Supporting clinicians to address health inequalities in practice

Supporting clinicians to address health inequalities in practice This report looked at clinicians’ confidence in talking about and understanding health inequalities. It finds that most clinicians feel they haven't received enough training on health inequalities and would like more as part of their medical education. Of the almost 1,000 clinicians surveyed, 67 per cent of respondents had not received teaching or training in health inequalities within a training programme or as part of their degree, and only 26 per cent felt confident in their ability to reduce the impact of health inequalities in their medical practice. Royal College of Physicians

Regulator criticised over whistle-blower response

Regulator criticised over whistle-blower response Major failings have been identified at the body responsible for regulating England's health and care sector.

Two reviews into the Care Quality Commission (CQC) were ordered after an employment tribunal found surgeon Shyam Kumar had been unfairly dismissed by the independent regulator after raising patient safety concerns.

The reviews found problems with how whistle-blowing concerns were acted on.

But they said there was no evidence of race discrimination in the case. BBC News

See also:

• Listening, learning, responding to concerns Care Quality Commission
• The Elms: CQC apologises to family in care home death case BBC News

Blood tests may spare cancer patients chemo

Blood tests may spare cancer patients chemo A blood test which can detect traces of cancer cells could spare thousands of patients unnecessary chemotherapy every year.

A major bowel cancer trial is examining whether the test can show if surgery has removed all of the tumour.

Doctors say half of patients with stage 3 bowel cancer are cured by surgery alone so by using chemotherapy they are over-treating many people.

About 1,600 bowel cancer patients are being recruited to the UK study. BBC News

NHS could work 'smarter' to help plug workforce shortages, leader says

NHS could work 'smarter' to help plug workforce shortages, leader says The NHS could make “significant dents” in plugging workforce shortages by working “smarter” and more efficiently, its chief strategy officer has said.

Chris Hopson said more staff were needed but the NHS could also work differently to deal with chronic staff shortages. Evening Standard

Mental health hospital facing teen mistreatment claims to shut after Sky News investigation

Mental health hospital facing teen mistreatment claims to shut after Sky News investigation A mental health hospital for teenagers is to close months after Sky News revealed accusations of the overuse of restraint and medication along with inadequate staffing and training.

Former workers claimed the alleged failings at Taplow Manor in Maidenhead, Berkshire, put young people at risk.

Bupa Dental Care to cut 85 practices amid UK dentist shortage

Bupa Dental Care to cut 85 practices amid UK dentist shortage Bupa Dental Care is to cut 85 dental practices this year in a move that will affect 1,200 staff across the UK, amid a national shortage of dentists and “systemic” challenges across the industry.

The private healthcare group said patients at the affected practices had not been able to access the NHS dental service they needed. The Guardian

See also:

• Bupa set to close Corby dental practice - and Wellingborough site is 'under review' Northamptonshire Telegraph

Losing weight cuts your risk of heart attacks and type 2 diabetes - even if you put it back on

Losing weight cuts your risk of heart attacks and type 2 diabetes - even if you put it back on Losing weight can cut the chances of heart attacks and type 2 diabetes — even if you put some of it back on.

Oxford University researchers found those who shed the pounds still enjoyed health benefits five years later, even if they regained a proportion of the weight. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Long-Term Effect of Weight Regain Following Behavioral Weight Management Programs on Cardiometabolic Disease Incidence and Risk: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (open access) Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes

How Covid-19 has a lasting impact on Northampton three years on from the start of the first lockdown

How Covid-19 has a lasting impact on Northampton three years on from the start of the first lockdown It has been three years since former Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK's first lockdown.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on life in the UK, from health to education and the economy.

We looked at the latest data to see how West Northamptonshire has changed since the first lockdown. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Full list of where 103 bleed kits and bleed control cabinets are located in Northamptonshire

Full list of where 103 bleed kits and bleed control cabinets are located in Northamptonshire Following on from the tragic fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old in Northampton last week, this newspaper is publishing a full list of where potentially life saving bleed kits are located across Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2022: Results from the British Social Attitudes survey

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2022: Results from the British Social Attitudes survey The Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund have joined forces again to publish the gold-standard measure of public attitudes and opinions towards the NHS and social care, as surveyed by NatCen during 2022. This report shows public satisfaction with the health service has slumped to its lowest level ever recorded in the 40-year history of the British Social Attitudes survey.

See also:

• Time for Government to ‘get its head out of the sand’ BMA
• British Social Attitudes Survey results are in – our response Healthwatch
• British Social Attitudes: Satisfaction with the NHS falls to the lowest level ever recorded The King's Fund
• A long way back – public satisfaction with health and care services at record lows The King's Fund
• Drop in public satisfaction with the NHS 'a red flag for government' NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers responds to new report on public satisfaction with the NHS NHS Providers
• NHS response to the British Social Attitudes Survey results NHS England
• There are simply not enough GPs to deliver the care and services we are trained for Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCN responds to the British Social Attitudes Survey Royal College of Nursing
• NHS: Public satisfaction with health service drops to record low BBC News
• More than HALF of public is dissatisfied with ailing NHS for first time ever The Daily Mail
• Majority of public unhappy with NHS for first time, survey finds The Daily Telegraph
• 'Wake-up call' for government as NHS and GP satisfaction hit all-time low GPonline
• Satisfaction with the NHS plummets to lowest level in 40 years The Guardian
• Public satisfaction with NHS hits all-time low, with dissatisfaction doubling in two years, survey says The Independent
• Unhappiness with the NHS has reached record highs - but the public still supports it Sky News

Spotlight on maternity care: your stories, your rights (report)

Spotlight on maternity care: your stories, your rights (report) Women should be able to have confidence that they will receive safe, effective, compassionate maternity care that focuses on their individual needs. That is the experience of many people. But too many families still face care that puts the safety and wellbeing of women and babies at risk.

In this report, we look at themes from maternity complaints families have brought to us, to shine a light on their experiences and encourage others to let their voices be heard. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

See also:

• Even more mothers and babies will be harmed unless failing NHS maternity services are rapidly overhauled, damning report warns The Daily Mail
• More maternity tragedies will occur unless rapid changes are made – report Evening Standard
• Mothers and babies being put at risk due to unsafe NHS maternity services, report says The Guardian
• More maternity tragedies will occur unless rapid changes are made – report The Independent

Technology-enabled lives: delivering outcomes for people and providers

Technology-enabled lives: delivering outcomes for people and providers This paper (produced in partnership with over 30 organisations) highlights the lack of widespread adoption of digital social care services despite the public’s desire for technology to better support those who draw on social care and health services. The paper reveals that only a handful of councils, housing, and care organisations are delivering digital care in people’s homes at scale. This is despite evidence that using technology in social care keeps people safe, healthy, and happy at home. TEC Action Alliance

Increased funding for care homes providing nursing

Increased funding for care homes providing nursing Increased funding for care homes providing nursing will support tens of thousands of care home residents with nursing needs following confirmation that government will increase the rate by 5% for 2023 to 2024, including those with learning and physical disabilities. Department of Health and Social Care

Bullying and toxic culture at NHS trust, report finds

Bullying and toxic culture at NHS trust, report finds Repeated cases of bullying and a toxic environment at one of England's largest NHS trusts have been found in a review.

The Bewick report was ordered after a BBC Newsnight investigation heard from staff at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) saying a climate of fear had put patients at risk.

It cites anger that senior staff did not attend the funeral of Vaish Kumar, a junior doctor who killed herself.

The West Midlands trust said it fully accepted the report's recommendations. BBC News

See also:

• University Hospitals Birmingham: Phase 1 review (Bewick report)  IQ4U Clinical Safety
• Response to review into patient safety University Hospitals Birmingham
• Patient safety review into University Hospitals Birmingham published Birmingham and Solihull ICB
• Report into University Hospitals Birmingham shows "toxic" culture BMA
• Statement on the Bewick review into patient safety and concerns at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Healthwatch Birmingham
• Culture of fear still prevalent at Birmingham NHS trust - Bewick BBC News
• Bullying, cronyism and a ‘corrosive’ culture: Damning verdict on one of NHS’s biggest trusts The Independent
• Corrosive’ culture at NHS trust could put patient safety at risk, report finds The Independent
• 10 damning findings uncovered in the University Hospitals Birmingham report ITV News
• 'Corrosive' bullying culture at 'toxic' NHS trust could put patient care at risk, review finds after doctor's death Sky News

Treasury will find extra cash to fund NHS pay offer, says Jeremy Hunt

Treasury will find extra cash to fund NHS pay offer, says Jeremy Hunt Jeremy Hunt has conceded the Treasury will have to find extra money to fund the pay offer to NHS staff, though the Department of Health and Social Care will also be forced to make savings.

Health unions are now consulting their members on the offer, which includes a one-off bonus of up to 8.2% for this year and a pay rise of 5% from April, plus more for the lowest-paid. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS Confederation responds to Secretary of State's comments on AfC pay offer NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers responds to secretary of state's pay offer statement NHS Providers
• NHS pay deal: UK Treasury to provide extra funding Channel 4 News
• Health chiefs say NHS pay offer must be fully funded after government pledge The Guardian

Women in England with advanced cervical cancer to be offered new treatment

Women in England with advanced cervical cancer to be offered new treatment Hundreds of women in England are to be offered the first new treatment for advanced cervical cancer in about 15 years on the NHS, officials have announced, amid a concerted push to boost women’s health.

The immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab will be available to those with incurable forms of the disease immediately after it won the green light from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), the drugs regulator. Currently, two women with the disease die every day. The Guardian

See also:

• Hundreds of people are set to receive the first immunotherapy drug for advanced cervical cancer through the Cancer Drugs Fund National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• First new life-extending NHS treatment for incurable cervical cancer in almost 15 Years NHS England
• NHS will offer pembrolizumab cervical cancer drug in England BBC News
• Patients with incurable cervical cancer offered life-extending drug The Independent

NHS treating hundreds of children as young as 13 for gaming disorders

NHS treating hundreds of children as young as 13 for gaming disorders Hundreds of children are being treated for video game disorders by the NHS, including some who have been driven to attack their own family.

New figures reveal that 745 people have been referred to the National Centre for Gaming Disorders since it opened in October 2019, the only clinic of its kind in the UK. Sky News

See also:

• NHS treats hundreds with gaming disorders NHS England

Why 8,000 - not 10,000 - might be the magic number when it comes to daily steps

Why 8,000 - not 10,000 - might be the magic number when it comes to daily steps f 10,000 daily steps seems like a bridge too far, you might be in luck. 

Scientists have found that 8,000 is enough to significantly lower the risk of an early death.

Achieving that target on just one or two days cut the mortality risk by 15 percent in a study of 3,000 middle-aged people. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association of Daily Step Patterns With Mortality in US Adults (open access) JAMA Network Open

Number of Brits getting cosmetic surgery doubles in a year

Number of Brits getting cosmetic surgery doubles in a year Britain's new-found love for the brow lift was unearthed in an annual report from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).

It showed how cosmetic surgery as a whole is once again booming, after nosediving over the past few years. 

More than 31,000 procedures were carried out in 2022 — double that of 2021. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cosmetic Surgery Boom: BAAPS National Audit Reveals 102% Rise in Procedures during 2022 British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
• UK cosmetic procedure numbers recover after Covid BBC News

Transforming Integrated Care in the Community (TICC): blueprint

Transforming Integrated Care in the Community (TICC): blueprint This report captures the key lessons of a project undertaken by organisations in four European countries (UK, France, the Netherlands and Belgium) to explore what is involved in taking a highly successful innovation in one national context and applying it in others. The example of Buurtzorg was chosen because of its undoubted and extraordinary success in its country of origin, the Netherlands, where it has revolutionised community-based health and care services. Its achievements - improving care, the jobs of professionals providing care, and resource use - provided the inspiration for the organisations that came together as partners in this project with a view to replicating its achievements in their own countries and localities. Health and Europe Centre

Continuing to pay the price: the impact of prescription charges on people living with long term conditions

Continuing to pay the price: the impact of prescription charges on people living with long term conditions A survey of more than 4,000 people with long-term conditions has found that having to pay for a prescription stops some people getting the medicines they need. The survey also showed people with long-term health conditions who cannot afford their medication are visiting their GPs and A&E more than before. There has also been an increase in hospital stays, mental health issues and time off work. The Prescription Charges Coalition brings together around 50 organisations and professional bodies to campaign to scrap prescription charges in England for people with long-term conditions. Prescription Charges Coalition

NHS slashes longest elective and cancer waits for patients

NHS slashes longest elective and cancer waits for patients The number of people waiting over 18 months for NHS care has fallen again despite continued demand for services, new figures show today.

Thanks to the efforts of NHS staff across the country, the number of patients waiting more than 18 months for care has fallen by more than four fifths since the peak.

Latest figures show a total of 20,101 patients were waiting over 18 months for elective treatment as of 19 March, down from 123,969 in September 2021. NHS England

Road noise makes blood pressure rise, study finds

Road noise makes blood pressure rise, study finds The sound of roaring engines and wailing sirens endured by people who live near busy roads can make their blood pressure rise, academics say.

University of Leicester researchers found a link between noisy road traffic and increased risk of hypertension.

Previous studies suggested it was unclear how noise or air pollution affected blood pressure.

However, academics said the new research was a "game-changer" that could affect future environment policy. BBC News

See also:

• Road Traffic Noise and Incidence of Primary Hypertension: A Prospective Analysis in UK Biobank (open access) JACC Advances

Laughing gas: Experts warn nitrous oxide ban will not stop use

Laughing gas: Experts warn nitrous oxide ban will not stop use A ban on laughing gas will not stop people using it and will drive it into criminal hands, say experts.

The government has defended its plans to tackle anti-social behaviour, including making the possession of nitrous oxide a criminal offence.

The Drug Science scientific charity says a blanket ban "is completely disproportionate" and "would likely deliver more harm than good". BBC News

See also:

• Nitrous oxide: updated harms assessment Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
• Nitrous oxide: What is it and how dangerous is it? BBC News
• Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas overdose left woman unable to walk BBC News
• The government is banning laughing gas. But just how dangerous is it? BBC Science Focus
• Rishi Sunak to ignore independent advice and ban laughing gas in UK The Guardian
• Experts say laughing gas ban ‘will not stop young people using it’ The Independent
• Rishi Sunak says 'entirely reasonable' to ban laughing gas - despite experts advising against it ITV News
• What is nitrous oxide? What you need to know about laughing gas set to be banned by the UK government Sky News

RCN pay vote: Almost 280,000 nursing staff to vote on new NHS pay offer in England

RCN pay vote: Almost 280,000 nursing staff to vote on new NHS pay offer in England Almost 280,000 nurses in England will vote on whether to accept or reject the government's NHS pay offer from today.

Following six days of strike action since mid-December, negotiations were held between the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), along with other unions, and health ministers in late February and early March.

The government subsequently made a pay offer on 16 March. The RCN is recommending its members accept the deal. Sky News

See also:

• Voting opens on NHS pay offer for nursing staff in England Royal College of Nursing
• The NHS pay offer - what it means for you UNISON
• Why it’s time to say YES to NHS pay UNISON
• Unite announces consultation on government’s offer to NHS workers in England Unite
• Nursing staff in England to vote on new NHS pay offer The Independent

Doctor took her own life after working in hospital with 'toxic environment'

Doctor took her own life after working in hospital with 'toxic environment' The father of a junior doctor who took her own life says action must be taken to change a "toxic environment" at the hospital where she worked.

Dr Ravi Kumar, who also works for the NHS, was speaking ahead of the publication of a report into allegations of bullying at the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust, one of the largest hospital trusts in England. Sky News

Covid app for England and Wales discontinued as usage dwindles

Covid app for England and Wales discontinued as usage dwindles The Covid contact-tracing app for England and Wales, which was downloaded 31m times during the course of the pandemic, is being wound down later this week.

Coming about three years since the first nationwide lockdown, the move is part of a drive to encourage people to “learn to live” with the virus. Users of the app will receive a notification on Tuesday telling them it is being discontinued. They will no longer receive alerts informing them when they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. The Guardian

Mindfulness better than CBT for treating depression, study finds

Mindfulness better than CBT for treating depression, study finds Practising mindfulness is much better than taking part in talking therapies at helping people recover from depression, a British study has found.

People who used a mindfulness self-help book for eight weeks and had six sessions with a counsellor experienced a 17.5% greater improvement in recovery from depressive symptoms than those who underwent cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) while being supported by a mental health practitioner. The Guardian

See also:

• Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Supported Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Self-help Compared With Supported Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Self-help for Adults Experiencing Depression (open access) JAMA Psychiatry

Bodies of people with mental illness ‘biologically older than their actual age’

Bodies of people with mental illness ‘biologically older than their actual age’ The bodies of people with mental illness could be biologically older than their actual age, according to a new study.

The new research suggests people with a lifetime history of conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorders have signals in their blood that indicate they are older than their years. The Independent

Ouch! Cost of going to the dentist will rise by 8.5% next month

Ouch! Cost of going to the dentist will rise by 8.5% next month The cost of going to a dentist will rise by the largest amount for 17 years next month as part of price hikes branded ‘utterly grotesque’ by the British Dental Association.

NHS dental charges will increase by 8.5 per cent from April 24, the largest single jump since the current system of charges was introduced in 2006.

This means the cost of a filling will rise more than £5 from the current £65.20 to £70.70. The price of a basic check-up will rise from £23.80 to £25.80, while more complicated ‘band 3’ treatments such as crowns or dentures will increase by £24 to £306.80. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Dentists: Charge hike a political choice that will hit millions on modest incomes British Dental Association

New pill for cholesterol when statins don't work

New pill for cholesterol when statins don't work A new daily pill which dramatically lowered cholesterol in trials could soon be available to patients with particularly high levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.

MK-0616 has been shown to reduce levels of cholesterol by more than 60 per cent — depending on the dose. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor, MK-0616, Demonstrates Significant LDL-C Reduction in Phase 2b Trial Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Wellingborough NHS chefs serve up silver medal win at top cook-off

Wellingborough NHS chefs serve up silver medal win at top cook-off Two local NHS chefs rose to the occasion during a high-profile cooking competition, wowing the judges and winning a silver medal.

Kerrey Healey and Natasha Day from Cafe Vie at Wellingborough’s Isebrook Hospital – part of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) – were competing in the NHS 4 Nations Chef Challenge, part of the world famous International Salon Culinaire, in London. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Sophie's story to help promote organ donation: 19-year-old from Northampton who died of a blood clot has helped save three lives

Sophie's story to help promote organ donation: 19-year-old from Northampton who died of a blood clot has helped save three lives A 19-year-old Northampton girl who tragically died of a blood clot on the brain has helped save the lives of three others through organ donation.

And from today (Friday, March 24), Sophie Rogers’ story will be on display at Northampton General Hospital to help promote the importance of organ donation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS pay: new seeds of division?

NHS pay: new seeds of division? A revised pay offer for 1 million NHS staff which the unions are recommending to their members is a major step forward. The government, NHS leaders, staff and patients all want industrial action to end so that the NHS can focus on the huge task of recovering services following the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether this offer is enough to persuade staff to accept only time will tell. The Health Foundation

British Social Attitudes: Survey reveals record level of dissatisfaction with social care services

British Social Attitudes: Survey reveals record level of dissatisfaction with social care services Only one in seven of the British public are satisfied with social care services, according to analysis of the British Social Attitudes survey by the Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund. 

The analysis from the two health and care think tanks reveals that just 14% of the 3,362 people questioned said they were very or quite satisfied with social care. Of these, only 2% were very satisfied. On the other hand, dissatisfaction rose significantly to 57% of respondents (up from 50% in the previous year) and reached its highest level recorded.

Workers' experience of Long Covid

Workers' experience of Long Covid Our research found shockingly high levels of poor treatment by employers. One in seven respondents (14 per cent) had lost their job because of reasons connected to Long Covid. Given the high numbers of people experiencing Long Covid, this finding is extremely concerning and many people losing their jobs could be in key sector roles. TUC and Long Covid Support

See also:

• Long Covid: Three years and no magic bullet BBC News
• Have we found the 'animal origin' of Covid? BBC News
• Covid cases jump by 13% in a week as officials warn up to one in SEVENTEEN people might be infected The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 24 March 2023 Office for National Statistics
• Fury over healing clinics charging up to £280 to help Long Covid sufferers The Daily Mail
• Two-thirds of UK workers with long Covid have faced unfair treatment, says report The Guardian
• Clinically vulnerable ‘absolutely outraged’ as Covid guidance for high risk patients removed from NHS website iNews
• 'My world came crashing down' - Teen describes her Long Covid battle ITV News
• COVID-19 infections in England at highest level since start of year, final estimates reveal Sky News

Independent review of the NHS Business Services Authority: final report and recommendations

Independent review of the NHS Business Services Authority: final report and recommendations In June 2022, as part of the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Review Programme, the Department of Health and Social Care began its review of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). The review’s aim was to ensure that this public body is efficient and works effectively for citizens. The report of the NHSBSA review covers the following areas: public body assessment; accountability; governance; efficiency; efficacy; and capabilities. The report makes 18 recommendations. Department of Health and Social Care

Record revenue for staff agencies supplying NHS

Record revenue for staff agencies supplying NHS Companies providing freelance staff to the NHS to cover for big shortages of doctors and nurses have seen their income rise by tens of millions of pounds since 2019.

Two companies, amongst the largest providing workers to the NHS, saw their turnover rise by 80% and 77.5%.

BBC News looked at the financial records of about 20 agency businesses providing services in the UK.

Nitrous oxide: Possession of laughing gas to be criminal offence

Nitrous oxide: Possession of laughing gas to be criminal offence Possessing laughing gas is to be made a criminal offence for the first time, the government has announced.

There will also be tighter controls on retailers to prevent the supply of nitrous oxide for misuse.

It goes against recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) which recently advised against new laws to ban nitrous oxide. BBC News

Patients with rare genetic conditions to receive 'pioneering' new NHS service

Patients with rare genetic conditions to receive 'pioneering' new NHS service Hundreds of people with rare genetic conditions primarily affecting the central nervous system will be fast-tracked to diagnosis and specialist care through a “pioneering” new NHS service.

Patients with inherited white matter disorders (IWMDs), also known as leukodystrophies, are set to benefit from faster access to expert teams, increased virtual support and improved local care from clinics providing testing and symptom management. The Independent

NHS staff shortages in England could exceed 570,000 by 2036, leaked document warns

NHS staff shortages in England could exceed 570,000 by 2036, leaked document warns Exclusive: workplace plan sent to ministers says deficit will rise rapidly from current 154,000 if current trends continue

The NHS in England needs a massive injection of homegrown doctors, nurses, GPs and dentists to avert a recruitment crisis that could leave it short of 571,000 staff, according to an internal document seen by the Guardian.

See also:

• Will Jeremy Hunt foot the bill for NHS staffing? The signs aren’t promising The Guardian

‘Children put at risk’ as NHS autism assessments are cut back

‘Children put at risk’ as NHS autism assessments are cut back NHS managers in south-west England have imposed new rules that could deny autism assessments to thousands of children in a move that parents say “puts children at genuine risk”.

At the start of this month, NHS commissioners in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire announced new referral criteria for children’s autism assessments, effective immediately with no notice or consultation. The Guardian

High risk of stroke is linked to mental health

High risk of stroke is linked to mental health Depression and other mental health problems may put sufferers at increased risk of a stroke, two studies have found.

In the first, people who reported the worst depressive symptoms – admitting they’d ‘given up on life improvements’ – were found to have the greatest risk of a stroke.

A second study examined the records of people with genes known to be linked to depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder, and found those with the highest genetic risk were more likely to suffer a stroke.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• Depressive Symptoms and Risk of Acute Stroke: INTERSTROKE Case-Control Study (abstract) Neurology

High street pharmacies are on red alert as chemists run low on stocks of painkillers like Calpol

High street pharmacies are on red alert as chemists run low on stocks of painkillers like Calpol High street pharmacies are struggling to get hold of children's painkillers as a new wave of drugs shortages affects patients.

Warehouses are virtually empty of several types of liquid painkiller, including of best-known brand Calpol, leaving chemists scrambling for supplies.

Other everyday medicines including Lemsip and Gaviscon are also now hard to get hold of, said Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association for Independent Multiple Pharmacies. The Daily Mail

Chart of the week: When being 64 for the most deprived feels like 90 for the better off

Chart of the week: When being 64 for the most deprived feels like 90 for the better off The 2021 Census asked everyone in the UK to report their general health from very bad to very good. As Sophie Julian and Sally Gainsbury show, there were some very revealing findings, with people from the most deprived areas of the country experiencing significantly poorer health than those in better off areas. Nuffield Trust

Educator workforce strategy

Educator workforce strategy This strategy aims to ensure that the NHS has a sustainable supply of educators to support the development of the health care workforce. It sets out seven priorities that will lead to sufficient capacity and quality of educators to allow the growth in healthcare workforce that is needed to deliver care, now and in the future. It describes concerns in the health care education sector and from service providers about the capacity of educators to meet the current and future demands for education and training. Health Education England

Guidance: Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel

Guidance: Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel Sets out the principles and best practice benchmarks health and social care employers and recruitment agencies must follow to ensure effective, ethical international recruitment. Department of Health and Social Care

Four-day junior doctor strike set for April

Four-day junior doctor strike set for April Junior doctors are to stage a four-day walkout in April in their fight to get a 35% pay rise in England.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) will take strike action from 11 April to 15 April.

It comes after BMA leaders met Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Wednesday. BBC News

See also:

• BMA announces dates for new 96-hour walkout by junior doctors in England after Government failure to make any credible offer in talks BMA
• ‘This is not true’: BMA responds to Government claim over 35% precondition on junior doctor pay talks BMA
• Junior Doctors dispute: Key information Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
• NHS Confederation responds to BMA's new strike dates NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers responds to 96-hour junior doctors’ strike announcement NHS Providers
• Time is running out to resolve the NHS workforce crisis The BMJ
• Junior doctors will strike for FOUR consecutive days in April The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors’ union announces 96-hour walkout after pay talks break down The Daily Telegraph
• BMA 'extremely sorry' to patients disrupted by junior doctors Evening Standard
• Junior doctors in England to strike for four days in April The Guardian
• Junior doctors to strike for four days as health secretary ‘won’t negotiate’ on 35% pay demand The Independent
• Junior doctors will strike for 96 hours from 11 April as NHS pay dispute continues iNews
• Warning a quarter of a million hospital appointments could be postponed after junior doctors announce four-day strike Sky News

Long Covid: University of East Anglia study finds women more likely affected

Long Covid: University of East Anglia study finds women more likely affected Women are more likely to suffer from long Covid but being vaccinated almost halves the risk of developing the condition, a University of East Anglia study has found. But what does long Covid mean for those living with the illness? BBC News

See also:

• Risk Factors Associated With Post−COVID-19 Condition: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (open access) JAMA Network
• Covid-like virus is found lurking in UK bats The Daily Mail
• More than a million Covid patients treated in England, says NHS chief Evening Standard
• Three years on: are we any closer to understanding long Covid? (podcast) The Guardian
• Covid struck and Britain locked down. Here’s what we learned from that – and what we must do next time The Guardian
• Covid: Worst area for UK revealed as one in 40 Britons infected The Independent
• Covid: 10 most common symptoms to watch out for as UK cases rise The Independent
• Covid-19 vaccines do not affect women’s periods, study finds The Independent
• A retrospective case-control study on menstrual cycle changes following COVID-19 vaccination and disease (open access) iScience

Police investigating ‘sexual assault’ at scandal-hit children’s hospital as watchdog threatens closure

Police investigating ‘sexual assault’ at scandal-hit children’s hospital as watchdog threatens closure Police are investigating fresh allegations of sexual assault against a child patient by a care worker at a scandal-hit private mental health hospital group.

It is the second time reports have been made about a former Huntercombe Group hospital after two care workers were quizzed over the alleged rape of a child at its Taplow Manor Hospital in Maidenhead last year. The Independent

Ringfence 10% of UK health spending for preventive measures, report urges

Ringfence 10% of UK health spending for preventive measures, report urges Governments should set aside 10% of health spending for preventive and public measures such as cycle lanes and anti-obesity strategies, a thinktank has said, warning that “political short-termism” over health is making the UK increasingly ill and unequal.

The report by the Tony Blair Institute argues that a centralised NHS model “almost entirely focused on treating sickness” rather than on wider objectives is not only harming people’s health but hampering the economy, with more than 2.5 million people out of the labour market because of long-term ailments. The Guardian

See also:

• Fit for the Future: How a Healthy Population Will Unlock a Stronger Britain Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

‘There is a level of complacency’: trial exposes UK’s vulnerability to organ harvesting

‘There is a level of complacency’: trial exposes UK’s vulnerability to organ harvesting The UK is supposed to have one of the best systems in the world for preventing vulnerable people being exploited for their organs. How then did one of its biggest hospitals become embroiled in the macabre trade of kidney harvesting?

The UK’s first trial organ trafficking trial has exposed alarming vulnerabilities to a illegal trade that makes up 10% of transplants worldwide. The case has highlighted how poverty can tempt some people to sell their body parts to those willing to exploit an acute global shortage of organs for donation. The Guardian

See also:

• Organ-trafficking plot politician Ike Ekweremadu and wife guilty BBC News
• Nigerian politician, wife, and a doctor guilty of organ trafficking Channel 4 News

Map lays bare England's child dental crisis and shows areas where tooth decay more likely

Map lays bare England's child dental crisis and shows areas where tooth decay more likely Almost two thirds of children have rotten teeth in parts of the country, official data revealed today.

Statistics laying bare England's dental crisis showed three in 10 children aged five across the country have enamel or tooth decay. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Oral health survey of 5 year old children 2022 Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Oral health Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Three-year wait for Essex girl, 8, to have tooth removed BBC News

Good AND bad news for coffee lovers as study shows they walk more but sleep less

Good AND bad news for coffee lovers as study shows they walk more but sleep less Coffee boosts the number of calories people burn during the day but it robs them of vital sleep at night, according to a new study.

Results suggested people who drink coffee regularly walk 1,000 more steps than non-drinkers each day but lose out on around 30 minutes of sleep at night. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Health among Ambulatory Adults (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine

22 photos from glitzy Excellence Awards ceremony celebrating hard work at Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals

22 photos from glitzy Excellence Awards ceremony celebrating hard work at Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals Awards were held to celebrate the achievements of some of the staff, volunteers, and fundraisers, at Kettering and Northampton general hospitals.

The Excellence Awards 2023 received more than 450 nominations across 15 categories and were organised by the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Virtual wards: the lessons so far and future priorities

Virtual wards: the lessons so far and future priorities The expansion of virtual wards – which help patients to manage their health and care at home – is considered an important component of NHS planning for next winter. Following discussions with members of BT’s clinical advisory board and drawing on wider evidence and the latest policy developments, Rachel Hutchings and Nigel Edwards discuss the priority areas where further development and action could help improve virtual wards’ effectiveness. Nuffield Trust

Care delivery within community mental health teams

Care delivery within community mental health teams The purpose of this investigation was to support improvements in the work of community mental health teams (CMHTs).

Specifically, the investigation looked at the following four areas:

• assessing a patient’s risk of self-harm or suicide
• considering menopause as a risk factor for mental health conditions
• engaging with families
• caring for people with a first episode of psychosis.

The report uses, as an example, a real patient safety incident in which a woman died by suicide while under the care of a CMHT; this is referred to as ‘the reference event’ and was used to examine national issues. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• NHS mental health services failing to consider impact of the the menopause on women, says watchdog The Daily Telegraph
• Watchdog calls for review of menopause link to poor mental health after woman’s suicide The Independent
• Mental health services failing to consider impact of menopause, putting women at risk of suicide Sky News

Falling employment and worsening health in the UK: connected or distinct trends?

Falling employment and worsening health in the UK: connected or distinct trends? Two concerning economic and social trends in the UK emerging from the covid-19 pandemic are the fall in employment of people aged 50 and over and the increase in sickness levels in the population. The drop in employment has not been caused by rising unemployment (when people are generally searching for work), but rather by rising “economic inactivity” (when they generally are not). Institute for Fiscal Studies

Public health annual report 2023: supporting communities in difficult times

Public health annual report 2023: supporting communities in difficult times This report reflects on the last year and focusses on how councils have responded to the rising cost of living. It also discusses a year of uncertainty about the direction of public health policy and how the approach to tackling health inequalities has blunted optimism. Despite these pressures, this report demonstrates that councils, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector have responded positively to the challenges and that, building on the experience of the pandemic, public health is at the forefront of each local response. Local Government Association

Research: Shooting Up: infections among people who inject drugs in the UK

Research: Shooting Up: infections among people who inject drugs in the UK This report describes the extent of infections and injecting-related harms among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United Kingdom. UK Health Security Agency

Policy paper: Cyber security strategy for health and social care: 2023 to 2030

Policy paper: Cyber security strategy for health and social care: 2023 to 2030 How the government will work with health and adult social care organisations and the supply chain to achieve cyber resilience across the sector no later than 2030. Department of Health and Social Care

Self-harm hospital admissions up 22% for children aged eight to 17

Self-harm hospital admissions up 22% for children aged eight to 17 Self-harm hospital admissions for children aged eight to 17 in the UK jumped 22% in one year.

The age group is now the largest for self-harm admissions, with all others seeing a drop, according to NHS data.

Charities say early access to support is vital, but high thresholds and long waiting lists mean more young people are ending up in hospital.

The government said it was investing £2.3bn a year in NHS mental health services. BBC News

Man died of sepsis after being sent home from Milton Keynes Hospital A&E

Man died of sepsis after being sent home from Milton Keynes Hospital A&E A father-of-two died of sepsis three days after being sent home from A&E with antibiotics, an inquest heard.

Alex Blewitt, 48, died in July 2022 after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by a perforated bowel and sepsis.

An inquest heard he was sent home from Milton Keynes University Hospital with antibiotics for a suspected urinary tract infection. BBC News

‘Fifth of UK hospitals cancelled operations’ during three days of 2022 heatwave

‘Fifth of UK hospitals cancelled operations’ during three days of 2022 heatwave A fifth of UK hospitals were forced to cancel operations during the three days in July last year when temperatures soared, research suggests.

The findings, published in a letter to the British Journal of Surgery, are based on surveys from surgeons, anaesthetists and critical care doctors working during the heatwave from July 16-19 2022 – when temperatures reached as high as 40C in some parts of the country. The Independent

See also:

• Elective surgical services need to start planning for summer pressures (open access) British Journal of Surgery
• Peak of 2022 heatwave forced fifth of UK hospitals to cancel operations – research The Guardian

‘I worry my young patients will die’: UK’s eating disorder services not fit, say GPs

‘I worry my young patients will die’: UK’s eating disorder services not fit, say GPs Young people with eating disorders are coming to harm and ending up in A&E because they are being denied care and forced to endure long waits for treatment, GPs have revealed.

NHS eating disorders services are so overwhelmed by a post-Covid surge in problems such as anorexia that they are telling under-19s to rely on charities, their parents or self-help instead. The Guardian

Novartis scraps cholesterol drug trial in blow to UK life sciences ambitions

Novartis scraps cholesterol drug trial in blow to UK life sciences ambitions The Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis has ditched plans for a large clinical trial in the UK, in a further blow to the government’s efforts to make Britain an attractive place for research and investment after Brexit.

The company decided to scrap the Orion-17 trial of its cholesterol-lowering drug Leqvio, involving 40,000 patients in partnership with NHS England. The Guardian

Junior doctor pay talks collapse in just an hour as militant medics refuse to negotiate

Junior doctor pay talks collapse in just an hour as militant medics refuse to negotiate Pay talks between junior doctors and the government collapsed after less than an hour yesterday after militant medics refused to negotiate. 

Representatives from the British Medical Association told health secretary Steve Barclay they would be unwilling to accept anything less than a 35 per cent pay rise. The Daily Mail

Covid makes a comeback: Experts warn cases are surging again with one in 40 Brits infected

Covid makes a comeback: Experts warn cases are surging again with one in 40 Brits infected Covid is making another resurgence across Britain, prompting scientists to repeat their calls for the return of face masks.

Hospital admissions for the virus are approaching a three-month high. 

And leading experts fear the outbreak – which surveillance data suggested has left one in 40 in England infected – will continue to pick up pace in the coming weeks. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 16 March 2023 Office for National Statistics
• Coronaphobic Britain: 41% are still taking Covid tests at least once a month and wearing masks The Daily Mail

The hospital food served up in Northamptonshire that's among the best in UK

The hospital food served up in Northamptonshire that's among the best in UK This is the hospital food served up in Northamptonshire that is among the best in the UK. In 2022, Kerrey Healey and Natasha Day from Cafe Vie, Isebrook Hospital, in Wellingborough, were named among the best chefs in England.

They were crowned regional winners of NHS Chef of the Year 2022 after wowing the judges with their Vegan Rainbow spring rolls, stuffed chicken Ballotine served with mashed potato and roasted cherry tomatoes. Northants Live

NHS mental health services: what's changed?

NHS mental health services: what's changed? A deterioration in mental health in England during 2020 and 2021 drew attention to how mental health in the country has worsened over time. So how has that affected the NHS? 

In this QualityWatch blog, Stuti Bagri looks at how referrals to mental health services have changed, whether psychological treatment is meeting people’s needs, and the changes there have been in the use of medication. The Nuffield Trust

Stressed and overworked: What the Commonwealth Fund’s 2022 International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians in 10 Countries means for the UK

Stressed and overworked: What the Commonwealth Fund’s 2022 International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians in 10 Countries means for the UK GPs in the UK are under extreme strain and public satisfaction with general practice has plummeted. Pressures on general practice are not unique to the UK and GPs around the world are contending with the impact of the pandemic on their patients and working lives.

The 2022 Commonwealth Fund survey compares perspectives from GPs across 10 high‑income countries. The survey asked GPs’ views about their working lives and wellbeing, quality of care and how services are delivered. We analysed the survey data to understand the experiences of GPs in the UK and how they compare to other countries. The Health Foundation 

See also:

• UK GPs suffering unsustainable workplace pressures The Health Foundation
• Health Foundation report reveals ‘sorry state of affairs’ facing UK general practice Royal College of General Practitioners
• UK GPs are more stressed than international peers, analysis shows The BMJ
• Extreme pressure leaves UK GPs among most stressed and least satisfied GPonline
• UK GPs have the highest stress levels, finds survey of 10 countries’ doctors The Guardian
• UK GPs among the ‘most stressed’ and ‘least satisfied’, finds international study Pulse

Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers

Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers Deep-dive analysis of experiences of 2,693 new mothers and birthing parents shows that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England - are failing many new mothers. 

The analysis suggests that not all GP practices comply with the requirement to provide six to eight-week postnatal checks. And where those checks take place, it is not clear that GP practices are aware of NICE guidance which tells them in detail how to spot mental health problems and provide help. Healthwatch

See also:

• GPs 'are treating key check-ups for new mothers as a box ticking exercise', study suggests The Daily Mail
• Key appointment for new mothers treated as ‘tick box exercise’, group warns The Independent
• Postnatal checks are 'failing' new mothers, says patient group Metro

Exploring adult social care funding and delayed discharge

Exploring adult social care funding and delayed discharge This briefing sets out detail and commentary on the funding announced for adult social care in the 2022 Autumn Statement. It does so in the important context of delayed discharge, offering joint Local Government Association and NHS Confederation illustrative thinking on the kind of actions that could be taken to help address immediate pressures in hospitals. NHS Confederation

See also:

• Demand for adult social care hits record high while support from local authorities drops The King's Fund

Government sets out strategy to protect NHS from cyber attacks

Government sets out strategy to protect NHS from cyber attacks Patients will benefit from bolstered protection to the nation’s health and adult social care services as a new cyber security strategy for England is published today.

The Cyber Security Strategy for Health and Adult Social Care sets out a plan to promote cyber resilience across the sector by 2030, protecting services and the patients they support. Department of Health and Social Care

Progestogen-only pill breast cancer risk revealed

Progestogen-only pill breast cancer risk revealed Taking a progestogen-only 'mini pill' carries a small risk of breast cancer - similar to combined oral contraceptive pills, say researchers.

The study, in PLoS Medicine journal, is one of the first big ones able to assess the odds for users of this type of birth control.

It shows a tiny risk, skewed towards older users, which goes away within a few years of stopping the medication.

On the flip side the pills protect against some other female cancers. BBC News

See also:

• Combined and progestagen-only hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer risk: A UK nested case–control study and meta-analysis (open access) PLoS Medicine
• Progestogen-only pill carries SAME 20% heightened risk of breast cancer as traditional version The Daily Mail
• Hormonal contraceptives linked to increased breast cancer risk, study finds The Independent

A CDC warning and a fungus spreading: Everything we know about the deadly candida auris

A CDC warning and a fungus spreading: Everything we know about the deadly candida auris A drug-resistant form of fungus is currently spreading through US healthcare facilities and causing alarm, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned.

Candida auris or C. auris is a type of yeast that can pose a potentially deadly threat to people with weakened immune systems if it enters the bloodstream and spreads through the body, according to the CDC, with between 30 per cent and 60 per cent of people who get sick in this way dying of their infections. The Independent

See also:

• Candida auris Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Candida auris fungal infections spreading in US at 'alarming' rate, says CDC BBC News
• Interactive map reveals America's Candida auris hotspots The Daily Mail
• Candida auris: Potentially deadly fungus spreading through US at ‘dramatic’ rate Evening Standard
• Candida auris: deadly fungal infections spreading across US at ‘worrisome’ rate The Guardian
• 'Worrisome' deadly fungus spreading through US at alarming rate Sky News
• Rise of deadly fungus spotlights hospital infection-control challenges Washington Post

Cuts to cycling and walking budget in England ‘will cost £2bn in long term’

Cuts to cycling and walking budget in England ‘will cost £2bn in long term’ The government’s decision this month to slash the budget for cycling and walking in England by more than 50% could cost more than £2bn in the long term through its impact on public health and the wider economy, a Labour analysis has estimated.

The £380m cut to the active travel budget in the current spending review, which has two more years to run, has already been condemned by campaign groups as short-sighted and damaging. The Guardian

Length of doctors' training should be slashed from seven years to fix staffing crisis, says NHS boss

Length of doctors' training should be slashed from seven years to fix staffing crisis, says NHS boss The time it takes to qualify as a doctor should be slashed to plug staffing gaps, the chairman of NHS England has said.

Richard Meddings suggested new medics were over-qualified after seven years of training because 'most' did not get to use their full skills on the job.

The former banker, who took up his role a year ago, said the NHS has fewer doctors and nurses than other developed countries. The Daily Mail

Full report linking Covid's origins to raccoon dogs in wet market is revealed

Full report linking Covid's origins to raccoon dogs in wet market is revealed Scientists have released the full report that made headlines last week linking Covid's origins to raccoon dogs sold at an infamous wet market in Wuhan.

The paper, which has not been peer-reviewed and was published online Monday, suggests the fox-like mammals sold at the slaughter market were carrying Covid at the end of 2019. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Genetic evidence of susceptible wildlife in SARS-CoV-2 positive samples at the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, Wuhan: Analysis and interpretation of data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control (open access preprint) Zenodo
• New study reveals the Covid origins data that China suppressed The Daily Telegraph
• COVID-origins study links raccoon dogs to Wuhan market: what scientists think Nature
• Chinese COVID data from animal market gives clues on origins of virus, scientists say Sky News

Children with eczema 'should not be offered bath emollients on the NHS

Children with eczema 'should not be offered bath emollients on the NHS Children with eczema should not be offered bath emollients on the NHS, according to new guidance.

Watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said it had reviewed the evidence and concluded that bath emollients are not clinically or cost effective. Evening Standard

See also:

• Atopic eczema in under 12s: diagnosis and management (update) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• NICE advises against bath emollients for children with eczema GPonline

Google makes bid to throw out High Court claim over NHS medical record transfer

Google makes bid to throw out High Court claim over NHS medical record transfer Google has made a bid to throw out a High Court claim brought on behalf of around 1.6 million people about the transfer of their medical records by an NHS trust.

The software giant and its artificial intelligence arm DeepMind are facing legal action over the transfer of patient data by the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust in October 2015. Evening Standard

See also:

• Google makes bid to throw out High Court claim over NHS medical record transfer The Independent
• Google asks London court to throw out lawsuit over medical records Reuters

Patient experience winter survey: March 2023

Patient experience winter survey: March 2023 The latest Patients Association survey of patients’ experiences of healthcare shows that when patients are with a healthcare professional their experiences were generally positive. But  the report also shows many respondents struggled to access the healthcare they needed in the previous six months.

Training the future GP: enhancing delivery of GP specialty training

Training the future GP: enhancing delivery of GP specialty training This report outlines ways to reform the delivery of education to GP trainees, better preparing them for future practice in different models of care - addressing health inequalities, improving technology and enhancing areas of clinical care such as mental health. The report details opportunities to move to a more flexible model of training that meets the needs, skills and experiences of the trainee, as well as the demands and nuances of local populations. It is based on extensive engagement with key national stakeholders, patients, doctors in training and educators, along with the results of a number of regional pilot programmes. Health Education England

NHS rolls out specialist medical care centres for women during pregnancy

NHS rolls out specialist medical care centres for women during pregnancy Pregnant women with serious medical problems will now have access to specialist treatment centres across the country.

The 17 new centres of excellence will help women with pre-existing medical conditions, or conditions that arise during pregnancy to quickly get the extra care they might need.

As part of the NHS commitment to halve the maternal mortality rate by 2025, a wide ranging team will be on hand to provide specialist medical advice before during and after pregnancy, bringing together expert physicians, obstetricians, midwives, nurses and other clinicians in one place. NHS England

See also:

• Perinatal mental health services – supporting pregnant women and new mothers NHS England

West Lane Hospital: Mental health care 'chaotic and unsafe'

West Lane Hospital: Mental health care 'chaotic and unsafe' A mental health unit criticised over the deaths of three teenagers was "chaotic and unsafe", a report found.

An independent inquiry found "excessive and inappropriate" restraint was used at Middlesbrough's West Lane Hospital.

The environment "facilitated self-harm", said patients, and staff were told not to intervene unless it was likely to be fatal. BBC News

See also:

• A system-wide independent investigation into concerns and issues raised relating to the safety and quality of CAMHS provision at West Lane Hospital, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
• 'Failures' exposed at West Lane Hospital before deaths of three girls The Northern Echo
• Inside 'chaotic and unsafe' West Lane Hospital where teens took own lives as health chiefs missed 'red flags' Teeside Live