Accelerated access review: final report
This report sets out recommendations on how patients could get quicker access to innovative new diagnostic tools, treatments, and medical technologies. It argues that streamlined processes could bring forward patient access to drugs by up to four years and patients will benefit from quicker access to medical technologies too. The report will help the NHS to provide the best care to patients, use funds more effectively, and create the conditions to help the life sciences industry continue to thrive.
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Guidance: Suicide prevention: developing a local action plan
Guidance: Suicide prevention: developing a local action plan
Updated: Updated local suicide prevention planning resource.
The development of a local suicide action plan is recommended by government and supports the 2012 strategy ‘Preventing Suicide in England. A Cross Government Outcomes Strategy to save Lives’.
This document advises local authorities how to:
develop a suicide prevention action plan
monitor data, trends and hot spots
engage with local media
work with transport to map hot spots
work on local priorities to improve mental health
Public Health England
Updated: Updated local suicide prevention planning resource.
The development of a local suicide action plan is recommended by government and supports the 2012 strategy ‘Preventing Suicide in England. A Cross Government Outcomes Strategy to save Lives’.
This document advises local authorities how to:
develop a suicide prevention action plan
monitor data, trends and hot spots
engage with local media
work with transport to map hot spots
work on local priorities to improve mental health
Public Health England
Interactive Agenda for Change handbook launched online
Interactive Agenda for Change handbook launched online
Take a look at the interactive NHS terms and conditions of service handbook for Agenda for Change staff.
Take a look at the interactive NHS terms and conditions of service handbook for Agenda for Change staff.
NHS Employers
Health professions calling for greater leadership and action to tackle early deaths of people living with severe mental illness
Health professions calling for greater leadership and action to tackle early deaths of people living with severe mental illness
Although the health of the general population in the UK has improved significantly over the past 50 years, the life expectancy of adults with severe mental illness (SMI) in 2016 is lagging behind. Nearly half (46%) of people with SMI have a long-term physical health condition and are at risk of losing on average 10-20 years of their lifespan due to physical ill-health.
The report, ‘Improving the physical health of adults with severe mental illness: essential actions’ was written in partnership with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Royal Colleges of General Practitioners, Nursing, Pathologists, Physicians, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Public Health England. The report makes practical recommendations for changes that will help adults with SMI to receive the same standards of physical healthcare as the general population and reduce the risk of premature death.
The report makes eight recommendations to key bodies and inspectorates, including:
The creation of a new national steering group to lead and link key stakeholders with experts from the professions so that important aspects of physical healthcare are addressed and monitored at a national level.
Each mental health service, acute hospital, general medical practice or GP federation should develop a physical health strategy for patients with SMI which is approved by the board and reviewed annually; they should also appoint a lead clinician at board level to be responsible for its implementation.
Training for healthcare staff should be reviewed to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped to fulfil the physical health needs of people with SMI, such as being able to recognise physical illness and take appropriate action.
Infrastructure should be improved; e.g. systems for recognising acute illness; improved Information Technology to help with meeting current health-needs; better access to investigation results to help to improve standards of both physical and mental healthcare.
Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Professor Dame Sue Bailey commented: "Health professionals should have the same ambitions for the physical health of people with severe mental illness as for the general population. The ambition of this report is to provide a focused programme of actions that can be taken across the system, from training to leadership and best practice in care provision, to reduce preventable premature mortality in this vulnerable group."
Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Patients are living longer and reaping the health benefits of advances in medicine over the last 50 years, and those with serious mental illness must not left behind. A key part of this is ensuring that patients with serious mental illness maintain good physical health and wellbeing.
"This report drives home the need for more mental health services in the community, and for GPs and our teams to have better, easier and quicker access to these.
"One of the pledges made in NHS England’s GP Forward View is for every GP practice to have access to a dedicated Mental Health therapist – and this will be essential in making sure our patients with serious mental illness receive optimal physical and mental health care.
"Mental health is an enduring priority for the RCGP and we have developed a number of practical resources to support GPs and other healthcare professionals to deliver the best possible care to our patients with mental health conditions. Promoting physical activity and lifestyle is also a priority, and we are working to support GPs to do this, in the best interests of all our patients."
Although the health of the general population in the UK has improved significantly over the past 50 years, the life expectancy of adults with severe mental illness (SMI) in 2016 is lagging behind. Nearly half (46%) of people with SMI have a long-term physical health condition and are at risk of losing on average 10-20 years of their lifespan due to physical ill-health.
The report, ‘Improving the physical health of adults with severe mental illness: essential actions’ was written in partnership with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Royal Colleges of General Practitioners, Nursing, Pathologists, Physicians, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Public Health England. The report makes practical recommendations for changes that will help adults with SMI to receive the same standards of physical healthcare as the general population and reduce the risk of premature death.
The report makes eight recommendations to key bodies and inspectorates, including:
The creation of a new national steering group to lead and link key stakeholders with experts from the professions so that important aspects of physical healthcare are addressed and monitored at a national level.
Each mental health service, acute hospital, general medical practice or GP federation should develop a physical health strategy for patients with SMI which is approved by the board and reviewed annually; they should also appoint a lead clinician at board level to be responsible for its implementation.
Training for healthcare staff should be reviewed to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped to fulfil the physical health needs of people with SMI, such as being able to recognise physical illness and take appropriate action.
Infrastructure should be improved; e.g. systems for recognising acute illness; improved Information Technology to help with meeting current health-needs; better access to investigation results to help to improve standards of both physical and mental healthcare.
Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Professor Dame Sue Bailey commented: "Health professionals should have the same ambitions for the physical health of people with severe mental illness as for the general population. The ambition of this report is to provide a focused programme of actions that can be taken across the system, from training to leadership and best practice in care provision, to reduce preventable premature mortality in this vulnerable group."
Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Patients are living longer and reaping the health benefits of advances in medicine over the last 50 years, and those with serious mental illness must not left behind. A key part of this is ensuring that patients with serious mental illness maintain good physical health and wellbeing.
"This report drives home the need for more mental health services in the community, and for GPs and our teams to have better, easier and quicker access to these.
"One of the pledges made in NHS England’s GP Forward View is for every GP practice to have access to a dedicated Mental Health therapist – and this will be essential in making sure our patients with serious mental illness receive optimal physical and mental health care.
"Mental health is an enduring priority for the RCGP and we have developed a number of practical resources to support GPs and other healthcare professionals to deliver the best possible care to our patients with mental health conditions. Promoting physical activity and lifestyle is also a priority, and we are working to support GPs to do this, in the best interests of all our patients."
RCGP
Freeing up health analysis: using government data to improve health services
Freeing up health analysis: using government data to improve health services
This report argues that relevant government departments should adopt a data labs model to enable charities to better understand the impact of their services on people’s health. This would allow the whole health sector learn what works, and would help to build more effective and efficient services.
This report argues that relevant government departments should adopt a data labs model to enable charities to better understand the impact of their services on people’s health. This would allow the whole health sector learn what works, and would help to build more effective and efficient services.
Diabetes: Tenth of adults at risk of disease by 2035
Diabetes: Tenth of adults at risk of disease by 2035
Health experts are warning that one in 10 adults in the UK will be at risk of developing diabetes by 2035.
Health experts are warning that one in 10 adults in the UK will be at risk of developing diabetes by 2035.
BBC News
NHS to spend £130m upgrading or replacing radiotherapy machines
NHS to spend £130m upgrading or replacing radiotherapy machines
Upgrade of at least 100 linear accelerator machines should boost survival chances of hundreds of thousands of cancer patients
Cancer treatment is to get its biggest boost in 15 years, according to NHS England, which has said it will spend £130m upgrading or replacing radiotherapy machines to improve the survival chances of hundreds of thousands of patients.
The upgrade of at least 100 linear accelerator (Linac) machines across the country will ensure more patients get state-of-the-art treatment called intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which can target the tumour very precisely without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. New machines are more accurate and can deliver a higher dose to the cancer cells, which will reduce the amount of time a patient has to spend in radiotherapy and hopefully increase cure rates.
Upgrade of at least 100 linear accelerator machines should boost survival chances of hundreds of thousands of cancer patients
Cancer treatment is to get its biggest boost in 15 years, according to NHS England, which has said it will spend £130m upgrading or replacing radiotherapy machines to improve the survival chances of hundreds of thousands of patients.
The upgrade of at least 100 linear accelerator (Linac) machines across the country will ensure more patients get state-of-the-art treatment called intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which can target the tumour very precisely without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. New machines are more accurate and can deliver a higher dose to the cancer cells, which will reduce the amount of time a patient has to spend in radiotherapy and hopefully increase cure rates.
Guardian
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Continue reading...
The Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill (Bill 72 of 2016-17)
The Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill (Bill 72 of 2016-17)
This briefing summarises the contents of the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill 2016-17, background on the issues and relevant comment. The bill intends to make a number of amendments to the National Health Service Act 2006 on matters related to the control of medicine prices.
House of Commons Library
Briefing
Commons Library
This briefing summarises the contents of the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill 2016-17, background on the issues and relevant comment. The bill intends to make a number of amendments to the National Health Service Act 2006 on matters related to the control of medicine prices.
House of Commons Library
Briefing
Commons Library
Reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family carers: REMCARE trial
Reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family carers: REMCARE trial
Elizabeth Collier writes her debut blog on the REMCARE randomised controlled trial of reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family carers.
Elizabeth Collier writes her debut blog on the REMCARE randomised controlled trial of reminiscence groups for people with dementia and their family carers.
The Mental Elf
Monday, 24 October 2016
Northamptonshire gets share of 1,000 new 'nursing associates' being recruited across the UK
Northamptonshire gets share of 1,000 new 'nursing associates' being recruited across the UK
New teams of 'nursing associates' will be trained and recreated across Northamptonshire to work in hospitals, GP practices and care homes.
New teams of 'nursing associates' will be trained and recreated across Northamptonshire to work in hospitals, GP practices and care homes.
Evening Telegraph
Family doctors need to be able to dedicate their time to patients who really need their expert skills, says RCGP in response to Choosing Wisely report
Family doctors need to be able to dedicate their time to patients who really need their expert skills, says RCGP in response to Choosing Wisely report
Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the RCGP, said: “At a time when patients in some areas of the country are having to wait for nearly a month to see their GP - due to rocketing demand and not enough GPs to keep pace – this report is a dose of common sense.
“The guidance shows there are many minor ailments and conditions that can be treated quickly and effectively without needing to see a GP, meaning that family doctors can dedicate their valuable time to those patients who really need our expert skills.
“As well as demonstrating to patients why going to the GP isn’t always the best course of action, it should also reduce the pressure on GPs to prescribe medications such as antibiotics which might not be needed.
“Overdiagnosis and overtreatment is harmful to patients. In 2013, the RCGP set up an Overdiagnosis group of GPs and patient group representatives to challenge problems facing general practice - such as random screening of the population for very specific diseases - and it now has over 150 active members.
“Today’s report reinforces the importance of this work and we hope it will be a major step forward in easing the pressures on GP time so that NHS resources are always directed where they can deliver the most benefit for our patients.”
Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the RCGP, said: “At a time when patients in some areas of the country are having to wait for nearly a month to see their GP - due to rocketing demand and not enough GPs to keep pace – this report is a dose of common sense.
“The guidance shows there are many minor ailments and conditions that can be treated quickly and effectively without needing to see a GP, meaning that family doctors can dedicate their valuable time to those patients who really need our expert skills.
“As well as demonstrating to patients why going to the GP isn’t always the best course of action, it should also reduce the pressure on GPs to prescribe medications such as antibiotics which might not be needed.
“Overdiagnosis and overtreatment is harmful to patients. In 2013, the RCGP set up an Overdiagnosis group of GPs and patient group representatives to challenge problems facing general practice - such as random screening of the population for very specific diseases - and it now has over 150 active members.
“Today’s report reinforces the importance of this work and we hope it will be a major step forward in easing the pressures on GP time so that NHS resources are always directed where they can deliver the most benefit for our patients.”
RCGP
Recruiting for values and behaviours in social care toolkit
Recruiting for values and behaviours in social care toolkit
Values based recruitment and retention is about finding and keeping people who have the right values, behaviours and attitudes to work in social care and know what it means to provide high quality care.This toolkit has guidance, suggestions and practical resources to help with recruiting people with the right values, behaviours and attitudes.
Skills for Care
Toolkit
Values based recruitment and retention is about finding and keeping people who have the right values, behaviours and attitudes to work in social care and know what it means to provide high quality care.This toolkit has guidance, suggestions and practical resources to help with recruiting people with the right values, behaviours and attitudes.
Skills for Care
Toolkit
Unheeded warnings: health care in crisis: the UK nursing labour market review 2016
Unheeded warnings: health care in crisis: the UK nursing labour market review 2016
This research highlights risks to the future nursing supply in England as it finds that half of nurses are aged 45 or over and are within ten years of being eligible for early retirement. In comparison, a decade ago just a third of the nursing workforce was aged 45 or over. The report calls on the government to scrap the pay cap for NHS staff to help to alleviate the retention crisis.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Report
Press release
This research highlights risks to the future nursing supply in England as it finds that half of nurses are aged 45 or over and are within ten years of being eligible for early retirement. In comparison, a decade ago just a third of the nursing workforce was aged 45 or over. The report calls on the government to scrap the pay cap for NHS staff to help to alleviate the retention crisis.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Report
Press release
Community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond: final package
Community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond: final package
This paper outlines plans to modernise community pharmacies, which will ensure a better quality service for patients and relieve pressure in other parts of the NHS. The changes include a reward system for high quality service and a pharmacy access scheme for isolated areas with higher health needs. The accompanying documentation explains the package of reforms, including changes to the community pharmacy contractual framework.
Department of Health (DH)
Guidance
Associated documentation
Press release
This paper outlines plans to modernise community pharmacies, which will ensure a better quality service for patients and relieve pressure in other parts of the NHS. The changes include a reward system for high quality service and a pharmacy access scheme for isolated areas with higher health needs. The accompanying documentation explains the package of reforms, including changes to the community pharmacy contractual framework.
Department of Health (DH)
Guidance
Associated documentation
Press release
- £42 million fund for pharmacy NHS Guidance
Blighted lives
Blighted lives
The true cost of the diabetes epidemic facing the UK is lives blighted by years of disability.
The true cost of the diabetes epidemic facing the UK is lives blighted by years of disability.
BBC News
Doctors name treatments that bring little or no benefit
Doctors name treatments that bring little or no benefit
Senior doctors have drawn up a list of 40 treatments which bring little or no benefit to patients to try to reduce unnecessary medical procedures.
Senior doctors have drawn up a list of 40 treatments which bring little or no benefit to patients to try to reduce unnecessary medical procedures.
BMA calls for helpline for people addicted to prescription drugs
BMA calls for helpline for people addicted to prescription drugs
Organisation says specific services needed for those addicted to strong tranquillisers used for issues such as anxiety
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for a 24-hour helpline to be introduced for patients who are addicted to prescription drugs.
The group believes it could help tackle problems created when strong tranquillisers prescribed for short-term use, to treat issues such as anxiety and insomnia, are issued for longer periods.
Organisation says specific services needed for those addicted to strong tranquillisers used for issues such as anxiety
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for a 24-hour helpline to be introduced for patients who are addicted to prescription drugs.
The group believes it could help tackle problems created when strong tranquillisers prescribed for short-term use, to treat issues such as anxiety and insomnia, are issued for longer periods.
NHS figures show 'shocking' rise in self-harm among young
NHS figures show 'shocking' rise in self-harm among young
Upward trend is more pronounced among girls and is evidence of increased social pressures on children, say experts
The number of children and young people self-harming has risen dramatically in the past 10 years, new NHS figures obtained by the Guardian show.
The sharp upward trend in under-18s being admitted to hospital after poisoning, cutting or hanging themselves is more pronounced among girls, though there have been major rises among boys too.
Upward trend is more pronounced among girls and is evidence of increased social pressures on children, say experts
The number of children and young people self-harming has risen dramatically in the past 10 years, new NHS figures obtained by the Guardian show.
The sharp upward trend in under-18s being admitted to hospital after poisoning, cutting or hanging themselves is more pronounced among girls, though there have been major rises among boys too.
Guardian
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
Sustainability and transformation plans are 'least bad option' for NHS
Sustainability and transformation plans are 'least bad option' for NHS
Chief executive of the King’s Fund believes STP process is helping deliver the Five Year Forward View
Two years after NHS England unveiled the Five Year Forward View (pdf) – its blueprint for community-based, integrated healthcare able to cope with the pressures of a growing and ageing population – the central bodies are still not doing enough to make it happen.
The King’s Fund is about to publish analysis of progress in reforming the way the NHS works to allow the new care models outlined in the Forward View to flourish. Speaking to the Guardian’s Healthcare Professionals Network, chief executive Chris Ham identified four ways in which the system is hampering local reforms – a shortage of cash to kickstart change, too little progress on a payment system which encourages collaboration, the need to sort out the debacle of the contracting rules which emerged from the Lansley reforms, and rushing change.
Chief executive of the King’s Fund believes STP process is helping deliver the Five Year Forward View
Two years after NHS England unveiled the Five Year Forward View (pdf) – its blueprint for community-based, integrated healthcare able to cope with the pressures of a growing and ageing population – the central bodies are still not doing enough to make it happen.
The King’s Fund is about to publish analysis of progress in reforming the way the NHS works to allow the new care models outlined in the Forward View to flourish. Speaking to the Guardian’s Healthcare Professionals Network, chief executive Chris Ham identified four ways in which the system is hampering local reforms – a shortage of cash to kickstart change, too little progress on a payment system which encourages collaboration, the need to sort out the debacle of the contracting rules which emerged from the Lansley reforms, and rushing change.
Friday, 21 October 2016
Northampton nursing home that did not give residents enough to eat and dressed people in the ‘wrong clothes’ is closing
Northampton nursing home that did not give residents enough to eat and dressed people in the ‘wrong clothes’ is closing A home for the elderly in Northampton has revealed it is to close down shortly after receiving a shocking report from Government inspectors, which found some residents were losing weight and becoming dehydrated through poor care. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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