In the news w/e 21 December

Your media headlines roundup, week ending 21 December…

Government names first 25 areas to get school ‘mental health support teams’
Schools Week – 20 Dec 2018
The Department for Education and Department of Health have named the “trailblazer” areas for the new teams, which will work with around 8,000 children and up to 20 schools each from late 2019. Read the full story.

Gatwick Airport: Drone sightings cause delays
BBC News – 20 Dec 2018
Tens of thousands of passengers at one of the UK’s busiest airports are facing major disruption after two drones were seen over the airfield. Read the full story.

CQC introducing changes to ‘well led’ inspections
HSJ – 20 Dec 2018
The Care Quality Commission has introduced interviews with each trust’s guardian of safe working hours and a representative from the junior doctors’ forum as part of its annual well-led inspection. Email for the full story.

NHS will still be short of nurses in five years, Dalton warns
HSJ – 20 Dec 2018
It will be more than five years before the number of nurses the NHS needs are available to it, the chief executive of NHS Improvement has warned senior NHS leaders. Email for the full story.

Rise in reports of polio-like illness being investigated
BBC News – 19 Dec 2018
An increase in reported cases of a rare polio-like illness that mostly affects children is being investigated by Public Health England. Read the full story.

Prosecutors investigate spinal implant
BBC News – 19 Dec 2018
The total disc replacement implant made by Cambridge-based Ranier Technology left patients across Europe in agony and needing further surgery after breaking inside their backs. Read the full story.

Processed meats and ready meals ‘still too high in salt’
BBC News – 19 Dec 2018
There is still too much salt in processed meats such as sausages and bacon and ready meals, a Public Health England report suggests. Read the full story.

Rushed IT framework ‘favours incumbent suppliers’
HSJ – 19 Dec 2018
NHS England has been accused of favouring big tech suppliers in its flagship digital provider programme after companies seeking inclusion were given less than a week to submit comments. Email for the full story.

CQC made wrong call on nepotism trust chief, says watchdog
HSJ – 19 Dec 2018
The failings of the Care Quality Commission in applying the fit and proper person test to a disgraced trust chief executive were so severe the Parliamentary health watchdog has fears of “systemic injustice”. Email for the full story.

Health watchdog says lessons must be learned after NHS fraudster landed multiple top jobs
Independent – 19 Dec 2018
An NHS boss who landed another senior role despite a fraud conviction and a suspension for “victimising whistleblowers” has prompted calls for a review of systems to prevent unfit appointments. Read the full story.

Skin creams can lead to fire deaths
BBC News – 18 Dec 2018
People who use emollient creams to treat dry and itchy skin conditions are being warned they can build up in fabrics and cause them to catch fire more easily. Read the full story.

Banning sweets at supermarket checkouts ‘works’
BBC News – 18 Dec 2018
Banning sweets, chocolate and crisps at supermarket checkouts appears to stop unhealthy impulse buying by shoppers, a large UK study suggests. Read the full story.

Gently stroking babies ‘provides pain relief’
BBC News – 18 Dec 2018
Gently stroking a baby reduces activity in their brain associated with painful experiences, a study has found. Read the full story.

NHS Fife offers patients hip replacement day surgery
BBC News – 18 Dec 2018
NHS Fife has become the first health board in Scotland to perform hip replacements in day surgery. Read the full story.

Regulators intervene in 52-week wait payment dispute
HSJ – 18 Dec 2018
National regulators have stepped in to resolve a multimillion pound dispute between commissioners and a struggling trust over its backlog of patients awaiting treatment. Email for the full story.

Winter Health Crisis: Over 99% of beds at Princess Alexandra Hospital are occupied
Your Harlow – 17 Dec 2018
NEW winter target figures for Princess Alexandra Hospital reveal that pressures on the Harlow hospital are as intensive as ever. Read the full story.

Trust seeks £14m capital for fire safety works
HSJ – 17 Dec 2018
East Sussex Healthcare Trust will use the bulk of the money to carry out compartmentalisation work at Eastbourne District General Hospital over the next three years. It is hoping to get the money through national sustainability and transformation funding but has also put in an emergency application for an increase in public dividend capital. Email for the full story.

Waste firm accused of overcharging NHS by £30m
HSJ – 17 Dec 2018
NHS chiefs have accused a clinical waste disposal firm of overcharging the health service by around £30m over the last six years, HSJ can reveal. Email for the full story.

Are parents prepared for holiday hangovers?
BBC Health – 17 Dec 2018
A US report has found that a quarter of parents were not likely to think about whether they’ll be able to take care of their child the day after drinking at a special occasion – and don’t limit their alcohol intake. Read the full story.

Chronic fatigue: Overactive immune system ‘may trigger ME-like symptoms’
BBC Health – 17 Dec 2018
An overactive immune system may help explain the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome, scientists from King’s College London have suggested. Read the full story.