More than 500 Covid deaths in Northamptonshire during first two months of 2021, according to official data

More than 500 Covid deaths in Northamptonshire during first two months of 2021, according to official data Official data indicates more than 500 people sadly died with Covid-19 in Northamptonshire during the first two months of 2021.

An Office for National Statistics interactive map reveals 1,204 people died from coronavirus across the county between March and the end of January. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid-19: Corby police issue fines in highest infection rate area BBC Northampton
• One week to go! How the big return to school will work in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Stay off our beaches! Police message to Northamptonshire's Covidiots breaking lockdown for trip to seaside Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Wellingborough businesses hit with fixed penalty notices for breaching Covid-19 restrictions Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Wellingborough's rapid Covid test centre set to open...once they fix the heating! Northamptonshire Telegraph

Woman charged over attack on police and medics at Northampton General Hospital

Woman charged over attack on police and medics at Northampton General Hospital A woman is due to appear in court later this month to face allegations of assaults on police and medical staff at Northampton General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Who is most vulnerable to health-related misinformation about COVID-19?

Who is most vulnerable to health-related misinformation about COVID-19? Research by The Alan Turing Institute reveals who is most likely to believe online misinformation – and what can be done to tackle the problem. This research was funded by the Health Foundation. Dr Bertie Vidgen, a Research Fellow from The Alan Turing Institute, discusses the findings in this blog. 

Ovarian cancer equality spotlight report: Age

Ovarian cancer equality spotlight report: Age Over 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, with more than a third over the age of 70. Yet, in the first of a series of reports highlighting inequalities in ovarian cancer, women over 70 are not receiving the standard of care necessary to survive ovarian cancer. Ovarian Cancer Action

See also: 

• It’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and we’re putting the spotlight on age inequality Ovarian Cancer Action
• ‘Substandard care’ for over-70s with ovarian cancer as 1 in 5 patients ‘gets no treatment’ The Independent

A consultancy habit? The use of external management advice in the NHS

A consultancy habit? The use of external management advice in the NHS The use of paid management consultants in the NHS has become habitual despite having a negative impact on efficiency. This inflation of demand for consulting services occurred even when they failed to improve performance. In fact, policy initiatives, such as outsourcing and private financing of hospital buildings had worse outcomes for efficiency when carried out with the help of consultants’ advice. Briefing from  University of Bristol 

Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England

Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England This code of practice aims to promote high standards of ethical practice in the international recruitment and employment of health and social care personnel. It also sets out the UK’s approach to supporting health and social care systems and workforce, alongside safeguards on active recruitment from countries with the most pressing universal health coverage related health and social care workforce needs. It is aimed at all health or social care organisations or recruitment agencies undertaking international recruitment. Department of Health and Social Care 

New data show vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults

New data show vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults New data show both Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines significantly reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults. Public Health England

See also: 

• Update on the Vaccine Taskforce: 1 March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• UK charities join together to boost vaccine drive Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: Health and Social Care Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 1 March 2021 Department of Health and Social Care

Covid vaccines cut risk of serious illness by 80%

Covid vaccines cut risk of serious illness by 80% A single shot of either the Oxford-AstraZeneca or the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid jab reduces the chance of needing hospital treatment by more than 80%, an analysis in England shows.

The Public Health England data showed the effect kicked in three to four weeks after vaccination.

It was based on people aged over 80 who were the first to receive the jab. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Teachers' risk 'similar' to other under-65s BBC News
• Covid-19: Free rapid testing for pupils' families in England BBC News
• Up to 55,000 Covid-positive people never got their test results, official figures show The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Nadhim Zahawi says NHS vaccine speed will double in March The Daily Mail
• Nearly a quarter of NHS staff in London are refusing Covid vaccines The Daily Telegraph
• Health and postal services seeking person with Brazil Covid variant, says Zahawi The Guardian
• Johnson defends hotel quarantine amid hunt for Brazil variant case The Guardian
• Brazil Covid variant in at least 15 countries not on UK's travel red list The Guardian
• World yet to see ‘full extent of coronavirus evolutions’, warns leading UK scientist The Independent
• Covid-19 vaccine: NHS on track to jab the large majority of British adults by mid-May iNews

Lawyers to argue for mother and baby's right to Healthy Start in UK

Lawyers to argue for mother and baby's right to Healthy Start in UK Exclusive: Scheme aiming to reduce child poverty and health inequalities excludes some of poorest families

An 11-month-old baby and her mother are bringing a case in the high court to try to secure the baby’s right to free vitamins, formula milk and nutritious food.

In the first case of its kind, lawyers for the mother and baby are arguing the baby should not be excluded from the UK government’s Healthy Start scheme, which aims to reduce child poverty and health inequalities. The Guardian