Covid-19 jabs: We're closing in on half-a-million doses delivered in Northamptonshire

Covid-19 jabs: We're closing in on half-a-million doses delivered in Northamptonshire The number of Covid-19 vaccines delivered in Northamptonshire is approaching the half-a-million landmark.

Latest NHS figures released today showed 464,657 first and second doses up to April 18 — with another 33,000 in the last seven days. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid-19: MP claims 'outrage' at dropped charge for 150-guest funeral BBC Northampton
• Police vow to carry on giving £10k Covid fines despite Northamptonshire funeral case collapsing Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• MEET THE GOVERNORS: KGH governor says Covid-19 has shown the need for places like Kettering's Crisis Cafe Northamptonshire Telegraph

Patients 'assaulted and mimicked behind their backs by staff' at failing Northamptonshire mental health hospital

Patients 'assaulted and mimicked behind their backs by staff' at failing Northamptonshire mental health hospital Patients at a failing Northamptonshire mental health hospital were assaulted and mimicked by staff, according to a damning inspection report published on Wednesday, April 21.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an unannounced visit to Broomhill in Spratton over three days in February after it reported the abuse to the health watchdog. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Do you want to make a difference by volunteering at Northampton General Hospital?

Do you want to make a difference by volunteering at Northampton General Hospital? A recruitment day for volunteers at Northampton General Hospital is being held next month.

The event, which will take place on May 12, is the first of its kind to be held at the hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Quality improvement made simple: What everyone should know about health care quality improvement

Quality improvement made simple: What everyone should know about health care quality improvement This updated guide focuses on quality improvement, and is especially useful for health care staff leading fast and efficient service change as a result of the pandemic. 

Quality improvement involves the use of a systematic and coordinated approach to solving a problem using specific methods and tools with the aim of bringing about a measurable improvement within a health care setting. The Health Foundation 

Confed and national bodies writes to the Prime Minister to urgently address the undersupply of NHS staff

Confed and national bodies writes to the Prime Minister to urgently address the undersupply of NHS staff This letter to the Prime Minister from the NHS Confederation, NHS Providers, the BMA, the Royal College of Nursing, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Unison calls on the government to make addressing the chronic undersupply of NHS staff a priority.

Spending on health in Europe: entering a new era

Spending on health in Europe: entering a new era This report argues that governments need to maintain a higher level of public spending on health for the wider benefit of society despite expected budgetary pressures following the pandemic. It analyses health spending across all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region over nearly two decades. World Health Organization Europe

Covid 19: supporting the vulnerable during lockdown

Covid 19: supporting the vulnerable during lockdown This report recognises the pace and urgency with which Government delivered the shielding programme. However, the report concludes that the programme suffered from the problems of poor data and a lack of joined up systems meaning that it took too long to identify some clinically vulnerable people at a time when their need was urgent. House of Commons Public Accounts Committee

Maggie Keenan praises ‘incredible’ NHS for protecting millions against COVID and encourages everyone to get their second dose when called

Maggie Keenan praises ‘incredible’ NHS for protecting millions against COVID and encourages everyone to get their second dose when called Maggie Keenan, who made history when she became the first person in the world to receive an approved COVID-19 jab in December, has praised the hard work of “incredible” NHS staff in delivering the vaccination programme, during a Zoom call with NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens.  NHS England

See also:

• Guidance: Quarantine arrangements for exempt nurses arriving from overseas Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace (England): 8 April to 14 April 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid: Vaccine uptake among over 50s hits 95% in England

Covid: Vaccine uptake among over 50s hits 95% in England The percentage of over-50s vaccinated has hit 95% in England, NHS data shows.

The take-up among those aged 45-49 is at 59% after they started being offered the jab earlier this month.

But uptake among care home staff - one of the first groups to be offered the jab - is still around 80% despite attempts to get more to come forward. BBC News

See also:

• One Covid vaccine cuts infection risk in all age groups BBC News
• Covid England: Fewer than 900 people now fall ill from infection every day The Daily Mail
• Covid is no longer the leading cause of death in England and Wales The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccine boxes must be defaced before they are thrown away, official guidance warns The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Experts find variant from Tanzania that 'has more mutations than any known strain' The Daily Mail
• NHS allows G4S to force disabled patients to share ambulances during pandemic Disability News Service
• VIP lane for Covid suppliers left UK civil servants ‘drowning’ in non-credible bids The Guardian
• UK vaccines provide high protection against Kent variant, real-world study shows The Independent

Infant mortality in Birmingham 'not openly discussed'

Infant mortality in Birmingham 'not openly discussed' Infant mortality is not "openly discussed" among some communities, a charity worker in Birmingham said, as the city attempts to tackle a long-standing problem.

For the last decade, Birmingham has had one of the highest rates of infant mortality in England. BBC News 

BMI is no way to diagnose eating disorders. So why is it still being used?

BMI is no way to diagnose eating disorders. So why is it still being used? | Agnes Ayton A surge in cases during the pandemic has shone a light on how poor policymaking is in this area of mental health.

Agnes Ayton is chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ eating disorders faculty.

Eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental illnesses, but they are also highly treatable. The key is ensuring people can access the help they need as early as possible. Many people who have eating disorders are missing out on treatment because underfunded NHS services are using body mass index (BMI) as the main indicator to determine whether a person can access specialist care. The Guardian 

Serco takes a £15m pay-off after failing to secure £2bn NHS contract

Serco takes a £15m pay-off after failing to secure £2bn NHS contract One of the Government’s favoured outsourcing companies was paid £15m from NHS funds after leaving a joint venture providing pathology services in London following a failed bid for a new lucrative contract. iNews