Today in healthcare: Tuesday 16 July

Clare Horton writes

Good morning and welcome to the daily live blog from the Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network. Throughout the day, we'll be bringing you news, comment and analysis from around the web.

Hospitals are braced for criticism over thousands of needless deaths in a major report out today. The results of a five-month inquiry into unusually high mortality rates at 14 hospital trusts across England by the NHS's medical director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, are due to be published. For the Guardian, Patrick Wintour and Denis Campbell report that a "hit squad" will be parachuted by the health secretary into five hospital trusts and six others will be put into special measures as part of the government's response to the Keogh review.

In a separate analysis piece, Guardian health editor Sarah Boseley writes that Keogh's review is a blueprint, not a red alert. She explains:

The review was a political response to publication of the Francis inquiry report into failings at Mid-Staffordshire NHS foundation trust, which was a damning verdict on hospital care. The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, demanded an immediate investigation into hospitals which, like Mid Staffs, had high death rates. But although mortality can flag up problems, it is rarely by itself an indictment of a whole hospital.It is clear even from the data packs that NHS England has published on its website that the areas of potential concern are different for each trust.

Hunt is due to make a Commons statement at 12.30, with the full report published later this afternoon.

Elsewhere, Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, writes for the Telegraph, arguing the Conservatives must accept some responsibility for the failings in the NHS that may have caused thousands of needless deaths.

The Independent reports that the number of calls to mental health charity Mind’s helpline has increased by 50% in the past year with many callers now presenting “acute and complex” problems stemming from severe financial worries.

Obesity may be a risk factor for the frail bone disease osteoporosis, according to the BBC.

If there's a story, report or event you'd like to highlight – or you would like to share your thoughts on any of the healthcare issues in the news today – you can get in touch by leaving a comment below the line or tweeting us at @GdnHealthcare.

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