Update on rising scarlet fever across England Public Health England has reported a continued increase in cases of scarlet fever across England with 1319 new cases between 21 to 27 March, the highest weekly total recorded in recent decades (data available from 1982 onwards).
A total of 10,570 cases of scarlet fever have now been reported since the season began in September 2015.
Scarlet fever is a seasonal illness which should be treated with antibiotics and cases of the illness usually peak at this time of year.
Monday, 11 April 2016
Make time to talk performance
Make time to talk performance This toolkit for NHS managers provides practical support to help you deal confidently with performance management challenges such as managing under-performing staff, reviewing performance and giving constructive feedback. NHS Employers
Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation
Children and Young People’s Mental Health: State of the Nation The first report of the Commission on children and young people’s mental health. This new research has revealed the problems young people face when trying to access mental health care which include:
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- Services turn away, on average, nearly a quarter (23%) of children and teenagers referred to them by their GPs, teachers or others.
- Once a referral is accepted, young people often have to wait many months for treatment. There was also significant variation in waiting times between providers.
- Big differences in the amount spent on children’s mental health in different areas and regions.
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Mental health deaths 'under-reported'
Mental health deaths 'under-reported' A charity for bereaved families is demanding the government investigates the way deaths of young people in mental health units are recorded.
Research by Inquest suggests at least nine young people have died in England as in-patients since 2010.
Health Minister Alistair Burt told BBC Panorama he didn't know the figure and is calling for further research.
The Department of Health has now accepted there have been at least four deaths. BBC News
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Research by Inquest suggests at least nine young people have died in England as in-patients since 2010.
Health Minister Alistair Burt told BBC Panorama he didn't know the figure and is calling for further research.
The Department of Health has now accepted there have been at least four deaths. BBC News
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Next doctors' strike 'will damage trust'
Next doctors' strike 'will damage trust' An all-out strike by junior doctors will "irreparably damage" trust and the reputation of the profession, NHS England's medical director says. BBC News
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- NHS chief Bruce Keogh warns junior doctors not to go ahead with their planned all-out strike The Daily Mail
- Huge NHS walk-out now inevitable after Government refuses to re-open talks with junior doctors over pay and conditions The Daily Mail
- Junior doctors' strikes increasingly hard to justify, says regulator The Guardian
- All-out junior doctors’ strike unethical and reckless, says NHS chief The Guardian
- Withdrawing emergency cover crosses a line – it will damage trust in doctors (Bruce Keogh) The Guardian
- Jeremy Hunt should not impose junior doctors' contract, say senior NHS officials The Independent
Huge leap to mass produced platelets
Huge leap to mass produced platelets Scientists have made a significant leap towards mass producing platelets - the part of the blood that forms clots. BBC News
English language requirements for foreign doctors are not fit for purpose
English language requirements for foreign doctors are not fit for purpose The International English Language Testing System does not prepare overseas doctors for different dialects and colloquialisms, or a busy A&E
I had been teaching English to medical professionals for over a decade before Dr Ubani – theGerman-trained doctor whose patient died during his first shift in the UK – hit the headlines. The GMC doubted not only Ubani’s clinical competency, but also his English language skills, and he was struck off.
Until June 2014, when the GMC revised its criteria, those certified in the EU had been virtually exempt from control either clinically or linguistically. Today, the International English Language Testing System (Ielts) is used as a means of ensuring fitness to practice for all overseas doctors. Much has changed since 2008 when Ubani was practising, but as I help prepare a group of overseas recruits as part of an NHS induction programme, I can’t help wondering to what extent the Ielts is actually fit for purpose. Continue reading... The Guardian
I had been teaching English to medical professionals for over a decade before Dr Ubani – theGerman-trained doctor whose patient died during his first shift in the UK – hit the headlines. The GMC doubted not only Ubani’s clinical competency, but also his English language skills, and he was struck off.
Until June 2014, when the GMC revised its criteria, those certified in the EU had been virtually exempt from control either clinically or linguistically. Today, the International English Language Testing System (Ielts) is used as a means of ensuring fitness to practice for all overseas doctors. Much has changed since 2008 when Ubani was practising, but as I help prepare a group of overseas recruits as part of an NHS induction programme, I can’t help wondering to what extent the Ielts is actually fit for purpose. Continue reading... The Guardian
Millions being spent each year on prescriptions for widely available items
Millions being spent each year on prescriptions for widely available items More than 1.1million prescriptions were written for toothpaste. There were another 4.7million prescriptions for Rennie, Gaviscon and similar indigestion remedies, costing £26.4million. The Daily Mail
Zika Virus can now be transmitted sexually and vaccine development continues
Zika Virus can now be transmitted sexually and vaccine development continues Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis experts developed Zika mice models and found the male sexual organs had higher levels of the virus than the brain or spinal cord. The Daily Mail
Friday, 8 April 2016
Kettering Hospital doctors’ picket line gains public support
Kettering Hospital doctors’ picket line gains public support Junior doctors staging a strike outside Kettering General Hospital say support from the public has been overwhelming. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Almost a third of NGH staff have been bullied harassed or abused by a colleague in last 12 months
Almost a third of NGH staff have been bullied harassed or abused by a colleague in last 12 months A total of 29 per cent of Northampton General Hospital staff have been bullied abused or harassed by a work colleague, a survey suggests. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Tackling the growing crisis in the NHS: an agenda for action
Tackling the growing crisis in the NHS: an agenda for action This briefing identifies three big challenges for the NHS in England: sustaining existing services and standards of care; developing new and better models of care; and tackling these challenges by reforming the NHS ‘from within’. It aims to offer some practical solutions to help the NHS address one of the biggest crises in its history. The King's Fund
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Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership?
Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership? I was recently asked to chair a round-table event for the Health Service Journal on ethnic diversity and equality in health care leadership.
Out of interest I researched the origin of the term ‘round-table’ and discovered that it came from a speech made by HRH Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, to the British Industries Fair in 1927. He urged ‘young business and professional men… to get together round the table and adopt methods that have proved sound in the past, adapt them to changing needs and wherever possible, improve them’. Setting aside the gender focus of the original use, I would like to reflect on issues that were discussed at this particular round-table event in 2016 – namely what leaders in the NHS can adopt, adapt and improve to enable black and minority ethnic (BME) staff to achieve their potential as leaders. The King's Fund
Out of interest I researched the origin of the term ‘round-table’ and discovered that it came from a speech made by HRH Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, to the British Industries Fair in 1927. He urged ‘young business and professional men… to get together round the table and adopt methods that have proved sound in the past, adapt them to changing needs and wherever possible, improve them’. Setting aside the gender focus of the original use, I would like to reflect on issues that were discussed at this particular round-table event in 2016 – namely what leaders in the NHS can adopt, adapt and improve to enable black and minority ethnic (BME) staff to achieve their potential as leaders. The King's Fund
Open consultation: Changing how healthcare education is funded
Open consultation: Changing how healthcare education is funded The government has proposed that from 1 August 2017, all new nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students on pre-registration undergraduate and post-graduate courses will receive their tuition funding and financial support through the standard student support system, rather than NHS bursaries and tuition funded by Health Education England.
This consultation seeks views on how these reforms can be successfully implemented.
Further guidance about the NHS bursary reforms is available. Department of Health
This consultation seeks views on how these reforms can be successfully implemented.
Further guidance about the NHS bursary reforms is available. Department of Health
Our ageing population presents the NHS with its greatest challenge – Dr Martin Vernon
Our ageing population presents the NHS with its greatest challenge – Dr Martin Vernon In the latest of a series of blogs introducing a number of senior appointments within NHS England, the newly appointed National Clinical Director for Older People and Integrated Care looks at what he sees as his main challenges. NHS England
Sustainability and transformation plans: a major new development in commissioning health and care
Sustainability and transformation plans: a major new development in commissioning health and care July 2016 sees the deadline for the production of Sustainability and Transformation Plans - joint plans produced by NHS providers, CCGs, Local Authorities, and other health and care services (including VCSE partners) for 44 ‘footprint’ geographical areas across England. These will form the basis for long term, place based planning and commissioning of services. This briefing provides more details and provides guidance on how to get involved in your area. Regional Voices
Fresh junior doctor talks 'ruled out'
Fresh junior doctor talks 'ruled out' Fresh talks to break the deadlock in the junior doctor dispute in England have been ruled out by the government as the latest strike nears its end. BBC News
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- Junior doctors join 140 pickets as BMA demands talks to end contract dispute GP Online
- Exclusive: Pay cuts under imposed junior doctor contract 'a disaster' for GP training, says BMA GP Online
- Hunt insists he will impose new contract on NHS doctors The Guardian
- Junior doctors' strike continues as ministers urged to resume talks The Guardian
Alcohol related deaths likely to rise, warn experts
Alcohol related deaths likely to rise, warn experts England’s alcohol deaths will rise in contrast to rest of UK. OnMedica
Death rate rise blamed on increase in people suffering from flu and dementia
Death rate rise blamed on increase in people suffering from flu and dementia A flu jab blunder, which left elderly people exposed due to an unexpected mutation of the main influenza strain, contributed to the massive spike last year. The Independent
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Jeremy Hunt is in trouble. This is his IDS moment | Chris Ham
Jeremy Hunt is in trouble. This is his IDS moment | Chris Ham The health system cannot survive under these financial pressures. The health secretary will struggle too.
The NHS in England is facing the biggest crisis in its history. Hospitals are running up large and growing financial deficits, missing targets for waiting times, and under pressure from rising demand at a time of constrained resources.
The government’s immediate priority is to restore stability to finances and performance. A large part of the additional funding announced in last autumn’s spending review will be used to reduce deficits in hospitals and support hard-pressed NHS providers trying to hit patient-care targets.
The unwillingness to recognise publicly what is well understood privately is storing up much bigger problems Continue reading... The Guardian
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The NHS in England is facing the biggest crisis in its history. Hospitals are running up large and growing financial deficits, missing targets for waiting times, and under pressure from rising demand at a time of constrained resources.
The government’s immediate priority is to restore stability to finances and performance. A large part of the additional funding announced in last autumn’s spending review will be used to reduce deficits in hospitals and support hard-pressed NHS providers trying to hit patient-care targets.
The unwillingness to recognise publicly what is well understood privately is storing up much bigger problems Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Health chief tears into Jeremy Hunt's NHS policies The Guardian
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