'Fat gene' could make you 'eat more and move less'

'Fat gene' could make you 'eat more and move less' "Do YOU have the fat gene?" the Mail Online asks, saying that, "90% of obese people could have mutation that means they're programmed to eat more and move less". Its report is based on a genetic analysis of a multigenerational Arab Israeli family in which it appeared that morbid obesity "ran in the family".

The UK strategy for rare diseases

The UK strategy for rare diseases This strategy contains over 50 commitments to ensure people living with a rare disease have access to the best evidence-based care and treatment that health and social services, working with charities, researchers and industry, can provide.

• Strategy document
• Department of Health - publications

Hospitals scramble to prevent crisis in NHS's 'toughest ever' winter

Hospitals scramble to prevent crisis in NHS's 'toughest ever' winter NHS deputy chief executive says service 'pulling out all the stops' to deal with impact of bad weather, flu and vomiting bug.

Hundreds of convicted doctors still practising

Hundreds of convicted doctors still practising Medical chiefs say they cannot automatically ban convicted doctors because it may breach their human rights. The Daily Telegraph

'Stealth' pay rises for NHS staff costing £1bn a year

'Stealth' pay rises for NHS staff costing £1bn a year The NHS is spending almost £1 billion a year on a stealth system of automatic pay rises, which have seen earnings rise by up to a third in five years. The Daily Telegraph

NHS hospitals send overseas for nurses before winter crisis

NHS hospitals send overseas for nurses before winter crisis

Hundreds of Spanish nurses will start work across Britain this week, having been fast-tracked to work at NHS hospitals in what the Royal College of Nursing is describing as a “crisis in workforce supply”. The Independent

Reactor closure puts medical scans at risk as shortage of radioactive material could jeopardise patients’ health

Reactor closure puts medical scans at risk as shortage of radioactive material could jeopardise patients’ health

A worldwide shortage of radioactive material vital for the operation of medical scanners could jeopardise patients’ health in the UK, say senior doctors. They are calling on the Government to prevent a shortage of a radioactive isotope used to diagnose cancers and heart defects. The Independent

‘Legal high’ cases on the rise at Northampton General Hospital

‘Legal high’ cases on the rise at Northampton General Hospital One person a week is being taken to Northampton General Hospital suffering from the effects of ‘legal highs’, an accident and emergency consultant has warned. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Three men collapse after taking legal highs in Northants Northamptonshire Telegraph

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13 This year’s State of Care report looks at the pressures on A&E services due to an increase of admissions for ‘avoidable’ conditions. It also brings together the findings of more than 35,000 inspections to try and give a picture of the quality of health and social care services in 2012/13.

• Report
• CQC - news

See also:

• NHS has not learned from MId-Staffs, warns damning report The Daily Telegraph 
• CQC report says hospital care has not improved since Mid Staffs scandal The Guardian 
• NHS Confederation comments on CQC's fourth State of Care report NHS Confederation 
• Government response: CQC State of Care report Department of Health l

Elderly emergency admissions rising

Elderly emergency admissions rising Urgent action is needed to stem the rise in avoidable emergency admissions among the elderly, regulators say. BBC News

See also: 

• Hospital A&Es swamped by 500,000 elderly victims of neglect The Independent 
• Neglect of elderly fuels 500,000 hospital admissions The Daily Telegraph

Concern at brain haemorrhage delays

Concern at brain haemorrhage delays Experts warn of delays in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain haemorrhages, especially at weekends, which they say is causing 'unnecessary harm'. BBC News

A question of behaviours: why delivering care integration and managing acute demand depends as much on changing behaviour as new systems

A question of behaviours: why delivering care integration and managing acute demand depends as much on changing behaviour as new systems This report from iMPOWER addresses two connected challenges: the increasing dependency on acute settings and urgent care, particularly for the elderly and the positive agenda to integrate care in home and community settings.

• Report
• iMPOWER - publications

Health at a glance 2013: OECD indicators

Health at a glance 2013: OECD indicators This report provides the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides evidence of large variations across countries in the costs, activities and results of health systems. Key indicators provide information on health status, the determinants of health, health care activities and health expenditure and financing in OECD countries.

• Report
• OECD - publications

NHS wastes millions each year on utilities

NHS wastes millions each year on utilities The NHS in England could have saved £41.4m by simply paying the average tariff for energy and water OnMedica

See also:

• Research note: Energy and water bills in the NHS Taxpayers Alliance

Middle managers can bridge gap between ward and board

Middle managers can bridge gap between ward and board The NHS doesn't always encourage sharing information across the tiers – but it is essential to improving patient safety.

Britain's rates of cancer and stroke survival on par with Eastern Europe, study finds

Britain's rates of cancer and stroke survival on par with Eastern Europe, study finds Britain's rates of cancer and stroke survival are on a par with Eastern Europe, despite Government pledges to improve care, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development finds. The Daily Telegraph

Labour demands health bosses hold meetings over possible cuts

Labour demands health bosses hold meetings over possible cuts Northamptonshire’s Labour Party says health bosses in the county have gone back on their pledge to hold public meetings over plans which could see a reduction in funding for services. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Hunt for Northampton General Hospital poster girl

Hunt for Northampton General Hospital poster girl A search has begun for a girl who appeared in a charity fund-raising film for Northampton General Hospital almost 80 years ago. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Do you recognise this girl - from an old 1935 photo? NGH News

The role of rules and regulation in patient safety

The role of rules and regulation in patient safety The concrete steps we should take in making progress towards Berwick’s noble vision are unlikely to involve dispensing with rules and regulation altogether, says Karen Yeung, the question is how to design them so that they promote behaviour deemed desirable without thwarting the very conduct we seek to encourage. The Health Foundation  

NHS electronic prescribing 'patchy'

NHS electronic prescribing 'patchy' Better use of electronic prescribing in NHS hospitals would improve patient safety, a study suggests. BBC News