Half of European clinical trials haven’t reported results

Half of European clinical trials haven’t reported results A new interactive website, eu.trialstracker.net, shows that 49% of clinical trials on the EU clinical trials register have not reported results. EU rules say clinical trial results must be reported onto the EU register for every trial there within 12 months of the end of the trial. Only 51% of trials on the register are currently complying with this. No one has ever been sanctioned for breaking the European rules.
The EUTrialsTracker also shows that European academic institutes are lagging far behind companies in complying with the reporting rules – 68% of company-sponsored trials that are due to report results onto the register have but only 11% of academic trials have. This means that nearly 90% of the trials sponsored by European universities, governments, charities and research centres are breaking EU rules.

CQC calls for guidance to improve sexual safety on mental health wards

CQC calls for guidance to improve sexual safety on mental health wards The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is calling for new national guidance to improve the sexual safety of people and staff on mental health wards, following analysis of how mental health trusts in England report sexual incidents.
In its Sexual Safety on Mental Health Wards report published today (Tuesday 11 September) the CQC shares its findings and recommendations after reviewing patient safety incidents reported to the NHS National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). The report follows engagement with trusts, national bodies, organisations representing people who use services and individuals with direct experience of sexual safety incidents. NHS Networks

Free flu vaccinations for social care and hospice staff

Free flu vaccinations for social care and hospice staff   NHS England will again provide free flu vaccinations for social care staff who offer direct patient care this flu season. This year, the free jab will also be extended to include health and care staff in the voluntary managed hospice sector who offer direct patient care. NHS Employers

NHS suffering worst ever staff and cash crisis, figures show

NHS suffering worst ever staff and cash crisis, figures show  The NHS’s staffing and financial problems are the worst they have ever been, official health service figures show. The number of vacancies across the NHS in England has hit a record high while NHS bosses have disclosed for the first time the service’s underlying deficit built up over recent years – £4.3bn.
At the end of June the health service had 107,743 unfilled posts, up 9,268 from the 98,475 total seen just three months earlier, NHS Improvement said in its latest quarterly report on the service’s performance.
The regulator warned that the NHS’s struggles to recruit and retain staff were so difficult that vacancies would become even more common during the rest of 2018-19. The Guardian

Hancock attacks NHS block on progress as he says all patients should be able to Skype their GPs

Hancock attacks NHS block on progress as he says all patients should be able to Skype their GPs   Every patient should be able to Skype their GP on a smartphone, the new Health Secretary says today as he attacks the NHS for blocking progress and vows to end a “postcode lottery” in access to care. Matt Hancock accused health officials of standing in the way of a healthcare revolution, as he detailed ambitions for an expansion of virtual GP services across the country.
The minister, who became Health Secretary in July, personally uses the “GP at Hand” app which is offered by the NHS in some parts of London. The Telegraph

Mental health crisis teams in England: lost in translation?

Mental health crisis teams in England: lost in translation?   Rachel Rowan Olive writes her debut elf blog about a recent national survey of mental health crisis resolution teams and crisis care systems in England: Crisis Resolution Teams (CRTs) for working-age adults have been implemented across England since 2000. Their aim is to treat those in mental health crisis at home, reducing the need for hospital admissions. A recently published national survey (Lloyd-Evans et al, 2018) produced a snapshot of the care provided by CRTs across England in late 2016, testing how far they reflect the model set out in the policy guidance for their implementation. Mental Elf

From Brexit to the birth rate: why midwives are leaving the NHS – and causing a crisis

From Brexit to the birth rate: why midwives are leaving the NHS – and causing a crisis   Almost 3,000 midwives ended their careers in England last year, and only 2,000 came out of university to replace them. Vacancy levels are set to keep rising, so why do the numbers no longer add up? So many midwives are quitting the NHS that the 2,000-plus would-be midwives coming out of university each year are making almost no dent in the profession’s longstanding and widespread workforce shortage.
Despite all those new graduates, the total number of what the NHS calls full-time equivalent midwives working in the NHS in England rose by only 67 last year to 21,601. In England last year, almost 3,000 existing midwives decided that delivering babies and caring for them and their mothers was no longer for them. The Guardian

Mumsnet is driving women to request caesarean sections, a leading midwife has warned

Mumsnet is driving women to request caesarean sections, a leading midwife has warned Horrific tales of childbirth from friends and social media forums like Mumsnet are driving women to request caesarean sections, a leading midwife has warned. Catriona Jones, a lecturer in midwifery at the University of Hull, said up to 14 per cent of expectant mothers now suffer from ‘tocophobia’, which is defined as an unreasonable dread of childbirth. Although women throughout the ages have been afraid of labour, Mrs Jones warned that harrowing accounts on TV dramas and social media were fuelling the problem and called on mothers to avoid sharing their birthing horror stories. The Telegraph

Press release: New flu vaccine available this winter for those aged 65 and over

Press release: New flu vaccine available this winter for those aged 65 and over A more effective flu vaccine is available this winter for those aged 65 and over, which could prevent deaths and reduce the burden on the NHS. Gov.UK - Public Health England
See also:

• Enhances flu jab to save 'hundreds of lives' BBC News 
• NHS admits flu jab won't stop deadly Japanese flu from killing elderly this winter as vaccination will only protect against three strains Mail Online

NHS vacancies a 'national emergency'

NHS vacancies a 'national emergency' The shortage of NHS staff in England has started worsening again, official figures show.  One in 11 posts is vacant with the situation particularly bad among the nursing workforce.
Experts described the situation as at risk of becoming a "national emergency" given the rising demands on the NHS.
It comes after sustained efforts by ministers and NHS bosses to tackle the shortages, including a new pay deal and recruitment and retention campaigns.  BBC News - Health
See also:

• NHS suffering worst ever staff and cash crisis, figures show The Guardian
• NHS loses 29 midwives for every 30 that it trains The Telegraph

Medicine isn’t a quick fix for society’s ills. Overdiagnosis can cause more harm | Zara Aziz

Medicine isn’t a quick fix for society’s ills. Overdiagnosis can cause more harm | Zara Aziz  When health problems are triggered by economic issues, they are medicalised as anxiety and depression instead of poverty

There are many patients who live on in doctors’ memories. Lily was one such patient – a widow in her 80s with a spring in her step and a ready smile. An infrequent visitor to the consulting room, she was mostly found in her garden, tending to her flowers and vegetables. An accidental fall led to a head injury. A subsequent CT scan excluded a bleed on her brain, but showed a small tumour in the temporal lobe, a part of the brain processing sensory input. “It is slow growingand unlikely to cause any foreseeable problems,” her neurosurgeon said. The Guardian

£450k announced to help patients have their say on health services

£450k announced to help patients have their say on health services A windfall of £450,000 to support practical and innovative ways to help patients improve health services has been announced. The Building Health Partnerships programme has been awarded the money from NHS England and the National Lottery – through the Big Lottery Fund.
The funding will provide tailored support for co-production to 10 areas, helping to more easily

involve patients and carers in designing the services they use. For example, previous support helped launch a new programme in Essex to get early diagnosis for people with lung diseases.

The funding will also support leadership training and develop a ‘champions’ network’ where community representatives and commissioners can share the best ways to ensure communities and patients are at the heart of Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships’ (STP) and Integrated Care Systems’ (ICS) plans. NHS England

Current and future state of nation’s health revealed

Current and future state of nation’s health revealed Public Health England has published a report giving the most comprehensive picture of the health of England today and into the future. NHS Networks

See also:

• Current and future state of nation’s health revealed Gov.UK - Public Health England

National conversation with health and care staff begins

National conversation with health and care staff begins The secretary of state for health and social care has launched a new digital platform called TalkHealthandCare, which staff can use to post ideas, questions and challenges for government. NHS Networks

KGH specialists volunteering at events for people to have moles checked

KGH specialists volunteering at events for people to have moles checked KGH’s dermatology department is teaming up with BBC Radio Northampton to enable local people to get worrying moles or skin lesions checked out. The hospital has agreed to attend three public events as part of Helen’s Big Health Check 2018 in Rushden, Daventry and Northampton to enable as many people as possible to get advice from September 19 to September 21. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS England wants patients to check before they tick for free prescriptions

NHS England wants patients to check before they tick for free prescriptions NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) are launching a nationwide campaign to help people understand their eligibility for free prescriptions.

The Check Before You Tick campaign will encourage patients to check whether they are entitled to free prescriptions before claiming them to help reduce the £256m annual cost to the NHS when people incorrectly claim them for free. NHS Networks

Hospitals to receive £145m to prepare for winter demand

Hospitals to receive £145m to prepare for winter demand The government is giving more than £145 million to NHS trusts across the country ahead of winter to improve emergency care.

The money will be spent on upgrading wards, redeveloping A&Es and extra beds at NHS trusts across England.

The funding from the Department of Health and Social Care’s existing budget will be spent on 81 new schemes. NHS Networks

NHS car parking charges petition handed to Number 10 - ITV News

NHS car parking charges petition handed to Number 10 - ITV News Campaigners have demanded an end to the “stealth tax” of NHS car parking charges in England by handing a petition into Downing Street.

Motoring campaign group FairFuel UK and Conservative MP Robert Halfon delivered the document, signed by more than 25,000 people, on Monday morning. ITV News

England facing 'changing health needs'

England facing 'changing health needs' England is facing changing health demands due to an ageing population and the NHS must quickly adapt, says Public Health England.

It has compiled what it calls "the most comprehensive picture" of the nation's current health and future fitness.

It shows England's population is growing in size and people are living longer but not all in good health.

While smoking rates may be decreasing, diabetes, obesity, dementia and mental health issues are on the rise. BBC News

See also:

• Connection between lifestyle factors and overall health 'remains clear', says College RCGP

Can technology save our NHS? - ComputerWeekly.com

Can technology save our NHS? - ComputerWeekly.com The NHS is in crisis. Plagued by increased demand, an ageing population, budget restraints and low staff morale, it has become increasingly clear that change is needed. According to NHS bosses, the change that will save our health service will come in the form of digital technology, which will lift a struggling health service out of its misery and deliver a new golden era.
Speaking at the NHS Expo in Manchester, NHS England’s national director for operations and information, Matthew Swindells, went as far as saying that without digitising the NHS, we are “condemning people to die”. Going fully digital, he believes, is the only way to save the NHS. Computer Weekly