Northamptonshire nearly at 200,000 Covid jabs as the great vaccination roll-out steams on

Northamptonshire nearly at 200,000 Covid jabs as the great vaccination roll-out steams on Covid vaccination teams are steaming on with another 25,000 jabs delivered in a week taking the total close to 200,000.

And now the plea has gone out for those aged 65 to 69 to book their jabs as the roll-out continues. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

See also:

• UK's Covid alert level has been lowered from 5 to 4 - here's what that means Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• New California Covid strain discovered spreads more easily - and is partially resistant to existing vaccines Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS prescriptions charges are increasing again - here’s how much you’ll have to pay

NHS prescriptions charges are increasing again - here’s how much you’ll have to pay NHS prescription charges are due to increase in England again, leaving thousands of people at risk of being unable to afford vital medication.

Pharmacies bodies have been calling for the charge to be scrapped in the country for several years, as people living in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not have to pay for their prescriptions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Prescription charge rises to £9.35 from 1st April Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

Car park charges will return next month at Northampton General Hospital

Car park charges will return next month at Northampton General Hospital Outpatients and visitors will have to pay up to £10 a day for parking at Northampton General Hospital again from next month.

The hospital revealed charges would be restored on March 15 — almost a year after they were put on hold as the Covid-19 crisis deepened. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How transport offers a route to better health

How transport offers a route to better health This long read examines the challenges of shifting towards a transport system that better supports health. It sets out how transport affects health, the difficulties in moving towards greater use of public transport and the effects of COVID-19 on travel patterns. The Health Foundation

Tackling Loneliness, House of Commons Library

Tackling Loneliness The Government's Loneliness Strategy was published in October 2018. It set out a wide variety of cross-departmental measures that the Government would take to provide 'national leadership' to tackle loneliness in England. As well as explaining the Strategy and the steps taken so far by the Government, this briefing also looks at research into the causes and impact of loneliness and possible interventions. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on loneliness is also considered, alongside the measures introduced by the Government in response. House of Commons Library

In the wake of the pandemic: preparing for long Covid

In the wake of the pandemic: preparing for long Covid This policy brief highlights areas where policy-makers can take action to meet the challenge of post-Covid conditions based on what is currently known. It addresses the need for multidisciplinary, multispecialty approaches to assessment and management; development of new care pathways and contextually appropriate guidelines for health professionals; and the creation of appropriate services, including rehabilitation and online support tools. World Health Organization Europe 

Government updates on identifying and tackling COVID-19 disparities

Government updates on identifying and tackling COVID-19 disparities Today the Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, will publish the second quarterly report to the Prime Minister and Health Secretary on progress to understand and tackle COVID-19 disparities experienced by individuals from an ethnic minority background. Government Equalities Office 

See also:

• Latest findings from antibody surveillance study published Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 25 February 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: mental health and wellbeing surveillance report Public Health England

Young vulnerable people receive vaccine

Young vulnerable people receive vaccine The focus of the vaccine rollout so far has largely been on older people. But it has also included nearly 200,000 younger people across the UK who are classed as extremely clinically vulnerable and who’ve been shielding for much of the past year. BBC News 

See also:

• The UK alert level is down to four. What does that mean? BBC News
• Covid-19: Adverts urge people to 'keep going' and remain at home BBC News
• How many people in the UK have been vaccinated so far? BBC News
• Ysbyty Gwynedd outbreak 'shows we can't let guard down' BBC News
• Queen urges people to 'think about others' by taking Covid jab BBC News
• Covid cases in England hit their lowest levels since SEPTEMBER The Daily Mail
• Pfizer scientists are studying whether a THIRD vaccine shot can offer protection The Daily Mail
• Nearly 4,500 critically-ill patients are being treated in hospital beds every day in England The Daily Mail
• Is Cali's super-covid the most worrying strain yet? The Daily Mail
• UK Covid alert level downgraded to severe as case numbers fall The Guardian
• English school leaders despair at soft line on Covid tests and masks The Guardian
• NHS to use postcode level data to target communities with poor vaccine uptake The Independent
• COVID-19: Over-70s can now book first coronavirus jab and don't need to wait for contact from NHS Sky News

Rough sleeper numbers down 37% in England during Covid pandemic

Rough sleeper numbers down 37% in England during Covid pandemic The number of rough sleepers in England plummeted during the pandemic, data shows, with 2,688 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2020, down 37% from the previous year.

However, the numbers are still 52% higher than in 2010 when such data first started being collected. The Guardian 

Number of new FGM cases referred to NHS in England down by a quarter

Number of new FGM cases referred to NHS in England down by a quarter The number of new female genital mutilation cases referred to NHS services in England has fallen by a quarter, prompting charities and campaigners to warn that the drop may be down to difficulties in accessing services during the coronavirus pandemic.

The statistics from NHS Digital revealed that for the period of October to December 2020, there were 685 newly recorded cases among women and girls, compared with 900 newly recorded cases for the same period in 2019. The Guardian 

Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak set to ignore pay rise demands for NHS staff

Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak set to ignore pay rise demands for NHS staff A decision on pay rises for health workers who have been on the frontline of the fight against Covid-19 could take months if the Chancellor does not bring a new deal forward next week, according to unions. iNews

Northampton General Hospital hits targets for treating cancer patients despite extra pressures of Covid-19

Northampton General Hospital hits targets for treating cancer patients despite extra pressures of Covid-19 Cancer patients at Northampton General Hospital are being seen within NHS target times despite the worst winter ever.

While coronavirus cases climbed alongside the pressures of winter illnesses during December 2020, the hospital hit seven national targets to provide cancer care. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

'I firmly hope and believe that this time, if we get it right and we keep the rates down, this could be the last lockdown'

'I firmly hope and believe that this time, if we get it right and we keep the rates down, this could be the last lockdown' Colum from Northamptonshire's Director of Public Health, Lucy Wrightman. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

See also:

• DJ Jo Whiley welcomes news thousands of adults with learning disabilities will be prioritised for a coronavirus vaccine Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton councillor reveals he came close to death from Covid-19 - and hopes his experience will warn others Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Wellingborough man, 57, admits stealing £1900 from Northampton General Hospital patient

Wellingborough man, 57, admits stealing £1900 from Northampton General Hospital patient Offender conditionally discharged after being ordered to pay back outstanding cash. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Spring Budget 2021: what’s in store for health and care?

Spring Budget 2021: what’s in store for health and care? What might the Chancellor have in store for health in the upcoming Budget? If we think narrowly about health and care services, then the answer is likely to be not very much. But if we think more widely about the population’s health, then there could be much more at stake. The King's Fund

How can policymakers plan better for the long term

How can policymakers plan better for the long term Coronavirus (COVID-19) has shown why governments must prepare better for an uncertain future. This long read explores what long-term planning means and how it could be improved. The Health Foundation 

Understanding clinical decision-making at the interface of the Mental Health Act (1983) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005)

Understanding clinical decision-making at the interface of the Mental Health Act (1983) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005) The Mental Health Act (1983) (MHA) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) both provide a legal means by which people can be deprived of their liberty and admitted to hospital on a formal basis when they lack capacity to consent to their admission and treatment. A key interface of the MHA and the MCA arises where an individual lacks the capacity to decide whether to be admitted to hospital to receive care and treatment, and are not objecting to admission or treatment, then the decision of which Act to use for these purposes is that of professionals involved. This report looks at that decision-making process. Partnership for Responsive Policy Analysis and Research 

Maternal death: Learning from maternal death investigations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Maternal death: Learning from maternal death investigations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic Through our maternity investigation programme, we’ve investigated 20 maternal deaths that happened between 1 March and 31 May 2020. These deaths all happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The women had contact with many areas of the healthcare system, including primary and secondary care, ambulance services and NHS 111.

The purpose of this national learning report is to review the findings of our maternal death investigation reports and identify any potential themes and areas of learning. This learning could potentially improve maternal care if a future surge of COVID-19 cases occurs. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Ban on attending hospitals with pregnant partners 'may have contributed to maternity deaths'  The Daily Telegraph

Ban lifted to allow UK blood plasma to be used for life-saving treatements

Ban lifted to allow UK blood plasma to be used for life-saving treatements Thousands more critically ill patients will soon be able to benefit from life-saving treatments made from UK-sourced blood plasma, as the government lifts a decades-old ban on donations of plasma in the UK being used to manufacture some medicines. Department of Health and Social Care 

JCVI advises inviting people on Learning Disability Register for vaccine

JCVI advises inviting people on Learning Disability Register for vaccine JCVI has advised the government to invite all people on the GP Learning Disability Register for COVID-19 vaccination. Public Health England 

See also:

• Letter from the Health and Social Care Secretary on COVID-19 vaccination in people with learning disabilities Department of Health and Social Care

Is Covid at risk of becoming a disease of the poor?

Is Covid at risk of becoming a disease of the poor? Alum Rock is an inner city suburb of Birmingham. It is deprived and ethnically diverse, with a large Pakistani community.

The area has seen high rates of infection and yet it has among the lowest number of people coming forward for vaccination. Just six in 10 of those aged over 80 have had the jab.

A few miles to the north is Sutton Four Oaks, an affluent area with detached houses and tree-lined streets. Infection rates have been three times lower in recent weeks, but close to 95% of over-80s have been vaccinated. BBC News 

See also:

• Serco: Test and trace firm's boss defends scheme BBC News
• Johnson and Johnson vaccine: FDA finds the single-shot jab safe BBC News
• Covax vaccine plan: What is it and how will it work? BBC News
• People with learning disabilities to be prioritised for Covid vaccine BBC News
• How Britain's second wave of Covid has drastically changed The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Lockdown ease may SLOW if cases spike, says SAGE adviser The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Matt Hancock claims cases of variants 'falling sharply' The Daily Mail
• Frontline workers and BAME groups will not be prioritised for UK vaccines The Guardian
• Gwyneth Paltrow's Covid advice challenged by NHS England director The Guardian
• Two doses of Pfizer vaccine produce higher number of antibodies, study shows The Independent

Covid: Half with cancer signs didn't contact GP in first wave

Covid: Half with cancer signs didn't contact GP in first wave Almost half of people with potential cancer symptoms did not contact their GP during the first wave of the pandemic, a survey suggests.

Symptoms left unchecked included coughing up blood, lumps and changes to the appearance of moles.

NHS figures showed a fall in referrals to cancer services last spring. BBC News

See also:

• Cancer symptom experience and help-seeking behaviour in the UK adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic Covid Health and Help Seeking Behaviours Study (CABS)
• Nearly half with cancer symptoms in the UK did not see GP in first wave of pandemic The Guardian

Ministers warned over new powers to control patient safety watchdog

Ministers warned over new powers to control patient safety watchdog Plans to give the health secretary control over a patient safety watchdog risks “massive untold consequences” for the NHS, experts have warned.

Under proposals, Matt Hancock would be able to determine which incidents the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) should investigate, while also being able to remove protections for NHS staff that mean they can give evidence without fear of reprisals. The Independent 

NHS issued legal challenge over contract with Palantir

NHS issued legal challenge over contract with Palantir The tech-justice firm Foxglove has issued a lawsuit on behalf of news site openDemocracy over a National Health Services deal with the controversial big data firm Palantir Technologies. Healthcare IT News

See also:

• Why we’re suing over the £23m NHS data deal with Palantir openDemocracy
• Revealed: Data giant given 'emergency' Covid contract had been wooing NHS for months The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
• NHS facing legal action from tech activists over patient data deal The Daily Mail
• NHS facing legal challenge over data deal with controversial Silicon Valley firm Palantir Sky News

Covid-19: Corby rules crackdown making 'inroads' into highest rate in England

Covid-19: Corby rules crackdown making 'inroads' into highest rate in England Cracking down on coronavirus rule breaches has made "inroads" in the area with the highest Covid-19 rate in England, public health officials said.

Corby in Northamptonshire had a rate of 329.6 cases per 100,00 people in the week to 18 February, down 5% in a week.

But officials said its rate - more than double the national rate of 122.4 cases per 100,00 people - was a "concern". BBC Northampton 

See also:

• Two new Covid testing centres opening up in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• DJ Jo Whiley's sister says 'huge thank you' to those who helped her after fighting Covid in Northampton hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• REVEALED: First Northampton neighbourhood to be considered Covid-free according to the Government's map Northamptonshire Telegraph

Cost of living and the impact on nursing labour outcomes in NHS acute trusts

Cost of living and the impact on nursing labour outcomes in NHS acute trusts Retention of nursing staff within the NHS is a key policy issue. Pay policy – and the ability that trusts and nurses have to react to local working conditions and the cost of living – is likely to be a key lever in reducing attrition among current staff. Understanding the restrictions that the current system places on trusts in the face of local cost-of-living changes, and the responses of staff to the decisions made by these trusts, is therefore important in improving staff retention.

This report examines the effect that variation in the cost of living has on the labour supply of existing nurses in NHS acute trusts.  Institute for Fiscal Studies

A good practice guide to support implementation of trauma-informed care in the perinatal period

A good practice guide to support implementation of trauma-informed care in the perinatal period This guide aims to help staff and services understand the impact of psychological trauma on women in the perinatal period and respond in a sensitive and compassionate way. It aims to support staff to ensure they ‘do no harm’ through care delivery that, without thought or intention, could retraumatise individuals. Centre for Early Child Development 

Looking ahead 2021: reset, partnerships, recovery

Looking ahead 2021: reset, partnerships, recovery This report investigates the emerging trends and policy that will come to fruition in 2021 and that will transform the NHS landscape. Integration, collaboration, digital transformation, out of-hospital care and homecare are now widely-used concepts. The report explores how they will transform systems in 2021 and what these developments mean for industry. Free registration is required to download the report. Wilmington Healthcare 

Vaping better than nicotine replacement therapy for stopping smoking, evidence suggests

Vaping better than nicotine replacement therapy for stopping smoking, evidence suggests As number of vapers in England plateaus, incorrect perceptions of its relative risks compared to smoking may be discouraging smokers from using vaping to quit. Public Health England 

Women to trial 'do-it-at-home' smear tests for NHS

Women to trial 'do-it-at-home' smear tests for NHS About 31,000 women in London are being offered "do-it-at-home" tests to check for early warnings of cervical cancer, as part of an NHS trial.

It could be a way to encourage more women to get screened, experts hope.

Embarrassment, cultural barriers and worries about Covid, along with many other factors, can stop women going for smear tests at a clinic or GP surgery. BBC News 

One million high-grade NHS masks withdrawn over safety concerns

One million high-grade NHS masks withdrawn over safety concerns A million high-grade masks used in the NHS may not meet the right safety standards and have been withdrawn.

The Department of Health told the BBC there are 1.12 million of these masks either in use or in hospital stores and has told staff to stop using them.

Distribution of some gloves has also been suspended because they may not meet technical requirements. BBC News 

See also:

• Hancock criticised for claim there was never a national PPE shortage The Guardian
• The billions spent by the UK government on fighting Covid need proper scrutiny The Guardian

Number of UK Covid vaccinations falls by a third as vaccine supply dips

Number of UK Covid vaccinations falls by a third as vaccine supply dips The number of Covid vaccines administered in the UK has fallen by over a third in the last week as ministers warned of a short-term dip in supply coupled with stockpiling to ensure people get second doses within the recommended 12-week limit.

The latest data showed 192,341 people received a first jab on Monday, the second-lowest daily total since 17 January – taking the number of people in Britain who have had an initial Covid vaccination to 17.9 million. The Guardian 

See also:

• Born in Lockdown: Mothers' stories of giving birth in 2020 BBC News
• Covid lockdown England: SAGE warned of 91,000 deaths if restrictions were scrapped at Easter The Daily Mail
• Daily Covid deaths fall 1,235 lowest levels since before holidays hospital numbers drop to 55,403 The Daily Mail
• UK thinktank calls for door-to-door Covid jabs to tackle vaccine disparities The Guardian
• Four key questions on a Covid certification scheme in England The Guardian
• NHS Covid app could be used to prove status and access venues in England The Guardian
• Boris Johnson 'very optimistic' all Covid restrictions will end on 21 June The Guardian
• UK still at risk from new Covid wave despite vaccines, warns Sir Patrick Vallance The Independent 

Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus

Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Not a single case of influenza has been detected by public health officials in England for the past seven weeks, with infection rates at historic lows amid the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The social restrictions brought in to curb transmission of coronavirus, combined with increased uptake of the flu vaccine, have both been credited with driving down infections. The Independent

Digital Health Unplugged: Looking at the roles of NHSX and NHS Digital

Digital Health Unplugged: Looking at the roles of NHSX and NHS Digital The latest edition of Digital Health Unplugged delves into the roles of NHSX and NHS Digital and who should be taking the lead when it comes to NHS IT. 

Boris Johnson announces roadmap out of lockdown for England- what the PM said

Boris Johnson announces roadmap out of lockdown for England- what the PM said Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown plan for England.

The Prime Minister announced the four-stage plan in the easing of lockdown restrictions to MPs in the House of Commons on Monday (22 Feb). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• The key dates in the roadmap out of lockdown announced by the Prime Minister Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Teaching union reps in Northamptonshire calling for more evidence to prove a full return to school is safe Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Sending all kids back to school could raise R number to around 1 - according to a SAGE member Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• People with HIV can now get a Covid vaccine without worrying about stigma - here’s how Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Matt Hancock says public must ‘follow the rules’ to ensure England exits lockdown as planned Northamptonshire Telegraph
• More than one-third of 300 calls in a single day to Northamptonshire Police were over breaches of Covid-19 rules Northamptonshire Telegraph

A quarter of a million people missed out on mental health help during Covid pandemic, figures reveal

A quarter of a million people missed out on mental health help during Covid pandemic, figures reveal Mental health referrals have fallen dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic with over a quarter of a million fewer people accessing talking therapy for common conditions like depression or anxiety. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Prolific burglar jailed again after rifling patients' belongings on Northampton hospital ward

Prolific burglar jailed again after rifling patients' belongings on Northampton hospital ward A prolific burgler has been sent back to jail after rifling through patients' lockers and drawers in a Northampton hospital ward.

Wayne Townsend was also convicted of assaulting security staff who tried to stop him marching through Northampton General Hospital in December last year. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Heart failure: a call to action

Heart failure: a call to action In 2016 the All Party Parliamentary Group on Heart Disease published ‘Focus on Heart Failure’ which made recommendations to improve care and transform lives. Four years on, with heart failure featuring prominently in the NHS Long Term Plan and a growing number of regional NHS plans, this report looks at the progress that has been made on the APPG’s recommendations, and evaluates what further action needs to be taken. Alliance for Heart Failure 

Vaccine linked to reduction in risk of COVID-19 admissions to hospitals

Vaccine linked to reduction in risk of COVID-19 admissions to hospitals Vaccination has been linked to a substantial reduction in the risk of COVID-19 admissions to Scotland’s hospitals. As part of the EAVE II project, which uses patient data to track the pandemic and the vaccine rollout in real-time, Public Health Scotland, the Universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Aberdeen, Glasgow and St Andrew’s analysed data on vaccine effect. Public Health Scotland

See also:

• First real-world UK data shows Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provides high levels of protection from the first dose Public Health England
• Guidance: PHE monitoring of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination Public Health England
• Covid vaccines - 'spectacular' impact on serious illness BBC News
• Britain's Covid vaccines ARE working, early studies show The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 vaccines cut hospitalisation risk by around 90% early data show GPonline

COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021

COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021 The government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’, setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. Cabinet Office

See also:

• Prime Minister sets out roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
• Mass testing for secondary pupils as all schools and colleges fully reopen from 8 March  Department of Health and Social Care
• Build back better should start right now, and target risk The Health Foundation

Covid-19: Everyone 'has to play their part' in lockdown easing, warns Hancock

Covid-19: Everyone 'has to play their part' in lockdown easing, warns Hancock Everybody has to "play their part" to meet the dates for England's lockdown to be eased, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned.

It comes after Boris Johnson outlined his four-step strategy that could see restrictions lifted by 21 June - if strict conditions are met. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Why can't we unlock more quickly? BBC News
• Matt Hancock: 'This is on everyone to act together to hit deadline dates' BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Confidential offer for HIV patients BBC News
• Schools reopening: How at risk are children? BBC News
• Coronavirus: What Europeans have learned from a year of pandemic BBC News
• No10 urged to pick up the pace of its Covid vaccine drive The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Revaccination may become regular thing, admits government The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson finally reveals his roadmap out of lockdown The Daily Mail
• Covid cases are UP for first time in SIX WEEKS with 10,641 new infections The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson considers 'Covid status certificates' to unlock England The Guardian
• Life back to normal by 21 June at earliest, Boris Johnson announces The Independent
• Lockdown roadmap: What is reopening and when? The Independent
• UK still at risk from new Covid wave despite vaccines, warns Sir Patrick Vallance The Independent
• Long-COVID likely to put 'significant strain' on NHS in coming years, scientists say Sky News

High-cost lenders 'exploit NHS workers on pandemic frontline'

High-cost lenders 'exploit NHS workers on pandemic frontline' Study claims thousands of mainly lower-paid workers have relied on loans charging up to 1,333% interest to survive. The Guardian

Covid jabs: Northamptonshire's total hits a whopping 168,000 in just 68 days

Covid jabs: Northamptonshire's total hits a whopping 168,000 in just 68 days Northamptonshire's Covid vaccination roll-out hit delivered first doses to nearly 97 per cent of over-70s in the county by last weekend.

County teams targeting 135,000 of those offered first doses, gave 158,086 initial jabs — 91,632 in the older age groups plus 66,454 under-65s, including healthcare workers — in just 68 days between December 8 and February 14. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• 'It's been the worst week of our lives' BBC Northampton
• Northampton Sikh food bank answers 'huge need' in pandemic BBC Northampton
• 'I will not tolerate it': Northamptonshire hospital chief scolds those who are aggressive to her staff about masks Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• New ‘Finnish’ Covid strain discovered may not show up in tests - and could be spreading undetected Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby council leader urging PM not to be "premature" as he plots lockdown exit Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby Covid rates 'unacceptably high' with police issuing nearly 100 fines Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Pfizer vaccine is far more effective after one dose than first thought - new findings show Northamptonshire Telegraph

'I want to give them a little joy': Northampton student nurse starts initiative to give patients wellbeing packs

'I want to give them a little joy': Northampton student nurse starts initiative to give patients wellbeing packs A Northampton nursing student working on the Covid-19 front line has launched an initiative to donate wellbeing packs for patients to keep them occupied while spending long hours in care. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Do we care enough?

Do we care enough? We all need care at some point in our lives – when we’re young, when we’re ill and when we grow older. And caring calls for many of the qualities at the very core of what it is to be human: empathy, compassion, selflessness and commitment.

And yet care is so often undervalued, skimped on, commoditised or ignored. Examples of that indifference are everywhere: at home, in the NHS and in social care. And just at a time when the need for care is growing fast, many commentators feel that we have is a ‘crisis of care’.

Why is that? And what can be done about it? Podcast from The Health Foundation. 

Where next for London’s integrated care systems?

Where next for London’s integrated care systems? London has been hit hard by Covid-19 and the pandemic will leave a long shadow on the health and care of its residents. Perhaps this makes it all the more important to take whatever positives there are from the past year and ensure they endure. The King's Fund 

NHS wellbeing guardians

NHS wellbeing guardians NHS trusts are expected to appoint a wellbeing guardian to their executive board to drive organisational expectations, monitor performance, and provide reassurance that the organisation is a healthy workplace.

We have collated guidance to support HR directors, line managers, and health and wellbeing leads, understand the role and its benefits. NHS Employers 

Reviewing our process for health technology evaluation

Reviewing our process for health technology evaluation NICE has launched a public consultation on proposals for changes to the processes it uses to develop its guidance on medicines, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies. The consultation is open until the 15th of April 2021.

The future of adult social care

The future of adult social care This Report argues that a new blueprint for delivering social care in England could help tens of thousands of adults each year who need care and support to live more independent lives – if councils are given the ability to reshape services through the government’s long-awaited reforms. It warns that this model can only be delivered if councils are given the clarity of a long-term funding model for care, due to be outlined in the government’s long–awaited green paper, and remain under local democratic control. County Councils Network 

Care home residents to be allowed one visitor as part of cautious easing of lockdown

Care home residents to be allowed one visitor as part of cautious easing of lockdown Care home residents will be able to be visited indoors by a single, named individual from 8 March as part of the Prime Minister’s roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Detailed guide: The R value and growth rate in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• “Full steam ahead” for NHS vaccination programme as two-thirds of 65-69 year olds already vaccinated NHS England
• PHE launches new Psychological First Aid training Public Health England

Covid: Boris Johnson to unveil 'cautious' plan to lift England's lockdown

Covid: Boris Johnson to unveil 'cautious' plan to lift England's lockdown All schools in England are to reopen on 8 March as part of the prime minister's "cautious" four-part plan to lift the coronavirus lockdown. 

Boris Johnson will share his finalised roadmap with ministers later, before unveiling it to MPs and then leading a news conference at 19:00 GMT. BBC News 

See also:

• Covid: Vaccines having big impact on hospitalisation risk BBC News
• Covid vaccine: All UK adults to be offered jab by 31 July - PM BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: Don't ask me which vaccine is best, please BBC News
• UK sees further drop in coronavirus numbers BBC News
• Ambulance delays led to 'secondary Covid victims' BBC News
• Covid: Confusion over gestational diabetes advice BBC News
• Over 10% COVID-19 survivors 'can't taste or smell six MONTHS later' The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Britain records another 12,027 cases plunging by 20% in a week and deaths fall by a third The Daily Mail
• Schools to reopen for primary and secondary pupils from March 8 The Daily Telegraph
• Covid has created legions of unpaid carers who urgently need support themselves The Guardian
• How has England's Covid picture changed since third lockdown began? The Guardian
• Long Covid: ‘It’s a year since I’ve felt like myself’ The Guardian
• NHS sets up mental health hubs for staff traumatised by Covid The Guardian
• Matt Hancock acted unlawfully by failing to publish Covid contracts The Guardian
• Matt Hancock's ex-neighbour under investigation by UK's medical regulator The Guardian
• UK’s Covid vaccines cut hospital admissions by around 90%, study shows The Independent
• Pfizer vaccine ‘highly effective’ in reducing coronavirus transmission, study suggests The Independent

About 7% of UK 17-year-olds have tried to take own life – study

About 7% of UK 17-year-olds have tried to take own life – study About 7% of children have attempted suicide and almost one in four say they have self-harmed in the last year, according to a paper in the British Journal of Psychiatry, and experts say the figures could rise as a result of the pandemic. The Guardian

See also:

• Psychological distress, self-harm and attempted suicide in UK 17-year olds: prevalence and sociodemographic inequalities (abstract) British Journal of Psychiatry 

Telling children they need to 'catch up' creates added pressure, warns psychological society

Telling children they need to 'catch up' creates added pressure, warns psychological society Telling pupils they need to "catch up" on lost learning creates added pressure on children, educational psychologists have warned.

Young people should be supported through socialisation and play if the Government decides to extend the amount of time that they spend in school, the British Psychological Society (BPS) has urged. The Daily Telegraph 

See also:

• Unhelpful ‘catch up’ narrative about lost learning during the pandemic places unnecessary psychological pressure on children and young people British Psychological Society

Heart transplant breakthrough: NHS doctors become first in world to complete transplants in children using organs brought back to life by a machine

Heart transplant breakthrough: NHS doctors become first in world to complete transplants in children using organs brought back to life by a machine The technique has saved the lives of six British youngsters and the transplants have all happened during the coronavirus pandemic. 

A 14-year-old girl has told Sky News she feels "blessed to have a second chance at life" after having a heart transplant using a donor organ that had started beating again thanks to a new machine.

See also:

• Child heart transplants: Record year for new-style operations BBC News
• Child heart transplants: 'I'm ecstatic I got such an amazing gift' BBC News
• Children given reanimated hearts by NHS in world first Evening Standard
• UK doctors pioneer use of 'heart in a box' transplant technique in children The Guardian

First cases of H5N8 bird flu detected in humans

First cases of H5N8 bird flu detected in humans The first cases of the H5N8 bird flu strain have been detected in humans, scientists have said - though there are no signs of transmission between people.

Authorities in Russia have sent information to the World Health Organisation on seven cases that were detected in workers at a poultry farm last December in the south of the country. The Independent

'Roadmap out of lockdown will be a slow, step-by-step relaxation of rules'

'Roadmap out of lockdown will be a slow, step-by-step relaxation of rules' Northamptonshire's director of health warns it will not be a quick fix after Boris Johnson's Monday announcement. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

See also:

• Covid-free Northamptonshire villages are sitting right next door to towns with the country's highest rate Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• ‘Postcode lockdowns’ may continue all year to contain mutant Covid strains - how it could work Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Test and Trace team tracking nine out of every ten Covid-19 targets in Northamptonshire  Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire becomes one of ten places in England to pilot new maternal mental health service

Northamptonshire becomes one of ten places in England to pilot new maternal mental health service  Northamptonshire will be one of ten locations in the country to pilot a new maternal mental health service this spring. 

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) will be providing this new service that aims to support women experiencing mental health conditions relating to the birth experience. This includes birth trauma, fear of childbirth - known as tokophobia - or pregnancy loss (still birth, miscarriage or neonatal death). Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chart of the week: Recovery on waiting times levelling off as England's regions balance Covid and non-Covid treatment

Chart of the week: Recovery on waiting times levelling off as England's regions balance Covid and non-Covid treatment  Sarah Reed and Jenny Davies look back at how waiting times for planned treatment have been holding up across England over recent months as the NHS has juggled the need to maintain routine care alongside a devastating second wave of Covid-19. Nuffield Trust 

What does the pandemic mean for health and health inequalities? An overview of the COVID-19 impact inquiry

What does the pandemic mean for health and health inequalities? An overview of the COVID-19 impact inquiry This infographic highlights areas of focus for the COVID-19 impact inquiry and some of the questions that it seeks to answer.

A healthy population is one the nation’s most important assets. Good health supports positive social and economic outcomes, for individuals and for society. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were already signs that the health of the people in the UK was falling behind comparable countries. The Health Foundation 

Peering through the gloom: the near and medium-term future for public health funding

Peering through the gloom: the near and medium-term future for public health funding At The King’s Fund, we’ve just updated our nutshell on public health funding to 2020/21, but what will the coming year look like? With less than two months to go, directors of public health are still waiting to know what their allocation from the Department of Health and Social Care will be from this April for the following financial year. 

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England This explainer examines the differences in health outcomes for ethnic minority groups, highlighting the variation across groups and conditions, and considers what’s needed to reduce health inequalities. The King's Fund 

Inclusion health self-assessment tool for primary care networks

Inclusion health self-assessment tool for primary care networks This online tool aims to help primary care networks (PCNs) to assess their engagement with inclusion health groups. These are the groups identified as experiencing the worst health inequalities in the UK. The tool will provide a unique and tailored guide which will help PCNs to embed action on tackling health inequalities into their everyday activities. VCSE Health & Wellbeing Alliance 

Supporting the LGBTQ+ population through COVID-19 and beyond

Supporting the LGBTQ+ population through COVID-19 and beyond Leaders from across the healthcare system agree that for the LGBTQ+ population to recover and thrive after the pandemic, the way services are designed and delivered, and the workforce environments they are delivered in, must change. This report sets out a series of recommendations to help healthcare leaders, service designers and commissioners ensure their services and workplaces meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ population NHS Confederation

Establishing the National Institute for Health Protection

Establishing the National Institute for Health Protection In the summer of 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care announced the establishment of the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP). The NIHP brings together the health protection and resilience functions of Public Health England, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and NHS Test and Trace. This briefing looks at what is known so far about the new body and reaction from the health sector, ahead of it being formally established in spring 2021. House of Commons Library 

New campaign to support vaccine roll-out backed by social media companies and British institutions

New campaign to support vaccine roll-out backed by social media companies and British institutions Social media platforms and celebrities team up with government and NHS to launch new graphics to show support for vaccine roll-out. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Transparency data: Coronavirus England briefing, 18 February 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• £18.5 million to tackle long COVID through research Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: COVID-19 surveillance and immunity studies Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19 home testing kits now easier to order Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid: Health workers appeal to PM for better personal protection

Covid: Health workers appeal to PM for better personal protection Nearly 20 major healthcare bodies are appealing to the PM for better personal protection against coronavirus. 

They say at least 930 health and care workers have died of Covid-19 and more are experiencing long-term effects.

In a letter, they say measures to stop airborne spreading are "inadequate" and call for urgent improvement in masks and other defences against variants.

The government said it was monitoring evidence on airborne transmission and would update advice "where necessary". BBC News 

See also:

• Letter to the Prime Minister on protecting health care workers Royal College of Nursing et al
• Coronavirus: Has the NHS got enough of the right PPE? BBC News
• Covid: Three in 10 care home staff in England not vaccinated BBC News
• No Covid variants found on London Tubes, buses and stations BBC News
• Covid vaccines: Boris Johnson pledges surplus to poorer countries at G7 BBC News
• Minister hints postcode lockdowns to be used when national curbs eased The Daily Mail
• Covid prevalence 'really high' despite lockdown causing infection rates to fall by two-thirds The Daily Telegraph
• South African variant could significantly reduce Pfizer vaccine protection, study suggests The Daily Telegraph
• English care home rules could ease before second Covid jabs, says minister The Guardian
• Cleaners and porters infected with Covid at London NHS trust denied full sick pay during winter wave The Independent
• Man offered vaccine after NHS error lists him as 6.2cm tall and ‘morbidly obese’ The Independent

Now Norway is offering drug-free treatment to people with psychosis

Now Norway is offering drug-free treatment to people with psychosis Most people with psychosis take powerful drugs to keep delusions and hallucinations at bay - but the side-effects can be severe. In Norway, a radical approach is now on offer via the national health system for patients who want to live drug-free. BBC News 

Calls to make at home early abortions permanent as major study finds they pose no greater risk

Calls to make at home early abortions permanent as major study finds they pose no greater risk At home early abortions pose no greater risk and allow women to have the procedure much earlier on in their pregnancy, research has found.

The findings have sparked calls from leading healthcare providers for the option, which was rolled out in the wake of lockdown measures last spring, to be made permanent. The Independent 

See also:

• Demand for self-managed online telemedicine abortion in eight European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a regression discontinuity analysis (open access) BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health
• BPAS comment on telemedical abortion research British Pregnancy Advice Service

The NHS rose to the challenge of Covid, but its next test may be even harder | Bruce Keogh

The NHS rose to the challenge of Covid, but its next test may be even harder | Bruce Keogh Over the past year, our NHS has risen to the challenges of the pandemic. But it’s been a very close-run thing. There have been well-publicised difficulties such as the shortage of ventilators, ICU beds and PPE, and the physical and staffing capacity of the health service has been strained to breaking point. GPs have managed the risks to patients who have been unable to receive specialist care. We now face a growing backlog of postponed treatments and emerging mental health issues. So if we were to imagine a post-Covid NHS, toughened by the challenges of the pandemic but better prepared for the future, what would it look like? The Guardian 

Major project reduces inpatient falls, saves £13 million for UK’s National Health Service

Major project reduces inpatient falls, saves £13 million for UK’s National Health Service A 10-year project to reduce the number of inpatient falls has saved the United Kingdom's National Health Service more than £13 million, thanks to a team of researchers including an academic from Kingston University, London and St George's, University of London.

The 'Becoming fall-safe: a framework for reducing impatient falls programme' was launched at Brighton and Sussex University Hospital (BSUH) NHS Trust in 2009, just months after a catastrophic fall on a ward led to the death of a patient. News-Medical

Northamptonshire could be left in lockdown limbo, warns top health official

Northamptonshire could be left in lockdown limbo, warns top health official Northamptonshire's top official is "deeply concerned" Boris Johnson's big announcement on Monday will leave the county in lockdown limbo. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

See also:

• Lockdown roadmap rumours analysed - what do we know about next week’s plans?  Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Think tank says NHS has become a ‘National Covid service’ - but medical director says this is a ‘disservice’ to staff Northamptonshire Telegraph

Plans unveiled to build 66-bed care home in Northampton

Plans unveiled to build 66-bed care home in Northampton Plans have been submitted to build a two-storey, 66-bed care home in Overstone Leys, Northampton, to provide a "high-quality" of life for elderly residents. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices: updated guidance

Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices: updated guidance Updated ethical guidance on Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices.

It will come into effect on 5 April 2021 following a six week familiarisation period. 

The guidance supports doctors to be able to prescribe safely for their patients, whatever the setting. It sets out standards for good practice when prescribing face to-face or remotely, when prescribing unlicensed medicines and for when patient care is shared with another doctor.

It’s been updated following a call for evidence on remote prescribing in early 2020, and responds to the huge increase in remote consultations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and has been restructured to integrate information on remote consultations and prescribing throughout. GMC 

Resource allocation in public sector programmes: does the value of a life differ between governmental departments?

Resource allocation in public sector programmes: does the value of a life differ between governmental departments? This report examines whether there are differences in the value of life estimates recommended for use across government departments in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the Netherlands, and the UK. The departments of interest were those known to use some form of valuation of human life: health, social care, transport, and environment. For each country, a literature review was conducted to identify evidence from technical reports, guidelines, and tools published directly by government departments indicating methods for conducting impact assessments or appraisals. Office of Health Economics 

February interim findings from COVID-19 REACT-1 study published

February interim findings from COVID-19 REACT-1 study published The interim findings from the ninth report of REACT-1, one of the country’s largest studies into COVID-19 infections in England, have been published today by Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI.

Over 85,400 volunteers were tested in England between 4 and 13 February to examine the levels of infection in the general population. The findings show infections in England have fallen significantly since the last report in January. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 17 February 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: How to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Health England

Covid: Ethnicity vaccine gaps in over-70s

Covid: Ethnicity vaccine gaps in over-70s Black and mixed heritage people in their 70s are being vaccinated against Covid-19 at much lower rates than white people, GP records suggest.
 
And fewer Bangladeshi and Pakistani people had been jabbed by 11 February.

This follows data from earlier in the vaccination programme showing similar gaps among the over-80s. BBC News

See also:

• Long Covid: MPs call for compensation for key workers BBC News
• Covid-19: World's first human trials given green light in UK BBC News
• Covid-19: What are challenge trials and why do we need them? BBC News
• Strong decline in coronavirus across England since January, React study shows BBC News
• Covid: Seven symptoms should trigger virus test, study says BBC News
• Covid UK: Symptom-tracking app raises fears cases are on the RISE The Daily Mail
• UK and California Covid variants merged in US coronavirus case, scientists say The Daily Mail
• Covid prevalence 'really high' despite lockdown causing infection rates to fall by two-thirds The Daily Telegraph
• When will Boris Johnson announce the roadmap to end lockdown and what might be in it? The Daily Telegraph
• NHS fighting ‘epidemic’ of misinformation about Covid vaccines, says top GP Evening Standard
• Covid infections in England fall by two-thirds but spreading fastest among young The Guardian
• 'I've accepted the risk': volunteering to be exposed to Covid in new trials The Guardian
• England’s poorest areas hit by Covid ‘perfect storm’ – leaked report The Guardian
• Why Leicester, Blackburn and Bradford have been hit hard by Covid The Guardian
• Mass testing still a vital tool in Covid efforts despite UK vaccine success The Guardian
• Poorer areas falling behind on vaccination against coronavirus The Independent
• NHS reveals blueprint for tackling BAME vaccine hesitancy iNews

Dogs from Milton Keynes charity trained to sniff out prostate cancer

Dogs from Milton Keynes charity trained to sniff out prostate cancer Dogs can detect the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer and could help develop a "robotic nose" to find the disease in the future, a study says.

Under an international research programme, a Labrador, Florin, and a vizsla, Midas, sniffed out the cancer's odour in urine samples from patients.

They were trained to find the most lethal tumours by Medical Detection Dogs, a Milton Keynes charity. BBC News 

Why there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment for asthma

Why there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment for asthma Asthma may be a disease with one name, but experts say that unbeknown to most people who have it, it is not just one condition, nor is there a “one-size-fits-all” treatment for it. The Independent 

Applications to study nursing soar as NHS inspires new recruits amid pandemic

Applications to study nursing soar as NHS inspires new recruits amid pandemic Nursing applications have soared as thousands are inspired by the commitment of NHS staff, new data from the university applications body UCAS suggests. Sky News

See also:

• Nursing applications in England up by over a third to 48,830 Department of Health and Social Care
• Nursing applications rise by a third amid pandemic, UCAS data shows The Independent

Patients at Northampton General Hospital help major drug discovery in battle against Covid-19

Patients at Northampton General Hospital help major drug discovery in battle against Covid-19 Covid-19 sufferers at Northampton General Hospital have been thanked for helping find a drug to treat other patients affected by the deadly virus.

Front-line staff at the Cliftonville site delivered a series of Urgent Public Health studies as part of a major research programme led by the National Institute for Health Research. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Jo Whiley: 'I'd give up my Covid vaccine in a heartbeat' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Map reveals how Britain's Covid hotspot shifted during second wave The Daily Mail
• Where Northamptonshire stands on Boris' road out of lockdown Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Radio star Jo Whiley "scared and sad" after sister tests positive for Covid in Northamptonshire care home Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• More half-hour tests available in Northampton to sniff out Covid-cases with no symptoms Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kids must be a priority post-Covid after an 'impossibly damaging' year - what England's Children's Commissioner said Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton hospital thief was stealing PPE BEFORE the pandemic... but put prices up when Covid-19 panic hit

Northampton hospital thief was stealing PPE BEFORE the pandemic... but put prices up when Covid-19 panic hit A cleaner stole PPE from Northampton General Hospital and sold it on eBay for up to 10 times their value during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Beyond Covid-19 wave two: what now for care homes?

Beyond Covid-19 wave two: what now for care homes? With Covid-19 having a particularly hard impact on care homes, Natasha Curry takes a closer look at why they were hit so badly last spring, whether they have fared any better this winter, and the importance of what happens next. Her blog accompanies an explainer from Sarah Scobie, which looks in detail at the numbers of deaths of care home residents. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Covid-19 and the deaths of care home residents Nuffield Trust 

What's next for the NHS? Building the resilience of the health and care system

What's next for the NHS? Building the resilience of the health and care system A year into this crisis and with the benefit of some hindsight, it is clear that too little consideration was given to the implications of a complete reallocation of resources away from ‘business as usual’. 

Urgent action is needed in the NHS to meet a ballooning backlog of procedures put on hold during the pandemic and build a more resilient health care system.

This report, produced jointly with Edge Health, shows the scale of the challenges the NHS faces. Reform

See also:

• Hospital waiting list 'may double to 10m by April' BBC News
• TEN MILLION patients on NHS waiting lists: One in six could find themselves waiting for treatment The Daily Mail
• Think tank claims NHS waiting list could reach 10 million by April The Independent
• NHS waiting lists could be 10m people long by April due to the Covid-19 pandemic iNews

New technology to help identify those at high risk from COVID-19

New technology to help identify those at high risk from COVID-19 New technology has been introduced in England to help clinicians identify, for the first time, a new group of people who may be at high risk from COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Guidance: COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable Department of Health and Social Care
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Public Health England

Covid: How will we know if the vaccine is working?

Covid: How will we know if the vaccine is working? More than 15 million people in the UK have received a first dose of coronavirus vaccine - but how will we know if it's working?

There are some early signs of a possible vaccine effect in falling deaths among people aged over 80.

But data on cases and hospital patients is not so clear.

It is hard to separate the effect of the vaccine from that of lockdown. BBC News

See also:

• Covid vaccine impact revealed in over-80s blood tests BBC News
• Another new coronavirus variant seen in the UK BBC News
• Covid: Extra 1.7m vulnerable added to shielding list BBC News
• Covid: Trials test the efficacy of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on children BBC News
• Covid: UK urged to roll out vaccines to EVERYONE over 50 ASAP The Daily Mail
• PHE boss criticised government for doing 'science by press release' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: People who are shielding 'should stay home until March 31' The Daily Mail
• Contact tracing alone has little impact on curbing Covid spread, report finds The Guardian
• Revealed: NHS could offer Covid vaccine to 32m in priority groups by Easter The Guardian
• Covid: almost 2m more people in England will be asked to shield The Guardian
• Don’t ease lockdown until the NHS can cope, hospital bosses warn The Independent
• NHS staff on what it's like working with 'terrified' Covid patients in intensive care ITV News
• 'Progress' made on vaccine hesitancy amid 'pandemic of disinformation', NHS chief says Sky News