Care watchdog inspects 'outstanding' Northampton home after whistleblower raises concerns during pandemic

Care watchdog inspects 'outstanding' Northampton home after whistleblower raises concerns during pandemic Issues were raised regarding access to masks, hand washing facilities and areas to dispose of waste.

A Northampton care home was subject to a ‘targeted inspection’ after a whistleblower expressed concerns.

Burlington Court Care Home, in Roseholme Road, Abington, was inspected by the care regulator - Care Quality Commission - on August 13. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Experts warn a blanket care home visiting ban 'could risk premature deaths' Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Another Northampton secondary school confirms two cases of Covid-19 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Watch walk-through of how Northampton General Hospital's new entrance building will look like

Watch walk-through of how Northampton General Hospital's new entrance building will look like Northampton General Hospital has announced that it is investing in a new hospital entrance to provide staff, patients and visitors a welcoming reception area. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Call to PM on Northamptonshire visit for single body to fund abuse services

Call to PM on Northamptonshire visit for single body to fund abuse services The prime minister has been called on to set up a single funding organisation to support domestic abuse services.

Northamptonshire police and crime commissioner Stephen Mold lobbied Boris Johnson during a visit to county police headquarters.

He handed the PM a letter calling for responsibility to be transferred to PCCs across the country, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. BBC Northampton

The long-term impacts of new care models on hospital use: An evaluation of the Integrated Care Transformation Programme in Mid-Nottinghamshire

The long-term impacts of new care models on hospital use: An evaluation of the Integrated Care Transformation Programme in Mid-Nottinghamshire The briefing examines the impact of Mid-Nottinghamshire's Integrated Care Transformation Programme initiatives on hospital use for people aged over 18 years and registered with a GP practice in the region. It covers a 6-year period from the start of the initiatives in April 2013.  

The analysis found that it took between 2 and 6 years before lower rates of hospital utilisation started emerging. By year 6 (2018-19) there were 4.3% fewer A&E visits and 6.7% fewer emergency admissions per 10,000 people per month compared with a carefully selected comparison area. The Health Foundation

The biggest hospital in England

The biggest hospital in England A little more than five years ago, South London NHS Healthcare Trust was broken up – in part because it was too big and unwieldy; the merger of two trusts in Bournemouth and Poole was blocked on competition grounds; and Monitor published a report on small hospitals that raised doubts about economies of scale in health care. But times, or at least health care strategy, seem to be changing. The King's Fund

Whistleblowing disclosures report 2020: healthcare professional regulators

Whistleblowing disclosures report 2020: healthcare professional regulators This report shows that 107 disclosures of instances of whistleblowing which met the criteria were received compared to 34 in the previous year. The report shows actions taken and how the organisations involved worked together in handling issues or concerns raised by nurses, midwives, nursing associates, students or other health care professionals in their workplaces or practice placements across the UK. Nursing & Midwifery Council

Covid-19 and the health and care workforce: supporting our greatest asset

Covid-19 and the health and care workforce: supporting our greatest asset This report includes key findings from a member survey of more than 250 health care leaders, which revealed that nine out of ten respondents are concerned about the long-term impact of Covid-19 on the wellbeing of their staff. It also raises concerns about workforce shortages. NHS Confederation

Health as the new wealth: the NHS’s role in economic and social recovery

Health as the new wealth: the NHS’s role in economic and social recovery This report argues that health services have a vital role to play in the wider recovery and rebuilding of local economies and communities – driving up prosperity, population health and wellbeing – in the wake of Covid-19. It highlights the links between health and growth, outlines a five-point plan for every system to build on to maximise their local impact and influence and showcases innovative practice which is supporting lasting local change. NHS Confederation

Life expectancy for local areas of the UK: between 2001 to 2003 and 2017 to 2019

Life expectancy for local areas of the UK: between 2001 to 2003 and 2017 to 2019 Subnational trends in the average number of years people will live beyond their current age measured by “period life expectancy”. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• 'Inequalities in life expectancy remain unacceptably high': The King's Fund responds to the ONS data on life expectancy The King's Fund

Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT)

Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT) The HEAT aims to be a practical framework that enables multiple audiences to systematically embed action on health inequalities and equalities in their work programme or service. The resources consist of: HEAT executive summary; HEAT tool – full version; HEAT tool – simplified version; case studies demonstrating practical application of the tool and the main benefits of applying it in different work areas. Public Health England

14,199 more NHS nurses and nursing student acceptances rise by 23%

14,199 more NHS nurses and nursing student acceptances rise by 23% The number of nurses in the NHS in England has increased by 14,199 compared with last year, and the number of doctors has risen by 9,283. Department of Health and Social Care

More than 1 in 10 people in England have now been tested for coronavirus

More than 1 in 10 people in England have now been tested for coronavirus NHS Test and Trace has now reached almost half a million people, including those testing positive and their contacts, to slow the transmission of coronavirus in England. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Transparency data: Number of coronavirus tests processed by local authority (England): 28 May to 16 September 2020 Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make your own Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Test turnaround times getting longer in England

Coronavirus: Test turnaround times getting longer in England People are waiting longer for test results from England's community Covid testing centres, figures show.

Only 28% of tests carried out in these venues came back in 24 hours in the week up to 16 September.

That is down from one in three last week, and two in three the week before, NHS Test and Trace said. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Covid-19 app: One million downloads of contact tracer for England and Wales BBC News
• Hancock: 'Upgrade' may be needed to access NHS Covid app BBC News
• NHS Covid-19 app: How to install and use it BBC News
• Coronavirus London: Lockdown fears as hospital admissions triple The Daily Mail
• Thousands of doctors and nurses are having to take time off work because they can't get tested The Daily Mail
• New coronavirus mutation could be evolving to get around mask-wearing and hand-washing The Daily Telegraph
• 'Stark warning to us all': UK reports record daily number of Covid cases The Guardian
• Users report issues as Covid-19 app launches in England and Wales The Guardian
• UK failing to use its high Covid test capacity efficiently, study shows The Guardian
• Countries should look to emulate New Zealand's 'zero-Covid strategy,' scientists say The Independent

Brexit: NHS put on no-deal planning alert, letter reveals

 Brexit: NHS put on no-deal planning alert, letter reveals NHS hospitals have been told to start preparing for the UK to leave the EU single market and customs union without a deal at the end of 2020.

Chief executives of hospitals across England have been put on alert and asked to get the health service ready for potential disruption following the Brexit transition period. The Independent

UK government warned about contaminated blood risk for haemophiliacs

 UK government warned about contaminated blood risk for haemophiliacs A new documentary is set to detail how the UK was warned about risks of a haemophilia treatment that led to thousands of patients being infected with HIV and Hepatitis C.

Letters were sent to the UK officials warning of potential dangers of using blood imported from the US, the upcoming ITV film claims. The Independent

NHS whistleblower privacy concerns passed on to regulator, but campaigners not holding their breath

NHS whistleblower privacy concerns passed on to regulator, but campaigners not holding their breath NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding acknowledges receiving concerns raised about the anonymity of whistleblowers, but campaigners have little faith that anything will be done.

NHS Improvement is looking into criticism of the lack of guarantees of confidentiality for NHS whistleblowers due to inadequate privacy technology and policies, following an investigation by Computer Weekly. ComputerWeekly.com