What do child health indicators tell us? Previously I have written about how the government hasn’t yet clearly set out a long-term, cross-departmental strategy for child health and wellbeing, echoing others including Professor Sir Al Aynsley Green, and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. But what is our ‘ask’ of national and local leaders?
To inform this, first we need to understand what’s working well for children and families, and what’s not, and it’s here that the child health indicators can help us. The King's Fund
Friday, 6 October 2017
Can you really link delayed discharge to mortality? The evidence is far from clear
Can you really link delayed discharge to mortality? The evidence is far from clear Newspapers have recently reported that up to 8,000 people die every year in England because of delays in discharging patients home from hospital. But what is the evidence for this claim?
The figures come from research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In it, the authors analysed two data series: the number of patients experiencing delayed transfers of care in England each month, and the number of people who died in England each month. They found that in months with a greater number of delayed discharges there were a greater number of deaths, and this pattern seemed to be repeated over time.
The research is thought provoking, but by itself cannot be taken as implying delayed transfers are causing deaths. As the authors acknowledge in their paper, there are very significant limitations to their research, and there are other possible explanations for the patterns. The Health Foundation
The figures come from research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In it, the authors analysed two data series: the number of patients experiencing delayed transfers of care in England each month, and the number of people who died in England each month. They found that in months with a greater number of delayed discharges there were a greater number of deaths, and this pattern seemed to be repeated over time.
The research is thought provoking, but by itself cannot be taken as implying delayed transfers are causing deaths. As the authors acknowledge in their paper, there are very significant limitations to their research, and there are other possible explanations for the patterns. The Health Foundation
Britain’s demographic challenge: the implications of the UK’s rapidly increasing population
Britain’s demographic challenge: the implications of the UK’s rapidly increasing population This report looks at the scale of the growing population of the UK, sets it in historical and international context and considers the challenges that it will present. It considers the implications including the need for new hospitals, schools, roads, jobs and leisure facilities. Civitas
Being a male midwife
Being a male midwife It's 40 years since men were first allowed to train as midwives in the UK, but they still only make up a tiny proportion of the profession. So when a teenage boy in Birmingham said he wanted to become a midwife, he found himself swimming against the tide.
Shortly before her due date, Michelle-Grace Osobase arrived on the antenatal ward. It was her third child and she wasn't expecting any surprises. But there was one thing she hadn't anticipated at all.
As she was guided along a spotless turquoise linoleum floor to her bed, Michelle-Grace, 28, noticed that one member of the hospital team stood out from the others. Literally.
This member of the team was 6ft 2in tall, with the broad shoulders of a former rugby player, and unlike 99.6% of registered midwives in the UK, he was a he. BBC News
Shortly before her due date, Michelle-Grace Osobase arrived on the antenatal ward. It was her third child and she wasn't expecting any surprises. But there was one thing she hadn't anticipated at all.
As she was guided along a spotless turquoise linoleum floor to her bed, Michelle-Grace, 28, noticed that one member of the hospital team stood out from the others. Literally.
This member of the team was 6ft 2in tall, with the broad shoulders of a former rugby player, and unlike 99.6% of registered midwives in the UK, he was a he. BBC News
Why is cancer a taboo in black and Asian communities?
Why is cancer a taboo in black and Asian communities? A BBC reporter who's been diagnosed with breast cancer is trying to persuade more black and Asian women to talk openly about the disease.
Satnam Rana, 40, who's keeping a video diary, said she came from a community that sometimes doesn't like "to face reality". BBC News
Satnam Rana, 40, who's keeping a video diary, said she came from a community that sometimes doesn't like "to face reality". BBC News
Noel Conway: Terminally ill man loses right-to-die case
Noel Conway: Terminally ill man loses right-to-die case A terminally ill man has lost his High Court challenge against the law on assisted dying.
Noel Conway, 67, from Shrewsbury, who has motor neurone disease, wanted a doctor to be allowed to prescribe a lethal dose when his health deteriorates.
Currently any doctor helping him to die would face up to 14 years in prison.
His lawyers had argued he faced a stark choice, which was unfair and the law needed to change. BBC News
Noel Conway, 67, from Shrewsbury, who has motor neurone disease, wanted a doctor to be allowed to prescribe a lethal dose when his health deteriorates.
Currently any doctor helping him to die would face up to 14 years in prison.
His lawyers had argued he faced a stark choice, which was unfair and the law needed to change. BBC News
NHS England drops plans to peer review all GP referrals, says BMA
NHS England drops plans to peer review all GP referrals, says BMA NHS England appears to have dropped plans to introduce clinical peer review of all GP referrals. GPonline
Child obesity is a 'national emergency'. So what is Jeremy Hunt doing about it?
Child obesity is a 'national emergency'. So what is Jeremy Hunt doing about it? At the Conservative party conference, the health secretary wore a lanyard advertising Tate & Lyle, which manufactures sugar – a leading cause of obesity
Obesity was a factor in more than 525,000 hospital admissions last year, and obesity rates have risen from 15% in 1993 to 27% in 2015.
Child health experts describe the level of childhood obesity in the United Kingdom as a “state of emergency”. Continue reading... The Guardian
Obesity was a factor in more than 525,000 hospital admissions last year, and obesity rates have risen from 15% in 1993 to 27% in 2015.
Child health experts describe the level of childhood obesity in the United Kingdom as a “state of emergency”. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS figures show vasectomies are down 63% in a decade
NHS figures show vasectomies are down 63% in a decade The number of men having vasectomies has fallen by two thirds in 10 years, NHS figures show.
Experts say more men are choosing to preserve their fertility to have children later in life, particularly if their marriage breaks down.
The procedure is also being rationed by some NHS trusts and GPs in certain areas have been ordered to cap the number of referrals.
Figures from NHS Digital show that just 10,880 vasectomies were performed in 2015/16, down from 29,344 in 2005/6.
The biggest drop occurred between 2005/6 and 2014/15, and since then the reduction has started to stabilise slightly. The Daily Mail
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Experts say more men are choosing to preserve their fertility to have children later in life, particularly if their marriage breaks down.
The procedure is also being rationed by some NHS trusts and GPs in certain areas have been ordered to cap the number of referrals.
Figures from NHS Digital show that just 10,880 vasectomies were performed in 2015/16, down from 29,344 in 2005/6.
The biggest drop occurred between 2005/6 and 2014/15, and since then the reduction has started to stabilise slightly. The Daily Mail
See also:
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