Most of central London hospital to be sold off, plans reveal

Most of central London hospital to be sold off, plans reveal Exclusive: Charing Cross hospital to be cut to 13% of current size and services diverted to facilities around the city, documents show

Almost all of a central London hospital is to be sold and its services diverted to already stretched facilities around the capital under plans for NHS modernisation seen by the Guardian.

Charing Cross hospital, a flagship NHS facility in the heart of London, is to be cut to just 13% of its current size under proposals contained in sustainability and transformation plans published last year in 44 areas across England. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Plan to 'transform' NHS could lead to downgrade of major London hospitals The Guardian

Doctors to vote on ending time limit for abortions

Doctors to vote on ending time limit for abortions Doctors are to vote on whether to abolish the time limit on abortions.

Up to 500 GPs and hospital doctors will debate decriminalisation during a major conference at the end of the month. It could lead to a call for women to be allowed to terminate their pregnancy right up until the due date – and for any reason.

The existing time limit is 24 weeks from conception. Even then, two doctors must agree that continuing the pregnancy would be harmful for either the woman or the unborn child.

Some claim that the restrictions, which date back 50 years, encourage women to take matters into their own hands by buying illegal abortion pills online. The Daily Mail

British Medical Journal reveal different portion sizes

British Medical Journal reveal different portion sizes A study by the British Medical Journal found that people rely on sight to portion food, which can add up to 300 extra calories a day. But new images reveal exactly how much to eat. The Daily Mail

Enhanced care in care homes: building on a promising start

Enhanced care in care homes: building on a promising start Today is national care home open day. This has prompted me to reflect on how some areas have been successful in joining up health care and residential care to better meet the complex needs of people living in care homes. The best-known examples are perhaps the six vanguards for enhanced health care in care homes, but other areas outside NHS England’s vanguard programme have adopted a similar approach. The King's Fund

News story: More A&E funding to help hospitals prepare for winter

News story: More A&E funding to help hospitals prepare for winter The Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt has announced a second wave of funding to ease pressure on hospital emergency departments ahead of next winter.

The Secretary of State will confirm that a further £20.74 million has been awarded to 27 hospitals in England, which follows an initial £55.98 million given to 70 hospitals in April. This money is part of the dedicated funding announced in the Spring Budget to ensure local A&Es are prepared for the additional demands that winter brings. Department of Health

NHS moves to end “fractured” care system

NHS moves to end “fractured” care system The head of NHS England pledged to end the “fractured” health and social care system that leaves too many patients “passed from pillar to post” by giving local leaders and communities more control over how they improve health and social care.

Addressing the NHS Confederation in Liverpool, Simon Stevens said: “As the NHS approaches its 70th Birthday, we are now embarked on the biggest national move to integrating care of any major western country. For patients this means better joined up services in place of what has often been a fragmented system that passes people from pillar to post.”

He announced nine areas in England – covering some seven million people – which will be the forefront of nationwide action to provide joined up, better coordinated care breaking down the barriers between GPs and hospitals, physical and mental healthcare, social care and the NHS. NHS England

Trust and collaboration within vanguards is essential but not easy - new report

Trust and collaboration within vanguards is essential but not easy - new report A new report launched at Confed17, looks to better understand how to build trust across systems to promote more effective collaborative working.


Trustworthy Collaboration, written for NHS Employers by Prof Veronica Hope-Hailey of the University of Bath, explores the challenges of building trust across health systems, in the context of the 50 vanguard sites tasked with delivering transformational change through new care models. NHS Employers

Driving improvement: case studies from eight NHS trusts

Driving improvement: case studies from eight NHS trusts This report contains case studies of eight trusts that have shown significant improvement since a previous inspection. It explores what these trusts have done to become 'well-led'. The CQC asked people in those trusts how they had achieved improvements, looked at the steps their leaders had taken and the effect of those actions on staff and patients. Care Quality Commission

NHS expenditure

NHS expenditure This briefing documents NHS expenditure since 1948. It also contains a summary of the structure of the NHS and how it is financed. House of Commons Library

Acting without delay - how the independent sector is working with the NHS to reduce delayed discharge

Acting without delay - how the independent sector is working with the NHS to reduce delayed discharge This report from the NHS Partners Network highlights examples where the independent sector is working with the NHS to avoid delayed discharges of care. NHS Confederation

NHS cyber-attack was 'launched from North Korea'

NHS cyber-attack was 'launched from North Korea' The Lazarus group - who targeted Sony Pictures in 2014 - believed to have been behind NHS cyber-attack. BBC News

Exclusive: Hospitals could need more than 200 GPs to staff NHS A&E plans

Exclusive: Hospitals could need more than 200 GPs to staff NHS A&E plans Hospitals could hire more than 200 GPs to work in A&E departments in the next 12 months under plans to put primary care doctors 'on the front door' at every emergency department in the country. GPonline

Breast cancer drug that can extend lives approved for NHS use

Breast cancer drug that can extend lives approved for NHS use Joy as deal struck to make Kadcyla, which costs an annual £90,000 per patient at full price, available for routine use

A drug that can extend the lives of women with advanced breast cancer has been approved for routine use on the NHS.

Charities and campaigners reacted with huge disappointment when the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) rejected the drug, Kadcyla, on cost grounds in 2016. Continue reading... The Guardian

Smoking rate in UK falls to second-lowest in Europe

Smoking rate in UK falls to second-lowest in Europe Public health chiefs pleased at steep decline in smoking rate among young adults, from 26% to 19% in six years

Smoking rates across the UK continue to fall, showing a sharp decline since 2010 among younger people, latest figures reveal.

In 2016, 15.8% of adults in the UK smoked, down from 17.2% in 2015, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• National Statistics: Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2016 Public Health England
• Official Statistics: Local tobacco control profiles for England: June 2017 data update Public Health England
• Pregnant women smoking rates 'concern' in England BBC News

GP shortage fuelled by rising numbers working part-time

GP shortage fuelled by rising numbers working part-time The average GP now works a four day week, fuelling shortages of doctors, health officials say.

The head of Health Education England (HEE) said the millennial generation did not want to work the hours done by baby boomers.

The average doctor now works four days a week, when it used to be around four and a half, health officials said.

As a result of this, the number of full-time-equivalent doctors in the system has reduced. The Daily Telegraph

Hunt: keeping EU health workers is priority and sympathetic to pay plea

Hunt: keeping EU health workers is priority and sympathetic to pay plea Allowing NHS workers from the EU to stay in the UK after Brexit is the top priority in Government negotiations, the Health Secretary has said.

In his first speech since being reappointed as health secretary, Jeremy Hunt said about 150,000 EU nationals were now working in the health and care sector.

"We need them, we want them to stay," he said. "They are part of the NHS family." The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt pledges to address public sector pay BBC News
• Jeremy Hunt hints at lifting of nurses' pay cap The Guardian
• Jeremy Hunt says he will consider pay rises for nurses in wake of UK terrorist attacks The Independent
• Jeremy Hunt: ‘EU staff are part of the NHS family – we want them to stay’ iNews

Maternity staff at Northampton General Hospital give birth to 29 babies in just over one year

Maternity staff at Northampton General Hospital give birth to 29 babies in just over one year Staff at Northampton General Hospital's maternity unit have given birth themselves to an incredible 29 babies in 13 months...and believe they may have set a new record. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Your chance to help shape Corby’s health services

Your chance to help shape Corby’s health services NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is looking for people to join a new patient representative group. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Women and leadership – (still) more to do

Women and leadership – (still) more to do Despite the advances of recent years, two recent reports, Women in finance and Women on boards: 50:50 by 2020, once again draw attention to the problems women still face in obtaining senior leadership positions within the NHS and outside it. The King's Fund

Detailed guide: Child and maternal health data and intelligence: a guide for health professionals

Detailed guide: Child and maternal health data and intelligence: a guide for health professionals Public Health England collects and analyses available child and maternal health data and produces intelligence resources to help with improving services and outcomes.

This guidance supports commissioners, service planners and other healthcare professionals with using these resources to make or influence decisions about services that improve the health of children, young people and pregnant women.

Towards affordable healthcare: why effective innovation is key

Towards affordable healthcare: why effective innovation is key This report finds that whilst the UK is well placed to innovate to improve health outcomes and reduce costs, the UK is often not doing enough with the tools at its disposal. Given the challenging financial climate facing the NHS, this report showcases how health care innovations currently employed at home and abroad could increase productivity and reduce costs. International Longevity Centre

Returning to practice

Returning to practice This guidance aims to help people who have taken a break from practice, or are considering doing so, to understand the requirements for coming back on to the HCPC Register. It helps to ensure that registrants who have been out of practice for more than two years, and wish to return, update their knowledge and skills in order to resume safe and effective practice. Health Care & Professions Council

Worries over care home fees and funding

Worries over care home fees and funding Care homes may be charging families for extended periods after a resident has died as well as large upfront fees, a competition inquiry has revealed.

The concerns emerged from the initial findings of a review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which began in December.

The CMA has now opened a case owing to fears that there could be breaches in consumer law.

There are more than 400,000 people in care and nursing homes in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• CMA outlines emerging concerns in care homes market Competition and Markets Authority

Treatments and technologies matter, but patients most want to be seen as people

Treatments and technologies matter, but patients most want to be seen as people Patient stories are a raw and compelling new kind of online feedback. They can prompt rapid improvements in services – if the NHS is willing to embrace them

People have always shared their experiences of healthcare, usually privately, with family, neighbours or workmates. But online, patients and carers are increasingly willing to share accounts of their health service encounters with the wider world, often in intimate detail. There are websites devoted to collecting and publicising patient ratings and reviews of healthcare professionals, services, diagnoses and treatments.

Stories place people, not pathology, at the centre of clinical thinking​ Continue reading... The Guardian

As overdose deaths hit record levels, drug and alcohol services face massive cuts

As overdose deaths hit record levels, drug and alcohol services face massive cuts Investigation finds cuts-hit councils in England are slashing budgets and access to treatment, despite the UK being Europe’s drugs death capital

Kevin Jaffray had been addicted to heroin for 20 years when he finally sought help in prison. “I was in prison more than out. I’d been living in a tent in Bournemouth. I’d lost everything, I was broken. I was overdosing once or twice a week. I was dicing with death every day. Prison was a relief.”

The cuts are the legacy of the ending of what had been an effective ring fence on drug treatment in 2013 Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Drug-related deaths hit record levels in England and Wales The Guardian

Three in four pensioners want tax rise to pay for NHS, polling finds

Three in four pensioners want tax rise to pay for NHS, polling finds Three quarters of pensioners support tax rises to pay for improvements to NHS, polling has found.

The survey of 2,000 adults also found four in 10 would like to see charges for patients who miss appointments.

The findings came as NHS leaders called for a cash boost for the health service, and pay rises for 1.3 million staff.

But the survey commissioned by PwC found that 53 per cent of the public thought it was more important to hire more staff, rather than to increase pay for existing workers. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Public prepared to pay more tax for a better NHS, according to post-election consumer poll PwC

NHS will not survive without extra cash, health service leaders claim

NHS will not survive without extra cash, health service leaders claim NHS chiefs have demanded more money for health service, saying the service is no longer sustainable, with a "desperate" need for a vision for the future.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said extra funds and “bold decisions” were needed to deal with an “inexorable” rise in demand from an ageing population

Too many children were being left to wait six months for specialist care, he said, while the health service “turned our backs” on routine waiting list targets.

Speaking to the organisation’s annual conference in Liverpool, he said an urgent cash injection was needed, calling for a GDP target to be set for health spending. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• GPs have enough money to meet patient demand, says new Tory health minister GPonline
• NHS waiting times will increase without fresh investment, cash-strapped local health bodies warn The Independent

East Midlands Ambulance Service report sees improvement

East Midlands Ambulance Service report sees improvement A troubled ambulance trust has seen some "significant" improvements but still faces challenges, a new report has found.

The Care Quality Commission said East Midlands Ambulance Service's emergency and urgent care services were no longer rated as inadequate for safety.

But it confirmed continuing problems with response times and incident investigation.

Overall, the trust continues to be rated as requires improvement. BBC Northamptonshire

See also:

• East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust Care Quality Commission
• Northampton's ambulance service makes progress but maintains 'requires improvement' amid bullying claims Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Investigation reveals Northampton General Hospital pays women £14k less than men

Investigation reveals Northampton General Hospital pays women £14k less than men Women at Northampton General Hospital are paid £14,570 less than men, a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Chronicle & Echo reveals.

This investigation looked at the differences in average pay of male and female employees at Northampton General Hospital

It is not the case that women were paid less than men for doing the same job.

However, the top roles, and therefore the highest-paid roles, were largely dominated by men. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Hospital's 'heartfelt thank you' to Northamptonshire's generous donors who funded new cancer treatment ward

Hospital's 'heartfelt thank you' to Northamptonshire's generous donors who funded new cancer treatment ward A £650,000 refurbishment for a chemotherapy suite at Northampton General Hospital has been almost entirely funded by local donations.

'Thousands' of Northamptonshire's local fundraisers were thanked at an official opening yesterday (June 12) for donating over £500,000 towards the renovation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

CCG lay members, non-executive directors and STP governance and engagement

CCG lay members, non-executive directors and STP governance and engagement This report, published in partnership with NHS England, summarises the discussions at four regional workshops which focused on the role of lay members and non-executive directors in STPs. It discusses the importance of governance and accountability and developing working relationships across STP footprints. It also captures a number of case studies highlighting where there has been good practice in involving lay members and non-executive directors across STPs. NHS Clinical Commissioners

The shrinking value of the commissioning pound

The shrinking value of the commissioning pound This briefing shows that rising inflation, along with a growing population, has resulted in a real terms decrease in the value of the CCG funding allocations. The analysis projects that by 2019/20, CCG funding will diminish by £5.72 per person on average when compared with 2016/17 funding. NHS Clinical Commissioners

NMC announces radical overhaul of nursing education

NMC announces radical overhaul of nursing education New education consultation gives patients, the public and healthcare professionals the opportunity to shape the future of nursing.

From hospitals and schools to care homes and the work place, over 650,000 nurses deliver high quality care to millions of people across the UK every week.

With a changing population, more care in the community and advancing technology, care must be delivered differently. The launch of a vital consultation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) seeks views on a wholesale review of the standards that UK trained nurses will need to meet before they can work as a registered nurse. The views of the public will be vital in helping to shape what nursing will look like in 2030.

Jeremy Hunt urged to rethink NHS funding as he retains health secretary role

Jeremy Hunt urged to rethink NHS funding as he retains health secretary role GP leaders have called on Jeremy Hunt to radically review the government's NHS spending plans after he was re-appointed as health secretary following last week's general election. GPonline

Nursing in the UK was already in crisis. Brexit is making it worse

Nursing in the UK was already in crisis. Brexit is making it worse Derisory pay rises, the abolition of NHS bursaries and an ageing workforce mean 24,000 unfilled job vacancies. And now EU27 nurses no longer want to work here

The shockwaves of the huge destructive force of a banking crisis, followed by austerity, followed by the Brexit vote, just keep hitting. Among the various consequences to have been reported in the days since the election – rising inflation among them – is a 96% drop in nurse applications from the EU. Which means, in short, that nearly every nurse in the rest of Europe who might have come to Britain to work this year now isn’t going to. Continue reading... The Guardian

Is an NHS community hospital near you being closed or downgraded?

Is an NHS community hospital near you being closed or downgraded? As part of the government’s plans to transform the NHS community hospitals across England face closures or bed losses. Tell us how your area is affected

The NHS has announced ambitious plans, backed by the government, to remodel the health service in England. The sustainability and transformation plans (STPs), as they are known, include big changes to the role of many hospitals, including the rundown of A&E and maternity units. The aim is to plug a £22bn black hole in health service funding.

There are plans in many parts of England to reduce the number of beds in community hospitals and to shut some of those hospitals altogether. These hospitals play a key role in helping rehabilitate mainly elderly patients, for example those who’ve just had a spell in hospital. Continue reading... The Guardian

I shunned studying medicine to become a nurse. Here's why

I shunned studying medicine to become a nurse. Here's why Unlike doctors, nurses spend extended periods of time with patients, building a relationship founded on trust

“A nurse?

“You want to be … a nurse?” Continue reading... The Guardian

3,000 cut price physicians to work at GPs and hospitals

3,000 cut price physicians to work at GPs and hospitals The NHS currently employs 300 'physician associates', who study for just two years and earn a third of a doctor's salary, but will increase this number to 3,000 by 2020 under government plans. The Daily Mail

Two thirds of men unaware of family prostate cancer danger

Two thirds of men unaware of family prostate cancer danger One in every eight British men will develop the disease in their lifetime, a figure that rises to one in four among black men. The cancer is easily dealt with if diagnosed early. The Daily Mail

EXPOSED: How the NHS pays millions to private surgeons

EXPOSED: How the NHS pays millions to private surgeons The general assumption is that going private means getting the best and fastest care. But while this will be true for many, there is growing concern about patients being at risk of needless treatment or botched surgery in the private sector.

The NHS is far from immune, but the private sector seems to face particular problems with lack of scrutiny over what surgeons are doing. The Daily Mail

Nurses told to shape up so they are fit enough to do their jobs

Nurses told to shape up so they are fit enough to do their jobs Nurses have been told to shape up so they are fit enough to do their job and to set an example to patients, in new standards from their regulator.

Amid spiralling obesity levels, the watchdog’s new rules for the first time say that Britain’s 650,000 nurses and midwives have a “professional responsibility for adopting a healthy lifestyle”.

More than half of NHS staff are obese or overweight, contributing to a £5bn annual bill for the health service on conditions caused by obesity.

Nurses will be told they must “maintain a level of personal fitness and wellbeing required to meet people’s needs for mental and physical care,” amid concern that too many are too unfit to carry out physical tasks.

The standards, from the Nursing Midwifery Council, follow repeated efforts to encourage NHS staff to slim down. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Standards of proficiency for registered nurses (draft) Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Overweight nurses told to beat the bulge The Daily Mail

Latest stats on children and young people’s health services

Latest stats on children and young people’s health services This is a report on NHS-funded Community Services for children and young people aged 18 years or under using data from the new Children and Young People's Health Services (CYPHS) data set reported in England for activity for February 2017. The CYPHS is a patient-level dataset providing information relating to NHS-funded community services for children and young people aged 18 years or under. These services can include health centres, schools and mental health trusts. NHS Digital

Combined performance summary: April 2017

Combined performance summary: April 2017 This publication summarises the data around NHS performance for April 2017. It finds that the long-term trend of increased demand on urgent and emergency care and elective activity continues and that waiting time standards for A&E waiting times, ambulance response times and cancer waiting times were not met. NHS England

EU nurse applicants drop by 96% since Brexit vote

EU nurse applicants drop by 96% since Brexit vote There has been a sharp drop in nurses registering to work in the UK since the EU referendum, figures suggest.

Last July, 1,304 nurses from the EU joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council register, compared to 46 in April this year, a fall of 96%.

The Health Foundation said the findings could not be more stark and said they should act as a "wake-up call".

But the NMC said the introduction of English language testing for EU nurses is also likely to have played a role.

It comes as the NHS is already struggling with nurse vacancies and, without this supply line, shortages could get worse.

In May, research by the Royal College of Nursing found one in nine posts in England was vacant.

The union said it meant the NHS was 40,000 nurses short of what was needed. BBC News

See also:

• EU nurses registering to work in the UK plunges The Daily Mail
• Number of EU nurses coming to UK falls 96 per cent since Brexit vote The Daily Telegraph
• 96% drop in EU nurses registering to work in Britain since Brexit vote The Guardian
• Brexit: Number of EU nurses applying to work in UK plummets by 96%, show figures The Independent

Weight-related deaths can affect non-obese too

Weight-related deaths can affect non-obese too You don't have to be diagnosed as obese to be at risk of dying from illnesses related to excess weight, a global study suggests.

Of the 4 million deaths attributed to being overweight in 2015, nearly 40% were not considered clinically obese.

The study found more than 2 billion children and adults suffered from health problems linked to being overweight.

These include type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. BBC News

Many patients ignore symptoms of diabetes

Many patients ignore symptoms of diabetes Around half of patients experiencing common symptoms of diabetes would not consult their GP, according to a poll of 2,000 people.

Details of the survey released today by Diabetes UK showed a worrying level of ignorance or denial amongst the population regarding the condition which affects around 3.6 million people in the UK. OnMedica

Why I went from NHS doctor to professional triathlete and back again

Why I went from NHS doctor to professional triathlete and back again Oncology and Ironman may seem poles apart, but when you delve further they are remarkably complementary

In theory, racing an Ironman triathlon and working as an oncology doctor are worlds apart. I became a professional triathlete by accident, after entering my first Ironman as a drunken dare when a long-term relationship ended. A one-off challenge became an ever more all-encompassing hobby when I started a research PhD. Without the job satisfaction from seeing patients, triathlon became a way of validating my days. I started to train rather than exercise and gradually got quicker. Eventually I went part time at work and when I finally finished my PhD, I had a two-and-a-half year sabbatical to race and train around the world as a full-time triathlete. Six months ago, after nearly eight years away, I returned to my clinical job as an oncologist.

When I was planning my sabbatical, I told my bosses I thought being a professional athlete would make me a better doctor. If I’m honest I thought these may be empty words, yet with time this became the truth. Every race teaches you something about yourself. You learn how much you can suffer. You face up to failure. You discover how much you want to get the best out of yourself. But it can be tougher than most might imagine. Day in, day out, you have to push yourself, motivate yourself and drive yourself. If you don’t do the work nobody will do it for you. And when injury strikes, you can’t help but question whether all the hard work is worthwhile. Life as a professional athlete is immense, intense, exhausting, exhilarating, exciting, tedious, daunting and at times absolutely incredible.

Ironman is about suffering for nine to 10 hours. Cancer is about suffering for much longer Continue reading... The Guardian

One THIRD of the global population are now overweight

One THIRD of the global population are now overweight The startling paper, based on a compilation of figures from 195 countries around the globe, found 2.2billion people - 30 per cent of the world's 7.5 billion population- is now overweight. The Daily Mail

Blood test predicts Huntington's disease risk

Blood test predicts Huntington's disease risk Researchers from around the world, including University College London, unveiled a test that measures a protein released by damaged brain cells and predicts treatment success. The Daily Mail

Locum doctors at Northampton hospital cancelled A&E shifts at short notice because new tax rules cut pay

Locum doctors at Northampton hospital cancelled A&E shifts at short notice because new tax rules cut pay Some stand-in emergency department doctors cancelled their shifts at Northampton General Hospital because new tax rules led to a decrease in pay. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Cransley care home rated outstanding

Cransley care home rated outstanding A care home in Cransley for people with learning disabilities and autism has been rated outstanding by inspectors. Northamptonshire Telegraph

European drug report: trends and development 2017

European drug report: trends and development 2017 This report presents a top-level overview of the drug phenomenon in Europe, covering drug supply, use and public health problems as well as drug policy and responses. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

NHS commissioning of specialised services

NHS commissioning of specialised services This briefing looks at the commissioning of specialised services by the NHS in England, for patients with rare or complex conditions. How the commissioning process works is set out in further detail, as well as analysis of the financial management and transparency of specialised commissioning, and recent reforms introduced by NICE and NHS England, including reforms to the Cancer Drugs Fund. House of Commons Library

Hospital long waits highest since 2008

Hospital long waits highest since 2008 The number of patients in England waiting longer than 18 weeks for routine treatment is the largest since September 2008, official figures show.

The data showed there were over 382,000 patients waiting longer than the target timeframe in April out of a total of 3.78 million on the waiting list.

Problems also continued to be seen in waiting times for A&E and cancer.

The NHS England figures had been due out on Thursday, but were postponed to avoid being published on polling day.

Clare Marx, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said she expected the situation to get worse given NHS England said earlier this year it was willing to see waiting times increase so it could prioritise A&E and cancer. BBC News

See also:

• Near doubling in number of patients left to wait at least a year for surgery The Daily Telegraph
• Under-strain NHS fails to ensure cancer patients seen quickly enough The Guardian
• Bed-blocking up by 52 per cent in three years, NHS figures show The Independent

40,000 homes for medics and staff ‘could be built on spare NHS land’

40,000 homes for medics and staff ‘could be built on spare NHS land’ Leaders call on government to create £10bn fund to revive the tradition of the health service providing homes for its staff

The NHS should release its large reserves of spare land to create up to 40,000 new homes for doctors, nurses and other key staff who are being affected by a serious housing shortage, health service leaders say.

Modern versions of nurses’ homes, once a common feature of NHS hospitals, would be built under the proposals by the NHS Confederation, which represents 560 health service organisations. Continue reading... The Guardian

As a paediatrician I've seen first-hand the shocking human cost of staff shortages

As a paediatrician I've seen first-hand the shocking human cost of staff shortages Thousands of children’s operations are being cancelled as political short-termism savages the NHS. Solutions exist, but are being ignored

This week, figures published in the Guardian provided another sorry illustration of how NHS services have been pushed to the brink. More than 46,000 children’s operations were cancelled during the period 2013-14 to 2017-18, and that was just in the 53% of eligible NHS trusts that reported their figures. The numbers are shocking, all the more so as they clearly reflect only the tip of the iceberg. Children’s operations are not conducted without good clinical reason: delays are harmful, and for some children the damage may be long-term.

The reasons cited by the NHS trusts are predominantly related to workforce. As a frontline clinician I witness first-hand the human cost of staff shortages, and last month the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), of which I am president, also published a workforce report identifying serious staffing shortages nationwide, which has forced several children’s services to close temporarily. There are currently about 240 paediatric consultant-level posts empty and children’s services have an average junior doctor vacancy rate of 14%. Continue reading... The Guardian

Less than 1 in 5 people get their 'five a day'

Less than 1 in 5 people get their 'five a day' Fewer than one in five Britons eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, research reveals.

Experts last night said the results were a ‘huge cause for concern’, warning they spelled dire consequences for the nation’s health.

Only 18 per cent of people polled by the Diabetes UK charity had eaten their five-a-day the day before they were questioned.

Some 82 per cent had failed to meet the guidance, which is recommended by the NHS as the minimum target for a healthy and balanced diet. The Daily Mail

Don’t ask me about fitness... ask Google, says top GP

Don’t ask me about fitness... ask Google, says top GP Dr Clare Gerada said that patients needed to take more responsibility for themselves and research health and fitness issues on the internet. The Daily Mail

'The victims were almost emotionless...they were stunned': NHS heroes relive night of London Bridge attack

'The victims were almost emotionless...they were stunned': NHS heroes relive night of London Bridge attack The Telegraph's Health Editor Laura Donnelly spoke to the medics who saved the lives of victims of the London Bridge terror attack. All 48 victims who made it to hospitals have survived, health officials say, though some remain in a critical condition. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• London Bridge attack: NHS staff praised for preventing death toll rising after dozens critically hurt The Independent

GP feds trailblazer urges colleagues to get their heads down and deliver change

GP feds trailblazer urges colleagues to get their heads down and deliver change GPs need to stop behaving like meerkats and start thinking about how they and their local partners can deliver primary care at scale and new models of care, according to Mike Smith, a federation trailblazer and board member of the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC). NHS Networks

Towards affordable healthcare: why effective innovation is key

Towards affordable healthcare: why effective innovation is key This report finds that whilst the UK is well placed to innovate to improve health outcomes and reduce costs, it's often not doing enough with the tools at its disposal. NHS Networks

Maternity services monthly statistics, January 2017

Maternity services monthly statistics, January 2017 This is a report on NHS-funded maternity services in England for January 2017, using data submitted to the maternity services data set (MSDS). The MSDS has been developed to help achieve better outcomes of care for mothers, babies and children. NHS Networks

Call for drug test services at all UK festivals and clubs after successful pilot

Call for drug test services at all UK festivals and clubs after successful pilot Secret Garden Party founder backs the calls after a successful pilot scheme at his 2016 event. BBC News

Antibiotic spending per patient varies 2.4-fold across England

Antibiotic spending per patient varies 2.4-fold across England Some areas of England spend an average of 2.4 times more per patient on antibiotics compared with other regions, analysis of official prescribing data has revealed. GP Online

Heart surgeon spared jail for molesting women after judge says it may be in public interest for him to operate again

Heart surgeon spared jail for molesting women after judge says it may be in public interest for him to operate again A world-renowned heart surgeon has been spared jail for molesting two women after a judge said it may be in the public interest for him to operate again. Mohamed Amrani, 54, was found guilty of twice groping a woman's breasts through her clothes at the Harefield Hospital in west London between 2003 and 2004. A decade later, in 2014, he smacked another woman's bottom at Bupa's private Cromwell Hospital in Kensington. The consultant has performed a string of life-saving operations around the world and hit the headlines in 2007 when he performed the UK's first double heart valve replacement using keyhole surgery. Telegraph

NHS standards and performance: is prioritisation the answer we’ve been looking for?

NHS standards and performance: is prioritisation the answer we’ve been looking for? Our June 2017 quarterly monitoring report (QMR) showed that NHS performance on key access targets over the financial year 2016/17 continued to deteriorate. For the ambulance response time, A&E four-hour waiting time and 62-day cancer treatment targets 2016/17 was the third year in a row that performance was below the standard; for elective waiting times (18 weeks from referral to treatment), it was the first. King's Fund

Ramadan 2017

Ramadan 2017 Useful information and guidance for employers and staff in the NHS during the month of Ramadan. NHS Employers

Homeless babies and starving parents: the poverty seen by doctors

Homeless babies and starving parents: the poverty seen by doctors A survey of 250 paediatricians reveals a shocking return to old-fashioned poverty that will hit future generations

Nearly one in three children in the UK – a total of four million – live in poverty. It’s a statistic that perhaps many people acknowledge is shocking, but they don’t appreciate its implications.

Living in poverty can have all sorts of damaging effects on a child, not least on their health. Poverty makes children sick; those living in the most deprived areas have far worse health outcomes than children from the most affluent. They are more likely to be overweight or obese, suffer from asthma, have poorly managed diabetes and experience mental health problems. Infant mortality is more than twice as high in the lowest socio-economic groups compared with the highest groups. The Guardian

4 out of 5 toddlers not taken to the dentist

4 out of 5 toddlers not taken to the dentist The vast majority of parents fail to take young children to the dentist regularly, official figures reveal.

Some 80 per cent of one and two-year-olds in England did not visit an NHS dentist last year, national statistics show.

The figure was 60 per cent for children aged one to four, according to data from NHS Digital.

This is despite the fact that NHS dental care for children is free. Daily Mail

See also:

• Toddlers having teeth out because parents won't take them to dentist The Telegraph

Northampton university student to launch support website for people battling Anorexia

Northampton university student to launch support website for people battling Anorexia A Northamptonshire woman who says "beating Anorexia is the hardest thing she has ever done" has teamed up with a former sufferer to create an eating disorder support forum. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Parts of the NHS considering "savage" cuts - ITV News

Parts of the NHS considering "savage" cuts - ITV News Parts of the NHS in England are considering "savage" cuts in a bid to meet financial targets, a new report suggests.

The Health Service Journal (HSJ) has summarised a series of measures which are being discussed by officials from NHS England and NHS Improvement and health managers in 14 areas of the country with the highest overspends.

Some of the proposals under discussion in a number of the areas include: closing or downgrading wards and services, extending waiting times, restricting NHS funding for some treatments and limiting the number of operations carried out by non-NHS providers, the HSJ reported. ITV News

Call for transformation of children's mental health services - BBC News

Call for transformation of children's mental health services - BBC News Mental health campaigners have called for an urgent review into why so many young people in Scotland are being turned down for specialist treatment. More than 7,000 children and adolescents had their mental health referrals rejected last year. BBC News

Making it happen for mental health - National Health Executive

Making it happen for mental health - National Health Executive Following the launch of the Five Year Forward View (FYFV) for Mental Health, Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, argues that we need to maintain the current momentum and put mental health firmly at the heart of the next government. National Health Executive

Syphilis cases hit highest level since 1949 amid rise in risky sex

Syphilis cases hit highest level since 1949 amid rise in risky sex S
Syphilis cases have reached the highest level since 1949 following a rise in unsafe sex as fears about HIV have faded, new figures suggest.

The official data shows the number of diagnoses has doubled in five years, with most cases occuring in gay and bisexual men.

It follows warnings from health officials that risky sexual behaviours - including unprotected activity, “chem sex,” the use of “hookup” apps such as Grindr - and “poz” parties where HIV positive men select sexual partners - are fuelling the rise.

The figures from Public Health England show 5,920 syphilis diagnoses in 2016 - a rise of 12 per cent in one year, and a near doubling from 3,001 cases in 2012. The Telegraph

See also:

• Cases of syphilis hit highest level in England since 1949 The Guardian
• England is in a 'sexual health crisis' Daily Mail
• Official Statistics: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables Gov.UK

Teen to host auction for Northampton General Hospital resuscitation team in memory of her dad

Teen to host auction for Northampton General Hospital resuscitation team in memory of her dad Georgia Nickels, 17, of Wootton is raising money to celebrate the life of her dad, Jez who passed away suddenly six years ago from a brain haemorrhage, leaving behind Georgia, then 10 and her three-year-old sister, Mia. The resuscitation team at Northampton General Hospital looked after Jez in his last few hours of life and since his death, Georgia has managed to raise £2,000 to help the department buy a bladder analyser machine, which they were in desperate need of. Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

Organisation awarded thousands to deliver mental health sessions to Northamptonshire primary schools

Organisation awarded thousands to deliver mental health sessions to Northamptonshire primary schools A wellbeing team has been awarded £10,000 to work with 50 year five classes in Northamptonshire as research shows this age is "very important stage in children’s lives," bosses say. Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

Study shows GPs delivering quality cancer care for patients in rural areas, says RCGP

Study shows GPs delivering quality cancer care for patients in rural areas, says RCGP 

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the RCGP, has responded to a BJGP study published today on the level of cancer care for patients living in rural areas.She said: “Our patients deserve quality care and good access to GP services wherever they live, so it’s encouraging that this study demonstrates GPs and our teams in remote and rural areas are overcoming the specific challenges facing them, and delivering good cancer care. Royal College of General Practitioners.

Commissioning: barking up the wrong tree?

Commissioning: barking up the wrong tree? In 2008, at the 60th anniversary of the NHS, Kenneth Clarke, the health secretary who introduced the purchaser/provider split into the NHS in 1991 observed: ‘if one day subsequent generations find you cannot make commissioning work, then we have been barking up the wrong tree for the last 20 years’.
Well, we are not quite there yet. But it is clear that faith in the ‘purchaser/provider split’ or in ‘commissioning’– and its accompanying concepts ‘choice and competition’ – as the key drivers of reform is fast dissolving. The King's Fund.

Looking for needles in haystacks: population health and the manifestos

Looking for needles in haystacks: population health and the manifestos Two of the five tests we set out for the parties’ manifestos and for the incoming government were commitments to priority for population health and to working with people and communities.
So, how do the manifestos stack up against these tests? An early spoiler: looking for a strategic approach to population health in the manifestos is like looking for needles in a haystack. The King's Fund.

Is general practice in crisis?

Is general practice in crisis? 

Ahead of the general election, the King's Fund considers whether general practice is in crisis. NHS Networks.

Depressed elderly being failed by the NHS

Depressed elderly being failed by the NHS

A study found that people in their 70s with depression or anxiety were four times less likely to be referred for therapy than those in their 20s. Mail Online.

See also: 

 Age discrimination leaves older mental health patients 'under'referred' for talking therapies ITV News.
All of our patients' deserve high quality mental health care at every stage of their life, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners. 
Older people under-referred for mental health therapies OnMedica. 

London attack: Goodwill and planning got NHS through - BBC News

London attack: Goodwill and planning got NHS through - BBC News 

The NHS puts lots of effort into planning for a major incident - whether it is a terrorist attack, a cyber-attack, an outbreak of infectious disease or simply a major power cut.
But what the past few months have shown is that the dedication and goodwill of staff play a vital role. BBC News.

Exclusive: Majority of GPs ready to close lists in workload protest

Exclusive: Majority of GPs ready to close lists in workload protest
More than half of GPs are ready to participate in a mass closure of patient lists to highlight the crisis facing general practice, a GPonline poll suggests. GPonline.

Should doctors use WhatsApp to bypass archaic NHS tech?

Should doctors use WhatsApp to bypass archaic NHS tech? 

Being able to seek advice on patient care is invaluable but I worry about how to keep sensitive information confidential
It’s Thursday night, and as I gear myself up for yet another round of night shifts a message flashes across my phone screen – it’s a group of colleagues on WhatsApp. They’re discussing an anonymised foetal cardiac tracing, recorded during the course of a birth, and sharing thoughts on the interpretation and appropriate management. The Guardian.

Thousands of children's operations cancelled each year, NHS figures show

Thousands of children's operations cancelled each year, NHS figures show
Paediatricians’ leader says figures obtained by Labour are further evidence NHS is being pushed to the brink
Thousands of operations on children are being cancelled each year, often because NHS hospitals do not have enough beds, staff or equipment. The Guardian.

NHS told to 'think the unthinkable' on cuts and closures

NHS told to 'think the unthinkable' on cuts and closures 

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.

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

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

See also:

• Off duty doctors are staying sober on Saturday nights to be ready for major terror attack, hospital chief reveals  The Telegraph

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

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

• Report
• Press release

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

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.

'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

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.