More convenient cancer screening services must be rolled out to boost uptake, says Professor Sir Mike Richards

More convenient cancer screening services must be rolled out to boost uptake, says Professor Sir Mike Richards The NHS should roll out online booking, out of hours appointments and text reminders to boost the uptake of breast, cervical and other screening services, leading expert Professor Sir Mike Richards said.

Sir Mike, who was the first NHS cancer director and is a former CQC chief inspector of hospitals, is leading a major overhaul of national cancer screening programmes as part of a renewed drive to improve care and save lives.

Increasing early detection of cancers when they are easier to treat is at the heart of the NHS’s Long Term Plan to upgrade services and make sure patients benefit from new technologies and treatments. NHS England

See also:

• Review of national cancer screening programmes in England - interim report NHS England
• 'Cancer screening should be as easy as booking a flight' BBC News
• 'Difficult if not impossible' to check safety of NHS screening programmes amid litany of failings, expert warns The Daily Telegraph

NHS violence: Nurses talk of attacks by patients in hospital

NHS violence: Nurses talk of attacks by patients in hospital Urine bottles being thrown, doors broken off their hinges and threats of violence.

These are just some of the experiences nurses have faced at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset.

They have spoken to the BBC to highlight the issues that many NHS staff face in the work place. BBC News

Ten arrested over Whorlton Hall 'abuse'

Ten arrested over Whorlton Hall 'abuse' Ten workers have been arrested over the alleged abuse of patients with learning difficulties at a specialist hospital.

Seven men and three women were arrested at addresses in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Darlington and Stockton.

Undercover filming by BBC Panorama at Whorlton Hall in County Durham appeared to show patients being mocked, intimidated and restrained. BBC News

See also:

• Ten staff members are arrested over alleged abuse of patients at scandal-hit NHS-funded hospital The Daily Mail
• 10 Whorlton Hall staff arrested on suspicion of physical and psychological abuse The Daily Telegraph
• Whorlton Hall investigation: 10 arrested over care home ‘abuse’ of patients with learning disabilities The Independent

PIP breast implant scandal: Victims visited by bailiffs

PIP breast implant scandal: Victims visited by bailiffs Women given faulty breast implants fear thousands of them may have to pay back compensation after visits by bailiffs warning them of legal proceedings.

German safety body TUV Rheinland was found liable for the global PIP implant scandal in 2017 and ordered to make payouts to victims by a French court.

The firm has begun an appeal and some 13,000 victims awarded compensation have been issued legal papers. BBC News

Wellness influencers like Belle Gibson promote dangerous pseudoscience as a cure for disease

Wellness influencers like Belle Gibson promote dangerous pseudoscience as a cure for disease Former social media influencer and “wellness guru” Belle Gibson first caught public attention after claiming she cured herself of terminal cancer by rejecting conventional medicine in favour of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Her story was documented on a blog and social media, which became the basis for a successful book and app, featuring lifestyle advice and healthy recipes.

In 2015, however, Gibson was exposed as a fraud. It was revealed that she never had cancer and failed to donate the proceeds from her app to charity, as promised. Now, she has been summoned to appear in Federal Court following her failure to pay a A$410,000 (£224,000) penalty for misleading health claims. The Independent

Cuts may leave NHS short of 70,000 nurses, leaked report warns

Cuts may leave NHS short of 70,000 nurses, leaked report warns Abolition of bursaries for nursing students led to severe fall in number training for the profession

The NHS could be short of almost 70,000 nurses within five years, according to a leaked copy of the government’s long-awaited plan to tackle the staffing crisis.

Blaming the government’s decision to abolish bursaries for nursing students, a draft of the NHS people plan says: “Our analysis shows a 40,000 (11%) shortfall [in the number of nurses needed in England] in 2018-19 which widens to 68,500 (16%) by 2023-24 without intervention, as demand for nurses grows faster than supply.” The Guardian

NHS bosses accused of breaking law in cancer scanning privatisation

NHS bosses accused of breaking law in cancer scanning privatisation Oxfordshire councillors tell health secretary contract for InHealth endangers patients

NHS bosses stand accused of endangering patients, “flagrant” lawbreaking and intimidating a leading hospital trust over their controversial privatisation of cancer scanning services.

Oxfordshire councillors have warned that cancer patients in Thames Valley will receive a poorer service because NHS England has decided to take a contract for PET-CT scanning away from Oxford university hospitals (OUH) trust and hand it to the private firm InHealth. The Guardian

Scientists discover compound that tackles antibiotic resistant bugs

Scientists discover compound that tackles antibiotic resistant bugs Scientists have discovered a new compound that could pave the way for new treatments to tackle superbugs.

Researchers from Sheffield University’s department of chemistry are testing the new compound on gram negative bacteria - the most difficult to treat of all infections.

There have been no new treatments for gram negative infections in the last 50 years and they are top of the World Health Organization’s list of priority pathogens for which new medicines are urgently needed. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Using Nanoscopy To Probe the Biological Activity of Antimicrobial Leads That Display Potent Activity against Pathogenic, Multidrug Resistant, Gram-Negative Bacteria (abstract) ACS Nano
• Economists can help to solve the antibiotic resistance crisis The Independent

'Burn-out' is officially recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization

'Burn-out' is officially recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization 'Burn-out' is officially a disease, according to the World Health Organization.

The agency, currently holding the World Health Assembly in Geneva, added the condition to its catalog, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), on Monday, a year after it was recommended by global health experts.

It will become globally recognized in 2022, giving healthcare providers and insurers precedent to acknowledge, treat and cover symptoms of 'burn-out'. The Daily Mail

St Andrew's Healthcare: Up to 50 patients stuck in secure units

St Andrew's Healthcare: Up to 50 patients stuck in secure units Up to 50 patients, some with learning disabilities and autism who should be released, are stuck in secure units run by a mental health hospital charity.

St Andrew's Healthcare, which treats up to 900 patients, told the BBC there was a lack of suitable community places.

Footage of a teenager locked in seclusion, able to touch their parent only through a door hatch at one of its units, has been shown to the BBC.

The hospital said seclusion was used as an emergency response only. BBC News

Outstanding models of district nursing

Outstanding models of district nursing This report, written in conjunction with the Royal College of Nursing, calls for urgent investment in district nursing, as new figures show the number of district nurses working in the NHS has dropped by almost 43 per cent in England in the last ten years. It explores all the elements which need to be in place to support an outstanding district nursing service. Queen's Nursing Institute

Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme: action from learning

Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme: action from learning This report provides examples of the local changes that have been made to services so far and highlights the extensive work which is happening nationally in response to common themes raised through LeDeR reviews across the country. NHS England

Independent review of local government spending need and funding

Independent review of local government spending need and funding This report identifies a funding gap of over £50bn over the next six years for councils in England. It estimates that by 2025, 78 per cent of the 36 county authorities’ spending will relate to four key service areas: adult social care, children’s services, public health and education services. County Councils Network

Taking the p***: the decline of the great British public toilet

Taking the p***: the decline of the great British public toilet The report explores the state of the UK’s public conveniences, the impact this has on health and wellbeing, and public perceptions of what should be done. It sheds light on the health burden of this declining public toilet provision, which falls disproportionately on people with ill health or disability, the elderly, women, outdoor workers, and the homeless. For example, fear of or knowledge of a lack of facilities nearby can tie people to within a small distance of their home, acting as a ‘loo leash’ for many. Royal Society for Public Health

Mumps and measles cases in England prompt vaccine call

Mumps and measles cases in England prompt vaccine call A significant increase in mumps cases and continuing outbreaks of measles in England have led to calls for people to ensure they are immunised.

Public Health England said even one person missing their vaccinations was "too many".

There were 795 cases of mumps in the first three months of 2019, compared with 1,031 in the whole of 2018.

Most mumps cases are linked to teenagers mixing when they go to university. BBC News

See also:

• MMR vaccination call following high numbers of measles cases Public Health England
• Research and analysis: Measles, mumps and rubella: lab-confirmed cases in England 2019 Public Health England
• Scientist behind anti-vaxxers' favorite study says 'it's just not even a valid' The Daily Mail
• Measles outbreaks in Europe spark calls for children to be vaccinated The Daily Telegraph

Surgeons warn of serious hand injuries from dog leads and collars

Surgeons warn of serious hand injuries from dog leads and collars Surgeons are warning dog owners not to wrap leads around their fingers or wrist because of the dangers of serious hand injury.

They say thousands of people could be at risk from lacerations, friction burns, fractures and ligament injuries.

There were 30 serious hand injuries caused by dog leads last year in Cornwall alone, the British Society for Surgery of the Hand said. BBC News

See also:

• Dog owners are suffering hand injuries because they’re holding their leads wrong The Daily Mail

GPs must maintain commissioning role as CCGs merge

GPs must maintain commissioning role as CCGs merge The role of GPs in organising care must be maintained as part of significant changes to commissioning arrangements in the NHS in England, according to a report published yesterday.
The report by NHS Clinical Commissioners, the representative body of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), warns that planned changes to commissioning as part of the NHS Long Term Plan must not result in any less of a role for GPs and clinicians in this area.

The report The changing face of clinical commissioning highlights the strengths and successes of nine CCGs across England while stressing that clinical leadership must not be lost as the NHS works towards the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan. OnMedica

NHS and care regulator missed care home abuse of vulnerable patients on multiple occasions

NHS and care regulator missed care home abuse of vulnerable patients on multiple occasions Health watchdogs had no concerns when they twice visited a private hospital at the centre of a police investigation into the abuse of patients in the months after it had been inspected, The Independent has learnt.

The government said it was “deeply sorry” for the abuse of patients at Whorlton Hall in County Durham, which cares for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs.

See also:

• Whorlton Hall: Care home abuse missed despite at least 100 official visits BBC News
• Care minister Caroline Dinenage 'deeply sorry' over hospital abuse BBC News
• Years after my son died in NHS care, state-sanctioned torture continues The Guardian

Big pharma poured £57m into UK patient charities which could influence NHS drug decision makers, report finds

Big pharma poured £57m into UK patient charities which could influence NHS drug decision makers, report finds Drug companies poured £57m into UK patient groups who research and lobby for new treatments into specific conditions – in many cases the same drugs being marketed by their donors.

An investigation by Bath University researchers into donations by big pharma and other industry bodies found the number of donations between 2014 and 2016 rose by a third and the value more than doubled. The Independent

See also:

• Exposing drug industry funding of UK patient organisations (open access) The BMJ

NHS to sign up patients for 'virtual' A&E in tech revolution

NHS to sign up patients for 'virtual' A&E in tech revolution Exclusive: Patients checking systems will be told by chatbot if they need to go to hospital

Millions of patients will be encouraged to use digital technology to assess how ill they are under a groundbreaking initiative by a leading NHS hospital, as part of a drive to reduce the use of A&E and outpatient appointments.

A revolution in the NHS’s embrace of technology will see patients in Birmingham advised to use online – live and automated – chat services, online symptom checkers and video consultations with doctors and nurses to help relieve the “unsustainable” pressure on services. The Guardian

Four pharma companies ‘worked together to inflate a drug price 700% in just four years’

Four pharma companies ‘worked together to inflate a drug price 700% in just four years’  The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has accused pharmaceutical firms Alliance, Focus, Lexon and Medreich of breaking competition law by setting up a controlled supply of a medicine. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Drug firms accused of illegal market sharing over anti-nausea tablets Competition and Markets Authority
• Colluding drug firms 'cost the NHS millions of pounds' BBC News
• Collusion by drug firms cost NHS millions of pounds, watchdog finds The Independent

Nurses are routinely told by NHS bosses to put up with sex pest patients

Nurses are routinely told by NHS bosses to put up with sex pest patients Nurses are routinely told by hospital bosses to put up with sexual harassment at work because it is an ‘occupational hazard’, a conference heard.

Staff said the ‘sexy nurse stereotype from Carry On films’ persists and meant patients felt they could get away with inappropriate comments or touching.

Speaking at the Royal College of Nursing annual congress in Liverpool, nurses said they had received rape threats, sexual comments and been followed to their cars – only for NHS managers to laugh it off. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire health boss reveals plans for the future

Northamptonshire health boss reveals plans for the future Toby Sanders has a big job. As chief executive of Northamptonshire’s two NHS clinical commissioning groups he has responsibility for an annual budget just shy of £1bn and it’s his role to make sure the health services in the county are performing well and meeting the needs of our ever growing and ever ageing population.

Appointed in November last year after a successful seven years in the same role in West Leicestershire, the new chief executive has plans to shake up the county’s healthcare system in line with the NHS’s new 10-year plan that was published earlier this year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Nurse at Northampton GP surgery cautioned by police after prescribing Class C drug to wife

Nurse at Northampton GP surgery cautioned by police after prescribing Class C drug to wife A Northampton nurse is facing possible sanctions after admitting to doling out medication in a "cavalier" manner without proper authority on several occasions.

Kyle Hastings, who works at St Luke's Primary Care Centre in Duston, has been facing a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel over incidents dating between 2016 and 2017 involving misuse of prescriptions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering General Hospital out of 'special measures' after CQC inspection

Kettering General Hospital out of 'special measures' after CQC inspection A hospital criticised for its safety standards has been taken out of special measures after two years by inspectors, but remains as "requires improvement".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said all areas of Kettering General Hospital have been rated "good" or "requires improvement". BBC Northampton

What does NHSX have to learn from other countries’ experiences of digitisation in health systems?

What does NHSX have to learn from other countries’ experiences of digitisation in health systems? What are the fundamental challenges facing policy-makers who want to see the widescale adoption of effective digital technology in the health and care system? The King's Fund

Joining the dots: connecting behavioural insights to improvement, and to our humanity

Joining the dots: connecting behavioural insights to improvement, and to our humanity Behavioural insights – often referred to as ‘nudging’ – are lessons from psychology, cognitive science, social science and behavioural economics that shine a light on how we make choices. At their core is the recognition that we are not always consistent nor rational in our choices and behaviour. Rather, our behaviour is determined by a fallible brain that is greatly influenced by the context in which our choices are made. The Health Foundation

Social care: Free at the point of need - The case for free personal care in England

Social care: Free at the point of need - The case for free personal care in England Adult social care is one the most important public services in the UK. For hundreds of thousands of people it provides vital care and support – in their homes or in a residential setting – to ensure that they can maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life as they age. This may involve receiving help with basic tasks such as getting up or eating, or 24-hour support for people with complex needs such as dementia.

But unlike its sibling service – the NHS – social care has been consistently undervalued. This can be seen in the different principles which underpin the two services: whilst the NHS is free at the point of need, social care is means tested, with only those on low incomes entitled to receive statutory support. As a result, approximately half of all people formally receiving social care, privately finance at least part of their care – and this figure has been growing. Institute for Public Policy Research
See also:

• 21st century social care: what’s wrong with social care and how we can fix it Policy Exchange
• Personal care should be free for over-65s, says thinktank The Guardian

Hospital 'abused' vulnerable adults in Durham

Hospital 'abused' vulnerable adults in Durham The abuse and mistreatment of vulnerable adults at a specialist hospital has been uncovered by the BBC's Panorama programme.

Undercover BBC filming shows staff intimidating, mocking and restraining patients with learning disabilities and autism at Whorlton Hall, County Durham.

Experts said the culture was deviant at the privately-run NHS-funded unit with evidence of "psychological torture".

A police investigation has been launched and 16 staff suspended. BBC News

See also:

• Undercover hospital abuse scandal (Available until March 2020 on iPlayer) BBC Panorama
• The failings in learning disability services in six charts BBC News
• Hospital staff 'abused' vulnerable patients in Durham, BBC's Panorama reveals BBC News
• Undercover footage shows autistic patients 'tortured' in repeat of Winterbourne View scandal The Daily Telegraph
• Secret filming reveals abuse of disabled and autistic patients The Guardian
• Staff filmed bragging of assaulting and abusing vulnerable patients at care home run by US multinational The Independent

Cannula sleeves: 'Simple solution for dementia patients'

Cannula sleeves: 'Simple solution for dementia patients' When singer Sharon Wallace volunteered at a hospice in her local area, she noticed how small things can make a huge difference.

"It can be heartbreaking when you see people affected by dementia," she said. "They're often in another world, but music can really help," she told the BBC.

She also noticed how some of the residents with dementia could be quite fidgety. BBC News

NHS warning: Drivers wearing lanyards 'risk injury'

NHS warning: Drivers wearing lanyards 'risk injury' NHS staff are being warned not to wear their lanyards when driving or travelling in cars because of the risk of injury if an airbag goes off.

It comes after an NHS worker, who crashed while driving home, suffered a perforated bowel from keys attached to her lanyard. BBC News

Three-quarters of food bought in UK hospitals is unhealthy, audit shows

Three-quarters of food bought in UK hospitals is unhealthy, audit shows NHS staff, patients and visitors shun nutritious snacks in favour of crisps, sweets and cakes

Researchers have called for radical restrictions on junk food in UK hospitals after an audit of NHS health centres found that people overwhelmingly bought unhealthy snacks and drinks on the premises.

Three-quarters of the best-selling snacks in hospital cafes and canteens were rated as unhealthy, along with half of the most popular cold drinks, according to a report by the audit’s authors.  The Guardian

See also:

• Mapping the snack and drink landscape in a large UK hospital site PsyArXiv
• Junk food should be banned from hospital shops, experts warn  The Daily Mail

Ten million in rural areas now lack basic services like GP surgeries, hospitals and nursing homes

Ten million in rural areas now lack basic services like GP surgeries, hospitals and nursing homes Huge swathes of rural Britain have become ‘healthcare deserts’ where millions struggle to access GP appointments and hospital treatment, nurses have warned.

The ten million people who live in the English countryside are served by grossly inadequate healthcare, they say. And with GP practices, community hospitals and nursing homes closing, things are getting worse.

While other parts of the NHS are turning to revolutionary online systems and app-based healthcare, patchy mobile service and substandard broadband means this is a pipedream in many rural areas. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Swathes of countryside becoming 'healthcare deserts' with £100 trips for hospital care The Daily Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital to improve care for the armed forces community

Northampton General Hospital to improve care for the armed forces community Northampton General Hospital has been named a Veteran Aware hospital in recognition of its commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces and their families.

The accreditation, from the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance (VCHA), acknowledges the hospital’s pledge to train specific staff on veteran needs - as well as making veterans, reservists and service families aware of charities beneficial to them such as mental health services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Adult social care needs to be 'more integrated' when unitary takes over control in Northampton

Adult social care needs to be 'more integrated' when unitary takes over control in Northampton A report has recommended that health services for adult social care in Northamptonshire needs to be more ‘integrated’ when the new unitary authorities are created in 2021.


Tackling loneliness and giving greater assistance to the black and mixed ethnicity (BAME) community are also highlighted as key things to tackle in the report, which has been written up by councillors on the overview and scrutiny committee of Northampton Borough Council. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hundreds of under-75s die from stroke and heart disease in Northamptonshire

Hundreds of under-75s die from stroke and heart disease in Northamptonshire Hundreds of under-75s have died from stroke and heart disease in Northamptonshire in recent years as progress in reducing death rates for the conditions slows, new figures show.

The trend reflects the findings of a British Heart Foundation report, which reveals deaths from cardiovascular diseases in the UK among under-75s have risen for the first time in more than 40 years. Daventry Express

Improving access out of hours: Evaluation of extended-hours primary care access hubs

Improving access out of hours: Evaluation of extended-hours primary care access hubs Could schemes aiming to increase the availability of primary care health care access out of hours improve the overall quality of services and patient experience in outer east London? The Nuffield Trust was commissioned by Barking, Havering and Redbridge CCGs to evaluate the impact of access programmes in these boroughs.

Action needed to spot and stop sepsis, say nurses calling for national early-warning system for children

Action needed to spot and stop sepsis, say nurses calling for national early-warning system for children Health care staff and the public must be educated on the signs of sepsis to save tens of thousands of lives lost each year, nursing staff will say today.

Between 1,000 and 4,000 under-fives die of sepsis every year in the UK, according to the UK Sepsis Trust. Yet there is not currently a universal, nationally validated system to identify deterioration in child patients. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• NHS can beat sepsis, says quadruple amputee  BBC News
• Medics are failing to spot sepsis in children due to inadequate screening The Daily Mail
• Thousands of children dying needlessly amid lack of sepsis checks The Daily Telegraph
• NHS failure to agree child sepsis alert system 'risking lives' The Guardian

Under the skin: listening to the voices of older people in influenza immunisation

Under the skin: listening to the voices of older people in influenza immunisation This report finds that attitudes of older adults to influenza immunisation are a significant factor in influencing the vaccination rates amongst this group. It argues that efforts to increase the vaccination coverage rates among the older population needs to move beyond associating age with vulnerability and towards presenting immunisation as a positive and healthy lifestyle choice. International Longevity Centre UK

Fit for the future: a vision for general practice

Fit for the future: a vision for general practice This report outlines RCGP's vision for the future of general practice and it is informed through consultation with GPs, health professionals and patients, alongside research commissioned from The King's Fund. It makes the case for longer face-to-face GP consultation times and wider skill-mix within general practice. Royal College of General Practitioners

Care of every patient held in long-term segregation to be reviewed

Care of every patient held in long-term segregation to be reviewed Health secretary ‘moved and appalled’ after report identifies dozens of people spending prolonged periods in isolation

The care of every patient stuck in segregation will be independently reviewed, the health secretary has announced, after a report suggested many vulnerable people were being failed.

Matt Hancock said he had been “deeply moved and appalled” by stories of people with autism and learning disabilities spending prolonged periods in isolation in mental health units, and vowed to improve their treatment. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS invests £5 million to improve care for people with a learning disability NHS England

NHS nurse who offered a Bible to a cancer patient loses appeal after tribunal ruled she was 'rightly sacked for religious fervour'

NHS nurse who offered a Bible to a cancer patient loses appeal after tribunal ruled she was 'rightly sacked for religious fervour' A nurse who offered a bible to a cancer patient and encouraged him to sing The Lord is My Shepherd was fairly dismissed, a court has ruled.

Sarah Kuteh was given the sack from her job at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, in 2016 for repeatedly talking to patients about her faith and handing out a bible, in breach of Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) rules. The Daily Telegraph

Heart failure missed in thousands of women because doctors assume it's a 'man's disease'

Heart failure missed in thousands of women because doctors assume it's a 'man's disease' Women are less likely than men to be diagnosed with potentially fatal heart failure because of unconscious bias among doctors, new research suggests.

A major study analysing more than 93,000 patients over four years found women were nine per cent less likely to receive a diagnosis and 13 per cent less likely to get the right prescription. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Diagnostic tests, drug prescriptions, and follow-up patterns after incident heart failure: A cohort study of 93,000 UK patients (open access) PLOS Medicine
• Women less likely to be resuscitated and survive a cardiac arrest than men, study finds The Independent
• Women less likely to be resuscitated and survive cardiac arrest OnMedica

Merger proposed for Northamptonshire's two health commissioning groups

Merger proposed for Northamptonshire's two health commissioning groups The two organisations that commission Northamptonshire’s health services could join together.

The move has been put to the governing bodies of both the Nene Clinical Commissioning Group and the Corby Clinical Commissioning Group by their joint chief executive Toby Sanders who joined the trusts in November.

Corby is the smallest CCG in the country and commissions services specifically for the Corby area. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Parity of esteem: delivering physical health equality for those with serious mental health needs

Parity of esteem: delivering physical health equality for those with serious mental health needs This report gives an overview of the work the RCN is doing to address the mortality gap between people with serious mental illness and the rest of the population as well as our work towards establishing parity of esteem between mental and physical health. Royal College of Nursing

Interim report: Review of restraint, prolonged seclusion and segregation for people with a mental health problem, a learning disability and or autism

Interim report: Review of restraint, prolonged seclusion and segregation for people with a mental health problem, a learning disability and or autism This report gives the interim findings from our review of the use of restrictive interventions in places that provide care for people with mental health problems, a learning disability and/or autism. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• 'Broken' care system for most vulnerable BBC News
• Autism scandal: children as young as 11 locked in isolation for years on end The Daily Telegraph

15-minute minimum consultations, continuity of care through 'micro-teams', and an end to isolated working: this is the future of general practice

15-minute minimum consultations, continuity of care through 'micro-teams', and an end to isolated working: this is the future of general practice It states that by 2030 face-to-face GP consultations will be at least 15 minutes, with longer for those patients who need it.

Recent research showed that the UK offers some of the shortest GP consultations amongst economically-advanced nations at 9.2 minutes – with another study finding that the average GP consultation involved discussion of two and a half health problems.

It's estimated that the number of people with a single chronic condition increased by 4%, and with multiple chronic conditions by 8% per year between 2003/4-2015/16 – and that patients with long-term conditions account for around 50% of all GP appointments.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: "It is abundantly clear that the standard 10-minute appointment is unfit for purpose. It's increasingly rare for a patient to present with a just single health condition, and we cannot deal with this adequately in 10 minutes. Royal College of General Practitioners

See also:

• GPs call for end of the 10-minute consultation amid warnings slots among shortest in western world The Daily Telegraph
• GPs say 10-minute appointment with doctor is too short The Guardian
• Ten-minute appointments too short to be useful and must be phased out by 2030, say GPs The Independent

The hospital helping families with baby loss

The hospital helping families with baby loss Losing a baby is devastating enough, without having to go through this experience just feet away from people giving birth. A hospital in the Midlands now hopes to take action by building a safe haven for families enduring the loss of their babies. BBC News

Stress from poverty 'over-medicalised'

Stress from poverty 'over-medicalised' More than 70 million prescriptions for anti-depressants were issued in England in 2018 - and low-income areas had some of some of the highest prescription rates.

BBC Radio 4's PM programme meets some of those interviewed for a new study, Poverty, Pathology and Pills, warning against "over-medicalising poverty". BBC News

Artificial intelligence diagnoses lung cancer

Artificial intelligence diagnoses lung cancer Artificial intelligence is better than specialist doctors at diagnosing lung cancer, a US study suggests.

The researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois and Google hope the technology could boost the effectiveness of cancer screening.

Finding tumours at an earlier stage should make them easier to treat. BBC News

See also:

• End-to-end lung cancer screening with three-dimensional deep learning on low-dose chest computed tomography (abstract) Nature Medicine

MPs call for action over medicinal cannabis on NHS

MPs call for action over medicinal cannabis on NHS MPs have expressed frustration over the NHS failure to issue prescriptions to patients in need of medicinal cannabis, despite the law being changed six months ago.

In a lengthy backbench debate last night, Conservative MP Sir Mike Penning called for urgent action in the case of severely epileptic children, for whom medicinal cannabis has helped to reduce their seizures. iNews

More than 500 people told to get HIV tests after visiting dentist in Hertfordshire town

More than 500 people told to get HIV tests after visiting dentist in Hertfordshire town Hundreds of patients at a Hertfordshire dental surgery have been told to take HIVtests after their appointments.

The Dentality @ Hoddesdon practice sent letters to 563 patients who underwent dental scaling practice warning them about exposure “to a blood-borne virus such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV”.

Public Health England (PHE) said a dedicated phone line has been set up to help patients access further information and book a blood test. The Independent

When survival is a popularity contest: the heartbreak of crowdfunding healthcare

When survival is a popularity contest: the heartbreak of crowdfunding healthcare A growing number of Britons are turning to online fundraising for essential treatment in a desperate, ‘Dickensian’ attempt to get around NHS shortfalls. But does it work?

Heather Bellamy’s March appointment at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in King’s Lynn didn’t go well. She had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia five years before, in December 2014; now, her doctor explained gently, she had run out of options on the NHS. Bellamy, 48, would be starting a chemotherapy drug called azacitidine that could extend her life expectancy from two months to six. Her doctor asked if she had a bucket list. “I felt crushed,” she remembers.

Speaking one month on, Bellamy – a senior practice nurse and a mother of four from Downham Market in Norfolk – isn’t chasing her dreams of bungee jumping or swimming with dolphins. Instead, she is fundraising online for an experimental cancer drug, enasidenib, which has been approved by the US authorities but is not available on the NHS.

It’s normalising the idea that, to get essential health services, you need to compete with all these other people. The Guardian

Nurses say too many patients are being subjected to 'do not resuscitate' orders without families being told

Nurses say too many patients are being subjected to 'do not resuscitate' orders without families being told Nurses have warned that too many hospital patients are being subjected to “do not resuscitate orders” without relatives being told - with one describing finding her own great-aunt in such circumstances.

The Royal College of Nursing yesterday heard repeated warnings that “failures to communicate” meant families were left shocked to discover such decisions had been taken about their loved ones. The Daily Telegraph

Nurses call for prostitution to be decriminalised, after RCN vote

Nurses call for prostitution to be decriminalised, after RCN vote Nurses are calling for prostitution to be decriminalised, saying it is a matter of “fundamental human rights”.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is to start actively lobbying the Government to change the law following a vote at the union's conference in Liverpool.

Members said it would help protect women and give them more rights, saying prohibition only served to isolate vulnerable people. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Decriminalise prostitution, say nurses BBC News
• Royal College of Nursing votes to support decriminalising prostitution The Guardian

33 trusts have excess deaths, eminent professor claims

33 trusts have excess deaths, eminent professor claims More than 30 NHS trusts recorded more deaths than expected last year, an eminent hospital death rates professor has claimed.

Official data last week named the 11 health service-ran organisations across England that recorded excess deaths in 2018.

But Professor Sir Brian Jarman, who helped expose the Mid-Staffordshire hospital scandal, has claimed the true figure is much higher.

He recalculated the NHS Digital data for MailOnline and found a further 22 trusts run by the health service fall into the excess deaths category. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire health chief takes on additional role

Northamptonshire health chief takes on additional role The chief executive of the county’s mental health trust is taking on an additional leadership role at a Leicestershire NHS Trust.

Angela Hillery, who has led Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to an outstanding CQC grading, says her new role as chief executive of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust will not impact on her commitment to NHFT. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Northamptonshire Healthcare and Leicestershire Partnership to share a chief executive Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

23 Northampton GP surgeries with 'unsafe' levels of air pollution

23 Northampton GP surgeries with 'unsafe' levels of air pollution A new report was released into the pollution levels on the doorstep of the UK's GPs and Hospitals.

Listed here are all of the Northampton GPs and Hospitals that recorded a higher than recommended level of "fine matter particulate", which WHO says should not be above 10ug/m3 (micrograms per metre cubed). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Clicks and mortar: Technology and the NHS estate

Clicks and mortar: Technology and the NHS estate Developments in technology are affecting the NHS estate in different ways. In future, these changes could lead to an estate that is better for patients and staff, smarter and more integrated.

Technology is likely to result in a different NHS estate, rather than a smaller one, with space being used or configured in different ways. 

To maximise their impact, technology and the estate should be brought together as part of wider plans for change. This means developing an overarching vision for how health and care will be delivered in the future and being clear about the role of technology and the estate in delivering it. The King's Fund

Many vulnerable children with learning disabilities are stuck in mental health hospitals for too long in poor conditions

Many vulnerable children with learning disabilities are stuck in mental health hospitals for too long in poor conditions Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, is today publishing a new report, ‘Far less than they deserve: Children with learning disabilities or autism living in mental health hospitals’. The report shows how too many children are being admitted to secure hospitals unnecessarily – in some cases are spending months and years of their childhood in institutions when they should be in their community. It warns that the current system of support for those with learning disabilities or autism is letting down some of the most vulnerable children in the country.

The report also finds shocking evidence of poor and restrictive practices and sedation, with some children telling the Children’s Commissioner of how their stay in mental health hospital has been traumatic, and parents too often left feeling powerless to do anything to intervene.

See also:

• Too many children in mental health hospitals, says report BBC News
• Too many children in England’s mental health hospitals unnecessarily – report The Guardian

Improving children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Improving children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing The LGA's Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Peer Learning Programme looked at how to prioritise early help and free up acute care for the most vulnerable in order to achieve change; supporting councils and their local partners to learn from each other, and from other councils across the country. Eight councils and their partners took part in two learning days and a visit to another council, gaining further knowledge and understanding on how to tackle their local issue. Local Government Association

The prevalence and persistence of ethnic and racial harassment and its impact on health: a longitudinal analysis

The prevalence and persistence of ethnic and racial harassment and its impact on health: a longitudinal analysis Around one in ten ethnic minorities in England has reported experiencing ethnic and racial harassment in a public place and almost double this number has reported feeling unsafe or avoiding public places, both of which are associated with poorer mental health, according to this report. It highlights the need to consider harassment and discrimination in the provision of mental health services. Institute for Social and Economic Research

Staff shortages 'abusing good will of nurses'

Staff shortages 'abusing good will of nurses' The good will of nurses in England is being abused by politicians who have failed to get to grips with a desperate shortage of staff, nurse leaders say.

Royal College of Nursing general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair will call for safe staffing levels to be enshrined in law in a speech on Monday.

There are currently nearly 40,000 nurse vacancies - one in nine posts.

However, the government says it is committed to increasing the number of nurses in training. BBC News

How going hungry affects children for their whole lives

How going hungry affects children for their whole lives Food poverty is on the rise in rich countries. And all the evidence suggests that the impact can last for years afterwards. The Independent

NHS England loses 6,000 mental health nurses in 10 years

NHS England loses 6,000 mental health nurses in 10 years Recruitment and training crisis ‘hits the most vulnerable in society’, says Royal College of Nursing

The number of mental health nurses in England has slumped by more than a tenth over the past decade, new figures have revealed. This is despite commitments from both Theresa May and her predecessor, David Cameron, to boost resources for mental health services, which many medical professionals say are now in crisis.

The total mental health nursing workforce has decreased by 10.6% since 2009, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The Guardian

Adults with eating disorders 'face appalling NHS failings'

Adults with eating disorders 'face appalling NHS failings' Report warns of long waits and obstacles to treatment after big rise in hospital admissions

Adults with life-threatening eating disorders face huge waits for vital NHS care and must overcome “appalling failings” to get help, leading psychiatrists have warned.

A report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists highlighted the gap in support available for those over 18, saying that while services for teenagers and children have received
 an injection of £135m, investment in adult services has failed to keep up. The Guardian

See also:

• Eating disorder patients face an ‘unacceptable’ 41 month wait for treatment iNews

G4S ambulance staff suspended after leaving accidental voice message telling a patient they could beat him 'to a pulp'

G4S ambulance staff suspended after leaving accidental voice message telling a patient they could beat him 'to a pulp' Two G4S ambulance crew have been suspended after accidentally leaving a voicemail for a patient suggesting they could “beat the f***” out of him and get away with it.

The ambulance had been sent to collect the man on May 8 to take him to William Harvey hospital in Ashford, Kent for an MRI scan on his lower abdomen following a stomach rupture, it was reported. The Daily Telegraph

UK's spiralling obesity crisis could lead to liver disease boom

UK's spiralling obesity crisis could lead to liver disease boom The ever-increasing number of Britons who have type 2 diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop aggressive liver disease, a major study has found.

The review of nearly 19million people said those with diabetes should be monitored closely because of their raised risk of life-threatening liver disease.

The study, led by experts at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow, suggests the UK’s spiralling obesity crisis could lead to a spike in cases of liver cancer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Risks and clinical predictors of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma diagnoses in adults with diagnosed NAFLD: real-world study of 18 million patients in four European cohorts (open access) BMC Medicine

One in four doctors come from countries that are 'banned from working for the NHS'

One in four doctors come from countries that are 'banned from working for the NHS' One in four new NHS medics come from countries that are 'banned' from working for the health service, figures have revealed.

The NHS' Code of Practice lists 97 nations that 'should not be actively recruited from' because they receive aid or suffer from a shortages of medics.

But an investigation has shown certain NHS trusts have used agencies to recruit staff from these prohibited nations, which include Egypt, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

And the number of doctors joining the NHS from these countries has doubled in the past two years, the figures show.  The Daily Mail

What can the NHS learn from learning health systems?

What can the NHS learn from learning health systems? Drawing on a seminar held at the Nuffield Trust and on evidence and experience from the UK and internationally, this briefing identifies opportunities for local organisations and systems to make better use of health data, and recommends ways that national policy could promote the collaboration and greater use of analytics which underpin the 'learning health system' concept. We focus on lessons for the NHS – but many of the same actions could be taken across the wider health and care system.

The NHS misses its new target for planned elective care

The NHS misses its new target for planned elective care I no longer understand the strategy for elective care in England.

For most of the past 20 years the approach was fairly straightforward. The priority was to improve access to planned elective treatments like routine hip and knee surgery. A new target was created to treat the majority of patients within 18 weeks of referral to place greater focus on this goal. And the target mattered: NHS hospitals would be fined if patients waited too long for care, and the term ‘waiting list initiatives’ entered the NHS lexicon as hospitals paid staff a premium to provide extra clinics or operating sessions over evenings and weekends to speed up access to treatment. The King's Fund

Nearly 7 in 10 LGBT people say they have been sexually harassed at work

Nearly 7 in 10 LGBT people say they have been sexually harassed at work Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people report being sexually harassed at work, according to new research published by the TUC on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia today (Friday).

The report – the first major study into LGBT sexual harassment at work in Great Britain – found that:

• More than 2 in 5 (42%) LGBT people who responded to the survey said colleagues made unwelcome comments or asked unwelcome questions about their sex life.
• More than a quarter (27%) reported receiving unwelcome verbal sexual advances.
• Two-thirds (66%) said they did not tell their employer about the harassment, and quarter of those said they didn’t report because they were afraid of being ‘outed’ at work.

National survey of local innovation and research needs of the NHS

National survey of local innovation and research needs of the NHS This report includes analysis of the innovation and research needs at local level across all Academic Health Science Networks. There were some differences in regional priorities but common themes emerged which reflected wider challenges facing the NHS and align with the priorities of the NHS Long Term Plan. These include: a need for innovation and research addressing workforce challenges; delivery of mental health services and providing care for patients with mental health needs, particularly in children and young people; integrating services to provide effective care for patients with complex needs – including multimorbidity and frailty; and use of digital and artificial intelligence technology. Oxford Academic Health Science Network

Urgent action needed to address growing opioid crisis

Urgent action needed to address growing opioid crisis Governments should treat the opioid epidemic as a public health crisis and improve treatment, care and support for people misusing opioids. Overdose deaths continue to rise, fuelled by an increase in prescription and over-prescription of opioids for pain management and the illicit drugs trade, according to a new OECD report.

Addressing Problematic Opioid Use in OECD Countries examines how, over the past few years, the crisis has devastated families and communities, especially in North America. It documents that deaths are also rising sharply in Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and England and Wales.

Between 2011 and 2016, in the 25 OECD countries with available data, opioid-related deaths increased by more than 20%. In Canada, for example, there were more than ten thousand opioid-related deaths between January 2016 and September 2018, with rates increasing from 8.4 per 100,000 people to 11.8 over this period. Opioid abuse has also put a growing burden on health services through hospitalisation and emergency room visits. OECD

See also:

• Doctors are fueling opioid crisis in the UK by over-prescribing as deaths rise by almost 50% The Daily Mail

Bowel cancer rates rising 'among young adults'

Bowel cancer rates rising 'among young adults' More young people under 50 are being diagnosed with bowel cancer, two studies of the disease in European and high-income countries have found.

Although total numbers of cases in young people remain low, the studies highlighted a sharp rise in rates in 20 to 29-year-olds.

Researchers are not clear why this is happening, but say obesity and poor diet could be factors.

Experts urged doctors not to ignore symptoms in young people. BBC News

See also:

• Increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults in Europe over the last 25 years (abstract) Gut
• Changes in colorectal cancer incidence in seven high-income countries: a population-based study (abstract) Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Bowel cancer is on the rise in the UK The Daily Mail
• Calls for bowel cancer screening to be introduced earlier amid rise in cases in under 50s The Daily Telegraph
• Bowel cancer rise among UK under-50s prompts screening call The Guardian

Cancer: Breakthrough treatments to target drug resistance

Cancer: Breakthrough treatments to target drug resistance The world's first drugs designed to stop cancer cells becoming resistant to treatment could be available within the next decade, scientists have said.

A £75m investment to develop the drugs has been announced by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).

Chief executive Prof Paul Workman said cancer's ability to adapt to drugs is the biggest challenge in treatment.

The new drugs could make cancer a "manageable" disease in the long term and "more often curable", he said. BBC News

See also:

• New dawn in cancer war: Scientists to develop revolutionary drugs to stop resistant tumours The Daily Mail
• Scientists hope to trick cancer cells to prevent them becoming drug-resistant The Independent

£10m investment in junior doctors’ rest areas

£10m investment in junior doctors’ rest areas Doctors’ leaders have welcomed the announcement that the government is investing £10m across England in providing better rest facilities for doctors, which they said would make doctors safer – for patients as well as themselves. OnMedica

Big tobacco secretly bankrolling anti-NHS think tank whose bosses donate thousands to Tory leadership contenders, an investigation reveals

Big tobacco secretly bankrolling anti-NHS think tank whose bosses donate thousands to Tory leadership contenders, an investigation reveals A secretive think tank which called for the NHS to be scrapped while its heads pour millions into the Conservative Party – and its MPs’ – coffers is being funded by big tobacco, an investigation has found.

British American Tobacco is one of the groups funding the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a free market think tank which is notoriously close-lipped about its donors.

The IEA has been an outspoken critic of public health measures for tackling smoking, obesity and harmful drinking, and past funders include organisations affiliated with gambling, alcohol, sugar and soft drinks industries. The Independent

See also:

• Big tobacco, the new politics, and the threat to public health (open access) The BMJ
• Market forces are the best way to successfully integrate health and social care, says new IEA report Institute of Economic Affairs
• Integrating health and social care: state or market? Institute of Economic Affairs
• Public health ‘under assault’ by free-market idealogues OnMedica

Britons get drunk more often than 35 other nations, survey finds

Britons get drunk more often than 35 other nations, survey finds Meanwhile, cocaine use among people in England tops the same global list

Drinkers in the UK get drunk more than any other nation in the world, findings from a global survey suggest.

Britons reported getting drunk an average of 51.1 times in a 12-month period – almost once a week – the report featuring 36 countries found. The Guardian

UK should consider 'no jab, no school' policy, Italian study says

UK should consider 'no jab, no school' policy, Italian study says British experts dissent, saying compulsion ‘may work in some countries but it is not for us’

The UK should consider a “no jab, no school” policy for all small children, researchers have said after finding that current immunisation rates will not keep measles outbreaks at bay.

The research comes from Italy, which brought in mandatory vaccination before primary school in 2017 because of low immunisation rates and measles outbreaks. France did the same in 2018. Populist politicians have opposed mandatory vaccination, saying parents should have freedom to choose. The Guardian

See also:

• The introduction of ‘No jab, No school’ policy and the refinement of measles immunisation strategies in high-income countries (open access) BMC Medicine
• Measles: Experts call for compulsory vaccination BBC News
• Measles vaccine must be compulsory for children before they start school, experts warn The Independent
• Should we have compulsory measles vaccination at school entry? OnMedica

NHS IT blunder leaves 'a million' at risk of lethal meningitis strain

NHS IT blunder leaves 'a million' at risk of lethal meningitis strain More than a million people could be at risk from a deadly strain of meningitis due to an NHS IT blunder, it has emerged.

A system designed to alert GPs when a patient should be invited for a vaccination was not switched on for years due to fears of “alert fatigue”. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• GP alert for MenACWY vaccine is finally activated Meningitis Research Foundation

UK urged to show leadership in fight against three big infectious killers

UK urged to show leadership in fight against three big infectious killers Health secretary Matt Hancock is being urged to ensure the fight against the world's three biggest infectious disease killers remains a global focus in a meeting with international counterparts this week.

Mr Hancock is attending this week's G7 meeting of health ministers in Paris where the elimination of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis will be one of just three items on the agenda. The Daily Telegraph

The 11 NHS trusts with excess deaths across England

The 11 NHS trusts with excess deaths across England NHS Digital, which released the report, collected figures from all 130 hospital trusts between January and December last year.

Data showed around 3,600 more patients died than predicted after spending time in hospitals ran by the 11 trusts.

The NHS argues the statistics are only a 'smoke alarm'. However, four of the trusts were also named and shamed last year.

One of them - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - has been on the worst offending list every year since 2011. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) - Deaths associated with hospitalisation, England, January 2018 - December 2018 NHS Digital

One in 20 NHS doctors are dependent on alcohol, survey finds

One in 20 NHS doctors are dependent on alcohol, survey finds Thousands of doctors are turning to alcohol amid the unprecedented pressure that is buckling the NHS, research suggests.

Scientists who quizzed hundreds of consultants found around one in 20, or five per cent, would be classified as dependent on alcohol.

Almost one in ten, or eight per cent, displayed clear signs of a binge-eating disorder - a common way to combat emotional distress.

The study comes amid an NHS crisis, with a record 4.23 million-long waiting list for routine hospital treatment spiral to record levels. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Does occupational distress raise the risk of alcohol use, binge-eating, ill health and sleep problems among medical doctors? A UK cross-sectional study (open access) BMJ Open
• Doctors turn to alcohol, food and drugs to cope with work stress The Guardian

National health servers: delivering digital health for all

National health servers: delivering digital health for all This research considers how technology could be adopted quicker and more widely by the NHS to improve the care that patients receive and to drive better health outcomes. The report tracks the patient journey, from prevention and diagnosis in the community, into primary and secondary care, through into management of long-term conditions. It sets out proposals for future development of technology in the NHS, which impact across the patient journey. Social Market Foundation

Rough sleeping grant: testing community based models of access to health services

Rough sleeping grant: testing community based models of access to health services he Health and Social Care Secretary has announced that £1.9 million will be given to councils by Public Health England to help improve the health of rough sleepers.

The funding will be awarded to projects that improve access to health services and continuity of care for people with mental ill-health and substance misuse problems who are sleeping rough or at risk of returning to rough sleeping.

Applications for funding are now being accepted up until 5 July 2019 and successful projects will be announced in the summer. Department of Health and Social Care

The social impact of participation in culture and sport

The social impact of participation in culture and sport This report finds that opportunities to reap major benefits in criminal justice, education and health are being missed by the failure of government to recognise and harness social impact. It argues that the full health impacts of cultural programmes are far from being reached in social prescribing and recommends that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport should encourage sporting organisations to take part in social prescribing schemes which can go beyond physical health benefits to include social impacts, such as tackling loneliness. House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee

Severe morning sickness: 'I asked if pregnancy was worth it'

Severe morning sickness: 'I asked if pregnancy was worth it' More than 5,000 women from across the UK have shared their experience of extreme pregnancy sickness with BBC News.

For Hannah Dalton, pregnancy meant not being able to drink fluids for eight months without throwing up, going into hospital 27 times for intravenous drips and living off ice lollies and anti-sickness medication.

Hannah, 30, from Thundersley, Essex, had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), the severe pregnancy sickness the Duchess of Cambridge experienced during her three pregnancies.

She was bedridden for six months, ended up in a wheelchair and, at her worst, her body started to shut down.

Privately-run mental health units putting young people at risk

Privately-run mental health units putting young people at risk Poor care in privately-run child and adolescent mental health units is putting vulnerable young people at risk, a Sky News investigation has found.

Patients, parents and whistleblowers have shared their experiences of privately-run facilities paid directly by the NHS to care for some of the most challenging mental health patients, including those with serious eating disorders and engaged in persistent self-harm and suicidal behaviour.

One former patient told us she had experienced "brutal" physical restraints and had been able to inflict life-threatening self-harm while in a privately-run unit.

Brexit the 'one thing' slowing down international GP recruitment

Brexit the 'one thing' slowing down international GP recruitment Brexit is the ‘one thing’ slowing down international GP recruitment, according to one of recrutiment agencies targeting overseas doctors as part of the NHS England scheme.

Head Medical, an agency approved by NHS Employers to carry out the international GP recruitment drive, has told Pulse that ‘the fear of the unknown’ from Brexit has been putting off overseas doctors from coming to work in the NHS. Pulse

Dementia risks: Mediterranean diet and exercise can help stave off condition, WHO says

Dementia risks: Mediterranean diet and exercise can help stave off condition, WHO says Moving more, eating better but binning cigarettes and health supplements are some of the best ways to lower your odds of dementia, according to the first global guidelines on preventing the condition.

After a major review of current evidence on the impact of lifestyle on dementia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has concluded that the condition is “not a natural or inevitable consequence of ageing”.

Dementia affects 50 million people worldwide, costs $818bn (£633 billion) annually to treat and diagnoses are likely to triple by 2050, the review said. The Independent

See also:

• Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps reduce the risk of dementia World Health Organization
• Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO Guidelines World Health Organization
• WHO issues guidelines on dementia risk reduction OnMedica

'There is a stigma in training': the battle to find mental health workers

'There is a stigma in training': the battle to find mental health workers Recruitment figures for psychiatrists and nurses are poor, although there are signs that things may be starting to shift

At first glance the recruitment and retention statistics for the mental health workforce look grim. Vacancies for mental health nursing – the largest staff group in the sector – account for more than 20% of all unfilled nursing posts in England, while around 9% of UK consultant psychiatric posts remain unfilled. In September 2018, MPs were told that 2,000 mental health staff in England alone were quitting every month. There is little doubt then that the government is way off meeting its target to create another 21,000 new posts in mental health by 2021.

But look a little closer and there are indications that things are starting to shift and that the skilled workforce, so crucial to the delivery of mental health care – which is at the heart of the government’s NHS long term plan – is showing signs of growth.

Why is it that people experiencing mental illness don’t deserve the best and brightest doctors? The Guardian

See also:

• 'It was a leap of faith but we knew it could work': the new roles in mental health care The Guardian

NHS to fund drug that prolongs lives of children with muscle-wasting disease

NHS to fund drug that prolongs lives of children with muscle-wasting disease Spinraza to be made available to spinal muscular atrophy patients

A drug that could prolong the lives of children with a rare muscle-wasting disease has been approved by the NHS in England after lengthy negotiations with the manufacturer over the high price.

Spinraza could help between 600 and 1,200 children and adults in England and Wales who have the genetic condition spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It affects the nerves in the spinal cord, making muscles weaker and causing problems with movement, breathing and swallowing. It can shorten the life expectancy of babies and toddlers. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS England to fund first ever treatment for children with rare muscle-wasting condition NHS England
• Spinal muscular atrophy: Spinraza approval delights family BBC News
• NHS finally agrees a deal with pharmaceutical giant for a £450,000 'wonder drug' The Daily Mail
• First treatment available for spinal muscular atrophy OnMedica