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Welcome to this week’s myHSN Week in Health – a round-up of the biggest health news this week, and what it means for you
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Infected blood scandal: How it affects you today
Ask about alcohol and document it, NHS told
NHS111 expanding – how will it benefit you?
What are the major plans to transform urgent and emergency care?
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Infected blood scandal: How it affects you today
What?
The final piece of evidence has been heard for the infected blood scandal, arguably one of the greatest tragedies and scandals in the history of the NHS.
Why?
The infected blood scandal refers to thousands of patients infected by blood donations between 1970 and 1991. This was the result of unchecked donations from other countries, such as the USA; where prisoners and at-risk groups were paid to donate blood. The UK had a shortage of certain ‘factor products’, and well into the 1980s, these products were still being given to patients, despite possible risks.
How (does it affect you)?
If you have been personally affected by this scandal, victims are entitled to interim payments of £100,000 each. This figure may rise when the report is published later this year, detailing where the fault lies, and whether further payments are necessary.
The scandal shone a light on our blood donation practices in the UK. Donation recipients should be reassured that blood products are rigorously tested, and risk of blood-borne disease is vanishingly small.
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Ask about alcohol and document it, NHS told
What?
NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has given the NHS new guidance this week on problem drinking. Those accessing alcohol services should be given access to a standard questionnaire, and not be allowed to fall through the cracks.
Why?
Currently, if excessive drinking is noticed at any health service, patients may be asked in detail about their drinking with an appropriate questionnaire. The issue is that none of these responses are formalised or joined up across different health services. This may mean wasteful repeated questionnaires being undertaken. It may also mean the appropriate tool isn’t used, meaning those with problem drinking do not get the help they need.
How (does it affect you)?
This new guidance aims to formalise the assessment of problem drinking; and will see patients receive more consistent care across health organisations.
If you have problems with drinking too much alcohol, speak to your GP, and a questionnaire can be performed to guide you to an appropriate organisation. So you do not waste time, why not attend a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous? – whilst awaiting a formal assessment. AlAnon is a similar service for families and loved ones of patients with alcohol misuse.
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Cannabis for rare disease
What?
Cannabidiol (Epidyolex ®) is set to be prescribed on the NHS for seizures that occur in tuberous sclerosis.
Why?
Tuberous sclerosis is a rare disease that can cause seizures. Clinical trials have demonstrated that CBD, a chemical found within cannabis, has a beneficial effect, and can be used alongside typical anti-seizure medications.
How (does it affect you)?
If you have this particular condition, this treatment should now be available to you. Make an appointment with your neurologist to discuss starting this treatment.
Cannabis and its individual chemicals are used in a number of conditions within the NHS – these are currently:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Severe epilepsy (Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome)
- Adults experiencing nausea caused by chemotherapy
Speak to your hospital consultant to see if you might be eligible for these specific cannabis treatments.
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NHS111 expanding – how will it benefit you?
What?
NHS111 is expanding, and is going to make accessing healthcare in the UK easier. For advice about children, paediatric clinicians will be able to offer specialist advice, and offer same day appointments if necessary, skipping the queue in A&E.
NHS111 is to be embedded (some already is) into the NHS app making it easier to access.
Why?
The NHS111 service is used by 50,000 people a day. It is seen as a key tool to divert people away from GP and A&E front doors, to keep the health service moving. If NHS111 feels your problem requires a GP or an A&E visit, this can be arranged for you.
All of these steps, some listed below, are designed to make NHS111 a broader, more efficient service.
How (does it affect you)?
Using NHS111 is the quickest way to be diverted into the correct lane for the right service. Here are some ways the service is changing:
- NHS111 integrated into app – easier access to NHS111 via mobile
- Paediatric clinicians giving advice on NHS111 – quicker help for children who need it faster
- Direct access to mental health services via the NHS app – full rollout by April 2024
Read here for more.
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What are the major plans to transform urgent and emergency care?
What?
An ambitious plan has been published by the NHS and the government today. It sets out new initiatives designed to decrease A&E waiting times and get you home quicker. As well as a bolstered fleet of ambulances, mental health vehicles and hospital beds, there will be changes in A&E and the wider hospital.
This includes new virtual wards and expansion of urgent care provided in the community; to reduce the dependence of A&E, and encourage care in the home. Same-day units staffed by consultants to ensure same-day discharge have been touted.
Why?
A&E waiting times continue to breach 4 hour targets with departments overrun with demand. Exit block occurs when patients who are fit enough to be discharged, aren’t discharged, causing a build-up of patients at the front door waiting for a bed. This is due to a variety of reasons but commonly occurs when patients need extra care at home – with that not immediately available. This may comprise care in the home, or in a dedicated setting like a residential or nursing home.
These initiatives are designed to improve flow through hospitals, and reduce numbers at the front door.
How (does it affect you)?
Frankly, whilst more vehicles and beds are welcome additions, staff are still needed to work with these resources. Rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic, anyone?
Urgent care in the community would be welcomed, but we tend to call this ‘the ambulance service’. Of course what the NHS is referring to, is a more formalised system of care in the community, with teams lead by consultants. The question arises, where are all of these teams going to be found?
Virtual wards are a useful idea. And they allowed wards to safely discharge patients during COVID, and monitor them via a single number: oxygen levels. It will be interesting to see how this is achieved for all illnesses, not just a respiratory illness, like COVID.
Time will tell if these initiatives have a positive effect.
Ps. Patients can also now check which A&Es are full. If it is an absolute emergency, this information could help decide where you should go first.
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As always, best wishes from myHSN!
