NHS 'must do more to prevent falls'

NHS 'must do more to prevent falls': The NHS needs to do more to prevent falls in hospitals, warns a health watchdog. BBC News

See also:

• Action needed to reduce hospital falls: a "one size fits all" approach will not work, warns NICE NICE
• Not enough done to prevent hospital falls Public Service
• 90 patients die from falls in hospital in one year The Daily Telegraph
• Hospitals should assess patients for risk of falling, experts say The Guardian

The lost boy

The lost boy: Do suicidal adolescents receive enough support? BBC News

Primary care faces 'radical change' in next two years, says Nicholson

Primary care faces 'radical change' in next two years, says Nicholson: Outgoing NHS England chief executive Sir David Nicholson has hit out at media attacks on GPs, but called for 'radical change' to primary care over the next two or three years. GP Online

Prepared to care? Exploring the impact of caring on people's lives

Prepared to care? Exploring the impact of caring on people's lives: The findings from this report show that support is not being made available to new carers with often devastating consequences. It outlines the emotional, physical and financial effects that caring can have as people are not prepared for the impact of the role. The report highlights the need for greater support for carers including better access to information; flexible working practices; and financial support in a fair and easy to navigate welfare system.

• Report
• Key recommendations
• Infographic
• Carers Trust - news

CCG outcomes interactive tool

CCG outcomes interactive tool: In December 2012, NHS England published a set of information packs for CCGs and local authorities that set out key data to inform the local position on outcomes. Following feedback, this tool has been produced which allows users to view maps, charts and tables of individual outcome indicators across CCGs.The CCG outcomes explorer tool allows users to explore the relationships between two outcomes or between demographic information and outcomes.CCG outcomes tool

Decision over e-cigarettes and 'vaping' imminent

Decision over e-cigarettes and 'vaping' imminent: An announcement is expected soon about whether electronic cigarettes are to be licensed and regulated as an aid to quit smoking.

Medical experts and trading standards officials have urged the government to classify e-cigarettes – battery-operated devices that mimic cigarettes – as a form of nicotine-replacement therapy, which would mean stringent checks by medicine regulator the MHRA.
At the moment, e-cigarettes are only covered by general product safety legislation, meaning they can legally be promoted and sold to children, and we cannot be sure of their ingredients or how much nicotine they contain.

Breast cancer screening 'may not reduce deaths'

Breast cancer screening 'may not reduce deaths': The findings of a study examining 39 years of breast cancer death rates have hit the headlines, with The Guardian reporting that, 'Breast cancer screening not shown to reduce deaths.' The value of breast cancer screening has been the subject of debate for many years. Every time it seems the question has been settled – as some presumed was the case after the publication of a 2012 review into screening – new evidence emerges that reignites the debate.

The lessons Japan has for the UK on dementia

The lessons Japan has for the UK on dementia: As the UK population ages, our politicians are looking at the policies of a country where one in four people is over 65.
Jeremy Hunt's recent visit to Japan passed almost unnoticed in Britain. Yet the issues he discussed with Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, and the health minister, Norihisa Tamura, touched on a problem that is likely to dominate social policy in the next decade: dementia care.

Cancer database could save thousands of lives

Cancer database could save thousands of lives: A "game-changing" new cancer database that could save thousands of lives a year will be announced today. The Daily Telegraph

Fitness not age is what matters on the operating table

Fitness not age is what matters on the operating table: A patient's fitness - not their age - should be the key factor in deciding whether they have an operation, a major study has concluded. The Daily Telegraph

NHS hospitals spend £2m on gagging orders preventing staff speaking out

NHS hospitals spend £2m on gagging orders preventing staff speaking out:
Hospitals have spent £2 million on more than 50 gagging orders preventing staff speaking out, a Freedom of Information Act request has revealed. The Independent

See also:

• Hospitals have spent £2m on gagging orders for staff, figures show The Guardian
• NHS trusts spend £2m to stop staff speaking out The Daily Telegraph

Stress of Northamptonshire carers revealed

Stress of Northamptonshire carers revealed: About 40 per cent of carers are on medication for stress, a Northamptonshire charity has said. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Premature deaths high in Northamptonshire

Premature deaths high in Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire has more premature deaths than many counties with similar populations, a website launched today shows. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Girl, 2, died from blood poisoning just hours after doctors accused her mother of being 'paranoid'

Girl, 2, died from blood poisoning just hours after doctors accused her mother of being 'paranoid': Brooklyn Harrold, from Northampton, was sent home from Northampton General Hospital with a 'sky high' temperature without doctors even carrying out a full blood test, her mother Leanne claims. The Daily Mail

Early death variations 'shocking'

Early death variations 'shocking': Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says variations in early death rates across England show action is needed to identify health challenges. BBC News

See also:

• Longer Lives (the online atlas of mortality by local authority) Public Health England
• Press release: Local variation in avoidable death rates revealed Department of Health
• League table for premature deaths revealed The Daily Telegraph
• Most deaths in under-75s are potentially avoidable, says health body The Guardian

Exclusive: What GPs say about taking back out-of-hours duty

Exclusive: What GPs say about taking back out-of-hours duty: More than 1,000 GPs responded within 24 hours to a GP magazine poll asking whether the profession should take back out-of-hours responsibility. Below is a selection from almost 300 comments left by GPs setting out views for and against the move. GP Online

New mental health guidance published

New mental health guidance published: NHS Employers has published new guidance for managers on the mental health of their staff. It includes how to create a positive impact on the workplace and support staff with mental health problems. NHS Employers

'Ageless' psychiatric care could harm elderly

'Ageless' psychiatric care could harm elderly:

Royal College of Psychiatrists warns against the trend for the NHS to develop generic 'all-age' services Related items from OnMedica Government failing on dementia care Schemes launched to make UK world leader on dementia Sharp rise in uptake of PCT memory services Plans launched to ‘join-up’ health and social care by 2018 NICE reveals proposed new QOF targets

New safety system will track implants

New safety system will track implants:

Tracking device will provide early warning of problems with pacemakers, breast implants and other devices Related items from OnMedica PIP implants: Taking the right decision and lessons to be learnt Call for all metal hip implants to be banned NHS receives nearly 7,000 breast implant referrals MPs call for tighter safety on medical implants UK plastic surgeons renew call for universal PIP implant removal

Report on district nurse education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2012/13

Report on district nurse education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2012/13: This report reveals concerns around the number of new district nurses currently being educated, particularly in England. It finds that the numbers being trained do not meet the replacement level required to maintain the district nursing workforce, which has shrunk rapidly over the past ten years as experienced nurses have left the role, principally through retirement.

• Report
• QNI - news