Does a high-fibre diet help relieve asthma?

Does a high-fibre diet help relieve asthma? "Eating more fibre could help treat symptoms of asthma, scientists say," The Independent reports. This headline is based on a mouse study that looked at the role that different types of dietary fibre play in the gut and its effect on allergic airway inflammation.

New evidence on management and leadership

New evidence on management and leadership This paper presents a digest of recent research and evidence on healthcare management and leadership. The studies discussed aim to help organisations and individuals to understand better the ways in which effective managers improve services for patients. National Institute for Health Research

Public health grants to local authorities 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015

Public health grants to local authorities 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015 This local authority circular outlines the public health grants to local authorities. The ring fenced grants for 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015 provide local authorities with £2.66 billion and £2.79 billion to spend on public health services for their local populations.The grant conditions and reporting arrangements that will apply to the grant from April 2013 have also been published. Department of Health

• Local authority circular
• Table of local authority grants
• Grant conditions and report arrangements
• Further information and supporting documents

Government 'buried' release of key evidence on minimum alcohol price before policy U-turn

Government 'buried' release of key evidence on minimum alcohol price before policy U-turn

The Government “buried” key evidence in the run-up to a major U-turn on minimum pricing for alcohol, it has emerged, amid accusations from doctors that pressure from the alcohol industry was “instrumental” in blocking the policy. The Independent

See also:

• Were ministers under the influence of drinks industry? The Daily Telegraph

A&Es see some people 50 times a year

A&Es see some people 50 times a year Some patients are going to A&E units in the UK more than 50 times a year, a BBC investigation into the issue of repeat visits shows. BBC News

AUDIO: Oesophageal cancer deaths up by 50%

AUDIO: Oesophageal cancer deaths up by 50% Death rates from oesophageal cancer rise by almost 50% over the last 40 years, according to Cancer Research UK. BBC News

Experts say sadness is wrongly being medicalised

Experts say sadness is wrongly being medicalised  Two experts have warned that antidepressants are being “doled out as cure for simple sadness,” reports The Daily Telegraph.

The news is based on an opinion piece written by two professors in the British Medical Journal. It is one of an ongoing series of articles looking at the potential harms of overdiagnosing different conditions.

The authors argue the current criteria for diagnosing depression includes wide groups of people with mixed severities of the condition, and are therefore too broad.

There's a new climate of diktat and fear sweeping through the NHS | Polly Toynbee

There's a new climate of diktat and fear sweeping through the NHS | Polly Toynbee An occupational therapist who won awards for her work has been sacked for querying cuts to a stroke unit.

Nurses face three-year competency checks

Nurses face three-year competency checks Nurses and midwives will be forced to reflect on the comments of their patients and retrain if necessary to keep their registration. The Daily Telegraph

Your life in their hands: is the care.data NHS database a healthy step or a gross invasion of patient privacy?

Your life in their hands: is the care.data NHS database a healthy step or a gross invasion of patient privacy?

Within the next few weeks, everyone living in England will see a little white and blue leaflet from the NHS land on their welcome mat. The Independent

Collection: NHS pensions

Collection: NHS pensions The current NHS Pension Scheme will be replaced in 2015 by a new scheme. Department of Health

Mental health staff to help police

Mental health staff to help police Mental health nurses are to be based in police stations and courts in 10 areas of England as part of a pilot scheme aimed at cutting reoffending. BBC News

Better Information Means Better Care: NHS contacts all English households from today

Better Information Means Better Care: NHS contacts all English households from today Leaflets explaining how the NHS uses patient information will begin landing on the doormats of England’s 26.5 million households from today.

MPs criticise Tamiflu secrecy and stockpiling

MPs criticise Tamiflu secrecy and stockpiling "Drug companies accused of holding back complete information on clinical trials," The Guardian reports.

MPs have just published a report expressing concern that drug companies are withholding evidence about how effective drugs such as Tamiflu actually are.

Getting behind the curve? Is the new NHS ready for pandemic flu?

Getting behind the curve? Is the new NHS ready for pandemic flu? This report finds that reforms made to the NHS following the Health and Social Care Act of 2012 have impacted upon its ability to deal effectively with a possible flu pandemic. It highlights potential problems which the new NHS now faces in dealing with a possible Centre for Health and Public Interest

Social care cuts stranded 18,500 patients in hospital over Christmas

Social care cuts stranded 18,500 patients in hospital over Christmas NHS hit by £4.8m bill after lack of provision means more patients cannot be discharged – and more face long waits on trolleys

Almost 18,500 patients spent the holidays in hospital even though they were well enough to be discharged, because a lack of social care meant they could not be allowed home.

NHS figures show there were more than 18,490 "delayed transfers of care" – people still in hospital despite being fit to leave – between 19 December and New Year's Day, at a cost of just over £4.8m.

Patients 'were locked up' at criticised NHS hospital

Patients 'were locked up' at criticised NHS hospital The Department of Health has ordered an investigation into claims that vulnerable patients have been detained against their will. The Daily Telegraph

NHS hospitals suffer staffing crisis on top of scandals

NHS hospitals suffer staffing crisis on top of scandals Telegraph survey shows significant shortages of senior doctors and nurses in the NHS. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Midwives and patients warn of ‘devastating’ staff shortages The Independent

Exclusive: NHS care is ‘outstanding’, says hospitals tsar Sir Mike Richards

Exclusive: NHS care is ‘outstanding’, says hospitals tsar Sir Mike Richards

Compassion in the NHS is “alive and well”, according  to England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, in a robust defence of the service’s values and effectiveness. The Independent

Health commissioning groups preparing to put certain medical services out to tender

Health commissioning groups preparing to put certain medical services out to tender

Some GP surgeries could lose up 15 per cent of their income from April, as health commissioning groups prepare put minor surgery and other services out to private tender. The Independent