NHS staff receive pay rise

NHS staff receive pay rise Pay scales for most doctors and dentists to increase by at least a 6% this year after the government accepted the recommendations from the independent pay review bodies in full.

Around 130,000 full-time equivalent doctors and dentists, including junior doctors and consultants will see their pay rise in line with the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration’s (DDRB) recommendations. Pay for junior doctors will be increased by 8.8% on average. The agreement means pay for a first year junior doctor will increase by 10.3%. Pay for the most experienced junior doctors will increase by 8.1%. For consultants, this means a rise of 6%. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Pay uplift for doctors fails to recognise or remedy their pay cuts in real terms BMA
• Junior doctor striking over NHS 'abusive relationship' BBC News
• Public sector pay: Workers offered pay rises of around 6% BBC News
• Doctors urged to accept pay rise of up to £7,000 and end strikes The Daily Telegraph
• Sunak offers at least 6% pay rise to millions of public sector workers The Guardian
• Ministers ‘have obliterated morale’: junior doctors on first day of strike The Guardian
• Catastrophic winter pressure on NHS prompted junior doctor strike ballot, says BMA The Guardian
• BMA: Doctors' 6% pay offer 'missed opportunity' to end strikes The Independent
• Final offer: UK's Sunak seeks to end strikes with multi-billion pound pay deal Reuters
• Millions of UK public sector workers including teachers and doctors to get pay rises Sky News

Diet Coke safe as long as you don’t drink 14 cans every day, WHO says after aspartame cancer fears

Diet Coke safe as long as you don’t drink 14 cans every day, WHO says after aspartame cancer fears An artificial sweetener used in thousands of products including diet fizzy drinks, ice cream and chewing gum has been ruled a “possible” cause of cancer by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

But a panel of experts has said the sugar substitute aspartame is safe in limited quantities. The Independent

See also:

• Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released World Health Organization
• Aspartame advice unchanged despite cancer question BBC News
• WHO bosses admit aspartame IS safe following major safety review The Daily Mail
• Aspartame: What effects do carcinogens have on your body? The Independent

Pollutionwatch: improving air quality could ease pressure on NHS

Pollutionwatch: improving air quality could ease pressure on NHS A study shows that the impact of air pollution on GP and A&E workloads may be greater than previously thought. Put another way, improving air quality could ease pressure on the NHS.

Researchers compared the timing of 114,930 GP and 9,878 A&E respiratory visits in Bradford with air pollution measured around the city. Polluted days were followed by increased health service use for breathing problems, with impacts persisting for more than 100 days. The Guardian

See also:

• The effects of exposure to NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 on health service attendances with respiratory illnesses: A time-series analysis (open access) Environmental Pollution

Public satisfaction with GP practices plummets to an all-time low

Public satisfaction with GP practices plummets to an all-time low More patients are turning to overcrowded A&Es for basic care after finding it increasingly difficult to secure a GP appointment, official figures reveal.

Public satisfaction with their practice has fallen to an all-time low, with many giving up trying to see their doctor altogether, according to the GP Patient Survey.

Experts say the NHS poll of 759,000 people lays bare the crisis in primary care and warn patients are being left in pain, unable to work and getting sicker. The Daily Mail

See also:

• GP Patient Survey 2023 headline findings IPSOS
• GP Patient Survey 2023 national report IPSOS
• More admin staff needed to help tackle GP access issues Healthwatch
• Patient satisfaction with quality of care remains steady as general practice battles continuing high demand NHS Confederation

'Groundbreaking' two-in-one prostate cancer drug which 'halves the risk' of the disease progressing

'Groundbreaking' two-in-one prostate cancer drug which 'halves the risk' of the disease progressing A treatment described as groundbreaking could benefit hundreds of men with advanced prostate cancer if approved in the UK.

Trials have shown a combination of two drugs – enzalutamide and talazoparib – can halve the risk of prostate cancer progressing.

The treatment is part of a class of new precision medications which allow tumours to be targeted more accurately. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Talazoparib plus enzalutamide in men with first-line metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (TALAPRO-2): a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial (abstract) The Lancet

Stretched to the limit: tackling the NHS productivity challenge

Stretched to the limit: tackling the NHS productivity challenge Despite performance gains to date, the NHS is tasked with delivering yet more activity within existing resources as well as taking further costs out of the system without impacting on patient care. This will present a major challenge for providers and staff, already stretched to the limit.

In this report we explore the main barriers trusts are facing as they seek to recover performance and improve productivity. We also consider the financial impact of current pressures and the scale of the efficiency ask, which is even more stretching than in 2022/23. NHS Providers

Variations in the delivery of palliative care services to adults

Variations in the delivery of palliative care services to adults Palliative and end of life care is ‘variable and inequitable’ across the NHS in England.

The report sets out an investigation we undertook examining the quality and consistency of palliative care provided to adults. Since 2004, and even with a national strategy in place since 2008, numerous publications have highlighted concerns about the limitations of the delivery of palliative and end of life care. These limitations may be more noticeable in areas where funding for services is limited or where care is being delivered across wide geographical areas. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• NHS end-of-life care in England ‘variable and inequitable’ says watchdog The Guardian

SAS professional development funding: application guidance

SAS professional development funding: application guidance To support the implementation of the new 2021 specialty doctor and specialist contracts and the professional development of specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors (SAS) doctors, NHS England included the SAS development funding in 2021/22 and 2023/24 within commissioner allocations. This guidance has been published in partnership with the British Medical Association to support employers to allocate SAS development funding. NHS Employers

Junior doctors begin longest strike yet in England

Junior doctors begin longest strike yet in England Junior doctors in England have begun their longest walkout yet today, in protest over pay.

They said the government's refusal to talk ahead of the five-day strike was "baffling" and "frustrating".

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said doctors' 35% pay demand was "unreasonable" and the strike would put patient safety at risk.

Thousands of planned appointments are being postponed, as emergency and urgent care are prioritised. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors urge Government to come back to the table as new strike begins in England BMA
• Strikes will cause major disruption over the next week, says top NHS doctor NHS England
• Junior doctors ready to begin longest strike in NHS history Channel 4 News
• Junior doctors told to use 5-day NHS strike to go on a picnic The Daily Mail
• Sunak won’t meet NHS waiting times pledge if strikes continue, warn health bosses The Guardian
• NHS strikes: who is taking part and why are they happening? The Guardian
• Warning junior doctors’ strike will top £100m as fresh walkout begins The Independent
• Junior doctors walk out on strike set to be the 'longest in NHS history' ITV News
• Upcoming industrial action will have a serious impact on local NHS services in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Junior doctors walking out for five days - the longest strike in NHS history Sky News

Call for clarity over NHS role after misdiagnosis death

Call for clarity over NHS role after misdiagnosis death The mother of a woman who died after a misdiagnosis by an NHS worker she mistakenly believed was a GP has called for better patient protection.

Emily Chesterton, from Salford, died after being seen twice by a physician associate, a role which the NHS said supports doctors in diagnosis.

The 30-year-old, who lived in London, was told her calf pain was a sprain, when she actually had a blood clot.

Her mother Marion said more regulation was needed around physician associates. BBC News

Care watchdog sounds fresh alarm over mental health trust being investigated over 2,000 deaths

Care watchdog sounds fresh alarm over mental health trust being investigated over 2,000 deaths The NHS safety watchdog has sounded fresh alarm over the risk to mental health patients at an Essex health trust already facing a public inquiry over 2,000 deaths.

Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust [EPUT] is being investigated over failures relating to the deaths of patients spanning two decades. The Independent

Majority of public want digital health apps to be used in NHS

Majority of public want digital health apps to be used in NHS Sixty-eight percent of people agree that digital health apps should be used within the NHS, according to the third annual survey into public attitudes on health apps in the UK by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA).

In line with this, 60% more GPs have recommended digital health apps to their patients this year, in comparison to last year. London GPs were revealed to recommend more health apps than any other region.

In addition, nearly half (47%) of all those surveyed said they were already using a health app. Digital Health

Powerful Google tool is almost as good as human doctors in giving answers to basic ailment questions

Powerful Google tool is almost as good as human doctors in giving answers to basic ailment questions Family doctors already have patients turning to 'Dr Google' for a diagnosis.

But Google has now developed AI which could perform as well as a doctor when answering questions about ailments.

The tech giant reports in the journal, Nature, that its latest model, which processes language similarly to ChatGPT, can answer a range of medical questions with 92.6 per cent accuracy. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Large language models encode clinical knowledge (open access) Nature

Even 'SAFE' levels of air pollution can trigger heart attacks, study warns

Even 'SAFE' levels of air pollution can trigger heart attacks, study warns Even 'safe' levels of air pollution can trigger heart attacks, a study suggests.

Researchers also found people can be struck down within just an hour of breathing in dirty air.

Tougher air quality standards are now urgently needed, experts claimed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Can traffic-related air pollution trigger myocardial infarction within a few hours of exposure? Identifying hourly hazard periods (open access) Environment International

Review of neonatal assessment and practice in Black, Asian and minority ethnic newborns: Exploring the Apgar score, the detection of cyanosis, and jaundice

Review of neonatal assessment and practice in Black, Asian and minority ethnic newborns: Exploring the Apgar score, the detection of cyanosis, and jaundice Tests that indicate the health of newborns, moments after birth, are limited and not fit-for-purpose for Black, Asian and ethnic minority babies, and need immediate revision according to findings from the NHS Race and Health Observatory.

Neonatal assessments, including the Apgar score, a quick observation test used to assess babies minutes after birth was developed in 1952, and is now considered out of date by many healthcare professionals. Based on a score of 1 to 10, with a high Apgar score indicating good health for babies, minutes following birth, the assessments are used as standard by healthcare professionals regardless of a baby’s skin tone and can give misleading scores.

See also:

• Concerns over focus on skin colour in newborn checks BBC News
• Tests to assess newborns health not effective for BAME babies in UK The Guardian
• New NHS Report Reveals How Racial Biases From The 50s Are Still Impacting Newborn Care Huffington Post UK
• Babies could be put at risk due to ‘skin colour tests’ – report The Independent

Fear and futility – what does the staff survey tell us about speaking up in the NHS?

Fear and futility – what does the staff survey tell us about speaking up in the NHS? We have published our analysis of the questions relating to speaking up in the 2022 NHS Staff Survey.

While the results have improved since Freedom to Speak Up guardians were first implemented, the results show a fall in NHS workers’ confidence to speak up. Of particular concern is the marked fall in how safe people feel to raise a clinical concern. National Guardians Office

See also:

• Review finds decrease in workforce confidence to speak up NHS Employers

NHS steps up battle against life-threatening infections following successful world-first pilot

NHS steps up battle against life-threatening infections following successful world-first pilot The NHS has launched plans to expand pioneering subscription-style drug contracts to develop lifesaving antibiotics of the future.

It comes as data shows more people are contracting drug-resistant superbugs than ever before, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) predicted to cause 10 million global deaths each year by 2050 if no action is taken.

NHS England is building on its world-first pilot to incentivise the pharmaceutical industry to develop new antibiotics that could be offered to NHS patients when they need them the most. NHS England

NHS shingles vaccine will be offered to almost one million more people

NHS shingles vaccine will be offered to almost one million more people Almost a million more people (900,000) will become eligible for a shingles vaccination from September, the NHS announced today.

Anyone who is severely immunosuppressed and over 50 will be able to get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine – currently the vaccine is only available to those over 70.

From 1 September 2023, those turning 65 and 70 will also be able to get the vaccine after their birthday, in addition to those already aged 70-80. Patients will be contacted by their GP practice when they become eligible.

Eligibility will then be expanded to include those 60 and up by September 2028. NHS England

See also:

• Shingles vaccine extended to vulnerable over-50s BBC News

Former surgeon wants NHS MeToo movement for sexual harassment

Former surgeon wants NHS MeToo movement for sexual harassment A former breast cancer surgeon has said the NHS needs a MeToo movement because of sexual harassment in hospitals.

Dr Liz O'Riordan said she experienced sexual harassment from colleagues on a weekly to monthly basis in some of her jobs as a junior doctor.

The 48-year-old retired in 2018 after her own breast cancer diagnoses. BBC News

Almost half of hospitals forced to close wards due to floods, power cuts and maintenance issues

Almost half of hospitals forced to close wards due to floods, power cuts and maintenance issues Almost half of NHS hospitals in England have been forced to close wards and vital services due to flooding, power cuts and structural problems, ITV News has discovered.

Our investigation has found entire accident and emergency departments, maternity wards and paediatric units at NHS hospitals have been temporarily shut in the last three years due to maintenance problems.

Some hospitals have had to permanently close entire wards because they are no longer structurally safe.

A Freedom of Information request to 95 NHS Trusts in England found 42% of those who responded have had wards, departments or services temporarily or permanently closed to due structural or repair issues since 2020.

In the last three years, 171 incidents were recorded at 27 NHS trusts.

See also: 

• Almost HALF of NHS hospitals have had to shut wards because of flooding and power cuts The Daily Mail

Big drug firms accused of 'ripping off' NHS with £12bn excess profits

Big drug firms accused of 'ripping off' NHS with £12bn excess profits Some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms have been accused of “ripping off” the NHS by making billions of pounds in profit on just a handful of cancer and other drugs.

NHS England has spent £13bn on the treatments in the past 10 years, with the drugs companies making up to £12.6bn through “extreme profiteering”, according to research by Global Justice Now, STOPAIDS, and Just Treatment. iNews

NHS hospitals in England serve meat with chemicals feared to cause cancer

NHS hospitals in England serve meat with chemicals feared to cause cancer Scores of hospitals are giving patients meat cured with chemicals that scientists and food safety experts increasingly fear may cause cancer.

Sixty-one NHS trusts in England are serving meat in their hospitals that may contain nitrates or nitrites despite growing evidence internationally implicating them in the development of cancer. The Guardian

Mindfulness really does work, study rules

Mindfulness really does work, study rules It may be dismissed by some as mumbo-jumbo, but trendy mindfulness could help to boost mental health for at least six months.

People who join in-person mindfulness classes are less likely to experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, analysis of 13 scientific studies suggests.

Mindfulness typically involves paying close attention to your body and surroundings in the moment, rather than being distracted by future worries - which is supposed to lead to feelings such as gratitude for being alive and greater calmness. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing mindfulness-based programs for mental health promotion (open access) Nature Mental Health

National Cancer Research Institute shut down amid future breakthrough fears

National Cancer Research Institute shut down amid future breakthrough fears A leading cancer research organisation which helped thousands of patients access life-saving new drugs has been forced to close after Cancer Research UK slashed its funding.

Last week it was announced that the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) will disband – a devastating blow to future research and trials of vital new treatments to combat the disease.

The NCRI said the closure was due to a lack of funds but did not provide further details. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NCRI is winding down after 22 remarkable years National Cancer Research Institute
• National Cancer Research Institute to close in “another blow” to UK research community The BMJ
• Expert reaction to letter from the Chair of the National Cancer Research Institute with news that it is closing down Science Media Centre

Northampton General: New critical care unit marks one year

Northampton General: New critical care unit marks one year A critical care unit, shaped by the Covid pandemic experience, has treated 900 patients in its first year.

The 16-bed unit at Northampton General Hospital, which opened last summer and cost £15.9m, offers round-the-clock care for the most vulnerable patients.

It includes special isolation rooms as well as space for relatives to stay so they can sleep close to loved ones. BBC Northampton

Wellingborough set to host Northamptonshire's first ever disability pride event to 'remove existing barriers and create a more inclusive society'

Wellingborough set to host Northamptonshire's first ever disability pride event to 'remove existing barriers and create a more inclusive society' Wellingborough is to host its first ever pride event for those with disabilities at the end of the month.

The July 29 event will be the first of its kind in Northamptonshire after being proposed by local campaigner Stephen Liney, in conjunction with Wellingborough Town Council. Northamptonshire Telegraph

National training survey results

National training survey results The UK health system is undergoing a period of unparalleled pressure, and the effects are being felt both by the patients in need of care and the doctors who treat them.

The national training survey, completed by more than 70,000 doctors, paints a comprehensive picture of how those workplace experiences are impacting those in training and their trainers.

That the quality of UK postgraduate training remains high, even in the face of acute stress, is testament to the hard work of trainers, trainees and education organisations. 86% of trainees were positive about their clinical supervision and 83% told us they had a good experience in their post.

Despite these positives, our data also point to troubling trends in doctors’ training experiences.

For trainees, burnout levels are once again on the rise. Across the UK, two thirds are now at high or moderate risk of burnout, the highest level since we started tracking this in 2018. General Medical Council

See also:

• Doctors in training report rising risk of burnout NHS Providers

Significant variations in hip fracture health costs and care between NHS hospitals and regions, study finds

Significant variations in hip fracture health costs and care between NHS hospitals and regions, study finds There are significant variations in healthcare spending and care delivery across NHS hospitals in England and Wales following hip fracture, a new study aimed at understanding how hospital care impacts patients’ outcomes and costs has revealed. University of Bristol

See also:

• Organisational factors associated with hospital costs and patient mortality in the 365 days following hip fracture in England and Wales (REDUCE): a record-linkage cohort study (open access) The Lancet Healthy Longevity

Research: Heat mortality monitoring reports

Research: Heat mortality monitoring reports The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) heat mortality monitoring helps to provide information on excess deaths observed during episodes of heat each year to inform public health actions.

Adverse heat events are increasing in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. The health impacts of these events can be significant particularly for vulnerable populations when excess mortality can occur.

Policy paper: England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2023

Policy paper: England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2023 The second action plan setting out how the Department of Health and Social Care and delivery partners will implement the UK Rare Diseases Framework in England.

Ian Paterson: Eleven further inquests set to open

Ian Paterson: Eleven further inquests set to open A further 11 inquests are to be opened this week as part of an investigation into dozens of deaths linked to jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

Paterson is currently serving a 20-year sentence after he carried out unnecessary or unapproved procedures on more than 1,000 breast cancer patients.

Judge Richard Foster said 417 cases of former patients had been reviewed.

The inquests will open and be adjourned on Friday. More than 30 deaths are already the subject of an inquest. BBC News

Transparent mouse could improve cancer drug tests

Transparent mouse could improve cancer drug tests A new scanning method involving a see-through mouse could improve how cancer drugs are tested, by picking up tumours previously too small to detect.

Prof Ali Ertürk of the Helmholtz Munich research centre worked out how to make a dead mouse transparent in 2018.

His team have now used chemicals to highlight specific tissues so that they can be scanned in unprecedented detail.

Drugs are often tested first on mice. Scientists say the new scanning method could revolutionise medical research. BBC News

NHS strikes could 'break relationship between staff and managers, say health leaders

NHS strikes could 'break relationship between staff and managers, say health leaders The “domino effect” of ongoing strikes in the NHS could “break the relationship” between staff and senior managers, health leaders have warned.

NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said that managers feel “deep concern” over the long-term impact of the pay row that has involved junior doctors, nurses and paramedics in the past 8 months. Evening Standard

See also:

• Consultants would call off strike for 12.4% NHS pay deal The Guardian
• NHS strikes could 'break relationship' between staff and bosses – health leaders The Independent

Up to 900,000 older people taken to A&E each year due to lack of NHS care at home

Up to 900,000 older people taken to A&E each year due to lack of NHS care at home Almost 900,000 older people are admitted to hospital every year as an emergency because the NHS is failing to keep them healthy at home, Age UK has warned.

A major lack of services outside hospitals means elderly people are also suffering avoidable harm, such as falls and urinary tract infections, the charity said.

In a new report it urges NHS bosses to push through huge changes to how the “hospital-oriented” service operates and establish “home first” as the principle of where care is provided. The Guardian

See also:

• The State of Health and Care of Older People in England 2023 Age UK
• Age UK issues clarion call for a big shift towards joined up home and community based health and social care services for older people Age UK
• Better care for the elderly would free up 855,000 slots in A&E each year, damning report reveals The Daily Mail

Cost of living crisis 'sparks return of Victorian-era illnesses' like scurvy and rickets

Cost of living crisis 'sparks return of Victorian-era illnesses' like scurvy and rickets Victorian-era illnesses such as scurvy and rickets are rebounding because of the cost-of-living crisis, experts say.

Both conditions, which are consequences of malnutrition, largely vanished in the 20th century due to better diets. 

Nearly 11,000 people in England — including hundreds of kids — were hospitalised with malnutrition last year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Thousands of people admitted to hospital with malnutrition The Times

NHS faces statins crisis as pharmacies report 'desperate' shortages of life-saving drug

NHS faces statins crisis as pharmacies report 'desperate' shortages of life-saving drug Statins are in short supply across the country with pharmacists facing a ‘desperate’ struggle to obtain the life-saving drugs.

Almost eight million Britons rely on statins to lower their cholesterol levels, which in turn reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

But atorvastatin, the most popular statin prescribed by the NHS, is missing from many chemists nationwide. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Negotiators warn statin shortage is having ‘serious impact’ on pharmacies as price spikes The Pharmaceutical Journal

Chronic pain disorder written off by doctors as 'imaginary' drives thousands to suicide, study warns

Chronic pain disorder written off by doctors as 'imaginary' drives thousands to suicide, study warns A chronic condition that causes widespread pain in millions of patients may be linked to an increased risk of death, a new review suggests. 

A meta-analysis suggested that people with fibromyalgia had a 27 percent increased risk of death.

In particular, they highlighted a greater likelihood of accidents, infections, and suicide. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Fibromyalgia and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis (open access) Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

Spotlight on the life-saving work of the Critical Care Unit at NGH on its first anniversary

Spotlight on the life-saving work of the Critical Care Unit at NGH on its first anniversary The new Critical Care Unit at Northampton General Hospital has provided vital support for almost 900 patients and their families in its first year of operation.

The £15.9m state-of-the-art unit opened its doors on June 29, 2022, following an extensive period of design, discussion and building work. Northants Life

Defining our digital heath destiny – shaping an eco-system, or being shaped by disfunction?

Defining our digital heath destiny – shaping an eco-system, or being shaped by disfunction? For health and social care to benefit from digital technologies there needs to be a vibrant ecosystem with innovations that are problem-led and rapid to implement, while using the best evidence-based technology. The evolution of the ecosystem is far from this ideal and risks being shaped by dysfunction. The King's Fund

Six steps to better care for older people in acute hospitals

Six steps to better care for older people in acute hospitals This guidance aims to offer measures that teams should take to improve care and reduce hospital-acquired dependency for those living with frailty, as well as stressing that interventions should be monitored and linked more widely to community-based services. Getting It Right First Time

Urology: towards better care for patients with kidney cancer

Urology: towards better care for patients with kidney cancer This guidance – a collaboration between Getting It Right First Time, the British Association of Urological Surgeons and the British Association of Urological Nurses – describes the key features of a good kidney cancer service and lists the quality actions teams can take to bridge any gaps they identify. It also includes a delivery checklist and case studies illustrating good practice.

Nottingham maternity review set to become UK's largest

Nottingham maternity review set to become UK's largest A review into failings in maternity care in hospitals in Nottingham is set to become the largest in the UK, the BBC understands.

Donna Ockenden, chair of the inquiry, is expected to announce that 1,700 families' cases will be examined.

She was in charge of the probe into services in Shropshire, which found at least 201 babies and mothers might have survived had they received better care.

The review comes after dozens of baby deaths and injuries in Nottingham. BBC News

See also:

• Nottingham baby death inquiry expected to uncover biggest-ever maternity scandal Evening Standard
• Baby died of brain injury after midwives ‘neglected’ mum while breastfeeding The Independent
• Significant change in NUH maternity review means more cases to be investigated Nottingham Post
• Nottingham hospitals trust to be more 'honest' with families affected by maternity failings Nottingham Post
• Crisis in NHS maternity units revealed as 21 rated ‘substandard’ The Observer

Weight-loss jabs investigated for suicide risk

Weight-loss jabs investigated for suicide risk Europe's drugs regulator has told BBC News it is conducting a review of some weight-loss jabs after being alerted to a possible link to thoughts of suicide and self-harm among users.

Member state Iceland notified the European Medicines Agency after seeing three cases.

The safety assessment will look at Wegovy, Saxenda and similar drugs, such as Ozempic, that help curb appetite.

Product leaflets already list suicidal thoughts as a possible side effect. BBC News

Researchers hopeful of treatment of Parkinson’s by 2030 with ‘dual efficacy’ drug

Researchers hopeful of treatment of Parkinson’s by 2030 with ‘dual efficacy’ drug A former diabetes trial drug could be used to treat Parkinson’s disease within years, research suggests.

The drug, which was designed to treat dyskinesia – involuntary movements that are a common side effect in Parkinson’s patients who take levodopa-based medication for several years – could also improve motor symptoms linked to the condition.

According to Parkinson’s UK, the drug – NLX-112 – offers hope that a new multi-faceted treatment could be in reach by 2030. The Independent

See also:

• Clinical trial results offer hope of a new Parkinson’s treatment for motor symptoms and dyskinesia Parkinson's UK

NHS facing new strike action as radiographers announce 48 hour walkout after union rejected government pay offer

NHS facing new strike action as radiographers announce 48 hour walkout after union rejected government pay offer NHS patients in parts of England could face delays to x-rays, scans and cancer treatment when radiographers walk out for 48 hours in a dispute over pay.

The latest strike to hit the health service was confirmed today by the Society of Radiographers (SoR) trade union.

Members of the union at 43 NHS trusts have voted to walk out between 8am on 25 July and 8am on 27 July. Sky News

Revealed: pharma giants pour millions of pounds into NHS to boost drug sales

Revealed: pharma giants pour millions of pounds into NHS to boost drug sales Pharmaceutical giants are pouring tens of millions of pounds into struggling NHS services – including paying the salaries of medical staff and funding the redesign of patient treatment – as they seek to boost drug sales in the UK, the Observer can reveal.

Drug firms are simultaneously funding groups that lobby for greater investment in their disease areas, and in some cases are paying generous consultancy fees to influential ­healthcare professionals, including GPs who have worked as clinical leads for NHS England and have received as much as £480,000 each from industry since 2019.

See also:

• ‘It’s naive to think this is in the best interests of the NHS.’ How Big Pharma’s millions are influencing healthcare The Observer

Patient dies and three hospitalised in Sciensus chemotherapy incident

Patient dies and three hospitalised in Sciensus chemotherapy incident A cancer patient has died and three others have been hospitalised after they were administered unlicensed versions of chemotherapy by Sciensus, a private company paid millions by the NHS to provide essential medication, the Guardian can reveal.

Three health regulators have launched inquiries into the incident, according to people familiar with the matter. It was caused by an issue at the firm’s medicines manufacturing unit. The Guardian

Racism is ‘stain’ on NHS for staff and patients, says psychiatry chief

Racism is ‘stain’ on NHS for staff and patients, says psychiatry chief Racism is “a stain on the NHS” and tackling it is key to recruiting and retaining staff, the outgoing president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) will warn.

The health service has a moral, ethical and legal duty to do more to stamp out racism, Dr Adrian James is expected to say at the college’s international congress in Liverpool. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS 'must do much more to stamp out racism in all its forms' Evening Standard

'Postcode lottery' in prostate cancer care costs thousands of lives a year

'Postcode lottery' in prostate cancer care costs thousands of lives a year A ‘postcode lottery’ in prostate cancer care is costing thousands of lives a year, a charity has warned.

Men living in parts of the North East are almost six times more likely to be diagnosed after their cancer has spread than in the country’s top performing trusts.

Patients in northern counties are also significantly less likely to have access to cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment compared with the South, analysis by Prostate Cancer Research found. The Daily Mail

UK’s largest health research programme opens 15 new locations in July, including Northampton

UK’s largest health research programme opens 15 new locations in July, including Northampton Our Future Health, the UK’s largest health research programme, will launch appointments in 15 new locations in July 2023, bringing the total to 70 clinics overall across the UK. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Dying Matters: Let’s talk about it!’ a chance to speak to end-of-life experts at Kettering General Hospital

Dying Matters: Let’s talk about it!’ a chance to speak to end-of-life experts at Kettering General Hospital The free online event is on Tuesday, July 18, from 2pm-3pm, and is one of a series of events – open to all in the county – which has been arranged by KGH Public Governors.

The event itself is called Dying Matters – ‘Let’s talk about it’ is part of the series called Your Health Matters that aims to help demystify common health conditions and difficult subjects whilst providing practical support. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The NHS then and now: a view from The King’s Fund’s archive

The NHS then and now: a view from The King’s Fund’s archive When NHS was founded in 1948, The King’s Fund had just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Needless to say, both organisations, and the health and care system, have changed considerably in the 75 years since then.

A quick dive into The King’s Fund archive emphasises that some of challenges the NHS is facing today are not unique. Here are four recommendations from 75 years ago that we can still use as inspiration to tackle the major challenges the NHS is facing today.

NHS at 75: insights report

NHS at 75: insights report In May 2023, National Voices brought together around 50 members and people with lived experience in response to an invitation from the NHS Assembly to offer insights and recommendations on future directions for the NHS in the lead up to its 75th anniversary. Insights were sought around five key themes: prevention; personalisation; participation; primary and community care; and partnerships. This report finds that any future developments within the NHS must focus on responding to what matters to people and ensuring that the basic building blocks are in place, such as equity of access and simple communication. National Voices

Healthcare and prosperity: the NHS at 75

Healthcare and prosperity: the NHS at 75 This research shows that a third of British adults (34 per cent) have found it difficult to get the health care services they need through the NHS, since the pandemic began. This rises to 51 per cent of people with a life-limiting health condition. It finds that this disruption is costing lives and livelihoods. Some 71 per cent of those with a life limiting health condition who experienced difficulty getting the NHS health care they need said this lack of access had directly undermined their wellbeing and economic prospects. Institute for Public Policy Research

New resources support partnership between midwives, women and families

New resources support partnership between midwives, women and families The NMC has launched a new initiative supporting midwives to work in partnership with women and families, ensuring the best possible experiences during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.

It’s called, ‘The best midwifery care happens in partnership’. It centres on a set of resources designed to support midwives to reflect on the positive impact they’ve had for women and people in maternity care, as well as anything they might do differently in the future. Nursing and Midwifery Council

The NHS at 75: The past and future of its funding model

The NHS at 75: The past and future of its funding model The 75th anniversary of the NHS’s foundation was on 5 July 2023. This article considers how spending on the NHS has changed since its inception and the debate about its funding model going forwards. House of Lords Library

Rise in psychological distress in young adults - survey

Rise in psychological distress in young adults - survey There has been a rise in the number of young adults in England who report feelings of severe distress, according to a new survey.

The study found one in five 18 to 24-year-olds said they experienced severe distress at the end of 2022, compared to around one in seven in 2021.

The research suggested reports of severe distress rose across all age groups, except for those over 65.

Experts have pointed to the pandemic, cost of living and healthcare crisis. BBC News

See also:

• Trends in Psychological Distress Among Adults in England, 2020-2022 (open access) JAMA Network Open
• Distress in England’s young adults has risen sharply since Covid, study shows The Guardian

Sarms: Illegal muscle drugs sold in UK shops, BBC finds

Sarms: Illegal muscle drugs sold in UK shops, BBC finds "Dangerous" muscle-building drugs are being sold illegally in shops around the UK, a BBC investigation has found.

The substances, known as Sarms, can cause erectile dysfunction, mood swings and liver problems, doctors warn.

Secret filming by the BBC found they were widely available in shops that sell bodybuilding supplements as well as online.

Responding to the findings, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) called for the law to be tightened. BBC News

How cancer patients receive the most modern care in buildings that are 'not fit for purpose'

How cancer patients receive the most modern care in buildings that are 'not fit for purpose' Cancer treatment is carried out in a building that opened in 1839 in the Royal Berkshire Hospital - with waiting patients having to be evacuated after rain flooded through the ceiling. Sky News

Austerity has led to NHS quality of care deteriorating across the board, study finds

Austerity has led to NHS quality of care deteriorating across the board, study finds The quality of care that the NHS provides has got worse in many key areas and patients’ long waits to access treatment could become even more common, research has found.

The coalition government’s austerity programme in the early 2010s led to the heath service no longer being able to meet key waiting time targets, the Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation said. The Guardian

HPV test could reduce the risk of cervical cancer in over-65s, study finds

HPV test could reduce the risk of cervical cancer in over-65s, study finds Women over the age of 65 could benefit from an HPV test to reduce their risk of cervical cancer, a study suggests.

In England, the NHS cervical screening programme does not routinely offer screening to women aged 65 and older.

But some experts argue there should be a 'catch-up' programme inviting older women to be tested for high-risk forms of human papillomavirus (HPV) - which increase women's risk of developing cervical cancer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Value of a catch-up HPV test in women aged 65 and above: A Danish population-based nonrandomized intervention study (open access) PLOS Medicine

Be nicer to your receptionist, patients urged

Be nicer to your receptionist, patients urged A team led by the University of Queensland looked at 20 studies on receptionists' experience of hostility from patients in GP surgeries, including 11 from the UK.

Receptionists in doctors' surgeries are routinely facing hostility from patients, researchers have found.

They 'bear the brunt' of patients' frustrations, principally caused by being unable to get appointments and having to wait to see a doctor.

Researchers have appealed to patients to think about the receptionists who act as the 'human shield' of the NHS, and be kinder. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Patient aggression towards receptionists in general practice: a systematic review (open access) BMJ Family Medicine and Community Health

Looking back through the years at Northampton and Kettering Hospitals as NHS celebrates 75th anniversary

Looking back through the years at Northampton and Kettering Hospitals as NHS celebrates 75th anniversary Since its launch in the 1948, Northampton General Hospital (NGH) and Kettering General Hospital (KGH) have changed immensely.

From employing hundreds of employees back in the 40s, to now having 10,000 staff members on the books across both hospitals, the development is huge. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Amazing pictures as Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals celebrate NHS 75 Northants Live

New poll finds enduring public support for the NHS alongside a call for government action to support social care

New poll finds enduring public support for the NHS alongside a call for government action to support social care A new NHS Confederation survey finds there is continuing public support for the NHS as health leaders call on the government to support social care.

Driving better health outcomes through integrated care systems: the role of district councils

Driving better health outcomes through integrated care systems: the role of district councils This report from The King's Fund contains interviews with district council officers and integrated care board (ICB) staff in four sites from around England to better understand the current relationships between local government and ICBs. It also looks at what good practice looks like, what enables it and the outcomes it produces.

Train, retain, reform: does the NHS Long Term Plan provide a coherent map for the future?

Train, retain, reform: does the NHS Long Term Plan provide a coherent map for the future? It has been a long time coming, but now the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan is with us, does it measure up? Well, if it manages to do the things it says it will do (more on this below), then yes. This could be the point at which the NHS starts to overcome the repeated workforce crises that have periodically plagued it over the past 75 years. The King's Fund

Face to face health checks more than double in one year

Face to face health checks more than double in one year More than one million people had a face-to-face NHS Health Check last year - more than double the previous year - new data published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) today shows.

The NHS Health Check helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes and is currently a face-to-face check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It can help spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or dementia. Department of Health and Social Care

Local officials only heard about new Covid rules on TV, inquiry told

Local officials only heard about new Covid rules on TV, inquiry told The government's plans for dealing with Covid were "unclear" with some local health officials only hearing about policy changes from TV news conferences, the Covid Inquiry has heard.

Prof Jim McManus, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), said communication from central government had been "lacking".

A national system for tracing infected contacts was set up from scratch, instead of building on local teams which already existed, he said. BBC News

See also:

• Next pandemic could be even deadlier than Covid, Government adviser warns The Daily Mail
• UK Covid inquiry: public health bosses relied on media for information The Guardian

Tewkesbury balance classes 'reduce GP appointment demand'

Tewkesbury balance classes 'reduce GP appointment demand' The demand for GP appointments in a town has fallen by 14% since thousands of exercise classes were laid on for the over 65s.

Around 11,500 patients were contacted to take part in strength and balance classes in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

The town's proactive Health and Wellbeing Team are now working with them to spot early signs of frailty.

The team also claim to have identified unmet health needs in a third of those taking part. BBC News

NHS waiting list will ‘probably go up’ in England, says minister

NHS waiting list will ‘probably go up’ in England, says minister A Conservative minister has acknowledged the NHS waiting list, which stands at a record high with more than 7.4 million people waiting for treatment in England, will “probably go up” before it goes down.

Speaking on the 75th anniversary of its creation, the health minister Maria Caulfield claimed the NHS would be “thriving” in 25 years’ time, saying a two-year waiting time had “virtually been eliminated”. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS Recovery Summit held to help cut waiting lists Department of Health and Social Care
• Health Secretary to hold discussion with experts on how to cut NHS waiting lists Evening Standard
• ‘Vanishingly small’ chance Sunak can cut NHS waiting lists by election, warn experts The Independent

'I had zero symptoms': NHS trial detects lung cancer in fitness fan

'I had zero symptoms': NHS trial detects lung cancer in fitness fan Jackie Head, who has trained in the Arctic, now cancer free after early diagnosis in pilot England scheme. The Guardian

Skin cancer warning as UK cases reach record high with cheap package holidays blamed

 Skin cancer warning as UK cases reach record high with cheap package holidays blamed Cases of deadly skin cancer across age groups have reached a record high in the UK with 17,500 people diagnosed each year, a charity has said.

According to Cancer Research UK, the boom of cheap holiday packages in the 1960s has been linked to the rise in melanoma skin cancer among older adults.

The charity pointed to a particular rise in cases among adults aged 55 and over, with case rates among this age group rising 195 per cent since the 1990s. The Independent

See also:

• Lung cancer rates among women to overtake men in UK for the first time The Independent

GP and hospital no-shows could be fined £10 under new plans

GP and hospital no-shows could be fined £10 under new plans People who miss GP and hospital appointments could be fined £10, under plans being considered by ministers.

Health minister Maria Caulfield revealed that senior figures are examining whether the introduction of fines could help reduce the millions of missed appointments each year.

The idea was put forward by Rishi Sunak during last summer's Tory leadership campaign. The Daily Mail

Northampton nurse to visit Downing Street to meet Rishi Sunak as part of celebrations for 75 years of the NHS

Northampton nurse to visit Downing Street to meet Rishi Sunak as part of celebrations for 75 years of the NHS A nurse from Northampton General Hospital (NGH) is meeting the Prime Minister as part of the national NHS 75 celebrations.

Deputy Lead Nurse for Palliative Care, Kerry Messam, has been invited to a Downing Street reception with Rishi Sunak taking place today. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS Birthday 2023

NHS Birthday 2023 On 5 July 2023, the NHS will mark 75 years of service. We will be celebrating this milestone by showcasing the best of the NHS. 

Treating over a million people a day in England, the NHS touches all of our lives. When it was founded in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery. Today, nine in 10 people agree that healthcare should be free of charge, more than four in five agree that care should be available to everyone, and that the NHS makes them most proud to be British. NHS England

See also:

• To everyone who's made such a difference to many millions of lives over the last 75 years — thank you. (Tweet) Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive NHS England
• Celebrating 75 years of our NHS and the people improving care Healthwatch
• Celebrating the NHS at 75 NHS Employers
• British sporting stars unite to celebrate NHS’s 75th birthday NHS England
• Prince William and Kate meet NHS' first ever baby BBC News
• NHS chief thanks staff for ‘constant compassion’ as health service turns 75 Evening Standard
• Timeline: The NHS’s milestones in healthcare as service turns 75 Evening Standard
• ‘I would not want to be in anyone else’s hands’: six people on how the NHS saved their lives The Guardian
• NHS 75: Nurses share their ‘birthday wishes’ for the health service Nursing in Practice
• NHS at 75: Who was founder Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan? Sky News

‘Addiction to short-termism’ put NHS future at risk, warn think tanks

‘Addiction to short-termism’ put NHS future at risk, warn think tanks As the NHS turns 75, three major health and care research institutes have issued a stark warning that continued political short-termism will leave the NHS ‘unlikely to reach it’s centenary’.

The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund have written to the leaders of the three largest political parties in England stating: ‘75 years after its creation, the National Health Service is in critical condition. Pressures on services are extreme and public satisfaction is at its lowest since it first began to be tracked 40 years ago. Despite this, public support for the NHS as an institution is rock solid.’

See also:

• The NHS at 75: a letter to party leaders The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund
• The NHS at 75: what does the future hold? NHS Providers
• NHS 75: Happy birthday - but can it survive to 100? BBC News
• Inside the NHS at 75: ‘Used and abused, overworked and underpaid’ – video The Guardian
• NHS founder 'would turn in his grave' as service faces crisis at 75 The Guardian
• Most doctors think ministers want to destroy NHS, BMA boss says The Guardian
• NHS at 75: First NHS baby says service is 'creaking at the seams' Sky News
• NHS at 75: 90% of people don't think the service will improve with almost half saying it will get worse Sky News

Fit for the Future: A Modern and Sustainable NHS Providing Accessible and Personalised Care for All

Fit for the Future: A Modern and Sustainable NHS Providing Accessible and Personalised Care for All We have the technological and scientific means to transform health and care to safeguard the founding principles of Beveridge and Bevan. Without fully embracing the tech revolution, there is no future for the NHS.

As this report sets out, we keep the principle of health care based on need not on the ability to pay – the originating principle of the NHS – but change radically the way the system works to incorporate not only what modern technology makes possible, but also the best from health-care systems around the world. Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

See also:

• NHS patients should be allowed to pay to speed up healthcare access, says Tony Blair The Daily Telegraph
• Tony Blair urges expanded role for private sector as NHS turns 75 The Guardian
• Tony Blair says NHS is finished unless private sector used more The Independent

Report findings on staff health and wellbeing in the NHS

Report findings on staff health and wellbeing in the NHS A new report looking at organisational measures to support staff wellbeing in the NHS identifies a range of factors underpinning the most successful interventions.

The Organisational Wellbeing Interventions: Case Studies from the NHS report is published by the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and produced by a team of researchers from universities across the UK.

It comes as working conditions and psychological wellbeing of NHS staff is an increasing cause for concern, and more questions are being raised about how they can best be supported in these challenging times. NHS Employers

UK Health Security Agency set up with no formal governance and weak financial controls

UK Health Security Agency set up with no formal governance and weak financial controls The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was set up with financial controls so poor that it cannot be established whether its transactions were applied to the purposes laid out for it by Parliament.

In a report published today on the Department of Health and Social Care’s 2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts, the Public Accounts Committee notes that the UKHSA’s weak financial controls meant that, highly unusually, it could not be established whether its accounts were true and fair. For example, UKHSA’s consumption of £3.3 billion worth of inventory transferred from NHS Test and Trace could not be verified by proper financial records. The UKHSA did not even perform bank reconciliations, one of the most basic financial controls for an organisation.

See also:

• UKHSA was set-up with 'no formal governance' The Daily Mail
• MPs criticise ‘staggering’ failures at UK Health Security Agency The Guardian
• British lawmakers say new health agency had weak financial controls Reuters

All secondary school pupils eligible for free flu vaccine

All secondary school pupils eligible for free flu vaccine All secondary school pupils in England will be offered a free flu vaccine from September for the 2023/24 season, the government has confirmed.

An initial list of groups eligible for this year’s vaccine was first announced in May, with a note that a decision on secondary school pupils would follow at a later date.

Now, the government has confirmed it is expanding the programme to over three million pupils in secondary school years 7 to 11, who will be offered the vaccine as a nasal spray through their school’s vaccination programme from 1 September. Department of Health and Social Care

Policy paper: Safe care at home review

Policy paper: Safe care at home review Joint review led by the Home Office and DHSC into the protections and support for adults abused, or at risk of abuse, in their own home by people providing their care.

The review drew on the experience of people who receive care in their own homes, organisations representing carers, and statutory agencies including frontline professionals. Department of Health and Social Care

Cancer patients welcome NHS drug policy change

Cancer patients welcome NHS drug policy change Cancer patients said they felt relieved they could continue taking life-saving drugs after a policy change.

Doctors were not allowed to automatically prescribe two bowel cancer drugs on the NHS in England if patients had taken a break from them.

Steven Marsland, 38, from Brantham, Suffolk, said the decision meant he now had "one less thing to worry about".

The policy affected the drugs cetuximab and panitumumab. BBC News

NHS England sets out seven short-term digital priorities

NHS England sets out seven short-term digital priorities NHS England has informed NHS trusts and ICBs of its list of seven short-term digital priorities, all focused on secondary care and elective recovery, with an eye firmly on the next General Election.

The so-called 6+1 priorities, issued in June with minimal advance notice or consultation, cover strictly short-term objectives that NHS England rather improbably says can be deployed a light speed, some in a matter of months, before the next General Election, expected in autumn 2024. Digital Health

Extension of NHS 'virtual ward' scheme for children in England 'equivalent to 10,000 extra beds by winter'

Extension of NHS 'virtual ward' scheme for children in England 'equivalent to 10,000 extra beds by winter' A scheme which enables children to receive hospital level care at home for certain conditions will be extended to every region in England, the NHS has announced.

The virtual ward initiative - the largest of its kind in the world - was piloted in Blackpool, Dudley and Dorset, where it was used by 6,400 children.

People with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and heart conditions can be cared for at home under the scheme. Sky News

Endometriosis may be linked to reduction in live births before diagnosis – study

Endometriosis may be linked to reduction in live births before diagnosis – study Endometriosis may be linked to a reduction in live births before diagnosis of the condition, research suggests.

According to the study, the disease is associated with a reduction in fertility in the years before a definitive surgical diagnosis.

Researchers suggest the possible effect of endometriosis on the desired number of children highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The Independent

See also:

• First live birth before surgical verification of endometriosis—a nationwide register study of 18 324 women (open access) Human Reproduction

NHS at 75: What next?

NHS at 75: What next? As the NHS turns 75 this week, politicians will use the moment to underline their loyalty to the service and how they would improve it – before their attention moves onto their manifestos ahead of the general election. Rishi Sunak has already set out the five ‘people’s priorities’ for voters to judge his premiership, including cutting the NHS waiting list. Keir Starmer recently launched Labour’s NHS ’mission’ to tackle the biggest killers and improve healthy life expectancy. But are these what the NHS actually needs? The Health Foundation

See also:

• The NHS was never meant to go it alone The Health Foundation
• The NHS at 75: How do we meet the needs of future generations? NHS Confederation
• NHS at 75: Still caring from cradle to grave BBC News
• NHS 75th anniversary: What state is the health service in? Channel 4 News
• The NHS is 'collapsing' – leading medic warns Evening Standard
• NHS at 75 - NHS Confederation CEO warns reform is needed to save lives ITV News

First major survey of doctors with Long Covid reveals debilitating impact on health, life and work

First major survey of doctors with Long Covid reveals debilitating impact on health, life and work Lost jobs, lost income, debilitating symptoms that render even the most mundane tasks near-impossible, and huge barriers to accessing treatment: these are the repeated stories of UK doctors living with Long Covid, in response to a major survey from the BMA.

Carried out in partnership with the support group Long Covid Doctors for Action, it is the first comprehensive survey of doctors with post-acute Covid health complications (often referred to as ‘Long Covid’). More than 600 doctors suffering the continuing effects of Covid-19 were asked about the impact the condition is having on their health, daily lives, employment and finances.

Digital transformation in the NHS

Digital transformation in the NHS Successive Governments have recognised the importance of moving the NHS onto a digital footing. “Digital transformation” encompasses “digitising” services and processes that have traditionally been delivered physically, and greater use of innovative approaches to care that are enabled by advances in technology. 

Digital transformation is vital for the long-term sustainability of the health service: the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) and NHS England believe that a shift to digital channels (such as the NHS App) is necessary to delivering priorities such as reducing care backlogs and improving access to primary care. Digital can also deliver improvements in care to patients, ranging from increased convenience to access to cutting-edge treatments and diagnostics. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee

Portrait of nurse of 47 years among winners of NHS staff and volunteers photography competition

Portrait of nurse of 47 years among winners of NHS staff and volunteers photography competition Five winners of a photography competition for NHS staff and volunteers to mark 75 years of the health service have been unveiled today at the FUJIFILM House of Photography, with images including long-serving nurse, ‘Mother Obe’, the NHS COVID-19 vaccination effort and an ambulance battling the Beast from the East among the winning images. NHS England

Smartwatches may provide early Parkinson's diagnosis

Smartwatches may provide early Parkinson's diagnosis Smartwatches might help diagnose Parkinson's disease up to seven years ahead of symptoms, a study suggests.

The UK Dementia Research Institute team at Cardiff University used artificial intelligence to analyse data from 103,712 smartwatch wearers.

And by tracking their speed of movement over a single week, between 2013 and 2016, they were able to predict which would go on to develop Parkinson's.

It is hoped this could ultimately be used as a screening tool. BBC News

See also:

• Wearable movement-tracking data identify Parkinson’s disease years before clinical diagnosis (abstract) Nature Medicine
• Smart watches could spot Parkinson's seven years before key symptoms appear, study suggests The Daily Mail
• Smart watches could detect Parkinson’s seven years before symptoms The Independent
• Smartwatches could help identify symptoms of Parkinson's disease Sky News

PTSD affects 300,000 young people in England and Wales, Channel 4 finds

PTSD affects 300,000 young people in England and Wales, Channel 4 finds Thousands of young people are living with post-traumatic stress disorder, with most cases going untreated, a Channel 4 documentary has revealed.

About 311,000 16- to 24-year-olds in England and Wales have PTSD, with most cases linked to personal assault and violence, according to figures estimated for the show.

Low awareness of the symptoms and the difficulty of diagnosing PTSD means that 70% of cases go untreated. If the NHS offered more early intervention therapy, it could save £2.4bn in taxpayer money, according to Channel 4’s analysis of research by King’s College London and Office for National Statistics data. The Guardian

See also:

• Untold Stories: Trapped in trauma (documentary) Channel 4

Revealed: Thousands dying in hospitals because patients cannot be discharged

Revealed: Thousands dying in hospitals because patients cannot be discharged None of us like to think of our own death, but when we do, most of us hope we will be in our homes, peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

For thousands of people every year that doesn’t happen.

Instead they die in hospital, not for any good reason, but because the hospital cannot discharge them – because there is no support in the community.

The problems in social care block up hospitals in England denying many the hospital treatment they deserve and others the deaths they might hope for. Channel 4 News

Sight-saving drug to be offered to premature babies, announces NHS

Sight-saving drug to be offered to premature babies, announces NHS Premature babies across England will be offered a sight-saving drug, the NHS has announced.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease that can occur among babies who are born early or those born with a low birth weight.

Now the NHS is offering new “life-changing” drug ranibizumab to babies with ROP across England who are unable to receive traditional treatment. The Independent

See also:

• NHS to offer sight-saving drug to premature babies BBC News

‘You reach a point where you can’t live your life’: what is behind extreme hoarding?

‘You reach a point where you can’t live your life’: what is behind extreme hoarding? Hoarding can be distressing and dangerous. But it’s not just a matter of ‘too much stuff’ – it’s a complex condition that requires careful, targeted help. The Guardian

Fewer teens now VIEW themselves as overweight even though record number are MEDICALLY obese

Fewer teens now VIEW themselves as overweight even though record number are MEDICALLY obese The vast majority of teens now underestimate their body weight at the expense of their health, a new global study suggests.

Nearly 14 percent of adolescents aged believed themselves to be lighter than they actually were while over a quarter overestimated their weight 

That is despite ballooning obesity rates nationwide, with 43 percent of adults and 25 percent of youth qualifying as medically too fat or having a body mass index of over 30.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• Cross-national time trends in adolescent body weight perception and the explanatory role of overweight/obesity prevalence (open access) Child and Adolescent Obesity