VIDEO: 24-hour hospital care plan 'irresponsible'

VIDEO: 24-hour hospital care plan 'irresponsible' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to make care in the NHS truly 24/7, but some doctors say the proposals will not work in a service that is already overstretched.  BBC News

Hunt says NHS 111 will be reviewed as patients and providers find problems

Hunt says NHS 111 will be reviewed as patients and providers find problems Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has admitted the public do not have confidence in the new non-emergency health hotline NHS 111. Public Service

Clinical informatics needs networks

Clinical informatics needs networks The development of chief clinical information officers and health informatics professionals requires sustained investment in networks and professionalism, says NHS England's clinical informatics director. The development of chief clinical information officers and health informatics professionals requires sustained investment in networks and professionalism, says NHS England's clinical informatics director. E-Health Insider

Read Code 'cross-maps' consultation

Read Code 'cross-maps' consultation This consultation aims to gain a deeper understanding of the level and nature of the use of cross-maps which enable hospitals to satisfy mandatory data collections and submissions, such as the Admitted Patient Care Commissioning Data Set and Hospital Episode Statistics. They also support secondary use cases such as epidemiology, clinical governance, commissioning and Payment by Results. The HSCIC is particularly keen to hear from Clinical Commissioning Groups and GPs as less is known about how these groups use cross-maps. Responses are invited until the 9th September 2013.

• Online response form
• Consultation document
• HSCIC - news

Injured patients taken to hospital in POLICE CARS because ambulances are taking too long following service cuts

Injured patients taken to hospital in POLICE CARS because ambulances are taking too long following service cuts Nottinghamshire Police Federation today spoke out against the use of police to do the job of paramedics, saying it was a 'real concern' for officers. The Daily Mail

Middle East virus claims third life as fears of pandemic spread

Middle East virus claims third life as fears of pandemic spread A man being treated in a London hospital for a lethal 'Sars-like' Middle Eastern virus has died.The Daily Telegraph

Scurvy returns among children with diets 'worse than in the war'

Scurvy returns among children with diets 'worse than in the war' Wartime diseases are returning to Britain because some children are living on junk food diets that are worse for them than rationing was 70 years ago, officials have claimed. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital bosses face prosecution over care failings

Hospital bosses face prosecution over care failings Hospital and care home managers who allow neglect and abuse to take place on their watch could face criminal prosecution and unlimited fines under new Government plans designed to restore trust in the health service after a series of high profile NHS scandals. The Independent

CQC chiefs admit cover-up error

CQC chiefs admit cover-up error Bosses at England's health regulator admit they "got it wrong" when they blocked the release of the names of officials accused of a cover-up. BBC News

See also:

• Further evidence of NHS cover-up exposed The Daily Telegraph
• CQC whistleblower re-appointed The Daily Telegraph
• CQC chiefs say redacting names from report on alleged cover-up was mistake The Guardian

Herbal stimulant khat to be banned

Herbal stimulant khat to be banned The UK is to ban the herbal stimulant khat, going against the advice of its own drugs advisory body. BBC News

New ESR case studies published

New ESR case studies published Two new case studies from the NHS ESR Central Team are now available including one from HPMA Award winners Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. NHS Employers

NHS England reaffirms its commitment to reducing health gap

NHS England reaffirms its commitment to reducing health gap NHS England has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the gap in life expectancy. There is more than 11 years for men and 10 for women between the richest and poorest in the country.

Long-term night shifts can 'double' breast cancer risk

Long-term night shifts can 'double' breast cancer risk “Women who work long-term night-shift jobs … are twice as likely to develop breast cancer,” is the story in The Independent, as well as a number of other newspapers.

The report is based on a study which found that women who worked night shifts for 30 years or more were twice as likely to develop breast cancer.

Other studies have previously suggested a link between shift work and breast cancer, but they have mainly been confined to nurses. In this study, researchers looked at women working in many different roles.

Bowel cancer: national audit confirms for the first time huge difference in survival rates between surgery and non-surgery patients

Bowel cancer: national audit confirms for the first time huge difference in survival rates between surgery and non-surgery patients  Patients who have operation almost twice as likely to live two years beyond diagnosis. Health & Social Care Information Centre

NHS Direct pulls out of two 111 medical helpline contracts

NHS Direct pulls out of two 111 medical helpline contracts The new non-emergency NHS phoneline has been thrown into turmoil after a supplier pulled out of two contracts for providing the service.

NHS Direct has said it will be unable to provide the phoneline in two regions - despite winning the contracts to deliver service.

NHS Direct won 11 of the 46 contracts for the 111 service, but it said it could not provide the service in North Essex and Cornwall because the contract terms were "financially unsustainable". The Guardian

See also:

• 'Major' problems for NHS 111 service BBC News 
• NHS non-emergency 111 telephone service crisis deepens as provider warns it is unsustainable The Independent

Hospitals block patient complaints on legal grounds

Hospitals block patient complaints on legal grounds Hospitals are routinely using the threat of legal action to block investigations into medical blunders, patient safety campaigners have claimed, as they threaten a legal challenge against the Health Secretary. The Daily Telegraph

Doctors to monitor NHS patients via video link

Doctors to monitor NHS patients via video link Critically ill NHS patients are to be monitored via video link by doctors in a central contol room for the first time in Britain as part of a new scheme aimed to improve out-of-hours care.The Daily Telegraph

Fears of a care crisis at another NHS hospital

Fears of a care crisis at another NHS hospital There are fears of a new crisis at an NHS hospital after a report found patients are forced to wait for days to be seen and the care is so chaotic they are left in pain. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Fears of new care crisis at NHS hospital The Guardian

Foreigners to be made to pay £200 to use NHS

Foreigners to be made to pay £200 to use NHS Foreigners who visit Britain for more than six months will be made to pay at least £200 a year to use NHS services, under a set of proposals to be introduced tomorrow. The Independent

See also:

• Foreigners to face more NHS charges BBC News
• Charging immigrants for NHS is fair to British taxpayers, says Jeremy Hunt The Daily Telegraph
• New migrants to face £1,000 healthcare levy The Guardian
• Foreign nationals to pay for GP visits under DH crackdown GP Online
• Open consultation: Migrant access to the NHS Department of Health
• Press release: Proposals to reform migrant access to health and housing unveiled Department of Health

'One size fits all' BMI index may be wrongly applied by doctors for ethnic groups, says NICE

'One size fits all' BMI index may be wrongly applied by doctors for ethnic groups, says NICE Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups may be missing out on treatment for weight-related conditions such as diabetes because doctors wrongly using a “one size fits all” obesity measure, NICE has said. The Independent

See also:

• Consider lower BMI risk thresholds for people from black, Asian and minority groups NICE

New vaccine offers babies protection against rotavirus

New vaccine offers babies protection against rotavirus Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhoea) in children under 5. Nearly every child will develop rotavirus gastroenteritis by 5 years of age. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is responsible for 130,000 visits to the GP and 13,000 hospitalisations for dehydration every year.

One in five NHS workers 'bullied'

One in five NHS workers 'bullied' One in five NHS workers claims to have been bullied by colleagues during the last six months, a survey by Durham University finds. BBC News

'Funding gap costs hospitals £500m'

'Funding gap costs hospitals £500m' England's hospitals lost more than £500m of income last year because of the way they get paid for admitting emergency patients, findings reveal. BBC News

NHS England publishes details on how to apply for 260m Safer Hospitals, Safer Wards Technology Fund

NHS England publishes details on how to apply for 260m Safer Hospitals, Safer Wards Technology Fund NHS England has today published further details on the Safer Hospitals, Safer Wards Technology Fund which sets out the details on how NHS Foundation Trusts and NHS Trusts can access the new £260 million technology fund.

'Surgeons could avoid high-risk patients after death rate data release'

'Surgeons could avoid high-risk patients after death rate data release' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's decision to publish performance data and mortality rates for thousands of surgeons across the country has come under attack Public Service

Concerns raised about bovine TB-infected meat

Concerns raised about bovine TB-infected meat “Tens of thousands of diseased cattle, slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB), are being sold for human consumption by Defra, the food and farming ministry,” reports The Sunday Times.

Following an investigation, the paper says it found that the meat is being sold to caterers and food processors by the government’s food and agriculture department, despite being banned by most supermarkets and burger chains.

It is important to note that your risk of catching TB from eating meat from an infected animal is minimal.

Commissioning treatment for dependence on prescription and over-the-counter medicines: a guide for NHS and local authority commissioners

This guidance sets out PHE’s expectation that support should be available in every area for people with a dependency on prescription or over-the-counter medicines, based on a full assessment of local need. It has been produced with input from experts on addiction to medicines, and outlines a number of sources that commissioners can use to identify the scale of misuse or dependence, and in relation to what medicines in their area.

• Guidance
• PHE - press release

Patients will get clearer data on surgeons' death rates next year

Patients will be able to compare the death rates of surgeons at every NHS hospital by next year, the national medical director has said, amid criticism that data published so far does not allow the public to make a meaningful choice.The Daily Telegraph

Investigation into Liverpool Care Pathway death

The death of an elderly woman on the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway is to be officially investigated after a man claimed doctors had attempted to "murder" his mother. The Daily Telegraph

Surgeons' contracts offer ‘poor value for money’ for limiting work outside office hours

A generous new contract for hospital consultants provided “poor value for money” because it did not require them to work in the evenings and at weekends, public spending watchdogs said on Tuesday. The Independent

See also:

• Scandal of doctors paid more to do less The Daily Telegraph
• NHS 'must get tough on consultants' BBC News

£1.9m investment in more nursing staff at NGH

£1.9m investment in more nursing staff at NGH: More than 120 additional nursing staff will be in place on Northampton General Hospital's wards by October, announced director of nursing and midwifery Suzie Loader today. NGH News

NGH surgeons have 'normal' death rates - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Northampton Chronicle & Echo

NGH surgeons have 'normal' death rates Northampton Chronicle & Echo Data to be published on Northampton General Hospital surgeons shows rates of deaths following operations are normal, hospital bosses have said. Ten medical and surgical specialities are publishing their clinical outcomes from non-emergency as part of ... and more »

WHO to recommend earlier HIV drugs

WHO to recommend earlier HIV drugs: New guidelines from the World Health Organization about HIV treatment could see millions of extra people being given life-saving medicine. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: 'No one should die because of HIV' BBC News
• WHO says drug treatment for HIV should begin earlier The Independent
• Consolidated Guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection World Health Organization
• WHO issues new HIV recommendations calling for earlier treatment World Health Organization

Student medics 'taught bad habits'

Student medics 'taught bad habits': Are young medics getting enough of the right kind of training? BBC News

Monitor to probe GP access and 'new models of primary care'

Monitor to probe GP access and 'new models of primary care': GP access and barriers to 'new models of primary care' will be probed as a part of a wide-ranging review of general practice in England, launched by health regulator Monitor on Monday. GP Online

NHS Direct cancels 111 contracts

NHS Direct cancels 111 contracts: NHS Direct has cancelled contracts to provide NHS 111 in North Essex and Cornwall and admits all of its 111 contracts are "financially unsustainable". E-Health Insider

Workforce planning guide

Workforce planning guide: This guidance sets out the milestones and timelines for the planning process to be operated in 2013/14 to produce 2014/15 workforce investment plans. It aims to secure the future supply of workforce, in a way that both maintains safe staffing levels for patients and supports the transformation of services necessary to drive quality improvement. Stakeholder support in identifying key issues, perspectives and evidence are also called for. Health Education England

• Guidance
• Call for evidence
• HEE - publications

UK government backs 'three-parent' IVF

UK government backs 'three-parent' IVF: The Department of Health has published draft regulations on so-called "three-parent IVF".

If the regulations are approved by Parliament, it would make the UK the first country in the world to provide patients with the option of mitochondria replacement techniques. These are innovative IVF-based techniques designed to prevent serious mitochondrial diseases (see below).

Why 2013 could turn out to be a watershed year for telehealth

Why 2013 could turn out to be a watershed year for telehealth: Providing health services remotely can reduce hospitalisations, save lives and help care for people in tough economic times
Telehealth has the potential to reduce hospitalisations and save lives. It also has an important role to play in caring for people against a challenging economic backdrop.

Patients facing eight-hour waits in ambulances outside A&E departments

Patients facing eight-hour waits in ambulances outside A&E departments: Sick patients have been forced to wait up to eight hours in ambulances queuing outside Accident & Emergency units amid a crisis in the system. The Daily Telegraph

Health watchdog put 20 gagging orders on staff

Health watchdog put 20 gagging orders on staff: The troubled health watchdog that is accused of covering up a report into the deaths of mothers and babies at a maternity unit issued at least 20 "gagging orders" to prevent former members of staff from speaking out. The Daily Telegraph

Surgeons' mortality rates are meaningless, say patient groups

Surgeons' mortality rates are meaningless, say patient groups: Surgeons have been criticised by patients' groups for the "meaningless" way in which they have released statistics about death rates following operations. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Medics' NHS league table mortality figures mired in confusion The Guardian

The NHS at 65: 'Health tourists' to be charged for care

The NHS at 65: 'Health tourists' to be charged for care:
Migrants will be charged to go to a GP under proposals being unveiled by the Government this week. The plans, to be announced by the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, are part of a crack-down on "health tourists" – those who live outside the EU but use the NHS to obtain free healthcare. The Independent

See also:

• GPs told to charge non-Britons for NHS services The Guardian

Hospital is an exceptional case and needs investment, says MP

Hospital is an exceptional case and needs investment, says MP: An MP has told Parliament Kettering hospital cannot cope with demand for its accident and emergency department. Northamptonshire Telegraph

What happened to the extra NHS billions?

What happened to the extra NHS billions?: Three years ago the coalition government’s first Spending Review promised to ‘ring fence’ the budget for the English NHS and to increase spending in real terms each year to 2014/15. So what has actually happened to NHS spending?

First batch of surgeon data revealed

First batch of surgeon data revealed: The first wave of new performance data for individual surgeons in England is being published in what is being hailed as a historic moment for the NHS. BBC News

See also:

• Major breakthrough in NHS Transparency as consultant mortality data goes online for first time NHS England
• Surgeons who don't publish performance data to be named by NHS The Independent
• NHS surgeons with the highest death rates named The Daily Telegraph
• NHS to name surgeons who don't publish performance data The Guardian
• The surgeons whose patients were up to 30 times likelier to die: NHS to publish death rates of doctors for the first time The Daily Mail

Why are doctors so angry?

Why are doctors so angry?: Why are doctors so angry at the moment? BBC News

Hospital boss resigns inside a week

Hospital boss resigns inside a week: An interim chairman appointed less than a week ago at a hospital trust, after the resignation of the previous chairman, himself resigns. BBC News

UK government backs three-person IVF

UK government backs three-person IVF: The UK is in line to become the first country to allow an IVF technique using DNA from three people, in a bid to eliminate serious genetic disorders. BBC News

See also:

• Press release: Innovative genetic treatment to prevent mitochondrial disease Department of Health
• Britain could create first 'three-parent baby' The Daily Telegraph
• Three-person IVF: UK government backs mitochondrial transfer The Guardian

Advice from NICE supports improved commissioning for people who self-harm

Advice from NICE supports improved commissioning for people who self-harm: NICE's support for commissioning for self-harm will help commissioners to drive up quality and ensure that the needs of people who self-harm are being addressed in the range of generic services they commonly use.

Integrated care's £3bn ''is not new money''

Integrated care's £3bn ''is not new money'': The cash announced by the Chancellor to integrate health and social care will have to be found from existing funds. Public Service

Revised fit note guidance

Revised fit note guidance: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published revised guidance to help GPs and healthcare professionals use the fit note. NHS Employers

Hospitals failing diabetic patients on massive scale

Hospitals failing diabetic patients on massive scale:

Report reveals ‘shocking’ errors that put patients at risk Related items from OnMedica GPs must prescribe sufficient glucose testing strips Diabetic patients - at higher risk of death Diabetes care “depressingly poor” Diabetes will soon cost NHS £16.9bn Hospitals are ‘letting down’ people with diabetes

Beware risks of using smartphones for clinical photos

Beware risks of using smartphones for clinical photos:

MDU warns doctors against sharing photos through apps or online Related items from OnMedica Doctors seek more advice on use of social media GPs to consult via social media and take on more roles GMC urges against covert recording of patients Use of confidential data should be rebalanced in patients’ favour Patient information and virtual servers

Health literacy: the solid facts

Health literacy: the solid facts: With evidence from the recent European Health Literacy Survey, this report identifies practical and effective ways public health and other sector authorities and advocates can strengthen health literacy in a variety of settings, including educational settings, workplaces, marketplaces, health systems, new and traditional media and political arenas. It can be used as a tool for spreading awareness, stimulating
debate and research and for informing policy development and action.

• Report
• WHO Europe - publications

SAFER communications guidelines

SAFER communications guidelines: These guidelines aim to improve the communication between health visitors and local authority children’s social care teams using the SAFER process. It covers what should be considered before referral, and provides support for efficient and appropriate telephone referrals of children who may be suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm.

• Guidelines
• Department of Health - publications

NHS drug scandal has implications for central procurement plans

NHS drug scandal has implications for central procurement plans: Colin Cram explains what allegations of fraud in drug purchasing mean for government procurement strategies.

Doctors slam health regulator as 'not fit for purpose'

Doctors slam health regulator as 'not fit for purpose':
Embattled health regulator the Care Quality Commission is “not fit for purpose”, leading doctors have said. The Independent

See also:

• Labour MP demands explanation on why CQC 'slipped out' second damaging review into its investigations The Independent
• The health watchdog is not fit for purpose, doctors declare The Daily Telegraph
• Care Quality Commission 'not fit for purpose', says BMA The Guardian
• How will the Care Quality Commission emerge from crisis? Guardian Professional

Evaluating integrated and community-based care

Evaluating integrated and community-based care: "In this paper we outline the main community-based interventions we have evaluated and their impact, and identify nine points that may help those designing, implementing and evaluating such interventions in future." Nuffield Trust

Government spending review requires £100 million savings in Northamptonshire

Government spending review requires £100 million savings in Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire County Council says it will have to make savings of £100 million over the next four years following the government’s spending review. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS Confederation and NHS Employers comment on the Comprehensive Spending Review

NHS Confederation and NHS Employers comment on the Comprehensive Spending Review: Mike Farrar says with less money available for front line services the need to change services is more pressing than ever, while Dean Royles says we must maintain a focus on improving patient care and ensuring job security.

See also:

• Spending Review at a glance BBC News
• Public Sector to lose automatic pay rises BBC News
• RCN to seek clarity on cease of NHS pay progression Royal College of Nursing
• Our response to the announcement of the Spending Review The King's Fund
• Departmental spending review 2015/16 NHS Employers
• Osborne shifts £3 billion to social care E-Health Insider
• GP threat as NHS pools £3.8bn with social care GP Online

Doctors admit death pathway problems

Doctors admit death pathway problems: There are problems with a controversial regime that allows doctors to withdraw treatment in the last days of life, doctors have admitted. BBC News

Chaplains cut in 40% of hospitals

Chaplains cut in 40% of hospitals: Acute hospital trusts in England have significantly reduced the number of chaplains they employ and the hours they work, the BBC discovers.

Mental health staff on police patrol

Mental health staff on police patrol: Nurses are to patrol alongside police in four areas of England in a bid to improve responses to mental health emergencies. BBC News

The burden of disease due to chronic illnesses, especially mental health illnesses is rising in the UK

The burden of disease due to chronic illnesses, especially mental health illnesses is rising in the UK: The NHS is thought of as a model health care system. It has experienced several reforms over the last 20 years, including greatly increased amounts of spending. So how have these changes affected the burden of disease due to mental health problems over this period, and how does the UK’s record in this area stack [read the full story...] The Mental Elf

NICE guidance to eradicate the postcode lottery of treatment for a type of severe bowel disease

NICE guidance to eradicate the postcode lottery of treatment for a type of severe bowel disease: A postcode lottery of treatment should become a thing of the past for sufferers of an incurable and painful bowel condition after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new guidance for the NHS. For the first time ever, doctors have a clear guideline from NICE to make it easier to treat people with ulcerative colitis.

Just a few extra pounds increases heart failure risk

Just a few extra pounds increases heart failure risk: The Daily Express has warned that a “few extra pounds ‘could be deadly’,” because of an increased risk of heart and circulation problems.

Most people’s weight fluctuates over time, and there is probably no need to panic if you’ve eaten a few extra biscuits this afternoon. However, this news, based on a large study of European adults, using a novel genetic technique, may be of concern for those who are a little overweight in the longer term.

Call for junk food ban in hospitals

Call for junk food ban in hospitals: Academy of Medical Royal Colleges condemn NHS for inadvertently fuelling obesity crisis.

NHS watchdog 'sending firemen and dentists' to inspect hospitals

NHS watchdog 'sending firemen and dentists' to inspect hospitals: The NHS watchdog which deployed former firefighters to run checks on scandal-hit hospitals still does not know how many of its inspectors have basic healthcare experience. The Daily Telegraph

One in three absences at work due to anxiety and stress, official Government survey finds

One in three absences at work due to anxiety and stress, official Government survey finds: Anxiety and stress are the most common reasons to be off work, accounting for a third of national absences, an official study finds. The Daily Telegraph

Exclusive: Second report into baby deaths scandal was buried

Exclusive: Second report into baby deaths scandal was buried:
The role played by NHS executives in the alleged Morecambe Bay baby deaths cover-up was exposed tonight, as a buried report revealed how regional officials resisted an investigation into the trust at the centre of the scandal. The Independent

Diabetic patients developing preventable life-threatening complications in hospital

Diabetic patients developing preventable life-threatening complications in hospital: June 27, 2013: In just one week more than 60 hospital inpatients with diabetes developed a life-threatening but preventable complication, according to a national audit report released today. Health & Social Care Information Centre

MP to raise concerns over hospital’s A&E

MP to raise concerns over hospital’s A&E: An MP will use a special debate in Parliament on Wednesday (June 26) to highlight problems with the accident and emergency department at Kettering hospital. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Calling for return of a 'vital' service to Danetre Hospital - Daventry Express

Daventry Express

Calling for return of a 'vital' service to Danetre Hospital Daventry Express “The service was transferred to Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust along with NHS Northamptonshire (the former primary care trust). When the ... “In its review of services the PCT noted that the service specification for cardiac ...

Bullying 'creates toxic NHS culture'

Bullying 'creates toxic NHS culture': A culture of bullying and secrecy has created a "toxic working environment" in the NHS, doctors say. BBC News

EU heart deaths 'halved since 1980s'

EU heart deaths 'halved since 1980s': Death rates from coronary heart disease have more than halved in almost all EU countries since the early 1980s, according to research. BBC News

National health and wellbeing report published

National health and wellbeing report published: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a report on the health and wellbeing of people across the UK, based on the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) of 2010/11. NHS Employers

Massive fall in infections in intensive care units

Massive fall in infections in intensive care units:

Five key practices were responsible for a 60% fall in two years Related items from OnMedica Checklist could stop thousands of pneumonia deaths NHS Wales announces plans to shake up critical care Pregnancy raises risk of critical illness with swine flu MRSA linked to referrals between hospitals Hospital infections at all-time low in Scotland

Doubt cast on government claims for talking therapies programme

Doubt cast on government claims for talking therapies programme:

High drop-out rates for IAPT programme not taken into account, say researchers Related items from OnMedica Referral to talking therapies cuts health services use and sick leave Boost for talking therapies scheme Depressed patients stick with phone CBT Bid to boost talking therapies for kids and teens CBT effective treatment for depression

New mental health commissioning guides from JCPMH

New mental health commissioning guides from JCPMH: Those lovely people at the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (JCP-MH) have published four new guides to help those of you involved in commissioning community specialist services, older people’s services, inpatient and crisis home treatment and services for people with learning disabilities. These guides are short (around 20 pages), readable and nicely summarised with ten [read the full story...] The Mental Elf

Letter to trusts on respecting the privacy and dignity of women on postnatal wards

Letter to trusts on respecting the privacy and dignity of women on postnatal wards: Health Minister Dr Daniel Poulter’s letter to chief executives of NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts and heads of midwifery asks them to
review practices for allowing representatives from private companies on maternity wards to ensure that women’s dignity and respect shortly after the birth of a baby is maintained.

• Letter
• Department of Health - news

Palliative and end of life care for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK

Palliative and end of life care for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK: This Public Health England-commissioned report highlights the growing need to make end of life care more accessible and appropriate for minority ethnic groups. It highlights that the end of life care needs of BAME communities are varied, growing, and despite examples of good practice, overall not adequately met. It recommends that service
providers and commissioners recognise the growing need for improved end of life care for BAME communities and that they learn from examples of best practice, some of which are highlighted in the report.

• Report
• Marie Curie Cancer Care - publications

A&E crisis: 'emergency medicine has become the first port of call'

A&E crisis: 'emergency medicine has become the first port of call': A day at Bradford Royal Infirmary reveals a stretched service – and staff say too many patients are turning up unnecessarily.

Sir David Nicholson criticises public and press over portrayal of NHS care scandals

Sir David Nicholson criticises public and press over portrayal of NHS care scandals: The head of the NHS has criticised the public and press for showing a "lack of balance" in their portrayal of patient care scandals which have led to the deaths of hundreds of people. The Daily Telegraph

Sir Gerry Robinson: Tesco could really teach the NHS a thing or two

Sir Gerry Robinson: Tesco could really teach the NHS a thing or two: Gerry Robinson, who presented a BBC series on how to fix the health service, says doctors must face up to the future. The Daily Telegraph

NHS cash-for-access: Government calls for review of practices on maternity wards

NHS cash-for-access: Government calls for review of practices on maternity wards: The Government has called on all NHS trusts to review their practices of allowing commercial representatives on post-natal wards. The Daily Telegraph

New service for GP payments to launch

New service for GP payments to launch: 25 June, 2013: An improved service for calculating payments for GP practices across England will go live nationally this week after successful Early Adopter testing in four areas. Health & Social Care Information Centre

Guidance for health professionals on domestic violence

Guidance for health professionals on domestic violence: This guidance helps health professionals to recognise factors that may indicate domestic violence and abuse and describes steps to ensure appropriate support and referral where necessary. It highlights best practice, information and learning resources.

This guidance acknowledges that because of the role of midwives, health visitors and school nurses, they are often one of the first to become aware of domestic violence and abuse issues within families. They therefore have a significant part to play. Department of Health

Tesco-style NHS plan 'ridiculous'

Tesco-style NHS plan 'ridiculous': Calls to create a 24/7 "Tesco NHS" are ridiculous, according to the leader of the British Medical Association. BBC News

See also:

• Does the NHS really need 24/7 opening? BBC News
• BMA calls round-the-clock 'Tesco NHS' plan ridiculous The Independent
• 'The NHS is not Tesco', say doctors The Daily Telegraph

GP pressures 'affect cancer cases'

GP pressures 'affect cancer cases': Increasing work pressures on doctors' surgeries are preventing effective delivery of cancer prevention information, a report claims. BBC News

Recommendations for safe trainee changeover

Recommendations for safe trainee changeover: Recommendations for the safe changeover of doctors in training have been published jointly by NHS Employers and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC).

National VTE Prevention Programme helping to save lives

National VTE Prevention Programme helping to save lives:

Implementation has led to 20% fewer blood clots and a 40% fall in events related to inadequate preventative treatment Related items from OnMedica Clot risk greater with newer Pill New antipsychotics increase blood clot risk DVT risk doubles after four hours on a plane NICE VTE guidance – ‘best policy’ Air travel and venous thromboembolism

Confidentiality clauses and special severance payments

Confidentiality clauses and special severance payments: This report suggests that there is a lack of transparency, consistency and accountability in the use of compromise agreements in the public sector, and that little is being done to change this situation. It cites the whistleblowing over emergency care in the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and other NHS bodies as examples.

• Report
• Executive summary
• NAO - publications

Major shift in breast cancer care on horizon as NICE recommends preventative drugs for 'at-risk' women

Major shift in breast cancer care on horizon as NICE recommends preventative drugs for 'at-risk' women: Updated guidelines from NICE could mean hundreds of thousands of women across England and Wales could be spared the distress and uncertainty of a breast cancer diagnosis by taking a daily pill to help prevent the disease.

See also:

• Women offered NHS breast cancer drug BBC News
• VIDEO: NHS to offer breast cancer drug BBC News
• Tamoxifen and raloxifene: Women to be offered daily pill to prevent breast cancer The Independent
• Women at high breast cancer risk to be given preventive drugs The Daily Telegraph
• Women at risk of breast cancer should be given daily pill, say NHS guidelines The Guardian

Why patient surveys intended to prevent future Stafford Hospital fiascos could make hospital care WORSE

Why patient surveys intended to prevent future Stafford Hospital fiascos could make hospital care WORSE: You can't go anywhere, buy anything, get something fixed these days without someone wanting your 'feedback'. The Daily Mail

Don't blame a 'rotten NHS culture' for the CQC cover-up

Don't blame a 'rotten NHS culture' for the CQC cover-up: Market-led health reforms are leading to poor quality healthcare – and are giving managers incentives to hide failure.
We now know that England's healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission, tried to cover up an investigation into a hospital trust where babies were dying. This appalling tale has been spun to be about the "rotten culture" at the heart of the NHS. The true story of the Morecambe Bay cover-up, however – just like Mid Staffs, where hundreds of patients died – is one of market failure.

Duty of candour: supporting nursing students in practice

Duty of candour: supporting nursing students in practice: A support service at the University of Southampton has found students have an important role in improving the quality of care.

NHS watchdog failed to supply six years of emails about baby deaths to investigators

NHS watchdog failed to supply six years of emails about baby deaths to investigators: NHS watchdog embroiled in cover-up scandal failed to provide investigators with six years' worth of potentially crucial emails about the deaths of babies and women at maternity unit. The Daily Telegraph

Red tape and competition in NHS is 'hindering care', warn doctors

Red tape and competition in NHS is 'hindering care', warn doctors:
Doctors have been crippled by wasteful bureaucracy and private-sector style competition within the NHS, and feel increasingly powerless to improve the health service, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned. The Independent

BMA passes vote of no confidence in Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt

BMA passes vote of no confidence in Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt:
The British Medical Association, which represents 152,000 doctors, has passed a vote of no confidence in the health secretary Jeremy Hunt. The Independent


See also:

• Doctors back no confidence vote in Jeremy Hunt GP Online
• Jeremy Hunt dismisses BMA no confidence vote - video The Guardian
• Doctors pass motion of no confidence in health secretary Jeremy Hunt The Guardian