Fears for rise in cervical cancer cases as thousands of extra Northamptonshire women missed smear tests during pandemic

Fears for rise in cervical cancer cases as thousands of extra Northamptonshire women missed smear tests during pandemic More than 6,000 extra women in Northamptonshire are behind on their cervical screenings compared to before the pandemic, with tens of thousands missing their appointments. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The Brexit referendum five years on: what has it meant for the NHS?

The Brexit referendum five years on: what has it meant for the NHS? Five years on from the Brexit vote, Mark Dayan looks back at the main claims that were made about the NHS before the referendum took place. Which have been proven right and which have proven to be unfounded? Nuffield Trust

Connecting for change: for the future of learning disability nursing

Connecting for change: for the future of learning disability nursing In 2018, the number of learning disability nurses working in NHS hospital and community services in England hit a record low of 3,192 – a fall of 40 per cent in less than a decade. Since then, it has risen to 3,214 – an increase of just 22 full-time equivalent posts in the NHS. This report sets out a series of recommendations and priorities that the UK government and devolved administrations need to address. It also identifies priorities for the RCN to take forward. Royal College of Nursing

Digital boards: tackling digital inclusion means designing services that meet all your users’ needs

Digital boards: tackling digital inclusion means designing services that meet all your users’ needs The acceleration of digital ways of working during the pandemic has seen digital inclusion rise up the board agenda. Board leaders need a shared understanding of what digital inclusion means and clarity on their priorities for action. This briefing defines digital inclusion and highlights practical tips. NHS Providers

Using targets to improve public services

Using targets to improve public services The government has added new targets to existing ones across key public services such as the NHS, schools and the police, which it hopes will improve performance in those services hit by the Covid-crisis. But this report reveals the way that targets have been used for easy wins have ignored important issues and manipulated data. To ensure that new targets are not counterproductive, the government should: develops targets in partnership with those responsible for meeting them; carefully considers the data that is needed, how this is collected and how it will be used to avoid creating unnecessary paperwork for frontline staff; and reviews targets regularly and amends or scraps them if they are having unintended consequences. Institute for Government

£64 million funding to back UK-wide plan to strengthen clinical research delivery

£64 million funding to back UK-wide plan to strengthen clinical research delivery Patients across the UK will benefit from a super-charged clinical research system, backed by over £64 million of dedicated investment, which will save lives across the country.

Following the bold vision Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery published in March, the UK government and devolved administrations today set out the first phase of activity to ensure research will have better health outcomes and allow more patients to be involved in, and benefit from, research of relevance to them. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: Ivermectin to be studied as possible treatment in UK

Covid: Ivermectin to be studied as possible treatment in UK University of Oxford scientists are trialling giving Ivermectin to over-50s with Covid symptoms to see if it can keep them out of hospital.

The Principle study will compare those given the drug to patients receiving the usual, standard NHS care.

The drug has become controversial after being promoted for use across Latin America and in South Africa, despite being so far unproven. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: Aim for double-jabbed arrivals to avoid quarantine - Hancock BBC News
• Weekly Covid deaths in England and Wales fall... AGAIN: Just 84 virus victims registered last week The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases hit four-month high of 11,625 as deaths nearly triple in a week to 27 The Daily Mail
• New 'delta plus' coronavirus variant identified in India The Daily Telegraph
• Experts study viability of giving flu and Covid jabs at same time The Guardian
• Pollen helps Covid spread further and faster, scientists find The Independent
• Fears COVID-19 and flu could ruin NHS efforts to deal with backlog of patients Sky News

Keira Bell: NHS trust appeals against puberty blockers ruling

Keira Bell: NHS trust appeals against puberty blockers ruling A Court of Appeal hearing begins today into whether under-16s can give informed consent to medical treatment that delays the onset of puberty.

The appeal is being brought by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the UK's only Gender Identity Development Service (Gids).

The appeal hearing will last for up to two days, and the court will also hear from LGBT and other interested groups. BBC News

See also:

• Keira Bell case: What are puberty blockers? BBC News

Higher ethnic minority maternity risk examined

Higher ethnic minority maternity risk examined A charity has launched an inquiry into why women from ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of serious harm or death in pregnancy and childbirth.

Birthrights says women from ethnic minorities are too often failed by maternity services.

Its year-long inquiry will gather views from parents, midwives, obstetricians and anti-racism campaigners. BBC News

Government postpones ‘do or die’ meeting on social care in England

Government postpones ‘do or die’ meeting on social care in England A “do or die” meeting on social care involving Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock has been postponed, it is understood, as the government came under renewed pressure over delays in setting out a policy for the sector.

The discussion between the prime minister, the chancellor and the health secretary, billed as a chance to set out broad policy objectives for social care, had been scheduled for Tuesday. It is not known why it was postponed, or when the meeting will take place. The Guardian

See also:

• Social care: Ministers urged to 'act now' on funding reform BBC News
• 'You can't fix NHS without fixing social care', says Jeremy Hunt Channel 4 News
• Social care to royal yacht: battle looms over UK spending priorities The Guardian

England’s top nurse says NHS should continue to recruit staff from overseas

England’s top nurse says NHS should continue to recruit staff from overseas England’s chief nurse has said international recruitment to help fill NHS staff shortages should continue just days after reports suggested Baroness Dido Harding wanted to end the practice as part of her pitch to take over the NHS. The Independent

Number of NHS doctors taking early retirement has tripled since 2008

Number of NHS doctors taking early retirement has tripled since 2008 A workforce crisis is brewing in the medical field, as an exhausted workforce and pension tax changes could lead to a mass exodus of highly experienced doctors, the British Medical Association has warned.

Figures provided to the British Medical Journal by the NHS Business Services Authority show that the number of NHS doctors taking an early retirement in England and Wales has more than tripled over the last 13 years, with 1358 doctors taking an early retirement this year compared with just 401 in 2008. The Independent 

Matt Hancock dismisses idea of writing to patients to tell them how to opt out of NHS data sharing

Matt Hancock dismisses idea of writing to patients to tell them how to opt out of NHS data sharing Matt Hancock today defended controversial NHS data-sharing plans, which health chiefs believe will revolutionise patient care.

The Health Secretary insisted 'data saves lives', as he unveiled new plans aimed at boosting patient care.

If approved, the plan would give patients access to their health records through an app. It could also allow them to manage appointments, refill medications and speak with health and care staff when needed. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• NHS data strategy: Hancock defends data sharing plan BBC News
• GP data sharing: What is it and can I opt out? BBC New
• Data Strategy: Patients to get easier access to data through NHS App Digital Health
• Parents trying to opt children out of NHS Digital 'data grab' scheme complain after emails bounce back iNews