Kettering General Hospital: Dozens criticise care at children's ward

Kettering General Hospital: Dozens criticise care at children's ward Dozens of families have shared concerns about care on a children's ward fighting to stay open.

Thirty-eight parents contacted the BBC about the treatment of their children at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire.

They said staff ignored symptoms of serious illnesses, sometimes with fatal consequences.

The hospital has apologised to families who felt let down. BBC Northampton

'Damning' report into children's mental health services in West Northamptonshire

'Damning' report into children's mental health services in West Northamptonshire Some children and teenagers are waiting up to two years for mental health support in a system that councillors found was “worse than expected” following an investigation. A cross-party group of West Northamptonshire councillors looked at the state of lower level mental health services over 2022 and provided a “damning” report to senior members. Northants Live

Moving from exclusion to inclusion in digital health and care

Moving from exclusion to inclusion in digital health and care Digital technologies can change how care is delivered, making health and care services more accessible, flexible, person centred, and a better experience for patients and staff while also improving efficiency. However, there is no guarantee of these positive effects until digitally enabled services are inclusive and meet the expectations of staff and the public. The King's Fund

NHS staff survey 2022

NHS staff survey 2022 The annual survey, carried out in autumn 2022, covers staff in all 215 NHS trusts in England, across all roles. This year’s results demonstrate staff discontent on pay which is reflected in a fall in staff feeling well rewarded. However, many top-level indicators have stabilised this year, staying broadly the same as in 2021. The results also find an improvement in staff perception of support for learning and development and an increase in feelings around positive teamworking and support from line managers. NHS Employers

NHS Pension Scheme: proposed amendments to scheme regulations - consultation response

NHS Pension Scheme: proposed amendments to scheme regulations - consultation response Starting in December 2022, the government consulted on proposals to amend NHS Pension Scheme regulations in line with the announcements made in Our plan for patients. Consultation respondents were broadly supportive of the measures proposed during the consultation process. This consultation response confirms that the government will proceed to implement the proposals. Department of Health and Social Care

£5 million Innovation Fund to reduce drug use

£5 million Innovation Fund to reduce drug use Five projects aimed at reducing drug use have been awarded £734,000 of the first allocation of a £5 million grant, with the remaining funding available across two further phases. Department of health and Social Care

NHS backlog progress at risk from junior doctors' strike in England

NHS backlog progress at risk from junior doctors' strike in England Progress being made on tackling the hospital waiting backlog will be put at risk by next week's junior doctors' strike, NHS bosses are warning.

NHS England medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said there had been huge achievements over the winter.

But he said it was inevitable the 72-hour walkout in England, which starts on Monday, would have an impact. BBC News

See also:

• So much for tackling the backlog! NHS waiting list shoots to ANOTHER record high of 7.21m The Daily Mail

Mental-health crisis from pandemic was minimal - study

Mental-health crisis from pandemic was minimal - study People's general mental health and anxiety symptoms hardly deteriorated at all during the pandemic, research suggests.

Most people are resilient and made the best of a difficult situation, it says.

The BMJ review analysed 137 studies, most from high-income European and Asian countries.

Depression became a little worse overall and among women, older people, university students and those belonging to sexual or gender minorities. BBC News

See also:

• Comparison of mental health symptoms before and during the covid-19 pandemic: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 134 cohorts (open access) The BMJ
• World’s most comprehensive study on COVID-19 mental health McGill University
• Increase in mental health callouts received by police over past five years BBC News
• Covid’s effect on mental health not as great as first thought, study suggests The Guardian
• The mental health toll of Covid is less than feared, major study finds Metro

Chinese firm got Covid contract despite trying to hack NHS data, minister says

Chinese firm got Covid contract despite trying to hack NHS data, minister says China’s leading genomics research company was given a Covid testing contract in the UK despite ministers knowing it had repeatedly sought to hack into the NHS’s genetic datacentre, a government minister has said.

The BGI Group was making multiple attempts every week to “hack” into Genomics England in 2014, George Freeman, a minister for science, innovation and technology, revealed to MPs, and is said to remain a “danger”. The Guardian

See also:

• Chinese firm won multi-million-pound Covid contract 'despite cyber attacks on NHS', minister claims The Daily Mail

NHS trust to test AI's ability to detect blood clots in patients

NHS trust to test AI's ability to detect blood clots in patients A UK NHS trust has told how it is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help its patients.

A trial will aim to discover whether AI is able to spot blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolic disease) of patients quicker and more accurately than doctors.

This in turn could save lives, those involved in the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath NHS Foundation Trust trial say. Evening Standard

Breakthrough for tens of thousands of Crohn's sufferers

Breakthrough for tens of thousands of Crohn's sufferers A medical breakthrough is bringing hope to tens of thousands of people living with Crohn's.

A new daily tablet for the debilitating digestive system condition has gained its first global approval in the UK.

Upadactinib is now poised to become available on the NHS for the 200,000 people whose lives are blighted by its painful and embarrassing symptoms. The Daily Mail

Scientists create mice with TWO biological fathers

Scientists create mice with TWO biological fathers Science has moved one step closer to allowing two men to reproduce without the need of a surrogate.

Japanese researchers created seven mice with two male biological parents, using skin cells from a male mouse to form a viable egg and then fertilize it.

They hope this research pushes forward treatments for infertility. But, it also paves the way for men in same-sex relationships to have a child without needing a surrogate  - which has happened in increasing numbers recently. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Breakthrough as eggs made from male mice cells BBC News
• Mice born with two fathers after scientific breakthrough - and it could pave way for same in humans Sky News