Thursday, 18 May 2017
Get mental health right and we can get the whole system right
Get mental health right and we can get the whole system right John Cleese famously asked 'What have the Romans ever done for us?’ and received in response a litany of suggestions – sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, fresh water and public health. The sketch came to mind recently as I listened to a group of health professionals talking about the many ways in which good mental health care can help other parts of the health system. So, what has mental health ever done for us? The King's Fund
Nurse and midwife revalidation a success says NMC
Nurse and midwife revalidation a success says NMC Revalidation has recently celebrated its one year anniversary and today the NMC has published its fourth quarterly report. The final quarter of the first year has continued to show how successful revalidation has been with 48,598 nurses and midwives renewing their registration during this period.
Throughout this quarter 93 percent of those who were due to revalidate have done so successfully and there is no sign that revalidation has had an adverse effect on the register. So far over 200,000 nurses and midwives have successfully revalidated with the NMC. Nursing and Midwifery Council
Throughout this quarter 93 percent of those who were due to revalidate have done so successfully and there is no sign that revalidation has had an adverse effect on the register. So far over 200,000 nurses and midwives have successfully revalidated with the NMC. Nursing and Midwifery Council
Adolescent obesity and related behaviours: trends and inequalities in the WHO European Region, 2002–2014
Adolescent obesity and related behaviours: trends and inequalities in the WHO European Region, 2002–2014 This report reveals that the number of obese adolescents is continuing to rise in many countries across the WHO European Region. It highlights persisting inequalities in obesity among young people and indicates that ongoing health promotion and disease prevention efforts aimed at reducing childhood obesity are failing to adequately reach these groups. World Health Organization
See also:
See also:
- Young Britons risk their health due to lack of exercise The Daily Mail
A creepy solution: Could ants tackle the 'antibiotic apocalypse'?
A creepy solution: Could ants tackle the 'antibiotic apocalypse'? I was born in India and, as a young child, I developed a serious gut infection that would have killed me if it hadn't been for antibiotics.
These days a young child in India, with the same condition, would be far more vulnerable because of the huge and rapid rise in antibiotic resistance in that part of the world.
The problem is not, of course, confined to India. It's estimated that antibiotic-resistant infections currently kill at least 700,000 people a year.
This is projected to rise to 10 million by 2050. What is particularly worrying is that as well as the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the threat it poses - there have been no new classes of antibiotics released in the past 30 years. BBC News
These days a young child in India, with the same condition, would be far more vulnerable because of the huge and rapid rise in antibiotic resistance in that part of the world.
The problem is not, of course, confined to India. It's estimated that antibiotic-resistant infections currently kill at least 700,000 people a year.
This is projected to rise to 10 million by 2050. What is particularly worrying is that as well as the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the threat it poses - there have been no new classes of antibiotics released in the past 30 years. BBC News
Artificial intelligence could cut GP workload and shorten appointments
Artificial intelligence could cut GP workload and shorten appointments Artificial intelligence apps could shave two to three minutes off GP appointments and filter out unnecessary appointments, GPs piloting the technology have said. GPonline
Swallowable gastric balloon could help the obese lose weight without surgery
Swallowable gastric balloon could help the obese lose weight without surgery Although not a replacement for bariatric surgery, temporary balloon could be used as early intervention or for those who do not want, or cannot have, surgery
A balloon that can be swallowed and then filled with water while in the stomach can help obese people to lose large amounts of weight without invasive surgery, a new study has shown.
Bariatric surgery to reduce the size of the stomach is highly effective, but anaesthesia for somebody who is very overweight can be risky. Those who want to undergo the surgery must also undergo a long period of preparation to ready them physically and psychologically. It is expensive, and there is a long waiting list in the UK, even though NHS guidance recommends it be considered. Continue reading... The Guardian
A balloon that can be swallowed and then filled with water while in the stomach can help obese people to lose large amounts of weight without invasive surgery, a new study has shown.
Bariatric surgery to reduce the size of the stomach is highly effective, but anaesthesia for somebody who is very overweight can be risky. Those who want to undergo the surgery must also undergo a long period of preparation to ready them physically and psychologically. It is expensive, and there is a long waiting list in the UK, even though NHS guidance recommends it be considered. Continue reading... The Guardian
Dementia and cancer deaths set to soar in England and Wales
Dementia and cancer deaths set to soar in England and Wales Research says projected rise will put NHS under intense pressure with a 42% increase in number of people needing palliative care
Deaths from dementia and cancer will soar between now and 2040, putting NHS end-of-life services under intense pressure, research has found.
The number of people in England and Wales dying from dementia will almost quadruple, from 59,199 in 2014 to 219,409 in 2040, according to estimates published in the journal BMC Medicine. Continue reading... The Guardian
Deaths from dementia and cancer will soar between now and 2040, putting NHS end-of-life services under intense pressure, research has found.
The number of people in England and Wales dying from dementia will almost quadruple, from 59,199 in 2014 to 219,409 in 2040, according to estimates published in the journal BMC Medicine. Continue reading... The Guardian
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Systems starting to return to normal at KGH after cyber attack alert
Systems starting to return to normal at KGH after cyber attack alert KGH says its systems weren’t infected in Friday’s cyber attack after the hospital’s IT team deployed a patch to prevent it in March. Northamptonshire Telegraph
State of child health: Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships
State of child health: Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships Following analysis of STPs, this report argues that the plans are failing to take into account the needs of infants, child and young people. It finds that while most STPs set out the case for change well and cover important key themes such as prevention, early intervention, more care delivered in the community, better mental health services and integrated working, there is a lack of detail underpinning the vision. It concludes that the lack of profile given to infants, children and young people (who comprise 25 per cent of the UK population) by the majority of STPs, is a cause for concern. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Protecting your organisation from ransomware
Protecting your organisation from ransomware This guidance outlines how to prevent a ransomware incident and what to do if your organisation is infect. It suggests simple steps to help organisations prevent a cyber attack. In response to the recent ransomware campaign, the NCSC has also published guidance for IT systems administrators which outlines responses to this specific cyber attack. National Cyber Security Centre
How to improve care for people with multimorbidity in Europe?
How to improve care for people with multimorbidity in Europe? Where do policy makers start if they want to prepare their health systems for the growing challenge of multimorbidity? This policy brief finds that Europe’s health systems are ‘disease-oriented’ and organised around single medical specialties, leading to fragmented care. It examines how to support patient-centred integrated care provision by changing clinical practice and reforming the health and social care system. World Health Organization
'Fat but fit is a big fat myth'
'Fat but fit is a big fat myth' The idea that people can be fat but medically fit is a myth, say experts speaking in Portugal.
Their early work, as yet unpublished, involved looking at the GP records of 3.5 million people in the UK.
They say people who were obese but who had no initial signs of heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol were not protected from ill health in later life, contradicting previous research. BBC News
Their early work, as yet unpublished, involved looking at the GP records of 3.5 million people in the UK.
They say people who were obese but who had no initial signs of heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol were not protected from ill health in later life, contradicting previous research. BBC News
NHS cyber attack: A&Es 'fully open' again
NHS cyber attack: A&Es 'fully open' again Patients are no longer being diverted away from A&E units following the cyber attack, NHS bosses say. BBC News
See also:
See also:
Cancer drug price hike company investigated
Cancer drug price hike company investigated European investigators are looking at claims that Aspen Pharma excessively increased the price of cancer drugs. BBC News
Google DeepMind 1.6m patient record deal 'inappropriate'
Google DeepMind 1.6m patient record deal 'inappropriate' National data guardian says patient data transfer from Royal Free to Google subsidiary has ‘inappropriate legal basis’ as information not used for direct care
The transfer of 1.6m patient records to Google’s artificial intelligence company DeepMind Health has been criticised for its “inappropriate legal basis” by the UK’s national data guardian.
In a letter leaked to Sky News, the national data guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott, warned DeepMind’s partner hospital, the Royal Free, that the patient record transfer was not for “direct care” since the data was initially used to test the app that the two organisations were working on, before patients were treated with it. Continue reading... The Guardian
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The transfer of 1.6m patient records to Google’s artificial intelligence company DeepMind Health has been criticised for its “inappropriate legal basis” by the UK’s national data guardian.
In a letter leaked to Sky News, the national data guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott, warned DeepMind’s partner hospital, the Royal Free, that the patient record transfer was not for “direct care” since the data was initially used to test the app that the two organisations were working on, before patients were treated with it. Continue reading... The Guardian
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How much progress is the NHS making on workforce diversity? | Roger Kline
How much progress is the NHS making on workforce diversity? | Roger Kline Overturning decades of discrimination will not happen overnight but there have been small yet significant improvements
The NHS would grind to a standstill without the contribution of its black and minority ethnic (BME) staff. A fifth of nurses and midwives and a third of doctors are from BME backgrounds. Yet, by almost every measure, their treatment is poorer than that of their white colleagues. The latest report on the experience of these staff (pdf), drawn from nine workforce and staff survey metrics from all 236 trusts in England, makes sobering reading.
The more senior the pay grade, the less likely it will be filled by BME staff. Almost a quarter (24%) of nurses and midwives at entry grade 5 are from BME backgrounds, but this falls to 4% once senior management grades (8C and 8D) are reached. Continue reading... The Guardian
The NHS would grind to a standstill without the contribution of its black and minority ethnic (BME) staff. A fifth of nurses and midwives and a third of doctors are from BME backgrounds. Yet, by almost every measure, their treatment is poorer than that of their white colleagues. The latest report on the experience of these staff (pdf), drawn from nine workforce and staff survey metrics from all 236 trusts in England, makes sobering reading.
The more senior the pay grade, the less likely it will be filled by BME staff. Almost a quarter (24%) of nurses and midwives at entry grade 5 are from BME backgrounds, but this falls to 4% once senior management grades (8C and 8D) are reached. Continue reading... The Guardian
Breast screenings attendance improves with fixed slots
Breast screenings attendance improves with fixed slots Researchers from Queen Mary University found that offering women a specific time and place for a breast cancer screening improves attendance by more than 22%. The Daily Mail
Catch rogue surgeons by forcing private hospitals to disclose botched operations data, top doctors demand
Catch rogue surgeons by forcing private hospitals to disclose botched operations data, top doctors demand Private hospitals should be forced to reveal details of botched operations and unexpected deaths in a bid to catch rogue surgeons, doctors leaders have said.
The Royal College of Surgeons is calling for an “urgent” end to opaque practices in the private sector in the wake of the Ian Paterson scandal.
The Birmingham-based breast surgeon was convicted last month of performing unnecessary and dangerous operations on 10 patients, however experts believe the true number of victims may be over 1,000. The Daily Telegraph
The Royal College of Surgeons is calling for an “urgent” end to opaque practices in the private sector in the wake of the Ian Paterson scandal.
The Birmingham-based breast surgeon was convicted last month of performing unnecessary and dangerous operations on 10 patients, however experts believe the true number of victims may be over 1,000. The Daily Telegraph
'Dr Google' can help patient-doctor relationship, study finds
'Dr Google' can help patient-doctor relationship, study finds So-called "Dr Google" can have a positive impact on a relationship between a GP and their patient, a new study suggests.
Performing online searches for health information - colloquially known as using "Dr Google" - leads to a better mutual understanding of symptoms and diagnosis between a patient and their GP, a new research paper found.
Searching online before an appointment can generally have a "positive contribution" to a GP consultation, a team of researchers from Belgium found. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
Performing online searches for health information - colloquially known as using "Dr Google" - leads to a better mutual understanding of symptoms and diagnosis between a patient and their GP, a new research paper found.
Searching online before an appointment can generally have a "positive contribution" to a GP consultation, a team of researchers from Belgium found. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- College advises patients to be cautious about using "Dr Google" to diagnose themselves Royal College of General Practitioners
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
CYBER ATTACK: GP bosses urge Northamptonshire patients to attend appointments as usual
CYBER ATTACK: GP bosses urge Northamptonshire patients to attend appointments as usual GP patients in Northampton are being advised to attend booked appointments as normal even through surgeries were forced to shut down IT systems following Friday's massive cyber attack. Northamptonshire Telegraph
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