RCGP calls for an end to referral management centres that 'prioritise cost-savings over patient care' Referral management centres, which are primarily designed to reduce GP total referral numbers to hospital should not be introduced – and where they already exist, it must be demonstrated that they are safe for patients and cost-effective to the whole NHS, recommends the Royal College of GPs in a new report published today.
The report, Quality patient referrals: Right service, right time cites a 'dearth of evidence' that referral management centres – used by around a quarter of Clinical Commissioning Groups in England – are cost-effective, stating that they are ultimately more expensive to run than other systems designed to improve and maintain the quality of GP referrals. Royal College of General Practitioners
Monday, 26 February 2018
Call to end 'taboo' of talking about death
Call to end 'taboo' of talking about death A charity is calling for a "national conversation" about dying, saying the topic has become "taboo" and a source of anxiety for many. The Sue Ryder charity says people should talk to their loved ones about their final wishes as well as making sure they look after themselves. BBC News
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MPs debate changes to organ donations law
MPs debate changes to organ donations law Plans to change the rules on organ donation consent in England, which it is claimed could save up to 500 lives a year, have been backed by MPs.
A bill requiring people to "opt out" if they do not want their organs used passed its first parliamentary hurdle.
Labour's Julie Elliott, whose daughter is receiving dialysis for a serious kidney disease, said it would give hope to thousands of transplant patients.
The MP said her experience had made her realise how "special" donors were.
Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson's private members' bill, which would bring England into line with Wales which already has an opt-out system for consent, passed its second reading on Friday. BBC News
A bill requiring people to "opt out" if they do not want their organs used passed its first parliamentary hurdle.
Labour's Julie Elliott, whose daughter is receiving dialysis for a serious kidney disease, said it would give hope to thousands of transplant patients.
The MP said her experience had made her realise how "special" donors were.
Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson's private members' bill, which would bring England into line with Wales which already has an opt-out system for consent, passed its second reading on Friday. BBC News
NHS crisis: Patients face delays for vital treatment amid 'staggering increase' in cancelled operations
NHS crisis: Patients face delays for vital treatment amid 'staggering increase' in cancelled operations Campaigners warn that patients could be put at risk by delays, while Labour accused the Government of presiding over an 'unparalleled winter of discontent'
Patients are facing delays to life-saving treatment amid warnings over a “staggering increase” in cancellations of urgent surgery.
Nearly 1,000 urgent operations have been cut so far this winter for patients with life-threatening illnesses due to pressures on hospital resources, such as beds or staff, according to new analysis of NHS figures.
The total represents a 40 per cent increase in cancellations since 2013-14, when 707 operations were cut, and a surge of 31 per cent since 2010-11 when there were 755 cancellations. The Independent
Patients are facing delays to life-saving treatment amid warnings over a “staggering increase” in cancellations of urgent surgery.
Nearly 1,000 urgent operations have been cut so far this winter for patients with life-threatening illnesses due to pressures on hospital resources, such as beds or staff, according to new analysis of NHS figures.
The total represents a 40 per cent increase in cancellations since 2013-14, when 707 operations were cut, and a surge of 31 per cent since 2010-11 when there were 755 cancellations. The Independent
Millennials will be most overweight generation since records began, cancer experts warn
Millennials will be most overweight generation since records began, cancer experts warn Middle-aged millennials are set to be the most overweight generation since records began, with experts warning they are unwittingly and significantly increasing their risk of cancer.
Analysis by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that on current trends 70 per cent of millennials, those born between the early 1980s to mid-1990s, will be overweight or obese by the age 35 to 45.
However, despite being linked to 800,000 cancer cases a year, the vast majority of people are unaware of the additional risk obesity brings. The Independent
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Analysis by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that on current trends 70 per cent of millennials, those born between the early 1980s to mid-1990s, will be overweight or obese by the age 35 to 45.
However, despite being linked to 800,000 cancer cases a year, the vast majority of people are unaware of the additional risk obesity brings. The Independent
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- Millennials top obesity chart before reaching middle age Cancer Research UK
- Millennials 'set to be fattest generation' BBC News
- Millennials 'will be the fattest generation on record' The Daily Telegraph
Five ways to avoid becoming a victim of prescription drugs errors
Five ways to avoid becoming a victim of prescription drugs errors A study has revealed that mistakes in the writing or dispensing of medicine can cost up to 22,000 people their lives every year. Here’s how to avoid being one of them
Up to 22,000 people could be dying in England every year as a result of mistakes in the writing or dispensing of prescriptions, according to new research. In a speech last week, the health and social services secretary, Jeremy Hunt, demanded fresh measures to tackle the problem, which was identified in a government study carried out at York, Manchester and Sheffield universities. Continue reading... The Guardian
Up to 22,000 people could be dying in England every year as a result of mistakes in the writing or dispensing of prescriptions, according to new research. In a speech last week, the health and social services secretary, Jeremy Hunt, demanded fresh measures to tackle the problem, which was identified in a government study carried out at York, Manchester and Sheffield universities. Continue reading... The Guardian
Can the Bawa-Garba case result in a stronger NHS safety culture?
Can the Bawa-Garba case result in a stronger NHS safety culture? There is a frantic scramble to find a coherent response that maintains the confidence of the medical profession and the public
The manslaughter conviction and subsequent erasure from the medical register of paediatrician Hadiza Bawa-Garba has opened up a schism over healthcare safety that will harm patients if it is not resolved quickly.
On one side is the jury, which gave a 10:2 majority verdict for gross negligence manslaughter over the death of six-year-old Jack Adcock in 2011; the General Medical Council (GMC), which wanted Bawa-Garba struck off; and the high court, which backed the GMC. Continue reading... The Guardian
The manslaughter conviction and subsequent erasure from the medical register of paediatrician Hadiza Bawa-Garba has opened up a schism over healthcare safety that will harm patients if it is not resolved quickly.
On one side is the jury, which gave a 10:2 majority verdict for gross negligence manslaughter over the death of six-year-old Jack Adcock in 2011; the General Medical Council (GMC), which wanted Bawa-Garba struck off; and the high court, which backed the GMC. Continue reading... The Guardian
NHS could have spent up to £500million unnecessarily by telling doctors to prescribe more expensive drug
NHS could have spent up to £500million unnecessarily by telling doctors to prescribe more expensive drug The NHS could recover up to £500 million from one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies following a lengthy legal battle over the patent for one of its drugs.
The health service took the “unprecedented” step of issuing guidance to all GPs and pharmacists stating that when prescribing the drug pregabalin for neuropathic pain they should stipulate that it must be the brand Lyrica, produced by Pfizer. The Daily Telegraph
The health service took the “unprecedented” step of issuing guidance to all GPs and pharmacists stating that when prescribing the drug pregabalin for neuropathic pain they should stipulate that it must be the brand Lyrica, produced by Pfizer. The Daily Telegraph
Nurses should call doctors by their first names to prevent patient deaths, says Jeremy Hunt
Nurses should call doctors by their first names to prevent patient deaths, says Jeremy Hunt Nurses must be allowed to address senior doctors by their first names in order to prevent fatal medical errors, Jeremy Hunt has said.
The Health Secretary said medicine’s strict hierarchy was stopping junior staff speaking up when they notice disasters unfolding and that doing away with formality in operating theatres and other settings was crucial to saving more lives.
He told an international conference on patient safety that health was one of the last professions yet to fully adopt the use of first names. The Daily Telegraph
The Health Secretary said medicine’s strict hierarchy was stopping junior staff speaking up when they notice disasters unfolding and that doing away with formality in operating theatres and other settings was crucial to saving more lives.
He told an international conference on patient safety that health was one of the last professions yet to fully adopt the use of first names. The Daily Telegraph
Almost all FGM cases in Britain are legal piercings
Almost all FGM cases in Britain are legal piercings Almost all known cases of female genital mutilation carried out in the UK are legal piercings, official figures show.
The Department of Health controversially decided all intimate piercings should be included in new statistics collected by the NHS to record cases of FGM.
But out of 5,391 newly recorded cases of FGM found by GPs and NHS trusts in the year to March 2017, only 57 were performed in the UK of which 50, or 87 per cent, were in the category for piercings, and all the women whose ages were known were over 18.
The figures suggest almost all girls who undergo the shocking FGM procedure, which has been illegal for more than 30 years, are taken abroad. The Daily Mail
The Department of Health controversially decided all intimate piercings should be included in new statistics collected by the NHS to record cases of FGM.
But out of 5,391 newly recorded cases of FGM found by GPs and NHS trusts in the year to March 2017, only 57 were performed in the UK of which 50, or 87 per cent, were in the category for piercings, and all the women whose ages were known were over 18.
The figures suggest almost all girls who undergo the shocking FGM procedure, which has been illegal for more than 30 years, are taken abroad. The Daily Mail
Major hospital trust bans women from having caesareans
Major hospital trust bans women from having caesareans A major hospital trust has banned women from having caesareans unless there is a medical reason.
Oxford University Hospitals will not offer them to those who are frightened or have had previous traumatic births.
Some women have had to travel miles to other hospitals to give birth while their families stay in local hotels.
The trust’s policy breaches guidelines from health watchdog Nice, which say women should be allowed a caesarean without a medical reason once the risks and benefits have been explained. The Daily Mail
Oxford University Hospitals will not offer them to those who are frightened or have had previous traumatic births.
Some women have had to travel miles to other hospitals to give birth while their families stay in local hotels.
The trust’s policy breaches guidelines from health watchdog Nice, which say women should be allowed a caesarean without a medical reason once the risks and benefits have been explained. The Daily Mail
Friday, 23 February 2018
Patients in Northamptonshire urged to use NHS services wisely to ease pressure on county hospitals
Patients in Northamptonshire urged to use NHS services wisely to ease pressure on county hospitals People in Northamptonshire are being urged to use NHS services wisely as the county’s hospitals continue to deal with a large number of patients seeking emergency care.
Northampton General Hospital (NGH) and Kettering General Hospital (KGH) have both been extremely busy this week and pressure has built up on wards and A&E departments, bosses at Nene CCG say.
Nursing teams have seen an increase in flu cases and winter-related illnesses, particularly among older people with multiple conditions who need more intensive care. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Northampton General Hospital (NGH) and Kettering General Hospital (KGH) have both been extremely busy this week and pressure has built up on wards and A&E departments, bosses at Nene CCG say.
Nursing teams have seen an increase in flu cases and winter-related illnesses, particularly among older people with multiple conditions who need more intensive care. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Making sense of integrated care systems, integrated care partnerships and accountable care organisations in the NHS in England
Making sense of integrated care systems, integrated care partnerships and accountable care organisations in the NHS in England NHS England has recently changed the name of accountable care systems to integrated care systems, which describes more accurately the work being done in the 10 areas of England operating in this way. Our updated long read looks at work under way in these systems and at NHS England’s proposals for an accountable care organisation contract. The King's Fund
Winter pressures data: where are the blind spots?
Winter pressures data: where are the blind spots? Numbers don’t lie – but do they really tell the full story? So far, our winter pressures blog series has looked at what the available data tell us about NHS performance. NHS England publishes monthly performance reports all year round, but since the winter of 2010/11 additional winter monitoring data are also available. Between December and February, acute trusts provide daily updates, and the collated results are published every Thursday. These weekly ‘sitreps’ help provide transparency and, together with weekly flu stats from Public Health England, often drive media headlines. These statistics give us a snapshot, but not the full picture. In this blog, we consider areas where having more or different data might give us a more holistic overview of the impact of winter on health and social care. The Health Foundation
More than 200 million medication errors occur in NHS per year, say researchers
More than 200 million medication errors occur in NHS per year, say researchers A new study has revealed an estimated 237 million medication errors occur in the NHS in England every year, and avoidable adverse drug reactions (ADRs) cause hundreds of deaths.
Researchers from the Universities of Sheffield, York and Manchester report that an estimated 712 per year deaths result from avoidable ADRs.
However, researchers say that ADRs could be a contributory factor to between 1,700 and 22,303 deaths a year.
Of the total estimated 237 million medication errors that occur, researchers found that almost three in four are unlikely to result in harm to patients, but there is very little information on the harm that actually happens due to medication errors. University of Sheffield
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Researchers from the Universities of Sheffield, York and Manchester report that an estimated 712 per year deaths result from avoidable ADRs.
However, researchers say that ADRs could be a contributory factor to between 1,700 and 22,303 deaths a year.
Of the total estimated 237 million medication errors that occur, researchers found that almost three in four are unlikely to result in harm to patients, but there is very little information on the harm that actually happens due to medication errors. University of Sheffield
See also:
- Prevalence and economic burden of medicationerrors in the NHS in England Policy Research Unit in Economic Evaluation of Health and Care Interventions
- College welcomes patient safety measures on prescribing Royal College of General Practitioners
- Drug errors cause appalling harm and deaths, says Hunt BBC News
- Up to 22,000 deaths a year caused by medication mistakes The Daily Mail
- NHS drug errors may be causing up to 22,000 deaths every year The Daily Telegraph
- Jeremy Hunt pledges crackdown on drug errors in NHS The Guardian
- NHS medication errors contribute to as many as 22,000 deaths a year, major report shows The Independent
One in four Emergency staff abused by patients
One in four Emergency staff abused by patients The first ever review of the experience of hospital A&E staff reveals that they have resigned themselves to patient violence and aggression.
In the UK, there were over 70,555 total reported assaults on NHS staff in 2016. Around the world, one in four hospital staff has experienced physical abuse. Lancaster University
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In the UK, there were over 70,555 total reported assaults on NHS staff in 2016. Around the world, one in four hospital staff has experienced physical abuse. Lancaster University
See also:
- A qualitative meta-synthesis of emergency department staff experiences of violence and aggression (abstract) International Emergency Nursing
- A&E abuse: Medical staff report more than 70,000 physical and verbal attacks that leave them working in fear The Daily Mail
Are sick migrants avoiding NHS doctors over deportation fears?
Are sick migrants avoiding NHS doctors over deportation fears? The NHS has agreed to look into concerns about doctors having to pass names and addresses of suspected illegal immigrants to the Home Office.
It has launched a consultation on the policy after pressure from MPs but will not immediately ban it as some want.
Health bosses have been accused of ignoring evidence migrants are being deterred from seeking medical help for fear of deportation.
England's main health watchdog said it was a "serious risk" to public health.
Doctors and patient groups warned it was damaging trust in the health service and breaching patient confidentiality, in evidence last month to the Health Select Committee. BBC News
It has launched a consultation on the policy after pressure from MPs but will not immediately ban it as some want.
Health bosses have been accused of ignoring evidence migrants are being deterred from seeking medical help for fear of deportation.
England's main health watchdog said it was a "serious risk" to public health.
Doctors and patient groups warned it was damaging trust in the health service and breaching patient confidentiality, in evidence last month to the Health Select Committee. BBC News
A new heart saved my life. Too many others don't get that chance
A new heart saved my life. Too many others don't get that chance An opt-out system for organ donation could improve the outcomes for critically ill people waiting for a heart transplant
I’m alive today because I had a heart transplant at the age of 38. I grew up in fear of what was around the corner because I knew that my heart was unreliable. Life was a rollercoaster of optimism and depression, the ups and downs of a future that ultimately relied on someone, somewhere, giving me the biggest gift possible – their heart.
A woman who died before her time, who I will never get to thank, gave me that gift. I can’t begin to tell you what this has meant to me and those I love.
If we would be willing to accept an organ, why would we not give one? Continue reading... The Guardian
I’m alive today because I had a heart transplant at the age of 38. I grew up in fear of what was around the corner because I knew that my heart was unreliable. Life was a rollercoaster of optimism and depression, the ups and downs of a future that ultimately relied on someone, somewhere, giving me the biggest gift possible – their heart.
A woman who died before her time, who I will never get to thank, gave me that gift. I can’t begin to tell you what this has meant to me and those I love.
If we would be willing to accept an organ, why would we not give one? Continue reading... The Guardian
Flu and norovirus cases are still piling pressure on A&E
Flu and norovirus cases are still piling pressure on A&E Cases of flu and norovirus are continuing to put pressure on A&E departments.
The number of bed closures due to norovirus or diarrhoea and vomiting rose to an average of 841 per day last week, up from 817 in the seven days before.
Weekly figures from NHS England also reveal 13,300 patients waited more than 30 minutes to be seen after arriving at A&E by ambulance, and of those 2,900 waited for longer than an hour.
This was an increase from the week ending February 11, when around 10,800 people waited more than half-an-hour and 2,200 more than an hour. The Daily Mail
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The number of bed closures due to norovirus or diarrhoea and vomiting rose to an average of 841 per day last week, up from 817 in the seven days before.
Weekly figures from NHS England also reveal 13,300 patients waited more than 30 minutes to be seen after arriving at A&E by ambulance, and of those 2,900 waited for longer than an hour.
This was an increase from the week ending February 11, when around 10,800 people waited more than half-an-hour and 2,200 more than an hour. The Daily Mail
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Doctor asked to tell a patient they were being DEPORTED
Doctor asked to tell a patient they were being DEPORTED Government officials controversially asked a doctor to tell a patient they were being deported, it has emerged today.
The anonymous GP was approached by a branch of the Home Office to deliver the notice to an adult with mental health problems.
Union leaders condemned the 'unprecedented' request, that occurred in Liverpool, and blasted it as 'completely unacceptable'.
Despite the doctor's refusal to comply, fears have been raised that this could open the door to a flurry of similar requests. The Daily Mail
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The anonymous GP was approached by a branch of the Home Office to deliver the notice to an adult with mental health problems.
Union leaders condemned the 'unprecedented' request, that occurred in Liverpool, and blasted it as 'completely unacceptable'.
Despite the doctor's refusal to comply, fears have been raised that this could open the door to a flurry of similar requests. The Daily Mail
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