National Health Service

[SteveH]

Am I seeing a physician associate or a doctor? How to tell and why it matters
Healthcare professionals must clearly explain their roles to patients to help them understand who is treating them and what to expect, say experts

Almost a quarter of people do not know the difference between a physician associate and a doctor, a new poll has shown. While 52% of people can differentiate between the two roles, some 23% said they did not know the difference, according to a survey conducted for Healthwatch England.

“Physician associates are healthcare professionals who work under the supervision of a senior doctor, such as a hospital consultant or a GP,” explained William Pett, head of policy and research at Healthwatch England. “They are trained to perform various clinical duties, such as taking medical histories, conducting physical examinations and helping with treatment plans.

Their training includes a three-year undergraduate degree in a health-related field, followed by a two-year postgraduate qualification. This training is less comprehensive than the ten years typically required to become a fully qualified doctor.
cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/whats-a-physician-associate-and-can-i-ask-for-a-doctor-instead?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


Pressures on GPs in Wales "heartbreaking"
A GP has had his say on current pressures following a survey that suggested 91 per cent of GPs in Wales can't meet patient demand.

The survey by BMA Cymru Wales, conducted in April, revealed that 91 per cent of GPs are routinely unable to meet patient demand due to unsustainably high workloads affecting appointment availability.

In addition, 87 per cent fear this is impacting patient safety following the closure of 100 surgeries since 2012.

With 100 fewer surgeries for patients to turn to, GPs now see up to 35 per cent more patients each, causing unsustainably high workloads and burnout.
cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24475128.pressures-gps-wales-heartbreaking-says-bma/

[SteveH]

The government and the BMA trade union have struck an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years.

The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee has agreed to put the offer to its members.

If accepted it would spell an end to long-running strike action which has led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments since March 2023.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the offer marked "the start of a new relationship" between the government and NHS staff.

Addressing the Commons, the chancellor Rachel Reeves said industrial action in the NHS had cost taxpayers £1.7bn last year.
"Today marks the start of a new relationship between the government and staff working in the NHS," she said. "The whole country will welcome that."

Meeting the recommendations of independent pay review bodies for the public sector would cost an extra £9bn this year, she added, which would be paid for in part by asking government departments to find £3bn worth of savings.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjqe82lk5g5o

[SteveH]

It had been the NHS’s longest-running and bitterest pay dispute - responsible for hundreds of thousands of cancelled operations and appointments.

And then, suddenly, word came on Monday that the British Medical Association was recommending that its 50,000 junior doctor members accept a fresh offer from the new government.

It sounded almost too good to be true. And now some are wondering if it might be................

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c19kdyyxzr3o

[SteveH]

A new vaccination programme aimed at protecting newborn babies and older adults against a dangerous respiratory disease is now being rolled out in Scotland.

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunisation programme begins on Monday morning, and will be offered in the other UK nations from September.

RSV is common and highly infectious. It affects the breathing system and can cause severe illness in vulnerable groups, including infants and older people.

It is the leading cause of emergency respiratory admissions to hospital in infants.

In 2022-23, more than 1,500 infants under the age of one and more than 500 people aged 75 and over were hospitalised with RSV, according to Public Health Scotland.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjw307jv05vo

[SteveH]

HOSPITAL patients in North Wales are being provided with a new service aiming to make them fitter and stronger ahead of operations.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s “prehabilitation” course comprises a number of supervised exercise and wellbeing sessions.

It tries to increase patients’ chances of getting through their operation with fewer complications, and to improve their understanding of the pre- and post-operative process.

The service also provides support on wellbeing and lifestyle, and helps patients prepare for and recover from their surgery more quickly.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24530004.prehabilitation-service-helps-north-wales-patients-operations/

[SteveH]

THE emergency department (ED) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has been de-escalated from its “service requiring significant improvement” status following a new inspection.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) identified the Bodelwyddan hospital’s ED as a service requiring significant improvement in May 2022.

But after an inspection between April 29 and May 1, 2024, HIW has filed a new report recommending that the ED be de-escalated.

The report recognised the work which has been done by Glan Clwyd’s clinical leaders to improve the ED.
https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24533931.tangible-positive-progress-glan-clwyds-emergency-department/
Read more

[Ian]

Two paragraphs stand out:

 "However, significant challenges remain for a service which continues to operate in highly challenging conditions.

"Whilst some of these challenges are not unique to this service, there are still actions for the health board to take to lessen the impact of these on the service and ensure a coherent and robust whole-system approach is taken to improving the flow of patients through the ED.

Couple of questions: are any of the highly challenging conditions related to funding? Secondly,  if there are still actions for the health board to take have these been spelt out to and debated with the management responsible? If not, why not?

Very easy to criticise but less easy to identify solutions...

[Ian]

It's often true that with Tories, although the expenditure on vital infrastructure seems significant, surprising albeit predictable, things emerge. 

[SteveH]

It's often true that with Tories, although the expenditure on vital infrastructure seems significant, surprising albeit predictable, things emerge. 

Ian, can you spell it out for me, is this purely a data company and how would it help the NHS?, also outsourcing millions to an American company, when it could put to better use in the UK. 


PS
Welsh hospital waiting lists reach record high, figures show
cont https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24535916.welsh-hospital-waiting-lists-reach-record-high-figures-show/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Ian]

It's often true that with Tories, although the expenditure on vital infrastructure seems significant, surprising albeit predictable, things emerge. 

Ian, can you spell it out for me, is this purely a data company and how would it help the NHS?, also outsourcing millions to an American company, when it could put to better use in the UK. 

Well, it's the usual problem: colossal quantities of tax-payers cash has been handed over to US companies without scrutiny or competitive tendering and the plan is to allow these companies unfettered access to patient details. The motive is almost always financial and tracking who, exactly, benefits from this outpouring of cash is very difficult when dealing with the US.

This quote sums things up rather nicely:

"Sam Smith, coordinator at health privacy campaign group medConfidential, said: "The culture of cover-up continues. NHS England will only offer privacy, transparency, or be trustworthy when they're forced to by legal action. NHS England will do to Palantir what the Post Office did to Fujitsu." "

[SteveH]

Thanks for that Ian, I wonder how many more times I will be surprised by unqualified politicians making huge cock ups...  :'(

[SteveH]

'I'm an NHS doctor – there are five things I'd never do after working in A&E'

NHS doctor Arthur Joustra shared five things he would simply never do after working in the emergency department - and some of the insights might actually surprise you

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/im-nhs-doctor--five-29794158?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

A health board under special measures has overpaid an executive board member for the second successive year.

According to an Audit Wales report, external, "irregular payments" totalling £39,259.62 were made to Steve Webster, an interim executive finance director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last year.

The health board said "real progress has been made since these events", with a "renewed concentration" on managing its finances.

Last year, Gaynor Thomason earned more than three times the maximum allowed for her role as interim director of nursing and midwifery at the board.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjw3xj71n86o

[SteveH]

A Denbighshire construction firm has secured the enabling works at the new £15.8m orthopaedic hub at Llandudno Hospital. Wynne Construction has been on site since March to build two new orthopaedic theatres and extend the radiology unit, as well as carry out the refurbishment of the existing Aberconwy Ward and x-ray department.

The latest contract, which was awarded by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), will see its team also deliver upgrades to the car park and hospital infrastructure in addition to constructing an energy centre to power the hospital.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-firm-wins-new-29915301?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

No extra NHS funding without reform, says PM
There will be no extra NHS funding without reform, Sir Keir Starmer says, as he promised to draw up a new 10-year plan for the health service.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w6g0gzw40o


Why Starmer’s NHS reforms may give you a sense of deja-vu
Across more than 150 pages, NHS surgeon and independent peer Lord Darzi sets out in clear, painstaking detail the failings of the NHS in England.
But that is the easy bit – fixing it is an altogether different challenge.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlrljjz884o