Disruptive innovation is the pill to remedy care for older people, says Ian Philp

Disruptive innovation is the pill to remedy care for older people, says Ian Philp: Delivering care for older people is a challenge which most health and care communities have failed to meet. In Warwickshire, we have had some success in delivering better and more sustainable care for older people across hospital and community settings. We have reduced mortality rates, acute hospital bed use, readmissions and the need for long-term … Continue reading » NHS Voices

Keep hospitals only for the very sick, says new report

Keep hospitals only for the very sick, says new report:

Shifting funds into community based care better for patients and public purse Related items from OnMedica Community nursing “overburdened and at risk” Community care must be improved to reduce bed use Commissioners and the voluntary sector Shake-up needed of urgent care Coach trip: a new journey to manage long-term conditions

Widening access to palliative care for people with learning disabilities: guidance and resources for professionals

Widening access to palliative care for people with learning disabilities: guidance and resources for professionals: This guide aims to help hospices, and the wider healthcare sector, care for people with learning disabilities. It represents a step towards greater partnership by sharing some of the thinking, good practice and resources that have been developed throughout learning disability and end of life care services, in a form that is accessible to all
practitioners but especially those in a hospice setting.

• Guidance
• Help the Hospices - news

Diet high in processed meat 'threatens health'

Diet high in processed meat 'threatens health': The big health news of the week is the claim that eating a diet high in processed meat can increase the risk of premature death due to cancer and heart disease.

The current media scare stems from a large Europe-wide study looking at diet and mortality, involving just under half a million people who were followed for an average of 12.7 years.

We love the NHS too much to make it better

We love the NHS too much to make it better: We adore our NHS so much that any criticism smacks of disloyalty – even eccentricity. So after the Mid Staffordshire scandal, how do we talk about what really needs to change, asks Roger Taylor.

Care home staff to have compulsory training under government plans to protect elderly

Care home staff to have compulsory training under government plans to protect elderly: Care home staff will be forced to undergo compulsory training for the first time under government plans to protect the elderly from abuse and neglect, The Telegraph can disclose.

Freeze on foreign nurses over fake documents fears

Freeze on foreign nurses over fake documents fears: A health body has imposed a recruitment freeze on foreign nurses amid fears that workers could have faked documents to get jobs in British hospitals. The Daily Telegraph

Suffolk patient with anthrax takes total in England to five cases

Suffolk patient with anthrax takes total in England to five cases: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware that a person who injected heroin has been diagnosed with anthrax infection in Suffolk and has died.

First patient receives state of the art radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer at NGH

First patient receives state of the art radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer at NGH: Staff at Northampton General Hospital have carried out the first treatment in the county to target early-stage lung cancer with a technique called stereotactic radiotherapy. NGH News

Leading expert brought in to lead county’s child protection board

Leading expert brought in to lead county’s child protection board: The man who helped turn around the council at the centre of the Baby Peter case has been brought in as the new independent chairman of the county’s Local Safeguarding Children Board. Evening Telegraph

GP’s ‘inaction’ lost chance to save tot’s life

GP’s ‘inaction’ lost chance to save tot’s life: A mother has said it is “disgraceful” that a doctor who failed to properly examine her 19-month-son two days before he died has only been given a warning by the General Medical Council (GMC). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Closing NHS services: the impossible job?

Closing NHS services: the impossible job?: Heart surgery verdict proves how difficult it is to change the NHS BBC News

UK smoking 'halves' in 40 years

UK smoking 'halves' in 40 years: Smoking in Britain has more than halved and people are drinking on fewer nights of the week, according to a snapshot survey covering the past 40 years. BBC News

'Postcode lottery' for NHS surgery

'Postcode lottery' for NHS surgery: The number of patients undergoing common surgical procedures varies widely across England because of funding restrictions, figures published in The Lancet show. BBC News

Patients are increasingly likely to sue GPs

Patients are increasingly likely to sue GPs:

40% rise in claims against GPs, according to the Medical Protection Society Related items from OnMedica GPs face 20% rise in negligence claims, MDU reports Negligence costs out of control Doctors under unprecedented pressure, claims MDU Only three in five NHS staff happy with care where they work Threat of prosecution could scupper transparency

Heroin and crack use falling

Heroin and crack use falling:
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) says the numbers of people under 35 using crack and heroin in England is plummeting.
Latest figures show there were 298,752 users in 2010/11, which is the lowest since the NTA was set up 12 years ago.
When the NTA closes at the end of March and the management of substance misuse will be taken over by Public Health England (PHE), local authorities ... Healthcare Today

Nicholson could face private criminal prosecution

Nicholson could face private criminal prosecution: HSJ has reported that Sir David Nicholson could face a private criminal prosecution for corporate manslaughter over deaths at the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust.
The journal said that the NHS chief executive has been named in an application sent to Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court by retired investment banker Alan Edwards, 38, from Greenwich, London. He has applied to the court to seek permission to... Healthcare Today

NMC failed to prioritise patient safety

NMC failed to prioritise patient safety: Health Select Committee chair Stephen Dorrell has accused the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of not understanding its function.
It has been criticised at the committee’s second nursing accountability hearing for failing to prioritise patient safety, although Mr Dorrell said he welcomed the fact that the new NMC management team was committed to addressing its failings and the latest evidence shows that its ... Healthcare Today

Venture capital firm makes £2m selling hospital to NHS

Venture capital firm makes £2m selling hospital to NHS: A venture capital firm has made £2 million selling a small hospital to the NHS, less than a year after it opened.The Daily Telegraph

Mid Staffs scandal: who buried the damning NHS reports?

Mid Staffs scandal: who buried the damning NHS reports?: Put Patients First: An MP will next week challenge former Labour Ministers to explain who suppressed three damning reports handed to the Department of Health in 2008. The Daily Telegraph

NHS must halt low aspirations and go for gold, says Hunt

NHS must halt low aspirations and go for gold, says Hunt: NHS hospitals should no longer accept "mediocrity" as the "moment has now come" for a dramatic improvement in standards, the Health Secretary warns today. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Coasting culture can kill, Jeremy Hunt warns hospitals The Independent
• NHS 'coasting' culture kills patients, says Jeremy Hunt The Guardian
• Hunt attacks 'complacent' hospitals BBC News
• Hunt – NHS is coasting with complacency Public Service

Royal Bolton Hospital deaths were 'wronglyrecorded'

Royal Bolton Hospital deaths were 'wrongly recorded': A hospital that saw a sudden leap in the number of patient deaths attributed to septicaemia had recorded the deaths wrongly, an inquiry has found. The Independent

KGH: Don’t attend A&E unless it’s an emergency

KGH: Don’t attend A&E unless it’s an emergency: People are being urged not to go to A&E at Kettering or Northampton general hospitals after a large rise in admissions during the past 48 hours. Evening Telegraph

Baby P ‘fixer’ called into Northamptonshire

Baby P ‘fixer’ called into Northamptonshire: The man who turned around the London council at the centre of the Baby Peter case has been brought in to head Northamptonshire’s safeguarding board as the county tackles a crisis within child protection. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton General Hospital sees highest A&E admissions for four months - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Northampton General Hospital sees highest A&E admissions for four months - Northampton Chronicle & Echo:

Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Northampton General Hospital sees highest A&E admissions for four months Northampton Chronicle & Echo People are being urged to stay away from A&E at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) after admissions reached a four-month high this week. A total of 343 patients attended NGH on Tuesday, the highest figure since November, while the attendance of 255 ...

Memorandum on the provision of the out-of-hours GP service in Cornwall

Memorandum on the provision of the out-of-hours GP service in Cornwall: A memorandum on the provision of out-of-hours GP services in Cornwall found whistleblowers played a significant role in highlighting concerns about the service. National Audit Office

See also:

• 'Disgraceful' Serco falsified GP out-of-hours figures The Daily Telegraph
• Private contractor fiddled data when reporting to NHS, says watchdog The Guardian
• Whistleblowers revealed Serco shortfalls Public Service

Why ministers are walking an NHS tightrope

Why ministers are walking an NHS tightrope In his evidence to MPs, NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson described the current moment in time as one of "maximum risk"... BBC News

''Restrict the care large hospitals provide''

''Restrict the care large hospitals provide'': Treatment should be limited to people with life-threatening conditions or needing complex surgery Public Service

Transforming local care: community healthcare rises to the challenge

Transforming local care: community healthcare rises to the challenge: This briefing shows how the community health sector is driving the transformation of local care systems. NHS Confederation

The patient online: the road map

The patient online: the road map: This guidance aims to support GP practices in providing online access for patients. It looks at the principles of online access to records by patients; steps to offering access; and the principles around training, education and support for practices. Issues around information governance, including third party data and GP workload, are taken into account.

• Guidance
• RCGP - news

Sir David determined to carry on

Sir David determined to carry on: NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has refused to step down, despite admitting faults over his role in the Stafford Hospital scandal.
Questioned by MPs when he appeared before the Health Select Committee, he spelled out his determination to carry on leading the health service.
However, there have been calls for his resignation over the failings at Stafford, which led to hundreds of needless deaths,... Healthcare Today

Growing fears of Bolton hospital death rate 'cover up'

Growing fears of Bolton hospital death rate 'cover up': The deaths of up to 400 patients may have been misrecorded by a major hospital to prevent it having among the highest death rates in the country, an independent report suggests. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS Bolton hospital report finds scores of deaths blamed on septicaemia The Guardian
• Doctors accused of fixing death rates: Staff at Bolton NHS Trust accused of reclassifying cause of death to cover up poor care The Daily Mail

GPs must learn e-efficiency from Easyjet, says Jeremy Hunt

GPs must learn e-efficiency from Easyjet, says Jeremy Hunt: GPs must take efficiency lessons from Easyjet if they are to provide better care for the elderly, according to the Health Secretary, who has admitted there is no more money to improve matters. The Daily Telegraph

Still fancy the full English? Study links processed meat consumption to risk of early death

Still fancy the full English? Study links processed meat consumption to risk of early death:
If you're still mulling over your breakfast options, and are leaning towards a traditional English fry-up, then look away now - as the news isn't good about its contents. The Independent

See also:

• Just a chipolata a day, say health experts The Daily Telegraph
• Processed meat 'is to blame for one in 30 deaths': Major Oxbridge- backed study says more than a rasher of bacon a day is harmful The Daily Mail
• Processed meat 'early death' link BBC News

UK men 'losers in European prostate cancer lottery'

UK men 'losers in European prostate cancer lottery': British men with prostate cancer are the losers in a European "lottery of care" when it comes to access to drugs, a report claims. The Daily Telegraph

Two million quit work to care for a sick loved one

Two million quit work to care for a sick loved one: More than two million people in the UK have given up work to care for disabled, sick or elderly relatives and loved ones, according to a survey. The Independent

The Values of Medical Libraries Study: An Update

The Values of Medical Libraries Study: An Update: “In the fall of 2010, UPMC physicians, residents, and nurses were invited to participate in the initial phase of a multi-site survey of the role of library information resources in improving patient care. The results of the full study were recently published.¹ In this study, clinicians from 118 hospitals completed an online survey that asked them to think of an occasion when they required additional information for a patient care issue, and to then answer questions about the impact of access to library information resources on patient outcomes for that particular case.
Nearly every study participant agreed that information resources available from their libraries were relevant (99 percent), accurate (99 percent) and current (97 percent). The high quality of information available was not just appreciated, however—75 percent of participants agreed that access to the information definitely or probably changed how they handled an aspect of patient care, including advice given to a patient (48 percent), drug choice (33 percent), and diagnosis (25 percent). Participants (85 percent) indicated that having access to the information saved them time, with the average amount of time saved estimated to be 2.5 hours.
In addition to these positive impacts, clinicians believed the information provided by libraries helped to avoid negative events such as patient misunderstanding of disease (23 percent), misdiagnosis (13 percent), adverse drug events (13 percent), medication errors (12 percent), patient mortality (6 percent), and hospital acquired infections (3 percent).
In follow-up interviews, a subset of participants reiterated the clinical value of having access to current and accurate information, and the impact such access has on patient safety. Clinicians also commented on the value of having access to professional librarians who can assist with patient care, either through provision of literature searches for busy clinicians, or through education of clinicians in the most efficient use of library resources.
1. J.G. Marshall, J. Sollenberger, S. Easterby-Gannett, L.K. Morgan, M. Klem M, et al., “The Value of Library and Information Services in Patient Care: Results of a Multisite Study,” Journal of the Medical Library Association 101 no. 1 (2013): 38-46.”

The increasing demands on Accident and Emergency departments: no easy answers

The increasing demands on Accident and Emergency departments: no easy answers: Few health policy issues have received greater attention than how best to meet the demands on hospital A&E departments − and manage the associated unscheduled admissions to hospital. There is now extensive practical advice available on NHS websites, and most trusts have had at least one Emergency Care Intensive Support Team (ECIST) review of their services. Despite this, the reality is that many health economies are struggling to cope with demand.

Call to action on reducing avoidable deaths

Call to action on reducing avoidable deaths: Improvements in the fight against the 5 major causes of death, including new plans to tackle cardiovascular disease, could save 30,000 lives by 2020, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced today.

NHS competition rules to be changed

NHS competition rules to be changed: Controversial regulations governing the contracting out of services in the NHS will be re-written amid growing concerns about increasing competition, the government says. BBC News

See also:

• Government announces 'humiliating u-turn' on competition regulations in NHS The Independent
• NHS private sector climbdown a 'humiliating U-turn', says Labour The Guardian

Hunt: NHS has lagged behind for too long

Hunt: NHS has lagged behind for too long: Health Secretary says NHS guilty of ''shocking under performance'' when tackling the five big causes of death. Public Service

Huge rise in hospital spending by PCTs

Huge rise in hospital spending by PCTs:

Secondary care costs rose twice as much as primary care costs Related items from OnMedica Community care must be improved to reduce bed use NHS payment system in need of overhaul NHS will be “hard-hit” by spending cuts Increase in NHS spending on independent services Hunt praises GPs for ‘extraordinary dedication’

Cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy: improving outcomes for people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy: improving outcomes for people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease: This strategy document provides advice to local authority and NHS commissioners and providers about actions to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes. It sets out outcomes for people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease in line with the NHS and public health outcomes frameworks.

• Strategy
• Department of Health - news

UK position worsens in 'early death league'

UK position worsens in 'early death league': “The UK is lagging behind progress by similar countries on many indicators for ill-health” BBC News reports, based on a study that generated a wide range of media coverage.

Stafford Hospital scandal: NHS boss faces MP grilling - BBC News

Stafford Hospital scandal: NHS boss faces MP grilling - BBC News:

BBC News

Stafford Hospital scandal: NHS boss faces MP grilling BBC News NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has spelled out his determination to carry on leading the health service as he faced a grilling from MPs over his role in the Stafford Hospital scandal. There have been calls for Sir David's resignation over the ... Mid Staffs scandal: NHS boss 'determined' to stayChannel 4 News NHS was not 'equipped or capable' of dealing with problems at Mid Staffs ...The Independent I won't quit shamed NHS boss tells MPsExpress.co.uk Yahoo! News UK -Cambridge News -ITV News all 85 news articles »

Government to legislate for plain cigarette packaging this year

Government to legislate for plain cigarette packaging this year: UK to follow example of Australia, where cigarettes must be sold in drab packets with graphic health warnings
Ministers are to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes along the Australian model with legislation this year, after becoming convinced that the branding is a key factor in why young people start to smoke.

Sir David Nicholson: I am the right man to lead NHS

Sir David Nicholson: I am the right man to lead NHS: Facing MPs' questions over the Mid Staffs hospital scandal, chief executive admits failings but is 'absolutely determined to stay'

Mid Staffs scandal: Patient interests were neglected for years by NHS mangers as hospitals concentrated on cutting waiting times, Sir David Nicholson tells MPs

Mid Staffs scandal: Patient interests were neglected for years by NHS mangers as hospitals concentrated on cutting waiting times, Sir David Nicholson tells MPs: 
Patient interests were neglected for years by NHS mangers as hospitals concentrated on cutting waiting times at the expense of good care, the head of the service admitted today. The Independent

Mentally ill people nearly five times more likely to be victims of murder than general population

Mentally ill people nearly five times more likely to be victims of murder than general population: People suffering from mental illness are almost five times more likely to be victims of murder than the general population, researchers have found. The Independent

Child protection 'must improve'

Child protection 'must improve': Child protection services at Northamptonshire County Council must improve, the leader says, after inspectors raised concerns. BBC Northamptonshire

Abuse complaints by vulnerable adults increase

Abuse complaints by vulnerable adults increase: COMPLAINTS of abuse suffered by vulnerable adults in Northamptonshire, passed on by the likes of police, the NHS and care homes, rose by more than a third in 12 months. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

'Whitehall role' in NHS payoffs

'Whitehall role' in NHS payoffs: The Department of Health (DoH) plays a key role in vetting severance payments to NHS staff, including money offered to whistle-blowers, it emerges. BBC News

UK 'lagging in Europe health league'

UK 'lagging in Europe health league': The UK is lagging behind progress by similar countries on many indicators for ill-health, research published in the Lancet suggests. BBC News

See also:

• UK falls behind in early death league table The Independent
• Dementia death toll soars as UK fails in battle to improve health The Independent
• Billions in extra cash fail to stop rot in NHS The Daily Telegraph
• Healthy life expectancy is shorter in the UK than abroad The Guardian
• Alzheimer's jumps from 24th to become the 10th biggest killer in UK in just 20 years The Daily Mail

Auditor in warning to health trusts

Auditor in warning to health trusts: The auditor general tells the health sector that striving to meet targets must not have a detrimental impact on the overall care of patients. BBC News

Increase in NHS spending on independent services

Increase in NHS spending on independent services:

NHS spending on services provided by the private or voluntary sector increased by more than 10% last year Related items from OnMedica Private firms may be made exempt from corporation tax Commissioners and the voluntary sector CCGs’ independence threatened by choice regulations 21 trusts have received £1 billion in bailouts

Cold weather keeps telehealth patients out of hospital

Cold weather keeps telehealth patients out of hospital: Telehealth project in Leicester keeps more patients out of hospital than expected during the cold weather Public Service

Hospital workforce: fit for the future?

Hospital workforce: fit for the future?: This report brings together findings from the medical registrar report and the 2011 RCP consultant census and looks at the key challenges that are facing the medical workforce. It concludes that there needs to be a rethink of the skills in which doctors are trained, in order to better meet patients’ needs; while the role of the medical registrar and the esteem in which it is held must be reassessed and
better valued.

• Report
• Executive summary
• RCP - news

Reports of 'HIV cure' are premature

Reports of 'HIV cure' are premature: Global news coverage has been dominated by the potentially groundbreaking news that a child born with HIV appears to have been ‘cured’ of the infection.

Productivity in the NHS 'stubbornly stagnant', reveals report

Productivity in the NHS 'stubbornly stagnant', reveals report: Growing number of health service organisations getting into financial difficulties, says Nuffield Trust study.
Productivity in the NHS remains "stubbornly stagnant", its workforce is shrinking and GP surgeries are receiving less money than before to spend on patient care, a report has revealed.

Elderly patients diagnosed with 'acopia' - a disease that does not exist

Elderly patients diagnosed with 'acopia' - a disease that does not exist: Elderly patients often do not receive proper treatment because they are subconsciously 'written off' and diagnosed with 'acopia', a condition that does not exist, a former Government adviser on the elderly has said. The Daily Telegraph

Former health secretaries back embattled NHS chief David Nicholson over Mid Staffordshire scandal

Former health secretaries back embattled NHS chief David Nicholson over Mid Staffordshire scandal: Five former health secretaries will tomorrow give their unequivocal backing to David Nicholson, the beleaguered head of the NHS who faces calls for his resignation in the wake of the Mid Staffordshire scandal, in interviews with The Independent.

Child protection crisis: ‘Turnaround plan is priority’

Child protection crisis: ‘Turnaround plan is priority’: A plan to turn around child protection in Northamptonshire has to be drawn up instead of arguing about the past, the leader of the opposition at Northamptonshire County Council has said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS charges from April 2013 announced

NHS charges from April 2013 announced:
The NHS prescription charge in England will increase by 20p from £7.65 to £7.85 for each quantity of a drug or appliance from 1 April 2013.
However, the cost of a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) will remain at £29.10 for a 3 month certificate.  The cost of the annual certificate will remain at £104.

Nurses' care concerns 'discouraged'

Nurses' care concerns 'discouraged': Many nurses believe the NHS has a culture that discourages staff from raising concerns about patient care, a survey suggests. BBC News

See also:

• Nurses 'scared to raise concerns' The Daily Telegraph

'People in danger' from NHS changes

'People in danger' from NHS changes: Opening up the NHS to greater competition from private firms could put patients in danger from a "fragmented" health service, the chair of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges insists. BBC News

HIV baby 'cured' by treatment

HIV baby 'cured' by treatment: US doctors say they seem to have cured a baby born with HIV - the virus that causes Aids - through very early treatment with standard drug therapy.  BBC News

See also:

• HIV baby 'cured' through early treatment in US The Daily Telegraph
• Have we found a cure for HIV? Child born with virus is now free of infection after 'miraculous' treatment The Daily Mail

UK diabetes cases hit three million

UK diabetes cases hit three million: Three million people in the UK have now been diagnosed with diabetes, says charity Diabetes UK, which warns this new high could create a huge NHS burden. BBC News

NHS negligence claims soar up to £18bn

NHS negligence claims soar up to £18bn: The government is not paying enough attention to management information, Margaret Hodge has claimed Public Service

Dementia Scrapbook app put on firm Foundation

Scrapbook put on firm Foundation: An app created at NHS Hack Day Oxford is now being developed in association with the Health Foundation. E-Health Insider

Trust me... I'm a leader

Trust me... I'm a leader: This paper, the second in a series which explores in detail the needs of future healthcare leaders in the new system, is written by Dr Clare Gerada. NHS Confederation

GMC and other regulators launch joint revalidation handbook

GMC and other regulators launch joint revalidation handbook: A new guide to help Boards check their organisations are placing quality and safety at the heart of their services for patients is published today. The GMC

NHS watchdog to tackle malnutrition in hospitals

NHS watchdog to tackle malnutrition in hospitals: Department of Health acts after reports that over 1,000 people have starved to death in NHS hospitals in past four years
The Department of Health has said it is "unacceptable" for patients to go hungry or be malnourished in hospitals, and has increased the number of unannounced inspections by the care watchdog to tackle the issue.

Roche chief executive dismisses Tamiflu trials doubts

Roche chief executive dismisses Tamiflu trials doubts: The chief executive of the drugs giant that makes Tamiflu, which some claim could be no more effective than paracetamol, has dismissed concerns from scientists pressing it to release all trials results on the remedy. The Daily Telegraph

Sir David Nicholson protected by 'neutered' Francis report

Sir David Nicholson protected by 'neutered' Francis report: Civil servants "neutered" the final version of the Francis report into the Stafford hospital scandal, with the effect of protecting the embattled chief executive of the NHS, a leading expert has claimed. The Daily Telegraph

Overworked doctors pose 'alarming' threat to safety

Overworked doctors pose 'alarming' threat to safety: An "alarming" threat to patient safety is being posed by the "unmanageable workload" that hospital doctors are having to deal with, according to a worrying report published today. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Hospital registrars' workload 'unmanageable', says report The Guardian

IoS investigation: Health care agency under fire on safety

IoS investigation: Health care agency under fire on safety:
Patients will be put at risk by privatised out-of-hours care, according to a GP and former clinical lead for Harmoni, the largest independent provider of urgent care services in England, after its doctors were criticised last week in an inquest over the death of a baby boy. The Independent

HPA issues guidance for pet rodent owners following recent cases of hantavirus

HPA issues guidance for pet rodent owners following recent cases of hantavirus: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued new guidance for owners of pet rodents following two recent UK cases of hantavirus which are described in a paper published in this week’s Eurosurveillance.

Web site of the month: trial of Clinicalskills.Net - your views needed

Web site of the month: trial of Clinicalskills.Net - your views needed:

For the whole of March we are having a trial of Clinicalskills.Net and would really value your feedback.

Clinicalskills.Net is an on-line service that holds sets of illustrated clinical skills guidelines. It is designed to  help you understand the principles of a particular skill.

The information about best practice for over 160 procedures is delivered in a highly accessible format using clear graphics supported by text and references. Because clinicalskills.net is highly illustrated, it is very user friendly. It can also help to facilitate study for those whose first language is not English and those returning to work after a break.

All procedures featured are evidence-based with numerous click-through links to valuable national guidance and other published papers.

Clincalskills.Net could be of value for nurses, HCAs, AHPs, medical students, junior doctors, educators and more.

You can find the log in details for the site at any of our libraries. Alternatively, if you have access to the Northamptonshire Healthcare or Northampton General Hospital  Intranet sites (the Hub and the Street), you can find the details on our pages there.

MP warns against ambulance changes

MP warns against ambulance changes: An MP says he will 'eat his hat' if ambulance response times improve as a result of plans to close 53 ambulance stations. BBC Northamptonshire

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: How did child protection in Northamptonshire come to this?

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: How did child protection in Northamptonshire come to this?: Public confidence in Northamptonshire’s child protection services is bound to be severely rocked by the revelations published in today’s Chronicle & Echo.

See also:

• Child protection in crisis in Northamptonshire: Chronicle and Echo

Spreading innovation in healthcare

Spreading innovation in healthcare: At the Health Foundation, the innovation we promote is in how health services are organised, managed and delivered. It seems that much discussion about innovation in healthcare focuses on new technologies, but innovative behavioural change is essential if their promised benefits are to be fully realised, says Stephen Thornton. The Health Foundation

Warning over NHS competition rules

Warning over NHS competition rules: An architect of the government's NHS changes in England warns they may be undermined by rules opening the health service to more competition. BBC News

See also:

• GPs will desert if rules on competition in NHS are not changed, warns reform doctor The Daily Telegraph

UK-wide alcohol unit price call

UK-wide alcohol unit price call: There should be a pan-UK strategy to combat problematic drinking - including a 50p minimum price for a unit of alcohol, experts say. BBC News

See also:

• Doctors: urgent action on alcohol needed The Guardian

Breast cancer survival 'lower in UK'

Breast cancer survival 'lower in UK': Women with late-stage breast cancer have lower survival chances in the UK than in other high-income countries, research suggests. BBC News

See also:

• British women 'dying quicker of breast cancer than elsewhere' The Daily Telegraph

The non-executive directors' guide to hospital data

The non-executive directors' guide to hospital data: Understanding your organisation's data is an essential part of providing effective oversight. This briefing will help non-executive directors better understand NHS data and how it can be used to determine what is going on in their hospital. NHS Confederation

NHS staff survey 2012

NHS staff survey 2012: A total of 202,000 NHS staff were invited to participate in this survey by postal questionnaire. Responses were received from 101,000 staff, a response rate of 50% (compared to 53.7% in 2010). The results are primarily intended for use by NHS organisations to help them review and improve staff experience so that staff can provide better patient care. The Care Quality Commission will use the results from the survey to monitor ongoing compliance with essential standards of quality and safety. The NHS Commissioning Board will use the results to aid commissioning decisions. The survey will also support accountability of the Secretary of State for Health to Parliament for delivery of the NHS Constitution.

• Survey results
• Results summary
• Statistical press notice
• Department of Health - news

Effect of telehealth on quality of life and psychological outcomes over 12 months (Whole Systems Demonstrator telehealth questionnaire study): nested study of patient reported outcomes in a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial

Effect of telehealth on quality of life and psychological outcomes over 12 months (Whole Systems Demonstrator telehealth questionnaire study): nested study of patient reported outcomes in a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial: This trial assessed the effect of second generation, home based telehealth on health related quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms over 12 months in patients with long term conditions. It found that differences between treatment groups were small and non-significant for all outcomes. Telehealth did not improve quality of life or psychological outcomes for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, or heart failure over 12 months. These findings suggest that home based telehealth was not effective compared with usual care only.

• Research

Turning young lives around: how health and justice services can respond to children with mental health problems and learning disabilities who offend

Turning young lives around: how health and justice services can respond to children with mental health problems and learning disabilities who offend: This briefing paper seeks to encourage effective joint working between Health and Wellbeing Boards and youth justice services. It aims to ensure that local strategies reflect the needs of children and young people who offend, especially those with mental health problems and learning disabilities. It outlines a practical action agenda and provides examples of good practice.

• Briefing
• Prison Reform Trust - publications

Five 'mental disorders' may have genetic links

Five 'mental disorders' may have genetic links: Sky News reports that, "five of the most common psychiatric disorders are genetically linked." This news is based on a landmark study that examined the genetic sequences of more than 50,000 people. Some of these people had one of five common long-term conditions the researchers called 'psychiatric disorders.' These were:

Sir David Nicholson receives full backing of NHS board

Sir David Nicholson receives full backing of NHS board: Health campaigners stormed out of a meeting of senior NHS officials today as Sir David Nicholson, the chief executive of the NHS, was given the full backing of his board. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS board backs health chief, but his future is in doubt The Guardian

Doctors don't trust their own hospitals

Doctors don't trust their own hospitals: Up to two-thirds of doctors would not recommend that their family and friends are treated where they work, NHS figures disclose. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Only three in five NHS staff happy with care where they work OnMedica

Liverpool Care Pathway: fifth of doctors quesy about always telling relatives

Liverpool Care Pathway: fifth of doctors quesy about always telling relatives: A fifth of doctors are ambivalent or even hostile to always telling relatives that they are putting a patient on the Liverpool Care Pathway, according to a survey. The Daily Telegraph

Scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS trust 'to be put into administration'

Scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS trust 'to be put into administration':
The scandal-hit Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is to be put into administration, an NHS regulator has announced. The Independent

See also:

• Board members quit Mid Staffs trust BBC News
• VIDEO: Mid Staffs 'faces being dissolved' BBC News

Exam error prompts doctor job recall

Exam error prompts doctor job recall: Thousands of medical students face having their first hospital job offers withdrawn due to marking errors in their final exams. BBC News

See also:

• Medical students' job offers withdrawn after exam 'scoring errors' The Guardian

Is a new NHS reforms row brewing?

Is a new NHS reforms row brewing?: Does this mark the start of another major controversy? BBC News

Report of the children and young people's health outcomes forum

Report of the children and young people's health outcomes forum: This report outlines proposals on how health-related care for children and young people can be improved. Recommendations include: integration and partnership; safe and sustainable services; and workforce education and training. It also recommends a number of new outcomes measures and the strengthening of existing indicators, making specific recommendations for different organisations within the health and care system to ensure these improvements are achieved.

• Report
• Letter to Secretary of State Andrew Lansley
• Department of Health - news

Desk-breaks 'more important than gym' to avoid diabetes

Desk-breaks 'more important than gym' to avoid diabetes: Getting up from the desk for a five-minute wander every half hour is more important when it comes to fending off diabetes than hitting the gym, according to new research. The Daily Telegraph

CCGs could be saddled with inherited debts

CCGs could be saddled with inherited debts:
A warning has been issued to the new clinical commissioning groups that they may be burdened with inherited debts.
The CCGs have been alerted to the fact by its representative group NHS Clinical Commissioners which fears they are at risk of being “saddled with inherited debt” when they take on their new powers as a result of an onslaught of retrospective claims for NHS continuing healthcare funding.
Healthcare Today

Binge drinking rates could be higher than thought

Binge drinking rates could be higher than thought: "England is a nation of secret boozers," The Independent argues, as it reports on a study investigating the discrepancy between alcohol sales in England and the amount people say they drink in surveys.

Telehealth 'not effective' for people with long-term conditions, study finds

Telehealth 'not effective' for people with long-term conditions, study finds: Department of Health's whole systems demonstrator research calls into question degree of enthusiasm for the technology.
Expectations of the benefits of telehealth technology may be scaled back after a study found it was "not effective" in improving the quality of life of people with long-term conditions.