Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe: progress monitor indicators

This report from Macmillan argues that the health and care system is failing to support recovering cancer patients with the physical and emotional trauma following treatment. It argues that the lack of appropriate aftercare is also placing pressure on the NHS with as cancer patients have 60 per cent more A&E attendances and 50 per cent more contact with GPs, 15 months after diagnosis.

NIHR Signal New evidence confirms three-yearly surveillance interval for people at intermediate risk of bowel cancer

From the NIHR Dissemination Centre

People with benign growths (adenomas), who are at intermediate risk of bowel cancer, benefit from follow-up colonoscopy .  However, some people at the lower end of risk in this intermediate category may not benefit from this further follow-up. At higher risk, a three-yearly colonoscopy is thought to be sufficient.

This NIHR-funded cohort study reviewed data for 11,944 intermediate-risk patients from UK hospitals and screening trials. Within this group, particular features were identified which placed them at higher risk, such as the presence of larger or highly abnormal adenomas or incomplete colonoscopy. These patients had half the risk of developing cancer if they attended one follow-up colonoscopy three years later, and two-thirds the risk if they attended a second after another three years. For people without these features, the benefits of ongoing surveillance were less clear.
This large-scale study showed that all intermediate-risk patients had increased chance of cancerous growths if the interval since initial screening exceeded three years. This supports the current UK screening schedule.

It may be possible to reduce the frequency of screening in a subgroup of patients at low-intermediate risk. A study of more recent data will be necessary to validate this finding.

Older Adults Need More Follow-Up after ER Screenings for Suicide

Nearly half of adults over the age of 70 who committed suicide visited an emergency room in the year before their death.

However, when healthcare providers see older adults in the emergency room, some may be too quick to assume that the warning signs for suicide are just a natural part of aging. As a result, many older adults may not get the help they need to address suicidal thoughts, according to a new study.

According to the World Health Organization, suicide rates for men over the age of 70 are higher than in any other group of people. In 2015, almost 8,000 older adults committed suicide in the U.S., and the proportion of suicides is higher among older adults than younger people. When older adults try to commit suicide, they are more likely to be successful compared to younger adults. This is why suicide prevention strategies are especially important for older men and women, researchers noted.

Developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm [NG72]

This new NICE guideline covers the developmental follow-up of babies, children and young people under 18 years who were born preterm (before 37+0 weeks of pregnancy). It explains the risk of different developmental problems and disorders, and specifies what extra assessments and support children born preterm might need during their growth and development.

It also says that neonatal physiotherapists should be helping to provide developmental support and surveillance assessments to prematurely born children, during the first two years of their lives.

Medical alert advises follow-up of patients with metal-on-metal hip implants

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency says that all people with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements should receive follow-up appointments to detect adverse soft tissue reactions.

2016 adult inpatient survey: statistical release

This CQC report outlines the findings of the 2016 adult inpatient survey which illustrates the experiences of care of over 77,000 patients who received care in an NHS hospital during July 2016.

The report identifies significant improvements in the quality of communication and confidence in medical staff however it warns that there are a substantial amount of areas which have shown decline such as patient involvement, waiting times and post-discharge care.

Campaign calls for update to NICE guidance on supporting people discharged from inpatient mental health care

People discharged from inpatient mental health care are waiting too long for follow-up support, according to Mind, who are calling for an urgent update to NICE guidelines.

Whilst current guidance states that people discharged from inpatient care should be followed up within seven days, Mind has highlighted that this is too long a wait for people who are extremely vulnerable.

Patients coming to harm due to delays in treatment and follow-up appointments

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has published a surveillance report of patients coming to harm due to delays in treatment and follow-up appointments.  The research, conducted through the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU), found patients suffering permanent and severe visual loss due to health service initiated delays.