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