Patient diagnosed with deadly MERS virus in Leeds as fellow passengers on flight from Middle East sought

Patient diagnosed with deadly MERS virus in Leeds as fellow passengers on flight from Middle East sought A man has been diagnosed with the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in England - the first such diagnosis in this country since 2013.

Health officials said the case involves a patient who was initially admitted to a hospital in Leeds before being transferred to Royal Liverpool Hospital, which treats respiratory infectious diseases.

The man is believed to have fallen ill after flying to Britain from the Middle East, where he lives. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MERS-CoV case in England Public Health England

British women now among top drinkers in the world

British women now among top drinkers in the world British women are now among the world's biggest drinkers - matching men drink for drink, a major global study published in The Lancet reveals.

The figures, which track 195 countries across the globe, show that the UK is almost unique in having no difference in the amount of alcohol men and women consume.

Experts described the trends as “alarming”, warning of growing rates of liver disease among middle-aged women who had continued the “ladette” drinking habits of their youth. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• No level of alcohol consumption improves health The Lancet
• Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 The Lancet
• No alcohol safe to drink, global study confirms BBC News
• No safe level of alcohol consumption, major study concludes The Independent
• Alcohol sales would fall nearly 40% if everyone in England drank within guidelines, research finds The Independent

Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts have unsafe bed occupancy levels

Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts have unsafe bed occupancy levels Two thirds of hospital trusts had unsafe bed occupancy levels between the start of April and end of June, NHS figures have revealed.

Damning statistics published today show 131 trusts - which run hospitals - were at least 85 per cent full, the safe limit set by health chiefs.

Two even reported 100 per cent occupancy rates during the busy three-month period - Oxford Health Foundation Trust and Bedford Hospital Trust. The Daily Mail

Councils' care spending spirals as other services cut

Councils' care spending spirals as other services cut The plight of Northamptonshire County Council has highlighted the perilous financial state of local authorities.

One of the key pressures they face is the cost of looking after children and vulnerable adults - which has been spiralling as services elsewhere are cut back.

Ahead of latest official figures that are expected to show more overspending, the BBC has been looking at how it is playing out on the ground. BBC Northampton

Consultation on new strategy to support people with autism in Northants

Consultation on new strategy to support people with autism in Northants A new strategy about how people with autism in Northamptonshire are supported has been drawn up.

The county council is currently consulting on the strategy which is a redesign of the current service and people have until October 5 to have their say on the proposals.

The strategy is a joint initiative between the county council, the Corby and Nene clinical commissioning groups and the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire family 'will keep fighting' for drug to treat toddler's rare illness after it was rejected for NHS use

Northamptonshire family 'will keep fighting' for drug to treat toddler's rare illness after it was rejected for NHS use The parents of a Northamptonshire two-year-old say they are 'devastated' after a health body has decided not to recommend a treatment for use on the NHS. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Comprehensive geriatric assessment: needs assessment tool

Comprehensive geriatric assessment: needs assessment tool The Nuffield Trust, in collaboration with clinical investigators at the Universities of Leicester, Southampton and Newcastle, is part of a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded project to research acute hospital care for frail older people. The aim of the work is to inform NHS managers, clinicians, patients and the public about how best to organise hospital services for frail older people.

See also:

• The Hospital Frailty Risk Score Nuffield Trust

Personal Health Records adoption toolkit

NHS Digital tool supports personal health record development NHS Digital has produced a new toolkit to support local NHS organisations to develop personal health records (PHRs).

PHRs give patients secure access to information about their health, care and wellbeing. The new toolkit is based on research we carried out across the country. It contains guidance, standards, user research findings and gives advice and best practice on building or delivering a PHR.

Patient waited 62 hours for ambulance

Patient waited 62 hours for ambulance A patient waited 62 hours for an ambulance, while four trusts took more than 24 hours to respond to 999 calls, new figures have shown.

The longest delays in the UK were recorded by Welsh Ambulance Service, which kept four patients waiting for more than 50 hours.

A spokesman said the figures were "not typical" and "represent the extreme end of the waiting time spectrum".

The Patients Association said they were "extremely concerning". BBC News

See also:

• Patient waits two-and-a-half days for ambulance as worst delays revealed The Daily Telegraph

Rise in diabetes 'to cause surge in heart disease and strokes'

Rise in diabetes 'to cause surge in heart disease and strokes' Heart attacks and strokes in England are set to surge in the next 20 years as diabetes cases linked to lifestyle increase, a charity has warned.

The number of diabetics is projected to rise by one million by 2035, largely driven by more cases of type 2 diabetes and increasing rates of obesity.

This could lead to a 29% rise in heart attacks and strokes linked to diabetes, the British Heart Foundation said.

The charity said "bold action" was needed to tackle the obesity epidemic. BBC News

Radiologist shortage 'affecting cancer care' in the UK

Radiologist shortage 'affecting cancer care' in the UK A shortage of senior radiologists around the UK is causing delays for patients, and affecting cancer and other medical care.

Radiologists' leaders say the situation is unacceptable and must be tackled by ministers.

Figures suggest their workload of reading and interpreting scans has increased by 30% between 2012 and 2017.

But the number of consultant radiologists in England has gone up by just 15% in that time.

The figures, given to the BBC by the Royal College of Radiologists, also suggest the number of these senior posts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has remained static over that period. BBC News

Steam treatment for big prostates approved on NHS

Steam treatment for big prostates approved on NHS The NHS can start offering a new steam treatment for benign prostate enlargement, says the regulator, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

The procedure is minimally invasive and can be done under local anaesthetic without an overnight hospital stay.

It involves passing a small probe up the urethra to inject a puff of steam into the troublesome area.

The steam kills off some of the enlarged tissue to ease symptoms. BBC News

See also:

• Transurethral water vapour ablation for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia NICE

Two in five GPs have experienced mental health problems, finds survey

Two in five GPs have experienced mental health problems, finds survey Two in five GPs have suffered from a mental health condition, according to a survey of over 1,000 GPs.

The survey, carried out by mental health charity Mind, revealed that 40% had experienced mental health problems, including conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

It also found that GPs are more likely to turn to friends and family for support than their own doctor.

The BMA GP Committee has urged for more action on tackling the 'unmanageable' and 'unsafe' workloads which are damaging GP mental health. Pulse

STI that causes flesh-eating ulcers found in UK for first time

STI that causes flesh-eating ulcers found in UK for first time A sexually transmitted disease which causes flesh-eating ulcers to erupt on the genitals has been diagnosed in the UK for the first time.

The rare STI donovanosis is typically only found in tropical countries and up until now, there had been no recorded breakouts in UK.

However, a Freedom of Information request from online pharmacy chemist-4-u.com found a woman, aged between 15 and 25, was diagnosed with the STI in Southport in the last 12 months. The Independent

Woman gives birth in coastguard helicopter over Cornwall

Woman gives birth in coastguard helicopter over Cornwall Torran MacDonald was born 426 metres above Penzance on the Cornish coast

A woman has thanked medical staff and aircrew who helped in the birth of her son, who was born inside a helicopter almost half a kilometre above the Cornish coast.

Torran MacDonald was born in a coastguard helicopter over Penzance on Saturday night, weighing 3.4kg (7lb 8oz), after his mother, Alicia MacDonald, went into labour while visiting the Isles of Scilly. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS to offer tracking tests for women at high risk of ovarian cancer

NHS to offer tracking tests for women at high risk of ovarian cancer Women with the “Jolie” gene will be offered NHS surveillance so they can attempt to preserve their fertility while protecting themselves from cancer.

Under the pilot scheme, women who carry a faulty BRCA gene but do not want to have their ovaries removed will undergo regular blood tests so they can be alerted if the threat of cancer rises.

It means those women can avoid such surgery – which pushes them into menopause – or delay it until they have completed a family. The Daily Telegraph

Patients with a cough are told to reach for HONEY instead of calling their GP for antibiotics

Patients with a cough are told to reach for HONEY instead of calling their GP for antibiotics People suffering from a cough should drink honey and lemon rather than take antibiotics, official new health advice has declared.

It insists that drugs should not be the first line of treatment for coughs.

The advice, published today by NHS watchdog Nice and Public Health England, has been drawn up as part of the battle against superbugs. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Acute cough (including acute bronchitis): antimicrobial prescribing (consultation) NICE
• Use honey first for a cough, new guidelines say BBC News
• Buy a jar of honey, don’t trouble your doctor with a cough, patients told The Daily Telegraph
• Promote honey rather than antibiotics for coughs, doctors told The Guardian

Getting the right leadership in place

Getting the right leadership in place ‘Your most important job will be replacing me’ said my chief executive when I started as Chair at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust four and a half years ago. There have been a few other challenges along the way, but fundamentally she’s right. Getting the right leadership team in place for the trust and keeping them there is the single biggest contributor to our success and the wellbeing of our patients and staff. It’s a job that is becoming more and more difficult as The King’s Fund and NHS Providers’ research into NHS leadership demonstrates.

NHS data security: protecting patient records

NHS data security: protecting patient records Using Freedom of Information legislation, sixty-eight NHS trusts were asked for information on patient records which were reported 'missing' over the 2017-2018 financial year. This revealed that nearly 10,000 patient records were lost over this period. Parliament Street

Maternal request caesarean research highlights postcode lottery

Maternal request caesarean research highlights postcode lottery Results of a nationwide Freedom of Information Act request show that the majority of Trusts in the UK make the process of requesting a caesarean lengthy, difficult or inconsistent adding anxiety and distress to women at a vulnerable time. And lawyers acting for the charity are concerned that at least one Trust may be acting unlawfully. Birthrights

See also:

• Women 'being denied Caesarean choice' BBC News
• 'I had a haemorrhage after being denied a Caesarean' BBC News
• 74 per cent of hospitals do not respect a woman's right to choose a c-section The Daily Mail
• Women being denied Caesarean births The Daily Telegraph
• One in six NHS trusts do not offer caesareans on request – charity The Guardian
• I would demand another Caesarean in a heartbeat – when a hospital refuses an elective C-section, that’s patriarchy in action The Independent

100,000 carers missing: how ending free movement could spell disaster for elderly and disabled people

100,000 carers missing: how ending free movement could spell disaster for elderly and disabled people Ending freedom of movement after Brexit could mean more than 100,000 fewer adult social care workers by 2026, and a 26% increase in the ratio of over-75s to care workers.

The findings come from a new analysis by think tank Global Future, which is making the case for continuing free movement after Brexit for low-skilled social care workers from the European Union to protect the adult social care sector and the millions of elderly and disabled people who rely on it.

See also:

• Brexit will leave UK short of 380,000 care workers by 2026, analysis suggests The Independent
• EU citizens will not be 'turfed out' of UK in event of no-deal Brexit, says Dominic Raab The Independent

Children 'getting sight problems because of eye test delays'

Children 'getting sight problems because of eye test delays' Children are developing permanent problems with their vision because they are not being given eye tests early enough, optometrists have warned.

An Association of Optometrists survey of 1,200 people indicated a quarter of school-age children had not been taken for a sight test by their parents.

Of parents surveyed, 52% thought tests would be given in primary school.

While some schools do offer screening, the tests are less comprehensive than those provided free on the NHS. BBC News

Superdrug hack: Data thieves claim to have information on 20,000 customers

Superdrug hack: Data thieves claim to have information on 20,000 customers Superdrug has been targeted by hackers claiming they had access to tens of thousands of customers' personal details including dates of birth and phone numbers.

The high street chain it had been contacted by someone who claimed that they had obtained the details of approximately 20,000 customers.

The company confirmed that 386 of the accounts had been compromised and said was it was working to establish the exact number. The Independent

NHS unprepared for no-deal Brexit, leaked letter warns

NHS unprepared for no-deal Brexit, leaked letter warns Letter highlights risk of drug shortages and spread of disease

Hospitals face running out of drugs in a chaotic no-deal Brexit, the group that represents NHS hospital and ambulance service has privately warned.

Poor co-ordination by ministers and health service bosses means there has been a failure to prepare for the UK to be left without a Brexit deal, a leaked letter from NHS Providers said. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Brexit: NHS managers warn about impact of no deal BBC News
• NHS fears over no-deal Brexit highlight risk to patients, Labour says The Guardian
• No-deal Brexit could see hospitals run out of medicine, reveals leaked letter from health chief The Independent

Anti-vaxxers are still spreading false claims as people die of measles

Anti-vaxxers are still spreading false claims as people die of measles | Helen Stokes-Lampard We still don’t have a full uptake of the MMR vaccine. As a GP I know how vital it is to regulate online misinformation and reassure parents

In the early 2000s, after the link between the MMR vaccine and autism was thoroughly debunked, healthcare professionals, including GPs and our teams, worked hard to re-establish public confidence in vaccinations. It took years to restore, but uptake rates in children receiving the MMR vaccine began to improve and there was a time, not so long ago, when we thought we had eradicated measles entirely.

That is why recent data about the surge in measles cases across Europe will come as distressing news – even to us here in the UK. However, it backs up concerns that were published last month in the British Journal of General Practice. The World Health Organization has reported that a total of 41,000 people in the European region were infected in the first six months of 2018 – up from 23,927 cases in 2017 and 5,273 in 2016. Of the cases reported so far this year, 37 deaths have been recorded.

Getting the public invested in the benefits of vaccination is key to its success Continue reading... The Guardian

Country's top nurse resigns in the wake of misleading NHS pay blunder

Country's top nurse resigns in the wake of misleading NHS pay blunder Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, announced she will step down from her role at the end of August. The college said they parted ways by 'mutual agreement'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Janet Davies steps down as Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Royal College of Nursing
• Nursing union chief falls on her sword after NHS pay blunder The Daily Telegraph
• RCN chief steps down over nurses’ pay anger OnMedica

Outbreak of West Nile virus kills 22 in Europe

Outbreak of West Nile virus kills 22 in Europe Health officials have warned there has been a spike in mosquito-borne West Nile virus this year, with 401 recorded human cases across Europe, with most in Serbia, Italy and Greece. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Detailed guide: West Nile virus: epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention Public Health England

Facilitating complex systems research for public health

Facilitating complex systems research for public health How do we turn the tide on seemingly intractable conditions such as diabetes and heart disease when their causes are so entwined with the environments we live in?

Public health researchers and policy makers have long understood that the causes of ill health are complex. Yet the biomedical research model, with its focus on linear associations between cause and effect, remains at the forefront of research and practice. In recent years, the case has been made for a change of direction and the need for a ‘complex systems model of evidence for public health’.  The Health Foundation

Measles cases hit record high in Europe

Measles cases hit record high in Europe Cases of measles in Europe have hit a record high, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

More than 41,000 people have been infected in the first six months of 2018, leading to 37 deaths.

Last year there were 23,927 cases and the year before 5,273. Experts blame this surge in infections on a drop in the number of people being vaccinated.

In England, there have been 807 cases so far this year. The WHO is calling on European countries to take action.

Public Health England say the outbreaks in England are largely due to people who have travelled to areas of mainland Europe that have had outbreaks. BBC News

See also:

• Measles outbreaks across England Public Health England
• Measles epidemic in Europe hits record high, World Health Organisation warns The Independent

Unexplained baby deaths rise for first time in three years

Unexplained baby deaths rise for first time in three years The number of babies dying from unexplained causes in England and Wales has risen for the first time in three years, data shows.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there were 219 deaths caused by sudden infant death syndrome (Sids) or without a known cause in 2016. This was up from 195 the previous year and the highest number since 2013, when there were 252 deaths.

The numbers have been described as deeply concerning by the Lullaby Trust charity, which raises awareness of Sids. The Guardian

The only way is ethics: a new approach to outsourcing social care

The only way is ethics: a new approach to outsourcing social care e Outsourcing public services, especially to the private sector, has been the model of choice in the UK for around 30 years. Nowhere has this been more the case than in adult social care, where private companies account for the vast majority of provision in both the care home and homecare market. The Guardian

16 nurses from same Arizona intensive care unit pregnant at same time

16 nurses from same Arizona intensive care unit pregnant at same time A group of 16 nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Banner Desert Medical Centre in Mesa, Arizona have astounded co-workers by all becoming pregnant at the same time.

The nurses only discovered how many of them were simultaneously expecting children when they all happened to join a Facebook group chat for pregnant workers at the hospital. The Independent

Midwives under fire after newborn baby choked to death when his 'dog tired' mother fell asleep while breastfeeding

Midwives under fire after newborn baby choked to death when his 'dog tired' mother fell asleep while breastfeeding A coroner has criticised hospital midwives after a newborn baby died when his “dog tired” mother fell asleep as she was breastfeeding him.

Louie Bradley choked to death after his mother, Ann, had been taught a feeding technique that went against national advice, an inquest heard.

Bolton assistant coroner John Pollard said it was “extraordinary” that the new mother was left alone in bed with her baby when she was “dog tired” after a long labour. The Independent

The NHS needs to cash in its data

The NHS needs to cash in its data As the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, there has been a period of reflection, and an outpouring of nostalgia, about the contribution the service has made to the country since its foundation in 1948. And quite right too.

But as the UK embarks on its journey outside the European Union, and the NHS faces up to the cost pressures created by the nation’s ageing population, there is a need now to focus on what the service will look like over the next 70 years. Key to this will be ensuring that the UK makes the most of some incredible advances in medical technology and artificial intelligence. The Daily Telegraph

Growing number of women over 50 are turning to IVF

Growing number of women over 50 are turning to IVF According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates IVF in the UK, 223 babies were born to women in their 50s over the past 10 years, with 42 cases in 2016 alone. The Daily Mail

Cocaine deaths quadruple in seven years

Cocaine deaths quadruple in seven years There were 432 deaths related to the drug in England and Wales in 2017, compared with 371 the previous year and 112 in 2011, figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Rise in cocaine deaths prompts calls for government action The Guardian

Struggling Northampton A&E's new unit nears completion

Struggling Northampton A&E's new unit nears completion Hospital beds and equipment have begun to arrive at a struggling emergency department's new assessment centre.

It is hoped the 60-bed unit at Northampton General will help staff to work out the appropriate treatment for each patient and reduce waiting times.

A hospital manager blamed "dangerous overcrowding" in A&E for the death of an 85-year-old man in March.

The Nye Bevan building, named after the health minister who set up the NHS in 1948, is on track to open in October. BBC Northampton

Unitary bid for Northamptonshire revealed

Unitary bid for Northamptonshire revealed Northamptonshire councils will submit a bid to central government for two unitary authorities - however, the authorities say the new councils will not deliver a cost saving.

Details have been released on Friday about the plan to reorganise local governance in Northamptonshire and scrap its current two tier system and replace it with a unitary system.

All eight Northants councils had been told by the secretary of state for local government James Brokenshire in May to work together on a bid following the financial failing of Northamptonshire County Council. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Plans for local government overhaul in Northamptonshire revealed BBC Northampton
• Northamptonshire County Council 'bought rugby hospitality box' BBC Northampton
• The facts and figures behind proposed Northamptonshire unitary model Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Unitary bid: Consultation showed only 37 per cent want two unitaries Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton GP placed in special measures as CEO says inadequate inspection result 'was anticipated'

Northampton GP placed in special measures as CEO says inadequate inspection result 'was anticipated' The chief executive of a Northampton GP practice has admitted a recent inadequate rating of a surgery "was anticipated".

The Care Quality Commission inspected Kings Heath Practice in May and published their report this week.

It was rated 'good' in the caring category, requires improvement in the responsive category, and inadequate in the safe, effective, well-led categories as well as overall. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Sustainability and transformation partnerships

Sustainability and transformation partnerships This briefing, aimed at STPs, focuses on the improvements in quality of care that pharmacists and their teams bring to care home residents, care home providers and the NHS. It highlights how pharmacists in care homes can improve medicines safety, reduce admissions to hospital and support end of life care. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

'I broke every bone in my face - and survived'

'I broke every bone in my face - and survived' NHS reorganisations are not very popular - but Tom Locke probably owes his life to one.

The 41-year-old was inspecting pigeon nests on his roof at home in Hythe on the Kent coast last October when disaster struck.

He fell from his ladder on his balcony plummeting three storeys on to his patio below, breaking his leg, arm, wrist, shoulder and every bone in his face.

But rather than being taken to a local hospital he was ferried by air ambulance to London's King's College Hospital more than 60 miles away.

According to doctors who treated him, the decision saved his life. BBC News

See also:

• Changing the System - Major Trauma Patients and Their Outcomes in the NHS (England) 2008–17 (open access) EClinicalMedicine

Rise in type 2 diabetes in young people in England and Wales

Rise in type 2 diabetes in young people in England and Wales The number of children and young people being treated for type 2 diabetes in England and Wales has gone up from 507 to 715 in four years, new figures show.

More than three-quarters were also obese, according to the NHS data.

Child health experts said the rise was "alarming" and the childhood obesity epidemic was "starting to bite".

Councils said more needed to be done to tackle the obesity crisis in children, particularly among minority ethnic groups, who were most affected. BBC News

See also:

• National Paediatric Diabetes Audit 2016-17 Care Processes and Outcomes Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

GPs to consult patients using new Government NHS app from 2019

GPs to consult patients using new Government NHS app from 2019 The new NHS app could support GP video consultations from next year, according to NHS Digital.

A freedom of information request from technology magazine Gizmodo to NHS Digital, revealed that an update to the app in 2019 could enable GPs to hold video consultations with their patients.

However, the information also revealed that only patients at certain practices will be able to use all the features of the app when it first launches to the public in December. Pulse

NHS kept using 'danger syringes' in bid to save money, investigation claims

NHS kept using 'danger syringes' in bid to save money, investigation claims At least nine people died because the NHS used syringe pumps that did not meet internationally approved safety standards in a bid to save cash, it has been claimed.

Thousands of lives were put at risk as Britain’s health service continued to use equipment other countries had banned, an investigation by The Sunday Times reports.

Experts say the number of fatalities linked to the pumps may actually be many times higher – but no record was ever made because of “institutional indifference” to elderly patients in their final days. The Independent

Government's ‘care Isa’ plans will only work for minority of wealthy people, Tory MP warns

Government's ‘care Isa’ plans will only work for minority of wealthy people, Tory MP warns A senior Tory MP has condemned plans for a new “care Isa” to fund end of life treatment, arguing that it would only work for a “small minority of wealthy people” who can afford to invest.

The Isa - which would be exempt from inheritance tax - is reportedly being considered by the government in an effort to solve the country’s social care crisis.

But Sarah Wollaston, the chair of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, has said the plans were a “colossal mistake” and she claims that they would not solve the crisis “at all”. The Independent

US multinational buys into UK rehab centres as demand grows

US multinational buys into UK rehab centres as demand grows Eli Global invests in private clinics amid fears of shortage of publicly funded facilities

The UK private rehab market is set to grow exponentially, one of the largest addiction firms in the country has said after receiving US investment.

Addiction treatment centres have reported increases in the number of people seeking help, and concerns have been raised that cuts to drug and alcohol services mean some addicts are being cut adrift. Continue reading... The Guardian

Hospital patients to be told to get up and dressed to avoid 'pyjama paralysis'

Hospital patients to be told to get up and dressed to avoid 'pyjama paralysis' Hospital patients across the country will be told to get up and dressed in the daytime in a bid to end “pyjama paralysis” which can cause premature frailty.

Britain’s chief nursing officer will today launch a national campaign to get patients moving after pilot schemes found that getting patients out of bed boosted their health and got them home earlier.

Earlier this year, Prof Jane Cummings asked wards to try a 70 day “challenge” to get patients up, dressed, and moving wherever possible. The Daily Telegraph

End of rip-off hospital phone charges under Ofcom crackdown

End of rip-off hospital phone charges under Ofcom crackdown "Rip off" phone bills for worried friends and family calling relatives recovering in hospital are set to become a thing of the past under an Ofcom crackdown.

The telecoms regulator will for the first time start to regulate the cost of 070 numbers, which currently hit consumers making 2.6 million calls a year with charges of around 50p a minute.

Draft Ofcom plans show it is planning to cap the amount providers of 070 numbers can charge your phone company - for example BT, Vodafone or EE - when you call them, to bring them in line with standard mobile tariffs. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals make £260k from vending machines with high-calorie snacks

Hospitals make £260k from vending machines with high-calorie snacks Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust generated £260,000 between 2013 and 2018. If the UK's other 134 trusts did the same, it would've created £34 million from the sale of crisps, drinks and sweets. The Daily Mail

Northamptonshire's NHS shows 'notable examples of outstanding practice' finds glowing watchdog report

Northamptonshire's NHS shows 'notable examples of outstanding practice' finds glowing watchdog report A Northamptonshire health trust has improved its Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating after inspectors found outstanding practice in all areas during a visit earlier this summer.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, headed by Angela Hillery, provides a range of services across the county to 733,000 people including mental health, learning disability, community health and prison health services.

The trust was rated as good following an inspection in January 2017 but on CQC’s return inspectors found a number of improvements had been made resulting in it receiving the top 'outstanding' rating. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Through the eyes of GP trainees: workforce of the future

Through the eyes of GP trainees: workforce of the future There is a workforce crisis in general practice with the GP workforce declining while workload increases. The NHS’s struggle to retain GPs is highlighted by a 2.2 per cent decline in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs to 33,062 in September 2017 compared to September 2016. A recent GP survey found that 39 per cent of respondents (and 62 per cent of respondents aged 50+) planned to leave ‘direct patient care’ by 2022. The King's Fund

See also:

• Average GP works just three-and-a-half days a week despite six-figure salaries The Daily Mail

Government missing opportunity with e-cigarettes

Government missing opportunity with e-cigarettes The Science and Technology Committee publishes its Report, E-cigarettes. The Report reviews the current evidence base on the harmfulness of e-cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes and looks at the current policies on e-cigarettes, including in NHS mental health units and in prisons. The Committee concludes that e-cigarettes should not be treated in the same way as conventional cigarettes.

• Read the report summary
• Read the report conclusions and recommendations
• Read the full report:: E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes, estimated as 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes, are too often being overlooked as a stop smoking tool by the NHS. Regulations should be relaxed relating to e-cigarettes’ licensing, prescribing and advertising of their health benefits. Their level of taxation and use in public places must be reconsidered.

See also:

• E-cigarettes can be key weapon against smoking, say MPs BBC News
• Relaxing vaping laws would cut smoking deaths, say MPs The Guardian
• Smoking ban should not apply to e-cigarettes and vaping should be allowed at work, in pubs and on trains, MPs say The Independent

Ordinary residence guide: determining local authority responsibilities under the Care Act and the Mental Health Act

Ordinary residence guide: determining local authority responsibilities under the Care Act and the Mental Health Act This guide has been created to support the ambitions of the Transforming Care programme to improve services and support for children, young people and adults with a learning disability, autism or both a learning disability and autism who may display behaviour that challenges, and significantly reduce the number of people in inpatient settings. Local Government Association

The 'So what, what next?' project: supporting people with a learning disability, autism or both to use their skills and interests to play a part in the community

The 'So what, what next?' project: supporting people with a learning disability, autism or both to use their skills and interests to play a part in the community The So what, what next? project was designed by the Transforming Care empowerment steering group to look at ways of supporting people with a learning disability or autism who have recently been discharged from hospital to explore their skills and passions and to find ways to contribute these to their local communities. This report outlines how the findings and learning from the project. Local Government Association

A 'whole council' approach to gambling

A 'whole council' approach to gambling Gambling is often described as a “hidden addiction” and it is now recognised as a complex public health issue that impacts individuals, families, and communities. This guidance outlines the areas in which public health can add value and support local gambling policies. London Councils

During “Senior Week,” 144,000 Elderly Swedish Adults Received Free Medication Review

During “Senior Week,” 144,000 Elderly Swedish Adults Received Free Medication Review The Swedish Pharmaceutical Association's annual "Senior Week" (Seniorveckan) in April aimed to raise awareness of safe medication use among elderly patients taking multiple medications. This year, Electronic Expert Support (EES) checks were offered free to all patients age 75 and older, with more than 144,000 patients at 1,400 pharmacies across the country receiving them. The Commonwealth Fund

I managed to become a doctor, despite my devastating A-level results

I managed to become a doctor, despite my devastating A-level results After missing the grades I needed for medical school, I found another way to realise my dream

It was August 2007; I stood in the classroom, surrounded by my school friends, clutching the large brown envelope that contained my A-level results. I wanted to become a doctor and had the next five years of my life all planned out. I opened the envelope to find three As and two Bs staring back at me. My heart sank. Continue reading... The Guardian

Patients are discussing their conditions online instead of seeking professional help, experts warn

Patients are discussing their conditions online instead of seeking professional help, experts warn Experts say web giants such as Facebook and Instagram had a 'moral duty' to help the 'cash strapped' NHS reach troubled young people in the UK. The Daily Mail

NHS misses its two-week cancer referral target for first time ever

NHS misses its two-week cancer referral target for first time ever NHS figures also reveal the number of suspected cancer patients who start treatment within 62 days of GP referral dropped from 82.3 per cent at the beginning of the year to 80.8 per cent. The Daily Mail

NHFT rated outstanding by Care Quality Commission

NHFT rated outstanding by Care Quality Commission Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) the county’s integrated provider of community care and mental health has been rated Outstanding overall following its recent CQC routine inspection in June this year.

NHFT also received its first well-led inspection from the CQC, examining the quality of the leadership and management of the Trust, and has been rated Outstanding in this area too.

The CQC conducted the routine inspection and well-led inspection through their new procedural and investigative processes which were introduced nationwide at the beginning of the year. The new process still continues to use the five areas of inspection: Care, Responsive, Safe, Effective and Well-led. The Trust has been rated Good for Safe, Responsive and Effective and Outstanding for Care and Well-led.

Corby MP wants ‘complete reassurance’ urgent care centre will retain all its services

Corby MP wants ‘complete reassurance’ urgent care centre will retain all its services The organisation that pays for Corby Urgent Care Centre has ‘serious questions to answer’ according to the town’s MP. After a judicial review ruled in favour of local campaigners who said that Corby Clinical Commissioning Group should have had a proper consultation into changes at the urgent care centre, MP Tom Pursglove met with CCG directors yesterday (Wednesday). Northamptonshire Telegraph

Women in crisis: how women and girls are being failed by the Mental Health Act

Women in crisis: how women and girls are being failed by the Mental Health Act This report sets out growing evidence that being detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 can be detrimental to women and girls' wellbeing, with little attention paid to their particular needs, including their experiences of trauma. This can have devastating consequences for women and girls, as shown by previously unpublished figures on self-inflicted deaths outlined in this report. Agenda

The impact of new medicines in the NHS: 70 years of innovation

The impact of new medicines in the NHS: 70 years of innovation This report demonstrates the contribution and impact of medicines to the health economy in the UK throughout the 70-year history of the NHS. Through interviews with experts it identifies a shortlist of the most important medicines to have been brought to market, and from a review of the literature and evidence base attempts to quantify the benefits of these key medicines in terms of health and economic outcomes. Office of Health Economics

Sick babies at risk from lack of breathing tube monitoring

Sick babies at risk from lack of breathing tube monitoring Some intensive care units are putting sick babies at risk by not monitoring breathing tubes correctly, according to a study which interviewed staff at hospitals across the country.

This could lead to death or serious harm to babies from lack of oxygen, the researchers said.

Doctors needed to be better prepared and have the best equipment to place breathing tubes safely, they said.

The charity Bliss urged hospitals to act on the recommendations. BBC News

See also:

• Paediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care airway management in the United Kingdom: the PIC‐NIC survey (open access) Anaesthesia

The refugee doctors helping to fill NHS staff shortages

The refugee doctors helping to fill NHS staff shortages Refugee doctors who arrive in the UK are helping to fill NHS staff shortages in hard to recruit areas thanks to a pioneering scheme.

The programme, which initially began with an aim to serve a "humanitarian purpose", now enables junior doctors to "fill gaps in the rota" in a cost efficient way. ITV News

Virtual reality, smart beds and digital programmes could transform future of NHS, finds new report

Virtual reality, smart beds and digital programmes could transform future of NHS, finds new report “Social prescriptions”, smart beds and digital programmes for diabetes are among the futuristic innovations which could transform the NHS in the near future, it has emerged.

According to a new report, patients will soon be connected to social networks of people living in similar situations to learn to manage their own conditions from others who have gone through the same illness.

Virtual reality could also become commonly used to help paralysed patients to walk by training with brain-controlled robotic systems. The Independent

No-deal Brexit will be 'catastrophe' for NHS and increase risk from deadly pandemics, BMA warns

No-deal Brexit will be 'catastrophe' for NHS and increase risk from deadly pandemics, BMA warns A no-deal Brexit could increase the risk of a Europe-wide pandemic, according to the British Medical Association.

The doctors union warned in a new briefing paper shared with The Independent on Thursday that crashing out of the EU without a deal will leave the UK more vulnerable to outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases.

It says that the UK’s ability to coordinate responses to emerging threats, such as the current outbreak of measles or seasonal flu, will be seriously undermined, making it harder to stop infections spreading across borders.

Thousands of patients to get personalised NHS budgets

Thousands of patients to get personalised NHS budgets Hundreds of thousands of people with mental health conditions and physical disabilities could be given the option of a personalised NHS budget for their own care needs under government proposals.

People with learning difficulties and dementia are among around 350,000 who could have the right to select and pay for treatments that improve their health and wellbeing through a bespoke care plan agreed with medical professionals. For children and people unable to manage the money, parents or carers will be able to manage the budget. Continue reading... The Guardian

Opt-out organ register unlikely to increase donations – study

Opt-out organ register unlikely to increase donations – study Next of kin more likely to veto family member’s presumed consent, researchers say

An opt-out register is unlikely to increase the number of organ donations because family members would be more likely to veto a presumed consent, researchers have said.

The results of a study by Queen Mary University of London suggest that next of kin are more likely to quash a donation if their deceased relative has not given explicit consent. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Opt-out donation plan 'will not increase donors' BBC News

Is THIS what the NHS app will look like? Images reveal how the app will work

Is THIS what the NHS app will look like? Images reveal how the app will work  Screenshots show the NHS app will allow users to make GP appointments at the click of a button by putting in their preferred time, date and location, according to freedom of information reports. The Daily Mail

Is the term 'junior doctor' patronising? Job title could be scrapped to avoid offending young medics

Is the term 'junior doctor' patronising? Job title could be scrapped to avoid offending young medics Health Education England have commissioned a study into the expression and its perceived effects on a person's professional 'value'. The changes could be implemented before end of the year. The Daily Mail

MHRA issues further information on valproate use by women and girls

MHRA issues further information on valproate use by women and girls The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a video to help healthcare professionals in implementing the new 2018 regulatory measures, including the pregnancy prevention programme and regular reviews. This was produced by the MHRA in conjunction with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The future of mental health provision

The future of mental health provision The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the New Statesman gathered experts to discuss how to better treat mental health problems in the UK.

Learning disability care could return to 'Victorian era' because of nurse training cuts, experts warn

Learning disability care could return to 'Victorian era' because of nurse training cuts, experts warn The NHS is facing a return to the “Victorian era” when it comes to learning disability care because of a critical shortage of specialist nurses made worse by Tory cuts to student bursaries, experts have said.

Without sufficient staff, patients needing extra support will need to be removed from their friends and families to be cared for at specialist centres, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warned.

Since May 2010 there has been a 40 per cent drop in numbers of learning disability nurses in England, official figures from NHS Digital show – falling from 5,368 in May 2010 to 3,247 in April 2018. The Independent

Blaming Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba won't protect other patients

Blaming Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba won't protect other patients | Dolin Bhagawati As a neurosurgeon, I too have made errors. We need to learn from mistakes not point fingers

The return to court this week of an emotive case involving the death of a child in hospital has caused me to reflect on my own experience as an NHS neurosurgeon, and on the fact that individuals will make mistakes but systemic issues that fail to prevent such mistakes must be addressed. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The court of appeal was right to reinstate Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba | Cicely Cunningham The Guardian
• We are all Hadiza Bawa-Garba. Any doctor could make the same mistake The Guardian
• Where does the blame lie when something goes wrong at hospital? The Guardian

Disabled children waiting too long for NHS wheelchairs

Disabled children waiting too long for NHS wheelchairs NHS England misses target for delivery of wheelchairs to more than 5,000 children

Thousands of disabled children in England who need a wheelchair are waiting more than the four-month target for the equipment to be delivered, analysis has revealed.

The NHS standard is for children to receive a wheelchair within 18 weeks from the time of referral, but in 2017-18 it was missed for more than 5,100 children, according to analysis published on Tuesday in the Health Service Journal (HSJ). Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS chiefs block plans to expand controversial ‘GP at Hand’ app

NHS chiefs block plans to expand controversial ‘GP at Hand’ app Attempts by private firm Babylon Health to expand its 'GP at Hand' app into Birmingham have so far been thwarted by NHS England, who fear it could lead to patients missing vital tests. The Daily Mail

Closing A&E departments lengthens a patient's ambulance journey by nine minutes

Closing A&E departments lengthens a patient's ambulance  journey by nine minutes Paramedics take an extra nine minutes to get patients to hospital in areas where A&E departments have been shut or downgraded.

That's the finding of new research, which says NHS cut-backs are causing 'disruption' and 'anxiety' for people who are forced to travel longer distances to get urgent care.

The study, published in Health Services and Delivery Research on Tuesday, is the first of its kind to look into the impact of closures on both patients and emergency services. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Closing five Emergency Departments in England between 2009 and 2011: the closED controlled interrupted time-series analysis (open access) Health Services and Delivery Research

NHS patient data at risk after hack exposed passwords of hospital staff

NHS patient data at risk after hack exposed passwords of hospital staff THE MEDICAL RECORDS of 'millions' of NHS patients could be at risk after a hack exposed the passwords of 10,000 care home and hospital staff.

An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph found that Embrace Learning, a Cheshire-based online training business that claims to offer "cost-efficient, engaging and effective" e-learning to healthcare workers, was hacked in 2016.

This attack exposed the email addresses and passwords of registered NHS staff, details that were then flogged on the dark web for "ten times more" than credit card details.

An as-yet-unknown hacker also published 500 email addresses and passwords were also online in December 2016, likely to provide a sample to prospective customers looking to purchase the full database

19 NHS trusts and organisations were affected by the breach, including the Royal Free Hospital in London and Northampton General Hospital. The INQUIRER

Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work: A review of the evidence landscape: (RAND RR2409)

Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work: A review of the evidence landscape: (RAND RR2409) Research demonstrates that the support of wellbeing in the workplace has a positive impact on staff, business and organisations. It includes benefits in terms of reduced absenteeism and presenteeism as well as improved productivity. Whilst the landscape of health and wellbeing interventions is a broad one, it can be difficult to understand ‘what works’: or rather, the confidence which can be placed in a particular intervention that it will have a positive impact on staff health and wellbeing outcomes. Rand Corporation

Your future nurses: the different routes to recruiting your workforce

Your future nurses: the different routes to recruiting your workforce This infographic explores the different routes into nursing for employers. Until recently, the routes to developing registered nurses within the workforce have been limited, with the university degree being the main way to train this group of staff. The introduction of the nursing degree apprenticeship gives a new opportunity for employers to train nurses, while the creation of the new nursing associate role can help to be a bridge between healthcare assistants and graduate registered nurses. NHS Employers

Assessment of delirium in hospital for people with dementia

Assessment of delirium in hospital for people with dementia The National Audit of Dementia (NAD) is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership to examine aspects of care received by people with dementia in general hospitals in England and Wales. In addition, NAD provides national and local reports to support hospitals to identify areas for quality improvement and share good practice, helping to improve outcomes for patients. This spotlight audit on delirium has been carried out to look in more detail at an area where hospitals have seemed to be underperforming and to clarify inconsistencies in the data. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

Norfolk hospital plans 'in-patient' care at home

Norfolk hospital plans 'in-patient' care at home A hospital preparing for forthcoming winter bed pressures has confirmed plans to treat dozens of people classed as "in patients" at their own homes.

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has approved plans to trial its "virtual ward" later this year.

A hospital spokesman said the idea was in response to "very high levels of demand last winter". BBC News

NHS under pressure over fresh patient record error

NHS under pressure over fresh patient record error The government is facing another NHS IT scandal, as it scrambles to confirm whether discrepancies between two databases have affected patient care.

NHS England confirmed The Register that it was working to establish the impact of thousands of mismatches, which saw patient records present on one database and absent from another. There are concerns that the error could mean patients have missed appointments for disease screening and vaccinations. The Register

Hadiza Bawa-Garba: Doctor at centre of sepsis death case should be able to return to work, Court of Appeal rules

Hadiza Bawa-Garba: Doctor at centre of sepsis death case should be able to return to work, Court of Appeal rules The doctor struck off over mistakes that led to the death of six-year-old Jack Adcock in 2011 could return to work after the Court of Appeal upheld her challenge against the decision.

On Monday, Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba won her appeal against a High Court ruling earlier in 2018 which said erasing her from the medical register was the only way to maintain confidence in the profession.

But the Court of Appeal found the earlier judgement was “wrong” and overturned its decision that Dr Bawa-Garba should be erased, reinstating a 12-month suspension. The General Medical Council (GMC) has said it will not challenge the Court of Appeal judgement further. The Independent

See also:

• Bawa-Garba's removal from Medical Register overturned BMA
• Statement on Court of Appeal’s judgment on the Bawa-Garba case General Medical Council
• Dr Bawa-Garba case: RCGP response Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCPCH response to Court of Appeal ruling on Hadiza Bawa-Garba case Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• RCP statement following the court of appeal ruling on the case of Dr Bawa-Garba Royal College of Physicians
• Struck-off Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba wins appeal to work again BBC News
• Doctor convicted of gross negligence manslaughter after death of boy, six, wins appeal over decision to strike her off The Daily Telegraph
• Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba wins appeal against decision to strike her off The Guardian

Long journeys caused by A&E closures 'will not lead to more deaths'

Long journeys caused by A&E closures 'will not lead to more deaths' Patients may face longer journey times but will get improved care quality, says study

Shutting A&E units does not lead to more patients dying because they have to travel further for life-saving treatment, according to the first British research into the impact of closures of emergency departments.

The study also found that even if journey times to hospital become longer after an A&E shuts, the improved quality of care patients receive at the alternative hospital means their health does not suffer. Continue reading... The Guardian

More than 200 suicides recorded at mental health units over seven years

More than 200 suicides recorded at mental health units over seven years Care Quality Commission figures show overall number falling but more women have begun taking their own lives than men

More than 200 patients killed themselves in mental health units over seven years, new figures have revealed, prompting concern about the safety and quality of care.

Data collected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) shows that 224 people died of self-inflicted injuries between 2010 and 2016 in mental health hospitals in England. Continue reading... The Guardian

Patients suffered 'severe harm' after NHS hospital lost track of them

Patients suffered 'severe harm' after NHS hospital lost track of them Patients suffered “severe harm” after a hospital lost track of its waiting lists, a report has found.

St George’s Hospitals Foundation trust has reviewed millions of files after discovering that its records did not determine whether patients had completed treatment or were in need of further checks.

As a result, a clinical harm review examined 646 cases in detail - and has now found that 15 patients have been found to have suffered “severe harm” - meaning “permanent or long-term” damage - with a further four suffering moderate harm. The Daily Telegraph

AI programme can spot diseases as well as world's top consultants

AI programme can spot diseases as well as world's top consultants Eye diseases that cause blindness in millions can now be rapidly detected by computer thanks to a 'revolutionary' breakthrough.

The new artificial intelligence system is just as good at detecting eye diseases as the very best consultants - with a 94 per cent accuracy.

The technique now promises to slash the time needed to be seen by a consultant from weeks to days.

Early results from tests of the scanning technology are so promising researchers believe it could be rolled out across 30 UK hospitals in less than three years.

The research is a collaboration between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK-based Google DeepMind, UCL and Southampton University. The Daily Mail

Fears for the future of Northamptonshire's respite centres prompts 14,000-strong petition

Fears for the future of Northamptonshire's respite centres prompts 14,000-strong petition More than 14,000 people have now signed a petition calling on the county council to protect children with special educational needs and disabilities as a £70 million cut looms.

Users of respite centres across the county, such as the John Greenwood Shipman Centre in Northampton, feared the vital facilities would shut down in March when Nene and Corby Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) reduced their share of funding towards them by 32 per cent. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

MP won’t rule out asking for Northants County Council government bail-out

MP won’t rule out asking for Northants County Council government bail-out Corby’s MP has committed himself to helping the county steer away from its economic apocalypse.

Northamptonshire County Council is facing the most monumental crisis in its 129-year history after it stared down the barrel of bankruptcy twice in the past six months.

The county’s MPs have pulled no punches over the economic disaster - placing the blame squarely at the feet of those who have been in charge of the authority during the past few years. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northants County Council CAN live within its means - commissioner Northamptonshire Telegraph

Council pledges support to new home bid for health and rehabilitation trust in Daventry

Council pledges support to new home bid for health and rehabilitation trust in Daventry A bid to find a new home for a health and rehabilitation trust has won the backing of councillors, after Daventry District Council pledged to help in any way it can.

Reach for Health, which is the operating name of Daventry Health Rehabilitation Trust, provides health rehabilitation for people who have suffered a major health trauma or are living with long-term or life-long illness. Daventry Express

UK National Screening Committee recommendations: annual report

UK National Screening Committee recommendations: annual report This report summarises the work of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) to review screening recommendations. Public Health England

ACAS framework for positive mental health at work

ACAS framework for positive mental health at work Have a look at the mental health framework from ACAS and see how it can help your organisation promote positive mental health. NHS Employers

Bowel screening to start earlier at age 50 in England

Bowel screening to start earlier at age 50 in England Bowel cancer screening in England is to start earlier, at age 50, Public Health England has announced.

It said evidence showed that screening people at a younger age would allow more bowel cancers to be picked up at an earlier stage.

Currently, men and women in England are first invited for screening at the age of 60 and sent a home testing kit.

The change brings England in line with Scotland where bowel screening is automatically offered from 50. BBC News

See also:

• Bowel screening to start at 50 Public Health England

Majority of GPs intend to retire before the age of 60

Majority of GPs intend to retire before the age of 60 The majority of GPs are intending to retire before the age of 60, Pulse can reveal.

The average GP will retire at the age of 59, according to a Pulse survey of 759 doctors.

GPs told Pulse that the work ‘burden’ has become too great, they were overwhelmed by ‘bureaucracy’ and their ‘standard of living has deteriorated rapidly’. GP leaders said the flux of doctors was a ‘genuine tragedy and waste’.

See also:

• GP crisis set to worsen as 51% of family doctors plan on retiring before the reach the age of 60 The Daily Mail

Norway to give hundreds of drug addicts free heroin to 'improve quality of life'

Norway to give hundreds of drug addicts free heroin to 'improve quality of life' Norway will trial an experimental scheme to provide drug addicts with free heroin in a bid to combat the country’s overdose epidemic.

The government announced that the Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs was asked to propose a program that would improve the quality of life for those struggling with substance abuse.

Health Minister Bente Hoie said in a statement posted to Facebook that they hoped the initiative would “provide a solution that will give... a better quality of life to some addicts who are today out of our reach and whom current programmes do not help enough”. The Independent

Court of appeal to rule on struck-off doctor Hadiza Bawa-Garba

Court of appeal to rule on struck-off doctor Hadiza Bawa-Garba The court of appeal is due to rule on whether a doctor who made errors that contributed to the death of a boy can remain in the profession.

The court’s decision on Monday will have implications for the medical profession, say doctors who have campaigned for trainee paediatrician Hadiza Bawa-Garba to be allowed to continue to work. They say she was working long hours under extreme pressure, covering too many wards without supervision and has been penalised for acknowledging that she made a misjudgment. Continue reading... The Guardian

Sex is the last taboo for health workers – and it's putting patients in danger

Sex is the last taboo for health workers – and it's putting patients in danger We’re good at talking about death and mental health, but sex is a conversational hurdle we have yet to overcome

As a junior doctor working in psychiatry, I’m always struck by the honest answers and insight my patients share with me, offering a glimpse into how their mental health affects every aspect of their lives – from their finances and their diets to their sleeping patterns, careers and even dog-walking routines. Continue reading... The Guardian

Numbers 'going private' for surgery soaring as NHS rationing deepens

Numbers 'going private' for surgery soaring as NHS rationing deepens The number of patients paying for operations privately is soaring amid rising waiting lists and deepening rationing across the NHS, new figures show.

Private companies have seen a 53 per cent rise in the “self-pay” market in four years, the data reveals.

Analysts said the market for operations such as hip surgery and cataract operations was being fuelled by “very high waits for NHS diagnosis and treatment”. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Desperate patients resort to paying privately for hip and eye surgery as NHS waiting times spiral The Daily Mail