Kettering Hospital has improved, says new watchdog report

Kettering Hospital has improved, says new watchdog report A report has found significant improvements have been made at Kettering Hospital since a similar inspection earlier this year. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Hospital told to improve staffing BBC Northamptonshire

Residents at Northampton care home had sores so deep “you could feel the bone”, hearing told

Residents at Northampton care home had sores so deep “you could feel the bone”, hearing told Residents at a Northampton care home were found with pressure sores so deep ‘you could feel the bone’, a hearing was told today. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Patients 'left lying on bed sores' BBC Northamptonshire

Emergency admissions to hospital: managing the demand

Emergency admissions to hospital: managing the demand Many emergency admissions to hospital are avoidable and many patients stay in hospital longer than is necessary, according to a report today by the National Audit Office. Improving the flow of patients through the system will be critical to the NHS’s ability to cope with future winter pressures on urgent and emergency care services.

Today’s report points out that, at a time when NHS budgets are under significant pressure, the number of emergency admissions to hospitals is continuing to rise, albeit at a slower rate than in the past. National Audit Office

See also:

• Warning on 'too many' A&E admissions BBC News
• Less than 50% of diabetics achieve blood pressure targets OnMedica
• NHS hospitals admit too many patients on to wards from A&E, says NAO The Guardian
• Elderly A&E crisis 'caused by doctors' refusal to do weekends' The Daily Telegraph 
• Revealed: How targets make the A&E crisis far worse The Independent

Care leaver strategy

Care leaver strategy This is a cross-departmental strategy document that sets out in one place the steps the government is taking - from housing to health services, from the justice system to educational institutions - to support care leavers to live independently once they have left their placement.

The new strategy includes a wide range of commitments from government to improve the help and support available to young people leaving care across all areas of life. All young people leaving care will be able to see exactly what support is available to them as they take the first steps into adult life. Department of Health

NHS Employers workforce survey results published

NHS Employers workforce survey results published The findings from the workforce survey enable us to share with employers the current reported trends in the labour market across the NHS, nationally and regionally. NHS Employers

Seven-day services in the NHS

Seven-day services in the NHS The BMA has published information about the proposals to make more NHS services available all week round including background, the BMA’s position and evidence about the impact of the plan on hospitals. The BMA

Could the EU Reform the NHS?

Could the EU Reform the NHS? An EU law has just come into force that may shake up the NHS more than any political party has ever been able to do. The Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare gives the right to any EU citizen to get healthcare in any other EU Member ... The Huffington Post

PIP implant breast cancer link ruled out

PIP implant breast cancer link ruled out Faulty breast implants widely known as PIP (Poly Implant Prosthese) were back in the news today, with the release of a new report that found that women who have the faulty implants are not at higher risk of cancer.

Mental Health Act detentions top 50,000 a year

Mental Health Act detentions top 50,000 a year  Detentions continue to rise while use of place of safety orders fall. Health and Social Care Information Centre

Peer support workers: a practical guide to implementation

Peer support workers: a practical guide to implementation This guide from the Centre for Mental Health sets out four phases for an organisation looking to introduce peer worker posts: preparation; recruitment; employment; and ongoing development. It advises organisations on the key questions they need to ask, addresses common myths and provides sample documents to use.

• Guidance
• Centre for Mental Health - publications

The national pain audit: third report

The national pain audit: third report This audit from the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) has found that safety protocols need to be reviewed in many specialist pain services to ensure that mental health risk assessment and full case reviews of missed diagnoses are routinely performed. It recommended that specialist training is given to staff so they can better identify and manage those at risk.

• Audit report
• HQIP - news

Less smokers are using NHS help to quit

Less smokers are using NHS help to quit 11% drop in people using NHS Stop Smoking Services last year. OnMedica

Young army recruits at higher risk of mental illness

Young army recruits at higher risk of mental illness

A report by ForcesWatch claims those joining the army under the age of 18 are far more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems after leaving the forces. The report looked at over 40 existing studies into mental health problems among armed services personnel, in addition to interviews with veterans. The research also indicated that young recruits from disadvantaged backgrounds were... Healthcare Today

UK warned that youth unemployment is 'public health time bomb waiting to explode'

UK warned that youth unemployment is 'public health time bomb waiting to explode'

Youth unemployment in the UK and throughout Europe is a "public health time bomb waiting to explode" the World Health Organisation has warned. The Independent

See also:

• Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region World Health Organisation
• World Health Organisation: unemployed youth in Britain are a public health time bomb The Daily Telegraph
• Britain told social inequality has created 'public health timebomb' The Guardian
• Neets are 'public health time bomb' BBC News

Securing the future of excellent patient care: final report of the independent review led by Professor David Greenaway

Securing the future of excellent patient care: final report of the independent review led by Professor David Greenaway This report is the result of an independent review which examined postgraduate medical education and training in the UK to ensure that doctors now and in the future are able to meet the changing needs of patients, society and health services. It recommends that a new way of training doctors is needed for a changing healthcare landscape; arguing that patients and the public will need doctors who are able to provide general care in broad speciality areas across a range of different settings.

• Report
• Annex and appendices
• Shape of Training - press release

See also:

• Major changes to doctors' training proposed  The Daily Telegraph
• Report calls for major shake-up in medical education OnMedica
• Greenaway report ramps up pressure on Governments to deliver extended GP training RCGP 
• Shape of Training - report published NHS Employers 

Hunt loses Lewisham Hospital appeal

Hunt loses Lewisham Hospital appeal The Court of Appeal rules Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt did not have power to implement cuts at Lewisham Hospital in London. BBC News

See also:

• Government response: Jeremy Hunt reaction to Lewisham A&E appeal Department of Health
• Jeremy Hunt loses appeal as Lewisham hospital cuts ruled illegal The Guardian

Sickness absence figures released

Sickness absence figures released The Health and Social Care Informatics Centre (HSCIC) has released the report on NHS staff sickness absence figures, for the period of April to June 2013. NHS Employers

Swaddling may damage babies' hips, expert warns

Swaddling may damage babies' hips, expert warns Swaddling may have come back into fashion, particularly after speculation about how Prince George appeared to be wrapped as he left hospital. But the centuries-old practice could damage babies' hips is the warning carried by most media outlets today after the issue was highlighted by a British surgeon.

New data from the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator

New data from the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator The publication shows mortality from hospitalisation in England where the patient either died in hospital or died within 30-days post discharge from hospital, during the reporting period April 2012 to March 2013. Health and Social Care Information Centre

Interim gender dysphoria protocol and service guideline 2013/14

Interim gender dysphoria protocol and service guideline 2013/14 This guidance aims to address the significant variations in equity of access currently experienced by patients using gender identity services across England. It aims to achieve national consistency in the commissioning of these services, and is the culmination of extensive work to adapt the NHS Scotland protocol, ensuring that it meets the needs of patients; provides for the safe delivery of services, and reflects NHS England structures.

• Guidance
• NHS England - news