News
Improving mental health services in integrated care systems
This report sets out recommendations for local and national health and care leaders to support the prioritisation of mental health as local areas...
State of the nation’s health in 2018 shown in new report
The latest figures for the Health Survey for England have been released by NHS Digital, monitoring trends in the nation’s health and featuring new...
Anger awareness
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s natural that stress levels may be higher than usual so it’s important to equip yourself with strategies...
College research raises awareness of dementia that has early visual symptoms
The College of Optometrists has completed research on the experiences of vision assessment for people living with a form of dementia that impacts vision. The research , published in the BMJ Open focused on posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) which can result in unusual visual phenomena, such as...
Staffing on wards
The nature of patient needs and ward activity is changing. Inpatients tend to be more acutely unwell than they used to be, many with complex needs often arising from multiple long-term conditions. At the same time, hospitals face the challenges of a shortage and high turnover of registered nurses...
Outcomes for mental health services: what really matters?
Through a series of over 100 conversations with people actively involved in mental health services in England, including current and former service users, this report highlights how frameworks for measuring outcomes are often too narrowly focused on clinical outcomes. While recovery-based...
Outcomes for mental health services: what really matters?
Through a series of over 100 conversations with people actively involved in mental health services in England, including current and former service users, this report highlights how frameworks for measuring outcomes are often too narrowly focused on clinical outcomes. While recovery-based...
CQC puts independent doctors and clinics under the microscope
CQC has published a report on the state of care in independent doctor and clinic services providing primary medical care. It gives an overview of care from inspection findings for doctors (private GMC-registered GPs and clinicians) and clinics that provide primary medical services in the...
New data on gender pay gap in medicine
An update from the review on the gender pay gap in medicine shows that in the NHS, two in three consultants are men, and that men earn £1.17 for every £1 earned by women. The independent review , led by Professor Dame Jane Dacre, was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care in April...
Emergency readmissions are rising
NHS Digital has published data for emergency readmissions for hospitals in England between 2013/14 and 2017/18. These figures show that emergency readmissions nationally have increased from 12.5% in 2013/14 to 13.8% in 2017/18. The data also shows that emergency readmissions range from 14.9% in the...
NHS England publishes response to consultation feedback on Integrated Care Provider (ICP) Contract
NHS England has now published the response to the 12-week consultation, which ran from August to October 2018, on the proposed contracting arrangements for integrated care providers (ICPs). Nearly 3800 responses were received from stakeholders and members of the public. More.....
Review of the wider public health workforce
Public Health England has published a review of what it calls the wider public health workforce – which includes sectors that influence but do not work directly in public health. These include social care, emergency services and housing departments. The review looks at how the workforce as a whole...
Radiologists warn of growing shortage in cancer workforce
One in six UK cancer centres now operates with fewer clinical oncology consultants than five years ago, according to a report by the Royal College of Radiologists. Vacancies for clinical oncology posts are now double what they were in 2013 – with more than half of vacant posts empty for a year or...
Public asked for views on restricted food advertising
The government is consulting on proposals to introduce a 9pm watershed on TV and online adverts for food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt. The restrictions would limit children’s exposure to advertising as part of efforts to tackle childhood obesity. More....
The state of ageing in 2019
A report from an older people’s charity brings together public data about work and finances, housing, health and communities. It reveals big differences in how people experience ageing depending on factors such as where they live, how much money they have or their sex or ethnicity. Today’s least...
Jo Cox Foundation backs campaign to end loneliness
The sister of MP Jo Cox is backing an anti-loneliness campaign to help 30,000 people avoid health and wellbeing problems that can come from feeling and living alone. The campaign is one of a range of schemes being introduced as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to support personalised care through the...
Government response breast screening review
The independent breast screening review published in December 2018 followed the failure to invite thousands of women aged between 68 and 71 to their final breast screening. This document sets out the government’s response to each recommendation made in the report. The government has accepted all...
Government appoints first national adviser for LGBT health
Minister for women and equalities Penny Mordaunt has appointed the first ever national adviser for LGBT health in the NHS supported by an advisory panel. More....
Autistic people asked for their views on improving services
A new call for evidence is asking people for their views on what is working and where more needs to be done to transform care and support. Autistic people, their families and those caring for them are being asked for their views on how care and support in England can be improved. The call for...
First chief midwife appointed
The NHS has appointed England’s first chief midwife to improve care for new and expectant mothers and their children and promote safer births. Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent will be the first to take on the new role, to oversee delivery of a package of measures for increased safety and support...
Report slams ‘inadequate’ NHS capital spending
The Health Foundation think tank says a short-termist approach has resulted in years of declining and inadequate capital spending for the NHS in England, which has put patient care and staff productivity at risk. Its briefing warns that an ageing infrastructure, together with a substantial and...
National No Smoking Day challenges the silent killer
This Wednesday 13th March is National No Smoking Day, a country wide campaign to challenge the acceptance of smoking cigarettes and raising awareness about the serious harm that smoking does to health. North East Lincolnshire Council have a Wellbeing Service which supports people to stop smoking...
Public health is improving under local government, report says
A report from the Local Government Association states that since taking over responsibility for public health in 2013, councils have maintained or improved 80% of public health outcomes in England. The report notes that progress has been against a background of deep cuts to council funding. It...
Guidance on flash glucose monitors for type 1 diabetes
Tens of thousands of patients with type 1 diabetes will benefit from life changing glucose monitors on the NHS from next month. NHS England has published the clinical guidance for the monitors, outlining funding arrangements for local health groups and the criteria for who qualifies for the...
Still concerns about the safety of independent ambulance services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is calling on independent ambulance services, commissioners and the wider system to do more to make sure patients are safe, following concerns identified during its inspections. While the regulator has seen evidence of good practice and improvements made by some...
British public’s satisfaction with the NHS at lowest level in over a decade
Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to its lowest level since 2007, according to analysis of the 2018 British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey published by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust. The survey , carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), is seen as a gold...
Hundreds more could be eligible for cochlear implants on the NHS
Hundreds more people with severe to profound deafness will be eligible for cochlear implants each year, as a result of updated NICE guidance. The update comes after a review of the definition of severe to profound deafness which is used to identify if a cochlear implant might be appropriate.
Better safeguarding of children exposed to gang violence and criminal exploitation
A report from the children’s commissioner estimates that there are 27,000 children in England who identify as a gang member, only a fraction of whom are known to children’s services. It recommends that the government needs to make child criminal exploitation a national priority, and lay out clear...