Month: July 2013

Results of ‘friends and family’ survey

Extract from BBC News, Health

Patients on 36 of 4,500 hospital wards in England would not recommend them to relatives, according to a new survey.

The latest results of the new “friends and family” test saw one English A&E department out of 144 get a “negative score” – Chase Farm Hospital in London.

The questionnaire, backed by the prime minister, asks patients if they would recommend the ward they were treated on to those close to them.

Critics say the scheme is too blunt an instrument to provide useful data.

To see the scores achieved by East Cheshire and others, please see the links below:

Download FFT A&E – June 2013 (XLS, 3789K)
Download FFT Inpatient – June 2013 (XLS, 6215K)

Focus on American Journal of Roentgenology

Access to the journal, AJR is easy and free provided you have registered for an Athens account.

ajr

This month it is featuring the following topics:

CT Dose Optimization for Whole-Body PET/CT Examinations.

Molecular Imaging: An Innovative Force in Musculoskeletal Radiology.

Imaging Tumor Angiogenesis: The Road to Clinical Utility.

The Role of PET/CT in the Management of Cervical Cancer.

Reporter Gene Imaging.

FDG PET/CT in the Management of Primary Pleural Tumors and Pleural Metastases.

 

Library looking good

Relocating 4 large bookshelves closer to the main library area, allows users to browse more freely and concentrates similar resources more closely together. Now that the huge piles of displaced books are safely back on the shelves, you can see what an improvement has been made.

DSCF0593

Next time you visit the library make sure you take note of the newly established study space – suitable for small groups or individuals.

Latest news from NICE

July 23, 2013

BMJ Learning modules: Rheumatology

This week from BMJ Learning: A 70 year old woman with heart failure has just been discharged after her fourth hospital admission in three months. She is tolerating her medication, which includes maximum doses of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, a beta blocker, spironolactone, and digoxin, and she still seems to be getting some benefit from them. Her husband is worried about her and mentions that she seems low in spirits. What might be going on? And what should you do? If you are not sure, then this module will help. Palliative care in non-malignant disease

PLUS some of the popular modules on rheumatology. They give an important update on a range of common dilemmas.

Rheumatoid arthritis: an update on management – in association with NICE

Osteoarthritis: a guide to management in adults – in association with NICE

Acute back pain: an up to date guide

Chronic back pain: an update on diagnosis and treatment

Giant cell arteritis: diagnosis and treatment

Tip of the week: Attend the BMJ Masterclass in Rheumatology for a full update in the latest clinical developments in rheumatic diseases. Taking place Friday 22nd November in London, this masterclass is suitable for all physicians and GPs with a specialty interest

Unexpected rise in deaths among older patients – what could be the cause?

BMJ 2013; 347 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f4795 (Published 29 July 2013)

Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f4795
Deaths among older people have risen markedly since the beginning of 2012, prompting Public Health England to launch an investigation into what is causing the rise.

Experts are divided over what could have caused the increase in mortality. There is speculation that cuts to the NHS and social care budgets have had a detrimental impact on services for older people and triggered more deaths. But others say that life expectancy may simply be starting to plateau or that the rise could be a natural fluctuation in statistics, perhaps prompted by unusual weather patterns.

The increased deaths are revealed in an internal report prepared by Public Health England using weekly all-cause death registrations data from the Office for National Statistics, which has been seen by the BMJ.

Use your Athens account to read the whole article in BMJ