Covid-19: Corby rules crackdown making 'inroads' into highest rate in England

Covid-19: Corby rules crackdown making 'inroads' into highest rate in England Cracking down on coronavirus rule breaches has made "inroads" in the area with the highest Covid-19 rate in England, public health officials said.

Corby in Northamptonshire had a rate of 329.6 cases per 100,00 people in the week to 18 February, down 5% in a week.

But officials said its rate - more than double the national rate of 122.4 cases per 100,00 people - was a "concern". BBC Northampton 

See also:

• Two new Covid testing centres opening up in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• DJ Jo Whiley's sister says 'huge thank you' to those who helped her after fighting Covid in Northampton hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• REVEALED: First Northampton neighbourhood to be considered Covid-free according to the Government's map Northamptonshire Telegraph

Cost of living and the impact on nursing labour outcomes in NHS acute trusts

Cost of living and the impact on nursing labour outcomes in NHS acute trusts Retention of nursing staff within the NHS is a key policy issue. Pay policy – and the ability that trusts and nurses have to react to local working conditions and the cost of living – is likely to be a key lever in reducing attrition among current staff. Understanding the restrictions that the current system places on trusts in the face of local cost-of-living changes, and the responses of staff to the decisions made by these trusts, is therefore important in improving staff retention.

This report examines the effect that variation in the cost of living has on the labour supply of existing nurses in NHS acute trusts.  Institute for Fiscal Studies

A good practice guide to support implementation of trauma-informed care in the perinatal period

A good practice guide to support implementation of trauma-informed care in the perinatal period This guide aims to help staff and services understand the impact of psychological trauma on women in the perinatal period and respond in a sensitive and compassionate way. It aims to support staff to ensure they ‘do no harm’ through care delivery that, without thought or intention, could retraumatise individuals. Centre for Early Child Development 

Looking ahead 2021: reset, partnerships, recovery

Looking ahead 2021: reset, partnerships, recovery This report investigates the emerging trends and policy that will come to fruition in 2021 and that will transform the NHS landscape. Integration, collaboration, digital transformation, out of-hospital care and homecare are now widely-used concepts. The report explores how they will transform systems in 2021 and what these developments mean for industry. Free registration is required to download the report. Wilmington Healthcare 

Vaping better than nicotine replacement therapy for stopping smoking, evidence suggests

Vaping better than nicotine replacement therapy for stopping smoking, evidence suggests As number of vapers in England plateaus, incorrect perceptions of its relative risks compared to smoking may be discouraging smokers from using vaping to quit. Public Health England 

Women to trial 'do-it-at-home' smear tests for NHS

Women to trial 'do-it-at-home' smear tests for NHS About 31,000 women in London are being offered "do-it-at-home" tests to check for early warnings of cervical cancer, as part of an NHS trial.

It could be a way to encourage more women to get screened, experts hope.

Embarrassment, cultural barriers and worries about Covid, along with many other factors, can stop women going for smear tests at a clinic or GP surgery. BBC News 

One million high-grade NHS masks withdrawn over safety concerns

One million high-grade NHS masks withdrawn over safety concerns A million high-grade masks used in the NHS may not meet the right safety standards and have been withdrawn.

The Department of Health told the BBC there are 1.12 million of these masks either in use or in hospital stores and has told staff to stop using them.

Distribution of some gloves has also been suspended because they may not meet technical requirements. BBC News 

See also:

• Hancock criticised for claim there was never a national PPE shortage The Guardian
• The billions spent by the UK government on fighting Covid need proper scrutiny The Guardian

Number of UK Covid vaccinations falls by a third as vaccine supply dips

Number of UK Covid vaccinations falls by a third as vaccine supply dips The number of Covid vaccines administered in the UK has fallen by over a third in the last week as ministers warned of a short-term dip in supply coupled with stockpiling to ensure people get second doses within the recommended 12-week limit.

The latest data showed 192,341 people received a first jab on Monday, the second-lowest daily total since 17 January – taking the number of people in Britain who have had an initial Covid vaccination to 17.9 million. The Guardian 

See also:

• Born in Lockdown: Mothers' stories of giving birth in 2020 BBC News
• Covid lockdown England: SAGE warned of 91,000 deaths if restrictions were scrapped at Easter The Daily Mail
• Daily Covid deaths fall 1,235 lowest levels since before holidays hospital numbers drop to 55,403 The Daily Mail
• UK thinktank calls for door-to-door Covid jabs to tackle vaccine disparities The Guardian
• Four key questions on a Covid certification scheme in England The Guardian
• NHS Covid app could be used to prove status and access venues in England The Guardian
• Boris Johnson 'very optimistic' all Covid restrictions will end on 21 June The Guardian
• UK still at risk from new Covid wave despite vaccines, warns Sir Patrick Vallance The Independent 

Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus

Not a single case of flu detected by Public Health England this year as Covid restrictions suppress virus Not a single case of influenza has been detected by public health officials in England for the past seven weeks, with infection rates at historic lows amid the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The social restrictions brought in to curb transmission of coronavirus, combined with increased uptake of the flu vaccine, have both been credited with driving down infections. The Independent

Digital Health Unplugged: Looking at the roles of NHSX and NHS Digital

Digital Health Unplugged: Looking at the roles of NHSX and NHS Digital The latest edition of Digital Health Unplugged delves into the roles of NHSX and NHS Digital and who should be taking the lead when it comes to NHS IT.