NHS spending: squeezed as never before

NHS spending: squeezed as never before Next month the government will set out its plans for public service spending through to 2020. The indications are that the plans will be a rerun of the 2010 Spending Review. The overall aim – as in 2010 – will be to eliminate the public spending deficit and reduce government debt as a proportion of GDP. Once again, large (25–40 per cent) real cuts are expected for most departments. And, as in 2010, NHS spending will be protected.

But the protection is relative and the decade since the 2010 Spending Review will be the toughest financially since the inception of the NHS. The King's Fund

See also:

• NHS cash 'to fall as share of GDP by 2020'  BBC News

Mindful Nation UK

Mindful Nation UK The Mindful UK Report, the first policy document of its kind, seeks to address mental health concerns in the areas of education, health, the workplace and the criminal justice system through the application of mindfulness interventions.

The recommendations in this report are evidence-based, sourced directly from experienced implementers, who report notable success in their respective fields and urge policymakers to invest resources in further pilot studies and increase public access to qualified teacher trainers.  Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG)

See also:

• VIDEO: What is mindfulness and should you try it? BBC News
• Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Mindfulness (eBook, OpenAthens password required)

A destructive vicious circle': Damning Age UK report highlights crisis in health and social care for older people

A destructive vicious circle': Damning Age UK report highlights crisis in health and social care for older people A damning report finds that the health and care system for older people in England is under severe stress and is underperforming, leading to higher costs, poorer health outcomes and worse patient and service user experience. Age UK

See also:

• The health and care of older people in England 2015 Age UK
• One million elderly 'struggle alone' BBC News
• More old people in hospital as community care 'starved' Age UK The Guardian

Care in crisis: a survey highlighting the views of people with diabetes and how that relates to the reality of today's NHS

Care in crisis: a survey highlighting the views of people with diabetes and how that relates to the reality of today's NHS Almost 40 per cent of people with diabetes believe the NHS has “worsened” since the £1.1bn health service reforms, according to a new survey.

Around 2.5 million people with the condition have not received high-quality structured education despite the risk of serious complications. This has been shown in a wide-sweeping report laying bare the state of diabetes care in England. InDependent Diabetes Trust

See also:

• The management of adult diabetes services in the NHS: progress review National Audit Office

More than 11 moles on an arm may be 'sign of skin cancer risk'

More than 11 moles on an arm may be 'sign of skin cancer risk'"More than 11 moles on right arm 'could indicate greater skin cancer risk','' The Guardian reports.

A new study found that people with 11 or more moles on their arm were likely to have over 100 moles on their body – a known risk factor for the melanoma type of skin cancer.

Counting the entire number of moles can be time-consuming for clinicians and difficult for an individual to do by themselves. Researchers wanted to see if there was a handy proxy that would predict with a reasonable degree of accuracy a person’s total mole count. NHS Choices

'Postcode lottery for mental health' talking therapies'

'Postcode lottery for mental health' talking therapies' People with anxiety and depression should be offered talking therapies within six weeks, according to new guidelines in England. But while 100% of patients in some areas receive this level of treatment, it is only 5% in others - why does this happen? BBC News

See also:

• Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Report, July 2015 Final, August 2015 Primary and Quarter 1 2015/16 Health and Social Care Information Centre

Hospitals to get own savings targets

Hospitals to get own savings targets Hospitals in England are being given individual savings targets, after a report identified potential savings of £5bn a year in the NHS. BBC News

See also:

• VIDEO: NHS hospitals to get savings targets BBC News

Junior doctors: 7 in 10 to leave NHS if Hunt pushes through new contract

Junior doctors: 7 in 10 to leave NHS if Hunt pushes through new contract Survey of more than 4,000 young medics shows more than 70% would move abroad, become a locum or change career

Thousands of junior doctors in England will quit the NHS if Jeremy Hunt presses ahead with his threat to impose an unpopular contract on them, a survey shows.

The poll has prompted warnings that such an exodus would leave the NHS unable to function, given young medics’ key role in delivering care. Continue reading... The Guardian

FGM: reporting of cases among children becomes mandatory

FGM: reporting of cases among children becomes mandatory Health professionals, teachers and social workers obliged to report child FGM cases from next week but duty on GPs to record cases among adult women sparks row

A duty on all teachers, doctors, nurses and social workers to report child cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police will come into force next week.

New legislation announced earlier this year make such disclosures mandatory and professionals who fail to report the illegal practice in under-18s could face the sack. Continue reading... The Guardian

Ex-health secretary Andrew Lansley to advise firms on healthcare reforms

Ex-health secretary Andrew Lansley to advise firms on healthcare reforms Tory peer blamed by many for increased privatisation of NHS takes part-time role with Bain & Company ‘leading a discussion on innovation in healthcare’.

Andrew Lansley, the architect of the coalition government’s efforts to privatise parts of the NHS, has taken a job advising corporate clients on healthcare reforms despite David Cameron’s pledge to close the “revolving door” between Whitehall and the private sector.

The management consultants Bain & Company took on Lord Lansley in August. The newly ennobled Conservative peer also plans to become an active associate of a “strategic communications consultancy” set up by his wife and will advise on health and social care. Continue reading... The Guardian

Is this the end of traditional doctors? A third of over 65s use technology to manage their health

Is this the end of traditional doctors? A third of over 65s use technology to manage their health As Brits continue to avoid a visit to their GP, new research reveals a third of over 65s are using technology to keep tabs on their health and wellbeing. The Daily Telegraph

Jeremy Hunt told sugar tax would cut childhood obesity as review Government tried to suppress is published

Jeremy Hunt told sugar tax would cut childhood obesity as review Government tried to suppress is published Jeremy Hunt has been told a sugar tax will help cut childhood obesity, it has emerged, after a senior public health official went public with the contents of a report the Government has refused to publish. The Independent

See also:

• GPs back levy on sugary drinks in battle to curb obesity Royal College of General Practitioners
• Official report backs sugar tax to beat obesity, so why was it buried? The Daily Mail

NHS warns private ambulance firm over loss of local Northampton knowledge in control room

NHS warns private ambulance firm over loss of local Northampton knowledge in control room A company that takes non-emergency patients to hospital has been warned for being late to appointments and closing its Northampton control room. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Supporting doctors with health concerns

Supporting doctors with health concerns The General Medical Council (GMC) has published a report following a roundtable event with healthcare experts and leaders from across the UK.

NHS Reserve Forces footprint map launches

NHS Reserve Forces footprint map launches The NHS Reserve Forces footprint map has launched to help employers see their public commitment to the Reserve Forces, and provide available support contact details. NHS Employers

Could anti-inflammatory drugs prevent schizophrenia?

Could anti-inflammatory drugs prevent schizophrenia?"It may be possible to prevent schizophrenia by calming the brain's immune system," BBC News reports after researchers found raised levels of immune activity in people thought to be at high risk of developing schizophrenia.

The research looked at the activity of a type of cell known as microglial cells. These serve as the primary immune cells for the brain and central nervous system, protecting these vital regions of the body against infection. NHS Choices

NHS starts diabetes 'stem cell factory'

NHS starts diabetes 'stem cell factory' The NHS is setting up a stem cell factory to help treat people with diabetes. BBC News

Ebola nurse's condition 'improves'

Ebola nurse's condition 'improves' UK nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who contracted Ebola in West Africa, now in "serious but stable" condition - hospital. BBC News

GMC seeks to overturn decision not to strike off paedophile doctor

GMC seeks to overturn decision not to strike off paedophile doctor It wants the Professional Standards Authority to refer the case to the High Court. OnMedica

The scars of modern slavery: trafficked people with severe mental illness

The scars of modern slavery: trafficked people with severe mental illness Yesterday was #AntiSlaveryDay, so today we are publishing a blog by Mina Fazel who considers the findings of an historical cohort study in the Lancet Psychiatry, which explores the characteristics of trafficked people with severe mental illness. The Mental Elf