NHFT Libraries Health News

Friday, 25 October 2013

Co-ordinated care for people with complex chronic conditions: key lessons and markers for success

The King's Fund -
This report presents the findings from a two-year research project funded by Aetna and the Aetna Foundation, which aimed to understand the key components of effective strategies employed by studying five UK-based programmes to deliver co-ordinated care for people with long-term and complex needs. It elicits some key lessons and markers for success to help identify how care co-ordination might be transferred from the UK to the US context.

Medical tourism generates millions for NHS and wider economy, finds study

'Foreigners abusing system' claim contradicted by research that also shows more people go overseas for treatment than arrive

Medical tourism is a lucrative source of income for the NHS, according to a major new study that contradicts many of the assumptions behind the government's announcement that it will clamp down on foreigners abusing the health service.

Eighteen hospitals – those deemed most likely to be making money from overseas patients – earned £42m in 2010, according to researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and York University. Medical tourists spent an estimated £219m on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transport in the UK.

The researchers also found that more people leave the UK seeking medical treatment abroad than arrive in this country for care: about 63,000 people from the country travelled to hospitals and clinics abroad in 2010, while considerably fewer, about 52,000 people, came here.

The truth about ‘health tourism’: Twice as many foreign visitors pay to use NHS as exploit free healthcare in Britain Independent

Our response to the appointment of Simon Stevens as the new Chief Executive of NHS England

Commenting on the appointment of Simon Stevens as Chief Executive of NHS England, Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King's Fund said:

'Simon Stevens will take up a very different role to the one David Nicholson was appointed to in 2006. Although still the most senior leader in the national health system, he will not be the Chief Executive of the NHS.

'This will mean treading a careful line between responding to the priorities of ministers on the one hand and, on the other, working collaboratively with colleagues from the other main national bodies to provide strong collective leadership for the NHS.

'He will arrive in post at a time when the NHS is facing unprecedented financial and service pressures and its most significant challenges in a generation – meeting these challenges will require leadership skills of the highest order.

'Simon brings exceptional knowledge of working at the highest level of government, a strong commitment to the NHS and significant international experience. He will also have a keen appetite for addressing the challenges facing the NHS – as such I can't think of anyone better qualified for the role.' Kings Fund

Integrated health & social care — exploring how people’s care and support needs change and how the workforce has to adapt to meet the...

Integrated health & social care — exploring how people’s care and support needs change and how the workforce has to adapt to meet the... Skills for Care -

This review explores how people's care and support needs change and how the workforce has to adapt to meet the challenges that change can present. It has sought to understand the characteristics of effective workforce practice in integrated health and social care services with a particular focus on avoiding hospital admissions, improving reablement services, and speeding up and improving hospital discharge services and transfers between residential and nursing homes. NHS Evidence

NHS 111 service is stable and improving, says NHS England

NHS 111 service is stable and improving, says NHS England
The NHS 111 service is stable and improving, NHS England said today.

It issued an update on the organisations that are to replace NHS Direct, currently one of the providers of NHS 111 services.

NHS Direct has had some difficulties in providing these services and decided in agreement with NHS England that it would withdraw from the market. The NHS 111 service in England is divided into 44 areas, nine of which are currently provided by NHS Direct.

NHS Direct to close in 2014

NHS Direct to close in 2014 Telephone advice service set up in 1998 was forced to withdraw from new NHS 111 service owing to its slashed budget

NHS Direct, the telephone advice service that many GPs refer patients to after-hours, is to close at the end of the financial year, putting more than 700 jobs at risk.

NHS Direct, which has been running for 15 years, has been effectively superseded by the NHS 111 scheme, which was introduced in some areas earlier this year to cope with people who felt they needed care but were not a 999 emergency.

NHS Direct was set up by the Labour government and had continued to operate. It took on some of the 111 contracts around the country, but was forced to withdraw from them earlier this year. Five ambulance trusts have taken on the staff and call centres from NHS Direct, but other redundancy costs could rise to £15m.

In the end, it came down to money. NHS Direct could not provide the 111 services at a financially sustainable cost and commissioners could not afford to pay for the former's services separately from the latter's.

Joanne Shaw, chair of NHS Direct, said: "The closure of NHS Direct marks the end of its 15 years of continuous innovation, during which time it has led the world in remote health assessment, advice and information. It is an enormous privilege to have been part of this journey, and I look back over my 10 years with NHS Direct with gratitude and respect for the staff who have created this exceptional service.

"I look forward to seeing other organisations take forward a number of the services developed by NHS Direct, and I wish them well as they exploit the ever-growing reach and power of technology, to provide value to patients and the NHS."

NHS England says that 93% of the population now has access to NHS 111 and that 92% of people who call up are satisfied with the service. Guardian

Thursday, 24 October 2013

Officers back hospital replacement

Officers back hospital replacement Plans for a development to replace a Northamptonshire hospital in Brackley are expected to be approved. BBC News

Nurse struck off after pain relief dispute

Nurse struck off after pain relief dispute A nurse who refused to give pain relief to a patient at Kettering General Hospital has been struck off. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

Morphine-refusal nurse struck off BBC News

Hospital plans £45 million unit in Northampton to help children with autism

Hospital plans £45 million unit in Northampton to help children with autism A new £45 million unit to help children with autism and learning difficulties is to be built in Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Ex-Blair adviser linked to US healthcare giant is new NHS boss

A former adviser to Tony Blair who has spent a decade at the top of an American private healthcare giant has been appointed to run the NHS in England. The Independent

See also:

US health chief becomes new NHS boss BBC News
Blair advisor Simon Stevens appointed new NHS chief executive The Daily Telegraph
Former aide to Tony Blair to become new head of NHS England The Guardian v

If care planning is so good, why aren’t more people doing it? asks Jeremy Taylor

If care planning is so good, why aren’t more people doing it? asks Jeremy Taylor “I’ve been a doctor for ten years and I have no idea what a care plan is or looks like.” This refreshingly honest admission, heard at a recent conference, perfectly illustrates the continuing gap between rhetoric and reality when it comes to person-centred care. National Voices is working to narrow that gap. Policy makers, progressive … Continue reading » NHS Choices

Saturated fat link with heart disease questioned

Saturated fat link with heart disease questioned "The risk from saturated fat in foods such as butter, cakes and fatty meat is being overstated and demonised, according to a cardiologist," BBC News reports.

In an opinion piece, a doctor specialising in heart disease writes that warnings over saturated fats are misguided.

Proposed changes to EU data protection rules "would erode UK healthcare and research"

Proposed changes to EU data protection rules "would erode UK healthcare and research" Changing data protection rules could lead to less effective NHS, warn NHS Confederation and Royal College of Physicians.

Lessons from Europe: the value of tariff redesign

Lessons from Europe: the value of tariff redesign With responsibility for pricing structures being shifted to NHS England and the pricing function moving to Monitor, this briefing reviews the European experience of paying for specialist health services and examines whether it is time to redesign the NHS tariff in England to facilitate the development of new models of care.

Lessons from Europe: assuring quality through regulation
This briefing highlights approaches to quality assurance taken in Germany and the Netherlands. It identifies lessons for NHS leaders and policymakers in England on how to approach the challenge of regulating effectively for quality as the current regulatory system is being reconsidered.

Feel better outside, feel better inside: ecotherapy for mental wellbeing, resilience and recovery

Feel better outside, feel better inside: ecotherapy for mental wellbeing, resilience and recovery This report includes new findings from the University of Essex showing the many benefits of ecotherapy for mental wellbeing. It finds that ecotherapy has been proven to improve mental health, boost self esteem, help people with mental health problems return to work, improve physical health, and reduce social isolation.

We must not ignore people's wishes as they approach death

We must not ignore people's wishes as they approach death An end-of-life self assessment tool can be used to ensure care is tailored to patients' needs.

Most GPs back Government plans to charge foreign patients

Most GPs back Government plans to charge foreign patients A poll finds most family doctors support Government plans to charge migrants to access the NHS, despite strong opposition from GP leaders and their unions. The Daily Telegraph

Chief Medical Officer ‘ashamed’ as rickets makes a comeback

The Victorian-era disease rickets has returned to England, the country’s Chief Medical Officer has said, and should be fought off through a universal handout of vitamin supplements to all children under five. The Independent

See also:

Free vitamins for all under-fives advised by chief medical officer The Guardian
Children should be given vitamin D to prevent rickets The Daily Telegraph
Call for free vitamins for children BBC News

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Specialist healthcare provider in Northampton reports 5.5 percent increase in income

Specialist healthcare provider in Northampton reports 5.5 percent increase in income St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton has reported a growth in income of 5.5 percent for 2012-13 with a turnover of £178 million. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What are we spending on the English NHS?

What are we spending on the English NHS? The Chief Executive of the English NHS, Sir David Nicholson, recently called for politicians to be '…completely transparent about the consequences of the financial settlements…' for the NHS. His point was that, although politicians say the NHS has been protected financially, this is only relative to real cuts in other areas of government and, crucially, not in terms of the demands on health care.

Five ways to deliver high quality care at low cost

Five ways to deliver high quality care at low cost What would you do to deliver the highest quality care at the lowest possible cost? Jo Bibby gives her top five ideas following a study tour to innovative healthcare centres in India. The Health Foundation

Overseas visitors and migrant use of the NHS: extent and costs

Overseas visitors and migrant use of the NHS: extent and costs These two reports, commissioned by the Department of Health, provide evidence of the impact overseas visitors and migrants are having in GP practices and NHS hospitals. They give a first set of estimates for the number and costs of that care.

See also:

Visitors’ and migrants’ access to NHS: independent adviser appointed Department of Health

'Breakthrough' trial brings baldness cure closer

'Breakthrough' trial brings baldness cure closer "Scientists say they have moved a step closer to banishing bald spots," BBC News reveals. While the research only involved mice, it did provide 'proof of concept' that it is possible to reprogramme human cells to grow hair.

Healthcare systems: Sweden & localism - an example for the UK?

Healthcare systems: Sweden & localism - an example for the UK? This briefing provides an overview of the Swedish healthcare system and highlights their de-centralised model as an example of best practice for the coalition government's localism agenda.

Improvement of care for the physical health of patients with severe mental illness

Improvement of care for the physical health of patients with severe mental illness "Three major themes emerged: needs of patients with severe mental illness differ from the general population; professional roles and collaboration; and health monitoring and supporting a healthy lifestyle." BMC Health Services Research

Why mental health bed cuts make me ashamed to work for the NHS | Alex Langford

Why mental health bed cuts make me ashamed to work for the NHS | Alex Langford As doctors, we are crossing our fingers that a bed is available when a patient with a mental illness arrives at A&E.

Doctors have a duty to help ensure migrants pay for NHS care, say No 10

Doctors have a duty to help ensure migrants pay for NHS care, say No 10 Downing Street says there is an obligation on GPs to ensure the taxpayer gets a good deal from the health service.

Home Office: Government to press on with £200 migrant 'tax' despite public opposition

Home Office: Government to press on with £200 migrant 'tax' despite public opposition The Government is to press on with a £200 health levy for temporary migrants despite its own consultation revealing nearly two-thirds of the public disagree with the move. The Independent

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

NHS 'can save £500m' on foreign care

NHS 'can save £500m' on foreign care Up to £500m could be recovered from overseas visitors' and migrants' use of the NHS every year, ministers believe. BBC News

See also:

VIDEO: NHS 'can save £500m' on foreign care BBC News
Temporary migrants cost NHS up to £2bn a year, says study The Guardian
Press release: New report shows the NHS could raise up to £500 million from better charging of overseas visitors Department of Health
Independent report: Overseas visitors and migrant use of the NHS: extent and costs Department of Health
Regulating migrant access to health services NHS Employers

Schools must support health needs

Schools must support health needs Schools in England are going to have a legal obligation to support children with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy and asthma. BBC News

Tax Special Investigation: Firms running NHS care services avoiding millions ... - The Independent

Tax Special Investigation: Firms running NHS care services avoiding millions Companies receiving lucrative government contracts to run care services looking after tens of thousands of vulnerable people are avoiding millions of pounds in tax through a legal loophole. The Independent

It’s time to take healthcare IT out of the shadows, says Ian Dalton

It’s time to take healthcare IT out of the shadows, says Ian Dalton The NHS is at a key point in its history: a £30 billion challenge; a focus on the quality of care; and ever rising demand have set the scene for the next five critical years. In this environment, the success or failure of the NHS will depend on making not incremental change, but fundamental change … Continue reading » NHS Voices

Memory lapses may still be a sign of dementia

Memory lapses may still be a sign of dementia "'Tip-of-the-tongue' lapses aren't signs of dementia risk'," reports the Mail Online website, after a US study claims to have found no association between "tip-of-the-tongue" experiences and other symptoms often associated with dementia.

Experts urge flu season safety checks

Experts urge flu season safety checks GPs should ensure vaccine fridges are working effectively and at the correct temperature. OnMedica

Children’s medicines contain banned additives linked to hyperactivity

Some of the most popular children’s medicines contain E numbers that have been withdrawn from food and drink products because of links to hyperactivity in children. The Independent

Monday, 21 October 2013

Northamptonshire's NHS services need treatment to help patients and cut costs - Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire's NHS services need treatment to help patients and cut costs Northampton General Hospital is under similar pressure, with a patient visiting every four-and-a-half minutes. Nene CCG said there are also about 120 unplanned or emergency appointments made in GP practices across the county every week and that there ... Northamptonshire Telegraph

More patients to be treated at Northamptonshire GP surgeries

More patients to be treated at Northamptonshire GP surgeries More patients will be treated in GP surgeries rather than being sent to hospital under the proposed reforms of the NHS and social care in the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS mergers: learning the lessons of Bournemouth and Poole

NHS mergers: learning the lessons of Bournemouth and Poole The Competition Commission's rejection of the proposed merger in Bournemouth and Poole has amplified concerns that the application of competition law to NHS mergers and service reconfigurations is blocking and delaying service changes that both providers and commissioners see as necessary and urgent.

Call for whistle-blowing inquiry

Call for whistle-blowing inquiry The government should launch an inquiry into how whistle-blowers are treated in the wake of the Orchid View care home scandal, Tory MP and health select committee member Charlotte Leslie says. BBC News

GP exam 'unfair to minorities'

GP exam 'unfair to minorities' British ethnic minority doctors are four times more likely than white candidates to fail their clinical GP exam, an investigation commissioned by the General Medical Council finds. BBC News

See also:

Statement on the findings of the GMC national training survey socioeconomic status The GMC
The RCGP and recent media coverage The RCGP

NHS 111 procurements on hold

NHS 111 procurements on hold Clinical commissioning group have been told not to agree any NHS 111 contracts to start before April 2015 while NHS England considers its options for the future of the service. E-health Insider

Does housework count towards exercise targets?

Does housework count towards exercise targets? "Housework is not exercise," reports the Mirror today. It goes on to say that cleaning is "not intense enough" and that those who disagreed "were often fat".

This provocative story is based on an analysis of survey data from more than 4,000 adults in Northern Ireland. It found that people reported that domestic activities such as housework, gardening or DIY made up a large part of their moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Leading improvement across the continuum: skills, tools and teams for success

Leading improvement across the continuum: skills, tools and teams for success This guide provides two frameworks for conceptualising and planning improvement activities. The improvement continuum describes four categories of improvement activities: topic or microsystem, care co-ordination, defined population and community health. For each of these categories, the framework describes the skills, tools and teams that lead to successful improvement efforts. The guide also includes a leadership action model, a framework for how to use the improvement continuum.

Hospitals told to investigate all patient complaints in spite of possible lawsuits

Hospitals told to investigate all patient complaints in spite of possible lawsuits Exclusive: Department of Health forced to issue new guidelines after patient safety charity threatens to seek judicial review.

Seven day opening for GP practices branded 'unrealistic'

Seven day opening for GP practices branded 'unrealistic' Doctors have branded David Cameron's plans to open GP surgeries seven days a week as unrealistic as it emerged just a fraction are currently open at weekends. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

GPs condemn David Cameron's open-all-hours surgery plans The Guardian

'Institutionalised' abuse led to death of 19 pensioners at care home

'Institutionalised' abuse led to death of 19 pensioners at care home Nineteen elderly patients died amid "institutionalised abuse" at a care home where residents were left thirsty and malnourished and staff falsified medical records, a coroner has ruled. The Daily Telegraph

Friday, 18 October 2013

£275 million shortfall in NHS Northamptonshire and county council funding

£275 million shortfall in NHS Northamptonshire and county council funding A potential £275 million ‘black hole’ in spending on health and social care services by 2019 in Northamptonshire has been identified by NHS Nene and the county council. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Nurse admits failings at Northampton care home where patients died

Nurse admits failings at Northampton care home where patients died A nurse who admitted 64 instances of poor care at a nursing home where five dementia patients died following neglect, has been backed by St Andrews Hospital in Northampton where she now works. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Ten measures of success for NHS boards

Ten measures of success for NHS boards Maxine Power gives her top ten tips that she thinks differentiate good NHS boards from great NHS boards. Health Foundation

Hunt highlights plight of the lonely

Hunt highlights plight of the lonely It is a source of "national shame" that as many as 800,000 people in England are "chronically lonely", Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to say. BBC News

See also:

Press release: Care Minister announces proposals to deal with rushed care visits Department of Health

Air pollution causes cancer - WHO

Air pollution causes cancer - WHO Pollutants in the air we breathe have been classed as a major cause of cancer by the World Health Organization. BBC News

See also:

Air pollution causes lung cancer, warns World Health Organisation The Independent
Air pollution causes cancer, WHO concludes The Daily Telegraph

When an operating theatre becomes a lab

When an operating theatre becomes a lab Why research is key to better surgery BBC News

NICE says GPs 'should be nicer' to fat people

NICE says GPs 'should be nicer' to fat people "Don't be nasty to fat people," is the front page headline in the Daily Mail. The paper reports on new draft guidelines that encourage doctors to be "respectful and non-blaming" when discussing people's weight problems.

Managing financial difficulties in health economies

Managing financial difficulties in health economies This report examines why some health economies have been more successful than others in balancing their finances and outlines some key lessons for clinical commissioning groups. The Nuffield Trust

Does Mark Britnell have the solution to the NHS 'crisis'?

Does Mark Britnell have the solution to the NHS 'crisis'? The NHS England chief executive candidate wants to tear down the separation between GPs, hospital doctors and social care.

One in ten GP surgeries has serious issues

One in ten GP surgeries has serious issues One in ten family doctors' surgeries inspected since April have serious issues such as a lack of availability which need to be addressed, according to the new chief inspector of GPs. The Daily Telegraph

NHS faces 'bankruptcy' over ageing population

NHS faces 'bankruptcy' over ageing population The NHS is facing potential "bankruptcy" because it will not be able to cope with Britain's ageing population, warns Labour peer Lord Warner. The Daily Telegraph

Indian-made medicines including Superdrug's Ibuprofen recalled by UK health regulator

Indian-made medicines including Superdrug's Ibuprofen recalled by UK health regulator Drugs made for leading firms including Superdrug are being recalled after inspectors found problems with manufacturing at an Indian plant. BBC News

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Watching quality

Watching quality Jennifer Dixon on why QualityWatch, a joint Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust programme, will provide much needed analysis on the quality of care in the UK. The Health Foundation

UK autism cases have 'levelled off'

UK autism cases have 'levelled off' The number of new cases of autism being diagnosed in the UK has levelled off, following the surge of the 1990s, according to researchers. BBC News

VIDEO: 'Too many mental health failures'

VIDEO: 'Too many mental health failures' Care Minister Norman Lamb has said there are "too many failures" in relation to the treatment of people with mental health conditions, and called for an end to "institutional bias against mental health" within the NHS. BBC News

See also:

VIDEO: 'Genuine increase in demand' BBC News
NHS mental health care in ‘crisis’ due to lack of beds, leading psychiatrist warn The Independent

'Mad cow protein' carried by 1 in 2,000 people

'Mad cow protein' carried by 1 in 2,000 people "Twice as many Britons as previously thought could be carrying the human form of "mad cow" disease, variant CJD," BBC News warns.

However, the number remains low – 1 in 2,000 – and it is uncertain whether people who carry the vCJD protein will develop any associated symptoms.

The state of medical education and practice in the UK: 2013

The state of medical education and practice in the UK: 2013 This report aims to provide a picture of the medical profession in the UK. It looks at major trends and identifies some of the challenges facing doctors. It finds that many patients are unsure how to raise concerns about poor medical care and reveals that doctors reported more concerns about their colleagues in 2012.

Millions of asthmatics receive substandard care

Millions of asthmatics receive substandard care NHS audit of asthma care essential to save lives. OnMedica

Long-term thinking is vital if NHS is to meet future challenges

Long-term thinking is vital if NHS is to meet future challenges A timeframe of at least five years is needed to enable the healthcare system to adapt to the 21st century.

New NHS guidance: Don't blame patients for being fat, doctors warned

Doctors should not blame patients for being fat, according to new NHS guidance. The Independent

See also:

Don't blame obese patients for being fat, doctors told The Daily Telegraph
Don't be nasty to fat people: NICE tells doctors to show respect to obese patients The Daily Mail

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Northamptonshire criticised in Ofsted report

Northamptonshire criticised in Ofsted report Northamptonshire County Council has been named as one of 20 authorities with “unacceptably poor” provision for caring for vulnerable children. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northants Commissioners Publish Children And Young People's Survey

Northants Commissioners Publish Children And Young People's Survey Northamptonshire Young Healthy Minds Partnership, a joint initiative between Nene CCG, Corby CCG, and Northamptonshire County Council carried out a survey of 775 children, young people and adults (including parents, grandparents and health ... AboutMyArea

Mental health services 'in crisis'

Mental health services 'in crisis' The mental health service in England is in crisis, says a leading psychiatrist, as a BBC investigation finds acute beds closing and bed occupancy at 100% in some areas. BBC News

See also:

Warning of NHS mental health crisis The Guardian

Doctor complaints 'rising steeply'

Doctor complaints 'rising steeply' The number of complaints against doctors in the UK has doubled in the past five years, figures show. BBC News

See also:

GMC figures show complaints against doctors have doubled since 2007 The Independent

Elderly care all sorted? Think again...

Elderly care all sorted? Think again... Many pensioners face significant fees before they get help BBC News

New rare treatments fund scrapped

New rare treatments fund scrapped Cash to fund the early entry into hospitals of hundreds of potential new treatments for rare diseases and disorders is withdrawn. BBC News

Air pollution associated with low birth weight

Air pollution associated with low birth weight "Study links low birthweight to air pollution and traffic," The Guardian reports.

A new EU-wide study has found a strong link between exposure to air pollution in pregnant women and low birth weight babies. Low birth weight can increase the risk of the child developing a chronic disease. The study found that pregnant women living in areas with higher levels of pollution, usually associated with traffic density, had a correspondingly higher risk of having a low birth weight baby.

Patient survey highlights variation in benefit from common NHS operations

Patient survey highlights variation in benefit from common NHS operations New online map shows survey results by local provider in England. Health & Social Care Information Centre

Social care annual report 2012/13

Social care annual report 2012/13 This report argues that children’s services in England need strong and stable leadership to bring about sustained improvement in the help, care and protection of our most vulnerable young people. It shows that of the 17 local authorities judged ‘inadequate’ in the past year, 11 had seen a new Director of Children’s Services recently installed while 12 had undergone another major change in senior leadership of one sort or another in the period prior to inspection.

What are the real challenges of NHS finances?

What are the real challenges of NHS finances? The NHS may not be here in 10 years' time unless it undergoes rapid and radical reform.

Hospitals' daily spending on food as little as £4.15 per patient

Hospitals' daily spending on food as little as £4.15 per patient Lowest spender is Barnet and Chase Farm at £4.15 per patient per day, and highest is King's College hospital at £15.69.

Some hospitals spend barely £4 a day on the food they give each patient, less than half the national average, according to official NHS figures.

Care.data project to collate all NHS patients' records

Care.data project to collate all NHS patients' records Every household in England will be sent information about a landmark health data project that will see patient records from all GP surgeries collected by the NHS. The Independent

See also:

£1m national leaflet drop on care.data E-Health Insider
NHS England sets out the next steps of public awareness about care.data NHS England

UK medical journals will no longer consider research funded by tobacco industry

The editors of Britain’s leading medical journal and its sister publications have announced they will no longer consider research that is funded by the tobacco industry. The Independent

Poorest areas of England ‘will suffer under new NHS spending formula’

The poorest parts of England will have their health funding cut while affluent areas will benefit under a proposed new NHS spending formula, experts have warned. The Independent

See also:

North-south health gap 'set to widen' The Daily Telegraph

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Improving equity in healthcare through innovation

Improving equity in healthcare through innovation Where we see more spending as the solution to inequity in healthcare in the UK, in India this is not an option. Improving equity comes down to innovating in their service delivery model and relentlessly removing waste, says Jo Bibby. The Health Foundation

Care inspector could secretly film

Care inspector could secretly film Hidden cameras and mystery-shopper exercises may form part of a revamped inspection regime for care homes and domiciliary care in England next year. BBC News

Over-50s osteoporosis scale revealed

Over-50s osteoporosis scale revealed Bone fractures caused by osteoporosis occur once every two minutes in the UK among the over-50s, figures reveal. BBC News

Air pollution 'still harming health'

Air pollution 'still harming health' Some pollutants continue to pose a "significant threat" to European citizens' health and the environment, says a report by the European Environment Agency. BBC News

Adopt, improve or defend - An AID for QIPP

Adopt, improve or defend - An AID for QIPP This has been achieved through a three-stage process developed in collaboration with Right Care.

Savings of £18m were achieved in 2012-13 and potential savings of a similar magnitude have been identified for 2013-14. More ....

Another CSU on the brink of extinction

Another CSU on the brink of extinction NHS Anglia Commissioning Support Unit is looking at options for merging with another CSU. E-Health Insider

GPs must step up care home support, says CQC

GPs must step up care home support, says CQC GPs must improve support for patients in care homes to cut inappropriate hospital admissions, according to the chief executive of the CQC. GP Online

Improving diagnosis

Improving diagnosis This report found that over a third of young people with cancer (37%) are diagnosed through admission to accident and emergency. This is nearly three times the number of adults diagnosed in this way (13%)1. Of these young people, over a quarter (26%) had already been to see their GP with cancer symptoms. It also highlights that diagnosis through A&E is associated with poorer prognosis and poorer care experience. Teenage Cancer Trust

It was free press that exposed Liverpool Care Pathway failings, says leading medic The failings of the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway would not have been exposed had it not been for the press, a leading medical figure has claimed. The Daily Telegraph