Friday, 6 February 2015
Mum from Northampton deemed ‘not an emergency’ by ambulance service after falling down the stairs and blacking out in front of young son
Mum from Northampton deemed ‘not an emergency’ by ambulance service after falling down the stairs and blacking out in front of young son A mother who blacked out and broke her ankle when she fell down stairs had to take herself to hospital after the ambulance deemed her not an emergency - despite having a history of brain injury. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Coalition health reforms damaging and distracting says new review from The King’s Fund
Coalition health reforms damaging and distracting says new review from The King’s Fund A major assessment of the coalition government's record on NHS reform by The King's Fund concludes that the upheaval caused by the Health and Social Care Act has been damaging and distracting.
The new report highlights some positive developments as a result of the Act including closer involvement of GPs in commissioning services, giving local authorities responsibility for public health and the establishment of health and wellbeing boards. However, it criticises the decision to implement complex organisational changes at a time when the NHS should have been focused on tackling growing pressures on services and an unprecedented funding squeeze.
Other key findings from the assessment of the Act are that:
The new report highlights some positive developments as a result of the Act including closer involvement of GPs in commissioning services, giving local authorities responsibility for public health and the establishment of health and wellbeing boards. However, it criticises the decision to implement complex organisational changes at a time when the NHS should have been focused on tackling growing pressures on services and an unprecedented funding squeeze.
Other key findings from the assessment of the Act are that:
- an unwieldy structure has emerged with leadership fractured between several national bodies, a bewilderingly complex regulatory system and a strategic vacuum in place of the system leadership that was previously provided by strategic health authorities
- while claims of widespread privatisation are exaggerated with less than 10 per cent of the NHS budget spent on non-NHS providers, the emphasis on competition has resulted in greater complexity and uncertainty about when contracts should be put out to tender
- despite the intention to devolve decision-making and reduce political interference, the period since the Act was implemented has been characterised by regular ministerial intervention and a continued focus on targets
- responsibility for commissioning has been fragmented between different bodies and NHS England has been slow to establish itself, weighed down by its wide-ranging responsibilities
- although not an explicit aim of the original reforms, progress has been made in developing integrated care and the Care Act 2014 is an important step towards a fairer system for funding social care.
Mental health illness prevalence in criminal justice system a scandal
Mental health illness prevalence in criminal justice system a scandal A new report n policing and mental health says the prevalence of people with mental health illness in the criminal justice system is a scandal. The Home Affairs Committee
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A season of major incidents: what is really causing the A&E crisis this winter?
A season of major incidents: what is really causing the A&E crisis this winter? This briefing identifies 11 factors potentially contributing to emergency departments’ current poor performance. The author also explores the differences between England and Wales, and whether these can be attributed to differences in leadership. Civitas
What are the implications of objections to the 2015/16 tariff?
What are the implications of objections to the 2015/16 tariff? Policy makers and others almost always over-estimate the positive power of payment reforms to improve health systems. The service should focus on the underlying challenge of working together to manage demand and cost pressures, says Anita Charlesworth. The Health Foundation
Investing in children's mental health
Investing in children's mental health The report claims that the return on investment, measured in benefits to the recipients of care, ranges from £3 to £31 for every £1 invested, depending on the intervention. Centre for Mental Health
Press release: Flu vaccine shows low effectiveness against the main circulating strain seen so far this season
Press release: Flu vaccine shows low effectiveness against the main circulating strain seen so far this season New research from has found that the seasonal influenza vaccine has provided low protection this winter against flu infection caused by one particular subtype, H3N2. This is because of a mismatch between the A(H3N2) strain selected for the vaccine this year and the main A(H3N2) strain that has been circulating in the UK this winter. The findings on mid-season flu vaccine effectiveness in the UK are published today in Eurosurveillence.
The research, based on the results from 1,314 patients presenting in primary care across the UK, found that vaccine effectiveness in preventing laboratory confirmed influenza was estimated to be 3% overall. This compares to approximately 50% vaccine effectiveness that has typically been seen in the UK over recent years.
The research, based on the results from 1,314 patients presenting in primary care across the UK, found that vaccine effectiveness in preventing laboratory confirmed influenza was estimated to be 3% overall. This compares to approximately 50% vaccine effectiveness that has typically been seen in the UK over recent years.
Workforce plan for England 2015/16
Workforce plan for England 2015/16 We have published our second Workforce Plan for England, which sets out the £5bn investment we will make in education and training programmes for 2015/16. Health Education England
Findings from ICO audits and reviews of community healthcare providers: June 2013 to December 2014
Findings from ICO audits and reviews of community healthcare providers: June 2013 to December 2014 This report looks at how community healthcare providers approach data protection. Community providers often involve staff working at remote locations or off-site entirely, bringing data protection challenges. The report provides an analysis of data breaches in the sector that shows a trend of information being ‘disclosed in error’ - the report offers tips that aim to help address these problems. Information Commissioner’s Office
Making the sums add up
Making the sums add up What are the effects of giving the NHS the money it wants? BBC News
Exclusive: GPs fight for patient care as treatment requests are denied
Exclusive: GPs fight for patient care as treatment requests are denied GPs are increasingly having to fight to provide the care their patients need, as CCGs clamp down on approvals for treatment funding requests. GP Online
Clinical commissioning must be better resourced to affect change
Clinical commissioning must be better resourced to affect change CCGs have an important role, but require a new sense of purpose in order to make a bigger impact on the NHS
Clinical commissioning is in urgent need of a new sense of direction and purpose as it faces the spectre of yet another round of reorganisation after the general election.
Research by the Nuffield Trust and the King’s Fund into the workings of clinical commissioning groups (CCG) concludes that the future of the clinical role in commissioning “remains fragile”. Interest from CCG leaders is waning, and they do not have the time, money or management support to do their jobs properly. Continue reading... The Guardian
Clinical commissioning is in urgent need of a new sense of direction and purpose as it faces the spectre of yet another round of reorganisation after the general election.
Research by the Nuffield Trust and the King’s Fund into the workings of clinical commissioning groups (CCG) concludes that the future of the clinical role in commissioning “remains fragile”. Interest from CCG leaders is waning, and they do not have the time, money or management support to do their jobs properly. Continue reading... The Guardian
Charity volunteers to help 29 A&E hospital departments
Charity volunteers to help 29 A&E hospital departments Age UK, Red Cross and Royal Voluntary Service to assist as NHS England struggles to cope with unprecedented squeeze on its budget
Charity volunteers are stepping in to help 29 accident and emergency departments that are under the most pressure, as NHS England struggles to cope with the growing demand for care and an unprecedented squeeze on its budget.
Under the scheme announced Thursday, Age UK, Red Cross and the Royal Voluntary Service will provide 700 volunteers for 12 weeks for A&E units in England. Continue reading... The Guardian
Charity volunteers are stepping in to help 29 accident and emergency departments that are under the most pressure, as NHS England struggles to cope with the growing demand for care and an unprecedented squeeze on its budget.
Under the scheme announced Thursday, Age UK, Red Cross and the Royal Voluntary Service will provide 700 volunteers for 12 weeks for A&E units in England. Continue reading... The Guardian
FGM needs to become an old story. Here's how
FGM needs to become an old story. Here's how International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM: Tanya Barron, chief of charity Plan UK, reflects on the first female genital mutilation case to come through the UK courts - and explains what needs to happen in order to end it once and for all. The Daily Telegraph
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University College Hospital London charging brain cancer patients £6,000 for potentially life-saving treatment, claims source
University College Hospital London charging brain cancer patients £6,000 for potentially life-saving treatment, claims source Brain cancer patients are being denied potentially life-saving treatment at an NHS hospital, unless they pay around £6,000 to use it privately. The Independent
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See also:
- Breakthrough cancer treatment 'only offered to private patients' The Daily Telegraph
Referrals for young transgender people to support services increase fivefold
Referrals for young transgender people to support services increase fivefold The number of teenagers being referred to support services dealing with transgender issues has increased fivefold within four years, new figures have shown. The Independent
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