Manager and senior nurse of Northamptonshire care home to face conduct hearing over broken windows and ‘scalding’ shower water

Manager and senior nurse of Northamptonshire care home to face conduct hearing over broken windows and ‘scalding’ shower water Two senior staff at a Northamptonshire care home are to face a competency hearing after the premises was found with broken windows and hot taps pouring out scalding water. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New STI figures show continued increases among gay men

New STI figures show continued increases among gay men Latest figures show there were 434,456 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England in 2015; 54,275 of which were among gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, a 10% increase since 2014. Chlamydia was the most commonly diagnosed STI, accounting for 46% of diagnoses (200,288 cases), followed by genital warts (68,310 cases).

The 2015 statistics represent a small decrease (3%) when compared to 2014. This is primarily due to falls in diagnoses for chlamydia (4%) and genital warts (7%).

However, in the same period there were large increases in diagnoses of gonorrhoea (11%) and syphilis (20%), continuing the rising trends in these infections of the past 5 years. These rises have occurred mostly in gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men. Public Health England

See also:

• Official Statistics: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables Public Health England 
• Official Statistics: National chlamydia screening programme (NCSP): data tables Public Health England
• Research and analysis: LGV infections in the UK: trends and epidemiology Public Health England
• Collection: Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV): guidance, data and analysis Public Health England
• Syphilis and gonorrhoea 'still on the rise' in England BBC News
• Soaring numbers of gay men are diagnosed with gonorrhoea and syphilis while under 25s are the worst at spreading chlamydia The Daily Mail
• Gonorrhoea and syphilis on the rise in the UK amid 'sexual health crisis' experts warn The Independent 

Ending the ‘us and them’ mentality – Mark Doughty

Ending the ‘us and them’ mentality – Mark Doughty Patient leader Mark Doughty explains why it is important for NHS leaders to engage patients in care, drawing on experience of The King’s Fund’s collaborative pairs programme: System leaders have talked for years about engaging patients in decisions about the future of health and care services. NHS England

Beyond maternal death: improving the quality of maternal care through national studies of 'near-miss' maternal morbidity

Beyond maternal death: improving the quality of maternal care through national studies of 'near-miss' maternal morbidity Studies of maternal mortality have been shown to result in important improvements to women’s health. It is now recognised that in countries such as the UK, where maternal deaths are rare, the study of near-miss severe maternal morbidity provides additional information to aid disease prevention, treatment and service provision. The study aimed to estimate the incidence of near-miss morbidities; describe different interventions and their impact on outcomes and costs; and compare an external confidential enquiry or a local review approach for investigating the quality of care for affected women. NHS National Institute for Health Research

Antidepressants show greatest increase in number of prescription items dispensed

Antidepressants show greatest increase in number of prescription items dispensed A new report shows that, of all BNF drug categories, prescription items for antidepressants saw the greatest numeric rise in 2015.

The report Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community 2005-20154 shows that the number of antidepressant items prescribed and dispensed in England has more than doubled in the last decade. In 2015, there were 61.0 million antidepressant items prescribed - 31.6 million (107.6 per cent) more than in 2005 and 3.9 million (6.8 per cent) more than in 2014. Health and Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• Antidepressants prescribing figures may indicate greater awareness of mental health, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Antidepressant and diabetes drugs prescriptions rise BBC News
• England's depression crisis: Antidepressant prescriptions double in a decade - costing the NHS £780,000 a DAY The Daily Mail
• Antidepressant prescriptions in England double in a decade The Guardian
• Antidepressant prescribing doubles in a decade OnMedica

Junior doctor contract 'to be imposed'

Junior doctor contract 'to be imposed' Ministers are paving the way to impose a contract on junior doctors in England after the profession rejected the deal that had been agreed between union negotiators and the government.

British Medical Association members voted 58% to 42% against the deal.

BMA leaders had urged members to accept the terms, which were announced in May after talks with the government resumed following six strikes. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Employers responds to BMA decision to reject the new contract NHS Employers
• Junior doctor leader quits after proposed terms rejected BBC News
• Junior doctors reject new contract BBC News
• Jeremy Hunt: 'Rapid decision' needed over junior doctor contract BBC News
• Junior doctors REJECT new contract with the Government - but their union says there will be no further strikes The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors vote to reject new contract deal against British Medical Association advice The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors reject another contract: proof that clever people can do very stupid things The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors reject proposed new contract as BMA demands fresh talks GP Online
• Junior doctors' contract: a cessation of hostilities would help everyone The Guardian
• I fought for junior doctors’ rights – but the government destroyed their trust | Johann Malawana The Guardian
• Junior doctors reject new contract deal OnMedica

Google's DeepMind to peek at NHS eye scans for disease analysis

Google's DeepMind to peek at NHS eye scans for disease analysis One million anonymised eye scans from Moorfields Eye Hospital are to be used to train an artificial intelligence system from Google. BBC News

Meal portion guide reveals 80% of parents overfeed their children

Meal portion guide reveals 80% of parents overfeed their children A meal size guide for children and toddlers has been launched to encourage parents to cut portions, as nutritionists warn more pre-school children are at risk of obesity than ever before.

A survey of 1,000 British parents found that 79 per cent routinely give their children meal portions which are larger than recommended by scientists, the Infant and Toddler Forum revealed. The Independent

Joshua Titcombe father speaks of 'huge relief' at ruling against midwives

Joshua Titcombe father speaks of 'huge relief' at ruling against midwives Lindsey Biggs and Holly Parkinson failed to care properly for baby who died nine days after being born, finds fitness-to-practise panel

The father of a baby boy who died nine days after birth has spoken of his relief at a ruling that two midwives failed in their duty to properly care for him.

Joshua Titcombe died after suffering pneumococcal septicaemia and a lung haemorrhage. Continue reading... The Guardian

Patient 'lay dead' in London A&E for 'hours' before being found as hospital's services branded 'inadequate'

Patient 'lay dead' in London A&E for 'hours' before being found as hospital's services branded 'inadequate' A patient reportedly lay dead for up to four-and-a-half hours before being noticed at a London A&E unit, according to inspectors, who have rated the department's services as "inadequate".

The emergency department at North Middlesex University Hospital, one of London's busiest, has been ordered to make improvements after regulators found that there were not enough doctors to meet demand.

Inspectors with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the hospital's urgent and emergency care services as "inadequate". The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• North Middlesex University Hospital Care Quality Commission
• Patient 'lay dead' in London A&E for 'hours' before being found BBC News
• North Middlesex hospital chief executive leaves over A&E failings The Guardian

NHS finances outside the EU: analysis of the impact on NHS finances of the UK leaving the European Union

NHS finances outside the EU: analysis of the impact on NHS finances of the UK leaving the European Union In this briefing we explore what the UK leaving the EU might mean for funding of the NHS in England. We then outline the current state of finances for NHS providers in 2015/16, what this implies for the total Department of Health budget, and the scale of the financial challenge facing the health service for the near future.

Our analysis builds on the work of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), and finds that there are significant risks to NHS funding. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Brexit could leave NHS facing £500m-a-week shortfall by 2030 GP Online

News story: Health advice for people travelling to a Zika affected area

News story: Health advice for people travelling to a Zika affected area With a month to go before the Rio Olympic Games start, Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies sets out the official health advice regarding the Zika virus.

Zika is an illness transmitted by mosquitoes. Eighty per cent of people infected with Zika virus will not experience any symptoms - for those who do, the symptoms are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain and fatigue. However, Zika poses a greater risk if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby and can have very serious consequences for the unborn child, potentially resulting in deformities and stunted growth of the head. Department of Health

Over 55 million patients in England set to benefit from accessing their GP record online

Over 55 million patients in England set to benefit from accessing their GP record online Patients in England will be able to view test results as they come in and keep track of their glucose levels and cholesterol on their smart phones, enabling them to take greater control of their care and better manage their health. NHS England

Disclosure UK database

Disclosure UK database This database brings together and makes publicly available the details of payments or benefits in kind - made to doctors, nurses and pharmacists, as well as other health professionals and healthcare organisations in the UK. Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

See also:

• Pharmaceutical industry spends £340.3m on working in partnership with leading UK health experts and organisations to improve patient care Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

Making staff experts in delivering end-of-life-care

Making staff experts in delivering end-of-life-care This case study outlines the benefits of empowering staff to deliver end of life care through greater education and training. The case study outlines outcomes that were achieved by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust including being awarded an outstanding rating by CQC for end of life care services; improved patient care and staff communication; and excellent feedback from patient families. NHS Employers

Junk food advertising is too tempting for children

Junk food advertising is too tempting for children Children describe junk food advertising as ‘tempting’ and ‘addictive’, and say they could ‘lick the screen’, according to a new report.

Researchers talked to children aged between 8 and 12 years old at six schools. Each group was shown two TV adverts for junk food, followed by a discussion. The study looked at how junk food advertising can influence children’s eating habits and food choices. Cancer Research UK

See also:

• Junk food TV ads make children hungry and tempted, charity finds The Guardian

Hundreds of babies born drug-dependent

Hundreds of babies born drug-dependent Almost one in 500 babies in hospitals in England is born dependent on substances their mother took while pregnant, a BBC investigation finds.

Fungal infection 'threat' to human health

Fungal infection 'threat' to human health Fungal infections kill more people than malaria or breast cancer, but are not considered a priority warn scientists. BBC News

'Uncertainty' in NHS over Brexit

'Uncertainty' in NHS over Brexit The likely impact of Brexit is also being closely examined by senior figures in the NHS, who warn that recruitment could suffer. BBC News

Councils must play a more pivotal role in health and care integration

Councils must play a more pivotal role in health and care integration Integration should be an equal partnership between the NHS and local authorities – these eight solutions will help

The number of people in the UK with complex needs who require both health and social care is increasing rapidly. In the south-east of England, for example, our population of over 75-year-olds (already the largest in England) is expected to nearly double to 1.5m in the next 20 years.

Health and social care provision looks increasingly unsustainable financially and local government fears the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) process won’t solve the problem. Continue reading... The Guardian