In the news w/e 15 March

Your media headlines roundup, week ending 15 March…

Exclusive: Leading trust warns NHS England over patient safety
HSJ – 15 March 2019
A leading trust has warned NHS England about the safety of some of its patients after it failed to secure capital funding for a new facility. Email for the full story.

Serious concerns raised over HEE nursing report
HSJ – 15 March 2019
Serious concerns were raised internally over the quality of work feeding into a much-anticipated report on community nursing by Health Education England, HSJ understands. Email for the full story.

Brexit: PM to bring third Brexit deal vote to Commons
BBC Health – 14 March 2019
Theresa May will make a third attempt to get her EU withdrawal deal through Parliament in the next week. Read the full story.

Cholesterol-lowering pill ‘new option for statin users’
BBC Health – 14 March 2019
A new type of drug – called bempedoic acid – could offer another weapon in the fight against bad cholesterol. Read the full story.

Cancer’s ‘internal wiring’ predicts relapse risk
BBC Health – 14 March 2019
The “internal wiring” of breast cancer can predict which women are more likely to survive or relapse, say researchers. Read the full story.

NHS let me down, says health manager with cancer
BBC News – 14 March 2019
A patient with late-stage bowel cancer hits out as figures show cancer waits are at their worst level since records began. Read the full story.

Mushrooms may ‘prevent mild brain decline’
BBC News – 14 March 2019
Eating the fungi more than twice a week cut people’s risk of memory and language problems, a study found. Read the full story.

GP networks need new leadership, says NHS England lead
HSJ – 14 March 2019
Primary care networks typically need a new style of leader, rather than transferring them from clinical commissioning groups or elsewhere, NHS England’s primary care lead has said. Email for the full story.

Revealed: Treasury’s concern over ‘maverick’ NHS accounting
HSJ – 14 March 2019
A controversial accounting measure used by dozens of NHS trusts to improve their headline financial position was described by the Treasury as following “neither the letter nor the substance” of the relevant standards. Email for the full story.

Nursing will take ‘place at decision-making table’ – new CNO
HSJ – 14 March 2019
Nursing is going to “take [its] rightful place at the decision-making table” to ensure “nursing is built into all plans in the future”, the new chief nursing officer for England has said. Email for the full story.

New low for A&E after proposals to ditch target
HSJ – 14 March 2019
NHS performance against the four-hour accident and emergency target hit a new record low in February – for the second month in a row. Email for the full story.

EHAAT will now carry blood supplies
AirMed and Rescue Magazine – 14 March 2019
UK-based Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) will now be carrying blood supplies on board its helicopters and Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs), a development that will enable pre-hospital transfusion at the scene of an incident. Read the full story.

New figures show another fall in emergency care performance
Redditch Standard – 14 March 2019
For February the Trust manged just 73.5 per cent, with other Trusts far worse, including The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in Harlow at 60.6 per cent and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust at 60.7 per cent. Read the full story.

Essex Carers initiative set to better lives of carers across the county!
Essex Magazine (blog) – 14 March 2019
Carers living in Essex can get funding for computer training, respite care, adult education and additional support to make their lives better. Read the full story.

Halt privatisation of cancer screening or risk patient harm, MPs tell NHS England
The Guardian – 13 March 2019
Doctors say awarding PET-CT contracts to private firms ‘will undoubtedly cause clinical harm’ Read the full story.

New support offered to mothers looking to quit smoking in Suffolk
East Anglian Daily Times – 13 March 2019
A new initiative in Suffolk is encouraging mums to ‘stub it out’ by offering more support for those wanting to quit smoking this ‘No Smoking Day’. Read the full story.

Stansted Airport’s no-fly zone for drones extended
East Anglian Daily Times – 13 March 2019
A no-fly zone for drones around Stansted Airport has been increased from 1km to 5km today to prevent anti-social behaviour and disruption to passengers. Read the full story.

Confused data policy risks ‘almost irreparable’ mistrust – NHS data boss
HSJ – 13 March 2019
The head of the national safe haven for NHS patient data has warned a confused policy on data sharing risks sowing “deep and almost irreparable” public mistrust. Email for the full story.

Stevens warns NHS must not ‘lose its head’ in no-deal Brexit
HSJ – 13 March 2019
The NHS must not lose its head in the event of a no-deal Brexit and should “carry on in a well-organised, thoughtful fashion”, Simon Stevens has said. Email for the full story.

Brexit: MPs to vote on 29 March no-deal exit from EU
BBC News – 13 March 2019
MPs will vote later on whether to block the UK from leaving the EU without a deal on 29 March, after again rejecting the PM’s withdrawal agreement. Read the full story.

NHS signals four-hour A&E target may end
BBC Health – 12 March 2019
The four-hour A&E target may be dropped under plans announced by NHS England. Read the full story.

Service cut warning over NHSE’s GP at Hand bailout fears
HSJ – 12 March 2019
Local commissioners are expecting a £10m hit for hosting digital practice Babylon GP at Hand and could be forced to cut other services after a promised NHS England bailout failed to materialise. Email for the full story.

Minister scraps plans to build new primary school in Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden – 12 March 2019
Plans to build a new primary free school in Saffron Walden have been scrapped as new forecasts demonstrate the project is no longer needed. Read the full story.

New progress in plans for redevelopment of Princess Alexandra Hospital
Bishop’s Stortford – 12 March 2019
The board of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust have unanimously backed a new hospital for patients across East Herts and West Essex. Read the full story.

‘Unacceptable’ self-harm images still on Instagram
BBC Health – 12 March 2019
The NSPCC has criticised Instagram for continuing to allow “distressing” pictures of self-harm to remain on the site. Read the full story.

Baroness Harding: I support some form of regulation of managers
HSJ – 12 March 2019
Baroness Harding, who is leading the response to the Kark review on NHS management, has told MPs she backs the idea of professional regulation for senior NHS managers. Email for the full story.

Air pollution: Cars should be banned near schools says public health chief
BBC Health – 11 March 2019
Public health chiefs have called for cars to be banned around schools in the UK, reports say. Read the full story.

NHS hospitals could face fines for breaches of new sepsis rules
The Guardian – 11 March 2019
Hospitals could face financial penalties if they fail to meet new guidelines for detecting and treating sepsis. Read the full story.

Decision on new Harlow hospital expected in autumn
EssexLive – 11 March 2019
The hospital is now compiling a strategic business case ahead of a decision from the government to earmark funding. Read the full story.

New emergency mental health targets revealed
HSJ – 11 March 2019
Mental health patients needing emergency care would be seen within one hour of referral from accident and emergency departments, under new NHS England proposals. Email for the full story.

NHSE proposes to axe 18-week target
HSJ – 11 March 2019
NHS England has revealed proposals to axe the 18-week waiting standard for elective care, with an average waiting target introduced instead. Email for the full story.

Princess Alexandra Hospital puts spotlight on patient experience of delirium
Your Harlow – 11 March 2019
Staff at the Harlow hospital have been working hard to ensure that everyone recognises the condition, and healthcare workers and family/carers can work in partnership to speedily respond to it. Read the full story.