Quarter of UK care homes 'risk closure'

Quarter of UK care homes 'risk closure' More than a quarter of care homes in the UK are in danger of going out of business within three years, figures obtained by BBC Radio 4 suggest. BBC News

Google's DeepMind shouldn't suck up our NHS records in secret

Google's DeepMind shouldn't suck up our NHS records in secret The revelation that 1.6 million patients’ records are being used by the company’s artificial intelligence arm rings alarm bells

When it was revealed that Google’s London-based company DeepMind would be able to access the NHS records of 1.6 million patients who use three London hospitals run by the Royal Free NHS trust – Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free – it rang alarm bells.

Not just because the British fiercely guard their intimate medical histories. Not just because Google, a sprawling octopus of a company with tentacles in all our lives, wishes to “organise the world’s information”. Not just because patients are unlikely to have consented to Google having this information. Continue reading... The Guardian

Care on camera: what it's like to be a nurse in 2016 - in pictures

Care on camera: what it's like to be a nurse in 2016 - in pictures To mark the Royal College of Nursing’s centenary, the college is running a photography competition which received more than 800 entries. The shortlist of 50 has been announced and you can vote for your favourite here Continue reading... The Guardian

Judge overturns 'absurd' NHS decision not to treat narcoleptic 17-year-old

Judge overturns 'absurd' NHS decision not to treat narcoleptic 17-year-old NHS England has been ordered by the High Court to treat a teenager with a severe neurological condition

The judge in the case criticised the organisation for a "thoroughly bad decision" and "absurd" policy.

Mr Justice Collins said he would issue a mandatory order against NHS England after deciding it had acted unlawfully.

It is denying funding for the drug sodium oxybate to treat a 17-year-old's severe narcolepsy. The Daily Telegraph

More pensioners admitted to hospital with alcohol issues

More pensioners admitted to hospital with alcohol issues The number of pensioners being admitted to hospital because of alcohol is on the rise, new figures from Public Health England show. The Daily Mail

Emergency ambulances being rushed to ‘do not resuscitate’ patients in Northamptonshire

Emergency ambulances being rushed to ‘do not resuscitate’ patients in Northamptonshire Care homes in Northamptonshire are frequently requesting ambulances under blue lights for pensioners who do not want to be resuscitated. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

KGH opens new extension to A&E department

KGH opens new extension to A&E department Kettering General Hospital has opened the new extension to its A&E department to help improve care facilities for its sickest patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Revealed: Google AI has access to huge haul of NHS patient data

Revealed: Google AI has access to huge haul of NHS patient data A data-sharing agreement obtained by New Scientist shows that Google DeepMind's collaboration with the NHS goes far beyond what it has publicly announced

See also:

• Google given access to patient records BBC News
• Google given access to healthcare data of up to 1.6 million patients The Guardian
• NHS shares 1.6 million patients' medical records with Google as part of data-sharing agreement The Independent

Introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives a major success

Introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives a major success The introduction of revalidation for nurses and midwives has been a major success, with the majority of those due to renew their registration revalidating successfully. Nursing and Midwifery Council

Is the NHS underdoctored, underfunded and overstretched?

Is the NHS underdoctored, underfunded and overstretched? The answer to that question is yes according to a some senior medical voices.

It was posed at a special conference on the state of the NHS in England convened by the British Medical Association. The meeting highlighted again the financial stresses and recruitment pressures currently gripping the health service and the widespread debate about how to face up to these challenges. BBC News

The third highest cause of death in the United States is mistakes by medical staff

The third highest cause of death in the United States is mistakes by medical staff Mistakes by medical staff have been ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States in a new study. The Independent

See also:

• Medical errors now the THIRD leading cause of death in the US, experts warn The Daily Mail

The Sunshine rule: a quick guide

The Sunshine rule: a quick guide Under government plans, clinical commissioning groups and hospital trusts will be required to keep a list of gifts and payments from pharmaceutical companies to NHS staff

The rule, or rather set of initiatives, will mean senior medical staff in England and Wales will have to declare gifts and hospitality received from pharmaceutical companies, or they could be dismissed and or prosecuted under the Bribery Act. If found guilty, they may face unlimited fines or imprisonment. NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and NHS hospital trusts will be responsible for maintaining registers that will document the pharma-related business interests of medics, rather like the UK parliament’s register of MPs’ financial interests. Continue reading... The Guardian

BMA chief urges juniors to 'take a step back' before indefinite strikes

BMA chief urges juniors to 'take a step back' before indefinite strikes Junior doctors need to "take a step back" before considering indefinite strikes the head of the British Medical Association has said, amid signs of divisions in the union.

Hospitals have been warned to prepare for a wave of strikes, after leaked emails showed the union’s junior doctors committee is considering escalating industrial action, in the wake of the first ever full walkout by medics in the history of the NHS.

But Dr Mark Porter, the head of the BMA, on Tuesday suggested that junior doctors should “take soundings” and think hard before going too far. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MP Lucy Allan says 'trainee doctors holding NHS ransom' BBC News
• Junior doctor strikes show 'profound failure' of government on NHS, says BMA chair GP Online

The men dying of embarrassment: Nearly HALF won't talk about a mole or lump because they 'don't want to make a fuss'

The men dying of embarrassment: Nearly HALF won't talk about a mole or lump because they 'don't want to make a fuss' Men are more likely to get cancer in general and those who work in 'masculine' industries - such as building and construction - are most at risk, the cancer charity Macmillan found. The Daily Mail

Changes ahead for school nurses, health visitors and breastfeeding services in Northamptonshire

Changes ahead for school nurses, health visitors and breastfeeding services in Northamptonshire A consultation looking at key public health nursing services for children and young people has been launched. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Fewer than two full-time nurses for Northamptonshire’s 1,000 MS patients is ‘unsustainable’

Fewer than two full-time nurses for Northamptonshire’s 1,000 MS patients is ‘unsustainable’ The NHS in Northamptonshire has 1.2 whole time equivalent nurses to look after 1,045 multiple sclerosis patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Readiness to change in NHS organisations

Readiness to change in NHS organisations The context facing organisations in the English NHS is hugely challenging – this much is obvious. The state of NHS finances is parlous, care delivery targets are increasingly missed, and there is recognition of – but not yet action to address – the need to integrate systems to deliver care.

Combined with increasing demands on the health care system, these multiple pressures require NHS organisations to change, adapt and innovate on a scale that would make Apple and Microsoft catch their breath.

This requires not simply tinkering with organisational change, but transforming the way health and care are delivered to ensure long-term sustainability. And this can only be achieved with the involvement, engagement and commitment of leadership and staff throughout the NHS and in other organisations and sectors. It requires changing cultures both within and across organisations. The King's Fund

The journey to integration: Learning from seven leading localities

The journey to integration: Learning from seven leading localities The LGA has long advocated the benefits of integrated, person-centred care as a key vehicle to improve people’s health and wellbeing and experience of care, alongside bringing financial sustainability to the health and care system. The findings in this report highlight how through determined collective and collaborative leadership which engages and empowers everyone in their locality, it is possible to make great strides towards these outcomes. Local Government Association

Vulnerable people are being wrongly turned away from GP surgeries

Vulnerable people are being wrongly turned away from GP surgeries Pregnant women, children, refugees and homeless people are among the vulnerable people being wrongly turned away from GP surgeries in the UK. A new report from Doctors of the World UK has found that at least two in five people attempting to register with doctor’s surgeries are being wrongly refused. The biggest barrier was people's inability to provide paperwork – be that ID or proof of address or proof.

Everyone living in the UK is entitled to free primary care and GPs are our frontline defence against poor public and personal ill health. NHS guidelines that were issued in November last year state that patients do not need proof of ID or address to register and see a doctor, but inconsistent and unclear guidance in the past has led to confusion in some practices that mean people are still being turned away by surgery staff. Doctors of the World

See also:

• Registration refused: A study on access to GP registration in England Doctors of the World 
• RCGP response to Doctors of the World report on GP access for vulnerable groups Royal College of General Practitioners

Rich and poor lifespan gap 'widening'

Rich and poor lifespan gap 'widening' The gap between the lifespans of rich and poor people in England and Wales is rising for the first time since the 1870s, research suggests. BBC News

Prison suicides hit 25-year high

Prison suicides hit 25-year high There have been six murders and 100 suicides in prisons across England and Wales in the past 12 months – the highest levels seen for at least 25 years, official figures have revealed. OnMedica

Do not resuscitate orders imposed on thousands of patients without families' consent

Do not resuscitate orders imposed on thousands of patients without families' consent Up to 40,000 patients a year are having do not resuscitate orders imposed without their families' consent, an audit has found.

Hospitals are failing to tell relations they do not intend to attempt potentially lifesaving techniques to save their loved ones, according to the Royal College of Physicians. The Independent

See also:

• Resuscitation orders 'kept from families' BBC News
• Hospital audit reveals 40k patients given Do Not Resuscitate orders without families being told The Daily Mail 
• 'Unforgivable' failings in end-of-life care revealed as 40,000 dying patients subject to secret 'do not resuscitate' orders every year The Daily Telegraph
• Do not resuscitate orders placed on patients without consent, says study The Guardian

How Boots went rogue

How Boots went rogue Britain’s biggest pharmacy used to be a family business, dedicated to serving society. Now, many of the company’s own staff believe that its relentless drive for profit is putting the public at risk Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Boots investigation: 'independent' pharmacist's letter edited by head office The Guardian

Nearly three-quarters of Britons expect rapid decline in NHS, says poll

Nearly three-quarters of Britons expect rapid decline in NHS, says poll With 72% believing services will get worse, survey finds British public most pessimistic in Europe over future of healthcare

Almost three out of four Britons fear that the NHS will decline in the next few years, according to new poll findings that dramatically illustrate a growing pessimism about the health service’s future.

Overall, 72% of voters across the UK believe services to patients, already under unprecedented pressure, are set to worsen, despite government pledges of extra cash and improved care. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS health check for over-40s has marginal benefits, says study

NHS health check for over-40s has marginal benefits, says study Research shows ‘health MOT’ helps prevent just one heart attack or stroke for every 4,762 people who visit a GP for a check-up

The NHS health check offered to everyone from the age of 40 is having little impact, according to research, preventing few heart attacks or strokes and failing to cut the numbers of people who smoke.

The “health MOT” offered every five years to people between 40 and 74 is intended to spot those at risk of cardiovascular disease and help them improve their lifestyle or get medication to keep them healthy. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Study finds NHS 'MOT' health checks to reveal signs of illness have few benefits The Independent

NHS chief Simon Stevens urges trusts to begin preparations for further strikes

NHS chief Simon Stevens urges trusts to begin preparations for further strikes Simon Stevens (pictured), chief executive of NHS England, wrote to trusts to urge them to begin planning for further industrial action, warning there could be ‘major implications’ for patients. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt slammed by mother who's daughter died during Junior Doctors strike The Daily Mail
• David Cameron says dispute with junior doctors is 'entirely creation' of BMA The Daily Telegraph   
• 'They speak for all of us': NHS workers reflect on the junior doctors' strike The Guardian

NHS whistleblowers ignored and threatened with the sack by Liverpool bosses

NHS whistleblowers ignored and threatened with the sack by Liverpool bosses The £160,000 report said bosses at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust were so desperate to gain the Government’s coveted foundation status that huge budget cuts came before care. The Daily Mail

NHS encouraged into 'creative accountancy' to hide looming debts

NHS encouraged into 'creative accountancy' to hide looming debts Hospitals are under pressure to "paint a false picture" of their accounts in order to hide the biggest ever NHS deficit, experts say, as official guidance urges trusts not to be too “prudent” in their approach.

Forecasts show the health service is currently heading for the worst deficit in its history, with fears that the financial black hole could extend even beyond limits allowed by the Treasury.

Guidance issued by the Department of Health (DoH), seen by The Daily Telegraph, urges NHS trusts to adopt measures which will help them to improve the books in the short-term.
They are asking financial directors to pull the wool over the Treasury’s eyes and the public’s eyes – to paint a false picture of the situation the NHS is facing,

Financial experts said the advice was a “desperate attempt at creative accounting”. The Daily Telegraph

Mum praises NGH consultant’s quick thinking that saved the lives of her and her baby boy

Mum praises NGH consultant’s quick thinking that saved the lives of her and her baby boy A mum who lost five litres of blood while pregnant has thanked the quick-thinking Northampton General Hospital staff who saved the lives of both her and her premature baby. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What type of manager are you?

What type of manager are you? Have you ever wondered what type of manager you are or how those around you rate your engagement skills?

In his latest podcast Steven Weeks, policy manager at NHS Employers discovers what type of manager he is by answering a series of questions in a research based tool created by Dilys Robinson, principal research fellow from the Institute for Employment Studies. NHS Employers

Key principles of effective prevention education

Key principles of effective prevention education This report summarises research into effective pedagogical principles in the field of school-based preventative education (across a range of behaviours including drug and alcohol use, healthy eating, physical activity and sexual activity) as well as school-based programmes to build skills and attributes associated with reduced risk-taking behaviour (including social and emotional skills, and resilience). Personal, Social, Health and Economic Association

Scandal-hit trust patients 'at risk'

Scandal-hit trust patients 'at risk' The NHS mental health trust which ran a care unit where a teenager drowned in a bath is "continuing to put patients at risk", inspectors say. BBC News

See also:

• Chairman of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust resigns BBC News
• VIDEO: Southern Health chairman resigns BBC News

Juniors’ contract concerns about far more than pay

Juniors’ contract concerns about far more than pay BMA again calls on Hunt to withdraw threat of imposition and return to negotiation. OnMedica

See also:

• Junior doctors' dispute: Who will break first? BBC News
• The new junior doctors' contract will create a staffing crisis in the worst possible places The Daily Telegraph

Use of total hip replacement inconsistent and unfair

Use of total hip replacement inconsistent and unfair Older, poorer, less mobile patients less likely to have THA even when eligible under NICE guidance. OnMedica

Self-harm rates rising in men as economic downturn threatens their 'breadwinner' status

Self-harm rates rising in men as economic downturn threatens their 'breadwinner' status Men are suffering as they 'fail' to performed traditional gender roles following the economic crash, research has suggested. The Independent

Girl, 14, died in torchlit ward surgery after theatre access delay

Girl, 14, died in torchlit ward surgery after theatre access delay Inquest hears Bristol hospital had no theatres free on night Emma Welch had internal bleeding after spinal procedure

A 14-year-old girl died after an emergency night-time operation during which medics were forced to use a torch to make sure there was enough light to work by.

Emma Welch underwent surgery on a ward because the two available operating theatres at Bristol children’s hospital were in use on the night she suffered complications. Continue reading... The Guardian

Fat Britain: Alarming report reveals 1 in 3 children are obese by the age of 11 and women account for 75% of weight loss surgery

Fat Britain: Alarming report reveals 1 in 3 children are obese by the age of 11 and women account for 75% of weight loss surgery Health and Social Care Information Centre data shows bariatric surgery patients have tripled in 20 years and 58 per cent of women and 65 per cent of men are now overweight. The Daily Mail

Mistakes see Northampton General Hospital staff not paid for overtime

Mistakes see Northampton General Hospital staff not paid for overtime Pay packets of some Northampton General Hospital staff were short by as much as £1,500 after a payroll error.

The Chron understands the issue was due to several managers making the same mistake while using the computerised roster.

As a result, a large number of staff did not have monthly enhancements – mostly overtime – officially signed off. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Children’s services in Northamptonshire are no longer rated ‘inadequate’

Children’s services in Northamptonshire are no longer rated ‘inadequate’ Council services for Northamptonshire children have improved across all areas, a new report from Ofsted inspectors says. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire’s children’s services will move over to a new trust within a year after Ofsted result Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Promote e-cigarettes widely as substitute for smoking says new RCP report

Promote e-cigarettes widely as substitute for smoking says new RCP report A new report, ‘Nicotine without smoke: tobacco harm reduction’ concludes that e-cigarettes are likely to be beneficial to UK public health. Smokers can therefore be reassured and encouraged to use them, and the public can be reassured that e-cigarettes are much safer than smoking. Royal College of Physicians

See also:

• RCGP response to RCP report on e-cigarettes Royal College of General Practitioners
• Give e-cigs to smokers, say doctors BBC News
• GPs advised to 'promote e-cigarettes widely' as smoking substitute GP Online
• E-cigarettes 'much less harmful than smoking and should be encouraged' major report concludes The Independent

Vulnerable children turned away from mental health treatment report finds

Vulnerable children turned away from mental health treatment report finds A report on the mental health and well-being of looked-after children notes that a significant number of local authorities and health services are failing to identify mental health issues when children enter care.

Almost half of children in care have a diagnosable mental health disorder, with looked-after children four times more likely than their non-looked after peers to have a mental health condition. House of Commons Education Select Committee

See also:

• Care children denied mental health help BBC News
• Children in care denied mental health services because of placement ‘uncertainty’ Community Care
• Many children in care denied mental health treatment, says report The Guardian

Doctor row: Both sides ready to fight on

Doctor row: Both sides ready to fight on Ministers and doctors have both vowed to fight on as the first all-out doctor strikes in the history of the NHS ended in England without any major problems. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors walk out for the second day running The Daily Mail
• BMA hails overwhelming turnout as thousands join junior doctor strikes GP Online
• Equality watchdog warns junior doctors' contract is potentially illegal The Guardian
• Junior doctors' strike has become the mother of all deadlocks The Guardian

End-of-life care heading for ‘meltdown’ without cash boost, warns cancer charity chief

End-of-life care heading for ‘meltdown’ without cash boost, warns cancer charity chief End-of-life care is heading for a “meltdown” amid growing demand for services, warns the chief of a cancer charity, following a new analysis of projected deaths from the disease published today.

Nearly 144,000 people are expected to die of cancer in 2020, says Macmillan Cancer Support—equivalent to one person dying of the disease every four minutes, with potentially 15,000 more cancer deaths in 2020 in England than in 2010. OnMedica

GMB to ballot ambulance staff on possible industrial action

GMB to ballot ambulance staff on possible industrial action Union claims health secretary has broken promises to improve pay and conditions. OnMedica

NHS technology: saving the health service one byte at a time

NHS technology: saving the health service one byte at a time The NHS has to make £22bn of efficiency savings by 2020 and intelligent use of IT is key in making that happen

Can technology save the NHS? That was the question addressed by a recent Guardian roundtable, supported by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), which brought together clinicians, policymakers and healthcare IT experts.

It’s a question that has some urgency. The NHS has been told to make £22bn of efficiency savings by 2020, and at least part of those savings will have to come from the intelligent use of IT. But the failure of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) – a centralised patient record system abandoned by the government in 2013 – has resulted in a decidedly patchy landscape in the NHS, where, as Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of National Voices, a patient organisation, put it: “We’ve got email, Skype, text and people having access to their own health records electronically, side-by-side with getting letters by snail mail and fax”.

It’s not all right for patients to be walking into health organisations that feel like the 1980s

Patients still prefer being visited by a nurse to plugging themselves into a machine Continue reading... The Guardian

Dramas and soaps 'aid public understanding of mental health issues'

Dramas and soaps 'aid public understanding of mental health issues' Mind survey finds TV plays and reports have valuable role in encouraging people to seek help for anxiety and schizophrenia

Soap operas and news reports about mental health can play a valuable role in increasing understanding of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, and in encouraging people with problems to seek help, research has suggested.

The mental health charity Mind organised a survey of more than 2,000 people, which found that half of the respondents who had seen a storyline involving a character with mental health problems said it had helped their understanding of the issues. Continue reading... The Guardian

Almost 400 appointments cancelled at Northampton General Hospital on day of doctors’ strike

Almost 400 appointments cancelled at Northampton General Hospital on day of doctors’ strike Almost 400 appointments have been cancelled at Northampton General Hospital today as a result of the junior doctors’ strike. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Consultants cover striking doctors' jobs at Northampton General Hospital (Video) Northants Herald and Post
• Northampton General Hospital release statement as 400 appointments are cancelled due to strike Northants Herald and Post

PHE urges parents to vaccinate against measles, mumps and rubella

PHE urges parents to vaccinate against measles, mumps and rubella Experts are calling for all parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) when the vaccine is offered, or for them to take it up now if they didn’t have it at the scheduled time.

MMR vaccine is offered routinely to infants in England, as part of the NHS Childhood Immunisation Programme, from 12 months of age with a second dose offered at 3 years and 4 months of age. Those who missed out will remain susceptible to the diseases, but are still recommended to get the vaccine. Public Health England

The commissioning of specialised services in the NHS

The commissioning of specialised services in the NHS NHS England’s spending on specialised services has increased at a much greater rate than other parts of the NHS, according to today’s report from the National Audit Office. Although NHS England took responsibility for commissioning these services three years ago, it still does not have an agreed overarching service strategy, consistent information from all providers on costs, access to services and outcomes or how efficiently services are being delivered.

Specialised services are provided to patients who have rare conditions or who need a specialised team working together at a centre. There are currently 146 specialised services covering a diverse range of conditions including renal (kidney), specific mental health problems and rare cancers. National Audit Office

See also:

• NHS spending on specialist services for rare diseases threatening everyday care budget, watchdog warns The Independent

Pushing the call button on unsafe staffing: who will come to our aid?

Pushing the call button on unsafe staffing: who will come to our aid? This report presents the results of a UK-wide annual survey of nursing professionals and it finds that almost 63 per cent of respondents said that they felt there were inadequate numbers of staff on the wards to ensure safe, dignified and compassionate care. 67 per cent of those surveyed believed that staffing levels had deteriorated since last year's survey and 68 per cent had considered leaving their role in the previous year. Unison

Shaping the future of medical revalidation: interim report

Shaping the future of medical revalidation: interim report This report presents emerging findings from a study into the regulatory impacts of revalidation. It finds that the majority of GMC licensed doctors are engaged in an annual appraisal process but scepticism was expressed about whether revalidation has led to improved patient safety. The majority of responsible officers surveyed felt that the numbers of concerns about doctors had not increased since the introduction of revalidation. The report also highlights the lack of awareness on the part of patients and the public on revalidation and the purposes of the process. General Medical Council

A paperless NHS: electronic health records

A paperless NHS: electronic health records This briefing outlines the current use of electronic health records in the NHS in England in relation to the pledge that the NHS will be paper-free by 2020. House of Commons Library

New report sheds light on GP practice workforce

New report sheds light on GP practice workforce  New official figures published today detail all staff who provide health and care services within the GP practice workforce. Health and Social Care Information Centre

Junior doctors' strike: Second all-out stoppage begins

Junior doctors' strike: Second all-out stoppage begins Junior doctors have started their second all-out strike in England, walking out of both routine and emergency care in protest at the imposition of a new contract.

The stoppage lasts from 08:00 BST until 17:00 BST with consultants and nurses staffing A&E and intensive care. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Employers responds to junior doctors full walk out NHS Employers
• NHS England update on industrial action by junior doctors NHS England
• Hospitals 'coping with all-out strike'  BBC News 
• VIDEO: Doctors' strike 'disproportionate' BBC News
• NHS 'hopes patients stay away' BBC News
• Devastated, disappointed and in pain - would you support the strike? BBC News
• Former BMA chief explains why his fellow NHS doctors make him despair The Daily Mail
• Jeremy Hunt admits junior doctors strike has killed his career The Daily Mail 
• Comment: Junior doctors beware: this reckless strike could be your last The Daily Telegraph
• Who is to blame for the junior doctors' strike – Jeremy Hunt, or the BMA? What readers said The Daily Telegraph 
• Junior doctors across England strike for second day The Guardian
• Almost 80% of junior doctors took part in all-out strike, NHS says The Guardian
• A&Es across England quiet as striking junior doctors picket hospitals The Guardian
• Seven-day deceptions at the heart of the junior doctors’ strike The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt doesn’t understand junior doctors. He co-wrote a book on how to dismantle the NHS The Guardian
• Hunt asks GPs to work harder during juniors’ strike OnMedica

Urgent action needed to improve air quality following diesel emissions scandal, MPs say

Urgent action needed to improve air quality following diesel emissions scandal, MPs say 'The Government must act now to tackle this public health emergency,' Commons' environment committee says. The Independent

See also:

• Clean Air Zones urged for pollution hotspots, says Committee report House of Commons Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee
• More clean air zones needed, say MPs BBC News

Should yoga be part of NHS care?

Should yoga be part of NHS care? A Manchester GP practice is prescribing yoga for patients – and even plans to create its own on-site studio to host classes

Some patients at The Docs city-centre surgery in Manchester emerge from the consulting room, minus a prescription, but clutching a voucher for a free yoga class courtesy of staff at the practice who are convinced that yoga deserves a more prominent part in NHS care.

The tickets entitling the bearers to a 45-minute class at the nearby Studio 25 were initiated by one of the partners, Dr Matthew Joslin. He developed them following powerful Facebook support for an open letter he wrote to the NHS in January appealing for greater incorporation of the Indian exercise and mindfulness techniques into day-to-day healthcare. The letter received 17,000 Facebook shares. Continue reading... The Guardian

Mental health laws would diminish stigma and improve the lives of millions

Mental health laws would diminish stigma and improve the lives of millions We have a chance to help those with mental illness, but need legislation to frame policy, professionalise treatment and fight prejudice


I have seen the negative impact of the UN’s failure to incorporate mental health within the millennium development goals (MDGs). Working on various mental health projects in several African countries, I saw how the health budgets of resource-strapped countries were diverted towards MDG projects. Many NGOs providing essential community psychiatric support were near collapse, or forced to alter their objectives to secure sufficient funds.

For mental health legislation to have any real effect, there must be the political will to support it. Continue reading... The Guardian

Delays in MMR immunisation raise the risk of a measles outbreak

Delays in MMR immunisation raise the risk of a measles outbreak In March, doctors expressed concern they were seeing the start of a measles outbreak in London and the South East. The Daily Mail

Northampton paramedic sacked by ambulance service after obtaining medication by fraud

Northampton paramedic sacked by ambulance service after obtaining medication by fraud A paramedic working for East Midlands Ambulance Service has admitted getting medicines by fraud. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How do the health care systems in the United Kingdom compare with others internationally?

How do the health care systems in the United Kingdom compare with others internationally? Two years ago I wrote about how health systems in other countries were grappling with the problems of how to support an ageing population with high rates of co-morbidities. I was interested in the fact that the same policy problem can generate different solutions depending on the context in which it sits – so while it may appear that there is a sort of ‘free will’ in decisions about policy, in reality decisions will always depend on the limitations of funding and political structures. The King's Fund

The Buurtzorg Nederland (home care provider) model: observations for the UK

The Buurtzorg Nederland (home care provider) model: observations for the UK The Buurtzorg model is a cost-effective and nurse-led district nursing system founded in the Netherlands. This briefing looks at the successes of the Buurtzorg model, while also identifying some of the challenges which would need to be addressed if the UK were ever to adopt a similar system approach. The content and analysis have been updated to reflect developments taking place across the UK with regards to piloting Buurtzorg. Royal College of Nursing

Junior doctors stage first all-out strike

Junior doctors stage first all-out strike The first all-out doctors' strike in the NHS's history has begun in England.

Thousands of junior doctors walked out of both routine and emergency care at 08:00 BST in protest at the imposition of a new contract from the summer.

It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been hit in the long-running dispute.

NHS bosses believe plans are in place to ensure safety, but say the situation will be monitored closely during the stoppage which ends at 17:00 BST. BBC News

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: NHS 7 day services and the junior doctors' strike Department of Health
• Junior doctors' leaders 'trying to topple the government' BBC News
• VIDEO: Why are junior doctors on strike? BBC News
• Are all-out strike days actually going to be safer? BBC News
• Patients face summer of chaos: As 45,000 junior doctors launch an all-out strike today and threaten indefinite action, ambulance staff also plan a walkout The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors begin first all-out strike in NHS history The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors' strike: the BMA cares about pay – not patients The Daily Telegraph
• As junior doctors strike, BMA tells them it's not their fault if people die The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors cannot dictate health policy The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors strike: Top surgeon would 'not countenance' walking out on emergency patients The Daily Telegraph
• BMA rejects Jeremy Hunt bid for talks to avert all-out junior doctor strike GP Online
• Where the newspapers stand on the junior doctors' strike The Guardian
• Medical chiefs urge David Cameron to avert junior doctor strikes The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt could have stopped this doctors’ strike. But he wanted it | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
• Hospitals braced for walkout as Hunt says doctors' strike must be defeated The Guardian
• NHS doctor: why I won’t be withholding emergency care The Guardian
• Consultants and locums called into A&E for junior doctors' strike The Guardian
• Junior doctor resigns live on ITV ahead of strike over Jeremy Hunt's contract video The Guardian
• Junior doctors: 'over half could quit NHS England over Hunt's contract' The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt: history will judge me on delivering seven-day NHS The Guardian
• Junior doctors' strike: Hospitals braced for first A&E walkout in NHS's 68-year history The Independent
• Junior doctors accused of trying to use all-out strike to topple the Government and Jeremy Hunt The Independent
• Junior doctors' strike: Patients deserve better, from doctors and Government The Independent
• Doctors set to for all-out strike as accusations fly OnMedica

Doctors look after our mental health but who looks after theirs?

Doctors look after our mental health but who looks after theirs? A new study from Cardiff University has revealed that nearly 60% of doctors have experienced mental illness and psychological problems at various stages in their career. That is bad enough in itself, but what is much worse is that very few of the 2,000 surveyed said that they had sought help.

A number of health and professionals from other industries have been studied in recent years and many, not unsurprisingly, also show high levels of stress. Sadly, however, it seems that this failure to seek help is not a phenomenon that is confined purely to the medical profession. The Conversation

Revealed: NHS hospitals investigate one in seven deaths of vulnerable patients

Revealed: NHS hospitals investigate one in seven deaths of vulnerable patients Jeremy Hunt urged to investigate after trusts examine just 222 of 1,638 deaths of patients with learning disabilities



Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is facing calls for a nationwide inquiry into the deaths of highly vulnerable patients in NHS care after it emerged that just one in seven such fatalities in hospitals in England have been investigated.



Data released to the Guardian under freedom of information (FOI) laws show that hospitals in England have investigated just 222 out of 1,638 deaths of patients with learning disabilities since 2011. Continue reading... The Guardian

Zika virus 'could be on its way to Europe', warns UN health agency

Zika virus 'could be on its way to Europe', warns UN health agency Europe should brace itself for the arrival of the Zika virus, the UN’s health agency warned on Monday, as warmer temperatures bring an increase in mosquito numbers.

Zika cases are on the decline in Brazil, the country hardest hit by the outbreak, as the southern hemisphere enters autumn. But the European summer will usher in a "marked increase" in Zika infections, said Marie-Paule Kieny, assistant director general of the World Health Organisation. The Daily Telegraph

National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES): England, 2015

National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES): England, 2015 Results from the national survey which looked at quality of care in the last 3 months of life. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Patients STILL being denied food and drink before they die The Daily Mail

General Practice Nursing in the 21st Century: A Time of Opportunity

General Practice Nursing in the 21st Century: A Time of Opportunity A survey from the Queen's Nursing Institute giving a snapshot of the role of the general practice nurse in 2015. It looks at workforce figures, education and professional development, employment practices and more.

Among the findings are:

• Over 33% of practice nurses are due to retire by 2020
• 43% said there were not enough staff in the nursing team
• 53% said their employer always supported professional development activities
• Nearly 23% of practice nurses has two jobs

See also:

• GPs face looming shortage of practice nurses, warns QNI chief GP Online

Smokers and overweight patients: soft targets for NHS savings?

Smokers and overweight patients: soft targets for NHS savings? This report explores how widespread the practice of restricting surgery on the basis of weight or smoking status has become by examining the commissioning policies of CCGs in England. The report compares these against guidance produced by NICE, RCS and surgical specialty associations. It found that over one in three CCGs in England are denying or delaying routine surgery to patients – such as hip and knee replacements – until they stop smoking or lose weight, in contravention of national clinical guidance. Royal College of Surgeons

NHS strike risks patient safety - Hunt

NHS strike risks patient safety - Hunt Planned all-out strikes by junior doctors in England this week could threaten the safety of patients, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt warns. BBC News

See also:

• Letter to the Secretary of State for Health The British Medical Association
• Letter to the British Medical Association The Secretary of State for Health
• VIDEO: Pressure on Hunt to halt doctors' strike BBC News
• Call for junior doctors' contract pilot BBC News
• NHS strike delays 'to exceed 100,000' BBC News
• Junior doctors' total strike is a first in NHS history with operations cancelled The Daily Mail 
• Junior doctors strike: Pregnant women and cancer patients among 125,000 people hit by protest chaos The Daily Telegraph 
• Junior doctors strike: 48-hour full walkout will cause 'unacceptable' risk of patient deaths, warns Jeremy Hunt The Daily Telegraph
• NHS hospitals finalise plans to cope with unprecedented strikes The Guardian
• Junior doctors strike will not put patients at risk, say senior medics The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt: MPs' plan to avert junior doctors' strike is opportunism The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt’s impromptu meeting with us about doctors’ contracts was just spin The Guardian
• Contract debacle prompts medical students to consider careers overseas OnMedica

Final piece of diabetes puzzle solved

Final piece of diabetes puzzle solved A complete picture of what the immune system attacks to cause type 1 diabetes is revealed by scientists. BBC News

AstraZeneca to sequence 2 million genomes in hunt for new drugs

AstraZeneca to sequence 2 million genomes in hunt for new drugs The UK company will work with genomics company Human Longevity. OnMedica

The NHS must treat smokers and the obese fairly

The NHS must treat smokers and the obese fairly As doctors, we should not discriminate against groups of patients to save money.

One in three areas in England is denying or delaying surgery to patients who are obese or who smoke. That’s the stark finding of a new report by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Some may think it appropriate to deny treatment to people who overeat or smoke in a cash-strapped NHS, but as surgeons we think it wrong to have a blanket ban on surgery based on such criteria. Targeting patient groups risks unfairly isolating them and undermining the fundamental NHS principle to treat all patients freely at the point of need regardless of their background or lifestyle. Continue reading... The Guardian

More over-90s get new hips to keep on being active

More over-90s get new hips to keep on being active There were 156 hip replacements for patients aged over 100 last year alone, while knee-replacement operations for the over-90s have also risen according to NHS figures. The Daily Mail

NGH becomes first UK hospital on international standards programme

NGH becomes first UK hospital on international standards programme Northampton General Hospital has become the first NHS hospital in the UK to sign up to an internationally-recognised programme for nursing and midwifery standards. The Pathway to Excellence programme recognises hospitals for the quality of patient care and professional satisfaction of the nurses and midwives who work in them. The programme is delivered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Specialist nurse from Northamptonshire shortlisted for award to recognise work with multiple sclerosis

Specialist nurse from Northamptonshire shortlisted for award to recognise work with multiple sclerosis A specialist nurse from Northamptonshire has been selected as a finalist in the 2016 MS Society Awards for her commitment to excellence in providing and improving services for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

University of Northampton wins £130,000 grant to study dementia in young people

University of Northampton wins £130,000 grant to study dementia in young people Research into diagnosing and supporting young people who develop dementia is being supported by the University of Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

No ‘weekend effect’ on mortality in psychiatric hospitals

No ‘weekend effect’ on mortality in psychiatric hospitals Interim findings from a NIHR HS&DR study, published in The Lancet, have found that there is no significant difference in risk of mortality for patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the weekend versus during the week.

Whilst previous studies have indicated that risk of mortality is higher for patients admitted to acute hospitals at the weekend less is known about variations in clinical outcomes among patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals. National Institute for Health Research

Primary care

Primary care This report analyses the challenges facing primary care and examines the long-term solutions which can improve access to services and patient care. It warns that primary care is under unprecedented strain and struggling to keep pace with relentlessly rising demand. House of Commons Health Select Committee 

Mental health and criminal justice: views from consultations across England & Wales

Mental health and criminal justice: views from consultations across England & Wales With extremely high rates of mental ill-health among the prison population, this report draws on experiences from across England and Wales to determine the way forward for improvement. It finds that few of the prisons represented at the events were able to offer psychological therapies, and that primary mental health care remains the weakest element of mental health support in prisons. Centre for Mental Health

Report shows revalidation is starting to have a positive impact but improvements can be made

Report shows revalidation is starting to have a positive impact but improvements can be made Independent research commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC) has found that four out of 10 doctors are changing their practice as a result of their last appraisal. General Medical Council

2.2 billion in 'at risk' Zika areas

2.2 billion in 'at risk' Zika areas More than two billion people live in parts of the world where the Zika virus can spread, detailed maps show. BBC News

Falling suicide rate linked to improving NHS mental health care

Falling suicide rate linked to improving NHS mental health care Changes to how mental health care is being provided in the NHS in England in recent years may be linked to a 20-30% decrease in the nation’s suicide rate, according to new research published today in The Lancet Psychiatry.

However, researchers also found that suicide rates were higher in mental health trusts with higher levels of staff turnover.. OnMedica

Prostate cancer awareness: Most people have no idea what the gland does and many don't know they have one

Prostate cancer awareness: Most people have no idea what the gland does and many don't know they have one Experts fear that people's lack of awareness of the gland will lead to people dying, and that the cancer is on track to become the most common in the UK. The Independent

See also:

• Men 'dangerously ignorant' of prostate BBC News

UK junior doctors may follow April strikes with indefinite walkout

UK junior doctors may follow April strikes with indefinite walkout Open-ended walkout one option if next week’s strikes do not force health secretary to reopen talks over imposed contract, emails show

Junior doctors are considering an indefinite walkout in protest at the new contract Jeremy Hunt is forcing on them if next week’s all-out strikes do not force him to reopen talks, leaked emails reveal.

Emails sent last week by the chair of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee (JDC) show that an open-ended withdrawal of labour is among the options it will consider to further its campaign. That could start on 8 June. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Junior doctors could walk out 'indefinitely': Leaked emails reveal union is considering a strike of no return The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors appeal to Michelle Obama for support in contract dispute The Independent

One in three NHS trusts restrict surgery for smokers and overweight patients

One in three NHS trusts restrict surgery for smokers and overweight patients Overweight people are being used as "soft targets" by NHS trusts who deny them treatment to save money, surgeons have claimed.

Although hip and knee replacements can help people stay mobile and keep active, more than one third clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) now refuse surgery until patients have lost weight or stopped smoking.

The Royal College of Surgeons is calling on ministers to make it clear to trusts that they are breaching health watchdog guidelines in discriminating on grounds of weight or smoking status. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Surgery ban for obese patients 'wrong' BBC News
• Three million refused NHS ops for smoking or being too fat The Daily Mail
• Smokers and obese people 'soft targets' for NHS savings, say surgeons The Guardian

Northampton hospital to invest £600k a year in paying nurses’ training costs

Northampton hospital to invest £600k a year in paying nurses’ training costs

Hospital bosses in Northampton are offering to pay the university fees of students in an attempt to increase the paltry number of nurses available in the town. Northampton Chronicle

GP services get £2.4bn funding boost

GP services get £2.4bn funding boost

A major five-year investment in general practice in England is announced, with NHS bosses promising to "pull out all the stops" to help GP surgeries "get back on their feet". BBC News

• NHS England sets out £206m plan to hit 5,000-GP recruitment target  GP Online

Role of specialist health visitors in perinatal and infant mental health

Role of specialist health visitors in perinatal and infant mental health

All women and their partners should have access within their local health visiting service to a specialist health visitor in perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH). NHS Networks

Mental health services: preparations for improving access

Mental health services: preparations for improving access


The Department of Health and NHS England are starting to make progress with the actions needed to implement access and waiting time standards for people with mental health conditions, but much remains to be done, according to the National Audit Office. Today’s report from the spending watchdog is the first in a planned programme of work on mental health.

The Department and NHS England have made a clear commitment to improve mental health services for people who need them. In 2011, the government set an ambition that mental health would be valued as much as physical health. In October 2014, the Department and NHS England set a first set of standards for the access to mental health services that people should expect and how long they should have to wait for treatment.

Improving care for people with mental health problems depends on action by many local organisations working together. However, the full cost of implementing the new access and waiting time standards and meeting longer term ambitions for better services is not well understood. The Department estimated that achieving the commitments made in the first three areas – improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT), early intervention in psychosis and liaison psychiatry services – could be £160 million a year more than the estimated £663 million that clinical commissioning groups spent on these services in 2014-15. Subsequent indicative analysis suggests that the cost of improving access further could be substantially higher, although there is considerable uncertainty around these estimates.

The Department and NHS England have made available £120 million of additional funding over the two years 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, most of the cost of implementing the new access and waiting time standards will be met from clinical commissioning groups’ existing budgets, at a time when the NHS is under increasing financial pressure.

Today’s report finds that full information does not exist to measure how far the NHS is from meeting the access and waiting time standards, but it is clear that meeting the standards will be a very significant challenge. Nationally, the access and waiting times for IAPT are already being met but performance varies substantially across different areas. A survey of acute hospitals in July 2015 indicated that 7% had the level of service NHS England considers will be beneficial to patients – at least a core liaison psychiatry service operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Complete information is not yet available to measure performance for early intervention in psychosis.

The Department and NHS England are making progress, particularly in setting priorities and national leadership, but significant risks to implementing the access and waiting times programme remain. The strongest areas are the clear objectives and strong leadership, and a governance framework is being developed. The greatest challenges for the future are collecting data to show whether the standards are being met, building the mental health workforce and reinforcing incentives for providers.
National Audit Office

Integrated care to address the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness: a rapid review

Integrated care to address the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness: a rapid review

People with mental health conditions have a lower life expectancy and poorer physical health outcomes than the general population. Evidence suggests that this discrepancy is driven by a combination of clinical risk factors, socioeconomic factors and health system factors. The objective of this research was to explore current service provision and map the recent evidence on models of integrated care addressing the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness primarily within the mental health service setting.
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Full report
Summary report
NIHR - publications

News story: HSCIC changing its name to NHS Digital

News story: HSCIC changing its name to NHS Digital


From July 2016, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will change its name to NHS Digital, building on the role it plays in directly supporting the NHS and social care services. Noel Gordon has been appointed as the new Chair for NHS Digital by the Secretary of State.

HSCIC, now NHS Digital, is the national provider of information, data and IT systems for commissioners, analysts and clinicians in health and social care.

Its work includes:
publishing more than 260 statistical publications per year
providing a range of specialist data services
managing informatics projects and programmes, and developing and assuring national systems against appropriate contractual, clinical safety and information standards

The new name of ‘NHS Digital: Information and technology for better health and care’ should help to build public recognition, confidence and trust. Speaking at the National Information Board’s Leadership Summit, George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences, explained that NHS Digital will continue to produce high quality information, IT systems and services for health and social care. As well as showing how technological development and effective use of information can transform the quality of care a patient receives.

George Freeman said:

Healthcare in the 21st century is going digital with improved treatment and care, and with huge benefits for patient safety. The newly named NHS Digital will provide important information and IT services to ensure better care for patients.

This is an exciting time for NHS leadership in medical technology and NHS Digital will help to develop the NHS’s ability to deliver modern services. I’m pleased that Noel Gordon has agreed to lead NHS Digital as the organisation’s new chairman.

Noel Gordon is currently the Non-executive Director and Chair of the Specialised Services Commissioning Committee at NHS England. Formerly an economist, Mr Gordon has spent most of his career in consultancy, including 16 years at Accenture where he was global managing director of the Banking Industry Practice.

He has experience of innovating and transforming industries, and of using big data, analytics, mobile and digital technologies.

Department o fHealth

Chief Executive of largest integrated community and mental health trust appointed as new NHS England National Mental Health Director

Chief Executive of largest integrated community and mental health trust appointed as new NHS England National Mental Health Director

The Chief Executive of Central and North West London NHS FT (CNWL), Claire Murdoch, has been appointed by Simon Stevens as the new NHS National Mental Health Director. NHS Commissioning

UK dementia cases fell 20% between 1989 and 2011

UK dementia cases fell 20% between 1989 and 2011

But decline almost entirely among men; women still seem to be at higher risk, study shows. OnMedica

Mental health goals may not be met, audit office warns

Mental health goals may not be met, audit office warns

Waiting-time targets were scheduled to start in April, but NAO report says officials do not yet have a grip on how much the policy will cost

A government pledge to bring mental health services up to the standards of those for physical ailments will struggle to be met, the government’s official spending watchdog has concluded.

The National Audit Office has examined the Department of Health’s strategy for bringing a “parity of esteem” to ensure that patients do not have to wait longer for mental health therapies. New waiting time targets for those seeking help with mental illnesses were supposed to be introduced at the start of this month.
Guardian

Continue reading...

Commissioning better cancer services

Commissioning better cancer services

NHS England has published guidance to support commissioners and strategic clinical networks to ensure every person affected by cancer will have access to a recovery package and follow-up pathways by 2020, as set out in the cancer strategy. NHS Networks

NHS gave me hepatitis for 34 years, says Northamptonshire man... but I can’t praise them enough

NHS gave me hepatitis for 34 years, says Northamptonshire man... but I can’t praise them enough A pensioner from Northampton has finally been cured of hepatitis, 34 years after a faulty batch of NHS blood gave him the deadly disease. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Catalyst or distraction? The evolution of devolution in the English NHS

Catalyst or distraction? The evolution of devolution in the English NHS This report considers the potential implications of devolution on health and care outcomes in England and how policy could best evolve. It draws on analysis of the devolution deals agreed to date, relevant literature, and international experience with a focus on four European decentralised health systems. The Health Foundation

New guidance on recruiting and retaining volunteers

New guidance on recruiting and retaining volunteers New guidance for NHS employers looks at how employing volunteers can add value to your workforce, how to attract volunteers and how to effectively manage and support them. NHS Employers

See also:

• New guidance on supporting staff who volunteer NHS England

Infant death rate 'lowest ever'

Infant death rate 'lowest ever' The number of babies dying before their first birthday in England and Wales is at its lowest ever, new figures have revealed. BBC News

NHS reconsiders HIV Prep drug decision

NHS reconsiders HIV Prep drug decision The NHS in England says it will reconsider whether or not to provide a drug treatment that can prevent HIV. BBC News