Gift vouchers can help pregnant smokers quit

Gift vouchers can help pregnant smokers quit "Offering shopping vouchers worth a total of £400 to pregnant smokers makes them more likely to quit the habit, say researchers," BBC News reports.

The study, conducted in Glasgow, involved 612 pregnant women referred to pregnancy stop smoking services. The women were randomised to receive standard stop smoking care alone (control), or standard care in addition to up to £400 in vouchers if they successfully quit the habit.

The study found significantly more women in the voucher group (22.5%) stopped smoking by late pregnancy (34 to 38 weeks) compared with the control group (8.6%).

An obvious response to this – found in many news websites, as well as comments on message boards – is why should we bribe women to do what is best for their unborn baby?

A pragmatic answer to that question is it could save children's lives. Smoking during pregnancy is a major health problem estimated to cause the deaths of 5,000 unborn foetuses and babies each year in the UK, and costs the health system millions of pounds.

And the results of this study were within the range considered to be a cost effective use of healthcare resources.

NHS hires 3,000 foreign doctors in one year to fight lack of homegrown staff

NHS hires 3,000 foreign doctors in one year to fight lack of homegrown staff Exclusive: Guardian investigation finds that aggressive recruitment sees doctors from at least 27 countries hired in 32 of the 160 hospital trusts in England.

Three thousand doctors were hired from overseas by the NHS in the past year, as the service battles to tackle staff shortages that medical professionals say are serious and growing.

They came from at least 27 countries, including India, Poland, Australia and Greece – but also even Iraq, Syria and Sudan – according to 32 of the 160 hospital trusts in England who responded to requests from the Guardian for details of their recruitment.

The problem is finding permanent staff to recruit. Some hospital finance directors are asking, ‘are there any?'

The NHS doesn't have the doctors it needs. The shortage is real Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Chronic shortage of doctors forced the NHS to hire staff from at least 27 countries last year The Daily Mail
• NHS hiring drive hurts Hungary but India can cope with doctor exodus The Guardian

Employers delighted that NHS strike has been called off

Employers delighted that NHS strike has been called off

NHS Employers has welcomed news that the Government has reached agreement with health unions to cancel the 29 January NHS strike. NHS Employers

Labour's 10 year plan for the NHS: responses from the healthcare sector

Labour's 10 year plan for the NHS: responses from the healthcare sector

Labour pledge for the health service sounds promising but practitioners worry about how the changes will be funded. Guardian

Continue reading...

• RCN responds to Labour health plans
• Our response to Andy Burnham's speech announcing Labour's 10-year plan for health and social care  King's Fund

The Coalition's record on health: policy, spending and outcomes 2010-15

The Coalition's record on health: policy, spending and outcomes 2010-15

This report is part of a larger piece of research funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Nuffield Foundation and carried out by LSE, University of York and University of Manchester. This working paper presents the results of an audit of the Coalition government's record on health policy during the period 2010-15. The accompanying full overview report presents an assessment of the Coalition's performance on social policy in general during 2010-15.

London School of Economics (LSE)
Working paper
Full overview report
LSE publications

NHS England responds to patient feedback and consults on prioritising specialised services

NHS England responds to patient feedback and consults on prioritising specialised services

NHS England today launches a new consultation about how it will prioritise which specialised services and treatments to invest in. Patient groups asked it to consult on changes to the principles and process by which it makes these decisions.

NHS England directly commissions around 145 specialised services. In order to ensure the maximum number of patients benefit from new innovative treatments coming on stream, choices need to be made about which of these to fund.

In carrying out a public consultation, NHS England will ensure the principles and process for making these decisions are well informed, evidence-led and in line with the expectations of patients and the public. The consultation will last for 90 days from 27 January 2015.

New GP workforce action plan

New GP workforce action plan

Building the Workforce – the New Deal for General Practice sets out a range of initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and return to general practice for GPs who have left. It also considers the role of other primary care staff, including nurses and pharmacists. The plan is funded to the tune of £10m.   NHS Networks

Research and analysis: Mental health: needs of gang-affiliated young people

Research and analysis: Mental health: needs of gang-affiliated young people

This briefing aims to understand and address the mental health needs of gang-affiliated young people, and outlines the:
extent of mental illness in gang members
relationships between gang-affiliation and poor mental health
shared risk factors that contribute to both

It also emphasises the need for a life course approach to prevention that:
addresses risk factors
promotes resilience in young people
provides appropriate support for vulnerable young people

The briefing summarises evidence of the types of interventions that can:
protect children from antisocial behaviour and poor mental health
treat mental illness in vulnerable young people
Public Health England

Many asthma diagnoses 'may be wrong'

Many asthma diagnoses 'may be wrong'

More than a million adults in the UK may be wrongly diagnosed as asthmatic and be receiving unnecessary medication as a result, warns an NHS watchdog. BBC News

Care calculator launched by BBC

Care calculator launched by BBC

The BBC has launched an online guide about how the care system for the over-65s works and how much services cost. BBC News

The best of times, the worst of times: a personal view from the CCG front line

The best of times, the worst of times: a personal view from the CCG front line With 2015 now upon us, at NHS Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group we look ahead confident of the groundwork we have put in, especially the relationships we have built with our partners. However the severe pressures over the holiday period are a painful reminder of the fact that the NHS is facing perhaps the greatest challenge in its history.

This year, the CCG will start to take a more active role in commissioning primary care, ensuring that services are not only safe, but fit to play their part in delivering our vision of ‘better care’, built around the integrated local teams across Southampton. This is a theme that is explored in The King's Fund's new report with the Nuffield Trust, Risk or reward? The changing role of CCGs in general practice. Doing this will be hard, but is of pivotal importance.

£10 million investment boost to expand general practice workforce

£10 million investment boost to expand general practice workforce Health leaders have today (Monday) announced a £10 million investment to kick start a new plan to expand the general practice workforce. The money will be used to recruit new GPs, retain those that are thinking of leaving the profession and encourage doctors to return to general practice to better meet the needs of patients now and for the future.

NHS England funding will be used to develop a range of initiatives in collaboration with Health Education England (HEE), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the British Medical Association (BMA) to increase the number of GPs and develop the role of other primary care staff such as nurses and pharmacists.

CCG leaders complain they do not have time to fulfil their roles

CCG leaders complain they do not have time to fulfil their roles Half of CCG leaders say they do not have time to properly fulfil their roles, according to research by two leading healthcare thinktanks. GP Online

UK general election: Miliband and Cameron neck and neck in fight for voters' trust on NHS

UK general election: Miliband and Cameron neck and neck in fight for voters' trust on NHS The NHS will matter more to people than the economy when they decide how to vote in the general election 100 days from today, according to a poll for The Independent. The Independent

See also:

• Miliband to pledge longer care visits BBC News
• Labour, the NHS and social care BBC News
• Ed Miliband: the future of the NHS at stake in 2015 election The Guardian

A single hospital dealt with 1,500 cases of Female Genital Mutilation in just five years

A single hospital dealt with 1,500 cases of Female Genital Mutilation in just five years Around 15 new cases of FGM are reported to hospitals around the country every day -Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital has revealed it is dealing with six cases a week. The Daily Mail

Cervical cancer rates in under 35s soar 60% as the number having smear tests falls to an all-time low

Cervical cancer rates in under 35s soar 60% as the number having smear tests falls to an all-time low The charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust has launched a new social media campaign #smearforsmear to encourage more young women to ensure they have their regular smear tests. The Daily Mail

See also:

• #Smearforsmear campaign Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust

Choosing Wisely: A Growing International Campaign

Choosing Wisely: A Growing International Campaign  To combat a widespread problem, the American Board of Internal Medicine launched the “Choosing Wisely” campaign in 2012 to encourage physicians and patients to work together to make better health care choices. The Commonwealth Fund

Car scheme for Kettering area patients

Car scheme for Kettering area patients A new initiative has been set up in Kettering borough to give residents of the towns and villages an affordable option to travel to medical appointments. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hospital staff failed to recognise Northamptonshire mother as a suicide risk despite previous attempts

Hospital staff failed to recognise Northamptonshire mother as a suicide risk despite previous attempts Failures to record an inpatient’s suicide attempts on a ‘risk assessment’ log were partly to blame for her death days later at a Northampton Hospital - a coroner has ruled. BBC News

NHS pledges to publish any limits placed on outgoing Northamptonshire chief’s new business

NHS pledges to publish any limits placed on outgoing Northamptonshire chief’s new business An NHS trust in Northamptonshire has promised to make public the ‘contractual restrictions’ placed on its outgoing boss before he leaves to set up his own company. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What are we willing to do to preserve the NHS as we know it?

What are we willing to do to preserve the NHS as we know it? If we want to maintain a high quality health service, sacrifices must be made, and according to the Health Foundation these will continue well beyond the next parliament, says India Keable-Elliott from CentreForum.

See also:

• Give productivity in the NHS a chance The Health Foundation
• Future funding of the NHS: a reckoning on taxation? The Health Foundation

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2014: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2014: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States This publication presents overviews of the health care systems in these countries.

Each overview covers health insurance, public and private financing, health system organization and governance, health care quality and coordination, disparities, efficiency and integration, use of information technology and evidence-based practice, cost containment, and recent reforms and innovations.

In addition, summary tables provide data on a number of key health system characteristics and performance indicators, including overall health care spending, hospital spending and utilization, health care access, patient safety, care coordination, chronic care management, disease prevention, capacity for quality improvement, and public views. The Commonwealth Fund

Press release: 'Be Clear on Cancer' campaign highlights links between heartburn and cancer

Press release: 'Be Clear on Cancer' campaign highlights links between heartburn and cancer A national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign is launched today (26 January 2015) urging people to visit their doctor if they have heartburn most days for 3 weeks or more, as this can be a sign of oesophageal or stomach cancer.

The campaign launch coincides with results of a new survey commissioned by Public Health England, which reveals only 1 in 2 people (55%) would visit their doctor if they had heartburn most days for 3 weeks or more.

Early diagnosis of oesophageal or stomach cancer (also known as oesophago-gastric cancers) is crucial and means treatment is more likely to be successful. Around 67% of people diagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancers at the earliest stage survive for at least 5 years. This figure drops to around 3% for those diagnosed at a late stage.

The cost of being unhealthy

The cost of being unhealthy How the nation's life choices are taking a toll on the NHS. BBC News

The 'problem' of medical drug prices

The 'problem' of medical drug prices Newsnight's Chris Cook assesses the difficulty of drug pricing. BBC News

WHO vows reform after Ebola 'shocks'

WHO vows reform after Ebola 'shocks' The World Health Organization sets out plans for reform, admitting it was too slow to respond to the "horrific" Ebola outbreak in West Africa. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: UK nurse on surviving Ebola BBC News
• Nurse who contracted Ebola released from hospital The Guardian
• British Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey declared free of virus and discharged from hospital The Independent

VIDEO: How winter wards help hospitals

VIDEO: How winter wards help hospitals Fiona Trott reports from James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough which is using special winter wards to ease bed blocking in other parts of the hospital, including A&E. BBC News

Overcrowded hospitals killed 500 last year, claims top A&E doctor

Overcrowded hospitals killed 500 last year, claims top A&E doctor Ministers warned that the NHS is facing ‘a disaster’ of ever-busier accident and emergency departments and bed-blocking

Up to 500 patients died last year as a direct result of harm they suffered when hospitals became dangerously overcrowded, Britain’s A&E doctors have warned.

About 350 of the deaths were among patients who had not been diagnosed or given medical treatment quickly enough. Another 150 were not admitted because of bed shortages, even though their condition meant they would usually have been found a place on a ward. The College of Emergency Medicine’s figures have raised concern that growing turmoil in A&E units, and hospitals generally, is doing real harm. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Hospital overcrowding ‘killed 500’ in 2014, top doctor says ITV News

£240m tech fund 2 raided by Treasury

£240m tech fund 2 raided by Treasury The second round of NHS England's technology fund has been raided by the Treasury to shift money towards dealing with A&E pressures in the run up to the general election. E-Health Insider

New doctors offered NHS fund ‘golden hello’ to become GPs

New doctors offered NHS fund ‘golden hello’ to become GPs Total of £10m designed to encourage newly qualified medics to boost numbers and stave off existing GPs from early retirement

Newly qualified doctors will be offered “golden hellos” if they become a GP under a £10m NHS plan to help overcome the growing shortage of family doctors.

The initiative is part of a new package of measures designed to boost the number of GPs joining the profession, deter early retirement and encourage those who have taken a career break, for example to work abroad or have children, to rejoin the workforce. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• New video aims to boost GP numbers BBC News
• VIDEO: Doctors in drive to attract new GPs  BBC News

'Anonymous' NHS database could still allow patients to be identified, expert warns

'Anonymous' NHS database could still allow patients to be identified, expert warns A controversial plan to transfer the medical records of NHS patients from GP surgeries to a national database has failed to address a major privacy concern that jeopardises patient confidentiality, according to a leading IT security expert. The Independent

Broadmoor financial scandal: The £4m of NHS funds wasted at high-security hospital

Broadmoor financial scandal: The £4m of NHS funds wasted at high-security hospital A financial scandal has erupted at the UK’s largest mental health trust, causing several clinical projects to be scrapped by the organisation responsible for looking after more than 20,000 patients a year – including some of the most violent criminals based at Broadmoor high-security hospital. The Independent

County's health watchdog wants your views on Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

County's health watchdog wants your views on Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Healthwatch Northamptonshire is asking for members of the public to share their views and experiences of the care received from Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (NHFT). Northants Herald and Post

Northampton mental health hospital criticised after staff failed to record a patient’s suicide attempts

Northampton mental health hospital criticised after staff failed to record a patient’s suicide attempts A widower has criticised Berrywood Hospital in Northampton after staff failed to record a suicide attempt his wife made, only days before ending her own life. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Problems spreading beyond A&E as risk of NHS crisis grows: latest quarterly monitoring report

Problems spreading beyond A&E as risk of NHS crisis grows: latest quarterly monitoring report The King's Fund is warning that problems in hospitals are spreading beyond A&E to other key areas of performance, increasing the risk of a NHS crisis.

The Fund's latest quarterly monitoring report, which follows widespread reports about pressures on A&E units, underlines that hospitals are stretched to the limit. The report shows that waiting times for treatment and other key performance indicators are worsening, as the NHS struggles to cope with increasing demand for services and the unprecedented financial squeeze.

NHS finances: the challenge all political parties need to face

NHS finances: the challenge all political parties need to face The NHS is one of the key issues of public concern in the run up to the 2015 general election.

After the election, all political parties are committed to reducing the fiscal deficit, which will involve cuts to public spending. Health care now accounts for almost £1 in every £5 of government spending – just sustaining, let alone improving, the quality of care while delivering fiscal balance will be one of the major challenges facing any incoming government.

In this briefing we set out our analysis of the funding issues facing the NHS. The briefing presents the Health Foundation projection that funding pressures on the NHS will increase to £65bn above inflation by 2030/31. If successive governments are to meet these pressures NHS funding needs to grow slightly faster than GDP (2.9% a year compared to 2.3% a year forecast increase in GDP).

The briefing draws on four accompanying Funding overviews that go into more detail about NHS finance in the following four areas:

• historical trends 
• international comparisons 
• spending in the current parliament
• projections for the next parliament and beyond 

See also:

• NHS will need extra £65bn by 2030, say analysts The Guardian

Library and Knowledge Services Framework

Library and Knowledge Services Framework HEE has published a development framework for Library and Knowledge Services in order to:

• Invite stakeholders to work alongside them to transform and optimise healthcare library and knowledge services
• Guide investment and procurement decisions, the development of new information products, partnership working and service modernisation
• Drive the redesign of roles for healthcare library staff, to improve efficiency and enable the adoption of new models of service

The framework will provide the basis for more detailed conversations with partners about the challenges and opportunities ahead.

A work programme will be developed – with a focus on customer care and value for money for taxpayers, achieved through better coordination, collaboration and cooperation, including through pooling resources and expertise. Health Education England

• Knowledge for Healthcare Framework
• Library Services Briefing

UKIP and the NHS: reigniting the insurance debate in the NHS

UKIP and the NHS: reigniting the insurance debate in the NHS It is true that health care is going to be more expensive in future we do need to know how to fund it appropriately. But is an insurance model really a silver bullet for the NHS’s financial challenges? asks Emma Spencelayh. The Health Foundation

Guidance: Improving community services

Guidance: Improving community services This report looks at what clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are doing about community services as the contracts entered into after the Transforming Community Services (TCS) programme expire.

As contracts expire, commissioners need to consider what options are best for patients. This review of community services commissioning explaining how commissioners can support a move to more co-ordinated care for patients closer to home. Many of the community services contracts put in place three to five years ago are expiring, giving commissioners an opportunity to:

• move to new ways of working or new models of care that are better for patients
• test which providers are most likely to achieve the changes that commissioners want for patients 

Monitor

See also:

• Improving community services infographic Monitor
• Press release: Commissioners missing an opportunity to improve community care Monitor
• Press release: Monitor calls for patient care to be joined-up more urgently Monitor

First report released from Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set

First report released from Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set The first report from the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS) has been released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

VIDEO: Talks to avert NHS strike continue

VIDEO: Talks to avert NHS strike continue Talks to avert a 12-hour strike next Thursday by NHS staff in England and Northern Ireland are continuing on Friday. BBC News

GP practices in special measures

GP practices in special measures Three GP practices have been placed in "special measures" over concerns about safety, by inspectors. BBC News

See also:

• Three GP practices put into special measures by CQC The Daily Mail
• CQC ratings show most GP practices 'good' or 'outstanding' GP Online
• Former negotiator wins outstanding CQC rating but warns it is unsustainable GP Online
• Company behind GP practice in CQC special measures pledges to improve GP Online
• Three GP surgeries put into special measures over patient safety concerns The Guardian

Falling Ebola cases 'turning point'

Falling Ebola cases 'turning point' There has been a "turning point" in the Ebola crisis with cases falling in all three affected countries, World Health Organization officials say. BBC News

See also:

• Ebola vaccine 'shipped to Liberia' BBC News
• VIDEO: Ebola experience 'life changing' BBC News
• Guidance: Ebola: UK-based students visiting families in affected countries Public Health England

Care.data in "last chance saloon"

Care.data in "last chance saloon" NHS England has been warned its controversial care.data programme is at its "last chance saloon", as it pushes ahead with the trial phase of the project. E-Health Insider

New heart attack test shows promise for women

New heart attack test shows promise for women "Doctors could spot twice as many heart attacks in women by using a newer, more sensitive blood test," BBC News reports.

In women, for reasons that are unclear, a heart attack often doesn't trigger the symptom most people associate with the condition: severe chest pain, memorably described as like having an elephant sitting on your chest. This can lead to delays in diagnosis, which may impact on clinical outcomes.

A more sensitive blood test has been developed that can help determine if a person with the symptoms of a heart attack has actually had one.

The new test is more sensitive to levels of a protein called troponin, which is released into the bloodstream when there is damage to heart muscle.

NHS disregards patient requests to opt out of sharing medical records

NHS disregards patient requests to opt out of sharing medical records Officials now admit they shared data because otherwise it would have affected patients’ treatment. The Guardian

Care Quality Commission heaps more pressure on NHS managers

Care Quality Commission heaps more pressure on NHS managers The healthcare regulator should not get bogged down in resolving management problems or grievances and should focus on keeping patients safe  Continue reading... The Guardian

Mass prescription of statins ‘will widen social inequalities’

Mass prescription of statins ‘will widen social inequalities’ Prescribing statins to more people could have the unintended effect of “widening social inequalities”, a new study has claimed. The Independent

See also:

• Fall in heart deaths 'due to healthy living, not statins' The Daily Mail
• Statins and dietary changes have saved 20,000 lives OnMedica

One in seven people in Northamptonshire has an STI, according to NHS figures

One in seven people in Northamptonshire has an STI, according to NHS figures One in seven people in Northamptonshire has a sexually transmitted infection, according to latest NHS statistics.

Following the publication of the figures, by Northampton-based counselling service The Lowdown, the Labour Group on Northamptonshire County Council is encouraging people to sign a petition calling for compulsory sex and relationships education. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kidney patient from Northampton bled to death, but promised training ‘not given’

Kidney patient from Northampton bled to death, but promised training ‘not given’ A Northampton man bled to death from a rare dialysis complication while being transported to hospital by a volunteer ambulance driver. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New tools for helping care for people with Long Term Conditions

New tools for helping care for people with Long Term Conditions Dr Martin McShane has welcomed the publication of three new handbooks aimed at planning services for people with long term conditions.

The handbooks, which can be accessed online, are aimed at supporting commissioners and practitioners in planning services for people with long term conditions (LTCs), in order to achieve more effective, personalised care.

Dr McShane, NHS England’s Director for Patients with Long Term Conditions, explained: “LTCs currently account for £7 of every £10 health and social care spend in England.

“If we are to tackle the demands that long term conditions create for the health and care system then we are going to have to adapt and evolve our approaches to meet the needs of the future rather than the problems of the past. This is clearly articulated in the Five Year Forward View.

“We are going to need to proactively identify people, work with them to create a plan and support professionals to work as a team to deliver the best possible care. The need for more personalised, person centred care which engages with the individual and understand their goals and the support they have from carers and the community they live in is vital, if we are to have a sustainable NHS.”

The guides cover three key areas: identifying people in the population with LTCs that are most vulnerable and at risk of unplanned hospital admissions; planning personalised care and support; and best-practice multi-disciplinary working across professional and organisational boundaries. The handbooks are available on NHS England’s website.

See also:

• Martin McShane’s blog about the handbooks. NHS England

Value based assessment of drugs

Value based assessment of drugs In 2010, the Government proposed moving towards a broader value-based system for assessing and pricing branded drugs. Such an approach aims to ensure that the price the NHS pays for a medicine better reflects its benefits. This briefing outlines recent proposals to change the current assessment methods.The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Cigarette package law brought forward

Cigarette package law brought forward The government is to press ahead with the introduction of plain cigarette packaging in England, asking MPs to back the move before May's election. BBC News

See also:

• News story: Government backs standardised packaging of tobacco Department of Health
• Cigarettes will be sold only in plain packages from next year The Daily Mail
• Plain cigarette packs to be introduced in UK before general election The Guardian
• All cigarettes likely to be sold in plain packets by next year The Independent

Call for death certificate changes

Call for death certificate changes It is "incomprehensible" independent monitoring of death certificates has not been introduced, 15 years after Harold Shipman's conviction, says a pathologist. BBC News

Jeremy Hunt in last-ditch effort to stop NHS strikes

Jeremy Hunt in last-ditch effort to stop NHS strikes The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will today chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee to put in place contingency plans for an NHS strike.

Talks with union leaders aimed at averting the January 29 strike are ongoing. ITV News

See also:

• Talks ongoing over proposed industrial action in the NHS NHS Employers
• NHS strike talks to resume on Friday BBC News
• NHS strike may 'affect patient safety to unacceptable level' The Daily Mail
• Exclusive: NHS England calls for GPs to cover striking ambulance workers in pay dispute GP Online

Patient complaints and staff concerns must be taken seriously

Patient complaints and staff concerns must be taken seriously The RCN has responded to a new Health Select Committee report on complaints and raising concerns. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• GMC statement in response to the Health Select Committee report on complaints and raising concerns General Medical Council
• Employers welcome Health Select Committee's recognition of improvements in raising concerns NHS Employers

What's the future of NHS mental health services? - video

What's the future of NHS mental health services? - video (15 minutes) Former chief executive of the Sussex Partnership NHS foundation trust Lisa Rodrigues asks an expert panel their thoughts on the future of NHS mental health services. The panel were speaking at a Guardian Live event in London and comprised Dr Mark Porter, British Medical Association chair; Prof Bruce Keogh, NHS England's medical director; Julia Manning, CEO of thinktank 2020health; and Norman Lamb, a Liberal Democrat health minister. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS waiting times for cancer treatment and and routine operations 'will be worse after next election,' says expert

NHS waiting times for cancer treatment and and routine operations 'will be worse after next election,' says expert NHS waiting times for cancer treatment and routine operations will “get worse” and it is almost certain that the health service will need a Government bailout after the election to prevent a further deterioration of services, a leading health expert has warned. The Independent

See also:

• NHS in critical condition as the crisis in A&E spreads The Daily Mail
• NHS creaking at seams as AE delays pressurise other hospital departments The Guardian

SNP prepared to vote on NHS issues in England to protect the service in Scotland in the event of a hung parliament

SNP prepared to vote on NHS issues in England to protect the service in Scotland in the event of a hung parliament Scottish Nationalist MPs would be prepared to vote on matters relating to the NHS in England in the event of another hung parliament after the general election in May, the party's leader has said. The Independent

Boss of Northamptonshire NHS trust quits to set up own firm

Boss of Northamptonshire NHS trust quits to set up own firm The boss of the NHS in Northampton has quit to set up his own private company. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Pharmacists seconded to Northampton General Hospital to help reduce bed blockers

Pharmacists seconded to Northampton General Hospital to help reduce bed blockers Pharmacists have volunteered to work weekends to help relieve pressure on NGH’s emergency department at busy times. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Complaints and Raising Concerns

Complaints and Raising Concerns , While patient safety and the treatment of complaints and concerns have become high profile issues in the last few years, this is only the beginning of a process of change with significant scope for further improvement. The Health Select Committee

See also:

• Treat NHS whistleblowers better - MPs BBC News
• NHS treatment of whistleblowers is inexcusable, say MPs The Guardian

New resources available on care and support planning

New resources available on care and support planning The Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) Partnership publishes new advice for councils on meeting Care Act 2014 requirements to ensure people, families and carers lead development of their own care and support plans. This complements the care and support planning animation published by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) on Friday 16th January and the Coalition for Collaborative Care/NHS England handbook to be published later this week.

TLAP’s ‘Delivering Care and Support Planning’ has been developed with people who use services to show what good care and support planning looks like in practice. It is backed up with examples from councils across England who are leading the way in this area. It describes the principles for what people want in a care and support planning process, the elements that need to be in place and recommendations for councils so they can be both Care Act compliant and person-centred in their approach.

The RCGP’s film brings care and support planning to life in a three-minute video animation, narrated by RCGP President ,Professor Mike Pringle. It depicts a typical 10-minute GP consultation with a person who has multiple and complex illnesses and how care and support planning could lead to much better outcomes for everyone involved. The animation demonstrates how doctors can save time and improve health and social outcomes for people with long term conditions, noting the key role that carers, families and the wider community play in ensuring good person-centred care.

The guide & template support plans can be downloaded from the TLAP website here.

The animation can be viewed on the RCGP website or via Youtube. Coalition for Collaborative Care

Better Training Better Care evaluation reports published

Better Training Better Care evaluation reports published The BTBC programme aimed to improve the quality of training and learning for the benefit of patient care by enabling the delivery of the key recommendations from Sir John Temple’s Time for Training and Professor John Collins’ Foundation for Excellence.

Both reports set out what was achieved, the benefits that were realised and opportunities that have arisen, as well as the challenges and lessons learnt. Health Education England and NHS Employers

NHS: The parties' spending plans

NHS: The parties' spending plans What the different parties say they will spend on the NHS. BBC News

'Punishments' for benefits claimants with mental health issues rocket, figures show

'Punishments' for benefits claimants with mental health issues rocket, figures show Benefit claimants with mental health problems are more likely to be punished and have their payments stopped, new figures have revealed. ITV News

See also:

• More than 100 people per day with mental health problems are having their benefits sanctioned The Methodist Church in Britain
• Rethink sanctions infographic The Methodist Church in Britain
• Rethink Sanctions full data set (download) The Methodist Church in Britain
• How benefit sanctions punish people with mental health problems the hardest The Daily Mirror

Does moderate boozing reduce heart failure risk?

Does moderate boozing reduce heart failure risk? "Seven alcoholic drinks a week can help to prevent heart disease," the Daily Mirror reports. A US study suggests alcohol consumption up to this level may have a protective effect against heart failure.

This large US study followed more than 14,000 adults aged 45 and older for 24 years. It found those who drank up to 12 UK units (7 standard US "drinks") per week at the start of the study had a lower risk of developing heart failure than those who never drank alcohol.

The average alcohol consumption in this lower risk group was about 5 UK units a week (around 2.5 low-strength ABV 3.6% pints of lager a week).

At this level of consumption, men were 20% less likely to develop heart failure compared with people who never drank, while for women it was 16%.

The study benefits from its large size and the fact data was collected over a long period of time.

But studying the impact of alcohol on outcomes is fraught with difficulty. These difficulties include people not all having the same idea of what a "drink" or "unit" is.

Health minister calls for party unity on NHS

Health minister calls for party unity on NHS Norman Lamb warns that health service will break up unless agreement allows necessary big decisions to be taken.

The Liberal Democrat health minister, Norman Lamb, has appealed for an end to party political conflict over the future of the NHS, warning that the health service will “break up” in the next parliament unless the necessary “big decisions” are taken.

Predicting that the next five years will be “crunch time” for the NHS, he added there was a major gap between the views of experts and those of the public in terms of understanding what needed to be embarked up to sustain the service into the future. Continue reading... The Guardian

Councils get emergency £25m for social care to tackle hospital blockages

Councils get emergency £25m for social care to tackle hospital blockages Ministerial committee approves funds to be shared between 65 councils where local hospital has the most delayed discharges

Ministers have approved an emergency injection of £25m for social care for older people in areas where hospitals are facing the biggest problems of delayed patient discharges.

The new cash is going to 65 councils in England this week and must be spent by the end of March. The councils will have to show how they have eased pressure on their local hospitals. Continue reading... The Guardian

Five ways to improve mental health care in 2015

Five ways to improve mental health care in 2015 Greater investment, taking a more mainstream approach and a payment system that is fit for purpose could help to raise the profile of mental health Continue reading... The Guardian

Care for elderly in state of 'calamitous decline' amid £1bn of austerity cuts

Care for elderly in state of 'calamitous decline' amid £1bn of austerity cuts Care of the elderly in England is in a state of “calamitous, quite rapid decline” a leading charity boss has warned, with hundreds of thousands fewer people receiving care than five years ago. The Independent

See also:

• Social care spending falls by £1.1billion Age UK
• Care cuts 'leave old high and dry' BBC News

Nurse accused of poisoning hospital patients ‘chose victims at random’

Nurse accused of poisoning hospital patients ‘chose victims at random’ A nurse accused of murdering three patients and injuring 18 others by poisoning them with insulin caused panic at his hospital while choosing his victims “completely at random”, a court has heard. The Independent

New £1m unit to double capacity of Northampton General Hospital's A&E

New £1m unit to double capacity of Northampton General Hospital's A&E A new 10-bed resuscitation unit for seriously ill patients has been opened at Northampton General Hospital (NGH). The £1 million unit allows staff to care for twice as many patients needing intensive medical and nursing care. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• New resuscitation unit for emergency department Northampton General Hospital

Shortage of qualified staff forces cottage hospital in Northamptonshire to close

Shortage of qualified staff forces cottage hospital in Northamptonshire to close A cottage hospital in Brackley, Northamptonshire is close due to a shortage of qualified staff, it has been revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Review of health and care powers of entry

Review of health and care powers of entry The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 placed a duty on all secretaries of state to identify and review the powers of entry they are responsible for and to report back to Parliament. The Department of Health had 54 powers of entry. These ranged from the inspection of health and social care premises, to ensuring proper controls for medicines and laboratory equipment, to public health duties around the prevention of harm from disease or radiation. Thirteen have been identified as powers that can be scrapped or revoked. Department of Health

Tackling the causes and effects of obesity

Tackling the causes and effects of obesity This report argues that health problems associated with being overweight or obese cost the country £5 billion per year, with numbers of people with obesity predicted to more than double in the next 40 years. It warns that councils do not have enough money in their public health budgets to properly tackle obesity once mandatory services such as sexual health and drug and alcohol services have been paid for. The report calls for a fifth of existing VAT raised on sweets, crisps, takeaway food and sugary drinks to go to boost council-run grassroots initiatives with a proven track record, such as leisure activities and health awareness campaigns. Local Government Association

VIDEO: Could volunteers help A&E crisis?

VIDEO: Could volunteers help A&E crisis? A group of charities are calling for volunteers to help out in A&E departments in England to reduce pressure on the service. BBC News

First transplant from UK newborn

First transplant from UK newborn Doctors have carried out the first organ transplant from a newborn in the UK, giving a dead baby's kidneys and liver cells to two separate recipients. BBC News

See also:

• Britain's youngest organ donor is girl who died days after being born The Daily Mail
• Doctors perform UK’s first organ donation from a baby The Guardian

Doctor 'performed FGM on new mother'

Doctor 'performed FGM on new mother' A UK doctor performed female genital mutilation on a young mother after she gave birth in hospital, a court has heard, in the first prosecution of its kind in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Female genital mutilation: NHS doctor becomes first person to stand trial for involvement in the unpopular practice The Independent

Power to the people on: Charlie Hebdo and the NHS

Power to the people on: Charlie Hebdo and the NHS What, if anything, does the Charlie Hebdo massacre have to say to the NHS? More than might appear at first glance. E-Health Insider

Could 'DNA editing' lead to designer babies?

Could 'DNA editing' lead to designer babies? "Rapid progress in genetics is making 'designer babies' more likely and society needs to be prepared," BBC News reports.

The headline is prompted by advances in “DNA editing”, which may eventually lead to genetically modified babies (though that is a very big “may”).

The research in question involved the technique of intacytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a mouse sperm cell was injected into a mouse egg cell. At the same time, they injected an enzyme (Cas9) capable of cutting bonds within DNA, alongside “guide” RNA to guide the enzyme to its target location in the genome. This system then “cut out” targeted genes.

So far, the techniques have only been tested in animals and for “cutting out” very specific genes (currently, under UK law, any attempt to modify human DNA is illegal).

GP warning as Lords vote brings assisted dying closer

GP warning as Lords vote brings assisted dying closer Two thirds of peers have voted for the Assisted Dying Bill to become law in a move described as a landmark victory, but GPs warn changing the law could undermine patients' trust in doctors. GP Online

Prof Bruce Keogh: wearable technology plays a crucial part in NHS future

Prof Bruce Keogh: wearable technology plays a crucial part in NHS future NHS’s top doctor believes gadgets that record heart rate and other health information will revolutionise healthcare.

Devices worn on the wrist like the ones that record your heart rate, calorie intake or distance run have a vital part to play in securing the NHS’s future, the service’s medical director says.

Prof Sir Bruce Keogh believes that gadgets similar to fitness trackers, which are growing in popularity, and others resembling games consoles will revolutionise the monitoring of patients’ health, especially those with a serious condition. Continue reading... The Guardian

‘NHS we have at the moment not fit for the future’ warns top doctor

‘NHS we have at the moment not fit for the future’ warns top doctor Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, said without massive changes, service risks becoming unaffordable•

The NHS’s future is in danger because its model of care cannot meet the relentlessly growing demand for treatment caused by the ageing population, the service’s top doctor has warned.

Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of the NHS in England, said that without massive changes to the way the NHS treats patients, including far less reliance on hospitals, the service risked becoming unaffordable and could see its entirely taxpayer-funded status challenged. Continue reading... The Guardian

Nigel Farage: NHS might have to be replaced by private health insurance

Nigel Farage: NHS might have to be replaced by private health insurance Nigel Farage has suggested that the NHS might have to be replaced by a system of private health insurance within 10 years. The Independent

See also:

• Nigel Farage and the future of the NHS BBC News
• Nigel Farage: NHS debate 'will be needed' on insurance system BBC News
• Nigel Farage says 'ageing population' requires new debate on NHS The Daily Telegraph
• Farage says UK will have to consider NHS funded by private insurance The Guardian

A comparison between GP average list size and local A&E four hour targets

A comparison between GP average list size and local A&E four hour targets A blog piece looking for a correlation between GP numbers, list sizes and A&E problems from a Northamptonshire based GP. Dr H. Moss.com

Hospital discharge a major risk for homeless patients

Hospital discharge a major risk for homeless patients The report follows a survey of 184 community nurses and other health professionals working in this field during autumn 2014. Queens Nursing Institute

Clegg backs plan to reduce suicides

Clegg backs plan to reduce suicides The government is calling for a fundamental overhaul of how the NHS tackles suicides, inspired by a programme from the US. BBC News

See also:

• Press release: Nick Clegg calls for zero suicides across the NHS Department of Health
• Miliband pledges mental health push BBC News
• Nick Clegg calls on NHS to commit to 'zero suicides' ITV News
• Lib Dems announce campaign for NHS to set ‘zero suicide’ goal The Guardian
• Nick Clegg has let down mental health patients after failing to meet targets The Mirror

Dentists 'not clear about costs'

Dentists 'not clear about costs' People could be paying too much for dental treatment because dentists are not being clear about their prices, research by Which? has found. BBC News

See also:

• Dentists breach NHS rules with unclear pricing and guidance The Independent

Nurses at breaking point as number off work with stress soars

Nurses at breaking point as number off work with stress soars Health unions say more demanding and longer shifts are ratcheting up the pressure caused by understaffing.

The number of nurses taking time off due to stress has soared as the NHS has struggled to cope with rising demand for care. Responses to freedom of information requests submitted to NHS organisations by the Observer show that both the number of nurses on stress-related leave and the amount of time taken off are up significantly in the past three years in London, Scotland and Wales.

The figures have prompted claims by health unions that the NHS’s 400,000 nurses are being stretched to breaking point as a result of having to work more demanding and longer shifts at a time when understaffing and the increasing complexity of illnesses add to pressures. Continue reading... The Guardian

Ambulance staff told to leave patients at A&E departments if they have not been admitted after 45 minutes

Ambulance staff told to leave patients at A&E departments if they have not been admitted after 45 minutes Ambulance staff in some areas have been told to leave emergency patients at accident and emergency departments if they have not been admitted after 45 minutes, according to a report. The Independent

See also:

• A&Es miss four-hour waiting time for 15th week running as health bosses warn the 'unprecedented' pressure on the NHS shows no signs of abating The Daily Mail
• A&E crisis: Hospitals again fail to meet waiting time target The Daily Telegraph
• NHS hospital waiting times in England still failing to meet target The Guardian

NHS to extend 999 call time limits to ease pressure on strained services

NHS to extend 999 call time limits to ease pressure on strained services The NHS is to allow 999 call handlers three times as long to decide whether to dispatch an ambulance, in an attempt to ease pressure on stretched emergency services. The Independent

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Ambulance service in England Department of Health
• New pilots to improve speed and medical accuracy of ambulance calls NHS England
• Ambulance response times WILL be lengthened to three minutes The Daily Mail
• NHS to give ambulances longer to get to calls to try and hit targets The Daily Telegraph
• Ambulance services to trial new system to cut response times The Guardian
• Pilots will give 999 call handlers longer triage time OnMedica

Patient has tested negative for Ebola

Patient has tested negative for Ebola Public Health England have confirmed that the patient admitted to NGH on the evening of Wednesday 14th January 2015 has tested negative following precautionary testing for Ebola. Northampton General Hospital

See also:

• Ebola test negative for Northampton hospital patient BBC News
• Ebola test results negative for woman in Northampton The Daily Telegraph
• Scientists confirm Northampton General Hospital patient did not have Ebola Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• EBOLA: Northampton General Hospital staff praised by MP Michael Ellis after patient tests negative for killer virus Northants Herald and Post

KGH nurse worked for Leicester and Harborough hospitals while on sick leave

KGH nurse worked for Leicester and Harborough hospitals while on sick leave A Kettering General Hospital nurse has been cautioned by regulators after admitting working agency shifts while on sick leave. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Funds for Northamptonshire hospitals are £77 per person below promised levels

Funds for Northamptonshire hospitals are £77 per person below promised levels NHS funding for Northamptonshire hospitals are seven per cent under the Government’s promised amount. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Parking charges for students at Northampton General Hospital labelled “disgusting”

Parking charges for students at Northampton General Hospital labelled “disgusting” Parking charges imposed on trainee staff at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) have been labelled “disgusting and deplorable” after they were raised from £1 a day to £10. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New Code of practice: Mental Health Act 1983

New Code of practice: Mental Health Act 1983 As well as providing guidance for professionals, the revised code of practice also guides patients, their families and carers on their rights.

The code was revised to take account of stakeholders’ views during our consultation, and reflects changes in legislation, case law, policy and professional practice since its last revision in 2008.

The code of practice will come into force on 1 April 2015, depending on Parliamentary approval. It has been prepared in accordance with section 118 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Department of Health

See also:

• New Mental Health Act code of practice published  Community Care
• News story: New Mental Health Act code of practice Department of Health

NICE sets out draft safe staffing guidance for A&Es

NICE sets out draft safe staffing guidance for A&Es NICE has outlined draft guidance to help A&E departments ensure there are enough nursing staff available to provide safe care at all times to patients. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

See also:

• A&Es given safe nurse staffing rules BBC News

Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy

Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people seeking therapy will be better protected from harmful ‘gay cures’ following commitments made today by NHS England, and leading medical and psychological professional groups.

Gay conversion therapy (sometimes referred to as ‘gay cure’ or ‘reparative’ therapy) is the umbrella term for a type of talking therapy which attempts to change sexual orientation or reduce attraction to others of the same sex. There is no good evidence this works and instead it is potentially harmful. UK Council for Psychotherapy

 See also:

• General Medical Council supports Memorandum on conversion therapy in the UK GMC

Advancing women in medicine: how can we move from rhetoric to action?

Advancing women in medicine: how can we move from rhetoric to action? ‘In no nation are women equal to their men.’ The words of Aparna Mehrotra of UN Women stirred many at our recent summit aimed at advancing women in medicine. Like many in our mostly female audience, my thoughts ran to the number of injustices perpetrated against women globally, including violence, denial of access to education and the freedom to choose.

But gender inequality can take more subtle forms. Women in medicine, for instance, are still facing professional and personal barriers to taking up senior roles – despite women accounting for 77 per cent of employees in the NHS. Only 24 per cent of trust medical directors are women, and in some surgical specialties only one in ten are women. The King's Fund