A&E waiting time figures reveal 'eternal winter' for NHS

A&E waiting time figures reveal 'eternal winter' for NHS NHS emergency departments in England in March report worst performance since records began

A record low in A&E treatment performance by the NHS has prompted warnings that the health service is in an “eternal winter” as hospitals cannot cope with rising patient need.

Just 76.4% of patients needing urgent care were treated within four hours at hospital accident and emergency units in England in March – the lowest proportion since records began in 2010 and down on the 76.9% figure in February. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The King's Fund response to March NHS performance data The King's Fund
• Stark figures ‘clearest indication’ of eternal winter The Society for Acute Medicine
• A&E waits hit new record worst level BBC News
• A&E waiting time figures show `eternal winter´ for NHS The Daily Mail

Hospitals spending just £3 a day on patients’ meals

Hospitals spending just £3 a day on patients’ meals Hospitals are spending as little as £3 a day on food for patients, despite rising numbers of cases of malnutrition, new figures show.

Data reveals 13 trusts spending less than £5 a day on food, with just £2.61 a day spent by one NHS hospital – little more than the daily spend in prisons.

Labour on Wednesday pledged to introduce new legal minimum standard for hospital food, to ensure patients were better nourished.

Records show the number of patients admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition has more than doubled since 2009/10, with 8,458 cases where it was the primary or secondary diagnosis in 2016/17. The Daily Telegraph

Northamptonshire volunteer doctor call-outs to car accidents and medical emergencies lowest in East Midlands

Northamptonshire volunteer doctor call-outs to car accidents and medical emergencies lowest in East Midlands Volunteer doctor call-outs to events like medical emergencies and car accidents in Northamptonshire were the lowest in the East Midlands. East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme released its annual figures this week, which revealed Northamptonshire had the smallest amount (26) due to the county not having as many doctors compared to other areas. Call-out rates in Northamptonshire did increase slightly when compared to the same period last year. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Official Statistics: NDNS: results from years 7 and 8 (combined)

Official Statistics: NDNS: results from years 7 and 8 (combined) The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme is a continuous, cross-sectional survey. It is designed to collect detailed, quantitative information on the food consumption, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population aged 1.5 years and over living in private households in the UK. The survey covers a representative sample of around 1000 people per year. Fieldwork began in 2008 and is now beginning its eleventh year. Public Health England

Nursing associates: consultation on the regulation of a new profession

Nursing associates: consultation on the regulation of a new profession The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are seeking the views of organisations and individuals about their proposals for regulating the new nursing associate role.This consultation will run from 9 April 2018 to 2 July 2018. The questions can be split into two main areas. The first includes where the NMC has developed new standards and procedures specifically for nursing associates. The second relates to the NMC's proposals to apply the approach they currently have for nurses and midwives to nursing associates.

Online GP service censured by advertising watchdog for implying NHS link

Online GP service censured by advertising watchdog for implying NHS link The advertising watchdog has ruled that adverts by private online GP provider Push Doctor 'misleadingly implied' it was providing an NHS service.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) launched its investigation after receiving 31 complaints, some of which were submitted by GPs.

The ads, displayed as posters on London Underground trains in August last year, said patients could 'access an NHS GP whenever you want’.

But the ASA found the claim was 'misleading', and Push Doctor told Pulse it had 'voluntarily' pulled the ads after a two-week trial period before the ASA ruling. Pulse

Inflexible visa process 'stops much-needed doctors working in NHS'

Inflexible visa process 'stops much-needed doctors working in NHS' Doctors are being prevented from joining the NHS workforce by 'unnecessary barriers and delays' to visa applications and renewals, the BMA has warned.

In a letter to home secretary Amber Rudd, BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul warned that the current system for processing visa applications was 'too rigid to adequately promote the recruitment of much needed specialties to the UK, particularly those which help address NHS workforce shortages'. GPonline

It’s not fine to be fat. Celebrating obesity is irresponsible

It’s not fine to be fat. Celebrating obesity is irresponsible No one should be bullied for their weight or food choices, but ‘fat pride’ promotes dangerous weight levels

Body positivity began as a powerful antidote to the media’s obsession with skeletal models and beachball-breasted glamour girls. Empowering women of non-Barbie proportions to feel good about themselves, the movement has attacked impossible beauty ideals that confront us in advertising, branding and beyond, criticising everything from the thigh gaptrend to green juice cleanses.

Its success has led to a series of positive changes, including the decision to ban the use of rail-thin models in several European countries. In the UK, body positivity has fuelled a backlash against the clean eating movement, with health experts linking questionable nutritional advice to a rise in eating disorders such as orthorexia. As glossy-haired treadmill unicorns continue to pout their way through Instagram with chia-seed recipes and colonoscopy recommendations, women are rejecting their raw food cleanses in favour of a balanced diet that includes the occasional doughnut. Continue reading... The Guardian

Scrap ALL operations next January and February, senior medics bark!

Scrap ALL operations next January and February, senior medics bark! The NHS should scrap all non-emergency surgery for two months over winter to prevent another crisis, according to senior medics.

Procedures such as hip replacements should not be planned during January and February to free up beds and avoid cancellations, the Society of Acute Medicine said.

It comes after NHS officials ordered hospitals to cancel tens of thousands of operations and outpatient appointments earlier this year due to winter pressures.

Dr Nick Scriven, president of the society which represents hospital doctors and nurses in acute medicine, said a routine ban on elective surgery at NHS trusts during the busiest months may be one way to ease pressure. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Pre-planned operations ‘should be cancelled for two months each year’ Society of Acute Medicine

Parents worried as specialist Northampton respite care centre faces uncertain future

Parents worried as specialist Northampton respite care centre faces uncertain future The parents who use a specialist Northampton respite care centre for children are worried the service may come to an end after a 32 per cent reduction in funding.

The contract, which ends in July, to run the John Greenwood Shipman Centre was put up for tender in March and parents were told by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) that it didn't see a way it could safely look after the children within the restructured financial model.

Northamptonshire County Council has advised it will continue to provide £2.1m per year along with co-funders Nene and Corby Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), whose share of funding has reduced in 2018/19. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Target date of 2022 for new KGH urgent care hub

Target date of 2022 for new KGH urgent care hub Health bosses hope a new urgent care hub at Kettering General Hospital will be up and running in four years.

Plans for the hub, which would combine A&E with primary care such as GP services at the hospital’s Rothwell Road site, were first announced in 2015.

Documents from a KGH board of directors meeting on Friday (April 6) say an outline business case was submitted to NHS Improvement (NHSI) earlier this year with a target opening date of April 2022.

The case for the hub is in response to growing demand for emergency care services at the hospital. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Work begins on KGH’s £450,000 A&E refurb Northamptonshire Telegraph

The perpetual winter’s tale

The perpetual winter’s tale While the weather may be taking a turn for the better ­– after a long winter with a particularly cold February and March – in the NHS patients and staff seem to be stuck in the grip of a perpetual winter.

Despite the end of winter daily national sitrep reporting, claims from NHS England, NHS Improvement and the government that ‘the year-on-year decline seems to have been halted' and the media moving on to new headlines, in reality, for staff on the front line and patients, the current situation looks no better than it did in the depths of winter. The King's Fund

Most independent acute hospitals are providing good care but stronger governance needed to improve patient safety

Most independent acute hospitals are providing good care but stronger governance needed to improve patient safety The CQC has published its analysis of the quality and safety of care provided by independent acute hospitals across England.

CQC has inspected and rated over 200 independent hospitals in England, at an overall level, for their core services and for how ‘safe’, ‘caring’, ‘effective’, ‘responsive to people’s needs’ and ‘well led’ they are.

In its national report, CQC has revealed that the majority of independent acute hospitals are providing high quality care for their patients. As of 2 January 2018, 62% were rated as good and 8% were rated as outstanding. Care Quality Commission 

See also:

• The state of care in independent acute hospitals Care Quality Commission
• Private hospitals warned over surgeons BBC News

Accounting for the quality of NHS output

Accounting for the quality of NHS output This review provides the conceptual framework needed to select potentially appropriate characteristics of healthcare outputs to be included in a measure of NHS output. To this end the research team has evaluated three published sets of criteria developed by national bodies responsible for assessing healthcare system performance before seeking the opinions of UK experts on quality. From this process a criteria set was established, which was subsequently used to assess whether two separate set of quality indicators currently collected and reported for the English NHS, namely the NHS Outcomes Framework indicators and NHS Thermometer indicators, meet the identified criteria. Centre for Health Economics

The changing nature of regulation in the NHS

The changing nature of regulation in the NHS This report highlights the findings of NHS Providers’ fourth regulation survey. It details NHS trusts and foundation trusts’ experiences of regulation over the preceding twelve months and their views on the future of regulation. The survey findings show that trusts are concerned that the regulatory framework is not keeping pace with the developments taking place on the ground. They highlighted that the oversight of sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) and integrated care systems (ICSs) risks becoming an extra layer of performance management. Respondents also questioned whether STPs and ICSs can take on oversight and assurance roles for local systems without a statutory footing. NHS Providers

Invisible no longer: women and HIV

Invisible no longer: women and HIV This is the report of a one-year study aiming to explore the needs and experiences of women affected by HIV. The project was co-produced with women living with and affected by HIV and draws on their experiences to understand what HIV means for women in the UK. It looked at existing evidence and generated new data to provide an overview of the situation for women in the UK living with or vulnerable to acquiring HIV. Terrence Higgins Trust

The town with a plan to end loneliness

The town with a plan to end loneliness One town in the UK has come together to help lonely people. And it seems to be working. BBC News

Record number of organ donors in 2017

Record number of organ donors in 2017 A record number of people donated organs in the UK last year, with the highest increase in 28 years.

There were 1,575 donors, an 11% increase on the previous year.

Ben Glean from Grimsby, who died aged 18, was one of those donors. He suffered a cardiac arrest from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.

His mum Karen said: "I knew what Ben wanted because we'd had the conversation, which made it easier for me.

"In my darkest time there was a light to be shone for someone else."

He'd told his mum he was in support of donation but had not yet got around to joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

His kidneys were transplanted into two men in their 30s and his liver into a man in his 50s. His corneas were also used for two sight-saving transplants. BBC News

Exclusive: Urgent cancer scans blocked for nearly half of GPs

Exclusive: Urgent cancer scans blocked for nearly half of GPs Nearly half of GPs have had a referral on the two-week cancer pathway bounced back or downgraded to non-urgent over the past year, GPonline can reveal - often for patients later found to have cancer.

See also:

• Half of GPs have had urgent cancer referrals blocked by NHS managers The Daily Mail
• Two charts that highlight problems for GPs diagnosing cancer GPonline 
• GPs face 'too many barriers' to diagnostic tests for cancer GPonline 

GP trainee faces deportation as BMA slams 'incomprehensible' Home Office approach

GP trainee faces deportation as BMA slams 'incomprehensible' Home Office approach A doctor who has lived in the UK for a decade faces deportation just five months before completing his GP training, in a decision the BMA has condemned as 'utterly incomprehensible'.

The Home Office is appealing against a decision by an immigration judge who ruled that Dr Luke Ong should be allowed to stay in the UK. Dr Ong is from Singapore but has been in the UK legally throughout his university education and medical training. GPOnline

See also:

• BMA responds to case of GP trainee facing deportation BMA
• 'Bureaucracy getting in the way of common sense' - RCGP verdict on GP trainee facing deportation Royal College of General Practitioners

BMA: GPs 'likely' responsible for care of psychiatric inpatients in their area

BMA: GPs 'likely' responsible for care of psychiatric inpatients in their area GPs are 'likely' to have to provide primary care services for inpatients resident at psychiatric and other specialty institutions within their practice boundary, the BMA has said.

The new guidance - published after the BMA took legal advice on the issue - concerns patients residing in care homes, as well as single specialty and psychiatric institutions, following an increase in member enquiries about who is responsible for their primary care needs.

The guidance also says GPs should make decisions on home visits of these patients on a 'case-by-case basis'.

But other GP leaders argue that practices are neither skilled nor resourced for this type of work, with hospitals urged to take on more responsibility. Pulse

NHS appoints humanist to lead chaplaincy team

NHS appoints humanist to lead chaplaincy team Lindsay van Dijk will help meet demand for non-religious pastoral care in Buckinghamshire

A humanist has been appointed to lead a team of NHS chaplains, in a move that reflects growing demand for emotional and spiritual support from people who do not identify with any organised religion.

Lindsay van Dijk will lead three Christian chaplains and a team of 24 volunteers, including a Catholic nun, a Buddhist and a Bahá’í, at the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust. The world-renowned spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital is part of the trust. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The NHS’s new humanist chaplain is a welcome sign of our shifting spirituality The Guardian
• Jane Flint: ‘Having an atheist chaplain is about patient choice’ The Guardian

NHS returns to china cups and saucers in war on disposable cups

NHS returns to china cups and saucers in war on disposable cups Hospitals are bringing back china crockery as an investigation reveals the NHS has used more than 600 million disposable cups in the last five years.

The findings follow warnings from the chief medical officer that the NHS is a “significant polluter” creating “huge amounts” of waste that is threatening the environment.

Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that NHS trusts in England have purchased 609,830,335 disposable cups since 2013.

One London trust, Guy's and St Thomas', purchased almost 30 million cups over the period. The Daily Telegraph

Unexplained weight loss ‘should be urgently investigated’ as research finds it is the key symptom of cancer

Unexplained weight loss ‘should be urgently investigated’ as research finds it is the key symptom of cancer Weight loss in patients over the age of 60 should be urgently investigated, with one in seven cases among men likely to mean cancer, a major study has found.

The research by Oxford University found that losing weight is the key symptom of the disease, linked to at least 10 types of cancer.

Experts called on GPs to refer patients with unexplained weight loss for urgent tests, in a bid to speed up diagnosis.

Britain’s survival rates are lagging behind may comparative countries, with the UK falling in the bottom half of international league tables for seven major forms of the disease.

Unexplained weight loss has long been associated with cancer. The Daily Telegraph

Northamptonshire County Council's Shared Lives service praised by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt

Northamptonshire County Council's Shared Lives service praised by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has praised Northamptonshire County Council’s Shared Lives service following its recent outstanding Care Quality Commission rating.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has praised Northamptonshire County Council’s Shared Lives service following its recent outstanding Care Quality Commission rating. Northampton Telegraph

Radiology consortium says it won't pay for imaging system until supplier fixes issues

Radiology consortium says it won't pay for imaging system until supplier fixes issues The East Midlands Radiology consortium (EMRAD) is reported to be withholding money from GE Healthcare until the supplier patches up problems with its beleaguered imaging system.

EMRAD, which covers eight trusts in the East Midlands (including Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital), paid £30 million for a cloud-based picture archiving and communication system, radiology information system, and vendor neutral archive from GE Healthcare in 2015.

Yet issues have plagued the system as far back as 2016 Digital Health

Transforming health care in nursing homes: an evaluation of a dedicated primary care service in outer east London

Transforming health care in nursing homes: an evaluation of a dedicated primary care service in outer east London This study finds that a new GP service offering seven-day-a-week support to four nursing homes has resulted in a 36 per cent reduction in emergency admissions to hospital, with the largest reductions happening during the last three months of a person’s life. Nuffield Trust

Guide to implementing the patient activation measure

Guide to implementing the patient activation measure ‘Patient activation’ describes the knowledge, skills and confidence a person has in managing their own health and care. Evidence shows that when people are supported to become more activated, they benefit from better health outcomes, improved experiences of care and fewer unplanned care admissions. NHS England

Health in private-rented housing

Health in private-rented housing This briefing looks at the quality of housing in the private rented sector and explains the effects that housing conditions can have on health. It also looks at interventions to improve housing quality in the private rented sector and at the challenges to implementing them. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Why call it care when no one cares?

Why call it care when no one cares? This report summarises the results of a series of listening events held with older people who are receiving care and their family carers over the last two months. Participants said that they would be prepared to pay more for care and that either a rise in general taxation or a percentage from estates following death should be used to fund care. Age UK

New report suggests 5.7m UK adults are living with undiagnosed hypertension

New report suggests 5.7m UK adults are living with undiagnosed hypertension Millions of UK adults could be suffering from undiagnosed high blood pressure (BP), increasing the risk of heart disease or stroke by up to three times, according to a new report from the British Heart Foundation.

According to the charity’s High Blood Pressure: How Can We Do Better? report, for every ten people diagnosed with high BP in the UK, seven more remain undiagnosed and untreated. On average, each CCG in England has 26,000 people with undiagnosed high BP, the report says. GPonline

RCGP warns GPs and patients over safety of online services

RCGP warns GPs and patients over safety of online services GPs and patients have been warned to think carefully about signing up for online health services, in RCGP guidance that highlights ongoing safety concerns around some providers.

Guidance published by the college sets out questions for patients to ask when considering signing up for an online provider of general practice, and for GPs, practices and commissioners to ask when considering working for or adopting online services.  GPonline

See also:

• College takes the lead in advising patients on online consultation safety Royal College of General Practitioners 

Half of NHS patients wait over a week to see a GP

Half of NHS patients wait over a week to see a GP The research of 15,000 patients also found that one in 20 had been made to wait three weeks or more for an appointment. A further 15 per cent said they waited longer than a fortnight. The Daily Mail

Improving population mental health: five lessons from Liverpool

Improving population mental health: five lessons from Liverpool The King’s Fund has been working with Kaleidoscope Health and Care and the Centre for Mental Health to deliver a series of learning events across England, as part of the Prevention concordat for better mental health programme led by Public Health England. Here, Chris Naylor shares key lessons from a recent event in Liverpool.

Cancer taskforce recommendations: progress report

Cancer taskforce recommendations: progress report This document outlines Public Health England’s progress on strategic priorities identified in the Independent Cancer Taskforce report, Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: a strategy for England 2015 to 2020 that was published in July 2015.

New report reveals 4 in 10 prostate cancer cases are diagnosed late and an impending crisis in prostate cancer provision

New report reveals 4 in 10 prostate cancer cases are diagnosed late and an impending crisis in prostate cancer provision A new report – Prostate Cancer: Britain’s Growing Problem – published this week by male cancer charity, Orchid, highlights a worrying trend in late prostate cancer diagnosis and calls for urgent action by men, healthcare professionals and UK health chiefs to avert a “ticking time bomb in terms of prostate cancer provision”.

See also:

• Prostate cancer: Four in 10 cases diagnosed late, charity says BBC News
• Nearly half of prostate cancer patients are only diagnosed after visiting their GP at least twice The Daily Mail

Reclassify cancers to improve treatment, researchers say

Reclassify cancers to improve treatment, researchers say Cancers should no longer be categorised by where they are first formed in the body, but instead by similarities in tumour types, researchers say.

A US-led study of 33 cancer types from more than 10,000 patients found they could be reclassified into 28 clusters that shared similar molecules.

Reclassification would ultimately lead to better, more targeted treatments, said the researchers.

"It's time to rewrite the textbooks on cancer," one of the authors said. BBC News

It is time to end the 'heads on spikes' approach to NHS failures

It is time to end the 'heads on spikes' approach to NHS failures The health service needs to distinguish between managers who cross a moral line and those who get into difficulty trying to do their best

The leadership implosions at Liverpool community health NHS trust and Wirral University teaching hospital NHS trust have been followed by another bout of soul-searching at NHS Improvement about when and how to fire NHS managers.

In an interview with HSJ, recently appointed NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding articulated widely felt disquiet over the health service’s failure to distinguish between people in senior roles whose performance has fallen short and those who have, in her words, “crossed a moral line”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS failure is inevitable – and it will shock those responsible into action The Guardian

Why do new medicines cost so much, and what can we do about it?

Why do new medicines cost so much, and what can we do about it? The cost of new drugs is putting increasing pressure on people in both rich and poor countries. Sarah Boseley explains why it’s a burning issue

Why does it matter what medicines cost?

If you are lucky enough to live in a country with comprehensive state-funded healthcare, such as the UK, you probably have no idea how much medicines really cost. But it can be a lot. Some drugs that have been around for ages are very cheap – aspirin, for instance, costs pence. It’s been out of patent and made by numerous companies competing to undercut each other’s price for decades. But new medicines, protected by 20-year patents, can cost hundreds of pounds a packet and sometimes thousands. The new breast cancer drug Kadcyla weighed in at a starting price of £90,000 per patient per year in the UK in 2015, though the manufacturer has now agreed a hefty discount for the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian

More elderly are dying after falls as care crisis deepens

More elderly are dying after falls as care crisis deepens Shortages of nurses and healthcare assistants in hospitals and care homes are blamed for a sharp rise in deaths

The number of Britons dying after suffering a fall is rising sharply, especially among the very old, raising fresh concern about the lack of social care and understaffing in hospitals and care homes.

Doctors are warning that while the trend is linked to the ageing population, the fact that the increase in deaths is outstripping the growth in numbers of people aged over 65 is a cause for alarm.

The UK has fewer doctors and nurses than many other comparable countries both in Europe and worldwide. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Britain comes 24th in a league table of 34 member countries in terms of the number of doctors per capita. Greece, Austria and Norway have the most; the three countries with the fewest are Turkey, Chile and Mexico. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, regularly points out that the NHS in England has more doctors and nurses than when the Conservatives came to power in 2010. That is true, although there are now fewer district nurses, mental health nurses and other types of health professionals. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hospital staff paying £80 a week in car parking charges

Hospital staff paying £80 a week in car parking charges Three out of ten NHS hospitals are charging staff for car parking, with some demanding £80 a week, new figures show.

Doctors and nurses are expected to pay at 348 out of the 1,175 hospitals with parking facilities, according to NHS data.

The highest average charge for staff is £2 per hour at both the Edgware Community Hospital, north-west London and Birmingham Children's Hospital, analysis by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation revealed.

That is the equivalent of £80 for a 40-hour working week. The Daily Telegraph

Thousands of GPs warned to reduce antibiotics in fight against superbugs

Thousands of GPs warned to reduce antibiotics in fight against superbugs More than 8,000 GPs have been warned they may be contributing to the rise of drug-resistant superbugs by prescribing too many antibiotics.

Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies, who has previously warned of a “post-antibiotic apocalypse”, has targeted family doctors in surgeries with the highest prescribing rates and those where use of the drugs is rising quickly.

In a letter to GPs she described antimicrobial resistance, where antibiotics no longer work for some serious infections, as a “serious and growing threat to our health and economy”. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Nearly 9,000 GPs are warned they are dishing out too many antibiotics The Daily Mail

Doctors blast hospital bosses after they find SECRET monitoring devices

Doctors blast hospital bosses after they find SECRET monitoring devices Furious doctors have hit out at their bosses after finding secret monitoring devices under their desks at a scandal-hit hospital.

Hull Royal Infirmary chiefs installed the gadgets to 'ensure optimum space utilisation' at the hospital amid relentless pressure on the NHS.

But medics have branded the OccupEye 'Automated Workspace Utilisation Analysis' devices as as 'astonishing invasion of privacy'.

The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has written to Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust to condemn the gadgets. The Daily Mail 

Bedford prison doctor suspended for dishonesty

Bedford prison doctor suspended for dishonesty A prison doctor has been found guilty of misconduct and dishonesty for practising without a licence.

Dr Gabriel Okey had worked without a valid licence for six weeks, including a stint at HMP Bedford.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found he "knowingly" continued to work after his licence was revoked in April 2016 and "abused his position of trust".

He was suspended for a year by a tribunal.

The General Medical Council (GMC) said from January 2016 it had contacted him by mail to say it had not received a recommendation to revalidate his licence, and it was revoked three months later.

The tribunal heard Dr Okey's employment had transferred to the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) in April 2016 after it took over the prison contract.

The trust informed the GMC that Dr Okey had been practising without a licence. BBC Northampton

Reforming social care is about more than funding

Reforming social care is about more than funding Jeremy Hunt’s recent speech setting out his principles for social care reform was welcome, not least because it dashed fears that the upcoming Green Paper might focus purely on funding and ignore other systemic problems in social care. Of course there is need for more money – and this need is urgent –­ but for long-term policy there are seven other key areas that need to be tackled alongside funding reform. Jeremy Hunt touched on several, but not all, of these in his speech and the challenge for the Green Paper is now to combine them in a coherent, comprehensive plan. A tough ask but one that’s far from impossible. The King's Fund

NHS Innovation Accelerator Evaluation: Final Report

NHS Innovation Accelerator Evaluation: Final Report This report presents the evaluation of the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA), led by IES in partnership with researchers from York Health Economics Consortium.

The NIA was created to help address the priorities of improving take-up of innovations in the NHS as expressed in the Five Year Forward View goals. It is intended to help create conditions and cultural change so that healthcare innovations are adopted faster and more systematically and deliver practical examples for patient and population benefit. Institute for Employment Studies

Every 10 minutes a child in England has a rotten tooth removed

Every 10 minutes a child in England has a rotten tooth removed A child in England has a tooth removed in hospital every 10 minutes due to preventable tooth decay, according to data published by Public Health England (PHE) today, Friday 6 April 2018.

With the government’s Soft Drinks Industry Levy coming into effect today, PHE’s Change4Life campaign is reminding parents that sugary drinks, including juice drinks, energy drinks, cola and other fizzy drinks, are one of the main sources of sugar in children’s diets.

Consuming too much sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and childhood obesity. Tooth decay can be prevented by cutting down on sugar as well as brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Tooth extraction remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in 5 to 9 year olds. Figures show around 141 children a day – some just a year old – are having teeth removed. This means around 60,000 days are missed from school during the year, as well as causing problems with eating, sleeping and even smiling. Public Health England

See also:

• One child has a rotten tooth pulled out every 10 minutes The Daily Mail
• Rotting teeth now costs 60,000 school days a year, says Government The Daily Telegraph

Research and analysis: Sexually transmitted infections: East Midlands data

Research and analysis: Sexually transmitted infections: East Midlands data These reports summarise the annual data for STIs in the East Midlands since 2015. Public Health England

Ensuring patient safety, enabling professionalism

Ensuring patient safety, enabling professionalism The Nursing and Midwifery Council has launched a public consultation on changes to their fitness to practise function. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 12pm on 30 May.

Women in NHS paid 23% less than men

Women in NHS paid 23% less than men The data covers more than one million workers in England from doctors and managers to nurses and cleaners.

It showed that the average full-time female worker is paid £28,702 a year in basic salary. That compares to the £37,470 average pay for men - a gap of more than 23%.

The total excludes bonuses and overtime that are paid on top of basic pay. BBC News

Soft drink sugar tax starts, but will it work?

Soft drink sugar tax starts, but will it work? The "ground-breaking" sugar tax on soft drinks has come into force in the UK.

From Friday manufacturers have to pay a levy on the high-sugar drinks they sell.

Ministers and campaigners believe it has already proved to be a success with many firms reducing sugar content ahead of the change. But others say it is still too early to judge the impact.

Leading brands such as Fanta, Ribena and Lucozade have cut the sugar content of drinks, but Coca-Cola has not.

The introduction of the levy means the UK joins a small handful of nations, including Mexico, France and Norway, which have introduced similar taxes. BBC News

See also: 

• Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco in UK would help offset the burden of chronic diseases, says College Royal College of General Practitioners

Child mental health: When it feels like no one is listening

Child mental health: When it feels like no one is listening For some parents, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are a lifeline. But for Adele and her 15-year-old son it was a case of frustration, long waiting times and a lack of continuity. BBC News

Major breakthrough in cancer care as gene map paves way for new treatments

Major breakthrough in cancer care as gene map paves way for new treatments Atlas of 11,000 patient's tumours across 33 different cancer types will improve treatment and new research

Scientists have heralded a “breakthrough” in cancer treatment after deciphering the genetic code of thousands of tumours providing a road map for more effective treatment and new drug development.

A groundbreaking international collaboration has shown how tumours in different parts of the body, which have previously been treated as separate diseases, have molecular similarities which could render them vulnerable to drugs already on the market. The Independent

I've seen terrible things as a paramedic. The worst isn't what you'd expect

I've seen terrible things as a paramedic. The worst isn't what you'd expect Taking an elderly man to hospital while knowing his wife would probably never see him again is the job I’ve most agonised over

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen? Ask any paramedic and they will have been asked this question many times over in their careers. I’d never given myself time to properly think about the answer, until recently.

Is it having my fingers in the back of a teenage boy’s brain as my colleague and I lift his limp bloody body into a bag after he had flipped over his new car on a dark country road? Continue reading... The Guardian

Dedicated midwife plan under threat as applications drop 35 per cent

Dedicated midwife plan under threat as applications drop 35 per cent Jeremy Hunt’s promise to provide the same dedicated midwifeto all women throughout their pregnancy and birth are under threat as new data reveals a significant fall in applicants joining the profession.

Figures from UCAS, the university admissions service, show there were 35 per cent fewer applications over four years to become a midwife, with just 14,625 last year compared to 22,630 in 2013.

They follow a pledge by the Health and Social Care Secretary last month to provide an extra 3,000 midwives over the next four years, which would amount to a 25 per cent rise. The Daily Telegraph

Which region is being hit hardest by scarlet fever?

Which region is being hit hardest by scarlet fever? A map today highlighted the spread of scarlet fever across England and Wales amid the highest levels of cases since the 1960s.

Government data shows 15,549 have been struck down by the 'Victorian' infection so far this year.

This is almost double the 8,728 cases in the first 13 weeks of 2016, considered the worst year for scarlet fever in five decades.

Officials are unsure as to why it is continuing its rampage across Wales and England, but experts have blamed a fall in living standards. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Scarlet fever outbreak is worst for nearly 40 years The Daily Telegraph

LISTED: The conditions you can’t get prescriptions for and the treatments banned by the NHS

LISTED: The conditions you can’t get prescriptions for and the treatments banned by the NHS Prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ remedies such as paracetamol and cold treatments have been cut after NHS officials voted in favour of money-saving plans.

Cough mixture, paracetamol, eye drops, laxatives and sun creams are among the products that will no longer be routinely prescribed, following an NHS England board meeting on Thursday. Northamptonshire Telegraph

How can the NHS work effectively with patients and the public?

How can the NHS work effectively with patients and the public? In a guest blog for our NHS and the public project, Ceinwen Giles, Founding Director at Shine Cancer Support, asks what patient involvement could mean for the NHS. The King's Fund

The two billion pound question: is there an opportunity to move from meeting to managing demand?

The two billion pound question: is there an opportunity to move from meeting to managing demand? It is a year since the 2017 Spring Budget, when Chancellor Philip Hammond announced an additional £2 billion of funding for social care for English councils. With £1 billion of the funding almost spent, and another £1 billion to be invested by March 2020, this report assesses what has been achieved so far and to reflect on how the rest of the funding could best be used.The report argues that, whilst the funding has helped to meet demand within the system through reduced delayed transfers of care, sustainable change is only possible if more of the £2 billion is used to manage demand, not just meet it. iMPOWER

Obesity-related hospital admissions 'double in four years'

Obesity-related hospital admissions 'double in four years' Hospital admissions where obesity is a factor have more than doubled in England during the last four years, new figures from NHS Digital suggest.

There were almost 617,000 appointments in 2016-17 where obesity was either a primary or secondary diagnosis - up from 292,000 in 2012-13.

Primary diagnoses involve weight-loss treatment, while secondary ones include hip problems and heart attacks.

Public Health England said it showed obesity was a "significant challenge".

Obesity is linked to a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. BBC News

See also:

• Hospital admissions where obesity is a factor increased by 18 per cent NHS Digital
• Obesity putting strain on NHS as weight-related admissions rise The Guardian

NHS England sets out plans to close 21% gender pay gap

NHS England sets out plans to close 21% gender pay gap NHS England has set out a strategy to reduce its gender pay gap, after identifying that men occupy a disproportionate number of senior roles.

Its first gender pay gap report showed that 85% of its national clinical directors are men, while women make up 80% of employees in the organisation’s lowest pay quartile.

According to the Government’s methodology for calculating gender pay gaps, NHS England had a mean gender pay gap of 21.2% on the snapshot date of 31 March 2017. This is calculated as the percentage difference between the average hourly salary for men and the average hourly salary for women. Pulse

NHS bodies told to boost mental health funds or face sanctions

NHS bodies told to boost mental health funds or face sanctions Commissioning groups in England must answer to officials if they miss investment standard

NHS bodies that put too little money into improving mental health care have been threatened with sanctions in a crackdown intended to ensure more cash reaches the frontline.

NHS England has written to all 207 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to warn that they must deliver on a key NHS-wide funding pledge in order to meet the rising demand for help. Continue reading... The Guardian

Young people struggle to cope with setbacks as happiness falls to lowest level in a decade

Young people struggle to cope with setbacks as happiness falls to lowest level in a decade Today's youngsters are the unhappiest in almost a decade because they do not know how to cope with setbacks, research by the Prince's Trust has found.

The charity, founded by the Prince of Wales, said worries about the future, money, and "not being good enough" were "piling up" on young people aged 16-25.

Its research found that happiness and confidence in emotional health had dropped to their lowest levels since 2009. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Youth Index 2018 Prince's Trust

'Sin taxes' can help to curb chronic disease

'Sin taxes' can help to curb chronic disease So-called 'sin taxes' on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco, could be a powerful tool for combating rising rates of chronic disease worldwide, researchers claim.

A global study found taxes on soft drinks, snacks, alcohol and tobacco are more likely to change the lifestyle behaviour of vulnerable poorer consumers.

At the same time, most of the tax revenues would come from higher income households. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The Lancet Taskforce on NCDs and economics The Lancet
• Will paying more for alcohol and fizzy drinks make us healthier? BBC News
• Sugar taxes improve health of the poor, major study finds The Daily Telegraph

New target for campaign to Save Corby Urgent Care Centre services

New target for campaign to Save Corby Urgent Care Centre services Campaigners trying to ensure that Corby Urgent Care Centre keeps all its vital services are celebrating after hitting their initial fundraising target.

The Save Corby UCC online campaign group were trying to raise £2,500 to launch a judicial review. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Tough task: the NHS delivering for patients and staff in 2018/19

Tough task: the NHS delivering for patients and staff in 2018/19 Based on a survey of NHS trust leaders, this report reveals widespread scepticism about the ability of the service to meet performance and financial targets in 2018/19. It argues that patients' experience of care will continue to fall below the standards that trusts consider to be acceptable and that risk to quality and safety will grow, alongside the pressures on the workforce. NHS Providers

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2015/16 update

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2015/16 update This paper provides an update on the productivity growth of the NHS in England over 2014/15 to 2015/16. It finds that there has been a significant growth in NHS activity over this period, accompanied by a growth in staff. Whilst the rate of productivity in this period has also grown the report finds that from 2014/15 onwards, productivity growth has failed to outpace that of the economy. Centre for Health Economics

NHS England funding and resource: 2018/19: supporting 'Next Steps for the NHS Five Year Forward View'

NHS England funding and resource: 2018/19: supporting 'Next Steps for the NHS Five Year Forward View' This guidance contains information about NHS England's funding in 2018/19 and sets out how NHS England will, through the distribution of funding, people and resources, support the next steps to transform local health and care systems. NHS England

Planning, assuring and delivering service change for patients

Planning, assuring and delivering service change for patients This guidance is designed to be used by those considering, and involved in, substantial service change to navigate a clear path from inception to implementation. It will support commissioners and providers to consider how to take forward their proposals, including effective public involvement, enabling them to reach robust decisions on change in the best interests of their patients. NHS England

Unspoken UK Punjabi alcohol problem

Unspoken UK Punjabi alcohol problem For many British Punjabis, alcohol abuse is an open secret. Alcohol consumption is glamorised across different aspects of Punjabi culture and shame stops many seeking the help that they need. BBC News

How Amsterdam is reducing child obesity

How Amsterdam is reducing child obesity Childhood obesity rates are rising in many parts of the world - but in Amsterdam they are falling. The city's healthy-weight programme has seen a 12% drop in overweight and obese children. BBC News

Public health directors positive on transition from NHS

Public health directors positive on transition from NHS A survey marking the fifth anniversary of the transition of public health teams from the NHS to councils has revealed significant positivity among practitioners over the move.

The survey of members conducted by the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) found 78.5% feel very positive or positive about the transition, with just under 2% of the 56 respondents saying they feel negative or very negative.

There were also largely positive responses to a series of questions on the impact of the move on public health teams and practice. Local Government Chronicle

GP visits to care homes reduce hospital admissions by nearly 40%

GP visits to care homes reduce hospital admissions by nearly 40% A new scheme piloted in four nursing homes in east London could save the NHS £1,000 a patient.

When Mary Mills had a mini stroke and broke her hip and leg, following two successive bad falls last year, she decided to move into a nursing home. Since November, Mills, 74, has been resident at Willows Care Home in Romford, east London. Due to her ongoing health needs, Mills needs regular appointments with her GP, Dr Muna Sheikh. But she does not have to be taken to the surgery or wait weeks to be seen.

Willows is one of four nursing homes across the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge taking part in a £400,000 pilot scheme. Jointly funded by the prime minister’s challenge fund (which awarded £50m to 20 pilot projects in England to improve access to general practice) and the local clinical commissioning groups, Health 1000 is a dedicated primary care practice providing 431 residents of the homes with 8am to 8pm, seven-days-a-week GP support, as well as training and advice for staff and help from a consultant geriatrician.

This is about the patient. It’s about what the patient needs in the moment you see them. It’s common sense Continue reading... The Guardian

Global antibiotic consumption soars feeding spread of UK 'superbugs'

Global antibiotic consumption soars feeding spread of UK 'superbugs' Drug-resistant superbugs are rising in the UK because of lack of regulation of antibiotics in developing countries, experts have warned.

One of the biggest studies of antibiotic use around the world has established that while antibiotic use in Britain has slowed, global consumption jumped by 65 per cent, to 34.8 billion daily doses between 2000 and 2015.

The analysis, led by the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) in Washington DC, found the rise is being driven by skyrocketing use in low to middle income countries such as India, China and Turkey where consumption was up by 114 per cent.

Resistant infections already kill an estimated 5,000 people in Britain each year. And global deaths are projected to grow to 10m a year by 2030 – one every three seconds – unless urgent action is taken, say experts. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The true cost of antibiotic resistance in Britain and around the world The Daily Telegraph

Hospital retailers sell 632 MILLION fewer calories

Hospital retailers sell 632 MILLION fewer calories Hospital shops sold the equivalent of 632 million fewer calories last year because of an NHS crackdown on the 'epidemic of flab'.

WH Smith announced it sold 1.1 million less normal-sized chocolate bars since last April after it axed promotions - and removed a further 275,000 family-sized ones.

Other retailers such as Costa, Compass Group and The Royal Voluntary Service have all curbed calories across their stores on NHS premises.

And NHS England yesterday announced 175,000 more pieces of fruit had been sold in hospital stories across England.

Bosses ordered hospital shops last October to take super-size chocolate bars and 'grab bags' of sugary snacks off their shelves. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire Hidden Needs

Northamptonshire Hidden Needs Northamptonshire Hidden Needs Report was commissioned by Northamptonshire Community Foundation and conducted by the University of Northampton, Institute for Social Innovation and Impact.

The report explores the priority needs within our local communities. It highlights key areas of deprivation and inequality that are of great concern and need tackling within Northamptonshire urgently. There is also a presentation and interactive map focusing on the most pressing issues and problems for each locality of the county.

See also:

• New report reveals 8,400 children are living in deprivation in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Ombudsman highlights failings in mental health care

Ombudsman highlights failings in mental health care 'Maintaining momentum' highlights failings in specialist mental health services in England, and the devastating toll this takes on patients and their families.

The report's findings provide fresh impetus to deliver on the recommendations set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

NHS pressures – future trends

NHS pressures – future trends The NHS has come under unprecedented pressure this winter, with A&E attendances, waiting times and admissions rising to alarming levels. The BMA is undertaking regular analysis on our new pressure points in the NHS webpage, where we have highlighted several worrying trends as spiraling demand outstrips the ability of services to cope.

What pressures will the NHS be under this summer?

Based on current trends, our assessment is that rather than experiencing the customary fall in pressures this summer, the NHS will experience similar levels of demand and activity this summer as it did in the winter of just two or three years ago.

See also:

• Does the NHS face another year's misery? BBC News
• NHS 'winter crisis' will continue through summer, BMA warns GPonline
• NHS is facing year-round crisis, says British Medical Association The Guardian
• NHS 'winter crisis' will extend into summer, doctors warn ITV News

NHS England frees up millions of pounds which could be used for frontline services

NHS England frees up millions of pounds which could be used for frontline services NHS England has today published guidance to free up to almost £100 million for frontline care each year by curbing prescriptions for ‘over the counter’ medicines such as those for constipation and athletes foot.

See also:

• RCGP welcomes new NHS England move on prescriptions for over-the-counter medicines Royal College of General Practitioners
• NHS no to dandruff and diarrhoea treatment BBC News
• NHS BANS over-the-counter remedies on prescription! The Daily Mail
• GPs barred from prescribing OTC medicines for minor ailments GPonline

What Can the U.S. and England Learn from Each Other’s Health Care Reforms?

What Can the U.S. and England Learn from Each Other’s Health Care Reforms? While the U.S. and English health systems are significantly different, both countries are currently working toward better integrating health services, improving population health, and managing health care costs. And both countries are developing their own versions of accountable care organizations (ACOs) to help achieve these aims. In this post, we outline some key opportunities for each country to learn from the other’s experiences, drawing on two articles we recently published in BMJ and JAMA. The Commonwealth Fund

'One-stop shops' set to speed up cancer diagnosis

'One-stop shops' set to speed up cancer diagnosis "One-stop shops" aimed at speeding up cancer diagnosis are being introduced across England.

The aim is to catch the disease earlier and prevent patients from being referred for several tests for different forms of the illness.

Patients often face delays when they have non-specific symptoms.

NHS England says this is a "step change" in the way people with suspected cancer are diagnosed and treated.

The rapid diagnosis and then treatment of cancer can be vital in saving lives. BBC News

See also:

• New ‘one stop shops’ for cancer to speed up diagnosis and save lives NHS England

Paramedics set to prescribe medicines

Paramedics set to prescribe medicines Advanced paramedics in England will be able to prescribe medicines to people who do not need hospital treatment, under new laws starting on Sunday.

Up to seven out of 10 people currently seen by advanced care paramedics may need help - but not a hospital visit.

Paramedics only have a limited ability to supply medicines at the moment but will now be able to do this without delay or the patient seeing their GP.

Rachel Power, The Patients Association chief executive, called it "good news". BBC News

Revealed: hidden toll of ambulance delays at A&E puts lives at risk

Revealed: hidden toll of ambulance delays at A&E puts lives at risk Exclusive: NHS data shows problem of holdups three times worse than officially portrayed

Thousands of ambulances are being prevented from responding to life-threatening 999 calls every day because they are tied up at A&E units, in a significant continuing breach of NHS patient safety rules.

The Guardian can reveal that almost 600,000 ambulances faced delays of more than 15 minutes in their crews handing a patient over to hospital A&E staff in the past three months – something NHS rules say should never happen.

A combination of factors are at play. Hospitals have fewer beds than last year, so they are less able to deal with the recent, ongoing surge in illness. Last week, for example, the bed occupancy rate at 17 of England’s 153 acute hospital trusts was 98% or more, with the fullest – Walsall healthcare trust – 99.9% occupied. Continue reading...

Sharp rise in self-harm reported by mental health units in England

Sharp rise in self-harm reported by mental health units in England Experts say ‘extremely worrying’ increase shows NHS services struggling to provide support

The number of times patients have self-harmed while in mental health units has almost doubled in five years, prompting concern that services are struggling to help those in their care.

Data obtained by the Guardian from nearly half of NHS mental health trusts across England show that the number of incidents of self-harm among inpatients shot up from 15,489 to 28,585 between 2013 and 2017. During that period, the number of patients who reportedly self-harmed increased from 4,432 to 6,326.

One of the provoking factors for patients is the lack of understanding and empathy from staff Continue reading...

Ambulance crews risk burnout with 1,000 posts vacant

Ambulance crews risk burnout with 1,000 posts vacant Seven NHS regions say they are struggling to recruit paramedics and other frontline staff

Ambulance services in England are short of almost 1,000 frontline staff, including paramedics, job vacancy figures reveal.

An Observer survey of the 10 NHS regions found that the London Ambulance Service had the highest number of unfilled posts – more than 350. It was closely followed by the South East Coast Ambulance Service and the South Central Ambulance Service. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS hospitals save £400000 by switching to same brand of surgical gloves

NHS hospitals save £400000 by switching to same brand of surgical gloves A group of NHS hospitals has saved £400,000 a year simply by all agreeing to use the same brand of rubber surgical gloves, it has emerged.

Seven hospitals in Sheffield joined forces to buy in bulk and reduce overheads by collaborating on a price matching scheme for 11 widely used products.

The initiative achieved a total saving of £2 million, simply by choosing the same brands and negotiating lower rates, a success with highlights the huge losses the health service is making by not taking advantage of its buying power. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital trust under fire for describing use of milk formula as 'artificial feeding'

Hospital trust under fire for describing use of milk formula as 'artificial feeding' A hospital trust has caused outrage after it described using formula milk as "artificially" feeding babies.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust used the term as it announced it would no longer provide formula milk in its maternity wards to mothers who had chosen not to breastfeed.

One of the headings in a Q&A fact sheet read: "What do I need to bring with me if I wish to artificially feed my baby?".

It said that from May 1, mothers who had decided not to breastfeed should bring a first milk starter pack to hospital for when they gave birth. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Hospital's 'artificial feeding' letter to mothers criticised BBC News

Hundreds of cancer operations were cancelled last winter as the NHS buckled under the pressure

Hundreds of cancer operations were cancelled last winter as the NHS buckled under the pressure NHS trusts in England were forced to cancel hundreds of cancer operations last winter, new research suggests.

Out of a poll of 81 NHS hospital trusts, 43 postponed at least one cancer surgery between December and February, according to a survey by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

Hospitals in England were told to delay pre-planned operations and routine outpatient appointments throughout January to help overcome severe winter pressures.

Yet NHS England stressed cancer operations and time-critical procedures should go ahead as planned. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS trusts cancelled hundreds of cancer procedures over winter The Guardian

Health chiefs investigate 30 doctors in the UK over 'unsafe' prescribing of drugs via the internet

Health chiefs investigate 30 doctors in the UK over 'unsafe' prescribing of drugs via the internet Health chiefs are investigating 30 doctors in the UK over prescribing drugs via the internet.

The General Medical Council is currently dealing with the cases – which include 19 GPs – on suspicion of unsafe prescribing.

Several deaths have been linked to patients obtaining strong medications this way, prompting coroners to write to health authorities at least two cases, GP magazine Pulse reports. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GMC investigating 30 doctors over online prescribing Pulse

Andrew Lansley reveals he has bowel cancer and blames Treasury for opposing scheme to catch disease

Andrew Lansley reveals he has bowel cancer and blames Treasury for opposing scheme to catch disease Former Tory health secretary Andrew Lansley has revealed he has bowel cancer, and last night criticised the Treasury for opposing a scheme to catch the disease early.

Lord Lansley, 61, said he was receiving chemotherapy for the disease and had ‘every reason’ to hope he will survive long-term.

But he criticised the Treasury for ‘wrongly’ thwarting a screening programme he introduced which might have caught the cancer sooner. The Daily Mail

New boss named at 'inadequate'-rated Northampton mental health charity

New boss named at 'inadequate'-rated Northampton mental health charity  A new chief executive has been named at a Northampton mental health charity - that paid its previous boss £328,000-a-year. Former chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals, Katie Fisher, is set to become the new boss of the largely NHS-funded St Andrews healthcare from June 28. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Prime Minister’s promise of extra funding for NHS raises questions about how much, when and how?

Prime Minister’s promise of extra funding for NHS raises questions about how much, when and how? The Prime Minister’s announcement that the government is committed to a new funding settlement over several years is welcome recognition of the growing pressures facing the NHS and the need to find a sustainable solution. Eight years of austerity have taken their toll on patient care and have led Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, and Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, among many others, to argue publicly for additional resources. King's Fund

NHS England and NHS Improvement get closer

NHS England and NHS Improvement get closer NHS England and NHS Improvement are today announcing some key steps that we are taking to bring our organisations closer together.
We have one NHS: commissioners and providers in each part of the country are serving the same people, and we need to use the resources that Parliament gives the NHS to greater benefit for local patients. This requires a much stronger focus on collaboration and joint working nationally as well as in local health systems.
Subject to our boards’ approval of more detailed proposals, we will begin to establish the following working arrangements from September 2018:

• increased integration and alignment of national programmes and activities – one team where possible
• integration of NHS England and NHS Improvement regional teams, to be led in each case by one regional director working for both organisations, and a move to seven regional teams to underpin this new approach. NHS England

Brexit: reciprocal healthcare

Brexit: reciprocal healthcare This report says that in the absence of an agreement on reciprocal healthcare, the rights of UK citizens to hold an EHIC card for treatment in the EU will cease after Brexit. King's Fund
Report
House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee - news

NHS Cervical Screening Programme: the role of the cervical screening provider lead

NHS Cervical Screening Programme: the role of the cervical screening provider lead This guidance includes information for cervical screening provider leads on requirements of the role, accountability, working relationships, and roles and responsibilities. King's Fund
Guidance
Public Health England - publications

We've not got enough beds or staff - NHS bosses

We've not got enough beds or staff - NHS bosses The NHS in England does not have enough beds or staff, health bosses say, ahead of the new financial year next week. NHS Providers, which represents chief executives, warned the service was facing an impossible task in 2018-19.
The group said it meant hospital waiting lists would grow and long A&E waits continue. But the government said it was taking steps to support the NHS, including pay rises for staff and the promise of a long-term funding settlement. BBC News

Man has 'world's worst' super-gonorrhoea

Man has 'world's worst' super-gonorrhoea A man in the UK has caught the world's "worst-ever" case of super-gonorrhoea. He had a regular partner in the UK, but picked up the superbug after a sexual encounter with a woman in South East Asia. Public Health England says it is the first time the infection cannot be cured with first choice antibiotics. BBC News

Out-of-hours GP workforce faces collapse as winter indemnity scheme ends

Out-of-hours GP workforce faces collapse as winter indemnity scheme ends BMA leaders have called for an extension of the winter indemnity scheme after a poll found 80% of GPs planned to reduce sessions or stop working out-of-hours altogether if financial support ends from April. GP Online

Jeremy Corbyn accuses May of breaking mental health promise

Jeremy Corbyn accuses May of breaking mental health promise Jeremy Corbyn has challenged the prime minister over failings in mental health services, saying: “Too many of our fellow citizens suffer alone because there are not enough staff to help them at a moment of crisis.”
At the final session of prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, before parliament takes a two-week Easter break, the Labour leader used all of his questions to accuse Theresa May of failing to live up to the government’s promise to treat mental health as seriously as physical health. The Guardian

Health trusts say next year's A&E targets will be impossible to meet

Health trusts say next year's A&E targets will be impossible to meet Only 5% of trusts are confident their emergency departments will reach required levels. NHS plans for the coming year will be impossible to deliver despite Theresa May’s promise to accelerate long-term funding, trusts have said.
Amid mounting pressure, the prime minister pledged on Tuesday to provide details of a multiyear funding settlement imminently but the trade association NHS Providers says it offers no instant relief to its members. The Guardian