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)