Fewer ambulance 999 calls to be classed as 'life-threatening'

Fewer ambulance 999 calls to be classed as 'life-threatening' Fewer 999 ambulance calls will be classed as life-threatening and needing a super-fast response, as part of the biggest shake-up in the service in 40 years.

The move by the NHS in England - and agreed by ministers - will result in about 8% of call-outs being classed as needing the quickest response.

Currently half of call-outs are, but many could wait longer.

NHS bosses said the changes would save lives.

They said the plans would result in the sickest patients getting urgent treatment more quickly.

The changes have been backed by medical experts after being carefully piloted over the past 18 months.

For example, in one of the pilot sites, cardiac arrest patients received a response 30 seconds quicker than they did previously. If this was repeated across the country, it could save 250 lives. BBC News

See also:

• Cars not ambulances are dispatched to hit target times The Daily Mail
• Ambulance trust accused of jeopardising patients by sending cars The Guardian

Driving students away from nursing is a spectacular act of political self-harm

Driving students away from nursing is a spectacular act of political self-harm With 40,000 nursing vacancies unfilled, the news that training applications are down by 23% is disastrous for the NHS.

The deadline for applications has passed and the final figures are out: after rising for years, the number applying for university places has fallen this year. There are 4% fewer from England and 5% fewer from the EU, with a 2% rise from elsewhere. Continue reading... The  Guardian

Hospitals to receive £21m to increase cybersecurity at major trauma centres

Hospitals to receive £21m to increase cybersecurity at major trauma centres Jeremy Hunt pledges funding for 27 hospitals across England after the WannaCry ransomware attack disabled NHS IT systems

Hospitals responsible for treating patients from major incidents including terrorist attacks will receive £21m to beef up their cybersecurity in the wake of the WannaCry assault on NHS IT systems.

Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, has pledged the extra money to try to stop future malware attacks disrupting operations and appointments in key medical centres. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Government responds on cyber security and data Department of Health
• Consultation outcome: New health data security standards and consent/opt-out model Department of Health
• Cyber-security and safe data sharing both imperative for NHS patient care, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Hospitals will fail unless they improve cyber security The Daily Mail
• Cyber threats could cost lives unless NHS improves security The Daily Telegraph

Suicides by young people peak in exam season, report finds

Suicides by young people peak in exam season, report finds Research backs fears of campaigners calling for reversal of cuts in counselling services at schools and universities

Suicides among children and young adults peak at the beginning of exam season, it has emerged, adding to fears that pressure to get good results is harming their mental health.

Exams are sometimes the final straw that lead to someone under 25 taking their own life, according to a major inquiry. While experts pointed out that the causes of suicide are always complex, they said academic problems could play a significant role. Continue reading... The Guardian

Weybridge hospital fire: Homes evacuated as flames engulf Surrey medical centre

Weybridge hospital fire: Homes evacuated as flames engulf Surrey medical centre Scores of people were evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night after a fire ripped through a hospital.

Witnesses reported hearing a "loud bang" at Weybridge Community Hospital, in Surrey, before the building was engulfed in flames.

Residents near the three-storey medical centre, which houses a walk-in centre that is only open during the daytime, were given refuge inside St James' Parish Church after being told to leave their homes for safety reasons. The Daily Telegraph

Abusive caller who phoned Northamptonshire's ambulance service 999 line 1,868 times, jailed for six months

Abusive caller who phoned Northamptonshire's ambulance service 999 line 1,868 times, jailed for six months Northamptonshire's ambulance service has seen an abusive caller, who rang 999 1,868 times and cost the NHS £30,936, handed a six month prison sentence. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Big cuts planned to public health budgets

Big cuts planned to public health budgets Central government cuts have forced councils to reduce planned spending on vital public health services such as sexual health clinics and reducing harm from smoking, alcohol and drugs by £85 million, according to new analysis by The King’s Fund.

The analysis, based on Department of Communities and Local Government data, shows that councils in England are planning to spend £3.4 billion on public health services in 2017/18. But on a like-for-like basis (to exclude the impact of changes to how budgets are calculated over different years) councils will spend only £2.52 billion on public health services in 2017/18 compared to £2.60 billion the previous year. Once inflation is factored in, we estimate that, on a like-for-like basis, planned public health spending is more than 5 per cent less in 2017/18 than it was in 2013/14. The King's Fund

See also:

• Chickens coming home to roost: local government public health budgets for 2017/18 The King's Fund
• 'Reckless' cuts to sexual health services fuel soaring STD levels The Daily Telegraph

Councillors' perceptions of Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships

Councillors' perceptions of Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships This survey of local councillors finds that less than a quarter of respondents are confident that STPs will succeed and that the majority feel that they have not been involved with shaping, commenting on or approving of the plans. The report argues that STPs should be more democratically accountable through local health and wellbeing boards, which should also be given a legal duty to sign off the plans. Local Government Association

The C word: how we react to cancer today

The C word: how we react to cancer today This report argues that with cancer diagnoses becoming more common than marriage in the UK, there is a greater need for the public to be better informed about the reality of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The report explores people's experiences when receiving a cancer diagnosis and how best to support patients following diagnosis. Macmillan

Theresa May urged to appoint learning disability commissioner

Theresa May urged to appoint learning disability commissioner The "shocking" case of a man with learning disabilities and terminal cancer has led to a call for the prime minister to appoint a commissioner for learning disabled people's rights.

Ian Shaw, 34, spent nine years in secure hospitals before being moved into community care last year.

The cancer was found and his parents say the units should have spotted it.

Sir Stephen Bubb, author of two reports on secure units, has told Theresa May Ian's case highlights ongoing failures.

Sir Stephen told the BBC that Ian's story was "all too typical".

"It has led me to believe that institutional care is at root abusive and we must close these institutions." BBC News

Contaminated blood scandal inquiry announced

Contaminated blood scandal inquiry announced A UK-wide inquiry will be held into the contaminated blood scandal that left at least 2,400 people dead, the prime minister has confirmed.

A spokesman for Theresa May said it would establish the causes of the "appalling injustice" that took place in the 1970s and 1980s.

Thousands of NHS patients were given blood products from abroad that were infected with hepatitis C and HIV.

It's been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. BBC News

See also:

• Prime Minister announces inquiry into contaminated blood scandal that left 2,400 dead The Daily Telegraph
• Contaminated blood scandal: Theresa May orders inquiry The Guardian
• What is the contaminated blood scandal? The Guardian
• Blood contamination has killed 2,400. Why was this disaster ignored for so long? The Guardian
• Contaminated blood survivor: 'I think they just expected us to die' The Guardian

Measles 'tragedy' kills 35 across Europe

Measles 'tragedy' kills 35 across Europe Thirty-five people have died in the past year from measles outbreaks across Europe, the World Health Organization has warned.

It described the deaths - which can be prevented with vaccination - as an "unacceptable tragedy".

A six-year-old boy in Italy was the latest to die from the infection. More than 3,300 measles cases have been recorded in the country.

The most fatalities - 31 - have been in Romania.

But there have also been deaths in Germany and Portugal since June 2016. BBC News

ITV News reveals scale of NHS vacancies that threatens closed wards and cancelled operations

ITV News reveals scale of NHS vacancies that threatens closed wards and cancelled operations An ITV News investigation has revealed the scale of vacancies in NHS hospitals stretching across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Some hospitals reported more than 1,000 vacancies with the biggest gaps, at every trust, in nursing.

Others admitted crucial roles have remained unfilled for years, despite repeated advertising.

ITV News asked every acute trust in the country to disclose how many staff posts were vacant.

In total 92 trusts responded to our Freedom of Information request.

Cleaners at London hospitals stage seven-day strike over pay

Cleaners at London hospitals stage seven-day strike over pay More than 700 cleaners, security guards, catering staff and porters walk out after Serco refuses 30p a an hour pay rise

Domestic staff in London hospitals have begun a week-long strike in a dispute with private contractor Serco over low pay and job cuts, with organisers saying it is the biggest cleaners’ strike in the UK’s history.

Hospitals that are part of Barts Health NHS trust were expected to face serious consequences as more than 700 cleaners, security guards, catering staff and porters employed by Serco walked out on Tuesday. The action came after a ballot resulted in 99% of workers voting to strike. Continue reading... The Guardian

Margaret Willcox: ‘Relations with the NHS are tense. But we will rise above it

Margaret Willcox: ‘Relations with the NHS are tense. But we will rise above it’ We must pursue integration with the health service despite our differences, says the president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services

As president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass), Margaret Willcox finds herself in an unusual position. In the mounting friction between health and social care, she’s a leading figure on one side of the fence who also spent half her career on the other side – starting out as a nurse. Continue reading... The Guardian

Delaying emergency surgeries increases deaths

Delaying emergency surgeries increases deaths A report on a Canadian hospital showed the high figure of risk for serious injuries or life-threatening conditions. Hospitals in England cancelled 4,093 urgent procedures during 2016. The Daily Mail

Shared data paves the way for creating accountable care systems

Shared data paves the way for creating accountable care systems At this year’s NHS Confederation conference Simon Stevens confirmed the eight areas in England chosen to evolve their sustainability and transformation partnerships into accountable care systems (ACSs). This move to ACSs – first announced by NHS England in its Next stepsdocument – represents the next stage in integrating local health systems to deliver better, more co-ordinated care for their local populations.

To integrate effectively, it is not enough for organisations to speak to one another, their IT systems need to be able to communicate too. In the United States, where accountable care is further ahead in its development, good IT systems are seen as essential (though not sufficient on their own) to delivering on the promise of better health outcomes. The King's Fund

One in four unpaid carers “have not had a day off” in five years

One in four unpaid carers “have not had a day off” in five years Carers are reaching ‘breaking point’ as they struggle to take even a day away from care responsibilities for years at a time, research by Carers UK has found. 4 in 10 (40%) of unpaid carers have not had a break in over one year, whilst one in four (25%) had not received a single day away from caring in five years.

The charity’s report, State of Caring 2017, found that carers most frequently listed access to breaks as one of three factors which could make a difference in their lives (42%). Respondents explained their own personal reasons for needing a break, listing diverse benefits ranging from the opportunity to spend time with partners and children to being able to see a doctor for their own health conditions. Yet few are able to take regular breaks, with only 16% of carers currently buying or receiving a break from caring in the form of services such as respite or alternative care provisions. Carers UK

See also:

• The carers who haven't had a day off in five years The Daily Mail

First vaccine shows gonorrhoea protection

First vaccine shows gonorrhoea protection A vaccine has for the first time been shown to protect against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea, scientists in New Zealand say.

There are fears gonorrhoea is becoming untreatable as antibiotics fail.

The World Health Organization sees developing a vaccine as vital in stopping the global spread of "super-gonorrhoea".

The study of 15,000 young people, published in the Lancet, showed infections were cut by about a third.

About 78 million people pick up the sexually transmitted infection each year, and it can cause infertility.

But the body does not build up resistance no matter how many times someone is infected. BBC News

More than 50,000 alive due to organ transplants, NHS says

More than 50,000 alive due to organ transplants, NHS says More than 50,000 people in the UK are alive today because of organ transplantation, new data suggests.

NHS Blood and Transplant said that figure included 36,300 kidney patients, 9,800 given livers, 1,900 who received a pancreas, and 1,000 who were given an intestine transplant.

It marks the first time the 50,000 barrier has been broken, the NHS added.

The number of registered organ donors also reached a record of 23.6 million - up 4.9 million over five years. BBC News

Migrants will be forced to pay upfront for non-urgent NHS treatment 'by end of the year'

Migrants will be forced to pay upfront for non-urgent NHS treatment 'by end of the year' Plans are being finalised by Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, to force migrants to pay upfront for non-urgent NHS treatment by the end of the year.

Despite not being included in the Queen’s Speech, the Department of Health expects to be laying out the regulations, which include a legal requirement that hospitals charge patients who are not eligible for free NHS treatment upfront and in full for any non-urgent care. The Independent

How to manage mental health at work

How to manage mental health at work Speak openly with colleagues about your mental ill-health and try to build a workplace that’s mental health friendly, say the experts

In recent months, a number of high-profile figures have spoken frankly about their experiences of mental health. Prince Harry has disclosed the anxiety and panic attacks he experienced following the sudden death of his mother, while former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff and rapper Professor Green have also both opened up about their mental health.

Experts welcome such open discussions on mental health, which has been a taboo subject for far too long. “It’s great that more people feel able to talk about their mental health,” says Madeleine McGivern, head of workplace wellbeing programmes at the charity Mind. “There is still a long way to go – especially in many workplaces – but things are definitely moving in the right direction.” Continue reading... The Guardian

The charity that's been saving lives for 140 years – in pictures

The charity that's been saving lives for 140 years – in pictures Established long before the NHS, St John Ambulance has helped, and continues to help, save lives every day. Their presence has been felt at major events over the years, including football matches and royal garden parties, and they’ve worked alongside the emergency services in times of terror or political and social unrest Continue reading... The Guardian

GPs hold vote to stop taking on all new patients

GPs hold vote to stop taking on all new patients Up to 23,000 GPs in England are taking part in the ballot which could see them collectively suspending all registrations. The mass closure would be a form of industrial action. The Daily Mail

See also:

• BMA begins balloting GPs in England over industrial action GPonline

Big pharma sues NHS over medicines price cap

Big pharma sues NHS over medicines price cap British pharmaceutical companies are suing the NHS's drugs watchdog in an effort to prevent drug rationing.

The unprecedented legal action follows a new rule, in place since April, to consider delaying or restricting funding for medicines already judged good value for money by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) if they cost the health service more than £20 million a year.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is seeking judicial review of the changes, saying they “contravene the fundamental right to access to cost-effective medicines”. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Drug industry to challenge Nice over new cost limits BBC News

Relax English language test for foreign nurses, say hospital execs

Relax English language test for foreign nurses, say hospital execs Hospital bosses have called for the English language test for foreign nurses to be relaxed after just three of 118 Filipino applicants at one NHS trust passed.

Managers at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands said their chronic staffing shortfall could be solved “overnight” if watchdogs slackened standards, however patient safety campaigners have demanded the existing pass mark remain in place.

The complaint was made as it emerged executives from the trust made two trips to the Philippines last year in an attempt to recruit more staff. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Health chiefs call for easier tests for foreign medics The Daily Mail

Construction on new 60-bed unit to relieve Northampton's strained A&E will start this month

Construction on new 60-bed unit to relieve Northampton's strained A&E will start this month Northampton General Hospital has been given the go-ahead to construct a £12 million emergency assessment unit for its A&E. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A&E at KGH visited almost 350 times by just 10 people last year

A&E at KGH visited almost 350 times by just 10 people last year The 10 most frequent attenders at KGH’s A&E department racked up almost 350 visits in 12 months last year.

A Freedom of Information request by the Northants Telegraph revealed they totalled 345 visits - close to a one a day between them - in 2016.

The visitors included a 35-year-old female who attended 47 times and a 59-year-old male who visited 46 times – almost one visit a week.

Kettering General Hospital’s lead nurse for urgent care, David Anderson, said: “As a general rule the patients who attend the hospital’s A&E department on a very regular basis have underlying personal problems.

Lifesaving organ donors have kept more than 500 people alive in Northamptonshire

Lifesaving organ donors have kept more than 500 people alive in Northamptonshire More than 500 people in Northamptonshire owe their life to organ donors - a new study has found.

NHS Blood and Transplant, whose annual Transplant Activity Report has been published today, shows the UK-wide number of people alive thanks to transplants has reached 50,000.

Here in Northamptonshire, 548 people are currently alive thanks to the lifesaving transplants, including 46 in the last year alone. NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging people in Northamptonshire to help even more people to survive by joining the NHS organ donor register. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Survey of medical clinical academic staffing levels 2017

Survey of medical clinical academic staffing levels 2017 This report raises concerns over the falling number of clinical academic staff in UK medical schools. It finds that since 2010, the number of medical clinical academics has declined by 4.2 per cent with the reducing occurring disproportionately at the senior lecturer level. The survey results also highlight the need for a rapid expansion in the number of clinical academics in general practice in order to meeting the growing demands for primary care. Medical Schools Council

Mental health care 'risks being over-run'

Mental health care 'risks being over-run' Mental health services in England risk being overwhelmed by a combination of rising demand and staff shortages, a survey of NHS trusts suggests.

The poll by NHS Providers, which represents trusts, found seven in 10 mental health leaders expected demand to increase this year.

But fewer than one in three was confident they had enough staff to deliver services.

Ministers said extra money being invested would help improve care.

It comes as an investigation by BBC Radio 5 live Daily found the growing demand for mental health support was being felt in the ambulance service too. BBC News

Charlie Gard: Great Ormond Street Hospital applies for new hearing

Charlie Gard: Great Ormond Street Hospital applies for new hearing Great Ormond Street Hospital has applied for a fresh hearing in the case of Charlie Gard following claims of "new evidence relating to potential treatment for his condition".

It comes after seven medical experts suggested unpublished data showed therapy could improve the 11-month-old's brain condition.

Previously, the High Court said it was unlikely a US doctor offering to treat Charlie would be able to cure him.

GOSH said it would "explore" the data.

Charlie's case will be heard by Mr Justice Francis on Monday at 14:00 BST, according to a High Court listing. BBC News

Sector leaders call for mental health to be central to STPs

Sector leaders call for mental health to be central to STPs The health sector has today come together to call for mental health to be made a central component of local STP plans.

Following the release of NHS Providers’ state of the sector report, which warned that mental health services were struggling to deliver existing services under immense pressure, organisations from the NHS and the third sector have called on the government to act to save the ailing sector.

Many have also told the prime minister to deliver on promises made to put mental health on the same level of importance as physical health. National Health Executive

Nine ways to save the NHS – by healthcare professionals

Nine ways to save the NHS – by healthcare professionals Charge for missed appointments, divert funds to social care and fine drunk people – readers weigh in on how to solve problems facing the health service

Drink- or drug-related problems should always be dealt with in regional drunk tanks which are already being used in many areas, and patients charged to make the service profitable. Alternatively, this could be paid for by a sharp rise in alcohol tax. In the A&E I often work in, it’s not just the weekend evenings we have drunk patients, it’s 24/7; you can walk in at any time of day and there will always be a few drunk people or drug users causing a nuisance. Continue reading... The Guardian

Giving Google our private NHS data is simply illegal | John Naughton

Giving Google our private NHS data is simply illegal | John Naughton The Royal Free hospital’s attempt to gloss over its transfer of more than a million health records to the AI developer DeepMind is boneheaded and dishonest

In July 2015, consultants working at the Royal Free hospital trust in London approached DeepMind, a Google-owned artificial intelligence firm that had no previous experience in healthcare, about developing software based on patient data from the trust. Four months later, the health records of 1.6 million identifiable patients were transferred to servers contracted by Google to process the data on behalf of DeepMind. The basic idea was that the company would create an app, called Streams, to help clinicians manage acute kidney injury (AKI), a serious disease that is linked to 40,000 deaths a year in the UK. Continue reading... The Guardian

After a nightshift in A&E, I’m so tired I fear for my life driving home. I’m not alon

After a nightshift in A&E, I’m so tired I fear for my life driving home. I’m not alone Other professions offer taxis home for night workers. But cost-cutting in the NHS means there are no facilities for exhausted staff. Lives are at risk• Saleyha Ahsan is an A&E doctor

Around 4am on an A&E nightshift I begin to think about the drive home. It’s the time at which I’m feeling my worst, digging deep to keep working at somewhere near optimum. There are only four hours left before I go home but those four hours stretch in some weird nightshift time continuum. It’s also the time when the sickest patients tend to come into the department – the “death hour”. There is a requirement to shift into a higher gear of working as we try to save the lives of people who have woken up to die.

When I say that I fleetingly think about the drive home, it’s not because I’m counting down the hours until I finish. I’m thinking more along the lines of, “I am knackered. How am I going to drive home without crashing into a tractor or something?” You start to think about your own mortality. It’s not a baseless fear – 57% of doctors in the position have said they’ve had an accident or near-miss. Continue reading... The Guardian

Anixety, depression and stress affects one third of Brits

Anixety, depression and stress affects one third of Brits One third of British workers are suffering from anxiety, depression or stress, a new survey has found.

A survey of 2,000 people in junior and senior jobs found 34 per cent of employees in the UK are facing health and well-being problems.

And two in five workers said they have taken time off because of mental health issues, according the research.

The survey did not explore why mental health problems are on the rise, but a leading mental health expert said the results reflect a loss of home and life balance.

Ian Hamilton, a researcher from the University of Leeds, told MailOnline that pressure to answer emails and calls could be blurring the line between home and work, sparking a new mental health crisis for British workers. The Daily Mail

See also:

• One in three UK employees are working with anxiety, depression or stress, according to new PwC research PwC

Breastfeeding support unavailable to millions of women

Breastfeeding support unavailable to millions of women Researchers from Cardiff University have revealed that breastfeeding support is missing in many parts of the country, with help from peer supporters only being available in 56 per cent of the UK. The Daily Mail

Number of children being referred to gender identity clinics has quadrupled in five years

Number of children being referred to gender identity clinics has quadrupled in five years The number of children being referred to gender identity clinics has quadrupled in the past five years, figures show.

Experts have warned that the huge spike is, in part, due to the promotion of transgender issues in schools which they say has encouraged to question their identity, and “sowed confusion” in their minds.

Figures from the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), which is the NHS's only facility for transgender children based at the Tavistock Centre in north London, show that 84 children aged between 3 and 7 were referred last year, compared to 20 in 2012/13.

The number of children referred to the service under the age of ten had also seen a four-fold increase, from 36 in 2012/13 to 165 last year. The Daily Telegraph

NHS reveals 50 newly recorded cases of female genital mutilation in Northampton

NHS reveals 50 newly recorded cases of female genital mutilation in Northampton New NHS Digital statistics show that there have been 50 newly recorded cases of FGM to NHS Nene CCG between 2016 and 2017, 45 of these girls, at the time, were under 18.
“Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is child abuse. Despite being illegal for over 30 years, too many people are still being subjected to it and it is right that health services have started to properly record evidence of this horrendous practice," a spokesman for the NSPCC said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Council leader 'deeply concerned' by Corby Urgent Care Centre funding proposal

Council leader 'deeply concerned' by Corby Urgent Care Centre funding proposal A spokesman for Corby CCG said the new contract would be on a 'caretaker' arrangement, with the view to a long-term contract bidding process next year. The spokesman said: “NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is now undertaking a process to secure a provider to ensure that there is no disruption of the Urgent Care Centre service when the current service expires at the end of September. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Video provides tips for reward in the NHS

Video provides tips for reward in the NHS NHS Employers have launched a new video which explores how to communicate reward effectively, as well as how reward can support your organisational priorities. NHS Employers

Rebooting health and social care integration: an agenda for more person centred care

Rebooting health and social care integration: an agenda for more person centred care  This report from Localis finds that the health and social care integration agenda has a future but it is dependent on moving away from notions of structural integration and reliance on central policy direction. It concludes that the issue of funding and financial sustainability is critical but can only be influenced locally. The authors also believe that health and social care integration can create new value locally, but it must build on its most important point of consensus; greater person centred care. The report makes four strategic recommendations and six policy recommendations to support integration.
Report
King's Fund

NHS financial temperature check: finance directors’ views on financial challenges facing the NHS in England

NHS financial temperature check: finance directors’ views on financial challenges facing the NHS in England This is the seventh in the HFMA’s series of briefings setting out finance directors’ views on the financial issues facing the NHS in England. The briefing draws on the responses of 73 finance directors of trusts and foundation trusts and chief finance officers of 100 CCGs. The NHS financial temperature check provides a national picture of finance directors’ views of the financial outlook and the challenges NHS finance staff are facing.
Briefing
Infographic
King's Fund

Patient confidence in GPs remains high despite difficulties getting appointments

Patient confidence in GPs remains high despite difficulties getting appointments More than 90% of patients say they have trust and confidence in their GP, according to the latest annual GP patient survey, despite growing numbers saying that they struggle to get appointments. GP Online

More patients waiting longer than a week for GP appointments

More patients waiting longer than a week for GP appointments Annual survey shows that in England 20% must wait at least seven days and many are unable to get an appointment at all. Growing numbers of patient are waiting a week or more to see their GP or are unable to get an appointment at all, according to a major annual report.
A survey of more than 800,000 patients in England reveals that the proportion of patients waiting longer than seven days to see a doctor has risen 56% in five years – with 20% waiting this period compared to 12.8% in 2012. Guardian

Use of WhatsApp in NHS 'widespread', say doctors

Use of WhatsApp in NHS 'widespread', say doctors Internet-based messaging apps are a key way for doctors to send patient information, the BBC has learned. Doctors and nurses are using WhatsApp and Snapchat to share information about patients "across the NHS", health professionals have told the BBC.
GP Alisdair MacNair said he was aware of a number of medical groups using WhatsApp to discuss patients. Use of internet-based messaging apps to send patient information is banned under current NHS guidelines. BBC News

Mental health services 'at risk of deteriorating' despite Government promises, NHS managers say

Mental health services 'at risk of deteriorating' despite Government promises, NHS managers say. More than half of senior managers working in NHS mental health trusts have said they do not believe access to mental health services in their area will improve, despite Government promises to increase investment, a new report has found. Independent

Government urged to prioritise mental health in the public sector

Government urged to prioritise mental health in the public sector The mental health charity Mind has urged the Government to make mental health in the public sector “a top priority”, after it revealed much higher levels of mental health problems among public-sector workers, as well as less support being available ... Personnel Today

Nine ways to save the NHS – by healthcare professionals

Nine ways to save the NHS – by healthcare professionals Charge for missed appointments, divert funds to social care and fine drunk people – readers weigh in on how to solve problems facing the health service.
Drink- or drug-related problems should always be dealt with in regional drunk tanks which are already being used in many areas, and patients charged to make the service profitable. Alternatively, this could be paid for by a sharp rise in alcohol tax. In the A&E I often work in, it’s not just the weekend evenings we have drunk patients, it’s 24/7; you can walk in at any time of day and there will always be a few drunk people or drug users causing a nuisance. Guardian

NHS bosses warn of mental health crisis with long waits for treatment

NHS bosses warn of mental health crisis with long waits for treatment Report finds 80% fear they cannot provide timely, high-quality care to the growing numbers seeking help. Mental health services are so overwhelmed by soaring demand that patients are facing long delays to access care, a powerful group of NHS mental health trust bosses have warned.
Widespread shortages of specialist nurses and psychiatrists mean Theresa May’s pledge to tackle the “burning injustice of mental illness” is at risk according to chief executives and chairs from 37 of England’s 53 specialist mental health trusts. Guardian

Sick notes and medical letters cost the NHS £700m a year

Sick notes and medical letters cost the NHS £700m a year Sick notes for employers cost £425m and medical letters £319m annually, estimates a London-based digital doctor service. It calls for changes to ease pressure on GPs. Daily Mail

Former nurses asked to walk the wards again with the University of Northampton

Former nurses asked to walk the wards again with the University of Northampton Experienced nurses are being encouraged to sign up for a retraining course with the University of Northampton and walk the wards again.

Return to Professional Practice (RtP) lets qualified nurses who have had a break from practice enhance to hone their existing knowledge and skills so that they can confidently return to the profession.

Although there has been a national decrease in nurses registered to work in the UK, the University of Northampton and local NHS healthcare providers are collaborating on a first of its kind recruitment drive to address this and attract nurses and doctors to relocate to live and work in Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Why aren’t we realising our ambitions for children’s health?

Why aren’t we realising our ambitions for children’s health? ‘Stop,’ said a chirpy chugger as I walked down Tottenham Court Road last week, ‘do you care about children?’ ‘Yes, of course,’ I thought, while avoiding eye contact and not stopping.

Who cares about children? Most of us, I think, including successive governments that have outlined lofty ambitions along the lines of ‘Britain should be the best country in the world for children’, as in the most recent Conservative Party manifesto. The King's Fund

Over 150,000 annual deaths from lung cancer, lung and heart disease

Over 150,000 annual deaths from lung cancer, lung and heart disease Public Health England has launched a national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ awareness campaign which prompts people with symptoms of some of the leading causes of death in England to see their doctor.

Lung cancer, heart disease and lung disease cause more than 150,000 deaths in England each year. Early diagnosis can save lives and improve the quality of life of those living with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common form of lung disease that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Getting out of breath doing things you used to be able to do, or having a cough that has lasted for 3 weeks or more, could be a sign of lung disease, including lung cancer. Breathlessness can also be a sign of heart disease. As well as prompting anyone with these symptoms to see their GP, the campaign also calls on people to look out for each other and encourage friends and family to act.

News story: Reducing delays for people moving from hospital to social care

News story: Reducing delays for people moving from hospital to social care In a written ministerial statement Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced measures to support the NHS and local government in reducing delays for people being discharged from hospital to local social care services. Department of Health

One in three nursing homes in England 'fail safety'

One in three nursing homes in England 'fail safety' More than a third of England's 4,000 nursing homes are failing on safety, according to inspectors.

Drug errors, lack of staff and falls were highlighted by the Care Quality Commission in its review.

Safety was also a major issue in other services for the elderly and disabled, including care homes and home help.

The CQC said the failings were "completely unacceptable", as it unveiled the full findings of its new inspection regime for the care sector.

The new "tougher" system was launched in 2014, amid concerns problems were going undetected. BBC News

See also:

• The state of adult social care services 2014 to 2017 report published Care Quality Commission
• One in four care homes unsafe, says watchdog as experts criticise 'Russian roulette' in social care The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals told to stop wasting millions of appointments by dumping work on GPs

Hospitals told to stop wasting millions of appointments by dumping work on GPs GP leaders have warned hospitals to adhere to clauses in their contracts that ban work being dumped on practices, as the NHS published new guidance on the interface between primary and secondary care. GPonline

Number of dementia sufferers set to hit 1.2 million by 2040, predict Alzheimer's experts

Number of dementia sufferers set to hit 1.2 million by 2040, predict Alzheimer's experts The number of people living with dementia in England and Wales will rise to 1.2 million by 2040 as life expectancy increases, new research suggests.

Around 767,000 people with dementia, a degenerative brain condition that mostly affects those over 65, currently live in the two countries, estimated scientists from University College London and the University of Liverpool.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), noted that fewer people appear to be newly diagnosed with the disease each year. This is mainly due to “improvements in healthcare and adopting healthier lifestyles”, said lead author Sara Ahmadi-Abhari. The Independent

See also:

• Sharp focus on Alzheimer's may help target drugs BBC News
• Dementia cases to soar past a million in the next 25 years The Daily Mail
• 1.2 million people in England and Wales will have dementia by 2040 – study The Guardian

Why I am leaving nursing: 'Morale is the lowest I have ever seen it'

Why I am leaving nursing: 'Morale is the lowest I have ever seen it' More nurses are leaving than joining for the first time on record. We asked you to tell us why and here was your response

The number of nurses and midwives leaving the profession has risen by 51% in four years, with higher numbers leaving than joining for the first time on record. We asked our readers who are nurses why they are going – here is their response. Continue reading... The Guardian

Homeless people are dying without dignity

Homeless people are dying without dignity Our research shows that terminally ill homeless people are dying in hostels without support, but there are alternatives

The number of people sleeping on London’s streets has doubled since 2010. Figures released last week showed that 2,700 people were sleeping on London’s streets in the last quarter.

Rough sleeping is the side of homelessness that we see on a daily basis, but homelessness extends far beyond this. It includes people who are living in hostels, squatting or sofa surfing. Our research, released on 4 July, has, for the first time, explored in detail how terminally ill homeless people are supported when they are approaching the end of their lives. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS prescription fines double in a year

NHS prescription fines double in a year The NHSBSA collected £13,277,877 during 2016-17 in England and said mistakes cost NHS millions. But the BMA said people on low incomes and with long-term illnesses were often hit. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Patient prescription fines 'double in a year' BBC News

Hospital is sued after it didn't spot cancer

Hospital is sued after it didn't spot cancer This is the latest in a string of scandals facing Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust where more than 11,000 X-rays have allegedly gone reported since the beginning of this year. The Daily Mail

Chief executive and chairman at KGH resign

Chief executive and chairman at KGH resign The chairman and chief executive at Kettering General Hospital have both announced their resignations.

Graham Foster has been chairman since September 2013 with chief executive David Sissling joining just over six months later.

Mr Sissling has been on sick leave since September 2016 after suffering a brain haemorrhage and though he has now recovered, he has decided not to return to his role.

Mr Foster has announced he would also now like to resign to enable a new chairman and a new chief executive to be recruited together. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Kettering Hospital: Waiting list row bosses resign BBC Northampton

Learning from Scotland’s NHS

Learning from Scotland’s NHS This is the first in a new series looking at each of the four health services of the UK in a detailed and qualitative way, while asking what lessons they hold for the other countries.

It looks at how health care in Scotland is different, where its approach seems to solve problems being faced elsewhere in the UK, and whether that approach could be transplanted to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also assesses whether there are areas where Scotland could learn from its peers. The Nuffield Trust

Investigation into NHS continuing healthcare funding

Investigation into NHS continuing healthcare funding The National Audit Office has today published the findings of its investigation into NHS continuing healthcare. NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) is a package of care provided outside of hospital that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals who have significant ongoing health care needs.

NHS 'rationing leaves patients in pain'

NHS 'rationing leaves patients in pain' Vital NHS operations and treatments are being increasingly rationed in England, leaving patients in pain, doctors say.

The treatments affected include hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery to help restore sight as well as drugs for conditions such as arthritis.

Such care is normally given routinely, but the British Medical Journal has found evidence it is being cut back.

The joural obtained data showing more doctors are having to resort to special appeals to get their patients treated.

Local health bosses have blamed the tighter restrictions on a lack of funding.

But medics and patients' groups said the restrictions being placed on non-emergency treatment were "unfair" and meant patients spent longer in pain or were going without treatment. BBC News

See also:

• Pressure on NHS finances drives new wave of postcode rationing The BMJ
• Patients forced to beg NHS to fund cataract or hip surgery The Daily Mail
• Doctors forced to plead with NHS for treatments for patients, BMJ finds The Guardian
• Patients face long delays for routine operations because of NHS rationing The Independent

FGM: More than 5,000 new cases in England

FGM: More than 5,000 new cases in England The NHS in England recorded 5,391 new cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the past year, data reveals.

Almost half involved women and girls living in London, NHS Digital found.

A third were women and girls born in Somalia, while 112 cases were UK-born nationals.

The practice is illegal in the UK and it is compulsory for family doctors, hospitals and mental health trusts to report any new cases in their patients.

FGM - intentionally altering or injuring the female external genitalia for non-medical reasons - carries a sentence of up to 14 years in jail.

It is the second time that NHS Digital has released annual FGM figures for England.

Most of the cases were spotted by midwives and doctors working in maternity and obstetric units. BBC News

See also:

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Annual Report 2016/17 NHS Digital
• NHS attended to 9,000 FGM cases in England last year, report reveals The Guardian

Is there institutional racism in mental health care?

Is there institutional racism in mental health care? Black people are being failed by the UK's mental health services because of "institutional racism", it has been warned. How does this affect those who experience it?

When Eche Ogbuono, who has bipolar disorder, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act, he should have been taken to a safe environment - usually a hospital - for a medical assessment.

Instead, he was taken straight to a police station.

"Being in the police cell was probably the worst thing they could have done to me in the state of mind that I was in," he tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.

Under the Mental Health Act, a person can be detained if they are considered to be suffering from a mental disorder and in immediate need of care or control. BBC News

Doctors using Snapchat to send patient scans to each other, panel finds

Doctors using Snapchat to send patient scans to each other, panel finds Report says NHS clinicians sending scans using photo messaging app is ‘clearly insecure, risky and non-auditable’

Doctors are using Snapchat to send patient scans to each other, a panel of health and tech experts has found, concluding the “digital revolution has largely bypassed the NHS”.

Clinicians use camera apps to record particular details of patient information in a convenient format, the panel said in a report, describing it as “clearly an insecure, risky, and non-auditable way of operating, and cannot continue”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Independent Reviewers release first annual report on DeepMind Health DeepMind Health Independent Review Panel
• Google NHS deal rebuked again by DeepMind panel BBC News
• NHS doctors use Snapchat to send patients' scans, report says The Daily Telegraph

Brexit fears trigger exodus of crucial EU health and social care workforce

Brexit fears trigger exodus of crucial EU health and social care workforce The public sector in the UK is increasingly reliant on European labour – but concerns over their future status are driving workers away

Hospital wards, nursing homes and other adult care services are losing vital staff as a result of Brexit, according to unions, NHS and social care providers.

The warning comes a year after the UK voted to leave the EU – and as the number of non-British EU nationals in the health and social care workforce has grown exponentially in the past eight years. In 2016, 209,000 people working in the sector in the UK were EU nationals, up from 121,000 in 2009 – a rise of 72% – according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Continue reading... The Guardian

New mother Catherine Carver describes postnatal psychosis

New mother Catherine Carver describes postnatal psychosis After childbirth, Catherine Carver became convinced that her baby had been swapped and social workers were plotting to kill her. She recounts her terrifying journey into postpartum psychosis. The Daily Mail

Buildings at three NHS trusts fail fire safety tests

Buildings at three NHS trusts fail fire safety tests Buildings at three NHS trusts in England have failed fire safety tests in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, NHS Improvement has said.

All NHS trusts and foundation trusts have been asked to carry out urgent fire safety checks following the inferno which has left 80 people dead or missing presumed dead.

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust is taking steps to remove cladding from one of its buildings following a negative test result.

NHS Improvement said the building is not used for inpatient accommodation and "measures are being put in place to ensure the safety of the building while the cladding is removed".

Cladding from a building at North Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust has also failed the test and is being removed. It does not house any inpatients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Grenfell Tower fire: Three hospitals fail fire safety checks BBC News
• Three NHS buildings fail post-Grenfell fire safety tests The Guardian

As NHS staff retention crisis makes headlines, new ‘joined up’ recruitment initiative launches in Northamptonshire

As NHS staff retention crisis makes headlines, new ‘joined up’ recruitment initiative launches in Northamptonshire While the shortage of doctors and nurses is a national issue, it is one Northamptonshire is determined to tackle. Four healthcare providers are hoping that a groundbreaking recruitment campaign will focus on attracting professionals to their region instead.

Rather than competing for talent, ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ unites the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital and St Andrew’s Healthcare, a leading charity providing specialist mental healthcare in a joint bid to address their recruitment needs. This joined-up, trail blazing approach is a model the organisations’ leaders hope will be replicated elsewhere in the NHS. HR News

Report reveals millions of children in England living vulnerable or high risk lives

Report reveals millions of children in England living vulnerable or high risk lives  A new analysis that reveals, for the first time, the scale of vulnerability among children in England. ‘The Children’s Commissioner’s Report on measuring the number of vulnerable children’ brings together a range of information held by various government departments, agencies and others. Its initial analysis reveals a host of shocking statistics about the number of children living in vulnerable situations.

See also:

• 800,000 children suffering mental health problems - watchdog report The Daily Telegraph

NHS under pressure: What is happening to A&E services?

NHS under pressure: What is happening to A&E services? As a fourth hospital in England closes its casualty ward overnight, and with more downgrades likely to follow, are the alternatives for patients sufficient?

Medical director Dr Peter Collins admits it was a difficult decision, but Weston General Hospital, which serves more than 200,000 people in North Somerset, will close its doors at night.

More hospitals are likely to follow. The British Medical Association estimates that in 18 areas, health bosses are considering closing or downgrading their A&E departments. BBC News

See also:

• Under pressure BBC News

Chief medical officer calls for gene testing revolution

Chief medical officer calls for gene testing revolution Cancer patients should be routinely offered DNA tests to help select the best treatments for them, according to England's chief medical officer.

Prof Dame Sally Davies says in her annual report that the NHS must deliver her "genomic dream" within five years.

Over 31,000 NHS patients, including some with cancer, have already had their entire genetic code sequenced.

Dame Sally wants whole genome screening (WGS) to become as standard as blood tests and biopsies. BBC News

See also:

• Independent report: Chief Medical Officer annual report 2016: Generation Genome Department of Health

Senior MPs urge post-Brexit EU drug regulation deal

Senior MPs urge post-Brexit EU drug regulation deal The UK will continue to co-operate with the European Union on medicine testing after it leaves the bloc, two senior ministers have suggested.

Business Secretary Greg Clark and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said such a deal would be "in the interests of public health and safety".

"The UK would like to find a way to continue to collaborate with the EU," they wrote in a Financial Times letter.

There are fears Brexit may cause delays in UK patients getting new drugs.

Currently the London-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorises drugs for use across the EU, including the UK. BBC News

GPs to refer patients to libraries under long-term conditions scheme

GPs to refer patients to libraries under long-term conditions scheme GPs will be able to refer patients with long-term conditions to public libraries from this month under a charity-led scheme to promote access to reliable health information. GPonline

Trainees still suffer from heavy workloads

Trainees still suffer from heavy workloads Well over half of doctors in training are still working longer hours than they should, more than one in five are regularly left short of sleep by their working patterns, and roughly three in ten feel that rota gaps affect their training opportunities, according to the General Medical Council. But initial results from its latest training survey show that the proportion of doctors in training who reported heavy workloads has improved slightly since last year’s survey. OnMedica

There is a cure for the NHS: give nurses a pay rise | Janet Davies

There is a cure for the NHS: give nurses a pay rise | Janet Davies As head of the Royal College of Nursing, I can see the haemorrhage of staff continuing until something changes

When money gets tight in the NHS, they go straight for the so-called low-hanging fruit. Politicians and economists who do not understand patient care cut the staffing bill to balance the books. Nurses, as members of one of the largest professions in the NHS, find themselves first in line. Failings at Stafford hospital and other recent scandals have not acted as enough of a deterrent.

Patients on wards feel the difference, but so does the older person waiting for the district nurse at home and those who visit local clinics. The number of trained nurses available to work for the NHS is getting smaller and hospitals have 40,000 fewer nurses than they say they need.

It cannot be repeated enough: a pay 'rise' that is deliberately held below inflation is in fact a pay cut Continue reading... The Guardian

Royal Free breached UK data law in 1.6m patient deal with Google's DeepMind

Royal Free breached UK data law in 1.6m patient deal with Google's DeepMind Information Commissioner’s Office rules record transfer from London hospital to AI company failed to comply with Data Protection Act

London’s Royal Free hospital failed to comply with the Data Protection Act when it handed over personal data of 1.6 million patients to DeepMind, a Google subsidiary, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The data transfer was part of the two organisation’s partnership to create the healthcare app Streams, an alert, diagnosis and detection system for acute kidney injury. The ICO’s ruling was largely based on the fact that the app continued to undergo testing after patient data was transferred. Patients, it said, were not adequately informed that their data would be used as part of the test. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Royal Free - Google DeepMind trial failed to comply with data protection law Information Commissioner’s Office
• Four lessons NHS Trusts can learn from the Royal Free case Information Commissioner’s Office
• Google DeepMind NHS medical trial broke UK privacy law BBC News

Britons are among most at-risk in Europe for alcohol-related cancer

Britons are among most at-risk in Europe for alcohol-related cancer British people consume 2.1 alcoholic drinks every day on average, above the threshold that increases risk of cancer

Britons who have two alcoholic drinks a day are at higher risk of developing two of the most lethal forms of cancer, according to a report that confirms the link between regular alcohol consumption and the disease.

People in the UK drink the eighth most out of the European Union’s 28 member states, a report by medical group United European Gastroenterology (UEG) found. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Alcohol sales should be restricted with minimum prices introduced due to cancer risk, say experts The Independent

Paramedics should be deployed to prescribe says NICE

Paramedics should be deployed to prescribe says NICE Paramedics should be given more training to reduce hospital admissions, according to the London-based National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This could involve pain relief. The Daily Mail

Health inspectors sent into chaotic councils to ease NHS bed blocking

Health inspectors sent into chaotic councils to ease NHS bed blocking Care Quality Commission inspectors are to be sent into chaotic councils for the first time in a bid to improve faltering social care services.

The health watchdog will target town halls which are failing to provide enough care home spaces and community services as part of an effort to slash bed blocking in NHS hospitals.

The move, announced by Jeremy Hunt in Parliament last night, will be accompanied by the threat of financial sanctions for local authorities which fail to improve. The Daily Telegraph

Drug which triples chance of pregnancy is blocked by NHS

Drug which triples chance of pregnancy is blocked by NHS Thousands of infertile women are being denied a £4 drug which could triple their chance of getting pregnant, new research suggests.

The NHS rationing body has rejected use of the treatment, combined with insemination, for women with unexplained infertility.

Controversial guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says that couples in this situation should just keep trying for two years, then have IVF.

But new research presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Geneva shows that the drugs - which can cost as little as £4 per cycle - massively increase the chance of pregnancy.

Nice said they now planned to update their guidance in light of the latest research. The Daily Telegraph

Best of the best! Hospital & Outreach Education in Northampton wins honour in Education Awards

Best of the best! Hospital & Outreach Education in Northampton wins honour in Education Awards An education unit that works with children and young people who cannot attend school due to health issues has won an award at the Northamptonshire Education Awards. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Retired miner, 70, dies following botched surgery

Retired miner, 70, dies following botched surgery A retired miner has died after bungling doctors damaged the blood supply to his kidneys during routine surgery.

Gordon Withers, from Northampton, lost his life due to a catalogue of errors after undergoing an operation to treat an aneurysm.

The botched procedure left him with permanent damage to his kidney and bowel, forcing him to rely on a feeding tube to digest vital nutrients.

Northampton General Hospital, where the surgery took place, have since admitted fault - and said his death could have been avoided. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Northampton widower receives £80,000 in compensation after doctors carried out five surgeries to undo botched operation on husband Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health and social care after the election: what issues still need attention?

Health and social care after the election: what issues still need attention? The political tumult of recent weeks seems to be subsiding. The Queen’s Speech set out plans for a longer (two-year) parliamentary session, and the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party have reached a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement that gives the government a small majority in parliament. A second snap election appears less likely – for now. So, what might the new political environment mean for health and social care?

Writing in the BMJ before the Queen’s Speech, Chris Ham, chief executive of The King’s Fund, said that NHS England will ‘continue to promote evolutionary changes to the organisation of the NHS, including collaboration and in some cases mergers’. Niall Dickson, chief executive of NHS Confederation, suggested that ‘political uncertainty’ may impede service change. The King's Fund

New figures show an increase in numbers of nurses and midwives leaving the professions

New figures show an increase in numbers of nurses and midwives leaving the professions New figures that we’ve published today show an increase in the number of nurses and midwives leaving our register while at the same time, numbers joining have slowed down. This has resulted in an overall reduction in the numbers of nurses and midwives registered to work in the UK.

Recently public attention has focused on the reducing number of EU nurses and midwives joining our register. But today’s figures show that it is mainly UK nurses and midwives who are leaving the register, resulting in the overall downward trend. Nursing and Midwifery Council

See also:

• More UK nurses and midwives leaving than joining profession BBC News
• More nurses and midwives leaving UK profession than joining, figures reveal The Guardian
• More NHS nurses and midwives leaving than joining, new figures show The Independent

Sustainability and transformation plans (STPs): what, why and where next?

Sustainability and transformation plans (STPs): what, why and where next? This report looks at some of the reform solutions that have been identified by STPs, and also sets out the range of challenges that stand in the way of them realising their vision for improved health and efficiency. Institute for Public Policy Research

Why Bulgaria is training UK doctors

Why Bulgaria is training UK doctors Zarina Brady explains why she and others from the UK are heading to Bulgaria to study medicine. BBC News

Vagina surgery 'sought by girls as young as nine'

Vagina surgery 'sought by girls as young as nine' Girls as young as nine are seeking surgery on their genitals because they are distressed by its appearance, the Victoria Derbyshire show has been told.

Dr Naomi Crouch, a leading adolescent gynaecologist, said she was concerned GPs were referring rising numbers of young girls who wanted an operation.

Labiaplasty, as the surgery is known, involves the lips of the vagina being shortened or reshaped.

The NHS says it should not be carried out on girls before they turn 18.

In 2015-16, more than 200 girls under 18 had labiaplasty on the NHS. More than 150 of the girls were under 15. BBC News

See also:

• Vagina surgery 'sought by girls as young as nine' because of pornography, doctors reveal The Daily Telegraph

Organs needed

Organs needed With Scotland set to join Wales in having an "opt-out" system for organ donation, why are England and Northern Ireland not following suit? BBC News

'I fainted quite a bit': what I learned from my nursing placement

'I fainted quite a bit': what I learned from my nursing placement Nurses share their insights into what’s in store for students, from handling the workload to making new friends

You start at the deep end when training to be a nurse: you’ll be expected to take on real responsibilities from your first day on placement. We spoke to students and professionals to find out what’s in store for students. Continue reading... The Guardian

Antibiotic shortage puts patients at risk, doctors fear

Antibiotic shortage puts patients at risk, doctors fear Exclusive: supply problems with one of most widely used drugs mean doctors are being forced to ration its use and switch to less desirable alternatives

A major shortage of one of the most widely used hospital antibiotics is putting patients at risk, doctors have warned.

There is an international shortage of of piperacillin-tazobactam, an antibiotic and antibacterial combination drug known by the trade name Tazocin, which is usually used intravenously in intensive care. It is also used to treat a wide variety of conditions including cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, diabetic foot infections and neutropenic sepsis – a life-threatening condition that can arise in those receiving anti-cancer treatment. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hospitals should stop asking for cash and focus on getting better

Hospitals should stop asking for cash and focus on getting better Too many NHS hospitals equate more spending with higher quality. Lean, efficient systems deliver better care

Just as sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) and new care models show signs of faltering, a clinician-focused approach to driving costs down and quality up could make a difference.

Delegates at the BMA’s annual meeting have just voted for STPs to be abandoned. While some of the language around the vote was the usual conspiracy theory about it all being a plot to privatise the NHS, it was harder to argue with pleas for STP decisions to be based on robust, publicly-available evidence. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS wastes £70million in a year by prescribing paracetamol

NHS wastes £70million in a year by prescribing paracetamol GPs issued more than 21,740,000 prescriptions of the everyday painkillers last year at a cost of £3.23 per item – when the pills can be bought for as little as 19p in supermarkets. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Providing paracetamol to patients in England cost NHS over £70m last year, official figures show The Independent

Thousands of cancer patients dying in needless agony, new data reveals

Thousands of cancer patients dying in needless agony, new data reveals Thousands of cancer patients are dying in needless pain because of disjointed care for people who have returned home to be with loved ones, experts have warned.

New data reveals one in ten people who die of cancer have inadequate pain relief in their final 48 hours.

Charities have criticised the Office for National Statistics figures as “unacceptable”, and called on the Government to make good on its manifesto pledge to improve the standard of palliative care.

Macmillan Cancer Support, which conducted the analysis, said fears of uncontrollable pain were cancer patients’ top concern as they approached the end of life. The Daily Telegraph

Big pharma cash and hospitality to doctors rises as one in three refuses to reveal earnings

Big pharma cash and hospitality to doctors rises as one in three refuses to reveal earnings Cash and hospitality given by the pharmaceutical industry to doctors has increased to more than £116 million a year, despite a drive to make the practice more transparent.

Campaigners have described as “ridiculous” new figures revealing that at least one in three clinicians taking money or treats from drug companies are still refusing to publicly disclose their earnings.

Experts on Friday called for a change in the law to bring Britain in line with the US where doctors are forced to publish all potential conflicts of interest. The Daily Telegraph