NHS hospitals are 'unable to share medical records because they use different computer software'

NHS hospitals are 'unable to share medical records because they use different computer software' The NHS is risking patient safety because it can't get to grips with computers, a damning report has revealed.

Almost a quarter of hospitals still use paper records and those which have switched to IT systems have no standard – almost two dozen different systems are being used.

A report by Imperial College London found there were 11 million occasions last year on which patients went to appointments at hospitals which didn't have their records. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Improving data sharing between acute hospitals in England: an overview of health record system distribution and retrospective observational analysis of inter-hospital transitions of care (open access) BMJ Open
• Patients at risk because NHS hospitals using different record-keeping systems  Imperial College London

Flu hits England early: Health chiefs call for parents to get children vaccinated NOW

Flu hits England early: Health chiefs call for parents to get children vaccinated NOW Health chiefs today urged parents to immediately get their children vaccinated against flu after an early start to the season.

Statistics show the number of intensive care admissions for flu in NHS hospitals are three times higher than at the same point last winter.

Some 212 people across the country have been rushed into ICU with influenza so far this year - up from 75 in 2018 and 63 the year before. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Millions of children exposed as flu spreads following vaccine delays The Daily Telegraph

There are 59 people in Northants wishing for one thing this Christmas

There are 59 people in Northants wishing for one thing this Christmas For 59 Northamptonshire people and their families, there will be only one thing on their Christmas wishlist this year as they wait for an organ transplant.

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging families in Northamptonshire to talk about their decision on organ donation when they get together over the festive season, so their loved ones know what they want when they die. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Five hits, five misses: public and population health and the main party manifestos

Five hits, five misses: public and population health and the main party manifestos Reading manifestos is a double-edged pleasure for a policy wonk, hoping to find evidence of ‘their stuff’ while fearing its absence. The lot of a public health policy wonk is a particularly trying one because we need to look more widely, beyond the NHS (and sometimes social care) sections, to get a sense of how policies might have an impact on the population’s health. The King's Fund

‘Hospital mergers increase death and harm’? Not so fast…

‘Hospital mergers increase death and harm’? Not so fast… In February 2019 the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a working paper on the impact of hospital competition on rates of patient harm in the English NHS. The Health Foundation examined the central conclusion of the CMA paper – that the research provides ‘further empirical evidence that competition ultimately benefits patients’ – finding that this cannot be substantiated from the analysis. This working paper outlines how more rigorous well-designed research is needed to measure the impact of competition on the quality of care. Health Foundation

Stopping the staff we need? Migration choices in the 2019 general election

Stopping the staff we need? Migration choices in the 2019 general election This briefing looks back at how migrants and migration policy have shaped the care workforce across the UK in recent decades, drawing on new figures obtained from the Office for National Statistics. It assesses the risks different parties’ policies pose and how these could be addressed to ensure that we do not stop the staff we need. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• One in four NHS hospital staff were born outside the UK, analysis reveals The Daily Mail
• Both Labour and Tory migration plans 'would worsen NHS staffing' The Guardian
• NHS staff crisis 'would worsen' under both Tory and Labour governments Metro

State of the nation’s health in 2018 shown in new report

State of the nation’s health in 2018 shown in new report The latest figures for the Health Survey for England have been released by NHS Digital, monitoring trends in the nation’s health and featuring new data on gambling, asthma and longstanding conditions.

Opportunities to embed sexual and reproductive healthcare services into new models of care: a practical guide for commissioners and service providers

Opportunities to embed sexual and reproductive healthcare services into new models of care: a practical guide for commissioners and service providers More than 50 strategies and operational plans were reviewed for this report, with results showing that few areas have explicitly recognised the opportunity to embed sexual and reproductive health care services in their plans. Other areas of sexual and reproductive health such as psychosexual services and menopause were not present in the majority of plans. Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

Lack of social care has led to 2.5 million lost bed days in the NHS between the last Election and this one

Lack of social care has led to 2.5 million lost bed days in the NHS between the last Election and this one Over the same period these ‘social care delayed discharges’ have cost the NHS a total of £587 million, or £27,000 each and every hour

During the 917 days between the last General Election on 8th June 2017 and the upcoming Election on 12th December 2019, new Age UK analysis finds that lost bed days in the NHS due to a lack of social care will have topped the 2.5 million mark.

The cost to the NHS of our national failure to reform and refinance social care over this period is £587 million overall, equivalent to £640,000 every day, or £27,000 every hour, the Charity says.

See also:

• 2.5million NHS bed days have been lost since the last election The Daily Mail
• One in eight care homes closes amid growing crisis in social care The Daily Telegraph

Air pollution in worst hit areas as deadly as smoking over 150 cigarettes each year

Air pollution in worst hit areas as deadly as smoking over 150 cigarettes each year People living in areas of the country that are worst affected by air pollution have an increased risk of death that is on average the equivalent to smoking over 150 cigarettes a year, the British Heart Foundation has warned.

The new analysis of data comes as we urge the next government to urgently adopt into law tougher World Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution limits.

The UK currently subscribes to EU limits on levels of fine particulate matter called PM2.5, which are not as stringent as those set by the WHO. This fine particulate matter is the most dangerous kind of air pollution, with the smallest particles finding their way into the circulatory system when inhaled.

See also:

• Breathing London air is 'like smoking 160 cigarettes a year' The Daily Mail
• City air pollution is equivalent of smoking 150 cigarettes a year The Daily Telegraph
• Breathing London air same as smoking 150 cigarettes a year, experts warn The Independent

Mentally ill 'spend months on hidden waiting list'

Mentally ill 'spend months on hidden waiting list' Patients with mental health problems are being left in limbo on "hidden" waiting lists by England's NHS talking therapy service, the BBC can reveal.

The service - called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies - provides therapy, such as counselling, to adults with conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

It starts seeing nine in 10 patients within the target time of six weeks.

But that masks the fact many then face long waits for regular treatment.

Half of patients waited over 28 days, and one in six longer than 90 days, between their first and second sessions in the past year. BBC News

Seizures of illegal diazepam tablets double in a year

Seizures of illegal diazepam tablets double in a year The number of illegal diazepam tablets seized entering the UK has more than doubled in a year, figures obtained by the Victoria Derbyshire programme show.

Some 1.3 million were intercepted in the postal system by the UK's Border Force in 2018, up from 545,000 in 2017.

Doctors warn the authenticity of diazepam bought online cannot be trusted. It is illegal to possess without a prescription. BBC News

General election 2019: How many 'new' NHS hospitals are Conservatives building?

General election 2019: How many 'new' NHS hospitals are Conservatives building? The Conservatives have repeatedly pledged to build 40 new NHS hospitals.

The party's manifesto says they are proud "to have begun work on building 40 new hospitals across the country".

"We will build and fund" them, it adds, "over the next 10 years."

The pledge has been questioned throughout the election campaign. Is it certain that all 40 will be built? Will they be creating new beds and additional capacity or just replacing existing facilities? BBC News

Two patients die after hospitals ignore key safety warning

Two patients die after hospitals ignore key safety warning Two patients have died as a result of NHS hospitals failing to heed warnings about the use of super-absorbent gel granules, which patients mistakenly eat thinking they are sweets or salt packets.

A national patient safety alert has been issued by NHS bosses to all hospitals, ambulance trusts and care homes instructing them to stop using the granules unless in exceptional circumstances. The Independent

See also:

• Risk of death and severe harm from ingesting superabsorbent polymer gel granules (2019) NHS Improvement

Leaked NHS document reveals government plan to use cheaper staff to fill nurse vacancies

Leaked NHS document reveals government plan to use cheaper staff to fill nurse vacancies A leaked NHS document reveals that plans to grow the number of nurses rely on using 10,000 cheaper and less qualified staff.

Even then, the health service will still be more than 20,000 nurses short of what is needed in five years’ time, according to the file seen by the Health Service Journal and The Independent, for the as yet unpublished NHS People Plan.

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Law firm reports 180 new concerns about poor care

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Law firm reports 180 new concerns about poor care Lawyers acting for families affected by poor care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust say they have received almost 200 new enquiries since The Independent highlighted the findings of a leaked report last month.

More than 800 cases are now under investigation by midwife Donna Ockenden who herself issued an appeal last week for any families with concerns about their care at the Shropshire trust to come forward. The Independent

See also:

• Shrewsbury maternity scandal: NHS used report to create ‘false narrative’ on maternity services The Independent
• Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hospital boss urges staff to be ‘mindful’ of harmed families and to find ‘common cause’ The Independent

Mental health: young people in crisis waiting hours for A&E help

Mental health: young people in crisis waiting hours for A&E help Thousands of young people undergoing a mental health crisis, including those who are potentially suicidal, are having to wait more than four hours for A&E care, NHS figures show.

Almost a fifth of the under-18s who seek A&E help in England for psychiatric problems such as depression and self-harm are not seen within the supposed maximum of four hours. The Guardian

Scientists develop a 'monthly' birth control that slowly releases doses

Scientists develop a 'monthly' birth control that slowly releases doses Women may finally get to delete their daily birth control alarms in exchange for once-a-month contraception, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new pill that slowly releases a contraceptive drug over the course of 29 days in tests using pigs.

This is accomplished in part through the innovative design of a capsule that slowly unfolds inside the stomach. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Once-a-month oral contraceptive pill in tests BBC News

NHS-backed online 'doctor bank' could save hospitals millions

NHS-backed online 'doctor bank' could save hospitals millions An online 'doctor bank' could save the NHS millions of pounds by plugging hospital staff shortages at the last minute.

The scheme hopes to create a catalogue of locum doctors, who are essentially freelancers, to fill shifts at major hospitals across the entire country.

Currently, hospitals trying to plug last-minute gaps in their rotas have to fork out up to £4,000 per shift by paying expensive agencies for staff at short notice.

But the Locum's Nest Digital Collaborative Bank claims it can dramatically cut costs for cash-strapped health boards. The Daily Mail

KGH to provide new specialist treatment for lung cancer patients

KGH to provide new specialist treatment for lung cancer patients
KGH has launched a new procedure which can provide quick relief for lung cancer patients without the need for a major operation.The procedure uses a bronchoscope, a kind of tube with a camera and light inserted into the lungs, and then uses electricity to cut a tumour into pieces.

Respiratory consultant Dr George Tsaknis said: "Only a handful of respiratory centres in the UK provide this procedure in their respective endoscopy lists under sedation, and KGH is now one of them." Northamptonshire Telegraph

State of a generation: preventing mental health problems in children and young people

State of a generation: preventing mental health problems in children and young people As part of the Mental Health Foundation’s 70th anniversary, we have commissioned three reports, each looking at a different stage in life and the key things that both challenge and support mental health at these stages.

This is the first of these three reports, focused on children and young people. It is intended both as a review of the recent evidence, and as a guide to anyone wishing to gain a rapid understanding of a preventative approach to mental health. Mental Health Foundation

One in four cancer patients suffers delays being diagnosed, study finds

One in four cancer patients suffers delays being diagnosed, study finds One in four British cancer patients are suffering delays in diagnosis which could cost lives, a major study has found.

The research by Cancer Research UK found that long waits for tests and results after seeing a GP were the chief factor.

Experts warned that half of patients who suffered an avoidable delay ended up waiting at least two months longer than those given a prompt diagnosis. The Telegraph

See also:

• A quarter of cancer patients in England wait TWO MONTHS before being diagnosed Mail Online
• Better GP access to diagnostic tests and more people across the NHS needed to improve cancer care, says RCGP RCGP 

NHS could 'buckle' this winter due to shortage of specialist lung doctors

NHS could 'buckle' this winter due to shortage of specialist lung doctors The NHS could 'buckle' under a flu outbreak this winter due to a crippling shortage of specialist lung doctors, experts fear.

The British Thoracic Society today warned the lack of staff and flux of patients over the coming months is the 'perfect storm'.

It said hospital admissions for lung diseases and killer complications of pneumonia and flu soar this time of year.

And half of UK hospitals UK had at least one vacant respiratory consultant post in 2019 – an increase of 10 per cent since 2015. Mail Online

NHS medics reject 'ideology of Trump' in rally against visit

NHS medics reject 'ideology of Trump' in rally against visit - The Guardian Doctors and nurses have led protests in London against Donald Trump’s visit to Britain, a week after leaked papers surfaced showing that UK and US trade envoys had discussed dismantling NHS drug-price protection.

Demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square from 4pm on Tuesday, with NHS workers slated to lead them down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace, where the US president was due to meet the Queen and Boris Johnson at a reception for Nato heads of government. The Guardian

See also:

• Trump wants 'nothing to do' with NHS after Brexit BBC News

Survey finds high level of self-prescribing among doctors

Survey finds high level of self-prescribing among doctors Prescribing for self, family, friends and colleagues is widespread among young Irish doctors, a new survey* shows.
Published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics, the data reveals that some doctors are prescribing addictive and controlled substances, such as sedatives and opiates, despite clear guidance issued by the UK’s professional regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC). OnMedica

More than half of adults in the UK now gamble, new statistics show

More than half of adults in the UK now gamble, new statistics show More than half of adults in the UK now gamble, new figures show, prompting warnings that smartphone betting is fuelling increasingly addictive behaviour.

The head of the NHS last night said too many people were falling victim to “aggressive” tactics by online gambling firms, as the Tories pledged action to treat addiction.

Experts said the Health Survey of England, which polls 10,000 adults and children on their lifestyles, shows smartphone betting holding an increasing grip on younger generations. The Telegraph

See also:

• A nation of gamblers: NHS report reveals four in 10 adults went to casinos or placed bet in 2018 Mail Online
• NHS survey: more than half of English adults gambled in 2018 iGaming Business

Half of GP partners say their practice is less financially secure than a year ago

Half of GP partners say their practice is less financially secure than a year ago Nearly half of GP partners say the financial security of their practice has deteriorated in the past 12 months - and more than two thirds say recent contract funding hikes have yet to benefit them. A total of 46% of GP partners responding to the latest GPonline opinion poll said that their practice felt less financially secure now than 12 months ago - with a further 40% reporting no change.
Just 10% of 136 GP partners who took part in the survey said their practice felt more financially secure than 12 months ago, with the rest unsure. GP Online

Unnecessary appendix surgery 'performed on thousands in UK'

Unnecessary appendix surgery 'performed on thousands in UK'

Thousands of people in the UK, particularly young women, are having their appendices removed unnecessarily because of inadequacies in the way appendicitis is diagnosed, surgeons say.

A study has found that almost a third of women and 12% of men in the UK who undergo surgery for suspected appendicitis end up having a normal appendix removed. The Guardian

See also:

• Women needlessly having their appendix out in almost one in three cases The Telegraph 
• Thousands of young British women 'have needless operations to remove their appendix' Mail Online

Five reasons why this NHS winter may be different

Five reasons why this NHS winter may be different Last week saw the publication of the most recent NHS winter performance data the last set of performance data that will be published before the general election. What does this data suggest about the prospects for the NHS and its patients as we head into winter? King's Fund

See Also:

• NHS winter crisis: extra beds created by 52% of UK hospitals The Guardian

There are 59 people in Northants wishing for one thing this Christmas

There are 59 people in Northants wishing for one thing this Christmas For 59 Northamptonshire people and their families, there will be only one thing on their Christmas wishlist this year as they wait for an organ transplant.
NHS Blood and Transplant is urging families in Northamptonshire to talk about their decision on organ donation when they get together over the festive season, so their loved ones know what they want when they die. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

'Sugar overload' warning for festive hot drinks

'Sugar overload' warning for festive hot drinks Seasonal lattes and hot chocolates being sold by some High Street coffee chains can contain up to 23 spoonfuls of sugar per cup, a study has found.

Action on Sugar analysed more than 200 drinks and found "shockingly" large amounts of sugar in many of them. Some were made using vegan-friendly alternatives to cow's milk. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• The Christmas coffees crammed with NINE TIMES more sugar than a Krispy Kreme doughnut Mail Online

NHS spend £2.5m a week on out of area mental health patients

NHS spend £2.5m a week on out of area mental health patients The NHS spends £2.5 million per week on treating out of area mental health patients, as some patients travel over 300 km for a bed, new analysis has shown.

The figures show that in the last year, the NHS has spent over £128 million on patients who have to be sent hours away from their home because of a lack of hospital beds locally.

The number of out of area placements due to bed shortages rose by four per cent from last year, up to 8,400 across England.  The Telegraph

Drug-related hospital admissions data for 2018-19 published in new report

Drug-related hospital admissions data for 2018-19 published in new report Statistics on Drugs Misuse, England 2019 is an annual compendium which includes data on hospital admissions, deaths and the prevalence of drug use. Most of the data is for England only, but some is for England and Wales combined.

The report contains newly-published information on hospital admissions1 for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders and poisoning by drug misuse in England in 2018-19. This data is presented by age, gender, local authority and region.

This year’s publication also includes drug-related hospital admissions broken down by level of deprivation. NHS Digital

Child life expectancy projections cut by years

Child life expectancy projections cut by years Children born this year expected to live shorter lives than previously thought, say official stats. Years have been knocked off official projections of children's life expectancies in the UK, an Office for National Statistics (ONS) report shows.

A baby girl born in 2019 is now expected to celebrate three fewer birthdays on average, than under previous calculations. Official 2014 data thought that girl would make it to 93.6. Now the figure is 90.4. The report also slashed the likelihood of children reaching 100. BBC News - Health

Link found between homelessness and brain injury

Link found between homelessness and brain injury Homeless people experience a disproportionately high lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury, new research shows.

This is the finding from a systematic review and first meta-analysis on the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in people who are homeless or in unstable housing situations, published this week in The Lancet Public Health. On Medica

See Also:

• Traumatic brain injury in homeless and marginally housed individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis The Lancet Public Health

‘Hospital mergers increase death and harm’? Not so fast…

‘Hospital mergers increase death and harm’? Not so fast… Health Foundation - In February 2019 the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a working paper on the impact of hospital competition on rates of patient harm in the English NHS. The Health Foundation examined the central conclusion of the CMA paper – that the research provides ‘further empirical evidence that competition ultimately benefits patients’ – finding that this cannot be substantiated from the analysis.  This working paper outlines how more rigorous well-designed research is needed to measure the impact of competition on the quality of care. The King's Fund - Health Management And Policy Alert

Election 2019: Will you rebuild Kettering hospital?

Election 2019: Will you rebuild Kettering hospital? Are all parties committed to delivering the planned rebuild of Kettering General Hospital, whatever the result of the general election?

Nick, from Thrapston, in Northants, sent his question to BBC News ahead of the 12 December poll.

The five candidates for the Kettering constituency all responded. BBC Northampton

Stay away from Northampton General Hospital if you have norovirus bug, doctor warns

Stay away from Northampton General Hospital if you have norovirus bug, doctor warns With Northamptonshire hospitals seeing an increase in the number of patients with symptoms of flu and norovirus, the local NHS is urging people to avoid visiting if they know or suspect they may be infected. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The future of general practice: the views of GP trainees

The future of general practice: the views of GP trainees The number of doctors entering GP training is higher than ever, yet the overall number of full-time equivalent GPs keeps decreasing. This is one of the reasons that patients report increasing dissatisfaction with their ability to access general practice, although they are satisfied with their care once they are seen. The King's Fund

See also:

• Only a third of GPs are working full-time in surgeries The Daily Mail
• Just one in 20 trainee GPs plans to do the job full-time, as top doctor warns the role is now 'undoable' The Daily Telegraph

Mental health: Quality Watch indicator update

Mental health: Quality Watch indicator update In England, approximately 1 in 6 adults experiences a common mental disorder (such as anxiety or depression) in any given week. Half of mental health problems are established by the age of 14, rising to 75% by age 24. And in the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 20-34 years.

Despite these statistics, mental health services have been underfunded for many years. People with mental health problems have been stigmatised and marginalised, although public attitudes towards mental health have shifted recently. The latest NHS policies aim to address prevention and transform mental health services. However, the ambition to achieve parity of esteem between physical and mental health will be challenging.

Here at QualityWatch, we’ve been monitoring how the quality of NHS mental health care has been changing over time. While some measures show an improvement, such as access to psychological therapies, other measures, such as follow-up for patients discharged from psychiatric inpatient care, show a decline in quality. Find a summary of mental health indicators and click for more detailed content and analysis. Nuffield Trust

Better for women report: Improving the health and wellbeing of girls and women

Better for women report: Improving the health and wellbeing of girls and women The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is calling for better joined up services, as part of its “Better for Women” report, published today. It emphasises the need for national strategies to meet the needs of girls and women across their life course – from adolescence, to the middle years and later life.

There should also be greater focus on moving the UK away from providing a disease intervention service towards a preventative health service, says the report.

The report recommends that one-stop women’s health clinics provide reproductive and sexual healthcare services – such as contraception, STI testing, cervical screening, and treatment and advice about the menopause – in one location and at one time to improve services for women and make savings for the NHS.

See also:

• Morning-after pill 'should be sold off the shelf' BBC News
• One-stop shops needed for women's health services The Guardian
• Women’s health ‘placed at risk’ as spending on contraception falls by almost a fifth since 2015 The Independent

Detailed guide: Child death review data collection: submitting data

Detailed guide: Child death review data collection: submitting data How child death overview panels (CDOPs) should submit information for the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB1) data collection. Department of Health and Social Care

Private firms handed £15bn in NHS contracts over past five years

Private firms handed £15bn in NHS contracts over past five years Figures cast doubt on government’s denial of creeping NHS privatisation

Private firms have been handed almost £15bn in NHS contracts over the past five years, figures show.

The value of contracts given to non-NHS providers, mainly profit-driven firms but also including some social enterprises, has soared by 89% since 2015, from £1.9bn to £3.6bn a year. The Guardian

See also:

• Privatisation of NHS contracts worth £15bn since 2015 - new research The GMB
• Private companies have won £15BILLION of NHS contracts since 2015 The Daily Mail
• £15bn of NHS contracts outsourced to private sector since 2015 OnMedica

1.5m patients kept waiting in ambulances for half an hour or more

1.5m patients kept waiting in ambulances for half an hour or more Patients have been delayed inside ambulances for at least 30 minutes almost 1.5m times over the past three years due to waiting for hospital handovers, information provided to Labour has shown, with the party saying it was “damning evidence” of a crisis in the NHS.

In more than 280,000 of these cases, people were delayed for more than 60 minutes, according to figures provided by freedom of information requests to ambulance trusts in England. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS: 1.5 million patients delayed in the back of ambulances in past 3 years iNews

Revealed: Millions to be affected by NHS plan to ration 34 everyday tests and treatments

Revealed: Millions to be affected by NHS plan to ration 34 everyday tests and treatments List includes hernia repair surgery and blood tests to detect prostate cancer

Millions of patients will be stopped from having an X-ray on their sore back, hernia repair surgery or scan of their knee to detect arthritis under controversial plans from NHS and doctors to ration “unnecessary” treatment.

The Guardian has seen a list of 34 diagnostic tests and treatments that in future patients in England will only be able to get in exceptional circumstances as part of a drive to save money and relieve the pressure on the NHS.

NHS hospital admissions are highest in a decade so far this year

NHS hospital admissions are highest in a decade so far this year NHS hospitals are on track for their busiest winter in a decade, statistics revealed today.

There were more hospital admissions between April and September this year – 2.95million – than in any comparable period since at least 2009.

Some 1.49million overnight stays were recorded in English hospitals in the second quarter of the year, today's figures showed.

This was a rise of around 300,000 on the same three months last year, and was the second busiest 12 weeks on record. The Daily Mail

Doctors must stop prescribing Zantac until further notice, Department of Health says

Doctors must stop prescribing Zantac until further notice, Department of Health says A popular heartburn and indigestion drug has been completely pulled from supermarket shelves amid a global contamination scandal, health bosses claim.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DoHS) said all versions of ranitidine, including Zantac, had been quarantined after months of recalls.

And it has banned doctors from prescribing them until further notice, over fears they contain a cancer-causing chemical. The Daily Mail

Leading for integrated care: 'If you think competition is hard, you should try collaboration'

Leading for integrated care: 'If you think competition is hard, you should try collaboration' The NHS long-term plan has reinforced the role of integrated care systems (ICSs) in establishing more collaborative working and joined-up care for patients and their local populations. ICSs will cover the whole of England by 2021.

As these systems evolve, strong leadership is needed to bring NHS, local authority, private and third sector organisations together.

Our interviews with the chairs and leads of both ICSs and the remaining sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) found that while progress is being made, there are also a number of challenges. The King's Fund

Nursing staff stretched to breaking point over workloads

Nursing staff stretched to breaking point over workloads Findings from the RCN’s recent employment survey show that nursing staff across the UK are under such pressure that six out of 10 say they cannot provide the level of care they want to.

The annual survey, which was first carried out in 1986, also shows that barely a quarter of respondents think their pay is appropriate for the level of responsibility and stress they face at work. Three in 10 say they have suffered physical abuse from patients, or patients’ relatives, in the last 12 months.

The survey also highlighted that health care assistants are increasingly being asked to take on the duties of registered nurses. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• RCN Employment Survey 2019 Royal College of Nursing
• 'We try our best as nurses, but it's not enough' BBC News

Patients’ experience of mental health services

Patients’ experience of mental health services  NHS England has published the latest statistical information on patients’ experience of mental health services in the NHS. This is an update to include results from the 2019 Community Mental Health Survey.

Prevention and mental health: understanding the evidence so that we can address the greatest health challenge of our times

Prevention and mental health: understanding the evidence so that we can address the greatest health challenge of our times This resource provides information on the scale of mental health problems in society, what shapes our mental health, an integrated model of mental health, how life events can affect mental health, the relationship between physical and mental health, the meaning of prevention and how society must change to put prevention front and centre.  It is aimed at policymakers, health professionals, mental health advocates and their families and friends. Mental Health Foundation

Estimating need in older people: findings for England

Estimating need in older people: findings for England This report outlines how ill health, poverty, unmet needs for care and support, poor housing, loneliness and social isolation are profound challenges for many older people. It estimates the numbers and percentages of people aged 65 and over in England with these disadvantages, and collates insights from older people’s own voices about the experience of living with them. Age UK

Smartphone 'addiction': Young people 'panicky' when denied mobiles

Smartphone 'addiction': Young people 'panicky' when denied mobiles Almost a quarter of young people are so dependent on their smartphones that it becomes like an addiction, suggests research by psychiatrists.

The study, from King's College London, says such addictive behaviour means that people become "panicky" or "upset" if they are denied constant access.

The youngsters also cannot control the amount of time they spend on the phone.

The study warns that such addictions have "serious consequences" for mental health. BBC News

See also:

• Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence (open access) BMC Psychiatry
• One in four children are 'addicted to their smartphones': Teenagers and young people become anxious and depressed when they're separated from their devices, new study reveals The Daily Mail
• Study finds one in four youngsters 'addicted' to smartphones ITV News

‘Disgraceful’: Furious families confront NHS trust bosses over maternity scandal as it emerges true extent may never be known

‘Disgraceful’: Furious families confront NHS trust bosses over maternity scandal as it emerges true extent may never be known The full extent of failings by the hospital trust at the centre of the largest NHS maternity scandal may never be known, it has emerged.

The chair of the independent investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust has warned that some records going back more than two decades may have been destroyed under NHS rules.

Writing exclusively for The Independent, midwife Donna Ockenden said she would strive to deliver answers for families, and she issued a public appeal for any parents with concerns about poor maternity care at the Shropshire trust to come forward.

See also:

• Shropshire baby deaths: 'This review is our babies' legacy' BBC News
• Midwife warns full extent of NHS maternity scandal in Shrewsbury and Telford may not be known The Daily Telegraph
• As the head of the review into the Shrewsbury and Telford maternity deaths, I ask any family affected to come forward (Donna Ockenden) The Independent
• NHS bosses threatened with lawsuit for blocking maternity report during election campaign The Independent

Hospital admissions for pensioners with drug-related conditions rises sixfold in ten years, figures reveal.

Hospital admissions for pensioners with drug-related conditions rises sixfold in ten years, figures reveal. The number of hospital admissions for pensioners with drug-related conditions has increased sixfold in the past decade, NHS figures have revealed.

Charities have said that more older people living with addiction, and that the social isolation of older people can exacerbate problematic drug use such as opium, making it more difficult to recover.

Figures released today by NHS Digital showed that in 2018/19 there were 3,078 admissions for those 65 and over, rising more than sixfold from 484 in 2008/9. The Daily Telegraph

Number of GPs in England FALLS by more than 300 in year despite Government pledge to hire more

Number of GPs in England FALLS by more than 300 in year despite Government pledge to hire more The NHS has haemorrhaged hundreds of GPs again this year despite Government pledges to hire thousands more, figures show.

Official data up to September revealed 339 family doctors quit the heath service in the last 12 months.

And almost as many GPs left the NHS between June 2018 and June 2019 as did in the entire three years to March.

Doctors' union the British Medical Association (BMA) said falling GP numbers mean strained GPs are risking their own health to catch up with huge workloads. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Drastic action needed to reverse declining GP numbers trend, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• The Government's pledge to boost GP ranks by 5,000 has fallen short by over 90%, new NHS figures have shown. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitalizations surge for sepsis, UTIs and kidney failure when air quality is poor, study reveals

Hospitalizations surge for sepsis, UTIs and kidney failure when air quality is poor, study reveals Hospital admission go up for a host of life-threatening illnesses - including sepsis, kidney failure and urinary tract infections - never before linked to pollution on days when air quality is poor, a new study reveals.

Even low exposure raises the risk of the potentially fatal illnesses, according to the research.

It adds to evidence there is no safe amount of tiny particles called PM2.5s that are pumped into the atmosphere by traffic and industry. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Short term exposure to fine particulate matter and hospital admission risks and costs in the Medicare population: time stratified, case crossover study (open access) The BMJ
• Yaguang Wei: The dangers of air pollution for human health The BMJ
• The health effects of fine particulate air pollution (editorial) The BMJ
• Impact of air pollution may be worse than previously thought OnMedica

Falling short: the NHS workforce challenge. Workforce profile and trends of the NHS in England

Falling short: the NHS workforce challenge. Workforce profile and trends of the NHS in England This is the fourth annual NHS workforce trends report published by the Health Foundation. In it, we analyse the changes in the size and composition of the NHS workforce in England in the context of long-term trends, policy priorities and future projected need.

This report builds on those of previous years to provide analysis of longer-term trends and insights into the changing NHS staff profile. It focuses specifically on the critical NHS workforce issues that have been repeatedly identified in recent years: nursing shortages, and shortages of staff in general practice and primary care. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Support staff and nurses from abroad plugging shortages in NHS workforce The Health Foundation
• Health and social care workforce: General Election 2019: priorities for the next government The Health Foundation
• Nursing shortages forcing NHS to rely on less qualified staff – report The Guardian
• Patients being put at risk as NHS substitute nurses for care staff with only a few weeks of training The Independent

Immunotherapy offers hope for men with prostate cancer

Immunotherapy offers hope for men with prostate cancer A major trial of an immunotherapy drug has shown it can be effective in some men with advanced prostate cancer.

The men had stopped responding to the main treatment options.

Researchers found that a small proportion of men, described as "super responders", remained well even after the trial ended, despite a very poor prognosis before treatment. BBC News

See also:

• Pembrolizumab for Treatment-Refractory Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Multicohort, Open-Label Phase II KEYNOTE-199 Study (abstract) Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Terminal prostate cancer patients could get 'two more years of life' with experimental drug The Daily Mail

General election 2019: NHS news under wraps until after polling day

General election 2019: NHS news under wraps until after polling day There have been calls for politicians to dial down the rhetoric in the health debate and to avoid "weaponising" the NHS.

The subject has been prominent in the election campaign and there is a widespread interest in understanding what is actually happening across the health service.

Political claims, counter-claims and rows over statistics don't always help that understanding. Some voters might feel they would like to hear from clinicians and other frontline staff.

But that won't be possible until after polling day because of a Cabinet Office policy known as "purdah" BBC News

General election 2019: Row over Labour's 'NHS for sale' claim

General election 2019: Row over Labour's 'NHS for sale' claim A row has broken out after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claimed he had "proof" the NHS was at risk under a post-Brexit trade deal with the US.

Mr Corbyn said he had a 451-page dossier showing initial talks had taken place, proving the NHS was "for sale".

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the claims were "nonsense" and the NHS would not be part of trade talks. BBC News

See also:

• General Election 2019: NHS is in no way on the table, says Johnson BBC News
• Jeremy Corbyn says Tories will put NHS 'up for sale' to US The Daily Mail
• Jeremy Corbyn reveals dossier 'proving NHS up for sale' The Guardian
• 'The NHS is not on the table': Boris Johnson denies Labour claims – video The Guardian
• Andrew Sparrow's election briefing: the NHS dossier The Guardian
• Corbyn says NHS will be on the table in US trade talks Sky News

‘I cry every day’: Anorexia patient forced to live 400 miles from home because of NHS bed crisis

‘I cry every day’: Anorexia patient forced to live 400 miles from home because of NHS bed crisis A student midwife battling anorexia is being forced to live almost 400 miles from her home in Norfolk because of a chronic shortage of specialist beds in the NHS.

Emily Gasparro, 20, is one of dozens of patients being forced to travel long distances across the UK to receive the help they need for serious mental health problems. The Independent

Record rise in student nurses – but unions warn it isn’t enough to cover NHS shortfall

Record rise in student nurses – but unions warn it isn’t enough to cover NHS shortfall The number of students accepted on nursing courses at UK universities has reached a record high – but unions warn that significant shortages remain in the workforce.

Figures from Ucas show the number of nursing applicants has risen by 6.7 per cent across the UK, ending a decline that began when the government scrapped bursaries for student nurses in 2017.

But unions say the numbers are still “nowhere near” enough to end the ”staffing crisis” facing the nursing sector. The Independent

Health service in UK lagging behind that of other wealthy countries

Health service in UK lagging behind that of other wealthy countries Britain's health service is lagging behind that of other high-income countries, research suggests.

The study by the London School of Economics and Harvard School of Public Health compared

ten countries, examining spending levels, and a range of indicators measuring quality of care. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Performance of UK National Health Service compared with other high income countries: observational study (open access). The BMJ

Doubling in number of overseas nurses coming to work in UK

Doubling in number of overseas nurses coming to work in UK The number of foreign nurses coming to work in Britain has doubled in just one year, a report shows.

The official figures show more 7,125 nurses who trained abroad registered for work in the UK in 2018/19 - up from 3,525 the year before. The Daily Telegraph

Major NHS hospital sees record 499 A&E patients in one 'manic' day

Major NHS hospital sees record 499 A&E patients in one 'manic' day One of the UK's biggest hospitals had a record-breaking number of people through the doors of its emergency department on Sunday.

The Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent dealt with 499 patients – the most it has ever had – under what its chief executive said was 'immense pressure'.

A normal day for the city A&E sees just 384, meaning the 'manic' rise added a a third more patients. The Daily Mail

Patients waiting to have NHS operations could lose promise of being seen in 18 weeks, documents reveal

Patients waiting to have NHS operations could lose promise of being seen in 18 weeks, documents reveal Patients waiting to have an operation on the NHS could lose the promise of being seen within 18 weeks as health bosses consider replacing the target with an average instead, it has emerged.

According to hospital documents, seen by the Health Service Journal, the new waiting-time target for NHS patients is expected to be changed from the current 18 weeks to an average wait of 8.5 weeks.

The NHS is field-testing new targets at 12 hospitals, including Northampton General Hospital Trust, where board papers said: “The target average wait is expected to be 8.5 weeks from referral although this has not yet been set. The current average at NGH is 11 weeks.” The Independent

See also:

• NHS could SCRAP its 18-week surgery waiting target even though 4.42MILLION people are on the list The Daily Mail
• New NHS plans could mean average wait of eight and a half weeks The Daily Telegraph
• Flagship waiting time target ‘expected’ to be relaxed Health Service Journal
• What would an 8.5 weeks average elective target look like? Health Service Journal

Why are we still waiting for solutions to the problems of social care?

Why are we still waiting for solutions to the problems of social care? Forget Brexit, there is a longer-running political failing: about how we treat the most vulnerable in our society. In 2014 I was proud to work with The King’s Fund on an independent Commission looking at the ambitious topic of a new settlement for health and social care. The Commission’s core conclusion, which still stands, was that, while health entitlements are generous, entitlements for social care fall well short of what is needed to enable older and disabled people to secure a decent standard of care. The King's Fund

Community mental health survey 2019

Community mental health survey 2019 Results from the 2019 community mental health survey show many of those areas identified as in need of improvement in 2018 have declined further, continuing the negative trend of results consistently declining over the 2014 – 2019 period. These include:

• seeing NHS mental health services often enough
• being given sufficient time to discuss needs and treatment
• agreeing care to be received and being involved in the process
• being given help and advice with finding support with physical health needs, financial advice or benefits

Positive experiences of NHS mental health services can be found in the organising care theme.

Some groups of people consistently reported poorer experiences of using mental health services. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• NHS mental health services 'are getting worse' and only 42% of patients get enough appointments The Daily Mail

NHS staff 'uncomfortable with tech giants handling patient data'

NHS staff 'uncomfortable with tech giants handling patient data' NHS staff feel uncomfortable with the prospect of multinational big tech companies analysing patient data, according to a new survey.

A YouGov poll of 1,027 healthcare professionals, commissioned by Sensyne Health, found that 81% supported the analysis of anonymised data to enable quicker diagnosis and more effective treatment for patients.

More than eight in 10 (85%) said they felt the NHS should receive a fair share of any financial gains made from subsequent medical discoveries, with 87% agreeing that the government should ensure that the NHS and UK taxpayers benefited from gains resulting from any analysis. Digital Health

Autism: 'Unprecedented' demand creates long appointment waits

Autism: 'Unprecedented' demand creates long appointment waits New data suggests some patients thought to have autism waited over 19 weeks for their first mental health appointments.

Patients at 10 out of 25 English health trusts waited an average of 137 days or more following referral, against a target of 91 days, in spring 2018.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) said the limited NHS statistics were "disappointing" as they only cover about a quarter of people referred. BBC News

Ketamine may reduce heavy drinkers' craving

Ketamine may reduce heavy drinkers' craving A one-off dose of ketamine may help heavy drinkers cut back on alcohol, an experimental trial by University College London suggests.

When the sedative was used to disrupt people's memories of why they wanted to drink, they drank less and their urge to drink lowered over nine months.

The researchers say ketamine could be a helpful treatment for alcohol and other addictions. BBC News

See also:

• Ketamine can reduce harmful drinking by pharmacologically rewriting drinking memories (open access) Nature Communications
• One shot of ketamine could reduce problem drinking University College London
• Injecting alcoholics with KETAMINE could help them quit problem drinking The Daily Mail
• One ketamine dose could help heavy drinkers reduce alcohol intake, study reveals The Independent

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hundreds of families come forward

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hundreds of families come forward Hundreds of families whose babies died or were left disabled at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust have come forward during the past week, it has emerged.

Following revelations by The Independent of widespread poor maternity care over four decades, more than 200 families are understood to have complained about maternity care at the trust.

See also:

• 'Hundreds more cases' in Shropshire maternity scandal BBC News
• Hundreds of potential new cases come forward in Shrewsbury maternity scandal The Daily Telegraph

Patients less likely to get physio after hip surgery if they are male and old

Patients less likely to get physio after hip surgery if they are male and old Older men who have had hip and knee operations are missing out on crucial physiotherapy, amid warnings too many are being left to fend for themselves.

The study - the first major research into provision of such treatment in the UK - shows significant inequalities in the likelihood of receiving treatment to restore mobility. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Demographic and geographical variability in physiotherapy provision following hip and knee replacement. An analysis from the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man (abstract) Physiotherapy

All parents will be sent reminders urging them to get their children vaccinated

All parents will be sent reminders urging them to get their children vaccinated Every family will receive reminders from their GPs when it is time for their children’s jabs, under a Tory pledge to reverse a decline in rates of vaccinations.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said the new system, which will primarily operate through text messages, would save lives, ensuring the nation’s children are healthy and protected. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Tories plan vaccination text reminders from GPs to boost uptake The Guardian

Europe and UK are spiralling towards a drugs overdose epidemic, study warns

Europe and UK are spiralling towards a drugs overdose epidemic, study warns Europe could be spiralling towards an opioid epidemic as an unprecedented surge of cheap, super-strength heroin hits the streets of EU nations, a major report warns.

Experts say the influx of the opiate, as well as a surge in the number of copycat drugs like fentanyl, could trigger an explosion in the number of overdoses.

A major EU report about the drugs market in the continent today revealed record amounts of heroin are being shipped into Western nations, and that man-made versions of the drug represent a 'growing health danger'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 2019 EU Drug Markets Report European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol
• Synthetic opioids account for fifth of addicts needing treatment, Europol reveals The Daily Telegraph 

Corrected contributions? Understanding the NHS pensions tax ‘trap’

Corrected contributions? Understanding the NHS pensions tax ‘trap’ Following an announcement in the media last week that the government has found a solution to the problem of doctors taking a dramatic financial hit through pensions tax for undertaking overtime shifts, Helen Buckingham explains the situation as it stands on the tax 'trap' debate. Nuffield Trust

Pregnancy and childbirth in prison: what do we know?

Pregnancy and childbirth in prison: what do we know? Following the recent death of a baby born in prison, Miranda Davies presents new findings on the plight of pregnant prisoners – a group whose health needs are not currently being met. Nuffield Trust

PHE and NHS England urge eligible people to get free flu vaccine

PHE and NHS England urge eligible people to get free flu vaccine Primary school flu vaccination programme resumes following temporary delay of nasal spray vaccine from the manufacturer. Public Health England

See also:

• Let’s do our duty: Top nurse leads NHS staff flu jab drive NHS England

Guide to caring for people with multiple long-term conditions

Guide to caring for people with multiple long-term conditions A guide from the taskforce on multiple conditions showcases ten examples of improving care to the 15 million people in England with multiple long-term conditions. The Richmond Group of Charities 

Type 2 diabetes peer mentor programme: midterm evaluation

Type 2 diabetes peer mentor programme: midterm evaluation This report outlines the findings so far from an interim evaluation of a peer mentoring service for people living with type 2 diabetes. The programme builds on Brigstowe's model of peer mentoring for people diagnosed with HIV and aimed to see if similar wellbeing and health outcomes could be achieved when transferring the model to other long-term health conditions. Brigstowe

Can the NHS boost nurse numbers by 50,000?

Can the NHS boost nurse numbers by 50,000? The Conservative manifesto pledges to add 50,000 nurses to the workforce in England by 2024-25.

How realistic is this target, particularly given that nurse numbers have gone up by only about 5,000 since 2010?

Workforce is one of the main concerns for the NHS in England right now. Health employers talk of difficulties filling rotas and worries about how future staff can be recruited at a time of rising patient demand. BBC News

See also:

• Will a Conservative government deliver 50,000 more nurses? The Guardian
• I’m a nurse, and here’s how to attract more of us to the NHS | Molly Case The Guardian
• Will a Boris Johnson government deliver 50000 more NHS nurses? The Independent

Martin Marshall: GPs need to do less, but it’s not what patients want to hear

Martin Marshall: GPs need to do less, but it’s not what patients want to hear | Denis Campbell The new chair of the RCGP says doctors are under pressure to overtreat, and calls on politicians to stem the exodus from the profession

The NHS does too much medicine”. These are surprising words to hear uttered by a GP, given their role as gatekeepers to the NHS – the doctors who send patients to hospital for tests, surgery or other treatment.

But Martin Marshall, the new chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, firmly believes that part of the reason the NHS is so overstretched is that doctors (GPs and hospital doctors) overdiagnose illness – and as a result patients have too many exploratory tests and too many unnecessary treatments. Getting a grip on that, he believes, would help relieve the pressure on the health service in general and the nation’s overworked family doctors in particular. The Guardian

Hospital beds at record low in England as NHS struggles with demand

Hospital beds at record low in England as NHS struggles with demand The number of hospital beds has fallen to its lowest level ever, despite the head of the NHS warning that bed closures have gone too far.

The health service in England has cut so many beds in recent years that it has just 127,225 left to cope with the rising demand for care, which will intensify as winter starts to bite.

In total, 17,230 beds have been cut from the 144,455 that existed in April-June 2010, the period when the coalition Conservative/Liberal Democrat government took office and imposed a nine-year funding squeeze on the NHS, even though critics cautioned against it because of growing pressures on the service. The Guardian

A third of maternity doctors 'burnt out' and at risk of losing empathy for women in their care

A third of maternity doctors 'burnt out' and at risk of losing empathy for women in their care More than a third of maternity doctors are “burnt out,” and at risk of lacking empathy for the women in their care, researchers have warned.

The study of more than 3,000 obstetricians and gynaecologists found high levels of long-term stress and overwork, especially among trainee medics.

Researchers said the findings - from the largest UK study on the topic - were “very worrying,” with serious implications for patients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Burnout, well-being and defensive medical practice among obstetricians and gynaecologists in the UK: cross-sectional survey study (open access) BMJ Open

Six million TONNES of asbestos are still in schools and hospitals in the UK

Six million TONNES of asbestos are still in schools and hospitals in the UK Six million tonnes of asbestos are still inside 1.5million buildings in the UK including hospitals and eight out of 10 schools, according to a report.

Think-tank ResPublica has urged the Government to reform its policies in order to save teachers and nurses from asbestos related deaths.

The toxic material was once used for insulation and fire-proofing but can lead to serious cases of lung disease and cancer, particularly mesothelioma, if inhaled.

Although the use of asbestos was banned 20 years ago, anything built or refurbished before 1999 may still contain it. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Don’t Breathe In: Bridging the Asbestos Safety Gap ResPublica

Breast cancer GP 'didn't think' he could get the disease

Breast cancer GP 'didn't think' he could get the disease A retired male GP who was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago said he "hadn't even contemplated" he could get the disease.

Mike Greenhalgh, from Abthorpe, Northamptonshire, who was a doctor for 27 years, said he had never seen a case of breast cancer in men.

The 63-year-old said he found it "difficult" being seen in a clinic with mostly women patients.

About 360 men in the UK are diagnosed each year, compared to 54,500 women. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Male breast cancer: Men warned to check for symptoms BBC News

Back in the ‘too difficult’ box: social care and the manifestos

Back in the ‘too difficult’ box: social care and the manifestos With concern about care for older people and disabled adults now the third most important issue for voters behind only the NHS and Brexit in the latest poll from Ipsos MORI, we now have the detail of social care pledges from the three main English parties. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have published their manifestos and the Conservatives have announced their social care policy. Do they make for happy reading around social care? The King's Fund

Achieving integrated care: 15 best practice actions

Achieving integrated care: 15 best practice actions This resource, produced in partnership with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, aims to support local systems in fulfilling their ambition of integration. The 15 actions prioritised in this resource draw on evidence about what works from international research, emerging best practices and engagement with our own stakeholders and partners. The actions are deliberately aligned with national policy, legal frameworks and regulatory guidance, but most important, they allow for local variety in system design and service delivery to flourish. Local Government Association

Living near busy road can stunt children's lung growth, study says

Living near busy road can stunt children's lung growth, study says Children exposed to roadside air pollution could have their lung growth stunted by up to 14%, a study suggests.

Living within 50m of a major road could increase the risk of lung cancer by up to 10%, the paper also found.

The study of 13 cities in the UK and Poland found air pollution contributes to a higher chance of heart disease, strokes, heart failure and bronchitis.

Campaigners called on the government to commit to tackling "dangerous" air pollution in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Research suggests living near a busy road can raise the risk of lung cancer by 10 per cent  The Daily Mail

Cancer immunotherapy drug 'less toxic and prolongs life'

Cancer immunotherapy drug 'less toxic and prolongs life' An immunotherapy drug that could save some cancer patients from the ordeal of extreme chemotherapy may also help them live longer, researchers say.

In a trial, pembrolizumab kept head and neck cancers at bay for an average of two years - five times longer than under chemotherapy.

The patients also suffered far fewer side-effects.

Cases of head and neck cancers are rising in the UK and most are diagnosed late, when they are harder to treat. BBC News

Nurse says NHS trust failed to protect him from racist attack

Nurse says NHS trust failed to protect him from racist attack An NHS nurse is locked in a legal battle with his employer after being assaulted and abused by a patient who was known to be racist.

Colleridge Bessong, a mental health nurse, is taking legal action against Pennine Care NHS trust in Manchester over what he claims is the trust’s failure to protect him from the violent racist attack. The Guardian

NHS winter crisis fears grow after thousands of EU staff quit

NHS winter crisis fears grow after thousands of EU staff quit Mass resignations after Brexit vote compound health staffing shortages

More than 10,000 EU nationals have left the NHS since the Brexit referendum, including almost 5,000 nurses. These new figures will add fuel to concerns about a wider staffing crisis.

So far this year more than 3,250 EU staff have left the NHS, according to data released under the Freedom of Information Act. The figures are from less than half England’s trusts and cover only 10 months, so the actual figure is likely to be higher. This year alone, 1,116 EU nurses have left. The Guardian

Many men still failing to take health seriously, despite success of Movember-style campaigns, research suggests

Many men still failing to take health seriously, despite success of Movember-style campaigns, research suggests Movember-style male health campaigns are failing to make men take their wellbeing seriously, as nearly half still resist going to the doctor, new research suggests.

The arrival of November traditionally sees social media flooded with pictures of men with specially grown moustaches as part of a drive to raise awareness of male health issues.

However, despite the campaign raising £10 million in the UK last year, a survey by Bupa has found a large proportion of the male population are still worryingly cavalier about health. The Daily Telegraph

Figures reveal the NHS trusts where more than 99% of overnight beds were FULL this summer

Figures reveal the NHS trusts where more than 99% of overnight beds were FULL this summer Nine out of 10 hospital beds in England were full between July and September, according to NHS statistics.

Figures revealed more than 50 hospitals had more beds occupied than the NHS's 92 per cent safe operating limit.

The second-quarter figures were the worst in at least a decade and on par with those normally seen in the depths of winter.

Leading English surgeons told MailOnline bed closures have 'gone too far' and when so many beds are full operations have to be cancelled and flu spreads quickly. The Daily Mail

NHS doctors vote to scrap home visits because modern GPs 'don't have time'

NHS doctors vote to scrap home visits because modern GPs 'don't have time' England's Local Medicine Committees voted 54 per cent in favour of removing the obligation to do home visits from GPs' contracts and said the practice is 'virtually unheard of' in other countries. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Home visits are a core part of general practice - and invaluable for some vulnerable patients, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs vote to reduce patient home visits BBC News
• GPs vote to scrap home visits from their contracts The Daily Telegraph
• LMCs vote to remove home visits from GP contract GPonline
• Hancock rejects GPs' vote to remove home visits from contracts The Guardian