Late and weekend GP appointments available in Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough...but not Corby

Late and weekend GP appointments available in Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough...but not Corby A service which makes GP appointments available in the evening and at weekends has been rolled out across Northamptonshire - but not in Corby.

In 2014 the Government pledged to extend opening hours at GP surgeries across the country and Nene CCG is the latest to introduce the GP Extended Access Service. The service means appointments will be available until 8pm from Monday to Friday and in the mornings at the weekends and on bank holidays at central surgeries. But surgeries in Corby overseen by Corby CCG - the smallest CCG in the country - are yet to have the GP Extended Access Service. A Corby CCG spokesman said evening appointments would be available from April next year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Celebrating 20 years of Kettering’s Cransley Hospice

Celebrating 20 years of Kettering’s Cransley Hospice Twenty years ago this month, one of Kettering’s most important institutions was born. Cransley Hospice opened in November 1998 on the ground floor of Sunley Court having been formed by Dr John Smith. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northants trust that went from 'requires improvement' to 'outstanding' in three years wins award

Northants trust that went from 'requires improvement' to 'outstanding' in three years wins award
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is celebrating after being named trust of the year at the Health Service Journal Awards in London.

This accolade - presented to the team last week in London - comes just months after NHFT was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The trust says the award reflects the positive feedback it receives from their patients and is a huge testament to their staff that work hard every day to make a difference to those they care for across community, mental health, learning disability and speciality services – including prison healthcare. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering General Hospital to hold baby roadshow

Kettering General Hospital to hold baby roadshow A pregnancy and baby roadshow is being hosted by Kettering General Hospital to help hundreds of parents-to-be to prepare for their big day and subsequently care for their baby. The event, on Wednesday, December 5, is the 30th in 20 years and it will provide a huge range of advice on all aspects of pregnancy and baby care. It is being held at The Hall@KGH (the recreation hall next to car park B at the main KGH site) from 6pm-8pm. Northamptonshire Telegraph

KGH introduces state-of-the-art feedback system

KGH introduces state-of-the-art feedback system Kettering General Hospital has introduced a new way for patients to give feedback about their hospital experience. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Significantly more girls access mental health services in Northamptonshire, new report reveals

Significantly more girls access mental health services in Northamptonshire, new report reveals  Youngsters battling mental health issues in Northamptonshire say long waiting times are the most common challenge they face when trying to access help.

More than 700 responses from young people between the ages of 11-19 years old in this county have been collated by Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire in their new emotional wellbeing report, published yesterday (November 29).

The report pinpoints over 60 per cent of young people wished to receive support at school and significantly more girls (43 per cent) said they had needed to access support for their emotional well being, compared to a smaller percentage of their male counterparts (26 per cent). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Better information for paramedics and mental health nurses

Better information for paramedics and mental health nurses NHS Digital has taken a crucial step towards a more joined-up health and care system with the launch of the new national record locator service.

The service will allow triage personnel such as mental health nurses and paramedics, who are called to a patient in distress, to find out whether a patient they are treating has a mental health crisis plan. NHS Networks

Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment Thousands of people with type 2 diabetes in England are to be prescribed a very low-calorie diet in the hope of reversing their condition.

Under the pilot they will be restricted to 800 calories a day, in the form of soups and shakes, for three months. When the diet was trialled last year, almost half of those involved managed to put their diabetes into remission. NHS England has also announced it's expanding a programme to prevent people developing type 2 diabetes. The health service currently spends around 10% of its budget on treating diabetes in England.  BBC News - Health

See Also:

• Very low calorie diets part of NHS action to tackle growing obesity and Type 2 diabetes epidemic NHS England
• GPs to prescribe very low calorie diets in hope of reversing diabetes The Guardian
• NHS pins hopes on liquid-only diet to reverse diabetes in thousands of overweight adults  The Telegraph

Government set to relax restrictions on non-EU doctors

Government set to relax restrictions on non-EU doctors The government is set to relax its immigration rules to let more foreign doctors come to Britain to help tackle the NHS’s widespread shortages of medics, the Guardian can reveal.

Ministers have agreed to significantly expand the 1,500 doctors a year allowed to come and work in Britain under the medical training initiative (MTI). The move could result in the maximum number of non-EU medics able to come rising to as many as 3,000. The Guardian

Measles resurgence 'due to vaccine hesitancy', WHO warns

Measles resurgence 'due to vaccine hesitancy', WHO warns There has been a worldwide resurgence of measles, with many countries experiencing "severe and protracted" outbreaks last year, a report warns.

The World Health Organization data shows a rise in cases in almost every region of the world, with 30% more cases in 2017 than 2016. Experts say complacency, collapsing health systems and a rise in fake news about the vaccine are behind the rise. BBC News - Health

The latest figures on the NHS's performance

The latest figures on the NHS's performance The Long Term Plan for the NHS will signal a reset on performance over the next five years, as frontline staff and managers continue to ensure record numbers of patients get the healthcare and support they need.

Our latest report on the performance of the provider sector, covering July to September 2018, shows that hospitals admitted nearly 1,000 more emergency patients a day than in the same period last year, treating 5.52 million patients within the four-hour target.

On top of this, hospitals have been able to discharge more patients from their services sooner, including reducing the number of beds occupied by patients who have been there for more than three weeks (classed as a ‘long-stay patients’), freeing up the equivalent of 2,470 beds in time for winter. NHS Improvement

See Also:

• The King's Fund responds to NHS Improvement's report on the performance of the NHS provider sector King's Fund

New children's commissioner has started at Northamptonshire County Council

New children's commissioner has started at Northamptonshire County Council The new children’s commissioner drafted in to save Northamptonshire’s failing children’s service department has started work.

Despite the lack of an official announcement from central government, experienced commissioner Malcolm Newsam is in post and is getting to grips with what is going on within the in-crisis department. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Campaign against domestic abuse and sexual violence to run in Northampton over the festive period

Campaign against domestic abuse and sexual violence to run in Northampton over the festive period A new campaign promoting organisations who support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence will see a series of surgeries held in Northampton over the next fortnight.

Marking the national 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Northampton, the ‘Don’t let violence shatter your Christmas’ campaign and activities aims to raise awareness of local support in the run-up to the festive period, when instances of domestic abuse and sexual violence can increase.

The activities will include town centre information stalls on the Market Square and support surgeries held in local businesses. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Community mental health survey 2018

Community mental health survey 2018 This survey looks at the experiences of people receiving community mental health services. It finds that people’s experiences of the care they receive from community-based mental health services have continued to deteriorate. It highlights concerns around access to care, care planning and support for people with mental health conditions in relation to physical health needs, financial advice or benefits. Care Quality Commission

Asylum seekers in Britain unable to access healthcare

Asylum seekers in Britain unable to access healthcare Cost and fears about how they will be treated, or consequences for their immigration status, are preventing people seeking or refused asylum from using health services, a new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission has found, prompting a call for greater separation of the immigration and healthcare systems.
Our new research, published today, explores the experiences of people who are or have been in the asylum process in Britain, as well as engaging with healthcare professionals and analysing existing research.

See also:

• Access to healthcare for people seeking and refused asylum in Great Britain: a review of evidence Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Asylum seekers 'too afraid' to seek NHS care, report says The Guardian
• Asylum seekers forced to choose between medicine and food, warns human rights watchdog The Independent

Independent evaluation of The Guinness Partnership’s dementia project

Independent evaluation of The Guinness Partnership’s dementia project The Housing LIN was commissioned by The Guinness Partnership to undertake an independent evaluation of the progress made in becoming a more dementia-friendly organisation. Guinness implemented a two year project in 2015 to take forward developments, initially in two pilot areas of Havant and Manchester with a view to rolling out successful approaches more broadly. Housing LIN

Five key questions Brexit poses for the NHS

Five key questions Brexit poses for the NHS Whether it is a no-deal Brexit or the agreement brokered by the prime minister, leaving the European Union promises to have a profound impact on patients and the wider NHS.

From the staff who work on the wards and in the GP surgeries to the supply of vital medicines, there are implications.

Here is a look at five key questions. BBC News

Health Secretary Matt Hancock deletes '1,000 more GPs' claim after statistics watchdog censure

Health Secretary Matt Hancock deletes '1,000 more GPs' claim after statistics watchdog censure The health secretary has deleted claims of a “terrific” increase of 1,000 GPs joining the NHS in just three months, after being censured by the government statistics watchdog.

Matt Hancock made the claimed in a tweet last week and was widely criticised by doctors and health groups who said he was misleading the public, as the actual figures showed qualified doctor numbers fell.

Those figures were also drastically inflated by the new intake of junior doctors who started GP specialty training in August. The Independent

NHS trust at centre of baby deaths inquiry deemed 'unsafe'

NHS trust at centre of baby deaths inquiry deemed 'unsafe' Shrewsbury and Telford hospital’s A&E and maternity care is inadequate – regulator

The hospital trust at the centre of an inquiry into dozens of baby deaths and injuries has been declared inadequate by the NHS’s care regulator over its “unsafe” A&E and maternity care.

The move by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the latest blow to hit Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS trust, which has been under pressure over a growing catalogue of alleged breaches of care standards. The Guardian

See also:

• Shropshire baby deaths: Hospital trust 'has bullying culture' BBC News
• Some locum doctors costing hospital trust £100 an hour BBC News
• Services at scandal-hit Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals 'inadequate' The Daily Telegraph

An 'alarm bell': Experts warn HIV has hit a 10 year high in Europe ahead of 30th World Aids Day

An 'alarm bell': Experts warn HIV has hit a 10 year high in Europe ahead of 30th World Aids Day The rate of new HIV infections reached a decade-long high in Europe last year, raising an "alarm bell" ahead of the 30th anniversary of World Aids Day on Saturday.

Despite the huge progress made in controlling the global endemic since the 1980s, Europe saw nearly 160,000 new HIV cases in 2017.

This is equivalent to 20 people per 100,000, a rise from the 18.2 new diagnoses per 100,000 people in 2016, according to a joint report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Research and analysis: HIV in the United Kingdom Public Health England
• UK meets global HIV targets as diagnoses keep falling BBC News

Climate change is a grave threat to our health. Time is running out to act

Climate change is a grave threat to our health. Time is running out to act The world is finally waking up to the enormity of the public health threat posed by climate change after a summer of searing temperatures left a trail of destruction stretching across the globe.

The effects of these heatwaves have recently been underscored by a groundbreaking report from the Lancet Countdown, which provides an annual global barometer on the health impacts of climate change. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The 2018 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: shaping the health of nations for centuries to come The Lancet
• Climate change needs public health campaign similar to tobacco as extreme heat threatens to overwhelm hospitals, experts warn The Independent

Which are the healthiest nations in the world?

Which are the healthiest nations in the world? London-based charity the Legatum Institute has ranked 149 countries on nine different categories, including health, but health was the area in which the UK performed worst, ranking just 26th. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018 Legatum Institute
• 2018 Legatum Prosperity Index: Global prosperity rises to highest ever level Legatum Institute

NHS should be run like MCDONALD's, Health Secretary Matt Hancock claims

NHS should be run like MCDONALD's, Health Secretary Matt Hancock claims The NHS should look to McDonald's to improve its leadership, according to the Health and Social Care Secretary.

Matt Hancock praised the fast food chain's training and support programmes in a speech that emphasised the importance of leadership in the health service. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The King’s Fund response to Matt Hancock’s speech on leadership The King's Fund
• NHS managers will be trained by the army in bid to boost leadership skills The Daily Telegraph
• NHS should learn from McDonalds says Health Secretary The Daily Telegraph

Sir Ron Kerr review: empowering NHS leaders to lead

Sir Ron Kerr review: empowering NHS leaders to lead This review was led by Sir Ron Kerr and explored 3 challenges faced by executive leaders across the NHS:

• expectations and support available for leaders
• alignment of performance expectations at the organisational and system level
• level of administrative burden placed upon executive leaders

The review makes a number of recommendations to address these challenges. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Ex-NHS chief finds 'bullying and discrimination prevalent' in official review Health Service Journal

Leadership in integrated care systems

Leadership in integrated care systems This paper, aimed at chief executives, directors and senior managers from the NHS, local authorities, housing organisations and voluntary and community sector, is based on findings from interviews with systems leaders and a review of the literature. The NHS Leadership Academy commissioned SCIE to undertake this research to further expand the understanding of systems leadership and leadership of integrated care systems. Free registration is required to access this document. Social Care Institute for Excellence

Health at a glance: Europe 2018

Health at a glance: Europe 2018 This report states that mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders and alcohol and drug use disorders, affect more than one in six people across the European Union in any given year. Besides the impact on people’s well-being, the report estimates the total costs of mental ill-health at over EUR 600 billion – or more than four per cent of GDP – across the 28 EU countries. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust remains 'inadequate'

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust remains 'inadequate' England's worst performing mental health trust has been rated inadequate for a third time, with patients trying to take their lives waiting for care.

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) had unsafe acute wards and was seriously understaffed.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said bosses repeatedly failed to protect patients and a charity has called for the government to intervene.

NSFT said it was disappointed but "determined to get things right". BBC News

See also:

• The lives lost in Norfolk and Suffolk's mental health crisis Eastern Daily Press

NHS no deal Brexit plans will be activated 'before Christmas' if MPs vote down May's deal, health secretary says

NHS no deal Brexit plans will be activated 'before Christmas' if MPs vote down May's deal, health secretary says Contingency plans to ensure the supply of medicines and other health services will be triggered before Christmas if Theresa May’s Brexit deal fails to get MP’s backing next month, the head of NHS England has admitted.

Simon Stevens, told the Commons Health Committee that plans for a no dealBrexit, some costing “tens of millions of pounds", would need activating within weeks if the transition plan is voted down on 11 December.

Contracts to take on additional warehouses and refrigerator capacity for drug stockpiles and other biological materials would be included in these expenses. The Independent

No more silk pyjamas: NHS cracks down on ineffective treatments

No more silk pyjamas: NHS cracks down on ineffective treatments Health service in England plans to stop eight treatments in attempt to save £68m a year

NHS England is to stop buying silk pyjamas for patients who have serious skin conditions as part of a crackdown on treatments it says are not proven to work.

The health service plans to no longer purchase silk nightwear and gloves for people with eczema and dermatitis because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness.

Aliskiren, a blood pressure drug, saving an estimated £939,300

Amiodarone, for abnormal heart rhythms (£1.1m)

Dronedarone, given to patients with atrial fibrillation (1.7m)

Minocycline, prescribed for acne (£637,400) The Guardian

Pharma firm sold mesh implant despite pain warnings

Pharma firm sold mesh implant despite pain warnings A vaginal mesh implant made by one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical firms was launched despite the company being warned it could shrink and harden inside the body, company documents reveal.

Internal emails between executives, shared with the Guardian, show staff at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) were concerned that the plastic material the mesh was made from had the potential to turn “hard as a rock” and roll up like a “folded potato chip” inside patients.

Despite this risk, the Prolift implant was made available in 2005 and marketed for seven years. In one exchange, staff discussed how “shrinkage of the mesh may lead to pain”.

See also:

• Pharma company 'KNEW vaginal mesh implant would leave women in pain' The Daily Mail

Attempts to divert patients from A&E make little difference

Attempts to divert patients from A&E make little difference Attempts to reduce pressure on Accident and Emergency departments by diverting the least sick do little to cut attendances or save money, new research suggests.

The study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, found little evidence that schemes which try to weed out “low need” patients and send them to GPs and minor injuries units help to cut crowding in casualty units. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Interventions to improve patient flow in emergency departments: an umbrella review Emergency Medicine Journal

Cervical cancer screening rate falls to lowest for at least 21 years

Cervical cancer screening rate falls to lowest for at least 21 years The proportion of women attending cervical screening is the lowest for at least 21 years, new figures show.

The statistics show that just 71.4 per cent of women in England are attending screening - the lowest since 1997 - and a fall from 75.7 per cent in 2011.

Experts said difficulties getting GP appointments for a smear test were fuelling the decline.

The figures show screening coverage is higher among older women than younger women. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Cervical screening programme 2017-18 NHS Digital
• Record FIVE MILLION British women are overdue for life-saving smear tests The Daily Mail
• Women going to cervical cancer screening falls to 21-year low, official figures show The Independent

Why has it taken so long to wake up to the danger implants that caused 1,000 deaths?

Why has it taken so long to wake up to the danger implants that caused 1,000 deaths? Carl Heneghan, a professor of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, details his shock and annoyance at the regulation of medical devices. The Daily Mail

Urgent care company collapse leaves GPs just 10 days to find out-of-hours cover

Urgent care company collapse leaves GPs just 10 days to find out-of-hours cover A number of GP practices are being forced to urgently seek replacement out-of-hours cover after the private company providing services on their behalf gave them just 10 days' notice of ceasing operations.

Primecare, which forms part of the financially struggling Allied Healthcare group, wrote last week to over 20 Birmingham GP practices for which it directly provides out-of-hours cover, informing them they would stop services by the end of the month.

The decison also affects a number of CCGs, which have been told the services they contract from Primecare will cease by mid-December.

NHS Walsall CCG, NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG, NHS Herefordshire CCG and NHS Nene CCG all hold out-of-hours and urgent care services contract with the company, while Primecare also forms part of a wider NHS 111 and out-of-hours contract covering more than a dozen West Midlands CCGs. Pulse

Cancer care: England still lagging behind the best

Unfinished business: An assessment of the national approach to improving cancer services in England 1995–2015 This report looks at progress in cancer care over two decades. It finds that progress has been made on reducing mortality, and improving the chances of survival and the experience of care, for people in England diagnosed with cancer.

However, despite persistent ambitions to be the best in Europe and the world, the gap in survival rates has not been closed.

The report sets out recommendations to help close the gap in survival between England and other comparable countries. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Radical rethink required to close gap on cancer survival between England and comparable countries The Health Foundation
• Cancer care: England still lagging behind the best BBC News

Shedding light on service design involving patients and the public

Shedding light on service design involving patients and the public One of the most satisfying aspects of patient and public involvement (PPI) is the ability to look back at a project and clearly see how the patient voice had meaningful impact. Using patient insight data to influence change is a lengthy process, with the ‘truth’ emerging slowly during systematic analysis of all the data that’s been gathered over the preceding weeks, months or years. Much rarer are the occasions when something emerges during a lone workshop or focus group that is clearly going to redefine the way you think about a particular problem; the 'lightbulb moment'. The King's Fund

Radical changes needed to tackle stalling health improvements

Radical changes needed to tackle stalling health improvements The King’s Fund has warned that, without radical change, progress in improving the population’s health is at risk of grinding to a halt.

Health improvements over the last century have meant that each generation has lived longer, healthier lives than their predecessors. But in a new report, The King’s Fund argues that this can no longer be taken for granted, highlighting a number of key measures against which progress has stalled.

Policing and mental health: Picking up the pieces

Policing and mental health: Picking up the pieces In 2017, we inspected all 43 police forces in England and Wales and the British Transport Police on their effectiveness, as part of our PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy) inspection programme.

One of the main areas we inspect in effectiveness is how well the police protect those who are vulnerable, and support victims. For the first time within this area, we inspected how effectively police respond to and support people with mental health problems. This report sets out our findings. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services

See also:

• Police cannot fix a broken mental health system Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services
• Mental health: Five people called Met Police 8,655 times in 2017 BBC News
• Police taking calls on mental health issues every two minutes, watchdog warns The Daily Telegraph
• Police 'picking up pieces of mental health system', says watchdog The Guardian
• NHS failings 'forcing police to respond to mental health incidents rather than crimes', report finds The Independent
• Police stepping in for struggling mental health services Sky News

Less than a third of doctors involved in winter planning, new RCP poll finds

Less than a third of doctors involved in winter planning, new RCP poll finds Less than a third of doctors (29%) responding to a poll by the RCP say they have been asked to take part in planning for winter, despite last winter being one of the worst on record for the NHS and extra pressure over summer due to the heatwave.

This low level of involvement may explain why over half (56%) of participants say they are worried or very worried about the ability of their service to deliver safe patient care this winter, with only 17% saying they are confident or very confident. Royal College of Physicians 

See also:

• Half of medical staff fear they will NOT be able to keep patients safe this winter, poll reveals The Daily Mail
• Most doctors fear hospitals won't cope this winter The Guardian
• Hospital staff fear for safety of NHS patients this winter, new poll reveals The Independent

Investigating recent developments in the commissioning system: final report

Investigating recent developments in the commissioning system: final report There is now a more complex local landscape of organisations all of which need to be involved in the planning of local services; and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) need to be able to find ways to engage with them effectively. This project investigated the initial stages of this process. The questions addressed by the research were: how are CCG internal processes of decision making changing?; what is the role of the individual CCG in the current commissioning landscape?; how is accountability maintained by CCGs in the current commissioning landscape?; how is competition and the current pricing regime relevant to CCGs’ commissioning decisions?; and how should commissioning develop? Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System

Safety concerns raised over breast implants

Safety concerns raised over breast implants An investigation has raised safety concerns about the most commonly used type of silicone breast implant in the UK.

Women in France are now being advised not to use "textured" silicone implants while authorities investigate links with a rare form of cancer.

British women are still having the implants put in and there has been no warning from the UK regulator to stop.

It says it will take action when it sees there is a problem. BBC News

LGBT+ people's health 'seen as less important to NHS', equalities committee warns

LGBT+ people's health 'seen as less important to NHS', equalities committee warns The NHS has been accused of treating the health needs of gay, transgender and other LGBT+ people as “less important” than the wider population by the head of parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee.

After receiving evidence from more than 60 groups as part of an inquiry into health and social care support for LGBT+ communities, the committee’s chair, Maria Miller MP, said the “NHS is not delivering”.

The committee is currently working on a report on the issue, but has published evidence on the “stark” inequalities that exist in access and health outcomes for LGBT+ people. The Independent

See also:

• Health and social care and LGBT communities inquiry Women and Equalities Committee

NHS to save £300m on cost of most expensive drug

NHS to save £300m on cost of most expensive drug The NHS is set to save a record £300m after negotiating deals with five manufacturers on low-cost versions of the health service’s most costly drug.

The saving – the biggest in NHS history from a single drug negotiation – could pay for 11,700 more community nurses or 19,800 more breast cancer treatments for patients.

The deal has come about through the introduction of “biosimilar” versions of adalimumab, which is prescribed to more than 46,000 patients for hospital-treated, serious conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. The Independent

NHS to look into deaths of 100,000 mental health patients a year

NHS to look into deaths of 100,000 mental health patients a year The NHS is to start investigating the deaths of more than 100,0000 mental health patients a year in a drive to cut the number of fatalities linked to poor care.

England’s 54 specialist mental health trusts have been told to start looking into every death in an effort to learn from mistakes.

In future they should more fully investigate cases in which the patient may have received poor or unsafe care, especially if they had bipolar disorder or an eating disorder. The Guardian

See also:

• Landmark learning-from-deaths guidance launched Royal College of Psychiatrists

Thyroid patients left to battle weight gain as NHS bosses refuse to pay for crucial medication

Thyroid patients left to battle weight gain as NHS bosses refuse to pay for crucial medication Patients suffering from thyroid conditions are being routinely abandoned to gain weight because NHS bosses refuse to pay for unnecessarily expensive life-changing drugs, a report has found.

An investigation commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care reveals potentially thousands of patients are being left to battle excess weight as well as diabetes, depression and heart problems because of the back-door rationing. The Daily Telegraph

Northampton-based crisis response team praised by watchdog for 'respectful, cheery staff'

Northampton-based crisis response team praised by watchdog for 'respectful, cheery staff'
A Northampton-based crisis team created to treat people in their own homes after falling or suffering an incident has been commended by the health watchdog.

The Crisis Response Team (CRT) - operated by Northamptonshire County Council - has scored a 'good' rating in all areas and has been praised for treating patients with dignity, respect and a 'cheery approach'.

The service was formerly run by Olympus Care Services Ltd, a company which was created by the county council's ex-CEO Paul Blantern to manage key services. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Medical device rules need 'drastic change' to protect patients

Medical device rules need 'drastic change' to protect patients Urgent and drastic changes to the rules around medical devices, such as pacemakers, are needed to protect patients, according to the Royal College of Surgeons. It wants a register of every device in every patient set up so doctors know if new innovations are causing harm.

An investigation by 58 media organisations has uncovered patients being given implants that were unsafe. The government said it would look at what changes may be required. Medical devices range from implanted contraceptives to hip replacements to pacemakers in the heart. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• RCS statement on medical device regulation Royal College of Surgeons
• Patients given unsafe medical implants BBC News - Health
• The therapy tested on pigs and corpses BBC News- Health
• 1,000 patients died in three years ‘after having faulty implants' Mail Online
• Firm pays out to NHS over defective hip replacements The Guardian

NHS saves record £300 million by switching to cheaper arthritis drug

NHS saves record £300 million by switching to cheaper arthritis drug The NHS is set to save a record £300 million after negotiating deals with five manufacturers on low-cost versions of the health service's most costly drug.

The saving - the biggest in NHS history from a single drug negotiation - could pay for 11,700 more community nurses or 19,800 more breast cancer treatments for patients.

The deal has come about through the introduction of "biosimilar" versions of adalimumab, which is prescribed to more than 46,000 patients for hospital-treated, serious conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. The Telegraph

See Also:

• NHS set to save record £300 million on the NHS’s highest drug spend NHS England
• NHS replaces highest-spend drug with £300m cheaper alternative The Guardian
• NHS ditches its 'most expensive drug' which is used by 46,000 arthritis sufferers in bid to save £300million

NHS facing huge shortfall without Treasury injection

NHS facing huge shortfall without Treasury injection Inflation since government’s funding pledge in the summer means billions more may be needed

The NHS risks ending up with billions of pounds less than anticipated from the government’s flagship funding pledge unless it can secure a further cash injection from the Treasury, it has emerged.

Theresa May announced in the summer that funds for NHS England would be boosted by £20.5bn by 2023-24, in an intervention designed to calm concerns about the pressures on the service and to improve cancer and mental health services. But there are now concerns that an increase in inflation since the pledge was made will see a “substantial” shortfall. The Guardian

Mental health stigma in schools: helping young people access support

Mental health stigma in schools: helping young people access support Lucinda Powell considers a recent systematic review of qualitative evidence on stigma related to targeted school-based mental health interventions. The review provides some interesting findings and useful strategies, given the recent UK government announcement that they are backing plans to make specialist mental health provision available in schools. Mental Elf

Government launches new strategy for veteran support

Government launches new strategy for veteran support A new ten-year strategy has been launched focusing on the UK-wide support of veterans.


Launched only days after the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the strategy outlines a new vision and principles in support of those who have served in the UK Armed Forces and their families. NHS Employers

Proposed changes to NMC language test requirements

Proposed changes to NMC language test requirements The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will consider proposed changes to the requirements for overseas nurses taking the International English Language Test System (IELTS) in its council meeting on 28 November.

The NMC has received feedback that despite being able to communicate to a high level in English, many nurses and midwives taking the IELTS test were just missing out on achieving a level 7.

Under the proposal, nurses and midwives will still be required to achieve a minimum overall level 7 in the ILETS test, but a level of 6.5 in writing alongside a level 7 in reading, listening and speaking will be accepted. NHS Employers

Survey charts decline of community mental health services

Survey charts decline of community mental health services People’s experiences of the care they receive from community-based mental health services have continued to deteriorate, according to an annual survey from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Pioneering heart procedure performed at KGH

Pioneering heart procedure performed at KGH A new procedure to treat calcified heart arteries using sonic pressure waves has been performed at Kettering General Hospital for the first time.

Consultant interventional cardiologist Dr Prashanth Raju, assisted by cardiology registrar Dr Abdelmunam Tumy, performed the Shockwave Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy on Wellingborough man Jack Hadley earlier this month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Unsafe' Northampton care home failed to notice when residents were poorly or sick, inspectors say

'Unsafe' Northampton care home failed to notice when residents were poorly or sick, inspectors say
Northampton care home where staff failed to notice or take action when its elderly residents were poorly has been branded 'unsafe' by the health watchdog.

In the past two years, Pytchley Court Nursing Home, in Brixworth, has failed to meet standards despite inspectors visiting five separate times to tell them how to improve.

But in its newest report published last week (November 12), the home has now slipped into an 'inadequate' rating after the CQC found repeated failures to make sure its residents were safe. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Pytchley Court Nursing Home Care Quality Commission

Prevention is better than cure – except when it comes to paying for it

Prevention is better than cure – except when it comes to paying for it We welcome Matt Hancock’s signal and intent that prevention will be one of three priorities distinguishing his time as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The policy paper, Prevention is better than cure recognises the complex factors that drive population health and announces a Green Paper to come next year. It also sets out a long list of existing government actions and commitments but stops short of committing to anything new in the short term. The King's Fund

Guidance for trusts on homelessness referrals

Guidance for trusts on homelessness referrals On 1 October 2018, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 introduced a new legal duty on some public services to refer service users they consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness to a local housing authority.

This guidance provides an overview of the duty to refer for NHS staff, including how to make a referral to a local authority. Department of Health and Social Care

October flu figures show 6,000 more staff get their flu jab

October flu figures show 6,000 more staff get their flu jab Public Health England have today released the first figures for the 2018/19 flu season showing that 6,785 more frontline healthcare workers received the flu vaccine from 1st September 2018 to 31st October 2018 compared to the same period last year. NHS Employers

See also:

• Official Statistics: Seasonal flu vaccine uptake in healthcare workers: monthly data, 2018 to 2019 Public Health England

Why catching cancer earlier is so important

Why catching cancer earlier is so important A leading cancer expert says making treatment more straightforward for patients is the key to catching tumours early and improving survival rates.

In future, all potential cancer patients - whether having obvious signs or less clear symptoms - will be treated by the same route, rather than being on two different paths.

The NHS in Wales will be the first health service in the UK to do it this way. BBC News

Youth mental health - what's going on?

Youth mental health - what's going on? Nearly one in four young women has some form of mental illness, a new NHS report has found. LGBT teens are also much more at risk.

The findings are based on a survey of more than 9,000 young people in England, the first update of the report in 13 years.

Overall, among children aged five to 15, one in nine had a mental health disorder, up from one in 10 in the previous study. BBC News

See also:

• Our response to the prevalence survey on the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Better access to mental health services for children and young people needed in the community says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Poor mental health 'took so much of my life' BBC News
• Defiant toddlers are being branded mentally unwell, NHS report finds The Daily Telegraph
• Fifth of 17 to 19-year-old girls self-harm or attempt suicide The Guardian
• What is happening with children’s mental health? The Guardian
• 'I felt so worthless': two teenagers on their mental health struggles The Guardian
• Shortchanging the next generation’s mental health is a false economy the country can ill afford The Independent

FGM aid: New £50m package to protect millions of girls from female genital mutilation around world

FGM aid: New £50m package to protect millions of girls from female genital mutilation around world Britain will ramp up efforts to end the devastating practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) with a £50m aid package to end the abuse of women and girls around the world.

Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, announced a cash boost to local projects across Africa over the next five years, as part of efforts to end the practice by 2030.

FGM, which refers to any procedure to alter female genital organs for non-medical reasons, can cause infection, scarring, childbirth complications and mental trauma. The Independent

See also:

• UK pledges £50m to help end FGM in Africa BBC News
• The village that's eradicated FGM BBC News

Life expectancy falling for women in poorest areas of England

Life expectancy falling for women in poorest areas of England The life expectancy of women in the most deprived areas of England is falling, new research has revealed.

Previous research has shown those in more affluent areas have a greater life expectancy than those in poorer ones, but researchers have found the gap is widening, with experts saying lives are being lost to preventable and treatable diseases as a result of rising poverty.

The team say the growing gap is probably down to a combination of factors, including the relatively high price of healthy food and difficulty accessing healthcare – factors they say have been exacerbated by issues such as the gig economy and austerity policies. The Guardian

See also:

• Contributions of diseases and injuries to widening life expectancy inequalities in England from 2001 to 2016: a population-based analysis of vital registration data (open access) The Lancet Public Health
• Life expectancy gap in England continues to widen between the rich and the poor, new study claims The Daily Mail

Internet may be fuelling hypochondria after ‘Google diagnoses’ surge by more than 8,700% in 3 years

Internet may be fuelling hypochondria after ‘Google diagnoses’ surge by more than 8,700% in 3 years Britons are turning to Google more than 100,000 times a year to self-diagnose and find cures, new research shows.

UK search volumes for terms such as 'how to know if chest pains are serious' have risen by 8,781 per cent from 2015 to 2018, analysis of Google data has found.

It raises concerns that searching symptoms online is fueling hypochondria.

Searches for treatment for sciatica, acne and IBS have been the most common ovver the past three years. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Most googled medical symptoms in the UK Perkbox Medical

Thousands of lung-cancer patients will get access to a life-saving treatment on the NHS

Thousands of lung-cancer patients will get access to a life-saving treatment on the NHS NHS drugs watchdog NICE gave the green light to a pilot of the treatment, making available to more than 3,000 patients over the next 18 months. It may then become a routine therapy. The Daily Mail

See also:

• New life-extending lung cancer treatment approved by NICE National Institute of Health and Care Excellence 

Winners of 2018 HSJ Award for Provider Trust of the Year revealed - Northamptonshire Healthcare

Winners of 2018 HSJ Award for Provider Trust of the Year revealed - Northamptonshire Healthcare No one could accuse leaders at Northamptonshire Healthcare FT of setting their sights low. The overall aim is to support change and growth both locally and on a national scale. Individual goals include demonstrably changing cultures to influence care; delivering innovations that change lives; staying financially robust in a challenged climate; and developing strong partnership working. Health Service Journal

Ketamine: Can it treat depression?

Ketamine: Can it treat depression? Ketamine has a reputation as a party drug but a handful of clinics in the UK now legally offer it as a treatment for the most severe types of depression.

BBC Like Minds meets two patients who have regular infusions, as all other treatments have failed. Featuring staff and patients at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. BBC News

Record NHS funding to give patients a better alternative to hospital

Record NHS funding to give patients a better alternative to hospital More NHS patients will be cared for at home and in their community to avoid them going into or staying in hospital unnecessarily, Theresa May announced.

Ahead of a visit to a north London health centre she pledged to cut needless hospital admissions and help inpatients return home sooner – through community-based rapid response teams and dedicated support for care home residents. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• New money will not lead to a big shift in services Nuffield Trust
• General practice must be a key recipient of new funding for primary and community care, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• NHS to spend £3.5bn on mobile medical teams to help keep elderly patients out of hospital The Daily Mail
• Community healthcare in line for £3.5bn annual funding boost The Guardian
• Theresa May's £3.5bn for out-of-hospital care revolution not enough to deliver significant changes, experts warn The Independent

Mental health: One in four young women struggling

Mental health: One in four young women struggling Nearly one in four young women have a mental illness, with emotional problems such as depression and anxiety the most common, figures for England show.

The official NHS report found young women aged 17 to 19 were twice as likely as young men to have problems, with 23.9% reporting a disorder.

In children aged five to 15, one in nine had a disorder, up from one in 10 when the review was done 13 years ago.

The findings are based on a survey of more than 9,000 young people. BBC News

See also:

• Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017 NHS Digital

'Vast gap' in child mental health support in England

'Vast gap' in child mental health support in England There is a "vast gap" in the support provided by the NHS for children with mental health problems, the Children's Commissioner in England says.

Anne Longfield's report criticised slow progress made in improving specialist community services for children.

She said waiting times were too long and was concerned about numbers being rejected by services in some areas.

It comes as the NHS prepares to publish a major report into mental health problems among the young. BBC News

See also:

• Analysis shows children’s mental health services are showing signs of improvement – but a seismic shift in ambition still needed to meet demand Children's Commissioner 
• EVERY school should have mental health officers to tackle child welfare crisis, insists watchdog The Daily Mail

Type 2 diabetes affects 7,000 under-25s in England and Wales

Type 2 diabetes affects 7,000 under-25s in England and Wales There are nearly 7,000 children and young adults under 25 with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales - about 10 times the number reported before, according to Diabetes UK.

Its analysis of 2016-17 data found most were being treated in GP practices rather than in specialist units.

The condition is linked to obesity and is more aggressive in children.

Child health experts said the government should act now to implement proposals to cut childhood obesity. BBC News

See also:

• National Diabetes Audit Report 1- Findings and Recommendations 2016-17 NHS Digital
• Number of young Britons suffering from diabetes sufferers is 'TEN times higher than expected' The Daily Mail
• Type 2 diabetes now affects nearly 7,000 young Britons The Guardian
• Sugary treats which cause obesity account for 70% of items at supermarket checkouts, research finds The Independent

Antidepressant prescribing rose in England after EU referendum

Antidepressant prescribing rose in England after EU referendum Increased uncertainty about the future might have lain behind the rise in antidepressant prescribing in England after the EU referendum in 2016, researchers have suggested in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. They proposed in their research report that mental health provision ought to be strengthened during such periods in future. OnMedica

Language requirements for foreign nurses to be relaxed amid staffing crisis

Language requirements for foreign nurses to be relaxed amid staffing crisis The current English language requirements for foreign nurses and midwives is set to be lowered under new proposals from the regulator.

The move by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is intended to ease the “significant pressure” currently on the NHS workforce.

NMC plans to change the requirements to ensure that those who are “just missing out” make the cut. The Independent

See also:

• NMC proposes changes to English language test Nursing and Midwifery Council
• English language tests will be made easier for foreign nurses to beat staff shortages in NHS The Daily Mail
• Language tests for foreign nurses to be made easier, regulator proposes The Daily Telegraph

UK teenagers turn to mobile apps to help with mental ill health

UK teenagers turn to mobile apps to help with mental ill health Usage of apps that help cope with anxiety, self-harm and depression has soared recently

Tens of thousands of young people in Britain who are struggling with their mental health are seeking help online for problems such as anxiety, self-harm and depression.

Soaring numbers of under-18s are turning to apps, online counselling and “mood diaries” to help them manage and recover from conditions that have left them feeling low, isolated and, in some cases, suicidal. The Guardian

UK pledges £5m to fight 'super gonorrhea'

UK pledges £5m to fight 'super gonorrhea' The UK government has pledged £5 million for the development of new tools for the diagnosis of “super gonorrhoea” as part of a renewed push to combat the rising tide of superbugs around the world.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, has announced an extra £11.5 million to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), nearly half of which will go on the development of a rapid, point-of-care test for drug-resistant gonorrhoea. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Government promises more funding to fight superbugs Department of Health and Social Care

NHS trusts will be forced to publish concerns raised by staff and patients in wake of Gosport scandal

NHS trusts will be forced to publish concerns raised by staff and patients in wake of Gosport scandal NHS trusts will be forced to publish concerns raised by staff and patients about their care in the wake of the Gosport scandal, the Health Secretary announced on Tuesday.

In a statement to Parliament, Matt Hancock set out the Government’s response to the Gosport Independent Panel’s Report, which was published earlier this year.

At the heart of his speech was the importance of listening to the NHS staff, patients and their families who speak up with concerns – something that did not happen at Gosport War Memorial Hospital at the time. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Gosport hospital deaths: Whistleblowers promised support BBC News

Uncertain future for 'at home' dementia service ran by Northamptonshire County Council

Uncertain future for 'at home' dementia service ran by Northamptonshire County Council A consultation is set to be held over the future of an ‘at home’ dementia service run by Northamptonshire County Council. 

The consultation will ask whether the service should continue to be provided in-house by Northamptonshire Adult Social Services, or whether the customers should receive these services from other providers. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Children born in poorer areas of Northamptonshire have a decade less in life expectancy

Children born in poorer areas of Northamptonshire have a decade less in life expectancy Children born in deprived areas of Northamptonshire are expected to have a shorter life expectancy by almost a decade than those born into affluence.

The stark life expectancy gap within the county was revealed in the latest report by Lucy Wightman, the county’s director for public health. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The nation's health as an asset: Building the evidence on the social and economic value of health

The nation's health as an asset: Building the evidence on the social and economic value of health This briefing makes the case for the nation’s health to be viewed as an asset that requires long-term investment for our society to prosper.

It also describes a £2m research programme, funded by the Health Foundation, that will assess the effect of an individual’s health on their social and economic outcomes.

Same-day emergency clinics could save NHS 14,000 extra beds

Same-day emergency clinics could save NHS 14,000 extra beds Senior medics have warned the NHS is “on borrowed time” as winter approaches – but say better use of same-day emergency clinics could save at least 14,000 overnight hospital stays.

In a report released today, Winter 2018/19 in the NHS: The solutions, the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) calls on the government and NHS leaders to “realise urgently” the potential of ambulatory emergency care (AEC).

The service, which sits within acute medical units, offers an alternative to hospital admission for patients with serious medical problems who might otherwise have spent at least one night in a hospital bed.

See also:

• NHS winter crisis can be avoided with ambulatory care, say doctors The Guardian

Age is just a number: views among people aged 50 and over in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Age is just a number: views among people aged 50 and over in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing This analysis of the most recent data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) shows that across the whole sample of more than 6,000 people aged 50 and over in England, most are feeling fairly good about ageing, with 60 per cent saying that growing older is a positive experience. However there are large and consistent differences by socioeconomic status. Centre for Ageing Better

The hospitals that fail to treat patients on time

The hospitals that fail to treat patients on time Nearly one in five local hospital services are consistently failing to hit any of their key waiting-time targets, BBC analysis shows.

Twenty-nine hospital trusts and boards out of 157 have not hit a single target for a whole year.

Northern Ireland is struggling the most - all five trusts have failed their key targets for A&E, cancer and routine operations every time in 2017-18.

NHS leaders said the NHS was facing a very difficult winter. BBC News

See also:

• A FIFTH of NHS hospitals are failing to treat their patients on time The Daily Mail
• A fifth of NHS hospitals are missing all their waiting list targets this year, figures show The Daily Telegraph
• Dozens of NHS trusts fail key targets on waiting times for a year The Independent

NHS claims IAPT programme had over 50% 'recovery' rate last year

NHS claims IAPT programme had over 50% 'recovery' rate last year The improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) programme met its target for a 50% recovery rate from depression and anxiety for the first time last year.

This is according to NHS Digital statistics, which found 51% of patients who finished a course of treatment in 2017/18 were considered recovered. Pulse

Doctors call for ‘learn not blame’ culture in NHS

Doctors call for ‘learn not blame’ culture in NHS We need a just culture in the NHS in which every individual patient and staff member is valued and cared for, doctors have demandedthis morning. At the launch in Westminster of their "Learn Not Blame" campaign, The Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) lobbied for a revolution in NHS culture to one that celebrates professionals’ success and good work, and also “acknowledges and learns in a constructive and fair manner when things go wrong”. OnMedica

Children under 10 among those given strong antidepressants in UK

Children under 10 among those given strong antidepressants in UK Guidance warns against prescribing paroxetine and venlafaxine due to risk of suicide

Children aged 10 and under are among hundreds of young people being given strong antidepressant drugs – in breach of official guidance – that increase the risk of suicide, the Guardian can reveal.

Figures show 597 children and teenagers were given paroxetine and venlafaxine last year. Government guidance cautions against their use due to increased suicidal thoughts and behaviour in younger people, but some experts argue they can be used as a last resort when all other treatments have failed. The Guardian

Mental health hospital admissions linked to cocaine use treble in 10 years

Mental health hospital admissions linked to cocaine use treble in 10 years NHS data shows surge in England, with increased availability of drug and government cuts blamed

The number of hospital admissions for mental health disorders linked to cocaine use has almost trebled in the past decade, official figures show.

NHS Digital data has shown that in England between 2017-18 there were 14,470 admissions where patients were experiencing mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cocaine. The number was up year-on-year, substantially higher than the 5,148 between 2007-08. The figures did not distinguish between powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. The Guardian

Terror attack victims let down by NHS mental health services

Terror attack victims let down by NHS mental health services Victims of terror attacks are waiting up to 14 months for their trauma to be treated by NHS mental health services, the biggest study of its kind reveals today.

Some of the adults and children injured, bereaved or caught up in terror attacks have become so desperate they have paid for their treatment rather than wait any longer.

More than three quarters (76%) of the 271 survivors of terror attacks who took part in the unique study said they felt let down and believed mental health services require improvement. Three quarters of those felt the improvement needed should be “dramatic.” The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Terror survivors: Mental health services must improve 'dramatically' BBC News

One in five cancer sufferers face discrimination in the workplace

One in five cancer sufferers face discrimination in the workplace Record number of cancer sufferers are facing discrimination at work as employers fear they will not pull their weight, a study by Macmillan Cancer reveals today.

The number of calls to the charity from cancer victims with work-related problems rose by 74% , up from fewer than 1,000 in 2015/16 to 1,711 in the year to May. Already this calendar year, they have received 3,000. The Daily Telegraph

Majority of Northamptonshire patients have access to out of hours doctors' appointments

Majority of Northamptonshire patients have access to out of hours doctors' appointments The vast majority of patients in Northamptonshire had some access to out of hours appointments with a doctor at the end of September, according to NHS figures.

Data gathered from 61 practices in the NHS Nene CCG during the month showed that 11 per cent of patients, that’s some 67,194 people, could book an appointment on Saturday, Sunday or out of hours on a weekday.

A further 71 percent or 450,556 people had access at some of those times. But 114,200 had no access to appointments outside usual hours. Daventry Express

Briefing highlights 'pressing challenges facing NHS', says NHS Employers in response to report on staff shortages

Briefing highlights 'pressing challenges facing NHS', says NHS Employers in response to report on staff shortages Responding to the report, titled The health care workforce in England: Make or break?, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said:

“This briefing clearly highlights the pressing challenges facing the NHS in relation to its workforce.

“Employers are clear that there is much they need to do in their organisations to improve the experience of their people. National action is also required: we must secure more flexibility with the use of the apprenticeship levy, as well as reinstating funds to support CPD and workforce development.

“We will also continue to campaign, alongside our colleagues in the Cavendish Coalition, for a post-Brexit migration system that supports the recruitment of both highly trained health professionals and much needed, and valued, lower-wage roles in social care.”

Right treatment, right time

Right treatment, right time This survey of over 1,600 people on their experiences of care and treatment shows that people severely affected by mental illness are often waiting the longest for treatment and receiving the worst care. It found: 28 per cent were not referred to an appropriate service by their GP, 56 per cent did not receive treatment in the appropriate time, and 51 per cent found they did not receive treatment for a sufficient and appropriate length of time. Rethink Mental Illness
 

Letting local systems lead: how the long-term plan could deliver a more sustainable NHS

Letting local systems lead: how the long-term plan could deliver a more sustainable NHS According to this report, the NHS long-term plan must help bring about a “breakthrough” in the development of local health and care systems by allowing them greater freedom and minimising central control. The report calls for a focus on tackling the barriers to local system working as NHS England prepares to publish its blueprint for the coming decade. NHS Confederation

Medication for mental health: Call to 'end pill-shaming'

Medication for mental health: Call to 'end pill-shaming' "You're weak for taking them." "Why do you need that?" "I wouldn't date someone taking medication."

These are all examples of pill-shaming - where people criticise others and make them feel guilty for taking medication for their mental health.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is worried that people are being made to feel so ashamed that they're put off getting help for conditions such as anxiety and depression. BBC News

Blackpool hospital medic held over poisoning claims

Blackpool hospital medic held over poisoning claims A healthcare professional at a hospital has been arrested over the alleged administration of poison or a noxious substance to patients.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust raised concerns over care to some patients on 8 November, Lancashire Police said.

The allegations related to the alleged mistreatment and neglect of some patients on the stroke unit in November, police said. BBC News

Hospital noise levels growing worse, say researchers

Hospital noise levels growing worse, say researchers Noise levels in hospitals are getting worse, research suggests.

Anyone who has ever stayed overnight in a hospital will know how difficult it can be to sleep, surrounded by staff, machinery, trolleys and telephones.

In the UK, 40% of hospital patients are bothered by noise at night, according to in-patient surveys.

But it's not only the patients' wellbeing that may be affected - high noise levels can also have an impact on staff performance and burnout rates.

Researchers from King's College London say noise levels in intensive care - where the most vulnerable patients are looked after - regularly exceed 100 decibels. BBC News

Mental health patients have been thrown down the Brexit rabbit-hole | Zoe Williams

Mental health patients have been thrown down the Brexit rabbit-hole | Zoe Williams Normal government has effectively ceased, leaving a crucial health review on hold

The whole thing reads like a misprint: if you present at your GP’s with mild to moderate depression or anxiety, you will wait, on average, six weeks for treatment, which itself sounds like a significant amount of time. But if you arrive with a very severe mental illness – schizophrenia or bipolar disorder – you will wait much longer, 14 weeks, just for an assessment. The average wait for treatment to begin is 19 weeks. One in six people wait longer than six months. Parking the human beings for a second, it makes no sense as a system: physical and mental health are not equivalent, and having a psychotic episode is not the same as breaking your leg. But in the broadest possible terms, this is like fast-streaming people with arthritis while leaving cancer sufferers in a half-year limbo. It’s not a system anyone would design; it’s hard to fathom how it could simply evolve.

Reading the report from the charity Rethink Mental Illness, though, you cannot park the human beings for very long. Heartbreaking testimonies leap off the page: “These answers were on behalf of my husband, who sadly took his own life six weeks ago … I truly believe that, if he had received therapy sooner, he would still be here.” “I was left for months at a time with no contact from my community psychiatric nurse. Following a suicide attempt, I did not hear from them for a month.”

All the determination in the world cannot make more hours in the day, magic more staff on to community psychiatric teams The Guardian