Excellence Awards for 12 amazing individuals and teams who helped Northampton General Hospital deliver great care during Covid

Excellence Awards for 12 amazing individuals and teams who helped Northampton General Hospital deliver great care during Covid Some Northampton NHS heroes finally took a few hours off to have their work during the Covid-19 pandemic recognised at a special ceremony. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northampton Macmillan nurse urges people not to ignore the early signs of lung cancer as A&E admissions rise

Northampton Macmillan nurse urges people not to ignore the early signs of lung cancer as A&E admissions rise A cancer nurse from Northampton is urging people not to ignore the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer amid reports of a rise in emergency hospital admissions. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

West Northamptonshire: Cold weather prompts rough sleeper shelter scheme

West Northamptonshire: Cold weather prompts rough sleeper shelter scheme An emergency protocol aimed at keeping rough sleepers safe and warm in extreme weather has been launched in west Northamptonshire.

The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (Swep) will operate from Friday until at least 09:00 GMT on Monday.

Anyone sleeping rough will be given access to emergency accommodation. BBC Northampton

Untapped potential: district nursing services and the avoidance of unplanned admission to hospital

Untapped potential: district nursing services and the avoidance of unplanned admission to hospital This report describes how District Nurse Team Leaders have advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis and patient management which could be used to provide safe and effective care for people at home, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. It argues that the NHS is failing to capitalise on the skills, knowledge and experience of District Nurses and instead is investing in new specialist teams of staff in the community, which may impact negatively on the continuity of care. At the same time, the number of District Nurses has fallen dramatically. The Queen's Nursing Institute

Government takes decisive action against new COVID-19 variant

Government takes decisive action against new COVID-19 variant From Tuesday 30 November, face coverings will be mandatory in shops and on public transport and all travellers returning to the UK will require PCR testing. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• First UK cases of Omicron variant identified Department of Health and Social Care
• COVID-19 variants identified in the UK UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
• Third COVID jabs available to book online for people who are severely immunosuppressed NHS England

Omicron symptoms mild so far, says South African doctor who spotted it

Omicron symptoms mild so far, says South African doctor who spotted it Dr Angelique Coetzee, the South African doctor who first spotted the new Covid variant Omicron, says the patients seen so far have had "extremely mild symptoms" - but more time is needed before we know the seriousness of the disease for vulnerable people. BBC News

See also:

• New Covid variant: Is the government going far enough on Omicron? BBC News
• Covid: JCVI scientists to announce decision on booster rollout BBC News
• Covid variant: Mask wearing will be a legal requirement, says Javid BBC News
• Covid: Face masks re-introduced as UK Omicron cases found BBC News
• New Covid variant: PCR testing to be introduced for arrivals in UK BBC News
• New Covid variant: Chris Whitty on why scientists are concerned about new Covid variant BBC News
• Covid: New Omicron variant not a disaster, says Sage scientist BBC News
• Merck's antiviral COVID-19 pill can reduce risk of death from the virus by 30%, study finds The Daily Mail
• One in 65 people had Covid in England last week as cases started to rise again, official data shows The Daily Mail
• Pfizer, Moderna say they can quickly update COVID-19 vaccines 'if they need to' The Daily Mail
• Daily UK Covid cases breach 50,000 for first time in a month The Daily Mail
• Why the omicron Covid variant is the most concerning so far The Daily Telegraph
• Failure to share Covid vaccines ‘coming back to haunt us’, says Gordon Brown The Guardian
• Omicron variant unlikely to reboot Covid in UK, expert says The Guardian
• Scotland finds six cases of omicron Covid variant The Independent

'World-leading' Down's syndrome bill clears first hurdle in Parliament

'World-leading' Down's syndrome bill clears first hurdle in Parliament Plans to ensure people with Down's syndrome get lifelong care have passed the first hurdle on the way to being law in England.

MP Liam Fox said his bill was needed now because people with Down's syndrome are starting to outlive their parents. BBC News

Another U-turn likely from UK government on care costs bill

Another U-turn likely from UK government on care costs bill The government is preparing to drop controversial plans that would force poorer pensioners to pay more for their social care, in order to avert a possible Commons defeat that would further damage Boris Johnson’s authority, the Observer has been told.

See also:

• Closures and soaring waiting lists: crunch time for social care services The Guardian

People with autism are being locked away in institutions. A radical change is needed

People with autism are being locked away in institutions. A radical change is needed | Sheila Hollins My panel oversees reviews into detention cases of people with autism. I see how the system fails those it should help.

Not many people have to worry that their children will be forcibly removed or locked away from society. Yet this is something I do worry about. My autistic son, who also has a learning disability, experiences the world differently. I am often in awe of his perspective, and he has inspired my more than 40 years of professional and voluntary effort advocating for better understanding, care and support. The Guardian

Unvaccinated pregnant women are pushing NHS maternity services to 'crisis point', doctors warn

Unvaccinated pregnant women are pushing NHS maternity services to 'crisis point', doctors warn The growing number of unvaccinated pregnant women with Covid on labour wards is pushing some maternity services to the brink, NHS doctors have warned.

Senior midwives and obstetricians have revealed that units in certain areas are in a 'crisis situation', where already time-stretched staff are being forced to abandon healthy women mid-labour in order to tend to the complex needs of Covid-positive expectant mothers. The Daily Mail

Spine injury patients 'abandoned' by NHS mental health as a third of sufferers consider suicide

Spine injury patients 'abandoned' by NHS mental health as a third of sufferers consider suicide People left disabled by spinal-cord injuries are being ‘abandoned’ by NHS mental health services, despite being far more likely to suffer severe depression.

Doctors and campaigners are now calling for urgent action as new data shows a third of sufferers frequently think about taking their own life - yet only a third have been able to access adequate mental health support. The Daily Mail