For a person with dementia a hospital stay is often confusing and frightening. Not knowing where you are, nothing familiar to hold on, lost & alone.
For the nurse, a patient with dementia means extra workload in a schedule that is already packed.
What to do and where to find the time?
The debate raises an interesting question: if someone can be convinced that a false event is real, does it matter whether they remember it? By Simon Oxenham
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have long-term and far-reaching impacts on health and social and occupational functioning. This study examined factors associated with persistent PTSD among U.S. service members and veterans.
Tinnitus service provision in the United Kingdom has been investigated from the healthcare provider’s perspective demonstrating considerable regional variation particularly regarding availability of psychological treatments. An audiological-based tinnitus service, however, was reportedly available for all tinnitus patients in the UK. The aim of the current study was to define and evaluate nationwide tinnitus healthcare services from the patients’ viewpoint.
There is a wealth of evidence that supports alcohol Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) in primary care as both effective and cost effective in reducing the risks associated with drinking alcohol and National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance suggests that such prevention should be prioritised as ‘invest to save’ measures
We examine whether family doctor firms in England respond to local competition by increasing their quality. We measure quality in terms of clinical performance and patient-reported satisfaction to capture its multi-dimensional nature.
Age UK analysed data from 7,185 GP practices in England and found that, in total, 458,461 people had a recorded diagnosis of dementia in November 2017, but only 282,573 had a new care plan or at least one care plan review on record in the last year.
Self-delivered cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes could benefit some “harder to reach” members of society, new research by the University of York reveals.
The study suggests that GP practices in London, where the population is relatively young, receive disproportionately more funding, despite dealing with the lowest level of health needs in the country.
Based on a measure of 19 well-recorded chronic conditions, the researchers calculated that London has a median of 0.38 health conditions per patient.
In contrast, the North East and North West of England have 0.59 conditions per patient and 0.55 conditions per patient, the highest and second highest health needs in England respectively. The median for England is 0.51 health conditions per patient.
Collaborative learning facilitates reflection, diversifies understanding and stimulates skills of critical and higher-order thinking. Although the benefits of collaborative learning have long been recognized, it is still rarely studied by social network analysis (SNA) in medical education, and the relationship of parameters that can be obtained via SNA with students’ performance remains largely unknown. The aim of this work was to assess the potential of SNA for studying online collaborative clinical case discussions in a medical course and to find out which activities correlate with better performance and help predict final grade or explain variance in performance.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has released early working drafts of the skills annexe and standards of proficiency for the nursing associate role.
Some of the solutions to this can only be implemented at a national level, for example, increasing the number of medical school places. However, these changes take time to create an impact. Locally implemented ‘quick wins’ could help to improve the morale of today’s workforce, thereby improving retention, productivity and patient safety. Here are a few ideas based on my experience as a junior doctor over the past two years.
Driving licensing jurisdictions require detailed assessments of fitness-to-drive from occupational therapy driver assessors (OTDAs). We developed decision training based on the recommendations of expert OTDAs, to enhance novices’ capacity to make optimal fitness-to-drive decisions. The aim of this research was to determine effectiveness of training on novice occupational therapists’ ability to make fitness-to-drive decisions.
The research in this paper aimed to reflect on English social care practitioners’ accounts of their assessment practices, and includes the point of view of disabled people who are assessed. The research took place just after the implementation of the 2014 Care Act, which focuses both on the ‘well-being’ principle and on outcomes defined by service users. We report here on a grounded theory analysis of thirty qualitative interviews with social care practitioners from four local authorities; the research was set up and conducted by and with disabled people, and included their insights at all stages, including analysis. We consider the positions taken by practitioners in relation to their clients and to the wider task of social work. We found that assessors saw themselves as allies of clients; almost a quarter of our participants had lived experience of disability themselves. However, they felt they had to exert professional judgement in deciding on the needs of those who lacked competence or who asked for too much. We suggest that assessment practices could benefit from a shift away from the individual towards societal barriers, and that some of the interactional problems in assessments may best be tackled via client-led training. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
his research examined how a sample of English probation officers (POs) applied attachment theory as they supervised service users. Using an action research methodology over six months, the research identified aspects that were readily utilised (the idea that POs can sometimes represent a secure base figure and that attachment histories were significant). However, others offered little utility (the concept of mentalisation as a facility rooted in early attachment and the classification of attachment style). The reasons for this are explored and the process by which specialist research knowledge is applied by non-specialist practitioners is considered.To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Weston’s review of the law1 in relation to understanding the legal nuances in female genital mutilation (FGM) is important in the fight to end the practice. Yet in order to effect real change an understanding of practising populations’ attitudes and beliefs is needed. There have been a few studies in the UK asking professionals about their knowledge but little about the communities themselves.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Shropshire Council has recently retendered the contract at Barleyfield House in Monkmoor, which has been run by Coverage Care Services for the past 10 years. The five-bed home currently supports 50 families, providing holiday and respite care to adults with a learning disability.
Providers had to bid for the services under public procurement laws. The council is pleased to announce that the winning bidder was Coverage Care who have retained the contract. The agreement will run for two years with an option to extend at the end of the existing term.
We usually think of anorexia nervosa (AN) and other eating disorders (ED) as primarily psychological conditions. However there is a surprising amount of evidence suggesting that autoimmunity has something to do with it. Some autoantibodies can have a direct effect on brain neurons causing obvious behavioural disorders, as a seen in PANDAS (paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections): indeed some PANDAS-type cases have been reported to have acute-onset anorexia...... To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Over 25 community organisations came together at Albrighton Medical Practice to find out more about Social Prescribing – how they can work with the local GP practice to help prevent residents from becoming ill or better manage their health condition.
To assess the numbers of obese children and young people (CYP) eligible for assessment and management at each stage of the childhood obesity pathway in England.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
As part of its plans to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS, SaTH wants to hear from anybody who was working in the health service when the NHS was formed – or anyone who was born in 1948, following the creation of the National Health Service on 5 July.
The Trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, wants to record people’s memories of life in the NHS for future generations. It is hoped this will form part of the centrepiece of SaTH’s celebrations – an NHS70-themed fun day which will take place at RSH on 7 July.
From Summer 2018, the Centre will be operating from Severn Fields Health Village in Sundorne, north Shrewsbury. It will mean better facilities for patients and the multi-professional fertility team. It will also provide scope for more advanced fertility treatments, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, to be offered in the future to help more couples and further improve success rates (the Centre already has the highest success rate in the West Midlands).
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes, are products that vaporise nicotine-containing liquid.1 The emergence of e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking tobacco products has raised many issues regarding their safe use among adult users and death has been reported occasionally from overdoses. However, there are few data regarding the risk of e-liquid exposure and its outcome in children.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
There are records of the cannabis plant being used for medicinal purposes in ancient times, and in the 19th century it was used as an effective anti-epileptic drug (AED) in children. However, because of its abuse potential, most countries imposed laws restricting its cultivation and use, and this has greatly inhibited research into possible therapeutic uses. Things are now changing, and cannabis derivatives are now used legally to treat, for example, pain, nausea and spasticity...... To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Opean access. There is unlikely to be anyone in the world who would not be supportive of good health for children. Yet, child health is struggling. A year ago, the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) published ‘State of Child Health’.1 We found nearly one in five children in the UK to be living in poverty and troubling disparity between the health of children in the UK and many similar nations in Europe. A year on and the RCPCH has issued a series of scorecards, showing what change there has been in the nations of the UK.2 Individual nations, chiefly Scotland and Wales, have made commendable progress. However, what emerges is a picture of piecemeal policy, not the astute, visionary, integrated strategy so sorely needed.
Deficits in empathy, an important part of social cognition, have been described in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Importantly, psychosocial stress enhances emotional empathy in healthy participants. However, it remains unknown whether stress affects empathy in BPD.. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The publication will present at England level: recorded prevalence and how this compares with research based studies at different ages, and how prevalence differs at different ages depending on comorbidity; CCG level: the rate of emergency hospital admissions for dementia per person recorded with a dementia diagnosis
The scope has been broadened to include children and young people’s mental health services and restructured to support waiting time measurement for specific services. This month includes the report on final data for September.
To investigate the association of different antipsychotic treatments with hospitalization due to self-harm among patients with schizophrenia. . To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Publication of a collection to specifically look at mental health patients being treated outside their provider of usual treatment. Data covering December 2017.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of antipsychotics in schizophrenia.. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Religiosity is often associated with better health outcomes. The aim of the study was to examine associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and religiosity in a large, cross-national sample.. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Daily smoking has been associated with a greater risk of psychosis. However, we are still lacking studies to adjust for baseline psychotic experiences and other substance use. We examined associations between daily smoking and psychosis risk in a 15-year follow-up while accounting for these covariates in a prospective sample (N = 6081) from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986.. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Depression is associated with accelerated aging and age-related diseases. However, mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. The aim of this study was to longitudinally assess the link between depressive symptoms, brain atrophy, and cortisol levels.. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the efficacy and safety of adjunctive N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant drug, in treating major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
They found that people who ate slower were less likely to be obese; but we don't know from this study whether changing your eating speed would work as a weight-loss strategy.
So, should people wanting to lose weight try to avoid PFAS? That would be difficult, and we don't know whether it would help. We don't know what levels of PFAS chemicals people in the UK have in their bodies. We don't know whether using non-stick cookware, or avoiding food packaging made using PFAS chemicals, would reduce PFAS levels in the body. Without this information, attempting to avoid PFAS chemicals does not seem practical or advisable.
While the Mail Online largely reported the story accurately, it was somewhat over-optimistic about the results – the study was too small and too short to show that a vegan diet prevents diabetes. Also, none of the participants, in either group, had diabetes by the end of the trial.
Despite the authors' efforts, it's very hard to separate someone's diet from the rest of their lifestyle.
We know people who ate more ultra-processed food were more likely to smoke, take less exercise, be less educated and take in more calories.
Other unmeasured aspects of their lives – such as deprivation and access to healthcare – might also have affected the results.
This was an early study which provides the basis for further research. However it is far too soon to know if the test could ever be used in practice. From this single, small study we don't know that it's accurate enough or that it could improve upon existing methods for diagnosing ASD in clinical practice.