NHS Confederation election asks

NHS Confederation election asks This briefing discusses two of the NHS Confederation manifesto proposals in depth: the establishment of an Office for Budget Responsibility and Health and the commitment to an NHS funding target.

Love to Move: Chair-based gymnastics scheme boost for those with dementia

Love to Move: Chair-based gymnastics scheme boost for those with dementia A new chair-based gymnastics exercise programme has significant benefits for people with dementia, says a report.

More than 150 people have taken part in the Love to Move scheme run by the British Gymnastics Foundation (BGF).

And research by Age UK found the scheme to have "demonstrable benefits in the physical, emotional and cognitive aspects of older people".

The organisers now aim to train more people to deliver the programme and make it more widely available. BBC Sport

Union condemns cuts to school nurses

Union condemns cuts to school nurses Cuts to crucial services are jeopardising the health of England's children, nursing leaders are warning.

The Royal College of Nursing highlighted figures showing reductions in the numbers of school nurses and health visitors.

The union said government cuts to public health budgets - held by local authorities - were to blame.

The Conservatives say they are protecting children's health, with over £3bn spent on public health last year. BBC News

NHS cyber-attack: No 'second spike' but disruption continues

NHS cyber-attack: No 'second spike' but disruption continues A "second spike" in cyber-attacks has not hit the NHS but some hospital trusts are suffering ongoing disruption due to Friday's ransomware attack.

Routine surgery and GP appointments have been cancelled across the NHS as it recovers from the global outbreak.

But the number of hospitals diverting patients from A&E has decreased from seven on Sunday to two.

They are the Lister Hospital in Hertfordshire and the Broomfield Hospital in Essex. BBC News

See also:

• Latest guidance for the NHS on protecting against cyber attack NHS Digital
• Ransomware and the NHS - the inquest begins BBC News
• Jeremy Hunt: 'Lessons will be learnt' from NHS cyber-attack BBC News
• Cyber attack that brought down NHS was 'poorly designed', says boss of expert who stopped hackers The Daily Telegraph
• Cyber attack: NHS ordered to upgrade outdated systems as disruption continues The Daily Telegraph
• The NHS got lucky – for now. Cyber-attacks will only get worse The Guardian
• Who is to blame for exposing the NHS to cyber-attacks? The Guardian
• Warning of NHS cyber-attack risk was not acted on, says cybersecurity adviser The Guardian

70% of UK workers still go to work even when they are ill, survey finds

70% of UK workers still go to work even when they are ill, survey finds A slightly sore throat and a bit of a sniffle won’t keep Brits out of work, new research suggests.

According to a report published by insurance company Aviva on Tuesday, millions of people in the UK have gone to work when they were ill instead of taking the day off, driven by heavy workloads and employers promoting a culture of face-time.

The report shows that seven out of 10 employees in private firms – the equivalent of 18 million nationally – have at some point come into the office despite being unwell. More than two in five of 2,000 employees surveyed for the report said that they feel their employer prioritises the performance of the company over the workforce’s health and wellbeing. The Independent

NHS needs to change, says expert, and both sides of politics should support it

NHS needs to change, says expert, and both sides of politics should support it Chris Ham, head of the King’s Fund, says campaigning over the state of A&Es and maternity units may be ‘good politics locally’ but jeopardises better care.

Politicians should support, not oppose, controversial changes to local hospital services in order to save lives, improve care and tackle doctor shortages, a former government NHS adviser is urging.

Professor Chris Ham, the chief executive of the influential King’s Fund health thinktank, said candidates standing in the election should not try to court popularity with voters by joining campaigns against the rundown of A&E and maternity units. Continue reading... The Guardian

Why a simple 'sorry' could save the NHS millions

Why a simple 'sorry' could save the NHS millions When his 20-month-old son Tahmeed died in the Royal London Hospital after a series of catastrophic errors, the last thing his devastated father wanted from the NHS was money.

‘I had buried Tahmeed and I would have given anything to have him back,’ says Taufiqul Karim Suhrid, a cab dispatcher.

But he was shocked when, instead of explaining what had happened and apologising, Barts Health NHS Trust flatly denied the toddler’s death was a result of substandard treatment. The Daily Mail

Nurses with dementia should be allowed to keep their jobs, says Royal College of Nursing

Nurses with dementia should be allowed to keep their jobs, says Royal College of Nursing Nurses who are diagnosed with dementia should keep their jobs and be allowed to continue caring for patients, the profession’s trade union has demanded.

The Royal College of Nursing said the health service should “set an example” to the rest of society by allowing staff with the degenerative condition to carry on working.

The organisation insisted nurses with the disease could continue practising without posing a risk to patients, but safety groups branded the proposal “frightening and extraordinary”.

Under current Nursing and Midwifery Council rules, which do not explicitly mention dementia, nurses must be able to deliver “safe and effective practice” and must take “all reasonable personal precautions” to avoid causing risk to the public. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Allow nurses with dementia to continue working BBC News
• Let nurses with dementia keep working, says union The Daily Mail

NHS cyber-attack: Use services wisely, patients urged

NHS cyber-attack: Use services wisely, patients urged Patients have been urged to use the NHS "wisely" as it discovers the full impact of Friday's global cyber-attack.

NHS England said there was a "complex emerging picture", amid concerns over thousands of computers being switched back on after the weekend.

Seven trusts out of 47 that were hit are still facing serious issues, but patients have been told to turn up for appointments, unless advised otherwise.

Some GPs are asking people to consider whether they really need appointments.

The virus that hit the NHS in England and Scotland, known as Wanna Decryptor or WannaCry, has infected 200,000 machines in 150 countries since Friday. BBC News

See also:

• NHS England statement on reported NHS cyber attack NHS England
• All email accounts suspended at NGH after cyber hackers target hospitals across the UK Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• KGH shuts down external IT systems to "maintain patient safety" amid ransomware alert Northamptonshire Telegraph
• NHS cyber-attack: Bosses fear further infections from ransomware BBC News
• Cyber-attack: Security minister says XP issue a 'red herring'  BBC News
• NHS 'robust' after cyber-attack BBC News
• Who was hit by the NHS cyber-attack? BBC News
• NHS 'was repeatedly warned' of attack BBC News
• Next cyber-attack could be imminent, warn experts BBC News
• Fallon on cyber security: 'We warned NHS' about old system BBC News
• Ransomware and the WannaCry virus that crippled the NHS The Daily Mail
• NHS hack is part of huge global cyber attack The Daily Mail
• Cyber attack: Stay away from GP surgeries unless urgent, amid fears of Monday meltdown The Daily Telegraph
• Revealed: The 22-year-old IT expert who saved the world from ransomware virus but lives for surfing The Daily Telegraph
• Amber Rudd: 97% of NHS trusts operating 'as normal' The Daily Telegraph
• Every Government department is vulnerable to hackers, former civil service chief admits The Daily Telegraph
• GP practices shut down by NHS cyber attack GPonline
• The ransomware attack is all about insufficient funding of the NHS The Guardian
• Cyber-attack that hit NHS sparks bitter political battle over health spending The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt 'ignored warning signs' before cyber-attack hit NHS The Guardian
• Cyber-attack could escalate as working week begins, experts warn The Guardian
• What is 'WanaCrypt0r 2.0' ransomware and why is it attacking the NHS? The Guardian
• NHS cyber attack: New dangerous version of WannaCry ransomware set to be released by hackers The Independent

Government inspectors rate Northamptonshire GP practice as 'good' after clean sweep of comment cards

Government inspectors rate Northamptonshire GP practice as 'good' after clean sweep of comment cards A watchdog has rate a Northamptonshire surgery as "good" after all of the comment cards it handed out to patients came back with positive feedback. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Enabling professionalism in nursing and midwifery practice

Enabling professionalism in nursing and midwifery practice This guide is aimed at all nurses and midwives and sets out what professionalism can look like in everyday practice. It demonstrates how applying the values of the code of conduct should be at the centre of all nursing and midwifery practice. For employers, it identifies key principles which will help them to provide practice environments that support and encourage professionalism among nurses and midwives. Nursing and Midwifery Council

General election 2017: Labour pledges £37bn for the NHS

General election 2017: Labour pledges £37bn for the NHS Labour says it will spend an extra £37bn on the NHS in England over the next five years if it wins power.

The investment, including £10bn on upgrading IT systems and repairing buildings, would be funded by tax increases and capital borrowing.

Jeremy Corbyn blamed the NHS cyber attack on "Tory cuts", promising a service "fit for the modern day".

But the Tories said Labour's "nonsensical" economic plans would mean less money for the NHS. BBC News

Nurses to stage 'summer of protest activity' over pay cap

Nurses to stage 'summer of protest activity' over pay cap Nurses will stage a "summer of protest activity" across the UK over pay, the Royal College of Nursing has said.

Its members will also be balloted on industrial action unless the next government scraps a 1% pay-rise cap.

It comes as the union says figures suggest the NHS in England is drastically short of the nurses it needs, with 40,000 posts unfilled.

The Conservatives said half the workforce receive annual progression-in-the-job pay rises.

The RCN said a consultative ballot of its members in April showed a majority (78%) were prepared to go on strike, while 91% said they would support industrial action short of a strike. About 52,000 of the 270,000 RCN members eligible to vote took part. BBC News

See also:

• Nurses threaten 'summer of protests' as four in five want strikes The Daily Telegraph
• Nurses vote in support of strike ballot over low pay The Guardian

Recruitment crisis hits NHS with one in nine posts currently vacant

Recruitment crisis hits NHS with one in nine posts currently vacant Damning figures from Royal College of Nursing point to ‘lethal cocktail of factors’ putting off new nurses

About 40,000 nursing posts are now vacant in the NHS in England as the service heads for the worst recruitment crisis in its history, according to official new data.

Responses to Freedom of Information requests submitted to trusts by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) show that one in nine posts are now unfilled – double the level in 2013. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Safe staffing legislation to avoid patient-safety crisis Royal College of Nursing
• NHS 'dangerously short of nurses' BBC News
• Patients deserve best care. Only new laws can ensure this The Guardian
• Mental health nurses in short supply as NHS struggles to fill vacancies The Guardian
• Nurses will see their pay ‘cut by 12% over a decade’ The Guardian

Almost all GPs have NOT had recent Lyme disease training

Almost all GPs have NOT had recent Lyme disease training Only 3 per cent of GPs in the UK have taken the recommended module on Lyme disease which teaches them how to spot early symptoms. A charity says there may be 45,000 UK cases a year. The Daily Mail

Dementia care is leaving families destitute, warns charity

Dementia care is leaving families destitute, warns charity It would take more than a century for a patient to save enough to pay the typical cost of dementia care, a report warns.

They would need to save £800 a year for 125 years to reach the £100,000 experts say it now costs to live comfortably with dementia for five years.

The Alzheimer’s Society, which carried out the study, warns the cost of social care is leaving families destitute and is calling on the next government to create a ‘long-term, sustainable system’ to fund it. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Impossible cost: Dementia care bill would take 125 years to save for The Alzheimer’s Society

Nursing home fees reach £1,000 per week on average, report finds

Nursing home fees reach £1,000 per week on average, report finds Average nursing home fees have reached £1,000 a week for self-funders, new figures show.

A report by analyst LaingBuisson found that fees for nursing care had broken the £1,000 barrier and had reached £1,200 in some places.

Weekly fees for self-payers in residential care homes without nursing care have reached £700 on average, compared to £486 for state-funded residents. The Daily Telegraph

Waiting lists set to soar amid six-fold rise in GP vacancies

Waiting lists set to soar amid six-fold rise in GP vacancies Waiting times to see a GP are set to soar amid a six-fold rise in vacancies for family doctors, new figures suggest.

The statistics show record shortages of family doctors, which have already fuelled rising waiting lists and surgery closures across the country.

The findings from Pulse magazine shows 12.2 per cent of positions are currently vacant - an increase from 2.1 per cent in 2011.

And almost one in five of GPs polled said they had given up trying to recruit a doctor in the last year because it had proved impossible.

Latest figures show the number of patients waiting at least a week for an appointment has risen from 13.8 per cent to 19.3 per cent in three years. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• ‘Staggering’ GP vacancy problem must be addressed as a matter of urgency, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• One in eight GP posts left empty after many move abroad The Daily Mail
• GP recruitment crisis intensifies as vacancies soar to 12.2% The Guardian

Social care: what's in a name?

Social care: what's in a name? Social care is all around us. More than 1.5 million people in England are employed to provide social care to older and disabled people. And these numbers are dwarfed by almost 6 million unpaid carers – family members and friends who give up their time to help with a range of tasks, from cooking to personal care.

But despite this, ‘social care’ is a phrase you don’t hear much in everyday life. Last year, when my 94-year-old grandmother's health was deteriorating and she needed support with washing, getting in and out of bed and other day-to-day tasks, I remember noticing that no one in my family used the term social care. Instead, the talk during this difficult time was about ‘speaking to the council to get someone in to help Gran’, and ‘finding a carer who will come around to the house’. The King's Fund

Election briefing: quality of care in the NHS

Election briefing: quality of care in the NHS This briefing focuses on the quality of care in the English NHS. It finds that waiting times for many NHS urgent and emergency services in England were at their worst in 2016/17 for the last five years, but there is so far little evidence that the quality of care for some of the big killers – like heart attack, stroke and cancer – is deteriorating. The Health Foundation

Perinatal pathway for babies with palliative care needs

Perinatal pathway for babies with palliative care needs This pathway has been developed by Together for Short Lives with expert input from leading ethicists and clinicians working across obstetrics, antenatal and neonatal care, and children’s palliative care. It is designed to support all professionals working in fetal medicine, anetental, neonatal and maternity services to deliver sensitive and timely support, enabling families to spend time with their baby in a more home-like environment, and with as little technologically dependent care as possible. It encourages professionals to work together across multidisciplinary teams and local services to provide the best response to families. This is a free publication but need to enter some details in order to receive it. Together for Short Lives

Turning up the volume: unheard voices of people with dementia

Turning up the volume: unheard voices of people with dementia This report contains the findings of a consultation with people affected by dementia. It reveals that nearly half of the UK adults questioned had not started saving for the care and support they might need in the future, and a third agreed that before being asked, they had not considered the cost of dementia care and support. It brings together the views of more than 3,850 people with dementia, carers and the public, in a series of in-depth interviews and face-to-face and online surveys. Alzheimer's Society

Hospital 'long waits' hit five-year high

Hospital 'long waits' hit five-year high Hospitals waiting times in England have deteriorated markedly in the past five years, an analysis shows.

The Health Foundation review of official NHS data between 2011-12 and 2016-17 found longer waits for cancer, A&E and routine operations.

Last year the NHS missed all three targets for the first time in its history - and researchers warned it could get worse before it improves.

But the Conservatives said investment was being made to improve services. BBCNews

One in three GP practices offer patients access to appointments on Sunday

One in three GP practices offer patients access to appointments on Sunday A third of GP practices in England now provide access to patients on a Sunday, while in London almost 100% of patients have access to appointments outside of core hours. GPonline

UK facing public health ‘ticking time bomb’

UK facing public health ‘ticking time bomb’ The UK is facing a ‘ticking time bomb’ in public health, doctors’ leaders have warned today.

In its manifesto, A Vote for Health, the British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for urgent action to improve the health of the population and reverse cuts to public health.

Commenting, Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: “When it comes to public health, the UK is going backwards. Prevention is better than cure and cuts to public health have a damaging impact on individuals’ health and wellbeing, and end up costing the NHS more in the long term.

“In England, successive governments have failed to deliver a long-term plan to improve public health, and too often evidence-based public health measures have been kicked into the long grass. We need tighter regulation of the food and soft drinks industry, a minimum unit price on alcohol and support for people to quit smoking.” OnMedica

Tainted blood scandal victim's son to sue amid cover-up allegations

Tainted blood scandal victim's son to sue amid cover-up allegations A family member of a victim of the “biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS” plans to launch a landmark legal case amid allegations of a Government cover-up.

Theresa May has said she will consider setting up an independent panel to investigate the tainted blood scandal, which left thousands infected with hepatitis and HIV in the 1970s and 80s.

Now Jason Evans, whose father Jonathan died after he was infected with HIV while being treated for haemophilia, is suing the Government for negligence. The Independent

Male suicide: ‘Gender should not be a death sentence’

Male suicide: ‘Gender should not be a death sentence’ Simon Gunning reveals what is being done to encourage men to open up about their emotions

We take a two-fold approach to changing and saving lives: firstly providing support for men who are down or in crisis, and secondly campaigning for culture change to tackle outdated stereotypes of masculinity that prevent men seeking help.

We do this in the face of a problem that is deeply entrenched. Many men feel forced to stoically “man up” (whatever that means) and grind through bad times without societal permission to open up or seek help. Calm’s research shows that while 67% of women tell someone about going through depression, only 55% of men do the same. Continue reading... The Guardian

Loneliness among older people: a new epidemic

Loneliness among older people: a new epidemic With millions of older people living in isolation, what is being done to help?

A weekly phone call or visit from a volunteer are among the solutions to help ease the loneliness epidemic affecting 1.2 million older people in England, according to campaigners.

Age UK, says that 1.2 million older people are chronically lonely and that this has an adverse impact on mental health, and the challenge will increase as our population ages. In the next 20 years, England’s over-85 population is set to rise from nearly

1.3 million people to just under 2.8 million. Continue reading... The Guardian

Children with eating disorders waiting months for help, first official figures show

Children with eating disorders waiting months for help, first official figures show Children with eating disorders are waiting more than a month for NHS treatment, new figures show.

The first ever official health service statistics show that hundreds of cases, including urgent referrals, are facing delays getting help for anorexia and bulimia.

Last year the Government set new targets in treatment for children and young people with eating disorders.

They state that by 2020, 95 per cent of the most urgent cases should get help within a week, with 95 per cent of the remainder seen within a month.

The new monthly figures, from NHS England show hundreds of children and young people are currently waiting far longer. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Eating disorders treatment targets met for two out of three children BBC News

Fruit and veg stall set up outside KGH

Fruit and veg stall set up outside KGH A fruit and veg stall has been set up outside Kettering General Hospital as part of its plan to promote healthy eating.

The innovative move has been welcomed by local people who have been flocking to the stand, run by experienced greengrocer Penny Benedict. Northamptonshire Telegraph

We should see acute hospitals as places for healing

We should see acute hospitals as places for healing Jocelyn Cornwell is chief executive of The Point of Care Foundation. Here she shares her thoughts on what would change if clinicians, managers and boards shifted their focus and placed priority on making hospital wards places of healing and caring. The King's Fund

HIV life expectancy 'near normal' thanks to new drugs

HIV life expectancy 'near normal' thanks to new drugs Young people on the latest HIV drugs now have near-normal life expectancy because of improvements in treatments, a study in The Lancet suggests.

Twenty-year-olds who started antiretroviral therapy in 2010 are projected to live 10 years longer than those first using it in 1996, it found.

Doctors say that starting treatment early is crucial to achieve a long and healthy life.

Charities say there are still too many people unaware they have the virus. BBC News

New ambulances rolled out for obese patients

New ambulances rolled out for obese patients Ambulance services across England have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to ensure vehicles can cope with a growing number of obese patients.

Bariatric ambulances are specially-designed and equipped in response to a 10-fold spike in hospital visits linked to obesity in the past decade

The number of admissions has increased from 52,000 in 2006 to 520,000 in 2016.

Figures show the north west had the highest number of obesity-related admissions in 2016, with 78,000.

The North West Ambulance Service has eight bariatric vehicles, used 40,000 times in four years, and has spent £184,000 on specialist equipment since 2015. BBC News

Thousands of patients will contract Lyme disease this year, GPs warned

Thousands of patients will contract Lyme disease this year, GPs warned GPs must consider Lyme disease in patients with bull's-eye rash or if they become unwell following a tick bite, campaigners have warned as modelling suggests the disease is set to reach epidemic levels. GPonline

A hospital with a brain: how big data is changing healthcare

A hospital with a brain: how big data is changing healthcare The NHS holds a wealth of data about how patients are diagnosed and treated. Unlocking its secrets could be key to improving patient care

Iain Hennessey wants to build a hospital with a brain. It sounds like the stuff sci-fi movies are made of but as this affable consultant paedeatric surgeon explains, his desire is to improve care at Alder Hey children’s hospital by making better use of its growing wealth of information.

“It’s all well and good having all of this data, but if you can’t do anything with it then it’s pretty useless – it overwhelms you,” says Hennessey, who balances a role as clinical director of innovation alongside his surgical commitments. Continue reading.. The Guardian

Designed by patients: the mental health centre saving the NHS £300,000 a year

Designed by patients: the mental health centre saving the NHS £300,000 a year The patients who use the Gellinudd Recovery Centre have a say in everything from policy to the decor. Could co-produced innovations be the future for mental health care?

Soft, neatly folded blankets hang invitingly over the backs of the modern but comfy armchairs in the Gellinudd Recovery Centre’s communal living room. In the en suite bedrooms, there are white waffle slippers and dressing gowns embroidered with the centre’s tree symbol.

Staff and guests – those who stay are not termed patients – join forces to cook, clean and tend the fruit and veg they then sit down to eat together at Gellinudd, which is the UK’s first inpatient mental health centre to be designed by service users and their carers. “If you’re a psychiatrist you’ll still be expected to be in the kitchen chopping vegetables alongside everyone else,” says the centre’s director, Alison Guyatt. Continue reading... The Guardian

Gardening, art, sport – 'prescriptions' for mental health that don't involve pills

Gardening, art, sport – 'prescriptions' for mental health that don't involve pills Social prescribing, where patients are referred to non-clinical activities, is producing positive outcomes. But can the voluntary sector keep up with demand?

Group therapeutic work had never appealed to Kerina, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder in her 30s after suffering from mental health issues all her life. “You sit there reading paperwork and it feels like you’re in a classroom,” she says.

Then two years ago the community mental health team in Mid Ross in the Scottish Highlands gave her a “social prescription” – referring her to Branching Out, a Forestry Commission Scotland programme designed to help people recover from long-term mental health problems. For 12 weeks she spent five hours a week in the woods doing conservation work, bushcraft and environmental art. Continue reading... The Guardian

Fears Britain faces stroke epidemic fuelled by bulging waistlines

Fears Britain faces stroke epidemic fuelled by bulging waistlines Britain is facing an “shocking” stroke epidemic as bulging waistlines take their toll, a major report by Kings College London has found.

The study of 35 countries warns that within two decades, the number of strokes is set to rise by 44 per cent - far above the average across Europe.

The UK already has the sixth highest number of strokes in Europe, with among the highest cholesterol levels.

Cardiac experts last night warned that soaring obesity levels are fuelling heart problems, and said simple lifestyle changes could greatly reduce the risk of strokes. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Britain faces epidemic of strokes as we live longer The Daily Mail
• Number of strokes in UK predicted to rise by 44% in next 20 years The Guardian

'Shattering stigma starts with simple conversations': tackling the child mental health crisis

'Shattering stigma starts with simple conversations': tackling the child mental health crisis From online counselling to a texting service offered by school nurses and free wellbeing courses, providing support for young people needn’t break councils’ budgets. Sarah Johnson reports on a roundtable discussion

Public concern around child and adolescent mental health is at an all-time high. The prime minister, Theresa May announced in January her intention to better identify and help the growing number of young people in schools who are at risk of developing mental health issues. Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, meanwhile, are using their profiles to convince the public that “shattering stigma on mental health starts with simple conversations”.

And yet, despite growing awareness of the issue, child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) are under an increasing amount of pressure. Healthcare professionals bemoan a lack of resources and staff while the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has described Camhs as the “biggest single area of weakness of NHS provision”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How schools are dealing with the crisis in children’s mental health The Guardian
• Children need to be in the right mental state to learn effectively The Guardian
• Growing up transgender: ‘I wish I could have come out younger’ The Guardian
• Supporting LGBTI pupils: 'It's important a school is ready for anyone' The Guardian
• Social media and bullying: how to keep young people safe online The Guardian

Leading across the health and care system: lessons from experience

Leading across the health and care system: lessons from experience This paper offers those who are leading new systems of care some guidance on how to address the challenges they face. It draws on the Fund’s work on the development of new care models, sustainability and transformation plans, and accountable care organisations. It is also informed by the experience of people who have occupied system leadership roles and draws on case studies from our research and organisational development work. The King's Fund

The benefits of ID scanning: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The benefits of ID scanning: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust This case study shares King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's experience of implementing scanning equipment and software to retrospectively check staff documentation. NHS Employers

Southern Health faces Connor Sparrowhawk drowning charges

Southern Health faces Connor Sparrowhawk drowning charges An NHS trust is to be prosecuted over the drowning of an 18-year-old patient at one of its facilities, the BBC has learned.

Connor Sparrowhawk suffered an epileptic fit while in a bath at Slade House in Oxford in July 2013.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust eventually admitted responsibility and offered his family compensation.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the BBC News it will now prosecute the trust.

Concern over rise in acne drug use

Concern over rise in acne drug use Campaigners fear too many young people are being put on Roaccutane, a drug linked with suicidal feelings. BBC News

GPs struggle to support patients sent far from home for mental healthcare

GPs struggle to support patients sent far from home for mental healthcare GPs warn they are struggling to support young patients with mental illness after BMA research found seven in 10 children and adolescents with severe mental health problems were admitted to hospitals outside their local area. GPonline

Mental health nurses in short supply as NHS struggles to fill vacancies

Mental health nurses in short supply as NHS struggles to fill vacancies An ageing workforce combined with a lack of new recruits means mental health nurses are having to take on higher caseloads

Community-based teams care for 97% of mental health patients. And nurses play a pivotal role, building up trust between patients and their families.

However, since 2010 the total number of NHS mental health nurses in England has dropped by 15% – in parts of London, about 20% of job vacancies are unfilled. Helen Gilburt, a fellow in health policy at thinktank the King’s Fund, says: “Community mental health teams are supporting people to stay well, so if you haven’t got sufficient workforce to deliver that care, people are more likely to relapse.” Continue reading... The Guardian

‘Death and dying continues to be seen as a big taboo’ | Mary O’Hara

‘Death and dying continues to be seen as a big taboo’ | Mary O’Hara The US palliative care specialist says end-of-life care should be a higher priority – and it makes sense financially, too

Dr BJ (Bruce) Miller is convinced that how we care for people towards the end of their lives needs an urgent, radical rethink. An American palliative care specialist, Miller is in the UK this week as the keynote speaker at a conference marking the 50th anniversary of modern hospice care in Britain. He will argue that much more needs to be done to ensure the best possible quality of life for people as they deal with illness and approach dying.

“The way in which we handle death and dying is enormous, fascinating and elemental, and yet it is something that continues to be seen as a taboo,” Miller says of how societies like Britain and America tend to confront the issue. Palliative care is not as high a priority as it should be, he says, and while there are encouraging signs of a growing understanding of the importance of end-of-life care, “at least here in the United States, and I presume [in Britain], a lot of people don’t understand what the heck palliative care is”.

We don’t need to demonise hospitals; we just need to use them more surgically Continue reading... The Guardian

Patients need motivation to recover. The NHS must offer hope | Kate Allatt

Patients need motivation to recover. The NHS must offer hope | Kate Allatt It is futile prescribing stroke rehabilitation plans if patients lack motivation before therapy starts or are left at home trying to manage their own condition

Our NHS is under attack from all angles. People are living longer, we don’t eat well or exercise enough. Yet we expect more from the NHS; more people are visiting A&E departments and minor injury units year on year, and costs are rising.

How do we tackle this? What if we focus on marginal gains, the performance strategy that helped British Cycling to success in multiple Olympics?

L​owering ​​patients’ expectations of ​recovery​ can be extremely damaging Continue reading... The Guardian

Mums say NHS post-natal care put them off more children

Mums say NHS post-natal care put them off more children Kerry Derry, 29, from Lincolnshire says she was left without painkillers for hours after giving birth in an NHS hospital and only got some after her husband brought them to her. The Daily Mail

Number of patients missing from NHS mental health units has risen by 64 per cent since 2014

Number of patients missing from NHS mental health units has risen by 64 per cent since 2014 The number of patients absconding from NHS mental health units has risen by up to 64 per cent since 2014, new figures show.

According to Freedom of Information data from 19 mental health trusts, incidents in which troubled patients vanish from units, or fail to return from authorised periods of leave, have risen by 28 per cent from 2438 incidents in 2014 to 3139 in 2016. The Daily Telegraph

Junior doctors show reaches new hard hitting heights as third year medic performs lumbar puncher on baby

Junior doctors show reaches new hard hitting heights as third year medic performs lumbar puncher on baby Channel 4's #ConfessionsOfAJuniorDoctor delved into life on the pediatric ward at Northampton General Hospital in Wednesdays episode, which followed fifth-year registrar Neeta and third year pediatrician Fahim both foot-soldiers of the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Brexit and the NHS: election 2017

Brexit and the NHS: election 2017 This briefing outlines the priorities identified by NHS Confederation for the new incoming government. It calls for all political parties to commit to a series of pledges on Brexit ahead of the upcoming general election.

Election briefing: NHS and social care funding - three unavoidable challenges

Election briefing: NHS and social care funding - three unavoidable challenges The Health Foundation has called for increased investment in the NHS to halt planned reductions in spending per person over the next two years, in what will be the toughest decade of funding growth in NHS history. In its new briefing published today, the independent charity also outlines how the new government urgently needs to bridge an alarming funding gap in social care, which has resulted in at least 400,000 fewer people in England receiving care.

In the first of three briefings ahead of the 2017 General Election, the Health Foundation’s paper NHS and social care funding: three unavoidable challenges provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of NHS and social care finances in England. It outlines three unavoidable financial challenges that need to be tackled by the next government if it is to maintain health care and social care services.

Smoking may be banned in new council homes, says health expert

Smoking may be banned in new council homes, says health expert Smoking could be banned in some new council homes in a bid to protect the health of children, a UK public health expert has said.

Under the proposals, tenants would be asked to sign an agreement not to light up inside their home.

President of the Faculty of Public Health, Prof John Middleton, says some councils and housing associations are already exploring the smoke-free housing idea. BBC News

See also:

• Council house residents could be banned from smoking in their homes The Daily Telegraph

General election: Labour 'would axe NHS parking charges'

General election: Labour 'would axe NHS parking charges' Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour would provide free car parking at all NHS hospitals in England to end what he called a "tax on serious illness".

Mr Corbyn said the estimated £162m cost would be paid for by an increase in tax on private health insurance premiums.

The plan has the support of NHS unions.

But the Conservatives said Mr Corbyn "wouldn't be able to deliver it" - and the Lib Dems said Labour had voted with the Tories for a hard Brexit that would mean "less money for the NHS". BBC News

See also:

• Corbyn vows Labour would end hospital car parking charges The Daily Mail
• Labour will end hospital car parking charges in England, says Corbyn The Guardian
• Labour pledges to end hospital parking charges across England The Independent

Changing population means NHS faces real-terms funding cut this decade

Changing population means NHS faces real-terms funding cut this decade NHS spending in 2019/20 will be 1.3% lower in real terms than a decade earlier once growth and ageing of the population are taken into account, according to public policy analysts. GPonline

Buurtzorg: the Dutch model of neighbourhood care that is going global

Buurtzorg: the Dutch model of neighbourhood care that is going global Innovative nursing model cuts bureaucracy and gives nurses more freedom and time with clients

The Dutch may be renowned for tulips and Edam cheese, but these days it’s their innovative district nursing and homecare model that is exciting global interest. Buurtzorg, which translates as “neighbourhood care”, is seen by its many enthusiasts as a key part of the solution to challenges facing healthcare systems across the world.

From Aberdeen to Shanghai, the Buurtzorg approach is being seized on by policy-makers as a means of enabling people with care needs to live independently with much less formal support. Potential cost savings of up to 40% have been calculated. Continue reading... The Guardian

The next government must give NHS staff a pay rise

The next government must give NHS staff a pay rise Pay restraint is preventing NHS leaders from recruiting and retaining the staff they need to provide safe, high quality care

The general election on 8 June is an important opportunity to restate what is needed to keep the NHS afloat. Its continued success needs investment in services and the capacity to reshape them to meet 21st century needs. Without this, patients, service users and frontline staff will feel the impact, and trusts will struggle to deliver improvements.

This is set against the backdrop of one of the longest and deepest financial squeezes in NHS history, with demand for services going through the roof and every type of trust running at capacity levels (pdf) way beyond the recommended levels. Continue reading... The Guardian

Why are so many broken bones NOT spotted in casualty?

Why are so many broken bones NOT spotted in casualty? A recent report showed the NHS is paying out millions of pounds a year for missed fractures across the UK, but insiders say the problem can be avoided with better training. The Daily Mail

Maternity staff making 1,400 mistakes a week in NHS wards

Maternity staff making 1,400 mistakes a week in NHS wards Maternity staff are making more than 1,400 mistakes in NHS wards every week, figures reveal.

Midwives and nurses have recorded 305,019 errors in the last three years although the actual number is likely to be far higher.

They range from records being lost and low-level injury in birth to the needless deaths of mothers and babies. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The hospital errors leaving new parents devastated BBC News

Seven in ten children with severe mental health problems sent to hospitals far from home

Seven in ten children with severe mental health problems sent to hospitals far from home Seven in ten children and teenagers with severe mental health problems are being treated in hospitals far from home, with some sent hundreds of miles, an investigation has found.

Soaring numbers of children are being treated in regions beyond where they live, official figures show, with a doubling of cases in some areas.

Psychiatrists said the figures were “alarming” with children being forced to suffer the “incredible wrench” of being left miles from their family, at a time when they were at the most vulnerable. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• 7 out of 10 children with mental health problems are treated outside home area The Guardian

KGH to hold event to help people plan end of life care

KGH to hold event to help people plan end of life care Kettering General Hospital is holding an event to help people plan for their healthcare needs towards the end of life. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Surviving or Thriving? The state of the UK's mental health

Surviving or Thriving? The state of the UK's mental health In March 2017, commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation, NatCen conducted a survey amongst its panel members in England, Scotland and Wales. This aimed to understand the prevalence of self-reported mental health problems, levels of positive and negative mental health in the population, and the actions people take to deal with the stressors in their lives. 

New case study looks at reducing agency spend

New case study looks at reducing agency spend In this new case study, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust shares its experience and advice on how it has reduced medical agency spend. NHS Employers

New report - Reward in the NHS: good practice and innovation taking place across the NHS on reward

New report - Reward in the NHS: good practice and innovation taking place across the NHS on reward This report captures the themes, good practice, and innovation that have emerged from NHS Employers' Total Reward Engagement Network over the last year. It focuses on key elements of reward and how organisations are changing their approach to reward. NHS Employers

General election 2017: NHS pay cap 'must be lifted'

General election 2017: NHS pay cap 'must be lifted' The pay cap on NHS staff must be lifted because it puts patient safety at risk, NHS bosses say.

NHS Providers said the cap, which limits pay rises to 1% a year to 2019, was causing severe recruitment and retention problems in England.

The body, which represents NHS trusts in England, said the next government must look at the issue immediately.

Labour says it would look to increase pay, but the Tories and Lib Dems have not yet set out any pay plans. BBC News

See also:

• Pay restraint has had its day NHS Providers
• Worries over NHS staffing a key election concern NHS Providers
• NHS staff 'quitting to work in supermarkets because of poor pay' The Guardian

General election 2017: Conservatives pledge to end mental health 'injustice'

General election 2017: Conservatives pledge to end mental health 'injustice' The 1983 Mental Health Act would be replaced with new laws tackling "unnecessary detention" under Tory plans for England and Wales.

The Conservatives also pledged 10,000 more NHS mental health staff by 2020 and to tackle discrimination against those with mental health problems.

But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC that a failure to hit A&E targets was "not acceptable".

Opponents said without extra money, the Tory pledges were based on "thin air".

The Conservatives say their mental health plans are motivated by the concern that "vulnerable people are being subject to detention, including in police cells, unnecessarily" as numbers of people detained or "sectioned" under the Mental Health Act have risen. BBC News

See also:

• Reality check: Are there 6,700 fewer mental health staff? BBC News
• Hunt: Mental health care is 'not good enough' ITV News

General election 2017: Labour proposes junk food ad ban

General election 2017: Labour proposes junk food ad ban Adverts for junk food and sweets would be banned from all TV shows broadcast before the 21:00 watershed under Labour plans to tackle childhood obesity.

The party says the proposal forms part of a future child health bill that will be outlined in its election manifesto.

Products high in fat, salt or sugar are currently banned from being advertised during children's TV only.

The Tories said they had the world's "most ambitious" child obesity plan that would be put at risk by Labour.

According to Labour, introducing a ban on pre-watershed junk food promotions would reduce children's viewing of such adverts by 82%. BBC News

'Unnecessary' painkillers could leave thousands addicted, doctors warn

'Unnecessary' painkillers could leave thousands addicted, doctors warn Prescriptions for powerful opioid painkillers have doubled from 12m to 24m in past decade, NHS Digital figures reveal
Prescription pain killers: share your stories with us

Powerful and potentially addictive opiate painkillers are being handed out too readily, leading doctors have warned after it emerged that the number of times the drugs are being prescribed in the UK has doubled in the past decade.

The Faculty of Pain Medicine and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said they were worried about the high and growing use of opioid drugs such as codeine and tramadol – while other experts warn that hundreds of thousands of patients could be addicted to them. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Pills that kill: why are thousands dying from fentanyl abuse?? The Guardian
• Breaking the pain barrier: safe ways to manage chronic agony The Guardian

Antibiotics may soon be useless against infections

Antibiotics may soon be useless against infections  The country is on the brink of a ‘post-antibiotic’ era in which infections will only be cured by fresh air and sunshine, the chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies is particularly worried about the spread of untreatable strains of gonorrhoea which are already on the rise in some areas of the country.

She is also concerned about the emergence of resistant forms of TB which are not responding to antibiotics. The Daily Mail

Liberal Democrats pledge to put 1p on income tax to pay for NHS

Liberal Democrats pledge to put 1p on income tax to pay for NHS A local election breakthrough for the Liberal Democrats fuelled by pro-European Union supporters angry about Brexit failed to materialise with overall losses of 37 seats.

Despite the poor showing, the party’s vote share increased, prompting the party to claim it could win “scores” of seats at the general election on June 8.

The news came as the LibDems announced plans to put 1p on income tax to raise an extra £6 billion to spend on hospitals and and social care. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Lib Dems pledge 1p income tax rise to fund NHS BBC News
• Lib Dems pledge 1p tax rise to 'rescue NHS and social care' The Guardian

Patients in hospitals should be tagged with 'homing beacons' to stop them being lost in 'chaotic' wards, King's Fund and Royal College say

Patients in hospitals should be tagged with 'homing beacons' to stop them being lost in 'chaotic' wards, King's Fund and Royal College say All hospital patients should be tagged with homing beacons to prevent staff losing track of them on busy and chaotic NHS wards, experts have said.

The author of a new King’s Fund report said doctors and nurses waste “extraordinary” amounts of time trying to locate patients when they should be treating them.

Michael Wise, a clinician who spent months as an acute NHS patient, called on the health service to adopt tracking technologies such as those used in hospitals in Asia. The Daily Telegraph

Doctors and nurses could be issued with body cameras to record violent patients

Doctors and nurses could be issued with body cameras to record violent patients Doctors and nurses could be issued with body cameras to record violent patients following a successful pilot scheme in England.

More than 40 staff at Berrywood Hospital within Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were issued with cameras between December and March and the number of violent incidents and use of emergency restraints dropped by 14 per cent.

There are around 70,000 assaults on NHS staff every year, so if rolled out nationally, the scheme could prevent 10,000 incidents a year.

“I think it was very successful, because we have shown it is feasible to implement it, but we need a much larger study to say with any certainty that it will cause a reduction in incidents,” said Dr Alex O’Neil-Kerr, the trust’s clinical medical director. The Daily Telegraph

Congestion and emissions in Northampton causes '102 deaths a year', study claims.

Congestion and emissions in Northampton causes '102 deaths a year', study claims One in 20 deaths in Northampton are attributed to air pollutants, a report has claimed.

It points to the diesel engine byproduct nitrogen dioxide as the main cause of health problems. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton nurse fell asleep on the job without switching on young patient's breathing monitor

Northampton nurse fell asleep on the job without switching on young patient's breathing monitor A Northampton nurse has been struck off after falling asleep on duty on two separate incidents.


Cheryl Donna Schofield could not appear at her conduct and competence meeting before the Nursing and Midwifery Council on April 26 in Edinburgh, where the panel decided she was unfit to practise. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Caring to change: how compassionate leadership can stimulate innovation in health care

Caring to change: how compassionate leadership can stimulate innovation in health care This paper looks at compassion – which involves attending, understanding, empathising and helping – as a core cultural value of the NHS and how compassionate leadership results in a working environment that encourages people to find new and improved ways of doing things.

It describes four key elements of a culture for innovative, high-quality and continually improving care and what they mean for patients, staff and the wider organisation: inspiring vision and strategy; positive inclusion and participation; enthusiastic team and cross-boundary working; and support and autonomy for staff to innovate.

It also presents case studies of how compassionate leadership has led to innovation. This work was supported by the Health Foundation. The King's Fund

HIV services: a view from the sharp end of policy decisions

HIV services: a view from the sharp end of policy decisions This is both the best and the worst time to be living with HIV. I should know – I was diagnosed with HIV in 1990.

More than 25 years on, clinical care is excellent and treatment not only works but results in an undetectable viral load (the level of HIV in the blood) that ensures we cannot pass on HIV, removing a huge burden from living with the virus. We are ageing with HIV – which is great – but, for many, ageing comes with complex health conditions compounded by layers of stigma. All at a time of public health disinvestment, third sector funding cuts and political uncertainty. The King's Fund

Children and young people’s mental health - the role of education

Children and young people’s mental health - the role of education As part of a joint inquiry into children and young people's mental health, the Health and Education Committees found that financial pressures are restricting the provision of mental health services in schools and colleges. The report suggests that the next Government review the effects of the budget reductions in the education sector. House of Commons Health Select Committee 

Baby deaths cluster: Trust paid out millions in compensation

Baby deaths cluster: Trust paid out millions in compensation An NHS trust facing a review into maternity errors has paid out millions in compensation after similar mistakes led to babies born with brain injuries.

The health secretary has ordered a review into the deaths of at least five babies at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.

A law firm says it has 27 open cases into claims that mistakes at the trust led to brain injuries at birth.

The trust said the sums already paid out did not reflect current services.

A medical negligence charity says the trust is an "outlier" in terms of avoidable harm and has demanded a full inquiry. BBC News

Student mental health costs should be free, according to the Royal College of GPs

Student mental health costs should be free, according to the Royal College of GPs The Royal College of GPs tells Newsbeat that students with mental health problems should receive free prescriptions. BBC News

CCGs withhold GP Forward View cash unless practices deliver savings

CCGs withhold GP Forward View cash unless practices deliver savings CCGs in some areas are attempting to avoid paying out funding promised to practices in the GP Forward View, according to GP leaders. GPonline

Are NHS transformation plans a sticking plaster over big funding gaps?

Are NHS transformation plans a sticking plaster over big funding gaps? Finance directors call for more realism, as concern grows that the plans cannot deliver the savings needed to close the £22bn health funding deficit

Almost every day there’s a new report on the state of NHS finances. With so many negative headlines, it can be difficult to keep sight of what the extent of the problem is and what solutions might fix it.

Many NHS organisations are under severe financial pressure. The planned savings are still ambitious and, after speaking to finance directors, our research has found they lack confidence about whether they can deliver the annual 2–3% savings needed to close the £22bn funding gap. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hunt announces plans for inquiry into rogue surgeon Ian Paterson

Hunt announces plans for inquiry into rogue surgeon Ian Paterson Health secretary says government – if returned to power – will hold inquiry into doctor convicted of carrying out unnecessary operations

Jeremy Hunt has announced plans to hold an inquiry into rogue surgeon Ian Paterson, who was last week convicted of carrying out “completely unnecessary” operations on patients.

The breast cancer surgeon was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three of unlawful wounding against 10 patients after a seven-week trial at Nottingham crown court. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Breast surgeon Ian Paterson inquiry pledge from Tories BBC News
• NHS will face probe over rogue surgeon The Daily Mail

UK must get tough on childhood obesity, says top doctors

UK must get tough on childhood obesity, says top doctors Obesity Health Alliance issues 10-point action plan in hope of influencing party manifestos for general election

Britain must take much tougher action to tackle childhood obesity, including banning sponsorship of sports events by manufacturers of unhealthy food and drinks, leading doctors will warn. Without such robust measures, the NHS will come under “enormous and unsustainable strain” from a condition that already costs it £5bn a year, according to an action plan by the Obesity Health Alliance.

The alliance, which comprises 41 medical groups, health charities and public health bodies, has drawn up a 10-point action plan intended to influence the political parties as they draw up their manifestos for the election on 8 June. Continue reading... The Guardian

Pfizer to give out breast cancer pill for FREE on NHS

Pfizer to give out breast cancer pill for FREE on NHS Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer yesterday said it would provide palbociclib for five months while rationing watchdog NICE assesses the treatment. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Breast cancer patients offered wonder drug for free while NHS makes up its mind The Daily Telegraph
• Pfizer to give out breast cancer drug free while awaiting NHS decision The Guardian

More than one-third of men are lonely says RVS

More than one-third of men are lonely says RVS Going through a break up, being unemployed and the death of a family member are the causes in 17 per cent of British men. Over 25 per cent of men aged 65 to 69 blame retirement. The Daily Mail

See also:

• New research on behalf of Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness suggests millions of men, young and old, are experiencing loneliness but suffering in silence Royal Voluntary Service

Young adults less likely to drink, official figures show

Young adults less likely to drink, official figures show The proportion of adults who drink alcohol on a weekly basis is at its lowest since figures began in 2005, official data from around 7,700 British adults suggests. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Three new reports on alcohol use and misuse published today NHS Digital
• Hospital admissions for alcohol-related illnesses increase The Daily Mail
• Baby boomers warned over alcohol intake as hospital admissions soar The Guardian

Numbers waiting 18 weeks for NHS surgery could double, leak reveals

Numbers waiting 18 weeks for NHS surgery could double, leak reveals Leaked "devastating" documents reveal that the number of NHS patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for surgery is forecast to double in two years.

The figures from health service regulators show total numbers on waiting lists are expected to soar to 5.5 million by 2019, on current trends, compared with a current figure of 3.7 million.

It comes after the head of the NHS said worsening waiting times for routine operations were an expected “trade off” for efforts to improve emergency care and cancer treatment. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS waiting lists to double for hip and knee operations The Daily Mail
• NHS hospital waiting lists to rise above five million in two years, leak suggests The Independent

Mental health: Players' union PFA says 'more and more' players seeking help

Mental health: Players' union PFA says 'more and more' players seeking help The number of players seeking help for mental health problems is increasing as awareness of the issue grows, says the Professional Footballers' Association. BBC Sport

NHS annual budget rises under Tories are fraction of past increases – IFS

NHS annual budget rises under Tories are fraction of past increases – IFS early funding rises of 1.3% between 2009-10 and 2015-16 are less than one-third of levels health service has had over 60 years

The annual increases in the NHS budget since 2009 have been less than one-third of the average yearly funding rise the health service has had over the past 60 years, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Public spending on health across the UK went up by 1.3% a year between 2009-10, Labour’s last year in power, and 2015-16, the first year of David Cameron’s majority Conservative government. The Guardian

• UK health spending Kings Fund

KGH dementia garden appeal tops £10,000

KGH dementia garden appeal tops £10,000 A Kettering General Hospital Appeal to develop a dementia garden at the hospital has topped £10,000 after only two months. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Give overweight patients a year of weight-loss classes, say researchers

Give overweight patients a year of weight-loss classes, say researchers Tens of thousands of cases of obesity-related diseases could be prevented if the standard three-month course of weight-loss classes were extended, says study

Overweight or obese patients should be offered 12 months of weight-loss classes rather than the standard three months, according to research showing that the move could prevent tens of thousands of cases of obesity-related diseases over the next 25 years.

The study found that those given a year-long pass to weight-loss classes lost more weight and were better able to keep it off than those on three-month programmes or those going it alone with self-help guides. The Guardian

Occupational therapy could save NHS and social care – but don't call us OTs | Julia Scott

Occupational therapy could save NHS and social care – but don't call us OTs | Julia Scott Occupational therapists slash hospital admissions and delayed transfers of care – clinicians and politicians need to recognise and value our work. BBC News - Health

Increase in cases of men suffering from eating disorders

Increase in cases of men suffering from eating disorders Simon, one of an increasing number of men suffering from anorexia, explains why he is frightened of eating. BBC News - Health

Shifting attention to acute medical wards would benefit staff and patients

Shifting attention to acute medical wards would benefit staff and patients Organising care at the NHS front line, a report from The King’s Fund, focuses on the logistical barriers to delivering the best care for acutely ill medical patients. Its starting point is the lived experiences of clinical staff based on acute medical units, and general medical and geriatric inpatient wards.

These clinical areas are in the eye of a perfect storm, created by rising emergency attendances, falling bed numbers and more patients stranded in hospital due to increasingly inadequate community health and social care capacity. Acute care staff are often the ‘shock absorbers’ for these system problems – the one place that can never say no, yet often feeling unable to influence solutions outside the hospital walls. Their own morale, retention and engagement can suffer, perpetuating a vicious circle. But are some of the solutions in their own gift? The King's Fund

The NHS and technology: turn it off and on again

The NHS and technology: turn it off and on again With all the excitement around the upcoming general election, it would be quite understandable to have missed the announcement that the Department of Health’s long awaited response to Dame Fiona Caldicott's review of data security, consent and opt-outs has been delayed due to the pre-election period.

As well as being another example of how perpetual political campaigns add uncertainty to policy, this threatens to inject further rigor mortis into a debate that is in sore need of advancement. With UK e-Health Week taking place this week, it offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the state of technology within the NHS. The King's Fund

The role of the independent sector in the NHS

The role of the independent sector in the NHS A briefing from the NHS Confederation looks at the role of the independent sector in the NHS and dispels some myths.

HIV doctor alert prompts recall of patients

HIV doctor alert prompts recall of patients An appeal has gone out to retest 400 patients treated by a doctor who was later diagnosed with HIV.

NHS officials said the locum was employed at three hospital trusts between June 2010 and February 2015.

These were Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

While emphasising the risk is low, letters offering testing have been sent to the patients identified.

The largest number of affected patients is 223 in Nottingham. There were 120 at Chesterfield and 57 in Cornwall. BBC News

Patient dies after 54 years in same Airdrie hospital

Patient dies after 54 years in same Airdrie hospital Ex-soldier James Morris is thought to have spent longer in a single NHS hospital than anyone else. BBC News

BMA demands more NHS funding as two thirds of doctors report cuts

BMA demands more NHS funding as two thirds of doctors report cuts The BMA has called on all political parties in the general election to commit to increasing NHS investment after two thirds of doctors reported funding cuts over the past year. GPonline

One in 30 locum doctors earn £1200 for ten-hour NHS shift, reveal new figures

One in 30 locum doctors earn £1200 for ten-hour NHS shift, reveal new figures One in 30 locum doctors earns £120 an hour, it has been revealed – said to be the highest rates since pay caps were introduced for agency staff working in the NHS.

New data shows average hourly pay for locums between October and December increased by 1.4 per cent to £64.17, while rates for specialists were more than double the agreed wage cap as the health service struggles to cope with staff shortages. The Independent

See also:

• Agency Commission Rates For Temporary NHS Staff Fall But Demand Pushes Pay Up Liaison