In the news w/e 10 May
Your media headlines roundup, week ending 10 May…
New care model pilot quietly dropped
HSJ – 7 May 2019
A planned new model of care pilot for child and adolescent mental health services has been shelved. Surrey and Borders Partnership Foundation Trust – which was leading on the pilot’s establishment – which would have involved NHS England devolving money and decision making for tier four CAMHS to local organisations, was meant to go live in October 2017. This was delayed until October 2018 before the partnership ended. Email for the full story.
160,000 campaigners tell NHSE they want laws changed
HSJ – 7 May 2019
More than 160,000 people have told NHS England via an online campaign survey that they want the law changed “so that contracts to run NHS services no longer have to be put up for auction”. Email for the full story.
Universities inspired to spot students with mental health concerns
BBC Health – 3 May 2019
Across the country, education institutions are trying to find new ways of spotting students in trouble at a much earlier stage. Read the full story.
Social media effect ‘tiny’ in teenagers, large study finds
BBC Health – 7 May 2019
The effects of social media use on teenage life satisfaction are limited and probably “tiny”, a study of 12,000 UK adolescents suggests. Read the full story.
Conservatives lose council to local residents’ association
BBC News – 3 May 2019
An independent residents’ association has taken control of Uttlesford District Council from the Conservatives. Residents for Uttlesford took 17 seats from the Tories, who retained just 4 of the 23 seats they were defending, proportionately, the largest loss by a ruling party in any district council in the country. The council covers the town of Saffron Walden and the surrounding area, which includes Stansted Airport. Read the full story.
GP pressure: Numbers show first sustained drop for 50 years
BBC Health – 8 May 2019
The NHS is seeing the first sustained fall in GP numbers in the UK for 50 years, the BBC can reveal. An analysis by the Nuffield Trust think tank for the BBC shows the number of GPs per 100,000 people has fallen from nearly 65 in 2014 to 60 last year. Read the full story.
Newcastle stroke treatment trial results ‘phenomenal’
BBC Health – 7 May 2019
An implanted device sends electrical pulses via a nerve to the brain, stimulating it to bypass damaged areas. Read the full story.
Assisted suicide: Paul Lamb renews bid for right to die
BBC News – 7 May 2019
A man who lives with chronic and excruciating pain has begun a fresh legal challenge to the law that criminalises assisted suicide. Paul Lamb, 63, was paralysed from the neck down following a car crash nearly 30 years ago. Read the full story.
‘Too late’ for council to reverse decision on airport, says incoming administration
Saffron Walden Reporter – 7 May 2019
The leader of a residents’ group which dramatically ousted the Conservative administration in the May local elections at the Essex district which is home to Stansted airport has hit out at what he believes was a flawed decision to back plans for its expansion, but said it couldn’t be overturned by the council now. Read the full story.
Seven CCGs to merge into three under new proposals
HSJ – 8 May 2019
Sussex’s seven clinical commissioning groups could merge into three, while a nearby CCG could potentially leave the area’s sustainability and transformation partnership. Email for the full story.
Challenged STP chair to stand down
HSJ – 9 May 2019
The independent chair of the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership will stand down later this year. Anita Donley, a consultant physician who has been in post for more than three-and-a-half years, will leave in September once a successor has been appointed. Email for the full story.
NHSE/I orders trusts to cut capital funding bids
HSJ – 9 May 2019
In a letter to provider chiefs, NHS England and NHS Improvement said their current spending plans must be reviewed to create a “realistic opening plan position”. Email for the full story.
NHSE/I posts advert for chief operating officer
HSJ – 8 May 2019
NHS England and Improvement have posted a job advert for their joint chief operating officer, who will also be the nominated chief executive of NHSI. The chief operating officer will be directly accountable to NHSE chief executive Simon Stevens. Email for the full story.
Economic Strategy plan draft released by Epping Forest District Council
Epping Forest Guardian – 8 May 2019
Strategic proposals focusing on a range of topics across the Epping Forest District have been set out from 2019 to 2025. Establishing a cross-sector partnership between east Herts and west Essex regions and improving employment opportunities, particular within the public sector are key areas of development listed. Read the full story.
Frozen eggs ‘are fastest fertility trend’
BBC Health – 8 May 2019
More women in the UK are choosing to freeze their eggs than ever before, with treatment rates rising by 11% from 2016 to 2017, a report suggests. Read the full story.
Hormone ‘can reduce chances of miscarriage’
BBC News – 8 May 2019
Giving the hormone progesterone to women who have had a miscarriage and experience early bleeding in pregnancy could improve their chances of having baby, a study suggests. Read the full story.
Thousands of women with ovarian cancer are dying early because of a postcode lottery in diagnosing the killer disease, warns charity
Daily Mail – 8 May 2019
Analysis by the charity Target Ovarian Cancer revealed a stark postcode lottery in the number of women diagnosed at stages one or two, when the tumour is small has not spread to surrounding tissue. Read the full story.
Empty Harlow council homes given over to homeless
BBC News – 10 May 2019
Empty council houses are being re-opened in an Essex town as temporary shelters for the homeless. Nine rough sleepers will live in two refurbished cottages in Harlow, supported by charity Streets2Homes. Read the full story
Bereaved father leads NHS movement against suicide
BBC Health – 10 May 2019
It has been a painful journey for Steve Mallen, whose 18-year-old son killed himself in 2015. Edward Mallen was a talented student who had won a place at Cambridge University. Read the full story.
Dementia fund could cut A&E admissions
HSJ – 9 May 2019
A multibillion-pound dementia fund should be used to fund personal health budgets for dementia patients to address care inequalities, a former NHS science adviser has said. Email for the full story.
Local plan and airport expansion top the bill as new council leader starts work
Saffron Walden Reporter – 9 May 2019
Cllr Lodge, now the new leader of Uttlesford District Council, said: “The scale has surprised us. We expected to take control but in co-operation with other parties. We took every seat we fully campaigned for. Read the full story.
PAH supports world asthma day with advice on better management
Your Harlow – 9 May 2019
A TOTAL of 263 patients – slightly more than the previous year – were diagnosed with asthma at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in the year to March, of whom 61 were children. Read the full story.
