Who is supporting locally employed, specialty and specialist doctors? The NHS cannot afford to lose them

Who is supporting locally employed, specialty and specialist doctors? The NHS cannot afford to lose them SAS and LE doctors make up at least 25 per cent of General Medical Council (GMC)-registered doctors in the NHS.  SAS doctors are experienced specialised doctors working in the NHS under a nationally agreed contract. LE doctors have a variety of experiences. For example, they may be UK-trained doctors who have finished the first two years of foundation training or recently recruited international medical graduates, among many other options. LE doctors are employed by individual trusts with locally agreed contract terms and conditions. The King's Fund

Maternal mental health: a briefing for integrated care systems

Maternal mental health: a briefing for integrated care systems This briefing aims to help integrated care systems (ICSs) understand the role they have in ensuring every new and expectant mother receives the right mental health support at the right time, close to home. It finds that, if untreated, maternal mental health problems can cost an average-sized ICS the equivalent of £190 million per year. The briefing outlines why maternal mental health is important and explains the steps ICSs can take to provide the right support. It also suggests ten key areas in need of immediate action: universal services; NHS talking therapies; specialist perinatal mental health services; inpatient services; maternal mental health services; voluntary and community sector support; family hubs; baby loss support; tackling stigma; and reducing loneliness and isolation. Maternal Mental Health Alliance

Made in communities: the national evaluation of the Better Mental Health Fund

Made in communities: the national evaluation of the Better Mental Health Fund The Better Mental Health Fund was set up by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in 2021 to address mental health challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding for public mental health was given to local authorities in 40 of the most disadvantaged areas of England, which experience higher rates of mental ill health, and used to run 314 projects. This evaluation report finds that the Fund enabled local councils to support a wide range of activities to promote mental health, covering a spectrum of preventative and support-based interventions and projects for the general population. Centre for Mental Health

NHS at 75: The huge promise of technology

NHS at 75: The huge promise of technology In our series of podcasts marking the NHS’s 75th birthday, we’ve been setting out the big challenges and opportunities ahead for the health service.

In this third and final installment, we ask how the potential of technology might be unlocked to benefit patients, the public, staff and the taxpayer. We also share initial reflections on the recently published NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. Podcast from The Health Foundation

New report on 10 promising AI interventions for healthcare

New report on 10 promising AI interventions for healthcare A new NIHR Evidence Collection has identified 10 promising AI interventions addressing five key healthcare challenges.

The Collection demonstrates the potential of AI in addressing these challenges, and highlights how AI can support the NHS and transform healthcare in future. The innovations could one day benefit the NHS and patients by saving time, money, resources. They could improve care and save lives. National Institute for Health Research

See also:

• Health experts call on public to 'trust' artificial intelligence Evening Standard

GP Patient Survey 2023 Results

GP Patient Survey 2023 Results The survey assesses patients’ experiences of healthcare services provided by GP practices, including experience of access to GP practices, making appointments, the quality of care received from healthcare professionals, experience of services when their GP practice is closed and patients’ experiences of NHS dental services. The survey also captures information about patient health, including patients with long term conditions, disabilities, or illnesses, and the support they receive to manage these. NHS England

See also:

• General Practice Workforce NHS Digital
• NHS Confederation responds to the latest GP appointments and GP workforce statistics NHS Confederation
• The trends we’ve seen over the past year can’t be allowed to continue, says College Chair Royal College of General Practitioners

Allergy emergencies double in recent years in England

Allergy emergencies double in recent years in England Dangerous allergic reactions are rising in England and now cause some 25,000 NHS hospital stays a year, data shows.

Health officials say the rate has more than doubled over 20 years, prompting them to issue advice reminding people how to recognise allergies and respond.

For severe food-related allergic reactions, the rise in admissions is even greater. BBC News

Private companies take over Newcastle sexual health service

Private companies take over Newcastle sexual health service An NHS-run sexual health service in Newcastle is set to be taken over by two private companies.

New operators will take on the city's service, based out of New Croft House clinic, from October.

A new contract was put out to tender after Newcastle Hospitals Trust did not make an offer to continue its contract for Newcastle City Council.

Hospital chiefs said they were "disappointed" but had been "unable to submit a sustainable bid". BBC News

Serving-size labelling leaves many confused- Which? survey

Serving-size labelling leaves many confused- Which? survey People struggle to estimate portion sizes for food such as chocolate, crisps and cheese, a survey of 1,265 Which? subscribers suggests.

They may need more help to assess how healthy products are, the consumer group says.

Unrealistic recommended serving sizes can mislead people into thinking they are consuming fewer calories, and less fat, sugar or salt, than they actually are, Which? says. BBC News

See also:

• The problem with portion sizes Which?

Obese people on weight-loss jabs ‘should be prepared to stay on them for life

Obese people on weight-loss jabs ‘should be prepared to stay on them for life Obese people taking weight-loss jabs should be prepared to stay on them for life, experts have warned.

Studies show that people who stop injections of drugs like semaglutide – sold as Wegovy and Ozempic – can regain much of the weight they have lost. The Independent

Can the NHS recover from record waitlists and ongoing strikes before winter?

Can the NHS recover from record waitlists and ongoing strikes  before winter? There are nearly seven and a half million people waiting for hospital treatment in England – and no sign of negotiations to avert more strikes.

So even though it’s only July, health leaders are warning it will be an extremely challenging winter.

NHS England announced plans to boost capacity and get patients back home sooner. They include extra beds and more use of virtual wards. But can it afford them? Channel 4 News

Daily chores which make you huff and puff for just four MINUTES might slash your risk of cancer

Daily chores which make you huff and puff for just four MINUTES might slash your risk of cancer Short bursts of daily activity that make you huff and puff — such as playing high-energy games with children — could reduce the risk of cancer, research suggests.

According to the study, a total of just four-and-a-half minutes of vigorous activity — done in bursts of around one minute each - during daily tasks could reduce the overall risk of cancer by 18 per cent, and the risk of some cancers linked to physical activity by up to 32 per cent. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity and Cancer Incidence Among Nonexercising Adults: The UK Biobank Accelerometry Study (open access) JAMA Oncology

Pregnant women and millions of Brits with conditions like diabetes are told NOT to eat any smoked salmon over listeria fears

Pregnant women and millions of Brits with conditions like diabetes are told NOT to eat any smoked salmon over listeria fears Pregnant women were today reminded that they shouldn't eat ready-to-eat cold-smoked or cured salmon because of the listeria risk.

Food safety chiefs also issued the same warning to millions of Brits with diabetes, cancer and liver disease.

Smoked salmon and trout are more likely to harbour the bug, which can be life-threating to at-risk people, as the foods are not fully-cooked during production. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Updated advice to higher risk consumers on ready-to-eat cold-smoked and cured fish following publication of a risk assessment Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland