Health chiefs name England's Omicron hotspots as West Northamptonshire tops the charts

Health chiefs name England's Omicron hotspots as West Northamptonshire tops the charts England's Omicron hotspot was today revealed as West Northamptonshire as No10's scientific advisers warned the mutant strain could trigger the biggest wave yet — but UK-wide daily Covid infections dropped for the first time in over a week.

Up to 83 cases of the highly-evolved variant have been detected in West Northants with 27 officially confirmed by lab analysis, according to the UK Health Security Agency. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Covid: Omicron cases more than double in Northamptonshire BBC Northampton
• Covid-19: 'We'd welcome more vaccine helpers with open arms' BBC Northampton
• Corby schoolchildren sent home due to staff shortages linked to Covid BBC Northampton
• Figures show Covid cases rising in south Northamptonshire even before Omicron was identified, as Boris Johnson rolls out Plan B restrictions Northamptonshire Telegraph

The NHS’s duty of care with its overseas staff

The NHS’s duty of care with its overseas staff Staff from abroad have long been invaluable to the NHS, not least in nursing where they make up nearly a fifth of the current workforce. Drawing on our conversations with communities of overseas nurses, this blog from Claudia Leone emphasises the importance of supporting and retaining staff from overseas. Nuffield Trust 

What might ‘levelling up’ mean for the NHS?

What might ‘levelling up’ mean for the NHS? There has been much talk about levelling up over the past few months, with a white paper on how it will be achieved now expected in the new year. With different parts of the country facing unique issues when it comes to delivering health care, Rachel Hutchings describes five issues that could affect levelling up within the NHS. Nuffield Trust 

Hidden health needs: the elephant in the NHS waiting room

Hidden health needs: the elephant in the NHS waiting room According to this report, NHS waiting lists vastly underestimate the scale of unmet health need in England. It predicts that without intervention the level of need is expected to peak at 15.5 million in 2023 and still stand at 13.5 million in 2024. The analysis also reveals the parts of country that are likely to feel this demand strain more acutely. Lane Clark & Peacock LLP 

Record numbers accept a place to study nursing and midwifery

Record numbers accept a place to study nursing and midwifery Record numbers of students accepted places to study nursing and midwifery in England this year for the second year running, according to the latest data on university admissions published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Department of Health and Social Care 

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Weekly national influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Prescription charge waiver for COVID-19 Antivirals and Therapeutic Clinical Trials Department of Health and Social Care
• Booster bookings surge as National Booking Service expands to over 40s three months on from second dose NHS England
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers UK Health Security Agency

Covid-19: Face masks required in more indoor venues in England

Covid-19: Face masks required in more indoor venues in England Face coverings are now compulsory in most indoor venues in England, under measures to tackle the Omicron variant.

The new rules require people to wear masks in locations including theatres, cinemas, places of worship, museums and indoor sport stadiums.

Further changes start next week under the government's move to so-called Plan B Covid restrictions. BBC News

See also:

• 'The unvaccinated ask for jabs, but by then it's too late' BBC News
• Omicron and boosters: Your questions answered BBC News
• Covid booster shots could reduce a fully vaccinated person's risk of death 90%, study finds The Daily Mail
• Two vaccine doses may NOT be enough to protect against Omicron coronavirus variant, says Pfizer The Daily Mail
• Booster drive chaos as over-40s say they're being TURNED AWAY at clinics The Daily Mail
• SAGE scientists warn Plan B WON'T solve Omicron crisis in hint 'Christmas lite' may be needed The Daily Mail
• In charts: Why ministers think we could hit a million omicron cases a day by Christmas The Daily Telegraph
• GPs offer Covid boosters to under-40s against NHS guidance The Guardian
• Stricter measures than plan B may be needed to rein in UK’s Omicron growth The Guardian
• Omicron: ‘Plan C’ measures could see table service in pubs and visitor limits in care homes The Independent

Almost 6 million people on waiting lists for NHS surgery in England

Almost 6 million people on waiting lists for NHS surgery in England A record number of almost 6 million people are waiting to have hospital treatment in England, the latest NHS monthly performance statistics show.

The number of patients on the waiting list for non-urgent hospital treatment, including surgery such as a hip or knee replacement or cataract operation, rose to 5,975,216 in October, the highest since records began in August 2007. The Guardian

See also: 

• Busiest November ever as new figures show pressures on NHS staff NHS England
• NHS performance summary: October - November 2021 Nuffield Trust
• Health Foundation highlights need for a credible and realistic strategy to bring NHS waiting lists down The Health Foundation
• NHS Tracker: How is the NHS in your area coping? BBC News
• Long Covid among staff adding to healthcare pressures, say NHS leaders The Independent

Bosses at West Suffolk hospital criticised over ‘intimidating’ hunt for whistleblower

Bosses at West Suffolk hospital criticised over ‘intimidating’ hunt for whistleblower Bosses at Matt Hancock’s local hospital have been severely criticised in an NHS report for their part in an “intimidating” bullying scandal exposed by the Guardian.

The long-delayed review into West Suffolk hospital in Bury St Edmunds was ordered in January 2020 after the Guardian revealed that senior clinicians were subjected to an unprecedented demand to provide fingerprint samples as part of a management search for a suspected whistleblower. The Guardian

See also: 

• West Suffolk Review NHS England
• West Suffolk Hospital hunt for whistleblower 'incendiary' says report BBC News

Warning of 'generational crisis' of inactivity as teenage boys hit hardest by lockdown

Warning of 'generational crisis' of inactivity as teenage boys hit hardest by lockdown Secondary school age boys became less active than girls for the first time during the Covid pandemic, according to a major new report which lays bare a “generational crisis” of children’s inactivity. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Active Lives: Children and Young People Survey Academic year 2020-21 (report) Sport England
• Coronavirus challenges highlight importance of physical activity and sport for children Sport England