A&E crisis plans 'not good enough'
By Anonymous on Jul 23, 2013 09:21 pm 23 July 2013 Last updated at 21:21 ET By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News 
Pressures have been growing on A&E units for a number of years
The plans put in place to relieve the pressure on A&E units in England are not good enough, MPs say.
The Health Select Committee said it had been given "confusing" and "contradictory" information about what was being done.
It prompted the cross-party group to question how prepared the NHS would be for next winter.
The report comes after the NHS missed its four-hour waiting-time target in the first three months of this year.
The MPs said a combination of staffing problems and a lack of alternatives along with rising attendances were among the main factors for the problems.
Their evidence found just 17% of hospitals had the recommended level of consultant cover, while problems with discharging patients and a lack of beds at times meant the flow of patients through the system was disrupted.
'Flying blind' In the long-term, the MPs urged NHS medical director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, who is leading a review of urgent and emergency care, to look at the weaknesses across the rest of the health service.
They said there was much more the primary care system, which includes GPs, urgent care centres and minor injury units, could do to prevent unnecessary visits to A&E.
The MPs also suggested ambulances could be treating more patients at the scene to reduce the number of transfers to hospital, while the new 111 non-emergency phone number needed to get better at offering advice.
Continue reading the main story The A&E crisis
- The four-hour waiting time target was missed across the NHS from January to March - the first overall breach for nine years
- In total 94 out of 148 providers missed the mark
- More than 300,000 patients waited longer than they should have - a 39% rise on the previous year
- Only 17% of trusts could guarantee the recommended level of consultant cover
- The new 111 non-emergency phone number was not yet offering "timely and effective" advice
But the strongest criticism was reserved for the plans that have been put in place to deal with the pressures being felt
Earlier this year NHS England announced urgent care boards would be created to form action plans and release money to combat the difficulties being faced.
But in the evidence sessions with senior people in the health service, the MPs were left unclear whether they were voluntary or compulsory, temporary or permanent.
The MPs also highlighted differences in data they had been given about the scale of the problems, with vastly different impressions given of delayed discharges from hospital and the increases seen in attendances at A&E.
Health committee chairman Stephen Dorrell said: "The system is 'flying blind' without adequate information about the nature of the demand being placed upon it."
He said each area needed to have a plan place by the end of September to ensure they were ready for the winter.
"The committee is mindful of pressures which will build and is concerned that current plans lack sufficient urgency," he added.
Patients Association chief executive Katherine Murphy said: "How much more evidence does the government and NHS England need before they take notice?
"The system is under increasing pressure and is coming apart at the seams, the time to act is now."
A spokesman for NHS England said it recognised there was work to be done and action plans would be in place by the autumn.
"The committee has raised some key issues," he added.
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Royal baby boy's name to be decided
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 02:56 am 24 July 2013 Last updated at 00:48 ET 
The baby is third in line to the throne
The Duke of Cambridge has said he and his wife are "still working on a name" for their son, who has spent his first night at home after leaving hospital.
The world got its first glimpse of the unnamed prince as the royal couple left St Mary's Hospital, west London.
Speaking to journalists on the steps of the hospital, William said they would choose a name "as soon as we can".
But royal fans may have to wait some time - in 1982 Prince William's name was only announced after a week.
George is the bookmakers' favourite for the name of the prince who is destined to be king one day. James and Alexander are among other names on a short price.
The prospects of him being named after his father has been virtually written off by the bookmakers, with both Ladbrokes and Paddy Power rating William as a 50/1 shot.
Asked by the BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt if the baby had already been named George, Prince William replied: "Wait and see, Peter, wait and see."
Prince William and Catherine appeared relaxed and smiled as they appeared with the new arrival on the steps of the hospital in front of a mass of photographers.
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The world gets its first glimpse of the new Prince
The duke told reporters: "He's got a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure. He's a big boy, he's quite heavy."
He said: "It's the first time we have seen him really so we are having a proper chance to catch up."
William said he would remind his son "of his tardiness when he's a bit older".
He added: "I know how long you've all been standing here so hopefully the hospital and you guys can all go back to normal now and we can go and look after him."
A smiling duchess said: "It's such a special time. I think any parent will know what this feeling feels like."
The couple also revealed William had done the first nappy change.
Continue reading the main story 
The couple emerged from St Mary's Hospital to face hundreds of photographers
The duchess was admitted to hospital on Monday morning and gave birth at 16:24 BST. She stayed overnight with her husband and new son
Kate and William answered a few questions from reporters, some of whom had been waiting outside for more than two weeks
The new royal baby is the first child for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - and third in line to the throne
The Duke of Cambridge drove his family home from hospital
Continue reading the main story The couple then went back inside the private Lindo Wing and placed their son in a car seat.
A few minutes later they came outside again and the duke drove his family home to Kensington Palace.
Earlier in the afternoon, the couple were visited at the hospital by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
Prince Charles said the baby was "marvellous" while Mrs Middleton said he was "absolutely beautiful".
Speaking to reporters as she left the hospital, Mrs Middleton said: "We are so thrilled".
She added her first cuddle with her new grandson had been "amazing".
Prince William was at the hospital for the birth at 16:24 BST on Monday, and stayed with his wife and son, who weighed 8lb 6oz (3.8kg), overnight.
Kensington Palace said in a statement: "We would like to thank the staff at the Lindo Wing and the whole hospital for the tremendous care the three of us have received.
"We know it has been a very busy period for the hospital and we would like to thank everyone - staff, patients and visitors - for their understanding during this time."
Read in browser » Girls named in river bodies find
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 03:27 am 24 July 2013 Last updated at 02:18 ET 
Two teenage girls, whose bodies were found by police divers in the River Wear in Tyne and Wear, have been named.
Passers-by tried to rescue the girls who were found by divers on Tuesday evening after getting into difficulty near a viaduct in Fatfield, Washington.
They were named locally as Chloe Fowler and Toni-Beth Purvis.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said inquiries would now be carried out into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
About 100 people were involved in the search, including police and fire crews and a coastguard team.
Read in browser » Banks to publish local lending data
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 12:23 am 24 July 2013 Last updated at 00:23 ET 
Seven major banks have signed up to provide the data with more lenders expected to join them
Major UK banks will reveal details from January of their lending in thousands of local areas, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has announced.
He hopes publishing lending data across 10,000 postcode areas will boost credit to homeowners and small businesses.
The Treasury says it will encourage competition by helping smaller lenders to identify gaps in the market and lure other lenders to the shunned areas.
Mr Alexander said it was a "major step forward" for transparency.
BBC business editor Robert Peston said that, as lending to small businesses had shrunk since the banking crash of 2007-8, successive governments had tried to shame the banks into being more generous with finance.
The latest attempt by the Treasury to turn up the heat on banks that have allegedly become too cautious is to get them to disclose their lending performance in each of the postcode areas, he added.
The data - provided voluntarily by Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, Barclays, Santander UK, Nationwide, and Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks - will be published on a quarterly basis by the British Bankers' Association (BBA) and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Our correspondent said the government had encouraged this to understand where businesses were finding it hardest to obtain the funds they needed.
The local data will also be provided on mortgage lending and personal loans.
Mr Alexander said businesses would be able to see "exactly where the major banks are lending - up to within a few streets of their premises".
"It is a major step forward in terms of transparency and should encourage competition by helping smaller lenders to identify gaps in the market and allowing businesses to hold their local bank to account where they aren't lending," he said.
BBA chief executive hailed a "landmark voluntary agreement" and said it would make the UK one of the most transparent countries in the world.
The government says it expects more to lenders to sign up including credit unions.
Read in browser » Thousands attend Brazil youth Mass
By Anonymous on Jul 23, 2013 08:57 pm 23 July 2013 Last updated at 12:57 ET 
World Youth Day is a week-long celebration of the Catholic faith
Hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholics have gathered at Copacabana Beach in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro for the opening of the World Youth Day festival.
The highlight of the festival will be a visit on Thursday by Pope Francis.
The Pope arrived on Monday for his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.
His visit is taking place under tight security, after weeks of protests against the government and corruption.
Tuesday's evening mass at Copacabana Beach will be led by Rio's Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta.
He will welcome pilgrims to the five-day festival, which is expected to draw about 1.5 million people from around the world.
Continue reading the main story Pope's visit to Brazil - main events
Tuesday
- No scheduled public events
Wednesday:
- Visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Aparecida and to the St Francis of Assisi of the Providence of God Hospital in Rio
Thursday:
- Visit to the Varginha community in Rio, welcoming ceremony at the World Youth Day on Copacabana
Friday:
- Meeting with young prisoners and a Way of the Cross ceremony on Copacabana
Saturday:
- Meeting with Brazil's leaders in Rio and a prayer vigil with young people
Sunday:
- Holy Mass for the World Youth Day in Rio, farewell ceremony and departure for Rome
The Pope, who is from neighbouring Argentina, has no public events scheduled for Tuesday and was spending time at a private residence.
Correspondents say Brazil is reviewing security around the 76-year-old pontiff after he was mobbed by adoring crowds following his arrival in Brazil on Monday.
Many were able to stop the Pope's motorcade as it travelled through Rio and reach their hands inside his car's open window.
"The Pope's secretary told me he was terrified, but the Pope kept smiling," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters.
The Pope was officially welcomed at the state governor's palace by President Dilma Rousseff. However, police outside later fired tear gas to disperse people who were protesting against the government, but also against the cost of the papal visit.
On Wednesday the Pope will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Sao Paulo state, where a homemade explosive device was discovered on Sunday.
The authorities said the device was "of low power" and nowhere near the area where the Pope and pilgrims will visit.
Mr Lombardi later insisted that the discovery was no cause for concern.
Read in browser » Varicose veins to get laser solution
By Anonymous on Jul 23, 2013 08:40 pm 23 July 2013 Last updated at 20:40 ET By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online 
The valves in the veins can stop working, leading to a backflow of blood and the characteristic bulge
People with varicose veins should be offered laser or heat treatment, say new guidelines for England and Wales.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says, in most cases, surgery should be a last resort.
Up to one third of adults in the UK develop varicose veins - swollen, unsightly and often painful veins that have stopped working properly.
As well as being less invasive for the patient, laser therapy is cheaper than surgery for the NHS, says NICE.
Some 35,000 varicose veins procedures are carried out in the NHS each year. Switching from surgery to these newer therapies could save the NHS £400,000 a year in England alone, says NICE.
'Better option' There has been a gradual shift away from surgery, but many patients are still offered it as the first choice.
In some parts of the country, laser and heat treatment are rarely offered.
Although surgery will still be the best option for some, NICE says many patients should instead have either laser treatment or heat therapy (endothermal ablation).
Surgery takes around an hour-and-a-half and requires the patient to be given a general anaesthetic. They can usually go home on the same day if all goes well.
In comparison, heat or laser treatment takes about 60 minutes, the patient is awake throughout and they can normally be discharged from hospital within an hour or so of having the procedure.
These treatments are also less invasive than traditional surgery because they require fewer or smaller incisions.
For both laser and heat treatment, a catheter is inserted into the offending vein and then a short burst of energy is delivered to close and seal it.
Prof Alun Davies, who helped write the new advice, said: "This guideline shows quite clearly that interventional treatment for some patients who are suffering from symptomatic varicose veins is a better alternative to surgery, and is both clinically and cost-effective. It will help standardise care for all those with this condition."
Varicose veins affect mainly older people, but also people who stand for long periods in their work and pregnant women.
They can be very uncomfortable and are a common cause of leg ulcers.
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