World Breastfeeding Week runs from August 1st – 7th 2019. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations dedicated to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide. They have aligned their campaign to United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
News Archive
The Office for National Statistics has released the latest figures relating to births in 2018 for England and Wales. The number of stillbirths in England and Wales fell by 6.4% compared with 2017, to 2,689. The stillbirth rate in England and Wales fell to 4.1 stillbirths per 1,000 total births in 2018, a 2.4% decrease compared with the previous year. For the second year running the stillbirth rate reached an all-time low since records began in 1927. This continues a downward trend in stillbirths where the stillbirth rate has decreased by 89.3% since 1927.
The Nursing Times report on the uncertainty about the future of the nursing bursary in Wales, which has left students “confused and disheartened.” The Royal College of Nursing has urged the government to commit to providing financial support as part of a new workforce plan. A briefing document by the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, calling for safe staffing legislation to be extended, was presented to Welsh Assembly Members.
Work on the new North Denbighshire Community Hospital in Rhyl may take longer than expected due to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) retendering for a new cost-effective supply chain partner, causing a delay of up to six months.
The Welsh Government has given approval for the £40 million project to move to the next stage of development, which will be built next to the existing Royal Alexandra Hospital, and include modern, fit for purpose facilities for new and existing services at the site. New services include a 28 bedded ward, a same day services for treating minor injuries and ailments, an intravenous therapies suite and a community well-being hub and community café.
A number of media outlets have reported on findings which suggest that NHS hospitals require £6 billion to conduct essential building repairs in order to prevent patients being placed at ‘significant risk’. Simon Stevens emphasised that immediate action needed to be taken in order to prevent further deterioration. Nearly half of hospital trusts reported patient care had been delayed or disrupted last year as a result of building or equipment issues, according to documents obtained under freedom of information (FOI) requests.
More than 40 patients were harmed as a result of poor care on Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Tawel Fan Ward, a report has revealed – prompting calls for a public inquiry. According to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s annual “Putting Things Right” report, 42 out of a total 105 cases which were subject to individual patient reports were deemed “determined harm caused”, some 40% of the total. Tawel Fan was one of four wards at the Ablett psychiatric unit at Glan Clywd Hospital, and was closed in 2013 after allegations of abuse and neglect towards patients came to light.
Tommy’s are launching a very special project addressing the concerning issue that 1 in 5 women will be affected by mental ill-health during pregnancy or post- birth. In spite of this significant percentage, there is very little information or support available to assist mental wellbeing. The charity will be launching the initiative on Tuesday 30th July across their social media channels.
The Government has selected the General Medical Council to regulate physician associates, which will include PA and anaesthesia associates. The decision was made by the Department of Health and Social Care.
More than 600,000 nurses and midwives registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have now been through revalidation at least once since it was first introduced three years ago. The NMC have published the latest annual revalidation report which shows that between April 2016 and March 2019, 611,462 nursing and midwifery professionals (93 per cent of those who were due to revalidate during this time) successfully demonstrated their continued ability to practise safely and effectively in health and care settings across the UK. In the past year alone (April 2018 – March 2019), 204,545 (94 per cent) nurses and midwives have revalidated with the NMC.
Plans to introduce earlier support for people with mental health problems have been revealed by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board. The Health Board says its blueprint for an integrated network of new community support, which can be accessed without referral or an appointment, is part of a “whole system transformation” in how mental health support is delivered. BCUHB’s new approach is based on the principles of its I CAN campaign, which aims to shift the focus of care to prevention and early intervention; empower people to take control of their mental health; and give a voice to people with mental health problems.
The Office for National Statistics recently released their data for infant mortality rates in England and Wales. Tommy’s are calling on the government, alongside other leading charities Bliss, Tamba and SANDS, to redouble efforts to meet its ambition to halve the rate of stillbirth and neonatal death by 2025. The figures show that the rate of stillbirths is reducing but it is clear that there is still a long way to go.
NHS England and Improvement are beginning the third and largest phase of the restructure bringing the two organisations together, which is expected in total to remove about 15 per cent of posts. They have recently launched a consultation on the third phase of their joint working restructure programme.
In total, the restructure, incorporating all three phases, is expected to reduce the current number of posts by around 1,200. The staff consultation on the proposals will run until 29 August.