Back in November Donna Ockenden, the founder of the Four Streets Project, approached Purchases Restaurant in North Street Chichester for help with providing nutritious, tasty and hot food for the homeless people her team work with. Those who are living on the streets are desperate for a hot evening meal and Purchases have been a huge support in creating a tasty and wholesome soup for the cold nights.
News Archive
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) has reported that a number of “significant challenges” remain since being placed in special measures two and a half years ago. Earlier in January 2018 a progress report was presented at a BCUHB Board meeting. The report: Special Measures End of Phase 3 Overview outlines the progress made between December 2016 and November 2017.
More than 18,000 women across 130 NHS trusts were asked by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) if they’d had a positive experience of maternity care. Most women responded positively regarding aspects such as choice of where to give birth, quality of information and access to help and support after giving birth. However, up to one in four are still being left along during labour or birth which conflicts with NHS policy.
An evening reception was recently held at the House of Commons, on Children, Young People and Mental Health: Communicating in an Online World, which was a collaboration between the British Psychology Society (BPS) and the Mental Health Foundation (MHF). The aim was to bring together parliamentarians, practitioners and policy makers interested in children and young people and the impact of social media and digital technology, on their mental health.
Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board (BCUHB) are holding bi-weekly art therapy classes in the foothills of the Snowdonia National Park for people with complex mental health problems. The programme has been designed and run by Pamela Stanley, senior art psychotherapist at the health board who said ‘there was a growing body of evidence to support eco therapy’. BCUHB has said the scheme was part of its ‘ongoing efforts to improve mental health support in the community’.
The latest Public Health England (PHE) report shows that seasonal flu continues to circulate across the UK. The statistics illustrate that during the third week in January there was a stabilisation in the GP consultation rate with flu-like illness, a 12% reduction in the flu hospitalisation rate, and a 14% reduction in the flu intensive care admission rate. The figures indicate that the outbreak is now affecting fewer adults, with a growing number of children unwell.
The latest Public Health England (PHE) report published on 11th January shows that seasonal flu activity levels have continued to increase in the preceding week across the UK but various indicators show the rate of increase is slowing. The statistics show there has been an 11% increase in the flu hospitalisation rate, a 42% increase in the GP consultation rate with flu like illness compared to the previous week (when practices were open for 4 days), and an 8% reduction in the flu intensive care admission rate.
The BBC has carried out an in-depth look at nursing and says that figures show one in 10 are now leaving the NHS in England each year. The figures – provided to the BBC by NHS Digital – represent a rise of 20% since 2012-13, and mean there are more leavers than joiners. The chief nursing officer for England, professor Jane Cummings, admitted there was a problem – but said changes were being made to highlight the value of the NHS to new talent and retain current staff.
Further coverage relating to the rise in demand for nurses in the UK, based on the figures released by the NMC last November. The piece states that there is a general shortage of nurses in the UK and of all European countries it has both the lowest number of nurses and the highest number of vacancies posted online per inhabitant.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that recently released figures found that, in London alone, up to 200 women a year are choosing to give birth without any medical assistance. The practice is known as “free-birthing” and involves giving birth at home with just family or friends in the place of a trained midwife. The Royal College of Midwives released a statement last week saying: “While the RCM recognises that every woman has the right to give birth without professional assistance, there are potential risks for both mother and baby, and for that reason the RCM would strongly discourage women from giving birth by themselves.”
Alzheimer’s Research UK is calling for a recommitment from pharmaceutical companies to continue efforts to fund research into dementia, the leading cause of death in the UK. Pfizer plans to refocus efforts away from dementia research and is a reminder of one of the barriers that stands in the way of bringing about the first life-changing treatment for dementia.
Police in South Wales have called for better mental health education in schools after a rise in young people being detained under the Mental Health Act. Some 48 children and young people were detained by South Wales Police in 2016-17, up 33% from the year before. Mind Cymru says schools should do more to raise awareness of mental health issues and step in to help those who are having problems sooner. Sara Moseley, Director of Mind Cymru, supported South Wales Police’s calls for better mental health education.