Collection: Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) Alcohol use has health and social consequences borne by individuals, their families, and the wider community.
Reducing harmful drinking is one of seven priority areas that Public Health England is focusing efforts on securing improvement.
The Department of Health commissioned PHE to produce an evidence review of the public health burden of alcohol, published in December 2016.
The local alcohol profiles have been designed to provide information for local government, health organisations, commissioners and other agencies to monitor:
the impact of alcohol on local communities
services and initiatives that have been put in place to prevent and reduce the harmful impact of alcohol
The data is updated once per quarter.
View the Local Alcohol Profiles for England. Public Health England
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
Hospital winter pressures: how did NHS trusts perform in 2016/17?
Hospital winter pressures: how did NHS trusts perform in 2016/17? This briefing examines the performance of the NHS over the three peak winter months covering December 2016 to February 2017. The analysis finds that the number of temporary beds opened to cope with demand on A&E units in the busiest part of this winter was equivalent to eight additional hospitals. The briefing calls for a formal review of how the NHS manages winter pressures, with a focus on the ring-fencing of winter funding and the impact of cancelling non-urgent operations. NHS Providers
Dying from inequality: socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour
Dying from inequality: socioeconomic disadvantage and suicidal behaviour This report links higher risk of suicide with inequality calls for greater awareness of the risks of suicide and for direct support to those with unstable employment, insecure housing, low income or in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. Samaritans
Latest experimental statistics about female genital mutilation published
Latest experimental statistics about female genital mutilation published New official figures published provide experimental statistics on female genital mutilation (FGM) in England, from October 2016 to December 2016. NHS Digital
Ebola vaccine tested on humans in UK trials
Ebola vaccine tested on humans in UK trials Researchers in UK are currently part of a worldwide effort to develop a vaccine for Ebola, so that it’s ready should another outbreak occur. BBC News
NHS to revamp 111 helpline after sustained criticism of service
NHS to revamp 111 helpline after sustained criticism of service More callers will get chance to health professionals under changes to be phased in across England from next month
The NHS is to revamp its heavily criticised 111 telephone helpline to ensure that many more people get to discuss their illness with a nurse, doctor or other health professional rather than a call handler.
GPs and mental health health nurses will also start to play key roles after the overhaul, which is intended to improve public confidence in 111 so that fewer patients visit A&E or a GP’s surgery. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS is to revamp its heavily criticised 111 telephone helpline to ensure that many more people get to discuss their illness with a nurse, doctor or other health professional rather than a call handler.
GPs and mental health health nurses will also start to play key roles after the overhaul, which is intended to improve public confidence in 111 so that fewer patients visit A&E or a GP’s surgery. Continue reading... The Guardian
Smoking numbers hit new low as Britons turn to vaping to help quit cigarettes
Smoking numbers hit new low as Britons turn to vaping to help quit cigarettes New data reveals a significant decline in number of smokers over last five years, while the daily number of cigarettes consumed has also fallen
The number of smokers in Britain has reached its lowest point since records began in 1974, according to new data, while more than a million people say they are using e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 17.2% of adults in the UK smoked in 2015, down from 20.1% in 2010. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
The number of smokers in Britain has reached its lowest point since records began in 1974, according to new data, while more than a million people say they are using e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 17.2% of adults in the UK smoked in 2015, down from 20.1% in 2010. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Google can detect tumours with a 92% accuracy rate
Google can detect tumours with a 92% accuracy rate DeepMind is on the verge of becoming a much-needed medical breakthrough. Owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company, it claims it can detect 92.4 per cent of tumours it scans for. The Daily Mail
NHS chief 'pushed out' after exposing a sex ring involving consultants and doctors, hospital staff say
NHS chief 'pushed out' after exposing a sex ring involving consultants and doctors, hospital staff say The NHS's longest serving chief executive has been “pushed out” of his job after he suspended senior consultants who used hospital premises to have sex, according to hospital insiders.
Sir Leonard Fenwick, Newcastle and Tyne Hospital Trust's chief executive, was put on "extended leave" from the hospital under mysterious circumstances earlier this year, a decision which angered a number of staff and governors. The Daily Telegraph
Sir Leonard Fenwick, Newcastle and Tyne Hospital Trust's chief executive, was put on "extended leave" from the hospital under mysterious circumstances earlier this year, a decision which angered a number of staff and governors. The Daily Telegraph
Patients are not priority, warn half of staff at scandal ambulance service
Patients are not priority, warn half of staff at scandal ambulance service Almost half of staff at a scandal-hit ambulance trust do not think their patients are put first, with almost one quarter too frightened to raise safety concerns with managers, research shows.
The NHS staff survey shows that South East Coast Ambulance trust is the worst in the country across a host of rankings.
The trust has been at the centre of a string of scandals, with at least two call handlers saying they were driven to attempt suicide as a result of an “endemic culture of bullying”.
Several claimed they were left under such pressure they could not concentrate on emergency calls, impairing their responses to the public. The Daily Telegraph
The NHS staff survey shows that South East Coast Ambulance trust is the worst in the country across a host of rankings.
The trust has been at the centre of a string of scandals, with at least two call handlers saying they were driven to attempt suicide as a result of an “endemic culture of bullying”.
Several claimed they were left under such pressure they could not concentrate on emergency calls, impairing their responses to the public. The Daily Telegraph
Numbers missing two-month cancer treatment target window doubles amid warnings A&E crisis is sucking away resources
Numbers missing two-month cancer treatment target window doubles amid warnings A&E crisis is sucking away resources The number of NHS cancer patients waiting longer than the crucial two-month target window has nearly doubled in the last five years, a new report reveals.
Macmillan Cancer support have warned that patients are dying because overrun A&E departments are draining the hospital resources needed to give them the prompt treatment they need.
One in six people diagnosed with the disease began treatment after the aimed-for 62 days in 2016, according to the charity, making it the third consecutive year in which the health service failed to keep pace with rising demand. The Daily Telegraph
Macmillan Cancer support have warned that patients are dying because overrun A&E departments are draining the hospital resources needed to give them the prompt treatment they need.
One in six people diagnosed with the disease began treatment after the aimed-for 62 days in 2016, according to the charity, making it the third consecutive year in which the health service failed to keep pace with rising demand. The Daily Telegraph
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Hospital staff in Northampton await decision on cancelled salary rise
Hospital staff in Northampton await decision on cancelled salary rise Staff at a St Andrews Hospital are awaiting a decision on whether their postponed pay rises will be reinstated. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Pupils 'suffering in silence' with mental health issues, University of Northampton expert warns
Pupils 'suffering in silence' with mental health issues, University of Northampton expert warns Schools must put the mental health of their pupils at the top of their agenda, a lecturer at the University of Northampton said in a new report for the Government. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Adult social care: a pre-budget report
Adult social care: a pre-budget report This report calls on the Chancellor to bring forward £1.5bn funding from the improved Better Care Fund to make up for the shortfall in adult social care funding. The report also calls on the government to commit to closing the funding gap for the rest of parliament through to 2020 and highlights the urgent need for a cross-party review on the provision and funding of social care in the long-term. House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee
Government urged to tackle 999 ambulance abuse callers
Government urged to tackle 999 ambulance abuse callers Calls have been made for harsher penalties to protect ambulance control room workers from abusive callers.
Figures obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws revealed hundreds of verbal attacks in the past three years including threats to kill, racist and sexual slurs.
The union Unison has urged the government to bring in tougher punishments to deter abusive callers.
The Home Office said sufficient laws were already in place. BBC News
Figures obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws revealed hundreds of verbal attacks in the past three years including threats to kill, racist and sexual slurs.
The union Unison has urged the government to bring in tougher punishments to deter abusive callers.
The Home Office said sufficient laws were already in place. BBC News
Parents 'should decide' care of baby
Parents 'should decide' care of baby Connie Yates and Chris Gard are challenging doctors in court to keep their son Charlie on life support. BBC News
General practice could be vertically integrated into new accountable care systems, says Stevens
General practice could be vertically integrated into new accountable care systems, says Stevens Accountable care organisations (ACOs) being developed in parts of the NHS will see stronger integration of primary and secondary care under unified leaderships, Simon Stevens has said. GP Online
NHS mental health trust to be prosecuted amid claims it failed to offer safe care
NHS mental health trust to be prosecuted amid claims it failed to offer safe care Southern Health is first NHS provider after Mid Staffs scandal to be taken to court after patient fell from roof at Melbury Lodge, Winchester
A mental health trust is to be the first NHS provider to be prosecuted under legislation brought in after the Mid Staffs scandal.
Southern Health NHS foundation trust is being taken to court after a patient sustained serious injuries during a fall from a low roof at Melbury Lodge, Royal Hampshire county hospital, Winchester, in December 2015. Continue reading... The Guardian
A mental health trust is to be the first NHS provider to be prosecuted under legislation brought in after the Mid Staffs scandal.
Southern Health NHS foundation trust is being taken to court after a patient sustained serious injuries during a fall from a low roof at Melbury Lodge, Royal Hampshire county hospital, Winchester, in December 2015. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS manager who earned £1m jailed for fabricating qualifications
NHS manager who earned £1m jailed for fabricating qualifications Jon Andrewes, 63, worked for more than a decade in various senior health jobs across south-west England
A former probation officer who earned more than £1m working in very senior NHS management roles after he fabricated qualifications has been jailed for two years.
Jon Andrewes, 63, claimed to have two PhDs and a master’s degree but only had a higher education diploma in social work and a teaching qualification. He also lied over his work history, falsely claiming to have worked in the Home Office. Continue reading... The Guardian
A former probation officer who earned more than £1m working in very senior NHS management roles after he fabricated qualifications has been jailed for two years.
Jon Andrewes, 63, claimed to have two PhDs and a master’s degree but only had a higher education diploma in social work and a teaching qualification. He also lied over his work history, falsely claiming to have worked in the Home Office. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS forced to provide 4,500 extra beds a day
NHS forced to provide 4,500 extra beds a day NHS Providers reveals how hospitals avoided a ‘full-blown crisis’ this winter by creating the equivalent of more than eight extra hospitals
Hospitals had to provide 4,500 extra beds a day at the height of the pressures this winter to avoid “a full-blown crisis”, NHS bosses have revealed.
That is the equivalent of creating more than eight extra hospitals to cope with unprecedented demand in recent months when large numbers of patients were stuck on trolleys and in the back of ambulances outside A&E units. Continue reading... The Guardian
Hospitals had to provide 4,500 extra beds a day at the height of the pressures this winter to avoid “a full-blown crisis”, NHS bosses have revealed.
That is the equivalent of creating more than eight extra hospitals to cope with unprecedented demand in recent months when large numbers of patients were stuck on trolleys and in the back of ambulances outside A&E units. Continue reading... The Guardian
Thousands pained by poor artificial limbs from the NHS
Thousands pained by poor artificial limbs from the NHS Ten years ago, Victoria Marks from Cornwall had to amputate one of her legs. Since then the mother of two has been fitted with 'dozens' of prostheses, all costing £5,000. Tired of the constant pain, she gave up. The Daily Mail
NHS trust to start using Uber for non-emergency patients
NHS trust to start using Uber for non-emergency patients Patients will be able to use Uber for journeys including appointments and generally getting out-and-about when they might otherwise be housebound or reliant on family and friends. The Daily Mail
Monday, 6 March 2017
Is a ‘death tax’ for social care about to be announced?
Is a ‘death tax’ for social care about to be announced? In 1972, Richard Nixon visited the People’s Republic of China, reversing years of US policy. His anti-communist credentials enabled him to do something other politicians shied away from for fear of being labelled soft on communism. Are we about to see a ‘Nixon goes to China’ moment for social care? One that will see David Cameron, George Osborne and Andrew Lansley forced to eat a red rose?
Well, just possibly. Reports suggest that Theresa May and Philip Hammond are looking at funding at least some social care costs by making a claim on people’s estates once they have died – a form of inheritance tax, or, as the Conservatives usually dub it, a ‘death tax’. The King's Fund
Well, just possibly. Reports suggest that Theresa May and Philip Hammond are looking at funding at least some social care costs by making a claim on people’s estates once they have died – a form of inheritance tax, or, as the Conservatives usually dub it, a ‘death tax’. The King's Fund
‘The social care system is on its knees’
‘The social care system is on its knees’ Commenting on the Communities and Local Government Committee’s pre-Budget report on adult social care, Richard Humphries, Senior Policy Fellow at The King’s Fund, said: ‘The Committee’s report adds to the overwhelming evidence that the social care system is on its knees. We estimate that the sector faces a funding gap of around £2 billion next year, so it is essential the Chancellor addresses this in next week’s Budget.
‘Additional funding in the Budget would provide welcome relief for older and disabled people, their families and carers who are being let down by the current system – and for hard-pressed councils and providers struggling to keep the system afloat. But without long-term reform of social care funding, this is like pouring water into a leaking bucket. The King's Fund
‘Additional funding in the Budget would provide welcome relief for older and disabled people, their families and carers who are being let down by the current system – and for hard-pressed councils and providers struggling to keep the system afloat. But without long-term reform of social care funding, this is like pouring water into a leaking bucket. The King's Fund
Tens of thousands march against 'hospital cuts'
Tens of thousands march against 'hospital cuts' Tens of thousands of people - including NHS workers, campaigners and union representatives - have marched in London to protest against "yet more austerity" in the health service.
Protesters on the #OurNHS march wanted to draw attention to plans which could see hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England cut back.
Union leaders say many NHS services "are on their knees".
The Department of Health says it is investing an extra £4bn in the NHS.
Organisers say that "at least 250,000" people took part in the march, which began in Tavistock Square and ended in Westminster, where speakers including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd. BBC News
See also:
Protesters on the #OurNHS march wanted to draw attention to plans which could see hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England cut back.
Union leaders say many NHS services "are on their knees".
The Department of Health says it is investing an extra £4bn in the NHS.
Organisers say that "at least 250,000" people took part in the march, which began in Tavistock Square and ended in Westminster, where speakers including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed the crowd. BBC News
See also:
- NHS march: Protesters tell their stories BBC News
- Jeremy Corbyn: NHS crisis 'was made in Downing Street' The Daily Telegraph
- Stop pretending we can’t afford the NHS: that’s the message of our march today The Guardian
WHO: Air pollution linked to 600,000 child deaths
WHO: Air pollution linked to 600,000 child deaths The director general of the World Health Organization has said air pollution is "one of the most pernicious threats" facing global public health today and is on a much bigger scale than HIV or Ebola.
Dr Margaret Chan told the Today programme that poor air quality was having a disproportionate impact on the young. BBC News
Dr Margaret Chan told the Today programme that poor air quality was having a disproportionate impact on the young. BBC News
Number of mental health patients treated hundreds of miles from home hits new high
Number of mental health patients treated hundreds of miles from home hits new high Mental health services for the most seriously ill patients are in “crisis”, experts have warned, with increasing numbers of people being sent hundreds of miles away from home to receive treatment - despite government promises to end the practice.
An analysis of official statistics shows mental health patients in England were sent for “out-of-area” treatment on 2,037 occasions in the four months to January 2017 alone. More patients were in treatment away from their home area in January than at any point since the data began being collected last year. The Independent
An analysis of official statistics shows mental health patients in England were sent for “out-of-area” treatment on 2,037 occasions in the four months to January 2017 alone. More patients were in treatment away from their home area in January than at any point since the data began being collected last year. The Independent
BMA calls for extra £10bn a year for NHS in Hammond's budget
BMA calls for extra £10bn a year for NHS in Hammond's budget Increase would bring health spending in line with 10 leading economies in Europe as proportion of GDP, says doctors union
The British Medical Association has urged the government to increase health spending by £10bn a year to bring funding into line with other leading European economies and shore up the NHS.
The union for doctors said increasing health spending to a proportion of GDP that matched that of the 10 leading economies across Europe could pay for at least 35,000 extra beds a day and several thousand more GPs. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
The British Medical Association has urged the government to increase health spending by £10bn a year to bring funding into line with other leading European economies and shore up the NHS.
The union for doctors said increasing health spending to a proportion of GDP that matched that of the 10 leading economies across Europe could pay for at least 35,000 extra beds a day and several thousand more GPs. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Emergency £1.5bn funding for social care is needed, MPs tell chancellor
Emergency £1.5bn funding for social care is needed, MPs tell chancellor Communities and local government committee calls on Philip Hammond to plug gaps in budgets
The chancellor should commit an extra £1.5bn in immediate funding for social care in next week’s budget, according to a cross-party committee of MPs who say there is an urgent need for a wider review of the way the system is financed.
The communities and local government committee, which has been taking evidence on the subject for a wider report into adult social care to be published next month, said Philip Hammond should take £1.5bn from the better care fund to plug gaps in the coming financial year. The fund is a £5.3bn pot of money from government intended to help local authorities keep people out of hospital, covering both healthcare and social care. Continue reading... The Guardian
The chancellor should commit an extra £1.5bn in immediate funding for social care in next week’s budget, according to a cross-party committee of MPs who say there is an urgent need for a wider review of the way the system is financed.
The communities and local government committee, which has been taking evidence on the subject for a wider report into adult social care to be published next month, said Philip Hammond should take £1.5bn from the better care fund to plug gaps in the coming financial year. The fund is a £5.3bn pot of money from government intended to help local authorities keep people out of hospital, covering both healthcare and social care. Continue reading... The Guardian
For the vulnerable, there’s no place like home
For the vulnerable, there’s no place like home Proposed funding cuts to supported housing in the community show a damaging lack of joined-up thinking on health and social care
Imagine this. You’ve suffered a debilitating mental illness, you’re admitted to hospital and, after weeks or months of treatment, you’re finally deemed stable enough to go home. Only, you can’t – the home you need in the community is not available.
As a psychiatrist, this is a situation I and many others around the country encounter almost daily. Even when patients are ready to leave hospital, a notable number don’t have the specialist supported housing they need to take that step.
Money can be spent more efficiently when people are in the right setting for their level of need Continue reading... The Guardian
Imagine this. You’ve suffered a debilitating mental illness, you’re admitted to hospital and, after weeks or months of treatment, you’re finally deemed stable enough to go home. Only, you can’t – the home you need in the community is not available.
As a psychiatrist, this is a situation I and many others around the country encounter almost daily. Even when patients are ready to leave hospital, a notable number don’t have the specialist supported housing they need to take that step.
Money can be spent more efficiently when people are in the right setting for their level of need Continue reading... The Guardian
Private firms are accused of 'unethical' health tests
Private firms are accused of 'unethical' health tests Gullible patients are being encouraged to take needless and expensive private medical tests, the government has warned. The tests can cost up to £2000 and include full MRI scans. The Daily Mail
More than 600 health quango chiefs on six figure salaries amid cash crisis
More than 600 health quango chiefs on six figure salaries amid cash crisis More than 600 NHS quango chiefs are now on six-figure salaries, with a doubling in the number earning more than the Prime Minister in just three years, new figures show.
Many of the highest earners have made repeated demands on the Government to increase NHS funding as it battles against its worst financial deficit in history.
But figures uncovered by the Telegraph, show that the nine main health quangos are now employing 628 officials on salaries of at least £100,000. The Daily Telegraph
Many of the highest earners have made repeated demands on the Government to increase NHS funding as it battles against its worst financial deficit in history.
But figures uncovered by the Telegraph, show that the nine main health quangos are now employing 628 officials on salaries of at least £100,000. The Daily Telegraph
Hospital smoking ban forces patients onto dangerous roads, says trust
Hospital smoking ban forces patients onto dangerous roads, says trust An NHS hospital is refusing to ban smoking on its premises because it believes doing so would put patients in danger of speeding vehicles.
The bosses of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals in Dorset are defending their use of designated smoking areas despite pressure from Government health officials.
The trust said it had previously tried a ban of smoking on its grounds, but that this had only forced smokers dangerously close to the adjacent main road where cars and lorries frequently travel at 50 mph. The Daily Telegraph
The bosses of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals in Dorset are defending their use of designated smoking areas despite pressure from Government health officials.
The trust said it had previously tried a ban of smoking on its grounds, but that this had only forced smokers dangerously close to the adjacent main road where cars and lorries frequently travel at 50 mph. The Daily Telegraph
People with a learning disability are treated as second-class citizens – it has to stop now
People with a learning disability are treated as second-class citizens – it has to stop now Institutions where people with a learning disability are kept out of sight and out of mind belong in a different century. Yet they still exist and are where thousands of people with a learning disability spend year after year, often detained under the Mental Health Act, often hundreds of miles from their families, at increased risk of abuse and neglect
Wednesday's Dispatches programme echoed the horror of BBC Panorama’s 2011 investigation into the abuse at Winterbourne View, showing the ongoing failure of the government and NHS to deliver long promised changes to the way people with a learning disability are supported. The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday's Dispatches programme echoed the horror of BBC Panorama’s 2011 investigation into the abuse at Winterbourne View, showing the ongoing failure of the government and NHS to deliver long promised changes to the way people with a learning disability are supported. The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 3 March 2017
Revealing Northamptonshire's staffing predicitions would impact on employees' 'mental health' claim bosses
Revealing Northamptonshire's staffing predicitions would impact on employees' 'mental health' claim bosses Despite the county’s five-year NHS savings plans costing £720,000 to produce, health bosses have refused the Chron’s attempts to see predicted staff numbers because it would “impact on the mental health” of employees. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Northampton nurse struck off for trying to use morphine-like drug for period pain
Northampton nurse struck off for trying to use morphine-like drug for period pain A nurse who worked at Northampton General hospital has been struck off after trying to dispense drugs for her own use.
Northampton mental health hospital speaks out after Channel Four documentary
Northampton mental health hospital speaks out after Channel Four documentary Bosses at a Northampton mental health hospital have hit back at a Channel Four documentary in which a former minister said he believed a patient had been treated like a “prisoner”.
The episode of Dispatches last night saw producers interview two ex-patients at St Andrew’s Hospital, following its “requires improvement” Care Quality Commission rating of September 2016. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
See also:
The episode of Dispatches last night saw producers interview two ex-patients at St Andrew’s Hospital, following its “requires improvement” Care Quality Commission rating of September 2016. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
See also:
- Dispatches - Under lock and key (available until 31/3/17) Channel 4
- Northampton MP and mental health charity call for review of St Andrew's following Channel Four documentary Northampton Chronicle and Echo
- Dispatches Investigation Finds Shocking Treatment Of Child Mental Health Patients Huffington Post UK
Sicker patients the main reason for A&E winter pressures
Sicker patients the main reason for A&E winter pressures Sicker patients with more complex conditions are the main reason for worsening performance in A&E departments, according to The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report.
Eighty per cent of NHS finance directors who responded to our latest survey identified higher numbers of patients with severe illnesses and complex health needs as a key reason for the pressures on A&E units, while 70 per cent cited delays in discharging patients from hospital. This contrasts with 27 per cent who pointed to poor access to GPs and 20 per cent who identified shortages of clinical staff as key factors.
The survey also highlights the huge effort made by the NHS to prepare for increased pressure on services during the winter. More than 70 per cent of the trusts surveyed increased their staff, while 80 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) paid for extra resources in primary care. Other common measures included postponing planned treatment, paying private companies to take on NHS work, and paying higher rates to recruit more agency staff. The King's Fund
See also:
Eighty per cent of NHS finance directors who responded to our latest survey identified higher numbers of patients with severe illnesses and complex health needs as a key reason for the pressures on A&E units, while 70 per cent cited delays in discharging patients from hospital. This contrasts with 27 per cent who pointed to poor access to GPs and 20 per cent who identified shortages of clinical staff as key factors.
The survey also highlights the huge effort made by the NHS to prepare for increased pressure on services during the winter. More than 70 per cent of the trusts surveyed increased their staff, while 80 per cent of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) paid for extra resources in primary care. Other common measures included postponing planned treatment, paying private companies to take on NHS work, and paying higher rates to recruit more agency staff. The King's Fund
See also:
- Elective treatment on the back-burner? The King's Fund
The state of care in NHS acute hospitals
The state of care in NHS acute hospitals The state of care in NHS acute hospitals 2014 to 2016 presents findings from our programme of NHS acute comprehensive inspections.
The report captures what we have learned from three years’ worth of inspections. It gives a baseline on quality that is unique in the world – and also shows that it is possible, even in challenging times, to deliver the transformational change that is needed if the NHS is to continue delivering high-quality care into the future.
Most hospitals are delivering good quality care and looking after patients well. Our reports highlighted many examples of how hospitals are improving and continuing to improve the quality of care they offer, even though there are constraints. We encourage trusts to follow this good practice to improve their own services.
But we also found that some trusts have blind spots about the quality of care they are delivering in a particular core service, even in some trusts rated good overall.
All hospitals told us that patient safety was their top priority, but too often they did not have an effective safety culture or reliable systems to ensure this. Many of the inefficiencies we saw can be avoided, such as hospital acquired infections, or are caused by poorly coordinated care. Care Quality Commission
The report captures what we have learned from three years’ worth of inspections. It gives a baseline on quality that is unique in the world – and also shows that it is possible, even in challenging times, to deliver the transformational change that is needed if the NHS is to continue delivering high-quality care into the future.
Most hospitals are delivering good quality care and looking after patients well. Our reports highlighted many examples of how hospitals are improving and continuing to improve the quality of care they offer, even though there are constraints. We encourage trusts to follow this good practice to improve their own services.
But we also found that some trusts have blind spots about the quality of care they are delivering in a particular core service, even in some trusts rated good overall.
All hospitals told us that patient safety was their top priority, but too often they did not have an effective safety culture or reliable systems to ensure this. Many of the inefficiencies we saw can be avoided, such as hospital acquired infections, or are caused by poorly coordinated care. Care Quality Commission
See also:
- Four in five hospitals 'not safe enough' in England BBC News
- 80 per cent of hospitals failing patients The Daily Mail
- NHS stands on a burning platform, top CQC inspector warns The Daily Telegraph
- NHS 'standing on burning platform' of outdated acute care model The Guardian
Research and analysis: Universal health visiting service: mandation review
Research and analysis: Universal health visiting service: mandation review The Department of Health commissioned this review following the transfer of commissioning of public health services for children aged 0 to 5 years to local authorities in October 2015.
The review considered the:
The review found widespread support for the regulation of these services to continue and for future arrangements to be considered alongside other regulated public health services. Public Health England
The review considered the:
- impact of this transfer
- support for existing and continued regulation
- evidence of service transformation
- risks to sustainability from a range of perspectives using data from different sources
The review found widespread support for the regulation of these services to continue and for future arrangements to be considered alongside other regulated public health services. Public Health England
Five year forward view for mental health: one year on
Five year forward view for mental health: one year on This report marks the anniversary of the publication of the Five year forward view for mental health. It highlights the progress made in the first year of the programme, and takes a look at the achievements that need to be built upon to deliver next year and beyond. NHS England
Local support for people with a learning disability
Local support for people with a learning disability Good progress has been made by the Department of Health and NHS England in setting up a programme to close hospital beds for people with a learning disability, but the programme is not yet on track to achieve value for money, the National Audit Office has found.
Delivering an outcomes-based NHS: creating the right conditions
Delivering an outcomes-based NHS: creating the right conditions This briefing summarises a seminar given by Dr Nicholas Hicks, the co-founder and chief executive of Capitated Outcomes-Based Incentivised Care (COBIC). The briefing describes COBIC's outcomes-centred approach that has been adopted by NHS services across England and how it brings together commissioners, providers, other professions, patients and carers. It discusses a case study where COBIC worked with Bedfordshire CCG to improve musculoskeletal care and outcomes, and to decrease costs. Office of Health Economics
NHS 'overcharged' by drug makers' non-compete deal, says CMA
NHS 'overcharged' by drug makers' non-compete deal, says CMA Two pharmaceutical firms have been accused of pushing up the price of a "lifesaving" NHS drug by striking a deal not to compete with each other.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in provisional findings that Actavis and Concordia fixed the market for hydrocortisone tablets.
Hydrocortisone treats life-threatening conditions such as Addison's disease.
A pack of the tablets almost doubled in price for the NHS to £88 while the deal was in place, the CMA said. BBC News
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in provisional findings that Actavis and Concordia fixed the market for hydrocortisone tablets.
Hydrocortisone treats life-threatening conditions such as Addison's disease.
A pack of the tablets almost doubled in price for the NHS to £88 while the deal was in place, the CMA said. BBC News
Health watchdog warns over online pharmacy services
Health watchdog warns over online pharmacy services People should be wary of buying medications on the internet after an investigation found "widespread failings" at some online providers, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said.
The watchdog inspected 11 internet prescription services in England, finding some "potentially presenting a significant risk to patients".
The regulator said while some providers were well-run, others "cut corners".
The CQC says it will visit providers and close any putting patients at risk. BBC News
See also:
The watchdog inspected 11 internet prescription services in England, finding some "potentially presenting a significant risk to patients".
The regulator said while some providers were well-run, others "cut corners".
The CQC says it will visit providers and close any putting patients at risk. BBC News
See also:
- Online healthcare services Care Quality Commission
Exclusive: NHS England report reveals hundreds of GP practices facing five-figure funding cuts
Exclusive: NHS England report reveals hundreds of GP practices facing five-figure funding cuts Nearly 800 GP practices faced average losses worth more than £50,000 per year under the national PMS contract review, with around 200 at risk of being unable to manage losses safely for patients, an NHS England assessment obtained by GPonline reveals.
Physical restraint in mental health units is traumatising women all over again
Physical restraint in mental health units is traumatising women all over again When a woman or girl is admitted to a mental health unit, her expectation should be of a caring, supportive environment where she can get the treatment she needs to get better. Unfortunately, we now know from Agenda’s latest research on restraint that many are instead in an environment where physical force has become shockingly routine.
Agenda is an alliance of more than 70 organisations campaigning on behalf of women and girls at risk. We decided to ask for data about the use of restraint because previous research we carried out on mental health trusts’ strategies and policies – as part of our Women in Mind campaign – showed that most were failing to take into account women’s specific needs. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Agenda is an alliance of more than 70 organisations campaigning on behalf of women and girls at risk. We decided to ask for data about the use of restraint because previous research we carried out on mental health trusts’ strategies and policies – as part of our Women in Mind campaign – showed that most were failing to take into account women’s specific needs. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS's biggest challenge is convincing the public it has a plan
The NHS's biggest challenge is convincing the public it has a plan People blame immigration and cuts for the NHS crisis. The health service needs to communicate what is really going on
The British public has begun to talk of an NHS in crisis. This is a perception based on headlines decrying the state of the service; reports from healthcare staff (the NHS is the UK’s biggest employer; most people have at least one person in their social circle who works in it); and occasionally participants’ own bad experiences (although most still receive a great service – a tension that can give rise to “I was lucky” syndrome). Meanwhile, according to Ipsos Mori’s January issues index, 49% of respondents said that the NHS is one of the biggest issues (pdf) facing Britain today, a nine-point jump since December 2016 and its highest level since April 2003.
Public opinion abhors a vacuum. In the absence of a clear, concerted and disciplined message, people fill the gaps with their own assumptions, experiences and prejudices. Months of dire headlines have told them the NHS is in trouble, but the public are seeing and hearing little to tell them why, how, or what can be done about it. So they draw their own conclusions. Continue reading... The Guardian
The British public has begun to talk of an NHS in crisis. This is a perception based on headlines decrying the state of the service; reports from healthcare staff (the NHS is the UK’s biggest employer; most people have at least one person in their social circle who works in it); and occasionally participants’ own bad experiences (although most still receive a great service – a tension that can give rise to “I was lucky” syndrome). Meanwhile, according to Ipsos Mori’s January issues index, 49% of respondents said that the NHS is one of the biggest issues (pdf) facing Britain today, a nine-point jump since December 2016 and its highest level since April 2003.
Public opinion abhors a vacuum. In the absence of a clear, concerted and disciplined message, people fill the gaps with their own assumptions, experiences and prejudices. Months of dire headlines have told them the NHS is in trouble, but the public are seeing and hearing little to tell them why, how, or what can be done about it. So they draw their own conclusions. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS England chief brings in new rules on ward bed closures
NHS England chief brings in new rules on ward bed closures Hospitals to prove quality of patient care in community before losing beds, under criteria to be introduced by Simon Stevens
Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, has acted to make it much more difficult for hospitals to slash their supply of beds, after the dramatic loss of the facilities in recent years was widely blamed for exacerbating the winter crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, has acted to make it much more difficult for hospitals to slash their supply of beds, after the dramatic loss of the facilities in recent years was widely blamed for exacerbating the winter crisis. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Justify every single bed you ditch, hospitals are told The Daily Mail
- Thousands of hospital beds 'must not be slashed' orders head of NHS The Daily Telegraph
Drugs firm lower the costs of 14 key cancer drugs
Drugs firm lower the costs of 14 key cancer drugs Drugs giants including Bayer, Novartis and Pfizer have lowered the costs of 14 key cancer medicines after the NHS threatened to stop paying for them following a review of costs. The Daily Mail
NHS should 'do God' new guidance suggests, with doctors urged to ask the dying about their religious views
NHS should 'do God' new guidance suggests, with doctors urged to ask the dying about their religious views Doctors must not be afraid to do God, new NHS advice suggests, as medics are urged to ask the dying about their spiritual and religious preferences.
The guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says hospital staff need to do more to ensure that the individual preferences of patients are addressed, as well as their medical needs.
Doctors and nurses will be encouraged to ask patients about their “spiritual, cultural, religious and social preferences,” opening up conversations on matters such as life after death. The Daily Telegraph
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The guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says hospital staff need to do more to ensure that the individual preferences of patients are addressed, as well as their medical needs.
Doctors and nurses will be encouraged to ask patients about their “spiritual, cultural, religious and social preferences,” opening up conversations on matters such as life after death. The Daily Telegraph
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- People who are dying should be asked about their spiritual beliefs, says NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Care of dying adults in the last days of life Quality standard QS144 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Don't be afraid to talk to dying patients about God. NHS The Daily Mail
Thursday, 2 March 2017
NHS finances facing 'nasty hangover' after bid to avert winter crisis
NHS finances facing 'nasty hangover' after bid to avert winter crisis Outsourcing work to private sector has dealt big blow to NHS trusts’ efforts to balance books, King’s Fund says.
The NHS’s already precarious finances are facing a “nasty hangover” after hospitals cancelled tens of thousands of operations recently in a bid to avert a full-blown winter crisis, experts have said.
Handing large numbers of operations over to private providers and hiring extra staff to cope with extra demand during December and January has also dealt a big blow to NHS trusts’ efforts to balance their books, the King’s Fund said. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS’s already precarious finances are facing a “nasty hangover” after hospitals cancelled tens of thousands of operations recently in a bid to avert a full-blown winter crisis, experts have said.
Handing large numbers of operations over to private providers and hiring extra staff to cope with extra demand during December and January has also dealt a big blow to NHS trusts’ efforts to balance their books, the King’s Fund said. Continue reading... The Guardian
Shifting the balance of care: Great expectations
Shifting the balance of care: Great expectations This research draws on an extensive literature review to assess the realism of the narrative that moving care out of hospital will save money. It explores five key areas: elective care, urgent and emergency care, admission avoidance and easier discharge, at risk populations, and self-care. Nuffield Trust
Young people 'fear stigma' if they ask for mental-health help
Young people 'fear stigma' if they ask for mental-health help Over three-quarters of young people say there is a stigma to mental illness and a quarter would not ask for help if they were suffering, a survey suggests.
Almost half of 2,215 16- to 25-year-olds polled by YouGov for the Prince's Trust said they had themselves experienced a mental health problem.
And a third of these felt admitting to problems could harm their job chances.
Fear of stigma was a "major obstacle" to finding help, said Prof Louise Arseneault, of Kings College London.
A third of the young people sampled also said they would worry about appearing weak if they sought help, and most said they would not want to confide in anyone at all. BBC News
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Almost half of 2,215 16- to 25-year-olds polled by YouGov for the Prince's Trust said they had themselves experienced a mental health problem.
And a third of these felt admitting to problems could harm their job chances.
Fear of stigma was a "major obstacle" to finding help, said Prof Louise Arseneault, of Kings College London.
A third of the young people sampled also said they would worry about appearing weak if they sought help, and most said they would not want to confide in anyone at all. BBC News
See also:
- Mental Health Is Everyone's Business Huffington Post UK
Women warned about private Down's syndrome tests
Women warned about private Down's syndrome tests Pregnant women are being urged to ask questions of private providers offering a new test for Down's syndrome.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics while many clinics provide a good service, some give too little advice and support.
It says some fail to make it clear that non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can offer only an estimate of Down's risk and is not diagnostic.
One private clinic said counselling was a vital part of the test. BBC News
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics while many clinics provide a good service, some give too little advice and support.
It says some fail to make it clear that non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can offer only an estimate of Down's risk and is not diagnostic.
One private clinic said counselling was a vital part of the test. BBC News
Osteoporosis drugs may make bones weaker
Osteoporosis drugs may make bones weaker Drugs used to treat weak bones in elderly patients suffering from osteoporosis may actually make them weaker, research suggests.
Scientists at Imperial College London examined the bone structure of hip-fracture patients who had been treated with bisphosphonates.
They found evidence the drugs were linked to microscopic cracks, making bones more fragile and prone to break.
Osteoporosis affects three million people in the UK. BBC News
Scientists at Imperial College London examined the bone structure of hip-fracture patients who had been treated with bisphosphonates.
They found evidence the drugs were linked to microscopic cracks, making bones more fragile and prone to break.
Osteoporosis affects three million people in the UK. BBC News
Hepatitis C charity took drug industry funding
Hepatitis C charity took drug industry funding The Hepatitis C Trust tried to force the NHS to buy more of an expensive drug treatment last year. BBC News
Two out of three people back ‘soft’ opt-out organ donation
Two out of three people back ‘soft’ opt-out organ donation Two thirds of people support a ‘soft’ opt-out organ donation system, such as the one already adopted in Wales, reveal the findings of a new poll carried out by the BMA.
The survey, which questioned 2,011 members of the public in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, found that while two out of three people (66%) want to donate their organs at death only just over a third (39%) are signed up to the organ donation register. OnMedica
The survey, which questioned 2,011 members of the public in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, found that while two out of three people (66%) want to donate their organs at death only just over a third (39%) are signed up to the organ donation register. OnMedica
Oxford University college accused of 'lending credibility to quackery' by hosting homeopathy conference
Oxford University college accused of 'lending credibility to quackery' by hosting homeopathy conference An Oxford University college has been accused of inadvertently “lending credibility to quackery” by agreeing to host a conference on the “alternative therapy” of homeopathy.
The Good Thinking Society, a charity which claims to promote rational thinking and battle “pseudoscience”, has said Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, will be “adding gloss to a pseudoscientific event” by hosting the annual general meeting of the Society of Homeopaths on 18 March. The Independent
The Good Thinking Society, a charity which claims to promote rational thinking and battle “pseudoscience”, has said Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, will be “adding gloss to a pseudoscientific event” by hosting the annual general meeting of the Society of Homeopaths on 18 March. The Independent
Why are there so few male nurses?
Why are there so few male nurses? Last year just 11.4% of registered nurses in the UK were male. Continued stereotyping is partly to blame
Efforts to promote gender equality in workplaces of all kinds may be widespread, but the number of men in nursing remains stubbornly low. Last year just 11.4% of registered nurses in the UK were male, according to figures from the Nursing & Midwifery Council – only a marginal increase from five years earlier, when they made up 11% of the workforce.
And the proportion of nursing students in the UK who are men hasn’t shifted either, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency: in 2016 it stood at 11.6%, compared with 11.5% a decade earlier. Continue reading... The Guardian
Efforts to promote gender equality in workplaces of all kinds may be widespread, but the number of men in nursing remains stubbornly low. Last year just 11.4% of registered nurses in the UK were male, according to figures from the Nursing & Midwifery Council – only a marginal increase from five years earlier, when they made up 11% of the workforce.
And the proportion of nursing students in the UK who are men hasn’t shifted either, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency: in 2016 it stood at 11.6%, compared with 11.5% a decade earlier. Continue reading... The Guardian
'Nursing makes all the difference in healthcare': how the job has changed
'Nursing makes all the difference in healthcare': how the job has changed The profession’s agenda has extended but staffing levels, pay, Brexit and compassion fatigue are significant issues
It’s 30 years since Trevor Clay challenged his fellow nurses to rise up and make their voices heard. The profession had been “remarkably insular”, he wrote, and to its lasting cost had taken little heed of the social, political and economic forces that shaped its practice.
Clay, the charismatic leader of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) during its period of explosive growth in the 1980s, argued that nursing’s great strength – its overriding focus on the needs of the patient – was at the same time its great weakness. “Too many nurses take that suppression of their individual feelings on a daily basis into political life,” he said. “Nursing is perhaps the most unassertive profession in the UK.”
Nurses are certainly not the handmaidens of any other profession Continue reading... The Guardian
It’s 30 years since Trevor Clay challenged his fellow nurses to rise up and make their voices heard. The profession had been “remarkably insular”, he wrote, and to its lasting cost had taken little heed of the social, political and economic forces that shaped its practice.
Clay, the charismatic leader of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) during its period of explosive growth in the 1980s, argued that nursing’s great strength – its overriding focus on the needs of the patient – was at the same time its great weakness. “Too many nurses take that suppression of their individual feelings on a daily basis into political life,” he said. “Nursing is perhaps the most unassertive profession in the UK.”
Nurses are certainly not the handmaidens of any other profession Continue reading... The Guardian
75 per cent of Brits fail to eat five-a-day
75 per cent of Brits fail to eat five-a-day The majority of Brits fail to eat their recommended five-a-day - and many struggle to identify what constitutes fruit and vegetables, new study from California reveals. The Daily Mail
Britain's e-cigarette boom is over, data suggests
Britain's e-cigarette boom is over, data suggests The number of smokers using e-cigarettes to kick the habit is declining amid fears that they are may be just as unhealthy as tobacco, data shows.
Consumer analyst Mintel has found that for the first time since their launch fewer people are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking, with usage among quitters dropping from 69pc to 62pc last year. The Daily Telegraph
Consumer analyst Mintel has found that for the first time since their launch fewer people are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking, with usage among quitters dropping from 69pc to 62pc last year. The Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Northampton care centre 'pin down mentally sick children'
Northampton care centre 'pin down mentally sick children' An investigation into St Andrew’s Health Centre in Northampton found the shocking results.
Children and teenagers are being pinned down and sedated in one of Britain’s largest mental health centres, a shocking investigation has exposed.
One girl of 15 with autism was prescribed powerful anti-psychotics and shut away in a cell-like room for almost two years.
And in a six-month period last year staff restrained youngsters face-down on at least 600 occasions. The Daily Mail
Children and teenagers are being pinned down and sedated in one of Britain’s largest mental health centres, a shocking investigation has exposed.
One girl of 15 with autism was prescribed powerful anti-psychotics and shut away in a cell-like room for almost two years.
And in a six-month period last year staff restrained youngsters face-down on at least 600 occasions. The Daily Mail
Report highlights alarming level of readmission for COPD patients
Report highlights alarming level of readmission for COPD patientsA new report from the Royal College of Physicians shows that 43% of patients admitted for hospital treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were readmitted at least once in the 3 months following discharge, representing a considerable increase from 33% in 2008.
COPD is responsible for 5% of annual deaths globally, is the fifth biggest killer in the UK and is the only major cause of death that is on the increase.
COPD is responsible for 5% of annual deaths globally, is the fifth biggest killer in the UK and is the only major cause of death that is on the increase.
Patients first: improving patients' food and drink experience through a better understanding of their priorities
Patients first: improving patients' food and drink experience through a better understanding of their priorities This report covers a large-scale, independent survey of patients’ preferences and experiences of hospital meals. The aim was to conduct face to face interviews with patients in hospital wards to give useful insight into their requirements and views, providing both robust numbers and a good qualitative understanding. By establishing patients’ preferences and priorities and linking this to their satisfaction with what is currently offered, it will be possible to give guidance to providers of food and meal service to develop and improve their offer. Patients Association
Stand by for a quiet revolution in the NHS
Stand by for a quiet revolution in the NHS There is a quiet revolution happening in the NHS in England. It's under the radar and has been little commented on till now.
Details of the potentially radical changes will emerge at the end of March.
There is, apparently, no need for new legislation.
In effect, the controversial health reforms of 2012 will be bypassed in some parts of England.
Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, will unveil his thinking in late March but he has given some clues to MPs on the Public Accounts Committee.
His aim in some areas is to abolish a fundamental feature of the structure of the NHS in England - what's known as the purchaser/provider split. BBC News
Details of the potentially radical changes will emerge at the end of March.
There is, apparently, no need for new legislation.
In effect, the controversial health reforms of 2012 will be bypassed in some parts of England.
Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, will unveil his thinking in late March but he has given some clues to MPs on the Public Accounts Committee.
His aim in some areas is to abolish a fundamental feature of the structure of the NHS in England - what's known as the purchaser/provider split. BBC News
Early warning signs of heart attacks 'being missed'
Early warning signs of heart attacks 'being missed' Early warning signs may have been missed in one in six heart attack deaths in England, a study suggests.
Researchers looked at all heart attack hospital admissions and deaths between 2006 and 2010.
The team, from Imperial College London, found 16% who died of a heart attack within 28 days of an admission had not been diagnosed - despite symptoms like chest pain most likely being present.
The British Heart Foundation has called the research "concerning".
The study authors from the School of Public Health at Imperial College say more research is "urgently needed". BBC News
Researchers looked at all heart attack hospital admissions and deaths between 2006 and 2010.
The team, from Imperial College London, found 16% who died of a heart attack within 28 days of an admission had not been diagnosed - despite symptoms like chest pain most likely being present.
The British Heart Foundation has called the research "concerning".
The study authors from the School of Public Health at Imperial College say more research is "urgently needed". BBC News
Drug and mental health admissions highest for a decade
Drug and mental health admissions highest for a decade More patients are being admitted to hospital in England for drug-related mental health issues or poisoning than at any time in the past 10 years.
Official figures reveal 15,074 cases of people in hospital with illicit drug poisoning in 2015-16, 51% more than 2005-06.
Mental health issues had drugs as a cause in 81,904 cases.
Public health experts say falling investment in drug treatment services may explain the rise. BBC News
Official figures reveal 15,074 cases of people in hospital with illicit drug poisoning in 2015-16, 51% more than 2005-06.
Mental health issues had drugs as a cause in 81,904 cases.
Public health experts say falling investment in drug treatment services may explain the rise. BBC News
Doctors describe impact on patients of bed shortages in shocking dossier
Doctors describe impact on patients of bed shortages in shocking dossier Patients are dying because they cannot access specialist care in hospitals struggling to cope and overflowing with patients awaiting discharge, a damning report published by the Royal College of Physicians says.
The report ‘Against the odds; Experiences from the NHS frontline’ collates first-hand experiences from hospital doctors who have been working the NHS frontline over the last couple of months to illustrate the intense pressure the NHS is under.
“Patients are dying as a result of not accessing specialist care, as the hospitals are jam-full,” said one doctor. “We started the day 73 beds down…,” said a second. OnMedica
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The report ‘Against the odds; Experiences from the NHS frontline’ collates first-hand experiences from hospital doctors who have been working the NHS frontline over the last couple of months to illustrate the intense pressure the NHS is under.
“Patients are dying as a result of not accessing specialist care, as the hospitals are jam-full,” said one doctor. “We started the day 73 beds down…,” said a second. OnMedica
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Brexit: NHS faces crisis unless Government guarantees right of remain for 145,000 EU workers, TUC says
Brexit: NHS faces crisis unless Government guarantees right of remain for 145,000 EU workers, TUC says NHS and adult social care services are facing a further crisis after Brexit unless the Government guarantees the rights of EU workers to remain in the UK, new analysis has shown.
More than 140,000 NHS and adult social care workers in England are EU migrants, with London, the South East and the East of England the most vulnerable to losing vital staff, the TUC found. The Independent
More than 140,000 NHS and adult social care workers in England are EU migrants, with London, the South East and the East of England the most vulnerable to losing vital staff, the TUC found. The Independent
The Guardian view on Jeremy Hunt: he must practise what he preaches | Editorial
The Guardian view on Jeremy Hunt: he must practise what he preaches | Editorial Monumental failures with patient correspondence put lives at risk. The Department for Health needs to ask what needs to change to ensure it doesn’t happen again
“Just how easy is it to speak about things that have gone wrong?”, asked health secretary Jeremy Hunt in a speech he made last year about improving transparency and ending the blame culture in the NHS. Mr Hunt is himself failing badly on this critical benchmark for greater openness. The Guardian this week has revealed that half a million pieces of medical correspondence, including test results and diagnoses for life-threatening conditions like cancer, sat undelivered in a warehouse between 2011 and 2016. Yet it has taken almost a year for the full extent of this failure to emerge. Continue reading... The Guardian
“Just how easy is it to speak about things that have gone wrong?”, asked health secretary Jeremy Hunt in a speech he made last year about improving transparency and ending the blame culture in the NHS. Mr Hunt is himself failing badly on this critical benchmark for greater openness. The Guardian this week has revealed that half a million pieces of medical correspondence, including test results and diagnoses for life-threatening conditions like cancer, sat undelivered in a warehouse between 2011 and 2016. Yet it has taken almost a year for the full extent of this failure to emerge. Continue reading... The Guardian
What impact will Brexit have on nursing?
What impact will Brexit have on nursing? The NHS faces a major shortfall in nurses – and the EU referendum result threatens to derail supply further
The NHS faces a severe nursing shortage. An ageing population has pushed up demand, while an ageing nursing workforce – with one in three nurses set to retire in the next 10 years – is reducing supply. The shortage is particularly acute in mental health, with specialist nurse numbers falling more than 10% in the past five years.
And the Brexit vote may make it even worse. A July 2016 Institute for Employment Studies (IES) report reveals about 4.5% of NHS nurses in 2015 were from EU countries excluding Ireland, a steep rise from the 1% of 2009. In some trusts in London and the east of England, the proportion is as high as 20%. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS faces a severe nursing shortage. An ageing population has pushed up demand, while an ageing nursing workforce – with one in three nurses set to retire in the next 10 years – is reducing supply. The shortage is particularly acute in mental health, with specialist nurse numbers falling more than 10% in the past five years.
And the Brexit vote may make it even worse. A July 2016 Institute for Employment Studies (IES) report reveals about 4.5% of NHS nurses in 2015 were from EU countries excluding Ireland, a steep rise from the 1% of 2009. In some trusts in London and the east of England, the proportion is as high as 20%. Continue reading... The Guardian
15% of trusts spend less than 14p a day on specialist care
15% of trusts spend less than 14p a day on specialist care Some health trusts are spending just 14p a day per patient providing specialist care for those who are dying, a report has revealed.
It exposes severe lapses in services at evenings and weekends with patients and their families left to cope alone.
A total of 15 per cent of trusts said they do not provide specialist end-of-life care and advice to patients seven days a week.
While 31 per cent do not have dedicated pain control teams – nurses who visit homes and administer medication such as morphine. The Daily Mail
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It exposes severe lapses in services at evenings and weekends with patients and their families left to cope alone.
A total of 15 per cent of trusts said they do not provide specialist end-of-life care and advice to patients seven days a week.
While 31 per cent do not have dedicated pain control teams – nurses who visit homes and administer medication such as morphine. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Commissioning of specialist palliative care services in England (abstract) BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care
Every hospital ordered to change its logo by NHS “identity managers” in move which prompts ridicule
Every hospital ordered to change its logo by NHS “identity managers” in move which prompts ridicule Every hospital in the country has been ordered to alter its logo by NHS “identity managers” in a measure which has prompted fury and ridicule.
A ditkat from NHS England means hundreds of organisations will have to rework all their publicity materials, moving the NHS logo so it is above the name of each trust, instead of beside it.
The measure has been introduced by the “NHS identity team” following 1,000 interviews and 28 focus groups with members of the public. It follows a two year review of the health service logo with nine workshops involving 100 communications officials. The Daily Telegraph
A ditkat from NHS England means hundreds of organisations will have to rework all their publicity materials, moving the NHS logo so it is above the name of each trust, instead of beside it.
The measure has been introduced by the “NHS identity team” following 1,000 interviews and 28 focus groups with members of the public. It follows a two year review of the health service logo with nine workshops involving 100 communications officials. The Daily Telegraph
Surgeon accused of assaulting patients by carrying out 'unnecessary' breast cancer operations
Surgeon accused of assaulting patients by carrying out 'unnecessary' breast cancer operations An experienced NHS surgeon has been accused of trying to "earn extra money" by deliberately carrying out "completely unnecessary" operations on suspected breast cancer patients.
Ian Paterson repeatedly lied to patients about their conditions and performed dozens of botched mastectomies which caused patients "serious harm" over a 14-year period, a court has heard.
Prosecutors say Mr Paterson "invented" serious risks of cancer in patients and performed life-changing procedures on them for "no medically justified reason". The Daily Telegraph
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Ian Paterson repeatedly lied to patients about their conditions and performed dozens of botched mastectomies which caused patients "serious harm" over a 14-year period, a court has heard.
Prosecutors say Mr Paterson "invented" serious risks of cancer in patients and performed life-changing procedures on them for "no medically justified reason". The Daily Telegraph
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Tuesday, 28 February 2017
£2.1m expansion to KGH pharmacy nearing completion
£2.1m expansion to KGH pharmacy nearing completion Kettering General Hospital is in the final stages of a £2.1m project to expand and modernise its pharmacy department. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Housing and health: STPs, White Papers and beyond
Housing and health: STPs, White Papers and beyond As part of our work on understanding and supporting a move to place-based population health systems, we held a dinner at the Fund recently to discuss the role of housing in sustainability and transformation plans (STPs). The King's Fund
Positive changes for LGBT staff at Northumbria NHS FT
Positive changes for LGBT staff at Northumbria NHS FT To celebrate the end of LGBT history month Patrick Price, equality and diversity lead at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust talks about the positive benefits open conversations can bring. NHS Employers
Women in public life, the professions and the boardroom
Women in public life, the professions and the boardroom How are women represented in public life, the professions and the boardroom? This briefing sets out key trends and statistics, covering politics, public appointments, civil servants the judiciary, the NHS, education and leading private sector vocations. House of Commons Library
Government fights ruling to extend disability benefits for mental health sufferers
Government fights ruling to extend disability benefits for mental health sufferers Campaigners and backbenchers have criticised the government over its plans to go against a legal ruling to extend disability benefits to people suffering from severe mental health issues.
A legal tribunal had called for disability benefits to be given to people suffering with "overwhelming physical distress" from issues such as depression and anxiety.
It ruled claimants with psychological problems who cannot travel without help must be treated like those who are blind and receive Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).
Disabilities Minister Penny Mordaunt has said she will take action to ensure PIPs go only to the most needy. ITV News
A legal tribunal had called for disability benefits to be given to people suffering with "overwhelming physical distress" from issues such as depression and anxiety.
It ruled claimants with psychological problems who cannot travel without help must be treated like those who are blind and receive Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).
Disabilities Minister Penny Mordaunt has said she will take action to ensure PIPs go only to the most needy. ITV News
Prosecutions 'rare' for abuse by home carers
Prosecutions 'rare' for abuse by home carers More than 23,000 allegations of abuse have been made against carers working in people's homes across the UK.
The data comes from a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC Radio 4 programme File on 4.
The United Kingdom Homecare Association, which represents 2,000 care companies, described the findings as "horrifying" and blamed cuts to local government budgets.
The Department of Health said it had given councils up to £7.6bn of funding. BBC News
The data comes from a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC Radio 4 programme File on 4.
The United Kingdom Homecare Association, which represents 2,000 care companies, described the findings as "horrifying" and blamed cuts to local government budgets.
The Department of Health said it had given councils up to £7.6bn of funding. BBC News
New drugs 'urgently needed' to fight 12 supergerms, says WHO
New drugs 'urgently needed' to fight 12 supergerms, says WHO New antibiotics need to be developed urgently to combat 12 families of bacteria, the World Health Organisation has said, describing these “priority pathogens” as the greatest threats to human health.
The United National health agency said many of these bacteria have already evolved into deadly superbugs that are resistant to many antibiotics. The Independent
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The United National health agency said many of these bacteria have already evolved into deadly superbugs that are resistant to many antibiotics. The Independent
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Hospitals could join prisons in cycle of 'crisis, cash, repeat', says report
Hospitals could join prisons in cycle of 'crisis, cash, repeat', says report Better financial planning and reforms needed to avoid ‘disastrous combination of failing public services and breached spending controls’
Hospitals could join prisons and social care in a cycle of “crisis, cash, repeat” unless they receive better financial planning and reforms, a Whitehall report has warned.
Without improvements, public services are doomed to fail or breach spending controls, the report by the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) said. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Hospitals could join prisons and social care in a cycle of “crisis, cash, repeat” unless they receive better financial planning and reforms, a Whitehall report has warned.
Without improvements, public services are doomed to fail or breach spending controls, the report by the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) said. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- New report reveals pressure on public services Institute for Government
NHS faces new £1bn annual bill after 'reckless' change to injury payouts
NHS faces new £1bn annual bill after 'reckless' change to injury payouts Angry insurers rail against ‘crazy change’ to personal injury formula that will hike car premiums by £75 for millions with British military and small firms hit
A “reckless” government-ordered change to the way personal injury awards are calculated will add as much as £75 to already fast-rising average car insurance premiums, and land the NHS with an annual £1bn bill, the insurance industry has warned.
The lord chancellor, Liz Truss, has announced a change to the so-called “Ogden” discount rate – which is used to calculate compensation awards for serious personal injuries – to ensure inflation does not erode the future value of a payout. Continue reading... The Guardian
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A “reckless” government-ordered change to the way personal injury awards are calculated will add as much as £75 to already fast-rising average car insurance premiums, and land the NHS with an annual £1bn bill, the insurance industry has warned.
The lord chancellor, Liz Truss, has announced a change to the so-called “Ogden” discount rate – which is used to calculate compensation awards for serious personal injuries – to ensure inflation does not erode the future value of a payout. Continue reading... The Guardian
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NHS data loss: 173 instances of likely patient harm identified
NHS data loss: 173 instances of likely patient harm identified Department of Health reviews impact of failure to deliver 500,000 pieces of medical correspondence between 2011 and 2016
The NHS has identified 173 instances of likely patient harm arising from the loss of half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence such as test results and treatment plans. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS has identified 173 instances of likely patient harm arising from the loss of half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence such as test results and treatment plans. Continue reading... The Guardian
Crackdown on tax dodges of locum NHS staff
Crackdown on tax dodges of locum NHS staff Up to 90 per cent of temporary staff are thought to be using the ruse. They would only pay corporation tax of 21 per cent, rather 45 per cent. Locum rates are up to £160 an hour. The Daily Mail
FGM should not be prosecuted, police force says as it claims best course of action is to 'educate parents'
FGM should not be prosecuted, police force says as it claims best course of action is to 'educate parents' Parents caught practising female genital mutilation on their children should not be prosecuted, a police force has claimed as it says the best course of action is to “educate parents”.
The claims, made by West Midlands Police on social media yesterday, have provoked criticism from MPs and child welfare activists, who said the force’s reluctance to seek prosecution was “deeply disturbing”.
The feud comes after a spokesman for the force claimed that it was against “prosecuting/jailing” parents who had carried out FGM on the grounds that it would be “unlikely to benefit” children who fall victim to the crime. The Daily Telegraph
The claims, made by West Midlands Police on social media yesterday, have provoked criticism from MPs and child welfare activists, who said the force’s reluctance to seek prosecution was “deeply disturbing”.
The feud comes after a spokesman for the force claimed that it was against “prosecuting/jailing” parents who had carried out FGM on the grounds that it would be “unlikely to benefit” children who fall victim to the crime. The Daily Telegraph
NHS doctors banned from charging 'rip-off' locum rates for extra shifts
NHS doctors banned from charging 'rip-off' locum rates for extra shifts NHS doctors have been banned from earning lucrative agency rateswhile moonlighting at other hospitals after it emerged five medics were paid more than £2 million a year between them.
The health service watchdog, NHS Improvement, last night also revealed that around 100 agency staff are earning more than £200,000 a year for covering staff shortages, while more than 500 doctors take home in excess of £150,000 a year. The Daily Telegraph
The health service watchdog, NHS Improvement, last night also revealed that around 100 agency staff are earning more than £200,000 a year for covering staff shortages, while more than 500 doctors take home in excess of £150,000 a year. The Daily Telegraph
Monday, 27 February 2017
United effort required to tackle huge challenges facing the NHS
United effort required to tackle huge challenges facing the NHS The Public Accounts Committee report says that the NHS is facing huge challenges and a united effort is required to resolve these for the long term.
Its report, the latest in a series from the cross-party Committee examining the growing pressure on health finances, sets out new and urgent recommendations to government.
The Committee criticises "bickering in public" between key figures responsible for the health service at a time when the financial performance of NHS bodies has worsened considerably—a trend which is not sustainable.
It calls on the Department of Health, NHS England and No. 10 to work together "in the best interests of patients".
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Its report, the latest in a series from the cross-party Committee examining the growing pressure on health finances, sets out new and urgent recommendations to government.
The Committee criticises "bickering in public" between key figures responsible for the health service at a time when the financial performance of NHS bodies has worsened considerably—a trend which is not sustainable.
It calls on the Department of Health, NHS England and No. 10 to work together "in the best interests of patients".
See also:
- Financial sustainability in the NHS Public Accounts Committee
- MPs criticise Theresa May and NHS over 'bickering' BBC News
- Patients suffer as NHS chiefs bicker say MPs The Daily Mail
- Bickering between Theresa May and NHS chiefs is 'an insult to taxpayers' The Daily Telegraph
- NHS financial crisis blocking plans to move care out of hospital, warn MPs GP Online
- Government ‘must act to avoid catastrophic failure’ in NHS The Independent
Health and social care integration (England)
Health and social care integration (England) This briefing paper analyses recent policy and debate on the integration of NHS-provided healthcare and local authority-provided social care. As health and social care are both devolved policy areas, this briefing focuses on integration in England. House of Commons Library
NHS 'tobacco free' campaign launched by Public Health England
NHS 'tobacco free' campaign launched by Public Health England A "truly tobacco-free NHS" needs to be created to help smoker patients quit their habit, health officials say.
Only one in 10 hospitals enforces a smoking ban outside health service buildings, and Public Health England (PHE) wants all hospitals to offer help to quit as part of patients' treatment.
More than a million smokers are admitted to NHS hospitals every year.
PHE chief executive Duncan Selbie said it was not about "forcing people" to quit, but was about "helping people". BBC News
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Only one in 10 hospitals enforces a smoking ban outside health service buildings, and Public Health England (PHE) wants all hospitals to offer help to quit as part of patients' treatment.
More than a million smokers are admitted to NHS hospitals every year.
PHE chief executive Duncan Selbie said it was not about "forcing people" to quit, but was about "helping people". BBC News
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- Call for smoking to be BANNED outside NHS hospitals The Daily Mail
Maps reveal schizophrenia 'hotspots' in England
Maps reveal schizophrenia 'hotspots' in England Maps have revealed "hotspots" of schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses in England, based on the amount of medication prescribed by GPs.
The analysis by the University of East London showed North Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, had the highest rates.
The lowest rate of schizophrenia prescriptions was in East Dorset.
However, explaining the pattern across England is complicated and the research team says the maps pose a lot of questions.
They were developed using anonymous prescription records that are collected from doctors' surgeries in England. BBC News
The analysis by the University of East London showed North Kesteven, in Lincolnshire, had the highest rates.
The lowest rate of schizophrenia prescriptions was in East Dorset.
However, explaining the pattern across England is complicated and the research team says the maps pose a lot of questions.
They were developed using anonymous prescription records that are collected from doctors' surgeries in England. BBC News
Children in UK mental health hospitals 'not improving', parents say
Children in UK mental health hospitals 'not improving', parents say More than half of parents with children in mental health hospitals do not feel their condition has improved as a result of treatment, while nearly a quarter say it has actually deteriorated, according to a survey.
The research was based on responses from 448 parents whose children have been in mental health hospitals in England over the last five years.
The study, carried out by the children’s mental health charity YoungMinds and the National Autistic Society, found that 54% of parents said they had seen no improvement, while 24% said their offspring’s mental health had got worse. The Guardian
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The research was based on responses from 448 parents whose children have been in mental health hospitals in England over the last five years.
The study, carried out by the children’s mental health charity YoungMinds and the National Autistic Society, found that 54% of parents said they had seen no improvement, while 24% said their offspring’s mental health had got worse. The Guardian
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- Mental health hospitals failing parents YoungMinds
NHS accused of covering up huge data loss that put thousands at risk
NHS accused of covering up huge data loss that put thousands at risk Exclusive: More than 500,000 pieces of patient data between GPs and hospitals went undelivered between 2011 and 2016
Thousands of patients are feared to have been harmed after the NHS lost more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence, including test results and treatment plans.
In one of the biggest losses of sensitive clinical information in the NHS’s 69-year history, more than 500,000 pieces of patient data sent between GPs and hospitals went undelivered over the five years from 2011 to 2016. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Thousands of patients are feared to have been harmed after the NHS lost more than half a million pieces of confidential medical correspondence, including test results and treatment plans.
In one of the biggest losses of sensitive clinical information in the NHS’s 69-year history, more than 500,000 pieces of patient data sent between GPs and hospitals went undelivered over the five years from 2011 to 2016. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Test all pregnant women for smoking, say NHS chiefs
Test all pregnant women for smoking, say NHS chiefs The plan, which is supported by the Royal College of Midwives, is part of a wider drive to discourage cigarettes at hospitals
England’s public health chief is urging hospitals to give every pregnant woman a carbon monoxide test to see if they smoke, as part of an NHS-wide drive to persuade patients to kick the habit.
Duncan Selbie wants midwives and nurses to routinely screen mothers-to-be when their pregnancy is first “booked”, monitor them at all their antenatal appointments and support those who want to quit. Continue reading... The Guardian
England’s public health chief is urging hospitals to give every pregnant woman a carbon monoxide test to see if they smoke, as part of an NHS-wide drive to persuade patients to kick the habit.
Duncan Selbie wants midwives and nurses to routinely screen mothers-to-be when their pregnancy is first “booked”, monitor them at all their antenatal appointments and support those who want to quit. Continue reading... The Guardian
Row over GP who sent away dying girl for being late
Row over GP who sent away dying girl for being late Ellie-May Clark died of an asthma attack hours after Dr Joanne Rowe turned her away claiming she was late for her emergency appointment at The Grange Clinic in Newport, South Wales. The Daily Mail
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Thousands of children and teenagers with anorexia forced to wait months for help
Thousands of children and teenagers with anorexia forced to wait months for help Thousands of children and teenagers with anorexia are being forced to wait months for help, amid a growing crisis in services to treat eating disorders.
An investigation by The Telegraph reveals a dramatic fall in provision of hospital appointments for the condition, forcing patients to wait longer, with some in need of inpatient care travelling hundreds of miles.
The NHS data shows that in just two years, there has been a 36 per cent reduction in the number of hospital appointments for eating disorders across the country. The Daily Telegraph
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An investigation by The Telegraph reveals a dramatic fall in provision of hospital appointments for the condition, forcing patients to wait longer, with some in need of inpatient care travelling hundreds of miles.
The NHS data shows that in just two years, there has been a 36 per cent reduction in the number of hospital appointments for eating disorders across the country. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- GPs are trained in all aspects of mental health, including eating disorders, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
- Three in ten people with eating disorders let down by GPs The Daily Mail
- GPs are telling young girls with anorexia to come back when they are thinner, report warns The Daily Telegraph
- Three out of 10 eating disorder sufferers not being referred for necessary treatment The Independent
GPs say patients take offence when told they need to lose weight
GPs say patients take offence when told they need to lose weight GPs are offending overweight patients by warning them they need to go on a diet, a poll suggests.
The survey found one in three had seen patients take offence when they had raised the issue of their weight.
Current NHS advice says family doctors should offer all obese patients free places on courses run by WeightWatchers and Slimming World. And last year a study by Oxford University found just a 30 second intervention was enough to make a difference. The Daily Telegraph
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The survey found one in three had seen patients take offence when they had raised the issue of their weight.
Current NHS advice says family doctors should offer all obese patients free places on courses run by WeightWatchers and Slimming World. And last year a study by Oxford University found just a 30 second intervention was enough to make a difference. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- One in three GPs have offended patients by talking about their weight Pulse
- GPs doing a good job at having difficult conversations about weight management with patients, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
- Patients offended when told they need to lose weight The Daily Mail
Friday, 24 February 2017
Specialist cardiac scanning service improves care for more than 1,000 at KGH
Specialist cardiac scanning service improves care for more than 1,000 at KGH A specialist scanning service at Kettering General Hospital has helped improve care for more than 1,000 local people with heart problems since its launch. Northamptonshire Telegraph
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