NMC introduces new language requirements for EU nurses and midwives

NMC introduces new language requirements for EU nurses and midwives From 18 January 2016, new language requirements come into force for EU nurses and midwives wishing to join the register. What does this mean for your workforce? NHS Employers

Study probes why patients ignore advice

Study probes why patients ignore advice UK researchers are beginning a million pound study to try to find out why many of us do not follow medical advice or stick with treatment. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: Why do people ignore doctors' advice? BBC News

VIDEO: Three years in hospital, miles from home

VIDEO: Three years in hospital, miles from home A boy with learning disabilities and autism who has been kept at a specialist hospital hundreds of miles from his home for three years faces further delays to his release. BBC News

Scottish Ebola nurse 'critically ill'

Scottish Ebola nurse 'critically ill' Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated for complications from Ebola, is now "critically ill" after her condition deteriorates. BBC News

See also:

• Ebola lingers in semen for nine months BBC News
• Pauline Cafferkey now CRITICALLY ill due to Ebola complications The Daily Mail
• Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey is now critically ill The Daily Telegraph
• Pauline Cafferkey: The British nurse who survived Ebola and is back in isolation The Independent
• Pauline Cafferkey: Rapid decline of nurse cured of Ebola leaves experts staggered The Independent

GPs urged to refer more via two-week cancer pathway to reduce deaths

GPs urged to refer more via two-week cancer pathway to reduce deaths GP practices have been urged to increase use of the two-week cancer pathway, after a study in the BMJ found that low referral rates through the scheme were linked to higher death rates in patients. GP Online

See also:

• Use of the English urgent referral pathway for suspected cancer and mortality in patients with cancer: cohort study BMJ (open access)
• GPs call for greater access to diagnostics for detecting cancer Royal College of General Practitioners
• Doctors who delay cancer tests 'cause 2,400 deaths a year' The Daily Mail
• Thousands of cancer patients dying because GPs fail to refer for tests The Daily Telegraph
• Cancer fast track scheme could have saved thousands of lives if used properly The Independent

Social care, health and housing rise to the challenge of integration

Social care, health and housing rise to the challenge of integration Changes in the care landscape are benefiting service users as support becomes more holistic

New roles are emerging and new career paths are being developed as social care, health and housing rise to the challenge of integrated services. At the same time, the job specs of existing posts are changing and new core skills are being added as organisations across the sectors, and those working for them, respond to the developing landscape.

In Greenwich, south London, care navigators are being employed to guide service users through the integrated health and care system and, crucially, prevent the need for individuals to repeat their story to other professionals. The new role, which is already being copied elsewhere in the country, is said to have achieved £900,000 savings in domiciliary care costs alone in 2013. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Housing associations bid to ease the pressure on the NHS The Guardian

The medical innovation bill seeks to save lives. In fact it will endanger them | Katherine Murphy

The medical innovation bill seeks to save lives. In fact it will endanger them | Katherine Murphy This bill would remove safeguards that protect patients and entitle them to compensation and allow treatment based on anecdotal evidence

Any medical innovation that saves lives and provides better outcomes for patients has to be a good thing. But a private member’s bill which goes before the Commons on Friday and which purports to make it easier to save lives is an ill-judged, dangerous and unnecessary attempt at legislation in this area.

The basic tenet of the access to medical treatments (innovation) bill is that doctors should be able to try untested drugs and treatments on patients without the fear of medical negligence claims. This fear of litigation, it is argued, stifles innovation, although neither the bill’s author, Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris, nor his backers seem able to provide any real evidence to support this claim. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS report into safe staffing levels delayed after talks with Westminster

NHS report into safe staffing levels delayed after talks with Westminster The health watchdog NICE had been told by NHS England to suspend its research on safe staffing levels in June. The Independent

Woman with broken back forced to sit on wooden chair in A&E for four hours

Woman with broken back forced to sit on wooden chair in A&E for four hours Diane King says it's not NHS staff's fault, it's those running it. The Independent

Nurses with no ward experience invited to work shifts at Northampton General Hospital

Nurses with no ward experience invited to work shifts at Northampton General Hospital Hospital bosses in Northampton are encouraging all types of nurses to join its staff ‘bank’ to help reduce it huge agency bill. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• NGH banking on local nurses Northampton General Hospital

Preparing for an ageing workforce - insights from York trust

Preparing for an ageing workforce - insights from York trust Read about what York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are doing to address the challenges and opportunities an ageing workforce presents for them. NHS Employers

Physical health of mentally ill 'ignored'

Physical health of mentally ill 'ignored' People who have suffered mental health problems in England are five times more likely to be admitted to hospital as an emergency, a study shows. BBC News

Sugar tax evidence 'being withheld'

Sugar tax evidence 'being withheld' The head of Public Health England is being hauled before MPs amid accusations vital evidence is being withheld about the merits of a sugar tax. BBC News

400 NHS fat cats share £1m bonus despite the worst financial crisis in a generation

400 NHS fat cats share £1m bonus despite the worst financial crisis in a generation  One of the NHS's most powerful women, Dame Una O'Brien, pictured, whose role is to ensure the health service runs efficiently, was handed a £17,500 bonus. The Daily Mail

Jeremy Hunt bans 'rip off' agency fees for locum doctors and nurses

Jeremy Hunt bans 'rip off' agency fees for locum doctors and nurses From April 2016, no agency doctor or nurse can earn more than a regular member of NHS staff. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• News story: Clampdown on NHS staffing agency costs Department of Health
• NHS agency staff cap 'to save 1bn' BBC News

NHS 'backtracking' on ward nurse numbers introduced after Mid Staffs

NHS 'backtracking' on ward nurse numbers introduced after Mid Staffs Critics fear safety will be sacrificed to cut costs after NHS bosses tell hospitals that 1:8 nurse-to-patient ratio is a guide, not a requirement.

The NHS has been accused of backtracking on improvements in patient safety made after the Mid Staffs scandal by reducing the number of nurses on wards because of its growing financial crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS seven-day plans will fail without more resources, warns doctors' chief

NHS seven-day plans will fail without more resources, warns doctors' chief Royal College of Physicians president criticises health secretary for questioning medics’ dedication and says NHS needs more than £8bn extra funding

The government’s “utopian” plan for a seven-day NHS is doomed to failure due to a lack of doctors, money and diagnostic testing services, the leader of England’s hospital doctors has warned.

Prof Jane Dacre’s gloomy prognosis is a blow to David Cameron’s key election pledge of turning the NHS into a seven-day service by 2020 in order to improve patients’ quality of care. Continue reading... The Guardian

Most NHS depression apps are unproven, warn health experts

Most NHS depression apps are unproven, warn health experts Just 15 per cent of apps recommended by the NHS for depression have been proven to be effective, the University of Liverpool has found. The Daily Telegraph

Rothwell man whose mum died after operation to take legal action over surgeon

Rothwell man whose mum died after operation to take legal action over surgeon The son of a Rothwell woman who died in hospital more than a decade ago is to take legal action after it emerged that her surgeon is being investigated over concerns surrounding his treatment. Northamptonshire Telgraph

Daisy idea will encourage new nurses to stay at Northampton General Hospital, says director of nursing

Daisy idea will encourage new nurses to stay at Northampton General Hospital, says director of nursing Newly-qualified nurses at Northampton General Hospital are to be presented with a commemorative daisy pin badge to welcome them to their new role. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Daisy campaign to bolster support to new nurses Northampton General Hospital

Context for successful quality improvement

Context for successful quality improvement Research and evaluation of quality improvement in health care repeatedly shows that results fall short of expectations. The Health Foundation

How to set up a staff support network

How to set up a staff support network This guidance is designed to help in setting up a staff support network group in your organisation. It provides ideas based on established good practice, and can be adapted to suit your organisation's needs for non-commercial purposes. It can be adapted for any type of staff support network, and it has been developed as an example for black and minority ethnic staff networks. NHS Employers

Concern about rise in UK Lyme disease cases

Concern about rise in UK Lyme disease cases "Surging numbers of people are being diagnosed with Lyme disease as cases spread from rural areas to the suburbs," the Daily Mail reports.

The ongoing rise in Lyme disease cases in the UK – thought to be driven by climate change, leading to warmer winters – has been known by public health officials for some time. Reported cases in England and Wales rose from 268 in 2001 to 959 in 2011, but the true figure is thought be much higher. Current estimates put the actual figure at around 3,000 cases a year in England and Wales. NHS Choices

Ebola beds prevented 40,000 deaths

Ebola beds prevented 40,000 deaths The global response to Sierra Leone's Ebola crisis helped avert some 40,000 deaths - but thousands more may have been prevented with a quicker response, say researchers. BBC News

Adoption of five good practices will lop 20% off hospital planned services bill

Adoption of five good practices will lop 20% off hospital planned services bill Applies to ophthalmology and orthopaedic elective procedures, but scope to extend further afield. OnMedica

See also:

• Helping NHSproviders improve productivity in elective care Monitor
• NHS £2bn annual deficit can be cut through efficiency, says health minister The Guardian 

The transatlantic drugs divide: Patients in the US pay THREE TIMES more for drugs than those in the UK

The transatlantic drugs divide: Patients in the US pay THREE TIMES more for drugs than those in the UK  Researchers at the University of Liverpool found the trend affected the top 20 drugs sold in 2014, including those for breast, brain and lung cancer as well as diabetes and arthritis. The Daily Mail

Doctor who accessed lovers' medical records is suspended

Doctor who accessed lovers' medical records is suspended A village GP who became romantically involved with two of her patients and even altered medical records has been suspended. The Daily Telegraph

Junior NHS staff 'should carry out more parts of surgery' in NHS efficiency drive

Junior NHS staff 'should carry out more parts of surgery' in NHS efficiency drive Nurses and junior doctors should do surgical procedures currently done by consultants, and patients should be 'Skyped' instead of called in for follow-up appointments, in bid to save £1.4bn, regulators say. The Daily Telegraph

Junior doctors urge Jeremy Hunt to guarantee medics will not see pay cut

Junior doctors urge Jeremy Hunt to guarantee medics will not see pay cut Chair of the BMA’s junior doctors' committee writes to Health Secretary seeking 'concrete assurances'. The Independent

See also:

• Junior doctors rebuff Jeremy Hunt over contract negotiations The Guardian

Measuring the performance of local health systems

Measuring the performance of local health systems In June 2015, The King’s Fund was commissioned by the Department of Health to review how the performance of local health systems could be assessed.

The review looks at how to measure the performance of health services within clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas, including how well these services work with social care and public health services and recommends that there is a radical simplification and alignment of existing NHS performance frameworks. The King's Fund

See also:

• How can the performance of local health systems be assessed? (blog) The King's Fund

An alternative guide to mental health care in England

An alternative guide to mental health care in England An animation that explores mental health services and how they work alongside other health and public services. The King's Fund

Research and analysis: NHS foundation trusts: quarterly performance report (quarter 1, 2015/16)

Research and analysis: NHS foundation trusts: quarterly performance report (quarter 1, 2015/16) This report summarises Foundation Trust’s performance for the 3 months ending on 30 June 2015, showing increasing waiting times and a large increase in trusts in financial deficit. Monitor

See also:

• Radical change needed from foundation trusts to tackle intense pressures Monitor
• NHS Trusts – Financial Position for Q1 of 2015/16 Trust Development Authority
• NHS providers heading towards unprecedented deficit The King's Fund
• RCN comment on Monitor’s analysis of NHS deficit Royal College of Nursing
• NHS deficits hit 'massive' 930m BBC News
• NHS is in 'worst financial situation in a generation' with 1bn deficit The Daily Mail
• NHS faces biggest financial crisis 'in a generation' The Daily Telegraph
• Alarming NHS deficit figures ignore £2bn-plus GP cash shortfall, warns GPC GP Online
• Trusts amass 1bn deficit in three months as NHS faces 'financial meltdown' GP Online
• NHS facing 2bn deficit and 'worst financial crisis in a generation' The Guardian
• NHS hospitals' 930m overspend prompts calls for urgent funding The Guardian
• The Guardian view on the NHS: to cut the health deficit, start by spending more | Editorial The Guardian
• NHS in financial crisis after posting £1 billion losses in just three months The Independent
• NHS Trusts in England rack up deficit approaching £1bn Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Maternity services overworked, understaffed and struggling to cope shows senior midwives survey

Maternity services overworked, understaffed and struggling to cope shows senior midwives survey Maternity unit closures, budget and training cuts and reduced services are among the issues highlighted by a survey of UK senior midwives. Royal College of Midwives

See also:

• Midwives warning over staff shortages BBC News
• NHS funding to pay for a private midwife could take pressure off hospitals The Daily Mail
• Mothers and babies 'at risk' as midwife crisis grows The Daily Telegraph

1 in 5 children are rejected mental health treatment

1 in 5 children are rejected mental health treatment A ‘time bomb’ of serious mental health conditions is being created if vulnerable children don’t get early help.

One fifth of all children referred to local specialist NHS mental health services are rejected for treatment, according to new research. This includes children whose problems stem from abuse. NSPCC

England's hospice ratings 'encouraging'

England's hospice ratings 'encouraging' More than 90% of England's hospices inspected so far have been rated as "good" or "outstanding", the care watchdog says. BBC News

UK Digital Health Report shows how we use mobile apps to monitor sleep, stress and blood pressure

UK Digital Health Report shows how we use mobile apps to monitor sleep, stress and blood pressure  According to the UK Digital Health Report, women are leading the way when it comes to using ‘health-tech’, with many now able to check their fertility and ovulation levels. The Daily Mail

New NHS regulator has impossible task in face of spiralling funding crisis

New NHS regulator has impossible task in face of spiralling funding crisis Jim Mackey, named as first chief executive of NHS Improvement, has an impressive record – but how can he eliminate the deficit without compromising in other areas?

Jim Mackey is an outstanding choice as first chief executive of the new provider regulator, NHS Improvement. The problem is that, in the face of a deficit of £930m in just three months this financial year, he has been given an impossible task.

Mackey’s work as chief executive of Northumbria healthcare foundation trust embodies key areas where the NHS needs to succeed. The trust is demonstrably patient focused, it has an impressive level of integration with social services, it is making good progress on working more closely with primary care, and it found a novel solution to its PFI problems – getting help from Northumberland county council, which could access low interest rates. Mackey has also been working on a provider-led “accountable care organisation” to manage population health and is an enthusiast for hospital chains. Continue reading... The Guardian

Junior doctors demand more concessions from Jeremy Hunt

Junior doctors demand more concessions from Jeremy Hunt More than 2,000 medics and students tell health secretary days after he tried to defuse anger that proposed contracts are unfair and risk patient safety.

Rank-and-file junior doctors have warned Jeremy Hunt he must make further concessions on proposed new contracts to prevent them striking or taking other industrial action over pay and weekend working.

More than 2,000 medics and students have written to the health secretary saying his attempts to impose new terms and conditions on 53,000 NHS staff “remain unfair to doctors and unsafe to patients”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS leaders urge junior doctors back to negotiating table The Daily Telegraph
• Letter from junior doctors to Jeremy Hunt The Guardian

Exclusive: Jeremy Hunt accused of sugar tax 'cover-up'

Exclusive: Jeremy Hunt accused of sugar tax 'cover-up' Health Secretary 'harming battle against child obesity by failing to publish report'. The Daily Telegraph

Bedblocking: Delayed discharge from hospital costs NHS more than £300m

Bedblocking: Delayed discharge from hospital costs NHS more than £300m Opposition denounces ‘appalling’ new official statistics that show problems have escalated in the past six month. The Independent

Doctor who worked at Northamptonshire hospital accused of simulating sex act in front of colleague

Doctor who worked at Northamptonshire hospital accused of simulating sex act in front of colleague A gynaecologist breached conditions imposed by a tribunal after working at Kettering General Hospital without informing the General Medical Council (GMC). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How fair is your local NHS?

How fair is your local NHS? A policy briefing from the University of York describes work to develop prototype equity indicators to support CCGs’ duties to reduce health inequalities in their local population.

Shared principles for redesigning the local health and care landscape

Shared principles for redesigning the local health and care landscape This document provides local system leaders - local authorities, health and wellbeing boards, clinical commissioning groups, NHS and care providers and patients and the public - with shared principles to ensure that proposals service redesign meet a number of fundamental requirements to assure themselves, their partners and their communities that proposals are focused on improving services and improving health and wellbeing outcomes. Local Government Association

Scale of NHS deficits to be revealed

Scale of NHS deficits to be revealed The scale of the growing financial problems in the NHS in England will become clearer later, when the latest accounts are published. BBC News

Nurse treated for Ebola 'complication'

Nurse treated for Ebola 'complication' A Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone is readmitted to an isolation unit in London following an "unusual late complication". BBC News

Stop overmedicating people with learning disabilities, says NICE

Stop overmedicating people with learning disabilities, says NICE All too often default position for challenging behaviours, says new quality standard. OnMedica

See also:

• Learning disabilities: challenging behaviour (Quality Standard) NICE

Is Jeremy Hunt really backing down in the junior doctors row?

Is Jeremy Hunt really backing down in the junior doctors row? Analysis: Health secretary’s attempt to mollify angry medics could be enough to head off a strike – or it could be seen as a bid to divide and rule.

Jeremy Hunt has written an unusually emollient letter to junior doctors with whom he is locked in a bitter row over pay and working hours. He lauds the 53,000 trainee medics whose work is “vital” to the NHS and seeks to empathise with them in their anger by saying that he is “saddened by the distress that is being caused to junior doctors”.

He offers a combination of clarifications, reassurances and “absolute guarantees” on key points of dispute – and also some genuinely new concessions – in a bid to stop the festering fury producing a vote for strike action. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Correspondence: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt writes to JDC Chair Johann Malawana Department of Health
• Letter from SoS to JDC on junior doctors contract NHS Employers
• RCGP response to Secretary of State's letter on junior doctors' contract Royal College of General Practitioners
• Hunt hints at junior doctor compromise BBC News
• Jeremy Hunt gives 'categorical assurance' not to cut junior doctor or GP trainee pay GP Online
• Jeremy Hunt letter to junior doctors in full The Guardian
• Hunt tries to stop junior doctors' strike with pay and working hours guarantees The Guardian
• Labour accuses Jeremy Hunt of putting patients’ lives at risk The Guardian
• Poll overwhelmingly backs juniors’ concerns over contract proposals OnMedica

Ambulances arrive late to nearly a MILLION life-threatening calls in a year - with figures for August the worst since records began

Ambulances arrive late to nearly a MILLION life-threatening calls in a year - with figures for August the worst since records began Ten of the 12 ambulance trusts in England missed key targets which state life threatening calls should be reached within eight minutes over 12 months, figures from NHS England show. The Daily Mail

Why I'll never complain about the NHS again

Why I'll never complain about the NHS again Six years after she broke her back, Judith Woods needed emergency treatment in hospital again - and, this time, could not fault the care. The Daily Telegraph

Tory health minister, Lord Prior, accused over dismantle the NHS meeting

Tory health minister, Lord Prior, accused over dismantle the NHS meeting Unite union says the news reveals 'the influence of private US healthcare on Conservative thinking'. The Independent

Northamptonshire County Council set for £17.5 million overspend and possible raid on reserves

Northamptonshire County Council set for £17.5 million overspend and possible raid on reserves A bid to slash £68 million from Northamptonshire County council’s budget this year could fall more than £36 million short according to latest figures, prompting fears the authority is in financial crisis. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Finance chief adamant Northamptonshire County Council will fill £17.5 million black hole despite opposition concerns Northamptonshire Telegraph

A report on the views of parents/carers, staff and volunteers on services for under 5s delivered by Children’s Centres and Library Plus in Northamptonshire

A report on the views of parents/carers, staff and volunteers on services for under 5s delivered by Children’s Centres and Library Plus in Northamptonshire Report on the views of parents, carers, staff and volunteers on what they think of the changes to libraries and children’s centre services in Northamptonshire and how services can be improved. Healthwatch Northamptonshire 

See also:

• Report on the views of families using children’s centres and library plus services (press release) Healthwatch Northamptonshire
• SPECIAL REPORT: Children’s centres fear ‘lost generation’ of families after loss of kids’ sessions in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Libraries in Northamptonshire lack ‘space, facilities, staff, volunteers and expertise’ for under fives sessions Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hospice nurse used hand cream to insert catheter into Northampton patient

Hospice nurse used hand cream to insert catheter into Northampton patient A nurse who worked at Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton has been struck off for using hand cream to insert an out-of-date and unsterile catheter into a dying patient. Northamptonshire Chronicle and Echo

October ushers in more changes across NHS

October ushers in more changes across NHS Just six months after a raft of new arrangements for health and care services in England came into effect, 1 October saw the introduction of a few more.

Here we provide a comprehensive list of what they are and where to find further information and guidance. NHS Confederation

Waiting time prioritisation: Evidence from England

Waiting time prioritisation: Evidence from England "Following initiatives in other OECD countries, the English NHS and other healthcare systems faced with increasing excess demand for elective surgery should put more emphasis in encouraging further prioritisation on the list and consider formal policies to enforce this." Centre for Health Economics

Flu drug given out "indiscriminately"

Flu drug given out "indiscriminately" The antiviral drug Tamiflu was handed out "indiscriminately" during the last swine flu outbreak, a leading panel of UK scientists warns. BBC News

See also:

• Use of neuraminidase inhibitors in influenza The Academy of Medical Sciences
• Prepare to conduct pandemic flu trials in hospitals now The Academy of Medical Sciences

First week with no new Ebola cases

First week with no new Ebola cases The three West African countries at the heart of the Ebola epidemic record their first week with no new cases since the outbreak began in March 2014. BBC News

Top Tory claims HALF of NHS beds are facing the axe fuelling fears of health privatisation

Top Tory claims HALF of NHS beds are facing the axe fuelling fears of health privatisation A senior Tory privately suggested that 50% of NHS beds could be axed. Lord Prior – now NHS Productivity Minister – emailed the McKinsey consultancy firm after it paid for him to tour private health facilities in the US. The Daily Mirror

NHS leadership in crisis as running hospitals becomes near-impossible

NHS leadership in crisis as running hospitals becomes near-impossible Health trusts are haemorrhaging chief executives under pressure to balance the books and deliver high-quality care

Three years ago Keith McNeil, a surgeon turned hospital boss in his native Australia, was headhunted to be the new chief executive of the NHS trust that runs Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge, widely regarded as one of the jewels in the health service’s crown. Three years later, he has gone, a casualty of both his trust being put into special measures, after a Care Quality Commission report deemed it to be inadequate, and of its spiralling deficit, which is accumulating at £1.2m a week and expected to reach £64m by the end of the year.

In the statement announcing his sudden departure on 14 September, McNeil said: “This has been a very difficult decision … It is a matter of public record that we face a number of very serious challenges here in Cambridge, including a growing financial deficit, and I feel the time is right to have new leadership in place.” Jane Ramsey, the trust chair, noted that “he has shown great leadership qualities”. But they were not enough to arrest a serious decline in the hospital’s performance over the last year.

They were excellent, values-based leaders, working in tough times … The burden is too heavy, even for superwoman or man Continue reading... The Guardian

What do the government's devolution plans mean for a national health service?

What do the government's devolution plans mean for a national health service? The NHS and local government are being transformed at pace, and we should be asking serious questions about this silent revolution

We thought we had a political narrative on the shape of the NHS. David Cameron famously slams “pointless reorganisations” in 2011 but foolishly allows Andrew Lansley to run amok with his Health and Social Care Act in 2012. Jeremy Hunt is then brought in to steady the ship – Lansley having been deemed politically toxic – and we all settle down to making the 2012 structures work as best we can. Yet now we have a new kid on the block – George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer – shaking up the NHS in revolutionary ways and with no scrutiny or transparency. What’s going on? Continue reading... the Guardian

Health apps used by NHS staff putting highly sensitive and confidential patient data at risk, new report warns

Health apps used by NHS staff putting highly sensitive and confidential patient data at risk, new report warns Health serivce criticised for 'failing to keep pace with advances in digital technology and to take advantage of online tools and e-health' after researchers found doctors and nurses were sharing information via their unsecured smartphones. The Independent

See also:

• The ownership and clinical use of smartphones by doctors and nurses in the UK: a multicentre survey study BMJ Innovation
• Doctors' use of smartphones 'could threaten patient confidentiality' The Guardian

Home is not always the best place to die, says end-of-life care expert

Home is not always the best place to die, says end-of-life care expert Dr Kristian Pollock says more 'attention and resources' should be spent on end-of-life care in other locations. The Independent

See also:

• Pain relief is more important than being at home for dying patients The Daily Mail

U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective: Spending, Use of Services, Prices, and Health in 13 Countries

U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective: Spending, Use of Services, Prices, and Health in 13 Countries This analysis draws upon data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other cross-national analyses to compare health care spending, supply, utilization, prices, and health outcomes across 13 high-income countries. The Commonwealth Fund

Changes to out-of-hospital care in Northamptonshire labelled ‘bold and exciting’ by Tories and ‘gravely concerning’ by Labour

Changes to out-of-hospital care in Northamptonshire labelled ‘bold and exciting’ by Tories and ‘gravely concerning’ by Labour Moves to create a new service dealing with the out-of-hospital care of people in Northamptonshire could move a step further forward tomorrow. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Improving hospital discharge and intermediate care for older people

Improving hospital discharge and intermediate care for older people Acute hospitals in England are under unbelievable pressure right now and winter is on its way. Even though we have a rapidly ageing population and an increasing number of people living with complex long-term conditions, frailty or dementia, we have lost hospital beds at pace over the past three decades. The King's Fund

Health, disability and becoming a health and care professional

Health, disability and becoming a health and care professional This guidance for disabled people who are considering or training to become a professional has been newly revised by the HCPC. Following a three month consultation with stakeholders, including course leaders, professional bodies, students and employers, it also now includes new guidance on disclosing disabilities, information about education providers’ responsibilities and detailed examples of reasonable adjustments to reflect complex cases. Health and Care Professions Council

RCN comments on proposed changes to nurse tuition funding

RCN comments on proposed changes to nurse tuition funding The Councils of Deans of Health and Universities UK has submitted plans to the government’s spending review proposing the introduction of tuition fees and replacement of bursaries for nursing students with loans. Royal College of Nursing

Nursing morale has “dropped through the floor” - RCN research

Nursing morale has “dropped through the floor” - RCN research Nursing staff are working feel unsupported and undervalued, according to new research. Royal College of Nursing

Councils reject 1 in 3 for care

Councils reject 1 in 3 for care Two-thirds of older and disabled people who turn to their local councils in England for help with care are turned away, figures show. BBC News

Migration rules need re-think - NHS boss

Migration rules need re-think - NHS boss A re-think of immigration rules which protect ballet dancers but not vital foreign nurses need re-thinking, the head of the NHS in England says. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Employers responds to Migratory Advisory Committee's Tier 2 review NHS Employers
• Nurses should not be subject to new immigration rules, says NHS England chief The Guardian

UK end-of-life care 'best in world'

UK end-of-life care 'best in world' End-of-life care in the UK has been ranked as the best in the world with a study praising the quality and availability of services. BBC News

See also:

• The 2015 quality of death index The Economist
• VIDEO: Study praises UK end-of-life care BBC News
• Where is the best place in the world to die? Britain tops the table followed by Australia in second place and the US in ninth The Daily Mail
• UK has best end-of-life care in world, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• UK is the best place in the world to die, according to end-of-life care index The Guardian
• UK is the best place in the world to die, according to new study The Independent

Junior doctors will quit NHS if Government contract changes go ahead

Junior doctors will quit NHS if Government contract changes go ahead Exclusive: A poll of more than 6,000 trainees found 42 per cent of junior doctors said they would go abroad in search of work. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Minister backs doctors over contract BBC News
• Seven-day GP contract could deepen workforce crisis in under-doctored areas, warns Wollaston GP Online
• GPs need to cool down over seven-day NHS plans, says health minister GP Online
• 'If the contract is imposed I will leave medicine': NHS junior doctors on why they're protesting The Guardian
• BMA membership surges amid dispute over contracts The Guardian
• Proposed junior doctors’ contract will be a disaster for mental health  The Guardian

Doctor called off attempts to save six-year-old boy after mistaking him for another patient

Doctor called off attempts to save six-year-old boy after mistaking him for another patient Court hears that death of Jake Adcock, who had Down's Syndrome, was down to 'serious neglect' of hospital staff. The Independent

See also:

• Medics 'failed to spot' boy's sepsis BBC News

Replace doctor's judgement with more computers in the NHS, Jeremy Hunt says

Replace doctor's judgement with more computers in the NHS, Jeremy Hunt says The Health Secretary says the move would save money and improve patient safety at the same time. The Independent

NHS chief aims to protect small regional hospitals with specialist care

NHS chief aims to protect small regional hospitals with specialist care Patients will benefit from “world-class care” closer to home under new plans from the head of the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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