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New standards set for neonatal care
The Department of Health have recently published new standards for the care of sick babies following criticism a number of years back by the National Audit Office.
The most significant changes are that one-to-one care is suggested for babies in intensive care, one-to-two nursing for babies in the high dependency units and one-to-four care for all others.
The Department of Health have also said that they wish to see 24 hour specialist transfer teams in every special care unit.
This is obviously a step in the right direction as it is important that seriously ill babies are provided with the level of care that is necessary. However, it is worrying that these standards have been set without the input of any further funding.
The full report can be found here.
Arthritis drug increases risk of shingles
It has recently been suggested that common arthritis drugs can double the risk of shingles.
The German study revealed that 82 patients out of a trial of 5000m developed shingles. 39 outbreaks coincided with the use of anti-TNF drugs
Contaminated vaccine scare
Novartis, the manufacture of the meningitis C vaccine, has withdrawn thousands of doses of the vaccine due to contamination fears.
A number of batches were found to be contaminated with staphylococcus aureus bacteria sparking a mass recall of the vaccine.
Hip screening failing.
Research by the charity Steps has found that a staggering 57% of PCTs do not have policies in place for hip screening at birth.
£700m Medical Negligence Bill
It has recently been reported that the NHS face a bill of over £700m in 2010, a rise of over 80%.
Invasion of privacy?
Under the recent NHS Proposals, scientists will be allowed access to health records to identify participants for their research. They may then directly invite individuals with certain conditions to take part in trials of a new drug, without using doctors as intermediaries.
Many campaigners have attacked these proposals as an invasion of patients' privacy.
What do you think?
Medical Negligence Magazine
Wrong kidney removed in hospital blunder
A hospital has recently admitted to an ‘unprecedented error’ in removing a child’s healthy kidney.
The hospital in the Republic of Ireland removed the kidney from an already sick child and has apologised to the family. The child will now require regular dialysis until a donor can be found.
These types of errors are unforgivable and should not happen. The only excuse is poor procedures within the hospital.
‘High mortality rates’ at NHS Trust
The Healthcare Commission has recently announced that it will be launching an investigation in to high mortality rates at an NHS Trust.
