Northampton aspires to be 'dementia friendly' town

Northampton aspires to be 'dementia friendly' town Northampton is working towards becoming a ‘dementia friendly town’ with a host of schemes to try to improve the quality of life of those with the debilitating illness.

Bus passes identifying commuters with the condition and where they live if they get confused are part of the proposals, as are ID cards for carers.

The suggestions by Northampton Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny committee were rubber-stamped by cabinet last Wednesday (June 13). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The 35 medicines no longer available on NHS prescription from this month

The 35 medicines no longer available on NHS prescription from this month 

The NHS has banned free prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ medicines such as constipation and athletes foot starting this month

NHS England is hoping to free up almost £100 million for frontline care each year by bringing in the changes. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Press release: HPV vaccine reduces cancer-causing infection by 86 per cent

Press release: HPV vaccine reduces cancer-causing infection by 86 per cent A new study has found that the HPV vaccination has led to major reductions in the number of young women who have the infection, which can cause cervical cancer.Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 16 and 18 infections, which cause the majority of cervical cancer cases, decreased by 86% in women aged 16 to 21 who were eligible for the vaccination as adolescents between 2010 and 2016.

The surveillance data from England was published today (Monday 18 June 2018) in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Overall, declines were seen across 5 high-risk HPV types, which together cause around 90% of cervical cancer cases, as well as low-risk HPV types. GOV.UK

See also:

• HPV vaccine cuts cancer-causing infection BBC News

Manual for improving access to psychological therapies

Manual for improving access to psychological therapies NHS England has published a new manual for improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT).

The manual will help commissioners, managers and clinicians expand their local IAPT services while maintaining quality and ensuring that patients receive effective and compassionately delivered care. It provides guidance on setting up and running an efficient IAPT service that achieves good outcomes, and which creates an innovative and supportive environment for staff and clients. It also explains how to use local and national data to improve understanding of the strengths and limitations of a service. NHS Networks

Over half acute trusts now using the NHS e-referral service

Over half acute trusts now using the NHS e-referral service More than 50% of acute hospital trusts in England have switched off paper referrals and are now processing GP referrals for outpatient appointments digitally.

The traditional paper method is currently being phased out across all trusts and from 1 October 2018, providers will no longer be paid for activity which results from referrals that were not made through the NHS e-referral service (e-RS). NHS Networks

Rebuilding my body: breast reconstruction in England

Rebuilding my body: breast reconstruction in England This report compiles evidence from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests conducted by the Breast Cancer Now in 2017. It shows that 47 out of 208 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England (22.6 per cent) have established policies to restrict reconstruction services for non-clinical reasons. With a further nine CCGs (4.3 per cent) having draft policies or informal restrictions in place. The emerging policies – which have been described by the charity as 'totally unacceptable' and 'not in the best interest of patients' – include limiting the number of surgeries women are allowed, enforcing a time-frame on their completion and denying ‘balancing surgery’ to the unaffected breast to achieve symmetry with the reconstruction, resulting in widespread variation in care across England. King's Fund

Listening to our future: early findings from the Health Foundation's Young people's future health inquiry

Listening to our future: early findings from the Health Foundation's Young people's future health inquiry The Health Foundation’s Young people’s future health inquiry is a first-of-its-kind research and engagement project that aims to build an understanding of the influences affecting the future health of young people.This report sets out the initial findings of the engagement work with young people around the United Kingdom. King's Fund

Driving improvement in GP practices

Driving improvement in GP practices To help shine some light on this, we have put this collection of case studies together as a source of information to help general practices improve the quality of care they provide for their patients. These examples represent only a handful of practices that have successfully improved their quality – and therefore their rating – but we know there are many more working tirelessly to improve. Care Quality Commission

Theresa May ready to ditch tax pledges to pay for NHS funding plans

Theresa May ready to ditch tax pledges to pay for NHS funding plans Theresa May is prepared to tear up the Tories’ tax pledges from last year’s general election to pay for her NHS funding plans, as she comes under growing pressure to explain how she will find the money.

Government sources signalled that planned cuts to corporation tax and a pledge to increase the personal income tax allowance to £12,500 a year by 2020 could both be ditched, as could a promise to lift the higher rate threshold to £50,000.

In a speech at the Royal Free hospital in London on Monday, with the chancellor, Philip Hammond, in the audience, the prime minister confirmed the government would set aside an extra £20.5bn a year for the health service by 2023. The Guardian

See also:

• Theresa May is asked where NHS cash will come from BBC News
• £20bn NHS funding boost by 2023 'still falls short', GPs warn GP Online

Emotional eating 'learned by children not inherited'

Emotional eating 'learned by children not inherited' Children who eat more or less when stressed or upset have learned the behaviour rather than inherited it, a study suggests.

A study by University College London found home environment was the main cause of emotional eating.

And this was due to parental behaviours including giving upset children their favourite food to soothe them.

But eating-disorder charity Beat says parents shouldn't be blamed for children's eating issues.

Emotional eating "indicates an unhealthy relationship to food", said senior lead researcher Dr Clare Llewellyn. BBC News

See also:

• Comfort eating is caused by stress at the dinner table in childhood Mail Online

Medicinal cannabis review to happen quickly, says Hunt

Medicinal cannabis review to happen quickly, says Hunt There is a need to review how cases for the medical use of cannabis are handled, the prime minister has said.

Theresa May made the comment after a special licence was granted allowing Billy Caldwell, 12, to be treated with cannabis oil for his severe epilepsy. BBC News

See also:

• Hunt wants swift review of cannabis oil law after Billy Caldwell case The Guardian

Three KGH staff named in the NHS’ ‘Top 70 Stars’

Three KGH staff named in the NHS’ ‘Top 70 Stars’ A consultant obstetrician at KGH has been voted one of the NHS’ ‘Top 70 Stars’ for her outstanding work – achieving 7th place in the national top ten. Northamptonshire Telegraph

CQC report set to slam 'unsatisfactory' experience for over 65s in Northamptonshire

CQC report set to slam 'unsatisfactory' experience for over 65s in Northamptonshire An upcoming Care Quality Commission review of health and social care for people over 65 in Northamptonshire is set to criticise the ‘unsatisfactory experience’ for patients.

The health watchdog is expected to hit out at the lack of a clear, shared vision for care services for pensioners, while it also noted that staff did not know its care improvement plans ‘on the ground’ and were neither excited or as motivated as they should be by it.

The whole-system CQC review is due to be officially reported in July, but councillors on the adults, health and wellbeing scrutiny committee were given a verbal update of the key findings ahead of publication from Anna Earnshaw, the executive director for Northamptonshire Adult Social Services (NASS). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton mental health hospital for men shakes off major failings but is still below standard, says inspectors

Northampton mental health hospital for men shakes off major failings but is still below standard, says inspectors
Inspectors say a Northampton mental health hospital has shaken off a list of failings pointed out in a damning report last year - but still has a long way to go.

St Andrew's Hospital's men's service was branded "inadequate" by inspectors in a scathing report last year that found failings in cleanliness, patient safety and pointed to an "oppressive culture" for staff.

But in the latest report by the CQC, the hospital has bounced back from the poor rating and has even been scored "good" in some areas. Northampton Chronical and Echo

Reducing emergency admissions

Reducing emergency admissions House of Commons Public Accounts Committee -This report warns hospitals, GPs, community services and social care need to work together more effectively to prevent emergency admissions to hospitals. It concludes that NHS England needs to deliver on its five-year plan to move care into the community and out of hospitals. King's Fund

Better health and care for all: a 10-point plan for the 2020s

Better health and care for all: a 10-point plan for the 2020s Institute for Public Policy Research -A previous report concluded that a bold and long-term funding and reform plan is needed to secure the NHS and social care for the future. This final report of the Lord Darzi Review puts forward a ten point plan to achieve this, as well as a ten point offer to the public which sets out what the health and care system will be able to offer if this plan for investment and reform is adopted. King's Fund

Hay fever rates smash records

Hay fever rates smash records Hay fever cases in England have reached their highest level so far this year, with more than 45,000 people visiting GPs with symptoms according to the latest weekly figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners' Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC).

The RSC revealed there were 45,355 cases of hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, presented to GP practices between 4 June-10 June 2018, 76.7 presentations per 100,000 population - up from 19.8/100,000 the previous week when there were only 11,708 cases. OnMedica

See also:

• Hay fever rates smash five-year average across England, latest RGCP data shows  Royal College of General Practitioners

Gaming addiction can be treated on the NHS after it is declared a medical disorder

Gaming addiction can be treated on the NHS after it is declared a medical disorder Children hooked on addictive video games like Fortnite will be able to seek treatment on the NHS after video gaming is classified as a medical disorder by the World Health Organisation (WHO) next week.

The WHO will on Monday notify governments around the world that they will be expected to incorporate “gaming disorder” into their health systems. The Telgraph

See also:

• Computer game addiction: 'I spend 20 plus hours a week gaming' BBC News

Mental health patients still sent hundreds of miles for treatment

Mental health patients still sent hundreds of miles for treatment Despite government promises to end practice, figures show almost no change since 2016

Hundreds of mental health patients are being sent hundreds of miles from home to get treatment, despite ministers branding the practice damaging and unacceptable.

Latest NHS figures show that in February 650 adults in England had to travel for inpatient treatment, even though Jeremy Hunt, the health and social care secretary, has pledged to reduce, and eventually ban, out-of-area placements by 2020. The Guardian

Number of children waiting six months for dental operations soars

Number of children waiting six months for dental operations soars Labour says 52% rise in England over three years is ‘damning indictment of Tory neglect’

The number of children in England waiting longer than six months for a dental operation under general anaesthesia has risen by 52% over the past three years, data provided by NHS trusts suggests.

The figures also show a 15% increase in the number of children on waiting lists for such treatment between 2015 and 2017. The Guardian