Putting Doctors and Patients on the Same Page

Putting Doctors and Patients on the Same Page More than 6 million Americans have unrestricted online access to their medical records, thanks to "OpenNotes," an initiative launched in 2010. Early research suggests that letting patients read their doctors' clinical notes holds promise for engaging patients in their care, strengthening patient-provider relationships, and even improving adherence to care regimens. The Commonwealth Fund

Junior doctors will realise contract imposition was right, says Jeremy Hunt

Junior doctors will realise contract imposition was right, says Jeremy Hunt Junior doctors will realise the government 'was right' to impose a new contract after the collapse of negotiations with the BMA, health secretary Jeremy Hunt has told MPs. GP Online

Multi-million pound GP compensation claims rising

Multi-million pound GP compensation claims rising 12 compensation claims worth more than £1m paid last year. OnMedica

Liverpool Community Heath NHS trust 'had oppressive culture'

Liverpool Community Heath NHS trust 'had oppressive culture' An "oppressive" culture at an NHS trust led to poor services, bullying of staff and may even have contributed to some deaths, a report has found.

The review highlighted "failures at multiple levels" at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust since 2011. BBC News

Tens of thousands of care workers still paid below minimum wage despite new regulations

Tens of thousands of care workers still paid below minimum wage despite new regulations; Tens of thousands of care workers are still being paid below the national minimum wage despite new regulation designed to ensure they are paid fairly, a new study says.

Despite a change in the law and a major HMRC investigation, care firms are still failing to pay staff for travel between clients according to the research from Unison, based on Freedom of Information responses from more than 150 councils in England and Wales. The Independent

Dementia sufferers test-drive revolutionary rehabilitation system which puts patients at the helm of interactive games and activities

Dementia sufferers test-drive revolutionary rehabilitation system which puts patients at the helm of interactive games and activities First developed to rehabilitate wounded Israeli soldiers, the virtual reality CAREN machine has also helped hundreds of injured Chinese earthquake victims to take their first steps to recovery.

Now those with dementia in northern England have begun test-driving the same revolutionary rehabilitation system to help with their condition – throwing them into a futuristic world where they can fight sharks, drive high-speed cars and try downhill skiing. The Independent

Meningitis B vaccine cost analysis 'underestimates' impact on families

Meningitis B vaccine cost analysis 'underestimates' impact on families Campaigners and experts calling for older children to receive MenB vaccine say current cost-benefit analysis does not take into account the true impacts of the illness. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Meningitis B vaccine IS worth the cost: Jab gives parents peace of mind, experts tell health committee The Daily Mail

Gynaecologist who worked at Northamptonshire hospital demonstrated sex act to female colleague

Gynaecologist who worked at Northamptonshire hospital demonstrated sex act to female colleague A doctor has been suspended for 12 months after working at Kettering General Hospital without telling them he was suspected of sexual misconduct. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health matters promotes midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk

Health matters promotes midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk Following the recent launch of Public Health England’s One You, a ground-breaking campaign to help adults across the country make simple changes to improve their health today and in the future, PHE has launched the fourth edition of Health matters: midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk. Public Health England

Diabetes at-risk offered lifestyle help

Diabetes at-risk offered lifestyle help People in England at risk of type-2 diabetes are to be offered healthy-lifestyle support by the NHS to help them prevent the condition developing. BBC News

See also:

• Thousands to benefit as first wave of NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme national rollout is announced NHS England
• RCGP response to NHS England diabetes prevention programme rollout Royal College of General Practitioners
• Personal trainers on the NHS in war on diabetes The Daily Telegraph
• GPs to refer patients to large-scale diabetes prevention scheme OnMedica

U-turn over prostate cancer drug

U-turn over prostate cancer drug Patients with prostate cancer in England will now have early access to a drug that can delay the need for chemotherapy. BBC News

See also:

• Prostate cancer patients WILL get life-extending drug on the NHS, health watchdog declares  The Daily Mail
• U-turn on NICE approval of prostate cancer drug OnMedica

World Down Syndrome Day: 'How Do You See Me?' video highlights prejudice surrounding condition

World Down Syndrome Day: 'How Do You See Me?' video highlights prejudice surrounding condition "I see myself as an ordinary person with an important, meaningful, and beautiful life. How do you see me?" The Independent

The NHS is in the midst of a financial hurricane

The NHS is in the midst of a financial hurricane The forecast from the budget shows no let-up in the weather for the struggling health service, but a plan for the future must be put in place this year

A hurricane is characterised by severe storms, surrounding an area of relative calm known as the eye of the storm. The NHS is in the midst of a financial hurricane. Costs are rising faster than funding, creating a perfect storm for NHS providers. Next year will be one of relative calm, similar to the eye of a hurricane, with the largest planned funding increase for 2016-17. This is followed by flat or falling real-terms funding per head until 2020-21.

The forecast from the budget shows no let-up in the weather; in fact the forecast looks worse for three reasons. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS England stalls plans for HIV prevention drug

NHS England stalls plans for HIV prevention drug Consultation on Truvada will now be shelved, in move sexual health charities have described as ‘shameful’ and ‘failing those at risk’ of HIV.

Charities and campaigners have reacted with anger and disbelief that plans to roll out a widely anticipated HIV prevention drug have been stalled by NHS England.

The sector had been waiting for the announcement of the first ever public consultation on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the UK, now overdue by a month. Instead today NHS England announced it was not their responsibility to commission the drug. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Update on commissioning and provision of Pre Exposure Prophylaxsis (PREP) for HIV prevention NHS England
• Could a monthly injection prevent HIV? Single shot of PrEP drugs is 'as effective as taking pills twice a day' The Daily Mail
• Daily pill Truvada cuts spread of HIV by 86%, study shows The Guardian 
• NHS England slammed for 'u-turn' on new HIV treatment ITV News

Zika outbreak: Where is the virus spreading?

Zika outbreak: Where is the virus spreading? The World Health Organisation has declared a global emergency in response to the spread of Zika - but which countries are currently affected by the virus? The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• South Korea confirms first Zika case BBC News

George Osborne must U-turn on his ludicrous sugar tax

George Osborne must U-turn on his ludicrous sugar tax After climbing down on so much, like disability cuts, the Chancellor must do it again over his buzzkilling fizzy drinks tax. The Daily Telegraph

Northants children’s centre consultation begins as Corby charity says cuts will have ‘devastating impact’

Northants children’s centre consultation begins as Corby charity says cuts will have ‘devastating impact’ Northamptonshire County Council has launched a consultation into proposed changes to children’s centre services in the county. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Eight children's centres set to close BBC Northampton

Ambulance service for Northamptonshire had to take out a loan to pay staff wages

Ambulance service for Northamptonshire had to take out a loan to pay staff wages A cash-strapped ambulance service has had to borrow money from the Government to pay basic monthly expenses. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby child dies from swine flu and three other youngsters are infected

Corby child dies from swine flu and three other youngsters are infected The youngster, from Corby, Northamptonshire, died last week and is thought to have attended a private nursery. Health officials are now giving advice to concerned parents. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Parents warned after Corby child dies from possible swine flu Northamptonshire Telegraph

The Budget: sugaring a bitter pill for public health?

The Budget: sugaring a bitter pill for public health? The stand-out headline of the Budget was the slimline rabbit the Chancellor pulled out of the hat in the form of a future sugar levy. This is a victory for many public health campaigners, for Public Health England and the Health Select Committee who all championed a tax on sugary drinks. The King's Fund

Open consultation: Carers strategy: call for evidence

Open consultation: Carers strategy: call for evidence We think that we need a new strategy for carers that sets out how more can be done to support them. It needs to reflect their lives now, their health and financial concerns, and give them the support they need to live well while caring for a family member or friend.

To help us develop the strategy, we want to hear from carers, those who have someone who care for them, business, social workers, NHS staff and other professionals that support carers. Department of Health

Board briefing on apprenticeship policy changes

Board briefing on apprenticeship policy changes NHS Employers have produced a briefing for board members which highlights the financial implications of the policy changes being introduced surrounding apprenticeships.

NHS study shows 9 in 10 hospitals now deemed unsafe over lack of beds

NHS study shows 9 in 10 hospitals now deemed unsafe over lack of beds Shocking figures show that 143 out of 154 hospital trusts in England are currently more than 85 per cent occupied – the maximum level considered to be safe. The Daily Mail

Jenny Foote: Report on care worker's murder to be withheld, health bosses say

Jenny Foote: Report on care worker's murder to be withheld, health bosses say A controversial report into how a violent, mentally disturbed patient was released from NHS care to a charity-run housing project where he battered a care worker to death with a fire extinguisher should be kept secret, health service bosses have said. The Independent

Scarlet fever: Once-feared Victorian disease infecting hundreds of children a week

Scarlet fever: Once-feared Victorian disease infecting hundreds of children a week Illness associated with the Victorian era now infects hundreds of children a week, with no apparent reason for its return. The Independent

See also:

• Scarlet fever returns as doctors are warned about possible outbreak The Daily Mail

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