Fertility watchdog 'increasingly concerned' about dubious treatments sold by private clinics as experts warn childless...

Fertility watchdog 'increasingly concerned' about dubious treatments sold by private clinics as experts warn childless... 'At best, patients are subject to exploitation; at worst, patients are being subjected to harm' says one of Britain's leading fertility experts. The Independent

See also:

• Private fertility clinics offer treatments that are 'widely discredited', 'hotly debated' and 'sound like a good idea' The Independent

New law banning 10-packs of cigarettes and making packaging bland come in next week

New law banning 10-packs of cigarettes and making packaging bland come in next week The legislation will see cigarette packets covered in health warnings and designed in 'drab' colours. The Independent

Palliative care for children should not be a bewildering lottery

Palliative care for children should not be a bewildering lottery Commissioners should ensure that everyone, everywhere is offered the same level of care regardless of their age or complexity of diagnosis

Across the UK, babies, children and young adults with life-shortening conditions and their families not only face enormous physical, emotional and social difficulties, but also the bewildering inconsistency and complexity of palliative and specialist care provision and its commissioning. The often discussed postcode lottery affecting healthcare provision doesn’t stop with location; there is also a lottery around age and complexity of condition.

Many people will be surprised to learn there is a big difference between the provision of specialist palliative care for adults and the provision of the same standard of care for children and young people. If a child or an adult needs treatment to ease or relieve their symptoms, they can be treated by a GP. Adults with complex symptoms and diseases who cannot be treated in primary care may then be referred to a specialist team, including a medical consultant specialising in palliative care (who is often funded or part funded by the NHS). Sadly this is not always the case for children, as there are not robust and equitable commissioning arrangements and nor are there adequate numbers of doctors trained to the required level. Continue reading... The Guardian

I'm a bed manager in mental health – and the scapegoat of the NHS

I'm a bed manager in mental health – and the scapegoat of the NHS Frequently expected to produce a bed out of thin air for patients in crisis, every day I wonder how much longer this can go on

It is a truth grimly acknowledged that mental health services are the Cinderella chapter of the modern-day NHS tale, albeit one where Prince Jeremy proves to be a disappointing suitor and there’s no happy ending in sight.

NHS England’s pledge to transform mental health services with an extra £1bn a year is greeted with scepticism with those of us at the coal face, reaching breaking point after years starved of funding.

Once you’ve been dissed by a lord on Twitter and then shamed on local radio, it’s time to clear your desk Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• I wish I could do more to protect your loved ones in mental health crisis The Guardian

The NHS cannot escape its financial crisis without more money

The NHS cannot escape its financial crisis without more money Government and the public need to know that the NHS chief Simon Stevens’ plan for the health service cannot be delivered as things stand

Two documents released in the last few days reveal both the severity of the NHS’s financial crisis and why it cannot find a way out.

In a briefing prepared for Sarah Wollaston’s health select committee, NHS England revealed more of the detail behind the £22bn of efficiency savings the health service is supposed to make by 2020-21 to tackle the growing gap between funding and demand. Continue reading... The Guardian

Coroner says he is 'sick to death' of healthcare professionals shifting the blame and claiming deaths of young people cannot be prevented

Coroner says he is 'sick to death' of healthcare professionals shifting the blame and claiming deaths of young people cannot be prevented Dr Robert Hunter spoke out during an inquest in Derby into Joe Southam who died aged 15 after overdosing on heroin he bought online. He criticised medics, teachers and health professionals. The Daily Mail

Britain needs to stop freaking out about transgender kids

Britain needs to stop freaking out about transgender kids There seems to be a bit of generational divide about transgender issues.

Many people in their twenties (my age) will be completely unsurprised by the BBC’s report into the Tavistock Centre – the country’s only NHS facility for transgender children. They will be unfazed by the fact that it had 1,419 referrals last year, more than ten times the figure in 2010. They will regard this as just an ordinary feature of the world we now live in. Trans people exist; get used to it. The Daily Telegraph

Seven Northamptonshire GP practices trying to close their lists to new patients

Seven Northamptonshire GP practices trying to close their lists to new patients GP practices in Northamptonshire are applying for the right to stop taking new patients as doctors struggle to cope with population growth. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Independent report: Improving safety investigations in healthcare

Independent report: Improving safety investigations in healthcare The report makes recommendations about establishing the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) as well as how to improve investigation, and learning from investigation, across the health system. Department of Health

See also:

• News story: Establishing the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch Department of Health

Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: taking the strategy forward

Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: taking the strategy forward The NHS’s Independent Cancer Taskforce estimates 30,000 lives can be saved each year by 2020 through earlier diagnosis and better treatment and care. NHS England

Building better participation

Building better participation This guidance is designed to be of use to all Patient Participation Groups (PPGs), whether long-standing or recently formed, whether large or very small, whether in a single practice or as part of a federation of practices. It was developed and “road tested” with the involvement of over 50 PPG members and Practice Managers. It aims to help PPGs and their practice to reflect on what they do, how they work, and how they might become even more effective. National Association for Patient Participation

Looking through the wellbeing kaleidoscope: results from the European Social Survey

Looking through the wellbeing kaleidoscope: results from the European Social Survey This report explores new ways in which policy can support and encourage high levels of wellbeing, using data from the European Social Survey. New Economics Foundation

NHS 'has busiest year in its history'

NHS 'has busiest year in its history' The NHS in England has had the busiest year in its history with more patients than ever seeking help, official figures show.

Nearly 23m people visited A&E in the 12 months to March 2016 - a rise of more than 500,000 from the previous year.

Delays rose throughout the period, with March itself having the single worst performance against the four-hour A&E target since it was introduced in 2004.

Targets for cancer, routine operations and ambulances have also been missed. BBC News

See also:

• The King's Fund response to today's A&E performance statistics published by NHS England The King's Fund
• Key NHS sectors still at lowest ever performance levels The Daily Mail
• Spring NHS crisis even worse than winter, 'Black Thursday' data shows The Daily Telegraph
• NHS records worst performance for third month in a row The Guardian
• Only four hospitals in England hit A&E targets as staff claim exceptional pressures have become 'the norm' The Independent

Inside England's only gender identity clinic for children

Inside England's only gender identity clinic for children It is England's only clinic for children experiencing difficulties in the development of their gender identity.

The Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Centre in north London has been going since 1989 but this week I became the first journalist to be allowed access to its clinical rooms and some of its staff and patients. BBC News

E-cigarette ban lifted by hospital trust

E-cigarette ban lifted by hospital trust A hospital trust lifts a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in its grounds - the first in England to do so. BBC News

GP/paediatric registrar scheme cuts referrals and A&E visits

GP/paediatric registrar scheme cuts referrals and A&E visits Rates of referral or A&E visits were reduced when GP registrars and paediatric registrars worked closely together in a pioneering scheme piloted in London, and compliance with clinical guidelines also shot up, a joint paper from the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has revealed. OnMedica

See also:

• GPs and paediatricians working together to improve child health Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• GP training should overlap with paediatrics to improve child health, say colleges GP Online

More women with breast cancer are choosing useless alternative therapies over chemotherapy, warn scientists

More women with breast cancer are choosing useless alternative therapies over chemotherapy, warn scientists Women suffering from breast cancer are turning to alternative and complementary therapies while rejecting chemotherapy, scientists have warned.

Researchers at Columbia University tracked chemotherapy uptake rates in women who had been recommended the treatment by their doctors. Among women who were taking non-traditional medications such as complementary therapies, they were found to be more likely to reject medical advice to undergo chemotherapy. The Independent

Air pollution in UK 'wreaking havoc on human health' WHO warns

Air pollution in UK 'wreaking havoc on human health' WHO warns Dozens of British cities are breaching air pollution limits leading to thousands of premature deaths of “the youngest, oldest and poorest” in society, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. The Independent

I am dying and I want everyone to talk about it

I am dying and I want everyone to talk about it This is a plea to my family, carer, doctors and specialists: start talking about death as much as you do about life. Is that too much to ask?

For 16 years I have known I’m terminally ill. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I won’t grow old with my husband, or see my grandchildren become teenagers. I’ve seen my body change; I am slowly wasting away. I have faced the mental struggle of being told I’ve 18 months to live, only to see myself outlive the prognosis. I take 38 tablets every single day and rely on an oxygen tank to breathe. My spine is crumbling; I’ve shrunk by two inches. My skin is covered in painful psoriasis, and I have a growth in my stomach the size of a 30-week pregnancy.

And yet, despite this, my biggest challenge is trying to talk to you about the fact that soon, I will die. There’s something about death that people can’t face. We thrive on life; we celebrate it at every opportunity whether it’s a birthday or a christening. And yet, even though everyone who lives will die, death remains the elephant in the room. It’s a stigma, something we need to tiptoe around and leave to care professionals. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS whistleblower 'was treated unfairly' after alleging death rate-fixing

NHS whistleblower 'was treated unfairly' after alleging death rate-fixing Review finds Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was not fair to Sandra Haynes-Kirkbright after she alleged coding flaws

An NHS whistleblower who claimed she was treated badly by a hospital trust after alleging it had been fixing its death rates was treated unfairly, a report has found.


Sandra Haynes-Kirkbright was head of clinical coding at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust when she first alleged there were systematic flaws in its data leading to overpayments to the hospital trust.  Continue reading... The Guardian

Britain’s accountability problem – hospitals are just the start

Britain’s accountability problem – hospitals are just the start If holding vital public bodies to account is a mark of a civilised, functioning democracy, we’re not in a good place

Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the Hillsborough tragedy, addressed a meeting in parliament on Tuesday. She spoke at the launch of Andy Burnham’s new campaign for stronger police accountability. The parliamentary and health service ombudsman (PHSO) has just published a shaming report on the way vulnerable patients are sometimes discharged from hospital. Earlier in the week, health thinktank the King’s Fund heard that there was a serious shortage of senior managers prepared to take on the thankless task of running an NHS trust.

Each of these is important in themselves. Each of these says something troubling about how public bodies are held to account. Continue reading... The Guardian

Final day for talks to resolve row over new contract for junior doctors

Final day for talks to resolve row over new contract for junior doctors Leaders from the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government have been meeting all week to try to break the deadlock and prevent a fresh round of strikes. The Daily Mail

Half of middle-aged men drink too much

Half of middle-aged men drink too much Almost half of middle aged men are putting their health at risk by drinking an average of 18 pints of alcohol a week.

A study has revealed 3.5 million men (44 per cent) drink nearly two and a half times the amount of alcohol recommended by health experts.

The recommended amount is 14 units of alcohol a week - seven pints of beer.

Research by Drinkaware has revealed men aged 45 to 64 are consuming an average of 37 units a week and more than half of those surveyed (54 per cent) believe it will have no impact on their health. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Half of middle-aged British men classed as problem drinkers The Daily Mail

Government refuses to accept blame for shortage of paramedics in Northamptonshire

Government refuses to accept blame for shortage of paramedics in Northamptonshire The Department of Health has refused to accept it is to blame for a shortage of paramedics and ambulances at Northamptonshire’s ambulance service. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Guidance: Health matters: giving every child the best start in life

Guidance: Health matters: giving every child the best start in life This resource for health professionals and local authorities focuses on investing in early years services from pregnancy through to 2 years old. Public Health England

See also:

• Case study: Providing support and guidance on breastfeeding Public Health England
• Case study: Perinatal counselling: early intervention for new and expectant mothers Public Health England

NHS pushes forward with ambition to create world class cancer services

NHS pushes forward with ambition to create world class cancer services The NHS in England will today (Thursday) set out its plans to deliver world class cancer services, which includes a fund to find new ways of speeding up diagnosis with the potential to save thousands more lives every year.

The National Cancer Transformation Board, led by Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director for England, will today publish a wide ranging plan designed to increase prevention, speed up diagnosis, improve the experience of patients and help people living with and beyond cancer. NHS England

People with a learning disability to design ‘quality checks’ for NHS services

People with a learning disability to design ‘quality checks’ for NHS services People with a learning disability are being asked to contribute to new tests which will help improve NHS services ranging from dentistry to acute care, NHS England has announced today.

The NHS Quality Checkers programme sees people with a learning disability employed to inspect local NHS services critically, to provide advice on how they can better meet their needs and those of other patients. NHS England

Record amount of fake Viagra seized

Record amount of fake Viagra seized More unlicensed erectile dysfunction drugs were seized in the UK by the authorities last year than ever before - worth more than £11m. The Victoria Derbyshire programme joined a raid to find out why they are a problem. BBC News

Rio Olympics could spark 'full blown global health disaster' say Harvard scientists

Rio Olympics could spark 'full blown global health disaster' say Harvard scientists The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro could spark a “full-blown public health disaster”, doctors have warned.

Since the Zika virus was first identified in Brazil in May 2015, the disease's spread through Latin America has been declared a health emergency by the World Health Organisation and the number of suspected cases in Rio is the highest of any state in the country.

The continued presence of the virus ahead of the summer Olympics has caused athletes and health specialists to question the risks involved in allowing the Games to go ahead with hundreds of thousands of spectators travelling to the city. The Independent

American Chemical Society says homeopathy is 'bunk' - here's why

American Chemical Society says homeopathy is 'bunk' - here's why Homeopathy is “bunk” and it could be putting people’s lives at risk, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has claimed.

In a YouTube video posted on its Reactions blog, the ACS said the complementary medicine was based on outdated ideas developed by its founder Dr Samuel Hahnemann, who was born in 1755.

The ideas that ‘like cures like’ and that water can ‘remember’ an active ingredient even though it has been diluted past the point at which there would be any left were wrong, the ACS said. The Independent

More obese patients in the UK should be offered weight loss operations, say surgeons

More obese patients in the UK should be offered weight loss operations, say surgeons Surgeons say more operations would save the NHS money in the long term.

The UK should dramatically increase the number of weight loss operations it offers to obese patients on the NHS, up from 6,000 up to 50,000 a year, according to surgeons who say it would make people healthier and save the NHS money.

Less than 1% of people who could benefit are getting surgery and the numbers are dropping not rising, according to bariatric surgeons writing in the British Medical Journal, who say that the UK is lagging behind other countries in Europe. Continue reading... The Guardian

Jeremy Hunt misleading voters over NHS budget increase, says thinktank

Jeremy Hunt misleading voters over NHS budget increase, says thinktank King’s Fund accuses health secretary of inaccurately claiming health service is getting sixth-biggest increase in history

Britain’s leading health thinktank has accused Jeremy Hunt of misleading voters by wrongly claiming that the budget increase ministers have given the NHS this year is one of the most generous ever.

The King’s Fund has rejected the health secretary’s claim that the NHS is receiving “the sixth-biggest increase in its history” as inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the service’s perilous financial position. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How does this year's NHS budget compare historically? The King's Fund

IT system blunder led to patients incorrectly prescribed statins

IT system blunder led to patients incorrectly prescribed statins Health regulators have launched an investigation after it emerged that patients may have had their risk of cardiovascular disease miscalculated following an IT blunder.

Pulse magazine revealed there has been a bug in a system used by some GPs to determine a patient's risk.

This means that patients could have been affected by being inappropriately put on statins or taken off them as a result of a miscalculation. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• GPs told to review patients at risk as IT error miscalculates CV score in thousands Pulse
• Up to 300,000 heart patients may have been given wrong drugs or advice due to major NHS IT blunder The Daily Mail
• Computer glitch may have led to incorrect prescription of statins The Guardian

Ambulance trust staffing 'insufficient'

Ambulance trust staffing 'insufficient' A report into East Midlands Ambulance Service finds it has "insufficient staff" to meet the needs of patients in a "timely manner". BBC News

See also:

• Ambulance service covering Northamptonshire rated as ‘requiring improvement’ for not having enough staff to cope with demand Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Being an NHS chief executive: the best of times and the worst of times

Being an NHS chief executive: the best of times and the worst of times Our new report, published in partnership with NHS Providers, shows that being a chief executive in the NHS today is both ‘the best of times and the worst of times’, to borrow from Charles Dickens.

As Nick Timmins’ interviews testify, it is the best of times because of the ability to make a real difference to people and patients, offering a sense of achievement and fulfillment that is difficult to realise in other roles. The King's Fund

See also:

• The chief executive's tale: Views from the front line of the NHS The King's Fund

The Highland way: what can we learn from the Scottish NHS?

The Highland way: what can we learn from the Scottish NHS? 2016 marks 18 years for me supporting the development of leaders in the NHS. In that time I have been fortunate to learn from – and work in – a number of health care systems, including international exemplars. Notwithstanding the challenges we face in today's NHS we are still fortunate to have one of the best health care systems in the world. And as many have acknowledged before me, its people are its greatest asset.

We should also be proud of the clinical and service delivery innovation and, in parts, great leadership taking place in the NHS. Yet we tend to be reluctant to shout from the rooftops about what the NHS does well, and that means that colleagues working only a few miles away may never learn from these innovations. The King's Fund

NHS Five Year Forward View Recap briefing for the Health Select Committee

NHS Five Year Forward View Recap briefing for the Health Select Committee Following the Health Select Committee evidence session, NHS England are publishing the technical briefing that sits alongside the Five Year Forward View financial assessment of the NHS.

What makes a top clinical commissioning leader?

What makes a top clinical commissioning leader? This report, written in conjunction with Hunter Healthcare, finds that clarity about the future of the commissioning system, a commitment to developing GP leadership, and improved leadership programmes, have been identified as critical to supporting current and prospective clinical commissioning leaders. Through a series of interviews with both clinical and managerial CCG leaders, the report sets out how current leaders can be supported, and a future generation inspired and encouraged to take up a role in commissioning. NHS Clinical Commissioners

Patients sent home with little support

Patients sent home with little support NHS patients in England are being sent home from hospital afraid and with little support, a report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman reveals. BBC News

See also:

• A report of investigations into unsafe discharge from hospital Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
• Frail patients dumped at home in dead of night, damning report warns The Daily Telegraph
• NHS discharge system failing too many elderly patients, says watchdog The Guardian

Exclusive: Almost one in four GP vacancies unfilled for more than a year

Exclusive: Almost one in four GP vacancies unfilled for more than a year Almost a quarter of GP vacancies in England have been unfilled for more than a year, a survey by GP Online suggests.

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