RCP launches two major reports on payment and structures in the NHS As the NHS faces some of the greatest financial pressures in its history and an ageing patient population with complex care needs, it is vital that policymakers and system leaders dismantle the barriers to a stronger, more sustainable and more patient-centred NHS. Royal College of Physicians
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Could an arthritis drug also help treat Alzheimer's disease?
Could an arthritis drug also help treat Alzheimer's disease? "Arthritis drug could soon reverse Alzheimer's symptoms after successful tests on mice," The Independent reports. The drug – salsalate – may help regulate levels of the abnormal tau protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, which could improve memory skills.
Salsalate, which belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) class of medicines, has been used for many years. And as The Daily Telegraph points out, it was even mentioned by the 5th century BC physician Hippocrates.
This study was conducted in mice with clumps of tau in their brains. Salsalate was given to the mice and was found to block the process that can lead to a further protein build up. Treated mice also performed better in tests designed to assess memory skills.
While these findings show promise, the studies were conducted in mice and were only conducted for a couple of months.
Further human studies will be required to determine how effective the drug is and over what timescale. But because this drug has already been approved for use in humans, these tests may come sooner rather than later. NHS Choices
Salsalate, which belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) class of medicines, has been used for many years. And as The Daily Telegraph points out, it was even mentioned by the 5th century BC physician Hippocrates.
This study was conducted in mice with clumps of tau in their brains. Salsalate was given to the mice and was found to block the process that can lead to a further protein build up. Treated mice also performed better in tests designed to assess memory skills.
While these findings show promise, the studies were conducted in mice and were only conducted for a couple of months.
Further human studies will be required to determine how effective the drug is and over what timescale. But because this drug has already been approved for use in humans, these tests may come sooner rather than later. NHS Choices
Drug company to cut 5,000% price rise
Drug company to cut 5,000% price rise A US drug company facing an outcry after raising the price of a drug used by Aids patients by over 5,000% says it will lower the price. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- drug company defends huge price rise BBC News
- VIDEO: HIV drugs price hike defended BBC News
- VIDEO: How much does making a drug cost? BBC News
- American hedge funder Martin Shkreli increases price of Aids-related drug by 5,000pc The Daily Telegraph
- Hilary Clinton joins outrage at hedge fund investor Martin Shkreli's 5,000% HIV drug price hike The Independent
Home care visits 'must last 30 minutes'
Home care visits 'must last 30 minutes' Carers should spent at least 30 minutes on home visits to older people as part of a new gold standard for services, according to new guidance. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Offer personalised care to support those who need help to live at home NICE
- Home care: delivering personal care and practical support to older people living in their own homes (guideline) NICE
- Five-minute care visits for elderly are banned: Slots must now be half an hour after 'deeply worried' officials say it is impossible to treat patients with dignity in such a short time The Daily Mail
What Addenbrooke's tells us about state of NHS
What Addenbrooke's tells us about state of NHS What the Addenbrooke's hospital failure tells us about the NHS. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Press release: Monitor puts Cambridge University Hospitals into special measures and takes enforcement action Monitor
- Addenbrooke's and Rosie hospitals' patients 'put at risk' BBC News
- Ministers 'allowed' Addenbrooke's Hospital to fail thousands of patients The Daily Mail
- Addenbrooke's Hospital in special measures after Care Quality Commission inspection The Daily Telegraph
- Addenbrooke's hospital in special measures after 'serious staff shortages' The Guardian
- Addenbrooke's hospital Q&A: What are 'special measures' - and what happens? The Independent
Better data is vital to solve A&E problems
Better data is vital to solve A&E problems A&E attendance has reached record levels – but commissioners and providers don’t know enough about this surge in demand to properly plan and fund services
Digitisation of healthcare is moving apace but when our hospitals capture information about emergency care, they rely on a dataset developed in the early 1980s.
It seems odd in an age which aspires to delivering integrated care and digital interoperability that we’re making do with a functional but pretty basic dataset. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Digitisation of healthcare is moving apace but when our hospitals capture information about emergency care, they rely on a dataset developed in the early 1980s.
It seems odd in an age which aspires to delivering integrated care and digital interoperability that we’re making do with a functional but pretty basic dataset. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- A&E is broken – but it can be fixed The Guardian
Life-expectancy for British women is the second lowest in western Europe
Life-expectancy for British women is the second lowest in western Europe The UK is ranked 14 out of 15 nations, warns the WHO report. The Daily Telegraph
NHS crisis worsens after new figures show three-quarters of hospitals warned about dangerous staff shortages
NHS crisis worsens after new figures show three-quarters of hospitals warned about dangerous staff shortages The severity of the staffing crisis engulfing the NHS has been revealed by new figures showing that three-quarters of hospitals have been warned about potentially dangerous staff shortages. The Independent
Numbers of NHS doctors registering to work overseas could reach unprecedented record
Numbers of NHS doctors registering to work overseas could reach unprecedented record The Government’s decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors may risk an exodus of young medics, after figures revealed an unprecedented spike in NHS doctors registering to work overseas. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- 1,600 doctors apply to work overseas in just three DAYS The Daily Mail
- A third of A&E doctors leaving NHS to work abroad The Daily Telegraph
- Numbers of NHS doctors registering to work abroad could reach unprecedented levels The Daily Telegraph
- Young doctors must repay debt to taxpayers before moving abroad The Daily Telegraph
- NHS warned of exodus of young doctors as registrations to work abroad soar The Guardian
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
New report sheds light on top hospital complaints investigated by the PHSO
New report sheds light on top hospital complaints investigated by the PHSO A new report has revealed that, similar to last year, the top three reasons for hospital complaints investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in the last financial year (2014-15) were poor communication, errors in diagnosis and poor treatment.
Non-medical aspects of patient care are cited as a factor in almost half of all complaints investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Poor communication, including quality and accuracy of information, was a factor in one third of all complaints.
Other reasons for complaints in this period included staff attitude and behaviour, which were factors in two out of 10 complaints.
See also:
Non-medical aspects of patient care are cited as a factor in almost half of all complaints investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Poor communication, including quality and accuracy of information, was a factor in one third of all complaints.
Other reasons for complaints in this period included staff attitude and behaviour, which were factors in two out of 10 complaints.
See also:
- Complaints about acute trusts 2014-15 Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
- 'No apology' tops patient complaints BBC News
Addenbrooke's put in special measures
Addenbrooke's put in special measures One of the biggest NHS trusts is put in special measures after inspectors found concerns over staffing, treatment delays and governance failings. BBC News
NHS maximum waiting times and patient choice policies
NHS maximum waiting times and patient choice policies A parliamentary briefing sets out policy on maximum waiting time standards and patient choice in the English NHS. House of Commons Library
Investigating the impact of out-of-hours GP services on A&E attendance rates: multilevel regression analysis
Investigating the impact of out-of-hours GP services on A&E attendance rates: multilevel regression analysis This paper uses multilevel regression modelling to investigate the factors affecting levels of attendance at accident and emergency (A&E) departments by patients registered at a GP practice. National Audit Office
See also:
See also:
Diabetes spending varies almost two-fold across CCG areas
Diabetes spending varies almost two-fold across CCG areas Spending on diabetes treatment varies almost two-fold across different CCG areas due to 'inefficient spending', according to an NHS report. GP Online
How 'midlife MOT' health checks waste £450m a year: Report finds tests are 'costly and ineffective', saving just 1,000 lives annually
How 'midlife MOT' health checks waste £450m a year: Report finds tests are 'costly and ineffective', saving just 1,000 lives annually Forcing health workers to promote health checks when they known to be 'ineffective' saps their morale, London School of Economics and the University of Liverpool experts said. The Daily Mail
New junior doctors' contract changes everything I signed up for
New junior doctors' contract changes everything I signed up for The NHS I knew when I started out as a medical student has been chipped away and patient safety is under threat
This August I moved from being a medical student to become a doctor. After five years of endless exams, coursework and presentations, medical school was finally over. I had often wondered what life would be like. I knew the hours would be long, the on calls arduous and the night shifts terrifying. What I never imagined was that within eight weeks of starting there would be calls to strike, friends from the years above quitting medicine, others leaving for New Zealand (and never coming back) and a new contract being imposed by the government that altered everything I had signed up for. I find myself a junior doctor at one of the most turbulent times the NHS has ever witnessed.
The lines were drawn between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government last week. The BMA branded the government’s newest junior doctor contract as unsafe and unfair, while the government responded by saying it would enforce the contract from August 2016 anyway. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
This August I moved from being a medical student to become a doctor. After five years of endless exams, coursework and presentations, medical school was finally over. I had often wondered what life would be like. I knew the hours would be long, the on calls arduous and the night shifts terrifying. What I never imagined was that within eight weeks of starting there would be calls to strike, friends from the years above quitting medicine, others leaving for New Zealand (and never coming back) and a new contract being imposed by the government that altered everything I had signed up for. I find myself a junior doctor at one of the most turbulent times the NHS has ever witnessed.
The lines were drawn between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government last week. The BMA branded the government’s newest junior doctor contract as unsafe and unfair, while the government responded by saying it would enforce the contract from August 2016 anyway. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Step inside Britain's first men-only mental health centre
Step inside Britain's first men-only mental health centre Last week, The Eaton Foundation in Burton upon Trent opened its doors. The staff explain how a pioneering holistic approach is helping their all-male clientele get back on their feet. The Daily Telegraph
Monday, 21 September 2015
Corby health group up for prestigious award
Corby health group up for prestigious award A Corby organisation responsible for spending the majority of the local health budget on services in the area has been shortlisted for a prestigious award. Northamptonshire Telegraph
University that linked up with Northamptonshire healthcare trust celebrates top accolade in national guide
University that linked up with Northamptonshire healthcare trust celebrates top accolade in national guide The University of Buckingham, which this year joined forced with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to launch the UK’s first independent Medical School, has been awarded the ultimate accolade - University of the Year for Teaching Quality - by the Times and Sunday Times University Guide. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
We need to talk about social care providers
We need to talk about social care providers Amid growing concern that most NHS providers are sliding into deficit, arguably we should be even more worried about social care providers.
This is a complex and sprawling sector – more than 12,000 independent organisations, ranging from big corporate chains to small family-run businesses, charities and social enterprises, which makes the NHS provider landscape look like a sea of organisational tranquillity. Less than 10 per cent of social care is actually provided by councils or the NHS – their retreat from long term care provision is virtually complete. But unlike the NHS, when a social care provider hits the financial rocks, bankruptcy not bail-out is the more likely scenario. The King's Fund
This is a complex and sprawling sector – more than 12,000 independent organisations, ranging from big corporate chains to small family-run businesses, charities and social enterprises, which makes the NHS provider landscape look like a sea of organisational tranquillity. Less than 10 per cent of social care is actually provided by councils or the NHS – their retreat from long term care provision is virtually complete. But unlike the NHS, when a social care provider hits the financial rocks, bankruptcy not bail-out is the more likely scenario. The King's Fund
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