More than 100 babies in Northamptonshire not vaccinated against potentially deadly illnesses

More than 100 babies in Northamptonshire not vaccinated against potentially deadly illnesses More than 100 babies are missing out on potentially life-saving jabs in Northamptonshire, with vaccine uptake remaining below the level the World Health Organisation says is needed for herd immunity. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire hospital beds freed up in lockdown mass discharge remained empty for a month

Northamptonshire hospital beds freed up in lockdown mass discharge remained empty for a month Hundreds of beds at Northampton and Kettering hospitals freed up as part of a mass discharge at the start of lockdown remained largely empty for a month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Coronavirus: Wife's 'no answers' fear over Northamptonshire care home outbreak BBC Northampton
• Revealed: 20 areas of England at most risk of coronavirus resurgence The Guardian
• NHS reports nine more coronavirus patients have died in the Anglia region ITV News
• Revealed: Most comprehensive Covid-19 data published by Northants public health team Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Iconic Spitfire salutes our heroes at Northampton General Hospital during special flypast Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chief executive retires after 25 years at Northampton General Hospital

Chief executive retires after 25 years at Northampton General Hospital After 25 years of working at Northampton General Hospital, the chief executive has retired.

Sonia Swart, who worked as a doctor at the Cliftonville hospital before becoming a medical director and then CEO, stepped aside earlier this month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Did the government meet its Covid-19 test targets?

Did the government meet its Covid-19 test targets? Since March, the government has invited the country to judge its progress on these tests by announcing measurable targets. We have written about some of them before, but new data and new targets have since arrived. Here we attempt to describe exactly what was promised, and exactly what happened afterwards. FullFact

See also:

• New data reveals PM’s testing speeds claims as wrong FullFact

BMA withdraws from the joint statement put in place for trainees during COVID-19

BMA withdraws from the joint statement put in place for trainees during COVID-19 The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced its withdrawal from the joint statement, which details the application of contractual protections during the pandemic, relating to the Terms and Conditions of Service (T&Cs) for NHS Doctors and Dentists in Training (England) 2016. NHS Employers

Boris Johnson plans radical shake-up of NHS in bid to regain more direct control

Boris Johnson plans radical shake-up of NHS in bid to regain more direct control Exclusive: health secretary said to be frustrated by his lack of authority over NHS England boss Simon Stevens

Boris Johnson is planning a radical and politically risky reorganisation of the NHS amid government frustration at the health service’s chief executive, Simon Stevens, the Guardian has learned. The Guardian

See also:

• What might Boris Johnson’s restructuring plan mean for the NHS? The Guardian
• Boris Johnson takes on politically perilous task in reorganising NHS The Guardian
• Boris Johnson plans to bring NHS back under more political control The Independent

Immunity to Covid-19 may be lost in just a few months

Immunity to Covid-19 may be lost in just a few months People who have recovered from Covid-19 may lose their immunity to the disease within months, according to research suggesting the virus could reinfect people year after year, like common colds. 

In the first longitudinal study of its kind, scientists analysed the immune response of more than 90 patients and healthcare workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust and found levels of antibodies that can destroy the virus peaked about three weeks after the onset of symptoms then swiftly declined. The Guardian

See also:

• Longitudinal evaluation and decline of antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection (open access) MedRxiv
• Coronavirus: More than 100 outbreaks tackled a week, says Matt Hancock BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: Why are people remaining ill for so long? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Labour calls for clarity over face coverings in England BBC News
• Coronavirus US: Cases hit record single-day high again at 63k The Daily Mail
• Scientists warn UK Government to prepare for 'visible resistance' to future lockdowns The Daily Mail
• Matt Hancock says ban on care home visits will be lifted 'in the coming days' The Daily Mail
• Local lockdowns running at a hundred per week, Matt Hancock reveals The Daily Telegraph
• Cross-party group of MPs to lead first UK coronavirus inquiry The Guardian
• No 10 plans weight loss drive to ready UK for expected Covid-19 second wave The Guardian
• Man plans to sue NHS after cancer surgery delayed due to coronavirus The Guardian
• More than 500000 tasks completed by NHS volunteer army ITV News
• Coronavirus: 'Catastrophic' drop in NHS services is harming patients, doctors warn Sky News

Cases of child malnutrition in England double in last six months

Cases of child malnutrition in England double in last six months Almost 2,500 children admitted to hospitals in England suffering malnutrition in 2020

Almost 2,500 children have been admitted to hospital with malnutrition in the first six months of the year – double the number over the same period last year – prompting fresh concern that families are struggling to afford to feed themselves and that the pandemic has intensified the problem. The Guardian

Fears for pensioners and vulnerable as NHS moves to axe telephone prescription services - iNews

Fears for pensioners and vulnerable as NHS moves to axe telephone prescription services Exclusive: Patients are being told they cannot order repeat prescription by phone from 1 September as Government backs digital system, which Age UK wants could lead to older people becoming “seriously unwell”. iNews