Three Covid deaths in one day brings stark reminder Northamptonshire is not out of the woods yet

Three Covid deaths in one day brings stark reminder Northamptonshire is not out of the woods yet Front-line staff continue to battle on as three deaths of Covid-19 patients are recorded in a single day at Northampton General Hospital.

Latest figures published by NHS England today (Tuesday) — on the anniversary of the first coronavirus lockdown starting — showed the three deaths on Sunday (March 21). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Corby's Covid cases still causing concern ahead of Rule of Six return on Monday Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Full PPE, video calls, tough challenges and teamwork: Northampton intensive care nurse reflects on pandemic year Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• A year like no other: KGH's traumatic battle with Covid Northamptonshire Telegraph
• A year like no other: the Corby baby born on the stroke of lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Remembering 1,400 who have died across Northamptonshire's neighbourhoods a year on from first lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph

Forget Brexit at your peril: how it will affect the NHS in 2021

Forget Brexit at your peril: how it will affect the NHS in 2021 Much has happened since the UK left the single market and customs union at the start of the year, not least another dreadful wave of Covid-19 and the headlines being dominated by the vaccine rollout on either side of the Channel. But with Brexit already having an effect on UK health care and policy, Mark Dayan and Martha McCarey explore five issues that will come to the surface this year for the NHS. Nuffield Trust

Medical Technology Access Accelerator

Medical Technology Access Accelerator The NHS has long wrestled with the challenge of creating a system that allows for the systematic uptake and spread of innovation. Over many years, a number of reports have been published that have given rise to new organisations and Departments charged with solving this problem. At present, however, the NHS has not found a way to pull through innovative products – meaning patients miss out. For innovators, the system remains difficult to navigate and uptake is at best patchy, and at worst non-existent.

In this report, we propose eleven elements of the Access Accelerator for a more efficient system of innovation uptake to take best advantage of proven medical technology. The Medical Technology Group

Ethnic diversity in fertility treatment 2018

Ethnic diversity in fertility treatment 2018 This report looks at how access to, and outcomes of fertility treatment, differed by ethnic group between 2014 and 2018. It finds disparities in the experience of patients from ethnic minority backgrounds and makes recommendations for the HFEA, fertility clinics and commissioners to help better understand the root of these inequalities so that action can be taken to improve access and outcomes for ethnic minority groups. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

One year on: Three myths about COVID-19 that the data proved wrong

One year on: Three myths about COVID-19 that the data proved wrong The charts in this analysis highlight three ‘myths’ that were prevalent at the very start of the pandemic. We use a common measure ‘years of life lost’ to describe what each death meant. The Health Foundation

Covid-19 one year on

Covid-19 one year on As we pass the one-year anniversary of the start of lockdown in the United Kingdom, the good news is that the Covid-19 crisis is clearly receding. We will need a public inquiry to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the response and where mistakes were made (leaving the UK, for now, with one of the highest death tolls). The King's Fund

Shaping the Covid decade: addressing the long-term societal impacts of Covid-19

Shaping the Covid decade: addressing the long-term societal impacts of Covid-19 This report argues that the societal impacts of the pandemic have exposed several gaps in public policy making that the government now has the opportunity to address. It suggests seven strategic goals for policymakers to pursue: build multi-level governance; improve knowledge, data and information linkage and sharing; prioritise digital infrastructure; reimagine urban spaces; create an agile education and training system; strengthen community-led social infrastructure; and promote a shared social purpose. British Academy

COVID treatment developed in the NHS saves a million lives

COVID treatment developed in the NHS saves a million lives Dexamethasone, an inexpensive and widely available steroid, has saved around one million lives worldwide since its discovery as an effective treatment for COVID-19 in a clinical trial in the NHS.

New figures, published today, show that use of the drug has so far saved 22,000 lives in the UK and an estimated one million worldwide. NHS England 

Lockdown anniversary: Hospital workers on a year of Covid

Lockdown anniversary: Hospital workers on a year of Covid For a year we have all lived under Covid-19 restrictions. But how have hospital staff dealt with fighting the pandemic at work and living under lockdown at home?

Four staff from University Hospital Southampton tell the BBC about the impact of the last year on their home and work lives. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Deaths below average for first time since summer BBC News
• How Iceland clamped down to conquer coronavirus BBC News
• Covid: The countries that nailed it, and what we can learn from them BBC News
• Where is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made? BBC News
• Pfizer launches first clinical trial of a PILL to treat COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• Foreign holidays could trigger ANOTHER UK-wide lockdown, experts warn The Daily Mail
• NHS intensive care staff suffer trauma levels twice those of military veterans, as experts warn of impact of 'pure hell' The Daily Telegraph
• Minute's silence for UK's Covid dead marks year since first lockdown The Guardian
• Boris Johnson admits regrets over handling of first Covid wave The Guardian
• Controversy over new AstraZeneca trial data raises more unwanted vaccine questions The Independent
• No decision yet on whether UK children will get Covid vaccine, says government adviser The Independent
• Safety probe launched into NHS 111 Covid triage service The Independent

Training for mental health leads in English schools 'not yet started'

Training for mental health leads in English schools 'not yet started' Training for mental health leaders in schools, a key part of the government’s plan to improve children’s wellbeing, was halted in January 2020 and delayed further as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it has emerged.

The revelation came during a parliamentary health and social care committee meeting, at which the NHS England director of mental health was forced to deny that they had run out of beds for children and young people needing urgent support owing to a Covid-related surge in demand. The Guardian 

Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal

Ministers accused of ‘knowingly exposing’ patients to risk after partial response to Paterson scandal Ministers have been accused of “knowingly exposing” NHS and private patients to safety risks after delaying again a full response to the inquiry into the Ian Paterson scandal.

Victims of rogue surgeon Ian Paterson, who was jailed in 2017 for carrying out unnecessary surgery on patients, told The Independent there was a “clear and present danger” of similar crimes being committed without urgent action being taken. The Independent 

What's the deal with NHS pay rises?

What's the deal with NHS pay rises? Following the government’s proposal to raise NHS salaries in England by 1% from next year, the Daily Mail claimed that, in fact, many staff will get a 1.7% increase to their wages.

This isn’t technically accurate and misrepresents the extra 0.7% funding the government has put into NHS staff pay. Full Fact