Doctors call on workplaces to ban sale of sugary drinks

Doctors call on workplaces to ban sale of sugary drinks Research at University of California shows a ban slashed staff’s intake by nearly half

Doctors have called on workplaces to ban sales of sugary drinks after research showed that removing them from cafes, canteens and vending machines helped reduce people’s waistlines and improve their health.

Researchers monitored more than 200 staff at the University of California in San Francisco and its associated hospital after a ban was introduced in 2015. Before the ban, the participating staff consumed on average more than a litre of sugary drinks daily, but 10 months later had slashed their intake by nearly half. The Guardian

See also:

• Association of a Workplace Sales Ban on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages With Employee Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Health JAMA Internal Medicine

NHS manager allowed to work from Marbella on rates of £2,000 a day

NHS manager allowed to work from Marbella on rates of £2,000 a day An NHS manager is being paid rates of almost £2,000 a day and allowed to work from his home in Marbella, an investigation has found.

The “astronomical” sums, revealed in Freedom of Information disclosures, are being paid by a health board which has a deficit of more than £40 million. The Daily Telegraph

Schizophrenia could be detected by testing human hair, scientists claim

Schizophrenia could be detected by testing human hair, scientists claim Schizophrenia could one day be detected by testing human hair for levels of a certain enzyme, scientists have claimed.

Tests show patients with the severe mental health disorder have much higher levels of MPST, compared to those without.

The Japanese team now say looking for levels of the enzyme in hair could help spot the condition before patients suffer hallucinations. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Excess hydrogen sulfide and polysulfides production underlies a schizophrenia pathophysiology (open access) EMBO Molecular Medicine

Suicide bereavement support to be made available across England

Suicide bereavement support to be made available across England People who have lost someone close to them due to suicide will benefit from dedicated bereavement care. The government has announced plans to roll out services on the NHS across England.

The plans mean anyone affected by a family member or friend taking their own life will have access to practical and emotional support in the days and months following their death. Department of Health and Social Care

My doctor flew off when cosmetic surgery went wrong

My doctor flew off when cosmetic surgery went wrong Cosmetic surgery is a booming industry in the UK, with 65,000 operations carried out last year. But BBC Disclosure has discovered some companies use surgeons from abroad who fly in and out of the country, leaving patients exposed if complications arise. BBC News

Frozen eggs storage 10-year limit 'should be changed'

Frozen eggs storage 10-year limit 'should be changed' There is no scientific reason for the 10-year limit on storage of frozen eggs, which is forcing some women to destroy them before they are ready to become parents, say fertility experts.

Under UK law, only eggs stored for medical reasons and premature infertility can be kept for longer.

The regulator says any change would be a matter for parliament.

But it admitted the time "might be right to look at a more appropriate storage limit".

Freezing eggs - for medical and social reasons - is growing in popularity, but the numbers are still small. BBC News

Dementia: New Alzheimer's drug 'could slow rate at which disease progresses'

Dementia: New Alzheimer's drug 'could slow rate at which disease progresses' Scientists believe they could be on the cusp of a breakthrough, after a drugs company said it had the first treatment of its kind for Alzheimer's.

The drug, which is called aducanumab, cannot cure it but Biogen says it slows down the rate at which it progresses, essentially meaning people stay more like themselves for longer.

This came as a surprise as the company had suspended the drug trial in March 2019 because of disappointing results. BBC News

GPs complain they are so rushed they don't have time to eat, drink and have to urinate in their consultation room

GPs complain they are so rushed they don't have time to eat, drink and have to urinate in their consultation room Family doctors are so overworkedthey do not stop for food and water and even have to urinate in their consulting rooms, senior medics have said.

A leader of a confidential service for burnt-out GPs has warned that pressure to get through patient lists means many feel unable to take the time to attend to their own basic needs. The Daily Telegraph

NHS chiefs attempt to blacklist homeopathy amid anti-vax fears

NHS chiefs attempt to blacklist homeopathy amid anti-vax fears NHS leaders have gone to war on homeopathy by attempting to have the practice blacklisted amid fears it is fuelling anti-vax propaganda.

The chief executive and medical director of NHS England have written to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), the statutory body that oversees healthcare regulation, urging it to strip accreditation from the Society of Homeopaths (SoH).

They argue that endorsing the society affords it a “veneer of credibility” that lures vulnerable patients towards “bogus treatments”. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NHS ramps up drive to increase uptake of lifesaving vaccines NHS England
• NHS chief blasts homeopathy as 'dangerous' and blames the industry for fuelling antivaxx myths The Daily Mail
• Head of NHS voices 'serious concerns' about homeopathy The Guardian
• Helping parents choose vaccination for their children The Guardian
• Fall in child vaccination rates blamed on NHS shake-up, not anti-vaxxers iNews

NHS 'failing' elderly as more struck by flu

NHS 'failing' elderly as more struck by flu Hospital admissions for people with flu jumped last winter, official figures reveal, as NHS leaders were accused of failing to vaccinate enough elderly people.

The season saw 16,133 additional patients requiring specialist help for flu and pneumonia compared to the year before, almost a third of whom were pensioners.

Despite the increased risk from flu faced by older people, only 15 per cent of local NHS areas are managing to hit the government target to immunise three-quarters of people aged 65 and over. The Daily Telegraph

No country is fully prepared for the next deadly pandemic, report finds

No country is fully prepared for the next deadly pandemic, report finds No country is fully equipped to deal with the next global pandemic, a major report has claimed.

Scientists say an outbreak of a flu-like illness could sweep across the planet in 36 hours and kill tens of millions due to our constantly-travelling population.

But a review of health care systems already in place across the world found just 13 countries had the resources to put up a fight against an 'inevitable' pandemic.

Among the countries ranked in the top tier were Britain, the US, Australia, Canada, France and Holland. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Global Health Security Index 2019 GHS Index

St Andrew's Healthcare: Girl locked in psychiatric unit 'cell' to receive damages

St Andrew's Healthcare: Girl locked in psychiatric unit 'cell' to receive damages A girl with autism and extreme anxiety whose father said she was kept in "cell" at a psychiatric unit is to receive damages, a council and healthcare bosses have said.

Bethany, 18, was locked in a St Andrew's Healthcare seclusion room in Northampton for almost two years.

Her father Jeremy, from Birmingham, launched legal action to get her moved. BBC Northampton

UK investing less in health care infrastructure compared to other EU countries

UK investing less in health care infrastructure compared to other EU countries New analysis from the Health Foundation suggests that the UK is investing significantly less in health care capital – which includes buildings, equipment and IT – as a share of GDP compared to most other similar countries. As a result, the total value of capital in health care in the UK has fallen.

The value of capital per health care worker in the UK – which provides an estimate of the resources available to staff to deliver care to patients – has fallen by 35% between 2000 and 2017, while many other countries have seen significant and sustained rises over the same period. Of the countries analysed*, the value of capital per health care worker in the UK is the second lowest, above Greece, and only just over half the average value.

An outsider’s reflections on NHS primary care reform

An outsider’s reflections on NHS primary care reform Martin Hefford is Chief Executive of Tū Ora Compass Health, a primary health organisation in New Zealand. He has been on a 12-week sabbatical hosted by The King’s Fund and the Birmingham Health Services Management Centre. During his sabbatical, he met with NHS clinicians and managers from across England – from Torbay to Manchester, as well as Scotland, Denmark and Macedonia, looking at primary care challenges and innovations. The King's Fund

The state of medical education and practice in the UK: the workforce report 2019

The state of medical education and practice in the UK: the workforce report 2019 This report draws on the GMC's medical register data and findings from a new survey on doctors’ workplace experiences. It sets out recommendations to help inform emerging workforce strategies and people plans across the UK. The data shows that the UK’s medical register continues to grow, with many overseas doctors joining our workforce. However, the GMC states that health services must prioritise strategies to retain UK and non-UK trained doctors, and develop supportive workplace cultures with compassionate leaders. General Medical Council

See also:

• Gap between number of foreign doctors and UK trained doctors doubles in a year, new figures from GMC show The Daily Telegraph
• Failure to support international doctors undermining workforce, warns GMC chair GPonline

Investigation into pre-school vaccinations

Investigation into pre-school vaccinations This investigation sets out the system for providing vaccinations to pre-school children in England. It is prompted by public concerns about the levels of uptake of pre‑school vaccinations. It sets out:

• the current levels of vaccination uptake and cases of disease across England;
• Public Health England (PHE)’s and NHS England’s understanding of the problem; and
• PHE’s and NHS England’s response to the problem.

We use the MMR vaccination, the 4-in-1 booster and the Hib/MenC booster to highlight many of the challenges that exist in the system for pre‑school vaccinations and illustrate in more detail how uptake of vaccinations is falling. National Audit Office

See also:

• NHS ramps up drive to increase uptake of lifesaving vaccines NHS England
• Vaccine reminder system 'inconsistent', report concludes BBC News
• MMR vaccine could be offered in supermarkets under plans being considered by NHS England The Daily Telegraph
• Tory NHS shake-up blamed for fall in child vaccination rates The Guardian
• Falling vaccination rates among children blamed on difficulty booking GP appointments The Independent
• MMR take up still falling as NHS England criticised over pre-school vaccination rates Sky News

NHS England agrees price for 'unaffordable' cystic fibrosis drug

NHS England agrees price for 'unaffordable' cystic fibrosis drug Patients will get Orkambi by next month after years of price wrangling with manufacturer

Up to 5,000 children and young people in England with the life-shortening disease cystic fibrosis will soon get access to the new drug Orkambi, after the US manufacturer ended years of bitter wrangling and agreed a price with the NHS.

Campaigners celebrated the news, which NHS England’s chief executive said meant cystic fibrosis patients would get the drug within the month. “Given the time it has taken for the company to reach this agreement, there must be no further delay,” wrote Sir Simon Stevens to the chair of the House of Commons health select committee, Sarah Wollaston. The committee held hearings on the impasse earlier this year. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS England concludes wide-ranging deal for cystic fibrosis drugs NHS England
• Cystic fibrosis drug given green light in England BBC News

'NHS technology is so bad it takes me 17 minutes to log into my PC', country's most senior doctor reveals

'NHS technology is so bad it takes me 17 minutes to log into my PC', country's most senior doctor reveals NHS technology is so out-of-date it takes 17 minutes to log into PCs in the morning, the UK’s top family doctor has said.

Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners revealed she could almost complete two appointments in the time it takes to start up her 10-year-old IT system.

The Midlands GP said her practice is still forced to rely on Windows 7. The Daily Telegraph

More than HALF of GPs think ten-minute appointments are too short

More than HALF of GPs think ten-minute appointments are too short More than half of GPs say patients are put in danger because ten-minute appointments are too short.

A survey of 1,500 family doctors revealed that the majority do not think they have enough time to properly assess patients.

It prompted the head of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) to warn that the entire profession could 'crumble'. The Daily Mail

British children face month-long delays in getting flu vaccine

British children face month-long delays in getting flu vaccine British children face a month-long delay in getting vaccinated against the flu on the NHS this winter, it has been revealed.

GPs have been told to prioritise vulnerable youngsters with underlying conditions, ensuring they are the first to get the nasal spray.

Other children across the UK may have to wait until late November to be vaccinated, Public Health England (PHE) has warned. The Daily Mail

Number of hospitals running short of nurses TRIPLES in five years

Number of hospitals running short of nurses TRIPLES in five years The amount of hospitals regularly understaffed with nurses in England has almost tripled in five years, figures show.

The number of NHS trusts which had 10 per cent or fewer nurses than they needed each month increased from 20 in June 2014 to 55 in June 2019.

Some of the worst hit departments included critical care, geriatric medicine, acute medicine, cardiology and neonatal care – where quality care is essential to save lives. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Exclusive: Hospitals substitute nurses as staffing crisis worsens Health Service Journal

Northampton General Hospital rating drops from 'good' to 'requires improvement' amid reports of 'bullying culture'

Northampton General Hospital rating drops from 'good' to 'requires improvement' amid reports of 'bullying culture' Northampton's hospital has been given orders to improve after a watchdog found issues ranging from bullying to an unexpected maternity ward death during an inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) also found incidents of staff failing to store medicines properly while waiting times for those requiring treatment were found to be consistently worse than national standards.

The hospital, which employs almost 4,500 staff, has been rated as requires improvement overall today, falling from good, which it was awarded in its previous report in 2017. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital inspection report Care Quality Commission
• Northampton General Hospital has 'culture of bullying' say inspectors BBC Northampton

Kettering A&E to get £46m for new urgent care hub

Kettering A&E to get £46m for new urgent care hub An A&E department where doctors' offices and broom cupboards were used as extra space for patients is to receive an extra £46m from the government.

Kettering General Hospital bosses had demanded new investment "here and now" for an urgent care hub.

Its A&E was built to accommodate 100 people a day, but now regularly has 300 patients. BBC Northampton

National survey shows most people experience good urgent and emergency care, but lengthy waiting times remain a problem

National survey shows most people experience good urgent and emergency care, but lengthy waiting times remain a problem Findings from a survey of more than 50,000 people who received urgent and emergency care from services provided by 132 NHS trusts across England show that the majority are positive about most aspects of their care and treatment. However, a significant number continue to report long waits, particularly those attending major accident and emergency (A&E) departments. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• Urgent and emergency care survey 2018 Care Quality Commission
• Four in ten A&E patients are forced to wait over an hour before being seen by a nurse or doctor The Daily Mail
• A&E patients left waiting in unnecessary pain, watchdog warns The Daily Telegraph

Steps to expand placement capacity

Steps to expand placement capacity The NHS Long Term Plan sets out ambitions to increase the number of people in learning placements across the NHS. To meet these ambitions, employers will have to scale up the ability to offer a safe and high-quality learning environment that supports workforce development. Based on conversations with those organisations which have already grown their capacity, this briefing sets out a series questions and actions, under six key areas to help employers reflect on what more they can do to increase placement capacity in a way that is sustainable for their organisation. NHS Employers

Babies born at 22 weeks 'can now survive'

Babies born at 22 weeks 'can now survive' Improving survival rates for extremely premature babies mean it is now possible to save the lives of babies born at 22 weeks, guidance says.

Previously it was recommended that only babies born at 23 weeks or later were given treatment to save their lives.

But there is now evidence those born earlier can survive - although only in small numbers - the British Association of Perinatal Medicine said. BBC News

See also:

• New BAPM Framework on Extreme Preterm Birth Published British Association of Perinatal Medicine

Almost half of women with breast cancer 'experience sexual problems after treatment'

Almost half of women with breast cancer 'experience sexual problems after treatment' Nearly half of women diagnosed with breast cancer have experienced sexual difficulties as a result of treatment, a new survey suggests.

The research, conducted by Breast Cancer Now and YouGov, questioned more than 1,000 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 10 years. The Independent

See also:

• “I was too embarrassed to ask for help”: Devastating impact on thousands who face sexual difficulties after breast cancer Breast Cancer Now

Don't make yourself comfortable: GPs to trial standing appointments to 'set an example'

Don't make yourself comfortable: GPs to trial standing appointments to 'set an example' GPs are to pilot standing-up appointments to “set an example” to patients about the perils of a sedentary lifestyle.

Backed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the study will also investigate whether doing so will shorten the length of consultations.

Starting in the Midlands, the pilot scheme will see family doctors equipped with £2,000 desks that can switch from sitting to standing formats at the push of a button. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Doctors will get standing desks as part of trial The Daily Mail

Parents urged to vaccinate children against whooping cough as number of cases rises four-fold

Parents urged to vaccinate children against whooping cough as number of cases rises four-fold Parents have been urged to vaccinate their children against whooping cough, as the number of cases has risen four-fold this decade.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly-contagious bacterial infection which is spread through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. The Daily Telegraph

High blood pressure drugs more effective if taken at night before bed, study finds

High blood pressure drugs more effective if taken at night before bed, study finds High blood pressure patients are being urged to take their medication before going to bed to slash their risk of an early death.

A study found adults with hypertension were less likely to suffer heart attacks, heart disease or strokes, if they took the drugs in one go at bedtime.

Spanish scientists looked at more than 19,000 patients on medication for high blood pressure, who were tracked for an average of six years. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Bedtime hypertension treatment improves cardiovascular risk reduction: the Hygia Chronotherapy Trial (open access) European Heart Journal

These are the faces of all the award-winning staff and volunteers at Northampton General Hospital

These are the faces of all the award-winning staff and volunteers at Northampton General Hospital Staff and volunteers at Northampton General Hospital were recognised for their hard work and around the clock care at the hospital's annual awards ceremony. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Securing money to improve mental health care... but no staff to spend it on

Securing money to improve mental health care... but no staff to spend it on The NHS long-term plan commits £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to provide high-quality evidence-based mental health services to an additional 2 million people. To provide this, mental health services will need 27,460 new posts, which are additional to the 21,000 posts specified in the mental health workforce plan for England. But how can services achieve this if they are already running out of staff to deliver care? The King's Fund

Delivering the NHS long-term plan's ambition of ageing well: old age psychiatry as a vital resource

Delivering the NHS long-term plan's ambition of ageing well: old age psychiatry as a vital resource This guidance is to help local areas plan and deliver specialist services, led by old age psychiatrists, to meet the needs of older people. It brings together views from older people, service users, carers and a wide range of health and social care professionals. Royal College of Psychiatrists

Poor toilet hygiene behind E. coli superbug spread

Poor toilet hygiene behind E. coli superbug spread People not washing their hands after going to the toilet, rather than undercooked meat, is behind the spread of a key strain of E. coli.

Experts looked at thousands of blood, faecal and food samples.

They found human-to-human transmission was responsible - "faecal particles from one person reaching the mouth of another".

Public Health England said hand-washing and good hygiene were key to preventing the spread of infections. BBC News

See also:

• Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in human-derived and foodchain-derived samples from England, Wales, and Scotland: an epidemiological surveillance and typing study (open access) Lancet Infectious Diseases
• Poor toilet hygiene 'puts you at a greater risk of E.coli than eating undercooked meat' The Daily Mail

Drugs: UK should consider legalising possession, MPs say

Drugs: UK should consider legalising possession, MPs say The government should investigate decriminalising the possession of all illegal drugs in a bid to prevent the rising number of related deaths, a group of MPs has said.

The health and social care committee said the level of such deaths in the UK had become a public health "emergency".

It found the UK's position on drugs was "clearly failing" and called for a "radical new approach" in policy. BBC News

See also:

• Radical change needed in approach to UK drugs policy Health and Social Care Committee
• Drugs policy Health and Social Care Committee
• Decriminalise all drugs for personal use now and provide addiction support instead, say MPs The Daily Mail
• Roll out drugs 'shooting galleries' as part of decriminalisation, MPs say The Daily Telegraph
• Health-focused line on drugs misuse would save lives and money OnMedica

'Greedy' pharmacist who tippexed 1,500 prescriptions jailed for defrauding NHS - Sky News

'Greedy' pharmacist who tippexed 1,500 prescriptions jailed for defrauding NHS A pharmacist who defrauded £76,000 from the National Health Service by using Tippex to alter prescriptions has been jailed for 16 months.

For six years, Michael Lloyd billed the NHS for expensive liquid dementia medication while dispensing the same drug in its cheaper, tablet form.

The judge at Cardiff Crown Court labelled 52-year-old Lloyd "greedy". Sky News

First drug to slow Alzheimer’s disease could soon be on the market

First drug to slow Alzheimer’s disease could soon be on the market A potentially “ground-breaking” drug which appears to slow Alzheimer’s disease could soon change the lives of thousands of dementia sufferers.

The treatment offers new hope to patients in the early stages of the most common form of dementia, which affects about 850,000 people living in the UK.

Biogen says its drug, aducanumab, would be the first treatment to “reduce the clinical decline” of patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease if approved. The Independent

See also:

• First drug to slow Alzheimer's may be available soon BBC News

Boris Johnson drawn into row over 'unsafe' Hillingdon hospital

Boris Johnson drawn into row over 'unsafe' Hillingdon hospital Hospital in prime minister’s constituency has moved child patients because of subsidence

Boris Johnson has been drawn into a row over the future of his local hospital, parts of which are so dangerous that patients have been moved out of wards to ensure their safety.

The prime minister has become involved in a dispute involving NHS chiefs and local MPs over whether Hillingdon hospital in his north-west London constituency should be rebuilt where it stands, when it is knocked down, or on another site. The Guardian

Elderly people having to 'fend for themselves' as 40,000 fewer pensioners receive care despite rising demand

Elderly people having to 'fend for themselves' as 40,000 fewer pensioners receive care despite rising demand Elderly people are being left to “fend for themselves”, a charity has warned, as 40,000 fewer pensioners are receiving council care despite rising demand.

Figures released by NHS Digital yesterday [TUES] reveal that the number of people receiving long-term care has fallen each year - from from 872,520 in 2015-16 to 841,850 in 2018-19.

Statisticians say that this has mainly been driven by a fall in care for those aged 65 and over, down 39,060 to 548,435. The Daily Telegraph

Doctors will send almost one million NHS patients for singing, gardening or art classes

Doctors will send almost one million NHS patients for singing, gardening or art classes Doctors will send almost one million NHS patients for singing, gardening or art classes under a £5million Government scheme.

Ministers will launch the National Academy for Social Prescribing to co-ordinate the wider roll-out of arts, sport and leisure activities for patients across the country.

Such 'social prescribing' has been shown to help people with illnesses including depression, loneliness and heart disease. The Daily Mail

Anorexia cases are almost DOUBLE estimates in 2006, figures suggest

Anorexia cases are almost DOUBLE estimates in 2006, figures suggest Anorexia is twice as common among young children in the UK now than it was a decade ago, researchers claim.

Around 3.2 youngsters out of every 100,000 eight to 12-year-olds were diagnosed with the eating disorder in 2015.

This is double that of the estimated 1.5 cases per 100,000 in 2006, according to scientists at King's College London. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Incidence of anorexia nervosa in young people in the UK and Ireland: a national surveillance study (open access) BMJ Open

Councillor spots unallocated cashpot that could help day care centres facing cuts

Councillor spots unallocated cashpot that could help day care centres facing cuts A councillor has identified an unallocated pot of cash that could be given to the day care centres which are losing a county council contract.

A number of day centres for the elderly and organisations that help rough sleepers will lose their funding at the end of March because Northamptonshire County Council has decided not to continue its £1.6m annual social wellbeing contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Out of commission: What’s behind poor care for people with learning disabilities?

Out of commission: What’s behind poor care for people with learning disabilities? As another report shows that care for people with learning disabilities is not good enough, Helen Buckingham looks more closely at the role of commissioners in preventing and addressing these systemic failures in care. Nuffield Trust

“Unacceptable inequalities in health outcomes” for LGBT people “glare out wherever you look”

“Unacceptable inequalities in health outcomes” for LGBT people “glare out wherever you look” LGBT people are being let down in health and social care, by structures and services that are not inclusive or designed with them in mind, and by a lack of leadership in Government, NHS and social services.

In a new report the Women and Equalities Committee has found that too often LGBT people are expected to fit into systems that assume they are straight and cisgender. But the Committee has found that deep inequalities exist in health outcomes for these communities and that treating them “the same” as non-LGBT people will not address these poor outcomes.

See also:

• 'Ask about sexual orientation to improve LGBT inequalities' BBC News

Preventing serious violence: a multi-agency approach

Preventing serious violence: a multi-agency approach This information is for partners in local areas across the country, including police and crime commissioners, public health departments and community safety partnerships. It will help them understand and respond to serious violence that affects their communities. Public Health England

Designing digital skills interventions for older people

Designing digital skills interventions for older people This report brings together recommendations for designing digital skills interventions for older people with care and support needs. It draws on insights from two pathfinders, which were funded by NHS Digital and supported by Good Things Foundation as part of the Widening Digital Participation programme. The pathfinders generated insights on small system-level changes that can embed digital inclusion in social care support and factors influencing digital inclusion within social housing schemes. Good Things Foundation

Eating disorders: Over-65s unable to access some clinics

Eating disorders: Over-65s unable to access some clinics Over-65s with eating disorders are being prevented from accessing some specialist clinics despite NHS England saying they are open to all ages, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has found. For some, such support is seen as essential in keeping them alive. BBC News

Dementia in footballers three and a half times more likely than in general population

Dementia in footballers three and a half times more likely than in general population Former professional footballers are three and a half times more likely to die of dementia than people of the same age range in the general population, according to new research.

Experts at Glasgow University have been investigating fears that heading the ball could be linked to brain injuries.

The study began after claims that former West Brom striker Jeff Astle died because of repeated head trauma. BBC News

See also:

• Neurodegenerative Disease Mortality among Former Professional Soccer Players (free with registration) The New England Journal of Medicine
• Football and dementia: former players over five times more likely to die of Alzheimer’s, says landmark study The Drake Foundation

Watchdog to investigate suicide monitoring of benefit claimants after ministers refuse to publish data

Watchdog to investigate suicide monitoring of benefit claimants after ministers refuse to publish data A watchdog is to investigate the government’s monitoring of suicides among benefit claimants amid concerns about links between welfare reforms and declining mental health.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said it would call on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to reveal what information it held on the issue, after ministers refused to provide an MP with figures on the number of people in the welfare system who had taken their own lives. The Independent

Chest X-rays miss nearly quarter of lung cancers, review finds

Chest X-rays miss nearly quarter of lung cancers, review finds Lung Cancer is being missed at an early opportunity in almost a quarter of cases due to the use of out-dated X-rays, researchers have found.

A review in the British Journal of General Practice reveals that despite being the recommended method for investigating suspicious symptoms, such as persistent coughs or chest aches, X-rays miss up to 23 per cent of patients with the disease. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Sensitivity of chest X-ray for detecting lung cancer in people presenting with symptoms: a systematic review (abstract) British Journal of General Practice
• X-rays inadequate to diagnose lung cancer OnMedica

Cancer patients reluctant to bother overworked NHS staff

Cancer patients reluctant to bother overworked NHS staff Cancer patients are suffering side-effects of treatment in silence because they are afraid of bothering overworked NHS staff, a new survey reveals.

More than two thirds of newly diagnosed cancer patients questioned by Macmillan Cancer Support said they are not getting all the help they need - estimated to be about 300,000 people across the UK. The Daily Telegraph

Number of over 85s in UK to double in 25 years, amid fears of social care crisis escalating

Number of over 85s in UK to double in 25 years, amid fears of social care crisis escalating The number of over 85s in the UK is set to double within the next 25 years, new data reveals, amid fears of the social care crisis escalating.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published data showing national population projections.

Researchers found that the UK population is set to rise by 3 million (or 4.5%) in the next decade, from around 66.4 million in mid 2018 to around 69.4 million in mid 2028. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• National population projections: 2018-based Office for National Statistics
• UK population expected to pass 70 million by 2031 The Guardian
• UK population set to rise by 3 million in next decade due to net migration increases The Independent

Parents have a moral duty to give their children the MMR jab warns Health Secretary Matt Hancock

Parents have a moral duty to give their children the MMR jab warns Health Secretary Matt Hancock Parents who shun the MMR jab are endangering the lives of babies and seriously ill children, the Health Secretary warns today.

Matt Hancock says unvaccinated youngsters may catch measles themselves and then infect vulnerable, high-risk patients.

He says that while parents might think their decisions on jabs are a 'personal choice' and 'nobody else's business', they in fact have a 'moral' duty. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'This isn’t hippy stuff': Totnes parents defiant over vaccines The Guardian

Well-being cafe inspired by Kettering man who killed himself

Well-being cafe inspired by Kettering man who killed himself A mother whose son took his own life five years ago said a mental health cafe named after him aims to fulfil his ambition "to make his name".

Johnny's Happy Place on Rockingham Road, Kettering, was founded after the death of Johnny Mackay in October 2014.

Johnny's mother Denise Mackay said: "He used to say to me 'Mummy one day I'm going to rock the world, I'm going to make my name'.

"He didn't, but we are trying to do that." BBC Northampton

These are the 10 worst GP practices in Northampton ranked for patient satisfaction

These are the 10 worst GP practices in Northampton ranked for patient satisfaction The majority of patients surveyed at all the practices in Northampton were happy with their GPs - but these ones had the lowest scores. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

National roll-out of electronic prescription service

National roll-out of electronic prescription service The service will help GPs and pharmacists prescribe and dispense medicines faster and more securely and make it easier for patients to pick up repeat prescriptions. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS e-prescriptions roll-out aims for £300m savings by 2021 Computer Weekly
• NHS will scrap paper prescriptions next month in bid to save £300m over two years The Daily Mail
• NHS to scrap paper prescriptions under plan to save £300m The Guardian

Cancer research: Scientists seek clues to how disease 'is born'

Cancer research: Scientists seek clues to how disease 'is born' British and American scientists are teaming up to search for the earliest signs of cancer in a bid to detect and treat the disease before it emerges.

They plan to "give birth" to cancer in the lab to see exactly what it looks like "on day one".

It is just one of the research priorities of the new International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection. BBC News

See also:

• British and US scientists in £55m bid to detect cancers before tumours even appear The Daily Mail
• £55m Anglo-US research alliance to boost early cancer detection rates The Guardian

Air pollution is now a ‘health emergency’, head of NHS England warns

Air pollution is now a ‘health emergency’, head of NHS England warns The head of NHS England has warned of a “health emergency” as new figures revealed hundreds more children and adults are suffering cardiac arrests, strokes or severe asthma attacks because of days of high air pollution.

Stunted lung growth in children and links between pollution and lung cancer was also found by researchers who looked at nine cities across England. The Independent

See also:

• Higher air pollution days trigger cardiac arrests and hospitalisations King's College London
• Personalising The Health Impacts Of Air Pollution: Interim Statistics Summary For A Selection Of Statements King's College London
• Air pollution 'triggers hundreds more heart attacks and strokes' BBC News
• NHS boss declares air pollution 'health emergency' The Daily Mail
• NHS boss announces air pollution 'emergency' as major study shows our dirty air is killing us The Daily Telegraph
• Scores more heart attacks and strokes on high pollution days, figures show The Guardian
• Two North Northants councils say what they are going to do about climate change Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS hospital fined £135,000 after a 350 per cent rise in breaches of ban on mixed sex wards

NHS hospital fined £135,000 after a 350 per cent rise in breaches of ban on mixed sex wards An NHS hospital has been fined £135,000 after a 350 per cent increase in breaches of rules banning mixed sex wards.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recorded 809 breaches of mixed-sex accommodation rules in the 12 months ending in August - up from 177 the previous year.

The NHS says trusts are expected to have a “zero-tolerance” approach towards placing men and women on the same wards, which it says is essential for ensuring safety, privacy and dignity for patients. The Daily Telegraph

Google gets green light to access FIVE YEARS' worth of sensitive patient data from NHS

Google gets green light to access FIVE YEARS' worth of sensitive patient data from NHS Google has been given the go-ahead to access five years' worth of sensitive NHS patient data.

In a deal signed last month, the internet giant was handed hospital records of tens of thousands of patients up and down England.

New documents show the data will include medical history, diagnoses, treatment dates and ethnic origin.

The news has raised concerns about the privacy of the data, which could now be harvested and commercialised. The Daily Mail

New children's commissioner at 'failing' Northamptonshire council

New children's commissioner at 'failing' Northamptonshire council The government has appointed a new commissioner at a crisis-hit council's children's services department.

Andrew Christie has replaced Malcolm Newsam, who announced he would be leaving his role at Northamptonshire County Council last month.

Mr Newsam took up the role in 2018 after an Ofsted report found people in its care were at "potential risk".

In July, inspectors said the authority was still "failing to keep children safe". BBC Northampton

The deteriorating state of the NHS estate

The deteriorating state of the NHS estate In recent years, the charmingly named ERIC (Estates Returns Information Collection) data collection has contained some deeply alarming news about the condition of NHS buildings and equipment. The King's Fund

Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters

Suicide prevention: identifying and responding to suicide clusters This toolkit, based on research of suicide clusters, is part of Public Health England's support for the government’s suicide prevention strategy.

Departmental overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019

Departmental overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019 This report is designed to provide a quick and accessible overview of the Department and its performance over the last year. It focuses on the Department’s responsibilities and how it spends its money, key developments in its areas of work and findings from our recent reports. National Audit Office

Pathway navigator ‘critical’ to cutting lung cancer waiting times say experts

Pathway navigator ‘critical’ to cutting lung cancer waiting times say experts An admin role, described as ‘critical’ in helping to cut lung cancer waiting times and speeding up diagnoses, continues to face national funding challenges says a new report by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC).

According to Pathways Matter – the first report to track uptake of NHS England’s National Optimal Lung Cancer Pathway [NOLCP] guidance and identify barriers – the appointment of a patient pathway navigator can help to more than double the number of lung cancer patients receiving treatment by day 49.

However, securing funding for the role remains ‘challenging’, according to interviews among 17 of the 19 Cancer Alliances.

See also:

• Pathways matter: A review of the implementation of the national optimal lung cancer pathway UK Lung Cancer Coalition
• 'Woefully poor NHS equipment leading to lung cancer delays' ITV News

Ending smoking in the UK could lift over a million people out of poverty

Ending smoking in the UK could lift over a million people out of poverty Analysis of Government data carried out for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) finds that the deadly addiction of tobacco, and the enormous profits of the tobacco industry, drive over a million (1,011,000) people into poverty in the UK.

Seven out of ten adult smokers want to stop smoking, and three quarters regret ever having started, but most did so as children, before realising how hard it is to quit. More than two thirds of those who try smoking go on to become regular smokers, developing an expensive and often lifelong addiction causing disease, disability and premature death.

See also:

• Smoking and poverty 2019 ASH
• Smoking link to poverty highlighted OnMedica

Clinical research improves health of UK economy and NHS

Clinical research improves health of UK economy and NHS The value of clinical research to the NHS, the UK economy and jobs market has been evaluated in a new report, which provides an assessment of the economic impact of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network's (NIHR CRN) activities to support clinical research in England. Medical Xpress

Fat found in overweight people's lungs

Fat found in overweight people's lungs Fatty tissue has been found in the lungs of overweight and obese people for the first time.

Australian researchers analysed lung samples from 52 people and found the amount of fat increased in line with body mass index.

They said their findings could explain why being overweight or obese increased asthma risk.

Lung experts said it would be interesting to see if the effect could be reversed by weight loss. BBC News

See also:

• Fatty Airways: Implications for Obstructive Disease (abstract) European Respiratory Journal
• Overweight people develop fat in their LUNGS and it can make it harder for them to breathe The Daily Mail
• Obese people are 'drowning in their own fat', as it blocks airways in the lungs, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• Fat accumulates inside lungs of overweight people, study finds The Independent

Female doctors called 'naughty girls' amid toxic 'old boys' club' at BMA

Female doctors called 'naughty girls' amid toxic 'old boys' club' at BMA The British Medical Association has an “old boys’ club” culture which has seen women “treated as of less importance” and subjected to lewd sexual remarks and advances, a damning investigation has found.

The independent review of sexism and bullying at the medics union describes a “toxic” environment, in which professional women are addressed in demeaning teams such as “naughty girls, little ladies and wee lassies”.

Daphne Romney QC was commissioned by the BMA to carry out the investigation after female doctors spoke out against sexual harassment and sexism by senior members of the trade union. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Report into sexism at the BMA published The BMA
• BMA apologises to female doctors over sexism The Guardian
• Women bullied and harassed at ‘toxic’ British Medical Association, scathing report into sexism says The Independent
• BMA apologises for appalling sexism and harassment OnMedica

Corby BAME doctors say racism is rising

Corby BAME doctors say racism is rising Black and minority ethnic Northamptonshire GPs say they are facing an increasing level of racism while at work.

The county’s two clinical commissioning groups have vowed to tackle the issue after GPs Dr Sanjay Gadhia, Dr Joanne Watt and Dr Miten Ruparelia, who all practice in Corby, spoke out about their personal experiences and the growing occurrences at the joint CCG board meeting. Northamptonshire Telegraph

A healthy foundation for the future: the final report of the young people’s future health inquiry

A healthy foundation for the future: the final report of the young people’s future health inquiry This report summarises the work of a two-year inquiry into young people’s future health. It urges the government to overhaul policies across housing, transport and education and adopt a whole government approach to secure the future health of today’s young people. The recommendations for action include calls for a consistent approach to discounted and free public transport for students across the UK and a review of the impact the current testing regime in schools has on mental health. The Health Foundation

Policy paper: Healthy ageing: consensus statement

Policy paper: Healthy ageing: consensus statement This statement by Public Health England and the Centre for Ageing Better sets out our shared vision for making England the best place in the world to grow old.

EU reciprocal healthcare arrangements: Brexit guidance

EU reciprocal healthcare arrangements: Brexit guidance This briefing provides an overview of some of the guidance that the UK government has published on reciprocal healthcare after Brexit. House of Commons Library

Genetic tests: Experts urge caution over home testing

Genetic tests: Experts urge caution over home testing People should not make health decisions based on genetic tests they do at home, experts have warned.

The University of Southampton team, writing in the British Medical Journal, warn results can be unreliable.

The geneticists said the tests could be wrongly reassuring - or lead to unnecessary worry.

23andMe, one of the companies offering tests, said there were "many cases" where results had prompted further checks and preventative treatment. BBC News

See also:

• Direct-to-consumer genetic testing The BMJ
• Caution needed over commercially available genetic testing, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• Doctors slam popular genetic tests such as 23andMe for sparking confusion and fear in patients The Daily Mail

NHS doctors too busy to care about patients, says Bodies creator

NHS doctors too busy to care about patients, says Bodies creator Jed Mercurio, a former doctor, says medical dramas ignore the cynicism that infiltrates job

The writer behind the TV hits Bodies, Bodyguard and Line of Duty has said medical dramas do not show how cynical and jaded doctors are in real life.

Jed Mercurio, a former doctor who created the cult medical series Bodies, said hospital doctors were often too busy to deeply care about their patients. The Guardian

Charity launches legal action against NHS fees for pregnant migrants

Charity launches legal action against NHS fees for pregnant migrants Maternity Action says bills of £7,000-plus deter vulnerable women from seeking care

A charity has launched a legal challenge against the policy of charging vulnerable migrant women £7,000 or more to access NHS maternity care.

Maternity care falls under “immediately necessary service” in the UK, which means it must never be refused or delayed regardless of a patient’s immigration status. The Guardian

Mental health hospital to hand out free e-cigarettes to those trying to quit smoking

Mental health hospital to hand out free e-cigarettes to those trying to quit smoking One of the UK's largest mental health hospitals is to hand out free e-cigarettes to those trying to quit smoking, in a deal with a vaping retailer.

The trust said it would help patients “transform” their health.

But critics last night said the deal - believed to be the first of its kind - was “extraordinary” at a time when the safety of vaping is under increasing scrutiny. The Daily Telegraph

Experts warn that parents who don't vaccinate have forgotten the devastating impact of diseases

Experts warn that parents who don't vaccinate have forgotten the devastating impact of diseases Parents have become complacent about vaccinating their children because they have forgotten the impact of devastating diseases, experts warned last night.

Many today have no idea what illnesses such as measles, polio or diphtheria could do to children because vaccination campaigns wiped them out in the UK generations ago.

Yet many of these viruses are still circulating abroad and could return amid falling uptake of childhood immunisations such as the MMR jab, doctors warn. The Daily Mail

Nearly half of NGH A&E patients could have been treated elsewhere yesterday

Nearly half of NGH A&E patients could have been treated elsewhere yesterday Northampton General Hospital is urging patients to use other NHS services as almost half of patients seen by A&E doctors yesterday could have received treatment elsewhere.

Northampton General Hospital is experiencing intense pressure on their A&E department this week, and doctors are asking patients to choose the most appropriate service for their needs and seek advice as soon as they start to feel unwell. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Busy Kettering A&E breaks patient number records and warns people of long waits Northamptonshire Telegraph

CIO interview: Hugo Mathias, CIO, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

CIO interview: Hugo Mathias, CIO, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust For all the talk of a ‘paperless NHS’, replacing legacy systems and eliminating paper records is a challenge – but one that Hugo Mathias is tackling through real-time information and cultural change. Computer Weekly

Digital-first primary care: helpful disruptor or unnecessary disruption?

Digital-first primary care: helpful disruptor or unnecessary disruption? Digital-first primary care – a model of general practice where patients use smartphone and desktop apps to book and conduct their consultations remotely – has generated a huge amount of interest and debate. Is it the Uber of general practice that will make it easier for people to get hold of a GP? Or is it going to cause the demise of general practice as we know it by creating a two-tier system?  The King's Fund

Modern screening can be more personalised and convenient to save lives says new report

Modern screening can be more personalised and convenient to save lives says new report The NHS has the opportunity to upgrade cancer screening to save thousands more lives each year, a major report said today.

Leading expert Professor Sir Mike Richards was jointly commissioned by NHS chief executive Simon Stevens and Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock to make recommendations on overhauling national screening programmes, as part of a new NHS drive for earlier diagnosis and improved cancer survival.

In his report, Sir Mike, who was the NHS’ first cancer director as well as the CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, called for people to be given much greater choice over when and where they are screened. NHS England

See also:

• Review of national cancer screening programmes in England NHS England
• NHS screening 'needs to fit with busy lives' BBC News
• Women must be offered breast cancer checks and smear tests during their lunch hour, report demands The Daily Mail
• NHS to offer women mammograms and smears in lunch breaks in bid to boost cancer survival rates The Daily Telegraph
• Offer cancer screenings during lunch breaks, report urges The Guardian
• Cancer screening services need major overhaul to halt ‘worrying decline’, report warns The Independent

Making the NHS the best place to work: support for engagement to improve our people’s experience at work

Making the NHS the best place to work: support for engagement to improve our people’s experience at work This resource , developed in partnership with NHS Employers, provides extra support and examples of good practice to those organisations seeking further help with staff engagement. NHS Improvement

Mental health sick leave rises for emergency workers

Mental health sick leave rises for emergency workers More emergency service staff are taking sick leave due to poor mental health, figures suggest.

Data for 57 fire, police and ambulance services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland shows the number of staff who took time off due to mental ill health rose by a third between 2014 and 2018.

Workers have been urged to "seek help" after traumatic events.

The government said it was funding support for workers to "counter the stigma" around mental health. BBC News

Mum left without food for 10 days after Calea safety alert

Mum left without food for 10 days after Calea safety alert A woman who relies on liquid food after having most of her intestines removed was left without supplies for 10 days after a safety alert.

Jenny Evans, 31, from Grosmont near Abergavenny, is fed intravenously with a liquid that is tailored exactly to her needs.

She hooks up to it four nights a week, and while she sleeps it infuses into her blood over the course of 12 hours.

But she feared she would end up in hospital after the supply was delayed. BBC News

There’s a binge drinking boom among older people – what does it mean for the nation’s mental health?

There’s a binge drinking boom among older people – what does it mean for the nation’s mental health? Although enjoying a glass of red wine now and again may be healthy for your heart and gut, drinking too much alcohol can put you at higher risk of developing many serious health conditions. Heavy alcohol consumption has been linked to a number of health issues, including developing certain types of cancer, stroke, heart and liver disease, and brain damage. In older people, drinking unhealthy levels of alcohol can be even more damaging to health, and may cause memory loss, high blood pressure, balance problems, and worsen mental health. The Independent

Little progress made in tackling air pollution in Europe, research says

Little progress made in tackling air pollution in Europe, research says European Environment Agency found levels of fine particulate matter stalled after decades of reductions

Little progress has been made on tackling air quality in Europe, new research shows, despite public outcry in many countries and increasing awareness of the health impacts of pollution.

Levels of the dangerous fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which can lodge deep in the lungs and pass into the bloodstream, appear to have reached a plateau across Europe, after more than a decade of gradual reductions. The results come from the European Environment Agency’s Air Quality in Europe 2019 report, published on Wednesday, which collates data taken from thousands of monitoring stations in 2017. The Guardian

Cortisone injections for hip and knee pain are more dangerous than was thought

Cortisone injections for hip and knee pain are more dangerous than was thought Cortisone injections for hip and knee pain lead to more complications than previously thought, research has found.

The anti-inflammatory jabs are used by athletes to mask pain, and to treat symptoms of osteoarthritis.

But the study by Boston University School of Medicine found that the treatment could speed up a joint's disintegration and force patients to have total knee or hip replacements. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections in the Hip and Knee: Perhaps Not as Safe as We Thought? (open access) Radiology
• Cortisone injections may accelerate arthritis, study finds The Daily Mail

Worsening drug shortages are causing patients to be admitted to hospital

Worsening drug shortages are causing patients to be admitted to hospital Worsening drug shortages have caused some patients to be admitted to hospital, a major survey has revealed.

One in four pharmacists said their patients have come to harm because they could not get vital medication, a poll by the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) found.

Some chemists told the pharmacy union that people with epilepsy have suffered seizures because of a shortage of anti-epileptic drugs. The Daily Mail

NHS chief says that GP surgeries should send MMR jab reminders to parents

NHS chief says that GP surgeries should send MMR jab reminders to parents GP surgeries should text or phone the parents of children who have missed their MMR jab, the Government's health protection chief urges today.

Duncan Selbie calls on family doctors to go through the 'painstaking task' of searching their records to hunt for unvaccinated patients.

Families which have slipped through the net should be called or sent text reminders inviting them to the surgery, he says. The Daily Mail

Doctors warn visitors to keep away from Northants hospitals after rise in people with norovirus bug

Doctors warn visitors to keep away from Northants hospitals after rise in people with norovirus bug Medics are warning patients to stay away from visiting friends and family in hospital if they have been infected by the norovirus bug.

With health services across Northamptonshire seeing a higher than usual number of patients with norovirus, doctors are telling loved ones to stay away from hospital for two days after diarrhoea and sickness symptoms have stopped to avoid it spreading. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Growing pressures on access and staffing risk creating ‘perfect storm’ for people using mental health and learning disability services

Growing pressures on access and staffing risk creating ‘perfect storm’ for people using mental health and learning disability services The Care Quality Commission’s annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England shows that quality ratings have been maintained overall – but people’s experience of care is determined by whether they can access good care when they need it.

This year’s State of Care considers the pressures faced by health and social care as a whole – but focuses particularly on inpatient mental health and learning disability services, the area where CQC is seeing an impact on quality.

While the overall quality picture for the mental health sector, which includes community mental health services, remains stable, this masks a real deterioration in some specialist inpatient services which has continued after 31 July 2019, the cut-off point for the data included in the report. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• The state of health care and adult social care in England 2019/19 Care Quality Commission
• Care Quality Commission presents mixed picture of the state of care in England The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the Care Quality Commission's State of care report The King's Fund
• More than half of A&Es 'not good enough' BBC News
• Half of NHS A&E departments 'are inadequate or require improvement' The Daily Mail
• More than half of A&Es now failing as breakdowns in non-emergency care sees flood of desperate patients The Daily Telegraph
• More than half of A&Es provide substandard care, says watchdog The Guardian
• A&Es may struggle to cope this winter as most are ‘inadequate’ or ‘require improvement’, inspectors say The Independent

Politicians should avoid the temptation of another NHS top-down re-organisation

Politicians should avoid the temptation of another NHS top-down re-organisation Most commentators think a general election is not far off. Whether the current incumbent returns or there is someone new in the hot seat that is the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, there will be no shortage of complex and urgent issues to occupy their attention, whether it’s overcoming deep and pervasive workforce shortages or grasping the nettle of social care funding and reform. The King's Fund

Queen's Speech has no concrete proposals for social care and worrying lack of reassurances for future workforce

Queen's Speech has no concrete proposals for social care and worrying lack of reassurances for future workforce Professor John Appleby, Chief Economist at the Nuffield Trust responds to the social care announcement in the Queen's Speech 2019.

See also:

• Queen's Speech 2019 The Cabinet Office
• The King's Fund responds to today's Queen's Speech The King's Fund
• Queen's Speech: New laws on crime, health and the environment BBC News
• What we learned from the Queen's Speech BBC News

Rough sleepers in homeless hotspots to benefit from NHS mental health outreach

Rough sleepers in homeless hotspots to benefit from NHS mental health outreach Towns with high rates of homelessness are set for investment in specialist mental health care, as part of NHS services for rough sleepers across the country.

The NHS-funded services in seven parts of the country will bring in new psychiatrists, psychologists and other experts to offer homeless people advice and treatment to tackle underlying mental ill health. NHS England

Role of the arts in improving health and well-being

Role of the arts in improving health and well-being Arts interventions, such as singing in a choir to improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are considered non-invasive, low-risk treatment options and are increasingly being used by Member States to supplement more traditional biomedical treatments. The Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report on arts and health, which will be launched on 11 November 2019, maps the global academic literature on this subject in both English and Russian. It references over 900 publications, including 200 reviews covering  over 3000 further studies. As such, the report represents the most comprehensive evidence review of arts and health to date. World Health Organization

Head injuries: Cheap drug 'could save thousands of lives a year'

Head injuries: Cheap drug 'could save thousands of lives a year' A cheap and widely available drug could save hundreds of thousands of lives a year worldwide if it was routinely given to people brought into hospital with head injuries, UK doctors say.

Tranexamic acid helps stop bleeding in and around the brain when blood vessels have been torn.

A large international study in The Lancet now suggests it improves patient survival rates if given early enough. BBC News

See also:

• Effects of tranexamic acid on death, disability, vascular occlusive events and other morbidities in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (CRASH-3): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial (open access) The Lancet
• Tranexamic acid could save lives of people with head injuries The Daily Mail

Women get half as many heart attack treatments as men

Women get half as many heart attack treatments as men Women appear to be half as likely to receive treatment for heart attacks as men, suggests research published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

This gender imbalance is all the more surprising given that a new blood test is diagnosing more women with a heart attack. OnMedica

Six-year-old girl at centre of life-support treatment case dies

Six-year-old girl at centre of life-support treatment case dies Doctors had advised child’s transfer to palliative care but her parents opposed recommendation

A six-year-old girl who was at the centre of a high court life-support treatment dispute has died, lawyers have said.

Doctors treating the child had said she should stop receiving life-support treatment and move to a palliative care regime, but her parents, who are also doctors, disagreed. The Guardian

Britain's first blind and deaf medic says seeing and hearing doesn't make you a better doctor

Britain's first blind and deaf medic says seeing and hearing doesn't make you a better doctor Well-meaning folk used to tell Alexandra Adams she couldn’t ski. Blind people can’t, they said. People who are blind and deaf certainly can’t.

It turns out, though, that determination (or ‘sheer stubbornness’, as she puts it) can triumph over disability. The Daily Mail