‘Urgent action required’ in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough as all see double-digit Covid infections

 ‘Urgent action required’ in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough as all see double-digit Covid infections The latest coronavirus data released this evening (Friday, August 14) by public health bosses have increasing rates of positive tests in three of our boroughs.

Northamptonshire’s COVID-19 positive case rate is now classed as significantly higher than the England average. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Greencore's Covid 19-positive workers 'huge disaster' says council leader BBC Northampton
• Coronavirus: Northampton rough sleeper moves into flat after 15 years on streets BBC Northampton
• Director of health points to 'carsharing, housesharing and socialising out of work' for Covid-19 outbreak at Northampton factory Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Information on outbreaks in Northamptonshire was not published because director 'did not think public would be interested' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Number of Covid patients at KGH has reduced significantly - but don't be complacent Northamptonshire Telegraph

Court decides if 4-stone anorexic woman can refuse hospital treatment

Court decides if 4-stone anorexic woman can refuse hospital treatment A Court of Protection judge has been asked to decide whether a woman who has suffered from anorexia nervosa for more than a decade and now weighs around four stone is mentally capable of making her own decisions about ending hospital treatment.

Bosses at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have responsibility for her care and have asked the judge for a ruling. Wales Online

Better than cure: injury prevention policy

Better than cure: injury prevention policy In the United Kingdom, injuries are the leading cause of preventable death in children and young people, and of preventable years of life lost up to age 65. Although the UK has been a world leader in injury prevention policy, austerity and a lack of strategy have hampered further improvement. In a post-pandemic society, this report says the government should act on the renewed focus on public health to address the disconnect between the importance of injury prevention and its neglect in terms of funding, enforcement and strategy, to make the safety of the people the highest law. Institute for Public Policy Research

Decision making and mental capacity

Decision making and mental capacity This quality standard covers decision making in people aged 16 and over, using health and social care services who may lack capacity to make their own decisions (now or in the future). It aims to support implementation of the aims and principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and relevant Codes of Practice. It is not a substitute for these. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Voices from lockdown: a chance for change

Voices from lockdown: a chance for change This interim findings report shows that services supporting the most disadvantaged women and girls face a perfect storm as the Covid-19 lockdown eases, with demand surging but emergency funding dropping off. However, the report also highlights how many women and girls’ services have innovated and adapted to the new circumstances, despite extremely challenging conditions. Agenda

Building back health and prosperity

Building back health and prosperity This cross-party commission report argues there is now a fundamental choice to be made between greater centralisation of NHS and social care services or a comprehensive health devolution approach which incorporates national entitlements and targets but embeds the delivery of an integrated NHS, social care and public health service within broader, powerful, democratically led local partnerships. Health Devolution Commission

£5 million for social prescribing to tackle the impact of COVID-19

£5 million for social prescribing to tackle the impact of COVID-19 The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has been awarded £5 million in funding to support people to stay connected and maintain their health and wellbeing following the COVID-19 pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Restrictions on household gatherings to continue in parts of North West, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester  Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports  Public Health England

Public Health England 'to be replaced'

Public Health England 'to be replaced' Public Health England is to be replaced by a new agency that will specifically deal with protecting the country from pandemics, according to a report.

The Sunday Telegraph claims Health Secretary Matt Hancock will this week announce a new body modelled on Germany's Robert Koch Institute.

Ministers have reportedly been unhappy with the way PHE has responded to the coronavirus crisis. BBC News

See also:

• NHS chief slams ministers for trying to shift the blame for coronavirus failings onto health bosses The Daily Mail
• PHE has been a public health catastrophe The Daily Telegraph
• Hancock axes ‘failing’ Public Health England The Daily Telegraph
• Public Health England to be scrapped and merged with NHS program Digital Journal
• Ministers criticised over plan to scrap Public Health England The Guardian
• 5 Times Public Health England *Wasn't* To Blame For The Country's Terrible Coronavirus Response Huffington Post UK
• Matt Hancock to scrap Public Health England and set up new organisation for pandemic, reports say The Independent
• Government accused of ‘passing the buck’ with reported plan to scrap Public Health England The Independent
• After Matt Hancock’s snap decision to axe Public Health England, this is everything we could lose The Independent
• Health Secretary to replace Public Health England with specialist pandemic unit, says report Sky News

Coronavirus: Test for Covid-19 T cells immunity developed

Coronavirus: Test for Covid-19 T cells immunity developed A company in Cardiff has developed a test for coronavirus T cells - which can potentially provide longer-term immunity to the virus than antibodies.

The body develops T cells when fighting an infection and they can create more antibodies if a person is exposed again.

This means the immune system could remember how to fight Covid-19 even after original antibodies have faded. BBC News

See also:

• Coronavirus: Appetite grows for home working and local lockdowns BBC News
• Coronavirus: Test, trace and the curse of the 0300 phone number BBC News
• Spring will be a 'new dawn' for Britain, says deputy chief medical officer The Daily Mail
• Public Health England still hasn't pinpointed 30,000 duplicated test results in coronavirus count The Daily Mail
• Thousands of Covid-19 survivors 'can't access NHS rehabilitation services as no proof they were infected' The Daily Telegraph
• Boss who blamed staff for Hillingdon hospital Covid outbreak quits The Guardian
• NHS needs thousands of British Asians to join Covid-19 vaccine trials The Guardian
• Parts of England to remain in tighter coronavirus lockdown The Guardian
• Tory MPs press Hancock for 'postcode-level' Covid restrictions The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Cover-up fears as reviews of Covid-19 deaths among NHS staff to be kept secret The Independent

Parents urged to stay up-to-date with children's vaccinations

Parents urged to stay up-to-date with children's vaccinations Parents are being urged to make sure their children are up-to-date with all their routine vaccinations.

The Local Government Association said high vaccine uptake could prevent infections and stop pressure being piled on the NHS. BBC News

The medical school trying to become anti-racist

The medical school trying to become anti-racist A major British medical school is leading the drive to eliminate what it calls "inherent racism" in the way doctors are trained in the UK.

The University of Bristol Medical School says urgent action is needed to examine why teaching predominantly focuses on how illnesses affect white people above all other sections of the population. BBC News

NHS chiefs’ plea: we need more cash for ‘winter risk’

NHS chiefs’ plea: we need more cash for ‘winter risk’ Rishi Sunak accused of breaking a pledge to give the NHS ‘whatever it needs’ after request for more beds is rejected

NHS chiefs are calling for the funding settlement unveiled by Theresa May to be drastically renegotiated, as they warn the service is already at increased risk this winter thanks to a shortage of resources. The Guardian