Review Calls for End of Unfair Split Between NHS and Social Care

The Barker Commission has come up with radical proposals for an overhaul and merger of the social care systems. It says a merger of the two systems was needed because the ageing population and rise in long-term illnesses had blurred the lines between the two and was now causing "distress and unfairness".

For the full article see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29047190

Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Warn of Funding Issues

The Trust has warned it is struggling to provide a "safe and effective" service and called for fundamental changes. As with many Government departments savings are having to be found. The trust has had to make £20m of savings over the last two years, but is still facing a £1m deficit this year.

The area the Trust covers includes Care Minister MP Norman Lamb's constituency. Mr Lamb believes the new NHS Standards being introduced by the Government could prove a "breakthrough" in giving mental health a "fair deal". He blamed the last Labour Government which had excluded mental health from the same standards as physical health. Mr Lamb said "This injustice inevitably means that funding for physical health is prioritised over mental health at a local level. We are now rectifying this unfairness," and went on to say "I am currently working closely with NHS England to agree details of how key access and waiting time standards for mental health services can be established starting next April.I believe that this could bring a real breakthrough in making sure that mental health gets a fair deal."

Gary Page, chair of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said "We welcome the pledge from the Government about parity of esteem between physical and mental health but that needs to be translated into a fundamental change in the way mental health services are funded. In the acute sector, the amount of funding a hospital receives is linked to how many patients it treats." He went on to explain that "In mental health, we get a fixed amount each year irrespective of whether or not demand is increasing. At the moment, we continue to believe the care we are providing is safe and effective but we can't continue to provide that level of service (under present funding arrangements)."

Mental Health Beds Cut

BBC news has reported plans to cut mental health beds which a campaign group has criticised. The local Clinical Commissioning Group plans are being scrutinised by Norfolk County Councillors. Plans are being considered to cut 20 Norfolk and Suffolk mental health beds and a suite to assess people who may need to be detained. 

The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Suffolk and Norfolk said the beds and the suite in Carlton Court in Lowestoft were vital to keep. It seems to be a continued process of more care in the community purely cost cutting. For the full article see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29054062

Hospital Food-Tough N..

New rules to be brought in for food in Hospitals in England have already been criticized by The Campaign for Better Hospital Food which said the changes were "woefully inadequate" and hard to enforce.




Under new measures being announced by the health secretary a higher standard of food will be expected

The new standards, enforced through legally-binding NHS contracts, will focus on quality, choice and promoting a healthy diet for patients and staff.

Hospitals will also be ranked on the meals they prepare.

See the full article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28966949 

Doctors May be Forced to Apologise

The General Medical Council (GMC), the body who regulate all Doctors in the UK are seeking views of the public and specialist groups on plans being considered to bring in tougher sanctions against Doctors who make mistakes in the care of their patients.



One welcome addition is that a dotor could be forced to apologise if they have previously refused to do so.

See the full new article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28881560

NHS to offer Mediation

The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) has announced a new mediation service to speed up the process for resolving claims the service will offer a face-to-face discussion between the healthcare provider and the patient, supported by an independent and accredited mediator.



During the process, legal rights remain intact and either party can proceed to court if they are unhappy with the outcome.

The NHSLA says the scheme will be an independent and voluntary process for resolving claims against health authorities. Chief executive Catherine Dixon said: ‘We hope that it will help patients, their families and NHS staff resolve concerns quickly and cost-effectively whilst also enabling all the parties to meet to have their say without the need to go to court.’

However Simon Bransby clinical negligence specialist at Morgan Jones & Pett is sceptical."Mediation may help resolve some complaints" he said."However patients often have little understanding of the complex medical issues surrounding their care and any possible legal claim, which the hospital will, so there is a danger of there being no equality of arms. If the patient needs a legal remedy they will need legal assistance. If patients seek mediation as an alternative to seeking expert legal advice on claims there is a real danger they will end up with a serious undervaluing of their claim."

Legal Duty over Resuscitation Orders

The Court of Appeal have delivered a Judgment on a hospital's legal duty on resuscitation and the need for doctors to consult with a patient. See BBC report here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27886265