@HealthwatchNEL 
@HealthwatchNEL
News
Briefing on changes to oncology services
20/01/2020
Briefing on changes to oncology services – Scarborough Hospital, Bridlington Hospital, Scunthorpe General and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital The...
Mental health policy in England
16/01/2020
Around one in four people in the UK suffer from a mental health problem each year. The NHS has set out that it wants to achieve parity of esteem...
Consultation on the NHS standard contract 2020/21
16/01/2020
NHS England is consulting on the NHS standard contract for 2020/21. Comments on the draft contract can be made by Friday 31 January 2020 either by...
Mental health at work
15/11/2019
NHS Employers is working with the mental health charity Mind to promote good mental health in the NHS. They have compiled tools, resources and guidance to support the NHS workforce with their mental wellbeing. They have compiled tools, resources and guidance to support the NHS workforce with their...
Martin Lewis – Pharmaceutical Tips
13/11/2019
1. Look at the active ingredient - that's what matters. It's widely known that it's the medicine's 'active' ingredient that does the business. So you can often save by having a quick look on the pack to see what that is, and buying the same generic version for less, rather than the branded version...
Movember
11/11/2019
Movember: Men’s Health Top 5 things to know and do: 1. Spend time with people who make you feel good. Stay connected. Your mates are important and spending time with them is good for you. Catch up regularly, check in and make time. 2. Talk more. You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t have to...
Survey highlights patients' experiences of emergency department services
04/11/2019
A survey of A&E and urgent care patients across England who used services in September 2018 has highlighted their experiences around waiting times, standards of care and dignity, patient safety, quality of discharge arrangements and more. The Care Quality Commission’s urgent and emergency care...
Public back NHS plans for new rapid care measures
04/11/2019
England’s top doctor has welcomed new polling showing that patients and the public support NHS proposals focusing on fast treatment for those who need it in A&E. A national survey commissioned by Healthwatch England found that an overwhelming majority of people placed a high priority on early...
100,000 more people to be given personal health budgets
04/11/2019
A change in law means people who use wheelchairs or need mental health support will have greater choice and control in managing their own health and care. The change in law comes into force on 2 December, from when everyone eligible for an NHS wheelchair and people who require aftercare services...
Meeting the demand for children’s occupational therapy
04/11/2019
The number of children with special educational needs and disabilities is rising and with it, the demand for occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy Week 2019, from 4 November, will look at how small changes occupational therapists make have a big impact on the services they support. A new...
Movember - Prostate Cancer
01/11/2019
Who is at risk? In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. We don’t know exactly what causes prostate cancer but there are some things that they may mean you are more likely to get it- these are called risk factors. There are three main risk factors for...
Bonfire night is coming soon!
01/11/2019
Remember, remember… •Only buy fireworks from a legitimate retailer •It is illegal to supply fireworks to anyone under the age of 18 •It is an offence for anyone under the age of 18 to have fireworks in a public place •You should NEVER throw or set off a firework in a public place •You are not...
Movember: Men’s Health
01/11/2019
Top 5 things to know and do: 1.Spend time with people who make you feel good. Stay connected. Your mates are important and spending time with them is good for you. Catch up regularly, check in and make time. 2.Talk more. You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t have to be the sole solution, but...
Social media used to boost cancer screening
01/11/2019
Hundreds of practice nurses across the country have been taught how social media can improve health thanks to the success of one of NHS Digital’s Widening Digital Participation projects. Following a pilot using Facebook to promote breast screening, one area saw a 12.9% increase in the take-up of...
TPP SystmOne to roll out phase 4 of the electronic prescription service
01/11/2019
The national roll-out of phase 4 of the electronic prescription service (EPS) for SystmOne, which allows EPS to be used for patients without a nomination, will start from Monday, 18 November 2019. The switch-on date depends on your CCG and could be in several months’ time. CCG will notify providers...
78 NHS trusts to receive new cancer screening machines
01/11/2019
Seventy-eight trusts will receive funding for new machines that will improve patient experience and lead to earlier diagnosis. The new machines are part of the government’s commitment to ensure 55,000 more people survive cancer each year. Last month the prime minister announced plans to spend £200...
People with learning disabilities in England
30/10/2019
Public Health England has published updated national statistics about people with learning disabilities in England and the services and support available to them and their families. More....
Sexual orientation monitoring survey
29/10/2019
Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) patients can face serious health inequalities. Sexual orientation monitoring (the collection of data on patient sexuality with patient consent) helps the NHS understand the health challenges and experiences of LGB people so it can improve their care. NHS England and...
LGBT patients’ experience of primary care
24/10/2019
LGBT patients are being asked about their experiences of primary care services in a survey from LGBT Foundation. The charity aims to build a picture of healthcare provision for the LGBT community and a forthcoming report is expected to recommend what more primary care can do to meet the needs of...
Grant awarded to improve the health of people sleeping rough
24/10/2019
A £1.9m grant has been awarded to six projects to support people who are – or are at risk of returning to - sleeping rough. The projects , which are partnerships between local authorities and CCGs, will test and evaluate models that improve access to health services for people who have both mental...
The right to appeal in adult social care
23/10/2019
A report from an older people’s charity looks into how people can challenge decisions about the care and support they receive. It reveals that as few as one in five local authorities have put in place a separate appeals process, with the majority instead relying on a complaints process that can be...
National roll-out of electronic prescriptions
23/10/2019
In future all prescriptions will be issued electronically, with the national rollout of the existing service starting next month. The electronic prescription service (EPS) helps GPs and pharmacists prescribe and dispense medicines faster and more securely and makes it easier for patients to pick up...
Mental health support for NHS doctors and dentists
23/10/2019
All NHS doctors and dentists in England now have access to a comprehensive mental health service, the government has announced. More than 180,000 doctors and dentists can get confidential advice and support, in person or over the phone, if they’ve faced a stressful incident at work or feel they are...
NHS screening 'needs to fit with busy lives'
18/10/2019
There needs to be easier access to NHS screening programmes in England, including evening and weekend clinics, to increase uptake, a review says. The report by Prof Sir Mike Richards also called for tests to be offered in a wider variety of locations, including mobile units. And it recommended...
Rough sleepers to benefit from NHS mental health outreach
16/10/2019
Towns with high rates of homelessness are set for investment in specialist mental health care, as part of NHS services for rough sleepers across the country. The NHS-funded services in seven parts of the country will bring in new psychiatrists, psychologists and other experts to offer homeless...
NHS whistle-blower support scheme to roll out across the country
10/10/2019
The NHS in England is to roll out dedicated support for members of staff who raise the alarm on unsafe practice. Following successful pilots, the NHS will soon offer practical support to any doctor, nurse, or other worker across the country who needs additional support to build their career after...
Groundbreaking new platform launched to support mental health
08/10/2019
Public Health England (PHE), in partnership with the NHS, has launched Every Mind Matters to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others. It is increasingly recognised that taking care of our mental health is as important as...
The politics of health: what do the public think about the NHS?
07/10/2019
As we head towards another general election, what do patients and the public think of the NHS? A report from the King’s Fund explores whether the country’s views have changed since we last went to the ballot box.
