NHS atlas of variation in diagnostic services

The first NHS Atlas of Variation in Diagnostic Services charts significant differences in how health conditions are identified and monitored. 

Guidance on nursing staffing

Guidance from NHS England to support providers and commissioners to make the right decisions about nursing, midwifery and care staffing.

Government makes full response to Francis

The government has published a full response to the recommendations made by the Francis report.

Monitor looks at walk-in centres

Research from the health sector regulator Monitor suggests that patients may not be able to access the care they need.

Lessons on integration of social care and health services

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has published a paper on the integration of health and social care drawing on experiences from the four UK health and care systems.

New NICE Quality Standards and Guidance

Surgical site infection covers the prevention and treatment of surgical site infection adults, children and young people undergoing surgical incisions through the skin.
Cardiac rehabilitation should be offered within 10 days of discharge from hospital after a heart attack, according to NICE in an update to the 2007 guideline

Findings from NHS seven-day services forum

NHS England has published findings of an investigation into seven day services across the NHS.  In addition see Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) report on seven-day care.

Digital health: working in partnership

Telecare, telehealth, mobile healthcare and similar services all offer more efficient and effective healthcare delivery, according to a new report on “digital health”, says a new report from the Department of Health.

Improve management of multiple medicine use

A new report from the King’s Fund says that policy, medical training and clinical practice have failed to adapt to a significant increase in the number of patients taking multiple prescription drugs.

HSCIC publishes new report to help shed light on A&E activity

Focus on Accident and Emergency, published by HSCIC aims to help inform the current debate by bringing together a broad range of statistical data and analyses.  See also Sir Bruce Keogh’s key findings from his review of urgent and emergency care.

The National Intermediate Care Audit: key to understanding integrated care for older people

We can’t deal with the emergency care crisis at the front door of the hospital without addressing the situation at the back door – there are still too many patients who could be sent home within 0 – 2 days but who would not be able to access community support in time, says David Oliver.

Hospitals must tackle the fear and stigma around dementia

Tackling the stigma of dementia is a long-sought aim of agencies working to raise awareness and care for people with the disease.  A huge amount of work remains if this goal is to be achieved, and hospitals, which are at the very heart of communities, have an important role in raising awareness and encouraging holistic approaches to drive change.   Many dementia patients say that from the moment they are diagnosed, those around them feel somehow rendered incapable. In reference to his own diagnosis with early onset dementia, the author Terry Pratchett summed up this reaction quite simply: "People get embarrassed, lower their voices and get lost for words."

Older People prioritised in spend of £250m A&E fund

The Department of Health recently announced beneficiaries would be bringing in extra staff and beds in acute and community settings in order to tackle winter pressures on A&E departments, at a time increasing numbers of trusts have been failing to hit the flagship four-hour waiting time target.

NHS fund switching for older people is grossly unjust

Writing for The Observer, David Blunkett said that basing NHS funding on numbers of old people, rather than their wealth, is the least debated active injustice. It will probably have come as a considerable surprise to some of those in retirement to learn that national statistics show that while there has been a 6.5% drop in living standards for those in work, there's been an uplift for those who have put their working life behind them.

Cold Weather Plan launches to prepare for winter

The plan aims to prevent avoidable harm to health, to help prevent excess winter deaths in England.

Shape of Training

Securing the future of excellent patient care, the final report of the independent review of the shape of medical training led by Professor David Greenaway has been published.  Prof Paul Knight, President of the BGS said: "We welcome the report's recognition of the changing needs of our population and the requirement for all doctors to have knowledge of the basics of geriatric medicine.  However, while this increase in generalism is welcome, specialists in geriatric medicine will still be needed to manage more complex patients."

Geriatric Medicine October 2013 – contents page

Schizophrenia and diabetes
Imaging in Osteoporosis: diagnosis and management
Screening for dementia in primary care
Parkinsons Disease: peri-operative management
Anticoagulation and fibrinolytic drugs in CHD
Frontotemporal dementia

Journal of Dementia Care: Nov/Dec 2013 - contents page

Enabling risk – time and tenacity is what it takes
Improving mealtimes – it started with listening
Dementia care advisors transforming care
Developing the role of the Admiral Nurse in care homes
Antipsychotics – how to make monitoring happen
Grandma remember me – drama in nurse education
Music for life – culture change 20 years in the making