Ellie's 18th birthday fundraiser wish comes true as 150 gifts for Northampton's poorly children flood in

Ellie's 18th birthday fundraiser wish comes true as 150 gifts for Northampton's poorly children flood in
A former Northampton hospital patient was inspired to set up a special birthday campaign to celebrate her 18th - and saw 150 presents donated to the children's ward.

Ellie Waters published a tweet in March appealing for toys to be donated to the Northampton General Hospital Children's ward, as part of her 18th birthday wishlist. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Amazon Alexa offering NHS health advice

Amazon Alexa offering NHS health advice People will be able to get expert health advice using Amazon Alexa devices, under a partnership with the NHS, the government has announced.

From this week, the voice-assisted technology is automatically searching the NHS Choices website when UK users ask for health-related advice.

The Department of Health in England said it could reduce demand on the NHS.

Privacy campaigners have raised data protection concerns but Amazon say all information will be kept confidential. BBC News

See also:

• NHS teams up with Amazon to bring Alexa to patients The Guardian
• Ask Alexa to diagnose your health problems as NHS announces 'world-first' partnership with Amazon  The Telegraph
• Ask Alexa instead of your GP: Patients will be told to use Amazon speaker hooked up to NHS website Mail Online

CNO to enrol 14 trusts on global nursing excellence scheme

CNO to enrol 14 trusts on global nursing excellence scheme The chief nursing officer for England has announced plans to put 14 NHS trusts through an internationally-recognised programme that aims to create a positive working environment for nursing staff.

Dr Ruth May said she wanted trusts to take part in the Pathway to Excellence scheme to help create a culture where nursing and midwifery professionals at all levels were involved in the decision-making process, ensuring ”collective ownership” in developing and improving practice. Nursing Times

NHS creating its own 'G-Cloud' for digital services

NHS creating its own 'G-Cloud' for digital services The NHS is in the process of creating an organisation-wide procurement framework for IT services, similar to the G-Cloud digital marketplace set up for Central Government.

NHS CIO Will Smart admitted that it's unusual for the NHS to make any organisation-wide purchases, but admitted that it is setting up a system to enable it to negotiate better deals with suppliers. www.computing.co.uk

See also:

• NHS building G-Cloud-like procurement network ITProPortal

How is the NHS performing? July 2019 quarterly monitoring report

How is the NHS performing? July 2019 quarterly monitoring report Since April 2011, The King’s Fund has published a quarterly monitoring report (QMR) to track, analyse and comment on the issues the health and care system is facing. This is the 28th QMR, which takes stock of what has happened over the past few months with NHS financial and operational performance in England. King's Fund

Vape shops open in two UK hospitals to help smokers kick the habit

Vape shops open in two UK hospitals to help smokers kick the habit Vape shops have opened in two NHS hospitals in the West Midlands as part of efforts to eradicate smoking.

The outlets run by Ecigwizard are at Sandwell general hospital in West Bromwich and Birmingham city hospital, both of which are run by Sandwell and West Birmingham hospitals NHS trust.

The trust is clamping down on smoking on its grounds, with people being issued £50 fines since 5 July if they light up. Security cameras are also being used to police smoking. The Guardian

See also:

• Vape shops open on NHS hospital sites, in bid to stub out smoking The Telegraph

NHS fees: 'Couple couldn't take baby's body home'

NHS fees: 'Couple couldn't take baby's body home' Charging overseas patients for NHS care in England must be suspended until it is clear it is not harming women, the Royal College of Midwives has said.

A couple whose baby died following an emergency Caesarean were not given the body as they were unable to pay £10,000 in medical fees, one doctor has said.

Joe Rylands said the expansion of charging had caused "disbelief" among many colleagues.

The Department of Health said the charges had raised £1.3bn since 2015. BBC News

Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation: government response to the consultation

Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation: government response to the consultation Department of Health and Social Care -
The original consultation set out proposals to make professional regulation faster, simpler and more responsive to the needs of patients, professionals, the public and employers. In this response, the government states it will take forward legislative changes to the regulators’ fitness to practise processes and operating framework. It believes these changes will deliver: modern and efficient fitness to practise processes; better supported professionals; and more responsive and accountable regulation. King's Fund

Neuro patience: still waiting for improvements in treatment and care

Neuro patience: still waiting for improvements in treatment and care Neuro Patience presents the findings of the 2018/19 National Neurology Patient Experience Survey. The report covers three main themes – accessible, personalised and holistic care and support (which includes social care, mental health and financial security). Overall the 2018/19 results show that people’s experiences remain poor. The Neurological Alliance

Nurses will be offered supermarket discounts to persuade them to stay in the NHS

Nurses will be offered supermarket discounts to persuade them to stay in the NHS Nurses will be offered supermarket discounts and cheap gym membership as part of efforts to persuade workers stay in the NHS, health chiefs will say.

Simon Stevens, head of the health service, will call for the wider rollout of schemes which have given staff savings of up to £1,000 a year on their shopping.

The plans will see nurses, midwives and other clinical workers offered access to promotions and discounts, in a bid to encourage staff loyalty. The Telegraph