In the news w/e 20 September

Your media headlines roundup, week ending 20 September…

Epping Forest District Council given £50K Government boost to protect green belt land
Epping Forest Guardian – 13 September 2019
The district council is to receive £50,000 from a Government pot of nearly £2million to crack down on illegal developments on the local green belt. Read the full story.

Three CCGs to merge to cover ICS
HSJ – 13 September 2019
Three clinical commissioning groups in the Thames Valley are planning to merge into a single organisation covering their integrated care system. Email for the full story.

Princess Alexandra Hopsital marks World Sepsis Day
Your Harlow – 14 September 2019
HARLOW hospital highlights achievements in fight against sepsis to mark world awareness day. Read the full story.

Firewalk charity challenge for St Clare Hospice seeking participants
Epping Forest Guardian – 15 September 2019
Up to 40 people sign up and face the high-temperature challenge of walking over hot coals in the name of charity next month. Read the full story.

Meningitis: ‘I’m no longer Miss Independent’
BBC Health – 16 September 2019
Life is very different for Lesley Hart since she had meningitis nearly 10 years ago. Read the full story.

‘Critical issue’ delays trusts’ savings data until 2020
HSJ – 16 September 2019
Trusts could be forced to wait until the first three months of 2020 to find out how much they are saving by taking part in a flagship government project. Email for the full story.

NHS trust calls for police probe into deaths
The Telegraph – 16 September 2019
NHS governors have called for a police investigation into the urology department of a health service trust following accusations that patients died and were harmed after a string of clinical errors and malpractice. Read the full story.

Nurse numbers rise ‘eclipsed by jump in patients’
BBC News – 17 September 2019
The rise in hospital nurses in England has been dwarfed by a jump in patients, a study suggests. Read the full story.

Prostate drug may slow Parkinson’s disease
BBC News – 17 September 2019
A drug used to treat enlarged prostates may be a powerful medicine against Parkinson’s disease, according to an international team of scientists. Read the full story.

Four CCGs plan merger next year
HSJ – 17 September 2019
Four clinical commissioning groups are consulting on plans to create a single organisation covering an integrated care system. Email for the full story.

New chair at NHS Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership
Leigh Times – 16 September 2019
Professor Michael Thorne CBE has been appointed as the new independent chair of the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP). Read the full story.

Saffron Walden fundraisers hand over cheque to hospital charity
Saffron Walden Reporter – 16 September 2019
The team behind the Max’s Marvellous Fun Day event handed over a cheque for more than £20,000 to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Read the full story.

Common cold stopped by experimental approach
BBC News – 16 September 2019
Scientists think they have found a way to stop the common cold and closely related viruses which can cause paralysis. Read the full story.

NHSE considers tightening rule to push CCGs to merge
HSJ – 16 September 2019
NHS England is considering a stricter approach to clinical commissioning group mergers, which would drive a reduction from 191 to around 40. Email for the full story.

NHSI appoints new commercial chief
HSJ – 18 September 2019
NHS Improvement has appointed a new director of procurement transformation and commercial delivery, HSJ understands. Email for the full story.

Exclusive: Region ordered to hold back ‘risk reserve’ of almost £100m
HSJ – 18 September 2019
Providers and commissioners in the East of England will have their income and allocations top-sliced by the region’s NHS England and Improvement board to create a risk reserve. Email for the full story.

Can you turn around the health of an entire town?
BBC News – 18 September 2019
How do you improve the health of an entire town? That was the question facing the former fishing port of Fleetwood, in Lancashire. Read the full story.

Nurse numbers rise ‘eclipsed by jump in patients’
BBC News – 17 September 2019
The rise in hospital nurses in England has been dwarfed by a jump in patients, a study suggests. Read the full story.

Soot pollution particles ‘cross the placenta’
BBC News – 17 September 2019
Particles of black carbon – or soot – can cross the placenta, a study has found. Read the full story.

Trusts can keep clinicians’ unused pension contributions
HSJ – 17 September 2019
Trusts will be allowed to determine whether they will pay or keep the contributions they would be required to pay into doctors’ pension funds if their clinicians opt for one of the government’s proposed pension tax workarounds. Email for the full story.

Ivy Chimneys Primary School in Epping participating in global climate crisis protest
Epping Forest Guardian – 17 September 2019
Ivy Chimneys School will be part of millions of protesters hoping to make politicians take action on climate change. Read the full story.

Stalking victims support campaign launched by Essex Police
Epping Forest Guardian – 17 September 2019
Essex Police have launched the campaign after seeing a rise in stalking offences across the county. Read the full story.

Newsquest’s Young Reporter Scheme looking for budding journalists
Epping Forest Guardian – 17 September 2019
Schools are back and so is the Young Reporter Scheme, which is starting up for the twelfth year running this month. Our scheme gives aspiring journalists the chance to build their portfolio. Read the full story.

Thousands of pounds awarded to community group
Saffron Walden Reporter – 19 September 2019
Saffron Walden Community Toolbox has been awarded £10,000 by the National Lottery. The money will be used to support the community group’s new mental health and wellbeing project. Read the full story.

Stansted Airport College builds on successful first year by exploring plans for UK’s first aviation education and skills campus
Cambridge Network – 19 September 2019
Stansted Airport College – the first purpose built further education college at a UK airport – has marked the start of the new school year by unveiling ambitious plans for the future of the facility. Read the full story.

GPs reject merger ‘driven by NHS England’
HSJ – 19 September 2019
GPs have voted against proposals to merge six clinical commissioning groups in Staffordshire, after being told the plans were “driven by NHS England”, HSJ has learned. Email for the full story.

PAH joins international campaign for patient safety
Your Harlow – 19 September 2019
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) was keen to support the event to highlight its efforts and achievements in improving patient safety. Read the full story.

Children being denied new cancer drugs
BBC News – 20 September 2019
Children with cancer are being denied new, highly precise drugs that are available to adults, doctors warn. Read the full story.

Sertraline: Antidepressant works ‘by reducing anxiety symptoms first’
BBC News – 20 September 2019
A commonly-prescribed antidepressant reduces anxiety first and has a smaller effect on depressive symptoms weeks later, a study suggests. Read the full story.

MPs demand action over wrongly-issued NHS fines
BBC News – 20 September 2019
A highly critical report from MPs has condemned the “shockingly complacent” response to 1.7 million fines being wrongly issued to patients in England after visiting the doctor or dentist. Read the full story.

Revealed: Safety watchdog staff ‘scared to speak out’
HSJ – 20 September 2019
Staff working at the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch are “scared to speak out” and fear losing their jobs, while others are critical of poor communication and hierarchical management, its first staff survey has revealed. Email for the full story.

Group tasked with planning for Brexit contingency in Essex is handed cash boost
Dunmow Broadcast – 20 September 2019
The group responsible for putting together contingency plans for Essex when the UK leaves the European Union is to get extra cash from the Government. Read the full story.