Polluted air is set to cause 160,000 deaths over the next decade, experts predict

Polluted air is set to cause 160,000 deaths over the next decade, experts predict Air pollution will cause 160,000 fatal strokes and heart attacks in the next decade unless the Government acts to clean up Britain’s dirty air, experts have warned.

The British Heart Foundation says that roughly 40 people a day will die from heart and circulation problems caused by toxic air over the next ten years. Currently, the annual total is 11,000 and that figure is projected to rise during the decade.

The charity warns today that air pollution presents a ‘major public health emergency’ that must be urgently addressed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Heart attack and stroke deaths related to air pollution could exceed 160,000 by 2030 British Heart Foundation
• Air pollution could cost more than 160,000 lives this decade, charity warns The Daily Telegraph
• Over 160,000 people could die from diseases linked to air pollution by 2030 in UK The Independent

How IVF success rates are almost four TIMES lower in some parts of UK

How IVF success rates are almost four TIMES lower in some parts of UK IVF success rates are three-and-a-half times lower in some parts of the UK because of a cruel 'postcode lottery', experts have warned.

Women having the procedure at St Jude's Fertility Clinic in Wolverhampton have just a 12 per cent chance of having a baby.

By contrast, the success rate of an IVF cycle at University Hospital Coventry – just a 50-minute drive away – is 43 per cent. The Daily Mail

Kettering and Northampton hospitals to 'merge management teams'

Kettering and Northampton hospitals to 'merge management teams' The hospitals released a joint statement to announce the news - which they say will 'strengthen health services in Northamptonshire.'

Bosses were keen to stress that the organisations themselves would not be merged, but that the appointment of a group chief executive officer would enable the hospitals to work more closely together. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Move towards group model announced by NGH and KGH Northampton General Hospital

Thousands of Nene women missing breast screening tests, NHS figures reveal

Thousands of Nene women missing breast screening tests, NHS figures reveal More than 20,000 women in Nene missed their last screening for breast cancer, NHS figures reveal. Daventry Express

Social care services: funding cuts are biting hard

Social care services: funding cuts are biting hard When we were writing last year’s Social care 360 report we found an appropriate name for a key, v-shaped graph showing the divergence between the number of people requesting social care support from councils and those receiving it. We called it the ‘crocodile’s mouth’ graph, partly because the slightly sinister tone (never smile at a crocodile) reflected a rather worrying trend – more people were asking for support but fewer were receiving it. The King's Fund

Guidance: Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report

Guidance: Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report A report from the Chief Medical Officers in the UK on the amount and type of physical activity people should be doing to improve their health. Department of Health and Social Care

Access to child and adolescent mental health services in 2019

Access to child and adolescent mental health services in 2019 The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has published its Annual Report on access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

The study examines access to specialist services, waiting times for treatment, and provision for the most vulnerable children in England.

The research is based on new data obtained using freedom of information (FOI) requests to mental health providers and local authorities over the course of a year. This data is not published by the NHS.

The majority of lifelong mental health problems develop early on, during childhood or adolescence. The wider economic costs of mental ill health in England are vast, estimated at £105bn each year.

See also:

• 'Treatment gap' in youth mental health services BBC News
• More than one in four children referred to specialist mental health services rejected for treatment The Daily Mail
• Quarter of children referred for specialist mental health care on NHS are turned away The Daily Telegraph
• One in four young people with mental health referral 'rejected' The Guardian

Measuring progress: commitments to support and expand the mental health workforce in England

Measuring progress: commitments to support and expand the mental health workforce in England This report finds that recent commitments to support and expand the mental health workforce have fallen short of their goals. To assess progress against these commitments and identify where further action is required, the report analyses workforce data and a survey of health care professionals working in the sector. British Medical Association

Specialty, associate specialist and locally employed doctors workplace experiences survey: initial findings report

Specialty, associate specialist and locally employed doctors workplace experiences survey: initial findings report This report contains the initial results of a survey of Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) and Locally Employed (LE) doctors – the one in six UK doctors who are not GPs, consultants nor in training roles. The survey founds that 30 per cent of SAS doctors and 23 per cent of their LE counterparts had been bullied, undermined or harassed at work in the last year, either by colleagues or by patients and their families. General Medical Council

Eczema, acne and skin-picking: 'More mental health help needed'

Eczema, acne and skin-picking: 'More mental health help needed' "I felt very ashamed and I still do if I'm going through a bad flare."

For Phaedra Longhurst, 27, the effects of skin-picking disorder dermatillomania, eczema and acne are more than just skin deep. And she's not alone.

Each year, about 13 million people in the UK visit their GP with a skin complaint and a recent survey of dermatologists suggests there is insufficient access to related mental support. BBC News

Mystery Chinese virus: How worried should we be?

Mystery Chinese virus: How worried should we be? A mystery virus - previously unknown to science - is causing severe lung disease in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

More than 50 people have been infected. Seven are currently in a critical condition.

A new virus arriving on the scene, leaving patients with pneumonia, is always a worry and health officials around the world are on high alert.

But is this a brief here-today-gone-tomorrow outbreak or the first sign of something far more dangerous? BBC News

See also:

• Wuhan pneumonia: Mystery China virus is from same family as Sars, scientists say The Independent

Thousands on waiting lists for gender identity clinics

Thousands on waiting lists for gender identity clinics Andrea Halliley is one of thousands of people on waiting lists for NHS gender identity clinics in England.

The 51-year-old ex-soldier is one of more than 13,500 transgender and non-binary adults on waiting lists. BBC News

See also:

• Transgender people face NHS waiting list 'hell' BBC News

Female doctors earn £40,000 less than male colleagues due to ‘two-tier’ GP pay gap

Female doctors earn £40,000 less than male colleagues due to ‘two-tier’ GP pay gap Women GPs earn an average of £40,000 a year less than their male colleagues – one of the worst gender pay gaps for any profession.

Researchers largely blame the 35 per cent pay gap on a two-tier system in which more men choose to operate as private contractors with the NHS, running their practice as a business.

The pay disparity can affect GPs of all ages and grades, according to the study by the Institute for Public Policy Research, which was shared with The Independent.

Who do I treat first: a cancer patient or the woman with a bleed on her brain?

Who do I treat first: a cancer patient or the woman with a bleed on her brain? Every time I tell a patient in intensive care their treatment is to be delayed, I’m angry and ashamed.

It’s a sunny Friday morning. I find a parking space easily, just as a song by my favourite band ends and I turn off the ignition. It’s 8.15am when I see the night consultant in the corridor: the past 13 hours caring for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has taken its toll. Their long night is over. My long day is just beginning. The Guardian

A&E waiting times worst on record, as medics say NHS on its knees

A&E waiting times worst on record, as medics say NHS on its knees Accident & Emergency waiting times are now the worst on record, with more than a fifth of patients waiting more than four hours.

Medics warned that they were “on their knees” as the NHS continued to miss a raft of key targets.

Casualty units should see at least 95 percent of patients within four hours. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Long overdue action on social care is needed: Health Foundation response to NHS England's monthly performance statistics The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund calls for a review of hospital bed numbers The King's Fund
• A&E staff 'despair' as NHS delays are at their worst ever level The Guardian
• Patients suffer record delays because of pressure at A&E units The Guardian
• NHS crisis: A&E waiting times hit worst level on record The Independent
• NHS A&E wait times worst on record as health service attempts to cope with increasing demand ITV News
• A&E departments had worst month on record in December OnMedica

Pharmacists 'should be given the power to diagnose people with cancer'

Pharmacists 'should be given the power to diagnose people with cancer' Pharmacists should be given the power to diagnose people with cancer and refer them to specialists, experts have said.

A report by University College London said pharmacies should serve as 'early diagnosis hubs' in order to improve cancer survival rates.

The call was backed by the Royal College of Pharmacists and the British Lung Foundation, who said pharmacists are often best placed to spot early symptoms of lung cancer. The Daily Mail

Northampton hospital chief praises staff as A&E continues to treat 400 patients each day

Northampton hospital chief praises staff as A&E continues to treat 400 patients each day Northampton's hospital chief executive Sonia Swart has commended her staff for their 'unwavering dedication' as hundreds of patients continue to need treatment at A&E.

It comes as relentless winter pressures have seen up to 400 patients - experiencing mostly respiratory problems, chest pains, and flu - needing treatment at Northampton's A&E department. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hindsight 2020: Lessons on setting targets in health and social care

Hindsight 2020: Lessons on setting targets in health and social care After the 2015 general election, the NHS and social care were set a number of targets on where they needed to be by 2020. Now that year has started, this briefing looks at how they have fared over that time, looking at a sample of key targets. Which have been met, which are being missed, and which by now no longer exist? The briefing then looks at the lessons that need to be learned. Nuffield Trust

Collaborative commissioning for sexual health, reproductive health and HIV: a review of 4 areas

Collaborative commissioning for sexual health, reproductive health and HIV: a review of 4 areas In 2016, Public Health England (PHE) and partner agencies undertook a survey of sexual health, reproductive health and HIV commissioning and published an accompanying action plan. One of the key actions was to support two pilot areas in developing collaborative approaches. PHE has undertaken an evaluation of these two areas and two other areas that had adopted a collaborative approach to commissioning. This review provides a summary of the evaluation and the existing frameworks that can support collaborative working. The slide set details the methodology and findings from this qualitative evaluation. Public Health England

Investigation into lack of timely monitoring of patients with glaucoma

Investigation into lack of timely monitoring of patients with glaucoma Lack of timely follow-up for glaucoma patients is a recognised national issue across the NHS. Research suggests that around 22 patients a month suffer severe or permanent sight loss as a result of the delays.

Our latest report comes after we looked at the case of a 34-year old woman who lost sight as a result of delayed follow-up appointments. She saw seven different ophthalmologists, and the time between her initial referral to hospital eye services and laser eye surgery was 11 months. By this time her sight had deteriorated so badly, she was registered as severely sight impaired.

We’ve made seven safety recommendations as a result of this investigation. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Patients are going blind because of long NHS delays, investigators warn The Daily Telegraph
• Glaucoma patients going blind due to treatment delays, watchdog finds The Guardian

£1.8bn PCN programme on brink as senior GPs threaten to withdraw

£1.8bn PCN programme on brink as senior GPs threaten to withdraw 'Totally unrealistic' draft service specifications have left high-profile GPs warning they could quit the network contract DES, signalling trouble for the future of primary care networks (PCNs). GPonline

A&E patients face long waits as winter bites

A&E patients face long waits as winter bites Huge pressures at hospitals across the NHS over the last month have led to long delays for patients seeking emergency care, figures suggest.

The NHS England December data showed record delays in A&E with one in five patients waiting more than four hours.

A key problem seems to have been a shortage of beds on wards.

The figures show nearly 100,000 of the sickest patients faced hours stuck on trolleys and waiting in corridors while beds were found for them. BBC News

GP shortages cause 'unacceptable' patient waits

GP shortages cause 'unacceptable' patient waits Family doctors are under intense pressure and general practice is running on empty, warns the Royal College of GPs (RCGP).

It says severe staff shortages are causing "unacceptable" delays for patients in England.

In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, its chairman says ministers must take urgent action to deal with the lack of GPs.

The government said it had recruited a "record number" of GP trainees. BBC News

Healthy habits 'deliver extra disease-free decade'

Healthy habits 'deliver extra disease-free decade' Women can gain 10 and men seven years of life free of cancer, heart problems and type-2 diabetes from a healthy lifestyle, a study in the BMJ suggests.

They must exercise regularly, drink in moderation only, have a healthy weight and good diet and not smoke. BBC News

See also:

• Healthy lifestyle and life expectancy free of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes: prospective cohort study (open access) BMJ
• Middle age healthy habits may stave off old age disease OnMedica

NHS use of puberty blockers legal challenge begins

NHS use of puberty blockers legal challenge begins Legal action is being launched against the NHS over the prescribing of drugs to delay puberty.

Papers have been lodged at the High Court by a mother and a nurse against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, which runs the UK's only gender-identity development service (Gids).

Lawyers will argue it is illegal to prescribe the drugs, as children cannot give informed consent to the treatment.

The Tavistock said it had a "cautious and considered" approach to treatment. BBC News

I've seen fellow patients die of eating disorders. This needs tackling - fast

I've seen fellow patients die of eating disorders. This needs tackling - fast A holistic approach helped me recover after 20 years in and out of hospital. As demand rises, more investment is needed

We live in a society where low weight is accepted, not talked about, not treated. As I know well from personal experience, people only get treatment for eating disorders when they are nearly dead. The Guardian

Warnings over “postcode lottery” in ovarian cancer diagnosis and survival

Warnings over “postcode lottery” in ovarian cancer diagnosis and survival Survival rates for women with ovarian cancer are twice as high in some parts of the country than others, amid warnings of an NHS “postcode lottery” in diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

A new report warns that in some parts of the country just one in ten cases are diagnosed at their earliest stage, which health services in other areas achieve almost half of the time. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• First look at ovarian cancer audit feasibility pilot data Ovarian Cancer Action
• Ovarian cancer 'postcode lottery' The Daily Mail
• Ovarian Cancer Patients Face A 'Postcode Lottery' That Needs To Be Fixed Huffington Post UK
• New data highlights postcode lottery in ovarian cancer diagnosis The Independent
• Half of women with ovarian cancer diagnosed at late stage – analysis ITV News

Smokers in England are less hooked than a decade ago - but are also less inclined to give up

Smokers in England are less hooked than a decade ago - but are also less inclined to give up Smokers in England are less hooked than they were a decade ago – but are also less inclined to give up, a study has revealed.

An analysis of 41,610 smokers found they were smoking around three cigarettes less every day in 2017, compared to 2008.

However, their motivation to quit or at cut down has declined drastically, researchers at University College London discovered. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Changes in smoker characteristics in England between 2008 and 2017 (open access) Addiction

How arguments for change may inadvertently keep things the same

How arguments for change may inadvertently keep things the same I was having lunch with some friends recently, and the topic of racial privilege and historical injustices came up. One friend mentioned an argument being made in the USA advocating that these injustices might be redressed by the current-day beneficiaries giving (or returning) assets to those who had been previously wronged (see, for example, Ta-Nehisi Coates on the case for reparations in 2014 and 2019). As Harvard’s David Williams described to us at our Annual Conference this year, these injustices can have long-lasting consequences. The King's Fund

Future patient care at risk unless health research protected and boosted

Future patient care at risk unless health research protected and boosted Health research faces a crisis that could impact on patient care, says a new report led by 10 prominent figures in the NHS and academia.

The Academy of Medical Sciences’ report raises the alarm about the number of research active NHS staff who are finding it increasingly difficult to find time for research. Support for research is not helped by the widening gap between universities and the NHS.

See also:

• Transforming health through innovation: Integrating the NHS and academia The Academy of Medical Sciences
• NHS pressures 'put medical breakthroughs at risk' BBC News

Mental health policy in England

Mental health policy in England Around one in four people in the UK suffer from a mental health problem each year. The NHS has set out that it wants to achieve “parity of esteem” between mental and physical health, in terms of access to services, quality of care and allocation of resources. This briefing looks at the current mental health strategy, reform of the Mental Health Act, waiting times and the use of force in mental health settings. House of Commons Library

Connecting up the care: supporting London’s children exposed to domestic abuse, parental mental ill-health and parental substance abuse

Connecting up the care: supporting London’s children exposed to domestic abuse, parental mental ill-health and parental substance abuse Early neglect and trauma on children can have substantial negative outcomes later on in life. These potentially traumatic events are called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This report from the London Assembly Health Committee examines three ACEs which commonly co-occur (domestic violence and abuse, parental mental ill-health and parental alcohol and drug misuse) to assess how access to and support from services could be improved. London Assembly

Scottish project tackles pills' 'environmental impact'

Scottish project tackles pills' 'environmental impact' A new Scottish health project aims to tackle potential harm caused to the environment by pharmaceuticals.

An estimated 100 million treatments are prescribed every year in Scotland.

After a pill passes through a person's body, some of its compounds reach rivers, lochs and the sea because waste water plants cannot filter them out.

While the project team say there is no evidence of a risk to the public, they warn of possible threats to marine wildlife. BBC News

Virus from shrews linked to unexplained deaths in Europe

Virus from shrews linked to unexplained deaths in Europe A virus that can jump from shrews to humans could be to blame for previously unexplained deaths in Europe, scientists have found.

A study of brain tissue samples from more than 50 patients who died from encephalitis, or brain swelling, over 20 years has identified eight new cases of the Borna virus. The Independent

See also:

• Zoonotic spillover infections with Borna disease virus 1 leading to fatal human encephalitis, 1999–2019: an epidemiological investigation (abstract) Lancet Infectious Diseases

Yes, the NHS needs more nurses, but where is the action on social care?

Yes, the NHS needs more nurses, but where is the action on social care? | David Brindle The biggest challenge by far is the projected need for more care workers by 2035 to keep pace with the ageing population

Frantic efforts are being made to boost applications for nursing degree courses before next week’s annual Ucas deadline, following the partial U-turn just before Christmas on the scrapping of training bursaries. At a cost of more than £2bn, students are being offered new grants worth between £5,000 and £8,000 a year – although they must still pay tuition fees – in tacit recognition that the abolition of bursaries in 2016 was a big mistake. The Guardian

More than 1,000 sex assaults on mixed sex wards, investigation finds

More than 1,000 sex assaults on mixed sex wards, investigation finds More than 1,000 sexual assaults have been reported on NHS mixed-sex mental health wards since 2017, an investigation has found.

It follows calls for tighter rules to protect patients’ dignity and safety.

The figures show there were at least 1,019 reports of sexual assaults on mixed wards from April 2017 to October 2019. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Revealed: Hundreds of sexual assaults each year on mixed-gender wards HSJ
• Patients sexually abused on mixed-sex NHS mental health wards The Daily Mail
• Hundreds of vulnerable patients sexually assaulted on NHS wards, data reveals The Independent

Cancer breakthrough as scientists find how tumour-killing cells are activated

Cancer breakthrough as scientists find how tumour-killing cells are activated More effective cancer treatments could be on the horizon now that researchers have found out how tumour-killing cells are switched on.

Doctors have for years been using CAR T-cell therapy to make some immune cells directly target tumour cells in blood cancer patients.

They knew CD4+ T cells, known as 'helpers' because they transport vital nutrients, start to aggressively fight cancers after the treatment. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Regulatory T Cells Restrain Interleukin-2- and Blimp-1-Dependent Acquisition of Cytotoxic Function by CD4+ T Cells (abstract) Immunity

'Repeated failings' at St Andrew's Healthcare mental health charity

'Repeated failings' at St Andrew's Healthcare mental health charity A mental health hospital charity has been told it made "repeated and systemic failings" in its leadership by health inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised several concerns at St Andrew's Healthcare, based in Northampton.

They included a two-year backlog to address issues found by the CQC in previous inspections.

St Andrew's Healthcare said it had new leaders who were committed to making improvements. BBC Northampton

See also:

• St Andrews Healthcare Care Quality Commission
• Comments show 'inadequate' Northampton hospital did not take severe failings 'seriously enough', says watchdog Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Junior doctors 2018 contract refresh guidance

Junior doctors 2018 contract refresh guidance This guidance published in partnership with the British Medical Association, aims to support employers to appoint and develop flexible training champions. The champion will play a strategic role in promoting and improving existing support for less than full-time trainee doctors and dentists, advocating for them where necessary. The ultimate intention behind the introduction of the role was to create a shift in culture within the NHS, to give trainees more flexibility, and to offer them support as they carry out their training and other commitments they may have. NHS Employers

The risks behind the hype of stem-cell treatments

The risks behind the hype of stem-cell treatments Some private clinics are charging UK patients thousands of pounds for unproven and unregulated treatments using the "healing powers" of stem cells, the BBC has found.

And experts are warning some of these "therapies" can cause significant harm.

Stem cells can become many types of cells in the body, from muscle to brain, and can repair damaged tissue.

But they are approved only for treating some blood conditions, for skin grafts and the repair of damaged corneas. BBC News

Running marathon cuts 'artery age by four years'

Running marathon cuts 'artery age by four years' Training for and completing a marathon improves the health of a new runner's arteries, cutting about four years off their "vascular age", a study suggests.

Researchers from Barts and University College London tested 138 novice runners attempting the London Marathon.

Over six months of training, their arteries regained some youthful elasticity, which should reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. BBC News

See also:

• Training for a First-Time Marathon Reverses Age-Related Aortic Stiffening (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Running your first marathon ‘makes you four years younger’ in heart health The Daily Telegraph

Dozens of hospitals leaving NHS staff at risk of attacks by patients

Dozens of hospitals leaving NHS staff at risk of attacks by patients Dozens of NHS hospitals are breaking the law by failing to protect staff from violent attacks, it has emerged.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said 25 NHS trusts are in breach of rules designed to make sure they manage risks to their staff from violent patients or members of the public.

This follows 38 inspections by the regulator since April 2018. The Independent

See also:

• Two-thirds of trusts failing to protect staff from violence HSJ

'Children cannot give consent to transgender treatment', nurse launching legal test case claims

'Children cannot give consent to transgender treatment', nurse launching legal test case claims Children cannot consent to transgender treatment, a nurse bringing a landmark legal case has said, claiming that many are autistic, homosexual or just confused.

Susan Evans, 62, a former psychiatric nurse at the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust, said that “experimental” and “invasive medical treatment” should be prevented in order to protect children. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Psychiatric nurse launches legal action against NHS clinic The Daily Mail
• Nurse bids to stop puberty blocking drugs on the NHS  Metro

AI can diagnose brain tumors better, faster and earlier than doctors can

AI can diagnose brain tumors better, faster and earlier than doctors can Artificial intelligence can detect brain tumors during surgery better than trained doctors, a new study claims.

Researchers developed a computer algorithm that could diagnose the cancerous masses with almost 95 percent accuracy.

The results analyzed by neuropathologists were slightly less accurate at around 94 percent. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Near real-time intraoperative brain tumor diagnosis using stimulated Raman histology and deep neural networks (abstract) Nature Medicine
• Artificial intelligence can accurately diagnose brain tumours within minutes The Independent

Max Clifford: HMP Littlehey staff 'made medication errors'

Max Clifford: HMP Littlehey staff 'made medication errors' Disgraced publicist Max Clifford was given wrongly-labelled medication at least twice in prison before he died, a report has found.

Clifford, 74, died two years ago while serving an eight-year sentence at Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire for historical sex offences.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which provides healthcare at HMP Littlehey, said the coroner had accepted its action plan and evidence of implementation.

It said it would "continue to share learning and implement our findings to ensure our care is of a high standard". BBC News

See also:

• Independent investigation into the death of Mr Maxwell Clifford a prisoner at HMP Littlehey on 10 December 2017 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
• Max Clifford: Disgraced publicist given wrongly labelled medication in prison before death, report finds The Independent

£40 million investment to reduce NHS staff login times

£40 million investment to reduce NHS staff login times The government will provide £40 million to transform slow login times, one of the main technology frustrations facing NHS staff.

NHS staff currently have to log in to multiple computer programmes when tending to a patient, with each programme requiring its own login details. Some staff need to log into as many as 15 different systems.

This can be time consuming, and also requires staff to remember multiple complex passwords or use the same one on multiple systems, which is potentially a cybersecurity risk. Department of Health

See also:

• 'Outdated' IT leaves NHS staff with 15 different computer logins BBC News
• Health chiefs to spend £40million to cut 'ridiculous' NHS tech delays The Daily Mail
• NHS gets £40m to cut login times on its IT systems The Guardian
• Funds to cut slow login times and upgrade IT for NHS staff ITV News
• New drive to reduce NHS computer login times OnMedica

DNA Testing On The NHS To Fast Track Diagnosis For Critically Ill Babies And Children

DNA Testing On The NHS To Fast Track Diagnosis For Critically Ill Babies And Children The NHS in England is providing a new form of DNA test capable of rapidly diagnosing rare diseases for critically ill babies and children, as part of its Long Term Plan to use world leading technologies to improve care for the sickest infants.

80 babies and children have received this new test, with almost half being given a diagnosis for their rare disease.

The technique, known as ‘whole exome sequencing’, doubles the chance of a diagnosis and can reveal what is wrong with patients in days rather than weeks, reducing waits for worried families. NHS England

Fentanyl deaths on rise in UK, drug report warns

Fentanyl deaths on rise in UK, drug report warns Deaths caused by the drug fentanyl are on the rise in the UK, a report warns.

Deaths related to Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid considered to be 50 times more potent than heroin, rose from eight in 2008 to 135 in 2017, the report said.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) said the government should introduce controls to tackle the "emerging threat" the painkiller poses.

The ACMD said a rise in the number of deaths in the UK is being driven by fentanyl being added to heroin. BBC News

See also:

• Misuse of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Age of carers is 'looming crisis' for adult care

Age of carers is 'looming crisis' for adult care The increasing age of carers looking after adults with learning disabilities is a "looming crisis" for councils, a study claims.

Two-thirds of adults with learning disabilities or autism live with their families. Medical advances mean they are living longer than ever but many parents - some in their 80s and 90s - are worried about what will happen when they die.

Researchers from the University of Bath say the "issue will reach breaking point if it isn't tackled". BBC News

See also:

• Confronting a looming crisis: People with learning disabilities and/or autism and their carers getting older  University of Bath
• Looming crisis for older family carers of people with learning disabilities University of Bath

Surgery patients with deadly sepsis are not getting antibiotics fast enough, NHS audit finds

Surgery patients with deadly sepsis are not getting antibiotics fast enough, NHS audit finds More than 80 per cent of patients who have signs of a deadly sepsis infection before high-risk surgery are not getting antibiotics fast enough, a major NHS report has warned.

Sepsis kills an estimated 44,000 people in England every year and rapid access to antibiotics within the first hour after diagnosis is vital to halt the infection.

But a review of performance across 179 NHS hospitals has found a majority of patients undergoing emergency bowel surgery are not getting medication early enough. The Independent

Hospital in bullying claims did not monitor at-risk patients

Hospital in bullying claims did not monitor at-risk patients West Suffolk NHS trust failed to heed warning over patients with aneurysms, raising questions about management

A hospital accused of bullying its staff is facing new claims that it failed to act on a leading doctor’s warning about a potential fatal failure to monitor vulnerable patients, the Guardian can reveal.

Anorexia is the deadliest mental illness. Why is the NHS still not taking it seriously?

Anorexia is the deadliest mental illness. Why is the NHS still not taking it seriously? | Tom Quinn The rise in hospital admissions for eating disorders shows that medics don’t have the knowledge or the resources to treat them

The rise in hospital admissions for people with eating disorders reported on Thursday is very concerning. It shows that much more must be done to intervene early and provide intensive support in the community. The Guardian

Hospitalisations for flu 10-fold higher than last year, official figures show

Hospitalisations for flu 10-fold higher than last year, official figures show The number of people hospitalised with flu this winter is almost ten times as high as this time last year, new figures show.

The NHS statistics also show rates of winter vomiting bug are a quarter higher, putting hospitals under mounting pressure.

Health officials urged those eligible for the flu jab to come forward, without delay. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• UK flu levels according to PHE statistics: 2019 to 2020 Public Health England

Children with mental health problems must be severely unwell before they can get help at NHS

Children with mental health problems must be severely unwell before they can get help at NHS Children with mental health problems are being turned away by the NHS because their symptoms are not severe enough, an investigation has found.

Data obtained via freedom of information requests shows a third of mental health trusts in England reject child patients whose condition is not 'severe' or 'significant'.

GPs claimed some children were having to attempt or threaten suicide in order to be referred to a specialist. The Daily Mail

See also:

• More than half of GP referrals to CAMHS services rejected, poll reveals GPonline
• Children refused NHS mental health care for not being unwell enough The Guardian
• Number of children admitted to A&E with mental health problems jumps 330 per cent over past decade The Independent
• Mentally ill children prevented from getting specialist treatment iNews
• GPs paint bleak picture of child mental health services OnMedica
• Children rejected by NHS mental health trusts as criteria for GP referrals tightens Pulse

Striving to deliver

Striving to deliver Trust leaders are warning that they are more concerned than ever before about the level of risk they will need to manage for patients and their staff this winter. This briefing is an assessment of readiness looking into the areas of concern facing the NHS and the extensive planning they and their local partners have put into place to mitigate this. King's Fund

Briefing
Press release

GPs to visit care home patients fortnightly under network requirements

GPs to visit care home patients fortnightly under network requirements GPs will have to carry out visits to care home patients 'at least' every fortnight from this September as part of the delivery of new network service specifications, new proposals have revealed.
According to a draft NHS England document outlining the primary care network service specifications, practices in PCNs will deliver five national services from April 2020 onwards, including enhanced care in residential homes and structured medication reviews.
Plans for services to provide anticipatory care and personalised care must be drawn up by 'no later than June 2020'. Services to support early cancer diagnosis must have a clinical lead in place from April, and during 2020/21 there must be a 'safety netting' approach put in place to monitor patients referred for suspected cancer. Pulse

Nurse who worked at the first privatised NHS hospital says she wants people to 'remember' the 'disaster'

Nurse who worked at the first privatised NHS hospital says she wants people to 'remember' the 'disaster' Private provision of health care services has always been controversial and has been a hot topic during and since the recent general election. Labour claimed that more NHS services could be outsourced to private companies, particularly in connection with a possible post-Brexit UK-US trade deal. Boris Johnson, for his part, insists "the NHS will never be for sale”.
However, the ITV documentary The Dirty War on the NHS aired recently, arguing that the health service is "under threat of being sold off and converted to a free market model inspired by America's disastrous health insurance system".
The film focused on Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire, the first hospital to be handed to a private management firm. i newspaper

The NHS begins 2020 with good reason to hope for a better decade

The NHS begins 2020 with good reason to hope for a better decade The NHS stands at the threshold of a new decade facing both potentially its most difficult winter in decades and the most hopeful medium-term future since the 2008 financial crash.
The global economic meltdown at the end of this century’s first decade was significantly more important than anything that happened between 2010 and 2019. It led, though not directly, to public sector austerity, which undermined many of the gains made by the NHS during the New Labour years and decimated other areas of social provision on which the health service depends.
The aftermath of austerity will go on damaging the NHS for some time, not least because budget cuts for local authorities and other areas of expenditure have only been mitigated, but not ended. We have also yet to count the cost in staff morale and resilience from what may prove to be a cruel winter.
However, for the first time in nearly 10 years NHS leaders can look forward over a three-year period and reasonably expect to do more — albeit only a little — than manage decline and hope that a more logical and effective way of working may become a widespread reality. Health Service Journal

Children in mental distress denied NHS help until close to suicide

Children in mental distress denied NHS help until close to suicide Children suffering mental health problems are being refused treatment until they are close to suicide, amid soaring referrals, an investigation reveals. Medics said services were “washing their hands” of vulnerable children and teenagers, with one in three trusts only accepting cases classed as the most severe.
Experts said children were being forced to wait until their condition deteriorated - in some cases resulting in a suicide attempt - in order to get to see a specialist. It comes amid concern that social media is fuelling a growing mental health crisis among younger generations, encouraging feelings of inadequacy.
Some are facing waits of 18 months for counselling, amid rising numbers of referrals. NHS data shows the total number of referrals to such specialists has risen by almost a fifth in the year. The Telegraph

New DNA tests mean babies and children can be diagnosed with rare diseases in just days

New DNA tests mean babies and children can be diagnosed with rare diseases in just days The NHS is promising a “genomic revolution,” with rare child diseases diagnosed in days, with far more accuracy than has previously possible.
Up to 700 babies and children a year will be offered a new form of DNA test, which can rapidly identify mutations in critically ill patients.
The Health Secretary said the new technology was “game changing” for the NHS, with experts saying the tests could double the chance of an accurate diagnosis and ensure swift treatment.
The technique, known as “whole exome sequencing” can reveal what is wrong with patients in days rather than weeks, reducing waits for worried families. The Telegraph

NHS fighting back against rising tide of gambling ill health

NHS fighting back against rising tide of gambling ill health The NHS is facing a rising tide of gambling related ill health as more betting addicts than ever before are being taken to hospital. New data released today (28th December) show a record number of admissions last year related to gambling addiction, including care for severe mental ill health conditions like psychosis. The number of gambling related hospital admissions has more than doubled in the last six years from 150 to 321. NHS England

See Also:

• UK gambling-related hospital admissions up to more than one a day The Guardian

Not enough NHS staff for people with cancer, charity warns

Not enough NHS staff for people with cancer, charity warns There are not enough NHS staff to meet the needs of growing numbers of people with cancer, a charity is warning.

Macmillan Cancer Support says patients are calling its helpline "at breaking point", feeling they cannot ask questions of the overstretched doctors and nurses caring for them.

Key targets for cancer care are being missed as pressure on the NHS rises. The NHS said patient satisfaction levels and survival rates were both at record highs. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• More cancer patients turning away from NHS for advice – Macmillan The Guardian
• Thousands of cancer patients feel like they cannot ask questions to their doctor Mail Online

App helps parents of premature babies stay in touch

App helps parents of premature babies stay in touch An app has been developed to help parents stay in touch with their premature baby in hospital. To help reduce the separation anxiety, a third of neonatal units in the UK have signed up to an app that helps parents stay in touch with their premature babies 24 hours a day. BBC News

See Also:

• Baby video messages 'amazing' for new parents BBC News

KGH not treating 20 per cent of eye patients in time

KGH not treating 20 per cent of eye patients in time The hospital says it is now outsourcing some appointments to the private sector and is putting on additional eye clinics in an attempt to reduce the backlog with just over 500 patients currently waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment after being referred to the hospital. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Slip-ups at otherwise 'caring' Northampton medical centre lead to sub-par inspection

Slip-ups at otherwise 'caring' Northampton medical centre lead to sub-par inspection Slip-ups in key areas of care have led to a Northampton medical centre earning a sub-par rating by the healthcare watchdog.

The CQC has rated the Brook Medical Centre in Ecton Brook Road 'requires improvement' after finding faults in its systems that keep patients safe.  In the newest report, published on December 11, inspectors say staff seemed unclear about who to speak to about safeguarding or how to spot when a patient was acutely unwell as they arrive at the practice.

However, the watchdog praised the centre's kindness towards patients and how patients could cuickly get care if they needed it. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Improved NHS Migraine Care To Save Thousands Of Hospital Stays

Improved NHS Migraine Care To Save Thousands Of Hospital Stays Headache and migraine sufferers will benefit from better diagnosis and care as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve local health services, avoiding up to 16,500 emergency hospital admissions every year. Health chiefs and other experts believe that the greater use of ‘headache diaries’ and fast access to specialist advice for family doctors will improve the quality of life of millions and reduce pressure on frontline services. NHS England

See Also:

• NHS aims to prevent 16,500 hospital stays for headaches The Guardian

Scrap 'quick-fix diets and tea-toxes' this New Year

Scrap 'quick-fix diets and tea-toxes' this New Year If your New Year resolution is to lose some weight, avoid fad diets, because they don't work and can be harmful, says NHS England's top doctor.

Diet pills, "tea-toxes" and appetite suppressant products are no quick fix, says Prof Stephen Powis, NHS medical director.

Products making this claim can have side-effects, including diarrhoea and heart issues, he warns. Getting in shape safely takes time and requires eating sensibly, and exercise. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• ‘Slim Chance Of Success’ With Quick-Fix Diets, Warns England’s Top Doctor  NHS England
• Make a resolution to avoid 'quick-fix' diets, says top NHS doctor The Guardain
• NHS slimming classes see 90,000 Britons lose average of five pounds  The Telegraph
• 'Don't buy harmful detox teas and pills to shift Christmas weight' warns NHS chief Mail Online

NHS 'prehab' fitness plan aims to cut recovery time for cancer patients

NHS 'prehab' fitness plan aims to cut recovery time for cancer patients Exercise can help reduce side-effects of chemotherapy and amount of time spent in hospital, say doctors

The NHS is hoping a new pre-treatment fitness programme will lead to better odds of survival for thousands of cancer patients.

People who have been diagnosed with the disease are being given the option of entering into a “prehab” regime of three fitness sessions a week, including a mix of high-intensity cardio workouts and strength-based training. The Guardian

Free NHS hospital parking for thousands in 'greatest need'

Free NHS hospital parking for thousands in 'greatest need' Thousands more NHS patients and visitors will be able to access free hospital car parking, the government says.

From April, all 206 hospital trusts in England will be expected to begin offering the concession in line with the government's manifesto promise.

Those with the "greatest need" will benefit. That includes groups such as people with disabilities and NHS staff working night shifts. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• Free hospital parking for some patients, staff and carers NHS Networks
• Hospitals in England to provide some free parking from April The Guardain

Nurse shortage forces NHS hospital to shut critical-care beds

Nurse shortage forces NHS hospital to shut critical-care beds Decision taken at Norwich high dependency unit despite increased winter pressure. An NHS hospital in Norwich has had to close four beds in its high dependency unit because it does not have enough nurses to staff them. Norfolk and Norwich university hospital (NNUH) decided on Monday to temporarily shut the beds in the Gissing ward of its critical care complex. The Guardian

AI system outperforms experts in spotting breast cancer

AI system outperforms experts in spotting breast cancer Program developed by Google Health tested on mammograms of UK and US women. An artificial intelligence program has been developed that is better at spotting breast cancer in mammograms than expert radiologists.

The AI outperformed the specialists by detecting cancers that the radiologists missed in the images, while ignoring features they falsely flagged as possible tumours. The Guardian

See Also:

• AI 'outperforms' doctors diagnosing breast cancer BBC News - Health
• New artificial intelligence finds breast tumours that doctors miss Mail Online
• Artificial intelligence programme detects breast cancer better than experts, study finds The Telegraph

'Breaking point': fears over lack of intensive care beds for children

'Breaking point': fears over lack of intensive care beds for children Critically ill children are being rushed from one part of England to another because NHS hospitals are running short of intensive care beds in which to treat them, the Guardian can reveal.

An increase in severe breathing problems in children driven by winter viruses and infections, including flu, means some are having to be transferred sometimes many miles from their home area because there are not enough paediatric intensive care (PICU) beds locally. The Guardian

Take this IQ test: How clever are you?

Take this IQ test: How clever are you? Scientists are exploring the limits of brain power and they want your help.

When I was at medical school we were taught that we were born with all the brain cells we would ever have, and that after middle age it was downhill from then on. But we now know this isn't true.

Brain-scan technology means that we can now peer inside the living brain and take a look at how it functions. Research is shedding light on something that scientists call 'neuroplasticity' - the idea that our brains keep on changing as we age. BBC News

Eating disorder hospital admissions rise sharply

Eating disorder hospital admissions rise sharply Hospital admissions for eating disorders have risen by more than a third (37%) across all age groups over the last two years, figures show.  Experts described the figures as "worrying" and urged the government to promote early intervention.

There were 19,040 admissions for eating disorders in 2018/19, up from 16,558 the year before and 13,885 in 2016/17.  The NHS Digital data for England found the most common age last year for patients with anorexia was 13 to 15. BBC News 

See Also:

• Experts blame social media as hospital admissions for under-19s suffering eating disorders DOUBLE Mail Online
• Sharp rise in NHS hospital admissions for eating disorders The Guardian
• Eating disorders soaring amid warnings over impact of social media  The Telegraph

We're taking a break over Christmas

This will be the last daily health news blog over the Christmas period (although we will still be posting news items on Twitter).

We hope you have found our efforts to keep you up-to-date with health related news useful.

We will be back with more national and local news, publications and updates on Thursday the 2nd of January.

Wishing all our readers a happy festive season and a peaceful and prosperous new year. See you in 2020!

Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England

Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England This annual report covers surgical site infection (SSI) data collected by NHS hospitals and independent sector NHS treatment centres. Public Health England

Implementing routine outcome monitoring in specialist perinatal mental health services

Implementing routine outcome monitoring in specialist perinatal mental health services This document focuses on good practice examples, tools, tips and information to help perinatal mental health (PMH) services embed appropriate perinatal mental health outcomes measures at a local level, using outcome measures that are already part of the Mental Health Services Dataset. NHS England

‘Never a better time to join the NHS’ says health chief Simon Stevens

‘Never a better time to join the NHS’ says health chief Simon Stevens NHS chief Simon Stevens is today urging people of all ages to consider embarking on a career in the health service next year, as he thanks those current staff who will be working over Christmas. NHS England

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn praise NHS in Christmas messages

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn praise NHS in Christmas messages Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have both paid tribute to NHS staff and other public sector workers in their Christmas messages.

Mr Johnson used his first Christmas message as prime minister to thank those staff working over the holiday. BBC News

Christmas: Beware 'lethal' button batteries in toys

Christmas: Beware 'lethal' button batteries in toys Sophie Skill, from Sheffield, spent days on life support after she swallowed a coin-sized button battery.

Battery acid burned through her gullet (oesophagus) and into her lung, causing agonising pain and putting her life in danger.

Doctors say her case is not unique - about two UK children a year die from swallowing batteries.

Button batteries are used to power many gadgets and toys that will be opened as gifts on Christmas Day, experts warn. BBC News

See also:

• Button batteries for toys can KILL children if they're swallowed, NHS chief warns The Daily Mail
• ‘Toxic’ Christmas toys could put children at risk of long-term fertility problems, officials warn The Independent

First human head transplant could be achieved by 2030, veteran NHS neurosurgeon claims

First human head transplant could be achieved by 2030, veteran NHS neurosurgeon claims The first ever human head transplants could be achieved within the next decade, claims a former NHS neurosurgeon who believes he knows how the feat of moving a person’s consciousness to another body could be made to work.

Bruce Mathew, a former clinical lead for neurosurgery at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was working on a science fiction novel with Institute of Futurology founder Michael Lee when he realised the potential key to making the outlandish surgery a success. The Independent

Children in care being increasingly moved miles away from families, risking county lines exploitation, Children’s Commissioner warns

Children in care being increasingly moved miles away from families, risking county lines exploitation, Children’s Commissioner warns Children in care are being increasingly moved away from their family, putting them at greater risk of county lines exploitation, the Children’s Commissioner has warned.

Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has published a report detailing how thousands of children in the care system are living many miles away from family and friends. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Pass the parcel: children posted around the care system Children’s Commissioner for England
• Thousands of children in care passed around the system like parcels and living miles away from family and friends Children’s Commissioner for England
• Thousands of children in care over 100 miles away from family The Guardian
• More than 2,000 children in care are being forced to live 100 miles from home The Independent

British GPs are among best paid in the Western world with most earning more than £100,000

British GPs are among best paid in the Western world with most earning more than £100,000 British GPs are among the best paid in the Western world with most earning more than £100,000, a major report reveals.

Family doctors are paid more than three times as much as the average Briton, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The report reveals only Germany pays its GPs more than Britain when compared with the rest of its citizens. Yet the UK is struggling to hold on to its family doctors. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS Staff Earnings Estimates September 2019, Provisional statistics NHS Digital

TV repeats and seasonal songs can help people with dementia

TV repeats and seasonal songs can help people with dementia While many of us might get a bit bored of the same old Christmas films, TV repeats and seasonal songs being rolled out each year, people with dementia can actually benefit from a touch of festive familiarity.

NHS England’s national clinical director for dementia and older people’s mental health Alistair Burns says singing along to White Christmas and re-watching classics like It’s A Wonderful Life and The Snowman can be particularly helpful to older people as they can stimulate memories and bring people together over the festive season by helping keep the brain active.

New advice released to support those with eating disorders at Christmas

New advice released to support those with eating disorders at Christmas The NHS and leading eating disorder charity Beat have drawn up new guidance to help people of all ages suffering with an illness and their families cope over the festive season.

The Christmas period can be an extremely difficult time of year, with increased emphasis on food and drink during the party season placing an additional strain on people with conditions such as anorexia or bulimia. NHS England

Cannabis-based medicine for epilepsy available on NHS from January

Cannabis-based medicine for epilepsy available on NHS from January People with severe epilepsy will be able to access a cannabis-based medicine on the NHS from early next year after it was fast-tracked for use.

NHS England said doctors would be able to prescribe Epidyolex from 6 January.

It will be for children from age two, as well as adults, but some campaigners warn it is "too little too late". BBC News

See also:

• NHS to fast-track access to cannabis-based medicine for children with severe epilepsy NHS England

Political heat eases but NHS chill sets in

Political heat eases but NHS chill sets in The politicians will be looking forward to their Christmas break, their ferocious debates on the NHS and other domestic issues temporarily put on hold.

But just because the political rhetoric has eased does not mean the state of the NHS is less of a concern. Far from it.

The health service is experiencing its toughest climate for some time and things met yet become even more difficult with patient numbers expected to surge as usual after the seasonal holiday. BBC News

Number of malnourished over-60s trebles in a decade

Number of malnourished over-60s trebles in a decade The number over-60s admitted to hospital with malnutrition has more than trebled in the UK over the last decade, a charity has warned.

Those diagnosed with the condition at hospital jumped from 1,405 in 2007-2008 to 4,988 in 2017-2018, according to Age UK.

But the vast majority of cases are thought to go unnoticed. Age UK said more than 1 million of the the 12.2 million older people living in the UK were either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The Independent

See also:

• Hospital admissions for scurvy, rickets and malnutrition NHS Digital
• Number of older people diagnosed with malnutrition trebles in a decade The Guardian

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: NHS has paid £50m compensation to families whose babies died or were left with disabilities

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: NHS has paid £50m compensation to families whose babies died or were left with disabilities The NHS has paid almost £50m in compensation to parents whose babies died or were left with disabilities after care at the hospitals at the centre of Britain’s largest maternity scandal, The Independent can reveal.

Data showed that mistakes in care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust have led to scores of clinical negligence claims by families since 2006-07.

In total, 82 claims against the trust were made, with 52 cases settled at a total cost of £47.5m, including £39.2m in compensation. The vast majority of this money is used to cover the costs of caring for permanently disabled babies for the rest of their lives. The Independent

See also:

• Shropshire baby deaths: NHS trust was paid £1m for good care BBC News

Smoking ban tops list of 21st century UK public health achievements

Smoking ban tops list of 21st century UK public health achievements Survey of experts also hails sugar tax and Sure Start centres as important breakthroughs

The ban on smoking in public spaces and workplaces is the greatest UK public health achievement of the 21st century, according to public health experts.

The move, which came into full force in all four UK countries by July 2007, has been credited with causing a fall of more than 20% in heart attacks and other cardiac conditions in the first 10 years after it was introduced. The Guardian

UK's number of doctors per capita is one of lowest in Europe

UK's number of doctors per capita is one of lowest in Europe Study of leading economies says there are just 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people, with only Poland worse off

The UK has the second lowest number of doctors in leading European nations relative to its population, according to research for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

With 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people, compared with an average of 3.5 doctors across the OECD, the UK shortage is second only to Poland. The Guardian

Doctors told to use 'least unsafe' option in Norwich hospital

Doctors told to use 'least unsafe' option in Norwich hospital Exclusive: Concern that hospital’s struggle to cope is putting patient safety at risk

A major NHS hospital has been so overwhelmed that it told senior doctors to make “the least unsafe decision” when treating patients.

Medical groups have voiced concern that Norfolk and Norwich hospital trust’s instruction to its consultants this week showed it was struggling so much to cope with the number of people needing care that patient safety was being put at risk. The Guardian

500 NHS mental health patients to spend Christmas miles from home

500 NHS mental health patients to spend Christmas miles from home Approximately 500 patients with serious mental health problems are being forced to stay in NHS facilities more than 60 miles from home, new analysis reveals.

The figure is more than double that of the same month three years ago, and comes amid a bed shortage and staffing crisis.

The data also reveals that the amount of time mental health patients are spending away from home is going up, with three times as many projected to spend the whole of December in a so-called out-of-area placement compared to 2016. The Daily Telegraph

Smoking to be banned on all hospital grounds from next April

Smoking to be banned on all hospital grounds from next April Smoking will be banned on all hospital grounds from April, under new NHS rules

Next year’s NHS contract with hospitals will say no-one should be allowed to smoke in any areas such as car parks. The Daily Telegraph

Pharmacy receives first ever fine for breaking GDPR rules

Pharmacy receives first ever fine for breaking GDPR rules A pharmacy has been fined £275,000 for “cavalier” disposal of records about vulnerable care home residents, in the first fine issued for breaching GDPR rules.

The London company, which supplies medicines to thousands of elderly care home residents, will be forced to pay £275,000 for dumping 500,000 medical documents containing sensitive information outside in unlocked containers. The Daily Telegraph

Six in 10 surgeries are quizzing patients to see if they are the right level of ill to see a doctor

Six in 10 surgeries are quizzing patients to see if they are the right level of ill to see a doctor More than half of GP surgeries are quizzing patients about their illnesses to decide if they are sick enough to see a doctor, a poll reveals today.

Overstretched practices are increasingly using 'triage' systems, which typically involve receptionists asking patients about the nature of their health complaint.

Patients who ring up to try to see a GP are being advised that their condition would be more appropriately dealt with by a pharmacist, nurse, paramedic or physiotherapist.

To ascertain how many surgeries were using these systems, the Daily Mail commissioned a survey of 974 GPs and practice managers.

'Portable A&E' that can treat patients on the road 'saves hospital £500,000 a year'

'Portable A&E' that can treat patients on the road 'saves hospital £500,000 a year' A portable A&E unit that treats patients in life-threatening situations has saved one NHS trust an estimated £500,000 in one year.

Patients can be treated on the spot, avoiding the need to be taken to hospital A&E units already overwhelmed by soaring demand.

The car is fitted with advanced medical equipment instant blood tests and stitches, to replicate what is normally found in hospital. The Daily Mail

The NHS will now need to get Brexit begun

The NHS will now need to get Brexit begun The Tories may have won the election promising to get Brexit done, but for the NHS and social care it’s only about to start. Mark Dayan looks at what might be in store over the year ahead. Nuffield Trust

Changing challenges into opportunities to improve care

Changing challenges into opportunities to improve care Since its inception, the NHS has been on an evolutionary pathway of experimentation and variation in an attempt to find its fittest form. As integrated care systems (ICSs) expand across England, the NHS and its constituent parts are being invited to play very different roles to those they had in the past. The King's Fund

A competency framework for designated prescribing practitioners

A competency framework for designated prescribing practitioners This framework supports individuals across all independent prescribing professions, training providers and universities to understand what competencies must be met to provide safe and effective prescribing supervision to independent prescribers. Regulatory changes in 2019 mean that experienced non-medical prescribers of any professional background can become responsible for a trainee prescriber's period of learning in practice. Royal Pharmaceutical Society