Adult social care 'under pressure'

Adult social care 'under pressure' Adult social care in England is under increasing pressure and the government has "no idea" how long the system can cope, an inquiry finds. BBC News

See also: 

• Adult social care in England: overview The National Audit Office
• NAO raises social care alarm E-Health Insider

Challenges and improvements in diagnostic services across seven days

Challenges and improvements in diagnostic services across seven days NHS IQ has published a report on the potential improvements in diagnostics and scientific services.

Obese 11-year-old girls 'get lower school grades'

Obese 11-year-old girls 'get lower school grades' "Study links obesity in teenage girls with lower academic results," BBC News reports. Previous studies have reported that child and adolescent obesity has a wide variety of adverse consequences in both the short and long term.

A large study of UK secondary school pupils has now looked at whether being overweight or obese at the age of 11 influences educational attainment on SAT tests at 11 and 13 years of age and GCSE grades achieved at 16 years of age.

The researchers found an association between obesity at 11 years of age and poorer academic achievement in GCSE exams five years later in girls, even after adjustment for a wide range of factors that could have influenced the results (confounders).

GP concerns ignored in 'disappointing' NHS England plan

GP concerns ignored in 'disappointing' NHS England plan GP concerns over funding and workload have not been listened to, GP leaders have said, after NHS England published a major general practice strategy document. GP Online

GPs to be given more notice of CQC inspections

GPs to be given more notice of CQC inspections Practices will now have two weeks rather than two days’ notice. OnMedica

NHS faces ‘managed decline’ unless it is properly funded, says health chief

NHS faces ‘managed decline’ unless it is properly funded, says health chief
The NHS cannot survive in its current form and problems could escalate to the point where anyone who can afford it will choose to go private, the chief executive of NHS England has warned. The Independent

See also:

• NHS told to spend billions on reform or face oblivion The Guardian
• NHS chief David Nicholson offers tough medicine as he stands down The Guardian

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt gains powers to shut good hospitals without consultation

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt gains powers to shut good hospitals without consultation
Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, is to acquire sweeping powers to shut down local hospitals at short notice even if they are performing strongly. The Independent

See also:

• MPs grant powers to close local hospitals BBC News
• Concessions on hospital closures stave off Commons rebellion The Guardian
• Clauses 118 and 119 of Care Bill will allow an "aerial view" response to provider failure NHS Confederation

Fury over deal for NHS HR chief

Fury over deal for NHS HR chief Outrage from patients' groups over deal paid to NHS human resources chief. The Daily Telegraph

Labour say 32 hospitals 'at risk' of cuts and closures

Labour say 32 hospitals 'at risk' of cuts and closures Labour claim 32 hospital trusts 'at risk' of cuts and closures including Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital. The Daily Telegraph

Kettering General Hospital to spend £400,000 upgrading maternity services

Kettering General Hospital to spend £400,000 upgrading maternity services Kettering General Hospital has been granted almost £400,000 to improve its maternity services from national modernisation funds. Northamptonshire Telegraph

How to cause more hurt

How to cause more hurt This blog by Martin Bromiley looks at how complaints of poor care are managed in the NHS. The Health Foundation

Prescription charge rise in England

Prescription charge rise in England The price of NHS prescriptions is to rise by 20 pence in April and again next year. BBC News

See also:

• More children treated on adult wards BBC News

Statistics on children admitted to adult mental health wards released

Statistics on children admitted to adult mental health wards released Figures are released today on the number of under-18s recorded as being inpatients on adult mental health wards. Health & Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• More children treated on adult wards BBC News

Supporting recovering in mental health services: quality and outcomes

Supporting recovering in mental health services: quality and outcomes This publication aims to help organisations in the mental health sector develop clear, empirically-informed statements about what constitutes high-quality services, and how these will lead to key recovery outcomes for service users. It also includes a series of recommendations for health and social care providers and commissioners, and for NHS England and the government, that aim to support development of an evidence-based approach to commissioning mental health services. Centre for Mental Health

Difficult conversations with dying people and their families

Difficult conversations with dying people and their families This survey of over 1,000 GPs reveals that terminally ill people are not getting access to the right care when they need it. The report highlights issues surrounding round-the-clock care with families reporting having to chase after prescriptions, nurses waiting hours for vital drugs to arrive, and locums unable to prescribe. Marie Curie Cancer Care

Breast cancer care not always compliant with NICE standards

Breast cancer care not always compliant with NICE standards Charity calls for better monitoring of adherence OnMedica

Are expectations for integrating health and social care unrealistic?

Are expectations for integrating health and social care unrealistic? Better joint working between sectors is being seen as part of a shift to a preventive model of care, but there should be pragmatism about what can be achieved.

Breast cancer patients 'threatened by inadequate checks', says research charity

Breast cancer patients 'threatened by inadequate checks', says research charity NHS organisations are not being checked to see whether they are adhering to “best practice” guidance issued by health regulators, a charity has warned. The Independent

Former shoe company boss makes ‘generous donation’ to Northampton General Hospital

Former shoe company boss makes ‘generous donation’ to Northampton General Hospital

The urology department at Northampton General Hospital has been refurbished, extended and supplied with new equipment thanks to the generosity of a former shoe company boss, who is a former patient. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Government response: Hospital food standards: Sustain campaign

Government response: Hospital food standards: Sustain campaign

The department’s Improving Hospital Food project identified 8 fundamental principles that patients should expect from hospital food, including that hospitals should adopt government buying standards for food and catering services (Food GBS) where practical and supported by procurement practices. The project was well received by partners and welcomed by Sustain.

While there have been a number of calls to introduce mandatory standards for hospital food, the government’s preferred approach remains to encourage the adoption of standards in the NHS through instruction, incentives and inspection.

This approach was outlined by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Quality, Earl Howe, during a debate in the House of Lords on 8 November 2013.