NHS England confirms 17 more coronavirus deaths at Northamptonshire hospitals

NHS England confirms 17 more coronavirus deaths at Northamptonshire hospitals NHS England today confirmed 17 more coronavirus deaths since Friday at Northamptonshire's hospitals with the sobering total heading towards 1,200. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19 in the East of England: Your questions answered BBC News
• KGH children's ward moves to temporary home as Skylark becomes Covid ward Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Pfizer Covid vaccine could increase antibodies up to 20 times - and may stop transmission Northamptonshire Telegraph

Political leaders consider lobbying for new hospital for Northampton

Political leaders consider lobbying for new hospital for Northampton The leaders of both main political parties in Northampton have said they want to lobby for a new ‘additional’ hospital for the town. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Never Events: analysis of HSIB’s national investigations

Never Events: analysis of HSIB’s national investigations This national learning report examines the findings of the investigations previously carried out by HSIB concerning incidents classified as 'never events'. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Safety watchdog says NHS ‘never event’ mistakes are not yet truly preventable The Independent

Health on the high street

Health on the high street This report argues that town centres where shops and offices fall vacant should be used to establish new “health hubs” combining GP surgeries, health and social care services and gyms. The report profiles examples where local authorities and healthcare bodies are already developing such hubs, which it suggested could be a model for other areas in future. Social Market Foundation 

NHS Discharge Medicines Service – essential service: toolkit for pharmacy staff in community, primary and secondary care

NHS Discharge Medicines Service – essential service: toolkit for pharmacy staff in community, primary and secondary care This toolkit supports cross-sector implementation of the NHS Discharge Medicines Service as an essential service in all NHS community pharmacies in England. NHS England 

Guidance on return to work for people with long COVID

Guidance on return to work for people with long COVID The Faculty of Occupational Medicine has published guidance for healthcare professionals to assist them in facilitating the return to work of people who are unable to work due to long COVID. 

Asymptomatic testing to be rolled out across the country starting this week

Asymptomatic testing to be rolled out across the country starting this week Community testing offer to be expanded across all local authorities in England to test people without symptoms. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: January 2021 interim results Department of Health and Social Care
• January 2021 findings from COVID-19 study published Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: 'No evidence' virus levels decreasing in England

Covid: 'No evidence' virus levels decreasing in England Scientists tracking the spread of coronavirus in England say infection levels in the community may have risen at the start of the latest lockdown.

Infections in 6-15 January were up by 50% on early December, with one in 63 people infected, Imperial College London's initial findings suggest.

Swab tests from 143,000 people indicate 1.58% had the virus during in early January - up from 0.91% in December. BBC News

See also:

• 21 January - REACT-1 round 8 interim report: SARS-CoV-2 prevalence during the initial stages of the third national lockdown in England Imperial College London
• Covid: Israel vaccine fears 'out of context and inaccurate' BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Vallance says masks may be needed outdoors on crowded streets and in markets The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Daily death rate hits 1,820 peak though infections fall The Daily Mail
• Super-infectious Kent Covid strain has spread to at least 60 countries The Daily Mail
• Two NHS trusts in the Midlands 'will start rolling out 24/7 Covid vaccines from TOMORROW' The Daily Mail
• Lateral flow tests 'could be used to detect most infectious Covid cases' The Daily Telegraph
• Priti Patel says she wanted UK borders shut last March The Guardian
• Just over half of British Indians would get Covid vaccine, survey shows The Independent
• Coronavirus: Vaccinators could lose their licences for giving second doses prematurely The Independent

Neil Greenberg: hospitals must give staff better 'psychological PPE'

Neil Greenberg: hospitals must give staff better 'psychological PPE' The consultant psychologist and trauma specialist on how NHS staff have been damaged by the battle against Covid and need more support.

Listening to Prof Neil Greenberg, consultant occupational psychologist and forensic psychiatrist at King’s College London, you might think he is describing the psychological conditions of a war zone, not the NHS in 2021. The Guardian 

Mental healthcare needs an overhaul, and legislative tinkering is not enough | Dan Poulter

Mental healthcare needs an overhaul, and legislative tinkering is not enough | Dan Poulter Reform of the Mental Health Act will make little tangible difference. As a psychiatrist, I know what the real challenges are. The Guardian 

Rheumatoid arthritis: thousands set to benefit from drug after NHS approval - iNews

Rheumatoid arthritis: thousands set to benefit from drug after NHS approval Thousands of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are set to benefit from a drug that has been approved for NHS use which could halt the disease before it is too late and irreversible damage is done. iNews