Abortion clinic buffer zones ruled legal by Court of Appeal as it says protesters can be forced 100m away

Abortion clinic buffer zones ruled legal by Court of Appeal as it says protesters can be forced 100m away An abortion clinic buffer zone has been ruled legal by the Court of Appeal, which has said protesters can be forced to stand 100m away.

In a landmark ruling, campaigners lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the country's first protest-free "buffer zone" outside a Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Ealing. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Create protest-free ‘safe zones’ outside every abortion clinic, campaigners urge Priti Patel The Independent
• Ban on protests outside abortion clinic upheld OnMedica

One in five pensioners pops seven pills every day in the UK

One in five pensioners pops seven pills every day in the UK Millions of pensioners are being given drugs they don't need due to 'systematic failings' in the NHS, a startling report warns today.

Two million over-65s – 20 per cent of pensioners – now take at least seven different medications each day, it found. Some 39 per cent are on at least five prescription drugs.

And the overwhelming majority of pensioners – 86 per cent – are taking at least one medicine. The Daily Mail

See also:

• More harm than good: Why more isn;t always better with older people's medicines (report) Age UK
• Age UK calls for a more considered approach to prescribing medicines for older people Age UK
• Two million Britons are taking seven different prescription drugs The Daily Telegraph
• Older people at risk from being on various drug regimens – report The Guardian
• Two million pensioners on multiple drugs could suffer severe reactions – report ITV News

Hospitals are letting doctors QUIT an official NHS pension scheme

Hospitals are letting doctors QUIT an official NHS pension scheme Hospitals are allowing doctors to quit an official NHS pension scheme which is causing consultants to cut their hours.

Several NHS trusts are putting their own schemes in place amid mounting frustration over government inaction to reform a punitive tax on pensions.

Controversial pension reforms introduced in 2016 mean top consultants and GPs are cutting their hours to avoid a tax bill on their pensions that can run into tens of thousands. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Pension crisis: trusts take matters in their own hands The BMJ
• Pension tax reform needs to be swift to tackle doctors’ sense of injustice The BMJ
• NHS hospitals offer doctors cash in bid to tackle growing pensions crisis The Daily Telegraph

Concerns over bed blocking for mental health patients in Northamptonshire

Concerns over bed blocking for mental health patients in Northamptonshire Bed blocking caused mental health patients to spend more than 2,000 extra days stuck in hospital at the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust last year.

A leading charity has called for more investment in community care, to help vulnerable patients return to their homes safely.

Figures from NHS Digital show the Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust lost 2,330 bed days in 2018-19 because of delays discharging mental health patients who were fit to leave hospital – the equivalent of more than six years. Daventry Express

Will a digital NHS reap the rewards policy-makers are aiming for?

Will a digital NHS reap the rewards policy-makers are aiming for? Sarah Scobie looks at the track record of digital developments in the health service and wonders whether we are overestimating the benefits of a digital NHS. Nuffield Trust

Towards equality for mental health: developing a cross-government approach.

Towards equality for mental health: developing a cross-government approach This report considers the steps that must be taken if the ambition of ‘parity of esteem’ for mental health is to be achieved in England. Its starting point is the belief that improving the nation’s mental health cannot be achieved through a focus on health services alone and that a more ambitious, cross-government approach to mental health is also required. Mental Health Foundation

New NHS plan to help patients avoid long hospital stays

New NHS plan to help patients avoid long hospital stays Action to help tens of thousands more people avoid lengthy spells in hospital is being rolled out nationwide as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

NHS doctors, nurses and other staff are being encouraged to ask themselves ‘Why not home? Why not today?’ when planning care for patients recovering from an operation or illness, as part of a campaign – called ‘Where Best Next?’ – which aims to see around 140,000 people every year spared a hospital stay of three weeks or more. NHS England

Ageing confidently: supporting an ageing workforce

Ageing confidently: supporting an ageing workforce It is estimated that by 2035, over half of all adults in the UK will be over 50 years of age. This report proposes several recommendations to provide older people and employers with the support needed to unlock the potential of this demographic and enable older people to access the benefits of work. It states that without a concerted effort to increase the opportunities for older workers, individuals, businesses and the economy will suffer. Among the recommendations are enhanced healthcare support through improvements in occupational health, training in mental health first aid and further support for those aged 55 and over from the Work and Health Programme from the Department of Work and Pensions. Centre for Social Justice

Professionalism and Cultural Transformation (PACT) toolkit

Professionalism and Cultural Transformation (PACT) toolkit This toolkit aims to educate and empower staff to improve professionalism within their workplace, helping organisations move towards making the NHS the best place to work. The toolkit is based on tried and tested work undertaken by Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and is designed to help staff embed the PACT programme in their organisation. It contains practical information, advice and solutions to equip staff to deal with unprofessional attitudes and behaviours in the workplace. NHS Employers

New drug for people who can bleed uncontrollably

New drug for people who can bleed uncontrollably Christopher Stephens has haemophilia A - his body lacks a protein that makes blood clot. A simple graze can mean the two-year-old bleeds uncontrollably.

To avoid this he needs treatment every few days with a drug put into his bloodstream via a tube in his chest.

But now, NHS England has agreed to fund a new therapy for patients like him. BBC News

More schoolchildren 'rejecting cigarettes'

More schoolchildren 'rejecting cigarettes' Secondary-school pupils in England appear to be rejecting cigarettes in greater numbers than ever before.

The most recent survey in a series that began in the 1980s indicates just 16% of the pupils have ever smoked tobacco, down from 19% in 2016 and 49% in 1996.

However, a quarter of the 13,000 pupils surveyed, from 193 schools across England, have tried drugs. BBC News

Over fifty NHS leaders sign letter urging PM to address 'crisis in social care'

Over fifty NHS leaders sign letter urging PM to address 'crisis in social care' More than 150,000 members of the public have signed a petition and over 50 health leaders have put their signatures to an open letter - calling on the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to urgently address the escalating crisis in care.

The petition, believed to be the largest of its kind, urges the Prime Minister to end social care cuts which have left many older people in England unable to access the care and support they need.

Both the petition and signed letter were organised by the NHS Confederation which leads the Health for Care coalition of 15 national health organisations who have joined forces to make the case for social care. carehome.co.uk

‘Nothing less than offensive’: Fury after NHS region denies IVF to single women

‘Nothing less than offensive’: Fury after NHS region denies IVF to single women An NHS region has barred single women from receiving IVF treatment - a policy that has been condemned as discriminatory by a Labour MP.

NHS South East London’s guidelines state that women who seek fertility treatment should be in a “stable relationship”.

“Because of the known disadvantage that providing assisted conception to a single woman would cause both the child and the mother, funding of assisted conception for single women is not available,” the policy reads. The Independent

Air pollution linked to mental health issues, research suggests

Air pollution linked to mental health issues, research suggests People who grow up in areas with poor air quality are more likely to develop depression and bipolar disorder in later life, a new study has suggested.

Analysis of health data from millions of patients found a “significant link” between mental health disorders and exposure to air pollution, especially in childhood.

The research, based on population data from the US and Denmark, is the latest of a number of studies to link air quality to ill health. The Independent

See also:

• Environmental pollution is associated with increased risk of psychiatric disorders in the US and Denmark (open access) PLOS Biology

What’s the best remedy against anti-vaxxers? Reverse public health cuts

What’s the best remedy against anti-vaxxers? Reverse public health cuts | Doug Brown Fragmented NHS services and a lack of specialist knowledge are behind the rise in measles cases – not social media

The UK is a world leader in vaccine research and provision and an early adopter of many new vaccines. This has had a profoundly positive effect on the nation’s health, affording protection to our children and decreasing rates of infectious disease. Unfortunately, immunisation has been prominent in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. The Guardian

You can’t replace the GP with an algorithm – so don’t try to, Matt Hancock

You can’t replace the GP with an algorithm – so don’t try to, Matt Hancock | Eleanor Morgan The government wants to replace NHS health screening with AI. But for many people, face-to-face consultations are a lifeline

The health secretary has announced a proposed overhaul of NHS health screening that could scrap GP consultations for millions of people, replacing them with online programmes and AI. The idea is that the one-size-fits-all system for routine health MOTs offered to those over 40 has become old hat. The Guardian

Children are growing up in shipping containers due to lack of council housing, report finds

Children are growing up in shipping containers due to lack of council housing, report finds Children are being raised in shipping containers and office blocks because councils do not have enough accommodation to house, an official report has found.

Almost a quarter-of-a-million children could be without a permanent home in England and are instead living in “unfit” accommodation - including the likes of office blocks, shipping containers and B&Bs. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Thousands of children growing up in shipping containers, office blocks and B&Bs Children's Commissioner
• Bleak houses: Tackling the crisis of family homelessness in England Children's Commissioner
• Thousands of children forced to grow up in shipping containers and offices because of government’s ‘catastrophic failure’ to address homelessness The Independent

Improved NHS care neurological conditions to save 2,500 hospital trips

Improved NHS care neurological conditions to save 2,500 hospital trips People living with brain and nerve conditions like Parkinson’s could benefit from quicker diagnosis and better coordinated care as part of a new NHS initiative, which is also set to free up millions of pounds to reinvest in patient care.

NHS experts have joined forces with seven leading charities to produce a toolkit that will help local health groups improve services for people with conditions including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Parkinson’s, including rolling out fast-tracked blood tests and and consultant appointments over Skype for those who want them.

Up to 2,500 emergency admissions to hospital a year could be avoided for patients with these conditions as a result, with up to £10 million freed up to fund improved services. NHS England

Journals retract more than a dozen studies from China that may have used executed prisoners’ organ

Journals retract more than a dozen studies from China that may have used executed prisoners’ organ In the past month, PLOS ONE and Transplantation have retracted fifteen studies by authors in China because of suspicions that the authors may have used organs from executed prisoners.

All of the original studies — seven in Transplantation, and eight in PLOS ONE — were published between 2008 and 2014. Two involved kidney transplants, and the rest involved liver transplants. Two other journals, the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and Kidney International, have recently issued expressions of concern for the same reason. Retraction Watch

See also:

• Two medical journals retract 15 Chinese studies amid fears they used organs from executed prisoners The Daily Mail

Why is the UK seeing a rise in measles cases?

Why is the UK seeing a rise in measles cases? The UK has lost its measles-free status three years after the virus was eliminated in the country.

Cases of the potentially deadly infection have been going up, with too few people being vaccinated.

Measles can be prevented through two doses of the MMR vaccine - something that is offered free by the NHS to all young children in the UK. BBC News

See also:

• An estimated 1 in 7 five years olds are not immunised against MMR Public Health England
• System-wide approach to tackling falling childhood vaccination rates welcome, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Boris Johnson orders action to stop measles spread BBC News
• Quarter of children in some parts of country have not had measles jab The Daily Telegraph
• NHS England to look at offering childhood vaccinations in healthcare settings other than general practice The Pharmaceutical Journal

The little-known spinal injury 'costing the NHS millions'

The little-known spinal injury 'costing the NHS millions' Failure to identify and treat a little-known spinal condition probably costs the NHS hundreds of millions a year, according to a leading consultant.

Cauda equina syndrome requires surgery within hours to avoid damage to the bowel, bladder, sexual organs and legs.

And it can be triggered by the most seemingly innocuous of body movements. BBC News

Part of £1.8bn NHS cash boost 'is money already saved up', leaked letter claims

Part of £1.8bn NHS cash boost 'is money already saved up', leaked letter claims A £1.8bn cash boost for the NHS announced by Boris Johnson will largely be paid for with money that hospitals already have, a leaked letter has said.

The prime minister said earlier this month: "Don't forget that this is £1.8 billion of new money. It wasn't there 10 days ago."

But a letter - obtained by Health Service Journal and also seen by Sky News - says £1bn of the total will be funded by raising the Department for Health and Social Care's spending limit.

See also:

• Confirmed: NHS cash reserves will fund PM's capital spending promise Health Service Journal

Hospital forced to spend £129k replacing every single lock after disgruntled employee stole masterkey and began crime spree

Hospital forced to spend £129k replacing every single lock after disgruntled employee stole masterkey and began crime spree A hospital has been forced to spend almost £129,000 on changing all of its 1,500 locks after a thief with "inside knowledge" stole a master key to commit break-ins.

Gareth Parkin knew the Royal Derby Hospital "like the back of his hand" after working there as a gardener and maintenance worker for four years.

He then "abused his knowledge" to carry out his spate of offending, Derby Crown Court prosecutor Joey Kwong said. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals treat 1,000 dementia patients a day because basic social care is so poor

Hospitals treat 1,000 dementia patients a day because basic social care is so poor Poor social care has driven up emergency admissions of dementia sufferers to nearly 1,000 a day.

The number of dementia patients admitted to hospital in an emergency has soared by a third in four years, official NHS figures reveal.

Experts said many patients were ending up in hospital ‘in crisis’ as a result of basic failings in social care. The Daily Mail

Making local government finance even more local

Making local government finance even more local A welcome change in recent years has been NHS voices speaking out for more funding for local government. Aside from the key question about how much funding is available, there are important developments afoot in local government about its distribution that merit understanding from NHS colleagues too. The outcome of these reforms will have real impact whether resources available in local areas match local need – getting this right or wrong matters for the local system’s ability to deliver on our collective ambitions for improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities. The King's Fund

Papworth marks first 'successful' UK heart transplant

Papworth marks first 'successful' UK heart transplant The son of the UK's first "successful" heart transplant patient 40 years ago has spoken about how his father "became a celebrity overnight".

Keith Castle, then aged 52, lived for more than five years after surgery at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire in August 1979.

His son, Keith Jnr, is meeting the surgeon Sir Terence English, 86, to mark the anniversary. BBC News

Candida auris: The new superbug on the block

Candida auris: The new superbug on the block The drug-resistant fungus, Candida auris, was only discovered 10 years ago, but is now one of the world's most feared hospital microbes.

There have been outbreaks across the world, and new research shows higher temperatures may have led to an increase in infections.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for better understanding of who is most vulnerable to reduce risk.

Here is everything you need to know about this new superbug. BBC News

The NHS Is Slowly Cancelling Free IVF – And This Is The Impact It's Having

The NHS Is Slowly Cancelling Free IVF – And This Is The Impact It's Having Amber Izzo had been trying for a baby for two years when her doctors diagnosed her with two blocked fallopian tubes, and told her she would need to use IVF to conceive.

But a year later, the 24-year-old is no closer to becoming a parent – and not for medical reasons. Instead, it’s because her local NHS fertility clinic has cancelled services, after the funding was cut by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Huffington Post UK

Work visa delays prove costly to foreign doctors, and the NHS

Work visa delays prove costly to foreign doctors, and the NHS Complex immigration rules are putting patients at risk as hospitals struggle to fill vacancies, campaigners say

Foreign doctors are being prevented from starting work in the NHS by visa delays that risk putting further stress on hospitals and can land medics with significant bills.

Dozens of doctors have raised concerns about the “complicated and increasingly costly” process, with some warning they will lead to staff shortages and potential risks to patients. Problems have arisen this month as many doctors start jobs or switch to new roles in August. The Guardian

NHS says sepsis monitoring system has saved hundreds of lives

NHS says sepsis monitoring system has saved hundreds of lives Trials of digital alert technology had ‘major impact’ on deadly form of blood poisoning

Trials of new digital alert technology to monitor hospital patients with sepsis have saved hundreds of lives, the NHS has said.

Plans to roll out the “action and alert” technology across England as part of the NHS Long Term Plan are under way after trials at three hospitals. The Guardian

See also:

• Hundreds of lives saved through new tech to spot sepsis NHS England

PM say social media firms must share responsibility for rising spread of Measles in UK as he attacks antivaxx misinformation

PM say social media firms must share responsibility for rising spread of Measles in UK as he attacks antivaxx misinformation The Prime Minister has said social media firms must share the responsibility for the rising spread of measles in the UK as he attacked antivax misinformation.

Boris Johnson will on Monday set out plans to improve vaccination rates on a visit to a hospital in the South West, following a rise in cases of measles.

In the first quarter of 2019 there were 231 confirmed cases of measles, just three years after the World Health Organisation declared the UK measles-free. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Prime Minister orders urgent action to improve vaccination uptake Department of Health and Social Care
• Britain loses its 'measles free' status, but Boris Johnson vows to tackle 'antivaxx' scare stories The Daily Mail
• Johnson urges social media firms to block anti-vaccine messages The Guardian
• Boris Johnson declares war on anti-vaxx movement with campaign to counter vaccine scaremongering The Independent

Doctors ordered to stop half-day closing at surgeries and threatened with £40k funding axe

Doctors ordered to stop half-day closing at surgeries and threatened with £40k funding axe The NHS is launching a major crackdown on GP surgeries which close for half-days during the week, the Mail can reveal.

Officials have identified 722 practices in England – a tenth of the total – which regularly close their doors for at least four hours at a time, including lengthy lunch breaks or midweek afternoons off.

They say that if these surgeries remained open, an additional 287,000 appointments would be available every year. The Daily Mail

Shifting responsibilities: who cares?

Shifting responsibilities: who cares? Following a recent survey of adult carers in England, Lucina Rolewicz examines what's behind the findings and argues what might help matters in future. Nuffield Trust

International migration and the healthcare workforce

International migration and the healthcare workforce This analysis draws on all currently available data to set out how many migrants work in health care in the UK and explore their age structure, location and changes over time. It also presents data on specific health workers in England, such as hospital nurses and general practitioners. Office for National Statistics

Children's oral health: position statement

Children's oral health: position statement New analysis has found that more than 100,000 hospital admissions for children under the age of ten in England due to tooth decay over a three year period. This statement calls on the new government to stand by previous commitments in the Childhood Obesity Plan and Prevention Green Paper to improve children's oral health in England. Royal College of Surgeons

NHS trust IT spend up more than £150m since WannaCry

NHS trust IT spend up more than £150m since WannaCry NHS trusts have upped their IT spending by at least £152 million since 2017’s WannaCry ransomware attack, according to figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Research by government policy think tank, Parliament Street, revealed that 65 NHS trusts spent a total of £612m on IT in the 2018/19 financial year, compared to a spend of £495m in the previous year and £460m in the year directly preceding WannaCry. Digital Health

'Hundreds' seek private clinics for medical cannabis

'Hundreds' seek private clinics for medical cannabis Hundreds of people in the UK are turning to private clinics for medical cannabis, BBC News has been told.

Since its legalisation in November 2018, there have been very few, if any, prescriptions for medical cannabis containing THC on the NHS.

And this has led some patients, with conditions such as epilepsy and MS, to pay up to £800 a month privately.

Patients who cannot eat food 'fear for lives'

Patients who cannot eat food 'fear for lives' Patients who cannot eat have told BBC News they are petrified and fear for their lives after problems making their replacement nutrition.

They are completely dependent on bags filled with a liquid that contains everything their body needs and is infused directly into the bloodstream.

The NHS in England has described the issue as a national emergency.

NHS bill for private out-of-area mental health care rises to £100m

NHS bill for private out-of-area mental health care rises to £100m Labour calls for investment in public provision rather than lining companies’ pockets

NHS spending on private firms nursing people with mental health problems outside their local authority area has risen by almost 30% in a year to £100m.

Adults in mental health crises were sent as far as 300 miles from home last year – a situation NHS chiefs have admitted reduces the chances of recovery because vulnerable people are separated from their loved ones. The Guardian

NHS mobile cancer screening unit charged £1,500 for parking by council

NHS mobile cancer screening unit charged £1,500 for parking by council A council has faced a backlash for charging a mobile NHS breast cancer screening unit £1,500 for parking, with patients saying the fees are "disgusting".

Cornwall Council issued the bill after a lorry used to offer routine mammograms to women aged 50-71 stayed in a car park in Liskeard for six months last year. The Daily Telegraph

Drug deaths at record high as cocaine deaths double in three years

Drug deaths at record high as cocaine deaths double in three years Drug-related deaths in England and Wales are the highest they have been since records began more than a quarter of a century ago, official figures show.

There were 4,359 deaths from drug poisoning recorded in England and Wales in 2018 - the highest number since records began in 1993, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2018 registrations Office for National Statistics
• Drug deaths in Northampton rise by nearly 50 per cent in just five years Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Drug deaths soar to highest level on record BBC News
• Drug deaths in England and Wales at highest level since records began, figures show The Independent

Ministers are to scrap 'one-size-fits-all' NHS health MOTs

Ministers are to scrap 'one-size-fits-all' NHS health MOTs Ministers are to scrap 'one-size-fits-all' health MOTs for the middle aged and replace them with finely tailored medical checks.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the revamped NHS Health Checks scheme – which is offered to anyone aged 40 to 74 – will harness modern technology such as genetic testing to create a personalised programme to prevent disease later in life. The Daily Mail

See also:

• More targeted approach to health checks welcome, but method needs careful consideration, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• NHS to scrap standard health MOTs for over 40s  The Daily Telegraph

Northampton signs up to 'digital doctors' app where GPs video call patients for appointments

Northampton signs up to 'digital doctors' app where GPs video call patients for appointments Over 100,000 patients in Northampton can now book appointments and speak to their GP about their health concerns - by video calling from their smartphone.

A partnership of 10 Northampton GPs has signed up to provide healthcare to patients in the town through Swedish app LIVI. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton woman may have survived had she not waited nine hours to be taken to hospital -

Northampton woman may have survived had she not waited nine hours to be taken to hospital
Criticism has been levelled at the ambulance service covering Northampton and the NHS's 111 service, after an inquest found woman could have survived if she had not waited nine hours to be taken to hospital.

Diana Gudgeon died of multi-organ failure on May 25 last year, three days after being diagnosed with a water infection by her GP.

But deputy coroner for Northamptonshire, Hassan Shah, has now written to the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and NHS 111 in a bid to prevent further deaths. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How doctors in leadership roles establish and maintain a positive patient-centred culture

How doctors in leadership roles establish and maintain a positive patient-centred culture This report finds that positively-engaged leaders, from diverse backgrounds, are key to transforming organisational cultures. However, they are often unprepared and unsupported for the challenges of leadership during the early stages of their management careers. It makes the case for support for senior healthcare leaders to help them overcome challenges that can impact on patient care. General Medical Council

Lyme disease: Older white women 'at highest risk'

Lyme disease: Older white women 'at highest risk' Older women are at most risk of contracting Lyme disease, a study suggests - and parts of southern and south-west England are "hotspots".

There are around 3,000 cases of the disease - a bacterial infection carried by ticks - each year in the UK.

But experts say everyone should become aware of the characteristic bulls-eye rash and flu-like symptoms.

More than 2,300 hospital patients with the condition were analysed between 1998 and 2015. BBC News

Dental surgeons urge England's schools to go sugar-free

Dental surgeons urge England's schools to go sugar-free Dental surgeons are calling for the government in England to encourage all schools to go sugar-free in a bid to combat tooth decay.

They say it is essential to cut sugar in school meals to tackle a condition affecting a quarter of five-year-olds.

Dentists also want more supervised teeth-brushing in schools and guidelines on healthy packed lunches. BBC News

See also:

• Schools face calls to BAN cakes and sweets as more than 100 children a DAY have rotten teeth removed The Daily Mail
• War on sugar could see the death of some of Britain's best loved sweets The Daily Telegraph

NHS boss suspended on full £185k pay in Rotherham gets new job in Devon – and is suspended on full £300k pay

NHS boss suspended on full £185k pay in Rotherham gets new job in Devon – and is suspended on full £300k pay A health boss who stayed off work for nine months while being investigated over accusations of bullying continued to receive his £300,000 salary, it has been revealed.

George Thomson pocketed the cash from struggling Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust despite being absent between March and December 2018 as his behaviour was probed. The Independent

Salt levels in picnic foods dangerously high, health group warns

Salt levels in picnic foods dangerously high, health group warns Action on Salt calls for compulsory, front-of-pack, nutritional labelling.

One in four savoury picnic foods contain dangerously high levels of salt and almost half are worryingly high in saturated fat, a health group has warned.

Action on Salt found that a typical picnic basket could contain more than 5g of salt, almost the recommended daily limit for an adult, which is 6g a day. Excessive salt consumption has been blamed for thousands of cases of heart disease, stroke and cancer. The Guardian

See also:

• Pick Wisely When You Picnic as NEW Survey Exposes Dangerously High Salty Finger Foods That Could Put Your Health at Risk Action on Salt

Emergency medical supplies could be airlifted into UK after Brexit

Emergency medical supplies could be airlifted into UK after Brexit An "express" freight service will be set up in an effort to ensure the UK does not run out of essential medical supplies in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Supplies could be airlifted into Britain, under the plans, which aim to prepare for all eventualities.

Health officials have invited bids to tender for a 12 month contract to deliver emergency medicines and short-life treatments within 24 hours. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• New service to deliver urgent medicines and medical products into UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Government says EU citizens living in UK will not have to pay for NHS care The Independent

Patient, 25, is encouraged to find another GP practice after sharing a critical link on Facebook

Patient, 25, is encouraged to find another GP practice after sharing a critical link on Facebook A patient has been encouraged to find another GP practice after sharing an article that criticised the surgery on Facebook.

Bosses at Culcheth Medical Centre wrote to the 25-year-old, telling her that staff often 'monitor' the social media of patients.

They printed off the unidentified woman's post on a community Facebook page - a link from about the practice in her local newspaper. The Daily Mail

Building healthier communities: the role of the NHS as an anchor institution

Building healthier communities: the role of the NHS as an anchor institution Anchor institutions are large, public sector organisations that are unlikely to relocate and have a significant stake in a geographical area. The size, scale and reach of the NHS means it influences the health and wellbeing of communities simply be being there. This report identifies five ways in which NHS organisations act as anchor institutions and it sets out actions and opportunities for the NHS to harness its considerable influence to have an even greater impact on the health and wellbeing of communities. The Health Foundation

Government response to "Ignoring the alarms follow-up: too many avoidable deaths from eating disorders"

Government response to "Ignoring the alarms follow-up: too many avoidable deaths from eating disorders"  In June 2019, the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee published its report into avoidable deaths from eating disorders. It contained recommendations across six areas to improve eating disorder services and this report outlines the government's response to the recommendations. Department of Health and Social Care

Mental health services failing to ask women about their experience of domestic abuse – ‘putting women at risk’

Mental health services failing to ask women about their experience of domestic abuse – ‘putting women at risk’ Mental health services across England are failing women by not asking about experiences of domestic abuse, according to new data in a report published today by Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk.

The findings – based on results from Freedom of Information requests – show that more than a third (15) of NHS mental health trusts that responded (42 of 58) have no policy on ‘routine enquiry’ about domestic violence and abuse – in spite of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Mental health services should be asking about domestic abuse in recognition of the high rates of violence and abuse experienced by people who access them. This is especially true for women; 38 per cent of women who have a mental health problem have experienced domestic abuse.

See also:

• Ask and take action:why public services should ask about domestic abuse (report) Agenda
• Domestic Abuse Bill Home Office
• Mental health services 'putting women at risk' by failing to ask them about domestic abuse The Independent

Social-media use 'disrupting teen sleep and exercise'

Social-media use 'disrupting teen sleep and exercise' Using social media isn't directly harming teenagers - but it can reduce the time they spend on healthy activities, such as sleeping and exercising, a study suggests.

Parents should ban phones from bedrooms after 22:00 and encourage more physical activity, the UK researchers said.

Girls were particularly vulnerable to cyber-bullying on social media, which could lead to psychological distress.

But what drove boys' distress needed more research, the study said. BBC News

See also:

• Roles of cyberbullying, sleep, and physical activity in mediating the effects of social media use on mental health and wellbeing among young people in England: a secondary analysis of longitudinal data (abstract) The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health 
• A third of girls who check social media just THREE times a day have mental health issues The Daily Mail
• Children’s lack of sleep ‘more harmful than social media use’ The Guardian
• Social media itself not the cause of poor mental health in adolescents OnMedica

Deaths by suicide and drugs highest among Generation X

Deaths by suicide and drugs highest among Generation X People born in the 1960s and 70s stand out as the generation most likely to die by suicide or drug poisoning, data for England and Wales shows.

The higher rate of fatalities began in the 1980s and 90s when people belonging to Generation X were in their 20s, and is still occurring in the now middle-aged cohort, says the Office for National Statistics.

Public Health England says the trend overlaps with patterns of heroin use.

But other factors will also contribute. BBC News

Homeless person dying every 19 hours in UK, figures show

Homeless person dying every 19 hours in UK, figures show A homeless person dies on average every 19 hours in the UK, according to figures that have prompted calls for the prime minister to address the country’s housing crisis.

Data collated through coroners’ enquiries, media coverage, family testimony and freedom of information requests reveals at least 235 people affected by homelessness have died over the last six months, ranging from the ages of 16 to 104 years old. The Independent

NHS gets £8m payout over drug firm's anti-competitive practices

NHS gets £8m payout over drug firm's anti-competitive practices The NHS has been given an £8m payout from a pharmaceutical firm after an investigation found that it engaged in anti-competitive practices that pushed up the cost of a life-saving drug for the health service.

It is the first time that the Competition and Markets Authority has secured such a payment to the NHS as part of one of its investigations. The Guardian

See also:

• Drugs firm to pay NHS £8m after competition probe BBC News

Why do so many construction workers kill themselves?

Why do so many construction workers kill themselves? Construction knows it has a problem. Working on a building site has become the deadliest profession in the UK, but the dangers have nothing to do with cranes or ladders.

More than 1,400 construction workers took their own lives between 2011 and 2015, according to national statistics. In 2016, the figure was put at 450. The rate is more than three times the national average for men. The Guardian

See also:

• Revealed: mental health crisis at Hinkley Point C construction site The Guardian
• No more 'man up': the push for better mental health at Hinkley C The Guardian

NHS declares national emergency over shortage of feed for babies and disabled patients

NHS declares national emergency over shortage of feed for babies and disabled patients The NHS has declared a national emergency over shortage of feed for babies and disabled patients, with some patients being told to go to Accident & Emergency departments.

Medics said vulnerable patients were being left starving for several days, with some being admitted to hospital because of malnutrition.

Hundreds of NHS patients, including children, who depend on intravenous nutrition, have been experiencing delays in deliveries. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Hundreds of patients at risk over delays to intravenous feed The Guardian

Almost nine in 10 Brits think over-stretched A&E services are being overused

Almost nine in 10 Brits think over-stretched A&E services are being overused The vast majority of Britons believe A&E units are being abused by patients with minor ailments, a poll suggests.

A National Centre for Social Research survey quizzed almost 3,000 people about their thoughts towards emergency care.

The results, which come amid an NHS crisis, found 86 per cent of people agreed too many people unnecessarily use casualty units. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Majority of Brits think A&E services are overused but half think it is hard to get a GP appointment National Centre for Social Research

NHS staff took almost 7,000 days of sick leave because of drug or alcohol abuse last year

NHS staff took almost 7,000 days of sick leave because of drug or alcohol abuse last year NHS staff took almost 7,000 days of sick leave because of drug or alcohol abuse last year, figures have revealed.

Alcohol Change UK said they expect many workers in the health service will use substances as a way of coping with stress.

However, this could impact on their decision-making, which the charity warned was 'particularly concerning'. The Daily Mail

Man arrested at Northampton hospital after making 'threats to kill staff', police say

Man arrested at Northampton hospital after making 'threats to kill staff', police say A man has been arrested following an armed response by police officers outside Northampton General Hospital today.

Four police squad cars were spotted on Cheyne Walk alongside Northampton General at around 3.20pm today (August 12). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Detailed guide: Overseas visitor charging: no-deal Brexit guidance for NHS service providers

Detailed guide: Overseas visitor charging: no-deal Brexit guidance for NHS service providers How changes to charging rules will affect how you recover costs from overseas visitors and migrants if there is a no-deal Brexit. Department of Health

FGM ‘no longer just an African problem’

FGM ‘no longer just an African problem’ One in 20 girls and women in the world has had some form of female genital mutilation, according the UN.

Former first lady of Somaliland and midwife Edna Adan Ismail has been to meet some of those that live in the UK. BBC News

Chlamydia sex infection vaccine passes safety test

Chlamydia sex infection vaccine passes safety test A vaccine to protect people against the common sexually transmitted infection chlamydia has passed initial safety tests.

It is the first of its kind to enter human trials.

Experts say immunisation may be the best way to tackle the disease that accounts for nearly half of all sex infections diagnosed in the UK.

More trials must check how well it works and what dose to give, The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal says. BBC News

Charity highlights 'worrying' failure to improve cancer survival in England

Charity highlights 'worrying' failure to improve cancer survival in England Macmillan says figures especially disappointing given that UK already lags behind other countries

Survival rates for many cancers, including three of the most common – breast, colon and prostate cancers – have plateaued over the past decade, official figures for England show.

The proportion of adults who survived for one year or five years respectively after being diagnosed with cancer in the four-year period 2013-2017 showed little change from levels in 2008-2012. For bladder cancer, the five-year survival rate apparently deteriorated. The Guardian

See also:

• Cancer survival in England: adult, stage at diagnosis and childhood - patients followed up to 2018 Office for National Statistics
• Macmillan Cancer Support responds to ONS Cancer Survival Data in England Macmillan Cancer

Bladder cancer survival rates drop after shortage of crucial drug

Bladder cancer survival rates drop after shortage of crucial drug Bladder cancer survival rates have fallen due to a world-wide shortage of a crucial drug, figures suggest.

New Office for National Statistics data shows the chances of living five years beyond diagnosis dropped 2.5 per cent between 2016 and 2017 to 52.6 per cent.

It follows a period of limited supplies of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, an immunotherapy that keeps the cancer at bay and prevents it from coming back. The Daily Telegraph

Half of key hospital doctors in the NHS are NOT prepared to respond to a major incident

Half of key hospital doctors in the NHS are NOT prepared to respond to a major incident Half of key hospital doctors in the NHS are not properly prepared to respond to a major incident, a medical survey has revealed.

Hospitals in England are required to have a plan in case of major events such as the Manchester Arena bombing or the Westminster terror attacks.

However, the majority of doctors quizzed in a poll were either unaware of what the plan entails or said they were 'not confident' in what they should be doing. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Preparation for the next major incident: are we ready? A 12-year update (abstract) Emergency Medicine Journal
• NHS hospitals unprepared for terror attack, survey finds The Daily Telegraph
• Half of key UK hospital doctors 'ill-prepared' for major incident The Guardian

Superbug C. difficile is evolving to 'spread in hospitals and thrive on the Western diet'

Superbug C. difficile is evolving to 'spread in hospitals and thrive on the Western diet' The superbug Clostridium difficile (C.diff) may be evolving to spread in hospitals, research suggests.

Scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine discovered the bacteria, which can cause diarrhoea, is gradually 'splitting' into two species.

The new bug spreads easily, is 'immune' to disinfectants and thrives on the Western diet of sugary foods, they found. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Adaptation of host transmission cycle during Clostridium difficile speciation Nature Genetics

New 'symbol of hope' cancer care centre to be built at Northampton General Hospital

New 'symbol of hope' cancer care centre to be built at Northampton General Hospital Plans have been submitted to build a cancer care centre to provide free practical, emotional and social support to cancer sufferers and their family and friends.

If plans are successful the 'Maggie's Centre', named after Maggie Keswick Jencks, will be built on Northampton General Hospital land, just off Cliftonville. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering General Hospital celebrates being MRSA free for four years

Kettering General Hospital celebrates being MRSA free for four years Kettering General Hospital is celebrating being free of MRSA bloodstream infections for four years.

The hospital is reporting that not one patient has contracted the most serious kind of MRSA infection which affects the bloodstream – known as bacteraemia - while being treated at the hospital since May 2015.

It says this is a significant achievement because hospitals are higher risk environments for blood stream MRSA infections because of the large amount of surgery undertaken and the use of devices like catheters and intravenous drips. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Barriers to accessing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on NHS prescription

Barriers to accessing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on NHS prescription This document provides information on the findings and recommendations following NHS England and NHS Improvement’s review of the barriers to prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Pension tax rules - impact on NHS consultants and GPs

Pension tax rules - impact on NHS consultants and GPs This briefing note focuses on the current debate about the impact of pension tax rules on some senior NHS staff. House of Commons Library

UK national eye health and hearing study: case for investment

UK national eye health and hearing study: case for investment This report argues that a lack of accurate data is contributing to a £58 billion bill for vision and hearing loss in the UK. This takes into account, medical costs, for example falls and fractures caused by visual impairment, an increased risk of dementia due to hearing loss, service costs, and reduced employment. It calls on the government to support the first ever national survey of the UK population’s sensory needs. Vision UK

Average GP waiting times exceed two weeks for first time ever

Average GP waiting times exceed two weeks for first time ever The average wait for a routine GP appointment is now more than two weeks, for the first time ever, according to Pulse's annual survey of waiting times.

A midpoint analysis of data from the survey of 901 GPs across the UK found that the average waiting time is now 15 days - the first time it has ever exceeded a fortnight.

More than 22% of GPs said that the wait for a routine appointment was more than three weeks, with 6% said that it was longer than four weeks. Pulse

See also:

• Waiting times for family doctors longer than ever, with patients forced to wait up to six weeks The Daily Mail
• GP waiting time breaches two weeks for first time, as new housing developments blamed for pressure on surgeries The Daily Telegraph
• NHS patients waiting over two weeks to see a GP, shows survey The Guardian
• Patients waiting more than two weeks for routine appointments, GPs warn The Independent

Dementia and how to change your house to make life easier

Dementia and how to change your house to make life easier A house in the UK designed especially to help people with dementia is inspiring families, care-home owners and council workers to make changes to their own homes.

Lighter carpets and carefully chosen paint colours are just some of the tweaks that you can make which can keep people with dementia living independently for longer - saving both families and local authorities money in care fees. BBC News

Drug maker 'will make $21bn from treating cystic fibrosis'

Drug maker 'will make $21bn from treating cystic fibrosis' Vertex is accused of raking in vast profits while making Orkambi unaffordable to NHS

A US company, which is refusing to drop its price for the life-changing cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi to make it affordable to NHS England, is set to make $21bn (£17bn) in profit from that and a sister medicine, according to research.

Countries around the world are struggling to pay for Orkambi, made by Vertex, which has a list price of £104,000 per patient per year and is not a cure. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in England has said it is not cost effective. On Monday, the Scottish Medicines Consortium will decide whether to approve the drug for children. The Guardian

Thousands at risk of type 2 diabetes to be offered wearable tech

Thousands at risk of type 2 diabetes to be offered wearable tech Digital scheme will allow users to access health coaches and will connect to online peer support groups

Thousands of people in England at risk of contracting type 2 diabetes will receive wearable tech to help monitor their exercise level, the NHS has said.

Up to 8,000 people could benefit from the digital scheme designed to combat the disease, which has been spreading rapidly on the back of the obesity epidemic. The Guardian

National HRT shortage leaves 200,000 menopausal women suffering as experts warn alternatives could also run out

National HRT shortage leaves 200,000 menopausal women suffering as experts warn alternatives could also run out A national shortage of HRT which could affect "almost all" of the UK's 200,000 menopausal women on the drug is now threatening the availability of alternatives, experts have warned.

Hormone Replacement Therapy replaces the oestrogen that the body stops producing during menopause. New figures show that around half of these brands are currently unavailable in the country. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• HRT: UK faces shortage for menopausal women BBC News
• HRT shortage 'adds to the stress of menopause' BBC News

DR ELLIE CANNON: Why, for the first time in my career, I'm ashamed to work for the NHS

DR ELLIE CANNON: Why, for the first time in my career, I'm ashamed to work for the NHS For too long, I have stayed silent about the growing catalogue of NHS inadequacies chipping away at my patients’ care.

But this week, yet another inexplicable decision was, for me, the final straw.

It was the first time in my 13-year GP career that I felt embarrassed to work for the NHS. The Daily Mail

Star Northampton nurse Jackie Phillips awarded posthumous prize after passing away in April

Star Northampton nurse Jackie Phillips awarded posthumous prize after passing away in April A nurse from Northampton has become a posthumous winner of a prestigious award for her life's work at Cynthia Spencer Hospice.

Jackie Phillips, the former nurse manager of palliative care for Northamptonshire and a senior clinical nurse at Cynthia Spencer Hospice was praised for going above and beyond for her patients throughout her thirty-year career. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Inclusive leadership: how ready are we to learn?

Inclusive leadership: how ready are we to learn? Speaking truth to power, we have some work to do on inclusion. At times it appears that we’re not all on the same page about what is meant by ‘inclusion’ and, importantly, what we should expect to see as evidence of inclusive practice from leaders. There are currently no clear or shared expectations that leaders will possess inclusive leadership qualities, and inclusive leadership capability and practice standards seem at best arbitrary, if demanded at all. The only people who are expected to ‘get’ inclusion, appear to be those most impacted by exclusion. The King's Fund

Research and analysis: Mental health and self-harm in children and young people

Research and analysis: Mental health and self-harm in children and young people Trends in hospital admissions of children and young people for mental health conditions, and as a result of self-harm, by age group and local authority. Public Health England

Guidance: Brexit operational readiness guidance for the health and care system in England

Guidance: Brexit operational readiness guidance for the health and care system in England Actions that providers and commissioners of health and social care services should take to prepare for, and manage, the risks of a no-deal Brexit. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Letter to the health and care sector: preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit Department of Health and Social Care
• Health and social care staff: Brexit preparations update Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: EU Third Health Programme funding if there's a no-deal Brexit Department of Health and Social Care
• Healthcare after Brexit: citizens of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland living in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Healthcare after Brexit: citizens of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland visiting the UK Department of Health and Social Care

Radical policy change urgently needed to address skills shortages, says NHS Employers

Radical policy change urgently needed to address skills shortages, says NHS Employers Responding to the Edge Foundation report on skills shortages in the NHS, Danny Mortimer has said a number of actions are being taken by employers to bridge the gap in skills, but we also urgently need to see radical change to policy. NHS Employers

See also:

• Skills Shortages in the UK Economy Bulletin 5 The Edge Foundation

Workforce race equality standard 2018/19

Workforce race equality standard 2018/19 This report contains data on the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff at the Care Quality Commission. It explores whether BAME staff have equal access to career opportunities and fair treatment in the workplace. It identifies areas for improvement such as ensuring BAME representation at senior levels and reducing the gap in bullying and harassment. Care Quality Commission

Asthma deaths in England and Wales 'highest in a decade'

Asthma deaths in England and Wales 'highest in a decade' Deaths from asthma in England and Wales are the highest they have been in more than a decade, according to analysis of official data.

More than 1,400 adults and children died from asthma attacks in 2018 - that's 2.5 people out of every 100,000.

The charity Asthma UK said too many lives were being cut short by a lack of basic care, such as inhaler checks.

GPs' leaders said more staff in practices were needed so doctors could spend longer with asthma patients. BBC News

See also:

• More resources needed to properly support patients with asthma, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Asthma deaths have increased by a third in a decade as hot summers, air pollution and lack of care blamed The Daily Telegraph

Transgender patients call for GPs to have more training

Transgender patients call for GPs to have more training Rylee, Nate and Prince all live just a few miles apart in Wolverhampton, but all are receiving different levels of support from GPs with their transgender care.

All are on the waiting list for specialist care with NHS Gender Identity Clinics but are calling for more training of GPs in gender issues.

Prince's doctor has been willing to prescribe bridging hormones, but Nate and Rylee both sought help through a private company to obtain their prescriptions.

The Royal College of GPs has called for an urgent overhaul of transgender care in the UK. BBC News

Treat NHS patients in private hospitals to cut waiting lists, campaigners urge as millions wait for operations

Treat NHS patients in private hospitals to cut waiting lists, campaigners urge as millions wait for operations The number of patients waiting for an NHS operation has risen by more than a fifth since 2016, new analysis has revealed, prompting renewed calls from campaigners for more procedures to be carried out in private hospitals.

NHS data has revealed there were 4.4 million people waiting to start treatment at the end of June – a 4.6 per cent rise from the previous June.

According to analysis of council tax data by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, this means about one in six households in England are likely to contain someone stuck on an NHS waiting list. The Independent

Watchdog declines to back NHS cannabis treatment for epilepsy

Watchdog declines to back NHS cannabis treatment for epilepsy Campaigners dismayed as Nice decides there is not enough evidence to prove it helps

Medical cannabis cannot be approved for use on children with severe epilepsy on the NHS because there is not enough evidence to prove it helps, a watchdog has ruled.

The decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) dismayed campaigners and parents who said their children would suffer as a result. The Guardian

See also:

• NICE draft guidance and NHS England review highlight need for more research on cannabis-based medicinal products NICE
• Cannabis-based medicinal products (draft guideline consultation) NICE
• 'Lack of evidence' holding back cannabis medicines BBC News
• Cannabis-based medicines blocked for routine use in NHS, as watchdogs demand evidence they are safe The Daily Telegraph

As a deaf nurse, I know what it's like to face discrimination in the NHS

As a deaf nurse, I know what it's like to face discrimination in the NHS There’s an unconscious bias that because deaf hospital staff can’t hear they must be stupid, says former nurse Helen Cherry

Being deaf has never stopped me from doing anything; it’s other people who make it an issue.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to be independent and travel. Nursing kept presenting itself as a career option. I had a natural empathy for how people feel and knew what it was like to have to try and get clarity about things. I could see that it was an opportunity to make a difference. The Guardian

Record July temperatures prompt A&E chaos with tens of thousands languishing on trolleys

Record July temperatures prompt A&E chaos with tens of thousands languishing on trolleys Hottest ever July temperatures prompted chaos in hospitals, with record numbers attending A&E and languishing on trolleys, new figures reveal.

Waiting times deteriorated as doctors and nurses battled to cope with the influx, often in “ageing” buildings not designed to keep cool.

More than 2,266,900 patients went to A&E in July, the month Britain experienced its hottest temperature on record, 38.7C. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Combined Performance Summary: June – July 2019 Nuffield Trust
• The King's Fund responds to the latest monthly hospital performance data The King's Fund
• Op waits hit 4.4 million high in England BBC News
• Number of A&E patients waiting four hours to be admitted rises by 35% The Guardian
• Record number of A&E patients waiting more than four hours to be seen, NHS figures show The Independent

The Lancet announces the end of all-male scientific panels to promote the representation of women

The Lancet announces the end of all-male scientific panels to promote the representation of women The prestigious medical publisher The Lancet Group has pledged to ban its editors from appearing on all-male scientific panels.

In hope of promoting the representation of women in science, all 18 of the group's publications will adhere to the new guidelines.

Editors of any of the London-based publisher's journals will not be allowed to sit on 'manels' – expert panels made up entirely of men. The Daily Mail

Identifying the health care system benefits of housing with care

Identifying the health care system benefits of housing with care This study, published together with Southampton City Council, found benefits ranging from improvements to residents’ quality of life, reductions in the use of health services and associated resources, and significant cost-benefits for the health system from the use of housing with care services. Although the research focuses on Southampton, the findings will be of interest to planners and commissioners of services across the UK. Housing Learning and Improvement Network

NHS to set up national artificial intelligence lab

NHS to set up national artificial intelligence lab The NHS in England is setting up a national artificial intelligence laboratory to enhance care of patients and research.

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said AI had "enormous power" to improve care, save lives and ensure doctors had more time to spend with patients.

He has announced £250m will be spent on boosting the role of AI within the health service.

However, AI will pose new challenges including protecting patient data. BBC News

See also:

• A positive step towards a digital future but technology needs to be driven by patient need The Health Foundation
• NHS to receive £250m boost for AI development The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson pledges £250m for NHS artificial intelligence The Guardian
• New £250m fund marks dawn of artificial intelligence for NHS Health Service Journal
• NHS to receive £250m boost for AI development ITV News

I'll lose my mental health care when I turn 18. Why?

I'll lose my mental health care when I turn 18. Why? Thomas says he was close to ending his life a few months ago. He has been receiving mental health care for five years, but he's been told his treatment will stop on his 18th birthday.

This is a common problem for young people in the UK. According to a leading expert, thousands of young people "fall off the cliff edge" when transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services. BBC News

'I was denied cervical screening because of my disability'

'I was denied cervical screening because of my disability' Women with physical disabilities often have to fight to access cervical screening, with some denied it altogether, a charity is warning.

Some said they hadn't had smear tests for years because hoists were unavailable and testing at home was not an option, a report found.

Other women said they felt invisible and their needs were not understood. BBC News

I've lived the difference between US and UK health care. Here's what I learned

I've lived the difference between US and UK health care. Here's what I learned Laura Beers has been sick and needed care in both the UK and the US, and she says while the British National Health *Service* isn't perfect, it's far superior. CNN

Air pollution gives hundreds of thousands of European children asthma, study finds

Air pollution gives hundreds of thousands of European children asthma, study finds Up to a third of new cases of childhood asthma in Europe could be caused by air pollution, a study has found.

Hundreds of thousands of children from one to 14 years old are believed to have been made ill each year by breathing in pollutants, researchers estimate.

Around 1.1 million children are believed to suffer from asthma in the UK. The Independent

See also:

• 33% of New Childhood Asthma Cases in Europe Attributable to Air Pollution Barcelona Institute for Global Health
• A THIRD of all childhood asthma cases in Europe are caused by air pollution The Daily Mail