Patient engagement – we need to live it, not talk it

Patient engagement – we need to live it, not talk it Without insight into, and measurement of what our patients are really thinking and capable of, and helping them set expectations, we’re firing blanks at the ‘self-management’ target with our eyes closed, says Mark Duman. The Health Foundation

Updated guidance published for avoiding unplanned admissions

Updated guidance published for avoiding unplanned admissions NHS Employers, GPC and NHS England have today published an updated version of the enhanced service Avoiding unplanned admissions: proactive case finding and care review for vulnerable people. NHS Employers

Surveillance of infectious disease

Surveillance of infectious disease This briefing describes current surveillance efforts and examines new technological developments and their likely impacts on UK and international public health. The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Bupa's £2,000 'bribes' for members to use the NHS

Bupa's £2,000 'bribes' for members to use the NHS Bupa has been accused of dumping patients on NHS for most expensive procedures, meaning that they can increase their profits. The Daily Mail

Information governance in the NHS: the challenges and the future

Information governance in the NHS: the challenges and the future Information governance has had a difficult history in the NHS but it's time that the health service embraced it

When it comes to information governance, the NHS has experienced a few catastrophes. Take for example, the misdemeanour that saw hard drives containing the records of patients go up for sale on eBay.

Lapses like this can be attributed to the NHS contracting out its IT service to external companies rather than investing in IT professionals of its own. Dawn Monaghan, strategic liaison group manager at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) explains: "They have a service level agreement [with external companies] and don't consider that for data protection purposes they can't contract out the information governance, they still have responsibility to comply with the Data Protection Act." Continue reading...  The Guardian

High Court: GP exam for trainee doctors must not discriminate against minorities

High Court: GP exam for trainee doctors must not discriminate against minorities A High Court judge has ruled that the exam trainee doctors must take to become a GP does not unlawfully discriminate against candidates from ethnic minorities. The Independent

See also:

• GPs' exams disadvantage ethnic minority students, says high court judge The Guardian
• RCGP reaction to High Court judgment on the Clinical Skills Assessment component (CSA) of the MRCGP licensing exam Royal College of General Practitioners

Abortions are not for minor disabilities, says minister

Abortions are not for minor disabilities, says minister A minor disability such as a club foot or cleft palate should not be basis for abortion, says Jane Ellison, public health minister. The Daily Telegraph

Tamiflu: Government 'must listen' to findings

Tamiflu: Government 'must listen' to findings Dr Fiona Godlee, editor in chief of the British Medical Journal, says the system for drug regulation is "clearly flawed", while Dr Daniel Thurley, UK medical director of Roche, says he disagrees with the findings of a report questioning the efficacy of Tamiflu. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Tamiflu: how drug became last line of defence against flu The Daily Telegraph
• Government spent further £49m on Tamiflu despite known doubts about it The Guardian
• Effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza questioned NHS Choices review

CQC says improvements still needed in East Midlands Ambulance Service

CQC says improvements still needed in East Midlands Ambulance Service East Midlands Ambulance Service still needs to improve in a number of areas, according to a report released by the Care Quality Commission. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Ambulance trust misses care targets BBC Northamptonshire

Improving results from adult inpatient survey at Northampton General Hospital

Improving results from adult inpatient survey at Northampton General Hospital The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the results of the 2013 survey of adult inpatients, which includes a random sample of Northampton General Hospital (NGH) inpatients discharged during June 2013. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital rated 'about the same' as other NHS trust in England by Care Quality Commission Northampton Herald and Post
• NGH pleased with improving results from adult inpatient survey Northampton General Hospital

Government response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report into public expenditure on health and social care

Government response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report into public expenditure on health and social care This paper sets out the government’s response to the 18 conclusions and recommendations made in the House of Commons Health Select Committee report. Department of Health

• Report
• House of Commons Health Select Committee report

Mental health cuts cost NHS millions

Mental health cuts cost NHS millions Mental health cuts are costing the NHS millions long-term as reduced preventive measures mean more people are ending up in hospital, a report says. BBC News

See also:

• Investing in recovery Making the business case for effective interventions for people with schizophrenia and psychosis. Rethink Mental Illness
• Mental health director leads drive for improved psychosis care NHS England

'Millions wasted' on flu drug

'Millions wasted' on flu drug Hundreds of millions of pounds have been wasted on Tamiflu, a drug for flu that may work no better than paracetamol, a landmark analysis says. BBC News

See also:

• Tamiflu & Relenza: how effective are they? The Cochrane Collaboration
• Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children (systematic review) The Cochrane Library
• Tamiflu: drugs given for swine flu 'were waste of £500m' The Daily Telegraph
• Drug trials: test match | Editorial The Guardian

Prescription cost analysis, England, 2013

Prescription cost analysis, England, 2013 Prescription cost analysis provides details of the number of items and the net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. Health & Social Care Information Centre

Painkiller use linked to irregular heartbeat

Painkiller use linked to irregular heartbeat “Painkillers used by millions of Britons have been linked to higher risk of an irregular heartbeat that could trigger a stroke,” the Mail Online reports.

This headline follows the publication of a long-term study that aimed to find out whether older adults developed atrial fibrillation. The researchers looked at whether adults who had developed the condition had used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) recently, previously or not at all.

Health and social care to share £5bn integration funding

Health and social care to share £5bn integration funding Councils and NHS commissioners are set to share a pooled budget of more than £5bn to deliver integrated health and social care services, a government minister has confirmed. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS spending doubles on private ambulances used for 999 calls

NHS spending doubles on private ambulances used for 999 calls Senior medics and safety campaigners fear patient safety is being jeopardised by relying on private firms to answer emergency calls as expenditure doubles in three years. The Daily Telegraph

An alternative guide to the urgent and emergency care system in England

An alternative guide to the urgent and emergency care system in England A&E is often seen as a service in crisis and is the focus of much media and political interest. But A&E is just the tip of the iceberg – the whole urgent and emergency care system is complex, and surrounded by myth and confusion. Our brand new animation gives a whistle-stop tour of how the system fits together and busts some myths about what’s really going on – explaining that the underlying causes go much deeper than just A&E and demand a joined-up response across all services. King's Fund

• Animation
• Urgent and emergency care mythbusters
• The King's Fund - topic page

Sharp increase in steroid users

Sharp increase in steroid users A leading drugs charity says it has seen a 645% increase in the number of steroid users at needle exchanges. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: NICE urges greater action on steroids BBC News
• NICE: Needle exchanges should supply safe equipment to under-18 steroid users The Independent
• NHS adviser calls for needle exchanges for steroid users The Guardian

Male eating disorders 'overlooked'

Male eating disorders 'overlooked' Young men with an eating disorder are not getting the help and support they need because of perceptions about a "women's illness", say researchers. BBC News

GPs in ambulances slash A&E admissions

GPs in ambulances slash A&E admissions Putting GPs in ambulances has prevented 2,300 emergency admissions and saved £2.5m across three CCGs in the last 18 months. GP Online

Mental Healthwatch handbook: improving mental health with your community

Mental Healthwatch handbook: improving mental health with your community This handbook provides information on how Healthwatch can help improve mental health with a range of partners including central government, service users, commissioners, providers, the voluntary sector and councils. National Survivors User Network for Mental Health

Review of the operation of Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act

Review of the operation of Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act The government is reviewing the operation of Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act to make sure that the legislative framework offers the right support for people at the right time. These parts of the legislation give the police powers to temporarily remove people who appear to be suffering from a mental disorder and who need urgent care to a ‘place of safety’, so that a mental health assessment can be carried out and appropriate arrangements made for their care. This review aims to examine evidence to determine whether or not changes to the legislation would improve outcomes for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Department of Health

• Online survey
• Section 135 of Mental Health Act
• Section 136 of Mental Health Act
• Code of Practice for the Mental Health Act in England

Understanding of Parkinson’s in hospitals ‘woefully inadequate’

Understanding of Parkinson’s in hospitals ‘woefully inadequate’ Almost half of inpatients with the condition not getting regular access to drugs they need, warns charity. OnMedica

Why the new duty of candour could be detrimental to the NHS

Why the new duty of candour could be detrimental to the NHSWith 99% of doctors already being open with their patients, is there any need for a legal duty of candour?

Moves to introduce a duty of candour to ensure patients get an explanation when something goes wrong may seem positive, but the potential for confusion could cause problems.Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS blunders put millions of records at risk

NHS blunders put millions of records at risk NHS chiefs admit major breaches saw security of millions of patient records compromised. The Daily Telegraph

See also: 

• HSCIC admits HES data breaches E-Health Insider

When it comes to person-centred care, do we need measurement or feedback? Part 2

When it comes to person-centred care, do we need measurement or feedback? Part 2 In thinking about a measurement framework for person-centred care, we need to be acutely aware that our efforts do not lead us down a path where what we measure becomes dangerously detached from the organisational qualities and behaviours that we need to make person-centred care a reality all day, every day, says Darshan Patel. The Health Foundation

Royal Liverpool creates A&E app

Royal Liverpool creates A&E app Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust has developed a mobile app to give staff access to emergency procedure guidelines. E-Health Insider

Milk may slow progression of knee osteoarthritis

Milk may slow progression of knee osteoarthritis "Milk could be the key to beating crippling arthritis," reports the Daily Express, while the Daily Mail adds that, "A glass of milk a day keeps arthritis at bay".

Both headlines are potentially misleading. The study the papers were reporting on was about slowing the progression of osteoarthritis in the knee joints, rather than preventing it occurring in the first place.

Nurse morale ‘at all-time low’

Nurse morale ‘at all-time low’ RCN warns MPs that pay restraint could provoke exodus of nurses. OnMedica

Medical assessments chaos

Medical assessments chaos Civil servants drafted in to help clear backlog of assessments under new system. OnMedica

Bill needs push to sweep away 'inflexible' healthcare regulation framework

Bill needs push to sweep away 'inflexible' healthcare regulation framework The draft law commission bill's publication goes some way towards the regulatory transformation that we need but it is not there yet

The publication this month of the draft law commission bill, regulation of health and social care professionals, was a key milestone for patients, the public, and the healthcare regulators whose frameworks it will revolutionise.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), of which I am the chief executive and registrar, is hampered by a framework that has not adjusted to the modern age.Continue reading... The Guardian

Tanni Grey-Thompson: UK does less exercise than at any time in all human history

Tanni Grey-Thompson: UK does less exercise than at any time in all human history
The UK is less physically active than at any time “in all human history”, a new parliamentary report claimed, and the Government could save lives and cut billions of pounds from the NHS budget simply by encouraging exercise. The Independent

Child health: Winning war on obesity

Child health: Winning war on obesity  A report has revealed we are starting to win the war on childhood obesity but there has been a worrying rise in the number of children and young people who self harm. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital needs new building to solve A&E crisis says chief executive

Northampton General Hospital needs new building to solve A&E crisis says chief executive Building a combined centre for GPs and social services on the Northampton General Hospital site is the only long-term answer to its frequent A&E crises, the trust’s chief executive has said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Guidance: Funding transfer from the NHS to social care 2014: directions

Guidance: Funding transfer from the NHS to social care 2014: directions The directions and explanatory note concern the transfer of £1.1bn in the financial year 2014 to 2015 from the NHS to local authorities for social care.

This funding consists of £900m to support adult social care which has a health benefit and an additional £200m for preparing for implementation of mandatory pooled budgets between local authorities and clinical commissioning groups in financial year 2015 to 2016 (i.e. the Better Care Fund). The local authority and clinical commissioning groups must agree together how to use the money.

These directions should be read together with the conditions relating to payments between NHS bodies and local authorities. Department of Health

Guidance for unplanned admissions enhanced services

Guidance for unplanned admissions enhanced services The service is designed to help reduce avoidable unplanned admissions by improving services for vulnerable patients and those with complex physical or mental health needs, who are at high risk of hospital admission or readmission. It forms part of the GMS contract changes for 2014/15. More... NHS Employers

Is frequent mouthwash use linked to oral cancer?

Is frequent mouthwash use linked to oral cancer? "Experts warn using mouthwash more than twice a day can give you cancer," the Daily Mirror reports. The news comes from a European study that examined the oral health and dental hygiene of people diagnosed with cancers of the mouth, throat, vocal chords or oesophagus (collectively called "upper aerodigestive cancers").

The researchers found that people with the poorest oral health (including wearing dentures and bleeding gums) had a more than doubled risk of these cancers compared with those with the best oral health.

Similarly, they found that those with the poorest dental care (including frequency of tooth brushing and visiting the dentist) had a more than double risk compared with those with the best dental care.

Importantly, these associations remained after adjustment for smoking and alcohol consumption – established risk factors for these cancers – and for other factors that may influence risk, such as socioeconomic status.

But despite the Mirror's headline, the link between oral cancer and mouthwash is less clear. The association was only significant when looking at very frequent use (three times a day).

Cancer's unequal burden

Cancer's unequal burden This report finds that there is a large variation in survival and the long-term impact on survivors’ health for breast, prostate, lung and brain cancers. It urges NHS leaders and GPs to adopt the solutions in the report and use the research to better plan cancer services. These include improving early diagnosis; providing equal access to the best available treatment; implementing the ‘cancer recovery package’; and encouraging people with cancer to be physically active. Macmillan Cancer Support

EWTD has impacted on quality of doctor training, report says

EWTD has impacted on quality of doctor training, report says Independent review recommends exploring protected time for training and right of individuals to opt out of restricted hours. OnMedica

See also:

• The Implementation of the Working Time Directive, and its impact on the NHS & Health Professionals Independent Working Times Regulation Taskforce 
• Overworked doctors pose threat to patient safety The Daily Telegraph

Heavy drinkers will be eligible for liver transplants for the first time

Heavy drinkers will be eligible for liver transplants for the first time NHS Blood and Transplant says patients with alcohol-related liver disease will be eligible for liver transplants under a pilot scheme. OnMedica

See also:

• Liver transplant scheme extended BBC News
• Heavy drinkers could receive liver transplants on NHS The Independent
• Who deserves a new liver? Anyone who needs one  The Guardian

Rationing NHS care: why we need a serious debate | David Lock

Rationing NHS care: why we need a serious debate | David Lock Healthcare reform is urgently needed but politicians unwilling to make unpopular changes are wasting money, says David Lock

The NHS is not spending our tax money effectively. There is a wide professional consensus that too much is being spent on hospital buildings it cannot afford, and it is failing to reduce spending on drug treatments that do not work. But many local NHS leaders are too frightened to try and persuade the public of the case for change. Reforms are delayed for fear of upsetting politicians who seek re-election. Continue reading... The Guardian

Gay conversion therapy should have no place in NHS, says health minister

Gay conversion therapy should have no place in NHS, says health minister Norman Lamb calls for assurances from NHS England that GPs are not referring people for treatment.

Gay conversion therapy is abhorrent and has no place in a modern society, according to the health minister Norman Lamb, who has asked for assurances from NHS England that GPs do not make any referrals for such treatment.

"It is based on the completely false premise that there is something wrong with you if you happen to be gay," said Lamb, the minister for care and support. "I certainly want to do what I can, as a Liberal Democrat, to eradicate this."Continue reading... The Guardian

Landmark legal case to rule whether GP exam 'discriminates' against Asian and black doctors

Landmark legal case to rule whether GP exam 'discriminates' against Asian and black doctors

Hundreds of black and Asian doctors have had promising careers "halted" because of racial discrimination in the way GPs are examined, a leading doctor has claimed, before a landmark High Court hearing in which two pillars of the medical establishment will be accused of breaching equality laws. The Independent

Elderly 'suffer in silence' under NHS care, says watchdog

Elderly 'suffer in silence' under NHS care, says watchdog Dame Julie Mellor, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, said elderly can be too frightened or polite to complain about inadequate care. The Daily Telegraph

The Great British Vape-off debate

The Great British Vape-off debate Special report: Healthy alternative to smoking or dangerous craze? The jury remains out on e-cigarettes. The Daily Telegraph

Labour candidate says Northamptonshire NHS has “Dragon’s Den-style approach” to approving surgery

Labour candidate says Northamptonshire NHS has “Dragon’s Den-style approach” to approving surgery About a quarter of applications to Northamptonshire NHS bosses for certain types of planned surgery have been rejected in the last three months, a prospective Labour MP has claimed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Ambulance crews ‘queueing with patients in corridors of Northampton General Hospital’ for fourth consecutive day

Ambulance crews ‘queueing with patients in corridors of Northampton General Hospital’ for fourth consecutive day Ambulance crews were again queueing with patients in Northampton General Hospital corridors yesterday, for the fourth consecutive day. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Lung cancer survival rates 'poor'

Lung cancer survival rates 'poor' Half of people with lung cancer die within six months of diagnosis, says a report from Macmillan Cancer Support which looked at cancer survival rates. BBC News

Accesses to health data made public

Accesses to health data made public A list of bodies that have been allowed to access NHS patient data is released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. BBC News

See also:

• Drugs companies buy NHS patient data, register reveals The Daily Telegraph
• Health and Social Care Information Centre publishes register of data releases HSCIC

Cabinet Office agrees one year XP deal

Cabinet Office agrees one year XP deal The government has signed a deal with Microsoft to provide Windows XP support and security updates for the entire public sector, including the NHS. E-Health Insider

Ketamine tested as severe depression treatment

Ketamine tested as severe depression treatment “The illegal party drug ketamine is an ‘exciting’ and ‘dramatic’ new treatment for depression,” BBC News reports. A small study found that some people with severe depression responded well to the drug.

The study involved people with severe depression (including people with depression as part of bipolar disorder) who had failed to respond to conventional treatments.

Standardised packaging of tobacco - report of the independent review undertaken by Sir Cyril Chantler

Standardised packaging of tobacco - report of the independent review undertaken by Sir Cyril Chantler This report concludes that standardised packaging of tobacco is likely to contribute to a reduction in smoking, including reducing the rate of children taking up smoking. King's College London

GP-led local NHS bodies forced to put health services out to tender

GP-led local NHS bodies forced to put health services out to tender Research shows almost 30% of clinical commissioning groups had opened up, or were opening up, services to competition

Many GP-led local NHS bodies are being forced to put health services out to tender despite government assurances that that would not happen.

New research by Health Service Journal shows that 29.1% of the leaders of 93 clinical commissioning groups (CCG) which responded to a survey said had opened up, or were opening up, services to competition which they would not have done if they were not concerned about the impact of new rules contained in the controversial Health and Social Care Act. The Guardian

EU rules on doctors' working hours puts patients at risk, report finds

EU rules on doctors' working hours puts patients at risk, report finds Rules which ban junior doctors for working more than 48 hours a week are damaging patient care and more staff should be encouraged to opt out, a report has found. The Daily Telegraph

Update: man charged with Kettering General Hospital robberies

Update: man charged with Kettering General Hospital robberies A man has been charged with a series of offences in connection with two robberies in Kettering General Hospital’s car park. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Independent commission calls for a new settlement for health and social care

Independent commission calls for a new settlement for health and social care The health and social care systems are no longer fit for purpose, an independent commission established by The King's Fund has concluded. The time has come, it says, for 'a new settlement' to meet the needs of 21st century patients and service users.

The interim report from the five-strong commission, chaired by Kate Barker, says that England should move towards a single, ring-fenced budget for health and social care, with services singly commissioned and entitlements more closely aligned. With the NHS and social care now under significant financial strain, the report presents hard choices about how to pay for fairer entitlements and ensure adequate funding to meet future needs. The King's Fund

See also:

• It is time for a new settlement for health and social care in England The King's Fund
• Call for merged 'super' care budget BBC News
• NHS charges could pay for free elderly care - commission The Daily Telegraph
• ‘Charge patients for GP and hospital visits’, says King's Fund think-tank The Independent
• NHS may need to apply more patient charges, says report The Guardian

Think autism: fulfilling and rewarding lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England: an update

Think autism: fulfilling and rewarding lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England: an update This document aims to set out a clear programme that the Department of Health and other government departments will be taking to improve the lives of people with autism, primarily through taking actions that will support local authorities, the NHS, other public services and their partners with their local implementation work. It has a new focus on building communities that are more aware of and accessible to the needs of people with autism. Department of Health

School nursing: public health services guidance

School nursing: public health services guidance It also explains how local school nursing services can be used and improved to meet local needs. Department of Health

Guidance: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: Supreme Court Judgments

Guidance: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: Supreme Court Judgments This note sets out how health and social care organisations can continue to act within the law following the revised test about the meaning of a deprivation of liberty which has now been supplied by the Supreme Court.

The contents of this note are specifically addressed to all those who are:

• involved in the assessment and/or authorisation of a deprivation of liberty
• involved in the care of individuals who may lack capacity
• responsible for policies and procedures relating to the care of individuals who may lack capacity

Department of Health

NHS staff face ban for poor English

NHS staff face ban for poor English NHS regulators will be able to discipline or strike off doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are not able to communicate clearly in English under new plans. BBC News

Funding for general practice set to plummet by fifth by 2017, while patient consultations to increase by 69m

Funding for general practice set to plummet by fifth by 2017, while patient consultations to increase by 69m
The study, conducted by Deloitte, shows that if current trends continue, funding for general practice across the UK will fall to a record low of just 7.29% of the NHS budget by 2017/18 – down from 8.39% in 2012/13.

Meanwhile, the number of patient consultations in England is estimated to rise to a high of 409m – up from 340m in 2012/13. In 2008/09 the number of consultations stood at nearly 304m.

The number of consultations in general practice has increased as the population has increased in size, grown older, and more and more people have multiple-conditions. However, the share of funding spent on general practice has been falling since 2005/6.

The new Deloitte report into the future funding gap is due to be unveiled officially at an event in the House of Commons tonight.

A debate around how hospitals use data is needed

A debate around how hospitals use data is needed Reliability of information about standards of NHS care has been called into question after accusations of 'fiddling' death rates

A report this week from Dr Foster highlighted the dramatic rise in the number of patients recorded as being in hospital for palliative care over recent years. The report pointed out that these shifts had an impact on the reliability of mortality measurement since patients who come into hospital for palliative care are expected to die unlike those brought in for treatment. The point of the report was to draw attention to the fact that, because of the rules about coding of hospital data, patients admitted for treatment who die in hospital can be recorded in the same way as patients admitted for palliative care.

This is a problem because it affects the reliability of the information we have about the standards of care in the NHS. If the data we use to judge where services are working and where they are not gets corrupted, we need to fix it. How we do that should be the focus of any debate on the issue. The Guardian

Alder Hey's high-risk rating ‘has cost hospital millions’ and angered its bosses

Alder Hey's high-risk rating ‘has cost hospital millions’ and angered its bosses

A furious row over millions in lost donations and a PR “disaster” has erupted between Alder Hey Children's Hospital and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), after a damning risk rating angered hospital bosses. The Independent

Has the Minister for Magic Jeremy Hunt gone too far?

Has the Minister for Magic Jeremy Hunt gone too far? Jeremy Hunt says traditional Chinese medicine should be available on the NHS, says Victoria Lambert. The Daily Telegraph

Saharan dust and pollution: confusion over health risk from smog cloud

Saharan dust and pollution: confusion over health risk from smog cloud School pupils kept indoors amid fears over air pollution as Government advisers insist no health risk to vast majority of people. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• What will pollution do to us? BBC News
• Air pollution reaches high levels BBC News

Healthwatch Northamptonshire produces a report in which patients say Northampton General Hospital 'did not meet the standard' expected

Healthwatch Northamptonshire produces a report in which patients say Northampton General Hospital 'did not meet the standard' expected Healthwatch Northamptonshire has released a report on patient experience at Northampton General Hospital coincides with the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s inspection report on the hospital.

The report captures the views, opinions and reported experiences of patients during 2012 and 2013 who talked to Healthwatch Northamptonshire during that time. Northampton Herald and Post

One year on, new commissioning groups are an improvement on their predecessors but do not reflect the views of members, say GPs

One year on, new commissioning groups are an improvement on their predecessors but do not reflect the views of members, say GPs Less than half of GPs feel decisions made by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), the doctor-led bodies created by the NHS reforms to hold local health budgets, reflect their views, suggests a survey by the Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund. However, the research also suggests that three times as many GPs think they can influence the work of their CCG than could influence their predecessors – primary care trusts. The King's Fund

See also:

• How engaged are CCG members one year on? The King's Fund

When it comes to person-centred care, do we need measurement or feedback? Part 1

When it comes to person-centred care, do we need measurement or feedback? Part 1 Measurement in healthcare is highly complex and subject to a range of human factors, so how do you start to measure something as contextually sensitive and elusive as person-centeredness? asks Darshan Patel. The Health Foundation

How to ensure the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time

How to ensure the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time This guidance has been jointly issued by NHS England and the Care Quality Commission in order to help deliver on the commitments associated with publishing staffing data regarding nursing, midwifery and care staff levels. NHS England

• Guidance
• Staffing letter
• Table of actions
• Frequently asked questions

See also:

• Safe staffing expectations and guidance issued NHS Employers

High air pollution 'set to spread'

High air pollution 'set to spread' High levels of air pollution which have been affecting parts of England are set to get worse and spread, the government warns. BBC News

Fears over dementia diagnosis push

Fears over dementia diagnosis push Questions are being raised about the government's drive in England to increase dementia diagnosis rates. BBC News

AUDIO: Mental health care 'needs transforming'

AUDIO: Mental health care 'needs transforming' Dr Peter Aitken, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, says the NHS needs a "significant transformation" in mental health care. BBC News

Call to make 5 a day fruit and veg into '7 a day'

Call to make 5 a day fruit and veg into '7 a day' “7 a day fruit and veg 'saves lives’” reports BBC News, while The Daily Telegraph states that “10 portions of fruit and vegetables per day” is best.

The headlines have been prompted by the results of a UK-based study that used information on more than 65,000 randomly selected adults who were participating in the Health Survey for England.

This is an ongoing health survey that looks at health and lifestyle factors such as fruit and vegetable consumption. The researchers followed up participants for an average of 7.7 years after their initial participation.

The researchers found that eating fruit and vegetables was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, looking especially at deaths as a result of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The higher a person's intake of fruit and vegetables, the greater the protective effects seemed to be.

Unnecessary jobs in the NHS

Unnecessary jobs in the NHS This briefing is the result of Freedom of Information requests submitted to NHS organisations regarding non-clinical NHS staff roles. The Taxpayers' Alliance

• Briefing
• Data by region and highest pay

Politicians ‘lack will’ to tackle challenges faced by NHS

Politicians ‘lack will’ to tackle challenges faced by NHS Survey shows eight out of ten MPs feel changes to the NHS are essential. OnMedica

See also:

• Nearly half of politicians think 'free' NHS is in jeopardy NHS Confederation
• Members survey findings NHS Confederation

Community treatment orders simply don’t work

Community treatment orders simply don’t work Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) were introduced in the UK in the last revisions of the Mental Health Act. They are highly controversial, and unpopular amongst the mental health community. They clearly impact on an individual’s Human Rights. Interestingly, they cannot enforce a treatment but can require an individual to return to hospital or a place of treatment. [read the full story...] The Mental Elf

Why technology is no longer a barrier in the NHS

Why technology is no longer a barrier in the NHS IT has had a difficult past in the health service, but using it to increase efficiency remains a priority

The relationship between IT and the NHS has often been one fraught with misunderstanding and disaster.Take the infamous IT programme, Connecting for Health, as an example; it aimed to make accurate patient records available to NHS staff at all times but was abandoned in 2013 after costing the taxpayer nearly £10bn. Successful IT is built around patient care, not technology, and if you get this right, clinicians will be demanding it, not resisting it. The Guardian

Focus on wellbeing an alternative cure for the NHS's ills

Focus on wellbeing an alternative cure for the NHS's ills Better prevention, as well as better treatment, can be achieved by government departments joining forces

The Department of Health (DH) faces an enormous challenge: how to meet ever-increasing demand from an ageing society while public spending increases no faster than inflation. And maybe less fast: last month's budget implies further public expenditure cuts, to meet the government's deficit targets.

The "solution" most often proposed is further below-inflation pay rises for NHS staff, more reconfiguration of hospitals and new ways of enhancing productivity. There is no alternative? Well, actually this time there is: but it involves a radical change of focus, a Whitehall shakeup, and some tough spending choices. The Guardian

NHS ‘bad eggs’ could be struck off under new regulation plans drawn up by the Law Commission in response to Mid-Staffs scandal

NHS ‘bad eggs’ could be struck off under new regulation plans drawn up by the Law Commission in response to Mid-Staffs scandal

NHS staff who perform poorly in their job could face being struck off, under wide-ranging plans drawn up by the Law Commission. The Independent

New NHS chief warns of the burden of an ageing population

New NHS chief warns of the burden of an ageing population The traditional way some NHS services are delivered "no longer makes much sense", Simon Stevens will say, as he warns that a massive "effort" is needed to relieve pressure on the organisation because of the growing elderly population. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Full text of Simon Stevens’ speech NHS England
• Can Simon Stevens build a coalition for change? The King's Fund
• NHS must do more to help people stay healthy, says new boss The Daily Telegraph

Social services ‘needs to change’ to help Northampton General Hospital

Social services ‘needs to change’ to help Northampton General Hospital Beds are often being blocked in Northamptonshire hospitals because social services cannot take adult referrals at weekends, according to the opposition leader at County Hall. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS say ambulance service for Northamptonshire improving in some areas

NHS say ambulance service for Northamptonshire improving in some areas Ambulance bosses have announced improvements in performance as well as plans to further quicken response times, following criticism from the NHS and inspectors last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• East Midlands Ambulance Service has improved but ‘is not out of the woods’ Northamptonshire Telegraph

Accountable care organisations in the United States and England: Testing, evaluating and learning what works

Accountable care organisations in the United States and England: Testing, evaluating and learning what works Cost pressures associated with ageing populations and an increase in the numbers of people with chronic illness in both the United States and England create a need for more accountable and integrated forms of delivering health services. The King's Fund

Skilled for improvement?

Skilled for improvement? Part of the reason why quality improvement is so hard to achieve may be that those involved in leading QI programmes need to deploy three different but interrelated types of improvement skills: technical, soft and learning skills. The Health Foundation

‘Putting Patients First’ – NHS England’s Business Plan 2014/15 – 2016/17

‘Putting Patients First’ – NHS England’s Business Plan 2014/15 – 2016/17 NHS England has published a refreshed business plan, describing its role in delivering high quality care for all, now and for future generations.

NHS facing 'biggest ever challenge'

NHS facing 'biggest ever challenge' The NHS is facing the biggest challenge in its history because of the squeeze on its budget, says its new boss on his first day in the job. BBC News

See also:

• Stevens calls for change on first day E-Health Insider
• Health service facing biggest challenge in its history, new NHS chief says The Guardian
• New NHS chief: Stakes have never been higher for service, warns incoming Simon Stevens The Independent

NHS cuts putting cancer patients at risk, warn doctors

NHS cuts putting cancer patients at risk, warn doctors “Draconian” cuts to the NHS are putting cancer patients’ lives at risk, according to some of Britain’s leading doctors and surgeons. The Independent

Disease experts warns UK defences 'not fit for purpose'

Disease experts warns UK defences 'not fit for purpose' Jeremy Farrar, world expert on infectious diseases and head of the Wellcome Trust, calls for an overhaul of the clinical trials system to help prevent devastating outbreaks. The Daily Telegraph

Solving the NHS care and cash crisis

Solving the NHS care and cash crisis Lord Warner, Minister for Health Reform in Tony Blair’s government, argues in a new report that NHS funding from general taxation should rise only with inflation to avoid starving the rest of the public sector of resources. Higher “sin” taxes on alcohol, tobacco and sugary foods, means-testing of NHS “Continuing Care”, plus a £10 per month NHS membership charge and other patient contributions are needed for the NHS to survive the next five years of austerity. Reform

See also:

• Should we pay a monthly membership fee to the NHS? BBC News
• NHS patients should pay monthly fee, says former Labour minister The Independent
• NHS users should pay £10 a month, says former health minister The Guardian
• £10 each can save the NHS The Guardian
• Britons overwhelmingly against GP charges to help NHS balance books The Guardian
• Call for £10 a month fee to use NHS and £20 a night to stay in hospital The Daily Mail

Guidance: NHS: resisting cost inflation pressures

Guidance: NHS: resisting cost inflation pressures NHS providers are being advised by the Department of Health to resist blanket inflationary price increases from suppliers.

These documents provide guidance to enable the NHS to take a consistent approach to resisting inflationary pressures as part of a wider programme of initiatives to stabilise non-pay spend.

The guidance document sets out a process for NHS healthcare provider organisations to follow, in order to engage and work with suppliers to find ways of avoiding inflationary costs. Templates for letters and spreadsheets that can be used throughout the process are provided.

The guidance is supported by both Monitor and the Trust Development Authority. Department of Health 

Nursing body faces Mid-Staffs censure

Nursing body faces Mid-Staffs censure The Nursing and Midwifery Council is facing further criticism over its handling of disciplinary cases. BBC News

Dozens of A&Es 'miss winter target'

Dozens of A&Es 'miss winter target' Nearly two thirds of England's major A&Es missed the waiting time target this winter, BBC analysis shows. BBC News

See also:

• Did the NHS get lucky this winter? BBC News
• VIDEO: Mild winter eases A&E pressures BBC News
• Numbers waiting in A&E hit a record high The Independent

First cat-to-human TB infections reported

First cat-to-human TB infections reported “Cats have passed TB to humans for the first time,” the Daily Mail reports. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and the risk of further transmission has been described as “very low”.

The headline is based on the news that two people in England have developed tuberculosis (TB) after contact with a domestic cat infected with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). This bacterium is a leading cause of TB in cattle and a less common cause, in other species.

This is newsworthy as these are the first documented cases of cat-to-human transmission anywhere in the world.

Mental health payment mechanism survey report

Mental health payment mechanism survey report This report presents the results from the 2014 survey of 43 mental health organisations in relation to the implementation of the payment mechanism for mental health and adult learning disability services. The survey sought to find out how the payment mechanism is currently working in reality; how far the supplementary guidance has been used for contracting purposes and how the payment mechanism and guidance might be developed in future years. Healthcare Financial Management Association

Common core principles to support good mental health and wellbeing in adult social care

Common core principles to support good mental health and wellbeing in adult social care These principles aim to help staff working in social care services know how to support and promote good mental health and overall wellbeing for everyone who uses those services. It also provides guidance for leaders and managers, training and education leads, and commissioners to develop a workforce that can support good mental health for people needing care and support. Skills for Care

Plain packaging: Big Tobacco prepares for ‘bare-knuckle fight’ over ban

Plain packaging: Big Tobacco prepares for ‘bare-knuckle fight’ over ban
Cigarette manufacturers are gearing up to attack a landmark report into the health benefits of plain packaging for cigarettes, due to be published this week. The review, written by the leading paediatrician Sir Cyril Chantler, will influence whether the Government presses ahead with plain packaging, which is designed to discourage the next generation from smoking. The Independent

See also:

• Tobacco firms hype smuggling fears to avoid plain packaging, finds study The Guardian

Saatchi Bill: The fight to win hope for the seriously ill

Saatchi Bill: The fight to win hope for the seriously ill As the deadline for Lord Saatchi's Bill on medical innovation draws close, thousands of patients, doctors and charity chiefs are calling for it to be made law. Dominic Nutt reports. The Daily Telegraph

Nurse appears in court charged with murder of three patients

Nurse appears in court charged with murder of three patients  Victorino Chua, 48, a nurse at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, appears in court charged with the murder of three patients who died after their hospital drips were allegedly contaminated. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Murder charge after hospital deaths BBC News

CQC publish inspection report for Northampton General Hospital

CQC publish inspection report for Northampton General Hospital The CQC have published the full inspection report for Northampton General Hospital following their visits in January. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• NGH responds to CQC inspection report Northampton General Hospital
• Hospital end-of-life care criticised BBC News
• Northampton General Hospital “caring and safe” but some units not properly staffed during inspection Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• More A&E crisis days will happen before things get better, Northampton General Hospital chief admits Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 'requires improvement' ITV News