Doctors missed 11 chances to treat chess champion before he died of chronic asthma, inquest hears

Doctors missed 11 chances to treat chess champion before he died of chronic asthma, inquest hears Doctors missed 11 opportunities to treat a nine-year-old chesschampion in the months before he died of chronic asthma, an inquest heard.

Michael Uriely, who was one of the UK's brightest prospects in the game, was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London twice in the days before his death after he suffered violent coughing and vomiting fits which left him struggling to breathe.

The national chess champion, from St John's Wood, north-west London, died on August 25 2015, five days after being discharged from the hospital for the second time.

In the months before his death the Westminster Under School pupil was also seen by NHS GPs, as well as having private doctor appointments. The Daily Telegraph

Guidance: Social work: essential to integration

Guidance: Social work: essential to integration The document should be used to support and inform local and regional health and social care integration initiatives. It explains:

• the critical contribution that social workers make to integrated services
• how social work is essential to the whole system
• the necessity of support to ensure integration succeeds in providing the services people need

It also includes ‘top tips’ for directors of adult social services and for principal social workers to assist in progressing the integration agenda.

It was developed in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Principal Social Workers’ Network and the Department of Health.

Public health working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector: new opportunities and sustainable change

Public health working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector: new opportunities and sustainable change The case studies in this report show how public health and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) are working together to make a real difference to people's health and wellbeing. The case studies demonstrate how harnessing the skills, enthusiasm and expertise of VCSE organisations and volunteers can help to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. Local Government Association

Charities' plea over Personal Independence Payments

Charities' plea over Personal Independence Payments The chief executives of more than 30 charities have written to ministers urging them not to restrict access to a disability benefit.

The rules around Personal Independence Payments, which help with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability, will change on Thursday.

The charities claim people will be left without vital financial support.

Ministers said they were forced to act after two court judgements made the benefit more generous.

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) said about 160,000 recipients of Personal Independence Payments would be affected if the changes go ahead. BBC News

See also:

• DWP 'tells disability benefits assessors to discriminate against people with mental health conditions' The Independent

Superbug drug launched to fight growing threat of antibiotic resistance

Superbug drug launched to fight growing threat of antibiotic resistance A new antibiotic designed to fight drug-resistant ‘superbugs’ has become available to patients in the UK.

Doctors are “running out of options” for treating common infections caused by bacteria which mutate to resist regular antibiotics, said microbiologist Matthew Dryden.

“Resistance is increasing, almost exponentially. It's a problem facing every emergency department in this country,” he told The Independent.

But innovative new drugs like Zavicefta, which combines a traditional antibiotic in the same class as penicillin with a brand new drug that attacks resistance mechanisms, are being introduced to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

If we hide our mental health issues, we make it easier for society to ignore us

If we hide our mental health issues, we make it easier for society to ignore us People with mental health issues are being expected to “prove it” as never before. Whether, as individuals, being assessed for disability benefits or, collectively, campaigning for services and adequate welfare provision, the pressure to demonstrate genuine need, to prove that one is “really disabled”, to quote the Tory MP George Freeman, is greater than ever. Continue reading... The Guardian

Public sector workers first to face cut in real pay, says thinktank

Public sector workers first to face cut in real pay, says thinktank Public sector workers have become the first group to suffer a cut in real wages since the recovery of 2014 as forecasters predicted that the rest of the working population would follow suit later this year.

The Resolution Foundation said the situation for 5.4 million public sector workersis expected to worsen over the rest of the decade as pay restraint and high inflation eat into their take-home pay and living standards.

The independent thinktank forecast that median real pay for the average public sector worker would fall below 2004-05 levels by the end of the current parliament in 2020.

UK social care sector in crisis due to staff hortages

On current trends, the average pay of public sector workers will be £1,700 lower in 2020 than its peak in 2010, it said. Continue reading... The Guardian

'Lots of nurses have already left': EU workers head for exit

'Lots of nurses have already left': EU workers head for exit How is the prospect of Brexit affecting different sectors? We asked you whether many EU workers were leaving or had plans to leave. Here are your stories

Since news of the UK’s looming departure from the European Union hit, lots of industries have spoken out about fears of losing European workers. On Monday academics from Oxford University said staff would go if they were not reassured about their future. It comes amid news that EU citizens working in the NHS are thinking of leaving in the next five years.

We asked you about how the loss of European workers may affect, or is already affecting, your sector. We heard from a variety of people, including professors and doctors, who expressed concern that workers are already leaving. Here are a selection of your stories.

European people working for the NHS feel utterly disappointed and disillusioned.

Since then I’ve been taking fewer UK clients knowing I will leave. I just feel sadly unwelcome now.Continue reading... The Guardian

Mental health hospital declared unsafe in damning report

Mental health hospital declared unsafe in damning report Britain's leading private rehab hospital The Priory has been declared unsafe in a damning inspection report.

Patients on suicide watch are not properly monitored and there are not enough staff to provide safe care, the Care Quality Commission said.

Children and teenagers with eating disorders are at particular risk, with 95 incidents recorded among this group in the last six months alone, at least some of them during understaffed shifts, inspectors reported.

The private facility in south west London was ordered to make urgent improvements, with inspectors rating the safety of care as 'inadequate' - the lowest possible ranking.

Overall, the hospital was given a grade of 'requires improvement'. The Daily Mail

Australia to ban children who have not been vaccinated from childcare centres

Australia to ban children who have not been vaccinated from childcare centres Australia plans to ban children who have not been vaccinated from attending preschools and childcare centres following concerns about the influence of the so-called “anti-vax movement”.

In a move that received strong backing from medical experts, Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, said he will push for all states and territories to adopt “no jab, no play” laws.

The laws, which have been adopted in recent years in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, ban the enrollment of unvaccinated children in childcare facilities unless they have a medical exemption. The Daily Telegraph

NHS looking for more blood donors in Kettering

NHS looking for more blood donors in Kettering As Mother’s Day approaches, NHS Blood and Transplant is asking Kettering residents to think about mothers and children whose lives have been saved by blood donations as they appeal for more donors. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS financial pressures are having a widespread but often unseen impact on patient care

NHS financial pressures are having a widespread but often unseen impact on patient care NHS financial pressures are increasingly affecting patient care, often in ways that go unseen, according to a new report by The King’s Fund.

Understanding NHS financial pressures finds that access to and quality of care are both being affected in different ways across the NHS. While public attention tends to focus on high-profile examples of rationing such as restricting access to some types of treatment, the report authors warn that financial and other pressures are also affecting patient care in ways that often go 'under the radar'.

The authors looked in detail at four services – testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, district nursing, elective hip replacement and neonatal care – to explore the impact of financial pressures on patient care.

See also:

• The impact of NHS financial pressures – a mixed picture The King's Fund
• NHS nursing cuts leave patients dying on their own The Daily Mail
• NHS rationing 'leaving dying patients to suffer in pain' report warns The Daily Telegraph
• Dying patients waiting hours for pain relief in NHS funding shortfall The Guardian
• Rationing of NHS services ‘leaving patients in pain and distress’, says new report The Independent

STPs: a call for ‘extraordinary’ leadership

STPs: a call for ‘extraordinary’ leadership As we highlighted in our recent report, the 44 sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) submitted by areas across England are ambitious visions that now need to evolve into credible plans that address the financial and operational challenges facing the NHS and its partners.

While the detail of each proposal varies - because each plan is designed to meet local needs - they all have something in common. Together, they represent a major transformational change in the delivery of health and social care in England.

The success of STPs will depend on high levels of collaboration across and between organisations that historically have little experience of working together to deliver change at the scale and pace that now seems essential. And with STPs bringing together as many as 32 organisations in an area, this is a real challenge. The King's Fund

People with dementia and learning difficulties detained in care without checks due to “failing” law

People with dementia and learning difficulties detained in care without checks due to “failing” law Thousands of vulnerable people with dementia and learning disabilities are being detained in hospitals and care homes without the appropriate checks, due to a law unfit for purpose according to a report from the Law Commission.

Often those who lack the mental capacity to consent – like certain people with dementia or learning disabilities – need to be detained in a place like a hospital or care home when it is in their best interests. For example, a dementia patient may be kept in their care home to prevent them from wandering off, which could put them in danger. This is known as a deprivation of liberty and a proper authorisation process should be in place to ensure that this is done lawfully.

But since a landmark legal case in 2014, which widened the definition of who was subject to the “Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards”, local authorities have been under increased administrative pressures. As a result last year 100,000 people who required the authorisation did not receive it.

See also:

• Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Law Commission
• People with dementia 'failed' by deprivation of liberty law BBC News
• Thousands of dementia patients wrongly locked up in homes The Daily Mail
• 50,000 families caring for relatives at home risk breaking the law by locking them in The Daily Telegraph

Understanding devolution: a critical appraisal of the Greater Manchester devolution deal

Understanding devolution: a critical appraisal of the Greater Manchester devolution deal This paper presents an assessment of the devolution process in Greater Manchester so far and highlights key issues for consideration for future devolved local areas. The analysis identifies the integration of health and social care as the service area which will undergo the greatest change in terms of public service reform in devolved regions. New Economics Foundation

Thousands of Welsh NHS staff's data stolen in hack

Thousands of Welsh NHS staff's data stolen in hack Details of thousands of medical staff in Wales have been stolen from a private contractor's computer server.

Names, dates of birth, radiation doses and National Insurance numbers of staff who work with X-rays were copied as hackers accessed Landauer's system.

The Welsh NHS described the data breach as "deeply disappointing" and it has started an investigation.

The Welsh Government and information commissioner have been informed and Landauer has been asked to comment.

Affected staff all use radiation dose meter badges to measure their exposure while working with X-rays. BBC News

Personal injury discount rate cut may be 'legally flawed'

Personal injury discount rate cut may be 'legally flawed' Medical indemnity experts have written to the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss, expressing concern that her decision to cut the discount rate applied to personal injury claims may be "legally flawed".

Last month, the Lord Chancellor cut the discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75%. Doctors' indemnity organisations immediately expressed concern that the move will increase the size of compensation payments leading to significant new costs for the NHS and a dramatic increase in the cost of indemnifying its members. OnMedica

Why is there so little social diversity in medicine?

Why is there so little social diversity in medicine? Only 7% of students across the UK are privately educated, but 26% of medical students went to fee-paying schools

Medicine in the UK has traditionally been deemed an elite profession that excludes those from low socioeconomic groups. A mere 7% of students are privately educated, but 26% of medical students went to fee-paying schools.

However, when you look closely at the figures, many students leave school at 16, and 18% of 16- to 18-year-olds are in fact privately educated; the proportion is even higher for those studying science subjects. Suddenly, the figure of 26% of privately educated medical students seems to reflect numbers studying sciences at school. It is not surprising that the majority of doctors come from more affluent backgrounds. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS data loss scandal has prompted five inquiries, ministers say

NHS data loss scandal has prompted five inquiries, ministers say Government accused of ‘huge cover-up’ over its response to outcry over 515,000 lost test results and doctors’ letters

The NHS’s loss of more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence is so serious that it has triggered five separate investigations, ministers have admitted.

The disclosure has prompted claims that the scale of the loss of 515,000 test results and doctors’ letters was hidden in “a huge cover-up”. It raises fresh questions for the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who has publicly championed openness in the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian

Doctors could be forced to work for NHS for at least five years under plans for 'home grown' expansion

Doctors could be forced to work for NHS for at least five years under plans for 'home grown' expansion Doctors could be forced to work in the UK for at least five years after completing their training, under plans by Jeremy Hunt to expand the supply of home-grown doctors.

The Health Secretary will today unveil plans for the largest ever expansion in the NHS medical workforce, training an extra 1,500 doctors a year.

The scheme means the number of junior doctors will expand by one quarter, in an effort to ensure Britain is less reliant on overseas doctors, in the years after Brexit.

Today Mr Hunt said the plans were part of efforts to create “the safest healthcare system in the world” while ensuring value for money.

It costs the taxpayer £230,000 to train a doctor, over and above fees paid by individuals. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• News story: More undergraduate medical education places Department of Health
• Doctors could be forced to pay training if they leave NHS The Daily Mail

Cancelled operations in ‘black alert’ cost KGH almost £170,000

Cancelled operations in ‘black alert’ cost KGH almost £170,000 A Freedom of Information request by the Northants Telegraph revealed that 116 operations were cancelled while the hospital was on ‘black alert’ between November 2016 and January 2017.

The cost of cancelling these operations was £169,731, with all of them rearranged to a new date.

Kettering General Hospital’s chief operating officer, Rebecca Brown, said: “The trust would like to apologise to all patients who have had their operations rearranged to a new date because of emergency pressures on the trust this winter.

“We fully appreciate how disruptive and distressing this can be.

“This has been our busiest winter on record. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Developing women’s leadership on the road to gender parity

Developing women’s leadership on the road to gender parity During a routine programme review at The King’s Fund in 2016, questions were raised as to whether we still needed our flagship Athena programme for senior women leaders. Hasn’t the glass ceiling already been broken by a number of women?

In traditionally male-dominated industries women are making progress: Karren Brady is vice-chair of West Ham Football Club, Angela Knight is a former Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association and Cressida Dick has just been appointed as Scotland Yard’s Commissioner – the first time a woman has held the post in the Yard’s 188-year history. But while individual women are making progress, a closer look at the statistics reveals there is still a long way to go to achieve true gender balance. The King's Fund

Let NHS off £1,000 overseas doctors charge, urge unions

Let NHS off £1,000 overseas doctors charge, urge unions Two leading health unions are calling on the home secretary to make the NHS exempt from a new charge which will be payable on overseas doctors and nurses.

The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing say the Immigration Skills Charge, coming into effect in April, threatens NHS budgets.

It will mean the NHS must pay £1,000 per year for any worker coming to the UK from outside the European Union.

The government has said it is committed to building home-grown skills.

Nurses remain on an official list of occupations of which the UK has a shortage. BBC News

See also:

• Immigration Skills Charge - Impact on the NHS and health and social care workforce (joint letter) British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing
• Immigration skills charge British Medical Association
• NHS could lose millions to immigration charge British Medical Association
• Non-EU worker fee risks adding to staffing crisis Royal College of Nursing
• New Immigration Charge ‘Could Cost NHS Millions Of Pounds’ Huffington Post UK

Lesbians wrongly 'told they did not need cervical screening'

Lesbians wrongly 'told they did not need cervical screening' Women who have sex with women are often wrongly told they do not need a cervical screening test, say LGBT groups.

This results in half of all eligible lesbian and bisexual women never having had a smear test, they said.

The human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes most cervical cancers, can be transmitted through lesbian sex.

Cervical cancer charities say all women, no matter their orientation, should have regular cervical screening.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups say women regularly face barriers to accessing healthcare and can have poor experiences when they do.

For example, in a survey of lesbian, bisexual and other women who have sex with women, 36% said a doctor or nurse had assumed they were heterosexual. BBC News

Prison psychiatrists warn care is ‘at breaking point’

Prison psychiatrists warn care is ‘at breaking point’ Prison psychiatrists are feeling so frightened at work that many are finding it “impossible” to provide a basic level of care to inmates, according to the latest research to document the deteriorating conditions inside Britain’s jails.

Another instance of the ongoing crisis arrived as dozens of prisoners were evacuated from HMP Guys Marsh after an inmate torched his clothes on the building’s roof, triggering a “large fire”. Although no one was hurt it emerged that during the Dorset jail’s last inspection, investigators concluded it was in “crisis”, that managers and staff had “all but lost control” and violence was so endemic inmates lived in fear.

This follows other prison riots, including one at Winson Green prison in Birmingham last year.

Declining safety levels insde the penal system are underlined by a new survey that found assaults on psychiatrists, and that up to 30 healthcare appointments a day have been cancelled in some jails because there are not enough officers to escort staff between cells and clinics. Continue reading... The Guardian

Drug addiction isn't going away so why are treatment centres being slashed?

Drug addiction isn't going away so why are treatment centres being slashed? Our most desperate clients lead chaotic lives and this hurts our performance targets - they now have to jump through hoops before getting any help

You may not know that your local authority is responsible for funding drug and alcohol treatment. And unless you, a friend or family member have been personally touched by addiction you might not think that these services should be a funding priority for cash-strapped councils.

We're left to manage a host of intractable problems that we're not qualified or able to deal with. Continue reading... The Guardian

Technology could redefine doctor-patient relationship

Technology could redefine doctor-patient relationship Artificial intelligence is already making inroads into the NHS and could have profound effects on the medical workforce

Advances in clinical uses of artificial intelligence (AI) could have two profound effects on the global medical workforce.

AI, which mimics cognitive functions such as learning and problem-solving, is already making inroads into the NHS. In north London it is piloting use of an app aimed at users of the non-emergency 111 service, while the Royal Free London NHS foundation trust has teamed up with Google’s DeepMind AI arm to develop an app aimed at patients with signs of acute kidney injury. The hospital claims the project, which uses information from more than 1.6 million patients a year, could free up more than half a million hours annually spent on paperwork. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Eight technologies that could change healthcare beyond recognition The Guardian
• Robots don’t challenge surgeons such as me – they challenge dogmatic practice The Guardian

Brexit threats over hospital food to the cash-strapped NHS

Brexit threats over hospital food to the cash-strapped NHS Ten food firms, including Marmite maker Unilever, claim the fall in sterling since the Brexit referendum has driven up their costs – and they are determined to pass the hit on to the Health Service. The Daily Mail

Diktat for every hospital to change NHS logo ignored objections from chief executives and PR experts

Diktat for every hospital to change NHS logo ignored objections from chief executives and PR experts Hospitals were ordered to change their logo despite warnings from health service executives that the move would “cost an absolute fortune,” a report reveals.

Every hospital has been issued with instructions to alter their publicity materials, moving the “NHS” lozenge so it is above the name of the trust, instead of beside it.

The move - revealed by the Telegraph last month - prompted fury from patients groups, with concern about the use of resources when the NHS is facing the greatest financial crisis in its history.

The measure is being introduced by an “NHS identity team” following a two year review.

Health officials said the changes would reduce “confusion and concern” among the public, claiming that current inconsistencies in use of the format could be fuelling pressure on Accident & Emergency units. The Daily Telegraph

Rationing rules restricting surgery to those in most pain must be axed, NHS officials rule

Rationing rules restricting surgery to those in most pain must be axed, NHS officials rule “Arbitrary” rationing measures restricting NHS surgery to those in most pain must be lifted, health officials have ruled.

NHS England has warned clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to stop denying hip and knee operations to patients using criteria which only allow surgery to those in the worst discomfort.

Health officials intervened after warnings from the Royal College of Surgeons of “alarming” restrictions on surgery, with patients told they could only have surgery on the NHS if pain left them unable to sleep or carry out daily tasks.

NHS England has now issued advice that such restrictions are not allowed, with local health officials told they should follow guidance from central rationing bodies. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS chiefs call for an end to rationing of hip operations The Daily Mail

Guidance: Smoking cessation in secondary care: acute and maternity settings

Guidance: Smoking cessation in secondary care: acute and maternity settings The self-assessment tool breaks down the NICE guidance into 4 areas:

• systems required to implement the guidance
• communication required
• training that will help staff to successfully implement the recommendations
• treatments that should be available to support staff and service users

This self-assessment tool supports all of the recommendations applicable to acute services in the NICE guidelines on Smoking cessation in secondary care. Public Health England

Local and national: how the public wants the NHS to be both

Local and national: how the public wants the NHS to be both The research conducted for this report shows that while people may have heard the term ‘devolution’, there is little public understanding of what it entails. It finds that while people believe that local control will improve healthcare and welcome public participation in NHS decisions, they are also deeply committed to the principle that healthcare entitlements and standards should not vary from place to place. It includes analysis of the research findings, and reports on the first experiments in NHS devolution, along with calls from authors for greater public accountability and involvement. Fabian Society

Emergency care and resuscitation plans

Emergency care and resuscitation plans A discussion of the ReSPECT model of  planning around do not resuscitate orders. BMJ

See also:

• We need to talk about resuscitation BMJ
• Resuscitation policy should focus on the patient, not the decision BMJ

NHS trusts record 15,000 excess deaths

NHS trusts record 15,000 excess deaths "Significantly high" death rates have been recorded at 19 of England's 133 NHS trusts, a BBC investigation has established.

There were 15,396 more deaths than expected at the trusts in the period between 2011 and 2016.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust had the highest number of excess deaths - 1,878 over the five years.

The analysis reveals a strong link between high mortality rates in England and lower than average doctor numbers. BBC News

Hunt demands NHS hits target for A&E care

Hunt demands NHS hits target for A&E care Jeremy Hunt has told NHS hospitals they must get back to meeting the target for seeing patients swiftly in A&E.

In a speech on Thursday, the health secretary said it was "critical for patient safety".

The target of seeing 95% of patients in four hours has been missed in England since July 2015. There was a record low of 85.1% in January.

Mr Hunt demanded progress this year and said the target should be hit next year after new funding in the Budget. BBC News

Budget ‘does nothing to plug hole in NHS funding’

Budget ‘does nothing to plug hole in NHS funding’ The chancellor’s spring budget has been slammed by doctors, and other stakeholders, for failing to address the “gaping hole in NHS finances”.

While the announcement of £2 billion for social care has been largely welcomed, many feel the budget does not go far enough to boost health finances.

Dr Mark Porter, British Medical Association council chair, said: “This budget does nothing to address the gaping hole in NHS finances. There is a £30 billion gap to fill and we should be increasing the UK’s health spending by at least £10.3 billion to match that of other leading European economies. The NHS and social care are at breaking point and have been failed by party politics for too long. We need politicians from all sides to come together to agree a long-term solution to the challenges facing health and social care.” OnMedica

NHS chiefs order hospitals to begin urgent overhaul of A&E care

NHS chiefs order hospitals to begin urgent overhaul of A&E care Plans requiring GPs to assess every patient when they arrive at A&E come as NHS England discloses worst ever performance in January

NHS chiefs have ordered hospitals to push through an urgent overhaul of A&E care, with GPs assessing every patient when they turn up to help the health service avoid another winter crisis.

The move comes as the NHS in England disclosed that it recorded its worst performance to date in January, missing vital treatment targets covering A&E, cancer and planned hospital care. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Exclusive: Budget A&E plans to force out-of-hours overhaul and run from temporary buildings GP Online

I went to a death cafe to learn how to talk to dying patients

I went to a death cafe to learn how to talk to dying patients Medical students do not learn how to talk about death. Junior doctors are forced to learn on the job – and that isn’t fair on patients or families

It is taboo in British culture to talk about death. We say someone has “passed away”, “kicked the bucket” or “left us” – anything to avoid even using the word. This has consequences. While 70% of people wish to die at home, half of us will actually die in hospital. Our reluctance to talk about death and make our wishes known is part of the reason for this.

So I didn’t expect to enjoy visiting a death cafe. As soon as I arrived, I knew I had made the right decision, however. The room hummed with a low level of chatter, and I felt prepared to practise talking about death and dying. Continue reading... The Guardian

Treat sepsis patients within an hour, watchdog tells NHS staff

Treat sepsis patients within an hour, watchdog tells NHS staff NHS staff must begin treating patients suspected of having potentially lethal sepsis within one hour, the watchdog has said in a bid to crack down on avoidable deaths.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence today says that anyone showing symptoms, such as increased temperature, heart rate and rashes, must be swiftly examined by a senior doctor and started on life-saving drugs. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Sepsis : Quality Standard consultation National Institute of Health and Care Excellence
• The biggest killer you've never heard of BBC News
• NHS introduce rules after Mail's campaign against sepsis The Daily Mail
• NHS workers urged to be alert for sepsis and treat within an hour The Guardian

Patients promised speedier access to GPs as long waits named and shamed

Patients promised speedier access to GPs as long waits named and shamed Patients will be promised speedier access to GPs with family doctors named and shamed for long waiting times, under new NHS plans.

The new targets come alongside a major overhaul of emergency care, with promises to increase the proportion of 111 calls assessed by medics, amid concern that too many decisions are being made by ill-trained handlers.

The plans come as official figures show record waits in Accident & Emergency departments, and warnings that the number of patients stuck on trolleys is “going through the roof”.

Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, has ordered hospitals to empty up to 3,000 beds as soon as possible, in order to relieve pressure on services. The Daily Telegraph

British doctor 'shocked' after fraudster worked in Australian hospitals using his ID

British doctor 'shocked' after fraudster worked in Australian hospitals using his ID A respected British rheumatologist has expressed “shock” after discovering that his identity was stolen by a fraudster who worked in hospitals in Australia for eleven years despite being unqualified.

In a case that is being investigated by the NHS and Australian health authorities, a fraudster allegedly stole documents in India which belonged to Dr Sarang Chitale, who lives near Manchester and works at Leigh Infirmary in Leigh, near Manchester, and several other clinics in the region.

The fraudster, whose real name is Shyam Acharya, used Dr Chitale’s documents to enter Australia and register with the medical board in the state of New South Wales. The Daily Telegraph

KGH car park plan set for approval

KGH car park plan set for approval The car park was the subject of a planning application in January.

The move will almost double the number of spaces available in that particular car park, from 227 to 451.

Car parking has been the subject of much public frustration at the hospital, with patients and relatives often caught in queues and nearby residents frustrated by vehicles parking inconsiderately. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Guidance: Domestic abuse: a resource for health professionals

Guidance: Domestic abuse: a resource for health professionals This resource looks at how health professionals can support adults and young people over 16 who are experiencing domestic abuse, and dependent children in their households.

It will help health staff to identify potential victims, initiate sensitive routine enquiry and respond effectively to disclosures of abuse. Department of Health

Report highlights need for early intervention for diabetic foot ulcers

Report highlights need for early intervention for diabetic foot ulcers A report published today finds that early intervention is important in the management of diabetic foot disease, with people who receive expert care most quickly having the best outcomes.

It also reports that the basic framework for effective prevention and management of diabetic foot disease in England and Wales is often missing.

It is estimated that between five and seven cent of people with diabetes will have a diabetic foot ulcer at some point in their lives, at an estimated cost of £935 million to the NHS.9

The National Diabetes Foot Care Audit (NDFA) 2014-2016, published by NHS Digital and Diabetes UK, collected data on 11,000 individuals with acute diabetic foot ulcers.

Cancer treatments 'not being trialled in children'

Cancer treatments 'not being trialled in children' Children with cancer could be missing out on potentially life-saving drugs because EU regulations allow drug companies to opt out of running trials in children, cancer experts say.

Since 2012, 62% of approved EU cancer drugs were not tested on under-18s.

But cancer scientists say the rules should be changed so that adult cancer drugs have to be tested on children. BBC News

See also:

• UK children with cancer could miss out on drug trials after Brexit, doctors warn The Guardian

NHS to be hit harder than expected by compensation shake-up, Budget reveals

NHS to be hit harder than expected by compensation shake-up, Budget reveals The NHS will be hit harder than expected by a controversial shake-up of personal injury compensation – forcing the Chancellor to borrow an extra £1.2bn a year.

And higher motor insurance premiums because of the shake-up “will be fully passed on to consumers”, the Treasury’s watchdog has acknowledged. The Independent

Budget 2017: Philip Hammond accused of back-door NHS privatisation by funding 'shady' reform plans

Budget 2017: Philip Hammond accused of back-door NHS privatisation by funding 'shady' reform plans Philip Hammond has promised the NHS will receive £425m in government investment over the next three years – but the way these funds are allocated could in fact lead to further NHS privatisation, campaigners have warned.

Sarah Carpenter, national officer for health at trade union Unite, said she feared the Government was trying to privatise the NHS through the back door by funding “shady” reforms in the guise of giving extra money to the health service.

“What they’re trying to do is potentially be able to say they’re giving money to the health service, but actually giving money to a part of it no one’s heard of,” Ms Carpenter told The Independent.

Over half of NHS staff work unpaid overtime every week, survey finds

Over half of NHS staff work unpaid overtime every week, survey finds Annual survey reveals morale is high but workloads, sick rates and overtime highlight challenges

This past year has sent shockwaves through an already challenging working environment in the NHS. From the withdrawal of nursing bursaries and junior doctors’ strikes to the uncertain impact of Brexit on 58,000 EU nationals currently working in the health service, workforce pressures continued to build for an already overstretched service.

So what do the findings of the latest NHS staff survey, released on Tuesday, tell us about how staff are coping? Covering 316 participating NHS organisations, the survey is the biggest in the world, capturing the experiences of more than 423,000 healthcare professionals across the country. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS staff survey reveals pressures and positives of work on the frontline The Guardian
• Staff survey results ‘alarming’, say health leaders OnMedica

Hammond's budget bows to demands for social care cash injection

Hammond's budget bows to demands for social care cash injection Chancellor responds to crisis in care for older people with £2bn extra, but charities are concerned it will not be enough

Philip Hammond responded to the growing crisis in social care in England by pledging to put £2bn extra into it over the next three years and also produced an unexpected £425m to help the NHS cope better with winter and transform how it works.

Additional money for social care was necessary both to improve the help older people receive as the number of over-75s grows quickly in the coming years and also to ease the huge pressures the NHS is under, the chancellor said in his statement. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Philip Hammond pledges extra £2 billion to help tackle social care crisis The Daily Telegraph
• The Guardian view on the spring budget: not enough | Editorial The Guardian
• UK social care: staff shortages put sector in crisis The Guardian
• Budget 2017: Philip Hammond says 'we are party of NHS' with £2bn extra to social care The Independent

New app that REPLACES doctors to launch nationally

New app that REPLACES doctors to launch nationally Developed by Babylon Health, it is now hoping to roll the concept of chat-bots for NHS 111 helplines out nationwide. It tells patients which specific service to visit, as close to their home as possible. The Daily Mail

£100m for GPs in A&E to weed out those not seriously ill announced in Budget

£100m for GPs in A&E to weed out those not seriously ill announced in Budget GPs will be placed in A&E departments to turn away people who are not sufficiently ill as part of a £100 million effort to crack down on hospital overcrowding.

The measure, announced by Philip Hammond in the budget, follows a relentless increase in A&E admissions which at one stage this winter saw one in two hospitals issue emergency alerts indicating they were unable to cope. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The King’s Fund responds to the Spring Budget The King's Fund
• Budget 2017 NHS Employers
• Best place for GPs is treating patients in their local communities Royal College of General Practitioners
• Budget 2017: Will £100m A&E investment really help NHS? The Daily Mail
• Budget 2017: £100m funding for GP triage in A&E GP Online
• Budget reaction: GP triage in A&E 'could deepen NHS crisis' GP Online

Warning over highly-contagious superbug sweeping the nation

Warning over highly-contagious superbug sweeping the nation A new variant of a gene that causes resistance to our strongest antibiotics has been discovered in a healthy person, prompting fears it could be spreading.

The team of investigators discovered a new variant of the well-known gene that causes resistance to polymyxin - currently the toughest antibiotic in our arsenal against bacteria.

The new multidrug-resistant bacteria, which carries the gene variant, was found on a patient with salmonella and could easily be passed on in bacteria.

More troubling, the gene was found in a healthy individual during a routine medical, suggesting that other healthy carriers may be spreading the resistance unknowingly. Northamptonshire Telegraph

An NHS winter that never seems to end?

An NHS winter that never seems to end?  No one would ever claim that winter in the NHS is easy. Our most recent Quarterly Monitoring Report (QMR) duly paints a picture of accident and emergency (A&E) departments that are struggling to cope as the health needs of patients become both more complex and more acute. The recent publication of the latest set of daily performance reports for the traditionally busy winter months of 2016/17 now allows us to take a closer look at how the NHS held up this winter. The King's Fund

NHS staff survey 2016

NHS staff survey 2016 This year's NHS staff survey has found that overall staff engagement has reached a peak, indicating that staff felt that they have opportunities to show initiative and contribute to improvements at work. The proportion of staff reporting witnessing errors and adverse incidents is the lowest it has been since 2012. This year's survey data is available in an interactive dashboard format which enable users to benchmark their data against other organisations more easily. Picker Institute

• Summary
• Interactive dashboard
• View the data

See also:

• NHS England publishes latest staff survey results NHS England
• 2016 Staff Survey results show progress despite pressure NHS Employers
• NHS Staff Survey shows improvements in workplace experience NHS Employers

Only a third of MPs believe that A&E departments are adequately resourced

Only a third of MPs believe that A&E departments are adequately resourced A poll by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine reveals just 33% of MPs believe emergency departments have the resources they need to keep patients safe.

The poll of 92 MPs of all parties and regions of the UK also found strong support for a transformation fund for emergency departments with four times as many saying they would support such an initiative as oppose it.
Over 60% of MPs said they would support Emergency Departments (EDs) receiving more money to help with the retention and recruitment of staff.

Despite government claims that the NHS was getting more than the minimum £8bn by 2020 it had asked for, the poll found that only half of Conservative MPs believe that Emergency Departments are currently being adequately resourced.

Collection: Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE)

Collection: Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) Alcohol use has health and social consequences borne by individuals, their families, and the wider community.

Reducing harmful drinking is one of seven priority areas that Public Health England is focusing efforts on securing improvement.

The Department of Health commissioned PHE to produce an evidence review of the public health burden of alcohol, published in December 2016.

The local alcohol profiles have been designed to provide information for local government, health organisations, commissioners and other agencies to monitor:
the impact of alcohol on local communities
services and initiatives that have been put in place to prevent and reduce the harmful impact of alcohol

The data is updated once per quarter.

View the Local Alcohol Profiles for England. Public Health England

Hospital winter pressures: how did NHS trusts perform in 2016/17?

Hospital winter pressures: how did NHS trusts perform in 2016/17? This briefing examines the performance of the NHS over the three peak winter months covering December 2016 to February 2017. The analysis finds that the number of temporary beds opened to cope with demand on A&E units in the busiest part of this winter was equivalent to eight additional hospitals. The briefing calls for a formal review of how the NHS manages winter pressures, with a focus on the ring-fencing of winter funding and the impact of cancelling non-urgent operations. NHS Providers

Dying from inequality: socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour

Dying from inequality: socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour This report links higher risk of suicide with inequality calls for greater awareness of the risks of suicide and for direct support to those with unstable employment, insecure housing, low income or in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. Samaritans 

Latest experimental statistics about female genital mutilation published

Latest experimental statistics about female genital mutilation published New official figures published provide experimental statistics on female genital mutilation (FGM) in England, from October 2016 to December 2016. NHS Digital

Ebola vaccine tested on humans in UK trials

Ebola vaccine tested on humans in UK trials Researchers in UK are currently part of a worldwide effort to develop a vaccine for Ebola, so that it’s ready should another outbreak occur. BBC News

NHS to revamp 111 helpline after sustained criticism of service

NHS to revamp 111 helpline after sustained criticism of service More callers will get chance to health professionals under changes to be phased in across England from next month

The NHS is to revamp its heavily criticised 111 telephone helpline to ensure that many more people get to discuss their illness with a nurse, doctor or other health professional rather than a call handler.

GPs and mental health health nurses will also start to play key roles after the overhaul, which is intended to improve public confidence in 111 so that fewer patients visit A&E or a GP’s surgery. Continue reading... The Guardian

Smoking numbers hit new low as Britons turn to vaping to help quit cigarettes

Smoking numbers hit new low as Britons turn to vaping to help quit cigarettes New data reveals a significant decline in number of smokers over last five years, while the daily number of cigarettes consumed has also fallen

The number of smokers in Britain has reached its lowest point since records began in 1974, according to new data, while more than a million people say they are using e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking.

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 17.2% of adults in the UK smoked in 2015, down from 20.1% in 2010. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Why young people are less likely to smoke BBC News

Google can detect tumours with a 92% accuracy rate

Google can detect tumours with a 92% accuracy rate DeepMind is on the verge of becoming a much-needed medical breakthrough. Owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company, it claims it can detect 92.4 per cent of tumours it scans for. The Daily Mail

NHS chief 'pushed out' after exposing a sex ring involving consultants and doctors, hospital staff say

NHS chief 'pushed out' after exposing a sex ring involving consultants and doctors, hospital staff say The NHS's longest serving chief executive has been “pushed out” of his job after he suspended senior consultants who used hospital premises to have sex, according to hospital insiders.

Sir Leonard Fenwick, Newcastle and Tyne Hospital Trust's chief executive, was put on "extended leave" from the hospital under mysterious circumstances earlier this year, a decision which angered a number of staff and governors. The Daily Telegraph

Patients are not priority, warn half of staff at scandal ambulance service

Patients are not priority, warn half of staff at scandal ambulance service Almost half of staff at a scandal-hit ambulance trust do not think their patients are put first, with almost one quarter too frightened to raise safety concerns with managers, research shows.

The NHS staff survey shows that South East Coast Ambulance trust is the worst in the country across a host of rankings.

The trust has been at the centre of a string of scandals, with at least two call handlers saying they were driven to attempt suicide as a result of an “endemic culture of bullying”.

Several claimed they were left under such pressure they could not concentrate on emergency calls, impairing their responses to the public. The Daily Telegraph

Numbers missing two-month cancer treatment target window doubles amid warnings A&E crisis is sucking away resources

Numbers missing two-month cancer treatment target window doubles amid warnings A&E crisis is sucking away resources The number of NHS cancer patients waiting longer than the crucial two-month target window has nearly doubled in the last five years, a new report reveals.

Macmillan Cancer support have warned that patients are dying because overrun A&E departments are draining the hospital resources needed to give them the prompt treatment they need.

One in six people diagnosed with the disease began treatment after the aimed-for 62 days in 2016, according to the charity, making it the third consecutive year in which the health service failed to keep pace with rising demand. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital staff in Northampton await decision on cancelled salary rise

Hospital staff in Northampton await decision on cancelled salary rise Staff at a St Andrews Hospital are awaiting a decision on whether their postponed pay rises will be reinstated. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Pupils 'suffering in silence' with mental health issues, University of Northampton expert warns

Pupils 'suffering in silence' with mental health issues, University of Northampton expert warns Schools must put the mental health of their pupils at the top of their agenda, a lecturer at the University of Northampton said in a new report for the Government. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Adult social care: a pre-budget report

Adult social care: a pre-budget report This report calls on the Chancellor to bring forward £1.5bn funding from the improved Better Care Fund to make up for the shortfall in adult social care funding. The report also calls on the government to commit to closing the funding gap for the rest of parliament through to 2020 and highlights the urgent need for a cross-party review on the provision and funding of social care in the long-term. House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee

Government urged to tackle 999 ambulance abuse callers

Government urged to tackle 999 ambulance abuse callers Calls have been made for harsher penalties to protect ambulance control room workers from abusive callers.

Figures obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws revealed hundreds of verbal attacks in the past three years including threats to kill, racist and sexual slurs.

The union Unison has urged the government to bring in tougher punishments to deter abusive callers.

The Home Office said sufficient laws were already in place. BBC News

Parents 'should decide' care of baby

Parents 'should decide' care of baby Connie Yates and Chris Gard are challenging doctors in court to keep their son Charlie on life support. BBC News

General practice could be vertically integrated into new accountable care systems, says Stevens

General practice could be vertically integrated into new accountable care systems, says Stevens Accountable care organisations (ACOs) being developed in parts of the NHS will see stronger integration of primary and secondary care under unified leaderships, Simon Stevens has said. GP Online

NHS mental health trust to be prosecuted amid claims it failed to offer safe care

NHS mental health trust to be prosecuted amid claims it failed to offer safe care Southern Health is first NHS provider after Mid Staffs scandal to be taken to court after patient fell from roof at Melbury Lodge, Winchester

A mental health trust is to be the first NHS provider to be prosecuted under legislation brought in after the Mid Staffs scandal.

Southern Health NHS foundation trust is being taken to court after a patient sustained serious injuries during a fall from a low roof at Melbury Lodge, Royal Hampshire county hospital, Winchester, in December 2015. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS manager who earned £1m jailed for fabricating qualifications

NHS manager who earned £1m jailed for fabricating qualifications Jon Andrewes, 63, worked for more than a decade in various senior health jobs across south-west England

A former probation officer who earned more than £1m working in very senior NHS management roles after he fabricated qualifications has been jailed for two years.

Jon Andrewes, 63, claimed to have two PhDs and a master’s degree but only had a higher education diploma in social work and a teaching qualification. He also lied over his work history, falsely claiming to have worked in the Home Office. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS forced to provide 4,500 extra beds a day

NHS forced to provide 4,500 extra beds a day NHS Providers reveals how hospitals avoided a ‘full-blown crisis’ this winter by creating the equivalent of more than eight extra hospitals

Hospitals had to provide 4,500 extra beds a day at the height of the pressures this winter to avoid “a full-blown crisis”, NHS bosses have revealed.

That is the equivalent of creating more than eight extra hospitals to cope with unprecedented demand in recent months when large numbers of patients were stuck on trolleys and in the back of ambulances outside A&E units. Continue reading... The Guardian

Thousands pained by poor artificial limbs from the NHS

Thousands pained by poor artificial limbs from the NHS Ten years ago, Victoria Marks from Cornwall had to amputate one of her legs. Since then the mother of two has been fitted with 'dozens' of prostheses, all costing £5,000. Tired of the constant pain, she gave up. The Daily Mail

NHS trust to start using Uber for non-emergency patients

NHS trust to start using Uber for non-emergency patients Patients will be able to use Uber for journeys including appointments and generally getting out-and-about when they might otherwise be housebound or reliant on family and friends. The Daily Mail

Is a ‘death tax’ for social care about to be announced?

Is a ‘death tax’ for social care about to be announced? In 1972, Richard Nixon visited the People’s Republic of China, reversing years of US policy. His anti-communist credentials enabled him to do something other politicians shied away from for fear of being labelled soft on communism. Are we about to see a ‘Nixon goes to China’ moment for social care? One that will see David Cameron, George Osborne and Andrew Lansley forced to eat a red rose?

Well, just possibly. Reports suggest that Theresa May and Philip Hammond are looking at funding at least some social care costs by making a claim on people’s estates once they have died – a form of inheritance tax, or, as the Conservatives usually dub it, a ‘death tax’. The King's Fund

‘The social care system is on its knees’

‘The social care system is on its knees’ Commenting on the Communities and Local Government Committee’s pre-Budget report on adult social care, Richard Humphries, Senior Policy Fellow at The King’s Fund, said: ‘The Committee’s report adds to the overwhelming evidence that the social care system is on its knees. We estimate that the sector faces a funding gap of around £2 billion next year, so it is essential the Chancellor addresses this in next week’s Budget.

‘Additional funding in the Budget would provide welcome relief for older and disabled people, their families and carers who are being let down by the current system – and for hard-pressed councils and providers struggling to keep the system afloat. But without long-term reform of social care funding, this is like pouring water into a leaking bucket. The King's Fund

Tens of thousands march against 'hospital cuts'

Tens of thousands march against 'hospital cuts' Tens of thousands of people - including NHS workers, campaigners and union representatives - have marched in London to protest against "yet more austerity" in the health service.

Protesters on the #OurNHS march wanted to draw attention to plans which could see hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England cut back.

Union leaders say many NHS services "are on their knees".

The Department of Health says it is investing an extra £4bn in the NHS.

Organisers say that "at least 250,000" people took part in the march, which began in Tavistock Square and ended in Westminster, where speakers including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd. BBC News

See also:

• NHS march: Protesters tell their stories BBC News
• Jeremy Corbyn: NHS crisis 'was made in Downing Street' The Daily Telegraph
• Stop pretending we can’t afford the NHS: that’s the message of our march today The Guardian

WHO: Air pollution linked to 600,000 child deaths

WHO: Air pollution linked to 600,000 child deaths The director general of the World Health Organization has said air pollution is "one of the most pernicious threats" facing global public health today and is on a much bigger scale than HIV or Ebola.

Dr Margaret Chan told the Today programme that poor air quality was having a disproportionate impact on the young. BBC News

Number of mental health patients treated hundreds of miles from home hits new high

Number of mental health patients treated hundreds of miles from home hits new high Mental health services for the most seriously ill patients are in “crisis”, experts have warned, with increasing numbers of people being sent hundreds of miles away from home to receive treatment - despite government promises to end the practice.

An analysis of official statistics shows mental health patients in England were sent for “out-of-area” treatment on 2,037 occasions in the four months to January 2017 alone. More patients were in treatment away from their home area in January than at any point since the data began being collected last year. The Independent

BMA calls for extra £10bn a year for NHS in Hammond's budget

BMA calls for extra £10bn a year for NHS in Hammond's budget Increase would bring health spending in line with 10 leading economies in Europe as proportion of GDP, says doctors union

The British Medical Association has urged the government to increase health spending by £10bn a year to bring funding into line with other leading European economies and shore up the NHS.

The union for doctors said increasing health spending to a proportion of GDP that matched that of the 10 leading economies across Europe could pay for at least 35,000 extra beds a day and several thousand more GPs. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Tim Farron: We need a £4bn cash injection now to save the health and care services The Guardian

Emergency £1.5bn funding for social care is needed, MPs tell chancellor

Emergency £1.5bn funding for social care is needed, MPs tell chancellor Communities and local government committee calls on Philip Hammond to plug gaps in budgets

The chancellor should commit an extra £1.5bn in immediate funding for social care in next week’s budget, according to a cross-party committee of MPs who say there is an urgent need for a wider review of the way the system is financed.

The communities and local government committee, which has been taking evidence on the subject for a wider report into adult social care to be published next month, said Philip Hammond should take £1.5bn from the better care fund to plug gaps in the coming financial year. The fund is a £5.3bn pot of money from government intended to help local authorities keep people out of hospital, covering both healthcare and social care. Continue reading... The Guardian

For the vulnerable, there’s no place like home

For the vulnerable, there’s no place like home Proposed funding cuts to supported housing in the community show a damaging lack of joined-up thinking on health and social care

Imagine this. You’ve suffered a debilitating mental illness, you’re admitted to hospital and, after weeks or months of treatment, you’re finally deemed stable enough to go home. Only, you can’t – the home you need in the community is not available.

As a psychiatrist, this is a situation I and many others around the country encounter almost daily. Even when patients are ready to leave hospital, a notable number don’t have the specialist supported housing they need to take that step.

Money can be spent more efficiently when people are in the right setting for their level of need Continue reading... The Guardian

Private firms are accused of 'unethical' health tests

Private firms are accused of 'unethical' health tests Gullible patients are being encouraged to take needless and expensive private medical tests, the government has warned. The tests can cost up to £2000 and include full MRI scans. The Daily Mail

More than 600 health quango chiefs on six figure salaries amid cash crisis

More than 600 health quango chiefs on six figure salaries amid cash crisis More than 600 NHS quango chiefs are now on six-figure salaries, with a doubling in the number earning more than the Prime Minister in just three years, new figures show.

Many of the highest earners have made repeated demands on the Government to increase NHS funding as it battles against its worst financial deficit in history.

But figures uncovered by the Telegraph, show that the nine main health quangos are now employing 628 officials on salaries of at least £100,000. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital smoking ban forces patients onto dangerous roads, says trust

Hospital smoking ban forces patients onto dangerous roads, says trust An NHS hospital is refusing to ban smoking on its premises because it believes doing so would put patients in danger of speeding vehicles.

The bosses of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals in Dorset are defending their use of designated smoking areas despite pressure from Government health officials.

The trust said it had previously tried a ban of smoking on its grounds, but that this had only forced smokers dangerously close to the adjacent main road where cars and lorries frequently travel at 50 mph. The Daily Telegraph

People with a learning disability are treated as second-class citizens – it has to stop now

People with a learning disability are treated as second-class citizens – it has to stop now Institutions where people with a learning disability are kept out of sight and out of mind belong in a different century. Yet they still exist and are where thousands of people with a learning disability spend year after year, often detained under the Mental Health Act, often hundreds of miles from their families, at increased risk of abuse and neglect

Wednesday's Dispatches programme echoed the horror of BBC Panorama’s 2011 investigation into the abuse at Winterbourne View, showing the ongoing failure of the government and NHS to deliver long promised changes to the way people with a learning disability are supported. The Daily Telegraph

Revealing Northamptonshire's staffing predicitions would impact on employees' 'mental health' claim bosses

Revealing Northamptonshire's staffing predicitions would impact on employees' 'mental health' claim bosses Despite the county’s five-year NHS savings plans costing £720,000 to produce, health bosses have refused the Chron’s attempts to see predicted staff numbers because it would “impact on the mental health” of employees. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton nurse struck off for trying to use morphine-like drug for period pain

Northampton nurse struck off for trying to use morphine-like drug for period pain A nurse who worked at Northampton General hospital has been struck off after trying to dispense drugs for her own use.

Northampton mental health hospital speaks out after Channel Four documentary

Northampton mental health hospital speaks out after Channel Four documentary Bosses at a Northampton mental health hospital have hit back at a Channel Four documentary in which a former minister said he believed a patient had been treated like a “prisoner”.

The episode of Dispatches last night saw producers interview two ex-patients at St Andrew’s Hospital, following its “requires improvement” Care Quality Commission rating of September 2016. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Dispatches - Under lock and key (available until 31/3/17) Channel 4
• Northampton MP and mental health charity call for review of St Andrew's following Channel Four documentary Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Dispatches Investigation Finds Shocking Treatment Of Child Mental Health Patients Huffington Post UK

Sicker patients the main reason for A&E winter pressures

Sicker patients the main reason for A&E winter pressures Sicker patients with more complex conditions are the main reason for worsening performance in A&E departments, according to The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report.

Eighty per cent of NHS finance directors who responded to our latest survey identified higher numbers of patients with severe illnesses and complex health needs as a key reason for the pressures on A&E units, while 70 per cent cited delays in discharging patients from hospital. This contrasts with 27 per cent who pointed to poor access to GPs and 20 per cent who identified shortages of clinical staff as key factors.

The survey also highlights the huge effort made by the NHS to prepare for increased pressure on services during the winter. More than 70 per cent of the trusts surveyed increased their staff, while 80 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) paid for extra resources in primary care. Other common measures included postponing planned treatment, paying private companies to take on NHS work, and paying higher rates to recruit more agency staff. The King's Fund

See also:

• Elective treatment on the back-burner? The King's Fund

The state of care in NHS acute hospitals

The state of care in NHS acute hospitals The state of care in NHS acute hospitals 2014 to 2016 presents findings from our programme of NHS acute comprehensive inspections.

The report captures what we have learned from three years’ worth of inspections. It gives a baseline on quality that is unique in the world – and also shows that it is possible, even in challenging times, to deliver the transformational change that is needed if the NHS is to continue delivering high-quality care into the future.

Most hospitals are delivering good quality care and looking after patients well. Our reports highlighted many examples of how hospitals are improving and continuing to improve the quality of care they offer, even though there are constraints. We encourage trusts to follow this good practice to improve their own services.

But we also found that some trusts have blind spots about the quality of care they are delivering in a particular core service, even in some trusts rated good overall.

All hospitals told us that patient safety was their top priority, but too often they did not have an effective safety culture or reliable systems to ensure this. Many of the inefficiencies we saw can be avoided, such as hospital acquired infections, or are caused by poorly coordinated care. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Four in five hospitals 'not safe enough' in England BBC News
• 80 per cent of hospitals failing patients The Daily Mail
• NHS stands on a burning platform, top CQC inspector warns The Daily Telegraph
• NHS 'standing on burning platform' of outdated acute care model The Guardian

Research and analysis: Universal health visiting service: mandation review

Research and analysis: Universal health visiting service: mandation review The Department of Health commissioned this review following the transfer of commissioning of public health services for children aged 0 to 5 years to local authorities in October 2015.

The review considered the:

• impact of this transfer
• support for existing and continued regulation
• evidence of service transformation
• risks to sustainability from a range of perspectives using data from different sources

The Cabinet Office’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority provided oversight and an external assessment of the method, findings and conclusions.

The review found widespread support for the regulation of these services to continue and for future arrangements to be considered alongside other regulated public health services. Public Health England

Five year forward view for mental health: one year on

Five year forward view for mental health: one year on This report marks the anniversary of the publication of the Five year forward view for mental health. It highlights the progress made in the first year of the programme, and takes a look at the achievements that need to be built upon to deliver next year and beyond. NHS England

Local support for people with a learning disability

Local support for people with a learning disability Good progress has been made by the Department of Health and NHS England in setting up a programme to close hospital beds for people with a learning disability, but the programme is not yet on track to achieve value for money, the National Audit Office has found.

Delivering an outcomes-based NHS: creating the right conditions

Delivering an outcomes-based NHS: creating the right conditions This briefing summarises a seminar given by Dr Nicholas Hicks, the co-founder and chief executive of Capitated Outcomes-Based Incentivised Care (COBIC). The briefing describes COBIC's outcomes-centred approach that has been adopted by NHS services across England and how it brings together commissioners, providers, other professions, patients and carers. It discusses a case study where COBIC worked with Bedfordshire CCG to improve musculoskeletal care and outcomes, and to decrease costs. Office of Health Economics

NHS 'overcharged' by drug makers' non-compete deal, says CMA

NHS 'overcharged' by drug makers' non-compete deal, says CMA Two pharmaceutical firms have been accused of pushing up the price of a "lifesaving" NHS drug by striking a deal not to compete with each other.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in provisional findings that Actavis and Concordia fixed the market for hydrocortisone tablets.

Hydrocortisone treats life-threatening conditions such as Addison's disease.

A pack of the tablets almost doubled in price for the NHS to £88 while the deal was in place, the CMA said. BBC News

Health watchdog warns over online pharmacy services

Health watchdog warns over online pharmacy services People should be wary of buying medications on the internet after an investigation found "widespread failings" at some online providers, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.

The watchdog inspected 11 internet prescription services in England, finding some "potentially presenting a significant risk to patients".

The regulator said while some providers were well-run, others "cut corners".

The CQC says it will visit providers and close any putting patients at risk. BBC News

See also:

• Online healthcare services Care Quality Commission