Preventing amputations major concern as diabetes numbers rise

Preventing amputations major concern as diabetes numbers rise New data from the Diabetes Foot Care Profiles, published by PHE’s National Cardiovascular Intelligence Network, shows that the number of major lower limb amputations (above the ankle) continues to rise – with 7,545 major amputations over the past 3 years between 2015 to 2018, compared with 6,957 between 2012 to 2015.

The overall number of major amputations is increasing, as the number of people with diabetes rises, but the rate among people with diabetes is not significantly increasing. Public Health England

See also:

• Hospitals in England are amputating more limbs than EVER because of diabetes The Daily Mail
• Record numbers of amputations on NHS amid warnings 1 in 10 will soon suffer type two diabetes The Daily Telegraph

When safeguarding becomes stigmatising: a report on the impact of FGM-safeguarding procedures on people with a Somali heritage living in Bristol

When safeguarding becomes stigmatising: a report on the impact of FGM-safeguarding procedures on people with a Somali heritage living in Bristol Female genital mutilation (FGM) is considered by the UN to be a ‘global concern’. International organisations routinely claim a 98 per cent prevalence rate among the Somali population (UNICEF 2013). As a consequence, Somalis living in the UK have attracted particular attention from FGM-safeguarding policy. This research presents the perspectives of Somali families living in Bristol with experience of FGM-safeguarding services. University of Bristol

How should we measure quality of life impact in rare disease? Recent learnings in spinal muscular atrophy

How should we measure quality of life impact in rare disease? Recent learnings in spinal muscular atrophy The measurement of quality of life in the context of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is challenging. This is because the disease is experienced by children and is rare, which makes data collection difficult. This briefing reports on a symposium that outlined some lessons that can be learnt from the SMA context that might be more widely applicable to other rare diseases. Office of Health Economics

'Unbelievable' failings in Claire Greaves hospital death

'Unbelievable' failings in Claire Greaves hospital death The parents of a woman who took her own life at a mental health hospital say failings in her care were "unbelievable".

Claire Greaves, 25, from Pontypool, was a patient at Cygnet Hospital, Coventry.

An inquest jury found care failings contributed to her death in February 2018 and reached an open conclusion. BBC News

'Should we get our baby vaccinated?'

'Should we get our baby vaccinated?' A growing number of parents are confused about whether to vaccinate their children, with many influenced by "anti-vax" material on social media. Can asking experts questions help one undecided couple find clarity? BBC News

Is ‘Total football’ the best model for running health and social care in the NHS?

Is ‘Total football’ the best model for running health and social care in the NHS? Total football is a style of play in which positions are fluid and the collective comes above the individual. Developed in the 1970s, its influence can be traced from the Netherlands to Barcelona to Manchester City, whose manager, Pep Guardiola, is a devotee of Johan Cruyff, the style’s most celebrated practitioner.

Less well known is that it is also, according to Jon Rouse, the chief officer of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the model for the city’s new healthcare system. Just as players are given freedom to work things out on the pitch, so too are health and local authority leaders in the conference room. iNews

Toxic air lowers life expectancy by 20 months

Toxic air lowers life expectancy by 20 months Exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution is almost as dangerous as smoking, reducing life expectancy by an average of 20 months, according to a major study.

The report, the State of Global Air, is the latest in a slew of evidence on the links between air pollution and poor health.

It shows that breathing toxic air - both inside and outside the home - will cut the life expectancy of a baby born today by an average of 20 months, compared to a 21-month fall in life expectancy in a smoker. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Toxic air will shorten children's lives by 20 months, study reveals The Guardian
• New funding for councils to tackle air pollution ‘won’t touch the sides’, green groups say The Independent

Male doctors accused of sending female medics unsolicited naked pictures amid BMA #metoo moment

Male doctors accused of sending female medics unsolicited naked pictures amid BMA #metoo moment Female doctors have accused senior members of the British Medical Association of sending unsolicited naked pictures and joking about women’s bra sizes, amid a culture of “institutional sexism”.

Medics said they were speaking up as part of the #metoo movement, warning that they had suffered harassment, sexism and discriminatory behaviour which must be stamped out. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• BMA launches urgent inquiry into sexual harassment The Guardian

Deaths from heart disease plunge by more than half thanks to better healthcare and fewer smokers

Deaths from heart disease plunge by more than half thanks to better healthcare and fewer smokers Deaths through heart disease have plunged thanks to better healthcare and fewer smokers, a study shows.

Researchers who compared Britain with 20 other western countries found a 63 per cent fall in cardiovascular disease between 1989-91 and 2013-15. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Reduced Cardiovascular Disease Deaths in 21 Western Countries 1989-91 v 2013-154. What is the UK doing Right or What is the USA doing Wrong? (open access) Online Journal of Cardiovascular Research

Northamptonshire residents urged to find out more about diabetes risks

Northamptonshire residents urged to find out more about diabetes risks A ‘diabetes van’ will visit three county towns this week to help residents find out more about the condition.

The events will be held in Corby, Daventry and Northampton as part of Diabetes Prevention Week which runs today (Monday) to April 7 and aims to raise awareness of the causes and complications of Type 2 diabetes, particularly amongst groups at higher risk. Northamptonshire Telegraph

How to address the challenge of multimorbidity?

How to address the challenge of multimorbidity? With slow progress being made on a promise to redesign health care for the people who use it, Charlotte Paddison argues for two key changes in how multimorbidity is tackled. Nuffield Trust

Improving physical ill-health and cardiovascular disease prevention in people with severe mental illness

Improving physical ill-health and cardiovascular disease prevention in people with severe mental illness The NHS RightCare Toolkit for physical ill-health and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) prevention in people with severe mental illness (SMI) defines the core components of an optimal service for people with SMI who are at risk of developing CVD. NHS England

The key to building a successful work-based learning culture

The key to building a successful work-based learning culture This infographic and accompanying dedicated web section aims to support employers with understanding the key elements which need to be in place to successfully enable a culture of work-based learning, such as when implementing apprenticeships. NHS Employers

Vaginal mesh ban can be lifted with changes, NICE says

Vaginal mesh ban can be lifted with changes, NICE says Controversial vaginal mesh implants can be offered again on the NHS in England once certain conditions are met, health watchdog NICE has said.

Some women have been left unable to walk, work or have sex after having the implants, which are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence.

Use of vaginal mesh was halted across the UK last year amid safety concerns. BBC News

See also:

• Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management National Institute of Health and Care Excellence
• Fury as health chiefs U-turn on dramatic decision to ban vaginal mesh The Daily Mail
• Outrage as officials recommend controversial mesh implant The Daily Telegraph
• Vaginal mesh: New generation of women at risk of controversial procedure, campaigners warn The Independent

NHS dentist charges rise by 5% in England

NHS dentist charges rise by 5% in England An inflation-busting hike in dentistry fees mean NHS patients in England will pay £1.10 extra for a routine check-up.

The new charges, which begin on Monday, will also see the cost of a set of dentures rise by £12.80 to nearly £270.

Dentistry leaders say charges are increasingly being relied on and in the future dentistry could end up as an NHS service "in name only". BBC News

Pre-eclampsia: NHS to roll out breakthrough test which speeds up diagnosis and can save lives

Pre-eclampsia: NHS to roll out breakthrough test which speeds up diagnosis and can save lives The NHS is set to roll out a revolutionary blood test for pre-eclampsia, after a trial showed it can diagnose the condition earlier in pregnancy and significantly reduce life-threatening complications.

Complications like stroke, seizures and maternal death fell by 20 per cent when doctors had access to placental growth factor (PlGF) testing, research led by King’s College London found. The Independent

E-cigarettes do not normalise smoking for young people – study

E-cigarettes do not normalise smoking for young people – study Tobacco use among children and teens continues to fall despite popularity of vaping

The sharp increase in the use of e-cigarettes has not led more British children to take up cigarettes or regard smoking as normal, the first study of its kind has shown.

Some health experts and anti-smoking groups have expressed concern that the growth of e-cigarettes might normalise the idea of smoking for young people. The Guardian

See also:

• Have e-cigarettes renormalised or displaced youth smoking? Results of a segmented regression analysis of repeated cross sectional survey data in England, Scotland and Wales (open access) Tobacco Control

Parents who refuse vaccinations for their children are putting us all at risk

Parents who refuse vaccinations for their children are putting us all at risk Only 87.2% of children in England have had both MMR jabs by the time they're five, which means the rest of the population is in danger.

When fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated, 'herd immunity' drops which puts the most vulnerable of society at risk. Children, the elderly and the sick all have a higher chance of contracting diseases that could be prevented by vaccination. The Daily Telegraph

Judge to rule whether man can have sex with his wife years amid concerns over her mental capacity.

Judge to rule whether man can have sex with his wife years amid concerns over her mental capacity A judge is set to rule whether a man can continue to sleep with his wife of more than 20 years amid concerns over her mental capacity.

Social services bosses with responsibility for the care of the wife, who has learning difficulties, say there is evidence that her mental health has reached a stage which means that she no longer has the capacity to make decisions about whether she wants to have sex. The Daily Telegraph

Interactive map shows the areas of England where cancer patients are most likely to die in a year

Interactive map shows the areas of England where cancer patients are most likely to die in a year Figures have revealed the areas of England where people are least likely to survive for a year after being diagnosed with cancer.

Nearly a third of cancer patients diagnosed in Leicester city centre will die within a year, making it the worst performing NHS group in the country by this measure – its 12-month survival rate is 67.7 per cent.

Only 20 areas in England manage to keep three quarters of their patients alive for a year after being diagnosed, the majority of them in or around London.

Whereas the worst performing areas are mainly in the Midlands and Kent, leaving people facing a postcode lottery if they are diagnosed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Lung cancer survival inequality grows in England, ONS figures show The Independent