Mental health: Anxiety, depression and self-harm on rise among teens

Mental health: Anxiety, depression and self-harm on rise among teens The number of teenagers seeking help for mental health problems is increasing rapidly, according to children's charities. The BBC went to Northamptonshire to talk to young people affected and those trying to help. BBC Northampton

Covid credited as stop smoking service reports rise in referrals

Covid credited as stop smoking service reports rise in referrals The number of people referring themselves to a service aimed at helping them stop smoking has increased rapidly since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020, a total of 1,242 people applied to the Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service - an increase of 200% on the previous year. BBC Northampton 

Money talks: investing in proactive health measures to support healthy ageing

Money talks: investing in proactive health measures to support healthy ageing It is known that proactive (preventative health interventions and health promotion) health measures work, are cost-effective, and can save lives. However cross the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on average countries spend just 2.8 per cent of their health budgets on these interventions. In this report, with ILC-Canada, Canada is used as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of spending on prevention and health promotion. Canada spends more of its health budget on proactive health measures than any other country in the OECD – at six per cent, it’s more than double the OECD average, which has contributed to positive outcomes. International Longevity Centre UK

Chart of the week: How many care home staff in England have received two Covid-19 vaccine doses?

Chart of the week: How many care home staff in England have received two Covid-19 vaccine doses? After the deadline passed last week, care home staff in England now need to have received two Covid-19 jabs to carry on working. In this week’s chart, Nina Hemmings looks at how many had been vaccinated twice only a few weeks before the deadline. Nuffield Trust 

The government’s preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk management

The government’s preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk management Like many other governments across the world, the UK government was underprepared for a pandemic like COVID-19. It will need to learn lessons from its preparations for and handling of whole-system risks, which will include making judgements on what level of preparations is appropriate. National Audit Office

See also: 

• Covid: UK government wasn't ready for pandemic, report finds BBC News

13 million top-up COVID-19 vaccines given across the UK

13 million top-up COVID-19 vaccines given across the UK More than 13 million life-saving booster jabs have been given across the UK, marking another significant milestone in the phenomenal COVID-19 vaccination programme. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 46) UK Health Security Agency

Covid cases highest in younger children in England

Covid cases highest in younger children in England Covid case rates in England are now highest among children aged five to nine, latest weekly surveillance figures reveal.

The data, up to 14 November, shows this younger age group has overtaken older, secondary school aged children for the first time.

In recent months, the 10 to 19 age group maintained the highest rate of infections per 100,000 tested. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: 50 firms got VIP fast-track equipment contracts BBC News
• Britain's daily Covid cases jump by 10% to highest level in a month The Daily Mail
• First-ever known case of Covid was a female seafood vendor at a Wuhan market The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Booster vaccine doses reduce the risk of infection by two thirds compared to two doses The Daily Mail
• Rollout of third Covid jabs in England condemned as ‘shambolic’ The Guardian
• Covid is surging in Europe. What does it mean for the UK? The Guardian
• AstraZeneca Covid antibody treatment more than 80% successful The Independent
• More infectious Delta variant accounts for one in 10 Covid cases The Independent

Oral drug for spinal muscular atrophy to be available on NHS in England

Oral drug for spinal muscular atrophy to be available on NHS in England The NHS is to introduce a revolutionary new treatment to tackle the leading genetic cause of death among babies and young children.

About 1,500 patients in England with certain types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are expected to benefit from risdiplam, after a recommendation from the health watchdog. The drug, also called Evrysdi and made by Roche, is a syrup that can be taken at home and is the first non-injectable treatment for the condition. The Guardian

See also: 

• Risdiplam for treating spinal muscular atrophy in children and adults (draft guideline) NICE
• NICE draft guidance recommends new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy as part of a managed access agreement NICE
• Take at home treatment for spinal muscular atrophy BBC News
• NHS to give life-changing drug to spinal muscular atrophy patients The Independent

NHS trust 'failed to act' on inspectors' warnings before patient deaths, court told

NHS trust 'failed to act' on inspectors' warnings before patient deaths, court told Two patients suffering from sepsis died following treatment at the same NHS hospital after inspectors’ warnings about failings in care were not acted upon, a court has heard.

Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court was told the Care Quality Commission (CQC) informed the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust its staff were not clear on how to follow a 'sepsis treatment pathway' in the months leading up to both deaths. ITV News