“Significant improvements” in ambulance handovers at KGH after introduction of new system

“Significant improvements” in ambulance handovers at KGH after introduction of new system Kettering General Hospital says it has seen a “significant improvement” in ambulance handovers since it introduced a new system to tackle increasing time pressures. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Former KGH nurse struck off after falsely claiming she held qualifications to gain promotion

Former KGH nurse struck off after falsely claiming she held qualifications to gain promotion A nurse who falsely claimed she held specialist heart qualifications to gain a promotion at Kettering General Hospital has been struck off. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The role of the NHS in reducing health inequalities: moving beyond fair access to care

The role of the NHS in reducing health inequalities: moving beyond fair access to care All the evidence shows that the NHS is one of the fairest health systems in the world, but it is not perfect. The much-maligned Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced a new duty on the Secretary of State, NHS England and clinical commissioning groups to ‘have regard to the need to reduce inequalities’ in access to care and outcomes of care. However, given the wider furore over the Act and what followed, you would be forgiven for not having noticed that. The King's Fund

Key facts and trends in mental health: 2016 update

Key facts and trends in mental health: 2016 update The Mental Health Network (MHN) has published the fourth edition of its factsheet on key statistics and trends in mental health. NHS Confederation

Best care will come from collaboration not competition – Jeff Johnston

Best care will come from collaboration not competition – Jeff Johnston As the New Care Models Programme marks its first anniversary, the Associate Director of Operations at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust and one of the partnership’s programme directors, discusses the progress they’ve made so far. NHS England

'Not enough doctors' for 7-day NHS

'Not enough doctors' for 7-day NHS There are not enough doctors to run a seven-day NHS in England, according to a leading doctor. BBC News

Doctors raise £70,000 for legal challenge over imposed junior doctor contract

Doctors raise £70,000 for legal challenge over imposed junior doctor contract Doctors and NHS staff who launched a bid to raise £25,000 through crowd funding to kick start a legal challenge over government plans to impose a new contract on junior doctors have raised almost three times as much as their original target. GP Online

Doctors call for better training in end-of-life care

Doctors call for better training in end-of-life care A major report by the British Medical Association reveals that while there are examples of excellent end-of-life care across the UK, there is too much variation between geographic areas and between medical conditions. OnMedica

See also:

• End-of-life care and physician-assisted dying (download) British Medical Association
• Doctors may treat dying patients for too long, finds BMA report The Guardian

£20m boost for GP pay and services

£20m boost for GP pay and services Cash package will also provide IT upgrades and improve locum cover. OnMedica

Anorexia charities criticise Joan Bakewell for unhelpful comments'

Anorexia charities criticise Joan Bakewell for 'unhelpful comments' Baroness Bakewell sparked controversy by claiming eating disorders arise from society becoming more narcissistic. The Independent

See also:

• Teen anorexia 'sign of narcissism' BBC News
• Bakewell 'sorry' over anorexia comments BBC News
• Joan Bakewell is right that anorexia is linked to vanity The Daily Telegraph

GP Clare Gerada calls the NHS a 'toxic' place to work amid Junior doctor strikes

GP Clare Gerada calls the NHS a 'toxic' place to work amid Junior doctor strikes Former chair of the Council of the Royal College of GPs, Dr Clare Gerada, claims junior doctors work an atmosphere of fear - and the strikes are vital to protect their mental health. The Daily Mail

NHS struggling to plug a £22bn funding 'black hole', says report

NHS struggling to plug a £22bn funding 'black hole', says report In 2014-15, NHS trusts in England had a net deficit of £843m, down from £91m recorded in 2013-14 and a £592m surplus in 2012-13.

The NHS in England lacks a convincing plan to plug a £22bn “black hole” in funding within five years, according to parliament’s spending watchdog.

A significant number of acute hospital trusts are in “serious and persistent financial distress”, there is a “spiralling” trend of increased deficits and the current payment system is “not fit for purpose”, the public accounts committee said.  Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Sustainability and financial performance of acute hospital trusts Public Accounts Select Committee
• Government 'has no convincing plan' to save NHS from funding 'black hole' MPs warn The Independent
• Doctors say Budget must deliver more social care cash OnMedica
• ‘Hundreds’ of pharmacies threatened by funding cuts OnMedica

Hospital staffing crisis as 40% of consultant posts remain vacant

Hospital staffing crisis as 40% of consultant posts remain vacant Royal College of Physicians says ‘gathering storm’ of problems puts health secretary’s seven-day NHS plan at risk.

Hospitals are facing such chronic shortages of medical personnel that 40% of senior doctors’ posts remained vacant, new figures reveal.

Vacancies are so widespread that the government’s push to create a seven-day NHS is at risk, according to the head of the Royal College of Physicians. Continue reading... The Guardian

The NHS mental health hospital closed with just five days' warning

The NHS mental health hospital closed with just five days' warning Critics say lives have been put at risk by the closure of Bootham Park in York, with 30 patients having to be discharged or moved

The closure of York’s only public adult mental health hospital with just five days’ warning could put lives at risk and should be subject to both an independent inquiry and a judicial review, according to a local MP and lawyers representing patients.

Bootham Park hospital was closed suddenly in October last year after a critical report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the hospital regulator, forcing 30 inpatients to be discharged or relocated and affecting 400 outpatients. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• How a hospital was closed in five days – video The Guardian

Dental charges in England set to increase by 5%

Dental charges in England set to increase by 5% Price hike is in response to the £22 billion cuts needed across the NHS. The Independent

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: NHS charges from April 2016 Department of Health
• Statement to Parliament: NHS dental charges from April 2016 Department of Health

New pay circular for Agenda for Change 1/2016

New pay circular for Agenda for Change 1/2016 New pay circular issued for staff covered by Agenda for Change. NHS Employers

Making a whistleblowing policy work: progress update

Making a whistleblowing policy work: progress update This report assesses the progress on whistleblowing policies and argues that more must be done to encourage and support whistleblowers to come forward. It highlights concerns that the government's approach has been too focused on policy rather than leading by practice and that there has been a lack of urgency in dealing with this issue. House of Commons Public Accounts Committee

Disabled people face benefits change

Disabled people face benefits change More than half a million disabled people could lose out as a result of further changes over the next four years to welfare payments. BBC News

George Osborne accused of presiding over largest funding squeeze in NHS history

George Osborne accused of presiding over largest funding squeeze in NHS history Given economic forecasts and present spending, it is estimated £20bn less a year will be being spent on health by 2020. The Independent

See also:

• Doctors urge more social care funding BBC News

Jeremy Hunt urged to act against avoidable deaths from epilepsy

Jeremy Hunt urged to act against avoidable deaths from  Charity warns almost four in 10 of deaths from the condition are preventable as they call for better care and services. The Independent