NHFT Libraries Health News

Thursday, 21 November 2013

Analysing your staff survey results

Analysing your staff survey results A useful analysis tool which can assess links between staff and patient experience. NHS Employers

Aspirin at bedtime 'cuts' morning heart attack risk

Aspirin at bedtime 'cuts' morning heart attack risk “Take aspirin before bed to cut morning heart risk,” is the advice in The Daily Telegraph today. It’s prompted by a presentation that explained research that found a night-time aspirin helped thin the blood in the morning.

Dementia carers ‘close to breaking point’

Dementia carers ‘close to breaking point’ Charities say better support will save costs in both short and long term. OnMedica

NHS doctors spend 10 hours a week on bureaucracy

NHS doctors spend 10 hours a week on bureaucracy NHS doctors and nurses spend up to 10 hours a week on bureaucracy - a third of which is unneccesary, a Government review has found. The Daily Telegraph

Patient care and choice is at risk, say senior NHS figures

Patient care and choice is at risk, say senior NHS figures The National Health Service is undergoing its biggest shake-up in decades, but its own directors and board members, as well as those across the health sector, are concerned that patient care is deteriorating, that the NHS is worse equipped to deliver value-for-money, and that patient choice and satisfaction is going to get worse. The Independent

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry: government response

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry: government response These documents build on the government’s initial response: Patients First and Foremost, which was published in March 2013. They explain the changes that have been put in place since the initial response was published, and set out how the whole health and care system will prioritise and build on this. Volume 2 outlines the responses to each of the 290 recommendations made by the public inquiry.

See also:

NICE to guide the NHS on safe staffing levels NICE
Staffing and accountability key parts of NHS shake-up OnMedica
Hunt pledges to restore trust in NHS BBC News
Hospitals could have to pay for errors that kill or cause injury, says Hunt The Guardian
Jeremy Hunt: NHS culture needs 'profound transformation' The Daily Telegraph
Hospital patients will be given a named nurse in wake of Mid-Staffs The Daily Telegraph
Patient safety crisis: Jeremy Hunt unveils plans for NHS 'culture of openness' in wake of Mid Staffs scandal The Independent

How to ensure the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time: a guide to nursing, midwifery and care...

How to ensure the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time: a guide to nursing, midwifery and care... this guidance, published by the National Quality Board, aims to support providers and commissioners to make the right decisions about nursing, midwifery and care staffing capacity and capability. It outlines expectations related to staffing; signposts tools and resources to support this; and explains what national organisations will do to underpin the expectations

Hospital self-harm care 'lacking'

Hospital self-harm care 'lacking' Many hospitals in England are failing to provide adequate care for people who have self-harmed, despite a national drive to improve services, research suggests. BBC News

Challenging bureaucracy

Challenging bureaucracy In February 2013, the Secretary of State for Health commissioned the NHS Confederation to complete a review of the bureaucratic burdens on providers of NHS care from national bodies. NHS Confederation

General practice funding at a nine-year low

General practice funding at a nine-year low New figures published by the RCGP and the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP) show funding for general practice at a nine-year low. Royal College of General Practitioners

The cost of our health: the role of charging in healthcare

The cost of our health: the role of charging in healthcare This report examines the funding of health and care and the role of user charging in healthcare. It argues that new charges could raise nearly £3 billion per year to fund NHS services.

Evidence submission: Health Select Committee's inquiry into public expenditure on health and social care

Evidence submission: Health Select Committee's inquiry into public expenditure on health and social care This submission considers the financial pressures the NHS is currently under and will continue to face in the coming years. It analyses the progress being made in the attempt to meet the Nicholson Challenge target of making £20 billion of savings.

NHS 'privatisation': what's the mood among independent providers?

NHS 'privatisation': what's the mood among independent providers?
Private sector providers continue to increase their presence, despite a widespread feeling that political support for them has expired.

Hospitals to publish staffing levels

Hospitals to publish staffing levels Hospitals in England will be made to publish monthly details of whether they have enough nurses working on their wards, from next April. BBC News

See also:

Data showing hospitals' ratio of nurses to patients to be issued The Independent
Patients will be told how many nurses should be on each ward The Daily Telegraph
Hunt orders hospitals to publish ward staffing levels every month The Guardian

Call to raise prescriptions to £10

Call to raise prescriptions to £10 Prescription charges in England should be increased to £10 to fund cash-strapped NHS services, a centre-right think-tank says. BBC News

Care of brain injury victims 'poor'

Care of brain injury victims 'poor' BBC Newsnight has been shown secretly-filmed footage that shows poor treatment of patients with brain injuries who need specialist rehabilitation. BBC News

VIDEO: How does the NHS plan for winter?

VIDEO: How does the NHS plan for winter? Doctors have described life inside accident and emergency units as "always winter but never Christmas" and The College of Emergency Medicine has warned that this year could bring the "worst crisis on record". BBC News

A place for parity: health and wellbeing boards and mental health

A place for parity: health and wellbeing boards and mental health This report is the result of a study which reviewed 100 strategies and found that nine did not include mental health in their priorities at all. It looks at how much focus the boards have given to mental health in their strategies, which areas of mental health they focus on and what factors helped or hindered the agenda of mental health during the development of the strategies.

Seven day consultant present care: implementation considerations

Seven day consultant present care: implementation considerations This report from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges argues that most patients in hospital over a bank holiday or a weekend would benefit from a daily review of their care led by a consultant. It also argues that for seven day care proposals to succeed, strong links between hospitals and community care need to be in place, particularly for frail, elderly and vulnerable patients.

Will a duty of candour provoke a culture change in the NHS?

Will a duty of candour provoke a culture change in the NHS? Health and social care professionals must be able to speak out about failings within the NHS without fear of sanctions.

Survival rates increase for children beating cancer

Survival rates increase for children beating cancer The number of children beating cancer has risen to more than eight in 10, figures show. The Independent

Monday, 18 November 2013

Antibiotics are 'not for snot'

Antibiotics are 'not for snot' Running noses and green phlegm do not mean patients need antibiotics, say doctors and public health experts. BBC News

See also:

'Superbugs could erase a century of medical advances,' experts warn The Independent

Infection control concerns highlighted by RCN and IPS

Infection control concerns highlighted by RCN and IPS The RCN and the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) are working together to highlight concerns over ongoing infection prevention and control arrangements in England.

The return of the 'proper' family doctor?

The return of the 'proper' family doctor? Many newspapers are heralding the return of “family doctors” after the announcement of a new contract agreed between the government and GPs. The GP contract has been agreed between the NHS and GPs in England.

Vascular surgery warning over 21 hospital trusts

Vascular surgery warning over 21 hospital trusts Fears over risk to patients if too few procedures carried out as surgeons say 100 in three years should be minimum.

NHS competition holds up creation of specialist cancer treatment centres

NHS competition holds up creation of specialist cancer treatment centres Hospitals block reorganisations by claiming mergers are anti-competitive and would reduce patient choice.

Malnutrition cases in English hospitals almost double in five years

The shocking impact of recession and austerity on England’s poorest people has come to light again in figures showing the number of malnutrition cases treated at NHS hospitals has nearly doubled since the economic downturn. The Independent

NHS spending on local surgeries has dropped

NHS spending on local surgeries has dropped Family doctors are receiving a smaller slice of NHS funding than ever before and urgently need more support, the Royal College of General Practitioners has warned. The Independent

See also:

Patient care compromised as funding for general practice slumps across the UK Royal College of General Practitioners

NHS staff face jail if patients are neglected

Nurses, doctors and managers who mistreat or neglect their patients will face up to five years in prison under a major law change announced by David Cameron. The Independent

See also

Doctors and nurses face full force of law for neglect, says Cameron The Daily Telegraph
Doctors, nurses and managers to face five years in jail if they neglect patients The Guardian
VIDEO: Medics may face jail for neglect BBC News

Friday, 15 November 2013

Corby Urgent Care Centre extends its hours

Corby Urgent Care Centre extends its hours The urgent care centre in Corby has won £500,000 funding to extend its winter opening hours and help ease pressure on Kettering General Hospital. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hospital staff in Northampton raise concerns about child abuse ‘four times a day’

Hospital staff in Northampton raise concerns about child abuse ‘four times a day’ Abuse alerts about children are being spotted by staff at Northampton General Hospital at a rate of more than four a day. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

GPs 'to go extra mile' for frailest

GPs 'to go extra mile' for frailest The 100,000 most frail patients in England will be identified and given a named GP to co-ordinate their care, BBC News

See also:

Press release: Personalised GP care will bring back old-fashioned family doctors Department of Health
2014/15 GMS contract changes for England NHS Employers
RCGP response to changes to GP contract Royal College of General Practitioners
GPs will have to monitor effectiveness of out-of-hours services used by their patients The Independent
New GP contract heralds return of 'proper doctors' The Daily Telegraph
Hunt hopes new GP contract will solve A&E crisis The Guardian

NHS 111 pilot scheme 'had teething problems'

NHS 111 pilot scheme 'had teething problems' "NHS 111 helpline adds to pressure on A&E, according to study," The Guardian reports after a study has suggested that the new NHS 111 helpline needs further work to improve its effectiveness.

Saving money, losing sight

Saving money, losing sight This report finds that delays in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care are resulting in people losing their sight needlessly. The research is based on findings from an RNIB survey sent to staff in eye clinics across England. Staff were asked about current and future capacity in their eye department, the impact of insufficient capacity on patient care and possible solutions.

National audit of intermediate care 2013

National audit of intermediate care 2013 This audit aims to provide an overview of intermediate care commissioning and provision in England. In 2012, the audit focused on health based bed and home intermediate care services. In 2013, the study has been extended to cover crisis response and social care re-ablement services.

Seven-day NHS could lead to changes in care standards

Seven-day NHS could lead to changes in care standards Reorgansied health services might mean better specialist care.

Charity claims loneliness is the reason one in 10 visit their GP

As many as one in 10 patients who visit GP surgeries could be visiting not because they are medically unwell, but because they are lonely, a charity has claimed. The Independent.

Colchester General Hospital placed in special measures over cancer waiting time claims

The hospital at the centre of a police investigation over allegations staff changed cancer waiting times figures has been placed in special measures. The Independent

See also:

Scandal cancer trust placed in special measures The Daily Telegraph
Colchester hospital put into special measures over cancer care claims The Guardian
Colchester put into special measures E-Health Insider
Cancer hospital in special measures BBC News

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Hospital staff alerted authorities ‘118 times about concerns for care home residents

Hospital staff alerted authorities ‘118 times about concerns for care home residents Serious concerns about care home residents seen at Northampton General Hospital with dehydration or pressure sores were raised by hospital staff 68 times in one year, it has been revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Elderly 'face £150,000 care bill'

Elderly 'face £150,000 care bill' lderly people face paying £150,000 for residential care before they hit the cap on care costs, an analysis by Labour suggests. BBC News

Poor eye care 'leaving people blind'

Poor eye care 'leaving people blind' People may be losing their eyesight because clinics in England do not have the capacity to treat patients, a charity warns. BBC News

See also:

Delays in treating eye conditions result in NHS patients going blind from avoidable conditions The Independent

Phone app to locate defibrillators

Phone app to locate defibrillators An ambulance trust launches a mobile phone app which can locate the nearest portable defibrillator. BBC News

Engagement in research: an innovative three-stage review of the benefits for health-care performance

Engagement in research: an innovative three-stage review of the benefits for health-care performance The aim of this study was to conduct a theoretically and empirically grounded synthesis to map and explore plausible mechanisms through which research engagement might improve health services performance. It suggests that when clinicians and health-care organisations engage in research there is the likelihood of a positive impact on health-care performance.

Transforming urgent and emergency care services in England: urgent and emergency care review - end of phase 1 report

Transforming urgent and emergency care services in England: urgent and emergency care review - end of phase 1 report This report proposes a new blueprint for local services across the country that aims to make care more responsive and personal for patients, as well as deliver even better clinical outcomes and enhanced safety. It highlights opportunities to shift care closer to home, finding that 40 per cent of A&E patients are discharged requiring no treatment; up to one million emergency admissions were avoidable last year; and up to 50 per cent of 999 calls could be managed at the scene.

Half of NHS regions cut maternity funding despite baby boom

Half of NHS regions cut maternity funding despite baby boom Five of 10 English regions see reductions of up to 15% in 2012-2013 compared with previous year.

The NHS has cut its funding for maternity care in half of England's health regions, despite births being at their highest in 40 years and childbirth services being understaffed.

The amount of money going to maternity units in five of the NHS's 10 English regions of the country fell by up to 15% in 2012-13 compared with the previous year. The East Midlands saw the biggest drop.

NHS 111 line 'is doing more bad than good'

NHS 111 line 'is doing more bad than good' NHS phone line designed to lift pressure on A&E departments has actually added to the burden on hospitals, research suggests. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

NHS 111 helpline adds to pressure on A&E, according to study The Guardian

Future of NHS 'depends on speedier healthcare outside hospitals'

Future of NHS 'depends on speedier healthcare outside hospitals' The future of the health service depends on improved access to urgent healthcare outside of hospitals, Britain's most senior doctor has said. The Daily Telegraph

Government doctors to reconsider whether UK should vaccinate all children against deadly disease meningitis B

Government doctors will reconsider whether the UK should vaccinate all children against the deadly disease meningitis B, having previously said immunisation would not be cost-effective. The Independent

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2013: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,...

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2013: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,... This publication presents overviews of the health care systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The Commonwealth Fund

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Policy paper: NHS Mandate 2014 to 2015

This document sets out the ambitions for the health service for April 2014 to March 2015. It ensures that the Mandate to the NHS: April 2013 to March 2015, remains up to date and relevant, and was produced following a public consultation. To provide stability, and to ensure the Mandate remains focused on outcomes and affordable, changes have been kept to an essential minimum.

The NHS Mandate is structured around 5 main areas where the government expects NHS England to make improvements:

preventing people from dying prematurely
enhancing quality of life for people with long-term conditions
helping people to recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
ensuring that people have a positive experience of care
treating and caring for people in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm

The Mandate reaffirms the government’s commitment to an NHS that remains available to all, based on clinical need and not ability to pay - and that is able to meet patients’ needs and expectations now and in the future. Department of Health

NHS England welcomes refreshed Mandate from the Government

Britain's old age 'time bomb' may have been exaggerated, say experts

Britain's old age 'time bomb' may have been exaggerated, say experts
The so-called old age “time bomb” – the anticipated burden that our ageing population will place on taxpayers – may have been exaggerated, experts have said. Independent

NHS shake-up proposes two-tier A&E

NHS shake-up proposes two-tier A&E
A two-tier A&E system in England should be created as part of an overhaul of services, NHS chiefs are proposing. BBC News

Realising the benefits of employee engagement

Realising the benefits of employee engagement
Foundation Trust Network (FTN) -
This publication examines the link between employee engagement and quality of care. It presents the evidence for supporting employee engagement and discusses the barriers to implementation.

Government response: Boost in specialist mental health midwives to combat post-natal depression: Government statement

According to a recent report by the NSPCC, only around half of the country currently has access to specialised maternal mental health staff. Under new plans, national training body Health Education England (HEE) will make sure there is enough training in perinatal mental health so there are specialist staff available for each and every birthing unit by 2017.

Mental health issues affect around 10 per cent of women either when pregnant or after their baby is born. If untreated, mental illness can have a devastating impact on families and affect the ability of a mother to properly bond with her baby. In extreme cases, perinatal mental illness can be life-threatening – suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the UK. Specialist mental health midwives and healthcare professionals have an important role in helping women during pregnancy and beyond.

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said;

We want to do everything we can to make sure women and families get as much support as possible throughout pregnancy and beyond, and we need to see a step change in the quality of mental health support available in the perinatal period.
Specialist mental health doctors and midwives are crucial in helping women at risk of suffering from depression, and we will ensure that there are enough trained mental health midwives for the whole country. This means women will be much more likely to get the help and support they need, which will go on to have huge benefits for families and children.
We are already increasing the number of midwives and health visitors, and we have increased the number of vulnerable women and families who will benefit from family nurses. But we are now going even further, so that more women will get the right support before, during and after child birth.

Dr Poulter has also committed to continue increasing the number of midwives in the NHS, and there will continue to be a record number of training commissions. Since 2010, there are over 1,300 more midwives working in the NHS, and a record 5000 midwives in training. Department of Health

NICE says more heart attack survivors' lives could be saved though better access to cardiac rehabilitation programmes

NICE says more heart attack survivors' lives could be saved though better access to cardiac rehabilitation programmes
People who have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) have a considerably increased risk of having another one. NICE has published its updated guidance on the best ways to reduce this risk by improving the care of hundreds of thousands of adults in England and Wales who have survived a heart attack.

Help promote stop smoking campaign

Help promote stop smoking campaign
Alongside the campaign, smokers will be able to pick up the new NHS “quit cards”. The pack of cards signpost smokers to the range of support available. This includes face to face support, a smokefree app, quit kit, email support and text support. NHS Networks

E-cigarettes 'could save millions'

E-cigarettes 'could save millions'
Scientists say that if all smokers in the world switch from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes, it can save millions of lives. BBC News

Legal bid over swine flu jab link to narcolepsy

Legal bid over swine flu jab link to narcolepsy
Patients who developed narcolepsy after receiving Pandemrix swine flu jab launch a class action against manufacturer GSK - but taxpayer could foot compensation bill. Telegraph

Video games, tablets and smartphones are 'a back injury time bomb' for children who are increasingly sedentary, study warns

Video games, tablets and smartphones are 'a back injury time bomb' for children who are increasingly sedentary, study warns
Nearly three quarters of primary school children and nearly two thirds of secondary school age children have reported back or neck pain in the past year, a study found. Mail Online

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Toddlers being offered free flu vaccine

Toddlers being offered free flu vaccine
Parents of toddlers are being encouraged to arrange flu vaccinations for their children this winter. Evening Telegraph

News story: New website comparing adult social care services launched

On the website you can select your local authority from the map or drop-down menu, or type in your postcode to find out how carers and people receiving local authority funded care and support in your area rate factors such as:

quality of their life
satisfaction with care services
feeling safe

The Department of Health has worked with the Health and Social Care Information Centre to produce a website that allows people to access, understand and use the ASCOF data.

Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb said:

We want people to be able to know how well their local authority is performing. This will highlight those councils doing really well, but it will also enable people to hold their council to account if it fails to deliver good results from adult social care services, such as helping people to live independently or giving them genuine choice and control over their care and support. This online tool will provide people with the information they need to do this in a clear, accessible format.

We want everyone to get better care and I hope this website will help to drive improvement across all local authorities so that this is a reality.

The data is based on HSCIC data sets published from 2012 to 2013. Final data for 2012 to 13 for all ASCOF measures will be added on 17 December 2013, and provisional data for 2013 to 14 is expected to be available in summer 2014. Department of Health

The Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework for 2014 to 2015 is also published today.

Scotland approves new cancer drugs

Scotland approves new cancer drugs
Scotland becomes the first part of the United Kingdom to approve two new cancer drugs for routine use on the NHS. BBC News

Telehealth can play an important role in the future of healthcare

Applications of telehealth can speed up diagnosis, as well as improve patient treatment and longer-term outcomes

Telehealth has already helped to transform the way healthcare services are accessed and provided. For any healthcare organisation, patient care is the priority, and telehealth has proven to be a groundbreaking way of providing fast, high-quality and convenient care services.

GPs and hospitals are beginning to realise the potential for face-to-face video communication, improving access to care and easing pressure on the healthcare system. Virtual consultation and remote diagnosis have become reality and offer incredible potential to shape the GP surgery of the future and increase access to specialist services from within the primary care system.

This technology could significantly reduce the burden on secondary healthcare provision in the UK, particularly at a time when A&E services are struggling to deliver crucial care.

New network seeks to fill gap in training and development

My Health Skills will allow professionals to drive content and share best practice

Training and continuous improvement were central to the Francis and Cavendish reports. However, solutions that have an impact on behaviour and delivery of relevant skills take time and commitment to implement. They require patience, leadership and passion to deliver change through people, and need more than a knee jerk reaction to the current or next Mid-Staffs.

Launching on Monday 11 November, our new network, My Health Skills, will provide a platform for professionals looking to continue their own learning and development online, encouraging those who are passionate about workforce transformation to share best practice, resources, access information and provide a platform to voice their opinion.

A hidden workforce crisis in the NHS?

A hidden workforce crisis in the NHS?
The RCN has today launched a report which reveals there are nearly 20,000 nursing vacancies currently unfilled in England; a ‘hidden workforce crisis’ that could have serious consequences for the NHS.

Boss at cancer scandal NHS trust had no experience running hospitals

Boss at cancer scandal NHS trust had no experience running hospitals
The hospital at the centre of a major cancer scandal has been ordered to explain how it appointed a chief executive with no experience of NHS management, whose only work for the health service was four years as a junior doctor.Telegraph Health News

National survey on patient and public involvement in the appraisal and governance of doctors

National survey on patient and public involvement in the appraisal and governance of doctors
This national survey aims to help the NHS Revalidation Support Team understand how local healthcare organisations can strengthen patient and public involvement in the appraisal and governance of doctors and support the introduction of medical revalidation. The survey closes on 22nd November 2013.
NHS Evidence

Scan could detect those on brink of heart attack

"Heart attack risk identified by new scan," is the BBC News headline, reporting on the development of a scan that could help doctors identify fatty build-ups (plaques) in the arteries. These plaques are characteristic of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease and can trigger a heart attack if they rupture.

The news comes from a study that tested the use of a PET-CT scanner to identify "high-risk" plaques that had, or could, rupture. The PET-CT scan uses a radioactively labelled chemical to produce 3D images. The chemical normally used is a glucose-like substance called fludeoxyglucose (FDG), which is taken up by body tissues. However, recent studies suggest that sodium fluoride (NaF) is a more effective way of identifying plaques.

The current study involved 40 people who recently had a heart attack and 40 people with stable angina. The patients had PET-CT scans using either FDG or NaF as the radioactively labelled chemical. They were also tested using coronary angiography, which is currently the gold-standard method of looking at blockages in the heart arteries.

In almost all of the people who had had a heart attack, NaF was taken up by the "culprit" fatty deposits that had caused the blockage. The results also confirmed that NaF was better than FDG at showing these blockages. Almost half of the people with stable angina were found to have high-risk deposits using the NaF technique.

While this sounds promising, only a small number of patients have been studied. It remains to be seen whether the new test improves outcomes for people with coronary heart disease.

NHS clinical commissioning groups code of governance

NHS clinical commissioning groups code of governance
This governance code aims to support clinicians in developing good governance arrangements and to help build and maintain public trust in clinicians and the NHS. NHS Networks

Updated guidelines on the prevention and management of sickness absence

Updated guidelines on the prevention and management of sickness absence
These updated guidelines outline the key principles that NHS organisations should follow to prevent and manage sickness absence. NHS Employers News

Monday, 11 November 2013

Cardiac unit closure march wins support - Daventry Express

Cardiac unit closure march wins support More than 60 people joined a march around the town centre on Saturday following the closure of cardiac rehab care at Danetre Hospital. Daventry Express

New NHS efficiency schemes set to save £13.7 million per year on hospital energy bills

NHS efficiency schemes set to save £13.7 million per year on hospital energy bills Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter today announced nearly 70 schemes across the country which will reduce the NHS energy bill by up to £13.7 million per year.

Walk-in closures 'may cut GP access'

Walk-in closures 'may cut GP access' Closing walk-in centres may make it harder for people to see GPs - and risks sending more people to A&E, warns healthcare regulator Monitor. BBC News

See also:

Closure of 23% of NHS walk-in centres 'will put more pressure on A&E' The Guardian

Nursery toothbrushing saves £6m

Nursery toothbrushing saves £6m A scheme to encourage nursery children to brush their teeth has saved more than £6m in dental costs, according to a new study. BBC News

NHS England buys 1600 iPhones

NHS England buys 1600 iPhones NHS England has spent more than £670,000 on iPhones and iPads for staff during its first year in existence. E-Health Insider

Being bilingual may slow the onset of dementia

Being bilingual may slow the onset of dementia “Speaking a second language may delay dementia" BBC News reports. A study in the multi-lingual Indian city of Hyderabad found that those people with dementia who spoke two or more languages had a delayed onset of symptoms of around four and half years.

NHS procurement: improving transparency and understanding performance

NHS procurement: improving transparency and understanding performance he NHS Procurement Dashboard, provides a set of core metrics that NHS healthcare provider organisations can use to measure their procurement practice and performance against. The overview and specification documents provide guidance on using the dashboard tool, to ensure consistency. The dashboard reporting template supports the collation of data and reporting on the NHS Procurement Dashboard core metrics. Key procurement terminology is also explained.