Northamptonshire carers honoured for outstanding work

Northamptonshire carers honoured for outstanding work Carers from Northamptonshire were honoured for the outstanding work they do for others at the annual Jane Roebuck Carers Awards at Barton Hall in Kettering. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering baby’s catastrophic injuries could have been prevented had fractures been spotted

Kettering baby’s catastrophic injuries could have been prevented had fractures been spotted Catastrophic injuries which a Kettering baby suffered at the hands of her parents could have been prevented had earlier rib fractures been noticed, a case review has found. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Child N - Serious Case Review Northamptonshire Children Safeguarding Board
• Chances to stop 'sickening' assaults on baby missed BBC Northampton
• KGH: “We profoundly regret the missed opportunities to escalate safeguarding concerns” Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering baby abuse case one of the most serious I’ve dealt with, says safeguarding board chairman Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Quality improvement: learning from innovations in the vanguards

Quality improvement: learning from innovations in the vanguards I have recently returned from an exciting, whirlwind tour of another set of new care models sites. This was my fourth such tour. My goal for these visits, which I make as an International Visiting Fellow for The King’s Fund, is to attempt to understand what the vanguard organisations are trying to do, how well they are faring, and how they might progress even better and faster. On this trip, the additional question was: ‘How can these lessons and models be spread more widely across the NHS?’

Let me recount a few of the many highlights, and then summarise some general conclusions about the new care models investment. The King's Fund

Research and analysis: Drug misuse treatment in England: evidence review of outcomes

Research and analysis: Drug misuse treatment in England: evidence review of outcomes This review gives policy makers and local areas an objective assessment of what drug treatment outcomes are achievable, and compares outcomes in England to the evidence and to other drug treatment systems

It reviews the impact of housing problems, unemployment and social deprivation on treatment engagement and outcomes. The review also considers how drug treatment will need to be configured to meet future need and recommends an appropriate set of measures or indicator for treatment evaluation.

It was commissioned by the Department of Health and was based partly on 3 rapid evidence assessments commissioned from independent academics. Public Health England

Building on the industrial strategy: briefing for the NHS

Building on the industrial strategy: briefing for the NHS The government published its long-awaited industrial strategy green paper on 23 January 2017. The forthcoming departure from the EU has given the industrial strategy added importance, with the 2016 referendum vote highlighting regional disparities in economic prosperity.

This briefing focuses on the implications and opportunities for NHS organisations arising from the industrial strategy. NHS Confederation

New confidentiality guidance published by the GMC

New confidentiality guidance published by the GMC The General Medical Council (GMC) has published revised, expanded and reorganised guidance on confidentiality for all doctors practising in the UK.

Outcome-focused integrated care: lessons from experience

Outcome-focused integrated care: lessons from experience This paper captures some of the learning and experience from work on developing integrated practice. It aims to offer guidance to those embarking on a significant period of change on what they may need to consider. It draws on IPC’s practice-based experience of integration across a range of different organisational set-ups and cultures. Institute of Public Care

NHS equality boss and Devon CEO faces jail for fraud

NHS equality boss and Devon CEO faces jail for fraud A former NHS equality boss has been warned she could face jail for swindling £11,000 by diverting funds to her husband.

Paula Vasco-Knight, 53, broke down as she changed her plea on the second day of her trial at Exeter Crown Court.

She used £11,072 of NHS cash to pay her husband Stephen, 46, for work on an equality and diversity publication called Transform, which never existed.

Her husband also changed his plea to admit fraud. BBC News

Health professionals vary hugely in disability assessments

Health professionals vary hugely in disability assessments Healthcare professionals vary hugely in how they assess people’s eligibility for disability benefits, even the same claimant, international research has revealed. The researchers behind the ‘disconcerting’ review,* published online today by The BMJ, found there was better reproducibility when experts used a standardised evaluation procedure, and they have called for substantial and urgent investment in research to improve assessment of disability. OnMedica

FGM clinic hailed as 'life-changing' to close after losing funding

FGM clinic hailed as 'life-changing' to close after losing funding A “life changing” clinic which helps women and girls subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) could be forced to close in March after losing its council funding.

The Acton FGM Community Clinic in West London – where FGM figures are the highest in the country - is the only facility in the country to offer reversal of the practice.

Ealing Council and Imperial NHS Trust have funded the service for the past decade, but the council is withdrawing money for rent of the space and other costs - and health commissioners have refused to plug the gap. The Independent

Royal College of Surgeons slam plans to cut back on hip and knee replacements

Royal College of Surgeons slam plans to cut back on hip and knee replacements Three clinical commissioning groups propose only operating on patients that have such severe levels of pain they cannot sleep or carry out daily tasks

The Royal College of Surgeons has hit out at cost-cutting plans to ration who can receive hip and knee replacements.

Three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the West Midlands have proposed slashing the number of people who qualify for hip replacements by 12% and introducing a 19% cut over who is eligible for knee replacements. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NHS denies hip or knee operations for those who can sleep The Daily Mail
• Hip operations only for those in so much pain they can't sleep under new NHS rationing plans The Daily Mail

We are rightly proud that our NHS is free. Let’s keep it that way

We are rightly proud that our NHS is free. Let’s keep it that way A group of GPs has suggested that some treatments could be paid for. But the profit motive would taint the precious trust between patient and doctor

Imagine you have a big, greasy, warty growth on your back. It’s embarrassing, catches on your clothes and means you avoid swimming or exposing your back on holiday. Your GP confirms that it’s not cancer and says it’s a seborrhoeic wart. That’s great, but you’d like it removed. Your GP says you can’t be referred for removal on the NHS because it’s a cosmetic problem. Continue reading... The Guardian

SPECIAL REPORT: Council leader says Northamptonshire will not have Surrey-style 15 per cent council tax hike vote

SPECIAL REPORT: Council leader says Northamptonshire will not have Surrey-style 15 per cent council tax hike vote A shock referendum posed by an affluent county in the south of England may well set off a chain reaction of referenda across the country as authorities seek to plug their ailing adult social care budgets. But Northamptonshire won’t be following suit. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Lenehan review into care of children with learning disabilities

Lenehan review into care of children with learning disabilities Dame Christine Lenehan was asked by the Department of Health to take a strategic overview and recommend what practical action can be taken to co-ordinate care, support and treatment for children and young people with complex needs (and behaviour that challenges) involving mental health problems and learning disabilities and/or autism.

Dame Christine has spoken to many different organisations and individuals, including young people and their families. Her report makes 11 recommendations for government departments and partners at a national level on how to improve the system. Department of Health

Mental health problems: statistics on prevalence and services

Mental health problems: statistics on prevalence and services This briefing addresses frequently asked questions about mental health, including: how common are mental health problems? How long do people wait to access talking therapies? How much is spent on mental health services? House of Commons Library

NHS Ambulance Services

NHS Ambulance Services Ambulance services are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with rising demand for urgent and emergency services, according to the National Audit Office.

Demand for ambulance services continues to grow rapidly. Contributing factors may include the increasing numbers of elderly patients with multiple conditions, an increasing number of alcohol- and mental health-driven issues, the availability of primary care services in the community and how patients seek help. Between 2009-10 and 2015-16, the number of ambulance calls and NHS 111 transfers increased from 7.9 million to 10.7 million. Increased funding for these services has not matched rising demand, and future settlements are likely to be tougher.

See also:

• Ambulance services 'not coping' as demand rises BBC News
• Target for life or death ambulance calls is relaxed The Daily Mail
• Paramedics spend 500,000 hours outside busy A&Es, say auditors The Guardian

National Lung Cancer Audit annual report 2016 (for the audit period 2015)

National Lung Cancer Audit annual report 2016 (for the audit period 2015) This report shows a seven per cent increase in the number of people diagnosed with lung cancer surviving for longer than one year, compared with results from 2010. It also reveals that 60 per cent of lung cancer patients received anti-cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, meeting the target set out in the 2015 annual audit report. Royal College of Physicians

NMC agrees to regulate new nursing associate role

NMC agrees to regulate new nursing associate role The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has today formally agreed to a request from the Department of Health to be the regulator for the new nursing associate role.

Child health in UK 'lagging behind' due to poverty

Child health in UK 'lagging behind' due to poverty Child health in the UK is lagging behind that of most other European countries, a major report has said.

It raises particular concerns over rates of obesity, mental health issues and mortality among the young.

The in-depth report, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, emphasised that poverty was at the root of many child health problems.

UK health ministers said money was being invested in services to help tackle health inequalities. BBC News

See also:

• State of child health: The report in a glance Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• State of Child Health report 2017 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• RCPCH launches landmark State of Child Health report (press release) Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Prison suicides rise to record level

Prison suicides rise to record level A record number of people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016, figures show.

The Ministry of Justice says there were 119 self-inflicted deaths - 29 more than the previous year and the highest number since records began in 1978. BBC News