Nurses will be given the chance to learn about Learning Disabilities
Rotation scheme boosts learning disability nurse recruitment
9 March, 2012 | By The Press Association
Newly-qualified nurses have been given the chance to specialise in learning disabilities as part of a new ‘rotation’ scheme in Hertfordshire.
The initiative has been introduced by Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust (HPFT) to tackle a shortage of Learning Disability Nurses (LDNs).
Through links with local higher education institutes, the scheme allows nurses to experience a number of different specialist areas in their first year of employment, before deciding to focus on just one.
Hospital consultants should consider working weekends
Hospital doctors told to rethink weekend working
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
Hospital consultants should consider working weekends to cut the spike in deaths, a doctors’ leader says.
Dr Mark Porter, the British Medical Association’s consultants chairman, said the mounting evidence about the problem meant it was time for doctors to put themselves forward if needed.
He said it would not be necessary for every speciality or hospital, but it needed to be looked at case-by-case.
There is a wealth of research into higher mortality rates at weekends.
At the end of last year, the research company Dr Foster found mortality rates rose by 10% at weekends. Other studies have shown similar correlations.
Staffing – and in particular the presence or absence of senior doctors – has been highlighted as a key factor.
3 million could benefit from ‘doctor by broadband’ by 2017, claims minister
Some three million patients could be consulting their doctors and managing their health conditions online by 2017, saving the NHS £1.2 billion, Paul Burstow, the Care Services Minister, has claimed.
By Stephen Adams, Medical Correspondent
Although few have heard of ‘telehealth’ and ‘telecare’, ministers are keen to increase use of these technologies, allow people with long term conditions like heart disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) to manage their illness largely from home.
‘Telehealth’ systems enable patients to submit vital signs like blood pressure and glucose levels, and view treatment plans, to be interpreted remotely by doctors, meaning individuals do not have to constantly attend hospital appointments.
