Public Health England offers £600K to prevent HIV

Public Health England offers £600K to prevent HIV Organisations encouraged to run innovative, targeted local projects to tackle HIV spread. OnMedica

See also:

• New funding for local HIV prevention Public Health England

Seven-day NHS plans fail to address staffing needs, say MPs

Seven-day NHS plans fail to address staffing needs, say MPs Public accounts committee claims Jeremy Hunt does not know if supply of doctors and nurses can adequately meet demand

There has been “no coherent attempt” to assess how many staff will be needed to ensure that a seven-day NHS can function, parliament’s spending watchdog has found.

A report by the public accounts committee says the Department of Health (DH) has not yet worked out if the current supply of staff can adequately meet demand in the health service in England. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Managing the supply of NHS clinical staff in England Public Accounts Select Committee
• NHS 'short of vital front-line staff' BBC News
• The Guardian view on statistics and NHS reforms: Jeremy Hunt’s number games | Editorial The Guardian
• Few of my patients want to see me at the weekend The Guardian
• Seven-day NHS plan contains 'serious flaws' and is 'completely uncosted' The Independent

Drugs, suicide and road accidents 'top causes of young people's deaths in 2013'

Drugs, suicide and road accidents 'top causes of young people's deaths in 2013' While global efforts have significantly improved the health of children aged five and under, campaigns have ignored young people aged 10 - 24, a study led by the University of Melbourne found. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Self-harm is one of the biggest killers of young adults, experts warn as they call for urgent change The Daily Telegraph
• Self-harm biggest cause of death for young people in the UK, study finds The Independent

Yellow fever is poised to become the next global health emergency

Yellow fever is poised to become the next global health emergency Two professors from Georgetown University say the ongoing spread in Angola, and the potential future spread, coupled with limited vaccine supply, should compel the WHO to declare an emergency. The Daily Mail

See also:

• World on brink of global emergency over yellow fever outbreak, academics warn The Independent

NHS spending on agency staff increases despite control measures

NHS spending on agency staff increases despite control measures NHS spending on agency staff increased by £400 million last financial year, despite an attempted crackdown.

English providers spent an estimated £3.7 billion on locum doctors, nurses and other staff in 2015-16.

NHS Improvement, the body which regulates trusts and foundation trusts, yesterday demanded hospital bosses get a grip of their staffing costs, while Jeremy Hunt said agencies had been able to charge “extortionate rates” for too long. The Daily Telegraph

NGH pilots student nurse training programme

NGH pilots student nurse training programme Two wards at Northampton General Hospital are piloting a new student placement model which could transform the way student nurses are trained at the hospital. Northampton General Hospital and the University of Northampton have designed the programme, known as PL@N (Practice Learning at Northampton General Hospital), which is being trialled on Rowan and Knightley wards from this month. Northampton General Hospital

Eight children’s centres set to close across Northamptonshire in bid to save £3 million

Eight children’s centres set to close across Northamptonshire in bid to save £3 million Plans to close eight children’s centres across Northamptonshire are now almost certain to go ahead tomorrow - despite street protests and petitions from concerned parents. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New leaflets on explaining screening results

New leaflets on explaining screening results These leaflets explain important issues for women with HIV, hepatitis B or syphilis, to help explain their screening result. Healthcare professionals and women can refer to these leaflets to learn about the conditions and to discuss their result and follow-on care. Public Health England

Pause in the implementation of junior doctors' contract

Pause in the implementation of junior doctors' contract NHS organisations are to cease any activities relating to the introduction of the junior doctors' contract. NHS Employers

NHS England extends community pharmacy flu jab scheme despite impact on GPs

NHS England extends community pharmacy flu jab scheme despite impact on GPs A scheme that pays community pharmacies to deliver seasonal flu vaccinations has been recommissioned for 2016/17, NHS England has announced, despite criticism from GPs. GP Online

See also:

• NHS England to recommission flu vaccinations in community pharmacies for 2016/17 NHS England

VIDEO: Vulnerable 'denied good end-of-life care'

VIDEO: Vulnerable 'denied good end-of-life care' Some of the most vulnerable groups in society are being denied access to good end-of-life care, a report by England's health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, has found. BBC News

Unlocking innovation 'key' to NHS research success

Unlocking innovation 'key' to NHS research success Doctors need to be given freedom to do research alongside clinical work to aid medical advances, according to a pioneering scientist. BBC News

Women more likely than men to be prescribed inappropriate drugs

Women more likely than men to be prescribed inappropriate drugs Women are more likely than men of the same age to be prescribed inappropriate drugs, finds a Canadian study* published in Age and Ageing.

Women over the age of 65 seem to be at particular risk, the findings show. OnMedica

London HIV clinic fined £180,000 for revealing service users' names

London HIV clinic fined £180,000 for revealing service users' names Staff error meant anyone receiving 56 Dean Street’s HIV clinic newsletter could see email addresses of all other recipients

An NHS clinic in London has been fined £180,000 for a serious breach of the privacy of more than 700 users of an HIV service.

Patients and service users who were on the HIV clinic email list of 56 Dean Street, a Soho-based sexual health clinic, said at the time of the breach they were terrified it could leave them open to blackmail or public outing.Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS fined over HIV patient leak BBC News
• NHS's 56 Dean Street that leaked details of 780 HIV patients via email blunder is fined The Daily Mail

A good death should be doctors and patients' last life goal

A good death should be doctors and patients' last life goal My aim as a doctor is to heal the sick but when I am unable, to prevent suffering.

I treat some of the sickest patients admitted to hospital and making decisions about resuscitation is a routine part of my job. In addition to being a doctor, I am also younger brother to Neil, who has severe learning disabilities.

Communication is key in all aspects of healthcare, but particularly in end-of-life decisions. As doctors we are encouraged and obliged to discuss resuscitation with patients and, if appropriate, their families. In the vast majority of cases, a simple, honest conversation ensures that all parties are in agreement. As a more junior doctor, I shied away from bringing up what I considered a morbid subject. Why upset the jovial 85 year-old I’ve just admitted with talk of death? But now I realise that explaining the best and worse case scenarios is the right approach. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Sometimes it's best if doctors DON'T try to resuscitate you The Daily Mail

Patients face longer wait as NHS drops fines for missed targets

Patients face longer wait as NHS drops fines for missed targets Patients could be forced to wait longer for operations afterNHS England suspended financial sanctions for providers that miss waiting time targets.

Fines of £233 million were imposed last financial year on services that breached performance targets.

However, as of last month the three quarters of trusts and foundation trusts in receipt of bail-outs due to forecast budgetary deficits will not be subject to sanctions.

The remainder, as well as all private providers, will still be fined. The Daily Telegraph

NHS drug approval will protect boys from muscle-wasting disease Duchenne

NHS drug approval will protect boys from muscle-wasting disease Duchenne A new treatment to protect boys from a muscle-wasting disease that condemns them to life in a wheelchair – and an early death – is now available on the NHS in England. The Daily Mail

A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care

A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care People from certain groups in society sometimes experience poorer quality care at the end of their lives because providers do not always understand or fully consider their needs, according to A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care”, a new review published by the Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Dying elderly forced into to hospital against their will, report into end of life care finds  The Daily Telegraph
• End-of-life care report show minority groups face 'poor-quality' service The Independent

Funding mental health at local level: unpicking the variation

Funding mental health at local level: unpicking the variation A new survey has found that the government’s commitment to parity of esteem between mental and physical health services is being undermined by a failure to ensure funding increases reach the frontline.

The report surveyed finance directors in mental health trusts and chief finance officers in clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to understand how the parity of esteem commitment is being implemented locally. More than half (55%) of England’s mental health trusts responded, along with 10% of CCGs. The report, Funding mental health at local level: unpicking the variation reveals that:

• Only half (52%) of providers reported that they had received a real terms increase in funding of their services in 2015/16.
• There is limited confidence that funding increases will be delivered this year, with only a quarter (25%) of providers saying they were confident that their commissioners were going to increase the value of their contracts for 2016/17.
• There is a lack of alignment between commissioners and providers over what it means to implement parity of esteem – there is confusion over what services should be covered, and how much investment should be made.

The report calls for greater clarity and transparency from the government and leaders of the arms-length bodies. NHS Providers and the Healthcare Financial Management Association

See also

• Funding parity of esteem: mind the gap NHS Providers
• Mental health services must get the funding they need The Guardian
• NHS mental health funding is still lagging behind, says report The Guardian

Guidance: Mental health crisis care: health based places of safety funding

Guidance: Mental health crisis care: health based places of safety funding This guidance document sets out how local crisis care concordat groups can apply for funding to increase the capacity and number of health based places of safety.

If someone is having a mental health crisis and they come to the attention of the police, they may need to be taken to a place of safety – somewhere that is designated as safe under the Mental Health Act.

The best place of safety is in a health setting, so that people, including children and young people, get the care they need for their mental health.

This funding programme aims to increase and improve health based places of safety and continue to reduce police cells being used as an alternative. Bids for a share of the £15 million fund will be managed by the Department of Health.

This is part of the mental health crisis care agreement (Crisis Care Concordat) to support people in a mental health crisis. More information about the mental health Crisis Care Concordat is available. Department of Health

See also:

• News story: New funding for safe places for people in mental health crisis Department of Health

The apprenticeships levy - what you need to know

The apprenticeships levy - what you need to know Ahead of key changes to apprenticeships policy, NHS Employers have published a fact sheet which provides information on the apprenticeships levy, how much employers will have to pay, and how they can access funds to pay for apprenticeship training and assessments.

Junior doctors talks to begin later

Junior doctors talks to begin later Fresh talks aimed at ending the dispute over a new contract for junior doctors in England will get under way later. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors deserve credit for rejoining talks says Government The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors prepare for fresh talks over contracts The Guardian
• Junior doctors: Jeremy Hunt's claim patients more likely to die at weekends undermined by study The Independent
• Study Casts Doubt On Hunt's Doctor Contracts Sky News

Unpaid carers in England 'struggling'

Unpaid carers in England 'struggling' Unpaid carers in England are struggling to get the support they need despite new laws introduced to help them, a report by Carers UK says. BBC News

See also:

• State of Caring 2016 Carers UK

Mother of nine-year-old boy with autism and depression describes struggle for treatment in 'broken system'

Mother of nine-year-old boy with autism and depression describes struggle for treatment in 'broken system' “When I wake up there’s this horrible feeling down inside me... I could just kill myself and I wouldn't have to face today.”

Those are the words of nine-year-old Paul, who has been “failed” by local NHS provision for children’s mental health in Norfolk. The Independent

DeepMind has best privacy infrastructure for handling NHS data, says co-founder

DeepMind has best privacy infrastructure for handling NHS data, says co-founder Google’s artificial intelligence company hits back in row over data-sharing agreement for medical records

Google’s DeepMind has hit back at criticism of its partnership with London’s Royal Free hospital to develop an app that helps doctors and nurses rapidly identify and treat acute kidney injuries.

DeepMind’s co-founder, Mustafa Suleyman, said the company was better placed than any other to handle sensitive medical data, given its long history of securing highly personal information from other fields. He said: “As Googlers, we have the very best privacy and secure infrastructure for managing the most sensitive data in the world. That’s something we’re able to draw upon as we’re such a core part of Google.” Continue reading... The Guardian

Crackdown on free access to NHS services for migrants

Crackdown on free access to NHS services for migrants Non-EU migrants entering the UK are to be charged for using the National Health Service, under plans to be set out in the Queen’s Speech.

The bill, which will be published on May 18, will seek to make new arrivals pay for diagnostic tests and scans, prescriptions, ambulance trips, NHS dental services, eye care and even emergency medical care, in a move the government hopes will save up to £500 million per year. The Daily Telegraph

Kettering midwife suspended after storing contaminated cotton wool with baby scales

Kettering midwife suspended after storing contaminated cotton wool with baby scales A Kettering midwife who stored sharps and blood-contaminated cotton wool in the same bag as baby scales has been suspended for a year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS targets 1,300 ‘frequent flyer’ patients in Northamptonshire

NHS targets 1,300 ‘frequent flyer’ patients in Northamptonshire Regular A&E attenders who make up two per cent of all NHS treatments are to be assigned their own team of health workers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Early intervention in psychosis access and waiting time standard

Early intervention in psychosis access and waiting time standard The guidance, a joint publication with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), aims to support ongoing local implementation of the standard by CCG commissioners and mental health providers, working with service users and their families, carers and other partners. There is also a resources pack. NHS England

Axed health champion fears for young

Axed health champion fears for  The former mental health champion for schools in England says the government's decision to axe her role silences young people and teachers. BBC News

Ministers and junior doctors agree to new contract talks

Ministers and junior doctors agree to new contract talks The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has welcomed the agreement from the government and the British Medical Association to return to talks over the new junior doctors' contract in England.

The Academy had appealed for both sides to end the dispute after strikes and thousands of cancelled operations.

Junior doctors have been striking over plans to impose new working conditions.

Talks over the controversial new contract broke down in February. BBC News

See also:

• Health Secretary writes to Chair of Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Department of Health
• Health Secretary agrees to pause introduction of junior doctors' contract NHS Employers
• Hunt to pause junior doctor contract imposition if BMA opens Saturday pay talks GP Online
• Junior doctors' row: Jeremy Hunt and BMA to restart contract talks The Guardian
• Terms of truce leave junior doctors facing tough decisions The Guardian
• The Guardian view on Jeremy Hunt and the doctors: stop fighting, start talking | Editorial The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt blinks first in junior doctors dispute with agreement to halt work on implementing new contracts The Independent

Government facing mounting opposition to plans to scrap NHS bursaries

Government facing mounting opposition to plans to scrap NHS bursaries The government is facing mounting opposition from health unions over its plans to scrap NHS bursaries and replace them with loans from August next year.

This is despite a debate on the issue in the House of Commons yesterday, prompted by shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander, which resulted in defeat for calls to ditch the plans.

Under the proposals, prospective students will have to stump up the fees for courses like nursing, speech and language therapy, healthcare science, pharmacy and midwifery. Around 80,000 healthcare students are supported by a bursary. OnMedica

Fewer people die in hospital at weekends, study finds

Fewer people die in hospital at weekends, study finds Weekend death rate problem, used by Jeremy Hunt to justify imposing new doctors’ contract, ‘does not exist’

Fewer people – not more – die in hospital at weekends than during the week, according to a major study which contradicts evidence cited by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to justify the imposition of new contracts on junior doctors.

Hunt has repeatedly stated that junior doctors must routinely work at weekends because the higher death rate is linked to lower staffing levels. When the Department of Health and the junior doctors’ leaders failed to agree on weekend working, Hunt announced he would impose a new contract. Continue reading... The Guardian

Google's NHS deal does not bode well for the future of data-sharing

Google's NHS deal does not bode well for the future of data-sharing Privacy concerns enable companies to avoid the scrutiny that is crucial to reaping public benefits from patient data

Data-sharing has become a new front line in battles over privacy in healthcare, raising crucial questions about the ways in which information about patients is shared within and between the public and private sectors.

Given that this is not “patient data” but “patients’ data”, handling large personal private datasets is a highly delicate issue. The manner in which they are shared should be subject to the scrutiny of those whose data is exchanged, and how this is done should be a matter for open public debate. Continue reading... The Guardian

Personal budgets don't work. So why are we ignoring the evidence?

Personal budgets don't work. So why are we ignoring the evidence? There has never been enough funding for personal budgets – so they can’t possibly meet all service users’ needs.

The recent report on personal budgets (pdf) by the National Audit Office (NAO) has created a stir, not least because it was published as official enthusiasm for the budgets seems to be accelerating. Already available in the NHS for people with long-term conditions, personal maternity care budgets are now being proposed as a route for choice in child birth. Yet if there is one thing the NAO report confirms, it is that the evidence base for personal budgets in both health and social care is uncertain.

David Brindle, public services editor at the Guardian, has already written about how the report suggests that “the Department of Health’s monitoring of the impact of personalisation in social care is so poor that it is impossible to draw any firm conclusions about the way personal budgets are working”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Department of Health does not know if personal budgets help service users, report finds The Guardian
• Council considers capping personal budgets for homecare The Guardian

Why your GP doesn't want to see you any more

Why your GP doesn't want to see you any more A GP’s lot is a lot happier than it used to be. No more ghastly call outs at midnight. Weekend work optional. Handy Apps to link sickly patients directly to their consultants. Plus those healthy contracts we all envy.

Sure the workload is intense, but salaries can reach six figures and given the flexibility of the system – many of those already in practice are going part-time, and only one in 10 trainee GPs plans to work full-time in the future, according to a report by the King’s Fund – clever GPs know they've hit the work-life-balance jackpot. The Daily Telegraph

Raunds woman wins two-year fight for best drugs after getting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood

Raunds woman wins two-year fight for best drugs after getting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood A woman has finally won her fight for the best possible treatment after contracting Hepatitis C from contaminated blood given to her by the NHS. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Causes of GP crisis revealed in new analysis

Causes of GP crisis revealed in new analysis New research exposes for the first time the extent of the crisis in general practice, finding that the overall number of consultations (face-to-face and telephone) has increased by 15 per cent over the past five years, three times the rate of increase in the number of GPs.

Understanding pressures in general practice is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the pressures facing the profession. The report analyses 30 million patient contacts from 177 practices and includes extensive research with GP practices and trainees.

As well as a growth in the number of consultations, it shows that general practice’s workload has become more complex and intense. The King's Fund

See also:

• Understanding pressures in general practice The King's Fund
• The NHS needs more data on activity if it is to address the crisis facing general practice The King's Fund
• Just one in ten trainee GPs plans to work full time The Daily Telegraph
• Soaring pressure has left general practice at risk of collapse, King's Fund warns GP Online
• Exclusive: 61% of GPs say GP Forward View will not end general practice crisis GP Online
• Health officials 'failed to spot growing GP crisis' over a number of years, report finds The Independent

NHS double standard for people with dementia in care homes

NHS double standard for people with dementia in care homes The NHS is providing a second-class service to many of the 280,000 people with dementia who live in care homes in England.

An Alzheimer’s Society investigation has uncovered that almost half of care home managers feel the NHS isn’t providing residents with dementia adequate and timely access to vital services like physiotherapy, continence and mental health services. This has led to instances where people have been left bed-bound, incontinent and sedated because the health service is too slow in responding to their needs.

It also revealed that one in five care homes surveyed are being wrongly charged by GP practices for services that should be free on the NHS – up to as much as £36,000 a year. The total cost of GP charges to care homes is estimated to exceed £26 million a year.

See also:

• Fix Dementia Care: NHS and Care Homes Alzheimer’s Society
• Dementia sufferers unwittingly paying for free NHS services, claims damning report The Independent

The 3rd national emergency department survey of alcohol identification and intervention activity

The 3rd national emergency department survey of alcohol identification and intervention activity This research shows that emergency departments in England have increased the level of alcohol screening for adults - with the offer of specialist support for those attending with alcohol-related health problems and for those who frequently attend. However, it also shows that while most emergency departments attending to under-18s ask them about their drinking few do so routinely. It concludes that this needs to improve to ensure young people considered to be at risk of developing drink-related ill health receive the specialist support they need. Alcohol Research UK

See also:

•  Local Alcohol Profiles for England: hospital admissions indicators, 2016 annual data update Public Health England

Clinical pharmacists could have a positive impact on patient care in A&E

Clinical pharmacists could have a positive impact on patient care in A&E Clinical pharmacy training should be considered as part of national advanced practice planning, says Health Education England in the wake of a report that considered the impact of pharmacists on A&E.

Junior doctors' dispute: Proposal aimed at breaking deadlock

Junior doctors' dispute: Proposal aimed at breaking deadlockA proposal aimed at breaking the deadlock in the junior doctors' dispute through fresh talks has been made by 22 medical colleges and faculties.

They want planning for the imposing of new junior doctors' contracts in England to be postponed for five days. In return, the British Medical Association is asked to suspend for five days any new threats of strikes.

The BMA said it was prepared to agree, but the government said it was too late to suspend bringing the contracts in.

However, the "door remains open" for talks, the Department of Health said. BBC News

See also:

• Talk now. No ifs. No buts. No maybes’ say Medical Royal Colleges (download) Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
• Exclusive: BMA will consider indefinite strike action, confirms leading junior doctor GP Online
• Junior doctors agree temporary halt to strikes in exchange for talks The Guardian

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