Prescribing statins more widely ‘could avert tragedy’, new medical guidelines suggest

Prescribing statins more widely ‘could avert tragedy’, new medical guidelines suggest Four-and-a-half million more adults should be offered statins to avert “a tragedy waiting to happen” by reducing the number of people suffering heart attacks and strokes, according to new medical guidelines. The Independent

See also:

• Controversial statin rules go ahead BBC News
• Forty per cent of adults advised to take statins under new NHS guidance The Daily Telegraph
• NHS medicines watchdog lowers bar for statins prescriptions The Guardian

David Cameron urged to exempt the NHS from TTIP deal after unions claim it is at risk from being sold to American corporations

David Cameron urged to exempt the NHS from TTIP deal after unions claim it is at risk from being sold to American corporations Unions today claimed the NHS was under threat by the giant US-EU trade agreement known as TTIP despite assurances from negotiators that it was exempt. The Independent

Health roadshow finds 130 people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

Health roadshow finds 130 people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

Half of the people tested at a diabetes roadshow in Northampton were found to be at risk of developing the condition. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Met Office issues level 2 heatwave warning

Met Office issues level 2 heatwave warning

The Met Office has today forecast potential heatwave conditions for parts of the South East, London, the East of England, the East Midlands and West Midlands for later this week, as it declared a Level 2 Heat-health alert.

This warning is triggered when the Met Office forecasts that there is a 60% or higher chance of temperatures being high enough on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night to have a significant effect on health.

While many people enjoy hot weather, high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be particularly vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses.

NHS England jointly produces the Heatwave Plan for England 2014 with Public Health England.

Top advice for being sun safe:
Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm.
Apply sunscreen of at least SPF15 with UVA protection.
Wear UV sunglasses, preferably wraparound, to reduce UV exposure to the eyes.
Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes, a hat and light scarf.
Drink lots of cool drinks.
Look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as older people, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses.
Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals.

Level 2 warning is valid from 08:00am on Friday 18th July to 08:00am Sunday 20 July.

NHS Commissioning

Care minister backs assisted dying

Care minister backs assisted dying

Care Minister Norman Lamb says he has changed his mind and is now in favour of a law on assisted dying in certain circumstances. BBC News

Asthma inhalers make children half a centimetre shorter

Asthma inhalers make children half a centimetre shorter

Children who use corticosteroids inhalers to control asthma are likely to be 0.5cm shorter than they should be, because the drug stunts growth, a major review has found. Telegraph

Poll shows support for raising taxes to sustain NHS

Poll shows support for raising taxes to sustain NHS


Guardian/ICM poll finds 48% of voters back tax-funded spending increases, while 21% would prefer charges for some services

Voters remain wedded to Britain's taxpayer-funded model of healthcare even as NHS leaders question its sustainability, according to a Guardian/ICM poll. Analysis by NHS England and outside experts points to a large funding gap that could reach £30bn by the end of the decade, and last month 71 leading lights of the health service wrote to the Guardian to warn politicians that failure to level with the public about the black hole before polling day would jeopardise the service's future.

Asked how they would tackle the future funding of medicine, voters are resolved by a margin of more than two to one that "raising taxes for everybody, to put more money in" is the right way to go. Guardian

Continue reading...

King's Fund warns of "cracks" in system

King's Fund warns of "cracks" in system

The King's Fund has found further signs of financial stress on the health service - and warned that "cracks are starting to appear" in its performance against key targets. EHI News

Charging migrants to access NHS healthcare - implementation plan published

Charging migrants to access NHS healthcare - implementation plan published 

The Department of Health has published the Visitor and Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme Implementation, it outlines what will take place over the next two years to ensure the NHS receives a contribution for the cost of healthcare it provides to non-UK residents. NHS Employers

Press release: Continuation of whooping cough vaccination programme in pregnancy advised

Press release: Continuation of whooping cough vaccination programme in pregnancy advised

Public Health England (PHE) welcomes today’s (16 July 2014) announcement from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advising the Department of Health (DH) that the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination programme for pregnant women should continue for a further 5 years. The advice reflects new data on vaccine effectiveness and safety published byPHE and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The DH announced the temporary vaccination programme for pregnant women in October 2012, in response to a national whooping cough outbreak that led to several infant deaths. Vaccinating women against whooping cough in pregnancy (between 28 and 38 weeks) means that the mother passes immunity on to her unborn child, protecting the baby until they receive their first whooping cough vaccination at 2 months old.

UK research councils join forces in 'unprecedented move' to tackle rise of antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'

UK research councils join forces in 'unprecedented move' to tackle rise of antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'

All of the major scientific funding bodies in Britain are to collaborate on a joint research effort to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” that threaten to end the era of modern medicine, it was announced today. Independent

Pharmacies demand to be 'first point of contact' for overstretched NHS

Pharmacies demand to be 'first point of contact' for overstretched NHS

Pharmacies and high-street health specialists are “key to the survival of the NHS” and should be the “first point of contact” for tackling smoking and obesity levels, according to a coalition of leading primary healthcare experts. Independent

School nurse numbers set to increase in Northamptonshire

School nurse numbers set to increase in Northamptonshire

A new focus on school nursing in Northamptonshire is set to see the number of school nurses increase over the next five years. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

NHS Employers responds to NICE on safe staffing

NHS Employers responds to NICE on safe staffing

The NHS Employers organisation responds to the final advice on safe staffing in nursing issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today (15 July).

NHS emergency services 'overwhelmed', senior doctors say

NHS emergency services 'overwhelmed', senior doctors say
The pressure on hospitals must be relieved with radical changes to the way services are run, a report by the College of Emergency Medicine urges. Telegraph

• Call for GPs to work at A&E units  Guardian

National group to look at healthcare for people with learning disabilities

National group to look at healthcare for people with learning disabilities

The group will include healthcare, charity and voluntary sectors, as well as with people with learning disabilities and their families. It aims to design more innovative and integrated local commissioning of healthcare and housing to best support people with learning disabilities at home and in their communities, reducing reliance on hospital care. NHS Networks

Failing care homes face new measures

Failing care homes face new measures

A system of special measures designed to improve failing hospitals in England is to be extended to care homes, the government is expected to announce. BBC News

Open consultation: Proposals to make private vehicles smokefree when carrying children

Open consultation: Proposals to make private vehicles smokefree when carrying children

The Children and Families Act 2014 gave the Secretary of State for Health the power to legislate against smoking in vehicles to protect children’s health.

The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on draft regulations that would prohibit smoking in private vehicles carrying children. The draft regulations explain how the ban would work in practice.

Alongside the consultation, we have also published an Impact Assessment and Equality Analysis.

Department of Health

Childhood abuse and adverse life events interact synergistically to produce a high risk for psychotic experiences

Childhood abuse and adverse life events interact synergistically to produce a high risk for psychotic experiences

This recent study concludes that childhood abuse creates an enduring vulnerability to psychosis that is realised in the event of exposure to further stressors and risk factors, such as separation, bereavement, or being involved in an accident or physical attack. The Mental Elf

Childhood flu immunisation: information for parents and schools

Childhood flu immunisation: information for parents and schools
The geographical pilots for primary school aged children established in 2013 to 2014 will continue and there will be a number of additional pilots for children in secondary school years 7 and 8 (aged around 11 to 13 years). NHS Networks

• GPs given template letters for expanded flu vaccine programme  GP Online

Husband, partner, dad, son, carer?

Husband, partner, dad, son, carer?


Carers Trust - This report looked at the experiences and needs of male carers and highlights the need for support for informal carers. Over half (53%) of the male carers surveyed felt that their needs were different to those of female carers, many citing that men find it harder to ask for help and support and that balancing work and caring is challenging, particularly if they are the main earner. NHS Evidence
Report
Summary
Press release

Enable more NHS organisations to become mutuals and devolve decision-making, says independent review

Enable more NHS organisations to become mutuals and devolve decision-making, says independent review

An independent review for the government has concluded that more NHS organisations should be encouraged to become public service mutuals.

The review, led by Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, found compelling evidence that NHS organisations with high levels of staff engagement – where staff are strongly committed to their work and involved in decision-making – deliver better quality care. Organisations with high levels of staff engagement report:
lower mortality rates
better patient experience
lower rates of sickness absence and staff turnover.

Organisations with low levels of staff engagement are more likely to provide poor-quality care – the failures in care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust are one high-profile example of this.

While staff engagement levels have increased across the NHS in recent years, the review found significant variations between organisations. It calls on all NHS organisations to make staff engagement a key priority in order to improve care at a time of unprecedented financial and service pressures.

Chlamydia screening and condom schemes promote safer sex among young

Chlamydia screening and condom schemes promote safer sex among young

After testing for chlamydia, 62% of respondents to an anonymous web survey reported they were more likely to use condoms with a new partner and 66% reported they were more likely to test for chlamydia again. NHS Networks

Housing associations and the NHS: new thinking, new partnerships

Housing associations and the NHS: new thinking, new partnerships

The Smith Institute - The treatment and care of more people in their own communities and the provision of more support to allow them to stay in their own homes or in specially designed accommodation is vital if our society is to cope with an ageing population and the growing number of people with multiple long-term conditions. Furthermore, given the increase in demand and the consequential rise in healthcare costs, it is essential to secure efficiency savings and productivity improvements wherever possible. Much greater integration of health and housing is widely seen as one way of meeting these challenges. The report provides a snapshot of current thinking around some elements of the agenda, including using surplus NHS land to improve clinical outcomes. The report aims to stimulate a debate across both disciplines and help shape the policy response.

• Report
• Smith Institute publications

BMA calls for better GP premises

BMA calls for better GP premises


The minister met doctors at the BMA’s London headquarters earlier this month, as a new BMAsurvey revealed the scale of GP concerns about their premises.

Nearly half the UK’s GP practices responded to the BMA survey, which found doctors struggling to provide essential services in buildings that are cramped and outdated. NHS Networks

Safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals

Safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals This guideline covers safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals. It recommends a systematic approach at ward level to ensure that patients receive the nursing care they need, regardless of the ward to which they are allocated, the time of the day, or the day of the week.

The guideline identifies organisational and managerial factors that are required to support safe staffing for nursing, and makes recommendations for monitoring and taking action if there are not enough nursing staff available to meet the nursing needs of patients on the ward. NICE

See also:

• NICE unveils safe staffing plans for nursing care in wards NICE
• NHS gets safe nurse staffing rules BBC News
• Patient power 'to raise the red flag on poor care' The Daily Telegraph
• Hospital red flag events should prompt staffing action, says Nice The Guardian

Preventing dementia: a provocation

Preventing dementia: a provocation This report highlights how we can do more to prevent dementia, save lives and reduce avoidable costs. It explores potential savings to the state if we were able to intervene successfully on the risk factors that cause dementia - these include physical activity, smoking, obesity and depression. International Longevity Centre - UK

Personalisation for people from black and minority ethnic groups

Personalisation for people from black and minority ethnic groups This briefing looks at how personalisation can increase access to healthcare for people from black and minority ethnic communities, but also considers some of the challenges that it may bring. Race Equality Foundation

Central funding of NHSmail SMS to end

Central funding of NHSmail SMS to end Plans to end central funding of email-to-SMS services for NHSmail2 will "go down like a lead balloon" with GPs, a primary care leader has warned. E-Health Insider

'Exercise may help prevent Alzheimer's disease'

'Exercise may help prevent Alzheimer's disease' "Cut Alzheimer's risk by walking," the Daily Mail recommends. This advice is prompted by a statistical modelling study looking at population attributable risks (PARS) – factors known to influence the prevalence of a disease, such as Alzheimer's, at a population level.

The seven risk factors researchers looked at included diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, depression and low educational level. In theory, some cases of Alzheimer's disease might be prevented by reducing these risk factors.

For example, the study estimated physical inactivity accounted for 21.8% of the risk of developing Alzheimer's in the UK. Another way of saying this is that if nobody was inactive, the risk of Alzheimer's in the UK population could reduce by 21.8%.

But this is only a theory that applies to an entire population, not individuals. We cannot say for sure that living a healthier life will definitely prevent Alzheimer's disease.

NHS England to monitor effectiveness of CCGs' telehealth schemes

NHS England to monitor effectiveness of CCGs' telehealth schemes NHS England plans to measure the impact of telehealth and telecare services on patients' health to encourage CCGs to commission the technologies, a minister has revealed. GP Online

Patients denied vital operations by NHS bodies, surgeons report

Patients denied vital operations by NHS bodies, surgeons report Inquiry finds that 44% of commissioning groups require patients to be in various degrees of pain and immobility before surgery.

Patients are being denied access to vital surgery by NHS bodies, which are ignoring guidelines and choosing to ration some operations, according to an investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Many CCGs are ignoring clinical evidence in their surgical commissioning policies Royal College of Surgeons
• Is Access to Surgery a Postcode Lottery?  (Report) Royal College of Surgeons

Dozens of NHS executives face tax inquiry into off-payroll earnings

Dozens of NHS executives face tax inquiry into off-payroll earnings Dozens of NHS executives face an HMRC inquiry into their tax affairs, Treasury discloses, after refusing to give assurances over use of personal companies. The Daily Telegraph

New government policy for the NHS could allow doctors and nurses to ‘own’ hospitals

New government policy for the NHS could allow doctors and nurses to ‘own’ hospitals Ministers are drawing up plans to allow doctors and nurses to own and run the hospitals they work in as part of a radical blueprint to change the way the NHS is run. The Independent

See also:

• Enable more NHS organisations to become mutuals and devolve decision-making, says independent review The King's Fund
• Improving NHS care by engaging staff and devolving decision-making (report) The King's Fund

Foreign patients will face extra costs for treatment in the latest Government crackdown on health tourism

Foreign patients will face extra costs for treatment in the latest Government crackdown on health tourism Foreign patients using the NHS face are being charged far more than their treatment actually costs, in a new crackdown by the Government on health tourism. The Independent

See also:

• Visitor & migrant NHS cost recovery programme implementation plan 2014–16 Department of Health
• Migrants to pay more to use NHS BBC News
• NHS to charge non-EU patients 150% of cost of treatment The Guardian
• NHS tourists to be charged a premium for healthcare OnMedica

Shorter waiting times at new fracture clinic at Northampton General Hospital

Shorter waiting times at new fracture clinic at Northampton General Hospital Patients are benefiting from improved efficiency and shorter waiting times for broken bones at Northampton General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The 'lock out' of pathology staff at Northampton General Hospital reaches day 15

The 'lock out' of pathology staff at Northampton General Hospital reaches day 15 Talks between Northampton General Hospital and biomedical staff broke up at ACAS, (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) after being described by Dr Sonia Swart, CEO of Northampton General Hospital as 'not fruitful'. Northampton Herald and Post

Northampton mum launches legal action against hospital claiming alleged errors left her daughter disabled

Northampton mum launches legal action against hospital claiming alleged errors left her daughter disabled The mother of a four-year-old girl from Northampton has launched legal action against a hospital claiming a series of alleged medical errors left her daughter severely disabled. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

2014 Local Health Profiles

2014 Local Health Profiles The profiles present a picture of health in each local area in a format that’s easy to use. This valuable tool helps local government and health services to understand their communities’ needs, so they can improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities. Public Health England

Mental health work scheme piloted

Mental health work scheme piloted Ministers are piloting ways to get more people with mental health problems into work with earlier treatment and employment support. BBC News

Offer weight loss surgery to diabetics, says NICE

Offer weight loss surgery to diabetics, says NICE "An expansion of weight loss surgery in England is being proposed to tackle an epidemic of type 2 diabetes," BBC News reports. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended obese people with type 2 diabetes should be offered weight loss (bariatric) surgery.

These draft guidelines include new recommendations about the treatment of obesity. In particular, NICE advises that those with recent-onset type 2 diabetes who fulfil certain body mass index (BMI)criteria should have surgery. The recommendations also provide guidance on the use of very low-calorie diets.

As is often the case, the proposed NICE recommendations have made a huge media splash, leading to front-page headlines such as the Daily Mail's claim that, "Thousands more to get obesity ops on the NHS".

These are draft guidelines, so it is far from certain whether they will become official advice. A consultation will be taking place between July 11 and August 8 2014.

Home Office accessing NHS records to help track down illegal immigrants

Home Office accessing NHS records to help track down illegal immigrants Patients' and migrants' rights groups express concern over use of little-noticed exemption in data protection rules

The Home Office has been given access to the NHS records of more than 6,900 people since 2010 as part of its efforts to track down illegal immigrants, prompting concerns from patients' and migrants' rights groups.

Medical records are protected by data protection laws but new statistics show the Home Office has made use of a little-noticed exemption in the rules to access patients' non-clinical records, without any need for a court order. Continue reading... The Guardian

Figures expose ambulance delays in life and death calls

Figures expose ambulance delays in life and death calls Warnings from medical experts as figures show lengthening waits for ambulances in the most urgent cases. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Ambulances taking longer to reach seriously ill patients, says Labour The Guardian 

World Health Organisation recommends that all gay men should take antiretroviral medicine to halt 'exploding' HIV epidemic

World Health Organisation recommends that all gay men should take antiretroviral medicine to halt 'exploding' HIV epidemic The World Health Organisation has announced for the first time that all men who have sex with men should take antiretroviral drugs, in a bid to try and contain the growing rates of HIV in gay communities around the world. The Independent

See also:

• Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations World Health Organisation
• Gay men urged to take HIV drugs BBC News

Newly qualified doctors failing elderly patients due to a lack of skills or training in their treatment

Newly qualified doctors failing elderly patients due to a lack of skills or training in their treatment Thousands of new doctors qualify to practise medicine without the skills or training to give frail elderly patients the respect and treatment they deserve, according to a major new study. The Independent

Talks between NGH and striking scientists break down

Talks between NGH and striking scientists break down Talks about Northampton General Hospital blood test scientists coming back to work have collapsed today, union representatives have said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

We owe it to patients and taxpayers

We owe it to patients and taxpayers Following publication of the OBR's annual report on the sustainability of public finances, Anita Charlesworth examines the numbers that will inform the debate and decisions we face on the future sustainability of the NHS. The Health Foundation

Better care for older people

Better care for older people This online resource aims to support doctors in their day-to-day care of older patients. The resource gives practical advice, including from leading clinicians, on how to put older patients first and use GMC guidance to handle their clinical, emotional and psychological needs. It contains a mixture of guidance, case studies, scenarios, articles and tips to prepare doctors for caring for the growing number of older patients. General Medical Council

Maternity closures due to shortages

Maternity closures due to shortages Many NHS trusts in England have temporarily shut maternity units in the past year, commonly because of lack of staff and beds, a BBC investigation shows. BBC News

Shortage in child mental health beds

Shortage in child mental health beds NHS England says it does not know how many hospital beds are needed to deal with increasing demand for children's mental health services. BBC News

See also:

• NHS England takes action to improve access to specialised mental health services for children and young people NHS England
• NHS to boost beds for mental health care for young people The Guardian

Imperial creates patient surgery app

Imperial creates patient surgery app University researchers at Imperial College London have developed a mobile app to help patients prepare for surgery and reduce the risk of surgical complications. E-Health Insider

English waiting list tops 3 million, its biggest in six years

English waiting list tops 3 million, its biggest in six years The English waiting list is 20 per cent bigger than at the last general election but despite that, long waits have improved under the Coalition. We are now well into the zone where the ‘90 per cent adjusted admitted’ target is at risk. Health Service Journal

Lack of cash for premises damaging patient care, say third of GPs

Lack of cash for premises damaging patient care, say third of GPs Cramped and inadequate premises limit capacity for appointments and extra services, finds survey. OnMedica

See also:

• Premises Survey results infographic BMA
• Premises Survey results BMA
• GP premises not fit for patients BMA
• State of GP practices another symptom of chronic lack of funding in general practice Royal College of General Practitioners

Councils and NHS services must work together to share risks and savings

Councils and NHS services must work together to share risks and savings Relationships across the system need to be strengtened before the Better Care Fund goes live in April 2015

The biggest ever push to integrate health and social care is in serious difficulty. What has gone wrong with the Better Care Fund and can it be fixed?

The difficulty stems from the fact that half of the basic £3.8bn fund, intended to support integration projects in 2015-16, has been stripped out of budgets for acute health services. The hospital lobby argued that this risked pushing providers further into financial difficulty. The government has responded with a clawback mechanism which will keep £1bn of it largely in the NHS and make it dependent on achieving locally agreed reductions in hospital admissions. Continue reading... The Guardian

One in four unaware of out of hours GPs

One in four unaware of out of hours GPs One in four patients are unaware of out-of-hours GPs, piling pressure on A&E departments. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Out-of-hours GP services in England National Audit Office
• Many 'unaware of out-of-hours GPs' BBC News

Type 2 diabetes sufferers could be considered for NHS weight-loss surgery under new guidelines

Type 2 diabetes sufferers could be considered for NHS weight-loss surgery under new guidelines Hundreds of thousands of sufferers of type 2 diabetes could be offered weight-loss surgery on the NHS, according to new draft medical guidance. The Independent

See also:

• More weight loss ops for diabetes BBC News
• Obesity surgery could be offered to a million more people on NHS The Daily Telegraph
• Low-calorie diets should be scrapped for the obese, health watchdog warns The Daily Telegraph
• NHS anti-obesity plans could lead to sharp rise in gastric band surgery The Guardian

Hospital laboratory staff 'lockout'

Hospital laboratory staff 'lockout' Laboratory staff in dispute over working hours and pay at Northampton General Hospital are "locked out", a union claims. BBC Northamptonshire

Medical engagement should be central to hospital leadership

Medical engagement should be central to hospital leadership Medical engagement should be a central element of hospital leadership, not an optional extra, concludes a new report published today by The King’s Fund. Based on case studies from four trusts with high levels of medical engagement, the report states that sustained commitment from board to ward can improve medical engagement, which is closely linked to better clinical and organisational performance.

White Paper: The new era of thinking and practice in change and transformation

White Paper: The new era of thinking and practice in change and transformation The White Paper identifies the profound implications and opportunities for leaders of health and care, including a fundamental rethink about what organisational and system change means.

The White Paper concludes with a call to action: join the new breed of leaders across the world who are rewriting the rules of change and leading change to get different results. NHS Improving Quality

Gloucester hospital worker stabbed to death at work

Gloucester hospital worker stabbed to death at work A member of staff at a mental health hospital in Gloucester has died after being stabbed at work. The female victim, who has not been named, was attacked at the inpatient unit of Wotton Lawn Hospital. BBC News

See also:

• Woman stabbed to death while working at hospital in Gloucester The Independent 
• Woman stabbed to death at Wotton Lawn hospital The Guardian
• Mental Health Hospital Worker Fatally Stabbed At Work Huffington Post UK
• Hospital worker stabbed to death on ward The Daily Telegraph

Making mental health count: the social and economic costs of neglecting mental health care

Making mental health count: the social and economic costs of neglecting mental health care This report argues that even in those OECD countries with a long history of deinstitutionalisation, there is still a long way to go to make community-based mental health care that achieves good outcomes for people with severe mental illness a reality. It addresses the high cost of mental illness, weaknesses and innovative developments in the organisation of care, changes and future directions for the mental health workforce, the need to develop better indicators for mental health care and quality, and tools for better governance of the mental health system. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

Fears raised 'free NHS' will end

Fears raised 'free NHS' will end Fears are being raised the NHS in England will no longer be free at the point of use - up to now a key principle for the health service - within 10 years. BBC News

See also:

• The NHS budget: Five things we've learned BBC News
• GP funding cuts revealed as think tank predicts NHS cash crisis GP Online
• Half of NHS bosses believe patients will have to pay for some services The Guardian
• NHS at ‘tipping point’ after accounts show it plunging £100m into the red The Independent

Call to review surgery waiting times

Call to review surgery waiting times The new president of the Royal College of Surgeons says the 18-week waiting target for routine operations in England should be reviewed. BBC News

Community prescribing increases by almost 60 per cent, but costs rise by only 15 per cent since 2003

Community prescribing increases by almost 60 per cent, but costs rise by only 15 per cent since 2003  The number of prescription items dispensed in the community has increased by 58.5 per cent since 2003 new Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) analysis shows today. Over 1.03 billion items were prescribed in 2013 compared to 649.7 million in 2003.

See also:

Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community, Statistics for England - 2003-2013 HSCIC
• 'Staggering' rise in prescribing of anti-depressants The Daily Telegraph

Dengue fever cases in returning travellers increase by 60% in one year

Dengue fever cases in returning travellers increase by 60% in one year In 2013, 541 cases of dengue fever were reported in travellers returning from dengue-affected countries. OnMedica

Pensioners to prisoners: how telecare can treat hard to reach patients

Pensioners to prisoners: how telecare can treat hard to reach patients Airedale foundation NHS trust conducts videoconferencing consultations with prisoners at Full Sutton maximum security jail

Last winter, 93-year-old Ernest Towers had access to arguably one of the most transformational tools in healthcare, when his North Yorkshire care home, Sutton Lodge, was linked to Airedale NHS foundation trust's telemedicine service.

For many older people, unplanned admissions to emergency departments or even routine hospital appointments can be hugely disruptive. The link to Airedale's telehealth hub, staffed by nurses experienced in acute assessment, provides Towers with on call specialised medical care around the clock, albeit via video link. Continue reading... The Guardian

One in 10 NHS watchdog staff should not have got the jobs

One in 10 NHS watchdog staff should not have got the jobs Documents reveal one in 10 inspectors working for Care Quality Commission failed competency tests but will not be fired. The Daily Telegraph

Charities warn of 'alarming' rise in cancer test waits

Charities warn of 'alarming' rise in cancer test waits Official statistics show number of patients waiting at least six weeks for some NHS scans has doubled in just one month. The Daily Telegraph

Head of NHS England announces a radical new patient care plan in move to save money

Head of NHS England announces a radical new patient care plan in move to save money The head of NHS England has unveiled a radical plan for the reorganisation of how care is delivered in the community by giving vulnerable patients control of their own combined health and social care budgets. The Independent

See also:

• NHS England Chief offers local government leaders radical new health and social care integration option NHS England
• Patients to control their own integrated care funding from 2015 GP Online
• Individuals to be allowed to control their own NHS and community care OnMedica
• Frail 'need joint NHS and care fund' BBC News

Exclusive: Government launches inquiry over 100 suspicious deaths at a Hampshire hospital

Exclusive: Government launches inquiry over 100 suspicious deaths at a Hampshire hospital

A Hillsborough-style inquiry to investigate up to 100 suspicious deaths at a Hampshire hospital during the 1990s is set to be announced by the Government today. The Independent

Pay dispute at NGH steps up as full strike called by locked out blood scientists

Pay dispute at NGH steps up as full strike called by locked out blood scientists The lockout of blood test scientists by Northampton General Hospital has turned into full strike Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Better Care Fund, better read the small print?

Better Care Fund, better read the small print? Although earlier rumours of the demise of the Better Care Fund – the government’s flagship £3.8 billion pooled fund to promote integrated care – have turned out to be greatly exaggerated, the significance of the government’s latest announcement about the fund should not be. Although this has been fed by mounting political anxieties about the state of hospital finances ahead of next year’s general election, the writing has always been on the wall.

Staff engagement case studies

Staff engagement case studies These focus on the journey, the challenges and the outcomes of three NHS trusts. Some of the key outcomes include major improvements in national staff survey results, reductions in sickness absence and staff feeling more valued. NHS Employers

The pursuit of happiness: a new ambition for our mental health

The pursuit of happiness: a new ambition for our mental health This is the final report of the CentreForum Mental Health Commission, chaired by Paul Burstow MP, which looked at the state of mental wellbeing in England. It calls for parity of funding for mental health which currently receives 13% of NHS spend in England but accounts for 23% of demand. It also identifies five key priorities for policy makers to improve the investment in mental health services; improve access to mental health services; and promote self-care, support and recovery in mental health. Centre Forum

• Report
• Evidence summary
• Press release

New ways of working in mental health services: a qualitative, comparative case study assessing and informing the emergence of new peer worker roles in mental health services in England

New ways of working in mental health services: a qualitative, comparative case study assessing and informing the emergence of new peer...  A variety of peer worker roles are being introduced into the mental health workforce in England, in a range of organisational contexts and service delivery settings. The evidence base demonstrating the effectiveness of peer worker-based interventions is inconclusive and largely from outside England. This study aimed to test the international evidence base, and what is known generally about role adoption in public services, in a range of mental health services in England. It also aimed to develop organisational learning supporting the introduction of peer worker roles, identifying learning that was generic across mental health services and that which was specific to organisational contexts or service delivery settings. National Institute for Health Research

• Report
• Summary

Organ transplants 'on the rise'

Organ transplants 'on the rise' The number of organ transplants is continuing to rise, but the UK still lags behind other countries, official figures show. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: How organ transplant changed my life BBC News
• Organ transplants at record level The Daily Telegraph

GPs keen to play bigger role in responding to cases of child maltreatment

GPs keen to play bigger role in responding to cases of child maltreatment The report, The GP’s Role in Responding to Child Maltreatment, claims that giving family doctors the time, support and autonomy to work with vulnerable families in the community – as well as referring cases to social care services – could benefit children and families in the short and long term. Royal College of General Practitioners

Improving dementia long-term care: a policy blueprint

Improving dementia long-term care: a policy blueprint The authors identified 25 high-impact policy options covering five broad objectives to improve dementia long-term services and support the delivery system, workforce and financing. Rand Corporation

Monday deadline for tech fund two bids

Monday deadline for tech fund two bids NHS trusts in England are at varying stages of readiness for the £240m second round of NHS England's technology fund, with the deadline for applications closing in less than a week. E-Health Insider

Blood test for Alzheimer’s 'no better than coin toss'

Blood test for Alzheimer’s 'no better than coin toss' “Research in more than 1,000 people has identified a set of proteins in the blood which can predict the start of the dementia with 87% accuracy,” BBC News reports.

The primary goal of the test was to predict whether people with mild cognitive impairments (usually age-related memory problems) would go on to develop “full-blown” Alzheimer’s disease over approximately a year.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, so people may question whether an early warning system for the disease is of any practical use.
However, having a relatively reliable method of identifying high-risk people who will develop Alzheimer’s could be useful in recruiting suitable candidates for clinical trials investigating future treatments.

An important point is that, while the test accuracy rate of 87% sounds impressive, it may be a large overestimate of what would happen in reality.

Given real world assumptions on the proportion of people who have mild cognitive impairment that progress to Alzheimer’s disease (10-15%), the predictive ability of the test falls to around 50% – no better than a coin toss.
Furthermore, the test only made predictions from around a year earlier.

Consequently, on its own, this test is unlikely to be much good. However, refining this test and combining it with other methods (such as a lipid test we discussed in March) might improve accuracy rates, making it a viable predictive tool in the future.

GP leaders to meet Lord Howe in bid to break premises funding deadlock

GP leaders to meet Lord Howe in bid to break premises funding deadlock GP leaders will bid to break the deadlock over investment in primary care premises at a high level summit with health minister Lord Howe this week. GP Online

NHS chief announces plan to give patients cash to fund their own care

NHS chief announces plan to give patients cash to fund their own care Simon Stevens says giving patients financial control will force health and social care systems to provide better services

Billions of pounds of health service and town hall budgets are to be handed over to the most vulnerable patients to purchase health and social care services in the community, in a dramatic change of policy being unveiled by the NHS's new boss.

Frail elderly people, disabled children and those with serious mental illness or learning disabilities will from next April be offered individual pots of money to spend as they see fit on health and social care services such as carers, physiotherapists and psychotherapy sessions, in an attempt, in part, to keep them out of hospital. Continue reading... The Guardian

Number of vulnerable adults receiving state-provided care has plummeted, official figures show

Number of vulnerable adults receiving state-provided care has plummeted, official figures show The number of adults receiving state-provided care has plummeted by almost a third following Government cuts to council budgets, official figures show. The Independent

See also:

• Economic downturn wipes out 30pc of care for elderly and disabled The Daily Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital says 94 per cent of pathology staff have signed new contracts with the trust

Northampton General Hospital says 94 per cent of pathology staff have signed new contracts with the trust Chief Executive of Northampton General Hospital, Dr Sonia Swart has stated 94 per cent of pathology staff have signed new contracts.

Industrial action at the hospital has continued for nearly two weeks and staff who not been prepared to sign new contracts have been asked to go home and leave the premises. Northampton Herald and Post

See also:

• Pathology Services - Update 7 July 2014 Northampton General Hospital
• Labour leader and postal union offer support to Northampton pathologists on strike Northampton Chronicle and Echo

News story: Fundamental standards: improving quality and transparency in care

News story: Fundamental standards: improving quality and transparency in care The government has announced legislation which introduces fundamental standards for health and social care providers. Subject to parliamentary approval, they will become law in April 2015.

The new measures are being introduced as part of the government’s response to the Francis Inquiry’s recommendations and are intended to help improve the quality of care and transparency of providers by insuring that those responsible for poor care can be held to account.

NHS 'falling short on complaints'

NHS 'falling short on complaints' The NHS still has a long way to go to improve the way it handles complaints, although there are signs of improvement, a survey suggests. BBC News

Intelligence network for mental health

Intelligence network for mental health NHS England and Public Health England have launched a new mental health intelligence network to improve access to mental health data and help providers to work more collaboratively. E-Health Insider

GPs warned to 'get tough' on antibiotic prescribing

GPs warned to 'get tough' on antibiotic prescribing GPs must 'get tough' and refuse antibiotics to patients who don't urgently need them to avert a crisis in antimicrobial resistance, the leaders of several royal colleges have warned. GP Online

See also:

• Ensuring access to working antimicrobials House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee
• Health workers urged to get tough on antibiotics Royal College of General Practitioners
• Health professions work together on meeting the challenge of antimicrobial resistance Royal College of Nursing
• GPs hand out antibiotics as placebo to patients, claim MPs OnMedica
• Health bodies join forces in clampdown on antibiotic misuse OnMedica

NHS could lose £25bn of funding a year by 2020 warning

NHS could lose £25bn of funding a year by 2020 warning TUC says services will be hurt as well as staff pay OnMedica

NHS to have protected slice of the joint health/social care fund

NHS to have protected slice of the joint health/social care fund Better Care Fund will compensate hospitals if A&E admissions stall OnMedica

How rip off hospital car parks are making millions

How rip off hospital car parks are making millions There is one source of revenue the NHS tend to keep quiet about - and one from which many of them are actually making money: parking. The Daily Mail

Cancer scandal hospital failed to act on warnings

Cancer scandal hospital failed to act on warnings Senior managers at West Hertfordshire Hospitals were warned that patients could be dying because of the hospitals blunders but did nothing for a year. The Daily Telegraph

Unions and Northampton General Hospital outline arguments for and against pathology department changes

Unions and Northampton General Hospital outline arguments for and against pathology department changes The battle lines have been drawn in the on-going dispute between Northampton General Hospital and staff in the pathology department. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Making our communities ready for ageing: a call to action

Making our communities ready for ageing: a call to action This report takes a futures perspective on understanding the evidence about how communities need to adapt to an ageing society. It argues that policy makers must work to ensure that communities do more than cater for our basic needs. The report highlights the importance of supporting walking and cycling in old age as well as the need to ensure housing is adaptable to an ageing society. International Longevity Centre

Experts in NHS funding debate call

Experts in NHS funding debate call Leading figures from the health world call for a national debate on how the NHS in England is funded, saying it cannot continue as it is. BBC News

See also:

• Raise taxes or NHS will have to start charging patients, warn doctors The Independent
• Four in 10 support paying more tax if extra goes to NHS The Guardian
• Find ways to fund the NHS properly or accept a drop in standards | the big issue The Guardian

PM's antibiotics plan 'not enough'

PM's antibiotics plan 'not enough' The prime minister needs to act more quickly to tackle antibiotic resistance and the plans he recently set out are not enough, a parliamentary report says. BBC News

Children’s TV contains unhealthy 'food cues'

Children’s TV contains unhealthy 'food cues' “Children are being bombarded with scenes of unhealthy eating on TV,” The Independent reports. Researchers looking at public broadcasting in the UK and Ireland have found that children’s TV contains a high number of visual and verbal references to unhealthy foods.

In the UK, direct TV advertising of unhealthy food to children has been banned since 2008.

However, the researchers were still interested in whether children’s TV broadcast by state-funded organisations still promotes unhealthy food choices to young children.

Researchers assessed five weekdays of children programmes from the BBC and its Irish equivalent, RTE. They were interested in what they describe as “cues” – visual, verbal and plot-driven references to specific foods and drinks.

Unhealthy foods accounted for just under a half of specified food cues, and sugar-sweetened beverages for a quarter. The context of the food and drink cue was mostly positive or neutral, with celebratory/social motivations the most common.

Mothers at risk as NHS 'fails on mental health postnatal care'

Mothers at risk as NHS 'fails on mental health postnatal care' NCT condemns the 'disgraceful' shortfall in specialist help for postnatal mental health

The NHS has been criticised for failing women who suffer from postnatal depression by denying many of them potentially life-saving services to help them cope. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'Gaps' in mental care for new mums BBC News

Diabetes becoming ‘national health emergency’

Diabetes becoming ‘national health emergency’ Diabetes is becoming a “national health emergency” with thousands of new cases diagnosed every week, says a leading charity which warns it could lead to a rise in amputations and kidney failure. The Independent

NHS crisis: Tory health expert warns we have 'the wrong workforce' for the future due to 'huge bias' towards training specialists - and...

NHS crisis: Tory health expert warns we have 'the wrong workforce' for the future due to 'huge bias' towards training specialists The NHS has "the wrong workforce" to cope with the future health needs of the country, with medical schools training too many hospital specialists and not enough GPs to cope with overwhelming patient demand, the new chair of the influential Health Select Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston, has said. Dr Wollaston also warned that the health service faces a crisis in the GP sector and that more should be done to encourage those who have left the profession, particularly women, to return to help relieve the pressure. The Independent