New clinical statements address pneumonia in people with learning disability
HIGH morbidity and mortality in aspiration and community acquired pneumonia among patients with learning disability and autism has prompted publication of two new guidance statements from the British Thoracic Society (BTS).
NHS plan to further reduce opioid prescribing
OPIOID painkiller prescriptions in England have fallen by 8 per cent in the last three years according to NHS data released with publication of a new action plan to “crack down” on the overuse of potentially-addictive medicines.
Too many patients fall into “referral black hole”
A SURVEY from Healthwatch England found that around one in five patients with a primary care referral had to return to their GP having not been seen.
Step closer in regulation of anaesthesia associates and physician associates
A CONSULTATION on new draft legislation that will allow the GMC to regulate anaesthesia associates (AAs) and physician associates (PAs) has been launched by the The Department of Health and Social Care.
GMC campaign to tackle bias in its work
A NUMBER of changes are being made to reduce the risk of bias in the way the General Medical Council operates.
Revised launch date for revamped HSIB
ESTABLISHMENT of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) and the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations Special Health Authority (MNSI) will be delayed for six months.
NHS England looks to virtual wards to help ease pressure on emergency care
UP to 50,000 people a month to be supported by clinicians at home in “high-tech virtual wards” as part of NHS England plans for urgent and emergency care.
Enduring Covid concern reflected in NHS web visits
CORONAVIRUS and Long Covid topped the list of most visited NHS condition-related web pages in 2022, although visits to monkeypox, scarlet fever and chickenpox pages saw sharp increases.
Black women in England more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer
BLACK women from Caribbean and African backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer at later stages when treatment is less likely to be successful, according to a study by Cancer Research UK and NHS Digital.
NHS England publishes blueprint to ease pressure on urgent services
NHS 111 will offer enhanced access to specialist paediatric advice for children and urgent mental health support, according to an NHS England "blueprint" to ease pressure on urgent and emergency care services.