Rethink study funds for nurses to bolster headcount, government urged

Rethink study funds for nurses to bolster headcount, government urged The government must prioritise funding for nursing higher education in England if it is to halt the ‘catastrophic fall’ in the nurse headcount, says the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) at the launch of its Fund Our Future campaign.

Led by RCN student members, the campaign aims to get at least £1bn a year back into nursing higher education in England to help students struggling to make ends meet. OnMedica

Google Maps lead women to fake abortion clinics

Google Maps lead women to fake abortion clinics British women seeking an abortion are being directed by Google to centres that try and persuade them not to have a termination, a Sunday Telegraph investigation has found.

Search results for abortion clinics across the country suggest addresses and phone numbers to make appointments at “pregnancy crisis centres”, which are often linked to religious organisations, across England, Scotland and Wales.

See also:

• Google Maps is directing women to fake abortion clinics The Independent

Superbugs as great a threat to health

Superbugs as great a threat to health Superbugs do as much human damage in Europe as flu, HIVand tuberculosis combined, new data has revealed.

Researchers have found that an estimated 33,000 people died from infections that were resistant to antibiotics in 2015, out of a total of 670,000 cases in Europe.

Previous estimates have put the number of deaths from AMR at around 25,000 a year in Europe. The Daily Telegraph

New study shows the seven elements improve vaccination uptake

New study shows the seven elements improve vaccination uptake A recent study by Stead et al (2018) has found that trusts who incorporated the seven elements for a successful flu campaign resource, developed by NHS Employers, in their local flu campaign achieved a higher flu vaccination uptake compared to trusts who did not.

A Fair, Supportive Society: a social determinants of health approach to improving the lives and health of people with learning disabilities.

A Fair, Supportive Society:  a social determinants of health approach to improving the lives and health of people with learning disabilities A Fair, Supportive Society highlights that some of the most vulnerable people in society – those with learning disabilities – will die 15-20 years sooner on average than the general population – that’s 1,200 people every year.

The report commissioned by NHSE reports on key facts, stats, and interventions. Much of the government action needed to improve life expectancy for people with disabilities is likely to reduce health inequalities for everyone. Action should focus on the ‘social determinants of health’, particularly addressing poverty, poor housing, discrimination and bullying. Institute of Health Equity

See also:

• Children with learning disabilities 'failed by society' BBC News
• Two in five people with learning disabilities not diagnosed in childhood The Guardian

Review ordered into 'barbaric' treatment of patients with autism and learning disabilities

Review ordered into 'barbaric' treatment of patients with autism and learning disabilities Health secretary Matt Hancock has ordered a review of the long-term treatment of people with learning disabilities or autism.

Mr Hancock has asked hospital inspectorate the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to open an urgent investigation into practices including the use of seclusion and segregation of patients within secure hospitals.

The health secretary's intervention comes after coverage of the treatment of more than 2,300 people with autism or a learning disability currently detained in secure hospitals, known as Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs), since 2015. Sky News

NHS prevention plan aims to boost life expectancy

NHS prevention plan aims to boost life expectancy People in England are being told to cut back on alcohol, sugar, salt and fat in a bid to boost the nation's life expectancy by five years.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will set out his long-term vision for the NHS on Monday - and it will focus on preventing illness.

He is expected to say 10 times more money is spent on treating disease than prevention - which "doesn't stack up".

The plan also recommends that bosses should do more to keep staff healthy. BBC News

See also:

• Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer Department of Health and Social Care
• People must take responsibility for own health, says Matt Hancock The Guardian
• People must take more responsibility for their own health, says health secretary Matt Hancock The Independent
• 'Prevention better than cure in healthcare' - Health Secretary will say Sky News

Somali refugees are too often left out of mental health discussions – here’s why I want that to change

Somali refugees are too often left out of mental health discussions – here’s why I want that to change Prayer is often presented as the answer to all mental health questions in the Somali diaspora, leaving a large section of its most vulnerable feeling marginalised and excluded. The Independent

White NHS doctors 'more likely to be promoted than minorities'

White NHS doctors 'more likely to be promoted than minorities' Royal College of Physicians finds black or minority ethnic doctors find it harder to get consultant posts

The NHS has been embroiled in a new racism controversy after it emerged that white doctors were much more likely than black or minority ethnic medics to be promoted to consultant level.

Research led by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) found that although white British doctors apply for fewer posts when seeking to become consultants, they were both more likely to be shortlisted than BME colleagues and also more likely to be offered a job. The Guardian

Gender identity clinic accused of fast-tracking young adults

Gender identity clinic accused of fast-tracking young adults Tavistock Centre launches review amid parents’ fears over pace of transitioning decisions

Britain’s only NHS gender identity service for children is reviewing its operations amid claims made by a senior member of staff that it is failing to examine fully the psychological and social reasons behind young people’s desire to change gender.

The views are shared by a group of parents of transgender children, who have raised their own concerns that the Tavistock Centre’s gender identity development service (GIDS) in London is “fast-tracking” young people into life-altering decisions without fully assessing their personal histories. The Guardian

NHS forced to pay compensation to 1,200 staff worried they have been infected after needle prick

NHS forced to pay compensation to 1,200 staff worried they have been infected after needle prick More than 1,200 NHS staff have won compensation after being injured by needles potentially infected with HIV or hepatitis over the past six years.

Official figures reveal an “unacceptable” picture of widespread failures to dispose of needles safely, resulting in pay-outs of at least £4,077,441 since 2012.

Hospitals are under a strict legal obligation to dispose of syringes safely, usually by means of a solid, brightly marked “sharps” bin, which doctors and nurses should ensure are close at hand before administering injections. The Daily Telegraph

Workers 'should be forced to have pay docked to pay for care in old age'

Workers 'should be forced to have pay docked to pay for care in old age' Workers should be forced to have their pay docked, and equity from pensioners’ homes taken to cover the cost of care in later life, the former head of the country's health watchdog has said.

Sir David Behan, who recently stood down from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), urged ministers to be brave in their forthcoming green paper on social care. The Daily Telegraph

Watchdogs to sweep social media for adverts that promote gambling, junk food or alcohol to children

Watchdogs to sweep social media for adverts that promote gambling, junk food or alcohol to children Watchdogs are promising a crackdown on social media adverts that promote alcohol, gambling and junk food to children.

The Advertising Standards Agency has unveiled a new plan to stop age-restricted ads making their way to phones and tablets of British children.

The regulator is looking to several new technologies, including AI, to tackle a new era of persuasive and personalised online adverts. The Daily Mail

Towns with 'unhealthy' high streets have lower life expectancy, report finds

Towns with 'unhealthy' high streets have lower life expectancy, report finds High streets stacked with betting shops, fast-food outlets and tanning salons could be significantly shortening the lives of locals, a report has warned.

Residents living in towns with lots of bookies and off-licences die younger than those with plenty of libraries and pharmacies, research by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) found.

Its ranking of 70 high streets found those living in the top 10 healthy areas lived an average of two-and-a-half years longer than those with the 10 unhealthiest high streets, like Northampton, according to Health on the High Street: Running on Empty report, which was first run in 2015. The Independent

See also:

• Health on the High Street: Running on Empty 2018 Royal Society for Public Health
• UK's 'unhealthiest' High Streets revealed BBC News
• Could your high street take two and a half years off your life? The Daily Telegraph

'We are in an experimenting epidemic' says charity as poll finds two in five Northamptonshire teens knows someone who has tried solvents or gases

'We are in an experimenting epidemic' says charity as poll finds two in five Northamptonshire teens knows someone who has tried solvents or gases New figures have revealed 40 per cent of teenagers in Northamptonshire know someone who has tried sniffing solvents such as aerosols, gases and glues. 

The data, compiled by county-based charity Solve It following a poll of 1,376 youngsters aged between 15 and 17, highlights the extent of what's been called an "experimenting epidemic". 

Figures revealed that less than half of those surveyed (46 per cent) had received education around the dangers of solvent abuse, while 94 per cent believed education on the issue should be available in schools. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Health inequalities and the NHS

Health inequalities and the NHS Many speeches have been given to mark 70 years of the NHS. They have rightly celebrated the considerable achievements of this much-loved institution. Few though have mentioned the origins of the NHS in the Welsh valleys. It was the experiences of those here, unable to afford access to doctors and medicine, which shaped the vision for today’s NHS. The King's Fund

“Windrush Generation” guidance for NHS staff and other providers of NHS funded secondary and community care services

“Windrush Generation” guidance for NHS staff and other providers of NHS funded secondary and community care services Eligibility for NHS-funded secondary care is mainly based on lawful, settled residence in the UK. This document specifically considers the ‘Windrush generation’. That is, the Commonwealth citizens who settled in the UK before 1 January 1973 and those who arrived to live here between 1973 and 1988. Department of Health and Social Care

Making feedback easier for people with a learning disability or autism

Making feedback easier for people with a learning disability or autism NHS England has published tips for health, social care and education organisations and practitioners with the aim of making feedback, concerns and complaints easier for people with a learning disability or autism.

Menopause in the workplace

Menopause in the workplace Access information which will help HR colleagues, managers and employees to support women experiencing menopause whilst at work. NHS Employers

Maternal suicide the main cause of death in new mums

Maternal suicide the main cause of death in new mums In the UK and Ireland, maternal suicide is the leading cause of direct deaths occurring within a year after the end of pregnancy.

In 2018 a report by MBRRACE found around 20 out of 120 deaths of women between the periods of six weeks and one year after pregnancy was due to suicide. BBC News

Children and adolescents 'account for half of sports A&E attendances'

Children and adolescents 'account for half of sports A&E attendances' Children and adolescents account for nearly half of A&E attendances for sporting injuries, research suggests.

An analysis of A&E data at two hospitals between 2012 and 2014 found 47% of attendances for sport-related injuries were made by under-19s.

Football, rugby union and rugby league were linked to the most injuries in boys. For girls, it was trampolining, netball and horse-riding.

Fourteen-year-old boys and 12-year-old girls were most likely to be injured. BBC News

See also:

• Results on sports-related injuries in children from NHS emergency care dataset Oxfordshire pilot: an ecological study Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

NHS Digital restructure will see 500 jobs axed across England

NHS Digital restructure will see 500 jobs axed across England About 500 jobs will be lost in a restructure of NHS Digital across England, according to the Secretary of State for Health.

It employs about 2,700 people in IT-related roles at centres across the country, with almost 2,000 of those jobs in Leeds.

The Unison union said most of the job cuts would have to be in Leeds as "80% of NHS Digital" was based in the city.

NHS Digital said it would be offering support to affected workers. BBC News

Number of people treated for crack cocaine problems rises 44% in two years

Number of people treated for crack cocaine problems rises 44% in two years Public Health England says treatment rise likely to be related to drug being more prevalent

The number of people being treated for problems related to crack cocaine use in England has increased by 44% in two years, official figures show.

There was also a small (3%) increase in people entering treatment for both crack cocaine and opiate use, statistics released by Public Health England (PHE) reveal. The rise was seen primarily in those aged 35 and over. The Guardian

See also:

• National Statistics: Substance misuse treatment for adults: statistics 2017 to 2018 Public Health England
• 'Desperate crisis' as addiction services reach fewer people The Guardian

Work-related stress and mental illness now accounts for over half of work absences

Work-related stress and mental illness now accounts for over half of work absences For the first time, work-related stress anxiety or depression accounts for over half of all working days lost due to ill health in Great Britain.

In total, 15.4 million working days were lost in 2017/18 as a result of the condition, up from 12.5 million last year. This equates to 57.3 per cent of the 26.8 million work days lost to ill health according to figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Daily Telegraph

NHS hospitals will pay hundreds of thousands for visas to keep EU staff after Brexit

NHS hospitals will pay hundreds of thousands for visas to keep EU staff after Brexit NHS hospitals will pay for the visas of nearly 1,300 EU staff to keep them in London after Brexit, it has been revealed.

University College London hospitals, St George's Hospital, and Guy's and St Thomas' are among the trusts preparing to foot the bill to keep their foreign workers.

This is expected to cost UCLH alone, which has nine treatment centres in central London, more than £100,000.

More than one in ten of the capital's NHS staff are from other European countries, according to figures. The Daily Mail

102 young Northamptonshire people face future living in care homes

102 young Northamptonshire people face future living in care homes People with a learning disability and elderly parents may have to live in Northamptonshire care homes as their mums and dads struggle to cope. That is the situation facing 102 people in the county- all of whom are below the pensionable age - over the next five years if money is not allocated for them to live independently.

It comes as figures show 13 per cent of people with LD live in residential care, higher than the 10 per cent target. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Government is failing its duty of care towards prisoners

Government is failing its duty of care towards prisoners A prison sentence is a deprivation of someone's liberty, not a sentence to poorer health or healthcare, say the Health and Social Care Committee in its report on health and care in prison.

However, standards inside England's prison have deteriorated in recent years, following budget reductions and the loss of prison officers.

Many prisons are unsafe, with incidences of violence and self-harm at a record high.

Prisons, as a result of staff shortages and overcrowding, are limiting prisoners' access to healthcare and their ability lead healthy lives.

See also:

• Nuffield Trust comments on prison health report Nuffield Trust
• Maintaining and improving health in prisons ‘crucial’ to maintaining public health, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Government failing in duty of care to prisoners as jail sentences lead to poorer health, MPs warn The Independent

'Don't be taken in by anti-vaccine myths on social media'

'Don't be taken in by anti-vaccine myths on social media' People who believe the myths spread by anti-vaccine campaigners "are absolutely wrong", England's top doctor has said.

Prof Dame Sally Davies said the MMR vaccine was safe and had been given to millions of children worldwide but uptake was currently "not good enough".

In England, 87% of children receive two doses but the target is 95%.

The chief medical officer urged parents to get their children vaccinated and ignore "social media fake news".

Her comments come on the 30th anniversary of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine being introduced in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• 50 years of measles vaccination in the UK Public Health England
• 'Social media fake news' to blame for low MMR vaccine take up, says England's top doctor The Daily Telegraph

How antibiotic resistance could take us back to the 'dark ages'

How antibiotic resistance could take us back to the 'dark ages' Scientists are working on a new antibiotic that has produced promising results in early trials. Medicine will need more of these in coming years if increasing bacterial resistance is not to pose a very serious threat to human health.

When they were introduced, in the 1940s, antibiotics were hailed as a "wonder drug". But there are major concerns that over-prescription has led to increasing resistance to the drugs.

Last week, the Chief Medical Officer for England, Prof Dame Sally Davies, went as far as to say we were "at risk of putting medicine back in the dark ages" - but why has this happened? BBC News

Epilepsy: Calls for 'critical' funding to save lives

Epilepsy: Calls for 'critical' funding to save lives Hundreds of people with epilepsy are dying every year because "critical" checks are not taking place, campaigners have warned.

GPs used to receive money for achieving specific targets based on managing patients' epilepsy care but this was stopped in 2014.

Charity Sudep Action wants the government to commit funding so annual risk check-ups take place properly.

NHS England said GPs already carried out checks under a standard service. BBC News

French babies born with missing limbs prompt inquiry

French babies born with missing limbs prompt inquiry France has launched a national investigation into the number of babies being born with missing arms or hands - weeks after an initial inquiry closed.

The first investigation began after it emerged more than a dozen children had been born with the condition in clusters in three French regions.

It ended after health authorities failed to identify a common cause.

But now another 11 cases have emerged in the eastern region of Ain, prompting officials to open a fresh inquiry. BBC News

Third of doctors say bullying is a problem in the NHS

Third of doctors say bullying is a problem in the NHS More than a third (39%) of doctors believe there is a problem with bullying and harassment at their work in the UK, according to a report from the British Medical Association (BMA) published today.

The report details a two-year study by the BMA looking at bullying, why it happens and what can be done to tackle it. OnMedica

See also:

• NHS needs #Metoo moment to stamp out sexual harassment, doctors' union says The Daily Telegraph

Paralysed patients able to walk again as 'breakthrough' implant restores nerves in spine

Paralysed patients able to walk again as 'breakthrough' implant restores nerves in spine Patients restricted to wheelchairs for years have been able to walk entirely unaided thanks to implants which help regenerate and remap nerves in their damaged spines.

The treatment, which has been hailed as a “significant breakthrough” for paralysis sufferers, uses a surgically implanted array of electrodes mapped precisely to the spinal cord, in combination with a unit that sends electrical pulses in response to patients’ intended leg movements.

All three paraplegic individuals who took part in the Swiss study recovered voluntary control of their leg muscles and were able to walk with some weight assistance, or a frame, while the electrical stimulation was active. The Independent

‘A wall built to keep people out’: the cruel, bureaucratic maze of children’s services

‘A wall built to keep people out’: the cruel, bureaucratic maze of children’s services In a system cut to the bone, gaining access to the support we had been promised for our daughter’s special educational needs was an exhausting, soul-sapping battle. By Jake Anderson

One morning back in May 2016, my wife and I had a visit from a nurse, who had come to the house to discuss our daughter, Alice. We made coffee, put biscuits on a plate and sat around the kitchen table.

“So,” said the woman, who was part of the local community learning disabilities team, “how can I help you?” The Guardian

Tax system overhaul will be needed to fund NHS, says thinktank

Tax system overhaul will be needed to fund NHS, says thinktank Chancellor told he is gambling with public finances and will be unable to balance books

Philip Hammond has been told Britain needs to overhaul the tax system to raise more money for the NHS after using the budget to hand tax cuts to the rich while raising public borrowing.

Urging the chancellor to conduct a formal review of taxation alongside the government’s planned spending review next year, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said Hammond would be unable to balance the books in future without finding extra tax revenue. The Guardian

Loneliness is a modern illness of the body, not just the mind

Loneliness is a modern illness of the body, not just the mind | Fay Bound Alberti Healthcare that is preventive rather than reactive is key if this epidemic is to be tackled effectively

Loneliness is thought to be a universal, inevitable, even psychological affliction. Not only the United Kingdom but also vast swaths of post-industrial populations across Europe, the United States and Japan report heightened levels of loneliness, with attendant implications for public health.

The findings of a recent BBC loneliness survey – that a third of respondents (55,000 in the UK) often felt lonely, that there was shame attached, that it could affect people of all life stages, that it was connected to social media use and linked with ill health – flesh out the detail behind discussion of a “loneliness epidemic”. But neither the physicality of loneliness, nor its origins, received much emphasis in the study. And as its history makes clear, loneliness is more complex than much of the current analysis suggests. The Guardian

Britain is “medicalising” children rather than bringing them up properly, the head of the health service has said

Britain is “medicalising” children rather than bringing them up properly, the head of the health service has said Britain is increasingly “medicalising” children instead of bringing them up properly, the head of the health service has warned.

Simon Stevens said the NHS will expand its mental health services in response to rising levels of anxiety and distress fuelled by social media.

But he said that far more needed to be done to protect children, by giving them an upbringing which shielded them from some of today's pressures. The Daily Telegraph

Patients left at risk of blindness amid NHS waiting list backlogs

Patients left at risk of blindness amid NHS waiting list backlogs Patients have been left at risk of going blind amid a failure to treat thousands of people with eye conditions.

Junior doctors at University Hospital Southampton blew the whistle amid concern that patients with serious eye conditions were not being given follow-up appointments amid staff shortages.

An investigation has so far identified 38 patients who have suffered a worsening of their condition due to the situation. The Daily Telegraph

40 people died in 'barbaric' secure hospitals the government pledged would close

40 people died in 'barbaric' secure hospitals the government pledged would close At least 40 people with a profound learning disability or autism have died while admitted to "barbaric" secure hospitals the government has promised to close since 2015, a Sky News investigation has found.

The deceased, nine of whom were under-35 when they died, were being held as in-patients in assessment and treatment units (ATUs), controversial hospitals considered inappropriate for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

See also:

• Scandal of ‘barbaric’ secure hospitals: At least 40 people under 35 have died while being treated The Daily Mail

Depression is rising faster than any other condition jumping

Depression is rising faster than any other condition jumping Rates of depression in England are soaring and are rising faster than any other condition, official statistics suggest.

NHS data collected from GP surgeries shows 9.9 per cent of patients are now considered to be battling the mental health disorder.

In contrast, the rate was 9.1 per cent last year. It means it has overtaken obesity as the second most common recorded condition in the country.

MailOnline has sifted through the NHS Digital figures to reveal the prevalence of depression is three times higher in certain parts of the country than others. The Daily Mail

Hundreds of mums miss out on skin-to-skin contact with newborns at Northampton General Hospital

Hundreds of mums miss out on skin-to-skin contact with newborns at Northampton General Hospital Nearly a quarter of mums giving birth at Northampton General Hospital miss out on important skin-to-skin bonding with their newborn babies, according to NHS statistics.

Immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby has “lasting benefits” for both, according to experts, including protecting babies from infection and encouraging them to breastfeed.

But 340 mothers who had their babies at the trust last year missed out on this important bonding time. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Stronger protection from violence for NHS staff

Stronger protection from violence for NHS staff Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock is announcing the first ever NHS violence reduction strategy.

The new, zero-tolerance approach aims to protect the NHS workforce against deliberate violence and aggression from patients, their families and the public, and to ensure offenders are punished quickly and effectively. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Clampdown on violence against NHS staff BBC News
• Jail sentences for assaults on NHS staff to double, health secretary to announce The Daily Telegraph
• Violence against NHS staff in England reaches five-year high The Guardian

Spotlight on specialised services

Spotlight on specialised services These infographics show how specialised services have improved outcomes for patients over the past 70 years of the NHS. NHS England

Surgical care practitioners: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Surgical care practitioners: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust was one of the first trusts to recruit surgical care practitioners (SCPs) within England. This case study explores how the trust has successfully integrated SCPs within its orthopaedics department and developed the role, providing SCPs with support and training to extend their scope of practice. NHS Employers

Chancellor’s budget boost to NHS frontline conceals £1bn cut

Chancellor’s budget boost to NHS frontline conceals £1bn cut Funding for training doctors and nurses, buying equipment and new hospitals due to fall

Public health services and the education and training of nurses and doctors will be cut by £1bn next year as part of the government’s plan to boost the NHS’s budget by £20bn by 2023, it has emerged.

A leading expert in NHS finances warned ministers that their strategy of “robbing Peter to pay Paul” is a false economy that risks worsening already serious understaffing in England’s health service. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS funding: Is the boost worth £84bn or £20bn? BBC News
• Budget 2018: Repairs bill for crumbling NHS hospitals hits £3bn amid backlash against Chancellor's spending plans The Independent

Pharmaceutical company charged after death and illnesses of babies at hospitals across UK

Pharmaceutical company charged after death and illnesses of babies at hospitals across UK A pharmaceutical company has been charged with a number of offences following an investigation into the deaths and illnesses of a number of babies at British hospitals, Scotland Yard has said.

ITH Pharma, which is based in North West London, has been charged with seven counts of supplying a medicinal product which was not of the nature or quality specified.

The firm has also been charged with breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act in relation to allegedly contaminated products.

The charges follow a four year investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Hospital baby deaths: ITH Pharma Ltd charged over contaminated food given to newborn infants The Independent

Lethal drugs can be bought online in just five minutes, health watchdog warns

Lethal drugs can be bought online in just five minutes, health watchdog warns It takes just five minutes for anyone with a credit card to buy lethal drugs online, health watchdogs have warned, as they call for the public to take more care before buying prescription drugs from websites.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was “hugely concerned” that people were able to access deadly drugs by going to sites which they assumed were British and regulated, but were actually operated overseas.

Peter Wyman, chairman of the CQC, urged the public to be “very cautious” over websites that aren’t regulated by UK watchdogs. The Daily Telegraph

High BMIs linked to a greater risk of death from every major cause

High BMIs linked to a greater risk of death from every major cause People who are over or underweight may be at greater risk of death than previously expected, scientists say.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers analysed data from around 3.6 million people to make the conclusion.

They found having a high BMI - over 25 - is linked to a higher risk of death from every major cause, except transport accidents.

While being underweight was also found to increase the risk of death for conditions such as cancer and heart disease, according to the study. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Being too fat or too thin 'can cost four years of life' BBC News

One in ten will opt OUT of Government's radical plan to make everyone an organ donor by 2020

One in ten will opt OUT of Government's radical plan to make everyone an organ donor by 2020 One in ten patients will opt out of Government's plan to make everyone an organ donor by 2020, research suggests.

Scientists at the University of Stirling quizzed hundreds of participants over their intentions on Theresa May's radical plan.

They found 9.4 per cent plan to opt-out - meaning their organs can't be donated after their death, or are unsure of what they will do.

Mrs May announced the plans - which presumes organ donation consent unless a person chooses to opt-out - this summer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• ‘What if I'm not dead?’ – Myth‐busting and organ donation (open access) British Journal of Health Psychology

Failing to publish data from clinical trials presents risk to human health

Failing to publish data from clinical trials presents risk to human health The Science and Technology Committee has expressed concern that nearly half of clinical trials fail to publish their results. The Committee is calling for increased transparency today, as it releases a new Report.

During its inquiry into research integrity earlier this year, the Committee agreed to follow-up on work on ‘clinical trials transparency’ by its predecessor Committee in 2013.

The Research integrity: clinical trials transparency report highlights the work previously done by campaigners, which shows that a shocking 50% of clinical trials do not publish any results, presenting risks to human health and increasing research wastage.

The Committee is concerned that selective non-publication—‘or publication bias'—of results distorts the published evidence base and is a threat to research integrity.

See also:

• Unpublished medical research 'a threat to public health' BBC News

Better value and a better night's sleep

Better value and a better night's sleep At Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) we are supporting people to stay out of hospital wherever possible. And where patients do need an admission, we aim to reduce their length of stay. To support this, we have developed the concept of a ‘virtual hospital’ that adds value by both improving quality (using patient experience and outcomes as key indicators) and reducing costs. The King's Fund

Budget 2018

Budget 2018 A summary of the budget for the key points affecting the NHS and its workforce. NHS Employers

See also:

• Budget 2018 UK Government 
• The King's Fund responds to the 2018 Budget The King's Fund
• Commitments to mental health sends right message but more support for core services needed NHS Providers
• New money welcome but key services left hanging Nuffield Trust
• NHS funding boost: the need to manage expectations Nuffield Trust
• RCN responds to the Budget announcements Royal College of Nursing
• RCP calls Budget 2018 'one step forward, two steps back' for the NHS Royal College of Physicians  
• Our response to the Chancellor's Autumn Budget 2018 Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Summary of Budget 2018: Key points at-a-glance BBC News
• Budget row over ending austerity BBC News
• Budget 2018: Wages, mental health support and universal credit BBC News
• The Budget's big picture emerges BBC News
• All schools to get a dedicated mental health team as part of £2bn-a-year funding boost The Daily Telegraph
• Budget pledges on health and social care dismissed as 'sticking plaster' The Guardian
• Budget 2018: Extra £650m for social care a sticking plaster that 'only just staves off collapse', experts warn The Independent
• Budget 2018: Austerity to continue for five more years if Britain leaves EU with no deal, Philip Hammond warns The Independent
• Budget 2018: Mental health ambulances promised in drive for more dedicated treatment Sky News

New guidance on safety culture.

New guidance on safety culture Read the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group guidance on establishing a good safety culture, and how you can support staff to create a safer culture. NHS Employers

A data-driven approach to personalised cancer care

A data-driven approach to personalised cancer care Cancer survival could significantly improve if the NHS collects and uses its data more intelligently. This report advocates that NHS leaders collect much more data on cancer patients including survival, treatment, patient experience and medical history. With better analysis there could be improvements in the prevention of cancer, earlier diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment. Reform

More students seek mental health support, analysis shows

More students seek mental health support, analysis shows The number of students seeking mental health support while studying at university has increased by more than 50% in five years, analysis suggests.

The BBC asked universities across the UK for the numbers of students seeking some form of support.

The National Union of Students said young people were under increasing pressure to perform

The Department for Education said universities needed to provide pastoral care for students. BBC News

See also:

• University students asking for mental health help up 50 per cent in five years, FOI shows, as minister says they must be 'supported not mollycoddled' The Daily Telegraph

Opt-out organ donation plan wins Commons backing

Opt-out organ donation plan wins Commons backing Hundreds of lives could be saved each year under a new opt-out system for organ donation approved by MPs.

Under the plans, passed by the Commons, adults in England will be presumed to be donors unless they have specifically recorded their decision not to be.

A high-profile media campaign to change the law was inspired by the case of 10-year-old Max Johnson, who was saved by a heart transplant.

If passed by the Lords, the measures would come into effect in spring 2020. BBC News

Government pledge to end mental health treatment gap by 2020 will actually take a 'generation' to achieve, health secretary admits

Government pledge to end mental health treatment gap by 2020 will actually take a 'generation' to achieve, health secretary admits Bringing mental health services in line with physical health services will take "a generation", the health secretary has admitted, despite the government having promised to achieve it by 2020.

Amid widespread concerns over the state of Britain's mental health services, Matt Hancock said it would take years to fulfil ministers' pledge to achieve "parity of esteem". The Independent

Build nurseries in NHS hospitals to allow elderly to mix with toddlers, health secretary Matt Hancock says

Build nurseries in NHS hospitals to allow elderly to mix with toddlers, health secretary Matt Hancock says Toddlers’ nurseries should be located at NHS hospitals caring for the older generation according to the health secretary, who says the schemes can benefit both groups.

Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said campaigners looking to save their local hospitals should be lobbying to make them hubs where the young and old are cared for, alongside a range of other services.

Such intergenerational schemes have been pioneered with nursing homes hosting nurseries, such as Nightingale House in Wandsworth, London, which The Independent visited last year – but Mr Hancock is the first health secretary to suggest the NHS could host them. The Independent

Children's operations cancelled by NHS up 58 per cent since austerity began, new figures show

Children's operations cancelled by NHS up 58 per cent since austerity began, new figures show There has been a 58 per cent rise in the number of children’s operations cancelled by the NHS in the past seven years, according to figures which critics warn illustrate the “cruel toll” of pressures on the health service.

Last year, a record 18,647 under-18s had surgery cancelled or delayed, with cancer treatment, pregnancy terminations and broken bones among the procedures affected.

That compares with 11,821 cancellations since the Conservatives came to power in coalition with the Liberal democrats in 2011/2012, and the number has climbed steadily in a period where austerity policies have seen budgets fall behind rising demand. The Independent

Surgery students 'can't sew or cut' because they spend too much time on screens, warns Imperial College professor

Surgery students 'can't sew or cut' because they spend too much time on screens, warns Imperial College professor Surgery students have lost the ability to perform simple tasks like stitching and sewing up patients because they spend so little time using their hands and so much time staring at screens, a professor has warned.

Roger Kneebone, professor of surgical education at Imperial College, London, believes the quest for academic knowledge has come at the expense of physical dexterity. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Surgery students 'losing dexterity to stitch patients' BBC News

Over 90% of children breathe toxic air every day, putting health and development at serious risk

Over 90% of children breathe toxic air every day, putting health and development at serious risk The vast majority of the world’s children are breathing air so polluted that it puts their health and development at serious risk, a World Health Organization report has warned.

Over 90 per cent of all children - roughly 1.8 billion - live in places where pollution exceeds WHO guidelines. Ambient air pollution caused roughly 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016, while 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections due to dirty air. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• How air pollution is destroying our health World Health Organization
• 93% of world's children breathing toxic air which 'stunts brains' and causes deadly disease, WHO warns The Independent
• Air pollution is destroying our health and we can't just hold our breath and hope for action The Independent

Northampton General Hospital improves A&E waiting times - but NHS braced for tough winter

Northampton General Hospital improves A&E waiting times - but NHS braced for tough winter  Patients are being warned to expect longer hospital waiting times during the coming winter, a new report has warned. NHS Providers, the body that represents trusts, says several factors, including A&E waiting times and staff shortages, suggest problems for hospitals in the months ahead.
Despite the grim picture, Northampton General Hospital has slightly improved its A&E waiting times since last year.Between April and September, 51,759 people attended an emergency department, with 88% being admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. The government target is 95%.That figure is higher than the same period in 2017, when 87% of patients were seen within four hours.
Across England, the percentage of people dealt with within the time limit dropped by 1% since last year, to 84% in 2018. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Mental health services to get £2bn funding boost in budget

Mental health services to get £2bn funding boost in budget  Philip Hammond will announce a £2bn real-terms increase in mental health funding on Monday as he unveils his first budget since Theresa May told the Conservative party conference that voters needed to know austerity was over.
The commitment should lead to comprehensive mental health support being available in every large A&E department. It suggests that mental health, long seen as a neglected area within the NHS, will benefit disproportionately from the annual health funding increase of up to £6bn a year announced by the prime minister in June. Guardian

Poor healthcare in jails is killing inmates, says NHS watchdog

Poor healthcare in jails is killing inmates, says NHS watchdog Almost half England’s jails fail to provide adequate medical care to prisoners, says leaked briefing by Care Quality Commission. Almost half of England’s jails are providing inadequate medical care to inmates, whose health is being damaged by widespread failings, the NHS watchdog has told MPs in a scathing briefing leaked to the Observer.
Healthcare behind bars is so poor in some prisons that offenders die because staff do not respond properly to medical emergencies, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) says. Guardian

Record number of children's operations cancelled last year

Record number of children's operations cancelled last year Paediatric professional bodies express ‘deep concern’ over new figures obtained by Labour. A record number of 18,647 emergency and non-emergency children’s operations were cancelled last year, according to new figures which Labour described as a “shameful” indictment of the government’s handling of healthcare.
Over the last eight years 117,936 children’s operations were cancelled, according to data obtained by the party from NHS trusts under the Freedom of Information Act. Guardian

Men seeking IVF on the NHS told to lose weight amid 'rationing' claims

Men seeking IVF on the NHS told to lose weight amid 'rationing' claims Men seeking IVF with their partners are being told to lose weight as part of the increasing backdoor rationing of fertility treatments by NHS bosses, campaigners have said.A report by Fertility Fairness reveals that local commissioners are imposing “arbitrary” criteria such as male body mass index (BMI), as well as age, as a means of restricting access to IVF. This is despite the criteria forming no part of the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) rules, which determine who is entitled to IVF. Telegraph
See also:

Couples being denied IVF on NHS over man's age or weight Guardian

500 diabetics dying each week, many from 'avoidable' complications

500 diabetics dying each week, many from 'avoidable' complications Hundreds of diabetes sufferers are dying prematurely every week, NHS figures reveal as experts warn the health service is not doing enough to support patients with the condition.
Avoidable complications such as amputations, sight loss, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease are contributing to around 500 deaths a week, according to the charity Diabetes UK. The figure comes from analysis of the NHS National Diabetes Audit, which shows deaths have increased roughly 10 per cent over the past three years. Telegraph

Northampton mother told disabled daughter 'died' by council

Northampton mother told disabled daughter 'died' by council A woman was told her daughter had died, despite being "very much alive", in an email sent in error by a council.

Rosemary Mulcahy, from Northampton, was "devastated" to get the email from the county council offering "sincere condolences" for the loss of her daughter, who she was with at the time.

Daisy Mulcahy, 21, has severe learning difficulties and receives respite care from the council. BBC Northampton

Securing funds for the proposed NHS multi-year funding: the feasibility of using a hypothecated tax

Securing funds for the proposed NHS multi-year funding: the feasibility of using a hypothecated tax In June 2018 the UK Government announced an increase of 3.4 per cent per annum in spending on the NHS in England for each of three years. It indicated that taxes will rise to pay for this. Debate has increased as to whether a separate (hypothecated) tax should be introduced to fund the NHS. This briefing sets out the arguments in favour and against the use of hypothecated tax for funding the NHS. Office for Health Economics

Managing malnutrition to improve lives and save money

Managing malnutrition to improve lives and save money This report explains why malnutrition costs so much and highlights the importance of identifying and appropriately managing malnutrition and the cost savings that can be achieved by better management of malnutrition. British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN)

New 'Trojan horse' antibiotic promising

New 'Trojan horse' antibiotic promising Scientists say they have engineered a new antibiotic that appears promising in early clinical trials.

The drug, made by Shionogi Inc, acts like the Trojan horse in Greek legend to trick bacteria into allowing it to enter.

Trials on 448 people with a kidney or urinary tract infection suggested the drug was as effective as current treatments.

Experts said the findings were an encouraging development. BBC News

See also:

• Cefiderocol versus imipenem-cilastatin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by Gram-negative uropathogens: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Antibiotic 'Trojan horse' could defeat superbugs causing global medical crisis, trial finds The Independent

Rise in women having induced labours, NHS figures show

Rise in women having induced labours, NHS figures show Nearly one in three pregnant women in England is having labour induced - an increase from one in five 10 years ago, according to figures from NHS Digital.

Rising numbers of older and overweight women giving birth is behind the trend, experts say.

Induced labours are usually started with pills or gels, often because babies are large or overdue.

Women should be encouraged to keep to a healthy weight before and during pregnancy, doctors advise. BBC News

See also:

• Rise in proportion of induced labours, new maternity figures show NHS Digital

Black mums 'don't talk about depression'

Black mums 'don't talk about depression' Mums Sandra Igwe and Jen Henry both experienced anxiety after childbirth, but say they found it difficult to discuss these issues in the black community.

Sandra told BBC Minute: "There is a pressure for black mums to be superwomen, leaving little room to speak about their problems."

As a result she set up The Motherhood Group - a support network where black women can talk about the issues they are facing.

Around a fifth of new mums in the UK suffer from mental health problems. BBC News

Number of EU applicants to UK medical schools falls to lowest point in decade, figures show

Number of EU applicants to UK medical schools falls to lowest point in decade, figures show The number of applicants to medical schools from the European Union (EU) has fallen to the lowest point in nearly a decade, prompting fears that Brexit has deterred prospective doctors from studying in the UK.

Figures from the university and colleges admissions body (Ucas) show that the number has dropped by 8 per cent – to a nine-year low of 1,660.

But the overall number of applicants for medicine in UK universities has risen to 22,340, a 12 per cent rise on last year. The Independent

See also:

• Women drive record applications to Oxbridge and medical schools - UCAS The Guardian

Leeds NHS trust has 345 fax machines. I want to get rid of them

Leeds NHS trust has 345 fax machines. I want to get rid of them As chief information officer, I can see how dangerous and inefficient fax machines are

In the past six months there have been two polarised obsessions with technology in health. Artificial intelligence: here to save the universe! And the more awkward conversation around why there are still more than 8,000 fax machines churning out paper throughout the health system.

The key question for those of us working in NHS IT is: which of these obsessions needs investing in today?

Can the Christmas No 1 be the last ring of a fax machine set to jingle bells? We think it can in Leeds. The Guardian

Patients at thousands of hospitals and GP practices 'breathing toxic air'

Patients at thousands of hospitals and GP practices 'breathing toxic air' More than 2,000 GP surgeries and hospitals in UK are in areas that breach WHO air pollution guidelines, study says

Hundreds of thousands of patients who visit more than 2,000 hospitals and GP practices across the UK are breathing poisonous air that breaches World Health Organization guidelines, according to a new report.

The study found that a third of GP surgeries and a quarter of hospitals – including some of the biggest children’s centres – are in areas that breach limits for the most dangerous particulates: PM2.5. The Guardian

A new law banning under 13s from social media has been proposed by health secretary Matt Hancock

A new law banning under 13s from social media has been proposed by health secretary Matt Hancock A new law banning under 13s from social media has been proposed by health secretary Matt Hancock.

He said Facebook, What's App and other social media giants should be legally required to stop under-aged children joining their sites.

He accused the companies of doing “absolutely nothing” to stop under 13s getting onto sites like Facebook or under 16s using What’s App.

Asked if there should be a minimum and enforced legal age requirement in an interview in Parliament’s House magazine, he said: “Yes, yes there should. Absolutely.” The Daily Telegraph

Deadly hospital infections soar eight-fold in a decade

Deadly hospital infections soar eight-fold in a decade People are more than eight times as likely to catch an infection while in hospital as they were 10 years ago, figures show.

The number of in-hospital infections has risen from 5,972 in 2008 to a whopping 48,815 in 2017, according to NHS Digital data.

The current figure breaks down to more than 4,000 infections each month – more than 1,000 every week.

And the figure rose by 20 per cent – more than 8,000 extra infections – last year alone. The Daily Mail

What should the NHS long-term plan say about STPs and ICSs?

What should the NHS long-term plan say about STPs and ICSs? Sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) and integrated care systems (ICSs) are intended to be vehicles for helping to share and spread the adoption of new care models. Our research has reported variations in the progress being made by STPs and ICSs and has described the many challenges they face in working within the current statutory framework. In a long read published today, Nicholas Timmins sets out changes that may be needed to align the law with the work of STPs and ICSs, while noting the difficulties of securing support in parliament for these changes. The King's Fund

An STI is diagnosed in a young person every 4 minutes in England

An STI is diagnosed in a young person every 4 minutes in England Latest statistics from Public Health England (PHE) show that a case of chlamydia or gonorrhoea is diagnosed in a young person every 4 minutes in England. There were over 144,000 diagnoses of these sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in people aged 15 to 24 in 2017.

Official Statistics: Breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks after birth: annual data

Official Statistics: Breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks after birth: annual data The number and proportion of infants who have been fully, partially or not at all breastfed at 6 to 8 weeks after birth. Public Health England

See also:

• Official Statistics: Breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks after birth: 2018 to 2019 quarterly data Public Health England
• Breastfeeding rates fall across England, official figures reveal The Daily Mail
• Breastfeeding rate declines in England as advice goes unheeded The Guardian

Experts call for health system change to tackle the challenge of multimorbidity in the NHS

Experts call for health system change to tackle the challenge of multimorbidity in the NHS The number of people with multiple long-term conditions, known as multimorbidity, is rising internationally, putting increased pressure on health care systems, including the NHS. University of Bristol

See also:

• How should health policy respond to the growing challenge of multimorbidity? University of Bristol

Autumn budget 2018: background briefing

Autumn budget 2018: background briefing This briefing sets out the background to Autumn Budget 2018 which will take place on Monday 29 October. It includes a section on NHS financing. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day. House of Commons Library

Councils buying care 'on the cheap'

Councils buying care 'on the cheap' Councils across the UK are buying vital home help for elderly people on the cheap, the firms providing care say.

Thousands of vulnerable older people rely on councils to organise support for them for daily tasks such as washing, dressing and feeding.

But research by the UK Homecare Association found only one in seven was paying a fair price for care.

It said this meant visits were being cut short, but councils said they had insufficient money to pay more. BBC News

See also:

• The Homecare Deficit 2018 (press release) UK Homecare Association
• The Homecare Deficit 2018 (report) UK Homecare Association

A&E visits by young people with mental health problems have almost doubled in five years

A&E visits by young people with mental health problems have almost doubled in five years The number of young people going to A&E with mental health problems has almost doubled in five years, official figures show.

In response to a Parliamentary Question from Bambos Charalambous MP, the Department of Health and Social Care has revealed that, in 2017-18, there were 27,487 attendances in A&E by young people aged 18 or under with a recorded diagnosis of a psychiatric condition.

This figure has almost doubled since 2012-13, when there were 13,800 equivalent attendances, and almost tripled since 2010. The Independent

Early deaths twice as common in most deprived parts of England, study shows

Early deaths twice as common in most deprived parts of England, study shows People in the most deprived parts of England are twice as likely to die prematurely as those in the wealthiest areas, according to “alarming” research on UK inequality.

Life expectancy in Blackpool is markedly lower than leafy Surrey or West Berkshire because of much higher rates of obesity and smoking rates linked to poverty and education, the University of East Anglia researchers said.

Despite these “stark” inequalities, England had better average life expectancy than the rest of the UK, while Scottish citizens die youngest. The Independent

See also:

• Changes in health in the countries of the UK and 150 English Local Authority areas 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 The Lancet
• Alarming figures link premature mortality to local deprivation The Health Foundation

Diabetes: a 'ticking time bomb' for the NHS

Diabetes: a 'ticking time bomb' for the NHS Lack of specialist support and rising numbers of people living with the condition will create huge complications, say experts

Rising numbers of people with diabetes and a lack of specialist staff and adequate training are creating a ticking time bomb, experts and medical professionals have warned.

The combination of an increase of people with type 2 diabetes over the past 20 years, cuts to NHS spending on continuing professional development and insufficient specialist support and expertise for people with type 1 diabetes will result in “huge complications” over the next two decades, according to experts at a Guardian roundtable event . Clinicians, academics, policy advisers and people with personal experience of diabetes discussed how to improve care in the UK. The Guardian

Millennials are more sceptical of vaccines

Millennials are more sceptical of vaccines Millennials are more likely to be sceptical about the importance of vaccines than their parents or grandparents, research suggests.

Those aged between 18 and 24 are a quarter less likely than the over-65s to believe vaccines are safe, according to a report.

Scientists warned this could be because they have not been exposed to 'the reality of a number of diseases'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Vaccine Confidence improving in some EU countries but decreasing in others London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Daughter fears her mother's health will 'spiral' after dementia care review is launched in Northamptonshire

Daughter fears her mother's health will 'spiral' after dementia care review is launched in Northamptonshire A decision to review the use of a specialist dementia carer team across Northamptonshire could have a drastic effect on those suffering from the condition, a worried daughter believes.

Barclaycard worker Lynn Johnson looks after her mother at her bungalow in Kingsthorpe every evening and relies on the support of an Olympus Care team for help.

The specialist dementia carers come in three times a day to get 85-year-old Sylvia out of bed, dressed, fed and supplied with medication throughout the day.

But Northamptonshire County Council is set to launch a review of the contracts it holds with its domiciliary dementia care providers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

£3.2bn a year needed to reverse impact of government cuts to public health services

£3.2bn a year needed to reverse impact of government cuts to public health services The Health Foundation has calculated that an additional £3.2bn a year is required to reverse the impact of government cuts to the public health grant and ensure that it is re-allocated according to need.

The grant enables local authorities to deliver vital public health services, such as obesity programmes, drug and alcohol services and sexual health services, but a new briefing paper by the independent charity shows that it has seen a £700m real terms reduction in funding between 2014/15 and 2019/20 – a fall of almost a quarter (23.5%) per person.

See also:

• Taking our health for granted: Plugging the public health grant funding gap The Health Foundation
• Damaging Tory cuts to obesity and cancer prevention budgets will cost £3.2bn to reverse, report warns The Independent

Local authorities receive 5,100 new requests for adult social care assistance a day

Local authorities receive 5,100 new requests for adult social care assistance a day New figures from NHS Digital show that local authorities received 1.8 million new requests for adult social care support in 2017-18, an increase of 1.6 per cent on 2016-17 and equivalent to 5,100 new requests per day.

These requests were received from 1.3 million people; those aged 65 and over accounted for 71.6 per cent of the requests. Similar to previous years, 77.1 per cent of the requests originated from the community and 20.1 per cent originated from a discharge from hospital.

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to new figures from NHS Digital on adult social care The King's Fund
• Social care crisis: Councils receive 5,100 new requests for adult care EVERY DAY amid soaring demand The Daily Mail

Stopping fraud against the NHS: new plans announced

Stopping fraud against the NHS: new plans announced The government has announced how it will take tougher action on fraud and save hundreds of millions of pounds for the NHS over the next 5 years, increasing the money available for improving patient care. Department of Health and Social Care

Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention

Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention A report and set of resources aimed at supporting the NHS and higher education providers in reducing the level of student attrition has been launched by Health Education England.

The RePAIR (Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention) project covered four fields in nursing (adult, child, learning disabilities and Mental Health), plus midwifery and therapeutic radiotherapy) and looked at making effective interventions to improve retention across the student journey – from pre-enrolment to two-years post-qualification.

Let down by 'agonising' end-of-life care

Let down by 'agonising' end-of-life care Staff shortages and inadequate training mean that end-of-life care for elderly people is often unacceptable, a leading expert has warned.

Andrea Sutcliffe, of the Care Quality Commission, told the BBC every nursing home needed to be capable of supporting people at the end of their lives.

Her call follows complaints from some relatives that their loved ones are dying distressing and painful deaths.

There is no legal requirement for end-of-life training for care home staff. BBC News

Public may have to stockpile drugs in no-deal Brexit

Public may have to stockpile drugs in no-deal Brexit The public may have to stockpile medicines if there is a no-deal Brexit, industry leaders say.

Martin Sawer, of the Healthcare Distributors Association, told MPs industry was "very concerned" about a no-deal as it could have "catastrophic" consequences for the supply of drugs.

The government has asked firms to start stockpiling a six-week supply of drugs.

Mr Sawer said there was no need for the public to do the same "yet", but the picture could change very quickly. BBC News

See also:

• ‘No-deal Brexit’ risks supply of medicines to patients Healthcare Distributors Association

'Hundreds more' vaginal mesh implants need removal due to complications within a decade

'Hundreds more' vaginal mesh implants need removal due to complications within a decade Hundreds more women in England who received vaginal mesh implants to treat incontinence will need the procedure reversed, a study suggests.

In a study of nearly 100,000 English women, 3,137 (3.3 per cent) required the implant to be removed within a decade. This is a third larger than the number of reversals reported in an NHS audit of the procedure.

NHS England estimated just 2.6 per cent had to be removed because of complications, but the rate may be even higher for younger women as 4.4 per cent of those aged 18 to 39 had a removal. The Independent

Bullying in the NHS costing the service more than £2 billion per year in England, research warns

Bullying in the NHS costing the service more than £2 billion per year in England, research warns Bullying and harassment in the NHS could be costing more than £2 billion per year in England alone, warns new research.

The figures come from the first comprehensive estimate of the financial costs of bullying and harassment in the NHS.

The study, published in the journal Public Money and Management, used data from NHS Digital to gauge the impact of bullying on sickness absence, employee turnover, productivity, sickness presenteeism, and employment relations. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The price of fear: estimating the financial cost of bullying and harassment to the NHS in England Public Money and Management

Suicide rates among British schoolgirls at highest ever level as modern pressures take toll

Suicide rates among British schoolgirls at highest ever level as modern pressures take toll Suicide rates among schoolgirls and young women have hit a record high, new figures show, as experts warned that the pressures of modern life were fuelling the rise. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Avoidable mortality in the UK: 2016 Office for National Statistics

UK has the highest sepsis death rates for women

UK has the highest sepsis death rates for women Sepsis death rates in Britain are five times higher than the best performing country in Europe, a new study suggests.

A scientific analysis of 36 rich nations ranked the UK as being the worst for women and it placed near the bottom of the table for men.

There are 35.4 deaths from sepsis - a violent immune response to an infection - for every 100,000 women and 40.3 for every 100,000 men in the UK.

The US ranked seventh worst for women - but avoided being named as one of the ten biggest offenders in men. The Daily Mail

See also:

• AI doctor could boost chance of survival for sepsis patients Imperial College London
• The Artificial Intelligence Clinician learns optimal treatment strategies for sepsis in intensive care (abstract) Nature Medicine
• UK sepsis death rate five times higher than Europe's best-performing country The Independent

Health inspectors take 'urgent action to protect people' at a maternity unit

Health inspectors take 'urgent action to protect people' at a maternity unit The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was taking action at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust following inspections at its maternity and emergency departments. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Shropshire baby death trust told to report weekly to CQC BBC News