The Nursing and Midwifery Council has unveiled a list of over 90 procedures and communication skills that nursing associates should be trained in, as part of draft proposals. The list is still in development and is due to be consulted on in April. Around 2000 students are half way through their nursing associate training at sites across England.
News Archive
Nursing Standard discusses the NMCs proposed education standards and how important suicide awareness and prevention training is. The article highlights that Pypurus, the young suicide prevention charity supports the suicide prevention competencies that have been included across all four fields of nursing pre-registration education.
The NMC is looking forward to launching the new Standards of proficiency for registered nurses and the Standards for education and training this spring. They will be discussed by the Council when it meets later in March and once approved the Standards can be launched.
Failings in NHS care are believed to have resulted in the deaths of at least 271 highly vulnerable mental health patients during the past six years. Coroners have issued legal warnings to 136 different NHS bodies between 2012 and 2017, including mental health trusts, acute hospitals, ambulance services and GP surgeries. Identified errors include misjudgements, flawed processes, lack of staff or beds and poor training.
Read the Guardian article | Read the Coroners reports to prevent future deaths
Too many people could be being placed in residential mental health rehabilitation services that are far away from where they live, for too long and that are costly for the NHS say the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
This year, Dementia Awareness Week is changing to Dementia Action Week. It will take place from 21-27 May 2018. While raising awareness and offering support will always be important, more must be done to create change in communities. During Dementia Action Week, The Alzheimers Society will be asking everyone across the UK to unite with them and take action. Whether big or small, actions can make everyday life better for people affected by dementia.
GPs are telling children with mental health problems to exaggerate their symptoms in order to receive NHS treatment, a report by watchdogs warns. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said too many children and young people were unable to get any help until they reached “crisis point”.
New findings, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia — are thought to be the first to suggest that higher levels of branched-chain amino acids in a person’s blood could be a marker for a lower risk of developing dementia. After analysing data from eight large studies, researchers have identified certain molecules in the blood that might serve as early biomarkers for the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
An article in The Lancet found that alcohol use disorders were a major risk factor for the onset of all types of dementia, and especially early-onset dementia. It continues; that screening for heavy drinking should be part of regular medical care, with intervention or treatment being offered when necessary. Additionally, other alcohol policies should be considered to reduce heavy drinking in the general population.
A number of media outlets have covered the story regarding ‘High-strength skunk now dominates UK cannabis market’, referring to almost all cannabis seized by police now comprises high-strength varieties, with outdoor-grown herbal strains and hashish barely found. The news is based on researchers analysing samples of cannabis seized by five police forces in 2015 and 2016.
A study has found an increased risk of disability and dementia in those with hearing loss, and, in men only, an increased risk of depression. The findings also showed that these associations were not found in the participants using hearing aids.
The life expectancy of the poorest women in England has fallen for the first time on record since the 1920s, new figures from the Office of National Statistics show. Previously there has been a gradual increase in the predicted lifespan of the population over the past century, but the recent statistics found deprived females born in 2014 to 2016 were expected to die younger than those born in 2011 to 2013.