It’s the Year of the Nurse, but will 2020 see nursing student numbers recover?

It’s the Year of the Nurse, but will 2020 see nursing student numbers recover? The previous Conservative government hoped that removing the nursing bursary in 2017 would mean universities would offer more training places, eventually leading to 10,000 more nursing students. Instead the number of nursing applications dropped, while acceptances remained broadly static. The new Conservative government has restored elements of the bursary, but will this be enough to address the decrease in applications of recent years? The King's Fund

Secretary of State makes new regulations on Coronavirus

Secretary of State makes new regulations on Coronavirus In light of the recent public health emergency from the novel Coronavirus originating from Wuhan, Secretary of State has made regulations to ensure that the public are protected as far as possible from the transmission of the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• CMO confirms fourth case of coronavirus in England Department of Health and Social Care
• Statement from NHS England and NHS Improvement on Coronavirus NHS England
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus: latest information and advice Public Health England
• Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): interim guidance for first responders Public Health England
• Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): guidance for sampling and for diagnostic laboratories Public Health England
• PHE novel coronavirus diagnostic test rolled out across UK Public Health England
• Coronavirus 'imminent threat' to public health BBC News
• Coronavirus claims 97 lives in one day - but number of infections stabilises BBC News
• Coronavirus: Five Britons test positive for virus in France BBC News
• Coronavirus: Next Britons flown from Wuhan to be taken to Milton Keynes BBC News
• Health Secretary Matt Hancock warns coronavirus is a 'serious and imminent' threat to British public The Daily Mail
• Evacuation flight carrying 150 Britons home from coronavirus-hit Wuhan lands at Oxfordshire The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus latest news: Disease is now 'serious and imminent threat' in Britain, health secretary declares The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: WHO warns spread outside China could be 'tip of the iceberg' The Guardian
• Coronavirus: number of confirmed UK cases rises from four to eight The Guardian
• Health alliance warns Brexit can leave UK exposed to global outbreaks The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Five Britons test positive for illness as first foreign nationals confirmed dead in China and death toll surpasses Sars’ The Independent
• Coronavirus: UK man linked to seven infections in three countries The Independent

Sector pulse check: the impact of the changes to the social care sector in 2019

Sector pulse check: the impact of the changes to the social care sector in 2019 According to this report, the number of social care providers who say they have been forced to cut support for vulnerable adults has doubled in the last 12 months as a direct result of financial pressures. The report also highlighted that providers are taking action to promote positive mental health within their organisations, and that the sector recognises the benefits of technology. Hft

NHS cancer patients 'missing out on basics information'

NHS cancer patients 'missing out on basics information' Cancer patients in England are missing out on basic information about their diseases because of staff shortages in the NHS, a charity has warned.

Macmillan Cancer Support said at least 120,000 patients a year felt topics including treatments and side effects were not fully explained.

The charity blamed "soaring" staffing pressures, which left people "in the dark" about how to prepare.

The NHS said satisfaction levels with cancer care were at a record high. BBC News

HIV in older people: 'I thought it was a young person's illness'

HIV in older people: 'I thought it was a young person's illness' When 59-year-old Ashley was in hospital with appendicitis, neither Ashley nor the doctors considered HIV.

"They said there's nothing wrong with you, you've had a virus - not knowing that I'd still got the biggest virus you could possibly get," Ashley recalls.

Ashley was diagnosed with HIV three years ago, after having unprotected sex.

But the late diagnosis meant the virus had already started to damage Ashley's immune system. BBC News

Dying doctor warns of asbestos ‘hidden epidemic’ caused by NHS failures

Dying doctor warns of asbestos ‘hidden epidemic’ caused by NHS failures A doctor and mother of two with just months left to live has warned of a “hidden epidemic” of asbestos-related cancers among NHS staff and patients because hospitals have failed to properly handle the toxic material.

Kate Richmond, 44, has spoken out to raise awareness after she won a legal case against the NHS for negligently exposing her to asbestos while she was working as a medical student and junior doctor.

An investigation by The Independent has learnt there have been 13 prosecutions linked to NHS breaches of regulations for the handling of asbestos since 2010, while 381 compensation claims have been made by NHS staff for work-related diseases, including exposure to asbestos, since 2013, costing the health service more than £26m.

Revealed: how drugs giants can access your health records

Revealed: how drugs giants can access your health records Experts say information sold on by Department of Health and Social Care can be traced back to individual medical records

The Department of Health and Social Care has been selling the medical data of millions of NHS patients to American and other international drugs companies having misled the public into believing the information would be “anonymous”, according to leading experts in the field.

Senior NHS figures have told the Observer that patient data compiled from GP surgeries and hospitals – and then sold for huge sums for research – can routinely be linked back to individual patients’ medical records via their GP surgeries. They say there is clear evidence this is already being done by companies and organisations that have bought data from the DHSC, having identified individuals whose medical histories are of particular interest.

See also:

• NHS privacy fears as it emerges patient information is often sold to international drug companies The Daily Mail

New mothers in England to receive health check six weeks after giving birth

New mothers in England to receive health check six weeks after giving birth Campaigners welcome move to assess women for physical and mental wellbeing

New mothers will be given a physical and mental health check six weeks after giving birth, in a victory for campaigners.

From April, the 600,000 women a year who have babies in England will undergo an assessment of their health and wellbeing with either a GP or practice nurse at their surgery. The Guardian

Just one in 10 GPs working full-time with 40% switching to locum work that earns them up to £200,000

Just one in 10 GPs working full-time with 40% switching to locum work that earns them up to £200,000 Old-fashioned GPs who work full-time in a family surgery are fast becoming a dying breed, according to figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday.

Just over one general practitioner in ten is now in a permanent, full-time position, statistics compiled by the General Medical Council (GMC) reveal.

Instead, four in ten now operate full or part-time as locums where they can earn up to £200,000 a year and avoid the administrative and financial burdens of running a surgery. The Daily Mail

Boris Johnson plans new law to force Sir Simon Stevens NHS England chief executive to obey orders

Boris Johnson plans new law to force Sir Simon Stevens NHS England chief executive to obey orders Boris Johnson is planning to bring in a new law that will take power away from the head of the NHS and give it to Downing Street, it has been claimed.

Staff at No10 are concerned that NHS England's chief executive Sir Simon Stevens wields too much power over the health service.

Mr Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings believes current legislation allows Sir Simon too much freedom and restricts the Government's ability to tweak the healthcare system as it sees fit, reports The Times. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Boris Johnson to seize control over NHS with new law The Independent

Kettering Hospital rebuild blueprint work 'has already started'

Kettering Hospital rebuild blueprint work 'has already started' Plans are already under way to put together a bid for a £500m rebuild of Kettering General Hospital.

The hospital trust has been designated as one of the government's HIP2 shortlist of 40 hospitals across the country in line for a rebuild. In order for the scheme to go ahead, KGH bosses must first put together a detailed bid for their portion of the money. That process is likely to cost upwards of £2m in seed funding - which the trust is still waiting to receive. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Disabled man left worried about future treatment at Northampton General Hospital after 28-hour stay

Disabled man left worried about future treatment at Northampton General Hospital after 28-hour stay A disabled man has been left worried about the next time he needs to treatment at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) after a frustrating experience.

Stephen Rodgers waited on a trolley in a side room for 17 hours before being given a bed following a fall in the shower on Monday morning (February 3). After around 28 hours in the hospital, the 63-year-old discharged himself as he felt others needed the bed more than him. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2018/19

Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2018/19 Care Quality Commission -The Mental Health Act 1983 is the legal framework that provides authority to detain and treat people who have a mental illness and need protection for their own health or safety, or the safety of other people. The latest monitoring report finds there has been an improvement in the number of people beinggiven information about their rights and being offered the support of an independent mental health advocate (IMHA). However, services need to do more to ensure that they are complying with their human rights duties. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert

See Also:

• CQC finds more focus on human rights needed by healthcare services when using the Mental Health Act CQC (Care Quality Commission)
• Detentions under Mental Health Act continue to rise On Medica

Jeremy hunt calls for public inquiry into NHS after baby deaths

Jeremy hunt calls for public inquiry into NHS after baby deaths Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt questions why mistakes seem to 'keep happening' after hospital trust scandals. BBC News

Contraception shortage 'causing utter chaos'

Contraception shortage 'causing utter chaos' A shortage of contraception is causing chaos and risks unplanned pregnancies and abortions, doctors are warning.

Leading sexual health experts have written to ministers warning that the supply shortage is beginning to lead to serious problems across the UK. A number of daily pills and a long-acting injectable contraceptive are thought to be affected.

The problem follows a shortage of hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women last year. But there are signs that those supply difficulties might soon start to be resolved as a key ingredient is now being manufactured again. BBC News - Health

See Also

• Leading UK doctors call for investigation into HRT shortage The Guardian
• Thousands of women are being harmed by a crippling shortage of HRT Mail Online
• 'Catastrophic' ongoing shortages of HRT and contraceptives are unacceptable Mail Online

Guidance: Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): guidance to assist professionals in advising the general public

Guidance: Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): guidance to assist professionals in advising the general public This guidance will assist professionals in providing advice to the public on how to prevent spread of 2019–nCoV infection, what symptoms to look for, and what to do if they become unwell in a variety of settings. Public Health England

See Also:

• News story: CMO confirms third case of coronavirus in England Gov.UK
• Coronavirus: Third case confirmed in the UK BBC News - Health
• Coronavirus in the UK: Third patient tests positive - but did not contract it in China The Telegraph
• Third UK coronavirus case found in Brighton, now in quarantine Mail Online

Complete vaginal-mesh removals 'leaving material behind'

Complete vaginal-mesh removals 'leaving material behind' Dozens of women who thought they were having a "complete mesh removal" have discovered material has been left behind, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has been told. BBC News - Health 

Press release: £1.5 billion to deliver Government commitment for 50 million more general practice appointments

Press release: £1.5 billion to deliver Government commitment for 50 million more general practice appointments The Government and NHS England have committed at least an additional £1.5 billion in total for general practice over the next four years for additional staff, a key step towards delivering 50 million more appointments in general practice by 2024.

In addition to the Government’s commitment to invest in general practice under the Long Term Plan, this funding is for the recruitment of 6,000 more primary care professionals as well as for initiatives to support the recruitment and retention of doctors in general practice. Gov.UK - Department of Health and Social Care

See Also:

• New GP contract 'catalyst' to deliver promised funding and workforce to general practice, says RCGP Royal College of General Pracitioners (RCGP)
• BMA backs 2020 contract with £20,000 golden hello for partners and 'pared back' PCN plan GP Online

Cancer support centre to be built at KGH

Cancer support centre to be built at KGH A centre to support people living with cancer, their relatives and carers is set to be built at Kettering General Hospital.

The hospital is working with Macmillan Cancer Support to create the centre, the first in the north of the county, which will be based in a courtyard garden area close to the main reception. It's not yet known how much it would cost to build. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northants breast screening invitations struggling to reap results

Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northants breast screening invitations struggling to reap results Women called by Kettering General Hospital (KGH) for routine breast cancer screening mammograms are failing to respond to the invitations in increasing numbers, according to the latest figures released by NHS Digital.

Although KGH's overall ranking for 'first and all routine invitations' has improved year-on-year, with their England ranking rising from 42nd from 22nd overall, the unit had been in the top three just five years ago. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hospitals ordered to create ‘secure coronavirus pods’ to stop A&E being deluged

Hospitals ordered to create ‘secure coronavirus pods’ to stop A&E being deluged All NHS hospitals in England have been ordered to create secure pods to assess patients with suspected coronavirus, to avoid A&E departments becoming deluged.

Hospitals have been told to create “coronavirus priority assessment pods” in a bid to avoid a “surge in emergency departments”.

The letter, sent last week, instructs all chief executives and medical directors to have the pods up and running by this Friday. The Telegraph

See Also:

• Detailed guide: Coronavirus: latest information and advice Public Health England
• Coronavirus: NHS orders 'assessment pods' for every hospital BBC News
• A visual guide to the outbreak BBC News
• Northamptonshire man on board quarantined cruise ship in Japan where 10 passengers have tested positive for Coronavirus Northampton Chronicle & Echo

The state of the nation: sexually transmitted infections in England

The state of the nation: sexually transmitted infections in England Terrence Higgins Trust -This report, written with BASHH, calls for the Government to implement a new sexual health strategy, including the need for immediate steps to be taken on the threat of drug resistant STIs. The report shows that someone is diagnosed with an STI every 70 seconds. King's Fund - Health Management and Policy Alert

See Also:

• Sexually transmitted infections: UK's sexual health 'not in good shape' BBC News

Ban term 'painkiller' to end obsession with drugs

Ban term 'painkiller' to end obsession with drugs Government adviser calls for change in culture on painkillers with greater focus on social issues.

Prof Jamie Coleman said the phrase raised unrealistic expectations - with "pain-reliever" a better option. Research suggests just one in 10 patients seeking help for long-term pain, benefit from strong painkillers. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• 'Painkillers should be renamed pain relievers to prevent people from taking a higher dose' Mail Online

Hospital whistleblower raised alarm over doctor seen injecting himself

Hospital whistleblower raised alarm over doctor seen injecting himself Exclusive: the Guardian can reveal details behind intervention at hospital in Matt Hancock’s constituency

A whistleblower raised the alarm over patient safety at Matt Hancock’s local hospital because of concerns about the behaviour of a doctor who had been seen injecting himself with drugs, the Guardian can reveal.

The incident had already prompted internal complaints from senior staff at West Suffolk hospital, but the whistleblower decided to take matters a step further when the same doctor was later involved in a potentially botched operation. The Guardian

Landmark study to transform cancer treatment

Landmark study to transform cancer treatment More than a thousand scientists have built the most detailed picture of cancer ever in a landmark study.

They said cancer was like a 100,000-piece jigsaw, and that until today, 99% of the pieces were missing. Their studies, published in the journal Nature, provide an almost complete picture of all cancers. BBC News - Health

See Also:

• Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes Nature

Heads Up: Tackling mental health through football

Heads Up: Tackling mental health through football Prince William has launched a new initiative aimed at normalising conversations about mental health. BBC News

Local partnerships and children’s mental health

Local partnerships and children’s mental health A report published by the Local Government Association sets out how councils and their partners can work most effectively together to support children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. NHS Networks

See Also:

• Councils share good practice for supporting children and young people’s mental wellbeing Local Government Association

Call for crackdown on unsafe workloads after GP suicides

Call for crackdown on unsafe workloads after GP suicides Doctors' leaders and health regulators have called for an immediate crackdown on ‘unsafe’ workloads following the death of two GPs by suicide in the last nine months. GP Online

Staffing for safe and effective care in the UK : 2019 report

Staffing for safe and effective care in the UK : 2019 report Royal College of Nursing (RCN) - This report provides an overview of progress made against the RCN's safe staffing campaign principles during 2019. It includes country-specific updates as well as a look ahead to priorities during 2020. Kings Fund

See Also:

• Staffing for Safe and Effective Care in the UK Royal College of Nursing

KGH joins pledge to cut down on plastic waste

KGH joins pledge to cut down on plastic waste KGH has joined a national campaign to cut down on single use plastics across the NHS.

On Friday, January 31, KGH signed up to NHS England's Single Use Plastic Reduction Campaign which aims to reduce waste from things like single-use cups, cutlery and food pots across the health service.

Last year, the NHS bought at least 163 million plastic cups, 16 million pieces of plastic cutlery, 15 million straws and two million plastic stirrers. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Ian Paterson: Surgeon wounded hundreds amid 'culture of denial'

Ian Paterson: Surgeon wounded hundreds amid 'culture of denial' A culture of "avoidance and denial" allowed a breast surgeon to perform botched and unnecessary operations on hundreds of women, a report has found.

An independent inquiry into Ian Paterson's malpractice has recommended the recall of his 11,000 patients for their surgery to be assessed.

Paterson is serving a 20-year jail term for 17 counts of wounding with intent. BBC News

See also:

• Rogue surgeon report does not pretend there are easy answers The Guardian
• Ian Paterson inquiry: culture of denial allowed rogue breast surgery The Guardian
• Independent report: Paterson Inquiry report GOV.UK

Parts of NHS 'seriously financially unstable', auditors find

Parts of NHS 'seriously financially unstable', auditors find Parts of the NHS are “seriously financially unstable” and trusts are building up levels of debt they are unlikely to ever repay, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog.

The National Audit Office found that NHS provider trusts reported a combined deficit of £827m and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) a £150m deficit in the financial year ending 31 March 2019. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS financial management and sustainability National Audit Office

Access matters: achieving universal access to optimal lung cancer care in the UK

Access matters: achieving universal access to optimal lung cancer care in the UK UK Lung Cancer Coalition -
It is known that there is too much unwarranted variation in lung cancer care which is leading to sub-optimal outcomes for patients. This document is intended to provide some simple, practical ideas which clinicians, commissioners and policymakers could implement to help ensure that consistent and equitable treatment and care options are being offered to patients who present with similar profiles, regardless of where they live. King's Fund

See also:

• Targeted lung cancer treatment gets initial ‘no’ for NHS in England Cancer Research UK

Patients admitted to NHS hospitals for alcohol fuelled-illnesses rises by a fifth in a decade

Patients admitted to NHS hospitals for alcohol fuelled-illnesses rises by a fifth in a decade The number of patients admitted to hospital for alcohol-related illnesses has spiked by a fifth in a decade, shocking figures show.

There were at least 357,660 people hospitalised for drink-fuelled conditions in England in 2019, a 19 per cent rise from the 300,930 recorded in 2009.

They include patients with liver damage, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes all caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Mail Online

Smothering PCNs with early targets could stop them improving care

Smothering PCNs with early targets could stop them improving care Primary care networks (PCNs) will fail to improve patients' lives if they are ‘smothered’ with objectives in their infancy, NHS leaders have warned. GP Online

Coronavirus outbreak not yet pandemic, World Health Organization says

Coronavirus outbreak not yet pandemic, World Health Organization says The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is a "window of opportunity" to stop the deadly new coronavirus becoming a broader global crisis.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the steps China took to fight the virus at its epicentre were a good way of stopping its spread.

The praise comes as Chinese officials have been widely criticised for their initial handling of the outbreak.

On Tuesday alone, nearly 4,000 new cases were confirmed in the country. BBC News

The patients inspired to take up parkrun by their GPs

The patients inspired to take up parkrun by their GPs In the past 18 months, some 1,500 GP surgeries have signed up to encourage patients to take part in their local parkrun. Those who never thought they could run 5km (3 miles) and now consider the event a lifeline describe how the experience has improved their health and outlook. BBC News

Support your EU staff with our new resources

Support your EU staff with our new resources We have launched a number of new resources to help NHS organisations support eligible staff with the EU Settlement Scheme.
This includes an advice sheet detailing good practice that NHS trusts have implemented to support their staff, an eligibility flow chart to help colleagues understand if they need to apply as well as a recording of our January 2020 webinar, which discussed the political context and other ideas for supporting EU citizens in the NHS workforce. NHS Employers

Northampton MP asks Commons for £6.5million to revamp NGH's children's A&E department

Northampton MP asks Commons for £6.5million to revamp NGH's children's A&E department 

The MP for Northampton South has used a speech in the House of Commons to ask for £6.5m of funding to regenerate NGH's children's A&E. Andrew Lewer stood at Parliament this week at a debate over the Government's upcoming NHS funding bill to say Northampton's paediatric emergency unit was "in desperate need of updating."

The debate was to discuss how the Government should spend some £33.9billion promised for the NHS. Nnorthampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton doctor who claimed 'graphic sexual emails' to junior nurse were 'marriage proposals' is struck off

Northampton doctor who claimed 'graphic sexual emails' to junior nurse were 'marriage proposals' is struck off A Northampton doctor who sent graphic sexual messages to a junior nurse's private email address has been struck off from ever practising again.
Dr Simon Richard, an anaesthetist at Northampton General Hospital, has had his name removed from the medical register for sending the string of "disturbing" emails he sent to a junior staff member. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS hospitals bring in sleep pods to help tired staff take a break

NHS hospitals bring in sleep pods to help tired staff take a break Help is arriving for overworked NHS staff as a growing number of hospitals bring in sleep pods for doctors and nurses to grab power naps during their shifts.

Pods have been installed or are being trialled by a dozen hospitals in England. Royal Wolverhampton NHS trust was the first to try them, in June 2018. “Too many staff end up exhausted because they have long, busy, sometimes stressful shifts, often with little chance to grab a break because pressure on the NHS is so intense,” said Prof Steve Field, the trust’s chair. The Guardian

HIV vaccine hopes dashed by trial results

HIV vaccine hopes dashed by trial results Hopes have been dashed an experimental vaccine could protect people against HIV, the virus that causes Aids.

The National Institutes of Health has stopped its HVTN 702 trial, of more than 5,000 people in South Africa, as it found the jab did not prevent HIV.

Experts expressed "deep disappointment" but added the search for a preventive HIV vaccine must continue. BBC News

Building resilience: how local partnerships are supporting children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Building resilience: how local partnerships are supporting children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing Local Government Association -
Too many children and young people nationally do not receive the support they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this research, commissioned from Isos Partnership, is to explore some of the factors which are contributing to this nationally challenging context, and to develop an evidence base for how local government and its partners can work most effectively together to deliver a coherent and joined-up offer of support for children and young people’s mental health. King's Fund

Nurses are undervalued because most are women says RCN

Nurses are undervalued because most are women says RCN A new study commissioned by the RCN shows that nursing is undervalued in status and pay, and that until both are enhanced, the UK will continue to experience severe nursing shortages.

The study, conducted by researchers at Oxford Brookes University, argues that the “old-fashioned view that caring for others is a feminine characteristic still persists in British society”. The study’s authors claim this has contributed to the suppression of nurses’ wages and working conditions for generations.

Nine out of 10 nurses in the UK are women. Their weekly pay is on average £15.42 per hour which is less than a third of that of doctors and dentists. RCN

Multimorbidity measure could lead to fairer GP funding system

Multimorbidity measure could lead to fairer GP funding system More than half of GP consultations with patients aged over 18 or over are with patients who have multimorbidity, research has shown.

But academics behind the new scoring system - the Cambridge Multimorbidity Score - warn that NHS 'services and policies have failed to respond to the pressures that multimorbidity places on primary and secondary care'. GP Online

Calls for better use of occupational therapists to reduce burden of sick leave

Calls for better use of occupational therapists to reduce burden of sick leave NHS workers take on average 14 days sick leave every year, well above the national average. Stress and depression are cited as the main reasons why and a lack of staff can cause major issues for frontline services.
A new report from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists says the problem could be addressed by employing occupational therapists directly within NHS occupational health services where they can provide specific vocational interventions and workplace modifications to get staff back to work. NHS Networks

NHS England: NHS 111 should deliver 'higher volume' of CPCS referrals

NHS England: NHS 111 should deliver 'higher volume' of CPCS referrals

More NHS 111 patient requests could be converted into Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) referrals, an NHS England director has said.
“In some parts of the country, almost every urgent medicine supply query that comes to NHS 111 is converted into a pharmacy referral,” Ed Waller, NHS England director of primary care strategy, said at the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp) conference at the end of last month (January 23).
However, that is “slightly less true” in other parts of England, Mr Waller added. Chemist + Druggist

RPS urges new approach for training pharmacists, following reports of pharmacist-to-doctor conversion courses

RPS urges new approach for training pharmacists, following reports of pharmacist-to-doctor conversion courses The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said that it would like to see “a new approach to training early careers pharmacists at foundation level, so that they can take up new roles across the NHS”, following press reports that pharmacists could be given the chance to retrain as doctors.

Sandra Giddley, president of the RPS, said the Society would “welcome early discussions with the government, NHS and education leaders to learn more about what changes are being considered”. The Pharmaceutical Journal

A QUARTER of people in the UK live in areas with toxic air pollution

A QUARTER of people in the UK live in areas with toxic air pollution One in four people in the UK are now subject to dangerous air pollution, experts warned last night.

A report by the British Heart Foundation estimates 15million people - a quarter of the British population - live in areas where average levels of toxic particles in the air exceed guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation. Mail Online

More than 2 million women screened for breast cancer last year

More than 2 million women screened for breast cancer last year 2.23m women aged 45 and over were screened for breast cancer in 2018-19, a 4.5% increase on 2017-18 (2.14m), and a 26.0% increase since 2008-09 (1.77m).

The greatest increases are in the over-70 age range, where 218,000 women were screened for breast cancer in 2018-19, a 51.2% increase on 2017-18 (144,000) due, at least in part, to invites sent to women who had not previously received a final invitation. NHS Digital

Global rates of cancer are set to soar by 60% in the next two decades

Global rates of cancer are set to soar by 60% in the next two decades Driven by persistently high rates of HPV, hepatitis and smoking - especially in low-income countries - the world could see 60 percent more cancer cases in the next 20 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in a new report.

Over 80 percent of these are expected to be diagnosed in low-income countries, according to the report released on Monday. Mail Online

Rebuilding our NHS: why it's time to invest

Rebuilding our NHS: why it's time to invest NHS Providers -

The long term plan for the NHS set out a vision for an NHS built around preventative and technologically-enabled models of care. This report argues that there needs to be an appropriate capital settlement to support the ambitious vision of the plan. King's Fund

Patient assessments of non-clinical aspects of hospital care

Patient assessments of non-clinical aspects of hospital care
Patient assessments of NHS food, cleanliness and other non-clinical aspects of hospital care published today.
Results of the annual patient-led assessments of non-clinical elements of care, such as catering services, cleanliness and waiting facilities are published today.
Published by NHS Digital, Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) 2019 – England1 involves local people (known as Patient Assessors) going into hospitals as part of teams to assess how the environment supports the provision of clinical care. NHS Digital

Baroness Parminter: The NHS is failing patients with eating disorders

Baroness Parminter: The NHS is failing patients with eating disorders Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, affecting an estimated 1.25 million people in the UK. They are not a ‘diet gone wrong’ or a ‘lifestyle choice’. They can cripple lives and ultimately take them – anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. These devastating illnesses – which effect men, women and people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds – deserve better recognition and treatment.

If not caught early, like cancer, eating disorders are much harder to treat. While there is a national waiting time target for children and young people accessing services there is still no target for adults. A recent report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found that people with eating disorders can wait up to 41 months for treatment, with adults waiting on average 30% longer than under 18s. Politics Home

PM urged to give NHS 100 new hospitals plus an extra £7bn a year

PM urged to give NHS 100 new hospitals plus an extra £7bn a year NHS leaders have urged Boris Johnson’s government to build 100 new hospitals and give the service an extra £7bn a year for new facilities and equipment.

They want the prime minister to commit to far more than the 40 new hospitals over the next decade that the Conservatives pledged during the general election. The Guardian

Macmillan centre at Northampton General Hospital receives award for standard of care

Macmillan centre at Northampton General Hospital receives award for standard of care A specialist cancer support centre based at Northampton General Hospital has received an award for that standard of care it provides.

The Macmillan Information and Support Centre helps around 3,000 local people and their families every year, with help and support as well as wellbeing activities. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Mental health crisis cafe opens in Kettering for teenagers

Mental health crisis cafe opens in Kettering for teenagers A crisis cafe for teenagers struggling with their mental health will run every Thursday evening in Kettering.

The crisis cafe at Youth Works, Rockingham Road, will offer a safe place for children aged 12 to 18 to go and receive support for their mental health. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Gender reassignment treatments for young people to get expert review

Gender reassignment treatments for young people to get expert review The use of hormone treatments for young people who want to undergo gender reassignment is to be examined by experts, it has emerged.

The announcement by NHS England comes just weeks after the start of a landmark legal challenge to the prescribing of drugs to delay puberty. The case has been brought against the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust, which runs the UK’s only gender-identity development service (GIDS). The Guardian

Personality disorder: new position statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Personality disorder: new position statement from the Royal College of Psychiatrists This Position Statement emphasises the importance of a timely and accurate diagnosis of Personality Disorder. It also provides a blueprint for the types of services needed to ensure that this group of patients receive the optimum care possible and sets out how best to implement these ambitions. Royal College of Psychiatrists

BMA spells out Brexit-day message to EU doctors: 'You are welcome here'

BMA spells out Brexit-day message to EU doctors: 'You are welcome here' Doctors' leaders have told European NHS staff that they are 'welcome here' on the day that the UK prepares to exit the EU. GP Online

NHS Trusts spent £20 million battling whistleblowers, workplace discrimination claims and employment disputes

NHS Trusts spent £20 million battling whistleblowers, workplace discrimination claims and employment disputes NHS Trusts have spent nearly £20 million in four years battling whistleblowers, defending claims of workplace discrimination and fighting employment disputes, the Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

Data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) has revealed that a minority of healthcare trusts, often advised by the same law firms, are repeatedly running up huge legal bills. The Telegraph

Beyond Brexit: The multiple challenges facing the NHS

Beyond Brexit: The multiple challenges facing the NHS Brexit, like everything else will of course affect health and social care in the UK but will we notice any immediate difference on February 1? No.

The all-important transitional period means that everything will pretty much stay the same until our trade and future relationship is agreed with the EU at the end of December 2020.

There are a number of issues that Brexit will through up, number one is staffing. ITV News

See also:

• Trump will demand the NHS pays more for US drugs after Brexit Business Insider
• Post-Brexit trade deal with US will see NHS drug prices rise, says diplomat iNews

Brexit day: Pharmacists could retrain as doctors to boost NHS

Brexit day: Pharmacists could retrain as doctors to boost NHS Pharmacists and paramedics will be helped to become doctors through a fast-track conversion course as ministers seek to use Brexit to loosen medical training rules, The Times has learnt.

EU rules requiring doctors to do a five or six-year medical degree could be scrapped as Britain seeks to resolve an NHS workforce crisis by making it easier for experienced staff to retrain. The Times

See also:

• Paramedics nurses and pharmacists could train to be doctors in three years NHS staffing crisis Mail Online
• Boris Johnson vows to solve NHS crisis using post-Brexit freedoms to fast-track staff Express.co.uk

Two people in Britain test positive for coronavirus

Two people in Britain test positive for coronavirus Public Health England (PHE) is urgently trying to trace anyone who came into contact with the two people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the UK.

England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said: “We can confirm that two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive. The patients are receiving specialist NHS care and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus.” The Guardian

See also:

• 'Use tissues and wash hands': UK launches coronavirus public advice campaign The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Government launches public health campaign BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK donates £20m to speed up vaccine BBC News
• GP coronavirus advice updated as first two UK patients test positive GP Online
• UK government pledges £20 million to help develop coronavirus vaccine OnMedica
• Press release £20m announced to fund vaccines for coronavirus and other infectious diseases GOV.UK

National Apprenticeship Week 2020

National Apprenticeship Week 2020 National Apprenticeship Week 2020 is taking place from 3–9 February and employers across the NHS and beyond will be hosting a range of events and activities to raise awareness of the benefits that apprenticeships can bring to organisations.

This year’s theme is ‘look beyond’ and aims to dispel current myths regarding apprenticeships and highlight how apprenticeships can help expand people’s future career options and diversify the workforce for employers. NHS Employers

Almost 400 ambulances waited outside Kettering hospital for more than one hour last month

Almost 400 ambulances waited outside Kettering hospital for more than one hour last month Kettering General Hospital says it is bringing in new measures to try and admit patients more quickly but 'it is not an easy problem to solve'. Almost 400 ambulances were kept waiting for more than an hour last month (December) to drop off their patients at Kettering General Hospital. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Rise in demand to blame for East Midlands ambulances experiencing long delays for serious incidents

Rise in demand to blame for East Midlands ambulances experiencing long delays for serious incidents East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) blamed a rise in demand after having the biggest percentage of long delays for serious incidents in the country. From the start of 2018 to September 2019, 12.8 per cent of calls deemed 'category two' emergencies in the East Midlands took more than an hour to get to, according to a Freedom of Information request by BBC News. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Mental health placements to St Andrew's Healthcare suspended

Mental health placements to St Andrew's Healthcare suspended Placements for some Welsh mental health patients at a specialist care provider in England have been suspended.

St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton looks after patients for Welsh health boards but the Welsh Government said it was "under enhanced monitoring".

The charity said it was "confident" it could resolve any concerns quickly. It comes as the family of a patient from Carmarthenshire said they had sought legal advice over concerns about her care. BBC News

See Also:

• NHS Wales stops mental health referrals to Northampton's St Andrew's Healthcare over concerns Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop wellness products condemned by NHS chief

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop wellness products condemned by NHS chief Simon Stevens says people are wasting money and taking risks because of misleading claims. Gwyneth Paltrow’s range of wellness products has been criticised by the head of NHS England who warns that one of the recommended procedures poses a considerable health risk.

At an event in Oxford, Sir Simon Stevens said people were wasting their money or taking risks with their health by falling for the lure of “too good to be true” wellness products and cures and singled out the actor’s brand Goop for specific criticism. He said: “Myths and misinformation have been put on steroids by the availability of misleading claims online.” The Guardian

See Also:

• NHS chief slams Paltrow's health claims on Netflix BBC News
• NHS slams Gwyneth Paltrow for fuelling a wellness industry 'on steroids' Mail Online

Detailed guide: Coronavirus: latest information and advice

Detailed guide: Coronavirus: latest information and advice Information for the public on the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, including the current situation in the UK and information about the virus and its symptoms. Gov.UK - Public Health England

See Also:

• Statement on Wuhan Novel Coronavirus Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
• Coronavirus: Why are we catching more diseases from animals? BBC News - Health
• Coronavirus declared global health emergency by WHO BBC News
• First coronavirus cases confirmed in UK BBC News
• WHO declares deadly coronavirus outbreak a 'global emergency' as Britons head home from Wuhan The Telegraph
• Coronavirus hits the UK: Two English patients have been diagnosed Mail Online
• Scientists develop a vaccine for the Chinese coronavirus Mail Online

Late diagnosis of lung cancer hitting survival rate, study says

Late diagnosis of lung cancer hitting survival rate, study says As many as 56% of people in some parts of England are only diagnosed when they visit A&E. People with lung cancer are dying after being diagnosed late in A&E because their GP missed signs of the disease despite often repeated visits, experts have revealed.

As many as 56% of people in some parts of England who get lung cancer are only diagnosed when they visit A&E, according to a report by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition. The Guardian

See Also:

• Early diagnosis matters report UK Lung Cancer Coalition

West Suffolk Hospital staff 'feared raising concerns', says CQC

West Suffolk Hospital staff 'feared raising concerns', says CQC Staff at a hospital accused of conducting a "witch-hunt" to identify a whistleblower felt a lack of "freedom to speak up", a report has said.

The husband of Susan Warby, who died at West Suffolk Hospital in 2018, received an anonymous letter about her care.

Bosses asked doctors for fingerprints and handwriting samples to discover the author. The trust has since apologised.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found the leadership "did not demonstrate an open and empowering culture". BBC News

Artificial intelligence-created medicine to be used on humans for first time

Artificial intelligence-created medicine to be used on humans for first time A drug molecule "invented" by artificial intelligence (AI) will be used in human trials in a world first for machine learning in medicine.

It was created by British start-up Exscientia and Japanese pharmaceutical firm Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma. The drug will be used to treat patients who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Typically, drug development takes about five years to get to trial, but the AI drug took just 12 months. BBC News - Technology

NHS England will 'significantly rework' draft PCN plans, officials confirm

NHS England will 'significantly rework' draft PCN plans, officials confirm NHS England is drawing up ‘a significantly reworked set of service specifications’ for primary care networks (PCNs), officials have confirmed, just weeks after controversial draft plans left the future of networks in doubt.GP Online

How-to guide: non face-to-face clinics

How-to guide: non face-to-face clinics UCL Partners - This guide, developed in collaboration with NHS clinicians, managers and patients, provides a comprehensive guide to setting up non-face-to-face clinics (also known as virtual clinics). These can help reduce unnecessary outpatient visits, saving time and money for patients and the health service. The NHS aims to avoid up to a third of the number of face-to-face outpatient visits over five years, removing the need for up to 30 million outpatient appointments each year. The guide is free to use, delivered through both text and videos and includes how to develop a project plan and business case. King's Fund - Health Management And Policy Alert

What people want from the next ten years of the NHS

What people want from the next ten years of the NHS When the NHS Long Term Plan was published in January 2019 Healthwatch England was asked to engage people across the country about how people wanted the priorities to be implemented locally. NHS Networks

See Also:

• What people want from the next ten years of the NHS Healthwatch

Boy locked in room 'endured neglect for years'

Boy locked in room 'endured neglect for years' A boy who was beaten and had to defecate on the floor "was left to endure continuing neglect and serious abuse for years" after referrals were not acted upon, a report has found.

The boy's stepfather and mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were jailed last year for child cruelty.

A school nurse's concerns did not spark child protection procedures, a serious case review in Northamptonshire said. BBC Northampton

Getting to grips with climate change

Getting to grips with climate change There’s never been a shortage of people in the NHS who care about climate change. There are countless examples of people working locally to reduce the environmental impact of the services they provide. What has been missing until recently is a clear message from national leaders that sustainability is mission critical rather than something to put on the ‘and also’ list. Thankfully this now looks like it may be set to change. The King's Fund

Research and analysis: People with learning disabilities in England

Research and analysis: People with learning disabilities in England Updates of national statistics about people with learning disabilities in England and the services and support available to them and their families. Public Health England

See also:

• Guidance: Bowel cancer screening: helping people with learning disabilities Public Health England
• Guidance: Eye care and people with learning disabilities Public Health England

Many women have a positive experience of maternity services, but for some care continues to fall short

Many women have a positive experience of maternity services, but for some care continues to fall short The majority of women who gave birth in February last year had confidence and trust in staff, felt they were ‘always’ listened to by midwives and received appropriate advice at the start of labour, according to a national survey by the Care Quality Commission.

UK health research analysis 2018

UK health research analysis 2018 This analysis consists of more than 22,500 health and biomedical research active awards from 146 organisations accounting for an estimated expenditure of almost £4.8 billion in the calendar year 2018. This report summarises the main findings from the analysis, including estimations of total UK health R&D expenditure and an assessment of international funding. Health Research Classification System

Health secretary launches £140m competition for NHS artificial intelligence projects

Health secretary launches £140m competition for NHS artificial intelligence projects The health secretary has launched a competition for companies to receive a share of £140 million to 'fast-track’ artificial intelligence (AI) to NHS staff and patients.

The new investment scheme, known as th AI Award, will see companies selected on the basis of their potential to ‘transform patient care, support staff and save lives,' according to the Department of Health and Social Care. Pulse

Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads to every Chinese region

Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads to every Chinese region The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 170, and a confirmed case in Tibet means it has reached every region in mainland China.

Chinese health authorities said there were 7,711 confirmed cases in the country as of 29 January.

Infections have also spread to at least 15 other countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will meet on Thursday to again consider whether the virus constitutes a global health emergency. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: latest information and advice Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: Scientists race to develop a vaccine BBC News
• Coronavirus: The US laboratory developing a vaccine BBC News
• Coronavirus: returning Britons could be kept in quarantine for 14 days The Guardian
• Coronavirus: UK will no longer fly Britons out of virus-hit Wuhan on Thursday The Independent

Lungs 'magically' heal damage from smoking

Lungs 'magically' heal damage from smoking Your lungs have an almost "magical" ability to repair the cancerous mutations caused by smoking - but only if you stop, say scientists.

The mutations that lead to lung cancer had been considered to be permanent, and to persist even after quitting. BBC News

See also:

• Tobacco smoking and somatic mutations in human bronchial epithelium (abstract) Nature
• Lungs have a 'magical ability' to get rid of cancerous cells caused by smoking, scientists say The Daily Mail

Hospital hired fingerprint experts to unmask whistleblower, report finds

Hospital hired fingerprint experts to unmask whistleblower, report finds West Suffolk hospital downgraded after catalogue of failings and staff bullying

“Threatening” and “intimidating” tactics used against doctors at health secretary Matt Hancock’s local hospital has contributed to the biggest rating downgrade by the NHS regulator.

West Suffolk Hospital’s demand for fingerprints to track down a whistleblower – as revealed by the Guardian last month – was “unprecedented and concerning”, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

See also:

• Top hospital downgraded amid safety fears and whistleblowing inquiry The Independent

England ‘decade away’ from decent children mental health services

England ‘decade away’ from decent children mental health services Children commissioner’s report warns of postcode lottery families still face

England is “a decade away” from decent mental health services for all children despite years of government announcements, the children’s commissioner has warned.

In her third annual children’s mental health report, Anne Longfield has acknowledged there has been tangible progress, but has said there remaine “a chasm” between the services currently available and what children actually need. The Guardian

See also:

• Children’s mental health report warns ‘chasm’ remains between what services are available and what children need Children's Commissioner
• The state of children’s mental health services Children's Commissioner
• 'Decent' mental health service for children is a decade away, warns children’s commissioner The Independent

Improving home insulation and encouraging cycling and walking could save the NHS £3.7billion a year

Improving home insulation and encouraging cycling and walking could save the NHS £3.7billion a year Improving house insulation and encouraging cycling and walking would save the NHS £3.7billion a year, campaigners claim.

Reducing energy demand in transport, buildings and industry - by insulating homes and getting people out of their cars - would reduce early deaths through pollution and pneumonia, they say.

A report by the Green Alliance group accused ministers of a 'short sighted approach to energy' which is damaging people's health. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Balancing the energy equation: three steps to cutting UK demand Green Alliance

Cancer treatment with new drugs is lagging because NHS taked too long to approve them

Cancer treatment with new drugs is lagging because NHS taked too long to approve them Cancer treatment is lagging in Britain because NHS watchdogs take too long to approve some of the best new drugs, experts have warned.

An increasing numbers of medicines have been licensed since 2000 to target new mutations in cancer.

But some are taking more than 20 years to reach NHS patients because regulators are 'too risk adverse', The Institute of Cancer Research said. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Most innovative cancer drugs facing delays in reaching patients The Institute of Cancer Research
• Breakthrough cancer drugs take 22 years to reach the NHS The Daily Telegraph

NHS staff shortages mean patients miss out on early bowel cancer diagnosis

NHS staff shortages mean patients miss out on early bowel cancer diagnosis Around 1,100 people in England could miss out on the chance of an early stage bowel cancer diagnosis through screening each year because of NHS staff shortages, according to new calculations released by Cancer Research UK.

See also:

• NHS staffing shortage means 1,100 people with bowel cancer in England are being diagnosed too late The Daily Mail
• Short-staffed NHS failing on bowel cancer detection in England The Guardian

Improving behavioral health care in the emergency department and upstream

Improving behavioral health care in the emergency department and upstream This paper provides actionable guidance for hospital emergency departments and their community partners to create a compassionate, seamless, and effective system of care that is respectful of and works with patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders who present to the emergency department. The paper includes: a framework for a better system of care that comprises four key components: processes, provider culture, patients, and partnerships; high-leverage changes and specific change ideas; suggested measures; practical tips and examples; and resources and tools. Free registration is required to access the document. Institute for Healthcare Improvement

NHS pension rules may prompt 'mass exodus' of leaders in next two years, report suggests

NHS pension rules may prompt 'mass exodus' of leaders in next two years, report suggests More than two in five senior NHS leaders either plan to or are considering leaving the health service because of recent pension changes, a report has suggested, warning of an “exodus” of leaders and managers in the next two years.

A survey of trust executive directors by NHS Providers, which received responses from 188 of the 223 trusts in England, found 44 per cent of NHS leaders planned to leave the health service because of the pensions crisis. People Management

Long ambulance delays 'affect thousands each week'

Long ambulance delays 'affect thousands each week' Heart attack, stroke and burns victims are among the seriously ill and injured patients waiting over an hour for an ambulance to arrive in England and Wales, a BBC investigation shows.

The delays for these 999 calls - meant to be reached in 18 minutes on average - put lives at risk, experts say.

The problems affect one in 16 "emergency" cases in England - with significant delays reported in Wales.

NHS bosses blamed rising demand and delays handing over patients at A&E. BBC News

See also:

• Ambulance service: 'Waiting system beyond a joke' BBC News
• Heart attack, stroke and burns victims wait up to FIVE HOURS for an ambulance The Daily Mail

Diabetes patients hit by glucose monitor shortage

Diabetes patients hit by glucose monitor shortage The company behind a blood sugar monitor that has changed the lives of thousands of diabetics has been forced to apologise after supplies ran short.

Pharmacies have been turning patients away as deliveries of healthcare firm Abbott's Freestyle Libre Sensor are delayed by two or three weeks.

Abbott has said it is working hard to fulfil all the orders, but gave no further explanation.

Diabetes.co.uk says almost 30,000 people in the UK use the device. BBC News

Coronavirus: How worried should we be?

Coronavirus: How worried should we be? A virus - previously unknown to science - is causing severe lung disease in China and has also been detected in other countries.

More than 100 people are known to have died from the virus, which appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.

There are already more than 4,500 confirmed cases, and experts expect the number will keep rising.

A new virus arriving on the scene, leaving patients with pneumonia, is always a worry and health officials around the world are on high alert.

Can this outbreak be contained or is this something far more dangerous? BBC News

See also:

• Wuhan novel coronavirus and avian flu: advice for travel to China Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus: Australia plans island quarantine as foreigners leave Wuhan BBC News
• Coronavirus: Hong Kong to slash border travel as virus spreads BBC News
• Britons on coronavirus airlift from Wuhan WILL be quarantined The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Scientists hail 'game changer' as version of deadly virus grown in laboratory The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: British Airways suspends all flights to mainland China as outbreak spreads The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus: Australian scientists first to recreate deadly virus outside China The Independent
• Coronavirus: Hundreds could be quarantined in UK military base after being evacuated from Wuhan The Independent

Urgent inquiry ordered into 'witch-hunt' at West Suffolk hospital

Urgent inquiry ordered into 'witch-hunt' at West Suffolk hospital Hospital bosses under fire for trying to find whistleblower who wrote to patient’s family

The government has ordered an urgent inquiry into the local hospital of the health secretary, Matt Hancock, after the Guardian revealed its unprecedented “witch-hunt” for a whistleblower.

Third of UK doctors report burnout and compassion fatigue

Third of UK doctors report burnout and compassion fatigue BMA says medics’ wellbeing is suffering as a result of strain on NHS

Almost a third of UK doctors may be suffering from burnout, stress and “compassion fatigue”, according to a survey that has raised concern about excessive workloads in the NHS.

A&E doctors and GPs are the most likely to feel burnt out. They have the highest levels of exhaustion and stress, the survey, published in the BMJ Open journal, found. The Guardian

See also:

• Resilience, burnout and coping mechanisms in UK doctors: a cross-sectional study (open access) BMJ Open
• Third of UK doctors have high levels of burnout, with GPs among most at risk GPonline

Here are all the ideas competing to win KGH's Dragons' Den

Here are all the ideas competing to win KGH's Dragons' Den This year's Dragons' Den at Kettering General Hospital will see nine bids try and impress the judges with their ideas to improve patient care and win a share of £100,000.

The competition will take place on Thursday, February 6, and the bids will be hoping to impress a panel of six Dragons, including rugby star Ben Cohen. Northamptonshire Telegraph

International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

International Year of the Nurse and Midwife The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated 2020 as the first global Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

Organisations across the world will be celebrating the work of nurses and midwives, highlighting the challenging conditions they often face.

Various activities will be taking place throughout the year and it is a fantastic opportunity to further promote nursing and midwifery as rewarding and exciting careers. NHS Employers

Increasing uptake for vaccinations: maximising the role of councils

Increasing uptake for vaccinations: maximising the role of councils Councils are not directly responsible for commissioning or delivering vaccine programmes but they are in a unique position to understand the health needs of their local population, and support vaccination services to reach them. This may be through helping immunisation teams work with frontline services such as health visitors or children’s centres, or supporting pop-up vaccination clinics in under-vaccinated areas. Local Government Association

Concerns over new 'menopause delay' procedure

Concerns over new 'menopause delay' procedure Experts have raised concern over a new medical procedure that claims to allow women to delay the onset of the menopause by over a decade.

Its long-term safety and success remains untested - but some women have already paid at least £6,000 for the procedure. BBC News