Tuesday, 9 April 2019
EU doctors’ Brexit dilemma: do we stay or do we go?
EU doctors’ Brexit dilemma: do we stay or do we go? They believed they were in a welcoming country. Three consultants discuss how their lives have been upended. The Guardian
Mental health problems don't end with age. Older people need help too
Mental health problems don't end with age. Older people need help too | Emily Reynolds Loneliness is sometimes presented as the main reason for older people’s mental ill-health, but that’s not the case
After years languishing in the dark, mental illness is finally getting its moment in the spotlight. Frustrating political football it may be, but one thing can’t be denied – it’s making headlines more than ever. Focus, largely, has been on young people – crises in child and adolescent mental healthcare and in student populations have been both persistent and significant. But mental illness doesn’t end with reaching adulthood – often, in fact, it doesn’t end at all.
New research from the British Journal of Psychiatry into self-harm in older people puts this into stark perspective. A meta-analysis of 40 studies found that yearly self-harm rates were about 65 per 100,000 people, with risk of repetition and of suicide also higher than average. Self-harm is still seen as a problem among younger demographics; and while that remains true, this data proves that the issue is even more complex and diffuse than we thought. The Guardian
After years languishing in the dark, mental illness is finally getting its moment in the spotlight. Frustrating political football it may be, but one thing can’t be denied – it’s making headlines more than ever. Focus, largely, has been on young people – crises in child and adolescent mental healthcare and in student populations have been both persistent and significant. But mental illness doesn’t end with reaching adulthood – often, in fact, it doesn’t end at all.
New research from the British Journal of Psychiatry into self-harm in older people puts this into stark perspective. A meta-analysis of 40 studies found that yearly self-harm rates were about 65 per 100,000 people, with risk of repetition and of suicide also higher than average. Self-harm is still seen as a problem among younger demographics; and while that remains true, this data proves that the issue is even more complex and diffuse than we thought. The Guardian
Woman who sued NHS for £2.5m claiming operation left her in agony seen in clubs celebrating hen night
Woman who sued NHS for £2.5m claiming operation left her in agony seen in clubs celebrating hen night A woman who tried to claim £2.5m from the NHS after claiming that having vaginal mesh fitted had left her in constant pain has been sent to prison after pictures showed her enjoying her daughter's Ibiza hen party. The Daily Telegraph
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Cyber crime warning as experts say hackers deliberately target hospitals
Cyber crime warning as experts say hackers deliberately target hospitals Hospitals and the health care industry are being deliberately targeted by hackers, cyber criminals and spies seeking a treasure trove of personal and financial information, a business consultancy has warned.
Attacks by organised gangs and even state spy agencies are a growing concern as they hunt for details that can be used for extortion or even espionage. The Daily Telegraph
Attacks by organised gangs and even state spy agencies are a growing concern as they hunt for details that can be used for extortion or even espionage. The Daily Telegraph
Asthma inhalers as bad for the environment as 180-mile car journey, health chiefs say
Asthma inhalers as bad for the environment as 180-mile car journey, health chiefs say Asthmatics have been warned by health chiefs that each inhaler they use could be polluting the environment by as much as a 180-mile car journey.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has issued new guidance urging sufferers, where possible, to avoid using the most popular type of inhaler, known as a metered dose inhaler (MDI). The Daily Telegraph
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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has issued new guidance urging sufferers, where possible, to avoid using the most popular type of inhaler, known as a metered dose inhaler (MDI). The Daily Telegraph
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GPs told to take pictures of suspected skin cancers on their PHONES to slash referrals
GPs told to take pictures of suspected skin cancers on their PHONES to slash referrals GPs have been told to take pictures of suspicious moles on their phones before referring patients to a skin-cancer specialist.
Under new plans, general practitioners working across four areas in North East England will have to take three photographs on their mobiles, which then get sent to a consultant for review.
The specialist may then offer the patient an urgent or routine appointment, or decide there is no cause for concern. The Daily Mail
Under new plans, general practitioners working across four areas in North East England will have to take three photographs on their mobiles, which then get sent to a consultant for review.
The specialist may then offer the patient an urgent or routine appointment, or decide there is no cause for concern. The Daily Mail
Monday, 8 April 2019
NHSX: digital experts will be part of cancer and mental health teams
NHSX: digital experts will be part of cancer and mental health teams Digital and data specialists from NHSX will team up with NHS England’s cancer and mental health national policy teams to help clinicians and policymakers improve patient experience through technology. Department of Health and Social Care
Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities This report says there has been a persistent failure by national and local policy makers to tackle long standing inequalities facing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in any sustained way. It finds that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people have the worst outcomes of any ethnic group across a huge range of areas, including education, health, employment, criminal justice and hate crime. The report of this two year inquiry makes 49 recommendations for change. Women and Equalities Select Committee
Ian Paterson: 'Sheer volume' of victims delays breast surgeon report
Ian Paterson: 'Sheer volume' of victims delays breast surgeon report Victims of disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson are still coming forward two years after he was jailed following hundreds of botched operations.
The "sheer volume" of patients giving evidence to an independent inquiry has pushed back a report into his malpractice, an official said.
Paterson is serving a 20-year sentence for 17 counts of wounding with intent.
About 150 patients gave evidence last year and dozens more are understood to have since come forward. BBC News
The "sheer volume" of patients giving evidence to an independent inquiry has pushed back a report into his malpractice, an official said.
Paterson is serving a 20-year sentence for 17 counts of wounding with intent.
About 150 patients gave evidence last year and dozens more are understood to have since come forward. BBC News
NHS offering £127m of contracts to private companies despite health secretary pledging: 'No privatisation on my watch'
NHS offering £127m of contracts to private companies despite health secretary pledging: 'No privatisation on my watch' The NHS is offering more than 20 contracts to private companies, despite health secretary Matt Hancock having insisted there would be "no privatisation on my watch", Labour has said.
The party released data showing 21 NHS contracts worth £127m are currently out to tender - 19 of which have been put out since mid-February.
The figures were revealed by House of Commons Library analysis and include a £91m contract to run an NHS assessment service in the South East, a £16m deal to provide health services in Leicestershire and a £6m tender for a GP surgery in High Wycombe. The Independent
The party released data showing 21 NHS contracts worth £127m are currently out to tender - 19 of which have been put out since mid-February.
The figures were revealed by House of Commons Library analysis and include a £91m contract to run an NHS assessment service in the South East, a £16m deal to provide health services in Leicestershire and a £6m tender for a GP surgery in High Wycombe. The Independent
NHS patients have cancer scans cancelled after supplier problems
NHS patients have cancer scans cancelled after supplier problems Scan delays in England leading to ‘stress and anxiety’ for those awaiting their prognosis
Concerns have been raised that problems related to the supply of a substance used to screen for cancerous cells is causing delays for NHS patients in England, with many exposed to repeated cancellation of scans at short notice.
Choline is a radiotracer injected into patients an hour before PET-CT scans, predominately when patients are feared to have a recurrence of prostate cancer. Without it the scans cannot go ahead. The Guardian
Concerns have been raised that problems related to the supply of a substance used to screen for cancerous cells is causing delays for NHS patients in England, with many exposed to repeated cancellation of scans at short notice.
Choline is a radiotracer injected into patients an hour before PET-CT scans, predominately when patients are feared to have a recurrence of prostate cancer. Without it the scans cannot go ahead. The Guardian
‘Second-class’ NHS workers struggle as pay gap widens
‘Second-class’ NHS workers struggle as pay gap widens Staff employed on minimum wage by private contractors across England missed out on £2,000 income boost
Tens of thousands of NHS workers are struggling to get by on the minimum wage because their private sector employers are failing to match public sector pay rises.
The estimated 100,000 low-paid cleaners, porters, security guards and catering staff who work for private contractors in hospitals across England are being treated as “second-class employees”, thanks to a growing pay divide between public and private sector workers, according to the country’s leading health union. The Guardian
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Tens of thousands of NHS workers are struggling to get by on the minimum wage because their private sector employers are failing to match public sector pay rises.
The estimated 100,000 low-paid cleaners, porters, security guards and catering staff who work for private contractors in hospitals across England are being treated as “second-class employees”, thanks to a growing pay divide between public and private sector workers, according to the country’s leading health union. The Guardian
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Molly Case, the NHS nurse who finds poetry on the wards
Molly Case, the NHS nurse who finds poetry on the wards Her impassioned poem defending the NHS thrust Case into the public eye. With a memoir out soon, she talks about how the job of caring continues to inspire her
Read an extract from Molly Case’s memoir How to Treat People
Not so long ago, first-person accounts of what goes on in the operating theatre or the emergency ward – and in the hearts and minds of those who work there – were hard to find. Author William Boyd said recently that when writing his novel about a surgeon, The Blue Afternoon, some years ago, he failed to unearth any descriptions of surgery by surgeons at all. But no more. The medical memoir has become a publishing phenomenon. The Guardian
Read an extract from Molly Case’s memoir How to Treat People
Not so long ago, first-person accounts of what goes on in the operating theatre or the emergency ward – and in the hearts and minds of those who work there – were hard to find. Author William Boyd said recently that when writing his novel about a surgeon, The Blue Afternoon, some years ago, he failed to unearth any descriptions of surgery by surgeons at all. But no more. The medical memoir has become a publishing phenomenon. The Guardian
Dementia patients should be offered music and dance therapy
Dementia patients should be offered music and dance therapy More people with dementia should be given music or dance therapy in a bid to prevent them being "over-medicalised", the Health Secretary has said.
It follows research which found that giving people with dementia personal playlists resulted in a 60 per cent reduction in the need for mind-altering drugs. The Daily Telegraph
It follows research which found that giving people with dementia personal playlists resulted in a 60 per cent reduction in the need for mind-altering drugs. The Daily Telegraph
Homeopathic medicine will be banned by the NHS because they are a 'misuse of public funds'
Homeopathic medicine will be banned by the NHS because they are a 'misuse of public funds' Homeopathic treatments will be blacklisted by the NHS after it emerged GPs are issuing thousands of prescriptions a year – despite being told to stop.
NHS experts say the alternative ‘medicines’ have no credible scientific evidence to support their continued use and are a ‘misuse of public funds’.
Since 2017, official NHS England guidelines have advised against prescribing the treatments which it warns are ‘at best a placebo’. The Daily Mail
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NHS experts say the alternative ‘medicines’ have no credible scientific evidence to support their continued use and are a ‘misuse of public funds’.
Since 2017, official NHS England guidelines have advised against prescribing the treatments which it warns are ‘at best a placebo’. The Daily Mail
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- NHS still spending £55,000 a year on homeopathy, despite ban The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 5 April 2019
Having your fudge and eating it
Having your fudge and eating it Sally Gainsbury takes a closer look at NHS sustainability funds and control totals, and what they might actually mean for the providers who have played their part over the past three years. Nuffield Trust
Specialist mental health support for new mums available in every part of England
Specialist mental health support for new mums available in every part of England New and expectant mothers across the country can now access specialist mental health care in the area where they live, NHS England announced.
The landmark rollout of specialist perinatal community services across the whole of England, means that mums and mums-to-be who are experiencing anxiety, depression or other forms of mental ill health should be able to access high quality care much closer to home.
Five years ago two in five parts of the country had no access to specialist community perinatal mental health treatment, but there is now full geographical coverage for the first time, with services in every one of the 44 local NHS areas, and plans to develop them further.
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The landmark rollout of specialist perinatal community services across the whole of England, means that mums and mums-to-be who are experiencing anxiety, depression or other forms of mental ill health should be able to access high quality care much closer to home.
Five years ago two in five parts of the country had no access to specialist community perinatal mental health treatment, but there is now full geographical coverage for the first time, with services in every one of the 44 local NHS areas, and plans to develop them further.
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- Bringing new mums back from crisis BBC News
Charter to strengthen relations between the Helpforce programme and staff in the National Health Service
Charter to strengthen relations between the Helpforce programme and staff in the National Health Service This charter shows how volunteers can make a valuable contribution to the NHS in England, without undermining paid staff or affecting patient safety. The aim is to ensure that the tens of thousands of people who give up their time to provide comfort and help to patients are given guidance about their roles. It’s also intended to safeguard against their use as cheap substitutes for trained health staff. Helpforce
Fourteen hospitals to pilot new A&E targets
Fourteen hospitals to pilot new A&E targets Fourteen hospitals have been chosen to pilot a new way to measure performance, which could pave the way for the end of the four-hour A&E target in England.
NHS England said last month that it was time to review the "outdated target".
But the move is controversial, with some seeing it as an attempt to move the goalposts because the target has been missed for more than three years. BBC News
NHS England said last month that it was time to review the "outdated target".
But the move is controversial, with some seeing it as an attempt to move the goalposts because the target has been missed for more than three years. BBC News
Parents being misled over kids' snacks, says child health expert
Parents being misled over kids' snacks, says child health expert Parents are at risk of being misled by "manipulative marketing campaigns" and "crafty messaging" on children's snacks, a child health expert has said.
Dr Max Davie said that given levels of obesity, it was crucial for parents to know what their children were eating.
It comes as University of Glasgow researchers examined seemingly healthy children's snacks sold in UK shops.
They found some snacks labelled as containing one portion of fruit or veg did not live up to the claim. BBC News
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Dr Max Davie said that given levels of obesity, it was crucial for parents to know what their children were eating.
It comes as University of Glasgow researchers examined seemingly healthy children's snacks sold in UK shops.
They found some snacks labelled as containing one portion of fruit or veg did not live up to the claim. BBC News
See also:
- Confused health and nutrition claims in food marketing to children could adversely affect food choice and increase risk of obesity (abstract) Archives of Diseases in Childhood
- Health claims on children's food 'are confusing', study finds The Daily Mail
- Three quarters of children's snacks which claim 'one of your five a day' are inaccurate The Daily Telegraph
- Three quarters of ‘healthy’ children’s snacks and drinks don’t meet five-a-day claims The Independent
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