Most drop-in Covid-19 vaccine centres in Northamptonshire now open to 16 and 17-year-olds

Most drop-in Covid-19 vaccine centres in Northamptonshire now open to 16 and 17-year-olds Nearly every drop-in COVID vaccination clinic in Northamptonshire is now open for people aged 16 and 17 to get their first jab and protect themselves against coronavirus. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Wellingborough Isebrook Hospital reduced outpatients services to make way for antenatal hub

Wellingborough Isebrook Hospital reduced outpatients services to make way for antenatal hub Isebrook Hospital patients who accessed medical outpatients care at the Wellingborough before the Covid pandemic disrupted services may not be back at their clinics due to the space being requisitioned for a new antenatal hub. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS staff vote on Government’s pay offer as UNISON visits Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals

NHS staff vote on Government’s pay offer as UNISON visits Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals Staff at both Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals had a visit from a health union to discuss and vote on the Government’s pay offer. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Waiting for care: Understanding the pandemic’s effects on people’s health and quality of life

Waiting for care: Understanding the pandemic’s effects on people’s health and quality of life The effects of the pandemic should not be measured in mortality alone. The suspension of routine NHS care has affected people’s health and wellbeing – with the significance of this depending on the type of condition or treatment delayed.

For some conditions, a delay in care will make little or no difference. For others, a delay could lead both to living longer in pain – worsening quality of life – and/or a deterioration in their condition. This analysis explores the implications of this via two case studies – hip replacements and diabetes. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Patients denied care during pandemic face agonising delays as waiting times hit record levels ITV News 

The extent of discrimination emerges

The extent of discrimination emerges A BMA survey of the medical profession finds antiquated attitudes prevail towards women, who reportedly lack the support needed to establish themselves in leadership positions British Medical Association

See also: 

• Sexism in medicine (report) British Medical Association

What support do nurses and midwives qualifying in the age of Covid-19 need?: insights from UNISON members 2021

What support do nurses and midwives qualifying in the age of Covid-19 need?: insights from UNISON members 2021 This report finds that more than two thirds (70 per cent) of students or newly qualified nurses and midwives believe they have missed out on important learning experiences during Covid. The findings also show more than half (56 per cent) of final year students worry they’re not as prepared for qualification as they should be. The report calls for the government and NHS leaders to give greater support to the newly qualified health staff. UNISON 

Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health

Reaching the tipping point: children and young people's mental health According to this report, many children and young people will be left without vital mental health support unless the Government goes further to invest fully in services where they are most needed. It lists the Covid-19 pandemic as a factor as it brought with it uncertainty and anxiety caused by the lockdowns, school closures, isolation from friends and peers, bereavement and loss, and extra stresses and pressures on families. NHS Confederation

Independent report: SHARE: consent, confidentiality and information sharing in mental healthcare and suicide prevention

Independent report: SHARE: consent, confidentiality and information sharing in mental healthcare and suicide prevention Guidance from the Zero Suicide Alliance on using DHSC’s consensus statement and engaging with patients when discussing confidentiality and consent to share information. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Guidance: Consensus statement for information sharing and suicide prevention Department of Health and Social Care

Back to school campaign launches

Back to school campaign launches Today (Thursday 26 August) the government launches its back to school and college campaign to set out the experience that students can ‘get back to’ from September, with restrictions such as bubbles eased to allow a full return to sport, music, drama, science experiments and being with their friends.

Schools and colleges are maintaining proportionate protective measures such as testing, ventilation and extra hygiene precautions that help keep children and staff safe and minimise disruption to face-to-face education. Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care 

Coronavirus: Waning immunity and rising cases - time to worry?

Coronavirus: Waning immunity and rising cases - time to worry? A month ago, coronavirus cases were falling and the lifting of nearly all restrictions looked like it had been a success.

But just weeks later, infections levels are rising again, with more than 30,000 new cases being confirmed each day, and there is growing evidence immunity through vaccination is waning. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: NHS England prepares jabs plan for 12-15 year-olds BBC News
• Search for Covid's origins stalled, scientists say BBC News
• Student A level result parties blamed for 'astonishing' Covid boom in Leicestershire district The Daily Mail
• Pfizer CEO says vaccine-resistant strain of COVID is 'likely' to emerge The Daily Mail
• Sources say only 'a few hundred thousand' of most vulnerable Brits will be eligible for third doses The Daily Mail
• NHS draws up plans to vaccinate 12-year-olds The Daily Telegraph
• Unions criticise English schools ‘more normal year’ campaign as naive The Guardian

NHS stops some blood tests due to vial shortages

NHS stops some blood tests due to vial shortages The NHS has temporarily stopped some blood testing for certain conditions due to shortages of collection tubes.

NHS England has issued guidance urging doctors to stagger regular blood tests if clinically safe.

The decision came after Becton Dickinson, which makes vials for the NHS, warned of serious supply chain issues across the UK. BBC News

Hospitals told to remove toxic chemical after children left with burns and patients injected by mistake

Hospitals told to remove toxic chemical after children left with burns and patients injected by mistake The NHS has ordered the removal of a toxic corrosive liquid from all clinical areas after more than 30 incidents of patients and staff being left with serious injuries, including burns, when it was injected by mistake or spilled.

A safety alert issued on Wednesday by NHS England said all bottles of liquefied phenol 80 per cent concentration should be taken out of use and replaced by safer alternatives. The Independent 

NHS mental health therapists pressurised to exaggerate success rates, expert claims

NHS mental health therapists pressurised to exaggerate success rates, expert claims The provision of psychological treatment on the NHS has undergone an “Uberisation”, in which counsellors are pressurised to exaggerate their success in treating patients, a conference has heard. The Independent