Jeremy Hunt asks competition watchdog to look at drug pricing

Jeremy Hunt asks competition watchdog to look at drug pricing
Health secretary calls in watchdog after newspaper investigation finds prices of 32 drugs have risen by more than 1,000% in five years

The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has asked the competition watchdog to look at claims that drug companies are exploiting the NHS to raise the price of medicines.

Continue reading...   The Guardian

Is strategic commissioning the future for the NHS?

Is strategic commissioning the future for the NHS? The current system of commissioning and providing health care in England is evolving in response to growing financial and operational pressures, and the new care models being implemented in the wake of the NHS five year forward view. Of particular importance is the requirement on NHS organisations to work together to develop sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) in the 44 areas of England designated for this purpose. The King's Fund

Supplying the Demand for Doctors: The need to end the rationing of medical training places

Supplying the Demand for Doctors: The need to end the rationing of medical training places This report proposes that instead of Health Education England (HEE) making upfront payments for the training of its medics (via bursaries, fifth year tuition fees and clinical placement fees), medical students should be required to take out a loan from the Student Loans Company to cover the total cost of their training; thus transferring the NHS’s immediate training costs to an asset on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ balance sheet.

The eradication of upfront payments by the NHS would mean the current cap on the number of doctors training each year could be lifted and the UK could finally train the number of doctors it needs. Importantly, such a training loan would be repaid on behalf of each medic by the NHS through HEE on condition that doctors work for the NHS after graduating. If graduates leave the country to work abroad or transfer from the NHS into the private sector they would become liable for the repayment of these loans. Civitas

See also:

• Doctors should be forced to pay £130k bill if they quit the NHS, report suggests The Daily Telegraph

Midwife burn-out leading to safety fears says RCM launching new campaign

Midwife burn-out leading to safety fears says RCM launching new campaign Over half (52%) of midwives and maternity support workers (MSW) who responded to a survey said that they had seen an error, near miss or incident that could have hurt service users in the last month. Half of the respondents also strongly agreed or agreed with the statement ‘I am worried about making a mistake at work because I am exhausted’.

These are some of the disturbing results of a UK survey around health, safety and wellbeing of midwives, student midwives and MSWs, published by the Royal College of Midwives

See also:

• Half of midwives admit maternity errors due to exhaustion The Daily Telegraph

Workplace experiences of BME and white staff published for every NHS trust across England

Workplace experiences of BME and white staff published for every NHS trust across England The NHS Equality and Diversity Council is today publishing the inaugural report of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), showing results of the experiences of BME and white staff from the staff survey 2015 at every NHS trust across England.

This is the first time the WRES data has been collected and published nationally.

Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, and co-chair of the NHS Equality and Diversity Council said: “This report provides unvarnished feedback to every hospital and trust across the NHS about the experiences of their BME staff. It confirms that while some employers have got it right, for many others these staff survey results are both deeply concerning and a clear call to action. As this is the first year of the WRES, it provides a transparent baseline from which each employer will now be seeking to improve.” NHS England

See also:

• NHS staff survey raises racism concerns BBC News
• Black NHS staff more likely to be bullied and harassed than white colleagues, report finds The Daily Telegraph
• Black NHS staff more likely to be bullied than white colleagues The Guardian
• Black, Asian and other ethnic minority NHS staff more likely to be bullied by colleagues, new report finds The Independent

Doctors urged to help stop ‘chemical restraint’ as leading health professionals sign joint pledge

Doctors urged to help stop ‘chemical restraint’ as leading health professionals sign joint pledge New guidance launched today will support prescribing healthcare professionals to review inappropriate prescriptions for people under their care who have a learning disability and/or autism. NHS England

See also:

• Stopping Over-Medication of People with Learning Disabilities (toolkit) NHS England

Kissing it Better: simply making a difference – Jill Fraser

Kissing it Better: simply making a difference – Jill Fraser In the first of a series of blogs to mark Volunteers Week 2016, the chair and co-founder of a healthcare charity gives a moving example of how three million volunteers nationwide, who give their time freely to support healthy, welfare and disability organisations, are making a real difference. NHS England

New NHS safety body 'must be independent'

New NHS safety body 'must be independent' A new organisation designed to make the NHS in England safer must have its independence guaranteed in law, a cross-party committee of MPs says. BBC News

See also:

• Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch will fail without legislation, say MPs Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Exclusive: CCG prescribing restrictions could put GPs in breach of GMC rules

Exclusive: CCG prescribing restrictions could put GPs in breach of GMC rules 'Hard-line' CCG advice to restrict prescribing of medicines available over-the-counter could put practices at risk of breaching GMC advice, the GPC has warned. GP Online

UK has highest rate of gonorrhoea in Europe

UK has highest rate of gonorrhoea in Europe Rates of gonorrhoea more than doubled across Europe between 2008 and 2014. OnMedica

Reshaping the workforce to deliver the care patients need

The future of the NHS is in the hands of its workforce Healthcare professionals can be enabled to deliver care by developing new roles, developing their practice and being taken care of by their employer

The diverse NHS workforce is working tirelessly to meet an ever-increasing demand on the health service. People need help to keep pace with the more complex and longer term needs of those they serve. I argue we need to look differently at staffing in two ways. Firstly a focus on learning the lessons of how new ways of working can help our patients, and secondly addressing the real variation in the experience of our people.

Our report with the Nuffield Trust looking at how we can reshape a future workforce recommended that those registered care professionals (nurses, allied health professionals and pharmacists) already working for us could be better enabled to deliver care by developing new clinical roles and developing the scope and extent of their practice. It also highlighted that the training of non-clinical staff to support patient care will help meet the changing needs of people today, but it will also mark a radical shift in the way that our workforce today is structured. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Reshaping the workforce to deliver the care patients need The Nuffield Trust

Suicidal and detained for my own safety, I saw the mental health system failing | Karl Knights

Suicidal and detained for my own safety, I saw the mental health system failing | Karl Knights More and more young people are being spat out of hospitals, or waiting three months for therapy when they can’t even make it through the day

I was detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. Campus security at my university had called the police when I expressed an intent to harm myself at a bar. As I was put in the back of the police car, I felt a mixture of shame at being treated like a common criminal, as though I’d done something wrong, and relief.

Now I didn’t have to bear the weight of my monochrome, depressed world and my fate was out of my hands. I was being taken to somewhere where I would receive treatment, they said. I was terrified. We arrived at suite 136, and I was detained pending an assessment.

Each conversation about mental health is a hand extended to someone who may otherwise feel isolated and alone Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• I came out of a teenage mental health unit worse than when I went in | Fern Brady The Guardian

Computers will outperform doctors at diagnosing illnesses, says government technology adviser

Computers will outperform doctors at diagnosing illnesses, says government technology adviser Computers will soon outperform even the best doctors at diagnosing illnesses, because of the rapid growth of processing power, a government technology adviser has said.

Richard Susskind, an Oxford professor who has advised governments around the world, said that in the coming years, patients would be able to take pictures of their ailments and receive an accurate, computer-generated diagnosis. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Smartphone app will allow computers to diagnose your illness faster than a doctor can The Daily Mail

Woman discharged herself despite seizure after, she claims, NGH ‘could not offer appropriate drugs’

Woman discharged herself despite seizure after, she claims, NGH ‘could not offer appropriate drugs’ A Northampton woman claims she was forced to leave hospital despite having had an epileptic seizure hours earlier because of a lack of proper medication. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Patient calls Burton Latimer GP surgery more than 200 times before getting through

Patient calls Burton Latimer GP surgery more than 200 times before getting through Some people trying to book an appointment at Burton Latimer Medical Centre have been forced to call more than 200 times before getting through. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New care models and prevention: an integral partnership

New care models and prevention: an integral partnership This report, jointly published by NHS Confederation, NHS Clinical Commissioners, NHS Providers and the Local Government Association, presents five case studies to highlight how vanguards have sought to address the health and wellbeing gap and the impacts seen so far. It finds that a reduction in emergency admissions for the over-65s, fewer delayed transfers of care, and GPs able to dedicate more time to frail older patients are among some of the early achievements of pioneering prevention initiatives taking root across the country.

Lightning review: access to child and adolescent mental health services, May 2016

Lightning review: access to child and adolescent mental health services, May 2016 This review of access to mental health services highlights the long waiting lists and restricted access for those with life-threatening conditions. From a request of data from public bodies, the review found that 28 per cent of children who were referred for specialist mental health treatment in 2015 did not receive a service. A significant proportion of children with life-threatening mental health conditions - 14 per cent of the 3,000 about whom information was obtained - were denied specialist support. These included children who had attempted suicide or serious self-harm and those with psychosis and anorexia nervosa. Children's Commissioner

Infant mortality and stillbirth in the UK

Infant mortality and stillbirth in the UK This briefing reviews recent data on stillbirth and infant mortality rates in the UK and examines the factors contributing to increased risk. It then looks at the policy options that may help to improve health outcomes for infants and their families. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

GP vacancy rates at highest recorded with one in eight positions unfilled

GP vacancy rates at highest recorded with one in eight positions unfilled Around 12% of all GP posts in the UK are vacant, the highest proportion recorded, a Pulse survey has revealed.

The Pulse survey of 690 GPs has found that 11.7% of posts are currently vacant, up from 9.1% last year and 6.4% in 2014.

It also reveals that almost half of practices have had to recruit a partner within the past 12 months, taking longer than six months on average.

GP leaders told Pulse this is a major reason why practices are closing, while other GPs said they have had to recruit advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) as they are unable to recruit. Pulse

See also:

• Vacant NHS GP posts doubles to 12% as growing numbers of family doctors take early retirement The Daily Mail

'Delays' in motor neurone disease care

'Delays' in motor neurone disease care One in five people with motor neurone disease waits more than a year to see a brain specialist for help with diagnosis, a snapshot survey by the MND Association suggests. BBC News

See also:

• RCGP response to MND Association report on referral times Royal College of General Practitioners

Cigarette plain packs to 'go global'

Cigarette plain packs to 'go global' Plain packaging for cigarettes is about to "go global" in a move that will have a "huge impact" on health, the World Health Organization says. BBC News

Backtrack on plans for full GP surgery weekend opening

Backtrack on plans for full GP surgery weekend opening Government plans to have all GP practices provide a full surgery service at weekends appear to be changing, with a less insistent approach emerging.

In a Q&A interview with Pulse magazine published today, health secretary Jeremy Hunt said full GP surgeries were not likely to be necessary on Sundays. OnMedica

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt softens stance on Sunday GP surgeries due to lack of demand Pulse

The NHS is moving backwards on race equality

The NHS is moving backwards on race equality We have work to do to reverse the most negative diversity trends in NHS senior leadership and accelerate the pace of change around inclusion

It’s a sad indictment that in 2016, there’s such a paucity of inclusive talent management across the public sector. Skin colour and ethnic background still impact on whether you get your foot through the door, can progress upwards, and the extent to which your skills and talents are valued.

The Snowy White Peaks survey (pdf) highlighted the lack of progress on inclusion of black, Asian and minority ethnic people (BAME) in the NHS. In some respects the health service has moved backwards in relation to race equality. This was particularly stark across London’s trusts, within a city that is so diversity-rich. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How can mental health services deliver better care for black patients? The Guardian

NHS refusal to fund HIV prevention treatment is shameful, say charities

NHS refusal to fund HIV prevention treatment is shameful, say charities PrEP, which can reduce risk of HIV infection by up to 86%, falls outside health service remit, says NHS England.

The UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charities have attacked as “shameful” a decision by NHS England not fund a treatment method that can drastically reduce transmission risks.

If followed regularly, the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevention method, usually with a prescribed daily pill, can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 86%, according to a recent study. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Further update on commissioning and provision of Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PREP) for HIV prevention NHS England
• NHS will not fund anti-HIV drug plan BBC News

Obese patients have injured 1,000 NHS staff in the past 5 years - including physio who got £25k payout caring for 20st man

Obese patients have injured 1,000 NHS staff in the past 5 years - including physio who got £25k payout caring for 20st man Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request showed 923 NHS staff were injured caring for obese patients between 2011 and 2015 but the figure is likely to be far higher. The Daily Mail

South East Coast Ambulance chief resisgns over NHS 111 scheme that deliberately delayed call-outs for 20,000 patients

South East Coast Ambulance chief resisgns over NHS 111 scheme that deliberately delayed call-outs for 20,000 patients The chief at the centre of the NHS 111 scandal exposed by Telegraph has been forced to quit.

Paul Sutton, chief executive of South East Coast Ambulance trust, has been under mounting pressure to resign since he was revealed to have personally ordered a scheme which saw deliberate delays for up to 20,000 patients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Ambulance chief resigns amid criticism over failed 999 'experiment' The Guardian

VIDEO: NGH is officially a ‘baby-friendly’ hospital

VIDEO: NGH is officially a ‘baby-friendly’ hospital Northampton General Hospital has scooped a prestigious baby friendly award from Unicef. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Detailed guide: NHS providers: shared planning guidance for 2016/17 to 2020/21

Detailed guide: NHS providers: shared planning guidance for 2016/17 to 2020/21 The leading national health and care bodies in England have come together to publish shared planning guidance for the NHS, setting out the steps to help local organisations deliver a sustainable, transformed health service and improve the quality of care, wellbeing and NHS finances. Monitor

The battle for breath: the impact of lung disease in the UK

The battle for breath: the impact of lung disease in the UK The British Lung Foundation funded a three-year epidemiological research project: The respiratory health of the nation. This report presents the results. It details the overall extent and impact of lung disease across the UK. It also takes a closer look at the impact of 15 major lung conditions. This report aims to be of use to policymakers, researchers, health care providers and professionals, and the commercial health care sector, patients and patient groups to inform strategies to improve lung health and lung disease outcomes in the UK.

National Paediatric Diabetes Audit Report

National Paediatric Diabetes Audit Report This 2014/15 report, funded by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), covers care processes received as well as the outcomes for children and young people with diabetes who attended Paediatric Diabetes Units between 1st April 2014 - 31st March 2015.

The report also highlights deficiencies in care and variability in outcomes, showing that there is much still to be done to ensure that all children and young people are supported to manage their diabetes and avoid future complications. Recommendations for staff in paediatric diabetes units, commissioners and parents are made to help drive the necessary improvements in care identified. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

See also:

• Number of children with excellent diabetes control increasing but concerns over recording of vital healthcare checks remain, say doctors Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Children 'not getting diabetes checks' BBC News

Statistics on Smoking, England - 2016

Statistics on Smoking, England - 2016 This statistical report presents a range of information on smoking which is drawn together from a variety of sources. The report aims to present a broad picture of health issues relating to smoking in England and covers topics such as smoking prevalence, habits, behaviours and attitudes among adults and school children, smoking-related ill health and mortality and smoking-related costs. Health and Social Care Information Centre

See also:

• Hospital admissions estimated to be attributable to smoking go up by 5 per cent in ten years Health and Social Care Information Centre
• Smoking causes nearly 5,000 hospital admissions a day and the number is rising The Daily Mail
• Rise in hospital admissions attributable to smoking OnMedica

Care home scandal families' plea to PM

Care home scandal families' plea to PM Families of victims of the Winterbourne View scandal write to the prime minister demanding he shuts outdated care home institutions. BBC News

See also:

• Families’ fury over ‘painfully slow’ progress after Winterbourne View scandal The Daily Telegraph

Medic urges mediation over care rows

Medic urges mediation over care rows The NHS could save millions of pounds if families and doctors were offered mediation when they disagreed on a treatment, a leading consultant says. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: 'Too many court cases' over patient care BBC News

WHO seeks to allay Zika Olympics fears

WHO seeks to allay Zika Olympics fears The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has moved to tackle the Zika virus, amid calls for the Rio Olympics to be postponed over the outbreak. BBC News

National Obesity Forum faces backlash over 'extremely dangerous' diet advice

National Obesity Forum faces backlash over 'extremely dangerous' diet advice The National Obesity Forum is reportedly due to 'disown' the report which has been accused of making 'unsubstantiated' claims. The Independent

See also:

• National Obesity Forum faces backlash over ‘dangerous’ diet advice The Observer

NHS 'turning away children referred for mental health help'

NHS 'turning away children referred for mental health help' Research finds 28% of children referred for support in England – including some who had attempted suicide – received no help

The government’s investment in children’s mental health services has come under fire after it emerged that more than a quarter of young people referred for support in England last year were sent away without help, including some who had attempted suicide.

A review of mental health services by the children’s commissioner discovered 13% of youngsters with life-threatening conditions were not allowed specialist treatment, according to the BBC. Even those with the most serious illnesses who secured treatment faced lengthy delays, with an average waiting time of 110 days, the Times said. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Children 'denied mental health support' BBC News
• VIDEO: 'Huge variation' in mental health support BBC News

Hospital transformation plans could break deadlock on restructuring

Hospital transformation plans could break deadlock on restructuring Sustainability and transformation plans are intended to force answers to difficult local questions – but care must be taken not to create a new set of problems.

The NHS is showing impressive ingenuity in finding ways round the chaos caused by Andrew Lansley’s reforms, but some of the solutions risk causing a new set of long-term problems.

From the structure and role of the regulators to the commissioning of primary care, the NHS has gradually stitched together a tapestry of organisations and processes to do what needs to be done, then backfilled the governance to ensure it stays within the law. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS GPs are paid £350million a year to look after their 'ghost patients' who have died

NHS GPs are paid £350million a year to look after their 'ghost patients' who have died There are now 2.5 million non-existent patients lurking on surgery lists and the NHS is having to fork out £141 for each one, which equates to an average of £43,750 per surgery. The Daily Mail

NHS hotline refuses to send out midwife forcing dad to deliver his own baby

NHS hotline refuses to send out midwife forcing dad to deliver his own baby Hampshire-based Labour Line service had arranged to send two midwives to Bryony Fugard but refused on the event because she lived over the border in Berkshire. The baby is how healthy. The Daily Mail

3,000 local chemists could close this year after £170m subsidy cut prompts fears for elderly and rural dwellers

3,000 local chemists could close this year after £170m subsidy cut prompts fears for elderly and rural dwellers Thousands of local chemists could close after the Government said it would withdraw a vital subsidy prompting rural and elderly campaign groups, as well MPs from all parties to warn that pensioners and vulnerable people could have to travel further to get vital medicines.

Alastair Burt, a health minister, admitted a quarter of the community chemists in England - up to 3,000 out of 12,000 pharmacies - are likely to close as a result of the Government’s decision to withdraw the £170million subsidy in the current financial year. The Daily Telegraph

Dutch hospitals building 'XL-sized' wards for growing number of obese patients

Dutch hospitals building 'XL-sized' wards for growing number of obese patients Dutch hospitals are building special “XL” rooms for obese patients, as the Netherlands’ historically slim and long population gets fatter.

A leading hospital, Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, confirmed that new rooms currently being built will be able to support patients weighing up to 36 stone.

These special rooms will be about 20 sq ft larger, with beds that are eight inches wider, and stronger toilets. The Daily Telegraph

Wellingborough woman hands in ‘largest petition ever’ against planned pharmacy cuts

Wellingborough woman hands in ‘largest petition ever’ against planned pharmacy cuts A Wellingborough woman has helped to hand in what organisers say is “the biggest ever petition to Downing Street” against proposed pharmaceutical cuts. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Guidance: Changes to the death certification process

Guidance: Changes to the death certification process This is an overview of the proposed introduction of medical examiners and reforms to the process of Death Certification in England and Wales.

The reforms are expected to be introduced from April 2018 and responses to the death certification reforms consultation will help to inform how these changes are put in place. You can also give your views by responding to the consultation. Department of Health

The future of public services: digital patients

The future of public services: digital patients This report highlights the important role app and wearable technology will play in healthcare. It finds that the emergence of wearable and app technology in healthcare presents policymakers with an unprecedented opportunity to engage patients in their own healthcare. It concludes that, if care teams had access to user-generated data, it could enrich their understanding of the patient and how best to manage their condition. Reform

The role of the nurse on the CCG governing body

The role of the nurse on the CCG governing body This report highlights how the role of nurses on a CCG’s governing body has changed over time, empowering them to make more of a difference for their local patients and populations. It reveals how many CCGs are now employing full time chief or executive nurses with responsibility for the day-to-day running of an element of the organisation, going beyond the legal requirement for a registered nurse to sit on their governing body. The report illustrates the impact that commissioning nurses are making locally, such as reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy, providing a voice for practice nurses and leading local service development. It also makes recommendations for national organisations and CCGs themselves on how they can support the commissioning nurse to be as effective as possible. NHS Clinical Commissioners

Is Primary Care the Best and Worst Job in Medicine?

Is Primary Care the Best and Worst Job in Medicine? About one-third of U.S. and U.K. primary care physicians are dissatisfied with their jobs, recent Commonwealth Fund survey findings show. Primary care physicians in both nations say they’re having a hard time managing their sickest and most complex patients, using health information technology, and coordinating care outside office settings. The Commonwealth Fund

Teen cancer death rate causes alarm

Teen cancer death rate causes alarm Too many teenagers and young adults are dying of some types of cancer, a Europe-wide report warns. BBC News

See also:

• Survival of European adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer in 2000–07: population-based data from EUROCARE-5 (abstract) The Lancet

Anti-cancer jab piloted in gay men

Anti-cancer jab piloted in gay men A vaccine to reduce the risk of cancer is to be offered to homosexual men in England in a pilot scheme starting in June. BBC News

See also:

• Gay and bisexual men to be offered HPV vaccine under pilot scheme The Guardian

CQC develops regime to assess healthcare across entire local areas

CQC develops regime to assess healthcare across entire local areas The CQC has published two prototype reports assessing the breadth of health and social care - including general practice - across Salford and Tameside as part of its plan to begin evaluating quality of care over whole local areas. GP Online

Student suicides at their highest level since 2007, according to Office for National Statistics

Student suicides at their highest level since 2007, according to Office for National Statistics Number has risen to 130 in 2014 – from 75 in 2007 – as Samaritans charity urges students to seek help. The Independent

See also:

• Exam stress linked to teen suicide NHS Choices
• Total number of deaths by suicide or undetermined intent for Students aged 18 and above in England and Wales, 2014 Office for National Statistics

BMA considered dragging out doctors' dispute, emails show

BMA considered dragging out doctors' dispute, emails show Leak reveals discussions about prolonging members’ strike action in attempt to force Jeremy Hunt to impose disputed contract

The British Medical Association considered dragging out the junior doctors’ dispute for up to 18 months in order to tie Jeremy Hunt’s department “in knots” and force him to impose the contract that medics loathed, leaked emails show.

A cache of messages exchanged between leaders of the union’s junior doctors committee (JDC) also show that it discussed BMA members going on strike repeatedly over a “prolonged period”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Leaked documents reveal how 'the only real red line' for junior doctors was PAY The Daily Mail
• Leak reveals junior doctors' plot to "draw out" bitter contract dispute The Daily Telegraph
• Yes, the junior doctors' strike was about money. But blame the BMA for that, not the doctors The Daily Telegraph
• 'There is still deep anger': junior doctors on the new contract deal The Guardian

UK doctors told to halve inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by 2020

UK doctors told to halve inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions by 2020 David Cameron reveals tough new targets to curb overuse of the drugs and cut resurgence of killer diseases

Tough new targets to curb the overuse of antibiotics and cut the risk of the resurgence of killer diseases have been announced by the government, which will require doctors to halve the number of inappropriate prescriptions written for the drugs by 2020.

David Cameron told world leaders at the G7 summit in Japan that the issue was a priority for him, as he revealed plans to crack down on prescribing within the UK. Experts warn that unless action is taken drug-resistant infections will kill more people than cancer, taking 10 million lives a year by 2050. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• England’s chief medical officer warns of ‘antibiotic apocalypse’ The Guardian
• No antibiotics without a test, says report on rising antimicrobial resistance The Guardian

'Nightmare' infection found in US for first time

'Nightmare' infection found in US for first time A superbug resistant to all known medications has been found in the United States for the first time, raising new concern about the dwindling effectiveness of antibiotics, the top US public health official said on Thursday.

The case involved a 49-year-old woman in Pennsylvania whose urinary tract infection tested positive for a strain of E. coli that is resistant to the antibiotic of last resort for such infections, known as colistin. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Superbug resistant to ALL drugs reaches the US, experts warn The Daily Mail

Lung disease sufferers experiencing 'systematic neglect', warns charity

Lung disease sufferers experiencing 'systematic neglect', warns charity Tens of thousands of lung disease sufferers are experiencing “systematic neglect” by the health system because of “misconceptions” around smoking, a leading charity has warned.

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) yesterday said the badly needed improvement in diagnoses and treatment of lung conditions was not yet happening because it was assumed the problem would improve with the decline of smoking.

However, of the roughly 115,000 deaths that occur each year due to lung diseases, only around half are directly attributed to smoking. The Daily Telegraph

New law criminalising supply of ‘legal highs’ welcomed by Northamptonshire Police

New law criminalising supply of ‘legal highs’ welcomed by Northamptonshire Police A Northamptonshire Police superintendent has welcomed the introduction of a new law that aims to prevent the production and supply of so-called ‘legal highs’. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Legal high ban comes into force as owner of shop selling psychoactive substances arrested after nine fell ill The Daily Telegraph

How local health and care plans overlook the needs of dying people

How local health and care plans overlook the needs of dying people More than a third (34 per cent) of Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) do not consider the needs of dying people in their assessments of the health and care needs of their local populations, according to a new report which highlights that end of life care is being overlooked by many health and care leaders in England.

The report (download), published today by the charity Hospice UK, also shows that well over half (57 per cent) of HWBs do not include the needs of dying adults and children in their key strategies that inform local service planning, with no change since 2014.

Discharging older patients from hospital

Discharging older patients from hospital The health and social care system’s management of discharging older patients from hospital does not represent value for money, according to the National Audit Office. The spending watchdog estimates that the gross annual cost to the NHS of treating older patients in hospital who no longer need to receive acute clinical care is in the region of £820 million.

Longer stays in hospital can have a negative impact on older patients’ health as they quickly lose mobility and the ability to do everyday tasks. Keeping older people in hospital longer than necessary is also an additional and avoidable pressure on the financial sustainability of the NHS and local government. NHS guidance is that patients are moved out of acute hospital as soon as it is clinically safe to do so; it is important to achieve the correct balance between minimising delays and not discharging a patient from hospital before they are clinically ready. Caring for older people who no longer need to be in hospital in more appropriate settings at home or in their community instead could result in additional annual costs of around £180 million for other parts of the health and social care system. This would reduce the potential savings of £820 million arising from discharging patients earlier from hospitals.

See also:

• Why is it more difficult than ever for older people to leave hospital? The King's Fund
• NHS urged to control discharge delays BBC News
• 10 days in an NHS hospital can make a patient 10 years older The Daily Mail
• Delays in discharging older patients from hospital 'cost NHS £820m a year' The Guardian
• Older patients who don't need to be in hospital 'cost NHS £1bn a year' The Independent

Strategic quality improvement: an action learning approach

Strategic quality improvement: an action learning approach The King’s Fund was commissioned by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust to work with their Quality Board to facilitate an assessment of its existing approaches to quality improvement and to develop a strategy for future work. This case study details the approach and philosophy behind this work, which involved working with the trust’s five directorates to develop their ability to appraise their own approach to quality improvement with a view to improving performance, achieving better clinical outcomes and building further on the trust’s capacity as a learning organisation.

Dementia Rarely Travels Alone: living with dementia and other conditions

Dementia Rarely Travels Alone: living with dementia and other conditions A report on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia’s inquiry that was held last year in to dementia and comorbidities. The inquiry has brought to light the scale of difficulty faced by people living with dementia and other health conditions. Despite significant progress to deliver integrated care services and support, the health and social system frequently treats conditions in isolation so that people with dementia and other health conditions receive disjointed, substandard care and treatment. The report identifies the changes needed across the healthcare system so that the NHS can meet the challenge of caring for people living with dementia and other conditions, supporting them to live fulfilled lives and makes recommendations as to how this can be achieved. Alzheimer's Society

Rise in NHS spend on private ambulances

Rise in NHS spend on private ambulances NHS England spending on private ambulances for 999 calls trebles to £68m in four years, data gathered by the BBC shows.

Exclusive: Growing financial constraints leave GPs 'prescribing with handcuffs on'

Exclusive: Growing financial constraints leave GPs 'prescribing with handcuffs on' Three out of four GPs say pressure on prescribing budgets has increased over the past year, with many reporting a negative impact on patient care, a GP Online poll has found.

CQC to target inspections with better intelligence

CQC to target inspections with better intelligence Watchdog launches new five year strategy. OnMedica

EU referendum: NHS would face staffing crisis in the event of Brexit, survey of hospital leaders finds

EU referendum: NHS would face staffing crisis in the event of Brexit, survey of hospital leaders finds 80% of respondents felt that leaving the EU would have a negative impact on trusts' efforts to recruit health and care staff. The Independent

See also:

• First survey shows 75% of frontline NHS leaders say brexit would have negative impact on NHS NHS Providers 
• Brexit could hit GP workforce, academics suggest GP Online

Global report finds 2008 recession led to spike in cancer deaths – but not in countries with universal healthcare

Global report finds 2008 recession led to spike in cancer deaths – but not in countries with universal healthcare Researchers examined the link between unemployment, public health care spending and cancer mortality in more than 70 countries over a 20-year period from 1990 to 2010. The Independent

See also:

• Cancer deaths rose by 260k globally during the economic crisis The Daily Mail

Compassion – not bullying – is the path to improving NHS care

Compassion – not bullying – is the path to improving NHS care Health service leaders are under pressure to meet targets amid financial constraints, but a culture of cooperation and support is crucial for better care

Our recent report, The chief executive’s tale, paints a picture of a pernicious national environment where talented NHS leaders are leaving because the culture in which they work is anything but positive. The creation of a positive organisational culture that promotes innovation and quality has to have compassion as a central value and belief.

While we expect compassion from frontline NHS staff, they are not always well served by compassionate leadership in their organisation or from national bodies. Continue reading... The Guardian

Family of cancer patient lay dead for SIX HOURS before hospital staff realised receive payout and apology from the NHS

Family of cancer patient lay dead for SIX HOURS before hospital staff realised receive payout and apology from the NHS Bosses at Leicester Royal Infirmary bosses have admitted a catalogue of blunders which meant Sharon Ignatowics died following delays in treatment at the age of 54. The Daily Mail

Quadrupling in "off the books" payments to NHS bosses

Quadrupling in "off the books" payments to NHS bosses The number of hospital bosses being paid large sums “off the books” has quadrupled in one year since a supposed government clampdown.

Last year the Health Secretary ordered a clampdown on “excessive and indefensible rates” being paid to managers on short-term contracts, off the payroll.

The clampdown was ordered after a series of Telegraph investigations highlighted practices which had allowed roving NHS executives to earn up to £3,000 a day.

But new figures show that in 2015/16, 33 requests for “off payroll arrangements” were agreed by NHS regulators – compared with eight the previous year. The Daily Telegraph

Mental health problems in the LGBT community

Mental health problems in the LGBT community A case study describing how Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust introduced better mental health support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. NHS Employers

Mental health pilot scheme doubles numbers getting key physical health checks

Mental health pilot scheme doubles numbers getting key physical health checks Four mental health trusts almost doubled the number of people getting five key physical health checks during a pilot scheme now being shared for adoption across the NHS. Hundreds of patients with serious mental illness (SMI) were part of the two-year improvement programme to improve physical care in mental health inpatient units. NHS England

Preventing prison suicide: perspectives from the inside

Preventing prison suicide: perspectives from the inside This report, written in conjunction with the Howard League for Penal Reform, argues that prisons need to change to enable staff to build relationships with prisoners and reduce the risk of suicide. It focuses on the views and experiences of current and former prisoners about what contributes to vulnerability and what increases or reduces their risk of suicide. Prisoners described a culture where distress was often not believed or responded to with compassion. The report concludes that change needs to happen across the system to recognise the influence of the prison environment on people’s vulnerability. Centre for Mental Health

E-cigarette use in UK almost doubled in two years, says Europe-wide study

E-cigarette use in UK almost doubled in two years, says Europe-wide study The number of people in the UK who have tried e-cigarettes has almost doubled in just two years, according to a new study.

The research, from scientists at Imperial College London, examined e-cigarette use - and attitudes to the devices - across Europe between 2012 and 2014.

See also:

• Number of people using e-cigarettes DOUBLES in just two years The Daily Mail

Challenges, solutions and future directions in the evaluation of service innovations in health care and public health

Challenges, solutions and future directions in the evaluation of service innovations in health care and public health Policies and interventions in the health-care system may have a wide range of effects on multiple patient outcomes and operate through many clinical processes. This presents a challenge for their evaluation, especially when the effect on any one patient is small. This essay explores the nature of the health care system and discuss how the empirical evidence produced within it relates to the underlying processes governing patient outcomes. NHS National Institute for Health Research

'Big cut' in antibiotic prescriptions

'Big cut' in antibiotic prescriptions GPs in England have "dramatically" reduced the amount of antibiotic prescriptions they prescribe to patients, latest figures reveal. BBC News

Bursary cut 'may worsen NHS staff gaps'

Bursary cut 'may worsen NHS staff gaps' Plans to scrap student bursaries and charge nurses and other health staff for their degrees in England could backfire, unions are warning. BBC News

Teen pregnancy rate has halved in England

Teen pregnancy rate has halved in England The teenage pregnancy rate has reached a record low, according to new findings published this week.

Rates of teenage pregnancy in England have halved since the implementation of the Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (TPS) in 1999, and the greatest effect is seen in areas of high deprivation and areas that received the most TPS funding, according to the study published in The Lancet. OnMedica

Lariam should be ‘drug of last resort’ for troops, Committee rules

Lariam should be ‘drug of last resort’ for troops, Committee rules UK troops should only be given the anti-malarial drug Lariam as a “last resort”, the Parliamentary Defence Committee has ruled.

Lariam (Mefloquine) is one of a number of anti-malarials used by the Ministry of Defence to protect military personnel against malaria.

“Lariam has a high risk profile and a minority of users experience severe side-effects. These side-effects are clearly highlighted by Roche, the manufacturer of Lariam. OnMedica

Surgery should be used to treat type 2 diabetes, say international experts

Surgery should be used to treat type 2 diabetes, say international experts Guidance says operations to shrink stomach should be offered to anyone with condition who is obese if other methods have not succeeded

Stomach-shrinking surgery should be a routine treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, international experts say, recommending it be offered to as many as 100,000 people in the UK.

A mere 6,000 people with the condition have surgery at the moment and the numbers have dropped from 8,800 three years ago as the NHS has comes under increasing financial pressure. But experts say more operations, costing £5,000 to £6,000 a time, would save money in the long term on diabetes medication and the cost of treating complications, which include heart attacks and strokes as well as blindness and foot amputations. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Diabetes surgery 'missed by thousands' BBC News

Back-office staff have a role to play in improving NHS care too

Back-office staff have a role to play in improving NHS care too Too often dismissed as pen-pushers or bureaucrats, non-clinical staff can make a significant contribution to patient care, as a project in Northumbria demonstrates

For many years, NHS managers and corporate staff have been characterised in the press as pointless “pen-pushers” or “faceless bureaucrats” – to the point where it has become conventional wisdom that tackling waste must require another round of back-office cuts.

Few would disagree that the design and delivery of our health services should be led by the needs of people who use them, or that frontline staff should be empowered to deliver effective care. But something that gets said far too rarely is that this can be enhanced by harnessing the skill and commitment of corporate staff in multi-professional teams. Continue reading... The Guardian

UK's child mental health provision alarming, says UN committee

UK's child mental health provision alarming, says UN committee The state of mental health services for children in the UK is "alarming", a UN committee has told Government officials.

Waiting lists are too long, leading to an unacceptable situation, a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child said as she questioned UK representatives in Geneva. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Committee on the Rights of the Child reviews the report of the United Kingdom United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child

Hospitals are still overspending £3m a WEEK on agency staff - with most locum doctors being overpaid for every shift

Hospitals are still overspending £3m a WEEK on agency staff - with most locum doctors being overpaid for every shift Liaison, a company that manages NHS finances, show hospitals overspent a total of £26.6m on temporary staff in just nine weeks from 1 February to 31 March this year. The Daily Mail

Child and adult safeguarding campaign launched in Northamptonshire

Child and adult safeguarding campaign launched in Northamptonshire

A public awareness campaign has been launched in Northamptonshire to raise the profile of child and adult safeguarding in Northamptonshire. Evening Telegraph

FOI release: FOI Agency shifts exceeding the price caps by trust since 21 April 2016

FOI release: FOI Agency shifts exceeding the price caps by trust since 21 April 2016


This request was for data on agency shifts exceeding price caps since 21 April 2016. The request asked for the data to be broken down by week and staff group. The request also asked for information on the cost of covering these shifts.

NHS Improvement held some of the information and decided to release it. Monitor

NHS performance continues to fall, says King’s Fund

NHS performance continues to fall, says King’s Fund

Nearly two-thirds of NHS trust finance directors and more than half of CCG finance leads say the quality of patient care in their area has deteriorated over the past year, according to a report from the King’s Fund. NHS Networks

All this obesity advice is a recipe for confusion. Just eat smaller portions | Archie Bland

All this obesity advice is a recipe for confusion. Just eat smaller portions | Archie Bland


A new report says eating low-fat foods is unhealthy, contradicting long-standing diet information. While experts argue, we need a more simple message

If you’re not confused, you’ve not been paying attention.

The National Obesity Forum (NOF), one authoritative-sounding body, has issued a report which argues that telling people to eat low-fat foods to combat obesity is a mistake which has had “disastrous health consequences”. Public Health England, another authoritative-sounding body, has responded furiously, calling the report “a risk to the nation’s health”, “irresponsible”, and potentially deadly. During a tense discussion on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, the NOF’s Dr Aseem Malhotra alleged that the government’s obesity adviser, Prof Susan Jebb, had previously done work funded by Coca-Cola; separately, Prof Simon Capewell of the Faculty of Public Health, another authoritative-sounding body, warned that it was not clear who funded the NOF report.

Whatever the precise constituents of our diet, one fact is indisputable: we are eating a lot more food than we used to.  Guardian

Continue reading...

NHS regulator to scale back hospital inspections after budget cuts

NHS regulator to scale back hospital inspections after budget cuts


CQC will rely more on information provided by patients and trusts, concentrating on visits to hospitals classed as requiring improvement or inadequate

The tough inspection regime for hospitals introduced to prevent a repeat of the Mid Staffordshire care scandal is being relaxed as the NHS regulator adjusts to budget cuts brought in by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will undertake fewer and smaller inspections of hospitals in England and rely more on information provided by patients and NHS trusts themselves under the watchdog’s new five-year strategy.  Guardian

Continue reading...

A low priority? How local health and care plans overlook the needs of dying people

A low priority? How local health and care plans overlook the needs of dying people

This report examines local health planning and needs assessments in relation to dying people and finds that 34 per cent of health and wellbeing boards do not take into account end of life care needs. In addition to this, 27 per cent of CCGs do not have a strategy for addressing end of life care for adults in their area, with the figure rising to 71 per cent for children and young people. The report calls for greater collaboration in order to better cater for local palliative and terminal care needs. Hospice UK
Report
Press release

Resources to support GPs deliver care to autistic patients sent to every practice in England

Resources to support GPs deliver care to autistic patients sent to every practice in England



Resource packs to support GPs and their teams to make their surgeries more visibly friendly for patients with an autism spectrum disorder have been sent to every GP practice in England this week. NHS Networks

New bid to stop women in Northamptonshire smoking while pregnant

New bid to stop women in Northamptonshire smoking while pregnant A one-stop hub of resources to help healthcare professionals support pregnant women in Northamptonshire to give up smoking is being created. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

More medicine needed? The health of health finances revisited

More medicine needed? The health of health finances revisited A new report which says there will be a shortfall in the NHS budget of at least £5bn, quite likely £10bn, and in the worst caseas much as £16bn by 2020. In the light of further analysis and events since the election, we estimate that the pressures on health services are now in the range £35-40bn and the savings achieved will be in the range £16-22bn. The Government’s assessment is of £30bn pressures against a £22bn target for savings, with £8bn promised in the 2015 CSR to fill the gap. CIPFA believes there will be an additional gap of £5-16bn.

The front-loading of promised financial support in 2016/17 and the £1.5bn planned increases in the Better Care Fund are welcome, but too modest. The effect of the Government’s actions will be to maintain the short-term year-on-year mentality evident in the Department of Health’s responses to the projected NHS overspends of 2015/16. Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

See also:

• NHS faces £10bn-a-year deficit by 2020, says report The Guardian
• NHS Facing 'A £10bn Black Hole' By 2020 Sky News

Closures of community pharmacies in deprived areas could be “catastrophic” and place an “untenable” burden on local GPs, warn leading health organisations

Closures of community pharmacies in deprived areas could be “catastrophic” and place an “untenable” burden on local GPs, warn leading health organisations New research by YouGov commissioned for Dispensing Health Equality, published today by Pharmacy Voice, shows that, if faced with a closure, more than one in four people (29%) who would normally seek advice first from their local pharmacy on common ailments would instead make an appointment with their GP practice. According to NHS research, this rises to as many as four in five people in areas of high deprivation such as Fleetwood in Lancashire.

The government has indicated that its proposals will lead to up to one in four local pharmacies closing. The report argues that an uplift in GP appointments is untenable in any part of the country, but especially so in those areas that find it difficult to attract GPs in the first place.

See also:

• Funding cuts 'put pharmacies at risk'  BBC News

Guidance: Physical healthcare for people with mental health problems

Guidance: Physical healthcare for people with mental health problems This evidence-based information will help mental health nurses to improve the physical health and wellbeing of people living with mental health problems.

This document focuses on how to deal with some of the main risk factors for physical health problems, and helps to make sure that people living with mental health problems have the same access to health checks and healthcare as the rest of the population. Department of Health

See also:

• Integrated care to address the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness: a rapid review NHS National Institute for Health Research

Key changes to vaccination and immunisation 2016/17

Key changes to vaccination and immunisation 2016/17 NHS Employers and the British Medical Associations' General Practitioners Committee have announced changes to the vaccination and immunisation programmes for 2016/17.

VIDEO: When antibiotics no longer work

VIDEO: When antibiotics no longer work As antibiotics resistance grows around the world, for some people even the strongest drugs no longer work. BBC News

See also:

• Review calls for global action to tackle antibiotic resistance crisis NHS Choices

Call for more support for cancer carers

Call for more support for cancer carers The number of people caring for someone with cancer in the UK has risen to almost 1.5 million, according to a cancer charity. BBC News

See also:

• NHS is 'not there' for individual cancer patients, top oncologist warns The Daily Telegraph

Pro-fat dietary advice 'irresponsible'

Pro-fat dietary advice 'irresponsible' Advice to eat more fat is irresponsible and potentially deadly, Public Health England's chief nutritionist says. BBC News

See also:

• Healthy Eating Guidelines & Weight Loss Advice For The United Kingdom Public Health Collaboration
• 'Eat fat to get thin': 30 years of 'flawed' dietary advice is 'disastrous' for obesity fight, new report warns The Daily Telegraph
• Healthy eating graphic from Public Health England was developed with members of food and drinks industry The Independent

Former NHS chiefs call for increased taxation to prop up the ailing health service

Former NHS chiefs call for increased taxation to prop up the ailing health service Ministers must increase taxes to raise new cash for the NHS, a former chief executive of the health service in England has said, warning that no developed country would be able to cope with the spending squeeze inflicted on the health since the financial crisis of 2008. The Independent

Midwives should see abortion as part of the job, says RCM chief

Midwives should see abortion as part of the job, says RCM chief The chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives says staff should 'take the rough with the smooth' when dealing with pregnant women. The Independent

Ambulance delays linked to 35 deaths in past five years

Ambulance delays linked to 35 deaths in past five years Coroners warn over slow response and potentially fatal errors by crews and handlers struggling with staff and vehicle shortages

Thirty-five patients have died in the past five years after delays of up to six hours in an ambulance reaching them and mistakes by 999 call handlers and ambulance crew, coroners have warned.

The deaths – which include a nine-month-old baby, two other children, a student nurse, a mother-to-be and an 87-year-old woman with dementia – have exposed how NHS ambulance services, faced with sometimes chronic shortages of vehicles and staff, are struggling to cope with demand. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'The day before Sabrina died was like any other close to Christmas' The Guardian

NHS in England reveals £2.45bn record deficit

NHS in England reveals £2.45bn record deficit NHS financial experts say true scale of overspend is even higher but has been hidden by use of ‘accounting tricks’

The NHS in England has run up a record deficit of £2.45bn – the biggest overspend in its history – as it struggles to cope with a surge in demand for care while suffering a major budget squeeze.

Official figures released on Friday by NHS Improvement showed that NHS trusts in England, which predominantly run hospitals, ended the 2015-16 financial year £461m worse than the organisation had forecast. The combined deficit is almost three times bigger than the £822m overspend incurred the year before, and more than 20 times the size of the £115m deficit as recently as 2013-14. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The King's Fund response to NHS Improvement's end-of-year financial figures for NHS trusts The King's Fund
• Care 'could suffer' as NHS busts budget BBC News
• Free universal healthcare questioned after record overspend by hospitals The Daily Telegraph
• NHS figures are bad, but the true underlying deficit may be even worse The Guardian
• Why has the NHS deficit ballooned? One word: understaffing The Guardian
• The Guardian view on NHS finances: even the fantasy figures look bad | Editorial The Guardian
• 7 out of 10 NHS providers ended the year in deficit OnMedica

Simon Stevens: Economic tailspin from Brexit 'severe concern' for NHS

Simon Stevens: Economic tailspin from Brexit 'severe concern' for NHS Speaking on the Andrew Marr show NHS Chief Executive Simon Steven responds to Mark Carney's warning over Brexit and how economic uncertainty effects the NHS. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Leaving EU 'could damage NHS' BBC News
• Brexit would jeopardise of 30k cancer patients and mental health services warns NHS boss The Daily Mail
• EU immigrant influx will make NHS unsustainable by 2030, says Gove The Guardian