Health experts call for extra funding to increase flu jab rates in Northamptonshire

 Health experts call for extra funding to increase flu jab rates in Northamptonshire Flu jab rates were below target for clinically vulnerable groups and the elderly in Northamptonshire last year, figures reveal, as the Government aims to ramp up vaccinations this autumn. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Outbreak of Covid-19 at Northampton food factory confirmed by health authority

Outbreak of Covid-19 at Northampton food factory confirmed by health authority An outbreak of Covid-19 has been confirmed at a food factory in Northampton.

Public Health Northamptonshire has confirmed that Greencore, in Moulton Park is experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus cases. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Sue asked to train as healthcare assistant after caring for coronavirus patients in first-time hospital job

Sue asked to train as healthcare assistant after caring for coronavirus patients in first-time hospital job At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Sue Adkins saw an opportunity to apply for a role at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) as a hospitality assistant.Sue, who was previously a carer, put herself on the frontline to help feed, dress and communicate with COVID-19 patients at the Favell Wing at Cynthia Spencer Hospice before they could return home. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Disability in the medical profession

 Disability in the medical profession A report from The BMA that outlines steps needed to improve support for doctors and medical students with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

The report highlights that hundreds of disabled doctors and medical students are not getting adjustments in their workplace and many say they’re too afraid to discuss their disability for fear of prejudice.

Hear us: the experiences of refugee and asylum-seeking women during the pandemic

Hear us: the experiences of refugee and asylum-seeking women during the pandemic A report from a coalition of eight organisations, surveyed over 100 asylum seeking women from England and Wales to hear how they are surviving during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey was completed by women seeking and refused asylum, as well as those with leave to remain. These responses were supplemented by a survey of 24 staff and volunteers who have been supporting asylum-seeking women since the outbreak. Sisters Not Strangers 

Hospital discharge and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions (Covid-19)

Hospital discharge and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions (Covid-19) This guide discusses the lessons learned from hospital discharge and avoidance during the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights challenges faced and good practice to prevent unnecessary admissions going forward. Social Care Institute For Excellence

The broader value of vaccines: the return on investment from a governmental perspective

The broader value of vaccines: the return on investment from a governmental perspective Most value assessments of vaccination programs are carried out by taking the perspective of the health system. To stimulate the debate concerning the broader value of vaccination beyond this perspective, this report quantifies the related return on investment to the UK government. Office of Health Economics

See also:

• Realising the broader value of vaccines in the UK Office of Health Economics

Top nurse tells COVID generation: “your NHS needs you”

Top nurse tells COVID generation: “your NHS needs you” England’s chief nurse has issued a rallying call to those receiving their A-Level results tomorrow to join the thousands of their peers who have already applied to study nursing this year. NHS England

New UK-wide methodology agreed to record COVID-19 deaths

New UK-wide methodology agreed to record COVID-19 deaths The publication of daily data on coronavirus deaths will resume from today, following a review by Public Health England (PHE) of the methodology used to calculate the figures. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: PHE data series on deaths in people with COVID-19: technical summary Public Health England

New £500m digital workplace framework launched by NHS SBS

New £500m digital workplace framework launched by NHS SBS A new procurement framework developed by NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has been launched to assist NHS and public sector organisations to purchase cost-effective IT solutions, potentially saving an estimated £75m. National Health Executive

Coronavirus: England's contact-tracing app gets green light for trial

Coronavirus: England's contact-tracing app gets green light for trial England's revamped coronavirus contact-tracing app is set to begin public trials on Thursday.

The software will be based on Apple and Google's privacy-centric method of one smartphone detecting another.

Engineers are still trying to reduce how often the Bluetooth-based tech wrongly flags people as being within 2m (6.6ft) of each other. BBC News 

See also:

• Coronavirus: UK death count reduced by 5,000 under new rules BBC News
• Coronavirus: How will the world vaccinate seven billion? BBC News
• Number of Covid-19 patients needing hospital treatment has plummeted by 96% since April, data shows The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: SAGE say 'no evidence' face shields work The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus England: Infection rates are rising in under-65s The Daily Mail
• Low infection rate shows 'limited role' of children during coronavirus pandemic The Daily Telegraph
• Coronavirus death toll in England revised down by more than 5,000 The Guardian
• NHS Test and Trace app for England to be launched three months later than planned iNews
• Coronavirus: Record 30 million people sought medical help from NHS 111 during pandemic The Independent

Breast screening women in their 40s 'could save lives'

Breast screening women in their 40s 'could save lives' Screening women for breast cancer from their 40s rather than their 50s could save lives without adding to the diagnosis of harmless cancers, a UK study has found.

The research was based on 160,000 women from England, Scotland and Wales, followed up for around 23 years. BBC News

See also:

• Effect of mammographic screening from age 40 years on breast cancer mortality (UK Age trial): final results of a randomised, controlled trial (open access) The Lancet Oncology