GMC to check doctors' English skills

GMC to check doctors' English skills The General Medical Council is to be given new powers to check the English-language skills of all doctors working in the UK, under government proposals. BBC News

Warning over mentally ill in cells

Warning over mentally ill in cells One of Britain's most senior police officers says mentally ill people should not be held in cells when mental health services are unable to help them. BBC News

Revalidation for nurses and midwives

Revalidation for nurses and midwives To drive up public safety and confidence in the people providing their healthcare, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has committed to develop and implement a system of revalidation for nurses and midwives. NHS Employers

Find out more about the plans and options on the NMC website

Deputy chief medical officers appointed

Deputy chief medical officers appointed The deputy chief medical officers for England are now in post at the Department of Health.

Professor David Walker, formerly regional director of public health for the Midlands and the east of England and an executive director in the NHS for the past 12 years, began work earlier this year.

Professor John Watson, head of respiratory diseases at Public Health England’s Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, was appointed last week and will begin work in October.

Both are holders of a number of academic appointments. They will support the work of chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, to improve the health of the nation. NHS Networks

Misleading claims of 'cure for Down's syndrome'

Misleading claims of 'cure for Down's syndrome' The Mail Online suggests there could be a “cure” for Down’s syndrome, saying that scientists have “discovered a way to reverse the learning difficulties caused by the condition”.

It is not apparent from this headline that the research in question was carried out in mice, not people with Down’s syndrome.

Government clampdown on short-term contracts for doctors

Government clampdown on short-term contracts for doctors Warning that use of contracts to avoid VAT on locum fees is seen as tax avoidance. OnMedica

Million more elderly outside care system than before financial crash

Million more elderly outside care system than before financial crash The full impact of rationing of elderly care is exposed in new figures showing that the number of older people outside the system has surged by more than one million since the onset of the financial crisis.The Daily Telegraph

Accident waiting to happen: A&E departments ‘on the brink of crisis’

Accident waiting to happen: A&E departments ‘on the brink of crisis’

Accident and Emergency departments are understaffed, overworked, and could be brought to breaking point this winter by little more than a prolonged period of cold, a series of surveys have revealed. The Independent

See also:

• A&E staff shortage 'nearly 10%' BBC News
• NHS leaders: Half of all A&Es will fail to hit waiting-list targets this winter The Independent
• One in three A&E patients don't need to be there, says top NHS doctor The Independent
• A&E may reach 'breaking point' this winter The Daily Telegraph
• One in 10 A&E posts left unfilled The Daily Telegraph
• Fears grow over renewed crisis in A&E this winter The Guardian
• 'Myths and misinformation' are hiding true state of NHS emergency services and risk undermining patient care NHS Confederation
• Emergency care: an accident waiting to happen? NHS Confederation (report)

Doctors and nurses say they feel ‘bullied and under pressure’

Doctors and nurses say they feel ‘bullied and under pressure’

A quarter of doctors and surgeons and one in three nurses in the NHS have been bullied or put under excessive pressure over the last  two years, a new report says today. The Independent

See also:

• Hospital staff bullied into bad behaviour, survey finds The Guardian
• Focus on culture change and patient care in the NHS Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Have your say on health services

Have your say on health services  A series of roadshows are being held in the county where people can give their views on health services in the area. Evening Telegraph

Corby doctor in line for top award - Northamptonshire Telegraph

Corby doctor in line for top award - Northamptonshire Telegraph He is now vice-chariman of Corby CCG, which recently celebrated the opening of the town's urgent care centre. Driven by a passion to improve patient care and provide health services on the doorstep for Corby residents, the doctor's success has resulted ...

Nurses set to face three-year checks

Nurses set to face three-year checks Nurses and midwives in the UK will face three-yearly checks from 2015 to improve standards of care under proposals being put forward.  BBC News

Press release: Ten million pound cash boost to improve the health of homeless people

Press release: Ten million pound cash boost to improve the health of homeless people It is estimated that homeless people attend A&E up to six times more than people with a home - and that currently 70 per cent of homeless people are discharged back onto the street without their housing or on-going care needs after hospital being properly addressed.

The projects are run by voluntary sector organisations who will work with the NHS and local government to make sure homeless people get the best possible support and care after they leave hospital. This will help reduce the number of homeless people who are readmitted to hospital.

Some of the organisations receiving funding will provide:

• Specialist training for hospital staff on the needs of homeless people;
• Support to make sure their care continues after discharge;
• Teams to support homeless people find accommodation that takes into account their health needs; and
• 14 care beds for people discharged from hospital thanks to over £1million from the fund.

Department of Health

Use the Jab-o-meter in your local campaign

Use the Jab-o-meter in your local campaign The Jab-o-meter from Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is now available for you to use. NHS Employers

NMC launches consultation on strengthened registration process for applicants from overseas

NMC launches consultation on strengthened registration process for applicants from overseas The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched a consultation on the introduction of a test of competence for overseas applicants to the UK register – those trained outside the EEA (European Economic Area). 

NHSmail2 procurement this year

NHSmail2 procurement this year The procurement of NHSmail2 will start this year, using the Public Services Network framework. EHI News

Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service: supporting carers and building resilience

Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service: supporting carers and building resilience
This case study looks at Oxleas Advanced Dementia Service, which provides care co-ordination, and specialist palliative care and support to patients with advanced dementia living at home. It is part of a research project undertaken by The King’s Fund and funded by Aetna and the Aetna Foundation in the United States to compare five successful UK-based models of care.

• Case study
• Related video
• Organogram
• Patient stories
• Co-ordinated care project page
• The King's Fund - publications

The King's Fund 

Could a heart attack test save thousands of women's lives?

Could a heart attack test save thousands of women's lives? "£5 blood test will save thousands of women," shouts the front page of the Daily Mail in very large print.

This headline is based on a study recently presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference in Amsterdam.

The research looked at the effects of changing the diagnostic threshold levels of a blood test used to help diagnose heart attacks.

When someone with symptoms of a heart attack turns up at A&E, doctors will carry out an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a blood test to measure levels of an enzyme called troponin. Troponin levels are raised when heart muscle is damaged.

Only limited information is available on this study's methods and the patients included, but preliminary results suggest that lowering the diagnostic threshold for troponin in women (rather than using the same threshold for men and women) may improve our ability to correctly diagnose women who have symptoms of heart attack.

Cleanliness does not 'cause dementia'

Cleanliness does not 'cause dementia' “Being too clean could increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s,” The Sun has reported, while the Daily Mail reports that “an obsession with being too clean and hygienic could lead to a higher risk of dementia”.

The reports refer to research into the association between a country’s economic development, sanitation and clean water, the prevalence of infectious bugs, and a statistical estimate of Alzheimer’s disease.

Countries with higher levels of pathogens, poorer sanitation and hygiene systems and lower economic development had lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease. However, flaws in the research limit our ability to draw conclusions based on the study’s results.

Media reports suggesting that being clean causes Alzheimer's disease cannot be backed up because the study can’t prove cause and effect. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are largely unknown, with genetic factors and age being the most established risk factors. If there is a link between a country’s economics and sanitation and risk of Alzheimer’s disease, it could be due to confounding from other environmental and sociodemographic factors, rather than being a direct effect of sanitation and pathogen exposure alone.

New carbon footprint tool launched

New carbon footprint tool launched This tool will help companies estimate the carbon footprint of tablet medicines in blister packs in a way that is relatively quick and easy. It is part of the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to help reduce its impact on the environment through sustainable practices including management of carbon footprints. NHS Networks