Eating more than 5 a day 'brings no extra benefit'

Eating more than 5 a day 'brings no extra benefit' "Eating more than five a day has 'no extra health benefit'," reports The Independent. The paper reports on a review that combined the results of previous research looking at the effect of increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables people eat.

One of the things they specifically wanted to look at was whether there is a dose-dependent effect. The study did find there was a 5% reduction in risk of death on average from any cause for each additional serving of fruit or vegetables a day.

However, a threshold was observed at around five servings a day, after which the risk of death did not reduce further.

This result would appear to contradict a UK study covered by Behind the Headlines in April, which suggested we should be eating seven a day to achieve the maximum benefit.

This earlier study was not included in the new review, so it is unknown what effect its findings may have had on the results.

Many of us struggle to eat at least five a day, let alone seven a day, so the results of both studies reinforce the importance of including lots of fruit and vegetables in our diet.

Viewpoint: NHS profits must remain within the NHS - not go to any qualified provider

Viewpoint: NHS profits must remain within the NHS - not go to any qualified provider Writing exclusively for GPonline.com, RCGP clinical lead on immunisation Dr George Kassianos argues the NHS been heading in the wrong direction for the last two decades.

More than 1 billion generics dispensed in 2013, saving NHS £12 billion

More than 1 billion generics dispensed in 2013, saving NHS £12 billion Patent expiry on large volume brands, such as Lipitor, behind figures, say generics manufacturers. OnMedica

We bean counters need to speak out about NHS cuts

We bean counters need to speak out about NHS cuts Finance staff could make a stand without any direct impact on patient care, so why don't we?

Pen pushers, bean counters, faceless bureaucrats, stuffed shirts, spreadsheet monkeys, grey suits are all terms that I have heard applied to the national health service's finance staff. I am one of the "bean counters" and until recently it was largely a case of sticks and stones for me. We are an easy target for vote-hungry politicians keen to show how they can save a few bob for the public purse. But peer beyond the lazy rhetoric and it is possible to appreciate that, although we might not be the ones caring for patients, we have a crucial part to play in ensuring that a vast organisation faced with rising demand and a finite level of funding uses its resources wisely. It can be the difference between whether some patients get the care they need or not.

The NHS is in the final year of a four-year challenge to save £20bn. This is dressed up as "efficiency savings" and "cost improvement programmes" but in reality it means cuts to services, staff pay freezes and pensions "reform". That's not enough for NHS England, though, which estimates that the NHS needs to find a further £30bn of savings by 2020-21. In the meantime, the government has the cheek to pretend that NHS funding has somehow been ringfenced. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hospitals spending 'extraordinary' amounts of money on locum staff, says report

Hospitals spending 'extraordinary' amounts of money on locum staff, says report NHS hospitals are spending “extraordinary” amounts of public money on temporary staff, health experts have said, after an investigation revealed that rates of almost £150 per hour were paid for locum nurses to work over the May bank holiday. The Independent

See also:

• NHS hospital paid £1800 a day for a nurse Sky News
• Nurses paid rates of £150 an hour to work bank holidays The Daily Telegraph

Sharp cuts leave NHS mental health services unable to cope, GPs say

Sharp cuts leave NHS mental health services unable to cope, GPs say Family doctors have warned of the deteriorating state of mental healthcare in England, after a survey revealed that one in five had seen a patient come to harm because they could not get specialist help. The Independent

See also:

• One in five GPs report patient harm from lack of mental health services Pulse

Complying with Monitor’s integrated care requirements

Complying with Monitor’s integrated care requirements This document assists providers and commissioners of healthcare services, and health and wellbeing boards to comply with their integrated care obligations. It also explains the relationship between these obligations and the other rules that Monitor enforces. Monitor

Ebola virus 'threatens' UK - Hammond

Ebola virus 'threatens' UK - Hammond The Ebola virus, which has killed more than 670 people in West Africa, is a "threat" to the UK, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warns. BBC News

See also:

• Risk assessment of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa Public Health England
• Risk assessment: Human infections with Zaire Ebola virus in West Africa World Health Organisation
• Saving lives on the Ebola front line BBC News
• Is Ebola, the world's deadliest disease on its way to Britain? Daily Mail
• Is Ebola coming to Britain? UK health officials issue warning to doctors as outbreak fears grow The Independent
• Ebola outbreak: deadly foreign diseases are 'potential major threat' says Chief Scientist The Daily Telegraph

Hunt warned over A&E wait statistics

Hunt warned over A&E wait statistics Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is warned by the statistics watchdog over claims about A&E waiting times in England. BBC News

Running 7 minutes a day 'halves heart death risk'

Running 7 minutes a day 'halves heart death risk' "Running for just a few minutes each day can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease," The Guardian reports.

Ultimately, you can't outrun the Grim Reaper. But this news accurately reflects the results of a large long-term US study on health outcomes.

And unlike yesterday's superficially similar brief exercise story, this study seems to have legs.

The research reported on today found people who ran had a reduced risk of death from heart disease, as well as death from any cause, compared with non-runners.

Interestingly, a protective effect was seen regardless of running time, amount, duration, frequency or speed. People who ran just a modest amount – less than 51 minutes a week – also had a reduction in risk.

This equates to roughly seven minutes a day, although it should be noted this study did not specifically look at the effect of seven minutes of running a day.

These "modest" runners were found to have a 55% reduction in cardiovascular-associated death risk and a 30% reduction in any type of death compared with non-runners.

Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS) includes currencies and payment information for the first time

Mental Health Minimum Data Set (MHMDS) includes currencies and payment information for the first time Information about patients eligible to be cared for under a new commissioning system for mental health has been released for the first time. Health & Social Care Information Centre

Call to make primary care and A&E co-location easier

Call to make primary care and A&E co-location easier Leaders seek changes to allow better primary/secondary care coordination. OnMedica

Doctors and nurses told to slim down for sake of patients

Doctors and nurses told to slim down for sake of patients NHS England staff would be expected to set healthy example under plans being considered by chief executive.

Overweight doctors and nurses would be told to slim down to set a good example to patients under plans being considered by the NHS.

Burgers and chips in hospital canteens would be swapped for healthier options and staff would take part in weight loss competitions, the NHS England chief executive, Simon Stevens, told the Sun. Continue reading. The Guardian

Telephone triage is helping to ease pressure on ambulance services

Telephone triage is helping to ease pressure on ambulance services About a quarter of people who dial 999 will now be given the 'hear and treat' service, rather than sent an ambulance.

From the headlines that followed publication of the National Ambulance Survey results this month, you might have thought the service was in serious danger. Critics were quick to criticise ambulance trusts for the growing number of people who only receive triage and treatment over the phone. Headlines claimed many people do not receive an ambulance when they dial 999. What the headlines failed to mention, however, were the actual survey results.

Results demonstrate that telephone triage and advice is working for patients, and this is a cause for celebration rather than concern. Continue reading... The Guardian

New NHS redundancy merry-go-round looms

New NHS redundancy merry-go-round looms NHS England is to axe hundreds of jobs of managers who were only recruited last year, raising fears that taxpayers will pay out twice in redundancy payments. The Daily Telegraph

Care home residents 'at burns risk'

Care home residents 'at burns risk' Care home residents were placed at "significant risk of scalding" and of having a bathroom door fall on them, inspectors find. BBC Northamptonshire

See also:

• Foxhill Manor Nursing Home Inspection Report Care Quality Commission 
• Northamptonshire nursing home’s baths ‘were scalding’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Death of a woman at Northampton General Hospital could have been avoided if more checks were made

Death of a woman at Northampton General Hospital could have been avoided if more checks were made The death of a woman in hospital could have been avoided if “more timely and appropriate treatment was given,” an inquest was told. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Visitor & Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme: Implementation Plan 2014–16

Visitor & Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme: Implementation Plan 2014–16 Sets out timelines for the NHS to improve systems that recover the cost of healthcare for migrants and visitors who use the NHS. Department of Health

Pause NHS privatisation - Labour

Pause NHS privatisation - Labour NHS privatisation is "being forced through at pace and scale", and should be halted until the general election, says Labour's shadow health secretary. BBC News

See also:

• Improving the NHS: response to Unite’s campaign Department of Health 
• Stop NHS privatisation until after the election, says shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham The Independent
Independent sector is integral part of modern health service NHS Confederation
• Department of Health denies NHS 'privatisation' claims Pulse

'Poor care for hepatitis C virus'

'Poor care for hepatitis C virus' Most people with chronic hepatitis C are not getting treatment which could help clear the virus, an official report says. BBC News

See also:

• Hepatitis C in the UK: 2014 report Public Health England
• World Hepatitis Day 2014: Study reveals UK blood donors ‘passing on Hepatitis E’ The Independent

Removing the NHS ringfence: the next stage for healthcare rationing

Removing the NHS ringfence: the next stage for healthcare rationing The legality of provider policies is under scrutiny. Health Service Journal

NHS worker facing jail for scamming top cancer hospital out of £642,000

NHS worker facing jail for scamming top cancer hospital out of £642,000 Mother-of-two Stacey Tipler, 32, of Carshalton, Surrey, worked in the accounts department for London's Royal Marsden Hospital Trust. Daily Mail

Is it time to revive community health services?

Is it time to revive community health services? Professionals, patients and politicians may be weary of further reorganisation, but community health services could lead the move to providing more out-of-hospital care

The answer, everyone agrees, is some model of out-of-hospital care, yet the report completely fails to mention a crucial component of any such model community health services (CHS), which undertake around 100m community contacts per annum. Why is this? And just what is going on with CHS?Another worthy report from the Commons health select committee was published last month, this one on managing the care of people with long-term conditions. The usual frightening statistics are rolled out the projected increase in numbers, complexity and impact, with 70% of total expenditure on health and social care in England now associated with the 30% of the population with long-term conditions. Giving evidence to the committee, the new chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, posed the question "what is it going to take to make significant inroads?" Continue reading... The Guardian

Hand hospitals over to their staff, says Francis Maude

Hand hospitals over to their staff, says Francis Maude Cabinet office minister believes NHS services should increasingly be run as mutuals and taken out of public hands

More NHS hospitals and youth services should be taken out of public hands and owned by the people who run them as mutuals, Francis Maude, the cabinet office minister, has said.

The senior Conservative MP told the Guardian that he was "more and more convinced" this was "the way of the future" for a greater proportion of public services suggesting the only exceptions from possible spin-offs should be front-line police and the armed forces. Continue reading... The Guardian

Warnings over lengthening waits for prostate cancer patients

Warnings over lengthening waits for prostate cancer patients Steep rise in NHS delays for prostate and bladder cancer patients. The Daily Telegraph

NHS chief spends £50,000 on luxury hotels and dining

NHS chief spends £50,000 on luxury hotels and dining Hospital trust orders clampdown after disclosures that former chief executive spent NHS funds on five-star hotels, Waitrose shopping and even a trip to Greggs. The Daily Telegraph

The Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT) Quality Improvement Program: An Overview for Medical Directors and Primary Care...

The Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT) Quality Improvement Program: An Overview for Medical Directors and Primary Care... With support from The Commonwealth Fund, researchers and experts developed Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT), a publicly available quality improvement program that helps nurse aides and other direct-care staff at long-term care facilities identify, evaluate, and manage acute changes in residents’ medical conditions.

NHS funding expands Kettering General Hospital’s cardiac care service

NHS funding expands Kettering General Hospital’s cardiac care service Kettering General Hospital has won £305,000 in NHS funding to enable it to care for hundreds of extra cardiac patients every year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Seeing the same GP will reduce emergency department attendance

Seeing the same GP will reduce emergency department attendance This is just one of several recommendations made in a report published by researchers at the University of Bristol.

Research report considers staff experience and patient outcomes

Research report considers staff experience and patient outcomes NHS Employers have commissioned a report on behalf of NHS England looking at the international research evidence on the links between staff and patient experience.

Lack of NHS engineers is putting lives at risk

Lack of NHS engineers is putting lives at risk A new report is calling for urgent action to prioritise the role of engineers in the NHS, and introduce a Chief Biomedical Engineer in every NHS acute trust which would help cut the number of incidents caused by faulty medical equipment. Institution of Mechanical Engineers

See also:

• Biomedical engineering: advancing UK healthcare Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Hundreds die each year in NHS due to faulty machines: report The Daily Telegraph
• Faulty NHS equipment kills 300 people a year, shocking figures reveal Daily Mail

The secret to transforming a failing hospital

The secret to transforming a failing hospital How a failing hospital transformed itself. BBC News

Study links shift work to increased risk of diabetes

Study links shift work to increased risk of diabetes “Type 2 diabetes is more common in people who work shifts, a large international study suggests,” BBC News reports.

The BBC reports on a review that searched the literature and found 12 studies including more than 225,000 people which looked at the link between shift work and diabetes.

When pooling the results the researchers found that overall, shift work was associated with a 9% increased risk of diabetes. The association was found to be stronger in men (37%) and for those working rotating shifts – such as two weeks on nights, two weeks on days (42%).

However, there are problems with concluding from these studies that there really is a link between shift work and developing diabetes. For example, it is difficult to establish cause and effect, because it’s not completely clear that people hadn’t already got diabetes at the time their shift work pattern was being assessed. It’s further unclear whether the apparent relationship may not just be caused because of other factors that are associated with both shift work and diabetes (such as diet and activity).

Also, none of the 12 studies were conducted in the UK, and half were from Japan. While the results may be applicable here, different cultures may have different a work ethic, environmental and health differences, meaning that they cannot so easily be generalised to all populations.

The identified relationship is undoubtedly worthy of further study, to see whether shift work could have direct biological effects on the body that lead to the development of diabetes.

NHS manager redundancy payouts total £1.6bn since 2010

NHS manager redundancy payouts total £1.6bn since 2010 Latest accounts reveal more than 38,000 'exit packages' agreed since reforms began, with some 4,000 later rehired

The cost of redundancy payments for NHS managers has hit almost £1.6bn since the coalition came to power and embarked on its sweeping reorganisation, according to the latest Department of Health accounts.

The total includes payouts to some 4,000 "revolving door" managers, who left after May 2010 with large payouts but have since returned either on full-time or part-time contracts. Continue reading... The Guardian

Managers barred if they cover up NHS failings

Managers barred if they cover up NHS failings NHS managers told that being "privy to" serious misconduct could see them refused board positions for life The Daily Telegraph

As Ebola, Mers and HIV/Aids make headlines, what are the biggest risks to the world's health? And what is being done about them?

As Ebola, Mers and HIV/Aids make headlines, what are the biggest risks to the world's health? And what is being done about them? Infectious diseases can break out suddenly, almost anywhere in the world, and with devastating impact. The Independent

See also:

• Nigeria 'on red alert' over Ebola BBC News

NHS medics are being lured away to Australia by more money, status and sunshine, survey suggests

NHS medics are being lured away to Australia by more money, status and sunshine, survey suggests

It is the dream of many an NHS nurse, driving home late at night, after another 12 hour shift: golden beaches stretching into the horizon, a big house in a nice neighbourhood, a higher salary, fewer hours and, of course, lots of sunshine. The Independent

Strike action at Northampton General Hospital ends after 27 days

Strike action at Northampton General Hospital ends after 27 days An agreement has been reached between Northampton General Hospital and ‘locked out’ pathologists which will see them back at work on Monday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Pathology services - agreement reached Northampton General Hospital News
• Hospital lab staff to return to work BBC News 
• Industrial action is over after 27 days as ACAS brokers a deal between Northampton General Hospital and the biomedical staff Northampton Herald and Post

Health boss: Gluttony and sloth must be addressed

Health boss: Gluttony and sloth must be addressed As a county, we’re too fat, we eat unhealthily and we smoke too much. Now a public health boss says it’s time for change. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Health & wellbeing Northamptonshire Analysis
• Health profile: Corby Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Health profile: East Northants Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Health profile: Kettering Northamptonshire Telegraph

Focus on: A&E attendances - why are patients waiting longer?

Focus on: A&E attendances - why are patients waiting longer? This analysis from the Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation looks at patterns of A&E activity, the nature of the increased demand and what has driven waiting times upwards.

Initiatives to reduce length of stay in acute hospital settings: a rapid synthesis of evidence relating to enhanced recovery programmes

Initiatives to reduce length of stay in acute hospital settings: a rapid synthesis of evidence relating to enhanced recovery programmes This objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of enhanced recovery programmes for patients undergoing elective surgery in acute hospital settings. It aimed to identify and critically describe key factors associated with successful adoption, implementation and sustainability of enhanced recovery programmes in UK settings. It also summarises existing knowledge about patient experience of enhanced recovery programmes in UK settings. NHS National Institute for Health Research

• Full report
• Scientific summary

One-shot cancer therapy gets NHS nod

One-shot cancer therapy gets NHS nod A pioneering breast cancer treatment that replaces weeks of radiotherapy with a single, targeted shot is set to be offered on the NHS. BBC News

Government 'loses £700m NHS IT case'

Government 'loses £700m NHS IT case' Taxpayers could be hit with a £700m bill after the government reportedly loses a legal fight with Fujitsu. BBC News

Paracetamol 'doesn't work' for lower back pain

Paracetamol 'doesn't work' for lower back pain “Paracetamol used to treat acute lower back pain is no better than a dummy pill,” BBC News reports. A well-conducted trial casts doubts on the widespread recommendation that paracetamolis an effective treatment for lower back pain.

It reports on a randomised double-blind controlled trial of people with acute low back pain. All participants were told to remain active and avoid bed rest. They were split into three groups and asked to take regular medication and “as required” medication, if needed. This was either paracetamol or a placebo.

The average number of days to recovery for each group was between 16 and 17 days. Sustained recovery by 12 weeks was achieved by between 83% and 85% in all groups.

The severity of acute low back pain in this group was not sufficient to cause anyone to have time off work. This means the results of this study may not be applicable to people with more severe acute low back pain.

This was a well conducted study that would appear to suggest that the advice regarding paracetamol as a first-line treatment may need re-examining. However, as the authors themselves argue, it is too soon to start rewriting clinical guidelines for lower back pain based on this evidence alone.

School pupil survey: smoking, drinking and drug use at decade low

School pupil survey: smoking, drinking and drug use at decade low New figures for 2013 show the prevalence of smoking, drinking or drug use among school pupils is considerably lower than ten years ago. Health & Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• Fewer young smokers and drinkers BBC News
• Youth turning their backs on alcohol, drugs and smoking: Level of drinking among teens is just a third of a decade ago Daily Mail
• Pensioners cling to daily tipple as sober young shun drink, drugs and sex The Daily Telegraph

Poor GP services do not lead to missed A&E targets

Poor GP services do not lead to missed A&E targets Demand on A&E keeps rising with no extra system capacity. OnMedica

Open access and social media: helping science move forwards

Open access and social media: helping science move forwards How are open access and social media helping science and healthcare move forwards? James Balm from BioMed Central explains. Evidently Cochrane

NHS treats mental health as 'second-class service'

NHS treats mental health as 'second-class service' Shadow public health minister says figures show 67% of clinical commissioning groups spend less than 10% of budget on mental health services

Many parts of the NHS spend as little as 6.6% of their budgets on mental health, even though conditions such as anxiety and depression make up 23% of the service's overall burden of illness.

The disclosure has prompted claims that the NHS treats mental health as a second-class service and that patients in areas where few services are provided locally are receiving poorer care as a result. Continue reading... The Guardian

Antibiotic research funding is 'inadequate', scientists say

Antibiotic research funding is 'inadequate', scientists say Despite the dire warnings about the impact of antibiotic resistance, research in the field receives just 1 per cent of public funding. The Daily Telegraph

Nurse struck off after ‘potentially-deadly’ overdose missed at Northampton General Hospital

Nurse struck off after ‘potentially-deadly’ overdose missed at Northampton General Hospital A nurse has been struck off after she failed to properly check a potentially-fatal overdose of five times the prescribed amount of pain killer that was given to a Northampton General Hospital patient. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Four lessons for running impactful collaboratives in health care

Four lessons for running impactful collaboratives in health care In a resource-constrained NHS, can we still afford to use the collaborative model to improve care? Jo Bibby gives four lessons that emerged from our recent review of the evidence how collaboratives have impacted on the quality of health care delivery. The Health Foundation

'Casual attitude' to vCJD warning

'Casual attitude' to vCJD warning The government has a "casual attitude" to the human form of "mad cow disease", MPs warn, while ministers say the issue is treated "extremely seriously". BBC News

See also:

• After the storm? UK blood safety and the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
• Risk of infecting surgery patients with CJD not taken seriously, say MPs The Guardian

Warning over NHS trust finances

Warning over NHS trust finances Nineteen NHS trusts have been referred to ministers after auditors raised concerns about their financial health. BBC News

New analysis shows current picture of diseases which were widespread in the Victorian era

New analysis shows current picture of diseases which were widespread in the Victorian era New figures published for the first time today paint a current picture of hospital admissions for some diseases that were widespread during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Health and Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• Victorian-era diseases 'returning' BBC News
• Victorian diseases have come back to haunt us The Daily Telegraph

Friends and Family Test review published

Friends and Family Test review published NHS England has published a review of the Friends and Family Test which shows that response rates are lower than other national health surveys. E-Health Insider

See also:

• Review of the Friends and Family Test (FFT) NHS England
• Guidance on implementing the Friends and Family Test (FFT) NHS England

RCN infection prevention and control commissioning toolkit updated

RCN infection prevention and control commissioning toolkit updated Health care organisations should use a series of indicators to support performance management of infection prevention and control, according to updated guidance. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• Infection prevention and control commissioning toolkit RCN

NICE outlines the cost of safe staffing

NICE outlines the cost of safe staffing Implementing the guidance is likely to cost trusts around £200m, says NICE. OnMedica

What does the future hold for digital healthcare?

What does the future hold for digital healthcare? The high street and third sector will take on a key role in the provision of health and care.

Everyone in the healthcare industry knows what challenges we face an ageing population, more lifestyle-related ill health and growing constraints on budgets. In a nutshell, there is an increasing demand for services but fewer resources to deliver them.

Still a relatively new market, digital healthcare uses technology to support sustainable healthcare systems in the face of this growing challenge. It achieves this by increasing efficiency in established processes (whether administrative or medical), promoting positive health-related behaviour change and increasing the effectiveness of therapeutic processes and procedures. Continue reading... The Guardian

Northampton hospital staff in protest over lockout tactics | Natalie Bloomer

Northampton hospital staff in protest over lockout tactics | Natalie Bloomer NHS trust's decision to lock out pathology team has grave implications for public sector industrial action.

Carol Whittaker is terrified she will be forced out of the job she loves. In what is believed to be the first time in the history of the NHS, hospital employees including Whittaker, have been "locked-out" of work, following a bitter dispute over pay and hours.

"We have had our swipe cards cancelled and access to the laboratory denied. I can't believe they are treating us like this. I am not crying yet today, but most days I am in tears. After all these years, I feel totally let down by the management," says Whittaker, who has worked for 23 years as a senior biomedical scientist at Northampton General hospital. Continue reading... The Guardian

Everything you need to know about sickness absence: a simple guide for NHS managers

Everything you need to know about sickness absence: a simple guide for NHS managers This online tool aims to further improve the management of staff sick leave in the NHS. It answers questions such as, what do you do when a staff member calls in sick? How do you handle long-term or recurring absences? How can managers reduce stress, support staff to return to work and prevent sickness absence from becoming an issue in the first place? NHS Employers

• Guidance
• NHS Employers news

What happens when the money runs out?

What happens when the money runs out? Our most recent quarterly monitoring report and the latest in our series of breakfast events looked at past and future pressures on health and social care. The Department of Health’s annual accounts for 2013/14, published today, provide the definitive answer to how the NHS has spent its funding in the year to March 2014. This information means we can look both backwards and forwards to assess its financial performance.

National confidential inquiry into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness: annual report 2014 – England, Northern Ireland,...

National confidential inquiry into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness: annual report 2014 – England, Northern Ireland,... This report finds that mental health patients are at their highest risk of dying by suicide in the first two weeks after leaving hospital. It calls for suicides within 3 days of hospital discharge and deaths and serious injuries caused by restraint to be NHS ‘never events’. University of Manchester

• Report
• Slideset
• Press release

Survey of health managers on the future of the NHS

Survey of health managers on the future of the NHS This survey of IHM members reveals that over half (53.7%) of health and social care managers signalled doubt that greater integration of health and social care will take the pressure off the NHS. Other key concerns and issues included uncertainty on whether their organisations could deliver safe and compassionate care; an appetite for greater collaboration between the public and private sector; and increasing financial pressure inspiring greater innovation. Institute of Healthcare Management

NHS staff balloted over strike action

NHS staff balloted over strike action Midwives, nurses and ambulance workers are among more than 400,000 NHS workers in England being balloted on industrial action, including strikes, over pay. BBC News

See also:

• Unions ballot members for strike action over NHS pay Health Service Journal
• NHS workers to be balloted on strike action over pay The Guardian
• Health unions ballot members on strike action over pay freeze Pulse
• UNISON, Unite, GMB and RCM to ballot NHS staff on industrial action over pay NHS Employers
• Union ballots risk patient safety when we need discussion, not disruption NHS Employers

Study offers insight into genetics of schizophrenia

Study offers insight into genetics of schizophrenia "More than 100 schizophrenia genes have been pinpointed," reports the Daily Mail. In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers have gained further insights into the genetics of the condition, which it is hoped could lead to new treatments.

Researchers have identified genetic differences at 108 positions in the genome (the complete set of DNA that "defines" an individual organism) that are more likely to be present in people with schizophrenia.

The study compared the genetic make-up of more than 36,000 people with schizophrenia with that of more than 110,000 controls. They found differences in 108 positions in the genome, 83 of which had not previously been reported.

A particularly interesting finding was evidence of genetic differences in genes active in the immune system. Whether or not the immune system plays a role in the development of schizophrenia is a possibility not previously considered by most experts.

This study provides further evidence of a genetic element to the condition, but it does not prove that the genetic differences actually cause schizophrenia.

However, it is hoped these results will lead to new avenues of research that can be explored, and may eventually lead to better treatments for the condition.

Annual NHS national sickness absence rate declines to lowest level in five years

Annual NHS national sickness absence rate declines to lowest level in five years Annual NHS national sickness absence rates in England are at their lowest point since 2009-10, when they first started being recorded by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) (2). The latest figures show that NHS workers on average had one day off sick out of every 25 (14.82 days a year) in 2013-14 a 4.06 per cent absence rate. This is a decrease in the number of days off sick from 2012-13, when the sickness absence rate stood at 4.24 per cent, one day off out of every 24 (15.52 days a year). Health & Social Care Information Centre

DH taskforce demands urgent action to tackle GP workforce crisis

DH taskforce demands urgent action to tackle GP workforce crisis General practice is close to a collapse that would put 'unmanageable pressure' on the rest of the NHS, amid a workforce crisis triggered by early retirements and a slump in GP recruitment, a DH taskforce has warned. GP Online

See also:

• Securing the future of the GP workforce: delivering the Mandate on GP expansion. Health Education England
• RCGP response to GP Taskforce report Royal College of General Practitioners

GPs to submit monthly data on friends and family test

GPs to submit monthly data on friends and family test NHS England wants maximum patient participation, but hasn’t set target. OnMedica

Rise in bailouts as more hospitals overspend on budgets

Rise in bailouts as more hospitals overspend on budgets 65 hospital trusts overspent their budgets in 2013-14, compared with 45 trusts the previous year.

The NHS's finances are deteriorating sharply, with more hospitals ending up in the red as they struggle to look after the growing number of patients needing care, government figures reveal.

Sixty-five hospital trusts overspent their budgets by a combined £767m in 2013-14, with 35 of them sharing £536m in non-repayable bailouts in order to keep services running smoothly. Continue reading... The Guardian

Deadly Mers virus 'could now be airborne', warn scientists in study on Saudi Arabian barn

Deadly Mers virus 'could now be airborne', warn scientists in study on Saudi Arabian barn Scientists have found the first evidence that a deadly virus originating in the Middle East may have become airborne. The Independent

England's poorest will live nine years less than the richest, according to stark new ONS stats

England's poorest will live nine years less than the richest, according to stark new ONS stats Millions of people across England are destined to die nine years earlier than they should - and have their lives blighted by ill-health prematurely - because they are poor. The shocking new figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, have prompted urgent calls for action and forced government officials to admit the situation of health inequality is “unacceptable.” The Independent

Press release: More flexibility for NHS doctors under European Working Time Directive

More flexibility for NHS doctors under European Working Time Directive Significant changes will be considered so doctors can train and work more flexibly, the Government announced today. These changes will be explored in response to an independent review of the impact and implementation of the European Working Time Directive on the NHS and Health Professionals. Department of Health

Understanding the rise in Fitness to Practise complaints from members of the public

Understanding the rise in Fitness to Practise complaints from members of the public Enquiries made by the general public to the General Medical Council (GMC) about doctors’ fitness to practise rose from 5,168 in 2007 to 10,347 in 2012. The report found that an increase in complaints has been seen across the UK, which suggests wider social trends rather than localised issues; pointing towards problems with the wider complaint-handling system and culture. It highlights the increased profile of the GMC, press coverage of medical complaints and social media as potential factors in the rise in complaints. Plymouth University

FGM parents to face prosecution

FGM parents to face prosecution Parents will face prosecution if they fail to prevent their daughters undergoing female genital mutilation or forced marriage under new measures being announced. BBC News

See also:

• Anatomy of female genital mutilation BBC News
• VIDEO: New measures to tackle FGM BBC News
• VIDEO: Clegg vows action to stop FGM BBC News

MHRA ups its game on medical device safety

MHRA ups its game on medical device safety New independent committee with stronger links to relevant expertise to come on stream within the year. OnMedica

Survey reveals managers' concerns about integrating health and care

Survey reveals managers' concerns about integrating health and care  More than half of healthcare managers don't believe that integration will ease pressure on the NHS

Moves to integrate health and social care are regarded by many to be the turnkey solution to take the pressure off our healthcare system. The drive towards closer integration of services does makes sense with an ageing population and one in three older people living with a chronic condition, it is essential that we look at the architecture in place to deliver good quality, effective and compassionate care. Anything that can counter the ongoing fragmentation of services, reduce duplication and allocate resources in a more efficient way is to be welcomed, particularly as it should lead to improvements in patient care. The case has been made rather convincingly by the leaders in our healthcare system.

However, making integrated care a reality will fall to our health and social care managers. Ensuring that they feel comfortable, indeed positive, about the move towards closer integration is paramount. It was somewhat concerning that in spite of the case being made for integration, in our latest survey of Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) members, more than half said they didn't believe that integrated care would take the pressure off the NHS. If we are to make integrated care a reality it is important that we listen to managers' concerns. Digging beneath this statistic there lay many legitimate concerns about integrated care that must be addressed. Continue reading... The Guardian

First NHS efficiency tables expose 'profligate' waste

First NHS efficiency tables expose 'profligate' waste League tables reveal eight-fold difference in what NHS trusts pay for the same medical items. The Daily Telegraph

NHS patients to be allowed to give TripAdviser style feedback on GPs and dentists

NHS patients to be allowed to give TripAdviser style feedback on GPs and dentists Every patient in the NHS will be asked to provide TripAdviser style feedback on services and if they would recommend their care to friends and family by next year, it has been announced. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Friends and Family Test set for roll out to all NHS services NHS England

Schizophrenia research breakthrough identifies over 100 genes involved

Schizophrenia research breakthrough identifies over 100 genes involved The largest study ever undertaken into the genetic basis of mental illnesses has found more than 100 genes that play some kind of role in the development of schizophrenia – one of the most common of the serious psychiatric disorders. The Independent

See also:

• 'Large gene find in schizophrenia' BBC News
• New DNA hope on schizophrenia: Discovery of 100 genes could help to transform treatment for the condition The Daily Mail

Big report: KGH outlines five-year plan

Big report: KGH outlines five-year plan A five-year plan being drawn up by Kettering General Hospital bosses will be based around retaining vital services including maternity and A&E at the Rothwell Road site. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Further roundtable talks at ACAS between pathology staff and Northampton General Hospital scheduled for Monday

Further roundtable talks at ACAS between pathology staff and Northampton General Hospital scheduled for Monday Northampton General Hospital has announced further talks will be held on Monday at ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) between the trust and biomedical staff who have taken industrial action. Northampton Herald and Post

See also:

• Acas meeting in hospital pay row BBC Northamptonshire

Guidance: Supporting adult carers through community nursing

Guidance: Supporting adult carers through community nursing Information for district and general practice nurses, other health professionals and commissioners and providers about how community nursing can be used to support adult carers.

This guidance should be read in conjunction with Care in Local Communities: a new vision and model for district nursing. Department of Health

FGM training for public sector staff

FGM training for public sector staff Extra training is to be given to teachers, doctors and social workers to help them to identify and assist girls at risk of female genital mutilation. BBC News

Social media 'aid doctor complaints'

Social media 'aid doctor complaints' A rise in complaints against doctors reflects the role of social media and negative press coverage of the medical profession, according to a report. BBC News

'More adults should be taking statins,' says NICE

'More adults should be taking statins,' says NICE "Doctors have been told to offer cholesterol-lowering statins to millions more people," BBC News reports.

New guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend lowering the bar for statin use in adults at risk of heart disease.

NICE suggests up to 8,000 lives could be saved every three years if everyone with a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years is offered one of the widely used cholesterol-lowering medications.

Cardiovascular diseases are diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, such as heart disease and stroke.

NICE says the evidence clearly shows statins are safe and effective and would be a good use of healthcare resources if given to these people.

More patients receiving harm free care from the NHS

More patients receiving harm free care from the NHS Drop in patients experiencing pressure ulcers, falls, UTIs with a catheter, and VTEs. OnMedica

NHS employing more nurses than ever before

NHS employing more nurses than ever before Increase in nursing workforce highlights the difficulties hospitals face balancing their books while providing quality care. OnMedica

Thousands of NHS patients to have DNA sequenced to help cancer research

Thousands of NHS patients to have DNA sequenced to help cancer research A pioneering project that could one day help cure cancers and rare genetic diseases by sequencing the DNA of up to 100,000 NHS patients is one step closer. The Independent

Drug-resistant bacteria: Sewage-treatment plants described as giant 'mixing vessels' after scientists discover mutated microbes in British river

Drug-resistant bacteria: Sewage-treatment plants described as giant 'mixing vessels' after scientists discover mutated microbes in British river Superbugs resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics in the medical arsenal have been found for the first time in a British river – with scientists pinpointing a local sewage-treatment plant as the most likely source. The Independent

Injunction lodged in hospital row

Injunction lodged in hospital row A hospital is accused of trying to "flout the law" in a dispute with its medical staff. BBC Northamptonshire

See also:

• Pathology Services Update - 17 July 2014 Northampton General Hospital
• Health chiefs defend decision to employ agency workers at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Union takes court action over use of agency workers at Northampton General Hospital to “break strike” Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• General Secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey to join biomedical staff on the picket line at Northampton General Hospital on Friday Northampton Herald and Post

Northampton GP: ‘NHS is letting my patients down daily’

Northampton GP: ‘NHS is letting my patients down daily’ A doctor at a Northampton GP surgery says the NHS is letting down patients by failing to invest in his practice which he says is “unfit for purpose”. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How is the NHS performing? Quarterly monitoring report, July 2014

How is the NHS performing? Quarterly monitoring report, July 2014 This report illustrates the pressures on NHS finances, with a quarter of NHS trust finance directors surveyed for the report expecting to overspend their budgets this year. Analysis of the data collected for the report shows that the nursing workforce increased by almost 9,000 over the past six months to nearly 315,000 – the highest on record. This underlines the choice facing hospitals: whether to balance the books or maintain quality of services, with many choosing to recruit more nurses despite their budgets being stretched to the limit. It warns that cracks are beginning to appear in NHS performance as a result of the growing financial pressures and rising demand for services. King's Fund

• Report
• Infographics

Quality, access and affordability: can the NHS do it all?

Quality, access and affordability: can the NHS do it all? All health care systems are always looking to achieve quality, access and affordability (the three points of the triangle), but can only deliver two at best. Currently the NHS is being asked to deliver all three - Richard Taunt asks what this means for each of those areas. The Health Foundation 

Phone app emergency alert for medically trained

Phone app emergency alert for medically trained The GoodSAM app alerts those with medical training to nearby emergencies so that potentially life-saving interventions can be given before the arrival of emergency services.

The brainchild of consultant neurosurgeon Mark Wilson, the app enables those with medical training, from doctors and nurses to people with first-aid qualifications, to register as responders. British Medical Association

Evidence white paper released for wellbeing and engagement

Evidence white paper released for wellbeing and engagement Engage for success has released a whitepaper report containing evidence for the link between employee engagement and wellbeing and the resulting impact on both individual and organisational performance. NHS Employers

Transform district nursing to stop it facing extinction

Transform district nursing to stop it facing extinction The Royal College of Nursing projects that in a decade we might see the complete demise of district nurse services, but how can this be happening in tandem with calls to care for more patients at home? Health Service Journal

Steroid asthma inhalers restrict children’s growth

Steroid asthma inhalers restrict children’s growth “Children who use inhalable steroids for asthma grow slower than their peers in the first year of taking the medication,” The Guardian reports. While this is an accurate report of the science, the effect found by researchers was small. On average, a reduction of around half a centimetre per year was seen, compared to children taking a placebo or other asthma medication.

The researchers were studying the effects of inhaled corticosteroids. These are known as “preventers” – the brown inhalers that deliver a dose of steroids to the airways reducing inflammation, to prevent symptoms.

After pooling the results of 25 trials, they found a small but significant link between the use of preventer inhalers and restricted childhood growth, which was estimated to be an average reduction of 0.48cm (or 0.19in).

The authors recommend that these drugs should be prescribed at the “lowest effective dose” and that the growth rate of children treated with inhaled corticosteroids should be monitored, as they will affect each child differently.

However, as the authors point out, the small effect on growth is a minor risk compared to the proven benefits of these drugs in controlling asthma, and ensuring children’s lungs grow to their full capacity.

Untreated childhood asthma is much more likely to have a harmful effect on a child’s development than a small reduction in growth.

Move all non-emergency NHS work into primary care, say health groups

Move all non-emergency NHS work into primary care, say health groups All non-emergency NHS treatment should be moved out of hospitals and into primary care, according to a report by leading health organisations. GP Online

Advice for doctors criticised online

Advice for doctors criticised online Medical Defence Union outlines the implications of a European court ruling on the right to be forgotten online. OnMedica

At life's end: dying painlessly and peacefully is the goal of most

At life's end: dying painlessly and peacefully is the goal of most As the assisted dying bill goes to the Lords, doctors explain how most wish for palliative care, friendship and dignity at the end

A good death, like an easy experience of childbirth, is not something that happens to everybody, and it is impossible to predict who will slip away painlessly and at peace and who will find the process far harder.

"It's a lottery," says Ann Munro, a clinical ethicist who works with the dying and those who care for them in a large NHS hospital. "You never really know what it is going to be like." Continue reading... The Guardian