NHS Hot Topics Flashcards
Key things to note regarding antibiotics resistance
- Leads to death by simpler illnesses, reduce surgery and chemo
- Causes by overuse, unfinished courses, and agriculture
- Not helped by limited research due to small profit
- Must protect what we have. Use sparingly. AB stewardship. Shown possible with MRSA
Key things to note about public health campaigns
Inexpensive way of educating public to increase health and prevent disease
Takes strain of NHS long term
Key things to note about mental health
- 1 in 3 face mental health whilst in employment
- NHS fought for funding
- AIM to develop a new program by 2020, Corbyn wants this on part with physical health
- Positive mental health improves physical health and reduce risk of admission
Key things to note about brexit
Full effect unknown but:
• More cash for the NHS
• Staffing crisis, fall in sterling and immigration laws
• Scientific research, net loss in funding after leaving the EU.
Things to note about confidentiality
Can be broken outside healthcare team if:
• consented
• not sharing puts people in danger
• patient lacks capacity
It is needed to build trust in patients
Tell the person you are going to break it
Things to note about the 7 day NHS
Aim to increase success of hospital admission at weekend by making same services available
But lack funding for extra hours/staff to cover.
Government overhaul = low morale, burnout and resignation
Great in principle, but currently would only average out success rather than increase weekends to weekday rate
Things to note about junior doctor contract
Overall increased pay, but by doing weekends and on call.
Concerns over:
• shift/rotas for 7 day NHS but no new staff
• stress, tiredness, and burnout.
Talks, rejection and strikes.
Things to note on A&E waiting times
Target is 95% admitted, transferred or discharged in 4 hours.
Not met due to staffing and funding, lack beds for admission too
Inappropriate use factors: use minor injuries, walk ins and pharmacies.
Delays patient getting a result.
Dangerous as it may mean target led care, rushing patients and missing things to meet targets. Overworking effects patient care too
Things to note on the ageing population
18% people over 65 in the UK.
Elderly have increased risk of chronic conditions; such as cancer, diabetes, glaucoma, AMD
Increases research into early diagnosis and treatment - better health for future generations. E.g. cancer treatment, anti-VEGF injections, management of HIV.
Must use services outside the NHS. And work with social care to build a better infrastructure
Things to know about primary care pressures
GP, pharmacy, optometry, and dentist.
GP
Increased demand, reduced appointment times, but more complex cases.
Target to increase number of GPs. But won’t be met.
Pressure increased from
• Ageing population
• drugs allowing community care
• many GPs set to retire
- Recruitment drive
- cash incentive to specialise in GP
- 7 day to spread pressure
- moving services to elsewhere (e.g. needle exchange)
- virtual GP
Things to note about NHS funding
Underfunding is caused by increased demand rather than cuts
• Ageing population
• evolving healthcare needs
• medical advancements (save lives, cost money)
Can increase funds by increasing tax
Decrease expenditure by QALY based treatment, reduce medication needs by initiatives such as stewardship, public health campaigns.
Things to note about privatisation on the NHS
Private advantages:
• takes away from NHS load
• people are still paying for the NHS
• some is subcontracted by NHS
• gives doctors an incentive to work in the uk
• without it, people go abroad but bring any problems back with them
Disadvantages
• benefits wealthy, disadvantages the poor
• allows queue jumping, unethical
• financially driven rather than altruistically, may affect trust
