Pupils at school in Wellingborough told to wear masks again after high number of Covid cases found

Pupils at school in Wellingborough told to wear masks again after high number of Covid cases found Health protection officers have visited a Wellingborough school after their high number of Covid-19 cases triggered a review of measures to prevent further spread of the virus. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Inside the teen mind: what’s happening to mental health?

Inside the teen mind: what’s happening to mental health? In our latest podcast, we ask what trends and changes in day-to-day life are affecting the mental health of today’s young people, and how has the pandemic had an impact. The Health Foundation 

Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for a radical rethink of NHS dentistry

Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for a radical rethink of NHS dentistry Access to NHS dental care continues to be a problem for people across England, with Healthwatch recording a 22% rise in calls and complaints about dentistry between January and March 2021.  

Our review of 1,375 people’s experiences shared with Healthwatch found a lack of consistency across the country when it comes to accessing a dental appointment. Whilst some people were asked to wait an unreasonable time of up to three years for an NHS appointment, those able to afford private care could get an appointment within a week. 

Genome UK: 2021 to 2022 implementation plan

Genome UK: 2021 to 2022 implementation plan Published in 2020, Genome UK: the future of health care set out a vision to create the most advanced genomic health care system in the world to deliver better health care at lower cost. Following collaboration with key partners across the genomics community, priority actions for 2021 to 2022 have been set out in the implementation plan to progress key commitments made in Genome UK. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS England opens up life-saving COVID-19 jab offer to 32 and 33 year olds as England tops 50 million doses given

NHS England opens up life-saving COVID-19 jab offer to 32 and 33 year olds as England tops 50 million doses given One million more people in their thirties can now get the life-saving covid jab, as the NHS opens bookings for people aged 32 and 33 from today (Saturday). As the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in NHS history continues rolling out, 1.1 million more people will be able to book their jab. NHS England

See also:

• Vaccine status drives over one million new users to the NHS app Department of Health and Social Care
• 60 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Vaccine status drives over one million new users to the NHS app Department of Health and Social Care
• Government launches new pilots to further support people to self-isolate Department of Health and Social Care
• Vaccines highly effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses Public Health England

Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant - study

Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant - study The Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are highly effective against the variant identified in India after two doses, a study has found.

Two jabs of either vaccine give a similar level of protection against symptomatic disease from the Indian variant as they do for the Kent one.

However, both vaccines were only 33% effective against the Indian variant three weeks after the first dose. BBC News

See also:

• Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the B.1.617.2 variant (open access preprint) Public Health England
• Covid: Parts of England to trial self-isolation support BBC News
• Covid: Sniffer dogs could bolster screening at airports BBC News
• Covid vaccine: 32 and 33-year-olds in England now invited to book BBC News
• India records 300,000 Covid deaths as pandemic rages BBC News
• Fewer than a THIRD of Brits say they 'completely' understand the current UK Covid lockdown rules The Daily Mail
• Covid cases in England may be on the rise, ONS data shows The Daily Mail
• Super-sniffer dogs detect Covid with 94 per cent accuracy, UK study suggests The Daily Telegraph
• Testing and tracing of sewage ramped up to tackle Covid variants The Daily Telegraph
• Scientists detect new coronavirus in pneumonia patients in Malaysia that has ‘likely made jump from animals’ The Independent
• NHS warns hospitals of fourth peak in Covid-19 cases at the end of the summer iNews
• Private hospitals provided average of seven Covid beds a day despite £2bn Government contracts iNews

Detectives consider corporate manslaughter charge in NHS maternity scandal involving 200 families

Detectives consider corporate manslaughter charge in NHS maternity scandal involving 200 families Detectives are examining a series of baby deaths at East Kent Hospitals NHS trust as the number of cases being investigated by an independent inquiry nears 200 – making it one of the worst maternity scandals in NHS history. The Independent 

‘I’ve given all I can’: NHS staff on why they might quit

‘I’ve given all I can’: NHS staff on why they might quit After the nursing regulator’s warning of an exodus, five healthcare staff describe their experiences.

While the pandemic has led to record numbers of nurses and midwives working in the UK, the nursing regulator has warned that pressure on staff could lead to a significant exodus of frontline NHS staff.

With the government’s 1% pay offer being held up as the latest example of its lack of respect for the profession, five healthcare workers speak about why they are considering their positions. The Guardian 

Infected blood scandal: Hancock pledges payouts if advised by inquiry

Infected blood scandal: Hancock pledges payouts if advised by inquiry Matt Hancock has said compensation will be paid to people people infected by contaminated blood products and their relatives if is recommended by the public inquiry into the scandal. The Guardian