In the news w/e 23 August

Your media headlines roundup, week ending 23 August …

Government says sorry for failing tragic Matthew
Maldon Standard – 23 August 2019
The inquest into Matthew’s death found multiple failings, which were later backed up by an ombudsman’s report into the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Read the full story.

Smoking rates in Epping Forest below national average says NHS
Epping Forest Guardian – 23 August 2019
Smoking rates in Epping Forest stand at 13.8 per cent according to the NHS. Read the full story.

Stansted Airport trains cancelled after tree falls on tracks
Essex Live – 22 August 2019
Around 10 trains have been cancelled so far between London Liverpool Street and the airport after the incident, which happened just after midday (Thursday, August 22). Read the full story.

Funding boost given to NHS West Essex CCG to support young people with mental health in schools
Bishop Stortford Independent – 22 August 2019
A total of 80% of students at Forest Hall School achieved at least a grade 4 – a pass nationally – in English compared with 74% last year. Read the full story.

Teenagers raise cash for mental health charity as part of National Citizen Service
Bishop’s Stortford Independent – 22 August 2019
A charity fun day in Bishop’s Stortford, organised by 11 young people taking part in the National Citizen Service summer holiday scheme, raised £346.49 for mental health charity Mind. Read the full story.

Evidence suggests microplastics in water pose ‘minimal health risk’
BBC News – 22 August 2019
Microplastics in drinking water do not appear to pose a health risk at current levels, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Read the full story.

Fish oil pills ‘no benefit’ for type 2 diabetes
BBC News – 22 August 2019
People with type 2 diabetes “should not be encouraged” to take omega-3 fish oil supplements, researchers from the University of East Anglia say. Read the full story.

Shipping containers ‘used to house homeless children’
BBC News – 21 August 2019
More than 210,000 children are estimated to be homeless, with some being temporarily housed in converted shipping containers, a report says. Read the full story.

High blood pressure in mid-30s may pose risk to brain health
BBC News – 21 August 2019
People in their mid-30s need to watch their blood pressure to protect brain health in later life, says a study. Read the full story.

NHS England told Brexit messages must be ‘aligned’ with government ‘script’
HSJ – 21 August 2019
NHS arm’s-length bodies, including NHS England, have been told to make sure all their communications are “aligned” to the government’s stance on Brexit. Email for the full story.

Funding boost given to NHS West Essex CCG to support young people with mental health in schools
Epping Forest Guardian – 21 August 2019
The NHS West Essex CCG confirmed that one of the new teams will cover special schools across two counties thanks to a national ‘Trailblazer’ programme. Read the full story.

Princess Alexandra Hospital’s neo-natal team in running for top baby charity award
Bishop’s Stortford Independent – 21 August 2019
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Princess Alexandra Hospital is a finalist in international baby charity Bliss’s neonatal excellence team award. Read the full story.

New GP networks set to improve surgeries’ services in Bishop’s Stortford
Bishop’s Stortford Independent – 21 August 2019
Better community health and social care services for Bishop’s Stortford are being promised through the creation of a new ‘primary care network’. Read the full story.

Brexit: Health leaders issue new no-deal warning
BBC News – 21 August 2019
Health leaders have written to Boris Johnson issuing new warnings on the impact of a no-deal Brexit. Read the full story.

NHS hospitals offer doctors cash in bid to tackle growing pensions crisis
The Telegraph – 21 August 2019
NHS hospitals are offering cash to doctors in a bid to tackle a growing pensions crisis, an investigation reveals. Read the full story.

Part of £1.8bn NHS cash boost ‘is money already saved up’, leaked letter claims
Skynews – 20 August 2019
A £1.8bn cash boost for the NHS announced by Boris Johnson will largely be paid for with money that hospitals already have, a leaked letter has said. Read the full story.

Chief executive of east London-wide healthcare organisation vows to continue finding new ways to ‘provide high quality healthcare’
Ilford Recorder – 20 August 2019
There are no shareholders, and it is a member-based organisation with membership drawn from GPs and health professionals, patient representatives and staff. Read the full story.

MP celebrates landmark for group that focuses on impact of aviation
Saffron Walden Reporter – 20 August 2019
Saffron Walden MP Kemi Badenoch hosted an event in Westminster which marked 20 years of the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (SASIG) of the Local Government Association. Read the full story.

Daring group take on skydive for St Clare Hospice
Saffron Walden Reporter – 20 August 2019
Property development firm Weston Homes donated £22,750 to St Clare Hospice after staff completed a charity skydive on August 4. Read the full story.

Tribute paid to former Labour group leader for Epping Forest District Council Philip Pennell
Epping Forest Guardian – 20 August 2019
A former long-serving member of Epping Forest District Council has died. Read the full story.

Sleep doctor proves that a 20-minute nap increases reaction times by a third – but any longer will make you feel groggy
Mail Online – 20 August 2019
Most of us would love to have a short nap in the afternoon – but its not likely to happen, especially when we’re at work. Read the full story.

Welwyn Garden City urgent care centre has proved confusing for Welwyn Hatfield residents, say CCG
Welwyn Hatfield Times – 20 August 2019
Welwyn Garden City’s urgent care centre has proved confusing for Welwyn Hatfield residents, according to the East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Read the full story.

Campaign against unnecessary prescriptions saves £500,000 for NHS in Hertfordshire
Bishop’s Stortford Independent – 20 August 2019
A clampdown on prescription medicines which can also be bought over the counter has saved the NHS £500,000 in Bishop’s Stortford and the rest of Hertfordshire. Read the full story.

Boris Johnson orders action to stop measles spread
BBC News – 19 August 2019
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ordering urgent action to ensure that children and young people in Britain are protected against measles. Read the full story.

Unaccredited counsellors providing NHS-funded care
HSJ – 19 August 2019
Counsellors without the required accreditation are providing NHS-funded therapy services, despite NHS England tightening the rules for providers. Email for the full story.

Epping Forest District Council should practise what it preaches over emissions
Epping Forest Guardian – 19 August 2019
Reader Susan Smith was not impressed with one of Epping Forest District Council vehicle’s emissions. Read the full story.

Inside the Essex town which has seen ‘hundreds of London families’ move in
Essex Live – 19 August 2019
MP for Harlow, Robert Halfon, accused London councils of “socially cleansing” whilst in parliament on January 28, 2019. Read the full story.

The little-known spinal injury ‘costing the NHS millions’
BBC News – 19 August 2019
Failure to identify and treat a little-known spinal condition probably costs the NHS hundreds of millions a year, according to a leading consultant. Read the full story.

Budget concerns over NHS England’s calls for diverted STP funding
HSJ – 19 August 2019
Concern has been raised about what the impact on budgets will be of NHS England calling on health systems in the East of England to divert funding to address severe financial pressures in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Email for the full story.

Hospitals treat 1,000 dementia patients a day because basic social care is so poor they are forced to turn to casualty wards for help
Daily Mail Online – 19 August 2019
The number of dementia patients admitted to hospital in an emergency has soared by a third in four years, official NHS figures reveal. Read the full story.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust hires Leahy
Employee Benefits – 19 August 2019
The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has hired Sean Leahy as its new executive director of people and culture. Read the full story.

NHS says sepsis monitoring system has saved hundreds of lives
The Guardian – 18 August 2019
Trials of new digital alert technology to monitor hospital patients with sepsis have saved hundreds of lives, the NHS has said. Read the full story.

Exclusive: Doctors are ordered to stop half-day closing at surgeries and threatened with £40k funding axe if they fail to comply
MailOnline – 18 August 2019
The NHS is launching a major crackdown on GP surgeries which close for half-days during the week, the Mail can reveal. Read the full story.