The report of our independent academic survey about accessibility to healthcare services in the SWF, Dengie & Maldon Integrated Neighbourhood Team area has been finished and submitted to Warwick Medical School. It will be published by early June. Only a monopoly can get away with it being so difficult for its users to access its services.

Working Group Recommendations for Community Health Services include investing to keep St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon operational for five years while funding is assembled for a purpose-built new facility, ideally on the current site. Continuity of services is exactly as we recommended. The necessary NHS business plan is being developed for July.  

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has accepted the independent Pay Review Bodies’ pay recommendations for all NHS staff. Agenda for Change NHS staff (including nurses, midwives, paramedics, porters, healthcare assistants and clerical workers) will receive an uplift of 3.6%.  Resident doctors (previously called Junior Doctors) will see an average uplift of 5.4% (a 4% rise plus a consolidated payment of £750), with a pay rise of 4% for consultants, specialty doctors, specialists and GPs and dentists seeing a contract uplift. But resident doctors, who took part in 11 strikes in 2023 and 2024, said it was not enough to make up for below-inflation pay awards since 2008. The union (BMA) is urging members to vote for industrial action, with sources saying strikes would be the likely action taken.

This year’s pay rise comes after resident doctors were awarded rises worth 22% over the previous two years. Taking account of this year’s pay rise, it means the starting salary for a doctor fresh out of university has risen by £9,500 over the past three years to around £38,800, the government said. But the British Medical Association (BMA) said even after the latest pay rise another 20% was needed to bring wages back to where they were in 2008. The vote on industrial action runs until 7 July.

Will Resident Doctors have support from patients for any industrial action this time? Inevitably working to rule or striking would have a severe impact on waiting times and waiting lists. Please tell us what you think about this.

Norovirus activity remains high even though it has stabilised in the recent weeks. There are still many new local cases each week. You can catch Norovirus twice. If you have Norovirus

• Stay home; don’t return to work or school until two days after the vomiting and diarrhoea have stopped
• Drink plenty
• Wash hands regularly with soap and water; disinfectants and alcohol hand-gels don’t work against the virus
• If you’re concerned – eg if a child can’t keep fluids down or the illness doesn’t stop after a few days – seek medical advice.

In April performance for Broomfield, Basildon and Southend Hospitals was:

A report from the Health and Social Care Select Committee says: Failing to fix England’s social care system is costing the country in financial and human terms. Reform of social care for older and disabled adults is essential

Specialist mental health crisis centres will be opened across England over the next decade to reduce crowding in accident and emergency departments. Ten hospital trusts have been piloting new assessment centres to deal with people experiencing a mental health crisis. The aim is to get these patients into appropriate care in a calm environment, avoiding long waits in A&E. This will reduce overcrowding in hospitals and relieve pressure on emergency services, including the police. The scheme is expected to be expanded nationally to “dozens of locations”, the government said, as part of its 10-year NHS plan. These clinics will be open to walk-in patients as well as those referred by GPs and police, with specialist staff present to treat people in acute mental distress.

Specialist mental health crisis centres will be opened across England over the next decade to reduce crowding in accident and emergency departments. Ten hospital trusts have been piloting new assessment centres to deal with people experiencing a mental health crisis. The aim is to get these patients into appropriate care in a calm environment, avoiding long waits in A&E. This will reduce overcrowding in hospitals and relieve pressure on emergency services, including the police. The scheme is expected to be expanded nationally to “dozens of locations”, the government said, as part of its 10-year NHS plan. These clinics will be open to walk-in patients as well as those referred by GPs and police, with specialist staff present to treat people in acute mental distress.

A UK Research & Innovation study“Multiple chronic illnesses linked to higher risk of depression” shows people with multiple long-term physical health conditions are at a significantly greater risk of developing depression. Multiple chronic illnesses linked to higher risk of depression – UKRI

Family doctors are divided on the issue of assisted dying.

GPs split over assisted dying plans, BBC research suggests – BBC News The Parliamentary debate about this continues with many differing views being held and expressed.

Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board (MSE ICB) answered our questions on 15 May saying:

“We’ll ensure the findings of [our] research are shared with appropriate stakeholders in the hope it can positively influence the experience of people travelling to health appointments.”

“MSE ICB has taken the approach to retain investment in those areas [maternity, prevention, mental health and children’s services] where existing commitments have been made and, as such, continues to invest in the priority areas raised in your question. The ICB has not decommissioned any services as a result of new flexibilities introduced.”

“The five-year time horizon proposed by the community consultation working group for a new facility in Maldon was intended to be a realistic estimate. Ideally we would like this to be faster than the 5-year time horizon.”

Lots more has happened/is happening we can’t fit in. More Public Health news is on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and help with internet access. For health & welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com, or leave voicemails on 01245 322079.

https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/