Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Obesity and the public purse: weighing up the true cost to the taxpayer
Obesity and the public purse: weighing up the true cost to the taxpayer This report analyses the cost of obesity to public services and estimates that the net cost is less than £2.5 billion a year or 0.3 per cent of government spending. The report argues that the economic burden of obesity has been exaggerated and that the health care costs of an ageing population should be the focus for public service efficiency savings. Institute of Economic Affairs
Bed-blocking patient evicted after two years 'did not want to stay'
Bed-blocking patient evicted after two years 'did not want to stay' A patient who was evicted from a hospital after spending more than two years in a bed said he did not want to stay and "tried to get out of there".
Adriano Guedes, 63, who suffers paralysis after a stroke in 2008, was admitted to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, in 2014.
The hospital obtained a court order and evicted him two weeks ago, saying he had occupied the bed "unnecessarily".
"I didn't want to stay, and they forced me to stay," Mr Guedes told the BBC.
"It's very bad to occupy a place which should be used by someone in need, but I didn't cause the situation. On the contrary - I tried to get out of there." BBC News
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Adriano Guedes, 63, who suffers paralysis after a stroke in 2008, was admitted to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, in 2014.
The hospital obtained a court order and evicted him two weeks ago, saying he had occupied the bed "unnecessarily".
"I didn't want to stay, and they forced me to stay," Mr Guedes told the BBC.
"It's very bad to occupy a place which should be used by someone in need, but I didn't cause the situation. On the contrary - I tried to get out of there." BBC News
See also:
- 'I was forced to stay': Man hits back after eviction The Daily Mail
- 'Bed blocker' evicted after two years says he begged to leave hospital The Daily Telegraph
- Patient who spent two years in hospital evicted under court order The Guardian
Compensation payouts for poor out-of-hours care top £30m
Compensation payouts for poor out-of-hours care top £30m A doctor's indemnity organisation has paid out well over £30 million in compensation and legal costs on behalf of GPs working in out-of-hours and unscheduled care settings over a three-year period. This included a number of high value cases settled for over £1 million.
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) said the most common reason for a claim was a delay or failure to diagnose a condition, which accounted for almost three quarters of cases (71%). In 18% of cases, there were allegations about a failure to make a referral or an incorrect referral. OnMedica
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) said the most common reason for a claim was a delay or failure to diagnose a condition, which accounted for almost three quarters of cases (71%). In 18% of cases, there were allegations about a failure to make a referral or an incorrect referral. OnMedica
More help needed for people with learning disability and dementia
More help needed for people with learning disability and dementia A partnership of voluntary sector organisations has today launched a new report* calling for the needs of people with learning disabilities, who have also developed dementia, to be better addressed.
People with learning disabilities are five times more likely than those in the general population to develop dementia, according to the largest ever study** into the health and care of people with learning disabilities, by NHS Digital, published in December. OnMedica
People with learning disabilities are five times more likely than those in the general population to develop dementia, according to the largest ever study** into the health and care of people with learning disabilities, by NHS Digital, published in December. OnMedica
Cervical cancer screening attendance hits 19 year low
Cervical cancer screening attendance hits 19 year low Cervical screening tests are a vital method of preventing cancer through the detection and treatment of abnormalities in the cervix, but new research shows that the number of women using this service has dropped to a 19 year low.
Charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has found that the number of women attending potentially life-saving cervical screening tests in England is falling.
The research, obtained by a series of Freedom of Information requests sent to every local authority in England, found that over 1.12 million women did not attend a cervical screening test in the last year. The Independent
Charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has found that the number of women attending potentially life-saving cervical screening tests in England is falling.
The research, obtained by a series of Freedom of Information requests sent to every local authority in England, found that over 1.12 million women did not attend a cervical screening test in the last year. The Independent
NHS hands over patient records to Home Office for immigration crackdown
NHS hands over patient records to Home Office for immigration crackdown Number of government requests to access confidential non-clinical details rises threefold since 2014 in drive to track down immigration offenders
The confidential patient records of more than 8,000 people have been handed over by the NHS to the Home Office in the past year as part of its drive to track down immigration offenders.
A memorandum of understanding, published for the first time on Tuesday, makes clear that NHS digital is required by law to hand over non-clinical patient details including last known addresses, dates of birth, GP’s details and date registered with doctor. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The confidential patient records of more than 8,000 people have been handed over by the NHS to the Home Office in the past year as part of its drive to track down immigration offenders.
A memorandum of understanding, published for the first time on Tuesday, makes clear that NHS digital is required by law to hand over non-clinical patient details including last known addresses, dates of birth, GP’s details and date registered with doctor. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- NHS patient data handed to Home Office in immigration crackdown The Independent
Tackling mental health stigma will require more than just goodwill
Tackling mental health stigma will require more than just goodwill Delivering the PM’s pledge should not rest on the shoulders of overstretched staff, it must be backed with appropriate resources
The prime minister, Theresa May, has pledged to tackle mental health stigma as part of her vision for her “shared society”. May announced plans to transform the way mental illness is dealt with not in our hospitals but in classrooms, at work and in our communities. The initiative has been largely welcomed, although there is concern that this is yet another governmental policy that hinges on goodwill rather than identifiable resource.
Given the stakes, we cannot afford to be sceptical or dismissive about any initiative on stigma. Continue reading... The Guardian
The prime minister, Theresa May, has pledged to tackle mental health stigma as part of her vision for her “shared society”. May announced plans to transform the way mental illness is dealt with not in our hospitals but in classrooms, at work and in our communities. The initiative has been largely welcomed, although there is concern that this is yet another governmental policy that hinges on goodwill rather than identifiable resource.
Given the stakes, we cannot afford to be sceptical or dismissive about any initiative on stigma. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS could force chronically-ill patients into care
NHS could force chronically-ill patients into care Some British health trusts are refusing to pay for carers to visit patients at home if it works out significantly cheaper to place them in residential care. The Daily Mail
GPs seek rule change to earn private cash from patients in spare time
GPs seek rule change to earn private cash from patients in spare time Family doctors want to change NHS rules so they can earn cash from their patients in their spare time, a leading medic has said.
Currently, GPs are banned from charging their own patients for any services.
The rules were drawn up to avoid conflicts of interest and stop family doctors from denying patients treatment on the NHS, so they could profit from treatment privately.
Now local medical committees are in talks about introducing a new structure, which would allow GPs to charge fees for providing services if they were not covered in their NHS contract. The Daily Telegraph
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Currently, GPs are banned from charging their own patients for any services.
The rules were drawn up to avoid conflicts of interest and stop family doctors from denying patients treatment on the NHS, so they could profit from treatment privately.
Now local medical committees are in talks about introducing a new structure, which would allow GPs to charge fees for providing services if they were not covered in their NHS contract. The Daily Telegraph
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Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Smart TMS Announces rTMS alliance with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Smart TMS Announces rTMS alliance with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust London-based Smart TMS has announced that it will be working in partnership with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) to explore the provision of rTMS treatment for depression. The alliance will see Smart TMS working with NHFT for provision of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for both NHS and private patients in London and Northamptonshire.
rTMS, or Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is an innovative alternative to medication for treating depression. It is a clinically proven, non-invasive treatment which utilises the power of magnetic energy to directly stimulate precisely targeted areas of the brain.
The treatment was approved by NICE in 2015 for treating depression; yet as a new treatment, is not widely available in the UK, with just 3 NHS trusts and a handful of private clinics offering the service.
rTMS, or Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is an innovative alternative to medication for treating depression. It is a clinically proven, non-invasive treatment which utilises the power of magnetic energy to directly stimulate precisely targeted areas of the brain.
The treatment was approved by NICE in 2015 for treating depression; yet as a new treatment, is not widely available in the UK, with just 3 NHS trusts and a handful of private clinics offering the service.
Northampton nurse who skipped appointments and covered-up failings struck-off
Northampton nurse who skipped appointments and covered-up failings struck-off A Northampton nurse has been struck off after it was proved she lied about treating patients. Stephanie Patricia Chesterman was struck off the nursing register and given an 18-month interim suspension order for misconduct and repeated dishonesty.
She lied about visiting patients, did not provide proper treatment and care, and falsely documented her appointments to cover for her failings, a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel heard. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
She lied about visiting patients, did not provide proper treatment and care, and falsely documented her appointments to cover for her failings, a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel heard. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The conundrum of children’s and young people’s health: time to address it
The conundrum of children’s and young people’s health: time to address it In the past few years, our focus here at The King’s Fund - on integration, new models of care and, increasingly, place-based population health systems - has been concerned with the physical and mental health of adults, often older people. But we are increasingly aware of some of the trends, issues and conundrums when it comes to the health of children and young people.
Why do I say conundrums? Well for a start, some important trends in children’s and young people’s health have been moving in opposite directions.
Why do I say conundrums? Well for a start, some important trends in children’s and young people’s health have been moving in opposite directions.
Banks face mental health challenge
Banks face mental health challenge Banks must offer basic account options, as given to other vulnerable people, to assist those struggling with mental health conditions, a think tank says.
Mental health problems affected everyday activities such as budgeting and paying bills, the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) said. BBC News
Mental health problems affected everyday activities such as budgeting and paying bills, the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) said. BBC News
Organ trafficking
Organ trafficking Alert raised after patients from UK, Canada and Australia develop complications following kidney transplants. BBC News
GPs will not be forced into seven-day opening despite PM's comments, officials confirm
GPs will not be forced into seven-day opening despite PM's comments, officials confirm GP practices will not be compelled to open seven days a week or beyond current core hours, despite Downing Street briefings last week, DH and NHS England officials have told GP leaders. GP Online
GP referrals blocked as NHS sees four-fold rise in hospitals on top alert
GP referrals blocked as NHS sees four-fold rise in hospitals on top alert GPs continued to face blocks on routine referrals as the number of NHS hospitals declaring the highest possible level of alert more than quadrupled in the second week of 2017, official data show. GP Online
Dementia patients need more support at diagnosis
Dementia patients need more support at diagnosis A survey of the experiences of patients with dementia and their families reveals that there is a serious shortage of information available regarding services and support following diagnosis.
Patient watchdog group Healthwatch UK spoke to more than 1,000 patients and their families and visited 120 care home to find out more about the experiences of dementia care, from the help provided by GPs, to the support offered through hospitals and social care.
Healthwatch says cases of dementia are on the rise. Around 700,000 people in England have the disease currently, and this figure is expected to increase to over a million by 2025. OnMedica
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Patient watchdog group Healthwatch UK spoke to more than 1,000 patients and their families and visited 120 care home to find out more about the experiences of dementia care, from the help provided by GPs, to the support offered through hospitals and social care.
Healthwatch says cases of dementia are on the rise. Around 700,000 people in England have the disease currently, and this figure is expected to increase to over a million by 2025. OnMedica
See also:
NHS offers paramedics a £10,000 bonus to tackle 999 crisis
NHS offers paramedics a £10,000 bonus to tackle 999 crisis Ambulance trusts across the country are offering paramedics sign-on bonuses of up to £10,000 in a desperate attempt to fill gaping vacancy lists - including 'golden hellos' and relocation expenses. The Daily Mail
Chilling menace of HACKERS holding the NHS to ransom
Chilling menace of HACKERS holding the NHS to ransom Having your operation cancelled because of a bed shortage or an infection on the ward is something patients dread but, these days, have learned to expect.
However, patients in three North Lincolnshire hospitals were recently offered a very different excuse: hackers had brought down the trust's computer system, forcing the cancellation of all appointments for two days.
Even car park barriers were affected, and the hospitals had to resort to pen and paper.
The network had been taken over by a malicious virus which encrypted files: the hackers demanded a ransom to unlock them. The Daily Mail
However, patients in three North Lincolnshire hospitals were recently offered a very different excuse: hackers had brought down the trust's computer system, forcing the cancellation of all appointments for two days.
Even car park barriers were affected, and the hospitals had to resort to pen and paper.
The network had been taken over by a malicious virus which encrypted files: the hackers demanded a ransom to unlock them. The Daily Mail
Hidden generation of mentally ill pensioners suffering in silence, charity boss warns
Hidden generation of mentally ill pensioners suffering in silence, charity boss warns A hidden generation of mentally ill pensioners is suffering in silence because they do not want to be a “burden”, the head of a charity helpline has warned.
Sophie Andrews, chief executive of The Silver Line, said increasing numbers of old people are phoning the charity with problems such as depression, but they refuse to tell their family or their doctor meaning the problems go unrecorded and untreated.
While mental health problems among the young are increasingly making their way onto the political agenda, the elderly are going largely unnoticed, said Ms Andrews. The Daily Telegraph
Sophie Andrews, chief executive of The Silver Line, said increasing numbers of old people are phoning the charity with problems such as depression, but they refuse to tell their family or their doctor meaning the problems go unrecorded and untreated.
While mental health problems among the young are increasingly making their way onto the political agenda, the elderly are going largely unnoticed, said Ms Andrews. The Daily Telegraph
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