|
 |
 |
Search results for "nhs"
519 records
found from year 2006
| View search results from other years: 2005 2004 |
 | | Page 2 of 52 | |
|
| Wednesday, 26 July 2006 08:35 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
It emerged yesterday that babies at one of Scotland's leading neonatal units have been found to be carrying the MRSA superbug.
NHS Lothian said four babies were discovered to be carrying the bug on their skin at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary unit during April and May.
It followed two previous "clusters" in the past year which did not emerge until yesterday.
Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health at NHS Lothian, said these clusters were dealt with by the unit, which admits around 700 babies a year, and the problem appeared to be over. But the third cluster prompted a detailed plan to address infection control issues.
Dr McCallum, speaking at the board's annual review meeting with Andy Kerr, the health minister, said this had resulted in a "deep clean" of the unit. She said babies were now also screened for MRSA on admission to the unit and weekly. "We are now content that all the steps that should have been taken have been taken," Dr McCallum said.
"None of these babies was unwell as a result of the presence of MRSA and none has required additional treatment."
The health board was questioned over the MRSA clusters by Mr Kerr as he reviewed the progress over the past year, and he said the issue was "such a significant matter of patient confidence" that it needed to be taken seriously.
But the minister said that while the unit had faced some "big challenges", he had been reassured by the measures taken.
"The changes they have made are about best practice, on matters such as the way the unit was used, the proximity of cots to each other and so on," he said.
"I don't think there are grounds to be worried about the unit. They probably have the best healthcare-associated infections-handling system in Scotland now, because of the measures that have been taken”.
Christine Perry, of the Infection Control Nurses Association, said infants in neonatal intensive care were at particular risk from infections.
"The nature of intensive care means using drips and drains, which puts babies at greater risk of any infection. MRSA in neonatal units is something that hospitals take very seriously," she added.
|
|
|
|
|
| Tuesday, 25 July 2006 09:23 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
According to a new report the Government has provided "no evidence" that controversial Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTC) have greater benefits than any NHS-run service.
ISTC had been established in England to drive down waiting lists and increase choice.
The Commons Health Committee says waiting lists have fallen but this is more likely to be due to extra money in the NHS than the impact of the ISTCs.
It also warned that the programme could lead to cuts in services at hospitals.
To date 21 ISTCs have been set up, although a number of NHS centres have also been established.
Committee chairman Kevin Barron, a Labour MP, said: "It is difficult to say how the ISTCs have affected either patients or the NHS due to the lack of any systematic assessment”.
But he added the "ideological" opposition to using ISTCs must end.
Paul Miller, chairman of the British Medical Association's consultants committee, said doctors had been worried about the effect of ISTCs for years.
"I am delighted that the Health Committee agrees NHS hospitals are more likely to give better integrated care and to be cheaper," he said.
And Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Sandra Gidley added: "This is yet another example of the Government introducing powerful forces into the NHS without any prior assessment of the impact they will have on patient care”.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The whole purpose of ISTCs was to increase capacity and introduce competition but they have failed on both accounts”.
Health Minister Lord Warner said ISTCs have "increased choice, offered earlier treatments and driven down prices".
And he added the Government had already made moves to gather more information about ISTCs by asking the Healthcare Commission to conduct an audit of the centres.
|
|
|
|
|
| Tuesday, 25 July 2006 07:14 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
In a response to yesterdays news on Boots providing GP services in their stores Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA’s GPs committee said:
“If Boots merely intends to rent out spare space in their stores to NHS doctors, we have far fewer concerns than if the company intends to directly employ GPs and other doctors and run the surgeries itself for the NHS. However, we have concerns this is symptomatic of the government’s agenda to increase the amount of private sector involvement in the NHS. That may lead to increasing fragmentation of the health service and adversely affect the well liked and respected continuity of care that is so much an integral part of UK general practice”.
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24 July 2006 11:41 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
The BBC has learnt that pressure for surgery to treat obesity is so high that in some areas NHS lists are being closed to all but the most serious cases.
In these areas, only people significantly above the minimum obesity measure are considered for operations.
Weight is defined using the body mass index (BMI) measure, calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in metres.
A BMI of 18.5 to 25 is classed as an ideal weight.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says patients with a BMI of 40, or 35 with an additional condition, are eligible for gastric banding or gastric bypass operations to reduce the size of the stomach.
But a patient group has said some areas have had to close their lists to patients with a BMI of less than 60.
Dr Roger Ackroyd, a consultant general surgeon and bariatric (obesity) specialist at both the Royal Hallamshire hospital and at the BMI Healthcare Thornbury hospital in Sheffield, said that his area has had to restrict its NHS list to patients with a BMI of 50, or 45 with additional problems, because there was no more capacity.
He said that, while the UK has 70 specially trained doctors in the field, only about half of them regularly carry out surgery.
"There are about 1.2 m people who fit the NICE criteria for obesity surgery in the UK, and there is no way that the NHS can cope with that with just 20-30 surgeons to carry out the work.
"I carried out about 400 of these operations last year and I will do the same number this year, or more. But I am just scratching the surface."
Dr Ackroyd added: "I don't think there is any easy answer. One of the answers would be to get people to eat better and exercise more, but the chances of this are unlikely."
His local primary care trust consortium, South Yorkshire/North Derbyshire and Bassetlaw PCTs, agreed the criteria had to be changed and said the situation was being kept under review.
Janet Edmond, director of British Obesity Surgery Patient Association (BOSPA), said that since surgery had been recognised as a viable option, this had led to increased pressure.
"We have heard of one PCT which says it will not accept patients with a BMI of less than 60”.
But Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, blamed the NHS.
"The NHS is failing people because our job is to provide care and the supply of care is woeful.
"There are tens of thousands of people who would benefit from this sort of surgery, but are not getting it either because they are not aware of it, their surgeons are not aware of it or they do not meet the criteria”.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health stressed it was aware of the problems.
But she added: "Tackling obesity is not just about helping those who are already overweight; it is about preventing obesity in the first place and halting the year-on-year rise to protect our future.
"We have made significant progress in developing and increasing the size of the surgical services workforce but it is up to primary care trusts to decide what the local priorities are for their community and what services they should offer”.
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24 July 2006 10:48 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
An inquiry by The Healthcare Commission found that serious failings in infection control were responsible for the deadly spread of a hospital bug at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, part of Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Overall, 334 patients contracted the infection and at least 33 people died in the outbreaks which took place between October 2003 and June 2005. These patients had acquired the infection while being treated in hospital.
The Commission says that the Trust did not pay sufficient attention to the management of clinical risk. Only the involvement of the Department of Health, which dispatched a senior microbiologist to advise on the outbreak, and national publicity changed the Trust’s approach.
Anna Walker, Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission, said: "This is a sad and distressing story. It is a tragedy for the families, for the hospital and for the NHS as a whole. Our first thoughts must be with those who have lost relatives.
"Let me be absolutely clear about the main message from this report: nothing can be more important than the safety of patients.
"At Stoke Mandeville, the leadership of the trust compromised the safety of patients by failing to make the right decisions, even though they had the benefit of experience from the first outbreak. They rejected the proper advice of their own experts.
"Let me also be clear that targets are not to blame for the Trust’s leaders taking their eye off the ball. Managers always have to deal with conflicting priorities and plenty of organisations do it successfully.
"We fully recognise that these outbreaks are not easy to control. But we also know that trusts can minimise the spread of infection so long as they follow established advice on infection control.
"Trusts must ensure that they rapidly isolate patients suspected of having the infection. They need to pay meticulous attention to cleanliness and hygiene and they should never forget best practice on antibiotic prescribing”.
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24 July 2006 10:27 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
Ministers in Scotland are proposing to abolish the distinct roles of district nurses and health visitors, leading to fears that thousands of patients will not receive the specialist care they need.
The plans, outlined in a draft report, follow a major review of the community health sector for the health minister, Andy Kerr, under the plans, the extensive range of titles currently used by more than 8000 NHS nurses who work outwith hospitals would merge into one new "community health" job.
But nurses' representatives fear the plans would lead to a dilution of professional skills. Gavin Fergie, professional officer of the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, said it would be like asking a chemistry teacher to teach French.
He said: "We doubt the ability of these proposed community nurses to cover the full clinical range found in community nursing. Thousands of Scottish families won't necessarily get the nursing specialist they need for a particular problem".
Anne Thomson, acting deputy director of the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland, said: "We would clearly have concerns about such a radical change. We will be consulting widely with our members and working closely with the Scottish Executive to implement the outcomes”.
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24 July 2006 10:14 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
An internal policy review conducted by the Department of Health, which was leaked to the newspaper The Independent, show that government targets to cut NHS hospital waiting times are putting patients at increased risk of infection with the superbug MRSA.
The policy shows that there is a direct link between the number of patients in hospital - measured by bed occupancy - and MRSA rates. Ministers have denied there is a link.
The findings of the review are considered so sensitive that two attempts by The Independent to obtain the report under the Freedom of Information Act were rejected. Reducing bed occupancy in all NHS trusts to a maximum of 85 per cent would save 1,000 cases of MRSA a year, it says.
The latest figures for 2004-05 show that 88 NHS trusts in England, one fifth of the total, had occupancy rates over 90 per cent and almost half (45 per cent) had occupancy rates over 85 per cent.
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24 July 2006 09:36 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
The chemist's chain Boots is planning to put NHS GP surgeries and hospital consultants in its stores in a radical attempt to bring the health service to the high street.
Under the deal which the health and beauty retailer has been discussing with primary care trusts Boots will rent out space on commercial terms.
The chemist's chain has been liaising with Paul Corrigan, Tony Blair's senior policy adviser on health, about the plans. On Wednesday Mr Blair is expected to underline his support for the initiative in a speech on healthcare he is due to deliver in Nottingham - home to the Boots head office. Richard Baker, Boots' chief executive, is hosting the event. The prime minister will also hold a private meeting with senior executives.
Mr Blair's speech is one of a series entitled "Our Nation's Future", which are designed to kick off debate on a range of issues. On Wednesday he is expected to encourage people to take more responsibility for their health, and emphasise the role of the commercial sector in helping to provide "convenient healthcare".
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24 July 2006 09:08 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
18 months ago the Government was warned of serious shortages in the supply of a powerful drug used to relieve the pain of cancer, heart attacks and severe injuries, but to date the drug is still in limited supply.
In December 2004 the Department of Health asked doctors to ration supplies of diamorphine to save doses for those who were dying.
But even now the Department of Health says supplies are not expected to rise until next year.
The national shortage is again in the spotlight after a woman from Nottingham, Isabelle Fortescue, died in agony from cancer when her carers were unable to get her diamorphine for the last two days of her life. Her former husband Joe Fortescue, 49, said she had wanted to die in peace at home with her family.
"That didn't happen," he said. "My wife kept crying out for something for the pain. But we couldn't tell her they had run out of the drug”.
Following Mrs Fortescue's death, Gedling Primary Care Trust in Nottingham is setting up a scheme to make sure supplies are available in emergencies.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said: "Doctors are still looking to diamorphine to treat patients in extreme pain.
"That the Government has known about these deficiencies for some time, and yet has not secured the right supply level, is unacceptable.
"We cannot have a situation in this country where patients are suffering because the Government did not do enough to secure adequate provision of this drug”.
Dr Helen Clayson, vice-chairman of Help the Hospices and medical director of the Hospice of St Mary of Furness, in Ulverston, Cumbria, said there was concern that use of the drug would be allowed to diminish.
"It would be a great shame if diamorphine disappeared from use," she said. "It is used a great deal in palliative care medicine and it is extremely useful. In addition there is a wealth of experience in using it”.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said the circumstances surrounding Mrs Fortescue's death were tragic. "We wish to express sympathy for the family," she said.
"Discussions between the department, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and suppliers commenced as soon as we became aware of problems with the manufacture and supply.
"One of the suppliers responded by immediately increasing its production of diamorphine, but they are unable to completely fill the gap”.
The department said it had made available more supplies of morphine, the nearest alternative, and other painkillers.
"We continue to work very closely with manufacturers to increase the availability of diamorphine.
"However, they must overcome significant technical production and legal barriers associated with the manufacture of this controlled drug.
"Very few countries worldwide permit the use or handling of diamorphine”.
|
|
|
|
|
| Saturday, 22 July 2006 10:11 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer said yesterday that billions of pounds of NHS money is being wasted every year because of variations in treatment which give rise to thousands of unnecessary operations.
Launching his annual report for England, Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, called for an end to the "unacceptable" variations which were endemic, costly and unfair.
He said some of the variation in clinical practice was on account of the preferences and habits of doctors and hospitals rather than on the needs of the patients.
For example, he said that some hospitals around the country have continued to carry out hysterectomies to treat women with excessive menstrual bleeding even though guidelines recommend that effective drugs may be used instead.
While hysterectomy rates have fallen by as much as 64% in north and central London, they have dropped by only 15% in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.
Sir Liam said: "In my view, this level of variation in clinical practice is not acceptable."
"If hysterectomy in England could be reduced to an appropriate level across the country we would avoid nearly 6,000 operations and save more than £15 million annually”.
Prescribing patterns, tonsillectomy rates among children and treatment of people with coronary heart disease also vary unacceptably across the country, he said.
Sir Liam also warned that public health campaign budgets for areas like smoking and obesity should not be "raided" to pay for NHS deficits.
Sir Liam has also unveiled plans to set up a committee to discuss the ethical questions surrounding pandemic flu, such as who should get priority for the vaccine and on what basis critical care beds would be allocated.
Sir Liam said: "I am setting down a challenge to commissioners of health services - to reaffirm their commitment to the principle of equity and ensure their patients receive a fair service and the care they need”.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said: "This report shows that health inequalities still run deeply through our society.”People still face an unfair postcode lottery in accessing health services across the country, which bears little relation to need.
"Health needs around the country would be best met by democratic community bodies giving local people a direct say in the services they need”.
Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This report is a big wake-up call for the Government.
"We know there are initiatives that work and would improve health outcomes, but are not being rolled out because of financial problems in other parts of the NHS. Ring-fenced budgets must be allocated, so that the budget is not subordinated to external pressures”.
Joe Korner of The Stroke Association welcomed Sir Liam's report.
He said: "Stroke services are patchy across the country and it is vital that these are improved to save lives and improve outcomes for the estimated 150,000 people that have a stroke in the UK each year”.
A spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation said: "We must make sure treatments are available to people who need them. Treatment must be based on need rather than postcode, and commissioning should consistently consider socio economic status and ethnicity”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| View search results from other years: 2005 2004 |
| |
|
Home Top Disclaimer Site
Credits
Nursing Jobs | Just for Nurses | Nursing Agencies List | Charles Bloe Training
Nursing Portal | Nursing Events | Brutish Nursing | British Nursing Websites
Website Development and SEO Services
|
|
|
