Nursing Times
22 March 2011

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‘So how do you feel about that?’

New research has found psychotherapy delivered by nurses to be clinically effective, but is it feasible?
2% of men 'have never seen doctor'

As many as one in 50 men in the UK have never visited a GP and one in five have not seen a doctor or other health professional for at least a year, an online survey suggests.
50,000 misdiagnosed with diabetes

Researchers have revealed that around 50,000 people are told they have diabetes when they do not have the condition.
A&E staff 'need regular stress screening'

Emergency departments should be screened regularly to identify causes of stress for staff, according to Dutch researchers.
Acupuncture 'no better for pain than placebo'

The ancient Chinese therapy of acupuncture does not help patients deal with pain any better than a placebo and may even harm them, research has found.
Antibiotic use questioned for acute coughs

New research has claimed that antibiotics have little effect on tackling symptoms or aiding recovery in patients with discoloured phlegm caused by an acute cough.
'Apple shape' heart risk U-turn

Being overweight and “apple-shaped” might not be as unhealthy as previously thought, medical experts have concluded.
Blood cancers, chemotherapy and the risks of neutropenia

An expert nurse advises on safe, effective care and when to contact a specialist nurse
Blood test to spots diabetes 10 years early

Experts think that a simple blood test could revolutionise the treatment of diabetes by giving doctors the chance to spot the disease 10 years before symptoms start.
Bowel cancer screening 'a success'

The launch of a bowel cancer screening programme for the over-60s has caused an increase in the number of cases being caught early.
Call for mental health nurses to recognise patients' poor physical health

Poor physical health is common among people with serious mental illness in the UK, recent research has revealed.
Call to give breast cancer drugs to high risk women

“Breast cancer could be curbed by preventative drug treatment,” reported The Independent.
Cameron challenged over NHS pledge

Prime minister David Cameron was accused last night of breaking the coalition’s pledge to increase funding for the NHS as soaring inflation threatened to undermine the government’s spending plans.
Cap on large salaries rejected

A proposal to cap senior public sector salaries at no more than 20 times the wage of their lowest paid employee has been rejected by a national review.
Cholesterol drugs 'could fight blood clots'

Scientists have claimed that drugs used to control cholesterol levels could also cut the risk of blood clots.
CVD killing more 'poor' people

Cardiovascular disease is still disproportionately killing poor people in England, government data shows.
Dementia: time to make room for hope

With a less fatalistic view of dementia, maybe more people would be willing to engage and talk openly about the disease
Diagnosing and treating HIV infection

Changes to the way the infection is diagnosed and treated have transformed HIV testing and care
Do cholesterol drugs reduce clot risk?

“Drugs which can regulate levels of cholesterol in the blood may also reduce the risk of dangerous clots,” reported BBC News.
Eating fish may fight AMD sight loss

“Tuna sandwiches ‘could help prevent sight loss in old age,’” the Daily Mail has reported. The newspaper says that new research into the omega 3 fatty acids found in some types of fish show that they may cut the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the most common cause of sight loss in those over 50.
Evidence-based charts developed to check paediatric vitals

UK researchers have developed a new set of evidence-based charts for measuring paediatric vital signs in acute settings.
Experts issue gastric bleeding advice

A group of medical bodies is tackling the number of unnecessary deaths from gastric bleeding by issuing guidance on the medical emergency.
Fair for all: inclusion is a duty, not an option

Robin Miller explains how the health service can benefit from employing more people with disabilities
Fears over lack of nurse oversight in rush for foundation trust status

Concerns have been raised about a lack of nursing expertise at the body responsible for approving applications by NHS trusts to attain foundation status.
Feeding tube guidance aims to boost patient safety

Guidance has been issued to NHS organisations in England and Wales aimed at lowering the number of incidents when harm is caused to adults, children and infants through misplaced nasogastric feeding tubes.
Florence Nightingale service to be held in Westminster Abbey

This year the service to commemorate the life and work of Florence Nightingale will be held in Westminster Abbey at 6.15pm on Wednesday 11 May 2011.
'Forget PR – just take notice of those already centre stage'

I have promised myself that over the next 10 years I am going to learn some new skills. Car maintenance for one, as I need to be sure I will not confuse oil with screen wash.
Gene therapy ‘reduces Parkinson’s symptoms’

Parkinson’s disease sufferers have been given fresh hope that a cure could be found in the future after a study revealed that a particular type of gene therapy can significantly improve motor function in patients.
Gene therapy tested for Parkinson's

Gene therapy has been proven to work for Parkinson’s disease, The Independent has reported.
Getting to know all about you

Does aptitude testing risk alienating nurses or will it help to mould a more caring, compassionate workforce?
GPs less likely to meet care home quality targets

The quality of chronic disease care under the GP performance related pay system – the quality and outcomes framework – is poorer for care homes residents than those living in the community, according to a BMJ study.
Guide for nurses on end of life care in learning disability patients

Nurses must work closely with learning disability experts to help ensure the best end of life care for people with learning disabilities, says a new guide.
Half of public sector would consider industrial action, survey reveals

Upwards of 100,000 union members and campaigners are expected to join a march and rally in London on Saturday against cuts in public spending and attacks on jobs, services and pensions.
'Health visitor recruitment plans lack good foundations'

Rosalind Godson believes cost cutting and poor training will put families at risk
Heart disease and diabetes need targeted screening

Heart disease and diabetes could be tackled by a more targeted approach to screening and save the NHS tens of millions of pounds across the UK, an expert claims.
Heart risk from sex is small

Having a ‘dirty weekend’ is bad for your heart, according to the Daily Express. The newspaper claims that amorous encounters increase the risk of a heart attack if you are unfit, while The Daily Telegraph says that the risk is doubled if you only have sex occasionally.
Heart risks of diabetes drugs compared

BBC News reports that researchers have said that “a drug to treat diabetes, Actos, would be a ‘sensible alternative’ to one which was banned last year”. The BBC said that Avandia, also known as rosiglitazone, was suspended in Europe but is still available in the US and Canada.
HIV cases doubled in past decade

Health Protection Agency data show that in 2010 there were 3,780 new cases, compared with 1,950 in 2001. The figures relate to people in the UK who have acquired HIV.
Home cervical cancer tests could improve survival rates

Early signs of cervical cancer are not being detected in many cases because women are either too embarrassed or busy to attend smear tests, research has suggested.
Home HPV tests could boost screening

Home tests for the human papillomavirus could help increase take-up of cervical screening among women who do not respond to screening invitations, according to researchers.
Hormone therapy aids prostate cancer survival

The Daily Express reports that a “new treatment for prostate cancer has cut the risk of dying by half”. It said that “six months of the hormone therapy……is all that is needed”, and the benefits continue for 10 years.
Hospital admittance for obesity on the rise

Recent figures suggest that the UK is in the grip of an obesity crisis as an increasing number of people are being admitted to hospital for treatments linked to the condition.
Hospitals 'must adapt to survive'

Hospitals may need to turn to private sector takeovers, mergers and more community-based care to ensure they survive the NHS reforms, the head of the health service has claimed.
Hospitals still breaching mixed-sex ward ban

Thousands of patients are still sleeping on mixed-sex wards despite the fact hospitals face being fined from April.
'How do those charged with delivering safe care ensure safe staffing?'

Julie Haliday and Katherine Fenton believe their tool can inform decisions on nurse staffing and ensure the delivery of high quality care now and in the future
How nursing helped me on the high seas and beyond!

Formerly a children’s nurse, Elin believes that nursing was perfect preperation for her 2,500 mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean
How to recruit temporary staff

Temps are essential team members and must be treated as such, says Paul Marriott
Hutton proposes pension overhaul

Former labour cabinet minister Lord Hutton has suggested that those who work for the NHS, teachers and police should receive pensions based on their average salary throughout their career, rather than ones based on their pay immediately before they retire.
'I can’t be the only male community nurse who gets to read the gas meter'

Did you know that nursing was originally a principally male occupation? We have Florence Nightingale to thank for enduring notions that nursing is work requiring traditionally female attributes and hence suited more for women.
'I wish the system would allow practice development and risk taking'

We talk to Maggie Boyd, executive director of clinical quality and nursing at NHS Derbyshire County
Infant mortality at record low

Infant mortality fell to 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009 thanks to advances in technology and medical care, figures have shown.
'It’s a triumph to have two nurse leaders at top level'

So the nursing world now knows for definite what we’ve hoped for, and speculated about during the past few months.
Japanese Nursing Association to dispatch volunteer nurses

The Japanese Nursing Association has said it will begin dispatching volunteer nurses and supplies by bus to the areas of the country affected by the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March this week.
Laughter, ultrasound and leg ulcers

“A good old belly laugh can help heal leg ulcers,” BBC News has reported. However, the eye-catching claim is only a theory offered by researchers who said the treatment is probably more effective than ultrasound, the treatment they were actually studying.
Leg ulcers benefit most from 'good quality nursing care'

The best treatment for “hard to heal” venous leg ulcers is good quality nursing care – including the occasional laugh – rather than technologies such as low-dose ultrasound, according to a Health Technology Assessment by Leeds University.
'Levine' superior to 'Z' in determining infected wounds

Swabbing using the “Levine” technique is superior to the “Z” technique in determining the presence of bacteria in clinically infected wounds, according to Australian researchers.
'Localism is a laudable aim but it may result in care factories'

‘If we loosen the national grip on planning and professional education, we must ensure nurses and HCA colleagues do not become mere workers’
Lung cancer rates up among women

Lung cancer rates among British women aged 60 and over have almost tripled in 30 years, with health campaigners blaming smoking for the significant increase.
'Make a case for staffing levels in your trust'

Inside or outside the NHS - all healthcare providers are interrogating their spreadsheets.
Measles vaccination alert issued for Easter break

Families jetting off on European holidays during the Easter break have been urged to vaccinate their children against measles.
Miliband attacks PM on NHS reform

Ed Miliband will seek to turn the screw on David Cameron over controversial NHS reforms today by accusing him of “betraying” Britain’s proudest institution.
MP criticises privatising blood service

Privatising parts of the National Blood Service could put people off donating as they would see companies profiting from their generosity, an MP said today.
New genetic clue to peanut allergy

Scientists have discovered a gene defect that “can triple the risk of a child developing an allergy to peanuts”, BBC News has reported.
NHS must promote 'honest culture' to maintain quality of care

An open and honest culture that empowers staff to speak-up about concerns must be a priority to maintain and improve quality of care during the current NHS shake-up, a report has warned.
NHS must reform to survive - Lansley

The NHS will not be able to meet the demands of people with long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma unless it changes, according to the health secretary.
NICE rejects two drugs for bladder and lung cancer

Bladder and lung cancer should not be treated on the NHS with two particular drugs, NICE has warned.
Number of people with AMD predicted to rise

“UK experts are predicting a steep rise in the rate of an eye condition that is already a leading cause of blindness,” BBC News reported. It said that the number of people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) could rise by a quarter by 2020.
Nurse appointed chief of Plymouth's new community provider

A former nursing director has been appointed chief executive designate of Plymouth Community Healthcare, the proposed social enterprise which will take on community and mental health services from NHS Plymouth
Nurses and GPs offer equally effective care for obese

Nurse practitioners and GPs are equally as effective in counselling obese patients on further weight gain, according to Dutch researchers.
Nurses develop tool to ensure safe staffing levels

Senior nurses have developed a simple way of assessing the safe number of nurses needed for a ward, which health workforce experts say can be used to argue against post cutting.
Nurses left confused by rules on patient restraint, warns charity

Nurses have been left confused and ill-informed about rules designed to protect the most vulnerable patients, because of poor quality training, a charity has warned.
Nurses' shared decision-making 'supports their own views'

Nurses are in favour of shared decision-making with patients on treatment, but tend to use it to support their own decisions, rather than how way it was intended by policy makers,say researchers.
'Nurses underestimate the importance of management and political awareness'

Bev Critchlow, the Isle of Man’s chief nurse, says her work stays rooted on the wards
Nurses want more guidance on providing spiritual help

Nurses consider spirituality to be a fundamental aspect or nursing but want more guidance on the issue, according to study findings.
Nursing Times patient safety winners announced

With over 550 guests present, the best in patient safety were rewarded on Wednesday 9 March 2011 at the Patient Safety Awards at London’s prestigious Hilton Hotel.
Nursing unions hit out at health pay freeze

The government has come under attack after confirmation that the pay of more than a million health workers is going to be frozen for two years.
Osborne backs Hutton on pensions but promises 'no cherry picking'

Chancellor George Osborne has accepted Lord Hutton’s recommendations on public sector pensions as a “basis for consultation” with unions.
'Our philosophy is to grow our own nurses'

Gibraltar’s top nurse Karen Norman explains how the country is growing its own staff
Pain ‘felt more by women than men’

Women respond more intensely to pain than men, according to researchers.
Paracetamol in pregnancy linked to asthma

“Pregnant women who take paracetamol could be increasing the risk of their child developing asthma,” the Daily Express has reported.
Passive smoke 'raises stillborn risk'

Men who smoke and who are about to become fathers should give up to ensure their child is protected from birth defects or even stillbirth, according to academics.
Patient nerves affect blood diagnosis

“Doctors cause a third of stubborn high blood pressure,” reported the BBC News. The news service reports that some cases of hard-to-treat high blood pressure may actually be caused by patient nervousness at being seen by a doctor.
Pay freeze confirmed for those earning over £21,000

Healthcare assistants look set to receive a basic pay rise of £250 next month, but salaries will be frozen for other nursing pay bands.
Pension talks may ignite a 'summer of industrial action'

The government is facing the threat of a summer of industrial strife by millions of public sector workers after unions warned that radical changes to public sector pensions could “light the blue touch paper” for strikes.
Post ban diabetes drug alternative offered

Diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone) would be a “sensitive alternative” to Avandia (rosiglitazone), which was banned last year, a study has revealed.
Practice nurses' diabetes care equivalent to GPs'

Type 2 diabetes management in primary care can be safely transferred to practice nurses, according to Dutch researchers.
Pradaxa 'cuts stroke risk in people with AF'

“Super pill cuts risk of stroke for one million Britons,” reported the Daily Mail.
Pregnant drinking and child behaviour

“Mothers who drink in early pregnancy are ‘more likely to have unruly children’,” reported the Daily Mail.
Prescription charges to rise by 20p

Campaigners against higher prescription charges have been dealt a blow after the government announced the cost will increase from £7.20 per item to £7.40 from April 1.
Preventing HIV risks in drug users

Several methods are intended to reduce risky injection and sexual behaviour in drug users. This Cochrane review compared multi-session psychosocial support with standard interventions
Prison Hep B vaccinations treble

Hepatitis B inoculation amongst prisoners in England and Wales has trebled in the past six years, a Health Protection Agency (HPA) report has revealed.
Public struggling to book GP appointments

Hundreds of thousands of people cannot book GP appointments because none are available, or struggle to get through to their surgery on the phone, according to a new survey.
Quitting smoking not surgery complication risk

Patients who quit smoking only a few weeks before surgery do not have more risk of complications, according to researchers.
Registered over-the-counter herbal medicines increase

The public will have a greater choice of safe herbal remedies as part of a new scheme to combat dangerous unlicensed products being sold worldwide.
Routine HIV tests for areas with high levels

“A doubling of new HIV infections in the UK in the past decade is leading experts to tell GPs to offer testing to all adult male patients in some areas,” reported BBC News.
Safety reflex may be linked to cot death

Scientists believe they may have identified a link between a protective reflex that stops us breathing when food “goes down the wrong way” and cot death.
Scientists warn about future flu strains

Governments should start vaccinations against a lethal strain of the influenza virus circulating in birds and pigs, The Independent has reported.
Stamping out stigma in HIV

Nurses have vital roles in challenging prejudice and tackling the stigma associated with HIV – one that can be exacerbated by well-meaning campaigns and wider prejudices
Stroke patients 'face unequal care'

Stroke patients are facing unequal care on the NHS, with older people less likely to receive a brain scan and white people less likely to be admitted to specialist units than black people, researchers say.
Study urges H2N2 vaccination drive

An H2N2 flu vaccination programme should be carried out by governments in a bid to protect against any future pandemic, a report has claimed.
Superdrug launches online STI health service

People with sexually transmitted infections can now access prescription-only treatments once assessed by an online doctor, after a new service was launched by Superdrug.
Support for home carers dealing with the drama of death

Seeing the process of dying as a drama can help nurses to support family members caring for patients dying at home
Take a look at the real piggy banks, not nurses’ pensions

OK, there are two rules to writing a column - well, there may be more but let’s assume I didn’t get the memo. First, don’t get personal; it’s tacky, spiteful and unnecessary. Second, as the author Bernice Rubens once said: “Always write in yesterday’s blood.”
Tamoxifen 'should be taken for full five years'

“Women boost their chances of surviving breast cancer if they complete their full five-year course of tamoxifen,” reported the Daily Mirror.
Tea compared to water for hydration

“Drinking four to six mugs of tea a day is as good for keeping you hydrated as a litre of water,” reported the Daily Mail. It said the finding disproves “the idea that regular tea drinking can dehydrate the body because of its caffeine content”.
Test tube sperm grown in lab

“Scientists have grown sperm in the laboratory in a landmark study that could help preserve the fertility of cancer patients and shed fresh light on male reproductive problems”, reported The Guardian.
'The timing of the mental health strategy may hinder its success'

The recognition that mental health is as a complex interaction of social, environmental and relationship issues has been long-awaited
'There are times when I work punishing hours and push myself very hard - but I always deliver'

We quiz Linda Nazarko, consultant nurse at Ealing and Harrow Community Services, who has been a nurse for 36 years and runs her own nursing unit for older people.
Third of hospital inpatients at risk of malnutrition

A new survey has found malnutrition is a serious risk among people being brought into hospital from their own homes.
'This attack on pensions adds insult to injury'

Nurses whom I have met since joining Nursing Times have been less than delighted with many aspects of their working lives.
Tranexamic acid within the hour of injury saves lives

An hour can make the difference between life and death when using tranexamic acid to treat injured patients with severe bleeding, according to researchers.
Treating heart problem could prevent dementia

Many stroke survivors could be prevented from going on to develop dementia if they were treated for a heartbeat problem known as atrial fibrillation, a UK research team has claimed.
Trust warned 'failing people at risk of abuse'

A trust has been warned it must improve its standards of care after a team of inspectors found it was failing people at risk of abuse.
UK life expectancy 'on the rise'

The obesity epidemic does not appear to be having an adverse effect on life expectancy rates in Europe, with Britons living longer than their American counterparts, a study has revealed.
UK life expectancy still rising

Britons are living longer than ever before despite concerns about obesity and health problems, according to the Daily Mail. Average life expectancy has soared to 80 years old, it reports - eight years higher than in the 1970s.
Unhealthy habits 'reduce lifespan'

Britons could be reducing their lives by as much as 20 years through leading unhealthy lifestyles, a survey of almost 5,000 people has revealed.
Unions issue strike warning over pension reforms

The government has been warned that implementing radical changes to public sector pensions could “light the blue touch paper” for strikes by millions of workers.
Unison poll reveals blood donor privatisation unease

A survey of over 2,000 adults by Unison showed that three out of four were opposed to any move to have private companies running parts of the NHS Blood and Transplant Service.
University to train all nurses to degree level

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has approved a university’s plans to train all its nursing pupils to degree standard, making it the first institution in England to change to meet new UK rules.
Warning about self-test health kits

DIY health testing kits have made headlines, with several newspapers reporting that they could do more harm than good.
What does well-being mean to you?

How can your choice of career affect your well-being?
Why do staff keep silent in poorly performing trusts?

Julie Fagan, a founder of the Campaign Against Unnecessary Suspensions and Exclusions in the NHS, argues that managers’ power to suspend without reference must be curbed

Nursing Times22 March 2011

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Nursing Times
22 March 2011