14:00 People who use Facebook may be 12% less likely to die in any given year compared to those who don’t, according to new research.
A study conducted by the University of California San Diego, Yale – and Facebook – noted the correlation by comparing California health records and Facebook users.
Those people who tended to live the longest were those with the largest networks of Facebook friends, but whose online activity also indicated that they interacted with them offline (like posting photos), reports the Independent.
11:40 One of the largest teaching hospitals in the country is being placed in special measures after failing its CQC inspection, reports the BBC.
St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which covers the St George’s Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital, was rated overall inadequate by the CQC, despite making progress since an earlier inspection in June.
Issues highlighted at the south east London trust included poorly maintained operating theatres; staff not always following infection control procedures; the emergency department being too small; and insufficient mental health assessment capacity.
Professor Sir Mike Richards, CQC chief inspector of hospitals, said: ‘I am disappointed we have found a marked deterioration in the safety and quality of some of the trust’s services since we inspected two years ago, as well as in its overall governance and leadership.’
Interim hospital trust chairman Sir David Henshaw said: ‘There will be no quick fix to the problems we face. Many of these challenges are due to very poor board and senior management decisions in the past and a failure to tackle the big challenges head on.
‘We owe it to our staff and patients to make St George’s better again. The CQC’s report is a key part of this improvement journey.’
11:05 BMA London has voted unanimously to advise CCGs not to ‘cooperate’ with the plans being drawn up for changes to NHS services around the country.
It comes as the Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), of which there are 44 across England, have been criticised for being kept ‘secret’ from NHS workers and the public, and for proposing cuts to services to save money.
Dr Jacky Davis, BMA Council member and a consultant radiologist, said on Twitter that it was ‘time for doctors to stop cooperating in the demise of the NHS’.
Motion passed unanimously at London @TheBMA meeting – this meeting calls on the BMA to advise CCGs not to cooperate with STPs #NHS
— Jacky Davis (@DrJackyDavis) October 31, 2016
09:45 Bail out social care or risk one in four care home beds being lost, the Chancellor has been warned,
This could amount to the loss of as many as 100,000 beds, reports the Guardian.
Care home bosses said this was because councils are now paying below break-even levels.
Seen something interesting? Tweet @pulsetoday using hashtag #GPnews or email newsdesk@pulsetoday.co.uk
