Is the concept of informal psychiatric admission in jeopardy? A commentary on the current crisis in mental health beds
“There has been a gratifying media response to the excellent investigation conducted by Community Care and the BBC into the drastic shortage of acute psychiatric beds across the country.” The Masked AMHP argues that the cuts in psychiatric beds are leading to unsafe and possibly illegal practices, which could harm patients.
Health service transformation is urgently needed
“The Francis report, mortality rates, the treatment of whistleblowers, relentlessly negative media coverage, and a system crisis over last winter, have combined to create a perfect storm in the NHS.” Dr Mark Newbold makes the case for transformation of the health service.
Discharge is key to emergency care crisis
This blog was first published here on HospitalDr on 20th May The crisis in emergency care has now been acknowledged as a ‘system’ problem, rather than something caused by ‘poorly performing’ acute trusts. I am sure readers of this website have known this all along. It is important this is recognised, so that the right solutions are considered. Of course, […]
Dying matters
This week, it’s Dying Matters awareness week and for the first time, prompted by the amazing Kate Granger via the wonderful tool of Twitter, I have joined the blogosphere. I want to reflect on death and dying and be, in some small way, part of the changing tide that aims to sweep some of the […]
Could do better - MUCH better
“In twelve months it seems that the Home Secretary has spent a considerable amount of time talking to her counterparts but having little or no impact. Her other action was to write to someone else and ask them to deal with it locally.” Nathan Constable argues that if police are required to deal with mental health issues then this needs legislative change and not inaction from the Government.
A good death
Having recently participated in a Radio 4 documentary entitled “How to have a good death” and during preparations for yet another lecture about the media debate surrounding end of life care I’ve been pondering the somewhat abstract concept of a good death a great deal. I was looking after a patient last week who was […]
Where should people be cared for?
An article in the Guardian a few days ago caught my eye. In it Dr Michael Dixon suggests that much of the care currently provided in hospital could be provided at home, or much closer to it. That hospitals should be slimmed down, and that Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), should and will want to move services away from […]
The irreversible process of privatisation of the NHS
Statutory Instrument 257: NHS commissioning regulations 2013 Subsidiary to the Health and Social Care Act 2012 Guide to the content of SI 257 which will enable the process of privatisation and make it irreversible (unless England leaves the EU and World Trade Organisation) The entry into force of the Health and Social Care Act Clause 75 […]
Urgent new threat to the NHS - 5 ways you can help
Right now, the government is trying to sneak through secondary legislation (under Section 75 of the Health & Social Care Act) to force virtually every part of the NHS to be opened up to *compulsory* competitive markets, open to the private sector. We have just over a month to stop them, and we need to […]
Why do we struggle with ‘caring’ in the NHS?
“We know that most hospital staff are competent and compassionate, and we know that staff who feel valued and supported will deliver good care. We also know from staff surveys that morale is low and that somehow, the system all too often acts to demotivate and disengage the staff who work within it.” Following the Francis report, Dr Mark Newbold tries to understand why there are still concerns about care in the NHS.