'Government closes' huge Northampton hotel as part of suspected quarantine takeover

'Government closes' huge Northampton hotel as part of suspected quarantine takeover A huge Northampton town centre hotel has closed as part of a 'Government takeover' in a move suspected to be related to quarantine following international travel. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Kettering General Hospital staff recognised for their 'outstanding, compassionate, and sensitive care' with national awards

Kettering General Hospital staff recognised for their 'outstanding, compassionate, and sensitive care' with national awards Two amazing midwives and a nurse from Kettering General Hospital (KGH) have received Daisy Awards for the outstanding, compassionate, and sensitive care they have given to patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Northampton midwife attacked by egg-throwers in Coventry

Northampton midwife attacked by egg-throwers in Coventry A midwife who had eggs, flour and water thrown at her by a group of 30 people said the experience would not stop her visiting patients.

Laney Holland, 47, from Northampton, was driving through Coventry when she was attacked.

She said: "It was scary. These people were probably clapping for me before, but now they were throwing stuff."

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said abuse of staff was "completely unacceptable". BBC Northampton 

Amanda Pritchard Appointed NHS Chief Executive

Amanda Pritchard Appointed NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard has today been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of NHS England.

Pritchard will be the first woman in the health service’s history to hold the post, which she will take up on Sunday August 1.

As NHS chief executive, she will be responsible for an annual budget of more than £130 billion while ensuring that everyone in the country receives high quality care. NHS England

See also: 

• NHS England to appoint first female chief executive BBC News
• Departing NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens' current deputy - Amanda Pritchard - gets top role The Daily Mail
• NHS appoints 'continuity candidate' Amanda Pritchard as first female chief executive The Daily Telegraph
• Amanda Pritchard to replace Simon Stevens as NHS England chief The Guardian

The lived experience of disabled people during the Covid-19 pandemic

The lived experience of disabled people during the Covid-19 pandemic The aim of this research was to understand the impact of Covid-19 on the lives of disabled people, to identify problems that could be resolved through policy changes and to make the changes necessary that would lead to positive outcomes. This report will feed into short-term responses to Covid-19. It will also be considered regarding policies within the Disability Unit’s National Strategy for Disabled People and long-term planning efforts regarding possible future pandemics. Cabinet Office Disability Unit 

Guidance: NHS COVID Pass

Guidance: NHS COVID Pass How to get the NHS COVID Pass and demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at events and venues in England. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: No quarantine for fully jabbed US and EU travellers to England

Covid: No quarantine for fully jabbed US and EU travellers to England People who were fully vaccinated in the EU or US will not need to isolate when coming to England, Scotland and Wales from an amber list country.

The change will come into force at 04:00 BST on Monday.

Currently, only people who received their jabs in the UK can avoid quarantine when arriving from amber list countries, except France. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Deaf woman wins claim over lack of sign language at briefings BBC News
• Covid-19 UK: Pfizer vaccine works better when spaced out by eight weeks, top scientists say The Daily Mail
• Covid England: One in 75 infected last week as outbreak grew by another 30%, says ONS report The Daily Mail
• Now PHE spots ANOTHER variant: 16 Brits have tested positive for 'Colombian' strain The Daily Mail
• Pfizer reports that third dose of vaccine could boost protection against Indian Delta variant The Daily Mail
• UK Covid cases rise for first time in a week The Daily Telegraph
• Lack of quarantine at England’s borders ‘risks havoc of Covid variants’ The Guardian

One million masks for NHS fail high-grade safety tests

One million masks for NHS fail high-grade safety tests A million masks supplied to the NHS as high grade did not meet the correct level of protection, tests have found.

The masks, assumed to be the FFP3 type, also had invalid CE safety marking, the emblem used to signify compliance with European standards, a report said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it was "scandalous" staff working in the pandemic had been put at risk.

The Department of Health and Social Care said a strategy was in place to provide alternatives. BBC News

See also: 

• Revealed: £6bn NHS glove contract shows rocketing cost of PPE  The Guardian

GP clinics at ‘breaking point’ and recovery plan is essential

GP clinics at ‘breaking point’ and recovery plan is essential Doctors are warning that general practice clinics risk cracking under the pressure of “unsustainable” workloads unless the government ramps up the recruitment of medical staff and takes steps to reduce burnout.

The Royal College of GPs is calling on the government to introduce an emergency rescue package to shore up general practice clinics after the pandemic, including recruiting 6,000 more GPs and 26,000 additional support staff, such as nurses and receptionists, by 2024 as well as reducing paperwork and investing in £1bn worth of improvements to infrastructure and technology. Without these changes, patients will not receive the care they need, the college said. The Guardian

See also: 

• College sounds SOS for general practice – and calls for rescue plan Royal College of General Practitioners

West Suffolk hospital chief resigns prior to bullying claims review

West Suffolk hospital chief resigns prior to bullying claims review The chief executive at Matt Hancock’s local hospital is to step down before the publication of a delayed review into bullying allegations involving an unprecedented demand for fingerprints from senior clinicians first revealed by the Guardian.

In January 2020, a “rapid review” was ordered into claims of a “witch-hunt” at West Suffolk hospital trust, from which the former health secretary had to recuse himself because of his friendship with the trust’s chief executive, Stephen Dunn. 

NHS pay: Royal College of Nursing to hold 'summer of action' over 3% pay rise

NHS pay: Royal College of Nursing to hold 'summer of action' over 3% pay rise Nurses across the UK have revealed plans for a "summer of action" over the 3% NHS pay rise.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced a number of events will be taking place throughout the country to raise awareness of its "fair pay" demands. Sky News

See also: 

• RCN launches ‘summer of action’ in protest against below-inflation NHS pay award Royal College of Nursing

NHS urges black Britons to give blood as demand rises over life-saving transfusions for sickle cell patients - iNews

NHS urges black Britons to give blood as demand rises over life-saving transfusions for sickle cell patients 16,000 new donors from the black and mixed black communities must be recruited as demand rises for transfusions for people with sickle cell disease. iNews

Three more Covid patients die in Northamptonshire hospitals as health chiefs carry on making case to get jabbed

Three more Covid patients die in Northamptonshire hospitals as health chiefs carry on making case to get jabbed Health chiefs in Northamptonshire admit they are frustrated by battling anti-vaccine myths as the number of jabs delivered in the county nears one million.

NHS England has confirmed three more coronavirus patients sadly died in Northamptonshire's two main hospitals since Thursday (July 22). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• University students ‘face lectures ban unless they are fully vaccinated’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby Urgent Care Centre Wellness Hub offers help to victims of domestic abuse

Corby Urgent Care Centre Wellness Hub offers help to victims of domestic abuse North Northants Council’s Safer Corby Team is working with the Urgent Care Centre Wellness Hub Team to raise awareness around domestic abuse. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Will the third Covid-19 wave overwhelm the NHS?

Will the third Covid-19 wave overwhelm the NHS? Covid-19 restrictions in England may now have been lifted, but it is very clear that the pandemic is not yet over. The numbers of people admitted to hospital have been increasing in recent weeks, as have deaths from the virus. This explainer from Sarah Scobie looks at what the third wave might mean for the NHS. Nuffield Trust 

Coronavirus: the consequences for mental health

Coronavirus: the consequences for mental health This research with almost 12,000 people found that those with mental health problems report an increase in the severity of challenges they're facing now and concerns about the future. The report calls for services to be ready for the increase in severity of people's mental health problems, and to take into account the trauma that people have experienced over the last year and how this might affect the support they need. Mind 

Action to tackle misery of drug misuse

Action to tackle misery of drug misuse The government has appointed Dame Carol Black as an independent advisor on drug misuse and will publish an ambitious new drug strategy later this year. Home Office

See also:

• Policy paper: Independent review of drugs by Dame Carol Black: government response Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Four numbers that reveal the real trends

Coronavirus: Four numbers that reveal the real trends A run of seven consecutive days with falling case numbers is raising hopes about the beginning of the end of the pandemic.

Even notoriously cautious experts such as Prof Neil Ferguson are saying that by the autumn "the bulk of the pandemic" could be behind us.

But with Public Health England warning that "we are still in the third wave", how can you tell the blips from the real trends? BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: UK Covid cases fall for seventh day in a row BBC News
• Boris Johnson on Covid infection rates falling for six days BBC News
• Covid-19 UK: SAGE expert says group left 'scratching head' over falling infections The Daily Mail
• Over half of Covid hospitalisations only tested positive AFTER admission The Daily Mail
• Covid killed 218 people in England and Wales last week as virus deaths rose by a fifth The Daily Mail
• UK not ‘out of the woods’ despite falling Covid case numbers, says expert The Guardian
• UK poised to end amber list quarantine for people vaccinated in US and EU The Guardian

Chronic health issues for third in late 40s - study

Chronic health issues for third in late 40s - study About one in three middle-aged people has multiple chronic health issues, a long-running British study suggests.

The 1970 British Cohort Study has been periodically tracking the lives of about 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week.

Nearly 8,000 of them were surveyed for the University College London work, published in journal BMC Public Health.

And 34% had two or more chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure and mental ill-health, at age 46-48. BBC News

See also: 

• Prevalence and early-life determinants of mid-life multimorbidity: evidence from the 1970 British birth cohort (open access) BMC Public Health
• One in three are hit by midlife health crisis The Daily Mail

Contaminated-blood inquiry: Former Health Minister Clarke denies responsibility

Contaminated-blood inquiry: Former Health Minister Clarke denies responsibility Lord Clarke has told an inquiry he was "not responsible" for blood products during his time as health minister.

About 3,000 people died after being given blood products containing HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s.

And Lord Clarke - Conservative Health Minister 1982-85 and Health Secretary 1988-90 - is the first senior health minister from the time to testify during the inquiry into the scandal. BBC News 

England is sleepwalking towards a two-tier health system

England is sleepwalking towards a two-tier health system | Richard Vize The pandemic has driven both the NHS and a growing number of its patients towards private healthcare. Heightened awareness of the health service’s frailties, fuelled by repeated warnings that it could be overwhelmed, has prompted a surge in private medical insurance. As the UK drifts into a possible future of two-tier healthcare, with the wealthy given more chances to skip the queue, we need to ask whether the founding principle of the UK’s health service – free at the point of need – is being eroded in front of our eyes. The Guardian 

Respected GP and ‘fearless defender’ of NHS dies at 73

Respected GP and ‘fearless defender’ of NHS dies at 73 Leading political figures and medics have paid tribute to a respected GP and “fearless defender” of the NHS, who died on Monday aged 73.

Prof Kailash Chand was renowned for his longstanding service to the NHS, for which he received an OBE, as well as his outspoken criticism of government NHS policy including the recent lifting of Covid restrictions. The Guardian 

Paramedics abused and assaulted while on duty, survey reveals

Paramedics abused and assaulted while on duty, survey reveals Hundreds of paramedics have reported being physically abused or verbally abused while working to serve the public, new data has revealed.

More than 1,600 paramedics from across the country said they feared for their own safety or had been threatened while on duty.

The College of Paramedics survey of 2,345 paramedics comes after NHS England data showed there had been a 32 per cent rises in assaults over the past five years, with 3,569 incidents recorded in 2020-21. The Independent

One in five women actively trying to get pregnant smoke cigarettes, study finds

One in five women actively trying to get pregnant smoke cigarettes, study finds One in five women trying to get pregnant smoked cigarettes while actively trying to conceive, a new study has found.

The research, conducted by leading pregnancy charity Tommy’s, discovered a slew of other troubling findings which demonstrate the lack of awareness around the dangers of smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol and caffeine and not eating healthily while trying for a baby. The Independent

See also: 

• Health behaviours in 131,182 UK women planning pregnancy (open access) BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth

Dementia cases 'set to almost triple worldwide to more than 150 million by 2050'

Dementia cases 'set to almost triple worldwide to more than 150 million by 2050' The number of people suffering from dementia around the world is set to almost triple over the next three decades.

Experts from the University of Washington expect 153 million people globally to have the condition in 2050, up from around 57million living with dementia now.

The spike will be driven by ageing — the number one risk factor for the disorder — and expanding populations, they say. The Daily Mail 

Every voice counted: National training survey 2021 survey report summary results

Every voice counted: National training survey 2021 survey report summary results Each year we ask doctors in training for their views on the training they receive. We also ask their trainers about the support they get in their role. Together, these results help us improve training programmes and posts across the UK. 

We’re pleased to see positive responses to questions on teaching, supervision, and overall training  experience. These remain at pre-pandemic levels, across all specialties, regions, and countries of the UK. However, it’s clear the pandemic and ongoing recovery are taking a toll on the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce, including trainees and trainers. General Medical Council

See also: 

• Pandemic driving surge in burnout among trainee doctors and educators, GMC poll shows GPonline
• One-third of UK trainee doctors feel high level of burnout amid Covid The Guardian

Ethnic differences in life expectancy and mortality from selected causes in England and Wales: 2011 to 2014

Ethnic differences in life expectancy and mortality from selected causes in England and Wales: 2011 to 2014 This is the first use of linked 2011 Census and death registration data to produce experimental national estimates of life expectancy and mortality by cause of death by ethnic group in a pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period; covering 95% of people enumerated in the census and using self-reported ethnic groups, it represents the most comprehensive data available. Office for National Statistics

See also: 

• 'These results should not make for complacency' The King's Fund

What is behind the latest fall in cases of Covid across the UK?

What is behind the latest fall in cases of Covid across the UK? Confirmed infections have dropped 21.5% week on week – though recorded deaths are still on the rise.

Is this how it ends? After an 18-month rollercoaster of soaring and falling cases, and more than 100,000 UK deaths, is the epidemic fizzling out? Has immunity finally got the upper hand, or will the sudden drop in Covid cases prove no more than a brief downturn? There are many moving parts behind the numbers and huge uncertainty over what happens next. The Guardian

See also:

• Brazil: Why are so many pregnant women dying from Covid? BBC News
• ASH SUBRAMANIAN: As a surgeon, stress of the pandemic drove me to the brink The Daily Mail
• SAGE modeller hails UK's falling infections as 'good news' but warns it could be fewer tests The Daily Mail
• Pfizer and Moderna expand their COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in children aged 5-11 The Daily Mail
• Covid: more EU states to restrict venue access for unvaccinated people The Guardian
• Shielders eight times more likely to get Covid-19, study suggests The Independent
• Covid: Dangerous new variants will emerge unless rich countries share vaccines, UK adviser warns The Independent
• NHS vaccine helpline to be set up for people denied Covid passport due to errors iNews

NHS 'as stretched now as it was in January', health leaders say

NHS 'as stretched now as it was in January', health leaders say The NHS is as stretched now as it was at the pandemic's peak in January and things could get worse, health leaders have said.

NHS providers have warned of "the scale of challenges over the next nine months" in a letter to the prime minister, the chancellor, the health secretary, the chief secretary to the Treasury and the chief executive of NHS England. Sky News

See also:

• Government must act as NHS pressures match height of the pandemic NHS Providers

Contaminated blood inquiry: Former health minister Clarke to give evidence

Contaminated blood inquiry: Former health minister Clarke to give evidence Lord Clarke will give evidence under oath to the contaminated blood scandal inquiry later - the first senior health minister from the time to testify.

Around 3,000 people died after being given blood products containing HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s.

As late as November 1983 the government said it was not conclusively proven that HIV could be transmitted through blood products. BBC News 

New NHS data plan delayed to gain patient trust

New NHS data plan delayed to gain patient trust The NHS has been criticized for not engaging with the public about their controversial new scheme to digitalise and share our personal data.

The deadline for people to opt out had been pushed back to September the 1st but that has now been scrapped. NHS officials have told ITV News they now want to focus on reaching out to patients and reassuring them their data is safe.

Health chiefs' plan with a van to deliver swabs on wheels as Covid-19 testing goes mobile in Northamptonshire

Health chiefs' plan with a van to deliver swabs on wheels as Covid-19 testing goes mobile in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire s first mobile lateral flow device testing service is ready to hit the road.

Health chiefs hope their plan with a van delivering swabs on wheels will make it even easier for those with no Covid-19 symptoms to access regular testing after restrictions were lifted on July 19. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Where cases of new Columbian Covid variant are in UK - and its effect on vaccines Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• University students ‘face lectures ban unless they are fully-vaccinated’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Social distancing and face masks set for return in August Northamptonshire Telegraph

Pandemic lessons “cannot wait for Government inquiry” with massive taxpayer exposure & “unacceptably high waste”

Pandemic lessons “cannot wait for Government inquiry” with massive taxpayer exposure & “unacceptably high waste” In two reports, the Public Accounts Committee says the UK Government’s response to the pandemic has exposed the taxpayer to “significant financial risks for decades to come”, with the estimated lifetime cost of the government’s measures reaching £372 billion in May 2021.

The total value of government-backed loans has increased greatly during the crisis, with the taxpayer already on the hook for an estimated £26 billion of credit and fraud losses in the SME bounce back loan scheme.

 

See also:

• Government wasted £2.1bn on PPE that was useless, says new report The Daily Telegraph
• Britain faces ‘decades of financial risk’ as £370bn pandemic bill mounts The Guardian

Daily contact testing rolled out to further critical sectors

Daily contact testing rolled out to further critical sectors Further targeted daily contact testing is being rolled out in England to frontline emergency services and some transport workers, following the government’s close engagement with these sectors in order to avoid any potential disruption to crucial services. Department of health and Social Care

See also: 

• Vaccine rallying cry to young people as England’s NHS hits 70 million COVID jabs NHS England
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments Public Health England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England

Coronavirus infections continue to fall in UK

Coronavirus infections continue to fall in UK The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has continued to fall in the UK, the latest daily figures show.

The UK recorded 29,173 new cases on Sunday - down from 48,161 logged a week earlier on 18 July.

The number of new infections by date reported has fallen for five days in a row for the first time since February. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Recent claims about cremations and vaccines fact-checked BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Speech comparing NHS medics to Nazis condemned BBC News
• Covid-19: Health trusts in appeal to off-duty staff BBC News
• Sajid Javid apologises for 'cower' Covid remark BBC News
• Covid-19's new victims: Doctors warn un-jabbed people make up the bulk of fatalities The Daily Mail
• Falling infections could be 'false peak' amid fears of post-lockdown surge, scientist warns The Daily Telegraph
• UK government opening floodgates to Covid variants, MPs warn The Guardian
• Sage adviser claims ministers trying to get as many as possible infected with Covid The Guardian

Senior doctors in England to be consulted on NHS pay offer

Senior doctors in England to be consulted on NHS pay offer Senior doctors in England will be asked whether they want to consider industrial action over the 3% pay rise offered by the government.

The British Medical Association union says tens of thousands hospital consultants will be contacted.

It previously said industrial action may be considered if senior doctors were not given at least a 5% rise.

The Royal College of Nursing has also said that it could consider striking and would consult members. BBC News 

AI breakthrough could spark medical revolution

AI breakthrough could spark medical revolution Artificial intelligence has been used to predict the structures of almost every protein made by the human body.

The development could help supercharge the discovery of new drugs to treat disease, alongside other applications.

Proteins are essential building blocks of living organisms; every cell we have in us is packed with them. BBC News 

Fears social care billions could be used to plug existing NHS gaps – without solving the problem

Fears social care billions could be used to plug existing NHS gaps – without solving the problem Social care experts have spoken of their concern whether any a potential tax rise aimed at raising extra funding for the sector will instead be diverted to help clear the growing backlog of non-urgent treatment in the NHS. iNews 

NHS England set to announce its new chief executive within days

NHS England set to announce its new chief executive within days Chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard seen as top contender above KPMG’s Mark Britnell

A senior NHS boss and former service high-flyer are among the leading contenders to succeed Simon Stevens in NHS England’s top job, with an announcement imminent.

Ministers and NHS England’s board have been assessing candidates for several weeks and are preparing to name the person who will become the service’s new chief in the next few days. The Guardian

Summer health drive in England as 40% say they gained weight in lockdown

Summer health drive in England as 40% say they gained weight in lockdown A drive to get people fit and healthy this summer has been launched by Public Health England (PHE), as research found more than 40 per cent of adults put on weight during lockdown.

The latest Better Health campaign, the third iteration, includes the updated NHS Weight Loss Plan, an app to help reduce alcohol consumption and measure BMI. The Guardian

New Covid-19 patients admitted every six hours at Northampton General Hospital

New Covid-19 patients admitted every six hours at Northampton General Hospital Under-pressure Northampton General Hospital staff are seeing the number of Covid-19 patients in NHS beds increase every six hours.

NHS England yesterday (Thursday) confirmed a third coronavirus patient died at NGH in the space of four days. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Full list of 16 'critical' industries on Covid self isolation exemption list Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire's 'pingdemic' grows as 5,000-a-week are forced to self-isolate Northamptonshire Telegraph

The Women's Health Strategy: ensuring no women are left behind

The Women's Health Strategy: ensuring no women are left behind A call for evidence and an accompanying press statement for the first ever Women’s Health Strategy were released on International Women’s Day earlier this year. The strategy is a promising sign that the government is committed to finally addressing the difficulties women experience in accessing adequate health care and support in the UK. The King's Fund

Chart of the week: Are hospitals returning to pre-Covid activity levels?

Chart of the week: Are hospitals returning to pre-Covid activity levels? The latest guidance states that hospitals should aim to deliver at least 95% of the services they delivered before the pandemic, measured against the value of services delivered in the same month in 2019/20. But with rising numbers of Covid patients in hospital, Jenny Davies looks at how realistic this target is. Nuffield Trust 

Attitudes towards and experiences of the NHS during Covid-19: views from patients, professionals and the public

Attitudes towards and experiences of the NHS during Covid-19: views from patients, professionals and the public This report is the third and final report from a collaboration with Britain Thinks to understand how the experiences and perceptions of patients, professionals and the public have shifted during the pandemic and what this might mean for the future of the NHS in England. It looks at the NHS across three areas: primary care; secondary care; and community care. It also examines four patient types: mental health; long term health conditions; cancer patients; and surgery patients. Additionally, it looks into what patients and the public understand about the term 'health inequalities'. The Richmond Group of Charities

Improving communication between health care professionals and patients in the NHS in England

Improving communication between health care professionals and patients in the NHS in England This systematic review was undertaken by SQW. It aims to identify interventions that have previously demonstrated a positive difference to patient experience and clinical outcomes, while also reducing financial demands on the health system. The options identified needed to be interventions that policy makers, commissioners and service managers across the NHS could replicate accurately, with a reasonable return on their investment and at a manageable level of implementation risk. NHS England

Promotions of unhealthy foods restricted from October 2022

Promotions of unhealthy foods restricted from October 2022 Promotions on food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) in retailers will be restricted from October 2022, the government has confirmed. Department of Health and Social Care 

Public urged to continue protecting family and friends

Public urged to continue protecting family and friends New government campaign launches across England to remind public of importance of continuing healthy behaviours to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Statement to Parliament: Minister Zahawi update to the House on step 4 and NHS COVID Pass Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: REACT-2 study of coronavirus antibodies: June 2020 results Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid vaccine: Eight-week gap seen as sweet spot for Pfizer jab antibodies

Covid vaccine: Eight-week gap seen as sweet spot for Pfizer jab antibodies A longer gap between first and second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine makes the body's immune system produce more infection-fighting antibodies, UK researchers have found.

Experts say the findings support the UK's decision on extending dosing intervals from the initial recommendation of three weeks.

An eight-week gap seems to be the sweet spot for tackling the Delta variant. BBC News

See also: 

• Sustained T cell immunity, protection and boosting using extended dosing intervals of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (open access preprint) The Pitch Study
• Daily contact testing in schools cuts absences, study finds BBC News
• Covid cases at record levels for 20 to 29-year-olds  BBC News
• Covid: China rejects WHO plan for second phase of virus origin probe  BBC News
• Rapid COVID-19 tests could be as effective as PCR lab tests if enough people get tested The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: NHS symptom-tracking app's data U-turns and estimates 60,000 people are still falling ill The Daily Mail
• Covid pass could be compulsory for entry to large events in England – video The Guardian

Nottingham maternity scandal: 'The pain never goes away'

Nottingham maternity scandal: 'The pain never goes away' More than 20 families have told BBC News they want a completely independent inquiry into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust. We met some of those still shell-shocked by the trust's failings.

Parents urged to look out for RSV and other infections in children

Parents urged to look out for RSV and other infections in children Parents are being urged to look out for signs of severe respiratory infection in their children over the summer amid a rise in cases.

Hospitals are treating a growing number of children with illnesses usually only seen in winter after the levels of such cases fell during the pandemic, health officials in England have said. The Guardian

See also: 

• Health chiefs issue warning as childhood respiratory infections rise ahead of winter Public Health England
• Child winter respiratory illness on rise in summer BBC News
• Summer cold season is worse than ever after a year of masking and social distancing The Daily Mail

NHS trust fined over lack of honesty with family after mother’s death

NHS trust fined over lack of honesty with family after mother’s death An NHS trust has been fined twice by the care watchdog over a lack of honesty with a family following the death of a woman in childbirth.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust was issued with the fixed penalty fines by the Care Quality Commission after the trust failed to comply with the law around the NHS duty of candour. The Independent

NHS workers lose up to £9,000 per year during decade of real-terms pay cuts

NHS workers lose up to £9,000 per year during decade of real-terms pay cuts NHS workers in England have lost up to £9,000 a year during a decade of Conservative led real terms pay cuts, GMB analysis shows. 

Long-serving cleaners have had more than £1,000 pinched from their pay packet every year, 999 call handlers £3,500, nurses more than £6,000, midwives more than £7,500, the union’s calculations found. GMB Union

 

See also:

• NHS pay review announcement - key questions and guidance Department of Health and Social Care
• Pay is important, but it is not the only factor contributing to high staff turnover The King's Fund
• How can we suddenly afford a 3pc rise for the NHS? The Daily Telegraph
• 'Shameful and divisive' 3% pay rise threatens death-knell for GP partnerships GPonline
• Ministers force NHS England to cover part of 3% staff pay rise The Guardian
• NHS staff have lost thousands in real pay since 2011, studies find The Guardian
• Business secretary says 3% pay rise for NHS staff in England and Wales is fair – video The Guardian
• NHS told to find £1.5bn of savings to fund staff pay rise, despite fears of service cuts The Independent

Pleas to get jabbed grow more urgent after first Covid deaths since April at Northampton General Hospital

Pleas to get jabbed grow more urgent after first Covid deaths since April at Northampton General Hospital Health chiefs have launched a fresh plea to more than 60,000 Northampton adults who are yet to take up the offer for their first Covid-19 vaccination. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Pop-up Covid vaccine clinic in Corby town centre this weekend Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Health chiefs' plan with a van to deliver swabs on wheels as Covid-19 testing goes mobile in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Plea to "avoid A&E if you can" as pressures grow on Northamptonshire's hospitals

Plea to "avoid A&E if you can" as pressures grow on Northamptonshire's hospitals Hospital chiefs have warned people could be turned away from the county's Accident & Emergency departments if their condition is not life-threatening as pressure grows on NHS staff. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS staff to receive 3% pay rise

NHS staff to receive 3% pay rise NHS staff including nurses, paramedics, consultants, and dentists in England will receive a 3% pay rise backdated to April 2021 after the government accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) and the Review Body for Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration (DDRB). Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Independent report: Senior Salaries Review Body Report: 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS pay offer is 'treading water' The Health Foundation
• Agenda for Change 2021/22 Pay Scales Nursing Notes
• NHS pay deal 'a bitter blow' to nursing staff in England and Wales Royal College of Nursing
• NHS workers in England offered 3% pay rise BBC News
• Nurses may consider industrial action over 3% NHS pay rise, union says BBC News
• NHS Pay: Government accepts recommendation and gives 3pc rise The Daily Telegraph
• The government’s ‘3% pay rise’ is a cut in real terms for nurses | Rachel Ambrose The Guardian
• For an NHS burnt out from Covid, praise without a raise means little The Guardian
• Threat of nurses’ strike over 3% pay award for NHS staff The Guardian
• NHS staff in England get pay rise of 3% after their contribution during 'unprecedented year' Sky News

How will we know integration of health and care services is working?

How will we know integration of health and care services is working? Listening to people and learning from their experiences offers the opportunity to change care for the better. Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England, explains why involving users will give a better, bigger picture of how integration is working. The King's Fund 

A wait on your mind? A realistic proposal for tackling the elective backlog

A wait on your mind? A realistic proposal for tackling the elective backlog The waiting list for elective treatment in the NHS in England has reached an unprecedented level. It is likely to become the defining NHS issue as we approach the next general election, and brings a very real human cost as millions endure a long and uncertain wait. So what can be done? Policy Exchange 

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis – national report for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Audit 2020/2021

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis – national report for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Audit 2020/2021 The National Clinical Audit of Psychosis aims to improve the quality of care that NHS mental health trusts provide to people with psychosis. This report provides national and organisation-level findings on the treatment of people by Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) teams in England, as well as the impact of Covid-19 on the services provided. Royal College of Psychiatrists 

The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities

The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities This report on the treatment and care of autistic people and those with learning disabilities has found that a lack of adequate community provision has led to many experiencing unnecessary admissions to and intolerable treatment in inpatient facilities. MPs describe the situation as a scandal, given it is happening ten years since the notorious case of Winterbourne View. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee 

NHS England proposes new mental health access standards

NHS England proposes new mental health access standards The NHS is set to take another major step towards improving patient access to mental health services with the introduction of five new waiting time guarantees, under plans set out today.

The proposals could ensure that patients requiring urgent care will be seen by community mental health crisis teams within 24 hours of referral, with the most urgent getting help within four hours. Mental health liaison services for those who end up in A&E departments would also be rolled out to remaining sites across the country. NHS England

See also: 

• Emergency mental health patients to get help within hour under NHS England plan The Guardian

Coronavirus: Worst affected care homes revealed by watchdog

Coronavirus: Worst affected care homes revealed by watchdog A breakdown of the numbers of people who died with Covid-19 for each care home in England has been published for the first time.

Overall, more than 39,000 care home residents died with the virus between 10 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. BBC News

See also: 

• CQC publishes data showing death notifications involving COVID-19 received from individual care homes Care Quality Commission
• How England is starting to IGNORE Test and Trace amid 'pingdemic' chaos The Daily Mail
• More than 1.8million Britons say they are suffering from 'long Covid', survey finds The Daily Mail
• Freedom Day could be watered down in weeks: SAGE tells Boris to prepare to roll back mask-wearing The Daily Mail
• England may have to reimpose Covid rules in August, scientists warn The Guardian

Eating disorders: Number of under-20s in hospital up 50%

Eating disorders: Number of under-20s in hospital up 50% The number of young people with eating disorders in England ending up in hospital has risen during the pandemic, a BBC investigation has found.

Data from NHS Digital showed the number of under-20s admitted over the past year topped 3,200 - nearly 50% higher than in 2019-20.

Hospitals are warning they are running out of beds to care for these patients. BBC News

See also: 

• 'She just wouldn't eat' BBC News

Watchdog warns 'exceptional' NHS pressure is affecting patient care

Watchdog warns 'exceptional' NHS pressure is affecting patient care The care watchdog has warned that “exceptional” pressures on the NHS is affecting the care of patients across England with healthcare workers pushed to the brink.

 

Professor Ted Baker, the Care Quality Commission’s chief inspector of hospitals has spoken out as ambulance services report record levels of 999 calls with patients waiting hours in the backs of ambulances outside hospitals. The Independent

Matt Hancock warned against power-grab as backlash builds against NHS shake-up plans

Matt Hancock warned against power-grab as backlash builds against NHS shake-up plans Matt Hancock is facing growing warnings against accumulating too much personal power in a planned shake-up of hospitals which is running into opposition from within the health service and from some Tory MPs. iNews

NHS confirms Covid death at Northamptonshire hospital as daily cases hit seven-month high

NHS confirms Covid death at Northamptonshire hospital as daily cases hit seven-month high NHS England has confirmed another Covid-related death among patients in Northamptonshire's hospitals. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Ten areas of Northamptonshire seeing rise in Covid-19 rates of up to 840 percent Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• The key workers who can avoid self-isolation when pinged by NHS Track and Trace Northamptonshire Telegraph

Is the data strategy a missed opportunity to build trust in how data is used?

Is the data strategy a missed opportunity to build trust in how data is used? After months of anticipation, in late June 2021, the government published the draft of its national data strategy. The document outlines how the government intends to use the vast range of data in the NHS and social care to improve health and care for patients and staffs. This could mean changes so that patients no longer need to repeat their histories to different staff and staff having all relevant information to hand, saving time and improving safety. The King's Fund

Fit for purpose? Addressing inequities in mental health research exacerbated by Covid-19

Fit for purpose? Addressing inequities in mental health research exacerbated by Covid-19 This report was produced on behalf of the Mental Health Research Group, an independent group of leaders in mental health in England. It highlights the inequities in mental health research funding and production, what gets investigated and who gets to contribute, as well as who and what is left out of the conversation. It shares examples of work taking place to address mental health inequalities and to challenge inequities of power and influence within mental health research. The report calls for systemic change in the ways mental health research is planned, funded and delivered in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Centre for Mental Health 

Medical staffing in England: a defining moment for doctors and patients

Medical staffing in England: a defining moment for doctors and patients This report shows how severe medical shortages in England have become, current workforce data trends analysis and how the government can combat the widening gap between medical staff supply and increasing patient need. This study of the number of doctors per 1,000 people revealed that England averaged 2.8 doctors across primary and secondary care, while the average ratio in comparable EU countries is 3.7. The BMA predicts almost 50,000 more doctors are required to make up for the shortfall and that it could take until 2046 for health services in England to catch up to the average of comparable European nations. British Medical Association

NHS workforce more diverse than any point in its history, as health service commits to more action on representation

NHS workforce more diverse than any point in its history, as health service commits to more action on representation A first of its kind report looking into race equality among England’s doctors has found that the number from black and ethnic minority backgrounds working for the NHS is the highest on record.

New data published as part of the inaugural Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) commissioned by NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens shows that last year more than 53,000 doctors working in the NHS were from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background, up by more than 9,000, a rise of around one-fifth, since 2017. NHS England 

Policy paper: National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026

Policy paper: National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026 The government’s national strategy for improving the lives of autistic people and their families and carers in England, and implementation plan for 2021 to 2022. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: What happens when people no longer have to wear masks?

Covid: What happens when people no longer have to wear masks? Masks and face coverings are no longer compulsory in most public places in England but the government is still recommending them in crowded places.

So what does the evidence show about the effect of masks and what happens when they're no longer compulsory? BBC News

 

See also: 

• Covid-19: Crucial for pinged people to self-isolate - No 10 BBC News
• Covid UK: Daily death toll hits 96 in highest daily figure since MARCH as hospitalisations rise The Daily Mail
• More than 1.5 MILLION children around the world lost a caregiver due to COVID-19, study finds The Daily Mail
• Nadine Dorries: Pregnant women not prioritised for vaccines because of male-dominated JCVI The Daily Telegraph
• No 10 rebuked for failure to list ‘critical workers’ exempt from quarantine The Guardian
• More than 1m pupils in England absent last week due to Covid The Guardian
• Just over a fifth of people have the NHS Covid app and are using it properly, poll finds The Independent

Non-surgical beauty treatment industry like Wild West - MPs

Non-surgical beauty treatment industry like Wild West - MPs The "complete absence" of regulation of non-surgical beauty treatments, such as botox-style injections and fillers, is dangerous and must urgently change, say MPs.

After a year-long review, they claim the government has left the industry to regulate itself, despite concerns regularly raised by many within the sector. BBC News

See also: 

• Inquiry into aesthetic non-surgical cosmetic treatments All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing

New NHS drug fund will fast track access to breakthrough treatments

New NHS drug fund will fast track access to breakthrough treatments A new drugs fund worth £340 million will be used by the NHS to fast track patients with rare diseases so they can get new medicine and treatments yet to be approved. The Independent

English coastal towns have some of country’s worst health, report says

English coastal towns have some of country’s worst health, report says Striking beaches and fresh sea air may make coastal towns some of England’s most desirable places – but their attractiveness hides some of the country’s poorest health outcomes, which leave many residents “old before their time,” according to a report by the country’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty. The Guardian

Northamptonshire NHS "running hot" with more staff off, more Covid cases and more people through the door

Northamptonshire NHS "running hot" with more staff off, more Covid cases and more people through the door Hospital chiefs say pressure is piling back on Northamptonshire's NHS as more Covid-19 patients are being admitted and staff are forced to self-isolate. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid rules STILL apply at Northampton General Hospital as virus continues to spread, say healthcare bosses
• KGH say 'no change' on masks and Covid measures on 'Freedom Day' Northamptonshire Telegraph

Data reveals impact of deadly asbestos-related cancer in Northampton as inquiry is launched

Data reveals impact of deadly asbestos-related cancer in Northampton as inquiry is launched Asbestos-related cancer has claimed the lives of more than 150 people in Northampton over almost four decades, new figures reveal.

MPs have launched an inquiry into how the material is being managed across the UK after serious safety concerns were raised. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

GP in charge of Earls Barton and Northampton surgeries removed over catalogue of failings

GP in charge of Earls Barton and Northampton surgeries removed over catalogue of failings Two Northamptonshire GP surgeries with 9,500 patients and a senior partner have been de-registered after inspectors found a "whole catalogue of issues" putting patients at risk. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Making sense of the Health and Care Bill

Making sense of the Health and Care Bill As the Health and Care Bill is debated in the House of Commons for the first time, some in government may still recall the bruising 14 months it took for the previous piece of health legislation to get through parliament. Back in 2011 and 2012 there were big claims on all sides, with the government insisting its reforms would ‘liberate the NHS’ while the opposition argued the reforms would end it. The government found itself mired in what became the most controversial piece of NHS legislation in more than two decades. The King's Fund

See also:

• Health and Care Bill factsheets Department of Health and Social Care
• Giving the Health Secretary more power over the NHS risks taking health care backwards The Health Foundation
• The Health and Care Bill must be amended to help make workforce shortages a thing of the past The Health Foundation
• The Health and Care Bill: a threat to the operational independence of the NHS? The King's Fund
• Will the new Health and Care Bill privatise the NHS? Nuffield Trust
• Second Reading of the Health and Care Bill Nuffield Trust
• Briefing: Health and Care Bill - Second Reading Royal College of Nursing 
• RCP reaction to the health and care bill Royal College of Physicians 
• RCPsych responds to the Health and Care Bill Royal College of Psychiatrists

Nursing Workforce Shortages: 21 Missed Warnings

Nursing Workforce Shortages: 21 Missed Warnings A new briefing from the RCN detailing the warnings around the increasing nursing workforce shortage from a range of stakeholders including think tanks, health sector organisations, and cross party parliamentary groups. Royal College of Nursing

Shared decision making: shared reality or insider jargon?

Shared decision making: shared reality or insider jargon? This report says shared decision making, when patients and doctors work together to decide treatment options, provides benefits to patients and the health service. But patients, and the professionals treating them, face many barriers in making it work in practice. The report makes recommendations on how to make shared decision making a reality. Patients Association

Covid-19: preparing for the future - looking ahead to winter 2021/22 and beyond

Covid-19: preparing for the future - looking ahead to winter 2021/22 and beyond This report warns that a mix of Covid-19, influenza, and the respiratory virus Respiratory Syncytial Virus, could push the NHS to breaking point this winter unless action is taken. The report urges policy makers and the NHS to prepare by expanding Covid-19 testing, increasing the speed and uptake of the Covid-19 vaccination, and strengthened financial and staffing support. The Academy of Medical Sciences

Fully vaccinated critical workers to be able to leave self-isolation in exceptional circumstances

Fully vaccinated critical workers to be able to leave self-isolation in exceptional circumstances Fully vaccinated critical workers to be able to leave self-isolation in exceptional circumstances under new plans to prevent serious disruption to vital public services. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Statement on offering COVID-19 vaccines to at-risk young people Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people aged 12 to 17 years: JCVI statement Department of Health and Social Care
• Every adult in UK offered COVID-19 vaccine Department of Health and Social Care
• Consultation outcome: Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• New research into treatment and diagnosis of long COVID Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Which children can have the vaccine in the UK?

Covid: Which children can have the vaccine in the UK? Hundreds of thousands of under-18s will now be offered the Covid vaccine in the UK.

They'll get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as that's the only one which has been approved for 12 to 17-year-olds - so far.

However, the news means that most children still aren't eligible for the jab - in keeping with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). BBC News

See also: 

• Shielders 'feeling abandoned' as coronavirus restrictions lifted BBC News
• Covid patients urge public to 'be careful' as restrictions ease BBC News
• Covid: Critical workers to avoid close contact isolation BBC News
• Covid: UK faces a difficult summer, says leading scientist BBC News
• Covid: Coping with opening-up anxiety BBC News
• Covid: Boris Johnson resisted autumn lockdown as only over-80s dying - Dominic Cummings BBC News
• Some COVID-19 patients may not regain sense of smell for as long as THREE YEARS, expert claims The Daily Mail
• Freedom Day will cause 'mad' spike in Covid cases, scientists fear The Daily Mail
• State Department tells Americans not to travel to the UK The Daily Telegraph
• Third of close contacts told to self-isolate by test and trace developing symptoms - up from one fifth The Daily Telegraph
• I work in an NHS Covid ward – and I feel so angry The Guardian
• Ministers shelve plans to fix Covid app as cases in England surge The Guardian
• Lockdowns do not harm health more than Covid, say researchers The Guardian
• NHS summer crisis deepens as Covid surge leads to cancelled operations and ambulance ‘black alert’

UK plans biggest flu vaccine rollout this winter

UK plans biggest flu vaccine rollout this winter Free flu vaccines will be offered this winter to children aged two to 16 in England, as well as people aged 50 and over or in "at-risk" groups, amid the double threat of Covid and influenza.

Experts hope for a record-breaking rollout reaching more than 35 million people, including more teenagers than ever before.

Last winter there was a high uptake, with 19 million doses given. BBC News

NHS staff in England set to be offered 3% pay rise

NHS staff in England set to be offered 3% pay rise The government is likely to announce a pay rise of 3 per cent for NHS staff in the coming days, triple its original offer earlier this year.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) originally told the independent NHS Pay Review Body in March it could only afford a 1 per cent pay rise this year for doctors, nurses and other NHS workers. The Independent

See also: 

• NHS staff 'set to get 3 per cent pay rise' THIS WEEK after medics threatened to go on strike if the Government failed to improve its 1 per cent offer The Daily Mail
• NHS staff in England could be offered 3% pay rise The Guardian
• NHS pay row: doctors and nurses could start being mobilised for strike action this week iNews

NHS is failing half of young people with mental health issues

NHS is failing half of young people with mental health issues Parents report that even suicidal youngsters are not being referred or supported by care professionals

Up to half of all children and teenagers referred to mental health, learning disability and autism services in the run-up to the pandemic were left without proper support, with parents telling the Observer of children waiting years for treatment and a seven-year-old girl denied support as she was not suicidal. The Guardian 

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The service will resume on Tuesday the 20th of July.

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Last big push to get jabs into Northamptonshire's final 135000 in countdown to Freedom Day

Last big push to get jabs into Northamptonshire's final 135000 in countdown to Freedom Day Northamptonshire will get more grab a jab sessions in a final massive push to deliver as many vaccinations as possible before Freedom Day.

An appeal has gone out for extra volunteers to help NHS staff deliver jabs at centres across the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• One in five Northamptonshire folk likely to NOT be vaccinated by Freedom Day Northamptonshire Telegraph

Kettering General: Hospital warned to improve over falls concerns

Kettering General: Hospital warned to improve over falls concerns Medical care at a hospital has been downgraded to inadequate after concerns were raised about patient falls.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited Kettering General Hospital in May, after "several serious incidents resulting in harm".

The NHS trust was rated overall as "requires improvement" - and issued with a warning notice. BBC News

Who will be the next NHS England Chief Executive?

Who will be the next NHS England Chief Executive? In truth, I struggled to get started with this blog. I’m not sure why as it wasn’t for a lack of ideas about leadership or what qualities the new leader of NHS England should hold. Perhaps it felt like a colossal task to try to articulate in a few hundred words what it is that a leader should embody, and the impact this would have on those they lead. Something that is difficult to express in writing but easier to feel and experience. The King's Fund

Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: the Covid-19 impact inquiry report

Unequal pandemic, fairer recovery: the Covid-19 impact inquiry report This report is a comprehensive review of the factors that fuelled the UK’s Covid-19 death toll. It finds working age adults in England’s poorest areas were almost four times more likely to die from Covid-19 than those in the wealthiest areas. The Health Foundation calls on government to learn the lessons from the financial crisis and invest in health, to rebuild the economy and prevent long-term scarring. The Health Foundation

National representative data on the health of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in England published for the first time

National representative data on the health of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in England published for the first time A first of its kind report has been published today by NHS Digital on the health outcomes and health behaviours of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults.

The data is based on a representative sample of adults aged 16 and over who participated in the Health Survey for England (HSE)1 between 2011–2018. Breakdowns by age, ethnicity and sex are also covered in the report.  

See also:

• LGB people 'more likely to have mental health issues' BBC News
• LGB Brits drink more, smoke more and have worse mental health, says NHS report Pink News

Health and Care Bill introduced to Parliament

Health and Care Bill introduced to Parliament The Health and Care Bill builds on the proposals for legislative change set out by NHS England in its Long Term Plan, while also incorporating valuable lessons learnt from the pandemic that will benefit both staff and patients.

The government is committed to delivering world-class care for patients and this Bill will help deliver that by building on the NHS’ own proposals for reform to make it less bureaucratic, more accountable, and more integrated in the wake of COVID-19. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Health and Care Bill: delegated powers memorandum Department of Health and Social Care
• Giving the Health Secretary more power over the NHS risks taking health care backwards The Health Foundation
• 'Important reforms could be undermined by plans for ministerial interference' The King's Fund
• On the day briefing: Health and Care Bill NHS Providers
• The proposed NHS reforms: what do we think so far? NHS Confederation
• Bill signals way forward in fast changing health and care landscape NHS Providers
• Nuffield Trust response to Health and Care Bill Nuffield Trust
• Health and Care Bill: we’ll lobby to make ministers accountable for safe nurse staffing Royal College of Nursing
• RCPsych responds to the Health and Care Bill Royal College of Psychiatrists 
• Health bill could see NHS contracts awarded without tender process The Guardian
• First major NHS legislation in nine years confirms DHSC power grab Health Service Journal
• Ministers press ahead with plan to have more control over NHS The Independent