Government's suicide prevention strategy needs greater focus on implementation

Government's suicide prevention strategy needs greater focus on implementation The Government has published a progress report on its suicide prevention strategy but it must take tangible action to ensure effective implementation. So says the Health Select Committee in its final report on suicide prevention.

See also:

• How suicidal patients are being failed by GPs The Daily Mail
• Suicide prevention services stalling due to lack of funding, parliamentary inquiry warns The Independent

News story: NHS-funded nursing care rate for 2017 to 2018

News story: NHS-funded nursing care rate for 2017 to 2018 The reduction follows a review of agency costs by Mazars LLP in 2017

Registered nursing care for eligible nursing home residents is funded by the NHS, with the standard weekly rate per patient currently set at £156.25. This was a 40% increase on the 2015 to 2016 rate following an earlier review of the overall rate by Mazars in 2016.

In announcing the 40% increase last year, the government committed to further review the contribution of agency staff costs to the rate. In line with Mazars’ latest evidence on agency costs, the government will now reduce the agency cost component of the rate by £3.29 to allow for lower agency costs. This reduction is partially offset by an uplift in the remainder of the rate by 1.7% to reflect overall nursing wage pressures. Department of Health

Sickle cell and thalassaemia: checks and audits to improve quality and reduce risks

Sickle cell and thalassaemia: checks and audits to improve quality and reduce risks Each NHS screening programme has a defined pathway(s). The pathways show how the individual undergoing screening moves form one stage of the pathway to the next. Checks are needed at each stage to ensure the individual moves seamlessly and safely through the pathway unless they chose not to. If these checks are not in place there is risk that an individual does not complete the pathway or the pathway is delayed unnecessarily. Public Health England

Schools must do more on mental health, say School Reporters

Schools must do more on mental health, say School Reporters Grace, 16, has been bullied for the past nine years, has moved schools twice, struggled with suicidal thoughts and taken medication for anxiety and depression.

At one point, she says, "there was no-one to turn to in the school and I felt so low I didn't want to go on".

According to research for BBC School Report, half of teenagers with mental wellbeing issues try to cope alone.

And a third said they were not confident enough to speak to a teacher.

At her lowest point, Grace made a "suicide video", which she posted on YouTube.

"I'd get beaten up every week," she says.

"Teachers wouldn't do anything. I even heard the teachers talking about me behind my back." BBC News

Four-hour accident and emergency waits rise 300% at some hospitals

Four-hour accident and emergency waits rise 300% at some hospitals The number of patients waiting four or more hours at A&E has risen more than 300% at some hospitals, it has emerged.

In total, 2.2 million patients were not seen within the target time in 2015-16 - more than double the one million figure in 2013-2014.

The Royal College for Emergency Medicine (RCEM) says there is a "large and systemic problem" caused by a lack of hospital beds.

NHS England said hospitals were under pressure but continuing to cope. BBC News

See also:

• Doctors warn of increasing safety risks amid hospital overcrowding The Daily Telegraph

GP practices could merge into 1,500 'super hubs' under NHS reforms

GP practices could merge into 1,500 'super hubs' under NHS reforms Thousands of GP practices across England could be closed as general practice provision shifts into 1,500 super hubs delivering care for populations of around 40,000 patients, a health minister has suggested. GP Online

Not enough GPs for A&E triage plans, says Wollaston

Not enough GPs for A&E triage plans, says Wollaston Government plans to put GPs in every A&E by this winter are not possible with the current primary care workforce, the chair of the House of Commons health select committee has said. GP Online

Greater overdose risk when opioids combined with benzodiazepines

Greater overdose risk when opioids combined with benzodiazepines Taking pain-relieving opioid drugs together with benzodiazepines for anxiety or sleep problems is associated with greater risk of opioid overdose, a study published in The BMJ had found. OnMedica

NHS patients could face wait to access life-saving drugs

NHS patients could face wait to access life-saving drugs New rules mean health bosses in England can delay rollout of expensive treatments after approval by Nice

Patients could face delays accessing drugs on the NHS after health bosses agreed that the most expensive treatments can be stalled.

Even when a drug has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) – which already has strict rules on affordability – bosses at NHS England can now slow down its delivery to patients. Continue reading... The Guardian

See also:

• NICE gets go-ahead to fast-track more drug approvals National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• NHS to introduce £20m cap on new drugs BBC News
• Patients could face three-year wait for new drugs on NHS The Daily Mail
• Drugs costing 8p a day could be  hit by 'devastating' NHS rationing plan The Daily Telegraph

Depression reported in almost half of NHS psychotherapists

Depression reported in almost half of NHS psychotherapists Almost half of all NHS psychotherapists feel depressed, a shocking new survey reveals.

Known to be suffering from one of its worst winters in decades, the ongoing crisis is taking its toll on staff.

Cuts to services, a lack of respect and poor career progression were among the most popular causes. The Daily Mail

See also:

• New Savoy survey shows increasing mental health problems in NHS psychotherapists British Psychological Society

Doctors missed 11 chances to treat chess champion before he died of chronic asthma, inquest hears

Doctors missed 11 chances to treat chess champion before he died of chronic asthma, inquest hears Doctors missed 11 opportunities to treat a nine-year-old chesschampion in the months before he died of chronic asthma, an inquest heard.

Michael Uriely, who was one of the UK's brightest prospects in the game, was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London twice in the days before his death after he suffered violent coughing and vomiting fits which left him struggling to breathe.

The national chess champion, from St John's Wood, north-west London, died on August 25 2015, five days after being discharged from the hospital for the second time.

In the months before his death the Westminster Under School pupil was also seen by NHS GPs, as well as having private doctor appointments. The Daily Telegraph

Guidance: Social work: essential to integration

Guidance: Social work: essential to integration The document should be used to support and inform local and regional health and social care integration initiatives. It explains:

• the critical contribution that social workers make to integrated services
• how social work is essential to the whole system
• the necessity of support to ensure integration succeeds in providing the services people need

It also includes ‘top tips’ for directors of adult social services and for principal social workers to assist in progressing the integration agenda.

It was developed in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Principal Social Workers’ Network and the Department of Health.

Public health working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector: new opportunities and sustainable change

Public health working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector: new opportunities and sustainable change The case studies in this report show how public health and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) are working together to make a real difference to people's health and wellbeing. The case studies demonstrate how harnessing the skills, enthusiasm and expertise of VCSE organisations and volunteers can help to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. Local Government Association

Charities' plea over Personal Independence Payments

Charities' plea over Personal Independence Payments The chief executives of more than 30 charities have written to ministers urging them not to restrict access to a disability benefit.

The rules around Personal Independence Payments, which help with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability, will change on Thursday.

The charities claim people will be left without vital financial support.

Ministers said they were forced to act after two court judgements made the benefit more generous.

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) said about 160,000 recipients of Personal Independence Payments would be affected if the changes go ahead. BBC News

See also:

• DWP 'tells disability benefits assessors to discriminate against people with mental health conditions' The Independent

Superbug drug launched to fight growing threat of antibiotic resistance

Superbug drug launched to fight growing threat of antibiotic resistance A new antibiotic designed to fight drug-resistant ‘superbugs’ has become available to patients in the UK.

Doctors are “running out of options” for treating common infections caused by bacteria which mutate to resist regular antibiotics, said microbiologist Matthew Dryden.

“Resistance is increasing, almost exponentially. It's a problem facing every emergency department in this country,” he told The Independent.

But innovative new drugs like Zavicefta, which combines a traditional antibiotic in the same class as penicillin with a brand new drug that attacks resistance mechanisms, are being introduced to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

If we hide our mental health issues, we make it easier for society to ignore us

If we hide our mental health issues, we make it easier for society to ignore us People with mental health issues are being expected to “prove it” as never before. Whether, as individuals, being assessed for disability benefits or, collectively, campaigning for services and adequate welfare provision, the pressure to demonstrate genuine need, to prove that one is “really disabled”, to quote the Tory MP George Freeman, is greater than ever. Continue reading... The Guardian

Public sector workers first to face cut in real pay, says thinktank

Public sector workers first to face cut in real pay, says thinktank Public sector workers have become the first group to suffer a cut in real wages since the recovery of 2014 as forecasters predicted that the rest of the working population would follow suit later this year.

The Resolution Foundation said the situation for 5.4 million public sector workersis expected to worsen over the rest of the decade as pay restraint and high inflation eat into their take-home pay and living standards.

The independent thinktank forecast that median real pay for the average public sector worker would fall below 2004-05 levels by the end of the current parliament in 2020.

UK social care sector in crisis due to staff hortages

On current trends, the average pay of public sector workers will be £1,700 lower in 2020 than its peak in 2010, it said. Continue reading... The Guardian

'Lots of nurses have already left': EU workers head for exit

'Lots of nurses have already left': EU workers head for exit How is the prospect of Brexit affecting different sectors? We asked you whether many EU workers were leaving or had plans to leave. Here are your stories

Since news of the UK’s looming departure from the European Union hit, lots of industries have spoken out about fears of losing European workers. On Monday academics from Oxford University said staff would go if they were not reassured about their future. It comes amid news that EU citizens working in the NHS are thinking of leaving in the next five years.

We asked you about how the loss of European workers may affect, or is already affecting, your sector. We heard from a variety of people, including professors and doctors, who expressed concern that workers are already leaving. Here are a selection of your stories.

European people working for the NHS feel utterly disappointed and disillusioned.

Since then I’ve been taking fewer UK clients knowing I will leave. I just feel sadly unwelcome now.Continue reading... The Guardian

Mental health hospital declared unsafe in damning report

Mental health hospital declared unsafe in damning report Britain's leading private rehab hospital The Priory has been declared unsafe in a damning inspection report.

Patients on suicide watch are not properly monitored and there are not enough staff to provide safe care, the Care Quality Commission said.

Children and teenagers with eating disorders are at particular risk, with 95 incidents recorded among this group in the last six months alone, at least some of them during understaffed shifts, inspectors reported.

The private facility in south west London was ordered to make urgent improvements, with inspectors rating the safety of care as 'inadequate' - the lowest possible ranking.

Overall, the hospital was given a grade of 'requires improvement'. The Daily Mail

Australia to ban children who have not been vaccinated from childcare centres

Australia to ban children who have not been vaccinated from childcare centres Australia plans to ban children who have not been vaccinated from attending preschools and childcare centres following concerns about the influence of the so-called “anti-vax movement”.

In a move that received strong backing from medical experts, Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, said he will push for all states and territories to adopt “no jab, no play” laws.

The laws, which have been adopted in recent years in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, ban the enrollment of unvaccinated children in childcare facilities unless they have a medical exemption. The Daily Telegraph