‘Evidence lacking’ for mental health monitoring tech
There is no “strong independent evidence” that a monitoring system used widely in mental health wards has improved patient safety, an inquiry has heard.
The Lampard Inquiry is examining the deaths of more than 2,000 mental health patients in Essex over a 24-year period.
The inquiry had previously heard “grave concerns” expressed about the widespread use of Oxevision technology, which monitors patients in their rooms using infrared sensors and cameras.
LIO Health, which runs Oxevision, recently said: “Technology has a vital role to play in supporting safer inpatient mental health care, an area without any medical device technology until Oxevision.”
It added its impact had been “significant”.
Chris McDonald appointed as Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care
Chris McDonald has been appointed as a Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care, while also having the role of Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Before entering parliament, he spent two decades in steel and industrial research, later leading the Materials Processing Institute.
As a minister, he has focused on industrial strategy, manufacturing, innovation, and the commercialisation of science and technology.
Stephen Fry backs prostate cancer research project
Actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry is urging prostate cancer patients to sign up for a major new research initiative that could save lives.
The NHS is joining forces with the charity Prostate Cancer Research to provide unique access to healthcare data for research that could transform patient care and treatment of the disease.
Prostate Progress, a new project launched today by Prostate Cancer Research, has been selected to take part in NHS England’s Data for Research and Development Programme. The initiative is the first of a series of ‘driver projects’ which will support innovative uses of health data.
The project will provide safe and secure access to the clinical data of prostate cancer patients who agree to take part, alongside data the patients directly input – such as how they are feeling and the real-life effects of their cancer and its treatment.
Researchers hope to gain unique insights into prostate cancer by combining the two sets of data to understand more about the disease, develop new treatments and tests to improve diagnosis, monitor the safety of treatments, and plan new NHS services.
Trust chief executive and chair cleared by investigation
An external investigation into the conduct of a trust chair and chief executive found “no case to answer” for either party, the Health Service Journal has learned.
The investigation was instigated following the breakdown in relations between Sean Lyons and Jonathan Lofthouse, the chair and chief executive respectively of the Humber Health Partnership.
This is a hospital group created by Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust.
Former Brown spin doctor to join DHSC
A former adviser to Gordon Brown is moving with Yvette Cooper from the Foreign Office to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Health Service Journal has learned.
Damian McBride, who ran the former prime minister’s communications at the Treasury and in Number 10, previously worked under the new health and social care secretary at the Foreign Office and the Home Office.
He resigned in 2009 after sending emails that discussed setting up a blog to spread false rumours about Conservative politicians.
Ms Cooper was this week appointed health and social care secretary by Andy Burnham, replacing James Murray, who moves back to the Treasury.
England’s biggest ICB confirms permanent chief executive
England’s largest integrated care board has appointed its interim chief executive to the role permanently.
Ms Fisher has become the substantive chief executive of WNL (NHS West and North London) ICB, which was formed by the merger of North West London and North Central London ICBs on 1 April and serves 4.5 million residents across 13 London boroughs.
Ms Fisher – a nurse by background – has been leading the organisation since February on a secondment.
She stepped into the interim role after Frances O’Callaghan left as joint chief executive of the ICB’s two predecessor organisations to join NHS Blood and Transplant, after just two months in post.
Health bill blocks top Burnham priority, warns Labour health expert
The government’s health bill is in danger of blocking integration with social care, an influential Labour MP has warned.
Labour MP for Shipley, Ms Dixon told the Health Service Journal there was a risk that the government’s health reform bill, published in May, would create “an NHS with no reference to how it would integrate with health and social care”.
Ms Dixon was previously director of policy at The King’s Fund and a senior government health department director and has retained her interest in health policy since becoming an MP.
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