Northamptonshire worst in country as 900 patients are STRANDED in our hospitals

Northamptonshire worst in country as 900 patients are STRANDED in our hospitals Nine hundred patients are currently stranded in Northamptonshire hospitals, making it the worst situation in the country.

Northamptonshire County Council’s director of adult social services says that despite huge efforts to try to improve the situation, as fast as people are being sent home more people are arriving at the doors of the county’s two hospitals.

Ninety over-65s are currently being admitted each day, which is twice the national average. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The UK spends less on capital in health care than other comparable countries

The UK spends less on capital in health care than other comparable countries As a share of GDP, the UK spends far less on capital in health care than comparable OECD countries.

In 2016, the UK spent 0.27% of GDP on capital in health care, compared to 0.51% in the OECD. Low capital spending has meant NHS Trusts are unable to purchase the newest technology, while also facing a significant and rising maintenance backlog. The Health Foundation

Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention

Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention This guidance from the DHSC and Department of Education is for health services, social care services and special education settings. It sets out how to support children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties who are at risk of restrictive intervention. Department of Health and Social Care

RCPCH prevention vision for child health

RCPCH prevention vision for child health In advance of the Department of Health and Social Care's prevention green paper, this strategy paper from the RCPCH sets out their proposals for how to transform the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the UK. It states that he amount of free sugar in baby food should be reduced and the government should place a “moratorium” on public health funding cuts. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Select batches of Parkinson's and epilepsy medicines recalled

Select batches of Parkinson's and epilepsy medicines recalled Certain batches of three medicines for Parkinson's, epilepsy and blood clots are being recalled in the UK, and patients are being asked to arrange a new prescription via their GP.

The affected prescription-only medicines are Neupro, Vimpat and Clexane with a B & S Healthcare label, the UK's medicine regulator said.

The drugs may not have been stored correctly before reaching patients. BBC News

See also:

• FMD Alert: Class 2 (MDR 123-05/19) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Hospitals spend millions to remove flammable cladding

Hospitals spend millions to remove flammable cladding Hospitals are facing disruption and huge bills because of flammable cladding.

One trauma unit with Grenfell-style cladding has been closed for almost two years.

A senior worker there says it's having a knock-on effect on the rest of the hospital

The Department of Health and Social Care says it's working with trusts on remedial work. BBC News

NHS Digital cyber chief puts emphasis on 'protecting patient information'

NHS Digital cyber chief puts emphasis on 'protecting patient information' A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for NHS Digital has said one of his aims in the role will be to ensure patient information is protected.

Speaking at the Digital Healthcare Show, Dan Pearce, said one of his main priorities was to “protect patient safety”.

Pearce, who told the audience he had only been in the job for six weeks, also said he hopes to “protect the reputation of the health system” and ensure there is “patient trust” in terms of their data. Digital Health

Snake oil or panacea: can technology improve student mental health?

Snake oil or panacea: can technology improve student mental health? Universities are hoping that new technologies will ease rapidly growing demand for student mental health services, but the evidence they work isn’t always there. The Guardian

Three quarters of toddlers eat too much, fuelled by 'healthy snacks' which are no better than sweets

Three quarters of toddlers eat too much, fuelled by 'healthy snacks' which are no better than sweets Three quarters of toddlers are eating too much - because parents are feeding them supposedly “healthy” snacks which are actually no better than sweets.

A Public Health England investigation of more than 1,100 foods aimed at babies and infants warns that some fruit-based products are three-quarters sugar.

Health officials today called for a Government crackdown, warning that parents were being fooled into thinking they were making the right choices for their children, as a result of misleading claims. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Just how much sugar is in 'healthy' snacks for children? The Guardian

Doctors' union doesn't take sexual harassment seriously, members say

Doctors' union doesn't take sexual harassment seriously, members say The British Medical Association's members feel 'actively discouraged' from complaining about sexism, they said amid an investigation sparked by Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Female medics were groped and propositioned by one of BMA's former leaders, conference hears The Daily Telegraph

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate'

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate' A Northampton health care practice responsible for 11,500 patients across the town has been branded inadequate by the healthcare watchdog.

Maple Access Partnership has thousands of patients on its roll. Based in a purpose-built office in Hazelwood Road, it also offers health care to rough sleepers at Oasis House and holds the county's Violent Patients Contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Maple Access Partnership Care Quality Commission 

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal  In 2011, Wigan Council had to make unprecedented savings after significant cuts in funding from central government. Drastic measures were needed, including a radical reshaping of the relationship between the council and residents. This became known as the Wigan Deal. This report provides an independent critique of the Wigan Deal drawing on in-depth research, including interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups with members of the public and evidence from data analysis. It explores what local authorities, NHS organisations and others can learn from Wigan’s journey of transformation. The King's Fund

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients The College has also stated that there is an urgent need for more independent research into the effects and impact of interventions for gender dysphoria, particularly for children and young people – and that there needs to be greater consistency around regulation of gender identity care and services, as well as greater clarity for doctors from the General Medical Council on the issue.

Its new position statement on the role of the GP in caring for gender-questioning and transgender patients, was approved by the College’s governing Council on Saturday. Royal College of General Practitioners

The real story of winter

The real story of winter What was the real story of winter for trusts, their patients, and hard pressed frontline staff? This briefing examines winter 2018/19 for the provider sector. It urges health leaders not to draw false comfort from the noticeable absence of stories about ‘winter pressures’ in the media earlier this year. NHS Providers

Care cuts inevitable in 'fragile and failing' system

Care cuts inevitable in 'fragile and failing' system Further cuts to care services in England will be needed in the coming year, council chiefs are warning.

Local authorities plan to spend £22.5bn in 2019-20 on services for older people and younger adults with disabilities.

That represented a rise of £400m on last year but was not enough to keep up with demand and inflation, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) said.

It warned services were "fragile and failing", after surveying 151 councils. BBC News

See also:

• Human cost of failing to address the crisis in adult social care Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
• ADASS budget survey 2019 Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
• Social care system ‘no longer fit for purpose’ The King's Fund
• Calls for government cash as Northamptonshire adult social care already £6m overspent Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Thousands of old and disabled people could be impacted by social care cuts, report says The Independent

'Every suggestion' HPV vaccine will cut cervical cancers

'Every suggestion' HPV vaccine will cut cervical cancers The success of the HPV vaccination offers hope of one day eradicating cervical cancer, say scientists who carried out a major review of evidence.

Vaccination against the human papilloma virus, which causes most cervical cancers, began over a decade ago.

A Lancet review of 65 studies covering 60 million people showed a fall in HPV cases and in pre-cancerous growths.

Over decades, this should translate into a significant fall, and possible eradication, of the cancer they said. BBC News

See also:

• Cervical cancer could be eliminated within decades, scientists say The Daily Telegraph
• Cervical cancer ‘could be eliminated’ by widespread HPV vaccination programmes, study finds The Independent

E-cigarettes: How safe are they?

E-cigarettes: How safe are they? San Francisco has become the first US city to ban sales of e-cigarettes. Yet in the UK they are used by the NHS to help smokers quit - so what is the truth about the safety of e-cigarettes? BBC News

See also:

• San Francisco becomes first US city to ban e-cigarettes BBC News

NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open face-to-face practices in bid to tackle growing crisis

NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open face-to-face practices in bid to tackle growing crisis The NHS will force "virtual GPs" to open physical practices in an attempt to address growing shortages of doctors in many parts of the country.

Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS will announce that companies offering NHS patients appointments by Skype must also open a local surgery offering face-to-face appointments.

It follows warnings that hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgery amid a deepening crisis across the country, which is hitting rural areas hardest. The Daily Telegraph

Junior doctors end five-year NHS pay row by accepting a new contract

Junior doctors end five-year NHS pay row by accepting a new contract Junior doctors have finally accepted a new contract – ending a bitter five-year dispute that included the first all-out strike in NHS history.

They will receive an 8.2 per cent pay rise over the next four years and increased weekend and overnight pay thanks to a £90million investment from the Government.

The long-running contract dispute saw thousands of junior doctors go on strike in 2016, two years after initial talks broke down. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Junior doctors contract deal is positive for the NHS, says NHS Employers NHS Employers
• Junior doctors agree new contract to end four-year dispute The Guardian

Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries

Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries Hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgeries, according to a national survey.

Coastal and rural areas are suffering the most with elderly and vulnerable patients being forced to travel further for appointments.

The research showed 1,946 villages are now at least three miles from their closest GP practice – 162 more than two years ago.

Some patients were required to travel up to 14 miles in rural areas.

Among the districts hit worst are South Gloucestershire, South Northamptonshire and Cornwall. The Daily Mail