NHS leaders are planning "unthinkable" measures including closing services, stopping treatments and systematically extending waiting times, amid growing financial pressures, health officials say. The Telegraph.
Tuesday, 6 June 2017
NHS told to 'think the unthinkable' on cuts and closures
NHS told to 'think the unthinkable' on cuts and closures
Monday, 5 June 2017
Bosom buddies: Northampton women start peer support group for breast cancer survivors
Bosom buddies: Northampton women start peer support group for breast cancer survivors Three Northampton breast cancer survivors have registered a charity and provide local peer support group to help others who have been diagnosed with the disease. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
General election 2017: who will be most generous to the NHS?
General election 2017: who will be most generous to the NHS? You might think that comparing the parties’ offers on the funding of the NHS would be a straightforward job. Surely nothing more than a little arithmetic, based on pounds, pence and growth rates.
Alas no. Though everyone promises more money, the parties start (and finish) counting the extra money from different years, include different elements of health spending and use different methodologies to tot up the numbers. I will try to set out the key measures of what the parties have offered, based on their headline manifesto commitments combined with public and private clarifications to fill in some of the gaps. Taking them in the order in which they were released. King's Fund
Alas no. Though everyone promises more money, the parties start (and finish) counting the extra money from different years, include different elements of health spending and use different methodologies to tot up the numbers. I will try to set out the key measures of what the parties have offered, based on their headline manifesto commitments combined with public and private clarifications to fill in some of the gaps. Taking them in the order in which they were released. King's Fund
One in seven practices in Scotland has a long-term GP vacancy
One in seven practices in Scotland has a long-term GP vacancy One in seven practices in Scotland has at least one GP post that has been vacant for six months or longer, a BMA poll reveals. GP Online
A trauma doctor tells of staff flooding into work as casualties arrived
A trauma doctor tells of staff flooding into work as casualties arrived Royal London hospital consultant explains the mass casualty plan that brought in extra staff and facilitated multiple operations
Malik Ramadhan is a doctor and the divisional director of emergency care and trauma at the Royal London Hospital, where 12 casualties from the London Bridge attacks were taken. He was one of scores of doctors, nurses and other staff who were called into work on Saturday night to treat those injured. He spoke to Denis Campbell. The Guardian
Malik Ramadhan is a doctor and the divisional director of emergency care and trauma at the Royal London Hospital, where 12 casualties from the London Bridge attacks were taken. He was one of scores of doctors, nurses and other staff who were called into work on Saturday night to treat those injured. He spoke to Denis Campbell. The Guardian
The NHS needs a culture shift if it truly wants to put patient safety first | Richard Vize
The NHS needs a culture shift if it truly wants to put patient safety first | Richard Vize The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch may be good for patients and staff, but will it tackle a piecemeal approach and design safety into the NHS?
The launch of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) marks an opportunity for substantial improvement in patient safety. But there may be fears that it will provide a veneer of progress, while the wider system still fails to tackle the root causes of safety problems. The Guardian
The launch of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) marks an opportunity for substantial improvement in patient safety. But there may be fears that it will provide a veneer of progress, while the wider system still fails to tackle the root causes of safety problems. The Guardian
Friday, 2 June 2017
Cross party parity on mental health
Cross party parity on mental health Gone are the days when mental health was a niche public concern. Over the past few years there have been many advocates for ‘parity of esteem’ – a commitment to putting support for mental health on a par with support for physical health. That mental health is prominent in each of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifestos is a testament to these voices, and reflects a shift in public opinion that considers equitable treatment of mental ill health as a key policy agenda. King's Fund
Caring by design
Caring by design This report sets out a series of recommendations for industry, care providers and policymakers to help solve the social care system's recruitment and retention crisis. The report argues that more flexible job design, rather than just a skills solution, is needed in order to improve the quality of care and provide a cost-efficient solution for employers who are significantly reducing the cost of staff turnover. King's Fund
International profiles of health care systems
International profiles of health care systems This report presents an overview and comparison of the health care systems of 19 countries around the world. Each overview covers health insurance, public and private financing, health system organisation and governance, health care quality and coordination, disparities, efficiency and integration, use of information technology and evidence-based practice, cost containment, and recent reforms and innovations. In addition, summary tables provide data on a number of key health system characteristics and performance indicators, including overall health care spending, hospital spending and utilisation, health care access, patient safety, care coordination, chronic care management, disease prevention, capacity for quality improvement, and public views. Commonwealth Fund
Police looking at claims of data 'fiddling' at hospital
Police looking at claims of data 'fiddling' at hospital A BBC investigation into patient waiting times at Kettering General led to allegations of misconduct. Claims a hospital's waiting time figures were 'fiddled' to meet targets have been passed to police. It follows a BBC investigation into alleged misconduct at Kettering General Hospital which left thousands waiting over a year for treatment.
The trust which runs the hospital denied manipulating data but apologised for losing track of patients.
Northamptonshire Police said it had not yet launched a full investigation but was evaluating evidence. BBC Health News
The trust which runs the hospital denied manipulating data but apologised for losing track of patients.
Northamptonshire Police said it had not yet launched a full investigation but was evaluating evidence. BBC Health News
GP contacts with patients up 7.5% in two years
GP contacts with patients up 7.5% in two years The total number of telephone and face-to-face contacts between patients and GPs rose 7.5% over the two years from 2014/15 to 2016/17, analysis by a leading think tank reveals. GP Online
CQC outstanding practices have 50% more GPs
CQC outstanding practices have 50% more GPs GP practices rated outstanding by the CQC have one-and-a-half times as many GPs per 1,000 patients as those rated inadequate, according to a GPonline analysis. GP Online
Pupils risking their lives as mental health services collapse
Pupils risking their lives as mental health services collapse Funding cuts to mental health services have made thresholds for treatment so high that young people are risking their lives in desperate bids to get help, Tes can reveal. Stretched children and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) are driving growing numbers of pupils to make what look like suicide attempts just so they can have their mental illness treated. TES News
See also:
Teenagers are attempting suicide to access health services Mail Online.
See also:
Teenagers are attempting suicide to access health services Mail Online.
'A grim reality': concern over longer waits for NHS operations
'A grim reality': concern over longer waits for NHS operations Patients are being left in pain and discomfort due to fiancial pressures facing NHS, says Royal College of Surgeons. An increasing number of patients are having to wait more than six months for an operation in hospital, official NHS figures show. The number of people in England being forced to wait that long has almost trebled in the past four years, from 45,054 in March 2013 to 126,188 in March this year – a 180% rise. The Guardian
Thursday, 1 June 2017
Protection of Nurses Working with Children and Young People
Protection of Nurses Working with Children and Young People
Royal College of Nursing, May 2017.
This guidance aims to raise awareness among nurses and their managers of the complex issues surrounding safeguarding in the context of relationships between nurses and children and young people. Lancashire Care Library.
KGH working to bring down waiting times after data quality issue probe
KGH working to bring down waiting times after data quality issue probe
KGH say they have put a number of measures in place after an investigation revealed more than 100 patients were affected by data quality issues. Northamptonshire Telegraph.
Half of NHS areas planning to cancel or delay spending because of financial pressures
Half of NHS areas planning to cancel or delay spending because of financial pressures
The NHS is now planning to delay or cancel spending in half of local areas this year to meet financial targets, according to The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report. King's Fund.
NHS pressures
NHS pressures
The BMA is warning that the NHS in England is unlikely to recover from the pressure it faces during the winter, with trends suggesting that the health system is entering a state of year-round crisis. NHS Networks.
NHS funding choices and the 2017 general election
NHS funding choices and the 2017 general election
Analysis of the major political parties’ manifestos by Nuffield Trust finds that none of the parties has pledged to spend enough money on the NHS in England to close its funding gap, cope with increased demand and sustain high quality care. NHS Networks.
What policies are needed to improve children’s health?
What policies are needed to improve children’s health?
Ahead of the general election, the King's Fund considers what policies are needed to improve children's health. NHS Networks.
Mayur Lakhani elected as new RCGP President
Mayur Lakhani elected as new RCGP President
Mayur is a practising GP in Leicestershire and was Chair of RCGP Council from 2004 to 2007. He will serve a two-year term from November 2017 until November 2019, succeeding Dr Terry Kemple, who demits office at the College’s Annual General Meeting in November after completing his two-year term. RCGP.
Health and social care integration: roundtable write-up
Health and social care integration: roundtable write-up
New Local Government Network (NLGN) - This paper summarises the discussions from two roundtable events held in January and March 2017 with officers, practitioners, elected members and thought leaders from local government and health. The discussions focused on the challenges of implementing an integrated approach to health and social care. King's Fund.
The NHS and social care: prospects for funding, staffing and performance in the 2020s
The NHS and social care: prospects for funding, staffing and performance in the 2020s
Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) - This briefing is part of a series examining key issues relating to the 2017 general election. It focuses on the forecast for health and care funding, staffing and performance as well as looking back on the recent service reforms and how they have impacted on quality of care and service delivery. King's Fund.
The hospital as a multi-product firm: the effect of hospital competition on value-added indicators of clinical quality
The hospital as a multi-product firm: the effect of hospital competition on value-added indicators of clinical quality
Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) - This paper examines the impact of the introduction of patient choice in elective surgical procedures on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). It finds that by introducing competition via the mechanism of patient choice, there may have been a negative effect of clinical quality. King's Fund.
2016 adult inpatient survey: statistical release
2016 adult inpatient survey: statistical release
Care Quality Commission (CQC) - This report outlines the findings of the 2016 adult inpatient survey which illustrates the experiences of care of over 77,000 patients who received care in an NHS hospital during July 2016. It provides a snapshot of the quality of care in NHS hospitals and finds that patient experience has remained relatively stable since 2006. King's Fund.
See also:
Patients increasingly forced to wait for help after calling for nurses The Telegraph.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) - This report outlines the findings of the 2016 adult inpatient survey which illustrates the experiences of care of over 77,000 patients who received care in an NHS hospital during July 2016. It provides a snapshot of the quality of care in NHS hospitals and finds that patient experience has remained relatively stable since 2006. King's Fund.
See also:
Patients increasingly forced to wait for help after calling for nurses The Telegraph.
Getting a Brexit deal that works for the NHS
Getting a Brexit deal that works for the NHS
Nuffield Trust - This briefing finds that the NHS could face costs of almost half a billion pounds if retired British people living in other EU countries decide to return to UK in the event of their healthcare being withdrawn after Brexit. Additionally, this figure could be substantially higher if the NHS has to pay to replace staff if EU migration is reduced, or if it faces a rise in the cost of medicines. King's Fund.
See also:
News Daily: How much will Brexit cost the NHS? - BBC News BBC News.
Brexit could cost NHS £500m if pensioners are forced to return to UK GPonline.
See also:
News Daily: How much will Brexit cost the NHS? - BBC News BBC News.
Brexit could cost NHS £500m if pensioners are forced to return to UK GPonline.
Three in five GP practices increased their use of locums in past year
Three in five GP practices increased their use of locums in past year
Three in five GP practices have had to rely more heavily on locums to continue providing services during the past year, a GPonline poll suggests. GPonline.
Half of CCGs plan to cancel or delay NHS spending
Half of CCGs plan to cancel or delay NHS spending
Around half of CCGs are planning to delay or cancel spending on treatment this year in order to meet their financial targets, it has been revealed.
Think tank The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report published today shows that half of CCG finance leads said that achieving this year’s financial forecast was likely to depend on delaying or cancelling spending. OnMedica.
Think tank The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report published today shows that half of CCG finance leads said that achieving this year’s financial forecast was likely to depend on delaying or cancelling spending. OnMedica.
Public sector workers take more time off sick with mental health problems - The Sunday Post
Public sector workers take more time off sick with mental health problems - The Sunday Post ALMOST half of public sector workers have been forced to take time off work because of problems with their mental health, a large new survey has found.
Mental health charity Mind said its research revealed a higher prevalence of mental health problems in the public sector, as well as a lack of support available when people do speak up. The Sunday Post.
Also:
Public sector workers are more likely to say their mental health is poor and to have less support than private ... - City A.M. City A.M.
Public sector employees 'more anxious', charity says BBC News.
Mental health charity Mind said its research revealed a higher prevalence of mental health problems in the public sector, as well as a lack of support available when people do speak up. The Sunday Post.
Also:
Public sector workers are more likely to say their mental health is poor and to have less support than private ... - City A.M. City A.M.
Public sector employees 'more anxious', charity says BBC News.
Cancer patient dies after being denied transfer due to bed shortage
Cancer patient dies after being denied transfer due to bed shortage
Coroner fears more deaths if situation not remedied but UCLH says beds were available and suggests another hospital trust was involved
A cancer patient died after he was denied an urgently needed transfer to another hospital because no bed was available, a coroner has said. The Guardian.
A cancer patient died after he was denied an urgently needed transfer to another hospital because no bed was available, a coroner has said. The Guardian.
The Guardian view on the NHS: come clean about its real cost | Editorial
The Guardian view on the NHS: come clean about its real cost | Editorial
None of the manifestos promise enough to make sure that patients get the good standard of care
It has become a cliche of general election campaigns to claim the NHS is in danger – such a cliche that, so far, no party has yet made it in 2017. Yet it might be truer than it has ever been. The health service is under greater financial strain than it has been in its 69-year history. Targets like A&E waiting time limits, introduced by Tony Blair to drive improvements in the service, are being downgraded, and increasingly missed. The Guardian.
It has become a cliche of general election campaigns to claim the NHS is in danger – such a cliche that, so far, no party has yet made it in 2017. Yet it might be truer than it has ever been. The health service is under greater financial strain than it has been in its 69-year history. Targets like A&E waiting time limits, introduced by Tony Blair to drive improvements in the service, are being downgraded, and increasingly missed. The Guardian.
Four in ten NHS trusts to cut routine operations
Four in ten NHS trusts to cut routine operations
The King’s Fund said National Health Service managers were increasingly having to make ‘tough decisions’ on how to spend their money. Mail Online.
The King’s Fund said National Health Service managers were increasingly having to make ‘tough decisions’ on how to spend their money. Mail Online.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
GPs face the social care gap every day. But we can’t fill it | Zara Aziz
GPs face the social care gap every day. But we can’t fill it | Zara Aziz Health professionals feel increasingly like social workers as we try to access care for the vulnerable. Making them liable for the cost of their illness is wrong
Hospitals and GP surgeries are busier than ever. The burden of ill-health is especially noticeable in poor people, those suffering from mental health conditions, and the elderly. I help to look after the health of all of these groups of patients in my role as a GP, as well as (to a lesser extent) young people and those suffering from acute or self-limiting illnesses. The Guardian
Hospitals and GP surgeries are busier than ever. The burden of ill-health is especially noticeable in poor people, those suffering from mental health conditions, and the elderly. I help to look after the health of all of these groups of patients in my role as a GP, as well as (to a lesser extent) young people and those suffering from acute or self-limiting illnesses. The Guardian
Working at HMP Wandsworth: a healthcare environment like no other
Working at HMP Wandsworth: a healthcare environment like no other As a healthcare professional in one of the UK’s largest prisons, you’ll be exposed to a unique set of challenges and opportunities
HMP Wandsworth is soon to become a remand prison, meaning thousands more men will pass through its doors. To cope with this increased demand, the Offender Healthcare Service is recruiting.
Offenders have a vast range of physical and mental health needs, and substance misuse conditions. It’s estimated that 36% of prisoners in England and Wales have a physical disability or mental illness, and around 30% are estimated to have learning difficulties that affect their ability to cope with the criminal justice system. The Guardian
HMP Wandsworth is soon to become a remand prison, meaning thousands more men will pass through its doors. To cope with this increased demand, the Offender Healthcare Service is recruiting.
Offenders have a vast range of physical and mental health needs, and substance misuse conditions. It’s estimated that 36% of prisoners in England and Wales have a physical disability or mental illness, and around 30% are estimated to have learning difficulties that affect their ability to cope with the criminal justice system. The Guardian
NHS spending 'at its highest level in history'
NHS spending 'at its highest level in history' The study by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) found that annual spending on the NHS has reached £2,160 per person – up from just £500 in 1970. Daily Mail
NHS funding choices and the 2017 general election
NHS funding choices and the 2017 general election Nuffield Trust - This analysis of the major political parties manifestos has found that none of the parties have pledged to spend enough money on the NHS in England to close its funding gap, cope with increased demand and sustain high quality care. This briefing sets out four spending scenarios, setting them alongside a continuation of existing government plans and calculates how much money each would require by 2022/23. It finds that all the major political parties' plans fail to reach the lowest projecting of possible future NHS spending patterns and consequently spending as a proportion of GDP is set to fall under the three main parties' proposals. The King's Fund
NHS faces £500m-a-year bill post-Brexit for returning retirees, says thinktank
NHS faces £500m-a-year bill post-Brexit for returning retirees, says thinktank If current EU healthcare scheme for retired UK citizens ends, NHS costs will climb, with nurse and care worker shortages set to have a further impact
The NHS would be hit with a bill for an extra £500m a year if all the retired British citizens now living in Europe could no longer get care post-Brexit and returned to the UK, a report from a healthcare thinktank has calculated.
According to the Nuffield Trust, the cost of Brexit to the NHS and social care system would be higher still if the numbers of nurses and care workers currently coming to the UK from Europe fell. Its report says there could be a shortfall of 70,000 paid carers by 2025/26 if the migration of unskilled workers to Britain from Europe is no longer permitted. The Guardian
The NHS would be hit with a bill for an extra £500m a year if all the retired British citizens now living in Europe could no longer get care post-Brexit and returned to the UK, a report from a healthcare thinktank has calculated.
According to the Nuffield Trust, the cost of Brexit to the NHS and social care system would be higher still if the numbers of nurses and care workers currently coming to the UK from Europe fell. Its report says there could be a shortfall of 70,000 paid carers by 2025/26 if the migration of unskilled workers to Britain from Europe is no longer permitted. The Guardian
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Mental health and new models of care: lessons from the vanguards
Mental health and new models of care: lessons from the vanguards
Report on recent research with vanguard sites in England by the King's Fund and Royal College of Psychiatrists. King's Fund.
Union: KGH staff victims of ‘ludicrous’ £20 parking fees
Union: KGH staff victims of ‘ludicrous’ £20 parking fees
A trade union says a temporary £20 parking fee at KGH will mean staff will bear the burden of the addition of a second tier to Car Park B. Northamptonshire Telegraph.
A trade union says a temporary £20 parking fee at KGH will mean staff will bear the burden of the addition of a second tier to Car Park B. Northamptonshire Telegraph.
Sustainable workforce key to wider care challenges, says Health Foundation
Sustainable workforce key to wider care challenges, says Health Foundation
A Health Foundation briefing on the challenges facing the NHS and social care workforce in England, points to a combination of issues around recruitment, retention and morale. Health Foundation.
Healthy commissioning: how the Social Value Act is being used by clinical commissioning groups
Healthy commissioning: how the Social Value Act is being used by clinical commissioning groups National Voices - This report, produced in partnership with Social Enterprise UK, finds that only 13 per cent of CCGs can clearly show that they are actively committed to persuing social value in their procurement and commissioning decisions. King's Fund.
See also:
Commissioners ‘failing’ to consider wider societal issues OnMedica.
Commissioners ignore social value law NHS Networks
See also:
Commissioners ‘failing’ to consider wider societal issues OnMedica.
Commissioners ignore social value law NHS Networks
Autism diagnoses 'could be reduced under NHS plan'
Autism diagnoses 'could be reduced under NHS plan'
Proposals to reduce the number of children being diagnosed with autism are being considered by NHS commissioners in south-west London. BBC News.
NHS patients offered the chance to see a GP weeks earlier - if they pay - Telegraph.co.uk
NHS patients offered the chance to see a GP weeks earlier - if they pay - Telegraph.co.uk
NHS patients are being offered the chance to jump the queue to see a GP weeks earlier - if they pay for it. Touchscreen advertising within NHS practices is offering patients facing waits of almost a month a same-day appointment for £39. The Telegraph.
General election 2017: party manifesto pledges on health and care
General election 2017: party manifesto pledges on health and care
With the general election manifestos published, GPonline looks at what the three main parties in England are promising for health. GPOnline.
With the general election manifestos published, GPonline looks at what the three main parties in England are promising for health. GPOnline.
Hospital beds occupied by mental health patients at record high - iNews
Hospital beds occupied by mental health patients at record high - iNews
Hospital beds occupied by mental health patients are at an all time high, according to analysis published by the British Medical Association (BMA). Analysis by the union shows that almost 90 per cent were filled at the end of 2016 – a figure experts ... iNews
Hospital beds occupied by mental health patients are at an all time high, according to analysis published by the British Medical Association (BMA). Analysis by the union shows that almost 90 per cent were filled at the end of 2016 – a figure experts ... iNews
Which Political Party Has The Best Proposals On Mental Health? - HuffPost UK
Which Political Party Has The Best Proposals On Mental Health? - HuffPost UK
The manifestos of the three largest parties collectively contain 75 references to mental health — 70 more than the respective manifestos in 2010, excluding the indexes. Those that have read the recently released manifestos could be forgiven for ... HuffPost UK
Modified antibiotic successfully kills drug-resistant bug
Modified antibiotic successfully kills drug-resistant bug
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute in the US modified the drug so it works in three separate ways on bacteria, making it much harder for them to develop resistance. Mail Online
Friday, 26 May 2017
Kettering General Hospital 'fiddled' waiting time records
Kettering General Hospital 'fiddled' waiting time records Thousands of patients were removed from a hospital's waiting lists in a bid to "fiddle" the system, it is claimed.
A BBC investigation found thousands of Kettering General Hospital patients had waited a year or more for operations.
David Phelan, a hospital trust governor, claims patients were removed from lists because national targets were being missed.
The hospital admitted there had been "anomalies" and that a thorough review of data had been carried out. BBC News
A BBC investigation found thousands of Kettering General Hospital patients had waited a year or more for operations.
David Phelan, a hospital trust governor, claims patients were removed from lists because national targets were being missed.
The hospital admitted there had been "anomalies" and that a thorough review of data had been carried out. BBC News
Northampton GP surgery ranked 'good' by inspectors after making 'significant improvements'
Northampton GP surgery ranked 'good' by inspectors after making 'significant improvements' Inspectors have upgraded a Northampton GP practice from 'requires improvement' to 'good' for providing safe care.
A report published by the Care Quality Commission said the Mounts Medical Centre, in Campbell Street, had 'significantly improved' since its last inspection in 2015 and has now been given the second-highest rating possible. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
A report published by the Care Quality Commission said the Mounts Medical Centre, in Campbell Street, had 'significantly improved' since its last inspection in 2015 and has now been given the second-highest rating possible. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
General election 2017: manifesto analysis
General election 2017: manifesto analysis These briefings aim to summarise the health and care aspects of political party manifestos in the build up to the 2017 General Election. National Voices
Supporting strategic commissioning: collaborative working between CCGs and AHSNs
Supporting strategic commissioning: collaborative working between CCGs and AHSNs This report aims to show how collaboration between CCGs and AHSNs can bring positive benefits to local patients and populations. It recommends that the most successful collaborations between CCGs and AHSNs will be ones that focus on a specific issue rather than on providing more general support. It also states that projects that focus on delivery at scale, will be the most impactful making AHSNs natural partners for commissioners working as a part of an STP. NHS Clinical Commissioners
NHS entering 'year-round crisis', BMA warns
NHS entering 'year-round crisis', BMA warns Chronic underfunding and 'bad political choices' have left health and social care services unable to cope, with winter pressures now turning into a 'state of year-round crisis', the BMA has warned. GPonline
I worried about working in psychiatry but one patient taught me how to listen
I worried about working in psychiatry but one patient taught me how to listen It took ages to earn Sandra’s trust – she showed me how people’s lives can be consumed by the cruel fate of mental health problems
In medicine, psychiatry isn’t seen as glamorous. As a student and while training, you fight with your colleagues for the sexy jobs in cardiology, intensive care or on the frontline. When the crash call goes off, it’s dramatic; chest compressions, ventilation, trying to be the hero you see depicted on television. A job in psychiatry wasn’t my first choice, if there was a crisis, what would I do? Come running with my pen and notebook? Not exactly Oscar-winning stuff.
I had my reservations as I was about to embark on 91 days as a doctor in an adult inpatient psychiatric unit. Continue reading... The Guardian
In medicine, psychiatry isn’t seen as glamorous. As a student and while training, you fight with your colleagues for the sexy jobs in cardiology, intensive care or on the frontline. When the crash call goes off, it’s dramatic; chest compressions, ventilation, trying to be the hero you see depicted on television. A job in psychiatry wasn’t my first choice, if there was a crisis, what would I do? Come running with my pen and notebook? Not exactly Oscar-winning stuff.
I had my reservations as I was about to embark on 91 days as a doctor in an adult inpatient psychiatric unit. Continue reading... The Guardian
Hospital trauma units across England on terror attack standby
Hospital trauma units across England on terror attack standby NHS England advises surgical teams to review staffing after Manchester bomb and be ready for ballistic and blast injuries
NHS hospital trauma units have been put on standby to deal with a potential fresh terrorist attack, possibly happening as soon as this weekend. The NHS has told every hospital in England, including the 27 that are specialist trauma centres, to “prepare for a further incident”. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
NHS hospital trauma units have been put on standby to deal with a potential fresh terrorist attack, possibly happening as soon as this weekend. The NHS has told every hospital in England, including the 27 that are specialist trauma centres, to “prepare for a further incident”. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- NHS issues warning for possible terror attack this weekend The Daily Mail
- A&E and trauma units told to prepare for possible terrorist attack The Daily Telegraph
- UK hospitals 'told to prepare for bank holiday terror attack' The Independent
Midwives reveal what they wished women knew
Midwives reveal what they wished women knew Bournemouth-based midwives, Samantha Pantlin and Alex Williams, run The Naked Midwives, putting together programmes to ensure women are as prepared for birth as possible. The Daily Mail
6000 per cent rise in number of patients stuck on trolleys for 12 hours
6000 per cent rise in number of patients stuck on trolleys for 12 hours The number of patients waiting 12 hours on trolleys has risen by more than 6,000 per cent as hospital overcrowding reaches a record high, NHS figures show.
The Royal College of Surgeons said the situation had become “exceptionally worrying,” urging the next Government to draw up immediate plans to deal with the crisis.
Occupancy levels are now the highest on record - with 91.4 per cent of beds filled, compared to recommended rates of 85 percent, the statistics show.
More than 20 trusts regularly reached occupancy of at least 99 per cent during the period, the figures show. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
The Royal College of Surgeons said the situation had become “exceptionally worrying,” urging the next Government to draw up immediate plans to deal with the crisis.
Occupancy levels are now the highest on record - with 91.4 per cent of beds filled, compared to recommended rates of 85 percent, the statistics show.
More than 20 trusts regularly reached occupancy of at least 99 per cent during the period, the figures show. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- Average hospital bed occupancy rate for 2017 sits at 92% The Daily Mail
- NHS A&E units are 'stretched to their very limits' The Daily Mail
Charlie Gard: Doctors can stop providing life support for sick baby as parents lose Court of Appeal fight
Charlie Gard: Doctors can stop providing life support for sick baby as parents lose Court of Appeal fight A couple who want to take their sick baby son to the USA for treatment have lost a legal battle in the Court of Appeal.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates want nine-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, to undergo a therapy trial.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where Charlie is being cared for, say therapy proposed by a doctor in America is experimental and will not help. They say life-support treatment should stop. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Chris Gard and Connie Yates want nine-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, to undergo a therapy trial.
Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where Charlie is being cared for, say therapy proposed by a doctor in America is experimental and will not help. They say life-support treatment should stop. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Thursday, 25 May 2017
What do the manifestos mean for the NHS?
What do the manifestos mean for the NHS? There is more that unites the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifestos on the NHS than divides them. All three parties reiterate their commitment to the enduring principles of the NHS. All promise to increase NHS funding during the next parliament. And all outline plans to improve care and to deliver key waiting time and other standards. The King's Fund
Listening to patients, carers, staff and communities... do we care enough?
Listening to patients, carers, staff and communities... do we care enough? The message from every speaker and through every presentation at the Fund’s seventh annual leadership summit was clear – intensely portrayed by passionate descriptions and powerful images: we need to hear the stories, we need to work with compassion together, we need to care. The King's Fund
Flexible and user-led – why NHS trusts are switching to open source software
Flexible and user-led – why NHS trusts are switching to open source software Electronic patient record systems are expensive – could open source be the way forward for the NHS?
Many NHS trusts have started implementing electronic patient record (EPR) systems to improve efficiency and reduce paper waste. At a time of budget cuts, however, the multimillion pound price tag attached to an EPR implementation can be off-putting.
As an alternative, some are looking at open source software, in which the underlying code is made available for free, and users are able to tailor it to their own needs for no extra cost. This is different from proprietary software, where the supplier controls the source code and may charge licence fees. Continue reading... The Guardian
Many NHS trusts have started implementing electronic patient record (EPR) systems to improve efficiency and reduce paper waste. At a time of budget cuts, however, the multimillion pound price tag attached to an EPR implementation can be off-putting.
As an alternative, some are looking at open source software, in which the underlying code is made available for free, and users are able to tailor it to their own needs for no extra cost. This is different from proprietary software, where the supplier controls the source code and may charge licence fees. Continue reading... The Guardian
'I still feel raw': nurse tells of treating Manchester bombing victims
'I still feel raw': nurse tells of treating Manchester bombing victims Joe O’Brien talks of a patient who smiled despite horrific injuries and a doctor, whose daughter was at the arena, returning to treat the wounded
Joe O’Brien is a senior sister in the surgical department of Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport, where six of the 59 injured in the Manchester bombing were treated.
On Monday, I worked from 8am until 6pm as a surgery sister at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport. I was in bed that night listening to BBC Radio Four when I heard the words ‘Manchester’ and ‘incident’. I immediately thought about Declan, my son, a student who lives in central Manchester. I shot downstairs, spoke to my husband Sean. We rang Declan and established that he was OK, then I rang work and went in.
When I got there at 1.30am there were ambulances outside which had brought in six of the 59 casualties from the arena. They were stabilised in the A&E unit and brought to the surgical department where I work. They all had what we call lower limb injuries with foreign bodies – shrapnel injuries. Metal bolts and nuts, some an inch wide, had gone into them. They had caused real damage and left big holes in people. Shrapnel is like a large bullethole. It just destroys anything it goes through – arteries, bones, nerves, the lot. I’ve been in operating theatres since 1988 and it’s the most upsetting thing I’ve ever seen. Continue reading... The Guardian
Joe O’Brien is a senior sister in the surgical department of Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport, where six of the 59 injured in the Manchester bombing were treated.
On Monday, I worked from 8am until 6pm as a surgery sister at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport. I was in bed that night listening to BBC Radio Four when I heard the words ‘Manchester’ and ‘incident’. I immediately thought about Declan, my son, a student who lives in central Manchester. I shot downstairs, spoke to my husband Sean. We rang Declan and established that he was OK, then I rang work and went in.
When I got there at 1.30am there were ambulances outside which had brought in six of the 59 casualties from the arena. They were stabilised in the A&E unit and brought to the surgical department where I work. They all had what we call lower limb injuries with foreign bodies – shrapnel injuries. Metal bolts and nuts, some an inch wide, had gone into them. They had caused real damage and left big holes in people. Shrapnel is like a large bullethole. It just destroys anything it goes through – arteries, bones, nerves, the lot. I’ve been in operating theatres since 1988 and it’s the most upsetting thing I’ve ever seen. Continue reading... The Guardian
What do the election manifestos say about social care?
What do the election manifestos say about social care? From a dementia tax to a National Care Service, the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat election promises about social care examined
While the snap election appears to be about getting a mandate for Brexit, the controversy over social care proposals in the Conservative manifesto has ignited the issue. The three major political parties all have something to say about social care, which has been unfinished business through successive governments for at least the past 20 years.
Both the Liberal Democrat and Labour manifestos describe social care as being in a state of crisis, and the funding shortfall is well known (estimated at £2bn this year alone). The Lib Dems would introduce an immediate 1p rise in all rates of income tax and ringfence the additional revenue (which they calculate at £6bn) for NHS and social care services. In the longer term this would be replaced with a hypothecated health and care tax. The manifesto also pledges to “finish the job of implementing a cap on the cost of social care, which the Conservatives have effectively abandoned”. Continue reading... The Guardian
While the snap election appears to be about getting a mandate for Brexit, the controversy over social care proposals in the Conservative manifesto has ignited the issue. The three major political parties all have something to say about social care, which has been unfinished business through successive governments for at least the past 20 years.
Both the Liberal Democrat and Labour manifestos describe social care as being in a state of crisis, and the funding shortfall is well known (estimated at £2bn this year alone). The Lib Dems would introduce an immediate 1p rise in all rates of income tax and ringfence the additional revenue (which they calculate at £6bn) for NHS and social care services. In the longer term this would be replaced with a hypothecated health and care tax. The manifesto also pledges to “finish the job of implementing a cap on the cost of social care, which the Conservatives have effectively abandoned”. Continue reading... The Guardian
Drink and drug service cuts will hit overstretched A&Es
Drink and drug service cuts will hit overstretched A&Es Cuts to addiction services will impact A&Es and cost the NHS more in the long run, claims a Royal College of Psychiatrists professor. Budgets for services in some areas have been slashed by 50%. The Daily Mail
Warnings handed to hospitals on care double in a year
Warnings handed to hospitals on care double in a year The Care Quality Commission was forced to issue 135 'enforcement actions' against hospitals in England in 2016/17. Yet in 2015/16 the watchdog handed just 58 enforcement actions. The Daily Mail
Dementia patients should have GPS trackers, expert says
Dementia patients should have GPS trackers, expert says Dementia patients should have a tracking device implanted into their body in case they wander off and get lost, an expert believes.
Professor June Andrews, OBE, is adamant the chip under their skin could save many families the anxiety and distress if their relative goes missing.
While the trained nurse, who used to head up dementia studies at Stirling University, Scotland, thinks it could even potentially save lives.
Professor Andrews, who now works independently to improve the lives of people with dementia, is in favour of subcutaneous trackers. The Daily Mail
Professor June Andrews, OBE, is adamant the chip under their skin could save many families the anxiety and distress if their relative goes missing.
While the trained nurse, who used to head up dementia studies at Stirling University, Scotland, thinks it could even potentially save lives.
Professor Andrews, who now works independently to improve the lives of people with dementia, is in favour of subcutaneous trackers. The Daily Mail
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
KGH to introduce temporary £20 all-day car park charge
KGH to introduce temporary £20 all-day car park charge Kettering General Hospital will temporarily increase its all-day parking charge to £20 while work on the second deck of Car Park B takes place. Northamptonshire Telegraph
What the public thinks about NHS and social care services
What the public thinks about NHS and social care services The Health Foundation commissioned Ipsos MORI to do a survey of the general public in Great Britain on their views about funding of the NHS, as well as the provision of NHS and social care services.
The survey was carried out in May 2017. We have analysed some of the findings from the survey. We have also provided comparisons with the results of an Ipsos MORI survey that we commissioned in 2015 and with NatCen’s British Social Attitudes survey of 2014.
The survey was carried out in May 2017. We have analysed some of the findings from the survey. We have also provided comparisons with the results of an Ipsos MORI survey that we commissioned in 2015 and with NatCen’s British Social Attitudes survey of 2014.
Patching up NHS cybersecurity: five lessons to be learned
Patching up NHS cybersecurity: five lessons to be learned Earlier this month, the NHS was hit by the largest cyber incident in its short digital history. The incident led to significant disruption of services for several days, with networks and email shut down as a precaution to contain the spread to vulnerable PCs. Ambulances were diverted from some trusts struggling to cope without IT systems in their emergency departments.
In the days following the attack, many have been quick to point the finger: at managers, at the national bodies, and at government. Laying blame is easy, but the harder task is to learn from the errors so that we can reduce the likelihood and limit the damage of similar incidents in the future. So what lessons are there for the NHS and government? The King's Fund
In the days following the attack, many have been quick to point the finger: at managers, at the national bodies, and at government. Laying blame is easy, but the harder task is to learn from the errors so that we can reduce the likelihood and limit the damage of similar incidents in the future. So what lessons are there for the NHS and government? The King's Fund
Latest NHS sickness absence statistics published
Latest NHS sickness absence statistics published Take a look at the latest NHS Sickness absence published statistics for 2017. NHS Employers
Social care: a step forwards or a step backwards?
Social care: a step forwards or a step backwards? This briefing examines the manifesto proposals for social care and outlines the current state of social care provision and funding. Institute for Fiscal Studies
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: Ethiopian wins top WHO job
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: Ethiopian wins top WHO job Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia will be the next director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
He will be the first African to head up the UN agency, after winning the most votes from 186 member states.
He replaces Margaret Chan, who will step down from her 10-year post at the end of June. BBC News
He will be the first African to head up the UN agency, after winning the most votes from 186 member states.
He replaces Margaret Chan, who will step down from her 10-year post at the end of June. BBC News
Assaults between care home residents reported daily
Assaults between care home residents reported daily Police recorded 1,200 assaults between residents living at care homes between 2014 and 2016, the BBC has found.
More than one assault a day was reported in England and Wales, an investigation by File on 4 revealed.
Some care workers said they were not always given full information about who might pose a risk.
The Care Quality Commission, the health regulator in England, said it was the responsibility of care providers to protect residents from harm or abuse. BBC News
More than one assault a day was reported in England and Wales, an investigation by File on 4 revealed.
Some care workers said they were not always given full information about who might pose a risk.
The Care Quality Commission, the health regulator in England, said it was the responsibility of care providers to protect residents from harm or abuse. BBC News
NHS faces staggering increase in cost of elderly care, academics warn
NHS faces staggering increase in cost of elderly care, academics warn 2.8 million people over 65 will need nursing and social care by 2025 – largely because of a significant rise in dementia-related disability, research finds
The NHS and social care system in the UK is facing a staggering increase in the cost of looking after elderly people within the next few years, according to major new research which shows a 25% increase in those who will need care between 2015 and 2025.
Within eight years, there will be 2.8 million people over 65 needing nursing and social care, unable to cope alone, says the research – largely because of the toll of dementia in a growing elderly population. The research, published by the respected Lancet Public Health medical journal, says cases of disability related to dementia will rise by 40% among people aged 65 to 84, with other forms of disability increasing by about 31%. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS and social care system in the UK is facing a staggering increase in the cost of looking after elderly people within the next few years, according to major new research which shows a 25% increase in those who will need care between 2015 and 2025.
Within eight years, there will be 2.8 million people over 65 needing nursing and social care, unable to cope alone, says the research – largely because of the toll of dementia in a growing elderly population. The research, published by the respected Lancet Public Health medical journal, says cases of disability related to dementia will rise by 40% among people aged 65 to 84, with other forms of disability increasing by about 31%. Continue reading... The Guardian
As a GP I feel powerless to help elderly people struggling to survive
As a GP I feel powerless to help elderly people struggling to survive I can refer people to mental health services and social care but they are overloaded and don’t provide much help
Recently a patient brought home to me how inadequate the help I can provide my elderly patients as a GP can be. Among more than 50 phone calls I fielded one day as one of the GPs dealing with urgent requests, there were two from a patient in her 80s who is the main carer for her husband who has dementia. She also has health issues and he is unaware of the problems they face. The receptionist learned far more about the difficulties they were having from the woman’s phone calls to the surgery and from observing them in the waiting room, than I did from my snatched telephone conversations and the scrawled note left for me. I found out later that the only way she could get to the surgery to bring the sample I requested was by locking her husband in the car outside. I knew that things were difficult, but this was a new low. Continue reading... The Guardian
Recently a patient brought home to me how inadequate the help I can provide my elderly patients as a GP can be. Among more than 50 phone calls I fielded one day as one of the GPs dealing with urgent requests, there were two from a patient in her 80s who is the main carer for her husband who has dementia. She also has health issues and he is unaware of the problems they face. The receptionist learned far more about the difficulties they were having from the woman’s phone calls to the surgery and from observing them in the waiting room, than I did from my snatched telephone conversations and the scrawled note left for me. I found out later that the only way she could get to the surgery to bring the sample I requested was by locking her husband in the car outside. I knew that things were difficult, but this was a new low. Continue reading... The Guardian
Number of GPs has fallen since NHS launched 5-year rescue plan
Number of GPs has fallen since NHS launched 5-year rescue plan The number of GPs has fallen since the NHS launched a "rescue package" to tackle crisis shortages of family doctors, official figures show.
Ministers have repeatedly pledged to bring in 5,000 more GPs, in response to a growing crisis, which has led to record numbers of practices closures across the country.
A year ago, health officials drew up a five-year plan, pledging to put general practice “back on its feet” by recruiting doctors from abroad, offering £20,000 incentives for trainees and bringing in extra support staff. The Daily Telegraph
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Ministers have repeatedly pledged to bring in 5,000 more GPs, in response to a growing crisis, which has led to record numbers of practices closures across the country.
A year ago, health officials drew up a five-year plan, pledging to put general practice “back on its feet” by recruiting doctors from abroad, offering £20,000 incentives for trainees and bringing in extra support staff. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- New workforce figures "seriously concerning" says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
- Number of NHS doctors in England continues to fall The Daily Mail
- GP workforce remains below 2015 levels, official data show GPonline
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Northampton General Hospital rated as 'good' three years after highly critical watchdog report
Northampton General Hospital rated as 'good' three years after highly critical watchdog report An inspection by the Care Quality Commission has found "significant improvement" at Northampton General Hospital after the watchdog slammed its emergency and end of life care three years ago. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Nurse who gave KGH patient prescriptions without qualifications suspended
Nurse who gave KGH patient prescriptions without qualifications suspended A former KGH nurse who claimed he had the relevant qualification gave a patient prescriptions without the authority to do so. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Important first steps on the NHS estate
Important first steps on the NHS estate On the day NHS England published Next steps on the NHS five year forward view, the Department of Health published Sir Robert Naylor’s review on NHS property and estates.
The two documents are very different – while NHS England’s focuses on the delivery of an existing strategy, Sir Robert’s report sets out the vision for a new one. This is good news; as our evidence review, conducted to support Sir Robert’s review, highlighted, the NHS has been without an overarching estate strategy for a long time, and in the past it has been unclear as to where overall leadership for estate strategy lies.
The Naylor review comes at a time when capital investment is at its lowest level in real terms since 2005/6, with capital budgets frequently diverted to fund day-to-day activity – a trend likely to continue until 2019/20. The King's Fund
The two documents are very different – while NHS England’s focuses on the delivery of an existing strategy, Sir Robert’s report sets out the vision for a new one. This is good news; as our evidence review, conducted to support Sir Robert’s review, highlighted, the NHS has been without an overarching estate strategy for a long time, and in the past it has been unclear as to where overall leadership for estate strategy lies.
The Naylor review comes at a time when capital investment is at its lowest level in real terms since 2005/6, with capital budgets frequently diverted to fund day-to-day activity – a trend likely to continue until 2019/20. The King's Fund
A Teaching Care Home pilot
A Teaching Care Home pilot This series of reports evaluates a Department of Health funded pilot which aimed to empower the workforce in care home nursing and to ensure the future sustainability of the workforce in the sector. The pilot created five centres of excellence across England which would share learning and best practice and help to strengthen leadership and care culture in care homes. International Longevity Centre
Intersex patients 'routinely lied to by doctors'
Intersex patients 'routinely lied to by doctors' Doctors in the UK routinely lied to patients with disorders of sex development known as intersex conditions, the BBC finds. BBC News
Brexit could force 2,137 GPs out of NHS, warns RCGP
Brexit could force 2,137 GPs out of NHS, warns RCGP Brexit could mean that more than 3m patients across the UK lose their family doctor, the RCGP has warned. GPonline
Third Of Children's Mental Health Services 'Downsizing Or Facing Closure' Causing 'Real Urgency'
Third Of Children's Mental Health Services 'Downsizing Or Facing Closure' Causing 'Real Urgency' A third of children’s mental health services are downsizing or facing closure, a new survey has found.
Worryingly, 84% of NHS counsellors, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts say children now need to have more “severe” levels of illness in order to get help.
And 67% say waiting times have got longer over the last five years.
The findings were the result of a joint survey of 3,000 NHS counsellors, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts from the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). Huffington Post UK
Worryingly, 84% of NHS counsellors, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts say children now need to have more “severe” levels of illness in order to get help.
And 67% say waiting times have got longer over the last five years.
The findings were the result of a joint survey of 3,000 NHS counsellors, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts from the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). Huffington Post UK
We have to address the faultline between social care and the NHS
We have to address the faultline between social care and the NHS One is heavily rationed and means-tested, the other free at the point of use and tax-funded. And when assets are involved, the issue becomes politically toxic
In his first speech to the Labour party conference as prime minister in 1997, Tony Blair declared that he did not want his children to be brought up in a country “where the only way pensioners can get long-term care is by selling their home”. Twenty years later this remains a politically toxic issue – even though many people with care needs might wish they had a home to sell. The events of the past few days illustrate why the bold promises of successive governments to reform the way social care is funded have come to so little.
The Dilnot commission’s proposed cap on the lifetime costs of care was accepted by the coalition government in 2011 – albeit with the cap set at £72,000 rather than the £35,000 to £50,000 range proposed by Dilnot. It even made it on to the statute book as part of the Care Act 2014, and was generally welcomed as providing protection from the “catastrophic” costs faced by the one in 10 who need care costing at least £100,000. Implementing the cap was a Conservative manifesto pledge in the 2015 election but, barely 10 weeks later, the government announced this would be postponed until 2020 as the circumstances were “too difficult”.
Means-testing alone does not address the deeper challenges facing the social care system Continue reading... The Guardian
In his first speech to the Labour party conference as prime minister in 1997, Tony Blair declared that he did not want his children to be brought up in a country “where the only way pensioners can get long-term care is by selling their home”. Twenty years later this remains a politically toxic issue – even though many people with care needs might wish they had a home to sell. The events of the past few days illustrate why the bold promises of successive governments to reform the way social care is funded have come to so little.
The Dilnot commission’s proposed cap on the lifetime costs of care was accepted by the coalition government in 2011 – albeit with the cap set at £72,000 rather than the £35,000 to £50,000 range proposed by Dilnot. It even made it on to the statute book as part of the Care Act 2014, and was generally welcomed as providing protection from the “catastrophic” costs faced by the one in 10 who need care costing at least £100,000. Implementing the cap was a Conservative manifesto pledge in the 2015 election but, barely 10 weeks later, the government announced this would be postponed until 2020 as the circumstances were “too difficult”.
Means-testing alone does not address the deeper challenges facing the social care system Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS trusts overspend by £770m despite bailout funding
NHS trusts overspend by £770m despite bailout funding Trusts fail to limit overspending to £580m but make inroads into previous year’s £2.45bn figure
NHS trusts overspent by £770m last year in the latest sign that hospitals are finding it impossible to meet fast-rising demand for care while their finances are facing an unprecedented squeeze.
That total is £190m more than the £580m maximum that health service bosses had sought from England’s 236 NHS trusts in 2016-17. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS trusts overspent by £770m last year in the latest sign that hospitals are finding it impossible to meet fast-rising demand for care while their finances are facing an unprecedented squeeze.
That total is £190m more than the £580m maximum that health service bosses had sought from England’s 236 NHS trusts in 2016-17. Continue reading... The Guardian
First-line antibiotics now fail in 1 in 4 pneumonia cases
First-line antibiotics now fail in 1 in 4 pneumonia cases More than 22% of patients did not respond to a first dose of antibiotics, a Californian study found. Meanwhile, G20 health ministers agree to tackle antibiotics resistance. The Daily Mail
Doctors never told man about aneurysm the size of a golf ball
Doctors never told man about aneurysm the size of a golf ball A man died after doctors found an aneurysm the size of a golf ball - but failed to tell him or take any action for five years, an inquest has heard.
A coroner has written to Jeremy Hunt following the death of John Higgs, who was repeatedly seen in hospital, without anything being done about the bulging blood vessel which went on to kill him.
Mr Hunt has been warned of “a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken” at Barnsley Hospital in South Yorkshire, unless its systems are overhauled. The Daily Telegraph
A coroner has written to Jeremy Hunt following the death of John Higgs, who was repeatedly seen in hospital, without anything being done about the bulging blood vessel which went on to kill him.
Mr Hunt has been warned of “a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken” at Barnsley Hospital in South Yorkshire, unless its systems are overhauled. The Daily Telegraph
Monday, 22 May 2017
NHS funding choices and the 2017 General Election
NHS funding choices and the 2017 General Election The Nuffield Trust set out different scenarios about possible future spending on the NHS in England including an analysis and comparison of the latest pledges from the three main parties' manifestos.
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Social media and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Social media and young people’s mental health and wellbeing A new report, #StatusOfMind, examines the positive and negative effects of social media on young people’s health.
The report includes a league table of social media platforms according to their impact on young people’s mental health. YouTube tops the table as the most positive with Instagram and Snapchat coming out as the most detrimental to young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Royal Society for Public Health and Youth Health Movement
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The report includes a league table of social media platforms according to their impact on young people’s mental health. YouTube tops the table as the most positive with Instagram and Snapchat coming out as the most detrimental to young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Royal Society for Public Health and Youth Health Movement
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Nearly 3.5 million patients at risk of losing their family doctor through Brexit, warns RCGP
Nearly 3.5 million patients at risk of losing their family doctor through Brexit, warns RCGP New analysis from the College, released today, shows that 3,456,481 patients could be left without a family doctor if the 2,137 GPs across the UK, that the RCGP estimates are from the European Union, are forced to leave.
This constitutes 5% of the workforce in England at a time when NHS England’s GP Forward View has pledged 5,000 more full-time equivalent GPs by 2020 – but latest workforce figures actually showed a drop of 445 FTE GPs in the three months from September to December 2016. Royal College of General Practitioners
This constitutes 5% of the workforce in England at a time when NHS England’s GP Forward View has pledged 5,000 more full-time equivalent GPs by 2020 – but latest workforce figures actually showed a drop of 445 FTE GPs in the three months from September to December 2016. Royal College of General Practitioners
Mental health deaths probed at Essex NHS trust
Mental health deaths probed at Essex NHS trust Up to 20 deaths at an NHS-run mental health unit are being investigated as part of a police inquiry, the BBC has learned.
It follows fresh investigations into the death of Matthew Leahy, who was found hanged at Linden Centre in 2012.
His mother, Melanie Leahy, said her talks with Essex Police suggested the cases had taken place in the last 17 years.
The Essex NHS Trust said patient safety was a "top priority". BBC News
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It follows fresh investigations into the death of Matthew Leahy, who was found hanged at Linden Centre in 2012.
His mother, Melanie Leahy, said her talks with Essex Police suggested the cases had taken place in the last 17 years.
The Essex NHS Trust said patient safety was a "top priority". BBC News
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Cigarettes sold in plain green packs under new rules
Cigarettes sold in plain green packs under new rules New rules have come into force which mean cigarettes and tobacco must be sold in plain green packets and carry graphic health warnings.
The rules, which also end the sale of packets of 10, are designed to deter young people from taking up the habit.
Health groups have welcomed the measure, as the number of smokers in the UK continues to decline.
But a smokers' group says the changes "infantilise" consumers and will make no difference to public health. BBC News
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The rules, which also end the sale of packets of 10, are designed to deter young people from taking up the habit.
Health groups have welcomed the measure, as the number of smokers in the UK continues to decline.
But a smokers' group says the changes "infantilise" consumers and will make no difference to public health. BBC News
See also:
- E-cigarette laws to changed this weekend - Here’s how vapers will be affected Northamptonshire Telegraph
NHS performance data 'likely to be delayed until after election'
NHS performance data 'likely to be delayed until after election' The publication of key financial performance data from the NHS in England will be delayed until after the election, the BBC understands.
Regulator NHS Improvement had wanted to publish data on the scale of hospital deficits but was advised against it by the government.
NHS Improvement said it was "disappointing" the results could not be published until after the election.
The Department of Health and the Conservative Party did not comment.
In a statement, NHS Improvement said a date for the publication of the figures had to be agreed with the Department of Health, but this had not been done when the election for 8 June was called. BBC News
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Regulator NHS Improvement had wanted to publish data on the scale of hospital deficits but was advised against it by the government.
NHS Improvement said it was "disappointing" the results could not be published until after the election.
The Department of Health and the Conservative Party did not comment.
In a statement, NHS Improvement said a date for the publication of the figures had to be agreed with the Department of Health, but this had not been done when the election for 8 June was called. BBC News
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GPs to be balloted over 'collective list closure' in GP crisis protest
GPs to be balloted over 'collective list closure' in GP crisis protest LMCs have ordered the GPC to ballot the profession over a possible mass closure of GP lists to highlight the crisis facing general practice. GPonline
NHS chief tells ministers: face up to the pay crisis
NHS chief tells ministers: face up to the pay crisis Chief executive of hospital trusts group issues warning that nursing morale and recruitment will be hit
Ministers should address mounting disquiet among NHS staff about pay and recruitment if the health service is to avoid a full-blown staffing crisis, the head of the official body that represents hospital trusts and mental health services says today.
The stark warning from Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, comes as GP leaders predict that 2,000 European-born doctors could leave the country because of uncertainty about their status caused by Brexit, with disastrous consequences for patient care. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Ministers should address mounting disquiet among NHS staff about pay and recruitment if the health service is to avoid a full-blown staffing crisis, the head of the official body that represents hospital trusts and mental health services says today.
The stark warning from Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, comes as GP leaders predict that 2,000 European-born doctors could leave the country because of uncertainty about their status caused by Brexit, with disastrous consequences for patient care. Continue reading... The Guardian
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Without action on antibiotics, medicine will return to the dark ages
Without action on antibiotics, medicine will return to the dark ages Continued overprescribing and abuse could lead to more people dying of resistant infections than cancer. Only global cooperation can solve the problem
When Prof Sally Davies published The Drugs Don’t Work in 2013, it wasn’t some allusion to a Verve number from the 1990s, but a sombre warning of the growing threat posed by bacteria evolving resistance to life-saving antibiotics. If this were left unaddressed, she argued, it would lead to the erosion of modern medicine as we know it. Continue reading... The Guardian
When Prof Sally Davies published The Drugs Don’t Work in 2013, it wasn’t some allusion to a Verve number from the 1990s, but a sombre warning of the growing threat posed by bacteria evolving resistance to life-saving antibiotics. If this were left unaddressed, she argued, it would lead to the erosion of modern medicine as we know it. Continue reading... The Guardian
Fury over sexist nurse recruitment campaign
Fury over sexist nurse recruitment campaign An NHS trust has been accused of sexualising nurses after a recruitment campaign was accidentally published.
The images, which have sparked outrage on social media, show young female nurses standing besides flirtatious messages.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust intended to use the posters to attract recruits as part of its Remarkable People, Extraordinary Place campaign, however, they were mistakenly published without approval. The Daily Mail
The images, which have sparked outrage on social media, show young female nurses standing besides flirtatious messages.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust intended to use the posters to attract recruits as part of its Remarkable People, Extraordinary Place campaign, however, they were mistakenly published without approval. The Daily Mail
Children will have worse health than their grandparents
Children will have worse health than their grandparents Children will be less healthy than today's over 65 year olds when they reach that age, says the UK's Economist Intelligence Unit. Too much sugar and too little exercise are to blame. The Daily Mail
Doctors 'too reliant' on depression questionnaire designed by Pfizer, campaigners warn
Doctors 'too reliant' on depression questionnaire designed by Pfizer, campaigners warn Depression is being overdiagnosed because GPs are too reliant on a “basic” questionnaire designed by a pharmaceutical company which also manufacturers psychiatric drugs, campaigners have warned.
The easy-to-use nine-question form sets the threshold for the condition “far too low” and results in patients being wrongly diagnosed and medicated, according an expert at the Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry.
The PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire was developed by academics funded by Pfizer, which owned the intellectual property and distribution rights. The Daily Telegraph
The easy-to-use nine-question form sets the threshold for the condition “far too low” and results in patients being wrongly diagnosed and medicated, according an expert at the Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry.
The PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire was developed by academics funded by Pfizer, which owned the intellectual property and distribution rights. The Daily Telegraph
NHS cyber attack: Everything you need to know about 'biggest ransomware' offensive in history
NHS cyber attack: Everything you need to know about 'biggest ransomware' offensive in history A global cyberattack using hacking tools widely believed by researchers to have been developed by the US National Security Agency crippled the NHS, hit international shipper FedEx and infected computers in 150 countries.
More than 300,000 computers were infected while the countries most affected by WannaCry were Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and India, according to Czech security firm Avast. The Daily Telegraph
More than 300,000 computers were infected while the countries most affected by WannaCry were Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and India, according to Czech security firm Avast. The Daily Telegraph
NHS to show parents how fat their child will become under 'shock tactics' to fight obesity
NHS to show parents how fat their child will become under 'shock tactics' to fight obesity The NHS is to use shock tactics in an attempt to scare parents into tackling their child’s looming obesity.
Parents will be shown 3D models showing just how overweight their child is set to become by the time they reach adulthood.
Trials involving almost 3,000 children have found that the forecasts terrified families into taking action. In the pilot schemes, parents of children aged five and six were asked to key in their child’s measurements.
They were then asked to watch a series of 3D graphics, showing a child their own age, digitally manipulated to look underweight, normal, overweight or obese. The Daily Telegraph
Parents will be shown 3D models showing just how overweight their child is set to become by the time they reach adulthood.
Trials involving almost 3,000 children have found that the forecasts terrified families into taking action. In the pilot schemes, parents of children aged five and six were asked to key in their child’s measurements.
They were then asked to watch a series of 3D graphics, showing a child their own age, digitally manipulated to look underweight, normal, overweight or obese. The Daily Telegraph
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