Covid-19: Northamptonshire was 'hair's breadth' from tier 3

Covid-19: Northamptonshire was 'hair's breadth' from tier 3 Northamptonshire was a "hair's breadth" away from being moved into tougher tier three Covid-19 restrictions, its director of public health said.

The county will remain under tier two rules, as it has been since England's second national lockdown ended. 

Lucy Wightman, director of Public Health Northamptonshire, said people should remain "vigilant". BBC Northampton

See also:

• Health chief reveals "significant increase" in Covid-19 outbreaks in Northamptonshire hospitals Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Seven more Covid deaths at Northampton Hospital as health chief warns: "We're living on a knife-edge" Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Care home workers claim they're not getting regular tests as Covid deaths rise in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Ambulance service volunteers help to vaccinate 500 patients at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Have you had Covid-19? Northamptonshire's hospitals need you to donate blood plasma Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Mass Covid tests to start for Northamptonshire school chidlren during first week of January Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• So, why did Northamptonshire remain in Tier Two under the Covid plan? Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northamptonshire remains in Tier Two under Covid plan ... at least for now Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Hundreds take up Covid-19 vaccine at Thrapston surgery Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Wellingborough Covid vaccinations underway for over 80s Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mental health support 24-hour helpline launches in December across Northamptonshire

Mental health support 24-hour helpline launches in December across Northamptonshire Mental Health can affect us at any time, and the festive period and COVID-19 restrictions may have an impact our mental wellbeing this Christmas time. 

There is 24-hour mental health support available this December for anyone in need of immediate advice, including during a crisis. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Public perceptions of health and social care in light of COVID-19

Public perceptions of health and social care in light of COVID-19 The Health Foundation commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out a survey of the general public in Great Britain to gather their views on a range of health and care issues in light of COVID-19. 

This polling data looks at the public’s attitudes towards the impact of coronavirus and Government’s handling of the pandemic. The data shows a number of changes in the public’s perceptions on these issues since July and May this year, when the first two rounds of this polling by Ipsos MORI were carried out.

See also:

• Majority of public support making Universal Credit uplift permanent The Health Foundation

Chart of the week: Covid-19 continues to disproportionately affect the health and wellbeing of disabled people

Chart of the week: Covid-19 continues to disproportionately affect the health and wellbeing of disabled people Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. This week Camille Oung and Lauren Elias look at the effects of the pandemic on disabled people and find, as in so many other cases, that previously existing inequalities are being exacerbated by Covid-19. Nuffield Trust 

The remote care revolution in the NHS: understanding impacts and attitudes

The remote care revolution in the NHS: understanding impacts and attitudes This year’s QualityWatch animated scrolling data story explores the increased use of remote care in the NHS after the outbreak of Covid-19. This article explains the findings in more detail and discusses some of the implications for patients, clinicians and the NHS. Nuffield Trust 

Research and analysis: Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England

Research and analysis: Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England This annual report covers surgical site infection (SSI) data collected by NHS hospitals and independent sector NHS treatment centres. Public Health England

Detailed guide: Healthcare for EU citizens living in or moving to the UK from 1 January 2021

Detailed guide: Healthcare for EU citizens living in or moving to the UK from 1 January 2021 Information on accessing healthcare for citizens from EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland living in or moving to the UK from 1 January 2021. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Healthcare for visitors to the UK from the EU from 1 January 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: How charges for NHS hospital care will apply to overseas visitors from 1 January 2021 Department of Health and Social Care

Long COVID patients to get help at more than 60 clinics

Long COVID patients to get help at more than 60 clinics Thousands of patients suffering with the long term symptoms of coronavirus can now access specialist help at more than 60 sites, NHS England announced today.

The assessment centres are taking referrals from GPs for people experiencing brain fog, anxiety, depression, breathlessness, fatigue and other debilitating symptoms.

NHS England has provided £10 million for the network of clinics, which started opening last month. There are now 69 operating across the country with hundreds of patients already getting help. NHS England 

See also:

• COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 NICE

Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on review of coronavirus tiering restrictions in England

Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on review of coronavirus tiering restrictions in England Oral statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the outcome of the government's first formal review of tiering in England, which took place on 16 December 2020. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Detailed guide: Full list of local restriction tiers by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Staggered rollout of coronavirus testing for secondary schools and colleges Department of Health and Social Care
• Government publishes list of approved COVID-19 test providers Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Safety of COVID-19 vaccines when given in pregnancy Public Health England
• COVID-19 infection rates in schools mirror rates in the community Public Health England
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing surveillance: Spotlights Public Health England

Covid: Millions prepare for tougher restrictions amid rising cases

Covid: Millions prepare for tougher restrictions amid rising cases Millions of people across the UK are preparing for tougher coronavirus restrictions amid growing concern about the rising number of cases.

Some 38 million people in England will be subject to the nation's strictest measures - tier three - from Saturday. BBC News 

See also:

• Long Covid: Hospital patients to get checks at six weeks BBC News
• Covid cases in schools 'reflect community levels' BBC News
• Britain's Covid vaccination scheme needs to get FOUR TIMES quicker to meet target The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 was the leading cause of death in England in November The Daily Mail
• UK records 35,383 daily Covid cases after officials include 11,000 cases missed in Wales count The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 is THE leading cause of death in the U.S., study finds The Daily Mail
• NHS hospitals running out of beds as Covid cases continue to surge The Guardian
• Hancock pushes personal responsibility as parts of England enter Covid tier 3 – video The Guardian
• 'There are no good options': Britons torn over Christmas gatherings The Guardian
• Covid: tough UK restrictions to last until February at least, say experts The Guardian
• Oxford Covid vaccine is safe and effective, new data shows The Independent
• Coronavirus: More patients in English hospitals now than at November’s peak The Independent
• Covid cases rising in all but one region of England, and fastest in London The Independent
• COVID-19 vaccine rollout may be delayed - with IT system 'failing constantly' Sky News

Revealed: Nurses forced to use food banks as Covid and financial pressures drive many to brink of quitting

Revealed: Nurses forced to use food banks as Covid and financial pressures drive many to brink of quitting Over a third (39%) of nurses have skipped meals in order to feed their family or to save money as financial and Covid pressures force many to the brink of quitting the NHS, a survey seen by ITV News has revealed.

For nurses from an ethnic minority background the situation is even bleaker, with over half (61%) admitting to missing meals owing to money worries. 

See also:

• Stressed, overworked nurses are missing meals to pay bills Nursing Notes

Clapped-out kit, long delays, too few beds and staff: NHS enters 2021 in a sorry state

Clapped-out kit, long delays, too few beds and staff: NHS enters 2021 in a sorry state The health service was struggling even before the pandemic. It now faces the spectre of perpetual crisis

Think 2020 has been awful for the NHS? Next year is shaping up to be far worse – and most of the huge hole it’s in was dug long before Covid. The virus has merely finished off the job.

The health service does not have the beds, staff or equipment to recover the ground it lost during the first two waves of the coronavirus pandemic, but the government is blocking desperately needed improvements, and another round of organisational upheaval is on its way. The Guardian

Clean air zones to tackle traffic pollution delayed or on hold

Clean air zones to tackle traffic pollution delayed or on hold Local authorities deferring schemes to reduce toxic emissions as calls rise to put WHO targets into UK law.

Measures to tackle illegal air pollution, which kills tens of thousands of people a year in the UK, are being delayed or shelved despite growing evidence of the health risks.

Several local authorities have deferred or put a hold on the introduction of clean air zones, which are designed to reduce toxic air from traffic in town and city centres. The Guardian

UK teenagers far more overweight than previous generations

UK teenagers far more overweight than previous generations More than a third of teenagers in the UK begin their adult life already overweight or obese, disturbing new reseach has revealed.

Scientists have found that one in five (21%) young people were obese at age 17, and a further one in seven (14%) were overweight. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Poorer teens at substantially greater risk of obesity Centre for Longitudinal Studies
• Obesity prevalence and its inequality from childhood to adolescence Initial findings from the Millennium Cohort Study Age 17 Survey Centre for Longitudinal Studies