Not on Twitter 24/7? The chance is you’ll have missed something interesting. Here is our summary of the health tweets that cut through with us over the past 7 days.
- Perhaps the most important thing written on #NHS in last 7 days was by @jameskirkup. No 10 is apparently leaving Jeremy Hunt to fight the battle on health alone in run up to next election…
- The Competition Commission and @OFTgov are merging to form @CMAgovUK. Its head Lord Currie (who led Patricia Hewitt's review of NHS regulation) made a speech last week giving some insights into his approach.
- @JonNHSNorwich spent a night shift with @EastEnglandAmb. He live tweeted it, giving an interesting insight into the pressure and variation of life on the frontline. You can read the story here.
- The @washingtonpost published a fascinating map of depression round the world. Overall, 4% of the world’s population has been diagnosed with depression, but diagnosis rates vary from 2.5% to 20%.
- This in the @guardian is worth a read for anyone wanting a better insight into the challenges facing general practice.
- A @YouGov poll found that health is only 4th most important issue facing the country. This is not (yet) the salience that Labour needs if it is to fight the next election on the issue.
It was a significant week for health IT:
- The Digital Maturity Index was launched by @NHSCB and @EHealthInsider. A good deal of maturing is needed before Jeremy Hunt’s aspiration of a paperless NHS is realised…
- Last week’s @NCRI conference had lots of interesting announcements. A new computer program to help GPs know when to send patients for cancer test could be particularly significant.
And from America:
- 42 years later…Nixon’s war on cancer is a standout example of political leadership on tackling a particular disease. However it is also a salutary tale of how progress is rarely that simple. Nonetheless, there are glimmers of hope.
- Beware of perverse incentives. This article in @NEJM provides an important perspective on why payment for value can easily become anything but.
- Obamacare’s problems are real and severe but don’t come close to amounting to a ‘death spiral’ argues @ezraklein.
- @houstonhospital live tweeted an open heart surgery live and it made @TIME’s #140moments list (h/t @Cerner).
And finally…
- Is Cheryl Cole the saviour of citizen engagement in #NHS? According to David Nicholson, Tim Kelsey though she might be… (h/t @sophieevebarnes).
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