Number of Northamptonshire care home beds at record low

Number of Northamptonshire care home beds at record low The number of care home beds available to elderly people in Northamptonshire hit a record low in March, new figures reveal. 

Care home representatives and charities warn vulnerable people could be put at risk without more funding to increase capacity in the sector across England, which has been strained by Covid-19. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering primary school pupils told to self-isolate after positive Covid-19 test

Kettering primary school pupils told to self-isolate after positive Covid-19 test Pupils in a bubble at a Kettering primary school have been told to remain at home after a positive coronavirus test in one person.
Grange Primary Academy in Jean Road, Kettering, emailed parents this morning (Wednesday, September 9) to say pupils in a Year 1 bubble should stay at home until Friday, September 19. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Highways maintenance staff at Northampton depot self-isolating after case of Covid confirmed Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Some children and staff from specialist Northampton school self-isolating after pupil ‘displays Covid symptoms’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Pupil at Corby school tests positive for coronavirus Northamptonshire Telegraph

Rolling out social prescribing: understanding the experience of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

Rolling out social prescribing: understanding the experience of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector This report sets out the findings of research conducted by National Voices for NHS England to explore the perspectives and experiences of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in relation to the NHS rollout of social prescribing. National Voices spoke to over 300 people through a series of interviews, workshops and online engagements between December 2019 and June 2020. National Voices

See also:

• Social prescribing research briefing House of Commons Library

Workforce race equality standard (WRES): indicators for the medical workforce

Workforce race equality standard (WRES): indicators for the medical workforce There are eleven indicators for the medical workforce. Four of the indicators reflect variation in career progression and pay, six represent medical staff perceptions of how they are treated by colleagues, employing organisations and patients, and one highlights the diversity of the councils and boards of medical institutions. NHS England

Public Health England launches new Every Mind Matters campaign

Public Health England launches new Every Mind Matters campaign Most families have experienced upheaval in their daily lives during the pandemic. With children and young people now back at school or college, the new Public Health England (PHE) Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign provides NHS-endorsed tips and advice to help children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and equip parents and carers with the knowledge to support them.

Covid-19: what people are telling us

Covid-19: what people are telling us This briefing looks at the key issues the public have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, ranging from the affect lockdown has had on carers, to the problems getting emergency dental treatment. Healthwatch England

New campaign to prevent spread of coronavirus indoors this winter

New campaign to prevent spread of coronavirus indoors this winter The ‘Hands. Face. Space’ public information campaign urges the public to continue to wash their hands, cover their face and make space to control infection rates and avoid a second peak. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Making a support bubble with another household Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: National COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England

Coronavirus: Concerns over Boris Johnson's 'moonshot' testing plans

Coronavirus: Concerns over Boris Johnson's 'moonshot' testing plans Scientists and health professionals have raised doubts about Prime Minister Boris Johnson's "Operation Moonshot" plan for mass coronavirus testing.

The PM hopes millions of Covid-19 tests - including some giving results within minutes - could be processed daily.

But experts say there are issues with laboratory capacity for current tests, while the technology for more rapid tests "does not, as yet, exist". BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Government plans to spend £100bn on expanding testing to 10 million a day The BMJ
• Coronavirus: New virus measures 'not a second lockdown' BBC News
• Coronavirus: People without symptoms 'misusing testing' BBC News
• PM plans to spend almost as much as entire NHS budget in bid to test every Briton every week The Daily Mail
• UK announces 2,659 more coronavirus cases and eight deaths The Daily Mail
• 'Hands, face, space': Department of Health launches campaign pushing basic coronavirus messages The Daily Mail
• Matt Hancock: Holidaymakers and schools bear the blame for testing delays The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock accused of blaming public for Covid test shortages The Guardian
• Matt Hancock hopes six-person Covid rule can be lifted 'before Christmas' The Guardian
• Covid testing: local authorities in England demand more control The Guardian
• New tool could 'help UK doctors spot high-risk Covid patients in seconds' The Guardian
• Care home visits guidance in England is unlawful, charity claims The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Government condemned by health experts for ‘shambolic’ testing system as fury mounts over failings The Independent
• Mixed messages, U-turns and ‘massaged’ figures: A timeline of the UK’s coronavirus testing system The Independent
• Long Covid: 60,000 ill with coronavirus for three months or more, professor says The Independent
• Coronavirus: Scientists doubtful as leaked government document reveals plans for 10 million tests by next year Sky News

Coronavirus prompts surge in people wanting to be nurses

Coronavirus prompts surge in people wanting to be nurses The Covid-19 pandemic is thought to be responsible for a surge in people applying for healthcare qualifications.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) has reported a rise in applications among all ages across the UK.

A total of 47,320 people applied for nursing degrees by the end of June, a 16% rise on last year. BBC News

Half of British voters think PM will still include NHS in trade deals

Half of British voters think PM will still include NHS in trade deals Almost half of British voters do not believe Boris Johnson’s claim that the NHS is “off the table” in trade deals, a new poll has found.

And the survey by pollsters Survation found that three-quarters (75 per cent) want specific protections for the NHS to be written into law in the Trade Bill, which has its second reading in the House of Lords today. The Independent