Northamptonshire needs 'radical plan' for bed blocking

Northamptonshire needs 'radical plan' for bed blocking MPs have told a cash-strapped council it needs a "radical plan" to solve its bed blocking crisis. About 900 patients are stuck in Northamptonshire hospitals and the county council has overspent on adult social care by £6m in three months. In a meeting on Thursday, the county's MPs said health and adult social care should be combined to attract more funds. BBC News - Northampton

Fake news putting 50,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual women at risk of cancer

Fake news putting 50,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual women at risk of cancer The common belief that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) women are not at risk of cervical cancer is fake news that has created a dangerous screening gap, the NHS has warned today. Up to 50,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual women have never been for a cervical cancer screening test because they wrongly think they are not at risk NHS England

See Also:

• Lesbian women cervical screening myth is 'dangerous' BBC News - Health
• Gay women urged to get screened for cervical cancer On Medica
• Myth that lesbian, gay and bisexual women can't get HPV is WRONG, NHS warns as it urges 'everyone with a cervix' to go to life-saving screening appointments Mail Online

'A child can't breathe. The parents hang up before I get the address': my job as a 999 call-taker

'A child can't breathe. The parents hang up before I get the address': my job as a 999 call-taker Talking to suicidal people, care workers trying CPR and patients who want ambulances for back pain is all in a week’s work

Today’s eight-hour shift starts in style. A colleague takes a call from someone who will only swear at her, refusing to answer any questions.The Guardian

Primary Care Networks have undeniable benefits, but there is no 'one size fits all' approach to solving GP pressures, says College

Primary Care Networks have undeniable benefits, but there is no 'one size fits all' approach to solving GP pressures, says College Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, has responded to the launch of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in England.

She said: "Primary Care Networks are essentially groups of practices working together and aiming to work with other agencies to deliver improved care for patients - and collaboration can have great benefits, particularly at a time when general practice is facing such intense resource and workforce pressures.

"Working in networks should allow general practices to pool clinical and administrative resources, as well as making it easier to introduce truly multi-disciplinary teams - ultimately it should help to free up GPs' time to spend with patients who need us most, and improve access to more integrated services for our communities. Royal College of GPs (RCGP)

See Also:
NHS practices join forces to form primary care networks The Guardian

Am I burning out?

Am I burning out? The World Health Organisation has officially recognised burnout - but how do you know if you're suffering from it? BBC News - Health

NHS Long Term Plan Implementation framework

NHS Long Term Plan Implementation framework NHS England and NHS Improvement has published an implementation framework for the NHS Long Term Plan, setting out further detail on how the commitments in that document will be delivered. NHS Networks

New web resource on effective staffing

New web resource on effective staffing A new resource is now available on CQC’s website which explores the approaches taken by a range of health and social care providers to make effective use of their staff.

Through a series of case studies, we highlight what providers have done to address the challenge of providing safe, effective staffing in creative and flexible ways.

While each example is different, they all show action to manage workforce challenges based on ensuring the overall safety of patient care, rather than rigid staffing ratios. They also highlight how taking an alternative approach to staffing can have a positive impact for people using services. Care Quality Commission

Northamptonshire worst in country as 900 patients are STRANDED in our hospitals

Northamptonshire worst in country as 900 patients are STRANDED in our hospitals Nine hundred patients are currently stranded in Northamptonshire hospitals, making it the worst situation in the country.

Northamptonshire County Council’s director of adult social services says that despite huge efforts to try to improve the situation, as fast as people are being sent home more people are arriving at the doors of the county’s two hospitals.

Ninety over-65s are currently being admitted each day, which is twice the national average. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The UK spends less on capital in health care than other comparable countries

The UK spends less on capital in health care than other comparable countries As a share of GDP, the UK spends far less on capital in health care than comparable OECD countries.

In 2016, the UK spent 0.27% of GDP on capital in health care, compared to 0.51% in the OECD. Low capital spending has meant NHS Trusts are unable to purchase the newest technology, while also facing a significant and rising maintenance backlog. The Health Foundation

Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention

Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention This guidance from the DHSC and Department of Education is for health services, social care services and special education settings. It sets out how to support children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties who are at risk of restrictive intervention. Department of Health and Social Care

RCPCH prevention vision for child health

RCPCH prevention vision for child health In advance of the Department of Health and Social Care's prevention green paper, this strategy paper from the RCPCH sets out their proposals for how to transform the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the UK. It states that he amount of free sugar in baby food should be reduced and the government should place a “moratorium” on public health funding cuts. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Select batches of Parkinson's and epilepsy medicines recalled

Select batches of Parkinson's and epilepsy medicines recalled Certain batches of three medicines for Parkinson's, epilepsy and blood clots are being recalled in the UK, and patients are being asked to arrange a new prescription via their GP.

The affected prescription-only medicines are Neupro, Vimpat and Clexane with a B & S Healthcare label, the UK's medicine regulator said.

The drugs may not have been stored correctly before reaching patients. BBC News

See also:

• FMD Alert: Class 2 (MDR 123-05/19) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Hospitals spend millions to remove flammable cladding

Hospitals spend millions to remove flammable cladding Hospitals are facing disruption and huge bills because of flammable cladding.

One trauma unit with Grenfell-style cladding has been closed for almost two years.

A senior worker there says it's having a knock-on effect on the rest of the hospital

The Department of Health and Social Care says it's working with trusts on remedial work. BBC News

NHS Digital cyber chief puts emphasis on 'protecting patient information'

NHS Digital cyber chief puts emphasis on 'protecting patient information' A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for NHS Digital has said one of his aims in the role will be to ensure patient information is protected.

Speaking at the Digital Healthcare Show, Dan Pearce, said one of his main priorities was to “protect patient safety”.

Pearce, who told the audience he had only been in the job for six weeks, also said he hopes to “protect the reputation of the health system” and ensure there is “patient trust” in terms of their data. Digital Health

Snake oil or panacea: can technology improve student mental health?

Snake oil or panacea: can technology improve student mental health? Universities are hoping that new technologies will ease rapidly growing demand for student mental health services, but the evidence they work isn’t always there. The Guardian

Three quarters of toddlers eat too much, fuelled by 'healthy snacks' which are no better than sweets

Three quarters of toddlers eat too much, fuelled by 'healthy snacks' which are no better than sweets Three quarters of toddlers are eating too much - because parents are feeding them supposedly “healthy” snacks which are actually no better than sweets.

A Public Health England investigation of more than 1,100 foods aimed at babies and infants warns that some fruit-based products are three-quarters sugar.

Health officials today called for a Government crackdown, warning that parents were being fooled into thinking they were making the right choices for their children, as a result of misleading claims. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Just how much sugar is in 'healthy' snacks for children? The Guardian

Doctors' union doesn't take sexual harassment seriously, members say

Doctors' union doesn't take sexual harassment seriously, members say The British Medical Association's members feel 'actively discouraged' from complaining about sexism, they said amid an investigation sparked by Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Female medics were groped and propositioned by one of BMA's former leaders, conference hears The Daily Telegraph

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate'

Practice responsible for health of Northamptonshire's 'violent patients' rated 'inadequate' A Northampton health care practice responsible for 11,500 patients across the town has been branded inadequate by the healthcare watchdog.

Maple Access Partnership has thousands of patients on its roll. Based in a purpose-built office in Hazelwood Road, it also offers health care to rough sleepers at Oasis House and holds the county's Violent Patients Contract. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Maple Access Partnership Care Quality Commission 

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal

A citizen-led approach to health and care: lessons from the Wigan Deal  In 2011, Wigan Council had to make unprecedented savings after significant cuts in funding from central government. Drastic measures were needed, including a radical reshaping of the relationship between the council and residents. This became known as the Wigan Deal. This report provides an independent critique of the Wigan Deal drawing on in-depth research, including interviews with key stakeholders, focus groups with members of the public and evidence from data analysis. It explores what local authorities, NHS organisations and others can learn from Wigan’s journey of transformation. The King's Fund

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients

RCGP calls for whole-system approach to improving NHS care for trans patients The College has also stated that there is an urgent need for more independent research into the effects and impact of interventions for gender dysphoria, particularly for children and young people – and that there needs to be greater consistency around regulation of gender identity care and services, as well as greater clarity for doctors from the General Medical Council on the issue.

Its new position statement on the role of the GP in caring for gender-questioning and transgender patients, was approved by the College’s governing Council on Saturday. Royal College of General Practitioners