GP recruitment is rising and more on track to hit target levels, says HEE

GP recruitment is rising and more on track to hit target levels, says HEE 'Good progress' has been made on GP recruitment, with more than 100 additional places filled compared to last year, Health Education England (HEE) has said. GPonline

Britain's unregulated plastic surgery industry 'targeting children and causing mental health problems'

Britain's unregulated plastic surgery industry 'targeting children and causing mental health problems' The largely unregulated British cosmetic surgery industry is a “cause for serious concern”, especially for children targeted by advertising and online plastic surgery games, health experts have warned.

A new report from the Nuffield Council of Bioethics highlights increasing concerns over anxiety related to unachievable appearance ideals – with young people said to be “bombarded” by promotion of breast implants, nose jobs, and non-surgical procedures such as botox and laser hair removal.

The think tank called for all cosmetic surgeons to be properly trained and certified, for a ban on non-medical invasive procedures for patients under 18, and for evidence of safety and effectiveness to be required for dermal fillers and implants. The Independent

See also:

• Cosmetic procedures: ethical issues Nuffield Council on Bioethics
• Social media pressure is linked to cosmetic procedure boom BBC News
• Don't let plastic surgeons prey on vulnerable teens The Daily Mail
• Girls as young as eight being groomed by cosmetic surgery games The Daily Telegraph

Cheshire cancer patients 'could die sooner' if NHS cuts are forced through

Cheshire cancer patients 'could die sooner' if NHS cuts are forced through Cost-cutting plans could see waiting times shoot up and risk patients’ chance of survival, doctors and charities warn

Cancer patients in Cheshire could die sooner because they will end up waiting longer for urgent hospital treatment if NHS regulators push through controversial cost-cutting plans, it has been claimed.

Doctors and cancer charities have criticised recommendations by NHS England and NHS Improvement that hospitals in the county cut the amount of endoscopies – internal examinations used to diagnose illness – they undertake by 25%. Continue reading... The Guardian

I’m at the sharp end of A&E. The recent attacks make it like working in a war zone | Saleyha Ahsan

I’m at the sharp end of A&E. The recent attacks make it like working in a war zone | Saleyha Ahsan In the emergency services we’re constantly braced for the next big disaster. Everyone has to pull together against the odds – but we need more support

You can’t move for breaking news headlines these days and within the emergency services we brace ourselves for what it might be. It’s not just news for us – we could end up being directly involved.

This week we woke to news of the attack in Finsbury Park. The result – one death and 10 injured, all distributed to major trauma centres within London. One trauma call will need manpower of up to 10 people around the bed, then you’ve got those needed for the CT scans to run, the urgent blood tests, blood supplies and the labs urgently cross matching samples. It can, in those early hours, take at least 20 people. And that’s without including the surgical and intensive therapy unit (ITU) teams needed for poly-trauma patients, typical from a major incident, so multiply that number by 10. But we don’t have 200 people in one place to do all that. So things get shared, redistributed and there’s plenty of concurrent activity. It’s an exercise of open communications, thinking on your feet and leadership. Sadly, the teams are getting used to it. Continue reading... The Guardian

Draconian NHS plans to save £200 million

Draconian NHS plans to save £200 million The plans have been drawn up by managers running the 'North Central London' area which serves the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Leak shows 'devastating' impact of planned NHS cuts in London The Guardian
• NHS leak reveals 'shocking restrictions' on care in London hospitals as part of secret cuts programme The Independent

Teamwork in maternity units key to reducing baby deaths and brain injuries during childbirth

Teamwork in maternity units key to reducing baby deaths and brain injuries during childbirth Adherence to best practice on fetal monitoring and neonatal care also identified as crucial to improving outcomes.

A detailed analysis of all stillbirths, neonatal deaths and brain injuries that occurred during childbirth in 2015 has identified key clinical actions needed to improve the quality of care and prevent future cases, reveals a summary report from the Each Baby Counts initiative.

Each Baby Counts is a national quality improvement programme, launched in October 2014, aiming to halve the number of babies who die or are left severely disabled as a result of preventable incidents occurring during term labour (after 37 weeks) by 2020.

The investigation team has now conducted 2,500 expert assessments of the local reviews into the care of 1,136 babies born in the UK in 2015 – 126 who were stillborn, 156 who died within the first seven days after birth and 854 babies who met the eligibility criteria for severe brain injury*.

The reviewers concluded that three quarters of these babies - 76% - might have had a different outcome with different care. This finding was based on 727 babies where the local investigation provided sufficient information to draw conclusions about the quality of care. A quarter of the local investigations were not thorough enough to allow full assessment. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

See also:

• How to make labour wards safer BBC News
• Midwives' mistakes 'causing stillbirths' The Daily Mail
• Most baby tragedies could have been prevented with right care, audit finds The Daily Telegraph

Getting the dementia pathway right

Getting the dementia pathway right In this scenario – using a fictional patient, Tom – we examine a dementia care pathway, comparing a sub-optimal but not atypical scenario against an ideal pathway. At each stage we have modelled the costs of care, to the commissioner and the impact on the person and their family’s outcomes and experience. NHS RightCare

Juniors doctor morale: Understanding best practice working environments

Juniors doctor morale: Understanding best practice working environments As part of the work to enhance junior doctors’ working lives, Health Education England undertook a listening exercise to gather together the themes affecting junior doctors’ morale and to understand their experiences of the best training environments.

The report highlights the work taking place across the NHS to address these themes, and suggests ways for health organisations to move forward. In so doing, it seeks to move the conversation forwards towards tangible changes for doctors in training. There is also an accompanying case study.

Experts write manifesto for evidence-based medicine

Experts write manifesto for evidence-based medicine Experts have produced their ‘manifesto for evidence-based medicine’ in response to what they say is the systematic bias, wastage, error, and fraud in the research that underpins patient care. They lament the questionable integrity of much of today’s evidence, the lack of research answering questions that matter to patients, and the lack of relevant evidence to inform patients’ and clinicians’ shared decision-making, and have called for a series of measures to help rectify the situation.

The authors of the editorial, in The BMJ, from the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at the University of Oxford and The BMJ itself, argue that too many research studies are poorly designed or executed, and too much of the resulting research evidence is withheld or disseminated piecemeal. OnMedica

Number of GP practices drops by more than 650 in four years

Number of GP practices drops by more than 650 in four years The number of GP practices in England has dropped by more than 650 in the four years since NHS England was founded, while average list sizes have risen by around 900 patients, official data suggest. GPonline

The NHS must act to tackle its looming workforce crisis

The NHS must act to tackle its looming workforce crisis Vacancies, an increase in demand for services, workplace pressure and low morale could be worse than funding issues

The workforce crisis enveloping the NHS could soon eclipse funding as the most serious problem.

There are tens of thousands of vacancies, far too few new staff are coming through; the pressure on those in post is relentless and morale is dangerously low. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Eleanor Smith MP: ‘NHS staff are undervalued – and demoralised’ The Guardian

Funding alone won’t fix the social care system

Funding alone won’t fix the social care system Alzheimer’s Society is investing in three new research centres of excellence that aim to find ways to improve quality of life and care

The election campaign led the public to the misconception that the “dementia tax” is a new issue. The reality is that decades of squeezed government funding have left people with dementia and their families enduring inadequate care, crippling costs and impossible choices. The Queen’s speech on Wednesday will hopefully promise to create a long-term, sustainable system for funding dementia care that doesn’t leave the burden of cost on individuals.

But fixing the system goes beyond funding. The government needs to adopt a more cost-effective approach that starts with preventing or slowing the rate that people need to access services. Investing money in ways to improve quality of life – and the quality of support people affected by dementia receive from the start of the care pathway – will alleviate the demand and reduce the costs incurred at a later stage. Continue reading... The Guardian

Pets should be allowed to visit their owners in hospital, senior nurses say

Pets should be allowed to visit their owners in hospital, senior nurses say Pets should be allowed to visit owners in hospital, and animal therapy offered to patients to boost mental and physical health, the Royal College of Nurses says.

New guidance will for the first time encourage hospitals to be more welcoming to four-legged friends, and to introduce “animal-assisted therapy” to calm the nerves of anxious patients.

A survey of 750 nurses found almost half had worked with animals - including ponies and chipmunks, as well as cats and dogs - at some point in their careers. In total, 82 per cent said that animals – dogs in particular – encouraged patients to be more physically active, while nearly 60 per cent said their presence appeared to speed physical recovery. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Don't be scared to let animals on wards, say nurses BBC News

Sustainability and Transformation Plans: How serious are the proposals? A critical review

Sustainability and Transformation Plans: How serious are the proposals? A critical review This report critically reviews each of the 44 STPs in terms of how they stand as serious, coherent and achievable plans. Each was subject to the levels of rigorous appraisal you would expect for ant set of NHS planning documents. The researchers were looking for clear expert evidence, how the plans matched population needs, the resources required, the key assumptions in the overall approach, and how local accountability operates across the footprint. Overall the report finds that the STPs are not ready for implementation, with the plans lacking a secure grounding in the current situation, and a robust evidence base to the changes proposed. Significant developments in the relationship between the NHS and Local Government are required and this will take time. The emphasis on reducing acute beds and A&E attendance will require local consultation. Legislative change is also required to free health and care from the constraints of the market to provide integrated quality care for local populations. Finally there is a significant funding shortfall, and a need for clear and robust workforce plans. London Southbank University

See also:

• STPs set to fail without appropriate legal powers and role clarification OnMedica

Action needed to prevent confusion over medicines

Action needed to prevent confusion over medicines Only about a third (37%) of the public trust evidence from medical research, compared to approximately two-thirds (65%) who trust the experiences of their friends and family*, according to a report launched today.

The new report highlights the significant difficulties patients and some healthcare professionals face in using evidence from research to judge the benefits and harms of medicines, and calls for concerted action to improve the information patients receive.

The report was instigated following public debate around the benefits and harms of treatments such as statins, hormone replacement therapy and Tamiflu. It calls for a range of actions including significant improvements to patient information leaflets, better use of medical appointments and a bigger role for NHS Choices as the ‘go to’ source of trusted information online for patients and carers, as well as healthcare professionals. The Academy of Medical Sciences

See also:

• Enhancing the use of scientific evidence (download) The Academy of Medical Sciences
• Medicine information leaflets 'too scary', say experts BBC News
• Patients trust friends more than science on drugs The Daily Mail
• Drug trials 'skewed by the pharmaeutical industry,' GPs say The Daily Telegraph

Where next for commissioning?

Where next for commissioning? This report is the first in a series which promotes the views of leaders from a range of trusts and other parts of the service on some of the key issues facing the NHS today. The report includes eight interviews that address concerns including the role of STPs and accountable care systems, the challenge of integrating health and care commissioning, and the future of the purchaser-provider split. Contributors include leaders of hospital, mental health and community trusts and ambulance services, with additional perspectives from a CCG and local government. NHS Providers

Long-stay rehabilitation services

Long-stay rehabilitation services This briefing reviews evidence from Care Quality Commission inspection reports of inpatient rehabilitation services in England. It finds that while many people receive high quality care close to home from rehabilitation services, a minority spend periods of many months and sometimes years in hospital. Some are placed far from home in locked wards and become isolated from their families and dislocated from their local health and care services. It calls on the government and the NHS to provide clear direction for the development and improvement of local community and hospital services for people with complex mental health needs. It also calls on NHS providers and CCGs to ensure they offer local services to people requiring rehabilitation support and that they maintain contact with people admitted to hospitals out of their local area. Centre for Mental Health

Sleep disorder tests carried out by NHS doubles

Sleep disorder tests carried out by NHS doubles The number of tests carried out by the NHS to diagnose people with sleep disorders across England has doubled in the past decade, figures reveal.

NHS data shows that 147,610 sleep diagnostic tests were carried out last year - compared with 69,919 in 2007-08.

The tests are designed to identify sleep apnoea, a condition that causes people to stop breathing during sleep.

One patient told the BBC the problem was so acute it had driven her to contemplate suicide. BBC News

GP workforce crisis should concern hospitals as much as CCGs, warns NHS chief

GP workforce crisis should concern hospitals as much as CCGs, warns NHS chief The chief executive of NHS England has told hospital trust leaders they should be as concerned about resolving the GP workforce crisis as primary care organisations such as CCGs or GP consortia. GPonline

Bupa has betrayed care home residents, says CQC

Bupa has betrayed care home residents, says CQC Bupa has betrayed the residents of its care homes whom it is paid to look after, and failed to make good on promises to address concerns previously raised by the Care Quality Commission, the regulator has warned. The CQC was responding to “shocking evidence” of understaffing, bad practice and poor care portrayed in Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, aired last night. Bupa said it does not accept some of the accusations, but is “taking this very seriously” and has launched its own investigation.

For Bupa Care Homes Undercover, Dispatches reporters went undercover to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect at specialist dementia care homes. The CQC reacted forcefully to the revelations made by the Dispatches team. Andrea Sutcliffe, the regulator’s chief inspector of adult social care, said: “The examples of poor care and a culture of inappropriate, institutionalised practice highlighted by this programme are wholly unacceptable.” OnMedica

NHS deficit shrinks by two thirds in a year, latest performance data show

NHS deficit shrinks by two thirds in a year, latest performance data show The NHS deficit has shrunk by two thirds in the past year – from £2.4 billion to £791 million – the figures on financial performance for the last quarter of 2016-17 show.

This represents an improvement of £1.7 billion, driven by savings of over £3.1 billion (3.7%), with over £700 million saved on locum and agency use during the year, says NHS Improvement.

This is against a backdrop of rising demand and a significant increase in delayed transfers of care: providers experienced a 24.5% increase in delayed days in 2016-17 compared with 2015-16, it says.

Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS Improvement, said the NHS had achieved “the impossible” over the past year. OnMedica

More students are dropping out of university because of mental health problems

More students are dropping out of university because of mental health problems The UK student population has doubled in the last 20 years to almost two million. During this time, higher tuition fees have placed increased pressure on students – with a recent survey finding that 75 per cent of students who receive a maintenance loan feel stressed about their debt.

It may not be a total surprise then that a 2015 NUS survey revealed that 78 per cent of students experienced mental health issues during the previous year. And for 33 per cent of those questioned, this included suicidal thoughts.

The situation has been described as a “mental health crisis” – with student support services struggling to meet demand. ONS data on the issue also shows student suicides are at a 10-year high. The Independent

As a psychologist for NHS staff I saw how hospital work takes its toll

As a psychologist for NHS staff I saw how hospital work takes its toll I was struck by their terrible experiences – the doctor who kept seeing a dead child and the person with an alcohol problem

When I began working as a psychologist at a large London teaching hospital I was fascinated and – a little overwhelmed – by the challenge of developing a new psychology service. I was employed solely for the 5,000 staff working in the hospital. Absolutely anyone could come and see me for psychological support, from the porters to the medical consultants. And they did. Over a 12-year period I saw many NHS staff.

Sometimes they were sent by managers who were worried about them. About their behaviour or their distress or the impact of a very traumatic event they had witnessed, for example. Others referred themselves in secret and hoped that no one would know they were coming. When they left they were always polite and thanked me but usually said that they hoped they would never see me again.

It sometimes felt like there was hope that staff could disappear for a bit and emerge intact and ready to work Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS launches urgent appeal for black people to donate blood

NHS launches urgent appeal for black people to donate blood Call prompted by demand for Ro subtype, more common among black people, to treat conditions such as sickle cell disease

Health officials have launched an urgent plea for more black people to give blood.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said that 40,000 more donors were needed to meet growing demand for Ro blood, a subtype that is more common among black people. Continue reading. The Guardian

Speech: Jeremy Hunt: message to NHS staff in support of their excellent work

Speech: Jeremy Hunt: message to NHS staff in support of their excellent work When I was first made Health Secretary I said it was the biggest privilege of my life, and so it has proved. What I didn’t realise then was that it would also become my biggest passion – working in health is not just a job but a vocation.

The election period reinforced more acutely than ever the incredible work of the NHS, particularly the way staff dealt first with the global cyber-attack and then with horrendous terror attacks in Manchester and London.

After the Manchester bombing I met nurses caring for bereaved families with incredible compassion, whilst in London I heard stories of doctors who cycled the length of the city at 2am just because they wanted to help.

These stories speak to a wider truth: NHS staff do an amazing job, often in the most difficult of circumstances. And it is this which brings us all together – our great belief in the NHS, what it stands for and what we believe it can be. Department of Health

Two new bite-size guides to insight and feedback published

Two new bite-size guides to insight and feedback published Two further bite-size guides to patient insight have been launched to help CCGs and providers to carry out qualitative research and to gather feedback from people with a learning disability. NHS England

Workforce supply briefing builds on work to help NHS respond to challenges of coming years

Workforce supply briefing builds on work to help NHS respond to challenges of coming years NHS Employers has launched a new briefing document for NHS leaders, aimed at encouraging more investment in the skills of the domestic population.

Titled “Workforce supply – attracting and retaining local talent”, the briefing highlights the context and policies designed to do this.

It covers the various elements that contribute to a sustainable workforce supply strategy, with signposts to help employers reflect on their activity and what else might be helpful.

See also:

• Workforce supply - attracting and retaining local talent NHS Employers

Interactive dashboard provides new insight into cervical screening coverage

Interactive dashboard provides new insight into cervical screening coverage GPs and health organisations will be able to improve cervical screening rates thanks to an innovative new online data tool.It is hoped that the interactive dashboard will help identify areas where screening levels could be improved and encourage work to boost coverage. NHS Digital

NHS terrorism response was better because of STPs, says Hunt

NHS terrorism response was better because of STPs, says Hunt The NHS response to the Manchester terrorist attack last month was more effective because of reforms led by the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) process, Jeremy Hunt has claimed. GPonline

Health unions urge Theresa May to ditch NHS pay cap

Health unions urge Theresa May to ditch NHS pay cap Unions representing cross-section of healthcare staff increase pressure on government to use Queen’s speech to lift 1% restriction on pay rises

The NHS pay cap is unfair, unpopular and dangerous to patient safety, bodies representing 1.3 million health service staff have warned Theresa May, urging her to ditch the policy in the Queen’s speech.

The plea from doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals comes as the prime minister faces intense pressure to scrap the cap, introduced in 2010, which has limited NHS staff to 1% pay rises or below. It is legislated to continue until 2020. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Nurses sceptical of Jeremy Hunt's 'insulting' offer to discuss pay rise for NHS staff after seven years of cuts The Independent

Number of under-18s on antidepressants in England rises by 12%

Number of under-18s on antidepressants in England rises by 12% Data shows over 166,000 were given such medication between April 2015 and June 2016, including 537 aged six or under

Tens of thousands of young people in England, including children as young as six, are being prescribed antidepressants by their doctors. The figures have prompted concern that medics may be overprescribing strong medication because of stretched and underfunded mental health services.

Data obtained by the Guardian shows that 166,510 under-18s, including 10,595 seven-to-12-year-olds and 537 aged six or younger, were given medication typically used to treat depression and anxiety between April 2015 and June 2016. The figures, released by NHS England under the Freedom of Information Act, show a 12% rise in the numbers taking the drugs over the same time period. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Antidepressant prescriptions in England double in a decade The Guardian

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