We're taking a break over Christmas

This will be the last daily health news blog over the Christmas period (although we will still be posting news items on Twitter).

We hope you have found our efforts to keep you up-to-date with health related news useful.

We will be back with more national and local news, publications and updates on Thursday the 2nd of January.

Wishing all our readers a happy festive season and a peaceful and prosperous new year. See you in 2020!

Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England

Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England This annual report covers surgical site infection (SSI) data collected by NHS hospitals and independent sector NHS treatment centres. Public Health England

Implementing routine outcome monitoring in specialist perinatal mental health services

Implementing routine outcome monitoring in specialist perinatal mental health services This document focuses on good practice examples, tools, tips and information to help perinatal mental health (PMH) services embed appropriate perinatal mental health outcomes measures at a local level, using outcome measures that are already part of the Mental Health Services Dataset. NHS England

‘Never a better time to join the NHS’ says health chief Simon Stevens

‘Never a better time to join the NHS’ says health chief Simon Stevens NHS chief Simon Stevens is today urging people of all ages to consider embarking on a career in the health service next year, as he thanks those current staff who will be working over Christmas. NHS England

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn praise NHS in Christmas messages

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn praise NHS in Christmas messages Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have both paid tribute to NHS staff and other public sector workers in their Christmas messages.

Mr Johnson used his first Christmas message as prime minister to thank those staff working over the holiday. BBC News

Christmas: Beware 'lethal' button batteries in toys

Christmas: Beware 'lethal' button batteries in toys Sophie Skill, from Sheffield, spent days on life support after she swallowed a coin-sized button battery.

Battery acid burned through her gullet (oesophagus) and into her lung, causing agonising pain and putting her life in danger.

Doctors say her case is not unique - about two UK children a year die from swallowing batteries.

Button batteries are used to power many gadgets and toys that will be opened as gifts on Christmas Day, experts warn. BBC News

See also:

• Button batteries for toys can KILL children if they're swallowed, NHS chief warns The Daily Mail
• ‘Toxic’ Christmas toys could put children at risk of long-term fertility problems, officials warn The Independent

First human head transplant could be achieved by 2030, veteran NHS neurosurgeon claims

First human head transplant could be achieved by 2030, veteran NHS neurosurgeon claims The first ever human head transplants could be achieved within the next decade, claims a former NHS neurosurgeon who believes he knows how the feat of moving a person’s consciousness to another body could be made to work.

Bruce Mathew, a former clinical lead for neurosurgery at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was working on a science fiction novel with Institute of Futurology founder Michael Lee when he realised the potential key to making the outlandish surgery a success. The Independent

Children in care being increasingly moved miles away from families, risking county lines exploitation, Children’s Commissioner warns

Children in care being increasingly moved miles away from families, risking county lines exploitation, Children’s Commissioner warns Children in care are being increasingly moved away from their family, putting them at greater risk of county lines exploitation, the Children’s Commissioner has warned.

Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has published a report detailing how thousands of children in the care system are living many miles away from family and friends. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Pass the parcel: children posted around the care system Children’s Commissioner for England
• Thousands of children in care passed around the system like parcels and living miles away from family and friends Children’s Commissioner for England
• Thousands of children in care over 100 miles away from family The Guardian
• More than 2,000 children in care are being forced to live 100 miles from home The Independent

British GPs are among best paid in the Western world with most earning more than £100,000

British GPs are among best paid in the Western world with most earning more than £100,000 British GPs are among the best paid in the Western world with most earning more than £100,000, a major report reveals.

Family doctors are paid more than three times as much as the average Briton, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The report reveals only Germany pays its GPs more than Britain when compared with the rest of its citizens. Yet the UK is struggling to hold on to its family doctors. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS Staff Earnings Estimates September 2019, Provisional statistics NHS Digital

TV repeats and seasonal songs can help people with dementia

TV repeats and seasonal songs can help people with dementia While many of us might get a bit bored of the same old Christmas films, TV repeats and seasonal songs being rolled out each year, people with dementia can actually benefit from a touch of festive familiarity.

NHS England’s national clinical director for dementia and older people’s mental health Alistair Burns says singing along to White Christmas and re-watching classics like It’s A Wonderful Life and The Snowman can be particularly helpful to older people as they can stimulate memories and bring people together over the festive season by helping keep the brain active.

New advice released to support those with eating disorders at Christmas

New advice released to support those with eating disorders at Christmas The NHS and leading eating disorder charity Beat have drawn up new guidance to help people of all ages suffering with an illness and their families cope over the festive season.

The Christmas period can be an extremely difficult time of year, with increased emphasis on food and drink during the party season placing an additional strain on people with conditions such as anorexia or bulimia. NHS England

Cannabis-based medicine for epilepsy available on NHS from January

Cannabis-based medicine for epilepsy available on NHS from January People with severe epilepsy will be able to access a cannabis-based medicine on the NHS from early next year after it was fast-tracked for use.

NHS England said doctors would be able to prescribe Epidyolex from 6 January.

It will be for children from age two, as well as adults, but some campaigners warn it is "too little too late". BBC News

See also:

• NHS to fast-track access to cannabis-based medicine for children with severe epilepsy NHS England

Political heat eases but NHS chill sets in

Political heat eases but NHS chill sets in The politicians will be looking forward to their Christmas break, their ferocious debates on the NHS and other domestic issues temporarily put on hold.

But just because the political rhetoric has eased does not mean the state of the NHS is less of a concern. Far from it.

The health service is experiencing its toughest climate for some time and things met yet become even more difficult with patient numbers expected to surge as usual after the seasonal holiday. BBC News

Number of malnourished over-60s trebles in a decade

Number of malnourished over-60s trebles in a decade The number over-60s admitted to hospital with malnutrition has more than trebled in the UK over the last decade, a charity has warned.

Those diagnosed with the condition at hospital jumped from 1,405 in 2007-2008 to 4,988 in 2017-2018, according to Age UK.

But the vast majority of cases are thought to go unnoticed. Age UK said more than 1 million of the the 12.2 million older people living in the UK were either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The Independent

See also:

• Hospital admissions for scurvy, rickets and malnutrition NHS Digital
• Number of older people diagnosed with malnutrition trebles in a decade The Guardian

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: NHS has paid £50m compensation to families whose babies died or were left with disabilities

Shrewsbury maternity scandal: NHS has paid £50m compensation to families whose babies died or were left with disabilities The NHS has paid almost £50m in compensation to parents whose babies died or were left with disabilities after care at the hospitals at the centre of Britain’s largest maternity scandal, The Independent can reveal.

Data showed that mistakes in care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust have led to scores of clinical negligence claims by families since 2006-07.

In total, 82 claims against the trust were made, with 52 cases settled at a total cost of £47.5m, including £39.2m in compensation. The vast majority of this money is used to cover the costs of caring for permanently disabled babies for the rest of their lives. The Independent

See also:

• Shropshire baby deaths: NHS trust was paid £1m for good care BBC News

Smoking ban tops list of 21st century UK public health achievements

Smoking ban tops list of 21st century UK public health achievements Survey of experts also hails sugar tax and Sure Start centres as important breakthroughs

The ban on smoking in public spaces and workplaces is the greatest UK public health achievement of the 21st century, according to public health experts.

The move, which came into full force in all four UK countries by July 2007, has been credited with causing a fall of more than 20% in heart attacks and other cardiac conditions in the first 10 years after it was introduced. The Guardian

UK's number of doctors per capita is one of lowest in Europe

UK's number of doctors per capita is one of lowest in Europe Study of leading economies says there are just 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people, with only Poland worse off

The UK has the second lowest number of doctors in leading European nations relative to its population, according to research for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

With 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people, compared with an average of 3.5 doctors across the OECD, the UK shortage is second only to Poland. The Guardian

Doctors told to use 'least unsafe' option in Norwich hospital

Doctors told to use 'least unsafe' option in Norwich hospital Exclusive: Concern that hospital’s struggle to cope is putting patient safety at risk

A major NHS hospital has been so overwhelmed that it told senior doctors to make “the least unsafe decision” when treating patients.

Medical groups have voiced concern that Norfolk and Norwich hospital trust’s instruction to its consultants this week showed it was struggling so much to cope with the number of people needing care that patient safety was being put at risk. The Guardian

500 NHS mental health patients to spend Christmas miles from home

500 NHS mental health patients to spend Christmas miles from home Approximately 500 patients with serious mental health problems are being forced to stay in NHS facilities more than 60 miles from home, new analysis reveals.

The figure is more than double that of the same month three years ago, and comes amid a bed shortage and staffing crisis.

The data also reveals that the amount of time mental health patients are spending away from home is going up, with three times as many projected to spend the whole of December in a so-called out-of-area placement compared to 2016. The Daily Telegraph

Smoking to be banned on all hospital grounds from next April

Smoking to be banned on all hospital grounds from next April Smoking will be banned on all hospital grounds from April, under new NHS rules

Next year’s NHS contract with hospitals will say no-one should be allowed to smoke in any areas such as car parks. The Daily Telegraph

Pharmacy receives first ever fine for breaking GDPR rules

Pharmacy receives first ever fine for breaking GDPR rules A pharmacy has been fined £275,000 for “cavalier” disposal of records about vulnerable care home residents, in the first fine issued for breaching GDPR rules.

The London company, which supplies medicines to thousands of elderly care home residents, will be forced to pay £275,000 for dumping 500,000 medical documents containing sensitive information outside in unlocked containers. The Daily Telegraph

Six in 10 surgeries are quizzing patients to see if they are the right level of ill to see a doctor

Six in 10 surgeries are quizzing patients to see if they are the right level of ill to see a doctor More than half of GP surgeries are quizzing patients about their illnesses to decide if they are sick enough to see a doctor, a poll reveals today.

Overstretched practices are increasingly using 'triage' systems, which typically involve receptionists asking patients about the nature of their health complaint.

Patients who ring up to try to see a GP are being advised that their condition would be more appropriately dealt with by a pharmacist, nurse, paramedic or physiotherapist.

To ascertain how many surgeries were using these systems, the Daily Mail commissioned a survey of 974 GPs and practice managers.

'Portable A&E' that can treat patients on the road 'saves hospital £500,000 a year'

'Portable A&E' that can treat patients on the road 'saves hospital £500,000 a year' A portable A&E unit that treats patients in life-threatening situations has saved one NHS trust an estimated £500,000 in one year.

Patients can be treated on the spot, avoiding the need to be taken to hospital A&E units already overwhelmed by soaring demand.

The car is fitted with advanced medical equipment instant blood tests and stitches, to replicate what is normally found in hospital. The Daily Mail

The NHS will now need to get Brexit begun

The NHS will now need to get Brexit begun The Tories may have won the election promising to get Brexit done, but for the NHS and social care it’s only about to start. Mark Dayan looks at what might be in store over the year ahead. Nuffield Trust

Changing challenges into opportunities to improve care

Changing challenges into opportunities to improve care Since its inception, the NHS has been on an evolutionary pathway of experimentation and variation in an attempt to find its fittest form. As integrated care systems (ICSs) expand across England, the NHS and its constituent parts are being invited to play very different roles to those they had in the past. The King's Fund

A competency framework for designated prescribing practitioners

A competency framework for designated prescribing practitioners This framework supports individuals across all independent prescribing professions, training providers and universities to understand what competencies must be met to provide safe and effective prescribing supervision to independent prescribers. Regulatory changes in 2019 mean that experienced non-medical prescribers of any professional background can become responsible for a trainee prescriber's period of learning in practice. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

National Vascular Registry: 2019 annual report

National Vascular Registry: 2019 annual report This is the seventh annual report since the National Vascular Registry was launched in 2013. It contains comparative information on five major interventions for vascular disease: lower limb bypass; lower limb angioplasty/stenting; major lower limb amputation; carotid endarterectomy; and repair of aortic aneurysms, including elective infra-renal, ruptured infra-renal, and more complex aneurysms. Royal College of Surgeons of England

Stafford Hospital scandal: The real story behind Channel 4's The Cure

Stafford Hospital scandal: The real story behind Channel 4's The Cure It was one of the biggest scandals in the history of the NHS and saw hundreds of patients die. Now the story of Stafford Hospital, told through the eyes of campaigner Julie Bailey, is being brought to screens in new Channel 4 drama The Cure. BBC News takes a look at the Stafford Hospital scandal. BBC News

NHS bed occupancy beyond safe levels ahead of Christmas

NHS bed occupancy beyond safe levels ahead of Christmas Hospital wards across the country are having to look after an unsafe number of patients, with hundreds of beds closed due to an outbreak of norovirus.

NHS England has said that on average almost 900 beds were closed each day during the week to Sunday 15 December.

Hospitals have reported fewer empty beds with bed-occupancy rates reaching as high as 95 per cent, 10 per cent higher than the recommended safe level. The Independent

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to the latest winter operational update The King's Fund

Queen's speech: NHS at heart of Johnson's plans, says minister

Queen's speech: NHS at heart of Johnson's plans, says minister Rishi Sunak highlights £34bn health spending, but appears to water down social care pledge

Boris Johnson will try to use the Queen’s speech to refocus attention away from Brexit and on to the NHS, the government has confirmed.

The prime minister intends to put the health service at the centre of the legislative programme, according to the chief secretary to the Treasury, Rishi Sunak. The Guardian

See also:

• Government must now 'grasp the nettle' and reform social care The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the Queen’s Speech The King's Fund
• Brexit and NHS dominate government agenda BBC News
• Why NHS is front and centre of Queen's Speech? BBC News
• Government confirms pledge to deliver 6,000 more GPs following Queen's speech GPonline
• The Tories’ NHS pledges only scratch the surface of a deep crisis | John Appleby The Guardian
• Tory plans for the NHS mean more dither and delay on social-care reform The Independent
• As someone who works closely with the NHS, it’s clear Boris Johnson is setting us up to fail The Independent
• Ministers plan to fast-track new drugs after Brexit The Independent

Hancock says it is "wrong" for healthcare staff to refuse flu jabs, as virus continues to spread

Hancock says it is "wrong" for healthcare staff to refuse flu jabs, as virus continues to spread Matt Hancock has hinted that healthcare workers could be forced to have flu jabs, saying it is “wrong” for doctors and nurses to refuse them.

He made the comments as official figures showed the number of patients hospitalised this winter is now eight time last year’s total, with cases jumping by a third in a week.

The Health Secretary said he was determined to ensure “universal uptake” of vaccinations among healthcare workers next winter. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Official Statistics: Seasonal flu vaccine uptake in healthcare workers: monthly data, 2019 to 2020 Public Health England
• UK flu levels according to PHE statistics: 2019 to 2020 Public Health England
• Flu cases are now EIGHT TIMES higher than they were at the same point in the UK last winter The Daily Mail

Half of heart patients in the UK miss out on vital recovery care

Half of heart patients in the UK miss out on vital recovery care Tens of thousands of patients with heart conditions miss out on vital care that could prevent an early death, a report has warned.

British Heart Foundation has today revealed 68,000 people eligible for 'heart rehab' classes were not enrolled on the programme.

It is recommended for heart attack and heart surgery patients, and involves exercise, psychological support and educational classes. The Daily Mail

NHS winter crisis sees 7,000 more patients wait outside busy A&E units than last year

NHS winter crisis sees 7,000 more patients wait outside busy A&E units than last year Thousands more ambulance patients are facing long waits at busy A&E departments compared to the same time last year, NHS statistics have revealed.

Last week 16,254 people arriving by ambulance had to wait more than half an hour to be seen by A&E staff after arriving at a hospital in England.

This compared to 9,357 in the same week last winter – a 75 per cent jump. Hour-long waits were three times as high as last year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Number of patients enduring long ambulance delays triples in a year The Daily Telegraph
• Mother died of cardiac arrest after waiting for ambulance for 6 hours in the street, say family The Daily Telegraph

Research and analysis: Shooting Up: infections among people who inject drugs in the UK

Research and analysis: Shooting Up: infections among people who inject drugs in the UK This Public Health England report describes the extent of infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United Kingdom.

National Neonatal Audit Programme Annual Report 2019 - on 2018 data

National Neonatal Audit Programme Annual Report 2019 - on 2018 data This report highlights the key findings and recommendations from the analysis of the data provided by neonatal units on the admissions of babies for neonatal care in England, Scotland and Wales in 2018. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

See also:

• Implementing the recommendations of the neonatal critical care transformation review NHS England
• Britain's postcode lottery for newborn deaths: Mortality rates on NHS wards twice as high in some areas, reveals report The Independent

New analysis finds our over 80s save Government £23 billion a year through the unpaid care they give loved ones

New analysis finds our over 80s save Government £23 billion a year through the unpaid care they give loved ones New figures by Age UK show that an army of carers amongst the oldest old in our society (80 years old and over) provide 23 million hours of unpaid care a week which adds up to 1.2 billion hours of care a year, saving the health and care system a massive £23 billion a year.

Almost 1 in 3 (30 per cent) older people aged 80 and over are carers and since 2010 the number of carers in this age group has rocketed by nearly a quarter (23 per cent) to 970,000

See also:

• Number of unpaid carers aged 80 and over has risen by one quarter The Daily Telegraph

Dementia care: ‘It’s not dementia killing me, it’s exhaustion’

Dementia care: ‘It’s not dementia killing me, it’s exhaustion’ The head of the Alzheimer’s Society says that the UK is facing a humanitarian crisis, because the care system is failing those with dementia and their families.

The number of us who will provide care at home for a loved one with dementia is set to rise by almost one million by 2035.

Here are the stories of Anne and Julia – who both care full time for their husbands. BBC News

See also:

• Dementia diagnoses rise 40% in five years BBC News

Vegans 'need to be aware of B12 deficiency risk'

Vegans 'need to be aware of B12 deficiency risk' Experts are warning that people eating a vegan diet need to make sure they get enough B12 - because the risk of deficiency is "not a myth".

They were speaking ahead of 'Veganuary', when increasing numbers turn to a vegan diet each January.

The diet is generally high in fibre and low in cholesterol, but some nutrients are harder to get enough of - including B12. BBC News

Royal Derby Hospital: Disposable sterile hijabs introduced

Royal Derby Hospital: Disposable sterile hijabs introduced A hospital trust believes it is the first in the UK to introduce disposable sterile headscarves for staff to use in operating theatres.

Junior doctor Farah Roslan, who is Muslim, had the idea during her training at the Royal Derby Hospital.

She said it came following infection concerns related to her hijab that she had been wearing throughout the day.

It is hoped the items can be introduced nationally but NHS England said it would be up to individual trusts. BBC News

Call for end to sick and disabled people being medically assessed by private firms they have never met

Call for end to sick and disabled people being medically assessed by private firms they have never met Lawyers and campaigners have called for an end to state medical assessments of sick and disabled people being carried out by a private firm that never even meets them.

The practice – used by the Home Office as well as local authorities across the country – was highlighted by a joint investigation by The Independent and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which revealed the firm, NowMedical, had been paid millions of pounds in public money.

Ministers told to scrap ‘deeply flawed’ NHS charging policy

Ministers told to scrap ‘deeply flawed’ NHS charging policy The government’s “deeply flawed” policy of charging migrant women for maternity care is putting lives at risk, a national charity has warned.

Maternity Action has called on the government to scrap charges for maternity care, which can land vulnerable women with bills of at least £7,000.

The charity, which launched a judicial review of the policy in October claiming it was discriminatory, spoke out after The Independent revealed three women died from complications after delaying treatment because of fears they might be charged.

See also:

• NHS charging system is penalising victims of FGM, sexual violence and trafficking Maternity Action

Why is Matt Hancock bringing bursaries back for student nurses?

Why is Matt Hancock bringing bursaries back for student nurses? The Conservatives abolished nursing grants in 2015 – so is this a U-turn?

Until 2016-17 students doing a first degree in nursing received a bursary from the government worth up to £16,454 a year to help boost the NHS’s supply of “homegrown” nurses. The Guardian

See also:

• Government decision to introduce nursing grant is welcome but will not fully address the nursing crisis The Health Foundation
• The King’s Fund responds to government’s student nurse grants announcement The King's Fund
• Matt Hancock denies U-turn over reintroduction of nurse bursary The Guardian

Doctor falsley diagnosed children with cancer to scare parents into buying private treatment

Doctor falsley diagnosed children with cancer to scare parents into buying private treatment An NHS doctor falsely diagnosed children with cancer to try and scare parents into paying for private treatment, a watchdog has ruled.

Dr Mina Chowdhury, 44, was found to have created “an unwarranted sense of concern” before recommending treatment linked to his private medical company in Glasgow. The Daily Telegraph

Six in 10 teenage girls say they are 'completely unhappy' with poor self-image fuelling despair

Six in 10 teenage girls say they are 'completely unhappy' with poor self-image fuelling despair Six in 10 teenage girls say they are "completely unhappy" - with poor self-image and a “toxic” social media culture fuelling despair, research suggests.

The study of more than 11,000 teenagers found that misery levels among girls were twice those among boys the same age.

Researchers said young girls were suffering from “toxic social comparisons” in a culture based on unrealistic beauty images, airbrushing and “likes” on social media. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The social context of adolescent mental health and wellbeing: parents, friends and social media (open access) Research Papers in Education
• Poverty and social media drive mental health problems that make ‘teenage girls significantly more likely to self-harm than boys’ The Independent
• Nearly three in four 14-year-olds who admitted self-harming were girls – study ITV News

Want to live for longer? A theatre trip once a month cuts the risk of death by 30%'

Want to live for longer? A theatre trip once a month cuts the risk of death by 30%'  Going to the theatre once every month may slash your risk of a premature death, a study claims.

University College London researchers tracked nearly 7,000 adults over the age of 50 for 12 years.

Volunteers who engaged with the arts every few months were 14 per cent less likely to die by the end of the study.

Visiting museums, theatres, art galleries more frequently – once a month – cut the risk by 31 per cent, results showed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The art of life and death: 14 year follow-up analyses of associations between arts engagement and mortality in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (open access) The BMJ

Living in polluted cities may make you more likely to be depressed or attempt suicide

Living in polluted cities may make you more likely to be depressed or attempt suicide People living in polluted areas are more likely to die by suicide or be depressed, research shows.

Scientists reviewed studies from 16 countries looking into the long-term impact of breathing in toxic airborne particles on mental health.

They found that as the level of pollution increased, so too did the rate of number of suicides and depression diagnoses. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Air Pollution (Particulate Matter) Exposure and Associations with Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, Psychosis and Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (open access) Environmental Health Perspectives

Northamptonshire NHS provider rated outstanding for a second time

Northamptonshire NHS provider rated outstanding for a second time Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has been rated outstanding overall for the second time, following its recent watchdog routine inspection.

During September-October this year the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected NHFT services and found they were well-led and caring, giving the highest rating possible of outstanding overall.

The trust provides a variety of mental health and community health services across Northamptonshire for adults of working age and older adults at 25 locations. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Raft of recommendations made for health services after review of woman's death at Northampton General Hospital

Raft of recommendations made for health services after review of woman's death at Northampton General Hospital A raft of recommendations have been made for health services to review their processes after a woman died at Northampton General Hospital.

A safeguarding adults review (SAR) heard concerns were raised by 'Andrea's'estranged husband and doctor about her health deteriorating in 2017, according to a report published yesterday (Tuesday, December 17). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering hospital 'sorry' over failure to spot broken neck

Kettering hospital 'sorry' over failure to spot broken neck A hospital failed to spot an 86-year-old woman had a broken neck following a fall at a nursing home, a review has revealed.

The woman, referred to as Mrs Webster in the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Review, was admitted to Kettering General Hospital in 2017.

She was transferred to another hospital but the correct CT scans were not passed on so the break was missed.

She was later re-admitted to Kettering hospital where she died.

Kettering General Hospital has apologised. BBC Northampton

After the election

After the election In his victory speech on the steps of Downing Street the Prime Minister declared the NHS to be his government’s ‘top priority’. But what might this mean in practical terms for the NHS? And does a focus on the NHS come at the expense of the wider health and care agenda? The King's Fund

The state of medical education and practice in the UK

The state of medical education and practice in the UK The 2019 report includes new research and data on the wellbeing of the profession, clinical leadership and trends in medical training.

The UK is increasingly reliant on the world market for doctors at a time when peoples’ aspirations for work-life balance are changing. If the UK is to attract and retain a high-quality medical workforce, we must have more flexible working and training arrangements in place.

We now have two years of evidence that shows that doctors are still working in pressurised environments. GPs are at particular risk of burnout due to these pressures and two thirds (65%) of GPs reported working beyond their rostered hours every day.

Over a quarter (28%) of doctors reported feeling unable to cope with their workload at least once a week. There’s also evidence of how these pressures have had an impact on patient care and safety. General Medical Council

See also:

• Flexible working hours helps keep GPs and patients safe, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs 'shun full-time work as pressures take toll' BBC News
• One third of GPs have cut their hours in last year, and two thirds plan to The Daily Telegraph
• One in six GPs could quit medicine within a year, GMC report finds GPonline

Nursing students to receive £5,000 payment a year

Nursing students to receive £5,000 payment a year All nursing students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• £5k nursing student grants welcome, but tuition fees must be scrapped too Royal College of Nursing
• Don't doubt my commitment to NHS says Boris, as he sets out plans for free bursaries for all nursing students The Daily Telegraph
• Nurses say training grants are only ‘first step’ in fixing NHS shortage The Independent

Complaints about the NHS in England: Quarter 1 2019-20

Complaints about the NHS in England: Quarter 1 2019-20 In this quarterly report we have published more information about our casework than in previous reports, as part of progress towards our strategic commitment to publish the majority of our casework online.

For the first time, we have published data and information from the first quarter of this year on the complaints we received, assessed and investigated about health organisations, and recommendations we have made to the organisations we investigate. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman 

Detection of retained vaginal swabs and tampons following childbirth

Detection of retained vaginal swabs and tampons following childbirth The report highlights the potential for physical and psychological harm to women if swabs and tampons used after childbirth are accidentally left in the vagina.

The report comes after we looked at the case of a 30-year old woman who had a surgical tampon inserted after the birth of her first child. It was left in and not discovered until five days after leaving hospital.

We’ve made one safety recommendation to NHS England/Improvement as a result of this investigation. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Women are suffering 'severe pain' and infection risk because NHS medics leave tampons inside them The Daily Mail

Motor neurone disease 'linked to cholesterol'

Motor neurone disease 'linked to cholesterol' Scientists say they have discovered a possible underlying cause of the neurological disorder, motor neurone disease (MND).

The University of Exeter team says it has found evidence that MND is linked to an imbalance of cholesterol and other fats in cells.

It says the research could lead to more accurate diagnosis and new treatments.

MND affects around 5,000 people in the UK and causes more than 2,000 deaths a year. BBC News

See also:

• Lipid metabolic pathways converge in motor neuron degenerative diseases (open access) Brain: A Journal of Neurology

At least 280,000 people homeless in England with tens of thousands more at risk, Shelter report reveals

At least 280,000 people homeless in England with tens of thousands more at risk, Shelter report reveals At least 280,000 people are currently homeless in England, with tens of thousands more at risk of losing their accommodation, Shelter’s annual report reveals.

This marks an increase of several thousand since last year and 23,000 since the charity’s first report in 2016, with the analysis suggesting one in 200 people are now sleeping rough, or living in hostels and temporary accommodation. The Independent

Safety fears for hundreds of ‘hidden’ children on ventilators

Safety fears for hundreds of ‘hidden’ children on ventilators Experts have warned hundreds of “hidden” children who rely on machines to help them breathe at home are at significant risk of harm due to staff shortages, poor equipment and a lack of training.

The number of children who rely on long-term ventilation is rising but new research has shown the dangers they face with more than 220 safety incidents reported to the NHS between 2013 and 2017.

In more than 40 per cent of incidents the child came to harm, with two needing CPR after their hearts stopped. Other children had to have emergency treatment or were rushed back to hospital. The Independent

See also:

• Analysis of paediatric long-term ventilation incidents in the community (open access) Archives of Disease in Childhood

Catalogue of errors by Norfolk hospital led to death of baby

Catalogue of errors by Norfolk hospital led to death of baby Harris James died in 2015 after doctors at James Paget hospital misdiagnosed a heart complaint

A “sweet and affectionate” six-month-old boy died when doctors misdiagnosed his heart complaint as pneumonia, a highly critical report by the NHS ombudsman has revealed.

Harris James died in 2015 after a catalogue of errors by staff at James Paget hospital in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The hospital then compounded his parents’ anguish by mishandling his mother’s complaint and failing to apologise for its failings. The Guardian

See also:

• Hospital which failed to save six-month-old baby criticised by health ombudsman The Independent

Poorest die most often from emergency surgery, research finds

Poorest die most often from emergency surgery, research finds Patients from most deprived areas in England have 29% greater risk of dying than those from wealthiest parts

Poor people are much more likely than wealthy people to die after undergoing emergency surgery, according to new research.

Patients from the most deprived areas have a 29% greater risk of dying than those from the wealthiest districts, the study from University College London found. The Guardian

See also:

• Socioeconomic deprivation and mortality after emergency laparotomy: an observational epidemiological study (abstract) British Journal of Anaesthesia 

Women over 50 should lose weight to cut breast cancer risk: study

Women over 50 should lose weight to cut breast cancer risk: study Most women over 50 should lose weight to cut their breast cancer risk, a major study suggests.

The Harvard research on more than 180,000 participants found those who lost the most weight cut their risk by up to a quarter.

One in eight women in the UK will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Sustained weight loss and risk of breast cancer in women ≥50 years: a pooled analysis of prospective data (abstract) Journal of the National Cancer Institute 
• Overweight women in their 50s who lose 20lbs are 26% less likely to get breast cancer The Daily Mail

Air pollution is making the NHS winter crisis worse, 175 doctors warn

Air pollution is making the NHS winter crisis worse, 175 doctors warn Air pollution is leading to a spike in cases of asthma and bronchitis and heaping pressure on the struggling NHS, leading doctors have warned.

A group of 175 doctors and health professionals have warned the Prime Minister there is a 'public health crisis' on hospital wards and GP surgeries as thousands of people arrive with respiratory conditions. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Air pollution making NHS winter crisis worse, 175 doctors tell Boris Johnson in new letter The Independent
• NHS winter crisis: Air pollution damaging public health and crowding hospitals and GP surgeries iNews

People performance management toolkit: communications pack

People performance management toolkit: communications pack The pack contains key messages for HR and internal comms teams to help promote the toolkit with managers in their organisations. The pack includes tips on where to start with line management, how to work with both underperforming and exceptional staff and advice on how to give constructive feedback. It also features a number of different management scenarios and can help identify solutions to the challenges most relevant to staff. NHS Employers

What's the best colour lighting for sleep?

What's the best colour lighting for sleep? The idea artificial light from screens is keeping people awake at night is flawed, say scientists who have been studying the best type of lighting to nod off to.

According to the researchers, from Manchester University, this blue light from devices is not the main problem.

They exposed mice to different light settings to study the impact.

The controversial findings, in Current Biology journal, suggest the answer lies in how warm and bright a light is. BBC News

Coroner criticises NHS after death of patient with broken neck who was shunted between hospitals three times

Coroner criticises NHS after death of patient with broken neck who was shunted between hospitals three times An 88-year-old woman with a broken neck died after being transferred three times between two hospitals in the space of just 48 hours, The Independent can reveal.

The death of Jean Waghorn, who died after contracting pneumonia in hospital, sparked criticism from a coroner who said the NHS trust had ignored earlier warnings over moving patients between hospitals.

NHS 'should not pay' for US surrogacy after cancer misdiagnosis

NHS 'should not pay' for US surrogacy after cancer misdiagnosis UK supreme court hears case of woman left infertile after cervical cancer treatment

The NHS should not have to pay for patients to have surrogate children through commercial agreements in the US, the supreme court has been told in a controversial medical compensation case.

Whittington hospital NHS trust in north London has admitted negligently failing to detect signs of cervical cancer for more than four years. That oversight led to the woman, identified only as XX, developing highly invasive malignancy, which required chemo-radiotherapy treatment and left her infertile at the age of 29. The Guardian

Doctors reveal the bittersweet stories of working over Christmas

Doctors reveal the bittersweet stories of working over Christmas Being in hospital over Christmas or New Year isn’t something most of us would welcome. But for NHS doctors and nurses on call over the festive season, going to work is just another day . . . or is it? Here, medics share their yuletide memories, from the hilarious to the profoundly sad. The Daily Mail

Scientists develop a test for sepsis in premature babies

Scientists develop a test for sepsis in premature babies Scientists have developed a rapid and reliable test for sepsis in premature babies that scours for harmful bugs in their nappies.

Children delivered before 37 weeks are at high risk of the deadly condition because of their underdeveloped immune systems.

The test works by analysing bacteria in a newborn's stool and takes just four hours to tell if they are at risk of infection. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Rapid MinION profiling of preterm microbiota and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens (open access) Nature Microbiology

Suspected heart attack victim slams ambulance service after being left waiting for hours in Northamptonshire

Suspected heart attack victim slams ambulance service after being left waiting for hours in Northamptonshire A Northamptonshire man has complained about being stranded with a suspected heart attack after an ambulance failed to turn up.

Rob Johnson, who has a cardiac condition, woke in the night with serious chest pains on Sunday, December 1.

He and his partner Trudy Thornton - both are experienced first aiders - realised the emergency and called 999. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Quality improvement in general practice: what do GPs and practice managers think?

Quality improvement in general practice: what do GPs and practice managers think? There is growing recognition of the importance of quality improvement in general practice. But what is the extent of knowledge and usage of quality improvement tools and approaches across the UK, and how can we embed a culture of improvement? The Health Foundation

Why can't this doctor work in the UK?

Why can't this doctor work in the UK? The NHS in North-East England is making an effort to exploit the skills of doctors who arrived in the UK as refugees. But well-trained doctors from one country, who would love to practise here, are still having to spend their days working in factories or delivering pizzas, reports the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby. BBC News

Pregnant women died after fears Tory crackdown on ‘health tourism’ would bankrupt them, report delayed until after election reveals

Pregnant women died after fears Tory crackdown on ‘health tourism’ would bankrupt them, report delayed until after election reveals Tory measures to stop “health tourism” on the NHS have been linked to the deaths of three pregnant women in a major report that was delayed until after the election.

The women all died after delays in seeking help because they mistakenly believed that they would have to pay for care under the government’s strict charging regime. They sought help in hospitals too late and died as a result of complications.

It is the first time researchers have identified the impact of the government’s controversial charging regime among maternity deaths, and they warned other mothers could be at risk. The Independent

See also:

• Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2015–17 MBRRACE-UK

Call to vaccinate children against flu amid 'super spreaders' warning

Call to vaccinate children against flu amid 'super spreaders' warning Public Health England data shows 24% rise in doctor’s appointments for flu

Senior doctors have urged parents to vaccinate their children, who are “super-spreaders” of flu, as vital NHS services are being flooded with patients this winter.

Medical professionals have said jabs are the best defence against the highly infectious disease which has hit the UK earlier than usual this year. The Guardian

See also:

• Flu surge drives up pressure on general practice GPonline

A&E waiting times worst ever, with quadrupling in 12 hour delays

A&E waiting times worst ever, with quadrupling in 12 hour delays Accident & Emergency waiting times are the worst ever, with a quadrupling in the numbers waiting at least 12 hours on a trolley, in just one year, official figures show.

The statistics show that for the first time, not one trust hit the target to see 95 per cent of patients in four hours.

In total, 81.4 per cent of A&E patients were seen within four hours in November, a fall from 87.6 per cent the previous year. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to the latest NHS England hospital performance figures The King's Fund
• Today's figures show safety net of NHS at risk of breaking down: Health Foundation response to NHS England monthly performance statistics The Health Foundation
• Combined Performance Summary: October-November 2019 The Nuffield Trust
• New Government faces a grim NHS winter - Nuffield Trust comment on NHS performance figures The Nuffield Trust
• Hospital waiting times worsen again BBC News
• NHS winter crisis: Worst EVER delays in A&E delays The Daily Mail
• NHS England 'on its knees' as performance figures hit new lows The Guardian
• All major trusts miss four-hour target as performance plunges across NHS Health Service Journal
• Waiting times for A&E and hospital operations worst on record, NHS figures show The Independent
• 'Record number' of non-urgent operations cancelled at last minute in English hospitals, figures show iNews
• NHS 'on its knees' as cancer and A&E treatments see record delays  Sky News

Eating two apples daily for eight weeks can lower 'bad' cholesterol, study finds

Eating two apples daily for eight weeks can lower 'bad' cholesterol, study finds An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but two might be better, a study suggests.

Eating two apples a day may reduce people's risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, experts found.

When 40 people with slightly high cholesterol ate two large apples a day for eight weeks, it lowered their levels of 'bad' cholesterol by almost four per cent. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Two apples a day lower serum cholesterol and improve cardiometabolic biomarkers in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial (open access) The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Latest data on safeguarding adults in England

Latest data on safeguarding adults in England This publication provides the findings from the Safeguarding Adults Collection (SAC) for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019. Safeguarding Adults is a statutory duty for Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities in England under the Care Act 2014, in order to safeguard adults from abuse or neglect. The data is collected directly from these councils, also known as ‘local authorities’ in this publication. NHS Digital

Drug that prevents half of breast cancers carries on working

Drug that prevents half of breast cancers carries on working A drug that halves a woman's risk of breast cancer continues to work long after they stop taking it, say researchers.

Anastrozole blocks the production of the hormone oestrogen, which fuels the growth of many breast cancers.

It is already available on the NHS, but researchers at Queen Mary University of London said only a tenth of eligible women were receiving it. BBC News

See also:

• Use of anastrozole for breast cancer prevention (IBIS-II): long-term results of a randomised controlled trial (open access) The Lancet
• Drug that halves a woman's risk of breast cancer works for SEVEN YEARS after they stop taking it The Daily Mail

Revealed: NHS England bosses meet with tech and pharmaceutical giants to discuss price list of millions of Brits' medical data

Revealed: NHS England bosses meet with tech and pharmaceutical giants to discuss price list of millions of Brits' medical data Talks to package millions of British medical records into a vast, commercially valuable database that may then be sold on are already underway between NHS England bosses and global giants, documents exclusively obtained by The Register show.

Last month, a cache of leaked files emerged into public view, detailing post-Brexit trade negotiations between Britain and the United States in which access to the UK's national health service was said to be on the table.

Children's transgender clinic hit by 35 resignations in three years as psychologists warn of gender dysphoria 'over-diagnoses'

Children's transgender clinic hit by 35 resignations in three years as psychologists warn of gender dysphoria 'over-diagnoses' A transgender clinic has been hit by 35 resignations in three years, as psychologists warn of “overdiagnoses” of gender dysphoria among children.

The whistleblowers said too many children were being put on puberty-blocking drugs when they should not have been given the diagnosis.

Former staff said they were unable to properly assess patients over fears they will be branded "transphobic". The Daily Telegraph

Pharmacists warning over safety of cannabis oil products, amid concern some contain illegal high inducing chemical

Pharmacists warning over safety of cannabis oil products, amid concern some contain illegal high inducing chemical Pharmacists have been told to check the safety of their cannabis oil products, amid concerns that some may contain illegal high-inducing chemicals.

As the market for cannabis derived products has grown rapidly in recent years, fears have been raised that some are being mislabelled and that users may unknowingly be ingesting illegal drugs. The Daily Telegraph

Flu cases have jumped by 25% in a WEEK

Flu cases have jumped by 25% in a WEEK Flu cases in England have risen by a quarter in the past week, official figures show following an early start to the season.

Almost 8,000 patients went to their GP with flu-like symptoms, up by 1,500 from the week before and nearly twice as high as last year.

Government data shows the flu virus is now circulating at low levels across England, while it is less of a problem in Scotland and Wales. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Official Statistics: Weekly national flu reports: 2019 to 2020 season Public Health England
• 'Not too late to get a flu jab,' says RCGP Chair Royal College of General Practitioners
• Rise in flu deaths and patients admitted to hospital triggers government alert to GPs The Independent

A place to work: system approaches to workforce challenges in the NHS

A place to work: system approaches to workforce challenges in the NHS This briefing examines how trusts are working with their staff and local partners to enable the workforce to adapt to new ways of collaborative working. NHS Providers

Adult social care and wellbeing policy in the four nations of the UK

Adult social care and wellbeing policy in the four nations of the UK This review summarises main policy developments on wellbeing in the field of adult social care since 2000 in the four nations of the UK. It is the first paper from the Sustainable Care: Connecting People and Systems programme from the Centre for International Research on Care, Labour & Equalities (CIRCLE) at the University of Sheffield. The programme’s overarching objective is to advance understanding of sources of economic and social sustainability in care, especially how wellbeing outcomes can be achieved for care users, their families and carers and paid care workers. University of Sheffield

'Four hours to walk off pizza calories' warning works, experts say

'Four hours to walk off pizza calories' warning works, experts say Food packs should display how much exercise a person would need to take to burn off the calories contained in the product, UK researchers say.

Appreciating it would take four hours to walk off the calories in a pizza or 22 minutes to run off a chocolate bar creates an awareness of the energy cost of food, they say.

The labels would help people indulge less, exploratory studies suggest.

The aim is to encourage healthier eating habits to fight obesity. BBC News

See also:

• Effects of physical activity calorie equivalent food labelling to reduce food selection and consumption: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled studies  (open access) Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
• Exercise advice on food labels could 'change eating habits' NHS UK
• RSPH welcomes research on activity equivalent calorie labelling Royal Society for Public Health
• Labelling junk food with exercise needed to burn off calories inside shames people into eating less The Daily Mail
• Replacing calories with exercise required on food labelling it would ease obesity, Royal Society for Public Health says The Daily Telegraph

A third of hospitals 'increased parking charges'

A third of hospitals 'increased parking charges' A third of hospitals in England put up car parking charges last year, with total income rising by a 10th, an investigation shows.

The Press Association used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain data from more than 140 NHS trusts.

The responses showed £254m had been raised during 2018-19 - up from £232m the year before, with hourly charges varying between £4 and £1 for an hour. BBC News

GP Manish Shah guilty of sexually assaulting female patients

GP Manish Shah guilty of sexually assaulting female patients A GP who cited Angelina Jolie and Jade Goody to instil fear in his patients about their health has been found guilty of sexually assaulting 23 women.

Manish Shah preyed on cancer concerns to carry out invasive intimate examinations for his own sexual gratification, the Old Bailey heard.

He convinced his victims to have unnecessary checks between May 2009 and June 2013.

He was convicted of 25 counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration. BBC News

See also:

• GP who used cases of Angelina Jolie and Jade Goody to molest patients convicted of sexual assault The Daily Telegraph

The NHS robots performing major surgery

The NHS robots performing major surgery How would you feel about a robot performing major surgery on you?

2019 has seen a boom in the use of cutting edge robotic technology and there is more to come.

Evidence suggests robotic surgery can be less invasive and improve recovery time for patients.

That could be good news with ever growing demand on health services. BBC News

Hospitals at ‘breaking point’ as winter NHS crisis deepens

Hospitals at ‘breaking point’ as winter NHS crisis deepens Hospitals across the country are at “breaking point” as a winter surge threatens to overwhelm the NHS.

NHS trusts have been forced to cancel operations, divert ambulances and leave patients on trolleys as thousands wait for treatment.

In one hospital, four patients were left for at least an entire day before a space on a ward became available. The Independent

Using temporary nurses can increase risk of patients dying, warns new study

Using temporary nurses can increase risk of patients dying, warns new study Patients are more likely to die on wards staffed by a high number of temporary nurses, a study has found.

Researchers say the findings, published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, are a warning sign that the common practice by many hospitals of relying on agency nurses is not a risk-free option for patients.

The University of Southampton study found that risk of death increased by 12 per cent for every day a patient experienced a high level of temporary staffing – defined as 1.5 hours of agency nursing a day per patient. The Independent

See also:

• Temporary Staffing and Patient Death in Acute Care Hospitals: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study (abstract / OpenAthens) Journal of Nursing Scholarship

Doctors at West Suffolk hospital 'too scared' to report safety issues

Doctors at West Suffolk hospital 'too scared' to report safety issues Senior staff, at health secretary Matt Hancock’s local hospital, express concern to CQC

Doctors at a hospital accused of bullying its staff have told the NHS care regulator that they are too scared to report lapses in patient safety in case they end up facing disciplinary action.

The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that West Suffolk hospital stands accused by its own medics of secrecy, bullying and intimidation after it demanded they take fingerprint tests in its effort to identify a whistleblower. The Guardian

Yeovil hospital admits liability for operating on conscious woman

Yeovil hospital admits liability for operating on conscious woman Woman says she was left with PTSD and nightmares after procedure at Yeovil hospital

A hospital has admitted liability after a woman reported being operated on while conscious, leaving her with post-traumatic stress disorder, lawyers have said.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she screamed in agony when a surgeon cut into her belly button during an operation at Yeovil hospital. The Guardian

See also:

• Patient has recurring nightmares of having skin cut after not properly anaesthetised The Independent

Patients who plan their death end up living longer, study finds

Patients who plan their death end up living longer, study finds People who plan their death end up living longer, research suggests.

The study of terminally ill patients found that those who discussed their preferences for end-of-life care with doctors actually lived for longer than other patients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Advance care planning and longer survival in the terminally ill: a randomised controlled trial unexpected finding (open access) BMJ Supportive and Palliative care

Mumps outbreak hits hundreds of students across UK after a fall in children having MMR vaccine

Mumps outbreak hits hundreds of students across UK after a fall in children having MMR vaccine Hundreds of students have been struck down by a severe outbreak of mumps that is spreading across British universities.

Public Health England figures show that more than 7,200 suspected mumps cases have been reported in the UK since July, almost triple the same period last year.

Health officials said students were driving the surge and urged any who missed out on the MMR jab to get vaccinated. The Daily Mail

Eight hundred more people dying each week in England and Wales this winter on average

Eight hundred more people dying each week in England and Wales this winter on average The number of people dying each week this winter is far higher than average levels, official data revealed today.

Figures show 10,958 deaths were recorded in England and Wales during the last full week of November.

In contrast, this is almost eight per cent higher than the average for the same time period in the previous five years (10,164).

The Office for National Statistics data shows deaths between November 16 and 22 were also considerably higher - 758 more than the average since 2014. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Excess winter mortality in England and Wales: 2018 to 2019 (provisional) and 2017 to 2018 (final) Office for National Statistics

Tree of Light shines at Northampton hospital to remember those who are no longer with us

Tree of Light shines at Northampton hospital to remember those who are no longer with us Dozens turned out to remember their loved ones who won't be here this Christmas at the 'Light Up a Life' event last week. The Tree of Light, at the Billing road entrance of Northampton General Hospital, has been dedicated to over 140 loved ones who have passed away or who have been gifted a light by a loved one. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton Saints spread Christmas cheer at Northampton General Hospital

Northampton Saints spread Christmas cheer at Northampton General Hospital  Northampton Saints players took a break away from the rugby pitch to spread some Christmas cheer to patients, visitors and staff at Northampton General Hospital. More than 25 players visited wards and departments including the A&E department, Esther White and Walter Tull wards, the oncology department, Haematology, Chemotherapy, Talbot Butler ward and the children’s wards, Disney and Paddington. Here they spent a few hours chatting with patients and handing out Christmas presents, as part of the Travis Perkins Big Christmas Toy Appeal. Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

Online prescribing 'must get safer'

Online prescribing 'must get safer' More deaths could occur unless action is taken to keep people safe when obtaining medications from online health providers, says a UK coroner.

Nigel Parsley has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock highlighting the case of a woman who died after obtaining opiate painkillers online.

Debbie Headspeath, 41, got the medication, dispensed by UK pharmacies, after website consultations.

Her own GP was unaware of what she had requested from doctors on the internet.

The Suffolk coroner has now written to the Department of Health asking for urgent action to be taken. BBC News

Surgeons withdraw support for heart disease advice

Surgeons withdraw support for heart disease advice European clinical guidelines on how to treat a major form of heart disease are under review following a BBC Newsnight investigation.

Europe's professional body for heart surgeons has withdrawn support for the guidelines, saying it was "a matter of serious concern" that some patients may have had the wrong advice. BBC News

BMA backs stop-gap plan to end pension tax trap but demands GP guarantees

BMA backs stop-gap plan to end pension tax trap but demands GP guarantees The BMA has formally backed short-term plans to tackle punitive pension tax rules that have forced thousands of doctors to reduce their working hours - but has demanded further assurances for GPs. GP Online

Anorexia deaths not being properly recorded by NHS, inquest hears

Anorexia deaths not being properly recorded by NHS, inquest hears Anorexia deaths are not being properly recorded by the NHS, an inquest into the death of a young woman with the condition has heard.

Maria Jakes, 24, who died in September 2018 after battling with the eating disorder for more than 10 years, was one of five anorexia fatalities to occur within the Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust (CPFT). The Telegraph

GPhC survey paints a picture of the pharmacy workforce

GPhC survey paints a picture of the pharmacy workforce
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published the findings of its second major survey, which asked pharmacists and pharmacy technicians about their roles and responsibilities, work settings, employment and practice and future work plans.

The GPhC commissioned Enventure Research, an independent research organisation, to carry out the survey over summer 2019. Over 18,000 registered pharmacy professionals (23% of professionals on the register) responded to the online survey. General Pharmaceutical Council

More than 200000 NHS devices still running Windows 7

More than 200000 NHS devices still running Windows 7 NHS Trusts are still using more than 200,000 devices running the 10-year-old Window 7 operating system, which is due to reach End of Life next year.

That's according cloud computing firm Citrix, which recently obtained the information through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Computing.co.uk

'Rip-off' hospital parking charges top £250m a year with relatives charged £100 a visit

'Rip-off' hospital parking charges top £250m a year with relatives charged £100 a visit Hospitals are charging relatives more than £100 to visit the sick amid record charges of more than £250 million a year, an investigation reveals.

One in three NHS trusts increased their prices in the last year, with overall charges rising by 10 per cent, the findings show. The Telegraph

See also:

• One in three hospitals in England raised car park prices last year Mail Online
• A third of hospitals 'increased parking charges' BBC News