Could science fiction save NHS data and improve our health?

Could science fiction save NHS data and improve our health? The most persistent fear for healthcare in 2100 was about the exploitation of genetic data. But health data could be a huge force for good. We need an open debate now

The NHS lurches its way through funding crises and organisational dilemmas. It faces the challenge of antibiotic resistance and it must ponder the deeply conflicted question of the uses and abuses of new technology. Its short-term horizon is so thronged with urgent problems that it would be a surprise if anyone had the spare capacity to consider how things could look by the end of the century.

A new social enterprise, Kaleidoscope Health & Care, however, decided it would be useful to try to raise the collective medical gaze into the very long term. Last year it organised a science fiction short story competition and invited writers to consider healthcare in 2100. The winners are announced on Thursday. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• What can sci-fi teach us about the future of health? | Ara Darzi The Guardian

Homeowners offered £1,000 to host NHS patients in spare rooms in 'Airbnb-style scheme'

Homeowners offered £1,000 to host NHS patients in spare rooms in 'Airbnb-style scheme' The NHS is piloting a new ‘Airbnb’-style scheme in which homeowners will be paid £1,000 a month to ‘host’ patients in their spare rooms in a bid to combat bed blocking.

Start-up company CareRooms is working with trusts and councils in Essex to link up members of the public with patients who have had a minor procedure - such as a knee operation - but who live alone or have no family to help them convalesce.

In return for fees of up to £1,000 a month, hosts are asked to ‘welcome the patient, cook three microwave meals a day, and offer conversation,’ the Health Service Journal (HSJ) has discovered. The Daily Telegraph

£15,000 robot to look after elderly in Southend care home

£15,000 robot to look after elderly in Southend care home Care homes plan to use robots to interact with the elderly – raising fears they could become a cheap replacement for staff.

A £15,000 robot is to patrol care homes and seek out elderly residents in Southend to talk to.

And a separate British trial starting this month will use robots to bolster staff at homes in the UK, Poland and Greece.

It is hoped that they will eventually be able to monitor pulses and signs of illness in order to alert staff. The Daily Mail

Three people bitten by crocodiles in England last year

Three people bitten by crocodiles in England last year Three people were rushed to hospital after being bitten by crocodiles in England last year, Government figures show.

One adult was even attacked by the dangerous reptile in a 'residential institution', often used in statistics to define a care home.

The bizarre incidents, normally seen in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia, were released by NHS Digital and formed part of a table of the weirdest hospital admissions. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2016-17 NHS Digital
• Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2016-17: External causes (table download) NHS Digital

How IoT and virtual reality can make the NHS great again - Information Age

How IoT and virtual reality can make the NHS great again Northampton General Hospital launched its own AR app in response to the increasing number of customers who were consuming their information digitally. Information Age

Whole-system transformation needs whole-system engagement

Whole-system transformation needs whole-system engagement Recently, the Fund hosted a visit by leaders of the health system in Canterbury, New Zealand. In this blog, the first of three drawing on experiences shared during the visit, Chris Ham focuses on how Canterbury’s leaders began transforming care and the results they delivered. The King's Fund

Tobacco control policy overview

Tobacco control policy overview The Government’s new tobacco control plan was published in 2017, and seeks to reduce smoking overall and target this inequality in smoking rates. This briefing paper provides a summary on the tobacco control plan, tobacco control policies and smoking cessation services. House of Commons Library

Performance tracker: autumn 2017

Performance tracker: autumn 2017 This report finds that the government has spent over £10 billion in five years just to keep troubled services - such as hospitals and prisons - going and argues that the extra funding is not solving underlying issues that public services are facing. In the analysis of health and social care services, it finds that hospitals are spending more with no sign of improvement in key pressure points; adult social care is lacking a clear plan for what happens once emergency funding has run out; and GP numbers are not rising despite plans to improve services. The report calls for urgent action on policy and decision making in order to deal with the building pressures on public services. Institute for Government

County care markets update 2017

County care markets update 2017 This independent report, authored by LaingBuisson, shows that people who pay for their own care are paying weekly fees almost 50 per cent higher than councils, due to cuts in local authority funding and rising demand for services. The analysis shows that self-funders are filling a gap of £670 million per year in England's counties. County Councils Network

How operating theatres are wasting two hours a day

How operating theatres are wasting two hours a day NHS hospitals could carry out 280,000 more non-emergency operations a year by organising operating theatre schedules better, a new study suggests.

The research, which looked at data from 2016, found more than two hours were wasted each day on the average operating list.

The study says avoidable factors like late starts led to the loss of time.

The analysis, seen by the BBC ahead of publication, looked at theatres in 100 NHS Trusts in England.

A total of 1.64 million routine surgical procedures were carried out in 2016, including eye, ear, nose and throat operations and orthopaedic procedures. BBC News

See also:

• NHS operations: 280,000 more 'could be carried out with better schedules' The Daily Telegraph
• NHS operating theatres in England ‘wasting two hours a day’ The Guardian

Dentist fines: Mistakes over addresses hitting thousands

Dentist fines: Mistakes over addresses hitting thousands Many fines incorrectly imposed after dental treatment are because of mistakes over patients' addresses, says a health watchdog.

The latest figures show 385,000 fines were issued in the last financial year - and dentists say tens of thousands of £100 fines have been wrongly applied.

Healthwatch in Kirklees says problems with address records are a big factor.

The NHS accepts this accounts for some of the incorrect fines and says it is planning an information campaign.

The British Dental Association (BDA) last week called for urgent action to tackle a wave of £100 fines being wrongly applied to dental patients who had free treatment, with particular concerns about confusion among vulnerable people. BBC News

Pregnant and ill migrants going without medical care as Government intensifies NHS immigration policy

Pregnant and ill migrants going without medical care as Government intensifies NHS immigration policy Pregnant and seriously ill migrants are going without medical care because they are afraid of receiving bills they cannot pay and subsequently being referred to the Home Office, new studies show.

Research, seen exclusively by The Independent, shows a third of vulnerable migrants requiring medical treatment had been deterred from seeking timely healthcare because of concerns that their information would be shared with the Home Office as a result of the NHS charging process.

See also:

• Policing health tourism should not be the role of doctors says Royal College of GPs in response to the introduction of charges for non-EU patients for NHS treatment Royal College of General Practitioners
• Overseas patients charged up to £15,000 for operations under new NHS rules The Daily Telegraph
• Today marks the day when a founding principle of the NHS is destroyed – and doctors like me are being told to help The Independent
• NHS charging rules: Doctors and nurses accuse Government of ‘deliberate cruelty’ with upfront payments and ID checks The Independent

Women fought for abortion rights. Fifty years on, the service is in crisis

Women fought for abortion rights. Fifty years on, the service is in crisis The NHS has been outsourcing the procedure and failing to train specialist staff. Now hundreds of women can’t get an abortion, putting their lives at risk

Half a century after abortion was made legal in England, Scotland and Wales, outsourcing of NHS services and a subsequent lack of specialist doctors mean that hundreds of women each year are prevented from having an abortion, sometimes seriously threatening their health, according to leading medics.

“The system is broken. It’s in crisis. Not fit for purpose,” says professor Lesley Regan, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Continue reading... The Guardian

Government health officials attack Calvin Harris for tweet

Government health officials attack Calvin Harris for tweet Government health officials have attacked superstar Calvin Harris after he controversially claimed the flu jab is a 'neurotoxin shot'.

The Scottish DJ, who has 12.7 million followers on Twitter, became embroiled in a row on the social media site after telling them the vaccine contains mercury.

His false allegations were dismissed by various experts, including Mail on Sunday's resident GP Dr Ellie Cannon, with whom he engaged in a war of words. The posts have since been deleted.

Angry doctors were concerned that his claims may deter millions from getting the flu jab - leaving them vulnerable to the dreaded Aussie flu outbreak that is expected to blight the UK in the coming weeks. The Daily Mail

KGH appoints new chief executive

KGH appoints new chief executive Kettering General Hospital has appointed a new chief executive.

Simon Weldon, who is currently director of operations and delivery with NHS England, will take up the post in April of next year.

His current responsibilities include the oversight of key national delivery programmes including non-elective, primary care, mental health, cancer and transforming care.

One of his key recent achievements has been the development of the urgent and emergency care transformation programme at a national level. Northamptonshire Telegraph

"Am I meant to be okay now?": stories of life after treatment

"Am I meant to be okay now?": stories of life after treatment This report argues that the health and care system is failing to support recovering cancer patients with the physical and emotional trauma following treatment. It argues that the lack of appropriate aftercare is also placing pressure on the NHS with as cancer patients have 60 per cent more A&E attendances and 50 per cent more contact with GPs, 15 months after diagnosis. Macmillan

Health tourism charges come into force in England

Health tourism charges come into force in England Providers of NHS treatment are required from Monday to make sure patients in England are eligible for free care - and to charge them up front if not.

The measures apply to planned, non-urgent care - A&E, maternity, general practice and infectious disease treatment remain free to all.

The government hopes it will contribute to £22bn of savings needed in the NHS.

But the British Medical Association said the changes may prevent vulnerable people getting treatment they need.

Under the new measures, patients will be asked where they have lived in the last six months.

If they have lived abroad, they will be asked to show documentation that they are entitled to free NHS care, such as a non-UK European Health Insurance Card. BBC News

See also:

• Guidance on overseas visitors hospital charging regulations Department of Health
• The hospitals with no-one to keep tabs on health tourists The Daily Mail
• 'Health tourists' to be charged upfront for NHS care The Daily Telegraph
• NHS to ask patients for bank statements to check they qualify for free health care The Daily Telegraph
• Fears for NHS over scheme to stop 'health tourists' The Daily Telegraph
• Overseas patient charges could leave GPs swamped as last bastion of free NHS GPonline
• Pregnant British woman ordered by NHS to prove she is from UK to receive free treatment The Independent

Patients need rest, not antibiotics, say health officials

Patients need rest, not antibiotics, say health officials More patients should be told to go home and rest rather than be given antibiotics, according to health officials.

Public Health England (PHE) says up to a fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary as many illnesses get better on their own.

Overusing the drugs is making infections harder to treat by creating drug-resistant superbugs.

PHE says patients have "a part to play" in stopping the rise of infections. BBC News

See also:

• Research and analysis: English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report Public Health England
• Don't ask GPs for antibiotics, new UK health campaign urges The Guardian

Children waiting up to 18 months for mental health treatment – CQC

Children waiting up to 18 months for mental health treatment – CQC NHS watchdog’s report sounds alarm that accessing care for under-18s in England takes so long, amid self-harm concerns

Children with mental health problems are waiting up to 18 months to be treated, a government ordered report will reveal next week in an indictment of the poor care many receive.

A Care Quality Commission report into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) will warn that long delays for treatment are damaging the health of young people with anxiety, depression and other conditions. Continue reading... The Guardian

Was the children's tsar right to rip chunks out of the NHS boss?

Was the children's tsar right to rip chunks out of the NHS boss? Anne Longfield provoked a reaction but the confrontation is in danger of obscuring the issues around mental health services she wanted to highlight

The mauling of NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens by children’s commissioner Anne Longfield over mental health services is a rare example of brutal disputes between officials breaking out in public.

The children’s commissioner for England, a post created in 2004, exists to stand up for the rights of children, particularly on issues affecting the most vulnerable.

Longfield’s argument that the system is driven by crisis rather than early intervention applies to the entire NHS Continue reading... The Guardian

Technology and innovation are key to saving the NHS | Alan Milburn

Technology and innovation are key to saving the NHS | Alan Milburn Throwing money at healthcare is not enough – we need to take advantage of advances in knowledge to better target care

The NHS is the core of our care system. It has remarkable strengths and, by international standards, is as competitive, efficient and – in outcomes per pound spent – as good as anything in the world. But, as is becoming increasingly clear, it faces formidable challenges. The population is ageing. Chronic diseases such as diabetes are becoming more prevalent and already absorb most of the NHS budget. Costs are rising but budgets and funding are not. Since it was created, the NHS budget has risen by 3.7% in real terms each year. In the last few years it has grown by less than half that rate. The impact on performance and waiting times is obvious. Continue reading... The Guardian

Rising numbers of NHS hospitals charging disabled patients to park

Rising numbers of NHS hospitals charging disabled patients to park Rising numbers of NHS hospitals are charging disabled patients and visitors for parking, official figures show.

The statistics reveal that 139 hospital sites insist on such payments, even though the Health Secretary has described them as a “stealth tax on the vulnerable”.

Labour said the situation was “a disgrace” with patients being forced to pay the price for a financial crisis in the health service.

The figures from NHS Digital for 2016/17 show average parking costs at some trusts are as high as £3.20 an hour. The Daily Telegraph

Public forced to 'pay twice over' for high cost drugs, campaigners say

Public forced to 'pay twice over' for high cost drugs, campaigners say Pharmaceutical companies are “ripping off” the public by charging taxpayers twice over and pricing too many drugs out of reach of the NHS, a campaign group claims.

A report by Global Justice Now says the NHS is spending £1bn a year on medicines made by companies which were awarded significant sums of public money.

In other cases, companies which benefitted from major research funds have priced drugs so high that the NHS cannot afford them, the report claims. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Pills and Profits: How drug companies make a killing out of public research Global Justice Now
• Taxpayer-funded drugs 'too expensive for patients’ BBC News

Northampton A&E swamped by over 400 patients in 'busiest day ever'

Northampton A&E swamped by over 400 patients in 'busiest day ever' Northampton General Hospital A&E saw its "busiest day ever" this week with over 400 patients asking for help in a single day.

The hospital has been running at the highest level of escalation - OPEL 4, previously known as "black alert" - for most of the week, meaning the lack of free beds might send patients out of town for treatment.

The department also saw its second busiest day ever this week, but hospital officials say they were able to deal with the record numbers and managed to see four-out-of-five patients within four hours.

Northampton General Hospital A&E saw 402 patients on Monday and 355 on Tuesday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire people urged to take up flu vaccine offer

Northamptonshire people urged to take up flu vaccine offer People in Northamptonshire who are the most vulnerable to flu are being urged to protect themselves and their family this winter by having a vaccination.

Flu is a highly contagious viral infection that anyone can catch and is most common over the winter period.

Getting the flu jab or nasal spray is one of the most effective ways to reduce potential harm from the seasonal flu virus.

The vaccination is offered for free to those at increased risk from the effects of flu, including: children aged two to eight, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with long-term health conditions, carers and front-line health and social care workers. Northamptonshire Telegraph

How does the NHS work? A never-ending story

How does the NHS work? A never-ending story ‘Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated.’ So said Donald Trump earlier this year as he set out to overhaul Barack Obama’s signature health care policy, the Affordable Care Act.

It may have come as a surprise to the US President, but those working in health policy across the globe have long been aware of the complexities of providing health care for millions of people in a way that is efficient, safe and equitable. The King's Fund

Policy paper: Personalised health and care 2020: service user vision

Policy paper: Personalised health and care 2020: service user vision How the government and national health and care organisations aim to use information technology within current programmes, to improve health and social care services in England. Department of Health

Care home bed provision and potential end of life care need in people aged 75 or older in England

Care home bed provision and potential end of life care need in people aged 75 or older in England This briefing presents data that describes the availability of residential and nursing home places together with the older population and the number of deaths. National End of Life Care Intelligence Network

Literature review: the economic costs of lung disease and the cost effectiveness of policy and service interventions

Literature review: the economic costs of lung disease and the cost effectiveness of policy and service interventions This report, conducted by York Health Economics Consortium on behalf of the British Lung Foundation and British Thoracic Society, identifies published evidence on the economic costs of lung disease and the cost-effectiveness of different NHS activities, programmes and campaigns to combat lung problems.

Pollution linked to one in six deaths

Pollution linked to one in six deaths Pollution has been linked to nine million deaths worldwide in 2015, a report in The Lancet has found.

Almost all of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, where pollution could account for up to a quarter of deaths. Bangladesh and Somalia were the worst affected.

Air pollution had the biggest impact, accounting for two-thirds of deaths from pollution.

Brunei and Sweden had the lowest numbers of pollution-related deaths.

Most of these deaths were caused by non-infectious diseases linked to pollution, such as heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. BBC News

See also:

• Pollution kills nine million each year, report finds The Daily Mail
• Global pollution kills millions and threatens 'survival of human societies' The Guardian

'Handful of changes' make cancer

'Handful of changes' make cancer British scientists have worked out how many changes it takes to transform a healthy cell into a cancer.

The team, at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, showed the answer was a tiny handful, between one and 10 mutations depending on the type of tumour.

It has been one of the most hotly debated issues in cancer science for decades.

The findings, published in the journal Cell, could improve treatment for patients. BBC News

Government warned of 'dangerous blind spot' over violent attacks on NHS staff

Government warned of 'dangerous blind spot' over violent attacks on NHS staff The Government has been accused of creating a “dangerous blind spot” over the scale of attacks on NHS staff after it revealed it no longer collects information on hospital assaults.

Ministers admitted for the first time that they will rely on an optional staff survey to tot up the number of attacks - a move branded “totally inadequate” by nursing leaders.

Physical assaults on NHS staff rose by 4 per cent from 67,864 in 2014/15 to 70,555 in 2015/16, according to NHS Protect, which collected data on attacks until it was quietly axed earlier this year. The Independent

NHS waiting times: hospital bosses fear 'a return to 1999'

NHS waiting times: hospital bosses fear 'a return to 1999' Four NHS trust chief executives publicly raise concerns about service struggling amid tight budgets and staffing problems

Hospital bosses have taken the unusual step of publicly drawing attention to the NHS’s declining ability to treat patients quickly enough, with one comparing lengthening waits for care to the huge delays last seen in 1999.

Four NHS trust chief executives in England have posted comments on Twitter since Tuesday lamenting the challenges the service is facing while it struggles with a tight budget and mounting staffing problems.

Difficult to watch - Feels like a return to 1999 - this time with virtually no social care. We need to urgently integrate health & care. Continue reading... The Guardian

Giving birth to my stillborn daughter was horrific. NHS staff saved us from despair

Giving birth to my stillborn daughter was horrific. NHS staff saved us from despair At every stage the experience and understanding of the midwives and doctors guided us through this traumatic experience

One night when I was expecting my first child, I woke up with a start. I was due to give birth any day and it was obvious to me that my baby had stopped moving. At midnight, my husband and I dashed to triage where we were seen by a friendly but unconcerned midwife. She nonchalantly pulled out a Doppler and placed it on my stomach to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. There wasn’t one. She didn’t tell us that, but it was obvious by the silence. At my last checkup two weeks before, the midwife had been able to find the heartbeat almost instantly.

A series of consultants were led to the room, each with increasing seniority. They took turns placing the doppler on different parts of my stomach to find the heartbeat. The silence continued. Someone was found to operate the ultrasound machine so they could see the baby; my husband told me not to look. Eventually a consultant took my hand and told me she was sorry, the baby was gone. The most senior consultant was called to verify that devastating news and from that moment a world of NHS services we never imagined existed enveloped around us. Continue reading... The Guardian

One in five children obese by the time they leave primary school

One in five children obese by the time they leave primary school Record numbers of children are leaving primary school fat with one in five now obese, shocking figures suggest. NHS data shows that 9.6 per cent of children are dangerously overweight by the time they start school - an increase from 9.3 per cent the year before.

By the time children reach the age of 10 and 11, 20 per cent are obese, the statistics for 2016/17 show. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Obesity prevalence increases in reception age primary school children NHS Digital
• Response to new childhood overweight and obesity statistics The King's Fund
• Obesity among children starting primary school continues to rise The Guardian

NHS 'not screening for some forms of cancer costing lives'

NHS 'not screening for some forms of cancer costing lives' Hundreds of women are dying needlessly each year because the NHS is failing to screen for genetic forms of cancer, a charity has warned.

Some 29 per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not offered genetic testing to see if their family might also be at risk.

Ovarian Cancer Action said around one in six cases are linked to the mutated BRCA gene – famously carried by Angelina Jolie – which significantly increases their risk. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Acting on BRCA: Breaking down barriers to save lives Ovarian Cancer Action

Two arrested in Latimer Grange care home neglect inquiry

Two arrested in Latimer Grange care home neglect inquiry Two people have been arrested by police investigating allegations of neglect at a Northamptonshire care home.

The pair were detained after allegations that include criminal offences against current and past residents of Latimer Grange Care Home.

Insp Kev Wooldridge, of Northamptonshire Police, said safety of residents was their "primary concern".

Officers started looking into the care home in Burton Latimer following a BBC investigation in June. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Two arrested by police investigating alleged neglect at Burton Latimer care home Northamptonshire Telegraph

Brexit may be dominating political debate, but the NHS cannot be ignored

Brexit may be dominating political debate, but the NHS cannot be ignored Party conference season saw some positive noises about politicians’ plans for the NHS. But serious issues have still not been addressed, says Anita Charlesworth.

Autumn is upon us. For young people that means heading off to university, for politicians it’s off to party conferences. Attending a party conference bears striking similarities to fresher’s week. The parallels between university life and political conferences were most stark at Labour, which is reinventing the party conference as we know it.

The main parties’ conferences are now over and the dust is settling on the post-election landscape. The NHS’s position in that landscape is complex. The health service clearly matters to the public – according to one poll it was second only to Brexit in shaping people’s voting decisions in the last election. However, despite the service’s undoubted salience, it’s also clear that the focus of Westminster is fundamentally elsewhere. The Health Foundation

Public engagement – pitfalls, barriers and benefits

Public engagement – pitfalls, barriers and benefits It is often argued that the intensity of the public’s relationship with the NHS insulates the service from necessary change. However, like any relationship, it is not quite as straightforward as that. The King's Fund

New technology, earlier diagnosis and better coordination of care in cancer

New technology, earlier diagnosis and better coordination of care in cancer The NHS is on-track to transform cancer services in England by 2020/21 according to a report published today by NHS England’s National Cancer Programme. The report details the investment the NHS is making in cancer transformation, including £130m over the period 2016/18 in new and upgraded radiotherapy equipment and £200m over the next two years. NHS England

Emergency department survey 2016

Emergency department survey 2016 The CQC asked people about their experiences of emergency departments. This report contains the analysis of the results. Patients were generally positive when answering questions about their interactions with staff. Positive responses were also received to questions asking about information provision and communication regarding care and treatment whilst in the emergency department. However, there were less positive results for questions asking about: receiving timely pain relief; emotional support; and information provision when leaving the emergency department. Care Quality Commission

Hundreds of families block organ donation

Hundreds of families block organ donation Organs from 505 registered donors could not be made available for transplant in the last five years because of objections from relatives.

BBC 5 live found that almost a third of families blocked organ donation because they felt the process took "too long".

The law states that consent lies with the deceased, but in practice, relatives' wishes are always respected.

The NHS wants to reduce the number of "overrides" by encouraging prospective donors to talk to their relatives.

In England, NHS figures showed that 457 people died last year whilst waiting for an organ transplant. BBC News

Active elderly live independently and avoid social care

Active elderly live independently and avoid social care Greater encouragement of older people to keep physically active would allow them to live more independently and could also reduce the need for social care, saving money, experts have argued in the BMJ this morning. In their joint analysis, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and others urge a change in attitude from seeing functional decline and the need for social care as an ‘inevitable’ consequence of ageing to regarding it as avoidable; and they call on national and local organisations to act to encourage opportunities for people to be active, incorporating this aim into built environments and transport. OnMedica

Self-harm among girls aged 13 to 16 rose by 68% in three years, UK study finds

Self-harm among girls aged 13 to 16 rose by 68% in three years, UK study finds Data from GP practices between 2001 and 2014 showed rates of self-harm for boys stayed roughly steady – but soared upwards for girls in recent years

Self-harm reported to GPs among teenage girls under the age of 17 in the UK increased by 68% over just three years, research has revealed.

The study also found that self-harm among young people aged 10-19 was three times more common among girls than boys, with those who self-harmed at much greater risk of suicide than those who did not.

If it was just down to greater awareness, then you would expect to see it in girls aged 10-12 and 17-19 Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'Steep rise' in self-harm among teenage girls BBC News
• 'Heartbreaking' rise in self-harm among young teenage girls The Daily Telegraph
• How can we improve the mental health of girls and women? The Guardian

Elderly patient could be put at risk by pressure to empty NHS beds, warns social care chief inspector

Elderly patient could be put at risk by pressure to empty NHS beds, warns social care chief inspector Pressures on hospitals to empty thousands of beds ahead of winter could risk the safety of frail elderly patients, the chief inspector of social care has warned.

Andrea Sutcliffe said she was concerned that vulnerable patients would be moved into inadequate facilities, after councils were told funding could be cut if they do not reduce bedblocking rates in their local hospitals.

She told a conference: “I worry that if people focus just on moving people through the system quickly then does that mean that they will force the discharge of somebody that is old and frail into a service which we have rated ‘inadequate’, which would put them at risk potentially.” The Daily Telegraph

When it comes to smokers' burden on the NHS, it may well be that they contribute more in tax than they take

When it comes to smokers' burden on the NHS, it may well be that they contribute more in tax than they take The NHS has come under criticism after plans to ban patients from surgery unless they quit smoking were revealed.

The logic behind the move is that smokers are a higher burden the health service due to the illnesses that they pick up as a result of their own decision, but this clear-cut, utilitarian approach has come under fire.

It has been accused of going "against the principles of the NHS", but does it even make financial sense?

Many would argue that smokers contribute far more in tax than is needed to deal with the costs of their potential health issues - we've dug into the numbers to see if they add up. The Daily Telegraph

Vaginal mesh victims deserve an apology, Tory MP warns

Vaginal mesh victims deserve an apology, Tory MP warns Dr Sarah Wollaston, health committee chairman, said the Government 'cannot allow' the scandal-hit procedure to continue to be offered to women for problems after childbirth. The Daily Mail

See also:

• MPs reject call for vaginal mesh implants ban BBC News
• Women 'deserve apology' over vaginal mesh implants BBC News
• Health minister rejects calls for inquiry into vaginal mesh implants The Guardian
• Labour MPs call for inquiry into use of vaginal mesh implants The Guardian
• Vaginal mesh implants: 'If I lift my leg my whole body shakes' The Guardian

Kettering General Hospital car park nears completion

Kettering General Hospital car park nears completion The lower deck of a new two-storey car park at Kettering General Hospital has been completed.

The bottom floor of the new facility was finished on Monday, providing 237 spaces.

Work on a 240 space upper deck is ongoing, with that floor due to open in November. BBC Northampton

Northampton's ambulance service trains 150 students to perform CPR for 'Restart a Heart Day'

Northampton's ambulance service trains 150 students to perform CPR for 'Restart a Heart Day' Students in Northampton have been trained in how to perform CPR on someone in cardiac arrest, as part of a national campaign organised by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the British Heart Foundation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

New £15 million grant scheme to improve mental healthcare

News story: New £15 million grant scheme to improve mental healthcare The Department of Health has launched a £15 million fund to better support people at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Beyond Places of Safety scheme will improve support services for those needing urgent and emergency mental healthcare. This includes conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders that could cause people to be a risk to themselves or others.

The sexual orientation monitoring information standard

The sexual orientation monitoring information standard Working closely with key stakeholders including NHS Digital, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Foundation led the work to develop a Sexual Orientation Monitoring Information Standard on behalf of NHS England. The SOM information standard provides a consistent mechanism for recording the sexual orientation of all patients/service users aged 16 years across all health services in England. It will also cover local authorities with responsibilities for adult social care in all service areas where it may be relevant to record this data using a standardised format.

Hospital targets missed en masse as performance slumps

Hospital targets missed en masse as performance slumps The performance of hospitals across the UK has slumped with targets for cancer, A&E and planned operations now being missed en masse, BBC research shows.

Nationally England, Wales and Northern Ireland have not hit one of their three key targets for 18 months.

Only Scotland has had any success in the past 12 months - hitting its A&E target three times.

Ministers accepted growing demand had left the NHS struggling to keep up as doctors warned patients were suffering.

The findings are being revealed as the BBC launches its online NHS Tracker project, which allows people to see how their local service is performing on three key waiting time targets. BBC News

See also:

• Does it matter if NHS targets are missed? BBC News
• 'I spent my savings rather than wait for the NHS' BBC News
• Four in ten A&E patients wait at least half an hour to even speak to a nurse The Daily Telegraph

'Go to the dentist and get fined £100'

'Go to the dentist and get fined £100' Going to the dentist is something that many would want to avoid - but how about if you also faced a penalty fine?

More than 40,000 people a year in England are getting fines of £100 - from an automated system that dentists say is hitting the most vulnerable.

They warn that people such as dementia sufferers are unfairly getting caught up in a system meant to stop fraudsters from getting free treatment.

The NHS accepts there is a problem with errors and is promising changes.

The fines, about £4m per year, are being applied by a random screening process that checks on whether people going to the dentist are really eligible for free treatment.

But dentists say rising numbers of people with dementia, or those with learning difficulties, are being unfairly fined for something as simple as ticking a wrong box in confusing paperwork. BBC News

Pre-sex HIV drug 'no-brainer" for NHS

Pre-sex HIV drug 'no-brainer" for NHS A drug to dramatically cut the risk of HIV infection during sex would save the UK around £1bn over the next 80 years, say scientists.

The team at University College London says Prep, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a "no-brainer" for the NHS.

The study predicts that giving Prep to men who have sex with men would prevent one in four HIV cases.

NHS England is currently funding a trial of Prep in 10,000 patients, but does not offer the treatment routinely.

Prep is already available in Scotland. The health service in England fought against paying for Prep in the courts, but agreed to trialling it in selected clinics. BBC News

New head of NHS financial regulator under fire for refusing to give up private health insurance

New head of NHS financial regulator under fire for refusing to give up private health insurance The new head of the NHS financial regulator has come under fire for refusing to give up her private health insurance.

Baroness Dido Harding, a former TalkTalk chief executive, dismissed calls from MPs to relinquish her use of private healthcare when she becomes chair of NHS Improvement - the body tasked with cost-cutting in the NHS.

In a pre-appointment grilling by MPs, she faced pressure to send a "positive message" by only using the NHS but the Conservative peer said it would be wrong to "demonise" private healthcare. The Independent

Vulnerable children could be put at risk by falling numbers of specialist NHS nurses

Vulnerable children could be put at risk by falling numbers of specialist NHS nurses Vulnerable children could be put at risk as the number of health visitors working in the NHS fell by more than 900 in a single year, Labour has warned.

Ministers have been accused of making “hollow promises” to boost dwindling numbers of the specially-trained nurses and midwives, who are credited with improving life chances for some of the most deprived newborns.

A probe by Labour found the NHS has lost 75 health visitors per month since June 2016, with staffing rates plummeting to the lowest point since December 2013 and leaving patchy levels of care across the country.


If shortages continue unchecked then any progress made under the Coalition Government will be wiped out, when ministers pledged to hire an extra 4,500 staff by 2015, the party claims. The Independent

The Guardian view on social care: the cost of cowardice | Editorial

The Guardian view on social care: the cost of cowardice | Editorial For a generation, politicians have ducked the challenge of restructuring health and social care. But if they don’t act now it may be too late

The cost of social care is bankrupting local councils and threatening the NHS. The latest study points out that any reform based, like the so-called dementia tax, on property values must take account of how different they are in the south of England compared with the north or with Wales. Last week, the normally ultra-cool NHS boss Simon Stevens told MPs on the health committee that its budget was “extremely challenging” and unless it was increased, the NHS might not be able to meet patient demand. With both health and social care budgets under such extreme pressure, it is no surprise that the two arms of care, instead of being locked in a protective embrace of those who should be able to rely on them, are engaged in the most bad-tempered wrestling that informed observers can remember.  Continue reading... The Guardian

Nurse language tests overhauled after complaints they too difficult

Nurse language tests overhauled after complaints they too difficult Language tests for overseas nurses are set to be overhauled, with “less academic” versions introduced, following complaints that current exams are too difficult.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will announce that all nurses who come to Britain from countries where English is spoken, or who trained in such countries, will be able to skip tests.

And the remainder will be able to opt to take exams which are less “academic” after many nurses said they struggled with the current tests designed to show language competence.

Jackie Smith, chief executive of the NMC, said applicants had complained that the current tests were “a challenge” for many foreign nurses because they did not provide them with “occupational context”. The Daily Telegraph

Cash-strapped NHS chiefs axe routine surgery for the obese

Cash-strapped NHS chiefs axe routine surgery for the obese East and North Hertfordshire CCG and Herts Valleys CCG warned only 'exceptional circumstances' will grant obese patients non-urgent surgery. Experts have blasted the decision. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Smokers face breath tests before surgery The Daily Mail
• NHS provokes fury with indefinite surgery ban for smokers and obese The Daily Telegraph

NHS faces 'ticking time bomb' from teens' unhealthy habits

NHS faces 'ticking time bomb' from teens' unhealthy habits Poor diet, smoking and inactivity to blame, finds a study on UK's 10-24 year olds. One in 5 secondary school children are obese. Late teen years is the peak age for exposure to health risks with lifelong effects. Mail Online

Babies missing out on basic checks as number of health visitors plunges

Babies missing out on basic checks as number of health visitors plunges

Babies are missing out on basic checks as a result of plunging numbers of health visitors, Labour has claimed.

New figures show the number of health visitors has fallen by 900 in a year, with almost 10 per cent fewer staff in post. The Telegraph

Midwife shortages blamed for home births falling to 15-year low

Midwife shortages blamed for home births falling to 15-year low Only one in 50 babies born at home in 2016, raising concerns that women in England and Wales are not given range of choices. The Guardian

NHS data loss scandal deepens with further 162,000 files missing

NHS data loss scandal deepens with further 162,000 files missing Revelation that further documents are missing was made at inquiry into disappearance of original 702,000 pieces of paperwork

The scandal over the biggest ever loss of NHS medical correspondence has deepened with the revelation that a further 162,000 documents went missing, on top of the 702,000 pieces of paperwork already known to have gone astray. The Guardian

New guidance on dementia-friendly dentistry

New guidance on dementia-friendly dentistry The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK has published new guidance on the practice of dentistry for patients with dementia. NHS Networks

Commissioning mental health services in primary care

Commissioning mental health services in primary care A report by NHS Clinical Commissioners showcases programmes that are embedding mental health services in primary care and draws out advice from the commissioners and practitioners involved in their development and delivery. NHS Networks

Clinical radiology: UK workforce census 2016 report

Clinical radiology: UK workforce census 2016 report This report argues that the ongoing shortage of imaging doctors will result in late hospital diagnoses and delayed scan results for patients. NHS Networks

Engaging staff to improve quality case study

Engaging staff to improve quality case study Read our new case study on how Sheffield Teaching Hospitals has used staff engagement as part of its quality improvement programme. NHS Employers

Maintaining reciprocal healthcare for patients after Brexit

Maintaining reciprocal healthcare for patients after Brexit This briefing considers a post-Brexit scenario in which reciprocal health care arrangements no longer exist and estimates the cost of this at £500 million a year. It warns that travel insurance could become unaffordable for British citizens with pre-existing health conditions and that additional pressure could be placed on an already stretched health service if British people abroad could no longer access reciprocal healthcare. The King's Fund

'I felt so low, I couldn't see a way out'

'I felt so low, I couldn't see a way out' A record number of children seek help from Childline over suicidal thoughts and feelings. BBC News

Share of European Union staff leaving NHS rises following Brexit - BBC News

Share of European Union staff leaving NHS rises following Brexit - BBC News The proportion of EU nationals leaving jobs in the NHS is rising, while the share of those joining is shrinking. The BBC analysed NHS Digital figures, which showed the trend in England over the past two-and-a-half years. BBC News

Equality In Mental Health - From Intention To Action - HuffPost UK

Equality In Mental Health - From Intention To Action - HuffPost UK 

Last week, the government announced plans to develop a campaign to train one million people in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) skills. This follows on from an announcement of a review into the Mental Health Act - official figures show that 63,622 people were detained under the Act in 2015-16, which is almost 50 per cent higher than the figure 10 years previously. Huffington Post

Patients included? Twitter impact at health care conferences

Patients included? Twitter impact at health care conferences 

As patients increasingly self-manage health conditions and public involvement in research becomes prevalent, the value equation is flipped and instead of healthcare asking: how can we serve our patients?; healthcare, researchers and social scientists ask: what are patients doing for us? (Staley, 2015). 

The Guardian

Northamptonshire police and crime commissioner launches mental health consultation

Northamptonshire police and crime commissioner launches mental health consultation Is the police and criminal justice service providing the right support for people with mental illness? This is the question being asked by the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner as he launches his mental health consultation.

Stephen Mold, police and crime commissioner has launched Time2Listen, which is focused on gaining a better understanding of the experience of people with mental illness - ADHD and Autism - and their interactions with the police and criminal justice service in Northamptonshire.

Over the next three months, the commissioner wants to hear from local people to get a true picture of how effective the police and the criminal justice services are in supporting people with mental illness and what can be done to improve those interactions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

East Midlands radiology consortium experiences major IT issues

East Midlands radiology consortium experiences major IT issues A radiology consortium that covers eight trusts in the East Midlands is experiencing serious continuing problems with its IT systems, it has emerged.

The East Midlands Radiology Consortium’s (EMRAD) cloud-based solution is meant to make it possible for clinicians to access radiology images for every patient in the East Midlands, regardless of where they were taken.

But HSJ yesterday reported on system failures that have sometimes forced doctors to send images on DVD by taxi when seeking specialist advice for emergency patients. Digital Health

A system response to provider failure: does Greater Manchester point to a different future?

A system response to provider failure: does Greater Manchester point to a different future? Regulators have a number of options at their disposal in dealing with NHS providers that get into difficulty. These include putting providers into a special measures regime, replacing the chief executive and sometimes other board members, and merging trusts with neighbouring providers that are performing well. Appointing a transformation or turnaround director and buddying with high-performing trusts are other options, as is the appointment of a trust special administrator in particularly challenging contexts. The King's Fund

How mobile technology can reduce agency spend

How mobile technology can reduce agency spend This case study describes how Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has maximised the take up of bank shifts through development of a mobile app allowing clinicians to self select shifts. NHS Employers

Care Quality Commission regulating health and social care

Care Quality Commission regulating health and social care Quality Commission has improved as an organisation, but now needs to overcome some persistent issues with the timeliness of some of its regulation activities if it is to sustain further improvement, the National Audit Office has found.

The state of hospice services in England: 2014 to 2017

The state of hospice services in England: 2014 to 2017 This report presents findings from CQC's hospice inspection programme and finds that hospice care across England has the highest percentage of health and social care services that are rated outstanding (25 per cent), and a further 70 per cent are rated good. The inspections found that hospice leaders and frontline staff displayed a strong commitment to providing truly person-centred, compassionate care and support to people using their services, and their loved ones. Care Quality Commission 

The impact of homelessness on health: a guide for local authorities

The impact of homelessness on health: a guide for local authorities This report warns that that the rising number of older homeless will create significant extra pressures for councils, such as in providing housing and social care. The report aims to support local authorities in protecting and improving their population’s health and wellbeing, and reducing health inequalities, by tackling homelessness and its causes. Local Government Association

Hospitals in England to ban 'super-size' chocolate bars

Hospitals in England to ban 'super-size' chocolate bars "Super-sized" chocolate bars are to be banished from hospital shops, canteens and vending machines, NHS England says.

Sweets and chocolate sold in hospitals should be 250 calories or under, the head of the body says.

Under the plans, most "grab bags" will be banned - with hospitals given a cash boost for facilitating the change.

The proposals would also see 75% of pre-packed sandwiches coming in at under 400 calories. BBC News

NHS patients to be asked about sexuality

NHS patients to be asked about sexuality Health professionals in England are to be told to ask patients aged 16 or over about their sexual orientation, under new NHS guidelines.

NHS England said no-one would be forced to answer the question but recording the data would ensure that "no patient is discriminated against".

The guidance applies to doctors and nurses, as well as local councils responsible for adult social care.

A spokeswoman said: "It will have no impact on the care [people] receive."

She added: "All health bodies and local authorities with responsibility for adult social care are required under the Equality Act to ensure that no patient is discriminated against." BBC News

See also:

• MP blasts NHS moves to make doctors ask if you are gay The Daily Mail
• NHS faces doctors' rebellion over 'intrusive' sexual orientation question The Daily Telegraph
• Patients in England to be quizzed over their sexuality The Guardian

NHS praised after racist tweet about sickle cell disease sufferers

NHS praised after racist tweet about sickle cell disease sufferers The NHS has been praised for its response to a racist comment on Twitter regarding black blood donors.

NHS Blood and Transplant tweeted an appeal for more black donors to help black people with sickle cell disease.

A user replied "If we deport all blacks, this will stop being an issue". The NHS responded: "OR.. we could just deport you.".

An NHS spokesman said: "There is no place for any kind of racism within our online communities".

The offending tweet has since been removed. BBC News

Discrimination and misplaced stoicism: why older people's mental health gets overlooked

Discrimination and misplaced stoicism: why older people's mental health gets overlooked Busy GPs are too often neglecting problems like anxiety and low mood.

One in five older people suffer from depression, yet their mental health problems often go unrecognised and they are much less likely to get psychological help than younger people. A government target, set in 2011 – for older people in England to make up 12% of referrals to psychological therapies – was missed by a mile.

“It was supposed to be achieved in five years, but it’s still only 6.7%,” says Tom Gentry, head of health influencing at charity Age UK. “At the current rate of improvement, it would take another 15 years to get there.” Continue reading... The Guardian

Children’s tsar savages NHS over paucity of mental healthcare

Children’s tsar savages NHS over paucity of mental healthcare Anne Longfield says services are ‘unacceptably slow’ to improve, in open letter to chief executive of NHS England

The children’s commissioner has launched a savage attack on the head of the NHS, accusing him of denigrating research that shows an “unacceptable” lack of children’s mental health provision.

In a highly unusual move, Anne Longfield has published an open letter to Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, accusing him of ignoring young people’s experiences of the service and the frustrations of their parents. Laying out a list of grievances against him and his team, she also threatens to use the law to compel him to hand over data on waiting times for children’s mental health services. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Children's mental healthcare in England Children's Commissioner
• Children’s Commissioner attacks NHS England chief over 'unacceptable' mental-health care The Independent

MPs urge action on lengthy wait for autism diagnosis

MPs urge action on lengthy wait for autism diagnosis Cross-party group asks Jeremy Hunt to impose uniform standards to ease the burden on parents.

Parents of children with suspected autism are having to wait at least 44 months for diagnoses, prompting a cross-party group of more than 140 MPs to write to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, demanding urgent action.

The startling new figures, revealed in response to a freedom of information request, relate to children under the age of five who need a specialist autism assessment after being referred by a GP or other health professional. Continue reading... The Guardian

Rise of the 'super-size' GP surgery as quarter of practices now deal with more than 10,000 patients

Rise of the 'super-size' GP surgery as quarter of practices now deal with more than 10,000 patients New figures reveal the rise of the “supersize” GP surgery, amid the closure of almost 700 practices in five years.

Family doctors said they were being forced to handle far more cases than they could cope with, with one in four practices now seeing more than 10,000 patients.

The proportion of surgeries with such list sizes has risen by 27 per cent since 2013, the NHS data shows.

It follows admissions from the Health Secretary that the traditional family doctor role has been eroded by decades of underfunding. The Daily Telegraph

Metal-on-metal hip implant patients sue manufacturer in 'biggest ever' class action

Metal-on-metal hip implant patients sue manufacturer in 'biggest ever' class action Hundreds of patients claiming compensation for “failed” metal-on-metal hip implants will take a manufacturer to court tomorrow in one of the largest class actions of its kind.

DePuy faces claims from more than 300 individuals who claim to have been injured as a result of the early failure and consequent revision surgery of their prosthetic hips.

Hundreds more metal-on-metal claims against a number of other manufacturers are said to be on hold pending the outcome of the trial, which is expected to last until the end of January. The Daily Telegraph

NHS plans could see patients banned from A&E

NHS plans could see patients banned from A&E Controversial plans to ban patients from attending crowded A&E departments to slash soaring waiting times are being considered by the NHS.

Experts have reacted in fury to the scheme, which will demand patients to seek a referral from their GP or 111 before they step foot through the doors.

Dr Helen Thomas, national medical adviser for integrated urgent care at NHS England, said they 'may well pilot' such plans to slash A&E waiting times.

She told delegates at a conference addressing the demand on the NHS of the unprecedented idea, and reiterated the claims to Pulse magazine. In a nod towards the controversy such a plan will provoke, she admitted it is a 'hot potato'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Revealed: NHS's plans to bar patients from attending A&E without a referral Pulse
• NHS officials float idea of banning patients from going to A&E without prior permission The Daily Telegraph
• Jeremy Hunt considers barring walk-in patients from A&E The Guardian

Accountable care: policy fad or step forward on the journey towards integrated care?

Accountable care: policy fad or step forward on the journey towards integrated care? Accountable care is under discussion almost everywhere in the NHS. Groups of NHS providers (sometimes with the local commissioner) are exploring how they can work more closely together to take on the responsibility for the health and care of a given population within a given budget. Currently, we are seeing emerging accountable care arrangements adopting various forms according to local needs and preferences: in some areas the focus is on creating a single organisation; in others, organisations are keen to use the words ‘system’ or ‘partnership’ – to reinforce the notion of working together. The King's Fund

Falling number of nurses in the NHS paints a worrying picture

Falling number of nurses in the NHS paints a worrying picture Pressures on nursing staff and the potential impact on patients are again in the news just as Jeremy Hunt promises more nursing training places – for good reason as the latest NHS workforce statistics show.

The number of nurses employed in the NHS follows a stable seasonal pattern. Numbers rise in the autumn as newly qualified staff complete their training and then decline again until the following summer as some staff resign or retire, before beginning the cycle once more as another year’s newly qualified staff arrive.  The King's Fund

Sustainability and transformation partnerships: developing robust governance arrangements

Sustainability and transformation partnerships: developing robust governance arrangements This briefing includes a diagnostic tool to assess the status of governance arrangements arising from ‘at scale’ working. Completing the tool will provide a basis for discussion by the board/ governing body and/ or audit committee of an NHS body when seeking assurance about developing governance arrangements. Healthcare Financial Management Association

Of primary importance: commissioning mental health services in primary care

Of primary importance: commissioning mental health services in primary care This report showcases programmes that are embedding mental health in primary care and draws out advice from the commissioners and practitioners involved in their development and delivery. It highlights projects where CCGs and their partners are delivering better care for patients, working across the boundaries between physical and mental health, as well as health and social care, while at the same time reducing pressure on GPs and hospitals. NHS Clinical Commissioners

Antibiotics 'may be lost' through overuse, says chief medical officer

Antibiotics 'may be lost' through overuse, says chief medical officer Antibiotics 'may be lost' through overuse, says chief medical officer.


England's chief medical officer is urging global leaders to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

Medical experts say these drugs are being used too much, and that 25,000 people die across Europe each year because of drug-resistant infections. BBC News

See also:

• Britain could face 'post-antibiotic apocalypse' warns top doctor The Daily Telegraph
• World leaders urged to act on 'post-antibiotic apocalypse' by Chief Medical Officer The Independent

Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust back in special measures

Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust back in special measures A mental health trust has been put back in special measures after its board "failed" to address serious concerns raised since 2014, a report says.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which rated the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) as inadequate, has called for a host of improvements.

It is the only such trust in England to be put in special measures and only came out in October last year.

The NSFT said it was "disappointed" by the report. BBC News

Jeremy Hunt: Is government on track with more GPs promise?

Jeremy Hunt: Is government on track with more GPs promise? Addressing a room full of doctors, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt reminded the audience of his promise in 2015 that there would be 5,000 more general practitioners working in the NHS in England by 2020.

We're halfway to Mr Hunt's deadline - so how is the government doing at meeting this target?

In 2015, there were about 34,500 GPs working in the NHS in England. The government wants there to be about 39,500 by 2020. BBC News

NHS urges 1.4m staff to have flu jab to reduce risk of epidemic

NHS urges 1.4m staff to have flu jab to reduce risk of epidemic Bosses write to workers saying they should get vaccinated as soon as possible – and must give a reason for refusing to do so.

NHS bosses are writing to all 1.4 million staff to say they must have the winter flu jab as soon as possible to reduce the risk of them infecting patients who might die. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS leaders unveil action to boost flu vaccination and manage winter pressures NHS England
• PHE urges those at highest risk of flu to get vaccinated Public Health England
• Flu jabs for at risk groups vital protection as we approach winter says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• NHS staff urged to get flu jabs to protect patients BBC News
• NHS doctors have a 'professional duty' to get the flu jab The Daily Mail
• NHS 'more scared than ever', amid fears flu jab may not protect the old The Daily Telegraph

‘Some see crying in front of patients as unprofessional. Most see it as being human’

‘Some see crying in front of patients as unprofessional. Most see it as being human’ A sense of shared sorrow or a weakness? An NHS chief executive, a paramedic, doctors and nurses weigh in on whether tears are a good thing or not

Working in healthcare can be emotionally fraught. Not only are staff working under increasing pressure but they are faced with humanity at its most vulnerable. They encounter death and witness in a week more than what most people might see over a lifetime.

Compassion is also a key part of any role in healthcare. It’s only natural that staff should need an emotional release under such circumstances. But is crying in front of patients a good idea? Does it detract from their grief or does it help professionals seem more human? Six healthcare professionals share their experiences.

The emotion of the moment ​​shouldn’t be about the doctor – it’s about the patient ​and their family Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS surgery waiting lists highest level in almost a decade

NHS surgery waiting lists highest level in almost a decade The number of patients waiting too long for routine operations is at its highest level in almost a decade, NHS figures reveal.

More than 400,000 patients have been waiting at least 18 weeks for procedures including hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery.

This is the highest number since September 2008 and prompting experts to warn that hospitals were going backwards.

Under the NHS Constitution, its rulebook, patients have a right to have an operation or procedure within 18 weeks of being referred by their consultant.

But figures for August show that 1 in 10 patients were waiting longer - only 89.4 per cent were treated within this 18 week target. The Daily Mail

Dementia stays as the leading cause of death

Dementia stays as the leading cause of death For the second-year running, the neurological disorder has claimed more lives than heart disease in England and Wales. It was responsible for 62,948 deaths registered in 2016. The Daily Mail

Air pollution kills over 500,000 Europeans a year

Air pollution kills over 500,000 Europeans a year Air pollution causes more than 500,000 premature deaths across Europe each year despite 'slowly' improving air quality on the continent, the EU's environment authority.

Although data from the Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals some encouraging signs, in large part the result of new technologies, air pollution remains the leading environmental cause of premature death in the region.

In its latest report, the EAA said 520,400 premature deaths in 41 European countries were caused by air pollutants generated by the burning of fossil fuels in 2014, compared with 550,000 in 2013. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Air quality in europe 2017 European Environment Agency