Coronavirus: Death toll climbs to 106 as China tightens measures

Coronavirus: Death toll climbs to 106 as China tightens measures The death toll from the new coronavirus now stands at 106, with the number of infections almost doubling in a day.

The number of total cases confirmed by China rose to 4,515 as of 27 January, up from 2,835 a day earlier.

Japan is sending a plane to Wuhan to evacuate its citizens, as efforts to repatriate foreign nationals from the city at the epicentre of the outbreak gather pace.

The virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries globally. BBC News

See also: 

• Wuhan coronavirus: Health Secretary's statement to Parliament Department of Health and Social Care
• Wuhan novel coronavirus and avian flu: advice for travel to China Department of Health and Social Care
• Wuhan novel coronavirus: information for the public Department of Health and Social Care
• Wuhan novel coronavirus: initial investigation of possible cases Public Health England
• Coronavirus: Foreign Office advises against travel to virus province BBC News
• China coronavirus spread is accelerating, Xi Jinping warns BBC News
• Deadly coronavirus outbreak DID start at the animal market in Wuhan, tests confirm The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: China death toll passes 100 as Beijing records its first fatality The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus is becoming more contagious and can infect during incubation, Chinese authorities warn The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: Foreign Office preparing to extract British nationals from Wuhan The Daily Telegraph
• 'I felt like ET': UK man describes surreal coronavirus quarantine The Guardian
• Britons in Wuhan will be offered help to leave, Hancock tells MPs The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Britons in Wuhan say they have been ‘abandoned’ as death toll reaches 100 The Independent

NHS staff urged to help service tackle climate change

NHS staff urged to help service tackle climate change NHS staff are being encouraged to drive to work less and bring in reusable cups and bottles to help the health service tackle climate change.

The suggestions are part of an NHS plan to cut carbon emissions to net zero and reduce air pollution.

Hospitals will also be told to switch to less-polluting anaesthetic gases and reduce emissions from buildings.

The plan follows the launch of Climate Assembly UK this week, which is looking at how the UK can best get to net zero. BBC News

Mental health care postcode lottery ‘is risking lives’

Mental health care postcode lottery ‘is risking lives’ Data from NHS talking therapies programme shows patients waiting more than three months for treatment

People with mental health problems are being forced to wait 112 days for treatment through the NHS’s talking therapies programme – despite a supposed six-week maximum wait.

Delays in care facing those with anxiety and depression are so long in some parts of England that they could lead to people taking their own life, a leading expert in mental health has warned. The Guardian

Funding crisis stops referrals to veterans' mental health charity

Funding crisis stops referrals to veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress says decision to turn down new cases was taken ‘with great sadness’

A mental health charity for military veterans is no longer able to take new cases in England or Wales because of a funding crisis.

Combat Stress said its income has fallen from £16m to £10m in this financial year partly because of a cut in its NHS funding support, and said the decision to turn down new cases had been taken “with great sadness”. The Guardian

Whistleblower tipped off second family over West Suffolk hospital death

Whistleblower tipped off second family over West Suffolk hospital death Pressure builds on hospital as it emerges staff member alerted patient’s relatives to suspected mistakes

An under-fire hospital came under fresh pressure on Friday after it emerged that a second family received a whistleblower tipoff about serious failings in the care of a patient who died, the Guardian can reveal.

West Suffolk hospital (WSH), used by Matt Hancock’s constituents, is already facing criticism over its unprecedented demand for doctors to provide fingerprint samples in an attempt to track down an anonymous letter writer who alerted widower Jon Warby to surgical mistakes made before his wife died in August 2018. The Guardian

Prostate cancer now the most commonly diagnosed form thanks to 'Turnbull and Fry' effect

Prostate cancer now the most commonly diagnosed form thanks to 'Turnbull and Fry' effect Prostate cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease for the first time, thanks to the “Turnbull and Fry effect”.

Increased awareness of the benefit of getting tested has caused the number of identified cases to surge past those of breast cancer, NHS figures show.

It follows the candid publicity surrounding the illnesses of celebrities such as Bill Turnbull, Stephen Fry and Rod Stewart over the last few years. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Prostate overtakes breast as 'most common cancer' BBC News

NHS watchdog rejects use of party drug ketamine as antidepressant despite hype over treatment

NHS watchdog rejects use of party drug ketamine as antidepressant despite hype over treatment A radical depression treatment derived from party drug ketamine is set to be rejected for use on the NHS.

There has been months of hype over the treatment - the first antidepressant with a new mechanism of action to be licensed in 30 years.

But NICE say there is not enough evidence it works long-term, and the price - which exceeds £10,000 for the average course - is too high for the NHS to fund. The Daily Mail

NHS could free hospital beds using AI which tells doctors when patients are stable to go home

NHS could free hospital beds using AI which tells doctors when patients are stable to go home Researchers tried the system on 790 patients in an NHS hospital in Wales, and say it could 'easily be rolled out' nationwide. AI by a patients' bedside collects data on their vitals. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A&E waiting times worst on record – but using AI to unblock beds could be part of the solution The Conversation

Thief who stole pain relief from Northampton General Hospital and shoplifted Frosty Jack's faces court while intoxicated

Thief who stole pain relief from Northampton General Hospital and shoplifted Frosty Jack's faces court while intoxicated A thief who stole a canister of pain relief from A&E and shoplifted alcohol in the space of 10 days faced the court while intoxicated.

Samuel Johnson, who is currently living in temporary accommodation in Wellingborough Road, Northampton, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a shop and one count of theft by finding. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Case study: Active Hospitals

Case study: Active Hospitals The Active Hospital feasibility and acceptability pilot explores integrating physical activity interventions in a secondary care setting. Public Health England

International recruitment toolkit: an interactive guide to encourage and enable good practice in the NHS

International recruitment toolkit: an interactive guide to encourage and enable good practice in the NHS This toolkit is for those involved in leading and delivering international recruitment in the NHS. It aims to encourage and enable good practices and processes for the recruitment of international staff across a wide range of professions. This resource can be used to plan approaches to overseas recruitment activity for the first time, or to review the quality and efficiency of existing practices and processes. NHS Employers

China coronavirus: 14 people in UK tested for new strain

China coronavirus: 14 people in UK tested for new strain More than a dozen people in the UK have been tested for the new strain of coronavirus, Public Health England has said.

Five people have tested negative while nine others are waiting for results.

In Scotland, where five people were tested, an incident team has been set up to deal with the health threat.

Globally, there are more than 800 confirmed cases of the virus, which has killed 26 people in China. Authorities there are battling to contain it. BBC News

See also:

• What's the difference between pandemic and epidemic? BBC News
• Coronavirus: 'Increased likelihood' of cases in the UK BBC News
• Coronavirus: British passenger 'wasn't sure' he could get out of Wuhan BBC News
• Chinese coronavirus Q&A: What do we know about the virus so far? The Daily Mail
• WHO says coronavirus outbreak is NOT an international emergency The Daily Mail
• China's lab for studying SARS and Ebola is in Wuhan, the outbreak's center The Daily Mail
• China locks down eight cities and pledges new hospital within six days as Wuhan virus spreads The Daily Telegraph
• Britain braced for killer coronavirus, says Health Secretary, as infection now in 7 countries The Daily Telegraph
• University cities in Britain on high alert as six Chinese patients admitted with suspected coronavirus The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock insists NHS is 'well prepared' for coronavirus amid 'increased likelihood' of cases in the UK The Evening Standard
• Coronavirus outbreak: How did the virus get its name and where has it spread? The Independent
• Coronavirus: First UK patients treated for suspected deadly virus after travelling from China The Independent
• China coronavirus: Swat teams guard Wuhan’s train station as city on lockdown amid fears thousands of people infected The Independent
• China coronavirus: Arrivals to UK from Wuhan ‘received minimal screening’ despite outbreak fears The Independent
• Coronavirus: First UK patients treated for suspected deadly virus after travelling from China The Independent

East Kent hospitals: Criminal investigation into baby deaths at maternity unit

East Kent hospitals: Criminal investigation into baby deaths at maternity unit The hospital at the centre of a series of baby deaths is under criminal investigation after an unearthed report identified many of the safety issues in the maternity unit as early as 2015.

The Independent has learned of dozens of deaths at east Kent hospitals with more than 130 babies suffering brain damage as a result of being starved of oxygen during their birth over a four-year period.

See also:

• East Kent hospitals: Care watchdog inspects trust after baby death apology BBC News
• NHS trust at centre of maternity scandal has highest death rates The Daily Telegraph
• Senior doctors refused to work evenings and weekends at scandal-hit Kent maternity unit The Independent

Frail elderly promised care at home in two hours under new NHS target

Frail elderly promised care at home in two hours under new NHS target Elderly people who need urgent medical care will be promised a response at home within two hours, under new NHS targets.

Teams of nurses, physiotherapists and care workers will be sent to give on-the-spot help in a bid to prevent thousands of frail pensioners being dumped in hospital.

Health officials say far too many vulnerable people are ending up in Accident and Emergency departments, then enduring long hospital stays, for want of speedy responses to medical crisis. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS pledges elderly rapid response community teams BBC News
• New NHS rapid response units are to be deployed to treat the elderly The Daily Mail
• NHS 'rapid response teams' to help sick and older people at home The Guardian

Royal Wolverhampton hospital signs deal to 'conduct half of all appointments online'

Royal Wolverhampton hospital signs deal to 'conduct half of all appointments online' Half of all appointments at three NHS hospitals could be conducted online after bosses purchased a 'GP by Skype' service.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has penned a deal with technology company Babylon Health to adapt its GP At Hand app to use in its three hospitals.

The app would share information between GPs and specialists as well as allow patients to have hospital consultations online and see test results from afar.

Royal Wolverhampton then plans to sell the technology to the rest of the NHS if the partnership is successful. The Daily Mail

Poorest get worse quality of NHS care in England, new research finds

Poorest get worse quality of NHS care in England, new research finds New QualityWatch analysis finds people living in the most deprived areas of England experience a worse quality of NHS care and poorer health outcomes than people living in the least deprived areas. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Quality and equality: How have inequalities in the quality of care changed over the last 10 years? QualityWatch
• England's poorest 'get worse NHS care' than wealthiest citizens The Guardian 
• Poor Britons have worse health than generation born a century ago, study says The Independent

Babylon signs 10-year 'integrated digital health' deal with NHS trust that runs 10 GP practices

Babylon signs 10-year 'integrated digital health' deal with NHS trust that runs 10 GP practices The company behind controversial video service GP at Hand has partnered with an NHS hospital trust that runs 10 GP practices - and plans to deliver the 'world's first integrated digital health system' to 300,000 patients across the region. GPonline

DHSC and PHE statement on coronavirus

DHSC and PHE statement on coronavirus Statement from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England on the coronavirus situation in Wuhan, China.

See also:

• Wuhan novel coronavirus and avian flu: advice for travel to China Public Health England
• Guidance: Wuhan novel coronavirus: background information Public Health England
• Coronavirus: Anxiety rises as Chinese city goes into lockdown BBC News
• Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses? BBC News
• Washington coronavirus patient 'had contact with at least 16 people in the US' The Daily Mail
• Scientists are already working on a coronavirus vaccine The Daily Mail
• Wuhan on lockdown: Police guard train stations while cars queue to leave amid China's coronavirus crisis The Daily Telegraph
• Public health officials issue coronavirus guidance for primary care GPonline
• China coronavirus: Wuhan on lockdown as death toll doubles and disease continues to spread The Independent

East Kent Trust: Hospital baby deaths 'could have been prevented'

East Kent Trust: Hospital baby deaths 'could have been prevented' At least seven preventable baby deaths may have occurred at one of the largest groups of hospitals in England since 2016, a BBC investigation has found.

Significant concerns have been raised about maternity services at the trust.

The heartbroken father of one baby who was stillborn said "we have to live with it, for the rest of our lives... they've probably forgotten who we are".

East Kent NHS Foundation Trust has apologised, saying it has "not always provided the right standard of care". BBC News

Woman denied cancer drug on NHS which could extend her life because of where she lives

Woman denied cancer drug on NHS which could extend her life because of where she lives When Ann Kelk was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer last year, she was optimistic that doctors would be able to treat it.

A mother of three and grandmother of two, she was determined to be around to watch her granddaughter and grandson grow up, so tried to remain positive. But when the chemotherapy Ann was given proved ineffective, her cancer spread to her ovary and drastic surgery was needed. iNews

Whorlton Hall: Care regulator ‘was wrong’ to bury whistleblower’s report into failings at hospital where patients were abused

Whorlton Hall: Care regulator ‘was wrong’ to bury whistleblower’s report into failings at hospital where patients were abused The care watchdog missed multiple opportunities to identify abuse of patients at a privately run hospital and did not act on the concerns of its own members, an independent review has found.

Bosses at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have been criticised in an independent report by David Noble into why the regulator buried a critical report into Whorlton Hall hospital, in County Durham, in 2015.

His report published today said the CQC was wrong not to make public concerns from one of its inspection teams in 2015. The Independent

As a junior doctor in A&E I’m calling on all my colleagues in Britain to go on strike

As a junior doctor in A&E I’m calling on all my colleagues in Britain to go on strike | Andrew Meyerson We need to shine a light on the slow starvation of the NHS: the lack of beds, staff and social care is putting services at risk

At NHS hospitals across the country, when a patient has a cardiac arrest or other major medical emergency, we dial “2222” to summon the emergency team. Today we find the NHS itself is in a state of emergency – and my call here for an A&E general strike is the “2222” alert our health system desperately needs. The Guardian

NHS experiment in AI will see whole city offered virtual hospital appointments and diagnosis by chatbot

NHS experiment in AI will see whole city offered virtual hospital appointments and diagnosis by chatbot An entire city is to take part in NHS experiment in Artificial Intelligence to ease pressure on GPs and hospitals, under new plans.

Patients will be able to Skype medics via smartphones, or receive a diagnosis by chatbots, under the deal agreed by one of the largest hospital trusts in the West Midlands. The Daily Telegraph

One in three people with facial disfigurement have suffered abuse in the street, survey reveals

One in three people with facial disfigurement have suffered abuse in the street, survey reveals One in three people who have a facial disfigurement have suffered abuse in the street, a new survey has revealed.

Some 28 per cent of those with a visible difference have been shouted at and insulted while out in public and more than 70 per cent of those incidents went unreported.

A further 10 per cent report being repeatedly harassed on social media. The Daily Telegraph

Scientist at UK's largest health trust told female colleague he only hired her 'because of her looks', tribunal hears

Scientist at UK's largest health trust told female colleague he only hired her 'because of her looks', tribunal hears A senior biomedical scientist at the UK's largest health trust “sexually bullied” a female colleague who he said was only hired because of “her looks”, a tribunal has heard.

Paul Grist is accused of making a series of lewd comments to the woman, referred to as Colleague A, while working in the blood transfusions and haematology department of Barts Health Trust in Whitechapel, East London. The Daily Telegraph

2019: The health policy year in 12 charts

2019: The health policy year in 12 charts To paraphrase a wise man: health policy moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. So, as we start 2020 let’s take a quick look back at some of the key events that shaped national policy in 2019. The King's Fund

HPV vaccine drives cancer causing infections down to very low levels

HPV vaccine drives cancer causing infections down to very low levels The latest PHE data confirms that HPV16 and 18 infections are now at a very low level in young sexually active women with high vaccination coverage. Public Health England

Deaths in prison: A national scandal

Deaths in prison: A national scandal A report exposing dangerous, longstanding failures across the prison estate and historically high levels of deaths in custody. Deaths in prison: A national scandal offers unique insight and analysis into findings from 61 prison inquests in England and Wales in 2018 and 2019.

The report details repeated safety failures including mental and physical healthcare, communication systems, emergency responses, and drugs and medication. It also looks at the wider statistics and historic context, showing the repetitive and persistent nature of such failings.

Every four days a person takes their life in prison, and rising numbers of ‘natural’ and unclassified deaths are too often found to relate to serious failures in healthcare. INQUEST

See also:

• High number of prison deaths are preventable, says damning new report The Guardian
• Ministers failing to respond to 'national scandal' of suicides in prison, report finds The Independent

Determinants of mental health

Determinants of mental health This first briefing from the Centre’s Commission for Equality in Mental Health finds that mental health inequalities are closely linked to wider injustices in society. Inequalities in wealth, power and voice are linked to poorer mental health. Exclusion, discrimination, violence and insecurity all increase our risk of poor mental health and explain why some groups of people face markedly higher rates of mental ill health than others. The briefing explores actions that can be taken, from communities and local services to national policies, to reduce mental health inequalities. Centre for Mental Health

One in six GP practices have closed or merged under NHS England

One in six GP practices have closed or merged under NHS England One in six GP practices covering 5.4m patients have closed or merged since NHS England became operational in April 2013, analysis by GPonline shows.

Dementia patients being 'dumped in hospital'

Dementia patients being 'dumped in hospital' Dementia patients are being dumped in hospitals in England because of a lack of community care, a charity says.

The Alzheimer's Society called for action, highlighting data showing one in 10 dementia patients spends over a month in hospital after being admitted.

The figures also suggested the overall number of emergency admissions among people with dementia is rising - with some patients yo-yoing back and forth.

Ministers said they were "determined" to tackle the problems. BBC News

See also:

• Alzheimer’s Society analysis of NHS England’s Hospital Episode Statistics dataset 2012/13 to 2017/18 Alzheimer's Society
• Soaring numbers of dementia patients admitted to hospital as emergencies, then stuck there for months The Daily Telegraph
• Emergency dementia admissions to hospitals up 35% in five years The Guardian
• Emergency dementia admissions up by one third OnMedica

Family told brain-damaged girl no longer qualifies for NHS-funded care

Family told brain-damaged girl no longer qualifies for NHS-funded care The family of a nine-year-old girl with severe brain damage have been told her NHS-funded home care could end because she no longer qualifies for help.

Tehyah Solan-Clarke, from Saddleworth, suffered damage to 90% of her brain after a series of strokes in 2014.

Her care was due to end in January, before Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams' intervention led NHS bosses to agree to meet her family.

An NHS spokesman said the meeting would determine "safe and appropriate" care. BBC News

Coronavirus: UK 'to monitor flights from China' as precaution

Coronavirus: UK 'to monitor flights from China' as precaution The UK is to begin monitoring flights arriving from China, as part of a series of precautionary measures after the spread of a new coronavirus.

The measures, to be announced by the health secretary later, will apply to flights from Wuhan to London Heathrow.

Public Health England have upgraded the risk to the UK population from very low to low, the transport secretary said.

Chinese authorities have advised people to stop travel into and out of Wuhan, the city at the heart of the outbreak. BBC News

See also:

• Guidance: Wuhan novel coronavirus: background information Public Health England
• China coronavirus: What we know so far BBC News
• New China virus: US announces first case BBC News
• New China virus: Fourth person dies as human-to-human transfer confirmed BBC News
• New China virus: 'Wash your hands, be honest with your doctors' BBC News
• People around China queue to buy face masks amid fears of an outbreak of deadly virus The Daily Mail
• China's virus may have been lurking in animals for DECADES before adapting to infect humans The Daily Mail
• Passengers from virus-hit region of China to be separated at Heathrow The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus outbreak in China rises to 440 cases with 9 deaths The Daily Telegraph
• Chinese health officials say virus could mutate and spread further as they warn: ‘Don’t go to Wuhan, don’t leave Wuhan’ The Independent
• 'Nobody wants to be first in the nation with this': US town attempts to contain deadly coronavirus The Independent
• China coronavirus: What are the symptoms, where has it spread and is there treatment? The Independent
• As a virologist, I can tell you all you need to know about the coronavirus – and why you can stop panicking The Independent

How a hypothetical design has the potential to change how we view euthanasia

How a hypothetical design has the potential to change how we view euthanasia In order to die with dignity, more people are planning their own death. But what happens when that person has dementia? Such a moral dilemma must be approached with creative thinking, says Marije de Haas. The Independent

GPs in revolt over NHS England's plan to increase their workload

GPs in revolt over NHS England's plan to increase their workload Leaders say move to force overstretched surgeries to take on five new duties unworkable

GPs are warning that overstretched surgeries could close and waiting times get even longer if NHS bosses force them to take on extra work, including regular visits to care homes.

Family doctors in England claim that NHS bosses’ plans for them to assume five new duties of care from April are “unacceptable and completely unworkable” given the widespread acute shortage of GPs. The Guardian

Workforce crisis leaves the NHS teetering on the brink - but there is a way forward

Workforce crisis leaves the NHS teetering on the brink - but there is a way forward | Kailash Chand Ministers must act where others have failed and put prevention rather than treatment at the heart of the healthcare system

The NHS workforce shortage is forcing staff to work long hours with no breaks, and go lengthy spells without eating, drinking, sitting down or using the toilet. And when they are that hungry, exhausted and overstretched, they make mistakes.

This crisis comes after a year that, judged by any standards, was one of the worst in the history of the NHS. During a decade of decline, all the key indicators in the health service worsened, with more than 4.5 million patients now on waiting lists for treatment – more than ever before. The Guardian

NHS must admit its errors quicker of face £4.3bn payouts to laywers

NHS must admit its errors quicker of face £4.3bn payouts to laywers The NHS must admit its failings quicker or face paying out legal fees of up to £4.3 billion, a former Tory health secretary has said.

Stephen Dorrell spoke out after an investigation revealed NHS estimates of how much services would pay to lawyers if all the current claims they are facing go ahead.

Last year the NHS paid out £2.4 billion for negligence claims. The Daily Telegraph

Cervical cancer rates show a 'steep rise' among women in their late 20s, charity warns

Cervical cancer rates show a 'steep rise' among women in their late 20s, charity warns Cervical cancer rates among young women have surged as screening uptake has hit a record low, experts have warned.

Incidence of the disease among 25- to 29-year-olds increased 54 per cent in the last decade, according to Cancer Research UK analysis.

The figures - compiled from official registries in England, Scotland and Wales - comes after years of 'stalling and stagnating' progress on cervical cancer, the charity warned. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cervical cancer progress falters as screening uptake hits record lows Cancer Research UK
• Cervical cancer cases soaring among women in their late 20s The Daily Telegraph
• Cervical cancer rises among young women as progress on deadly disease ‘stalls’ The Independent

Mental health: needs of gang-affiliated young people

Mental health: needs of gang-affiliated young people A briefing on the burden of mental illness faced by young people involved with gangs, part of the 'Ending Gang and Youth Violence' programme. Public Health England

How will we know if integrated care systems reduce demand for urgent care? Establishing fair benchmark levels for the blended payment system

How will we know if integrated care systems reduce demand for urgent care? Establishing fair benchmark levels for the blended payment system For the 2019/20 financial year the National Tariff Payment System (NTPS) for emergency care moved from a fee-for service arrangement to a blended payment system. The blended system encourages the provider to moderate activity growth by providing financial incentives for effective demand management. However there is currently scant detail surrounding crucial aspects of the NTPS scheme. Failure to address this issue may not only lead to the inappropriate distribution of resources across the health system; it could result in tens of millions of pounds being diverted away from urgent care. The Strategy Unit

Mental health funding and investment: a digest of issues

Mental health funding and investment: a digest of issues This briefing looks at the financial and investment challenges facing mental health providers. It warns that the provision of mental health services is not being prioritised across the whole of the NHS. This is despite the significant progress that has been made by the sector to innovate and transform services, and improve people’s access to care and the quality of care they receive. NHS Providers

Shifting the mindset: a closer look at hospital complaints

Shifting the mindset: a closer look at hospital complaints There has been some positive change in the years following the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry to improve openness and transparency in the NHS. Yet when it comes to complaints, many hospitals are too focused on process rather than demonstrating how they’ve listened.

This new report investigates how hospitals report on complaints and whether current efforts are sufficient to build public trust. Healthwatch England

NHS bosses to rethink 'what can realistically be delivered by PCNs'

NHS bosses to rethink 'what can realistically be delivered by PCNs' NHS England has promised to consider 'what can realistically be delivered' by primary care networks (PCNs) after 'large numbers of GPs' submitted feedback on draft network DES specifications in the first-ever public consultation on a part of the GP contract. GPonline

NHS faces huge clinical negligence legal fees bill

NHS faces huge clinical negligence legal fees bill The NHS in England faces paying out £4.3bn in legal fees to settle outstanding claims of clinical negligence, the BBC has learned through a Freedom of Information request.

Each year the NHS receives more than 10,000 new claims for compensation.

This figure includes all current unsettled claims and projected estimates of ones in the future.

The Department of Health has pledged to tackle "the unsustainable rise in the cost of clinical negligence". BBC News

Cambuslang mum suing NHS after attempted murder accusation

Cambuslang mum suing NHS after attempted murder accusation A mother who was wrongly accused of trying to kill her disabled daughter by medical staff is to sue the hospital where the claims were made.

Kirsteen Cooper was accused of causing infections and cutting a feeding tube attached to her daughter Baillie.

This led to police charging her with attempted murder and access to her daughter being restricted for two years.

After accusations were disproved by medics, the charges were dropped. BBC News

Blue Monday: Why it's a 'load of rubbish'

Blue Monday: Why it's a 'load of rubbish' Christmas is over, it's cold and dark outside and that summer holiday seems like a world away.

Blue Monday - also known as the most depressing day of the year - has been trending on Twitter all day.

Coined by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004, it falls on the third Monday in January every year.

He came up with it after a holiday company asked him for a "scientific formula" for the January blues.

Unsurprisingly, there was nothing scientific about it. BBC News

Breakthrough discovery could lead to ‘one-size-fits-all’ cancer treatment

Breakthrough discovery could lead to ‘one-size-fits-all’ cancer treatment A newly discovered type of killer immune cell has raised the prospect of a “universal” cancer therapy, scientists say.

Researchers at Cardiff University suggest the new T-cell offers hope of a “one-size-fits-all” cancer therapy.

T-cell therapies for cancer — where immune cells are removed, modified and returned to the patient's blood to seek and destroy cancer cells — are the latest paradigm in cancer treatments. The Independent

See also:

• Genome-wide CRISPR–Cas9 screening reveals ubiquitous T cell cancer targeting via the monomorphic MHC class I-related protein MR1 (abstract) Nature Immunology
• Immune discovery 'may treat all cancer' BBC News

Philip Hammond blocked 10-year plan for social care as chancellor, says former health secretary

Philip Hammond blocked 10-year plan for social care as chancellor, says former health secretary A bid to draw up a 10-year-plan for social care by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt was blocked by the then chancellor Philip Hammond, Mr Hunt has said.

In an interview with the Health Service Journal, Mr Hunt, the country’s longest-serving health secretary, said the task of solving the UK’s social care crisis was “unfinished business” from his time as health minister. The Independent

Health of poor British adults is now WORSE than it was for those born 100 years ago

Health of poor British adults is now WORSE than it was for those born 100 years ago Poor British people in 2020 are unhealthier than those born into poverty 100 years ago, a study has found.

Adults on low incomes who were born in 1920 enjoyed better health between the ages of 30 and 60, compared to those born in 1970.

The study considered how many people are living with long-term illnesses which are considered 'life-limiting' – such as heart failure, as well as self-reported health. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Are self-reported health inequalities widening by income? An analysis of British pseudo birth cohorts born, 1920–1970 (open access) Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
• Poorest adults in worse health now than older generation – study The Guardian

Will Brexit end the shortcut of NHS operations done by EU doctors?

Will Brexit end the shortcut of NHS operations done by EU doctors? Faced with the prospect of waiting for up to three years for a hip replacement on the NHS, Brian Ashworth took matters into his own hands.

He found a way to have the operation within 30 days — in Lithuania, 1,700 miles from his home in Northern Ireland. And, incredibly, it was paid for by the NHS.

Brian, 56, from Bangor, is among thousands of patients who have used a little-known EU scheme that allowed them to bypass NHS waiting lists by visiting hospitals across Europe.

Yet, with Brexit looming, its future could hang in the balance. The Daily Mail

Two new wellbeing cafes to open in Northamptonshire for mental health support

Two new wellbeing cafes to open in Northamptonshire for mental health support Two similar drop-in cafes are opening in Northamptonshire this week to further support people battling mental health.

The first cafe, Crisis Cafe For Young People, has been launched by The Lowdown, for those aged 12 to 18 years old, which has been set up in partnership with St Andrews Healthcare and funded by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The four-hour NHS waiting time target saves lives - government should think carefully about changes

The four-hour NHS waiting time target saves lives - government should think carefully about changes The national Accident and Emergency (A&E) four-hour waiting time target is once again in the news headlines. Performance against this recently fell to the lowest since records began, with only 79.8% of patients in December 2019 admitted, discharged or transferred to another hospital within 4 hours as opposed to the 95% standard.

Recent comments from the Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggest that the existing target is likely to be scrapped, echoing the interim recommendations of an ongoing review into NHS clinical targets that would replace the target with new goals that focus on reducing initial treatment times for severe cases and introducing an average waiting time target for all patients.

But what does the target – and any potential changes to it – actually mean for patients? Institute for Fiscal Studies

See also:

• A&E target that could be scrapped by Tories has has helped save 15,000 lives a year, says IFS The Independent

Research and analysis: Global Burden of Disease for England: international comparisons

Research and analysis: Global Burden of Disease for England: international comparisons Report that compares data from the 2016 Global Burden of Disease study for England with 22 countries. Findings informed the NHS England 10-year strategy. Public Health England

Paramedic students will get £5,000 support payment each year

Paramedic students will get £5,000 support payment each year Students studying to become paramedics, radiographers and physiotherapists will be among those receiving the new financial support from September. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS statistics on people with learning disabilities having shorter life expectancy make 'grim reading'

NHS statistics on people with learning disabilities having shorter life expectancy make 'grim reading' The NHS has released its latest set of statistics showing people with learning disabilities still have a shorter life expectancy than the general population, despite some of the causes of death being premature and preventable. Homecare.co.uk

See also:

• Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities, Experimental Statistics: 2018 to 2019 NHS Digital

Racial disparities in dementia prescribing

Racial disparities in dementia prescribing Disparities in drug prescribing suggest that black and Asian people with dementia are not receiving the same quality of care as their white peers.

This is the findings according to a new University College London (UCL)-led study. OnMedica

See also:

• Differences in Psychotropic Drug Prescribing Between Ethnic Groups of People with Dementia in the United Kingdom (open access) Clinical Epidemiology

China coronavirus: Number of cases jumps as virus spreads to new cities

China coronavirus: Number of cases jumps as virus spreads to new cities China has reported 139 new cases of a mysterious virus in two days, with the outbreak spreading from Wuhan to other major Chinese cities.

Beijing, the capital, reported two cases, while the southern tech hub of Shenzhen reported one case.

The total number of confirmed cases now exceeds 200, and three have died from the respiratory illness.

The sharp uptick in those infected comes as millions of Chinese prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year holidays. BBC News

See also:

• Wuhan novel coronavirus and avian flu: advice for travel to China Public Health England
• Scientists fear up to 4,500 Chinese patients may have caught the new coronavirus The Daily Mail
• China says mysterious SARS-like virus is 'controllable' as 17 new cases emerge ahead of Lunar New Year The Daily Telegraph
• Mysterious SARS-like virus spreading across China amid sharp rise in new cases and a third death The Daily Telegraph
• No screening for new Sars-like virus at UK airports – yet The Guardian
• China virus: 17 new infections discovered in Wuhan The Independent

Health secretary suffers blow after court rules suspending doctors’ pensions is illegal

Health secretary suffers blow after court rules suspending doctors’ pensions is illegal Matt Hancock has suffered an embarrassing court defeat after his controversial policy on suspending doctors’ pensions was deemed illegal.

The health secretary was granted more power last year to suspend pension benefits to NHS staff charged with a crime, which the High Court has ruled breaches human rights.

The court said the measure was “wrong in principle and inherently unfair”. The Independent

See also:

• Government stripped of power to suspend pensions for doctors facing unproven charges GPonline

Cervical cancer could be eliminated in England, experts say

Cervical cancer could be eliminated in England, experts say Vaccination and HPV screening could potentially end the disease, NHS England says.

Experts say cervical cancer could be eliminated in England through a combination of the vaccine and NHS screening, which will now test every woman for HPV, the virus that causes most cases of the disease.

NHS England’s experts say there is potential to end the disease, which kills 850 women a year in the UK. The vaccine given to girls from the age of 12 is known to be very effective against HPV infection. From the beginning of December, routine screening has been reoriented to test primarily for the virus. Only women who have HPV will have their smear sample checked for abnormal cells that are the precursor of cervical cancer. The Guardian

See also:

• HPV puts 'strain' on millennial sex and dating BBC News
• Cervical cancer could be on its way to extinction thanks to improved testing and vaccination The Daily Mail
• Cervical cancer 'could be eliminated' by vaccine and improved screening The Independent

‘All that is good in human nature is here’: life and death in an NHS hospice

‘All that is good in human nature is here’: life and death in an NHS hospice Is there a good way to approach the end of life? Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor, believes there is – and that we can all learn from her patients. The Guardian

Doctors are replacing the roles that used to be done by priests and barmaids, says the NHS's head of social prescribing

Doctors are replacing the roles that used to be done by priests and barmaids, says the NHS's head of social prescribing Time was, we used to turn to the local priest - or barmaid - when we wanted to pour out our woes. But these days, those seeking solace are more likely to turn to their local doctor, the former head of Britain’s GPs has warned.

Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard said people were becoming increasingly isolated, amid the breakdown of local communities. The Daily Telegraph

NHS crisis 'will leave six million people on operation waiting lists', private health firms warn

NHS crisis 'will leave six million people on operation waiting lists', private health firms warn Six million people will be left waiting for crucial operations such as hip replacements and cataract surgery by 2024 because NHS hospitals cannot cope with rising demand, it was claimed last night.

The number of people on waiting lists for planned treatment in England will jump by 30 per cent from the current 4.6 million, according to a new forecast from a collection of private health firms. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Long NHS waits help drive more patients to pay for private surgery The Independent

Young men are abusing steroids to get the 'Love Island look', report warns

Young men are abusing steroids to get the 'Love Island look', report warns Young men taking steroids to get a 'Love Island look' will cause a surge in hospital appointments in 20 years' time, experts warn.

The ripped six packs, toned arms and broad shoulders of reality TV hunks are the envy of many and some will go to extreme lengths to try and get them.

Anabolic steroids are prescription-only drugs which are illegal to sell. They work by supercharging the body's natural muscle-building ability.

But taking them regularly can have devastating side effects including infertility, liver or kidney problems, high blood pressure and a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs: UKAD's status report on IPEDs in the UK UK Anti Doping
• UKAD warns against IPED use among Gen Z males looking to get a better body in 2020 UK Anti Doping

St Andrew's Healthcare boss says Northampton-based mental health service must downsize

St Andrew's Healthcare boss says Northampton-based mental health service must downsize The boss at Northampton-based NHS mental health provider St Andrew's Healthcare has admitted the organisation must downsize to ensure its survival.

The UK’s biggest independent charitable provider of mental healthcare plans to close 100 of its 860 beds in an attempt to streamline its operation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

KGH shows its LGBTQ support

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

Police called to 'utter chaos' Daventry council meeting

Police called to 'utter chaos' Daventry council meeting Police were called to a council meeting that descended into "utter chaos" after more than 400 village residents turned up to support a new doctors' surgery.

Planning officers at Daventry District Council had recommended an outline application for a new medical centre in Byfield, Northamptonshire, be refused. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Decision delayed on new medical centre in Byfield after support from 400 residents brings meeting to a standstill Northampton Chronicle and Echo

GPs reject contract deal and PCN specifications

GPs reject contract deal and PCN specifications The BMA’s England GP committee (GPC) has voted against accepting a contract agreement with NHS England – and condemned the draft service specifications setting out expectations of primary care networks (PCNs) over the next four years, which the Royal College of GPs has previously warned would risk overloading PCNs still in their infancy, causing them to fail. OnMedica

Stroke consultant shortage 'hurtling towards crisis'

Stroke consultant shortage 'hurtling towards crisis' Almost half of hospitals have a shortage of specialist stroke consultants, new figures suggest. One charity fears "thousands of lives" will be put at risk unless action is taken, with others facing the threat of a lifelong disability. BBC News

Social media data needed for 'harm' research, say doctors

Social media data needed for 'harm' research, say doctors Leading UK psychiatrists say they will never understand the risks and benefits of social media use on children's mental health unless companies hand over their data to researchers.

Tech companies must be made to share data and pay a tax to fund important research, they say in a report.

There is growing evidence internet use can harm mental health but research is still lacking, it adds. BBC News

See also:

• Technology use and the mental health of children and young people Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Tax social media giants to fund research into suicide, psychiatrists urge The Independent

'My sister died after taking a line of cocaine'

'My sister died after taking a line of cocaine' Research for the BBC by NHS Digital shows a huge rise in mental and physical illness linked to cocaine. BBC News

Sepsis killing almost twice as many people worldwide than previously thought, new study warns

Sepsis killing almost twice as many people worldwide than previously thought, new study warns Nearly twice as many people around the world are dying of sepsis than was previously thought, according to a new global study.

Researchers found that the condition, in which the body suffers an out-of-control response to infection, caused 11 million deaths globally in 2017 out of a total of 49 million cases. Previous estimates had said there were about 6 million deaths a year worldwide. The Independent

See also:

• Global, regional, and national sepsis incidence and mortality, 1990–2017: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study (open access) The Lancet
• 'Alarming' one in five deaths due to sepsis BBC News

Hospital bosses launched ‘witch hunt’ to find whistleblower who revealed blunders in woman’s treatment, inquest told

Hospital bosses launched ‘witch hunt’ to find whistleblower who revealed blunders in woman’s treatment, inquest told Hospital bosses have been accused of launching a witch hunt to find a whistleblower who told a widower about blunders in the treatment his wife received.

The row emerged as an inquest began into the death of Susan Warby who died five weeks after bowel surgery.

The 57-year-old died at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, in heath secretary Matt Hancock‘s constituency, on 30 August 2018 after a series of complications in her treatment. The Independent

See also:

• Susan Warby: Errors in woman's bowel surgery - inquest BBC News
• Hospital bosses fingerprinted doctors in 'witch hunt' to find whistleblower The Daily Mail

Carillion: New hospitals delayed for years by collapse of outsourcing giant, official report says

Carillion: New hospitals delayed for years by collapse of outsourcing giant, official report says Two hospitals being built by engineering giant Carillion when it collapsed are being delayed for several years, according to an official report.

The 646-bed Royal Liverpool, due to open in 2017, is now forecast to be completed more than five years late, although an opening date has not yet been set, said the National Audit Office (NAO). The Independent

See also:

• Investigation into the rescue of Carillion’s PFI hospital contracts The National Audit Office
• Two hospitals held up by Carillion collapse are delayed further The Guardian

How might A&E departments without targets work? Look to sexual health clinics

How might A&E departments without targets work? Look to sexual health clinics | Polly Toynbee Accident and emergency makes the headlines. Meanwhile, under-reported services are collapsing through lack of funding

Will the secretary of state for health and social care get away with such barefaced shamelessness in his apparent plans to abolish waiting-time targets for A&E? Matt Hancock’s faintly plausible excuse is that the four-hour target is a perverse incentive to treat an ingrown toenail, at three hours and 50 minutes, ahead of heart attacks and road accident victims. But most A&Es triage efficiently, diverting minor ailments to GPs on site; their real crisis is 12-hour trolley waits for very ill people queuing for reduced numbers of hospital beds. The Guardian

NHS will still need to rely on migrants after Brexit - until we train more UK nurses

NHS will still need to rely on migrants after Brexit - until we train more UK nurses The National Health Service is buckling under the weight of rising demand as is faces a severe staffing shortage.

With recruits from the European Union beginning to leave the NHS in greater numbers, the question of how to staff our hospitals and care homes becomes more acute.

More than 40,000 nursing roles are currently unfilled amid a sector-wide crisis. The Daily Telegraph

Only ONE NHS trust hit the target of seeing 95% of A&E patients in four hours in 2019

Only ONE NHS trust hit the target of seeing 95% of A&E patients in four hours in 2019 Only one hospital trust in England treated its A&E patients within the NHS time target last year, MailOnline can reveal.

Yeovil District Hospital was the only place that managed to process 95 per cent of its patients within four hours of their arrival. Its average for the year was 96.3 per cent.

Statistics analysed by this website reveal that 117 comparable hospitals across the country all missed the mark. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A&E wait times matter. But the key issue facing the NHS is investment The Guardian

NHS hospitals are FULLER than they have been all winter amid a surge in cases of norovirus

NHS hospitals are FULLER than they have been all winter amid a surge in cases of norovirus Hospital beds in England were fuller last week than they have been all winter, according to NHS statistics.

Fewer than five per cent of overnight beds were open to new patients between January 6 and 12.

A surge in norovirus cases added extra pressure to already-stretched hospitals, the NHS said, after the number of infections had been dropping for weeks. The Daily Mail

Report reveals more NHS workers feel confident to speak up… and more are doing so

Report reveals more NHS workers feel confident to speak up… and more are doing so Over the last two years over 19,000 cases of speaking up by NHS workers in trusts have been handled by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians. These include cases with an element of bullying and harassment and that have impacted on patient safety and quality of care.

A new report published by the National Guardian’s Office reveals that over the last year cases of speaking up to guardians have risen by 73 per cent, compared to 2017/18.

Of the 12,000 cases raised between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, guardians reported that almost a third included an element of patient safety/quality of care, and just over forty per cent included an element of bullying/harassment.

Ethical and economic issues in the appraisal of medicines for ultra-rare conditions

Ethical and economic issues in the appraisal of medicines for ultra-rare conditions In the light of concerns around the suitability of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's Highly Specialised Technologies (HST) appraisal route, this report discusses the distinct ethical and economic challenges faced by ultra-orphan medicines, with particular reference to the challenges of health technology assessment in the UK. Office of Health Economics

NHS tells betting firms to stop 'vicious gambling cycle'

NHS tells betting firms to stop 'vicious gambling cycle' The head of mental health services in England has written to five major gambling companies, demanding urgent action on tackling gambling addiction and its impact on people's health.

Claire Murdoch said incentives like VIP treatment should be banned to stop the "vicious gambling cycle".

The industry said it was determined to make gambling safer. BBC News

See also:

• Female gambling addicts growing faster than men amid rise in online slot machines The Daily Telegraph

HIV infection rate falls by 73% in the UK

HIV infection rate falls by 73% in the UK The number of people diagnosed with HIV in the UK has dropped substantially since 2014, according to figures released by Public Health England.

Gay and bisexual men have experienced the most dramatic decline in new infections, with rates falling by 73%.

It has been attributed to a rise in the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep). BBC News

Warning over warring Great Ormond Street surgeons

Warning over warring Great Ormond Street surgeons Warring between two surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital could put patients at risk, a review suggests.

A board paper released by the leading children's hospital said a "fractured" relationship between two consultants in the paediatric surgical urology team was affecting the service last year.

It said the problems had an impact on the whole team, creating the potential for longer waits for sick children. BBC News

Key measures to stop next Harold Shipman ignored by hospitals, Jeremy Hunt warns

Key measures to stop next Harold Shipman ignored by hospitals, Jeremy Hunt warns Many NHS trusts yet to fill medical examiner posts as deadline approaches despite pilot schemes covering 27,000 deaths since 2008 finding that one in four hospital death certificates were inaccurate and one in five causes of death were wrong.

Dozens of NHS hospitals have yet to appoint medical examiners whose roles are aimed at preventing a repeat of Harold Shipman‘s serial killings – with just months to go before the deadline.

A survey of more than 100 NHS trusts in England found that more than half had yet to set up the key posts, which it is hoped will be a crucial part of efforts to improve patient safety in the NHS. The Independent

See also:

• NHS hospitals need to appoint medical examiners now or risk mistakes such as Mid Staffs happening again The Independent

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: More than 900 cases of potential poor care identified at hospital

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: More than 900 cases of potential poor care identified at hospital About 100 new cases of poor maternity care at a beleaguered hospital trust have been identified, bringing the total to 900, the government has revealed.

The scandal at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust ​- the largest maternity scandal in NHS history – is already under investigation and lawyers are preparing to act on behalf of families who say they suffered.

Nadine Dorries, a health minister, told the Commons the total number of suspected cases now stood at 900. The Independent

See also:

• Maternity cases being investigated at Telford and Shrewsbury NHS Trust rises to 900 Chanel 4 News
• NHS maternity scandal: Inquiry into baby deaths now looking at 900 cases The Daily Telegraph
• I helped expose the Mid Staffs hospital scandal – and fear the NHS is about to repeat its worst mistakes The Independent

Matt Hancock signals A&E waiting targets likely to be scrapped

Matt Hancock signals A&E waiting targets likely to be scrapped Health secretary defends NHS’s performance and says targets should be ‘clinically appropriate’

Matt Hancock has signalled that four-hour waiting targets for A&E are likely to be scrapped for the NHS in England after the worst figures on record this winter.

The health secretary said it would be better if targets were “clinically appropriate” and the “right targets”, as he defended the NHS’s failure to meet the standard that 95% of patients attending A&E should be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. The Guardian

See also:

• Matt Hanock: staff must be 'more robust' in kicking out non-emergency patients from A&E The Daily Telegraph
• Are the Tories about to abolish A&E targets? The Guardian
• Plan to scrap A&E target sparks furious backlash from medics The Guardian
• NHS crisis: Health secretary hints at scrapping A&E target in wake of longest waiting times on record The Independent
• Boris Johnson vows to 'get those waiting lists down' after worst NHS figures Sky News

Staff say hospital bosses misled them in hunt for whistleblower

Staff say hospital bosses misled them in hunt for whistleblower Doctors told a patient’s widower about the failings in an operation that led to her death

Doctors at Matt Hancock’s local hospital accused bosses of misleading senior staff about their unprecedented demand for fingerprint samples in a bid to identify a whistleblower, it has emerged.

Minutes of a meeting seen by the Guardian show that after managers at West Suffolk hospital used “bullying and intimidatory” tactics to seek out the whistleblower who revealed details of a botched operation to a patient’s widower, they were accused of deliberately misrepresenting their actions in communications with staff. The Guardian

Frail older people in England missing out on vital medicines checks

Frail older people in England missing out on vital medicines checks Just 59% of ‘extremely frail’ older people received annual drugs review by GP last year.

Almost 75,000 severely frail, older people in England are missing out on vital medicine checks, putting them at risk of hospitalisation, falls and adverse drug reactions, according to an analysis of NHS data.

At least 10% of hospital admissions of frail older people are directly attributable to mismanagement of medicine. But the analysis of all patients aged over 65 in England found that only 59% – 108,507 – of people identified as being extremely frail received their annual medicines review last year. The Guardian

See also:

• Tens of thousands of severely frail older people miss out on vital medicines checks The Pharmaceutical Journal

Prostate deaths hit record high of 12,000 after soaring by more than a quarter in less than 20 years

Prostate deaths hit record high of 12,000 after soaring by more than a quarter in less than 20 years Prostate cancer deaths have passed 12,000 a year for the first time.

The toll has risen by more than a quarter in less than 20 years, official figures show.

By contrast, the number of annual deaths from breast cancer dropped by nearly 1,600 between 1999 and 2017, from 12,947 to 11,371. Annual prostate deaths have risen by nearly 2,600 in the same period, from 9,460 to 12,031 – a 27 per cent increase. The Daily Mail

See also:

• As prostate cancer deaths hit all-time high, we renew our MANifesto Prostate Cancer UK
• Prostate cancer set to become most common form of disease, with half of cases diagnosed late The Daily Telegraph
• Number of men dying from prostate cancer surges to record levels The Independent

Kettering General Hospital's half a billion rebuild could be a reality in a decade

Kettering General Hospital's half a billion rebuild could be a reality in a decade Bosses at the ageing hospital, some parts of which date back to the 1890s, were already celebrating the news that they were in line for a £46m new urgent care hub.

Late last year they were also told that they were on the Government's manifesto list of 40 hospitals that could be in line for new buildings.

After the budget this Spring the trust is expected to be handed a portion of £100m of seed money to develop a business case to prove that Kettering General Hospital needs a total rebuild. This will be the first of many hurdles that the trust needs to pass during the process. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Katie Fisher: ‘I’m not trying to blame anyone for our mental health failings’

Katie Fisher: ‘I’m not trying to blame anyone for our mental health failings’ The head of St Andrew’s, the biggest independent provider of NHS mental healthcare, on her plans to downsize and hand over services

Few bosses would nurture an ambition to shrink their operations by half. But Katie Fisher admits this is her vision for St Andrew’s Healthcare, the UK’s biggest independent charitable provider of NHS mental healthcare, and she intends to make a start this year by closing at least 100 of its 860 beds.

St Andrew’s, founded in 1838, has been under sustained fire over the quality of its services, most recently last week when the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectorate identified “repeated and systemic failings” in procedures and governance. The charity’s specialist provision for adolescents has been in special measures since last spring, and remains closed to new admissions, and the organisation has faced outrage over the treatment of an 18-year-old, known as Bethany, whose father claimed she was kept in seclusion at St Andrew’s for two years and fed through a hatch. The Guardian

NHS funding bill enters Parliament

NHS funding bill enters Parliament The NHS Long Term Plan Funding Bill will enshrine in law an extra £33.9 billion a year by 2024 for the NHS. Department of Health and Social Care

Hernia mesh implants used 'with no clinical evidence'

Hernia mesh implants used 'with no clinical evidence' "Too many" types of hernia mesh implants are being used on NHS patients with little or no clinical evidence, the BBC has been told.

New data shows more than 100 different types of mesh were purchased by NHS Trusts from 2012 to 2018 in England and Scotland, leading to fears over safety.

The meshes can cut into tissue and nerves, leaving some people unable to walk, work or care for children.

The regulator MHRA said there was a clinical need for the devices. BBC News

Women who had botched operations left with no payouts

Women who had botched operations left with no payouts A cosmetic surgeon who botched operations and had inadequate medical insurance showed a lack of professional integrity, and dishonesty, a medical tribunal has said.

Dr Arnaldo Paganelli was found to have breached his patients' trust - and some are still waiting for compensation.

He worked privately for The Hospital Group in Birmingham and the small print of the contract given to patients told them to check their doctor's insurance. BBC News

As an NHS doctor, I'm really stretched - a few more minutes with a patient would help us give compassionate care

As an NHS doctor, I'm really stretched - a few more minutes with a patient would help us give compassionate care I’ve always found it difficult to describe why I wanted to be a doctor. It was really an instinct: a desire to one day be able to do something useful in a challenging situation. I’m lucky that following this path has worked out. I (mostly) love my job as a paediatrician working in a London Trust, and I really love the NHS. I also know I’m lucky to have made it this far whilst still caring about my patients and remaining physically and mentally intact myself. iNews

Mid Staffs scandal: 10 years on, inquiry chair worries NHS staff too scared to speak up

Mid Staffs scandal: 10 years on, inquiry chair worries NHS staff too scared to speak up Ten years on from the Mid Staffordshire NHS trust scandal, the man who led the inquiry into one of the worst care disasters in the service’s history has said he remains worried about the safety of patients and a culture that leaves staff too frightened to speak up.

Sir Robert Francis QC said some safety risks highlighted a decade ago remain unresolved and he threw his weight behind calls for senior managers in the NHS to be regulated. The Independent

See also:

• Lack of transparency on patient complaints risks confidence in the NHS, warns Mid Staffs inquiry chair The Independent