Hundreds of 'missing' cancer diagnoses in Northamptonshire in 2020 – as fewer found at early stage

Hundreds of 'missing' cancer diagnoses in Northamptonshire in 2020 – as fewer found at early stage Hundreds fewer cancers were diagnosed in Northamptonshire in 2020, figures show – a year which also saw a fall in the proportion found at an early stage.

In the former NHS Northamptonshire CCG area, there were 3,670 cancers diagnosed in 2020 – 715 fewer than the year before, when there were 4,385 diagnoses, according to the latest figures from NHS Digital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Away from hospital and into the community: A research report into alternative options for young people’s mental health crisis care

Away from hospital and into the community: A research report into alternative options for young people’s mental health crisis care Young people and expert mental healthcare staff say patients are unlikely to receive in-patient mental health care unless they “have attempted suicide multiple times”, according to a report published today by Look Ahead Care and Support.

Based on in-depth interviews with service users, parents and carers, and NHS and social care staff from across England, the findings draw on experience of treating depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, eating disorders, addiction and psychosis.

See also:

• Children in England at clear risk ‘cannot get mental health bed’ The Guardian
• ‘Young people having a mental health crisis are just dismissed’ The Guardian

Mental health and the cost-of-living crisis report: another pandemic in the making?

Mental health and the cost-of-living crisis report: another pandemic in the making? This policy briefing paper provides an overview of the current and likely effects of the so-called ‘cost-of living crisis’ on mental health. It sets out MHF's evidence-based recommendations for governments across the UK to tackle the mental health impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. The paper emphasises that the priority must be to ensure suitable financial support schemes are available to all who need them to prevent people from experiencing poverty, financial stress and related mental health problems. The paper also stresses that the income support announced to date does not go far enough to meet the needs of low-income people who continue to go without essentials such as food and heating. Mental Health Foundation

Transforming lives, improving health outcomes: tackling the true cost of variation in uptake of innovative medicines

Transforming lives, improving health outcomes: tackling the true cost of variation in uptake of innovative medicines This report considers how to ensure patients are able to access and benefit from innovative medicines – wherever they live in the UK. The joint report with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) makes thirteen specific recommendations (focusing on England, Wales and Northern Ireland) to support progress in tackling the unwarranted variation in the uptake of innovative medicines. NHS Confederation

Patients told to expect widespread disruption as nurses strike

Patients told to expect widespread disruption as nurses strike Patients are being warned to expect widespread disruption to services on Wednesday and Thursday, as nurses stage more strikes in England.

About one out of every four hospitals and community services will be affected by the walkouts, by Royal College of Nursing members, over the two days.

It comes after two days of strikes before Christmas in the pay dispute.

As required under trade union laws, emergency care will be covered during the walkouts from 08:00 to 20:00. BBC News

See also:

• Are nurses striking in your area? BBC News
• Strikes Update: How nurses' strikes on Wednesday will affect you BBC News
• More misery for NHS patients as thousands of nurses stage two-day strike across England The Daily Mail
• Nurses in England begin two days of strikes in pay standoff The Guardian
• Health secretary tells striking NHS nurses: Take the money and patients will pay the price The Independent
• Thousands of nurses begin two day walkout across England ITV News
• As nurses go on strike again this week, how could the row be resolved? ITV News
• Further strikes would be an 'act of self-harm' and damage the economy, says minister Sky News
• Thousands of nurses beginning two-day strike - and walkout will be much bigger than last month Sky News

Dementia: Brain check-up tool aims to cut risk at any age

Dementia: Brain check-up tool aims to cut risk at any age People of all ages are being encouraged to do more to look after their brains to try to reduce their dementia risk.

A new brain check-up tool from Alzheimer's Research UK offers tips on staying sharp, keeping active and connecting with others.

Getting regular hearing checks in your 40s and 50s is one way to prevent social isolation, it says.

But most cases of dementia cannot be prevented, so early detection and better treatments are still vital. BBC News

See also:

• Experts create checklist of 12 steps to reduce dementia risk The Independent

'Doctors discuss my daughter like she's nothing'

'Doctors discuss my daughter like she's nothing' A doctor in Cambridge is spearheading a project to help to reform medical language that patients and their families can find upsetting.

Ethicist Zoe Fritz said language that "casts doubt, belittles or blames patients" was long overdue for change.

Sixteen-year-old Josselin Tilley from Wiltshire has charge syndrome that reduces her life expectancy.

Her mother Karen said Josselin's death was often referred to in correspondence "like she's not a person". BBC News

30 per cent of public blame government policy for NHS delays

30 per cent of public blame government policy for NHS delays Channel 4 News has commissioned its own poll to find out what the public think is to blame for the crisis in the health service across the country.

See also:

• Strike action and winter pressures leave NHS in ‘vicious cycle’, leader warns The Independent

Victims and families call for prosecutions as contaminated blood inquiry nears end

Victims and families call for prosecutions as contaminated blood inquiry nears end Victims and family members affected by the contaminated blood scandal are calling for criminal charges to be considered as the public inquiry into the tragedy draws to a close.

While the inquiry, which will begin to hear closing submissions on Tuesday, cannot determine civil or criminal liability, people affected by the scandal are keen for the mass of documents and evidence accumulated over more than four years to be handed over to prosecutors to see whether charges can be brought. The Guardian

England’s PCR Covid testing network drops one of three labs as demand falls

England’s PCR Covid testing network drops one of three labs as demand falls England’s PCR testing network for Covid is to be scaled back due to a fall in demand, public health officials have said.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that the Rosalind Franklin laboratory in Leamington Spa – which at its peak was processing about 75,000 Covid PCR tests a day – will cease to operate as part of the processing network. The Guardian

See also:

• COVID-19 PCR testing network scaled down UK Health Security Agency

Is NHS 111 fuelling dire emergency care crisis?

Is NHS 111 fuelling dire emergency care crisis? NHS 111 might be exacerbating the dire emergency care situation, paramedics and patients have warned. 

Brits have been urged to use the free service this winter in an effort to alleviate the extreme demand on overwhelmed ambulance services and A&Es.

The unprecedented crisis has left ambulances taking longer than ever to respond to 999 calls and caused devastating casualty delays with 1,800 patients a day waiting more than 12 hours to be treated.  The Daily Mail