E-cigarettes could help some smokers quit

E-cigarettes could help some smokers quit “E-cigarettes can help smokers quit or cut down heavily,” The Guardian reports. An international review of the evidence, carried out by the well-respected Cochrane Collaboration, found evidence that they can help some smokers quit.

However, the available body of evidence was slim – just two randomised controlled trials (RCTs), involving around 950 participants.

The two studies found that 9% of people using e-cigarettes with nicotine quit smoking for at least six months, compared to 4% of people using placebo e-cigarettes. However, the results on quitting were only significant when the trials were added together, because so few people managed to quit. The individual trials found no difference in the number of people who quit smoking by at least six months when using e-cigarettes with nicotine compared to placebo e-cigarettes or nicotine patches. The researchers say that the pooled results should therefore be treated with caution.

Doctor and two nurses charged with manslaughter after boy, six, with Down's Syndrome died in hospital

Doctor and two nurses charged with manslaughter after boy, six, with Down's Syndrome died in hospital Jack Adcock, who had Down’s syndrome and other pre-existing health problems, died of pneumonia at Leicester Royal Infirmary almost five years ago. The Daily Mail

Healthcare revolution must emphasise community care

Healthcare revolution must emphasise community care The future of the NHS depends on it taking a radical approach to health services. Can it shift away from a hospital-based model to focus on individual independence?

Our society’s dependence on acute-care hospitals, which are often not the best places for healthcare issues to be dealt with, must be reduced dramatically over the next few years. That was the general agreement at a recent Guardian roundtable, sponsored by Optum, that looked at the role community services will play in the future of the NHS. The direction for the NHS is towards devolved services, and there are a host of positive reasons for developing them in that way, experts from NHS England, healthcare providers and charities were told at the event.

The problem with hospitals is that they are geared up for acute care and tend to follow narrow pathways focusing in on a particular problem, the roundtable heard, when a more holistic approach to health is what is needed.

“For generations, we've gone to ask the doctor for the answers to our health problems,” said Madeleine Starr of Carers UK. Continue reading... The Guardian

Nick Clegg attempts to calm NHS worries over EU-US trade deal

Nick Clegg attempts to calm NHS worries over EU-US trade deal Deputy PM tells debate the TTIP agreement would not be endorsed without assuring sovereign right to run public services

Nick Clegg has moved to calm campaigners worried about the proposed EU-US trade deal – the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) – saying the government would secure written guarantees that it would not threaten the NHS.

The deputy prime minister said he would ensure the UK maintains its sovereign right to run the NHS, amid fears the deal could allow private US health corporations the ability to mount legal challenges over the right to bid for contracts. Continue reading... The Guardian

Smoking banned in cars when children are present

Smoking banned in cars when children are present From October 2015 anyone who smokes in a car where a child is present will be fined £50. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• News story: Protecting children from secondhand smoke and nicotine addiction Department of Health
• Car smoke ban 'to start in October' BBC News
• VIDEO: Smoking in cars 'harmful for children' BBC News

NHS services cut in Nottingham after doctors quit rather than work for private firm

NHS services cut in Nottingham after doctors quit rather than work for private firm An NHS hospital has been forced to scrap highly rated services for patients with severe skin conditions including skin cancer following an “exodus” of senior doctors reluctant to work for a private sector subcontractor. The Independent

Northamptonshire hospitals urge patients to avoid going to A&E as numbers rise by 20 per cent

Northamptonshire hospitals urge patients to avoid going to A&E as numbers rise by 20 per cent Northamptonshire hospitals are urging the public to avoid attending unless “absolutely necessary” and to use other NHS services where possible. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Hospitals’ plea to public as they struggle to cope with demand Northamptonshire Telegraph 

The public’s view of which treatments should be available on the NHS

The public’s view of which treatments should be available on the NHS NHS England’s favoured future funding option suggests that nearly three-quarters of the £30 billion funding-needs gap that will exist by 2020/21 is to be filled by increased productivity. Even if the ‘down payment’ pledges of extra money for the NHS from the three main political parties eventually swell to meet the £8 billion NHS England are asking for by 2020/21, the productivity challenge remains substantial.

Being more productive does not just involve producing more of the same for each health care pound to meet growing demands. It also means improving the quality of the product – for example, not just more hip replacements, but hip replacements with reduced recovery times, using hips that last longer and produce bigger improvements in patients’ self-assessed health status.

In short, improving productivity means generating greater value for patients. This, in essence, is at the heart of the difficult task – not only for the new productivity challenge over the next few years, but for NICE too: making better use of the resources it is given means the NHS providing better quality (or more effective) care at the lowest cost.

QI methods: the essentials of good clinical management?

QI methods: the essentials of good clinical management? What should be the function of a central improvement entity? There seems to be consensus that the role of the centre isn't to deliver programmes but there is yet to be recognition of the critical role a central function needs to play, says Jo Bibby. The Health Foundation

Address gaps in mental health care for new mothers

Address gaps in mental health care for new mothers Women who have experience of, or are at risk of mental health problems, should get extra support before, during and after their pregnancy, says NICE

See also:

• Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance NICE
• Mental health support for mothers BBC News
• Pregnant women at risk of mental health issues will receive extra support after tragic deaths of mother and four-day old daughter  The Daily Mail

Public Health England’s grant to local authorities

Public Health England’s grant to local authorities The new public health agency Public Health England (PHE) has made a good start in supporting local authorities with their new responsibilities for public health. The National Audit Office considers, however, that it is too soon to tell whether the agency’s approach is achieving value for money.

PHE was set up in April 2013 to be the nation’s expert agency on public health. It gives local authorities advice and evidence on what works, and gives them a ring-fenced grant to carry out their new public health responsibilities – £2.7 billion in 2013-14. The agency has, however, encountered some problems with the accuracy of how local authorities record what has been spent on public health.

The priorities of the NHS met in second annual Workforce Plan for England

The priorities of the NHS met in second annual Workforce Plan for England Today we publish our second Workforce Plan for England, which sets out the £5bn investment we will make in education and training programmes for 2015/16.

It is built upon the needs of local employers, commissioners and other stakeholders who, as members of our Local Education Training Boards (LETBs), have shaped the thirteen local plans that are the bedrock of this plan for England. The priorities in the plan are the priorities of the NHS, identified locally and nationally by employers, colleges and other stakeholders.

A&E units 'creaking under pressure'

A&E units 'creaking under pressure' The medical director of NHS England, Sir Bruce Keogh, says the "system is creaking" as winter begins to take hold. BBC News

See also:

• Ambulance service asks for help BBC News
• 'A&E departments already straining from winter demand, NHS' Sir Bruce Keogh admits The Daily Mail
• Overwhelmed London ambulances call for help from other regions after spike in demand The Independent
• Public urged not to call ambulance at Christmas unless a genuine emergency OnMedica

The NHS Frontline - The Reality of Mental Health Services

The NHS Frontline - The Reality of Mental Health Services The challenge of dealing with mental health services as a GP. The Huffington Post

NHS nurse shortage forces health service to recruit overseas

NHS nurse shortage forces health service to recruit overseas Four out of five new nurses in hospitals came from abroad in 2013-14, most from Spain, Portugal and the Philippines.

The NHS is facing such a chronic shortage of homegrown nurses that four out of five new nurses in hospitals have come from abroad, new health service data shows.

Overseas recruitment of nurses has more than quadrupled in a year, underlying the extent of the difficulty hospitals are encountering in their efforts to boost nurse numbers. Continue reading... The Guardian

How a charity is linking with GPs to help those at risk of losing homes

How a charity is linking with GPs to help those at risk of losing homes A Kent charity is helping people with mental health problems by liaising with their GPs and navigating the benefits system

Former teacher Fiona Hood, 45, has had severe anxiety and depression all her adult life. Five years ago she lost both parents within a short space of time, her partner took his life, and then her work as an English language teacher dried up. Hood’s depression began to envelop her. “I felt increasingly cut off from the world,” she explains. “Paralysed with depression, any routines around sleeping and meals, all the structure in my life had gone.”

Hood, who has a degree in linguistics and psychology, was on and off various medication until late last year, when her GP prescribed something different, – a very powerful antidepressant. It was good news, but the downside was that it was going to take a while for Hood to adjust to the new drug. “I felt confused, fuzzy, all over the place,” she recalled. “I couldn’t even make a meal for myself, and I was certainly in no fit state to make appointments to be anywhere. I’d had a major medicine change, and I couldn’t manage it.” Continue reading... The Guardian

Jeremy Hunt: Women make better leaders

Jeremy Hunt: Women make better leaders Health officials call for more "oestrogen to dilute the testosterone" in NHS boardrooms as Health Secretary says women make better leaders than men. The Daily Telegraph

Forty-six people have died in Northamptonshire while waiting for organ transplant, campaign reveals

Forty-six people have died in Northamptonshire while waiting for organ transplant, campaign reveals Seventy-one people in Northamptonshire are on the waiting list for an organ transplant, it has been revealed as the annual organ donor Christmas List campaign is launched. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

To FT or not to FT: that is the question. Or is it?

To FT or not to FT: that is the question. Or is it? What is the role of foundation trusts really an ever changing system? Emma Spencelayh takes a look at the issue, including the controversial decision to prohibit the proposed merger of Poole Hospital NHS and the Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts. The Health Foundation

Contracting for integrated care – what happens once the ink is dry?

Contracting for integrated care – what happens once the ink is dry? A few weeks ago, in our publication Commissioning and contracting for integrated care we described a number of alternative contracting models currently being implemented that encourage and allow providers to work together, within a single budget and/or to an agreed set of outcomes.

In the discussions I had producing this report and afterwards, there was a lot of interest in these contracting models among commissioners, providers and policy-makers. At a national level, theNHS five year forward view clearly describes several different provider models. New integrated provider models are being defined and rolled out, and contracting tools are seen as the vehicle to make these models happen. However, the contract is often seen as an end in itself rather than a tool for encouraging new ways of working.

Hospital referral to community pharmacy

Hospital referral to community pharmacy A toolkit, endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians, providing practical advice on how to set up an electronic referral system from hospitals to community pharmacies to improve patient safety at the point of discharge. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Doubts over killer nurse conviction

Doubts over killer nurse conviction A nurse who was convicted of being a serial killer could be the victim of a miscarriage of justice. BBC News

Exclusive: GP practices forced to limit services to control workload

Exclusive: GP practices forced to limit services to control workload Two thirds of GP partners and practice managers say their surgery has opted out of part of the QOF or enhanced services because of workload pressure, a GP magazine poll reveals. GP Online

Poor diabetes foot checks increasing risk of amputation

Poor diabetes foot checks increasing risk of amputation Almost a third of patients not informed about their risk of foot problems at annual foot check. OnMedica

Training elderly in social media improves well-being and combats isolation

Training elderly in social media improves well-being and combats isolation Elderly particularly enjoy Skype contact with friends and family. OnMedica

Instead of writing policy and procedure, we in the NHS should learn to listen

Instead of writing policy and procedure, we in the NHS should learn to listen Many of today’s staff know their discipline well but few have been taught how to listen to patients and colleagues. Continue reading... The Guardian

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and a 'creative' use of statistics

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and a 'creative' use of statistics Jeremy Hunt says new information technology will save the NHS billions and that under the Coalition 17,000 more people are surviving cancer. Is he right? The Daily Telegraph

News: CQC to check services at local NHS Trust next year

News: CQC to check services at local NHS Trust next year The CQC, which regulates all health care providers, will be visiting Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) in February next year. NHFT News

Flesh-eating bug delay caused death

Flesh-eating bug delay caused death A grandmother who died after contracting a flesh-eating bug could have been saved if hospital staff had been quicker to diagnose and treat her, a judge rules. BBC Northamptonshire

See also:

• Gran from Northampton would have survived flesh-eating bug with better hospital care, judge rules Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Low nursing staff on 40% of Northampton General Hospital wards

Low nursing staff on 40% of Northampton General Hospital wards Numbers of nurses on more than four out 10 wards at Northampton General Hospital are at concerning levels , its director of nursing has said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A&E figures begin to exceed targets at Northampton General Hospital

A&E figures begin to exceed targets at Northampton General Hospital Doctors and nurses at NGH have managed several perfect records of dealing with every A&E patient within four hours, as emergency department performance improves. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Leadership vacancies in the NHS: what can be done about them?

Leadership vacancies in the NHS: what can be done about them? There is a growing awareness that NHS provider organisations are experiencing a high number of vacancies at senior levels, are reliant on interims and are experiencing a greater ‘churn’ of senior leaders. This situation could have a negative impact on staff morale and engagement, on costs and on performance. The King’s Fund, in collaboration with the HSJ Future of NHS Leadership Inquiry, undertook a freedom of information request to obtain an accurate picture of board-level vacancies, supplementing the data gathered with in-depth interviews and a literature review. This report details the level of vacancies and their impact and suggests reasons for this. The King's Fund

• Report
• The King's Fund - blogs
• The King's Fund - press release

Safer Clinical Systems: evaluation findings

Safer Clinical Systems: evaluation findings Safer Clinical Systems is an approach for improving safe and reliable health care. It is based on principles adapted from high-reliability organisations, established risk management techniques from hazardous industries, and quality improvement methods. The Safer Clinical Systems approach was tested and developed over two phases. This report looks at the theory, summarises the evaluation of the approach and makes various recommendations regarding refinement and development of the approach. It also summarises two case studies where the approach has been used. The Health Foundation

Policy paper: Better Care Fund: how it will work in 2015 to 2016

Policy paper: Better Care Fund: how it will work in 2015 to 2016 This document sets out the agreed way in which the Better Care Fund will be implemented in 2015 to 2016. It covers such issues as:

• the legal and financial basis of the fund
• conditions of access to the fund
• the assurance and approval process
• payment for performance metrics

The document needs to be read alongside the NHS Mandate. Department of Health

News story: Monitor to start using new standards to bring mental health more in line with other services

News story: Monitor to start using new standards to bring mental health more in line with other services
The set of criteria the health sector regulator uses to assess trusts - the Risk Assessment Framework (RAF) - will include these extra mental health targets, and views are being sought in a consultation published today on when these changes should be brought in.

If trusts materially or consistently fail these targets for three quarters in a year, Monitor will treat it as a possible indication of wider problems with how a trust is being run, and will consider whether the trust may be in breach of its licence. This could lead to an investigation or further action, in the same way as if patients are consistently waiting too long in A&E.

The move follows the government’s introduction of new waiting time standards for talking therapy treatment, which is used for problems including depression, and for initial treatment of psychosis. Foundation trusts will be required to report whether they meet these standards on a quarterly basis.

Stephen Hay, Monitor’s Managing Director of Provider Regulation said:

Tackling mental health problems can be extremely time-sensitive. We know for example that early treatment of psychosis can dramatically improve chances of recovery.

These important changes to the way we regulate foundation trusts build on our work to bring mental health standards more in line with the way we regulate other services.

Monitor is also consulting on adding indicators to help regulate trusts which provide high secure services for mental health, as they are now able to apply for foundation trust status following a change in the law last year. The consultation will close in mid-February next year and the updated RAF will come into force in April. Monitor

Variation in compulsory psychiatric inpatient admission in England: a cross-sectional, multilevel analysis

Variation in compulsory psychiatric inpatient admission in England: a cross-sectional, multilevel analysis The objective of this study was to quantify and model variances in the rate of compulsory admission in England at different spatial levels and to assess the extent to which this was explained by characteristics of people and places. National Institute for Health Research

• Full report
• Summary report

Staff satisfaction and organisational performance: evidence from a longitudinal secondary analysis of the NHS staff survey and outcome data

Staff satisfaction and organisational performance: evidence from a longitudinal secondary analysis of the NHS staff survey and outcome data This study tested the later stages of a well-established human resource management model, testing whether or not there was evidence of causal links between staff experience and intermediate (staff) and final (patient and organisational) outcomes, and whether or not these differed in parts of the NHS. It found that, in general, the pattern was that better staff experiences are associated with better outcomes for employees and patients. National Institute for Health Research

• Full report 
• Summary report

Why are hospitals under so much pressure?

Why are hospitals under so much pressure? You need look no further than Salford Royal Hospital to realise the point the NHS has got to.

The trust is generally regarded as one of the best - if not the best - in the UK. It outperforms its counterparts on a whole host of measures from patient satisfaction to waiting times.

But last week it missed the four-hour A&E waiting time target - dipping below the 95% standard by the narrowest of margins. This is not a quirk. It's been dragged down along with the rest of the hospital sector. BBC News

See also:

• Explaining variation in emergency admissions: a mixed-methods study of emergency and urgent care systems National Institute for Health Research
• A&E and ambulances 'close to limit' BBC News

Memory gaps in educated 'stroke warning sign'

Memory gaps in educated 'stroke warning sign' “People with memory problems who have a university education could be at greater risk of a stroke,” BBC News reports. The hypothesis is that the gaps in memory could be the result of reduced blood flow to the brain, which may then trigger a stroke at some point in the future.

Researchers documented memory complaints and occurrences of stroke in a group of 9,152 adults aged over 55 living in the Netherlands, for an average of 12.2 years.

This showed that replying “yes” to the question “Do you have any memory complaints” was associated with a 20% higher risk of stroke overall compared with those saying “no”. This relative risk was higher in people categorised as educated – holding a university degree or higher vocational qualification.

This shouldn’t be interpreted as meaning that having a higher education increases your risk of stroke. The explanation put forward by the experts was that people with a higher education may have higher levels of cognitive awareness, so they may be more likely to be aware of worsening.

‘Quack’s charter’ warning over bill on untested medicines

‘Quack’s charter’ warning over bill on untested medicines Chair of Commons health committee says medical innovations bill would endanger patients and undermine medical research

A bill giving dying patients access to untested medicines is a “quack’s charter” that should not have government support, the chairman of parliament’s health watchdog has said.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, who leads the Commons health committee, said the medical innovations bill proposed by Lord Saatchi would endanger patients and undermine genuine medical research. Continue reading... The Guardian

Controversial NHS patient data sharing pilot scheme may be delayed until 2015

Controversial NHS patient data sharing pilot scheme may be delayed until 2015 Care.data programme further postponed as parliamentary report raises concerns over information security and public consultation

Pilot schemes for the delayed and controversial NHS programme to share data from patients’ medical records might not start until well into the new year, it has emerged.

The launch of the care.data programme was postponed for at least six months in February this year – well past its planned date of April 2014 – and NHS has now said it will not even have completed signing up GP practices for experiments in how it might work until the new year. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Care.data Inquiry  The All Party Parliamentary Group for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and Social Care
• Care.data review due in early 2015 E-Health Insider
• Opt-out system essential for data sharing OnMedica

Dozens of care homes failing the most vulnerable

Dozens of care homes failing the most vulnerable Numerous care and nursing homes are failing the most vulnerable in our society, CQC health watchdog inspections reveal. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Justice for the Elderly: 'Curb cowboys and pay carers properly' The Daily Telegraph
• Care home scandal: 'My father suffered hellish treatment' The Daily Telegraph

Chairman of Corby health group quits

Chairman of Corby health group quits The chairman of the Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the GP-led group that plans and buys health care services for the people of Corby, has stepped down. Northamptonshire Telegraph

GPs plan to create ‘super-practice’ in Corby, Kettering, Rothwell, Desborough and Wellingborough

GPs plan to create ‘super-practice’ in Corby, Kettering, Rothwell, Desborough and Wellingborough Plans to create a ‘super-practice’ by merging four large GP surgeries have been announced. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Compassion, dignity and respect are fundamental aspects of care, not add-ons

Compassion, dignity and respect are fundamental aspects of care, not add-ons We know that there are many ways to measure patient experience, but do we really hear about the nature and quality of each interaction as perceived by the patient or carer, or does that remain hidden? asks Jane Jones. The Health Foundation

Policy paper: NHS Mandate 2015 to 2016

Policy paper: NHS Mandate 2015 to 2016 The NHS mandate for 2015 to 2016 carries forward all existing objectives from the mandate for 2014 to 2015. There are 2 important updates to existing objectives where we expect NHS England to make further progress:

• to join up health and social care services through the Better Care Fund
• to introduce access and waiting time standards in important areas of mental health services by March 2016, as part of its wider objective to work towards parity of esteem between mental and physical health.

Guidance: Public health commissioning in the NHS 2015 to 2016

Guidance: Public health commissioning in the NHS 2015 to 2016 The ‘NHS public health functions agreement’ sets out the arrangements under which the Secretary of State delegates responsibility to NHS England for certain public health services (known as Section 7A services). It aims to:

• improve public health outcomes and reduce health inequalities
• contribute to a more sustainable public health, health and care system

The service specifications provide details of the public health evidence and advice needed to support effective commissioning. Public Health England

Boys' self-harm A&E visits 'rising'

Boys' self-harm A&E visits 'rising' The number of young boys admitted into accident and emergency units in England for self-harm is at a five-year high, new figures show. BBC News

Hospitals ‘face mounting pressures’

Hospitals ‘face mounting pressures’ Hospitals across the UK are facing mounting pressures as winter hits, health leaders are warning, as demand rises due to seasonal illnesses. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Winter Project (weekly A&E tracker) BBC News

Ebola vaccine trial 'interrupted'

Ebola vaccine trial 'interrupted' The clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine in Switzerland has been interrupted after some patients complained of joint pains in their hands and feet. BBC News

Advertising can change public behaviour towards the NHS

Advertising can change public behaviour towards the NHS Advertising public health messages could save billions. Health Service Journal

Almost half of all adults take prescription drugs

Almost half of all adults take prescription drugs “Half of women and 43% of men in England are now regularly taking prescription drugs,” BBC News reports. The figures have come to light as part of a new survey into drug prescribing patterns.

According to the survey (The Health Survey for England 2013), commonly prescribed medications included:

• cholesterol-lowering statins
• medications used to treat high blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors
• painkillers, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such asdiclofenac (non-prescription NSAIDs such as ibuprofen were not included in the survey)

There was also media controversy over the number of antidepressants being prescribed – particularly for women on a low income. Nearly one in five women from economically deprived areas were taking antidepressants.

The Health Survey for England 2013 also monitored other trends in the nation’s health, including people’s weight, smoking habits, fruit and vegetable consumption, and shift work.

Devon drops plan to ban smokers and the obese from routine operations

Devon drops plan to ban smokers and the obese from routine operations Health bosses previously said that due to cuts patients would need body mass index below 35, while smokers would have to quit

Health bosses in Devon have abandoned plans to ban smokers or the morbidly obese from undergoing routine operations until they quit the habit or lose weight.

The Northern, Eastern and Western Devon clinical commissioning group had previously said that due to temporary cost-cutting measures, patients would be expected to have a body mass index below 35, while smokers would have to quit eight weeks before surgery. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• U-turn over obese surgery bar plan BBC News

What impact do regulators have on the NHS?

What impact do regulators have on the NHS? Regulation has its place, but a narrow focus on organisations is the wrong approach.

There are two narratives in the NHS inspired by the central bodies; one is a story of opportunities and possibilities, the other is finding someone to blame. While the regulatory beatings are continuing, there are signs the positive approach is gaining ground.

In recent days the Care Quality Commission has been choking on its own bile. First it had to admit that it had wrongly categorised 60 GP practices as high risk in ratings it had published for surgeries across England, after a BBC investigation uncovered flaws in its methodology and a failure to test the data properly. Continue reading...  The Guardian

The science of why magazines are always out of date in GPs waiting rooms

The science of why magazines are always out of date in GPs waiting rooms Doctors surgeries are not supplying old magazines in waiting rooms, they just can't keep hold of new ones, research suggests. The Daily Telegraph

What does the Autumn Statement mean for health and social care?

What does the Autumn Statement mean for health and social care? As the dust settles on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, this is a good time to review what it told us. This blog reviews the three big messages: one on money, one on reform, and one on social care. The King's Fund

Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations

Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations The first report from the UK Review on Antimicrobial Resistance explains why failing to tackle drug-resistant infections will cause 10 million deaths a year and cost up to US$ 100 trillion a year by 2050.

See also:

• Policy paper: Progress report on the UK Five Year AMR strategy: 2014 Department of Health
• New report shows stark effect of antibiotic resistance Public Health England
• Superbugs to kill 'more than cancer' BBC News
• Drug-resistant infections to lead to 10 million extra deaths a year – report The Guardian
• 'Millions will die' without new antibiotics The Independent

2015/16 vaccination and immunisation programmes

2015/16 vaccination and immunisation programmes National arrangements for the delivery of vaccination and immunisation (V&I) programmes by general practices in England. NHS Employers

Now more than ever: why pharmacy needs to act

Now more than ever: why pharmacy needs to act This report argues that leadership divisions and fragmented funding arrangements mean that pharmacists could miss out on new plans giving them the chance to treat patients more directly unless the profession can make a coherent case for change. The Nuffield Trust

Mental health job scheme 'damaging'

Mental health job scheme 'damaging' Unemployed people with mental health problems should be moved from welfare-to-work schemes to specialist programmes, according to the charity Mind. BBC News

NHS 'in trouble' without migrants

NHS 'in trouble' without migrants The NHS would be "in dire straits" without migrant workers, one of the UK's senior economists Stephen Nickell tells MPs. BBC News

GMC to raise doctors' fees 8% from April 2015

GMC to raise doctors' fees 8% from April 2015 The annual GMC fee paid by doctors with a license to practise will rise by £30 from April next year, the regulator has announced. GP Online

GPs blamed unfairly for delays in cancer diagnosis

GPs blamed unfairly for delays in cancer diagnosis Delays are more likely to be due to non-specific presenting symptoms rather than poor GP care, an analysis suggests. OnMedica

Nick Clegg: £3bn extra NHS funds will prevent treatment 'rationing' - video

Nick Clegg: £3bn extra NHS funds will prevent treatment 'rationing' - video Labour's Ben Bradshaw challenges the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, over NHS cuts during PMQs on Wednesday. Bradshaw says government cutbacks mean the NHS in Devon would not operate on Eric Pickles as he is too big, nor Nick Clegg as he is a former smoker. Clegg responds by saying that more funds will be made available. Continue reading... The Guardian

How Britain compares with the rest of the world in terms of breastfeeding

How Britain compares with the rest of the world in terms of breastfeeding If breastfeeding can cut cancer, why don't more British women do it. The Daily Telegraph

Creating Connections: An Early Look at the Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care in Accountable Care Organizations

Creating Connections: An Early Look at the Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care in Accountable Care Organizations Individuals with mental illness are among the highest need, costliest patients in the U.S. health care system, yet they receive inadequate behavioral health care. Researchers have proposed various models that integrate behavioral health with primary care in order to improve care and outcomes. This report showcases integration approaches at two accountable care organizations. The Commonwealth Fund

Budget cuts of £148 million will result in Northamptonshire County Council ‘outsourcing’ 95 per cent of staff

Budget cuts of £148 million will result in Northamptonshire County Council ‘outsourcing’ 95 per cent of staff

The most dramatic changes to public services for 125 years will see Northamptonshire County Council reduce its workforce from 4,000 to 150 people in a bid to carve £148 million out of its budget within the next five years. Northampton Chronicle

New complaints over NHS ombudsman

New complaints over NHS ombudsman

More than 140 families voice fresh concerns about how the NHS ombudsman in England handles patients' complaints, week after a report raised the alarm. BBC News

Firms awarded third of NHS contracts

Firms awarded third of NHS contracts

A third of NHS contracts in England have been awarded to private sector providers since the Health and Social Care Act came into force, an investigation has found. BBC News

NHS bill for management advisers doubles to £640m

NHS bill for management advisers doubles to £640m


Labour claims management consultants have had ‘a field day’ due to the coalition’s radical restructuring of the NHS

NHS spending on management consultants who charge up to £4,000 a day has soared to £640m a year under the coalition, despite ministerial pledges to reduce the pay out, official figures reveal.

The amount hospitals and other NHS organisations spend on external advice has more than doubled, from £313m in 2010, the Department of Health said. Guardian

Continue reading...

• Management consultants go from one £4k-a-day NHS job to another  Daily Mail
• 
  

WHO: Ebola 'running ahead of us'

WHO: Ebola 'running ahead of us'

The Ebola virus that has killed thousands in West Africa is still “running ahead” of efforts to contain it, says the World Health Organization head. BBC News

Locum doctors prop up A&E services

Locum doctors prop up A&E services

Almost one in four A&E departments in hospitals in England fill more than 25% of their senior staff vacancies with agency doctors or locums. BBC News

21% of patients in England can now access their medical record online

21% of patients in England can now access their medical record online


The number of patients able to book their appointments and request repeat prescriptions has also jumped to 91% and 88% respectively.

NHS England’s Patient Online programme team has been working closely with practices across England to ensure they have the support they need to confidently offer these online services.

As well as a national network of implementation and clinical support services, practices continue to use the recently published the Patient Online Support and Resources Guide. This guide includes guidance and practice tools developed by the Royal College of GPs, as well as materials for patients, frequently asked questions, regional and local support arrangements and much more.   NHS Networks

Smokefree January 2015

Smokefree January 2015


Smokers will be able to pick up the new and improved NHS “quit cards” from their local pharmacy to help them find the right support tool for them.

Pharmacies across England are once more invited to work in partnership with PHE to distribute the quit cards to smokers. More .....

NHS Networks

Meeting the dementia challenge of an ageing population – Dr Richard Sweeney

Meeting the dementia challenge of an ageing population – Dr Richard Sweeney

Harrogate and Rural District CCG is small, with a population of just under 160,000, but it is challenged by a relatively elderly population and has twice the national average of Elderly Care Home beds.

The result is an estimated prevalence of dementia of 1.7 per cent of the population compared with a national average of 1.3 per cent. Our estimated dementia diagnosis rate in September 2014 was 63.6 per cent and steadily increasing, though this figure has been reduced to 57.5 per cent after a reweighting of estimated prevalence based on our Care Home beds.

Projects have been completed over the last three years to improve the detection, diagnosis and aftercare of people with dementia through a Dementia Collaborative between the CCG, our mental health provider Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, our local hospital Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust and North Yorkshire County Council, working with the third Sector, patients and carers and using lean management Rapid Improvement Process Workshops focussed on different parts of the pathway.

Simple blood test could detect breast cancer long before symptoms appear - and spell the end of the mammogram

Simple blood test could detect breast cancer long before symptoms appear - and spell the end of the mammogram 

Oxford University scientists have developed a test which detects high levels of 'heavy' zinc in the blood. This is a marker for cancer as this type of metal is expelled by cancerous cells in the breast. Daily Mail

'Significant' reduction in maternal death rates

'Significant' reduction in maternal death rates

“Nearly one in ten pregnant deaths caused by flu,” The Daily Telegraph reports. A review into maternal deaths, which thankfully remain rare, found that conditions such as the flu and sepsis account for many of the deaths. Maternal deaths are deaths in women that occur during their pregnancy or within six weeks after the end of their pregnancy.

Other headlines prompted by the review included the Mail Online’s “Half of deaths in pregnancy are 'avoidable'”, pointing out that mental health and heart problems take a “heavy toll”.

BBC News took a more positive approach, pointing out that “Maternal death rates 'are falling'”. Maternal death rates dropped from 11 per every 100,000 women giving birth during the 2006-08 period to 10 per every 100,000 women during the 2010-12 period.

Bed-block hospital funds private care

Bed-block hospital funds private care A hospital funds beds in private residential care homes to relieve pressure on its surgical wards. BBC Northamptonshire

Care home boss sentenced for neglect

Care home boss sentenced for neglect A care home manager who neglected an 87-year-old who was virtually confined to bed for months by staff shortages is given a suspended sentence. BBC Northamptonshire

Watchdog finds low staffing levels at St Andrew’s in Northampton ‘putting patient safety at risk’

Watchdog finds low staffing levels at St Andrew’s in Northampton ‘putting patient safety at risk’ Patients at a mental health care facility in Northampton have told representatives from Healthwatch Northamptonshire that low staffing levels are putting their safety at risk. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• St Andrews Healthcare Northampton Full Report Healthwatch Northamptonshire

Health Bus comes to Northampton to give advice on winter illnesses

Health Bus comes to Northampton to give advice on winter illnesses An NHS ‘Health Bus’ will be coming to Northampton to help people tackle winter ailments as the weather turns colder and wetter. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

On the brink of SoMething special?

On the brink of SoMething special? This report is the result of a nine-month analysis which examined a range of NHS organisations, including foundation trusts, trusts, community healthcare trusts, ambulance trusts and clinical commissioning groups to understand the patterns of social media use by different levels in the organisations. NHS Providers

Maternal death rates 'are falling'

Maternal death rates 'are falling' The proportion of women who die during pregnancy, and in the weeks afterwards, has fallen in the UK, figures show. BBC News

Interesting NHS data no-one is looking at

Interesting NHS data no-one is looking at Chris Cooks reflects on the NHS data no-one appears to be viewing. BBC News

GPs in UK Ebola team hail 'first-class training'

GPs in UK Ebola team hail 'first-class training' Two GPs treating Ebola victims in west Africa have backed the high quality of training they received and spoken of their determination to help bring the epidemic under control. GP Online

Scheme to get people with mental health problems into work extended across East Midlands

Scheme to get people with mental health problems into work extended across East Midlands A scheme to get people with mental health problems into paid employment is being extended across the whole of the East Midlands. ITV News

Let’s leave NHS-speak in the boardroom

Let’s leave NHS-speak in the boardroom If we seek more patient and public engagement, we need a conversation free from jargon and opaque abbreviations . Continue reading... The Guardian

Nearly one in ten pregnant deaths caused by flu

Nearly one in ten pregnant deaths caused by flu Less than half of pregnant women eligible for a free flu vaccine have taken it up so far this year, according to new figures. The Daily Telegraph

See also

• Half of deaths in pregnancy are 'avoidable' The Daily Mail

Northampton family sue hospitals for £500,000 after surgery death

Northampton family sue hospitals for £500,000 after surgery death The family of a Northampton mum who died when a 
surgeon drilled into her brain are suing two hospitals for £500,000 in damages. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Complaints matter

Complaints matter Complaints matter in health and social care. For too long they have not been taken seriously enough. And too often complaints are met with a defensive culture instead of a willingness to listen and learn. This report describes how complaints and concerns fit into our new regulatory model and presents early findings on the state of complaints handling. Care Quality Comission

See also:

• 'Take care complaints seriously' BBC News

Hospital complaints handling

Hospital complaints handling This chart contains data from Freedom of Information requests into hospital complaints handling procedures. It shows that more than a third of hospitals across England are turning away concerned citizens wishing to report incidents of poor care that they have witnessed. Of 123 respondants, only 30 trusts reported having investigated patient complaints and were able to provide details of how many cases they have had over the last three years. Healthwatch England

• FOI data
• Press release

See also:

• One in three hospitals do nothing when visitors complain The Daily Telegraph

Examining new options and opportunities for providers of NHS care: the Dalton review

Examining new options and opportunities for providers of NHS care: the Dalton review This report is the result of an independent review which looked at the challenges faced by providers of NHS care by examining organisational models to identify key markers and characteristics in order to improve quality of hospital care. It highlights five important themes which include the need for quicker transactional and transformational change; the need for sustainability within the provider sector; and that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. Department of Health

• Report
• Summary

Life-saving lone worker protection

Life-saving lone worker protection The National Health Executive talked to Tony Gray, head of safety and patient experience and LSMS at the trust to get his views on lone-worker protection.

Staff working for specialist mental health and learning disability trusts are among those facing the highest risks of violence or aggression within the NHS, and trusts must plan carefully to reduce these risks and keep staff safe. More ....

Disabled man 'put up for auction'

Disabled man 'put up for auction' The family of a man with a learning disability say they are horrified that their local council put him "up for auction" on a care website. BBC News

CQC U-turn on practice risk scores after GP fury

CQC U-turn on practice risk scores after GP fury The CQC has performed a dramatic U-turn on its practice risk rating system that led to 1,200 GP practices in England being labelled as 'failing' in national media. GP Online

See also:

• Apology for wrong GP risk data BBC News
• Flawed CQC risk ratings must be scrapped, says GPC GP Online
• NHS watchdog apologises for mistakes in assessing GPs’ performance The Guardian

MPs angry over delay in law on plain packs for cigarettes

MPs angry over delay in law on plain packs for cigarettes Failure to push through law in time for general election would be seen as ‘victory’ for big tobacco and lobbyists

The government is under fire from politicians on all sides amid fears that legislation forcing tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in plain packs will not be introduced before the general election.

MPs from all three main parties, including the Tory chair of the health select committee, have warned time is running out to introduce a law that would see cigarettes sold in unbranded packs, a measure experts claim would deter young people from smoking. Continue reading... The Guardian

Soaring NHS legal costs will eat up George Osborne's £2bn cash injection

Soaring NHS legal costs will eat up George Osborne's £2bn cash injection A £3 billion rise in litigation costs could wipe out extra money promised to NHS in Autumn Statement. The Daily Telegraph

Age bias means elderly less than half as likely as young to have cancer surgery

Age bias means elderly less than half as likely as young to have cancer surgery A damning report warns of 'worrying' discrimination against the elderly, with young cancer sufferers more than twice as likely to end up having surgery. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Older cancer patients missing out on surgery Cancer Research UK
• Major resections by cancer site, in England; 2006 to 2010 National Cancer Intelligence Network

Labour warns of skills gap after exodus of senior nurses from NHS

Labour warns of skills gap after exodus of senior nurses from NHS The NHS in England has lost more than a thousand matrons and 3,400 other senior nurses over the past four years, new figures have shown, leading to warnings that hospitals may be lacking “vital experience and knowledge” needed to cope with unprecedented levels of demand. The Independent

See also:

• NHS Christmas crisis: Hospitals face turning patients away after 1800 nurses quit in 2 months The Daily Mirror

Claims of bullying culture among staff at Britain's biggest NHS mental health trust

Claims of bullying culture among staff at Britain's biggest NHS mental health trust The UK's biggest mental health NHS trust, which covers Broadmoor Hospital and units looking after the most vulnerable female patients, is in turmoil following widespread allegations of bullying, a critical Care Quality Commission inspection report and the sudden resignation of its chairman. The Independent