Six out of every ten Northamptonshire adults have had a Covid-19 jab More than six in every ten of Northamptonshire's adult population have had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
Latest NHS figures revealed 367,147 were jabbed out of a target of around 580,000 by Sunday (April 25). Northamptonshire Telegraph
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MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Find out more about Healthwatch from governor One of KGH's governors has explained the importance of Healthwatch, which is designed to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services. Northamptonshire Telegraph
The coronavirus inquiry: The case for an investigation of government actions during the Covid-19 pandemic Boris Johnson should establish his promised public inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus in May.
This report sets out the case for an inquiry. With more than 150,000 deaths recorded from Covid-19, the UK experience of the pandemic demands investigation – and a public inquiry is the right way to do this. Institute for Government
Assessing England’s response to Covid-19: A framework The Covid-19 pandemic has been a deep shock to the country, whether counted in terms of deaths and ill health, the damage to the economy and livelihoods, or in the deep disruption to daily life. Covid-19 has also had a disproportionate impact on some communities, increasing and emphasising the inequalities that existed before the pandemic arrived. This combination of high number of deaths and deep inequalities will leave a long and difficult legacy. The King's Fund
The unequal mental health toll of the pandemic The Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry is exploring the pandemic’s implications for health and health inequalities in the UK.
Over the past year, mental health has been in the news continuously – an acknowledgement that the pandemic poses risks beyond our physical health. As someone who has worked in the mental health sector for over 25 years, this increased attention is most welcome. Now is the time to channel this interest and commit to making things better for people who were struggling both before and during the pandemic.
No corner of Northamptonshire has been spared with Covid deaths set to reach 1,500 Northamptonshire's Covid-19 death toll is climbing towards 1,500 — and no corner of the county has been spared its share of grief for lost loved ones.
Two more victims reported this week in the county's acute NHS hospitals added to a grim number since the first fatalities in the county on March 16 last year. Northamptonshire Telegraph
First for the county as KGH surgeon performs new operation A Desborough woman has become the first person in the county to have a new ‘key hole’ operation to remove a disc from a person’s spine.
Tracey Westley, 45, had the minimally invasive discectomy operation at KGH on March 16, performed by consultant orthopaedic spine surgeon Purnajyoti Banerjee. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Corby NHS project to offer free lung ‘MOT’ in bid to catch cancer earlier In a drive to save lives by detecting cancer early, people in Corby are being invited to take up the offer of a free NHS lung health check 'MOT'.
With one of the lowest survival rates in the country for lung cancer, Corby has been selected as one of 17 projects nationally to run a Targeted Lung Health Checks programme. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Thousands of Northampton patients missed from shielding list at start of lockdown Thousands of vulnerable patients in Northampton were not told to shield until months after lockdown began last year, figures reveal.
A group of MPs said the Government's lack of planning created a postcode lottery with areas across England reporting unacceptable variations in the number of people shielding. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
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Children more likely to be obese in Northamptonshire from a decade ago Children are more likely to be obese when they leave Northamptonshire's primary schools as they were a decade ago, figures show.
A new report from Public Health England looking back over the last 10 years has concluded there is a strong link between obesity and the poorest areas in the country. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Lockdowns hurt child speech and language skills - report There is growing evidence that the past year of lockdowns has had an impact on young children's language skills, according to research.
Data from 50,000 pupils and a survey of schools across England have shown an increased number of four- and five-year-olds needing help with language.
Evidence shows poor speech development can have long-term effects on learning. BBC News
Northamptonshire school Covid cases on the rise after sharp decline Covid cases in Northamptonshire schools are rising according to latest figures from Public Health bosses.
Weekly average case volumes had been high up to March 31, after which they decreased rapidly, but recent data shows that the seven-day average case totals have started to rise again, particularly in pupils. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Wising up to levelling up ‘Levelling up’ has become an earworm. It featured highly in the Conservative manifesto in 2019, which was referring to improving infrastructure, skills, productivity and economic growth across the country. The idea is to make the UK economy less lop-sided, and less focused on London and the South East.
But the government’s levelling up strategy is still under construction. The recently announced Levelling Up Fund is mainly focused on basic infrastructure like transport, not health.
So is levelling up a real and serious aspiration? What would a strategy look like that might also help reduce health inequalities? Podcast from The Health Foundation.
New Oxford vaccine 77% effective against malaria, trial results show A malaria vaccine developed by the same team behind the Oxford coronavirus jab has been found to be 77 per cent effective in providing protection against the mosquito-borne disease, in what is a major scientific breakthrough for the world. The Independent
Covid-19 jabs: We're closing in on half-a-million doses delivered in Northamptonshire The number of Covid-19 vaccines delivered in Northamptonshire is approaching the half-a-million landmark.
Latest NHS figures released today showed 464,657 first and second doses up to April 18 — with another 33,000 in the last seven days. Northamptonshire Telegraph
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Patients 'assaulted and mimicked behind their backs by staff' at failing Northamptonshire mental health hospital Patients at a failing Northamptonshire mental health hospital were assaulted and mimicked by staff, according to a damning inspection report published on Wednesday, April 21.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an unannounced visit to Broomhill in Spratton over three days in February after it reported the abuse to the health watchdog. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Quality improvement made simple: What everyone should know about health care quality improvement This updated guide focuses on quality improvement, and is especially useful for health care staff leading fast and efficient service change as a result of the pandemic.
Quality improvement involves the use of a systematic and coordinated approach to solving a problem using specific methods and tools with the aim of bringing about a measurable improvement within a health care setting. The Health Foundation
'I’m not sure I dare think it, but things are starting to feel better' Column by the director of health for Northampton.
We have all now tentatively taken the first two steps on the ‘roadmap.’
With two more monumental steps to go, we are at least a county and a country enjoying and appreciating the great outdoors more than I can ever recall. I’m not sure I dare think it, but things are starting to feel better. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Corby Beanfield Covid test pilot scheme 'successful' as only ten per cent refuse An operation to target a Corby estate using an army of volunteers for an intensive door-to-door Covid blitz offering PCR and Lateral Flow (LFT) test kits has been 'successful'. Northamptonshire Telegraph
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KGH to build outdoor gym with Captain Tom's fundraising cash A new outdoor gym is on the cards for KGH thanks to charity funds raised by the late national hero Captain Sir Tom Moore.
The Rothwell Road hospital plans to build the gym, with 12 exercise stations, in their pocket park area for staff and members of the public. Northamptonshire Telegraph
National addiction charity launches new homeless outreach programme in Northamptonshire A national charity which helps people beat addiction has launched a new homeless outreach programme in Northamptonshire.
Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity and one the UK’s largest providers of drug and alcohol treatment services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Ageing NHS hospitals hit by sewage leaks, power failures and rat infestations as maintenance backlog hits £9 billion Raw sewage flooding wards, power failures, and rat infestations were just some of more than 1,200 critical incidents at NHS trusts in the past year caused by ageing equipment and crumbling infrastructure.
NHS leaders have said more investment is needed to reverse a backlog in buildings maintenance across the health service which has now reached an unprecedented £9bn. The Independent
Reconditioning the benefits system for a stronger COVID-19 recovery How can the benefits system support the nation’s health? The Health Foundation
Sickle cell patients are being ignored because they’re black, warn campaigners ublic services are dismissing sickle cell patients because the illness disproportionately affects Black people, campaigners have warned.
The blood disorder is prevalent among African and Caribbean communities and advocacy groups say this means it remains poorly understood within state institutions, often leading to the needless suffering and even death of those diagnosed. The Independent
Accidental overdose of hospital patients with paracetamol sparks investigation Patients have been significantly harmed, including suffering permanent damage to their liver, after being given accidental overdoses of paracetamol in hospital.
The NHS safety watchdog the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has now launched a national investigation after a number of incidents where adults with a low bodyweight were given too much paracetamol through an infusion, or IV drip, directly into their bloodstream. The Independent
Wellingborough overtakes Corby as county's Covid hotspot Corby no longer has Northamptonshire's highest seven-day rate of Covid-19 cases after months as the county's hotspot.
In figures released on Friday the steel town dropped to a weekly rate of 65 cases per 100,000 people after just three positive cases were added today. Northamptonshire Telegraph
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Northampton General Hospital bosses have "robust plans" to tackle record waiting lists Northampton General Hospital bosses have "robust plans" in place to tackle record number of patients waiting more than a year for routine treatment.
Charities and health organisations are warning the Covid-19 pandemic is having a "catastrophic" impact on hospital services as numbers of patients across England waiting to start treatment hits new highs. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Kettering and Rushden to get new Covid Lateral Flow Device testing sites Two new Lateral Flow Device testing sites have been launched giving residents in Kettering and Rushden access to a community testing site. Northamptonshire Telegraph
