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• Children's services at Kettering General branded 'inadequate' after out-of-date medicine and equipment left lying around Northants Live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

Public health expert says ministers are 'not behaving as if they want to preserve the NHS'

Public health expert says ministers are 'not behaving as if they want to preserve the NHS' The Government is 'not behaving as if it wants to preserve the NHS', according to a world-renowned public health expert.

Sir Michael Marmot, a former advisor to No10 when Labour was in power , said the data supported claims that ministers were wanting to 'destroy' the ailing service. The Daily Mail