"Gay cure" therapies are still available on the NHS and need to be banned, says Tory MP Mike Freer

"Gay cure" therapies are still available on the NHS and need to be banned, says Tory MP Mike Freer The Government should introduce regulation to ban so-called “gay cure therapies” that purport to be able to change someone’s sexual orientation, an MP has said. The Independent

Guidance for commissioners of mental health services

Guidance for commissioners of mental health services This guide supports commissioners, local health authorities and providers to think broadly, but practically, about building sustainable, resilient communities that have the potential, over time, to reduce mental ill health. Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health

How do we develop a person-centred, community-centred workforce, to support people with long-term conditions?

How do we develop a person-centred, community-centred workforce, to support people with long-term conditions? This discussion paper from the Coalition for Collaborative Care looks at a key element: the people who are part of the health and social care workforce. Planning, developing and supporting an integrated workforce that routinely works in a person-centred, community-centred way is a complex and multi-faceted challenge. To make it easier to understand and respond to, we've broken it down into four areas:

• Mind-set challenges for person and community-centred care
• The specific knowledge and skills that are needed
• The importance of supportive working environments
• Capacity and roles: workforce planning.

How sharp are we on safety? An assessment of safer sharps adoption in UK hospitals

How sharp are we on safety? An assessment of safer sharps adoption in UK hospitals This report finds that not all NHS trusts are not complying with ‘safer sharps’ rules and, as a result, are continuing to put NHS employees at risk of needle stick injuries and possible blood-borne infections such as hepatitis and HIV. MindMetre

Top names support mental health equality

Top names support mental health equality A campaign calling for the government to increase investment in mental health services has been launched.

Over 200 celebrities have backed the push for mental health to be treated as seriously as other illnesses. It was launched by former mental health minister Norman Lamb, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.BBC News

See also:

• What hip ops tell us about mental health care BBC News
• Public figures sign letter seeking equality for mental health The Guardian
• George Osborne urged by MPs and celebrities to end discrimination against people with mental health problems The Independent

How safe are private hospitals?

How safe are private hospitals? Are private hospitals treating NHS patients equipped to deal with emergencies? BBC News

FGM reporting law comes into force

FGM reporting law comes into force Doctors, nurses, midwives and teachers are now legally required to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police. BBC News

See also:

• Guidance: FGM: mandatory reporting in healthcare Department of Health
• Health care professionals required to report FGM to the police The Royal College of Nursing
• VIDEO: New law to try and end FGM in the UK BBC News
• FGM: healthcare professionals have a duty to protect girls The Guardian

GP-led scheme cut hospital admissions 75% among elderly

GP-led scheme cut hospital admissions 75% among elderly A GP-led pilot to tackle dehydration in care homes reduced hospital admissions among residents by 75% and improved patients' physical and psychological health, according to the GP behind the programme. GP Online

Unique NHS service launched to combat long-term fatigue

Unique NHS service launched to combat long-term fatigue The first NHS service for patients who complain of being tired all the time has been launched in Newcastle as new research shows that one Briton in eight is affected by long-term fatigue. The Daily Mail

200,000 cancer patients live in most deprived areas of England – study

200,000 cancer patients live in most deprived areas of England – study Macmillan Cancer Support says too many people left vulnerable to financial burden of disease, with figures highlighting folly of government’s welfare plans

About 200,000 people with cancer are living in the most deprived areas of England, leaving them vulnerable to the financial burden of the disease, a study has found.

Macmillan Cancer Support, which carried out the analysis jointly with Public Health England’s Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), says that with four in five patients facing an average cost of £570 a month as a result of their disease, the findings are extremely worrying. Continue reading... The Guardian

Foreigners may be charged for A&E treatment under new proposals

Foreigners may be charged for A&E treatment under new proposals Jeremy Hunt considering move to withhold non-urgent NHS treatment for those from outside European Economic Area until payment is made

Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is considering whether to charge foreigners for using ambulances and visiting A&E in a move that could further escalate tensions with the medical profession. In a bid to raise money, Hunt is expected to announce a consultation within the next month on whether the NHS should charge patients from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) for emergency treatment.

While no one would be denied urgent care, hospitals would be allowed to withhold treatment for non-urgent medical problems until a payment was made. Patients from inside the EEA would have to present their European Health Insurance card to receive treatment, and their government would be sent a bill. Under the proposals, there would be certain exemptions on charging up front, such as for women in labour, while asylum seekers would be excluded from the system altogether. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Non-EEA patients face A&E charges BBC News

A&E faces worst winter ever, top doctor warns

A&E faces worst winter ever, top doctor warns Bed shortages and cancelled operations loom in NHS emergency

Record numbers of patients will be stuck on trolleys in corridors or the back of ambulances this winter as hospitals run out of beds because of soaring demand and limited funding, the country’s leading A&E doctor has warned.

Hospitals will have to put more patients on trolleys, cancel more operations than ever before and turn away new admissions as they fail to meet the four-hour maximum patient waiting A&E target, amid unprecedented bed-blocking caused by fast growing demand, Dr Cliff Mann told The Observer. Continue reading...

How trust made secret 111 plan to hit all-important NHS targets

How trust made secret 111 plan to hit all-important NHS targets The deaths of up to 25 patients have come under investigation, after whistleblower reveals extent of policy that delayed help for seriously ill patients. The Daily Telegraph

Middle-aged male suicide rate rises by 40 per cent since 2008

Middle-aged male suicide rate rises by 40 per cent since 2008 A new report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggests that unemployment, financial problems and unattainable masculine ideals may be responsible for the increase. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Four in ten men aged 18 to 45 have thought about suicide The Daily Mail

RIP IVF? NHS cuts to fertility treatment ‘will deny thousands parenthood’

RIP IVF? NHS cuts to fertility treatment ‘will deny thousands parenthood’ Exclusive: Some areas that once offered couples three cycles of IVF may soon provide none. The Independent

See also:

• Women denied IVF as 80 per cent of NHS trusts ration fertility treatment The Daily Telegraph

NHS: Stress affecting one in three junior doctors, according to British Medical Association

NHS: Stress affecting one in three junior doctors, according to British Medical Association The BMA say the job of a junior doctor is becoming 'un-doable'. The Independent

Council debate on making East Northants a healthier and more active place to live

Council debate on making East Northants a healthier and more active place to live Healthy and active lifestyles were the key subjects at a recent issues debate held by East Northamptonshire Council. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Watchdog wants public’s view on East Midlands Ambulance Service

Watchdog wants public’s view on East Midlands Ambulance Service A health watchdog in Northamptonshire wants to know what people think of the East Midlands Ambulance Service. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Open consultation: Setting the mandate to NHS England for 2016 to 2017

Open consultation: Setting the mandate to NHS England for 2016 to 2017 The mandate to NHS England sets the government’s objectives for NHS England, as well as its budget. In doing so, the mandate sets direction for the NHS, and helps ensure the NHS is accountable to Parliament and the public.

In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Secretary of State must publish a mandate each year, to ensure that NHS England’s objectives remain up to date.

A new mandate to NHS England is due to be published following the completion of the Spending Review, to take effect from April 2016. This consultation document sets out how the government proposes to set the mandate to NHS England for this Parliament. The final mandate will be subject to the outcome of the government’s Spending Review. Department of Health

New tool helps NHS staff to identify trafficking victims

New tool helps NHS staff to identify trafficking victims Recent research has highlighted that many victims of human trafficking come into contact with NHS services during the time they are trafficked, or after their escape. In response to this, the Department of Health has launched an updated tool to help NHS staff identify and care for trafficked people and refer them for further support.

The Provider Responses, Treatment and Care for Trafficked People (PROTECT) independent research recently published findings in the BMJ Open showing that up to one in eight NHS professionals reported having contact with a patient they suspected may have been trafficked. The research highlights how important it is that the health system has an understanding of modern slavery and the need for training tools to support health professionals in identifying and providing support for victims. Findings published in the Lancet Psychiatry show that secondary mental health services are caring for trafficked people with a range of diagnoses including: depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.

The Department of Health’s e-learning tool for health service staff on identifying and responding to Modern Slavery sets out situations in which health staff may encounter victims of trafficking, explains the legal situation regarding potential victims’ rights to medical care, and explores ways in which health staff can provide support. NHS England

New framework to support high quality dementia care

New framework to support high quality dementia careA comprehensive new resource to support health and social care staff and educators who work with people living with dementia and their carers has been launched by Health Education England

The Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework sets out the essential skills and knowledge necessary for all staff involved in dementia care and will enable organisations to:

• standardise the interpretation of dementia education and training
• guide the focus and aims of dementia education and training delivery through key learning outcomes
• ensure the educational relevance of dementia training
• improve the quality and consistency of education and training provision.

Follow-up to PHSO report: dying without dignity

Follow-up to PHSO report: dying without dignityThis report aimed to find out why the care failings detailed in Dying without dignity were allowed to happen and has recommended three areas where immediate improvements are needed: culture, behaviour and training; provision of integrated 24/7 palliative and end of life care; and leadership and commissioning. Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

• Report
• Dying without dignity
• 
  

Ovarian cancer drug 'can help with some types of prostate cancer'

Ovarian cancer drug 'can help with some types of prostate cancer'"Ovarian cancer pill 'effective' at treating men with prostate cancer," The Independent reports after a small trial found the drug olaparib slowed tumour growth in men with a certain type ofprostate cancer.

The trial involved 50 men with advanced prostate cancer who had not responded to other treatments. All of them were given olaparib. By the end of the study follow-up, 35 (70%) had died. Men who had a type of genetic mutation affecting DNA repair lived longer than those who did not.

It is hoped the drug could serve as a targeted treatment for this sub-type of prostate cancer in the same way Herceptin is used for breast cancer associated with the HER2 protein.

But one practical drawback of using olaparib in this way is the cost. It's reported a course of the drug costs £4,740 a month. NHS Choices

Learning disability care beds cut

Learning disability care beds cut Hospital beds for people with learning disabilities and autism will be halved in England, the NHS has announced. BBC News

See also:

• Britain's only NHS hospital that specialises in learning disabilities is to close following the Winterbourne View care home abuse scandal The Daily Mail
• Last NHS hospital for people with learning disabilities to close The Daily Telegraph
• Last NHS hospital in England for people with learning disabilities to close The Guardian
• Calderstones Hospital: UK's only learning disability hospital to close after care review ITV News

Thousands face long wait for NHS gender reassignment

Thousands face long wait for NHS gender reassignment Thousands of adults wanting gender reassignment are having to wait at least eight months for an initial appointment.

Many have to wait much longer, something which can force them to seek treatment outside the NHS. ITV News

Demand for routine GP appointments on Sunday 'very low', access pilot review shows

Demand for routine GP appointments on Sunday 'very low', access pilot review shows Demand for routine GP appointments on Sundays is 'very low' in most areas, according to an official review of GP access pilots set up under the £150m prime minister's Challenge Fund. GP Online

NHS orthopaedic hospitals warn of funding crisis due to payment changes

NHS orthopaedic hospitals warn of funding crisis due to payment changes Royal National Orthopaedic hospital says it could face 25% drop in income, with other hospitals fearing impact on patient care

Specialist NHS orthopaedic hospitals in England fear huge drops in funding because of changes to the payments they receive for treating patients.

The Royal National Orthopaedic hospital (RNOH) in Stanmore, north London, has warned that it will lose £15.2m in income during 2016-17 under draft proposals, more than a quarter of what it received last year for inpatients on the tariffs then in force. Continue reading... The Guardian

Call the midwife – again and again until they feel overwhelmed and dizzy

Call the midwife – again and again until they feel overwhelmed and dizzy A community midwife tells of the impossible workload of a typical shift in today’s overstretched, understaffed NHS

The autumn months are the busiest of the year for a midwife in the NHS. Christmas and new year excesses result in a predictable spike in the birth rate around September and the numbers only begin to settle as December approaches.

Today I begin my late autumn shift as a community midwife earlier than usual to sort out the day’s clinics and visits. I start at the hospital, looking through the paperwork of those women who have been discharged in the last 24 hours. Two midwives from my team have phoned in sick and another is on leave. We have six half-day clinics and 29 home visits to newly postnatal mums to cover between the two remaining midwives. Continue reading... The Guardian

Patients with life-threatening conditions can wait twice as long for ambulance because they called 111

Patients with life-threatening conditions can wait twice as long for ambulance because they called 111 Exclusive: The NHS is investigating the decision by an ambulance trust to delay help for patients who suffered potentially lethal conditions. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Press release: Action taken at ambulance trust in south of England Monitor
• Ambulance 'failure' over NHS 111 calls BBC News

Junior doctors who work the longest hours will actually have their pay cut, Jeremy Hunt admits

Junior doctors who work the longest hours will actually have their pay cut, Jeremy Hunt admits The Health Secretary had accused the British Medical Association of scaremongering. The Independent

See also:

• Hunt 'glossing over facts' about pay cuts say junior doctor leaders GP Online
• Jeremy Hunt angers junior doctors by saying some are paid 'danger money' The Guardian

Models of Care for High-Need, High-Cost Patients: An Evidence Synthesis

Models of Care for High-Need, High-Cost Patients: An Evidence Synthesis This brief analysis experts’ reviews of evidence about care models designed to improve outcomes and reduce costs for patients with complex needs. It finds that successful models have several common attributes, but overall, the evidence of impact is modest and few of these models have been widely adopted. The Commonwealth Fund

Raunds woman to keep fighting for Hepatitis C drug after being given contaminated blood

Raunds woman to keep fighting for Hepatitis C drug after being given contaminated blood A woman has vowed to keep fighting after being told she can’t have the drug she wants after contracting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood given to her by the NHS before 1991. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Focus on Survivors: Identifying barriers to accessing support for those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse

Focus on Survivors: Identifying barriers to accessing support for those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse University Campus Suffolk and Suffolk charity Survivors in Transition present findings from important new research, Focus on Survivors. The study is based on a large scale, national questionnaire with adults who were sexually abused as children about their experiences of services.

See also:

• NHS and social services fail child sexual abuse survivors, study reveals  The Guardian

People-centred health systems in the WHO European Region

People-centred health systems in the WHO European Region This publication is a collection of personal stories describing experiences in health systems associated with improved health and well-being. While these examples are not intended to replace technical guidance on how to organize, finance or deliver health and social services, they emphasize people-centred approaches from the perspective of patients and carers. World Health Organization

Health Secretary outlines measures for greater patient power

Health Secretary outlines measures for greater patient power From next year, for the first time, new ‘Ofsted style’ ratings will show patients how their local area’s health service is performing in crucial areas, including:

• cancer
• dementia
• diabetes
• mental health
• learning disabilities
• maternity care

The new ratings, broken down by Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), will not only be based on local data but will also be verified by experts in each field, including:

• the Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Harpal Kumar, who will verify cancer ratings
• the government’s Mental Health Taskforce Chairman Paul Farmer, who will lead on mental health ratings

Initial ratings, based on the current CCG assessments, will be published in June 2016. As part of the government’s transparency agenda, this will both spread best practice and help bring about improvement where services are underperforming. This will create a complete picture of care quality in the NHS. Department of Health

See also:

• RCGP response to Health Secretary’s announcement on a more patient-focussed NHS Royal College of General Practitioners 
• Ofsted-style ratings for cancer and dementia services  The Daily Telegraph
• NHS patient healthcare to be given ‘Ofsted-style’ ratings The Guardian

Evaluation highlights areas for improvement in long term conditions care

Evaluation highlights areas for improvement in long term conditions care Older people living with multiple long term conditions are generally happy with the NHS but often find the health and care system is not set up for their needs.

That is the main finding of an ethnographic evaluation carried out by the Ipsos Ethnography Centre of Excellence (ECE) – part of Ipsos MORI – who were invited to undertake the work by NHS Improving Quality.

The ethnographic evaluation is an in depth approach to understanding people and their behaviours over a period of time.

The key findings include:

• People greatly value the care and support they receive from the NHS and the wider health and care sector, and in the main feel the care they receive is good.
• People are trying hard to manage their long term conditions to the best of their abilities, but often feel the system is not set up to cope with their multiple and complex needs.
• People with more than one long term condition struggle to coordinate them all. They can feel there is no support linking all of their conditions and focusing on them personally and holistically.
• People with long term conditions want to have everyday achievable goals and support that fit realistically within their everyday lives.
• People can feel that they are a burden within their home as well as within the health and care system, which can prevent them seeking the help and support they need.
• Too often, there is an absence of discussion about care and care needs, within the home and within the health care system.

The work has been delivered through NHS Improving Quality’s Long Term Conditions Improvement Programme, which is commissioned by NHS England

See also:

• Navigating Health and Care: Living independently with long term conditions Ipsos MORI

Exercise and therapy 'useful for chronic fatigue syndrome'

Exercise and therapy 'useful for chronic fatigue syndrome' "ME can be beaten by positive thinking and taking more exercise," is the rather simplistic message from the Daily Mail following the results of a long-term study involving 481 people.

The study compared four types of treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a condition where people feel so persistently exhausted they cannot function, also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Researchers found positive results for two types of treatment lasted for at least two years.

A 2011 study comparing four commonly used treatments seemed to show two types of treatment worked better: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a type of talking therapy that aims to help people challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, and graded exercise therapy (GET), where people are helped to gradually increase the amount of exercise they do each day. NHS Choices

Hunt acts on 'time-wasting' referrals

Hunt acts on 'time-wasting' referrals Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announces plans to stop GPs having to rearrange hospital appointments for patients, in a bid to save them time. BBC News

See also:

• Hunt to announce plan to cut GP bureaucracy and free up appointments GP Online

Junior doctors 'will not lose money'

Junior doctors 'will not lose money' No junior doctors working up to the legal limit on working hours will lose money under a proposed new contract, Jeremy Hunt tells MPs. BBC News

EU doctor suspended for 'poor English'

EU doctor suspended for 'poor English' An Italian doctor has been suspended from practising in the UK after failing an English language test, in one of the first cases of its kind. BBC News

Legal ruling forces NHS England U-turn over GP rent appeals

Legal ruling forces NHS England U-turn over GP rent appeals NHS England has been forced to back down over practices' right to appeal changes to notional rent after 'landmark' rulings by the NHS Litigation Authority. GP Online

Doctor will see you – and you too – now

Doctor will see you – and you too – now Can shared doctor appointments improve patient satisfaction while cutting costs? Some hospitals are finding out

Across Britain talented doctors and management teams are doing their best to deliver world class healthcare to more people than ever before. But is it sustainable?

The NHS in England recently announced a £930m deficit in just three months (April-June) – the worst in a generation – and non-urgent care is being hit hard. The pressure is on to cut costs. But the challenge is how to cut without compromising patient care or over-burdening already hardworking medical staff and making healthcare roles unattractive. Continue reading... The Guardian

Selfish anti-abortion protesters must be stopped from hurting British women

Selfish anti-abortion protesters must be stopped from hurting British women A new report has collated the distressing experiences of women who've visited abortion clinics with pro-life protesters outside. Abigail Fitzgibbon asks what needs to happen for politicians to take the threat seriously. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Aston study finds presence of anti-abortion activists ‘a significant source of distress' Aston University
• 'I was physically shaking': How it feels to be harassed by anti-abortion activists The Daily Telegraph

Hospital to give free food (discreetly) to starving patients due to malnourishment fears

Hospital to give free food (discreetly) to starving patients due to malnourishment fears Staff at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester noticed that more and more patients were showing signs of the condition. The Independent

See also:

• NHS hospital to offer food parcels to patients at risk of malnutrition The Guardian

National award for Northamptonshire health initiative to save money and waste with prescription drugs

National award for Northamptonshire health initiative to save money and waste with prescription drugs An innovative pilot training initiative which has helped patients in Northamptonshire to make the most of their medicines has picked up a national award. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Where cancer patients live could influence late diagnosis

Where cancer patients live could influence late diagnosis If all the regions of England were as good as the South West at diagnosing cancer early nearly 20,000 more patients over two years could be diagnosed at stage 1 or 2, giving them a better chance of survival. Cancer Research UK

See also:

• RCGP response to CRUK figures on regional variation in cancer diagnosis Royal College of General Practitioners
• Cancer variation 'unacceptable' BBC News
• VIDEO: Thousands of cancer cases 'missed' BBC News
• 10,000 cancer cases are spotted late every year because of postcode lottery The Daily Mail
• Postcode lottery in cancer diagnosis is costing up to 10,000 lives a year The Daily Telegraph
• The worst places in England to have cancer The Independent

Midwifery faces ‘time bomb’, says report

Midwifery faces ‘time bomb’, says report Record numbers of births to older mothers are putting maternity units under intense pressure, says a new Royal College of Midwifery report.

See also:

• State of Maternity Services Report 2015 Royal College of Midwifery
• Britain's older midwives are a ticking timebomb that needs diffusing - fast The Daily Telegraph
• 'Time bomb' as new mothers get older and midwives approach retirement The Guardian

NHS Homeopathy Spending

NHS Homeopathy Spending In their campaigning against the funding of homeopathy on the NHS, Good Thinking have highlighted that the total annual spend is ‘between £3m and £5m per year’. By way of summary:

• In the 2013/14 fiscal year, 14 NHS England CCGs reported that they fund homeopathy, spending around £300,000 in total
• A further 17 CCGs commission via the RLHIM in London, and are unsure as to the level of their funding
• Homeopathic hospitals in Bristol and Glasgow received around £1.6m-£2m in total.

See also:

• The maps that show where the NHS is spending millions on homeopathy The Independent

New nursing framework supports delivery of care closer to home

New nursing framework supports delivery of care closer to home A new education and career framework launched by Health Education England sets out for the first time the specialist knowledge and skills needed to deliver and advance in district nursing and general practice nursing.

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

Latest analysis shows current picture of diseases which were widespread in the Victorian era Latest analysis of hospital admissions for a number of diseases that were widespread during the 19th and early 20th centuries is released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• Malnutrition and other Victorian diseases soaring in Englanddue to food poverty and cuts The Independent

Cheap Alzheimer's drug 'may help keep people out of care homes'

Cheap Alzheimer's drug 'may help keep people out of care homes' Donepezil is usually withdrawn as a treatment for people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease as it had been thought to provide little benefit.

In this study, researchers wanted to see if this was a hasty decision and people should actually continue to take the drug – they carried out a randomised controlled study to look at the issue.

People with moderate to severe Alzheimer's, who were living in the community, were randomly allocated to discontinue or continue taking donepezil, either alone or in combination with another Alzheimer's drug called memantine, or switching to memantine alone.

The main outcome the researchers looked at was whether these people ended up being placed in a nursing home. The results showed discontinuing donepezil roughly doubled the chance of nursing home placements during the first year. There was no significant difference between these groups in the following three years. NHS Choices

Flawed GP data extraction system 'misspent public money'

Flawed GP data extraction system 'misspent public money' A government IT system that collects data from GP practices across England was signed off despite being demonstrably flawed from day one and 'not fit for purpose', MPs heard on Monday. GP Online

New NHS screening for Down's expected soon

New NHS screening for Down's expected soon DNA test will improve performance in screening and reduce miscarriages. OnMedica

Anthrax: First case of disease since 2006 found in Wiltshire cow

Anthrax: First case of disease since 2006 found in Wiltshire cow Public Health England said it is the first case of the deadly disease to have been found in an animal since 2006. The Independent

Safe staffing in the NHS comes at a cost

Safe staffing in the NHS comes at a cost When the Care Quality Commission suggested in its recent State of Care report that ‘safer, better care does not necessarily cost more’, the inclusion of the word ‘necessarily’ was important. The King's Fund

Mental health annual report 2014/15

Mental health annual report 2014/15 The Health and Social Care Information Centre has published its annual report on secondary mental health and learning disability services.

Patient safety alert – Support to minimise the risk of distress and death from inappropriate doses of naloxone

Patient safety alert – Support to minimise the risk of distress and death from inappropriate doses of naloxone A patient safety alert has been issued by NHS England to support providers of NHS funded care to minimise the risk of distress and death caused by inappropriate doses of naloxone. NHS England

Rise in 'anti-abortion protests'

Rise in 'anti-abortion protests' The rise in US-style anti-abortion protests in England. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: Anti-abortion protests rise in UK BBC News

Breaking even 'would have shut A&E'

Breaking even 'would have shut A&E' A major hospital would have to close its A&E department nine days in every 10 to break even because of the funding formula, a former chief executive says. BBC News

UK/China fund on antimicrobial resistance to launch

UK/China fund on antimicrobial resistance to launch Plan to attract £1 billion investment in research. OnMedica

Having borderline personality disorder helps me in my NHS job

Having borderline personality disorder helps me in my NHS job Some people have said it’s a career death sentence but my lived experience of mental health problems makes me a more compassionate clinician. The Guardian

Should the NHS scrap the four-hour A&E wait time target?

Should the NHS scrap the four-hour A&E wait time target? Some of the incentives in the system have to change in order to secure a sustainable health service

One month before the comprehensive spending review, data from the King’s Fund have revealed the shocking impact of social care cuts on NHS hospitals. The financial distress in trusts can no longer be allowed to crush every other funding demand across the care system.

The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report shows nearly 90% of acute trust finance directors surveyed say social care cuts are affecting the performance of local health services. Continue reading... The Guardian

Processed meat and cancer link: Just two rashers of bacon per day increases risk of bowel cancer, says WHO

Processed meat and cancer link: Just two rashers of bacon per day increases risk of bowel cancer, says WHO World Health Organisation places bacon and ham in the same category as cigarette smoke and formaldehyde. The Independent

See also:

• IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat (press release) World Health Organization
• Q&A on the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat World Health Organization
• Bacon, burgers and sausages 'are as big a cancer threat as cigarettes,' global health chiefs declare The Daily Mail
• Processed meat ranks alongside smoking as major cause of cancer, World Health Organisation says The Daily Telegraph
• Does bacon cause cancer? Key questions about the WHO red meat report The Daily Telegraph
• Bacon and sausages are carcinogenic – but there are 480 things the WHO says may cause cancer The Independent
• Red meat could raise cancer risk, conclude experts OnMedica

TTIP: Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon and Natalie Bennett sign appeal to exempt NHS from trade deal

TTIP: Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon and Natalie Bennett sign appeal to exempt NHS from trade deal The organisers, from Unite, say that they approached the Conservatives asking for support but were refused. The Independent

Health campaigners to lobby south Northamptonshire MP over trade deal which they claim threatens NHS

Health campaigners to lobby south Northamptonshire MP over trade deal which they claim threatens NHS Campaigners in south Northamptonshire are calling for action from their MP over a trade deal that they say threatens the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Two CCGs set to rank GP practices based on A&E attendances

Two CCGs set to rank GP practices based on A&E attendances GP practices across one area of England will be ranked internally based on the number of patients on their list who attend A&E.

NHS Nene CCG and NHS Corby CCG plan to list the top 20 GP practices across Northampton that have the highest number of ‘frequent’ A&E users.

Once identified, the practices will be ‘supported in managing those patients proactively’, board papers revealed. Pulse

Mental Health Act: detentions rise by almost ten per cent on previous year

Mental Health Act: detentions rise by almost ten per cent on previous year Detentions under the Mental Health Act rose by 9.8 per cent (5,220) to 58,4003 in 2014/15 compared to the previous year, according to official statistics published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• Inpatients Formally Detained in Hospitals Under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Patients Subject to Supervised Community Treatment, England - 2014-2015, Annual figures Health and Social Care Information Centre
• Mental health detentions up by 10% BBC News
• England's mental health crisis: Patients sectioned rises by 10% The Daily Mail
• Mental Health Act detentions rise 10% The Guardian
• Rise in mental health detentions shows 'services are struggling' The Guardian
• Mental Health Act Detentions Rise By Nearly 10 Percent, HSCIC Figures Show The Huffington Post UK
• Sharp rise in Mental Health Act detainments shows need for urgent investment National Health Executive
• More people are being detained under the Mental Health Act OnMedica

Community mental health patient experience scores

Community mental health patient experience scores The latest statistical information on patients’ experience of mental health services in the NHS.

This is an update to include results from the 2015 Community Mental Health Survey. NHS England

Hospital trusts productivity in the English NHS: uncovering possible drivers of productivity variations

Hospital trusts productivity in the English NHS: uncovering possible drivers of productivity variations This study looks at how NHS trusts perform in terms of how much they produce given the resources (doctors, nurses, medicines and premises) they use. It finds that on these criteria there is a lot of variation between trusts and that the best and worst performers stay the same over time. It is not possible to explain away the variation in terms of the kinds of patients that are treated. These results suggest that there may be scope for making substantial savings by ensuring that all trusts perform as well as the best ones. Centre for Health Economics

Majority of emergency service staff suffer alcohol fuelled abuse

Majority of emergency service staff suffer alcohol fuelled abuse A new report, Alcohol’s Impact on Emergency Services, reveals the full extent of the toll alcohol takes on emergency services in England.

The report presents an extensive survey of police officers, ambulance and paramedic staff, accident and emergency department consultants and fire officers. It outlines both the financial burden on the emergency services and the human cost to frontline staff. The report also recommends a set of evidence-based policy measures to address this issue. Institute of Alcohol Studies

See also:

• Alcohol's impact on emergency services (full report) Institute of Alcohol Studies
• Alcohol's impact on emergency services (summary) Institute of Alcohol Studies
• Alcohol's impact on emergency services (video) Institute of Alcohol Studies
• A&E paramedics and police spend a quarter of their time dealing with drunks The Daily Mail
• Police call for end to 24-hour licensing over alcohol-related violence The Guardian

Paramedics 'baffled' by legal highs

Paramedics 'baffled' by legal highs The complex chemical make-up of legal highs is leaving ambulance services dangerously uncertain about how to treat casualties, a senior paramedic claims. BBC News

Chancellor urged to scrap health cuts

Chancellor urged to scrap health cuts Medical groups are asking George Osborne to reverse planned cuts to vital health services in England. BBC News

See also:

• Letter to Treasury Public Health Funding Cuts Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
• Health organisations call on Chancellor to reverse public health cuts Royal College of Nursing
• George Osborne broke Government pledge to protect NHS budget, say doctors and council leaders The Independent
• Joint plea to protect public health services OnMedica

GPs demand end to 'scandalous' waste of 14m appointments from repeat hospital referrals

GPs demand end to 'scandalous' waste of 14m appointments from repeat hospital referrals GP leaders are calling on NHS commissioners to stop hospitals dumping unnecessary workload on practices by forcing them to re-refer patients who miss appointments. GP Online

NHS medical director coy on 'weekend effect' of hospital deaths

NHS medical director coy on 'weekend effect' of hospital deaths Prof Sir Bruce Keogh did not confirm Jeremy Hunt’s claim that 11,000 patients die annually due to understaffed hospitals

The NHS’s medical director has distanced himself from Jeremy Hunt’s controversial claim that understaffing of hospitals at weekends causes the death of 11,000 patients a year.

Prof Sir Bruce Keogh has reiterated his view that it is not possible to say for sure how many die avoidably as a result of “the weekend effect”, which he and other experts have found. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS and social care must share a budget, says former health secretary

NHS and social care must share a budget, says former health secretary New NHS Confederation chair Stephen Dorrell says it makes no sense to ringfence health budget while cutting social care.

Health and social care should become one joined-up system with a single budget, former health secretary Stephen Dorrell has said.

Dorrell, who was named this month as chair of the NHS Confederation, said it made “no sense” to ringfence the NHS budget while cutting social care funding. He added: “If we mean what we say about joined-up health and social care, that has to be around one budget and one budget-planning process.” Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Social care is on the cusp of a crisis The Guardian
• Health and social care still live in parallel universes | Stephen Dorrell The Guardian

Patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E rises 10-fold in three years

Patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E rises 10-fold in three years Exclusive: Senior doctors reveal the number of patients waiting on trolleys has surged to an "unacceptable" level. The Daily Telegraph

NHS spends millions on larger equipment for obese people

NHS spends millions on larger equipment for obese people At least £7 million has been spent on adapting equipment and services. The Independent

See also:

• NHS spending millions on larger equipment for obese patients The Guardian

NHS to rank top 20 GP practices in Northamptonshire for sending people to A&E

NHS to rank top 20 GP practices in Northamptonshire for sending people to A&E GP practices in Northamptonshire are to be ranked for numbers of frequent A&E patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Special ambulance for frail Northamptonshire falls victims to be withdrawn by NHS

Special ambulance for frail Northamptonshire falls victims to be withdrawn by NHS A non-emergency ambulance service for frail people who have fallen is to be axed in Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Social care budget cuts damaging the NHS, latest quarterly monitoring report finds

Social care budget cuts damaging the NHS, latest quarterly monitoring report finds This report examines the views of finance directors on the productivity challenge they face, as well as some key NHS performance data to see how the NHS is performing. Cuts in local authority social care budgets are adversely affecting health services, according to nearly 9 out of 10 (88 per cent) of NHS trust finance directors and 8 out of 10 (80 per cent) of clinical commissioning group finance leads surveyed for the report. The King's Fund

See also:

• Are we supporting or sacrificing NHS staff? The King's Fund
• Cutting social care budgets ‘devastating for individuals and puts more pressure on health services’ – RCN responds to King’s Fund quarterly report Royal College of Nursing
• Local authority cuts damaging NHS services, say CCGs GP Online

Report on selected summaries of investigations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: February and March 2015

Report on selected summaries of investigations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman: February and March 2015 A new report has revealed the devastating impact that public service failures can have on individuals and how its investigations have resulted in the organisations putting things right for people.

The report is a snapshot of 192 case summaries of the 1,075 investigations of unresolved complaints the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) completed investigating in February and March 2015.

It includes cases about delayed asylum claims, nursing home patients being wrongly charged thousands of pounds for their nursing home care, delays in diagnosis which meant that one woman was left with unrelenting facial pain for more than a decade, poor end of life care and poor treatment of sepsis, commonly referred to as blood poisoning.

See also:

• It's just lady pains': Are doctors not taking women's agony seriously enough? The Daily Telegraph
• How an NHS hospital missed my broken back The Daily Telegraph
• Woman left in 'unrelenting pain' for 15 years after NHS failed to carry out simple scan The Daily Telegraph

Rapid Diagnostics: stopping unnecessary use of antibiotics

Rapid Diagnostics: stopping unnecessary use of antibiotics provides an overview of how diagnostics can play an important role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, by reducing unnecessary use. It then looks at the problems with low uptake of diagnostics and how increase innovation. Review on Antimicrobial Resistance

See also:

• Rapid tests 'would cut antibiotic use' BBC News
• GPs hand out two thirds of antibiotics in error, Jim O'Neill finds The Daily Mail

Zero hours employment contracts - new guidance for employers

Zero hours employment contracts - new guidance for employers Read the latest government guidance for employers on zero hours employment contracts. NHS Employers

Latest statistics show a drop in sickness absence across the NHS

Latest statistics show a drop in sickness absence across the NHS The latest figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that NHS staff sickness absence has fallen for the first time in a year, from June 2014 where it was 3.95 per cent, to 3.94 per cent in June 2015. NHS Employers

Care pathways: guidance on appraising sustainability

Care pathways: guidance on appraising sustainability New guidance to enable sustainability to be considered when designing new models of care. The suite of documents will allow users to consistently appraise environmental impacts of health care pathways and can also be used when redesigning existing models or investigating the benefits of prevention. Sustainable Development Unit

• Guidance
• Summary
• Healthcare activity modules

First trial to prevent Alzheimer's

First trial to prevent Alzheimer's Most research into dementia is about finding treatments for people who are already affected by symptoms.

But a trial is under way in London which aims to prevent Alzheimer's in people at high risk, before they show any physical signs of the disease. BBC News

See also:

• Virtual reality 'predicts Alzheimer's' BBC News

NHS England backs 50,000-patient 'primary care home' pilots

NHS England backs 50,000-patient 'primary care home' pilots NHS England has endorsed a pilot programme to deliver care for populations of 30,000 to 50,000 patients under the 'primary care home' model championed by the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC). GP Online

League table reveals increase in NHS clinical research

League table reveals increase in NHS clinical research The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network has published its annual league table, revealing an increase in clinical research activity across the NHS in England.

The league table, now in its fifth year, details the number of clinical research studies undertaken by each individual trust, and the number of participants recruited into those studies. Continue reading... The Guardian

Radical action on childhood obesity will require political courage

Radical action on childhood obesity will require political courage PHE’s bold blueprint is a potential game-changer but past experience suggests the government’s response will be inadequate

Public Health England’s blueprint on how to get us all to eat less sugar is an important, detailed and necessarily bold document that could – if ministers act on it – change and extend lives. Having sifted the available international evidence on what works, its authors conclude that only truly radical action will make any real difference to the unfolding health disaster of our time.

Governments claim to want policymaking to be evidence-based. On obesity, and specifically sugar’s contribution to our expanding waistlines, here is the proof. It has been collated by the government’s own experts on public health; not campaigners or academics. As such it should be the roadmap that David Cameron tells the team of ministers and civil servants currently drawing up the government’s promised strategy on childhood obesity to follow. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Sugar reduction: the evidence for action Public Health England
• Sugar tax and offers ban 'would work' BBC News
• It's time for a sugar tax of TWENTY per cent, says official study The Daily Mail
• The Guardian view on obesity: there’s no way to sugar this pill. The UK government must act | Editorial The Guardian
• Public Health England obesity report: the key points The Guardian

Welfare cuts: Cancer patients face losing up to £120 a month in Government support, warns charity

Welfare cuts: Cancer patients face losing up to £120 a month in Government support, warns charity Macmillan's concerns come as George Osborne tells MPs that he is 'comfortable' with controversial tax credit cuts. The Independent

See also:

• At least 120,000 UK cancer patients depend on charity to cope financially in a year Macmillan Cancer Support

Visitors to Northampton General Hospital urged to stay away if family members have ‘flu-like’ symptoms

Visitors to Northampton General Hospital urged to stay away if family members have ‘flu-like’ symptoms Northampton General Hospital is asking anyone planning to visit the hospital to stay away if they or their family members have had diarrhoea, vomiting or ‘flu-like’ symptoms in the last four days. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Building healthier accountable communities

Building healthier accountable communities Over the past few decades England, like other countries, has worked hard to improve the health of its population largely by focusing on health care services – an approach that has not achieved better health for all. At our annual integrated care summit last week we heard from international and national speakers about how they are adopting a more systemic and integrated approach to improving population health. Three important messages emerged from the day. The King's Fund

Prevent, reduce, delay: are councils meeting their new duties to support unpaid carers?

Prevent, reduce, delay: are councils meeting their new duties to support unpaid carers? This research reveals that few councils in England have outlined how they are fulfilling the duties required of them under the Care Act 2014, which came into force this April. Under the Care Act local authorities have a duty to provide services to carers that prevent, reduce or delay them developing a need for support. But just 17 (13 per cent) of the 132 local authorities contacted by Carers Trust stated that they are working to identify carers and, of the 23 councils that mentioned having a prevention strategy in place, few provided details on the support they are providing specifically to help carers. The Carers Trust

Deaths data 'misrepresented by Hunt'

Deaths data 'misrepresented by Hunt' The health secretary has misrepresented a key study used to back the case for more seven-day NHS care, the editor of the British Medical Journal says. BBC News

See also:

• BMJ editor writes to Hunt over misuse of weekend mortality data  The BMJ
• Increased mortality associated with weekend hospital admission: a case for expanded seven day services? The BMJ
• Jeremy Hunt accused of skewing weekend hospital death rates The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt criticised for misrepresenting NHS weekend mortality facts The Independent

Mental health stigma campaign starts

Mental health stigma campaign starts A social media campaign to reduce the stigma around mental health in children has been launched by government. BBC News

Junior doctors to start strike ballot over hated Jeremy Hunt contract

Junior doctors to start strike ballot over hated Jeremy Hunt contract Vote on industrial action in protest at health secretary’s plan will start on Thursday, with strikes likely in December if motion passes

Junior doctors have moved closer to their first strike in decades as they decided to vote on industrial action in protest at Jeremy Hunt’s plan to impose a new contract on them.

The strike ballot will start on Thursday 5 November to see if young medics are prepared to take industrial action to force the health secretary to rethink his plan, which is part of the push for a seven-day NHS service. Continue reading. The Guardian

See also:

• Junior doctors to vote on strike action BBC News
• Junior doctors will vote over proposed strike action early next month: Move follows anger over cuts to pay on Saturdays and evenings  The Daily Mail
• England on brink of mass walkout by doctors, warns GP trainee's letter to MP GP Online

Spending review: the good, the bad and the ugly for the NHS

Spending review: the good, the bad and the ugly for the NHS The health service is getting more money but costs are rising faster and social care services also need help

Within the walls of the Treasury, a mountain of evidence is currently being studied to complete a comprehensive spending review (CSR) by 25 November. This will determine the budgets for each government department between now and 2019/20. To make their job ever-so-slightly easier the Health Foundation, an independent charity, has submitted its evidence highlighting the most critical issues on health and social care. This was necessarily a technical document with extensive use of numbers and supporting evidence. Here is a summary of the most crucial of the critical aspects. Continue reading... The Guardian

Community mental health services 'getting worse' in some areas of England

Community mental health services 'getting worse' in some areas of England Survey of 13,000 people cared for outside hospitals finds that 28% rate their experience 5 or lower on scale of 0-10.

Mental health services outside hospitals in England have shown “no notable improvement” and in some areas are getting worse, a survey of more than 13,000 people treated and cared for in the community has suggested.

Higher proportions than last year of those questioned think they have had a poor experience, that they are not listened to by staff and believe they have not been treated with dignity and respect. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Mental health patients do not always feel they are treated with dignity, CQC report finds The Independent

Doctors fail to co-operate with agency designed to protect public from dangerous criminals

Doctors fail to co-operate with agency designed to protect public from dangerous criminals Independent report shows doctors and other NHS staff failed to show up at meetings, and even refused to help. The Daily Telegraph

Agency nurse attacks Jeremy Hunt for portraying private NHS staff as "greedy scum"

Agency nurse attacks Jeremy Hunt for portraying private NHS staff as "greedy scum" Amy Cope said her salary would not cover the cost of childcare for her two children. The Independent

See also:

• Capping NHS agency fees means punishing nurses like me The Daily Telegraph