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Content ArticleHealth Education England (HEE) commissioned the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to undertake the development of a training programme to meet the medical needs of adults with a learning disability. The training programme consists of two modules and applicants are expected to complete both modules which will result in a post graduate certificate. The second module is under development but will be available in the autumn of 2023. Funded places for both modules are available.
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News Article
More than 1.3bn adults will have diabetes by 2050, study predicts
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The number of adults living with diabetes worldwide will more than double by 2050, according to research that blames rapidly rising obesity levels and widening health inequalities. New estimates predict the number will rise from 529 million in 2021 to more than 1.3 billion in 2050. No country is expected to see a decline in its diabetes rate over the next 30 years. The findings were published in The Lancet and The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journals. Experts described the data as alarming, saying diabetes was outpacing most diseases globally, presenting a significant threat to people and health systems. “Diabetes remains one of the biggest public health threats of our time and is set to grow aggressively over the coming three decades in every country, age group and sex, posing a serious challenge to healthcare systems worldwide,” said Dr Shivani Agarwal, of the Montefiore Health System and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The research authors wrote: “Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors.” Structural racism experienced by minority ethnic groups and “geographic inequity” were accelerating rates of diabetes, disease, illness and death around the world, the authors said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 22 June 2023 -
Content Article
The Child Health Clinical Outcome Review Programme has produced this review of the barriers and facilitators in transitioning children and young people with complex chronic health conditions into adult health services. Based on data on children and young people with one of 12 complex conditions identified from a sample period between 1st October 2019 and 31st March 2021, the report concludes that there is no clear pathway for the transition from healthcare services for children and young people to adult healthcare services. The report finds that the process of transition and subsequent transfer is often fragmented, both within and across specialties, and that adult services often sit only with primary care. It argues that developmentally appropriate healthcare should be everyone’s responsibility, with adequate resources needed to allow this to happen. The Inbetweeners also calls for services to: involve young people and parent/carers in transition planning and transition to adult services improve communication and coordination between all specialties be organised to enable young people to transfer to adult services effectively, and provide strong leadership at Board and specialty level at all stages of transition and transfer. The report’s recommendations highlight areas that are suitable for regular local clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives by those providing care to this group of patients. It suggests that the results of such work should be presented at quality or governance meetings, and action plans to improve care should be shared with executive boards. -
Content ArticleThe MindEd all-age eating disorders hub is aimed at all professionals, from universal to specialist. It contains key trusted evidence-based learning, curated and approved by an expert panel. The hub contains the following information:NHS policy guidanceProfessional bodies' guidanceProfessional associations' reportsCharitiesNHS learning and good practiceLegislation and reportsKey and influential textsUnder-served populations
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News ArticleMore than 26,000 adults with severe mental illness die prematurely each year from preventable physical illnesses, analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests. New data from the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities shows 120,273 adults in England with severe mental illness, including psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia, died before the age of 75 between 2018 and 2020. Of these, the College estimates 80,182 deaths (two in three) were potentially preventable, which is an average of 26,727 people each year. Preventable deaths include deaths from diseases like cancer and heart disease which could have been prevented with earlier detection and treatment or lifestyle changes. While adults with severe mental illness are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours like smoking and drinking alcohol excessively, they are also less likely to access screening and treatment for a range of reasons including stigma associated with having a mental illness. While cancer is the leading cause of premature death among those with a severe mental illness, it also significantly increases the risk of dying before the age of 75 across a range of physical health conditions. Adults with severe mental illness are on average: 6.6 times more likely to die prematurely from respiratory disease 6.5 times more likely to die prematurely from liver disease 4.1 times more likely to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease 2.3 times more likely to die prematurely from cancer. Read full story Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 May 2023
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Content Article
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. It has a wide range of symptoms and can affect both children and adults—people with ADHD may find it hard to focus on or complete tasks, feel restless or impatient, experience impulsiveness and find it hard to organise their time and their things.[1] ADHD can have devastating mental health implications and research studies have linked ADHD to increased suicide and mortality rates. This means that being unable to access effective treatment can be a patient safety risk for people with ADHD. In this blog, Lotty Tizzard, Patient Safety Learning’s Content and Engagement Manager, explores the state of ADHD diagnosis and treatment in the UK. She looks at why many are concerned about the waiting times for adults and children seeking an ADHD assessment and speaks to Elsa*, who was diagnosed with ADHD in her 30s, about her experiences. *Name changed -
Community Post
Long waits for ADHD diagnosis and treatment - share your experience
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a topic in Conditions
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The impact of living with undiagnosed ADHD can be significant, but adults and children in the UK are sometimes having to wait years for an initial ADHD assessment. Have you been diagnosed with ADHD? Are you or your child on a waiting list for ADHD diagnosis or treatment? Or are you a healthcare professional that works with people with ADHD? Please share your experiences of assessment and diagnosis with us. You'll need to be a hub member to comment below, it's quick, easy and free to do. You can sign up here. You can read more about the issues related to ADHD diagnosis in this blog: Long waits for ADHD diagnosis and treatment are a patient safety issue- Posted
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News Article
'Dire' situation for adults waiting for ADHD diagnosis in NI
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Adults in Northern Ireland seeking assessment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are being forced to go private because of a dire lack of referral services in some areas, a charity has said. Some health trusts have not been able to accept new referrals for adult assessment and diagnosis. ADHD charities said a lack of services or even waiting lists has forced many people to pay for a private diagnosis. The charity's chief executive Sarah Salters added that some people who do get a private diagnosis cannot then get medication from their GP through the NHS. The Department of Health said officials "are considering longer-term arrangements" for ADHD services, with future decisions "likely to be subject to ministerial approval and availability of funding". Read full story Source: BBC News, 2 April 2023 -
News Article
Three in four patients not seen within new target time
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Data revealed for the first time shows nearly three-quarters of adult patients needing community mental health care are waiting more than four weeks for treatment to start, which is the timeframe that NHS England wants to introduce as a national standard. Figures shared with HSJ also show two-thirds of children needing community care are waiting more than four weeks from referral to treatment. In 2021, NHS England proposed a series of new waiting time standards in mental health, including a four-week standard for non-urgent community care. A lack of new funding, as well as data recording problems, mean the new standards have not so far been introduced, and no timeline set for implementation. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 14 March 2023 -
Content ArticleThis infographic explains the role community health services play in the NHS healthcare system.
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Content Article
The King's Fund: Social care 360 (2 March 2023)
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Social care
The King's Fund has launched the latest edition of their annual Social Care 360 report analysing the 12 key trends in adult social care in England. The year’s report paints a picture of a worsening crisis in adult social care with more requests for publicly funded social care in England than ever before, while the number of people receiving it continues to fall. -
News Article
Age discrimination leading to avoidable eating disorder deaths, government warned
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The government must end “age discrimination” against eating disorder patients that is causing avoidable deaths, experts have warned. A cross-party parliamentary group and the Royal College of Psychiatrists are calling for access targets to make sure adults with eating disorders get treated within a set time. The demands come after the healthcare watchdog said patients were dying while waiting to be seen. Wera Hobhouse, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group, and Agnes Ayton, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ eating disorder committee, said the targets must be equal to those for children, which were set in 2016. According to the Health Service Journal, 19 patients under the care of inpatient and community eating disorder services have died since 2017. A senior coroner in Norfolk also highlighted failings in 2019 and sent a warning to both NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care, over the deaths of five young women. Read full story Source: The Independent, 1 March 2023 To support Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we have pulled together eight useful resources to help healthcare professionals, friends and family support people with eating disorders: Top picks: Eight resources on eating disorders -
Content ArticleThis report by the thinktank Public Policy Projects makes a series of recommendations to national government, local government, care providers and technology providers which, if implemented, will aid in the digitisation of the care sector for the benefit of people being supported and cared for, the social care workforce, and the NHS. Digital transformation across the adult social care sector is happening at a rapid pace. Despite being initially slower to adopt technology than colleagues working in the NHS and other health settings, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic the care sector has been quick to adopt digital social care recording (DSCR) systems, alongside a range of transformative assistive and support technology. In the face of the immense strain on England’s social care system, due to an ageing population combined with chronic funding and workforce challenges, the effective implementation of the right technology could support the people providing care and support and those in receipt of support and provides an opportunity for a better quality of life.
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News Article
Prescribing antidepressants for chronic pain lacks evidence, experts say
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Researchers have warned there is a lack of evidence around prescribing antidepressants for chronic pain. Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in 2021 recommends that an antidepressant (amitriptyline, citalopram, duloxetine, fluoxetine, paroxetine or sertraline) can be considered for people aged 18 and over with pain lasting longer than three months which cannot be accounted for by another diagnosis. The guidance said the drugs may help with quality of life, pain, sleep and psychological distress, even if the patient is not suffering depression. A separate guideline on neuropathic (nerve) pain recommends offering a choice of treatments, including amitriptyline and duloxetine, alongside a discussion on possible benefits and side-effects. However, researchers writing in the BMJ have warned that recommending antidepressants for pain is not always backed by evidence. Professor Martin Underwood from the University of Warwick, said: “There is a role for antidepressants in helping people living with chronic pain, however, this is more limited than previously thought. “Antidepressants may have unpleasant side effects that patients may wish to avoid. “We need to work harder to help people manage their pain and live better, without relying on the prescription pad.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 1 February 2023 -
Content ArticleChronic pain is common and debilitating, affecting about one in five people globally. However, chronic pain can be difficult to treat, and management is often suboptimal. The 2021 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline for chronic primary pain explicitly recommends against the use of pain medicines, with the exception of antidepressants. To provide patients and clinicians with an updated and comprehensive resource on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of antidepressants to treat pain, Ferreira et al. conducted an overview of relevant systematic reviews. The study found no review could provide high certainty evidence on the effectiveness of antidepressants for pain for any condition. Nine reviews did provide evidence that some antidepressants were effective, such as moderate evidence suggesting serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine, were effective for back pain, post-operative pain, fibromyalgia and nerve pain. However, the study only found low certainty evidence that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were effective for people with depression and pain related to other conditions, and that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were effective for irritable bowel syndrome, nerve pain and chronic tension-type headaches. The findings suggest that a more nuanced approach is needed when prescribing antidepressants for pain conditions.
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News Article
One in eight UK adults using private medical care due to NHS delays
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
One in eight adults in the UK have paid for private medical care in the last year because of long delays in getting NHS treatment, renewing fears that the NHS is becoming “a two-tier system”. “Around one in eight (13%) adults reported they had paid for private medical care, with 5% using private insurance and 7% paying for the treatment themselves,” according to a new report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Patients also say that waiting for tests or treatment is badly affecting them, including making their illness worse. The ONS survey of 2,510 adults across the UK found that one in five were waiting for an appointment, test or treatment at an NHS hospital. Of those in that situation: Three-quarters said their delay had had either a strongly (34%) or slightly (42%) negative impact on their life 36% said waiting had made their condition worse 59% said it had damaged their wellbeing A third said long waits had affected either their mobility (33%) or ability to exercise (34%) Read full story Source: The Guardian, 16 December 2022 -
Content ArticleThe Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme began in 2008 and has transformed the treatment of adult anxiety disorders and depression in England. IAPT services offer: talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.
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Content ArticleThe National Vascular Registry, which measures the quality and outcomes of care for adult patients who undergo major vascular procedures in the NHS, has published its latest annual report. This report provides comparative information on five major emergency and elective vascular interventions between 2019 and 2021: Repair of aortic aneurysms, including elective infra-renal, ruptured infra-renal, and more complex aneurysms Lower limb bypass Lower limb angioplasty/stenting Major lower limb amputation Carotid endarterectomy The report also includes the results from an organisational audit of NHS vascular services in 2022.
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Content ArticleThis National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline covers the components of a good patient experience. It aims to make sure that all adults using NHS services have the best possible experience of care. It includes recommendations on: knowing the patient as an individual. essential requirements of care. tailoring healthcare services for each patient. continuity of care and relationships. enabling patients to actively participate in their care, including communication and information.
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Content Article'State of Care' is the Care Quality Commission's annual assessment of health care and social care in England. The report looks at the trends, shares examples of good and outstanding care, and highlights where care needs to improve.
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Content ArticleThis report from Skills for Care provides a comprehensive analysis of the adult social care workforce in England and the characteristics of the 1.50 million people working in it. Topics covered include recent trends in workforce supply and demand, employment information, recruitment and retention, demographics, pay, qualification rates and future workforce forecasts.
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News Article
NHS eating disorder services forced to ‘exclude’ patients and ‘ration care’
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Patients are being excluded from life-saving eating disorder treatment as services are severely underfunded, experts have warned. Adult eating disorder services are so severely underfunded and understaffed that they are having to employ rationing measures and turn away patients, leading psychiatrist Dr Agnes Ayton told The Independent. In their research, Dr Ayton and 22 other psychiatrists found that in 2019-20, just 31% of eating disorder services accepted all patients, regardless of the level of illness. The researchers warned that the situation had become more serious following the pandemic, which had driven a “worsening of the demand and capacity” crisis across the services. Experts have called for emergency funding to meet the needs of adult patients with eating disorders, and say that these services should be receiving at least £7m per million population each year to meet standards. Dr Ayton warned that patients who are “literally on death’s door” are not getting care when they need it. Read full story Source: The Independent, 25 September 2022 -
News Article
Panel says US adults should get routine screening for anxiety
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
For the first time, a US government-backed expert panel has recommended that adults under 65 should be screened for anxiety disorders. The influential US Preventive Services Task force also said that all adults should be checked for depression, consistent with past guidance. The change follows widespread warnings from experts on the mental health toll of the Covid-19 pandemic. The task force stopped short of a screening recommendation for suicide. The panel acknowledged that suicide is a leading cause of death among American adults but said there was "not enough evidence on whether screening people without signs or symptoms will ultimately help prevent suicide". The draft guidance is aimed at young and middle-aged adults, including those who are pregnant and post-partum. It envisions the mental health screening as part of routine visits with primary care physicians, said Dr Lori Pbert, a task-force member and professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School. "When you go to your primary care provider, you get screened for many, many preventive conditions - blood pressure, heart rate, all kinds of things," she said. "Mental health conditions are just important as other physical conditions, and we really need to be treating mental health conditions with the same urgency that we do other conditions." Read full story Source: BBC News, 20 September 2022 -
News Article
Adult social care in England is in crisis, say Tory council leaders
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Adult social care in England is in serious crisis, Tory council leaders have warned the government, as it faces a £3.7bn funding gap and a growing staffing shortage that has brought many local care providers to the brink of collapse. The intervention by the County Councils Network, which represents 36 mainly Tory-run authorities, comes amid widespread local government concern over the increasing fragile state of social care. Care costs have accelerated recently, fuelled by unexpected wage and energy inflation. “We face the perfect storm of staffing shortages, fewer care beds, and higher costs – all of which will impact on individuals waiting for care and discharges from hospital,” said Martin Tett, the Tory leader of Buckinghamshire county council. Cathie Williams, the chief executive of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “Too many people are missing out on vital care and support – we estimate that over half a million people are waiting for assessments, care, or reviews. With over 165,000 staff vacancies, this is only set to get worse. ” A government spokesperson said: “The health and social care secretary is focused on delivering for patients and has set out her four priorities of A, B, C, D – reducing ambulance delays, busting the Covid backlogs, improving care, and increasing the number of doctors and dentists. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 21 September 2022 -
Content ArticleThese tools and resources from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) accompany the NICE guidance on Hypothermia: prevention and management in adults having surgery. Resources available for download include: Audit and service improvement baseline assessment tool Implementation support advice document Education information Shared learning information Practical steps to improving the quality of care and services using NICE guidance
