'Creativity improves wellbeing': art transforms mental health ward

'Creativity improves wellbeing': art transforms mental health ward A psychiatric ward in London has been given a makeover, with work donated by artists and workshops for patients

When most people think of a secure mental health unit, they don’t tend to picture it decorated with artwork by award-winning artists and patients.

A psychiatric ward housing patients with schizophrenia in Springfield University hospital in Tooting, London, however, has undergone an artistic renovation. The once blank, colourless walls now house a variety of pieces from artists such as the Turner Prize-winning Assemble and photographer Nick Knight as well as by the patients themselves. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Artists give hospital ward a makeover – in pictures The Guardian

NHS spending thousands on drunks and malingerers

NHS spending thousands on drunks and malingerers The tragedy of the modern NHS is that the wartime generation, the one that defeated Hitler, never complained and never called an ambulance, is dying out.

They are being replaced by the ‘Me’ generation — products of a cradle-to-grave welfare state who would happily call an ambulance because they have scratched a finger opening their dole cheque. And as an ambulance driver, I see both types, and the entire spectrum in between.

The patients who call us out most often are known in the business as ‘frequent flyers’. Each area has its regulars, who might call every day. One elderly lady, well known to all the call-handlers at our NHS Trust, has racked up £400,000 of ambulance visits in just a few years. The Daily Mail

Mother needing surgery died after being turned away from three hospitals over bed shortages

Mother needing surgery died after being turned away from three hospitals over bed shortages A woman died from a brain haemorrhage after at least three hospitals refused to admit her for surgery because they had no intensive care beds.

A coroner ruled that 57-year-old Mary Muldowney would probably have survived if she had been given immediate life-saving surgery to stem the bleeding.

Ms Muldowney was admitted to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill on July 20 last year where doctors immediately suspected a bleed on the brain. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• 3 NHS hospitals turned away London woman who died The Daily Mail
• Woman died after three hospitals refused to admit her for surgery The Guardian

Great NHS gamble: Do Northamptonshire's jargon-laden plans mask GP practice mergers?

Great NHS gamble: Do Northamptonshire's jargon-laden plans mask GP practice mergers? Plans to find £230 million worth of cuts in Northamptonshire's NHS services over the next five years could be "hiding" job losses and mergers with management jargon - fears a political group. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

BUDGET CUTS: Dementia sufferer's vital lifelines will be axed as part of Northamptonshire cuts

BUDGET CUTS: Dementia sufferer's vital lifelines will be axed as part of Northamptonshire cuts The daughter of a dementia sufferer whose vital memory cafe and day centre are set to be scrapped has labelled the county council cut as "disgusting." Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Management changes at KGH as interim chief executive appointed

Management changes at KGH as interim chief executive appointed Kettering General Hospital has announced two interim management appointments. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Two days of roadworks to change entrance to KGH

Two days of roadworks to change entrance to KGH The main road entrance to Kettering General Hospital is permanently changing from Monday, February 20, as part of plans to improve car parking and traffic flow. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Seizing opportunities for digital development in the NHS

Seizing opportunities for digital development in the NHS‘It’s not about gadgets, it’s about service redesign.’

I’m paraphrasing a little, but this was the message from NHS Improvement Programmes’ Director Bernard Quinn at a recent digital health conference. Bernard’s team is already hard at work making that transformation happen: NHS Improvement’s Digital Outpatients programme is hoping to bring £3 billion of benefit from digitising the process of booking and receiving an outpatient service where possible.

If you’re interested in the use of digital technology within the NHS in England, you’ll know that it can be a case of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. Some regions are beginning their digital plans at pace, others are already enjoying the benefits of integrated care records or real-time analytics, while some still struggle on with Windows XP. The King's Fund

The sustainability and transformation plans: a critical assessment

The sustainability and transformation plans: a critical assessment This report assesses the published drafts for STP plans and it raises concerns around the credibility of the implementation measures outlined in the plans. It argues that the scale of the planned reduction in hospital services implies rationing and risks the collapse of some services. Centre for Health and the Public Interest

Financial analysis of STPs

Financial analysis of STPs This analysis of the 44 STPs in England estimates that £9.5bn of capital funding is required to create the infrastructure to deliver the plans. The BMA sent out a series of FOI requests and have compiled information for each STP area on the financial needs required to implement the plans in each area. British Medical Association

Healthcare social media toolkit

Healthcare social media toolkit This toolkit aims to support the health care sector in utilising social media effectively and efficiently. It includes guidance on strategy and content creation, downloadable templates and resources and advice on how to encourage team members in using social media. Skills for Health

Early deaths among care leavers revealed

Early deaths among care leavers revealed Young people who have grown up in care are far more likely to die in early adulthood than other young people, Freedom of Information figures reveal.

They show 90 people who left care in the UK between 2012 and 2016 died in the years when they would have turned 19, 20 or 21.

Care leavers make up 1% of the population at these ages, but make up around 7% of the deaths. BBC News

Abortion pill online sales 'increasing in Britain'

Abortion pill online sales 'increasing in Britain' The number of abortion pills being bought online in Britain is increasing, data shown to the Victoria Derbyshire programme suggests.

Government figures show 375 doses, sent to addresses in England, Wales, and Scotland, were seized in 2016, compared with just five in 2013.

Taking the pills while pregnant without medical approval is illegal in the UK.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service said as awareness of the online pills increased, more women were using them. BBC News

See also:

• Warning over surge in illegal abortion pills The Daily Mail

Work needed to boost GPs’ knowledge of cancer drug

Work needed to boost GPs’ knowledge of cancer drug Better coordination is needed between GPs and hospital specialists to improve the former’s knowledge of breast cancer drug tamoxifen, according to a study* published today in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP).

The Cancer Research UK funded study found poor knowledge amongst GPs of the drug and its preventive benefits for women.

In the UK, more than 53,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 11,000 die of the disease. Women with a family history of the disease have a higher risk and this accounts for 5–10% of all breast cancer cases, so prevention is important. OnMedica

See also:

• Understanding GP attitudes to cancer preventing drugs Cancer Research UK
• GPs 'failing to prescribe tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer' NHS Choices
• Secondary care support can boost GP use of breast cancer prevention drug GP Online

Scarlet fever: Doctors warn parents to look out for symptoms amid increase in outbreaks

Scarlet fever: Doctors warn parents to look out for symptoms amid increase in outbreaks Doctors are warning parents to check their children for rashes and swollen tongues following an increase in outbreaks of scarlet fever.

The bacterial illness, which mainly affects children under 10, is easily treated by antibiotics but is extremely contagious, even after treatment has begun. The Independent

See also:

• Research and analysis: Notifiable diseases: weekly reports for 2017 Public Health England

NHS crisis revealed: 24 A&E units marked for closure or downgrading

NHS crisis revealed: 24 A&E units marked for closure or downgrading Dozens of accident and emergency units are facing closure or being downgraded in a far-reaching overhaul of urgent care which senior doctors warn would have “disastrous” consequences for the NHS. An analysis of documents drawn up to remodel the health service in England shows that 24 casualty units from Durham to Somerset have been marked for potential closure despite record demand for A&Es and serious overcrowding across the country as the NHS goes through its most severe winter crisis since records began. Last month produced the worst performance for A&E waits in 13 years. iNews

See also:

• The full list of the 24 A&E units marked for closure iNews
• How to speak NHS manager: Decoding the jargon that obscures the cuts iNews

‘Bedblocking’ is stifling our hospitals. But there are ways to ease the burden

‘Bedblocking’ is stifling our hospitals. But there are ways to ease the burden A lack of at-home social care is delaying discharges at a cost to the NHS of £800m a year. But Nottingham is bucking the trend

Lilian Hemsley, 86, was admitted to Queen’s Medical Centre on the outskirts of Nottingham on 30 December following a fall. Seven days later she was able to return home to Chilwell, south Nottinghamshire with a package of help in place. “The social workers were fantastic,” she says. “I had to have my bed moved downstairs and a commode – I wasn’t allowed home until they were sorted out. But they did it really quickly.” Following some interim homecare, Hemsley is getting help washing and dressing in the morning for four weeks through Nottinghamshire county council’s reablement service. She will soon be assessed for ongoing care needs.

As soon as a patient is admitted, social workers establish potential care needs – and sort them out quickly Continue reading... The Guardian

Tens of thousands of new mothers can't reach a midwife, study finds

Tens of thousands of new mothers can't reach a midwife, study finds Women are visiting already stretched A&E units and GP surgeries instead, according to charity NCT

Tens of thousands of new mothers a year are seeking help at an A&E unit or GP surgery because they cannot reach a midwife to ask them for advice, a new study has found.

Mothers worried about a problem with their own or their baby’s health are adding to the strain on family doctors, emergency departments and walk-in centres because of midwife shortages and because they have “nowhere else to go”, says the parenting charity the NCT – which undertook the research. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS to be hit by crippling business rates rise, analysis finds

NHS to be hit by crippling business rates rise, analysis finds NHS hospitals and GP surgeries in England and Wales face a £635 million hike in their business rates over the next five years, it emerged as health authorities threatened legal action.

A new analysis found that health authorities, many of which are already struggling to cope with huge financial pressure, will see their business rates will rise by an average of a third by 2021.

Some of the country's biggest hospitals will see their business rates double amid warnings that they will have to find further savings to fill black holes in their budgets. The Daily Telegraph

The Great NHS Gamble: Northamptonshire will see funding drop by £328 per head over next five years

The Great NHS Gamble: Northamptonshire will see funding drop by £328 per head over next five years People in Northamptonshire will see their healthcare spending drop by £328 per head in the next five years as part of the biggest NHS shake up in a generation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire’s five-year NHS ‘vision’ was ‘drawn up by stealth’, claims campaign group

Northamptonshire’s five-year NHS ‘vision’ was ‘drawn up by stealth’, claims campaign group Plans to shake up the NHS in Northamptonshire and cut funding by £328 per person were put in place “by stealth” according to a national campaign group - and could face a legal challenge.

The National Health Action Party - which claims it is fighting to save the NHS from being turned into a US-style health service - believes the Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP) proposals appear to run contrary to the provisions of the Health and Social Care Act. It says the STPs are contrary to the stated objective of the Act, a locally driven commissioning service provided by GPs who have an intimate knowledge of their local community needs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Improved outcomes for LGBT staff at Morecambe Bay

Improved outcomes for LGBT staff at Morecambe Bay In this new case study University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay discuss its Towards Inclusion Programme and share how it has improved engagement and led to positive outcomes for their LGBT workforce.

Read about the actions taken, the challenges met and the outcomes achieved. NHS Employers

Ebola 'super-spreaders' cause most cases

Ebola 'super-spreaders' cause most cases The majority of cases in the world's largest outbreak of Ebola were caused by a tiny handful of patients, research suggests.

The analysis, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nearly two thirds of cases (61%) were caused by 3% of infected people.

The young and old were more likely to have been "super-spreaders".

It is hoped understanding their role in spreading the infection will help contain the next outbreak. BBC News

NHS crisis: 19 hospitals face axe as doctors accuse Government of deliberate underfunding

NHS crisis: 19 hospitals face axe as doctors accuse Government of deliberate underfunding The NHS is facing its biggest shake up in a generation with nearly 20 hospitals marked for closure and care from cradle to grave put through a wholesale overhaul to plug a £22bn black hole in health service funding, an investigation by i can reveal. An analysis of the 44 regional blueprints drawn up by health service leaders to remodel the NHS in England – in a process which critics complain has largely bypassed patients – has revealed for the first time the extent of the cuts and drastic changes in the delivery of care that the Government wants to achieve by March 2021. iNews

NHS needs £9.5bn upfront to secure its future, says BMA

NHS needs £9.5bn upfront to secure its future, says BMA ‘Nowhere near the funding required’ despite huge crisis unfolding in service that already can’t cope, say doctors

Modernising and securing the future of the health service in England would cost at least £9.5bn in upfront spending, money that the NHS does not have, the British Medical Association has said.

Health managers in 44 areas have been charged with creating sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) to help the NHS repair its crumbling finances and meet clinical and organisation challenges. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS financial crisis is making STP plans 'unworkable', warns BMA GP Online

NHS 'pays out £7.5m annually for 20 most expensive agency doctors'

NHS 'pays out £7.5m annually for 20 most expensive agency doctors' Watchdog says health service could save £300m a year if locums were charged within set price cap, after data found some are paid £375,000 a year

The NHS is paying agency doctors millions of pounds every year – with one having charged £363 an hour, according to a health watchdog.

Data from NHS Improvement shows that 20 of the most expensive locums cost the NHS £7.5m a year – an average of £375,000 each. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS services clampdowns in your area

NHS services clampdowns in your area Cash-strapped clinical commissioning groups across England are announcing a range of controversial plans to try and tackle their growing deficits. The Daily Mail

Tell twentysomethings their 'cancer risk' to spur lifestyle changes

Tell twentysomethings their 'cancer risk' to spur lifestyle changes People in their 20s should be told their cancer risk to shock them into changing their lifestyle, a study by Cambridge University suggests.

Up to 40 per cent of cancers are linked to factors such as diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol, resulting in around 600,000 cases of avoidable disease in the UK in the past five years.

The study of GPs and practice nurses found that most believed that the best way to encourage lifestyle changes was to tackle patients at a younger age. The Daily Telegraph

Bullying of desperate 999 call handlers 'led to suicide attempts’ at scandal-hit ambulance service

Bullying of desperate 999 call handlers 'led to suicide attempts’ at scandal-hit ambulance service Desperate 999 call handlers attempted suicide amid an “endemic culture of bullying” at a scandal-hit ambulance service intent on hitting targets, leaked reports state.

The reports describe a “culture of fear” in an NHS trust which saw employees subjected to repeated abuse and harassment.

In the documents, the then head of the trust is accused of sleeping with young female staff and running a “boys’ club” which protected staff who fiddled figures, and “trashed” the reputations of whistleblowers. The Daily Telegraph

Kettering project using skype and facetime to help prostate cancer patients

Kettering project using skype and facetime to help prostate cancer patients Specialist nurses at Kettering General Hospital are using skype and facetime as a way of communicating with concerned patients at home as part of a pioneering project.

The Macmillan Prostate Project is exploring ways to better support stable prostate cancer patients in environments where they are comfortable.

This could include skyping them at home or maybe visiting groups of people at work or in a leisure environment where groups of men regularly meet. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Warning signs: challenges to delivering the Cancer Strategy for England by 2020

Warning signs: challenges to delivering the Cancer Strategy for England by 2020 This report lays out the challenges an under-pressure health service in England faces in areas such as workforce as it seeks to transform cancer services so it can meet increased demand in the coming decades. It finds that 64 per cent of people recently diagnosed with cancer in England have experienced mental health problems such as anxiety and depression while waiting for their treatment to start. It also finds that confidence in delivering the cancer strategy is mixed amongst NHS leaders and GPs and that greater clarity is needed on who is responsible for redesigning cancer services at a local and regional level. Macmillan Cancer Support

Surgeons 'kicking their heels' as bed shortage delays operations

Surgeons 'kicking their heels' as bed shortage delays operations Surgeons at hospitals in England are being left "kicking their heels" because operations are being cancelled due to bed shortages, NHS leaders say.

Royal College of Surgeons president Clare Marx said the "shocking waste" was a symptom of NHS underfunding.

In a joint letter to the Sunday Times with NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, she said patients and staff deserved better.

NHS England said only 1% of operations were cancelled at the last minute. BBC News

See also:

• Surgeons idle for days because of NHS bed crisis The Daily Mail
• Surgeons left 'kicking their heels' as bed shortages cause operation delays The Daily Telegraph
• NHS surgeons 'kicking their heels' as bed shortages delay operations The Guardian

Mental health therapy for Muslims embraces religion

Mental health therapy for Muslims embraces religion Muslims with mental health issues could be helped by re-embracing their beliefs and religious teachings, it is claimed.

Traditionally, therapists have shied away from talking about religion as part of treatment - and can often see it as part of the illness.

But an NHS project based on research by Leeds University is "showing some individual signs of success".

Those behind the therapy say many Muslims do not get help because of stigma attached to mental illness. BBC News

Hundreds of incidents so serious they should never happen recorded in NHS

Hundreds of incidents so serious they should never happen recorded in NHS Hundreds of incidents so serious they should "never" happen have taken place in the NHS in just nine months.

Fresh figures from the NHS have revealed the frequency of so-called "Never Events" ranging from medical equipment being left inside patients to procedures on the wrong side of the brain.


Statistics published by NHS Improvement outlined 314 incidents took place between April 16 and December 31 last year – more than one a day.

Referred to as Never Events, the NHS described them as “serious, largely preventable” safety breaches, and differ from other grave events as just “even a single Never Event acts as a red flag”, highlighting potentially fatal failings.

The figures come as Jeremy Hunt comes under renewed pressure of the buckling state of the health service. The Independent

See also:

• Never Events data NHS Improvement

NHS managers are unfairly maligned – we’re the hidden heroes

NHS managers are unfairly maligned – we’re the hidden heroes When I interview people who want to join our NHS Trust Comms team, I always tell them that no two days are ever the same; that it’s rewarding and exhilarating but also a rollercoaster of a challenge. 

It’s busy, and it’s hard. Everyone at our hospital is coping, but you can see the strain of running on adrenaline on their faces – nurses, doctors, bed managers, therapists, support staff. This year so far has been no different. iNews

Two-thirds of young hospital doctors under serious stress, survey reveals

Two-thirds of young hospital doctors under serious stress, survey reveals Trainee anaesthetists complain of fatigue, disillusionment, ‘burnout’ and fears for patients’ safety as pressure mounts on NHS

Almost two out of three young hospital doctors say their physical or mental health is being damaged because pressures on the NHS are putting them under intolerable strain.

Many are so relentlessly busy that they go through entire shifts without eating or drinking, while others suffer stress, burnout, exhaustion and sleeping problems. Relationships with family and friends are also deteriorating as a result of the struggle to cope with the fast-rising demand for care. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS hasn't improved enough since Mid Staffs, says inquiry lawyer

NHS hasn't improved enough since Mid Staffs, says inquiry lawyer Robert Francis, whose report uncovered poor care in hospital trust, says pressures on health service generally are ‘pretty bad’

Current conditions in the NHS ”sound familiar” to those that existed during the Mid Staffordshire scandal, according to the lawyer who chaired the inquiry into the hospital trust.

Sir Robert Francis QC said the health service was being hit by a combination of financial pressures and high demand. Continue reading... The Guardian

Cosmetic operations fall to lowest in ten years

Cosmetic operations fall to lowest in ten years 28,300 women went under the knife in 2016, down 39 per cent from 2015. Numbers of men having cosmetic surgery has fallen by half this year. Breast enhancement is still the most popular op. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cosmetic surgery procedures 'fell by 40% in 2016' BBC News
• Why are fewer people in the UK having cosmetic surgery? BBC News

Dementia patients 'get second class healthcare'

Dementia patients 'get second class healthcare' Doctors as the Dementias 2017 conference warned that there was an 'ageism inherent in the whole process' of diagnosing dementia and that many dementia patients were being misdiagnosed. The Daily Mail

Half of GP surgeries open for under eight hours a day, Telegraph investigation reveals

Half of GP surgeries open for under eight hours a day, Telegraph investigation reveals More than half of GP practices are opening for fewer than eight hours a day - with more than 1,500 opening for under five hours daily, a Telegraph investigation reveals.

The Health Secretary urged surgeries which closed early to consider the "severe impact” they were having on the rest of the NHS, which is now under the worst strain in its history.

Senior doctors warned that “the vast majority” of practices were struggling to deliver basic care within weekday hours amid rising demand. The Daily Telegraph

A new relationship with people and communities: actions for delivering chapter 2 of the NHS five year forward view

A new relationship with people and communities: actions for delivering chapter 2 of the NHS five year forward view As part of the NHS five year forward view, the PCB was invited to recommended a set of high-impact actions for adopting person- and community-centred approaches to health and social care. Chapter two of the forward view sets out a vision of health and care where people are fully engaged with their health. This report outlines actions and related recommendations for making this vision a reality. The actions address key areas in the NHS where substantial progress can be made over the next year. The annex highlights approaches or interventions developed within the voluntary sector which have the potential for wider adoption. People and Communities Board

Fatherhood: the impact of fathers on children’s mental health

Fatherhood: the impact of fathers on children’s mental health This briefing explores the research available on this topic and highlights the distinct role fathers can play in nurturing good mental health in their children. Centre for Mental Health

Care in a post-Brexit climate: How to raise standards and meet workforce challenges

Care in a post-Brexit climate: How to raise standards and meet workforce challenges This report explores the drivers of inadequate standards of care in the UK, including chronic underinvestment, the reliance on a low paid, poorly trained workforce and high levels of staff turnover. It also sets out a vision for a more relational, personalised care system, delivered by a more highly skilled and well-resourced workforce. Institute for Public Policy Research

See also:

• 1.6 million new care workers needed by 2022 OnMedica

Integrating health and social care across the UK: toolkit for nurses

Integrating health and social care across the UK: toolkit for nurses New UK-wide toolkit for those working in strategic decision-making roles or involved in forums around integrated care. The toolkit has a series of themed prompt questions for reflection and action. It will support members to provide confident nursing leadership to shape, deliver and monitor safe, quality and local integrated services. Royal College of Nursing

NHS Health Check: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable'

NHS Health Check: Hunt says NHS problems 'unacceptable' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has conceded the NHS in England is facing "completely unacceptable" problems.

He said there was "no excuse" for some of the difficulties highlighted during the BBC's NHS week, and the government had a plan to help hospitals cope.

A series of reports have revealed lengthening waits in A&E and patients being left for hours on trolleys.

Sir Robert Francis QC, who investigated failings in Mid Staffordshire, said the NHS was facing an "existential crisis".

However, in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Mr Hunt said the key was to treat more people "at home and in the community" to ease the burden on hard-pressed hospitals. BBC News

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt's response to 13-hour NHS wait (video) BBC News
• NHS in England 'performing at worst ever level' The Daily Mail
• NHS problems 'completely unacceptable', admits Jeremy Hunt The Daily Telegraph
• Hospitals are in state of 'war', government adviser says The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt: NHS problems 'completely unacceptable' The Guardian
• A&E in England had worst delays ever in January, leak suggests The Guardian
• A&E waiting times at NHS hospitals 'at record levels', leaked data suggests The Independent

NHS Health Check: 'Many staff attacked', says doctor as safety body scrapped

NHS Health Check: 'Many staff attacked', says doctor as safety body scrapped The body set up to advise hospitals on staff safety is to end that work at the end of March, the BBC has discovered.

This is despite figures showing almost 200 assaults on doctors, nurses and other NHS staff in England every day.

One A&E doctor said "most NHS staff" could say they had been attacked or felt unsafe at work.

NHS Protect said it could not comment before a staff consultation ended but the government said it believed a new approach was needed to protect staff.

The body was tasked with overseeing the measures that trusts were taking to stop physical attacks on doctors and nurses. BBC News

The NHS v German healthcare

The NHS v German healthcare The NHS is under huge pressure. But how does being a patient in the UK compare with being a patient in Germany? BBC News

See also:

• NHS Health Check: How Germany's healthcare system works BBC News

High five: Five examples of innovation in the NHS

High five: Five examples of innovation in the NHS Around the UK, trusts are coming up with innovative ways of relieving the pressure on the NHS and improving people's health - in hospitals, in GP surgeries, in care homes and in accident and emergency units. BBC News

NHS England to investigate 'questionable' private GP services

NHS England to investigate 'questionable' private GP services The NHS England chief executive has described as 'questionable' private consultation services being operated by GPs in parallel to their NHS services. GP Online

See also:

• Fears of 'two-tier NHS' as GPs allow fee-paying patients to jump the queue The Guardian

Allow some mental health patients to self-harm because stopping them can make problem worse, says researcher

Allow some mental health patients to self-harm because stopping them can make problem worse, says researcher Mental health units should consider providing sterile cutting equipment to some self-harming patients because forcibly stopping their behaviour can prove more damaging in the long run, it has been argued.

Patrick Sullivan, a researcher with experience of mental health care, said doctors should allow some people to continue to self-harm while providing safety information and therapy to help patients understand their actions and develop alternative coping strategies. The Independent

The doctor’s dilemma: is it ever good to do harm | Dr Gwen Adshead

The doctor’s dilemma: is it ever good to do harm | Dr Gwen Adshead If a patient’s heart stops, the doctor can resuscitate them. But how does the doctor decide if it’s the right thing to do?

Medical knowledge changes swiftly, and technological changes make new and expensive investigations and treatments possible that were only theoretical a few years ago. Life has been extended in length, but not in quality, and the debates about end‑of‑life decisions show us how much the notion of a “good life” is bound up with the absence of disease, illness and suffering.

The practice of medicine is not purely technical. It involves a relationship between a person who is seeking help, and who may be vulnerable, and a person who has the skills and knowledge to help. Relationships that involve disparities of power, knowledge and vulnerability require some degree of external oversight and regulation. Traditionally, in medicine, this oversight has taken the form of codes of ethics, starting with the Hippocratic Corpus. Today, bodies such as the General Medical Council and the Royal Colleges define the standards of good medical practice. Continue reading... The Guardian

Another NHS crisis looms – an inability to analyse data

Another NHS crisis looms – an inability to analyse data The opportunity to use data to improve health and social care is being hampered by a lack of personnel with skills in data science

Public institutions such as the National Health Service increasingly want—and are expected—to base their actions on nationally agreed standards, rather than anecdote. The collection and analysis of data, when done responsibly and in a trusted manner, has the potential to improve treatment and improve the social and economic value of healthcare.

However, the goal of using data to improve the NHS and social care is hampered by a talent gap – a lack of personnel with data analytical skills – that stands in the way of uncovering the rich insights that reside in the NHS’ own data. The NHS is not unique among institutions that are struggling to identify, hire and retain people with data science skills and the ability to apply these. Continue reading... The Guardian

Cost of current cancer treatments are 'unsustainable'

Cost of current cancer treatments are 'unsustainable' Professor Workman, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said pharmaceutical companies have got used to big profit margins. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cancer drugs may be delayed after Brexit, say experts BBC News

Climbdown on NHS conflict of interest rules as doctors told they will not have to declare private earnings

Climbdown on NHS conflict of interest rules as doctors told they will not have to declare private earnings Doctors will not have to declare their private earnings, health officials have ruled, in a climbdown on NHS conflict of interest rules.

Health officials were considering requiring every health service doctor to set out details of all earnings from private work.

But today the board of NHS England agreed that medics will simply have to say when and where they take on such duties - and not on how much they earn from them.

The new rules on conflicts of interest also mean all gifts over £50 have to be declared. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Managing Conflicts of Interest in theNHS: Guidance for staff and organisations NHS England
• NHS England publish new guidelines on tackling conflicts of interest NHS England
• Consultants won’t have to reveal pay for private work The Daily Mail

Delayed discharge: 'It’s not just about the money'

Delayed discharge: 'It’s not just about the money' Sustained concern about the state of adult social care – most recently expressed by Conservative-controlled county councils such as Surrey and Kent – has led the Prime Minister to ask the Cabinet Office to look at options for a more sustainable social care system in the longer term. And with A&E pressures currently in the headlines, it is not surprising that delays in discharging patients who need social care have come under the spotlight. The King's Fund

A&E figures for January 'worst ever', leaked data suggests

A&E figures for January 'worst ever', leaked data suggests Record numbers of patients spent more than four hours in accident and emergency units in England in January, figures leaked to the BBC suggest.

During a difficult winter for the NHS, January appears to be the worst performing month since the four-hour target was introduced.

The figures also suggest record numbers of people waited longer than 12 hours for a hospital bed once seen in A&E.

The BMA said the prime minister could no longer "bury her head in the sand".

And it accused the government of failing to grasp the seriousness of the situation in the NHS.

But a spokesman from the Department of Health said the vast majority of patients were seen and treated quickly, and busy periods in hospitals were supported by an extra £400 million of funding. BBC News

See also:

• 10 charts that show why the NHS is in trouble BBC News
• Keeping up with the matron BBC News
• NHS doctors call on prime minister to increase spending BBC News
• England's A&E units suffered worst performance last month since target was introduced 13 years ago, document suggests The Daily Telegraph
• Hospital trust accused of fiddling A&E wait time figures The Daily Telegraph
• Patients at hospital 'admitted to virtual ward to avoid missing A&E target' The Guardian
• NHS hospitals now have 'corridor nurses' because of overfull A&E departments The Independent

Stranded: Longest hospital delays exposed

Stranded: Longest hospital delays exposed A BBC investigation finds some patients in England face delays of months - and in one case over a year - to leave hospital. BBC News

BMA slams ‘wholly unacceptable’ mental health underfunding

BMA slams ‘wholly unacceptable’ mental health underfunding The BMA has raised concerns about the underfunding of NHS mental health hospitals after claims that the budgets these trusts have shrunk by £150m over the last four years.

Research conducted for the BBC’s Panorama programme by the Health Foundation revealed the fall despite the government’s claims that wider health service funding has increased by £8bn in that time.

A Freedom of Information survey sent to 33 mental health trusts by the Health Foundation as part of its research also found a 50% rise in unexpected mental health deaths at the trusts between 2012-13 and 2015-16. National Health Executive

Isis-linked hackers attack NHS websites to show gruesome Syrian civil war images

Isis-linked hackers attack NHS websites to show gruesome Syrian civil war images Islamist hackers linked to Isis carried out an attack on a series of NHS websites in a cyber-attack exposing serious flaws in security systems meant to protect sensitive information, The Independent has learnt.

Graphic, brutal images of violence from Syria’s war were put up on the sites by a group based in North Africa which declared it was carrying out the electronic raid in retaliation for the West’s aggression in the Middle East.

This is believed to be the first time that an Isis-linked group has carried out a concerted attack on the NHS. The Independent

Blood, S&M and vomit: what it’s really like to be an ambulance driver

Blood, S&M and vomit: what it’s really like to be an ambulance driver The hours are long and stress levels are high. But Kit Wharton, ambulance driver and author of a new memoir, tells Nick Duerden that the job is where he belongs. Just don’t mention Mr Stinky… iNews

Jeremy Hunt to consider merging health regulation bodies

Jeremy Hunt to consider merging health regulation bodies Health secretary to publish consultation paper that could lead to medical professions no longer having their own dedicated regulators

Ministers are considering a controversial shake-up of health regulation that could see nine bodies merged into one new super-watchdog covering around a million health professionals.

Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is preparing to publish a consultation paper that could lead to the medical and nursing professions no longer having their own dedicated disciplinary bodies. Continue reading... The Guardian

What can be done to tackle the youth mental health treatment gap? | Paul Burstow

What can be done to tackle the youth mental health treatment gap? | Paul Burstow Too few children and young people are getting the care they need. A new commission at Birmingham university aims to address the problem

By 2020 one in three teenagers will have access to cancer treatment in England. Think about that: only one in three. There would be an outcry. It would be scandalous, horrifying, unacceptable.

It is not true, however. Unless you delete the word “cancer” and insert “mental health”, and then it is.

Related: Growing crisis in children and young people's mental health demands action

Our ambition is to look beyond treatment and containment towards prevention and early intervention. Continue reading... The Guardian

Elderly people are forced to wait up to one year for care

Elderly people are forced to wait up to one year for care Elderly people who are told they qualify for home care are having to wait up to a year for their first visit from a carer, shocking figures revealed last night.

A survey of councils revealed many vulnerable people routinely face delays of more than six months before they get the help they need with tasks such as washing, dressing, cleaning and cooking.

Under one authority, the delay for delivery of an adult social care package stretched to longer than a year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Reality Check: Who gets social care and who pays for it? BBC News
• Elderly left to wait a year for the care needed, investigation finds The Daily Telegraph
• The Guardian view on social care: all councils need more cash | Editorial The Guardian
• Investigation reveals the desperate wait elderly and vulnerable face for social care ITV News

Screen all new mothers for depression after giving birth, says watchdog

Screen all new mothers for depression after giving birth, says watchdog Doctors should screen all mothers for depression and anxiety in the weeks after giving birth, according to the NHS advisory body.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said staff are too often confusing symptoms of mental health disorders, such as sleep disruption and changes to appetite, with “what is considered normal” in postnatal women.

The body is calling on GPs to routinely assess the psychological state of all women who have recently given birth to prevent conditions being missed. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NICE seeks to support new mothers with mental health problems National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Northamptonshire welcomes new nurse associate students

Northamptonshire welcomes new nurse associate students Northamptonshire has welcomed a group of history-making students who are leading the way in shaping the nursing workforce of the future. 38 nurse associate students have been recruited to a landmark pilot scheme, and the group began their studies last week at the University of Northampton. Northampton General Hospital

Health and social care funding explained

Health and social care funding explained The UK currently spends over £140bn a year on public provision of health and over £20bn on social care. But how does that break down and how has spending changed over time? The Health Foundation

Health and social care integration

Health and social care integration The National Audit Office warns that progress with integration of health and social care has, to date, been slower and less successful than envisaged and has not delivered all of the expected benefits for patients, the NHS or local authorities. As a result, the government’s plan for integrated health and social care services across England by 2020 is at significant risk.

In the face of increased demand for care and constrained finances, while the Better Care Fund, the principal integration initiative, has improved joint working, it has not yet achieved its potential. The Fund has not achieved the expected value for money, in terms of savings, outcomes for patients or reduced hospital activity, from the £5.3 billion spent through the Fund in 2015-16.

See also:

• Social care fund 'fails to reduce pressure on hospital beds' BBC News
• How health bosses spent £5bn on NHS plan to treat OAPs The Daily Mail

What's behind delayed transfers of care?

What's behind delayed transfers of care? The NHS is under significant pressure this winter. The new year saw daily newspaper headlines on the winter crisis, while high rates of bed occupancy and cuts to social care are both causing extra pressures to build up across the NHS.

Underlying all of this is the growing number of patients who are ready to leave hospital but can’t do so without extra support. Delayed transfers of care (DTOCs), often (rather insultingly) called ‘bed-blocking’ by the media, have been steadily on the rise in recent years, with the numbers of days patients are delayed reaching record levels month after month. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Bed-blocking three times worse than NHS figures show – study The Guardian
• When my mum became a ‘bed blocker’, I saw the crisis in care for older people The Guardian

State of maternity services report 2016

State of maternity services report 2016 This annual report examines the statistics and figures around maternity services in order to identify emerging issues and trends. This year's report identifies a demographic change in both patients and workforce. The number of midwives under 50 has fallen and the report highlights concerns around a future shortfall of midwives in the UK's workforce. Royal College of Midwives

Our fight to end Female Genital Mutilation must go on – Professor Jane Cummings

Our fight to end Female Genital Mutilation must go on – Professor Jane Cummings The Chief Nursing Officer for England talks about the efforts of the NHS to tackle FGM. Each year we mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – but why is this still needed? NHS England

Under pressure: One hospital's struggle to find free beds

Under pressure: One hospital's struggle to find free beds The BBC's Ed Thomas reports from the Royal Blackburn Hospital - where staff struggle daily to find available patient beds. BBC News

See also:

• Doing surgery while answering calls: An NHS surgeon's struggles BBC News

The hospital that helps patients stay at home

The hospital that helps patients stay at home Wakefield Hospital is seen as a pioneer in helping more patients stay at home and saving the NHS money. BBC News

E-cigs far safer than smoking, shows long-term research

E-cigs far safer than smoking, shows long-term research People who swapped their conventional cigarettes for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or e-cigarettes had lower levels of carcinogens in their bodies after 6 months than those who continued to smoke cigarettes, research published in Annals of Internal Medicine has shown. Experts from Cancer Research UK, which funded the study*, said the findings showed that e-cigarettes could help people quit smoking safely, cutting tobacco-related deaths in the process, as they deliver similar amounts of nicotine to cigarettes with minimal long-term effects on their health. OnMedica

GP consultations too short for complex cases, says doctors' leader

GP consultations too short for complex cases, says doctors' leader Doctors ‘ridiculously overworked’ in UK, where study shows amount of time spent with patients is lowest in developed world

The length of GP consultations is too short for many people with complex health needs because doctors are “ridiculously overworked”, according to the Royal College of GPs.

The average consultation length of 10 minutes in the UK – thought to be the shortest in the developed world – was “crazy” said the RCGP president, Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• RCGP rejects fees for fast-track GP access and demands longer appointments GP Online
• GPs in catch-22 over appointment length and rising demand OnMedica

NHS Hospitals are warned about unannounced spot-checks

NHS Hospitals are warned about unannounced spot-checks Health experts at Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said hospitals are beefing up cleaning rounds in the run-up to an inspection, and then letting standards slip. The Daily Mail

Extra cash for GPs to identify overseas patients who are not eligible for free NHS treatment

Extra cash for GPs to identify overseas patients who are not eligible for free NHS treatment GPs will be given extra cash to help identify overseas patients as part of a crackdown on “health tourism”.

Family doctors will be required to establish whether or not patients are eligible for free care, and to pass details to hospitals before any treatment is booked, under changes to the GP contract.

The British Medical Association has repeatedly insisted that doctors should not be treated as “border guards”.

Last night the union said new deal agreed with the Government - which asks patients to “self-declare” their residency status - meant GPs would avoid such duties. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Overseas patient checks could damage trust, warns GP leader GP Online

A third of Northamptonshire's elderly have not had flu jab

A third of Northamptonshire's elderly have not had flu jab Nearly a third of over-65s in Northamptonshire are not protected against the flu.

A report by NHS England says nearly 40,000 over-65s in the county did not claim their free winter flu jab by the end of 2016. NHS England is urging the people of the county to make sure older friends and relatives claim their jab and stay protected against flu this winter. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hospital bosses issue warning over A&E after latest figures are released

Hospital bosses issue warning over A&E after latest figures are released More than 2,000 patients were seen at Northampton General Hospital's A&E department in January, new figures have revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering struggles with radiology backlog after IT deployment

Kettering struggles with radiology backlog after IT deployment A Midlands regional digital radiology service is being blamed for a massive reporting backlog that has harmed at least one patient.

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says thousands of reports has been delayed since a new radiology and PACs system was deployed in June, 2016.

In its board papers, the trust said the backlog in CT and MRI scans had led to 68 cases of potential patient harm. So far, the trust had identified one confirmed case where the delay has caused patient harm. Digital Health

The economics of health inequality in the English NHS: the long view

The economics of health inequality in the English NHS: the long view This paper provides a historical overview of health inequality policy in England and how government policy and academic research has evolved over time in response to shifts in socioeconomic inequalities. Centre for Health Economics

'Trapped': Thousands call Childline for mental health help

'Trapped': Thousands call Childline for mental health help More than 50,000 sought mental health advice in 2016 - with girls far likelier to call than boys. BBC News

See also:

• Almost two-thirds of children worry 'all the time' BBC News

Is a 'seven-day NHS' feasible?

Is a 'seven-day NHS' feasible? The "seven-day NHS" was a key pledge of former Prime Minister David Cameron, and has been taken on by Theresa May.

Her government envisages people having access to local GPs seven days a week. It also wants patients to receive the same level of urgent and emergency care in hospitals in England at weekends, as on Mondays to Fridays.

But is this feasible? BBC News

NHS week: Nine in 10 hospitals 'overcrowded' this winter

NHS week: Nine in 10 hospitals 'overcrowded' this winter Analysis shows most hospitals have too many patients on wards, risking infections and delays in care. BBC News

See also:

• NHS gives BBC exclusive access to A&E BBC News
• NHS week: What the NHS does for you BBC News
• NHS week: What's for the chop where you live? BBC News
• NHS Health Check: Which part of the UK is doing the best? BBC News
• NHS week: How the system clogs up BBC News
• NHS Health Check: Voices from the NHS frontline BBC News
• NHS Health Check: 'How NHS changed our lives' BBC News
• Life on an NHS waiting list: Peter's story BBC News
• NHS Health Check: Short GP consultations crazy, say GPs BBC News

NHS treats or discovers Female Genital Mutilation 'every hour'

NHS treats or discovers Female Genital Mutilation 'every hour' A new case of female genital mutilation (FGM) is either discovered or treated at a medical appointment in England every hour, a charity has said.

Plan International UK said statistics provided by NHS Digital showed that between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, there were 8,656 attendances where FGM was identified or a procedure for FGM was undertaken. This represents an average of 23.7 attendances per day, or one attendance every 60.7 minutes. OnMedica

Theresa May urged to take ‘tangible action’ on mental health as unexpected deaths rise 50% in three years

Theresa May urged to take ‘tangible action’ on mental health as unexpected deaths rise 50% in three years Theresa May must match her promise to end the stigma around mental health problems with “tangible action”, the head of Labour’s mental health campaign has said.

Calls for the Government to honour its pledges came as it emerged the number of unexpected patient deaths reported by mental health trusts in England has risen by 50 per cent in three years. The Independent

The Guardian view on the NHS: more cash, less dog-whistling needed | Editorial

The Guardian view on the NHS: more cash, less dog-whistling needed | Editorial In launching an ugly offensive on overseas patients, the British government is trying to deflect attention from a funding crisis of its own making

Another week, another dreadful story about patients suffering at the hands of our increasingly cash-strapped NHS and care system. This time it was Iris Sibley, an 89-year-old woman kept isolated on a hospital ward for six months, despite being well enough to be discharged, because of a failure to find a suitable nursing home place. The result: not just huge financial expense for the NHS, but great human cost in distress and anxiety for Iris and her family. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The NHS requires desperate reform and a Health Secretary who is able to carry it out The Independent

Sobbing teenagers, angry staff and threats: my week in NHS payroll

Sobbing teenagers, angry staff and threats: my week in NHS payroll Being personally responsible for the distribution of millions of pounds of public money brings many challenges

I arrive at my desk just as our manager approaches a colleague suffering from back pain and asks how she’s doing. She replies that she is in a lot of pain. Our manager responds: “I’m not interested; I’m asking if you’re going to meet your deadline. If you don’t complete your work by 10am you can explain to 5,000 people that they haven’t been paid due to your failure to do your job properly.” Continue reading... The Guardian

Maternity crisis looms over tide of retiring staff: Third of midwives are aged over 50 as Royal College say an extra 3,500 are needed to cope

Maternity crisis looms over tide of retiring staff: Third of midwives are aged over 50 as Royal College say an extra 3,500 are needed to cope Maternity services are on the brink of a crisis because so many midwives are approaching retirement, healthcare leaders warn.

A third of midwives in England are over the age of 50, around 7,200 in total, including 1,000 who are over 60.

The Royal College of Midwives also says the country needs an extra 3,500 professionals to cope with the rising birthrate. The Daily Mail

Elderly woman occupied an NHS bed for 6 MONTHS

Elderly woman occupied an NHS bed for 6 MONTHS Iris Sibley, 89, had been taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary last June after she suffered a fall at her care home. It took health officials until January 4 to find her a suitable nursing home. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The long wait BBC News
• Woman, 89, trapped on NHS ward for six months at cost of £80k as place in nursing home could not be found The Daily Telegraph
• Woman, 89, trapped in hospital for six months despite being fit to leave The Guardian
• 'Somebody has to admit the system is broken': The 89-year-old woman who sums up the NHS crisis The Independent

Every NHS trust to charge health tourists 'upfront' under law change

Every NHS trust to charge health tourists 'upfront' under law change Every NHS trust will have to charge foreign patients “upfront” unless they can prove they are eligible for non-urgent care, Jeremy Hunt has announced.

The Health Secretary said the law would be changed from April to ensure that overseas patients made a “fair contribution” to healthcare they received.

The move means anyone flying to the UK for non-urgent treatment such as a hip operation or cataract removal could now be turned away unless they agree to pay the NHS bill. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Reality Check: How much could NHS recover from foreign patients? BBC News
• Upfront charges for NHS 'health tourists' in England BBC News
• GPs could be forced to report patients' immigration status in NHS charging scheme GP Online
• BMA says foreign patient crackdown 'unworkable' OnMedica

Baby should be vaccinated against infections that can lead to meningitis despite mother's opposition, judge rules

Baby should be vaccinated against infections that can lead to meningitis despite mother's opposition, judge rules A baby should be vaccinated against infections that can lead to meningitis despite his mother's opposition, a High Court judge has ruled.

The seven-month-old boy's mother said the Haemophilus Influenza Type b (Hib) vaccine and the pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccine could cause adverse reactions.

But social services staff argued the vaccinations were in the youngster's best interests because it would give him the best chance of protection against life-threatening diseases such as bacterial meningitis, pneumonia and septicaemia. The Daily Telegraph

Northampton General Hospital urges people to seek help with GPs at first signs of illness

Northampton General Hospital urges people to seek help with GPs at first signs of illness During January the emergency department at Northampton General Hospital saw and treated more than 2,000 patients every week and there has been no sign of a let-up.  Around 25 per cent of patients attending at the hospital's emergency department during January required admission for further assessment or treatment. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

What is social prescribing?

What is social prescribing? Social prescribing enables GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Our new explainer looks at whether social prescribing works and how it fits in with wider health and care policy. Read our explainer The King's Fund

One in six A&E departments at risk of closure or downgrade

One in six A&E departments at risk of closure or downgrade As many as 33 casualty departments across the UK could be lost by 2021 in an attempt to save £22bn from the NHS’s budget. One in six A&E departments face being closed or downgraded in the next four years, according to an analysis of NHS proposals.
About 33 casualty departments in hospitals in 23 areas of the UK are facing either complete closure or being replaced with minor injuries units. The Guardian

Unexpected mental health deaths up 50% in three years

Unexpected mental health deaths up 50% in three years The number of unexpected patient deaths reported by England's mental health trusts has risen by almost 50% in three years, figures suggest.
The findings, for the BBC's Panorama programme, are based on FOI results from half of mental health trusts. Unexpected deaths include death by suicide, neglect and misadventure.
The Department of Health said the increase was "expected" because of changes to the way deaths were recorded and investigated. BBC News

One in 14 on hospital op waiting list as pressures grow

One in 14 on hospital op waiting list as pressures grow The number of people facing "long waits" for hospital treatment in England has more than doubled in the past four years, figures show. Patients needing routine care such as knee and hip replacements are meant to be treated in 18 weeks under NHS rules.
But the numbers waiting longer than that now top 350,000 - a 163% rise since 2012. There are 3.7 million people in total on the waiting list. BBC News

Former Tory government health adviser joins US firm involved in NHS privatisation

Former Tory government health adviser joins US firm involved in NHS privatisation A former Government health adviser has joined a US firm involved in NHS privatisation – a move campaigners say demonstrates the “wafer-thin partition” between Tory policy makers and the private health industry. Nick Seddon, who was David Cameron’s Special Adviser for Health, became Executive Vice President of Optum just four months after he left his political role in July last year, reported Vice News. On Wednesday, Theresa May told Parliament the NHS “is not for sale and it never will be” in response to concerns the health service could form part of a post-Brexit trade deal between America and Britain. The Independent

NHS hospitals to charge overseas patients for non-urgent care

NHS hospitals to charge overseas patients for non-urgent care Jeremy Hunt announces law to be enacted from April that raises prospect of patients having to produce passports or other ID. Hospitals will be required by law to check whether patients are eligible for free care on the NHS from April onwards, the health secretary has announced.
The rule raises the prospect of patients having to produce their passports and other identity documents before receiving most kinds of treatment as the government aims to claw back £500m a year. Patients from overseas will also be billed in advance for all non-urgent care as part of a government clampdown on the cost of overseas visitors using the service.
Related: I’m a doctor, not a gatekeeper turning ‘health tourists’ away | Rachel Clarke  The Guardian

Private ambulances increasingly used to respond to 999 calls

Private ambulances increasingly used to respond to 999 calls Figures for ambulance trusts in England showing sharp rise in spending on private operators add to concerns over NHS crisis. Ambulance services are increasingly calling in private firms to respond to 999 calls in the latest sign that NHS care providers are struggling to cope with the sharply rising number of patients who need urgent medical attention.
The London ambulance service (LAS) has had the biggest increase among England’s 10 regional ambulance trusts. The amount it spent on private ambulance providers soared from £700,000 in 2011 to £10.1m last year, a thirteen-fold increase. Continue reading...  The Guardian

Record numbers of cancer patients using crowdfunding to pay for private treatment not available on NHS

Record numbers of cancer patients using crowdfunding to pay for private treatment not available on NHS The number of cancer patients turning to crowdfunding to pay for treatments not available on the NHS has soared, online donation platform JustGiving said. Cancer patients and their loved ones launched 2,348 appeals on the website last year compared to 304 in 2015 - a seven-fold increase, the figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live reveal.
The fundraisers generated £4,670,143 to help pay for private medical treatment at clinics in the UK and abroad, a significant rise from the £530,519 raised in 2015. The Telegraph