Number of coronavirus patients in Northants hospitals rising quickly as county cases soar

 Number of coronavirus patients in Northants hospitals rising quickly as county cases soar The number of Covid-19 patients being admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals is rising fast, leading health bosses to warn other services could come under threat if covid admissions continue to rise. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19: Northamptonshire schools close and 3,500 pupils sent home BBC Northampton
• Third death in one day confirmed among Covid-19 patients at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public Health Northamptonshire has ‘no plans’ to shut more schools after string of closures announced Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• University of Northampton makes care packages for isolating students Northamptonshire Telegraph

Failings at Northampton mental health ward set up for women with eating disorders

 Failings at Northampton mental health ward set up for women with eating disorders Inspectors have scolded a ward set up to treat women with eating and personality disorders at a Northampton mental health hospital during the pandemic in a new quality report.

The Spencer South ward at St Andrew's Hospital was established in April 2020 to take weight off the NHS after fears arose that patients with eating disorders (ED) would be at risk during the pandemic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review This report looks at the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for people with a mental health condition, a learning disability or autistic people. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• CQC report: Care of people with learning disabilities 'inhumane' BBC News

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review NHS Employers commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to investigate the evidence-base of health and wellbeing interventions used in healthcare and their implications for wellbeing outcomes. The findings in the report add to current knowledge about wellbeing interventions that are commonly implemented, if there is any evidence of their efficacy, and what future research still needs to be undertaken in this area. Institute for Employment Studies

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life This report looks at the life events and circumstances that can affect people's mental health in later life, including bereavement, loneliness, ill health and caring responsibilities. Focusing mainly on anxiety and depression, the report also describes people’s mixed experiences of seeking support from GPs, therapists and other services. It highlights the common barriers and makes recommendations for what needs to change to improve support for older people and ensure they can live a mentally healthy later life. Independent Age

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health This research finds that some older people are coping with the pandemic, but a sizeable minority are finding life incredibly tough. Those who are not very well and have long term health conditions were particularly likely to report that this is an extremely challenging time for them. The research was made up of a survey of older people, their friends, families, and loved ones (promoted across the Age UK social media channels for two weeks in August 2020 and completed by 569 people) and representative online polling of 1,364 people over the age of 60, conducted by Kantar Polling in September 2020. Age UK

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff NHS staff will get rapid access to expanded mental health services that are being rolled out across the country as part of efforts to deal with the second wave of coronavirus. NHS England and NHS Improvement will invest an extra £15 million to strengthen mental health support for nurses, paramedics, therapists, pharmacists, and support staff. NHS England

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released The Health Secretary is urging the public – and especially young people – to follow the rules and protect themselves and others from COVID-19, as new data and a new film released today reveal the potentially devastating long-term impact of the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism'

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism' A scientist advising the government on ethnicity and Covid says "structural racism is not a reasonable explanation" for black and south Asian people's greater risk of illness and death.

An earlier report by Public Health England said racism may contribute to the unequal death toll. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: UK on course for 'tens of thousands' more deaths BBC News
• Covid: No safety concerns found with Oxford vaccine trial after Brazil death BBC News
• Long Covid: Who is more likely to get it? BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: 26,688 new cases and 191 deaths in daily toll The Daily Mail
• One in ten under-50s will be struck by 'long Covid', data shows The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson's three-tier lockdown system is 'the worst of all worlds', SAGE member warns The Daily Mail
• Parents struggle to get help for mentally ill children during pandemic The Guardian
• Warning of tens of thousands of deaths in England from Covid-19 second wave The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Scientists identify human protein ‘which makes Covid highly infectious’ The Independent
• Coronavirus: Test and trace forced to bring in untrained workers as system is overwhelmed by second wave, leaked email reveals The Independent

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing'

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing' The pandemic is an opportunity to reset policy to tackle the “chronic, enduring problems” that nurses face, according to Anne Marie Rafferty, professor of nursing policy at King’s College London and president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

“If I can use this phrase, Covid should be the circuit breaker for many of the ills which have plagued the profession for many years: let’s make that happen.”Rafferty, who received a damehood for services to nursing in the Queen’s birthday honours list earlier this month, wants to see tangible recognition of the contributions that frontline nursing colleagues make. The Guardian

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs Full cost of adequately funding sector is likely to run into tens of billions, committee says

A cross-party group of MPs have called for an urgent multibillion-pound injection into England’s crisis-hit social care system to address rising levels of need among older and disabled people and to improve pay and skills for care workers.

The health and social care select committee said ministers should invest at least £7bn a year in the care sector by 2023-24, though it said this was only a “starting point” and that it would not address unmet care needs nor improve access to care. The Guardian