Seven days in medicine: 9-15 January 2019
BMJ 2019; 364 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l207 (Published 17 January 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;364:l207
GP premises
Patients fear being overheard in surgeries
Over half (58%) of patients who answered a Patients Association poll were worried about being overheard when speaking to a GP receptionist, telephoning their practice, or consulting with the GP, as consulting rooms are not adequately soundproofed. They also said that surgeries were hard to access, particularly for disabled people, and that waiting rooms were outdated and too small. The state of some GP premises may breach legislation on data protection, disability, or health and safety, the association warned. (Full story doi:10.1136/bmj.l114)
NHS
Productivity outstrips rest of economy
NHS productivity in 2016-17 grew by 3% in England, more than treble the 0.8% achieved in the wider UK economy, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. Health service productivity in England also outpaced that of health services elsewhere in the UK: the health service achieved 2.5% growth overall. “These figures are a testimony to the dedication and skill of NHS staff,” said Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, who added that the NHS long term plan would continue to “bear down on waste.”
Migraine drug is not cost effective, says NICE
Erenumab (Aimovig; Novartis), a new drug for preventing migraine, cannot be recommended for NHS use because it is not cost effective, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advised in draft guidance. No evidence found erenumab to be more effective than botulinum …
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