Gynaecologist who worked at Northamptonshire hospital demonstrated sex act to female colleague

Gynaecologist who worked at Northamptonshire hospital demonstrated sex act to female colleague A doctor has been suspended for 12 months after working at Kettering General Hospital without telling them he was suspected of sexual misconduct. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Health matters promotes midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk

Health matters promotes midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk Following the recent launch of Public Health England’s One You, a ground-breaking campaign to help adults across the country make simple changes to improve their health today and in the future, PHE has launched the fourth edition of Health matters: midlife approaches to reduce dementia risk. Public Health England

Diabetes at-risk offered lifestyle help

Diabetes at-risk offered lifestyle help People in England at risk of type-2 diabetes are to be offered healthy-lifestyle support by the NHS to help them prevent the condition developing. BBC News

See also:

• Thousands to benefit as first wave of NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme national rollout is announced NHS England
• RCGP response to NHS England diabetes prevention programme rollout Royal College of General Practitioners
• Personal trainers on the NHS in war on diabetes The Daily Telegraph
• GPs to refer patients to large-scale diabetes prevention scheme OnMedica

U-turn over prostate cancer drug

U-turn over prostate cancer drug Patients with prostate cancer in England will now have early access to a drug that can delay the need for chemotherapy. BBC News

See also:

• Prostate cancer patients WILL get life-extending drug on the NHS, health watchdog declares  The Daily Mail
• U-turn on NICE approval of prostate cancer drug OnMedica

World Down Syndrome Day: 'How Do You See Me?' video highlights prejudice surrounding condition

World Down Syndrome Day: 'How Do You See Me?' video highlights prejudice surrounding condition "I see myself as an ordinary person with an important, meaningful, and beautiful life. How do you see me?" The Independent

The NHS is in the midst of a financial hurricane

The NHS is in the midst of a financial hurricane The forecast from the budget shows no let-up in the weather for the struggling health service, but a plan for the future must be put in place this year

A hurricane is characterised by severe storms, surrounding an area of relative calm known as the eye of the storm. The NHS is in the midst of a financial hurricane. Costs are rising faster than funding, creating a perfect storm for NHS providers. Next year will be one of relative calm, similar to the eye of a hurricane, with the largest planned funding increase for 2016-17. This is followed by flat or falling real-terms funding per head until 2020-21.

The forecast from the budget shows no let-up in the weather; in fact the forecast looks worse for three reasons. Continue reading... The Guardian

NHS England stalls plans for HIV prevention drug

NHS England stalls plans for HIV prevention drug Consultation on Truvada will now be shelved, in move sexual health charities have described as ‘shameful’ and ‘failing those at risk’ of HIV.

Charities and campaigners have reacted with anger and disbelief that plans to roll out a widely anticipated HIV prevention drug have been stalled by NHS England.

The sector had been waiting for the announcement of the first ever public consultation on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the UK, now overdue by a month. Instead today NHS England announced it was not their responsibility to commission the drug. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• Update on commissioning and provision of Pre Exposure Prophylaxsis (PREP) for HIV prevention NHS England
• Could a monthly injection prevent HIV? Single shot of PrEP drugs is 'as effective as taking pills twice a day' The Daily Mail
• Daily pill Truvada cuts spread of HIV by 86%, study shows The Guardian 
• NHS England slammed for 'u-turn' on new HIV treatment ITV News

Zika outbreak: Where is the virus spreading?

Zika outbreak: Where is the virus spreading? The World Health Organisation has declared a global emergency in response to the spread of Zika - but which countries are currently affected by the virus? The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• South Korea confirms first Zika case BBC News

George Osborne must U-turn on his ludicrous sugar tax

George Osborne must U-turn on his ludicrous sugar tax After climbing down on so much, like disability cuts, the Chancellor must do it again over his buzzkilling fizzy drinks tax. The Daily Telegraph

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