Dementia and comorbidities: ensuring parity of care

Dementia and comorbidities: ensuring parity of care This report, supported by Pfizer, argues that a failure to prevent, diagnose and treat depression, diabetes and urinary tract infections in people with dementia could cost the UK's health and care system up to nearly £1 billion per year. It highlights a lack of parity in the diagnosis of these conditions in people with dementia and outlines some recommendations including revision of NICE clinical guidelines; greater patient involvement in care plans; and commissioning of a wider range of psychological therapies. International Longevity Centre - UK

Evaluation of the UCLH-Macmillan Partnership to deliver improvements in the care, treatment, support, and information to patients with cancer throughout their individual journeys

Evaluation of the UCLH-Macmillan Partnership to deliver improvements in the care, treatment, support, and information to patients with cancer throughout their individual journeys The University College London Hospitals NHS Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support partnership is intended to improve the experiences of carers and patients with cancer by improving the whole journey from diagnosis through to palliation, and to embed this in a system that actively engages patients and carers in decision-making at each step.

The evaluation aimed to assess the working of the partnership and its capacity to support the partners' plans to move forward through both quantitative and qualitative methods. The evaluation team aimed to approach the question of how the partnership was working from the perspectives of staff, volunteers, and senior strategic and operational managers. The evaluation also aimed to understand if, even at this early stage, there were perceptible changes in patient experience compared with comparable changes elsewhere in the NHS. Rand Corporation

Vaccine switched in push to end polio

Vaccine switched in push to end polio More than 150 countries begin switching to a different polio vaccine - an important milestone towards polio eradication, health campaigners say. BBC News

Action call on 'hospitals seen as homes'

Action call on 'hospitals seen as homes' Families of people with learning disabilities say they are planning to take legal action against local authorities and NHS providers over lack of provision in the community. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: Trapped in an institution for seven years BBC News

Fears strain of 'super gonorrhoea' could spread across UK - and may become untreatable

Fears strain of 'super gonorrhoea' could spread across UK - and may become untreatable A strain of "super-gonorrhoea" could spread across the UK and there is an increasing risk the disease could become untreatable.

Doctors have expressed "huge concerns" over recent outbreaks of drug-resistant versions of the superbug across the UK. The Independent

See also:

• Research and analysis: High level azithromycin resistant gonorrhoea in England Public Health England
• Safe sex reminder as antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea investigations continue Public Health England
• Spread of super-gonorrhoea 'big concern' BBC News
• 'Super-gonorrhoea' is spreading across Britain and will become untreatable, doctors fear The Daily Telegraph

Pressure mounts on Jeremy Hunt over handling of junior doctors' dispute

Pressure mounts on Jeremy Hunt over handling of junior doctors' dispute Health secretary rows back from claim he has right to impose contract; use of threat may mean he has misled parliament

Jeremy Hunt is under mounting pressure over his handling of the junior doctors’ dispute after he unexpectedly abandoned his repeated threat to impose a new contract – a move that has led to four strikes by doctors so far.

Hunt’s change of tack, prompted by a high court challenge which starts on Monday, may mean the health secretary has misled parliament over the contract imposition because he has spoken of the threat repeatedly in front of MPs in the House of Commons. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Junior doctors divided as some warn of 'nightmare' strike dilemma The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors reject call to maintain paediatrics during strike The Guardian

Will mobile health apps make GPs redundant?

Will mobile health apps make GPs redundant? Most of the 165,000 mobile health apps available offer advice on diet and fitness but new ones are diagnosing illness and recommending treatment.

You have a fever, can’t eat and you’re barely strong enough to get out of bed. So you phone your GP surgery for an appointment, only to be told that the first one is two weeks away.

It probably sounds familiar. But could technology offer an alternative? A mobile app, Your.MD, is promising something radically different. Billed as a personal health assistant, it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic, as far as possible, your consultation with a GP. If you tell Your.MD your symptoms, it will tell you what it thinks your problem might be.

Only an automated, computer-driven solution can help with the surging number of people needing help with their health Continue reading... The Guardian

Parkinson's disease sufferers try to hide symptoms or lie about condition, survey finds

Parkinson's disease sufferers try to hide symptoms or lie about condition, survey finds Almost two-fifths of people in the UK with Parkinson's diseasehave felt the need to hide their symptoms or lie about having the condition, a survey has shown.

The findings, from the charity Parkinson's UK, are said to reveal an "alarming" level of fear surrounding the disorder.

A total of 127,000 people in the UK live with Parkinson's, a progressive brain disease that causes uncontrollable tremors, slow movement, and impaired speech.

Parkinson's UK estimates that 42,000 affected people in the UK have delayed sharing their diagnosis with someone close to them. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• People with Parkinson's forced to hide their condition Parkinson's UK
• Many with Parkinson's 'hide symptoms' BBC News
• VIDEO: 'I start forgetting stuff and that frightens me' BBC News

Integrating housing, health and care

Integrating housing, health and care Last month Simon Stevens announced NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme. The programme, which is supported by Public Health England, will work with 10 new housing developments to shape the health of communities, and to rethink how health and care services can be delivered.

It was clear from Stevens that it’s quite novel for the NHS to be involved in planning right from the start, deciding how these new sites develop and piloting creative solutions for the health and care challenges that society is facing, including obesity and dementia. And he was right – the NHS is usually late to the table and as a result health and care needs can be an afterthought in new housing developments.

The programme offers important opportunities to embed healthy living into everyday lives – one argument being that if we enable healthy living, thus preventing ill health, we’ll reduce the burden on the over-stretched NHS. Healthy New Towns is a sensible programme but it’s also a long-term one, and we might not be able to measure the benefits of this approach for a number of years. In the meantime, how else should we improve health and care through one of the most fundamental parts of our lives – our homes? The King's Fund

See also:

• Housing, care and health infographics The King's Fund

Policy paper: UK lessons from Ebola outbreak

Policy paper: UK lessons from Ebola outbreak The government welcomes the committee’s report and its focus on the importance of sharing information and expertise and having a coordinated research response.

The government continues to work with the World Health Organization and the wider international community to ensure that we have in place the best possible information to be able to assess the onset and spread of diseases such as Ebola and more recently Zika.

In addition, in the field of research, the government has set up the £1 billion Ross Fund which will enable us to encourage and coordinate action to tackle malaria and other infectious diseases. Department of Health

Guidance for commissioners of psychiatric intensive care units

Guidance for commissioners of psychiatric intensive care units This guidance was produced in partnership with the National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) to support the commissioning of high-quality psychiatric intensive care units (PICU) and improve patient experience. NHS Clinical Comissioners

'Death risk' warning over birth options

'Death risk' warning over birth options A senior coroner has warned of a risk of future deaths if the NHS favours vaginal delivery over caesarean sections on the basis of cost. BBC News

BMA calls urgent meeting for doctors to tackle NHS crises

BMA calls urgent meeting for doctors to tackle NHS crises UK-wide doctors to discuss NHS concerns and evidence-based solutions to protect care. OnMedica

Scans show severe brain damage in Zika-affected babies

Scans show severe brain damage in Zika-affected babies Extremely severe brain abnormalities indicate poor neurological prognosis, say doctors. OnMedica

See also:

• Zika virus 'does cause birth defects' NHS Choices

Children's rotting teeth cost hospitals £35m a year

Children's rotting teeth cost hospitals £35m a year Study says excessive consumption of fizzy drinks and foods high in added sugar are main reasons why more children are having teeth removed. The Independent

See also:

• VIDEO: Children miss school due to poor teeth BBC News
• Doctors reveal toddlers are being sent to hospitals with mouths full of cavities The Daily Mail

British man to have NHS-funded surgery in France

British man to have NHS-funded surgery in France Timothy Brierley is first patient under deal with Centre Hospitalier de Calais, and he says wait time has been hugely reduced

A British man will become the first NHS patient to undergo surgery at a Calais hospital, under a new scheme that saw his waiting time for the procedure reduced from nearly 10 months to a few weeks.

Last year, Centre Hospitalier de Calais won the right to provide services for NHS patients, signing an agreement with South Kent Coast NHS whereby patients would travel at their own expense to France but with the health service covering the cost of the surgery.  Continue reading... The Guardian

Children's medicine 'at risk' as doctors' dispute puts off trainees

Children's medicine 'at risk' as doctors' dispute puts off trainees Top paediatrician warns of worrying signs of exodus of trainees from the specialty, exacerbating existing shortage

The care of sick children in the NHS is in danger of becoming unsafe because the junior doctors’ dispute is driving so many medics from entering the specialty, Britain’s top paediatrician has warned.

There are worrying signs of an exodus of trainee doctors from children’s medicine that will exacerbate an already serious shortage of staff, according to Prof Neena Modi. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS 'on its knees' with worst ever performance on A&E and 111

NHS 'on its knees' with worst ever performance on A&E and 111 The NHS has had its worst ever performance against Accident and Emergency and 111 targets, while missing swathes more standards, official figures show.

Labour said the data showed the health service “on its knees” with patients stuck on trolleys for hours in overcrowded casualty departments.

Latest statistics show the 111 phoneline left record numbers of patients waiting for a call back in February, while failing to hit its targets to directly transfer cases which were most urgent. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to the February performance statistics published today by NHS England The King's Fund
• Statement on the monthly performance statistics for February 2016 NHS England
• Can the NHS get on top of demand? BBC News
• A&E waiting times soar to worst EVER levels with over 5,500 patients a DAY left unseen for more than 4 hours The Daily Mail
• NHS England records worst performance for second month in a row The Guardian

Northampton A&E unit under "intense pressure" with nearly 320 patients attending every day, says report

Northampton A&E unit under "intense pressure" with nearly 320 patients attending every day, says report About 320 patients are being seen every day at the accident and emergency department of Northampton General Hospital, it has been revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Nursing agencies refuse to lower prices for Northamptonshire NHS, claims report

Nursing agencies refuse to lower prices for Northamptonshire NHS, claims report A spending cap that was designed to bring NHS wage bills under control is being constantly breached in Northamptonshire as agencies refuse to bring down their prices, according to a new report. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The Stolen Years – The Mental Health and Smoking Action report

The Stolen Years – The Mental Health and Smoking Action report Smoking is the biggest contributing factor to why people with mental health have an average lifespan between 10 and 20 years shorter than the general population, according to a new report.

The report, from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), found that around a third of adult smokers are people with a current mental health condition. Among this group, smoking levels are double that of the general population.

The report, endorsed by 27 health and mental health organisations, sets out recommendations for how smoking rates for people with a mental health condition could be dramatically reduced. These include improved training of healthcare staff, better access to stop smoking medication and a move towards smokefree mental health settings. Action on Smoking and Health

Who cares? The future of general practice

Who cares? The future of general practice This report examines the current model of general practice in relation to advances in culture, society and technology and argues that the model needs to change to adapt to future needs. It highlights the need for providers to operate at a larger scale in order to deliver primary care services more effectively. It also considers different approaches to providing primary care services such as utilising a more diverse workforce to deliver these services, such as using nurses or pharmacists to administer some general practice appointments. Reform

A&E delays reach new record level

A&E delays reach new record level A&E performance in England sank to a new low in February for the second month in a row, official figures show. BBC News

See also:

• Hospital trust A&E department downgraded BBC News

'Unacceptable gaps' in NHS baby care

'Unacceptable gaps' in NHS baby care Gaps in NHS services designed to help sick and premature babies are completely unacceptable, a child health expert says. BBC News

See also:

• Transport services for UK’s sickest babies severely under-resourced Bliss
• Transfers of premature and sick babies report (download) Bliss

Junior doctors begin permanent protest outside Department of Health

Junior doctors begin permanent protest outside Department of Health Doctors plan to wait outside Richmond House until Jeremy Hunt agrees to re-open talks on their contract. OnMedica

Antibiotic resistance 'could become bigger threat to mankind than cancer'

Antibiotic resistance 'could become bigger threat to mankind than cancer' Resistance to antibiotics will become "an even greater threat to mankind than cancer" without global action, Chancellor George Osborne will warn today.

The latest evidence suggests 10 million people a year could die globally by 2050, as a result of antibiotics becoming powerless against common infections - more than currently die from cancer, he will say. The Independent

Cutting edge theatre: world’s first virtual reality operation goes live

Cutting edge theatre: world’s first virtual reality operation goes live Dr Shafi Ahmed will carry out surgery live-streamed in virtual reality, a move experts hope will make healthcare ‘more equitable’ and help medical training.

This Thursday afternoon, Shafi Ahmed will lean over a patient and begin a delicate operation to remove cancerous tissue from a male patient’s bowel. He has performed such procedures many times before. But this time it won’t be just his surgical team who are in the room with him – the world will be there too.

Showing from 1pm the approximately two-hour long procedure at the Royal London Hospital is the world’s first operation to be streamed live in 360-degree video, allowing medical students, trainee surgeons and curious members of the public to immerse themselves in the medical event in real time. Continue reading... The Guardian

Innovative community health services help ease the pressure on GPs

Innovative community health services help ease the pressure on GPs New models of care for the growing number of people with long-term health issues are being offered around the country

Relying on family doctors to provide exclusive care to people with long-term conditions is becoming unsustainable. Around 15 million people in England live with a single long-term condition; the number of those with three or more is expected to reach 2.9 million in the next two years and most of them will be aged over 60. At the same time, a third of GP practices report long-term recruitment problems. Creating new ways of looking after this growing patient group has become imperative.

Innovative models of care managed in the community by other health professionals, and private and voluntary-sector providers, are starting to emerge and find a place in the integrated health and care landscape.

There is a growing realisation that health and social care professionals can’t do it all on their own. Continue reading... The Guardian

The true cost of mental health: Depression and anxiety 'loses global economy £651 BILLION each year'

The true cost of mental health: Depression and anxiety 'loses global economy £651 BILLION each year' A study conducted by the World Health Organisation reveals that the equivalent of 12 billion working days - or 50 million years - are lost annually to poor mental health. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Investing in treatment for depression and anxiety leads to fourfold return World Health Organization
• Scaling-up treatment of depression and anxiety: a globalreturn on investment analysis (open access) Lancet Psychiatry 
• 50 million years of work could be lost to mental illness by 2030, says World Health Organisation report The Daily Telegraph
• Better mental health treatment would boost nations' economies - WHO Thomson Reuters Foundation

Boots accused of telling staff to abuse patient medication scheme

Boots accused of telling staff to abuse patient medication scheme Boots has been accused of ordering its staff to review the medicines of patients who do not need it - including its own staff. The NHS pays pharmacies £28 per review. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Boots staff under pressure to milk the NHS for cash, says pharmacists' union The Guardian

Scientists help Northamptonshire schoolboy write for first time by printing off new hand

Scientists help Northamptonshire schoolboy write for first time by printing off new hand An eight-year-old boy from Northamptonshire has a new hand thanks to state-of-the-art 3D printing. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

CQC review of how NHS trusts investigate and learn from deaths

CQC review of how NHS trusts investigate and learn from deaths CQC is carrying out a review of how NHS trusts identify, report, investigate and learn from deaths of people using their services.

This follows a request from the Secretary of State for Health, which was part of the Government’s response to a report into the deaths of people with a learning disability or mental health problem in contact with Southern Health Foundation NHS foundation Trust.

CQC’s review will consider the quality of practice in relation to identifying, reporting and investigating the death of any person in contact with a health service managed by an NHS trust; whether the person is in hospital, receiving care in a community setting or living in their own home. The review will pay particular attention to how NHS trusts investigate and learn from deaths of people with a learning disability or mental health problem. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• NHS deaths to be investigated after man drowned in bath BBC News

Gauging where we are with a paper-free NHS

Gauging where we are with a paper-free NHS As NHS England launches the results of the digital maturity self-assessment for secondary care providers, the Head of Technology Strategy in the Digital Technology team explains the opportunities and challenges ahead

The health of the nation: averting the demise of universal healthcare

The health of the nation: averting the demise of universal healthcare This college of essays explores the background to the current pressures on the NHS and ideas that have been proposed for reform. The publication features contributions from eleven authors, including Richard Murray from The King's Fund, from across the political spectrum and covers a wide range of suggestions covering public health and behaviour change; change management; technological innovations; and the future of commissioning. Civitas

Assessing the impact of health care expenditures on mortality using cross-country data

Assessing the impact of health care expenditures on mortality using cross-country data This paper examines the body of literature which has explored the relationship between levels of public health expenditure and mortality, using a global cross-section or panel of country-level data. Centre for Health Economics

GPs in A&E departments fail to curb demand

GPs in A&E departments fail to curb demand Primary care services that are located in emergency/urgent care facilities often do not reduce demand on A&E services and are not cost-effective, concludes a study published today in Emergency Medicine Journal. OnMedica

New standards for cosmetic surgery issued

New standards for cosmetic surgery issued Doctors who carry out cosmetic procedures in the UK are being issued with new guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC) today designed to ensure better and safer care for patients. OnMedica

See also:

• Tough new standards for doctors carrying out cosmetic procedures The General Medical Council
• Guidance for doctors who offer cosmetic interventions The General Medical Council
• New cosmetic surgery rules could see practitioners struck off for offering deals and misleading patients The Independent

Sir Bruce Keogh is part of the problem, not the solution, to junior doctors' row

Sir Bruce Keogh is part of the problem, not the solution, to junior doctors' row NHS England medical director has implied that junior doctors are callous but has failed to explain how the NHS can deliver seven-day services.

Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of the NHS England, and others have described the junior doctors’ contract dispute as a workplace one about terms and conditions. Others see it is as a key battlefront that goes beyond that remit – an effort to save a crumbling NHS.

Keogh is part of the problem, not the solution to the junior doctors’ dispute. Earlier this year, at the instigation of the Department of Health, he toughened the language of a letter he was writing to the BMA, which raised the possibility that junior doctors may not be available to help hospitals in the event of a Paris-style terrorist attack. The implication was that juniors were being callous, unprofessional and not understanding the gravity of their actions. Their collective 53,000 worth of opinions on the way they were being treated by his boss, and now him, did not matter in the slightest. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt could end this doctors strike tomorrow. I wish our critics would recognise that The Daily Telegraph
• Former chief medical officer resigns over junior doctors strike The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors' strike will put lives in danger warns Dame Sally Davies The Daily Mail

Where’s the harm in GPs prescribing over-the-counter medicines for free? | Ann Robinson

Where’s the harm in GPs prescribing over-the-counter medicines for free? | Ann Robinson Doctors need to prescribe responsibly. But some susceptible patients might not be able to afford sun-blocking cream to prevent skin cancer.

The Mail is up in arms. “The NHS spends millions handing out toothpaste, Calpol and Berocca vitamin pills,” begins an article in the paper on Monday. “Patients are also routinely prescribed Strepsils, Bonjela, Rennie indigestion pills and even Alka-Seltzer.” Apparently this costs the NHS tens of millions a year, “while vital surgery and cancer drugs are rationed”. What a bunch of scroungers we all are.

But is it true? Are profligate GPs prescribing useless drugs for wanton people and draining the NHS of vital funds? The truth is a bit more complicated.

Lots of people get free prescriptions, and more than 80% of all dispensed items are to people who are exempt from them Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS pressuring women to have natural birth over caesarean section due to cost

NHS pressuring women to have natural birth over caesarean section due to cost Some mothers-to-be have to beg hospitals for caesareans, according to the boss of human rights charity Birthrights. This is despite guidelines saying C-sections should be offered to all women who ask. The Daily Mail

Sustainability and transformation plans: a major new development in commissioning health and care

Sustainability and transformation plans: a major new development in commissioning health and care

July 2016 sees the deadline for the production of sustainability and transformation plans - joint plans produced by NHS providers, CCGs, local authorities, and other health and care services (including VCSE partners) for 44 geographical areas across England. NHS Networks

NHS England backs innovative care initiative

NHS England backs innovative care initiative


NHS England has today announced a £1.75m investment in an innovative family-based initiative to help more people to be cared for in a home, not a hospital.

The Shared Lives model will support people who have needs which make it hard for them to live on their own, by carefully matching them with a carer to share their family and lives, giving care and support in the community. NHS Commissioning

Tens of millions to be reinvested in patient care thanks to NHS devices deal

Tens of millions to be reinvested in patient care thanks to NHS devices deal

NHS England has today announced a new nationwide system for purchasing expensive medical devices and implants which will see savings of over £60 million ploughed back into specialist care in its first two years. NHS Commissioning

Guidance for commissioners of psychiatric intensive care units (PICU)

Guidance for commissioners of psychiatric intensive care units (PICU)


This guidance was produced in partnership with the National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) to support the commissioning of high-quality PICUs and improve patient experience. It seeks to empower and enable commissioners, managers and clinicians to jointly develop high quality PICUs. It provides summary guidance which will assist commissioners to meet the needs of their local population, and achieve the ambitions of the Five Year Forward View focusing on patient safety, clinical effectiveness and patient experience. NHS Clinical Commissioners
Guidance
Press release

CentreForum Commission on Children and Young People's Mental Health: state of the nation

CentreForum Commission on Children and Young People's Mental Health: state of the nation


This is the first report from the commission and their research has revealed the problems young people face when trying to access mental health care. Services turn away, on average, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of children and teenagers referred to them by their GPs, teachers or others. The analysis of services’ eligibility criteria shows that this is often because there are high thresholds for access to their services, preventing often the most effective treatment of mental health conditions - early intervention. CentreForum
Report
Press release

Nurses could safely take half of GPs' appointments, says thinktank

Nurses could safely take half of GPs' appointments, says thinktank


Reform argues letting practice nurses deal with more minor ailments could relieve strain on GPs and save £700m

Only one in three people who visit a GP surgery are ill enough to need to see a doctor and many of the remainder could talk to a practice nurse instead, a report claims.

Letting nurses deal with more ailments could free up enough GP time to allow them to offer patients appointments lasting up to 20 minutes, it concludes. Guardian

Continue reading...

New cancer imaging could show if treatment attacking disease within days

New cancer imaging could show if treatment attacking disease within days

The technique has been tested on a person in the UK for the first time as part of a study. Independent

Patients do want to see GPs at weekends as demand for appointments found to soar

Patients do want to see GPs at weekends as demand for appointments found to soar

Analysis by the think-tank Reform contradicts claims by GPs that weekend appointments are unpopular. Some practices in Yorkshire and Cornwall have already dropped weekend slots. Daily Mail

Update on rising scarlet fever across England

Update on rising scarlet fever across England Public Health England has reported a continued increase in cases of scarlet fever across England with 1319 new cases between 21 to 27 March, the highest weekly total recorded in recent decades (data available from 1982 onwards).

A total of 10,570 cases of scarlet fever have now been reported since the season began in September 2015.

Scarlet fever is a seasonal illness which should be treated with antibiotics and cases of the illness usually peak at this time of year.

Make time to talk performance

Make time to talk performance This toolkit for NHS managers provides practical support to help you deal confidently with performance management challenges such as managing under-performing staff, reviewing performance and giving constructive feedback. NHS Employers

Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation

Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation The first report of the Commission on children and young people’s mental health. This  new research has revealed the problems young people face when trying to access mental health care which include:

• Services turn away, on average, nearly a quarter (23%) of children and teenagers referred to them by their GPs, teachers or others.
• Once a referral is accepted, young people often have to wait many months for treatment. There was also significant variation in waiting times between providers. 
• Big differences in the amount spent on children’s mental health in different areas and regions. 

Finally the report also looks at government policy on children’s mental health, such as the publication of Future in Mind – a transformation plan published in March 2015 along with a pledge of £1.25bn of funding over the next five years. CentreForum

See also:

• Concerns over reporting of deaths of youngsters in mental health units The Daily Mail
• Mental health services turn away 23% of under-18s referred to them The Guardian
• Mental Health Specialist Support Denied To Almost A Quarter Of Young People And Children Huffington Post UK

Mental health deaths 'under-reported'

Mental health deaths 'under-reported' A charity for bereaved families is demanding the government investigates the way deaths of young people in mental health units are recorded.

Research by Inquest suggests at least nine young people have died in England as in-patients since 2010.

Health Minister Alistair Burt told BBC Panorama he didn't know the figure and is calling for further research.

The Department of Health has now accepted there have been at least four deaths. BBC News

See also:

• Sara's Story: The diary of a teenager who died in the mental health system BBC News
• Tragedy as nine young people died while patients in mental health units The Mirror

Next doctors' strike 'will damage trust'

Next doctors' strike 'will damage trust' An all-out strike by junior doctors will "irreparably damage" trust and the reputation of the profession, NHS England's medical director says. BBC News

See also:

• NHS chief Bruce Keogh warns junior doctors not to go ahead with their planned all-out strike The Daily Mail
• Huge NHS walk-out now inevitable after Government refuses to re-open talks with junior doctors over pay and conditions The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors' strikes increasingly hard to justify, says regulator The Guardian
• All-out junior doctors’ strike unethical and reckless, says NHS chief The Guardian
• Withdrawing emergency cover crosses a line – it will damage trust in doctors (Bruce Keogh) The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt should not impose junior doctors' contract, say senior NHS officials The Independent

Huge leap to mass produced platelets

Huge leap to mass produced platelets Scientists have made a significant leap towards mass producing platelets - the part of the blood that forms clots. BBC News

English language requirements for foreign doctors are not fit for purpose

English language requirements for foreign doctors are not fit for purpose The International English Language Testing System does not prepare overseas doctors for different dialects and colloquialisms, or a busy A&E

I had been teaching English to medical professionals for over a decade before Dr Ubani – theGerman-trained doctor whose patient died during his first shift in the UK – hit the headlines. The GMC doubted not only Ubani’s clinical competency, but also his English language skills, and he was struck off.

Until June 2014, when the GMC revised its criteria, those certified in the EU had been virtually exempt from control either clinically or linguistically. Today, the International English Language Testing System (Ielts) is used as a means of ensuring fitness to practice for all overseas doctors. Much has changed since 2008 when Ubani was practising, but as I help prepare a group of overseas recruits as part of an NHS induction programme, I can’t help wondering to what extent the Ielts is actually fit for purpose. Continue reading... The Guardian

Millions being spent each year on prescriptions for widely available items

Millions being spent each year on prescriptions for widely available items More than 1.1million prescriptions were written for toothpaste. There were another 4.7million prescriptions for Rennie, Gaviscon and similar indigestion remedies, costing £26.4million. The Daily Mail

Zika Virus can now be transmitted sexually and vaccine development continues

Zika Virus can now be transmitted sexually and vaccine development continues Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis experts developed Zika mice models and found the male sexual organs had higher levels of the virus than the brain or spinal cord. The Daily Mail

Kettering Hospital doctors’ picket line gains public support

Kettering Hospital doctors’ picket line gains public support Junior doctors staging a strike outside Kettering General Hospital say support from the public has been overwhelming. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Almost a third of NGH staff have been bullied harassed or abused by a colleague in last 12 months

Almost a third of NGH staff have been bullied harassed or abused by a colleague in last 12 months A total of 29 per cent of Northampton General Hospital staff have been bullied abused or harassed by a work colleague, a survey suggests. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Tackling the growing crisis in the NHS: an agenda for action

Tackling the growing crisis in the NHS: an agenda for action This briefing identifies three big challenges for the NHS in England: sustaining existing services and standards of care; developing new and better models of care; and tackling these challenges by reforming the NHS ‘from within’. It aims to offer some practical solutions to help the NHS address one of the biggest crises in its history. The King's Fund

See also:

• Action to tackle the growing crisis in health and social care is essential for a sustainable future The King's Fund

Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership?

Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership? I was recently asked to chair a round-table event for the Health Service Journal on ethnic diversity and equality in health care leadership.

Out of interest I researched the origin of the term ‘round-table’ and discovered that it came from a speech made by HRH Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, to the British Industries Fair in 1927. He urged ‘young business and professional men… to get together round the table and adopt methods that have proved sound in the past, adapt them to changing needs and wherever possible, improve them’. Setting aside the gender focus of the original use, I would like to reflect on issues that were discussed at this particular round-table event in 2016 – namely what leaders in the NHS can adopt, adapt and improve to enable black and minority ethnic (BME) staff to achieve their potential as leaders. The King's Fund

Open consultation: Changing how healthcare education is funded

Open consultation: Changing how healthcare education is funded The government has proposed that from 1 August 2017, all new nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students on pre-registration undergraduate and post-graduate courses will receive their tuition funding and financial support through the standard student support system, rather than NHS bursaries and tuition funded by Health Education England.

This consultation seeks views on how these reforms can be successfully implemented.

Further guidance about the NHS bursary reforms is available. Department of Health

Our ageing population presents the NHS with its greatest challenge – Dr Martin Vernon

Our ageing population presents the NHS with its greatest challenge – Dr Martin Vernon In the latest of a series of blogs introducing a number of senior appointments within NHS England, the newly appointed National Clinical Director for Older People and Integrated Care looks at what he sees as his main challenges. NHS England

Sustainability and transformation plans: a major new development in commissioning health and care

Sustainability and transformation plans: a major new development in commissioning health and care July 2016 sees the deadline for the production of Sustainability and Transformation Plans - joint plans produced by NHS providers, CCGs, Local Authorities, and other health and care services (including VCSE partners) for 44 ‘footprint’ geographical areas across England. These will form the basis for long term, place based planning and commissioning of services. This briefing provides more details and provides guidance on how to get involved in your area. Regional Voices

Fresh junior doctor talks 'ruled out'

Fresh junior doctor talks 'ruled out' Fresh talks to break the deadlock in the junior doctor dispute in England have been ruled out by the government as the latest strike nears its end. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors join 140 pickets as BMA demands talks to end contract dispute GP Online
• Exclusive: Pay cuts under imposed junior doctor contract 'a disaster' for GP training, says BMA GP Online
• Hunt insists he will impose new contract on NHS doctors The Guardian
• Junior doctors' strike continues as ministers urged to resume talks The Guardian

Alcohol related deaths likely to rise, warn experts

Alcohol related deaths likely to rise, warn experts England’s alcohol deaths will rise in contrast to rest of UK. OnMedica

Death rate rise blamed on increase in people suffering from flu and dementia

Death rate rise blamed on increase in people suffering from flu and dementia A flu jab blunder, which left elderly people exposed due to an unexpected mutation of the main influenza strain, contributed to the massive spike last year. The Independent

See also:

• Spike in deaths 'due to dementia and flu' BBC News
• Dementia and an ineffective flu jab are blamed for record spike in deaths for 50 years The Daily Mail
• Flu jab blunder fuelled biggest spike in deaths since 1960s The Daily Telegraph

Jeremy Hunt is in trouble. This is his IDS moment | Chris Ham

Jeremy Hunt is in trouble. This is his IDS moment | Chris Ham The health system cannot survive under these financial pressures. The health secretary will struggle too.

The NHS in England is facing the biggest crisis in its history. Hospitals are running up large and growing financial deficits, missing targets for waiting times, and under pressure from rising demand at a time of constrained resources.

The government’s immediate priority is to restore stability to finances and performance. A large part of the additional funding announced in last autumn’s spending review will be used to reduce deficits in hospitals and support hard-pressed NHS providers trying to hit patient-care targets.

The unwillingness to recognise publicly what is well understood privately is storing up much bigger problems Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Health chief tears into Jeremy Hunt's NHS policies The Guardian

Eating disorders: people 'wait up to 182 days for treatment' in England

Eating disorders: people 'wait up to 182 days for treatment' in England Average waiting times at mental health services for adults vary dramatically across the country, according to NHS figures.

People with eating disorders in England can wait for up to 182 days for mental health treatment, according to new NHS figures.

The average waiting time for adults in England can vary from 20 to 182 days depending on the mental health trust, BBC Breakfast found after making freedom of information requests. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS queue for anorexic and bulimia sufferers is now 6 months to see a specialist The Daily Mail
• 'What hope is there?': five readers on being failed by mental health services | Guardian readers and Sarah Marsh The Guardian

NHS looks to India for GPs in attempt to make up shortfall

NHS looks to India for GPs in attempt to make up shortfall Health Education England and Apollo Hospitals chain sign memorandum of understanding to share clinical staff

The NHS is looking at recruiting GPs from India in an attempt to tackle the serious shortage of family doctors.

Health Education England, the NHS’s training and recruitment agency, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Apollo Hospitals chain in India about lending clinical staff between them. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• RCGP response to Pulse story on recruiting doctors from overseas Royal College of General Practitioners
• NHS to recruit 400 doctors from India in desperate bid to plug staffing crisis The Daily Mail
• NHS to recruit Indian doctors to plug gaps in GP services The Daily Telegraph
• Hundreds of GPs recruited from India to help Government meet pledge to add 5,000 family doctors by 2020 The Independent

Midlands ambulance services 'in merger talks'

Midlands ambulance services 'in merger talks' Troubled East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) is struggling financially and has some of the worst response times in England.

It is thought the trust's non-executive directors want to merge with West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Both trusts said discussions on a "range of options" had taken place but talks were at an early stage. BBC News

Invisible and In Distress: Prioritising the Mental Health of England’s Young Carers

Invisible and In Distress: Prioritising the Mental Health of England’s Young Carers Caring roles taken on by children and young people can be a risk factor for their mental health. We know from the 2011 Census that for young carers doing more than 50 hours of care a week they are five times more likely to report that their health is ‘not good’ and there is evidence that they have significant levels of mental health need that are not being addressed.

This report sets out recommendations based on discussions with young carers, sector leaders and young carers services in the Carers Trust network.

See also:

• The lives of young carers in England Department for Education

National congenital heart disease audit

National congenital heart disease audit The NHS is achieving very good outcomes for congenital heart surgical operations as well as improvements in antenatal detection of infant heart problems, according to the national congenital heart disease audit. NHS England

Mental Health: times they are a changing – Professor Tim Kendall

Mental Health: times they are a changing – Professor Tim Kendall In the latest of a series of blogs introducing a number of senior appointments within NHS England, the newly appointed National Clinical Director for Mental Health looks at what he sees as his main challenges. NHS England

CQC tells Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to take urgent action to improve governance arrangements to ensure patient safety

CQC tells Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to take urgent action to improve governance arrangements to ensure patient safety Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has been told that it must make significant improvements to protect patients who are at risk of harm while in the care of its mental health and learning disability services. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Southern Health inspection reports Care Quality Commission
• NHS Improvement intends to take further action at Southern Health Monitor
• Criticised NHS trust 'must improve' BBC News 
• VIDEO: Southern Health boss 'won't resign' BBC News
• NHS trust bosses worried patients are exposed to 'longstanding risks' The Daily Mail
• Inspectors warn Southern Health Trust to make "urgent improvements" ITV News

NHS eating disorder care waits revealed

NHS eating disorder care waits revealed Wide discrepancies exist in waiting times for mental health treatment for eating disorders in England, a BBC investigation finds. BBC News

Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march'

Deadly diabetes in 'unrelenting march' The world is facing an "unrelenting march" of diabetes which now affects one-in-11 people, the World Health Organization has warned. BBC News

See also:

• Global Report on Diabetes World Health Organization 
• World Health Day 2016: WHO calls for global action to halt rise in and improve care for people with diabetes World Health Organization  
• Soaring obesity sees to see people with diabetes QUADRUPLE to 422m in 35 years The Daily Mail

Warning over DIY teeth whitening kits

Warning over DIY teeth whitening kits Councils in England and Wales are calling for tougher penalties for "rogue" beauticians who offer teeth whitening using dangerous kits. BBC News

UK toddlers’ diet cause for concern’

UK toddlers’ diet cause for concern’ Young kids getting too much energy, protein and salt, but not enough iron or vitamin D. OnMedica

NHS expects 'difficult' second day of doctors' strike

NHS expects 'difficult' second day of doctors' strike Hospitals are readying themselves for challenges as the walkout over seven-day working continues.

NHS officials are bracing themselves for a “difficult” second day of strike action by junior doctors.

Junior doctors are on strike in a bitter dispute with the government over a new contract. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS England update on industrial action by junior doctors NHS England
• NHS braced for 'difficult' strike day BBC News
• Junior doctors go on strike AGAIN forcing another 5,000 operations to be cancelled   The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors' strike: fourth 48-hour walk out leaves 5,100 procedures postponed The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctor contract 'worse than feared', say GP trainees behind £100,000 legal action GP Online
• Junior doctors strike for fourth time around the UK – video The Guardian
• Junior doctors strike again as government analysis stokes anger The Guardian
• Junior doctors make legal challenge to Jeremy Hunt's 'misconceived' contract The Guardian
• Green Wing cast join latest junior doctors' strike The Guardian
• Get back round negotiating table, junior doctors urge government OnMedica

Birth defect and paralysis may just be tip of the Zika iceberg

Birth defect and paralysis may just be tip of the Zika iceberg Top global Zika experts have now linked the mosquito-borne virus to encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis, as well - serious infections that can cause paralysis and permanent disability. The Daily Mail

NHS spends £15m a year on TAXIS to ferry patients to and from hospital appointments

NHS spends £15m a year on TAXIS to ferry patients to and from hospital appointments Some trusts are spending more than £700,000 annually - £2,000 a day - figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show. The Daily Mail

Ambulance staff 'can't take breaks'

Ambulance staff 'can't take breaks' East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) overspends by almost £12m - with staff reported to be under pressure and unable to take scheduled breaks. BBC News

NHS ‘will bid to take Northamptonshire ambulance contract from criticised private firm’

NHS ‘will bid to take Northamptonshire ambulance contract from criticised private firm’ East Midlands Ambulance Service will try to take patient transport services back from much-criticised NSL, the trust has confirmed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Improving patient experience through the physical environment

Improving patient experience through the physical environment This guide draws on the experience of the American health system about the impact of the physical environment on patient experience. Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence

NHS braced for fourth doctor strike

NHS braced for fourth doctor strike Junior doctors in England are preparing to take part in their fourth walkout in their long-running contract dispute. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctor and consultant contract negotiations British Medical Association
• Junior doctor contract negotiations Department of Health
• Junior doctors' 2016 contract NHS Employers
• NHS England statement in advance of industrial action on Wednesday April 6 NHS England
• Junior doctors strike: why are they taking action and how will it affect you? The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors begin fourth strike in contract dispute The Guardian
• Junior doctors' strike: Patients Association says it is 'glad to see contract imposition being challenged' The Independent

Asthma 'over-diagnosed and trivialised'

Asthma 'over-diagnosed and trivialised' Too many children are being incorrectly diagnosed with asthma, with inhalers becoming almost "fashion accessories", two specialists say. BBC News

See also:

• Is asthma overdiagnosed? Archives of Diseases in Childhood (open access)
• RCGP response to BMJ research on asthma diagnosis in children Royal College of General Practitioners
• Asthma: Overdiagnosis in children sees inhalers dished out like 'fashion accessories' claim health experts The Independent

GP workloads hit 'unsustainable' levels as study shows doctors dealing with more consultations than ever

GP workloads hit 'unsustainable' levels as study shows doctors dealing with more consultations than ever GP workloads have reached “unsustainable” levels researchers have said after a major study showed doctors are dealing with more consultations than ever.

Workloads in general practice increased by 16 per cent over the last seven years as family doctors in England deal with more frequent and longer consultations while the rate of GPs has decreased. The Independent

See also:

• Clinical workload in UK primary care: a retrospective analysis of 100 million consultations in England, 2007–14 The Lancet (abstract)
• RCGP response to The Lancet study showing that general practice in England is reaching ‘saturation point’ Royal College of General Practioners
• Immigration and lack of doctors behind huge waiting times at GP surgeries The Daily Mail
• GPs at crisis point as new figures reveal 'unsustainable' pressures from immigration and ageing population The Daily Telegraph
• Mounting workload pressures forcing GPs to 'saturation point', study warns GP Online
• NHS loses £700m a year on treating EU citizens, Brexit campaign claims The Guardian
• GPs "struggling" to find locum cover OnMedica

'Soaring' numbers of under-16s admitted to hospital for self-harming

'Soaring' numbers of under-16s admitted to hospital for self-harming The number of under-16s admitted to hospital in England for self-harming has increased by 76 per cent in the last five years, according to new statistics.

Data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre obtained by The New Day shows that the number has soared from 6,882 in 2009/10 to 12,119 in 2014/15. The Independent

Researchers turn to crowdfunding to develop Alzheimer's drug

Researchers turn to crowdfunding to develop Alzheimer's drug With money for basic and clinical research squeezed, some health researchers – including the UK team behind a dementia drug – are trying crowdfunding

Tests on a drug with the potential to stop Alzheimer’s in its tracks are being funded by raffles, pensioners’ donations and a sponsored walk – because the research team cannot find money for pre-clinical safety tests any other way.

The team of researchers led by Dr David Allsop at Lancaster University’s division of biomedicine and life sciences is running a crowdfunding campaign, Defying Dementia, to carry out the necessary preparatory testing on their drug in the belief they may be looking at a cure for the progressive brain disease. So far they have raised £52,000 towards their target of £165,000. Continue reading... The Guardian

What can the NHS learn from the 1940s fashion industry?

What can the NHS learn from the 1940s fashion industry? What can the NHS learn from the fashion industry? Quite a lot it turns out. Just as the NHS is going through a period of unparalleled austerity today, the clothing industry experienced its own era of austerity during the second world war in the 1940s. The Guardian (Ara Darzi)

Scarlet fever and TB have doctors worried as new cases are being reported in UK

Scarlet fever and TB have doctors worried as new cases are being reported in UK Since 2010, the number of people in the UK falling ill with whooping cough, cholera and scurvy has been rising steadily. The Daily Mail

New social enterprise will be ‘a first’ for Northamptonshire

New social enterprise will be ‘a first’ for Northamptonshire New social enterprise First for Wellbeing has been officially launched in the county and it aims to bring an integrated health and wellbeing service to Northamptonshire.

The company is a partnership between Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Northampton, and is considered to be the first of its kind for delivering such a diverse range of services for an entire county. Northants Herald and Post

Funding worth £9m agreed for three scanners and two tumour-destroying devices at Northampton General Hospital

Funding worth £9m agreed for three scanners and two tumour-destroying devices at Northampton General Hospital The Government has agreed to pay for upgrades to expensive cancer treatment and diagnosis machines at Northampton General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Campaign launch calls for more people to donate blood in Northamptonshire

Campaign launch calls for more people to donate blood in Northamptonshire A new campaign to urge people to sign up as blood donors has been launched in Northamptonshire.

NHS Blood and Transplant says it needs first-time donors and, in particular, more donors from black and Asian communities. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Terminally ill Northampton woman denied benefits to have case reviewed by the Government

Terminally ill Northampton woman denied benefits to have case reviewed by the Government A terminally ill cancer patient from Northampton who was refused a disability benefit is to have her case reviewed by the Department for Work and Pensions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Co-commissioning one year on: any progress?

Co-commissioning one year on: any progress? It is a year since most clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) took on a greater role in commissioning primary care services. NHS England reports that over this time, co-commissioning arrangements have helped to support local decision-making, enabled a more joined-up vision for primary care, increased clinical leadership and improved relationships between CCGs and local GP practices. The King's Fund

Challenges ahead for the newly established NHS Improvement

Challenges ahead for the newly established NHS Improvement The creation of NHS Improvement comes at a critical time for the NHS. In the next few months the service in general – and providers in particular – will be attempting to reverse the steep rise in deficits and, at the same time, stop the downward drift in performance in key areas such as A&E.

Beyond this, the NHS and its partners are also busy re-designing care through the vanguards and other initiatives, and re-thinking how the health and care systems work together as areas create their place-based sustainability and transformation plans – all working towards the vision of theNHS five year forward view. The King's Fund

Independent report: Dementia advisers survey

Independent report: Dementia advisers survey The report, from Age UK and IpsosMORI, contains findings from a survey into the provision of dementia adviser services throughout England.

Dementia advisers provide a single identifiable point of contact for people with dementia and their carers following a diagnosis. They have knowledge of and direct access to the whole range of available local services, providing advice, information about where to get care and enabling contact with other services.

Having a single point of contact was highlighted as being an essential element of effective post-diagnostic care in the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020. Department of Health

Statutory guidance: Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation

Statutory guidance: Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation This multi-agency guidance on female genital mutilation (FGM) should be read and followed by all persons and bodies in England and Wales who are under statutory duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. It replaces female genital mutilation: guidelines to protect children and women (2014). Department of Health