Latest news with #DepartmentOfHealth
CBS News
4 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
2 new measles cases confirmed in Minnesota as total climbs to 4; health officials urge vaccination
Here's what you need to know about measles, according to doctors Here's what you need to know about measles, according to doctors Here's what you need to know about measles, according to doctors Two more cases of Measles have been confirmed in Minnesota, bringing the total number of cases in 2025 to four, according to a release sent by the Department of Health on Monday. One case is an unvaccinated child from Dakota County, who was infectious while at Nickelodeon Universe in Mall of America on May 24. Health officials are asking anyone who was at the mall between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. that day to watch for symptoms that develop between May 31 and June 14. Anyone who is unvaccinated or has not had measles are most at risk of contracting the virus, officials said. The child has not traveled outside of Minnesota in the last month and had no known exposures. "Anytime we confirm a case of measles unrelated to travel that has no known source, it is worrying," Jessica Hancock-Allen, infectious disease division director at MDH, said in the release. "This is because it could be a sign that measles is spreading in the community undetected by public health and healthcare systems. It is uncertain where the child was exposed and whether others may have been exposed." The other confirmed case is a Washington County adult whose vaccination status is unverified, the state agency says. Both individuals are recovering at home. Minnesota officials are working with local health departments and other locations in the Twin Cities to notify those who were exposed to either case. The agency confirmed the first case on March 24 in a Hennepin County adult who had recently traveled domestically and internationally, and the second confirmed case announced in April was an infant less than 1 year old. The infant was diagnosed with the virus while in another country, and wasn't infectious when they returned to Minnesota. MDH says the best way to prevent measles is through immunization. Officials recommend children receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — the first at 12 to 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Minnesota immunization records can be found here. So far this year, the U.S. has reported 1,088 cases of measles, with more than 720 in Texas alone. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and in some cases can cause severe infections in the lungs and brain that can lead to cognitive issues, deafness or death. Note: The above video first aired on April 22, 2025.
News24
17 hours ago
- Health
- News24
Hundreds of state mental health patients are being kept in prison
Hundreds of state patients - people declared mentally unfit to stand trial or to be held criminally liable - are being kept in prisons rather than being treated in psychiatric hospitals. The number of state patients in prison has increased significantly over the past year. The Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Health are at odds over who should be responsible for these patients, and for how long. People who are found unfit to stand trial or be held criminally liable for a crime due to their psychiatric state are supposed to receive specialised care in the health system. But hundreds are being kept in prisons. And while the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Health haggle over who should take responsibility, the number of these state patients is increasing, GroundUp reports. In Parliament during May, Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald said he had sent multiple letters to the minister of health, requesting the department to make room for the state patients in designated health facilities. 'If the minister responds tomorrow and says 'send them', we will send them almost that same day,' said Groenewald. He said that much of the Department of Correctional Services' (DCS) overspending - about R690 million in 2023/24 - was due to legal obligations such as caring for state patients, for which the overcrowded system does not have the budget. 'I will continue to follow up with the minister of health again, but unfortunately, I can't just take [the patients], go to a facility and offload them as if they are not my responsibility.' READ | I spent 12 days in a mental health clinic, and this is what it's like Health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said correspondence from the DCS had been received and responded to. Mohale said 'ideally' a state patient should be transferred to a psychiatric hospital within 30 days. This is the time it takes to complete the required paperwork if it is initiated as soon as the person is declared a state patient by the court. But the law is unclear about who is responsible for state patients and how long they need to remain in state care. According to the Mental Health Care Act, state patients should be transferred to healthcare facilities within two weeks of their designation. But a 2017 amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) states they can be held in prisons, possibly indefinitely, or temporarily in the prison's health wing. Prison rates rising Regardless of how the responsibility is supposed to be shared, the current number of state patients in prisons appears to be increasing significantly. Groenewald said there were 331 state patients in prisons as of 7 May. The figure has been confirmed by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS). The health department puts the number of state patients in prisons at around 400. Deaan Vivier/Netwerk24 This is a massive increase from March 2024, when the number was about 200, according to the DCS annual report. It is also the highest number of state patients in prison since statistics were first published in 2019. But these numbers are constantly in flux. In the 2023/24 reporting year, 185 state patients were transferred to health department psychiatric hospitals, but the number of new patients declared mentally unfit to stand trial was higher. The DCS annual report noted that state patients were remaining in prisons because there are not enough psychiatric hospitals, all of which have long waiting lists. Mohale says there are currently 3 765 declared state patients nationally. This implies about 10% or less are in prisons. The rest were housed across 13 psychiatric hospitals that have a total of 1 937 beds. The shortfall of about 1 500 beds in health department facilities is due to psychiatric hospitals admitting more patients than they have space for, and state patients being deemed stable enough to leave the hospital under particular guidelines. The health department states there has been an overall increase in psychiatric patients. Mohale said: These facilities were able to cater for the need in the past. He said there are now more state patients overall, and fewer of them are being reintegrated into their communities. Treatment vs punishment Figures gathered by JICS, obtained from a source, show that while some state patients are held in prisons for a few days or weeks, the vast majority have been kept in prison for months or even years. Three patients have been kept in prison for more than four years. Whether or not this is within the bounds of the law is unclear, as Parliament's subcommittee on correctional services noted three years ago. Keeping a state patient in prison may not be best for patients or prisons. 'The purpose of referral of state patients to a psychiatric institution is not punishment, rather treatment and rehabilitation, while simultaneously monitoring and managing their potential risk to the community,' states the DCS in its annual report. A 2015 study found that the majority of state patients who received treatment over three years at Sterkfontein Hospital in Gauteng were reintegrated into communities and did not reoffend, although a quarter of patients absconded. Similar studies on state patients in prisons have not been conducted. 'If the Department of Health knows of [state patients], they must make space, but obviously, a plan has not been made,' said Janho Engelbrecht, DA MP on the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services. Plans in place Mohale said the health department was trying to remedy the situation, with infrastructure projects being implemented at some psychiatric hospitals - some of which are more than 100 years old - and plans to build a new facility in Mpumalanga. The department is also looking to contract non-profit organisations to accommodate state patients when they are reclassified from state patients to outpatients, and to match state patients with custodians early to facilitate their reintegration. A significant step is also to address the shortage of psychiatrists at Eastern Cape facilities. 'This is largely due to the rural nature of the province, resulting in fewer psychiatrists willing to work there, especially at Komani Hospital,' Mohale says. He said two additional psychiatrists had been appointed to the province through international recruitment. The department is also considering joint appointments with universities to increase the number of psychiatrists working in some capacity with state patients. Along with expanding the capacity of psychiatric hospitals, this may address current gaps in the system.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pharmacists warn drug shortage affecting cancer patients
Pharmacists have warned that "one of the worst" examples of medicine shortages is affecting cancer patients. Creon, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert), helps digestion and is required by patients with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis. It is thought more than 61,000 patients in the UK need the medicine. Some patients are said to be "skipping meals" to ration their medication due to a shortage of it, according to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said there were "European-wide supply issues" and it was "working closely with industry and the NHS" to mitigate the impact on patients. Without the drug, patients lose weight and strength, which means their ability to cope with treatment such as chemotherapy is reduced. Some experts have predicted shortages continuing until next year. The Department of Health and Social Care has extended a serious shortage protocol for Creon which has already been in place for a year. This indicates concern about shortages of a medicine and allows pharmacists to give patients an alternative - though they argue other drugs are also in short supply. A spokesperson for the department said the "European-wide supply issues" were caused by manufacturing supply constraints. The National Pharmacy Association said more than three quarters of members covered in a recent survey felt the current arrangements for managing the shortages were inadequate. Some reported that patients were skipping meals and travelling long distances to get hold of the medication, according to the NPA. One said it was the "worst stock shortage" they had ever had to deal with. BBC News highlighted the issue in February after a woman got in touch saying it was impossible for her husband, who has pancreatic cancer, to digest his food without Creon. That month, leading pancreatic clinicians and charities wrote to the prime minister, saying the absence of Pert can have a "devastating impact on people's lives". They called for a national strategy to tackle the shortage. Alice from Birmingham was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 and initially got 15 boxes of Creon capsules every month to help her tolerate chemotherapy. She can now get only six or seven and is having to skip snacks. The 64-year-old said the shortage had profoundly affected her mental health. She told the BBC: "Each day I'm trying to balance: what shall I eat, shall I have a more substantial meal, shall I take my supplements and that creates an extra layer of stress and worry whilst I'm trying to put my life together again after having this diagnosis." Alfie Bailey-Bearfield of Pancreatic Cancer UK said the charity had been raising concerns with the government and suppliers for more than a year and it was vital that officials intervened to try to boost supply. "Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted," he said. "It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk," he added. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association said it was very difficult for her members to obtain supplies from the wholesaler. "The shortages with Creon has been ongoing for so long and it seems no effective attempts are being made by officials to make the process easier for pharmacies and patients and to put robust plans in place to prioritise the availability of this product," she said. "Instead they continue prolonging the current processes." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it knew "how frustrating and distressing" medicine supply issues can be for patients and clinicians caring for them. They added: "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints. "We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible." Cancer patients 'may starve' without vital drug
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Pharmacists warn drug shortage affecting cancer patients
Pharmacists have warned that "one of the worst" examples of medicine shortages is affecting cancer a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert), helps digestion and is required by patients with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis. It is thought more than 61,000 patients in the UK need the patients are said to be "skipping meals" to ration their medication due to a shortage of it, according to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said there were "European-wide supply issues" and it was "working closely with industry and the NHS" to mitigate the impact on patients. Without the drug, patients lose weight and strength, which means their ability to cope with treatment such as chemotherapy is experts have predicted shortages continuing until next Department of Health and Social Care has extended a serious shortage protocol for Creon which has already been in place for a year. This indicates concern about shortages of a medicine and allows pharmacists to give patients an alternative - though they argue other drugs are also in short supply.A spokesperson for the department said the "European-wide supply issues" were caused by manufacturing supply constraints. 'Extra layer of stress' The National Pharmacy Association said more than three quarters of members covered in a recent survey felt the current arrangements for managing the shortages were inadequate. Some reported that patients were skipping meals and travelling long distances to get hold of the medication, according to the said it was the "worst stock shortage" they had ever had to deal News highlighted the issue in February after a woman got in touch saying it was impossible for her husband, who has pancreatic cancer, to digest his food without Creon. That month, leading pancreatic clinicians and charities wrote to the prime minister, saying the absence of Pert can have a "devastating impact on people's lives".They called for a national strategy to tackle the from Birmingham was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 and initially got 15 boxes of Creon capsules every month to help her tolerate chemotherapy. She can now get only six or seven and is having to skip snacks. The 64-year-old said the shortage had profoundly affected her mental health. She told the BBC: "Each day I'm trying to balance: what shall I eat, shall I have a more substantial meal, shall I take my supplements and that creates an extra layer of stress and worry whilst I'm trying to put my life together again after having this diagnosis." 'Taking desperate measures' Alfie Bailey-Bearfield of Pancreatic Cancer UK said the charity had been raising concerns with the government and suppliers for more than a year and it was vital that officials intervened to try to boost supply."Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted," he said."It's totally unacceptable that they are still taking desperate measures which puts their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk," he Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association said it was very difficult for her members to obtain supplies from the wholesaler."The shortages with Creon has been ongoing for so long and it seems no effective attempts are being made by officials to make the process easier for pharmacies and patients and to put robust plans in place to prioritise the availability of this product," she said."Instead they continue prolonging the current processes."A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it knew "how frustrating and distressing" medicine supply issues can be for patients and clinicians caring for added: "The European-wide supply issues with Creon are caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints."We are working closely with industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issues as quickly as possible."
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Spending on agency staff across NHS England drops by almost £1bn
Spending on agency staff across NHS England dropped by almost £1bn in the last financial year, ministers have said, after a pledge by Wes Streeting to cut the amount going to agencies by 30%. According to the Department of Health and Social Care, the total spent by trusts on agency staff during 2024-25 was nearly £1bn lower than the previous year. In a speech to the NHS Providers conference in November, Streeting, the health secretary, said a lack of permanent staff had seen gaps filled by more expensive agency-provided replacements totalling about £3bn a year. Under proposals outlined at the time, but not yet enacted, Streeting suggested that NHS trusts could be completely banned from using agency staff for lower level jobs such as healthcare assistants and domestic support workers. This could also involve stopping NHS staff from resigning and then immediately signing on with an agency, so they can do the same work for higher wages, and a much higher overall cost to the NHS. In addition to employing agency staff, which can mean paying a doctor thousand of pounds for a single shift, NHS trusts also routinely plug gaps by using what are known as 'bank' staff – NHS employees who do extra shifts at their own workplace or one nearby, via an organisation usually run by the trust. UK-wide figures reported by the Guardian in January 2024 showed that the combined spend of hospitals and GP surgeries for agency staff was an annual £4.6bn, with another £5.8bn used for bank shifts. As part of the clampdown on agency spending, Streeting and James Mackey, the chief executive of the imminently abolished NHS England, have jointly written to all NHS providers and integrated care board executives to set out that each should target the 30% reduction, and that their progress will be monitored. 'If we do not feel that sufficient progress is being made by the autumn, we will consider what further legislative steps we should take to ensure that use of agency staff is brought to an end,' they wrote. The letter also says hospital bosses should make surethe pay rates for bank shifts 'are competitive but do not exceed those paid by agencies directly to the worker'. Trusts have already been ordered to reduce bank use by at least 10%. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Elizabeth O'Mahony, NHS England's chief financial officer, said: 'The NHS is fully committed to making sure that every penny of taxpayers' money is used wisely to the benefit of patients and the quality of care they receive. 'Our reforms towards driving down agency spend by nearly £1bn over the past year will boost frontline services and help to cut down waiting lists, while ensuring fairness for our permanent staff.'
