World Mental Health Day: Where you can get mental health support 24/7

World Mental Health Day: Where you can get mental health support 24/7 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust partnered with mental health charity, Mind, to launch a mental health support number for Northamptonshire residents.

Anyone in Northamptonshire can receive mental health support by calling one number at any time - 0800 448 0828. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton bar fined after 'string of breaches' against Covid restrictions

 Northampton bar fined after 'string of breaches' against Covid restrictions A bar in Northampton has been fined after failing to comply with the Government's Covid-19 restrictions.

Jimmy's Sports Bar in Harlestone Road, St James has been served with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice after several visits from Environmental Health Officers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Kettering CCTV monitoring shoppers and bus passengers' face mask compliance Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Face masks become less effective in the rain - here’s what experts are saying Northamptonshire Telegraph

Two-fifths of patients waiting for mental health treatment forced to resort to emergency or crisis services

Two-fifths of patients waiting for mental health treatment forced to resort to emergency or crisis services  Two-fifths of patients waiting for mental health treatment contact emergency or crisis services, with one-in-nine (11%) ending up in A&E, research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found.

A Savanta ComRes poll of 513 British adults diagnosed with a mental illness also reveals the damaging consequences that hidden waiting lists - the wait between referral and second appointments – have on the lives of patients living with severe or common mental illness.

See also:

• One in four waiting three months or more for mental health help The Guardian

Pandemic fatigue: Reinvigorating the public to prevent COVID-19

Pandemic fatigue: Reinvigorating the public to prevent COVID-19 Despite documented public support for pandemic response strategies across the WHO European Region, Member States are reporting signs of pandemic fatigue in their populations – here defined as demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviours, emerging gradually over time and affected by a number of emotions, experiences and perceptions.

This document provides a framework for the planning and implementation of national and subnational strategies to maintain and reinvigorate public support to prevent COVID-19. World Health Organization Europe

See also:

• Coronavirus: Europe experiencing 'pandemic fatigue' BBC News

The Chancellor’s post-pandemic choices

The Chancellor’s post-pandemic choices This briefing uses historical data and analysis to identify those policies that could maximise government revenue growth following the coronavirus crisis. It includes an analysis of public finances. Institute of Economic Affairs

Government invests in UK-developed antibody tests from UK Rapid Test Consortium

Government invests in UK-developed antibody tests from UK Rapid Test Consortium The government has signed a deal with the UK-RTC for 1 million antibody tests, Health Minister Lord Bethell has announced.

The home antibody tests will be rolled out as part of the government’s COVID-19 surveillance studies to help build a picture of how the virus has spread across the country and further develop our understanding of how antibodies work. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: NHS tests threatened by Roche supply chain failing

Covid-19: NHS tests threatened by Roche supply chain failing Coronavirus swabs and other key NHS tests for conditions including cancer are under threat, after a supply chain failure at a major diagnostics company.

Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche said problems with a move to a new warehouse had led to a "very significant" drop in its processing capacity.

A spokesperson said Covid-19 tests would be prioritised, but it could take two weeks to fix the issue. BBC News

See also:

• Covid hospital cases jump 25% in a day in England BBC News
• Covid can be airborne, US CDC guidelines now say BBC News
• East Kent Hospitals Trust: Covid-19 practice failings revealed by inspection BBC News
• Coronavirus: Scientists to map hospital spread BBC News
• Why Scotland isn't faring much better than England despite Nicola Sturgeon's 'zero-Covid' approach The Daily Telegraph
• UK to buy 1m antibody home tests despite accuracy concerns The Guardian
• UK government 'thwarting independent labs' efforts to step up Covid-19 testing' The Guardian
• Global shortage of key Covid drug leads to NHS rationing The Guardian
• Ingenuity in a crisis: how Covid forced NHS trusts to innovate The Guardian
• Further restrictions may be needed to protect NHS, expert warns The Independent

Nearly half of NHS Trusts reported risks classified as ‘significant’, Labour analysis shows

Nearly half of NHS Trusts reported risks classified as ‘significant’, Labour analysis shows Almost half of NHS Trusts in England have reported risks classified as “significant” or “extreme”, with issues facing funding, buildings and failing equipment, according to an analysis by Labour.

Highlighting warnings of staff shortages and patient safety, the party demanded urgent action from the government to prepare the health service for the winter months as cases of Covid-19 accelerate across the country. The Independent

NHS in England cannot cope without more funds, PM told

NHS in England cannot cope without more funds, PM told Boris Johnson urged to abandon ‘have our cake and eat it’ approach and recognise pressures on health service.

Boris Johnson has been warned he must give the NHS more money and not pursue a “have our cake and eat it” policy of thinking it can deliver Covid care within existing budgets.

The plea came from Chris Hopson, the leader of England’s hospital bosses, who said the extra £20.5bn the NHS was promised in 2018 was no longer enough to let it do its job. The Guardian

Thousands of patients affected by GP surgery closures, figures show

 Thousands of patients affected by GP surgery closures, figures show An estimated 350,000 patients were forced to move to a new GP surgery over the past year due to closures, figures suggest.

Data obtained by Pulse Healthcare under Freedom of Information laws shows 99 GP surgeries were closed in the UK throughout 2019, down from 138 the year before. The Independent

See also:

• Further practice closures cannot be ruled out if the pressures facing general practice are not addressed, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners

IT worker, 23, sues NHS gender clinic that gave her puberty-blocking drugs

IT worker, 23, sues NHS gender clinic that gave her puberty-blocking drugs An IT engineer put on puberty blockers as a 16-year-old girl has claimed a gender clinic failed to carry out a proper psychiatric assessment before giving them to her.

Keira Bell, 23, of Manchester, who is taking legal action against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in London, suffered from gender dysphoria as a child. The Daily Mail