Leading for integrated care: 'If you think competition is hard, you should try collaboration'

Leading for integrated care: 'If you think competition is hard, you should try collaboration' The NHS long-term plan has reinforced the role of integrated care systems (ICSs) in establishing more collaborative working and joined-up care for patients and their local populations. ICSs will cover the whole of England by 2021.

As these systems evolve, strong leadership is needed to bring NHS, local authority, private and third sector organisations together.

Our interviews with the chairs and leads of both ICSs and the remaining sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) found that while progress is being made, there are also a number of challenges. The King's Fund

Nursing staff stretched to breaking point over workloads

Nursing staff stretched to breaking point over workloads Findings from the RCN’s recent employment survey show that nursing staff across the UK are under such pressure that six out of 10 say they cannot provide the level of care they want to.

The annual survey, which was first carried out in 1986, also shows that barely a quarter of respondents think their pay is appropriate for the level of responsibility and stress they face at work. Three in 10 say they have suffered physical abuse from patients, or patients’ relatives, in the last 12 months.

The survey also highlighted that health care assistants are increasingly being asked to take on the duties of registered nurses. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• RCN Employment Survey 2019 Royal College of Nursing
• 'We try our best as nurses, but it's not enough' BBC News

Patients’ experience of mental health services

Patients’ experience of mental health services  NHS England has published the latest statistical information on patients’ experience of mental health services in the NHS. This is an update to include results from the 2019 Community Mental Health Survey.

Prevention and mental health: understanding the evidence so that we can address the greatest health challenge of our times

Prevention and mental health: understanding the evidence so that we can address the greatest health challenge of our times This resource provides information on the scale of mental health problems in society, what shapes our mental health, an integrated model of mental health, how life events can affect mental health, the relationship between physical and mental health, the meaning of prevention and how society must change to put prevention front and centre.  It is aimed at policymakers, health professionals, mental health advocates and their families and friends. Mental Health Foundation

Estimating need in older people: findings for England

Estimating need in older people: findings for England This report outlines how ill health, poverty, unmet needs for care and support, poor housing, loneliness and social isolation are profound challenges for many older people. It estimates the numbers and percentages of people aged 65 and over in England with these disadvantages, and collates insights from older people’s own voices about the experience of living with them. Age UK

Smartphone 'addiction': Young people 'panicky' when denied mobiles

Smartphone 'addiction': Young people 'panicky' when denied mobiles Almost a quarter of young people are so dependent on their smartphones that it becomes like an addiction, suggests research by psychiatrists.

The study, from King's College London, says such addictive behaviour means that people become "panicky" or "upset" if they are denied constant access.

The youngsters also cannot control the amount of time they spend on the phone.

The study warns that such addictions have "serious consequences" for mental health. BBC News

See also:

• Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence (open access) BMC Psychiatry
• One in four children are 'addicted to their smartphones': Teenagers and young people become anxious and depressed when they're separated from their devices, new study reveals The Daily Mail
• Study finds one in four youngsters 'addicted' to smartphones ITV News

‘Disgraceful’: Furious families confront NHS trust bosses over maternity scandal as it emerges true extent may never be known

‘Disgraceful’: Furious families confront NHS trust bosses over maternity scandal as it emerges true extent may never be known The full extent of failings by the hospital trust at the centre of the largest NHS maternity scandal may never be known, it has emerged.

The chair of the independent investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust has warned that some records going back more than two decades may have been destroyed under NHS rules.

Writing exclusively for The Independent, midwife Donna Ockenden said she would strive to deliver answers for families, and she issued a public appeal for any parents with concerns about poor maternity care at the Shropshire trust to come forward.

See also:

• Shropshire baby deaths: 'This review is our babies' legacy' BBC News
• Midwife warns full extent of NHS maternity scandal in Shrewsbury and Telford may not be known The Daily Telegraph
• As the head of the review into the Shrewsbury and Telford maternity deaths, I ask any family affected to come forward (Donna Ockenden) The Independent
• NHS bosses threatened with lawsuit for blocking maternity report during election campaign The Independent

Hospital admissions for pensioners with drug-related conditions rises sixfold in ten years, figures reveal.

Hospital admissions for pensioners with drug-related conditions rises sixfold in ten years, figures reveal. The number of hospital admissions for pensioners with drug-related conditions has increased sixfold in the past decade, NHS figures have revealed.

Charities have said that more older people living with addiction, and that the social isolation of older people can exacerbate problematic drug use such as opium, making it more difficult to recover.

Figures released today by NHS Digital showed that in 2018/19 there were 3,078 admissions for those 65 and over, rising more than sixfold from 484 in 2008/9. The Daily Telegraph

Number of GPs in England FALLS by more than 300 in year despite Government pledge to hire more

Number of GPs in England FALLS by more than 300 in year despite Government pledge to hire more The NHS has haemorrhaged hundreds of GPs again this year despite Government pledges to hire thousands more, figures show.

Official data up to September revealed 339 family doctors quit the heath service in the last 12 months.

And almost as many GPs left the NHS between June 2018 and June 2019 as did in the entire three years to March.

Doctors' union the British Medical Association (BMA) said falling GP numbers mean strained GPs are risking their own health to catch up with huge workloads. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Drastic action needed to reverse declining GP numbers trend, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• The Government's pledge to boost GP ranks by 5,000 has fallen short by over 90%, new NHS figures have shown. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitalizations surge for sepsis, UTIs and kidney failure when air quality is poor, study reveals

Hospitalizations surge for sepsis, UTIs and kidney failure when air quality is poor, study reveals Hospital admission go up for a host of life-threatening illnesses - including sepsis, kidney failure and urinary tract infections - never before linked to pollution on days when air quality is poor, a new study reveals.

Even low exposure raises the risk of the potentially fatal illnesses, according to the research.

It adds to evidence there is no safe amount of tiny particles called PM2.5s that are pumped into the atmosphere by traffic and industry. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Short term exposure to fine particulate matter and hospital admission risks and costs in the Medicare population: time stratified, case crossover study (open access) The BMJ
• Yaguang Wei: The dangers of air pollution for human health The BMJ
• The health effects of fine particulate air pollution (editorial) The BMJ
• Impact of air pollution may be worse than previously thought OnMedica

Falling short: the NHS workforce challenge. Workforce profile and trends of the NHS in England

Falling short: the NHS workforce challenge. Workforce profile and trends of the NHS in England This is the fourth annual NHS workforce trends report published by the Health Foundation. In it, we analyse the changes in the size and composition of the NHS workforce in England in the context of long-term trends, policy priorities and future projected need.

This report builds on those of previous years to provide analysis of longer-term trends and insights into the changing NHS staff profile. It focuses specifically on the critical NHS workforce issues that have been repeatedly identified in recent years: nursing shortages, and shortages of staff in general practice and primary care. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Support staff and nurses from abroad plugging shortages in NHS workforce The Health Foundation
• Health and social care workforce: General Election 2019: priorities for the next government The Health Foundation
• Nursing shortages forcing NHS to rely on less qualified staff – report The Guardian
• Patients being put at risk as NHS substitute nurses for care staff with only a few weeks of training The Independent

Immunotherapy offers hope for men with prostate cancer

Immunotherapy offers hope for men with prostate cancer A major trial of an immunotherapy drug has shown it can be effective in some men with advanced prostate cancer.

The men had stopped responding to the main treatment options.

Researchers found that a small proportion of men, described as "super responders", remained well even after the trial ended, despite a very poor prognosis before treatment. BBC News

See also:

• Pembrolizumab for Treatment-Refractory Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Multicohort, Open-Label Phase II KEYNOTE-199 Study (abstract) Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Terminal prostate cancer patients could get 'two more years of life' with experimental drug The Daily Mail

General election 2019: NHS news under wraps until after polling day

General election 2019: NHS news under wraps until after polling day There have been calls for politicians to dial down the rhetoric in the health debate and to avoid "weaponising" the NHS.

The subject has been prominent in the election campaign and there is a widespread interest in understanding what is actually happening across the health service.

Political claims, counter-claims and rows over statistics don't always help that understanding. Some voters might feel they would like to hear from clinicians and other frontline staff.

But that won't be possible until after polling day because of a Cabinet Office policy known as "purdah" BBC News

General election 2019: Row over Labour's 'NHS for sale' claim

General election 2019: Row over Labour's 'NHS for sale' claim A row has broken out after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claimed he had "proof" the NHS was at risk under a post-Brexit trade deal with the US.

Mr Corbyn said he had a 451-page dossier showing initial talks had taken place, proving the NHS was "for sale".

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the claims were "nonsense" and the NHS would not be part of trade talks. BBC News

See also:

• General Election 2019: NHS is in no way on the table, says Johnson BBC News
• Jeremy Corbyn says Tories will put NHS 'up for sale' to US The Daily Mail
• Jeremy Corbyn reveals dossier 'proving NHS up for sale' The Guardian
• 'The NHS is not on the table': Boris Johnson denies Labour claims – video The Guardian
• Andrew Sparrow's election briefing: the NHS dossier The Guardian
• Corbyn says NHS will be on the table in US trade talks Sky News

‘I cry every day’: Anorexia patient forced to live 400 miles from home because of NHS bed crisis

‘I cry every day’: Anorexia patient forced to live 400 miles from home because of NHS bed crisis A student midwife battling anorexia is being forced to live almost 400 miles from her home in Norfolk because of a chronic shortage of specialist beds in the NHS.

Emily Gasparro, 20, is one of dozens of patients being forced to travel long distances across the UK to receive the help they need for serious mental health problems. The Independent

Record rise in student nurses – but unions warn it isn’t enough to cover NHS shortfall

Record rise in student nurses – but unions warn it isn’t enough to cover NHS shortfall The number of students accepted on nursing courses at UK universities has reached a record high – but unions warn that significant shortages remain in the workforce.

Figures from Ucas show the number of nursing applicants has risen by 6.7 per cent across the UK, ending a decline that began when the government scrapped bursaries for student nurses in 2017.

But unions say the numbers are still “nowhere near” enough to end the ”staffing crisis” facing the nursing sector. The Independent

Health service in UK lagging behind that of other wealthy countries

Health service in UK lagging behind that of other wealthy countries Britain's health service is lagging behind that of other high-income countries, research suggests.

The study by the London School of Economics and Harvard School of Public Health compared

ten countries, examining spending levels, and a range of indicators measuring quality of care. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Performance of UK National Health Service compared with other high income countries: observational study (open access). The BMJ

Doubling in number of overseas nurses coming to work in UK

Doubling in number of overseas nurses coming to work in UK The number of foreign nurses coming to work in Britain has doubled in just one year, a report shows.

The official figures show more 7,125 nurses who trained abroad registered for work in the UK in 2018/19 - up from 3,525 the year before. The Daily Telegraph

Major NHS hospital sees record 499 A&E patients in one 'manic' day

Major NHS hospital sees record 499 A&E patients in one 'manic' day One of the UK's biggest hospitals had a record-breaking number of people through the doors of its emergency department on Sunday.

The Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent dealt with 499 patients – the most it has ever had – under what its chief executive said was 'immense pressure'.

A normal day for the city A&E sees just 384, meaning the 'manic' rise added a a third more patients. The Daily Mail

Patients waiting to have NHS operations could lose promise of being seen in 18 weeks, documents reveal

Patients waiting to have NHS operations could lose promise of being seen in 18 weeks, documents reveal Patients waiting to have an operation on the NHS could lose the promise of being seen within 18 weeks as health bosses consider replacing the target with an average instead, it has emerged.

According to hospital documents, seen by the Health Service Journal, the new waiting-time target for NHS patients is expected to be changed from the current 18 weeks to an average wait of 8.5 weeks.

The NHS is field-testing new targets at 12 hospitals, including Northampton General Hospital Trust, where board papers said: “The target average wait is expected to be 8.5 weeks from referral although this has not yet been set. The current average at NGH is 11 weeks.” The Independent

See also:

• NHS could SCRAP its 18-week surgery waiting target even though 4.42MILLION people are on the list The Daily Mail
• New NHS plans could mean average wait of eight and a half weeks The Daily Telegraph
• Flagship waiting time target ‘expected’ to be relaxed Health Service Journal
• What would an 8.5 weeks average elective target look like? Health Service Journal

Why are we still waiting for solutions to the problems of social care?

Why are we still waiting for solutions to the problems of social care? Forget Brexit, there is a longer-running political failing: about how we treat the most vulnerable in our society. In 2014 I was proud to work with The King’s Fund on an independent Commission looking at the ambitious topic of a new settlement for health and social care. The Commission’s core conclusion, which still stands, was that, while health entitlements are generous, entitlements for social care fall well short of what is needed to enable older and disabled people to secure a decent standard of care. The King's Fund

Community mental health survey 2019

Community mental health survey 2019 Results from the 2019 community mental health survey show many of those areas identified as in need of improvement in 2018 have declined further, continuing the negative trend of results consistently declining over the 2014 – 2019 period. These include:

• seeing NHS mental health services often enough
• being given sufficient time to discuss needs and treatment
• agreeing care to be received and being involved in the process
• being given help and advice with finding support with physical health needs, financial advice or benefits

Positive experiences of NHS mental health services can be found in the organising care theme.

Some groups of people consistently reported poorer experiences of using mental health services. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• NHS mental health services 'are getting worse' and only 42% of patients get enough appointments The Daily Mail

NHS staff 'uncomfortable with tech giants handling patient data'

NHS staff 'uncomfortable with tech giants handling patient data' NHS staff feel uncomfortable with the prospect of multinational big tech companies analysing patient data, according to a new survey.

A YouGov poll of 1,027 healthcare professionals, commissioned by Sensyne Health, found that 81% supported the analysis of anonymised data to enable quicker diagnosis and more effective treatment for patients.

More than eight in 10 (85%) said they felt the NHS should receive a fair share of any financial gains made from subsequent medical discoveries, with 87% agreeing that the government should ensure that the NHS and UK taxpayers benefited from gains resulting from any analysis. Digital Health

Autism: 'Unprecedented' demand creates long appointment waits

Autism: 'Unprecedented' demand creates long appointment waits New data suggests some patients thought to have autism waited over 19 weeks for their first mental health appointments.

Patients at 10 out of 25 English health trusts waited an average of 137 days or more following referral, against a target of 91 days, in spring 2018.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) said the limited NHS statistics were "disappointing" as they only cover about a quarter of people referred. BBC News

Ketamine may reduce heavy drinkers' craving

Ketamine may reduce heavy drinkers' craving A one-off dose of ketamine may help heavy drinkers cut back on alcohol, an experimental trial by University College London suggests.

When the sedative was used to disrupt people's memories of why they wanted to drink, they drank less and their urge to drink lowered over nine months.

The researchers say ketamine could be a helpful treatment for alcohol and other addictions. BBC News

See also:

• Ketamine can reduce harmful drinking by pharmacologically rewriting drinking memories (open access) Nature Communications
• One shot of ketamine could reduce problem drinking University College London
• Injecting alcoholics with KETAMINE could help them quit problem drinking The Daily Mail
• One ketamine dose could help heavy drinkers reduce alcohol intake, study reveals The Independent

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hundreds of families come forward

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hundreds of families come forward Hundreds of families whose babies died or were left disabled at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust have come forward during the past week, it has emerged.

Following revelations by The Independent of widespread poor maternity care over four decades, more than 200 families are understood to have complained about maternity care at the trust.

See also:

• 'Hundreds more cases' in Shropshire maternity scandal BBC News
• Hundreds of potential new cases come forward in Shrewsbury maternity scandal The Daily Telegraph

Patients less likely to get physio after hip surgery if they are male and old

Patients less likely to get physio after hip surgery if they are male and old Older men who have had hip and knee operations are missing out on crucial physiotherapy, amid warnings too many are being left to fend for themselves.

The study - the first major research into provision of such treatment in the UK - shows significant inequalities in the likelihood of receiving treatment to restore mobility. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Demographic and geographical variability in physiotherapy provision following hip and knee replacement. An analysis from the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man (abstract) Physiotherapy

All parents will be sent reminders urging them to get their children vaccinated

All parents will be sent reminders urging them to get their children vaccinated Every family will receive reminders from their GPs when it is time for their children’s jabs, under a Tory pledge to reverse a decline in rates of vaccinations.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said the new system, which will primarily operate through text messages, would save lives, ensuring the nation’s children are healthy and protected. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Tories plan vaccination text reminders from GPs to boost uptake The Guardian

Europe and UK are spiralling towards a drugs overdose epidemic, study warns

Europe and UK are spiralling towards a drugs overdose epidemic, study warns Europe could be spiralling towards an opioid epidemic as an unprecedented surge of cheap, super-strength heroin hits the streets of EU nations, a major report warns.

Experts say the influx of the opiate, as well as a surge in the number of copycat drugs like fentanyl, could trigger an explosion in the number of overdoses.

A major EU report about the drugs market in the continent today revealed record amounts of heroin are being shipped into Western nations, and that man-made versions of the drug represent a 'growing health danger'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 2019 EU Drug Markets Report European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol
• Synthetic opioids account for fifth of addicts needing treatment, Europol reveals The Daily Telegraph 

Corrected contributions? Understanding the NHS pensions tax ‘trap’

Corrected contributions? Understanding the NHS pensions tax ‘trap’ Following an announcement in the media last week that the government has found a solution to the problem of doctors taking a dramatic financial hit through pensions tax for undertaking overtime shifts, Helen Buckingham explains the situation as it stands on the tax 'trap' debate. Nuffield Trust

Pregnancy and childbirth in prison: what do we know?

Pregnancy and childbirth in prison: what do we know? Following the recent death of a baby born in prison, Miranda Davies presents new findings on the plight of pregnant prisoners – a group whose health needs are not currently being met. Nuffield Trust

PHE and NHS England urge eligible people to get free flu vaccine

PHE and NHS England urge eligible people to get free flu vaccine Primary school flu vaccination programme resumes following temporary delay of nasal spray vaccine from the manufacturer. Public Health England

See also:

• Let’s do our duty: Top nurse leads NHS staff flu jab drive NHS England

Guide to caring for people with multiple long-term conditions

Guide to caring for people with multiple long-term conditions A guide from the taskforce on multiple conditions showcases ten examples of improving care to the 15 million people in England with multiple long-term conditions. The Richmond Group of Charities 

Type 2 diabetes peer mentor programme: midterm evaluation

Type 2 diabetes peer mentor programme: midterm evaluation This report outlines the findings so far from an interim evaluation of a peer mentoring service for people living with type 2 diabetes. The programme builds on Brigstowe's model of peer mentoring for people diagnosed with HIV and aimed to see if similar wellbeing and health outcomes could be achieved when transferring the model to other long-term health conditions. Brigstowe

Can the NHS boost nurse numbers by 50,000?

Can the NHS boost nurse numbers by 50,000? The Conservative manifesto pledges to add 50,000 nurses to the workforce in England by 2024-25.

How realistic is this target, particularly given that nurse numbers have gone up by only about 5,000 since 2010?

Workforce is one of the main concerns for the NHS in England right now. Health employers talk of difficulties filling rotas and worries about how future staff can be recruited at a time of rising patient demand. BBC News

See also:

• Will a Conservative government deliver 50,000 more nurses? The Guardian
• I’m a nurse, and here’s how to attract more of us to the NHS | Molly Case The Guardian
• Will a Boris Johnson government deliver 50000 more NHS nurses? The Independent

Martin Marshall: GPs need to do less, but it’s not what patients want to hear

Martin Marshall: GPs need to do less, but it’s not what patients want to hear | Denis Campbell The new chair of the RCGP says doctors are under pressure to overtreat, and calls on politicians to stem the exodus from the profession

The NHS does too much medicine”. These are surprising words to hear uttered by a GP, given their role as gatekeepers to the NHS – the doctors who send patients to hospital for tests, surgery or other treatment.

But Martin Marshall, the new chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, firmly believes that part of the reason the NHS is so overstretched is that doctors (GPs and hospital doctors) overdiagnose illness – and as a result patients have too many exploratory tests and too many unnecessary treatments. Getting a grip on that, he believes, would help relieve the pressure on the health service in general and the nation’s overworked family doctors in particular. The Guardian

Hospital beds at record low in England as NHS struggles with demand

Hospital beds at record low in England as NHS struggles with demand The number of hospital beds has fallen to its lowest level ever, despite the head of the NHS warning that bed closures have gone too far.

The health service in England has cut so many beds in recent years that it has just 127,225 left to cope with the rising demand for care, which will intensify as winter starts to bite.

In total, 17,230 beds have been cut from the 144,455 that existed in April-June 2010, the period when the coalition Conservative/Liberal Democrat government took office and imposed a nine-year funding squeeze on the NHS, even though critics cautioned against it because of growing pressures on the service. The Guardian

A third of maternity doctors 'burnt out' and at risk of losing empathy for women in their care

A third of maternity doctors 'burnt out' and at risk of losing empathy for women in their care More than a third of maternity doctors are “burnt out,” and at risk of lacking empathy for the women in their care, researchers have warned.

The study of more than 3,000 obstetricians and gynaecologists found high levels of long-term stress and overwork, especially among trainee medics.

Researchers said the findings - from the largest UK study on the topic - were “very worrying,” with serious implications for patients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Burnout, well-being and defensive medical practice among obstetricians and gynaecologists in the UK: cross-sectional survey study (open access) BMJ Open

Six million TONNES of asbestos are still in schools and hospitals in the UK

Six million TONNES of asbestos are still in schools and hospitals in the UK Six million tonnes of asbestos are still inside 1.5million buildings in the UK including hospitals and eight out of 10 schools, according to a report.

Think-tank ResPublica has urged the Government to reform its policies in order to save teachers and nurses from asbestos related deaths.

The toxic material was once used for insulation and fire-proofing but can lead to serious cases of lung disease and cancer, particularly mesothelioma, if inhaled.

Although the use of asbestos was banned 20 years ago, anything built or refurbished before 1999 may still contain it. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Don’t Breathe In: Bridging the Asbestos Safety Gap ResPublica

Breast cancer GP 'didn't think' he could get the disease

Breast cancer GP 'didn't think' he could get the disease A retired male GP who was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago said he "hadn't even contemplated" he could get the disease.

Mike Greenhalgh, from Abthorpe, Northamptonshire, who was a doctor for 27 years, said he had never seen a case of breast cancer in men.

The 63-year-old said he found it "difficult" being seen in a clinic with mostly women patients.

About 360 men in the UK are diagnosed each year, compared to 54,500 women. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Male breast cancer: Men warned to check for symptoms BBC News

Back in the ‘too difficult’ box: social care and the manifestos

Back in the ‘too difficult’ box: social care and the manifestos With concern about care for older people and disabled adults now the third most important issue for voters behind only the NHS and Brexit in the latest poll from Ipsos MORI, we now have the detail of social care pledges from the three main English parties. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have published their manifestos and the Conservatives have announced their social care policy. Do they make for happy reading around social care? The King's Fund

Achieving integrated care: 15 best practice actions

Achieving integrated care: 15 best practice actions This resource, produced in partnership with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, aims to support local systems in fulfilling their ambition of integration. The 15 actions prioritised in this resource draw on evidence about what works from international research, emerging best practices and engagement with our own stakeholders and partners. The actions are deliberately aligned with national policy, legal frameworks and regulatory guidance, but most important, they allow for local variety in system design and service delivery to flourish. Local Government Association

Living near busy road can stunt children's lung growth, study says

Living near busy road can stunt children's lung growth, study says Children exposed to roadside air pollution could have their lung growth stunted by up to 14%, a study suggests.

Living within 50m of a major road could increase the risk of lung cancer by up to 10%, the paper also found.

The study of 13 cities in the UK and Poland found air pollution contributes to a higher chance of heart disease, strokes, heart failure and bronchitis.

Campaigners called on the government to commit to tackling "dangerous" air pollution in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Research suggests living near a busy road can raise the risk of lung cancer by 10 per cent  The Daily Mail

Cancer immunotherapy drug 'less toxic and prolongs life'

Cancer immunotherapy drug 'less toxic and prolongs life' An immunotherapy drug that could save some cancer patients from the ordeal of extreme chemotherapy may also help them live longer, researchers say.

In a trial, pembrolizumab kept head and neck cancers at bay for an average of two years - five times longer than under chemotherapy.

The patients also suffered far fewer side-effects.

Cases of head and neck cancers are rising in the UK and most are diagnosed late, when they are harder to treat. BBC News

Nurse says NHS trust failed to protect him from racist attack

Nurse says NHS trust failed to protect him from racist attack An NHS nurse is locked in a legal battle with his employer after being assaulted and abused by a patient who was known to be racist.

Colleridge Bessong, a mental health nurse, is taking legal action against Pennine Care NHS trust in Manchester over what he claims is the trust’s failure to protect him from the violent racist attack. The Guardian

NHS winter crisis fears grow after thousands of EU staff quit

NHS winter crisis fears grow after thousands of EU staff quit Mass resignations after Brexit vote compound health staffing shortages

More than 10,000 EU nationals have left the NHS since the Brexit referendum, including almost 5,000 nurses. These new figures will add fuel to concerns about a wider staffing crisis.

So far this year more than 3,250 EU staff have left the NHS, according to data released under the Freedom of Information Act. The figures are from less than half England’s trusts and cover only 10 months, so the actual figure is likely to be higher. This year alone, 1,116 EU nurses have left. The Guardian

Many men still failing to take health seriously, despite success of Movember-style campaigns, research suggests

Many men still failing to take health seriously, despite success of Movember-style campaigns, research suggests Movember-style male health campaigns are failing to make men take their wellbeing seriously, as nearly half still resist going to the doctor, new research suggests.

The arrival of November traditionally sees social media flooded with pictures of men with specially grown moustaches as part of a drive to raise awareness of male health issues.

However, despite the campaign raising £10 million in the UK last year, a survey by Bupa has found a large proportion of the male population are still worryingly cavalier about health. The Daily Telegraph

Figures reveal the NHS trusts where more than 99% of overnight beds were FULL this summer

Figures reveal the NHS trusts where more than 99% of overnight beds were FULL this summer Nine out of 10 hospital beds in England were full between July and September, according to NHS statistics.

Figures revealed more than 50 hospitals had more beds occupied than the NHS's 92 per cent safe operating limit.

The second-quarter figures were the worst in at least a decade and on par with those normally seen in the depths of winter.

Leading English surgeons told MailOnline bed closures have 'gone too far' and when so many beds are full operations have to be cancelled and flu spreads quickly. The Daily Mail

NHS doctors vote to scrap home visits because modern GPs 'don't have time'

NHS doctors vote to scrap home visits because modern GPs 'don't have time' England's Local Medicine Committees voted 54 per cent in favour of removing the obligation to do home visits from GPs' contracts and said the practice is 'virtually unheard of' in other countries. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Home visits are a core part of general practice - and invaluable for some vulnerable patients, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs vote to reduce patient home visits BBC News
• GPs vote to scrap home visits from their contracts The Daily Telegraph
• LMCs vote to remove home visits from GP contract GPonline
• Hancock rejects GPs' vote to remove home visits from contracts The Guardian

Northamptonshire women wait too long for cervical screening results

Northamptonshire women wait too long for cervical screening results NHS guidelines say women should get their cervical screening results within 14 days, but 25,872 women screened in Northamptonshire waited for longer than two weeks.

According to data published by the NHS today, 37 per cent of women tested in Northamptonshire got their results after two weeks but within three weeks of their screening.

More than a fifth of women tested waited even longer for their results, with 22.6 per cent of women getting their letters after three weeks. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Number of women facing long waits for smear results is longest on record The Daily Telegraph

District nursing today: the view of district nurse team leaders in the UK

District nursing today: the view of district nurse team leaders in the UK This report warns that the UK’s district nurse workforce is under threat due to long-term underinvestment in training, education and skills, which could pose a threat to patient safety. It reveals an evolving healthcare workforce crisis, set against rising demand for district nursing services across all UK regions. Queen's Nursing Institute

A manifesto for a 21st century health service

A manifesto for a 21st century health service This manifesto calls on the next government to address the issues preventing the delivery of a 21st century national health service. It argues that focusing on staff wellbeing and integrated care is what’s needed to create a sustainable NHS, not a total restructure. Royal College of Anaesthetists

'I used to pull sickies every few months because of stress'

'I used to pull sickies every few months because of stress' Amy Brennan says she used to need to "pull sickies" once every couple of months because she couldn't face going into work.

"I'd have a few days prior arguing with myself to get up, and go in," she tells the BBC.

But recently she realised she was doing this because of her mental health issues, so now she calls in sick and says she needs to take "a mental health day". BBC News

Leeds woman reveals 'trauma' of mental health detention

Leeds woman reveals 'trauma' of mental health detention A mental health patient has told how she was rugby tackled by police officers while running along a motorway after escaping from hospital.

Megan Alikhanizadeh said the mental health system was failing people, with the police often forced to intervene.

Her story comes as figures show a 17% increase in the number of times police in England have detained someone under the Mental Health Act since 2016-17. BBC News

NHS overtakes Brexit as voters' top priority for election, poll finds

NHS overtakes Brexit as voters' top priority for election, poll finds Voters are now more likely to base their vote on the state of the NHS than they are about Brexit with less than a month to go before election day, a new poll has found.

The NHS is now solidly ahead of Brexit as a concern, with 60 per cent of voters citing the issue in the poll conducted 15-18 November, up 6 per cent compared to a similar poll conducted 8-11 November. The Independent

NHS delays ‘independent’ maternity report until after election

NHS delays ‘independent’ maternity report until after election An independent report into maternity safety in the NHS has been blocked from publication by NHS England until after the general election, The Independent has learnt.

Doctors and midwives have criticised the national body for preventing the report from being widely shared which they said could delay improvements and learning.

It comes as The Independent revealed a leaked report earlier this week exposing the largest maternity scandal in the NHS’s history at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust where dozens of babies and three mothers died.

See also:

• RCOG response to Ockenden review leak Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 
• Shrewsbury and Telford NHS maternity death review families unaware BBC News
• NHS chiefs said families seeking answers about baby deaths were acting with 'venom' The Daily Telegraph
• Doctors may face suspension over NHS 'worst maternity scandal' The Guardian
• Hundreds of families unaware they are involved in maternity scandal The Independent
• Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Medical watchdog asks NHS for information about doctors at trust The Independent
• Shrewsbury maternity scandal: Hundreds of families whose babies died or have been left with brain damage in hospital to be contacted by trust The Independent
• Shrewsbury hospital’s ‘overzealous’ pursuit of natural birth left patients at risk, critics say The Independent

Potentially deadly tick-borne parasite found in UK for first time

Potentially deadly tick-borne parasite found in UK for first time A potentially deadly tick-borne parasite has been found in the UK for the first time.

The organism, B venatorum, causes an animal disease recognised as an emerging infection in people called babesiosis, also known as "Texas fever"

Infected people may show symptoms such as flu and jaundice, but severe cases can lead to death, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned. The Independent

More than 80% of adolescents not active enough, warns WHO

More than 80% of adolescents not active enough, warns WHO More than 80% of adolescents worldwide are not active enough, putting their health at risk by sitting focused on a screen rather than running about, say World Health Organization (WHO) researchers.

The proportion of insufficiently active girls in 27 countries rose to more than 90% in 2016, the latest year for which figures are available. There was a significant gender gap, with girls lagging behind boys in physical activity, in all but four countries – Afghanistan, Samoa, Tonga and Zambia. The Guardian

See also:

• Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents: a pooled analysis of 298 population-based surveys with 1·6 million participants (open access) Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
• New WHO-led study says majority of adolescents worldwide are not sufficiently physically active, putting their current and future health at risk World Health Organization
• Global epidemic' of childhood inactivity BBC News

Australian women win landmark case against Johnson & Johnson over vaginal mesh implant injuries

Australian women win landmark case against Johnson & Johnson over vaginal mesh implant injuries Three Australian women representing patients given vaginal mesh implants won a landmark class action today against international medical giants.

A Federal Court in Sydney found two Johnson & Johnson group manufacturers and its Australian supplier engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and hid the risks associated with the implants from patients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Johnson & Johnson loses vaginal mesh class action BBC News

Norovirus warning as winter vomiting bug rates are 26% higher than average

Norovirus warning as winter vomiting bug rates are 26% higher than average Dozens of schools in England have been hit by outbreaks of an illness thought to be the winter vomiting bug, norovirus.

Around 60 schools in the North East have had pupils and staff off sick with a flu-like illness and some have even had to close to try and stop infection spreading.

Public Health England said it was likely adults and children were coming down with flu or norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Official Statistics: Norovirus and rotavirus: summary of surveillance 2019 to 2020 Public Health England

Sharp decline in district nursing workforce poses threat to patient safety

Sharp decline in district nursing workforce poses threat to patient safety The UK’s district nurse workforce is under severe threat due to long-term underinvestment in training, education and skills, posing a direct threat to patient safety, warn the authors of a new, independent report, commissioned by the Queen’s Nursing Institute. NHS Networks

More families come forward in Shropshire maternity inquiry

More families come forward in Shropshire maternity inquiry Campaigners say 25 new cases have emerged since the leak of a report into maternity care in Shropshire. BBC News

See Also:

• Doctors may face suspension over NHS 'worst maternity scandal'  The Guardian

Patient died after 'transplant surgeon error' in Welsh hospital

Patient died after 'transplant surgeon error' in Welsh hospital A transplant patient died after a surgeon failed to disclose he had spilt stomach contents on organs which went on to be used in NHS operations.

The 36-year-old died of an aneurysm caused directly by infection from a donated liver, while two other patients became ill from transplants.

The incident took place in 2015 but only came to light when one of the sick patients attended a hospital in Wales. It had involved a surgeon from Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust. BBC News

See Also:

• Patient died after being given an organ contaminated when surgeon accidentally opened donor's stomach The Telegraph
• One NHS patient DIED and another became seriously ill after receiving infected organs from surgeon who failed to disclose his fatal mistake Mail Online

Inducing labour at 41 weeks could save lives, new research claims

Inducing labour at 41 weeks could save lives, new research claims Pregnant women should be induced earlier to reduce baby deaths, a new study has found, as researchers call for the end of a ‘wait and see’ approach.

The study, done in conjunction with hospitals and academics across Sweden, concluded that pregnant women should not be offered induction later than 41 weeks.

During the course of the trial which involved almost 3,000 women between 2016 and 2018, six babies died after labour was induced at or beyond 42 weeks of pregnancy. The Telegraph 

See Also:

• Inducing labour at 41 weeks 'could save thousands of babies Mail Online

Smear test attendance rises for the first time in FIVE years in England

Smear test attendance rises for the first time in FIVE years in England Statistics from the NHS show 71.9 per cent of women in England attended their cervical screening appointments last year but experts warn there are still too many turning down the offer. Mail Online

Transgender people face years of waiting with NHS under strain

Transgender people face years of waiting with NHS under strain Long waits for appointments cause stress for patients, with suicide and self-harm a risk

Thousands of transgender adults and children face waits of up to three or more years for gender identity treatment as NHS services come under strain with growing numbers seeking treatment.

The number of adults and children being referred to gender identity clinics in England rose from 3,330 in 2014-15 to 8,074 in 2018-19, an average year on year increase of around 25%, according to freedom of information data from five clinics offering services. The Guardian

Time for NHS to 'wake up' to GP burnout risk, warns next RCGP chair

Time for NHS to 'wake up' to GP burnout risk, warns next RCGP chair In the week that he is due to take over from Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Professor Martin Marshall said that the working conditions of doctors had to be improved, warning that ‘undoable’ workloads were not an ‘inconsequential problem’.

His comments follow a GMC report that found doctors with high levels of burnout could have up to a 63% higher chance of making a major medical error in the following three months. GP Online

'Half of women will be carers by the age of 46'

'Half of women will be carers by the age of 46' Women can expect to take on caring responsibilities for an older, sick or disabled relative more than a decade earlier than men, a report concludes.

Research by Sheffield and Birmingham universities shows half of women will care by the age of 46, compared with half of men, for whom the age is 57.

The research suggests two-thirds of UK adults can expect to become an unpaid carer during their lifetimes. The charity Carers UK says carers need five-to-10 days of paid care leave. BBC News

The nation's health: priorities for the next government

The nation's health: priorities for the next government The Health Foundation -This report looks at how long-term improvements in life expectancy and mortality in the UK have stalled and are falling behind other high-income countries. At the same time the difference between the health of people living in the best- and worst-off communities is widening. It calls for action across the whole of government to address these trends. It asks that investment be directed towards areas of public spending that create the right conditions for people to lead healthy lives. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert

Older people living with dementia and costs of dementia care in the UK 2019–2040

Older people living with dementia and costs of dementia care in the UK 2019–2040 This report, commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society, provides projections of the number of older people (aged 65 and over) living with dementia and the costs of health care, social care and unpaid care for older people living with dementia from 2019 to 2040 in the UK. NHS Networks

NGH confirms non-urgent operations have been cancelled to support A&E

NGH confirms non-urgent operations have been cancelled to support A&E Non-urgent operations over the next four months have been cancelled at Northampton General Hospital so doctors can better support A&E demands.

The news comes as Northampton General Hospital yesterday (Tuesday) was seeking advice from its commissioners about how to deal with soaring demand for NHS services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Remember those no longer with us at 'Light Up A Life' event in Northampton

Remember those no longer with us at 'Light Up A Life' event in Northampton NGH's charity is dedicating lights on their Christmas tree this year to remember loved ones that cannot be with us for this festive period.

Northamptonshire Health Charity - which aims to enhance patient experience beyond what the NHS can fund - say this celebration will provide a chance to reflect and remember people who are no longer with us. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

We know the public love the NHS, but do they think it is a good employer?

We know the public love the NHS, but do they think it is a good employer? Despite being one of the largest employers in the world, it is well publicised that the NHS is facing enormous challenges, with its workforce crisis being one of the most pressing issues. Earlier this year, the Interim NHS People Plan set out the vision for supporting those working in the NHS. It outlines that the route to tackling the high number of vacancies and turnover across the NHS lies not only in increasing the number of staff, but also in making the NHS ‘the best place to work’. The King's Fund

Immigration and the NHS: the evidence

Immigration and the NHS: the evidence New promises for the NHS are appearing almost daily on the campaign trail: more cash, more doctors and nurses, better hospitals and equipment. Meanwhile – in the real world – NHS performance continues to deteriorate. NHS data out last week paints a grim picture. A&E performance is the worst on record. And 4.6 million people are stuck on waiting lists.

In response, the Conservative Party issued a statement suggesting that international migrants – among other things – will make things worse. It said: ‘the last thing our NHS can afford is Labour’s plans for a four day week and uncontrolled and unlimited immigration, which would could cripple our health service, leaving it understaffed and underfunded.’

This isn’t a new argument. And it plays on public perceptions that international migration can put pressure on public services. Migration policy is about much more than its impact on the NHS or the economy. And political narratives often fail to reflect the different experiences, understandings, and impacts of migration in the UK. But – leaving these issues aside – the idea that migration has a negative impact on the NHS is not backed up by the evidence. The Health Foundation

Revealed: scandal of 30,000 NHS workers on zero hours contracts

Revealed: scandal of 30,000 NHS workers on zero hours contracts At least 30,000 NHS workers in the UK report employed on zero hours contracts, new GMB analysis of official figures has revealed.

The true number is likely higher as the statistics may not include outsourced workers, or workers employed through controversial ‘wholly owned subsidiary’ companies that are not bound by nationally agreed employment standards.

See also:

• More than 30,000 NHS workers are trapped on controversial zero-hour contracts The Daily Mail

Guidance: Oral care and people with learning disabilities

Guidance: Oral care and people with learning disabilities To help health professionals, paid social care staff and family members to support someone with learning disabilities to get good oral care. Department of Health and Social Care

Seeing an NHS dentist 'a problem everywhere'

Seeing an NHS dentist 'a problem everywhere' More than 2 million adults in England are unable to see an NHS dentist, BBC analysis suggests.

They include an estimated 1.45 million who have tried and failed to get an NHS appointment in two years with the rest on waiting lists or put off by cost.

Another 2 million assume they cannot get care where they live, suggesting nearly one in 10 miss out overall. BBC News

Old age: Why 70 may be the new 65

Old age: Why 70 may be the new 65 It may be time to rethink how we measure and define old age in the UK because more people are surviving into their late 80s and beyond, say experts.

The Office for National Statistics team says although 65 has traditionally been seen as the start of old age, 70 could be seen as the "new 65".

That's because many people who reach this milestone birthday can still expect to live another 15 years. BBC News

Sepsis alert system hailed for reducing deaths and hospital stays

Sepsis alert system hailed for reducing deaths and hospital stays Digital alerts which monitor patients for sepsis have resulted in a fall in deaths and hospital stays linked to the deadly condition.

The system has been in place across the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s emergency departments and inpatient wards since 2016, notifying doctors if factors such as temperature, heart rate and glucose levels fall outside what is considered safe.

Clinicians are informed via a pop-up warning which appears in electronic health records or on a dashboard. ITV News

See also:

• Evaluating a digital sepsis alert in a London multisite hospital network: a natural experiment using electronic health record data (open access) Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
• Thousands could be saved from sepsis after major trial of monitoring system is 'success'  The Daily Mail
• Sepsis early warning technology could save thousands of lives, Imperial study finds The Daily Telegraph

‘Largest maternity scandal in NHS history’: Dozens of mothers and babies died on wards of hospital trust, leaked report reveals

‘Largest maternity scandal in NHS history’: Dozens of mothers and babies died on wards of hospital trust, leaked report reveals Dozens of babies and three mothers died on the wards of a single hospital trust, in what is being described as the largest maternity scandal in the history of the NHS, The Independent can today reveal.

Clinical malpractice was allowed to continue unchecked over a period of 40 years, with repeated failings by doctors, midwives and hospital bosses, according to a leaked internal report.

The investigation singles out the deaths of at least 42 babies and three mothers at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SATH) between 1979 and 2017.

See also:

• Statement in respect of reports on our Maternity service  Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust
• Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital: Babies and mums died 'amid toxic culture' BBC News
• Shrewsbury and Telford: 42 babies and three mothers died at NHS trust in worst ever maternity scandal The Daily Telegraph
• Leaked report exposes maternity scandal at Shropshire NHS trust The Guardian
• Shrewsbury and Telford joins Morecambe Bay and Mid-Staffs on grim roll call of horrific NHS scandals The Independent
• Shrewsbury maternity trust could be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter The Independent
• The NHS has failed to learn the lessons of Morecambe Bay – with devastating consequences The Independent
• ‘They condemned my daughter to death’: The family whose fight for justice uncovered the Shrewsbury maternity scandal The Independent
• The Shrewsbury scandal proves what women tell me every day – maternity care is dangerous and inhumane The Independent
• Time to learn the lessons: how the NHS must now change – and what you can do to help The Independent
• NHS Trust's 'toxic' culture led to mother and baby deaths ITV News
• NHS maternity scandal: 'I feel bitter hatred, quite frankly' Sky News
• Babies and mothers died in what may be worst ever NHS maternity scandal, report finds Sky News

Calls to scrap ‘immoral’ NHS fee for foreign staff

Calls to scrap ‘immoral’ NHS fee for foreign staff Exclusive: medical associations say surcharge rise will worsen staffing crisis

Boris Johnson’s plans to charge foreign staff who help save British lives £625 a year to use the NHS will worsen its staffing crisis, medical associations have warned.

They have reacted with dismay over the prime minister’s proposal to extend the so-called health surcharge to nurses, doctors and other medical and ancillary staff who come to work in the NHS from EU27 countries. The Guardian

Social care must be solved by next government, coalition of charities and councils tell Telegraph

Social care must be solved by next government, coalition of charities and councils tell Telegraph The social care crisis must be solved by the next government, a coalition of charities and councils have warned, as they urge politicians to finally 'grasp the nettle'.

Since 2010, almost £8billion has been cut from council adult social care budgets during a time of growing demand.

Writing in The Telegraph today care experts have issued a warning to politicians that “social care must be at the top of the domestic policy agenda”.

Three clinics rapped for misleading pregnant women

Three clinics rapped for misleading pregnant women Three clinics have been rapped for misleading pregnant women by exaggerating the effectiveness of Down's syndrome blood tests.

My Baby Company, The Birth Company and Ultrasound Direct charge up to £650 for the test.

All three claimed it was 99 per cent accurate – but the Advertising Standards Authority said evidence shows only 82 per cent of babies given a 'positive' result would be born with Down's. The Daily Mail

NHS trusts only received a third of the £91million they billed 'health tourists' last year

NHS trusts only received a third of the £91million they billed 'health tourists' last year NHS hospitals only managed to claim back 38 per cent of the money they billed health tourists from outside of Europe last year.

Just £35million out of a £91m total was reclaimed by the health service for care it provided to citizens from countries not in European Economic Area.

London hospital trusts were the worst affected, in some cases getting paid only £1 for every £10 they were owed and writing off more than £4million in a year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Trusts missing out on tens of millions from overseas patients Health Service Journal
• NHS claims back just one third of the £91m billed from 'health tourists' The Daily Telegraph

Fit for the future: how should the incoming Government help the NHS?

Fit for the future: how should the incoming Government help the NHS? The NHS consistently ranks among the issues that voters care most about and we are now approaching a General Election which has been characterised by strong messages on healthcare from all sides.

As the membership body that represents leaders across healthcare providers, clinical commissioners and local systems, the NHS Confederation has surveyed its members in England to gauge what they feel are their most critical priorities for an incoming Government.

This report summarises their most pressing issues: workforce, social care and capital investment.

See also:

• Health leaders set priorities for new Government to tackle huge pressures NHS Confederation
• Nine in 10 NHS bosses say staffing crisis endangering patients The Guardian

Evaluating integrated care: why are evaluations not producing the results we expect?

Evaluating integrated care: why are evaluations not producing the results we expect? With a number of different integrated care models not reducing hospital admissions as expected, this briefing outlines the reasons why this might be happening. It includes advice for model design and implementation, for commissioners of evaluation, and for evaluators on how to address these issues. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Integrated care and the complexity of ordinary lives Nuffield Trust

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: Strategies for resolving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: Strategies for resolving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector A report from the Centre for Health and Public Interest (CHPI) identifies where each pound that goes into the care home industry ends up, by using a forensic study of the accounts of more than 830 adult care home companies, including the 26 largest providers.

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over?

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over? A growing elderly population, increases in the number of disabled adults, and increases in wage and other costs, mean that English councils will likely need billions in extra funding over the next parliament if they are to meet the rising costs of providing adult social care. That will be required just to maintain services at current levels. And councils’ spending on local public services per resident will, next year, still be at least 20% below 2009–10 levels, on average. Institute for Fiscal Studies

NHS to pay tax bills to get doctors back to work

NHS to pay tax bills to get doctors back to work Doctors in England have been promised their tax bills will be covered by the NHS in an attempt to get them back doing overtime shifts.

Doctors have been refusing to do extra work because they were being landed with bills after changes to how much can be accrued in pensions tax-free.

Senior NHS figures and ministers have signed off on the plan amid concern about the impact on waiting times. BBC News

See also:

• NHS bosses are to spend tens of millions of pounds paying doctors' pension tax bills The Daily Mail
• NHS to pay doctors' tax bills in attempt to avert a winter crisis The Daily Telegraph
• NHS to pay doctors' pension tax in bid to end workforce crisis ahead of winter GPonline

Lib Dems join pledging war over NHS with plan for extra £35bn

Lib Dems join pledging war over NHS with plan for extra £35bn Plan would take NHS England’s budget to £142.6bn by 2023-24 as £12.9bn will go to social care

The Liberal Democrats have joined the bidding war over the NHS by promising to invest an extra £35bn into health and social care over the next five years.

The party plans to fund this through its signature policy of adding a penny to the basic rate of income tax, which it says would raise £7bn. This would see NHS England’s budget grow to £142.8bn by 2023-24. The Guardian

See also:

• Liberal Democrat pledge would double recent growth in health spending but falls just short of what's needed to modernise the service The Health Foundation
• Lib Dems right to identify workforce, capital and social care as key NHS Confederation
• General election 2019: PM puts corporation cuts on hold to help fund NHS BBC News
• General election 2019: Income tax rise will boost NHS budget - Lib Dems BBC News
• Boris Johnson shelves plans to slash corporation tax to pour £6billion into the NHS instead The Daily Mail
• Brexit will cost NHS additional £60m a year to recruit doctors and nurses from abroad, Liberal Democrats claim The Independent

Revealed: NHS running short of dozens of lifesaving medicines

Revealed: NHS running short of dozens of lifesaving medicines Internal document seen by the Guardian shows low supplies for heart, cancer and anti-epilepsy drugs

The NHS is running short of dozens of lifesaving medicines including treatments for cancer, heart conditions and epilepsy, the Guardian has learned.

An internal 24-page document circulated to some doctors last Friday from the medicine supply team at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), headed “commercial-sensitive”, listed many drugs currently hit by shortages at the NHS.

See also:

• Patients shouldn't panic or stockpile in the wake of medicine supply shortages, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Britain's 'unprecedented' drug shortage BBC News
• NHS is short of 86 drugs including cancer, epilepsy and heart disease The Daily Mail

Statins do not harm the memory – and may prevent cognitive decline for some

Statins do not harm the memory – and may prevent cognitive decline for some Statins don't harm the memory – and could even prevent cognitive decline in those with heart disease or high risk of dementia.

The findings follow a long debate about possible side effects of the daily pills, taken by around 8 million adults in the UK to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The six-year study of more than 1,000 people aged 70 to 90, who underwent a battery of tests and brain scans, found no link between statins and memory impairment. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Effects of Statins on Memory, Cognition, and Brain Volume in the Elderly (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Statins DON'T harm your memory, study suggests The Daily Mail