'You'll end up in court' warning to those ignoring Covid fines in Northamptonshire

 'You'll end up in court' warning to those ignoring Covid fines in Northamptonshire Police say anyone ignoring Covid-19 fines in Northamptonshire will end up in court if they don't pay.

Officers issued 371 fixed penalty notices between March and September to people going out during lockdown, not wearing face coverings and gathering in large numbers. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire teachers told to turn off Test and Trace apps, claims union Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton gym trust's social impact programmes 'at risk' due to second lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid infection rates compared across England as cases continue to rise - where is worst affected? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire Police press on with £10k Traveller funeral fine after legal wrangle stalls plan to punish organisers Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Feather in our cap' as KGH gets top award

'Feather in our cap' as KGH gets top award Kettering General Hospital has been given a top award for the way it collects information about joint replacement surgery.

The Rothwell Road hospital has been awarded the National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider certificate for the scrupulous way it it gathers and submits information to support a national safety system for joint replacements. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Management of the long-term effects of COVID-19

Management of the long-term effects of COVID-19 A survey of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) members in September 2020 showed 67% of those who responded were looking after at least one patient with ongoing symptoms of COVID-19 lasting more than 12 weeks. The RCGP have published their response and top tips for caring for patients.

New antibiotic-resistant infections rise to 178 per day in England

New antibiotic-resistant infections rise to 178 per day in England Antimicrobial resistance remains a serious threat to the health of people in England, with 178 AMR infections diagnosed each day, according to a Public Health England report.

Expanded study tests immune response of care home staff and residents

Expanded study tests immune response of care home staff and residents An expansion of the current Vivaldi study will test thousands more care home staff and residents for their immune response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research and analysis: Evaluating detection of SARS-CoV-2: AntiBodies at Home study Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Public Health England

Covid: Oxford vaccine shows 'encouraging' immune response in older adults

Covid: Oxford vaccine shows 'encouraging' immune response in older adults The Oxford coronavirus vaccine shows a strong immune response in adults in their 60s and 70s, raising hopes that it can protect age groups most at risk from the virus.

Researchers say the Lancet phase two findings, based on 560 healthy adult volunteers, are "encouraging".

They are also testing whether the vaccine stops people developing Covid-19 in larger, phase three trials. BBC News

See also:

• Care home welcomes visitors after pilot covid test scheme BBC News
• Christmas CAN be saved from Covid but New Year lockdown advisable The Daily Mail
• Britons vaccinated against Covid 'may get QR codes on their mobile phones' The Daily Mail
• Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Q&A: what do the results show so far, and what happens next? The Daily Telegraph
• UK health experts discuss relaxing Covid rules for Christmas – video The Guardian
• NHS assembles army of staff for mass coronavirus vaccinations The Guardian
• Poor areas of England face 'permanent' lockdown, says public health chief The Guardian
• 30,000 volunteers sought to deliver Covid vaccine across England The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS must get the Pfizer vaccine where it is needed - and fast Sky News

Quarter of UK home care operators face going bust

Quarter of UK home care operators face going bust More than a quarter of UK home care providers risk going out of business, research for the BBC suggests.

A study by business analysts for Radio 4's You and Yours programme found 715 of the 2,731 home care operators in the UK are in danger of closure.

The sector has combined debts in excess of £100m. BBC News

See also:

• UK care home bosses seek extra £500m for Christmas Covid measures The Guardian

Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice'

Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice' A BBC News investigation has uncovered failures in the diagnosis of serious medical issues during private baby scans.

More than 200 studios across the UK now sell ultrasound scans, with hundreds of thousands being carried out each year.

But the BBC has found evidence of women not being told about serious conditions and abnormalities.

NHS whistleblower speaks out on PPE contracts as PM faces criticism

NHS whistleblower speaks out on PPE contracts as PM faces criticism Our health and social care editor Victoria Macdonald has been speaking to a whistleblower who describes what went on behind the scenes in the rush to acquire enough personal protective equipment (PPE) – when the rest of the world was scrambling to do exactly the same thing. Channel 4 News

Hospital trust accused of risking lives after raising patient-to-nurse ratio to dangerously high levels

Hospital trust accused of risking lives after raising patient-to-nurse ratio to dangerously high levels A hospital trust in Bristol has been accused of risking lives after raising its patient-to-nurse ward ratio to dangerously high levels, having allegedly dismissed staff concerns and national guidance on safe staffing. The Independent

Four BILLION people worldwide will be overweight by 2050, report predicts

Four BILLION people worldwide will be overweight by 2050, report predicts In a matter of three decades, nearly half of the world's population (45%) will be obese, and 16% will be overweight, while food waste surges in wealthy nations, new Potsdam Institute research predicts. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The ongoing nutrition transition thwarts long-term targets for food security, public health and environmental protection (open access) Scientific Reports
• Starved, stuffed and squandered: New study reveals consequences of decades of global nutrition transition Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research