Northamptonshire's hospitals on high alert for Christmas after nine more Covid deaths

Northamptonshire's hospitals on high alert for Christmas after nine more Covid deaths "Most of our beds are full and we are under severe pressure," warns NGH chief executive.

Northamptonshire's two main hospitals are set to remain on a high level of operational alert all over Christmas. 

NHS England today confirmed nine more coronavirus deaths in the county in the space of two days this week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• These are the new Christmas rules across the UK Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Can I travel to a Tier Four area from Northamptonshire — or can my loved ones come to see me at Christmas? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• NHS confirms 16 Covid deaths in five days at Northamptonshire hospitals Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Hundreds of Covid jabs cancelled at Northamptonshire's largest GP surgery Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Magistrates slap bigger fines on lockdown law-breakers from Northampton, Daventry and Towcester Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid vaccine hopes cruelly dashed as 'fridge failure' destroys doses at Rushden surgery Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Boris Johnson: 'We cannot continue with Christmas as planned' - what the PM said Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northampton school head "deeply frustrated" as Covid test means kids must spend Christmas in isolation Northamptonshire Telegraph

Specialised supported housing: guidance for local government and NHS commissioners

Specialised supported housing: guidance for local government and NHS commissioners Supported housing is typically defined as a housing service where housing, support and/or care services are provided to help people to live as independently as possible. This is guidance for local government and NHS commissioners about a category of supported housing referred to as ‘Specialised Supported Housing’ (SSH), particularly lease-based models of SSH. Local Government Association

Cancer services recovery plan

Cancer services recovery plan One of the most significant impacts of the coronavirus pandemic was a sharp reduction in the number of people coming forward and being referred urgently with suspected cancer and referred from screening programmes. This report has several aims, including restoring demand at least to pre-pandemic levels and reducing the number of people waiting over 62 days from urgent referral. NHS England

New sites to test how connecting people with nature can improve mental health

New sites to test how connecting people with nature can improve mental health Seven sites which will test the ways in which connecting people with nature can improve mental wellbeing have been awarded a share of a £5.77 million pot, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow has announced. Department of Health and Social Care 

Statement from Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, about new strain of COVID-19

Statement from Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, about new strain of COVID-19 New strain of COVID-19 reported to World Health Organization. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: Making a Christmas bubble with friends and family Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Local restriction tiers: what you need to know Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Full list of local restriction tiers by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Tier 3: Very High alert Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Tier 2: High alert Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: Tier 1: Medium alert Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): information about the new virus variant Public Health England
• Guidance: National protocol for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) Public Health England 

Covid: Cases rise as Christmas rules come into force

Covid: Cases rise as Christmas rules come into force Coronavirus cases in the UK have risen by 35,928 - nearly double the number recorded last Sunday, figures show.

Public Health England medical director Yvonne Doyle said the "sharp" rise in cases was of "serious concern". 

It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that a new variant of the virus was "getting out of control". BBC News

See also:

• NHS pressure 'at a really dangerous point' BBC News
• Covid-19: Christmas rules tightened for England, Scotland and Wales BBC News
• New coronavirus variant: What do we know? BBC News
• Coronavirus infections on the rise again BBC News
• Covid Christmas: What can you do to stay safe? BBC News
• Britain's Covid-19 R rate rises ABOVE crucial level of one The Daily Mail
• Oxford University scientist behind Covid vaccine hopes UK approval 'isn't too far off' The Daily Mail
• Length of Covid hospital stays exceed first wave average as NHS capacity nears brink The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson speaks of 'heavy heart' as Christmas is sacrificed to protect the vulnerable The Daily Telegraph
• What is the new Covid-19 strain and will it respond to the vaccine? The Daily Telegraph
• Scientists race to ensure vaccine works against new variant - as it is confirmed in three other countries The Daily Telegraph
• Give NHS staff Covid vaccine now or face growing winter crisis, say hospital bosses The Guardian
• Oxford vaccine still under review, says UK medicine agency The Guardian
• Sadness, hope and love: revisiting the people who helped us report on the pandemic – podcast The Guardian
• Analysis: A virulent new strain of Covid-19 will mean more patients and sick staff for a battered NHS The Independent
• UK records highest ever one-day rise in coronavirus cases The Independent
• Coronavirus: Freight crisis as new strain leads France and European neighbours to ban travel from UK The Independent
• Government indecision is the UK’s greatest health threat The Independent
• Strong support for Tier 4 introduction and Christmas rules changes YouGov

Shortages of staff and equipment weigh on doctors’ decisions, survey reveals

 Shortages of staff and equipment weigh on doctors’ decisions, survey reveals Staff shortages and a lack of equipment are affecting the day-to-day decisions about patient care by doctors and nurses, a new YouGov survey has revealed. 

The representative survey of NHS clinicians revealed more than half, 54 per cent, admitted that factors such as a lack of staff played a role in their decisions about patients beyond what was in their best interests. The Independent

‘I wasn’t allowed to leave the room’: Restrictive practices in a psychiatric ward during coronavirus

‘I wasn’t allowed to leave the room’: Restrictive practices in a psychiatric ward during coronavirus Reducing restrictive practices (RP) has become one of the most ‘hated topics in psychiatry’, but it has become even harder in the pandemic. The Independent

Firm with mystery investors wins £200m of PPE contracts via 'high-priority lane'

Firm with mystery investors wins £200m of PPE contracts via 'high-priority lane' Exclusive: It’s unclear how PPE Medpro’s bids were processed through channel for firms referred by MPs and senior officials.

A company with mystery investors and links to the Isle of Man was awarded government contracts worth £200m to supply the UK with personal protective equipment (PPE) after it was placed in a “high-priority lane” for well-connected firms, the Guardian can reveal. The Guardian

Labour and unions criticise Matt Hancock over delays to NHS pay rise

Labour and unions criticise Matt Hancock over delays to NHS pay rise GMB lambasts health secretary for slipping out letter late on a Friday, saying staff will ‘rightly be angry’

Unions and the Labour leadership have criticised the health secretary over a delayed pay rise for NHS staff, as it was revealed that he had emphasised “affordability” must determine the size of healthcare workers’ wage increases.

In a letter to the NHS pay review body chair formally beginning the process on Friday, Matt Hancock repeatedly underlined that wage increases must be influenced by the country’s economic situation. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS Pay Review Body remit letter: 2021 to 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• RCN responds to government remit letter to NHS pay review body Royal College of Nursing
• Government fails to 'turn warm words into deeds' – delaying a pay rise for NHS workers until 'next year'  Government fails to 'turn warm words into deeds' – delaying a pay rise for NHS workers until 'next year' Nursing Notes
• Hancock reveals 2021-22 pay rise for nurses will be 'unfortunately delayed' Nursing Times
• Public-sector pay freeze will hit those earning less than private counterparts – report The Guardian
• Public sector workers affected by the pay freeze next year already face a pay penalty compared to private sector staff in similar roles The Resolution Foundation
• Earnings Outlook Q4 2020: Public sector pay The Resolution Foundation