More than 400 patients are being treated for Covid in Northamptonshire's hospitals

More than 400 patients are being treated for Covid in Northamptonshire's hospitals Numbers of Covid-19 patients being admitted to Northamptonshire's two main hospitals has nearly DOUBLED in just 2 and a half weeks since Christmas.

Officials today (Tuesday) revealed 401 coronavirus-positive patients are now being treated in Northampton and Kettering — an increase of 59 since Thursday and 188 on December 25. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• 'Currently no issues' over oxygen levels at Northampton and Kettering General despite Covid stress Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Thousands of coronavirus vaccinations given to patients at GP surgeries' mass clinics across Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Weston Favell Shopping Centre speaks out after seeing a 'high rate' of shoppers ignoring lockdown rules Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• ‘Disrespectful’ anti-vax graffiti found on wall art created to celebrate key workers in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Fake NHS Covid vaccine scam texts are being sent - how to spot them Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Covid-19 poster defaced with 'white lives matter' graffiti outside Northamptonshire infant school Northamptonshire Telegraph

‘Older people won’t be forgotten’: New Northampton day service to combat loneliness is in 'high demand'

‘Older people won’t be forgotten’: New Northampton day service to combat loneliness is in 'high demand' A new day service for older people has proven popular in its first month-and-a-half as clients have said it is ‘everything’ to them.

The service, based at St Luke’s Community Centre in Duston, has more than 50 places filled each week, predominantly supporting clients in their 80s and 90s, by offering nutritious food, friendship and activities. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Staff shortages left the NHS vulnerable to the COVID-19 storm

Staff shortages left the NHS vulnerable to the COVID-19 storm The NHS has been a source of national pride and gratitude throughout the pandemic as health care workers have risked their own lives to care for others in extraordinary ways. But systemic weaknesses in the health service are making it hard for the UK to cope with the latest surge of COVID-19 patients. The very real risk of the NHS being overwhelmed has now led to a third lockdown. The Health Foundation 

The NHS estate backlog grows again

The NHS estate backlog grows again Annual data on the NHS estate is surprisingly fascinating. For example, NHS Digital’s latest estates publication tells us that two NHS hospitals still use coal-fired boilers; the occupied floor area of Addenbrooke’s Hospital would cover 58 football pitches; and Barts Health NHS Trust spent £13.9 million on inpatient food in 2019/20. The King's Fund 

Modern ward rounds: good practice for multidisciplinary inpatient review

Modern ward rounds: good practice for multidisciplinary inpatient review This report (produced together with the Royal College of Nursing, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and NHS England, and developed along with patients) sets out best practice for modern ward rounds. It brings together the good practice currently being delivered in the NHS and enables clinical teams to self-assess against this and identify priorities for improvement. Royal College of Physicians 

Clinical practice guide for improving the management of adult Covid-19 patients in secondary care

Clinical practice guide for improving the management of adult Covid-19 patients in secondary care Drawing on the GIRFT programme’s data-driven methodology and the wealth of experience of its national clinical leads, the guide covers infection prevention and control, emergency medicine, critical care, anaesthesia, acute and general medicine, respiratory medicine, diabetes care, and geriatric medicine and community care, as well as looking at cross-cutting themes such as trust leadership and management, research and clinical coding. Getting It Right First Time 

The world of health and social care is changing — so are we

The world of health and social care is changing — so are we The CQC's draft strategic plan for the next five years is open for public consultation. It aims to make regulation more relevant, working with health and care services to find solutions to problems and improve outcomes for everyone. The CQC also wants to be more flexible to help manage risk and uncertainty. The consultation closes on 4 March 2021. Care Quality Commission

Landmark reform of mental health laws

Landmark reform of mental health laws People with mental health issues who are detained under the Mental Health Act will benefit from landmark reforms which provide more control over their care and treatment, the government has announced today.

A package of reforms has been set out in a wide-ranging new Reforming the Mental Health Act white paper, which builds on the recommendations made by Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act in 2018. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• 'Discriminatory' mental health system overhauled BBC News

Covid: Large trial of new treatment begins in UK

Covid: Large trial of new treatment begins in UK A large-scale trial of a new treatment it is hoped will help stop Covid-19 patients from developing severe illness has begun in the UK.

The first patient received the treatment at Hull Royal Infirmary on Tuesday afternoon.

It involves inhaling a protein called interferon beta which the body produces when it gets a viral infection. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: 2020 saw most excess deaths since World War Two BBC News
• Covid: NHS doctor 'receives 20 to 30 abusive messages a day' BBC News
• Long Covid: Virus 'like Russian roulette' for young and healthy BBC News
• Covid: Play your part in fight against virus, says Patel BBC News
• Covid UK: Boots and Superdrug won't start vaccinations til THURSDAY The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: ALL over-50s to get vaccinated by MAY, says government The Daily Mail
• Covid is now behind a THIRD of all deaths in England and Wales The Daily Mail
• Rapid lateral flow Covid tests No10 is using are too inaccurate, scientist warns The Daily Mail
• Thousands of patients sent to hotels to free hospital beds for Covid The Daily Telegraph
• Vaccine supply is what is holding back jabs programme, says Matt Hancock The Guardian
• Covid: vaccinating our way out of a crisis – podcast The Guardian
• 2020 was deadliest year in a century in England and Wales, says ONS The Guardian
• Patel says Covid rules 'tough enough' despite another 1,243 deaths The Guardian
• Coronavirus poses ‘very real’ risk to life, say public health officials after anti-vax leaflets distributed in London The Independent
• COVID-19: New cases may be running at 250,000 a day, and pressure on NHS 'won't start easing until March'  Sky News

Nearly half of NHS critical care staff report PTSD, depression or anxiety

Nearly half of NHS critical care staff report PTSD, depression or anxiety Nearly half of intensive care staff reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression or anxiety, according to research that led experts to say NHS workers are “suffering more than combat troops”.

The findings, based on responses from 709 doctors, nurses and other clinical roles across six NHS hospitals in England, date from June and July 2020, after the height of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. About 45% reported symptoms consistent with a probable diagnosis of PTSD, severe depression and anxiety. The Guardian

See also:

• Mental health of staff working in intensive care during COVID-19 (open access) Occupational Medicine
• Covid: Many NHS staff 'traumatised' by first wave of virus, study shows BBC News
• Mental health of NHS staff placed under further strain as Covid hospitalisations continue to rise The Independent

New training for NHS maternity staff to boost babies safety

New training for NHS maternity staff to boost babies safety Hundreds of senior midwives are to be given new training to help improve culture and leadership across 126 NHS trusts.

Patient safety minister Nadine Dorries said a new £500,000 maternity leadership programme would be rolled out later this year aimed at giving senior staff running maternity wards the skills and knowledge they need to boost culture and safety. The Independent

See also:

• New NHS maternity leadership training to address Ockenden Review recommendations Department of Health and Social Care