This blog covers the latest UK health care news, publications, policy announcements, events and information focused on the NHS, as well as the latest media stories and local news coverage of the NHS Trusts in Northamptonshire.
Monday, 5 September 2016
KGH working around the clock to clear scan results backlog
KGH working around the clock to clear scan results backlog Kettering General Hospital says it is working additional weekend hours in an attempt to clear a backlog of people waiting for scan results. Northamptonshire Telegraph
NGH to announce cancelled appointments caused by upcoming doctors strikes
NGH to announce cancelled appointments caused by upcoming doctors strikes Northampton General Hospital is planning to cancel some operations as a result of the planned strikes by junior doctors. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Compassionate leadership in health and social care
Compassionate leadership in health and social care If you were to ask any member of the public what they want from health and social care, it’s likely that compassion from the staff who provide care would be high on their wish list. But in order to establish compassionate cultures that manifest on the front line, we need to begin with compassionate leadership. The King's Fund
GMC says patients will suffer if junior doctors' strikes go ahead
GMC says patients will suffer if junior doctors' strikes go ahead The body that regulates the medical profession has warned that patients will suffer if junior doctors in England go ahead with a series of five one-day strikes next week.
The General Medical Council said the scale of the action, planned at such short notice, could not be justified.
The first of four five-day walkouts is due to begin from 12 to 16 September, with the last being in mid-December.
Junior doctors are striking over a new contract which is being imposed.
The GMC has set out advice to doctors before next week's series of one-day strikes. BBC News
See also:
The General Medical Council said the scale of the action, planned at such short notice, could not be justified.
The first of four five-day walkouts is due to begin from 12 to 16 September, with the last being in mid-December.
Junior doctors are striking over a new contract which is being imposed.
The GMC has set out advice to doctors before next week's series of one-day strikes. BBC News
See also:
- Junior doctor contract negotiations Department of Health
- Junior doctors row: Medical leaders condemn strikes BBC News
- Theresa May tells junior doctors the Government is not backing down as BMA plans strikes The Daily Mail
- Only one in three doctors support strike reveals leaked document The Daily Mail
- Junior Doctors plan 15 days of more strikes before Christmas The Daily Mail
- Junior doctors are going to war with their patients The Daily Telegraph
- Head of GMC pleads with doctors' union to call off strike, warning hospitals can't provide 'safe service' The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors will harm our patients and our NHS if they back the BMA's unethical strikes The Daily Telegraph
- Impact of junior doctors' strikes will be even worse than predicted The Daily Telegraph
- The junior doctors' row overshadows the real danger of an unfunded seven-day NHS The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors will betray patients and the NHS by striking more. They should listen to the grown-ups The Daily Telegraph
- Junior doctors could be struck off over industrial action, warns GMC The Guardian The Observer view on the BMA and the junior doctors’ dispute | Observer editorial The Guardian
- Junior doctors may desert NHS over contract, says union boss The Guardian
- Patients' groups criticise five-day junior doctors strike The Guardian
- Jeremy Hunt has got it wrong: junior doctors are not the enemy within The Guardian
- Labour defends junior doctors against 'militant and overpaid' portrayal The Guardian
- So, junior doctors, what exactly is it you’re striking for? The Guardian
- Unite doctors dismayed at decision not to ballot GPs on industrial action OnMedica
- Senior doctors query ramping up of juniors’ strike action OnMedica
No understanding'
No understanding' A culture of shame among South Asians is a barrier to members of the community with mental illness accessing help, says cricketer Monty Panesar. BBC News
Jeremy Hunt said 'what will the Daily Mail say?' when told about funding of HIV prevention drug
Jeremy Hunt said 'what will the Daily Mail say?' when told about funding of HIV prevention drug Fear of a public and right-wing media backlash could be holding back the funding of a new “game-changing” preventative HIV treatment, according to the leader of the drug's clinical trial.
The High Court last month overturned NHS England’s claim that it did not have the power to fund the prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills to people at high risk of HIV infection.
NHS England is appealing the ruling, which sparked angry criticism from right-wing politicians and commentators – with some dubbing the new treatment a “lifestyle drug” and “promiscuity pill”, reported the Daily Mail.
In an interview with The Independent, Professor Sheena McCormack said the Government risks being influenced by public outrage instead of making a “straightforward, everyday business decision” according to clinical evidence and costs. The Independent
The High Court last month overturned NHS England’s claim that it did not have the power to fund the prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills to people at high risk of HIV infection.
NHS England is appealing the ruling, which sparked angry criticism from right-wing politicians and commentators – with some dubbing the new treatment a “lifestyle drug” and “promiscuity pill”, reported the Daily Mail.
In an interview with The Independent, Professor Sheena McCormack said the Government risks being influenced by public outrage instead of making a “straightforward, everyday business decision” according to clinical evidence and costs. The Independent
Welsh 'deemed consent' organ donation system shows promising results
Welsh 'deemed consent' organ donation system shows promising results Health officials encouraged by rise in organ donation consent rate from 49% to 59%, which may signal change in attitude
The number of families agreeing that their loved ones’ organs can be donated for transplantation may be rising more quickly in Wales than other parts of the UK following the introduction of agroundbreaking new consent system, new figures suggest.
Health officials and ministers in Wales are encouraged by how the so-called “deemed consent” system is working and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has said the picture in Wales is promising. Continue reading... The Guardian
The number of families agreeing that their loved ones’ organs can be donated for transplantation may be rising more quickly in Wales than other parts of the UK following the introduction of agroundbreaking new consent system, new figures suggest.
Health officials and ministers in Wales are encouraged by how the so-called “deemed consent” system is working and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has said the picture in Wales is promising. Continue reading... The Guardian
Plans to deny surgery to obese patients and smokers put on hold
Plans to deny surgery to obese patients and smokers put on hold Vale of York NHS group to review policy that would mean overweight patients and smokers waiting up to a year for elective surgery
A health authority that suggested it would deny non-life-threatening surgery to the obese and smokers has said it will put its proposals on hold.
The plans by Vale of York clinical commissioning group (CCG) could have meant that patients who exceed a body mass index (BMI) of 30 would face delays in receiving some NHS surgery for up to a year.Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
A health authority that suggested it would deny non-life-threatening surgery to the obese and smokers has said it will put its proposals on hold.
The plans by Vale of York clinical commissioning group (CCG) could have meant that patients who exceed a body mass index (BMI) of 30 would face delays in receiving some NHS surgery for up to a year.Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Obese patients 'surgery ban' in York to be reviewed BBC News
- Obese patients and smokers banned from all routine operations by hospital in 'most severe' rationing ever The Daily Telegraph
- Hospitals to cut costs by denying surgery to smokers and the obese The Guardian
- Obese people and smokers 'banned from routine surgery' as NHS attempts to cut spending costs The Independent
Zika could infect 2.5 BILLION: World Health Organisation warns virus remains an 'international health emergency' as it spreads to new countries
Zika could infect 2.5 BILLION: World Health Organisation warns virus remains an 'international health emergency' as it spreads to new countries New analysis of travel, climate and mosquito patters in parts of Asia and Africa found people in these regions were particularly at risk as Malaysia reported its first case of the virus. The Daily Mail
See also:
See also:
- Billions at potential risk from Zika virus in Africa and Asia NHS Choices
- No Zika cases from Olympics, says WHO BBC News
- Zika: Two billion at risk in Africa and Asia, study says BBC News
- In the race for a Zika cure, politics may not be working – but science is The Guardian
- Zika: More than two billion people at risk of catching virus around the world, study shows The Independent
NHS accused of delaying giving free running blades to amputee children
NHS accused of delaying giving free running blades to amputee children The National Health Service has been accused of delaying giving free running blades to amputee children on the eve of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
George Osborne, the former Chancellor, unveiled a £1.5million fund to pay for new running blades in his Budget five months ago in March.
However, with the Paralympics starting next week, the Department of Health has admitted that the cash has still not been spent. The Daily Telegraph
George Osborne, the former Chancellor, unveiled a £1.5million fund to pay for new running blades in his Budget five months ago in March.
However, with the Paralympics starting next week, the Department of Health has admitted that the cash has still not been spent. The Daily Telegraph
Friday, 2 September 2016
New complaints about KGH staff smoking near people’s houses
New complaints about KGH staff smoking near people’s houses
Hospital bosses have said they are continuing to work with residents to iron out any problems following a smoking ban across the site.
Evening Telegraph
Hospital bosses have said they are continuing to work with residents to iron out any problems following a smoking ban across the site.
Evening Telegraph
NICE to tackle falling child vaccination rates
NICE to tackle falling child vaccination rates
Millions of children are at risk of contracting potentially lethal diseases as some vaccination rates in England have been falling for the past two years, says NICE.
NHS Networks
Millions of children are at risk of contracting potentially lethal diseases as some vaccination rates in England have been falling for the past two years, says NICE.
NHS Networks
NHS England to improve mental health care for armed forces veterans
NHS England to improve mental health care for armed forces veterans
NHS England is set to further improve mental health care for military veterans after a nationwide campaign to give veterans themselves a say in how services are delivered. Feedback has highlighted the need to improve awareness of where veterans should go for help, raise the profile of NHS veterans’ mental health services and further increase […]
NHS Commissioning
NHS England is set to further improve mental health care for military veterans after a nationwide campaign to give veterans themselves a say in how services are delivered. Feedback has highlighted the need to improve awareness of where veterans should go for help, raise the profile of NHS veterans’ mental health services and further increase […]
NHS Commissioning
New tool supporting antibiotic prescribing could be highly valuable for our young patients, says RCGP
New tool supporting antibiotic prescribing could be highly valuable for our young patients, says RCGP
She said: “GPs are working hard to reduce antibiotic prescribing with notable success – a reduction of 2.6m prescriptions by GPs last year alone – so a tool that can support GPs and other prescribers to identify when antibiotics are the appropriate course of treatment would be highly valuable.
“When prescribed appropriately antibiotics can be life-saving drugs, but they aren’t always the best course of treatment for minor conditions – including respiratory tract infections, which often don’t require antibiotics - and we need to work together to make the public realise this, in the best interests of their health and the worldwide population.
“Such a tool would also be very useful for GPs when explaining to patients, and their families, that antibiotics are not always the best course of treatment, as we often come under huge pressure to prescribe these drugs.
“But whilst this research is promising, such a test is not going to become widely available overnight and in the meantime we must all continue to work together – not just the healthcare sector – to do what we can to reduce growing global resistance to antibiotics, including making the public realise that antibiotics are not always the answer.
“It is particularly vital that we protect the safety of our young patients by ensuring that they don’t start building up a resistance to antibiotics early on in their life, so that antibiotics remain effective in the future when they might really need them.
“The RCGP has highlighted the challenge that we face through resistance to antibiotics and we have developed the TARGET antibiotics toolkit, with Public Health England, to support GPs in the appropriate prescribing of antibiotics.”
RCGP
She said: “GPs are working hard to reduce antibiotic prescribing with notable success – a reduction of 2.6m prescriptions by GPs last year alone – so a tool that can support GPs and other prescribers to identify when antibiotics are the appropriate course of treatment would be highly valuable.
“When prescribed appropriately antibiotics can be life-saving drugs, but they aren’t always the best course of treatment for minor conditions – including respiratory tract infections, which often don’t require antibiotics - and we need to work together to make the public realise this, in the best interests of their health and the worldwide population.
“Such a tool would also be very useful for GPs when explaining to patients, and their families, that antibiotics are not always the best course of treatment, as we often come under huge pressure to prescribe these drugs.
“But whilst this research is promising, such a test is not going to become widely available overnight and in the meantime we must all continue to work together – not just the healthcare sector – to do what we can to reduce growing global resistance to antibiotics, including making the public realise that antibiotics are not always the answer.
“It is particularly vital that we protect the safety of our young patients by ensuring that they don’t start building up a resistance to antibiotics early on in their life, so that antibiotics remain effective in the future when they might really need them.
“The RCGP has highlighted the challenge that we face through resistance to antibiotics and we have developed the TARGET antibiotics toolkit, with Public Health England, to support GPs in the appropriate prescribing of antibiotics.”
RCGP
Public health post-2013
Public health post-2013
This report is the result of a short inquiry on the impact of the Health and Social Care Act reforms on the public health landscape. It warns of risks of widening health inequalities and a false economy due to cuts in local authority and public health budgets. It calls for a Cabinet Officer minister to be given specific responsibility for embedding health across all areas of government policy at a national level and for greater and bolder action to tackle public health issues such as childhood obesity.
House of Commons Health Select Committee
This report is the result of a short inquiry on the impact of the Health and Social Care Act reforms on the public health landscape. It warns of risks of widening health inequalities and a false economy due to cuts in local authority and public health budgets. It calls for a Cabinet Officer minister to be given specific responsibility for embedding health across all areas of government policy at a national level and for greater and bolder action to tackle public health issues such as childhood obesity.
House of Commons Health Select Committee
Understanding quality in district nursing services: learning from patients, carers and staff
Understanding quality in district nursing services: learning from patients, carers and staff
This report investigates what ‘good’ district nursing care looks like from the perspective of people receiving this care, unpaid carers and district nursing staff and puts forward a framework for understanding the components involved. It also looks at the growing demand–capacity gap in district nursing and the worrying impact that this is having on services, the workforce and the quality and safety of patient care. The report makes recommendations to policy-makers, regulators, commissioners and provider organisations as to how to start to address these pressures.
The King's Fund
Report
Framework
The King's Fund publications
This report investigates what ‘good’ district nursing care looks like from the perspective of people receiving this care, unpaid carers and district nursing staff and puts forward a framework for understanding the components involved. It also looks at the growing demand–capacity gap in district nursing and the worrying impact that this is having on services, the workforce and the quality and safety of patient care. The report makes recommendations to policy-makers, regulators, commissioners and provider organisations as to how to start to address these pressures.
The King's Fund
Report
Framework
The King's Fund publications
Zika: Two billion at risk in Africa and Asia, study says
Zika: Two billion at risk in Africa and Asia, study says
More than two billion people could be at risk from Zika virus outbreaks in parts of Africa and Asia, according to scientists writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
BBC News
More than two billion people could be at risk from Zika virus outbreaks in parts of Africa and Asia, according to scientists writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
BBC News
Mentally-ill homeless discharged back to street
Mentally-ill homeless discharged back to street
The BBC has learned that some rough sleepers with mental health problems are being discharged by the NHS straight back onto the streets.
BBC News
The BBC has learned that some rough sleepers with mental health problems are being discharged by the NHS straight back onto the streets.
BBC News
News story: First scientists move in to London’s new world-leading research lab
News story: First scientists move in to London’s new world-leading research lab
Backed by £350 million of government investment, the first scientists are moving in and beginning to work in the new Francis Crick Institute – one of the most developed facilities for medical research in the world.
It will support 1,250 scientists in investigating and understanding biological processes that could lead to pioneering drugs and treatments for illnesses such as cancer, stroke and motor neurone disease.
Named after Sir Francis Crick – the British scientist jointly responsible for the discovery of the double helix in human DNA – it is the biggest biomedical research institute under one roof in Europe and will help ensure the UK continues to lead the world in medical discovery and scientific endeavour.
Department of Health
Backed by £350 million of government investment, the first scientists are moving in and beginning to work in the new Francis Crick Institute – one of the most developed facilities for medical research in the world.
It will support 1,250 scientists in investigating and understanding biological processes that could lead to pioneering drugs and treatments for illnesses such as cancer, stroke and motor neurone disease.
Named after Sir Francis Crick – the British scientist jointly responsible for the discovery of the double helix in human DNA – it is the biggest biomedical research institute under one roof in Europe and will help ensure the UK continues to lead the world in medical discovery and scientific endeavour.
Department of Health
Radioactive prostate cancer drug given NHS go-ahead
Radioactive prostate cancer drug given NHS go-ahead
Radium-223 dichloride approved for patients whose cancer has spread to the bones, but who are too weak to undergo chemotherapy
A radioactive prostate cancer drug has been recommended for routine NHS use following a decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
Radium-223 dichloride, marketed as Xofigo, could be made available for treating prostate cancer patients as early as December.
Guardian
Continue reading...
Radium-223 dichloride approved for patients whose cancer has spread to the bones, but who are too weak to undergo chemotherapy
A radioactive prostate cancer drug has been recommended for routine NHS use following a decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
Radium-223 dichloride, marketed as Xofigo, could be made available for treating prostate cancer patients as early as December.
Guardian
Continue reading...
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