Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Nurse’s NHS work with Northampton teens funded by insurance firm
Nurse’s NHS work with Northampton teens funded by insurance firm An NHS nurse who specialises in teen pregnancy and sexual health is being paid for by an insurance company after national health bosses ended her funding. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The silence on public health in the election debate
The silence on public health in the election debate As the election campaign has got into full swing, politicians have been seeking to outbid each other on funding for the NHS. And there has been extensive discussion – what do the bids mean; will they be enough; and, perhaps most importantly, when exactly will the cash be delivered?
However, there has been almost total silence on public health. Looking back, the contrast with the last election is stark. In 2010, the Conservatives were promising a Department of Public Health, the headquarters of health across government and public health – and public health even merited its own separate section in the coalition agreement. We have recently given our verdict on the coalition’s record on public health, so no more of that here.
So why is the debate so different this time round, and why does it matter?
However, there has been almost total silence on public health. Looking back, the contrast with the last election is stark. In 2010, the Conservatives were promising a Department of Public Health, the headquarters of health across government and public health – and public health even merited its own separate section in the coalition agreement. We have recently given our verdict on the coalition’s record on public health, so no more of that here.
So why is the debate so different this time round, and why does it matter?
One giant step for NHS Citizen – Tim Kelsey
One giant step for NHS Citizen – Tim Kelsey The NHS Citizen project has reached its initial aim – developing a design for how NHS England can improve citizen participation and accountability.
Heart failure drug digoxin linked to premature death
Heart failure drug digoxin linked to premature death "A heart drug taken by 250,000 Britons can actually hasten death," the Mail Online warns today. An analysis of previous research on digoxin, used to treat heart failure and heart rhythm abnormalities, suggests that it can raise the risk of premature death.
The analysis pooled the results of 19 different studies investigating whether digoxin – used in the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation – increases the risk of death from any cause.
Overall, the review found that people taking digoxin had a 21% higher risk of death from any cause compared to people not taking the drug.
The risk increase was slightly higher for people taking digoxin for atrial fibrillation (29%) than for heart failure (14%).
Though an effective drug, digoxin has long been known to have potentially serious adverse effects and always needs to be used with care. However, in this analysis, it is difficult to know how much of the higher risk of death is due solely to digoxin, and how much is due to health differences between the people who were and were not taking the drug. People who were prescribed digoxin may have had more severe health problems and these may have increased their mortality risk.
If you are taking digoxin and you have any concerns, or any new or worsening symptoms, do not stop taking your medication, but contact your health professional as soon as possible.
The analysis pooled the results of 19 different studies investigating whether digoxin – used in the treatment of heart failure and atrial fibrillation – increases the risk of death from any cause.
Overall, the review found that people taking digoxin had a 21% higher risk of death from any cause compared to people not taking the drug.
The risk increase was slightly higher for people taking digoxin for atrial fibrillation (29%) than for heart failure (14%).
Though an effective drug, digoxin has long been known to have potentially serious adverse effects and always needs to be used with care. However, in this analysis, it is difficult to know how much of the higher risk of death is due solely to digoxin, and how much is due to health differences between the people who were and were not taking the drug. People who were prescribed digoxin may have had more severe health problems and these may have increased their mortality risk.
If you are taking digoxin and you have any concerns, or any new or worsening symptoms, do not stop taking your medication, but contact your health professional as soon as possible.
Mental health spending cuts forecast
Mental health spending cuts forecast Mental health trusts in England are forecasting significant cuts to their funding over the next four years, figures seen by the BBC suggest. BBC News
Concern over UK maternal death rates
Concern over UK maternal death rates UK fails to make top ten countries for best maternal health as women in the UK are more than twice as likely to die during pregnancy and in childbirth than those in Poland, Austria or Belarus, according to a new report. OnMedica
See also:
See also:
- State of the World's Mothers 2015: The Urban Disadvantage (free registration required) Save the Children
Average GP appointment waiting times to hit two weeks by next year
Average GP appointment waiting times to hit two weeks by next year The average waiting time for a GP appointment in a year’s time will hit two weeks as they continue to increase, a Pulse survey has revealed.
The survey of more than 700 GPs across the UK reveals that one in four practices currently have a two-week wait for an appointment - an increase on the one in five who said this when the same survey was done last year.
It also reveals that 6% of GPs say patients are currently having to wait longer than three weeks, while almost 20% say the wait will be longer than three weeks in a year’s time. Pulse
See also:
The survey of more than 700 GPs across the UK reveals that one in four practices currently have a two-week wait for an appointment - an increase on the one in five who said this when the same survey was done last year.
It also reveals that 6% of GPs say patients are currently having to wait longer than three weeks, while almost 20% say the wait will be longer than three weeks in a year’s time. Pulse
See also:
- Average GP waiting times 'will hit two weeks' family doctors predict The Daily Telegraph
- GPs claim they are so overworked standards of care are 'dangerous' The Daily Mail
UK has fewer doctors, nurses, hospital beds and medical equipment than others
UK has fewer doctors, nurses, hospital beds and medical equipment than others A report examining healthcare in 34 countries across the world found there were just 2.8 doctors and 8.2 nurses per 10,000 of the population in the UK compared with averages of 3.2 and 8.9 respectively. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
- The NHS: How does it compare? (free registration required to download the report) The Economist Intelligence Unit
- Is the NHS lagging behind other health systems? BBC News
- UK lagging behind most of Europe on health OnMedica
- RCGP response to Economist Intelligence Unit report on the NHS Royal College of General Practitioners
74 per cent of British men will be overweight by 2030
74 per cent of British men will be overweight by 2030 By 2030 nearly 39 million adults will be overweight or obese in the UK, a rise of more than six million. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
See also:
- Proportion of overweight and obese males and females to increase in most European countries by 2030, say latest projections by WHO UK Health Forum
- Women's obesity timebomb laid bare: Two-thirds of them will be overweight by 2030 warns WHO The Daily Mail
- Nearly 75% of men and 65% of women in UK to be overweight by 2030 – study The Guardian
- Three in every four British men will be obese by 2030, says the World Health Organisation The Independent
NHS doctors working in private healthcare 'on the side' directly harming health service, says senior consultant
NHS doctors working in private healthcare 'on the side' directly harming health service, says senior consultant NHS doctors who work in private healthcare “on the side” are directly harming the health service, a senior consultant has said. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Private work 'takes from NHS care' BBC News
- Unethical NHS doctors drive up waiting times to attract private patients The Daily Telegraph
- Ban NHS doctors from private work, hospital consultant says The Guardian
Deadly DNP diet pills warning: Interpol issues global alert over 'imminent threat' posed by slimming drug
Deadly DNP diet pills warning: Interpol issues global alert over 'imminent threat' posed by slimming drug The world police agency Interpol has issued a global health warning over the threat posed by deadly “diet pills” which can cause the taker to overheat and “literally cook” from the inside. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- International 'diet pill' warning BBC News
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Nursing role is a hospital first for Kettering
Nursing role is a hospital first for Kettering A nurse at Kettering General Hospital has been appointed to a new specialised role, aimed at improving patient care and providing training to other medical staff. Northamptonshire Telegraph
News story: Kettering Hospital to improve A&E service and finances
News story: Kettering Hospital to improve A&E service and finances As a result, Kettering will now:
While Kettering has made significant progress in improving its A&E service, it is still failing to consistently meet the national target of treating 95% of A&E patients within 4 hours.
Significant progress has also been made by Kettering’s new leadership in becoming compliant with all Health & Safety Executive and local fire authority guidelines.
Monitor will continue to scrutinise the trust’s progress in making these improvements.
See also:
- create and implement a realistic and robust short-term financial recovery plan
- develop and effectively deliver a long-term strategic plan
- update its emergency care action plan to ensure closer working with other local health and social care organisations
While Kettering has made significant progress in improving its A&E service, it is still failing to consistently meet the national target of treating 95% of A&E patients within 4 hours.
Significant progress has also been made by Kettering’s new leadership in becoming compliant with all Health & Safety Executive and local fire authority guidelines.
Monitor will continue to scrutinise the trust’s progress in making these improvements.
See also:
- KGH agrees plan to improve finances and reduce waiting times Northamptonshire Telegraph
Is surplus NHS estate the answer to funding transformation?
Is surplus NHS estate the answer to funding transformation? Both The King’s Fund and the Health Foundation have called for a properly resourced 'transformation fund' to support the kind of large-scale change outlined in the NHS five year forward view. But how big would such a fund need to be and how would it be resourced? We are exploring the answer to these questions as part of our project with the Health Foundation.
Could selling unused, or underused, NHS estate provide the necessary funding? Of course, this depends on how much surplus estate there is and how much it is worth – and it isn’t easy to answer either of those questions.
Could selling unused, or underused, NHS estate provide the necessary funding? Of course, this depends on how much surplus estate there is and how much it is worth – and it isn’t easy to answer either of those questions.
The NHS - reality returns after polling day
The NHS - reality returns after polling day Hugh Pym on the turbulent times ahead for the NHS. BBC News
Labour and Tory pledges to recruit more GPs 'could take 30 years to fulfil'
Labour and Tory pledges to recruit more GPs 'could take 30 years to fulfil' Doctors’ group says that, at current rates, it would take until 2045 to find Labour’s promised 8,000 extra GPs – and until 2034 to hire the 5,000 the Tories propose
On current trends, it will take up to 30 years to deliver key election pledges from Labour and the Conservatives to recruit thousands more GPs, the body which represents family doctors has warned.
Labour’s promise of 8,000 extra GPs during the next parliament to relieve the strain on overworked surgeries would not be fulfilled until 2045, according to the Royal College of GPs (RCGP). Continue reading... The Guardian
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On current trends, it will take up to 30 years to deliver key election pledges from Labour and the Conservatives to recruit thousands more GPs, the body which represents family doctors has warned.
Labour’s promise of 8,000 extra GPs during the next parliament to relieve the strain on overworked surgeries would not be fulfilled until 2045, according to the Royal College of GPs (RCGP). Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- New government set to miss targets for extra GPs unless urgent measures are taken after election, warns RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
Ed Miliband warns that NHS faces financial bombshell
Ed Miliband warns that NHS faces financial bombshell Labour leader says hospital trusts could have to make ‘swingeing cuts’ as he pushes to put health service at centre of election campaign
Ed Miliband warned that two-thirds of hospital trusts face having to make “swingeing cuts” after a leaked internal document showed that the health service is projected to run a deficit of nearly £2bn this year.
Two-thirds of hospitals face having to make swingeing cuts, not at some point in the future but this year Continue reading... The Guardian
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Ed Miliband warned that two-thirds of hospital trusts face having to make “swingeing cuts” after a leaked internal document showed that the health service is projected to run a deficit of nearly £2bn this year.
Two-thirds of hospitals face having to make swingeing cuts, not at some point in the future but this year Continue reading... The Guardian
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Fears grow over ‘land grab’ of NHS by private suppliers
Fears grow over ‘land grab’ of NHS by private suppliers Campaigners say list of service bidders is another step to privatisation, as reforms are viewed as handing power to corporations instead of GPs
A new list of approved suppliers to the NHS has heightened fears of a multi-billion pound land grab by a handful of corporations.
Competition for contracts to supply support services to the GP-led commissioning groups will be dominated by management consultancies, outsourcing giant Capita, and the US health insurer UnitedHealth. NHS England insists that the companies bidding for the support contracts will supply a range of back office functions, cutting procurement times and allowing doctors to focus on how best to spend their £70bn share of the NHS budget. Continue reading... The Guardian
A new list of approved suppliers to the NHS has heightened fears of a multi-billion pound land grab by a handful of corporations.
Competition for contracts to supply support services to the GP-led commissioning groups will be dominated by management consultancies, outsourcing giant Capita, and the US health insurer UnitedHealth. NHS England insists that the companies bidding for the support contracts will supply a range of back office functions, cutting procurement times and allowing doctors to focus on how best to spend their £70bn share of the NHS budget. Continue reading... The Guardian
Most patients turning down the chance of free private treatment on the NHS, says research
Most patients turning down the chance of free private treatment on the NHS, says research Most patients are turning down the chance of free private treatment on the NHS, according to research released. Government statistics, obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request, reveal that where people are offered the choice of going private, 64 per cent decide not to. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Three-quarters of Britons sunburned last year, study finds The Daily Telegraph
UK skin cancer statistics 'shocking' as sun-worshippers ignore the dangers of exposure
UK skin cancer statistics 'shocking' as sun-worshippers ignore the dangers of exposure An overwhelming majority of Britons worry about skin cancer, but millions continue to put themselves at risk by allowing themselves to be burned by the sun, according to health campaigners. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Most 'unaware' of skin cancer signs BBC News
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