Friday, 10 July 2015
Guidance: New rules about tobacco, e-cigarettes and smoking: 1 October 2015
Guidance: New rules about tobacco, e-cigarettes and smoking: 1 October 2015 This document explains changes to the laws on tobacco, e-cigarettes and smoking that come into force on 1 October 2015. In particular, it explains the rules about smoking in private vehicles, including when the rules do and don’t apply. Department of Health
Staffing in medical schools holds stable
Staffing in medical schools holds stable The survey highlights a fall in numbers in psychiatry, paediatrics and child health, and also in pathology where it notes recruitment concerns. Medical Schools Council
New NICE guidelines to improve the health and wellbeing of employees
New NICE guidelines to improve the health and wellbeing of employees Find out more about the new NICE guidelines on improving the health and wellbeing of employees, with a particular focus on organisational culture and context, and the role of line managers. NHS Employers
Female Genital Mutilation and its Management
Female Genital Mutilation and its Management The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based guidance on the management of women with female genital mutilation (FGM) and those who are considered to be at risk. It covers the clinical care of women before, during and after pregnancy, including the legal and regulatory responsibilities of health professionals. The focus of this guideline is on practice in the UK. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
See also:
See also:
- Fresh guidelines for doctors on FGM BBC News
Many overweight teenagers do not recognise they are too heavy
Many overweight teenagers do not recognise they are too heavy More than a third of overweight or obese teenagers don’t see themselves as being too heavy and think their weight is about right, according to a Cancer Research UK study published today in the International Journal of Obesity.
The study used data from around 5,000 13-15-year-olds who were asked about their weight and if they thought they were too heavy, about right or too light.
Researchers then checked their answers against their Body Mass Index (BMI) –– to see whether the reality matched the teenagers’ perceptions of themselves.
Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of the teenagers had a BMI within the normal-weight range. A fifth (20 per cent) had a BMI in the overweight category and seven per cent were categorised as obese. Of these around 40 per cent thought they were about the right weight with very few (0.4 per cent) saying they were too light. Cancer Research UK
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The study used data from around 5,000 13-15-year-olds who were asked about their weight and if they thought they were too heavy, about right or too light.
Researchers then checked their answers against their Body Mass Index (BMI) –– to see whether the reality matched the teenagers’ perceptions of themselves.
Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of the teenagers had a BMI within the normal-weight range. A fifth (20 per cent) had a BMI in the overweight category and seven per cent were categorised as obese. Of these around 40 per cent thought they were about the right weight with very few (0.4 per cent) saying they were too light. Cancer Research UK
See also:
- Weight perceptions in a population sample of English adolescents: cause for celebration or concern? International Journal of Obesity (open access article)
- Overweight teens don't feel 'heavy' BBC News
- Obese teenagers suffer fat-blindness and think their weight is 'about right' The Daily Mail
- Overweight teenagers in denial about obesity at risk of up to 10 different types of cancer The Daily Telegraph
- Many overweight teens don’t realise they’re too heavy OnMedica
Nice to publish report on NHS staffing levels despite being told to stop work
Nice to publish report on NHS staffing levels despite being told to stop work Critics say move by Department of Health to take evidence reviews in-house will lead to lower standards in staffing as watchdog plans to release its report
Ministers and NHS bosses face an embarrassing row over safe staffing levels for nurses in hospital A&E departments in England after it emerged that the government body told to stop work in this area is going to publish its recommendations anyway.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which is legally independent of the NHS, plans to release its work at the end of the month. Continue reading... The Guardian
Ministers and NHS bosses face an embarrassing row over safe staffing levels for nurses in hospital A&E departments in England after it emerged that the government body told to stop work in this area is going to publish its recommendations anyway.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which is legally independent of the NHS, plans to release its work at the end of the month. Continue reading... The Guardian
Better housing for older people can ease NHS pressures – but who will fund it?
Better housing for older people can ease NHS pressures – but who will fund it? Many older people choose to stay in their own home rather than move to outdated and unappealing supported housing. But this places strain on families and the health service.
Getting people into the right homes with the right support can relieve a huge amount of pressure on the NHS – but to do this we need a seismic shift in how we think about housing services. The current system for housing older residents is no longer workable in the long-term if we want to maintain a higher standard of living.
At the moment, the housing offer is outdated and unappealing. That is why so many people choose to remain in their own home ahead of selecting more suitable supported living options. It puts undue strain on individuals, their families and health services
Each resident has a personal health plan that links in with local health services Continue reading... The Guardian
Getting people into the right homes with the right support can relieve a huge amount of pressure on the NHS – but to do this we need a seismic shift in how we think about housing services. The current system for housing older residents is no longer workable in the long-term if we want to maintain a higher standard of living.
At the moment, the housing offer is outdated and unappealing. That is why so many people choose to remain in their own home ahead of selecting more suitable supported living options. It puts undue strain on individuals, their families and health services
Each resident has a personal health plan that links in with local health services Continue reading... The Guardian
Smoking could help cause psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, say scientists
Smoking could help cause psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, say scientists Scientists have suggested that smoking may be a risk factor for developing psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- Rethinking cigarette smoking, cannabis use, and psychosis Lancet Psychiatry (OpenAthens password required)
- Smoking 'may play schizophrenia role' BBC News
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Northamptonshire hospital pays out £7m over medical negligence claim
Northamptonshire hospital pays out £7m over medical negligence claim Kettering General Hospital has agreed to pay out more than £7m to the family of a baby who was the victim of medical negligence. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Better value in the NHS: the role of changes in clinical practice
Better value in the NHS: the role of changes in clinical practice In a time of severe financial constraint, the NHS is being asked to make productivity savings of £22 billion by 2020/21. However, this report argues that, rather than looking at efficiency and costs, the NHS should be focusing on getting better value from its budget. The report looks at trends in NHS productivity in three areas – generic prescribing, length of stay and day case surgery – in which the NHS has made significant and sustained gains in productivity over a number of years, allowing more (and often better) care to be delivered within the same budget. It then outlines a number of areas where the NHS has opportunities to improve value in the future, focusing in particular on changes in clinical practice. The King's Fund
NHS Protect calls for consistent lone worker protection after survey highlights gaps
NHS Protect calls for consistent lone worker protection after survey highlights gaps As NHS workers become more mobile and provide more services out in the community, NHS Protect has completed a comprehensive survey of lone worker protection across the NHS in England, and found wide variance in provision by employers.
“We needed a comprehensive overview of the full range of lone worker protection systems and user groups out there in the NHS. This refreshes our understanding of the fast-changing lone worker services market and will inform important decisions in the years ahead,” said Sue Frith, managing director of NHS Protect.
“We needed a comprehensive overview of the full range of lone worker protection systems and user groups out there in the NHS. This refreshes our understanding of the fast-changing lone worker services market and will inform important decisions in the years ahead,” said Sue Frith, managing director of NHS Protect.
Heart attack, stroke and diabetes 'can shorten life by 23 years'
Heart attack, stroke and diabetes 'can shorten life by 23 years' "Suffering from heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes could knock 23 years off life," The Daily Telegraph reports, covering the stark conclusion of a major new UK study. The good news is many chronic diseases, such as stroke, are preventable.
As The Guardian reports, having a history of both heart attack and type 2 diabetes – increasingly common chronic conditions – can shorten life by around a decade.
Researchers looked at more than 130,000 deaths over 50 years. They then estimated the life-shortening effects of different diseases alone and in combination, and found these big three conditions significantly shortened lifespan.
The researchers used a large group and long timespan to make their estimates, giving us confidence in their main conclusions. But they are based on averages.
As The Guardian reports, having a history of both heart attack and type 2 diabetes – increasingly common chronic conditions – can shorten life by around a decade.
Researchers looked at more than 130,000 deaths over 50 years. They then estimated the life-shortening effects of different diseases alone and in combination, and found these big three conditions significantly shortened lifespan.
The researchers used a large group and long timespan to make their estimates, giving us confidence in their main conclusions. But they are based on averages.
BMA slams chancellor's 'disregard for NHS staff' after pay freeze extended
BMA slams chancellor's 'disregard for NHS staff' after pay freeze extended Doctors' leaders have accused the chancellor of having a 'cynical disregard' for NHS staff after he announced a 1% cap on pay rises for the next four years. GP Online
See also:
See also:
- The Budget: funding cuts and pay freeze British Medical Association
- NHS Employers responds to the Budget NHS Employers
- NHS nurses' pay increases capped at one per cent Royal College of Nursing
The danger of online diagnosis: Millions of emergencies are MISSED through symptom checker websites, study warns
The danger of online diagnosis: Millions of emergencies are MISSED through symptom checker websites, study warns Scientists at Harvard Medical School in the US have warned one in eight emergencies are missed by the NHS Choices symptom checker website, casting doubt on the safety of the internet to spot illnesses. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
Can the NHS realise David Cameron's ambitions for seven-day services?
Can the NHS realise David Cameron's ambitions for seven-day services? A shortage of staff and money mean the prime minister’s dream of a seven-day NHS may remain in the pages of his election manifesto
It is an inconvenient truth that people get sick at the weekend. Yet the NHS has for too long tried to manage its workload like any other industry: by consigning the majority of its work to weekdays, allowing GPs to shut up shop and hospitals to switch to standby mode over the weekend. As a result, you are 16% more likely to die if admitted to a hospital in England over the weekend than on a weekday. That was the finding of a 2012 study of over 14 million hospital admissions; other, more restricted, studies have reinforced the point. Continue reading... The Guardian
It is an inconvenient truth that people get sick at the weekend. Yet the NHS has for too long tried to manage its workload like any other industry: by consigning the majority of its work to weekdays, allowing GPs to shut up shop and hospitals to switch to standby mode over the weekend. As a result, you are 16% more likely to die if admitted to a hospital in England over the weekend than on a weekday. That was the finding of a 2012 study of over 14 million hospital admissions; other, more restricted, studies have reinforced the point. Continue reading... The Guardian
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
Corby patients urged to dial 111 for out of hours GP help
Corby patients urged to dial 111 for out of hours GP help GPs in Corby are urging patients to dial 111 if they need to see a doctor during the night, at weekends and on bank holidays. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Band launches album after touring mental health wards
Band launches album after touring mental health wards A city band who took gigs and workshops on a "tour" across mental health wards have now recorded an EP.
Moving InWards is a collaboration between the acoustic band Refuge and the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, responsible for community and mental health services.
So far the band has performed on 10 wards in Leicestershire. Proceeds from the event and album sales will be ploughed back into the project. Leicester Mercury
Moving InWards is a collaboration between the acoustic band Refuge and the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, responsible for community and mental health services.
So far the band has performed on 10 wards in Leicestershire. Proceeds from the event and album sales will be ploughed back into the project. Leicester Mercury
Prescription items increase by over 50 per cent since 2004
Prescription items increase by over 50 per cent since 2004 Over 1.06 billion items were prescribed in 2014, an increase of 3.3 per cent (34.5 m items) on 2013,
The 2014 figure also represents an increase of 55.2 per cent on 2004 (378.5 million items).
The overall Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) of prescriptions in 2014 however stood at £8.85 billion, an increase of 2.6 per cent (£227.5 million) from 2013. Since 2004 this figure has increased by 9.6 per cent (£773.0 million).
The Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community 2004-2014 report looks at prescriptions dispensed in England by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions for items administered in GP practices. Health and Social Care Information Centre
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The 2014 figure also represents an increase of 55.2 per cent on 2004 (378.5 million items).
The overall Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) of prescriptions in 2014 however stood at £8.85 billion, an increase of 2.6 per cent (£227.5 million) from 2013. Since 2004 this figure has increased by 9.6 per cent (£773.0 million).
The Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community 2004-2014 report looks at prescriptions dispensed in England by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions for items administered in GP practices. Health and Social Care Information Centre
See also:
- Drug prescriptions rise in England BBC News
- Pill prescriptions up 50% in the past decade as 1 billion handed out a year The Daily Mail
- Erectile dysfunction drug prescription soar by 25% in 12 months The Daily Mail
- Viagra: Number of prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs rises by more than a quarter The Independent
- 4 million more prescriptions for Atorvastatin since 2013, figures show OnMedica
Reports that 1 pregnant woman in 3 in UK binge drink unconfirmed
Reports that 1 pregnant woman in 3 in UK binge drink unconfirmed "A third of British women risk doing severe harm to their unborn babies by binge drinking during pregnancy," the Mail Online reports. While a concerning statistic, the evidence behind the headline is perhaps not as clear-cut as the Mail would lead its readers to believe.
This story has been prompted by the publication of a study comparing just over 17,000 women's alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It also looked at which groups of women were more likely to report drinking alcohol in pregnancy.
While the overall study population was large, an overlooked fact not made clear in the media was that the study only included data from 651 women from the UK. The study also collected this data over a relatively long time – between 2004 and 2011 – and drinking habits may have changed since then.
Out of these 651 women, a third reported binge drinking (defined as drinking six units or more in one sitting) in their first trimester. Reassuringly, in all countries surveyed, this figure dropped dramatically in the second trimester, to around just 1%.
This story has been prompted by the publication of a study comparing just over 17,000 women's alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It also looked at which groups of women were more likely to report drinking alcohol in pregnancy.
While the overall study population was large, an overlooked fact not made clear in the media was that the study only included data from 651 women from the UK. The study also collected this data over a relatively long time – between 2004 and 2011 – and drinking habits may have changed since then.
Out of these 651 women, a third reported binge drinking (defined as drinking six units or more in one sitting) in their first trimester. Reassuringly, in all countries surveyed, this figure dropped dramatically in the second trimester, to around just 1%.
The Treasury, the Budget and the NHS - BBC News
The Treasury, the Budget and the NHS The big decisions on financing the NHS over the next few years are likely to come in the autumn with the departmental spending review.
Beyond a restatement of the commitment to an extra £8 billion in 2020, the Chancellor's Budget is likely to focus on welfare spending rather than the protected departments like health.
But, for what will be one of the most important domestic policy decisions made by this Government, detailed analysis of the financial needs of the NHS in England is underway. BBC News
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Beyond a restatement of the commitment to an extra £8 billion in 2020, the Chancellor's Budget is likely to focus on welfare spending rather than the protected departments like health.
But, for what will be one of the most important domestic policy decisions made by this Government, detailed analysis of the financial needs of the NHS in England is underway. BBC News
See also:
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