New bird flu strain requires vigilance researchers warn

New bird flu strain requires vigilance researchers warn: Most of the UK media are reporting on a worrying new strain of bird flu in China – the H7N9 strain of the bird flu virus.

According to the media, virology experts at a recent press conference warned that the virus "should not be taken lightly". This warning was prompted by new genetic research into the disease and by news that the virus is thought to have killed 24 people and infected at least 126 in China.

NHS data: 'People have become over-concerned about protecting confidentiality'

NHS data: 'People have become over-concerned about protecting confidentiality': Dame Fiona Caldicott's report emphasises that patients are at risk if clinicians base decisions on inadequate data.
Plans to share patient information electronically date back to the Blair government's over-ambitious and now defunct NHS national programme for IT. And despite the coalition's aim that all 6,000-plus GP practices in England must offer patients online access to their records by 2015, so far only 61 are doing so.

Nurses warned that children at private hospital were being put at risk

Nurses warned that children at private hospital were being put at risk: A private hospital put lives at risk after ignoring whistleblowers who warned operations were being carried out unsafely, an investigation has found. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Child surgery halt over failings BBC News

GPs pressured to sign sick notes

GPs pressured to sign sick notes: Doctors are routinely issuing sick notes to patients who have no medical reason to be off work, Government research has suggested. The Daily Telegraph

Doctors condemn Government's decision to hold plans for plain cigarette packaging

Doctors condemn Government's decision to hold plans for plain cigarette packaging:
Senior doctors will tomorrow condemn the Government's decision to delay its plans to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packets. The Independent

The MAGIC programme: evaluation

The MAGIC programme: evaluation The evaluation follows up on the MAGIC (Making Good Decisions in Collaboration) programme that aims to support clinical teams in primary and secondary care to embed shared decision making with patients in their everyday practice.  It shows that a positive change within health systems and individual patients can be made. The Health Foundation

Is the NHS really over-managed?

Is the NHS really over-managed?: Research suggests the NHS may actually be under-managed BBC News

Should we worry about H7N9?

Should we worry about H7N9?: What is the threat posed by H7N9? BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: 'Nastiest' virus in humans in years BBC News
• Doctors warned to look out for new H7N9 bird flu virus The Daily Telegraph

NHS England orders 111 review

NHS England orders 111 review: NHS England has ordered an urgent review of the roll-out of NHS 111 and the sustainability of the current service model. E-Health Insider

See also:

• NHS 111 helpline 'failing to meet targets' The Guardian
• Future of NHS 111 comes under scrutiny OnMedica News
• NHS England to review sustainability of 111 service GP Online
• NHS 111 advice line 'still fragile' BBC News

Collaborative healthcare 'groups' can work better than mergers

Collaborative healthcare 'groups' can work better than mergers: The NHS Confederation's Hospitals Forum asks if healthcare 'groups' are a better alternative than 'merger mania'.

Veterans to be trained to spot mental health problems

Veterans to be trained to spot mental health problems:

Up to 6,400 ex-military to be helped by scheme Related items from OnMedica Improved care announced for war veterans New help for traumatised combat veterans GPs offered help to support veterans Guidance issued on mental health Mental and physical healthcare should be integrated

Policy+ 39: does NHS staff wellbeing affect patient experience of care? (National Nursing Research Unit)

Policy+ 39: does NHS staff wellbeing affect patient experience of care? (National Nursing Research Unit): It may be reasonable to presume that patients receive better care from staff who feel happier in their work. However little is known about the strength or possible impact of associations between staff wellbeing and patient outcomes including their experiences of the care provided. Previous research has tended to focus on single aspects or one staff group, or have looked at associations at the whole hospital level (for example using the national staff and patient surveys, and hospital level outcomes. Researchers in the NNRU have completed a study within the English NHS exploring the links between patients' experiences of health care and staff experiences at work such as staff motivation and wellbeing at work. Staff and patient views were captured at the
team/unit level – where possible matching staff to the individual patients they cared for to test associations between staff and patient experience.

• Briefing
• NNRU - Policy+

Danger! NHS at risk from cuts and political inertia

Danger! NHS at risk from cuts and political inertia: Despite myths that health budgets are growing, NHS spending will be cut as funds are redirected towards social care
The NHS is in danger of being crushed between a funding cut and political inertia over the need to reconfigure services.

Hospitals 'are ignoring advice on caesarean sections'

Hospitals 'are ignoring advice on caesarean sections': Some C-sections are being carried out too early, and babies face risk of serious breathing problems, say experts
The health of thousands of babies born every year by planned caesarean section is being put at risk because hospitals carry out the operations earlier than is wise, childbirth experts are warning.

Health watchdog sacks senior managers amid baby deaths scandal

Health watchdog sacks senior managers amid baby deaths scandal: The health watchdog, the CQC, which has been criticised for repeated failures to protect vulnerable patients has cleared out its senior executive team. The Daily Telegraph

Campaigners brand police plan to fit dementia patients with GPS tracking devices to reduce costly call-outs as 'inhumane'

Campaigners brand police plan to fit dementia patients with GPS tracking devices to reduce costly call-outs as 'inhumane': A police force plans to fit dementia patients with GPS tracking devices in a bid to reduce the number of costly call-outs to search for patients who regularly go missing. The Independent

See also:

• Concern over GPS tracking of dementia sufferers The Daily Telegraph
• Tagging dementia patients is putting a 'plaster' over social care problems The Daily Telegraph

Maternity units shamed but not named in first-time study

Maternity units shamed but not named in first-time study:
The best and worst maternity units in England are revealed today with the publication of the first figures comparing their performance. The Independent

See also

• Maternity care varies across England BBC News
• Patterns of Maternity Care in English NHS Hospitals Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

'Countering the biggest risk of all: attempting to govern uncertainty in healthcare management'

GGI launches an important new report for healthcare boards. The Good Governance Institute have just published a report, on using risk management to govern complex organisations such as hospitals and other healthcare bodies.

Health chiefs in bank holiday warning over A&E

Health chiefs in bank holiday warning over A&E: Health chiefs are warning people not to visit the accident and emergency department at Kettering General Hospital during the bank holiday weekend unless they really need to be there. Evening Telegraph

CCG with £17m 'deficit legacy' says allocation could be wrong - Health Service Journal

CCG with £17m 'deficit legacy' says allocation could be wrong - Health Service Journal:

CCG with £17m 'deficit legacy' says allocation could be wrong Health Service Journal Nene CCG's April finance board paper state it was expecting to have overspent on its 2012-13 shadow budget by between £16m and £18m at the end of the year, mostly due to unexpectedly high demand for hospital care. The overspend was due to be offset ... Contact the Library is you would like a copy of this article