Website of the Department of Health

Increase in numbers of UK doctors and nurses

A 'determined and active' recruitment campaign has increased the number of doctors working in the UK, according to a leading and independent global economic think tank.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) says there were 2.2 practising physicians per 1,000 population in 2003, compared with 1.9 in 1998.

The figures also show a 'notable increase' in the number of nurses in the UK. In 2003, there were 9.7 nurses per 1,000 population, compared with an average of 8.2 across OECD countries.

The OECD's 2005 compendium of health data compares its 30 member countries on key issues such as health spending, staffing levels and numbers of people with conditions such as obesity and cancer.

The UK data also shows that between 1998 and 2002, health spending per capita increased by 5.7 per cent per year on average, some way ahead of the OECD average growth rate of 4.5 per cent per year, and second only to Ireland among the 15 EU countries.

'Following a period of relatively stagnant growth in the mid 1990s, when health expenditure lagged behind economic growth, health spending in the UK has risen steadily since then, reflecting in particular, increases in public finances allocated to the NHS,' says the report.

• OECD Health Data 2005 (opens new window)

Reducing MRSA and HCAI is everyone's responsibility

A&E teams will play a crucial role as the NHS steps up its work on reducing MRSA and other healthcare associated infections (HCAI).

Lower infection rates are dependent on all frontline staff carrying out procedures according to best practice and a new MRSA toolkit will ensure best practice is central to infection control activities to help drive down rates.

Saving lives: a delivery programme to reduce HCAI including MRSA, launched by chief nursing officer Chris Beasley and NHS chief executive Sir Nigel Crisp, includes tools developed by international experts in clinical reliability and features high impact interventions for the prevention of microbial contamination, surgical site infection, catheter related bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and ventilator associated pneumonia.

To order your pack email doh@prolog.uk.com or telephone 08701 555455, quoting reference 269144/savinglives.

• The delivery programme to reduce healthcare associated infections (HCAI) including MRSA

Patient and public involvement resource centre to be launched

Patient involvement in the improvement of NHS services is being boosted with the development of a dedicated resource centre in accordance with the government's commitment to a patient-led NHS.

The new Patient and Public Resource Centre (PPI) will draw together the expertise of the many different strands of patient engagement activity, including the work of patients' forums, and will seek out existing best practice, identify gaps in learning and provide advice and guidance.

The centre, due to be up and running by January 2006, will support the delivery of patient and public involvement across the NHS and will be supported by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

• NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (opens new window)

Latex dangers highlighted by report

New guidelines on the use of latex by the NHS have been launched after a survey revealed cases of patients suffering avoidable complications due to allergic reactions to the substance.

The National Patient Safety Agency survey found 40 per cent of NHS organisations did not have a policy on the use and management of latex products, and gave details of two cases in which patients with a known latex sensitivity were treated by the NHS and suffered complications when exposed to the substance. The most common latex-products are examination gloves and surgeons' gloves, and alternatives are readily available through the normal channels within the NHS.

• Health and Safety Executive: Latex allergies (opens new window)

Patricia Hewitt calls for NHS leaders to listen to staff and patients

New health secretary Patricia Hewitt has vowed to listen to the views of people working in and being treated within the NHS - and urged her managerial colleagues to follow her lead.

In her address to the National Leadership Network (NLN) conference, she said: 'Over the next few months as I go around visiting the frontline for myself, listening and learning, I want you - as leaders from all parts of the NHS and social care - to consult staff in your organisations and users in your areas about what sort of family health services they want to see.'

The NLN is a new body set up to ensure that NHS organisations and other partners play an active part in shaping the direction of health and social care policy, and will work with the Department of Health to ensure that reforms deliver lasting improvements for the NHS.

• Patricia Hewitt calls for NHS leaders to listen to patients to help improve family health services

Tackling stress at work

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting better mental health in the workplace to combat the growing problem of stress.

A report by mental health charity Mind says excessive stress and anxiety is causing an epidemic of depression and anxiety, costing the economy about £100 billion a year in lost output.

Around 45 million working days are lost each year, also contributing to underperformance among those who do not take sick leave and struggle to stay on the workplace treadmill.

The report distinguished between positive pressure at work, which can be a valuable motivational spur, and stress, which can lead to a downward spiral of physical and mental ill health.

Promoting mental health and well-being is one of the key goals of Choosing Health, the Government's high profile public health strategy. It includes a healthy workplace programme, encouraging employers to adopt policies and guidelines to promote better mental health at work, tackle stress and support staff experiencing distress.

• Stress and mental health in the workplace (opens new window)