KGH expands midwife continuity of care service

KGH expands midwife continuity of care service A project to provide mothers-to-be with complete continuity of care and midwives they know has expanded to Kettering and Wellingborough. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Charity joins in Big Tea toasting local Northamptonshire's NHS heroes

Charity joins in Big Tea toasting local Northamptonshire's NHS heroes Northamptonshire Health Charity is urging people to join the nation’s biggest tea break to help raise cash to help health service champions on the NHS' 76th birthday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The role of healthcare services in addressing domestic abuse

The role of healthcare services in addressing domestic abuse This briefing considers the role of the NHS and healthcare professionals in addressing domestic abuse. It looks at the use of healthcare services by victims and perpetrators, alongside initiatives such as health-based independent domestic violence advisers. House of Commons Library

Blood and body fluid exposures in 2020: results from a survey of RCN members

Blood and body fluid exposures in 2020: results from a survey of RCN members This report suggests that Pressures of the pandemic and a lack of training has led to a 50 per rise in needlestick injuries, a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) report suggests today. The authors surveyed 7,571 RCN members for the report. Of those 15 per cent said they had suffered a ‘sharps injury’ in 2020. This compares to ten per cent in 2008. Reasons for the rise cited in the report included fatigue induced by the pandemic, low staffing levels, lack of training and safer sharps and sharps bins not being available. Royal College of Nursing

Up to 8,700 patients died after catching Covid in English hospitals

Up to 8,700 patients died after catching Covid in English hospitals Exclusive: official NHS data reveals 32,307 people contracted the virus while in hospital since March 2020.

Up to 8,700 patients died after catching Covid-19 while in hospital being treated for another medical problem, according to official NHS data obtained by the Guardian.

The figures, which were provided by the hospitals themselves, were described as “horrifying” by relatives of those who died. The Guardian

See also: 

• Covid: Deaf campaigner calls for clear mask research BBC News
• Britain records 2,439 Covid cases as positive tests spike by nearly a quarter in a week The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: 15 suffer rare blood clots after SECOND AstraZeneca vaccine The Daily Mail
• Weaknesses that led to patients getting Covid in hospital remain The Guardian
• ‘What chance did Mum have?’: two women who died with hospital-acquired Covid The Guardian
• Government failed to act over PPE shortage warnings, MPs told The Guardian

'Dangerous' home teeth-whitening kits sold online

'Dangerous' home teeth-whitening kits sold online Some home teeth-whitening kits sold online contain dangerous levels of bleaching chemical that can burn gums and cause tooth loss, an investigation has revealed.

The worst had more than 300 times the recommended amount of hydrogen peroxide, says consumer group Which?. BBC News 

'Algae proteins' partially restore man's sight

'Algae proteins' partially restore man's sight The vision of a completely blind man has been partially restored using light-sensing proteins first found in algae.

The man was treated with a type of therapy called optogenetics, which uses the proteins to control cells at the back of his eye.

He first knew it was working when he realised he could see the painted stripes of a pedestrian crossing. BBC News

See also:

• Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy (open access) Nature Medicine