Let's draw on the spirit of Corby to reduce Covid rates - together we can do it

Let's draw on the spirit of Corby to reduce Covid rates - together we can do it Corby residents, renowned for their community spirit and dogged determination in the face of adversity, are being urged by those in the town to dig deep and stay at home to finally beat Covid. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Rule of Six won't save you from £200 Covid fine if you're inside an Audi parked up in Northamptonshire countryside Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Key workers deserve a medal for efforts during Covid-19 pandemic, says Northamptonshire's Chief Constable Northamptonshire Telegraph

New Chief Executive announced for Northampton General Hospital

New Chief Executive announced for Northampton General Hospital Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust has announced the appointment of Heidi Smoult as its new Chief Executive.

Heidi is currently Deputy Chief Inspector at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) where she is accountable for the effective regulation of the NHS and independent healthcare providers in the Central region. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Why our perceptions of the NHS matter

Why our perceptions of the NHS matter At various times in its 72-year history, the NHS – as a comprehensive, universal, taxpayer-funded service – has been said to be ‘unsustainable’. These arguments have tended to focus on population ageing, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions and ever more expensive treatments as leading to an inexorable rise in demand. The Health Foundation

Making decisions about social care requires tough choices

Making decisions about social care requires tough choices During a recent Institute for Government event, the former Chancellor George Osborne, spoke about social care. I held my breath as I wondered if he was going to join the long list of former politicians who get converted to the cause after leaving office. But no. Instead he spoke the unspoken about social care: ‘[The political consequence of fixing social care] is incredibly unpopular. It’s much more straightforward politically to keep kicking the can down the road.’ The King's Fund

Research and analysis: Supporting people living with dementia through safeguarding processes

Research and analysis: Supporting people living with dementia through safeguarding processes Guidance bringing together research undertaken by Dr Jeremy Dixon at the University of Bath, alongside people living with dementia, their family carers and professionals in the sector. Public Health England

‘COVID-friendly’ cancer care at home extended for more patients

‘COVID-friendly’ cancer care at home extended for more patients Thousands of people with cancer can benefit from ‘COVID friendly’ treatments from home, the NHS announced. More than 30 different drugs are available to treat patients, offering benefits such as fewer hospital visits or a reduced impact on their immune system. NHS England

Covid-19: Few people with symptoms are self-isolating, study finds

Covid-19: Few people with symptoms are self-isolating, study finds Fewer than one in five people request a Covid-19 test if they have symptoms, while the number who follow full self-isolation rules is low, a large study of the test-and-trace system has found.

The report, published in the British Medical Journal, also found only half of people knew the main Covid symptoms. BBC News

See also:

• Adherence to the test, trace, and isolate system in the UK: results from 37 nationally representative surveys (open access) The BMJ
• Covid: Children 'well protected by Pfizer vaccine' BBC News
• Covid 19: Inside the BioNTech vaccine factory in Germany BBC News
• Coronavirus: Germany's brain blood clots after AstraZeneca vaccination not seen in other nations The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Cases fall 28% in week to 4,052 while deaths halve to 43 The Daily Mail
• Kent coronavirus variant is NOT deadlier than the original strain, PHE study finds The Daily Mail
• European Medicines Agency backs AstraZeneca vaccine but blood clot investigation ongoing The Daily Telegraph
• More than a fifth of Covid deaths at some hospitals after patients caught virus on wards The Daily Telegraph
• Almost third of UK Covid hospital patients readmitted within four months The Guardian
• Clear face mask that makes lip-reading possible approved for NHS use iNews

Assisted dying inquiry essential, leading brain surgeon says

Assisted dying inquiry essential, leading brain surgeon says One of the UK's leading brain surgeons, who has advanced prostate cancer, has said an inquiry into assisted dying is "absolutely essential".

Henry Marsh, a retired neurosurgeon and bestselling author, received his diagnosis six months ago.

He has supported a call by politicians for the government to hold an inquiry. BBC News

Government backs down over NHS deal with Palantir

Government backs down over NHS deal with Palantir Civil liberties group openDemocracy announced on Tuesday that the UK government has been forced to make a U-turn in the face of a legal challenge over involvement of 'spy tech' firm Palantir in the NHS Covid-19 data store. Computing

While the NHS has struggled with the pandemic, our treatment of mental illness has benefited

While the NHS has struggled with the pandemic, our treatment of mental illness has benefited We’re slowly moving away from the era where politicians’ interventions amounted to words, rather than hard cash or policy. iNews