The King’s Fund response to Public Health England's review of life expectancy

The King’s Fund response to Public Health England's review of life expectancy  Commenting on Public Health England’s (PHE) review of recent trends in mortality in England, Dr Veena Raleigh, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund, said:
'Improvements in life expectancy are slowing across the developed world, but the United Kingdom has seen the most significant slowdown of any country apart from the United States. King's Fund

See Also:

• Recent trends in mortality in England: review and data packs Public Health England

Patients could soon be Skyping doctors as far as India in a bid to slash NHS waiting times

Patients could soon be Skyping doctors as far as India in a bid to slash NHS waiting times Patients in the UK could Skype doctors from foreign countries as far as India under radical plans to cut down NHS waiting times. Technology is making it easier to use doctors across the globe, the General Medical Council (GMC) said in a report. The proposals come after figures last week revealed the true extent of the crisis, with millions of patients unable to see their GP for up to four weeks. The GMC also warned that the NHS is 'at the brink of a breaking point' trying to deliver patient care. Mail Online

See Also:

• UK-wide workforce planning needed to avert NHS staffing crisis, says GMC General Medical Council (GMC)

NHS spends as little as £238 per trust on cyber security and training

NHS spends as little as £238 per trust on cyber security and training  UK cyber security experts Redscan sent Freedom of Information requests to NHS trusts around the UK and found the amount they spend on IT security varies from £0 to £78,000 and is 'patchy at best'. Mail Online

Relentless staff shortage leaves home care sector struggling

Relentless staff shortage leaves home care sector struggling Squeezed funding and staff shortages are severely affecting home care services in some areas, a new report from The King’s Fund and the University of York has found.

Home care in England: views from commissioners and providers finds that the market for home care providers is extremely fragile, with squeezed margins and low fees forcing providers to leave. In 2017 providers handed back home care contracts in more than one in three local authorities, and some of the largest providers have withdrawn from the publicly funded home care market altogether.

A better future for adult social care

A better future for adult social care In this report the pensions and risk consultancy, Hymands and Robertson, calls for cross party political bravery to address the crisis in adult social care so that older adults and their carers can be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Lack of public understanding of the scale of the crisis is one of the biggest barriers to the implementation of a sustainable and fair funding system. Hymans and Roebertson

Puzzle solving 'won't stop mental decline'

Puzzle solving 'won't stop mental decline' Doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku does not protect against mental decline, according to a new study.

The idea of "use it or lose it" when it comes to our brains in later life has previously been widely accepted.

But the new Scottish study showed that people who regularly do intellectual activities throughout life have higher mental abilities.

This provides a "higher cognitive point" from which to decline, say the researchers.

But the study did not who that they decline any slower. BBC News

See also:

• Intellectual engagement and cognitive ability in later life (the “use it or lose it” conjecture): longitudinal, prospective study BMJ
• Crosswords do NOT prevent dementia but can make your brain sharper to start off with The Daily Mail

Child advice chatbots fail to spot sexual abuse

Child advice chatbots fail to spot sexual abuse Two mental health chatbot apps have required updates after struggling to handle reports of child sexual abuse.

In tests, neither Wysa nor Woebot told an apparent victim to seek emergency help.

The BBC also found the apps had problems dealing with eating disorders and drug use.

The Children's Commissioner for England said the flaws meant the chatbots were not currently "fit for purpose" for use by youngsters. BBC News

'I was aged 24, and dead for five minutes'

'I was aged 24, and dead for five minutes' More than 80,000 young people in the UK could be living with undiagnosed heart conditions, the British Heart Foundation has warned. If undetected, the consequences can be fatal.

"My lips had started going blue, I'd stopped breathing, my heart had stopped," Lora D'Alesio tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, recounting how she went into cardiac arrest. BBC News

See also:

• New regional service identifies more than 100 people living with life-threatening inherited condition British Heart Foundation

Most CCGs failing to provide learning disability crisis support

Most CCGs failing to provide learning disability crisis support New data has suggested more than half of local commissioning areas are still failing to offer crisis services to patients with autism and learning disabilities, despite NHS England making this mandatory from 2019.

In 2015, NHS England said local commissioners must ensure crisis services were in place by March 2019 to help reduce the number of hospital admissions for these patients. But data HSJ collected from clinical commissioning groups has indicated many areas are at risk of missing this deadline. Health Service Journal

Treating an issue the size of mental health shouldn’t be trial and error – but it’s going that way for GPs

Treating an issue the size of mental health shouldn’t be trial and error – but it’s going that way for GPs If you spend any time reading or watching the news, you will not be a stranger to the great work being done to break down the stigma around mental illness. As a former GP, who regularly had to make the difficult diagnoses of mental health conditions, what we really need is help for these professionals who are for many, the first port of call.

We still don’t really know what causes many mental illnesses. There are a number of risk factors; some about the context of people’s lives, others more biological or about how people think, but one risk factor plus another does not equal being unwell.

How can it be treated? And while it may seem ambitious – how can it be prevented? I wasn’t surprised to see that recent figures from mental health research charity MQ reveal that 8 out of 10 GPs feel it’s trial and error to find a mental health treatment that works for patients. The Independent

Demand for NHS staff rises as EU applicants 'drop off a cliff'

Demand for NHS staff rises as EU applicants 'drop off a cliff' Hiring pressures at health service intensify to highest level since 2011, poll suggests

The sharp slowdown in EU migrant workers coming to Britain has pushed the hiring needs of the NHS and the wider public sector to the highest levels in seven years.

According to a poll of 2,102 employers across nine different industry sectors by the recruitment firm ManpowerGroup, which is used by the Bank of England as an early indicator for changes in the jobs market, hiring intentions in the public sector were at the highest level since 2011. The Guardian

Only a third of NHS staff have had flu jabs, as health bosses threaten to take workers off frontline duties if they carry on putting patients at risk

Only a third of NHS staff have had flu jabs, as health bosses threaten to take workers off frontline duties if they carry on putting patients at risk Only a third of NHS staff have had their flu jabs in some hospitals, posing a risk to patients.

Health bosses are aiming to vaccinate all workers this flu season and those who refuse face being taken off frontline duties.

But unions say some are too busy to get the jab, while others simply don't like needles.

The Camden and Islington Foundation Trust in north London said only 33 per cent of staff had so far been vaccinated. The Daily Mail

Northants health trust urges people struggling with their mood over Christmas to seek help

Northants health trust urges people struggling with their mood over Christmas to seek help A campaign to help encourage individuals who are struggling with low mood, stress or anxiety to seek support over the festive period has been launched.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “As we are fast approaching the festive period, we know this time of year isn’t filled with joy and laughter for everyone.

“In fact, it can be quite lonely or stressful and can lead to feeling low in mood, anxious about going out or stressed with the thought of having to prepare for this time of year.

“If you are starting to feel the stress of the festive period or know of friends, family members or colleagues who may feel like this please do speak to a member of the Northamptonshire NHS Changing Minds IAPT team. Northamptonshire Telegraph

In safe hands? The need to know more about safety in health care

In safe hands? The need to know more about safety in health care Ensuring care is safe and harm-free remains high on the policy agenda, and rightly so. But are we measuring and monitoring safety appropriately, and what steps could be taken to improve it in the long run? Sarah Scobie argues for a shift in our understanding. Nuffield Trust

Matt Hancock orders review into over-prescribing in the NHS

Matt Hancock orders review into over-prescribing in the NHS The review will focus on patients who take multiple medicines, to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their needs. Department of Health and Social Care

Advancing medical professionalism

Advancing medical professionalism This report underlines how essential professionalism is in increasing job satisfaction, improving patient care and raising productivity, and looks at what this means for doctors under growing pressures from increased workload, to their own remit and to their relationship with patients. It points to a growing gap between what doctors are trained to do and the realities of their workplace – competing ideals of what is good practice, rising demand, and increasing regulatory and legal obligations. According to the report, doctors also face ethical dilemmas and clashes in professional personal values. Royal College of Physicians 

Government bans fax machines in the NHS

Government bans fax machines in the NHS The NHS will be banned from buying fax machines from next month - and has been told by the government to phase out the machines entirely by 31 March 2020.

In July, the Royal College of Surgeons revealed nearly 9,000 fax machines were in use across the NHS in England.

The Department of Health said a change to more modern communication methods was needed to improve patient safety and cyber security.

An RCS spokesman said they supported the government's decision.

In place of fax machines, the Department of Health said secure email should be used. BBC News

See also:

• Health and Social Care Secretary bans fax machines in NHS Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS banned from buying any more fax machines The Guardian
• NHS to ban fax machines from 2020 The Independent
• NHS told to 'axe the fax' OnMedica

Nine out of 10 NHS trusts have asbestos in hospitals

Nine out of 10 NHS trusts have asbestos in hospitals About nine out of 10 NHS trusts say they have hospitals containing asbestos, the BBC has learned.

Of the 211 trusts to respond to a BBC inquiry, 198 said they ran hospitals containing the material, which was once widely used in construction but can cause illnesses including cancer.

An MP has called for an audit to find out the extent of the problem.

NHS Improvement said strict regulations meant asbestos in buildings was registered and safely contained. BBC News

See also:

• Asbestos present in 'nine out of ten' NHS hospitals The Daily Telegraph

Baby loss charities urge NHS to improve 'inconsistent' bereavement care

Baby loss charities urge NHS to improve 'inconsistent' bereavement care Baby loss charities are urging the NHS to improve “inconsistent and under-resourced” bereavement care for parents whose babies die shortly after they are born.

A report by stillbirth and neonatal death charities Sands and Bliss, for babies born premature and sick, said most services lack sufficient specialist staffing input and appropriate facilities to support grieving families.

They said improvements to bereavement care are urgently needed as every week in the UK around 40 babies die during the neonatal period – from birth to 28 days old.

The care that bereaved families receive before, during and afterwards can have a critical impact upon their wellbeing in the months and years ahead, they added. ITV News

See also:

• Audit of Bereavement Care Provision in UK Neonatal Units (2018) Sands
• Bliss and Sands are calling for consistent, well-funded bereavement care across the whole of the UK Bliss
• Parents grieving their dead newborns let down by patchy NHS support, major review warns The Independent

No-deal Brexit could cause six months of drug shortages and traffic chaos, government warns

No-deal Brexit could cause six months of drug shortages and traffic chaos, government warns Emergency plans to fly in medical supplies have been laid to ensure hospitals remain stocked amid six months of expected chaos at Britain’s channel ports after a no-deal Brexit.

Critical supplies could also be diverted away from channel routes and some drugs may even be rationed to ensure stocks do not run out.

The plans were published as a government assessment suggested a no-deal departure from the EU could mean severe disruption until the end of September 2019 to shipping between Dover and Calais and traffic using the Channel Tunnel. The Independent

See also:

• No-deal Brexit: Disruption at Dover 'could last six months' BBC News
• Brexit: Chemists could get emergency powers to swap drugs and dosages to prevent shortages under no-deal outcome The Independent

Pollution and flu bring steep rise in lung-related illnesses

Pollution and flu bring steep rise in lung-related illnesses Shortage of specialists adds to worries that surge in respiratory diseases is putting pressure on A&Es

Accident and emergency departments have seen attendances due to lung-related illnesses almost double in under a decade as increasingly virulent flu strains and a rise in air pollution take their toll.

A shortage of lung specialists means services can be patchy, with some respiratory teams over-stretched, however. The huge increase is adding to the significant pressures on hospitals, especially during the winter months, and has prompted calls for a new national strategy to tackle the problem that the British Lung Foundation estimates costs the UK economy £11bn a year.

We’re not geared up to run the peaks, we’re geared up to run the averages The Guardian

Hospitals in race to combat ‘toughest ever’ winter crisis for NHS

Hospitals in race to combat ‘toughest ever’ winter crisis for NHS Health service sets up emergency measures as number of A&E patients surges

Hospitals are bringing in GPs, reopening mothballed wards and offering daycare for their staff’s children in a desperate attempt to avoid being overwhelmed this winter.

NHS trusts are expanding A&Es, paying for patients to be cared for in nursing homes and looking after more people at home to help them cope with the impending winter crisis, which experts have warned will be the toughest ever. Patients also face being moved between hospitals to help relieve overcrowding as the NHS braces for a surge in demand during December, January and February. The Guardian

Pregnant women and children urged to come forward for flu jabs amid concern about low uptake

Pregnant women and children urged to come forward for flu jabs amid concern about low uptake Pregnant women and children are being urged to come forward for flu jabs amid concern about low levels of uptake.

Health officials warned that the main strain in circulation this year is more likely to infect children and young people, as they issued the plea.

Latest figures show take up is significantly lower than this time last year, in most age groups.

It follows the failure of last year’s jabs, which fuelled the highest winter death toll for more than 40 years. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Push for more take-up of flu vaccine before Christmas BBC News
• Spread of swine flu this winter could pose risk to pregnant women The Independent

Dangerous new superbug confirmed in India as antibiotic resistance spreads

Dangerous new superbug confirmed in India as antibiotic resistance spreads India has found its first cases of a superbug that can lead to blindness, flesh-eating infections and meningitis, according to researchers.

Klebsiella pneumoniae was found in patients by doctors at the Christian Medical College (CMC), in the city of Vellore, over a two-year period, after they were admitted for sepsis.

Researchers found that 27 (31 per cent) of 86 patients treated for sepsis in the hospital had become infected by a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, that was found to be both resistant to antibiotics and hypervirulent. The Daily Telegraph

Investigation into Kettering General Hospital ward after staff raise concerns

Investigation into Kettering General Hospital ward after staff raise concerns An investigation has taken place into a female-only medical ward at Kettering General Hospital after a number of concerns were raised by staff.

Pressures to discharge unwell patients, inadequate medical cover, the lack of piped oxygen provision and no direct access to drinking water were issues highlighted by worried staff in three separate complaints to the hospital trust about the Poplar Ward between April and September this year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Service that provides late and weekend GP appointments is rolled out in Northampton

Service that provides late and weekend GP appointments is rolled out in Northampton A service which makes GP appointments available in the evening and at weekends has been rolled out across Northamptonshire - but not in Corby.

In 2014 the Government pledged to extend opening hours at GP surgeries across the country and Nene CCG is the latest to introduce the GP Extended Access Service.

The service means appointments will be available until 8pm from Monday to Friday and in the mornings at the weekends and on bank holidays at central surgeries. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Child cruelty reports six times higher in Northamptonshire compared to five years ago

Child cruelty reports six times higher in Northamptonshire compared to five years ago Child cruelty and neglect figures have increased sixfold over the last five years in Northamptonshire, the NSPCC has revealed.

A report by the child protection charity has shown there were 262 offences recorded by Northamptonshire Police in 2017/18, up from just 39 in 2012/13.

Reports to the police included extreme cases of when a parent or carer deliberately neglected, assaulted, abandoned or exposed their child to serious harm. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The Care Quality Commission and improvement: a system-wide issue

The Care Quality Commission and improvement: a system-wide issue Many policy issues seem simple from afar but they nearly always become more intricate on closer inspection, one current example being Brexit. Understanding the impact of the regulatory approach of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is no different. On the surface, we seem to have a simple bilateral interaction: CQC tells a provider where it needs to improve; the provider then does or does not make the improvement. When we look closer, however, this view starts to fragment. The King's Fund

Identifying the active ingredients for success: Reducing emergency admissions from care homes

Identifying the active ingredients for success: Reducing emergency admissions from care homes As a preview to the much-anticipated NHS long term plan, the Government recently announced a national initiative to reduce avoidable admissions to hospital by providing enhanced community health care, including rapid response teams, to support people in their own homes. Significantly, this support is also going to be available to people living in care homes.

The initiative builds on work of the the Enhanced Health in Care Homes vanguards which were announced as part of the Five Year Forward View for the NHS in England. The vanguards have been widely evaluated, meaning that there is a rich evidence base available for those implementing the new initiative. The Health Foundation

The future of surgery

The future of surgery The Commission on the Future of Surgery gazed twenty years into the future to identify advances in medicine and technology that are likely to change surgical care. The report analysed evidence and assessed the implications of such developments for patients, the surgical profession and the healthcare system. Royal College of Surgeons

See also:

• C-sections to be performed by healthcare assistants, report predicts The Daily Telegraph
• Medical advances could soon spare patients surgery, say experts The Guardian

Building a positive culture around exception reporting

Building a positive culture around exception reporting Find out how University Hospitals of Derby and Burton embedded exception reporting processes across the trust. NHS Employers

Xanax: Treatment for addiction doubles in children

Xanax: Treatment for addiction doubles in children The number of children being treated for addiction to tranquilisers has doubled in a year, to more than 300, according to Public Health England.

The drug Xanax, and copies of it, accounted for the sharpest rise - from eight children receiving treatment in 2016-17 to 53 in 2017-18.

Ambulance services around the country have also reported a growing problem.

In 2017-18, more than 15,500 children had help for substance misuse, 88% for cannabis.

The total number receiving treatment was 5% down on the previous year. BBC News

See also:

• National Statistics: Substance misuse treatment for young people: statistics 2017 to 2018 Public Health England
• Generation Xanax : doubling in children being treated for addiction The Daily Telegraph

NHS urged to change so prevention vision can become reality

NHS urged to change so prevention vision can become reality Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock promised to “radically change the focus” when he announced his new prevention vision last month.

His insistence that the NHS, as well as local government, must put prevention at the heart of everything it does and tackle the root causes of poor health, rather than simply treating the symptoms, was welcomed as sound logic.

But details of how this ambitious vision will be put into practice must wait until the promised publication of a public health green paper next year. With the ongoing political turmoil in Westminster, one could be forgiven for wondering when, or indeed if, it will ever materialise. Local Government Chronicle

New tax on over-40s being considered by ministers to fund social care would raise £15bn a year, study finds

New tax on over-40s being considered by ministers to fund social care would raise £15bn a year, study finds A new tax being considered by ministers as a way to fund social care could raise up to £15bn a year, according to a new report.

The proposal would see a 2.5 per cent levy applied to the earnings of people over the age of 40, similar to the model used in Germany.

The revenue generated by the new tax would go into a ring-fenced pot used to fund social care.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has previously said he is “attracted to” the proposal, which is expected to be one option included in a government green paper due to be published before Christmas. The Independent

Surge in young people receiving help from Childline for coping with anxiety

Surge in young people receiving help from Childline for coping with anxiety The number of teenagers receiving help to deal with anxiety from Childline has almost doubled in two years, fuelling concerns that charities are filling the gap left by public mental health services.

The NSPCC, which runs Childline, said it had delivered 21,297 counselling sessions to young people trying to deal with feelings of anxiety in the past year.

Overall, the service delivered 106,037 counselling sessions to young people experiencing problems with their mental and emotional health and wellbeing – marking a 5-per-cent increase on the previous year. The Independent

Ministers and NHS England chief at loggerheads over targets

Ministers and NHS England chief at loggerheads over targets Exclusive: Simon Stevens is pushing back against demands for specific improvements linked to £20.5bn cash boost

The head of the NHS and the government are at loggerheads over how much the health service can be improved for the £20.5bn extra Theresa May has pledged to give it, the Guardian can reveal.

Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, has been having major disagreements behind the scenes in recent weeks with Downing Street, the Treasury and Department of Health and Social Care about how much the forthcoming NHS long-term plan can promise to boost care. The Guardian

One in 10 patients waits 3 weeks to see their GP, new figures show

One in 10 patients waits 3 weeks to see their GP, new figures show One in ten patients is waiting at least three weeks to see their GP, new figures show.

The monthly data, published for the first time, shows that in October 2.8 million people secured an appointment more than 21 days after seeking it.

They included 1.4 million people who saw a doctor four weeks after trying to arrange a consultation.

Every day, around 1 million people see a GP in England, the figures show. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Appointments in General Practice, October 2018 NHS Digital
• One in five patients now waits at least two weeks to see a GP, finds report The Guardian
• GP practice appointment numbers rising OnMedica

Modernising the Mental Health Act – final report from the independent review

Modernising the Mental Health Act – final report from the independent review The Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 has set out recommendations for government on how the Act and associated practice needs to change.

The final report sets out recommendations covering 4 principles that the review believes should underpin the reformed Act:

• choice and autonomy – ensuring service users’ views and choices are respected
• least restriction – ensuring the Act’s powers are used in the least restrictive way
• therapeutic benefit – ensuring patients are supported to get better, so they can be discharged from the Act
• people as individuals – ensuring patients are viewed and treated as rounded individuals

The review looked at rising rates of detention under the Act, the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnic groups detained under the Act and the processes that are out of step with a modern mental health care system. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government commits to reform the Mental Health Act Department of Health and Social Care
• CQC response to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act Care Quality Commission
• Centre for Mental Health welcomes Mental Health Act Review report Centre for Mental Health
• Response to independent review on Mental Health Act Local Government Association
• Mental Health Act review recommendations published Mind
• Recommendations for change Rethink Mental Illness
• Investment in mental health crucial but significant staffing gaps will make this difficult says RCN Chief Executive Royal College of Nursing
• RCPsych respond to the Mental Health Act Review Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Mental health: The NHS patients who are 'abused and ignored' BBC News
• Mentally ill patients being treated like criminals, head of review warns The Daily Telegraph
• Mental health patients 'should be given more rights over treatment' The Guardian
• 'Outdated' Mental Health Act Must Give Power Back To Patients, Says Review Huffington Post UK
• Mental Health Act ‘needs major reform’ as black patients four times as likely as whites to be sectioned The Independent
• Major investment needed to improve care for mental health patients – report ITV News
• Sectioning is 'traumatic' and 'damaging' for society's most vulnerable people - report Sky News

Tear down barriers to end nursing degree apprenticeship 'mirage' say MPs

Tear down barriers to end nursing degree apprenticeship 'mirage' say MPs Nursing degree apprenticeships as a successful and sustainable route into the profession will forever be a mirage unless barriers to delivery are torn down, say the Education Committee in its report on Nursing apprenticeships.

The Committee warns that the uptake of nursing degree apprenticeships has been far too slow with no more than 30 starters beginning training through the scheme last year. The Committee argues there is no evidence of how the Department for Education intends to meet the target of 400 nursing associates progressing to degree apprenticeships from 2019.

See also:

• Education Committee’s report highlights ‘serious disincentive’ for nursing degree apprenticeships NHS Employers 

The UK has sequenced 100,000 whole genomes in the NHS

The UK has sequenced 100,000 whole genomes in the NHS Pioneering 100,000 Genomes Project reaches its goal and thanks all involved

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has today announced that the 100,000 Genomes Project, led by Genomics England in partnership with NHS England, has reached its goal of sequencing 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients.

See also:

• Foreign cyber-criminals try to hack into top-security database of 85,000 NHS patients’ genetic profiles revealing EVERYTHING about their health amid fears data could be used for blackmail The Daily Mail
• Foreign hackers have tried to access the genetic blueprints of thousands of NHS patients, say officials The Daily Telegraph
• Project to sequence 100000 genomes from NHS patients hits target The Pharmaceutical Journal

Loneliness in children and young people

Loneliness in children and young people Prevalence of reported loneliness in children and young people for various socio-demographic characteristics, England and Great Britain. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• Loneliness is a key risk factor for the future health of young people The Health Foundation
• National Measurement of Loneliness: 2018 Office for National Statistics
• Girls 'more likely to face loneliness' BBC News
• One in ten children feel lonely, with youngsters who get free school meals, and live in big cities more likely to be unhappy, study finds The Daily Mail
• City children four times more lonely than those in countryside, finds study The Daily Telegraph

The carers’ covenant

The carers’ covenant This report calls for a new settlement between the state and informal carers. It is estimated there are now almost eight million informal carers in the UK making the informal care economy equivalent to £139 billion – more than seven times the UK’s total annual spend on adult social care. The report sets out an overhaul of current policy, including the introduction of a new Universal Carer’s Income for all carers providing more than 35 hours a week. Demos

Help at home: use of assistive technology for older people

Help at home: use of assistive technology for older people This review presents a selection of recent research on assistive technology for older people funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and other government funders. The review focuses on research around the use of technology in the home, remote monitoring systems and designing better environments for older people.

How do people access and experience home adaptations? Perspectives from people in later life and practitioners

How do people access and experience home adaptations? Perspectives from people in later life and practitioners This report summarises the findings from recent research conducted on the lived experiences of home adaptations. It draws on the views of both people in later life and practitioners to explore the home adaptations journey, including triggers, access, installation and outcomes. Housing Local Improvement Network

One in three children 'not active enough', finds sport survey

One in three children 'not active enough', finds sport survey One in three children in England does fewer than 30 minutes of physical activity a day - half the amount recommended by government guidelines, a report by Sport England suggests.

Girls are less likely to be as active as boys, with 13 to 16-year-olds the least active age group.

The online survey of 130,000 five to 16-year-olds found children from poorer families did least exercise.

Sports Minister Mims Davies said the figures were "simply unacceptable". BBC News

'Hostile' St George's Hospital surgeons had to seek mediation

'Hostile' St George's Hospital surgeons had to seek mediation Feuding surgeons at a troubled cardiac unit worked in a culture of hostility, tribalism and mistrust, inspectors say.

Complex heart operations were moved out of London's St George's Hospital in September after a leaked document revealed a "toxic" row had contributed to an above average death rate.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said mediation worked only briefly, with "poor behaviour" soon returning.

The trust said its cardiac surgery was safe and improvements had been made. BBC News

NHS needs 10,000 extra hospital beds this winter to keep patients safe, BMA warns

NHS needs 10,000 extra hospital beds this winter to keep patients safe, BMA warns The NHS has been warned it needs 10,000 additional hospital beds this winter in order to keep patients safe.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the approaching winter period "could be the worst on record" for emergency departments, which are predicted to see an increase in patients and longer waiting times.

New analysis from the doctors' union suggests between January and March next year, the total number of emergency hospital admissions will rise to more than 1.6 million from 1.5 million this year. The Independent

Myths about migrants spreading disease 'inform hostile policies'

Myths about migrants spreading disease 'inform hostile policies' Report says migrants more likely to contribute than to damage health of host nations

Myths that migrants are responsible for spreading disease and a burden to health services have been used in support of the hostile and restrictive policies introduced in the US, UK and elsewhere around the world, a two-year commission has concluded.

The commission of 20 experts, set up by University College London and the Lancet medical journal, started work as Brexit became all-consuming in the UK and the US president, Donald Trump, stepped up border controls and demanded a wall between the US and Mexico. But the rhetoric that migration damages health and healthcare has been around for a long time – and is wrong, said the chair of the group, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar from UCL. The Guardian

See also:

• ‘Myths’ of immigrants putting pressure on NHS with health issues and high birth rates debunked in report The Independent

A ‘volunteer army’ is no substitute for the doctors and nurses the NHS needs

A ‘volunteer army’ is no substitute for the doctors and nurses the NHS needs | Hannah Jane Parkinson It is admirable that people want to help our health service, but the shrunken state needs to do far more too

When is a record number of people volunteering to help the NHS not as great as it seems? Perhaps when the health system is teetering on the brink. Volunteering loses a bit of that feelgood factor when the stakes are as high as this.

The Daily Mail has launched a Christmas campaign for more volunteers to help out, reporting that 11,000 people have signed up in a matter of days. This kind of volunteering is mostly a good and valuable thing. A study by the King’s Fund thinktank of 300 NHS staff, reflecting on the roles of the current 78,000 volunteers, found that a third of staff said that volunteers helped them to free up time and a quarter said that volunteers helped care for patients.


Now, thanks to Brexit, we are both losing these skilled practitioners and putting them off joining in the first place. The Guardian

Infant milk allergy rate soars as investigation finds senior child doctors have extensive industry links

Infant milk allergy rate soars as investigation finds senior child doctors have extensive industry links The rate of babies diagnosed with milk allergies has risen 500 per cent in a decade due to links between the formula industry and doctors, an investigation suggests.

Experts warn that the health of infants and their mothers is being harmed and rates of breastfeeding damaged thanks to over-broad diagnostic criteria drawn up with the help of vested interests. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Overdiagnosis and industry influence: how cow’s milk protein allergy is extending the reach of infant formula manufacturers The BMJ
• Babies are being wrongly diagnosed with milk allergies because of the influence of the baby formula industry study finds The Daily Mail

Northampton learning disability homes to be 'transformed' for county council savings

Northampton learning disability homes to be 'transformed' for county council savings Residential homes for adults with learning difficulties are set to be 'transformed' to help save money for the county council.

The plans form part of Northamptonshire County Council’s draft budget proposals for 2019/20 and include developing and building new adult services accommodation and ‘transforming’ existing buildings. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Deconstructing the deal: what the Brexit agreement with the EU means for the NHS

Deconstructing the deal: what the Brexit agreement with the EU means for the NHS As Brexit continues to dominate the news, Mark Dayan gives his expert view on what the UK's withdrawal agreement with the European Union could mean for the health service. Nuffield Trust

Future health of the next generation at risk due to lack of opportunities in home towns

Future health of the next generation at risk due to lack of opportunities in home towns The Health Foundation is warning that the core building blocks for a healthy future - a place to call home, potential for secure and rewarding work, and supportive relationships with their friends, family, and community - are too often forgotten.

In their new report, A place to grow published today, part of its major UK-wide Young people’s future health inquiry, the Health Foundation investigates some of the key issues impacting young people’s successful transition into adulthood

UK-wide workforce planning needed to avert NHS staffing crisis

UK-wide workforce planning needed to avert NHS staffing crisis New research has laid bare a future workforce crisis that could be compounded by Brexit amid a fragmented approach to the recruitment and retention of doctors.

Research commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC) for its 2018 The state of medical education and practice in the UK report paints a stark picture of unabated pressure on health services. The report also shines a light on steps that some doctors are feeling the need to take to cope with patient numbers, some of which may be piling more pressure on other parts of the system.

Among those measures are making referrals to other doctors that are not strictly necessary but happen due to limited time to address patient concerns, ordering blood tests when they may not always be needed, and bypassing clinical checklists in order to get through workload.

See also:

• Training environments 2018: key findings from the national training surveys General Medical Council
• More than half of doctors considering quitting NHS or cutting their hours, polling finds The Daily Telegraph
• Patients at risk with doctors at ‘breaking point’ and looking to quit in unprecedented numbers, GMC warns The Independent
• Doctors at brink of breaking point to ensure patient care, warns regulator ITV News
• GMC issues workforce warning in case of ‘no-deal’ Brexit Pulse

Never too busy to learn: how the modern team can learn together in the busy workplace

Never too busy to learn: how the modern team can learn together in the busy workplace This report, supported by Health Education England, helps healthcare teams make the most of daily learning opportunities in the workplace. It explores how ‘invitational’ learning environments can be created in clinical settings and, in doing so, poses two key questions: how do we create learning opportunities in the clinical workplace and how do we maximise the impact of these opportunities? Royal College of Physicians 

Nursing care for people experiencing homelessness: a survey of the QNI Homeless Health Network

Nursing care for people experiencing homelessness: a survey of the QNI Homeless Health Network This report gives a thematic analysis of comments from a survey of 206 homeless health nurses (HHNs) about issues facing their area of practice. Using this evidence, it explores the structural, contextual, environmental and practical changes needed to reduce, prevent and eliminate homelessness, and tackle the associated burden of disease. The Queen's Nursing Institute

Our data-driven future in healthcare: people and partnerships at the heart of health related technologies

Our data-driven future in healthcare: people and partnerships at the heart of health related technologies This report states that a radical culture change in the NHS, and across the health data and medical technology community, is needed to make sure that the NHS can deliver the benefits of new health technologies that use patient data for care, and to retain public trust. The Academy of Medical Sciences

First baby born after deceased womb transplant

First baby born after deceased womb transplant A healthy baby girl has been born using a womb transplanted from a dead body.

The 10-hour transplant operation - and later fertility treatment - took place in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2016. The mother, 32, was born without a womb.

There have been 39 womb transplants using a live donor, including mothers donating their womb to their daughter, resulting in 11 babies.

But the 10 previous transplants from a dead donor have failed or resulted in miscarriage. BBC News

See also:

• Livebirth after uterus transplantation from a deceased donor in a recipient with uterine infertility The Lancet

Missing special needs support 'a national scandal'

Missing special needs support 'a national scandal' Thousands of children missing out on support for diagnosed special educational needs in England is a "national scandal", Ofsted has said.

There are 2,060 children in 2018 who have education, health and care plans (EHCs) setting out their needs, but who receive no support at all.

Some parents said a child is only assessed when they are excluded.

Ofsted chief, Amanda Spielman, also raised the issue of children disappearing from education. BBC News

Four out of 10 cancer patients initially misdiagnosed, finds report warning of pressures in testing

Four out of 10 cancer patients initially misdiagnosed, finds report warning of pressures in testing Four out of ten people with cancer in the UK are misdiagnosed at least once before their disease is identified, according to a report calling for more investment in early testing.

The report, by the All.Can cancer initiative, warns that one in five (21 per cent) of UK patients surveyed said they waited more than six months to get the correct diagnosis.

This failure to provide a quick, accurate diagnosis is costing patients their lives and the NHS money, the group warns. The Independent

See also:

• First findings of All.Can patient survey revealed at UK Parliament event All.Can UK

‘I tried to take my own life. They told me I’d have to wait a month for help’

‘I tried to take my own life. They told me I’d have to wait a month for help’ | Mary O’Hara Despite government promises, mental health services are still failing young people. Here, some of those affected speak out

The word “crisis” comes up a lot whenever children and young people’s mental health is mentioned. Whether it’s youngsters in desperate need of acute care being sent hundreds of miles away for treatment due to local bed shortages, failure to receive help even after their GP has referred them for specialist care, or enduring problems with NHS child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs), patients under 18 find it increasingly difficult to access the support they need. The Guardian

5 million healthy Britons will be tracked in bid to detect disease sooner

5 million healthy Britons will be tracked in bid to detect disease sooner Five million healthy Britons will be tracked for years in attempt to develop artificial intelligence which spots signs of cancer and dementia far earlier.

Ministers said the measures - part of Britain’s industrial strategy - will form the largest ever study of its kind.

The programme to accelerate detection of disease will track detailed clinical information - such as genetic records, scans and samples - from 1 million volunteeers, while regularly questioning a further 4 million patients in order to build a detailed picture. The Daily Telegraph

Nine in 10 adults have unhealthy lifestyles, national survey finds

Nine in 10 adults have unhealthy lifestyles, national survey finds Nine in ten adults have unhealthy lifestyles, fuelling soaring diabetes levels, new figures show.

The survey of 10,000 adults found the vast majority are at risk of a premature death, because of their daily habits.

Excess weight was the biggest factor identified in the Health Survey for England, with two thirds of adults found to be overweight or obese. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Health Survey for England 2017 NHS Digital
• Most adults living unhealthy lifestyles BBC News

Record number of British women are dying because of alcohol as figures show drink-related deaths are up 15% since 2001

Record number of British women are dying because of alcohol as figures show drink-related deaths are up 15% since 2001 More British women than ever are dying from alcohol-related diseases, figures revealed today.

Eight women in every 100,000 across the UK die every year because of conditions caused by boozing.

This figure is the highest it has been since records began in 2001 but still lower than the average of 12.2 deaths, and fewer than half the 16.8 deaths among men.

Hard-drinking baby boomers are also dying young because of their habit. Death rates are highest among women in their late 50s and men in their early 60s. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2017 Office for National Statistics
• Funding to help improve the lives of those affected by alcohol Public Health England
• UK alcohol deaths approaching levels last seen in 2008 recession, ONS data shows The Independent

Kettering General Hospital bereavement facilities get refurbishment

Kettering General Hospital bereavement facilities get refurbishment A charity which supports local families who have lost a baby has paid for a £17,000 refurbishment and expansion of Kettering General Hospital’s bereavement facilities. Northamptonshire SANDS (the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Charity) has been supporting the improvement work since December last year – and it is now complete. Northamptonshire Telegraph

New scanner will help Kettering General Hospital detect womb cancer earlier

New scanner will help Kettering General Hospital detect womb cancer earlier A new high-tech ultrasound scanner which helps in the early detection of womb cancer has been bought for Kettering General Hospital by a cancer charity. Representatives from Leicestershire-based charity Brown Dog have presented the £38,385 Voluson S10 Scanner to the hospital’s gynaecology department. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Free drug and alcohol support and treatment service launched in Northamptonshire

Free drug and alcohol support and treatment service launched in Northamptonshire A new drug and alcohol support and treatment service that is free and confidential has been launched in Northamptonshire after being commissioned by the county council.

STAR, which stands for Support, Treatment, Advice and Recovery was set up with the aim of providing a more accessible prevention and treatment services for those who need it most.

The services can be used by clients themselves, family members of those with drug and alcohol problems and professionals who work with clients with substance misuse issues. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Collapsed OOH contracts transferred to new providers - Health Service Journal

Collapsed OOH contracts transferred to new providers - Health Service Journal Primecare has also withdrawn from out of hours contracts with Walsall, Herefordshire, and Sandwell and West Birmingham CCGs, as well as an end of life care contract with Nene CCG. HSJ

Investigation into the provision of mental health care to patients presenting at the emergency department

Investigation into the provision of mental health care to patients presenting at the emergency department This investigation comprised a series of observational studies, interviews and discussions with subject matter experts to establish how risk to mental health is assessed and then managed nationally in the emergency department report. The report highlights variation in mental health care across emergency departments and sets out four recommendations aimed at improving patient care. CASH

Approaches to better value in the NHS

Approaches to better value in the NHS "This report shares learning and insight from three NHS hospital trusts that have developed organisation-wide strategies for value improvement. It draws on interviews, roundtables and site visits with senior leaders in the NHS who are committed to developing better value services." QIPP @lert 

A vision for population health

A vision for population health "The report outlines a framework for population health centred on four pillars: the wider determinants of health; our health behaviours and lifestyles; the places and communities we live in; an integrated health and care system." King's Fund

Exclusive: Supplier faces 'big penalties' after huge NHS email shutdown - Health Service Journal

Exclusive: Supplier faces 'big penalties' after huge NHS email shutdown - Health Service Journal Consultancy firm Accenture is very likely to face “big penalties” after a software upgrade led to the complete shutdown of the NHS email service, HSJ has been told.

A well placed senior source confirmed the company, which runs NHSmail on behalf of NHS Digital, will be penalised for the shutdown that was linked to a software upgrade which took place several weeks ago.

Accenture had “totally failed” to meet the requirements of its contract with NHS Digital and would face big penalties, HSJ was told by sources familiar with discussions.

HSJ was also told the error should have been detected in testing or in the weeks after the software upgrade. When the failure did occur, backup systems should have kicked in, but did not. HSJ

Baby boomers increasingly being admitted to hospital for drug-related mental health problems - Telegraph.co.uk

Baby boomers increasingly being admitted to hospital for drug-related mental health problems - Telegraph.co.uk
Baby boomers with a relaxed attitude to drugs are increasingly being admitted to hospital with mental health problems, new NHS figures have revealed.

Admissions for drug related mental and behavioural disorders for those aged 45 and over have increased by 85 per cent over the last decade, compared with just a one per cent rise amongst those under 45.

There has also been a 32 per cent increase in admissions for poisoning as a result of drug use in those aged 55 and over in the last six years, according to NHS Digital. Telegraph

Children given antibiotics which should only be used sparingly

Children given antibiotics which should only be used sparingly Children are too often being prescribed antibiotics that have been put on a list of treatments that should only be used sparingly because of fears of the development of superbugs.

An analysis of sales in the community of oral antibiotics specially formulated for children in 70 high and middle-income countries has found that consumption of the drugs varies widely from country to country.

In a quarter of all countries antibiotics which should only be used under certain strict circumstances accounted for 20 per cent of total antibiotic consumption. Telegraph

Transgender services GP fined £12,000 over registration failure

Transgender services GP fined £12,000 over registration failure The GP prosecuted for failing to register her online advice services for transgender patients with a health regulator in Wales says she has moved her service to England.

But Helen Webberley admits she has still not registered with inspectors there either.

She was fined £12,000 by a district judge who called the offence "serious". BBC News

See also:

• GP convicted of running illegal transgender clinic for children Telegraph

Red tape preventing cancer patients from accessing new drugs

Red tape preventing cancer patients from accessing new drugs Cancer patients are missing out on innovative new drugs, with red tape covering clinical trials and licensing among the factors to blame, according to a report by the UK’s Institute of Cancer Research.

Children’s cancers have received little in the way of new treatments, a finding the authors put down to drug companies failing to invest in these rare conditions and using regulatory loopholes to avoid conducting the necessary clinical trials.

The report finds that recent years have seen a boom in new drugs for blood cancers and lung cancer, but some other cancers have had no new drugs licensed since 2000. The Guardian

Hospitals report warns against volunteers doing work of NHS staff

Hospitals report warns against volunteers doing work of NHS staff Volunteers play a vital role in hospitals such as by doing tea rounds and fetching medications but should never be required to do the work of trained staff, according to a report.
An estimated 78,000 volunteers perform a variety of roles in NHS hospitals across England. Richard Murray, the director of policy at the King’s Fund thinktank, which conducted the study, said that while it found frontline staff appreciated volunteers, that was “provided they were not being used as substitutes for paid staff”. The Guardian

See also:

• Volunteers reduce pressure on frontline NHS staff, report finds OnMedica
• Volunteers reduce pressure on frontline NHS staff, report finds King's Fund

NHS to introduce mental health checks for new fathers

NHS to introduce mental health checks for new fathers New fathers and fathers-to-be will be offered mental health checks if their partner is suffering anxiety, psychosis or postnatal depression, NHS England has announced.

While it is well recognised that pregnant women and and new mothers can experience mental health problems, little attention has been paid to their partners. The Guardian

See also:

• Perinatal mental health support to be expanded to partners of mothers Nursing Times
• Mental health checks for new fathers BBC News
• Partners of new mums with mental illness set to get targeted support on the NHS NHS England

Northamptonshire Council: Government takes over children's services

Northamptonshire Council: Government takes over children's services The government has taken over a cash-strapped council's children's services department after a report found people in its care were at "potential risk".

Earlier this month, a letter from Ofsted to the chief executive of Northamptonshire County Council said its social workers were "overwhelmed".

The government says the council's children's services is failing to perform "to an adequate standard".

The authority has twice banned itself from spending in 2018 amid cash issues. BBC Northampton

Tackling HIV stigma in the health service

Tackling HIV stigma in the health service The past 30 years have seen huge advances in the medical treatment of HIV, with life expectancyin those diagnosed in the UK today similar to that in the general population. Despite the fact that we have surpassed the UNAIDS targets on diagnosis and treatment, stigmatising attitudestowards people living with HIV have persisted and are experienced even within the health service. Last year, a report from The King's Fund recommended that the Department of Health and NHS England should work together to make the NHS 'an exemplar of zero stigma'. So how big an issue is stigma within the health service today and what can be done to tackle it? The King's Fund

Understanding the new commissioning system in England: contexts, mechanisms and outcomes

Understanding the new commissioning system in England: contexts, mechanisms and outcomes This study explores how the new commissioning system is functioning after reorganisation of the NHS in England in 2012. This research aimed to assess the impact of the reforms on the operation and outcomes of the commissioning system. Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System

'The NHS turned its back on mum - and it cost us £250,000'

'The NHS turned its back on mum - and it cost us £250,000' Spending on vital care services for the elderly has been cut by a quarter per head since 2010, a BBC analysis shows. It has left growing numbers of families struggling to get the help they need. One family caught in this trap told the BBC about their struggles. BBC News

Excess winter deaths highest since 1970s, says ONS

Excess winter deaths highest since 1970s, says ONS There were around 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017-18 - the highest since the winter of 1975-76, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

The increase is thought to be down to the flu, the ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine in older people and spells of very cold weather last winter.

Most excess deaths occurred in women and the over-85s. BBC News

NHS hospitals treat soaring number of older people for drug misuse

NHS hospitals treat soaring number of older people for drug misuse Number of over-45s in England admitted with drug-related mental problems rose 85% over decade

Growing numbers of middle-aged and older people are ending up in hospital suffering serious mental health problems after taking drugs, new NHS statistics reveal.

The number of people in England aged 45 and above admitted with a drug-related mental and behavioural disorder has soared 85% over the last decade. The Guardian

NHS chiefs look to scrap four-hour A&E maximum wait

NHS chiefs look to scrap four-hour A&E maximum wait Patients with minor ailments would miss out in change to targets

NHS bosses are considering a shake-up of A&E care that could lead to patients with only minor ailments no longer being guaranteed that they will be treated within four hours.

Under the plans being examined, people with non-urgent medical needs would be advised to seek help at a GP surgery, walk-in centre or pharmacy instead – or face a long wait in A&E. The Guardian

Matt Hancock accused of breaching code over GP app endorsement

Matt Hancock accused of breaching code over GP app endorsement Labour calls for inquiry after health secretary praised firm in paid-for newspaper articles

Labour is demanding an inquiry after Matt Hancock, the health secretary, was accused of breaking the ministerial code by endorsing a private healthcare company in a sponsored newspaper supplement.

An interview with Hancock appeared in the Evening Standard’s Future London Health supplement, which was paid for by Babylon. In the feature, Hancock praised the company’s GP at Hand app, which allows users to have video consultations with doctors via their smartphone. Hancock is an ally of George Osborne, the editor of the Evening Standard. The Guardian

GP surgery closures 'will see 3 million patients lose out in the next year'

GP surgery closures 'will see 3 million patients lose out in the next year'  GP surgery closures will see 3 million patients lose out in the next year, according to a survey by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

A total of five per cent of GPs reported their practice was likely to close within the next year - equating to over 350 practices in the UK.

It comes amid widespread concern over the ability to fill roles in the sector as more and more GPs retire early or move to work in the private sector. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• College calls for greater efforts to keep existing GPs in the profession delivering patient care Royal College of General Practitioners 
• Millions could lose GP next year as staff shortages and stress force doctors to close surgeries, study claims The Independent

'Fake' paramedic treats more than 100 patients in London before being discovered

'Fake' paramedic treats more than 100 patients in London before being discovered A  “fake” paramedic is believed to have treated more than 100 patients in London this summer, it has emerged.

The trainee member of staff with the London Ambulance Service flunked his paramedic exams but carried out “unauthorised” responses to 999 calls for several weeks.

It is understood he was able to pose as a qualified paramedic by infiltrating an internal computer system used by emergency crews while they are on duty. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Man who pretended to be a paramedic and 'treated' more than 100 patients faces criminal investigation The Independent

NHS whistleblower forced to withdraw claims after being threatened with 'life changing' costs

NHS whistleblower forced to withdraw claims after being threatened with 'life changing' costs A junior doctor has been forced to withdraw whistleblowing allegations against the NHS claiming he was threatened with ‘life-changing’ legal costs if he lost the case.

Dr Chris Day, 32, flagged concerns about understaffing at an intensive care unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich in 2013 but was stripped of his Health Education England (HEE) training number, and forced out of his job. The Daily Telegraph

Late and weekend GP appointments available in Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough...but not Corby

Late and weekend GP appointments available in Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough...but not Corby A service which makes GP appointments available in the evening and at weekends has been rolled out across Northamptonshire - but not in Corby.

In 2014 the Government pledged to extend opening hours at GP surgeries across the country and Nene CCG is the latest to introduce the GP Extended Access Service. The service means appointments will be available until 8pm from Monday to Friday and in the mornings at the weekends and on bank holidays at central surgeries. But surgeries in Corby overseen by Corby CCG - the smallest CCG in the country - are yet to have the GP Extended Access Service. A Corby CCG spokesman said evening appointments would be available from April next year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Celebrating 20 years of Kettering’s Cransley Hospice

Celebrating 20 years of Kettering’s Cransley Hospice Twenty years ago this month, one of Kettering’s most important institutions was born. Cransley Hospice opened in November 1998 on the ground floor of Sunley Court having been formed by Dr John Smith. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northants trust that went from 'requires improvement' to 'outstanding' in three years wins award

Northants trust that went from 'requires improvement' to 'outstanding' in three years wins award
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is celebrating after being named trust of the year at the Health Service Journal Awards in London.

This accolade - presented to the team last week in London - comes just months after NHFT was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The trust says the award reflects the positive feedback it receives from their patients and is a huge testament to their staff that work hard every day to make a difference to those they care for across community, mental health, learning disability and speciality services – including prison healthcare. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering General Hospital to hold baby roadshow

Kettering General Hospital to hold baby roadshow A pregnancy and baby roadshow is being hosted by Kettering General Hospital to help hundreds of parents-to-be to prepare for their big day and subsequently care for their baby. The event, on Wednesday, December 5, is the 30th in 20 years and it will provide a huge range of advice on all aspects of pregnancy and baby care. It is being held at The Hall@KGH (the recreation hall next to car park B at the main KGH site) from 6pm-8pm. Northamptonshire Telegraph

KGH introduces state-of-the-art feedback system

KGH introduces state-of-the-art feedback system Kettering General Hospital has introduced a new way for patients to give feedback about their hospital experience. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Significantly more girls access mental health services in Northamptonshire, new report reveals

Significantly more girls access mental health services in Northamptonshire, new report reveals  Youngsters battling mental health issues in Northamptonshire say long waiting times are the most common challenge they face when trying to access help.

More than 700 responses from young people between the ages of 11-19 years old in this county have been collated by Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire in their new emotional wellbeing report, published yesterday (November 29).

The report pinpoints over 60 per cent of young people wished to receive support at school and significantly more girls (43 per cent) said they had needed to access support for their emotional well being, compared to a smaller percentage of their male counterparts (26 per cent). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Better information for paramedics and mental health nurses

Better information for paramedics and mental health nurses NHS Digital has taken a crucial step towards a more joined-up health and care system with the launch of the new national record locator service.

The service will allow triage personnel such as mental health nurses and paramedics, who are called to a patient in distress, to find out whether a patient they are treating has a mental health crisis plan. NHS Networks

Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment

Type 2 diabetes: NHS to offer 800-calorie diet treatment Thousands of people with type 2 diabetes in England are to be prescribed a very low-calorie diet in the hope of reversing their condition.

Under the pilot they will be restricted to 800 calories a day, in the form of soups and shakes, for three months. When the diet was trialled last year, almost half of those involved managed to put their diabetes into remission. NHS England has also announced it's expanding a programme to prevent people developing type 2 diabetes. The health service currently spends around 10% of its budget on treating diabetes in England.  BBC News - Health

See Also:

• Very low calorie diets part of NHS action to tackle growing obesity and Type 2 diabetes epidemic NHS England
• GPs to prescribe very low calorie diets in hope of reversing diabetes The Guardian
• NHS pins hopes on liquid-only diet to reverse diabetes in thousands of overweight adults  The Telegraph

Government set to relax restrictions on non-EU doctors

Government set to relax restrictions on non-EU doctors The government is set to relax its immigration rules to let more foreign doctors come to Britain to help tackle the NHS’s widespread shortages of medics, the Guardian can reveal.

Ministers have agreed to significantly expand the 1,500 doctors a year allowed to come and work in Britain under the medical training initiative (MTI). The move could result in the maximum number of non-EU medics able to come rising to as many as 3,000. The Guardian

Measles resurgence 'due to vaccine hesitancy', WHO warns

Measles resurgence 'due to vaccine hesitancy', WHO warns There has been a worldwide resurgence of measles, with many countries experiencing "severe and protracted" outbreaks last year, a report warns.

The World Health Organization data shows a rise in cases in almost every region of the world, with 30% more cases in 2017 than 2016. Experts say complacency, collapsing health systems and a rise in fake news about the vaccine are behind the rise. BBC News - Health

The latest figures on the NHS's performance

The latest figures on the NHS's performance The Long Term Plan for the NHS will signal a reset on performance over the next five years, as frontline staff and managers continue to ensure record numbers of patients get the healthcare and support they need.

Our latest report on the performance of the provider sector, covering July to September 2018, shows that hospitals admitted nearly 1,000 more emergency patients a day than in the same period last year, treating 5.52 million patients within the four-hour target.

On top of this, hospitals have been able to discharge more patients from their services sooner, including reducing the number of beds occupied by patients who have been there for more than three weeks (classed as a ‘long-stay patients’), freeing up the equivalent of 2,470 beds in time for winter. NHS Improvement

See Also:

• The King's Fund responds to NHS Improvement's report on the performance of the NHS provider sector King's Fund