Northants children’s centre consultation begins as Corby charity says cuts will have ‘devastating impact’

Northants children’s centre consultation begins as Corby charity says cuts will have ‘devastating impact’ Northamptonshire County Council has launched a consultation into proposed changes to children’s centre services in the county. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Eight children's centres set to close BBC Northampton

Ambulance service for Northamptonshire had to take out a loan to pay staff wages

Ambulance service for Northamptonshire had to take out a loan to pay staff wages A cash-strapped ambulance service has had to borrow money from the Government to pay basic monthly expenses. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby child dies from swine flu and three other youngsters are infected

Corby child dies from swine flu and three other youngsters are infected The youngster, from Corby, Northamptonshire, died last week and is thought to have attended a private nursery. Health officials are now giving advice to concerned parents. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Parents warned after Corby child dies from possible swine flu Northamptonshire Telegraph

The Budget: sugaring a bitter pill for public health?

The Budget: sugaring a bitter pill for public health? The stand-out headline of the Budget was the slimline rabbit the Chancellor pulled out of the hat in the form of a future sugar levy. This is a victory for many public health campaigners, for Public Health England and the Health Select Committee who all championed a tax on sugary drinks. The King's Fund

Open consultation: Carers strategy: call for evidence

Open consultation: Carers strategy: call for evidence We think that we need a new strategy for carers that sets out how more can be done to support them. It needs to reflect their lives now, their health and financial concerns, and give them the support they need to live well while caring for a family member or friend.

To help us develop the strategy, we want to hear from carers, those who have someone who care for them, business, social workers, NHS staff and other professionals that support carers. Department of Health

Board briefing on apprenticeship policy changes

Board briefing on apprenticeship policy changes NHS Employers have produced a briefing for board members which highlights the financial implications of the policy changes being introduced surrounding apprenticeships.

NHS study shows 9 in 10 hospitals now deemed unsafe over lack of beds

NHS study shows 9 in 10 hospitals now deemed unsafe over lack of beds Shocking figures show that 143 out of 154 hospital trusts in England are currently more than 85 per cent occupied – the maximum level considered to be safe. The Daily Mail

Jenny Foote: Report on care worker's murder to be withheld, health bosses say

Jenny Foote: Report on care worker's murder to be withheld, health bosses say A controversial report into how a violent, mentally disturbed patient was released from NHS care to a charity-run housing project where he battered a care worker to death with a fire extinguisher should be kept secret, health service bosses have said. The Independent

Scarlet fever: Once-feared Victorian disease infecting hundreds of children a week

Scarlet fever: Once-feared Victorian disease infecting hundreds of children a week Illness associated with the Victorian era now infects hundreds of children a week, with no apparent reason for its return. The Independent

See also:

• Scarlet fever returns as doctors are warned about possible outbreak The Daily Mail

Junior doctors' strike: BMA announces planned 'escalation' of action

Junior doctors' strike: BMA announces planned 'escalation' of action Doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA) announced plans for an “escalation” of strike action last night over the Government’s decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors. The Independent

Doctors accuse Tories of deception over 'extra £10bn for NHS' claim

Doctors accuse Tories of deception over 'extra £10bn for NHS' claim Government used accounting tricks to give impression of support but budget will only be up by £4.5bn by 2020-21, BMA claims.

Doctors’ leaders have accused the Conservatives of deceiving the public by giving the NHS less than half the extra £10bn ministers regularly cite as proof of their support for the service.

The government has used a series of accounting tricks to wrongly give the impression of generous backing when in reality it is leaving patient care underfunded and refusing to face up to the NHS’s deepening financial crisis, a report from the British Medical Association claims. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• The curious tale of £22bn NHS efficiency savings BBC News
• Conservatives' pledge to protect NHS 'entirely disingenuous' The Guardian
• There is little hope that the NHS can avoid a financial crash The Guardian
• NHS officials deny they were pressured to downgrade estimates of how extra much cash health service needed The Independent

George Osborne cut NHS repairs fund by £1.1bn, claims Labour

George Osborne cut NHS repairs fund by £1.1bn, claims Labour Rising backlog of repairs and non-replacement of out-of-date scanners is endangering patients, says shadow health secretary.

Hospitals are facing a rising backlog of repairs and out-of-date equipment because NHS funds are being used to shore up frontline services.

The cost of outstanding maintenance work that hospitals in England need to do has reached £4.3bn, including £458m of “high-risk” repairs, which if left unaddressed could threaten patient safety. They include leaking roofs and out-of-date scanners. Continue reading... The Guardian

'NHS spent £81,000 treating just one illegal immigrant'

'NHS spent £181,000 treating just one illegal immigrant' A hospital spent £181,000 treating a single illegal immigrant, it was reported on Sunday night.

Details of the patient’s bill emerged amid claims that the NHS was failing to collect millions of pounds from foreign nationals using its services.

And a leading cancer specialist said no healthcare system could cope with the strain the NHS was put under by treating migrants, saying it was "absolutely unsustainable". The Daily Telegraph

REVEALED: Northamptonshire’s best and worst GP’s surgeries as rated by you

REVEALED: Northamptonshire’s best and worst GP’s surgeries as rated by you Today we can reveal the north of the county’s best and worst GP surgeries, as rated by their own patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Investigations underway after death of young child who had suspected swine flu in Northamptonshire

Investigations underway after death of young child who had suspected swine flu in Northamptonshire A public health investigation has been launched after the death of a young child who had suspected swine flu in Northamptonshire. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Bonus payments for nurses who join Northampton General Hospital’s bank staff

Bonus payments for nurses who join Northampton General Hospital’s bank staff New incentives are being offered to nurses who agree to join Northampton General Hospital’s pool of bank staff. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Personal tragedies, public crisis The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism

Personal tragedies, public crisis The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism (download) A report into the high levels of early mortality in people with autism. Based on a large Swedish study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, it shows a 16 year difference in life expectancy, compared to the general population. The report calls for an immediate national mortality review by the NHS and an increase in research funding. Autistica 

See also:

• Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder British Journal of Psychiatry (OpenAthens password required)
• RCGP response to Autistica report on premature death in autism Royal College of General Practitioners
• People with autism 'die younger' BBC News
• £10m study by charity will probe why autistic adults die decades prematurely The Daily Mail
• People with autism die 16 years earlier than expected, study finds The Daily Telegraph
• Premature autism deaths are 'hidden crisis' says charity The Guardian
• Autism: Why do many autistic people die before the age of 40? The Independent 

Helping drive multispecialty community provider (MCP) vanguards forward

Helping drive multispecialty community provider (MCP) vanguards forward As the New Care Models Programme marks its first anniversary, National Care Model Lead, Louise Watson, reflects on how their work is already paying dividends. NHS England

Get well soon: reimagining place-based health

Get well soon: reimagining place-based health This report argues that the NHS must construct a 15 year plan to shift money out of hospitals and into investment in communities. It demonstrates that the health service in its current form is not sustainable, and sets out a new plan for shifting the system to focus on preventing illness, shorten stays in hospitals and help people live independently for longer. Place-Based Health Commission.

Public sector pensions change in Budget criticised

Public sector pensions change in Budget criticised Health and education will be squeezed by more than £1bn because of changes to the way public sector pensions are funded, figures seen by the BBC show.

It comes after George Osborne announced in the Budget that employers would have to contribute more to pensions for NHS staff, teachers and the police. BBC News