NHS trusts counting on bailouts

NHS trusts counting on bailouts NHS hospital trusts are continuing to draw heavily on government bailouts to plug funding shortfalls - but the cash may not last, the BBC has found. BBC News

Care for military veterans 'flawed'

Care for military veterans 'flawed' The government is failing to abide by its military covenant with armed forces veterans not getting the care they need, medical experts say. BBC News

Mental Health Act: Hospital based Place of Safety orders increase whilst police station orders decrease

Mental Health Act: Hospital based Place of Safety orders increase whilst police station orders decrease  Latest figures on detentions under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 show that the reported number of Place of Safety Orders made where an individual was taken to a police station has decreased by 24 per cent, from 7,900 in 2012-13 to 6,000 in 2013-14. Health & Social Care Information Centre

Innovator case study: Dementia diagnosis times plummet in ground breaking project

Innovator case study: Dementia diagnosis times plummet in ground breaking project The winner of the 2013 NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia - worth £80,000 - has reduced the average diagnosis time from three years to four weeks. Here we explore Gnosall Surgery’s ground breaking project. HSJ

New figures show UK increasingly reliant on overseas nurses

New figures show UK increasingly reliant on overseas nurses The United Kingdom has become a net importer of nurses for the first time in eight years, showing the extent of the reliance on overseas staff as hospitals desperately struggle to recruit enough staff to keep patients safe. Royal College of Nursing

Could sex with 21 women 'cut prostate risk'?

Could sex with 21 women 'cut prostate risk'? "Sleeping with more than 20 women protects men against prostate cancer, academics find," The Daily Telegraph reports.

The study in question included more than 1,500 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and a matched group of men without prostate cancer from the general population. Researchers then interviewed the men about their sexual activity.

The study concluded that having more than 20 female partners over a man’s lifetime was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer, while having several male partners seemed to increase the risk.

However, studies like this one cannot prove that having several female partners reduces the risk of prostate cancer, or that having more male partners increases risk.

Quarter of CCGs set to miss 1% surplus target

Quarter of CCGs set to miss 1% surplus target Almost 50 CCGs are set to miss the NHS's financial target of being at least 1% in surplus this year, and 18 CCGs are forecast to be in deficit at year end, the House of Commons health select committee has been told. GP Online

How sick are the worlds healthcare systems?

How sick are the worlds healthcare systems? The NHS is in trouble and its chief executive has requested £8bn to save it. But how does Britains system compare with healthcare around the world and what can we learn? From hard-pressed India to highly organised Germany, eight Guardian correspondents report  Continue reading... The Guardian

Ebola rages on, but we are approaching a turning point in this epidemic

Ebola rages on, but we are approaching a turning point in this epidemic New urgency on Ebola from the rich world, major investment and vaccine development suggest we may have reached the end of the beginning.

The news from Guinea and Sierra Leone has been unrelentingly horrific. Despite encouraging signs from Liberia, overall things will get worse. Today the official toll of the Ebola epidemic reached 13,703 cases, though the true figure is higher. By Christmas there may be thousands of new cases every week. More countries will probably report introduced infections, as in the US and, more worryingly, African neighbours. Several bleak months lie ahead.

Yet through this darkness it is finally becoming possible to see some light. In the past 10 days theinternational community has belatedly begun to take the actions necessary to start turning Ebolas tide. The progress is preliminary and uncertain; even if ultimately successful it will not reduce mortality or stop transmission for some time. We are not close to seeing the beginning of the end of the epidemic. But three developments offer hope that we may have reached the end of the beginning. Continue reading... The Guardian

Diabetes 'out of control' in most parts of England

Diabetes 'out of control' in most parts of England Warning that diabetes is 'out of control' in most of England, with 120 amputations a week, and those living in East London and West Suffolk faring worst for uncontrolled disease. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Press release: PHE atlas highlights variation in treatment of diabetes and high blood pressure across the country Public Health England

‘Urgent action’ needed to halt alcohol abuse in armed forces

‘Urgent action’ needed to halt alcohol abuse in armed forces Dangerous levels of alcohol consumption are “the norm” in the armed forces and the link between drinking and higher rates of violence among veterans must be investigated, MPs have warned. The Independent

Developing strategy in the NHS – mission impossible or essential leadership task?

Developing strategy in the NHS – mission impossible or essential leadership task? With the NHS facing both financial and quality challenges, just how can the sector plan ahead for an uncertain future? asks Suzie Bailey. The Health Foundation

Failings in NHS and poor government complaint handling highlighted in new report

Failings in NHS and poor government complaint handling highlighted in new report The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has published 161 summaries of investigations it carried out between April and June this year.

The Ombudsman Service investigates complaints about the NHS in England and UK government departments and their agencies, such as the Child Maintenance Service and the DVLA. The summaries published include 35 governmental cases and 126 are healthcare.

The cases investigated included several complaints about incorrect discharges from hospitals, failings in diagnosis of cancer.

See also:

• NHS errors that left patients infertile, brain-damaged or dead REVEALED  Daily Mail
• NHS Ombudsman report: how the vulnerable were failed The Daily Telegraph
• NHS investigation exposes failings for every generation The Daily Telegraph
• End the culture of patient deference towards NHS professionals | Denis Campbell The Guardian
• Ombudsman report: NHS sending patients home too early The Independent

Better communication needed in health screening programmes

Better communication needed in health screening programmes The risks and benefits of participating in screening programmes, for conditions and diseases like cancer, are not consistently communicated by either the NHS or private health care providers, a new report has warned. It is calling on the Government to ensure that a standardised process to produce screening information is introduced and that better communications training is provided to health care professionals. Science and Technology Committee (House of Commons Select Committee)

See also:

• NHS screening advice 'must improve' BBC News
• Patients not warned about risks of cancer screening, say MPs The Guardian

Adult social care funding: 2014 state of the nation report

Adult social care funding: 2014 state of the nation report This report, jointly produced by the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, warns that services for elderly and disabled residents are in crisis after new analysis reveals a £4.3 funding gap by the end of this decade. It highlights the need for integration of health and social care as a priority in order to prevent the care system from collapsing. Local Government Association

• Report
• Press release

Do you care?

Do you care? This report finds that nine in ten (89%) of health professionals who regularly deal with cancer patients agree friends and family caring for someone with cancer often neglect their own health whilst 85% believe a lack of support is the main reason carers reach breaking point and are forced to stop caring. The report calls for the prioritisation of the healthcare for carers in the NHS in England. MacMillan Cancer Support

Best practice in social media – measurement and evaluation

Best practice in social media – measurement and evaluation This briefing discusses how to plan and manage social media measurement and evaluation. NHS Employers

Drugs fund 'papers over cracks'

Drugs fund 'papers over cracks' A temporary fund to pay for cancer drugs not available on the NHS does not address problems with the price of new treatments, says Breakthrough Breast Cancer. BBC News

See also:

• Demand a fair price campaign Breakthrough Breast Cancer
• NHS Cancer Drugs Fund 'no longer fit for purpose', charity warns The Independent

Disasters group launches Ebola appeal

Disasters group launches Ebola appeal The Disasters Emergency Committee is to launch an appeal in response to a disease outbreak for the first time, in aid of the Ebola crisis. BBC News

See also:

• World Bank plea for Ebola volunteers BBC News
• Power to the people: Ebola - hacking social cohesion E-Health Insider
• Ebola outbreak: The appeal that shows this is no ordinary medical emergency The Independent
• Ebola outbreak: The contact tracers facing a race against time to track down those who have been exposed The Independent

Challenge Fund GP access pilots 'unsustainable', warns GPC

Challenge Fund GP access pilots 'unsustainable', warns GPC Government plans to extend GP opening hours are unsustainable and could cost £1bn a year across all practices in England, GP leaders have warned. GP Online

See also:

• GPs to bid for share of £100m ‘access’ fund NHS England

Call for action to tackle ill health of homeless

Call for action to tackle ill health of homeless Campaigning charity says three quarters of homeless people have health problems. OnMedica

See also:

• A Future. Now Homeless Health Matters: the case for change St Mungos Broadway

Employer bias against mental health conditions rife, study reveals - CIPD (blog)

Employer bias against mental health conditions rife, study reveals A study of employer attitudes towards staff with mental health conditions has revealed that 94 per cent of UK leaders admit prejudice against sufferers remains an issue in their organisation.  Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Five tips on how the NHS can engage patients and the public

Five tips on how the NHS can engage patients and the public Health service needs to do things differently and change relationships and nature of dialogue.

Ten ways to improve patient involvement in the NHS

Over the last few years, patient engagement and patient-centred care have become buzzwords across the health service. NHS organisations at all levels across the UK have developed opportunities for feedback and involvement, taskforces have been established, and patient representatives have been recruited. But, while these are all steps in the right direction, they do not produce the results that either the patients, managers or clinicians hope for.

Many healthcare professionals feel that the patients who sit on their committees do not understand the way the system works and have unrealistic expectations of what change can be brought about. Conversely, when they do understand the system, patients are often described as too expert or so far removed from the realities facing new patients that they are unable to make a valuable contribution. Patients who use their positions to identify problems or to complain are commonly viewed as difficult. Often middle-class and retired, many patient volunteers are also derisively described as the usual suspects. Continue reading... The Guardian

Samaritans launches app to spot 'calls for help' on Twitter

Samaritans launches app to spot 'calls for help' on Twitter Suicide prevention charity's free app watches Twitter for signs that people are struggling to cope, including phrases like "tired of being alone", and sends a warning to friends. The Daily Telegraph

Cancer awareness campaign launches in Northamptonshire to reduce deaths

Cancer awareness campaign launches in Northamptonshire to reduce deaths

A Northamptonshire health body has launched a campaign to encourage awareness of the first key signs of bladder and kidney cancers, after the diseases resulted in 87 deaths in the county in 2012. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Ambulance bosses drop super-hub plan

Ambulance bosses drop super-hub plan

Plans by East Midlands Ambulance Service to develop a series of super-hub stations and sell off smaller sites, are to be scrapped and a new plan drawn up. BBC News

Implementing the ‘responsible consultant/clinician’ and ‘named nurse’ in your NHS foundation trust

Implementing the ‘responsible consultant/clinician’ and ‘named nurse’ in your NHS foundation trust

One of the recommendations of the Francis Report and the government’s response was that every hospital patient should have the name of the consultant and nurse responsible for their care above their bed: the ‘responsible consultant/clinician’ and ‘named nurse’. This letter to all foundation trust medical and nursing directors outline details of the implementation of the ‘responsible consultant/clinician’ and ‘named nurse’ recommendation. Each NHS trust has been asked to provide the relevant information on the implementation of these recommendations. Monitor

Letter
Online form
Monitor news

Final Care Act guidance

Final Care Act guidance

The government response explains how the regulations and guidance, which come into effect from April 2015, have been updated. NHS Networks

Mental health spending 'too low'

Mental health spending 'too low'

Local authorities in England spend on average just 1.4% of their public health budgets on mental health, the charity Mind says. BBC News

Its time to tackle mental health inequality among black people

Its time to tackle mental health inequality among black people


Lambeth will lead the way in the treatment of mental health in black communities
What 12 Years a Slave tells us about 21st century black mental health
Black men face inequalities in cancer care

With African and Caribbean people far more likely to be diagnosed with a serious mental illness it is fitting that World Mental Health Day falls in Black History Month this year.

Black men in Britain are 17 times more likely than white counterparts to be diagnosed with a psychotic illness. Guardian

Continue reading...

Press release: Over a quarter of a million quit for Stoptober as smoking rates reach an all-time low in England

Press release: Over a quarter of a million quit for Stoptober as smoking rates reach an all-time low in England

The nation’s biggest mass quit attempt saw more people than ever helping each other through to 28 days without smoking.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the number of smokers in England has hit a record low, with smokers now accounting for only 18.4% of the population in 2013, a drop of 1.1% compared to 2012. And according to UCL’s Smoking Toolkit Study, smoking rates are continuing to fall in 2014. Those who successfully took part in Stoptober and didn’t smoke for 28 days are now 5 times more likely to remain smoke free, contributing to the growing numbers of non-smokers nationwide.

Choices and 111 reach usuage milestones

Choices and 111 reach usuage milestones

Two NHS public technology services have hit milestone usage figures, according to figures put out by the Health and Social Care Information Centre and the Department of Health. EHI News

Care sector future for ex-hospital

Care sector future for ex-hospital A derelict hospital in Northampton that was once a workhouse is to be turned into apartments for the care sector. BBC Northamptonshire

East Midlands Ambulance Service still not hitting targets

East Midlands Ambulance Service still not hitting targets East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has consistently failed to meet the minimum Government targets over a number of years, and with the winter months almost upon us, figures presented this week show that they are still failing. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England chief, Simon Stevens, issues stark warning on future of NHS

NHS England chief, Simon Stevens, issues stark warning on future of NHS Ben Gowland CEO Nene CCG and Joe Tibbetts publisher of Health Care Innovation Daily discuss Simon Stevens' five year plan to save the NHS in language easily understood by non experts. The Information Daily

Waiting for mental health care: what does the public think?

Waiting for mental health care: what does the public think? Nick Clegg used his party conference speech earlier this month to highlight ‘the second class status given to mental health in the NHS’. On the same day, the government and NHS England announced new waiting times standards as part of the drive to put mental health care on an equal footing with the rest of the system. This is the first time mental health providers have been subject to explicit expectations around waiting times – something they may find is a mixed blessing.

Cancer: shifting gears

Cancer: shifting gears This report outlines a future vision for cancer care in order to improve the quality of care for cancer patients and to improve the survival rate for patients diagnosed with cancer. It calls for all political parties to commit to naming cancer as a priority for the NHS and makes recommendations for actions which will improve experiences of treatment and care, improve quality of life for cancer survivors and save more lives – ultimately, bringing our cancer outcomes in line with the best in Europe. Cancer Campaigning Group

Ebola outbreak cases pass 10,000

Ebola outbreak cases pass 10,000 The number of cases in the Ebola outbreak has exceeded 10,000, with 4,922 deaths, the World Health Organization says. BBC News

See also:

• Ebola crisis 'may harm malaria fight' BBC News
• AUDIO: Ebola health worker's audio diary fears BBC News
• Million Ebola vaccine doses for 2015 BBC News
• Dozens monitored for Ebola in Mali BBC News
• Ebola outbreak will 'explode' by mid-December, scientists warn Daily Mail
• UK-trained doctor who died to save Nigeria from Ebola The DailyTelegraph
• Ebola crisis: Cases pass 10,000 as almost 5,000 killed by disease in eight countries The Independent

John Kennedy's care home inquiry

John Kennedy's care home inquiry The final report of a personal inquiry into care homes for older people to discover how to address the crisis in the UK and to find out what makes a good care home.

During John’s inquiry, which built on existing JRF research, he spoke to a range of people involved in the care sector, and used social media to broaden the range of views.

The report seeks to achieve an open and evidence-informed debate around how to improve life in care homes for older people and suggests principles and makes recommendations for regulators, commissioners and providers so that care homes are good places for people to live and work in. Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Sunshine isn't slimming and can't halt diabetes

Sunshine isn't slimming and can't halt diabetes "Sunshine can make you thin," claims the Daily Mirror, while the Daily Express splashed on its front page that, "Sunlight is key to fighting diabetes". Both are strong contenders for the title of the day's most inaccurate health headline.

The news – reported more circumspectly by The Times and BBC News – is based on highly artificial laboratory experiments on mice.

The study found that long-term ultraviolet (UV) light exposure stopped male mice fed a high-fat diet gaining weight. UV also reduced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance and levels of insulin in the blood after fasting, as well as glucose and cholesterol.

In humans, these are signs associated with metabolic syndrome – a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity that puts you at greater risk of heart disease.

Human skin produces vitamin D when it is exposed to UV light, so the researchers tested whether the same benefits were seen if the mice were given a vitamin D supplement in their food.

But this did not produce the same effects. The researchers instead think nitric oxide, which is also produced when skin is exposed to UV light, may be responsible for the effects of UV.

Mice are nocturnal animals covered in fur, so their skin is not usually exposed to much sunlight. This means this research has no immediate implications for people.

Practices could boycott £5m dementia diagnosis scheme

Practices could boycott £5m dementia diagnosis scheme Practices should consider boycotting a scheme that would pay them £55 per patient diagnosed with dementia, the GPC has suggested. GP Online

Simon Stevens interview: The NHS is a social movement and not just a health care service

Simon Stevens interview: The NHS is a social movement and not just a health care service This week NHS Englands new chief executive unveiled a blueprint for tackling the worst budget crunch in its 66-year history. So just who is Simon Stevens? And can he save our health service?

From his offices, with their panoramic views of south London, Simon Stevens can see the scene of his happiest experience with the NHS so far St Thomas hospital, where his wife, Maggie, gave birth to their son in 2003. Because it was Christmas day, a lot of staff were off and there were locums. There was a bit of Christmas spirit, but a lot of planned deliveries not happening, so when my son was born they basically said, If you and your wife want to go to an empty ward, you can spend the night there with your baby. In this darkened ward with no staff we spent a very happy first night. The recollection prompts a smile.

He can also recall his worst moment. He was just seven. I had a hip problem and was in hospital for the best part of a school term. It is a visceral memory. I woke one morning and I couldnt walk. I crawled to my parents bedroom. They took a bit of persuading that I wasnt just messing about, but we went to hospital. I still remember when the staff said to them, OK, you can leave him now. That first night. I was just screaming: that complete sense of abandonment. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Of the people, by the people, for the people Coalition for Collaborative Care
• The health service needs more than a bag of grapes to get better | Andrew Rawnsley The Guardian

Dozens of maternity and A&E units shut

Dozens of maternity and A&E units shut Dozens of NHS maternity and Accident and Emergency units are under threat, new research reveals. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The public deserves better than stealth NHS closures The Daily Telegraph
• The list of 66 A&E and maternity units being hit by cuts The Daily Telegraph

NHS spends £2.5bn on agency staff to meet rising demand

NHS spends £2.5bn on agency staff to meet rising demand NHS hospitals spent £2.5bn on part-time agency staff last year – far more than planned – in a bid to improve patient safety amid sharply rising demand, new figures show. The Independent

So-called 'Saatchi Bill' under fire for unintended consequences

So-called 'Saatchi Bill' under fire for unintended consequences  A proposed overhaul of the law surrounding doctors’ use of experimental treatments is unnecessary, would undermine clinical trials and could put patients at risk, a coalition of leading research organisations has said. The Independent

See also:

• Medical Innovation Bill Tumblr
• Saatchi's 'Medical Innovation Bill' will benefit lawyers and charlatans, not patients Open Democracy
• How the wealthy paying to be guinea pigs ini clinical trials could help cure us all The Daily Telegraph

Plans to convert former 19th Century Northampton workhouse into elderly care home

Plans to convert former 19th Century Northampton workhouse into elderly care home A former workhouse and hospital (St Edmund's) in Northampton that has been derelict for the past 15 years is to be brought back to life as a care home, it has been announced today. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The parallel universes of integrated care: the process of change is as important as the content

The parallel universes of integrated care: the process of change is as important as the content Norman Lamb’s announcement of a second wave of 10 integrated care pioneers at our recent integrated care summit signaled the continuing commitment of ministers to joining up care around the needs of patients and populations.

The achievements of the first wave of pioneers were showcased at the summit in a presentation from colleagues in Greenwich demonstrating how they have reduced emergency hospital admissions by targeting high risk groups in the population. In Greenwich and elsewhere priority is being given to intervening early to support these groups through closer integration of health and social care. The emphasis now placed in the Better Care Fund on cutting emergency admissions seems likely to reinforce these initiatives.

News story: Final Care Act guidance published

News story: Final Care Act guidance published The government response explains how the regulations and guidance, which come into effect from April 2015, have been revised as a result of the suggestions we received during the consultation.

We have made changes that include clarifying the guidance on adult safeguarding and revising the eligibility criteria to focus on outcomes and better address social isolation.

In addition to the revised regulations and guidance for local authorities there will be more materials to help those implementing the Care Act on the Local Government Association’s website.. The Care Act factsheets have also been updated.

The Care Act aims to make the social care system fairer and help people get better care. Department of Health

See also:

• Statutory guidance: Care Act 2014: statutory guidance for implementation Department of Health

From evidence into action: opportunities to protect and improve the nation’s health

From evidence into action: opportunities to protect and improve the nation’s health This strategic document sets out PHE's priorities for the next 5 years, having looked closely at the evidence to determine where it can most effectively focus its efforts. It is an invitation to others across the health professions, local and national government, the voluntary and community sector and the public, to join PHE in applying the evidence of what we know works to achieve the step-change in the nation’s health. Public Health England

• Strategy
• Press release

Everybody active, every day: an evidence-based approach to physical activity

Everybody active, every day: an evidence-based approach to physical activity This framework for national and local action addresses the national physical inactivity epidemic, responsible for 1 in 6 deaths and costing the country an estimated £7.4 billion a year. It aims to change the social ‘norm’ to make physical activity the expectation; develop expertise and leadership within professionals and volunteers; create environments to support active lives; and identify and up-scale successful programmes nationwide. Public Health England

• Framework
• Evidence
• Resource for MPs
• Press release

Doctors' contract talks - Q&As

Doctors' contract talks - Q&As Q&As to answer questions you may have on the ending of the contract negotiations. NHS Employers

US 'probes hackable' medical devices

US 'probes hackable' medical devices US government investigators are looking into about two dozen cases of medical kit suspected to be vulnerable to life-threatening hacks. BBC News

Health ministers refuse to commit to £8bn funding sought in NHS report

Health ministers refuse to commit to £8bn funding sought in NHS report Conservatives Jeremy Hunt and Labours Andy Burnham both claim report supports their policies for future of health service

Health ministers from all three main Westminster parties have refused to commit to an extra £8bn funding sought by the chief executive of NHS England in a report looking at the looming cost pressures facing the NHS in the next five years.

They embraced the reports principles, often arguing it endorsed their existing political positions, but they all shied away from a commitment to the extra cash above inflation over the next parliament. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The man with the plan E-Health Insider
• NHS plan "turning point" for IT? E-Health Insider
• GP leaders welcome NHS five-year plan but warn funding must rise soon GP Online
• NHS Five Year Forward View: biggest challenge is on funding The Guardian
• NHS has come 'a huge distance' in 15 years, says chief - video The Guardian
• The NHS has 'a really bright future', says Jeremy Hunt - video The Guardian
• The NHS is on life support. Can this plan revive it? | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
• NHS boss Simon Stevens defends privatisation The Guardian
• Betting the farm: inside the NHS Forward View The Health Foundation

Two in five fear NHS will soon cease to be free

Two in five fear NHS will soon cease to be free Survey finds pessimism among UK population, particularly women and poorer people, over future of national health service

More than two out of five people fear the NHS will cease to be a free service over the next 20 years, a new survey reveals. When asked how likely it was that the NHS by 2034 would still be free at point of use, 44% said it was unlikely and 37% thought it was likely to be the case.

Women and the less well-off were the most pessimistic. Among women, 48% believe the free NHS will have disappeared, while 36% do not. More men (40%) share that concern, though almost as many (38%) think free care will survive. Continue reading... The Guardian

The 'Saatchi Bill' is dangerous and will bring nothing but harm

The 'Saatchi Bill' is dangerous and will bring nothing but harm Quacks, Big Pharma and insurance firms will benefit from the Saatchi Bill - not doctors and certainly not patients, says Peter Oborne. The Daily Telegraph

Ebola outbreak: Quarantine camps in West Africa at breaking-point

Ebola outbreak: Quarantine camps in West Africa at breaking-point Dozens of people quarantined for Ebola monitoring in western Liberia are threatening to break out of isolation because they have no food, the West African nation’s state radio has reported. The Independent

See also:

• Ebola crisis: 'We need help, serious help' BBC News
• First Ebola case in Mali confirmed BBC News
• Six surprising Ebola numbers BBC News
• Ebola outbreak: Virus to kill 67,000 in Monrovia by December, claims academic study The Independent

Thousands more flu jabs will be needed in Northants this winter

Thousands more flu jabs will be needed in Northants this winter An extra 22,000 flu vaccinations will need to be issued to under 65s at risk this winter, according to public health experts at Northamptonshire County Council. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Pioneering health project receives national award

Pioneering health project receives national award A pioneering Northamptonshire project to improve care to patients has won a national award. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The NHS Five Year Forward View

The NHS Five Year Forward View This new report sets out a new vision for the future of the NHS showing how the NHS needs to change over the next five years if it is to close the widening gaps in the health of the population, quality of care and the funding of services.

The report looks at why change is needed, what that change might look like and how it can achieved. It describes various models of care, defining the actions required at local and national level to support delivery.  It covers areas such as disease prevention; new, flexible models of service delivery tailored to local populations and needs; integration between services; and consistent leadership across the health and care system.

The Five Year Forward View starts the move towards a different NHS, recognising the challenges and outlining potential solutions to the big questions facing health and care services in England. It defines the framework for further detailed planning about how the NHS needs to evolve over the next five years. NHS England

See also:

• Five Year Forward executive summary NHS England
• NHS Leaders set out vision for healthcare in England NHS England

Responses

• NHS Five Year Forward View  Care Quality Commission
• Five year Forward view is a statement of great confidence in the NHS Foundation Trust Network
• Reaction to NHS England’s Forward View The Health Foundation
• No escaping the financial challenge facing the NHS: our response to NHS England’s Five Year Forward View The King's Fund
• NHS Confederation, NHS Employers and NHS Partners responds to NHS England's Five Year Forward View NHS Confederation
Health service cannot continue with ‘business as usual’ Nuffield Trust
• Response to NHS England's road map for the future of the health service Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCN responds to NHS Five Year Forward View Royal College of Nursing

Media Coverage

• The NHS plan: Five things we've learned BBC News
• NHS five-year plan 'packs a punch' BBC News
• NHS 'needs extra cash and overhaul' BBC News
• NHS: Money alone won't buy us better treatment The Daily Telegraph
• NHS can close £30 billion gap - Stevens E-Health Insider
• National systems to become 'glue' of NHS E-Health Insider
• NHS chief pledges major primary care funding rise in 'new deal' for GPs GP Online
• The Guardian view on the Forward View: at last the debate the NHS deserves | Editorial The Guardian
• Simon Stevens: new NHS chief executive with a private past The Guardian
• The Stevens report: 35 pages that serve up challenge to politicians of all colours The Guardian
• NHS Five Year Forward View: radical and costly surgery to provide a new lease of life The Guardian
• The NHS calls for an extra £8bn by 2020 in order to safeguard its services The Guardian
• Firms to receive NHS cash to reward staff for losing weight in radical model for health care The Independent
• NHS England to spend a ‘much higher proportion’ of budget on general practice over next five years Pulse

You can also follow the reponse to the report on Twitter using the hashtag #FutureNHS

'Nine million have TB' - WHO report

'Nine million have TB' - WHO report The World Health Organization revises its estimate as to how many people have tuberculosis up by 500,000, in its latest report into the killer disease. BBC News

See also:

• Global tuberculosis report 2014 World Health Organization 

VIDEO: Can technology plug NHS funding gap?

VIDEO: Can technology plug NHS funding gap? The NHS is under pressure to close a huge projected funding gap - Dominic Hughes reports on how the NHS has addressed this in West Yorkshire. BBC News

Mental Health: Visions of the Future

Mental Health: Visions of the Future In light of recent criticism of the over-reliance on drugs in mental health treatment, the President of the World Psychiatric Association outlines his vision for the future of the discipline. IAI News

Tackle Ebola in Africa to ensure threat to UK is stemmed, says medical expert

Tackle Ebola in Africa to ensure threat to UK is stemmed, says medical expertDame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, says risks to British low, but NHS and global community need to act now

Britain is well prepared for an Ebola outbreak but the best way to ensure the threat to the UK does not escalate is to fight the disease in west Africa, the chief medical officer for England, said on Wednesday.

Dame Sally Davies told MPs on the Commons health select committee that airport screening had been introduced mainly to alert people coming from Ebola-affected countries as to what to do should they develop symptoms. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Exclusive: RCGP urges all UK practices to make Ebola preparations GP Online
• WHO emergency team holds Ebola talks BBC News
• VIDEO: UK Ebola planning 'excellent' BBC News
• Blood transfusion: What is the Ebola treatment – and how does it work? The Independent

Thousands with degenerative conditions classified as 'fit to work in future' - despite no possibility of improvement

Thousands with degenerative conditions classified as 'fit to work in future' - despite no possibility of improvement More than a third of people with degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis are having their benefits slashed because the Department for Work and Pensions deems they will recover enough to look for work. The Independent

NHS must end IVF 'postcode lottery', watchdog says

NHS must end IVF 'postcode lottery', watchdog says The NHS must end “unacceptable” restrictions on fertility treatment for thousands of women in England, the national health watchdog has said. The Independent

See also:

• NICE calls for an end to postcode lottery of IVF treatment NICE
• NHS acting as 'barrier to families' BBC News
• NHS denying women fertility treatment to save money, watchdog warns The Guardian

Family of woman who died waiting for a doctor at NGH say “a car crash death would have been less cruel”

Family of woman who died waiting for a doctor at NGH say “a car crash death would have been less cruel” The family of a pensioner who died after four-hour wait for a doctor at Northampton General Hospital’s A&E have labelled the care she received ‘barbaric’. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What the party conferences told us (and didn’t) about the future of the NHS

What the party conferences told us (and didn't) about the future of the NHS The latest Guardian/ICM poll shows that the NHS is the single most important issue to voters, way ahead of the economy, deficit reduction, immigration and jobs. Despite this, things are far from tranquil in the NHS, says Jennifer Dixon. The Health Foundation

A safer place to be: Findings from our survey of health-based places of safety for people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act

A safer place to be: Findings from our survey of health-based places of  safety for people detained under section 136 of the  Mental Health Act Results from s survey of health based places of safety which shows that while there are areas of good practice, recommended national standards are not being met leading to mental health patients spending more time in police custody. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Mentally ill put in police cells BBC News
• Problems accessing NHS units sees ‘too many’ mentally unwell end up in police cells Community Care
• Warning over mental health support Press Association

Specialists in out-of-hospital settings Findings from six case studies

Specialists in out-of-hospital settings Findings from six case studies A complete overhaul of medical education is needed to enable the shift of care out of hospitals and into primary care and community services. The King's Fund

See also:

• Consultants need to spend more time outside hospital, report finds The King's Fund
• Reform medical education to shift NHS work into primary care, says report GP Online

Secretary of State's guidance under section 42A of the National Health Service Act 2006

Secretary of State's guidance under section 42A of the National Health Service Act 2006 This document provides guidance on how the Department of Health can provide loans, public dividend capital or guarantees of payment to foundation trusts and NHS trusts. It covers the type of finance that may be provided; how to request financial assistance; criteria for deciding whether and how to provide financial assistance; and the terms and conditions that may be applicable to finance that may be provided. Department of Health

Report reveals the real cost of adult hearing loss to society

Report reveals the real cost of adult hearing loss to society In its report The Real Cost of Adult Hearing Loss, the Ear Foundation counts the direct costs of treating hearing loss, which are comparatively low, and the much larger costs of dealing with health and social impacts.

The report advocates better use of “life-changing” technology, adult hearing screening and joined-up services across health and social care.

Hospital based strategies for creating a culture of health

Hospital based strategies for creating a culture of health This report provides background on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s vision to build a culture of health and discusses how hospitals are contributing to community health improvement. It reports the findings of a review of 300 community health needs assessments, provides strategic considerations for hospital engagement in community health improvement and offers a model of the hospital’s role in building a culture of health. Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence

GPs to get £55 for dementia diagnoses

GPs to get £55 for dementia diagnoses Doctors in England will be paid £55 every time they diagnose dementia, health chiefs say, but the scheme is criticised by a patients' group. BBC News

See also:

• Anger over 'cash for diagnoses' dementia plan The Daily Telegraph
• NHS dementia plan to give GPs cash for diagnoses criticised as ethical travesty The Guardian

NICE conflicts of interests claim

NICE conflicts of interests claim A group of leading doctors and researchers has called on MPs to investigate potential conflicts of interest at the medicines watchdog, NICE. BBC News

See also:

• MPs probe claims of NHS drugs conflicts of interests The Daily Telegraph

Paralysed man walks again after pioneering surgery

Paralysed man walks again after pioneering surgery "World first as man whose spinal cord was severed WALKS," the Mail Online reports. In pioneering research, transplanted cells have been used to stimulate the repair of a man's spinal cord.

The headlines are based on a scientific report describing a 38-year-old man whose spinal cord was almost completely severed in a knife attack. The man had completely lost feeling and movement below the injury and was paralysed from the chest down.

Researchers injected the man's damaged spinal cord with cells taken from parts of the brain involved in interpreting smell signals from the nose to the brain. This treatment was combined with a graft from one of the nerves in his lower leg to reconnect the stumps of spinal cord severed by the injury.

After surgery, the man had improved trunk stability, partial recovery of the voluntary movements of the lower extremities, and an increase of muscle in one thigh, as well as improvements in sensation. According to an accompanying press release, the man is now able to walk using a frame.

While previous techniques have managed to "re-route" nerve signals around a damaged section of the spinal cord, this is the first time that damage to the cord has been directly repaired.

These results are very encouraging, but, as the researchers note, the findings will need to be confirmed in other patients with similar types of spinal cord injury.

Hospital IT is in a hopeless, fragmented mess

Hospital IT is in a hopeless, fragmented mess Hospitals have problems getting their wards to communicate with each other, never mind with local GPs or patients

Back in the 1960s when I was a mere stripling in the data processing industry and the world of computers was new and all, two great truths were drummed into me:

An IT system will fail if the people who use it are not involved in the design. Top managers must drive the implementation, and accept responsibility for its success or failure. Continue reading... The Guardian

How to save the NHS in just 50 pages

How to save the NHS in just 50 pages The Five Year Forward Review is the NHS's own answer to whether it can survive as a unique system of healthcare.

Simon Stevenss arrival as NHS Englands new boss on 1 April was greeted with great warmth and relief across the service. In some quarters he was regarded almost as a messiah the man who had come back into the fold, after 10 years in US private healthcare, to rescue the NHS from its crisis of unsustainability. He saved us once before, in 2000, with the NHS Plans extra billions and extra staff, so hes the one to do something similar again, they thought.

Stevens deliberately did not administer any immediate quick fixes or announce headline-grabbing initiatives. He told the health select committee in April he would set out his thoughts about how to meet the challenges facing the service ageing, integration with social care, modernisation of primary care, lifestyle-related illnesses, and much more within six months. Continue reading... The Guardian

VIDEO: Work begins on building multi-million pound mental health facility in Northampton

VIDEO: Work begins on building multi-million pound mental health facility in Northampton  Work to build the largest mental health facility in Europe for young people in Northampton has begun. St Andrew's, yesterday began building its new residential building for young people. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby health group shortlisted for top award

Corby health group shortlisted for top award Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which plans and pays for health services in the area, has been nominated for a top award. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton radiographers strike against fourth year with no pay rise

Northampton radiographers strike against fourth year with no pay rise Radiographers from two departments at Northampton General Hospital took part in a four-hour strike today after being refused a pay rise for the fourth year running. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Guidance: Cold weather plan for England 2014

Guidance: Cold weather plan for England 2014 The cold weather plan gives advice to the NHS and social care on preparing for the effects of winter weather on people’s health. Public Health England

See also:

• Press release: PHE cold weather plan helps you protect your health Public Health England
• Keep Warm Keep Well Public Health England

Latest NHS staff sickness absence figures released

Latest NHS staff sickness absence figures released NHS staff sickness absence has risen by 0.15 per cent in the year to June 2014.
The latest figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show an increase in overall sickness absence, rising to 3.95 per cent in June 2014 from 3.80 percent in June 2013. NHS Employers

Community pharmacy management of minor illness

Community pharmacy management of minor illness This report shows that common ailments such as coughs and sore throats cost the NHS an extra £1.1 billion a year when patients are treated at A&E or GP surgeries rather than at community pharmacies. Treatment results were equally good regardless of whether patients were treated at a pharmacy, A&E or GP practice. Overall, the study estimates that 3% of all A&E consultations and 5.5% of GP consultations for common ailments could be managed in community pharmacies. This equates to over 650,000 visits to A&E and over 18 million GP consultations every year that could be diverted with a total annual cost saving of over £1billion. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

• Report
• Press release

The costs of perinatal mental health problems

The costs of perinatal mental health problems This report argues that perinatal mental health problems carry a total economic and social long-term cost to society of about £8.1 billion for each one-year cohort of births in the UK. It also finds that the NHS would need to spend just £337 million a year to bring perinatal mental health care up to the level recommended in national guidance. Centre for Mental Health

See also:

• Shocking failure to fully address mental health problems in pregnancy and following childbirth costs over £8 billion, report finds Centre for Mental Health
• Poor mental health care for pregnant women costs £8bn OnMedica

Man walks again after transplant

Man walks again after transplant A paralysed man has been able to walk again after a pioneering therapy that involved transplanting specialist cells into his damaged spinal cord. BBC News

See also:

• To walk again - the people behind the story BBC News
• British doctors on brink of cure for paralysis The Independent

More UK medics travel to Ebola area

More UK medics travel to Ebola area About 100 army medics are travelling to Sierra Leone as part of UK efforts to tackle the Ebola outbreak, as screening begins at Gatwick. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: UK Ebola vaccine tests continue BBC News
• Ebola crisis: How Nigeria's Dr Adadevoh fought the virus BBC News
• Ebola: GlaxoSmithKline says working at 'unprecedented rate' to find vaccine The Daily Telegraph
• Downing Streets Ebola panic is a classic case of the politics of fear The Guardian
• Ebola outbreak: WHO missed 'the disaster of our times,' say aid agencies The Independent

NHS needs bigger budget rises to ward off perfect storm, says watchdog

NHS needs bigger budget rises to ward off perfect storm, says watchdog Regulator calls for annual multimillion-pound funding increases to tackle problems caused by ageing and population growth

The NHS must once again start receiving annual multimillion-pound increases in its budget to help it survive a perfect storm of pressures, the boss of the services economic regulator has warned.

The health service will struggle to cope with the ageing and growing population unless it goes back to getting above-inflation annual boosts to its funding, said Dr David Bennett. Continue reading... The Guardian

Exclusive: NHS hires foreign doctors to stave off winter crisis

Exclusive: NHS hires foreign doctors to stave off winter crisis Dozens of extra foreign doctors have been drafted in to help NHS hospitals head off a winter crisis, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, will announce today. The Independent

NHS hospital staff banned from drinking tea or coffee on the job because it looks like they're not working hard enough

NHS hospital staff banned from drinking tea or coffee on the job because it looks like they're not working hard enough Medics and other staff have been banned from drinking tea or coffee in public areas at three Leicester hospitals. The Independent

See also:

• NHS hospitals ban staff from having cup of tea at their desks in case it makes it look like they're not working Daily Mail

Radiographers at Kettering Hospital to take strike action

Radiographers at Kettering Hospital to take strike action Radiographers at Kettering Hospital will be taking part in a national strike on Monday, October 20, between 9am and 1pm. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The cost of protecting the NHS budget: how do the parties' pledges fare?

The cost of protecting the NHS budget: how do the parties' pledges fare? The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems have all made promises to increase the NHS budget should they win in the 2015 election. But how do the promises of the parties compare to the amount of money the English NHS will need? The Health Foundation

Suffering in silence: listening to consumer experiences of the health and social care complaints system

Suffering in silence: listening to consumer experiences of the health and social care complaints system This report details the findings of an investigation into the failings of the complaints system in health and social care. It raises concerns about the NHS and local authority red tape making it difficult for people to complain and that there is not enough independent advice and support out there to help those in need and, above all, the public is given little incentive to come forward about their experiences. It highlights simple changes which could be made to the system in order to improve patients' experiences in complaints handling within health and care systems. Healthwatch

Nigeria to be declared Ebola-free

Nigeria to be declared Ebola-free The World Health Organisation is expected to declare Nigeria officially free of Ebola on Monday, after six weeks with no new cases. BBC News

More than half of local health contracts 'go outside NHS

More than half of local health contracts 'go outside NHS' The value of clinical contracts awarded by local health commissioning groups has risen to just over £2bn between April and September this year, data shows. Of the total contracts awarded since April 2013, more than half have gone to non-NHSproviders. BBC News

Doctors 'stop seven-day service talks'

Doctors 'stop seven-day service talks' A spat between doctors and NHS officials about seven-day working has led to the stalling of longstanding negotiations. BBC News

See also:

• Junior and consultant contract negotiations BMA
• NHS Employers disappointed by BMA abandonment of contract talks NHS Employers

Gaps in mental health care for new mothers cost UK £8bn a year study

Gaps in mental health care for new mothers cost UK £8bn a year study Maternal Mental Health Alliance says NHS would need to spend £337m a year to bring care up to recommended levels

Substandard mental health care for pregnant women and new mothers is creating long-term costs of more than £8bn every year, according to a pioneering study of the effects of maternal depression, anxiety and other illnesses.

The report, produced by the London School of Economics and the Centre for Mental Healthcharity, represents the first time academics have sought to quantify not just the direct economic impact on affected mothers, but the effect over decades on their childrens prospects, both in terms of development in the womb and during the crucial early years. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS chief urges hospital staff to join gyms in anti-obesity fight

NHS chief urges hospital staff to join gyms in anti-obesity fight Simon Stevens says repeated warnings have been ignored and we must lead national effort to tackle crisis.

The National Health Service is to put its own 1.35 million staff at the head of a new fight against obesity by encouraging them to join weight-watching groups and take out gym memberships, its new head will announce this week.

The move by Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, comes amid mounting frustration within the medical profession and NHS over the failure of successive governments to invest sufficiently in public health campaigns. Continue reading... The Guardian

Ministers hail dignity victory in war on mixed sex wards

Ministers hail dignity victory in war on mixed sex wards Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, says new figures showing a dramatic fall in the number of men and women forced to share hospital wards are a major step forward for compassion. The Daily Telegraph

NHS watchdog to probe complaints about needless deaths as it warns of 'appalling' failures to investigate

NHS watchdog to probe complaints about needless deaths as it warns of 'appalling' failures to investigate Investigation launched into the handling of complaints into 250 deaths which may have been avoidable. The Daily Telegraph

Health tourism clampdown 'puts public at risk,' claims think-tank

Health tourism clampdown 'puts public at risk,' claims think-tank The British public is at increased risk from infectious diseases – including Ebola – because NHS charges and anti-immigration rhetoric are discouraging vulnerable migrants from seeking healthcare, a think-tank has warned. The Independent