£1 million to help NHS reclaim debts from overseas visitors

£1 million to help NHS reclaim debts from overseas visitors Plans to expand the team of cost-recovery experts will help recover millions of pounds in costs for treating overseas visitors in the NHS. Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced plans to expand the NHS’s existing team of cost-recovery experts, backed by £1 million.

Since 2018, a dedicated team of cost-recovery experts has been established to work with trusts. The expansion of this team will help the NHS to reclaim outstanding debts from overseas visitors who are required to pay for their care. Gov.UK

Dental statistics broken down by practice for the first time

Dental statistics broken down by practice for the first time The latest statistics about patients treated by NHS dentists are broken down to dental practice level for the first time. The report from NHS Digital shows that half of all adults in England saw an NHS dentist in the two years to June 2019, a slight decrease on the same period to June 2018. NHS Networks

Strengthen muscles as well as heart to stay fit and healthy, say top doctors

Strengthen muscles as well as heart to stay fit and healthy, say top doctors Adults are advised to do muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week, as well as aerobic exercise, to help them stay active for longer, under new guidance from the UK's top doctors.

For the first time, it includes advice on safe activity levels for pregnant women and new mums. Dance, bowls or Tai Chi are advised for over-65s to reduce falls in old age. Physical activity protects against obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression, the advice says.

The new guidelines on physical activity have been produced by the UK's chief medical officers and updated to reflect the latest scientific evidence. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• New physical activity guidelines issued by UK Chief Medical Officers Gov.UK
• Even a few minutes' exercise is good for you, new guidelines state The Guardian
• No such thing as too little exercise, says Chief Medical Officer, as ten minute minimum is scrapped The Telegraph
• Carry your heavy shopping to keep fit: Official guidelines urge all adults to do muscle strengthening exercises twice a week Mail Online

Press release: Government to invest over £130 million in new tech to tackle cancer and debilitating illnesses

Press release: Government to invest over £130 million in new tech to tackle cancer and debilitating illnesses Thousands of NHS patients could receive faster diagnosis and better treatment for life-changing diseases like cancer, dementia and Parkinson’s. The government has today (9 September) unveiled details of how it will help thousands of people across the country living with debilitating, painful and/or sometimes life-threatening diseases by investing £133 million in life-changing treatments for arthritis and cancer and for pioneering gene-based therapies for diseases including dementia and Parkinson’s. Gov.UK

See Also:

• Officials give a £133million funding boost to AI and gene therapies Mail Online

YouTube trend for extreme food challenges encourages binge eating, warn psychologists

YouTube trend for extreme food challenges encourages binge eating, warn psychologists An internet craze which sees participants devour massive quantities of food on film is “glorifying” binge eating, health experts have warned.

The trend, named "Mukbang", originated in Korea but has become popular around the world with British YouTubers among those taking part.
The name translates to ‘eating broadcast’ and it is understood to have grown in popularity because Koreans living alone wanted to share meal times with family over webcam.

Mukbangs have divided public opinion and psychologists believe those who view the videos are encouraged to behave in the same way. The Telegraph

NHS gender identity clinic discloses email contacts of 2,000 patients

NHS gender identity clinic discloses email contacts of 2,000 patients One of the people affected describes incident as a ‘horrendous breach of privacy’

Almost 2,000 patients of an NHS gender identity clinic have had their email addresses disclosed in a “horrendous” breach of patient confidentiality.

Those involved are patients of the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust in London who are transitioning gender or considering doing so. The Guardian

See Also:

• Gender identity clinic leaks patient email addresses BBC News

Seven in 10 hospital trusts failing to meet safety standards

Seven in 10 hospital trusts failing to meet safety standards Patient safety is frequently at risk in NHS hospital trusts in England, with 70% of them failing to meet national safety standards, according to an Observer analysis of inspection reports, with staff shortages the biggest problem.

Reports by the regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveal that managers at one trust failed to act on staff reports of abuse and violence, while a shortage of critical beds at another trust led to three serious incidents resulting in patient harm. The Guardian

What should be done to fix the crisis in social care?

What should be done to fix the crisis in social care? This briefing lists five priorities for the government following an assessment of the evidence and analysis of the costs of reform of social care. The Health Foundation

England’s top nurse to recruit NHS ‘social media influencers’ to extend the reach of NHS App

England’s top nurse to recruit NHS ‘social media influencers’ to extend the reach of NHS App The search is on for nurses and other health professionals across England to become the face of the NHS App on social media and in their communities, helping people to take back control of their own health. NHS England

Government confirms immigration arrangements if we exit the EU without a deal

Government confirms immigration arrangements if we exit the EU without a deal The government has confirmed EU immigration arrangements once free movement ends, if leave the EU without a deal. NHS Employers

See also:

• Clarification needed over no-deal immigration arrangements, says Cavendish Coalition NHS Employers

The NHS needs more senior women in leadership

The NHS needs more senior women in leadership The gender pay gap in the NHS remains a hotly debated topic, especially as the final report from the Gender Pay Gap in Medicine Review approaches. Andrea Hester, deputy director of employment relations and reward at NHS Employers, reports. National Health Executive

Stress in pregnancy 'makes child personality disorder more likely'

Stress in pregnancy 'makes child personality disorder more likely' The children of women who experience severe stress when pregnant are nearly 10 times more likely to develop a personality disorder by the age of 30, a study suggests.

Even moderate prolonged stress may have an impact on child development and continue after a baby's birth, it said.

More than 3,600 pregnant women in Finland were asked about their stress levels, and their children followed up. BBC News

See also:

• The role of prenatal stress as a pathway to personality disorder: longitudinal birth cohort study British Journal of Psychiatry
• Women stressed in pregnancy 'are more likely to have children with a personality disorder' The Daily Mail

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals: Maternity deaths probe

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals: Maternity deaths probe A report into the deaths of five women whose maternity care was overseen by the same hospital trust has found "best practice" was not always followed.

The patients at the centre of the probe into Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust were deemed high-risk. BBC News

Senior doctor threatens to sue Rees-Mogg after anti-vaxxer remarks

Senior doctor threatens to sue Rees-Mogg after anti-vaxxer remarks David Nicholl accuses Commons leader of abusing parliamentary privilege

A senior doctor who helped draw up government medical plans for a no-deal Brexit has threatened to sue Jacob Rees-Mogg after the Commons leader compared him to the disgraced anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield.

Rees-Mogg told MPs that in warning about the possible effects of a no-deal Brexit on medical supplies, David Nicholl was being as irresponsible as Wakefield, who was struck off the medical register in 2010 after suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The Guardian

See also:

• Rees-Mogg apologises after comparing no-deal medical expert to anti-vaxxer The Guardian
• Jacob Rees-Mogg apologises for likening doctor who warned of no-deal Brexit deaths to disgraced anti-vaxxer amid widespread condemnation The Independent
• Jacob Rees-Mogg compares NHS consultant to doctor blamed for MMR vaccine scare Sky News
• Jacob Rees-Mogg apologises for comparing doctor to disgraced anti-vaxxer Sky News

Court rejects NHS trust bid to stop Muslim family representing sick girl

Court rejects NHS trust bid to stop Muslim family representing sick girl Barts NHS trust criticised for bringing Islamic religious beliefs into life support case

An NHS trust has been criticised for arguing that the family of a seriously ill five-year-old girl are incapable of acting in her best interests because of their Islamic religious beliefs.

The parents of Tafida Raqeeb, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in February and is on a life-support machine, want to fly her to Italy for treatment against the judgment of doctors at the Royal London hospital. The Guardian

Shocking true stories told to PRUE LEITH since she was tasked to tackle the horrors of hospital food

Shocking true stories told to PRUE LEITH since she was tasked to tackle the horrors of hospital food Ever since I sat in the sunny garden of No 10 with our ebullient Prime Minister in June, I have been inundated with emails, posts and letters about the state of hospital food.

The complaints I have received since becoming an adviser to the government review into hospital food last month follow a familiar pattern. The Daily Mail

Colorectal cancer rates are rising among young people worldwide

Colorectal cancer rates are rising among young people worldwide Cases of colorectal cancer among young people are rising across the globe, a new study warns.

Research across 36 countries and six continents revealed the disease was becoming more common in people younger than 50 years old.

In the US and the UK, where trends among older adults have stabilized or declined, early on-set rates were rising in younger patients. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Global patterns and trends in colorectal cancer incidence in young adults (abstract) Gut

The Spending Round: what does it mean for health and care?

The Spending Round: what does it mean for health and care? Among all the constitutional excitement happening in Whitehall, the Chancellor has published the Spending Round for 2020/21. But what does the announcement mean for health and care? The King’s Fund has repeatedly talked about three main priorities for health and care for the new Prime Minister – workforce, public health and adult social care, so let’s look at each in turn. (A fourth, capital, is outside of the Spending Round remit this time because these budgets have already been set for 2020/21). The King's Fund

See also:

• Sadly missed opportunity to reverse cuts - Nuffield Trust response to Spending Round Nuffield Trust
• Spending Round 2019: document HM Treasury
• Spending Round 2019: what you need to know HM Treasury
• Spending plan: What it means for health and care BBC News
• Javid unveils short-term social care funding boost in spending review Community Care
• Sajid Javid promises largest spending rise in more than 15 years The Guardian

‘NHS Passports’ to help staff work flexibly and cut admin costs

‘NHS Passports’ to help staff work flexibly and cut admin costs Health service staff in England will be able to move seamlessly between sites in a bid to make it easier to take on new roles, plug gaps in staffing and improve patients’ care.

Following successful pilot projects, all hospitals in England are being urged to sign-up to passporting agreements, which will cut the need for up to two-day inductions and other admin when staff move between organisations.

All clinicians working in hospitals that have these agreements will be able to move across different NHS sites to offer care to patients before returning to their main trust. NHS England

See also:

• All NHS staff could get 'passports' to allow them to work in ANY hospital at short notice The Daily Mail

No deal Brexit: issues, impacts and implications

No deal Brexit: issues, impacts and implications This report shows that once the UK is outside the Article 50 framework it will be far harder, and take far longer, to get a deal with the EU. It includes a discussion on how health care will be affected. This includes how co-ordination of social security will immediately cease. Cross-border health care rests on this which means planned treatment in other member states will be disrupted. In addition to this, the European Health Insurance Card for emergency treatment will no longer function. The UK in a Changing Europe

GPs are ignoring new mothers' mental health, says parenting charity

GPs are ignoring new mothers' mental health, says parenting charity Many are given little or no time to discuss feelings at postnatal checkup, NCT survey finds

Mental health problems among new mothers are going undetected because many get as little as three minutes to discuss their feelings at the six-week postnatal checkup, research claims.

A sixth of mothers were given no time at all to talk about their health at the appointments, while 31% had less than three minutes, according to the survey by the parenting charity NCT. A quarter of the 1,025 women polled, who all gave birth in the last two years, were not asked anything about their emotional or mental wellbeing. The Guardian

See also:

• The half hidden: bringing postnatal mental illness out of hiding (report) NCT
• Hidden Half campaign NCT
• Six-week check for new mothers must be funded, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners 
• GPs are 'neglecting' almost HALF of new mothers by failing to discuss their health after childbirth The Daily Mail

The Big Hospital Experiment review – can a volunteer army save the NHS?

The Big Hospital Experiment review – can a volunteer army save the NHS? Although this documentary is warm and heartfelt, the central premise – using an unpaid workforce to paper over cracks in the health service – may leave you queasy

The Big Hospital Experiment (BBC Two) is a lovely and heartfelt documentary about community, volunteering and the power of shared humanity, and within a few moments of it starting, I was furious. The cameras follow 14 young men and women who have signed up to work in the Royal Derby hospital for six weeks. The Guardian

Statins to be made available over the counter by pharmacists, NHS chief executive announces

Statins to be made available over the counter by pharmacists, NHS chief executive announces Statins are to be made available over the counter by pharmacists, in a bid to prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes, the chief executive of the NHS has announced.

It is estimated nearly 8 million adults in the UK currently take the statins, but millions more are still at risk because they do not take the drug.

The decision could help those millions of patients get easier access to the lifesaving medicine. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Plans to make statins available over-the-counter should be approached with caution, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Pharmacies could start selling high-strength statins without prescription The Daily Mail
• GPs alarmed over NHS plans to allow chemists to dispense statins The Guardian

THIRD of cancer patients still have to go to their GP at least TWICE before hospital tests

THIRD of cancer patients still have to go to their GP at least TWICE before hospital tests The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, completed by 70,000 cancer sufferers, found a small number of patients were still visiting the doctor five or more times before being referred to hospital. The Daily Mail

See also:

• National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2018 - National and Local data NHS England

Healthy New Towns: how the NHS can help create healthy places

Healthy New Towns: how the NHS can help create healthy places We have been working with NHS England over the past 18 months, along with colleagues at the Town and Country Planning Association and The Young Foundation, to draw out the learning from NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme. This has resulted in the publication of Putting health into place, which presents learning from the programme as practical guidance for local areas, and we will continue to play a role in supporting its implementation. The King's Fund

Nursing students are still dropping out in worrying numbers

Nursing students are still dropping out in worrying numbers Analysis by Nursing Standard and the Health Foundation shows a quarter of all nursing students are leaving or suspending their degrees before graduation.

See also:

• How many nursing students are leaving or suspending their degrees before graduation? The Health Foundation

New HIV diagnoses fall by a third in the UK since 2015

New HIV diagnoses fall by a third in the UK since 2015 Data by Public Health England (PHE) reveal that new HIV diagnoses in the UK have fallen to their lowest level since 2000. New diagnoses fell by almost a third (28%) from 6,271 in 2015 to 4,484 in 2018.

RCGP calls for 5,000 GPs to be trained a year to meet workforce targets and safeguard patient care

RCGP calls for 5,000 GPs to be trained a year to meet workforce targets and safeguard patient care Currently, there are 3,500 placements for GP training a year - and this year, more junior doctors have chosen to specialise in general practice than ever before - but the College says these numbers must increase to at least 5,000 a year as soon as possible, and for this to be funded appropriately. Royal College of General Practitioners

See also:

• NHS needs 5,000 trainee doctors a year, says GPs' leader The Guardian

Unrelieved pain in palliative care in England

Unrelieved pain in palliative care in England This study estimates that currently there are approximately 125,971 end-of-life patients receiving, or in need of, palliative care suffering from unrelieved pain. Of these, an estimated 16,130 patients experience no relief from their pain at all in the last three months of life. Some of these patients suffer unnecessarily because of variations in the quality of care across care settings, for example, hospice versus at home services). Office of Health Economics

Suicide rate rises for first time since 2013

Suicide rate rises for first time since 2013 The suicide rate in the UK has risen for the first time since 2013, official figures show.

Office for National Statistics data for 2018 showed 11.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000 people - up from 10.1 in 2017.

Changes to the way suicides are recorded were brought in midway through last year and may account for some of the rise, the ONS says.

However, the suicide rate is still lower than its 1980s peak. BBC News

See also:

• Quarterly suicide death registrations in England: 2001 to 2018 registrations and 2019 provisional data Office for National Statistics
• Suicides in the UK: 2018 registrations Office for National Statistics
• Suicide prevention profile: September 2019 update Public Health England
• Amount of young people committing suicide in Britain is at a record high The Daily Mail
• Male suicides in record spike amid concern deaths were being wrongly recorded The Daily Telegraph

Cancer 'biggest middle-age killer in rich nations'

Cancer 'biggest middle-age killer in rich nations' Cancer now causes more deaths among the middle-aged in higher-income countries than cardiovascular disease, a study suggests.

Globally, heart problems and stroke is the leading cause of death at this age.

But the researchers say people in rich nations are 2.5 times more likely to die of cancer than cardiovascular disease in their middle years.

In poorer nations, the reverse is true - with cardiovascular disease three times more likely to claim the lives. BBC News

See also:

• Cancer's global epidemiological transition and growth (open access) The Lancet

Violence in the NHS: staff face routine assault and intimidation

Violence in the NHS: staff face routine assault and intimidation Lack of training and prosecutions, and workforce shortages, are placing staff in greater danger, say health unions

When Dr Miranda Roland, an A&E registrar, was held hostage by a patient brandishing a pair of steel surgical scissors in a cubicle, she didn’t panic. Moments earlier, she had gone in to check on the young patient, who was having a mental health episode after taking drugs, and had closed the door behind her. Although she was alone, Roland thought she was safe – all sharp and dangerous objects had been removed. Unfortunately, the patient had managed to hide a pair of scissors, which she pulled out before backing the doctor into a corner. “I was able to keep calm and talk her out of stabbing me,” Roland recalls. “I was lucky. It was that tense, it could have gone either way.” The Guardian

Violence in mental health can't be ignored, but nor can the pain of punitive policies

Violence in mental health can't be ignored, but nor can the pain of punitive policies | Peter Beresford Modern understanding of disability takes account of the barriers people face. Let’s do the same for mental health policy

When Anna became physically unwell as a student, her GP referred her to a psychiatrist and she agreed to voluntary treatment. After interviewing her for less than an hour, the psychiatrist diagnosed her with schizophrenia and told her there was a risk she would kill her mother.

“I have never been violent in my life, ever,” she says. But for 35 years Anna has had to live with this information, knowing it is written in her medical records and has limited her life opportunities for two decades. The Guardian

'Miracle' jab which cures rare form of child blindness to be offered by the NHS, Simon Stevens to announce

'Miracle' jab which cures rare form of child blindness to be offered by the NHS, Simon Stevens to announce A “miracle” jab which cures a rare form of child blindness will now be offered by the NHS, Simon Stevens will announce today.

Previously no treatment has been available for infants born with inherited retinal dystrophies disorders, which cause poor vision and often result in complete blindness by childhood.

Mr Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, is expected to announce the revolutionary gene therapy treatment, which costs over £600,000 per patient, at the Health Innovation Expo conference in Manchester. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS to fund revolutionary treatment for blindness in children NHS England
• Gene therapy for rare eye disease set to be offered on NHS BBC News
• Blind children battling rare condition to have their sight restored on the NHS The Daily Mail
• One-off injection will save children from inherited blindness The Guardian

NHS could save thousands of pounds by cutting back on expensive air mattresses

NHS could save thousands of pounds by cutting back on expensive air mattresses High-tech mattresses used by the NHS are no better than cheaper alternatives at protecting against pressure sores, according to a study.

The devices, built into one in ten hospital beds, are allocated to patients at risk of pressure sores - mostly the elderly.

Whether they work compared to cheaper special foam mattresses had not been studied in depth until now. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Pressure Relieving Support Surfaces for Pressure Ulcer Prevention (PRESSURE 2): Clinical and Health Economic Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial eClinicalMedicine

Questions invited for health group's annual general meeting

Questions invited for health group's annual general meeting Anyone interested in the planning of the local health service can watch the live-stream of an annual general meeting being held by a public health body this week.

NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group are holding their annual general meeting on Thursday, September 5 at Kettering Conference Centre, with members of the public invited to attend in person or watch it online. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Joint letter to Members of Parliament on no deal Brexit

Joint letter to Members of Parliament on no deal Brexit As major decisions about Brexit are taken, we have written to MPs with the King’s Fund and Health Foundation to lay out the impact of leaving without a deal for health and social care. Nuffield Trust

Diagnosis of late-stage prostate cancer reaches all-time high

Diagnosis of late-stage prostate cancer reaches all-time high As the latest figures show that 42.5% of diagnoses of prostate cancer are made in the late stages (stages iii or iv), men’s cancer charity Orchid is calling for men and healthcare professionals to FACE up to the disease.

The latest figures follow a 5-year trend and are coupled with statistics from a survey, commissioned by Orchid, which are being released for Male Cancer Awareness Week (2nd – 8th September) and highlight that awareness of prostate cancer risk factors amongst GPs is worryingly low, particularly in relation to ethnicity and family history

See also:

• Thousands of men die from prostate cancer every year because of late diagnosis, charity warns The Daily Mail

Life-saving organ transplant opportunities being missed

Life-saving organ transplant opportunities being missed As many as 2,500 more organs could be made available for transplant in the UK if families spoke more openly about donating after death, says the NHS Blood and Transplant organisation.

It is hoped the more that people talk about their wishes, the easier it will be for relatives to agree to donations. BBC News

Could fitness trackers be causing people to develop eating disorders?

Could fitness trackers be causing people to develop eating disorders? Fitness and health tracking devices are becoming increasingly popular and a huge variety of wearable tech and apps now exist. Indeed, many smartphones and smart watches now come primed and ready to track our activity, sleep and nutrition.

Research has for a long time highlighted how monitoring behaviours can help to lead to positive changes in our lifestyles. Tracking fitness can be an effective way to help increase physical activity, and to achieve weight loss.

But monitoring physical activity and food intake may not be useful for everyone. The Independent

UK training record number of mental health first aiders

UK training record number of mental health first aiders Britain is training record numbers of workplace “mental health first aiders” to confront a sharp rise in people expressing mental distress, though evidence of success is mixed, according to a Guardian study.

Requests sent to every FTSE 100 company show that they alone have trained more than 10,000 staffers, while mid-tier and even tiny businesses are appointing first responders who can be approached confidentially by those with depression, anxiety, stress and other conditions. The Guardian

Teenager 'first in UK' to go deaf and blind due to junk food diet, report reveals

Teenager 'first in UK' to go deaf and blind due to junk food diet, report reveals A teenager is believed to be the first in the UK to go deaf and blind due to his junk food diet, a report has warned.

The 17-year-old lived off a daily portion of chips, crisps, white bread and processed meat for around a decade.

His poor diet, which resulted in a number of vitamin deficiencies, led to the boy developing a condition called nutritional optic neuropathy (NON). The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Blindness Caused by a Junk Food Diet (abstract) Annals of Internal Medicine
• Teenager 'blind' from living off crisps and chips BBC News
• Boy, 17, goes blind because of a vitamin deficiency caused by his diet of French fries and Pringles The Daily Mail
• Teenager left blind and deaf by decade-long diet of sausages, crisps and processed food The Independent

Nurses will be handed £1,000 each to spend on career development to stop them quitting

Nurses will be handed £1,000 each to spend on career development to stop them quitting Nurses are being given £1,000 each to spend on their career development to stop them quitting the NHS.

The Government is promising the funding in an additional £210million for frontline health staff in what could be seen as another pre-election bribe.

The money is specifically aimed at improving the training of nurses and midwives to enhance patient care and keep staff motivated. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS Nurses to be given £1,000 each to spend on training in bid to stop staff leaving iNews

Making new technologies work for everyone

Making new technologies work for everyone The Office for National Statistics estimates around 1.5 million jobs in England are at high risk of having some of their duties automated in the future, while the World Economic Forum says nearly half of companiesexpect automation to lead to a reduction in their full-time workforce by 2022.

Reports like this understandably generate anxiety about what technological progress means for people’s livelihoods. And while automation – where a machine executes a task with minimal human input – has been with us since the Industrial Revolution, recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are pushing the boundaries of what can be automated, not just in relation to manual work but complex cognitive tasks too, including in health care services. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Which health care jobs are the most likely to be affected by automation? The Health Foundation

Drivers of health care expenditure: final report

Drivers of health care expenditure: final report Since the NHS was established growth in health care expenditure (HCE) has outpaced the rise in both GDP and in total public expenditure. Known drivers of HCE growth include demographic factors, income and wealth effects, technology and cost pressures. To identify the challenges and opportunities for developing a model of health care demand, this report looks at drivers of past trends in health care expenditure and how much each of the drivers has contributed to past increases in expenditure. It also investigates how much each type of service contributed to past trends in health care expenditure and why there have been different trends for different types of care. Centre for Health Economics

Call for HPV jab to be offered to older boys

Call for HPV jab to be offered to older boys The Teenage Cancer Trust wants the HPV vaccine programme to be extended to older boys and young men.

Strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are linked to the majority of cervical cancer cases as well as oral, throat and anal cancers.

Teenage girls have been able to get the HPV jab in the UK since 2008 but now boys aged 11-13 will be offered it too.

The government said that vaccinating older boys would only have "limited benefit". BBC News

See also:

• More than a million teenage boys to miss out on life-saving cancer vaccinations Teenage Cancer Trust
• One million teenage boys are denied HPV vaccine that can prevent cancer The Daily Mail
• Cancer charity fears for boys and men who miss out on HPV vaccination The Guardian
• More than a million teenage boys could miss out on cancer-preventing HPV vaccines, charity warns The Independent

Police 'dealing with more mental health incidents'

Police 'dealing with more mental health incidents' The number of mental health incidents dealt with by police has risen by more than a quarter in four years, figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 Live show.

While there were 385,206 incidents flagged as mental health-related in 2014, in 2018 that figure was 494,159, a rise of 28%.

Police chiefs have said the issue is affecting the amount of time officers can focus on fighting crime. BBC News

More than 120,000 NHS patients kept on ‘hidden waiting lists’ for mental health appointments

More than 120,000 NHS patients kept on ‘hidden waiting lists’ for mental health appointments People seeking help with their mental health are being kept on “hidden waiting lists”, with more than 122,000 patients waiting more than eight weeks to see a doctor again after their first appointment, The Independent can reveal.

Patients who received an initial talking therapy session were then told to wait longer for a follow-up appointment in 90 per cent of NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in 2018-19, according to the Labour Party. CCGs are responsible for the planning of health services in local areas; there are currently 191 across England.

More than 100,000 patients missed out on early cancer diagnosis because of NHS staff shortages, charity claims

More than 100,000 patients missed out on early cancer diagnosis because of NHS staff shortages, charity claims About half of all cancer patients in England failed to be diagnosed with cancer in its early stages in one year, a charity has said, sounding the alarm that NHS staff shortages are contributing to a loss of life.

Some 115,000 people in England were diagnosed with late-stage cancer in 2017, significantly hurting their chances of survival and leaving them with fewer treatment options, according to figures released by Public Health England and analysed by Cancer Research UK. The Independent

See also:

• Lack of government action on NHS staffing undermines ambition to diagnose cancer early Cancer Research UK
• NHS medics fail to spot nearly half of cancers in time because of a crippling staff shortage The Daily Mail
• Cancer patients in England 'diagnosed too late' due to staff shortages The Guardian

NHS reports protester to Prevent for joining Extinction Rebellion

NHS reports protester to Prevent for joining Extinction Rebellion A retired doctor who took part in non-violent environmental protests was visited by police at his home after his local NHS trust reported him to the government’s counter-terrorism programme.

Lyn Jenkins, 69, joined the Extinction Rebellion environmental campaign after he became convinced that urgent action was needed to avert climate breakdown.

His local NHS trust referred him to Prevent, the government’s flagship programme designed to stop people from becoming terrorists. The Guardian

Pharmacies to offer heart checkups in new NHS England scheme

Pharmacies to offer heart checkups in new NHS England scheme Early detection service at 320 pharmacies aims to prevent heart attacks and strokes

Heart checkups are to be offered at high street pharmacies under new plans from NHS England, as part of a programme which seeks to prevent tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes over the next decade.

General practices will also join the fight against common conditions that lead to cardiovascular disease in a plan launched on Monday, working in specialist teams with pharmacists. Successful pilots of the measures reduced strokes by a quarter. The Guardian

See also:

• Heart checks while you shop: NHS announces plan to have pharmacies check shoppers' heart health in bid to cut deaths The Daily Telegraph

Unvaccinated university students driving rise in mumps cases, experts say

Unvaccinated university students driving rise in mumps cases, experts say Unvaccinated university students have been blamed for a surge in cases of mumps, after the highest total in a decade was recorded.

Some 2,028 cases of mumps were confirmed in the second quarter this year, Public Health England (PHE) said.

This is the highest quarterly figure since 2009, PHE said. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MMR vaccination call following high numbers of cases Public Health England 
• Research and analysis: Measles, mumps and rubella: lab-confirmed cases in England 2019 Public Health England

NHS saves £300MILLION in a year by telling doctors to stop giving out expensive branded medications

NHS saves £300MILLION in a year by telling doctors to stop giving out expensive branded medications The NHS claims to have saved nearly £294 million this year by telling doctors to stop dishing out expensive branded medications.

Health watchdogs encourage the prescription of generic drugs or 'biosimilars' – near-identical products which are far cheaper but just as effective.

The crackdown has allowed the cash-strapped NHS to slash its bill for the most expensive drug by £110 million alone in the last financial year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS cuts medicines costs by three quarters of a billion pounds NHS England

Patients left without vital IV nutrition threaten to drag the NHS to court

Patients left without vital IV nutrition threaten to drag the NHS to court Patients hit by a shortage of tube-feeding liquid are planning to take the NHS to court, according to their lawyer.

More than 40 people have ended up in hospital after a delay to the supplies of feeds for people who are unable to eat solid food.

After an inspection earlier in the year a manufacturer, Calea, was told to change its manufacturing process overnight and its supply chain was disrupted as a result. The Daily Mail

What should be done to fix the crisis in social care? Five priorities for government

What should be done to fix the crisis in social care? Five priorities for government Adult social care in England needs fixing – and has done for decades. Increasing numbers of people are unable to access social care and care providers are at risk of collapse. Yet successive governments continue to duck reform, and people and their families continue to suffer unnecessarily. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Care services 'at risk' as funding doubts grow BBC News
• Councils 'face a £2.4BILLION black hole in their social care funding next year' The Daily Mail

More than 160 NHS leaders say a lack of investment is putting patients at risk of harm at their NHS trust

More than 160 NHS leaders say a lack of investment is putting patients at risk of harm at their NHS trust A new survey released today by NHS Providers has found that 82% (161) of NHS trust leaders think that the current climate of restricted capital funding poses a medium or high risk to patient safety, and could undermine plans to transform the NHS.

Despite the prime minister’s welcome commitment to allow the NHS to spend an additional £1.8bn, the survey reveals the scale of the challenge of NHS capital funding that still exists, and the direct impact this has on everyone who relies on the health service.

See also:

• Rebuild our NHS: our asks of the government (briefing) NHS Providers
• Time to rebuild our NHS and create a 21st century health service NHS Providers
• Patients' lives 'at risk because NHS hospitals have been allowed to crumble' The Daily Mail
• 'Crumbling' hospitals putting lives at risk, say NHS chiefs The Guardian

No deal Brexit: Flu vaccine delays "very likely"

No deal Brexit: Flu vaccine delays "very likely" Doctors and NHS leaders have warned that a no-deal Brexit would make it "likely" there will be a delay in flu vaccine supply this year.

They say the EU departure date coincides with the winter season in a way that creates "a perfect storm for the NHS".

Major flu vaccine manufacturer Sanofi said delays in deciding what strains of flu to use in the vaccine mean over a million doses will have to be imported after 31 October. BBC News

See also:

• Binning the Brexit backstop: the impact on the NHS Nuffield Trust

MPs highlight 'secret scandal' of radiotherapy access as NHS dispute figures

MPs highlight 'secret scandal' of radiotherapy access as NHS dispute figures Politicians have criticised the “secret scandal” of poor radiotherapy provision amid a dispute with the NHS over how many cancer patients may not be getting treatment.

A report from MPs across the political spectrum estimates that 20,000 patients are missing out on treatment each year.

The report said it had observed “consensus” and “widespread acknowledgement” of the estimate, based on analysis from the charity Action Radiotherapy of Government data. ITV News

See also:

• Radiotherapy: Securing the future of Britain’s secret lifesaver All-Party Parliamentary Group on Radiotherapy

I'm a medical student, and I'm gay. Work would be simpler if I were heterosexual

I'm a medical student, and I'm gay. Work would be simpler if I were heterosexual Does the pledge for doctors to be honest include our sexuality? If I tell the truth, I risk losing patient trust to homophobia

I’m a medical student heading into my sixth and final year, and I am a gay woman. I feel like my work as a healthcare professional would be much simpler if I were heterosexual.

When medical students (and the wider medical community) work on a ward, getting to know the patients is important. We have time to sit and chat with patients about their grandchildren, their dogs and where they went on holiday when they were young. In turn, most people like to know a bit about us. Forming a human connection with people under your care, especially those who are older or prone to loneliness, is essential in building a trusting patient-doctor relationship. I hit a sticking point time and time again. I’m asked if I have a husband, a boyfriend, children, or plans to marry someone soon. The Guardian

Number of people accessing NHS dentist falls to 10-year low

Number of people accessing NHS dentist falls to 10-year low Access to NHS dentists is now the worst it has been for a decade, new figures suggest, with just half of adults undergoing regular checks.

Statistics from NHS Digital show just 50.2 per cent of adults have seen a dentist in the last two years - a drop from 52.5 per cent less than a year ago. The Daily Telegraph

Antibiotic resistance "could kill humanity before climate change does" warns England's chief medical officer

Antibiotic resistance "could kill humanity before climate change does" warns England's chief medical officer Antimicrobial resistance could soon kill at least 10 million people per year and wipe out humanity "before climate change does", England's chief medical officer has warned.

Professor Dame Sally Davies also cautioned the post-Brexit UK against importing meat or fish from countries that "misuse" antibiotics while rearing livestock. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• The Chief Medical Officer on the catastrophic threat of antimicrobial resistance Department of Health and Social Care

NHS has lost 600 GPs in one YEAR despite pledges from Government to tackle the downward spiral

NHS has lost 600 GPs in one YEAR despite pledges from Government to tackle the downward spiral The NHS has lost almost 600 GPs in the last year as its recruitment crisis continues, figures show.

Almost as many family doctors left the health service between June 2018 and June 2019 as did in the entire three years to March.

Doctors' union the British Medical Association said falling GP numbers mean strained GPs are risking their own health to catch up with huge workloads. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Healthcare Workforce Statistics - March 2019, Experimental NHS Digital

UK's healthcare spend is the second lowest in the G7 and average for Europe

UK's healthcare spend is the second lowest in the G7 and average for Europe The UK has the second lowest healthcare spending of the G7 nations and spent £2,989 per person in 2017.

Among comparable countries, the US had by far the biggest outgoing - spending £7,736 ($9,433) per person on average - but had a lower life expectancy.

Figures released by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) ranked 36 countries by how much their healthcare costs each year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• How does UK healthcare spending compare with other countries? Office for National Statistics
• Healthcare expenditure, UK Health Accounts: 2017 Office for National Statistics

Northamptonshire County Council: £8m of planned savings target to be missed

Northamptonshire County Council: £8m of planned savings target to be missed Finances at a cash-crisis council are still not on track, with forecasts predicting £8m of £41m savings needed in 2019-20 will not be made.

After its financial collapse in 2018, Northamptonshire County Council will cease to exist from spring 2021, with two new unitary authorities planned.

The Conservative-run authority set out planned savings in its February budget.

But the council's scrutiny committee heard £5.8m of planned children's services savings looked unachievable. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Finances are still off track at Northamptonshire County Council Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Will linked data finally show us what happens after the ambulance arrives?

Will linked data finally show us what happens after the ambulance arrives? Sarah Scobie takes a closer look at new ambulance response standards, explores the variation in how providers are performing, and argues the case for a single national ambulance dataset. Nuffield Trust

Guidance: Wellbeing and mental health: applying All Our Health

Guidance: Wellbeing and mental health: applying All Our Health Evidence and guidance to enable healthcare professionals make improvements against wider factors that affect health and wellbeing in mental health. Public Health England

Billion fewer cigarettes smoked in England a year

Billion fewer cigarettes smoked in England a year The number of cigarettes smoked each year in England has fallen by more than a billion, according to analysis by Cancer Research UK.

The charity says average monthly cigarette consumption fell by a quarter between 2011 and 2018 - equating to 118 million fewer cigarettes smoked each month.

Only 16% of adults in England smoke, latest data shows. BBC News

See also:

• Comparison of Trends in Self-reported Cigarette Consumption and Sales in England, 2011 to 2018 (open access) JAMA Network Open
• More than a billion fewer cigarettes smoked each year as people ditch the cigs Cancer Research UK
• People in England smoked 1.4BILLION fewer cigarettes in 2018 than 2011 The Daily Mail
• Average smoker now down to 10 a day, in wake of smoking ban The Daily Telegraph

Pinterest to direct vaccine searches to health sites

Pinterest to direct vaccine searches to health sites Pinterest users searching for vaccine-related information will be directed to results from "public health organisations".

Last year, the social platform stopped showing results for vaccine searches to tackle the spread of misinformation.

Social media companies are facing increasing scrutiny over how they moderate content on their sites.

In recent months, other firms including Facebook have taken some steps to address vaccine misinformation. BBC News

See also:

• More must be done to tackle measles and anti-vax messages, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Measles: Four European nations lose eradication status BBC News
• Four countries lost their measles-free status in Europe in 2018 The Daily Mail

Health unions warn no-deal Brexit could cause ‘fatal’ medicine shortages

Health unions warn no-deal Brexit could cause ‘fatal’ medicine shortages Health union leaders have issued a stark warning that a no-deal Brexit could “devastate” the NHS and cause fatal medicine shortages arguing “no responsible government should take that risk”.

A joint statement signed by 11 organisations called on the government to take no deal off the table, the day after prime minister Boris Johnson received the Queen’s permission to suspend parliament for more than a month ahead of the EU withdrawal date. The Independent

'People think of straitjackets': the podcast unveiling reality in a psychiatric hospital

'People think of straitjackets': the podcast unveiling reality in a psychiatric hospital A nurse wants to shift outdated perceptions of mental health by giving patients a voice

“We’re all seen as people catching flies in their mouth and talking to Jesus while wearing tin helmets,” says Chris Dowling*, who is being treated for mental health problems that include depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Mental health needn’t be that debilitating, but even my own family … it’s almost as if they think it’s contagious. They steer clear of me,” he adds. “We have to shift the outdated Victorian connotations of what mental health is.” The Guardian

Health watchdogs are being taken to court over claims they have breached human rights

Health watchdogs are being taken to court over claims they have breached human rights The health watchdog is being taken to court over claims it has breached human rights by not approving a drug to treat a cruel and deadly syndrome.

NICE controversially rejected the only available medication to treat one type of Batten disease for use on the NHS in England in draft guidance in February.

Outraged families – including the parents of a boy once cradled by Prince Harry in hospital – launched legal action to get cerliponase alfa available.

The High Court has now announced it will hold a judicial review into legality of the decision. Lawyers fighting to overturn the decision claim it was unlawful. The Daily Mail

National shortage of common contraceptive pills could lead to unplanned pregnancies, experts warn

National shortage of common contraceptive pills could lead to unplanned pregnancies, experts warn A nationwide shortage of contraceptive pills could lead to a wave of unplanned pregnancies, experts have warned.

Women are struggling to get hold of several common birth control pills, such as Lestrin and Cilest.

Leading brands have confirmed there are problems in the manufacturing process - but have given little indication of when it will be resolved. The Daily Mail

More patients are dying from blood poisoning than anticipated at 28 NHS trusts

More patients are dying from blood poisoning than anticipated at 28 NHS trusts More patients are dying from sepsis than anticipated at 28 NHS trusts in England, MailOnline can reveal.

Deaths from the silent killer at Tameside and Glossop NHS Foundation Trust are 38 per cent higher than expected over the past six years.

In real terms, 517 patients died from sepsis - a violent immune response to an infection - at the trust in Ashton-under-Lyne, well above the 373 deaths expected.

The NHS denies excess deaths are necessarily avoidable, saying the rate given for each trust is based solely on a national average. The Daily Mail

Implementing health in all policies: Lessons from around the world

Implementing health in all policies: Lessons from around the world Health in all policies is an established approach to improving health and health equity through cross-sector action on the wider determinants of health: the social, environmental, economic and commercial conditions in which people live.

Our collection of case studies looks at practical attempts to implement this around the world. The nine case studies offer valuable insights into the practicalities of delivering a health in all policies approach in different contexts, sectors and levels of government. The Health Foundation

Good Childhood Report 2019

Good Childhood Report 2019 

Since 2009 children and young people have become increasingly unhappy. Based on the latest figures we estimate a quarter of a million children are unhappy with their lives, with factors like friends, school and appearance all playing a role.

We are calling on the Government to introduce national measurement of well-being for all children aged 11-18 to be undertaken through schools and colleges once a year. This would enable the experiences of young people to be recorded and issues acted upon for future generations.

The Good Childhood Report 2019 is the eighth in our annual series and alongside the latest trends in children’s well-being, also looks at family, financial circumstance, multiple disadvantage and what children and young people think about the future. The Children's Society

See also:

• Children's happiness at lowest level in 25 years amid 'excessive social media use', Children's Society finds The Daily Telegraph
• Children in UK least happy they have been in a decade, says report The Guardian

Navigating the uncharted waters: population ageing in the UK

Navigating the uncharted waters: population ageing in the UK This report argues that the UK’s unprecedented population ageing poses a set of daunting, yet not insurmountable, challenges for policymakers, institutions and health care providers to design better solutions fit for an ageing society. It calls for health policy reforms that focus on preventing, rather than curing disease to enable people to stay active and healthy for longer. International Longevity Centre - UK

Ageist Britain?

Ageist Britain? This report aims to shine a light on the issue of casual ageism and the impact that it has on all of us. It highlights how ageism can have real life consequences, promotes exclusion and can affect physical and mental health. SunLife

Muckamore Abbey: CCTV reveals 1,500 crimes at hospital

Muckamore Abbey: CCTV reveals 1,500 crimes at hospital CCTV footage has revealed 1,500 crimes on one ward of Muckamore Abbey Hospital in County Antrim, the police officer leading the investigation has said.

The incidents happened in the psychiatric intensive care unit over the course of six months in 2017-18.

Police are investigating allegations about the physical and mental abuse of patients. BBC News

See also:

• CCTV footage reveals '1,500 crimes against patients' in six months at psychiatric unit in Northern Ireland The Independent

Mental health problems are the main cause of sick days for NHS staff, figures show -

Mental health problems are the main cause of sick days for NHS staff, figures show Mental health problems like stress, depression and anxiety are the most common reason NHS staff in England take sick days, analysis of NHS Digital statistics shows.

Workers took a total of 17.7 million days of sick leave between December 2017 and November 2018.

Of these, almost a quarter or 4.2 million were taken due to stress, anxiety, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. The Independent

Homeopathic treatment has been dismissed as quackery by doctors — so why do people keep taking the medicine?

Homeopathic treatment has been dismissed as quackery by doctors — so why do people keep taking the medicine? Homeopathy is the Marmite of alternative medicine. It’s “gentle and safe – yet effective”, according to TV personality Jo Wood, one of several celebrities offering an enthusiastic endorsement on the British Homeopathic Association website. She “always” used it for her children, who now use it for theirs, she explains. Or it’s “tap water masquerading as medicine”, Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England said recently. It’s “witchcraft”, says the British Medical Association (BMA). iNews

Cyber attack on NHS would trigger full Nato response, says alliance's general secretary

Cyber attack on NHS would trigger full Nato response, says alliance's general secretary A cyber strike similar to the computer hack that crippled NHS hospitals in 2017 could trigger a revenge attack from all Nato allies, its general secretary has warned.

Jens Stoltenberg cited the WannaCry ransomware attack as an example of a “serious cyber attack” that would be viewed by Nato as requiring a response from all members of the alliance. The Daily Telegraph

High blood pressure pills will be offered to 720,000 more NHS patients

High blood pressure pills will be offered to 720,000 more NHS patients UK health watchdog, NICE, has confirmed plans it suggested in March to recommend doctors offer blood pressure pills to patients with high blood pressure and a 10 per cent risk of heart disease. The Daily Mail

How social media is fuelling a deadly conspiracy: More modern parents are shunning the MMR jab

How social media is fuelling a deadly conspiracy: More modern parents are shunning the MMR jab Anna Watson is not the kind of woman you would expect to be accused of putting young lives at risk.

She is a much respected primary school teacher who lives in the affluent Londonsuburb of Kingston-upon-Thames with her businessman husband, their two children, aged 13 and 15 — and the family dog. The Daily Mail

Looking ahead to the Spending Review

Looking ahead to the Spending Review Sally Warren considers the importance of the upcoming Spending Review for health and social care and outlines how the numbers are only part of the funding problem, as services are struggling to make joined-up and long-term plans. The King's Fund

“We’re made to feel invisible” Barriers to accessing cervical screening for women with physical disabilities

“We’re made to feel invisible” Barriers to accessing cervical screening for women with physical disabilities New research has found that women with physical disabilities are struggling to access potentially-life saving cervical screening.

A lack of equipment, clear policies and, in parts of the country, substandard care is putting this group at increased risk of cervical cancer. Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust

See also:

• Disabled women blocked from accessing potentially lifesaving smear tests for decades, report reveals The Daily Mail

HRT: Medical leaders demand government action over shortages

HRT: Medical leaders demand government action over shortages Medical profession leaders have called for an urgent meeting with government officials to discuss ongoing shortages of hormone replacement therapy.

Hundreds of thousands of women going through the menopause are on HRT either through tablets, patches or gels.

Many have suffered ill effects because their HRT product is out of stock. BBC News

See also:

• Women are being forced to seek menopause treatment abroad after HRT patches run out on High Street The Daily Mail
• HRT drugs rationed amid UK shortage set to last for months The Daily Telegraph
• HRT shortage leaves thousands of UK women without treatment The Guardian

Opioid crisis: Johnson & Johnson hit by landmark ruling

Opioid crisis: Johnson & Johnson hit by landmark ruling Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson must pay $572m (£468m) for its part in fuelling Oklahoma's opioid addiction crisis, a judge in the US state has ruled.

The company said immediately after the judgement that it would appeal.

The case was the first to go to trial out of thousands of lawsuits filed against opioid makers and distributors.

Opioids were involved in almost 400,000 overdose deaths in the US from 1999 to 2017, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BBC News

Dutch doctor faces trial in landmark euthanasia case

Dutch doctor faces trial in landmark euthanasia case A Dutch doctor has appeared in court after performing euthanasia on a patient suffering with severe dementia.

Prosecutors say the doctor did not do enough to verify consent. It is the first such case since the Netherlands legalised euthanasia in 2002.

The 74-year-old patient was suffering from Alzheimer's disease when she died in 2016. BBC News

'There was no hope': Treatable disease often mistaken for Alzheimer's

'There was no hope': Treatable disease often mistaken for Alzheimer's When John Searle started to fall down and lose his memory, he thought it was the early signs of dementia. But it turns out he has a rare - and often undiagnosed - condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. The good news is it's treatable. BBC News

Patients ‘at risk’ as NHS spends £92m on private ambulances and taxis

Patients ‘at risk’ as NHS spends £92m on private ambulances and taxis Major ambulance trusts are increasingly relying on private ambulances to attend 999 calls, an investigation has found.

England’s ambulance trusts spent more than £92 million in the last year on private ambulances and taxis to transport patients, Press Association (PA) research found.

Some trusts said they rely on private ambulances due to a chronic shortage of NHS staff and ongoing problems with recruitment. The Independent

See also:

• NHS has spent £92million on private ambulances in a year The Daily Mail

Public sector to launch 'mass legal battle' over pension reforms

Public sector to launch 'mass legal battle' over pension reforms Teachers and doctors claim changes to pensions in 2015 were ‘discriminatory’

Mass legal claims on behalf of teachers and doctors alleging that changes to their pensions in 2015 were discriminatory are being launched against the government.

After successfully winning a similar pension case on behalf of judges, the London law firm Leigh Day is preparing employment tribunal cases for public sector workers. The Guardian

Does Amazon have answers for the future of the NHS?

Does Amazon have answers for the future of the NHS? The technology behemoth is preparing a move into the healthcare market, but critics fear profit will come before patients and privacy

Enthusiasts predicted the plan would relieve the pressure on hard-pressed GPs. Critics saw it as a sign of creeping privatisation and a data-protection disaster in waiting. Reactions to news last month that Amazon’s voice-controlled digital assistant Alexa was to begin using NHS website information to answer health queries were many and varied.

US-based healthcare tech analysts say the deal is just the latest of a series of recent moves that together reveal an audacious, long-term strategy on the part of Amazon. From its entry into the lucrative prescription drugs market and development of AI tools to analyse patient records, to Alexa apps that manage diabetes and data-driven experiments on how to cut medical bills, the $900bn global giant’s determination to make the digital disruption of healthcare a central part of its future business model is becoming increasingly clear. The Guardian

Soaring numbers of pensioners left 'stranded' in hospital for weeks

Soaring numbers of pensioners left 'stranded' in hospital for weeks Rising numbers of elderly patients are being left “stranded” in hospital for more than three weeks amid a growing social care crisis, an investigation reveals.

Last year Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, pledged to bring an end to the “long stay” culture on the wards, promising quicker assessments and more support at home for those who are well enough to be discharged.

Health officials warned that a 10-days in a hospital bed could mean pensioners “aged” by a decade, in terms of lost muscle mass. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital appointments cancelled 10 times in a row amid NHS chaos

Hospital appointments cancelled 10 times in a row amid NHS chaos Hospital patients are having vital appointments cancelled more than 10 times in a row, amid growing chaos across the NHS.

A Daily Telegraph investigation reveals soaring numbers of patients - many elderly - are suffering repeated cancellations, with notice only given in some cases the night before via letters dispatched by taxi.

In other cases, patients have been left waiting years to see a hospital doctor after their NHS slot was axed again and again.

Doctors pushing new drugs don't have to admit they are funded by the pill's makers

Doctors pushing new drugs don't have to admit they are funded by the pill's makers A bright hope has suddenly appeared in depression therapy: the 'party' drug, ketamine. Known best as a horse tranquilliser, it is also used as an anaesthetic in hospitals.

But ketamine can cause soaring highs and is used illegally, with potentially nightmarish results; the drug is addictive and can trigger psychosis.

Recently, leading depression experts lined up at a London briefing to explain how an engineered version of the drug, called esketamine, promises a breakthrough in providing fast-acting help to sufferers of treatment-resistant depression. The Daily Mail

NHS plans sex change advice in Skype calls for children as young as THREE at controversial clinic

NHS plans sex change advice in Skype calls for children as young as THREE at controversial clinic Children as young as three could be helped to change gender by doctors on the basis of just a Skype phone call under plans being considered by the NHS.

A controversial clinic, which helps thousands of children to change gender every year, says that it has become so overwhelmed by patients that it could be forced to set children on a path to a new sex on the basis of 'telemedical' appointments. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Two year waiting times for NHS gender identity clinics, amid unprecented demand The Daily Telegraph

Scientists create 'Baxter' the robot who can assist the elderly amid a shortage of nurses

Scientists create 'Baxter' the robot who can assist the elderly amid a shortage of nurses Scientists have created a robot that may be able to help the elderly perform tasks amid a shortage of nurses in the UK.

Named Baxter, it has two arms and 3D printed 'fingers', allowing it to step in when a person is struggling with things such as getting dressed.

Artificial intelligence allows the robot to detect when assistance is needed and learn about the owners difficulties over time. The Daily Mail

Patients at risk in NHS after MailOnline investigation exposes cheating student doctors -

Patients at risk in NHS after MailOnline investigation exposes cheating student doctors Thousands of student doctors and nurses are paying other academics to write their university essays, a MailOnline investigation reveals.

Hundreds of shadowy websites peddle essays on all topics from asthma to cancer, allowing student medics to avoid writing essays themselves.

Dr Thomas Lancaster of Imperial College London said that this calls into question the integrity of NHS staff and raises concerns about other forms of malpractice. The Daily Mail