Firefighters on standby to plug gaps in care services left by staff shortages, warns Northampton General Hospital CEO

Firefighters on standby to plug gaps in care services left by staff shortages, warns Northampton General Hospital CEO Northampton General Hospital bosses are poised to call in firefighters on standby to visit fall victims instead of care workers to plug gaps left by staff shortages.

In a hard-hitting statement the hospital's CEO appealed for urgent government funding to improve wages and prevent a log-jam in hospital beds this winter. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Public Health Northamptonshire opens vaccination centre appointments to 12 to 15 year olds

Public Health Northamptonshire opens vaccination centre appointments to 12 to 15 year olds Those aged 12 to 15 can now book their Covid-19 vaccinations outside of school in Northamptonshire, as part of a drive to increase uptake.

The Covid-19 vaccination booking service widened its scope today (October 25th), following announcements earlier that vaccinations in secondary schools are also being accelerated. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Injustice? Towards a better understanding of health care access challenges for prisoners

Injustice? Towards a better understanding of health care access challenges for prisoners Many prisoners still struggle to access hospital services despite their significant health care needs, and early data suggests the pandemic has worsened access further. This report considers new evidence relating to pre-existing health conditions before prison, the use of remote consultation, different ethnic groups' use of health services and the early impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. An accompanying explainer describes how prison health care is delivered. Nuffield Trust 

Assessing the impact of Covid-19 on the clinically extremely vulnerable population

Assessing the impact of Covid-19 on the clinically extremely vulnerable population By February 2021 more than 4 million people across the UK had been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and advised to shield. 

Our briefing shows the scale of the challenge of ensuring that the most clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 are kept safe, and in providing high-quality health and social care during the pandemic. It also indicates that there are substantial unmet needs that should be prioritised to ensure that the mental and physical health of this group does not deteriorate further. The Health Foundation 

NHS delivers booster vaccine to half of eligible people aged 50 and over

NHS delivers booster vaccine to half of eligible people aged 50 and over Half of eligible people aged 50 and over have already received their COVID booster jab in England, as the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in NHS history continues. More than 4.5 million people aged 50 and over – 4,547,927 people – have received a top up in protection in less than six weeks. NHS England 

Covid: Are cases about to plummet without Plan B?

Covid: Are cases about to plummet without Plan B? Rising Covid cases have been putting both the NHS and ministers under huge pressure.

But could this be about to change - and change quite dramatically?

It is dangerous to read too much into a few days of data - especially given the way infection levels in the south-west of England have been skewed by the lab test failings. But the recent rise that has caused so much concern does appear to have slowed and maybe is starting to drop in England. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Vaccine study links virus to rare neurological illness BBC News
• WHO says up to 180,000 health care workers globally have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases FALL for second day in a row to 45,113 and deaths drop 16% The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid admits he is 'leaning towards' making Covid vaccines compulsory for all NHS staff The Daily Mail
• Compulsory Covid jab for NHS staff could ramp up vaccine uptake, says Javid – video The Guardian
• Vaccine passports could fuel spread of Covid, says leaked government report The Independent
• Top five Covid hotspots revealed as cases rise by nearly 37,000 The Independent
• Covid cases to fall this winter even without restrictions, expert says The Independent
• Covid ‘more likely’ to cause neurological issues than vaccines The Independent

Why women may wait decades for an ADHD diagnosis

Why women may wait decades for an ADHD diagnosis Gender bias is leaving many women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder undiagnosed, leading psychologists are warning.

The prevailing stereotype ADHD affects only "naughty boys" means at least tens of thousands in the UK, it is estimated, are unaware they have the condition and not receiving the help they need. BBC News 

How the number of NHS beds in England has halved

How the number of NHS beds in England has halved The total number of hospital beds has fallen from 300,000 to 141,000 over the last 30 years.

As we enter the winter months, with Covid-19 cases having already surpassed 50,000 a day and 5.7 million people waiting for NHS treatment, the impact of a bed shortage will be felt more acutely than ever. New Statesman 

Budget boost of £2bn planned for digital overhaul of NHS

Budget boost of £2bn planned for digital overhaul of NHS Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to award a fund of £2.3bn in this year’s Budget, which will go towards improving IT and technology in NHS hospitals in England. Healthcare IT News