Northamptonshire ‘still in serious trouble’ as data shows county is closer to Tier 3 than Tier 1

Northamptonshire ‘still in serious trouble’ as data shows county is closer to Tier 3 than Tier 1 A council leader has warned that Northamptonshire is ‘still in serious trouble’ after its Tier 2 status was announced earlier this week.

New data, revealed by the director of Public Health Northamptonshire at this week’s weekly Covid-19 press briefing, shows the county is closer to Tier 3 than it is to Tier 1. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Here is the graph which shows how close Northamptonshire is to Tier Three lockdown status Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Over 1,300 students sign up for rapid coronavirus testing at Northampton's university Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid-19 mass testing for students without symptoms gears up for launch day at University of Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Secondary school closes third year group as Covid-19 continues to disrupt Northamptonshire education Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Police hand out 'approximately 100' fines for breaking restrictions in Northamptonshire over past week Northamptonshire Telegraph

Dozens of Northamponshire nurses lobby MPs for 12.5 percent pay rise

 Dozens of Northamponshire nurses lobby MPs for 12.5 percent pay rise Northampton nurses are among hundreds in the East Midlands to call on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to increase their pay as part of a spending review this week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Standing shoulder to shoulder: nursing with courage and compassion

Standing shoulder to shoulder: nursing with courage and compassion Shaped by my parents’ and my personal values, I was lucky to know early on what I wanted to do with my life – to become a nurse. Today my career has far superseded my childhood aspirations. I have worked for the National Health Service for more than 25 years in a number of organisational cultures, some of which I thrived in and others I just survived. These experiences, both positive and negative, impacted on my confidence, self-esteem and growth. As a black senior nurse I recognise the struggle many people of difference have in their leadership journey. I am passionate about promoting fairness, leading with compassion and creating culture where people can bring their best selves to work. The King's Fund 

The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2020

The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2020 This report finds that, despite the pressures caused by Covid-19, 89 per cent of doctors experienced at least one positive change during the pandemic. However, it found that black and minority ethnic doctors were less likely to share the positive experiences reported by many of their white counterparts. General Medical Council 

See also:

• ‘Long past time’ to address disparities in experience of white and BME staff NHS Employers
• GMC report shows GPs have been working hard throughout the COVID pandemic and highlights need for greater support over coming months Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCP responds to GMC report on state of medical education and practice Royal College of Physicians 

NHS to pilot potentially revolutionary blood test that detects more than 50 cancers

NHS to pilot potentially revolutionary blood test that detects more than 50 cancers An innovative blood test that may spot more than 50 types of cancer will be piloted by the NHS in a world-leading programme, chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced.

The Galleri blood test, developed by GRAIL, can detect early stage cancers through a simple blood test, and will be piloted with 165,000 patients in a world-first deal struck by NHS England.

UK government secures additional 2 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

UK government secures additional 2 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine The UK government has today (Sunday 29 November) signed a deal for a further 2 million doses of Moderna’s promising vaccine candidate, bringing the total to 7 million doses for the UK. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• At-risk groups to receive free winter supply of vitamin D Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Vitamin D supplements: how to take them safely Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Vitamin D supplementation during winter: PHE and NICE statement Public Health England
• PHE publishes COVID-19 vaccine guidance for health and social care workers Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: vaccination programme guidance for healthcare practitioners Public Health England
• Guidance: COVID-19: vaccinator training recommendations Public Health England 
• Guidance: COVID-19: vaccinator competency assessment tool Public Health England

Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study

Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study Coronavirus infections in England have fallen by about a third over lockdown, according to a major study.  

Some of the worst-hit areas saw the biggest improvements - but, despite this progress, cases remained relatively high across England.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the data showed the country could not "take our foot off the pedal just yet". BBC News

See also:

• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: November 2020 interim results Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid: PM calls for 'unity' and agrees to publish data behind new tiers BBC News
• Covid-19: Don't 'take brakes off' Covid measures, says leading scientist BBC News
• Covid: Nadhim Zahawi appointed as vaccine rollout minister BBC News 
• Covid: Hospitals could be overwhelmed without new tiers - minister BBC News
• Covid-19: Mass testing a 'distraction' from vaccine rollout - health leaders BBC News
• Covid Christmas: 'Avoid board games and sleepovers' BBC News
• Student Covid testing begins for Christmas exodus BBC News
• NHS staff will face 'massive levels of burnout' and 'very fragile' mental health after the pandemic The Daily Mail
• Almost 250,000 women are overdue cervical smear tests this year due to Covid-19 The Daily Mail
• Police clash with anti-lockdown protesters on Oxford Street with 150 arrests The Daily Telegraph
• Angry Tory MPs turn on Gove after ‘overwhelmed NHS’ claims The Guardian
• Working in the NHS, it doesn't feel like any end to Covid is in sight The Guardian
• Nearly a third of English hospital trusts exceed first peak of Covid patients The Guardian
• Inspectors moving between Covid-hit England care homes without tests The Guardian
• Dominic Raab warns UK at risk of third wave of coronavirus – video The Guardian
• Covid vaccine: NHS hospital staff ‘could get first jab in just 10 days’ The Independent
• Boris Johnson climbdown as he offers to end lockdown tier system early to ward off rebellion from Tory MPs The Independent

Demand for public inquiry into NHS mental health deaths to be debated by MPs

Demand for public inquiry into NHS mental health deaths to be debated by MPs A mother fighting for a public inquiry into the death of her son and more than 20 other patients at an NHS mental health hospital in Essex has won a debate in parliament after more than 100,000 people backed her campaign. The Independent

Former Great Ormond Street porter admits sexual offences against boys over three decades at hospital

Former Great Ormond Street porter admits sexual offences against boys over three decades at hospital A former Great Ormond Street Hospital porter has admitted sexual offences against boys as young as six over three decades at the children's hospital. 

Paul Farrell, 55, has pleaded guilty to 58 child sex offences carried out between 1985 and 2020. The Daily Telegraph

Abuse of older people reaches 'unprecedented level' during pandemic

Abuse of older people reaches 'unprecedented level' during pandemic Abuse of older people is at "unprecedented levels" - with almost 2.7 million victims thought to be affected in the UK, a charity has said.

Hourglass gave the warning after it commissioned a survey which said 22 per cent of UK residents have personal experience of abuse of an older person, or know someone who has been targeted. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• One in five older people in the UK have been abused, poll finds The Guardian