Thursday, 12 November 2015
Staff engagement - necessity or luxury?
Staff engagement - necessity or luxury? Our latest blog addresses why staff engagement has never been so important and how it will help to address key NHS workforce challenges. NHS Employers
RCN members warned about contract changes
RCN members warned about contract changes The RCN is concerned about an increasing number of NHS trusts that are asking nurses to volunteer to work overtime at basic rates of pay. Royal College of Nursing
Muslim hospice care need 'to rise'
Muslim hospice care need 'to rise' UK hospices could see a significant increase in Muslim patients in the coming years, in part due to changes to the traditional family structure, a report suggests. BBC News
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NHS v ministers: A case of deja vu?
NHS v ministers: A case of deja vu? Article looks at the current political situation of the NHS and Conservative party policy. BBC News
'Alarm' as patients shun flu jab
'Alarm' as patients shun flu jab Doctors have expressed alarm at a seemingly sharp fall in the number of people having the seasonal flu jab. BBC News
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- Thousands of patients risking their health by ‘shunning’ flu jab, say family doctors Royal College of General Practitioners
- 1000s shunning flu jab as Doctors warn warm weather is delaying 'at risk' groups The Daily Mail
- Thousands risking health by shunning flu jab, warn GPs The Guardian
Failure to resolve juniors’ contract ‘will destabilise NHS’
Failure to resolve juniors’ contract ‘will destabilise NHS’ RCGP stays firm in wholehearted support for juniors and calls for fresh negotiations. OnMedica
Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey released from London hospital after full recovery
Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey released from London hospital after full recovery The 39-year-old Scot has been transferred to Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to continue her recovery. The Independent
Twitter hashtags can identify outbreaks of norovirus and food poisoning
Twitter hashtags can identify outbreaks of norovirus and food poisoning Experts at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said a trial found they were able to identify outbreaks two weeks earlier than the normal reporting process through GPs. The Daily Mail
GPs given control of NHS budgets paid their OWN companies £2.4bn of taxpayers' money, major investigation reveals
GPs given control of NHS budgets paid their OWN companies £2.4bn of taxpayers' money, major investigation reveals Clinical Commissioning Groups, who 'buy' healthcare services for their local area, awarded 437 contracts to companies their board members owned or worked for, the BMJ has found. The Daily Mail
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Jeremy Hunt has torn up social contract between junior doctors and the state
Jeremy Hunt has torn up social contract between junior doctors and the state Doctors give a lifetime of work to the NHS in return for job security and fair terms and conditions – but the proposed new contract breaks bond of trust
As doctors, we embark on a 40-year-plus career in the NHS knowing full well that work life is going to be tough. Long hours, a low starting salary compared to other professions (earning £23,000 a year, compared with the national average salary of £27,000), high levels of stress, regularly doing extra work for no extra pay, and emotionally difficult experiences with sick and dying patients await us.
Although it is also extremely rewarding and a privilege to serve and be trusted by the public, amedical career takes its toll on work-life balance. Doctors have high rates of mental health problems and alcohol dependency. Family breakdown is common. Continue reading... The Guardian
As doctors, we embark on a 40-year-plus career in the NHS knowing full well that work life is going to be tough. Long hours, a low starting salary compared to other professions (earning £23,000 a year, compared with the national average salary of £27,000), high levels of stress, regularly doing extra work for no extra pay, and emotionally difficult experiences with sick and dying patients await us.
Although it is also extremely rewarding and a privilege to serve and be trusted by the public, amedical career takes its toll on work-life balance. Doctors have high rates of mental health problems and alcohol dependency. Family breakdown is common. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS unlikely to get large funding boost this year, says Jeremy Hunt
NHS unlikely to get large funding boost this year, says Jeremy Hunt Health secretary tells NHS managers to expect ‘most difficult spending review in a generation’ ahead of autumn statement
Jeremy Hunt has warned the NHS that it is unlikely to get a significant boost to its budget in George Osborne’s forthcoming spending review, but hinted that ministers have recognised that additional cuts to social care would only put further strain on frontline health services.
Speaking to an audience of 500 NHS bosses, the health secretary sought to lower expectations that the chancellor will be able to hand the NHS a sizeable down payment on the £8bn the government has sought to provide by 2020 in his autumn statement on 25 November. Continue reading... The Guardian
Jeremy Hunt has warned the NHS that it is unlikely to get a significant boost to its budget in George Osborne’s forthcoming spending review, but hinted that ministers have recognised that additional cuts to social care would only put further strain on frontline health services.
Speaking to an audience of 500 NHS bosses, the health secretary sought to lower expectations that the chancellor will be able to hand the NHS a sizeable down payment on the £8bn the government has sought to provide by 2020 in his autumn statement on 25 November. Continue reading... The Guardian
Costly care homes may not be the best, league tables reveal
Costly care homes may not be the best, league tables reveal The first national league tables comparing cost and quality of care homes shows that the places which charge the most do not always offer the best care. The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
GP super-practice to run 'front door' at busiest A&E in England
GP super-practice to run 'front door' at busiest A&E in England A GP super-practice is set to take over the the busiest emergency department 'front door' in the NHS. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust working with the three Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland CCGs appointed the Corby-based GP super-practice Lakeside Healthcare. GP Online
The Care Collapse: The imminent crisis in residential care and its impact on the NHS
The Care Collapse: The imminent crisis in residential care and its impact on the NHS Research assessing the state of the residential care industry, including an analysis of its future financial viability.
We do not believe it is an understatement to say that Britain’s residential care sector is in crisis. Providers are being faced with an unsustainable combination of declining real terms funding, rising demand for their services, and increasing financial liabilities. Our research projects a funding gap of over £1 billion for older people’s residential care alone by 2020/21, which could result in the loss of around 37,000 beds. This is greater in scale than the collapse of Southern Cross in 2011, which affected 31,000 older people.
Given the perilous state of the industry, there is no private sector provider with the capacity to take in the residents who would be affected by the loss of other providers’ beds. Consequently we believe the worst outcome is the most likely: that the vast majority of care home residents will end up on general hospital wards. We project that if all these care home lost beds were to flow through to hospitals in this way, the annual cost to the NHS would total £3 billion. ResPublica
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We do not believe it is an understatement to say that Britain’s residential care sector is in crisis. Providers are being faced with an unsustainable combination of declining real terms funding, rising demand for their services, and increasing financial liabilities. Our research projects a funding gap of over £1 billion for older people’s residential care alone by 2020/21, which could result in the loss of around 37,000 beds. This is greater in scale than the collapse of Southern Cross in 2011, which affected 31,000 older people.
Given the perilous state of the industry, there is no private sector provider with the capacity to take in the residents who would be affected by the loss of other providers’ beds. Consequently we believe the worst outcome is the most likely: that the vast majority of care home residents will end up on general hospital wards. We project that if all these care home lost beds were to flow through to hospitals in this way, the annual cost to the NHS would total £3 billion. ResPublica
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Empower staff to improve staff engagement
Empower staff to improve staff engagement Learn how the George Eliot trust greatly improved its staff engagement scores by letting staff create the vision and values of the organisation. Case study from NHS Employers
‘Outdated stigma’ preventing parents from seeking life-saving mental health support
‘Outdated stigma’ preventing parents from seeking life-saving mental health support New survey reveals that new parents are experiencing depression or anxiety without professional support because they feel too afraid to seek help. Royal College of Nursing
NHS pay: 50,000 earn £100,000 or more
NHS pay: 50,000'earn £100,000 or more' There are more than 50,000 people in the NHS who earned more than £100,000 in 2013-14, an investigation by the Taxpayers' Alliance and Daily Mail shows. BBC News
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Exclusive: GMC on track to hit three-year GP revalidation target
Exclusive: GMC on track to hit three-year GP revalidation target The GMC is on track to hit its target of revalidating all GPs who were on its register in December 2012 by the end of March 2016, official statistics suggest. GP Online
HCA International Limited could be forced to sell one of its hospitals due to market dominance, says watchdog
HCA International Limited could be forced to sell one of its hospitals due to market dominance, says watchdog Competition watchdog says its market dominance means insurance firms are being overcharged. The Independent
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- Private healthcare market investigation: provisional findings and remedies Competition and Markets Authority
End the macho culture keeping women from the top of NHS
End the macho culture keeping women from the top of NHS It is not long hours or work-life balance fears that keep women from seeking senior roles but the behaviour of white men in grey suits
Women make up the majority of the healthcare workforce, and there are more women than men in junior positions in NHS finance, yet they are still underrepresented in the senior financial ranks, and especially on boards. While women are slowly smashing the glass ceiling across other industries why is it that women in the NHS sometimes struggle to reach the top? For a fluid organisation that prides itself on moving with the times, it is disappointing to see.
Balanced boards, whether that’s relative to experience, background, race or gender, mean better boards, and an organisation should always reflect the people it serves. Yet there seems to be a growing acceptance that women, while excelling in their professional careers and proving to be equally capable as their male counterparts, are still falling short of reaching the top echelons of the UK healthcare system. Continue reading... The Guardian
Women make up the majority of the healthcare workforce, and there are more women than men in junior positions in NHS finance, yet they are still underrepresented in the senior financial ranks, and especially on boards. While women are slowly smashing the glass ceiling across other industries why is it that women in the NHS sometimes struggle to reach the top? For a fluid organisation that prides itself on moving with the times, it is disappointing to see.
Balanced boards, whether that’s relative to experience, background, race or gender, mean better boards, and an organisation should always reflect the people it serves. Yet there seems to be a growing acceptance that women, while excelling in their professional careers and proving to be equally capable as their male counterparts, are still falling short of reaching the top echelons of the UK healthcare system. Continue reading... The Guardian
Gay men need clear information about ‘chemsex’, not messages about morality | Marco Scalvini
Gay men need clear information about ‘chemsex’, not messages about morality | Marco Scalvini When health professionals and the media talk about gay sex as an emergency health issue, they may actually encourage risky behaviour.
In the past week the public has been alerted to “risky behaviours” among gay men in London. Triggered by an editorial in the BMJ, the media has been warning of the “dangers of chemsex”, an activity labelled an “increasing risk to public health”. While there is undoubtedly an issue here, we need a strategy for dealing with the dangers of chemsex that works, rather than one that appears to favour transmitting a moral message instead of offering straightforward information.
Drug abuse and HIV continue to present profound challenges, but a climate of moral panic is counter-productive Continue reading... The Guardian
In the past week the public has been alerted to “risky behaviours” among gay men in London. Triggered by an editorial in the BMJ, the media has been warning of the “dangers of chemsex”, an activity labelled an “increasing risk to public health”. While there is undoubtedly an issue here, we need a strategy for dealing with the dangers of chemsex that works, rather than one that appears to favour transmitting a moral message instead of offering straightforward information.
Drug abuse and HIV continue to present profound challenges, but a climate of moral panic is counter-productive Continue reading... The Guardian
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
County Council Cabinet To Consider Wellbeing Company Business Case
County Council Cabinet To Consider Wellbeing Company Business Case The business case for the new Wellbeing Community Interest Company (CIC) is set to be discussed at Northamptonshire County Council’s cabinet meeting on the 10th November 2015.
Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Northampton are working together to form the new company, which will bring together services and expertise that enable people to feel healthier and better about themselves. About My Area
Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Northampton are working together to form the new company, which will bring together services and expertise that enable people to feel healthier and better about themselves. About My Area
Delayed transfers of care: join the queue
Delayed transfers of care: join the queueDelayed transfers of care, where patients are ready to return home or transfer to another form of care but still occupy a hospital bed, are a hot topic of discussion right now – whether because ofmoney, impact on patient experience or hospital flow. The publication later this week of the findings of NHS Providers’ Right Place, Right Time Commission will generate further debate.
Before the Commission puts forward its views on what good practice around delayed transfers of care looks like, let’s consider the current situation. The King's Fund
Before the Commission puts forward its views on what good practice around delayed transfers of care looks like, let’s consider the current situation. The King's Fund
Guidance: Giving adults voice, choice and control in social care
Guidance: Giving adults voice, choice and control in social care This document provides guidance on how registered nurses, care and support staff can enable relationship-centred care, and how they can work with others to achieve personalised care and support.
The guidance is for staff across a range of care settings, including care home staff and carers who look after people in their own homes. Department of Health
The guidance is for staff across a range of care settings, including care home staff and carers who look after people in their own homes. Department of Health
Junior doctors industrial action
Junior doctors industrial action The latest information and guidance to help employers plan for industrial action as a result of the government proposals to introduce new contracts for junior doctors. NHS Employers
Managing adult malnutrition in the community: a spotlight on information, help and support available for patients and carers in England
Managing adult malnutrition in the community: a spotlight on information, help and support available for patients and carers in England This report outlines the results of a survey looking into the growing issue of malnutrition. It found that there are currently more than three million people in the UK who are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The report argues that substantial savings to the NHS could be made if malnutrition is prioritised, estimating that £13 billion is spent annually on treatment for malnutrition. The Patients Association
Dead on arrival? Evaluating the Public Health Responsibility Deal for alcohol
Dead on arrival? Evaluating the Public Health Responsibility Deal for alcohol The government's flagship public health programme was launched in 2011 and brought together commercial organisations, academics, public bodies and non-government organisations to commit to a set of non-binding pledges to reduce health harms. This report evaluates the success of this programme in reducing alcohol-related harm and highlights failures of the policy's effectiveness and implementation. Institute of Alcohol Studies
Do NHS healthcare commissioners produce the outcomes they hope to achieve?
Do NHS healthcare commissioners produce the outcomes they hope to achieve? Commissioners made marginal investments in specific health conditions and services with the aim of improving a wide range of outcomes. There was little evidence of impact on the limited number of outcomes measured. BMJ Open
No hard evidence champagne can prevent dementia
No hard evidence champagne can prevent dementia"Drinking three glasses of champagne per week could help stave off dementia and Alzheimer's disease," the Daily Mirror reports. But before you break out the Bolly, you should know the study that prompted this headline was on rats.
The study that forms the basis of these reports was actually published in 2013, but apparently recently went viral on social media. NHS Choices
The study that forms the basis of these reports was actually published in 2013, but apparently recently went viral on social media. NHS Choices
How much money for health?
How much money for health? The head of NHS England Simon Stevens has warned that "the rubber will really hit the road" for the NHS in England in the next financial year 2016/17 and the year after.
Even by the standards of normal spending round rhetoric, Mr Stevens' comments will raise eyebrows in Whitehall. There is nothing new about high spending departments defending their territory in the face of pressure for economies from the Treasury. But it seems that even in negotiations over a protected budget like health, stress levels are rising. BBC News
Even by the standards of normal spending round rhetoric, Mr Stevens' comments will raise eyebrows in Whitehall. There is nothing new about high spending departments defending their territory in the face of pressure for economies from the Treasury. But it seems that even in negotiations over a protected budget like health, stress levels are rising. BBC News
Call for overhaul of child 'fat letters'
Call for overhaul of child 'fat letters' Public health experts say the "fat letters" posted to parents to tell them if their child is overweight are crude and unhelpful and need an overhaul. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Reform or scrap the ‘fat letter’ to parents Royal Society for Public Health
- Tackling the UK's childhood obesity epidemic (position paper) Royal Society for Public Health
- Parents of obese children should get healthy food vouchers, experts say The Guardian
Exclusive: GPs face CQC fees proportionally five times higher than hospitals
Exclusive: GPs face CQC fees proportionally five times higher than hospitals GP practices will be forced to hand over a three to five times larger proportion of their annual funding than NHS trusts for CQC registration once a controversial fee hike takes effect, GP Online can reveal.
Royal College sets out standards for cosmetic surgeons
Royal College sets out standards for cosmetic surgeons From next year surgeons will be able to apply for certification to perform cosmetic procedures. OnMedica
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- Cosmetic Surgery: Certification updates Royal College of Surgeons
Leading causes of death revealed: Cancer accounts for almost a third of deaths while heart disease and dementia were leading causes for men and dementia in women
Leading causes of death revealed: Cancer accounts for almost a third of deaths while heart disease and dementia were leading causes for men and dementia in women Figures released by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales showed the proportion of dementia deaths in women rose from 12.2 per cent in 2013 to 13.4 per cent last year. The Daily Mail
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- Deaths Registered in England and Wales 2014 Office for National Statistics
George Osborne skews spending towards health and elderly people
George Osborne skews spending towards health and elderly people Spending review on 23 November is expected to shift funding away from education and economic development, within overall cuts to state budget
George Osborne’s decade-long redesign of the British state will result in 44% of state spending going on health and elderly people, the highest proportion since comparable records began in the 1990s.
As the chancellor hailed the first decisions in the forthcoming spending review, new research from a thinktank reveals how these two areas increasingly dominate public finances, having risen by a quarter in the past decade. Continue reading... The Guardian
George Osborne’s decade-long redesign of the British state will result in 44% of state spending going on health and elderly people, the highest proportion since comparable records began in the 1990s.
As the chancellor hailed the first decisions in the forthcoming spending review, new research from a thinktank reveals how these two areas increasingly dominate public finances, having risen by a quarter in the past decade. Continue reading... The Guardian
Lives must not be put at risk
Lives must not be put at risk With the Government's Spending Review due to in weeks, the Care Quality Commission's Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe, sets out her four challenges for the care system. The Daily Telegraph
Monday, 9 November 2015
Social care: a future we don’t yet know
Social care: a future we don’t yet know Next month the government will set out its plans for public service spending through to 2020. As John Appleby explained in his recent blog, the likely outlook is likely to be the largest sustained fall in NHS spending as a share of GDP in any period since 1951. But what about social care?
Care services minister Alistair Burt recently told local authority chiefs that ‘funding is still unclear…I will find out what the funding is when you find out, when the Chancellor stands up in Westminster to deliver the Autumn Statement.’ While we are waiting, our analysis of past trends and future projections for social care makes disturbing reading.
In the 15 years to 2009, local authority net spending on adult social care for all age groups increased by an average of almost 6 per cent a year over and above inflation (figure 1). But because social care forms part of local government spending – which, unlike the NHS, was not ring-fenced in the 2010 Spending Review – this trend has reversed sharply over the past five years. Spending has dropped by an average of 2.2 per cent a year since 2009.
Money has been transferred from the NHS budget to social care (reaching £1 billion last year), which has helped a bit. Without this, the real-terms fall would have been 3.6 per cent. Most of this transferred money came from the NHS’s average annual real-terms increase of 0.84 per cent. Understandably, many are worried about further reliance on an increasingly cash-strapped NHS to prop up social care. The King's Fund
Care services minister Alistair Burt recently told local authority chiefs that ‘funding is still unclear…I will find out what the funding is when you find out, when the Chancellor stands up in Westminster to deliver the Autumn Statement.’ While we are waiting, our analysis of past trends and future projections for social care makes disturbing reading.
In the 15 years to 2009, local authority net spending on adult social care for all age groups increased by an average of almost 6 per cent a year over and above inflation (figure 1). But because social care forms part of local government spending – which, unlike the NHS, was not ring-fenced in the 2010 Spending Review – this trend has reversed sharply over the past five years. Spending has dropped by an average of 2.2 per cent a year since 2009.
Money has been transferred from the NHS budget to social care (reaching £1 billion last year), which has helped a bit. Without this, the real-terms fall would have been 3.6 per cent. Most of this transferred money came from the NHS’s average annual real-terms increase of 0.84 per cent. Understandably, many are worried about further reliance on an increasingly cash-strapped NHS to prop up social care. The King's Fund
Does the NHS need more ratings?
Does the NHS need more ratings? Last week, Jeremy Hunt announced the government’s plans to introduce Ofsted-style ratings for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), to help fill what he called the ‘transparency gap’ in the NHS. He said the ratings would help the public to understand the quality of their local services and how this compares with other places. But are more ratings really what the NHS needs?
Drawing on the findings of our recent review for the Department of Health on measuring the performance of local health systems, we would suggest there are at least five important questions to be asked about these plans. The King's Fund
Drawing on the findings of our recent review for the Department of Health on measuring the performance of local health systems, we would suggest there are at least five important questions to be asked about these plans. The King's Fund
Employee factsheet on state pension changes now available
Employee factsheet on state pension changes now available The state pension is changing from 6 April 2016 which will have implications for NHS staff.
This short, informative factsheet will help staff understand the changes, including who will be affected and where they can find more information. NHS Employers
This short, informative factsheet will help staff understand the changes, including who will be affected and where they can find more information. NHS Employers
Gene editing breakthrough in treating baby's leukaemia
Gene editing breakthrough in treating baby's leukaemia"Baby girl is first in the world to be treated with 'designer immune cells'," The Guardian reports.
Pioneering work carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital made use of a new technique known as genome editing.
The girl, one-year-old Layla Richards, developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) when she was five months old.
ALL is cancer of the white blood cells and although it is generally rare, it is one of the most common childhood cancers, affecting around 1 in 2,000 children.
The outlook for ALL is usually good, with around 85% of children achieving a complete cure. However, this was not the case with Layla, as she failed to respond to conventional treatments. The staff treating Layla at Great Ormond Street Hospital sought permission to try a new technique, previously only used in mice, called genome editing.
Pioneering work carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital made use of a new technique known as genome editing.
The girl, one-year-old Layla Richards, developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) when she was five months old.
ALL is cancer of the white blood cells and although it is generally rare, it is one of the most common childhood cancers, affecting around 1 in 2,000 children.
The outlook for ALL is usually good, with around 85% of children achieving a complete cure. However, this was not the case with Layla, as she failed to respond to conventional treatments. The staff treating Layla at Great Ormond Street Hospital sought permission to try a new technique, previously only used in mice, called genome editing.
Heads 'calling 999 over mental health'
Heads 'calling 999 over mental health' Schools are having to call the emergency services to get treatment for mentally ill pupils because of a lack of basic provision, head teachers say. BBC News
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Arriva may face SFO fraud inquiry over NHS deal
Arriva may face SFO fraud inquiry over NHS deal Ministers have hinted that the transport giant Arriva could be subjected to a Serious Fraud Office inquiry after it inflated figures on an NHS contract. The Independent
NHS mental health trust admits whistleblower who spoke out about bullying acted in good faith
NHS mental health trust admits whistleblower who spoke out about bullying acted in good faith Dr Hayley Dare was ridiculed after revealing culture of bullying and harassment at West London Mental Health NHS Trust. The Independent
A third of home-care providers fail to meet even basic standards
A third of home-care providers fail to meet even basic standards Failing home-care providers have been warned by a Government Minister they must 'shape up or shut down' after it was found nearly a third of agencies are failing to meet basic standards. The Daily Mail
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NHS facing financial collapse without more cash, warns London trust chief
NHS facing financial collapse without more cash, warns London trust chief Chair of south-west London trust says hospitals will be unable to pay staff next year unless Jeremy Hunt doubles annual funding rise to £4bn
The NHS is gripped by “an accelerating financial disaster” that could mean hospitals are unable to pay their staff next year, one of the service’s bosses has said.
Christopher Smallwood, chairman of St George’s University Hospitals NHS foundation trust, which serves 1.3 million people in south-west London, claims that years of underfunding have left hospitals short of staff and unable to meet waiting time targets for cancer and A&E care. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS is gripped by “an accelerating financial disaster” that could mean hospitals are unable to pay their staff next year, one of the service’s bosses has said.
Christopher Smallwood, chairman of St George’s University Hospitals NHS foundation trust, which serves 1.3 million people in south-west London, claims that years of underfunding have left hospitals short of staff and unable to meet waiting time targets for cancer and A&E care. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- As chair of a trust, I’m speaking out. The NHS is headed for financial ruin | Christopher Smallwood The Guardian
- NHS meltdown this winter The Daily Telegraph
Doctors who left NHS for Australia: ‘More cash, fewer hours, less pressure’
Doctors who left NHS for Australia: ‘More cash, fewer hours, less pressure’ As the row over junior doctors’ contracts intensifies, thousands of NHS staff are applying to work abroad. Here three who have moved explain why they went
Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Commons health committee, revealed last month that her daughter, a junior doctor, and eight of her friends had all quit the NHS to find work in Australia. It’s a disturbing trend: but as the dissatisfaction over hours and conditions in the NHS grows, it may be one we have to get used to.
Australia has long attracted doctors from Britain. Depending on their seniority, doctors can earn up to 50% more in Sydney or Melbourne, despite generally working less overtime. With the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, now threatening to impose a tough new contract on junior doctors – one that would see their working hours increased and pay cut – the lure of Australia is growing. Continue reading... The Guardian
Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Commons health committee, revealed last month that her daughter, a junior doctor, and eight of her friends had all quit the NHS to find work in Australia. It’s a disturbing trend: but as the dissatisfaction over hours and conditions in the NHS grows, it may be one we have to get used to.
Australia has long attracted doctors from Britain. Depending on their seniority, doctors can earn up to 50% more in Sydney or Melbourne, despite generally working less overtime. With the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, now threatening to impose a tough new contract on junior doctors – one that would see their working hours increased and pay cut – the lure of Australia is growing. Continue reading... The Guardian
Jeremy Hunt cannot escape responsibility for the NHS's mounting problems
Jeremy Hunt cannot escape responsibility for the NHS's mounting problems The health secretary is a skilled politician who has positioned himself as the patients’ champion, but his days in the post appear to be numbered.
Jeremy Hunt’s confrontation with junior doctors over seven-day working adds to a growing list of problems beginning to engulf the health secretary. Will he still be at the department’s Richmond House headquarters at the end of this parliament?
It is just over three years since Hunt replaced Andrew Lansley. It quickly became clear why David Cameron was so determined to keep Hunt in government despite the controversy surrounding his handling of News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB while he was culture secretary. Immediately burying any mention of the toxic health reforms, he shrewdly repositioned the role of health secretary from representing the NHS to government, to representing the interests of patients to the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian
Jeremy Hunt’s confrontation with junior doctors over seven-day working adds to a growing list of problems beginning to engulf the health secretary. Will he still be at the department’s Richmond House headquarters at the end of this parliament?
It is just over three years since Hunt replaced Andrew Lansley. It quickly became clear why David Cameron was so determined to keep Hunt in government despite the controversy surrounding his handling of News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB while he was culture secretary. Immediately burying any mention of the toxic health reforms, he shrewdly repositioned the role of health secretary from representing the NHS to government, to representing the interests of patients to the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian
Experts worried pre-natal blood test might lead to sex-selective abortions
Experts worried pre-natal blood test might lead to sex-selective abortions Government officials are concerned NIPT test might be used by people who may want to abort a foetus because of a baby's sex. The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 6 November 2015
Elderly at Northampton care home only offered drinks between 7am and 5pm, inspectors find
Elderly at Northampton care home only offered drinks between 7am and 5pm, inspectors find Residents at a Northampton care home were only offered something to drink during a 10-hour period, an inspection revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Help for unemployed people in Northampton suffering depression and low self-esteem
Help for unemployed people in Northampton suffering depression and low self-esteem New courses to help unemployed people who have low self-esteem and mental health issues are starting later this month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The NHS, the Spending Review and George Osborne
The NHS, the Spending Review and George Osborne George Osborne has the aura of a man who is the master of all he surveys. It is an aura that has been hard won but could be easily lost as the government’s reverse in the House of Lords over tax credits shows. The Chancellor faces far greater challenges in other areas of public spending as the Spending Review nears completion.
The outcome of the Spending Review, to be announced on 25 November, will reveal the government’s priorities for public services for this parliament. The broad outlines of further deep cuts in most forms of public spending with the exception of protected areas such as health care are well known. The Conservative party made its intentions on deficit reduction crystal clear during the election campaign while also limiting its room for manoeuvre by pledging not to increase headline tax rates. The King's Fund
The outcome of the Spending Review, to be announced on 25 November, will reveal the government’s priorities for public services for this parliament. The broad outlines of further deep cuts in most forms of public spending with the exception of protected areas such as health care are well known. The Conservative party made its intentions on deficit reduction crystal clear during the election campaign while also limiting its room for manoeuvre by pledging not to increase headline tax rates. The King's Fund
Improving mental health outcomes for young people: the perspective of a GP trainee
Improving mental health outcomes for young people: the perspective of a GP trainee During my first few weeks as a GP trainee, I met a young lady who had recently been diagnosed with a serious, long-term condition. Walking into the consultation room, she sat down with her fringe partially covering her eyes. I started by asking her how she had been since her last visit. Slowly, she began telling me how her diagnosis had made her feel.
Fifteen minutes into the consultation, she grew more at ease. She revealed that she had become increasingly low and was finding it difficult to sleep. She was now considering dropping a class that she loved. Her antidepressants, it seemed, had not done the trick.
At the end of our 30-minute slot, together we made a plan to organise counselling. That evening, I contacted her specialist nurse, completed a referral to the psychologist and booked a follow-up consultation. As I finished off my paperwork, one thought lingered: as a new GP trainee, my appointments are 30 minutes long; in a few short months they'll be down to just 10. What would we have achieved in 10 minutes? The King's Fund
Fifteen minutes into the consultation, she grew more at ease. She revealed that she had become increasingly low and was finding it difficult to sleep. She was now considering dropping a class that she loved. Her antidepressants, it seemed, had not done the trick.
At the end of our 30-minute slot, together we made a plan to organise counselling. That evening, I contacted her specialist nurse, completed a referral to the psychologist and booked a follow-up consultation. As I finished off my paperwork, one thought lingered: as a new GP trainee, my appointments are 30 minutes long; in a few short months they'll be down to just 10. What would we have achieved in 10 minutes? The King's Fund
Guidance: ECHR Article 2: investigations into mental health incidents
Guidance: ECHR Article 2: investigations into mental health incidents This guidance is for NHS organisations deciding whether to carry out an independent investigation to satisfy the state’s obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. NHS bodies implicated in serious incidents may be considered ‘state agents’ for the purposes of Article 2.
The procedures to be followed when managing a serious incident are set out in the NHS England Serious Incident Framework – Supporting learning to prevent recurrence.
This document, when read together with the framework, replaces the Department of Health guidance ‘Independent investigations of adverse events in mental health services’, published in 2005.
The procedures to be followed when managing a serious incident are set out in the NHS England Serious Incident Framework – Supporting learning to prevent recurrence.
This document, when read together with the framework, replaces the Department of Health guidance ‘Independent investigations of adverse events in mental health services’, published in 2005.
New quick guide will free up vital hospital services
New quick guide will free up vital hospital services A new quick guide, ‘Better Use of Care at Home’, has been developed to help people home from hospital. It contains practical tips, case studies and ideas to improve processes, relationships and the use of care at home. NHS England
Shape of Caring Review engagement film launched
Shape of Caring Review engagement film launched A film highlighting some of the key themes emerging from the engagement phase of the Shape of Caring Review has been launched on the Health Education England website.
GMC advice for doctors in England considering industrial action
GMC advice for doctors in England considering industrial action The British Medical Association (BMA) is about to ballot its members who are doctors in training in England about taking industrial action over a new contract proposed by the UK Government. General Medical Council
Viewpoint: Cuts to social care are damaging the NHS
Viewpoint: Cuts to social care are damaging the NHS Restrictions to council-funded adult social care means fewer people are getting the support they need in their home, argues Tom Shakespeare. GP Online
Seven-day NHS: Most patients prefer seeing GP during the week, says study
Seven-day NHS: Most patients prefer seeing GP during the week, says study Study calls into question Government’s flagship policy of introducing a seven-day health service. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Weekend opening in primary care: analysis of the General Practice Patient Survey British Journal of General Practice
- RCGP response to BJGP paper on seven day working Royal College of General Practitioners
- Sunday GP opening 'not in demand' BBC News
- Routine GP opening on Sundays provides little benefit, study shows GP Online
- Patient survey finds 81% happy with GP hours The Guardian
Transforming learning disability care means valuing all citizens
Transforming learning disability care means valuing all citizens A new national plan to improve learning disability services is right, but we’ve heard it all before – it’s time for real change and it won’t be cheap.
The publication of a national plan to transform learning disability services, and particularly for people with a learning disability and/or autism whose behaviour challenges, is welcome, overdue and ambitious.
The background to the latest plan is familiar, particularly with the scandal of Winterbourne View uncovered by BBC’s Panorama in 2011, which highlighted both individual abuse and neglect, and raised awareness of the much wider issue of long-term hospitalisation. But the need to commission appropriate services has long been recognised, and is a particular concern for young people with learning disabilities and complex needs when transitioning to adult services. This is when out-of-area placements often occur due to a lack of alternative local provision.
Children, young people and adults with a learning disability and/or autism have the right to the same opportunities as anyone else to live satisfying and valued lives, and to be treated with dignity and respect. They should have a home within their community, be able to develop and maintain relationships, and get the support they need to live healthy, safe and rewarding lives.
Developing good local services will not be cheaper, overall, than institutional care, but it will be more efficient because it will achieve more. If local services are not developed, then a trickle of out-of-area placements will become a rush as more people are excluded from mainstream community services by being defined as unmanageable in the community. Large amounts of money will be tied up in buying less good services. The policy of community care will be said to have failed.
Some will have a mental health problems which may result in them displaying behaviour that challenges. Some, often with severe learning disabilities, will display self-injurious or aggressive behaviour unrelated to any mental health condition. Some will display behaviour which can lead to contact with the criminal justice system. Some will have been in hospital for many years, not having been discharged when NHS campuses or long-stay hospitals were closed. The new services and support we put in place to support them in the community will need to reflect that diversity. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
The publication of a national plan to transform learning disability services, and particularly for people with a learning disability and/or autism whose behaviour challenges, is welcome, overdue and ambitious.
The background to the latest plan is familiar, particularly with the scandal of Winterbourne View uncovered by BBC’s Panorama in 2011, which highlighted both individual abuse and neglect, and raised awareness of the much wider issue of long-term hospitalisation. But the need to commission appropriate services has long been recognised, and is a particular concern for young people with learning disabilities and complex needs when transitioning to adult services. This is when out-of-area placements often occur due to a lack of alternative local provision.
Children, young people and adults with a learning disability and/or autism have the right to the same opportunities as anyone else to live satisfying and valued lives, and to be treated with dignity and respect. They should have a home within their community, be able to develop and maintain relationships, and get the support they need to live healthy, safe and rewarding lives.
Developing good local services will not be cheaper, overall, than institutional care, but it will be more efficient because it will achieve more. If local services are not developed, then a trickle of out-of-area placements will become a rush as more people are excluded from mainstream community services by being defined as unmanageable in the community. Large amounts of money will be tied up in buying less good services. The policy of community care will be said to have failed.
Some will have a mental health problems which may result in them displaying behaviour that challenges. Some, often with severe learning disabilities, will display self-injurious or aggressive behaviour unrelated to any mental health condition. Some will display behaviour which can lead to contact with the criminal justice system. Some will have been in hospital for many years, not having been discharged when NHS campuses or long-stay hospitals were closed. The new services and support we put in place to support them in the community will need to reflect that diversity. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Two deaths possibly linked to 'Hunt effect', study suggests
Two deaths possibly linked to 'Hunt effect', study suggests Research suggests some patients may be avoiding going to hospital at the weekend because of health secretary’s statements about inadequate NHS staffing levels
Two people in need of urgent medical attention died last month after they did not go to hospital at a weekend because they wrongly believed there would be too few doctors on duty and that they would be at risk of dying, research claims. Almost a third (32%) of the 40 patients studied, who all held off seeking NHS treatment for that reason, suffered “long-term, irreversible morbidity” (an increased chance of dying) as a direct result of their delay, their doctors say.
In addition, more than four out of five (82%) of the patients had a worse outcome than if they had sought help the day their health deteriorated, while the delay could have proved life-threatening in 90% of them, the study found. They included an older person who had fallen over and broken a limb but stayed in bed over the weekend, despite having a fracture and being in pain because paracetamol gave her too little relief, and only sought help on the Monday. Continue reading... The Guardian
Two people in need of urgent medical attention died last month after they did not go to hospital at a weekend because they wrongly believed there would be too few doctors on duty and that they would be at risk of dying, research claims. Almost a third (32%) of the 40 patients studied, who all held off seeking NHS treatment for that reason, suffered “long-term, irreversible morbidity” (an increased chance of dying) as a direct result of their delay, their doctors say.
In addition, more than four out of five (82%) of the patients had a worse outcome than if they had sought help the day their health deteriorated, while the delay could have proved life-threatening in 90% of them, the study found. They included an older person who had fallen over and broken a limb but stayed in bed over the weekend, despite having a fracture and being in pain because paracetamol gave her too little relief, and only sought help on the Monday. Continue reading... The Guardian
British baby given genetically-edited immune cells to beat cancer in world first
British baby given genetically-edited immune cells to beat cancer in world first A British baby has become the first in the world to receive genetically modified immune cells from a donor and is now cancer free. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- 'Designer cells' reverse baby's cancer BBC News
- VIDEO: 'Miracle' genetic therapy saves baby BBC News
- World first as baby girl battling leukaemia is saved by 'miracle' treatment: Genetically-modified cells which 'hunt out and kill the disease The Daily Mail
- Layla Richards: One-year-old girl becomes world's first person to receive therapy to cure incurable cancer The Independent
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Is a brisk walk better for losing weight than going to the gym?
Is a brisk walk better for losing weight than going to the gym? "A brisk 30-minute walk five days a week is more effective than any other form of exercise for keeping weight down," The Times reports. That is the reported conclusion of two researchers who looked at data from the annual English Health Surveys from 1999 to 2012.
As expected, they found people who regularly walk briskly for half an hour five days a week were likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who are less active.
The study found women and those over the age of 50 were most likely to have a lower weight if they walked regularly. By walking, the researchers mean brisk walking that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat slightly, not a gentle stroll.
Walking was also linked to having a smaller waist size – although, for men, sport and other forms of exercise were more strongly linked to waist size than walking. Sport and exercise were also linked to a lower BMI, although the link was not as strong as it was for walking.
However, this study does not seem to have compared the effects of the two types of activity directly, so we cannot say for sure – as many in the UK media have done – that walking is more effective than other types of exercise. NHS Choices
As expected, they found people who regularly walk briskly for half an hour five days a week were likely to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who are less active.
The study found women and those over the age of 50 were most likely to have a lower weight if they walked regularly. By walking, the researchers mean brisk walking that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat slightly, not a gentle stroll.
Walking was also linked to having a smaller waist size – although, for men, sport and other forms of exercise were more strongly linked to waist size than walking. Sport and exercise were also linked to a lower BMI, although the link was not as strong as it was for walking.
However, this study does not seem to have compared the effects of the two types of activity directly, so we cannot say for sure – as many in the UK media have done – that walking is more effective than other types of exercise. NHS Choices
Hospital trust admits deaths charges
Hospital trust admits deaths charges The NHS trust that ran Stafford Hospital pleads guilty to criminal charges in relation to four deaths. BBC News
Invest in pathology services to boost diagnosis and cut costs, urges report
Invest in pathology services to boost diagnosis and cut costs, urges report Investment in pathology services would boost the quality of diagnosis, cut NHS costs and narrow health inequalities, says The Royal College of Pathologists. OnMedica
See also:
See also:
- Pathology and the NHS Five Year Forward View Royal College of Pathologists
The cancer drugs fund lottery: Relief as life-extending breast cancer drug is one of seven spared the chop - but nine more will be axed
The cancer drugs fund lottery: Relief as life-extending breast cancer drug is one of seven spared the chop - but nine more will be axed Some 4,100 cancer patients will miss out on breakthrough cancer drugs in England next year as a result of the cuts, down from the 5,500 who would have missed out if some drugs had not been saved. The Daily Mail
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Hospital doctor found guilty of manslaugher after blunders left a six-year-old boy dead
Hospital doctor found guilty of manslaugher after blunders left a six-year-old boy dead Jack Adcock, who had Down's syndrome and a heart condition, was misdiagnosed by "incompetent" Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba. The Daily Telegraph
NHS: Junior doctors to proceed with strike ballot after Jeremy Hunt's last-minute proposals branded misleading
NHS: Junior doctors to proceed with strike ballot after Jeremy Hunt's last-minute proposals branded misleading The BMA said the amended proposals also failed to address concerns around the removal of safeguards. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- BMA presses ahead with juniors' ballot British Medical Association
- News story: Junior doctors' contract offer Department of Health
- Policy paper: Junior doctors' contract offer: main points Department of Health
- Statement to Parliament: Junior doctors' contract Department of Health
- Professor Wendy Reid responds to junior doctor contract offer Health Education England
- Junior doctors' contract offer NHS Employers
- Sir Bruce Keogh on junior consultant contract debate NHS England
- Response to Secretary of State announcement on junior doctor's contract Royal College of General Practitioners
- BMA refuses to re-enter contract talks BBC News
- Junior doctors throw 15% pay rise offer back in Jeremy Hunt's face The Daily Mail
- Junior doctors reject 11pc pay rise and prepare for strike ballot The Daily Telegraph
- The NHS is in trouble. Doctors should help, not fight over pay The Daily Telegraph
- BMA tried to gag regulator from issuing strike advice The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors are victims of an NHS that's broken beyond repair The Daily Telegraph
- Jeremy Hunt's 11% junior doctor contract offer 'megaphone diplomacy', says BMA GP Online
- Junior doctors reject 'misleading' pay offer and criticise Jeremy Hunt The Guardian
- Jeremy Hunt: I cannot negotiate on manifesto promise of 24-hour NHS The Guardian
- Junior doctors ballot over strikes as pay offer branded 'fatally flawed' The Guardian
- Jeremy Hunt’s ‘pay rise’ offer to junior doctors is nothing of the sort | Letters The Guardian
- Junior doctors claim Jeremy Hunt's 11% pay rise will be a 'pay cut' of 26% The Independent
NHS: UK now has one of the worst healthcare systems in the developed world, according to OECD report
NHS: UK now has one of the worst healthcare systems in the developed world, according to OECD report Hospitals so under equipped that people are dying needlessly because of a chronic lack of investment. The Independent
See also:
See also:
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Fat Chance? Exploring the evidence on who becomes obese
Fat Chance? Exploring the evidence on who becomes obese A new study blows apart previous simplistic approaches to obesity. The research paper, ‘Fat Chance?’ which examines the wealth of current knowledge and data on obesity, addresses one crucial question: ‘Who exactly is becoming obese?’ 2020health
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See also:
Valuing staff through recognition schemes
Valuing staff through recognition schemes Staff recognition schemes are a good way of helping staff to feel valued by the organisation they work for. NHS Employers
Hunt pay offer in junior doctor row
Hunt pay offer in junior doctor row Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the government's proposed new contract for junior doctors in England will include an 11% increase in their basic pay. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- BMA responds to Guardian story on Jeremy Hunt's offer to junior doctors British Medical Association
- Junior doctors' contract offer Department of Health
- VIDEO: Hunt: 'Good deal for doctors and patients' BBC News
- VIDEO: Junior doctor's frontline video diary BBC News
- Jeremy Hunt offers pay rises of up to 15% to halt doctors’ strike The Daily Mail
- Junior doctors offered 11pc pay rise to head off strike The Daily Telegraph
- Jeremy Hunt offers junior doctors 11% pay rise in bid to end dispute The Guardian
- Junior doctors offered 11% pay rise as Jeremy Hunt bids to avoid strike The Independent
Trainees and 1,000 existing GPs will count towards 2020 workforce target, MPs told
Trainees and 1,000 existing GPs will count towards 2020 workforce target, MPs told A government pledge to deliver an extra 5,000 GPs in England by 2020 will be met by including trainees and persuading 1,000 existing GPs to delay retirement or return from career breaks, an NHS training official has admitted. GP Online
CQC fee hike slammed by GPs and health providers
CQC fee hike slammed by GPs and health providers Plans for fee rise 'damaging to patient care' OnMedica
See also:
See also:
- BMA criticises “wholly unjustified" proposals to increase CQC fees that could damage patient care British Medical Association
- Health and social care fees consultation Care Quality Commission
Sex under the influence of drugs is 'causing HIV and other STI rates to soar'
Sex under the influence of drugs is 'causing HIV and other STI rates to soar' Experts writing in the British Medical Journal said people having chemsex often reported having unprotected sex with multiple partners. Doctors believe tackling it should be a health priority. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
- What is chemsex and why does it matter? The BMJ
- Chemsex: the alarming new trend of 72 hour drug-fuelled sex sessions The Daily Telegraph
- Chemsex should be public health priority due to HIV risk, experts say The Independent
NHS doublespeak drove me away from mental health nursing
NHS doublespeak drove me away from mental health nursing Euphemisms such as ‘cost-improvement’ and ‘management of change’ mask the disastrous impact of cutting frontline staff
Last year the infrastructure behind research delivery in the NHS was completely re-organised; a process officially referred to as “transition”. In my experience as a mental health research nurse, this has created anxiety, confusion and uncertainty, exacerbated by the nuanced way in which the NHS communicates information to its workforce.
Communication between medical professionals and patients is well-documented, but little attention is given to the corporate language used within NHS organisations; language that often appears to conceal the true meaning of what is being said. “Transition” is a case in point; a word suggestive of an evolving, organic process or a natural progression from one state to another. In reality, transition in this context meant re-structuring the entire research delivery network across England and Wales. In terms of mental health research, what emerged at the other end of this re-structure (let’s call it what it was) appears to be a costly muddle, held together by the goodwill and dedication of excellent research staff. Continue reading... The Guardian
Last year the infrastructure behind research delivery in the NHS was completely re-organised; a process officially referred to as “transition”. In my experience as a mental health research nurse, this has created anxiety, confusion and uncertainty, exacerbated by the nuanced way in which the NHS communicates information to its workforce.
Communication between medical professionals and patients is well-documented, but little attention is given to the corporate language used within NHS organisations; language that often appears to conceal the true meaning of what is being said. “Transition” is a case in point; a word suggestive of an evolving, organic process or a natural progression from one state to another. In reality, transition in this context meant re-structuring the entire research delivery network across England and Wales. In terms of mental health research, what emerged at the other end of this re-structure (let’s call it what it was) appears to be a costly muddle, held together by the goodwill and dedication of excellent research staff. Continue reading... The Guardian
Fixing 111 is a matter of life and death
Fixing 111 is a matter of life and death Telegraph View: Non-emergency care responses must be better. If there were a train crash in which 25 people were killed, a major inquiry would be held into the causes and the event would be the subject of media speculation for days. Yet when the deaths are attributed to a scandal in the NHS the response is far more muted. The Daily Telegraph
Abortion doctor who agreed to gender-based termination suspended for three months
Abortion doctor who agreed to gender-based termination suspended for three months A doctor who was caught by The Telegraph admitting that an abortion he was offering was tantamount to 'female infanticide' struck off for three months. The Daily Telegraph
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See also:
"Gay cure" therapies are still available on the NHS and need to be banned, says Tory MP Mike Freer
"Gay cure" therapies are still available on the NHS and need to be banned, says Tory MP Mike Freer The Government should introduce regulation to ban so-called “gay cure therapies” that purport to be able to change someone’s sexual orientation, an MP has said. The Independent
Monday, 2 November 2015
Guidance for commissioners of mental health services
Guidance for commissioners of mental health services This guide supports commissioners, local health authorities and providers to think broadly, but practically, about building sustainable, resilient communities that have the potential, over time, to reduce mental ill health. Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health
How do we develop a person-centred, community-centred workforce, to support people with long-term conditions?
How do we develop a person-centred, community-centred workforce, to support people with long-term conditions? This discussion paper from the Coalition for Collaborative Care looks at a key element: the people who are part of the health and social care workforce. Planning, developing and supporting an integrated workforce that routinely works in a person-centred, community-centred way is a complex and multi-faceted challenge. To make it easier to understand and respond to, we've broken it down into four areas:
- Mind-set challenges for person and community-centred care
- The specific knowledge and skills that are needed
- The importance of supportive working environments
- Capacity and roles: workforce planning.
How sharp are we on safety? An assessment of safer sharps adoption in UK hospitals
How sharp are we on safety? An assessment of safer sharps adoption in UK hospitals This report finds that not all NHS trusts are not complying with ‘safer sharps’ rules and, as a result, are continuing to put NHS employees at risk of needle stick injuries and possible blood-borne infections such as hepatitis and HIV. MindMetre
Top names support mental health equality
Top names support mental health equality A campaign calling for the government to increase investment in mental health services has been launched.
Over 200 celebrities have backed the push for mental health to be treated as seriously as other illnesses. It was launched by former mental health minister Norman Lamb, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.BBC News
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Over 200 celebrities have backed the push for mental health to be treated as seriously as other illnesses. It was launched by former mental health minister Norman Lamb, Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.BBC News
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How safe are private hospitals?
How safe are private hospitals? Are private hospitals treating NHS patients equipped to deal with emergencies? BBC News
FGM reporting law comes into force
FGM reporting law comes into force Doctors, nurses, midwives and teachers are now legally required to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Guidance: FGM: mandatory reporting in healthcare Department of Health
- Health care professionals required to report FGM to the police The Royal College of Nursing
- VIDEO: New law to try and end FGM in the UK BBC News
- FGM: healthcare professionals have a duty to protect girls The Guardian
GP-led scheme cut hospital admissions 75% among elderly
GP-led scheme cut hospital admissions 75% among elderly A GP-led pilot to tackle dehydration in care homes reduced hospital admissions among residents by 75% and improved patients' physical and psychological health, according to the GP behind the programme. GP Online
Unique NHS service launched to combat long-term fatigue
Unique NHS service launched to combat long-term fatigue The first NHS service for patients who complain of being tired all the time has been launched in Newcastle as new research shows that one Briton in eight is affected by long-term fatigue. The Daily Mail
200,000 cancer patients live in most deprived areas of England – study
200,000 cancer patients live in most deprived areas of England – study Macmillan Cancer Support says too many people left vulnerable to financial burden of disease, with figures highlighting folly of government’s welfare plans
About 200,000 people with cancer are living in the most deprived areas of England, leaving them vulnerable to the financial burden of the disease, a study has found.
Macmillan Cancer Support, which carried out the analysis jointly with Public Health England’s Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), says that with four in five patients facing an average cost of £570 a month as a result of their disease, the findings are extremely worrying. Continue reading... The Guardian
About 200,000 people with cancer are living in the most deprived areas of England, leaving them vulnerable to the financial burden of the disease, a study has found.
Macmillan Cancer Support, which carried out the analysis jointly with Public Health England’s Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), says that with four in five patients facing an average cost of £570 a month as a result of their disease, the findings are extremely worrying. Continue reading... The Guardian
Foreigners may be charged for A&E treatment under new proposals
Foreigners may be charged for A&E treatment under new proposals Jeremy Hunt considering move to withhold non-urgent NHS treatment for those from outside European Economic Area until payment is made
Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is considering whether to charge foreigners for using ambulances and visiting A&E in a move that could further escalate tensions with the medical profession. In a bid to raise money, Hunt is expected to announce a consultation within the next month on whether the NHS should charge patients from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) for emergency treatment.
While no one would be denied urgent care, hospitals would be allowed to withhold treatment for non-urgent medical problems until a payment was made. Patients from inside the EEA would have to present their European Health Insurance card to receive treatment, and their government would be sent a bill. Under the proposals, there would be certain exemptions on charging up front, such as for women in labour, while asylum seekers would be excluded from the system altogether. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is considering whether to charge foreigners for using ambulances and visiting A&E in a move that could further escalate tensions with the medical profession. In a bid to raise money, Hunt is expected to announce a consultation within the next month on whether the NHS should charge patients from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) for emergency treatment.
While no one would be denied urgent care, hospitals would be allowed to withhold treatment for non-urgent medical problems until a payment was made. Patients from inside the EEA would have to present their European Health Insurance card to receive treatment, and their government would be sent a bill. Under the proposals, there would be certain exemptions on charging up front, such as for women in labour, while asylum seekers would be excluded from the system altogether. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Non-EEA patients face A&E charges BBC News
A&E faces worst winter ever, top doctor warns
A&E faces worst winter ever, top doctor warns Bed shortages and cancelled operations loom in NHS emergency
Record numbers of patients will be stuck on trolleys in corridors or the back of ambulances this winter as hospitals run out of beds because of soaring demand and limited funding, the country’s leading A&E doctor has warned.
Hospitals will have to put more patients on trolleys, cancel more operations than ever before and turn away new admissions as they fail to meet the four-hour maximum patient waiting A&E target, amid unprecedented bed-blocking caused by fast growing demand, Dr Cliff Mann told The Observer. Continue reading...
Record numbers of patients will be stuck on trolleys in corridors or the back of ambulances this winter as hospitals run out of beds because of soaring demand and limited funding, the country’s leading A&E doctor has warned.
Hospitals will have to put more patients on trolleys, cancel more operations than ever before and turn away new admissions as they fail to meet the four-hour maximum patient waiting A&E target, amid unprecedented bed-blocking caused by fast growing demand, Dr Cliff Mann told The Observer. Continue reading...
How trust made secret 111 plan to hit all-important NHS targets
How trust made secret 111 plan to hit all-important NHS targets The deaths of up to 25 patients have come under investigation, after whistleblower reveals extent of policy that delayed help for seriously ill patients. The Daily Telegraph
Middle-aged male suicide rate rises by 40 per cent since 2008
Middle-aged male suicide rate rises by 40 per cent since 2008 A new report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggests that unemployment, financial problems and unattainable masculine ideals may be responsible for the increase. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- Four in ten men aged 18 to 45 have thought about suicide The Daily Mail
RIP IVF? NHS cuts to fertility treatment ‘will deny thousands parenthood’
RIP IVF? NHS cuts to fertility treatment ‘will deny thousands parenthood’ Exclusive: Some areas that once offered couples three cycles of IVF may soon provide none. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Women denied IVF as 80 per cent of NHS trusts ration fertility treatment The Daily Telegraph
NHS: Stress affecting one in three junior doctors, according to British Medical Association
NHS: Stress affecting one in three junior doctors, according to British Medical Association The BMA say the job of a junior doctor is becoming 'un-doable'. The Independent
Friday, 30 October 2015
Council debate on making East Northants a healthier and more active place to live
Council debate on making East Northants a healthier and more active place to live Healthy and active lifestyles were the key subjects at a recent issues debate held by East Northamptonshire Council. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Watchdog wants public’s view on East Midlands Ambulance Service
Watchdog wants public’s view on East Midlands Ambulance Service A health watchdog in Northamptonshire wants to know what people think of the East Midlands Ambulance Service. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Open consultation: Setting the mandate to NHS England for 2016 to 2017
Open consultation: Setting the mandate to NHS England for 2016 to 2017 The mandate to NHS England sets the government’s objectives for NHS England, as well as its budget. In doing so, the mandate sets direction for the NHS, and helps ensure the NHS is accountable to Parliament and the public.
In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Secretary of State must publish a mandate each year, to ensure that NHS England’s objectives remain up to date.
A new mandate to NHS England is due to be published following the completion of the Spending Review, to take effect from April 2016. This consultation document sets out how the government proposes to set the mandate to NHS England for this Parliament. The final mandate will be subject to the outcome of the government’s Spending Review. Department of Health
In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the Secretary of State must publish a mandate each year, to ensure that NHS England’s objectives remain up to date.
A new mandate to NHS England is due to be published following the completion of the Spending Review, to take effect from April 2016. This consultation document sets out how the government proposes to set the mandate to NHS England for this Parliament. The final mandate will be subject to the outcome of the government’s Spending Review. Department of Health
New tool helps NHS staff to identify trafficking victims
New tool helps NHS staff to identify trafficking victims Recent research has highlighted that many victims of human trafficking come into contact with NHS services during the time they are trafficked, or after their escape. In response to this, the Department of Health has launched an updated tool to help NHS staff identify and care for trafficked people and refer them for further support.
The Provider Responses, Treatment and Care for Trafficked People (PROTECT) independent research recently published findings in the BMJ Open showing that up to one in eight NHS professionals reported having contact with a patient they suspected may have been trafficked. The research highlights how important it is that the health system has an understanding of modern slavery and the need for training tools to support health professionals in identifying and providing support for victims. Findings published in the Lancet Psychiatry show that secondary mental health services are caring for trafficked people with a range of diagnoses including: depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.
The Department of Health’s e-learning tool for health service staff on identifying and responding to Modern Slavery sets out situations in which health staff may encounter victims of trafficking, explains the legal situation regarding potential victims’ rights to medical care, and explores ways in which health staff can provide support. NHS England
The Provider Responses, Treatment and Care for Trafficked People (PROTECT) independent research recently published findings in the BMJ Open showing that up to one in eight NHS professionals reported having contact with a patient they suspected may have been trafficked. The research highlights how important it is that the health system has an understanding of modern slavery and the need for training tools to support health professionals in identifying and providing support for victims. Findings published in the Lancet Psychiatry show that secondary mental health services are caring for trafficked people with a range of diagnoses including: depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.
The Department of Health’s e-learning tool for health service staff on identifying and responding to Modern Slavery sets out situations in which health staff may encounter victims of trafficking, explains the legal situation regarding potential victims’ rights to medical care, and explores ways in which health staff can provide support. NHS England
New framework to support high quality dementia care
New framework to support high quality dementia careA comprehensive new resource to support health and social care staff and educators who work with people living with dementia and their carers has been launched by Health Education England
The Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework sets out the essential skills and knowledge necessary for all staff involved in dementia care and will enable organisations to:
The Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework sets out the essential skills and knowledge necessary for all staff involved in dementia care and will enable organisations to:
- standardise the interpretation of dementia education and training
- guide the focus and aims of dementia education and training delivery through key learning outcomes
- ensure the educational relevance of dementia training
- improve the quality and consistency of education and training provision.
Follow-up to PHSO report: dying without dignity
Follow-up to PHSO report: dying without dignityThis report aimed to find out why the care failings detailed in Dying without dignity were allowed to happen and has recommended three areas where immediate improvements are needed: culture, behaviour and training; provision of integrated 24/7 palliative and end of life care; and leadership and commissioning. Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Ovarian cancer drug 'can help with some types of prostate cancer'
Ovarian cancer drug 'can help with some types of prostate cancer'"Ovarian cancer pill 'effective' at treating men with prostate cancer," The Independent reports after a small trial found the drug olaparib slowed tumour growth in men with a certain type ofprostate cancer.
The trial involved 50 men with advanced prostate cancer who had not responded to other treatments. All of them were given olaparib. By the end of the study follow-up, 35 (70%) had died. Men who had a type of genetic mutation affecting DNA repair lived longer than those who did not.
It is hoped the drug could serve as a targeted treatment for this sub-type of prostate cancer in the same way Herceptin is used for breast cancer associated with the HER2 protein.
But one practical drawback of using olaparib in this way is the cost. It's reported a course of the drug costs £4,740 a month. NHS Choices
The trial involved 50 men with advanced prostate cancer who had not responded to other treatments. All of them were given olaparib. By the end of the study follow-up, 35 (70%) had died. Men who had a type of genetic mutation affecting DNA repair lived longer than those who did not.
It is hoped the drug could serve as a targeted treatment for this sub-type of prostate cancer in the same way Herceptin is used for breast cancer associated with the HER2 protein.
But one practical drawback of using olaparib in this way is the cost. It's reported a course of the drug costs £4,740 a month. NHS Choices
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