will only attend mental health 999 calls where there is an "immediate threat to life".

Zoe Billingham, who was previously Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, said the proposals could create a "vacuum".

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' president called the move "unhelpful". BBC News

See also:

• Reaction to Met police plans not to attend 999 mental health incidents Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Backlash after Scotland Yard chief Mark Rowley warns that the Met will stop attending mental health-linked emergency calls - as critics warn 'there will be no one else left to call' The Daily Mail
• Met plan to stop mental health response will leave thousands ‘without support’ The Guardian
• Met police to stop attending emergency mental health calls The Guardian
• Met police ‘to stop attending emergency mental health calls so officers can focus on crime’ The Independent
• 'Lives at risk' if Met Police stop attending mental health calls, charity warns ITV News
• Metropolitan Police to stop attending 999 calls linked to mental health incidents Sky News

Boris Johnson: Deadline approaches to hand over WhatsApps to Covid inquiry

Boris Johnson: Deadline approaches to hand over WhatsApps to Covid inquiry The government has until 4pm to hand over Boris Johnson's unredacted WhatsApp messages and diary entries to the Covid inquiry.

The former PM is among those who will give evidence to the inquiry, which is due to start hearings in two weeks.

The Cabinet Office has given the inquiry Mr Johnson's messages but with many parts blanked out, or redacted.

The inquiry says failing to release the unredacted material would be a criminal offence. BBC News

See also:

• Ministers prepare to sue Covid inquiry over demand for Boris Johnson's un-censored messages The Daily Mail
• The Covid inquiry is descending into farce The Daily Telegraph
• Legal battle looms over Boris Johnson's Covid WhatsApp messages Evening Standard
• Cabinet Office may take legal action to deny Covid inquiry Boris Johnson material The Guardian
• Deadline looms for Covid inquiry reply after Johnson WhatsApp requests ITV News

East Kent: A decade of failure in maternity care

East Kent: A decade of failure in maternity care After health inspectors considered closing a maternity unit over safety fears, the BBC's Michael Buchanan looks at a near-decade of poor care at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. BBC News

See also:

• Almost a QUARTER of mothers claim poor NHS maternity care left them or their baby in danger The Daily Mail

Major change to nursing and doctor degrees in bid to plug NHS shortages

Major change to nursing and doctor degrees in bid to plug NHS shortages Ministers desperate to plug NHS shortages are floating plans to shorten doctors’ training by a year.

The radical plans would see doctors’ degrees reduced from five to four years, while nursing students could be fast-tracked to be qualified in just two-and-a-half years.

Critics warn the move would put patient safety at risk and even drive would-be doctors and nurses away from the NHS – worsening the shortages the plan is designed to solve. The Independent

Government refuses to fund NHS pay rise for some organisations

Government refuses to fund NHS pay rise for some organisations The government has confirmed they will only increase funding to so-called statutory NHS organisations for this year’s NHS pay rise.

This means that “non-statutory” organisations such as; primary care services, charities, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, independent healthcare providers, nursing and care homes will have to find money from already stretched budgets. Nursing Notes

See also:

• Government set to fail its commitment to protect patient care by not fully funding the staff pay award NHS Confederation
• Vital NHS services face cutbacks as government excludes thousands of workers from pay deal The Independent

NHS England workforce plan delayed amid rumours of cost issues

NHS England workforce plan delayed amid rumours of cost issues NHS leaders have raised concerns about the delay to the long-awaited workforce plan, after the health secretary, Steve Barclay, refused to give a deadline for its publication and with rumours suggesting it is considered too costly.

The plan, which was expected to be published on Tuesday, appears to have been delayed, according to the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery. The Guardian

See also:

• Barclay refuses to give deadline for long-promised NHS workforce plan Evening Standard
• Concerns over NHS workforce plan delay after Barclay comments Evening Standard
• Concerns over NHS workforce plan delay after Barclay comments The Independent

NHS data breach: trusts shared patient details with Facebook without consent

NHS data breach: trusts shared patient details with Facebook without consent NHS trusts are sharing intimate details about patients’ medical conditions, appointments and treatments with Facebook without consent and despite promising never to do so.

An investigation by The Observer has uncovered a covert tracking tool in the websites of 20 NHS trusts which has for years collected browsing information and shared it with the tech giant in a major breach of privacy.

The data includes granular details of pages viewed, buttons clicked and keywords searched. It is matched to the user’s IP address – an identifier linked to an individual or household – and in many cases details of their Facebook account. 

See also:

• How the NHS has been sharing YOUR personal details with Facebook without your consent The Daily Mail
• NHS trusts passed on private patient information to Facebook – report The Independent

Secret Home Office policy to detain people with NHS debt at airport found unlawful

Secret Home Office policy to detain people with NHS debt at airport found unlawful A secret Home Office policy to detain people with the right to live in the UK at air and seaports has been found to be unlawful in the high court.

The policy applied to those with unpaid NHS debts and was only uncovered through evidence gathered from charities and lawyers fighting the cases of two mothers who were repeatedly detained. The Guardian

Shocking death toll after NHS medics mix-up patients' food and air tubes over last five years

Shocking death toll after NHS medics mix-up patients' food and air tubes over last five years Nearly 30 patients have died after blundering NHS staff misplaced feeding tubes into their airways, MailOnline can reveal.

Over the past five years, 145 incidents of wrongly inserted nasogastric tubes have been officially recorded by hospitals in England. Twenty-eight ended in death.

Patients who have difficulty swallowing, such as stroke victims, can be fed or given medication through plastic tubes that go up the nose, and then loop down into the stomach. The Daily Mail

Alzheimer's can be detected using blood test, 'game-changing' study finds

Alzheimer's can be detected using blood test, 'game-changing' study finds Scientists may have found the true cause of Alzheimer's disease — and believe the condition can be detected using a simple blood test.

Experts have long known the build-up of amyloid in the brain is linked to the disease, but whether the plaques are a cause or a symptom has remained a mystery.

Even more puzzling is why some patients with amyloid clumps in their brains never go on to develop Alzheimer's. Now a 'game-changing' study by the University of Pittsburgh claims to have the answer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Astrocyte reactivity influences amyloid-β effects on tau pathology in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (open access) Nature Medicine

Kettering hospital £400m rebuild commitment reconfirmed by government

 Kettering hospital £400m rebuild commitment reconfirmed by government Work to rebuild Kettering General Hospital (KGH) has been reconfirmed today by the government in a meeting in the House of Commons.

MP for Kettering Philip Hollobone met with the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay MP and the Hospitals Minister Lord Markham. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Carers Week 2023 will highlight Northamptonshire's amazing carers

Carers Week 2023 will highlight Northamptonshire's amazing carers A painting event, exercise sessions, well-being walks, a ukulele group and a ‘Last Night of the Proms’ show are some of the activities being highlighted to celebrate the role of carers across Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital bosses apologise for medication blunder as another 'never event' recorded

Northampton General Hospital bosses apologise for medication blunder as another 'never event' recorded Northampton hospital chiefs have apologised to a patient after wrongly administering their medication during an important operation.

In February 2023, a patient at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) was having an operation to treat a broken hip when hospital staff messed up their dose of anaesthetic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The case for more geriatricians: strengthening the workforce to care for an ageing population

The case for more geriatricians: strengthening the workforce to care for an ageing population This report is intended to start the conversation about the workforce needed to provide high-quality care for the ageing population with increasingly complex needs. It explains why training, recruiting and retaining geriatricians should be a priority, estimates how many geriatricians are needed to provide safe and effective care for older people. It also outlines some of the structural barriers that currently prevent recruitment and concludes with six calls for governments across the UK. British Geriatrics Society

Five major hospitals to be rebuilt as part of over £20 billion new hospital infrastructure investment

Five major hospitals to be rebuilt as part of over £20 billion new hospital infrastructure investment Patients and staff will benefit from safe, state-of-the-art new facilities and improved care as the government announced its commitment to rebuild five major hospitals by 2030, as part of the New Hospital Programme. For the first time, the government has confirmed a record investment of over £20 billion is expected to be spent on new hospital infrastructure. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Health and Social Care Secretary Oral Statement on NHP Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS Confederation responds to government's New Hospital Programme announcement NHS Confederation
• Clarity on long-awaited New Hospital Programme very welcome but 'capital crunch' persists NHS Providers
• Facing up to a lost decade: statement on new hospitals announcement Nuffield Trust
• Five hospitals at risk of collapse to be rebuilt BBC News
• Labour says Government will break manifesto pledge to build 40 new hospitals The Daily Telegraph
• Government committed to building 40 new hospitals by 2030 – Barclay Evening Standard
• Broken pledge over 40 new hospitals will leave NHS ‘crumbling’, ministers told The Guardian
• Tory pledge to build 40 ‘new’ England hospitals likely to be delayed until after 2030 The Guardian
• Labour claims Tories won’t meet pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 The Independent
• 'Not going to happen': Ministers told 'come clean' on hospitals pledge ITV News
• Steve Barclay insists 40 new hospitals target will still be met - even though only two have been built so far Sky News

Independent report: Commercial clinical trials in the UK: the Lord O’Shaughnessy review

Independent report: Commercial clinical trials in the UK: the Lord O’Shaughnessy review In February 2023, the government commissioned an independent review to offer recommendations on how to resolve key challenges in conducting commercial clinical trials in the UK and transform the UK commercial clinical trial environment. The review sets out 27 recommendations, including both priority actions to progress in 2023 and longer-term ambitions for UK commercial clinical trials. Department of Health and Social Care

Latest mpox cases a reminder that the infection has not gone away

Latest mpox cases a reminder that the infection has not gone away UKHSA is today urging people to remain vigilant to mpox ahead of the summer months, as the latest data shows an increase in cases in London over the past 4 weeks.

In an interim epidemiological update published today (25 May), a further 10 cases of mpox have been diagnosed in the UK since the last epidemiological update on 4 May. This brings the total number of new cases in the UK since the beginning of the year to 20. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Monkeypox: London sees rise in cases in last month BBC News

New superbug-killing antibiotic discovered using AI

New superbug-killing antibiotic discovered using AI Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to discover a new antibiotic that can kill a deadly species of superbug.

The AI helped narrow down thousands of potential chemicals to a handful that could be tested in the laboratory.

The result was a potent, experimental antibiotic called abaucin, which will need further tests before being used.

The researchers in Canada and the US say AI has the power to massively accelerate the discovery of new drugs. BBC News

See also:

• Deep learning-guided discovery of an antibiotic targeting Acinetobacter baumannii (open access) Nature Chemical Biology
• Scientists use AI to find promising new antibiotic to fight evasive hospital superbug McMaster University
• Scientists use AI to discover new antibiotic to treat deadly superbug The Guardian
• Scientists use AI to discover new antibiotic against deadly hospital superbug The Independent
• Artificial intelligence helping scientists in fight against superbug and breast cancer Sky News

East Kent maternity deaths: CQC considered shutting unit

East Kent maternity deaths: CQC considered shutting unit Health inspectors considered shutting down a maternity unit earlier this year over safety concerns.

The Care Quality Commission instead called for "immediate improvements" following a visit to the William Harvey hospital in Ashford, Kent.

Helen Gittos, whose newborn daughter died in the care of the East Kent Hospitals Trust, said there were "fundamental" problems at the trust.

The trust's chief executive has apologised for its service. BBC News

PPE: Supplier of millions of 'not fit for use' gowns received £47m dividends

PPE: Supplier of millions of 'not fit for use' gowns received £47m dividends A businessman whose company supplied the NHS with millions of apparently unusable surgical gowns earned £47m in dividends last year.

During the Covid pandemic, Cambridge-based Chemical Intelligence won £162m of government contracts to provide personal protective equipment (PPE).

Data obtained by the BBC shows at least a fifth of the equipment supplied was classified as "not fit for use". BBC News

Child died at mental health hospital ‘while staff were meant to be watching her’

Child died at mental health hospital ‘while staff were meant to be watching her’ A 14-year-old girl who should have been under constant supervision at a mental health hospital died after a member of staff on his first shift left her unattended, an inquest has heard.

Ruth Szymankiewicz died at Taplow Manor Hospital in Maidenhead on 12 February 2022 after a care worker responsible for her one-to-one supervision “sporadically” left his post, the hearing was told. The Independent

Ketamine lifts half of patients out of the blues after meds fail, trial finds

Ketamine lifts half of patients out of the blues after meds fail, trial finds Ketamine could ease depression in people with the most severe form of the condition, a study suggests.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham Hospital in Boston recruited 403 patients with major depression who were not helped by standard treatments like drugs.

Among those who were offered ketamine via an intravenous drip, 55 percent said their symptoms had eased over the next six months. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Ketamine versus ECT for Nonpsychotic Treatment-Resistant Major Depression (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine

Care home ordered to pay £200k for Covid failures

Care home ordered to pay £200k for Covid failures The company that ran a care home which "catastrophically let down" residents during the Covid pandemic has been ordered to pay more than £200,000.

Temple Court in Kettering, Northamptonshire, was closed in May 2020 amid serious concerns following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

A hearing at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday handed out a £120,000 fine to care provider Amicura Limited.

It also had to pay the CQC's costs of £80,000 and a £181 victim surcharge. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Care firm which 'catastrophically let down' residents of Kettering home fined more than £200,000 ITV News
• Amicura Ltd ordered to pay more than £200,000 over failures Laing Buisson
• This is not justice, say grieving relatives after firm responsible for Covid-hit Kettering care home is fined Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering care provider which 'catastrophically let down' residents fined £200,000 Northants Live

Keeping children and young people with mental health needs safe: the design of the paediatric ward

Keeping children and young people with mental health needs safe: the design of the paediatric ward Paediatric wards in acute hospitals are increasingly caring for children and young people (CYP) who have mental health needs. Paediatric wards are primarily designed to accommodate children with physical health needs and are not specifically designed to help keep children and young people with mental health needs safe.

This interim report from the national investigation looks at the risk factors associated with the design of paediatric wards in acute hospitals for children and young people with mental health needs. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Safe mental health care for youngsters a priority for under-strain trusts NHS Providers
• Young mental health patients 'at risk' in child wards BBC News
• Report reveals paediatric wards 'unsafe' for children with mental health needs The Independent

More choice to help cut hospital waiting times

More choice to help cut hospital waiting times Patients will be empowered to choose where they receive their NHS care under new plans to help cut waiting lists, one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities.

A letter issued by the NHS today to local areas will require patients to be offered choice when clinically appropriate.

After speaking with their GP, patients will be able to view information for up to five healthcare providers - filtered by distance, waiting times and quality of care. They will then be able to make a choice about where they go for treatment using the NHS App or website, based on their own circumstances. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Poor workforce planning, not lack of patient choice, is stopping people being seen in good time BMA
• Steps to cut waiting lists welcome, but more NHS staff needed to deliver care NHS Providers
• Shop around on NHS app to shorten wait for treatment BBC News
• 'Patient Choice' Statement BBC News
• Patients to be offered faster treatment hundreds of miles away in bid to slash record waiting times The Daily Mail
• Patients to get choice of five hospitals under Sunak pledge The Daily Telegraph
• Government push on patient choice will drive up GP workload, warns BMA GPonline
• GPs to be compelled to offer patients private alternatives or non-local NHS options The Guardian
• Patients to choose between providers on NHS app after GP referral Pulse
• GPs will have to give patients options to travel further or go private to tackle NHS backlog Sky News

Earlier screening, risk assessment and health optimisation in perioperative pathways: guide for providers and integrated care boards

Earlier screening, risk assessment and health optimisation in perioperative pathways: guide for providers and integrated care boards This guide supports providers and integrated care boards to implement early screening, risk assessment and health optimisation for patients waiting for surgery. It builds on the clinical guideline Preoperative assessment and optimisation, published by a cross-specialty, multidisciplinary working group, including the Royal College of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of General Practitioners and the Centre for Perioperative Care, in June 2021. NHS England

Plant-based diets good for the heart

Plant-based diets good for the heart Giving plants the starring role in your diet is good for heart health, a review of four decades of data shows.

Researchers in Denmark showed vegetarian and vegan diets cut levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood that increase heart attacks.

The effect - equivalent to about a third that of taking daily drugs - was "really substantial", they said.

But experts said meat and dairy had their own health benefits - and not all meat-free diets were actually healthy. BBC News

See also:

• Vegetarian or vegan diets and blood lipids: a meta-analysis of randomized trials (open access) European Heart Journal
• Best diet for heart health revealed in huge analysis The Daily Mail
• Vegan and vegetarian diets can play key role in reducing cardiovascular risk, study finds GPonline

Brain implants help paralysed man to walk again

Brain implants help paralysed man to walk again A paralysed man has been able to walk simply by thinking about it thanks to electronic brain implants, a medical first he says has changed his life.

Gert-Jan Oskam, a 40-year-old Dutch man, was paralysed in a cycling accident 12 years ago.

The electronic implants wirelessly transmit his thoughts to his legs and feet via a second implant on his spine.

The system is still at an experimental stage but a leading UK spinal charity called it "very encouraging". BBC News

See also:

• Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface (open access) Nature
• Watch: Brain implants help paralysed man to walk again BBC News
• Paralysed man walks for the first time in 12 YEARS after being fitted with an electronic implant The Daily Mail
• Paralysed man walks using device that reconnects brain with muscles The Guardian
• Groundbreaking implants allow paralysed man to walk again in historic first The Independent
• Paralysed man walks again thanks to 'digital bridge' that wirelessly reconnects brain and spinal cord Sky News

Dementia risk increases the younger a person develops diabetes, study suggests

Dementia risk increases the younger a person develops diabetes, study suggests A person’s risk of dementia increases the younger they develop diabetes, research suggests.

Experts say the findings indicate that preventing progression from prediabetes to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes could mean a substantial reduction in future dementia cases.

Prediabetes is where blood sugar is high but has not yet crossed the threshold for type 2 diabetes. The Independent

See also:

• Prediabetes, intervening diabetes and subsequent risk of dementia: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (abstract) Diabetologia

NHS Trust chief to publicly apologise to victims of maternity care

NHS Trust chief to publicly apologise to victims of maternity care scandal The head of an under-fire NHS trust will publicly apologise to victims of a maternity scandal as the chair of a review into the episode said the trust has “a lot of learning to do”.

Nick Carver, chairman of the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, will apologise on its behalf to parents who were affected by poor maternity care at its annual public meeting on July 10, the trust said on Wednesday. Evening Standard

See also:

• NHS to publicly apologise for maternity failings in Nottingham BBC News

Hospitals at home plan will fail because NHS has no staff to run them, health leaders warn

Hospitals at home plan will fail because NHS has no staff to run them, health leaders warn Plans to operate virtual wards from home have been set up to fail because the NHS has no staff to run them, hospital leaders have warned.

Up to 25,000 hospital patients were due to be treated on “virtual wards” by Christmas, according to a target set by NHS England in its “living with Covid” plan. The Daily Telegraph

Flesh-eating 'zombie' drug that has ravaged US cities reaches the UK

Flesh-eating 'zombie' drug that has ravaged US cities reaches the UK A terrifying new 'zombie' drug that has ravaged cities across the United States has been found in the UK and taken the life of a British factory worker.

Karl Warburton, 43, died last May from the effects of xylazine combined with other drugs including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, The Times reported.

The coroner determined the West Midlands man died because of acute aspiration pneumonitis, a condition often caused by inhaling toxins. But xylazine was listed on Mr Warburton's death certificate as contributing to his death. The Daily Mail

See also:

• First UK death linked to 'zombie' drug xylazine BBC News
• What is the 'zombie drug' xylazine? It's caused its first known death in the UK Evening Standard
• The horrific rise of xylazine, the flesh-destroying drug making fentanyl even deadlier The Guardian
• 'Zombie drug' claims first victim in UK and could be in widespread use across the country Sky News

Chronic cannabis use raises the risk of major depression and bipolar disorder by up to FOUR TIMES

Chronic cannabis use raises the risk of major depression and bipolar disorder by up to FOUR TIMES Chronic cannabis use significantly raises the risk of mental health problems and personality disorders, a major study suggests.

Research on more than 6.6million people in Denmark found that those who were addicted to marijuana were up to four times more likely to be diagnosed with major depression or bipolar disorder. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cannabis Use Disorder and Subsequent Risk of Psychotic and Nonpsychotic Unipolar Depression and Bipolar Disorder (free access) JAMA Psychiatry

NHS support during the Spring Bank Holiday across Northamptonshire

NHS support during the Spring Bank Holiday across Northamptonshire There are a range of services available to support patients with urgent but not life threatening illnesses and injuries, and NHS 111 online can direct patients to the most appropriate service to meet their needs.

And because it's available through your phone it is quick and convenient saving you time and energy. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Prevention and policy: hoping for a gathering storm and not a storm in a teacup

Prevention and policy: hoping for a gathering storm and not a storm in a teacup Anyone who has followed health policy in England over time will recognise the cycle of rhetoric about prevention. We see announcements of revolutionary approaches and then mostly inaction, punctuated by minor announcements, all for the cycle to start again. The King's Fund

Record number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates

Record number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates The number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates registered to practise in the UK has grown to a record total of 788,638, annual data shows . This means the NMC register is now equivalent to 1.2 percent of the estimated UK population. 

Underlying this strong growth, 2022–2023 saw the highest number of new joiners to the NMC’s register in a single year – 52,148. Almost half (25,006) were internationally educated, while the number of UK educated joiners rose by 8.5 percent to more than 27,142.

Meanwhile the number of people leaving the professions fell slightly last year, to just under 27,000. However, the NMC’s research raises concerns for employers and leaders across health and care to tackle in their retention strategies. Nursing and Midwifery Council

See also:

• Recruiting and retaining nurses critical to solving NHS workforce crisis The Health Foundation
• NHS Employers respond to the Nursing and Midwifery Council annual registration report NHS Employers
• More nurses and midwives good news but over-reliance on overseas recruits NHS Providers
• RCN responds to the latest NMC register data Royal College of Nursing
• Work pressures driving nurses and midwives away BBC News
• Britain has more nurses than EVER after jump of 30,000 in a year The Daily Mail
• Nursing numbers rise but concerns raised about 'premature leavers' The Independent
• Nursing numbers rise but concerns raised about ‘premature leavers’ ITV News
• Thousands of nurses leaving NMC register ‘earlier than planned’ Nursing Times
• Britain plugs nursing gaps with international staff amid WHO concern Reuters

Government not taking “appalling” harms from alcohol seriously enough

Government not taking “appalling” harms from alcohol seriously enough An estimated 10 million people in England regularly exceed the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines, including 1.7 million who drink at higher risk and around 600,000 who are dependent on alcohol. 

But in a report today the Public Accounts Committee says a “staggering” 82% of those 600,000 dependent drinkers in England are not in treatment despite success rates of around 60% and evidence that, on average, every £1 spent on treatment immediately delivers £3 of benefit and significantly more in the longer term.

See also:

• Tories’ failure to tackle alcohol harm is causing public health crisis, say MPs The Guardian

Individual placement and support for severe mental illness

Individual placement and support for severe mental illness Individual placement and support (IPS) is an evidence-based model of supported employment. The implementation of IPS has been part of the NHS Long Term Plan and preceding strategies for national mental health improvement for over eight years and is a fundamental part of the ongoing transformation of community mental health services. This guidance is aimed at integrated care systems and outlines how IPS should be embedded within integrated models of primary and community services for patients with severe mental illness. NHS England

Tavistock: Top doctor questions need for change at gender clinic

Tavistock: Top doctor questions need for change at gender clinic A doctor with a key role in reforming a controversial gender identity clinic for children has been recorded questioning the need for change.

Prof Gary Butler, clinical lead for the children's gender clinic in England and Wales, also appeared to accuse the author of a report, which will underpin the new service, of "nepotism".

He was recorded making the comments in a keynote speech at a major conference. BBC News

People paying for operations up by third since Covid pandemic

People paying for operations up by third since Covid pandemic The number of people paying privately for operations and treatments in the UK has risen by more than a third since the pandemic started, figures show.

Last year 272,000 used their own money to pay for treatments, such as knee or eye surgery - up from 199,000 in 2019.

The NHS backlog has been blamed for the trend, with some of the treatments costing more than £15,000.

But there does appear to have been a shift away from private insurance driven by the cost of living crisis. BBC News

World must prepare for disease more deadlier than Covid, WHO chief warns

World must prepare for disease more deadlier than Covid, WHO chief warns The head of the World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday that governments need to prepare for a disease even deadlier than Covid-19.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, told its annual health assembly in Geneva that it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next pandemic.

He warned that nation states cannot “kick this can down the road” and that the next global disease was bound to “come knocking”. The Independent

See also:

• Prepare for a disease even deadlier than Covid, WHO chief warns The Daily Mail
• The next pandemic ‘even deadlier’ than COVID is coming, warns WHO New York Post
• World must prepare for disease even deadlier than Covid, WHO chief says in stark warning Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS England mental health trusts record 26,000 sexual abuse incidents

NHS England mental health trusts record 26,000 sexual abuse incidents The data over five years puts spotlight on underfunded hospitals where abuse can often easily be hidden, say experts.

A joint investigation by the Guardian and the British Medical Journal has found that thousands of vulnerable mental health patients have reported claims of being sexually abused in NHS hospitals.

Data released following freedom of information requests to NHS trusts in England showed that 35,606 “sexual safety incidents” were recorded in hospitals between 2017 and 2022.

See also:

• NHS reviews abuse of staff and patients, as legal bill exceeds £82m in five years The BMJ
• NHS trusts missing sexual assault policies Personnel Today

GPs want officials to think twice about alerting the public to health threats

GPs want officials to think twice about alerting the public to health threats GPs want officials to think twice about alerting the public to health threats in the future — so they aren't swamped by panicked Brits.

Under pressure family doctors have complained about the messaging pushed out during last winter's Strep A crisis. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GP leaders urge Government not to repeat ‘panic-causing’ Strep A-style alert Pulse

Women are TWICE as likely to die after a heart attack, study finds

Women are TWICE as likely to die after a heart attack, study finds Women are more than twice as likely to die after a heart attack compared to men, a study suggests.

More than 30,000 women a year in the UK are admitted to hospital after having a heart attack.

Now a study from Portugal highlights women’s lower risk of surviving this medical event. The Daily Mail

Small conversations about grief to be held in Northampton this summer

Small conversations about grief to be held in Northampton this summer Delapré Abbey and Fevered Sleep have partnered for the second year running on a project that will invite people to think, talk and learn about grief. The project, titled "This Grief Thing," aims to make grief visible and encourage conversations about the topic, which is often considered taboo. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Realising the potential of virtual wards: Exploring the critical success factors for realising the ambitions of virtual wards.

Realising the potential of virtual wards: Exploring the critical success factors for realising the ambitions of virtual wards. Virtual wards are increasingly being used by the NHS to provide care to patients where they live, whether in a care setting or at home. The NHS has been set a target of 40–50 virtual wards per 100,000 people and, more immediately, to scale up capacity ahead of next winter, to above 10,000 beds by this autumn. 

This report sets out the critical factors needed to enable the NHS to succeed in achieving these targets and to make virtual wards a sustainable model in the longer term, where patient demand and satisfaction are met, as well as better productivity. NHS Confederation

More, more, more: do we have more NHS staff than ever before?

More, more, more: do we have more NHS staff than ever before? On the face of it, the NHS has more funding and more staff than ever before. Lucina Rolewicz takes a closer look at the trends of staff working in different services, professions and regions, and outlines the possible explanations as to why patients are not reaping the benefits of an increased NHS workforce. Nuffield Trust

Building an inclusive workplace: our experience of using benchmarking tools to support change

Building an inclusive workplace: our experience of using benchmarking tools to support change Back in 2019, a small group of colleagues – from the LGBT+ community and allies – came together to start The King’s Fund’s work on LGBT+ Equality. At the time, there was no outward sign that the Fund was LGBT friendly – no staff network or mentions in the diversity and inclusion (D&I) priorities or on the intranet, queer staff often quiet about their relationships or identity. Through starting to have more open conversations we found some of our queer colleagues, and started to build our network.

Prevention is better than cure: three solutions to delayed hospital discharge

Prevention is better than cure: three solutions to delayed hospital discharge The challenge of discharging patients who are fit to leave hospital in a timely manner has been widely documented. Throughout last winter, official statistics highlighted the startlingly high numbers of people who remained in hospital despite being well enough to leave.

Over the past six months, an average of 13,531 patients remained in hospital longer than required each month – an increase of more than 1,000 on the six months before.

The factors contributing to delays are multi-faceted. Solving them will require a shift in the way services are delivered, as well as cross-organisational collaboration. NHS Providers

On the day briefing: Labour's Health Mission

On the day briefing: Labour's Health Mission On 22 May 2023, the leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, delivered a speech announcing the party’s mission to “build an NHS fit for the future”. This is one part of Labour’s 5 Missions for a Better Britain, which will form the basis of its general election manifesto.

This briefing summarises the key announcements from the speech, Labour’s accompanying technical document and NHS Providers’ response. NHS Providers

See also:

• Labour's NHS plan is promising but more detail is needed BMA
• Health Foundation comment on Keir Starmer's NHS mission The Health Foundation
• Funding needed to deliver Labour’s ambition health plans Healthcare Financial Management Association
• NHS Confederation responds to the launch of the Labour Party’s mission for health NHS Confederation
• Success of ambitious Labour NHS pledges will require further funding than planned Nuffield Trust

35,000 cases of sexual misconduct or violence in NHS in five years

35,000 cases of sexual misconduct or violence in NHS in five years More than 35,000 incidents of sexual misconduct or sexual violence - ranging from derogatory remarks to rape - were recorded on NHS premises in England between 2017 and 2022.

Rape, sexual assault or being touched without consent accounted for more than one in five cases.

Most incidents - 58% - involved patients abusing staff. BBC News

See also:

• Medical colleges and unions call for inquiry over “shocking” levels of sexual assault in the NHS The BMJ
• England hospitals under-reporting sexual misconduct, say experts The Guardian
• NHS staff report 20,000 claims of patient sexual misconduct over five years The Guardian
• Approach to tackling violence raises concern among NHS England staff The Guardian

Junior doctors in England to strike for three days in June

Junior doctors in England to strike for three days in June Junior doctors in England have announced a new 72-hour walkout in June after the latest round of government pay talks broke down.

The strike will take place between 07:00 on Wednesday 14 June and 07:00 on Saturday 17 June.

The British Medical Association (BMA) union, which represents doctors and medical students, said a government offer of a 5% rise was not "credible".

Ministers said pay talks could only continue if the strike was called off. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors in England announce June strike action after Government fails to make credible pay offer BMA
• Junior doctors in Scotland offered 14.5% pay rise BBC News
• Junior doctors to strike for three more days in June after demanding 49 PER CENT pay rise The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors announce three more days of strikes The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors in England to strike for three further days in June The Guardian
• Junior doctors in Scotland offered cumulative 14.5% pay rise The Guardian
• Junior doctors to stage new 72 hour strike in ongoing dispute over pay The Independent
• Junior doctors to stage 72-hour strike after rejecting pay offer ITV News
• Junior doctors' union announces new three-day strike in June Sky News
• 'Unfinished business': Nurses among hundreds of thousands of workers to vote on further strike action Sky News

Vaping: High lead and nickel found in illegal vapes

Vaping: High lead and nickel found in illegal vapes Vapes confiscated from school pupils contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium, BBC News has found.

Used vapes gathered at Baxter College in Kidderminster were tested in a laboratory.

The results showed children using them could be inhaling more than twice the daily safe amount of lead, and nine times the safe amount of nickel.

Some vapes also contained harmful chemicals like those in cigarette smoke.

Eight out of 10 adults support ban on advertising junk food to children

 Eight out of 10 adults support ban on advertising junk food to children on TV and online, new research for the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) suggests.

The collection of charities and health organisations, which includes the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Association of Directors of Public Health, Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK, the British Medical Association and the Faculty of Public Health, is calling on the Government to increase its commitment to tackling obesity. The Independent

See also:

• Voters Feel Let Down by Lack of Action on Childhood Obesity Obesity Health Alliance
• Brits WANT controversial soft drink levy widened: Two-thirds think sin taxes should be slapped on other junk food to combat kid obesity epidemic The Daily Mail

NHS to deliver world first blood-matching test to aid sickle-cell and thalassemia patients

NHS to deliver world first blood-matching test to aid sickle-cell and thalassemia patients A blood test that could help alleviate the suffering of thousands of people with sickle cell disease and thalassemia is to be introduced by the NHS in what will be a world first. Sky News

England's worst-performing hospitals REVEALED: Interactive map lays bare state of all 268 sites

England's worst-performing hospitals REVEALED: Interactive map lays bare state of all 268 sites All of England's worst-performing hospitals are today named and shamed by our damning analysis.

MailOnline's huge audit — laid bare in an interactive map that allows you to search your own area — reveals that 268 NHS and private-run sites are giving patients sub-standard care.

Twenty-three sites, highlighted as red, were ranked 'inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates all hospitals in the country. The Daily Mail

More patient misery as the NHS loses 700 dentists

More patient misery as the NHS loses 700 dentists Patients have been warned they are likely to face continued long waits for care as the NHS is 'haemorrhaging' dentists.

Figures show 23,577 dentists took on NHS work in England in 2022-23, down from 24,272 in the previous financial year – a drop of 695.

The last time levels fell below 24,000 – apart from during the Covid pandemic when some services were halted – was in 2014-15, suggests the data obtained by the British Dental Association. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS dentistry: PM must drop the spin and accept the facts British Dental Association
• NHS dentist numbers in England at lowest level in a decade The Guardian

NHS England says all NHS trusts to get own FDP

NHS England says all NHS trusts to get own FDP Every hospital trust and integrated care system (ICS) may get its own local version of the proposed new Federated Data Platform (FDP) that can connect and collaborate with other data platforms, locally and nationally. 

This is the approach described in a paper on technology and innovation in the NHS quoted in minutes from NHS England’s (NHSE) May 18 board meeting. Digital Health

Digital technologies: unlocking collective knowledge and expertise in health and care

Digital technologies: unlocking collective knowledge and expertise in health and care Digital technologies can change how health and care organisations are structured and how they work. They can have an impact on who leaders or staff can reach and hear from: staff can be engaged over longer periods of time and across wider groups of colleagues, and leaders can quantify perceptions of services and reduce their dependency on anecdotal information. The King's Fund

Reliance on international nurse recruitment during a workforce crisis

Reliance on international nurse recruitment during a workforce crisis A cover story in The Times expressed concern at the increasing reliance in the UK on overseas nurses to staff the NHS. The story featured a short piece of exclusive analysis by Dr Billy Palmer drawing on NMC data looking at trends in nurses and midwives joining the UK register from overseas since 2019. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• NHS's reliance on foreign nurses has reached 'unsustainable level', experts warn The Daily Mail

Parks and green spaces should feel safe to bolster mental health - University of York

Parks and green spaces should feel safe to bolster mental health Researchers have co-produced a series of short films with people who have experienced mental illness to show the benefits of outdoor spaces.

The researchers were able to show that being outdoors has significant health benefits, but only if the participants feel safe and the spaces were well maintained. 

The team at the University of York aimed to highlight the benefits, but also the barriers that restrict people, especially those with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, from accessing natural outdoor green and blue spaces.

£39 million for AMR research as UK launches Global Health Framework

£39 million for AMR research as UK launches Global Health Framework Cutting-edge research initiatives to develop new treatments to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – known as the “silent killer” – will receive a cash injection of up to £39 million from the UK government’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). Department of Health and Social Care

Supply update: Hormone Replacement Therapy medication Utrogestan®

Supply update: Hormone Replacement Therapy medication Utrogestan® A Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) has been issued across the United Kingdom for Utrogestan® 100mg capsules today. This will allow pharmacists to dispense a maximum of two months’ supply per prescription to help ensure continued access for women who use this popular medicine to help manage symptoms of the menopause. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Utrogestan: Menopause pill supply restricted over shortages BBC News

New Chief Midwifery Officer for England announced

New Chief Midwifery Officer for England announced We are pleased to announce that Kate Brintworth has been appointed to the role of Chief Midwifery Officer for England. This follows a rigorous recruitment process, which included contributions from colleagues at NHS England and other key stakeholders including the Royal College of Midwives and a family voices panel. NHS England

Labour proposes new NHS targets on reducing deaths

Labour proposes new NHS targets on reducing deaths Sir Keir Starmer is to propose introducing new NHS targets on cutting deaths in England from heart disease, strokes and suicide.

A Labour government would aim to reduce deaths from heart disease and strokes by a quarter over 10 years and see suicide figures decline within five.

The Labour leader is giving a speech on the party's NHS policy later.

The Tories accused Labour of seeking to frustrate its own reforms by repeatedly voting against them. BBC News

See also:

• Labour's NHS plan will offer patients more choice, Wes Streeting says BBC News
• Keir Starmer to pledge an end to the NHS bed-blocking crisis by boosting care sector The Daily Mail
• Labour's NHS fix is pure nanny statism The Daily Telegraph
• More than 23,000 people died in A&E in England last year, Labour estimates The Guardian
• Starmer to warn NHS ‘not sustainable’ without ‘fixing the fundamentals’ The Guardian
• Keir Starmer pledges Labour government will cut suicide rates and NHS waiting times The Independent
• Keir Starmer warns ‘unsustainable’ NHS needs reform not just more money The Independent
• Labour pledge to cut 'dangerous waiting times' in row over the state of the NHS ITV News
• What's in Labour's plans to improve the NHS if they were elected? ITV News
• Keir Starmer's struggled for visionary policy - a distinct approach to the NHS could change that Sky News

Patients will be able to use NHS app to opt for private hospital care to help waiting lists - report

Patients will be able to use NHS app to opt for private hospital care to help waiting lists - report Patients will soon be able to use the NHS app to opt for private hospital treatment in an effort to cut waiting times, according to a report.

The NHS waiting list for routine treatment stands at more than seven million and is predicted to keep rising until next spring. Sky News

See also:

• NHS app will let patients book private care in bid to cut waiting times The Daily Telegraph
• NHS app will refer patients to private hospitals in effort to curb wait times Evening Standard
• NHS app to start referring patients to private hospitals The Independent

New NHS training launched as dementia rates increase among Asian and Black people

New NHS training launched as dementia rates increase among Asian and Black people Healthcare leaders are rolling out new NHS training to help speed up dementia diagnoses among Black and Asian people following criticism about a lack of support for patients from minoritised communities, The Independent can reveal.

An awareness campaign is being launched in England to help those from ethnic minority communities receive a prompt diagnosis and get the support they need at the earliest opportunity.

Mental health patients forced to travel hundreds of miles for treatment despite government pledge

Mental health patients forced to travel hundreds of miles for treatment despite government pledge Some mental health patients in England are still having to travel more than 300 miles for hospital treatment two years after the government pledged to end the “completely unacceptable” practice.

The number of patients in crisis forced to move potentially hundreds of miles for NHS help is rising again after falling during the pandemic, separating them from family and support networks and potentially delaying their recuperation. The Guardian