£11 billion cost of treating physical and mental health separately

£11 billion cost of treating physical and mental health separately A new report  shows that the psychological problems associated with physical health conditions, and vice versa, are costing the NHS more than £11 billion a year and care is less effective than it could be. The report argues that by integrating physical and mental health care the NHS can improve health outcomes and save money.

The £11 billion a year is the collective cost of:

• high rates of mental health issues among those with long-term conditions such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease
• limited support for the psychological aspects of physical health, for example during and after pregnancy
• poor management of ‘medically unexplained symptoms’ such as persistent pain or tiredness.

The separation between physical and mental health has a high human cost: the life expectancy for people with severe mental illness (such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) is 15 to 20 years below that of the general population, largely as a result of physical health conditions. The King's Fund

Northamptonshire hospitals urge public to help relieve pressure during 48-hour strike by junior doctors

Northamptonshire hospitals urge public to help relieve pressure during 48-hour strike by junior doctors A 48-hour strike by junior doctors later this week has prompted calls by health authorities in Northamptonshire for people to help reduce pressure on NHS services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Pay review bodies recommend 1 per cent uplift for NHS staff

Pay review bodies recommend 1 per cent uplift for NHS staff The government has accepted recommendations from the independent pay review bodies that all NHS staff groups be awarded a 1 per cent consolidated pay increase with effect from April 2016. NHS Employers

See also:

• News story: NHS staff to receive 1% pay rise Department of Health
• Independent report: Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration forty-fourth report: 2016 Department of Health
• Independent report: National Health Service Pay Review Body 29th report: 2016 Department of Health

NHS child mental health money 'missing'

NHS child mental health money 'missing' Many mental health trusts in England have seen "no significant investment" in psychiatric services for children despite government plans to overhaul provision, say experts. BBC News

2.5m Brits bust alcohol limit in a day

2.5m Brits bust alcohol limit in a day Around 2.5 million people in Great Britain - 9% of drinkers - consume more than the new weekly recommended limit for alcohol in a single day, latest figures show. BBC News

Outmoded workforce planning poses risk to child health

Outmoded workforce planning poses risk to child health More paediatric trainees needed, says Royal College. OnMedica

Dementia: 'Most people' do not know a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease

Dementia: 'Most people' do not know a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease The majority of people do not know that leading a healthy lifestyle can help cut the risk of developing dementia, a new survey has shown.

Charity Alzheimer’s Research UK has conducted a survey to raise awareness of how the disease is not an inevitable part of ageing. The Independent

NHS mistakes cost lives. Here are four ways to improve patient safety

NHS mistakes cost lives. Here are four ways to improve patient safety Former health minister Lord Darzi on novel projects, including ambulance redesign and hospital drug charts

Almost 130 NHS patients are killed or harmed every day in the NHS as a result of errors in their treatment. Latest figures from a report by Imperial College London state: “in the six months from October 2014 to March 2015 there were 622,000 patient safety incidents recorded in general hospitals (acute, non-specialist, NHS trusts) in England and Wales. Of these, more than 23,000 caused moderate or severe harm and there were 716 deaths – four a day.”

To kickstart a global drive to reduce errors, improve care and save lives, ministers from countries across Europe will meet in London for the Patient Safety Global Action Summit 2016. The two-day conference, which begins on Wednesday, will assess the latest innovations in patient safety, the barriers to research, and how we can learn more from our mistakes. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Patient Safety 2030 NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• National Reporting And Learning System Research And Development NRLS Research Team (Lord Darzi chief investigator)
• NHS staff are 'too scared to blow whistle for fear of repercussions' The Daily Mail
• Avoidable harm still ‘too high’ in UK healthcare OnMedica

NHS's first 'national guardian' resigns after two months

NHS's first 'national guardian' resigns after two months Dame Eileen Sills, whose remit was to support NHS whistleblowers, said she couldn’t combine role with other job as chief nurse.

A chief nurse who was appointed more than two months ago as the first “national guardian” with a remit to support NHS whistleblowers has resigned from the post.

Dame Eileen Sills said she had to step down due to her commitment to patients and staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust, where she was chief nurse.

Brave decision by Dame Eileen Sills. Surely National Guardian must be a full time position to be effective. https://t.co/m7Zdv6uUUC

Not surprised Eileen Sills quit as national whistleblowers guardian. Chief nurse @ Guys & Thomas' was never going to work as part-time role Continue reading... The Guardian

Health and care integration will not happen unless budgets are pooled

Health and care integration will not happen unless budgets are pooled Siloed funding streams make it harder for services to work together. Despite the obstacles, full integration is the only way forward.

The desire to see integrated heathcare and social care services is broadly shared by care professionals, government bodies and special interest groups. But in England, successful integration is only found in local initiatives that focus on specific areas of care or patient groups. These successes are driven by joint working between local authorities and health trusts, plus third-sector organisations, and are to be commended; not least because they have generally been achieved despite national funding mechanisms working against them. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Integration is not a cure-all for health and care – look at Northern Ireland The Guardian
• Vanguard sites: new models of integration in health and social care The Guardian

Patronising the overweight, unhealthy British public won't stop them eating and smoking

Patronising the overweight, unhealthy British public won't stop them eating and smoking Public Health England's decision to spend £3.5 million offering us blindingly obvious health tips won't solve anything. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS splurges £3.5m on ads telling middle aged to eat less and run more: Critics brand health drive as 'patronising' The Daily Mail