Health chiefs plea for patience as demand for flu jabs ramps up in Northamptonshire

Health chiefs plea for patience as demand for flu jabs ramps up in Northamptonshire Health chiefs are urgently investigating why some people are struggling to get a flu jab in Northamptonshire.

And they have begged residents to remain patient to avoid swamping the system. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Covid: Northampton professor calls for more social restrictions BBC Northampton
• Here's where you can grab a booster jab in Northampton, Corby, Wellingborough and Towcester Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Two new Covid antiviral drugs secured to protect most at-risk this winter Northamptonshire Telegraph

Disabled doctors face disproportionate rate of bullying, finds report

 Disabled doctors face disproportionate rate of bullying, finds report Disabled doctors are more likely to experience bullying and abuse in the workplace, according to recent data published by the health service.

Twenty-six per cent of doctors and other healthcare staff with disabilities said they had faced bullying, harassment and abuse in the past 12 months, compared with 19 per cent of non-disabled during the same time period in England. BMA 

The disease of disparity: a blueprint to make progress on health inequalities in England

The disease of disparity: a blueprint to make progress on health inequalities in England This report identifies six areas where policy needs to change to tackle health inequality, and makes recommendations across the NHS and the socioeconomic drivers of poor health. Combined, these provide a constructive plan to tackle the ‘disease of disparity’ in England – and to achieve the health, social and economic gains possible from addressing health inequality. Institute for Public Policy Research 

UK government secures groundbreaking COVID-19 antivirals

UK government secures groundbreaking COVID-19 antivirals Thousands of vulnerable patients could be taking ground-breaking COVID-19 antivirals this winter after the government announced deals to secure two new treatments.

The deals made by the Antivirals Taskforce are a significant step in its ambition to secure at least two new effective treatments by the end of the year for those who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with the virus. Department of Health and Social Care 

Get Covid jab or restrictions more likely, Sajid Javid says

Get Covid jab or restrictions more likely, Sajid Javid says If not enough people get vaccinated, it is more likely restrictions will be reintroduced in England, the health secretary has said.

Sajid Javid said the government would not be bringing in its Plan B measures, which include mandatory face coverings and working from home, "at this point".

He added that he did not believe the current pressures on the NHS were unsustainable. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Doctors criticise ministers over new rules refusal  BBC News
• Covid: WHO warns pandemic will drag on into 2022  BBC News
• 'Challenges accumulating' for NHS with Covid-19, flu season and overworked staff Channel 4 News
• Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective at preventing death from the Delta variant The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases spike by another 15% in a week to brink of 50,000 The Daily Mail
• A THIRD of mass Covid vaccine hubs in England have been closed amid fears sluggish booster rollout The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid reveals No10 has bought 'game-changing' anti-viral made by pharmaceutical giant Merck The Daily Mail
• Government's SAGE scientists have met just TWICE over the last three months The Daily Mail
• Pupils told to wear face masks in school again as local health officials bring in Covid restrictions The Daily Telegraph
• Javid vows to protect NHS as he says Covid infections could hit 100,000 a day The Guardian
• What Covid measures could a ‘Plan C’ involve? The Independent
• Doctors accuse government of being ‘wilfully negligent’ over Covid The Independent

'People don't see us as humans' – NHS matron on abuse faced by staff

'People don't see us as humans' – NHS matron on abuse faced by staff The prime minister today condemned attacks on NHS staff after hearing from a Midlands MP how over 600 attacks on staff at her local hospital have prompted those working in the A&E department to resort to wearing body cameras.

But what can be done to keep staff safe? Channel 4 News

Face off: the government versus GPs

Face off: the government versus GPs The government is demanding that GPs see more patients face-to-face in return for an injection of extra funding, but many in the profession say the pandemic has left them close to breaking point. The Guardian

See also: 

• Viability of general practice this winter in doubt, warns BMA GPonline

Care homes have REJECTED 5,000 requests for help in last six weeks 'because of staff shortages'

Care homes have REJECTED 5,000 requests for help in last six weeks 'because of staff shortages' Care homes have been forced to reject requests from nearly 5,000 people due to staffing shortages over the last six weeks, industry bosses said today.

The National Care Forum (NCF), an association for care providers, surveyed 340 managers who run care services in England that employ more than 20,000 staff and support around 15,000 people. The Daily Mail