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NURSING ASSOCIATE ROLE OFFERS NEW ROUTE INTO NURSING

Plans to create a new nursing support role, to work alongside healthcare support workers and fully qualified nurses, focusing on patient care – provisionally to be called Nursing Associates – will be unveiled today (17/12) by Health Minister Ben Gummer.  

This exciting role, which could also be a new route for those wishing to become a registered nurse, has been recommended by nursing leaders and other healthcare professionals. The new addition to the care workforce will help bridge the gap between healthcare support workers, who have a care certificate, and registered nurses. Proposals will see staff trained through this route learning on the job via an apprenticeship leading to a foundation degree. The Government will also look at what opportunities there are for staff in this role to progress to become a registered nurse through either a degree level nurse apprenticeship or a shortened nursing degree at university.

The new nursing support role is expected to work alongside healthcare support workers and fully qualified nurses to deliver hands on care, focusing on ensuring patients continue to get the compassionate care they deserve. Nursing Associates will support nurses to spend more time using their specialist training to focus on clinical duties and take more of a lead in decisions about patient care.

It will be up to individual NHS employers to decide how many Nursing Associates they need in their organisation. However, subject to the outcome of the consultation, it is anticipated that up to 1,000 Nursing Associates could be trained from 2016. The Government remains committed to training the right number of staff and will maintain nurse training places as the scheme goes forward; 23,000 more nurses should be available by the end of this parliament.

There will be a consultation on all the specifics of the scope of this role, including the title, with representatives from the nursing profession including the royal colleges and representative unions in the New Year.

Health Minister Ben Gummer said:

“This new role, and the opportunity it offers for those who want to progress to a registered nurse, will open up a career in nursing for thousands of people from all backgrounds. Hard-working NHS staff are the lifeblood of the NHS and with an ageing population and changing patient needs, it is vital that we look at new ways to help staff deliver high quality, safe care across the week.

“Along with the recent changes to student funding, which will enable Universities to offer up to 10,000 additional  training places over this parliament, we will ensure the profession is accessible for all those with the skills, values and ambition to choose nursing. We will consult widely in the new year as we want to ensure nursing apprenticeships and this new post are correctly formed.

This new Nursing Associate role is part of wider plans to diversify and expand the NHS workforce which includes changes to student nurse bursaries announced as part of the Spending Review last month. Under the loans system, students on nursing, midwifery and allied health courses will receive around a 25% increase in the financial support available to them for living costs and enable universities to offer up to 10,000 more training places over this parliament.

As part of the planned consultation to move from bursaries to student loans. Ben Gummer has also committed to considering how we can support aspirant students from all backgrounds to ensure they can continue to pursue health careers. For the first time, students studying to become a nurse, midwife and allied health professional through a second degree will be able to access student loans.

The Government is committed to the values of the NHS and has invested £10billion to back the NHS’s own plans for the future.

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Chief Medical Officer call for work places to be more menopause friendly

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the first female Chief Medical Officer, has called on bosses to create a culture where women feel comfortable discussing the menopause in the workplace.

Menopausal symptoms include problems with memory and concentration as well as difficulty sleeping, which results in sufferers feeling tired and irritable during the day. Evidence shows about one in four women will have symptoms that adversely affect their personal and working lives.

The Chief Medical Officer would like to see women who have menopause symptoms feel more comfortable at work and reduce sick leave. She has recommended that the Faculty of Occupational Medicine produce guidelines for employers to help them provide appropriate support to women who need it during their menopause.

An estimated ten per cent of women have taken days off work because of menopausal symptoms, but only one in four had discussed their symptoms with their line manager.

There were 3.5 million women aged 50-65 in employment in 2013. With an ageing national workforce, better understanding by employers could support women with symptoms by helping them to feel more engaged and productive and ultimately encouraging them to stay in work.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said:

“The menopause is a natural part of life, but it can feel like a great taboo. It is inexcusable that women who are experiencing menopausal symptoms should feel unable to discuss how they are feeling at work.

“I want to encourage managers to ensure working women feel as comfortable discussing menopausal symptoms as they would any other issues affecting them in the workplace. This will help to ensure that the talent and potential of all women can be realised to the full.”

In the workplace, research shows that women would like to see:

- greater awareness among managers of the menopause as a possible occupational health issue (74% of women considered this helpful;

- flexibility of working hours and working arrangements to help manage symptoms (64%);

- better access to informal and formal sources of support (57%); and

- improvements in workplace temperature and ventilation (55%).

But managers cannot provide support or offer suitable adjustments if they are not made aware of problems. It is important for employers to foster a culture where women feel comfortable to discuss menopause symptoms that may impact on working life.

Menopause facts

·        The menopause literally means the last menstrual period that occurs.

·         The average age of menopause is 51.

·        Symptoms usually last between four and eight years although they may persist for longer.

·        The majority of women do not report bothersome menopausal symptoms, around 20-25% of women report bothersome symptoms associated with the menopause.

·        Vasomotor symptoms are the main physical symptoms of the menopause; they are typically described as sudden feelings of heat in the chest, neck and face, usually accompanied by skin redness and profuse perspiration and/or palpitations, and sometimes followed by shivering while body temperature returns to normal. They vary in frequency and may last between a few seconds to an hour. They may also be instrumental in how women experience other symptoms, such as sleep disturbance and fatigue.

·        Smoking has been associated with an earlier menopause, as well as more frequent hot flushes, and caffeine consumption has been associated with more frequent flushes.

·        Physically active women tend to report higher quality of life and fewer hot flushes compared with inactive women.

·        Women in western countries tend to report more hot flushes compared with those living in India, Japan and China.

#breakthetaboo #womensreport

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In support of the UN’s International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

“Modern slavery is a crime that fundamentally affects the health and wellbeing of men, women and children. Now is a fitting time to raise awareness of its impact’’.

- Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Public Health, Jane Ellison MP

The UK continues to play an important part in the effort to tackle modern slavery and support victims. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is the second piece of anti-slavery legislation in 200 years. The Act gives law enforcement the tools to fight modern slavery, ensures perpetrators receive suitably severe punishments for these appalling crimes, and enhances support and protection for victims.

As we mark the UN International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, there are a number of important developments.

The Department of Health sponsored research called PROTECT (Provider Responses, Treatment and Care for Trafficked People), recently published its independent findings in the BMJ Open journal. The research shows that up to one in eight NHS professionals reported having contact with a patient they suspected may have been trafficked. Further findings published by the Lancet Psychiatry show that hospital mental health services are seeing trafficked people with a range of diagnoses, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.

Many trafficking survivors talk of experiencing physical violence and psychological abuse. Research evidence shows they have poor mental health and many, especially women, are sexually abused and may acquire sexually transmitted infections as well as having to cope with unwanted pregnancies and abortions.  Those who present in healthcare settings may have little or no engagement with any other services. NHS professionals therefore have an important role to play in identifying and caring for trafficked people and in referring them for further support and by being able to support them to report to the appropriate authorities. The UK Government has a scheme of assessment and support for trafficked people. Last year, the UK Human Trafficking Centre received referrals for over 2,300 people identified as potential victims of trafficking, including over 600 children. Individuals from 112 different countries were referred to support services. In 2013, the Home Office estimated there were between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of trafficking in the UK.

The research highlights how important it is that the health system has an understanding of modern slavery and the need for training tools to support health professionals in identifying and providing support for victims. The Department of Health e-learning tool for staff on identifying and responding to Modern Slavery has been updated and is available on the largest e-learning portal for NHS staff, e-Learning for Healthcare. Staff who suspect that a patient may have been trafficked can contact the 24-hour confidential helpline, run by the Salvation Army, for professional advice and support on 0300 303 8151. Staff should follow child protection guidelines when child trafficking is suspected, and speak to their designated lead for child protection: out-of-hours staff should contact their local Children’s Social Services or Police, specifically highlighting their concerns about child trafficking.

On 1 November 2015, a provision of the Modern Slavery Act came into force for public authorities to notify the Home Office when they encounter a potential victim of modern slavery. This is to help build the picture of modern slavery in the UK and improve the response from all public services. Doctors, GPs, nurses and other healthcare workers are not bound by this duty. They are, nevertheless, encouraged to make a voluntary notification. Notifications must be limited in how much information they divulge if the victim is an adult who has not consented to it, so that they cannot be identified personally.  They must be made in accordance with the regulations and must not breach any obligation of confidence owed in relation to that information. Full guidance on how to notify the Home Office, and the notification form, has been published on their website.

The Minister for Public Health, Jane Ellison, also said:

“The NHS may be the one public agency to which a victim can turn for assistance not only to address their health needs, but also to seek care and protection from this abhorrent practice.”

Dr Hilary Garratt, Director of Nursing - Nursing Division of NHS England, said:

“Frontline practitioners across the NHS have a critical role in identifying, supporting and caring for these vulnerable individuals and this is at the heart of our safeguarding leadership role.”

Kevin Hyland OBE, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said:

“Across the United Kingdom there are thousands of women, men and children exploited in modern day slavery. Their contact with services can be limited or even restricted, but they will often seek healthcare support, and this may be their sole opportunity for identification as a victim of modern slavery.

“I am pleased that the health sector is taking significant steps to address this serious and abusive crime that severely affects the well-being of vulnerable people, who suffer both physically and psychologically. The introduction of awareness raising and training across the health system is crucial in increasing the likelihood of victims being identified and referred for appropriate support.

“We can no longer get away with shrugging our shoulders and saying that “this is too hidden a crime.

“The health sector’s positive approach demonstrates a firm commitment to 'shining the light' on those who are suffering in silence and is an example of how all government agencies should take a leading role in the United Kingdom’s ambition to eradicate modern slavery.”

Janet Davies, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

“Slavery and human trafficking are evil crimes and most people would be disgusted and shocked to learn that they are still present in modern Britain. Nursing and midwifery staff are often the first point of contact for those who have been trafficked, and their intervention can be life changing for these people.”

Dr David Richmond, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:

“As healthcare professionals, we must do our part to care for victims of modern slavery.  The majority of them would have had to endure months, some even years, of inhumane treatment. When they present for care in any setting, the NHS must respond with compassion and look after them with dignity.”

Janet Fyle, Professional Policy Advisor in the Royal College of Midwives said:

“Some health professionals, in particular, midwives encounter women who have been trafficked into the UK, because many of these women are vulnerable and are victims of physical, sexual and psychological violence. Some may present in the maternity services – pregnant – with non-specific symptoms or signs of mental ill health and in some cases with children from unwanted pregnancies. The Royal College of Midwives is pleased that the Modern Slavery e-learning Toolkit which it was party to developing is a good first step in the right direction and will support and build the confidence of midwives to identify and help a woman or her child who are victims of trafficking.”

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

“Human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery can result in complex mental traumatisation. Mental health professionals have a crucial role in recognising the cumulative effects of abuse among survivors of modern slavery, and in providing the specialist therapy and support they need. The Royal College of Psychiatrists welcomes the recent PROTECT research, and strongly supports its recommendations.”

Dr Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners said:  

“It is shocking that slavery and human trafficking are still very much present in the 21st century - and crucial that people get the help and support they need at the earliest possible opportunity. As the largest medical Royal College representing over 50,000 family doctors, the RCGP wholeheartedly supports the ambitions around the UN’s International Day for the Abolition of Slavery in raising society’s awareness of this dreadful problem.”

Notes to editors

Home Office figures: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/386841/Modern_Slavery_an_application_of_MSE_revised.pdf

Department of Health - Modern Slavery E-Learning tool

http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/modern-slavery/

Home Office Webpage - Information on Modern Slavery

https://modernslavery.co.uk/

(The Home Office/NSPCC modern slavery helpline can be reached at: 0800 0121 700).

Guidance on the duty to notify the Home Office of potential victims of modern slavery

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/duty-to-notify-the-home-office-of-potential-victims-of-modern-slavery

Information on PROTECT study on Kings College London website:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/hspr/research/CEPH/wmh/projects/protect.aspx

UN International Day for the Abolition of Slavery:

http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryabolitionday/

#modernslavery

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Health Secretary launches drive to halve stillbirths and infant deaths

A new ambition to halve stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths will be unveiled by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today.

The number of brain injuries occurring during or soon after birth will also be targeted as part of a new commitment by the government, in partnership with top consultants, midwives and other experts across this country, to ensure England is one of the safest places in the world to have a baby.

The Government has pledged to work with top consultants, midwives and other experts both across this country and internationally to ensure we apply the very best practice consistently across the NHS. Maternity services will be asked to set out initiatives that can be more widely adopted across the country as part of a national approach – actions like appointing maternity safety champions to report to the board and ensuring all staff have the right training to identify the risks and symptoms of perinatal mental health.

To kick-start this ambition, trusts will also receive a share of over £4million of government investment to buy state-of-the-art digital equipment and roll out training to support the hardworking staff across the country already pushing to improve outcomes for mums and babies. This includes a £2.24 million fund to support trusts to buy cutting edge monitoring or training equipment to improve safety, such as cardiotocography (CTG) equipment to monitor baby’s heartbeats, something which can be pivotal in detecting problems early and allowing staff to intervene quickly, or training mannequins upon which staff can practise emergency procedures.

Over time this initiative is expected to save hundreds of millions of pounds in the costs of caring for injured children and providing compensation, money that can be re-invested in improved front-line services. At present, England’s outcomes in terms of stillbirths lag behind much of the developed world – this Government is determined to improve outcomes so that far fewer families suffer. A 2011 Lancet series on stillbirths ranked the UK 33 out of 35 high-income countries for stillbirth rates.  

The Government will align next steps with the recommendations of the Independent Review of Maternity Services, which is already looking at ways to improve quality and safety.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

“The NHS is already a safe place to give birth, but the death or injury of even one new baby or mum is a devastating tragedy which we must do all we can to prevent.

“With more support and greater transparency in maternity services across England we will ensure every mother and baby receives the best and safest care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – this is at the heart of the NHS values we are backing with funding from a strong economy.

“Countries like Sweden are proof that focusing on these issues can really improve safety – with the help of staff on the frontline, we can improve standards here at home.”

The ambition is to reduce the rate of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths and brain injuries that occur during or soon after birth by 50% by 2030 and to keep on track we want to see these reduced by 20% by 2020.

To help meet these aims the Government will establish a £2.24 million fund to support trusts to buy cutting edge monitoring or training equipment to improve safety.

A further £500,000 will be invested to develop a new system to be used consistently across the NHS so staff can review and learn from every stillbirth and neonatal death and the new NHS safety investigation unit will also be asked, once established, to consider a particular focus on maternity cases for its first year.

There will be an over £1million investment to roll out training packages developed in agreement with expertise from the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to make sure staff have the skills and confidence they need to deliver world-leading safe care.

This builds on previous Government commitments to invest £75million to improve perinatal mental health services and ensure all maternity care is considered as part of ‘Ofsted style’ ratings for commissioners.

We’re also increasing the amount of data available on outcomes for maternity services and in December, for the first time, data will be published on MyNHS showing how local maternity services are performing. MBRRACE-UK will soon publish stillbirth and neonatal death data by trust with an indication of how they compare against services providing similar levels of care and this will be repeated annually. As part of our work to improve maternity outcomes we will ask every trust to consider the actions it will take in response and publish an annual report, which will include expert advice from the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, that will show clearly the progress we are making across the country.

We will continue to work with our partners to support women to have a safe pregnancy, including minimising the risk of pregnancy loss. This drive for world class maternity care is only one part in a wider commitment to ensure the NHS provides the safe, high quality care all patients expect.

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Formula 1 technology set to revolutionise children’s healthcare and save lives

A pioneering research study at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, using real-time diagnostic information inspired by the world of Formula 1, is aiming to save thousands of children and young people’s lives.

The RAPID (Real-Time Adaptive and Predictive Indicator of Deterioration) project – the first of its type in the world – uses continuously collected data from patients, such as heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen levels, to revolutionise how patients are monitored, providing vital early warning signs of deterioration that can be swiftly acted upon.

The three-year study, jointly funded by a £1.8 million grant from the Wellcome Trust and Department of Health, through the Health Innovation Challenge Fund, draws on McLaren’s expertise in using hundreds of sensors to collect and analyse real-time data during a race to optimise its strategy on the track.

Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman MP, said:

“Combining world class Formula 1 data analytics technology with the expertise of the NHS in diagnostics is vital if we are to provide patients with the most innovative 21st century diagnostic treatments, and maximise the efficiency and performance of the NHS. This is just one of many pieces of exciting research we are funding that will help to provide NHS patients with better and more effective care.”

Tailored and adapted to the world of healthcare for the first time, hi-tech wireless sensors, designed by Isansys Lifecare, are attached to the chest and ankle to measure vital signs, which are processed in real-time using McLaren’s data analytics platform, LIFEINSIGHT™.

This technology means that signs normally recorded every one to four hours on paper charts could potentially become a thing of the past with continuous individual monitoring that gives more accurate information and could lead to faster treatment – saving lives and reducing hospital stays.

As in the consumer world, where wireless technology has improved levels of connection and convenience, the wearable sensors remove the need for cables and leads which can restrict effective monitoring. This means parents can hold and interact normally with their child while knowing they are being safely and continuously monitored.

Smart alarm systems, designed by mathematicians at Aston University, activate when the baseline levels of individual patients deteriorate alerting nurses and doctors allowing a swift response.

Dr Heather Duncan, Birmingham Children’s Hospital intensive care consultant and RAPID study lead, said:

“This technology is truly transformational. For the first time it allows us to analyse patients’ data in real-time in the same way that various other high-risk industries have done for years.

“The ability to track and identify deterioration towards a cardiac arrest will give doctors earlier warning signs and the chance to save lives. I genuinely believe this will change the way we care for patients in hospitals forever.”

The University of Birmingham is also a RAPID partner with a team providing biostatistical support.

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Government response to the ‘Equality for Mental Health’ Campaign

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

“We fully welcome this campaign and the attention it brings to an area in which we have invested more money than ever before.

“We have made great strides in the way that we think about, and treat, mental health in this country. Whether it is our talking therapies reaching more than three million people, the police working with mental health nurses to aid those in crisis, or school counsellors helping young people with eating disorders, we are making good progress.

“But we are committed to doing more. This campaign can play a vital role and we are making sure everyone has the care they need when they need it, seven days a week.”

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said:

“Mental health is a priority for the government and for me personally. That is why one of my first acts as Education Secretary was to give a Minister specific responsibility for mental health and CAMHS. It is unacceptable for any young person to be denied the opportunity to fulfil their potential and it’s essential more young people are aware of their own mental wellbeing.   

“Schools can play a key role – that’s why we have published school counselling guidance and commissioned the PSHE Association to produce lesson plans to help teach about mental health in an age-appropriate way. We have also contributed £1.5m to the single point of contact pilot scheme with NHS England, so young people can access high quality, joined up support.”

Notes to editors

For the first time in NHS history, we are giving mental and physical health conditions equal priority in law.

We have increased overall mental health funding to £11.7 billion in     2014/15. This includes £1.4 billion for improving children and young     people’s mental health over the next five years – with £150 million for     eating disorders

We have introduced treatment and waiting time targets for mental     health for the first time so people get the care they need when they need it (including psychosis, eating disorders and IAPT services)

We are helping more people than ever before receive talking     therapies - Over 3 million people have entered treatment through the     Improving Access for Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, with more than 700,000 reaching recovery.

In addition, the Department of Health is working with charities such as Time to Change, which works to tackle stigma. Because of the     campaign, 2.5 million people have improved their attitudes to mental     health illness, which has translated into improved behaviours towards     people with mental ill-health.

#mentalhealth

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The Prime Minister’s GP Challenge Fund

This study shows the success of the PM Challenge Fund — delivering 400,000 evening and weekend appointments and reducing minor A&E visits by 15 per cent. 

By 2020 this approach will be rolled out across the country as part of our plan for a seven day NHS. 

It is a shame that the BMA and RCGP aren’t celebrating the thousands of innovative doctors committed to ensuring patients can access healthcare when and where they need it.

Patients tell us they want to be able to get a GP appointment in the evenings and on weekends. Speaking about the scheme, this patient in Herefordshire said:

“To visit my Doctor I need childcare but now I can visit on a Sunday I am able to leave with my Mum. It really has been a great help.”

And this patient in Darlington said:

“I think this trial should be common practice, as it’s too hard to get an appointment to fit in with my shifts.”

And here’s another in Bristol and South Gloucestershire:

“Normally I struggle getting a doctor’s appointment due to work or the appointments available - the online system makes it easier to speak to a doctor and gain advice, and if need be provide an appointment to suit.”

A second wave of pilots already underway with an even stronger focus on extending access and we are looking forward to seeing the results.

Highlights from the report include: 

During the week 4.9 million patients have access to a new or enhanced GP appointment service after core working hours during the week due to Challenge Fund investment in Wave One

At the weekend 5.4 million patients now have access to a new or enhanced GP appointment service due to Challenge Fund investment in Wave One

Approximately 400,000 additional appointments have been provided in extended hours to patients across the pilot schemes

Approximately 520,000 additional appointments have been provided in core hours to patients across the pilot schemes 

Through the pilots, 1.9 million patients now have access to telephone appointments

Six pilots have trialled GP e-consultations, benefitting over 250,000 patients 

Six pilots have introduced online diagnostic and/or video consultation tools for more than 270,000 patients

#7dayNHS

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Health minister to announce largest ever campaign on young people’s mental health

The largest ever national campaign aimed at young people to reduce stigma around mental health issues will be announced by Health Minister Alistair Burt.

Speaking at the King’s Fund, he will also announce the launch of a new website designed in collaboration with young people to provide information and support those with mental health issues such as eating disorders.

He will also announce the first survey since 2004 of young people’s mental health, which will help shape services across the country, a new £500,000 innovation fund for new digital tools to support young people’s mental health, and staff training so they are better able to recognise young people who have suffered from online victimisation.

This builds on the government’s £1.4 billion investment over the next five years to tackle children and young people’s mental health, of which £173 million will be spent this year, including £30 million on eating disorders.

Minister for Community and Social Care Alistair Burt will say:

"I am proud to announce the biggest transformation to young people’s mental health and one of the greatest investments the sector has seen…

“The largest ever national anti-stigma campaign for young people and their parents will launch next month. We will be working alongside Time to Change on a campaign specifically targeted on the places where young people spend their time online.

“This is something that young people have asked for – better information about mental health, tailored specifically for them, online.

“And I am pleased to say that we are doing exactly that. Today we have launched a new section of NHS Choices which specifically focuses on youth mental health.”

The new survey will be run by one of the country’s leading independent social research institutes, NatCen, in partnership with the Office for National Statistics. It will speak to almost 10,000 young people aged between 2-19 years old and their families to find out the prevalence of mental health issues in the population. It will also examine the issues that lead to mental ill health, like bullying and other social pressures.

This will be used to improve community based services so that young people are helped earlier and are less likely to need to go into hospital. This is supported by a new standard for eating disorders specifically for young people, aiming to get 95 per cent seen within four weeks or one week for urgent cases by 2020.

Alistair Burt is expected to say:

“We are commissioning the first national survey of children and young people’s mental health and I’m pleased to announce today that NatCen and the Office for National Statistics have been selected to conduct the survey, and will start work immediately.

“It will be much bigger than previous data – involving nearly 10,000 children aged 2-19, their parents, carers and teachers. From this, we will be able to estimate how many children in the population are living with a mental disorder. It will also examine the issues that lead to mental ill health, like bullying or other social pressures.”

The training for NHS frontline staff will be produced in partnership with MindEd and Xenzone to provide health professionals with a trusted and accessible way to better understand and respond to the digital risks facing young people today.

Alistair Burt is expected to say:

“This hasn’t been designed by a bunch of middle-aged civil servants around an old wooden table. This has been designed directly with young people – their fingerprints are everywhere, and they need to be if want this site to have any cut-through with them.

“Young people want health professionals to have a better understanding about online risks, so that they could understand the world that they are growing up in. On average, young people spend 27 hours a week online – so they are a much a part of their digital world as they are the physical one.”

As part of the next steps to improve services, all areas in the country have submitted plans to transform their mental health provisions and will receive funding to take these plans forward.

We are committed to radical improvements, with an investment of £1.4 billion over the next five years, some of which that will be given direct to local areas.

Speaking at the event, Education and Childcare Minister, Sam Gyimah, the first DfE Minister with specific responsibility for mental health, said:

“Mental health remains a huge priority for the government and we know that attainment and good mental health are two sides of the same coin. That’s why we’re working to intervene early and make sure young people are aware of their own mental wellbeing and have strong character and resilience, to give them the best chance in life.

“And why we’ve introduced example lesson plans to go with the PSHE Association guidance on teaching about mental health. We have also invested £4.7m in 17 voluntary sector projects to provide support to children and young people across the country. Our Single Point of contact pilots, working jointly with NHS England, will start providing training next month.  And we are contributing £1.5m to this initiative which will boost joint working on knowledge, identification and referral to make a real difference to the support young people get.

“But I am determined to do more to make sure schools, colleges and children’s services play a key role in transforming how services are delivered.”

Above: Sam Gyimah, Sarah Brennan, Alistiar Burt

#youngmentalhealth #youthmentalhealth

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Department of Health response to the BMA decision to ballot on industrial action in response to the junior doctors’ contract

Health Minister Ben Gummer said:

"I am disappointed that the BMA has decided to put patients at risk by asking hardworking, responsible junior doctors to strike, without even negotiating on their behalf. We have already given absolute assurances that the paybill won't be cut and that hours will go down not up. Far from being left with no option but taking industrial action, the Department and the Royal Colleges have continually urged the BMA to come back to the table since they first walked away last year.”

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Health Minister Ben Gummer’s response to the Guardian article on the opt-out for consultants

Health Minister Ben Gummer said: “Junior doctors are the backbone of the profession who work through the night and at the weekend. In no way have I misled people about doctors’ contracts. The letters refer to newly qualified doctors that have completed training and are eligible to become consultants. The letters also specifically state that Junior Doctors do not have the benefit of an opt-out. It is disappointing that this clear statement has not been repeated. NHS Employers are working with the BMA consultants’ committee to replace the opt-out from non-emergency evening and weekend work in the consultants’ contract with improved safeguards to help ensure there is the same quality of care and right level of senior cover available every day of the week.”

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£2 billion of healthcare deals will benefit patients in the UK, China and around the world

More than £2 billion of healthcare trade deals and collaborations have been signed between Chinese and UK companies, universities, and organisations during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Britain.

Speaking at the Life Science and Healthcare Business Forum, Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman MP, today said that the collaborations will provide benefits that go beyond the populations of China and the UK, and will have a positive effect on global health.

 “These collaborations announced today show how Chinese and UK organisations recognise each other’s potential,” he said. “Together we have a real opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and improve the health outcomes for millions across the globe.”

The trade and investment deals announced at the Life Science and Healthcare Business Forum include:

Annie Barr International: Annie Barr will provide training for care workers working with the elderly in China. Partnership estimated at £16 million 

Glasgow Caledonian University working with CHECK: China UK Health Education Consortium (CHECK) has signed a deal with Beijing Vocational Health School to train nurse teachers and trainers in both UK and China which is worth £ 1million.·         

Counton GMS: Counton GMS working with private UK hospitals to provide specialised hospital treatment for severely ill Chinese patients in the UK. Partnership estimated at £57 million ·         

International Hospital Group: CREC (China Railway Engineering Corporation) have contracted International Hospital Group hospital to build a hospital in South of China. Partnership estimated at £204 million

King’s College London: Kings College London has signed a £10 million contract for nurse training in Nanjing with Nanjing Health Bureau· 

Phynova: Phynova will receive £5million investment from XiangXue Pharmaceutical to support research into TCM and bringing TCM products to the world·         

Sinophi Healthcare: Sinophi will build hospitals in China, four of which will be Sinophi Oncology Centres with top AAA hospitals in China and AVO technology, which will generate £700 million.·         

Sino-UK EID Fund (The Zhong fund): £100 million (initial fund). ·    

United Imaging: United Imaging (Shanghai based Chinese company) has created imaging machines that Cerno (a UK company) will distribute in the UK for use by NHS trusts. Partnership estimated at £58 million

UK-China Technology Fund: Provides ₤50 million in funding for technology from UK institutions that can be commercialized in the Chinese market, with the money being re-cycled into further research & development funding in the UK. The Fund is a collaboration with Isis Innovation, the technology commercialization arm of the University of Oxford, and a UK-China fund management team, which has access to investors, companies and the markets in China.·         

Upper Biotech: Shanghai Upper Biotech has invested £ 2.4 million in Microtest to research and develop the technology of POCT (point of care test), which is a part of In-vitro Diagnostics. ·         

Warwick University: Warwick University is signing a new agreement with Sun Yat-Sen University on precision medicine, and another with the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Centre on training and research including of specialist cancer nurses and digital pathology and co-developing anti-cancer treatments.  

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Newcastle tops list for research studies

More people than ever before are now taking part in ground-breaking clinical research, with Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust topping the list according to new league tables published today. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) league table shows the number of clinical research studies undertaken by each Trust. It also shows the number of people they recruit into those studies. For the fourth year in a row Newcastle has topped the list with 486 studies – an increase of 7 on last year. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has also been recognised, showing the largest increase in research activity. They’ve conducted an additional 52 studies compared to the previous year. Life Sciences Minister George Freeman MP said: “It is great to see that life science research activity across the NHS in England continues to grow. It is only through the fantastic work that the National Institute for Health Research does that we can help to develop exciting new 21st Century cutting edge treatments and technologies. Our world class NHS Research Infrastructure is not only benefiting patients but attracting huge investment to the UK and ensuring we remain a Life Science powerhouse.” Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies said: “Yet again our world class National Institute for Health Research infrastructure has shown that it continues to grow and is providing exciting research projects to benefit our health service. High quality research is vital to bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible and the Clinical Research Network is proving to be a real success in driving forward this essential work.” The top three Trusts in terms of number of studies are:

• The Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust [486 studies] • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [468 studies] • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust [459 studies]

Trusts achieving the biggest step-change in research activity (study increase) include:

• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Acute [52 study increase] • University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Acute [40 study increase] • King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Acute [40 study increase] • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Acute [37 study increase] • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Acute [35 study increase] The clinical research league table is available at: https://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/leaguetable. Patients and carers who want to find out more about clinical research can visit:  https://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/can-help/patients-carers-public.

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Launch of the largest flu vaccination programme

A major drive to help people stay well this winter is being launched today (Thursday) by Public Health England and NHS England.

It kicks off with a national flu vaccination programme for children, which this year seeks to help over three million 2-6 year olds, as the programme is extended to children in school years 1 and 2.

For the first time, all our youngest primary school children will be eligible to receive the free nasal spray vaccine, making this the largest school-based vaccination programme in England involving children in 17,000 schools. 

As in previous years, the adult flu vaccine will also be offered for free to those in groups at particular risk of infection and complications from flu. The groups being offered the adult flu vaccine are:

•       Pregnant women

•       Those aged 65 or over

•       Those aged under 65 with long-term conditions

•       Carers [1]

As well as protecting against flu, the NHS Stay Well This Winter campaign will urge people over 65 or those with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease or respiratory illness, to prepare for winter with advice on how to ward off common illnesses.

The NHS ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign urges the public to:

•        Make sure you get your flu jab if eligible.

•        Keep yourself warm - heat your home to least 18 degrees C or (65F) if you can.

•        If you start to feel unwell, even if it’s just a cough or a cold, then get help from your pharmacist quickly before it gets more serious.

•        Make sure you get your prescription medicines before pharmacies close on Christmas Eve.

·         Always take your prescribed medicines as directed.

·        Look out for other people who may need a bit of extra help over winter.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies said:  “Let me be crystal clear – flu kills. For many people it is an unpleasant illness but for the most vulnerable in society – small children, the elderly, those with long-term health problems and for pregnant women – it is extremely dangerous and can be lethal.

“Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from catching flu and I would urge everyone who is offered the vaccine free on the NHS to get vaccinated.”

A pilot programme last year showed vaccinating children had dual benefit; as well as protecting them from flu, it also protects others, such as parents, grandparents and siblings, as children are ‘super spreaders’ and are much more likely to infect others.

Parents are encouraged to complete consent forms in order to allow immunisation teams to administer the nasal spray flu vaccine to their children.  For those children in areas where the vaccination is not offered through schools, they will be offered the vaccination at their local GP or pharmacy.

Professor Paul Cosford, Director for Health Protection and Medical Director at Public Health England (PHE), said: “If you have children aged two, three or four, or in school years 1 and 2, make sure you take up their free flu vaccination this season.

"GPs are offering the vaccine to children aged two to four years and, in the majority of areas in England, it will be offered to children in school years 1 and 2.  The nasal spray vaccination is quick, effective and painless, and remains the best way to help you and your family stay well this winter.”

All frontline NHS staff will once again be offered a free flu jab this season in order to protect themselves and patients from infection. Last year only 54 per cent of staff were vaccinated. NHS leaders are today encouraging them to take up this offer as part of their duty to protect patients and keep them safe.

Professor Dame Sally Davies added: “NHS staff have a duty of care to do everything they can to protect patients – that includes getting vaccinated against the flu so they don’t pass it on. I urge every healthcare worker to make sure they get the jab.”

Commenting on the ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign, Keith Willett, National Director for Acute Care for NHS England said: “We are making sure we give people the information they need to help them to look after themselves and also to know where to go for urgent advice - whether it's pharmacies, NHS Choices, NHS111 or A&E.

“It’s also critical we do what we can to help others stay well.  The elderly compose the largest group admitted to hospital in the winter.  Half live alone and one third never or only occasionally socialise with family or friends.  They, as a result are slow to seek help, and once ill often get too unwell.  This is a golden opportunity for us to look out for our neighbours and ensure they get any help they need.”

The NHS has strengthened planning for winter this year with work starting earlier than ever before. Funding was provided to local health systems via Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in April, and for the first time included in their baseline allocation, to ensure local urgent and emergency care and planned services are sustainable year round.

To improve services for the public over the longer term, the NHS is also forging on with implementing the urgent care review, redesigning the urgent care system to reduce the rise in emergency admissions that have put pressures on hospitals and ensuring the public can get the right care, in the right place, every day of the week. 

Eight areas across the country are trailblazing new approaches to improve the coordination of urgent and emergency care services and work is underway to bring NHS 111 and General Practice Out of Hours services closer together to provide patients with a “new front door” to urgent health care services.

The new service will offer patients improved access to a new 24/7 urgent clinical assessment, advice and treatment service – bringing together NHS 111, GP out of hours and clinical advice.

Public Health England is also publishing its Cold Weather Plan today which further aims to help people stay well this winter. 

Professor Cosford at Public Health England said:  “In colder weather, keeping yourself warm is essential to staying healthy, especially for the very young, older people or those with a chronic illness. There are a range of health problems associated with cold housing and winter weather, but in particular, a cold indoor or outdoor environment can make heart and respiratory problems worse, and can be fatal. This is why our Cold Weather Plan, published today, sets out a series of actions that health and social care organisations, voluntary groups, and individuals can take and plan for cold temperatures to help reduce cold-related illnesses and deaths.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

1.      Earlier in October PHE confirmed that some fluenz vaccine, planned for distribution in the UK, did not meet strict licensing specifications.  Since then, alternative supplies of the nasal spray vaccine have been sought from the US, and are being gradually supplied, to allow the extension of the programme to children in school years 1 and 2 as planned in 2015/16. In common with other vaccination programmes, healthcare professionals are being informed that ordering restrictions may be implemented for temporary periods, or the vaccine may become temporarily unavailable for ordering, while we await further stocks to be delivered. PHE will aim to ensure that any periods of supply disruption are minimised and will provide regular updates to professionals.

2.      PHE’s Cold Weather Plan is available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-plan-cwp-for-england

3.      For more information on the 2015/16 flu vaccination programme contact the Public Health England press office on 0208 327 7901.

4.      Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation's health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health. Website: www.gov.uk/PHE Twitter: @PHE_uk, Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland

5.      Stay Well This Winter is run in partnership with Public Health England, the Trust Development Authority, Monitor and the Department of Health. It runs across a range of media including TV, radio, digital, press and poster sites. For more information please visit the website at www.nhs.uk/staywell

6.      There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. Find out more here:  www.gov.uk/phe/keep-warm

·     [1] Those receiving a carer's allowance, or who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill

#staywellthiswinter flu fluvaccine

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90% of hospices rated good or outstanding by CQC - Ben Gummer thanks staff and volunteers

Health Minister Ben Gummer said:

"Thanks to the commitment and hard work of staff, carers and volunteers across England, it is encouraging that the majority of hospices are already providing the high quality care patients deserve.

"But we are determined to go even further to make sure people get excellent care wherever they die and are clear that staff must always involve patients and families in decisions, regularly review their treatment and make ensure their wishes are respected.

“We want a truly seven day NHS, including the highest quality care, 24 hours, seven days a week for everyone at the end of life.”

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Department of Health responds to new report which ranks the UK as Number 1 in Quality of Death Index

Health Minister Ben Gummer said:

"Thanks to our health and care staff and carers working tirelessly, it is very encouraging that we are already providing world leading end of life care.

"But we are determined to go even further and are clear that doctors and nurses must always involve patients and families in decisions about their care, regularly review their treatment and make sure patients' wishes are respected.

"We want a truly seven day NHS, including high quality care, 24 hours, seven days a week for everyone at the end of life.”

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George Freeman welcomes new data sharing regulations that come into force today

Commenting on the new regulations under the The Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Act 2015, Life Sciences Minister George Freeman MP said:

“This is great news for patients and their carers, who all too often have to repeat their diagnosis at each stage of treatment.  So we are mandating that all health and care providers make sure the next person treating the patient knows their history.  

“Having an up to date patient record is vital for patient safety, reducing misdiagnosis or treatment errors, and empowering patients and their carers and loved ones with up to date information on their care.

“By making a patient’s record available digitally we are empowering patients, facilitating integrated NHS and social care and underlining our commitment to use the power of data for the benefit of all in a 21st century NHS."

Further details of today’s regulations:

Sharing patient information is vital to improve safety across the health and social care system and we know that staff provide the best and safest care when they work together and share information.

That’s why from today there will be a legal requirement for health and adult social care organisations to share information with each other when they are working together to provide direct care and treatment to a patient.

This is great news for patients and their carers. It means that health and care professionals must update a patient's record and make sure that the next person to treat them knows the full details of their history.

This will mean that patients will only have to tell their story once. The new duties will give patients the confidence that the person caring for them has the information they need to deliver the best possible care.

Poor care or mistakes are more likely to happen when professionals are not fully aware of a patient’s full details.

For example if a paramedic is taking a patient to a care home after a hospital stay, they should have to share the information they have gathered about that patient. The care home should know exactly what information has been gathered about the patient during their hospital stay.

To help make sure this is happening health professionals will now have to use a patient’s NHS Number as a single identifier to ensure the information they share.

Using the NHS Number when sharing information reduces the chance of mistakes happening, driving up patient safety and making the sharing of information between different care settings much more efficient.

The new requirements enshrine in law what is already good practice – that health and care services should communicate with each other about the wishes and needs of the patients they care for.

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Department of Health statement on the Health Secretary's meeting with BMA Junior Doctors' Committee

A Department of Health spokesperson said:

“At an introductory meeting with the new Chair of the JDC, the Secretary of State stressed the need for higher standards for patients and doctors in order to address the 11,000 excess deaths a year owing to the weekend effect. He gave firm assurances that no savings will be made from the junior doctors’ paybill, and that average earnings will not go down. We will write to the BMA in the coming days to confirm our position – but as the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have said today, the best way forward is for the JDC to return to negotiations.”