Doctors should exercise caution in prescribing Ritalin for ADHD Cochrane researchers criticise quality of evidence supporting use of methylphenidate. OnMedica
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Thursday, 26 November 2015
Chancellor's 3.8bn cash injection for the NHS comes at a price
Chancellor's 3.8bn cash injection for the NHS comes at a price NHS’s burden could ultimately worsen as budget for recruitment, training health professionals and health bodies is cut by 25% under spending review
The chancellor has done a lot to burnish the Conservative party’s standing on the NHS. He has given the health service an extra £3.8bn for 2016-17 – which is most of the additional cash that its boss had been seeking – and earmarked £600m of the money to fund overdue improvements in mental health care, such as for new mothers and those in crisis.
“As [NHS England chief executive] Simon Stevens said, ‘The NHS has been heard and actively supported,’” George Osborne said after the announcement. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The chancellor has done a lot to burnish the Conservative party’s standing on the NHS. He has given the health service an extra £3.8bn for 2016-17 – which is most of the additional cash that its boss had been seeking – and earmarked £600m of the money to fund overdue improvements in mental health care, such as for new mothers and those in crisis.
“As [NHS England chief executive] Simon Stevens said, ‘The NHS has been heard and actively supported,’” George Osborne said after the announcement. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Press release: Department of Health's settlement at the Spending Review 2015 Department of Health
- Professor Ian Cumming statement on Spending Review Health Education England
- The King's Fund's response to the Spending Review The King's Fund
- Autumn Budget and Spending Review NHS Employers
- The spending review Nuffield Trust
- NHS England spending review uplift at expense of other health services, economists warn GP Online
- Spending review 'falls short' for general practice, warns top London GP GP Online
- NHS settlement may not be enough for seven-day service, experts warn The Guardian
- 'We need more hospital beds, not more A&E staff' The Guardian
- George Osborne's lack of ideas means care homes face meltdown, warn industry chiefs The Guardian
- Autumn Statement: Plans to force nurses to pay tuition fees will saddle future generations with even more debt The Independent
Expect more teenage pregnancies and STIs as public health cuts kick in
Expect more teenage pregnancies and STIs as public health cuts kick in Slicing money out of local prevention services is ‘economically nonsensical’, completely undermining the pledge to pump billions into the NHS
The term “false economy” is bandied about a lot in discussions about government cuts, but when it comes to slashing public health budgets it is entirely appropriate. Think for one moment about the point of preventative public health services, such as sexual health clinics, suicide prevention schemes and smoking cessation programmes – to avert serious problems and crises later on – and it really isn’t difficult to join the dots.
Reducing or cutting initiatives that help keep people out of doctors’ surgeries and hospitals stores up future problems for an already stretched NHS, yet this is exactly what is happening.
Every £1 spent on contraception saves £11 in healthcare costs. Cuts to sexual health sector are economically nonsensical. Continue reading... The Guardian
The term “false economy” is bandied about a lot in discussions about government cuts, but when it comes to slashing public health budgets it is entirely appropriate. Think for one moment about the point of preventative public health services, such as sexual health clinics, suicide prevention schemes and smoking cessation programmes – to avert serious problems and crises later on – and it really isn’t difficult to join the dots.
Reducing or cutting initiatives that help keep people out of doctors’ surgeries and hospitals stores up future problems for an already stretched NHS, yet this is exactly what is happening.
Every £1 spent on contraception saves £11 in healthcare costs. Cuts to sexual health sector are economically nonsensical. Continue reading... The Guardian
Winter deaths hit 15-year high, shocking official figures show
Winter deaths hit 15-year high, shocking official figures show Last winter saw the highest number of winter deaths since the turn of the millennium as respiratory diseases claimed thousands of lives. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- Excess Winter Mortality in England and Wales 2014/15 (Provisional) and 2013/14 (Final) Office for National Statistics
- Winter deaths 'highest since 1999' BBC News
- Ineffective flu vaccine causes the number of excess winter deaths to TRIPLE in a year The Daily Mail
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Award for Northamptonshire’s lifesaving vehicles
Award for Northamptonshire’s lifesaving vehicles An award has been given to East Midlands Ambulance Service for the the way it looks after its fleet of vehicles. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Exploring how available NHS data can be used to show the inequality gap in mental healthcare
Exploring how available NHS data can be used to show the inequality gap in mental healthcare This report collated publicly available data and banded CCGs based on the experiences of mental health service users in their area. The data found specifies in greater detail the differing quality as and outcome of life for those with poor mental health. The report also found across the country that those with mental illnesses are more likely to die earlier and more like to get treated differently by health care professionals. Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
Supplying the demand for nurses: the need to end the rationing of nurse training places
Supplying the demand for nurses: the need to end the rationing of nurse training places This paper proposes reforming the present financing of nurse education, under which tuition fees and living bursaries are paid up front, and replacing it with a system whereby nursing undergraduates would take out student loans as with any other course. The NHS would then pay back the loan for nursing graduates if they work for the organisation after qualification. The paper argues that this reform would remove the need for a limit on nurse numbers. Nurses who work in the private sector are likely to similarly have their student debt repaid as companies compete with the NHS to recruit nurses. Civitas
Psychological therapy: big differences in recovery rates across England
Psychological therapy: big differences in recovery rates across England Recovery rates for patients treated for mental health disorders are published today, highlighting markedly different outcomes across the country. Health and Social Care Information Centre
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Loneliness 'may affect the immune system'
Loneliness 'may affect the immune system'"Being lonely won't just make you miserable; it could also suppress your immune system and knock years of your life," the Daily Mail reports.
This headline was prompted by a laboratory study in humans and rhesus macaque monkeys, which aimed to investigate if there were biological mechanisms associated with isolation that could also be associated with the risk of chronic disease or early death.
The findings suggest increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system – responsible for the "fight or flight" response – may overstimulate development of inflammatory white blood cells in the bone marrow. At the same time it may decrease the production of antiviral proteins, reducing the body's ability to fight infections.
However, at this stage this is still just a hypothesis. The study has not directly demonstrated that people who are socially isolated are more likely to become ill or die earlier and the immune system played a key role. NHS Choices
This headline was prompted by a laboratory study in humans and rhesus macaque monkeys, which aimed to investigate if there were biological mechanisms associated with isolation that could also be associated with the risk of chronic disease or early death.
The findings suggest increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system – responsible for the "fight or flight" response – may overstimulate development of inflammatory white blood cells in the bone marrow. At the same time it may decrease the production of antiviral proteins, reducing the body's ability to fight infections.
However, at this stage this is still just a hypothesis. The study has not directly demonstrated that people who are socially isolated are more likely to become ill or die earlier and the immune system played a key role. NHS Choices
Weekend births 'pose higher death risk'
Weekend births 'pose higher death risk' Babies born in hospitals in England at the weekends have a "significantly" greater chance of dying than those born on weekdays, researchers say. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Association between day of delivery and obstetric outcomes: observational study The BMJ
- Babies delivered at the weekend suffer greater threat of stillbirth or death The Daily Mail
- Babies more likely to die if born in NHS hospitals at weekend The Daily Telegraph
- Weekend-born babies slightly more likely to die in their first week The Guardian
- Babies born at weekends more likely to be stillborn or die in first week of life The Independent
GPs urged to report unfit drivers
GPs urged to report unfit drivers Family doctors must tell the DVLA about any patients who continue to drive when they are medically unfit to do so, says the General Medical Council. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- RCGP response to GMC announcement on GPs reporting patients to the DVLA or DVA Royal College of General Practitioners
- Doctors should not become agents of the DVLA The Daily Telegraph
Has Alaska found holy grail of cutting costs and improving healthcare?
Has Alaska found holy grail of cutting costs and improving healthcare? Not-for-profit organisation delivering health services for Alaska Native people has tackled waiting times and improved outcomes. What can the NHS learn?
Truly innovative leaders and organisations look far and wide for inspiration – and often find it in unexpected places; think of Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin. The NHS urgently needs a eureka moment, with primary care and hospital services close to breaking point and waiting times spiralling out of control.
An unexpected inspiration for the NHS might be Southcentral Foundation, the not-for-profit organisation delivering primary, community and mental health services for Alaska Native people in Southcentral Alaska. In the mid-1990s, Southcentral faced many of the challenges crippling NHS services today: four-week waits for routine primary care appointments and GPs coping with 40 or more appointments every day. Continue reading... The Guardian
Truly innovative leaders and organisations look far and wide for inspiration – and often find it in unexpected places; think of Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin. The NHS urgently needs a eureka moment, with primary care and hospital services close to breaking point and waiting times spiralling out of control.
An unexpected inspiration for the NHS might be Southcentral Foundation, the not-for-profit organisation delivering primary, community and mental health services for Alaska Native people in Southcentral Alaska. In the mid-1990s, Southcentral faced many of the challenges crippling NHS services today: four-week waits for routine primary care appointments and GPs coping with 40 or more appointments every day. Continue reading... The Guardian
Simon Stevens won his extra NHS cash. Now for the hard bit
Simon Stevens won his extra NHS cash. Now for the hard bit The NHS boss used all his powers of persuasion to get George Osborne to hand over £3.8bn upfront next year. But can he deliver on transforming care?
So, well played, Simon Stevens. Spectacularly well played, in fact. To have somehow got George Osborne to stump up £3.8bn extra for the NHS next year, at a time when the cash-strapped chancellor had to fix his tax credits problem, as well as finding extra money for security and counter-terrorism, demonstrates that NHS England’s chief executive has persuasive skills of a very high order. To have won the argument, that a sizeable chunk of the extra £8bn ministers had pledged to deliver by 2020 had to come next year, is a real coup. Until as recently as Monday, most NHS leaders were pessimistically saying that the Treasury was being inflexible and remained very unpersuaded of the need for a significant upfront downpayment of the £8bn. Stevens’s refusal to accept Osborne’s preference, to phase in the £8bn over time in equal amounts, shows real backbone and an admirable certainty of purpose. Continue reading... The Guardian
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So, well played, Simon Stevens. Spectacularly well played, in fact. To have somehow got George Osborne to stump up £3.8bn extra for the NHS next year, at a time when the cash-strapped chancellor had to fix his tax credits problem, as well as finding extra money for security and counter-terrorism, demonstrates that NHS England’s chief executive has persuasive skills of a very high order. To have won the argument, that a sizeable chunk of the extra £8bn ministers had pledged to deliver by 2020 had to come next year, is a real coup. Until as recently as Monday, most NHS leaders were pessimistically saying that the Treasury was being inflexible and remained very unpersuaded of the need for a significant upfront downpayment of the £8bn. Stevens’s refusal to accept Osborne’s preference, to phase in the £8bn over time in equal amounts, shows real backbone and an admirable certainty of purpose. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- News story: Unprecedented investment in the NHS Department of Health
- RCGP response to Chancellor's announcement on NHS investment Royal College of General Practitioners
- A shot in the arm for an ailing NHS Royal College of Nursing
- An NHS funding plan at last – but what’s the catch? BBC News
- Don't waste 3.8bn NHS funding uplift on seven-day services, warns GPC GP Online
- Osborne to hike NHS budget £3.8bn in 2016/17 GP online
- George Osborne: 'strong, well-funded NHS is absolutely crucial' - video The Guardian
- The Guardian view on the NHS settlement: a good compromise, but not a generous one | Editorial The Guardian
- 'Risks remain' despite George Osborne's £3.8bn cash boost for NHS Northamptonshire Telegraph
- NHS spending boost of £3.8bn next year, £10bn by 2020 OnMedica
Devolution bill poses a serious threat to the NHS
Devolution bill poses a serious threat to the NHS The little discussed and barely comprehended bill has reached committee stage in the Commons, and has significant implications for the health service.
The penny is beginning to drop within the NHS world at last. The seemingly marginal cities and local government devolution bill, now in its Commons committee stage, has major implications for the NHS that have been little discussed and barely comprehended. It all began with Greater Manchester combined authority securing control of its £6bn NHS budget earlier this year, and now several other devolution bids to the Treasury are seeking some NHS remit.
The problem here is not so much that the idea is necessarily wrong in principle, but rather that it hasn’t been thought through. Regions seeking such powers need to meet the Treasury’s requirement of securing “a financially sustainable health and social care system” by 2020. Typically they will claim to be able to do so by developing community-based models of care that focus on preventing expensive hospital treatment. In reality there is little evidence to suggest this model will work.
... ones which achieve or exceed their initial goals in such a way that they become embedded; able to survive a change of government; represent a starting point for subsequent policy development or remove the issue from the immediate policy agenda. Continue reading... The Guardian
The penny is beginning to drop within the NHS world at last. The seemingly marginal cities and local government devolution bill, now in its Commons committee stage, has major implications for the NHS that have been little discussed and barely comprehended. It all began with Greater Manchester combined authority securing control of its £6bn NHS budget earlier this year, and now several other devolution bids to the Treasury are seeking some NHS remit.
The problem here is not so much that the idea is necessarily wrong in principle, but rather that it hasn’t been thought through. Regions seeking such powers need to meet the Treasury’s requirement of securing “a financially sustainable health and social care system” by 2020. Typically they will claim to be able to do so by developing community-based models of care that focus on preventing expensive hospital treatment. In reality there is little evidence to suggest this model will work.
... ones which achieve or exceed their initial goals in such a way that they become embedded; able to survive a change of government; represent a starting point for subsequent policy development or remove the issue from the immediate policy agenda. Continue reading... The Guardian
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Number of rough sleepers in Northampton is double what borough council pledged, report reveals
Number of rough sleepers in Northampton is double what borough council pledged, report reveals The number of rough sleepers in Northampton this year was double the figure the council had aimed for. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
System leaders and patient leaders: learning from a new relationship
System leaders and patient leaders: learning from a new relationship The idea that citizens should be leaders in the services they use is far from new, yet it is still at odds with many aspects of NHS culture. A recently launched programme by The King’s Fund is offering the chance to foster a new type of relationship between citizens and care systems – and to learn from how it evolves.
NHS to get above-inflation cash boost
NHS to get above-inflation cash boost Front-line NHS services in England will get a £3.8bn, above-inflation cash injection next year, amid mounting fears about the pressures they face. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- George Osborne's £6billion a year increase for the NHS The Daily Mail
- George Osborne will use Autumn Statement to increase NHS funding by £6billion The Daily Telegraph
- General practice needs an extra £3.8bn a year by 2020 warns RCGP GP Online
- Osborne injects £3.8bn to help reduce NHS financial pressure The Guardian
- George Osborne to fast-track £4bn NHS investment in bid to head off crisis The Independent
- NHS England to get spending boost sooner than expected ITV News
Rise in prosecutions following assaults on NHS staff
Rise in prosecutions following assaults on NHS staff The number of criminal actions following reported assaults on NHS hospital workers increased slightly last year. Figures from NHS Protect show that there were 1,679 criminal proceedings instigated last year - up by 30 from 2013-4. There were 67,864 reported physical assaults against NHS staff in England last year - a small reduction of 819 from 68,683 in 2013-14. OnMedica
Scandal of patients denied 5p pill that shrinks cancer
Scandal of patients denied 5p pill that shrinks cancer Within seven weeks of starting on a new treatment, the tumour in Mary Nike's left breast had shrunk from 1½ in to ½ in. Mary, 58, from Brewood, Staffordshire, was being treated with a 5p pill. The Daily Mail
First UK case of a mother using bleach to 'cure' son's autism reported to Thames Valley Police
First UK case of a mother using bleach to 'cure' son's autism reported to Thames Valley Police Thames Valley Police have confirmed they have received a complaint about the alleged use of MMS, which is similar to bleach. The Daily Mail
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Let's tackle mental health stigma and attract trainees to psychiatry
Let's tackle mental health stigma and attract trainees to psychiatry Demand for psychiatrists is growing but the healthcare community needs to get its own house in order if we are to fill the gaps in recruitment
“I’ve got my life back … thanks.”
Through the clinic window, autumn’s blaze of colour is muted with drizzle and dark skies, but inside I am cast in light. I am privy to a private miracle. A corrosive mental illness that was throttling a life is no longer wreaking havoc. Hope, agency and opportunity has emerged. Career and relationships are reinvigorated and joy has been restored. The grace with which I am shown gratitude moves me profoundly and I reconnect with my sense of mission and purpose as a psychiatrist. Not a bad way to start a Monday. Continue reading... The Guardian
“I’ve got my life back … thanks.”
Through the clinic window, autumn’s blaze of colour is muted with drizzle and dark skies, but inside I am cast in light. I am privy to a private miracle. A corrosive mental illness that was throttling a life is no longer wreaking havoc. Hope, agency and opportunity has emerged. Career and relationships are reinvigorated and joy has been restored. The grace with which I am shown gratitude moves me profoundly and I reconnect with my sense of mission and purpose as a psychiatrist. Not a bad way to start a Monday. Continue reading... The Guardian
Health data from wearable devices could be restricted under new EU regulation
Health data from wearable devices could be restricted under new EU regulation Law firm Osborne Clarke has called on regulators to rethink the implication of the future European General Data Protection Regulation on health information. The Daily Telegraph
Attributes Common to Programs That Successfully Treat High-Need, High-Cost Individuals
Attributes Common to Programs That Successfully Treat High-Need, High-Cost Individuals Care delivery models designed to improve health outcomes and reduce spending for patients with complex health needs vary in their effectiveness. The Commonwealth Fund
Monday, 23 November 2015
Flu jabs at your pharmacy for ‘at risk’ patients
Flu jabs at your pharmacy for ‘at risk’ patients For the first time ever patients who are considered to be in an ‘at risk’ group can get their free flu jab at a local pharmacy. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Detailed guide: Rules for all agency staff working in the NHS
Detailed guide: Rules for all agency staff working in the NHS Published new guidance on price caps for agency staff working in the NHS and consolidated a separate guidance on nursing agency spend. Monitor
See also:
See also:
- Agency price cap guidance published NHS Employers
- NHS agency staff costs cap brought in BBC News
Overspending by NHS trusts hits £1.6bn
Overspending by NHS trusts hits £1.6bn Overspending by NHS trusts in England has risen to £1.6bn this year, as concerns about the financial problems facing the health service grow. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- What not to do to stay in budget The King's Fund
- The King's Fund responds to today's NHS financial performance figures The King's Fund
- Press release: Challenging environment for NHS providers Monitor
- NHS in 'unprecedented financial meltdown': Agency staff and bed-blocking blamed as deficit hits 1.6 billion in just six months The Daily Mail
- NHS faces worst financial crisis in its history The Daily Telegraph
- NHS deficit soars to £1.6bn The Guardian
- NHS and Treasury deadlocked over budget increase before spending review The Guardian
- NHS deficit hits £1.6 billion OnMedica
'Thousands' in England malnourished
'Thousands' in England malnourished Hospitals in England are seeing thousands of patients suffering from the symptoms of malnutrition. BBC News
NHS mandate consultation expires in two days but critics argue Department of Health kept it quiet
NHS mandate consultation expires in two days but critics argue Department of Health kept it quiet Department of Health's inbox has been overloaded by replies to the consultation in the last couple of days. The Independent
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See also:
Junior doctors call for talks with Jeremy Hunt to avert strike
Junior doctors call for talks with Jeremy Hunt to avert strike Medics say they are desperate to avoid industrial action, as health secretary says patients could die if walkout goes ahead
Hundreds of junior doctors have called on Jeremy Hunt to avert industrial action after the health secretary said patients could die if next month’s planned strikes went ahead.
More than 600 junior doctors signed a letter to Hunt imploring him to enter into talks at the mediation service Acas to solve the dispute over changes to their pay and working hours. They said they had voted for strike action “with a very heavy heart”. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Hundreds of junior doctors have called on Jeremy Hunt to avert industrial action after the health secretary said patients could die if next month’s planned strikes went ahead.
More than 600 junior doctors signed a letter to Hunt imploring him to enter into talks at the mediation service Acas to solve the dispute over changes to their pay and working hours. They said they had voted for strike action “with a very heavy heart”. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Junior doctors row: A nightmare for the NHS and patients? BBC News
- MPs clash over junior doctor strikes in urgent Commons debate GP Online
- Junior doctors' strike 'puts 60,000 operations a day at risk' The Guardian
- Patients could die if junior doctors' strike goes ahead, says Jeremy Hunt The Guardian
- Junior doctors accuse NHS chief of exploiting Paris attacks to stoke public fears over strike The Independent
George Osborne considers axing student nurse bursaries
George Osborne considers axing student nurse bursaries Stopping public funding for students of nursing would save £800m a year but could worsen NHS recruitment problems
Student nurses may stop receiving bursaries and instead have to take out loans to pay their tuition fees under plans the Treasury is considering.
Officials are examining the viability of the cost-cutting measure which the chancellor, George Osborne, could announce in his spending review next Wednesday. Continue reading... The Guardian
Student nurses may stop receiving bursaries and instead have to take out loans to pay their tuition fees under plans the Treasury is considering.
Officials are examining the viability of the cost-cutting measure which the chancellor, George Osborne, could announce in his spending review next Wednesday. Continue reading... The Guardian
Ebola crisis 'claimed needless lives' because World Health Organisation failed to act quickly
Ebola crisis 'claimed needless lives' because World Health Organisation failed to act quickly Internal memos showed the WHO was reluctant to declare a public health emergency after it had its fingers burned with the Swine Flu pandmeic. The Daily Telegraph
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See also:
Friday, 20 November 2015
Northamptonshire hospitals target capital city nurses in a bid to plug recruitment gap
Northamptonshire hospitals target capital city nurses in a bid to plug recruitment gap
A recruitment day in London is being organised by hospitals in Northamptonshire in a bid to recruit more qualified nurses. Evening Telegraph
A recruitment day in London is being organised by hospitals in Northamptonshire in a bid to recruit more qualified nurses. Evening Telegraph
Six people currently needing organ transplant in Northamptonshire are ‘likely to die on waiting list’, according to NHS
Six people currently needing organ transplant in Northamptonshire are ‘likely to die on waiting list’, according to NHS
New figures from the NHS show there are 64 people in Northamptonshire waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Evening Telegraph
New figures from the NHS show there are 64 people in Northamptonshire waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Evening Telegraph
NHS bosses pressure Hunt to agree to arbitration with junior doctors
NHS bosses pressure Hunt to agree to arbitration with junior doctors
Health secretary is insisting BMA begins talks before he will consider bringing in conciliation service
Jeremy Hunt is under growing pressure to let independent arbitrators try to settle the junior doctors dispute before their series of strikes starts next month.
Senior NHS figures and leading members of the medical establishment want the health secretary to drop his insistence that the British Medical Association reopen talks with him before asking the Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service (Acas) to mediate between the two sides. Guardian
Continue reading...
Health secretary is insisting BMA begins talks before he will consider bringing in conciliation service
Jeremy Hunt is under growing pressure to let independent arbitrators try to settle the junior doctors dispute before their series of strikes starts next month.
Senior NHS figures and leading members of the medical establishment want the health secretary to drop his insistence that the British Medical Association reopen talks with him before asking the Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service (Acas) to mediate between the two sides. Guardian
Continue reading...
NHS on course for worst financial crisis in its history
NHS on course for worst financial crisis in its history
Exclusive: The NHS is expected to declare the largest deficit in its history, amid warnings that hospitals could run out of cash to pay staff within a year. Telegraph
Exclusive: The NHS is expected to declare the largest deficit in its history, amid warnings that hospitals could run out of cash to pay staff within a year. Telegraph
News story: Healthcare worker flu vaccination figures published
News story: Healthcare worker flu vaccination figures published
Latest vaccination figures show 32.4% of frontline healthcare workers had influenza vaccinations in September and October 2015.
Figures published today (19 November 2015) by Public Health England (PHE), show that more than 312,000 frontline healthcare workers in England had a flu vaccination in September and October this year.
This compares to 36.8% of workers who were vaccinated in the same period in 2014 to 2015, and 35% of workers in 2013 to 2014.
Flu experts warn that more workers need to take up the vaccine to help protect themselves and vulnerable patients this winter and help save lives, while keeping NHS services running as normal.
Hospital surveillance in 2014 to 2015 reported a total of 1,187 admissions to intensive care and high dependency units due to lab confirmed flu across England, and 8.4% of these resulted in death.
The annual campaign to drive up NHS staff vaccination rates is called flu fighter (@NHSflufighter, #flufighter). Run by NHS Employers and supported by the Department of Health and PHE, flu fighter is once again providing employers with all the resources they need to help their staff run lively local campaigns which promote vaccinations, answer questions and improve access to them. Flu fighter is now in its fifth year and has helped the NHS to increase frontline staff flu vaccinations from 359,080 (34.7%) in 2010 to 2011 to 541,757 (54.9%) by the end of last winter.
This year, for the first time, NHS Employers is also working with the residential care sector to identify how flu vaccination can become routine for care workers, identifying both challenges and examples of good practice. A tailored set of campaign materials has been made available. Public Health England
Latest vaccination figures show 32.4% of frontline healthcare workers had influenza vaccinations in September and October 2015.
Figures published today (19 November 2015) by Public Health England (PHE), show that more than 312,000 frontline healthcare workers in England had a flu vaccination in September and October this year.
This compares to 36.8% of workers who were vaccinated in the same period in 2014 to 2015, and 35% of workers in 2013 to 2014.
Flu experts warn that more workers need to take up the vaccine to help protect themselves and vulnerable patients this winter and help save lives, while keeping NHS services running as normal.
Hospital surveillance in 2014 to 2015 reported a total of 1,187 admissions to intensive care and high dependency units due to lab confirmed flu across England, and 8.4% of these resulted in death.
The annual campaign to drive up NHS staff vaccination rates is called flu fighter (@NHSflufighter, #flufighter). Run by NHS Employers and supported by the Department of Health and PHE, flu fighter is once again providing employers with all the resources they need to help their staff run lively local campaigns which promote vaccinations, answer questions and improve access to them. Flu fighter is now in its fifth year and has helped the NHS to increase frontline staff flu vaccinations from 359,080 (34.7%) in 2010 to 2011 to 541,757 (54.9%) by the end of last winter.
This year, for the first time, NHS Employers is also working with the residential care sector to identify how flu vaccination can become routine for care workers, identifying both challenges and examples of good practice. A tailored set of campaign materials has been made available. Public Health England
NHS Employers responds to consultation on agency price caps
NHS Employers responds to consultation on agency price caps
Read our response to the Monitor and NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) consultation on the proposed introduction of price caps for agency staff. NHS Employers
Read our response to the Monitor and NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) consultation on the proposed introduction of price caps for agency staff. NHS Employers
The state of medical education and practice in the UK report: 2015
The state of medical education and practice in the UK report: 2015
This report sets out what is happening in the education and practice of doctors, and considers some of the current challenges facing the profession and the systems in which it works. An online resource containing the GMC’s registration, education and fitness to practise data is published alongside the report.
General Medical Council
This report sets out what is happening in the education and practice of doctors, and considers some of the current challenges facing the profession and the systems in which it works. An online resource containing the GMC’s registration, education and fitness to practise data is published alongside the report.
General Medical Council
Assaults on NHS staff a “barometer” for health care under strain - RCN
Assaults on NHS staff a “barometer” for health care under strain - RCN
RCN comments on new figures showing that attacks on NHS staff in the acute sector have risen in the past year.
RCN comments on new figures showing that attacks on NHS staff in the acute sector have risen in the past year.
Work needed to end discrimination for NHS staff
Work needed to end discrimination for NHS staff
Study shows wide variation in discrimination across country. OnMedica News
Study shows wide variation in discrimination across country. OnMedica News
Plans to speed up cancer drugs access
Plans to speed up cancer drugs access
A new Cancer Drugs Fund is to be set up to improve access to cancer drugs, says a consultation document from NHS England. BBC News
A new Cancer Drugs Fund is to be set up to improve access to cancer drugs, says a consultation document from NHS England. BBC News
Last line in antibiotic resistance under threat
Last line in antibiotic resistance under threat
"The last line of antibiotic defence against some serious infections is under threat," The Guardian reports, after researchers found that E.coli bacteria from food products in China has developed resistance to colistin – a polymixin antibiotic.
This antibiotic is, in a sense, a weapon of last resort in the antibiotics armoury, and is sometimes used to serious treat infections that have become resistant to other strong antibiotics.
The researchers found that colistin resistance was caused by a gene called MCR-1. This gene was found on a piece of bacterial DNA that can be transferred between bacteria.
They took a number of samples from animals in abattoirs, and raw meat from open markets and supermarkets in China to identify how frequently the MCR-1 gene is found in bacteria.
The study found the MCR-1 gene in E. coli collected from 15% of raw meat samples and 21% of animals tested from 2011-14. The gene was also found in E. coli from 1% of hospital inpatients in China.
As this study was conducted in China, we do not know whether the situation is the same in the UK. However, antibiotic resistance is a global concern that could potentially advance more quickly than new antibiotics can be developed.
An editorial accompanying the study recommends that the use of polymixin should be restricted in agriculture, as we could end up with a situation where doctors are forced to say, "Sorry, there is nothing I can do to cure your infection".
"The last line of antibiotic defence against some serious infections is under threat," The Guardian reports, after researchers found that E.coli bacteria from food products in China has developed resistance to colistin – a polymixin antibiotic.
This antibiotic is, in a sense, a weapon of last resort in the antibiotics armoury, and is sometimes used to serious treat infections that have become resistant to other strong antibiotics.
The researchers found that colistin resistance was caused by a gene called MCR-1. This gene was found on a piece of bacterial DNA that can be transferred between bacteria.
They took a number of samples from animals in abattoirs, and raw meat from open markets and supermarkets in China to identify how frequently the MCR-1 gene is found in bacteria.
The study found the MCR-1 gene in E. coli collected from 15% of raw meat samples and 21% of animals tested from 2011-14. The gene was also found in E. coli from 1% of hospital inpatients in China.
As this study was conducted in China, we do not know whether the situation is the same in the UK. However, antibiotic resistance is a global concern that could potentially advance more quickly than new antibiotics can be developed.
An editorial accompanying the study recommends that the use of polymixin should be restricted in agriculture, as we could end up with a situation where doctors are forced to say, "Sorry, there is nothing I can do to cure your infection".
'More money needed' to beat TB
'More money needed' to beat TB
More investment is needed to beat tuberculosis (TB), which has become one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world, a coalition of health agencies warn. BBC News
More investment is needed to beat tuberculosis (TB), which has become one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world, a coalition of health agencies warn. BBC News
Liver deaths 'likely to increase' after relaxation of alcohol tax policies
Liver deaths 'likely to increase' after relaxation of alcohol tax policies
Deaths from liver disease in UK quadrupled between 1980 and 2013 as alcohol became cheaper due to policy encouraged by lobbying from drinks industry, report says
Deaths from liver disease are likely to increase as a result of the government’s relaxation of alcohol taxation policies, say liver experts, who voice concern about a shortage of specialists to treat patients across the UK.
Only a third of district general hospitals have a liver specialist on the staff, according to a new report. It warns that obesity and alcohol are fuelling a rise in liver disease, which can cause cirrhosis, cancer and death if not caught early enough to be treatable.
Guardian
Continue reading...
Deaths from liver disease in UK quadrupled between 1980 and 2013 as alcohol became cheaper due to policy encouraged by lobbying from drinks industry, report says
Deaths from liver disease are likely to increase as a result of the government’s relaxation of alcohol taxation policies, say liver experts, who voice concern about a shortage of specialists to treat patients across the UK.
Only a third of district general hospitals have a liver specialist on the staff, according to a new report. It warns that obesity and alcohol are fuelling a rise in liver disease, which can cause cirrhosis, cancer and death if not caught early enough to be treatable.
Guardian
Continue reading...
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Nurse from Northampton wins award after reducing maximum length of her patients’ hospital stay by 18 weeks
Nurse from Northampton wins award after reducing maximum length of her patients’ hospital stay by 18 weeks A Macmillan nurse based at Northampton General Hospital has won a national award for her work with brain tumour patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Junior doctors 'overwhelmingly back strikes'
Junior doctors 'overwhelmingly back strikes' Junior doctors have overwhelmingly voted in favour of going on strike in their dispute with ministers over a new contract.
Some 98% voted in favour of a full strike and 99% in favour of action just short of a full strike.
The first walk-out will take place on 1 December with another two dates earmarked for later in the month. BBC News
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Some 98% voted in favour of a full strike and 99% in favour of action just short of a full strike.
The first walk-out will take place on 1 December with another two dates earmarked for later in the month. BBC News
See also:
- Junior doctors 'to vote for strikes' BBC News
- VIDEO: Junior doctors 'will support strikes' BBC News
- Hospitals may be sued if they hire locums to cover junior doctors' strike The Daily Mail
- Doctors' strike: Junior medics poised to back first 'all out' strike in NHS history The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors explain why they are striking The Daily Telegraph
- Doctors should never strike, and their threat must be withdrawn The Daily Telegraph
- The BMA should retreat before real harm is done The Daily Telegraph
- How much are junior doctors paid, and why are they threatening to strike? The Daily Telegraph
- Viewpoint: DH still has time to show common sense and avoid junior doctor strike GP Online
- Junior doctors expected to vote for strike as ballot closes The Guardian
- Junior doctors, Jeremy Hunt and the facts behind the strike ballot The Guardian
- The truth is we have no choice': junior doctors on striking The Guardian
- Hunt at loggerheads with BMA over junior doctor talks as strike ballot result nears OnMedica
On targets: How targets can be most effective in the English NHS
On targets: How targets can be most effective in the English NHS "This report does not set out to determine whether targets, as a concept, are good or bad, but focuses on how targets can be most effective for improving quality of care. It builds on the evidence base regarding the impact of targets to identify good practice in designing new or improved targets, and considers how policymakers can apply these lessons to the challenges facing the NHS." The Health Foundation
Continuous improvement of patient safety
Continuous improvement of patient safety This report makes the case for changing the way patient safety is approached in the NHS. It argues that change is needed in: how safety is understood, because current approaches to measurement don’t provide the full picture; how safety is improved, because existing approaches alone will not address the most intractable problems; how risk is perceived, because comfort-seeking behaviours will not create a genuine culture of learning. The Health Foundation
NHS financial temperature check: November 2015
NHS financial temperature check: November 2015 This briefing summarises finance directors' views on financial challenges facing the NHS. Please note that you need to complete a registration form to view this document. Healthcare Financial Management Association
World on cusp of 'post-antibiotic era'
World on cusp of 'post-antibiotic era' Bacteria are now resistant to drugs of last resort meaning the world is on the cusp of a "post-antibiotic era", warn scientists. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Emergence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanism MCR-1 in animals and human beings in China: a microbiological and molecular biological study Lancet Infectious Diseases
- Analysis: Antibiotic apocalypse BBC News
- Q&A: Antibiotic resistance BBC News
- Superbugs 'are now resistant to ALL drugs and antibiotic defences' The Daily Mail
- E.coli has developed resistance to last-line of antibiotics, warn scientists The Daily Telegraph
Crisis talks with care homes 'on brink'
Crisis talks with care homes 'on brink' Crisis talks are taking place later between care home owners and council leaders amid mounting concern a large number of providers are preparing to pull out of the market. BBC News
HIV home-test kit launched in England
HIV home-test kit launched in England A free HIV home-testing kit has been launched across England as the latest figures show 18,100 people in the UK are unaware they have the infection. BBC News
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See also:
- Press release: Free HIV home sampling launched to increase HIV testing Public Health England
Jeremy Hunt statement on weekend hospital care is misleading, experts warn
Jeremy Hunt statement on weekend hospital care is misleading, experts warn Health secretary’s claim that only 10% of patients are seen by a senior doctor within 14 hours at the weekend are refuted by statisticians and NHS England.
Leading statisticians have cast serious doubt on Jeremy Hunt’s claim that only 10% of patients are seen by a consultant within 14 hours of being admitted to hospital at a weekend, and described it as unfair, misleading and a gross underestimation.
NHS England has also distanced itself from the health secretary’s claim and said that the evidence it has collected on hospitals’ performance in this area does not bear out his interpretation of it. Continue reading... The Guardian
Leading statisticians have cast serious doubt on Jeremy Hunt’s claim that only 10% of patients are seen by a consultant within 14 hours of being admitted to hospital at a weekend, and described it as unfair, misleading and a gross underestimation.
NHS England has also distanced itself from the health secretary’s claim and said that the evidence it has collected on hospitals’ performance in this area does not bear out his interpretation of it. Continue reading... The Guardian
Give HPV vaccine to men who have sex with men, government told
Give HPV vaccine to men who have sex with men, government told Advisers say extending use of cervical cancer vaccine given to girls could help cut risk of anal, penile and throat cancers
Government advisers say the HPV vaccine that has been offered to girls aged 12 or 13 since 2008 to help protect them against cervical cancer should now also be available to men who have sex with men.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends a targeted programme of three doses for those aged up to 45 attending clinics specialising in treating HIV and genito-urinary conditions. There should be no lower age limit. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Government advisers say the HPV vaccine that has been offered to girls aged 12 or 13 since 2008 to help protect them against cervical cancer should now also be available to men who have sex with men.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends a targeted programme of three doses for those aged up to 45 attending clinics specialising in treating HIV and genito-urinary conditions. There should be no lower age limit. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Guidance: JCVI statement on HPV vaccination of men who have sex with men Department of Health
Half of stillbirths could be avoided through basic checks and listening to women
Half of stillbirths could be avoided through basic checks and listening to women More than half of stillbirths might be prevented if maternity units carried out basic checks and acted on the concerns raised by pregnant women, study finds. The Daily Telegraph
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Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Troubled private ambulance transport service will not bid for new contract in Northamptonshire
Troubled private ambulance transport service will not bid for new contract in Northamptonshire A much-criticised private company that ferried Northamptonshire people to hospital appointments will not seek to extend its contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Living a long life? How mental health impacts life expectancy
Living a long life? How mental health impacts life expectancy People living with a serious mental health condition die 12-13 years younger than other people. Most of this is due to physical illness and unintentional harm. RSA open Public Services Network
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Female GPs dominate the profession for the first time according to new GMC report
Female GPs dominate the profession for the first time according to new GMC report In a few years’ time women doctors will out number male colleagues – already there are more practising women GPs under 40 than men, according to the General Medical Council’s The state of medical education and practice in the UK report 2015.
Heat maps show 'antibiotic surge'
Heat maps show 'antibiotic surge' A huge and potentially inappropriate surge in antibiotic prescriptions in winter has been identified through the first detailed maps of seasonal prescribing in England. BBC News
Spending review - a big week ahead for the NHS
Spending review - a big week ahead for the NHS There's just a week to go until a policy announcement which could prove the most significant for the NHS in this Parliament.
Chancellor George Osborne will unveil the results of his spending review setting out, along with other departments, the path for the health budget. At a time of intense pressure on the health service, the Treasury's decision about future spending totals and the timing of increases will be critical. BBC News
Chancellor George Osborne will unveil the results of his spending review setting out, along with other departments, the path for the health budget. At a time of intense pressure on the health service, the Treasury's decision about future spending totals and the timing of increases will be critical. BBC News
High cost of unscheduled care for MS patients
High cost of unscheduled care for MS patients Emergency admissions for MS patients costs NHS £43m per year. OnMedica
Passport to practise could threaten patient safety
Passport to practise could threaten patient safety GMC urges government and European Commission to assess impact before introducing card. OnMedica
Pet owners blamed for increasing risk of MRSA and E.coli by not following animal medicine instructions
Pet owners blamed for increasing risk of MRSA and E.coli by not following animal medicine instructions Public Health England urges owners of sick pets to ensure antiobiotics are used strictly as directed. The Independent
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Children are waiting six months to even be assessed for a mental health condition
Children are waiting six months to even be assessed for a mental health condition Provision is uneven across the country after referral. The Independent
Mental health needs urgent extra funding to avert crisis, say trust chief executives | Claire Murdoch
Mental health needs urgent extra funding to avert crisis, say trust chief executives | Claire Murdoch Ahead of the spending review, 10 London mental health trusts warn against raiding their budgets to plug funding shortfalls in acute hospitals.
The NHS is facing the greatest financial challenge in its history. Figures for the first three months of the financial year reveal an accumulated NHS deficit of almost £1bn. The independent health thinktank, the Nuffield Trust, says deficits have now become the “new normal” in the NHS, with four out of five trusts now in the red. The figures for the second quarter of the financial year are feared to be significantly worse. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS is facing the greatest financial challenge in its history. Figures for the first three months of the financial year reveal an accumulated NHS deficit of almost £1bn. The independent health thinktank, the Nuffield Trust, says deficits have now become the “new normal” in the NHS, with four out of five trusts now in the red. The figures for the second quarter of the financial year are feared to be significantly worse. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS cannot make £22bn cut sought by government, finance chiefs warn
NHS cannot make £22bn cut sought by government, finance chiefs warn Fears also raised that deficit will exceed forecast £2bn and all of England’s 156 acute hospital trusts will end 2015-16 in the red
The NHS needs much more than the £8bn ministers have promised and will not deliver the £22bn of savings it has pledged, according to NHS finance chiefs.
The service in England is heading for a deficit this year even bigger than the £2bn already widely forecast, according to research by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS needs much more than the £8bn ministers have promised and will not deliver the £22bn of savings it has pledged, according to NHS finance chiefs.
The service in England is heading for a deficit this year even bigger than the £2bn already widely forecast, according to research by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Continue reading... The Guardian
'Everyone likes to be thanked': How patient feedback is improving NHS care
'Everyone likes to be thanked': How patient feedback is improving NHS care Listening to patients is vital to improve performance. Two hospital trusts whose feedback systems helped turn their services around reveal how they did it
Five years ago, Surrey and Sussex healthcare NHS trust was one of the worst performing hospitals in the country. Now, it is one of the best. In March, the healthcare regulator, the Quality Care Commission, awarded the trust a “good” rating in every category.
The trust’s approach to feedback has played a central part in this turnaround. Fiona Allsop, its chief nurse, says: “One of the reasons we’ve got there is by listening to our patients … We’re providing services for our local community. We want to give them opportunities to get involved in what we do.” Continue reading... The Guardian
Five years ago, Surrey and Sussex healthcare NHS trust was one of the worst performing hospitals in the country. Now, it is one of the best. In March, the healthcare regulator, the Quality Care Commission, awarded the trust a “good” rating in every category.
The trust’s approach to feedback has played a central part in this turnaround. Fiona Allsop, its chief nurse, says: “One of the reasons we’ve got there is by listening to our patients … We’re providing services for our local community. We want to give them opportunities to get involved in what we do.” Continue reading... The Guardian
Jeremy Hunt: 'very difficult' to avoid patient harm if doctors' strike goes ahead
Jeremy Hunt: 'very difficult' to avoid patient harm if doctors' strike goes ahead Jeremy Hunt warns of risks to patients from doctors' strikes, as he makes a last ditch plea to unions in a bid to head off industrial action. The Daily Telegraph
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Tuesday, 17 November 2015
NHS sustainability: there aren’t always more fish in the sea
NHS sustainability: there aren’t always more fish in the sea With the Spending Review fast approaching, most things currently written about the NHS begin by saying that the system is running out of money (which it is). They go on to say that social care and other public services are in an even worse state (which they are), and call for a combination of more money and greater efficiency.
But more money and using existing resources better – while both needed – won’t be enough to meet the challenges facing the NHS: we also need to think differently about who governs NHS resources, and how. The King's Fund
But more money and using existing resources better – while both needed – won’t be enough to meet the challenges facing the NHS: we also need to think differently about who governs NHS resources, and how. The King's Fund
New whistleblowing policy for the NHS - have your say
New whistleblowing policy for the NHS - have your say Monitor, the TDA and NHS England are out to consultation on their draft whistleblowing policy for the NHS. Help ensure it meets your local needs by having your say. NHS Employers
More than 400 pharmacists to be recruited to GP surgeries by next year
More than 400 pharmacists to be recruited to GP surgeries by next year NHS England has more than doubled funding from £15m to £31m for its clinical pharmacists in general practice pilot, due to an overwhelmingly positive response from GP surgeries. NHS England, Health Education England, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the BMA are today announcing the 73 applications that will receive a share of the funding, which will cover 698 GP practices and include 403 clinical pharmacists.
Recruitment of pharmacists for the three year initiative, which was announced in July, will begin immediately, giving patients the additional support of an expert pharmacist in their GP surgery from Spring 2016.
Examples of the benefits patients can expect include extra help to manage long-term conditions, specific advice for those with multiple medications and more access to clinical advice on treatments. Royal College of General Practitioners
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Recruitment of pharmacists for the three year initiative, which was announced in July, will begin immediately, giving patients the additional support of an expert pharmacist in their GP surgery from Spring 2016.
Examples of the benefits patients can expect include extra help to manage long-term conditions, specific advice for those with multiple medications and more access to clinical advice on treatments. Royal College of General Practitioners
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Breast cancer drug 'too costly' for NHS
Breast cancer drug 'too costly' for NHS A life-extending breast cancer drug will not be routinely offered on the NHS in England and Wales because it is still too expensive, says the watchdog NICE. BBC News
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- Kadcyla price still too high NICE
- Breast cancer drug Kadcyla is axed by NHS because of its cost The Daily Mail
- Postcode lottery for cancer drug as Nice rules Kadcyla too expensive The Guardian
- Breast cancer drug too expensive to be routinely available on NHS, watchdog rules The Independent
- Roche breast cancer drug at centre of UK pricing row Reuters
Drugmakers urge new antibiotics funds
Drugmakers urge new antibiotics funds AstraZeneca and pharmaceutical bodies warn of a "terrible human cost" unless new ways of funding antibiotics are found. BBC News
Iain Duncan Smith's tougher fit-to-work tests coincide with 590 additional suicides
Iain Duncan Smith's tougher fit-to-work tests coincide with 590 additional suicides Academic researchers also find 279,000 cases of mental ill health and 725,000 more prescriptions for antidepressants. The Independent
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See also:
- ‘First, do no harm’: are disability assessments associated with adverse trends in mental health? A longitudinal ecological study (open access) Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
More babies born to women over 35 than under 25 for the first time
More babies born to women over 35 than under 25 for the first time Latest figures show not only are women having children later in life, but fewer women are having children at all. The Independent
Health watchdog blew £8.7 million on luxury hotels, dinners and travel expenses for hospital and care home inspectors in a year
Health watchdog blew £8.7 million on luxury hotels, dinners and travel expenses for hospital and care home inspectors in a year The Care Quality Commission spent it during routine checks of hospitals and care homes. It includes an £80,000 hotel bill racked up by 118 officials inspecting a single NHS trust in Dorset. The Daily Mail
GMC calls for tougher powers to check European doctors' skills
GMC calls for tougher powers to check European doctors' skills Regulator’s chief executive says EU rules still have major weaknesses and moves to introduce digital ‘passports to practise’ could make matters worse
EU rules governing the checks that UK authorities can make on doctors still have major weaknesses seven years after a patient safety scandal revealed catastrophic flaws in the system, according to Britain’s medical regulator.
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council (GMC), said it must have the same powers to check the competence and medical skills of doctors from Europe as it already does for medics from the rest of the world.
We are worried that something will go wrong if we are not able to do what we need to do. Continue reading... The Guardian
EU rules governing the checks that UK authorities can make on doctors still have major weaknesses seven years after a patient safety scandal revealed catastrophic flaws in the system, according to Britain’s medical regulator.
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council (GMC), said it must have the same powers to check the competence and medical skills of doctors from Europe as it already does for medics from the rest of the world.
We are worried that something will go wrong if we are not able to do what we need to do. Continue reading... The Guardian
Andrew Lansley takes post advising drugs firm involved in dispute with NHS
Andrew Lansley takes post advising drugs firm involved in dispute with NHS Former health secretary declares three more private sector jobs roles on House of Lords register of interests.
Andrew Lansley, the former health secretary, has taken on three more private sector jobs, including advising a pharmaceuticals firm at the centre of a row over the price it charges the NHS for cancer drugs.
Despite David Cameron’s promise in 2010 to end the “revolving door” between Whitehall and the private sector, the recently ennobled Tory peer has declared work as an adviser to Roche, the Swiss drugs company, and as an adviser to private equity firm Blackstone on investments in the health sector. Continue reading... The Guardian
Andrew Lansley, the former health secretary, has taken on three more private sector jobs, including advising a pharmaceuticals firm at the centre of a row over the price it charges the NHS for cancer drugs.
Despite David Cameron’s promise in 2010 to end the “revolving door” between Whitehall and the private sector, the recently ennobled Tory peer has declared work as an adviser to Roche, the Swiss drugs company, and as an adviser to private equity firm Blackstone on investments in the health sector. Continue reading... The Guardian
Telling people they are at risk of disease makes the healthy sick, warns professor
Telling people they are at risk of disease makes the healthy sick, warns professor Doctors are treating people at risk of disease as if they have already developed the condition, an expert warns. The Daily Telegraph
Monday, 16 November 2015
New laser treatment for prostate patients treated at Kettering General Hospital
New laser treatment for prostate patients treated at Kettering General Hospital Kettering General Hospital has introduced a new laser operation to help patients who need treatment for benign enlargement of the prostate. Northamptonshire Telegraph
ESPAUR report reveals continued rise in antibiotic resistant infections
ESPAUR report reveals continued rise in antibiotic resistant infections A new report from Public Health England shows that overall antibiotic resistant infections increased through 2014. Rates of bloodstream infections caused by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae increased by 15.6% and 20.8% respectively, from 2010 to 2014. However, Streptococcus pneumoniae bloodstream infections reduced by 23% between 2010 and 2014, which may be related to increased pneumococcal vaccination rates.
See also:
See also:
- English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report Public Health England
- Shared decision making reduces antibiotic use OnMedica
- Dr Maureen Baker: GPs have made real progress on antibiotic prescribing, but there's still more to do GP Online
- 'Last resort' antibiotics pose growing threat to healthcare, report warns The Guardian
- Hospitals turning to last-resort antibiotics as drug-resistant infections continue to rise The Independent
Guidance for people with dementia and carers
Guidance for people with dementia and carers Guidance for carers and people with dementia to explain what good quality services should look like. London Dementia Strategic Clinical Network
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See also:
- Dementia – Immediate Post Diagnosis Support Guidance London Dementia Strategic Clinical Network
Smart dressing 'cuts antibiotic use'
Smart dressing 'cuts antibiotic use' A medical dressing that changes colour when it detects infection could cut the unnecessary use of antibiotics, say scientists at Bath University. BBC News
FPLD disappointed with government response to consultation on ‘No voice unheard, no right ignored’
FPLD disappointed with government response to consultation on ‘No voice unheard, no right ignored’ Earlier this week, the government responded to the consultation on No voice unheard, no right ignored, which was commissioned under the previous coalition government.
Addressing similar issues to the recently unveiled NHS England national plan Building the Right Support, the consultation sought to explore ways people with learning disabilities could be supported to lead more independent lives and to have more control and choices over the services they receive. However, the government’s consultation response has come as a disappointment to the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.
Addressing similar issues to the recently unveiled NHS England national plan Building the Right Support, the consultation sought to explore ways people with learning disabilities could be supported to lead more independent lives and to have more control and choices over the services they receive. However, the government’s consultation response has come as a disappointment to the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.
GP practices must deliver further efficiency savings, NHS England tells DDRB
GP practices must deliver further efficiency savings, NHS England tells DDRB NHS England has rejected BMA warnings that GP practices have delivered nearly all possible efficiency savings in evidence to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB). GP Online
Hundreds of consultants tell Jeremy Hunt they back junior doctors' strike
Hundreds of consultants tell Jeremy Hunt they back junior doctors' strike Royal Free London consultants write to health secretary saying junior doctors are integral to NHS and they will support any industrial action.
Hundreds of consultants from the Royal Free London NHS foundation trust have written to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to express their support for junior doctors and to back possible industrial action.
In a letter to the Guardian, the 505 consultants, who will bear the brunt of any potential strike, say they recognise that junior doctors are an integral part of the health service. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Hundreds of consultants from the Royal Free London NHS foundation trust have written to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to express their support for junior doctors and to back possible industrial action.
In a letter to the Guardian, the 505 consultants, who will bear the brunt of any potential strike, say they recognise that junior doctors are an integral part of the health service. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Surge in number of UK adults with diabetes
Surge in number of UK adults with diabetes On World Diabetes Day, British Heart Foundation analysis finds nearly 3.5 million British people have condition.
The number of UK adults with diabetes has risen by more than 65% since 2005, figures show. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The number of UK adults with diabetes has risen by more than 65% since 2005, figures show. Continue reading... The Guardian
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- Diabetes cases in the UK rise by 65% in 10 years The Independent
2.5 million men 'have no close friends'
2.5 million men 'have no close friends' Stark new research shows chances of friendlessness trebles by late middle age. The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 13 November 2015
BMA announces industrial action dates
BMA announces industrial action dates British Medical Association has announced the dates they will take industrial action, over the ongoing contract reform dispute with the Government. NHS Employers
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See also:
- Juniors' contract: industrial action dates set British Medical Association
- Response to BMA JDC announcing proposed industrial action schedule NHS Employers
- Junior doctors set to strike for three days in December, union announces The Daily Mail
- The BMA's strike threats 'could be interpreted as a betrayal of the Hippocratic Oath' The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors to have first 'all-out' strike in history if ballot passes The Daily Telegraph
- The junior doctors' contract threatens research and medical progress The Daily Telegraph
- NHS strike: the junior doctors are lions led by donkeys The Daily Telegraph
- BMA confirms junior doctor strike dates for December GP Online
- Facing Jeremy Hunt's fear: an interview with a militant NHS doctor The Guardian
- Junior doctors to strike for three days in December if ballot is approved The Guardian
- Hunt condemns junior doctors' 'extreme' three-day strike proposal The Guardian
- Junior doctors strike: Action would harm vulnerable patients, says Jeremy Hunt The Independent
- Jeremy Hunt snubbed by trainee surgeons over inappropriate invitation to discuss junior doctor's strike The Independent
Devolution – silver bullet or Swiss cheese?
Devolution – silver bullet or Swiss cheese? In recent months, health has found itself caught up in government’s latest big idea – devolution. Adjectives such as ‘historic’ and ‘ground-breaking’ have been used by some to describe the deals signed so far, while others have suggested they herald the start of a ‘two-tier’ or ‘Swiss-cheese’ health service. But what does devolution really mean for the NHS? The King's Fund
Dementia: the R&D landscape
Dementia: the R&D landscape This research paper provides an overview of the current dementia R&D landscape. It begins with a brief overview of the current thinking on the reasons for successes and failures of dementia treatments, based on a selective literature review.Please note that you will need to register to access this report. Office of Health Economics
Agenda for later life 2015: a great place to grow older
Agenda for later life 2015: a great place to grow older This report assesses how public policy is meeting the needs of people in later life. It finds that while many areas of life for older people have improved – including digital inclusion and employment - progress in other areas has stalled or even gone backwards. This is most marked in health, care and wellbeing, continuing a trend found last year. Age UK
Homeopathy 'could be blacklisted'
Homeopathy 'could be blacklisted' Ministers are considering whether homeopathy should be put on an NHS blacklist of banned treatments, the BBC learns. BBC News
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See also:
- Statement on Homeopathy and NHMRC Information Paper - Evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for treating health conditions Australian Government National Health & Medical Research Council
- Homeopathy NHS Choices
- Ban homeopathy on the NHS because there is 'no evidence it works' The Daily Mail
Benefit sanctions against people with mental health problems up by 600 per cent
Benefit sanctions against people with mental health problems up by 600 per cent Charities have warned that sanctions are making mental health problems worse. The Independent
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See also:
Jeremy Hunt aims to cut number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths
Jeremy Hunt aims to cut number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths UK ranked 33 out of 35 high-income countries in 2011 study on stillbirths, and has one of highest rates in Europe
A drive to halve the number of stillbirths and deaths among newborn babies and mothers has been launched by health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
NHS trusts with maternity services will have to show how they are performing, and new data on stillbirth and neonatal death will be published at trust level so results can be compared. Continue reading... The Guardian
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A drive to halve the number of stillbirths and deaths among newborn babies and mothers has been launched by health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
NHS trusts with maternity services will have to show how they are performing, and new data on stillbirth and neonatal death will be published at trust level so results can be compared. Continue reading... The Guardian
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- New ambition to halve rate of stillbirths and infant deaths Department of Health
NHS misses key targets in run-up to busy winter period
NHS misses key targets in run-up to busy winter period Number of patients seen within four hours at lowest since targets were introduced as hospitals face surge of cases over winter
The NHS in England missed several key targets for A&E admissions, cancer referrals, ambulance response times and NHS 111 calls in September as it braces itself for a busy winter period.
Against a target of 95%, 93.4% of patients attending emergency departments were seen within four hours in September. The figure was 94.3% the previous month. The A&E data for September is often cited as an indicator of pressure on the NHS as it prepares for winter. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS in England missed several key targets for A&E admissions, cancer referrals, ambulance response times and NHS 111 calls in September as it braces itself for a busy winter period.
Against a target of 95%, 93.4% of patients attending emergency departments were seen within four hours in September. The figure was 94.3% the previous month. The A&E data for September is often cited as an indicator of pressure on the NHS as it prepares for winter. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Hundreds of thousands could already be infected by new sexual disease
Hundreds of thousands could already be infected by new sexual disease A new sexually transmitted disease could already have infected hundred of thousands of people, senior doctors have warned. The Daily Telegraph
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Thursday, 12 November 2015
Mental health services take a 'leap in the dark' on patient care
Mental health services take a 'leap in the dark' on patient care Large-scale changes to mental health services are a ‘leap in the dark’ and are having a negative impact on patient care, says a briefing published today by The King’s Fund.
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See also:
- Mental health under pressure (briefing) The King’s Fund
- Mental health cuts 'hitting patients' BBC News
- Mental health patients 'at risk' due to budget cuts, leading think tank warns The Daily Telegraph
- Mental health budget cuts putting services under 'huge pressure' The Guardian
Place-based systems of care: A way forward for the NHS in England
Place-based systems of care: A way forward for the NHS in England The NHS in England is facing growing financial and service pressures at a time of rising demand. This paper proposes a new approach to tackling these challenges. It argues that NHS organisations need to move away from a ‘fortress mentality’ whereby they act to secure their own individual interests and future, and instead establish place-based ‘systems of care’ in which they collaborate with other NHS organisations and services to address the challenges and improve the health of the populations they serve. The King's Fund
See also:
See also:
Ten design principles for place-based systems of care The King's Fund
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