In the news w/e 08 March
Your media headlines roundup, week ending 08 March…
New hospital plans to be discussed at public meeting
Epping Forest Guardian – 03 March 2019
The best way to secure a new hospital and progress at the Trust will be discussed at a public meeting. Read the full story.
Vaccination deniers gaining traction, NHS boss warns
BBC Health – 01 March 2019
The head of NHS England has warned that “vaccination deniers” are gaining traction on social media as part of a “fake news” movement. Read the full story.
Public health ‘improving under councils despite cuts’
BBC Health – 02 March 2019
Councils in England say there has been a marked improvement in public health since they took over responsibility for delivering services nearly six years ago, despite budget cuts. Read the full story.
NHS patients in England to be offered free tampons
BBC Health – 03 March 2019
Women and girls in hospital who need sanitary protection will be offered free tampons and other products from this summer, NHS England has said. Read the full story.
Unlicensed STI drugs sold online
BBC Health – 04 March 2019
Unlicensed antibiotics are being advertised on social media as treatment for sexually transmitted infections and sold at the wrong dose. Read the full story.
Three CCGs appoint single CEO
HSJ – 04 March 2019
Three clinical commissioning groups in the South West have appointed a single chief executive, who will also lead their sustainability and transformation partnership. Email for the full story.
Future uncertain for Harpenden wellbeing centre
The Herts Advertiser – 04 March 2019
The Harpenden Society has expressed doubts that the plans to renovate the former Harpenden Memorial Hospital site in Carlton Road will come to fruition. Read the full story.
Care home in Stansted receives ‘outstanding’ rating
Saffron Walden Reporter – 04 March 2019
Residents and the team at Care UK’s Mountfitchet House, in Coltsfield, invited the local community to a party to mark the occasion. Read the full story.
Is it time for ‘smear test’ to be rebranded?
BBC Health – 05 March 2019
The government has launched its first cervical screening advertising campaign in England, as the number of women having checks has hit a 20-year low. Read the full story.
Brain clue to ‘broken heart’ syndrome
BBC Health – 05 March 2019
Your heart can be damaged after a sad event and it may be your brain’s doing, experts believe. Read the full story.
UK patient ‘free’ of HIV after stem cell treatment
BBC Health – 05 March 2019
A UK patient’s HIV has become “undetectable” following a stem cell transplant – in only the second case of its kind, doctors report in Nature. Read the full story.
‘Outlier’ trust addresses cancer service concerns
HSJ – 05 March 2019
A trust has made changes to its lung cancer service after concerns patients were much less likely to access chemotherapy and other anti-cancer therapies than elsewhere in the country. Email for the full story.
The NHS apprenticeships offering a new route to health and social care
The Guardian – 05 March 2019
As health and social care faces ongoing recruitment woes, new degree-level apprenticeships put clinical careers back in reach for more applicants Read the full story.
Cleaners at Princess Alexandra Hospital could refuse to work if services are privatised
EssexLive – 05 March 2019
Cleaners at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow have threatened to take industrial action if the hospital decides to privatise its cleaning services. Read the full story.
Curtis Emordi of the Princess Alexandra Hospital speaks about challenges in A&E
Epping Forest Guardian – 06 March 2019
In April last year Princess Alexandra’s emergency department was named as the slowest in the country for 2017/18, with only 70 per cent of patients seen within four hours. Read the full story.
New housing development in Saffron Walden named after former mayor
Saffron Walden – 05 March 2019
The district’s first independent living housing scheme, named after a former mayor of Saffron Walden, is due to open this spring. Read the full story.
Spinal muscular atrophy: Families plead for drug to slow disease
BBC Health – 06 March 2019
Parents with children who have a muscle-wasting disease are calling for a drug that can help maintain independence to be offered by the NHS in England. Read the full story.
How fast is the ambulance service where you live?
BBC Health – 06 March 2019
Critically injured patients in rural areas are at risk due to the time it takes the ambulance service to reach them, a BBC investigation has found. Read the full story.
NHS pension employer contribution rate to rise next month
HSJ – 06 March 2019
The proportion employers will be expected to contribute to the NHS Pension Scheme will rise next month, the government has revealed. Email for the full story.
The Friends of St Margaret’s Hospital are in line for a civic award
Epping Forest Guardian – 07 March 2019
The Friends of St Margaret’s work hard to ensure patients at the Epping hospital are well looked after. Read the full story.
Satisfaction with NHS ‘hits 11-year low’
BBC Health – 07 March 2019
The British Social Attitudes poll of nearly 3,000 people found 53% of in England, Scotland and Wales were satisfied with services last year. Read the full story.
HRT: Women told not to be alarmed by Alzheimer’s study
BBC Health – 07 March 2019
GPs are urging women not to be alarmed by research linking long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use with a small increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Read the full story.
CQC raises concerns over unregistered private ambulance firms
HSJ – 07 March 2019
The Care Quality Commission was unable to set out the scale of the problem faced by NHS patient transport services to HSJ, but said that it had “identified concerns where sub-contracting arrangements have led to the use of unregistered providers”. Email for the full story.
Many online GP providers cannot connect to the NHS App
Pulse – 06 March 2019
In a leaked memo from NHS Digital, a survey of 32 online consultation suppliers – including Babylon and eConsult – showed many do not have the technology in place to link with the NHS app, according to reports by HSJ. Read the full story.
Firm in NHS row over cystic fibrosis drug paid almost no UK tax
The Guardian – 06 March 2019
A drug company that has been in dispute with the NHS for two years over the high price it wants for a cystic fibrosis medicine has paid virtually no UK corporation tax, the Guardian can reveal. Read the full story.
New Harlow hospital could open in less than six years near M11
EssexLive – 07 March 2019
PAH CEO Lance McCarthy said that other options may come to the fore as the hospital develops its strategic and outline business cases. Read the full story.
Learn how to save a life with the Community First Responders
Bishop’s Stortford Independent – 07 March 2019
The Stansted Community First Responders are volunteers trained by the East of England Ambulance Service to provide immediate and potentially life-saving care to seriously ill patients in a medical emergency in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrives. Read the full story.
Saffron Walden man takes on cycling challenge for mental health charity
Saffron Walden Reporter – 06 March 2019
A man from Saffron Walden will be taking on a daunting cycle challenge with two colleagues to raise money for mental health charity Mind. Read the full story.
Trust eyes new private finance model to build hospital
HSJ – 07 March 2019
Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust is considering whether it can generate part of the funding for a new facility in east Harlow through a new “regional health infrastructure company”. It said the likely project value would be £150m. Email for the full story.
Responsibility for NHS workforce to be devolved locally
HSJ – 07 March 2019
Local areas will be given much greater control over NHS workforce policy with responsibilities being devolved to local areas from national bodies, a letter to NHS chief executives has revealed. Email for the full story.
High blood pressure drugs to be offered to thousands more
BBC Health – 08 March 2019
New guidelines on diagnosing high blood pressure could mean thousands more people benefiting from treatment in England and Wales. Read the full story.
NHS bosses: Benefit stress driving mental health care demand
The Guardian – 08 March 2019
NHS bosses have warned that people left stressed and unable to cope as a result of changes to their benefits are adding to the rising demand for mental health care. Read the full story.
