Junior doctors' strike: BMA announces planned 'escalation' of action

Junior doctors' strike: BMA announces planned 'escalation' of action Doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA) announced plans for an “escalation” of strike action last night over the Government’s decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors. The Independent

Doctors accuse Tories of deception over 'extra £10bn for NHS' claim

Doctors accuse Tories of deception over 'extra £10bn for NHS' claim Government used accounting tricks to give impression of support but budget will only be up by £4.5bn by 2020-21, BMA claims.

Doctors’ leaders have accused the Conservatives of deceiving the public by giving the NHS less than half the extra £10bn ministers regularly cite as proof of their support for the service.

The government has used a series of accounting tricks to wrongly give the impression of generous backing when in reality it is leaving patient care underfunded and refusing to face up to the NHS’s deepening financial crisis, a report from the British Medical Association claims. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The curious tale of £22bn NHS efficiency savings BBC News
• Conservatives' pledge to protect NHS 'entirely disingenuous' The Guardian
• There is little hope that the NHS can avoid a financial crash The Guardian
• NHS officials deny they were pressured to downgrade estimates of how extra much cash health service needed The Independent

George Osborne cut NHS repairs fund by £1.1bn, claims Labour

George Osborne cut NHS repairs fund by £1.1bn, claims Labour Rising backlog of repairs and non-replacement of out-of-date scanners is endangering patients, says shadow health secretary.

Hospitals are facing a rising backlog of repairs and out-of-date equipment because NHS funds are being used to shore up frontline services.

The cost of outstanding maintenance work that hospitals in England need to do has reached £4.3bn, including £458m of “high-risk” repairs, which if left unaddressed could threaten patient safety. They include leaking roofs and out-of-date scanners. Continue reading... The Guardian

'NHS spent £81,000 treating just one illegal immigrant'

'NHS spent £181,000 treating just one illegal immigrant' A hospital spent £181,000 treating a single illegal immigrant, it was reported on Sunday night.

Details of the patient’s bill emerged amid claims that the NHS was failing to collect millions of pounds from foreign nationals using its services.

And a leading cancer specialist said no healthcare system could cope with the strain the NHS was put under by treating migrants, saying it was "absolutely unsustainable". The Daily Telegraph

REVEALED: Northamptonshire’s best and worst GP’s surgeries as rated by you

REVEALED: Northamptonshire’s best and worst GP’s surgeries as rated by you Today we can reveal the north of the county’s best and worst GP surgeries, as rated by their own patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Investigations underway after death of young child who had suspected swine flu in Northamptonshire

Investigations underway after death of young child who had suspected swine flu in Northamptonshire A public health investigation has been launched after the death of a young child who had suspected swine flu in Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Bonus payments for nurses who join Northampton General Hospital’s bank staff

Bonus payments for nurses who join Northampton General Hospital’s bank staff New incentives are being offered to nurses who agree to join Northampton General Hospital’s pool of bank staff. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Personal tragedies, public crisis The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism

Personal tragedies, public crisis The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism (download) A report into the high levels of early mortality in people with autism. Based on a large Swedish study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, it shows a 16 year difference in life expectancy, compared to the general population. The report calls for an immediate national mortality review by the NHS and an increase in research funding. Autistica 

See also:

• Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder British Journal of Psychiatry (OpenAthens password required)
• RCGP response to Autistica report on premature death in autism Royal College of General Practitioners
• People with autism 'die younger' BBC News
• £10m study by charity will probe why autistic adults die decades prematurely The Daily Mail
• People with autism die 16 years earlier than expected, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• Premature autism deaths are 'hidden crisis' says charity The Guardian
• Autism: Why do many autistic people die before the age of 40? The Independent 

Helping drive multispecialty community provider (MCP) vanguards forward

Helping drive multispecialty community provider (MCP) vanguards forward As the New Care Models Programme marks its first anniversary, National Care Model Lead, Louise Watson, reflects on how their work is already paying dividends. NHS England

Get well soon: reimagining place-based health

Get well soon: reimagining place-based health This report argues that the NHS must construct a 15 year plan to shift money out of hospitals and into investment in communities. It demonstrates that the health service in its current form is not sustainable, and sets out a new plan for shifting the system to focus on preventing illness, shorten stays in hospitals and help people live independently for longer. Place-Based Health Commission.

Public sector pensions change in Budget criticised

Public sector pensions change in Budget criticised Health and education will be squeezed by more than £1bn because of changes to the way public sector pensions are funded, figures seen by the BBC show.

It comes after George Osborne announced in the Budget that employers would have to contribute more to pensions for NHS staff, teachers and the police. BBC News

Inside Bethlem Royal Hospital

Inside Bethlem Royal Hospital Convicted criminals receiving treatment at Bethlem Royal Hospital are being reintroduced into the community, under supervision.

The men, who have committed violent crimes when suffering from a mental illness, are considered for release if they get better.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Tim McInerny explains how doctors judge whether someone is safe to re-engage with society. BBC News

Physios 'can take pressure off GPs'

Physios 'can take pressure off GPs' GPs could spend longer with their patients if physiotherapists worked alongside them at their surgery, says the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. BBC News

Austerity measures linked to increased pensioner death rates

Austerity measures linked to increased pensioner death rates Cuts to pension credits were followed by rising mortality rates of pensioners aged 85 plus. OnMedica

Sugar tax on its own will fail to combat childhood obesity, says Government's own health department

Sugar tax on its own will fail to combat childhood obesity, says Government's own health department Introducing a sugar tax on its own will fail to combat childhood obesity, according to the Government’s own department responsible for the nation’s health. The Independent

See also:

• What is the UK's most sugary drink? BBC News
• Sugar tax: How bold is it? BBC News

Six months trapped in a secure mental health unit – how the system failed one autistic 15-year-old | Frances Ryan

Six months trapped in a secure mental health unit – how the system failed one autistic 15-year-old | Frances Ryan Matthew Garnett was sent to a secure unit for six weeks. He stayed there for half a year as mental health services struggled to cope.

“Matthew’s bed at home’s been empty for six months,” Isabelle Garnett says from the family house in south London as she tells me about her son. “I can’t walk by his bedroom.”

Since September 2015, 15-year-old Matthew Garnett – who has autism, ADHD and anxiety – has been held two hours’ drive away from his home in a secure mental health treatment unit in Woking, Surrey. Or as his mum puts it to me, “the equivalent of being left on an A&E trolley for six months”.

Held long-term in the unit, Matthew is regressing Continue reading... The Guardian

New plans for extra wards at Northampton General Hospital to ease pressure on staff

New plans for extra wards at Northampton General Hospital to ease pressure on staff Two new wards look set to be built in a Northampton General Hospital car park in order to relieve overrun staff. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

EXCLUSIVE: Dying cancer patient from Northampton told she cannot claim benefits

EXCLUSIVE: Dying cancer patient from Northampton told she cannot claim benefits A terminal cancer patient from Northampton with tumours in her lungs and pelvis has been told she needs to find a job after the Government removed her disability benefits. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Time for Change – the Challenge Ahead

Time for Change – the Challenge Ahead May 2016 will mark the 5th anniversary of the Panorama programme which exposed abuse and neglect at Winterbourne View Hospital, a private assessment and treatment unit (ATU) for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. This report looks at the actions taken so far and calling on partners, including CQC, to demonstrate how they are helping to reduce the reliance on hospital-based settings for people with learning disabilities. ACEVO Health

One size doesn't fit all - GPs and physicians innovate to improve patient care

One size doesn't fit all - GPs and physicians innovate to improve patient care The report Patient care: A unified approach, highlights nine case studies where GPs and physicians have worked closely together to produce new and integrated services. The case studies span a wide range of services in England and Wales, covering different specialties, different population groups and different ways of addressing complex issues. Examples include:

A clinic for patients with respiratory problems at North Bristol Lung Centre, Southmead Hospital, enables GPs and community matrons to refer patients the same day. A dedicated mobile phone also put GPs in easy contact with consultants. The scheme reduced referrals to hospital and enabled patients to be treated closer to home

In Northamptonshire, GPs from 10 practices now have a GP trained to undertake cardiology care within the practice. The project resulted in fewer hospital referrals, greater patient satisfaction with the service and improved patient understanding of their medical condition

A GP with a special interest in dermatology and a consultant dermatologist work together with specialist nurses and other staff at Sunderland Dermatology Centre to provide routine care to patients suffering from non-urgent conditions. The project resulted in lower waiting times, and 100% of patients would recommend the service to others. Royal College of General Practitioners

Inquiry Report into NHS England’s Five Year Forward View: Behaviour Change, Information and Signposting

Inquiry Report into NHS England’s Five Year Forward View: Behaviour Change, Information and Signposting  A cross party group of MPs and peers has called for a National Strategy for Self Care, led by a Minister, to combat the rise in the number of people using scarce and expensive A&E and GP resources to for self-treatable conditions like muscle strain and the common cold. All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Primary Care and Public Health

See also:

• MPs criticise 'lack of progress' on NHS self care rollout GP Online

NHS England reveals leaders for change

NHS England reveals leaders for change CCG, Trust and council leads will plan locally for NHS sustainability and transformation. OnMedica

Depression kills, so why aren't people getting better NHS care?

Depression kills, so why aren't people getting better NHS care? Depression is the most common mental health problem associated with suicidal ideas, but care services adopt a uniform approach that doesn't always work.

Jen is desperate. She is starting to think about taking her own life. Her GP referred her to the Improving access to psychological therapies (Iapt) programme, which started with guided self-help – an approach to supporting people with mild to moderate anxiety, depression or stress. It went on for a few weeks, but didn't help at all. She wanted to be able to talk to the therapist but in the 20-minute sessions, she felt she never got a chance to get to know her.

Then she saw a cognitive behaviour therapist for four sessions. She liked her, but it didn’t make a difference and she didn't see the point of going away and reading books and filling out forms like she was told. She stopped going and was consequently sent a letter saying that she had been discharged. Continue reading... The Guardian

Government's rehashed dementia plans sum up why Jeremy Hunt has lost clinicians' trust

Government's rehashed dementia plans sum up why Jeremy Hunt has lost clinicians' trust The health secretary ignored the damage cuts have done to dementia care and prevention, instead crowbarring in his seven-day NHS and contracts agenda

As a specialist in the healthcare of older people, I read Jeremy Hunt’s announcement on dementia care with interest. Despite only being health secretary for England, he promised that “by 2020, the UK should be the most dementia friendly country in the world”. It’s a great soundbite, even if it is unlikely that such an ambition could be achieved, and the timing is clearly designed to coincide with the next election.

But this announcement is nothing new. The National Dementia Strategy and the appointment of the first national clinical director for dementia services were driven by Labour in 2009. And in a reduced form, this commitment was supported by the coalition government. This strategy included earlier diagnosis, better research funding to reflect the huge societal cost of dementia, enhanced support for people in care homes, improved care for people with dementia in acute hospitals and a commitment to reduce the prescription of unnecessary antipsychotic drugs. Some of these efforts have been effective and they all started well before this Tory government. Continue reading... The Guardian

George Osborne brings in sugar tax to mixed response

George Osborne brings in sugar tax to mixed response Chancellor announces two-tier levy on soft drinks welcomed by health campaigners but condemned by drinks industry.

George Osborne has responded to the growing clamour for tough action on obesity byannouncing plans for a sugary soft drinks tax intended to make children healthier and cut the disease’s £5bn a year cost to the NHS.

The levy, which will start in April 2018, will put up the price of drinks such as Red Bull, Capri Sun, Sprite and several versions of cola. The Treasury has not decided exactly how much extra they will force producers to charge for heavily sweetened drinks, but health campaigners want it to be 20%. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Budget 2016 - summary of the key points for the NHS NHS Employers
• Levy on high sugar drinks: PHE statement Public Health England
• RCGP responds to Budget Royal College of General Practitioners
• Sugar tax: How it will work? BBC News
• Budget 2016: George Osborne announces sugar tax on soft drinks industry The Daily Mail
• Councils need powers to ban junk food advertising near schools and nurseries, town hall leaders say The Daily Mail
• George Osborne's sugar tax is control freakery that will only punish the poor The Daily Telegraph
• Will a sugar tax actually work? The Guardian

Behind the headlines: are older people and families really to blame when their hospital discharges are delayed?

Behind the headlines: are older people and families really to blame when their hospital discharges are delayed? Almost three million (2,998,273) hospital bed days have been lost between June 2010 and January 2016 due to a lack of social care provision at a cost of £910 million, according to a new report by Age UK

See also:

• Age UK claim hospitals are 'evicting' OAPs to free up beds The Daily Mail

Health and care bodies reveal the map that will transform healthcare in England

Health and care bodies reveal the map that will transform healthcare in England National health and care bodies in England have published details of the 44 ‘footprint’ areas that will bring local health and care leaders, organisations and communities together to develop local blueprints for improved health, care and finances over the next five years, delivering the NHS Five Year Forward View. NHS England

Research for all: building a research-active medical workforce

Research for all: building a research-active medical workforce This report argues that that the greatest barrier doctors face in engaging in research is a lack of time, even though they are eager to do so. Drawn from the findings of a survey of almost 2,000 doctors, the report shows that respondents cited the lack of time as having a ‘significant impact’ on their ability to engage in research. Royal College of Physicians

Eye risk from 'overstretched NHS'

Eye risk from 'overstretched NHS' Hundreds of patients are suffering irreversible sight loss every year in England because services are overstretched and under-resourced says the president of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Prof Carrie MacEwen. BBC News

Apprenticeships open the door to fulfilling and rewarding healthcare careers

Apprenticeships open the door to fulfilling and rewarding healthcare careers Apprenticeships and other training programmes offer alternative routes into many roles in the healthcare sector – and are gaining popularity among both school leavers and employers

When James Lowell finished school at 16 in the early 90s, he walked away with just three GCSEs. The south Londoner was left disillusioned by formal education and wanted to pursue a more vocational form of training where he could also earn some money at the same time. So he got a job as porter at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London.

“I was working from 3.30pm to 11pm so it wasn't the most desirable hours, but it allowed me to get into a hospital environment and see what careers were available,” he says. And it wasn't long before opportunity knocked. Continue reading... The Guardian

Antibiotics becoming ineffective at treating some child infections

Antibiotics becoming ineffective at treating some child infections Study finds overuse is to blame for bacteria becoming resistant to drugs in urinary tract infections caused by E coli.

Children are becoming powerless to fight off common infections because antibiotics they take are unable to kill the bacteria involved, experts warn.

New research shows that overuse of antibiotics by children is to blame for bugs becoming drug-resistant for up to six months at a time in cases of urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by E coli. 'Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How antibiotic resistance could wreak havoc on health, food and travel The Guardian
• Antibiotic resistance is not theoretical: the threat is real and immediate The Guardian

The care homes at the vanguard of better health

The care homes at the vanguard of better health Homes in Hertfordshire have successfully reduced hospital admissions and improved residents’ wellbeing through a specialist NHS training programme.

In England, one in six people aged over 85 live in a care home. The NHS’s 2014 five-year vision for the future of health and care wants care homes to offer older people better, joined-up healthcare and rehabilitation services.

For more than 3,000 people in east and north Hertfordshire, “home” is one of the 92 care homes clustered in and around the county’s towns. Most residents are elderly, many have complex health conditions. On average, each takes seven prescribed medicines a day and they’re more than three times as likely to be admitted to hospital as other over 65-year-olds in the county. For the residents, particularly those living with dementia, every hospital visit has the potential to be confusing and disorientating – particularly as around a quarter of hospital admissions are for less than 24 hours. Continue reading... The Guardian

New running blades for 500 amputee children after £1.5million NHS boost in 2016 Budget

New running blades for 500 amputee children after £1.5million NHS boost in 2016 Budget Revealed: The Chancellor will say today that he has found £500,000 to be spent on new "child sports prosthetics" to allow 500 amputee children to run or swim. The Daily Telegraph

'Doctors are too afraid to mention meningitis' parents warn

'Doctors are too afraid to mention meningitis' parents warn Families call for better awareness of meningitis B symptoms and call for quicker precautionary action to be taken by medics. The Daily Telegraph

“Significant improvements” in ambulance handovers at KGH after introduction of new system

“Significant improvements” in ambulance handovers at KGH after introduction of new system Kettering General Hospital says it has seen a “significant improvement” in ambulance handovers since it introduced a new system to tackle increasing time pressures. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Former KGH nurse struck off after falsely claiming she held qualifications to gain promotion

Former KGH nurse struck off after falsely claiming she held qualifications to gain promotion A nurse who falsely claimed she held specialist heart qualifications to gain a promotion at Kettering General Hospital has been struck off. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The role of the NHS in reducing health inequalities: moving beyond fair access to care

The role of the NHS in reducing health inequalities: moving beyond fair access to care All the evidence shows that the NHS is one of the fairest health systems in the world, but it is not perfect. The much-maligned Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced a new duty on the Secretary of State, NHS England and clinical commissioning groups to ‘have regard to the need to reduce inequalities’ in access to care and outcomes of care. However, given the wider furore over the Act and what followed, you would be forgiven for not having noticed that. The King's Fund

Key facts and trends in mental health: 2016 update

Key facts and trends in mental health: 2016 update The Mental Health Network (MHN) has published the fourth edition of its factsheet on key statistics and trends in mental health. NHS Confederation

Best care will come from collaboration not competition – Jeff Johnston

Best care will come from collaboration not competition – Jeff Johnston As the New Care Models Programme marks its first anniversary, the Associate Director of Operations at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust and one of the partnership’s programme directors, discusses the progress they’ve made so far. NHS England

'Not enough doctors' for 7-day NHS

'Not enough doctors' for 7-day NHS There are not enough doctors to run a seven-day NHS in England, according to a leading doctor. BBC News

Doctors raise £70,000 for legal challenge over imposed junior doctor contract

Doctors raise £70,000 for legal challenge over imposed junior doctor contract Doctors and NHS staff who launched a bid to raise £25,000 through crowd funding to kick start a legal challenge over government plans to impose a new contract on junior doctors have raised almost three times as much as their original target. GP Online

Doctors call for better training in end-of-life care

Doctors call for better training in end-of-life care A major report by the British Medical Association reveals that while there are examples of excellent end-of-life care across the UK, there is too much variation between geographic areas and between medical conditions. OnMedica

See also:

• End-of-life care and physician-assisted dying (download) British Medical Association
• Doctors may treat dying patients for too long, finds BMA report The Guardian

£20m boost for GP pay and services

£20m boost for GP pay and services Cash package will also provide IT upgrades and improve locum cover. OnMedica

Anorexia charities criticise Joan Bakewell for unhelpful comments'

Anorexia charities criticise Joan Bakewell for 'unhelpful comments' Baroness Bakewell sparked controversy by claiming eating disorders arise from society becoming more narcissistic. The Independent

See also:

• Teen anorexia 'sign of narcissism' BBC News
• Bakewell 'sorry' over anorexia comments BBC News
• Joan Bakewell is right that anorexia is linked to vanity The Daily Telegraph

GP Clare Gerada calls the NHS a 'toxic' place to work amid Junior doctor strikes

GP Clare Gerada calls the NHS a 'toxic' place to work amid Junior doctor strikes Former chair of the Council of the Royal College of GPs, Dr Clare Gerada, claims junior doctors work an atmosphere of fear - and the strikes are vital to protect their mental health. The Daily Mail

NHS struggling to plug a £22bn funding 'black hole', says report

NHS struggling to plug a £22bn funding 'black hole', says report In 2014-15, NHS trusts in England had a net deficit of £843m, down from £91m recorded in 2013-14 and a £592m surplus in 2012-13.

The NHS in England lacks a convincing plan to plug a £22bn “black hole” in funding within five years, according to parliament’s spending watchdog.

A significant number of acute hospital trusts are in “serious and persistent financial distress”, there is a “spiralling” trend of increased deficits and the current payment system is “not fit for purpose”, the public accounts committee said.  Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Sustainability and financial performance of acute hospital trusts Public Accounts Select Committee
• Government 'has no convincing plan' to save NHS from funding 'black hole' MPs warn The Independent
• Doctors say Budget must deliver more social care cash OnMedica
• ‘Hundreds’ of pharmacies threatened by funding cuts OnMedica

Hospital staffing crisis as 40% of consultant posts remain vacant

Hospital staffing crisis as 40% of consultant posts remain vacant Royal College of Physicians says ‘gathering storm’ of problems puts health secretary’s seven-day NHS plan at risk.

Hospitals are facing such chronic shortages of medical personnel that 40% of senior doctors’ posts remained vacant, new figures reveal.

Vacancies are so widespread that the government’s push to create a seven-day NHS is at risk, according to the head of the Royal College of Physicians. Continue reading... The Guardian

The NHS mental health hospital closed with just five days' warning

The NHS mental health hospital closed with just five days' warning Critics say lives have been put at risk by the closure of Bootham Park in York, with 30 patients having to be discharged or moved

The closure of York’s only public adult mental health hospital with just five days’ warning could put lives at risk and should be subject to both an independent inquiry and a judicial review, according to a local MP and lawyers representing patients.

Bootham Park hospital was closed suddenly in October last year after a critical report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the hospital regulator, forcing 30 inpatients to be discharged or relocated and affecting 400 outpatients. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How a hospital was closed in five days – video The Guardian

Dental charges in England set to increase by 5%

Dental charges in England set to increase by 5% Price hike is in response to the £22 billion cuts needed across the NHS. The Independent

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: NHS charges from April 2016 Department of Health
• Statement to Parliament: NHS dental charges from April 2016 Department of Health

New pay circular for Agenda for Change 1/2016

New pay circular for Agenda for Change 1/2016 New pay circular issued for staff covered by Agenda for Change. NHS Employers

Making a whistleblowing policy work: progress update

Making a whistleblowing policy work: progress update This report assesses the progress on whistleblowing policies and argues that more must be done to encourage and support whistleblowers to come forward. It highlights concerns that the government's approach has been too focused on policy rather than leading by practice and that there has been a lack of urgency in dealing with this issue. House of Commons Public Accounts Committee

Disabled people face benefits change

Disabled people face benefits change More than half a million disabled people could lose out as a result of further changes over the next four years to welfare payments. BBC News

George Osborne accused of presiding over largest funding squeeze in NHS history

George Osborne accused of presiding over largest funding squeeze in NHS history Given economic forecasts and present spending, it is estimated £20bn less a year will be being spent on health by 2020. The Independent

See also:

• Doctors urge more social care funding BBC News

Jeremy Hunt urged to act against avoidable deaths from epilepsy

Jeremy Hunt urged to act against avoidable deaths from  Charity warns almost four in 10 of deaths from the condition are preventable as they call for better care and services. The Independent

That’s enough, junior doctors – the NHS has bigger problems

That’s enough, junior doctors – the NHS has bigger problems The NHS faces far more serious problems than the working conditions of one section of its workers. Now it’s up to the BMA to move towards a strike settlement

‘It’s everyone’s fight,” said the stickers that striking junior doctors handed out at picket lines and protest stalls last week. But is it really? The chief medical officer has warned that strikes will lead to patient suffering: tens of thousands of operations and appointments will have been cancelled as a result of strikes so far. The health select committee chair – a doctor herself – called them“extreme” and “appalling”.

Doctors’ union the BMA insists that the government – and the new junior doctor contract it is proposing – are an even bigger threat to patient safety. Its claims merit at least the scrutiny we’d apply to teaching or train driver unions whose strikes lead to school and tube closures.

Let’s call a spade a spade. This is a workplace dispute about terms and conditions, not a campaign to save the NHS Continue reading... The Guardian

Junior doctors' contract to be challenged in courts

Junior doctors' contract to be challenged in courts Group of doctors and patients have asked solicitors to review the potential impact of Jeremy Hunt’s “seven-day NHS” contract on patient safety

The government’s new contract for junior doctors is to be challenged in the courts by a group of doctors and patients on the grounds of patient safety.

The group have instructed Bindman’s LLP solicitors to investigate judicial review proceedings, which will centre on the detrimental impact of the proposed new contract on the safety patients as well as the stability of the NHS as a whole. Continue reading... The Guardian

Scarlet fever cases reach 50 year high: Experts warn parents to look out for red rash, nausea and high temperature

Scarlet fever cases reach 50 year high: Experts warn parents to look out for red rash, nausea and high  Last year there were 17,559 cases of the disease in England. The disease is most common in children under 10 and causes a sore throat, fever a rash and occasionally leads to pneumonia. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Increase in scarlet fever across England Public Health England
• Scarlet Fever NHS Choices
• Scarlet fever cases in England soar BBC News
• GPs put on scarlet fever alert as cases hit record levels for third year GP Online

NHS England launches national programme to combat antibiotic overusage

NHS England launches national programme to combat antibiotic overusage NHS England has today launched the world’s largest healthcare incentive scheme for hospitals, family doctors and other health service providers to prevent the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Launched against the backdrop of the International Patient Safety Conference taking place at Lancaster House in London today, funding will be made available to hospitals and other providers that reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Press release: Major programme launched to help NHS providers boost their finances

Press release: Major programme launched to help NHS providers boost their finances NHS providers will be able to access additional help with improving their finances, under a new financial improvement programme created by two national healthcare bodies.

Developed by Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority, the ‘Financial improvement programme’ will enable NHS providers to take advantage of additional improvement advice and expertise.

Providers will bring in external financial and operational support to help them make the required savings, so that patients can receive high quality care which is financially sustainable. Monitor

The one-way mirror: public attitudes to commercial access to health data

The one-way mirror: public attitudes to commercial access to health data This report has revealed that just over 50 per cent of the public are in favour of patient records being used by commercial organisations as long as there is a clear public benefit and appropriate safeguards in place. It also emphasises how unaware many people are about how patient data is already used within in the NHS, let alone by others such as academic researchers, charities and commercial organisations. Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Wellcome Trust

See also:

• How do people feel about companies accessing health data? Wellcome Trust

Ministers 'seek 7-day consultants deal'

Ministers 'seek 7-day consultants deal' Consultants in England could be offered new NHS contracts within weeks, the BBC understands, after what ministers describe as "constructive" negotiations. BBC News

Care home offers a step between hospital and home for patients

Care home offers a step between hospital and home for patients New initiative sees independent care homes working with hospitals to provide a place for people to recuperate and alleviate pressures on acute care

A stroll up to the door of Harrogate Lodge care home in the Leeds suburb Chapel Allerton is leaf-lined and heralded with birdsong. It’s a far cry from the hospital corridor 90-year-old temporary resident Mavis found herself sleeping in a couple of weeks ago, after she had a fall at home.

Mavis has been in Harrogate Lodge for a week while she recovers from a urine infection and is well enough to go back to her home on the other side of the city. “It’s certainly quieter here,” she laughs, “and the food is lovely.” Continue reading... The Guardian

How do you radicalise a calm, dedicated doctor? Ask Jeremy Hunt

How do you radicalise a calm, dedicated doctor? Ask Jeremy Hunt The obduracy of the health secretary is putting untold pressure on the NHS and making enemies of its future leaders. The junior doctors’ strike must be resolved.

On the second day of the third strike, the junior doctors are standing as solid as ever, just over half are on strike, with most of those not striking staying in to cover emergency work. Thousands more non-urgent operations are cancelled, adding to the backlog already growing due to the extreme pressure the NHS was under long before this.

It’s an impasse. The new contract has been imposed and the government has withdrawn from all further talks while these young-ish doctors have been radicalised by the way they have been treated: they look unlikely to buckle any time soon – on the picket lines, they are garnering waves of public support in beeps, claps and whistles. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS England update on industrial action by junior doctors NHS England
• If the junior doctors are right and Jeremy Hunt is wrong, the NHS is in serious trouble The Daily Telegraph
• Video: I'm terrified the government won't back down, says leading GP trainee GP Online
• Video: David Cameron must step in to resolve dispute, says junior doctors leader GP Online

NHS hospitals now so overwhelmed patients could die, says top doctor

NHS hospitals now so overwhelmed patients could die, says top doctor The warning from doctors in acute care comes after the NHS admits it missed almost all key targets in January – its worst-ever set of figures.

Hospitals are now so overwhelmed patients could die, a doctors’ leader said on Thursday, adding that the NHS is now in an “eternal winter”.

The stark warning from doctors involved in acute care came after figures showed record numbers of sick people are having to wait longer than they should for treatment, with the NHS admitting it has missed almost all its key waiting time targets in the same month for the first time in hospitals in England. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to NHS performance data for January The King's Fund
• NHS is creaking at the seams: Alarming figures show record delays in A&E, cancer waiting times and surgery The Daily Mail

Men with breast cancer being failed as they are 'treated like women'

Men with breast cancer being failed as they are 'treated like women' First major investigation into male breast cancer reveals significant differences in biology of disease, despite same treatments for men and women. The Daily Telegraph

NHFT in top quarter of NHS trusts for openness and transparency

NHFT in top quarter of NHS trusts for openness and transparency Local healthcare provider Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been ranked 56th out of 230 NHS Trusts in the Department of Health's ‘Learning from Mistakes League'.

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: An NHS that learns from mistakes Department of Health
• Speech: From a blame culture to a learning culture Department of Health
• Press release: New league launched to encourage openness in the NHS Monitor
• Transparency data: Learning from mistakes league Monitor

Kettering Hospital’s maternity service named as finalist for national award

Kettering Hospital’s maternity service named as finalist for national award Kettering General Hospital’s maternity service is a finalist for a national award that celebrates the way organisations use feedback from patients and staff to improve healthcare services. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Living with a long-term condition: the importance of psychological support

Living with a long-term condition: the importance of psychological support In a guest blog to coincide with the launch of our report on integrating physical and mental health care, Tessa Jelen writes about the importance of information and support – for both physical and mental wellbeing – for people diagnosed with a long-term condition. Tessa was a member of a focus group we ran as part of our research that explored service user perspectives on what well-co-ordinated, integrated care would look like. The King's Fund

The structure of the NHS in England

The structure of the NHS in England Major reforms to the structure of the health service in England were introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, with a large number of new organisations established on 1 April 2013. This briefing provides an overview of the funding and accountability relationships under the new system, and an introduction to the roles of key organisations. It also highlights some of the key health policy issues for the current Parliament, including patient safety, funding, and the integration of health and social care. House of Commons Library

A&E delays 'reach record levels'

A&E delays 'reach record levels' A&E delays in England have reached record levels, official figures show, as demand soars. BBC News

See also:

• NHS records worst ever performance figures The Guardian

Second NHS strike day 'more difficult'

Second NHS strike day 'more difficult' The second day of the 48-hour junior doctors' strike on Thursday is likely to be more difficult for hospitals in England, NHS bosses are warning. BBC News

See also:

• Hospitals 'may end up over-crowded during strike' BBC News
• Junior doctors' strike could continue until SUMMER: Patients face months of chaos after union refuses to rule out further action The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors' strike: Second day expected to be "more difficult" The Daily Telegraph
• Time to admit and resolve NHS errors The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors' strike: thousands of operations cancelled as 48-hour walkout begins The Daily Telegraph
• BMA legal challenge over junior doctor contract 'bound to fail' says government GP Online
• Junior doctors slam 'bullying' government as 48-hour walkout begins GP Online
• Junior doctors in third walkout as dispute over new contract escalates The Guardian
• In the junior doctors dispute neither side wants to settle, both want a fight The Guardian
• Working as a junior doctor is like being in an abusive relationship The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt has given my working week a facelift. The result is hideously ugly | Stephen Fabes The Guardian
• Striking junior doctors run lifesaving classes for parents The Guardian

Teen pregnancy rate 'continues to fall'

Teen pregnancy rate 'continues to fall' The number of teenage girls getting pregnant in England and Wales is continuing to fall, figures show. BBC News

New report calls for UK to become ‘tobacco-free’ by 2035

New report calls for UK to become ‘tobacco-free’ by 2035 Tobacco-related diseases on track to cost £3.6bn per year. OnMedica

See also:

• Aiming High: Why the UK should aim to be tobacco free Cancer Research and the UK Health Forum

World Kidney Day: 10-year-old boy with no kidneys waits 9 years for donor organs

World Kidney Day: 10-year-old boy with no kidneys waits 9 years for donor organs There are around 7,000 people on the UK national transplant waiting list. The Independent

Nuffield Health: employee wellbeing is as important as patient health

Nuffield Health: employee wellbeing is as important as patient health Su Waters, head of recruitment, explains what it’s like to work at the not-for-profit healthcare provider, which is taking on staff in a range of roles Continue reading... The Guardian

Number of kidney stone cases increases by 115% in 10 years

Number of kidney stone cases increases by 115% in 10 years An increase in obesity may account for the greater prevalence of the condition, which can be mitigated by drinking enough water

Emergency hospital admissions for kidney stones have risen by 115% in a decade, figures indicate. Continue reading... The Guardian

Time to admit and resolve NHS errors

Time to admit and resolve NHS errors Telegraph View: Jeremy Hunt's laudable approach to clinical errors also shows the BMA how it should end its mistaken industrial action. The Daily Telegraph

British mums sent home sooner after birth than any other developed country

British mums sent home sooner after birth than any other developed country British women are sent home after 36 hours compared with two days in the US and more than four days in France. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• UK mothers spend least time in maternity wards in developed world, study warns The Independent

Junior doctors’ strike sees Northampton General Hospital cancel 421 appointments

Junior doctors’ strike sees Northampton General Hospital cancel 421 appointments Bosses at NGH have been forced to cancel more than 400 appointments as junior doctors go on strike from 8am this morning (Wednesday). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Junior doctors set for 48-hour strike

Junior doctors set for 48-hour strike Hospitals in England are braced for the third strike by junior doctors in their contract dispute with the government. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctor and consultant contract negotiations British Medical Association
• Junior doctor contract negotiations Department of Health
• Correspondence: Health Secretary's response to proposed claim for judicial review by BMA Department of Health
• NHS England prepares for 48-hour action by junior doctors NHS England
• VIDEO: Junior doctors' strike The dispute explained BBC News
• VIDEO: Junior doctors: Why we are striking BBC News
• Another 5,200 operations are cancelled as junior doctors walk out AGAIN in first 48-hour strike The Daily Mail
• 5,000 operations cancelled as junior doctors enter sustained strikes The Daily Telegraph
• Doctors strike: the NHS exists to serve patients, not keep doctors happy The Daily Telegraph
• No, junior doctors won't leave the country because of Jeremy Hunt's new contract The Daily Telegraph
• More than 5,000 NHS operations cancelled as doctors prepare to strike The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt fails to make any weekend visits to hospitals over 12 months The Independent

NHS to introduce financial incentive to improve staff health

NHS to introduce financial incentive to improve staff health NHS England has announced plans to offer financial incentives to improve the health and wellbeing of NHS staff in England. NHS Employers

Protesters criticise scheme that puts Jobcentre advisors in GP practices

Protesters criticise scheme that puts Jobcentre advisors in GP practices Disability rights and mental health campaigners have slammed a pilot scheme to put Jobcentre employment advisors inside GP practices. GP Online

GP blackspots: Old, rich and white people more likely to get appointment than young and less well-off, report finds

GP blackspots: Old, rich and white people more likely to get appointment than young and less well-off, report finds Young people and the less well-off find it more difficult to get an appointment with a GP than older, whiter, richer people, according to a damning parliamentary report.

A growing shortage of doctors has been blamed on the Department of Health (DoH) and NHS England, which “failed” to ensure GP numbers kept pace with demand. The Independent

See also:

• Access to General Practice in England Public Account Committee 
• RCGP response to PAC report on access to general practice in England Royal College of General Practitioners
• MPs slam government 'complacency' over GP workforce crisis GP Online

International Women's Day: Top doctor warns of lack of women in surgery, as #WomenInStem celebrates females

International Women's Day: Top doctor warns of lack of women in surgery, as #WomenInStem celebrates females Women make up 13 per cent of the workforce in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths. The Independent

More than 1,300 new cases of FGM are reported in England in three months

More than 1,300 new cases of FGM are reported in England in three months The latest figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that more than 1,300 women were seen by the NHS in a three-month period after having their genitals mutilated. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) - October 2015 to December 2015 Health and Social Care Information Centre

Unions angered by 'miserly' 1% pay rise for public sector workers

Unions angered by 'miserly' 1% pay rise for public sector workers Award for NHS staff, doctors, dentists and armed services will force many to consider their futures in careers, warn workers’ representatives

Public sector workers including doctors and nurses will receive a 1% pay rise from the government, prompting an angry response from their unions.

More than 1 million employees, including staff in the armed forces, will receive the award from this year. Ministers have claimed the amount was in line with its policy of an average 1% pay increase in 2016-17. Continue reading... The Guardian

Bullying stopped staff reporting heart surgery deaths, says CQC

Bullying stopped staff reporting heart surgery deaths, says CQC Care Quality Commission inspectors find serious problems at heart unit of NHS Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham

One of the NHS’s best hospitals ignored repeated warnings and evidence that too many heart patients were dying as a result of surgery intended to save their lives, the NHS care watchdog has revealed.

A new Care Quality Commission report into cardiac surgery at Queen Elizabeth medical centre in Birmingham is scathing about a litany of mistakes made by both surgeons there and the leadership of the NHS trust which runs the unit. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Bullying stopped staff speaking out BBC News
• Bullying and blame culture at leading hospital 'stopped staff speaking out over heart unit deaths', damning report reveals The Daily Mail
• Leading hospital under CQC scrutiny over high heart surgery death rate The Guardian
• The Guardian view on heart surgery failings in Birmingham: disdain for the data | Editorial The Guardian

All hospital deaths to be examined by second doctor

All hospital deaths to be examined by second doctor Health secretary Jeremy Hunt to announce medics will provide a ‘second look’ at events preceding a patient’s death

All deaths in hospital will be examined by a second doctor unconnected to the patient’s treatment, in a move intended to improve care and help bereaved relatives understand why their loved one died.

Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, told the Guardian he will announce the change – to take effect in England in 2018 – in a speech to a global summit on patient safety in London on Thursday. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Plans to end the cover-up culture in the NHS Department of Health
• NHS trusts ranked on mistakes response BBC News
• Doctors will be able to own up to honest mistakes 'without fear' The Daily Telegraph
• Jeremy Hunt Announces Plan To Crackdown On 'Mistakes' By NHS Doctors The Huffington Post UK
• Jeremy Hunt promises whistleblowers 'safe spaces' and legal cover The Independent
• The NHS needs to learn from its mistakes, and as Health Secretary I'm on a mission to make sure it does The Independent

E-cigarettes now the most popular form of support to stop smoking

E-cigarettes now the most popular form of support to stop smoking Today is No Smoking Day which has been running annually since 1983. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Nagging smokers does not help them quit, say researchers The Daily Telegraph

£11 billion cost of treating physical and mental health separately

£11 billion cost of treating physical and mental health separately A new report  shows that the psychological problems associated with physical health conditions, and vice versa, are costing the NHS more than £11 billion a year and care is less effective than it could be. The report argues that by integrating physical and mental health care the NHS can improve health outcomes and save money.

The £11 billion a year is the collective cost of:

• high rates of mental health issues among those with long-term conditions such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease
• limited support for the psychological aspects of physical health, for example during and after pregnancy
• poor management of ‘medically unexplained symptoms’ such as persistent pain or tiredness.

The separation between physical and mental health has a high human cost: the life expectancy for people with severe mental illness (such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) is 15 to 20 years below that of the general population, largely as a result of physical health conditions. The King's Fund

Northamptonshire hospitals urge public to help relieve pressure during 48-hour strike by junior doctors

Northamptonshire hospitals urge public to help relieve pressure during 48-hour strike by junior doctors A 48-hour strike by junior doctors later this week has prompted calls by health authorities in Northamptonshire for people to help reduce pressure on NHS services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Pay review bodies recommend 1 per cent uplift for NHS staff

Pay review bodies recommend 1 per cent uplift for NHS staff The government has accepted recommendations from the independent pay review bodies that all NHS staff groups be awarded a 1 per cent consolidated pay increase with effect from April 2016. NHS Employers

See also:

• News story: NHS staff to receive 1% pay rise Department of Health
• Independent report: Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration forty-fourth report: 2016 Department of Health
• Independent report: National Health Service Pay Review Body 29th report: 2016 Department of Health

NHS child mental health money 'missing'

NHS child mental health money 'missing' Many mental health trusts in England have seen "no significant investment" in psychiatric services for children despite government plans to overhaul provision, say experts. BBC News

2.5m Brits bust alcohol limit in a day

2.5m Brits bust alcohol limit in a day Around 2.5 million people in Great Britain - 9% of drinkers - consume more than the new weekly recommended limit for alcohol in a single day, latest figures show. BBC News

Outmoded workforce planning poses risk to child health

Outmoded workforce planning poses risk to child health More paediatric trainees needed, says Royal College. OnMedica

Dementia: 'Most people' do not know a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease

Dementia: 'Most people' do not know a healthy lifestyle can prevent the disease The majority of people do not know that leading a healthy lifestyle can help cut the risk of developing dementia, a new survey has shown.

Charity Alzheimer’s Research UK has conducted a survey to raise awareness of how the disease is not an inevitable part of ageing. The Independent

NHS mistakes cost lives. Here are four ways to improve patient safety

NHS mistakes cost lives. Here are four ways to improve patient safety Former health minister Lord Darzi on novel projects, including ambulance redesign and hospital drug charts

Almost 130 NHS patients are killed or harmed every day in the NHS as a result of errors in their treatment. Latest figures from a report by Imperial College London state: “in the six months from October 2014 to March 2015 there were 622,000 patient safety incidents recorded in general hospitals (acute, non-specialist, NHS trusts) in England and Wales. Of these, more than 23,000 caused moderate or severe harm and there were 716 deaths – four a day.”

To kickstart a global drive to reduce errors, improve care and save lives, ministers from countries across Europe will meet in London for the Patient Safety Global Action Summit 2016. The two-day conference, which begins on Wednesday, will assess the latest innovations in patient safety, the barriers to research, and how we can learn more from our mistakes. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Patient Safety 2030 NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• National Reporting And Learning System Research And Development NRLS Research Team (Lord Darzi chief investigator)
• NHS staff are 'too scared to blow whistle for fear of repercussions' The Daily Mail
• Avoidable harm still ‘too high’ in UK healthcare OnMedica

NHS's first 'national guardian' resigns after two months

NHS's first 'national guardian' resigns after two months Dame Eileen Sills, whose remit was to support NHS whistleblowers, said she couldn’t combine role with other job as chief nurse.

A chief nurse who was appointed more than two months ago as the first “national guardian” with a remit to support NHS whistleblowers has resigned from the post.

Dame Eileen Sills said she had to step down due to her commitment to patients and staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust, where she was chief nurse.

Brave decision by Dame Eileen Sills. Surely National Guardian must be a full time position to be effective. https://t.co/m7Zdv6uUUC

Not surprised Eileen Sills quit as national whistleblowers guardian. Chief nurse @ Guys & Thomas' was never going to work as part-time role Continue reading... The Guardian

Health and care integration will not happen unless budgets are pooled

Health and care integration will not happen unless budgets are pooled Siloed funding streams make it harder for services to work together. Despite the obstacles, full integration is the only way forward.

The desire to see integrated heathcare and social care services is broadly shared by care professionals, government bodies and special interest groups. But in England, successful integration is only found in local initiatives that focus on specific areas of care or patient groups. These successes are driven by joint working between local authorities and health trusts, plus third-sector organisations, and are to be commended; not least because they have generally been achieved despite national funding mechanisms working against them. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Integration is not a cure-all for health and care – look at Northern Ireland The Guardian
• Vanguard sites: new models of integration in health and social care The Guardian

Patronising the overweight, unhealthy British public won't stop them eating and smoking

Patronising the overweight, unhealthy British public won't stop them eating and smoking Public Health England's decision to spend £3.5 million offering us blindingly obvious health tips won't solve anything. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS splurges £3.5m on ads telling middle aged to eat less and run more: Critics brand health drive as 'patronising' The Daily Mail