New birth injuries compensation scheme announced

New birth injuries compensation scheme announced The government is proposing a new system for compensating parents in England for injuries to babies during birth, which will allow medical staff to speak openly. BBC News

See also:

• Tripling in NHS legal bills for catastrophic childbirth blunders The Daily Telegraph
• Maternity wards in England to be rated by safety record The Guardian

Investigation over cancer 'cure' GcMAF in health food shop

Investigation over cancer 'cure' GcMAF in health food shop An undercover investigation by 5 live Investigates has found an unlicensed blood product being sold illegally in the UK to treat cancer. BBC News

Midwives: NHS spending on agency staff in England doubles to £25m

Midwives: NHS spending on agency staff in England doubles to £25m The NHS in England spent £25m on agency midwives last year - more than double the figure for 2013, a report from the Royal College of Midwives says. BBC News

See also:

• NHS midwife agency spend could solve midwife shortage says RCM in new report Royal College of Midwives
• Doubling in NHS agency spending with £50 hourly rates for midwives  The Daily Telegraph

Act now or the NHS will be insurance-based system within 10 years, warns doctor who resigned on live TV

Act now or the NHS will be insurance-based system within 10 years, warns doctor who resigned on live TV As dramatic resignations go, handing in your notice on live TV has to be up there – particularly when your boss is Jeremy Hunt. In April this year Dr Ben White appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss the first ever all-out doctors’ strike. “I am resigning as a trainee doctor to focus on a legal campaign to fight the [junior doctors] contract on behalf of my patients and on behalf of the NHS,” Dr White said. iNews

Could Brexit prove terminal for the NHS?

Could Brexit prove terminal for the NHS? With Britain’s dedicated foreign medical staff under threat, an already beleaguered national health service faces possibly the biggest crisis in its history

All human life is in Homerton hospital’s car park. Or at least, passing through Homerton hospital car park on the way to A&E or outpatients or maternity. A Bangladeshi woman in a wheelchair. A Hasidic Jewish schoolboy with ringlets and a limp. A bearded hipster with a newborn baby in a plastic carrycot. Inside there are nurses from the Philippines, from Spain, from Italy, from Gambia, from the Caribbean. There are doctors from India, and radiographers from Germany, and anaesthetists from Pakistan, and cleaners from Ghana, and midwives from Nigeria. To cut to the chase: there is everyone from everywhere. And of course they’re not alone in this. With more than half of all doctors coming from abroad – as they have since at least the late 60s – Homerton hospital in the East End of London is like every NHS hospital in every city in Britain. Continue reading... The Guardian

No extra money for NHS, Theresa May tells health chief

No extra money for NHS, Theresa May tells health chief Exclusive: PM says service should focus on efficiencies to fill £22bn hole despite warnings hospitals close to breaking point

Theresa May has told the head of the NHS that it will get no extra money despite rapidly escalating problems that led to warnings this week that hospitals are close to breaking point.

The prime minister dashed any hopes of a cash boost in next month’s autumn statement when she met Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, senior NHS sources have told the Guardian. Instead she told him last month that the NHS should urgently focus on making efficiencies to fill the £22bn hole in its finances and not publicly seek more than the “£10bn extra” that ministers insist they have already pledged to provide during this parliament. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• BMA: Theresa May lacks understanding about seriousness of NHS crisis The Guardian

Shocking picture shows freezing pensioner forced to wait 3 HOURS in the pouring rain for an ambulance after breaking her leg

Shocking picture shows freezing pensioner forced to wait 3 HOURS in the pouring rain for an ambulance after breaking her leg Hazel Baines, from Grantham, was given an umbrella to protect her from the rain during her wait. She reached hospital seven hours after her fall - where she doctors said she had a broken femur. The Daily Mail

Cuts to subsidies will force 1,600 rural pharmacies to shut

Cuts to subsidies will force 1,600 rural pharmacies to shut More than 1,600 pharmacies in rural areas face closure because they will not benefit from a promised government financial package, leaked documents indicate.

Ministers are expected to unveil a large cut in the annual subsidy for community chemists in the next few days.

The cuts have proved highly controversial, with a record 2.2 million people – one in 30 of the population of Britain – signing a petition against them. The Daily Telegraph

Breast implant operations to be logged in cosmetic clampdown

Breast implant operations to be logged in cosmetic clampdown A new national register will log every breast implant operation in England to prevent a repeat of the scandal in which thousands of women received substandard devices.

The registry will record the details of patients having cosmetic surgery, so they can be traced in the event of a product recall or other safety concern. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Breast and cosmetic implant registry launched NHS Digital
• Breast implant register launches 'to safeguard patients' BBC News

New family support programme in Northampton has been awarded with hundreds-of-thousands-of-pounds

New family support programme in Northampton has been awarded with hundreds-of-thousands-of-pounds A recently developed support scheme for new parents and babies is set to launch in Northampton and Daventry after being awarded £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, it was announced today.

The ‘Flourishing Babies’ programme will work with parents and their babies during pregnancy two-years-old, working closely with Northampton General Hospital and Danetre Hospital’s health visiting and midwifery teams to identify mums and dads most in need of extra help to get their family life off to a great start. Daventry Express

Patients to get faster access to the most cost effective treatments under proposed changes to NICE process

Patients to get faster access to the most cost effective treatments under proposed changes to NICE process Proposed changes to the way NICE appraises new treatments could see patients benefiting from the most cost effective treatments nearly three months faster than is currently the case. NHS England

Midwives' voices, midwives realities: findings from a global consulation on providing quality midwifery care

Midwives' voices, midwives realities: findings from a global consulation on providing quality midwifery care This report outlines the findings of the first global survey of midwifery personnel and it reveals that too often midwives report their efforts are constrained by unequal power relations within the health system. It highlights the need to provide midwives with professional support (including better working conditions); stronger education and regulatory environments; and stronger advocacy around midwifery. World Health Organization

Pharmacy funding cuts 'could force closures'

Pharmacy funding cuts 'could force closures' Pharmacies in England could face steep funding cuts within weeks that will force some to close, the industry's negotiating body tells BBC News

See also:

• PSNC rejects DH proposed funding package Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
• NHS England patients calling 111 will see local chemist and not their doctor The Daily Mail
• Pharmacies to dole out emergency prescriptions to ease NHS crisis The Daily Telegraph

Warning issued over faulty defibrillators in public places

Warning issued over faulty defibrillators in public places More than 2,000 defibrillators available for use in public places, like schools and train stations, are faulty and will not deliver an electric shock in an emergency. BBC News

Health education chiefs told to 'reduce NHS demand for migrants'

Health education chiefs told to 'reduce NHS demand for migrants' Health Education England (HEE) has been given a year to draw up plans to 'reduce the demand for international migrants to fill roles in the NHS'. GP Online

See also:

• Delivering high quality, effective, compassionate care: Developing the right people with the right skills and the right values A mandate from the Government to Health Education England: April 2016 to March 2017 Department of Health

Global TB epidemic prompts fresh warnings amid drug-resistance crisis

Global TB epidemic prompts fresh warnings amid drug-resistance crisis The world is making “dismal progress” towards ending the global epidemic of tuberculosis – the infection which kills more people than any other – amid a “crisis” in resistance to drugs used to treat the disease, the World Health Organisation has warned.

An estimated 10.4 million people had TB last year with 1.8 million dying as a result, the WHO said in a new report.

The figures show the disease is significantly more common than previously thought. The WHO had estimated there were 9.6 million cases in 2014, but it put the rise down to better recording in India, where TB is a particular problem. The Independent

Areas of NHS will implode this winter, expert warns

Areas of NHS will implode this winter, expert warns Dr Mark Holland of Society for Acute Medicine says service is on its knees as A&E performance in England shows fall

Parts of the NHS will implode this winter, an expert has warned, as new figures show falling A&E performance over the past few months.

Dr Mark Holland, the president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the days when summer used to provide a respite for busy emergency departments had gone, and instead the NHS faces an “eternal winter”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The King’s Fund responds to the CQC State of Care report The King's Fund
• The King’s Fund responds to latest NHS performance statistics The King's Fund
• A&E summer waiting times worse than most winters, new data shows The Daily Telegraph
• The Guardian view on social care: a crisis of politics as well as finance | Editorial The Guardian
• Social care cuts take English service to tipping point, regulator warns The Guardian

My patient told me he is going to stab someone. There's nothing I can do

My patient told me he is going to stab someone. There's nothing I can do He was treated in hospital for mental health problems but will be discharged. Anything he does is on my head

“I’m going to go home and I’m going to stab someone.”

Alan is in the weekly ward review meeting with a group of doctors, nurses, and students. We’ve told him we think he is well enough to leave the ward; he disagrees. Continue reading... The Guardian

At least 300 GP practices are expected to be rated inadequate following inspections

At least 300 GP practices are expected to be rated inadequate following inspections At least 800,000 patients are registered with unsafe GPs, the Care Quality Commission found. Patients are reportedly not being invited in for routine cancer screening. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Tired GPs greatest threat to patient safety OnMedica

Hospital trusts now charging up to £4 an hour in car parking fees

Hospital trusts now charging up to £4 an hour in car parking fees Campaigners say they hit cancer sufferers and other very sick patients receiving life-saving treatment particularly hard. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Parking charges rise at 'one in three hospitals' BBC News
• Hospital car parks charging four times the rate of some city centres The Daily Telegraph
• Car parking charges at hospitals in England rises average 15% since 2014 The Guardian

Midwives' union tried to cover up pay-off for ringleader 'musketeer'

Midwives' union tried to cover up pay-off for ringleader 'musketeer' The midwives' union tried to gag health officials, in a bid to protect the ringleader in a scandal which saw 11 baby deaths, an investigation has revealed.

Jeanette Parkinson was one of a group of midwives in Morecambe Bay who she dubbed “the musketeers” as she they colluded to cover up critical blunders.

Yesterday leaked documents revealed that she was “significantly overpaid” – receiving 14 months’ salary in a farewell deal in 2012 which prevented investigation of her conduct.

The manager who signed off the terms is now being hauled in front of regulators.

Now it has emerged that the Royal College of Midwives has threatened legal action to prevent the NHS trust publishing a report into the matter. The Daily Telegraph

Plea by health bosses to use Northamptonshire hospitals carefully after surge in demand

Plea by health bosses to use Northamptonshire hospitals carefully after surge in demand Health bosses in Northamptonshire are strongly urging people to help their local accident and emergency departments cope with very high levels of demand. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Understanding patient flow in hospitals

Understanding patient flow in hospitals With performance falling below targets and winter approaching, a Nuffield Trust briefing today warns the NHS can no longer find enough bed space to move patients through hospitals quickly and meet key A&E targets – and that its practice of counting patients at midnight means we are missing the true scale of the squeeze.

Understanding patient flow in hospitals, a briefing for NHS managers, estimates that 5.5% of beds need to be free for cleaning and preparation if patients are to be moved through quickly enough to meet the high-profile commitment to admit or transfer emergency patients within four hours. Yet many hospitals are unable to provide this much of the time, making target breaches inevitable. With a growing number of patients coming and going during the day, counting bed occupancy at midnight means that crunch times are often invisible. The Nuffield Trust

Is mental health crisis care in crisis?

Is mental health crisis care in crisis? This briefing, by the Mental Health Network, explores the gap between the policy rhetoric around mental health crisis care and reporting on the ground. NHS Confederation

Hidden in plain sight: the unmet mental health needs of older people

Hidden in plain sight: the unmet mental health needs of older people According to this report, the current availability of mental health services does not meet the increasingly high demand from our ageing population. It also found that over a third of Mental Health Trusts in England have no policies for providing integrated care for people over 65 with both mental and physical health needs. Age UK

Council care cuts 'affecting A&E'

Council care cuts 'affecting A&E' The Care Quality Commission annual report says emergency care is one of the poorest performing parts of the health system. BBC News

See also:

• Adult social care ‘approaching tipping point’, warns quality regulator Care Quality Commission
• The state of health care and adult social care in England 2015/16 Care Quality Commission
• Safety fears in two-thirds of England's A&Es, inspectors say BBC News
• Eight in 10 NHS hospitals not safe enough, amid warnings that care crisis is reaching a 'tipping point' The Daily Telegraph
• Social care cuts take English service to tipping point, regulator warns The Guardian

Let struggling GP surgeries fail, says NHS England letter

Let struggling GP surgeries fail, says NHS England letter Some struggling GP surgeries in England will be allowed to fail and close, according to a leaked document.

A letter from an NHS England official to managers and GPs in one region suggests vulnerable practices could be left to "wither by the system".

The note, seen by the BBC and Pulse magazine, claims NHS England is no longer able to "continue supporting practices irrespective of their ability… to transform appropriately".

NHS England denied this was the case.

A spokesman for the British Medical Association said it was "unacceptable" that some NHS managers believed that some GP practices would be left to close. BBC News

See also:

• Vulnerable practices 'to be allowed to fail and wither', says NHS England director Pulse

Hospitals and GP practices fail to check for HIV

Hospitals and GP practices fail to check for HIV Some hospitals and GP practices in England and Scotland are failing to carry out recommended HIV checks, a BBC investigation finds. BBC News

Half of patients think GPs should always give them the treatment or referral they demand

Half of patients think GPs should always give them the treatment or referral they demand Half of patients now Google their symptoms before visiting a GP and believe that family doctors should always provide the prescription, treatment or referral they request, according to a poll commissioned by a medico-legal organisation. GP Online

GP's charging mentally ill patients up to £150 for sick notes

GP's charging mentally ill patients up to £150 for sick notes Sick notes that banks and lenders need to help customers with mental illnesses manage their debt are costing patients up to £150.

GPs normally charge between £20 and £30 for a note but it can range up to £150, according to research conducted by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

The forms can allow patients to get their debts cancelled and also stops lenders from involving bailiffs. They are drawn up by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the credit sector and are seen as proof of mental illness. The Independent

See also:

• The case for stopping charges for the debt and mental health evidence form Money and Health Policy Institute

More babies face health risks due to obese parents, experts warn

More babies face health risks due to obese parents, experts warn Doctors say increasing number of babies worldwide face serious problems, such as brain damage, strokes and heart disease

A growing number of babies worldwide are at risk of brain damage or having a stroke, heart attack or asthma in adulthood because their mother was obese, health experts have warned.

Leading doctors said dangerously overweight mothers were passing on obesity to their children as the result of “a vicious cycle” in which excess weight can seriously affect the health of parents and their offspring. Continue reading... The Guardian

Patients forced to make appointments to boost profits, says Labour MP

Patients forced to make appointments to boost profits, says Labour MP Paula Sherriff says her former employer Virgin Care insisted on extra consultations at expense of taxpayer and patient safety

Healthcare provider Virgin Care has been forcing patients to attend extra appointments to boost profits, says former employee and the Labour MP for Dewsbury, Paula Sherriff.

Speaking in the House of Commons, where she was protected from possible legal action by parliamentary privilege, Sherriff accused Virgin Care of insisting on “extra consultations before surgery, boosting their profits at the expense of the taxpayer and patient safety”. Continue reading... The Guardian

'Musketeer' nurse at heart of Morecambe Bay baby death scandal 'significantly overpaid' in goodbye deal

'Musketeer' nurse at heart of Morecambe Bay baby death scandal 'significantly overpaid' in goodbye deal The midwife at the heart of a scandal where 11 babies avoidably died was “significantly overpaid” in a farewell deal which also prevented investigation of her conduct.

Jeanette Parkinson, the former maternity risk manager at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust, received up to 14 months’ salary as part of a 2012 redundancy agreement after the deaths came to light.

A review by the trust last year, seen by the Health Service Journal, found Ms Parkinson, one of a group of midwives calling themselves the “Musketeers”, also received more than 470 hours in overtime pay. The Daily Telegraph

‘Just a nurse?’ Woman’s heartfelt letter to those who devalue her profession

‘Just a nurse?’ Woman’s heartfelt letter to those who devalue her profession A nurse from Queensland, Australia, has been praised for a heartfelt open letter she wrote following a meeting with an acquaintance who described her as ‘just a nurse’.

Caitlin Brassington was returning home last week from a busy shift at the hospital, where she works as a paediatric nurse, when she bumped into the woman during a stop-off to pick up milk.

The acquaintance had never seen Carrie in uniform, she later wrote for ABC, and told her “she didn't realise I was just a nurse.”

“Over my 18-year career, I have heard this phrase many, many times,” she later wrote. “ But today it got to me. The Daily Telegraph

Northampton woman to risk life-saving drugs online because the NHS cannot prescribe them

Northampton woman to risk life-saving drugs online because the NHS cannot prescribe them A severely ill Northampton woman, who claims she has been living like a “suicidal old lady,” intends to risk her life buying rare drugs via the internet as the NHS cannot prescribe them. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

More than 4 million children to be offered flu vaccination

More than 4 million children to be offered flu vaccination Public Health England and NHS England are launching a major campaign to help children and the vulnerable stay well over the winter months.

The Stay Well This Winter campaign (SWTW) launches today (12 October 2016) with the biggest ever flu vaccination programme in England for children. This year the programme is being extended to those in school year 3, offering more than 4 million children protection against flu – around 600,000 more than last year. As well as offering protection to these children aged 2 to 7 years, it will help reduce the spread of this infection to the most vulnerable in the community, particularly younger children, the elderly and those with long-term conditions.

Children in need of help or protection

Children in need of help or protection The actions taken by the Department for Education since 2010 to improve the quality of help and protection services delivered by local authorities for children have not yet resulted in services being of good enough quality, according to the National Audit Office.

Criticism of pregnant women ID scheme

Criticism of pregnant women ID scheme There are worries over a pilot scheme that asks women to show evidence of their eligibility to receive maternity care as they book in to hospital.

Cathy Warwick, RCM chief executive, said the move by St George’s University Foundation Trust ‘is a concern’.

The proposals mean women who attend hospital would have to show photo ID or proof of their right to remain, for example a visa or their asylum status, before receiving care.

The scheme is aimed at clamping down on ‘health tourism’, but the trust has said that emergency patients would not be asked for ID. Royal College of Midwives

See also:

• Passport checks for pregnant NHS patients BBC News
• Forcing pregnant women to show passports is 'dangerous', say midwives The Daily Telegraph
• Pregnant women could be forced to show their passports before giving birth The Independent

Mental health of adults in contact with the criminal justice system: draft guidance

Mental health of adults in contact with the criminal justice system: draft guidance This draft guidance seeks to improve the assessment, treatment and prevention of mental health problems in adults. When the guideline is finalised, it will apply to anyone who comes into contact with the English criminal justice system, including time spent serving a community or prison sentence, and any probationary periods. It highlights the need for all staff working within the criminal justice system to receive training to recognise and respond to mental health problems. Comments and feedback are currently being sought on this draft guidance until 18 November 2016. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

New figures reveal running cost of NHS estate

New figures reveal running cost of NHS estate NHS Digital has released figures detailing the costs of building, maintaining and servicing parts of the NHS estate - from how much is spent on feeding patients, to how many car parking spaces hospitals have.

'Cleaner world' increases allergy hospital admissions by 33% in five years

'Cleaner world' increases allergy hospital admissions by 33% in five years New figures show the number of people being admitted to hospitals in England has increased by a third in the last five years. BBC News

Care sector woes leave frail at risk, regulator says

Care sector woes leave frail at risk, regulator says The whole care market for older and disabled people in England could be at risk, the official regulator says.

Evidence gathered by the Care Quality Commission, and seen by the BBC, shows the regulator is worried over the "pace" of care home closures.

Over the past six years, the number of homes has fallen by nearly 1,500 to 16,600.

The document also warns about the number of home care providers turning their back on council contracts. BBC News

See also:

• 1,500 care homes shut in six years leading to bed blocking in hospitals says CQC The Daily Mail
• Elderly care crisis looms as ministers accused of living 'in fantasy world' The Daily Telegraph

NHS not transgender-friendly enough, says nurse

NHS not transgender-friendly enough, says nurse The NHS is failing to meet the needs of transgender adults and children, says an NHS nurse who has first hand experience both as a transgender patient and a caregiver. BBC News

See also:

• Is health service transgender friendly? BBC News

GPs now at the forefront of NHS policy development, says NHS England leader

GPs now at the forefront of NHS policy development, says NHS England leader Sir Sam Everington, GP chair of Tower Hamlets CCG in East London, and NHS England national lead for new models of care, said there had been a 'sea change' in the composition of NHS leadership. GP Online

500,000 Britons a year will be diagnosed with cancer by 2035, study shows

500,000 Britons a year will be diagnosed with cancer by 2035, study shows Charity calls for urgent plan to secure future of oncology services amid fears predicted rise could stretch NHS to limit

More than half a million Britons a year will be diagnosed with cancer by 2035, making it hard for NHS services to cope with the extra demand for testing and treatment, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has warned.

The number of people across the UK found to have cancer every year is expected to rise from 352,000 to an estimated 514,000 in less than 20 years – more than 160,000 extra cases annually – according to research in the British Journal of Cancer. Continue reading... The Guardian

Figures reveal huge inequalities in health and longevity across UK

Figures reveal huge inequalities in health and longevity across UK ONS report shows disparities largest in England and smallest in Northern Ireland, while Scotland has the worst longevity

Women in Richmond-upon-Thames in south-west London live 15 years longer in good or very good health than women in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, according to figures that expose huge inequalities in health and longevity across the UK.

Men in Wokingham, Berkshire, enjoy the longest healthy lives, with 14.1 more years of good or very good health than men in Manchester, who are the unhealthiest in Britain. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• ONS figures show the differences in healthy lifespans across the UK The Daily Mail
• Life expectancy rises 10 years across globe, but more suffer in old age The Guardian
• NHS success in tackling health inequality varies hugely across England The Guardian

Britain is eating itself to death, and our plan to fight obesity is woefully inadequate

Britain is eating itself to death, and our plan to fight obesity is woefully inadequate Today is World Obesity Day, and with three-quarters of the British population set to be overweight or obese in a single generation, we simply cannot watch our children eat themselves to death any longer.

The UK has an alarming "obesity gap". The poorest 20 per cent of children are nearly three times more likely to be obese than the richest 20 per cent. This is why I wholeheartedly welcome the Centre for Social Justice’s plan to begin a report looking at the root causes of childhood obesity in Britain’s most deprived communities and set out solid recommendations for the Government to take forward, so we can tackle this issue once and for all and ensure our children have the best life chances. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Fiscal policies for diet and the prevention of noncommunicable diseases World Health Organization
• World Health Organisation backs tax on sugary foods and drinks BBC News
• There is one cure for obesity and one only: eat less. It's that or the fatness epidemic will kill more than Spanish flu The Daily Telegraph
• Forget Russia and Isil terrorists: childhood obesity is one of the gravest dangers we face The Daily Telegraph
• Rising diabetes and obesity crisis laid bare by data analysts in new maps The Independent
• Experts warn of obesity upsurge within a decade OnMedica
• Diabetes prescriptions rise by a third in last five years OnMedica

Staff and volunteers celebrate Northampton General Hospital’s unsung heroes

Staff and volunteers celebrate Northampton General Hospital’s unsung heroes Over 60 shortlisted individuals and teams gathered to find out who would be declared winners at the Best Possible Care awards at Northampton’s Park Inn hotel. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Reuniting care

Reuniting care Eighteen months into the multispecialty community provider (MCP) and primary and acute care system (PACS) vanguards, commissioners are preparing to contract for the new models while providers are considering how to bind themselves together as a coherent system – the focus of our new report.

During the initial phase of the programme, commissioners and providers worked in relatively informal partnerships to develop the MCP and PACS care models. That may have been a pragmatic approach to kick-starting the vanguards, but rather more robust arrangements are now clearly needed before commissioners can transfer substantial budgets to providers on long-term contracts.

So how should multiple local providers – primary care, community services, local hospitals, social care and potentially other services – bind themselves together as a coherent organisation or partnership, one that is capable of managing a multi-million pound budget and making the most efficient use of resources? The King's Fund

See also:

• New care models: Emerging innovations in governance and organisational form The King's Fund

3 in 5 of England’s most deprived boys will be overweight or obese by 2020

3 in 5 of England’s most deprived boys will be overweight or obese by 2020 Stark new figures show a looming significant weight gap between the poorest and wealthiest primary-school aged boys living in England. Three in five (60%) of the most deprived boys aged 5-11 are predicted to be overweight or obese by 2020, compared to about one in six (16%) of boys in the most affluent group.

The most deprived girls didn’t however show the same trend, and are projected to have similar obese and overweight prevalence rates to their more affluent counterparts with an average of 1 in 5 girls predicted to be obese or overweight by 2020. Obesity Health Alliance

See also:

• New figures reveal widening obesity gap for gender and class The Daily Telegraph

The Damage of Debt: The impact of money worries on children’s mental health and well-being

The Damage of Debt: The impact of money worries on children’s mental health and well-being The aim of this report is to provide fresh insights on how low well-being and poor mental health in children are linked to household poverty and problem debt; and to explore the views of children and parents who live in low income households with debt problems on how their family’s financial situation affects their well-being and mental health. The report makes recommendations to address these issues. The Children’s Society

Receptionists 'put people off seeing doctor'

Receptionists 'put people off seeing doctor' Receptionists quizzing patients about why they need to see their doctor could be putting some sick people off visiting their surgery, a poll suggests. BBC News

See also:

• Receptionists could put people off seeing their GP Cancer Research UK
• GP receptionists are valued but are not in a position to make decision on patient health, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Cancer patients only diagnosed when they end up at A&E: Are we too scared to take our symptoms to the doctor? The Daily Mail
• Fear of being grilled by GPs' receptionists keeps patients away The Daily Telegraph
• Having to discuss symptoms with receptionists puts 40% of patients off GP visits GP Online

Leaders call for major rethink on NHS

Leaders call for major rethink on NHS A fundamental shift of provision of care from hospitals to the community is central to a radical new vision for how the NHS should be run, published at the weekend.

The manifesto* published in The Lancet, is written by a leading group of clinicians, scientists, social entrepreneurs and peers including Professor Maureen Baker, chair of the RCGP, Lord Nigel Crisp, the former chief executive of the NHS, and Professor Dame Sue Bailey, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. OnMedica

See also:

• Manifesto for a healthy and health-creating society The Lancet

UK nurses lacking skills to treat transgender patients, says research

UK nurses lacking skills to treat transgender patients, says research RCN survey of nurses points to inadequate training, with only a fifth saying workforce has relevant training and experience

UK nurses are failing to meet the needs of transgender patients and feel they lack training and experience to treat the growing number of trans people seeking medical treatment in relation to their gender identity, according to research.

A survey of more than 1,200 nursing staff across the UK found 87% of those nurses who have directly cared for a trans patient felt unprepared to meet the patient’s needs. Continue reading... The Guardian

We need mental health support at work – and every employer should commit to it | Norman Lamb

We need mental health support at work – and every employer should commit to it | Norman Lamb World Mental Health Day is a good opportunity for government and business to finally take this issue as seriously as physical health

We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health, and in both cases we are on a continuum, where our health can vary day to day. It is estimated that one in four people experience a mental health issue in any given year, and that one in six employees is depressed, anxious or suffering from stress-related problems at any time. However, many of us know little about mental health. We often don’t spot the signs that a colleague, employee, or we ourselves are struggling, and this delays help and recovery. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS accused of abandoning children with life-threatening disease

NHS accused of abandoning children with life-threatening disease The NHS rationing body has been accused of abandoning children with a life threatening genetic condition after it refused funding for a breakthrough drug that will let them live ‘long and healthy lives’.

Hopes were raised after ‘spectacular’ trial results in which youngsters with the tumour-causing disease tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), some of whom had been given as little as 12 months to live, were saved by the one-a-day tablet.

But in July, NHS England reversed an earlier decision to recommend prescribing the breakthrough drug everolimus, claiming that it was ‘not currently affordable’. The Daily Mail

First ever head-to-head study reveals doctors are WAY better than symptom-checker apps at diagnosing illnesses (...for now, at least)

First ever head-to-head study reveals doctors are WAY better than symptom-checker apps at diagnosing illnesses (...for now, at least) The research by Harvard Medical School is the first test to compare human and virtual doctors. Doctors correctly diagnosed 84 per cent of patients. Computers only got 50 per cent right. BBC News

Pregnant women could be forced to show their passports at hospital before giving birth

Pregnant women could be forced to show their passports at hospital before giving birth Pregnant women will be forced to hand over passports before they give birth at NHS hospitals under controversial proposals to clamp down on health tourism.

A pilot scheme backed by the Home Office will see every mother-to-be told to prove their right to use the health service when their labour is booked in.

The London trust behind the scheme said all those seeking to give birth would be asked for photo identification, or proof of right to remain in this country.

The trust board papers also say changes in the law will mean patients are charged for ambulance and A&E services if they cannot provide proof of identity, unless the situation is an emergency or matter of life and death. The Daily Telegraph

Mental health unit in Kettering recognised for good practice

Mental health unit in Kettering recognised for good practice A unit for patients with mental health issues has been given an industry seal of approval for its work.

The Forest Centre, a 24-bed unit for elderly patients who have mental health issues including dementia, is based at St Mary’s Hospital, Kettering. It has has been awarded an Acute Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMS) accreditation for its dedication to providing high quality patient care. Northamptonshire Telegraph

No hospital is an island: new models of acute collaboration in the NHS

No hospital is an island: new models of acute collaboration in the NHS Encouraged in recent years through the NHS Five Year Forward View, the Dalton and Carter reviews and now Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), hospitals are looking for creative solutions to clinical and financial challenges that they can’t solve on their own. NHS England

Mental health stigma is stopping young people asking for help

Mental health stigma is stopping young people asking for help More than one in three young people with mental health difficulties experience stigma, according to major new research released by youth charity, YMCA.

The I AM WHOLE report published in support of an NHS anti-stigma campaign being launched by UK music star Jordan Stephens (Rizzle Kicks), also shows that, of the young people who experience this stigma, more than a third say it happens at least once a week and 54% say it originates from their own friends.

Researchers spoke to more than 2,000 11 to 24-year-olds and found that 38% of those with mental health difficulties felt they were stigmatised. Of those, 56% said this stigma made them less willing to access professional support for their mental health difficulties and 70% were less likely to speak about their problems.

See also:

• I was told to cheer up while battling bulimia BBC News

Type 2 diabetes: Data reveals hotspots for cases

Type 2 diabetes: Data reveals hotspots for cases Prescriptions for type 2 diabetes rise by a third in England in the last five years, according to new analysis of NHS data. BBC News

Former Southern Health boss Katrina Percy quits

Former Southern Health boss Katrina Percy quits The former head of troubled Southern Health NHS trust, who was controversially moved to a new post in the organisation, has quit following months of pressure. BBC News

STPs could be blocked if GPs oppose them, says health minister

STPs could be blocked if GPs oppose them, says health minister Opposition from GPs could force a rethink on sustainability and transformation plans (STPs), health minister David Mowat has told the RCGP conference. GP Online

Dozens of NHS hospitals targeted by cyber blackmailers

Dozens of NHS hospitals targeted by cyber blackmailers The NHS is under increasing attack from cyber blackmailers attempting to extort ransoms from dozens of hospitals using internet viruses which encrypt data.

Health service trusts serving millions of patients have been hit by the “ransomware” attacks in the past 12 months, prompting concern that antiquated IT systems are leaving NHS data such as patient records vulnerable to exploitation by criminals. i News

See also:

• Blackmailing hackers 'increasingly targeting' NHS Trusts ITV News

Medical advances increase life expectancy but make people spend far more of their lives being ill

Medical advances increase life expectancy but make people spend far more of their lives being ill People are getting healthier, living longer – and spending more time with often debilitating illness and disability.

The gains in medical and health are masking an increasing amount of illness, disability and death from non-communicable diseases, according to a major new study.

Death rates from communicable diseases have fallen sharply, adding to a major overall increase in life expectancy. But that extra time appears to be spent more and more unhealthily. The Independent

NHS leadership needs to give staff a powerful voice in any system change

NHS leadership needs to give staff a powerful voice in any system change Sustainability and transformation plans are focused on structures and process but they are ultimately worthless without clinical buy-in and leadership.

Inevitably the NHS reform drive got caught up in the party conference crossfire. Diane Abbott, in her last few days as shadow health secretary, attempted to rebrand sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) as “secret Tory plans”, while prime minister Theresa May made the ludicrous assertion that the government had given the NHS “more than its leaders asked for”, conjuring up an image of NHS England trying to work out what to do with all the extra cash.

But clinicians as well as politicians are becoming increasingly vocal on the current round of reform. The Royal College of GPs is getting angry over the obsessive focus on sorting out hospital deficits rather than transforming care. At their annual conference this week, college chair Maureen Baker accurately pointed out that if there is insufficient investment in general practice, system transformation simply won’t happen, and the whole process will have been in vain. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Can health and care deliver changes and keep the public on side? The Guardian
• A lethal combination of secrecy and jargon has overshadowed NHS plans The Guardian

NHS is most widely held concern of UK adults, survey finds

NHS is most widely held concern of UK adults, survey finds Research for Ipsos Mori’s latest ‘issues index’ indicates worries about Britain’s health service are growing

The NHS has narrowly replaced immigration and Brexit as a key issue facing Britain in the minds of most voters, according to a new survey of public opinion by pollsters Ipsos Mori.

Two out of five (40%) mentioned the health service, hospitals or healthcare as a concern to them – more than cited any other issue. That was just ahead of the numbers who identified immigration or immigrants (39%) as either the most important or an important issue. Continue reading... The Guardian

I changed career to do mental health nursing but now I'm drowning

I changed career to do mental health nursing but now I'm drowning My job can be wonderful, but the reality is so much harder than I expected. It feels like it’s not safe sometimes

In my late twenties I decided to go back to university to study mental health nursing. I am now several months into my first position as a qualified nurse in an acute psychiatric hospital. There are days I question my decision and think: “What the hell have I done?” I sometimes feel trapped in a position I have worked so hard to achieve and I wonder if this is to be my life from now on.

Before I became a nurse I was a support worker looking after people with learning disabilities. I supported a service user who had physical and communication difficulties and she would fight, bite and scream at staff. However, when we were together we would laugh for hours and we developed an amazing relationship. I realised I had a knack for caring for people who were considered challenging and the whole nursing business escalated from there.

I knew I was entering a challenging yet rewarding career; I just never anticipated how tough it would be Continue reading... The Guardian

Vulture lawyers bleed the NHS for £418m: Their sickening fees in one year are enough to hire 19,000 nurse

Vulture lawyers bleed the NHS for £418m: Their sickening fees in one year are enough to hire 19,000 nurse Grasping law firms charged a record £418 million last year after pursuing cases of medical blunders against the NHS, a Mail on Sunday investigation reveals today.

And some greedy ‘ambulance chasers’ have been accused of pulling in ‘grossly inflated’ fees, many times what their clients actually received in compensation.

Our inquiries also expose how law firms are apparently prepared to brazenly overcharge for their services while bringing complaints against the NHS. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Taxpayer foots £1.5billion bill for legal cases against NHS in a year, figures reveal The Daily Telegraph

Grumpy doctors harm patients, whistleblowing champion says

Grumpy doctors harm patients, whistleblowing champion says NHS employees must be more positive at work because grumpiness can harm patients and contribute to a “toxic environment”, the new whistleblowing chief has said.

Henrietta Hughes called on “every single person” in the health service to make it a happier place of work as she urged staff to “start living…the NHS that they want to work in”. The Daily Telegraph

Corby CCG seeking volunteers for infection prevention pilot scheme

Corby CCG seeking volunteers for infection prevention pilot scheme Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is running a year-long pilot scheme designed to prevent emergency admissions due to infections - and they need volunteers. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England announces major boost for general practice

NHS England announces major boost for general practice NHS England is today setting out the latest measures it is implementing to help general practice cope with increasing demand – boosting GP numbers and tackling burnout as part of the General Practice Forward View. A nationwide, £19.5m NHS GP Health service will be introduced in January 2017.

New case study - supporting staff mental health

New case study - supporting staff mental health Read our case study about how East Midlands Ambulance Service implemented a strategy to support staff mental health. NHS Employers

Warning given over children using complementary therapies

Warning given over children using complementary therapies Doctors are warning of the dangers of giving children complementary therapies after a four-year-old boy ended up in A&E after taking holistic supplements. BBC News

See also:

• Doctors issue warning about alternative therapy treatments The Daily Mail
• Warning over alternative medicines danger for children after autistic boy, 4, hospitalised by supplements The Daily Telegraph
• Autistic boy hospitalised after receiving holistic treatment to 'cure' condition The Independent

Disabling of general practice has driven NHS financial crisis, warns academic

Disabling of general practice has driven NHS financial crisis, warns academic The disabling of general practice's NHS gatekeeper function is the primary reason why the UK health service is increasingly unable to cope within its budget, a leading academic has warned. GP Online

'My love for the NHS is being drained away': Medical students on Jeremy Hunt's plan to fine doctors who move abroad

'My love for the NHS is being drained away': Medical students on Jeremy Hunt's plan to fine doctors who move abroad What do Jeremy Hunt's controversial new proposals mean for the next generation of British doctors? Four medical students speak to The Independent about their concerns.

See also:

• Telling NHS doctors to go home is self-harming madness | Polly Toynbee The Guardian

What Jeremy Hunt’s Tory conference speech really means for the future of the NHS

What Jeremy Hunt’s Tory conference speech really means for the future of the NHS Jeremy Hunt made reference to personal tragedies under NHS care, just one part of his message to the nation that NHS problems are generated by universal healthcare not privatisation. The Independent

GPs offered thousands of pounds to give private consultations via app

GPs offered thousands of pounds to give private consultations via app Medics attending Royal College of GP conference in Harrogate told by Babylon they can earn up to £90,000 a year

GPs attending the UK’s biggest family doctor conference are being urged to accept thousands of pounds to treat private patients.

Medics can earn £50-£60 per hour on top of their NHS salary – or up to £90,000 a year if they work full-time – by offering consultations to patients on their smartphones. Continue reading... The Guardian

Obese patients and smokers face six month ban on NHS surgery

Obese patients and smokers face six month ban on NHS surgery Obese patients and smokers will be denied surgery under cost-cutting NHS rationing plans, amid warnings from senior surgeons that the move will prompt a public outcry.

NHS leaders in north Yorkshire say patients who weigh too much or smoke will be told they have to go on a diet or quit smoking for at least six months before they can be considered for any non-urgent operations.

Similar measures proposed by a neighbouring authority last month were stopped after protests from surgeons and patients groups. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Harrogate obesity and smoking 'surgery ban' move BBC News

Seven in 10 deaths fuelled by diet and lifestyle factors, study finds

Seven in 10 deaths fuelled by diet and lifestyle factors, study finds Bad diets and unhealthy lifestyles have become the biggest threat to life expectancy, fuelling seven in 10 deaths, a major Lancet study has found.

The research on almost 200 countries found that increases in life expectancy - achieved thanks to improvements in sanitation and immunisation - are being eroded by the global obesity crisis.

The Global Burden of Disease study gathered data on 249 causes of death, 315 diseases and injuries and 79 risk factors in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2015.

While deaths caused by infectious diseases such as malaria and flu have fallen sharply, the proportion of fatalities fuelled by lifestyles have soared. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Study shows health improving globally, but progress is patchy The Daily Mail

Feedback from service users is crucial for improvement in maternity care

Feedback from service users is crucial for improvement in maternity care Feedback from users of NHS maternity services has a key role to play in tracking quality of care and shaping service improvements, according to a new report published by The King’s Fund.

User feedback in maternity services highlights the importance of collecting and using feedback. It emphasises the key role of leaders in prioritising, communicating and acting on feedback as part of a culture of improvement.

The report, which is aimed primarily at maternity service providers, is based on research commissioned by the Department of Health to explore the benefits of locally developed ways of collecting and using feedback. King's Fund

See also:

• Listening to feedback in maternity services (blog) King's Fund

General practice facing ‘double whammy’ of losing £33m in funding this year, and up to £760m in 2020 despite government plans to save general practice

General practice facing ‘double whammy’ of losing £33m in funding this year, and up to £760m in 2020 despite government plans to save general practice General practice is at risk of losing £33m in 2016/17, through underspending by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), and up to £760m in 2020, through the roll out of regional NHS plans, according to Royal College of General Practitioners' Chair Dr Maureen Baker.

UK Ebola nurse taken to hospital under police escort

UK Ebola nurse taken to hospital under police escort A Scots nurse who was treated for Ebola is in a stable condition after being taken to hospital under police escort.

Pauline Cafferkey, 40, was admitted to Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after being taken from her home in South Lanarkshire at 09:30.

She is undergoing routine monitoring by the Infectious Diseases Team and remains in a stable condition. BBC News

Wasted money?

Wasted money? The NHS says there's "no good-quality evidence" that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition, yet it funds it. Why and to what extent?

Homeopathy is an extremely controversial issue - so it's no surprise it came top of our poll of readers when we asked what they would like us to investigate. BBC News

See also:

• Wirral health chiefs scrap homeopathy funding BBC News

PM ‘disconnected from reality’ when it comes to NHS

PM ‘disconnected from reality’ when it comes to NHS The chair of the British Medical Council has accused the Prime Minister of being out of touch when it comes to the health service.

Responding to comments on the NHS made by Prime Minister, Theresa May at the Conservative party conference, Dr Mark Porter, chair of BMA council, said:

“There is a real disconnect between the rhetoric of Theresa May’s speech, and the reality facing the NHS. Nothing in today’s speech will address the concerns of patients, the public and frontline NHS staff on how the NHS will rise to the enormous challenges facing it.” OnMedica

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt among most passionate NHS advocates ever, says Theresa May GP Online

Junior doctors' contract should be scrapped, says senior doctor

Junior doctors' contract should be scrapped, says senior doctor The junior doctors’ contract “should be scrapped, a leading doctor argues today in a top medical journal.

In an editorial * for The BMJ today, Neena Modi, Professor of neonatal medicine and president of the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, says the junior doctors contract “should be discarded and replaced with one drawn on a clean sheet.”

Professor Modi says the total breakdown of trust between government and junior doctors “represents a catastrophic failure of senior leadership at all levels.” OnMedica

Number of killings by mental health patients falls

Number of killings by mental health patients falls Study suggests that improved NHS care could be behind fall in number of homicides but suicide increases

The number of killings by patients being treated for mental health problems is falling, probably as a result of improved NHS care, a major new report reveals today.

But the number of suicides has increased across the UK since the financial crash in 2008 – except in Scotland – with middle-aged men the most likely group to take their own life. There are concerns that every year dozens of patients may be killing themselves after they have been wrongly released from hospital because mental health units have too few beds. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness University of Manchester
• Suicide risk 'higher in community' BBC News

Alcohol continues to be sold at 'pocket money prices', report finds

Alcohol continues to be sold at 'pocket money prices', report finds Study from Alcohol Health Alliance finds cider on sale at 16p a unit, way below the 50p minimum recommended unit price

Alcohol continues to be sold at “pocket money” prices across the UK, with white cider on offer for pennies, according to a report.

The study from the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) concluded that little has changed in recent years when it comes to people being able to buy cheap booze from supermarkets and off-licences. Continue reading... The Guardian

Fear patients are being put at risk because vital money is not being invested in GPs

Fear patients are being put at risk because vital money is not being invested in GPs Dr Maureen Baker, chair of the Royal College of GPs, will say that up to £800million earmarked for practices is instead being used to bail out debt-ridden hospitals. The Daily Mail

Why Alzheimer's in women is being missed: Their better memory of words means early signs of the disease go undetected

Why Alzheimer's in women is being missed: Their better memory of words means early signs of the disease go undetected Females have an inbuilt buffer against the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s – meaning it is not spotted until later, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found. The Daily Mail

Delays to the creation of a new children’s services trust in Northamptonshire could cost up to £7.3m

Delays to the creation of a new children’s services trust in Northamptonshire could cost up to £7.3m Plans to move the department that looks after vulnerable children at Northamptonshire County Council over to a limited company will not now happen until at least December 2017, meaning most of the savings it promised to bring will not be achieved in this year’s budget. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

World alzheimer report 2016: Improving healthcare for people living with dementia - coverage, quality and costs now and in the future

World alzheimer report 2016: Improving healthcare for people living with dementia - coverage, quality and costs now and in the future This report reviews research evidence on the elements of healthcare for people with dementia, and, using economic modelling, suggests how it should be improved and made more efficient. It argues that current dementia healthcare services are over-specialised, and that a rebalancing is required with a more prominent role for primary and community care which could increase capacity, limit the increased costs associated with scaling up coverage of care, and, coupled with the introduction of care pathways and case management, improve the coordination and integration of care. Alzheimer's Disease International

Cohort study of 2006 medical graduates: tenth report

Cohort study of 2006 medical graduates: tenth report The BMA Cohort Doctor report is a ten year study of 430 doctors who, nine years post-graduation, are mostly progressing through specialty training or are working as qualified GPs. This report provides insights into career choice and working environments in terms of workplace morale, work related stress and work-life balance. It finds that almost half of doctors are looking to move overseas as their current experience of being a doctor is worse than they expected when they graduated. British Medical Association

Most areas 'struggling' on cancer care

Most areas 'struggling' on cancer care More than eight in 10 areas need to improve if England is going to meet its ambitious target of developing "world class" cancer care by 2020, according to an analysis by NHS bosses. BBC News

See also:

• England's cancer shame: Eight out of 10 NHS groups are letting down patients The Daily Mail
• Cancer patients face survival lottery The Daily Telegraph
• Nine out of 10 NHS groups failing on cancer care, ratings show The Guardian

NICE approves first new drug for Cancer Drugs Fund

NICE approves first new drug for Cancer Drugs Fund Lung cancer drug osimertinib has become the first new treatment made available by NICE under the Cancer Drugs Fund since it began an overhaul of the scheme earlier this year. GP Online

NHS England chief faces his biggest challenge

NHS England chief faces his biggest challenge The changing face of government will test Simon Stevens’s delicate balancing act, keeping both the ‘NHS family’ and his new political masters happy

Simon Stevens’s long honeymoon is finally coming to an end. NHS England’s chief executive has in his two and a half years in the job skilfully kept his own side, “the NHS family”, believing in both his vision for the future as the only answer to what some see as the service’s potentially existential problems and, crucially, his ability to deliver. At the same time he has enjoyed strong relationships in government, including in No 10 and the Treasury. Persuading a dubious George Osborne, the former chancellor, last autumn to frontload £3.8bn into this year’s NHS budget of the extra £8bn promised by 2020, to cover deficits and kickstart the belated implementation of 2014’s Five Year Forward View, was Stevens at his influential best. Continue reading... The Guardian

Jeremy Hunt accused of devaluing contribution of foreign doctors to UK

Jeremy Hunt accused of devaluing contribution of foreign doctors to UK Health secretary’s plan to produce more homegrown doctors by increasing places at medical schools has drawn criticism

Jeremy Hunt has been criticised over plans to train more homegrown physicians to make the NHS “self-sufficient” in doctors after Britain leaves the EU.

The health secretary will tell the Conservative party conference on Tuesday that UK medical schools will be allowed to offer up to 1,500 extra places a year to reduce reliance on foreign-trained medics.

Theresa May just brough back her racist #GoHomeVans - for our NHS doctors. Dangerous and disgraceful.

The arrogance of this from UKG is breathtaking...like they're somehow doing these doctors a favour by 'allowing' them to save lives here. https://t.co/oUnOiEkRfG

My dad is a senior doctor with nearly 30 years service to this once great country. Is he supposed to pack up and go back to Iraq?

My parents coming here has added 1 doctor, 2 dentists, and a psychologist to the country but hey, whatever, back to Iraq it is Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

•  Up to 1,500 extra medical training places announced Department of Health
• Read Jeremy Hunt's speech on four-year NHS service and overseas doctors in full GP Online
• How GPs reacted to Jeremy Hunt's plan to cut NHS reliance on overseas doctors GP Online
• 42% of British doctors plan to move abroad, study shows OnMedica

Student nurse 'on the brink of giving up' reveals what her job is really like

Student nurse 'on the brink of giving up' reveals what her job is really like The anonymous submission from a single mother in Ireland reveals her struggles from looking after 20 patients to having so little money she worries she can't pay the bills. It already has 10,000 likes. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Student nurse reveals 'soul destroying' realities of career in open letter The Independent

The NHS by numbers

The NHS by numbers Here is a look at the numbers behind the National Health Service as Jeremy Hunt is expected use his Conservative Party conference speech to announce plans to train up to 1,500 more doctors a year in England. The Daily Telegraph