In the news w/e 27 September
Your media headlines roundup, week ending 27 September…
Group tasked with planning for Brexit contingency in Essex is handed cash boost
Saffron Walden Reporter – 20 September 2019
The Essex Resilience Forum, which is made up of local councils, emergency services, health providers and the voluntary sector, will get a share of £4million from the Government to support the development of Brexit plans. Read the full story.
Woman’s sepsis death linked to 111 after red flags not recognised
HSJ – 20 September 2019
A 73-year-old woman died after the NHS 111 helpline failed to recognise her symptoms as a sign of sepsis, in the latest death linked to the Pathways system. Email for the full story.
Virgin Care and NHS partner win £85m contract
HSJ – 20 September 2019
North East Hampshire and Farnham and Surrey Heath clinical commissioning groups gave the five-year contract across the two home counties to incumbent providers Frimley Health Foundation Trust and Virgin Care Services Limited. Email for the full story.
Labour conference: Menopausal women ‘should get flexible work hours’
BBC Health – 21 September 2019
Large employers would be forced to provide flexible hours to women experiencing the menopause under Labour plans to end stigma in the workplace. Read the full story.
Labour pledges to stop NHS prescription charges
BBC Health – 21 September 2019
Labour is to announce a pledge to abolish prescription charges in England at its party conference next week. Read the full story.
Eleanor Laing MP cannot represent Epping Forest if she is Speaker
East London and West Essex Guardian Series – 22 September 2019
If Dame Eleanor Laing intends to stand again I hope she gives up being Deputy Speaker (who by convention does not vote) and, if re-elected, will fully represent us by voting. Read the full story.
Labour pledges free personal care for over-65s in England
BBC Health – 22 September 2019
Labour is promising free personal care in England for over-65s most in need of it, so they will not have to pay for help with dressing, washing and meals. Read the full story.
New mental health service delayed after Essex forced to pay millions to bail out hospitals in Cambridgeshire
EssexLive – 9 September 2019
A mental health service for people at crisis point in Essex has been delayed, after Essex taxpayers’ money was instead used to bail out the NHS in Cambridgeshire. Read the full story.
Epping Forest MP meets with Waltham Abbey retirement home builders over contaminated land concerns
Epping Forest Guardian – 23 September 2019
The district’s MP has reassured residents who expressed their concerns living near contaminated land where a new housing development taking place. Read the full story.
Loughton Leisure Centre introduces greener power supply system
Epping Forest Guardian – 23 September 2019
A new power supply providing electricity and heat to Loughton Leisure Centre and reducing the building’s carbon footprint went live last week. Read the full story.
Liberal Democrat councillor announces bid to become new MP for Brentwood and Ongar
East London & West Essex Guardian – 23 September
A new Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate has been selected to campaign for the Brentwood and Ongar seat at the next General Election. Read the full story.
Essex patients hit by two-month delay in flu vaccine
Epping Forest Guardian – 24 September 2019
Patients in Essex have been told that due to a delay in production of the flu vaccine the first vaccination appointments of the year will be available from November 2 – two days after the UK potentially exits the EU with a deal. Read the full story.
‘Half as many Britons’ vape as smoke
BBC Health – 24 September 2019
The number of people vaping in the UK has reached 3.6 million – about half the number of smokers – figures from Action on Smoking and Health suggest. Read the full story.
Obesity not caused by lack of willpower – psychologists
BBC Health – 24 September 2019
Obesity is not a choice and making people feel ashamed results only in them feeling worse about themselves, a report by top psychologists says. Read the full story.
Teaching trust flagged as cancer outlier two years in a row
HSJ – 24 September 2019
A teaching hospital has redesigned part of its cancer service after being flagged as an outlier in two national clinical audits. Email for the full story
Boris Johnson to tell Trump NHS is ‘off the table’ in post-Brexit trade deal
The Independent – 24 September 2019
Boris Johnson has promised to tell Donald Trump that the NHS is “off the table” in negotiations over a post-Brexit trade deal with the US. Read the full story.
Home is where the Hert is: Inside St Albans’ Hertfordshire House
Herts Advertiser – 25 September 2019
It’s part of one of St Albans’ most talked-about new developments, but what is Hertfordshire House really like? Jane Howdle paid the city centre site a visit to find out. Read the full story.
NHS south west Essex job fair to be held in Chingford
Epping Forest Guardian – 25 September 2019
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust will offer permanent and temporary vacancies in its mental health, community and specialist services across south west Essex. Read the full story.
Revealed: 275 jobs to go as NHS England and Improvement cut costs
HSJ – 25 September 2019
NHS England and NHS Improvement will shed 654 posts under cost reduction plans revealed this morning. Email for the full story.
NHS privatisation to be reined in under secret plan to reform care
The Guardian – 25 September 2019
Privatisation of NHS care will be significantly curbed under confidential plans that health service bosses expect Downing Street to include in the Queen’s speech next month. Read the full story.
Health and care world backs far-reaching NHS legislation
HSJ – 25 September 2019
Patient, staff and NHS groups have joined with NHS England to ask government to put forward an “NHS integrated care bill”, which would scrap big chunks of the last major piece of health legislation. Email for the full story.
NHS will not pay for ‘life-changing’ migraine drug
BBC Health – 26 September 2019
A migraine drug that has been described as “life changing” by some patients will not be made available on the NHS outside of Scotland. Read the full story.
Male infertility linked to prostate cancer risk
BBC Health – 26 September 2019
Men who have fertility treatment have a higher risk of prostate cancer in later life, a study has suggested. Read the full story.
Uptake of all 13 child vaccinations drops
BBC Health – 26 September 2019
NHS data for 2018-19 showed uptake of the first dose of the MMR vaccine fell from 91.2% to 90.3% in England – the fifth year in a row it has dropped. Read the full story.
Regulators tell trusts to ‘learn lessons’ from deaths in 2008 and 2012
HSJ – 26 September 2019
NHS regulators have warned trusts to heed the learnings of an ombudsman report into the deaths of two patients, ahead of their own review into patient safety failings. Read the full story.
Alexia Wilson Trust bids fond farewell to long-serving volunteers
Saffron Walden Reporter – 26 September 2019
Retiring volunteers at the Alexia Wilson Trust were thanked for their hard work at an afternoon tea in Dunmow. Read the full story.
Alarm as uptake drops for all routine child jabs
BBC Health – 26 September 2019
NHS England and NHS Improvement will shed 654 posts under cost reduction plans revealed this morning. Read the full story.
No-deal Brexit ‘still risk to NHS and care sector’
BBC Health – 27 September 2019
A no-deal Brexit presents risks to the NHS and care homes despite extensive government planning, a watchdog says. Read the full story.
New providers reviewing services offered at Harpenden Memorial Hospital
The Herts Advertiser – 27 September 2019
New providers are reviewing the health services offered at Harpenden’s historic hospital. Read the full story.
Essex Man Wins Award for Improving Cancer Care in the County in Last Months of His Life
Essex Magazine – 27 September 2019
Before he sadly died in May 2019, Mike got in touch with Healthwatch Essex because he wanted to ‘give something back’ and help improve cancer care for people in Mid and South Essex. Read the full story.
Town council is crowned ‘best in Essex’ at ceremony
Saffron Walden Reporter – 27 September 2019
At the annual meeting of the Essex Association of Local Councils held in September, the town council was awarded the prestigious Best Council Award. Read the full story.
