Hospital boss' emotional plea after 117 coronavirus deaths since Christmas in Northamptonshire

Hospital boss' emotional plea after 117 coronavirus deaths since Christmas in Northamptonshire The boss of one of Northamptonshire's two main hospitals issued an emotional plea after NHS England revealed 75 coronavirus deaths in the county already during 2021.

Today's official bulletin added 19 to the sobering toll — 11 at Northampton General Hospital and eight at Kettering General — between January 8 and January 12. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Corby: Task force to probe town's 'concerning' Covid rate BBC Northampton
• Warning to residents after pensioner offered coronavirus vaccination by stranger in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton Aldi customer 'shocked and appalled' by number of customers and staff not wearing masks properly Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'A living nightmare': the sobering reality of life inside KGH's intensive care unit Northamptonshire Telegraph
• All England care home residents and staff will get Covid jab within next 10 days ‘at the latest’ Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHFT to hold a free online mental health event to support those struggling in Northamptonshire

NHFT to hold a free online mental health event to support those struggling in Northamptonshire The Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is holding a free online event on Monday January 18 from 2pm to 4pm to provide wellbeing advice and mental health support to those struggling across the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northampton and Kettering General suspend home birth service under Covid pressures

Northampton and Kettering General suspend home birth service under Covid pressures Both of Northamptonshire's general hospitals have suspended their home birth services.

Northampton and Kettering General will be unable to send midwifery teams into the community for expecting mothers. It is not known when the service will resume. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Brexit and the end of the transition period: what does it mean for the health and care system?

Brexit and the end of the transition period: what does it mean for the health and care system? On Christmas Eve 2020 a new EU-UK trade and co-operation deal was agreed. This long read sets out the key changes for the health and care system and what their immediate, as well as potential long-term, implications might be. The King's Fund 

To solitude: Learning from other countries on how to improve compliance with self-isolation

To solitude: Learning from other countries on how to improve compliance with self-isolation The Covid-19 vaccination campaign brings much hope, but it’s clear that for the foreseeable future we also very much need to control transmission. One key way to do so is effective self-isolation, but data suggests that adherence in the UK with self-isolation rules is low. Sarah Reed and Billy Palmer look at the possible lessons from abroad on how to improve compliance. Nuffield Trust 

Investigation into the housing of rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Investigation into the housing of rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic The National Audit Office (NAO) reports that through its ‘Everyone In’ campaign, the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (the Department) swiftly provided emergency housing for rough sleepers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the response raised issues that need to be addressed if government is to achieve its goal of ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament.

We must bring the Mental Health Act into the 21st century

We must bring the Mental Health Act into the 21st century The Health and Social Care Secretary spoke to Parliament about the publication of the Mental Health Act white paper. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Open consultation: Reforming the Mental Health Act Department of Health and Social Care
• Open consultation: Changes that the government wants to make to a law called the Mental Health Act (easy read) Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine roll-out

Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine roll-out This research briefing addresses commonly asked questions about the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine. It includes links to resources and guidance on the Covid-19 vaccine programme published by Public Health England, the NHS and other health bodies. House of Commons Library

Past COVID-19 infection provides some immunity but people may still carry and transmit virus

Past COVID-19 infection provides some immunity but people may still carry and transmit virus People infected with COVID-19 in the past are likely to be protected against reinfection for several months, a Public Health England (PHE) study has found, although experts cautioned those with immunity may still be able carry the virus in their nose and throat and therefore have a risk of transmitting to others. 

See also:

• Policy paper: UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Public Health England

Covid-19: Packed hospitals raised death risk by 20%

Covid-19: Packed hospitals raised death risk by 20%  Covid-19 patients in England's busiest intensive care units in 2020 were 20% more likely to die, University College London research has found.

The increased risk was equivalent to gaining a decade in age.

By the end of 2020, one in three hospital trusts in England was running at higher than 85% capacity. BBC News

See also:

• A national retrospective cohort study of mechanical ventilator availability and its association with mortality risk in intensive care patients with COVID-19 (open access preprint) MedRxiv
• Past Covid-19 infection may provide 'months of immunity'
• Johnson: 24-7 Covid-vaccine hubs as soon as supply allows BBC News
• Covid-19: High Street chemists start vaccinations in England BBC News
• Covid: UK reports record 1,564 daily deaths BBC News
• Covid-19: 'More needs to be done to support people shielding' BBC News
• No10 vows to trial 24/7 Covid jabs as GPs in parts of the UK are having to PAUSE vaccinations The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: 12-week vaccine dose gap could be widened further The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: AstraZeneca says it can deliver 2m vaccine doses a week The Daily Mail
• Mass trial of repurposed MS drug for Covid begins at hospital in Hull The Daily Mail
• Covid hoaxer who falsely claimed NHS beds were empty fined £200 The Daily Mail
• No benefit in masks outside or 'three-metre rule', says Jonathan Van-Tam The Daily Telegraph
• Mixing of COVID-19 vaccines 'extremely unlikely', NHS England tells MPs GPonline
• GPs in England say inconsistent supply of Covid vaccine causing roll out issues The Guardian
• Outrage as people in Coventry offered Covid jab over 100 miles away The Guardian
• 'A huge loss': tributes to victims of the UK's Covid second wave The Guardian
• AstraZeneca ‘imminently’ scaling up to 2 million vaccine doses per week The Independent

More women than realised suffer pain from being conscious during caesareans, study finds

More women than realised suffer pain from being conscious during caesareans, study finds More women may suffer pain due to being conscious while undergoing caesareans or other pregnancy-related surgery under general anaesthetic than realised, a troubling new study has found. The Independent

See also:

• Incidence of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia in obstetrics: a multicentre, prospective cohort study (open access) Anaesthesia