PHE publish investigative report on increasing crack use

PHE publish investigative report on increasing crack use Public Health England and the Home Office have published a summary of findings from the Increase in crack cocaine use inquiry, an investigative report on crack cocaine use in 6 areas of England.

This publication follows evidence reported in the 2018 Serious Violence Strategy, that drugs have been an important driver of the increase in serious violence in England and Wales since 2014.

See also:

• Research and analysis: Crack cocaine increase: inquiry findings Public Health England 
• Crack use up in England after 'aggressive marketing' BBC News
• Buy one, get one free offers and free samples fuelling boom in crack cocaine consumption, report warns The Independent

Contracting arrangements for integrated care providers: response to consultation

Contracting arrangements for integrated care providers: response to consultation NHS England has published its response following a consultation held about a new contract which can help local health and care communities provide better care for patients. Around 3,800 written responses and feedback from stakeholder events across the country were received about plans for an Integrated Care Provider (ICP) Contract, which will be an option to help local systems integrate care. The feedback will be used to further develop the ICP Contract, which will be available in its updated form as an option for use in local health and care systems from spring 2019.

World Happiness Report 2019

World Happiness Report 2019 The World Happiness Report is a survey of the state of global happiness that ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. This year’s report focuses on happiness and the community - how happiness has evolved over the past dozen years, with a focus on the technologies, social norms, conflicts and government policies that have driven those changes. Finland was ranked highest for the second year in a row, while South Sudan ranked lowest. The UK was placed fifteenth. United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network

NICEimpact mental health

NICEimpact mental health One in 4 adults experiences a mental health condition in any given year, and mental health conditions are the largest single cause of disability in the UK. This report considers how NICE’s evidence-based guidance can contribute to improvements in the care of people with mental health conditions.

Male pill - why are we still waiting?

Male pill - why are we still waiting? A birth control pill for men has passed initial human safety tests, experts at a leading medical conference have heard.

The once-daily pill contains hormones designed to stop sperm production.

It would be a welcome addition to condoms or vasectomy - the only options currently available to men.

But doctors at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting were told it could still take a decade to bring it to market. BBC News

Coroners could investigate stillbirths, say ministers

Coroners could investigate stillbirths, say ministers Coroners in England and Wales may be given new powers to investigate stillbirths, so that each baby death is independently assessed.

The government is consulting on the move to help bereaved parents gain answers on what went wrong and why and to help prevent more baby deaths.

Nine babies are stillborn every day in the UK. That's one in every 225 births, although rates have been going down.

In many cases, doctors are unable to tell parents why their baby died. BBC News

GPs fuelling Britain's poor cancer survival rates by failing to refer patients to specialists, Imperial study finds

GPs fuelling Britain's poor cancer survival rates by failing to refer patients to specialists, Imperial study finds GPs are fuelling Britain's poor cancer survival rates, with significantly better results seen in countries which allow patients to access hospitals directly, a study suggests.

Researchers said the NHS system of “gatekeeping” - meaning that patients have to see a family doctor before being allowed to undergo tests or get a specialist assessment - was also linked with lower satisfaction among patients. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• GPs will always put the needs of the patient first, says RCGP in response to research study on the 'gatekeeping' role of general practice in the NHS Royal College of General Practitioners

Spending too much time sitting down kills 50,000 Brits each year

Spending too much time sitting down kills 50,000 Brits each year Inactivity is killing nearly 70,000 people in the UK every year, a study has found.

Experts warn Britain runs on a 'sitting-based economy' in which the vast majority of working adults spend their days bound to a desk.

Some 30 per cent of us spend at least six hours a day seated during the week.

But tellingly, at the weekend this figure goes up to 37 per cent, suggesting we are even lazier in our leisure time. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Direct healthcare costs of sedentary behaviour in the UK (open access) Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
• Sitting down for too long may be causing 70,000 UK deaths a year The Guardian
• Too much sitting time linked to thousands of deaths OnMedica

Social media companies must stamp out 'damaging' anti-vaxxer myths, Health Secretary warns

Social media companies must stamp out 'damaging' anti-vaxxer myths, Health Secretary warns Social media giants must do more to crack down on 'damaging' anti-vaccination myths, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

He said social networking sites, of which the biggest include Facebook and Twitter, must police the spread of anti-vaxxers' propaganda.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the cabinet minister even suggested spreading lies about vaccines online could become illegal. The Daily Mail

Man is circumcised by MISTAKE after NHS surgeons mixed up his paperwork

Man is circumcised by MISTAKE after NHS surgeons mixed up his paperwork An NHS report reveals the man - who has not been named - was scheduled to have a cystoscopy procedure at University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust last September. The Daily Mail

Northampton nursing partnership shortlisted for prestigious Student Nursing Times Award

Northampton nursing partnership shortlisted for prestigious Student Nursing Times Award
A partnership to get student nurses into training at a Northampton mental health hospital has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The Student Nursing Times Awards 2019 has shortlisted St Andrew’s Healthcare and the University of Northampton in the ‘Partnership of the Year’ category. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Tuberculosis cases in England hit lowest ever levels

Tuberculosis cases in England hit lowest ever levels New cases of tuberculosis (TB) in England have fallen to the lowest levels since records began in 1960.

Following action by PHE, the NHS and others, there was a 44% drop in new diagnoses from the peak in 2011 to 2018 (from 8,280 to 4,672), with an 8.4% fall in diagnoses between 2017 and 2018 alone. Public Health England

Transplant service at 'breaking point'

Transplant service at 'breaking point' A leading transplant surgeon says that services are struggling to keep up with demand. BBC News

Advertising watchdog rules fake autism 'cure' adverts must stop

Advertising watchdog rules fake autism 'cure' adverts must stop Advertising watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ordered 150 homeopaths operating in the UK to stop claiming they can cure autism.

Five of them face prosecution for advertising a treatment called Cease therapy, which has no scientific basis and is potentially harmful.

The National Autistic Society says autism is part of who people are and it is wrong to claim that it can be cured.

The Society of Homeopaths said the therapy may now be renamed. BBC News

The drugs don’t work: what happens after antibiotics?

The drugs don’t work: what happens after antibiotics? Antibiotic resistance is growing so fast that routine surgery could soon become impossible. But scientists are fighting back in the battle against infection. The Guardian

NHS trusts call in the bailiffs to chase ineligible patients’ debts

NHS trusts call in the bailiffs to chase ineligible patients’ debts Despite their heavy-handed methods the collection firms manage to recoup very little

Three-quarters of NHS hospital trusts in England are using private debt firms to chase treatment costs from overseas patients and refused asylum seekers in a practice branded “inhumane” by critics, the Observer can reveal.

No advice in place for patients in England if drug supplies dry up

No advice in place for patients in England if drug supplies dry up Concerns some may go online to get medication if supplies are hit by a no-deal Brexit

Neither the Department of Health and Social Care nor NHS England has any official advice for patients in England about what they should do if they are left unable to get hold of their normal drugs.

The Patients Association campaign group is advising people who cannot access drugs from their GP or pharmacy to contact their local clinical commissioning group (CCG). The Guardian

Whistleblowing NHS worker to challenge NDA in test case for gagging orders

Whistleblowing NHS worker to challenge NDA in test case for gagging orders Aradiographer who blew the whistle on NHS malpractice is to challenge the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she was asked to sign, in a hearing which could have major implications for the future of gagging orders. The Daily Telegraph

NHS staff are turning down shifts in fear of landing massive tax bills, it's claimed

NHS staff are turning down shifts in fear of landing massive tax bills, it's claimed Patients are suffering delays to operations and cancer diagnosis because NHS staff are turning down extra shifts in fear of being landed with massive tax bills, it was claimed yesterday. The Daily Mail

NHS could pay for more than 250,000 extra patients per year to be sent to private hospitals

NHS could pay for more than 250,000 extra patients per year to be sent to private hospitals A quarter of a million more people each year could be sent to private hospitals paid for by the NHS under new plans to cut waiting times.

Health service bosses will trial an option for patients to have private treatment if they have been kept waiting more than six-and-a-half months.

Based on the number of people who waited longer than 26 weeks for non-urgent care last year, this could affect hundreds of thousands of patients. The Daily Mail

What will the proposed A&E waiting time targets mean for patients?

What will the proposed A&E waiting time targets mean for patients? With urgent and emergency care one of the most contentious areas in the NHS, Sarah Scobie explores how the new A&E measures will impact patients. Nuffield Trust

NHS waiting times for elective and cancer treatment

NHS waiting times for elective and cancer treatment While the NHS has increased the number of people it treats each year, the percentage of patients treated within waiting time standards continues to get worse for both elective (non-urgent care) and cancer treatment, and the waiting list for elective care continues to grow, according to today’s report by the National Audit Office.

The NAO has found that while increased demand and funding constraints affect the entire system, other factors that are linked to declining waiting time performance include NHS staff shortages for diagnostic services, a lack of available beds and pressure on trusts from emergency care.

See also:

• New report shows the extreme pressures the NHS is under The Health Foundation
• Rise in NHS waiting times could fuel increase in negligence claims The Daily Telegraph
• Expect a rise in patients suing NHS over long waits, watchdog warns The Guardian

No room at the inn: how easy is it for nomadic Gypsies and Travellers to access primary care?

No room at the inn: how easy is it for nomadic Gypsies and Travellers to access primary care? This reports the findings of a mystery shopping exercise in which the charity contacted 50 GP practices posing as a patient wishing to register who didn’t have a fixed address or proof of identity. It found that almost half of practices would not register them. Despite this, every GP practice was rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission for their work with ‘People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable’. Friends, Families and Travellers

Health visiting: giving children the best start in life

Health visiting: giving children the best start in life The health visiting service plays a crucial role in giving children the best start in life and this collection of case studies shows how councils have embraced the opportunity to make a difference in this key development stage. Local Government Association

Integrated homes, care and support measurable outcomes for healthy ageing

Integrated homes, care and support measurable outcomes for healthy ageing This report provides an overview of the research findings from the collaborative research project between Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing (ARCHA) and the ExtraCare Charitable Trust. This report extends the findings of the 2015 report, covering the period from 2012 to 2018. Throughout the report, the focus is on the benefits to residents generated through ExtraCare villages and schemes, including sustained improvements in markers of health and well-being for residents and subsequent cost implications for the NHS. The Extra Care Charitable Trust

Health apps pose 'unprecedented' privacy risks

Health apps pose 'unprecedented' privacy risks Using popular health apps could mean private information about medical conditions is not kept confidential, researchers warn.

Of 24 health apps in the BMJ study, 19 shared user data with companies, including Facebook, Google and Amazon.

It warns this could then be passed on to other organisations such as credit agencies or used to target advertising.

And data was shared despite developers often claiming they did not collect personally identifiable information. BBC News

See also:

• Data sharing practices of medicines related apps and the mobile ecosystem: traffic, content, and network analysis The BMJ
• Commercial health apps: in the user’s interest? The BMJ
• Many common health apps are sharing potentially sensitive medical data with third parties The Daily Mail

Government orders hospitals not to reveal Brexit impact assessments to protect 'commercial interests'

Government orders hospitals not to reveal Brexit impact assessments to protect 'commercial interests' Hospitals have been ordered not to tell the public about any damage they expect to suffer from Brexit because it would hurt “commercial interests”.

Requests for information about the impact on the supply of goods and services, and on EU staff numbers, should be refused, the department of health and social care has said.

Releasing the information could cause trusts “premature financial harm, and so possibly put public wellbeing at risk,” hospital bosses were told. The Independent

Government spending on ‘lifeline’ children’s Sure Start centres slashed by nearly £157m in four years

Government spending on ‘lifeline’ children’s Sure Start centres slashed by nearly £157m in four years Spending on Sure Start centres across England has been slashed by nearly a quarter in four years, figures show, as thousands of vulnerable children and families are left to “fend for themselves”.

A new analysis of government data shows councils spent £480m on children’s centres in 2017-18 – almost 25 per cent less than the £637m spent in 2014-15.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said the cuts to early help services were the result of an increase in spending on children in care, with the number of looked-after children in England at its highest level since the 1980s. The Independent

Home smear tests to be rolled out in England to combat low turnout

Home smear tests to be rolled out in England to combat low turnout Charities say move could reverse decline of cervical cancer screenings

Women will be able to conduct tests for the HPV virus at home as part of a pilot scheme to combat the low up-take of cervical cancer screenings in England.

Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said self-testing could help reverse the decline by allowing women to use the kits in the comfort of their own home. The Guardian

Colleagues dismiss me as a 'demi-doc' but my role eases NHS understaffing

Colleagues dismiss me as a 'demi-doc' but my role eases NHS understaffing Advanced clinical practitioners are experienced healthcare professionals, but the role isn’t widely respected

I walk the corridors of most UK hospitals nowadays as an unknown entity. I go unnoticed as I mingle with the flocks of junior and middle-grade doctors during a ward round. I am indistinguishable due to my clinical camouflage of a stethoscope, pen torch and a (probably stolen) biro. I am neither doctor nor nurse; not a physiotherapist, operating department practitioner or paramedic. Yet my role can be all these things at once. I am an advanced clinical practitioner (ACP) and the role has been promoted as a novel solution to an age-old problem: chronic understaffing in healthcare. The Guardian

Royal College of Physicians drops their opposition to assisted dying, following controversial poll

Royal College of Physicians drops their opposition to assisted dying,  following controversial poll The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has dropped its opposition to assisted dying, following a controversial poll.

The college will adopt a “neutral” stance after a survey of its 36,000 members about whether the law should be changed to permit doctor-assisted dying.

The poll found 43.4 per cent of respondents were opposed to a change in the law - little different to a finding of 44.4 per cent when the poll was conducted in 2014.

The number wanting the college to support assisted dying increased to 31.6 per cent from 24.6 per cent. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• No majority view on assisted dying moves RCP position to neutral Royal College of Physicians 
• Assisted dying: Doctors' group adopts neutral position BBC News
• Royal College of Physicians drops opposition to assisted dying The Independent

Record numbers of patients are being readmitted to hospitals in an emergency, NHS figures show

Record numbers of patients are being readmitted to hospitals in an emergency, NHS figures show The number of people being readmitted to hospital in emergency has hit a record high, NHS figures show.

Patients are being sent home to care for themselves too soon in order to free up beds for others, experts warned.

The provisional data, published for the first time in five years, shows more burden being placed on an already-stretched health force.

Hundreds of thousands of patients were readmitted to hospital as an emergency last year within 30 days of being discharged. The Daily Mail

Childcare offered for free to smear-test mums

Childcare offered for free to smear-test mums Dozens of childcare providers across the UK are offering to look after children for free to enable mothers to attend cervical screening appointments.

Public Health England is currently spearheading a campaign to increase take-up rates of tests, said to be the lowest for about 20 years.

Some providers are offering an hour's free care, saying: "A child needs their mummy." BBC Northampton

Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce

Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce The workforce challenges currently facing the health service pose a threat to the delivery and quality of care over the next 10 years. In advance of the NHS's workforce implementation plan later this year, the Nuffield Trust has joined forces with the Health Foundation and The King's Fund to outline a detailed and costed set of solutions for overhauling how the NHS recruits and keeps its staff, provided this can be backed by £900m a year in investment.

See  also:

• Offer £5,200 grants to nursing students and ramp up overseas recruitment to stop NHS workforce crisis The Health Foundation
• Workforce report shows need for £900 million more invested annually to boost NHS staff numbers NHS Employers
• We must never give up on building the GP workforce says College Royal College of General Practitioners
• NHS 'no chance of training enough staff' BBC News
• NHS staff crisis can’t be fixed just by training more GPs, major report claims The Daily Mail
• Shortage of GPs will never end, health experts say The Guardian

Home to the unknown: getting hospital discharge right

Home to the unknown: getting hospital discharge right This research explored patients’ unplanned stays in hospital and what it was like for them after they had returned home. More specifically, the research sought to reveal: patients’ experiences of being discharged from hospital; hospital systems and healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions of the discharge process; and what it was like for people returning home from hospital feeling more or less prepared. As a result, it aimed to explore the impact of discharge on recovery and wellbeing and to identify opportunities to improve systems, communication and support. British Red Cross

Exploring variations in the opportunity cost cost-effectiveness threshold by clinical area: results from a feasibility study in England

Exploring variations in the opportunity cost cost-effectiveness threshold by clinical area: results from a feasibility study in England This research paper provides empirical evidence on the relationship between health outcomes and health expenditures in England. Results suggest that setting a cost-effectiveness criterion for NICE may not be capable of being synthesised using scientific methods alone, but involve political judgements. Office of Health Economics

Unprecedented drug shortage linked to Brexit, NHS bosses say

Unprecedented drug shortage linked to Brexit, NHS bosses say Hospitals across England are experiencing medicine shortages because of "stockpiling and price pressure as the Brexit deadline approaches", NHS Providers has told BBC Newsnight.

The trade association warned some trusts had seen shortages of up to 160 different drugs in the past six weeks.

This was compared with just 25 to 30 drugs in normal times, it said.

The Department of Health said there was "no evidence" the "small number of supply issues" were related to Brexit. BBC News

Instagram eating disorder content 'out of control'

Instagram eating disorder content 'out of control' Content on Instagram that encourages eating disorders is "spiralling out of control", psychiatrists have warned.

A BBC investigation found children swapping graphic images of weight loss and advice on how to make their illnesses more extreme.

Dr Jon Goldin, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said "vulnerable" people were finding peer groups online.

Instagram says it does not allow content encouraging or promoting eating disorders and removes it when aware. BBC News

Genetic testing ‘will save NHS time & money’ - Hancock

Genetic testing ‘will save NHS time & money’ - Hancock Genetic testing will save the NHS time and money in the long-term by encouraging people to work with clinicians in taking better care of themselves, Matt Hancock has claimed, although they will need help and support to make sense of their genetic data. The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) agreed with the health and social care secretary that the information will need to be handled sensitively and ethically, and it warned that an increase in testing of "unimportant or dubious value" will lead to confusion and distress, and to an increasing number of people visiting their GP worried about their results. OnMedica

See also:

• Genetic testing should never be taken lightly, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Hancock accused of 'astonishing ignorance' after he speaks about his prostate cancer risk The Daily Telegraph
• Health secretary wants NHS to roll out genetic tests to detect diseases The Guardian
• ‘Astonishing level of ignorance’: Matt Hancock criticised for revealing results of his genetic test for diseases The Independent

Disabled woman dies after having all her teeth removed in operation 'without consent'

Disabled woman dies after having all her teeth removed in operation 'without consent' The mother of a disabled woman who died after having all of her teeth removed by a dentist at an NHS trust claims she did not consent to the operation.

Rachel Johnston, 49, collapsed shortly after being discharged from Kidderminster Hospital following the treatment in October 2018 and was readmitted but died three weeks later. The Independent

NHS removes cervical screening contract from Capita

NHS removes cervical screening contract from Capita Outsourced service’s blunders led to nearly 50,000 women not receiving vital information

NHS chiefs are bringing the cervical screening service back in-house after expressing dissatisfaction at the way it has been performing.

The chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, told the Commons public accounts committee that the changes would come into force from June. The Guardian

UK retirees in EU say NHS plans under no-deal Brexit are 'sick'

UK retirees in EU say NHS plans under no-deal Brexit are 'sick' Government offer to cover NHS costs for up to one year are insulting, says expat group

The government has been described as sick and uncaring by an organisation representing more than 10,000 British nationals in Europe over NHS healthcare plans for pensioners in a no-deal Brexit scenario.

British nationals who have retired to EU countries have reacted with fury to what they describe as an insulting and offensive offer by the government to cover healthcare costs for up to one year if they had applied for or are undergoing treatment before exit day. The Guardian

Dementia rates falling thanks to smoking reductions, report finds

Dementia rates falling thanks to smoking reductions, report finds The risk of developing dementia is falling, thanks to lifestyle improvements such as reductions in smoking, new research has found.

Researchers have said that while the overall number of cases is rising due to the population living longer, an individual’s chances of having the disease is going down.

A review of five studies including nearly 60,000 people across Europe and the US found that rates are declining by up to 15 per cent every 10 years. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Dementia incidence: three decades of data (video) The Video Journal of Dementia
• Dementia rates are falling in Europe and the US and experts credit decline of smoking The Independent

Travellers are being refused GP appointments after surgeries insist patients have a fixed address

Travellers are being refused GP appointments after surgeries insist patients have a fixed address Travellers are being refused GP care due to them not having a fixed address or proof of ID, a charity has warned.

The Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) charity conducted a 'mystery shopper' experiment where prospective patients contacted 50 GP surgeries, telling them they were of Traveller origin.

Twenty-four of the clinics refused or were unable to register the patients, of which 17 claimed they required ID and/or 12 said they could not sign them up without a fixed address.

This is despite NHS guidance stating patients do not require ID, an address or immigration status. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Travellers turned away from GP surgeries despite NHS guidance The Guardian

Learning from deaths: a review of the first year of NHS trusts implementing the national guidance

Learning from deaths: a review of the first year of NHS trusts implementing the national guidance Since September 2017, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has been assessing NHS trusts’ implementation of national guidance on learning from deaths as part of CQC's well-led inspections. This report provides a very first look at observations from CQC inspection teams, as well as an indication of the types of enablers and barriers that trusts have faced in implementing the guidance, and is not necessarily representative of all trusts’ experiences.

Official Statistics: Children living with parents in emotional distress: 2019 update

Official Statistics: Children living with parents in emotional distress: 2019 update The proportion of children living with at least one parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress, by family type and work status. Public Health England.

See also:

• One in three children lives with a parent suffering emotional distress - the highest on record The Daily Mail

Potent cannabis increases risk of serious mental illness, says study

Potent cannabis increases risk of serious mental illness, says study  Smoking potent 'skunk-like' cannabis increases your risk of serious mental illness, say researchers.

They estimate around one in 10 new cases of psychosis may be associated with strong cannabis, based on their study of European cities and towns. BBC News

Austerity measures may have undermined cuts in child mortality rates

Austerity measures may have undermined cuts in child mortality rates Years of austerity may have undermined progress in reducing infant deaths made under previous Labour governments, according to a study.

A focus on social policies such as increased family support and access to healthcare in deprived parts of England under New Labour coincided with a drop in mortalities for babies across the country. The Independent

See also:

• The impact of New Labour’s English health inequalities strategy on geographical inequalities in infant mortality: a time-trend analysis (open access)  Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

No-deal ferry plans to protect NHS supplies to be triggered

No-deal ferry plans to protect NHS supplies to be triggered Action to safeguard imports of medicines to begin this week despite likely Brexit delay

No-deal contingency plans to safeguard medicine imports are set to be triggered on Wednesday, despite the potential delay to Brexit, with approved suppliers told to book space on the government’s emergency ferry service.

Although the prime minister is to request an extension to article 50 which would postpone Britain’s departure from the EU, Whitehall will enact plans to ensure the flow of critical supplies should Dover be gridlocked after 29 March. The Guardian

NHS chiefs attack plans to scrap four hour A&E targets, warning against attempts to 'keep ministers happy'

NHS chiefs attack plans to scrap four hour A&E targets, warning against attempts to 'keep ministers happy'  Hospital chief executives have attacked plans to scrap four-hour A&E targets, suggesting the moves are being politically driven because deadlines are not being met.

Last week NHS England said it would test a new system, which officials said would mean speedier care for the most urgent cases.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine expressed alarm that the plans could mean most patients have no deadline for treatment, leaving millions to wait longer. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• RCEM release position statement on metrics to supplement four-hour target Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• Scrapping four-hour A&E target ‘could be detrimental’ to patients – hospital boss East Anglian Daily Times

Medicinal cannabis has opened a 'Pandora's box', Chief Medical Officer says

Medicinal cannabis has opened a 'Pandora's box', Chief Medical Officer says The introduction of medicinal cannabis has “opened a Pandora’s box”, with patients believing the drug can cure multiple conditions, the Chief Medical Officer has said.

Dame Sally Davies told MPs that despite being recently legalised for medical use, there is currently insufficient evidence to prove the products are both effective and safe. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Medicinal cannabis: 'patients still in limbo' BBC News

Thousands of cataracts patients are missing out on vital surgery because of NHS rationing

Thousands of cataracts patients are missing out on vital surgery because of NHS rationing More than half of local NHS boards in England are rationing access to cataract surgery, a report has revealed.

A total of 104 out of 195 commissioning groups have the surgery on their list of 'procedures of limited clinical value', meaning they limit who can have them.

Cataract surgery is the most common operation done by the NHS, with more than 300,000 of the procedures performed each year.

Dozens of NHS groups are also rationing hip and knee replacements, hernia repair operations, and certain diabetic glucose monitors in a bid to save money. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cataract patients across England being denied NHS surgery The Medical Technology Group
• More than half of NHS authorities rationing cataract operations The Daily Telegraph
• NHS England restricts patients' access to cataract removal The Guardian

One in 20 women injured in the vaginal mesh scandal have attempted suicide

One in 20 women injured in the vaginal mesh scandal have attempted suicide One in 20 women caught up in the vaginal mesh scandal have attempted suicide, research suggests.

Campaigners surveyed around 650 women who have the controversial implant, once widely used to treat prolapse or urinary incontinence.

They found five per cent of women with vaginal mesh are in such severe pain they have tried to take their own life or self-harm regularly. The Daily Mail

Northampton's best GP surgeries for making an appointment, according to their patients

Northampton's best GP surgeries for making an appointment, according to their patients Patients at GP surgeries were asked in March 2018 to rate their local practice on a range of important aspects that affect the healthcare experience.

One of these survey questions was to rate the 'experience of making an appointment'. Listed are the Northampton surgeries that scored the highest and are among the top 15 in the town. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A 10-year story: visualising patient journeys

A 10-year story: visualising patient journeys A decade ago, we developed an approach to visualising individual patient journeys through charts which have come to be called Theographs. Theo Georghiou explains more about what they are and when they are most useful. Nuffield Trust

Workforce report highlights continuing struggle to staff UK cancer centres

Workforce report highlights continuing struggle to staff UK cancer centres Annual workforce figures released today by The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) reveal the continuing struggle to staff cancer centres.

Clinical oncology leaders have questioned how the NHS will be able to rollout cutting-edge life-saving innovations – such as immunotherapy drugs and high energy proton beam radiotherapy – without more investment.

The RCR’s Clinical Oncology UK Workforce Census Report 2018 details the current staffing crisis among clinical oncologists – the doctors who treat cancer with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

 See also: 

• Cancer doctor shortage 'puts care at risk' BBC News
• Severe shortage of NHS cancer specialists is threatening patient care, warns report The Daily Mail
• Cancer patients may suffer because of NHS consultant shortage, report warns The Independent

National LGBT survey 2017: healthcare amongst lesbian and bisexual women - research report

National LGBT survey 2017: healthcare amongst lesbian and bisexual women - research report This report presents key findings on health care amongst different groups of lesbian and bisexual women who responded to the survey, looking in detail at disclosing sexual orientation to health care providers, accessing and using mental health services, sexual health services and gender identity services. The analysis uses multivariate models to control for socio-demographic characteristics such as age, education level, income and region. Government Equalities Office

Without regulation, hospital disinfectants threaten intensive care patients

Without regulation, hospital disinfectants threaten intensive care patients Bacterial resistance to two disinfectants used in large amounts to control the spread of hospital infections is strongly associated with resistance to several antibiotics used to treat common infections, our latest study shows.

Our analysis, published in Nature Microbiology, focused on resistance to disinfectants in Staphylococcus epidermidis. This bacteria is found on the skin of healthy people and usually causes no harm. But it can cause serious blood infections in patients in intensive care units (ICUs), especially those with immune paralysis, where the immune system cannot recover despite bacteria being cleared with antibiotics. The Independent

Britain is now importing more doctors than it trains, figures show

Britain is now importing more doctors than it trains, figures show Britain is now importing more doctors than it trains, according to new figures showing a steep rise in the numbers recruited from overseas.

Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, said the health service must stop “denuding low income countries of health professionals they need” amid warnings of a growing moral crisis.

The figures, from the General Medical Council (GMC), show that last year, 53 per cent of those joining the medical register came from overseas to do so - a rise from 39 per cent in 2015. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Most new UK doctors are recruited from abroad for the first time in more than a decade The Daily Mail

NHS argues that replacing words such as 'nausea' with 'feeling sick' could help to save lives

NHS argues that replacing words such as 'nausea' with 'feeling sick' could help to save lives Language used on NHS websites is being made more understandable for patients.

The word nausea has been replaced by feeling sick, while a haemorrhage is to be referred to as a very heavy bleed.

The move is part of a drive to make NHS literature more user-friendly by September 2020. The writing guide was created based on feedback from more than 10,000 people who were polled on word use. The Daily Mail

'Please don't put me in an old people's home... I'm only 30'

'Please don't put me in an old people's home... I'm only 30' Edith Solenne, 31, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire was left 'terrified' when social services warned her she might be placed in an old people's home as a result of her multiple sclerosis. The Daily Mail

Northampton doctor who hurt woman during 'rough' vaginal examination is banned for further year

Northampton doctor who hurt woman during 'rough' vaginal examination is banned for further year A doctor who hurt a woman patient during an intimate examination at Northampton General Hospital will remain suspended.

A tribunal panel heard that Dr Abdelkarim Mohamed was acting as a locum registrar at NGH in June 2016 when the incident happened.

On June 22, during a consultation with patient B, the panel heard that Mohamed performed an intimate examination of her with excessive force and in a rough manner. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The NHS, local authorities and the long-term plan: in it together?

The NHS, local authorities and the long-term plan: in it together? The NHS long-term plan, published in January, attracted a mixed reception in some local government circles. Excoriated as ‘a mind-bogglingly complex list of unconnected solutions’, new Local Government Network boss Adam Lent slammed the ‘hierarchical, status-obsessed culture of the NHS’, earning a swift riposte from Health Service Journal editor Alastair McLellan that local government has a chip on its shoulder about the NHS and should learn from it not criticise it. The King's Fund

NHS population screening: improving access for people with severe mental illness

NHS population screening: improving access for people with severe mental illness This document provides information on how to improve access to screening, for people with severe mental illness residing in mental healthcare settings. It was designed to be used by screening providers and commissioners. Public Health England

Government appoints first National Adviser for LGBT Health

Government appoints first National Adviser for LGBT Health Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt has today appointed the first ever National Adviser for LGBT Health in the NHS, and Advisory Panel - fulfilling the Government’s commitment to improving lives as set out in the landmark LGBT Action Plan. Department of Health and Social Care

#NewFilters to manage the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and wellbeing

#NewFilters to manage the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and wellbeing The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Social Media and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing has published its report on the Group’s Inquiry, “#NewFilters to manage the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and wellbeing”.

This is the first national Inquiry specifically examining the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of young people, which ran from April 2018 to January 2019.

The report explores the positive and negative health impacts of social media, as well as putting forward recommendations to protect young social media users from potential health harms.

See also:

• MPs call for tax on social media companies BBC News
• Regulate social media to protect children from ‘online wild west’, say MPs The Independent

Using digital technology to design and deliver better mental health services: perspectives from Australia and the USA

Using digital technology to design and deliver better mental health services: perspectives from Australia and the USA Across the world, people experiencing mental health problems face challenges accessing care and support. The purpose of this project is to explore what we in the UK might learn from colleagues in the USA and Australia engaged in work relating to making better use of digital technology in the mental health sector. NHS Confederation

Learning disability and autism care deaths 'a national scandal'

Learning disability and autism care deaths 'a national scandal' The families of two people who died while waiting for appropriate treatment for a learning disability or autism say failings in the care system contributed to their deaths.

Amanda Briley and Clive Treacey were among 40 people who died between 2015 and 2018 while admitted to hospital under the Transforming Care programme, an NHS initiative for people with a learning disability or autism.

Sky News revealed the number of fatalities in October last year, prompting the government to promise to investigate the circumstances of every death.

If we want NHS staff to care for us, we need to care for them

If we want NHS staff to care for us, we need to care for them | Mark Britnell Healthcare staff worldwide are quitting due to stress and burnout. But small changes can make a big difference

Healthcare staff in the NHS – and globally – are feeling undervalued, overworked and demoralised.

In a survey of 17,000 American doctors, 54% reported low morale. In China physician burnout rates of 66-87% have been reported, while doctors in India and the UK have taken strike action in the past three years. In 2016 a survey of nurses and midwives in Australia found almost a third had considered leaving the profession because of burnout. The Guardian

See also:

• UK hospitals treat staff with massages and yoga classes The Guardian

Screening service in 'meltdown' as more women attend smears

Screening service in 'meltdown' as more women attend smears Public health campaign triggers surge in numbers attending cervical screenings at ‘worst possible time’

Women could be forced to wait months for cervical cancer screening results because the planned closure of dozens of laboratories has left the service in “meltdown”, the Guardian has been told.

The crisis has been triggered by a surge in numbers of women attending smear tests following a government public awareness campaign launched earlier this month. The campaign coincides with an exodus of biomedical scientists due to a restructuring process that will reduce nearly 50 hospital screening laboratories to nine this summer. The Guardian

NHS screening units should be set up near offices and shops so workers can have checks for breast and bowel cancer in their lunch breaks

NHS screening units should be set up near offices and shops so workers can have checks for breast and bowel cancer in their lunch breaks NHS screening units should be set up near offices and shops so workers can have checks for breast and bowel cancer in their lunch breaks, the head of a national review has said.

Prof Sir Mike Richards also said patients must be able to book smear tests and mammograms on their smartphones as easily as buying a train ticket. The Daily Telegraph

Crackdown on junk food ads as Chief Medical Officer warns of impact of social media promotions

Crackdown on junk food ads as Chief Medical Officer warns of impact of social media promotions Children's taste buds are being altered by a bombardment of junk food adverts, the country’s chief medical officer has warned, as ministers pledge to crack down on Facebook and YouTube promotions.

Prof Dame Sally spoke out as the Government launched proposals for a 9pm watershed on advertising foods high in fat, sugar and salt, covering both television and online media.

Ministers said they would examine all options in a bid to tackle childhood obesity, which they said was now one of the biggest health problems facing Britain. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Junk food adverts could be banned before 9pm as part of government plans to fight ‘epidemic’ of childhood obesity The Indpendent

Combined Performance Summary: January – February 2019

Combined Performance Summary: January – February 2019 NHS England has published its Combined Performance Summary, which provides data on key performance measures for January and February of this year. Here we show some of these statistics and how they compare with previous years. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Worrying picture of NHS performance at end of winter The Health Foundation
• The NHS this winter: looking beneath the national view The Health Foundation
• 'A hidden crisis in hospitals up and down the country' - The King's Fund responds to NHS combined performance data The King's Fund
• NHS hospitals need plan to tackle backlog of patients  Royal College of Surgeons
• Cancer waiting times breached for 1,126 days in England BBC News
• NHS 'must take urgent action' to clear hospitals backlog The Daily Mail
• NHS crisis: A&E waits spiral to worst ever level AGAIN The Daily Mail
• One in four cancer patients wait two months for treatment, as NHS performance hits record low The Daily Telegraph
• Cancer treatment waiting times see ‘concerning spike’ as NHS plans to ditch key measures The Independent

Payments and contracting for integrated care: the false promise of the self-improving health system

Payments and contracting for integrated care: the false promise of the self-improving health system Why should the new payment systems being developed to support integrated care be any more successful than previous ones? This report calls for urgent reform of the system for paying and contracting services in the NHS. The King's Fund

Government response to the Independent Breast Screening Review recommendations

Government response to the Independent Breast Screening Review recommendations The Independent Breast Screening Review looked into an incident in the breast screening programme in England, which resulted in thousands of women aged between 68 and 71 not being invited to their final breast screening. The review published its report in December 2018. This document sets out the government’s response to each recommendation made in the report. The government has accepted all the recommendations. Department of Health and Social Care

England’s Chief Nurse sets out long term vision for NHS nursing

England’s Chief Nurse sets out long term vision for NHS nursing England’s top nurse today pledged to ensure the voices of nurses and midwives will be valued and heard across the NHS.

During her maiden speech at the chief nursing officer (CNO) Summit in Birmingham, Ruth May said that the profession, while often considered by the public to be the most trusted, is too often undervalued and pledged to fight for the voice of nurses to be influential across the NHS. NHS England

Junior doctor suicide makes me worry about how I'll cope in the job

Junior doctor suicide makes me worry about how I'll cope in the job As a medical student, I can get support when I need it. That isn’t the case for junior doctors struggling with mental health

I was four months into my clinical training as a medical student when I first encountered a suicide.

It wasn’t a patient. The Guardian

Matt Hancock mocked after saying that some nurses still stand up when a doctor enters a room, as NHS worker quips 'it isn't Downton Abbey'

Matt Hancock mocked after saying that some nurses still stand up when a doctor enters a room, as NHS worker quips 'it isn't Downton Abbey' Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been mocked after saying that some nurses still have to stand up when doctors enter the room in some NHS organisations.

In a speech to the Chief Nursing Officer for England's summit in Birmingham on Thursday, Mr Hancock praised the hard work and dedication of nurses and said they "often make better leaders than doctors". The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Nurses are mission-critical to culture change in the NHS Department of Health
• Health secretary prompts ridicule after claiming NHS nurses stand up when doctors enter room The Independent

UK is 'breaking UN rules' by not giving free NHS healthcare to undocumented migrant children

UK is 'breaking UN rules' by not giving free NHS healthcare to undocumented migrant children The UK is breaking UN rules by not giving free NHS treatment to undocumented migrant children, according to experts.

A group of seven academics, including a Public Health England spokesperson, say the health service must change track and improve its care for children.

As many as 65,000 children who were born in the UK may be being denied free NHS care because of a 'hostile environment' policy, their editorial said. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Charging undocumented migrant children for NHS healthcare: implications for child health Archives of Disease in Childhood 
• NHS 'hostile environment' and charges limiting care to children of migrants in breach of UN pledges, doctors say The Independent
• Child migrants denied universal health coverage OnMedica

New victims of female genital mutilation seen by NHS services in Northamptonshire

New victims of female genital mutilation seen by NHS services in Northamptonshire New victims of female genital mutilation in Northamptonshire were seen by NHS services last year.

The figures show the ongoing scale of the challenge to fight FGM across the UK, where thousands of new cases were recorded, shortly after the first person to be convicted was jailed.

NHS Digital figures show that victims of FGM – where female genitals are cut, injured or changed for no medical reason – in Northamptonshire were seen by NHS Services on at least 50 appointments in 2018. Daventry Express

Care not containment: Setting a radical vision for transforming mental health support

Care not containment: Setting a radical vision for transforming mental health support Care not containment is an independent report developed by an expert group to explore how mental health services could be changed to reduce the reliance on restrictive environments and shift to earlier interventions.

The report has profound and wide ranging implications for mental health policy nationally and for the commissioning and development of services locally. The Centre endorses the report’s conclusions and we hope it will stimulate more debate and bring about change in the support people experience. Centre for Mental Health

Joined-up care in action: An integrated approach to meeting the needs of homeless people

Joined-up care in action: An integrated approach to meeting the needs of homeless people Every week across the country, homeless people are discharged from hospital back to the streets or an unstable housing situation. For many, hospital readmission is likely and death a real possibility, particularly in winter. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2017, 597 homeless people died in England and Wales, a 24% increase since 2013. It’s a shocking example of how gaps in service provision make it harder to support people with complex health and social problems, and underlines the urgent need for holistic and integrated care. The Health Foundation

What is rapid research and why is it relevant for health care?

What is rapid research and why is it relevant for health care? Changing climates and priorities in health care require fast, actionable findings. Dr Cecilia Vindrola-Padros explores what rapid research is, and why these shorter study timeframes are increasingly relevant. Nuffield Trust

The state of ageing in 2019

The state of ageing in 2019 This report brings together public data across four areas: work and finances, housing, health and communities. It reveals vast differences in how people experience ageing depending on factors such as where they live, how much money they have or what sex or ethnicity they are. Today’s least well-off over 50s face far greater challenges than their wealthier peers and are more likely to die younger, become sicker earlier and fall out of work due to ill health. Centre for Ageing Better

Gene-editing babies: Call to pause humanity-altering research

Gene-editing babies: Call to pause humanity-altering research Leading scientists have called for a ban on research to "re-engineer the human species" for the next five years.

Two babies were born last year in China who had been genetically altered to protect them against HIV.

The scientists, writing in the journal Nature, said "major speed bumps" needed to be put in front of such research.

The US National Institutes of Health said a ban should start immediately, but others have criticised the idea. BBC News

Assaults on mental health staff in Wales halved

Assaults on mental health staff in Wales halved Attacks by mental health patients on NHS staff at Wales' largest health board have halved in five years.

Assaults on Betsi Cadwaladr staff fell from 559 in 2013-14 to 278 in 2017-18.

It attributed the fall to a team of specialist nurses who train carers and frontline staff in ways to avoid confrontation and improve care.

Ward manager Matt Jarvis, who was punched in the head by an "acutely psychotic" patient, said restraining people created distrust of staff. BBC News

See also:

• 'How my life turned around with new treatment' BBC News

Egg freezing considered by almost half of young women, study finds

Egg freezing considered by almost half of young women, study finds Almost half of young women would consider freezing their eggs in future, new research has shown.

The data, which has been released by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), demonstrates the concern that many young women feel about their fertility.

According to the study, 25 per cent of women aged between 18 and 24 are worried about their ability to conceive, a concern also shared more widely by 49 per cent of women of all ages in the UK. The Independent

See also:

• Confusing fertility advice sparking unnecessary worry among UK women Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

NHS data shows rise in homeless patients returning to streets

NHS data shows rise in homeless patients returning to streets Exclusive: number of hospital discharges of people of no fixed abode up 30% since 2014

Thousands of homeless patients have been discharged from NHS hospitals directly back to the streets in the past five years, despite some being in recovery from major surgery and mental health crises, the Guardian can reveal.

Experts have warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in England after instances of patients leaving hospital with nowhere to go rose by nearly a third between 2014 and 2018. Thousands of homeless patients were readmitted within six months, according to figures obtained by the Guardian.

Halt privatisation of cancer screening or risk patient harm, MPs tell NHS England

Halt privatisation of cancer screening or risk patient harm, MPs tell NHS England Doctors say awarding PET-CT contracts to private firms ‘will undoubtedly cause clinical harm’

Government and opposition MPs are urging NHS bosses to halt the privatisation of cancer screening services in Oxford, which doctors are warning will damage patients’ health.

Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs in the area have united in protest at the deal. The private firm InHealth has controversially been handed a contract to deliver positron emission computerised tomography (PET-CT) scanning in the Thames Valley. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS cancer centre loses scanning contract to private firm The Guardian

Junk food giants must stop marketing to children - or see their ads banned entirely, says health chief

Junk food giants must stop marketing to children - or see their ads banned entirely, says health chief Junk food firms must stop marketing their products to children - or face a total advertising ban, health chiefs have said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said food giants are exploiting loopholes in regulations to bombard children with adverts on YouTube and Facebook.

And one of Public Health England’s advisers called for the rules to be redrawn - with advertisements for fatty and sugary foods banned entirely if children were found to be being exposed to them. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Monitoring and restricting digital marketing of unhealthy products to children and adolescents (2019) World Health Organization
• Junk food companies target children by using a loophole in advertising regulations, experts warn The Daily Mail
• Children face growing deluge of junk food ads online, public health experts warn The Daily Telegraph

The NHS needs to be more productive – or is it more efficient?

The NHS needs to be more productive – or is it more efficient? Stop reading this and get back to work – you need to be more productive. Or is it more efficient?

In the long-term plan, NHS England sets out a goal of achieving at least 1.1 per cent increases in productivity over each of the next five years. But there’s often confusion about the term ‘productivity’ and what it really means, with efficiency and productivity often used interchangeably despite meaning very different things. In the simplest terms, an increase in productivity is when a business makes more of a product (in the case of the NHS, it would be more “care”- doing more operations, for example) using the resources they have available. Efficiency, however, relates to the quality of the work being done – so producing the same, but at a lower cost to the NHS or with less waste. The King's Fund

The wider public health workforce: a review

The wider public health workforce: a review This review identifies three broad categories of work completed by the wider public health workforce: leading and advocating for health; influencing the wider determinants of health; and direct contact with individuals and communities. It reports on progress to date to engage and develop the wider public health workforce across a range of sectors: healthcare; social care; emergency services; VCSE; education; employment; criminal justice; housing; and planning. Public Health England

Clinically-led review of NHS access standards: interim report from the NHS National Medical Director

Clinically-led review of NHS access standards: interim report from the NHS National Medical Director In 2018 Professor Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, was asked to carry out a clinical review of standards across the NHS, with the aim of determining whether patients would be well served by updating and supplementing some of the older targets currently in use. In this interim report, Professor Powis sets out his recommendations for doing so. NHS England

'Unacceptable' self-harm images still on Instagram

'Unacceptable' self-harm images still on Instagram The NSPCC has criticised Instagram for continuing to allow "distressing" pictures of self-harm to remain on the site.

Last month, Instagram said all graphic images of self-harm would be removed.

The BBC reported three images of people cutting themselves to Instagram. The social media platform added warnings to two but ruled that all three could remain on the site.

A spokesman for Instagram said it "will take time... to get this right". BBC News

Italy bans unvaccinated children from school

Italy bans unvaccinated children from school Italian children have been told not to turn up to school unless they can prove they have been properly vaccinated.

The deadline follows months of national debate over compulsory vaccination.

Parents risk being fined up to €500 (£425; $560) if they send their unvaccinated children to school. Children under six can be turned away.

The new law came amid a surge in measles cases - but Italian officials say vaccination rates have improved since it was introduced. BBC News

Air pollution responsible for more deaths than smoking, study says

Air pollution responsible for more deaths than smoking, study says The number of people dying as a result of air pollution may exceed the number killed by smoking, a major new study suggests.

German researchers estimate that as many as 8.8 million deaths per year globally can be attributed to dirty air.

In Europe alone they estimate there are more than 790,000 additional deaths as a result – double the previous estimate, which did not properly account for the additional rates of cardiovascular disease. The Independent

See also:

• Cardiovascular disease burden from ambient air pollution in Europe reassessed using novel hazard ratio functions (open access) European Heart Journal

Hospital gave teenage cancer victim's address to estranged father

Hospital gave teenage cancer victim's address to estranged father Mother of girl who died a day after diagnosis says Bristol trust’s error added to her grief

The mother of a girl who died of cancer a day after being diagnosed has said the hospital compounded her grief by sharing the family’s address with the teenager’s estranged father.

The University Hospitals Bristol NHS foundation trust apologised to Kelly Baverstock and admitted it had breached its duty of confidentiality by giving doctor’s letters and her address to the father of 13-year-old Tanisha despite the fact he had not seen his daughter in years. The Guardian

Stephen Hawking's former nurse struck off for failing to provide him with 'care he deserved'

Stephen Hawking's former nurse struck off for failing to provide him with 'care he deserved' The former nurse of Professor Stephen Hawking has been struck off the nursing register after a panel found she failed to provide appropriate care to the late scientist.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said on Tuesday that Patricia Dowdy "failed to provide the standards of good, professional care that we expect and Professor Hawking deserved". The Daily Telegraph

Inquiry into deaths at scandal-hit maternity unit is widened to investigate more than 250 families

Inquiry into deaths at scandal-hit maternity unit is widened to investigate more than 250 families More than 250 families have now raised concerns about an NHS trust at the centre of a maternity scandal.

Their cases are being investigated by an independent review team set up to look at services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust, it was revealed last night.

Many families allege that babies died or were left with lifelong brain injuries as a result of poor care at the Shropshire trust.

The independent review was launched by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt in April 2017 when it was looking into 23 cases. But that number has increased ten-fold in what could be one of the NHS’s worst maternity care scandals. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Shropshire baby deaths: Review 'not watered down' BBC News

Government announces 'appalling' price hike of NHS dental treatment

Government announces 'appalling' price hike of NHS dental treatment The Government has revealed plans to raise the cost of NHS dental treatments by five per cent.

It means that a standard trip to the dentist for a routine examination and possible cleaning will cost £22.70 from April.

Patients will have to fork out £62.10 for fillings, while crowns and other band three treatments will cost £269.30.

However, critics today slammed the 'appalling' price hike and argued it will only discourage more people from seeing a dentist. The Daily Mail