Obesity crisis: Northamptonshire's hospital admissions among top 10 highest in the country

Obesity crisis: Northamptonshire's hospital admissions among top 10 highest in the country Obesity-related hospital admissions in Northamptonshire are among the highest in the UK, new figures show.

NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis said the latest "shocking" data, which show obesity-related admissions have risen by nearly a fifth nationally, are a growing sign that an obesity crisis is sweeping the nation. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Corby woman sent to prison after admitting KGH nurse and paramedic assaults

Corby woman sent to prison after admitting KGH nurse and paramedic assaults A woman from Corby has been given a jail term after admitting two separate incidents against NHS workers at Kettering General Hospital.

Ashleigh Campbell, 29, was given a 16-week prison sentence after appearing before Northampton magistrates on Tuesday May 18th.  Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Frank Bruno sets up Northampton boxing programme

Frank Bruno sets up Northampton boxing programme Frank Bruno has launched a community centre offering mental health support, following his own struggles over the years.

The former world boxing champion's foundation runs wellbeing and non-contact boxing programmes in Northampton for those over the age of 10.

The 59-year-old wanted to help those not being supported by existing services. BBC Northampton

Smoking and health 2021: a coming of age for tobacco control?

Smoking and health 2021: a coming of age for tobacco control? This report reviews the UK’s progress in reducing smoking prevalence, and sets out comprehensive recommendations for England’s forthcoming National Tobacco Control Plan. It says that while the reduction in smoking prevalence by 75 per cent since 1962 has been considered a national success, if the policies advocated by the RCP in 1962 had been adopted and followed through, smoking would have been eradicated from the UK years ago. Royal College of Physicians

Generation Covid : the economic impact of Covid-19 on young people in the United Kingdom

Generation Covid : the economic impact of Covid-19 on young people in the United Kingdom This report found finds that young people have had their financial, emotional and vocational wellbeing inordinately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and that a holistic approach is needed in order to aid their recovery. In addition to job losses, educational disruption and financial pressures, young people have also experienced increased family strain, heightened anxiety and exacerbated mental health issues as a result of the pandemic. The APPG on Youth Affairs inquiry found these areas to be inexorably interlinked, and further compounded by the overall uncertainty of employment prospects for young people in the future. All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Youth Affairs

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shelf-life extended from 5 to 31 days, says MHRA

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shelf-life extended from 5 to 31 days, says MHRA New storage conditions for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, that extend the length of time the thawed vaccine can be stored at normal fridge temperatures from 5 days to 31 days, have today been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 

Government sets out new action to tackle B1.617.2 variant

Government sets out new action to tackle B1.617.2 variant The government has outlined new decisive actions to halt the spread of the B1.617.2 variant of concern first identified in India.

Following extensive COVID-19 surveillance, which has rapidly detected cases of the B1.617.2 variant first identified in India, additional surge testing, tracing and isolation support measures are being deployed at pace across Bedford, Burnley, Hounslow, Kirklees, Leicester and North Tyneside. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Everyone in the United Kingdom with symptoms now eligible for coronavirus tests Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS invites people aged 34 and 35 for life-saving COVID-19 jab NHS England
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Public Health England
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid: Test and Trace failure helped Indian variant spread, report says

Covid: Test and Trace failure helped Indian variant spread, report says Failures in England's Test and Trace system are partly responsible for a surge in the Indian variant in one of the worst affected parts of the country, a report seen by the BBC says.

For three weeks in April and May, eight local authorities in England did not have access to the full data on positive tests in their area. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Stillbirth and prematurity risks may be higher BBC News
• Long Covid: 'I'm feeling quite good after vaccine' BBC News
• Unvaccinated nursing home residents benefit from vaccinated around them, less likely to get COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• AstraZeneca vaccine 90pc effective against Covid infection, new real-world data suggests The Daily Telegraph
• Pfizer vaccine can be stored at normal fridge temperature for 31 days, MHRA confirms GPonline
• New Covid wave could worsen NHS surgery backlog, experts warn The Guardian
• Dogs can better detect Covid in humans than lateral flow tests, finds study The Independent
• Fears of Covid third wave as India variant cases more than double in a week The Independent

Contaminated blood inquiry: Matt Hancock to give evidence

Contaminated blood inquiry: Matt Hancock to give evidence The health secretary will face questions about compensation for victims of the contaminated blood scandal on Friday afternoon.

Matt Hancock will give evidence at a public inquiry into what's been called the worst NHS treatment disaster.

Around 3,000 people died after being given blood products containing HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s. BBC News

Almost 7,000 junior doctors at risk of falling behind on training after helping to fight Covid

Almost 7,000 junior doctors at risk of falling behind on training after helping to fight Covid Almost 7,000 junior doctors who treated patients during the Covid pandemic are at risk of falling behind with their training, potentially causing staffing shortages and costing taxpayers a potential £260m. The Independent

Campaigners react to PIP implant compensation win

Campaigners react to PIP implant compensation win Two of the more than 2,500 women who were victims of the PIP breast implant scandal have welcomed the decision of a French court that they should receive compensation.

The court also upheld an earlier judgement which found German company TUV Rheinland negligent. BBC News 

Almost 40% of young people are waiting too long for mental health treatment

Almost 40% of young people are waiting too long for mental health treatment Thousands of children with mental health problems are waiting longer than NHS guidelines allow to be seen and treated, according to figures obtained by Sky News. 

Nurses know exactly why Boris Johnson’s nurse quit – we are running on empty

Nurses know exactly why Boris Johnson’s nurse quit – we are running on empty | Anonymous Jenny McGee’s resignation makes it clear how shoddily we have been treated by this government

I’ve never treated anybody famous. But then, as a nurse, you treat everybody the same – without fear or favour.

Jenny McGee might have looked after Boris Johnson when he was gravely ill with Covid-19, but that’s the only difference I can see between her and nearly every nurse I know. Do your job, give your all, come back again tomorrow. Until you can’t. The Guardian