NHFT Libraries Health News

Friday, 15 November 2013

GPs 'to go extra mile' for frailest

GPs 'to go extra mile' for frailest The 100,000 most frail patients in England will be identified and given a named GP to co-ordinate their care, BBC News

See also:

Press release: Personalised GP care will bring back old-fashioned family doctors Department of Health
2014/15 GMS contract changes for England NHS Employers
RCGP response to changes to GP contract Royal College of General Practitioners
GPs will have to monitor effectiveness of out-of-hours services used by their patients The Independent
New GP contract heralds return of 'proper doctors' The Daily Telegraph
Hunt hopes new GP contract will solve A&E crisis The Guardian

NHS 111 pilot scheme 'had teething problems'

NHS 111 pilot scheme 'had teething problems' "NHS 111 helpline adds to pressure on A&E, according to study," The Guardian reports after a study has suggested that the new NHS 111 helpline needs further work to improve its effectiveness.

Saving money, losing sight

Saving money, losing sight This report finds that delays in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care are resulting in people losing their sight needlessly. The research is based on findings from an RNIB survey sent to staff in eye clinics across England. Staff were asked about current and future capacity in their eye department, the impact of insufficient capacity on patient care and possible solutions.

National audit of intermediate care 2013

National audit of intermediate care 2013 This audit aims to provide an overview of intermediate care commissioning and provision in England. In 2012, the audit focused on health based bed and home intermediate care services. In 2013, the study has been extended to cover crisis response and social care re-ablement services.

Seven-day NHS could lead to changes in care standards

Seven-day NHS could lead to changes in care standards Reorgansied health services might mean better specialist care.

Charity claims loneliness is the reason one in 10 visit their GP

As many as one in 10 patients who visit GP surgeries could be visiting not because they are medically unwell, but because they are lonely, a charity has claimed. The Independent.

Colchester General Hospital placed in special measures over cancer waiting time claims

The hospital at the centre of a police investigation over allegations staff changed cancer waiting times figures has been placed in special measures. The Independent

See also:

Scandal cancer trust placed in special measures The Daily Telegraph
Colchester hospital put into special measures over cancer care claims The Guardian
Colchester put into special measures E-Health Insider
Cancer hospital in special measures BBC News

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Hospital staff alerted authorities ‘118 times about concerns for care home residents

Hospital staff alerted authorities ‘118 times about concerns for care home residents Serious concerns about care home residents seen at Northampton General Hospital with dehydration or pressure sores were raised by hospital staff 68 times in one year, it has been revealed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Elderly 'face £150,000 care bill'

Elderly 'face £150,000 care bill' lderly people face paying £150,000 for residential care before they hit the cap on care costs, an analysis by Labour suggests. BBC News

Poor eye care 'leaving people blind'

Poor eye care 'leaving people blind' People may be losing their eyesight because clinics in England do not have the capacity to treat patients, a charity warns. BBC News

See also:

Delays in treating eye conditions result in NHS patients going blind from avoidable conditions The Independent

Phone app to locate defibrillators

Phone app to locate defibrillators An ambulance trust launches a mobile phone app which can locate the nearest portable defibrillator. BBC News

Engagement in research: an innovative three-stage review of the benefits for health-care performance

Engagement in research: an innovative three-stage review of the benefits for health-care performance The aim of this study was to conduct a theoretically and empirically grounded synthesis to map and explore plausible mechanisms through which research engagement might improve health services performance. It suggests that when clinicians and health-care organisations engage in research there is the likelihood of a positive impact on health-care performance.

Transforming urgent and emergency care services in England: urgent and emergency care review - end of phase 1 report

Transforming urgent and emergency care services in England: urgent and emergency care review - end of phase 1 report This report proposes a new blueprint for local services across the country that aims to make care more responsive and personal for patients, as well as deliver even better clinical outcomes and enhanced safety. It highlights opportunities to shift care closer to home, finding that 40 per cent of A&E patients are discharged requiring no treatment; up to one million emergency admissions were avoidable last year; and up to 50 per cent of 999 calls could be managed at the scene.

Half of NHS regions cut maternity funding despite baby boom

Half of NHS regions cut maternity funding despite baby boom Five of 10 English regions see reductions of up to 15% in 2012-2013 compared with previous year.

The NHS has cut its funding for maternity care in half of England's health regions, despite births being at their highest in 40 years and childbirth services being understaffed.

The amount of money going to maternity units in five of the NHS's 10 English regions of the country fell by up to 15% in 2012-13 compared with the previous year. The East Midlands saw the biggest drop.

NHS 111 line 'is doing more bad than good'

NHS 111 line 'is doing more bad than good' NHS phone line designed to lift pressure on A&E departments has actually added to the burden on hospitals, research suggests. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

NHS 111 helpline adds to pressure on A&E, according to study The Guardian

Future of NHS 'depends on speedier healthcare outside hospitals'

Future of NHS 'depends on speedier healthcare outside hospitals' The future of the health service depends on improved access to urgent healthcare outside of hospitals, Britain's most senior doctor has said. The Daily Telegraph

Government doctors to reconsider whether UK should vaccinate all children against deadly disease meningitis B

Government doctors will reconsider whether the UK should vaccinate all children against the deadly disease meningitis B, having previously said immunisation would not be cost-effective. The Independent

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2013: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,...

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2013: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,... This publication presents overviews of the health care systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The Commonwealth Fund

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Policy paper: NHS Mandate 2014 to 2015

This document sets out the ambitions for the health service for April 2014 to March 2015. It ensures that the Mandate to the NHS: April 2013 to March 2015, remains up to date and relevant, and was produced following a public consultation. To provide stability, and to ensure the Mandate remains focused on outcomes and affordable, changes have been kept to an essential minimum.

The NHS Mandate is structured around 5 main areas where the government expects NHS England to make improvements:

preventing people from dying prematurely
enhancing quality of life for people with long-term conditions
helping people to recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
ensuring that people have a positive experience of care
treating and caring for people in a safe environment and protecting them from avoidable harm

The Mandate reaffirms the government’s commitment to an NHS that remains available to all, based on clinical need and not ability to pay - and that is able to meet patients’ needs and expectations now and in the future. Department of Health

NHS England welcomes refreshed Mandate from the Government

Britain's old age 'time bomb' may have been exaggerated, say experts

Britain's old age 'time bomb' may have been exaggerated, say experts
The so-called old age “time bomb” – the anticipated burden that our ageing population will place on taxpayers – may have been exaggerated, experts have said. Independent