Friday 29 May 2020

Number of deaths in Northampton was double in April compared to average of last five years

Number of deaths in Northampton was double in April compared to average of last five years The number of people who died in Northampton was double last month compared to the average over the last five years. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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Second personal protective equipment (PPE) survey of UK nursing staff report

Second personal protective equipment (PPE) survey of UK nursing staff report The RCN has undertaken two surveys of health and care staff to identify their experiences and ongoing issues with the supply of and access to PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic. This report details the findings of the second survey (May 2020). Although there has been some improvement since the April 2020 survey, there are still shortages of essential PPE in all settings, and health and care staff are still reliant on PPE items being donated or home-made in some cases. The findings also highlighted a contrast in the experience and safety of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) respondents. Royal College of Nursing

Six-country survey on Covid-19

Six-country survey on Covid-19 This discussion paper presents a new data set collected on representative samples across six countries: China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, the UK and the four largest states in the US. The information collected relates to work and living situations, income, behavior (such as social-distancing, hand-washing and wearing a face mask), beliefs about the Covid-19 pandemic and exposure to the virus, socio-demographic characteristics and pre-pandemic health characteristics. Institute of Labor Economics

Loneliness, social isolation and Covid-19: practical advice

Loneliness, social isolation and Covid-19: practical advice The LGA, together with the Association of Directors of Public Health, have produced this guide for directors of public health and others leading the response to the loneliness and social isolation issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Local Government Association

Government failing to follow advice of own SAGE group in opening schools June 1

Government failing to follow advice of own SAGE group in opening schools June 1 It is not safe enough for all schools to re-open on June 1, says a report from Independent SAGE, the 12-strong committee chaired by former Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King, The report concludes that the government is not following the advice of its own scientists.

The report says that modelling from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) shows R increasing if schools re-open. It notes that since it published its draft report last week, the government has also heightened the risks of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases by undermining its own messaging.

It says: ‘Public adherence to social distancing is influenced by trust in the government and its messaging. This trust is increasingly strained.’

£5 million funding given to mental health community projects

£5 million funding given to mental health community projects Community projects supporting people with their mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will benefit from their share of £5 million of additional funding. Department of Health and Social Care 

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About 7% have had coronavirus, says ONS survey

About 7% have had coronavirus, says ONS survey About 7% of people in England have been infected with coronavirus, antibody tests on a random sample of households suggest.

"Herd immunity is not worth worrying about" at that level, say experts involved in the Office for National Statistics study.

The results are based on blood samples taken from 885 people from private households after 26 April. BBC News

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Thursday 28 May 2020

Covid-19 death-rate may be slowing but we're far from out of the woods yet, warns Northampton hospital boss

Covid-19 death-rate may be slowing but we're far from out of the woods yet, warns Northampton hospital boss Doctors fear Northampton is far from out of the woods yet over Covid-19 despite a falling death-rate and the Government easing lockdown laws.

Schools and are due to reopen next week with non-essential shops also unlocking their doors for the first time in 12 weeks on June 15.

Yet staff at Northampton General Hospital are warning the county's death-rate may be slowing, but it is not slowing as fast as in major cities such as London and Birmingham. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Returning NHS waiting times to 18 weeks for routine treatment: the scale of the challenge pre-Covid-19

Returning NHS waiting times to 18 weeks for routine treatment: the scale of the challenge pre-Covid-19

Returning to ‘normal’ levels of activity is expected to take some time and, even before Covid-19, there were substantial challenges with waiting times. As the NHS looks to start to recover services, this long read looks at the context in which planned treatment will recommence. Specifically, it looks at what would have been needed – if the NHS were operating within a ‘business as usual model’ – to return to delivering the standard of 92 per cent of patients being treated within 18 weeks, given the waiting lists and waiting times backlog that had built up by January 2020. The Health Foundation

Age, death risk, and the design of an exit strategy: a guide for policymakers and for citizens who want to stay alive

Age, death risk, and the design of an exit strategy: a guide for policymakers and for citizens who want to stay alive This discussion paper provides information on the strong age-pattern in the risk of death from three countries (China, Italy, the UK). If politicians want an imminent removal of the lockdown, the safest approach in our judgment would be a rolling age-release strategy combined with the current principle of social distancing. But even if that is not the policy adopted, citizens need to be shown graphs of the kind in this paper. Honest guidance ought to be given to those in midlife and beyond. Governments have to allow people to understand their personal risk after any release from lockdown. Institute of Labor Economics

    Government launches NHS Test and Trace service

    Government launches NHS Test and Trace service New guidance means those who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms. Department of Health and Social Care

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    Coronavirus: Matt Hancock outlines new isolation guidelines

    Coronavirus: Matt Hancock outlines new isolation guidelines From Thursday, those who have been contacted by the NHS will be asked to isolate, even if they do not have symptoms. 

    In the government's daily briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock set out details for the test and trace system, which will start tomorrow in England.

    The aim of the test and trace system is to move from lockdown for all towards more targeted measures. BBC News

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    NHS hospital car parking policies in the UK

    NHS hospital car parking policies in the UK This briefing sets out policies on NHS hospital parking charges in the UK. Hospitals may charge for car parking in all NHS hospitals in England and Northern Ireland. Most hospital car parking charges were abolished in Wales in 2008 and Scotland in 2009. House of Commons Library

    Wednesday 27 May 2020

    Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death toll still trending downwards, despite rise in positive tests

    Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death toll still trending downwards, despite rise in positive tests Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death-rate in our two main hospitals continued to slow with one more victim in the latest 24-hour period.

    The death at Kettering General Hospital on Sunday (May 17) took the total to a sobering 357 at the two NHS trusts since the coronavirus outbreak claimed its first victim on March 3. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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    Shielded voices

    Shielded voices At the beginning of the acute phase of the Covid-19 crisis, we could reason that it might have been necessary and understandable to make big decisions about health and care (and much else) quickly without much input from patients or users. However, as we move tentatively out of the acute phase, with health and care services working through how they deliver much needed support, the need to ensure we are hearing from people and communities using services, particularly those living with ill health or disabilities, becomes ever more pressing. The King's Fund

    The Covid-19 pandemic, financial inequality and mental health

    The Covid-19 pandemic, financial inequality and mental health This briefing discusses the mental health effects of financial inequalities in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. It draws evidence from the “Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic” research – a UK-wide, long-term study of how the pandemic is affecting people’s mental health. The study is led by the Mental Health Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, Swansea University, the University of Strathclyde and Queen’s University Belfast.

      Girlguiding research briefing: early findings on the impact of Covid-19 on girls and young women

      Girlguiding research briefing: early findings on the impact of Covid-19 on girls and young women This report summarises research of 7,000 members and reveals how girls and young women aged 4–18 in the UK are coping with the changes to their daily lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

      Findings reveal over half of girls aged 15 -18 feel lockdown has had a negative impact on their mental health – amidst high levels of worry, stress and loneliness. Girlguiding

      Selected NHS patients to access coronavirus treatment remdesivir

      Selected NHS patients to access coronavirus treatment remdesivir The anti-viral drug remdesivir will be made available to patients meeting certain clinical criteria to support their recovery in hospital. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Coronavirus deaths fall to six-week low

      Coronavirus deaths fall to six-week low Coronavirus death registrations in the UK in the week to 15 May reached their lowest point since the beginning of April.

      Between 11 and 15 May, there were 4,210 death registrations mentioning Covid-19, across the UK.

      Down from 4,426 the previous week, it is the lowest weekly figure since the 3,801 for the week ending 10 April. BBC News

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      Tuesday 26 May 2020

      Ten more coronavirus patients die at KGH

      Ten more coronavirus patients die at KGH Ten more Covid-19 patients at KGH have died, bringing the hospital's sobering death toll to 164.

      The NHS confirmed three deaths at the Rothwell Road hospital yesterday with a further seven confirmed today (Sunday).

      All of the deaths took place over four days with five in just one 24-hour period. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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      The impact of Covid-19 on working relationships

      The impact of Covid-19 on working relationships Recovery plans are gearing up to deal with the legacy of an emergency response that put many services on hold to prevent Covid-19 from overwhelming the health and care system. Efforts are focusing on unmet need – deferred treatment, late presentations and the long-term physical and mental health effects of the crisis – alongside a determination to retain and embed some of the innovations resulting from new ways of working. But, while some individuals and teams are flying, with energy to capitalise on the opportunities, there are other, harder to acknowledge, aspects of unmet need emerging. The King's Fund

      Minimum bridging competencies for general practice nurses transitioning to community nursing: for use during Covid-19 pandemic

      Minimum bridging competencies for general practice nurses transitioning to community nursing: for use during Covid-19 pandemic These competencies aim to support nurses who are taking up new roles at short notice during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Queen's Nursing Institute 

      Overview of the UK government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

      Overview of the UK government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic This report provides an overview of government’s wide-ranging response to Covid-19. It finds that between 31 January and 4 May, the government made over 500 announcements. The report sets out £124.3 billion of programmes, initiatives and spending commitments in response to the pandemic. It concludes that the costs of government’s response are large and uncertain and will depend on the continuing health and economic impacts of the pandemic. National Audit Office

      Government to offer antibody tests to health and social care staff and patients in England

      Government to offer antibody tests to health and social care staff and patients in England New antibody testing programme to provide tens of thousands of antibody tests per day across the UK from next week. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Coronavirus: WHO halts trials of hydroxychloroquine over safety fears

      Coronavirus: WHO halts trials of hydroxychloroquine over safety fears Testing of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a possible treatment for coronavirus has been halted because of safety fears, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

      Trials in several countries are being "temporarily" suspended as a precaution, the agency said on Monday. 

      It comes after a recent medical study suggested the drug could increase the risk of patients dying from Covid-19. BBC News

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      Wednesday 20 May 2020

      Northampton General Hospital implements robot to help plan care of Covid-19 patients

      Northampton General Hospital implements robot to help plan care of Covid-19 patients Northampton General Hospital has started using robotic technology to free up healthcare workers' time when looking after Covid-19 patients.

      The hospital has introduced a bot to monitor and record the its crucial supply of compressed oxygen - something that otherwise needs a healthcare worker to do manually every hour of the day. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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      Why are improvements in life expectancy slowing in the United Kingdom and across Europe?

      Why are improvements in life expectancy slowing in the United Kingdom and across Europe? International monitoring and co-operation can be invaluable in tackling global health problems because often the drivers and solutions are common across national boundaries. This is vital and done routinely in the context of infectious disease, as evident currently in the Covid-19 (coronavirus) context, but it can be important also in the context of non-communicable diseases. The King's Fund

      Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on an update to coronavirus symptoms

      Statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers on an update to coronavirus symptoms New information about coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms has been announced. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Coronavirus: Cancer surgery delays risk 'thousands' of deaths

      Coronavirus: Cancer surgery delays risk 'thousands' of deaths The NHS must ensure cancer-surgery delays do not cost more lives than the number of Covid-19 patients saved, the Institute of Cancer Research says.
       
      In some cancers, a three-month delay could make the difference between a tumour being curable or not, Prof Clare Turnbull said.

      And her modelling suggested delaying surgery risked thousands of additional deaths.

      NHS England is already urging people to seek help for worrying symptoms. BBC News

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      Monday 18 May 2020

      Your parents are heroes, hospital boss tells children

      Your parents are heroes, hospital boss tells children A hospital chief executive has written to the children of his staff members telling them their parents are "true heroes" of the coronavirus crisis.

      Simon Weldon, the chief executive at Kettering Hospital, wrote the letter on Monday. 

      In it he tells children their parents are "working really hard to help all of the poorly people in the hospital". BBC Northampton

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      NHS performance summary: March–April 2020

      NHS performance summary: March–April 2020 Our monthly round-up of the latest NHS performance data. Nuffield Trust

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      Tough challenges but new possibilities – shaping the post Covid-19 world with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

      Tough challenges but new possibilities – shaping the post Covid-19 world with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector The voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, which includes almost 40,000 charities playing a vital role in the health and care system, is probably facing its toughest-ever test as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The King's Fund

      What are we learning from the workforce about the impacts of COVID-19?

      What are we learning from the workforce about the impacts of COVID-19? To date, the Royal College of Physicians has conducted three surveys of its members and fellows during COVID-19. The first on 1–2 April, the second on 22–23 April and the most recent one on 13–14 May.

      Psychiatrists see alarming rise in patients needing urgent and emergency care and forecast a 'tsunami' of mental illness

      Psychiatrists see alarming rise in patients needing urgent and emergency care and forecast a 'tsunami' of mental illness Mental health services are dealing with a rise in urgent and emergency cases but also preparing for a ‘tsunami’ of mental illness still to come, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

      A new survey of over 1,300 mental health doctors from across the UK reveals that 43% of psychiatrists have seen an increase in their urgent and emergency caseload while 45% have seen a reduction in their most routine appointments.

      Government begins large scale study of coronavirus immunity

      Government begins large scale study of coronavirus immunity Up to 20,000 people are being asked to take part in a new government-funded study to further track the extent of the coronavirus spread across England, Scotland and Wales.
       
      The research will measure blood antibodies to help determine what proportion of the population has already had the infection, the duration of immunity after being infected, and why the virus affects people differently. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Coronavirus: UK daily death figure dips to lowest level since March

      Coronavirus: UK daily death figure dips to lowest level since March The UK's daily figure for coronavirus deaths has dropped to 170 - the lowest since the day after lockdown began.

      The announcement comes a week after the first easing of restrictions in England - and while numbers are typically lower on Sundays, the figure is almost 100 fewer than the 268 reported a week ago.

      But the overall death toll remains the highest in Europe, and is now 34,636. BBC News

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      Friday 15 May 2020

      Covid-19 death toll hits 200 at Northampton General Hospital

      Covid-19 death toll hits 200 at Northampton General Hospital NHS staff on the Covid-19 front line at Northampton General Hospital have now seen 200 victims of the bug die in just 57 days.

      Confirmation that two more patients died at the Cliftonville site took the grim total to exactly 200 since the first victims died there on March 16 to the most recent on May 12. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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      Social care reform: fit for purpose or simply fit for a crisis?

      Social care reform: fit for purpose or simply fit for a crisis? The Covid-19 (coronavirus) crisis has laid out in stark relief just how critical social care is to the people who rely on it to live the lives they want to, to communities and the economy, and yes, to the NHS too. Too often, politicians of all parties decided they couldn’t afford the political capital and the financial cost of social care reform. We can only hope that the current crisis is showing that they can’t afford not to. The King's Fund

      Covid-19 and the nation’s mental health: forecasting needs and risks in the UK

      Covid-19 and the nation’s mental health: forecasting needs and risks in the UK According to this report, the global Covid-19 pandemic is likely to increase the number of people in Britain experiencing a mental health problem in the next two years. It uses evidence from previous epidemics internationally and from the aftermath of the 2008 banking crisis to estimate what effect Covid-19 will have on mental health at population level in the UK. Centre for Mental Health

      Digital transformation in the NHS

      Digital transformation in the NHS This report was prepared before the Coronavirus pandemic. We recognise that the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS have unprecedented operational priorities to deal with, and we have agreed with them to publish this report because it contains valuable information that will remain relevant and help with digital transformation in the NHS in the longer-term.

      Progress in transforming digital services in the NHS has been slower than expected. Today’s report by the National Audit Office has found that recent investment in digital transformation has been inadequate, and it is uncertain whether current funding will be sufficient to meet the government’s ambitions because plans are based on very limited cost data. National Audit Office

      70 million face masks for NHS and care workers through new industry deal

      70 million face masks for NHS and care workers through new industry deal More than 70 million face masks will be manufactured in the UK and delivered to frontline health and care workers following an agreement with a global technology company. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Health unions publish blueprint for the safe opening up of the NHS

      Health unions publish blueprint for the safe opening up of the NHS The nine-point plan, jointly released by the RCN and 15 other unions, details measures that must be in place to protect the NHS, patients and staff as outpatient clinics and operations resume.

      These include fast, comprehensive and accessible testing and the ongoing, ample supply of personal protective equipment. Royal College of Nursing

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      Coronavirus: Reopening NHS services must be safe, unions say

      Coronavirus: Reopening NHS services must be safe, unions say Rapid testing and an adequate supply of protective equipment must be in place when the NHS reopens services cancelled during the peak of the coronavirus oubreak, health unions have said.
       
      The unions have put forward a nine-point plan for the NHS to reopen safely as lockdown restrictions ease.

      And staff working through the crisis should be paid overtime and a public sector pay freeze ruled out, they say. BBC News

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      Thursday 14 May 2020

      Kettering care home forced to close as at least eleven residents die from suspected Covid-19 - Northamptonshire Telegraph

      Kettering care home forced to close as at least eleven residents die from suspected Covid-19 A Kettering care hit by a coronavirus outbreak that has killed as many as eleven residents, has been ordered to close its doors.

      Residents from Temple Court in Albert Street, Kettering are being moved to other homes in the area after health and local authority bosses are understood to have stepped in after concerns about care levels. Northamptonshire Telegraph

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      Restarting health and care services will take many months, leading charities warn

      Restarting health and care services will take many months, leading charities warn Three independent health and care charities warn today that it will take many more months before NHS and social care organisations are able to fully restart services following the Covid-19 outbreak. The King's Fund

      Detailed guide: Help the government increase coronavirus (COVID-19) testing capacity

      Detailed guide: Help the government increase coronavirus (COVID-19) testing capacity The government wants help from businesses to increase testing capacity in the UK as part of its strategy to protect the NHS and save lives. Department of Health and Social Care 

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      Coronavirus antibody test a 'positive development'

      Coronavirus antibody test a 'positive development' A test to find out whether people have been infected with coronavirus in the past has been approved by health officials in England.

      Public Health England said the antibody test, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, was a "very positive development".

      The blood test looks for antibodies to see if a person has already had the virus and might now have some immunity.

      Until now, officials have said such tests are not reliable enough. BBC News

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      Wednesday 13 May 2020

      Another grim milestone passed as number of Northamptonshire's Covid-19 victims tops 400

      Another grim milestone passed as number of Northamptonshire's Covid-19 victims tops 400 More than 400 Covid-19 victims have died in Northamptonshire according to latest grim figures released on Tuesday (May 12).

      Eight more patients have been reported as dying in the county's two main hospitals, taking the toll to 324 among NHS patients. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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      Human Rights and the Government’s Response to Covid-19: Digital Contact Tracing

      Human Rights and the Government’s Response to Covid-19: Digital Contact Tracing Report outlining the approaches to contact tracing and the key actions the Government must take to ensure that the app respects human rights including the right to privacy and non-discrimination at the same time as enabling individuals to move around more freely whilst helping to prevent the spread of the virus. Joint Committee on Human Rights

      Government expands expert team to rapidly roll out coronavirus test and trace programme

      Government expands expert team to rapidly roll out coronavirus test and trace programme The government has announced the expansion of the expert team leading on the rapid nationwide roll-out of the coronavirus (COVID-19) test and trace programme. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Coronavirus: Johnson accused of misleading MPs over care home advice

      Coronavirus: Johnson accused of misleading MPs over care home advice Boris Johnson is standing by a response at PMQs to the Labour leader, after he was accused of misleading MPs in a row over care homes.

      The row centred on official advice at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. 

      Sir Keir said the government had been "too slow to protect people", and that up until 12 March, care homes were being told it was "very unlikely" anyone would become infected. BBC News

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      Tuesday 12 May 2020

      Northamptonshire care providers given money to help fund personal protective equipment

      Northamptonshire care providers given money to help fund personal protective equipment Northamptonshire residential homes and care providers hit financially during the Covid-19 pandemic have been given hundreds of thousands of pounds to help them through the crisis. 

      The county council has given the funds to the county’s care providers to help cover additional costs such personal protective equipment and increased operating costs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

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      Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

      Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy The Government’s roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the COVID-19 crisis. Department of Health and Social Care

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      Coronavirus: How many people have died in the UK?

      Coronavirus: How many people have died in the UK? The number of people who have died because of Covid-19 is nearly twice as high as the figure we hear announced every day.

      By 1 May, the number of coronavirus deaths announced by the UK government was just over 28,000.

      Looking back at death registrations filed then, the figure is higher: just under 36,000 death certificates mentioned Covid-19.

      The measure preferred by statisticians, counting all deaths above what would be expected, was even higher: more than 50,000.
       
      Each measure answers different questions. BBC News

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      Monday 11 May 2020

      Colleagues honour NHS nurse who died after contracting Covid-19

      Colleagues honour NHS nurse who died after contracting Covid-19 Two-minute silence held for father-of-four Augustine Agyei-Mensah, a highly regarded learning disabilities nurse

      Tributes have been paid to a learning disabilities nurse who died after testing positive for coronavirus.

      Augustine Agyei-Mensah, known to his colleagues as Gus, was described as a “highly regarded team member” at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS foundation trust (NHFT). The Guardian

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      Northampton General Hospital announces changes to eye casualty service

      Northampton General Hospital announces changes to eye casualty service From today, Northampton General Hospital is changing the way it runs the eye casualty service.

      The service, which is usually a walk-in service, will no longer operate in this way.

      Instead patients will need to phone the hospital rather than attending. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

      False economies: myths about public health spending

      False economies: myths about public health spending This briefing paper challenges the belief that spending on public health saves money in the long term by reducing future health care costs. It looks at the response to the Covid-19 crisis in terms of the public health budget, the procurement of personal protection equipment and public health interventions. Institute for Economic Affairs

      PM address to the nation on coronavirus: 10 May 2020

      PM address to the nation on coronavirus: 10 May 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on coronavirus. Prime Minister's Office

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      Coronavirus: PM to reveal further details on lockdown roadmap

      Coronavirus: PM to reveal further details on lockdown roadmap People in England can meet another person from outside their household as long as they are outside and stay 2m apart, the government has confirmed.

      Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said people should "use some common sense" and cannot visit others at their home. 

      The new rule is part of a 50-page guidance document to be published by the government later. BBC News

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