Thursday, 19 February 2015
Patient safety fear GP 'defies NHS'
Patient safety fear GP 'defies NHS' A doctor who stopped taking new patients because of "safety" concerns is continuing to do so, despite being told he is in breach of his NHS contract.BBC Northampton
Implementing the NHS five year forward view: aligning policies with the plan
Implementing the NHS five year forward view: aligning policies with the plan This paper calls for fundamental changes to how health services are commissioned, paid for and regulated to deliver the vision of the NHS five year forward view. The Forward View, published in 2014 by NHS England and other national bodies to broad approval, outlined how NHS services must change to move towards the care models required for the future. England, it argued, is too diverse for ‘one size fits all’ solutions. However, without significant changes to policy and new approaches to NHS leadership, this paper warns that the Forward View could suffer the same fate as many other NHS policy documents – and fail to deliver on its ambitions. It makes practical recommendations on what to do now to remove barriers to developing new care models and to support their implementation. Looking ahead, it argues that national leadership of the highest order will be needed to meet the challenges inherent in delivering these changes. The King's Fund
The emotional wellbeing of older carers
The emotional wellbeing of older carers This report, the second in a two part series, focusses on the findings on the subjective wellbeing of older carers.
The research finds that:
• Long term caregiving was associated with declines in quality of life and life satisfaction for carers, and an increased risk of depression.
• Giving up caregiving was associated with increased depression amongst both male and female carers.
The report addresses the wider context of these findings, highlighting how our ageing population could potentially lead to large increases in the number of older carers, with the number of carers over 65 already having risen by 35% since 2001. It also highlights the day-to-day realities faced by many older carers, including a high risk of emotional distress; the loss of friends, either because of a lack of time to socialise or because friends were unable to properly understand the constraints and strains of caring; and potential health risks. International Longevity centre UK
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The research finds that:
• Long term caregiving was associated with declines in quality of life and life satisfaction for carers, and an increased risk of depression.
• Giving up caregiving was associated with increased depression amongst both male and female carers.
The report addresses the wider context of these findings, highlighting how our ageing population could potentially lead to large increases in the number of older carers, with the number of carers over 65 already having risen by 35% since 2001. It also highlights the day-to-day realities faced by many older carers, including a high risk of emotional distress; the loss of friends, either because of a lack of time to socialise or because friends were unable to properly understand the constraints and strains of caring; and potential health risks. International Longevity centre UK
See also:
NHS child mental health care pledge
NHS child mental health care pledge Parents of children with mental health problems in England will get more say on their care, says the NHS after a survey suggests major problems. BBC News
NHS England and Monitor set out new tariff option for providers for 2015/16
NHS England and Monitor set out new tariff option for providers for 2015/16 Simon Stevens, CEO of NHS England and David Bennett, CEO of Monitor have today written to providers of NHS-funded services setting out a new enhanced tariff option for 2015-16. It is worth up to £500m more to providers than the original package that was consulted on last November, which was prior to extra funding being made available to the NHS in December’s Autumn statement.
Details of the approach are set out in the below letter to providers, and a parallel letter from CCG leaders and Simon Stevens to CCG commissioners, also below.
Simon Stevens said “The NHS is looking for certainty about next year, and a constructive and shared approach to helping hospitals with the genuine pressures they’re facing. This new funding option offers that, without sacrificing critical new investments in primary and mental health services. In the round, it gives the NHS collectively our best chance of sustaining high quality services today, while also getting going on major efficiency improvements and the more fundamental changes in care set out in the Five Year Forward View.”
Details of the approach are set out in the below letter to providers, and a parallel letter from CCG leaders and Simon Stevens to CCG commissioners, also below.
Simon Stevens said “The NHS is looking for certainty about next year, and a constructive and shared approach to helping hospitals with the genuine pressures they’re facing. This new funding option offers that, without sacrificing critical new investments in primary and mental health services. In the round, it gives the NHS collectively our best chance of sustaining high quality services today, while also getting going on major efficiency improvements and the more fundamental changes in care set out in the Five Year Forward View.”
NHS 'paying too much for medicines'
NHS 'paying too much for medicines' The price the NHS agrees to pay for new medicines in England could cause more harm than good by depleting funds for other services, a report argues. BBC News
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See also:
NHS misses a year of cancer targets
NHS misses a year of cancer targets The NHS in England has repeatedly missed a key target for rapidly treating cancer patients, official figures for 2014 show. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Provider-based Cancer Waiting Times for Q3 2014-15 NHS England
- NHS England misses urgent cancer treatment target The Guardian
- NHS missed cancer waiting times targets throughout 2014 The Independent
Private health firms pocket £18 million a day - that's £6 billion in the last year - from the NHS budget
Private health firms pocket £18 million a day - that's £6 billion in the last year - from the NHS budget New figures from the Department of Health show that last year £6.6 billion was taken from the NHS coffers to pay private health providers - a 50 per cent rise from before the coalition took power. The Daily Mail
General election 2015: who’s promising what for the NHS?
General election 2015: who’s promising what for the NHS? It’s not just what the political parties are saying on health that marks them out, but how they’re saying it.
The emerging health policies for the main political parties reveal sharp differences in content and presentation - yet all three fail to offer a convincing plan for change.
Labour’s policy is laced with anti-private sector rhetoric and makes ambitious promises on everything from cancer tests to staff recruitment. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, have allied themselves to NHS England’s Five Year Forward View by promising to meet the £8bn funding gap it identifies, while placing its health policies in the context of wider public sector reforms and increased local control. The Guardian
The emerging health policies for the main political parties reveal sharp differences in content and presentation - yet all three fail to offer a convincing plan for change.
Labour’s policy is laced with anti-private sector rhetoric and makes ambitious promises on everything from cancer tests to staff recruitment. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, have allied themselves to NHS England’s Five Year Forward View by promising to meet the £8bn funding gap it identifies, while placing its health policies in the context of wider public sector reforms and increased local control. The Guardian
NHS England isn’t even pretending it will pilot the ‘new models of care’
NHS England isn’t even pretending it will pilot the ‘new models of care’ It’s good to know if a policy works before it is rolled out, yet NHS England doesn’t see the need to try out new projects as part of its Five Year Forward View.
Let’s run this one up the flagpole and see who salutes. The business world has its own approaches to trying out new ideas, and its own distinctive idioms for doing so. Public services pride themselves on more considered, scientific ways of establishing what works when it comes to spending the taxpayer pound.
But as the most ambitious benefit reform of the modern era gets the go-ahead after only limited piloting, it’s worth asking if such pride is really justified.
How will these models be assessed and what route will there be from vanguard to preferred option – or failed concept?
NHS England is avoiding the term 'pilot' for its new models of care, preferring 'early adopters' and 'first cohort' Continue reading... The Guardian
Let’s run this one up the flagpole and see who salutes. The business world has its own approaches to trying out new ideas, and its own distinctive idioms for doing so. Public services pride themselves on more considered, scientific ways of establishing what works when it comes to spending the taxpayer pound.
But as the most ambitious benefit reform of the modern era gets the go-ahead after only limited piloting, it’s worth asking if such pride is really justified.
How will these models be assessed and what route will there be from vanguard to preferred option – or failed concept?
NHS England is avoiding the term 'pilot' for its new models of care, preferring 'early adopters' and 'first cohort' Continue reading... The Guardian
HIV vaccine tests showing very positive results, researchers say
HIV vaccine tests showing very positive results, researchers say A new kind of vaccine has shown “striking” results in tests against HIV, raising hopes of a therapy to protect people from AIDS. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Radical HIV vaccine ploy raises hope BBC News
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
No further action over FGM arrest
No further action over FGM arrest A police inquiry into a woman arrested at Heathrow on suspicion of conspiracy to commit female genital mutilation is closed. BBC Northamptonshire
Tackling variation in care of patients with COPD
Tackling variation in care of patients with COPD Improving access to specialist care and smoking cessation support are among actions that can help reduce variation in the care of patients with COPD, according to a new report. NICE
See also:
See also:
- National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Audit Programme Royal College of Physicians
Guidance: Raising awareness of needlestick injuries in healthcare settings
Guidance: Raising awareness of needlestick injuries in healthcare settings At the 5th POINTERS conference following a series of presentations relating to occupational exposures to bloodborne viruses, a discussion group session was held to explore the topic of ‘raising awareness of needlestick injuries in healthcare settings’. This visual report highlights the points raised during the session. Public Health England
NHS indicators: February 2015
NHS indicators: February 2015 This paper provides a range of summary statistical indicators for NHS England in the following areas: accident and emergency attendance and performance; ambulance call volume and response times; waiting times for routine treatment; waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment; cancelled operations; delayed transfers of care; diagnostic waiting times and activity; waiting times for mental health treatment; workforce numbers for doctors, nurses and other staff; hospital activity, referrals and admissions; and bed availability and occupancy. In each case, trends are given over several years. House of Commons Library
Call to snoop on antibiotic scripts
Call to snoop on antibiotic scripts Doctors should snoop on their colleagues to ensure they are not prescribing too many antibiotics, the NHS in England suggests. BBC News
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See also:
VIDEO: Frustrations of an NHS brain surgeon
VIDEO: Frustrations of an NHS brain surgeon Newsnight follows a veteran neurosurgeon for a day, witnessing his frustrations about the conditions in which he and his colleagues now work. BBC News
Power to the people on: whistleblowing in the 21st century
Power to the people on: whistleblowing in the 21st century Sir Robert Francis’ report on whistleblowing is focused on corporate action; and in the age of social media, that may not be the best way forward. E-Health Insider
Exclusive: Dementia diagnoses on rise after controversial DES introduced
Exclusive: Dementia diagnoses on rise after controversial DES introduced Tens of thousands more patients have been diagnosed with dementia following the introduction of a controversial GP incentive scheme to increase diagnosis rates, official data show. GP Online
Good communication is essential to successful integration of health and social care
Good communication is essential to successful integration of health and social care Integration will only become a reality if staff, service users and the public are fully informed and engaged with the proposed reforms.
Most people involved in delivering health and social care are committed to making integration happen. They know it’s a good thing and can see the benefits for care and for the people who use services. But like any complex reform involving multiple agencies, they often struggle to see what it actually means for them and what they need to do differently to make it happen. This has to change if integration is to become a reality and not just a pipe dream.
Better training, including joint training for social care and health staff, can help us to move forward. Pooled budgets, plus clear joint delivery and governance structures, involving those who lead both health and social care will also help. However, these changes alone will not be enough: communication and engagement with staff, people who use services and the public will play an essential role in the ultimate success of integration. Continue reading... The Guardian
Most people involved in delivering health and social care are committed to making integration happen. They know it’s a good thing and can see the benefits for care and for the people who use services. But like any complex reform involving multiple agencies, they often struggle to see what it actually means for them and what they need to do differently to make it happen. This has to change if integration is to become a reality and not just a pipe dream.
Better training, including joint training for social care and health staff, can help us to move forward. Pooled budgets, plus clear joint delivery and governance structures, involving those who lead both health and social care will also help. However, these changes alone will not be enough: communication and engagement with staff, people who use services and the public will play an essential role in the ultimate success of integration. Continue reading... The Guardian
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