Covid: Kettering's high rate 'not all about children'

Covid: Kettering's high rate 'not all about children' Cases of Covid-19 have almost doubled in Kettering, making it the area with the highest number of new positive tests per 100,000 people in the country. Why are numbers in the Northamptonshire town so high? BBC Northampton

University of Northampton urges students to stay safe during Freshers Week amid series of reported drink spikings at town centre nightspots

University of Northampton urges students to stay safe during Freshers Week amid series of reported drink spikings at town centre nightspots The University of Northampton has called on its students to stay safe on nights out amid a series of drink spiking cases at nightspots in the town centre.

Around seven drink spiking incidents have been reported at town centre venues since the beginning of September. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Northampton club boss reiterates extensive security measures taken to combat a series of drink spikings in town Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Covid-19: healing the people who cared for us

Covid-19: healing the people who cared for us Much has already been written about living through Covid-19 and its impact on health and care staff. Among the harrowing tales, many positives have been captured about the experience, including the speed with which changes were adopted; how people coalesced around a shared sense of purpose; and how decisions were taken at the front line, closer to the patient. It is easy, and perhaps sloppy, to conclude from this that everyone has debriefed, that life is already moving on, and that some improved version of past reality can now be restored. But is that really the case? The King's Fund 

Whistleblowing report from healthcare regulators

Whistleblowing report from healthcare regulators The General Medical Council (GMC) has joined seven other healthcare regulators including the NMC and HCPC, to publish an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures. 

Perinatal mental health services: recommendations for the provision of services for childbearing women

Perinatal mental health services: recommendations for the provision of services for childbearing women This report summarises the latest evidence base for the extent and impact of perinatal mental disorder and opportunities for intervention. It sets out: best practice principles; guidance on effective interventions; and workforce recommendations. Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Building back inclusively: radical approaches to tackling the elective backlog

Building back inclusively: radical approaches to tackling the elective backlog This briefing recommends radical, whole-system changes to tackle the elective backlog inclusively. Aimed at healthcare leaders overseeing elective recovery, as well as policymakers with the levers to effect change, it puts forward ten practical measures to manage the backlog. NHS Confederation

See also: 

• Manifesto for recovery: the health and care system after Covid-19  NHS Confederation
• Building back inclusively: the evidence NHS Confederation

Government seeks views on contingency proposals for certification

Government seeks views on contingency proposals for certification The government has published the policy proposal for mandatory vaccine certification as a contingency measure under the government’s Autumn and Winter Plan.

As set out by the Prime Minister on 14 September, mandatory vaccine-only certification could potentially be introduced in certain settings as part of ‘Plan B’. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: People are vaccinated - so why are there so many cases?

Covid: People are vaccinated - so why are there so many cases? More than four out of five adults in the UK have now had two jabs, but reported daily Covid cases remain high.

Millions of people will get booster vaccines this autumn - while healthy children aged 12-15 are being offered single doses. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: What's the 'Winter Plan' and what are the rules across the UK? BBC News
• Vitamin-A treatment trial for Covid loss of smell BBC News
• Covid: Boris Johnson makes inquiry pledge to bereaved families BBC News
• Britain's Covid cases rise by 10% in a week to 34,526 The Daily Mail
• Vaccine passports could be required in England in a wide range of venues under No10's Covid 'Plan B' The Daily Mail
• Third of Covid patients diagnosed with at least one long-term symptom The Independent
• Smokers more likely to end up in hospital or die with Covid The Independent
• COVID-19: NHS director alerts parents to fake vaccine consent letters Sky News

People also suffer 'long flu', study shows

People also suffer 'long flu', study shows People who have fallen ill with flu can suffer long-term symptoms in a similar way to long Covid, a study suggests.

The Oxford University research analysed health records of people diagnosed with flu and Covid, mainly in the US.

The two groups - both with just over 100,000 patients - included people seeking healthcare for symptoms three to six months after infection. BBC News

See also: 

• Incidence, co-occurrence, and evolution of long-COVID features: A 6-month retrospective cohort study of 273,618 survivors of COVID-19 (open access) PLoS Medicine

NHS Highland pays out millions to bullied staff

NHS Highland pays out millions to bullied staff NHS Highland says it expects to pay £3.4m in settlements to current and former staff who have complained of bullying.

Whistleblowers exposed a "culture of bullying" at NHS Highland in 2018.

A Scottish government-commissioned review suggested hundreds of health workers may have experienced inappropriate behaviour. BBC News 

Fuel crisis leading to cancellations of NHS cancer appointments

Fuel crisis leading to cancellations of NHS cancer appointments The postponement of NHS appointments for some cancer patients because of the fuel crisis will heap additional pressure on patients and their families, charities have warned.

The Guardian learned that several cancer patients due to attend appointments this week at University College hospital (UCLH), one of London’s largest hospitals, have been told they will have to be rescheduled. 

Air pollution causes almost 6MILLION premature births around the world every year, study finds

Air pollution causes almost 6MILLION premature births around the world every year, study finds Air pollution may have contributed to almost 6million premature births and nearly 3million babies being born underweight around the world in 2019, a study claims.

And it wasn't just pollution from traffic or power plants, which have commonly been thought to be the biggest source of toxic air. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Ambient and household PM2.5 pollution and adverse perinatal outcomes: A meta-regression and analysis of attributable global burden for 204 countries and territories (open access) PLoS Medicine

Covid: Kettering sees case rates nearly double in a week

Covid: Kettering sees case rates nearly double in a week Secondary school-aged children have been urged to stay at home if their parents suspect they have Covid as cases soar in a Northamptonshire town.

Kettering, which currently has the highest infection rate in England, has seen cases nearly double within a week.

The Northamptonshire town saw 960 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 23 September. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Kettering's Covid rate goes through the roof as 'simply shocking' school infections soar Northamptonshire Telegraph

Annual hospital outpatient report

Annual hospital outpatient report NHS Digital has published annual outpatient figures, covering outpatient activity in the NHS and NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector.

Included in the Hospital Outpatient Activity 2020-21 report is the number of outpatient appointments in 2020/21, broken down into patients that attended and did not attend. Further breakdowns of gender and age are also included. 

National AI strategy

National AI strategy This strategy builds on the UK’s strengths but also represents the start of a step-change for AI in the UK, recognising the power of AI to increase resilience, productivity, growth and innovation across the private and public sectors. Office for Artificial Intelligence 

Policy paper: Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario

Policy paper: Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario This document fulfils the commitment, set out in the Autumn and Winter Plan, to provide organisations with more detail about the proposed certification regime that would be introduced as part of Plan B. Department of Health and Social Care 

UKHSA publishes new recommendations for COVID-19 infection prevention and control

UKHSA publishes new recommendations for COVID-19 infection prevention and control UKHSA has recommended 3 pragmatic changes to the current management of COVID-19 IPC measures, with a focus on elective care. UK Health Security Agency

See also: 

• Hospitals in England can relax Covid rules to treat more patients BBC News
• Addenbrooke's Hospital: A&E patients made to wait in car park BBC News
• Covid: 'I lost my daughter to cancer after the pandemic paused chemotherapy' BBC News
• Covid UK: NHS hospitals are told to drop restrictions to help clear backlog The Daily Mail
• Hospitals in England relax Covid rules to help tackle waiting lists The Guardian

Most teenagers willing to have Covid jab - study

Most teenagers willing to have Covid jab - study Half of children and young people aged nine to 18 are willing or eager to be vaccinated against Covid, a large survey in England suggests.

It is one of the first polls to ask pupils, rather than parents, their views on teenage Covid jabs.

Carried out during the summer term, the responses from more than 27,000 students at 180 schools reveal half would opt to get protected. BBC News

See also: 

• Willingness of children and adolescents to have a COVID-19 vaccination: Results of a large whole schools survey in England (open access) EClinicalMedicine
• What it's like to be a nine-year-old in a vaccine clinical trial BBC News
• Schools warn about hoax anti-vaccine letters BBC News
• Mothers can pass Covid antibodies onto their babies via breastmilk for up to 10 MONTHS, study finds The Daily Mail
• People who don't wear face masks are up to TWICE as likely to test positive for Covid, data suggests The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Cases begin to spill over from children to parents as rates rise in 35-50 year olds The Daily Mail

Health workers should be given priority access to fuel in UK, says senior doctor

Health workers should be given priority access to fuel in UK, says senior doctor No 10 is facing calls to give ambulance drivers, healthcare staff and other essential workers priority access to fuel after panic buying caused shortages across the UK.

With ministers due to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss the growing crisis, the British Medical Association (BMA) called for emergency measures to let medical staff fill up, warning that as pumps run dry “there is a real risk that NHS staff won’t be able to do their jobs”. The Guardian 

'Explosive' jump in autism as number of children on the spectrum rises eight-fold in 20 years

'Explosive' jump in autism as number of children on the spectrum rises eight-fold in 20 years Autism diagnoses in England have soared nearly eight-fold in the past two decades, a study has shown. 

UK researchers said the 'explosive' rise was likely due to increased awareness and screening for the condition. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Time trends in autism diagnosis over 20 years: a UK population-based cohort study (open access) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Northamptonshire hospitals see number of Covid patients double in four weeks

Northamptonshire hospitals see number of Covid patients double in four weeks Hospital chiefs fear more pressure piling on to local NHS services after the number of Covid patients needing treatment more than doubled in a month. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid vaccine rollout begins on Monday for Northamptonshire secondary school students Northamptonshire Telegraph
• England unlikely to need ‘full-blown lockdown’ this winter, leading expert says Northamptonshire Telegraph

What's the plan for ambulances to get through traffic chaos outside Northampton General Hospital?

What's the plan for ambulances to get through traffic chaos outside Northampton General Hospital? Three-month major roadworks near Northampton General Hospital (NGH) have caused standstill traffic during the rush hours this week - but is there a plan for emergency vehicles to get in and out of NGH? Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northants hospitals warning over scam texts inviting patients for operations

Northants hospitals warning over scam texts inviting patients for operations Northampton General Hospital has issued vital information for customers on how to identify a real NHS text from a scam.

The Northamptonshire hospital has offered the advice with patients being increasingly contacted by their doctors by text. Northants Live 

Northants care workers paid the lowest wage in the country - as pay talks continue for Corby home care staff

Northants care workers paid the lowest wage in the country - as pay talks continue for Corby home care staff Figures analysed by our sister news site NationalWorld showed that council-employed carers across Northamptonshire are paid the lowest wages in the whole country. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Tackling the elective backlog – exploring the relationship between deprivation and waiting times

Tackling the elective backlog – exploring the relationship between deprivation and waiting times Long waiting times and growing waiting lists for hospital treatment have been a problem for some time, but now the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue and waiting lists have grown rapidly. As with other aspects of the pandemic, this has not been experienced equally. Our analysis of waiting list data shows a clear relationship with deprivation, which sees those living in the most deprived areas nearly twice as likely to wait more than a year for treatment compared to those living in the least deprived areas. The King's Fund

See also: 

• NHS waits: More people feeling forced into private healthcare BBC News
• Agony for half of over-50s as it emerges thousands are waiting for surgery amid crisis in the NHS The Daily Mail
• NHS backlog disproportionately affecting England’s most deprived The Guardian

Elective care: how has COVID-19 affected the waiting list?

Elective care: how has COVID-19 affected the waiting list? This analysis looks at what we know about the waiting list for elective care in England.

While the NHS delivered a remarkable amount of elective treatment during the pandemic, the pressure of caring for large numbers of patients seriously unwell with COVID-19 has led to the waiting list for elective care reaching the highest level since current records began.

Data show that 6 million fewer people completed elective care pathways between January 2020 and July 2021 than would have been expected based on pre-pandemic numbers. The Health Foundation

How primary care is delivering for patients

How primary care is delivering for patients This infographic demonstrates how primary care teams in England have been supporting patients. NHS Confederation 

Consultation on the future regulation of medical devices in the United Kingdom

Consultation on the future regulation of medical devices in the United Kingdom The MHRA is inviting members of the public to provide their views on possible changes to the regulatory framework for medical devices in the United Kingdom. The MHRA wants to develop a future regime for medical devices which enables: improved patient and public safety; greater transparency of regulatory decision making and medical device information; close alignment with international best practice and; more flexible, responsive and proportionate regulation of medical devices. It welcomes the views of patients, medical device researchers, developers, manufacturers and suppliers, clinicians, other healthcare professionals and the wider public to help shape the MHRA’s future approach to regulating medical devices in the UK. This consultation closes on 25 November 2021. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

People aged 16 and 17 urged to get lifesaving COVID vaccine as NHS bookings open

People aged 16 and 17 urged to get lifesaving COVID vaccine as NHS bookings open People aged 16 and 17 are able to book their COVID-19 jabs through the National Booking Service from today as the NHS vaccination programme pulls out all the stops to protect people ahead of winter.

Almost three quarters of a million young people in England – around 60% – have already received their vaccine thanks to the NHS ‘Grab a Jab’ campaign, where the NHS online site finder helps people find their nearest walk-in vaccine clinic. NHS England 

Margaret Keenan: First UK person to get the Pfizer jab gets booster

Margaret Keenan: First UK person to get the Pfizer jab gets booster A woman who became the first person in the world to get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine has had her booster.

Margaret Keenan, 91, from Coventry, got her third injection at University Hospital in the city on Friday, the same place she was first vaccinated.

Also getting the booster was Matron May Parsons, who administered Ms Keenan's first jab back in December. BBC News

See also: 

• World Health Organisation will start NEW Covid investigation The Daily Mail
• Invented in Britain: New anti-viral nasal spray that dramatically cuts the chance of catching Covid The Daily Mail
• England's Covid outbreak shrunk by 11% last week, official data shows The Daily Mail
• ‘We haven’t finished the job’: JVT reflects on 18 months of Covid The Guardian
• Children ‘paying the price’ for delayed approval of Covid vaccine, warn experts, as cases soar The Independent
• Campaign sending schools legal letters over Covid jabs stopped due to ‘censorship issues’ The Independent

NHS ‘on the edge’ with some patients waiting 48 hours for a bed

NHS ‘on the edge’ with some patients waiting 48 hours for a bed The NHS is struggling to cope with growing demand for urgent and emergency care, health officials have warned, with hospitals under the kind of pressure “usually seen at the height of winter”.

A&E units across the UK are so crowded that 50% are being forced to hold sick patients outside or turn ambulances away every day, Britain’s top emergency doctor told the Guardian. The figure is the highest ever recorded; it was 27% in October 2020 and 17% in March this year.

See also: 

• QE Hospital Birmingham: Winter looms with staff 'hanging on by a thread' BBC News
• ‘Things are grim here’: doctor tells of dire situation in north-west England ICU The Guardian
• Gas crisis, Covid and food shortages: Tories fear perfect winter storm The Guardian

Labour launches bid to end NHS 'culture of secrecy' and improve safety following care scandals

Labour launches bid to end NHS 'culture of secrecy' and improve safety following care scandals Labour is to push for key changes to the government’s NHS reforms, with new laws on transparency in the NHS and a demand for safe staffing levels on hospital wards, following a series of scandals relating to failures in patient care.

Amendments to the government’s Health and Care Bill will also include plans for the investigation of stillbirths by medical examiners, and for limits on the power of the health secretary to interfere in investigations. The Independent

See also: 

• NHS On 'Slippery Slope' To Insurance System, Claims Shadow Health Secretary Huffington Post UK
• Ashworth sets out Labour’s prescription for the health of the nation The Independent

Stillbirths fell to lowest EVER rate in 2020 amid Covid pandemic, official figures show

Stillbirths fell to lowest EVER rate in 2020 amid Covid pandemic, official figures show Office for National Statistics figures show there were 3.8 stillbirths per 1,000 births in England and Wales last year, the lowest since records began in 1927. The Daily Mail 

Covid vaccine rollout begins on Monday for Northamptonshire secondary school students

Covid vaccine rollout begins on Monday for Northamptonshire secondary school students Health workers will deliver the first Covid vaccines for Northamptonshire's secondary school students from Monday (September 27).

All those aged between 12 and 15-years-old will be offered jabs to combat recent spikes in cases causing more disruption to children's education. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid-19: Tree of Hope mural unveiled at Kettering hospital BBC Northampton

Homelessness in Northampton linked to domestic abuse more than 100 times during pandemic, figures reveal

Homelessness in Northampton linked to domestic abuse more than 100 times during pandemic, figures reveal Domestic abuse pushed Northampton people into homelessness or put them at risk of losing their homes more than 100 times during the coronavirus pandemic, figures reveal.

A spike in such cases nationally has been branded “shocking” by domestic abuse charities, which are calling for more funding to help survivors. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northampton Hospital: Virtual appointment solution to road delays

Northampton Hospital: Virtual appointment solution to road delays A hospital is to offer patients virtual appointments after reports of delays of nearly two hours caused by roadworks.

Northampton General Hospital said it would offer the online service "where possible" because of congestion on Cliftonville Road and Bedford Road.

It apologised "for any inconvenience" caused by the traffic pressure. BBC Northampton

Taxes and health care funding: how does the UK compare?

Taxes and health care funding: how does the UK compare? The government’s decision to raise taxes to better fund health and social care has understandably generated a lot of interest. For many, this is a much-needed increase that will help meet some of the care needs of people in the UK after the pandemic. For others, the NHS is a ‘black hole’, swallowing increasing sums of taxpayer money.

These arguments raise several important questions. In particular, do we spend enough – or too much – on health and social care? And is it reasonable to raise taxes to fund increased spending? While the answers to these questions will ultimately be decided by the public, it is important to consider how the UK compares to other countries on health care spending and tax revenue. The Health Foundation 

Beyond reach: barriers to accessing early years services for children

Beyond reach: barriers to accessing early years services for children To better understand the support parents need, Action for Children surveyed just over 2,000 parents of nought to fives in England, to find out about their experience of using early years services. Four things are highlighted in this report: parents need a wide range of early years services; for too many parents, these services are beyond reach; parents are worried about the impact of being unable to access support; and the government has an opportunity to change this. 

Building back cancer services in England

Building back cancer services in England The pandemic has severely disrupted cancer services in England. While Covid-19 might not have caused our health service to ‘collapse’ rapidly, it has forced us to take previously unthinkable steps like cancelling cancer treatments. There have been widespread disruptions across the cancer care pathway – screening, referrals, diagnostic and treatment services have all seen reductions in activity.

Unmitigated, the consequences will be severe. Institute for Public Policy Research

See also: 

• Covid: Cancer backlog could take a decade to clear BBC News
• 'Thousands will die' over the next decade because of a huge cancer care backlog, report reveals The Daily Mail
• ‘A system on its last legs’: NHS forced to deny chemotherapy for cancer patients The Independent
• Clearing NHS cancer backlog could take over a decade – report ITV News

Rebuilding our NHS: the case for capital funding

Rebuilding our NHS: the case for capital funding This briefing highlighting what trust leaders need from the comprehensive spending review, based on a survey of trust and foundation trust finance directors across all sectors. NHS Providers

See also: 

• NHS chiefs want another £1.5bn a year extra to improve buildings The Daily Mail

The recovery challenges for NHS hospital services

The recovery challenges for NHS hospital services This month’s Insight report looks at how NHS trusts are planning for people’s care while tackling a backlog of treatment caused by COVID-19.

In May and June 2021, we asked 73 trusts about their approaches to longer waiting lists and how they are considering people’s care in a fair and equal way. We wanted to know about their assessments of the challenges. Care Quality Commission 

Covid-19: Life expectancy is down but what does this mean?

Covid-19: Life expectancy is down but what does this mean? Life expectancy for men in the UK has fallen for the first time in 40 years, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.

Life expectancy at birth in the three years to 2020 was 79 years for men, falling back to a level last seen in 2012-14.

Female life expectancy was virtually unchanged, at just below 83.

Normally, life expectancy in the UK and around the world increases over time - and falls are rare. BBC News

See also: 

• UK Covid vaccine rules cause hesitancy - Africa health chief BBC New
• Britain's Covid cases rise by over a THIRD in a week to 36,710 The Daily Mail
• The true toll of Covid on the NHS: 18MILLION fewer appointments were carried out in 2020 The Daily Mail
• Covid? What Covid? Moderna boss expects pandemic to be done in a year The Daily Mail
• Moderna vaccine more effective against COVID-19 infection at 96% compared to Pfizer shot at 89% The Daily Mail
• Emails emerge of ‘VIP route’ for UK Covid test contracts The Guardian
• More than 100 countries face spending cuts as Covid worsens debt crisis, report warns The Guardian
• Nearly 125,000 deaths prevented by Covid vaccines in England, figures suggest The Independent

Woman with Down's loses abortion law fight

Woman with Down's loses abortion law fight A woman with Down's syndrome has lost her High Court challenge over a law that allows abortion up to birth for a foetus with the condition.

Heidi Crowter, 26, from Coventry, brought the case against the government in July, saying the legislation did not respect her life.

Her legal team had argued the rules were unlawfully discriminatory.

The government maintained there was no evidence the law discriminated against Down's. BBC News 

England set to eradicate HIV by 2030, research suggests

England set to eradicate HIV by 2030, research suggests England is set to have diagnosed 95 per cent of people living with HIV within the next four years, making it likely that the country will have eliminated transmission of the virus by 2030, according to a new study.

This places England on course to meet the ambitious global target set by Unaids for ending the AIDS epidemic by the close of the decade. The Independent

See also: 

• Trends in undiagnosed HIV prevalence in England and implications for eliminating HIV transmission by 2030: an evidence synthesis model (open access) The Lancet Public Health

Undisclosed private companies analysing facial data from NHS app

Undisclosed private companies analysing facial data from NHS app Undisclosed companies are analysing facial data collected by the NHS app, which is used by more than 16 million English citizens, prompting fresh concern about the role of outsourcing to private businesses in the service.

Data security experts have previously criticised the lack of transparency around a contract with the NHS held by iProov, whose facial verification software is used to perform automated ID checks on people signing up for the NHS app. The Guardian 

National insurance hike to hit NHS and care staff with £900m tax bill

National insurance hike to hit NHS and care staff with £900m tax bill Boris Johnson’s national insurance hike to fund health and social care will hit NHS and care workers with a £900m tax bill, the Guardian can reveal.

The prime minister announced this month that contributions are to increase by 1.25 percentage points to tackle the NHS backlog and pay for social care reforms. 

Work starts on national NHS uniform for England after nurses back plans

Work starts on national NHS uniform for England after nurses back plans Nurses have given the green light to plans for a national NHS uniform for England, with improved professional identity and patient safety cited as reasons for making for the move. Nursing Times 

Safety inspectors give GPs the okay to return after Northampton surgery struck by car

Safety inspectors give GPs the okay to return after Northampton surgery struck by car Doctors displaced by some dodgy driving are back behind their rightful desks just a day after having to decamp from their Northampton surgery. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Freak accident shuts Northampton doctors surgery affecting 10,000 patients Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Watch as DAY TWO of three-month major roadworks sees more traffic CHAOS around Northampton General Hospital

Watch as DAY TWO of three-month major roadworks sees more traffic CHAOS around Northampton General Hospital Traffic was CRAWLING through Northampton AGAIN Tuesday, September 21 due to major roadworks taking place at a busy junction. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England

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

Record number of children and young people referred to mental health services as pandemic takes its toll

Record number of children and young people referred to mental health services as pandemic takes its toll Record numbers of children and young people are being referred to mental health services for crisis and non-crisis care, as the toll of the pandemic on the country’s mental health is revealed in a new analysis of NHS Digital data by the Royal College of Psychiatrists

See also: 

• Record-breaking 2,000 children are referred to NHS mental health services EVERY day The Daily Mail
• Children’s NHS mental health referrals double in pandemic The Guardian

Good for you, good for us, good for everybody: a plan to reduce overprescribing to make patient care better and safer, support the NHS, and reduce carbon emissions

Good for you, good for us, good for everybody: a plan to reduce overprescribing to make patient care better and safer, support the NHS, and reduce carbon emissions This report contains the findings and recommendations of the national overprescribing review led by Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England. The review sets out a series of practical and cultural changes to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their needs while ensuring clinicians’ time is well spent and taxpayer money is spent wisely. This includes better use of technology, how to review prescriptions more effectively, and how to offer alternatives to medicines where they would be more effective. Department of Health and Social Care

First UK manufactured rapid tests deployed across England

First UK manufactured rapid tests deployed across England The first UK-manufactured rapid tests – otherwise known as lateral flow devices or LFDs – are being rolled out to universities across England.

As the government continues to back companies and technologies working to help break chains of COVID-19 transmission, these new tests will bolster efforts to detect asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, and support more than 370 jobs in the Midlands. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: How can missing five million be persuaded to have the jab?

Covid: How can missing five million be persuaded to have the jab? The Covid debate has recently centred on whether teenagers should have the vaccine and when the most vulnerable will receive booster jabs. But a third group is of real concern among scientists and politicians - the five million or so adults yet to have a first dose. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: New allergic reactions to hair dye reported BBC News
• Covid: Immune therapy from llamas shows promise BBC News
• Ivermectin does NOT fight Covid and scientific reviews heaping praise on de-wormer drug are flawed The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Professor Chris Whitty warns almost ALL unjabbed youngsters will get infected The Daily Mail
• Covid may be an occasional trigger of rare Guillain-Barré syndrome The Daily Mail
• Anti-viral drug remdesivir reduces risk of hospitalization in high-risk COVID-19 patients by 87% The Daily Mail
• Covid variant that originated in Japan should be watched closely, expert says The Daily Mail
• Only 20pc of people wearing masks on public transport since July 19 The Daily Telegraph
• State of a Covid nation: why this winter could push the NHS to breaking point The News Statesman 

Is 'the worst cold ever' going around?

Is 'the worst cold ever' going around? You've probably heard a lot more sniffles around if you've gone out recently or got on public transport.

Perhaps there's that one person on the work call who's not muted and starts a coughing fit before a meek: "It's not Covid, I've been tested!"

Or, maybe you've been ill and agree with people saying that what's going around right now is "the worst cold ever." BBC News 

Health service has experienced its 'toughest summer' says NHS England boss

Health service has experienced its 'toughest summer' says NHS England boss The NHS has experienced its toughest summer ever, the head of the health service in England has said as hospitals prepare for the autumn and a likely inevitable winter crisis. The Independent 

No trans under-17s referred for hormone treatment in the last nine months after gender clinic approval

No trans under-17s referred for hormone treatment in the last nine months after gender clinic approval Not a single person under the age of 17 seeking treatment from a hormone specialist through England’s NHS trans youth service from December last year has been referred, i can reveal.

No-one approved for treatment by the Gender and Identity Development Service during the last nine months has been given an appointment with an endocrinologist, who assess and approve puberty blockers and cross-hormones for patients aged up to 17. iNews 

NHS App 'storing facial recognition data with private tech company'

NHS App 'storing facial recognition data with private tech company' The NHS app is reportedly collecting and storing facial recognition data under a contract with a private tech company – sparking concern among privacy campaigners.

Biometric verification company iProov was awarded a contract by NHS Digital in 2019 to manage user verification on the app. Digital Health 

Eight in ten Britons want an 'in-person' GP appointment

Eight in ten Britons want an 'in-person' GP appointment The Daily Mail's campaign to win the right for all patients to have face-to-face care from their family doctor has received a tidal wave of public support.

Some 85 per cent of Britons believe they should be entitled to an 'in-person' appointment with their GP – and not be fobbed off with a remote consultation by phone or video. 

Schools fuelling surge in cases as Kettering overtakes Corby as country's Covid hotspot

Schools fuelling surge in cases as Kettering overtakes Corby as country's Covid hotspot Kettering has overtaken Corby as England's Covid hotspot with positive tests in schools fuelling a surge in cases.

Daily government data released at 4pm on Tuesday September 21 showed 171 out of 597 new positive tests countywide were people living in the former Kettering borough. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• University of Northampton urges new students to use drop-in clinics to get a Covid jab Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid tickets worth £140,000 brought fines of £780 in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Three more reports of drink spiking incidents confirmed in Northampton nightlife venues

Three more reports of drink spiking incidents confirmed in Northampton nightlife venues Three more incidents of drink spiking in Northampton venues have been reported, a police spokeswoman has confirmed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Northampton nightclub working with police over drink-spiking BBC Northampton
• Detective's warning over fears women's drinks were spiked in Northampton nightclub Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Watch traffic CHAOS at Northampton General Hospital on the first day of THREE-MONTH major roadworks in the area

Watch traffic CHAOS at Northampton General Hospital on the first day of THREE-MONTH major roadworks in the area There was traffic CHAOS at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) Monday as the first day of major roadworks in the area began. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Directors of public health and the COVID-19 pandemic

Directors of public health and the COVID-19 pandemic Directors of public health continue to play a critical role in responding to and recovery from COVID-19. It is vital that we learn from their experiences in order to strengthen the role of public health and directors of public health for the longer term. The Health Foundation 

Welfare facilities for healthcare staff

Welfare facilities for healthcare staff This guidance, developed by the NHS Staff Council’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group, aims to support NHS organisations to improve their provision of staff welfare facilities. NHS Employers 

Independent report: National overprescribing review report

Independent report: National overprescribing review report The findings and recommendations of the national overprescribing review led by Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England.

The review sets out a series of practical and cultural changes to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their needs while ensuring clinicians’ time is well spent and taxpayer money is spent wisely. This includes better use of technology, how to review prescriptions more effectively, and how to offer alternatives to medicines where they would be more effective. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Government pledges to reduce overprescribing of medicines Department of Health and Social Care
• College hits back at anti-GP media coverage on prescribing Royal College of General Practitioners
• We welcome review into overprescribing Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Overprescribing of medicines must stop, says government BBC News
• Government review finds 10% of drugs dispensed in England are pointless The Guardian
• Ministers to crack down on overprescription of medicines on the NHS The Independent

New strategy launched to improve patient safety through digital technology

New strategy launched to improve patient safety through digital technology NHSX in collaboration with NHS Digital and NHS England and NHS Improvement, has published the first ever Digital Clinical Safety Strategy to help the NHS provide a safer service for patients.

NHSX’s new strategy, builds on the national NHS Patient Safety Strategy. It sets out a clear vision and recommendations to make care safer for patients, use digital to improve safety and expand staff access to digital safety.

See also: 

• Digital Clinical Safety Strategy NHSX
• Speech: Using the power of technology to make the world a safer and healthier place Department of Health and Social Care
• Digital Clinical Safety Strategy adds to NHS patient safety plan Computer Weekly
• First of its kind strategy to ‘mainstream’ digital clinical safety Digital Health
• NHSX launches strategy to improve patient safety through digital technology Healthcare IT News

Severe mental illness: inequalities in cancer screening uptake

Severe mental illness: inequalities in cancer screening uptake This report presents analysis of differences in the uptake of bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening in England between people with and without severe mental illness (SMI).

Based on a large sample of primary care data, the report is part 1 of an assessment of SMI and cancer screening. It is also part of a larger ongoing exploration into the causes of high premature mortality among adults with SMI. Public Health England

New NHS clinical leadership to support post-COVID challenges

New NHS clinical leadership to support post-COVID challenges Leading clinicians from across the health service have been appointed to new national clinical roles to help lead action on post-COVID challenges facing patients and staff.

The five new clinical leads – covering urgent and emergency care, elective care and long COVID – will provide expert advice to the NHS Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis, and to the programme teams working to support local NHS teams improve services for patients in these areas. NHS England 

Long NHS waiting lists have led to a dangerous explosion in opiate use

Long NHS waiting lists have led to a dangerous explosion in opiate use A hidden and worrying aspect of the rapid growth in NHS waiting lists is the 40 per cent rise in use of drugs like tramadol, codeine and dihydrocodeine compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Researchers uncovered this startling increase in patients waiting for hip and knee operations. This type of surgery is a useful barometer as these are the most common surgical procedures carried out in the NHS, although much of this bread and butter work is subcontracted to private health providers. The Independent

Britain's daily Covid cases rise again by nearly a fifth in a week and deaths climb 10%

Britain's daily Covid cases rise again by nearly a fifth in a week and deaths climb 10% Department of Health bosses posted 31,564 new coronavirus infections today, up 18.5 per cent on the 26,628 recorded last Tuesday. Cases had been falling for the nine days prior to Saturday. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid vaccine: India to resume vaccine exports from October BBC News
• Covid vaccine stockpiles: Are 241m doses at risk of going to waste? BBC News
• Covid was the THIRD leading cause of death in England last month The Daily Mail
• Tories slam No10 over 'perverse' move to give over-12s Covid vaccines The Daily Mail
• Fix ‘grotesque’ vaccine inequity, campaigners tell world leaders The Independent

Number of parents using surrogates in England and Wales has quadrupled in a decade

Number of parents using surrogates in England and Wales has quadrupled in a decade Almost four times as many parents in England and Wales are using surrogates now compared to a decade ago, it was revealed today.  

A report by Kent University found there were 413 babies born to surrogate mothers last year, compared to just 117 in 2011. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Surrogacy on the rise in England and Wales BBC News

More people seek mental health support in Northamptonshire

More people seek mental health support in Northamptonshire More people were using NHS mental health services across Northamptonshire in July than at the same point last summer, figures show. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Green shoots: creating the conditions for health care innovation to flourish

Green shoots: creating the conditions for health care innovation to flourish During the hard days of the pandemic, many people have found it restorative to look for ‘green shoots’ in their surroundings, both literal and more metaphorical. In the context of health, we might see such green shoots in the impressive COVID-19 vaccination programme and the discovery of innovative ways to provide high-quality care – the rapid rollout of the COVID Oximetry @home and COVID virtual ward programmes, for example. These are just some of many green shoots that provide hope for the future amid the devastating impact of COVID-19 on lives and livelihoods. The Health Foundation 

National survey of malnutrition and nutritional care in adults

National survey of malnutrition and nutritional care in adults This report outlines the findings of a survey that aimed to take the temperature on the status of nutritional care across all health and social care settings in the UK. The survey found that 40 per cent of patients were at risk of malnutrition but also that the majority of patients had a nutritional care plan in place, particularly for those who were at medium or high-risk of malnutrition. British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) 

Action to ensure all women receive safe, effective, and personalised maternity care must be prioritised to prevent future tragedies

Action to ensure all women receive safe, effective, and personalised maternity care must be prioritised to prevent future tragedies A new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlights continued concern about the variation in the quality and safety of England’s maternity services - prompting the regulator to call for improvements to be prioritised to ensure safer care for all mothers and babies.

See also:

• Troubled maternity wards still jeopardising patients, watchdog warns The Guardian 
• Revealed: Unsafe maternity care has cost the NHS £8.2bn in 15 years The Independent

Folic acid to be added to flour to prevent spinal conditions in babies

Folic acid to be added to flour to prevent spinal conditions in babies Folic acid will be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour across the UK to help prevent life-threatening spinal conditions in babies, the government and devolved administrations announced. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid vaccination begins for UK 12 to 15 year olds

Covid vaccination begins for UK 12 to 15 year olds The rollout of Covid vaccines to health 12 to 15-year-olds has begun in England and Scotland.

Invites are also being sent out in Wales this week, while in Northern Ireland the teen vaccinations are likely to be offered from October.

It is part of the drive to get more people protected ahead of winter as the pandemic continues. BBC News

 

See also: 

• Pfizer/BioNTech jab safe for children aged five to 11 BBC News
• Why we need to get Covid booster jabs... but other vaccines last a lifetime The Daily Mail
• Is this the first sign of the back to school wave? UK's daily Covid cases jump by 17% in a week The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson refuses to rule out Christmas Covid disruption The Guardian

Children face 'agonising' waits for mental health care

Children face 'agonising' waits for mental health care Children struggling with mental health problems during the pandemic are facing "agonisingly" long waits for treatment, a BBC investigation has found.

Data from half of England's specialist child mental health services found one in five youngsters seen since Covid hit waited longer than 12 weeks for care.

The numbers still waiting also appear to be rising sharply. BBC News 

Early baby therapy could reduce autism diagnoses

Early baby therapy could reduce autism diagnoses Training parents how to respond to babies showing early signs of autism could reduce by two-thirds the number of three-year-olds meeting the criteria for diagnosis, a small study suggests.

Improvement on this scale has never been shown before, the UK and Australian researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis (open access) JAMA Pediatrics

Young cancer patients in UK face ‘inequality of fertility provision’

Young cancer patients in UK face ‘inequality of fertility provision’ Children and young people with cancer face a postcode lottery for services to preserve their fertility, a damning report has revealed.

Treatments for childhood cancer have improved dramatically over the past 50 years, and more than 80% of patients will live for decades. However, one in five are likely to experience fertility problems as adults as a result of the disease or treatment. The Guardian

See also: 

• Inconsistencies in fertility preservation for young people with cancer in the UK (open access) Archives of Disease in Childhood

Use of 10p statins in organ donation ‘could save thousands of lives’

Use of 10p statins in organ donation ‘could save thousands of lives’ Exclusive: NHS launching large trial of approach that could boost number of transplants and their success rate

Thousands of lives could be saved globally by giving patients a 10p statin before transplants, doctors have said, as the NHS launches the world’s largest clinical trial in organ donors. The Guardian 

Northampton General's new Paediatric Emergency Department gets the royal treatment

Northampton General's new Paediatric Emergency Department gets the royal treatment The Princess Royal has officially opened Northampton General Hospital's new Paediatric Emergency Department.

Before visiting the new £2.9m new facility, Princess Anne met senior hospital leaders, clinicians and volunteers who had been part of the county’s Covid-19 response. ITV News

See also:

• Princess Anne opens Northampton General Hospital's new £2.9 million paedriatic emergency department Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• IN PICTURES: Princess Anne's visit to Northampton in September 2021 Northamptonshire Telegraph

Blood test delays in Northamptonshire as tube shortages continue to blight NHS

Blood test delays in Northamptonshire as tube shortages continue to blight NHS More blood tests are being rescheduled at Northampton and Kettering Hospitals as a shortage in equipment continues.

A shortage in blood tubes, which is forcing a reduction in tests across the UK, have been felt throughout the NHS for several weeks. Northants Live

Inside a GP surgery: 'There is not enough time or space in the day'

Inside a GP surgery: 'There is not enough time or space in the day' Not only has the Covid pandemic put GP surgeries across England under immense pressure, it has also caused significant backlogs of work they are now trying to clear. The BBC has spent the morning inside one NHS practice to hear how staff and patients are coping.

The Harborough Field Surgery near Rushden, Northamptonshire, has nearly 13,000 patients on its roll. BBC Northampton

Making maternity services safer: nurturing a positive culture

Making maternity services safer: nurturing a positive culture According to this report, poor working cultures must be tackled if UK maternity services are to be made safer. It describes how a positive working environment is needed, where multi-disciplinary teams work and train together and are better equipped to deliver good quality, safe care for women and families. Royal College of Midwives

Research: Health Profile for England: 2021

Research: Health Profile for England: 2021 The fourth annual profile combining data and knowledge with information from other sources to give a broad picture of the health of people in England in 2021. Public Health England

Barriers to wellbeing: migration and vulnerability during the pandemic

Barriers to wellbeing: migration and vulnerability during the pandemic This report reveals that refugees, asylum seekers and migrants reported higher levels of bad health and inadequate housing during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as difficulties registering with a GP and accessing remote health care services, suggesting significant unmet health care needs. Doctors of the World

Drawing light from the pandemic: a new strategy for health and sustainable development

Drawing light from the pandemic: a new strategy for health and sustainable development Over the past year, members of the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development have reflected on what worked and, more often, what did not work in the Covid-19 response and in previous crises. This report makes a series of recommendations with the aim of achieving seven key objectives to prevent a catastrophe on the same scale from happening again. World Health Organization 

Public spending during the Covid-19 pandemic

Public spending during the Covid-19 pandemic This briefing looks at the very high level of UK public spending on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, including how the money was spent and where it came from. House of Commons Library

Thousands of patients to benefit from life-saving COVID-19 treatment

Thousands of patients to benefit from life-saving COVID-19 treatment Thousands of vulnerable NHS patients in hospital due to COVID-19 are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new antibody treatment, the government has announced. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research: DHSC and ONS: Direct and Indirect health impacts of COVID-19 in England - long paper, 9 September 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: The hidden costs of COVID-19: the social backlog Department of Health and Social Care
• New system for international travel Department of Health and Social Care
• Over one million invited for COVID booster jabs this week NHS England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England

Ronapreve: 'Most vulnerable' to get new Covid drug

Ronapreve: 'Most vulnerable' to get new Covid drug The UK's "most vulnerable" hospital patients, who are unable to build up an antibody response to Covid, will be offered new drug Ronapreve from Monday.

The new Covid treatment, approved just last month, uses a pair of laboratory-made antibodies to attack the virus. BBC News

See also:

• First Covid booster jabs given to NHS staff BBC News
• Covid calculator spots people vulnerable despite jabs BBC News
• Sajid Javid: 'We need to avoid unsustainable pressure on the NHS' BBC News
• Covid: Vaccine volunteers sought for children's second dose study BBC News
• Long Covid less common than feared - ONS study BBC News
• People with Down's syndrome are most at risk of death after having two Covid vaccines, study finds The Daily Mail
• Covid Delta variant 'will hunt down anyone who's not had jab', scientific advisers warn No 10 The Daily Mail
• NHS aims to deliver over 1m daily Covid and flu jabs in race against time The Guardian
• No 10 accused of sidelining behaviour experts on latest Covid measures The Guardian

Folic acid to be added to UK flour to help prevent birth defects

Folic acid to be added to UK flour to help prevent birth defects Folic acid is to be added to UK flour to help prevent spinal birth defects in babies, the government will announce.

Women are advised to take the B vitamin - which can guard against spina bifida in unborn babies - before and during pregnancy, but many do not.

It is thought that adding folic acid to flour could prevent up to 200 birth defects a year. BBC News

Sickle cell: 'Did our son have to die to change things?'

Sickle cell: 'Did our son have to die to change things?' Sickle cell disease is the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK but some feel the illness, which mostly affects black people, isn't taken seriously.

Nurse Gildé Nsianguana has the condition and has interviewed the parents of Evan Nathan Smith for Radio 1 Newsbeat.

After being denied oxygen, Evan called 999 from his hospital bed but died shortly after. An inquest found that if hospital workers had a better understanding of the condition his life might have been saved. BBC News

Culture of bullying and racial discrimination found at NHS trust

Culture of bullying and racial discrimination found at NHS trust A culture of bullying and racial discrimination has been found at a hospital trust, according to an inspection report.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said there was a bullying culture across Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust, with many staff too frightened to speak up.

The trust has been told it requires improvement as a result of the report. BBC News

Operations at risk from CO2 shortages unless ministers 'prioritise NHS', hospitals chief warns

Operations at risk from CO2 shortages unless ministers 'prioritise NHS', hospitals chief warns NHS surgery is at risk from the gas shortages unless ministers make it their top priority, a health service leader is warning.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in some operations, as well as to freeze meat and in the brewing and nuclear power industries – potentially putting the NHS in the firing line if shortages worsen. The Independent

Appeal court overturns UK puberty blockers ruling for under-16s

Appeal court overturns UK puberty blockers ruling for under-16s The court of appeal has overturned a controversial judgment that children under the age of 16 considering gender reassignment are unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs. The Guardian

See also:

• Puberty blockers: Court of Appeal rules under-16s can use gender reassignment aid as NHS trust wins case iNews

Most NHS staff vote to oppose 3% pay rise as union warns workers ‘fed up’

Most NHS staff vote to oppose 3% pay rise as union warns workers ‘fed up’ NHS staff have voted overwhelmingly to oppose the government’s 3% pay rise as Britain’s biggest health union warned thousands of workers are “fed up of being taken for granted”.

Publishing the results of a consultation exercise that ran over the summer, Unison said the majority (80%) of health staff were not happy with the pay increase and want to challenge the government. Only one in five (20%) found it acceptable. The Guardian

See also: 

• UNISON health members deliver damning verdict on government’s 3% increase UNISON

Growing toll of illnesses missed by 'remote' doctors fuels concerns over healthcare appointments

Growing toll of illnesses missed by 'remote' doctors fuels concerns over healthcare appointments Family doctors must carry out more appointments face to face, the Daily Mail demands today.

A string of deaths has heightened fears that cancers and other illnesses are being missed because of the rise of phone and video consultations.

Before the pandemic around 80 per cent of GP appointments were in person. But the figure was just 57 per cent in July despite life returning to normal.

See also:

• GPs and patients are ‘on the same side’ over face to face appointments – but chronic GP shortages make it hard to guarantee safe care, says College Royal College of General Practitioners
• Media depiction of virtual appointments irresponsible and causing unnecessary concern, warns College Royal College of General Practitioners
• Pandemic caused a plunge in numbers who saw a GP and this year is set to be worse than last The Daily Mail
• Backbone of the NHS... so why DO so many GPs avoid patients? The Daily Mail
• Dr ARUN GHOSH: Why it's crucial we save this life-saving human touch The Daily Mail
• DR MAX PEMBERTON: GPs who won't see patients are hurting the NHS The Daily Mail

Our blog will be taking a short break...

Due to annual leave the health news blog will be taking a short break. 

We'll be back on Monday the 20th of September.

Don't forget you can also follow us on Twitter for more health related updates.

Covid-19: Clubbers urged to get tested in Corby as rate rise

Covid-19: Clubbers urged to get tested in Corby as rate rise People going to nightclubs in the area with the highest Covid case rate in England have been urged to take regular lateral flow test to curb infections.

Corby, in Northamptonshire, had 623 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 4 September, a 23% week-on-week rise.

Health officials said the increase might also be partly caused by some Corby schools returning in mid-August. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Covid-19 testing site at University of Northampton to permanently close this weekend Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• NHS ‘will be at breaking point by November’ without masks and social distancing Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northampton man accused of wasting police time for lying about positive Covid-19 test Northamptonshire Telegraph

Between 275 and 279 people in Northamptonshire died while waiting for social care in last three years

Between 275 and 279 people in Northamptonshire died while waiting for social care in last three years Between 275 and 279 people in Northamptonshire died while waiting for social care over the last three years, analysis of NHS data has revealed.

The figure, found by sister site NationalWorld, is made up of those who applied for adult social services from their local council between April 2017 and March 2020 died before they received any support. Northampton Chronicle and Echo