What Boris Johnson said in his lockdown roadmap press conference

What Boris Johnson said in his lockdown roadmap press conference Beer gardens, non-essential retail and outdoor attractions will be able to open next week, and a new testing regime will see every adult in England able to access two rapid covid tests per week, the prime minister announced. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Covid-19 case rates and vaccine rollout for Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire BBC News
• 60,000 more jabs done in a week and nearly six out of ten people have been vaccinated in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo

MEET THE GOVERNORS: Kettering governor tells us more about Northamptonshire's changing health scene

MEET THE GOVERNORS: Kettering governor tells us more about Northamptonshire's changing health scene A KGH governor has written more in his series of pieces about Northamptonshire's changing health scene.

The governors at KGH have teamed up with the Northants Telegraph to give our readers an insight into their role and the work they do. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

"Sexual health clinics in Northampton" Popular Googled search term one day after mini-heatwave in the town

"Sexual health clinics in Northampton" Popular Googled search term one day after mini-heatwave in the town "Sexual health clinics in Northampton" was one of the most Googled phrases in the town on Thursday (April 1), one day after the mini-heatwave

Thursday was the day after the two-day mini-heatwave and also coincided with the recent easing of months of strict lockdown restrictions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: the report

Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: the report This report includes a chapter on health which looks at life expectancy, cancer, diabetes, obesity, maternal mortality as well as access to health care, Covid-19 and more. Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities

See also: 

• Comment on the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities The Health Foundation
• The King’s Fund response to The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report The King's Fund
• Race and ethnic disparities report published NHS Employers
• Response to the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities NHS Race and Health Observatory 
• RCGP response to Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report Royal College of General Practitioners
• ‘We must be bold in naming and tackling racism’ Royal College of Nursing
• RCP responds to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities' report Royal College of Physicians
• RCPsych response to the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Royal College of Psychiatrists
• 250 public health professionals condemn ‘dangerous’ race report for ignoring inequalities The Independent
• Institutional racism exists in UK and healthcare, says head of NHS race body The Independent

Public health reform: a whole-government priority?

Public health reform: a whole-government priority? ‘Health will no longer only be the business of the DHSC, but a core priority for the whole of government’?

The quote above is from the new policy paper ‘Transforming the public health system: reforming the public health system for the challenges of our times’, published on 29 of March; although the question mark is mine. This paper puts some more flesh on the bones of the announcement of the UK Health Security Agency and the more recently announced Office for Health Promotion, and also connects them to ambitions for the future of integrated care, as set out in the new White Paper. So what to make of it? The King's Fund

What might long COVID mean for the nation’s health?

What might long COVID mean for the nation’s health? There is much more to learn about how COVID-19 affects people and what the implications are for the nation's long-term health. Against this uncertainty, the Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry team has reviewed emerging evidence on long COVID. Here we summarise our findings to date. 

5 million people in the UK receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

5 million people in the UK receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine More than 5 million people in the UK have received their second dose of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

Health services across the UK have now administered over 36.6 million vaccines between 8 December and 02 April, including over 31.4 million people with their first dose and over 5.2 million with their second. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Twice weekly rapid testing to be available to everyone in England Department of Health and Social Care
• Two visitors allowed in care homes to reunite with loved ones Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: The R value and growth rate in the UK  Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS Chiefs urge: book an NHS COVID jab without delay NHS England

Covid: Rapid tests to be offered twice-weekly in England

Covid: Rapid tests to be offered twice-weekly in England Everyone in England is to be given access to two rapid coronavirus tests a week from Friday, under an extension of the government's testing programme.

The lateral flow kits, which can provide results in around 30 minutes, will be available for free at testing sites, pharmacies and through the post. BBC News

See also: 

• Coronavirus: Pfizer jab 'stopping 91% of cases in first six months' BBC News
• Covid: 30 blood clot cases found in AstraZeneca recipients in the UK BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: How the virus has changed our sleep patterns BBC News
• Vitamin D: The truth about an alleged Covid ‘cover-up’ BBC News
• Long Covid: More than a million affected in February, survey suggests BBC News
• Covid: Passports showing vaccine status would be 'time-limited', says minister BBC News
• Britain's daily Covid cases are down 40% in a week with 2,762 infections The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: NHS under pressure to expand Covid vaccine roll-out to all adults The Daily Mail
• Chris Whitty warns Britain will be vulnerable to Covid for another two years The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Pfizer vaccine 'WILL protect against the Brazilian and South African Covid variants' The Daily Mail
• Vaccine passports: pilot scheme for theatres, cinemas, sports and nightclubs The Daily Telegraph
• AstraZeneca trial on children reports 'no problems so far' as scientists hope to extend to younger patients The Daily Telegraph
• Easing of England lockdown next week 'highly unlikely' to overwhelm NHS The Guardian

'A truly frightening backlog': ex-NHS chief warns of delays in vital care

'A truly frightening backlog': ex-NHS chief warns of delays in vital care Exclusive: hold-ups in operations in England a political issue for Johnson and pose risks to patients, says Sir David Nicholson

Patients could be waiting as much as two years for vital operations by the time of the next election due to a “truly frightening” backlog of care caused by the pandemic, the NHS’s former boss has said. The Guardian

'A life-changer': NHS England rolls out five-minute breast cancer treatment

'A life-changer': NHS England rolls out five-minute breast cancer treatment A new breast cancer treatment will cut the amount of time some patients have to spend in hospital from two and a half hours to five minutes.

The treatment, called Phesgo, is being rolled out across England by the NHS and will be offered to breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It will be available to people with HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for 15% of all such cancers. The Guardian

See also:

• Thousands of patients set to benefit from five-minute breast cancer treatment NHS England

NHS England to set up 26 mental health hubs to support new, expectant and bereaved mothers

NHS England to set up 26 mental health hubs to support new, expectant and bereaved mothers New, expectant and bereaved mothers will soon have the help of dozens of new mental health hubs across the country, the NHS has announced.

NHS England is setting up 26 new sites especially for women - bringing together maternity care and psychological therapy under one roof. Sky News

 

See also:

• New dedicated mental health services for new expectant and bereaved mums NHS England
• Mental health: More help for new and expectant mothers in England BBC News
• NHS opening 26 mental health hubs to support new and bereaved mothers The Independent