Meet Gemma, our most recent graduate apprentice
- August 27th, 2019
- 3 Minute Read
We’re incredibly proud of the apprentices that have joined Athona in the past few years and that have gone on to graduate from our successful apprenticeship scheme. Gemma, Resourcer Apprentice for our Psychiatry division, is our most recent graduate who has secured a full-time job continuing in her role on the permanent psychiatry team. We […]
Meet Jade, Mental Health’s Permanent Recruiter
- February 9th, 2018
- 3 Minute Read
Jade, Senior Recruitment Consultant for our permanent Mental Health team, spoke to us to discuss life in recruitment, the biggest challenge she’s had to overcome, candidates monetary benefits and ease of working with an agency, all whilst giving a real insight into the mental health sector from a recruiter’s point of view. Get to know […]
Winter pressures warning for the NHS
- September 19th, 2017
- 1 Minute Read
Back in June, it was highlighted preparations needed to be made for the coming winter months, with the NHS warning ‘unless we do something now to manage the risk for winter, there is trouble ahead.’ Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said ‘the top priority for every part of the NHS’ was to avoid […]
Almost five times as many freshers disclose mental health condition
- September 5th, 2017
- 1 Minute Read
New figures show the number of first-year students heading to university and disclosing a mental illness has risen almost five times in a decade. The figures note women undergraduates are more likely to register a mental illness, with 2.5 per cent doing so, compared to 1.4 per cent of men. However researchers at the Institute […]
Matters of the mind – an insight into psychiatry
- February 10th, 2017
- 2 Minute Read
Psychiatry is an integral part of medicine. It offers a fascinating and rewarding career and the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of patients’ mental health and well-being. We spoke to one of our psychiatrists about his role as a Learning Disabilities Consultant. Tell us about your background – what made […]
Athona announced as preferred supplier for East of England
- January 26th, 2017
- 1 Minute Read
Athona is a leading framework supplier of doctors and has been awarded places on major frameworks including National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS, HealthTrust Europe (HTE) Total Workforce Solutions (TWS) Framework, Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and London Procurement Programme (LPP) Framework. We have also been announced as a supplier on the East of England Preferred Supplier List. Being an […]
Theresa May calls for ‘shared society’ to tackle mental health stigma
- January 10th, 2017
- 1 Minute Read
Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to help end mental health stigma, with a focus on children and young people. Mrs May said she wanted to make sure that ‘children and teenagers get the help and support they need and deserve’ as part of her vision for her ‘shared society’. Figures show that more than half […]
Dementia breakthrough as game aims to diagnose disease
- November 21st, 2016
- 2 Minute Read
Researchers have discovered a way to test our sense of direction as part of the most extensive dementia study ever conducted. Sea Hero Quest was designed to create the world’s largest sourced data set to improve the understanding of spatial navigation. The game involves using a smartphone screen to sail a boat around desert islands […]
Scientists launch study to spot early Alzheimer’s
- August 23rd, 2016
- 1 Minute Read
British researchers are hoping to spot Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear, with the help of 250 volunteers. The £6.9million study could revolutionise the treatment of Alzheimer’s and lead to drugs to halt its process before irreversible damage is done to the brain. Experts believe the clear symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as severe memory loss, confusion and […]
NHS turning away patients with eating disorders because their BMI is ‘too high’
- August 4th, 2016
- 1 Minute Read
An investigation has found that NHS Trusts have been turning away patients with anorexia because they’re not thin enough. BBC Breakfast asked all 62 mental health Trusts in England and Wales if they used BMI to decide who would qualify for outpatient eating disorder services. One third said they did. Most trusts said they were […]
Antidepressant drug prescriptions have doubled in a decade
- July 6th, 2016
- 1 Minute Read
Official figures show the number of antidepressants given to patients in England has doubled in a decade. Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that in 2015 there were 61 million antidepressant drugs prescribed and dispensed in England. This figure is up from 57.1 million in 2014 and 29.4 million in 2005. […]
Treating depression through blood testing
- June 14th, 2016
- 1 Minute Read
Scientists in the UK have developed a blood test to help doctors pick the best drug for patients with depression. Doctors sometimes use a trial-and-error approach when selecting the right course of treatment for depression, until finding the most effective one. The experts involved believe the breakthrough could lead to depressed patients receiving personalised treatments […]