Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Guidance on restoring the balance of mental health commissioning
Guidance on restoring the balance of mental health commissioning Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2014/15 to 2018/19, published in December 2013, describes NHS England’s ambition for the years ahead and its ongoing commitment to focus on better outcomes for patients. As part of the suite of tools that accompany the planning guidance that assist commissioners with their planning considerations to maximise the best possible outcomes for their local communities Parity of Esteem: transformative ideas for commissioners, outlines how CCGs can achieve parity of esteem between physical and mental health by allocating their resources differently through the provision of an evidence base, case studies and a guide to managing, securing and evaluating services. NHS England
GPs 'complacent' over HIV risk
GPs 'complacent' over HIV risk Complacency by doctors is leading to late diagnosis of HIV, a health group worker alleges. BBC Inside Out East
See also:
See also:
NHS death rates 'should be ignored'
NHS death rates 'should be ignored' A key measure of hospital death rates should be ignored, according to the expert who is leading the NHS review into them. BBC News
NHS medical records rules 'broken'
NHS medical records rules 'broken' Medical records appear to have been wrongly given to the insurance industry by the health service, the NHS admits. BBC News
Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) clinical audit, July - September 2013 public report
Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) clinical audit, July - September 2013 public report This report finds that huge improvements have been made in the quality of stroke care and services over the past years as measured by previous national stroke audits and it is anticipated that similar improvements will be demonstrated through future SSNAP quarterly reports. Royal College of Physicians
Gum disease may be linked to arthritis
Gum disease may be linked to arthritis "Brushing your teeth well could help prevent arthritis," the Mail Online advises after scientists found that the bacteria that causes gum disease – P. gingivalis – may also damage joints. But the Mail's advice – though well meaning – is premature. This study involved mice and did not assess whether tooth brushing reduced the risk of arthritis.
That said, this was interesting research that provided a plausible and coherent mechanism whereby the common gum bacteria P. gingivalis caused the worsening of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
That said, this was interesting research that provided a plausible and coherent mechanism whereby the common gum bacteria P. gingivalis caused the worsening of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
We can't leave mentally ill people at the mercy of unregulated therapists | Patrick Strudwick
We can't leave mentally ill people at the mercy of unregulated therapists | Patrick Strudwick MPs must vote on Friday to remedy the fact that patients are exposed to untrained, unethical mental health professionals.
NHS medical records database could help prevent disease, senior doctors say
NHS medical records database could help prevent disease, senior doctors say Lord Darzi and Lord Crisp have joined a group of health professionals to defend the NHS medical records database, days after it was put on hold following concerns about data sharing. The Daily Telegraph
Monday, 24 February 2014
Public health redundancies ‘to cost £500k’
Public health redundancies ‘to cost £500k’ Staff who could controversially be made redundant from Northamptonshire County Council’s public health team would get a pay-out totalling half a million pounds. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Loddington business to help NHS nurses deliver quality care
Loddington business to help NHS nurses deliver quality care A Northamptonshire business is playing a central role in a national pilot to improve education for the next generation of nurses. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Practical guidance on care for frail older people
Practical guidance on care for frail older people Frail older people are less likely to reach crisis, require urgent care support and experience harm if they are supported in living independently and understand how to manage their long-term conditions. The document summarises the evidence of the effects of an integrated pathway of care. It suggests how a pathway can be commissioned effectively using levers and incentives across providers. NHS England
Rare 'polio-like' disease reports
Rare 'polio-like' disease reports Five children have developed an illness similar to polio in California, doctors report. BBC News
NHS trusts with deficits rise to 39
NHS trusts with deficits rise to 39 A study of NHS foundation trusts in England finds the number of those in financial trouble has nearly doubled in a year from 21 to 39. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Number of NHS trusts struggling financially doubles in just one year The Independent
- NHS trusts in financial difficulty double in number The Guardian
34m patients will fail to get appointment with a GP in 2014
34m patients will fail to get appointment with a GP in 2014 More than 34m patients in England will this year fail to get an appointment with their GP, when seeking treatment, because of the slump in the funding of general practice over the last decade, and rapidly growing demand.
The huge number of patients who will fail to secure a consultation with a GP or a practice nurse, this year, comes despite the fact that general practice now sees 40m more patients annually than was the case in 2008/09.
The startling prediction for the number of patients who will fail to secure an appointment is based on an analysis by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), of the latest GP Patient Survey, published in December, revealing that 10% of patients who sought a consultation with a GP or a practice nurse in 2012/13, failed to get one.
The huge number of patients who will fail to secure a consultation with a GP or a practice nurse, this year, comes despite the fact that general practice now sees 40m more patients annually than was the case in 2008/09.
The startling prediction for the number of patients who will fail to secure an appointment is based on an analysis by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), of the latest GP Patient Survey, published in December, revealing that 10% of patients who sought a consultation with a GP or a practice nurse in 2012/13, failed to get one.
Flu jab "may cut" stroke risk by a quarter
Flu jab "may cut" stroke risk by a quarter A recent report has revealed that people who have the seasonal flu jab are 24% less likely to suffer a stroke, according to The Daily Telegraph.
GP surgeries threatened by funding changes
GP surgeries threatened by funding changes BMA warns that end of practice income guarantees could see 98 surgeries close. OnMedica
The NHS plan to share our medical data can save lives – but must be done right | Ben Goldacre
The NHS plan to share our medical data can save lives – but must be done right | Ben Goldacre Care.data, the grand project to make the medical records of the UK population available for scientific and commercial use, is not inherently evil – far from it – but its execution has been badly bungled. Here's how the government can regain our trust.
Future of the health service: the era of community care has arrived
Future of the health service: the era of community care has arrived Quality for patients at home or in the community is becoming a reality, but success depends on investment in staff and services.
It is well known that there is growing pressure on the health and social care system. There is a rising and ageing population that, if our care system does not change, will require an additional 13,500 hospital beds to soak up demand.
There is already a tendency for patients to end up in hospital when they could be cared for elsewhere. The ambition to move care closer to home is not new – it has been our ultimate goal for many years – but major change is needed to achieve it.
A great deal rests on community services: they could transform chronic disease management, support reductions in the number of people admitted to hospital and how long they stay there, and help primary care meet a growing demand.
It is well known that there is growing pressure on the health and social care system. There is a rising and ageing population that, if our care system does not change, will require an additional 13,500 hospital beds to soak up demand.
There is already a tendency for patients to end up in hospital when they could be cared for elsewhere. The ambition to move care closer to home is not new – it has been our ultimate goal for many years – but major change is needed to achieve it.
A great deal rests on community services: they could transform chronic disease management, support reductions in the number of people admitted to hospital and how long they stay there, and help primary care meet a growing demand.
Worst hospitals cost NHS £300m
Worst hospitals cost NHS £300m Official figures show that scandal-hit hospitals have cost the NHS £300 million in damages over the last five years. The Daily Telegraph
'Hacking' may reveal personal health risks
'Hacking' may reveal personal health risks It is possible to work out the identities of anonymous people who participate in genetic-research studies by cross-referencing their data with publicly available information. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- Hospital records of 47m NHS patients obtained by insurance society The Guardian
- Hospital records of all NHS patients sold to insurers The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 21 February 2014
Council backs £126m of savings
Council backs £126m of savings A package of £126m of savings (including £18 m from adult social care) over the next five years is agreed by Northamptonshire County Council. BBC Northamptonshire
Doctor unintentionally slowed police investigation into baby death
Doctor unintentionally slowed police investigation into baby death Questions have been raised over the level of training given to some staff at Northampton General Hospital after a paediatrician unintentionally slowed down a police investigation into the death of a Northampton baby, it has been revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Shine: Improving the value of local healthcare services
Shine: Improving the value of local healthcare services How healthcare teams took on the challenge to improve quality while reducing the cost of services. The Health Foundation
NHS data critics 'scaremongering'
NHS data critics 'scaremongering' Opponents of the plan to share medical records on a giant database are "peddling scaremongering myths", medical research organisations say. BBC News
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Mental health and crisis care
Mental health and crisis care This briefing summarises the key principles and commitments in the concordat and highlights how stronger local partnerships can deliver improved crisis care. NHS Confederation
What type of people choose assisted suicide?
What type of people choose assisted suicide? "Women, divorcees and atheists are most likely to choose assisted suicide," the Mail Online reports, "with nearly 20% saying they are 'simply weary of life'".
The Mail’s headline is misleading. The story comes from a study of assisted suicides in Switzerland, where the practice is legal.
The study found that in 16% of assisted suicides, no underlying cause of death was recorded.
This is important, but there is no evidence that these cases were “weary of life”, an expression which the Mail has taken from another study.
This study found that cancer was the most common cause given for assisted suicides. It also found that assisted suicide was more likely in women than men, those living alone than those living with others (particularly divorced older women), and those with no religious affiliation (compared with Protestants and Catholics).
The Mail’s headline is misleading. The story comes from a study of assisted suicides in Switzerland, where the practice is legal.
The study found that in 16% of assisted suicides, no underlying cause of death was recorded.
This is important, but there is no evidence that these cases were “weary of life”, an expression which the Mail has taken from another study.
This study found that cancer was the most common cause given for assisted suicides. It also found that assisted suicide was more likely in women than men, those living alone than those living with others (particularly divorced older women), and those with no religious affiliation (compared with Protestants and Catholics).
The NHS payment system: evolving policy and emerging evidence
The NHS payment system: evolving policy and emerging evidence This research report reviews different approaches to payment for health services in the English NHS. It explores the evidence on whether recent payment initiatives have met their goals.
Is integration or fragmentation the starting point to improve prevention?
Is integration or fragmentation the starting point to improve prevention? Initiatives to promote integration are being introduced at all levels of the system, with a patient experience based narrative setting the standard against which success should be judged. University of Birmingham Health Services Management Centre
Struggle to recruit managers will add to cycle of failure
Struggle to recruit managers will add to cycle of failure The pressure on chief executives and the risk of failure are so great that few candidates are coming forward.
The NHS management body count is mounting. In the year since Robert Francis QC unveiled his final report following the Mid-Staffordshire scandal, 10 chief executives have resigned over performance issues.
Is this a sign of a commitment to the highest standards of leadership, or a system where senior managers are being set up to fail?
The NHS management body count is mounting. In the year since Robert Francis QC unveiled his final report following the Mid-Staffordshire scandal, 10 chief executives have resigned over performance issues.
Is this a sign of a commitment to the highest standards of leadership, or a system where senior managers are being set up to fail?
Shambolic record-keeping by NHS wastes money and endangers patients | Jenny Rohn
Shambolic record-keeping by NHS wastes money and endangers patients | Jenny Rohn A centralised patient record system is essential to the running of a modern health service. It’s a shame the UK doesn’t have one. The Guardian
Lifesaving defibrillators should be as 'ubiquitous' as fire extinguishers, doctors say
Lifesaving defibrillators should be as 'ubiquitous' as fire extinguishers, doctors say Lifesaving defibrillators should be as “ubiquitous” as fire extinguishers, doctors have said, after research in the UK revealed that the machines were on-hand in public spaces for just four per cent of heart attacks. The Independent
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Thursday, 20 February 2014
'Rise' in children on adult wards
'Rise' in children on adult wards An increasing number of young people with mental health problems in England are being treated on adult psychiatric wards, it emerges. BBC News
20% rise in penile cancer: are STIs to blame?
20% rise in penile cancer: are STIs to blame? The rise of penis cancer: Cases soar by 20%, amidst fears that
symptoms are being misdiagnosed as STDs,” reports the Mail Online. The news follows a recently published study of long-term trends inincidence and mortality rates of penile cancer in England from 1979 to
2009, as well as survival trends from 1971 to 2010.
symptoms are being misdiagnosed as STDs,” reports the Mail Online. The news follows a recently published study of long-term trends inincidence and mortality rates of penile cancer in England from 1979 to
2009, as well as survival trends from 1971 to 2010.
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
'More resources to the frontline' slogan damages the NHS
'More resources to the frontline' slogan damages the NHS Rallying cry is attractive but reinforces beliefs about the health service that are simplistic, naive and probably incorrect.
In the often heated debate about the future of the NHS, there is one thing that politicians seem to agree on: both sides are happy to use the slogan "more resources to the frontline". The slogan is not just naive, it damages the service.
In the often heated debate about the future of the NHS, there is one thing that politicians seem to agree on: both sides are happy to use the slogan "more resources to the frontline". The slogan is not just naive, it damages the service.
Investigation finds “no major failures” by authorities before death of seven-week-old baby in Northampton
Investigation finds “no major failures” by authorities before death of seven-week-old baby in Northampton An investigation into the death of a seven-week-old baby in Northampton has concluded that no individual or agency could have predicted what happened to him. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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See also:
- Jamie’s parents’ secret troubled backgrounds “would have triggered scrutiny” Northampton Chronicle and Echo
- Jamie Kightley death: Serious case review highlights concerns BBC Northamptonshire
Patient travel distance to A&E static despite closures
Patient travel distance to A&E static despite closures Longer distances to A&E could mean more reliance on GPs OnMedica
Care.data: How did it go so wrong?
Care.data: How did it go so wrong? How did the medical records project go so wrong? BBC News
Improving Dental Care and Oral Health – A Call to Action
Improving Dental Care and Oral Health – A Call to Action NHS England is calling for a debate about the future shape of dental services in England.
It follows last summer’s “The NHS belongs to the people – a call to action”, which encouraged patients, the public, staff and partners to join the debate about the sustainability challenges facing the NHS in England.
NHS dental services are provided in primary care and community settings, as well as in hospitals for more specialised care. The NHS in England spends £3.4 billion per year on dental care, with over a million patient contacts with NHS dental services each week.
It follows last summer’s “The NHS belongs to the people – a call to action”, which encouraged patients, the public, staff and partners to join the debate about the sustainability challenges facing the NHS in England.
NHS dental services are provided in primary care and community settings, as well as in hospitals for more specialised care. The NHS in England spends £3.4 billion per year on dental care, with over a million patient contacts with NHS dental services each week.
Health research gets £28m boost
Health research gets £28m boost More than £28m is being invested in improving health research across the East Midlands. BBC Northamptonshire
Commissioner Simmonds: ‘Mental health care has to change’
Commissioner Simmonds: ‘Mental health care has to change’ Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds has said the way officers deal with people suffering a mental health crisis “dramatically needs to change”. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
'Family care networks' – the future of primary care
'Family care networks' – the future of primary care In future, ‘family care networks’ with GP surgeries at their heart should provide a wider range of services for patients outside hospitals, says a report on the future of primary care, published today by The King’s Fund.
These networks would enable GPs to strengthen their role as providers and co-ordinators of care in collaboration with other staff working in the community and some hospital-based specialties.
NHS experts have long called for a shift in the way care is provided, with more services delivered closer to people’s homes, in order to meet the needs of an ageing population and the increasing numbers of people living with multiple long-term conditions. The report argues that most GP practices are too small to do this on their own and need to work together in federations or networks to achieve the necessary scale.
These networks would enable GPs to strengthen their role as providers and co-ordinators of care in collaboration with other staff working in the community and some hospital-based specialties.
NHS experts have long called for a shift in the way care is provided, with more services delivered closer to people’s homes, in order to meet the needs of an ageing population and the increasing numbers of people living with multiple long-term conditions. The report argues that most GP practices are too small to do this on their own and need to work together in federations or networks to achieve the necessary scale.
Giant NHS database rollout delayed
Giant NHS database rollout delayed The start of a new NHS data-sharing scheme in England involving medical records is being delayed by six months. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Care.data delayed E-Health Insider
- GP leaders propose six point action plan for care.data scheme OnMedica
- NHS medical records database halted amid concerns The Daily Telegraph
- Victory for privacy as NHS database is delayed The Independent
- NHS in England delays sharing of medical records The Guardian
NICE drugs policy for the elderly is unchanged
NICE drugs policy for the elderly is unchanged "NHS ban medicine if you are 'too old' in new attack on Britain's elderly" is the headline in the Daily Express, with many other news sources echoing similar dire warnings.
The media storm is based on the news that, as part of a consultation, the Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to take "wider societal benefits" into account when approving new drugs, as well as considering the burden of illness and the impact a disease has on patients.
There are fears that vulnerable groups, including the elderly, could lose out if they are judged not to contribute as much to society as other groups, especially if societal impact is just assessed from an economic viewpoint. The concern is that NICE may not recommend drugs specifically targeted at diseases that occur in these vulnerable groups.
The media storm is based on the news that, as part of a consultation, the Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to take "wider societal benefits" into account when approving new drugs, as well as considering the burden of illness and the impact a disease has on patients.
There are fears that vulnerable groups, including the elderly, could lose out if they are judged not to contribute as much to society as other groups, especially if societal impact is just assessed from an economic viewpoint. The concern is that NICE may not recommend drugs specifically targeted at diseases that occur in these vulnerable groups.
NHS England sets out key elements of enhanced service for complex needs
NHS England sets out key elements of enhanced service for complex needs Options becomes available in April; aim is to cut avoidable unplanned admissions. OnMedica
The only thing wider than the NHS funding gap is the policy vacuum
The only thing wider than the NHS funding gap is the policy vacuum You might have thought a £30bn shortfall in NHS finances would have prompted Jeremy Hunt into action. Apparently not.
'Public health emergency' declared as one in six GPs was asked to refer a patient to food banks in the last year
'Public health emergency' declared as one in six GPs was asked to refer a patient to food banks in the last year
One in six family doctors has been asked to refer a patient to a food bank in the past year, a new survey has found, with GPs reporting that benefits delays are leaving people without money for food for weeks on end. The Independent
One in six family doctors has been asked to refer a patient to a food bank in the past year, a new survey has found, with GPs reporting that benefits delays are leaving people without money for food for weeks on end. The Independent
Check your ambulance service: postcode lottery 'costs 2,500 lives a year'
Check your ambulance service: postcode lottery 'costs 2,500 lives a year' Find out how your local service compares, as a former ambulance boss warns of the 'frightening' difference between postcodes. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- 'Deadly ambulance postcode lottery' BBC News
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Breast cancer campaign targets older women
Breast cancer campaign targets older women Northamptonshire NHS and the county council are supporting the new NHS breast cancer in women over 70 campaign. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Northamptonshire charity to launch ‘legal high’ educational campaign
Northamptonshire charity to launch ‘legal high’ educational campaign A campaign to inform young people about the dangers of taking ‘legal highs’ is to be launched by a Northamptonshire charity. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
As NHS Sustainability Day approaches, what can we learn from the trusts who are doing it right, asks Matthew Abbott
As NHS Sustainability Day approaches, what can we learn from the trusts who are doing it right, asks Matthew Abbott An important fixture in any healthcare professional’s diary, NHS Sustainability Day falls on 27 March. In the three years the campaign has been running it has managed to increase the amount of debate on sustainable healthcare practices to new levels, inspiring hundreds of NHS Trusts and healthcare providers to examine their own practices. NHS Voices
Press release: Better care for mental health crisis
Press release: Better care for mental health crisis Emergency support for people in mental health crisis is set to see dramatic improvements across the country as part of a far-reaching new agreement between police, mental health trusts and paramedics.
The agreement – called the Crisis Care Concordat – has been signed by more than 20 national organisations in a bid to drive up standards of care for people experiencing crisis such as suicidal thoughts or significant anxiety.
The agreement – called the Crisis Care Concordat – has been signed by more than 20 national organisations in a bid to drive up standards of care for people experiencing crisis such as suicidal thoughts or significant anxiety.
The sixth year of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Service: 2012/2013
The sixth year of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Service: 2012/2013 This report provides an overview of the 6 years that the IMCA service has been active. It is particularly relevant to local authority commissioners, mental capacity leads and safeguarding leads. Department of Health
E-referrals to be mandatory - Nicholson
E-referrals to be mandatory - Nicholson Use of the new NHS e-referrals service could become mandatory for GPs, NHS England's chief executive Sir David Nicholson has said. E-Health Insider
Care.data: a media.disaster
Care.data: a media.disaster When EHI reported that well-known privacy campaigner Phil Booth had "slammed" the leaflet that it was sending out about care.data, NHS England was very upset. E-Health Insider
Call for help for tongue-tie babies
Call for help for tongue-tie babies Services for babies with breastfeeding problems because of tongue tie need to be improved, the NCT parenting charity says. BBC News
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Correlating hospital and mental health data
Correlating hospital and mental health data The Health and Social Care Information Centre has published its latest monthly report (October 2013) linking hospital episode statistics mental health data from the mental health minimum dataset (MHMDS). The HES-MHMDS linkage promotes understanding of mental health service users' interactions with acute secondary care.
Is there such a thing as a 'lazy gene'?
Is there such a thing as a 'lazy gene'? "A mutation in a gene with a critical role in the brain could explain why some people are 'couch potatoes'," The Independent reports, while the Mail Online claims that "there might soon be a pill to get you moving".
Both headlines are way off the mark – the underlying study did not involve humans, but mice. Researchers looked at the genetics and brain chemistry of mice to see how a specific genetic mutation (a variant of the SLC35D3 gene) influenced body weight, food intake, metabolism and physical activity levels.
Both headlines are way off the mark – the underlying study did not involve humans, but mice. Researchers looked at the genetics and brain chemistry of mice to see how a specific genetic mutation (a variant of the SLC35D3 gene) influenced body weight, food intake, metabolism and physical activity levels.
Use of police cells during mental health crises to be halved
Use of police cells during mental health crises to be halved Deal signed by 22 national organisations follows official report on detentions under section 136 of Mental Health Act.
The number of times police cells are used as a place of safety for people having a mental health crisis is intended to be halved under a far-reaching agreement between police, mental health trusts and paramedics.
The number of times police cells are used as a place of safety for people having a mental health crisis is intended to be halved under a far-reaching agreement between police, mental health trusts and paramedics.
Monday, 17 February 2014
Hospital chief executive steps down due to ‘health’
Hospital chief executive steps down due to ‘health’ The chief executive of St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northamopton has retired early for health reasons. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Transforming community services: learning from previous mistakes
Transforming community services: learning from previous mistakes Community services make up a large part of NHS activity, from chronic disease management and intensive rehabilitation to health visiting and school nursing. Yet years of initiatives, policy ideas and fads have left a legacy of highly complex, narrowly focused and often poorly co-ordinated services, making the system difficult to understand and navigate, even for professionals. So, with an ongoing ambition to shift care out of hospitals and closer to people’s homes, what is needed to transform community services?
TPP launches Mobile Working
TPP launches Mobile Working TPP has launched a new mobile version of SystmOne, which is optimised for touch screens and available on and off-line. E-Health Insider
NHS trusts ranked on clinical IT
NHS trusts ranked on clinical IT The first national table ranking NHS trusts in their use of clinical IT systems has been launched by EHI Intelligence, in partnership with NHS England. E-Health Insider
CCG allocation growth projections 2016/17 to 2018/19
CCG allocation growth projections 2016/17 to 2018/19 This guidance is intended to support commissioners who are currently developing their five years strategic plans. It sets out some high level planning assumptions that CCGs can use when considering how to project growth in allocations in years three to five of the planning period. NHS England
Adults 'unaware of NHS data plans'
Adults 'unaware of NHS data plans' Fewer than a third of adults in England recall getting an a leaflet about changes to the handling of medical records, a poll for the BBC suggests. BBC News
Community services have been neglected
Community services have been neglected The system is too complex and badly organised. Health Service Journal
Special measures update report
Special measures update report This update report finds that significant progress has been made turning around some of England’s most challenged hospitals. Monitor
Papworth hospital's future in doubt after Treasury intervention
Papworth hospital's future in doubt after Treasury intervention Heart and lung hospital's planned Cambridge move caught up in 'NHS politics' that may force partnership with loss-making trust.
The future of the world-renowned Papworth hospital is in doubt because it is being prevented by the Treasury from moving to a new centre of medical excellence in Cambridge.
Instead of consolidating its reputation as a pioneering heart and lung hospital at the forefront of medical innovation, Papworth may instead be forced into a shotgun partnership with the NHS's most loss-making foundation trust.
The future of the world-renowned Papworth hospital is in doubt because it is being prevented by the Treasury from moving to a new centre of medical excellence in Cambridge.
Instead of consolidating its reputation as a pioneering heart and lung hospital at the forefront of medical innovation, Papworth may instead be forced into a shotgun partnership with the NHS's most loss-making foundation trust.
NHS adviser Sir Stuart Rose has private health link
NHS adviser Sir Stuart Rose has private health link
The former Marks & Spencer’s boss appointed by Jeremy Hunt to advise on improving the NHS could “make a fortune” from hospital takeovers by private companies, the country’s biggest union has claimed. The Independent
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The former Marks & Spencer’s boss appointed by Jeremy Hunt to advise on improving the NHS could “make a fortune” from hospital takeovers by private companies, the country’s biggest union has claimed. The Independent
See also:
- M&S's pastel shades won't suit the NHS The Guardian
NHS hospitals have their worst week yet this winter
NHS hospitals have their worst week yet this winter NHS hospitals have their worst week yet this winter, figures show. The Daily Telegraph
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Friday, 14 February 2014
Queuing medics at Northampton hospitals ‘lose 11,000 hours a year’
Queuing medics at Northampton hospitals ‘lose 11,000 hours a year’ Queuing ambulance drivers at Northamptonshire hospitals are wasting about 11,000 hours a year when they could be on call. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Trainee GP at Northampton surgery cleared of sexual assault
Trainee GP at Northampton surgery cleared of sexual assault Queuing ambulance drivers at Northamptonshire hospitals are wasting about 11,000 hours a year when they could be on call. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Re-allocating the money: who should lead on reforming mental health?
Re-allocating the money: who should lead on reforming mental health? The focus on delivering improvements in mental health care is currently dominated by how funding is allocated. But in the midst of the debate, little thought has been given to who should receive this money, and importantly how this could lead to reforming the system. Is it really a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, or could we all benefit by sharing a little more?
Ex-M&S boss to advise NHS managers
Ex-M&S boss to advise NHS managers Former Marks and Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose is to lead a review into how to improve management in the NHS in England. BBC News
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Government response to the review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions
Government response to the review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions The Government accepts the principles of the Keogh Review and the majority of its recommendations for protecting people who choose cosmetic procedures. Department of Health
See also:
See also:
- New cosmetic rules 'are appalling' BBC News
- Crackdown on 'cosmetic cowboys' The Daily Telegraph
- Plastic surgeons criticise government over new rules The Independent
- Surgeons condemn 'appalling' lack of action on cosmetic surgery regulation The Guardian
Belgium approves child euthanasia
Belgium approves child euthanasia Belgium becomes the first country in the world to allow child euthanasia without any age limit, after parliament passed a bill by a wide majority. BBC News
Merger of GP and community care possible, says NHS England
Merger of GP and community care possible, says NHS England Work by NHS England to develop primary care could include new contractual arrangements for GPs and the merger of community and primary care services, its deputy medical director has suggested. GP Online
300,000 more patients on NHS waiting list under coalition
300,000 more patients on NHS waiting list under coalition HS data shows that 2.88 million people in England were waiting for consultant-led treatment in December.
The number of people waiting for NHS hospital treatment has risen by more than 300,000 under the coalition, amid concern that NHS rationing is forcing patients to wait longer for operations.
The number of people waiting for NHS hospital treatment has risen by more than 300,000 under the coalition, amid concern that NHS rationing is forcing patients to wait longer for operations.
Mobile phones 'pose no health risk'
Mobile phones 'pose no health risk' UK research group publishes its final report which shows no health risks linked to mobile phone use. The Daily Telegraph
Thursday, 13 February 2014
Change needed to realise the potential of community services, says new report by The King’s Fund
Change needed to realise the potential of community services, says new report by The King’s Fund Radical changes to community services are needed to realise the ambition of moving more care out of hospital and closer to people's homes, says a new report published by The King's Fund.
'Cosmetic crisis' measures expected
'Cosmetic crisis' measures expected Tougher rules on dermal fillers, Botox injections and plastic surgery are set to be announced by the government. BBC News
GPs add to fears over NHS database
GPs add to fears over NHS database There is a crisis of confidence about a new NHS data-sharing scheme involving medical records, GP leaders are warning. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- RCGP voices concerns about care.data Royal College of General Practitioners
- Survey shows readers wary on care.data E-Health Insider
- NHS database faces 'crisis of public confidence', GP body warns The Guardian
- 'Crisis of confidence' in NHS database, warn GPs The Daily Telegraph
Raising Concerns Newsletter Launch
Raising Concerns Newsletter Launch Read the first edition of the raising concerns newsletter for latest news on raising concerns NHS Employers
Public expenditure on health and social care: seventh report of session 2013-14
Public expenditure on health and social care: seventh report of session 2013-14 This report concludes that the health and care system needs fundamental change so that services are joined up and focussed on the needs of patients. It recommends that the current level of real terms funding for social care should be ring-fenced. It also recommends that the role of Health and Wellbeing Boards should be developed to allow them to become effective commissioners of joined-up health and care services. It also considers other issues such as competition, pay restraint and trusts and foundation trusts. House of Commons Health Select Committee
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NHS financial squeeze unsustainable in face of increasing demand
NHS financial squeeze unsustainable in face of increasing demand It's time the health service admits it is unlikely to meet future demand with ongoing funding crunch.
The NHS is now at a more pivotal stage than it has ever been since I became a GP more than 30 years ago. The financial squeeze on health services will get much tighter over the next five years, with spending per person on the NHS falling by 9%. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that even if the NHS budget remained protected from cuts, the growth in population would lead to big real terms cuts. The truth is that the NHS protection myth is over. Even if health spending continued to rise with inflation, as it has since 2010, age-adjusted spending per person would be 9% lower in 2018 than in 2010.
The NHS is now at a more pivotal stage than it has ever been since I became a GP more than 30 years ago. The financial squeeze on health services will get much tighter over the next five years, with spending per person on the NHS falling by 9%. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that even if the NHS budget remained protected from cuts, the growth in population would lead to big real terms cuts. The truth is that the NHS protection myth is over. Even if health spending continued to rise with inflation, as it has since 2010, age-adjusted spending per person would be 9% lower in 2018 than in 2010.
£1bn could be saved by NHS over next decade if doctors diagnosed chronic lung diseases earlier
£1bn could be saved by NHS over next decade if doctors diagnosed chronic lung diseases earlier
Doctors are failing to make an early diagnosis in 85 per cent of chronic lung diseases, which kill 25,000 people in the UK every year, researchers have found. The Independent
Doctors are failing to make an early diagnosis in 85 per cent of chronic lung diseases, which kill 25,000 people in the UK every year, researchers have found. The Independent
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
'Lack of clarity' over NHS savings
'Lack of clarity' over NHS savings There is a lack of clarity about what the money saved in the NHS in England in recent years has been spent on, say MPs. BBC News
'Millions more should take statins'
'Millions more should take statins' Millions more people should be put on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to cut their risk of heart disease, say draft guidelines for the NHS. BBC News
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Delivering integrated care and support
Delivering integrated care and support A report by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS) highlights six factors in successful integrated care: vision, leadership, culture, local context, integrated teams and time.
What are the effects of teaching evidence-based health care?
What are the effects of teaching evidence-based health care? An evidence-based approach to health care is recognized internationally as a key competency for healthcare practitioners. This overview systematically evaluated and organized evidence from systematic reviews on teaching evidence-based health care. PLOS
The Francis Report: one year on
The Francis Report: one year on Many senior leaders of the acute trusts said that the publication of the Francis Report had prompted them to reflect in greater depth on the quality of care being delivered in their organisations. The Nuffield Trust
Transformation of care required to make NHS sustainable in future 'yet to take place,' says Health Select Committee
Transformation of care required to make NHS sustainable in future 'yet to take place,' says Health Select Committee The NHS is failing to meet its savings targets and new competition laws are standing in the way of “necessary change”, an influential committee of MPs has said. The Independent
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Shrink our hospitals to give better care, says NHS chief Sir David Nicholson
Shrink our hospitals to give better care, says NHS chief Sir David Nicholson Writing for The Telegraph, Sir David Nicholson says NHS needs to centralise services, with smaller number of larger hospitals offering most major surgery. The Daily Telegraph
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- 'NHS has to adapt to survive', says chief executive The Daily Telegraph
Half of people with dementia suffer malnutrition, new report warns
Half of people with dementia suffer malnutrition, new report warns Research found that half of care homes residents were not eating enough food, while almost as many had low fluid intake. The Daily Telegraph
Abortion scandal: Inside Britain's unregulated 'pro-life' clinics
Abortion scandal: Inside Britain's unregulated 'pro-life' clinics Undercover Telegraph reporters reveal what's really going on inside unregulated clinics that offer misleading information to women considering abortions The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Chief exec says Northampton General Hospital needs two more wards
Chief exec says Northampton General Hospital needs two more wards Two more wards are needed for use by Northampton General Hospital to ensure safer care, its chief executive has said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
How can healthcare get it so right and so wrong? Part 2
How can healthcare get it so right and so wrong? Part 2 Like it or not, the whole system of healthcare delivery in the UK depends on leaders to inspire a better way of doing business. But at the top of the NHS there has been a loss of credible leadership – in fact it’s been decimated, says Martin Bromiley. The Health Foundation
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See also:
- How can healthcare get it so right and so wrong? Part 1 (which focuses on Kettering General Hospital)
Ministers 'will ban car smoking'
Ministers 'will ban car smoking' The UK government will make it a criminal offence to smoke in cars in England when children are passengers, a Downing Street source says. BBC News
EU rules on child drugs 'cost lives'
EU rules on child drugs 'cost lives' EU rules must be changed to allow more testing of potentially life-saving cancer drugs on children, says Institute of Cancer Research. BBC News
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- Children denied life-saving cancer drugs The Daily Telegraph
Female stroke survivors’ quality of life investigated
Female stroke survivors’ quality of life investigated “Women have a poorer quality of life after stroke than men,” reports BBC News.
This headline stemmed from a new US study that found women had a lower quality of life than men three and 12 months after experiencing a stroke or mini-stroke.
This headline stemmed from a new US study that found women had a lower quality of life than men three and 12 months after experiencing a stroke or mini-stroke.
Regulating quality and safety of health and social care: international experiences
Regulating quality and safety of health and social care: international experiences This report is concerned with standards of quality and safety within health and social care systems. Care standards are intended to support efforts in maintaining and improving the quality of care; they have been developed across countries, although the ways in which they are implemented and applied differs between nations. Taking a range of six countries, it reviews the regulatory mechanisms that have been implemented to ensure that essential standards of care are applied and are being adhered to, and consider the range of policy instruments used to encourage and ensure continuous quality improvement. It looks at on Australia, England, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA. It is intended to inform policy thinking for the Department of Health and others in developing the regulation of safety and quality of health and social care in England. It was prepared as part of the project 'An "On-call" Facility for International Healthcare Comparisons' funded by the Department of Health in England through its Policy Research Programme. Rand Corporation
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