Northampton General Hospital reinvests surplus money from parking charges into healthcare Northampton General Hospital retains all the money it makes in pay and display parking charges, reinvesting it into its car park facilities and health provision.
Last week, a series of Freedom of Information requests made by Mail Online revealed Northampton's main hospital to have the second most expensive car park (£3.20/hour) in the country behind Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford (£4/hour).
The hospital made £1.67 million in charges during the 2016/17 financial year, which is used to pay for things like the car park's security, administrative costs, and its maintenance. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Thursday, 4 January 2018
Volunteers lent four-wheel drives to take Northamptonshire medics to poorly patients in the snow
Volunteers lent four-wheel drives to take Northamptonshire medics to poorly patients in the snow Over 70 volunteers for a Northamptonshire charity worked around the clock in December to help transport nurses and doctors to see their patients during the bitter weather. Many people rely on services that normally get taken for granted such as carer or district nurse visits, but when the roads become treacherous through ice, snow or flooding these services become a lot harder to provide. Volunteers from the charity Northants 4x4 Response covered hundreds of miles in Northamptonshire over the festive period, providing specialist transport for the emergency and essential services who needed to carry out their work regardless of the conditions. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Local government spending on public health: death by a thousand cuts
Local government spending on public health: death by a thousand cuts On health the November budget, as ever, was dominated by the numbers on NHS funding and whether the chancellor would find up to £4 billion more to maintain the standard of services. In the end he did find more, though not as much as is needed. There was no mention of social care funding or public health funding. However, as in every budget, there were policy changes that will impact on health including on housing and homelessness, and changes in excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The King's Fund
Independent doctors to be rated by the Care Quality Commission
Independent doctors to be rated by the Care Quality Commission New changes mean that, for the first time, all healthcare organisations in England that offer regulated care will be rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Organisations will have to display their inspection ratings so patients can clearly see safety standards.
The CQC’s current ratings programme – which covers hospital care, social care and GPs – will be extended to include more than 800 additional providers. This includes independent doctors that offer primary care online. Department of Health
The CQC’s current ratings programme – which covers hospital care, social care and GPs – will be extended to include more than 800 additional providers. This includes independent doctors that offer primary care online. Department of Health
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt sorry as A&Es struggle to cope
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt sorry as A&Es struggle to cope Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised to patients in England who have had their operations postponed.
Non-urgent treatments had already been cancelled until mid-January, but NHS England said on Tuesday that would now be extended to the end of the month.
It came after hospitals reported they were struggling to cope with the surge in patients being seen since Christmas.
At least 17 hospital trusts - one in 10 - have declared a major incident in the last 24 hours, the BBC understands.
Bosses said they had been forced into the move as patients were experiencing long waits in A&E and being left on trolleys in corridors because there were no beds available. BBC News
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Non-urgent treatments had already been cancelled until mid-January, but NHS England said on Tuesday that would now be extended to the end of the month.
It came after hospitals reported they were struggling to cope with the surge in patients being seen since Christmas.
At least 17 hospital trusts - one in 10 - have declared a major incident in the last 24 hours, the BBC understands.
Bosses said they had been forced into the move as patients were experiencing long waits in A&E and being left on trolleys in corridors because there were no beds available. BBC News
See also:
- NHS 'better prepared for winter than ever' BBC News
- Sarah Wollaston urges government to get a grip on NHS 'crisis' BBC News
- Jeremy Hunt's 10-year-old plan to revamp NHS The Daily Mail
- NHS chief DENIES crisis despite 55,000 delayed operations The Daily Mail
- Patients dismiss claims hospitals are like 'third world' The Daily Mail
- NHS chiefs urge relatives to help them ease crisis The Daily Mail
- Jeremy Hunt apologises to patients over cancellation of thousands of NHS operations The Daily Telegraph
- Here's the real reason the NHS is on its knees – and it has little to do with A&E The Daily Telegraph
- There is no winter NHS 'crisis', just a series of challenges that won't be solved without deep reform The Daily Telegraph
- Come and collect your elderly, hospital trusts say, amid soaring numbers of 'black alerts' The Daily Telegraph
- PM hails NHS readiness for winter as operations are cancelled GPonline
- Patients' charity attacks ministers over NHS winter crisis The Guardian
- Doctors and patients accuse government of failing to stop NHS crisis The Guardian
- The Tories knew there would be an NHS winter crisis but did nothing | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
- The Guardian view on the NHS winter crisis: not such a happy birthday | Editorial The Guardian
- 'My mum was treated with dignity': NHS care amid the winter crisis The Guardian
- GPs under growing pressure as well as A&Es OnMedica
One in four pregnant women has mental health problem
One in four pregnant women has mental health problem A quarter of all pregnant women suffer from mental health problems, a UK study has revealed.
For the first time in the UK, researchers at King’s College in London looked at the prevalence of mental health problems or mental health disorders in pregnant women when visiting their midwives for ante-natal care.
They found that when interviewed, one in four women had a mental illness ranging from depression (11 per cent) and anxiety (15 per cent) to eating disorders (two per cent) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (two per cent). iNews
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For the first time in the UK, researchers at King’s College in London looked at the prevalence of mental health problems or mental health disorders in pregnant women when visiting their midwives for ante-natal care.
They found that when interviewed, one in four women had a mental illness ranging from depression (11 per cent) and anxiety (15 per cent) to eating disorders (two per cent) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (two per cent). iNews
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NHS bosses have failed to declare nearly £4 million
NHS bosses have failed to declare nearly £4 million Regional health trusts accepted £5,027,818 from firms between 2015 and 2017, according to freedom of information data from all 207 clinical commissioning groups in England. The Daily Mail
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Wednesday, 3 January 2018
NGH cancels planned operations after admitting 770 poorly patients to beds over festive period
NGH cancels planned operations after admitting 770 poorly patients to beds over festive period Bosses at Northampton General Hospital have said they are currently under considerable emergency pressure and have apologised to those who had their operations cancelled today.
A large number of patients requiring emergency care have built up pressure on wards and A&E departments over the Christmas and New Year period - which means both hospitals are concentrating their efforts on emergency care.
As a result, NGH has had to cancel many planned operations and routine outpatient clinics to ensure there are enough beds for emergency patients.
The hospital is contacting all of the affected patients and sincerely apologised for the inconvenience. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
A large number of patients requiring emergency care have built up pressure on wards and A&E departments over the Christmas and New Year period - which means both hospitals are concentrating their efforts on emergency care.
As a result, NGH has had to cancel many planned operations and routine outpatient clinics to ensure there are enough beds for emergency patients.
The hospital is contacting all of the affected patients and sincerely apologised for the inconvenience. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
KGH under extreme pressure as operations cancelled
KGH under extreme pressure as operations cancelled A number of planned operations and outpatient clinics at Kettering General Hospital have been cancelled as the hospital struggles to cope with emergency pressures.
An average of 253 people have attended A&E each day since Christmas Eve, building pressure on wards and departments. As a result the hospital has had to cancel operations to ensure there are enough beds for emergency patients.
KGH’s chief operating officer Rebecca Brown said: “We are under extreme pressure at the moment and are caring for a large number of older people who need urgent treatment.
“The average age of inpatients at the moment is 74, many with multiple medical conditions, and these poorly patients have to be our priority at present." Northamptonshire Telegraph
An average of 253 people have attended A&E each day since Christmas Eve, building pressure on wards and departments. As a result the hospital has had to cancel operations to ensure there are enough beds for emergency patients.
KGH’s chief operating officer Rebecca Brown said: “We are under extreme pressure at the moment and are caring for a large number of older people who need urgent treatment.
“The average age of inpatients at the moment is 74, many with multiple medical conditions, and these poorly patients have to be our priority at present." Northamptonshire Telegraph
Admissions of inequality: emergency hospital use for children and young people
Admissions of inequality: emergency hospital use for children and young people This briefing looks at the relationship between deprivation and the use of emergency hospital care by children and young people in England. It aims to describe and highlight areas of inequality and to explore how they have changed over time. As well as looking at the overall patterns of emergency hospital use, it focuses in particular on three common conditions – asthma, diabetes and epilepsy – where more timely and effective primary, community or outpatient care could prevent admissions. Nuffield Trust
Hospitals to delay non-urgent operations
Hospitals to delay non-urgent operations Tens of thousands of non-urgent NHS operations and procedures in England may be deferred until 31 January, due to winter pressures.
Officials also told hospitals to delay routine outpatient appointments to concentrate on emergency care.
Separately, a doctor apologised on Twitter for "third world conditions" in the hospital where he works in Stoke.
NHS England's acute care director said hospitals were being given the "time and space" to manage January pressures.
Officials reiterated that cancer operations and time-critical procedures should go ahead as planned. BBC News
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Officials also told hospitals to delay routine outpatient appointments to concentrate on emergency care.
Separately, a doctor apologised on Twitter for "third world conditions" in the hospital where he works in Stoke.
NHS England's acute care director said hospitals were being given the "time and space" to manage January pressures.
Officials reiterated that cancer operations and time-critical procedures should go ahead as planned. BBC News
See also:
- Operational update from the NHS National Emergency Pressures Panel NHS England
- Struggling hospitals facing 'huge tragedy' BBC News
- NHS operations could be cancelled over winter The Daily Mail
- NHS patients warned to keep away from 'Third World' A&E The Daily Mail
- A&E consultant apologises for the 'third world conditions' The Daily Mail
- 'Aussie flu' continues rampage as NHS struggles to cope The Daily Mail
- NHS hospitals ordered to cancel all routine operations in January as flu spike and bed shortages lead to A&E crisis The Daily Telegraph
- Winter pressure forces NHS to halt elective care until end of January GPonline
- NHS hospitals told to take drastic measures amid winter crisis The Guardian
- A&E doctor sorry for 'third world conditions' as NHS winter crisis bites The Guardian
- NHS extends suspension of all non-urgent care as doctors warn of winter crisis The Independent
AI early diagnosis could save heart and cancer patients
AI early diagnosis could save heart and cancer patients Researchers at an Oxford hospital have developed artificial intelligence (AI) that can diagnose scans for heart disease and lung cancer.
The systems will save billions of pounds by enabling the diseases to be picked up much earlier.
The heart disease technology will start to be available to NHS hospitals for free this summer.
The government's healthcare tsar, Sir John Bell, has told BBC News that AI could "save the NHS".
"There is about £2.2bn spent on pathology services in the NHS. You may be able to reduce that by 50%. AI may be the thing that saves the NHS," he said.
The systems will save billions of pounds by enabling the diseases to be picked up much earlier.
The heart disease technology will start to be available to NHS hospitals for free this summer.
The government's healthcare tsar, Sir John Bell, has told BBC News that AI could "save the NHS".
"There is about £2.2bn spent on pathology services in the NHS. You may be able to reduce that by 50%. AI may be the thing that saves the NHS," he said.
‘I just want to cut it off’: the weight-loss patients who no longer fit their skin
‘I just want to cut it off’: the weight-loss patients who no longer fit their skin Bariatric surgery is a highly cost-effective way to lose life-changing amounts of weight – but the NHS rarely removes the excess skin that is left behind. Desperate patients are now crowdfunding their operations while struggling with anxiety, depression and identity issues
When Haze Atkin passed the 32kg (5st) mark on her weight-loss programme, something strange began happening to her skin. First it grew softer. Then it grew emptier. By the time she had shed her 64th kilo, her body had shrunk so much that her loose skin needed to be folded into her clothes. Now, when Haze sits, a “hovercraft” of skin skirts her seat. When she takes a bath, her spare skin floats. In bed, her husband Chris accidentally rests an elbow on it; he can’t always be sure where Haze ends. The edges of her have become mistakable.
To her children’s delight, Haze can wobble her skin and make it talk like a puppet. Sometimes her daughter holds out her hands like a set of scales and Haze places her stomach skin on them. She thinks it weighs a stone. It has become oddly plastic, so that Haze can gather it in her hands and stretch and shake it, fold and mould it. But the one thing she can never do with her skin is forget it. Continue reading... The Guardian
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When Haze Atkin passed the 32kg (5st) mark on her weight-loss programme, something strange began happening to her skin. First it grew softer. Then it grew emptier. By the time she had shed her 64th kilo, her body had shrunk so much that her loose skin needed to be folded into her clothes. Now, when Haze sits, a “hovercraft” of skin skirts her seat. When she takes a bath, her spare skin floats. In bed, her husband Chris accidentally rests an elbow on it; he can’t always be sure where Haze ends. The edges of her have become mistakable.
To her children’s delight, Haze can wobble her skin and make it talk like a puppet. Sometimes her daughter holds out her hands like a set of scales and Haze places her stomach skin on them. She thinks it weighs a stone. It has become oddly plastic, so that Haze can gather it in her hands and stretch and shake it, fold and mould it. But the one thing she can never do with her skin is forget it. Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
- Life after extreme weight loss The Guardian
Britain's dental crisis is forcing charities to step in
Britain's dental crisis is forcing charities to step in Britain's dental crisis is forcing charities that assist third world countries to step in.
Dentists in the UK are so inundated with targets and admin, they lack the time and resources to properly focus on dental health, resulting in a 'national disaster' that is making patient treatment a low priority, according to a letter signed by more than 400 dentists.
Described as 'an international disgrace', Dentaid, a charity which works across parts of Africa, Asia and Central America, set up its first UK scheme in West Yorkshire two years ago and provides free care to low-income patients.
The charity has since expanded its reach, with mobile services being set up in Hampshire, Cornwall and Buckinghamshire. The Daily Mail
Previous research reveals one in six areas in the UK have no dentists left taking NHS patients.
Dentists in the UK are so inundated with targets and admin, they lack the time and resources to properly focus on dental health, resulting in a 'national disaster' that is making patient treatment a low priority, according to a letter signed by more than 400 dentists.
Described as 'an international disgrace', Dentaid, a charity which works across parts of Africa, Asia and Central America, set up its first UK scheme in West Yorkshire two years ago and provides free care to low-income patients.
The charity has since expanded its reach, with mobile services being set up in Hampshire, Cornwall and Buckinghamshire. The Daily Mail
Previous research reveals one in six areas in the UK have no dentists left taking NHS patients.
Nearly 100,000 NHS staff take a month off with stress
Nearly 100,000 NHS staff take a month off with stress More than 91,000 NHS employees have taken at least a month off work to deal with stress in the last three years.
Nurses were the most stressed group, with at least 46,341 taking time off in the three years.
Out of the 96 trusts that provided staff breakdowns, nurses made up 37 per cent of those who took time off. The Daily Mail
The number of staff taking long-term stress leave increased by 19 per cent between 2014 and 2016.
Figures released by 170 trusts across Britain showed a total of 204,573 employees took time off to deal with stress, anxiety, or another mental health-related issue, while 91,364 were off for a month or more.
Nurses were the most stressed group, with at least 46,341 taking time off in the three years.
It comes at a time when the NHS is facing a staffing crisis, as an estimated 40,000 nursing posts are currently vacant.
Out of the 96 trusts that provided staff breakdowns, nurses made up 37 per cent of those who took time off. The Daily Mail
Tuesday, 2 January 2018
NHS sees 1,985 people in Northamptonshire register to give blood for the first time
NHS sees 1,985 people in Northamptonshire register to give blood for the first time NHS Blood and Transplant is encouraging people in Northamptonshire to make a New Year’s resolution that can change someone else’s life.
Across England 900,000 people gave blood in 2017 and this New Year people in Northamptonshire are being asked to be part of an amazing group of people who save lives.
NHS Blood and Transplant needs around 200,000 new donors every year to maintain the supply for life-saving blood donations. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Across England 900,000 people gave blood in 2017 and this New Year people in Northamptonshire are being asked to be part of an amazing group of people who save lives.
NHS Blood and Transplant needs around 200,000 new donors every year to maintain the supply for life-saving blood donations. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Northampton's main hospital found to have the second-highest parking charges in the country
Northampton's main hospital found to have the second-highest parking charges in the country Health chiefs say the £3.20-an-hour parking charge at Northampton General Hospital is essential to free up money for care after it was revealed to have the second-highest tariff in the country.
A series of Freedom of Information requests by the Mail Online has found that Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford is the only hospital in the country to charge more to park than NGH at £3.40 an hour. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
A series of Freedom of Information requests by the Mail Online has found that Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford is the only hospital in the country to charge more to park than NGH at £3.40 an hour. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Northampton hospital welcomes 14 Christmas Day babies to the world
Northampton hospital welcomes 14 Christmas Day babies to the world Northampton celebrated some very special Christmas Day deliveries this year.
This year, 14 babies were eager to join in the festivities and be their parents' Christmas Day miracles.
The midwives of Northampton General Hospital's Barratt Birth Centre worked all-day long to help welcome the new arrivals into the world. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
This year, 14 babies were eager to join in the festivities and be their parents' Christmas Day miracles.
The midwives of Northampton General Hospital's Barratt Birth Centre worked all-day long to help welcome the new arrivals into the world. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The compact between the public and the NHS
The compact between the public and the NHS As a society, we are proud of the NHS, and around three-quarters of the population feel we must do everything to maintain it. There is also widespread support for the founding principles of the NHS – namely, that it should be free at the point of use, funded primarily through taxation and provide a comprehensive service available to everyone. Even after a decade of austerity, public satisfaction with the NHS remains high, although there are increasing concerns about the future. The King's Fund
PHE launches Change4Life campaign around children’s snacking
PHE launches Change4Life campaign around children’s snacking Public Health England (PHE) is helping parents take control of their children’s snacking by launching the first Change4Life campaign promoting healthier snacks.
This is because half of children’s sugar intake, currently around 7 sugar cubes a day, comes from unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks, leading to obesity and dental decay.
Each year children are consuming almost 400 biscuits; more than 120 cakes, buns and pastries; around 100 portions of sweets; nearly 70 of both chocolate bars and ice creams; washed down with over 150 juice drink pouches and cans of fizzy drink.
On average, children are consuming at least 3 unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks a day, with around a third consuming 4 or more. The overall result is that children consume 3 times more sugar than is recommended.
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This is because half of children’s sugar intake, currently around 7 sugar cubes a day, comes from unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks, leading to obesity and dental decay.
Each year children are consuming almost 400 biscuits; more than 120 cakes, buns and pastries; around 100 portions of sweets; nearly 70 of both chocolate bars and ice creams; washed down with over 150 juice drink pouches and cans of fizzy drink.
On average, children are consuming at least 3 unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks a day, with around a third consuming 4 or more. The overall result is that children consume 3 times more sugar than is recommended.
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