Life expectancy gap between rich and poor in Northamptonshire

Life expectancy gap between rich and poor in Northamptonshire Men living in deprived areas of Northamptonshire are dying nine years earlier than those in affluent areas, according to a newly published report.
The life expectancy figures are revealed in the 2017/18 annual public health report written by the county council’s director of public health Lucy Wightman.
The report also records that those living in more deprived areas of the county spend 13 fewer years in good health than those in richer areas. The average life expectancy for a Northamptonshire woman is 83 years and 79 years for a man. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

News story: SACN publishes 'Feeding in the first year of life' report

News story: SACN publishes 'Feeding in the first year of life' report Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has published its report on ‘Feeding in the first year of life’, providing recommendations on infant feeding from birth up to 12 months of age.

The last review of infant feeding was undertaken by SACN’s predecessor Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) in 1994 and formed the basis for government recommendations in the UK.

SACN recommends babies are exclusively breastfed until around 6 months of age and continue to be breastfed for at least the first year of life. Additionally, solid foods should not be introduced until around 6 months to benefit the child’s overall health. This represents no change to current government recommendations. SACN concludes breastfeeding makes an important contribution to infant and maternal health. This includes the development of the infant immune system, while not breastfeeding is associated with a higher risk of infant hospital admission for infectious illness. Gov.UK

See also:

• Independent report. Feeding in the first year of life: SACN report Gov.UK
• Too many babies overfed, experts fear BBC News - Health
• Official guidance for parents confused over what to feed their babies Mail Online

Fish oil for a healthy heart 'nonsense'

Fish oil for a healthy heart 'nonsense' Taking omega-3 fish oil supplements is often touted as a simple way to protect your heart - but experts say the evidence that it does any good is flimsy at best.
Cochrane researchers looked at trials in over 100,000 people and found little proof that it prevented heart disease.
They say the chance of getting any meaningful benefit from taking omega-3 is one in 1,000. Eating oily fish, however, can still be recommended as part of a healthy diet. BBC News - Health

See also:

• Scientific expert reaction to Cochrane Review on omega-3 fatty acids Cochrane
• Buy more vegetables instead of omega-3 supplements to improve heart health, report says The Telegraph
• Intervention review: Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease The Cochrane Library

Veterans in Crisis: ‘We must find out if international suicide rates are reflected in UK’

Veterans in Crisis: ‘We must find out if international suicide rates are reflected in UK’
A psychologist at a leading veterans charity says it is important that more research is carried out in order to find out if a spike in military veteran suicides among the UK’s allies is also reflected among British ex-service personnel.

Dr Dominic Murphy, a senior clinical lecturer at Combat Stress, says that the lack of data on the issue is a “red light” for those concerned about veterans’ welfare. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

See also:

• Veterans in Crisis: Northamptonshire coroner supports our appeal to log ex-military suicides Northampton Chronicle & Echo

NHS trusts face worryingly high levels of senior vacancies

NHS trusts face worryingly high levels of senior vacancies  A near-toxic mix of pressures facing NHS organisations, coupled with a culture of blaming individual leaders for failures beyond their control, means NHS trusts are facing significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining senior leaders, according to a new report from The King's Fund and NHS Providers. King's Fund

See also:

• Leadership in today's NHS:delivering the impossible (report) King's Fund 
• NHS trusts facing leadership crisis as senior posts go unfilled On Medica

NHS spending to strain public finances for next 50 years, OBR warns

NHS spending to strain public finances for next 50 years, OBR warns Extra health funding for an ageing population will add to deficit, Treasury forecast says.
Extra health funding and a population that is ageing faster than previously expected will add to the burden of spending over the next 50 years, according to the Treasury’s independent forecaster.
The £20bn boost to the health budget by 2021-22 promised by Theresa May, coupled with falling immigration – which will cut the number of young and working age people – will increase the public deficit unless the government moves to increase taxes or take other measures to reduce spending, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said. The Guardian

Guidance: Learning disabilities and CQC inspection reports

Guidance: Learning disabilities and CQC inspection reports In 2014 an interim analysis examined the main Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection reports of 63 trusts and reported relatively little mention of people with learning disabilities within these reports. Subsequently, the CQC has changed their inspection regime to include specific questions and follow up questions regarding the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities in acute hospitals. Gov.UK

Perfect Patient Information Journey: 7 steps for health services to improve information for people with long term conditions

Perfect Patient Information Journey: 7 steps for health services to improve information for people with long term conditions Embedding high-quality, accessible healthcare information across all patient pathways will enhance patient experience, improve outcomes and support patients with long-term conditions to manage their health. This will help tackle health inequality by empowering more people to make informed choices about their health and care.

The Patient Information Forum has developed 7 steps to support healthcare services to develop and embed patient information across their pathways.

Caring for carers: the lives of family carers in the UK

Caring for carers: the lives of family carers in the UK This report focuses on the demographics and experiences of those who provide family care. The current social care system is putting pressure on families to step in and provide care for relatives where the state does not. The report observes that: there are more women with caring responsibilities in the professional and managerial occupations; the number of hours of care that family carers provide is rising overall; and the more hours of care a person provides, the more likely they are to reduce their hours of work or exit the workforce altogether. The report makes a number of recommendations for the forthcoming social care green paper, several of which are aimed at “nudging” employers into offering more support for working carers. It also suggests much greater use of “care navigators” to help family carers guide elderly relatives through the complex system of public sector bodies likely to be involved in their overall package of care. Social Market Foundation

Nine in ten heart patients live with other long-term conditions, increasing their risk of dying

Nine in ten heart patients live with other long-term conditions, increasing their risk of dying Nine in ten people with coronary heart disease in the UK are living with at least one other long-term condition, such as stroke, dementia and high blood pressure, according to new figures

Our analysis reveals that 90% of people living with coronary heart disease have at least one other long-term condition, while six in ten have at least three. Numerous studies have shown that living with multiple conditions significantly increases the risk of early death.

The growing number of people living with inter-related health conditions – or multi-morbidities – represents a grave challenge for our health system, which is focused on treating individual illnesses. British Heart Foundation

See also:

• Over 2 million Britons risk dying early from multiple illnesses The Guardian

Editing human embryos 'morally permissible'

Editing human embryos 'morally permissible' Should we or shouldn't we be allowed to modify human DNA in future children?

An inquiry into the ethical issues surrounding genetically altering a human embryo has found there is "no absolute reason not to pursue it".

But appropriate measures must be put in place before it becomes UK law, said the report - which calls for further research both medically and socially.

Inquiry chair, Prof Karen Yeung, said: "The implications for society are extensive, profound and long-term." BBC News

See also:

• Genome editing and human reproduction: social and ethical issues (report) Nuffield Council on Bioethics 
• Heritable genome editing: action needed to secure responsible way forward Nuffield Council on Bioethics 
• Creating 'designer babies' to enhance looks or intelligence could be 'morally permissible' The Daily Mail
• Designer babies: Picking traits for non-medical reasons could be 'morally permissible', says UK ethics group The Independent

Private management consultant spending at Department of Health nearly tripled last year, accounts show

Private management consultant spending at Department of Health nearly tripled last year, accounts show Spending on private management consultants at the Department of Health and Social Care nearly tripled last year, despite a push to cut running costs by a third, official figures show.

The department’s annual report reveals that in 2017/18 it spent £12.4m on consultancy services, up from £4.5m in 2016/17.

This extra spending was needed to secure “specialist support not available with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)”, the report said. It comes after it cut hundreds of jobs to meet its pledge on reducing spending by 30 per cent in 2019. The Independent

'Brexit dividend' for health service a myth, Government's official spending watchdog confirms

'Brexit dividend' for health service a myth, Government's official spending watchdog confirms The Office for Budget Responsibility, established in 2010 to provide independent forecasts for the Government, confirmed that Brexit is more likely to weaken than strengthen the public finances. The Independent

NHS decision to fund new asthma drug a 'beacon of hope' to thousands

NHS decision to fund new asthma drug a 'beacon of hope' to thousands Around 100,000 people suffering from the worst form of asthma will be given access to a £12,000 treatment that promises the chance of a more normal life.

Health chiefs have said the NHS will pay for injections of Benralizumab for those who cannot be helped by traditional inhalers or steroids.

Patients groups welcomed the decision saying it offers a “beacon of hope” to people suffering from severe eosinophilic asthma, around 1.3 per cent of the 5.4 million living with all forms of the disease. The Daily Telegraph

GPs posting 'fake reviews' online, health chiefs reveal

GPs posting 'fake reviews' online, health chiefs reveal GPs are posing as patients and writing fake positive reviews on the NHS Choices website, health chiefs have claimed, sparking a row with family doctors.

Officials running the patient information service have revealed they are being forced to remove comments they suspect have been posted by practice staff to preserve the “integrity” of the site.

These are among 3,400 posts investigated for a variety of reasons so far this year, 58 per cent of which have since been removed. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS Choices removes 200 reviews over suspicions of practice staff involvement Pulse

Men are being left in agony as NHS denies them hernia operations

Men are being left in agony as NHS denies them hernia operations More than half the health boards in England refuse NHS funding for the 45-minute procedure unless patients are in enough agony to ‘impede working life’ or ‘everyday activities’. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A dangerous waiting game?A review of patient access to inguinal hernia surgery in England British Hernia Society and the Royal College of Surgeons
• Thousands of groin hernia patients left in pain and at risk of complications by NHS, warn surgeons Royal College of Surgeons
• Kent and Medway NHS hernia policy 'may be rationing' surgery BBC News
• Hernia patients forced to prove debilitating pain before granted operations on the NHS The Daily Telegraph
• NHS rationing putting hernia patients' lives at risk, say surgeons The Guardian

New advice to help employers deal with domestic abuse and stigma

New advice to help employers deal with domestic abuse and stigma Public Health England and Business in the Community publish new toolkit to help employers support workers affected by domestic abuse.

Mencap wins 'unaffordable' overnight back pay appeal

Mencap wins 'unaffordable' overnight back pay appeal Care workers who had to stay overnight as part of their job will not be entitled to back pay at the minimum wage after a Court of Appeal ruling.

The charity Mencap, who won the appeal, argued that a previous tribunal decision which compelled care providers to fund six years' back pay for overnight carers was unaffordable.

And it said smaller employers could be forced out of business by the decision.

But a union said workers should be paid what they were legally entitled to. BBC News

Cost of NHS clinical negligence payouts continues to soar

Cost of NHS clinical negligence payouts continues to soar NHS Resolution, which handles legal claims against secondary care providers, spent an extra £404m on clinical negligence payouts last year solely related to the discount rate cut.

The total cost of payouts relating to clinical claims was up by close to one-third to £2.23bn in 2017/18, from £1.71 bn in 2016/17.

According to the report, this comes despite 'clinical claim numbers' having 'stabilised after many years of significant growth' - however payouts have grown in size including some at £20m. Pulse

Over 60% of NHS trusts surveyed don't have instant messaging policy

Over 60% of NHS trusts surveyed don't have instant messaging policy Just under two-thirds of NHS Trusts surveyed do not have a policy regarding the use of messaging apps, a freedom of information act (FOI) has revealed.

Hospify, a company that provides a secure mobile messaging service compliant for use in healthcare, sent FOI requests to 152 trusts in England earlier this year, asking a number of questions regarding their instant messaging guidelines.

As part of the request, hospitals were asked whether they had a policy regarding the use of messaging apps by their staff, and whether or not non-compliant apps were actively prohibited from use. Digital Health

NHS performance figures show ‘the writing is on the wall’

NHS performance figures show ‘the writing is on the wall’ NHS Providers has warned that “the writing is on the wall” as the latest official NHS performance figures show no let-up in the growing demand for NHS services – and its performance slipping against cancer targets, a sharp rise in the number of people waiting more than a year for routine operations, and no year-on-year improvement in accident and emergency performance.

Following his appointment last week as health and social care secretary, Matthew Hancock promised doctors, nurses, NHS managers and leaders and other care workers: “I will work with you, I will back you and I will make sure you have the long-term plan you need.” But the NHS Confederation said the new figures are a “baptism of fire” for him, as he takes on ministerial responsibility for “a system under intolerable strain”. OnMedica

See also:

• No let up in the growing demand for treatment NHS Providers

Horsefly bites: Drain paddling pools to stop biting insects breeding, say experts as reports soar

Horsefly bites: Drain paddling pools to stop biting insects breeding, say experts as reports soar Families should drain paddling pools to fend off bloodsucking horseflies, experts have said, amid a surge in reports of bites that can lead to potentially deadly infections.

The insects – also known as clegs – are flourishing in Britain’s longest heatwave in 40 years, according to scientists.

Calls to the NHS 111 helpline about insect bites last week were nearly double the average for this time of year, while doctors have reported patients needing hospital treatment for resulting infections. The Independent

See also:

• Heatwave causes spike in insect bite calls to NHS BBC News

I work at the Suicide Crisis Centre, so I know how much the NHS needs more funding for mental health services

I work at the Suicide Crisis Centre, so I know how much the NHS needs more funding for mental health services A woman calls us; she says she cannot get through to the NHS crisis team. We talk to her and then phone the crisis team for her. It’s on voicemail, and this has happened regularly in recent weeks. They must be inundated, too. The Independent

Nearly 8 million people providing care for family members without pay

Nearly 8 million people providing care for family members without pay Charities call for investment in care system, saying carers are losing out

The number of people caring for a family member has reached 7.6 million, a sharp increase of one million compared with a decade ago.

Data analysis by the Social Market Foundation, an independent thinktank, shows that millions are now giving up their time to for free to look after elderly relatives, a partner or a sick or disabled child – with the number spending 20 hours or more caring for a relative up by 4% between 2005 and 2015. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• UK Census: the toll of being an unpaid carer The Guardian

NHS opt-in transplant policy at risk due to cuts and staff stress

NHS opt-in transplant policy at risk due to cuts and staff stress Report shows transplant service short of necessary skilled staff and equipment

Plans to save hundreds of lives by making everyone in England a potential organ donor could fail because hospitals are so short of transplant surgeons and specialist nurses, the NHS’s own analysis of the policy has revealed.

Lives could be lost because teams of organ retrieval specialists are already under “extreme stress” and understaffed transplant centres are struggling to keep up with existing demand, according to NHS Blood and Transplant’s (NHSBT) impact assessment of switching to a system of presumed consent. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'Through organ donation, someone’s death equals new life' The Guardian

Doctors warn of rise in addiction to prescription drugs bought online

Doctors warn of rise in addiction to prescription drugs bought online Clinic set up for teenagers sees high number of adults seeking treatment after illicitly buying drugs such as Xanax to treat anxiety

A pioneering clinic set up to help teenagers addicted to Xanax and other prescription drugs is being sought out by adults who use pills purchased illicitly on the internet.

At the beginning of the year Dr Owen Bowden-Jones opened the Addiction to Online Medicine (Atom) service in London, a free, easy-to-access NHS clinic that offers one-to-one meetings and group mindfulness sessions. Continue reading... The Guardian

Smokers forced to quit on their own after funding cuts

Smokers forced to quit on their own after funding cuts Prescriptions for drugs that help kick the habit fall by 75% in England, report says

Thousands of smokers are being left without the support they need to quit after prescriptions of products to help them stop plummeted by 75% over the last decade, according to a report.

GPs are the most common first port of call for smokers who want to beat their addiction in England – 38% of smokers choose this route.  Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Funding cuts lead to dramatic fall in prescribing of stop smoking products GPonline

Prenatal depression soars 50 per cent in a generation, new study finds

Prenatal depression soars 50 per cent in a generation, new study finds Depression during pregnancy is on the rise due to an an increase in women in work combined with pressure from social media, experts have said.

A new study reveals an “alarming” 50 per cent rise in levels of prenatal depression in a single generation. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Prevalence of Prenatal Depression Symptoms Among 2 Generations of Pregnant Mothers: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (open access) JAMA Network Open
• Depression during pregnancy rises in a generation University of Bristol
• Millennial women more likely to suffer depression during pregnancy The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire: CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together

Northamptonshire: CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together The Care Quality Commission has published its findings following a review of health and social care services in Northamptonshire.

This report is one of 20 targeted local system reviews looking specifically at how older people move through the health and social care system, with a focus on how services work together. The reviews look at how hospitals, community health services, GP practices, care homes and homecare agencies work together to provide seamless care for people aged 65 and over living in a local area.

The review found there was a system-wide commitment to serving the people of Northamptonshire but that services had not always worked effectively together. It highlighted a number of areas where improvements are needed to ensure those responsible for providing health and social care services work better together.

See also:

• Northamptonshire healthcare systems 'not working well together'. BBC Northampton

The NHS 10-year plan: how should the extra funding be spent?

The NHS 10-year plan: how should the extra funding be spent? The government has announced increases in NHS funding and has asked the NHS to come up with a 10-year plan for how this funding will be used. After eight years of austerity, there is now an opportunity to tackle the issues that matter most to patients and communities and to improve health and care. Our new long read explores the priorities and opportunities for the NHS and social care. The King's Fund

Safe medical staffing

Safe medical staffing The RCP's Guidance on safe medical staffing working party report aims to help those planning and organising core hospital medical services to answer the question: ‘How many doctors or their alternatives, with what capabilities, do we need to provide safe, timely and effective care for patients with medical problems?'. Royal College of Physicians

See also:

• NHS 'hasn't got a clue' how many doctors it needs, say experts launching safe staffing plan The Independent

Removing the student nurse bursary has been a disaster

Removing the student nurse bursary has been a disaster Two years on from the removal of the NHS student bursary, applications to nursing degree courses have plummeted by a third in England.

Numbers applying to begin training in September 2018 have dropped 12% compared to the same time last year, resulting in a total decline of 16,580 since March 2016, the last year students received financial support through the bursary.

The fall in mature student numbers has been even more extreme, with a 16% drop by the June application deadline compared to the same point last year, and a total decline of 40% since June 2016. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• Nursing applicants at the 30 June deadline UCAS 
• 12% fall in England’s nurse training applications in past year OnMedica

Learning from deaths: guidance for NHS trusts on working with bereaved families and carers

Learning from deaths: guidance for NHS trusts on working with bereaved families and carers This guidance advises trusts on how they should support, communicate and engage with families following a death of someone in their care. It sets out different stages following a death and calls on trusts to involve families throughout by providing bereavement support, signposting families to advice and advocacy support along with examples of how trusts are working with families and good practice guidance on specific subjects. NHS England

In good health: a report following the All Party Pharmacy Group's 2018 inquiry into long term conditions

In good health: a report following the All Party Pharmacy Group's 2018 inquiry into long term conditions This report highlights the opportunities for community pharmacies to deliver and improve care for patients with long-term conditions. It outlines four key actions that would enable long-term conditions to be managed in a community setting and argues that these actions should be implemented by 2020. All-Party Pharmacy Group

Public health approaches to reducing family violence

Public health approaches to reducing family violence This report provides an introduction to the subject of family violence and looks at the evidence on using a public health approach to reducing family violence. It examines the evidence on what a public health approach tells us about family violence and which public health interventions are effective in reducing violence. Local Government Association

A sustainable adult social care and support system for the long term: moving the conversation on

A sustainable adult social care and support system for the long term: moving the conversation on Ahead of the green paper on the future of adult social care, this paper outlines the view of sector experts on issues at the heart of the debate to help define what a system fit for future generations might look like. Local Government Association

Polypharmacy: getting our medicines right

Polypharmacy: getting our medicines right This draft guidance outlines the size of the challenge of problematic polypharmacy and highlights the work being done to address it. It makes clear recommendations to organisations and individuals involved with medicines as part of the care of the people they serve. Views are being sought on this draft guidance and responses will be accepted until 28 August 2018. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Over 400 GPs at risk of deportation as NHS is unable to sponsor their visas

Over 400 GPs at risk of deportation as NHS is unable to sponsor their visas NHS England has reached out to GP practices in an 'urgent' bid to find sponsors for 400 international GPs due to complete their training this month.

It had hoped to be able to act as a ‘proxy sponsor’ itself to secure the visas for the newly-qualified GPs but an email seen by Pulse said NHS England was ‘unlikely’ to be able to do so.

According to the email, there are more than 400 non-EEA students in the GP training system due to qualify at the end of July. Pulse

See also:

• College ‘disappointed’ by reports that plans to cut red-tape on GP recruitment have fallen through Royal College of General Practitioners
• More than 400 overseas trainee GPs could be thrown out of England The Daily Mail

Don't dismiss tech solutions to mental health problems

Don't dismiss tech solutions to mental health problems The words “mental health” and “crisis” now appear to be yoked together. About a quarter of us will suffer from a clinical psychological disorder over the next year, but most people will receive no help at all. The question is no longer about whether we have a problem, but what we are going to do about it.

We don’t lack high-quality, evidence-based psychological treatments for many mental health problems. These treatments have been verified by dozens of clinical trials. What we are short of is the skilled clinicians to deliver them. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• 'Virtual reality cured my fear of heights' BBC News

Sharp rise in under-19s being treated by NHS mental health services

Sharp rise in under-19s being treated by NHS mental health services There were a record 389,727 ‘active referrals’ in England in April, NHS figures show

Almost 400,000 children and young people a year in England are being treated for mental health problems, the highest number ever, NHS figures show.

There were a total of 389,727 “active referrals” for people aged 18 or younger in April, a third higher than the same month two years ago, according to the latest statistics published by NHS Digital. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS Trust puts up posters reminding surgeons to check identity of patients before operating

NHS Trust puts up posters reminding surgeons to check identity of patients before operating Two hospitals have put up posters in operating theatres reminding surgeons to make sure they have got the right patients.

Oxford University Trust introduced the posters at John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals after four patients received the wrong operation from May to June this year. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Two NHS hospitals have put up posters reminding  surgeons to check they have the right patient The Daily Mail

211,000 patients have been waiting 6 MONTHS for treatment

211,000 patients have been waiting 6 MONTHS for treatment Some 4.08 million patients in May were waiting to start treatment - the highest total since 4.19 million in August 2007, according to figures released by NHS England. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS operation waiting lists reach 10-year high at 4.3m patients The Guardian
• NHS waits of six months or longer up 50 per cent in a year with hundreds of thousands 'left in pain' The Independent

Study into health and social care needs of Armed Forces veterans published by Northamptonshire Healthcare

Study into health and social care needs of Armed Forces veterans published by Northamptonshire Healthcare A Northamptonshire Healthcare survey into the care needs of Armed Forces veterans has highlighted several recommendations that could shape the future of their treatment in the county.

More than 450 people took part in the study between February and May 2018 and a report on the findings has been published today.

In particular, the report highlights the mental health needs of Armed Forces veterans and their families and some of the difficulties experienced when they leave the Forces and transition back to civilian life. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The NHS 10-year plan: transformation holds the key to sustainability

The NHS 10-year plan: transformation holds the key to sustainability A new analysis by NHS Providers argues that stabilising NHS finances, tackling pressures in mental health and community services, dealing with backlog maintenance, achieving key waiting time standards, and funding other pressing needs would take up much if not most of the additional spending announced by the Prime Minister. In the words of NHS Providers, the NHS 10-year plan ‘will therefore have to make some extremely uncomfortable choices, including over how quickly improvements can realistically be made given the current starting position’. The King's Fund

News story: Measles outbreaks across England

News story: Measles outbreaks across England Public Health England is advising the public to ensure they have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine after outbreaks of measles are confirmed across England.

Supporting line managers to foster engagement

Supporting line managers to foster engagement This briefing explores work that can be done to support and develop line managers to improve staff engagement across NHS organisations. It is based on the issues raised by line managers within the NHS and looks at challenges for staff engagement. It outlines suggestions on how organisations can support line managers to manage in way that supports engagement. NHS Employers

NHS still reliant on 'archaic' fax machines

NHS still reliant on 'archaic' fax machines Hospitals are still reliant on "archaic" fax machines with thousands still in use, a survey shows.

Senior doctors said the continued use of the outdated technology was "ludicrous", and modern forms of communication were urgently needed.

The poll, by the Royal College of Surgeons using freedom of information laws, revealed nearly 9,000 fax machines were in use across England. BBC News

Could artificial intelligence replace doctors?

Could artificial intelligence replace doctors? UK company Babylon Health is testing an artificially intelligent medical chatbot in Rwanda.

A patient's symptoms are entered into the chatbot and it then suggests what needs to be done.

But suggestions that the tech can beat GPs at a medical exam have caused controversy.

BBC Click finds out more.

Anti-NHS think-tank with links to new health secretary Matt Hancock under investigation by charity commission

Anti-NHS think-tank with links to new health secretary Matt Hancock under investigation by charity commission An anti-NHS think tank whose chair has donated thousands of pounds to the new health secretary is being investigated on whether it breached rules on political independence by the Charity Commission.
The Independent
Concerns were brought to the watchdog about the Institute of Economic Affairs which is registered as an educational charity but has ties to the Conservative Party and the Brexit movement.

Matt Hancock, who replaced Jeremy Hunt this week, has received £32,000 since 2010 from the chair of the IEA’s board, Neil Record who has also donated to the government. The Independent

See also:

• Don't be fooled, Matt Hancock will be no better for the NHS than Jeremy Hunt was The Independent

In A&E I see children's terror as they choke from polluted air this summer

In A&E I see children's terror as they choke from polluted air this summer The cocktail of pollution and pollen in London kills people. Politicians should spend a night on the wards to see the harm

Summer nights are supposed to be quiet on the children’s unit in A&E. Kids are normally healthy during the warmer months: the risk of colds and flu is low, and their bodies are invigorated by sunshine and exercise. They might suffer the odd scrape or broken bone from playing outside, but nothing that would land them in hospital in the middle of the night.

Not this summer. Something is different. I spent the first week of July working nights in the A&E of a major central London hospital, and it was full of children. Rushing between the emergency room and the ward, I barely had a moment to myself from 8pm when I started my shift to 10am when I handed over to the day team. It’s not normal. Children aren’t supposed to be this sick. Continue reading... The Guardian

Cases of the 'Victorian' scarlet fever soar to highest levels in 60 years

Cases of the 'Victorian' scarlet fever soar to highest levels in 60 years Public Health England figures show 26,745 have been struck down by scarlet fever already this year, after 27 just weeks. Cases of measles are twice as high as last year. The Daily Mail

Health investment needs long-term thinking

Health investment needs long-term thinking Investing in public health pays off down the line. As the government seeks to restore NHS funding it cannot also ignore this vital policy area.

In the year of its 70th birthday the NHS has quite rightly been made the centre of attention. A government commitment to boost NHS funding is a welcome early present, even if, as Health Foundation analysis has shown, the 3.4% increase promised will at best stem the decline in services. The Health Foundation

Prevention is better than the cure

Prevention is better than the cure In the first of our case study mini series, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust share how they reduced sickness absence and presenteeism at work.

The trust placed staff health and wellbeing at the centre of their strategy by implementing core services and additional interventions staff can call upon. They believe that by helping staff identify stressors and giving them access to immediate and appropriate support helps reduce the amount of absence days. NHS Employers

Homes that help: a personal and professional perspective on home adaptations

Homes that help: a personal and professional perspective on home adaptations This report summarises the findings of a primary research project exploring the lived experiences of individuals who use home adaptations, and practitioners who work alongside them. It shows that people are delaying making vital changes to homes because of the clinical and stigmatising appearance of products like handrails and ramps. Centre for Ageing Better

Emerging sex disease MG 'could become next superbug'

Emerging sex disease MG 'could become next superbug' A little known sexually transmitted infection could become the next superbug unless people become more vigilant, experts are warning.

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) often has no symptoms but can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can leave some women infertile.

MG can be missed - and if it is not treated correctly, it can develop resistance to antibiotics.

The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV is launching new advice.

Its draft guidelines detail how best to spot and treat MG. BBC News

See also:

• 2018 national guideline for the 2 management of infection with Mycoplasma genitalium consultation document British Association of Sexual Health and HIV 
• Warning to thousands of women over STI that could lead to infertility The Daily Mail
• Rare STI could turn into superbug, doctors warn The Daily Telegraph

Study links pollution to hospital visits

Study links pollution to hospital visits Scientists have found a direct link between air pollution levels and hospital admissions in Tayside.

A team at the University of Dundee studied the medical records of 450 patients with bronchiectasis against 15 years of pollution data for the study.

They discovered that many had sought medical help on days when pollution levels spiked.

They concluded that a "fairly modest" cut in pollution would have prevented nearly 1,000 medical interventions. BBC News

See also:

• The impact of acute air pollution fluctuations on bronchiectasis pulmonary exacerbation. A case-crossover analysis (abstract) European Respiratory Journal

Matt Hancock: Who is the new health secretary and what is he going to do to the NHS?

Matt Hancock: Who is the new health secretary and what is he going to do to the NHS? Amid the carnage of Theresa May’s emergency cabinet reshuffle, the studied art of political-forecasting-by-NHS-badge fell by the wayside and Jeremy Hunt called time on his run as longest-serving health secretary in history to fill a Boris-shaped hole.

The prime minister wasted no time appointing Matt Hancock, 39,as his successor, moving from Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) secretary to head the Department of Health and Social Care. The Independent

See also:

• New leadership, same old problems BBC News
• Twitter reacts to Matt Hancock becoming the new Health Secretary The Daily Mail
• NHS crisis: Five problems Jeremy Hunt has left for his successor to deal with The Independent
• NHS 'slipped backwards' under Jeremy Hunt and departure is 'long overdue', health experts say The Independent

Ditch the pills. We’ve found a better medicine for old age

Ditch the pills. We’ve found a better medicine for old age | Stewart Dakers Social prescribing allows GPs to offer activities and support for older people. They just need to know what’s available

We seem rather short of the older generation.” The remark was made by the chair of a meeting I attended last month of an old people’s network, organised by the county council adult care department, where I was indeed the only representative of the older generation. The other 30 or so people were from agencies and charities engaged with the crumbly generation.

The atmosphere was pungent with well-meaningness. The format was presentations followed by questions, culminating in around the table reports, by which time there was a certain restlessness, which put silent pressure on the final few to be brief. There is clearly an art in seat selection on such occasions if you want a decent hearing. The main item was “social prescription”. It takes its format from medical prescription, where you go to the doctor, explain your symptoms and leave with a piece of paper containing the name of a drug. Its “social” sibling would go through the same process, with care as well as health agencies, the piece of paper prescribes an activity, facility, or support group. In theory, an exciting idea but one which, as a potential client, living and working among existing clients, I felt obliged to challenge. Continue reading... The Guardian

CQC head David Behan: ‘Care has got safer and quality has got better’

CQC head David Behan: ‘Care has got safer and quality has got better’ | Denis Campbell The outgoing chief executive of the health and care regulator defends its tougher regime under his watch

“One of my jobs when I came in was to restore political, professional and public confidence in the Care Quality Commission, says David Behan, chief executive of the CQC. “It was shot when I took over and there’s no point in contending that it was anything else”.

Behan is reflecting on the challenge he faced when he took over at the helm of the regulator of health and social care in England in 2012. He succeeded Cynthia Bower, who was forced to resign amid a scandal over the CQC’s failure to uncover the appalling treatment of people with learning disabilities at Winterbourne View hospital in Bristol and a subsequent Department of Health inquiry. Continue reading... The Guardian

Antibiotics frequently supplied without prescription, global review finds

Antibiotics frequently supplied without prescription, global review finds Antibiotics are being doled out without prescriptions in pharmacies around the world, potentially leading to the development and spread of superbugs, a study has found.

Three in four patient requests for antibiotics and three in five consultations at community pharmacies led to the sale of antibiotics without a prescription - often for conditions not needing the drugs.

For the study, the researchers looked at local or country-level studies from 2000 to 2017 on sales of antibiotics by pharmacies around the world. In all but one of the 24 countries in the study (Thailand), providing antibiotic drugs without a prescription is illegal. The Daily Telegraph

The changing shape of NHS finances

The changing shape of NHS finances The Prime Minister’s announcement of a multi-year funding offer from April 2019 has understandably taken up most of the oxygen in the room recently when it comes to NHS funding and finance. But we still have the 2018/19 financial year to get through before this funding kicks in. It was originally hoped that the NHS provider sector would be financially balanced this year, but four months into 2018/19, and it is still unclear what level of financial deficits the NHS provider sector is actually planning for. Our recent quarterly monitoring report (QMR) survey of NHS trust finance directors suggests the NHS still has a difficult year ahead. The  King's Fund

Burnt out doctors feel exhausted before they start a shift - GMC survey shows

Burnt out doctors feel exhausted before they start a shift - GMC survey shows Nearly a quarter of trainee doctors say their work makes them feel ‘burnt out’, and almost one in three say they are often ‘exhausted’ in the morning at the thought of another shift, according to a General Medical Council (GMC) survey.

The GMC has today (Monday 9 July) published the initial findings from its annual national training surveys, a detailed UK-wide poll of more than 70,000 doctors in training and doctors who act as trainers.

Almost half of trainees reported regularly working beyond their rostered hours, and around one in five say they often feel short of sleep while at work. Forty per cent described the intensity of their work as ‘heavy or very heavy’.

Trainers also reported heavy workloads, with a third of them saying it was hard to find the time they need to fulfil their educational roles.

See also:

• National training surveys initial findings report and training pathways report General Medical Council
• Junior doctors too overworked for essential training, report warns The Daily Telegraph
• Exhausted junior doctors could increase risk of patient mistakes, report warns The Independent
• One in four trainee doctors feel burnt out, GMC survey shows GPonline

HSIB second national investigation report: CAMHS to AMHS

HSIB second national investigation report: CAMHS to AMHS  The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has published its second full investigation report to support a new learning culture around mistakes in the NHS. The investigation reviewed the transition of care from child and adolescent to adult mental health services to understand how variations in the transition impacts the safe and effective care of young people. As a result of the investigation a number of recommendations have been made to national NHS organisations to make the transition smoother and safer for young people.

See also:

• Investigation into the transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services final report and summary Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch
• Chief Investigator's statement - CAMHS to AMHS Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch
• Mental health: Children failed at vulnerable point BBC News

Financial sustainability of local authorities

Financial sustainability of local authorities This report finds that after seven years of government funding reductions totalling nearly 50 per cent and rising demand for services, local authorities are under real strain. Key services that support vulnerable people, such as social care and housing, are now under enormous pressure. The harsh reality is that more and more local authorities are now showing signs of financial stress such as overspending on services. They now face a period of greater uncertainty as their funding framework beyond 2019–20 is unclear. The report notes that recent announcement about additional money for the NHS did not include anything for social care. Given that social care is the other half of the equation, it is vital that there is a long-term solution. Public Accounts Committee 

Immediate stop to NHS mesh operations

Immediate stop to NHS mesh operations NHS England is putting an immediate curb on mesh operations after safety concerns.

It has accepted the advice of a new review looking at harm reported by women who received the treatment for stress urinary incontinence.

The review's chair, Baroness Julia Cumberlege, said she was "appalled at the seriousness and scale of the tragic stories" that her team had heard.

Many women say the implants caused them agony by cutting into tissue.

Some say they have been left with life-changing injuries. BBC News

Brexit: UK trade deal with US could trigger 'break-up' of NHS, leading expert warns

Brexit: UK trade deal with US could trigger 'break-up' of NHS, leading expert warns Britain leaving the European Union could lead to the “break-up” of the NHS, one of the world’s leading Brexit experts has told The Independent.

Professor Alex de Ruyter, director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University (BCU), warned any future trade deal with the US would mean American pharmaceutical companies looking to access the health service.

His warning comes just months after Theresa May stoked fears of an NHS “for sale” in a future trade deal with the US, after she refused to say it would be excluded from talks. The Independent

Matt Hancock is new health secretary following Jeremy Hunt's appointment as foreign secretary

Matt Hancock is new health secretary following Jeremy Hunt's appointment as foreign secretary Theresa May has appointed Matt Hancock as the new health secretary following Jeremy Hunt's promotion to foreign secretary.

The changes to Ms May's cabinet were forced upon the prime minister after cabinet Eurosceptics Boris Johnson and David Davis both dramatically resigned in protest at the government's new Brexit strategy.

Mr Hancock was only appointed as culture secretary six months ago but he threw himself into the role with aplomb, posting videos of himself learning how to moonwalk and doing parkour, as well as becoming the first MP to create his own smartphone app - called "Matt Hancock". The Independent

See also:

• Jeremy Hunt replaces Boris Johnson amid Brexit turmoil BBC News
• Matt Hancock: What do we know about the new health secretary? GPonline
• The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP biography Gov.UK
• Jeremy Hunt becomes new Foreign Secretary following resignation of Boris Johnson The Independent
• Jeremy Hunt out, Matt Hancock in as Health Secretary iNews
• Who is the new Health Secretary Matt Hancock? ITV News
• What we know about new health secretary Matt Hancock Pulse

The NHS relies on its BME staff – so why do they still face discrimination?

The NHS relies on its BME staff – so why do they still face discrimination? | Kailash Chand I arrived from India in 1978 – and became part of a rich history of BME staff in the NHS. Yet so many still face prejudice

The NHS depends on black and minority ethnic staff to provide high quality, reliable and safe care to patients – and has done since its inception in 1948. They enrich the NHS with their skills, enthusiasm and diverse perspectives.

I would often compete for jobs with UK graduates who had less experience, but I would still lose out to them Continue reading... The Guardian

'The right care at the right time': the team helping patients leave hospital

'The right care at the right time': the team helping patients leave hospital Health staff are working with colleagues in social care and the voluntary sector to tackle the problem of delayed discharges

“From the minute a patient comes through the door – be that via A&E or one of our admission wards – we’re starting to think about how we can get [them] home,” says Rachel Blackmore, an operational manager at University hospital of North Tees in the north-east of England.

It’s making a difference to patients as it provides joined up care Continue reading... The Guardian

Sex addiction could be treated on NHS after health chiefs recognise it as mental health condition

Sex addiction could be treated on NHS after health chiefs recognise it as mental health condition Sex addicts may be given treatment on the NHS after global health chiefs formally recognised the addiction as a mental health condition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said people who suffer from the disorder for at least six months and experience substantial distress should be entitled to medical treatment.

Up to four per cent of people in the UK are believed to suffer from sex addiction, however the NHS currently does not recognise it as an illness. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die World Health Organization

Prestigious medical journal retracts 2 papers

Prestigious medical journal retracts 2 papers The Lancet - considered one of the most-well known journals - made the rare step of taking down both studies authored by the 59-year-old Italian Paolo Macchiarini. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The final verdict on Paolo Macchiarini: guilty of misconduct The Lancet

The NHS funding settlement: recovering lost ground

The NHS funding settlement: recovering lost ground Following the prime minister's announcement of more funding for the NHS, this new report gives an assessment of the likely costs of getting the NHS back on track. NHS Providers

See also:

• NHS 'birthday present' will only make up 'lost ground', bosses say The Daily Telegraph

Every Nurse an E-nurse: Insights from a consultation on the digital future of nursing

Every Nurse an E-nurse: Insights from a consultation on the digital future of nursing This publication presents the detailed findings of a consultation, led by the RCN, into the digital future of nursing. The consultation took place over January and February 2018. The consultation explored 1) ideas for a shared vision of a digitally enabled health and social care service 2) the barriers and enablers to the vision becoming a reality and 3) examples of how data, information, knowledge and technology are already bringing that vision to life. Royal College of Nursing

An economic analysis of flu vaccination

An economic analysis of flu vaccination This report presents findings from a new economic model of the costs and benefits from flu vaccination in England using recent efficacy data. It introduces a conservative, static model which provides a partial cost-benefit analysis of vaccination under various scenarios. It also produces estimates of vaccination costs per death averted to enable comparison with the wider literature. International Longevity Centre UK

Carseview patients 'pinned to the floor' and 'bullied'

Carseview patients 'pinned to the floor' and 'bullied' Patients at a mental health unit have told the BBC they were pinned to the floor in agony and bullied on wards where illegal drugs were rife.

Former patients at the Carseview Centre in Dundee claimed staff had used face-down restraint violently and repeatedly over the past five years.

They said the practice was used for prolonged periods and patients were also mocked and shouted at by staff.

NHS Tayside said it would investigate the claims in full and "will act". BBC News

How hospices care for the terminally ill

How hospices care for the terminally ill The BBC met some of the patients and staff at St Ann's in Manchester, where people with terminal illnesses receive care, comfort and support as they reach the end of their lives. BBC News

More than 200 new ambulances to be bought with government funding

More than 200 new ambulances to be bought with government funding More than 200 new ambulances will be added to fleets around England with a £36.3m government investment.

The 256 vehicles will be funded by the Department for Health and Social Care, with more than half available for use this winter. BBC News

Why improving housing leads to fewer hospital admissions

Why improving housing leads to fewer hospital admissions The poor state of Britain’s homes can be a health hazard, with four in 10 not meeting basic wellbeing criteria. New research has uncovered how home improvements have real health benefits.

Britain has a housing crisis, not just in terms of a shortage of homes and sky-high prices, but in terms of the poor state of existing homes. Four in 10 British homes don’t meet the basic criteria to secure occupants’ wellbeing, according to a recent survey. The Independent

When I went to practice medicine in Australia from the UK, I had no idea what I was getting myself into

When I went to practice medicine in Australia from the UK, I had no idea what I was getting myself into I saw crystal meth decimate Australian hospitals; an epidemic here could stun the NHS

The first time you see someone high on crystal meth, it’s quite a sight. Nobody had really warned me that it was a problem. It was in my first week as an emergency department doctor in one of Australia’s busiest urban hospitals. I saw the young man hurling himself against the walls of the main ward area, sweating gallons, screaming his paranoia to a divided audience of fearful patients and seen-it-all-before A&E staff. The Independent

A million older people 'badly let down' by lack of social care funding

A million older people 'badly let down' by lack of social care funding Analysis by AgeUK finds one in seven older people in England left to get by on their own

The number of older people in England without social care support has hit a record high, with one in seven now being left to get by on their own, figures reveal.

A record total of 1.4 million people over 65 now have some level of unmet need with tasks such as getting up, washed and dressed, according to an analysis of official statistics by AgeUK. Continue reading... The Guardian

Fears of future strain on NHS as councils slash health programmes

Fears of future strain on NHS as councils slash health programmes Anti-drug and stop-smoking programmes are being cut despite May’s promise of £20bn extra on health

Hospitals will bear the brunt of “incredibly shortsighted” cuts to public health initiatives that will lead to more people having a heart attack or getting cancer, experts are warning.

New research reveals that, by next year, spending per head in England on programmes to tackle smoking, poor diet and alcohol abuse will have fallen by 23.5% over five years. Continue reading... The Guardian

Britain needs to get fit. But warnings and advice alone aren’t enough

Britain needs to get fit. But warnings and advice alone aren’t enough | Mike Kelly It’s taken an integrated strategy to reduce smoking. We need a similar policy to change the way we look at fitness

This week Public Health England told us that along with doing aerobic exercise we should be doing muscle and bone strengthening and balance activities. It recommends ball games, racket sports, dancing, Nordic walking and various forms of resistance training. The benefits of physical activity include reduced risks from certain cancers and heart disease, better mobility, better sleep and mental health and, as we get older, the prevention of falls.

But will this make the slightest bit of difference? In short, no it won’t. Putting information into the public domain as a strategy for getting people to change their behaviour is simply not effective. Continue reading... The Guardian

Facebook has young people in an 'insidious grip', warns head of NHS England

Facebook has young people in an 'insidious grip', warns head of NHS England Social media giants like Facebook should be forced to release their “insidious grip” on young people, the head of the NHShas said.

Backing The Telegraph’s campaign for a “duty of care” to web users, Simon Stevens said such firms should face up to their responsiblities, fuelling pressures on today’s children.

Last month the chief executive of NHS England promised a “major ramp-up” of mental health services, in order to deal with the fallout for an explosion of social media. The Daily Telegraph

NHS Trusts buying whiteboard markers at near double the price of high street shops

NHS Trusts buying whiteboard markers at near double the price of high street shops NHS Trusts are buying whiteboard markers at near double the price of high street shops, new figures reveal.

Last year packs of four whiteboard markers were bough for between £1.32 and £2.10, the exclusive data obtained by The Telegraph reveals, despite similar items being available for just £1.25 from office supplier Staples.

Such discrepancies have been described as "baffling" by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The health service spends £55.6 billion each year on general supplies and medical equipment, however bulk buying is not resulting in the best deals, as the new figures reveal. The Daily Telegraph

British doctors fit patients with pacemakers that let them track their heart rates on smartphones

British doctors fit patients with pacemakers that let them track their heart rates on smartphones British doctors have become the first in the world to fit heart patients with pacemakers connected to their smartphones.

The medical breakthrough means patients can track their heart rate and exercise levels through the device in their chest and check how much battery life it has left wherever they are.

The smart pacemakers send the information via Bluetooth straight to a smartphone app. The Daily Mail

Video shows how NGH £12m emergency assessment unit will look upon completition

Video shows how NGH £12m emergency assessment unit will look upon completion Work is three-months away from completion on a new £12m A&E assessment unit at Northampton General Hospital.

Last year workers started building a new £12 million two-storey assessment unit at Northampton General Hospital, adjacent to A&E, with a link into the existing hospital via a bridge. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS staff and volunteers mark 70 years of NHS at Northampton General Hospital

NHS staff and volunteers mark 70 years of NHS at Northampton General Hospital As the NHS turns 70 the Chronicle & Echo celebrates some of Northampton General Hospital's longest-serving employees.

With a combined length of service of 124 years, workers and volunteers at NGH, Andrew Beswick, Celia Penn, Tony O’Donovan and Caroline Paviour, tell of how much NGH has changed since they started their careers and voluntary roles, and how they envisage life at the NHS in another 10 years’ time.  Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Is our love for the NHS bad for our health?

Is our love for the NHS bad for our health? In the run-up to the 70th anniversary of the NHS, we’ve been talking with the public to better understand their relationship with and expectations of the service and their views on who is responsible for keeping people healthy.

It almost goes without saying that there is huge support for the NHS, with the vast majority of people supporting the founding principles of a service free at the point of delivery, available to all and funded largely by taxation. As one participant at our recent discussion events said, ‘I do have a love for the NHS, it’s part of our heritage.’  The King's Fund

‘Co-production isn’t a one-night stand’

‘Co-production isn’t a one-night stand’ To mark SCIE’s Co-Production Week, #coproweek, which runs 2 July to 6 July 2018, Mandy Rudczenko, member of C4CC’s own co-production group has written this blog post on the importance of co-production being a long-term relationship. Centre for Collaborative Care

See also:

• Embedding co-production at all levels of care Centre for Collaborative Care

Evidence-based interventions: consultation document

Evidence-based interventions: consultation document This consultation seeks views on the design principles of a programme to reduce the delivery of clinically ineffective interventions. The proposals aim to reduce avoidable harm to patients, save precious professional time, help clinicians maintain their professional practice in line with the changing evidence base, create headroom for innovation and maximise value and avoid waste for patients and taxpayers. The closing date for comments is 28 September 2018. NHS England

• Consultation
• Response form

'I never thought I'd be alive to pay back my huge debt'

'I never thought I'd be alive to pay back my huge debt' Chris Lynch, 41, was a hard-drinking student when his debts began to build up and his life started to spiral out of control.

At one point he was was £35,000 in debt - and that's when anxiety and depression took hold.

"I didn't think I'd be alive long enough to pay if off. I could easily have ended up homeless or ending my life," he says.

The charity Mental Health UK says Chris's experience is not unusual - up to four million people could be at risk of poor mental health brought on by money problems. BBC News

GP vacancies rise to record levels despite recruitment pledge, survey suggests

GP vacancies rise to record levels despite recruitment pledge, survey suggests Long patient waits and unsafe, rushed appointments are unlikely to end any time soon as vacancies have risen from 9.1 per cent to 15.3 per cent since the government pledged 5,000 more doctors

A record 15.3 per cent of GP posts in the UK are unfilled, suggesting government pledges to address soaring waiting times for GP appointments by recruiting more thousands more doctors have fallen flat.

In England, which has 33,574 full-time GPs as of March 2018 according to NHS statistics, the figures show a vacancy rate of 15.8 per cent suggesting more than 6,000 full-time GP posts advertised and currently unfilled. The Independent

See also:

• Revealed: GP vacancy rates rocket with one in six roles unfilled Pulse

Lucy Letby: Newborn deaths doubled at hospital where nurse arrested on suspicion of babies' murders worked

Lucy Letby: Newborn deaths doubled at hospital where nurse arrested on suspicion of babies' murders worked Audit data shows how in a single year neonatal mortality at Countess of Chester Hospital went from unremarkable to among highest in UK

Between 2014 and 2015 the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital (CoCH) in Cheshire saw the number of babies that died on its wards double, without any apparent explanation.

There were nine neonatal deaths in 2015, compared to four in 2014, according to data published by the Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries (MBRRACE-UK) research group. The Independent

See also:

• Lucy Letby: Police dig in garden of nurse arrested over deaths of babies at Cheshire hospital The Independent

The robots helping NHS surgeons perform better, faster – and for longer

The robots helping NHS surgeons perform better, faster – and for longer Surgical robots such as Versius cut training time down from 80 sessions to 30 minutes

It is the most exacting of surgical skills: tying a knot deep inside a patient’s abdomen, pivoting long graspers through keyhole incisions with no direct view of the thread.

Trainee surgeons typically require 60 to 80 hours of practice, but in a mock-up operating theatre outside Cambridge, a non-medic with just a few hours of experience is expertly wielding a hook-shaped needle – in this case stitching a square of pink sponge rather than an artery or appendix. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS hailed as 'unifying ideal' on 70th anniversary

NHS hailed as 'unifying ideal' on 70th anniversary Politicians, staff and patients pay tribute to health service at Westminster Abbey ceremony

The boss of the NHS has lauded the service as an enduring “unifying ideal” for people across Britain, as politicians, staff and patients queued up to pay tribute to the health service on its 70th birthday.

At a service of celebration at Westminster Abbey for 2,200 NHS staff, Simon Stevens, the NHS England chief executive, quoted the archbishop of Canterbury’s view that the NHS was “the most powerful and visible expression of our Christian heritage” because it “sprang out of a concern that the poor should be able to be treated as well as the rich”. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Simon Stevens’ NHS 70 address to Westminster Abbey NHS England
• What the NHS means in one word BBC News
• NHS at 70: Who was health service founder Aneurin Bevan? BBC News

Apps which diagnose skin cancer are UNRELIABLE and are not a substitute for going to the doctor

Apps which diagnose skin cancer are UNRELIABLE and are not a substitute for going to the doctor Mobile apps which claim to detect skin cancer could be endangering the public because they are not regulated, scientists claim.

The apps do not notice all 'red flag' symptoms of skin cancer, according to researchers, and are not a replacement for going to see a doctor.

People should also take the apps' recommendations with a pinch of salt, experts say, and always go to a doctor if they suspect something is wrong.

Researchers worry the technology is not tested thoroughly to make sure they work, may not have expert advice when they are being made, and the software which identifies problems might be flawed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Untested skin cancer apps endangering the public British Association of Dermatologists