Three Covid-19 victims in a single day at Northampton General Hospital

Three Covid-19 victims in a single day at Northampton General Hospital NHS officials confirmed three more Covid-19 victims died at Northampton General Hospital on Sunday.

The shock news follows two more deaths last Thursday (July 23) among patients who tested positive for the killer bug. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• 'Good luck Jeremy': Northamptonshire man discharged after 123 days in hospital ITV News
• Walk-in coronavirus testing in Kettering until further notice Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Queue forms as Corby's Covid-19 testing station sets up for a second day Northamptonshire Telegraph

The colour of power 2020

The colour of power 2020  Ethnic diversity in Britain’s leadership fails to improve over past three years. Just 52 out of 1099 of the most powerful jobs in the country are currently held by ethnic minority individuals. Of the top fifty NHS trusts, none of the chief executive officer posts are filled by non-white individuals. This new work updates research conducted by the company in 2017, in partnership with Operation Black Vote. Green Park

The NHS after Covid-19: the views of provider trust chief executives

The NHS after Covid-19: the views of provider trust chief executives This report is based on interviews with thirteen provider trust chief executives in which they discuss the changes they have made to respond to COVID-19, as well as how best to restart and deliver services as we move into the next phase of the pandemic. The interviews took place in late May and early June 2020. The cohort identified three key concerns in resetting services following the emergency response to the pandemic: staff wellbeing, restarting other NHS services safely, and the long-term impact on health inequalities. NHS Confederation

NHS recovery to put staff wellbeing at its heart

NHS recovery to put staff wellbeing at its heart The NHS People Plan puts NHS staff wellbeing at its heart with a new recruitment, retention and support package. It sets out practical support for wellbeing such as safe spaces to rest and recuperate, wellbeing guardians and support to keep staff physically safe and healthy. 

The People Plan builds on the innovations driven by staff during the pandemic and sets out how the NHS can embed them. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS People Plan provides a stop-gap but leaves glaring omissions The Health Foundation
• ‘Another interim stop-gap’ The King's Fund
• Pushing power out from the centre key to cutting red tape and supporting NHS people plan Nuffield Trust
• NHS People Plan welcome but no quick solution to years of disinvestment NHS Employers
• We are the NHS - a summary of the NHS People Plan 2020/21 NHS Employers

Speech: The future of healthcare

Speech: The future of healthcare Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock spoke at the Royal College of Physicians about the future of healthcare. Department of Health and Social Care

Health and care workers to self-isolate on return to UK from high-risk countries

Health and care workers to self-isolate on return to UK from high-risk countries Registered health and care professionals travelling to the UK from high-risk countries will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, the government has confirmed. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS Test and Trace launches campaign to encourage everyone with symptoms to get a free test Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics Department of Health and Social Care

England death rate among worst in Europe

England death rate among worst in Europe The UK saw some of the biggest rises in deaths rates in Europe in the months until the middle of June, official analysis shows.

England saw the largest increase in death rates in Europe, with Scotland seeing the third largest increase.

The Office for National Statistics says that Spain saw the highest peak in rates of death in Europe. BBC News

See also:

• How does the coronavirus pandemic compare across Europe? Office for National Statistics
• England has highest excess death rate The King's Fund
• Coronavirus: Lockdown tightened in parts of northern England BBC News
• Coronavirus: Care home visits 'delayed' over lack of testing BBC News
• Covid-19: Why Hong Kong's 'third wave' is a warning BBC News
• Coronavirus: UK lockdown solidarity 'starting to fray' BBC News
• Only 7.1% of the UK has had coronavirus: Major antibody study reveals The Daily Mail
• 'I'm worried about a second wave': Matt Hancock warns wave of infections is 'rolling across Europe' The Daily Mail
• Britain's coronavirus cases rise 14% in a week as experts urge ministers not to panic The Daily Mail
• New push to double Covid-19 testing in England to 500,000 a day The Guardian
• Covid-19 test a week after UK arrival 'could halve quarantine time' The Guardian
• Average BAME Covid-19 patient decades younger than white Britons in study  The Guardian
• 'Heartless and reckless' to force shielding people back to work, says TUC The Guardian
• Misunderstanding scale of coronavirus spread ‘undoubtedly led’ to UK’s huge death toll, says expert The Independent

Hancock: GP appointments 'should be by phone or video'

Hancock: GP appointments 'should be by phone or video' People should have phone or video consultations with their doctors unless there is a clinical reason not to, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says.  

He said there had been a "hugely positive" response to virtual appointments during the coronavirus pandemic.

And there now needed to be a shift towards more "Zoom medicine," he added. BBC News

See also:

• The Dr will Zoom you now: getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience National Voices
• The doctor will WhatsApp you now: Matt Hancock to announce NHS reforms in wake of coronavirus The Daily Telegraph
• GPs urge caution over health secretary's push for 'all' consultations to be remote GPonline
• 'Remote first' GP appointments must be handled with care The Guardian

You'll have to BOOK an A&E appointment this winter: NHS told plans for patients to 'call first'

You'll have to BOOK an A&E appointment this winter: NHS told plans for patients to 'call first' Patients will be asked to book an A&E appointment by calling 111 this winter, NHS bosses have been told.

The plans, revealed in a board meeting for NHS England and NHS Improvement yesterday, are set to be put in place before December.

But hospitals will not turn away patients who turn up without calling ahead of their visit, it was claimed. The Daily Mail