The rise and decline of the NHS in England 2000–20: How political failure led to the crisis in the NHS and social care Multi-year funding increases and a series of reforms resulted in major improvements in NHS performance between 2000 and 2010, but performance has declined since 2010 as a result of much lower funding increases, limited funds for capital investment, and neglect of workforce planning. Constraints on social care spending has also resulted in fewer people receiving publicly funded social care and a repeated cycle of governments promising to reform social care but failing to do so.
This paper, from former Chief Executive of The King’s Fund Chris Ham, analyses how a major public service that is highly valued by the public was allowed to deteriorate. The King's Fund
Non-accidental injuries in infants attending the emergency department Clinicians in emergency departments (EDs) will see babies and young children with injuries that may be non-accidental. If the cause of such injuries is missed, there is a risk of further harm to the child. However, making a judgement about whether an injury might be accidental or not is complex and difficult.
This investigation explores the issues that influence the diagnosis of non-accidental injuries in infants (children under 1 year of age) who visit an ED. Specifically, it explores the information and support available to ED clinicians to help them to make such a diagnosis. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch
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Pharmacists sound the alarm over ‘devastating’ condition of community amid medicine supply issues Pharmacy leaders have raised concerns that patients could be coming to harm as a result of medicine supply issues.
A new poll found that almost nine in 10 (87 per cent) believe that patient health was being put at risk because of problems with supply.
Almost all pharmacy owners (97 per cent) reported significant increases in wholesaler and medicine supply issues. The Independent
Over 1,600 ‘sexual safety incidents’ in one 59-bed children’s hospital A single children’s mental health hospital with just 59 beds reported more than 1,600 “sexual safety incidents” in four years, shocking NHS figures reveal.
Huntercombe Hospital in Maidenhead was responsible for more than half of the sex-related investigations reported in the 209 children’s mental health units across the country. The Independent
Covid no longer: Leading cause of death in England and Wales revealed Covid-19 has dropped out of the top five leading causes of death in England and Wales for the first time since the start of the pandemic, figures show.
Coronavirus was recorded as the main cause of death for 22,454 people in 2022, or 3.9% of all deaths registered, making it the sixth leading cause overall. The Independent
Northamptonshire NHS offers advice to patients as junior doctors set to strike The NHS in Northamptonshire is offering advice to patients following the announcement that junior doctors will strike.
The BMA and HSCA have announced a junior doctors strike running from 06:59 on Tuesday April 11 until 06:59 on Saturday April 15. Northamptonshire Telegraph
RCN launches new standards to boost the mental health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce The RCN was commissioned to produce education standards to provide those delivering the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) programme with a universal framework to align training and establish higher quality assurance levels.
The programme, launched by NHS England in March 2021, is part of the response to the ongoing work-based stress, burnout and mental wellbeing challenges faced by the nursing workforce. It’s been designed to promote reflection on personal experience and have a positive impact on personal wellbeing as well as developing strategies to deal with stress in the workplace. Royal College of Nursing
What does all the recent turmoil mean for the current status and future prospects of the health service? The last 6 months have been exceptionally turbulent. We’ve seen economic turmoil, the sacking and resignation of the chancellor and the prime minister, unprecedented winter pressures in the NHS and public sector strikes. A tornado has whirled through public life. But does spring bring signs that the turbulence is subsiding? And where does that leave the health service? The Health Foundation
Deaths at home during the Covid-19 pandemic and implications for patients and services There has been a steady increase in the numbers of people dying at home in recent years. These trends became entrenched during the pandemic, which could reflect people fearful of Covid-19 in hospitals and care homes just as much as broader patient preferences for dying at home. So did those dying in their place of residence receive the care they needed, at a good standard? This new research sheds light on the services used by people who died at home in England, before and during the first year of the pandemic. Nuffield Trust
New tool can spot those most at risk of developing lung cancer, say researchers Lives could be saved by a new tool that identifies those most at risk of developing lung cancer, according to researchers.
The CanPredict tool can spot those most at risk of developing the disease over the next decade and put them forward for screening tests earlier, researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Nottingham said. The Independent
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Most vulnerable in Northamptonshire invited to book Covid-19 Spring jabs Thousands of the most vulnerable people in Northamptonshire are being invited to top-up their protection from coronavirus and book a Spring Covid-19 vaccine from today (Wednesday, April 5).
Eligible groups for Spring Covid-19 jabs include residents in care homes for older people, people who are 75 and over and adults and children (aged five and over) with a weakened immune system. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Retaining NHS nurses: what do trends in staff turnover tell us? Nurse shortages are a key contributor to NHS workforce shortages. Registered nurse posts consistently account for more than a third of all full-time equivalent vacancies in NHS trusts in England.
Understanding how the NHS competes for nurses is crucial for better workforce planning and pay determination. In this analysis we examine the movement of employees into and out of the NHS nurse labour market in England between 2011/12 and 2021/22. The Health Foundation
Vacancy rates reach 23% in speech and language therapy In January 2023 we asked managers of speech and language therapy services to tell us about vacancy rates and recruitment issues both in the NHS and the independent sector.
The results paint a shocking picture with the average vacancy rate reaching 23% across the UK. Of the managers who responded, 96% managing children’s services and 90% managing adult services said recruitment is more or much more challenging than at any time in the last three years. This is pan-sector with vacancies just as high, if not higher, in non-NHS services. Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
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Short works breaks do not prevent mental fatigue or increase efficiency – study Stopping for tea breaks while at work does nothing to make people more efficient or prevent them from feeling tired, research suggests.
A study that simulated an office day – with tasks involving attention, concentration, learning, and memory – showed that healthy men who took a 10-minute break every 50 minutes were more likely to experience mental exhaustion. The Independent
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Antibiotics and resistance ‘two-way street’ between animals and humans – study Antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a two-way street between animals and humans, researchers have suggested.
The findings reveal the use of antibiotics in animals like cattle, pigs and chickens is associated with AMR in humans and using antibiotics in humans is linked with resistance in animals.
Experts across the world are determined to slow down the rise in AMR, which is partly fuelled by unnecessary use of antibiotics. The Independent
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