General election 2019: Labour vows to outspend Tories on the NHS

General election 2019: Labour vows to outspend Tories on the NHS Labour is promising to spend more on the NHS in England than the Tories if it wins the general election.

The NHS budget would rise to £155bn by 2023-24 - £6bn more than the government promised the front-line budget would reach by that stage when it set out its five-year plan last year.

Labour said the money would cut waiting times and boost mental health services.

But the Tories said Labour's plan for a shorter working week would eat into the funding due to the need for more staff. BBC News

See also:

• Labour pledges a step-change in NHS funding after almost a decade of austerity The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to Labour’s pledge to boost health care funding The King's Fund
• Labour’s pledge to spend more on NHS a ‘significant extra investment’ NHS Confederation
• Nigel Edwards responds to Labour's 'NHS Rescue Plan' Nuffield Trust
• General practice is a 'big ticket' issue for General Election – but GPs and patients will want swift action from new government, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
• General election 2019: Tory plan to attract more NHS staff from abroad BBC News
• Battle for the NHS: Jeremy Corbyn promises another £26BILLION for the NHS funded by 'tax on the rich' - as Tories point out Labour's four-day working week would make running health service impossible The Daily Mail
• How will Labour put an extra £26bn into the NHS by 2024?  The Guardian
• Labour vows to outspend Tories with £26bn ‘rescue’ plan for NHS The Guardian
• Labour pledges £26bn NHS rescue plan amid warnings of ‘year round crisis’ The Independent
• Are Labour’s plans for NHS spending all they seem? The Independent
• Could a post-Brexit trade deal with the US cost the NHS £500 million a week? ITV News

Project Nightingale: Google accesses trove of US patient data

Project Nightingale: Google accesses trove of US patient data Google has gained access to a huge trove of US patient data - without the need to notify those patients - thanks to a deal with a major health firm.

The scheme, dubbed Project Nightingale, was agreed with Ascension, which hopes to develop artificial intelligence tools for doctors.

Google can access health records, names and addresses without telling patients, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.

Google said it was "standard practice". BBC News

I'm one of many NHS doctors to experience racism from patients - but it's not as simple as just refusing treatment

I'm one of many NHS doctors to experience racism from patients - but it's not as simple as just refusing treatment As I listened to the harrowing interview of a senior surgeon working in the NHS, questioning his sense of self-worth on national telly and reconsidering his position in the NHS after pouring his “blood, sweat and tears” into the system for decades, I felt tears trickle down my cheeks. I felt his pain deep in the pit of my gut. This is still happening. Racism in the NHS is continuing to hurt and drive away some of our best. It has to stop. iNews

Frank Dobson obituary

Frank Dobson obituary Former Labour health secretary and candidate in the London mayoral election of 2000

The former health secretary Frank Dobson, who has died aged 79, devoted his lifetime in politics to giving practical effect to the socialist principles he had always held and from which he never deviated. He described himself as a member of the “sane left” within the Labour party and took immense pride in having secured extra funding for the National Health Service during his time in charge of an institution he regarded as truly emblematic of a caring society. The Guardian

HIV rates rise FIVE-FOLD in a decade among menopausal women

HIV rates rise FIVE-FOLD in a decade among menopausal women HIV rates are rising among middle-aged women in England because of unprotected sex, according to researchers.

A study found the number of women aged between 45 and 56 who needed HIV treatment is five times higher than it was a decade ago.

Women in this age bracket may be going through, or have already been through, the menopause, which means they're unlikely to get pregnant.

They're still vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, however, and experts suggest recklessness when it comes to contraception may be partly to blame. The Daily Mail

See also:

• PRIME (Positive Transitions Through the Menopause) Study: a protocol for a mixed-methods study investigating the impact of the menopause on the health and well-being of women living with HIV in England (open access) BMJ Open
• PRIME Study, Menopause in Women Living with HIV in the UK HIV Outcomes
• Older women with HIV up five-fold in ten years Metro

What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review

What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review This comprehensive review of evidence on arts and health concludes that engaging with the arts can be beneficial for both mental and physical health. The report reviews arts activities that seek to promote health and prevent ill health, as well as manage and treat physical and mental ill health and support end-of-life care. World Health Organization

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over?

The outlook for councils’ funding: is austerity over? This analysis shows that, with councils now largely dependent on council tax and business rates to fund their spending, a growing gap is likely to open up between their income and what they need to meet the rising costs of service provision, especially for adult social care. With council tax rising in line with inflation (two per cent a year), by the end of the parliament councils will need an extra £4 billion a year from the government just to maintain social care services at current levels and stop further cut backs in the share of national income spent on other services like children’s social care, public health and housing. This would rise to £18 billion a year by the mid-2030s. Institute for Fiscal Studies

Vaping nearly killed me, says British teenager

Vaping nearly killed me, says British teenager A teenage boy nearly died after vaping caused a catastrophic reaction in his lungs, doctors in Nottingham say.

Ewan Fisher was connected to an artificial lung to keep him alive after his own lungs failed and he could not breathe.

Ewan told BBC News e-cigarettes had "basically ruined me" and urged other young people not to vape.

His doctors say vaping is "not safe", although health bodies in the UK say it is 95% safer than tobacco.

See also:

• Life-threatening hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to e-cigarettes (open access) Archives of Diseases in Childhood
• Clinical presentation, treatment, and short-term outcomes of lung injury associated with e-cigarettes or vaping: a prospective observational cohort study (abstract) The Lancet
• Vaper, 16, suffers life-threatening lung inflammation The Daily Mail
• 'Vape at your peril', doctors warn as they reveal teenage boy contracted life threatening condition The Daily Telegraph
• Vaping is causing lung damage, Lancet study finds as medics urge public to avoid e-cigarettes The Daily Telegraph
• UK teenager needed life support over vaping-linked disease The Guardian
• Vaping deaths: Health officials find possible cause of mystery illness linked to e-cigarettes The Independent
• Vaping deaths: Are e-cigarettes really safer than smoking tobacco? A complete guide to the facts The Independent

Lack of care available to country’s sickest children forces NHS to restore beds to local hospitals

Lack of care available to country’s sickest children forces NHS to restore beds to local hospitals A shortage of beds and staff to care for the country’s sickest children has forced the NHS to redesign critical-care services nationwide, The Independent has learned.

Health service bosses will reverse more than two decades of centralisation that have seen many smaller hospitals lose services, with new children’s critical-care networks created and hospitals working together to move children closer to their homes, freeing up beds.

The scandalous detention of learning disabled people won't be stopped by a review

The scandalous detention of learning disabled people won't be stopped by a review | Dan Scorer Urgent investment in social care is essential to address the reasons why people are locked away in inpatient units

People with a learning disability face inequalities in all aspects of their lives, and access to good quality health and social care is no exception.

Many people may think asylums are a thing of the past, but 2,250 people with a learning disability and/or autism continue to be locked away in inpatient units across the country, where they are at increased risk of abuse and neglect. The Guardian

Childhood pneumonia cases up 50% in 10 years, NHS data shows

Childhood pneumonia cases up 50% in 10 years, NHS data shows A&E admissions highest in deprived areas of England as bronchiolitis drives increase

Emergency hospital admissions for children with pneumonia have risen by more than 50% in England over the past decade, figures suggest, with admission rates highest in more deprived areas.

According to NHS Digital data analysed by the charities Unicef and Save the Children, between April 2018 and March 2019 there were 56,210 emergency admissions in England for pneumonia in those aged 18 or younger, using a definition that included a type of lower respiratory tract infection called bronchiolitis. In contrast, there were 36,862 such admissions between April 2008 and March 2009. The Guardian

See also:

• "Forgotten epidemic" hospitalising 6 children every hour in England Save the Children
• One child dies of pneumonia every 39 seconds, agencies warn UNICEF
• Six children are hospitalised with pneumonia EVERY HOUR The Daily Mail
• Poorest areas hardest hit by ‘forgotten epidemic’ of pneumonia putting a child in hospital every 10 minutes The Independent

GPs call for an end to home visits, saying they do not have time

GPs call for an end to home visits, saying they do not have time Family doctors are calling for an end to home visits - saying they are too busy to visit the frail and elderly.

The radical proposal, to be put forward at a conference of the British Medical Association, would see the duties removed from the standard contract for GPs

Medics said house calls were too “time consuming” for family doctors, who were overloaded.

But patients’ groups said the threat to withdraw such services from GPs was “appalling” and would put the vulnerable at risk. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Leading GPs call for mandatory home visits to be scrapped The Daily Mail
• GPs demand power to close lists and drop home visits amid workload crisis GPonline
• GPs ‘no longer have capacity’ to offer home visits, doctors say The Independent

More than a MILLION patients are being admitted to hospitals with obesity-related illnesses

More than a MILLION patients are being admitted to hospitals with obesity-related illnesses More than one million people a year are now being admitted to hospital with obesity-related conditions, NHS figures have revealed.

Statistics show the number of obese patients admitted in England has jumped from 884,000 in 2017/18 to almost 1.1million last year.

The burden has also doubled in just five years, with 442,000 cases in 2013/14. Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, described the trend as 'startling'. The Daily Mail

Recruitment drive for nurses to work in the community and schools in Northamptonshire

Recruitment drive for nurses to work in the community and schools in Northamptonshire Nurses are being urged to consider working in the community or in schools across Northamptonshire - with a current recruit full of praise for the role. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Supporting medical productivity data collection: guide to the 2018/19 data collection process and to improving ESR data quality

Supporting medical productivity data collection: guide to the 2018/19 data collection process and to improving ESR data quality This guidance aims to support trusts with the 2018/19 data collection process and help improve electronic staff record (ESR) data quality. Trust 2018/19 data will now be automatically extracted from ESR, with no manual data collection using Excel spreadsheets, and published on the Model Hospital in November 2019 and then refreshed in March 2020. These changes will impact on acute, acute specialist, community and mental health trusts. NHS Improvement

Cannabis-based medicines: Two drugs approved for NHS

Cannabis-based medicines: Two drugs approved for NHS Two cannabis-based medicines, used to treat epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, have been approved for use by the NHS in England.

It follows new guidelines from the drugs advisory body NICE, which looked at products for several conditions.

Charities have welcomed the move, although some campaigners who have been fighting for access to the drugs have said it does not go far enough.

Both medicines were developed in the UK, where they are also grown. BBC News

See also:

• Cannabis-based medicinal products NICE
• Cannabis drugs for epilepsy and multiple sclerosis are approved for NHS use The Daily Mail
• First cannabis-based medicines approved for use on NHS The Guardian

General election 2019: Tory pledge to boost GP numbers

General election 2019: Tory pledge to boost GP numbers The Tories say they will deliver 6,000 more doctors in general practice in England by 2024-25 to increase patient appointments, if they win the election.

They claim they will reach that target through additional doctors working and training in surgeries, international recruitment and better retention.

However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a previous Tory pledge to recruit 5,000 GPs by 2020 had not been met. BBC News

Cancellations of NHS child mental health sessions jump 25%

Cancellations of NHS child mental health sessions jump 25% Staff shortages and growing demand reported to be behind annual rise in England

Growing numbers of troubled children are having appointments with NHS mental health services cancelled, the organisation’s data show.

Figures obtained by the mental health charity Mind reveal that CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) in England cancelled 175,094 appointments with vulnerable patients between August 2018 and July 2019. The Guardian

Number of elderly denied home care to rise by 40pc

Number of elderly denied home care to rise by 40pc The number of elderly people denied help in the home is set to soar by 40 per cent in the next decade, a new report claims.

Charity Age UK says one in seven pensioners are currently struggling without help to carry out everyday tasks such as washing and dressing.

And they warn that this number is set to rise from 1.5 million now to 2.1 million by 2030 if current trends continue. The Daily Telegraph

Hospitals must offer senior doctors salary top-ups to ease pension reform tension before winter

Hospitals must offer senior doctors salary top-ups to ease pension reform tension before winter NHS Improvement has called for hospital chiefs in England to follow guidance to prevent doctors from refusing extra work ahead of winter. Pension reforms mean extra income will trigger hefty tax charges. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Doctors dismiss ‘sticking plaster’ fix for NHS pension crisis The Guardian

Northamptonshire: Crisis council replacement plan decision postponed

Northamptonshire: Crisis council replacement plan decision postponed Legislation to scrap a cash-crisis council and seven others in the same county has been shelved.

It would allow the creation of two unitary authorities in Northamptonshire to replace its troubled county council and the district and borough councils.

The government had already approved the plan, and Parliament was expected to pass it before the election. BBC Northampton

Nurse at Northampton General Hospital steals morphine and overdoses before fleeing to Croatia

Nurse at Northampton General Hospital steals morphine and overdoses before fleeing to Croatia A nurse who stole and took morphine from a ward he was working on at Northampton General Hospital before going into cardiac arrest has been suspended.

On July 12, 2018 nurse Matija Konjevic was found unconscious in his room at his nursing accommodation, tribunal papers have revealed, after he stole controlled drug medication for his personal use.

Resuscitation staff were then called to administer treatment to Konjevic after he went into cardiac arrest. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Primary care networks: A pre-mortem to identify potential risks

Primary care networks: A pre-mortem to identify potential risks Primary care networks were introduced in early 2019 with the intention that they would stabilise general practice and act as the bedrock of integrated care systems. However, there is a lack of clarity over how broad national ambitions can be realised locally. What pitfalls face primary care networks as they become established, and how might they be avoided? Nuffield Trust

Bringing evidence and facts to the election debate

Bringing evidence and facts to the election debate With general election campaigning now underway, Mark Dayan describes how the Nuffield Trust will bring evidence, facts and our extensive knowledge of health policy and research to the fore in coming weeks.

Genomic medicine: a tool for population health?

Genomic medicine: a tool for population health? Genomic medicine has been hailed as the magic bullet for prevention, diagnosis and personalised treatment. But what can we really expect from this field? The King's Fund

Pre-election period: dos and don'ts for the NHS

Pre-election period: dos and don'ts for the NHS ‘Purdah’ is the period shortly before an election or referendum when specific restrictions on the activity of public bodies, civil servants and local government officials are put in place. NHS Employers

See also:

• Pre-election guidance for the 2019 General Election NHS England

General election 2019: Tory plan to attract more NHS staff from abroad

General election 2019: Tory plan to attract more NHS staff from abroad The Conservatives say they will make it easier for doctors and nurses from around the world to work in the UK after Brexit, if they win the election.

The party would introduce an "NHS visa" as part of a promised "points-based immigration system".

But Labour said the policy was "full of holes," with nothing to say about low-paid nurses and other hospital staff.

And the Royal College of Nursing said "more ambitious" plans were needed to address NHS staffing shortages. BBC News

See also:

• Boris Johnson promises preferential immigration for NHS staff The Guardian
• General election: Boris Johnson to offer preferential immigration to NHS staff amid shortage fears The Independent
• Tories promise NHS Visa allowing migrants fast-track access to UK if they want to work in health service iNews

Algorithms helping patients on ventilators at London hospitals

Algorithms helping patients on ventilators at London hospitals Imperial College London and the Royal Brompton Hospital have found a way to make ventilators more precise for individual intensive care patients.

The trial involves a monitor next to a patient's bed that will collect data showing their breathing patterns and lung capacity.

Doctors and nurses will use the data to better understand how to treat a patient and individually tailor their ventilator oxygen levels and pressure.


If successful, it could prove to be the future of critical care medicine, according to the research team. BBC News

See also:

• £2.5m trial of AI system to help patients at risk of fatal lung failure Evening Standard

NHS urged to draw up guidelines for managers following the death of nurse who set himself on fire after losing his job

NHS urged to draw up guidelines for managers following the death of nurse who set himself on fire after losing his job NHS bodies have been asked to urgently draw up guidance for managers following the death of a nurse who set himself alight after losing his job over a disciplinary matter.

Amin Abdullah, 41, died close to Kensington Palace in London on February 9 2016, weeks after an unfair dismissal process at Charing Cross Hospital.

The Malaysian-born nurse, who became depressed when he was ordered to leave his job, was due to appeal against the decision just two days later.

An independent inquiry identified serious procedural errors throughout the disciplinary process, and found that Mr Abdullah was treated "unfairly" and "very poorly", which severely affected his mental health. ITV News

Record numbers signing up to study medicine at university, figures show

Record numbers signing up to study medicine at university, figures show Record numbers of would-be doctors are signing up to study medicine.

New Ucas figures show a six per cent increase on the number of people applying to take a degree in the subject, compared to last year.

The deadline for applications to begin medicine, as well as dentistry and veterinary science courses next autumn, was on October 15. The Independent

Winter after winter, the NHS has been warned it cannot go on the same as before

Winter after winter, the NHS has been warned it cannot go on the same as before It has become a tragic annual tradition for the NHS to head into winter with dire warnings of how awful its performance is going to be. This year the British Medical Association has been clear that if its forecasts become a reality the health service will experience its worst ever winter with more than 1 million patients waiting more than four hours to be seen and nearly 300,000 waiting on trolleys after four hours.

Many voters would be forgiven for dismissing this bleak assessment on the grounds there seems to be an NHS crisis every winter but somehow the system always pulls through. The Independent

See also:

• NHS winter crisis: More than 1 million patients face long waits in A&E, doctors warn The Independent

Firehosing: the systemic strategy that anti-vaxxers are using to spread misinformation

Firehosing: the systemic strategy that anti-vaxxers are using to spread misinformation Anti-vaxxers keep telling the same obvious lies without shame, despite being debunked and factchecked

Yet again a popular show is giving an anti-vaxxer a high-profile platform to spread lies and cause harm to an audience of millions. This time it’s Bill Maher who last week hosted Jay Gordon, a controversial doctor who peddles misinformation about vaccines and is best known for providing hundreds of personal belief exemptions for families to forgo school vaccine requirements. The Guardian

GPs told to prioritise toddlers amid flu vaccine shortages

GPs told to prioritise toddlers amid flu vaccine shortages Schools are to cancel flu vaccinations for thousands of young children amid a national shortage of supplies.

GPs have been ordered to prioritise toddlers and the sickest children, amid warnings that quarter of deliveries - for around one million children - will now arrive late.

For the first time, all children aged between two and 11 were due to be eligible for a free nasal spray inoculation, with most receiving them at school. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Flu-vaccine nasal spray delayed for some schoolchildren BBC News
• Health officials tell schools to reschedule November flu vaccinations The Daily Mail

Boozy Britons are drinking 108 bottles of wine a year - far more than the rest of the western world

Boozy Britons are drinking 108 bottles of wine a year - far more than the rest of the western world The average Briton is now drinking 108 bottles of wine a year - far more than in the rest of the Western world, a major report shows.

The study of 36 nations shows that the UK’s alcohol consumption is now among the highest in developed countries.

It comes as separate figures show the number of pensioners starting treatment for alcohol problems has doubled in the past decade, The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Health at a Glance 2019: Alcohol consumption among adults Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
• Britons are heavier drinkers than most of the world, report reveals The Daily Mail

Diabetes treatment now costs the NHS £1.1bn, the highest bill ever

Diabetes treatment now costs the NHS £1.1bn, the highest bill ever Prescription medicines for diabetes now cost NHS England more than ever, figures have today revealed.

The £1.075billion forked out last year on drugs for the condition is almost double the £650million bill from a decade ago.

Diabetes is the most expensive condition the NHS has to treat, partly because at least 4.7million people in the UK – approximately one in every 14 – have it.

The costs are spread across insulin, diagnostic devices and blood sugar monitors, antidiabetic drugs and medications to treat people with hypoglycaemia. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Map: Diabetes spending per patient varies almost threefold between CCGs GPonline

Doctors say better support is needed for self-harm patients

Doctors say better support is needed for self-harm patients Self-harm patients need to receive better care after they are hospitalised to reduce their risk of suicide, doctors have warned.

Oxford University researchers tracked almost 50,000 self-harm patients in England for up to 15 years.

They found suicide rates were 55 times higher among such patients in the year after being hospitalised, compared to the general population. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Suicide following presentation to hospital for non-fatal self-harm in the Multicentre Study of Self-harm: a long-term follow-up study (abstract) The Lancet

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 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. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Improving nurses' work-life balance

Improving nurses' work-life balance A new report highlights ways to improve nurses’ work-life balance by implementing team-based rostering. The report, Improving Nurses’ Work-life Balance, published by flexible working consultancy, Timewise, provides insights from a team-based rostering pilot carried out with 240 nurses, in seven wards in three hospitals.
The pilot aimed to increase nurses’ ownership over their working patterns and work-life balance. Key elements of the approach outlined in the report include empowering the workforce to take responsibility, giving nurses the autonomy and permission to make changes, and liberating talent. In addition to the report, Timewise has also published a detailed ‘how-to’ guide for trusts and ward managers, including free resources on how to implement this approach. NHS Employers

Europe’s doctors urge tighter curbs in Chinese medicine

Europe’s doctors urge tighter curbs in Chinese medicine Organisations representing Europe’s leading doctors and scientists are calling for tighter regulations on the availability of traditional Chinese medicines. The Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) have issued a joint statement in which they express concerns at the recent recognition of traditional Chinese medicine in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standards framework.
“Just because the World Health Organisation includes a chapter on Traditional Chinese Medicine in its new International Classification of Diseases, it is not automatically safe to use without robust evidence,” says Professor Dan Larhammar, president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and chair of the expert group of the FEAM. OnMedica

Does UK lag behind other rich nations on health and care?

Does UK lag behind other rich nations on health and care? The UK has fewer doctors and nurses and poorer access to elderly long-term care than other rich nations, a study shows. The OECD review also warned that many Brits were living unhealthy lives with high rates of drinking and obesity. But it praised the "strong access" to health care delivered by the NHS, saying there were low levels of inequality compared to other countries.
Spending at 9.8% of GDP - a measure of the size of the economy - was above the 8.8% average for the 36 nations. The review - carried out every two years - looks at the performance and characteristics of the wealthiest nations across all continents. BBC News

A&E pressure causes 'critical incident' in Nottingham

A&E pressure causes 'critical incident' in Nottingham A hospital trust has declared a "critical incident" because of the "exceptional" pressure on A&E. Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) runs the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) and City Hospital and has been on OPEL 4 - previously known as black alert - since Monday morning. On Wednesday it raised the level further.
Some routine operations have been cancelled as the trust prioritises those who need emergency care.
Health bosses do not want to operate on patients who cannot be guaranteed a bed in which to recover. BBC News

The NHS trusts muscling in on PCNs

The NHS trusts muscling in on PCNs PCNs – the new groupings of GP practices central to the NHS long-term plan – must all choose an organisation to manage funding and employ the substantial additional staff they are due to take on in coming years. They can choose either one of their own member GP practices, a GP federation or “voluntary sector organisation”, or an NHS trust or foundation trust.
HSJ analysis has discovered that four NHS provider trusts which are directly or obliquely filling this role – often known as their “banker” but officially referred to as the “nominated payee”.

These four trusts – Humber, Yeovil District Hospital, Southern Health and Royal Wolverhampton – already run, or jointly run, general practice services in their area, under existing arrangements. The payee receives funds from NHS England and local commissioners on behalf of the network, dispersing the money to pay practices for participating, providing services, and for salaries of network workforce. It is also envisaged that they will often employ the staff. Health Service Journal

BMA demands action to avert crisis as NHS heads for worst winter on record

BMA demands action to avert crisis as NHS heads for worst winter on record  The BMA manifesto published ahead of the 12 December general election calls for a 4% increase in overall NHS spending, alongside legislation to stop the pension tax crisis, better staffing and pay and a second Brexit referendum.
In a report on NHS winter pressure published alongside its 'Manifesto for Health', the BMA warns that 'trusts and GP practices are almost certain to endure the most pressurised winter on record'. Pressures faced by the NHS over the summer were worse than even the worst-case scenarios forecast by the BMA, the association said. GP Online

Under-18s being denied urgent mental health treatment, say GPs

Under-18s being denied urgent mental health treatment, say GPs Troubled teenagers seeking urgent help from NHS mental health services are being denied treatment or facing months of delays, GPs have said.
Three in four family doctors do not believe under-18s they refer to child and adolescent mental health services will end up being treated, research shows.
In a survey of 1,008 GPs across the UK, 76% said they did not usually feel confident a young person they referred to CAMHS would receive treatment for their illness. Only 10% were confident that treatment would follow. The Guardian

NHS workers must say no when patients ask for a white doctor, Matt Hancock says

NHS workers must say no when patients ask for a white doctor, Matt Hancock says  NHS workers must say no when patients ask for a white doctor, Matt Hancock has said, as he vows to support staff against racism. In a letter sent to all staff in the health service, he said he was “horrified” by the amount of abuse being heaped on staff, and by “appalling” racially motivated incidents.

Last week a senior surgeon who has worked in the NHS for more than 20 years told how a patient had asked him “can I have a white doctor?” Dr Radhakrishna Shanbhag said he had been left to feel “worthless” as a result of the way he was treated by patients.  In a letter sent to all NHS staff yesterday the Health Secretary said the Government and management of the NHS would back up any workers who took a “zero-tolerance” approach to racism. The Telegraph

DIY cervical checks boost uptake by 50 per cent among those who otherwise miss tests

DIY cervical checks boost uptake by 50 per cent among those who otherwise miss tests DIY cervical screening kits boost uptake by more than 50 per cent, among those who otherwise fail to have the checks, trials show. Research on almost 20,000 patients who had not been screened for the disease for at least three years found that they were far more likely to do so if they could do the tests at home.

The US trial, which involved self-sampling kits sent by post, follows a “gamechanging” British study.
This found that home urine tests for cervical cancer were more accurate than smear tests, as well as more popular among women. Take-up of cervical screening in the UK is the lowest for 21 years, with almost one in three women failing to respond to invitations. Experts fear embarrassment and a dislike of intrusive checks is deterring many women from undergoing checks at their GP surgeries. The Telegraph

Serial whistleblower unfairly sacked

Serial whistleblower unfairly sacked A large mental health provider unfairly dismissed a nurse with a record of whistleblowing because it feared he was seeking to highlight care failures, a tribunal has ruled.

A judge decided Noel Finn was wrongly dismissed by St Andrew’s Healthcare, largely because of his roles in exposing scandals at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre and in the government’s Personal Independence Payments assessment centre.

The tribunal’s judgement, released last week, showed the charity was worried Mr Finn was going to investigate their organisation, and forced him out in 2017. Health Service Journal

Hundreds more psychiatric beds needed to help end practice of sending patients hundreds of miles for treatment

Hundreds more psychiatric beds needed to help end practice of sending patients hundreds of miles for treatment HUNDREDS more NHS mental health beds are needed urgently in England to help end the “shameful” practice of sending severely ill patients far from home for treatment, says the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The practice, known as out-of-area placements (OAPs), happens when there isn’t a local hospital bed for the patient to be admitted to. Allowances are made where this is for highly specialist care.

The Government has pledged to end all inappropriate adult OAPs for acutely ill patients by 2021 but despite intensive efforts progress on reducing that number has stalled. On July 31, 745 people were being treated inappropriately out of area, official figures show.

The impact on patients and their loved ones can be devastating, causing huge emotional damage and even setting back those patients’ recovery. It can also be challenging for staff. Royal College of Psychiatrists

See also:

• Service capacity in England Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Exploring Mental Health Inpatient Capacity The Strategy Unit
• Mental-health beds shortage 'causing distress' BBC News
• Hundreds of mental health beds needed to end 'shameful' out-of-area care The Guardian
• Mental health patients still being sent hundreds of miles from home for hospital beds The Independent

New NHS online training to help people get home from hospital quicker

New NHS online training to help people get home from hospital quicker NHS England and Health Education England have today launched ActNow, an e-learning tool developed for health service and care staff to help them reduce hospital delays for patients. Nearly 350,000 patients currently spend over three weeks in acute hospitals each year.

Transforming imaging services in England: a national strategy for imaging networks

Transforming imaging services in England: a national strategy for imaging networks This strategy sets out a proposal for implementing collaborative imaging networks on a national basis across England. This approach will deliver better quality care and better value services for patients and provide hardworking NHS staff opportunities to develop their career and increase their productivity. NHS England and NHS Improvement

Ear, nose and throat surgery: GIRFT programme national specialty report

Ear, nose and throat surgery: GIRFT programme national specialty report The GIRFT review of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery services visited 126 units across the country and found that thousands more people could be treated on a day case basis rather than having an overnight stay in hospital. Through a series of recommendations and by sharing the good practice of units with higher-than-average day case rates, the GIRFT report aims to: ensure more patients are treated without the worry or inconvenience of a stay in hospital; make ENT departments more resilient to pressures on beds; and allow trusts to free up beds for use by other specialties. Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT)

NHS Property Services set up to fail

NHS Property Services set up to fail NHS Property Services Limited has made progress in tackling some of the issues that it inherited when it was set up. However, it has struggled to get its tenants to sign rental agreements for the properties they occupy, and it is unacceptable that 70% of its tenants still do not have rental agreements in place. Without these agreements, it is very difficult to run an effective property management company and provide value for the NHS and taxpayers from the £3.8 billion estate that it was set up to manage. The lack of rental agreements has led to many bills being disputed, outstanding debt has almost tripled, to £576 million in March 2019, and £110 million of debt has been written off in the last five years. Public Accounts Select Committee

See also:

• NHS company that owns 18% of GP premises 'set up to fail', MPs warn GPonline
• NHS Property Services was 'set up to fail', says public accounts report Pulse

Hospitals in court for £1.5bn rate rebate claim

Hospitals in court for £1.5bn rate rebate claim NHS trusts should be treated as charities and get a £1.5bn business rate refund, a court has heard.

Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is leading 16 other trusts against 45 local authorities, including Derby City Council.

The High Court heard trusts should qualify as they worked with hospitals "plainly for the public benefit".

But barristers for the authorities said no such claims had been made before and any refund would hit public finances. BBC News

Daily exercise can 'neutralise' the risk of depression even those with a high genetic risk of the condition

Daily exercise can 'neutralise' the risk of depression even those with a high genetic risk of the condition Around half an hour of exercise a day can “neutralise” the risk of developing depression, even in those with a family history of the condition, research suggests.

Scientists said the Harvard study - the first of its kind - shows “genes are not destiny”.

On average, every 35 minutes spent on activities such as yoga and dance classes, or using a treadmill, rowing machine or cross-trainer appeared to lower the risk of depression by 17 per cent, the research found. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Physical activity offsets genetic risk for incident depression assessed via electronic health records in a biobank cohort study (abstract) Depression and Anxiety
• Exercising more significantly reduces the odds of depression The Daily Mail

DNA test could save lives of thousands of children by identifying inherited diseases in babies

DNA test could save lives of thousands of children by identifying inherited diseases in babies Thousands of young lives could be saved by a DNA test unveiled by scientists yesterday.

The screening process checks for inherited diseases in babies.

It allows doctors to start early treatment on a range of conditions from epilepsy to cystic fibrosis. Lethal diseases could be stopped in their tracks. The Daily Mail

See also:

• All children to receive whole genome sequencing at birth, under ambitions laid out by Matt Hancock The Daily Telegraph

Government bans UK drug companies from selling MMR vaccine to other countries

Government bans UK drug companies from selling MMR vaccine to other countries The Government has banned pharmaceutical companies in the UK from selling the measles vaccine to other countries.

This move makes MMR – a vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella – the latest to have been added to a 'no export' list.

It comes after a list of another 27 medications were banned in October from being parallel exported by firms in the UK. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Guidance: Medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK Department of Health and Social Care

Northamptonshire Council plans £4m children's service cut

Northamptonshire Council plans £4m children's service cut A council has proposed a £4m cut to its children's services that was described as "failing" by Ofsted.

The move is part of £23.2m of savings made by Northamptonshire County Council in its draft budget for 2020-21.

It will be the last budget before the council, along with district and borough councils, will be replaced by two unitary authorities in April 2021. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Commissioners tell government sorting out Northants Children's Services finances will be the 'hardest nut to crack' Northampton Chronicle and Echo

’We’re here and you’re there’: lived experiences of ethnic minority staff in the NHS

’We’re here and you’re there’: lived experiences of ethnic minority staff in the NHS Earlier this year, I wrote about our research focusing on race inequalities in the NHS workforce. As part of the work, we asked people from an ethnic minority background who work in the NHS to share their lived experiences. As a woman of colour in the minority at work, I find race an uncomfortable topic to talk about; I’m cautious about talking openly in case I am judged for it. So I was taken aback by how many people got in touch from various minority ethnic backgrounds, working across health care. I prepared myself to hear about some ugly stories of prejudice and racism. The King's Fund

All inpatients with learning disability or autism to be given case reviews

All inpatients with learning disability or autism to be given case reviews All 2,250 patients with learning disabilities and autism who are inpatients in a mental health hospital will have their care reviewed over the next 12 months, the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced today.

As part of the review, the government will commit to providing each patient with a date for discharge, or where this is not appropriate, a clear explanation of why and a plan to move them closer towards being ready for discharge into the community. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Death of autistic teenager after parents wishes ignored prompts mandatory training for NHS staff The Independent

Securing cyber resilience in health and care: progress update 2019

Securing cyber resilience in health and care: progress update 2019 This update is the third in a series of progress reports published by the DHSC since the May 2017 WannaCry cyber attack. The report highlights the actions taken by the department and our delivery partners to build cyber resilience in health and care. It describes our progress over the past 12 months and looks forward to 2020. Department of Health and Social Care

A guide to managing medicines supply and shortages

A guide to managing medicines supply and shortages This guide aims to support pharmacists, clinicians and other NHS professionals with managing the supply of medicines to their patients and details the national, regional and local management and escalation processes and communication routes for medicines supply issues in order to consolidate existing practice across industry, government and the NHS. NHS England

Ten charts on why the NHS matters in this election

Ten charts on why the NHS matters in this election The NHS is a key battleground in the general election.

Whether it is extra money, tackling growing waiting lists or recruiting staff, politicians are keen to be seen championing the NHS.

But what shape is the NHS actually in? BBC News

See also:

• The NHS will influence this election, whether it’s “weaponised” or not New Statesman

Cervical screening: DIY alternative to smear test 'promising'

Cervical screening: DIY alternative to smear test 'promising' A DIY home urine or swab test could potentially help more women discover whether they are at risk of cervical cancer, researchers say.

The new method could be used as an alternative to the smear test and would not require a visit to the doctor.

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London asked 600 women to provide self-collected samples for screening.

Although larger trials are needed, the work has been called "promising" and a potential "game-changer" by charities. BBC News

See also:

• DIY urine and swab tests could 'replace smear tests' The Daily Mail
• Home urine tests for cervical cancer could replace smears, study suggests The Daily Telegraph
• Smear tests for cervical cancer could be replaced by DIY home sample kit The Independent

Teen self-harm rates are dramatically down in Denmark – here’s why

Teen self-harm rates are dramatically down in Denmark – here’s why Concern has been growing over rising rates of self-harm in teenagers. In the UK and Ireland, increases began around the time of the 2008 economic crash and show no sign of slowing. One study of the UK found rates among teenage girls rose by two-thirds between 2011 and 2014.

But some surprising new findings suggest that stress caused by recession and financial uncertainty does not necessarily lead to rises in suicidal behaviour. My colleagues and I examined rates of teenagers treated in hospital for self-harm in Denmark. Contrary to expectations, we found that rates of self-harm in Danish teenagers actually fell between 2008 and 2016. Although Denmark experienced an economic recession, why didn’t rates of self-harm among teenagers see a similar spike as in other countries? The Independent

See also:

• Temporal trends in incidence of hospital-treated self-harm among adolescents in Denmark: national register-based study (open access) Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Treasury tax rules force NHS patients to wait longer

Treasury tax rules force NHS patients to wait longer Hundreds of appointments and crucial patient scans have been delayed because punitive tax rules are forcing NHS doctors to work less hours, a new survey has revealed.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), an umbrella organisation for 24 separate medical colleges in the UK and Ireland, has now written to the chancellor Sajid Javid and health secretary Matt Hancock, urging them to take action. The Independent

See also:

• Academy letter to the treasurer - Impact of NHS pension taxation on service provision Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
• NHS 'tax trap' pensions led to 18-week closure of intensive care unit The Guardian

Poorest hit hardest by cuts to public health spending – research

Poorest hit hardest by cuts to public health spending – research Most deprived parts of England have lost six times as much funding as prosperous areas

England’s poorest communities have borne the brunt of almost £900m of cuts to public health spending, despite them having higher rates of disease, research has revealed.

Places with high levels of deprivation such as Liverpool, Blackpool and Birmingham have lost much more of their budgets to prevent problems such obesity and smoking than better-off areas. The Guardian

See also:

• Hitting the poorest worst? How public health cuts have been experienced in England’s most deprived communities IPPR

The NHS needs more than just cash. It needs major reform too

The NHS needs more than just cash. It needs major reform too | Simon Jenkins An NHS boss says just show them the money, don’t ‘politicise’ the health service this election. But its problems run deeper

Don’t politicise the NHS say the health professionals. Let us get on with the job. The health service providers’ chief executive, Chris Hopson, pleads for the health service not to be “weaponised” or “demonised” in the election. Just give it more money.

The NHS has been political since the day it was born. Politics has served it well, making it ever vaster and ever more resistant to change. More than any country in Europe, it has maintained its archaic professional structures and its iconic free status “at the point of delivery” (except for drugs), because its leaders know well that “point of delivery” is code for votes. The Guardian

Donors will be able to follow the route their blood takes using Google Maps

Donors will be able to follow the route their blood takes using Google Maps Donors will be able to track the journey their blood takes through Google Maps in a bid to encourage more people to donate.

Roadmaps will be emailed to all donors showing which NHS hospital gets their blood and where it is processed.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is hoping to attract more donors and retain those with in-demand blood types, such as O negative and Ro.

The initiative will be rolled out this week for donors in England and Wales. The Daily Mail

Patients across Europe are waiting months for life-saving drugs due to shortage

Patients across Europe are waiting months for life-saving drugs due to shortage Patients across Europe are being forced to wait months for life-saving medications due to bottlenecks in deliveries from Asia.

Health chiefs have warned lives are at risk, with pharmacies running out of vaccines for children, insulin for diabetics and heart disease treatments.

Chemists are also unable to access antibiotics, painkillers, the morning after pill and other basic drugs due to the hold up in Asia. The Daily Mail

UK flu epidemic: US deaths prompt expert warning about virus

UK flu epidemic: US deaths prompt expert warning about virus A life-threatening flu epidemic could hit the UK this winter, experts have warned.

Health officials confirmed two cases in the US where flu has caused deaths, including a four year old boy in California who died last month, and another child of the same age who died in New York this week.

It has been warned that these cases could indicate a severe outbreak of the virus, which is usually common between October and March. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Don't weaponise the NHS

Don't weaponise the NHS The NHS is always a hot topic for political debate. People care about it, passionately. Our health service, for all its challenges, continues to command overwhelming public support – the polls show it’s what makes us most proud to be British. It’s understandable that, come election time, politicians will look to harness that popularity, inevitably casting themselves as champions and defenders of the NHS.
This political potency is often helpful for the NHS. But it becomes counter-productive when the NHS is used as a political weapon. Frontline NHS leaders are worried that is already starting to happen in this election. NHS Providers

See also:

• Not just the NHS: manifestos need to consider other health and care priorities too King's Fund
• General Election 2019: Don't politicise health service - NHS boss BBC News
• General election 2019: Could the NHS be "up for sale"? BBC News
• General election 2019: NHS claims fact-checked BBC News
• Stop weaponising the NHS! Health service chiefs condemn Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson and warn them against making 'undeliverable promises' to win votes at the election The Daily Mail
• NHS trusts call on parties to avoid 'cheap political slogans' The Guardian
• ‘Don’t use NHS as a political football’, doctors tell MPs ahead of election Metro

Demand for NHS burns care soars over bonfire night and diwali

Demand for NHS burns care soars over bonfire night and diwali Top doctors from the NHS and St John Ambulance have teamed up to urge revellers to stay safe during Guy Fawkes Night and Diwali celebrations, as new figures reveal thousands end up in hospital each year due to firework and bonfire injuries. NHS England

Heart failure hospital admissions rise by a third in five years

Heart failure hospital admissions rise by a third in five years The number of people being admitted to hospital due to heart failure has risen by a third in the last five years, according to a new analysis by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Heart failure admissions have reached record levels in England, rising from 65,025 in 2013/14 to 86,474 in 2018/19 - a 33 per cent increase. This is three times as fast as all other hospital admissions, which have risen by 11 per cent in the same period.

See also:

• Hospital admissions for heart failure soar to record levels of 86,500 The Daily Mail

Allergies: Teenagers needing hospital treatment up 65% in five years

Allergies: Teenagers needing hospital treatment up 65% in five years The number of children who received hospital treatment for allergies has increased by 65% across England in the past five years, figures have revealed.

In 2013-14, 2,873 teenagers sought treatment whereas in 2017-18 it was 4,743, data from NHS Digital shows.

Allergy UK said this could be because this was the age when sufferers started taking responsibility for themselves. BBC News

Tens of thousands of operations cancelled because of staff shortages and faulty equipment, NHS figures show

Tens of thousands of operations cancelled because of staff shortages and faulty equipment, NHS figures show Tens of thousands of people have have had their operations cancelled because of staff shortages and faulty medical equipment, according to newly revealed NHS figures.

The number of procedures called off by hospitals for non-clinical reasons has increased by 32 per cent in the last two years, the statistics obtained via a freedom of information (FOI) request. Almost 4,000 more were scrapped in 2018 than in 2016.

They also show that of the 79,000 operations to be cancelled last year, 20 per cent were scrapped because of staffing issues and equipment failures. The Independent

See also:

• Tories act to prevent NHS crisis hitting election hopes The Guardian
• General election: Boris Johnson lambasted by doctors over ‘unprecedented’ NHS crisis The Independent
• General Election 2019: Labour releases NHS cancellations data as Tories unveil four domestic pledges Sky News

Home Office decried for blocking NHS scheme to use more trainee doctors from overseas

Home Office decried for blocking NHS scheme to use more trainee doctors from overseas Expansion of initiative to tackle staff shortages is part of health service’s long-term plan

The Home Office is blocking plans already agreed by the health secretary and NHS bosses to let more overseas doctors come to Britain to help tackle the health service’s staff shortages.

It has refused to allow the planned expansion of the medical training initiative (MTI) to go ahead, despite its inclusion in the government-backed NHS long-term plan. The Guardian

Report reveals severe lack of services for UK opioid painkiller addicts

Report reveals severe lack of services for UK opioid painkiller addicts Just two free services specifically deal with opioid painkiller addiction in the UK, according to a report seen by the Guardian, prompting experts to warn that there could be a “hidden epidemic” of sufferers.

Clinicians worry that those experiencing an addiction to opioids prescribed by GPs feel uncomfortable at traditional drug misuse treatment centres, causing them to not seek help.

The shortage was disclosed in a recent Public Health England report on prescription drug dependence, but has been unreported until now. Other experts consulted by the Guardian said they were unaware of any other such service.

People may be living longer - but they face up to 13 years of living in poor health, charity warns

People may be living longer - but they face up to 13 years of living in poor health, charity warns People may be living longer - but they face up to 13 years of living in poor health, an elderly care charity has warned.

Last month the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data which predicted that the number of over 85s in the UK was set to double in 25 years amid fears of an escalating social care crisis.

Now an analysis of ONS local authority data by the charity, Independent Age, shows that although people are living longer, the ageing population are spending longer in ill health. The Daily Telegraph

Thousands of cancer patients miss out on NHS help for fatigue because of lack of funding

Thousands of cancer patients miss out on NHS help for fatigue because of lack of funding Tens of thousands of patients with incurable cancer are missing out on NHS support, a charity has warned.

Macmillan Cancer Support says 136,000 sufferers may live with the disease for several years thanks to advances in treatment, but struggle to plan for the future.

It said 77 per cent of them – more than 100,000 – are ‘not getting the support they need’ for problems such as pain, fatigue or trouble sleeping due to a lack of NHS staff and resources. The Daily Mail

NHS to trial Group B Strep infection screening in pregnant women in a bid to protect newborns

NHS to trial Group B Strep infection screening in pregnant women in a bid to protect newborns The NHS will conduct a major trial into Group B Strep screening in pregnant women in a bid to protect newborns from deadly illnesses.

The £2.8million study will compare what is considered the 'gold standard' ECM test, as well as the 'bedside test', with current standards of care.

If rolled out in NHS hospitals, the tests could prevent Group B Strep (GBS) infection in around 350 babies every year. The Daily Mail

How are the political promises for health and social care stacking up?

How are the political promises for health and social care stacking up? Clearly Brexit will be centre stage in the election campaign. But given surveys show public concerns about the NHS come a constant second to Brexit what have the parties pledged so far on health and care? How do they stack up? The Health Foundation

Local lessons: what can we learn from Tameside and Glossop?

Local lessons: what can we learn from Tameside and Glossop? Nigel Edwards reflects on a visit to Tameside and Glossop CCG, which has recently improved its performance in a number of areas. He argues that three things in particular struck him about how they do things – and that we should be wary of thinking such models can be simply copied elsewhere. Nuffield Trust

Human rights of many people with a learning disability and/or autism are being breached in mental health hospitals

Human rights of many people with a learning disability and/or autism are being breached in mental health hospitals Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights condemns the “horrific reality” of conditions and treatment under which many young people with learning disabilities and autism are detained in mental health hospitals, “inflicting terrible suffering on those detained and causing anguish to their distraught families”.

Evidence to the inquiry into the detention of young people with learning disabilities and/or autism was so “stark” and consistent that the Committee says it has “lost confidence that the system is doing what it says it is doing and the regulator's method of checking is not working. It has been left to the media, notably the BBC and Ian Birrell in the Mail on Sunday, to expose abuse. No-one thinks this is acceptable.” In relation to the Care Quality Commission, the Committee finds that “a regulator which gets it wrong is worse than no regulator at all”.

See also:

• Detention of children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism inquiry Joint Committee on Human Rights
• 'Horrific' treatment of my autistic daughter BBC News
• Children with learning disabilities endure ‘terrible suffering’ in mental health hospitals, report finds The Independent
• Father criticises NHS and social care of his autistic daughter Sky News

Universal approaches to improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing: short descriptions of interventions identified from the synthesis of systematic reviews

Universal approaches to improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing: short descriptions of interventions identified from the synthesis of systematic reviews This report, and associated documents, summarises the evidence for the effectiveness of universal approaches to improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The documents are intended for strategic and operational leads, working on children and young people’s mental health. Public Health England

Research and analysis: HIV: women in the UK

Research and analysis: HIV: women in the UK Report presenting data on the HIV epidemic among women in the UK and experiences of women living with HIV. Public Health England

Public back NHS plans for new rapid care measures

Public back NHS plans for new rapid care measures England’s top doctor has welcomed new polling showing that patients and the public support NHS proposals focussing on fast treatment for those who need it in A&E.

A national survey commissioned by Healthwatch England found that an overwhelming majority of people placed a high priority on early initial assessment on arrival at A&E for everyone, allowing staff to prioritise those patients with the greatest need, and ensuring that patients with critical conditions get the right standard of care quickly.

These priorities are mirrored in new standards now being trialled across the NHS, as part of a review led by NHS National Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis, supported by leading staff and patient groups. NHS England

See also:

• Unclear whether new targets are an improvement Nuffield Trust
• Seven in ten casualty patients waiting longer under new A&E standards The Daily Telegraph

Artificial intelligence: how to get it right - putting policy into practice for safe data-driven innovation in health and care

Artificial intelligence: how to get it right - putting policy into practice for safe data-driven innovation in health and care This report is intended to provide a cohesive overview of the current state of play of data-driven technologies within the health and care system. It aims to make clear where in the system AI technologies can be utilised and the policy work that is, and will need to be done, to ensure this utilisation is done in a safe, effective and ethically acceptable manner. NHSX

Get a move on: steps to increase activity levels in the UK

Get a move on: steps to increase activity levels in the UK This briefing examines the wide range of benefits of physical activity, the current low levels of physical activity in the UK and the significant inequalities that exist in levels of physical activity within the population. Policy recommendations across four core parts of people’s lives – travel, leisure, school and work – set out the steps government and policy-makers should take to increase physical activity levels across the UK. British Medical Association

Liver cancer deaths climb by around 50% in the last decade

Liver cancer deaths climb by around 50% in the last decade Liver cancer death rates have increased by around 50% in the last decade and have tripled since records began, according to the latest calculations by Cancer Research UK.

New mortality data shows that there were around 5,700 deaths from liver cancer in 2017 in the UK, which is the highest ever yearly number of deaths recorded. This has climbed from 3,200 deaths in 2007. Of all cancer types, liver cancer has had the largest increase in death rates over the last decade and the most rapid rise in deaths since UK records began.

See also:

• Liver cancer deaths have increased by around 50% in the last decade The Daily Mail
• Unhealthy lifestyles fuel a 50 per cent rise in UK deaths from liver cancer The Daily Telegraph
• Liver cancer deaths in England triple in 20 years The Independent

Antibiotic use falling but resistant infections rising

Antibiotic use falling but resistant infections rising There has been a 17% drop in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics written by GPs in England over the past five years, latest figures show.

But antibiotic-resistant infections are still rising - up 9% between 2017 and 2018, to nearly 61,000.

Public Health England is urging the public to take antibiotics only when necessary.

And it urges people to listen to their doctor or pharmacist's advice on when to use them. BBC News

See also:

• 165 new antibiotic resistant infections every day in England Public Health England
• English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report Public Health England
• Surge in superbugs: Official figures reveal antibiotic resistant infections up 9% on the year before The Daily Mail
• Number of infections resistant to antibiotics rises by 9% in one year The Daily Telegraph
• Number of antibiotic-resistant infections has risen by almost 10 per cent, Public Health England warns The Independent

'Can I have a white doctor for the operation?': Racist abuse against NHS staff almost triples, ITV News finds

'Can I have a white doctor for the operation?': Racist abuse against NHS staff almost triples, ITV News finds We all know it's against the law to discriminate someone based on their race, age, gender, sexual orientation or religion or indeed to subject anyone to a hate crime.

We know that don't we? So why is it that discrimination and hates crimes still occur and why do people still tolerate it?

I ask because ITV News has done some research on racism in the NHS and the results are somewhat worrying.

We found the number of recorded racist attacks against NHS staff increased from 589 in 2013 to 1448 last year - that's an increase of 145%.

NHS surgeons say fireworks should carry graphic warnings

NHS surgeons say fireworks should carry graphic warnings A&E doctors say plain packaging and cigarette-style warnings would reduce injuries

Fireworks should have to carry graphic, cigarette-style warnings and be sold in plain packaging to cut the number of injuries they cause, NHS surgeons have said.

They said urgent action was needed because of the toll of serious, disfiguring and sometimes life-changing injuries to hands and faces from fireworks. The Guardian

Number of women using pain relief for child birth falls to lowest in a decade

Number of women using pain relief for child birth falls to lowest in a decade The use of painkillers by women in childbirth has dropped by six per cent in the last decade, prompting concerns that women might be being denied the pain relief they want.

Data released today by NHS Digital showed the use of pain medication such as anaesthetics while having a child has dropped from 67% in 2008-09 to 61% in 2018-19. The Daily Telegraph

MMR jab: Scientists find measles can leave you vulnerable to other killer bugs in future

MMR jab: Scientists find measles can leave you vulnerable to other killer bugs in future Measles completely wipes the immune system of children and leaves them prone to catching other killer bugs, scientists say.

A study of 26 unvaccinated youngsters with measles discovered the life-threatening infection reset their body's internal defence system.

This meant the resistance youngsters had developed against other illnesses were completely forgotten. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens (open access) Science Immunology
• Game of clones: How measles remodels the B cell landscape (open access) Science Immunology
• Incomplete genetic reconstitution of B cell pools contributes to prolonged immunosuppression after measles (open access) Science Immunology
• Measles makes body 'forget' how to fight infection BBC News
• Measles infections can wipe out a child's immune system for up to five years The Daily Telegraph