Asda ditches 'mental patient' outfit

Asda ditches 'mental patient' outfit Asda apologises and withdraws a Halloween outfit it was selling online as a "mental patient fancy dress costume", following criticism. BBC News

Here’s to the future of the NHS

Here’s to the future of the NHS As Stephen Thornton completes his last few days as Chief Executive, he offers some reflections on the changes to the NHS over the last decade. Health Foundation

Most C. diff 'not hospital spread'

Most C. diff 'not hospital spread' Most cases of C. difficile are not actually caused by the bug being spread round hospitals, a study suggests. BBC News

Smoking and mental health briefing

Smoking and mental health Tobacco smoking is the main cause of preventable and premature deaths in the UK. People with mental illness are more likely to smoke heavily than the general population. NHS Confederation

Data service offers GPs insight into local health concerns

Data service offers GPs insight into local health concerns The free, real time service maps searches made via Patient.co.uk - which receives over 17m page views a month from visitors looking up a range of medical conditions - against user locations to enable a postcode specific snapshot of local health concerns.

The service also enables users to search health trends by city and provides a condition heat map of the UK. Patient.Co.UK

Claim that antidepressants cause diabetes unproven

Claim that antidepressants cause diabetes unproven "Happy pills are linked to a higher risk of diabetes," is the headline in the Daily Mail.

The newspaper reports on a review that examined available evidence to see if there was a link between antidepressant use and type 2 diabetes.

Vaccination of health and social care workers against flu, 2013/14

Vaccination of health and social care workers against flu, 2013/14 This letter contains guidance to NHS and local authorities on how to improve flu vaccination uptake rates among staff.

• Letter
• Department of Health - publications

Tuberculosis in vulnerable groups

Tuberculosis in vulnerable groups This briefing summarises NICE's recommendations for local authorities and partner organisations on identifying and managing tuberculosis in vulnerable people who may find it difficult to access services for diagnosis and treatment in traditional healthcare settings.

• Briefing
• NICE - press release

Public health faces a fresh start

Public health faces a fresh start It's year zero for a new public health world. How have things changed since the transfer of responsibility?

Patients warned over delaying GP visits

Patients warned over delaying GP visits Too many patients are delaying visiting their doctor when they feel unwell with many choosing to research their condition on the internet instead, experts claim.The Daily Telegraph

Competition in NHS is harming efforts to improve patient care, says outgoing chief Sir David Nicholson

Competition in NHS is harming efforts to improve patient care, says outgoing chief Sir David Nicholson

Private-sector style competition in the NHS is harming efforts to improve patient care, the health service's top official has admitted, in a damning verdict on a key pillar of the government's health reforms. The Independent

Appointment of Chief Executive

Appointment of Chief Executive We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Angela Hillery as Chief Executive with immediate effect. Angela was our Interim Chief Executive from May 2013 and was previously the Director of... Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

'Resignation' merger plans dropped

'Resignation' merger plans dropped Plans for a merger of two hospitals in Northamptonshire that led to its chief executive resigning have been dropped. BBC Northamptonshire

Public health matters: new blog launched

Public health matters: new blog launched The blog will feature regular updates from Public Health England’s directors and other experts about all matters related to public health and the public’s health, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at why we do the work we do and take the positions we take. 

Forecasting the future for the NHS

Forecasting the future for the NHS Healthcare will change dramatically in the coming decades HSJ

A road less rocky - supporting carers of people with dementia

A road less rocky - supporting carers of people with dementia This report from the Carers Trust found that carers of people with dementia are not getting the support and advice they often desperately need. Of the carers surveyed, only 51% said that they were given an opportunity to talk separately about their needs and how much care they felt able to provide. It makes recommendations to policy makers and commissioners on how to improve the support for carers of people with dementia.

• Report 
• Executive summary
• Carers Trust - news

Can foundation trusts survive and where do their loyalties lie?

Can foundation trusts survive and where do their loyalties lie? Foundation trusts are based on two visions of how they should operate and the 2012 Health Act is not helping.

Network of general practices aims to improve standards

Network of general practices aims to improve standards Quality Practice is a national network of general practices that will extend core activities, share services and increase efficiency.

NHS employers make plea for a pay freeze to save jobs

NHS employers make plea for a pay freeze to save jobs NHS trusts have called for a pay freeze for all staff this year, saying it would save the jobs of more than 15,000 nurses.The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS Employers' submission to the NHS Pay Review Body NHS Employers

York Hospital to launch virtual antenatal classes as attendances drop

York Hospital to launch virtual antenatal classes as attendances drop York Hospital is set to become the first in the country to scrap its antenatal classes and replace them with virtual lessons for expectant mothers to watch online. The Independent