Inducing labour at 41 weeks could save lives, new research claims

Inducing labour at 41 weeks could save lives, new research claims Pregnant women should be induced earlier to reduce baby deaths, a new study has found, as researchers call for the end of a ‘wait and see’ approach.

The study, done in conjunction with hospitals and academics across Sweden, concluded that pregnant women should not be offered induction later than 41 weeks.

During the course of the trial which involved almost 3,000 women between 2016 and 2018, six babies died after labour was induced at or beyond 42 weeks of pregnancy. The Telegraph 

See Also:

• Inducing labour at 41 weeks 'could save thousands of babies Mail Online

Smear test attendance rises for the first time in FIVE years in England

Smear test attendance rises for the first time in FIVE years in England Statistics from the NHS show 71.9 per cent of women in England attended their cervical screening appointments last year but experts warn there are still too many turning down the offer. Mail Online

Transgender people face years of waiting with NHS under strain

Transgender people face years of waiting with NHS under strain Long waits for appointments cause stress for patients, with suicide and self-harm a risk

Thousands of transgender adults and children face waits of up to three or more years for gender identity treatment as NHS services come under strain with growing numbers seeking treatment.

The number of adults and children being referred to gender identity clinics in England rose from 3,330 in 2014-15 to 8,074 in 2018-19, an average year on year increase of around 25%, according to freedom of information data from five clinics offering services. The Guardian

Time for NHS to 'wake up' to GP burnout risk, warns next RCGP chair

Time for NHS to 'wake up' to GP burnout risk, warns next RCGP chair In the week that he is due to take over from Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Professor Martin Marshall said that the working conditions of doctors had to be improved, warning that ‘undoable’ workloads were not an ‘inconsequential problem’.

His comments follow a GMC report that found doctors with high levels of burnout could have up to a 63% higher chance of making a major medical error in the following three months. GP Online

'Half of women will be carers by the age of 46'

'Half of women will be carers by the age of 46' Women can expect to take on caring responsibilities for an older, sick or disabled relative more than a decade earlier than men, a report concludes.

Research by Sheffield and Birmingham universities shows half of women will care by the age of 46, compared with half of men, for whom the age is 57.

The research suggests two-thirds of UK adults can expect to become an unpaid carer during their lifetimes. The charity Carers UK says carers need five-to-10 days of paid care leave. BBC News

The nation's health: priorities for the next government

The nation's health: priorities for the next government The Health Foundation -This report looks at how long-term improvements in life expectancy and mortality in the UK have stalled and are falling behind other high-income countries. At the same time the difference between the health of people living in the best- and worst-off communities is widening. It calls for action across the whole of government to address these trends. It asks that investment be directed towards areas of public spending that create the right conditions for people to lead healthy lives. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert

Older people living with dementia and costs of dementia care in the UK 2019–2040

Older people living with dementia and costs of dementia care in the UK 2019–2040 This report, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society, provides projections of the number of older people (aged 65 and over) living with dementia and the costs of health care, social care and unpaid care for older people living with dementia from 2019 to 2040 in the UK. NHS Networks

NGH confirms non-urgent operations have been cancelled to support A&E

NGH confirms non-urgent operations have been cancelled to support A&E Non-urgent operations over the next four months have been cancelled at Northampton General Hospital so doctors can better support A&E demands.

The news comes as Northampton General Hospital yesterday (Tuesday) was seeking advice from its commissioners about how to deal with soaring demand for NHS services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Remember those no longer with us at 'Light Up A Life' event in Northampton

Remember those no longer with us at 'Light Up A Life' event in Northampton NGH's charity is dedicating lights on their Christmas tree this year to remember loved ones that cannot be with us for this festive period.

Northamptonshire Health Charity - which aims to enhance patient experience beyond what the NHS can fund - say this celebration will provide a chance to reflect and remember people who are no longer with us. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

We know the public love the NHS, but do they think it is a good employer?

We know the public love the NHS, but do they think it is a good employer? Despite being one of the largest employers in the world, it is well publicised that the NHS is facing enormous challenges, with its workforce crisis being one of the most pressing issues. Earlier this year, the Interim NHS People Plan set out the vision for supporting those working in the NHS. It outlines that the route to tackling the high number of vacancies and turnover across the NHS lies not only in increasing the number of staff, but also in making the NHS ‘the best place to work’. The King's Fund

Immigration and the NHS: the evidence

Immigration and the NHS: the evidence New promises for the NHS are appearing almost daily on the campaign trail: more cash, more doctors and nurses, better hospitals and equipment. Meanwhile – in the real world – NHS performance continues to deteriorate. NHS data out last week paints a grim picture. A&E performance is the worst on record. And 4.6 million people are stuck on waiting lists.

In response, the Conservative Party issued a statement suggesting that international migrants – among other things – will make things worse. It said: ‘the last thing our NHS can afford is Labour’s plans for a four day week and uncontrolled and unlimited immigration, which would could cripple our health service, leaving it understaffed and underfunded.’

This isn’t a new argument. And it plays on public perceptions that international migration can put pressure on public services. Migration policy is about much more than its impact on the NHS or the economy. And political narratives often fail to reflect the different experiences, understandings, and impacts of migration in the UK. But – leaving these issues aside – the idea that migration has a negative impact on the NHS is not backed up by the evidence. The Health Foundation

Revealed: scandal of 30,000 NHS workers on zero hours contracts

Revealed: scandal of 30,000 NHS workers on zero hours contracts At least 30,000 NHS workers in the UK report employed on zero hours contracts, new GMB analysis of official figures has revealed.

The true number is likely higher as the statistics may not include outsourced workers, or workers employed through controversial ‘wholly owned subsidiary’ companies that are not bound by nationally agreed employment standards.

See also:

• More than 30,000 NHS workers are trapped on controversial zero-hour contracts The Daily Mail

Guidance: Oral care and people with learning disabilities

Guidance: Oral care and people with learning disabilities To help health professionals, paid social care staff and family members to support someone with learning disabilities to get good oral care. Department of Health and Social Care

Seeing an NHS dentist 'a problem everywhere'

Seeing an NHS dentist 'a problem everywhere' More than 2 million adults in England are unable to see an NHS dentist, BBC analysis suggests.

They include an estimated 1.45 million who have tried and failed to get an NHS appointment in two years with the rest on waiting lists or put off by cost.

Another 2 million assume they cannot get care where they live, suggesting nearly one in 10 miss out overall. BBC News

Old age: Why 70 may be the new 65

Old age: Why 70 may be the new 65 It may be time to rethink how we measure and define old age in the UK because more people are surviving into their late 80s and beyond, say experts.

The Office for National Statistics team says although 65 has traditionally been seen as the start of old age, 70 could be seen as the "new 65".

That's because many people who reach this milestone birthday can still expect to live another 15 years. BBC News

Sepsis alert system hailed for reducing deaths and hospital stays

Sepsis alert system hailed for reducing deaths and hospital stays Digital alerts which monitor patients for sepsis have resulted in a fall in deaths and hospital stays linked to the deadly condition.

The system has been in place across the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s emergency departments and inpatient wards since 2016, notifying doctors if factors such as temperature, heart rate and glucose levels fall outside what is considered safe.

Clinicians are informed via a pop-up warning which appears in electronic health records or on a dashboard. ITV News

See also:

• Evaluating a digital sepsis alert in a London multisite hospital network: a natural experiment using electronic health record data (open access) Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
• Thousands could be saved from sepsis after major trial of monitoring system is 'success'  The Daily Mail
• Sepsis early warning technology could save thousands of lives, Imperial study finds The Daily Telegraph

‘Largest maternity scandal in NHS history’: Dozens of mothers and babies died on wards of hospital trust, leaked report reveals

‘Largest maternity scandal in NHS history’: Dozens of mothers and babies died on wards of hospital trust, leaked report reveals Dozens of babies and three mothers died on the wards of a single hospital trust, in what is being described as the largest maternity scandal in the history of the NHS, The Independent can today reveal.

Clinical malpractice was allowed to continue unchecked over a period of 40 years, with repeated failings by doctors, midwives and hospital bosses, according to a leaked internal report.

The investigation singles out the deaths of at least 42 babies and three mothers at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SATH) between 1979 and 2017.

See also:

• Statement in respect of reports on our Maternity service  Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust
• Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital: Babies and mums died 'amid toxic culture' BBC News
• Shrewsbury and Telford: 42 babies and three mothers died at NHS trust in worst ever maternity scandal The Daily Telegraph
• Leaked report exposes maternity scandal at Shropshire NHS trust The Guardian
• Shrewsbury and Telford joins Morecambe Bay and Mid-Staffs on grim roll call of horrific NHS scandals The Independent
• Shrewsbury maternity trust could be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter The Independent
• The NHS has failed to learn the lessons of Morecambe Bay – with devastating consequences The Independent
• ‘They condemned my daughter to death’: The family whose fight for justice uncovered the Shrewsbury maternity scandal The Independent
• The Shrewsbury scandal proves what women tell me every day – maternity care is dangerous and inhumane The Independent
• Time to learn the lessons: how the NHS must now change – and what you can do to help The Independent
• NHS Trust's 'toxic' culture led to mother and baby deaths ITV News
• NHS maternity scandal: 'I feel bitter hatred, quite frankly' Sky News
• Babies and mothers died in what may be worst ever NHS maternity scandal, report finds Sky News

Calls to scrap ‘immoral’ NHS fee for foreign staff

Calls to scrap ‘immoral’ NHS fee for foreign staff Exclusive: medical associations say surcharge rise will worsen staffing crisis

Boris Johnson’s plans to charge foreign staff who help save British lives £625 a year to use the NHS will worsen its staffing crisis, medical associations have warned.

They have reacted with dismay over the prime minister’s proposal to extend the so-called health surcharge to nurses, doctors and other medical and ancillary staff who come to work in the NHS from EU27 countries. The Guardian

Social care must be solved by next government, coalition of charities and councils tell Telegraph

Social care must be solved by next government, coalition of charities and councils tell Telegraph The social care crisis must be solved by the next government, a coalition of charities and councils have warned, as they urge politicians to finally 'grasp the nettle'.

Since 2010, almost £8billion has been cut from council adult social care budgets during a time of growing demand.

Writing in The Telegraph today care experts have issued a warning to politicians that “social care must be at the top of the domestic policy agenda”.

Three clinics rapped for misleading pregnant women

Three clinics rapped for misleading pregnant women Three clinics have been rapped for misleading pregnant women by exaggerating the effectiveness of Down's syndrome blood tests.

My Baby Company, The Birth Company and Ultrasound Direct charge up to £650 for the test.

All three claimed it was 99 per cent accurate – but the Advertising Standards Authority said evidence shows only 82 per cent of babies given a 'positive' result would be born with Down's. The Daily Mail

NHS trusts only received a third of the £91million they billed 'health tourists' last year

NHS trusts only received a third of the £91million they billed 'health tourists' last year NHS hospitals only managed to claim back 38 per cent of the money they billed health tourists from outside of Europe last year.

Just £35million out of a £91m total was reclaimed by the health service for care it provided to citizens from countries not in European Economic Area.

London hospital trusts were the worst affected, in some cases getting paid only £1 for every £10 they were owed and writing off more than £4million in a year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Trusts missing out on tens of millions from overseas patients Health Service Journal
• NHS claims back just one third of the £91m billed from 'health tourists' The Daily Telegraph

Fit for the future: how should the incoming Government help the NHS?

Fit for the future: how should the incoming Government help the NHS? The NHS consistently ranks among the issues that voters care most about and we are now approaching a General Election which has been characterised by strong messages on healthcare from all sides.

As the membership body that represents leaders across healthcare providers, clinical commissioners and local systems, the NHS Confederation has surveyed its members in England to gauge what they feel are their most critical priorities for an incoming Government.

This report summarises their most pressing issues: workforce, social care and capital investment.

See also:

• Health leaders set priorities for new Government to tackle huge pressures NHS Confederation
• Nine in 10 NHS bosses say staffing crisis endangering patients The Guardian

Evaluating integrated care: why are evaluations not producing the results we expect?

Evaluating integrated care: why are evaluations not producing the results we expect? With a number of different integrated care models not reducing hospital admissions as expected, this briefing outlines the reasons why this might be happening. It includes advice for model design and implementation, for commissioners of evaluation, and for evaluators on how to address these issues. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Integrated care and the complexity of ordinary lives Nuffield Trust

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: Strategies for resolving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: Strategies for resolving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector A report from the Centre for Health and Public Interest (CHPI) identifies where each pound that goes into the care home industry ends up, by using a forensic study of the accounts of more than 830 adult care home companies, including the 26 largest providers.

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over?

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over? A growing elderly population, increases in the number of disabled adults, and increases in wage and other costs, mean that English councils will likely need billions in extra funding over the next parliament if they are to meet the rising costs of providing adult social care. That will be required just to maintain services at current levels. And councils’ spending on local public services per resident will, next year, still be at least 20% below 2009–10 levels, on average. Institute for Fiscal Studies

NHS to pay tax bills to get doctors back to work

NHS to pay tax bills to get doctors back to work Doctors in England have been promised their tax bills will be covered by the NHS in an attempt to get them back doing overtime shifts.

Doctors have been refusing to do extra work because they were being landed with bills after changes to how much can be accrued in pensions tax-free.

Senior NHS figures and ministers have signed off on the plan amid concern about the impact on waiting times. BBC News

See also:

• NHS bosses are to spend tens of millions of pounds paying doctors' pension tax bills The Daily Mail
• NHS to pay doctors' tax bills in attempt to avert a winter crisis The Daily Telegraph
• NHS to pay doctors' pension tax in bid to end workforce crisis ahead of winter GPonline

Lib Dems join pledging war over NHS with plan for extra £35bn

Lib Dems join pledging war over NHS with plan for extra £35bn Plan would take NHS England’s budget to £142.6bn by 2023-24 as £12.9bn will go to social care

The Liberal Democrats have joined the bidding war over the NHS by promising to invest an extra £35bn into health and social care over the next five years.

The party plans to fund this through its signature policy of adding a penny to the basic rate of income tax, which it says would raise £7bn. This would see NHS England’s budget grow to £142.8bn by 2023-24. The Guardian

See also:

• Liberal Democrat pledge would double recent growth in health spending but falls just short of what's needed to modernise the service The Health Foundation
• Lib Dems right to identify workforce, capital and social care as key NHS Confederation
• General election 2019: PM puts corporation cuts on hold to help fund NHS BBC News
• General election 2019: Income tax rise will boost NHS budget - Lib Dems BBC News
• Boris Johnson shelves plans to slash corporation tax to pour £6billion into the NHS instead The Daily Mail
• Brexit will cost NHS additional £60m a year to recruit doctors and nurses from abroad, Liberal Democrats claim The Independent

Revealed: NHS running short of dozens of lifesaving medicines

Revealed: NHS running short of dozens of lifesaving medicines Internal document seen by the Guardian shows low supplies for heart, cancer and anti-epilepsy drugs

The NHS is running short of dozens of lifesaving medicines including treatments for cancer, heart conditions and epilepsy, the Guardian has learned.

An internal 24-page document circulated to some doctors last Friday from the medicine supply team at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), headed “commercial-sensitive”, listed many drugs currently hit by shortages at the NHS.

See also:

• Patients shouldn't panic or stockpile in the wake of medicine supply shortages, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Britain's 'unprecedented' drug shortage BBC News
• NHS is short of 86 drugs including cancer, epilepsy and heart disease The Daily Mail

Statins do not harm the memory – and may prevent cognitive decline for some

Statins do not harm the memory – and may prevent cognitive decline for some Statins don't harm the memory – and could even prevent cognitive decline in those with heart disease or high risk of dementia.

The findings follow a long debate about possible side effects of the daily pills, taken by around 8 million adults in the UK to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The six-year study of more than 1,000 people aged 70 to 90, who underwent a battery of tests and brain scans, found no link between statins and memory impairment. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Effects of Statins on Memory, Cognition, and Brain Volume in the Elderly (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Statins DON'T harm your memory, study suggests The Daily Mail

Why a spray almost identical to 'party' drug ketamine is set to be approved to 'treat' depression

Why a spray almost identical to 'party' drug ketamine is set to be approved to 'treat' depression The illegal, hallucinogenic 'party' drug ketamine is addictive, physically perilous and known to increase the risk of suicide.

Now a pharmaceutical version, called esketamine (brand name Spravato), is set to be approved as a wonder cure for people with depression so severe it may drive them to suicide.

This has prompted protests from experts who argue that the tests on esketamine have been inadequate and that even in those tests, involving some 1,600 people, esketamine was associated with six deaths. The Daily Mail

Older people have paid the most into our NHS yet are often denied cancer treatment, barred from drug trials, and see their mental health neglected

Older people have paid the most into our NHS yet are often denied cancer treatment, barred from drug trials, and see their mental health neglected When retired engineer Gregory Kay was admitted to a nursing home aged 66, six weeks before he died, he was taking 930 pills a month — 31 pills every day.

Gregory had been diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2006 and had been on medication ever since, says his widow Mary, 70, a writer and mother-of-four with five grandchildren, from Southsea, Hampshire. The Daily Mail

KGH shows its LGBTQ support

KGH shows its LGBTQ support Staff at Kettering General Hospital are showing their support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community by wearing distinctive enamel badges. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Experimental waiting times data for autism services published for first time

Experimental waiting times data for autism services published for first time NHS Digital has published partial statistics on waiting times for people in contact with autism services – the first time this data has been available.

The report includes data on the number of new patients referred for suspected autism within the reporting period and waiting times for the first appointment. 

The surgeon as an expert witness: a guide to good practice

The surgeon as an expert witness: a guide to good practice This guidance sets out the role a surgeon should play when acting as an expert witness in civil, criminal and coroners’ cases. The guidance comes after two independent reviews highlighted a need to improve the quality and consistency of expert witnesses in gross negligence manslaughter cases. Royal College of Surgeons

Why more people are talking about the issue of social care

Why more people are talking about the issue of social care The care system helps older and disabled people with day-to-day tasks like washing, dressing, eating and medication.

It is under pressure across the UK after past governments failed to reform or fund the council-run system properly.

Experts believe the problems are now so acute that politicians who ignore the issue at this election, do so at their peril. BBC News

Switch to vaping 'helps smokers' hearts'

Switch to vaping 'helps smokers' hearts' Smokers can improve the health of their hearts within weeks of switching to e-cigarettes, the largest trial of its kind shows.

The month-long study of 114 smokers suggests vaping has the potential to reduce heart attack and stroke risk.

The team, at the University of Dundee, stressed vaping was "not safe" - just less harmful than tobacco.

The British Heart Foundation said stopping smoking was the single best thing you could do for your heart. BBC News

See also:

• Cardiovascular Effects of Switching From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes (open access) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Vaping IS better for your heart than tobacco, scientists prove The Daily Mail

Huntington's disease: Woman who inherited gene sues NHS

Huntington's disease: Woman who inherited gene sues NHS A woman is suing a London NHS trust for not revealing her father had been diagnosed with Huntington's disease before she had her own child.

She only discovered he carried the gene for the degenerative, incurable brain disorder after her daughter was born.

The woman then found out she too carried the faulty gene, meaning her daughter has a 50% chance of having it.

The NHS said the case raised competing duty of care and duty of confidentiality issues. BBC News

The NHS will be key to this election. And that’s bad news for the health service

The NHS will be key to this election. And that’s bad news for the health service | Andy Cowper Labour and the Tories trying to outdo each other on spending pledges is not a mature way to run such a vital service

Health policy in a well-run country should be boring. It should be the precise and prosaic matter of examining data on health and care demand; looking at issues of performance, outcomes and safety; and making systems run in such ways that every taxpayer’s pound buys as much as possible of what we citizens and taxpayers need. The Guardian

See also:

• Promises, promises: reflecting on past election pledges The Health Foundation
• General election 2019: Labour vows to end dental check-up charges BBC News
• Boris will END health tourism charging non-Brits £625 to use NHS services The Daily Express
• Jeremy Corbyn vows to exclude NHS from trade deals The Daily Mail
• NHS bosses accused of gagging staff during election campaign The Guardian
• Corbyn vows to protect NHS from US drugs firms The Guardian
• Are Tory proposals to charge foreigners more to use the NHS fair? The Guardian
• Labour will offer free dental check-ups for everyone in England, shadow health secretary says The Independent
• General election 2019: NHS staff work a million hours of unpaid overtime every week, Labour claims iNews
• General election 2019: The parties policies on NHS, immigration and more fact checked iNews
• Migrants must pay for NHS on 'day one' under Johnson immigration plan Metro

Great Ormond Street Hospital accused of 'cover up' in scandal over controversial treatments given to children

Great Ormond Street Hospital accused of 'cover up' in scandal over controversial treatments given to children Great Ormond Street has been accused of a “cover up” in a scandal over controversial treatments that may have been used on hundreds of children.

The world famous children’s hospital may have subjected up to 463 children with a rare gut disease to unnecessary and potentially risky treatment.

Under the “aggressive” treatment, some children were needlessly banned from eating for years – instead getting food via a tube through their stomachs. The Daily Telegraph

Dangerous legacy of vaccine myths as one in three children have missed potentially lifesaving jabs

Dangerous legacy of vaccine myths as one in three children have missed potentially lifesaving jabs One in three parents say their children have missed at least one potentially lifesaving jab, a Daily Mail poll reveals today.

In a sign that ‘anti-vaxx’ myths may be hindering take-up, many cited concerns about safety and side-effects.

A total of 30 per cent of parents surveyed said their children had missed one or more routine jabs including MMR, flu or meningitis. One in four claimed the reason for missing the appointment was ‘safety concerns’ about vaccines.

A quarter of parents surveyed said they were often exposed to anti-vaxx messages on social media sites.

Privatisation in the English NHS: fact or fiction?

Privatisation in the English NHS: fact or fiction? With general election campaigning so far having a heavy focus on ‘privatisation’ and the NHS, Helen Buckingham and Mark Dayan take a closer look at this often thorny issue. Nuffield Trust

Tackling poor health outcomes: the role of trauma-informed care

Tackling poor health outcomes: the role of trauma-informed care Over the past few months I’ve been interviewing, reading and writing about the provision of health and care services to people who sleep rough. One concept has particularly stood out to me from what I’ve heard: trauma. It’s something I’ve been hearing more about recently, both in this research and in other health and care contexts. The King's Fund

Combined Performance Summary

Combined Performance Summary NHS performance statistics for urgent and emergency care, planned care, cancer and mental health. NHS England

See also:

• Combined Performance Summary: September–October 2019 Nuffield Trust
• Today’s figures highlight that the NHS in England is desperately struggling to stay afloat The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to today's NHS England's combined performance summary The King's Fund
• Figures show we could be on track for 100,000 trolley waits Nuffield Trust
• A&E waiting times hit worst-ever level BBC News
• NHS reports worst waiting times on record Channel 4 News
• A&E waiting times are now the worst since records began The Daily Telegraph
• A&E waiting times in England hit worst-ever level The Guardian
• It’s Narnia on the wards: the NHS is in permanent winter crisis now The Guardian
• 'This will almost certainly get worse': Hospital A&E waiting times hit worst level on record The Independent
• War veteran, 99, left 'crying out in pain' on A&E trolley for 10 hours The Independent
• NHS A&E figures are 'a source of shame for all politicians' as health service records worst ever performance levels iNews
• NHS England records worst A&E waiting times in 15 years Sky News

Caring for doctors Caring for patients

Caring for doctors Caring for patients A new independent report into the wellbeing of doctors and medical students

In 2018 we commissioned Professor Michael West and Dame Denise Coia, to carry out a UK-wide review to help tackle the causes of poor wellbeing faced by medical students and doctors.

Their report, Caring for doctors, Caring for patients, includes eight recommendations to help deliver safe, supportive and inclusive environments, and compassionate cultures across the UK. The General Medical Council

See also:

• Acting on wellbeing solutions could make UK health services a model for the world The General Medical Council
• The King's Fund responds to the General Medical Council's new report on the wellbeing of doctors The King's Fund

Using population health management to work differently

Using population health management to work differently Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS are using population health management to crunch data on demographic and activity trends and forecast population demand on their health and care system.

This enables them to establish the cause of health deterioration in different population groups and future impact on patients and services. Finding these patients early enough could prevent or delay the onset of complex and debilitating conditions which would not only improve that person’s health but would avoid cost increases across the NHS and social care sector. Healthcare Financial Management Association

#WonderfulWomenDo launched on a wave of celebration and positivity across health and care

#WonderfulWomenDo launched on a wave of celebration and positivity across health and care Get involved and support the new social media campaign #WonderfulWomenDo from the Health & Care Women Leaders Network - share the amazing things so many of you do each day to support one another. NHS Employers

Severe allergic reactions rise in children in England over past five years

Severe allergic reactions rise in children in England over past five years The number of children being admitted to hospital in England with a severe allergic reaction has risen every year for the past five years.

NHS figures show 1,746 children were treated for anaphylactic shock in 2018-19, up from 1,015 in 2013-14.

The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died in 2016 after eating a baguette containing sesame, called the increase "deeply alarming".

Scientists say environmental factors could be to blame for more allergies. BBC News

Half of British adults have 'no idea' about nutrition, research claims

Half of British adults have 'no idea' about nutrition, research claims British adults admitted they did not have a balanced diet because they were bad with portion sizes, food groups or nutritional information on food labels, when the were surveyed for a new poll.

Half of the 2,000 adults questioned said they had "no idea" how much protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar, dairy and fruit and veg they are supposed to eat.

Around 49 per cent admitted they were not au fait with portion sizes.

As a consequence, nine in 10 said their diet probably lacked balance. The Independent

The social care crisis is killing the NHS

The social care crisis is killing the NHS The latest NHS performance statistics are ghastly – hospitals and, let’s not forget, their staff, are working flat out in the face of rising accident and emergency attendances with record numbers of patients being forced to wait hours to be seen.

But the true horror lies a little deeper in the stats and, while it will attract fewer headlines, the frightening reality is there for all to see: the collapse of social care is dragging down the health service (requires registration). The Independent

My daughter died of dementia at 42. I'm angry doctors took so long to diagnose her

My daughter died of dementia at 42. I'm angry doctors took so long to diagnose her As a nurse I’m used to dealing with illnesses, but not enough is known about this cruel disease. I want to increase awareness

My daughter Anna was 36 when she started to exhibit strange, inexplicable behaviours, both at work and at home. Anna was a clinical trials research nurse in a busy hospital. She was also a wife, and a mum to two young sons.

Her behaviours escalated to the point where it was not safe for her to be at home. She would clap, bang her head, whistle, wail, take off her shoes and run like a child in the hospital corridors, eat any food she could lay her hands on, bite and chew inappropriately. Worse than that was her complete lack of empathy and inhibition. She was forced to give up her job and had to come and live with us, her parents. The Guardian

Allergens must be listed on menus, coroner says, as figures show soaring hospitalisations of children

Allergens must be listed on menus, coroner says, as figures show soaring hospitalisations of children Allergens must be listed on menus, a coroner has said, as new figures show the number of children hospitalised as a result of severe reactions has risen by 70 per cent in five years.

Owen Carey died after unwittingly eating buttermilk in a burger restaurant, despite having made staff aware of his dairy allergy when he went out to celebrate his 18th birthday with his family.

Yesterday the coroner warned of a risk of future deaths, if menus were not forced to contain clear information. The Daily Telegraph

Send patients texts to remind them to take statins, doctors say

Send patients texts to remind them to take statins, doctors say Sending patients text messages to remind them to take their statins could save thousands of lives a year, a study suggests.

Cardiologists say the simple tactic – known as 'nudging' – could also include emails or phone calls.

Millions of people are prescribed statins to lower their cholesterol levels, drastically slashing their risk of heart attacks and strokes.

But figures suggest as little as six per cent of patients adhere to their prescription of the pills, which cost pennies and are proven to be life-saving. The Daily Mail

KGH error killed my dad

KGH error killed my dad A Rushden grandfather died after his cancer went untreated - despite being detectable on a scan almost two years earlier.

Steve Sampson is pursuing a negligence claim after Kettering General Hospital's catastrophic error caused the death of his dad Derek.

A report from a colonogram and endoscopy in 2015 said there was no tumour but when Derek went for another scan in 2017 he was told he had terminal cancer. Northamptonshire Telegraph

UK risking fall in national life expectancy as social inequalities increase

UK risking fall in national life expectancy as social inequalities increase New analysis of mortality data exploring reasons behind stalling life expectancy improvements in the UK, has uncovered worrying trends affecting some of the population, including a rising number of avoidable deaths among the under 50s. In fact the slowdown in mortality improvements has been so large that life expectancy predictions are back to where they were 16 years ago. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Mortality and life expectancy trends in the UK: Stalling progress The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to new reports on mortality trends in the UK The King's Fund
• Life expectancy in UK falls amid rise in avoidable deaths in disadvantaged communities, report shows The Independent

New guide on addressing your gender pay gap

New guide on addressing your gender pay gap NHS Employers and the Health and Care Women Leaders Network have launched a practical guide to support NHS employers with their gender pay gap.

A&E waiting times hit worst-ever level

A&E waiting times hit worst-ever level One in six patients waited longer than four hours in A&E in England during October - the worst-ever performance since the target was introduced in 2004. BBC News

See also:

• Queues in hospital A&E departments longest ever, latest figures show The Independent

Election 2019: NHS policy check - what to look out for in party manifestos

Election 2019: NHS policy check - what to look out for in party manifestos The NHS is one of the areas that people have said they are most concerned about.

The BBC's health editor Hugh Pym has picked out some of the key issues - staffing, social care, mental health support and A&E provision.

In this video, he explains how to navigate the election campaign and check policies, pledges and manifestos, to see if the parties are taking them seriously.

So, if you care about what the parties are promising on the NHS in this election, here are some of the key things to watch out for. BBC News

See also:

• General election 2019: Is the NHS the best health service possible? BBC News
• FactCheck: Labour's NHS 'Rescue Plan' Channel 4 News

Climate change poses unprecedented health risks to children, major study warns

Climate change poses unprecedented health risks to children, major study warns Climate change poses an unprecedented health risk to children and is already having “persistent and pervasive” effects that will last throughout their lives, a major new study has warned.

Without drastic reductions in emissions, escalating temperature increases will burden the next generation with high levels of malnutrition, weaker immune systems and higher risk of premature death. The Independent

See also:

• 2019 report Lancet Countdown
• Climate change is damaging the health of the world's children, report warns The Daily Mail
• Climate crisis will affect lifelong health of young, warn doctors The Guardian

The female problem: how male bias in medical trials ruined women's health

The female problem: how male bias in medical trials ruined women's health Centuries of female exclusion has meant women’s diseases are often missed, misdiagnosed or remain a total mystery

From the earliest days of medicine, women have been considered inferior versions of men. In On the Generation of Animals, the Greek philosopher Aristotle characterised a female as a mutilated male, and this belief has persisted in western medical culture.

“For much of documented history, women have been excluded from medical and science knowledge production, so essentially we’ve ended up with a healthcare system, among other things in society, that has been made by men for men,” Dr Kate Young, a public health researcher at Monash University in Australia, tells me. The Guardian

Drug users offered Greggs vouchers to get tested for hepatitis C

Drug users offered Greggs vouchers to get tested for hepatitis C Newcastle incentive is part of NHS England’s drive to eliminate virus by 2025

Drug users in Newcastle are being offered an unusual incentive to get tested for hepatitis C – vouchers for the bakery chain Greggs.

Gateshead and South Tyneside local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) is inviting pharmacies to participate in the scheme as part of NHS England’s drive to eliminate the virus by 2025. The Guardian

Thousands of bowel cancer cases missed due to ‘unacceptable’ testing failures

Thousands of bowel cancer cases missed due to ‘unacceptable’ testing failures Thousands of bowel cancer cases are being missed due to “unacceptable” testing failures, research in the BMJ shows.

The UK research found that some providers carrying out colonoscopies were three times as likely as others not to spot signs of disease.

At the worst units, almost one in ten cases which turned out to be bowel cancer were not picked up during the tests, the study led by the University of Leeds found. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Unacceptable variation in screening colonoscopy (open access editorial) The BMJ
• Variation in post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer across colonoscopy providers in English National Health Service: population based cohort study (open access) The BMJ
• Outcomes at follow-up of negative colonoscopy in average risk population: systematic review and meta-analysis (open access) The BMJ
• Private bowel cancer checks are 'less accurate' than tests carried out on the NHS, study suggests The Daily Mail
• Colorectal cancer rates after colonoscopies too varied OnMedica

Number of people who are obese in England has almost doubled in 20 years

Number of people who are obese in England has almost doubled in 20 years Obesity rates in England have doubled in the last 20 years, according to an analysis of Government data.

Around 13million people over the age of 16 were considered obese in 2017 – up from the 6.9million recorded back in 1997.

Health leaders have called the rise an 'urgent problem', with obesity known to cause cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

It comes after a report published last week showed the NHS spent £1.075billion on treating type 2 diabetes last year – more than ever. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 13 million adults in the UK are obese, amid doubling in weight problems The Daily Telegraph
• Obesity almost doubles in 20 years to affect 13 million people The Guardian

Health websites in the UK 'share search terms with advertisers'

Health websites in the UK 'share search terms with advertisers' Health websites are sharing people's personal search data with online giants including Google, Amazon and Facebook, an investigation has revealed.

The arrangements are accused of taking sensitive information without people's consent and therefore breaching British data protection laws.

A total of 79 out of 100 websites were implicated in the Financial Times investigation include WebMD, Healthline, BUPA and the British Heart Foundation. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire councillors to dig deep into county budget but admit it looks ‘better than previous years’

Northamptonshire councillors to dig deep into county budget but admit it looks ‘better than previous years’ A committee tasked with scrutinising the county council’s budget has said that it appears to be ‘more robust’ than in recent years – but that they would still be digging deep into it.

Last week saw Northamptonshire County Council unveil its draft budget for the 2020/21 financial year. It includes £23 million of cuts to department services – the bulk of which is in adult social services – and proposes a council tax increase of 3.99 per cent inclusive of a social care precept. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Case study: Tackling mental health in general practice

Case study: Tackling mental health in general practice People experiencing low-level mental distress, such as bereavement or anxiety, make up a significant proportion of patients seen in general practice. Often there is little a GP can do beyond medication to support people with mental health needs, especially if they do not meet the threshold for referral to secondary care mental health services. Primary Care Commissioning

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: strategies for solving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: strategies for solving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector This report identifies where each pound that goes into the care home industry ends up by using a forensic study of the accounts of over 830 adult care home companies, including the 26 largest providers. If finds significant levels of leakage of money from front-line care, including to profit, rental bills and debt repayments. The companies examined have a combined income of £10.4bn, representing 68 per cent of the total estimated market value for independent providers in 2017. Centre for Health and the Public Interest

General election 2019: Labour vows to outspend Tories on the NHS

General election 2019: Labour vows to outspend Tories on the NHS Labour is promising to spend more on the NHS in England than the Tories if it wins the general election.

The NHS budget would rise to £155bn by 2023-24 - £6bn more than the government promised the front-line budget would reach by that stage when it set out its five-year plan last year.

Labour said the money would cut waiting times and boost mental health services.

But the Tories said Labour's plan for a shorter working week would eat into the funding due to the need for more staff. BBC News

See also:

• Labour pledges a step-change in NHS funding after almost a decade of austerity The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to Labour’s pledge to boost health care funding The King's Fund
• Labour’s pledge to spend more on NHS a ‘significant extra investment’ NHS Confederation
• Nigel Edwards responds to Labour's 'NHS Rescue Plan' Nuffield Trust
• General practice is a 'big ticket' issue for General Election – but GPs and patients will want swift action from new government, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• General election 2019: Tory plan to attract more NHS staff from abroad BBC News
• Battle for the NHS: Jeremy Corbyn promises another £26BILLION for the NHS funded by 'tax on the rich' - as Tories point out Labour's four-day working week would make running health service impossible The Daily Mail
• How will Labour put an extra £26bn into the NHS by 2024?  The Guardian
• Labour vows to outspend Tories with £26bn ‘rescue’ plan for NHS The Guardian
• Labour pledges £26bn NHS rescue plan amid warnings of ‘year round crisis’ The Independent
• Are Labour’s plans for NHS spending all they seem? The Independent
• Could a post-Brexit trade deal with the US cost the NHS £500 million a week? ITV News

Project Nightingale: Google accesses trove of US patient data

Project Nightingale: Google accesses trove of US patient data Google has gained access to a huge trove of US patient data - without the need to notify those patients - thanks to a deal with a major health firm.

The scheme, dubbed Project Nightingale, was agreed with Ascension, which hopes to develop artificial intelligence tools for doctors.

Google can access health records, names and addresses without telling patients, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.

Google said it was "standard practice". BBC News

I'm one of many NHS doctors to experience racism from patients - but it's not as simple as just refusing treatment

I'm one of many NHS doctors to experience racism from patients - but it's not as simple as just refusing treatment As I listened to the harrowing interview of a senior surgeon working in the NHS, questioning his sense of self-worth on national telly and reconsidering his position in the NHS after pouring his “blood, sweat and tears” into the system for decades, I felt tears trickle down my cheeks. I felt his pain deep in the pit of my gut. This is still happening. Racism in the NHS is continuing to hurt and drive away some of our best. It has to stop. iNews

Frank Dobson obituary

Frank Dobson obituary Former Labour health secretary and candidate in the London mayoral election of 2000

The former health secretary Frank Dobson, who has died aged 79, devoted his lifetime in politics to giving practical effect to the socialist principles he had always held and from which he never deviated. He described himself as a member of the “sane left” within the Labour party and took immense pride in having secured extra funding for the National Health Service during his time in charge of an institution he regarded as truly emblematic of a caring society. The Guardian

HIV rates rise FIVE-FOLD in a decade among menopausal women

HIV rates rise FIVE-FOLD in a decade among menopausal women HIV rates are rising among middle-aged women in England because of unprotected sex, according to researchers.

A study found the number of women aged between 45 and 56 who needed HIV treatment is five times higher than it was a decade ago.

Women in this age bracket may be going through, or have already been through, the menopause, which means they're unlikely to get pregnant.

They're still vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, however, and experts suggest recklessness when it comes to contraception may be partly to blame. The Daily Mail

See also:

• PRIME (Positive Transitions Through the Menopause) Study: a protocol for a mixed-methods study investigating the impact of the menopause on the health and well-being of women living with HIV in England (open access) BMJ Open
• PRIME Study, Menopause in Women Living with HIV in the UK HIV Outcomes
• Older women with HIV up five-fold in ten years Metro

What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review

What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review This comprehensive review of evidence on arts and health concludes that engaging with the arts can be beneficial for both mental and physical health. The report reviews arts activities that seek to promote health and prevent ill health, as well as manage and treat physical and mental ill health and support end-of-life care. World Health Organization

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over?

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over? This analysis shows that, with councils now largely dependent on council tax and business rates to fund their spending, a growing gap is likely to open up between their income and what they need to meet the rising costs of service provision, especially for adult social care. With council tax rising in line with inflation (two per cent a year), by the end of the parliament councils will need an extra £4 billion a year from the government just to maintain social care services at current levels and stop further cut backs in the share of national income spent on other services like children’s social care, public health and housing. This would rise to £18 billion a year by the mid-2030s. Institute for Fiscal Studies

Vaping nearly killed me, says British teenager

Vaping nearly killed me, says British teenager A teenage boy nearly died after vaping caused a catastrophic reaction in his lungs, doctors in Nottingham say.

Ewan Fisher was connected to an artificial lung to keep him alive after his own lungs failed and he could not breathe.

Ewan told BBC News e-cigarettes had "basically ruined me" and urged other young people not to vape.

His doctors say vaping is "not safe", although health bodies in the UK say it is 95% safer than tobacco.

See also:

• Life-threatening hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to e-cigarettes (open access) Archives of Diseases in Childhood
• Clinical presentation, treatment, and short-term outcomes of lung injury associated with e-cigarettes or vaping: a prospective observational cohort study (abstract) The Lancet
• Vaper, 16, suffers life-threatening lung inflammation The Daily Mail
• 'Vape at your peril', doctors warn as they reveal teenage boy contracted life threatening condition The Daily Telegraph
• Vaping is causing lung damage, Lancet study finds as medics urge public to avoid e-cigarettes The Daily Telegraph
• UK teenager needed life support over vaping-linked disease The Guardian
• Vaping deaths: Health officials find possible cause of mystery illness linked to e-cigarettes The Independent
• Vaping deaths: Are e-cigarettes really safer than smoking tobacco? A complete guide to the facts The Independent

Lack of care available to country’s sickest children forces NHS to restore beds to local hospitals

Lack of care available to country’s sickest children forces NHS to restore beds to local hospitals A shortage of beds and staff to care for the country’s sickest children has forced the NHS to redesign critical-care services nationwide, The Independent has learned.

Health service bosses will reverse more than two decades of centralisation that have seen many smaller hospitals lose services, with new children’s critical-care networks created and hospitals working together to move children closer to their homes, freeing up beds.

The scandalous detention of learning disabled people won't be stopped by a review

The scandalous detention of learning disabled people won't be stopped by a review | Dan Scorer Urgent investment in social care is essential to address the reasons why people are locked away in inpatient units

People with a learning disability face inequalities in all aspects of their lives, and access to good quality health and social care is no exception.

Many people may think asylums are a thing of the past, but 2,250 people with a learning disability and/or autism continue to be locked away in inpatient units across the country, where they are at increased risk of abuse and neglect. The Guardian

Childhood pneumonia cases up 50% in 10 years, NHS data shows

Childhood pneumonia cases up 50% in 10 years, NHS data shows A&E admissions highest in deprived areas of England as bronchiolitis drives increase

Emergency hospital admissions for children with pneumonia have risen by more than 50% in England over the past decade, figures suggest, with admission rates highest in more deprived areas.

According to NHS Digital data analysed by the charities Unicef and Save the Children, between April 2018 and March 2019 there were 56,210 emergency admissions in England for pneumonia in those aged 18 or younger, using a definition that included a type of lower respiratory tract infection called bronchiolitis. In contrast, there were 36,862 such admissions between April 2008 and March 2009. The Guardian

See also:

• "Forgotten epidemic" hospitalising 6 children every hour in England Save the Children
• One child dies of pneumonia every 39 seconds, agencies warn UNICEF
• Six children are hospitalised with pneumonia EVERY HOUR The Daily Mail
• Poorest areas hardest hit by ‘forgotten epidemic’ of pneumonia putting a child in hospital every 10 minutes The Independent

GPs call for an end to home visits, saying they do not have time

GPs call for an end to home visits, saying they do not have time Family doctors are calling for an end to home visits - saying they are too busy to visit the frail and elderly.

The radical proposal, to be put forward at a conference of the British Medical Association, would see the duties removed from the standard contract for GPs

Medics said house calls were too “time consuming” for family doctors, who were overloaded.

But patients’ groups said the threat to withdraw such services from GPs was “appalling” and would put the vulnerable at risk. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Leading GPs call for mandatory home visits to be scrapped The Daily Mail
• GPs demand power to close lists and drop home visits amid workload crisis GPonline
• GPs ‘no longer have capacity’ to offer home visits, doctors say The Independent

More than a MILLION patients are being admitted to hospitals with obesity-related illnesses

More than a MILLION patients are being admitted to hospitals with obesity-related illnesses More than one million people a year are now being admitted to hospital with obesity-related conditions, NHS figures have revealed.

Statistics show the number of obese patients admitted in England has jumped from 884,000 in 2017/18 to almost 1.1million last year.

The burden has also doubled in just five years, with 442,000 cases in 2013/14. Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, described the trend as 'startling'. The Daily Mail

Recruitment drive for nurses to work in the community and schools in Northamptonshire

Recruitment drive for nurses to work in the community and schools in Northamptonshire Nurses are being urged to consider working in the community or in schools across Northamptonshire - with a current recruit full of praise for the role. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Supporting medical productivity data collection: guide to the 2018/19 data collection process and to improving ESR data quality

Supporting medical productivity data collection: guide to the 2018/19 data collection process and to improving ESR data quality This guidance aims to support trusts with the 2018/19 data collection process and help improve electronic staff record (ESR) data quality. Trust 2018/19 data will now be automatically extracted from ESR, with no manual data collection using Excel spreadsheets, and published on the Model Hospital in November 2019 and then refreshed in March 2020. These changes will impact on acute, acute specialist, community and mental health trusts. NHS Improvement

Cannabis-based medicines: Two drugs approved for NHS

Cannabis-based medicines: Two drugs approved for NHS Two cannabis-based medicines, used to treat epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, have been approved for use by the NHS in England.

It follows new guidelines from the drugs advisory body NICE, which looked at products for several conditions.

Charities have welcomed the move, although some campaigners who have been fighting for access to the drugs have said it does not go far enough.

Both medicines were developed in the UK, where they are also grown. BBC News

See also:

• Cannabis-based medicinal products NICE
• Cannabis drugs for epilepsy and multiple sclerosis are approved for NHS use The Daily Mail
• First cannabis-based medicines approved for use on NHS The Guardian

General election 2019: Tory pledge to boost GP numbers

General election 2019: Tory pledge to boost GP numbers The Tories say they will deliver 6,000 more doctors in general practice in England by 2024-25 to increase patient appointments, if they win the election.

They claim they will reach that target through additional doctors working and training in surgeries, international recruitment and better retention.

However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a previous Tory pledge to recruit 5,000 GPs by 2020 had not been met. BBC News

Cancellations of NHS child mental health sessions jump 25%

Cancellations of NHS child mental health sessions jump 25% Staff shortages and growing demand reported to be behind annual rise in England

Growing numbers of troubled children are having appointments with NHS mental health services cancelled, the organisation’s data show.

Figures obtained by the mental health charity Mind reveal that CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) in England cancelled 175,094 appointments with vulnerable patients between August 2018 and July 2019. The Guardian

Number of elderly denied home care to rise by 40pc

Number of elderly denied home care to rise by 40pc The number of elderly people denied help in the home is set to soar by 40 per cent in the next decade, a new report claims.

Charity Age UK says one in seven pensioners are currently struggling without help to carry out everyday tasks such as washing and dressing.

And they warn that this number is set to rise from 1.5 million now to 2.1 million by 2030 if current trends continue. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals must offer senior doctors salary top-ups to ease pension reform tension before winter

Hospitals must offer senior doctors salary top-ups to ease pension reform tension before winter NHS Improvement has called for hospital chiefs in England to follow guidance to prevent doctors from refusing extra work ahead of winter. Pension reforms mean extra income will trigger hefty tax charges. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Doctors dismiss ‘sticking plaster’ fix for NHS pension crisis The Guardian

Northamptonshire: Crisis council replacement plan decision postponed

Northamptonshire: Crisis council replacement plan decision postponed Legislation to scrap a cash-crisis council and seven others in the same county has been shelved.

It would allow the creation of two unitary authorities in Northamptonshire to replace its troubled county council and the district and borough councils.

The government had already approved the plan, and Parliament was expected to pass it before the election. BBC Northampton

Nurse at Northampton General Hospital steals morphine and overdoses before fleeing to Croatia

Nurse at Northampton General Hospital steals morphine and overdoses before fleeing to Croatia A nurse who stole and took morphine from a ward he was working on at Northampton General Hospital before going into cardiac arrest has been suspended.

On July 12, 2018 nurse Matija Konjevic was found unconscious in his room at his nursing accommodation, tribunal papers have revealed, after he stole controlled drug medication for his personal use.

Resuscitation staff were then called to administer treatment to Konjevic after he went into cardiac arrest. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Primary care networks: A pre-mortem to identify potential risks

Primary care networks: A pre-mortem to identify potential risks Primary care networks were introduced in early 2019 with the intention that they would stabilise general practice and act as the bedrock of integrated care systems. However, there is a lack of clarity over how broad national ambitions can be realised locally. What pitfalls face primary care networks as they become established, and how might they be avoided? Nuffield Trust

Bringing evidence and facts to the election debate

Bringing evidence and facts to the election debate With general election campaigning now underway, Mark Dayan describes how the Nuffield Trust will bring evidence, facts and our extensive knowledge of health policy and research to the fore in coming weeks.

Genomic medicine: a tool for population health?

Genomic medicine: a tool for population health? Genomic medicine has been hailed as the magic bullet for prevention, diagnosis and personalised treatment. But what can we really expect from this field? The King's Fund

Pre-election period: dos and don'ts for the NHS

Pre-election period: dos and don'ts for the NHS ‘Purdah’ is the period shortly before an election or referendum when specific restrictions on the activity of public bodies, civil servants and local government officials are put in place. NHS Employers

See also:

• Pre-election guidance for the 2019 General Election NHS England

General election 2019: Tory plan to attract more NHS staff from abroad

General election 2019: Tory plan to attract more NHS staff from abroad The Conservatives say they will make it easier for doctors and nurses from around the world to work in the UK after Brexit, if they win the election.

The party would introduce an "NHS visa" as part of a promised "points-based immigration system".

But Labour said the policy was "full of holes," with nothing to say about low-paid nurses and other hospital staff.

And the Royal College of Nursing said "more ambitious" plans were needed to address NHS staffing shortages. BBC News

See also:

• Boris Johnson promises preferential immigration for NHS staff The Guardian
• General election: Boris Johnson to offer preferential immigration to NHS staff amid shortage fears The Independent
• Tories promise NHS Visa allowing migrants fast-track access to UK if they want to work in health service iNews

Algorithms helping patients on ventilators at London hospitals

Algorithms helping patients on ventilators at London hospitals Imperial College London and the Royal Brompton Hospital have found a way to make ventilators more precise for individual intensive care patients.

The trial involves a monitor next to a patient's bed that will collect data showing their breathing patterns and lung capacity.

Doctors and nurses will use the data to better understand how to treat a patient and individually tailor their ventilator oxygen levels and pressure.


If successful, it could prove to be the future of critical care medicine, according to the research team. BBC News

See also:

• £2.5m trial of AI system to help patients at risk of fatal lung failure Evening Standard