Mums praise Northampton children’s doctor as he wins national award

Mums praise Northampton children’s doctor as he wins national award A Northampton paedeatrician who uses plays, films and story books to put children at ease has won a national award. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Increased demand for care won’t be addressed by doing more of the same

Increased demand for care won’t be addressed by doing more of the same With the first anniversary of the NHS five year forward view approaching rapidly, how are new care models developing, and what are the prospects for the future? The King's Fund

Research and analysis: Dementia: prevalence in groups by protected characteristics

Research and analysis: Dementia: prevalence in groups by protected characteristics This review builds on previous work by the Department of Health (DH), in 2010 to 2011, as part of the development of the Dementia Equalities Action Plan (DH, 2011).

It examines evidence on how the prevalence of dementia varies with the following characteristics:

• socio-economic position
• race or ethnic group
• religion or belief
• gender
• sexual orientation
• disability

The review is for commissioners and providers of dementia services, PHE knowledge and intelligence team, researcher funding bodies and researchers and policy makers. Public Health England

Latest hospital figures for mental health and learning disabilities

Latest hospital figures for mental health and learning disabilities The Health and Social Care Information Centre has published the latest dataset linking hospital episode statistics with mental health and learning disability data.

Delivering community based integrated care the Dutch way

Delivering community based integrated care the Dutch way The challenge of delivering quality health and social care services to a rapidly ageing population, many with long term conditions, is one that England share with most countries across Europe. Find out what the Dutch are doing to help with this challenge. NHS Employers

Raising concerns in a good culture

Raising concerns in a good culture Find out how Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust has developed a culture which encourages and supports staff to raise concerns. NHS Employers

Cameron announces seven-day GP service

Cameron announces seven-day GP service GPs in England are to be offered a voluntary contract to provide seven-day-a-week cover for patients, David Cameron announces. BBC News

See also:

• Press release: Prime Minister pledges to deliver 7-day GP services by 2020 Department of Health
• Ministers are living in ‘cloud cuckoo land’ with plans for seven day access RCGP Chair tells conference delegates in Glasgow Royal College of General Practitioners
• David Cameron says GP surgeries must open from 8am to 8pm The Daily Mail
• Royal College of GPs says weekend surgeries are a cloud cuckoo land idea The Daily Mail
• Video: Seven-day NHS plans a 'recipe for disaster' for general practice, warns RCGP chair GP Online
• GPs to be offered new contracts to open surgeries at weekends, David Cameron announces The Independent
• BMA calls on PM to explain how a seven-day NHS will work OnMedica

VIDEO: What's it like to be a junior doctor?

VIDEO: What's it like to be a junior doctor? Newsnsight followed three junior doctors over the course of a week - here are their diaries. BBC News

A quarter of young NHS GPs are so disillusioned they want to quit Britain

A quarter of young NHS GPs are so disillusioned they want to quit Britain According to figures released last week, a staggering 10.2 per cent of full-time GP positions across the UK are currently vacant, a figure that has quadrupled in the past three years. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GPs report record levels of stress and job dissatisfaction GP Online

Ministers ‘are hiding details of £2bn NHS cash crisis’

Ministers ‘are hiding details of £2bn NHS cash crisis’ Tories accused of burying bad news with delayed figures on health service finances expected to show huge deficit

Government ministers have buried NHS statistics that show the service hurtling towards an unprecedented £2bn deficit to avoid overshadowing the Tory party conference, say top NHS officials.

One senior figure at the health service regulator Monitor said his organisation had been “leaned on” by Whitehall to delay its report, which shows that NHS finances are worsening. Continue reading... The Guardian

Deal over junior doctors' contracts was torn up, reveals ex-health minister

Deal over junior doctors' contracts was torn up, reveals ex-health minister Tory MP Dan Poulter says government reneged on an initial agreement last year, replacing it with terms that have triggered ‘understandable’ anger

The government has provoked the potential strike by NHS junior doctors by tearing up an agreement that would have settled the dispute, the Conservative minister who was in charge of the negotiations has told the Guardian.

In a scathing indictment of the government’s handling of the new contract for England’s 53,000 junior doctors, Dr Dan Poulter, a health minister until May, revealed that Jeremy Hunt had triggered “understandable” widespread anger among them by reneging on the basis of a deal. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• This junior doctor contract puts patients in danger The Guardian
• Junior doctors contract couldcompromise patient safety says Ex-Tory health minister Dan Poulter The Independent
• Jeremy Hunt: NHS is facing a whammy of pressures the like of which it has never seen before The Independent

Nurses could be forced to pay tuition fees under new Treasury proposals

Nurses could be forced to pay tuition fees under new Treasury proposals Exclusive: Student nurses and midwives could be forced to pay their tuition fees under new Treasury plans. The Daily Telegraph

The state of our mental health system is one of the great scandals of our time

The state of our mental health system is one of the great scandals of our time As Bootham Park Psychiatric Hospital is forced to close suddenly, Bryony Gordon wonders why Britain has such a Dickensian mental health system. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Bootham Park Hospital: sudden closure leaves patients vulnerable The Guardian

Doctors and nurses must "step up to the plate" to tackle NHS leadership crisis, says chief inspector of hospitals

Doctors and nurses must "step up to the plate" to tackle NHS leadership crisis, says chief inspector of hospitals Exclusive: Chief inspector of hospitals says crisis of leadership is the main factor behind poor care. The Independent

Plans to reward GPs for cutting hospital admissions attacked as "preposterous and unethical"

Plans to reward GPs for cutting hospital admissions attacked as "preposterous and unethical" 'Incentive' system designed to produce savings on expensive scans and potentially surgical procedures. The Independent

See also:

• RCGP statement on payment for non referral Royal College of General Practitioners
• GPs being paid to cut patient referrals BBC News
• GPs paid up to £6,000 to SLASH the numbers of patients sent to hospital for urgent cancer tests The Daily Mail
• GPs should not be paid to reduce hospital referrals The Daily Telegraph
• GP practices 'offered rewards' for not referring patients to hospitals The Guardian
• ‘Ethically questionable’ incentives slammed by lead GPs OnMedica

NHS trust in Northamptonshire pledges to pay all staff and contractors at least £7.85 an hour

NHS trust in Northamptonshire pledges to pay all staff and contractors at least £7.85 an hour Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation trust has pledged to pay all its staff the living wage. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (England), Annual Report 2014-15

Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (England), Annual Report 2014-15 This official statistics report provides the findings from the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) data collection for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. Health and Social Care Information Centre

NHS and Fire Service sign new consenses to help vulnerable and reduce winter pressures

NHS and Fire Service sign new consenses to help vulnerable and reduce winter pressures Firefighters have joined forces with the NHS in a new health partnership to tackle health and social problems and reduce winter pressures.

Today, five organisations signed a new ‘Consensus’ – NHS England, Public Health England, the Fire and Rescue Service, Age UK and the Local Government Association – promising to work together to make changes throughout their workforce.

The new ‘Consensus‘ sets out how the organisations can work together to encourage local action to prevent or minimise service demand and improve the quality of life of people with long term conditions.

It means fire fighters across the country will aim to carry out more ‘Safe and Well’ checks in people’s homes when they visit.

The fire fighters will aim to extend the 670,000 home safety checks already carried out each year into a ‘Safe and Well’ visit to help particularly the vulnerable and those with complex conditions.

As well as reducing the risks of a fire, they will aim to reduce health risks such as falls, loneliness and isolation which will also reduce visits to A&E, broken hips and depression. NHS England

Leading models of dementia care highlighted to inspire

Leading models of dementia care highlighted to inspire Three leading models of how to care for people with dementia are being flagged up to the NHS in a bid to improve patient services by sharing learning.

Thousands of people are benefiting from the thriving schemes at Gnosall, Northumberland, and Rotherham and Doncaster and are highlighted in a new report out today. NHS England

Hospital statistics: new report starts to explore activity across seven days

Hospital statistics: new report starts to explore activity across seven days Provisional data about hospital activity in England by day of the week has been published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

Are calcium pills any good at preventing bone fractures?

Are calcium pills any good at preventing bone fractures? "Calcium supplements don't work, say experts," The Daily Telegraph reports.

While this headline is not strictly true, new research has shown that for most healthy people, calcium supplements will make little difference to your bone health or risk of breaking a bone. NHS Choices

Female surgeons 'face hostility'

Female surgeons 'face hostility' Operating theatres are a "hostile environment for women", one of the country's leading female surgeons has told the BBC News.

Car smoking ban comes into force

Car smoking ban comes into force A law banning smoking in vehicles where children are present comes into force in England and Wales. BBC News

NHS finances: Why we are being kept in the dark

NHS finances: Why we are being kept in the dark Should we know more about the state of NHS finances? BBC News

GPs face huge funding shortfall as chronic care costs soar £1.2bn by 2025, warns RCGP

GPs face huge funding shortfall as chronic care costs soar £1.2bn by 2025, warns RCGP Soaring rates of long-term conditions will drive up GPs' costs by £1.2bn over the next 10 years, the RCGP has warned. GP Online

See also:

• 1m more people living with life threatening conditions within a decade, forecasts RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Royal College of GPs predicts 'explosion' of long-term health problems in next decade The Guardian

No progress in talks between Jeremy Hunt and junior doctors' leader

No progress in talks between Jeremy Hunt and junior doctors' leader Health secretary’s meeting with Dr Johann Malawana fails to find a solution to avert threatened strike over proposed seven-day contracts

Direct talks between Jeremy Hunt and a junior doctors’ leader broke up on Wednesday night without any progress being made to avert a threatened strike by the NHS’s 53,000 trainee medics.


The health secretary discussed the issue in what the Department of Health (DoH) said was “an introductory meeting” with Dr Johann Malawana, the new chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) junior doctors committee (JDC). Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Junior doctor contracts in England (briefing) House of Commons Library

NHS to begin denying people hearing aids for first time

NHS to begin denying people hearing aids for first time North Staffordshire clinical commissioning group takes unprecedented step of refusing to give devices to mainly elderly patients wih mild hearing loss

The NHS will start denying people with hearing problems access to hearing aids for the first time from Thursday in a controversial move that critics claim will worsen sufferers’ social isolation.

The GP-led NHS clinical commissioning group in North Staffordshire is taking the unprecedented step of ceasing to provide free hearing aids to mainly elderly people in its area with mild hearing loss. Continue reading... The Guardian

Flu vaccination programme in primary schools put on hold

Flu vaccination programme in primary schools put on hold Pilot scheme targeting eight- to 11-year-olds in England delayed as some batches of nasal spray fail to meet licensing specifications

A pilot programme to vaccinate children up to 11 in primary schools in England has been put on hold just before it was scheduled to start.


Supplier AstraZeneca has told the NHS some batches of the nasal spray involved did not meet licensing specifications. Continue reading... The Guardian

Most NHS workers 'are considering quitting over low pay and staff shortages'

Most NHS workers 'are considering quitting over low pay and staff shortages' UNISON survey finds 'chronic' understaffing is driving health employees to 'the very end of their tethers' The Independent

See also:

• Undervalued, Overwhelmed Unison
• UNISON warns of staff exodus as two-thirds plan to leave the NHS Unison

NHS 111 line 'dangerously understaffed'

NHS 111 line 'dangerously understaffed' A woman who worked at an NHS non-emergency call centre serving Northamptonshire says it is "dangerously understaffed" with 75% of calls unanswered. BBC Derby

Should we be worried about CCG conflicts of interest?

Should we be worried about CCG conflicts of interest? Anxiety about conflicts of interest hangs over clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) now as it did GP fund-holders in the past. Worries about the propriety of giving GPs public money to purchase care – potentially from themselves – were raised several times as the Health and Social Care Bill worked its way through parliament four years ago. The King's Fund

New consensus on early treatment for relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

New consensus on early treatment for relapsing Multiple Sclerosis A new scientific consensus has been reached that changes the way relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) should be treated.

The evidence now tells us that, rather than waiting to see whether more relapses occur, disease modifying therapies (DMTs) should be offered as close as possible to diagnosis. Multiple Sclerosis Society

See also:

• Time to Act – 2015 a consensus on early treatment Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Earlier MS treatment urged by charity BBC News

Prison smoking ban to begin in 2016

Prison smoking ban to begin in 2016 Smoking will be banned in all prisons in Wales and four in south-west England from next year, ahead of a wider roll-out, the government says. BBC News

See also:

• Prisoners to be banned from smoking behind bars The Daily Telegraph

Medical devices attract hackers

Medical devices attract hackers Researchers have found evidence that thousands of critical medical machines, such as MRI scanners, are available to access online. BBC News

See also:

• Thousands of 'directly hackable' hospital devices exposed online The Register

Junior doctors contract row: an explainer

Junior doctors contract row: an explainer The health secretary and the British Medical Association are at loggerheads over contract changes and strike action is being threatened – how did it come to this?Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• What is the junior doctors row about? BBC News
• Junior doctors' strike receives overwhelming support, poll shows The Guardian
• Junior doctors protest outside Downing Street over "unsafe and unfair" contract changes The Independent
• Anger at cancelled junior doctors’ meetings OnMedica

Police will turn 'blind eye' to new smoking ban in cars

Police will turn 'blind eye' to new smoking ban in cars From 1st October it will be illegal for a motorist to smoke with someone under the age of 18 in their car, but few drivers are expected to be prosecuted. The Daily Telegraph

NHS drug shortages: why are we running out of some treatments in the UK?

NHS drug shortages: why are we running out of some treatments in the UK? The NHS is facing shortages of some important drugs used to relieve pain and treat cancer. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Why is the NHS short of some key drugs? BBC News

Healthcare workers hit out at executive's payoff as doctors face pay cut

Healthcare workers hit out at executive's payoff as doctors face pay cut David Flory received £410,000 alongside his £235,000 salary after stepping down as chief executive of the TDA. The Independent

See also:

• NHS exec given 'disgraceful' £410,000 pay-off The Daily Telegraph
• Health unions condemn 'disgraceful' £410,000 payoff to NHS executive The Guardian

People with mental health issues should run their own services more, says NHS head

People with mental health issues should run their own services more, says NHS head Helen Birtwhistle said service users were best placed to tell health service bosses where improvements needed to be made. The Independent

Northamptonshire’s Hospital and Outreach team wins BMA award

Northamptonshire’s Hospital and Outreach team wins BMA award A member of Northamptonshire’s Hospital and Outreach Education team has won a national award for her work on an information pack about the impact of cancer on children’s learning. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Responsible, safe and sustainable general practice

Responsible, safe and sustainable general practice A new vision for sustainable, modern and flexible general practice has been published by the British Medical Association (BMA).

Too soon for 'aspirin doubles cancer survival' claim

Too soon for 'aspirin doubles cancer survival' claim "Aspirin could almost double your chance of surviving cancer," the Daily Mail reports, with most of the newspapers featuring similar claims.

According to the Mail: "Three quarters of people with bowel, stomach or throat cancer were still alive five years later, and aspirin is the 'magic bullet' that should be prescribed as soon as someone is diagnosed."

Unfortunately the claims appearing in the media are based solely on a press release and abstract of research being presented at a scientific conference. This means the results and conclusions won’t have been verified by independent experts and we don’t have all the information to appraise such research. For these reasons we need to be cautious about this finding. NHS Choices

Hunt to meet doctors in contract row

Hunt to meet doctors in contract row Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has agreed to meet junior doctors' leaders after the decision to ballot medics on industrial action over a new contract. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctor contract negotiations NHS Employers
• Health secretary to meet junior doctors' leader over contract row The Guardian
• ‘I can’t sacrifice my family for the NHS’: the junior doctors forced out of jobs they love The Guardian

Public Health England defends NHS Health Checks

Public Health England defends NHS Health Checks Public Health England (PHE) is refuting claims made in a peer review journal, that NHS Health Checks are a waste of time and money. OnMedica

The tragic cost of NHS out-of-hours hotline's descent into meltdown: Two babies died after parents were given wrong advice - as investigation finds ONE nurse on duty for 2 million people

The tragic cost of NHS out-of-hours hotline's descent into meltdown: Two babies died after parents were given wrong advice - as investigation finds ONE nurse on duty for 2 million people The NHS out-of-hours hotline is in meltdown in parts of Britain with chronic staff shortages meaning staff with just three weeks' training are being overwhelmed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS 111 whistleblower Irsah Tahir speaks out about her training  The Daily Mail

More than 100 patients die after their surgery is cancelled as record number of NHS operations are postponed

More than 100 patients die after their surgery is cancelled as record number of NHS operations are postponed  Heart surgery patients were among the 104 people who died, with some having had their NHS surgery cancelled twice. Hospital chiefs claim it's impossible to say if it contributed to their deaths. The Daily Mail

Almost half of seven-day trial surgeries have cut hours after lack of demand

Almost half of seven-day trial surgeries have cut hours after lack of demand Small number of patients at eight of the 18 pilot schemes raises doubts about viability of David Cameron’s 8am to 8pm GP services pledge

Almost half of the GP surgeries that began opening in evenings and at weekends to fulfil David Cameron’s pledge of 8am to 8pm seven-day access have cut their hours because so few patients came.

Pulse, the magazine for GPs, has learned that eight of the 18 pilot areas in England given money last year to roll out the scheme have scaled back the hours they operate or stopped offering appointments outside normal working hours altogether. Continue reading... The Guardian

It's stupid to believe that the NHS is still 'the best in the world'

It's stupid to believe that the NHS is still 'the best in the world' Instead of treating the NHS as a sacred cow, and holding on to outdated notions about how good it is, we urgently need to fix it, says Alex Proud. The Daily Telegraph

Health watchdog wants your view on East Midlands 999 service ahead of inspection

Health watchdog wants your view on East Midlands 999 service ahead of inspection A health watchdog is calling on people living in Northamptonshire to give their views on East Midlands Ambulance Service. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New framework developed to support the learning disabilities workforce

New framework developed to support the learning disabilities workforce A framework to aid development of the learning disabilities workforce in the health and care sectors is now available to download from the Health Education England (HEE) website.

The ‘Generic Service Interventions Pathway’ is a competency framework developed with people with learning disabilities, their family and carers, and in collaboration with Skills for Health and learning disabilities experts. It will support delivery of person-centred care and ensure services are delivered by caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, skilled and supported staff.

The framework will help learning disability managers, educators and commissioners to better understand the development needs of their workforce, allowing them to maximise the contribution of the of the existing workforce and implement new ways of working that focus on improving patient outcomes.

It will be a valuable resource tool that can be used to identify knowledge and skills gaps, and outline where support and information can be found. Health Education England

Diversity and inclusion: the power of research in driving change - using research and data to promote inclusive workplaces

Diversity and inclusion: the power of research in driving change - using research and data to promote inclusive workplaces NHS Employers has partnered with Imperial College London, Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion and North West Coast Academic Health Science Network to produce this diversity and inclusion strategic report. Providing a workplace that celebrates and is inclusive of diversity is now essential for the NHS to operate effectively for both staff and patients. In order to monitor this, research has become an essential tool in allowing us to benchmark how effectively the NHS is performing within the standards set by equality legislation. This report is an analysis of past research into workplace diversity and inclusion across the NHS to determine how effective it has been in bringing about change with regard to the NHS becoming a more diverse and inclusive employer.

Psychological therapies: next steps towards parity of care

Psychological therapies: next steps towards parity of care This report looks at mental health generally, before focusing more particularly on access to psychological therapies for adults. It accepts that mental health problems need to be diagnosed and treated early to achieve the best outcomes but that unlike physical health, the continuing stigma attached to mental ill-health constitutes a barrier to access. In that context, the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme represents a success story which is helping to re-shape the landscape for mental health for the individual and the NHS as a whole. Research conducted for this report, however, finds that more remains to be done to improve access and to make the most of available resources. JMC Partners

World class research making a difference: Bridging the gap between research and the frontline NHS

World class research making a difference: Bridging the gap between research and the frontline NHS A review of the CLAHRC programme since 2008. National Institute of Health Research

Junior doctors balloted over contract

Junior doctors balloted over contract Junior doctors in England are to be balloted on industrial action over government plans to introduce a new contract from August 2016. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors contract negotiations BMA
• VIDEO: Junior doctors: 'Enough is enough' BBC News
• Junior doctors vote to ballot over strike action The Daily Telegraph
• A fight over doctors' hours will help no one The Daily Telegraph
• Scotland opens doors to junior doctors angry at NHS contracts in England The Independent
• New NHS junior doctor contract would discriminate against women, senior medics warn The Independent
• Over 70,000 say junior doctors should strike over new contract OnMedica

Call to improve radiotherapy access

Call to improve radiotherapy access Millions of people globally have died unnecessarily from cancers that could have been treated by radiotherapy, according to doctors. BBC News

Poor care in some GP practices 'shocking' says CQC chief inspector

Poor care in some GP practices 'shocking' says CQC chief inspector The poor standard of care CQC inspectors have discovered at some GP practices in England has been 'a shock', according to the watchdog's chief inspector of general practice Professor Steve Field. GP Online

Half of all services now failing as UK care sector crisis deepends

Half of all services now failing as UK care sector crisis deepends Five years of funding cuts blamed for crisis threatening the welfare of elderly and disabled people

Nearly half of social care services visited by inspectors in the past year were found to be failing the frail and vulnerable, in what relatives and experts say is a symptom of the growing financial crisis in the sector.

An update given to the board of the Care Quality Commission last week showed that 41% of community-based adult social care services, hospice services and residential social care services inspected since last October were inadequate or required improvement. Of the 8,170 services examined, less than 1% (38) were outstanding and 58% (4,381) were good, according to the chief executive’s report, which was delivered last Wednesday. Continue reading... The Guardian

Addenbrooke's: why are internationally renowned hospitals struggling?

Addenbrooke's: why are internationally renowned hospitals struggling? A number of specialist hospitals are facing serious problems with their district general services

The Care Quality Commission’s decision to classify the renowned Cambridge University hospitals foundation trust, which runs Addenbrooke’s hospital, as inadequate is only the latest example of specialist hospitals running into serious problems with their district general hospital (DGH) services.

Imperial College healthcare NHS trust was designated “requires improvement” last December, with concerns over cleanliness, weaknesses in the safety culture and “markedly varied” leadership in its hospitals. The famous John Radcliffe hospital, part of Oxford University hospitals NHS trust, was similarly judged “requires improvement” in May 2014 in light of a failure to learn from “never” events and problems in surgery, while senior doctors were said to be alienated from the board. In January 2014 the CQC issued University College London hospitals foundation trust withfour compliance notices over the risk of unsafe surgery, serious problems in A&E and poor record-keeping on its wards. Continue reading... The Guardian

UK cancer survival worst in western Europe

UK cancer survival worst in western Europe Research published in the European Journal of Cancer shows the UK has the worst survival rates for cancer in western Europe, with rates one third lower than those of Sweden. The Daily Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital must cut agency nurses spend by almost £1m

Northampton General Hospital must cut agency nurses spend by almost £1m Northampton General Hospital bosses must slash current spending on agency nurses by almost £1m a year based on latest figures. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Blue light services bungle sees broken-armed rider left in a ditch near Northamptonshire for two hours and 40 minutes

Blue light services bungle sees broken-armed rider left in a ditch near Northamptonshire for two hours and 40 minutes A stricken motorcyclist was left in a ditch near the Northamptonshire border with a broken arm for close to three hours after a mix up between three neighbouring police forces. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Ditch crash biker sent 'pillar-to-post' BBC Northampton
• Crash victim left in ditch by police BBC Northampton

Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015

Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015 Mergers of trusts in the NHS are often instigated by national bodies so that NHS trusts can gain foundation trust status or failing providers can be rescued from financial difficulties. This report looks at 20 mergers between 2010 and mid-2015 and finds that significant sums of money are being spent on such mergers (£2 billion on just 12 mergers over this period), often based on faulty reasoning and a lack of evidence that mergers offer lasting solutions. The King's Fund

See also:

• NHS mergers: putting all our baskets into one egg? The King's Fund

Financial fraud costs the NHS more than £5 billion a year

Financial fraud costs the NHS more than £5 billion a year Most of this is occurs in the payroll, procurement and pharmaceutical services, claims analysis. OnMedica

See also:

• The Financial Cost of Healthcare Fraud Report 2015 PKF Accountants
• Fraud 'costing NHS over £5bn a year' BBC News
• NHS losing billions to 'fraud by doctors and dentists' The Daily Telegraph
• NHS fraud could cost £1b because of government cuts The Independent
• Department of Health rejects 'highly speculative' estimate of general practice fraud Pulse

Transforming healthcare in England’s core cities

Transforming healthcare in England’s core cities This report shows how CCGs in England’s core cities are taking up the challenge set out in the Five Year Forward View and transforming the way in which healthcare is delivered to the benefit of their local population. The key themes of the report are: developing new partnerships, ensuring equity of care across diverse populations, improving wellbeing, and finding better ways to provide healthcare services. NHS Clinical Commissioners

Nothing general about general practice, NHS ad campaign tells students

Nothing general about general practice, NHS ad campaign tells students The NHS in England has launched a social media advertising campaign to attract more doctors into general practice. GP Online

See also:

• New campaign launched to inspire young medics to choose general practice Health Education England

UK cancer patients being denied drugs due to inflated prices, say experts

UK cancer patients being denied drugs due to inflated prices, say experts Research reveals how drug firms are charging the NHS such high prices the health service no longer offers them to patients

Cancer patients are being denied drugs on the NHS that could lengthen their lives because of unnecessarily exorbitant prices, say experts.

The drugs are cheap to make, and are available to patients in some other countries at much lower prices, according to new research. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Cancer patients denied best medicines because drug firms charge more in Britain The Independent

New NHS contract will worsen shortage of junior doctors, Jeremy Hunt told

New NHS contract will worsen shortage of junior doctors, Jeremy Hunt told Trainee doctors group says changes to terms and conditions present ‘immediate risk to provision of healthcare’ and will weaken NHS for generations.

Imposing a punitive new contract on young doctors will exacerbate already serious staffing shortages in key areas of frontline NHS care, their leaders have warned Jeremy Hunt.

In a sharply worded letter they have told the health secretary that forcing junior doctors to work even more antisocial hours while ending overtime pay will weaken the NHS for generations Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How much are junior doctors paid, and why are they threatening to strike? The Daily Telegraph
• Letter from medical Royal College presidents to Jeremy Hunt – in full The Guardian
• This is how we staunch the flow of junior doctors out of the NHS The Guardian
• Junior doctors’ new contract is a disaster | Letters The Guardian
• General practice is facing a perfect storm | Letters The Guardian

Alzheimer's scandal: Government adviser Dame Sally Davies backtracks over claims she tried to discredit study

Alzheimer's scandal: Government adviser Dame Sally Davies backtracks over claims she tried to discredit study It is alleged that Dame Sally received confidential information under the strict embargo terms of the journal Nature. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Chief medical officer Sally Davies 'tried to discredit impact of Alzheimer's study' The Daily Mail

Health apps approved by NHS 'may put users at risk of identity theft'

Health apps approved by NHS 'may put users at risk of identity theft' Health apps accredited by the NHS may not be adequately protecting personal information from hackers, a university study has claimed. The Independent

See also:

• NHS approved apps 'leaking' ID data BBC News
• The NHS health apps that leave your data vulnerable to hackers The Daily Mail
• NHS-backed apps 'putting privacy at risk' The Daily Telegraph
• NHS-accredited health apps putting users’ privacy at risk, study finds The Guardian

NHS unveils 'hospital chains' scheme in bid to secure the future of small, local clinics

NHS unveils 'hospital chains' scheme in bid to secure the future of small, local clinics The NHS will secure the future of small local hospitals by placing them in “hospital chains” led by some of the country’s leading medical institutions. The Independent

See also:

• Millions of patients to benefit from radical new hospital collaboration drive NHS England
• NHS chief: Top doctors to be sent to rural hospitals The Daily Telegraph
• NHS approves creation of hospital 'chains' in drive to save money The Guardian

Patient safety incident reporting continues to improve

Patient safety incident reporting continues to improve  A six-monthly data report on patient safety incidents reported to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) between 1 October 2014 and 31 March 2015.

Acute hospitals, mental health services, community trusts, ambulance services and primary care organisations report incidents to the NRLS where any patient could have been harmed or has suffered any level of harm. The reporting of incidents to a national central system helps protect patients from avoidable harm by increasing opportunities to learn from mistakes and where things go wrong. NHS England

Childhood flu programme training slides for healthcare professionals

Childhood flu programme training slides for healthcare professionals This slide pack has been developed for trainers and leaders of the childhood flu programme.  Public Health England

Common mental health disorders linked with increased risk of violent reoffending in ex-prisoners

Common mental health disorders linked with increased risk of violent reoffending in ex-prisoners Ian Cummins considers the implications of a new cohort study of convicted prisoners in Sweden, which links psychiatric disorders with violent reoffending. The Mental Elf

NHS uncovers 1000 FGM cases in England

NHS uncovers 1000 FGM cases in England There were more than 1,000 newly recorded cases of female genital mutilation in England between April and June, NHS data reveals. BBC News

See also:

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - April 2015 to June 2015, Experimental Statistics Health and Social Care Information Centre

MMR vaccination rate down for first time in eight years

MMR vaccination rate down for first time in eight years Data from Health and Social Care Information Centre shows 92.3 per cent of children vaccinated with first dose of MMR by their second birthday. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS Immunisation Statistics, England - 2014-15 Health and Social Care Information Centre
• Childhood MMR vaccination rates fall BBC News
• Number of children given MMR jab FALLS for the first time in 7 years The Daily Mail

Mental health research 'needs boost'

Mental health research 'needs boost' More investment in mental health research would quickly save the health service money, a major European study says. BBC News

See also:

• Mental health research priorities for Europe Lancet Psychiatry (free, but registration required)

Prepare for a catastrophic NHS winter meltdown

Prepare for a catastrophic NHS winter meltdown The 90% of trusts predicting a deficit are caught in a catch-22: to skimp on staffing and standards, or spend money they don’t have.

The NHS is on the brink of a major, messy failure. If nothing is done to address the underlying issues now, the failure will be deep with grave consequences and a long recovery. This winter things are set to go catastrophically wrong.

Pressure on health services normally reduces in summer, often producing undue optimism about how they will cope come winter and delaying necessary preparations. Last summer there was virtually no reduction in pressure. Oddly, this failed to dent the optimism. The revised story was that unrelenting pressure had become a year-round phenomenon, so increased numbers and longer waits were now normal and the coming winter wouldn’t be any worse. Continue reading... The Guardian

GPs need more support and training to spot childhood cancers

GPs need more support and training to spot childhood cancers Too many children are being diagnosed with cancer at A&E because family doctors don’t have adequate knowledge about the symptoms

Childhood cancers can be difficult to diagnose: symptoms are often similar to other illnesses and, because it is rare, a GP is only likely to see one or two cases in their whole career. But the impact of a cancer diagnosis is devastating and it’s vital that we find ways to reduce potential delays in diagnosis.

It’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and in the lead up to it, Clic Sargent polled parents who have children with cancer or have had cancer in the past. Six in 10 told us they felt the GPs they saw had insufficient knowledge of the key symptoms. A third said they felt their child had a delayed diagnosis and just under half saw their GP at least three times before their child was diagnosed. Continue reading... The Guardian

Why the new NHS junior doctors' contract is pushing me to Malta

Why the new NHS junior doctors' contract is pushing me to Malta Pay cuts and unsafe working hours are pushing our young doctors' loyalty to the NHS, and Britain, to its breaking point. I know I'm not alone. The Daily Telegraph

Experts investigating alleged breach of IT security at Kettering General Hospital

Experts investigating alleged breach of IT security at Kettering General Hospital An investigation has been launched following reports of an alleged breach of IT security at Kettering General Hospital. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Healthwatch Northamptonshire investigate accident and emergency at county hospitals

Healthwatch Northamptonshire investigate accident and emergency at county hospitals Healthwatch Northamptonshire has been investigating accident and emergcy units at the county's hospital.

The independent consumer champion for people in Northamptonshire using health and social care, spent two weeks in May talking to people waiting in Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments at Northampton General Hospital (NGH), Kettering General Hospital (KGH) and Corby Urgent Care Centre. Northants Herald and Post

A culture of stewardship: The responsibility of NHS leaders to deliver better value healthcare

A culture of stewardship: The responsibility of NHS leaders to deliver better value healthcare Healthcare value expert Prof Sir Muir Gray shares how the NHS can change the way it uses public resources over the next five years. Healthcare value expert Prof Sir Muir Gray shares how the NHS can change the way it uses public resources over the next five years. NHS Confederation

Is the purchaser–provider split dying?

Is the purchaser–provider split dying? Is the ‘purchaser–provider split’ dead? No. Is it dying? Quite possibly.

These questions are prompted by what is going on in the NHS right now and by the second annual lecture for NHS Providers, given by Sir David Nicholson last week.

Having largely kept silent since leaving NHS England Sir David re-appeared to tell the government, point blank, that it simply has to find more money for the NHS. No doubt about that.

He opened by saying that he would not be making any major policy pronouncements: ‘So I won’t be saying that the Department of Health should be abolished or that the purchaser–provider split should be put in the dustbin of history where it belongs.’ In questions, however, he was tempted further. The King's Fund

RCP launches two major reports on payment and structures in the NHS

RCP launches two major reports on payment and structures in the NHS As the NHS faces some of the greatest financial pressures in its history and an ageing patient population with complex care needs, it is vital that policymakers and system leaders dismantle the barriers to a stronger, more sustainable and more patient-centred NHS. Royal College of Physicians

• Putting the pieces together: Removing the barriers to excellent patient care
• How physicians can influence the commissioning system

Could an arthritis drug also help treat Alzheimer's disease?

Could an arthritis drug also help treat Alzheimer's disease? "Arthritis drug could soon reverse Alzheimer's symptoms after successful tests on mice," The Independent reports. The drug – salsalate – may help regulate levels of the abnormal tau protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, which could improve memory skills.

Salsalate, which belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) class of medicines, has been used for many years. And as The Daily Telegraph points out, it was even mentioned by the 5th century BC physician Hippocrates.

This study was conducted in mice with clumps of tau in their brains. Salsalate was given to the mice and was found to block the process that can lead to a further protein build up. Treated mice also performed better in tests designed to assess memory skills.

While these findings show promise, the studies were conducted in mice and were only conducted for a couple of months.

Further human studies will be required to determine how effective the drug is and over what timescale. But because this drug has already been approved for use in humans, these tests may come sooner rather than later. NHS Choices

Drug company to cut 5,000% price rise

Drug company to cut 5,000% price rise A US drug company facing an outcry after raising the price of a drug used by Aids patients by over 5,000% says it will lower the price. BBC News

See also: 

• drug company defends huge price rise BBC News
• VIDEO: HIV drugs price hike defended BBC News
• VIDEO: How much does making a drug cost? BBC News
• American hedge funder Martin Shkreli increases price of Aids-related drug by 5,000pc The Daily Telegraph
• Hilary Clinton joins outrage at hedge fund investor Martin Shkreli's 5,000% HIV drug price hike The Independent

Home care visits 'must last 30 minutes'

Home care visits 'must last 30 minutes' Carers should spent at least 30 minutes on home visits to older people as part of a new gold standard for services, according to new guidance. BBC News

See also:

• Offer personalised care to support those who need help to live at home NICE
• Home care: delivering personal care and practical support to older people living in their own homes (guideline) NICE
• Five-minute care visits for elderly are banned: Slots must now be half an hour after 'deeply worried' officials say it is impossible to treat patients with dignity in such a short time The Daily Mail

What Addenbrooke's tells us about state of NHS

What Addenbrooke's tells us about state of NHS What the Addenbrooke's hospital failure tells us about the NHS. BBC News

See also:

• Press release: Monitor puts Cambridge University Hospitals into special measures and takes enforcement action Monitor
• Addenbrooke's and Rosie hospitals' patients 'put at risk' BBC News
• Ministers 'allowed' Addenbrooke's Hospital to fail thousands of patients The Daily Mail
• Addenbrooke's Hospital in special measures after Care Quality Commission inspection The Daily Telegraph
• Addenbrooke's hospital in special measures after 'serious staff shortages' The Guardian
• Addenbrooke's hospital Q&A: What are 'special measures' - and what happens? The Independent

Better data is vital to solve A&E problems

Better data is vital to solve A&E problems A&E attendance has reached record levels – but commissioners and providers don’t know enough about this surge in demand to properly plan and fund services

Digitisation of healthcare is moving apace but when our hospitals capture information about emergency care, they rely on a dataset developed in the early 1980s.

It seems odd in an age which aspires to delivering integrated care and digital interoperability that we’re making do with a functional but pretty basic dataset. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• A&E is broken – but it can be fixed The Guardian

Life-expectancy for British women is the second lowest in western Europe

Life-expectancy for British women is the second lowest in western Europe The UK is ranked 14 out of 15 nations, warns the WHO report. The Daily Telegraph

NHS crisis worsens after new figures show three-quarters of hospitals warned about dangerous staff shortages

NHS crisis worsens after new figures show three-quarters of hospitals warned about dangerous staff shortages The severity of the staffing crisis engulfing the NHS has been revealed by new figures showing that three-quarters of hospitals have been warned about potentially dangerous staff shortages. The Independent

Numbers of NHS doctors registering to work overseas could reach unprecedented record

Numbers of NHS doctors registering to work overseas could reach unprecedented record The Government’s decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors may risk an exodus of young medics, after figures revealed an unprecedented spike in NHS doctors registering to work overseas. The Independent

See also:

• 1,600 doctors apply to work overseas in just three DAYS The Daily Mail
• A third of A&E doctors leaving NHS to work abroad The Daily Telegraph
• Numbers of NHS doctors registering to work abroad could reach unprecedented levels The Daily Telegraph
• Young doctors must repay debt to taxpayers before moving abroad The Daily Telegraph
• NHS warned of exodus of young doctors as registrations to work abroad soar The Guardian

New report sheds light on top hospital complaints investigated by the PHSO

New report sheds light on top hospital complaints investigated by the PHSO A new report has revealed that, similar to last year, the top three reasons for hospital complaints investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in the last financial year (2014-15) were poor communication, errors in diagnosis and poor treatment.

Non-medical aspects of patient care are cited as a factor in almost half of all complaints investigated by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Poor communication, including quality and accuracy of information, was a factor in one third of all complaints.

Other reasons for complaints in this period included staff attitude and behaviour, which were factors in two out of 10 complaints.

See also:

• Complaints about acute trusts 2014-15 Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
• 'No apology' tops patient complaints BBC News

Addenbrooke's put in special measures

Addenbrooke's put in special measures One of the biggest NHS trusts is put in special measures after inspectors found concerns over staffing, treatment delays and governance failings. BBC News

NHS maximum waiting times and patient choice policies

NHS maximum waiting times and patient choice policies A parliamentary briefing sets out policy on maximum waiting time standards and patient choice in the English NHS. House of Commons Library

Investigating the impact of out-of-hours GP services on A&E attendance rates: multilevel regression analysis

Investigating the impact of out-of-hours GP services on A&E attendance rates: multilevel regression analysis  This paper uses multilevel regression modelling to investigate the factors affecting levels of attendance at accident and emergency (A&E) departments by patients registered at a GP practice. National Audit Office

See also:

• Larger GP practices reduce emergency admissions, says spending watchdog GP Online

Diabetes spending varies almost two-fold across CCG areas

Diabetes spending varies almost two-fold across CCG areas Spending on diabetes treatment varies almost two-fold across different CCG areas due to 'inefficient spending', according to an NHS report. GP Online

How 'midlife MOT' health checks waste £450m a year: Report finds tests are 'costly and ineffective', saving just 1,000 lives annually

How 'midlife MOT' health checks waste £450m a year: Report finds tests are 'costly and ineffective', saving just 1,000 lives annually Forcing health workers to promote health checks when they known to be 'ineffective' saps their morale, London School of Economics and the University of Liverpool experts said. The Daily Mail

New junior doctors' contract changes everything I signed up for

New junior doctors' contract changes everything I signed up for The NHS I knew when I started out as a medical student has been chipped away and patient safety is under threat

This August I moved from being a medical student to become a doctor. After five years of endless exams, coursework and presentations, medical school was finally over. I had often wondered what life would be like. I knew the hours would be long, the on calls arduous and the night shifts terrifying. What I never imagined was that within eight weeks of starting there would be calls to strike, friends from the years above quitting medicine, others leaving for New Zealand (and never coming back) and a new contract being imposed by the government that altered everything I had signed up for. I find myself a junior doctor at one of the most turbulent times the NHS has ever witnessed.

The lines were drawn between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government last week. The BMA branded the government’s newest junior doctor contract as unsafe and unfair, while the government responded by saying it would enforce the contract from August 2016 anyway. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Given the state of the NHS, it's no wonder doctors are burnt out The Guardian
• What really happens the day junior doctors start work in the NHS The Guardian

Step inside Britain's first men-only mental health centre

Step inside Britain's first men-only mental health centre Last week, The Eaton Foundation in Burton upon Trent opened its doors. The staff explain how a pioneering holistic approach is helping their all-male clientele get back on their feet. The Daily Telegraph