Northants police hold FGM suspect

Northants police hold FGM suspect A woman has been arrested at Heathrow Airport for conspiracy to commit female genital mutilation (FGM).

The 42-year-old was about to board a flight travelling to Ghana via Amsterdam when she was held by officers carrying out an FGM awareness operation.

The woman, a British national born in Zimbabwe, was taken to a west London police station.

An eight-year-old girl with the woman was taken into social services' care.

The arrested woman was subsequently transferred to Northamptonshire Police who will investigate the case. BBC News

Ombudsman finds variation in quality of NHS investigations into complaints of avoidable death and avoidable harm

Ombudsman finds variation in quality of NHS investigations into complaints of avoidable death and avoidable harm More than a third of NHS investigations regarding allegations of avoidable harm or avoidable death were inadequate and failed to identify when something had gone wrong, according to a review carried out by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

See also:

• NHS complaints process 'inadequate' BBC News
• VIDEO: 'Full investigation' when care fails BBC News
• NHS investigations into care complaints 'appalling' The Guardian

Mental Health Act annual report 2013/14

Mental Health Act annual report 2013/14 This report assesses the use of the Mental Health Act and explores the experiences of patients who received care under the act throughout 2013/14. It finds that uses of the MHA have grown by 6% since 2012/13. In CQC's monitoring visits, they found that too often patients were not involved in their own care and treatment and concerns were raised around bed availability and patients being detained too far away from home. Care Quality Commission

• Report
• Summary
• Infographic

3 tests for a credible health policy

3 tests for a credible health policy This paper outlines the actions politicians need to take to maintain and improve the quality of care both now and for the future. It argues that the English NHS needs to focus on maintaining and improving care quality; transforming the way care is delivered in the future; and achieving financial balance. The Health Foundation

Jeremy Hunt orders yearly study of 'avoidable' hospital deaths

Jeremy Hunt orders yearly study of 'avoidable' hospital deaths New plans to reduce the number of "avoidable deaths" in English hospitals have been unveiled by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. BBC News

See also:

• Hospitals are told to stop gagging NHS whistleblowers The Daily Mail
• Hunt: Sweeping reforms to end 'NHS cover up culture' The Daily Telegraph
• Jeremy Hunt orders review of 'avoidable' hospital deaths The Guardian
• Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt orders annual review of 'avoidable deaths' in NHS hospitals The Independent

The short run elasticity of National Health Service nurses’ labour supply in Great Britain

The short run elasticity of National Health Service nurses’ labour supply in Great Britain The paper investigates the short run responsiveness of NHS nurses’ labour supply to changes in wages of NHS nurses relative to wages in outside options available to nurses, utilising the panel data aspect of the annual survey of hours and earnings. We find the short run responsiveness of NHS nurses’ labour supply to the relative wage of NHS nurses is positive and statistically significant, albeit economically small, in regions outside the London area. In contrast, in the London region, the short run elasticity is much higher. We discuss the policy implications of these findings. Institute for Fiscal Studies

One in five care homes 'fail key test'

One in five care homes 'fail key test' One in five care homes for older people in England fail to meet national standards set by the Care Quality Commission, a report by 5 live suggests. BBC News

See also:

• Care staff 'miss out on minimum pay' BBC News

Flu jab is not a 'waste of time'

Flu jab is not a 'waste of time' “Flu jab given to millions is 'useless',” and "Flu jab is a waste of time," are the irresponsible headlines in The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail.

While recent research shows that the current seasonal flu vaccine only has 3% protection against the main circulating strain – A(H3N2) – in adults, it can still protect against other strains.

Both papers also ignore the fact that another version of the flu vaccine, in the form of a nasal spray designed for vulnerable children, is also available.

Discouraging parents of vulnerable children from getting vaccinated could increase the risk of serious childhood illnesses and possible hospitalisation.

Public health officials knew months ago about UK flu vaccine mismatch

Public health officials knew months ago about UK flu vaccine mismatch Public Health England says it could not have developed vaccine to protect against new strain in time for winter

Public health officials have conceded that they have been aware for months that the current flu vaccine provides almost no protection against the main strain spreading around the UK.

The strain was first detected by the World Health Organisation last March. But Public Health England said it could not have developed a new vaccine in time to protect against the mutation, which is fuelling a rise in the number of emergency hospital admissions and a death rate a third higher than normal. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Flu vaccine failing to take the strain Public Health England
• Health bosses knew for six months that flu vaccine was defective The Daily Mail
• UK flu vaccine just 3% effective, health experts warn GP Online
• Next winter’s flu vaccine may not be effective, concedes researcher The Guardian
• Hospital claims it warned last month of mutated flu strain not covered by jab The Guardian

NHS 'special measures' have saved hundreds of lives, say experts

NHS 'special measures' have saved hundreds of lives, say experts The NHS’s unprecedented decision to put 11 trusts into special measures is likely to have saved hundreds of lives, experts have said. Death rates fell at the trusts after the 2013 intervention, spearheaded by NHS England’s medical director Sir Bruce Keogh in the wake of the Mid Staffordshire hospital trust scandal. The Independent

See also:

• 'Deaths averted' at failing hospitals BBC News

Canada strikes down ban on assisted suicide

Canada strikes down ban on assisted suicide Canada’s Supreme Court has struck down the country’s 1993 ban on assisted suicide, meaning doctors there can now help mentally competent patients with severe and incurable medical conditions to die. The ruling puts Canada among the few Western countries to permit the practice. The Independent

See also:

• Canada to allow assisted suicide BBC News

The Digital Health Revolution

The Digital Health Revolution Digital technologies have transformed nearly every aspect of our lives. But for many of us, they haven’t yet improved the way we receive or participate in our health care. This new multimedia essay look at how that's changing with the arrival of new digital tools, from mobile apps and data-driven software solutions to wearable sensors that transmit information to a patient’s team of health care providers. The Commonwealth Fund