Friday, 26 April 2013

KGH nurse suspended after man’s death

KGH nurse suspended after man’s death: A former Kettering General Hospital nurse who failed to summon a doctor when a 97-year-old man’s breathing raised concerns has been given a six-month suspension order. Evening Telegraph

Watchdog reprimands hospital for failure to meet performance targets

Watchdog reprimands hospital for failure to meet performance targets: Kettering General Hospital has been reprimanded by the watchdog for NHS trusts because of its failure to meet performance targets in accident and emergency waiting times and the hospital’s dealing of its finances. Evening Telegraph

Stand-in boss to leave Northampton General Hospital

Stand-in boss to leave Northampton General Hospital: The interim chief executive at NGH will leave the hospital in June. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Special measures after MRSA detected at Northampton General Hospital - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Special measures after MRSA detected at Northampton General Hospital - Northampton Chronicle & Echo:

Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Special measures after MRSA detected at Northampton General Hospital
Northampton Chronicle & Echo
A ward at Northampton General Hospital was put on special measures after MRSA was detected twice in one month. Board papers reveal action was taken on Creaton ward during March after the superbug was found on the skin of one patient in February and ...

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Heart surgery review 'cost over £8m'

Heart surgery review 'cost over £8m': A review of specialist heart surgery units for children has cost more than £8m, a Leeds MP has been told. BBC News

Doctors challenge A&E criticisms

Doctors challenge A&E criticisms: Doctors' leaders have said the government is promoting an "overly simplistic and inaccurate" picture of the current pressures facing hospital A&E departments. BBC News

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Closed windows 'increase infection'

Closed windows 'increase infection': Keeping the windows open on traditional NHS wards can dramatically reduce the risk of infection, say researchers. BBC News

Commissioning: Can other laws protect GPs against section 75?

Commissioning: Can other laws protect GPs against section 75?: GPs fear the impact of competition rules, but might find lower-profile legislation can provide a counterbalance. Neil Roberts investigates GP Online

Privacy watchdogs back biting NHS

Privacy watchdogs back biting NHS: Well-known privacy campaigners have launched a new initiative to try and stop NHS England's GP Extraction Service in its tracks. E-Health Insider

Lords refuse to annul ‘competition’ clause in Health and Social Care Act

The measurement and monitoring of safety

The measurement and monitoring of safety: This framework highlights the following five dimensions, which the authors believe should be included in any safety and monitoring approach in order to give a comprehensive and rounded picture of an organisation’s safety: past harm; reliability; sensitivity to operations; anticipation and preparedness; integration and learning. The Health Foundation is seeking the thoughts and insights of a wide range of stakeholders – from those with a specialist role in patient safety, those involved in direct care delivery, patients and carers and the public in general. Deadline for responses is 1 July 2013.

Rights, risks and responsibilities in service redesign for vulnerable groups

Rights, risks and responsibilities in service redesign for vulnerable groups: This publication from the RCN looks at the implications of service redesign – the potential loss and fragmentation of specialist knowledge, expertise and staff, and the consequent effect on delivery of high quality services for vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those with learning disabilities or mental health conditions. While aimed primarily at nurses working with vulnerable groups, the core principles identified may be helpful for any member going through a process of service redesign.

MMR catch-up campaign targets a million children

MMR catch-up campaign targets a million children: The MMR vaccine should be given to all unvaccinated schoolchildren aged from 10 to 16 as part of a national catch-up campaign, the government has announced.
This MMR vaccination catch-up campaign aims to prevent further measles outbreaks, following recent outbreaks in Wales.

Private data fears 'hindering progress' in NHS

Private data fears 'hindering progress' in NHS: Fears about whether the NHS can keep patients' records safe are preventing doctors and nurses from providing better care, a former health minister has claimed. The Daily Telegraph

Swansea measles case expected to hit 1,000 at weekend as 50 new cases emerge in last two days

Swansea measles case expected to hit 1,000 at weekend as 50 new cases emerge in last two days:
More than 50 new cases of measles have been identified in the last two days in the Swansea area with the total expected to reach 1,000 by the weekend. The Independent

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Thursday, 25 April 2013

Measles jab plan targets 1m children

Measles jab plan targets 1m children: One million schoolchildren in England are to be targeted by a measles vaccination plan aimed at curbing the growing threat of outbreaks.  BBC News

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Can we keep up with the demand for urgent and emergency care?

Can we keep up with the demand for urgent and emergency care?: The urgent and emergency care system is under severe pressure. Performance on a number of important indicators, including the four-hour wait and ambulance handover targets, is heading in the wrong direction. Demand is growing and calls for work to be shifted out of hospital look oddly out of line with a system that cannot even constrain, let alone reduce, the rate of increase in many places. Our recent study for NHS South of England raises some questions about the management of urgent and emergency care and identifies some important lessons.

Guidance: Managing Healthcare Fire Safety

Guidance: Managing Healthcare Fire Safety: Updated: This second edition of HTM 05-01updates the previous edition from 2006 and places more emphasis on the importance of training.
This guidance (HTM 05-01) sets out the Department of Health’s policy on fire safety in the NHS in England. It includes best practice guidance on management arrangements for fire safety.

Living a conjoined life

Living a conjoined life: How do two people inhabit one body and live life to the full? BBC News

GPs face funding cuts as PMS reviews continue

GPs face funding cuts as PMS reviews continue: Practices in parts of England could face funding cuts this year under PMS reviews, despite a commitment from NHS England to 'pause' changes ahead of a wider contract overhaul from 2014. GP Online