Another shot in the arm as first Northampton pharmacy joins Covid-19 jabs roll-out

Another shot in the arm as first Northampton pharmacy joins Covid-19 jabs roll-out A Northampton pharmacy is among the first in the county to join the roll-out of Covid-19 jabs.

The NHS announced two months ago that life-saving coronavirus jabs would be delivered at High Street pharmacies as part of the massive vaccination programme. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Schools could bring in ‘week in, week out’ rotas if Covid R rate starts to rise Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• These are the UK demographics most hesitant to take a coronavirus vaccine - according to new research Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• How year of Covid affected Thrapston ambulance worker as the world stood still Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby shopping centre Covid vaccination hub opens for jabs Northampton Chronicle and Echo

"I owe my life to them": KGH's heart attack centre marks 10 years of care

"I owe my life to them": KGH's heart attack centre marks 10 years of care It's saved many, many lives in the past decade. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Evidence and science in health policy

Evidence and science in health policy The past year has thrust the relationship between evidence and policy-making into the spotlight. With the subject under debate at this year’s Summit series, before the event we asked Nigel Edwards for his views on it. When are health policy-makers most and least likely to listen to the evidence and science? Nuffield Trust 

Delivering prevention in an ageing world: democratising access to prevention

Delivering prevention in an ageing world: democratising access to prevention This consultation paper sets out key criteria that will allow governments and health care systems to democratise access and deliver prevention across the life course. Submissions and feedback will be accepted until 9 April 2021. International Longevity Centre UK 

“Unimaginable” cost of Test & Trace failed to deliver central promise of averting another lockdown

“Unimaginable” cost of Test & Trace failed to deliver central promise of averting another lockdown In its report the Public Accounts Committee says that while NHST&T clearly had to be set up and staffed at incredible speed, it must now "wean itself off its persistent reliance on consultants"; there is still no clear evidence of NHST&T's overall effectiveness; and it’s not clear whether its contribution to reducing infection levels - as opposed to the other measures introduced to tackle the pandemic - can justify its "unimaginable" costs.

See also: 

• Covid-19: NHS Test and Trace 'no clear impact' despite £37bn budget BBC News
• No evidence £22bn test-and-trace scheme cut Covid rates in England, say MPs The Guardian
• Thousands of test and trace staff to be let go with just a week’s notice The Independent

Speak up and help beat coronavirus (COVID-19)

Speak up and help beat coronavirus (COVID-19) Take 5 minutes of your time to submit your voice sounds and contribute to COVID-19 research.

We will explore how algorithms can use voice data, including cough recordings, to detect COVID-19. By identifying if someone is more likely to need a test by using voice sounds, we can find more cases, help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our health service. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• NHS text alerts for life-saving COVID jab NHS England

Covid-19: Don't think pandemic is over, Whitty warns

Covid-19: Don't think pandemic is over, Whitty warns Unlocking too quickly would lead to a substantial surge in Covid infections, the UK's chief medical adviser says.

Prof Chris Whitty told MPs that would be dangerous and risk lives among the many vulnerable people not yet protected by the vaccine.

"A lot of people may think this is all over. It is very easy to forget how quickly things can turn bad," he said. BBC News

See also: 

• 'Normal' to feel a bit unwell after Covid vaccine BBC News
• Covid online symptom checker 'may delay treatment' BBC News
• Brazil's Covid catastrophe is an 'atomic bomb' that could the pandemic drag out The Daily Mail
• Nearly a THIRD of Covid 'long-haulers' had NO symptoms at diagnosis The Daily Mail
• Hospitals say third wave of COVID is OVER after number of ICUs with NO beds available fell by 50% The Daily Mail
• Whitty: revising plan to ease England lockdown would risk fresh Covid surge The Guardian
• UK’s ‘colour-blind’ vaccine strategy puts ethnic minorities at risk, experts warn The Independent

Labour demands 100 Covid-related contracts be published

Labour demands 100 Covid-related contracts be published Labour has demanded the government apologise and release 100 Covid-related contracts it says remain unpublished despite the prime minister’s commitment to releasing them.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, accused ministers of handing out taxpayer money to those with “close links” to the Conservatives “without any transparency” during the scramble to procure personal protective equipment. The Guardian 

NHS England boss says staff deserve 2.1% pay rise rather than 1%

NHS England boss says staff deserve 2.1% pay rise rather than 1% The boss of the NHS in England has said that staff deserve a 2.1% pay rise next year and confirmed that ministers had planned to give them that rather than the 1% that has sparked a huge outcry.

Sir Simon Stevens said most of the NHS workforce were due to see their salaries increase by 2.1% from 1 April under the five-year funding deal Theresa May gave the service in 2018. The Guardian

See also:

• Pay rise was set to be 2.1% - NHS England chief Simon Stevens BBC News
• NHS chief confirms staff were promised higher pay rise The Independent
• Senior Tory minister hints at U-turn over NHS pay amid outcry over 1% rise The Independent
• NHS England boss tells MPs health service staff were expecting bigger pay rise than government's 1% offer Sky News

Almost 11,000 Britons could be living with undiagnosed breast cancer, charity warns

Almost 11,000 Britons could be living with undiagnosed breast cancer, charity warns Breast Cancer Now said there were 10,700 fewer people diagnosed with the condition between March and December - when Covid infections spiralled - than expected for the time of year. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Almost 11,000 people living with undiagnosed breast cancer in UK Breast Cancer Now