Gosport hospital deaths: Independent panel findings due

Gosport hospital deaths: Independent panel findings due Families of hundreds of people who died at a scandal-hit hospital hope a report published later could end a decades-long wait for the truth. The report follows several inquiries into the prescribing of sedatives at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
A fresh review, led by former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, spoke to more than 100 families and analysed 800 death certificates. BBC News
See Also:

• Widespread blame expected from inquiry into suspicious hospital deaths The Guardian

NHS 70: How have hospitals changed for children?

NHS 70: How have hospitals changed for children? It's 70 years since the start of the NHS. How have hospitals changed for child patients since 1948? BBC News - Health

The nurses tackling mental illness in police custody

The nurses tackling mental illness in police custody About third of those arrested in England have mental health issues. The BBC met the nurses who help them. BBC News

Northampton aspires to be 'dementia friendly' town

Northampton aspires to be 'dementia friendly' town Northampton is working towards becoming a ‘dementia friendly town’ with a host of schemes to try to improve the quality of life of those with the debilitating illness.

Bus passes identifying commuters with the condition and where they live if they get confused are part of the proposals, as are ID cards for carers.

The suggestions by Northampton Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny committee were rubber-stamped by cabinet last Wednesday (June 13). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The 35 medicines no longer available on NHS prescription from this month

The 35 medicines no longer available on NHS prescription from this month 

The NHS has banned free prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ medicines such as constipation and athletes foot starting this month

NHS England is hoping to free up almost £100 million for frontline care each year by bringing in the changes. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Press release: HPV vaccine reduces cancer-causing infection by 86 per cent

Press release: HPV vaccine reduces cancer-causing infection by 86 per cent A new study has found that the HPV vaccination has led to major reductions in the number of young women who have the infection, which can cause cervical cancer.Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 16 and 18 infections, which cause the majority of cervical cancer cases, decreased by 86% in women aged 16 to 21 who were eligible for the vaccination as adolescents between 2010 and 2016.

The surveillance data from England was published today (Monday 18 June 2018) in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Overall, declines were seen across 5 high-risk HPV types, which together cause around 90% of cervical cancer cases, as well as low-risk HPV types. GOV.UK

See also:

• HPV vaccine cuts cancer-causing infection BBC News

Manual for improving access to psychological therapies

Manual for improving access to psychological therapies NHS England has published a new manual for improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT).

The manual will help commissioners, managers and clinicians expand their local IAPT services while maintaining quality and ensuring that patients receive effective and compassionately delivered care. It provides guidance on setting up and running an efficient IAPT service that achieves good outcomes, and which creates an innovative and supportive environment for staff and clients. It also explains how to use local and national data to improve understanding of the strengths and limitations of a service. NHS Networks

Over half acute trusts now using the NHS e-referral service

Over half acute trusts now using the NHS e-referral service More than 50% of acute hospital trusts in England have switched off paper referrals and are now processing GP referrals for outpatient appointments digitally.

The traditional paper method is currently being phased out across all trusts and from 1 October 2018, providers will no longer be paid for activity which results from referrals that were not made through the NHS e-referral service (e-RS). NHS Networks

Rebuilding my body: breast reconstruction in England

Rebuilding my body: breast reconstruction in England This report compiles evidence from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests conducted by the Breast Cancer Now in 2017. It shows that 47 out of 208 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England (22.6 per cent) have established policies to restrict reconstruction services for non-clinical reasons. With a further nine CCGs (4.3 per cent) having draft policies or informal restrictions in place. The emerging policies – which have been described by the charity as 'totally unacceptable' and 'not in the best interest of patients' – include limiting the number of surgeries women are allowed, enforcing a time-frame on their completion and denying ‘balancing surgery’ to the unaffected breast to achieve symmetry with the reconstruction, resulting in widespread variation in care across England. King's Fund

Listening to our future: early findings from the Health Foundation's Young people's future health inquiry

Listening to our future: early findings from the Health Foundation's Young people's future health inquiry The Health Foundation’s Young people’s future health inquiry is a first-of-its-kind research and engagement project that aims to build an understanding of the influences affecting the future health of young people.This report sets out the initial findings of the engagement work with young people around the United Kingdom. King's Fund

Driving improvement in GP practices

Driving improvement in GP practices To help shine some light on this, we have put this collection of case studies together as a source of information to help general practices improve the quality of care they provide for their patients. These examples represent only a handful of practices that have successfully improved their quality – and therefore their rating – but we know there are many more working tirelessly to improve. Care Quality Commission

Theresa May ready to ditch tax pledges to pay for NHS funding plans

Theresa May ready to ditch tax pledges to pay for NHS funding plans Theresa May is prepared to tear up the Tories’ tax pledges from last year’s general election to pay for her NHS funding plans, as she comes under growing pressure to explain how she will find the money.

Government sources signalled that planned cuts to corporation tax and a pledge to increase the personal income tax allowance to £12,500 a year by 2020 could both be ditched, as could a promise to lift the higher rate threshold to £50,000.

In a speech at the Royal Free hospital in London on Monday, with the chancellor, Philip Hammond, in the audience, the prime minister confirmed the government would set aside an extra £20.5bn a year for the health service by 2023. The Guardian

See also:

• Theresa May is asked where NHS cash will come from BBC News
• £20bn NHS funding boost by 2023 'still falls short', GPs warn GP Online

Emotional eating 'learned by children not inherited'

Emotional eating 'learned by children not inherited' Children who eat more or less when stressed or upset have learned the behaviour rather than inherited it, a study suggests.

A study by University College London found home environment was the main cause of emotional eating.

And this was due to parental behaviours including giving upset children their favourite food to soothe them.

But eating-disorder charity Beat says parents shouldn't be blamed for children's eating issues.

Emotional eating "indicates an unhealthy relationship to food", said senior lead researcher Dr Clare Llewellyn. BBC News

See also:

• Comfort eating is caused by stress at the dinner table in childhood Mail Online

Medicinal cannabis review to happen quickly, says Hunt

Medicinal cannabis review to happen quickly, says Hunt There is a need to review how cases for the medical use of cannabis are handled, the prime minister has said.

Theresa May made the comment after a special licence was granted allowing Billy Caldwell, 12, to be treated with cannabis oil for his severe epilepsy. BBC News

See also:

• Hunt wants swift review of cannabis oil law after Billy Caldwell case The Guardian

Three KGH staff named in the NHS’ ‘Top 70 Stars’

Three KGH staff named in the NHS’ ‘Top 70 Stars’ A consultant obstetrician at KGH has been voted one of the NHS’ ‘Top 70 Stars’ for her outstanding work – achieving 7th place in the national top ten. Northamptonshire Telegraph

CQC report set to slam 'unsatisfactory' experience for over 65s in Northamptonshire

CQC report set to slam 'unsatisfactory' experience for over 65s in Northamptonshire An upcoming Care Quality Commission review of health and social care for people over 65 in Northamptonshire is set to criticise the ‘unsatisfactory experience’ for patients.

The health watchdog is expected to hit out at the lack of a clear, shared vision for care services for pensioners, while it also noted that staff did not know its care improvement plans ‘on the ground’ and were neither excited or as motivated as they should be by it.

The whole-system CQC review is due to be officially reported in July, but councillors on the adults, health and wellbeing scrutiny committee were given a verbal update of the key findings ahead of publication from Anna Earnshaw, the executive director for Northamptonshire Adult Social Services (NASS). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton mental health hospital for men shakes off major failings but is still below standard, says inspectors

Northampton mental health hospital for men shakes off major failings but is still below standard, says inspectors
Inspectors say a Northampton mental health hospital has shaken off a list of failings pointed out in a damning report last year - but still has a long way to go.

St Andrew's Hospital's men's service was branded "inadequate" by inspectors in a scathing report last year that found failings in cleanliness, patient safety and pointed to an "oppressive culture" for staff.

But in the latest report by the CQC, the hospital has bounced back from the poor rating and has even been scored "good" in some areas. Northampton Chronical and Echo

Reducing emergency admissions

Reducing emergency admissions House of Commons Public Accounts Committee -This report warns hospitals, GPs, community services and social care need to work together more effectively to prevent emergency admissions to hospitals. It concludes that NHS England needs to deliver on its five-year plan to move care into the community and out of hospitals. King's Fund

Better health and care for all: a 10-point plan for the 2020s

Better health and care for all: a 10-point plan for the 2020s Institute for Public Policy Research -A previous report concluded that a bold and long-term funding and reform plan is needed to secure the NHS and social care for the future. This final report of the Lord Darzi Review puts forward a ten point plan to achieve this, as well as a ten point offer to the public which sets out what the health and care system will be able to offer if this plan for investment and reform is adopted. King's Fund

Hay fever rates smash records

Hay fever rates smash records Hay fever cases in England have reached their highest level so far this year, with more than 45,000 people visiting GPs with symptoms according to the latest weekly figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners' Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC).

The RSC revealed there were 45,355 cases of hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, presented to GP practices between 4 June-10 June 2018, 76.7 presentations per 100,000 population - up from 19.8/100,000 the previous week when there were only 11,708 cases. OnMedica

See also:

• Hay fever rates smash five-year average across England, latest RGCP data shows  Royal College of General Practitioners

Gaming addiction can be treated on the NHS after it is declared a medical disorder

Gaming addiction can be treated on the NHS after it is declared a medical disorder Children hooked on addictive video games like Fortnite will be able to seek treatment on the NHS after video gaming is classified as a medical disorder by the World Health Organisation (WHO) next week.

The WHO will on Monday notify governments around the world that they will be expected to incorporate “gaming disorder” into their health systems. The Telgraph

See also:

• Computer game addiction: 'I spend 20 plus hours a week gaming' BBC News

Mental health patients still sent hundreds of miles for treatment

Mental health patients still sent hundreds of miles for treatment Despite government promises to end practice, figures show almost no change since 2016

Hundreds of mental health patients are being sent hundreds of miles from home to get treatment, despite ministers branding the practice damaging and unacceptable.

Latest NHS figures show that in February 650 adults in England had to travel for inpatient treatment, even though Jeremy Hunt, the health and social care secretary, has pledged to reduce, and eventually ban, out-of-area placements by 2020. The Guardian

Number of children waiting six months for dental operations soars

Number of children waiting six months for dental operations soars Labour says 52% rise in England over three years is ‘damning indictment of Tory neglect’

The number of children in England waiting longer than six months for a dental operation under general anaesthesia has risen by 52% over the past three years, data provided by NHS trusts suggests.

The figures also show a 15% increase in the number of children on waiting lists for such treatment between 2015 and 2017. The Guardian

Over 40s health check to include dementia advice

Over 40s health check to include dementia advice People over 40 in England will be given advice on dementia as part of their free NHS health check.

Guidance on how to reduce the risk of dementia will be given to patients at GP surgeries and through community health programmes.

Public Health England (PHE) said up to one-third of dementia cases could be improved through lifestyle choices.

But its says 28% of people have no awareness of risk factors and only 2% know what they can do to reduce them.

The planned roll-out follows a small pilot conducted by PHE, with the help of Alzheimer's Research UK and the Alzheimer's Society, which led to both charities calling for it to become mandatory. BBC News 

See also: 

• News story: Dementia risk now included as part of NHS Health Check GOV.UK

Millennials on track to have worse health problems than their parents by middle age, new study finds

Millennials on track to have worse health problems than their parents by middle age, new study finds

Millennials are to become the first generation to have worse health problems than their parents when they reach middle age, according to a new study.

The impact of employment, relationships and housing on people currently in their 20s and 30s will lead to a higher risk of "lifestyle" diseases such as cancers, heart disease and diabetes in 30 years' time.

The report, commission by the Health Foundation think tank, says that despite public health measures leading to an improvement on traditional measures such as smoking and alcohol use, millennialsare "losing ground" on these important environmental and social factors. The Telegraph

Billy Caldwell: Senior MP urges reform over medical cannabis

Billy Caldwell: Senior MP urges reform over medical cannabis A senior MP leading an all-party group looking at medical cannabis has called the existing laws "bizarre and cruel".

Sir Mike Penning MP has called for "fundamental reform" of the system.

"Medical cannabis is a health issue, not a misuse of drugs issue," Sir Mike said in a statement. "It's about patients and relieving suffering."

It follows the home secretary's decision to grant 12-year-old Billy Caldwell temporary access to cannabis oil medication to treat his epilepsy. BBC News

See also:

• Mother of boy whose cannabis oil was seized pushes for legalisation The Guardian
• Pressure mounts to grant cannabis oil licence after mother reveals Billy Caldwell's medicine may only last two months The Telegraph

Breast cancer patients are being denied 'life-changing' reconstructive surgery, research shows

Breast cancer patients are being denied 'life-changing' reconstructive surgery, research shows Breast cancer patients are being denied “life-changing” reconstructive surgery across swathes of the country, amid deepening NHS rationing, research shows.

Freedom of Information disclosures reveal that almost one in four NHS authorities have introduced restrictive policies, which mean women can be denied the operations to restore their bodies.

Experts said the rationing measures mean some women who have just been treated for cancer are being told they can only have the surgery within a limited time frame. The Telegraph

See also:

• Hundreds of breast cancer patients 'denied reconstruction' BBC News

Social care funding crisis leaves the NHS in limbo

Social care funding crisis leaves the NHS in limbo The health service can’t plan its next decade with confidence until the entire care system has a comprehensive deal

Four themes dominated this year’s gathering of the health service clan at the NHS Confederation’s annual conference in Manchester: priorities for the new money, avoiding another winter crisis, re-energising the redesign of clinical services, and finding, keeping and training the staff to do it all. The Guardian

See also:

• Make social care free to save NHS, say ex-Labour and Tory Ministers The Independent
• Theresa May to warn social care must wait until 2020 for extra funds, despite pledging £20bn for NHS The Independent 

NHS gets £20bn 'birthday present'

NHS gets £20bn 'birthday present' The NHS in England is to get an extra £20bn a year by 2023 as a 70th "birthday present", Theresa May says.

It means the £114bn budget will rise by an average of 3.4% annually - but that is still less than the 3.7% average rise the NHS has had since 1948.

The prime minister said this would be funded partly by a "Brexit dividend", but also hinted at tax rises. BBC News

See also:

• Theresa May under fire over NHS 'Brexit dividend' claim The Guardian
• Theresa May's NHS pledge decried as sticking plaster The Guardian
• NHS must be radically reformed and simplified if £20 billion funding boost is to work, warn two ex health ministers The Telegraph
• NHS funding: PM calls for 10-year plan to spend cash BBC News
• Two-thirds of Britons would pay more income tax to fund the NHS ... The Independent
• PM announcement ‘welcome and encouraging’ but general practice must receive a substantial share, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• The King's Fund responds to Prime Minister's announcement of new funding for the NHS King's Fund

Thirty-five per cent of hospital beds across Northamptonshire occupied by people 'who did not need them'

Thirty-five per cent of hospital beds across Northamptonshire occupied by people 'who did not need them' A review has found that a staggering 35 per cent of hospital beds across Northamptonshire were occupied by people that did not need them.

The figures show that 351 beds out of every 1,000 were occupied at any one time by people who did not require care in an acute setting – working out at the equivalent of 128,115 days more spent in hospital than patients needed to. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

System under strain: why demand pressures are more than a winter phenomenon

System under strain: why demand pressures are more than a winter phenomenon  NHS Confederation -This report shows that increases in demand are not restricted to particular parts of the service and specific times of the year. It describes ways in which increasing demand in one part of the system can affect the performance of other NHS services elsewhere. It outlines how some NHS and social care providers have adapted their services to enable patients and service users to access care more efficiently. King's Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

Cannabis addiction 'rising among women and over 40s'

Cannabis addiction 'rising among women and over 40s' Addiction to cannabis is rising among people above the age of 40, and women in particular, according to a study by the University of York. In the past 10 years, the number of women citing the drug as their sole concern at treatment centres more than doubled, from 471 to 1008.Researchers blame an increase in the potency of the drug and are calling for more and better treatment.Cannabis is still however primarily used by young men.
The study analysed figures from Public Health England on people seeking help at drug treatment centres between 2005-06 and 2015-16.BBC News Health

See also:

• Rising number of older and female cannabis users developing health problems University of York
• The rise of the older stoners! Mail Online

Hospital waiting list in England highest since 2007

Hospital waiting list in England highest since 2007 An estimated 4.2m people are waiting to be seen - the highest since 2007. April's figures also showed growing numbers waiting more than 18 weeks, the treatment target time, including people due to have cataract or back surgery and knee and hip replacements. BBC News - Health
See also:

• Number kept waiting too long for NHS treatment tops 500,000 The Guardian

May poised to boost NHS budget by up to £6bn a year

May poised to boost NHS budget by up to £6bn a year Theresa May is poised to increase the NHS’s budget by up to £6bn a year in a bid to capitalise on its impending 70th birthday and rescue the beleaguered service’s faltering fortunes.
The prime minister will scrap the eight-year-long policy of limiting the NHSto funding rises of only 1% and, in a dramatic shift, hand it increases of between 3% and 4% for the next few years.
The official announcement of a move that could see the NHS’s budget go up by around £20bn by the end of this parliament is expected within days. May is preparing to confirm the news herself, possibly through a television interview on Sunday, or at an event on Monday. The Guardian

Children consume more than a year’s worth of sugar in 6 months

Children consume more than a year’s worth of sugar in 6 months Children in England have already consumed more than a year’s worth of sugar, according to figures from Public Health England (PHE).Children aged 4 to 10 years should have no more than the equivalent of 5 to 6 cubes of sugar each day, but are consuming on average 13 cubes. This means they are on track to consume around 4,800 cubes of sugar by the end of the year, more than double the maximum recommendation.
Sugary soft drinks remain one of the main contributors of free sugars to children’s diets, more than ice cream and puddings combined. Public Health England - Gov.UK
See also:

• Children in England consuming 'twice as much sugar as recommended' BBC News - Health

Risk and reward sharing for NHS integrated care systems

Risk and reward sharing for NHS integrated care systems The Strategy Unit -This report outlines approaches to risk and reward sharing as they might apply to integrated care systems in the NHS. It is designed for those involved in establishing NHS integrated care systems, particularly NHS Directors of Finance, Directors of Strategy and their teams. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert
See also:

• Risk and Reward Sharing for NHS Integrated Care Systems The Strategy Unit

Supporting military veterans in residential care

Supporting military veterans in residential care This guide aims to help care home managers, care home staff and local authority commissioners to understand how to support veterans living in residential care, taking into account their military service and backgrounds, and addressing their specific needs and preferences in a more personalised way. NHS Networks

Devolved powers could help make cities healthier

Devolved powers could help make cities healthier Metro mayors and other city leaders should be empowered to take greater responsibility for improving the health of the nation’s cities, a new report by The King’s Fund argues. The R'ole of Cities in Improving Population Health' draws on case studies and interviews with local leaders in 14 world cities including New York, Madrid and Copenhagen to find new ways of tackling public health challenges in England. It finds that the same characteristics that make cities engines of growth, innovation and creativity often lead to inequalities and concentrations of poverty and ill health. King's Fund
See also:

• The role of cities in improving population health: international insights King's Fund

Work, worklessness and health: local infographic tool

Work, worklessness and health: local infographic tool This tool includes a slide set with regional and local level data relating to work, worklessness and health for each county or unitary authority in England.
Infographic tool
Definitions, references and indicator sources
Public Health England - publications

King's Fund

Measles outbreaks across England

Measles outbreaks across England Public Health England is advising the public to ensure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine after outbreaks of measles are confirmed across England. Gov.uk

Uptake of GP retainer scheme dwarfed by numbers quitting NHS each month

Uptake of GP retainer scheme dwarfed by numbers quitting NHS each month Fewer GPs are currently supported by the retainer scheme than quit the profession each month, analysis by GPonline has shown - as the BMA hit out at poor uptake and called for better promotion of the scheme. Just 286 GPs are currently being supported by the GP retention scheme, according to official data for March 2018.
But statistics from NHS Digital show that around 5,159 GPs left the profession in 2016/17, equivalent to around 430 a month. Numbers of doctors in NHS GP retention scheme have increased by 80% since September 2015, but the BMA's report The general practice forward view: two years on has criticised the programme's uptake as ‘relatively low’. GP Online

Joined-up approach needed to recruit overseas doctors

Joined-up approach needed to recruit overseas doctors The UK urgently needs a joined-up approach to recruitment of international doctors, according to experts. In an article* in The BMJ, James Buchan and Anita Charlesworth at The Health Foundation say the UK government’s decision to review the visa regime for international doctors is “a rare glimmer of common sense in an issue that has been more usually characterised by national policy incoherence.”

However, they warn that the “underlying problems of the UK approach to international recruitment of health professionals” remains to be “acknowledged and addressed.” OnMedica

Improved mental health support for children in care

Improved mental health support for children in care Up to 10 pilots across the country will trial new high quality mental health assessments, that ensure young people are assessed at the right time, with a focus on their individual needs as they enter care.
Statistics show that 62 per cent of looked after children are in care due to abuse or neglect, which can have a lasting impact on their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Currently half of all children in care meet the criteria for a possible mental health disorder, compared to one in ten children outside the care system. The pilots will identify a child’s mental health and broader wellbeing needs, including whether a referral to a more specialist service is needed. Department for Education on Gov.uk

Government to relax immigration rules on overseas doctors

Government to relax immigration rules on overseas doctors May heeds pleas from cabinet colleague to scrap ‘absolutely barmy’ caps on staff. Thousands more overseas doctors will be able to come and work in the NHS after Theresa May heeded pleas from cabinet colleagues to scrap limits that hospital bosses had criticised as “absolutely barmy”. The relaxation of immigration rules, which is due to be announced imminently, represents a victory for Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid and follows a vociferous campaign by NHS organisations and medical groups. The Guardian

NHS 'picking up the pieces' of mental illness epidemic caused by social media

NHS 'picking up the pieces' of mental illness epidemic caused by social media NHS is “picking up the pieces” of an epidemic of mental illness among children, fuelled by social media, the head of the service has warned. Simon Stevens urged companies like Google and Facebook to take more responsibility for the pressures they place on children.
It follows calls for social media and online gaming firms to have a statutory “duty of care” to protect children from mental ill health, abuse and addictive behaviour. Speaking at the NHS Confederation conference in Manchester, Mr Stevens said Britain’s children were hit by a “double epidemic” of mental illness and obesity. The Telegraph

NHS 'will need to build 80 more hospitals without fundamental reforms'

NHS 'will need to build 80 more hospitals without fundamental reforms' The NHS would need to build 80 hospitals in the next decade just to keep up with demand, unless it makes radical reforms, the head of its watchdog says. Ian Dalton, head of NHS Improvement, said fundamental changes in the way services are delivered were needed to ensure the survival of the NHS. And he said hospitals needed to do far more to ensure patients got the right care at home, warning of a 300 per cent variation in the average length of stay in hospital for some conditions. The Telegraph

£1 million boost to improve healthcare provision for people in custody in Kettering and Northampton - Northamptonshire Telegraph

£1 million boost to improve healthcare provision for people in custody in Kettering and Northampton The investment will provide better support for detained people and reduce the amount of time officers spend away from their policing duties while taking detainees for medical treatment elsewhere. Under a new five-year contract between Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and the county’s police and crime commissioner, full-time healthcare will be available to detainees in the custody facilities in Kettering and Northampton.
The service will be available all day, every day, meaning that detained people will have access to a full range of treatment and assessment on-site and that police officers are far less likely to escort a detainee off-site. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England announces areas to receive new funding to improve employment support for people with severe mental illness

NHS England announces areas to receive new funding to improve employment support for people with severe mental illness As outlined in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health and Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, NHS England has committed to doubling access to Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services nationally by 2020/21, enabling approximately 20,000 people who experience a severe mental illness (SMI) to find and retain employment.

Rates of employment are lower for people with mental health problems than for any other group of health conditions. IPS is an evidence-based approach to providing employment support for people experiencing severe mental health problems, shown to be twice as effective as vocational rehabilitation and associated with reduced use of other services including inpatient admissions. In 2016/17, IPS services in England achieved approximately 2,300 job outcomes. NHS England
See Also:

• From prison to work: a new frontier for individual placement and support  Centre for Mental Health
NHS mental health job coaches help thousands of people into work NHS England

Hospitals will send thousands of patients home earlier

Hospitals will send thousands of patients home earlier Thousands of patients will be discharged from hospital more quickly under an NHS drive to free up beds.Up to 18,000 hospital beds are currently occupied by ‘long stay’ patients – those who have been there for at least three weeks.
Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS, has promised to reduce this number by a quarter by November to free up at least 4,000 beds. There are a little over 130,000 beds on the NHS in England, meaning nearly one in eight are occupied by long stay patients. Mail Online

Thousands of UK visa applications by doctors refused, figures show

Thousands of UK visa applications by doctors refused, figures show More than 2,300 visa applications by doctors looking to work in the UK have been refused in five months, official figures show.
There were 3,597 requests from doctors for tier 2 visas between 6 November and 5 April, but only 34% were successful.
The figures, obtained by the law firm Eversheds Sutherland through a freedom of information (FOI) request, come after the home secretary, Sajid Javid, said he was “taking a fresh look” at the cap on skilled migrants.
The NHS has warned the limit is exacerbating staff shortages as hospitals struggle to cope with record demand. The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has also lobbied for it to be lifted. The Guardian

See Also:

• Government to relax immigration rules on overseas doctors The Guardian

One-handed cookbook for stroke patients

One-handed cookbook for stroke patients Patients often lose the use of one of their arms, making everyday tasks more difficult (video). BBC News - Health

Redesigning care delivery: building the team around the patient

Redesigning care delivery: building the team around the patient NHS Employers - This case study looks at the work of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Chesterfield Royal) in using new models of care to overcome workforce supply challenges. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert

Factors affecting nurse supply: an update on progress

Factors affecting nurse supply: an update on progress NHS Employers has developed a briefing for NHS HR professionals outlining the progress that has been made to address the ten key issues impacting the supply of nurses to the health service. NHS Employers

Therapy offered within one month to prevent PTSD, says NICE

Therapy offered within one month to prevent PTSD, says NICE The updated guidance gives recommendations on preventing and manging PTSD. Adults who are at risk of PTSD should be offered individualised cognitive-behavioural therapy within a month of experiencing a stressful event. Children can be considered for group therapy after shared trauma to reduce the risk of developing PTSD, the guidance says.

Professor Mark Baker, director for the centre of guidelines at NICE, said: “PTSD is a treatable condition but the pain of revisiting past events can prevent people seeking the help they need. We have updated our guidance to make sure that PTSD is managed as early as possible and give advice on coordinating the complex needs that are often associated with this condition.” NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)

See also:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (update) NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)

Gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare

Gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare This independent rapid policy review, chaired by Professor Sir Norman Williams, was set up to look at the wider patient safety impact of concerns among healthcare professionals that simple errors could result in prosecution for gross negligence manslaughter, even if they happen in the context of broader organisation and system failings. The review makes recommendations to support a more just and learning culture in the healthcare system. King's Fund

See also:

• Why the Williams review rejected calls to legally protect doctors' reflective notes GP Online

Parkrun & the NHS: a mutual cause for celebration

Parkrun & the NHS: a mutual cause for celebration The free run celebrated the NHS’s 70th birthday this weekend. But, argues Jack Dickenson, it is the event itself that could provide the elusive public health intervention we so badly need. The Guardian

See also:

• PICTURE GALLERY: Kettering parkrun celebrates 70 years of the NHS Northamptonshire Telegraph

First date set for judicial review into Corby Urgent Care Centre - Northamptonshire Telegraph

First date set for judicial review into Corby Urgent Care Centre A date has been set for the preliminary hearing for a legal challenge against changes to Corby’s Urgent Care Centre. Protestors against the changes proposed to the UCC in Cottingham Road have learned that the half-hour hearing will take place 168 miles away over the Welsh border in Cardiff on Tuesday, June 19. The Save Our UCC group say that the proposal to offer an appointment-only system is a material change to the function of the walk-in facility and therefore bosses should have launched a full consultation before they announced the change. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS quality checkers’ toolkits

NHS quality checkers’ toolkits Quality checking is where people with a learning disability, autism or both are employed to help us look at the quality of the services they use and tell us how we can make them better – these toolkits are for quality checkers to use within NHS services. NHS England

New roles help to build teams around the patient

New roles help to build teams around the patient In our new case study, we look at how Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust engaged staff and introduced the nursing associate and the assistant practitioner roles to develop new team structures.

After having seen limited outcomes from proactive recruitment campaigns, the trust was unable to make up for a shortfall in nursing. It decided to explore the possibility of introducing a new workforce model and make better use of the skills already available in teams. NHS Employers

Start Well: Stay Well model to support new starters

Start Well: Stay Well model to support new starters We have published a brand new retention-focused case study.

The new publication explores how the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) designed the Start Well: Stay Well model to ensure new starters feel part of the team from the start of their employment journey, and that they continue to be engaged throughout their time with CUH. NHS Employers

More cuts to care on way - council chiefs

More cuts to care on way - council chiefs Vulnerable old and disabled people will see cuts to vital care services and higher charges, council chiefs say.

The annual budget survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services shows councils expect to spend £21.4bn this year in England.

While this is a rise from £20.8bn last year, the cost of inflation combined with growing demand means this will not be enough, ADASS said. BBC News

See also:

• Forty per cent rise in care home residents being evicted because of closures The Telegraph

Bottle feeding is a woman's right, midwives told

Bottle feeding is a woman's right, midwives told If a woman decides not to breastfeed her baby it is her choice and must be respected, midwives are being told.
The Royal College of Midwives' new position statement makes it explicitly clear that women should be supported if, after being given advice, information and support, they opt to bottle feed using formula milk.
Although breast is best, often some women struggle to start or sustain breastfeeding, says the RCM.
Informed choice must be promoted. BBC News

See also:

• New mothers ‘should not be shamed into breastfeeding’  The Telegraph

The UK health tax hurting foreign nurses

The UK health tax hurting foreign nurses When a Kenyan nurse took up a job in the UK a few years ago, he felt his family's future had been secured.
But now the distraught father-of-three is struggling financially to reunite his family.
Ken, not his real name, lives with his wife and daughter.
But his twin children, a boy and a girl, remain in Kenya where they live with relatives.
That's because Ken is unable to raise enough money to cover a British health tax, known as the immigration health surcharge (IHS).
'Struggling to stay afloat'
Migrant workers coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and their dependents have to a pay an annual fee of £200 ($268) each. BBC News

Half of premature births could be avoided with simple bacteria test

Half of premature births could be avoided with simple bacteria test Up to half of premature births could be prevented if women were simply tested for harmful bacteria, scientists say.

Researchers found that a new technique could identify the risk at routine check-ups, helping to ensure swift treatment.

Premature birth is the biggest cause of death for young children worldwide.

Scientists from a charity led by fertility expert Prof Robert Winston found that a new swab test could check if women were carrying potentially harmful bacteria in their reproductive tract. The Telegraph

Revealed: first child to be diagnosed with Internet addiction by the NHS

Revealed: first child to be diagnosed with Internet addiction by the NHS A 15-year-old boy is set to be diagnosed with internet gaming addiction in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in the NHS.

The teenager from North London has been off school for a year after becoming so addicted to gaming that he has lost confidence to leave his home.

The decision represents a potential breakthrough for his mother Miss Kendal Parmar who has battled for three years for help and to have his condition recognised and treated by the NHS. The Telegraph

See also:

• It is time for social media to protect our children The Telegraph

Most carers suffer mental health problems because they are looking after loved ones - Mirror.co.uk

Most carers suffer mental health problems because they are looking after loved ones - Mirror.co.uk Seven in 10 carers have suffered mental health problems because of caring for loved ones, a grim report has revealed.

A study to mark the start of National Carers' Week reveals how the unsung army of volunteers looking after relatives are risking their own health.

Seventy-two per cent have suffered mental ill health as a result of caring, while 61% said their physical health had worsened.

Sixty-nine per cent find it difficult to get a good night’s sleep and 54% have cut the amount of exercise they do. Mirror

See also:

• 'There's a void when the person you're caring for dies' BBC News

New report provides 'fascinating insight' into progress of GPFV, says College

New report provides 'fascinating insight' into progress of GPFV, says College Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: "NHS England's GP Forward View makes more than 100 pledges, each of which, if implemented correctly should benefit general practice, and make our working lives easier, in the best interests of the care we are able to deliver for patients.

"The BMA has provided a fascinating insight on the progress of the GPFV, and we will take their report into account when we release our own comprehensive analysis, and recommendations, in the coming months. Royal College of General Practitioners

See also:

• GP Forward View 'failing to tackle GP crisis' GP Online 

Birthday Honours 2018: Health workers honoured in NHS 70th year - BBC News

Birthday Honours 2018: Health workers honoured in NHS 70th year - BBC News In the 70th year since the foundation of the NHS, health workers make up one in eight of people recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

More than 60 awards have gone to people working in the NHS.

Professor Sue Hill, chief scientific officer for England, said she was "both humbled and absolutely overjoyed" to be made a dame for services to the 100,000 Genomes Project.

Midwives, nurses, psychiatrists, GPs and volunteers have also been honoured. BBC News

See also:

• GP trainee among healthcare staff recognised in Queen's birthday honours GP Online
• “Fantastic” NHS staff recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours NHS England 

NHS hands over millions to tax avoidance firms - The Times

NHS hands over millions to tax avoidance firms - The Times NHS hospital trusts are paying millions of pounds to advisers who have helped them dodge up to £1bn in tax, The Sunday Times can reveal.

Public funds have been spent on consultants who help hospitals avoid VAT on temporary medical staff. The advisers take up to 25% of the taxes that hospitals avoid.

The Independent Health Professionals Association (IHPA), which represents NHS locum staff, has submitted a dossier to the tax authorities exposing the practice. The Times

The deaf patients 'left behind' by the NHS - BBC News

The deaf patients 'left behind' by the NHS - BBC News A lack of face-to-face interpreters is meaning deaf patients are missing key operations and being informed of serious medical issues - such as a miscarriage - via a tablet computer, the Victoria Derbyshire programme has learned. Many of those affected say they want to be treated as equals by the NHS. BBC News

Practice-based occupational therapists could save NHS £200m and cut GP workload

Practice-based occupational therapists could save NHS £200m and cut GP workload Integrating occupational therapists into primary care services could save NHS mental health trusts £200m per year, a report suggests - and GP experts say the move would reduce practice workload. GP Online

FT Health: An urgent need to invest in mental health - Financial Times

FT Health: An urgent need to invest in mental health - Financial Times “Failure to invest in mental health as a matter of urgency will have health, social and economic costs on a scale that we have rarely seen before.” That's the verdict of the World Health Organization in its new Mental Health Atlas. Financial Times

NHS patient deaths to be investigated by medical examiners

NHS patient deaths to be investigated by medical examiners Health secretary makes announcement after BMA feared doctors were being criminalised for errors

Medical examiners will investigate patient deaths in the NHS as part of changes to improve patient safety and protect medical staff from being criminalised for their mistakes.

Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, announced on Monday he was rolling out the appointment of the examiners across the service. The move comes after the case of Hadiza Bawa-Garba, a trainee paediatrician, convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and struck off following the death of a child in her care, Jack Adcock. The Guardian

NHS doctors who make 'honest mistakes' to get more protection

NHS doctors who make 'honest mistakes' to get more protection

Doctors who make honest mistakes will be given more protection under NHS plans to prevent blunders being covered up.
Under the plans, launched on Monday by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, doctors accused of making errors will no longer be forced to disclose personal case notes.
The General Medical Council watchdog will also lose the power to appeal the outcomes of their tribunals.
Mr Hunt said the plans were a promise to doctors that “the NHS will support them to learn rather than seek to blame”.
Doctor will also be instructed to investigate every new death in England, as part of efforts to improve safety. The Telegraph

See also:

• Doctors who make 'honest mistakes' won't be charged under new rules announced by Jeremy Hunt Mail Online
• New measures to protect doctors after Bawa-Garba case BBC News

"Carebots" could take over from NHS medics to save £13bn a year

"Carebots" could take over from NHS medics to save £13bn a year 

Bedside robots could do swathes of the work now done by doctors and nurses, saving the NHS almost £13bn a year - a tenth of its budget - a major report says today.

The controversial study led by surgeon and former health minister Lord Darzi calls for the “full automation” of health and social services, claiming it would give staff “time to care” for patients.

Almost one third of the tasks now done by nurses, and nearly one quarter of that done by hospital doctors could be done by robots and artificial intelligence systems, it says. The Telegraph

See also:

• The robot will see you now: how AI could revolutionise NHS The Guardian

Figures reveal ‘alarming’ rise in injuries at mental health units

Figures reveal ‘alarming’ rise in injuries at mental health units Questions are being raised over the effectiveness of the government’s drive to cut use of restraint

Thousands of patients in NHS mental health units are injured every year when they are restrained by staff, according to new figures which campaigners have branded “horrifying”.

A total of 3,652 patients suffered an injury through being restrained during 2016-17 – the highest number ever – according to data from 48 of England’s 56 mental health trusts. The figures raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the government’s drive to reduce use of techniques which critics say can be traumatic for patients and even endanger their lives. The Guardian

A million NHS workers agree to pay rise worth 6.5% over three years

A million NHS workers agree to pay rise worth 6.5% over three years Members of 13 unions in England accept deal to end 1% pay cap but GMB rejects it

More than 1 million NHS workers in England are to receive a pay rise worth at least 6.5% over the next three years after the deal was accepted by 13 unions representing staff.

The rise comes after seven years of a 1% pay cap on salaries, which caused resentment among NHS workers. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS staff vote for 6.5% pay deal BBC News
• Trade unions vote yes to NHS pay deal NHS Employers

Should free personal care be available in England?

Should free personal care be available in England? Imagine you live in Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, and, as you get older, find you can no longer get dressed by yourself. You ask your local council for help in your home but discover that, because you have savings of more than £23,250, you will need to pay for it yourself. Welcome to the English social care system.

Now imagine being in the same situation but living in Coldstream, a mile or so over the border in Scotland. Now when you ask for the same kind of help, you will receive it, following assessment, free of charge. Welcome to the Scottish social care system. The King's Fund

Government must improve preventive care outside hospitals

Government must improve preventive care outside hospitals The Public Accounts Committee report warns hospitals, GPs, community services and social care need to work together more effectively.

Emergency admissions to hospitals continue to rise, despite the NHS’s efforts to reduce them.

It is lamentable that nearly 1.5 million people could have avoided emergency admissions in 2016–17 if hospitals, GPs, community services and social care had worked together more effectively.

It is frustrating that NHS England and partners are making some progress in reducing the impact of emergency admissions for patients and hospitals when they do happen, but no impact on reducing the numbers of admissions that could have been avoided.

NHS England needs to deliver on its five-year plan to move care into the community and out of hospitals. This move is overdue.

See also:

• 1 in 4 patients end up in A&E because GPs and social care have failed them The Daily Mail
• 'Lamentable' failings mean hospitals risk being overwhelmed by needless admissions The Daily Telegraph

Investigation into NHS spending on generic medicines in primary care

Investigation into NHS spending on generic medicines in primary care During 2017, the prices of certain ‘generic’ medicines purchased by pharmacies for the NHS increased unexpectedly, placing what NHS England described as a “significant unbudgeted pressure” on clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

Today’s investigation by the National Audit Office (NAO) sets out the possible causes of the price increases from 2017-18 and how the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England responded in order to maintain the supply of generic medicines for patients and manage spending. The NAO has examined price increases that affected certain ‘generic’ medicines, as opposed to ‘branded’ medicines that are sold under the name given by the company that made them.

See also:

• How a £1.59 pack of tablets is sold to the NHS for £113.10 The Daily Mail

Horizontal or vertical: which way to integrate? - approaches to community services integration and consequences for emergency hospital activity

Horizontal or vertical: which way to integrate? - approaches to community services integration and consequences for emergency hospital activity The Transforming Community Services required PCTs to decide how they organised the community health services they delivered; vertically integrate with an acute trust, horizontally integrate with a mental health trust, or set up a stand-alone community trust or Community Interest Company? This report explores the impact this choice had on the level and growth in emergency hospital use in older people and considers the wider implications for the NHS as it develops new models of care and integrated care systems.The Strategy Unit

Behind the headlines: the battle to get care at home

Behind the headlines: the battle to get care at home This report illustrates the experiences by many older people and their families as they try to get the care at home they need. It finds that the provision of homecare services has fallen by three million hours since 2015. It calls for the Government to prop up the current system with substantial added investment, as well as bringing forward proposals for placing care on a sustainable financial footing for the future. Age UK

That Age Old Question

That Age Old Question A new report examining how attitudes to ageing can affect our health and wellbeing.

The findings reveal that ageist views are held across the generations, and that an ageing society is viewed by many as a challenge rather than an opportunity. We are making a number of recommendations aimed at addressing some of the key drivers and negative consequences of societal ageism. Royal Society of Public Health

See also:

• Millennials feel most negatively about ageing report finds The Independent

The children who hear 'terrifying' voices

The children who hear 'terrifying' voices One in 12 children is thought to persistently hear voices that are not there. Sometimes they tell them they are worthless. Now new research suggests the reaction of adults can affect the voices they hear in future.

"It's like being in a crowded room. All you can hear is all these multiple different voices having a go at you," Laura Moulding tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.

The 21-year-old hears voices around her almost constantly, and has done since childhood. BBC News

Britons most proud of NHS, survey finds

Britons most proud of NHS, survey finds The NHS has topped a list of Britons’ most cherished institutions as it prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, according to an annual consumer survey.

More than half (54%) of adults include the health service in their list of “British things” that make them most proud, significantly ahead of British history (38%), the British armed forces (34%) and even the royal family (28%), according to the 28th Mintel British Lifestyles report.

However support for these institutions is much higher among older consumers, with 66% of those aged 65 and older saying they are proud of the NHS compared with 21% of 16 to 34-year-olds. ITV News

One in 10 GP practices could be forced to close by 2022, BMA warns

One in 10 GP practices could be forced to close by 2022, BMA warns One in 10 GP practices in England may be forced out of business over the next four years - potentially driving 6m patients to find a new family doctor, the BMA has warned. GPonline

I'm an oncologist who got breast cancer. This is what I learned

I'm an oncologist who got breast cancer. This is what I learned Cancer is not a battle, hair loss does matter – and even doctors like me can’t prepare for the effects of chemotherapy

In August 2017, during the last month of my maternity leave, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Initially, I was plagued by memories of the young patients I had discharged home or to the hospice for end-of-life care. Thankfully they are few – but they are the ones you remember. My experience of being on the other side of the consultation desk will shape my future career and it has helped me to understand what goes on for patients. It has been an education in patience, humility and gratitude. Continue reading... The Guardian

Home Office prevented asylum seeker's urgent cancer treatment

Home Office prevented asylum seeker's urgent cancer treatment Woman with advanced breast cancer was deemed ineligible for free NHS care

A 38-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer was denied potentially life-saving chemotherapy for nearly six weeks after the Home Office deemed her ineligible.

Kelemua Mulat, who has metastatic breast cancer in her abdomen and bone cancer in her spine, was refused urgent hospital treatment on 27 April after a Home Office official decided her asylum claim did not meet strict criteria.  Continue reading... The Guardian

What part of the NHS do people most complain about?

What part of the NHS do people most complain about? NHS Digital figures released today showed 49,580 written complaints were made in quarter four - 4,000 more than in October to December. In total, there was 186,000 made over 12 months. The Daily Mail

Dying patients do not get the best palliative care unless they have cancer

Dying patients do not get the best palliative care unless they have cancer Cancer patients receive roughly twice the palliative care time that other incurable diseases receive, according to a new study.

Patients with progressive and incurable diseases like dementia, liver failure, Parkinson's and strokes typically spend around half as much time receiving end-of-life care in hospices than patients with cancer.

Leeds University researchers analysed information about 42,000 deaths in the UK in 2015 and found patients with cancer were typically referred to hospices 53 days before their deaths, compared to 27 days for other terminal patients. The Daily Mail

How do you engage clinicians in your digital change programme?

How do you engage clinicians in your digital change programme? New technology has the potential to transform a health and care sector that is under pressure to do more with less funding. In our upcoming report, Digital change in health and social care, we'll share the lessons from five case study sites that have made significant progress towards their digital aims.

In this guest blog, Dr Robert Fearn, a clinician from Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, one of the report's case study sites, explores the important relationship between technology and user engagement. The King's Fund

Report: Diagnosis Critical – Launching an inquiry into health and social care in England

Report: Diagnosis Critical – Launching an inquiry into health and social care in England Researchers find higher rates of preventable deaths in areas where there is both poor health outcomes and hospitals are in financial trouble

Health economists publish new analysis which names 32 areas in England where you are 29% more likely to die of preventable causes.

The Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) has released a paper today, Diagnosis Critical, which identifies these 32 ‘risk zones’, each of which have below average health outcomes and NHS trusts in deficit.

CPP’s economists have found age-standardised mortality rates for causes considered avoidable, amenable and preventative are 29% higher in these risk zones than in other local authority areas.

See also:

• England’s 32 cash-strapped ‘risk zones’ Centre for Progressive Policy
• Interactive map shows 32 parts of England where lives are at risk because of cash-strapped NHS The Daily Mail

Mental health, human rights and standards of care

Mental health, human rights and standards of care This report assesses the quality of institutional care for adults with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities in the WHO European Region. Out of all the quality ratings made, only 25 per cent showed compliance with international standards, suggesting that long-term institutional care in the Region has room for improvement. World Health Organization

Clinical correspondence handling in the NHS

Clinical correspondence handling in the NHS This report finds that he NHS has wasted nearly two and a half million pounds reviewing the handling of misdirected clinical correspondence. It reports that NHS England is still assessing nearly 2,000 cases to determine whether there has been harm to patients and has so far identified two incidents where expert consultant review has concluded that patient harm cannot be ruled out. House of Commons Public Accounts Committee

Holidaymakers warned to check travel advice on medicines

Holidaymakers warned to check travel advice on medicines Holidaymakers are being warned to check the rules on carrying medicines abroad to avoid falling foul of local laws.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said some commonly-prescribed medicines were "controlled drugs" in certain countries.

In Japan, some cold remedies are banned while some sleeping pills require a licence in Singapore.

Travellers could risk a fine or even imprisonment if they break the rules, the FCO said. BBC News

Antimicrobial resistance increasing despite reduced GP antibiotic prescribing

Antimicrobial resistance increasing despite reduced GP antibiotic prescribing Antimicrobial resistance ‘continues to increase’ despite a drop in the amount of antibiotics prescribed by GPs, a Government report has found.

The annual report, published by the Department of Health and Social Care, said that although there is increased public awareness and prescribing has decreased, antimicrobial resistance and the incidence of bloodstream infections have continued to rise.

It stressed that there is a need to ‘ensure that doctors always prescribe according to professional guidance’, but GP leaders have argued that the focus should be on the 'abuse of antibiotics in agriculture' rather than 'scapegoating GPs'. Pulse

See also:

• Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Prescribing,Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection 8th Annual Report, April 2016 - March 2017 APRHAI
• Antibiotics crisis continues to grow, despite GPs being told to stop handing them out The Daily Mail
• GPs drove down antibiotic use despite severe flu season GPonline

May to give NHS 'significant' cash boost, Jeremy Hunt reveals

May to give NHS 'significant' cash boost, Jeremy Hunt  Exclusive: health secretary says PM 100% committed to NHS in Guardian interview

Theresa May has decided to give the beleaguered NHS a “significant increase” in its budget to coincide with the service’s 70th birthday in July, the health secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed.

The prime minister intends to ramp up spending in order to show that the Conservatives can be trusted to run the NHS and because it needs extra cash to tackle chronic understaffing, cope with the ageing population and improve care, Hunt said.

I wanted to nail my colours to the mast of getting more GPs into the system Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Joint letter to the Prime Minister on NHS funding Nuffield Trust, The King's Fund and The Health Foundation
• PM to give 'significant' cash to the NHS BBC News

For doctors with mental illness, ‘help me’ can be the hardest words

For doctors with mental illness, ‘help me’ can be the hardest words | Clare Gerada There is a greater openness about mental health generally, but for medical professionals the taboo remains

The charity Mind has found that almost half of all patients consulting their general practitioner do so for problems with their mental health, such as anxiety and depression. This will not be a surprise to most GPs. These illnesses are common; but there is now also a greater willingness to talk about them, and to seek medical help. That is to be welcomed.

But the taboo persists, in some areas more stubbornly than others. One of those, paradoxically, is the other side of the consulting room. Doctors also suffer from mental illness and, in fact, have high rates compared with the patients they see. One survey found 85% had experienced some kind of mental health problem. Continue reading... The Guardian

Older breast cancer sufferers in England have far worse survival than those in other European nations

Older breast cancer sufferers  in England have far worse survival than those in other European nations British breast cancer victims over the age of 70 face far worse survival rates than those elsewhere, new research shows.

The study of more than 230,000 older women across Europe shows those in England were far less likely to undergo surgery than others diagnosed in other countries at the same stage. The Daily Telegraph

More than 20 people go blind a month in the UK due to delayed and cancelled hospital appointments

More than 20 people go blind a month in the UK due to delayed and cancelled hospital appointments Up to 22 people go blind a month in the UK due to delayed and cancelled hospital appointments, new research suggests.

More than half of people suffering from treatable conditions such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, have had an appointment postponed or cancelled at least once, according to a report by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Eye Health and Visual Impairment.

Some 77 per cent of patients claim this caused them stress or anxiety, while 54 per cent believe it had a negative effect on their quality of life, the research adds, which is being presented at a parliamentary reception for MPs today. The Daily Mail

See also:

• See the light:Improving capacity in NHS eye care in England All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment
• Hundreds going blind each year amid NHS delays, research shows The Daily Telegraph