We are taking a short break

We'll be back with all the national and local health news and updates on Monday the 9th of January.

Wishing all our readers a very happy 2023.

Critical incident declared at Northampton and Kettering hospitals as NHS battles “toughest winter”

Critical incident declared at Northampton and Kettering hospitals as NHS battles “toughest winter” Bosses at NHS acute hospitals in Northampton and Kettering have declared a critical incident in response to “significant ongoing pressure” as the health service battles “one of the toughest winters in its history”.

A spokesman for Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital trusts said the decision was taken to “help our teams to ensure patients continue to receive safe and appropriate care.” Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Northampton and Kettering General Hospital suspend visiting BBC Northampton
• NHS hospitals introduce ban as some brand it 'wrong and cruel' Birmingham Live
• NHS hospitals ban visitors and bring back mask mandates due to wave of winter bugs The Daily Mail
• Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals suspend visitors due to spike in infections ITV News
• Visits stopped and masks back at Northamptonshire hospitals after flu and Covid spike Northants Live
• Hospital apologises after Kirstie Allsopp challenges tweet saying visiting was suspended Nottinghamshire Live

Number of defibrillators to be increased with new funding

Number of defibrillators to be increased with new funding The public will have faster access to life-saving defibrillators as the government announces a new £1 million fund to increase the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in communities most in need - providing an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators in community spaces across England. Department of Health and Social Care

UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep

UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to show an out of season increase in scarlet fever and group A streptococcus infections and a higher number of cases than seen in a typical year.

So far this season (from 19 September to 25 December) there have been 33,836 notifications of scarlet fever. This compares to a total of 4,672 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018 – although cases in that season started to rise at a different point. In 2017 to 2018 there were 30,768 scarlet fever notifications overall across the year.

See also:

• Strep A: At least 30 children have died in UK since mid-September BBC News
• Another four children die of Strep A as UK's death toll hits 30 The Daily Mail
• Strep A: 122 deaths recorded across all age groups in England in the past four months The Independent
• At least 30 children in UK have died from invasive Strep A Sky News

Covid: Why are some places testing Chinese arrivals?

Covid: Why are some places testing Chinese arrivals? When a country of 1.4 billion people suddenly ended its zero-Covid policy after nearly three years, there was little doubt what would happen.

Poor immunisation levels and little natural immunity meant an explosion of cases - just as China is about to lift restrictions on its citizens travelling abroad.

So now, some countries - wary of an influx of cases - are imposing Covid testing, and possible quarantine, on visitors from China. BBC News

See also:

• Covid in China: Checks on visitors under review - defence minister BBC News
• Could China's Covid outbreak push the fight against the virus back to square one? The Daily Mail
• UK ministers under pressure to screen China arrivals for Covid The Guardian
• China Covid: experts estimate 9,000 deaths a day as US says it may sample wastewater from planes The Guardian
• Covid: Government under pressure to introduce China testing policy The Independent
• Could the UK impose new Covid travel restrictions? The Independent
• UK COVID response to China travel 'under review' after some countries step up restrictions Sky News

Doncaster surgery sends cancer text instead of festive message

Doncaster surgery sends cancer text instead of festive message A GP surgery accidentally told patients they had aggressive lung cancer instead of wishing them a merry Christmas.

Askern Medical Practice sent the text message to people registered with the surgery in Doncaster on 23 December. BBC News

Revealed: Crisis in A&E departments drives 15,000 deaths

Revealed: Crisis in A&E departments drives 15,000 deaths The crisis in Britain’s A&E departments has been linked to more than 15,000 deaths in 18 months, with as many as 500 patients a week dying because of long waits for emergency care.

Expert analysis shows that the number of avoidable deaths has been three times as high as it would have been if hospital waits for emergency treatment had stayed at pre-pandemic levels. The Independent

Mental health issues are 'parallel pandemic' that NHS is not equipped to tackle, leaders warn

Mental health issues are 'parallel pandemic' that NHS is not equipped to tackle, leaders warn The NHS is not equipped to tackle the hidden “parallel pandemic” in mental ill health with many patients going without adequate treatment, leaders have warned.

The cost of living crisis and the after-effects of the Covid epidemic have led to a spike in the number of people suffering from mental health issues.

But the true extent of the problems could be even greater, health experts warn, because it is impossible to tell how many people have yet to come forward for care. The Independent

Man given a year to live now cancer-free after immunotherapy trial

Man given a year to live now cancer-free after immunotherapy trial Further studies under way as ‘remarkable’ results offer new hope in treating biliary tract cancer

A man given a year to live after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer is now disease-free thanks to a UK trial of a personalised drug regime.

Robert Glynn, 51, a welder from Worsley in Greater Manchester, said he “wouldn’t be here” if it were not for the remarkable results of the immunotherapy trial run by the Christie NHS foundation trust in Manchester. The Guardian

See also:

• Worsley man given year to live cancer-free after Christie's drug trial BBC News
• Man with terminal cancer cured after taking new drug The Independent

Flu jab uptake among NHS staff tumbles to lowest level in A DECADE despite warnings of a 'flu-nami'

Flu jab uptake among NHS staff tumbles to lowest level in A DECADE despite warnings of a 'flu-nami' Only four in ten frontline NHS staff has rolled up their sleeves for the flu vaccine – the lowest uptake in a decade – MailOnline can reveal.

Despite begging vulnerable Britons to get the jab amid predictions of a dire winter the NHS itself has failed to convince most of its staff to do the same.

Frontline medics such as doctors and nurses are offered the vaccine for free every year to help stop them inadvertently spreading the virus to any vulnerable people they encounter at work, like the elderly or cancer patients. The Daily Mail

NHS trials helper robot to deliver medicines around hospitals

NHS trials helper robot to deliver medicines around hospitals A robot that uses the same technology as self-driving vehicles is transporting medicines around hospitals as part of a new trial.

The 'helper bot' is being used to carry and deliver prescriptions and other items around Milton Keynes University Hospital, helping to relieve pressure on human staff. The Daily Mail

See also:

• MKUH trials Helper Robots to support staff Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Pharmacists to refer suspected cancer patients for checks

Pharmacists to refer suspected cancer patients for checks Pharmacists will be trained to spot signs of cancer in a bid to boost early detection and improve survival rates.

Customers who repeatedly come in for cough medicine or other drugs that could be a sign of more serious illness will be sent for cancer checks without having to see a GP first.

Those with symptoms including a persistent cough, difficulty swallowing or blood in their urine will be referred to hospital for further tests as part of a pilot scheme starting in Cornwall next month. The Daily Mail

Visiting suspended at Northampton and Kettering hospitals following "significant increase" in Covid and flu cases

Visiting suspended at Northampton and Kettering hospitals following "significant increase" in Covid and flu cases NHS bosses have suspended visiting on adult inpatient wards at hospitals in Northampton and Kettering due to a “significant increase” in cases of Covid, flu and other respiratory illnesses.

Only compassionate visiting is allowed at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital from Thursday (December 29), although staff are offering increased virtual visiting to support patients to keep in touch with loved ones. Northamptonshire Telegraph

East Midlands Ambulance Service strikes across Northamptonshire moved to January as pay dispute continues

East Midlands Ambulance Service strikes across Northamptonshire moved to January as pay dispute continues A day of strike action scheduled for some East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) staff across Northamptonshire has been moved to January.

Paramedics and staff members striked on December 21 due to a national pay dispute with the Government. GMB Union members were also due to strike on December 28, however that has now been moved to January 11, 2023. Daventry Express

Four in ten junior doctors plan to leave the NHS as soon as they can find another job

Four in ten junior doctors plan to leave the NHS as soon as they can find another job Four in ten junior doctors (40%) are actively planning to leave the NHS as soon as they can find another job,1 a survey from the BMA has revealed.

In the survey, released as part of the BMA chair of council Professor Phil Banfield’s New Year’s message, poor pay and working conditions were among the top reasons for junior doctors wanting to leave.2

Many of those doctors wanting to quit the NHS plan to work as doctors abroad.

See also:

• Four in 10 junior doctors plan to quit the NHS as soon as possible The Daily Mail
• Four in ten junior doctors want to leave the NHS The Daily Telegraph
• ‘The NHS will not be able to cope’ – new poll reveals planned junior doctor exodus Evening Standard

England slips further off-track for smokefree 2030 target

England slips further off-track for smokefree 2030 target The UK government is almost a decade behind achieving its target for England to be smokefree by 2030, a new report published by Cancer Research UK reveals.

The report warns that, if recent trends continue, the target will now not be met until 2039. This is despite repeated warnings from the charity that data up to 2018 indicated the Government was already seven years off track.

The charity is now calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, to publish a plan for tobacco control. This must include more action to prevent young people from smoking, and more funding for the measures and services needed to help people quit.

See also:

• Government is almost a DECADE behind its target for England to become smoke-free by 2030 The Daily Mail
• Targets to make England 'smoke free' by 2030 will be missed by nearly a decade, charity warns Sky News

Hospitals in England taking care of record number of patients

Hospitals in England taking care of record number of patients More people could be spending the time between Christmas and new year in hospital in parts of England this year than at any time in the past decade, as NHS trusts struggle to find social care places for patients medically fit for discharge.

The latest figures for December to date show an average of 94,200 patients were in hospitals across England, more than 93,000 of them in acute settings, the highest in seven winters. The Guardian

Generation of children held back as hundreds of thousands wait for key NHS care

Generation of children held back as hundreds of thousands wait for key NHS care Hundreds of thousands of children have been left waiting by the NHS for the developmental therapies they need, with some waiting more than two years, The Independent can reveal.

The long waiting lists for services such as speech and language therapy will see a generation of children held back in their development and will “impact Britain for the long haul”, according to the head of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). 

Scientific study identifies how men with prostate cancer can live longer

Scientific study identifies how men with prostate cancer can live longer Just one work-out can help suppress cancer, a new study suggests.

Scientists discovered a single bout of exercise can suppress tumour growth and actively fight cancerous cells - even in those with incurable, advanced cancer. The Independent

See also:

• Acute effect of high-intensity interval aerobic exercise on serum myokine levels and resulting tumour-suppressive effect in trained patients with advanced prostate cancer (abstract) Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases

No plans for mandatory COVID-19 testing of arrivals from China, UK government says

No plans for mandatory COVID-19 testing of arrivals from China, UK government says There are no plans to introduce mandatory COVID-19 tests for arrivals to the UK from China, after a series of other countries said they would impose controls.

The news comes after China announced it was abandoning its COVID-zero policy and was preparing to reopen its borders in January. Sky News

See also:

• Covid in China: US imposes Covid testing for visitors from China BBC News
• Hong Kong to scrap almost all its Covid rules BBC News
• UK government ‘has no plans’ to reintroduce Covid-19 testing for arrivals as China infections soar Evening Standard
• Mapped: Covid cases in your area as hospitalisations rise by third before Christmas The Independent

Charity dismisses MP claims that it is 'covering up' data that Covid vaccines harm the heart

Charity dismisses MP claims that it is 'covering up' data that Covid vaccines harm the heart A major British health charity has dismissed claims from a controversial Tory MP that it is 'covering up' data that the Covid mRNA vaccines harm the heart.

Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, made the comments in a parliamentary debate on the potential harms of vaccines earlier this month. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Andrew Bridgen's vaccine debate claims fact checked Full Fact
• British Heart Foundation dismisses Tory MP’s Covid ‘cover-up’ vaccine claim Evening Standard

Government urged to ban additives used in processed meat after more research highlights cancer risk

Government urged to ban additives used in processed meat after more research highlights cancer risk Chemicals routinely added to bacon, ham and deli meats should be banned after research suggests it raises the risk of cancer, one scientist has said.

A Queen's University Belfast study found that mice given processed pork containing nitrites developed 75 per cent more tumours than those that ate meat without the chemicals.

Professor Chris Elliott OBE, one of the study authors, said the results 'make the cancer risk associated with nitrite-cured meat even clearer'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Dietary inclusion of nitrite-containing frankfurter exacerbates colorectal cancer pathology and alters metabolism in APCmin mice (open access) Nature

Revealed: How GPs are STILL wasting thousands of pounds of NHS cash on bogus homeopathy 'remedies'

Revealed: How GPs are STILL wasting thousands of pounds of NHS cash on bogus homeopathy 'remedies' Family doctors are still spending tens of thousands of pounds every year on bogus homeopathic products, MailOnline can reveal. 

NHS spending on the quack medical treatment was effectively banned four years ago after it was ruled an ineffective use of taxpayer's money. 

But GPs in England have still prescribed nearly £150,000 of homeopathic items since 2018 - the first full year after the ruling, analysis shows.  The Daily Mail

Hard times: the latest chapter in the story of local government public health spending

Hard times: the latest chapter in the story of local government public health spending At The King’s Fund, we – and others – have been charting the trajectory of local government public health spending and the grant that central government provides since 2013. In that time we have seen a period of optimism, and early growth, followed by a serious decline and a plateauing in recent years. This blog updates the story, with the latest chapter recently set out in local government financial returns. So, how much did local government spend on public health in 2021/22, and what did they spend it on?

2023/24 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance: what you need to know

2023/24 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance: what you need to know Overview and analysis of NHS England’s operational planning guidance and priorities for the service in 2023/24. NHS Confederation

See also: 

• 2023/24 priorities and operational planning guidance NHS England
• NHS Confederation responds to NHS England’s latest Operational Planning Guidance NHS Confederation
• NHS targets are set to be scrapped in reforms designed to free trusts from a 'bureaucratic burden' The Daily Mail
• Ministers plan to scrap NHS England targets to ‘boost efficiency’ The Guardian
• Majority of NHS targets ‘could be abolished in 2023 after review of health service’ The Independent
• Labour warns against scrapping NHS targets The Independent

NHS set to eliminate Hepatitis C ahead of rest of the world

NHS set to eliminate Hepatitis C ahead of rest of the world The NHS is on track to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2025 thanks to a pioneering drug deal and a concerted effort to find people at risk, which is helping dramatically cut deaths five years ahead of global targets.

Following a five-year contract worth almost £1bn to buy antiviral drugs for thousands of patients, deaths from Hepatitis C – including liver disease and cancer – have fallen by 35%. That improvement in outcomes means the NHS has exceed the World Health Organisation’s target of 10% by more than three-fold, putting England in pole position to be among the first countries in the world to eliminate the virus as a public health concern. NHS England

See also:

• England set to be first country in the world to wipe out Hepatitis C virus The Daily Mail
• NHS on track to eliminate hepatitis C five years ahead of global targets The Guardian
• NHS on course to eliminate hepatitis C five years ahead of global targets The Independent
• 'Landmark achievement' as Hepatitis C on course to disappear from England by 2025, NHS England says Sky News

NHS launches new dementia diagnosis drive

NHS launches new dementia diagnosis drive Hundreds more people will be checked for dementia thanks to a new specialist service being trialled across the country, the NHS announced today.

Care home residents will be proactively assessed for the condition by specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals through 14 new pilot schemes being rolled out in the new year. NHS England

Artificial intelligence revolutionising NHS stroke care

Artificial intelligence revolutionising NHS stroke care Tens of thousands of stroke patients across the country are benefitting from quicker treatment and improved outcomes thanks to government investment in cutting edge artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose and determine the best treatment for patients who suffer a stroke.

Early-stage analysis of the technology, which received funding from the first round of the government’s AI in Health and Care Awards, shows it can reduce the time between presenting with a stroke and treatment by more than 60 minutes, and is associated with a tripling in the number of stroke patients recovering with no or only slight disability – defined as achieving functional independence - from 16 percent to 48 percent. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Stroke victims 48 PER CENT more likely to make full recovery when diagnosed using AI technology The Daily Mail 
• Cutting-edge AI technologies transforming stroke care in England News Medical

Guidance: The R value and growth rate

Guidance: The R value and growth rate The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19). 

This publication of the R value and growth rate on 23 December 2022 will be the final one. Coronavirus (COVID-19) incidence data will continue to be accessible from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) COVID-19 Infection Survey, UK Statistical bulletins. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Research: Consensus statements and medium-term projections on COVID-19 UK Health Security Agency
• UK Covid modelling data to stop being published BBC News
• Milton Keynes University Hospital reintroduces face mask policy BBC News
• Flu and Covid: People told to stay home for Christmas if unwell BBC News
• Britain's longest-hospitalised Covid patient spends THIRD Christmas away from his family The Daily Mail
• China Covid chaos: 250 MILLION people were infected in 20 days, officials estimate  The Daily Mail
• Chinese funeral homes and hospitals ‘extremely busy’ as Covid-19 spreads rapidly Evening Standard
• UK to stop publishing Covid modelling data in new year The Independent

Further nurse strike dates announced in England

Further nurse strike dates announced in England Nurses will go on strike again on 18 and 19 January in England unless pay talks are opened, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said.

Nurses at more hospital trusts than before will be involved in the strike action in the new year, the union said.

Meanwhile, the GMB union has called off a second day of ambulance strikes planned in England and Wales for 28 December.

But it announced a new co-ordinated walkout on 11 January. BBC News

See also:

• More hospitals to take part in strikes in January, RCN announces, after UK Government fails to open NHS pay talks Royal College of Nursing
• NHS pay dispute: January strike dates and locations announced Royal College of Nursing
• Worst possible time for industrial action, NHS Confederation CEO warns Channel 4 News
• Nursing union announces TWO more NHS strike dates The Daily Mail
• Nurses to strike for two days across England on 18-19 January The Guardian
• Ambulance workers suspend planned strike on 28 December The Guardian
• Private ambulance firms cashing in on strikes and NHS under pressure The Guardian
• I’m a nurse – this is why I voted to strike The Independent
• NHS strikes should be addressed, but striking staff need to be reasonable about their demands iNews
• Thousands of nurses to go on strike again in January - but next ambulance walkout called off Sky News

A new way of killing cancer cells could pave the way for a cure, scientists say

A new way of killing cancer cells could pave the way for a cure, scientists say A new way of using DNA to kill cancer cells which could pave the way for a cure for the disease has been created by scientists.

The method targets human cervical cancer and breast cancer-derived cells, as well as malignant melanoma cells in mice.

It uses a pair of hair clip shaped, cancer-killing DNA which were injected into cancer cells. The Independent

See also:

• Oncolytic Hairpin DNA Pair: Selective Cytotoxic Inducer through MicroRNA-Triggered DNA Self-Assembly (abstract) Journal of the American Chemical Society

More people face being shut out of NHS mental health services, experts warn

More people face being shut out of NHS mental health services, experts warn More people will be shut out from mental health services if no new cash is invested in the next two years, experts have warned.

Sean Duggan, chief executive of the mental health network at the NHS Confederation, which represents the health and care system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said that a lack of long-term investment combined with a potential surge in demand due to the cost of living crisis would cause unsustainable pressure on the system. The Guardian

Midlands hospital investigating forceps left inside patient after surgery

Midlands hospital investigating forceps left inside patient after surgery A hospital is investigating how a pair of metal surgical forceps were left inside a patient after they had been stitched up after abdominal surgery.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust has apologised unreservedly and said the incident at Redditch’s Alexandra hospital was “exceptionally rare”. The Guardian

Nearly two-thirds of junior doctors are 'looking to leave the NHS'

Nearly two-thirds of junior doctors are 'looking to leave the NHS' More than six in 10 junior doctors have 'actively researched' quitting their job in the NHS, a poll shows as the medics are set to vote on whether they should strike over pay.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents 45,000 junior doctors in England, quizzed nearly 4,000 on whether they have 'actively researched leaving the NHS' in the last year.

Results showed two-thirds had while eight in 10 said they 'often think about leaving' the health service. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Junior doctors plan ballot for industrial action in early January BMA
• Enough is enough: Junior doctors’ conditions ‘putting patient safety at risk’ BMA
• Four in 10 junior doctors plan to quit NHS as soon as they can, survey finds The Guardian
• Majority of junior doctors ‘considered leaving NHS in last year’ as pay row continues The Independent
• ‘NHS won’t cope’: 40% of junior doctors plan to quit, survey reveals The Independent
• Two thirds of junior doctors looking to leave NHS, poll finds ahead of strike ballot iNews
• Two-thirds of junior doctors considering leaving the NHS with vote on walkout approaching ITV News

The dieting 'red flags' experts are warning people to avoid

The dieting 'red flags' experts are warning people to avoid Beware of 'quick-fix' new year diets, as they can be harmful to your health, experts have warned.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has published a list of 'red flags' to watch out for when it comes to diets for a new year and a new you.

Dietitians warn people should avoid diets using the word 'detox', telling people to eat only one type of food, like cabbage, or promising rapid weight loss of more than two pounds (1kg) of body fat a week. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Dietitians across the UK urge the public to avoid the diet rush this January British Dietetic Association
• New Year, New You, No Thank you! British Dietetic Association
• Don't focus on weight loss in your New Year's resolutions, public warned The Daily Telegraph

We will be back on Wednesday 28th of December

Our daily news service is taking a short break for the festive season and will be back on Wednesday the 28th of December.

Wishing all our readers a very happy Christmas.

Coroner's warning after man, 21, died at Northampton General two days after taking toxic weight-loss drug

Coroner's warning after man, 21, died at Northampton General two days after taking toxic weight-loss drug A coroner has issued a stern warning after a 21-year-old man died in Northampton General Hospital after taking drugs for body-building and weight loss.

Jack Knapman, aged 21, suffered severe toxicity and cardiac arrest after taking a “substantial quantity” of the drug which assistant coroner Phil Barlow says in a report should “never be used for human consumption”. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• DNP: Bodybuilding substance death prompts Northamptonshire coroner warning BBC Northampton
• Weight loss drug warning after Northants man died two days after taking toxic fat-burning supplement NorthantsLive

Suicide: 'You're not alone, we all experience dark thoughts'

Suicide: 'You're not alone, we all experience dark thoughts' A man who set up a mental health support charity after his daughter took her own life has urged people to talk to others if they are struggling.

We Mind & Kelly Matters was founded by friends and family of Kelly Hewitt, a prison officer who died in December 2018.

The charity, based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has launched a beer mat and poster campaign at pubs across the county, with the aim of starting conversations and spreading suicide awareness over Christmas. BBC Northampton

£3.6 million social prescribing funding to bolster mental health support and ease pressure on GPs

£3.6 million social prescribing funding to bolster mental health support and ease pressure on GPs Thousands of people will continue to access innovative types of mental health support, proven to improve healthy living, reduce overprescribing and save capacity for GPs, following £3.6 million of government funding for the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP).

Social prescribing can help those experiencing grief, addiction, dementia and loneliness through a wide range of community-led social activities, services and opportunities that have proven benefits to people’s health and wellbeing. Department of Health and Social Care

UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep

UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to show an out of season increase in scarlet fever and group A streptococcus infections and a higher number of cases than seen in a typical year.

So far this season (from 12 September to 18 December) there have been 27,486 notifications of scarlet fever. This compares to a total of 3,287 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018 – although cases in that season started to rise at a different point. In 2017 to 2018 there were 30,768 scarlet fever notifications overall across the year. UK Health Security Agency

Two thirds increase in hospital flu cases amid rising staff absences and pressure on NHS 111

Two thirds increase in hospital flu cases amid rising staff absences and pressure on NHS 111 The number of patients with flu in hospital has increased by two thirds in one week amid significant pressure on services, the NHS said today.

New published data shows the post-pandemic impact of viruses circulating again with an average of 1,939 flu cases in England’s hospitals every day last week (up from 1,162).

Weekly winter data shows the wide ranging set of pressures faced by the NHS ahead of Christmas, with another seven days of rising flu hospital cases, increased calls to 111 and more staff sickness. NHS England

See also:

• Gift yourself a life-saving vaccine this Christmas holiday Department of Health and Social Care
• Winter figures reveal a significant increase in flu and ambulance handover delays NHS Providers
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: Seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in frontline healthcare workers: monthly data 2022 to 2023 UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in GP patients: monthly data, 2022 to 2023 UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in children of school age: monthly data, 2022 to 2023 UK Health Security Agency
• Influenza batters NHS with cases up to SIXTY times higher this year than last winter, figures show The Daily Mail
• Flu and COVID-19 wave leaves GPs struggling as strep A child deaths hit 24 GPonline
• Stay at home if you’re unwell, say experts, as flu and Covid cases rise in England The Guardian
• Covid: Britons told to stay at home if unwell in final Christmas warning as cases rise again The Independent
• Number of flu patients in hospitals in England soars while Strep A 'partly drives' near record demand for NHS 111 services Sky News
• Avoid the elderly if you have a cold or cough, Britons told Sky News

Molnupiravir Covid antiviral treatment hastens recovery - trial

Molnupiravir Covid antiviral treatment hastens recovery - trial An antiviral drug tested by more than 25,000 vaccinated Covid patients has been found to reduce recovery time from the disease.

Molnupiravir was given to people twice a day, for five days at home, while they had the Omicron variant of Covid.

Those chosen were at a higher risk of death or hospitalisation from Covid due to age or underlying health conditions.

Despite aiding recovery, the drug did not decrease death rates or hospital admissions. BBC News

See also:

• Molnupiravir plus usual care versus usual care alone as early treatment for adults with COVID-19 at increased risk of adverse outcomes (PANORAMIC): an open-label, platform-adaptive randomised controlled trial (open access) The Lancet
• Two years after Covid food still tastes rotten BBC News
• Covid drug DOESN'T cut risk of dying but it might help you recover quicker at home The Daily Mail
• Antiviral does not cut Covid hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated – study The Independent

Ambulance workers in England to strike again in January

Ambulance workers in England to strike again in January Ambulance staff in five areas of England are to stage two further strikes in January, union leaders say.

The industrial action on 11 and 23 January is likely to heap more pressure on emergency care, which is already under serious strain.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said further strike action was in no one's best interest.

Unison leaders say the action is a direct result of the government's refusal to negotiate over pay. BBC News

See also:

• NHS Confederation responds to first day of ambulance worker industrial action NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers responds to announcement of two new strike dates by ambulance staff NHS Providers
• Further strikes inevitable unless government holds talks and moves on NHS pay UNISON
• Pat Cullen: Who is the RCN nursing union boss leading strikes? BBC News
• Health Secretary Steve Barclay keen to focus on next year's NHS pay deal BBC News
• Ambulance workers announce fresh strikes in January The Daily Telegraph
• NHS faces months of disruption as unions ramp up campaign of strikes The Guardian
• More NHS strikes to come over ‘pitiful’ pay award as government digs in The Guardian
• NHS ‘close to overheating’ as unions reveal new strike dates for January The Independent
• NHS ‘cannot go on coping’ with more strikes, health leader warns iNews
• NHS staff to be offered expedited pay award to call off strikes Nursing Notes
• NHS staff could be offered pay rise in spring as health sec rules out movement on current wages Sky News

Record waiting times in England’s ambulances in week before strikes

Record waiting times in England’s ambulances in week before strikes Close to one in four ambulance patients in England waited more than an hour with crews before being admitted to A&E, in what was the worst winter week on record.

The record numbers came a week before thousands of ambulance staff, paramedics and others in England and Wales went on strike on Wednesday, leaving the NHS unable to respond to many 999 calls. The Guardian

Northamptonshire stroke patients' initiative wins a top prize at a national event

Northamptonshire stroke patients' initiative wins a top prize at a national event A county stroke team has won a top national prize for the way it has involved patients in shaping future care.

The Northamptonshire Community Stroke Team has won the UK Stroke Forum’s Patient, Carer and Public Involvement Prize.

The team – which is based at Northampton General Hospital but serves the whole county – won the prize for their entry “Meaningfully amplifying the patient voice in a Northamptonshire Community Stroke Team.” Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering: Man appears at Crown Court accused of murdering nurse and children

Kettering: Man appears at Crown Court accused of murdering nurse and children A man accused killing an NHS nurse and her two young children has been remanded in custody until next year.

Anju Asok, 35, Jeeva Saju, six, and Janvi Saju, four, were found with serious injuries at Saju Chelavalel's home in Kettering on Thursday.

Mr Chelavalel, 52, of Petherton Court, appeared via video link at Northampton Crown Court and was remanded until a plea hearing on 24 March. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Man accused of killing NHS nurse and two children appears in court The Independent
• Man charged with murders of NHS nurse and her two children in Kettering Sky News

'It's not about pay' - 'underfunded, misused and mistreated' Kettering ambulance crews explain why they are striking

'It's not about pay' - 'underfunded, misused and mistreated' Kettering ambulance crews explain why they are striking East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) staff – paramedics and technicians – have been manning picket lines in their first 24-hour strike.

Some staff will still be attending 999 calls for the most serious categories of emergency as colleagues highlight the state of the ambulance service.

The GMB trade union, that represents EMAS staff, received enough votes to mandate strike action, including its Northamptonshire employees. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Ambulance strikes: Paramedics on the picket lines in Northampton speak out about the 'failing NHS system' Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Ambulance staff strikes: facts and figures on the ambulance workforce

Ambulance staff strikes: facts and figures on the ambulance workforce A summary of key facts and statistics to help understand the ambulance workforce and the strikes. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Nursing strikes: facts and figures on UK nursing staff Nuffield Trust

Connected: remote technology in mental health services

Connected: remote technology in mental health services This briefing summarises evidence from six studies on the use of digital and telephone technology to deliver mental health services. It finds that using remote technology can improve access to mental health support for rural communities, disabled people or people needing a specialist service far from home. It has the potential to increase access and choice in mental health care. But it also risks exacerbating inequalities for people who are digitally excluded. Centre for Mental Health

Understanding the fundamental role of racism in ethnic inequities in Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy

Understanding the fundamental role of racism in ethnic inequities in Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy The briefing from the Runnymede Trust and the University of Manchester’s Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity uses data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study to show that institutional and community-level factors, driven by structural and institutional racism, explain the large majority of ethnic inequities in vaccination rates. Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity

UK cements 10-year-partnership with Moderna in major boost for vaccines and research

UK cements 10-year-partnership with Moderna in major boost for vaccines and research Patients in the UK will be protected against potential future global health threats, including potential pandemics, thanks to a deal struck between the government and Moderna.

The investment means NHS patients will be able to receive UK-manufactured mRNA vaccines, as the UK cements its status as a life sciences superpower.

The partnership with Moderna will see a new Innovation and Technology Centre in the UK, which will create more than 150 highly skilled jobs and have the capacity to produce up to 250 million vaccines per year in the event of a pandemic. Department of Health and Social Care

Ambulance strike: Warning of very challenging days ahead

Ambulance strike: Warning of very challenging days ahead Hospitals were quieter than normal during Wednesday's ambulance strikes, but Thursday is likely to be "very challenging" with lots of patients turning up, health bosses say.

Only the most serious 999 calls were responded to.

But there was no evidence of people going to A&E in taxis or their own cars, NHS Providers told the BBC. BBC News

See also:

• Fallout from strike action expected to spill over into coming days NHS Providers
• Ambulance strike: Blame game escalates between unions and ministers BBC News
• Steven Barclay on NHS strikes: We are happy to talk BBC News
• Nurses in Scotland reject latest pay offer from NHS BBC News
• Hospitals brace for bedlam today.. 24 hours after ambulance strike The Daily Mail
• Up to 30 THOUSAND appointments and ops were cancelled due to NHS nursing strikes The Daily Mail
• Ambulance services prepare for 'hangover' after 999 calls plummet during strikes The Daily Telegraph
• Government 'could fast-track NHS pay rise next year' The Evening Standard
• NHS expects surge in demand after ambulance workers’ strike The Guardian
• ‘Fear-mongering’: ambulance unions and health chief clash in high-stakes strikes The Guardian
• Government could ‘fast-track’ NHS pay rise in 2023 as more strikes loom The Independent
• ‘We’re striking to save it’: Meet the picket line paramedics warning ambulance service at ‘breaking point’ The Independent
• NHS strikes: Government plans to try to end walkouts by offering workers an early pay rise for next year iNews
• Warning of knock-on effect after health workers' strikes - plus the walkouts planned today Sky News

UK hospices warn of bed closures and staff cuts as energy bills soar

UK hospices warn of bed closures and staff cuts as energy bills soar Hospice charities providing end-of-life services in partnership with the NHS have warned they will have to shut beds and sack staff because of the catastrophic impact of rising energy bills on their day-to-day running costs.

The UK’s network of independent, mainly voluntary-run palliative care providers said hospices were experiencing a perfect storm of soaring costs and rising demand just as revenues from traditional public fundraising methods are collapsing. The Guardian

So where DOES the money go? The graph breaking down the 'broken' NHS's finances

So where DOES the money go? The graph breaking down the 'broken' NHS's finances The NHS could stump up cash to pay striking staff better wages if it cut down on 'unacceptable levels of waste and mismanagement', campaigners claimed today.

Thousands of ambulance staff today staged walkouts across England and Wales, in the largest 999 strikes since the 1980s. Nurses have also walked out twice in the last week and junior doctors could join them in the new year. The Daily Mail

What patients can expect as East Midlands Ambulance Service staff strike across Northamptonshire

What patients can expect as East Midlands Ambulance Service staff strike across Northamptonshire Paramedics and staff from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) staff will be on strike on Wednesday (December 21) in a dispute with the Government about pay.

The GMB trade union that represents EMAS staff received enough votes to mandate strike action, which will include Northamptonshire employees. EMAS says of its workforce of more than 4,000, the strike action could affect up to 50 percent. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Striking nurses hold vigil for mum and two children

Striking nurses hold vigil for mum and two children A group of nurses broke away from the picket line to hold a one-minute silence in memory of a colleague who died along with her two children.

Anju Asok, 35, Jeeva Saju, six, and Janvi Saju, four, were found with serious injuries at an address in Petherton Court, Kettering, Northamptonshire, on Thursday. BBC Northampton

Northampton General Hospital information champions do well in national awards

Northampton General Hospital information champions do well in national awards Work by information governance experts at Northampton General Hospital has been rated as some of the best in the country in a national awards scheme.

Sally Berrill, has won the Information Sharing Champion of the Year Award in the National Health and Social Care Strategic Information Governance Network Awards. News (dsptoolkit.nhs.uk). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Managing expectations: the NHS’s challenging activity and efficiency targets

Managing expectations: the NHS’s challenging activity and efficiency targets The NHS in England approached the Autumn Statement amid deep concern over rising costs and alarming performance statistics. The extra £3.3bn allocated in 2023/24 and 2024/25 will have been greeted with relief. Although NHS England’s Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said this funding should be ‘sufficient’ to fulfil the NHS’s key priorities, it is hard to overstate the scale of the task ahead. The Health Foundation

Recovering elective waits inclusively: where to start?

Recovering elective waits inclusively: where to start? Can the NHS effectively combine the aims of clearing the elective backlog and tackling health inequalities? It’s a question that systems and providers have been faced with since NHS England requested that recovery in the wake of the pandemic is managed inclusively. Some may think these aims are at odds with one another, while others will champion their unification. In the first stage of a new research project about inclusive approaches to reducing the backlog, we have been looking at what we can learn from NHS boards about how this issue is playing out. The King's Fund

Comparisons of all-cause mortality between European countries and regions: 28 December 2019 to week ending 1 July 2022

Comparisons of all-cause mortality between European countries and regions: 28 December 2019 to week ending 1 July 2022 Comparisons of all-cause excess mortality on a weekly basis since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Measures include relative age-standardised mortality rates and relative cumulative age-standardised mortality rates. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• The King’s Fund responds to latest ONS comparisons of all-cause mortality between European countries during the pandemic The King's Fund

Ambulance strike: Hospital chiefs warn of patient safety risk

Ambulance strike: Hospital chiefs warn of patient safety risk The risk to patients will only get worse unless the government reaches an agreement to prevent further strikes, NHS leaders have warned.

In a letter to the prime minister and health secretary, they said there was "deep worry" about Wednesday's strike.

People are being asked to only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency, but NHS England says emergency care will continue to be provided.

Ambulance response times are already twice as long as two years ago. BBC News

See also:

• Letter to Prime Minister on industrial action in the NHS: joint letter NHS Confederation and NHS Providers
• Ambulance strike: Union fury over minister Steve Barclay's claims BBC News
• Nurses' strike: 'If we have to, we'll continue to strike' BBC News
• Strike: What will ambulances respond to on Wednesday? BBC News
• Avoid contact sports during ambulance strikes, says minister BBC News
• Watch: On the picket line with nurses across the UK BBC News
• Rishi Sunak refusing to budge on pay as strike action escalates BBC News
• EVERYTHING you need to know about today's ambulance strike The Daily Mail
• Ambulance unions have made a choice to inflict harm on patients, warns Health Secretary The Daily Mail
• Don't get drunk over Christmas: Urgent NHS warning ahead of ambulance strikes The Daily Mail
• It is not the fault of unions if patients die during ambulance strikes, says union boss The Daily Telegraph
• 'We do this for you': nurses on picket line in Birmingham during NHS strikes – video The Guardian
• Deals struck to ensure ‘life and limb’ cover during NHS ambulance strike The Guardian
• Nurses’ action is part of UK’s biggest wave of strikes in a generation The Guardian
• Ambulance strikes: What are the demands and what is the government offering? The Independent
• Eight of England’s 10 ambulance services declare critical incidents ahead of paramedic strikes The Independent
• How can the NHS strikes be resolved? The New Statesman
• Ambulance workers stage mass walkout - as NHS leaders say they cannot guarantee patient safety Sky News

I’ve never seen the NHS pushed so hard. It’s not the system that’s breaking now, it’s the people

I’ve never seen the NHS pushed so hard. It’s not the system that’s breaking now, it’s the people | The Secret Consultant This week, the chair of the General Medical Council offered an extraordinary message of support to doctors. What was striking about this was not its tone, but its content. Nowhere was anything said about how to do our jobs, or how to be better doctors; the message was simple. It asked us to be compassionate and to be kind, to ourselves and to one another. The Guardian

A cure for long covid? Combination of concussion and ADHD drugs could treat brain fog and memory

A cure for long covid? Combination of concussion and ADHD drugs could treat brain fog and memory Two already-approved drugs may effectively treat the millions of Americans estimated to have long Covid.

Guanfacine, an Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) drug sold under the name Tenex, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a concussion drug that is branded Mucomyst were found to reduce brain fog in two-thirds of patients. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Clinical experience with the α2A-adrenoceptor agonist, guanfacine, and N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of cognitive deficits in “Long-COVID19” (open access) Neuroimmunology Reports

NHS 'shining stars' celebrated at awards ceremony in Northamptonshire

NHS 'shining stars' celebrated at awards ceremony in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) held its annual staff awards ceremony on Thursday 15 December 2022 to recognise and honour its ‘shining stars’ – the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other NHS colleagues working to provide outstanding care to patients across the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Are local authorities equal partners in statutory integrated care systems?

Are local authorities equal partners in statutory integrated care systems? Partnership working between local government and the NHS has come a long way in recent years. Back in 2016, when some of my colleagues first began delving into the inner workings of sustainability and transformation partnerships – the precursors to today’s integrated care systems (ICSs) – the picture was not always pretty. Many local government leaders told us that they felt little ownership over the system plans to which, at least nominally, they were partners. One said that ‘the majority of chief execs in [our area] just think it’s a joke’. The King's Fund

What’s the story behind NHS staff losing their sparkle?

What’s the story behind NHS staff losing their sparkle? Having recently joined the Health Foundation after a career trying to turn evidence into guidance at NICE, whenever I read a research output, I find my first question is still, ‘What recommendations can be derived from this research?’. Developing evidence-based guidance also taught me that there is very rarely a straightforward answer to the question of ‘what’: often ‘what’, and indeed ‘how’, can’t be answered without considering ‘why’.

A vision for pharmacy professional practice in England

A vision for pharmacy professional practice in England This report, produced in partnership with The King’s Fund, outlines key ambitions for the future of pharmacy in England over the next decade. It sets out how pharmacy teams can support better patient care and address key challenges facing the nation’s health. It calls for the complete integration of pharmacy professionals across health and care systems to enable a transformation in patient care, supported by a comprehensive pharmacy workforce strategy, improved use of data and research to drive better patient outcomes, and strong skilful leadership and collaboration to inform professional practice. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

NHS campaign reminds public to use NHS 111 online ahead of the festive season

NHS campaign reminds public to use NHS 111 online ahead of the festive season The NHS is reminding people they can get assessed and directed to the care they need by using NHS 111 online without leaving the comfort of their homes, with new TV adverts running from today.

As part of the next stage of the NHS ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign, television adverts will show people travelling to a range of healthcare settings on their sofas, armchairs or beds, as they answer questions about their health concern on NHS 111 online. NHS England

Nurses to strike as ambulance crews plan walkouts

Nurses to strike as ambulance crews plan walkouts About 10,000 NHS nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are to strike for the second time in less than a week in protest over their pay.

Wednesday will see ambulance staff in England and Wales walk out too, unless a meeting later with the health secretary can avert it.

Steve Barclay has invited three unions representing paramedics to talks.

It follows warnings of extensive disruption to services at a very challenging time of year for the NHS. BBC News

See also:

• Industrial Action at EMAS: Information for the public East Midlands Ambulance Service
• NHS Confederation responds to this week's strikes NHS Confederation
• NHS briefing: Industrial action winter 2022 NHS England
• Industrial action in ambulance services NHS England
• Trusts urge ministers to talk to unions after 'significant' strike impact in some areas NHS Providers
• Day two of nursing strikes: RCN issues ultimatum to government Royal College of Nursing
• Talk to unions, boost NHS pay and strikes won’t be necessary UNISON
• More nurses' strikes in January if no negotiations - union BBC News
• Ambulance strike: Avoid risky activity during strike - health minister BBC News
• NHS strikes: Why are nurses and ambulance staff taking industrial action? BBC News
• Health Secretary Steve Barclay grilled about NHS by ill child's mother BBC News
• Health Secretary Steve Barclay gets confronted again The Daily Mail
• Are nurses on strike today? Which hospitals are affected? The Daily Mail
• Plea for strikers to call off walkouts as NHS faces meltdown The Daily Telegraph
• The unions must take their share of the blame for the failing NHS The Daily Telegraph
• NHS faces ‘incredibly challenging’ time as nurses warn strikes could last months Evening Standard
• Sick child’s mother rebukes Steve Barclay over NHS staff being ‘worked to the bone’ The Guardian
• ‘The damage you’re doing to families is terrible’: mother challenges health secretary – video The Guardian
• NHS ambulance strikes will put patients at risk – but delays already at record high The Guardian
• Patients in north-west England have to get themselves to A&E during strikes The Guardian
• Thousands of nurses stage second walkout in bitter row over pay The Independent
• Heart attack and stroke patients could be denied ambulances during strike The Independent
• Nurses' strike: How A&E and other NHS services will be impacted - and which hospitals are affected Sky News

NHS trust apologises as man kept in hospital for more than a year

NHS trust apologises as man kept in hospital for more than a year A man with physical and mental health problems is "living" in a hospital despite being fit to leave, a court has heard.

The man, who is in his 30s, has been in hospital for more than a year.

A barrister leading the man's legal team told how he had tried to "escape" and broke an arm during the attempt.

The Court of Protection heard that he remained in hospital because no "available alternative accommodation" had been found. BBC News

Care workers paid £8,000 less than NHS equivalents in England - study

Care workers paid £8,000 less than NHS equivalents in England - study A care worker in England is paid on average £8,000 a year less than NHS staff with the same skills, research for a care provider suggests.

The charity, Community Integrated Care, also told BBC News it was having to provide food parcels for some staff who were struggling to pay their bills.

Separate research shows low pay is the most common reason why care staff quit. BBC News

See also:

• Unfair to care 2022-23: Understanding the social care pay gap and how to close it Korn Ferry

Government to sue Mone-linked PPE firm for £122m

Government to sue Mone-linked PPE firm for £122m The government is suing a company that supplied it with personal protective equipment (PPE) for £122m plus costs.

PPE Medpro won contracts through the so-called VIP lane in 2020, after being recommended by Tory peer Baroness Mone.

The government is attempting to get its money back on one of the deals in the High Court, claiming the medical gowns supplied "did not comply with the specification in the contract". BBC News

See also:

• PPE Medpro: UK government launches action to recover £122m The Guardian

Revealed: Mental health patients who reported ‘abuse’ ignored by NHS and regulator

Revealed: Mental health patients who reported ‘abuse’ ignored by NHS and regulator Patients and their families who reported allegations of abuse at a chain of mental health units did not even receive responses from the regulator and the NHS, The Independent can reveal.

An investigation by The Independent and Sky News last month exposed how “systemic abuse” went unchecked at hospitals run by The Huntercombe Group over a number of years.

Now more patients have come forward – bringing the total number of cases past 50 – and shown how they tried to raise the alarm to the health service and Care Quality Commission, but say they were ignored while abuse continued.

See also:

• Pinned down, force-fed and drugged into ‘zombie-like’ state: ‘Systemic abuse’ at children’s hospitals revealed The Independent
• Police investigating ‘rape of child’ at scandal-hit mental health hospital The Independent
• 'It just felt like they'd given up on me': 30 new patients of Huntercombe Group tell their stories of what life is like at mental health units Sky News

Breakthrough new NHS drug can delay spread of breast cancer

Breakthrough new NHS drug can delay spread of breast cancer Breast cancer sufferers will be granted extra months of life thanks to a new drug that has been approved for NHS use.

Enhertu, or trastuzumab deruxtecan, will be rolled out to 600 women a year in England. Trials have shown that that drug improves the survival of recipients by halting the spread of tumours.

It gives patients an extra 22 months of life, on average, before the cancer progresses. The Independent

See also:

• Trastuzumab deruxtecan for treating HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer after 1 or more anti-HER2 therapies NICE

NHS hopes new artificial intelligence software will be able to spot damage in heart scans in seconds

NHS hopes new artificial intelligence software will be able to spot damage in heart scans in seconds Artificial intelligence software is poised to drastically slash NHS cardiology waiting lists and give heart patients a faster diagnosis.

The program can carry out complicated measurements in less than a minute that normally take doctors about 20 minutes. The Daily Mail