Former Northampton care home manager jailed after stealing over £39,000 from resident she ‘cared deeply’ about

Former Northampton care home manager jailed after stealing over £39,000 from resident she ‘cared deeply’ about A 44-year-old former Northampton care home manager has been sent to prison for two years after defrauding one of her mentally disabled residents of more than £39,000. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Record recruitment and reform to boost patient care under first NHS Long Term Workforce Plan

Record recruitment and reform to boost patient care under first NHS Long Term Workforce Plan Record numbers of doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare staff will be trained in England as part of the first ever Long Term Workforce Plan published by the NHS and backed by the Government today.

Coming ahead of the health service’s 75th anniversary, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out how the NHS will address existing vacancies and meet the challenges of a growing and ageing population by recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over 15 years and working in new ways.

The NHS plan, a once in a generation opportunity to put staffing on a sustainable footing and improve patient care, focusses on retaining existing talent and making the best use of new technology alongside the biggest recruitment drive in health service history to address the gap. NHS England

See also: 

• Workforce plan is long overdue but so far lacks substance on retention BMA
• NHS Long Term Workforce Plan The Health Foundation
• NHS workforce plan response Healthwatch
• The King's Fund responds to NHS England's workforce plan The King's Fund
• NHS Workforce Plan ‘a significant step forward for the NHS and its people' NHS Employers
• Workforce plan welcome but details will be crucial NHS Providers
• Nuffield Trust response to announcement on NHS Long Term Workforce Plan Nuffield trust
• RCN comments in anticipation of the NHS Workforce Plan Royal College of Nursing
• 'Historic' 15-year plan to boost NHS workforce BBC News
• Medical degrees to be cut from five years to four and training places to double as part of new drive The Daily Mail
• Biggest NHS reform in its history to save taxpayer £10bn The Daily Telegraph
• More than 300,000 extra doctors, nurses and other workers targeted in NHS plan Evening Standard
• Government aims to boost NHS with thousands more doctors and nurses The Guardian
• NHS plan explained: More than 300,000 extra doctors, nurses and other workers expected The Independent
• What's in the government's plan to boost England's NHS workforce? ITV News
• How the government plans to address the NHS staffing crisis - from shorter degrees to extra medical school places Sky News
• 'There will be challenges, but it's rewarding': Trainee nurses aren't deterred from NHS staffing crisis Sky News

Broken trust: making patient safety more than just a promise

Broken trust: making patient safety more than just a promise The National Health Service is suffering from a deficit of accountability and compassion for patients and their families when things go wrong, England’s Health Ombudsman has warned.

In a new report, the Ombudsman has said the NHS must do more to accept accountability and learn from mistakes, particularly when there is serious harm or, worse, loss of life.

When concerns are raised after such incidents they are too often met with a defensive attitude. This makes things even worse for a grieving family trying to get answers. It also places unnecessary pressures on staff, creating a barrier to learning and a gateway to making the same mistakes. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

See also:

• NHS ‘culture of cover-up’ leading to avoidable deaths The Daily Telegraph
• Ombudsman finds 'culture of cover-up' in NHS when patients are harmed Evening Standard
• Ombudsman finds ‘culture of cover-up’ in NHS when patients are harmed The Independent
• Calls to overhaul doctor training to end ‘cover-up culture’ leading to avoidable NHS deaths The Independent

Stories from new mothers: the importance of good communication

Stories from new mothers: the importance of good communication The commitment to personalised care has been a cornerstone of NHS policy on maternity care for many years. A crucial part of personalised care is good communication, listening and agreeing on actions together. In this blog, we share new mothers' stories highlighting the role of communication and choice. Healthwatch England

A vision for the future of primary care

A vision for the future of primary care Through insights gathered within a coalition of health and care charities, this report identifies nine proposals for the reform of primary care which could make a difference for people living with health conditions and disability, and in particular people from groups that experience health inequalities, whilst also supporting the primary care workforce. National Voices

See also:

• Accessible and inclusive communication within primary care: What matters to people with diverse communication needs National Voices
• A shift to multidisciplinary teams in general practice: What this means for people experiencing health inequalities and frequent users of primary care services National Voices

Aspartame - is it a possible cause of cancer?

Aspartame - is it a possible cause of cancer? The sweetener aspartame, which is found in a variety of foods and fizzy drinks, is set to be officially classified as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans, reports claim.

The label frequently causes confusion as it gives no sense of whether the potential risk is big or miniscule.

Other "possibly carcinogenic" substances include aloe vera, diesel and pickled Asian vegetables.

The BBC understands the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) will make an announcement on 14 July. BBC News

See also:

• Is aspartame in Coke Zero and Pepsi Max? Will Diet Coke carry cancer warning after carcinogen risk? The Daily Mail
• Doctors say possible carcinogen aspartame might still be better than sugar The Daily Mail
• Aspartame: Key ingredient in Diet Coke set to be declared ‘possible cancer risk’ by WHO The Independent
• Aspartame: Artificial sweetener used in Diet Coke could be 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' ITV News
• WHO's cancer research agency to say aspartame sweetener a possible carcinogen -sources Reuters

NHS signs new Microsoft deal worth three-quarters of a billion pounds

NHS signs new Microsoft deal worth three-quarters of a billion pounds NHS England has announced a new £774m licensing deal for Microsoft productivity apps and products including Office365 and Teams for 1.5m NHS staff.

The deal includes licensing for Microsoft security solutions to provide capabilities around threat protection, data governance and compliance.

NHS England claims the new five-year deal, which replaces a 2020 agreement, will save the health service millions of pounds. The deal works out at £155m per year.

However, Digital Health News understands that every one of the 42 Integrated Care Boards in England will have to find up to half a million pounds extra each to help pay for the complex deal, placing further pressure on already stretched ICB budgets.

More than a million NHS patients’ details compromised after cyberattack

More than a million NHS patients’ details compromised after cyberattack NHS details of more than a million patients have been compromised in a cyberattack, senior health chiefs have been warned.

A recent ransomware attack on the University of Manchester affected an NHS patient data set that holds information on 1.1 million patients across 200 hospitals, leaks to The Independent have confirmed.

See also:

• Over one million NHS records leaked during University of Manchester cyberattack Tech Monitor
• NHS cyber attack follows rising numbers of data breaches in global healthcare sector Verdict

Government rejects recommendation to increase maternity budget, despite baby deaths scandal

Government rejects recommendation to increase maternity budget, despite baby deaths scandal The government has rejected a recommendation to increase the annual budget for maternity services that was made in the wake of one of the worst baby deaths scandals in NHS history.

It has also largely rejected calls from the Women and Equalities Committee to set a target and strategy to end racial disparities in maternal deaths. Sky News

Stave off Alzheimer's by getting leaner muscles from regular gym work-outs, study says

Stave off Alzheimer's by getting leaner muscles from regular gym work-outs, study says t's not just good for the body, being lean can also help the mind, research shows.

Having high levels of lean muscle has been linked to lower chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.

People with lifelong, higher, lean muscle mass had a 12 per cent lower risk, researchers found, as well as improved brainpower in old age. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Genetically proxied lean mass and risk of Alzheimer’s disease: mendelian randomisation study (open access) BMJ Medicine
• Higher levels of lean muscle might protect against Alzheimer’s disease – study The Independent

Prepare for another pandemic, new WHO guru Sir Jeremy Farrar tells Covid Inquiry

Prepare for another pandemic, new WHO guru Sir Jeremy Farrar tells Covid Inquiry Another pandemic is 'inevitable' and Britain is 'woefully unprepared' for it, a world-renowned scientist claimed today.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, an influential member of SAGE — No10's advisory panel, told the Covid Inquiry we now live in a 'pandemic age'.

He added that the world would see 'more frequent and more complex pandemics'. The Daily Mail

Two new Northamptonshire diagnostic centres to be opened

Two new Northamptonshire diagnostic centres to be opened Two community diagnostic centres are set to open in Northamptonshire, reducing the need for hospital visits.

The NHS facilities, which are due to open in early 2024, will be in Corby and Kings Heath, Northampton.

The sites will offer a range of services, such as MRI scans, blood testing and ultrasounds. BBC Northampton

See also:

• New £8.32m Corby Community Diagnostic Centre to provide MRI, CT and ultrasound scans for thousands of North Northants patients Northamptonshire Telegraph

All is not well: Sickness absence in the NHS in England

All is not well: Sickness absence in the NHS in England Billy Palmer and Lucina Rolewicz draw on published data to explore the trends in, reasons for, and impact of sickness absence in the NHS. The briefing primarily focuses on hospital and community services in England, since this is where most is known, although we do compare to trends in other sectors and health services in the other UK nations, where data permits. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• NHS in England grappling with difficult new normal as staff sickness soars post-pandemic Nuffield Trust
• NHS staff sickness hits record high in England BBC News
• Mental health biggest issue in record NHS staff sickness levels Evening Standard
• NHS staff sickness rate in England hit record high last year, data shows The Guardian
• NHS under ‘huge strain’ as staff sickness absences soar Nursing Times

Medical Evolution: Measures to improve the interface between primary and secondary care

Medical Evolution: Measures to improve the interface between primary and secondary care The interface between primary and secondary care is the space of a growing volume and variety of activities for the NHS, ranging from referrals to specialist care, diagnostic testing and medicines management. An effective and efficient interface has never been more important, but new analysis from Policy Exchange finds the equivalent of 15 million GP appointments per year are spent dealing with issues in care management between GP practices and hospitals, creating frustration and patient safety issues.

The report sets out twenty recommendations which seek to ensure that the interface is proactively managed in the future. measures proposed range from providing patients with greater transparency about referral decisions so they can ‘track’ who is responsible for their care to significantly enhancing communication capabilities between clinicians.

See also:

• GPs 'waste 15 MILLION appointments a year' The Daily Mail

Independent report: Rapid review into data on mental health inpatient settings: final report and recommendations

Independent report: Rapid review into data on mental health inpatient settings: final report and recommendations The rapid review into data on mental health inpatient settings was commissioned by ministers to produce recommendations to improve the way data and information is used in relation to patient safety in mental health inpatient care settings and pathways, including for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

This report contains the findings of the review, including a set of recommendations for improvements in the way local and national data is gathered and used to monitor and improve patient safety in mental health inpatient pathways. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government acts to improve patient safety in mental health care Department of Health and Social Care
• Future HSSIB investigation to examine mental health inpatient settings Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch
• NHS Confederation responds to the rapid review into data on mental health inpatient settings NHS Confederation
• Mind responds to announcement of series of measures to improve mental health inpatient care Mind
• Our response to the rapid review on inpatient safety Rethink Mental Illness
• Investigation into mental-health inpatient care in England BBC News
• Norfolk and Suffolk NHS trust lost track of patient deaths - review BBC News
• Inquiry into 2,000 mental health deaths in Essex NHS trusts given legal powers The Guardian
• Health secretary launches national investigation into NHS mental health scandals The Independent
• Government announces investigation into mental health care Sky News

Government seeks views on learning disability and autism training

Government seeks views on learning disability and autism training Standards for learning disability and autism training for health and care staff will improve as government launches a consultation on a code of practice.

Draft guidance for the Oliver McGowan code of practice outlines how health and care providers who are Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered can meet the new legislative requirement to ensure staff receive training on learning disabilities and autism appropriate to their role. Department of Health and Social Care

New digital health check to tackle deadly cardiovascular disease

New digital health check to tackle deadly cardiovascular disease A Digital NHS Health Check that will deliver one million checks is to be rolled out across England from next spring, the government has announced.

The current NHS Health Check has helped to prevent heart attacks and strokes and is currently a face-to-face check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. Commissioned by local authorities and largely delivered through GP surgeries, it can help spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or dementia. Department of health and Social Care

See also:

• Digital NHS health check to be launched across England in spring The Guardian
• Digital NHS Health Check will launch next Spring Pulse
• NHS digital health check-ups launched 'to ease pressure on GPs' Sky News

West Midlands Ambulance Service mistakes caused serious incidents

West Midlands Ambulance Service mistakes caused serious incidents More than half of all serious incidents where patients came to harm involving West Midlands Ambulance Service were due to clinical errors.

A trust audit found choking management, cardiac arrests and inappropriate patient discharges as themes.

It also noted a decision to close all community ambulance stations was taken without first doing a full risk assessment of the impact on safety.

Serious incidents have reduced as a result of action taken since. BBC News

More than a billion people will get diabetes by 2050, study says

More than a billion people will get diabetes by 2050, study says More than a billion people around the world are expected to be living with diabetes over the coming years, according to a new study.

Academics said diabetes cases are set to “grow aggressively” in every country and among every age group. The Independent

Cost of living worsening health of children in UK, say school nurses

Cost of living worsening health of children in UK, say school nurses Children across Britain are suffering worsening levels of tooth decay, anxiety and stunted growth as the cost of food continues to soar, a survey of school nurses has found.

The scale and severity of health issues facing pupils has worsened in the past year as food prices soared to their highest level in 45 years, according to research. The Guardian

See also:

• Health Practitioners Survey – Child Hunger Leading To Deterioration In Children’s Health School and Public Health Nurses Association

All four types of NHS doctor could strike before general election, BMA warns

All four types of NHS doctor could strike before general election, BMA warns Exclusive: union says it is planning for scenario of specialist and family doctors walking out as well as juniors and consultants

All four types of doctors working in the NHS could be locked in a wrangle with the government in the run-up to the general election, the head of the British Medical Association has warned.

GPs and specialist doctors may join junior doctors and hospital consultants in England in going on strike, Prof Philip Banfield, the union’s chair of council, told The Guardian. 

See also:

• Fury as NHS consultants on £128,000 are allowed to do PRIVATE work on strike days The Daily Mail 
• BMA threatens to cripple NHS workforce plan with strikes The Daily Telegraph
• End to nurses’ strike leaves tensions between Pat Cullen and RCN members The Guardian

Taking vitamin D supplements 'could slash your chance of a heart attack by a fifth'

Taking vitamin D supplements 'could slash your chance of a heart attack by a fifth' Taking vitamin D in your 60s could reduce the chances of a heart attack by up to a fifth, new research suggests.

In the largest trial of its kind, people who took supplements had 19 per cent fewer heart attacks than those on a placebo.

They also cut their odds of needing heart bypass surgery by a tenth (11 per cent), with the effect was even more marked in those already taking statins, according to researchers. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Vitamin D supplementation and major cardiovascular events: D-Health randomised controlled trial (open access) The BMJ 

How will you celebrate 75 years of NHS care? Here's what is happening in Northamptonshire

How will you celebrate 75 years of NHS care? Here's what is happening in Northamptonshire This year marks 75 amazing years of the National Health Service – and people across Northamptonshire are being encouraged to celebrate what the NHS means to them. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How does the NHS compare to the health care systems of other countries?

How does the NHS compare to the health care systems of other countries? Comparing the health care systems of different countries can help politicians and policy‑makers assess how the UK health care system is performing and where it could improve. 

For our research, we reviewed the academic literature on previous attempts to compare health care systems, analysed quantitative data on health system performance, and interviewed experts in comparative health policy. 

We found the UK health care system has fewer key resources than its peers. It performs relatively well on some measures of efficiency but waiting times for common procedures were ‘middle-of-the-pack’ before the Covid-19 pandemic and have deteriorated sharply since. The King's Fund

See also:

• NHS given mixed bill of health in new study of international health care systems The King's Fund
• Comparing the NHS to the health care systems of other countries: five charts The King's Fund

Longer hospital stays and fewer admissions

Longer hospital stays and fewer admissions This analysis shows that 800,000 (12 per cent) fewer patients in England were admitted to hospital in 2022 than in 2019, while at the same time the average length of time patients spent in hospital increased. It suggests that because hospitals are at the limits of their capacity and length of stay has increased, hospitals have had to increase admission thresholds, in effect rationing care by admitting fewer patients. The Health Foundation

Access to unplanned or urgent care

Access to unplanned or urgent care This report gives a factual overview of NHS services that may be used when people need rapid access to urgent, emergency, or other non-routine health services, and whether such services are meeting the performance standards the NHS has told patients they have a right to expect. It covers: general practice; community pharmacy; 111 calls; ambulance services (including 999 calls); urgent treatment centres; and accident and emergency departments. National Audit Office

New lung cancer screening roll out to detect cancer sooner

New lung cancer screening roll out to detect cancer sooner A national targeted lung cancer screening programme designed to catch cancer sooner or prevent it altogether has been announced by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Each year the programme - which will cost £270 million annually once fully implemented - is expected to detect cancer in as many as 9,000 people, deliver almost one million scans and provide treatment earlier. Department of Health and Social Care

Senior doctors back strike action in England

Senior doctors back strike action in England NHS consultants in England have voted in favour of strike action in their fight for more pay.

Some 86% of British Medical Association members backed walkouts over what the union described as repeated pay cuts.

The union had already announced that a 48-hour walkout on 20 and 21 July would take place if doctors backed action.

It will follow a five-day strike by junior doctors - the combination is likely to lead to huge disruption to services, and cancelled treatments. BBC News

See also:

• BMA calls on Government to come forward with credible pay offer for consultants in England and avoid strikes as senior doctors vote yes for BMA
• Consultants' strikes “unchartered territory” for a post-pandemic NHS NHS Confederation
• Patients face SEVEN DAYS of NHS chaos as senior doctors walk out The Daily Mail
• Striking junior doctors will be offered an extra £1,000 on top of 6% pay rise The Daily Mail
• Senior doctors’ strike signals fight over NHS pay is just beginning The Guardian
• Junior doctors to strike for five days in longest walkout in NHS history The Independent
• NHS consultants in England vote to strike for two days next month Sky News

Nurse strikes in England end as vote turnout too low

Nurse strikes in England end as vote turnout too low Strike action by nurses at the Royal College of Nursing will not continue after the union's ballot of its members in England failed to achieve a mandate.

While most of those members who cast a ballot voted to continue industrial action, the proportion taking part in the vote was too low for it to count.

Just over 43% took part - below the 50% threshold required by trade union laws. BBC News

See also:

• Fight for fair pay to continue without new strike mandate Royal College of Nursing
• NHS Confederation responds to the outcome of the RCN's industrial action ballot NHS Confederation
• Nurses fail to vote in sufficient numbers for fresh strikes in England The Guardian

Matt Hancock criticises UK's 'body bag' approach to Covid

Matt Hancock criticises UK's 'body bag' approach to Covid Ex-health secretary Matt Hancock has criticised the UK's pandemic planning before Covid hit, saying it was "completely wrong".

He told the Covid Inquiry that planning was focused on the provision of body bags and how to bury the dead, rather than stopping the virus taking hold.

He said he was "profoundly sorry" for each death.

After giving evidence he approached some of the bereaved families, but they turned their backs on him as he left. BBC News

UK risks becoming reliant on overseas care workers, report warns

UK risks becoming reliant on overseas care workers, report warns The UK risks becoming highly reliant on overseas care workers after nearly 58,000 visas were issued for the sector last year, a report says.

Analysis by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford found that the demand for foreign staff had left the NHS and care homes open to “vulnerabilities” including “exposure to international competition for health workers and risks of exploitation”.

In the year to March, 57,700 care workers received skilled work visas, the report says. The Guardian

See also:

• Migration and the health and care workforce  The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford

Record numbers of children seek mental health help from NHS England

Record numbers of children seek mental health help from NHS England A record 1.4 million children and young people sought NHS help for mental health problems last year, amid concern that under-18s are struggling with issues including about money and their education.

The number of school-age children being referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) has undergone an “explosion” in the last three years, soaring by 76% since 2019, NHS figures show. The Guardian

Warning over 'retirement timebomb' among GPs

Warning over 'retirement timebomb' among GPs The NHS faces a 'retirement time bomb' with one in five GPs now over the age of 55 and soon to hang up their stethoscope, figures show.

An explosion in retirements among family doctors over the next few years could make the 8am scramble for appointments worse.

Analysis of NHS data by the Liberal Democrats show almost 8,000 fully qualified GPs are over 55, making up 22 per cent of the total. The Daily Mail

We are taking a short break

Due to annual leave, our health news service will be taking a short break

We will be back on Wednesday the 28th of June.

In the mean time you can still find us on Twitter.

Apologies for any inconvenience. 

We'll see you soon...

Loyal Kettering hospital 'bank' health care assistants denied lump sum payment beg 'treat us fairly and with respect'

Loyal Kettering hospital 'bank' health care assistants denied lump sum payment beg 'treat us fairly and with respect' Campaigners want all NHS bank staff in England to receive non-consolidated payments.

NHS bank health care staff at Kettering General Hospital (KGH), who tended the dying during the Covid pandemic, say they have been snubbed after being left out of a national pay award.

The zero-hour contracted bank staff are paid at the same rate of pay as substantive employees, choosing which shifts they work but without benefits of holiday or sick pay. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The radical reform that’s been staring the NHS in the face

The radical reform that’s been staring the NHS in the face There is no getting away from the fact that the health and care system is under enormous pressure. Public satisfaction is declining, there are long waits for care and staff are exhausted and demoralised. A decade of under-investment, avoidance of crucial policy decisions on social care, lack of a funded workforce plan, under-ambitious public health measures, the Covid-19 pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis have all contributed to this. The King's Fund

The NHS productivity puzzle

The NHS productivity puzzle: Why has hospital activity not increased in line with funding and staffing? The NHS crisis will only be solved with capital investment, increasing management capacity and staff retention – not just more doctors and nurses.

Politicians need to seriously engage with the real problems facing the NHS – or the decline in hospital performance levels will become extremely difficult to reverse.

 

This report – written jointly by the Institute for Government and Public First, and funded by the Health Foundation – assesses why NHS hospitals are failing to deliver higher activity despite higher spending on the service and higher levels of staffing over the last couple of years.

How bad does the NHS crisis need to get?

How bad does the NHS crisis need to get? Sam Freedman takes a closer look at the NHS crisis.

Back in January, at the peak of the 2022/23 winter crisis, I wrote a post on my Substack1 asking “whether the NHS is in a death spiral”? It was gloomy. I didn’t see much evidence that the government had grasped the severity of the situation or were focusing on the right levers.

I’m not feeling any less gloomy now. If anything this year is going worse than I expected. The Institute for Government

See also:

• The overall NHS waiting list continues to rise Full Fact

After the pandemic: is the new public health system in England fit for purpose? The perspective of England’s directors of public health

After the pandemic: is the new public health system in England fit for purpose? The perspective of England’s directors of public health The CHPI was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to conduct research on the new public health structures which have been put in place in England since it was announced Public Health England was to be abolished in 2020. As the current pandemic has shown an effective, well organised accountable public health system is not only key to controlling the spread of a disease – permitting the wider economy and public services to function – but is also vital in addressing growing health inequalities. Centre for Health and the Public Interest

Kidney disease: a UK public health emergency - the health economics of kidney disease to 2033

Kidney disease: a UK public health emergency - the health economics of kidney disease to 2033 This report looks at the growing costs of kidney disease, both in treating patients and in money lost to the economy by people being left unable to work due to time-consuming and gruelling treatment. It finds that kidney disease is costing the UK economy £7 billion a year, costs which could rise to £13.9 billion in just ten years. It contains projections that the NHS could see capacity for dialysis treatment overwhelmed unless the disease becomes a government priority. Kidney Care UK

Government takes action to strengthen local care systems

Government takes action to strengthen local care systems The government has committed to a number of measures to support integrated care systems in response to two key reports.

Responding to the Hewitt Review which reported its findings on 4 April and the recent Health and Social Care Select Committee (HSCC) Inquiry into the workings of the local health and care systems, the government reaffirmed its support for integrated care systems. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Government response to the HSCC report and the Hewitt Review on integrated care systems Department of Health and Social Care

Retired specialists set to help with tackling Covid backlog

Retired specialists set to help with tackling Covid backlog Retired doctors will have an option to “keep caring” and re-join the NHS to carry out outpatient appointments in a new initiative to help reduce waiting lists.

From autumn, newly-retired doctors will be able to sign up to a new digital platform where they will be able to offer their availability to trusts across England to perform outpatient appointments, either virtually or in person.

NHS hospitals will choose the consultant whose skillset and availability best matches the appointments they need covered, which are scheduled and arranged with patients in the normal way. NHS England

Charles Ndhlovu: NHS 'corrected mistakes' after son's suicide - mother

Charles Ndhlovu: NHS 'corrected mistakes' after son's suicide - mother An NHS trust has been accused of adding to the records of a man the day after he took his own life to "correct their mistakes".

Charles Ndhlovu, 33, died under the care of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) in 2017.

His mother, Angelina Pattison, said the way her son's case had been handled had "upset me so much".

The trust did not respond to the claim about the records being added to but said learning from deaths was "vital". BBC News

Super-engineered vaccines created to help end polio

Super-engineered vaccines created to help end polio Scientists have "super-engineered" polio vaccines to prevent them mutating into a dangerous form that can cause outbreaks and paralysis.

The oral vaccines contain weakened live polio viruses and the genetic redesign locks them into that weakened state.

The US and UK teams have now created upgraded vaccines against all three types of polio.

However, better vaccines still need to reach every child in order to stop the disease. BBC News

See also: 

• A novel tool to eradicate an ancient scourge: the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 story (free access) The Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Scientists build a new vaccine arsenal to eradicate polio Medical Xpress

Scientists create synthetic human embryos using stem cells in major breakthrough

Scientists create synthetic human embryos using stem cells in major breakthrough Scientists have created synthetic human embryos using stem cells in a major scientific breakthrough.

Experts believe the development could provide insight into causes of miscarriages and unique aspects of human development but also raises ethical and legal questions. Sky News

See also:

• Synthetic human embryos are made in scientific breakthrough The Daily Mail
• Synthetic human embryos created in ground breaking advance The Guardian

CEO of scandal-hit hospitals resigns after The Independent exposes ‘systemic abuse’

CEO of scandal-hit hospitals resigns after The Independent exposes ‘systemic abuse’ The chief executive of a group of scandal-hit children’s mental health hospitals has stood down after a series of investigations by The Independent exposed “systemic abuse”.

Dr Sylvia Tang, CEO of Active Care Group which owns former Huntercombe Group hospitals, has left her role to “pursue a plural career”.

Covid testing was a weakness in early pandemic response, DHSC tells inquiry

Covid testing was a weakness in early pandemic response, DHSC tells inquiry The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has admitted Covid testing was “a significant weakness” in the UK’s early pandemic response and stressed the need for proper funding to prepare the nation for the next emergency.

While the DHSC said it would not claim “it did everything right”, its opening statement to the UK Covid public inquiry highlighted wider government choices on funding in what will be seen as turning the focus on Downing Street and the Treasury. The Guardian

See also:

• Pandemic akin to war, lawyer tells Covid inquiry BBC News
• Go easy on us over our Covid errors, lawyers for Cabinet Office and Department of Health beg Inquiry The Daily Mail
• Cuts to NHS budgets to blame for our response to Covid, new inquiry told Evening Standard
• Covid inquiry could be a landmark moment Local Government Chronicle

AI discovers drugs to combat age-related health issues like Alzheimer's

AI discovers drugs to combat age-related health issues like Alzheimer's Artificial intelligence technology helped researchers identify a trio of chemicals that target faulty cells linked to age-related health issues, including certain cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.

The algorithm comb through a library of more than 4,300 chemical compounds and identified 21 drug candidates that could prompt cell senescence.

This is a phenomenon in which faulty cells stop multiplying but do not die off as they should and continue to release chemicals that can trigger inflammation. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Discovery of senolytics using machine learning (open access) Nature Communications

NHS plans vaping crackdown by restricting the number of flavours and adverts that appeal to children

NHS plans vaping crackdown by restricting the number of flavours and adverts that appeal to children The NHS are attempting to clampdown on vaping by restricting flavours and advertisement that appeal to children after the number of youngsters hospitalised by vaping has quadrupled in two years.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, described the increase in hospital admissions among the young as 'seriously concerning'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Vaping: Why are people worried about young people vaping? BBC News
• Rise in number of children treated in hospital for vaping ‘worrying’ – NHS chief Evening Standard
• The child vaping crisis: ‘From what my daughter says, 90% of her year do it’ The Guardian
• Forty children admitted to hospital for vaping amid rising ‘epidemic’ The Independent
• Under-tens in hospital 15 times for 'vape-related disorders' over past year ITV News

New mental health crisis response service launched in Northamptonshire

New mental health crisis response service launched in Northamptonshire An innovative new response service has been launched in Northamptonshire aimed at helping those in a mental health crisis.

The new Crisis Response Unit (CRU), launched by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, (NHFT) is a 24-hour response vehicle staffed by trained professionals, providing a dedicated resource to attend to mental health emergencies. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NGH Skin Cancer Specialist Hayley wins hero award from University of Northampton

NGH Skin Cancer Specialist Hayley wins hero award from University of Northampton An inspirational nurse has won a Hero Award from the University of Northampton for her work-life journey at Northampton General Hospital.

Hayley Masters, aged 50 from Northampton, joined Northampton General Hospital for the first time 24 years ago to start in her new role as a hospital cleaner. Fast forward to 2023 and she’s now a skin cancer specialist who has just graduated, with honours, with a BSC in Enhancing Healthcare Practice at the University of Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

One-stop-shop for AI and digital regulations for health and social care launched

One-stop-shop for AI and digital regulations for health and social care launched A new online advice service to help the NHS and wider care system adopt and make use of new digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has launched today.

The AI and Digital Regulations Service provides guidance for NHS and social care adopters and digital health innovators. NICE

Patient empowerment: what is the role of technology in transforming care?

Patient empowerment: what is the role of technology in transforming care? This joint report with Google Health explores the role of technology in managing, improving and support health and wellbeing. Ipsos was commissioned to explore people’s behaviours, attitudes and beliefs about responsibility and control when it comes to their health, the role that health technologies play in this, along with their expectations about the future of healthcare. NHS Confederation

NHS equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan

NHS equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan This improvement plan sets out targeted actions to address the prejudice and discrimination – direct and indirect – that exists through behaviour, policies, practices and cultures against certain groups and individuals across the NHS workforce. It has been co-produced through engagement with staff networks and senior leaders. NHS England

Patients to benefit from new ambulance hubs and discharge lounges

Patients to benefit from new ambulance hubs and discharge lounges Six new ambulance hubs and 42 new and upgraded discharge lounges are opening at hospitals across the country, which will help cut urgent and emergency care waiting times for tens of thousands of patients.

The new facilities are backed by the £50 million investment that was announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay in January to help free up hospital beds and cut down on waiting times for patients ahead of next winter. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS to open new specialist clinics for obese children and young people

NHS to open new specialist clinics for obese children and young people Thousands more children and young people who are severely obese will receive intensive support from the NHS, with 10 new specialist clinics set to open across England.

The new services will launch this year, bringing the total to 30 clinics that are able to provide expert help to children and their families which can prevent long term conditions including Type 2 diabetes.

Around 3,000 obese children and young people aged between two and 18, will receive help to lose weight, treatment for complications as well as tailored care packages developed with their family, which could include diet plans, mental health care and coaching. NHS England

See also: 

• Diet coaches to be rolled out for fat kids as young as TWO The Daily Mail
• NHS forced to open more obesity clinics for children as young as two as hospital admissions triple iNews

Government and NHS Staff Council to work together to implement non-pay elements of the NHS pay deal

Government and NHS Staff Council to work together to implement non-pay elements of the NHS pay deal The NHS Staff Council has issued a statement welcoming the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announcement that the government and NHS Staff Council will work together to implement non-pay elements of the NHS pay deal.

Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health, outlined today in an open letter to NHS staff how the government will work with the NHS Staff Council to oversee the implementation of each of the commitments made in the deal. NHS Employers

See also:

• Government and unions collaborate to implement NHS pay deal Department of Health and Social Care

Hot weather adds to NHS pressure as doctors strike

Hot weather adds to NHS pressure as doctors strike Health bosses are warning of major disruption and pressure on the NHS in England, as the hot weather combines with the latest junior doctor strike.

British Medical Association members will walk out for 72 hours from 07:00 on Wednesday.

It is the third strike in the pay dispute and is expected to lead to the cancellation of much routine care.

And with the heat placing extra demands on A&E units, bosses urged people to use services sensibly. BBC News

See also: 

• Two-thirds of junior doctors fear NHS won’t survive the next ten years, as BMA urges PM to intervene to resolve dispute BMA
• NHS Confederation urges junior doctors and government to get back to the negotiating table NHS Confederation
• Junior doctors in Scotland to strike after rejecting pay offer BBC News
• Thousands of NHS appointments cancelled as junior doctors strike Evening Standard
• Junior doctor strikes begin as most fear NHS won't last a decade GPonline
• BMA chair urges Sunak to broker settlement with junior doctors The Guardian
• Three-day strike by doctors in England expected to have ‘enormous impact’ The Guardian
• Upcoming industrial action 'will have a serious impact on local NHS services' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Junior doctors in England on strike today - here's how it will affect NHS care Sky News

Covid inquiry: Failure to consider 'potentially massive impact' of lockdown

Covid inquiry: Failure to consider 'potentially massive impact' of lockdown The "potentially massive impact" of lockdowns on society was not thought through before the pandemic, the lead lawyer for the Covid inquiry has said.

As the probe into the government's handling of the pandemic began hearing evidence, Hugo Keith KC said the UK may not have been well prepared "at all".

It was "extraordinary" that lockdowns had received little thought, he added.

Government figures show 227,321 people have died in the UK with Covid mentioned on their death certificate. BBC News

See also:

• Covid inquiry: What is it investigating and how will it work? BBC News
• Sunak 'not worried' about Covid inquiry seeing messages BBC News
• Covid Inquiry: 'United in our grief' says relative who lost dad and sister BBC News
• Covid Inquiry: Bereaved families take centre stage as official hearings begin Channel 4 News
• Catastrophic collateral consequences of lockdowns were barely considered, Covid inquiry hears The Daily Mail
• Lockdown ‘given very little thought’ prior to pandemic, inquiry hears Evening Standard
• No-deal Brexit planning ‘crowded out’ efforts to prepare for pandemic The Guardian
• ‘A bowl of spaghetti’ : Covid inquiry opens with flowchart on UK’s pandemic planning The Guardian
• UK Covid inquiry: government accused of giving ‘very little’ advance thought to lockdown and being too focused on flu – as it happened The Guardian
• Minister refuses to back Hancock Covid claim of ‘protective ring’ for care homes The Guardian
• Heartbreak of the bereaved families who could be 'sidelined' from Covid Inquiry The Independent
• 'Carousel of chaos': UK's preparation for pandemic criticised in inquiry ITV News
• UK 'prepared for the wrong pandemic', COVID inquiry told as it opened for first time Sky News

Most early-stage breast cancer patients will become long-term survivors – study

Most early-stage breast cancer patients will become long-term survivors – study Most women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer can expect to become “long-term survivors”, according to a new study.

For some women the risk of death within five years is as low as 0.2%, according to the large-scale research.

The proportion of women who survive the disease has improved substantially since the 1990s, experts found. The Independent

See also:

• Breast cancer mortality in 500 000 women with early invasive breast cancer in England, 1993-2015: population based observational cohort study (open access) The BMJ
• Most women beat early breast cancer, study finds BBC News
• Breast cancer survival breakthrough: Death rates for women diagnosed with disease today are just a THIRD of levels logged 20 years ago The Daily Mail
• How we're winning the war against cancer: Survival rates for deadliest forms of disease have DOUBLED since the 1970s - as doctors say it is no longer always a 'death sentence' The Daily Mail

Lords to investigate private health firms used to deliver NHS drugs

Lords to investigate private health firms used to deliver NHS drugs Peers are launching an inquiry into private health companies paid millions of pounds to courier NHS medicines in England, after the Guardian exposed how sick children and adults were being harmed by botched, delayed or missed deliveries.

The House of Lords public services committee will examine “the extent of the problems in homecare medicine services”, and the impact on patients, clinicians and the wider health service. More than 500,000 patients and their families rely on private companies contracted by the NHS to deliver essential medical supplies and care to their homes. The Guardian

Vaccine to treat deadliest brain cancer found to nearly DOUBLE survival rate

Vaccine to treat deadliest brain cancer found to nearly DOUBLE survival rate A vaccine to slow the progression of the deadliest form of brain cancer has shown promise in early clinical trials by extending the average survival rate from 15 to 26 months.

The shot, called SurVaxM, targets a protein found in tumors called survivin. It is thought that if the protein is destroyed, the cancer cells will die.

Scientists are hopeful the vaccine could save those suffering from glioblastoma, one of the most fatal and treatment-resistant cancers, which can result in death in six months or less if left untreated. The Daily Mail

See also:

• SurVaxM Mimiva
• Experimental vaccine shows promise in delaying the return of aggressive brain tumor NBC News

Northampton hospital scoops top prize at national awards for the quality of care they deliver to patients

Northampton hospital scoops top prize at national awards for the quality of care they deliver to patients Staff and doctors at Three Shires Hospital in Northampton have been recognised for the quality of care they deliver to patients. The prestigious ‘Private Hospital Group of the Year’ award is presented to an organisation whose hospitals show excellence in their delivery of care, commitment to the community and innovation in healthcare. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Tackling ableism in health care – the role of primary care

Tackling ableism in health care – the role of primary care Getting a GP appointment is often a challenge at the moment, but for many disabled people, access to their GP has long been a problem. In our recent project exploring disabled people’s experiences of involvement in health and care design, people told us about their experiences accessing health and care, as well as of involvement in service design. Some participants described the significant difference a GP could make: those who made someone feel listened to and validated, compared with GPs who dismissed concerns or spoke to a person’s personal assistants rather than directly to them. The King's Fund

The post-foundation training break (“F3”): evaluating its impact on postgraduate medical training

The post-foundation training break (“F3”): evaluating its impact on postgraduate medical training An increasing number of doctors are taking a training break between Foundation Year 2 (FY2) and the start of core/specialty training (C/ST). The research aimed to understand how this break is managed and perceived, and its impact on career progression, including any equality, diversity and inclusion issues. The GMC commissioned the University of Nottingham, with partial funding from the Association for the Study of Medical Education, to research the impact of post foundation training breaks (PFTBs), often known as ‘F3’. General Medical Council

NHS policies on patient's weight and access to hip replacement surgery are inappropriate, study finds

NHS policies on patient's weight and access to hip replacement surgery are inappropriate, study find Weight and body mass index (BMI) policies introduced by NHS commissioning groups in England are inappropriate and worsening health inequalities, according to a new study published in BMC Medicine today [13 June] that analysed nearly 490,000 hip surgeries. With one in ten people likely to need a joint replacement in their lifetime, many thousands of patients are directly affected by these policies. University of Bristol

See also:

• What effect have commissioners’ policies for body mass index had on hip replacement surgery?: an interrupted time series analysis from the National Joint Registry for England (open access) BMC Medicine

Research: Safe care at home review

Research: Safe care at home review Joint review led by the Home Office and DHSC into the protections and support for adults abused, or at risk of abuse, in their own home by people providing their care.

The review drew on the experience of people who receive care in their own homes, organisations representing carers, and statutory agencies including frontline professionals. Department of Health and Social Care

Retaining doctors in late stage career guidance

Retaining doctors in late stage career guidance We have launched this guidance, and a supporting infographic, to support the retention of doctors in late stage career in collaboration with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

The guidance provides ten recommendations for systems and employers to consider when supporting doctors in late career, working in secondary care settings, to stay and stay well in the NHS. The recommendations are aligned to the NHS people promise and include holding retirement conversations, supporting flexible working and health and wellbeing. NHS England

Number of patients receiving lifesaving NHS cancer checks has doubled in a decade

Number of patients receiving lifesaving NHS cancer checks has doubled in a decade Double the number of patients are receiving potentially lifesaving NHS cancer checks in England now than they were a decade ago, new analysis shows today.

As the NHS approaches its 75th milestone birthday, the latest figures show an astounding increase in demand for cancer services with 114,108 more people checked for cancer in the last month than in the same month a decade ago. NHS England

Calls for abortion law reform after mother jailed

Calls for abortion law reform after mother jailed Parliament should debate overhauling abortion rules after a woman was jailed, the chair of the Commons equalities committee has said.

Caroline Nokes MP told the BBC the 1861 law used to prosecute mother-of-three Carla Foster was "out of date".

The 44-year-old was convicted of inducing an abortion outside the legal limit using pills at home.

Campaigners urged reform after she received a sentence of 28 months, 14 of which will be spent in custody. BBC News

See also:

• Mother jailed for taking abortion pills after legal limit BBC News
• Demands for abortion law reform after mother jailed in England Evening Standard
• Call to overhaul ‘out of date’ UK abortion laws after woman jailed The Guardian
• Woman jailed for taking abortion pills after legal cut-off in 'tragic' case The Independent
• Demands to reform 'out-of-date' 1861 abortion law used to jail mother ITV News
• Woman jailed for taking abortion pills after legal limit during lockdown Sky News

Puberty blockers to be given only in clinical research

Puberty blockers to be given only in clinical research Puberty blockers will only be prescribed to children attending gender identity services as part of clinical research, NHS England has announced.

The move comes after an interim report into children's gender services said there were "gaps in evidence" around the drugs.

Blockers are used to "pause puberty" and work by supressing hormone release.

Dr Hilary Cass's report called for a transformation in the model of care for children with gender-related distress. BBC News

See also:

• Puberty blockers will only be prescribed to young people 'as part of clinical research' The Daily Mail
• NHS will not offer puberty blockers to children suffering from gender dysphoria The Daily Telegraph
• Puberty blockers will not be routinely offered to children at new gender clinics Evening Standard
• NHS to stop prescribing puberty blockers for trans youth Pink News

Half of NHS workers will spend their pay rise on energy debts or bills

Half of NHS workers will spend their pay rise on energy debts or bills More than half of NHS workers have already earmarked their below-inflation pay rise to cover energy debts or other essential bills.

In a survey of our readers, NursingNotes asked 2,377 NHS workers how they intended to spend their non-consolidated (lump sum) pay rise.

Around a third (37%) of respondents admitted the money was already earmarked for energy debts, and another quarter (23%) said it would be used to catch up on other essential bills such as rent, council tax, water or insurance. Nursing Notes

Three-day strike by doctors in England expected to have ‘enormous impact’

Three-day strike by doctors in England expected to have ‘enormous impact’ Almost all routine NHS care in England will be disrupted for three days this week when junior doctors strike in their latest attempt to force ministers to increase their pay.

Prof Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said the stoppage would have an enormous impact and lead to huge numbers of patients missing out on planned care. The Guardian 

See also:

• Routine NHS care facing ‘enormous’ disruption with hospitals to lose tens of thousands of doctors for 72 hours NHS England
• NHS cannot cope with continued junior doctor strikes, chiefs warn The Daily Telegraph
• NHS chief warns of 'enormous' disruption as junior doctors' announce strike The Independent
• NHS chief warns of 'enormous' disruption ahead of junior doctors' strike ITV News
• 'Enormous' disruption feared throughout the NHS as doctors in England plan multiple-day strike Sky News

Twenty-four UK doctors in five years censured over medical record breaches

Twenty-four UK doctors in five years censured over medical record breaches Two-dozen doctors have been disciplined by the UK medical regulator in the last five years after accessing and using information from patients’ treatment records without good reason.

The General Medical Council (GMC) said it had struck off two of the 24 doctors it had sanctioned after finding that they had undertaken “inappropriate use” of medical records. The Guardian

More than one in 10 women struggle to bond with their baby, survey shows

More than one in 10 women struggle to bond with their baby, survey shows More than one in 10 women struggle to bond with their baby, with the majority saying they are given no support from healthcare staff, a survey has found.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of women said they received no information or advice on bonding with their baby in the first few weeks after birth, despite guidance for doctors and nurses recommending that they assist with emotional attachment to encourage healthy child development. The Guardian

People seek hay fever advice once every three seconds, says NHS England

People seek hay fever advice once every three seconds, says NHS England People sought advice for hay fever symptoms once every three seconds on Sunday, health officials have said.

It comes as the Met Office said that the pollen count was expected to be “very high” in most of England and Wales on Tuesday.

Hay fever is usually at its worst between March and September when the pollen count is at its highest and the weather can be warm, windy and humid. Evening Standard

See also:

• Weekly visits to NHS website’s hay fever advice reach 122,000 as pollen levels rise NHS England
• Hay fever NHS UK
• Number of hay fever sufferers seeking NHS advice triples BBC News
• Mapped: Pollen in your area as hay fever sufferers warned of deadly surge The Independent
• More than 120000 visits to the NHS hay fever advice page recorded ITV News

No more Dr Google! Medical student creates an AI search tool 'more reliable health information'

No more Dr Google! Medical student creates an AI search tool 'more reliable health information' Millions of us already trust Dr Google, but now there's a new online doctor in town.

A British medical student has created an AI chatbot which claims to provide 'more reliable health information' than the search engine.

BTRU — pronounced Better You — trawls through pages from the likes of the World Health Organization to give users personalised answers, just like ChatGPT. The Daily Mail

See also:

• BTRU Better You

Light drinkers are less likely to suffer heart problems, study finds

Light drinkers are less likely to suffer heart problems, study finds Having the occasional drink lowers stress, which is linked to heart attack and stroke, research suggests.

Women who drink up to one alcoholic beverage a day and men who consume a maximum of two, had a lower risk of cardiovascular problems than those who drank more or were teetotal. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Reduced Stress-Related Neural Network Activity Mediates the Effect of Alcohol on Cardiovascular Risk (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Kettering children’s ward which inspectors said was failing has made some improvements, says health boss

Kettering children’s ward which inspectors said was failing has made some improvements, says health boss A children’s ward which inspectors said was failing has made some improvements, a health boss said.

The care regulator told Kettering General Hospital that its children and young people’s services were inadequate in April following an inspection last December. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The inbetweeners: a review of the barriers and facilitators in the process of the transition of children and young people with complex chronic health conditions into adult health services

The inbetweeners: a review of the barriers and facilitators in the process of the transition of children and young people with complex chronic health conditions into adult health services This report finds that the process of transition and subsequent transfer is often fragmented, both within and across specialties, and that adult services often sit only with primary care. The report’s recommendations highlight areas that are suitable for regular local clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives by those providing care to this group of patients. It suggests that the results of such work should be presented at quality or governance meetings, and action plans to improve care should be shared with executive boards. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

Finding hope: the final report of the IPPR health and care workforce assembly

Finding hope: the final report of the IPPR health and care workforce assembly IPPR recruited a workforce assembly – across the NHS, social care, and unpaid care – to define a new vision for health and care work. 

The findings from the assembly come with new analysis from IPPR which show that since 2010, England has had up to 10,000 ‘missing managers’ within frontline NHS hospital and community care services. 

Through assembly deliberations and further research, the IPPR has developed these principles into a ten-point policy plan for the future. Institute for Public Policy Research