Six out of every ten Northamptonshire adults have had a Covid-19 jab

Six out of every ten Northamptonshire adults have had a Covid-19 jab More than six in every ten of Northamptonshire's adult population have had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Latest NHS figures revealed 367,147 were jabbed out of a target of around 580,000 by Sunday (April 25). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Corby's Covid test centre clicks up its 10,000th swab as cases continue to tumble Northamptonshire Telegraph

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Find out more about Healthwatch from governor

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Find out more about Healthwatch from governor One of KGH's governors has explained the importance of Healthwatch, which is designed to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

The coronavirus inquiry: The case for an investigation of government actions during the Covid-19 pandemic

The coronavirus inquiry: The case for an investigation of government actions during the Covid-19  pandemic Boris Johnson should establish his promised public inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus in May.

This report sets out the case for an inquiry. With more than 150,000 deaths recorded from Covid-19, the UK experience of the pandemic demands investigation – and a public inquiry is the right way to do this. Institute for Government

Assessing England’s response to Covid-19: A framework

Assessing England’s response to Covid-19: A framework The Covid-19 pandemic has been a deep shock to the country, whether counted in terms of deaths and ill health, the damage to the economy and livelihoods, or in the deep disruption to daily life. Covid-19 has also had a disproportionate impact on some communities, increasing and emphasising the inequalities that existed before the pandemic arrived. This combination of high number of deaths and deep inequalities will leave a long and difficult legacy. The King's Fund

The unequal mental health toll of the pandemic

The unequal mental health toll of the pandemic The Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry is exploring the pandemic’s implications for health and health inequalities in the UK.

Over the past year, mental health has been in the news continuously – an acknowledgement that the pandemic poses risks beyond our physical health. As someone who has worked in the mental health sector for over 25 years, this increased attention is most welcome. Now is the time to channel this interest and commit to making things better for people who were struggling both before and during the pandemic.

Improve patient care: Pelvic Floor services in 2021 and beyond

Improve patient care: Pelvic Floor services in 2021 and beyond A new report, ‘Seizing the opportunity to improve patient care: Pelvic Floor services in 2021 and beyond’ exposes significant shortcomings in the care of patients with pelvic floor disorders in the UK. It provides national and local recommendations to improve healthcare services and highlights six key areas for change. The Pelvic Floor Society

NHS Chief Sir Simon Stevens to stand down this summer

NHS Chief Sir Simon Stevens to stand down this summer Sir Simon Stevens has today formally notified the NHS England Board of his decision to stand down as planned at the end of July, after more than seven years as NHS chief executive. NHS England

See also: 

• Response to departure of Sir Simon Stevens as NHS England Chief Executive The Health Foundation
• Response to the departure of Sir Simon Stevens as NHS England Chief Executive Nuffield Trust
• NHS England boss Stevens to step down BBC News
• Sir Simon Stevens to quit as NHS England chief executive The Daily Telegraph
• 'Most pro-GP NHS leader ever' Sir Simon Stevens to stand down this summer GPonline
• Simon Stevens to step down as NHS England boss at end of July The Guardian
• The Guardian view on the NHS: the boss is leaving at a dangerous time | Editorial The Guardian
• The leading candidates for the next CEO of NHS England Health Service Journal
• Simon Stevens: NHS England chief executive to step down and become life peer The Independent
• Sir Simon Stevens to be made a peer after he steps down as head of NHS England Sky News

Hancock: transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower

Hancock: transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower The Health and Social Care Secretary lays out the government's commitment to boost the UK life sciences sector and build on lessons from the pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Speech: Transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower Department of Health and Social Care

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England (PHE) releases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK.

The dominant variant continues to be VOC-20DEC-01 (B.1.1.7) and PHE will continue to monitor all variants closely. The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to remember: hands, face, space and follow the restrictions in place.

See also:

• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid deaths: More than 20m living in areas with zero Covid deaths

Covid deaths: More than 20m living in areas with zero Covid deaths About 22 million people in the UK are living in areas that have not reported any Covid-19 deaths that happened in April, according to BBC News analysis.

By comparison, in a four-week period during January's peak, fewer than 50,000 people lived in such places.

See also:

• Confusion over use of NHS App as Covid passport BBC News
• Covid vaccine offered to 40-year-olds in England BBC News
• Covid-19 UK: More than half of positive rapid tests at schools were false, data reveals The Daily Mail
• Nearly a quarter of British health workers wary of Covid-19 vaccine The Guardian
• Covid bereaved condemn government refusal to publish NHS 111 training content The Guardian
• Ministers among main routes for Covid PPE deal ‘VIP’ channel, court hears The Guardian
• Two new mutant coronavirus variants first identified in India found in England The Independent
• Government ‘wasted’ £38.4m on Test and Trace contract with Dubai-based multinational The Independent

Gene therapy: 'Now I can see my own face again'

Gene therapy: 'Now I can see my own face again' "Last year, for a lot of people was a dark and miserable year, but for me it was probably easily the best year of my life."

Jake Ternent has been gradually losing his central vision since birth, because of a rare inherited genetic eye condition.

And, despite the pandemic, 2020 was a landmark year for the 24-year-old, from County Durham, who became the first person in the UK to receive a revolutionary new gene therapy on the NHS. BBC News 

Matt Hancock warns modern medicine may 'cease to exist' without global action to fight the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs

Matt Hancock warns modern medicine may 'cease to exist' without global action to fight the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs Matt Hancock today warned the rise of deadly superbugs poses a bigger threat than Covid and should be taken as seriously as global warming.

The Health Secretary said modern medicine may 'cease to exist' unless the 'silent pandemic' of antimicrobial resistance is urgently tackled. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Speech: The silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance Department of Health and Social Care