GPs tell researchers austerity is hitting health of their patients

GPs tell researchers austerity is hitting health of their patients:
The survey report highlights the impact of the recession on family planning, alcohol abuse, wellbeing and mental health. It also reports on the impact on GPs themselves. NHS Networks

Smoking-related hospital admissions top 1250 a day, new figures show

Smoking-related hospital admissions top 1250 a day, new figures show:
This is the equivalent of 1,260 admissions a day; representing one in 20 of all admissions to hospital in 2010/11.

Statistics on Smoking: England 2012 presents a broad range of information on health issues related to smoking and includes new statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre’s Hospital Episodes Statistics. NHS Networks

End of life care toolkit launched

End of life care toolkit launched:
What about end of life care? is a practical toolkit designed to help the public and professionals understand the new health and care structures and develop the relationships required to secure high quality end of life care. It includes a series of action sheets aimed at decision-makers such as clinical commissioning groups and other stakeholders such as local HealthWatch bodies and individual end of life care champions. Action sheets for other key players, including health and wellbeing boards and education and training providers, will be released later this year. NHS Networks

Echinacea warning for children

Echinacea warning for children: The herbal remedy echinacea should not be given to children under 12, the drugs watchdog has warned parents. BBC News

Over-65s with cancer 'set to triple by 2040'

Over-65s with cancer 'set to triple by 2040':

The Daily Mail reports that one in four over-65s 'will have had cancer by 2040'.
The news is based on a study that estimated the number of people expected to be living with cancer in the UK by the year 2040.

Winterbourne View: The problem with all care homes - Telegraph.co.uk

Winterbourne View: The problem with all care homes - Telegraph.co.uk:

Telegraph.co.uk

Winterbourne View: The problem with all care homes Telegraph.co.uk While some were able to live independently with NHS mental health service input, some were too disabled and required 24-hour care. These people fell awkwardly between the criteria for NHS care and for personal care, and ultimately their welfare was ...

Runnings profit NHS hospitals abroad 'will help the economy'

Runnings profit NHS hospitals abroad 'will help the economy': The NHS can help rescue the UK economy by setting up profit-making hospitals abroad, medical chiefs said today.The Daily Telegraph

Cancer pensioner number 'to treble'

Cancer pensioner number 'to treble':
The number of pensioners with cancer will treble by 2040, researchers suggest. The Independent

Global network of NHS hospitals to exploit brand

Global network of NHS hospitals to exploit brand:
Some of Britain's best-known hospitals are being lined up by the Government to export the "NHS brand" around the world and set up profit-making branches overseas to boost their incomes. The Independent

Flu fighter 2012/13: Campaign update

Flu fighter 2012/13: Campaign update: Read the latest update about the 2012/2013 NHS staff seasonal flu campaign. NHS Employers

Cancer diagnosis for one in four older people by 2040

Cancer diagnosis for one in four older people by 2040:

The charity Macmillan Cancer Support has warned that almost a quarter of older people will have had a cancer diagnosis by 2040. And it forecasts that the number of people aged 65 and over who will be cancer survivors is set to triple from 1.3 million in 2010 to 4.1 million.
The charity funded research by King’s College London which was published on the British Journal of Cancer’s website and revealed...Healthcare Today

NHS waiting times rise for first time in a year: official figures

NHS waiting times rise for first time in a year: official figures: Number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks to be seen increases for first time in a year amid cuts concerns. Health News

Legionnaires' outbreak 'over', says Health Protection Agency

Legionnaires' outbreak 'over', says Health Protection Agency:
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in which two people died has been declared over. Independent

Template occupational health services SLA launched

Template occupational health services SLA launched: NHS Health at Work has launched a template service level agreement, which can be adapted locally for occupational health units to use with their providers. NHS Employers

HPA press release: Confirmed case of Anthrax in injecting drug user in England

HPA press release: Confirmed case of Anthrax in injecting drug user in England:
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued a press release to confirm that it is aware that a person who injected drugs (PWID) has died in hospital in Blackpool with confirmed anthrax infection. The HPA is also aware of an ongoing outbreak of anthrax amongst PWID affecting a number of countries in Europe. Seven cases have been identified since early June: one in Scotland, three in Germany, two in Denmark, and one in France. The source is presumed to be contaminated heroin.
 
It is unclear as yet whether the current case and a case in Scotland at the end of July are linked to the outbreak in Europe but the HPA will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days and weeks.
 Health Protection Agency (HPA)

RPS publishes online pharmacist prescriber resource

RPS publishes online pharmacist prescriber resource: Source: RPS

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has developed a new area of their website covering pharmacist prescribers which provides information to users about pharmacist prescribers and prescribing, how to qualify as a prescriber, details of training courses and signpost existing prescribers to key documents that will be relevant to their daily practice. NeLM News
 

Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.

Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.:

Related Articles

Can general practitioner commissioning deliver equity and excellence? Evidence from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS.
J Health Serv Res Policy. 2012 Apr;17(2):87-93
Authors: Gridley K, Spiers G, Aspinal F, Bernard S, Atkin K, Parker G
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To explore some of the key assumptions underpinning the continued development of general practitioner-led commissioning in health services.

METHODS: Qualitative data from two studies of service improvement in the English NHS were considered against England's plans for GP-led commissioning. These data were collected through in-depth interviews with a total of 187 professionals and 99 people affected by services in 10 different primary care trust areas across England between 2008 and 2009.

RESULTS: Internationally, GPs are seen to have a central position in health systems. In keeping with this, the English policy places emphasis on the 'pivotal role' of general practitioners, considered to be ideally placed to commission in the best interests of their patients. However, our evidence suggests that general practitioners do not always have a pivotal role for all patients. Moreover, it is planned that the new commissioning groups in England will not be subject to top-down performance management and this raises the question of how agreed quality standards will be met under the proposed new system.

CONCLUSIONS: This paper questions the assumption that GPs are best placed to commission health services in a way that meets quality standards and leads to equitable outcomes. There is little evidence to suggest that GPs will succeed where others have failed and a risk that, without top-down performance management, service improvement will be patchy, leading to greater, not reduced, inequity.

PMID: 22315464 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Not tackling infections in homeless could spark epidemics

Not tackling infections in homeless could spark epidemics:

Tuberculosis 34 times higher in homeless people

Onmedica Online

About 1,260 hospital admissions a day due to smoking, new figures show

About 1,260 hospital admissions a day due to smoking, new figures show: An estimated 460,000 hospital admissions in 2010/11 among people aged 35 and over were due to smoking, according to new figures. This is the equivalent...NHS Information Centre

General needs to improve A&E waits in Northampton - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

General needs to improve A&E waits in Northampton Northampton Chronicle & Echo Christine Allen, Northampton General Hospital's chief operating officer, said: “We've done all we can in terms of creating capacity, but what we now need to do is work with our commissioners to improve the urgent care pathway from primary care right ...

Majority of organisations ready for revalidation

Majority of organisations ready for revalidation:
The Organisational Readiness Self-Assessment Report 2011-12, which shows the state of organisational readiness for medical revalidation in England at 31 March 2012, reveals that 82% of doctors covered by the survey are linked to organisations that are ready to support them with revalidation. 
NHS Networks

Review of local formulary processes to support Innovation Health and Wealth

Review of local formulary processes to support Innovation Health and Wealth:
The NICE Medicines and Prescribing Centre has been commissioned to develop supporting good practice guidance on local medicines formularies. This is likely to be published by the end of 2012.  In advance of the publication of that guidance Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, has written a letter to NHS acute, mental health and primary care chief pharmacists, England and strategic health authority pharmacy and prescribing leads, encouraging action to review local formulary processes to begin implementation of the Innovation Health and Wealth (IHW) action.  This work should be undertaken in collaboration with emerging clinical commissioning groups and in a way that not only supports the IHW action, but considers:

• local clinical and patient needs
• how best to reduce inappropriate variation
• how best to optimise medicines use
• whether there is scope to reduce any administrative burdens of formulary maintenance.

Local medicines formularies have an important role in underpinning safe and effective use of medicines. It is also important that they support the introduction into practice of NICE technology appraisal recommendations.
The NHS Chief Executive’s report Innovation Health and Wealth sets out a broad range of actions, under a programme of work being led by Sir Ian Carruthers. The whole programme is being implemented in partnership with the life sciences industry, and include a commitment to:
‘require that all NICE technology appraisal recommendations are incorporated automatically into relevant local NHS formularies in a planned way that supports safe and appropriate clinical practice.’
David Nicholson wrote to NHS CEOs on the 9 August, on the work, and alerted colleagues to a requirement to publish local NHS formularies by 1 April 2013.
Department of Health

Maintaining and improving quality in the new health system – National Quality Board report published

Maintaining and improving quality in the new health system – National Quality Board report published:
The National Quality Board have published a report setting out how quality will be maintained and improved in the new health system.
The NQB brings together the national organisations across the health system responsible for quality including the NHS Commissioning Board Authority, the Care Quality Commission, Monitor, the NHS Trust Development Authority, NICE, the General Medial Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council  and the Department of Health.
This report, focuses predominantly on how the new system should prevent, identify and respond to serious failures in quality and provides a collective statement from NQB members as to:

• the nature and place of quality in the new health system;
• the distinct roles and responsibilities for quality of the different parts of the system;
• how the different parts of the system should work together to share information and intelligence on quality and to ensure an aligned and coordinated system wide response in the event of a quality failure; and
• the values and behaviours that all parts of the system will need to display in order to put the interests of patients and the public first and ahead of organisational interests.

Read Quality in the new health system – Maintaining and improving quality from April 2013
The report is in draft form, and the NQB would welcome views on the approach it describes from those working in or with an interest in the health system.  Please send any views to nationalqualityboard@dh.gsi.gov.uk by 30 September 2012.
The NQB will publish a final version, once it has been able to consider any relevant conclusions, findings and recommendations from the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Inquiry.
Read letter on the report from NQB Chair Sir David Nicholson
NHS Commissioning

Monitor launches consultation on proposed Commissioner Requested Services Guidance

Monitor launches consultation on proposed Commissioner Requested Services Guidance:
Monitor has today launched the draft Commissioner Requested Services and Protected Services Guidance for consultation.
The guidance sets out a process for commissioners to follow to ensure that key NHS services remain available for patients if a provider gets into serious financial difficulty.
Commissioner Requested Services are services that will be considered by the commissioner for protection should a provider fail. The system will form part of Monitor’s Continuity of Service framework which aims to make sure patients continue to have access to the services they need in their local area.
As part of the Continuity of Service framework, commissioners will decide which services should be designated Commissioner Requested Services and the guidance helps them to do this. Providers of Commissioner Requested Services will be subject to additional licence conditions in the proposed NHS provider licence, which was released for consultation on 31 July.
The Consultation on the Commissioner Requested Services guidance: The consultation will start on 16^th August 2012 and run for 12 weeks until 8th November. The Commissioner Requested Services guidance will act as a guide for clinical commissioning groups as they work to ensure the availability of good quality NHS services for patients if a provider has serious financial problems. Further information and the consultation document can be found on the Monitor website.
Monitor is launching a number of other consultations and documents over the next six months.
NHS Commissioning

Whooping cough outbreak warning

Whooping cough outbreak warning: Scotland is experiencing the worst outbreak of whooping cough since the 1980s, according to health chiefs. BBC Health News

NHS trusts 'competition warning'

NHS trusts 'competition warning': Eight NHS trusts are warned about anti-competitive behaviour over the way they ran their private patient units. BBC Health News

Statistics on smoking and NHS Stop Smoking services in England now available

Statistics on smoking and NHS Stop Smoking services in England now available:

The NHS Information Centre (NHS IC) has published the following statistics on its website:
 
. Smoking in England - 2012
 
This report presents a range of information on smoking which is drawn together from a variety of sources. The report aims to present a broad picture of health issues relating to smoking in England and covers topics such as smoking prevalence, habits, behaviours and attitudes among adults and school children, smoking-related ill health and mortality and smoking-related costs.
 
The report's main findings include (direct from source):
 
. An estimated 460,000 hospital admissions in 2010/11 among people aged 35 and over were due to smoking
. This is the equivalent of 1,260 admissions a day; representing one in 20 of all admissions to hospital in 2010/11.
 
Among people aged 35 and over:
. Around 1.5 million hospital admissions had a primary diagnosis of a disease that can be caused ...

General needs to improve A&E waits in Northampton

General needs to improve A&E waits in Northampton:
A greater proportion of Northampton General Hospital emergency patients wait more than four hours than almost any other hospital. Chronicle and Echo

Consultations launched on sector regulation of health service

Consultations launched on sector regulation of health service:
Two consultations that will help ensure that patients’ interests will be protected throughout the health service are launched today by the Department of Health.
The consultations set out proposals for how Monitor, as the sector regulator for the health service, will ensure that the new system operates in the best interest of patients.
Specifically, the consultations seek views in relation to:

• Licensing – this covers which providers of NHS funded services will need to hold a licence with Monitor. For the first time, Monitor will regulate private and voluntary providers, setting out the safeguards to ensure patients receive the best quality care possible. These safeguards will also prevent abuses of power, such as providers charging higher prices to boost profits or refusing to cooperate in service integration. Find out more about consultation about licensing
• Procurement, choice and competition – this covers minimum requirements for commissioners to ensure that they deliver best value for patients. This also explains how, for the first time, patients’ rights to choice under the NHS Constitution will be enforceable wherever they live in England.Find out more about consultation about procurement, choice and competition

Department of Health

Launch of part two of the single operating model for strategic health authority clusters

Launch of part two of the single operating model for strategic health authority clusters:
The guidance for this next stage of the SOM details the rationale for this launch alongside the detail of the model and the associated tools to deliver this.
Editable versions of the self certification templates can be found here. NHS Networks

Why is there variation in the NHS?

Why is there variation in the NHS?:

Author of a recent Kings Fund report on variation in emergency admissions discusses why there is variation in the NHS at all – after being asked why the NHS can't be more like Pizza Express
"When I go to Pizza Express I am guaranteed a good quality pizza, why can't the NHS do the same?" This incredulous question was put by a regional radio presenter who interviewed me about our new report Older people and emergency bed use - exploring variation.
Our report describes a fourfold variation in the rate of hospital bed use by older people admitted as an emergency. This is driven in equal part by differences in length of stay and rates of admission for older people. Our working hypothesis was that we would be able to link the use of hospital beds with other factors like spend on social care, the number of community beds, and the number of GPs, but we couldn't demonstrate a relationship.
The variation in these other factors was just as great if not greater than the variation in bed use and no clear pattern emerged. The only factor that those areas with the lowest use of beds had in common was that a high number of them had a history of joint working between health and social care. Guardian
Candace Imison is deputy director of policy for the Kings Fund, and lead author of Older people and emergency bed use - exploring variation.

 

Four NHS staff to be charged with mistreating patients with learning disabilities

Four NHS staff to be charged with mistreating patients with learning disabilities:

Charges of mistreating and neglecting patients with learning disabilities are to be laid against four health centre staff after a five-year inquiry during which two previous attempts to bring criminal proceedings have failed.
Two men and two women will appear before magistrates in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in August and September accused of the offences between 2005 and 2007 at the Solar Centre in St Catherine's hospital at Balby, Doncaster.Guardian

 

 

Dementia patients given right to say on end-of-life care

Dementia patients given right to say on end-of-life care: People in the early stages of dementia are to be given a right to have a say in how and where they want to die under guidelines for medical staff and social workers. Telegraph Health News

GP providers win just a fifth of NHS 111 contracts

GP providers win just a fifth of NHS 111 contracts: GPs providers have won just five of the 26 NHS 111 contracts awarded so far, with NHS Direct revealing it has won a further nine contracts covering 30% of the population in England. GP Online News

King's Fund: A guide for commissioners on how to measure for improving outcomes

King's Fund: A guide for commissioners on how to measure for improving outcomes: 
The King's Fund have produced two slide sets to help clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) make the best use of measurement to support them to commission for improved outcomes.  The slides cover general concepts about approaches to measurement in health care, the uses of structure, process and outcome indicators, how to achieve a good mix of indicators for commissioning and how commissioners can build up sets of measures along whole pathways of care.  Please see the link below for details. King's Fund

Securing best value for NHS patients: requirements for commissioners to adhere to good procurement practice and protect patient choice

Securing best value for NHS patients: requirements for commissioners to adhere to good procurement practice and protect patient choice:
This document outlines proposals for regulations to protect patients’ interests by ensuring that commissioners always deliver best value. The Department of Health are currently seeking views on these proposals and comments will be accepted until 26th October 2012. Kings Fund

• Consultation document
• Consultation response form
• Online consultation response form
• Department of Health - news

The austerity Britain report: the impact of the recession on the UK's health, according to GPs

The austerity Britain report: the impact of the recession on the UK's health, according to GPs:
This report is the result of a GP opinion survey which aimed to better understand the impact that the economic downturn of the last four years has had on the nation’s health, and how this may have impacted on GPs’ practices. It questioned GPs broadly at the impact of the recession on family planning, alcohol abuse, wellbeing, mental health and the impact on GPs themselves. Kings Fund

• Report
• Insight Research Group - publications

NICE consults on new social care quality standards

NICE consults on new social care quality standards: NICE has today (16 August) launched a consultation on two new quality standards for social care; one on the health and wellbeing of looked-after children and young people and one on supporting people to live well with dementia. NICE

Four NHS staff to be charged with mistreating patients with learning disabilities - The Guardian

Four NHS staff to be charged with mistreating patients with learning disabilities The Guardian The original inquiry was reopened after an internal investigation by the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber mental health NHS foundation trust, and its leader, then acting Detective Chief Inspector, Natalie Shaw, said in September last year: "I can ... Guardian Four face patient abuse chargesThe Press Association Solar Centre abuse charges authorisedBBC News Four charged over neglect of patients at Doncaster hospitalYorkshire Post Yahoo! News UK -Thorne Gazette all 131 news articles »

Patient survey suggests benefit from common procedures varies markedly by NHS provider

Patient survey suggests benefit from common procedures varies markedly by NHS provider: Comparative annual PROMs results published for first time The level of health benefit patients feel they gain from common procedures varies markedly b...NHS Information Centre

CQC whistleblower 'subjected to mental health assessment'

CQC whistleblower 'subjected to mental health assessment': A high-profile whistleblower at the Care Quality Commission, the health watchdog, was subjected to a mental health assessment after raising concerns about poor leadership and performance at the organisation, internal documents show. Telegraph

Launch of part two of the single operating model for strategic health authority clusters

Launch of part two of the single operating model for strategic health authority clusters:
A letter sent out on the 3 August  indicates the launch of part two of the single operating model (SOM) for strategic health authority (SHA) clusters, focussing on SHA oversight of NHS trusts to support the foundation trust pipeline.
The guidance for this next stage of the SOM details the rationale for this launch alongside the detail of the model and the associated tools to deliver this.
Write-able versions of the self certification templates can be found below. Further tools may be issued following this launch to supplement these.

• single operating model: part two letter
  
• delivering the NHS foundation trust pipeline: single operating model part 2 – SHA oversight of NHS trusts

• writeable self-certification templates (Excel 2003)

• writeable self-certification templates (Excel 2010)

Read the single operating model part one

Department of Health

Views sought for review of cosmetic procedures

Views sought for review of cosmetic procedures:
A major review of cosmetic surgery and procedures is launched today by the Department of Health.
The review, led by NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, wants people to give their views on and share their experiences of the cosmetic surgery industry and cosmetic procedures. A call for evidence asks for views on:

• the regulation and safety of products used in cosmetic interventions
• how best to ensure that the people who carry out procedures have the necessary skills and qualifications
• how to ensure that organisations have the systems in place to look after their patients both during their treatment and afterwards
• how to ensure that people considering cosmetic surgery and procedures are given the information, advice and time for reflection to make an informed choice
• what improvements are needed in dealing with complaints so they are listened to and acted upon.

This comes as a survey shows that many people consider the cost of surgery more important than the qualifications of the people doing it or how they will be looked after.

• Read Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions: Call for Evidence
• Send your views online

A team of experts will assist Sir Bruce Keogh to gather evidence and make recommendations to the Government by next March.
The review, requested by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, is in response to concerns raised about the industry following the PiP breast implant controversy. Department of Health

New briefings for health and wellbeing boards

New briefings for health and wellbeing boards: The NHS Confederation has published two new resources for health and wellbeing board (HWB) members. The briefings aim to help both GP commissioners and local authorities understand some of the structural and cultural differences between the NHS and local government. The briefing for GP Commissioners includes information on what councils do, how they are structured and how they work across tiers. The purpose is to help commissioners understand more about local government and suggest ways of bridging structural and cultural differences to build strong, productive local partnerships. The briefing for local councillors and officers explains the implications of the changes introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and includes tips for councillors when working with health colleagues and for strong and cohesive working.

Briefing for GP Commissioners: http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/Documents/government-guide-commissioners.pdf

Briefing for local councillors and officers: http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/Documents/gp-commissioners-councillors-officers.pdf

CASH Full news feed

End blacklisting of NICE-approved drugs

End blacklisting of NICE-approved drugs: PCT clusters and CCGs should publish information which sets out which NICE technology appraisals are included in their local formularies from April 2013. NICE

Diabetes prescriptions up by 50% in six years

Diabetes prescriptions up by 50% in six years:

Data shows how diabetes is having growing impact on health service
Diabetes prescription numbers topped 40m for the first time last year, according to official figures. The number of diabetes prescriptions rose by nearly 50% in six years, from 27.1m in 2005-06 to 40.6m in 2011-12, data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows.
Net cost of diabetes drugs also rose by just under 50% during the same period, according to the report. In 2005-06 diabetes drugs cost the NHS £514m. Last year they cost £760.3m.
The growth is much greater than the rise seen in prescription numbers overall, at 33%. As a result, diabetes drugs take up a bigger share of both total drugs dispensed and the total net cost to the NHS each year.
While the overall cost of drugs to the NHS fell last year by 1%, the diabetes drugs bill increased by nearly 5%.
Tim Straughan, HSCIC's chief executive, said: "Our figures show diabetes is having a growing impact on prescribing in a very obvious way, from the amount of prescriptions dispensed to patients in primary care to the annual drugs bill costs to the NHS.
"Other reports we produce, such as our National Diabetes Audit and the Quality and Outcomes Framework, also demonstrate the impact of diabetes is widespread in all areas of the health service, from pharmacy to hospital care. When all this information is considered together, it presents a full and somewhat-concerning picture of the increasing impact of this condition." Guardian

 

Praise for staff as NGH publishes annual report, announces AGM

Praise for staff as NGH publishes annual report, announces AGM: Northampton General Hospital's chief executive and chairman have praised the 'outstanding' performance of their staff in the hospital's annual report for 2011/12. NGH News

Air ambulance to run car scheme

Air ambulance to run car scheme: Northamptonshire's air ambulance service is introducing an emergency car scheme for when the helicopter is not in use. BBC Northampton

Digital technology essentials guide

Digital technology essentials guide:
This guide provides a brief summary of a wide range of enabling, affordable digital technologies, aimed to assist organisations in meeting their QIPP targets. NHS Networks

David Nicholson sets out the next stage in the transition to the new health and care system

David Nicholson sets out the next stage in the transition to the new health and care system:
NHS Chief Executive, David Nicholson, has today written to NHS leaders to set out the next stage in the transition to the new health and care system.
In the letters he sets out arrangements to ensure stability and resilience for the current system through transition to the new health and care system from April 2013. Some of the staff appointed to leadership roles in NHS Commissioning Board will manage relevant operational delivery in the current system for 2012/13 and planning for the new system for 2013/14.
For more information and to read the letters visit the Department of Health website. NHS Commissioning Board

Update on new guidance and policy for managing the transition

Update on new guidance and policy for managing the transition: The guidance on recruitment and exit terms has been amended and the national policy and process on filling of posts in receiving organisations has also been published. NHS Employers

Equality analysis: health visiting programme

Equality analysis: health visiting programme:
This analysis describes what is known about the health visiting workforce and users of services and how the health visitor programme will address factors, which may encourage inequality.

• Equality analysis
• Department of Health - news

Kings Fund

Online tool to search for local care providers

Online tool to search for local care providers:
The Provider Quality Profile, an online tool launched by the Care Quality Commission, will allow people to compare care providers and is available on NHS Choices.The Department of Health website explained:  "It allows users to search for local providers within an area and link to CQC reports and information about the provider. The service is being extended and will allow providers to include key info... Healthcare Today

Configuration of ‘scale’ services finalised

Configuration of ‘scale’ services finalised:
The outcome of the business review and assurance process for the majority of the ‘scale’ commissioning support services has been agreed.  For the full story see issue 4 of the commissioning support bulletin. NHS Commissioning Board

Patients 'lost sight' at NHS hospital private clinic

Patients 'lost sight' at NHS hospital private clinic: Six people may have permanent eye damage due to firm's alleged failure to provide proper follow-up careSix people are feared to have suffered irreversible sight loss because of the failings of a privately run clinic at an NHS hospital, raising fresh fears about the government's plans to open up the health service to the commercial sector.In an unprecedented move, GPs have been advised to consider alternative clinics for their patients because of "worrying concerns" about the services offered at a ...Kings Fund Health News

UK doctors must prepare for the rise of the ePatient

UK doctors must prepare for the rise of the ePatient: Doctors and other healthcare professionals must prepare for the rise of ePatients in the coming years and keep apace with the evolving digital landscape.This is according to the 2012 version of Learning to manage Health Information, a clinical education guide that has been running since 1999.Its aim is to understand the digital world and healthcare professionals working requirements within it.read more Kings Fund Health News

UK government to create four new eHealth centres

UK government to create four new eHealth centres: A consortium of ten UK government and charity groups has invested ;19 million to create a series of eHealth research centres.The four eHealth Centres of Excellence will be based in London, Manchester, Dundee and Swansea, and should be up and running by the end of the year.The Medical Research Council, which is leading the consortium, said the Centres would: Harness the wealth of UK electronic health records to improve patient care and public health.  Image caption:  ... Kings Fund Health News

Eye surgeons unite to condemn rationing of cataract operations by half of NHS trusts

Eye surgeons unite to condemn rationing of cataract operations by half of NHS trusts: Eye surgeons are warning that the rationing of cataract operations by more than half of NHS trusts is putting thousands of patients at risk. Kings Fund - Health News

Cardiovascular benefits and diabetes risks of statin therapy in primary prevention: analysis of JUPITER trial

Cardiovascular benefits and diabetes risks of statin therapy in primary prevention: analysis of JUPITER trial: Source: Lancet

In view of data suggesting that statins may increase the risk of diabetes, the balance of benefit and risk of their use in primary prevention has become controversial. An analysis of participants from the JUPITER trial was therefore undertaken to address the balance of vascular benefits and diabetes hazard of statin use.
 
The JUPITER trial involved 17,603 men and women without previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes who were randomised to rosuvastatin 20 mg or placebo and followed up for up to 5 years for the primary endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, admission to hospital for unstable angina, arterial revascularisation, or cardiovascular death) and the protocol-pre-specified secondary endpoints of venous thromboembolism, all-cause mortality, and incident physician-reported diabetes. In this analysis, patients were stratified on the basis of having none or at least one of four major risk factors for developing diabetes: metabolic syndrome, impaired fasting ... NeLM News

One in four deaths 'not properly recorded'

One in four deaths 'not properly recorded': Doctors failing to accurately record up to a quarter of hospital deaths, study suggests. Telegraph

Almost £70,000 owed by patients

Almost £70,000 owed by patients:
A hospital has written off almost £70,000 from overseas patients who have not paid their bills over the past four years. Evening Telegraph

Hospice recognised for its excellent care

Hospice recognised for its excellent care:
Lakelands in Corby has become the first hospice in the country to receive an award for the quality of care it gives patients at the end of their life. Evening Telegraph

Maternal mental health pathway aims to provide a structured approach

Maternal mental health pathway aims to provide a structured approach:
New guidance provides a structured approach on common issues associated with maternal mental health and wellbeing, from pregnancy through the early months after the birth.

AUDIO: Bupa members 'can no longer afford premiums'

AUDIO: Bupa members 'can no longer afford premiums': The UK's biggest health insurer has warned that treatment costs have become so expensive that hundreds of thousands of people are abandoning private medical cover. Dr Natalie-Jane McDonald, the managing director of BUPA's UK Business, gives her reaction. BBC News

Plain cigarette packs review ends

Plain cigarette packs review ends: A UK-wide consultation on government plans to introduce mandatory plain packaging for tobacco, which attracted strong interest, will close later. BBC News

GPs back training to address inequalities for LGB patients

GPs back training to address inequalities for LGB patients: All GP practice staff should receive training to address health inequalities faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) patients, a consultation event with members of the RCGP, BMA and GMC concluded this month. GP Online

The ICO - having a fine time

Having a fine time: The Information Commissioner's Office certainly has teeth these days and it is not afraid to use them. "I think we are showing that in our recent activity," acknowledges ICO head of enforcement Stephen Eckersley. E-Health Insider

Consultation launched on proposed new regulations to protect healthcare workers against sharps injuries

Consultation launched on proposed new regulations to protect healthcare workers against sharps injuries: The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has today opened a three month consultation on the proposal to introduce new regulations to protect workers in the hospital and healthcare sector against sharps injuries. NHS Employers

CCGs told to hone their business skills for managing support services contracts

CCGs told to hone their business skills for managing support services contracts:

Enter the world of customer/supplier transactions and rigorous evaluation of value for money Related items from OnMedica DoH stresses importance of localism in commissioning Do older GPs have a role as back office managers? NHS Clinical Commissioners launched Four key commissioning functions to be centralised CCG development under threat as GPs “bullied” and “micromanaged”

What can CCGs learn from the Winterbourne scandal?

What can CCGs learn from the Winterbourne scandal?:

Commissioners must monitor services and feedback to ensure services are being delivered to the right standards
The serious case review of the Winterbourne View hospital scandal has powerful messages for commissioners and providers of care in the reformed NHS.

NHS trust wins intervention ruling over man's life-prolonging treatment

NHS trust wins intervention ruling over man's life-prolonging treatment:
A health trust won a court ruling today that medical staff do not have to forcibly give a seriously ill man the life-prolonging treatment he is resisting. The Independent

2.3 million fewer overnight hospital stays needed if all areas perform as well as top 25%

2.3 million fewer overnight hospital stays needed if all areas perform as well as top 25%
A report published today by The King’s Fund shows that 7000 fewer emergency hospital beds would be needed by the NHS if all areas of England achieved the rate of admission and average length of stay for over 65s as those with the lowest use. This equates to a potential opportunity to reduce the number of overnight stays by 2.3 million per year and to reinvest £462 million a year in community and primary care services

See also:

Use of emergency hospital beds: why is there so much variation?: An emergency admission to hospital is a disruptive and unsettling experience, particularly for an older person, so surely we owe it to our patients to reduce the current variation between areas and the avoidable distress? (Blog, 9 Aug 2012) Kings Fund

You can find the full report here.

Degrees of difficulty: commissioning away a deficit

Degrees of difficulty: commissioning away a deficit: If GPs don't rise to the commissioning challenge then there really is no hope for the NHS at all, says Mark Hayes, Clinical Chief Officer for Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group. Health Foundation

When doctors and patients talk: making sense of the consultation

When doctors and patients talk: making sense of the consultation:
The report offers a powerful analysis of the current relationship, identifying the mutual fears that drive doctors and patients and the invisible structures that are natural to the doctor but hidden from the patient. It also describes the potential for a more nuanced model for the consultation. NHS Networks

Longer A&E waits for beds

Longer A&E waits for beds:

More patients are waiting longer than four hours in emergency departments for a bed to become available.
And that waiting period has soared in the last 12 months, according to analysis carried out by HSJ.
Figures from the Department of Health show that in the first half of this year, 66,845 patients waited between four and 12 hours for a bed once a decision had been taken to admit them – a 31% rise on... Healthcare Today

Review of national arrangements for providing information and advice to carers

Review of national arrangements for providing information and advice to carers:
The department has today published a review of the service arrangements for providing information and advice to carers.
Access to good information and advice is important in supporting carers to get the best from their own lives and assist them in getting the right help to maintain them in their caring role.

New online tool to search and compare local care providers

New online tool to search and compare local care providers:
A new tool allowing users to search and compare any Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered home care, residential or nursing home provider is now available online at NHS Choices.

NHS Clinical Commissioners - Steering CCGs in the right direction

NHS Clinical Commissioners - Steering CCGs in the right direction: NHS Clinical Commissioners (NHSCC) has today published a report to support Clinical Commissioning Groups in developing effective relationships with Commissioning Support Services. NHS Confederation

High impact innovations

High impact innovations:
This website gathers together case studies of innovative organisations within the NHS. The aim of the site is to create an online community to promote sharing of real life examples and stories to assist with the spread and adoption of the high impact innovations identified in the report 'Innovation health and wealth: accelerating adoption and diffusion in the NHS'.

• Website

FTs could have ratings downgrade

FTs could have ratings downgrade:

NHS regulator Monitor is considering a move which could see foundation trusts having their risk rating downgraded.
Under the idea being mooted by Monitor, FTs may in future be downgraded if their private finance initiative payments amount to more than 10% of income.
In addition, there may also be downgrades if there are care failures that could impact on a provider’s financial position.Healthcare Today

Making communities inclusive for everyone should be a mainstream priority

Making communities inclusive for everyone should be a mainstream priority: Christine Burke, Senior Development Manager at Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities talks about the launch of the ‘The Accomplished Community’ report.

Poor care at homes leads to thousand of elderly being admitted to hospital

Poor care at homes leads to thousand of elderly being admitted to hospital: The failure of GPs and community health services result in 2.5m unnecessary hospital stays a year. The Daily Telegraph

'Affordability crunch' near on private health costs, Bupa warns

'Affordability crunch' near on private health costs, Bupa warns:
Private health insurance is becoming so expensive in the UK that people can no longer afford it, the chief executive of Bupa warned yesterday. The Independent

Measuring outcomes: a guide for commissioners

Measuring outcomes: a guide for commissioners:
The first set of slides introduces general concepts about approaches to measurement in health care, the uses of structure, process and outcome indicators, and how to achieve a good mix of indicators for commissioning. The second set looks specifically at how commissioners can build up sets of measures along whole pathways of care. NHS Networks

New disclosure and barring services: updated definition of regulated activity for adults

New disclosure and barring services: updated definition of regulated activity for adults:
The government committed to scaling back the Vetting and Barring Scheme and the criminal records regime to common sense levels.  To achieve this the Home Office set up a cross government programme to develop the Protection of Freedoms Bill, which received royal assent in May 2012.
This means that from 10 September 2012, the definition of regulated activity in relation to safeguarding adults is changing.

Website warned over MMR claims

Website warned over MMR claims: A website offering parents advice on vaccines has been ordered to remove information about the MMR jab after claiming it could be linked to autism. BBC News

CQC – we'll listen to whistleblowers more

CQC – we'll listen to whistleblowers more: Before Winterbourne View the inspectorate had about 50 contacts a month – now it gets over 500 Public Service

Out of sight: stopping the neglect and abuse of people with a learning disability

Out of sight: stopping the neglect and abuse of people with a learning disability:
This report by Mencap and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation supports the 'Out of Sight' campaign, which calls for action to prevent people with a learning disability being sent to institutions where they are at risk of abuse and neglect. It suggests measures such as the development of local services by commissioners that specifically meet the needs of children and adults with learning disabilities, the integration of local assessment and treatment units with local services, and frequent, rigorous inspections by the Care Quality Commission.

• Report 
• Mencap - campaigns

‘Making it personal’ charter – giving people with learning disabilities the lives they want

‘Making it personal’ charter – giving people with learning disabilities the lives they want: Molly Mattingly, Head of Learning Disability Programmes talks about Dimensions ' new Social Care Charter, ‘Making it personal’, which outlines what people with learning disabilities have said they want in order to live the kind of lives they want. Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities

Mental health spending falls for first time in 10 years - The Guardian

Mental health spending falls for first time in 10 years - The Guardian:

The Guardian

Mental health spending falls for first time in 10 years The Guardian Although one of the coalition's first big policy announcements was to declare that mental health ought to have "parity with physical health in the NHS", investment in mental health for working-age adults dropped by 1%, once inflation is taken into ... Spending on mental health falls for first time in 10 yearsHealth Service Journal all 3 news articles »

Winterbourne View abuse: report criticises authorities for failing to act

Winterbourne View abuse: report criticises authorities for failing to act:

Independent expert details hundreds of incidents of restraint and dozens of assaults on patients by staff at private hospital
The shocking catalogue of abuse at a care home first exposed by a TV investigation has been laid bare in a damning report.

Private care home put profits before humanity

Private care home put profits before humanity: Private care home for severely disabled people put its own profits before basic humanity, a scathing inquiry into abuse finds. The Daily Telegraph

Drugs companies putting profit ahead of medical discoveries, warn scientists

Drugs companies putting profit ahead of medical discoveries, warn scientists:
The multi-billion pound pharmaceutical industry has spent the last decade developing new drugs which have produced little benefit and caused considerable harm, experts say today. The Independent

Isebrook Library closed from lunchtime on Friday the 10th of August until Monday the 20th

Isebrook Library closed from lunchtime on Friday the 10th of August until Monday the 20th:

Nene House

We are having some building work done at Isebrook Hospital Wellingborough, that will create some additional space in the Library at Nene House.

The estates team will be partially removing a wall at the back of the Library to open up a new area which will enable us to create some additional study spaces and room for more shelving, improving what we are able to offer on the site.

In order for this work to be carried out we will be closed from lunch time on Friday the 10th of August and reopen on Monday the 20th. During this time it will not be possible to access the library and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

A full service can still be obtained from our other libraries at the Berrywood and Northampton General Hospital sites during this week.

Impact of health and social care reforms on people with neurological conditions

Impact of health and social care reforms on people with neurological conditions:
This report identifies a range of neurology outcomes and highlights concerns that, without their inclusion in the quality and accountability architecture of the reformed NHS, the new system may not be capable of delivering urgent improvements in neurology services and outcomes. NHS Networks

HIV awareness 'drops off radar'

HIV awareness 'drops off radar': Sexual health experts and leading HIV charities say not enough is being done to raise awareness of the dangers of the virus for young people in the UK. BBC News

Private hospital abuse report due

Private hospital abuse report due: A serious case review into events at Winterbourne View private hospital, where patients were abused, will be released later. BBC News

Hospital prescribing plan cuts mortality 16% and could be template for GPs

Hospital prescribing plan cuts mortality 16% and could be template for GPs: Prescribing quality improvements that cut mortality by over 16% in a UK hospital study could provide a template for GPs to improve prescribing quality, a leading GP believes. GP Online

Unqualified assistants ''outnumber nurses''

Unqualified assistants ''outnumber nurses'': In one in six NHS trusts there are more unqualified healthcare assistants than nurses, says study Public Service

Revalidation update - August

Revalidation update - August: A round up of all the latest revalidation news from NHS Employers, the NHS Revalidation Support Team (RST) and the General Medical Council. NHS Employers