We are taking a short break

Our health news service will be taking a short break from today.

We will be back with all the (health) news that's fit to print (to paraphrase the New York Times) on Tuesday the 8th of February.

Dr's Casebook: Covid restrictions are lifted but we still all need to take basic care

Dr's Casebook: Covid restrictions are lifted but we still all need to take basic care The easing of Covid-19 restrictions in England is dividing opinion. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• One in ten Covid patients in Northampton General Hospital may have caught virus AFTER being admitted, according to NHS data Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Nearly 100 Covid-19 patients at Kettering General Hospital may have caught virus AFTER being admitted Northamptonshire Telegraph

Tackling the inverse care law: Analysis of policies to improve general practice in deprived areas since 1990

Tackling the inverse care law: Analysis of policies to improve general practice in deprived areas since 1990 This analysis reviews attempts to tackle inequities in the supply of general practice services in England over the past 30 years. The report looks at policies on general practice funding, workforce, premises, contracts and commissioning. The Health Foundation

Chart of the week: How quickly are NHS 111 answering calls this winter?

Chart of the week: How quickly are NHS 111 answering calls this winter? Continuing our focus on winter pressures on the NHS, Liz Fisher looks at how NHS 111 has been performing recently. Even before the pandemic, the percentage of calls answered in a timely way by the service would drop from December to February. Is it a similar story this winter? Nuffield Trust

Special Health Authority announced for independent maternity investigations

Special Health Authority announced for independent maternity investigations Plans to establish a Special Health Authority to continue the HSIB maternity investigation programme have been announced in Parliament (26 January, 2022) by Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch 

Fourth report on the effect of the NHS Constitution

Fourth report on the effect of the NHS Constitution This report sets out the effect of the NHS Constitution on NHS patients and staff. It covers public and NHS staff awareness and understanding of the NHS Constitution and the views on the value the NHS Constitution brings to NHS services. It also details support for and use of the NHS Constitution as well as the progress made and areas for improvement to help raise awareness of the constitution. Department of Health and Social Care 

Rise in extremely drug-resistant Shigella in gay and bisexual men

Rise in extremely drug-resistant Shigella in gay and bisexual men Surveillance by UKHSA has detected a rise in cases of extremely antibiotic-resistant Shigella sonnei infections, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

There have been 47 cases in the 4-month period between 1 September 2021 and 10 January 2022. This compares to 16 cases in a 17-month period the previous year – between 1 April 2020 and 31 August 2021. UKHSA has been following this strain since 2018, but recent cases show resistance to antibiotics is increasing. UK Health Security Agency 

Latest data reinforces the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnant women

Latest data reinforces the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnant women The latest data from UKHSA shows that vaccinated women who gave birth between January and October 2021 had a very similar low risk of stillbirth, low birthweight and premature birth compared to women who were not vaccinated in pregnancy. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Boosters provide high level of protection against death with Omicron UK Health Security Agency
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19: estimated administrative vaccine uptake for people aged 18 and over UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Scientists warn over 'reckless' lack of vaccines for poorer countries

Covid: Scientists warn over 'reckless' lack of vaccines for poorer countries Scientists have warned the government that allowing large numbers of people in lower-income countries to go unvaccinated is "reckless" and could lead to new Covid variants.

More than 320 experts have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling for urgent action. BBC News

See also:

• Letter to the Prime Minister from the scientific community Global Justice
• Omicron's fall has slowed - should we worry? BBC News
• Vaccine for all future strains of the coronavirus begins tests in humans The Daily Mail
• UK's daily Covid cases fall 10% in a week to 96,871 despite warnings shrinking outbreak had relapsed The Daily Mail
• Majority of Covid inpatients in England are NOT primarily ill with virus for first time ever The Daily Mail
• Scientists warn of new 'stealth' variant blamed for fresh rise in European infections The Daily Mail
• ‘I’ll wear one for the foreseeable’: masks abound despite England rule change The Guardian
• NHS staff Covid absences falling but still higher than before Christmas The Independent
• IHU: How dangerous is the new Covid variant and where has it spread? The Independent

NHS patient safety watchdog launches investigation into community mental health care

NHS patient safety watchdog launches investigation into community mental health care The NHS patient safety watchdog has launched an investigation into community mental health care following the death of a 56-year-old woman, The Independent can reveal.

See also: 

• Community mental health teams investigation Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

Half of women have not had children by 30th birthday for first time

Half of women have not had children by 30th birthday for first time Half of women in England and Wales had not had a baby by their 30th birthday for the first time ever in 2020, according to official figures.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday reveal the number of women who do not have a child by their 30th birthday has increased by 32 percentage points in 50 years. The Independent

See also: 

• Childbearing for women born in different years, England and Wales: 2019 Office for National Statistics

Here's how to save the NHS £12bn... without damaging patient care

Here's how to save the NHS £12bn... without damaging patient care After almost two years fighting Covid, the NHS is under pressure as never before.

There are almost six million on its waiting list for routine treatments — 300,000 of whom have been waiting for more than a year, compared with just 1,600 before the pandemic.

Worse, thanks to a shortfall of 93,000 staff, it has rarely been less well equipped to deal with a huge backlog. The Daily Mail 

Northampton Covid cases among highest in England as Plan B restrictions set to end

Northampton Covid cases among highest in England as Plan B restrictions set to end Health chiefs say wearing a mask will still be vital to protecting the vulnerable when more Covid-19 restrictions in Northamptonshire are lifted from Thursday (January 27).

Northampton is one of the top four areas in England with highest coronavirus rates following another rise in cases. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Shopworkers 'desperately worried' by scrapping Plan B while Covid-19 cases remain high in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Homecare: Covid self-isolation and low pay creating staff shortages

Homecare: Covid self-isolation and low pay creating staff shortages A recent survey showed two-thirds of homecare providers are turning away new care requests due to staff shortages. The BBC caught up with carers in Northamptonshire to find out why. BBC Northampton 

How new ways of working in primary care are boosting patient experiences in York

How new ways of working in primary care are boosting patient experiences in York In this case study Dr Abbie Brooks, GP with Park View Surgery, York, part of the Priory Medical Group, explains how online patient triage and a range of consultation options are providing a better experience for patients and staff across the group. NHS England 

SBRI Healthcare awards £1 million to pioneering innovations to support the delivery of a net zero NHS

SBRI Healthcare awards £1 million to pioneering innovations to support the delivery of a net zero NHS SBRI Healthcare has awarded a total of £1 million to ten pioneering MedTech and Digital innovations to support the delivery of a Net Zero NHS. The new projects are funded through a nationwide call by SBRI Healthcare, in partnership with the Greener NHS Programme, and which attracted 46 applications from a range of organisations, including small businesses, technology start-ups and NHS Trusts. NHS England 

Updating ethnic contrasts in deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), England: 8 December 2020 to 1 December 2021

Updating ethnic contrasts in deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), England: 8 December 2020 to 1 December 2021 Estimates of COVID-19 mortality rates by ethnic group using linked data from the 2011 Census, death registrations, primary care and hospital records, and National Immunisation Management System. Office for National Statistics 

Government eases social care restrictions after booster success

Government eases social care restrictions after booster success Restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of Omicron in adult social care will now be eased as Plan B measures are removed following the success of the booster programme.

From Monday 31 January, there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes and self-isolation periods will be cut and now care homes only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• England returns to Plan A as regulations on face coverings and COVID Passes change today Department of Health and Social Care
• Over 5,000 people enrolled in UK-wide study for antivirals Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England UK Health Security Agency
• Positivity rates highest ever recorded in REACT-1 study, but prevalence plateauing UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Care home restrictions to be eased in England

Covid: Care home restrictions to be eased in England Covid restrictions on adult social care will be eased in England from Monday, the government has announced.

There will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed at care homes, self-isolation periods will be cut and care homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 days, not 28.

The change is the latest rolling back of Plan B curbs in England. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Face mask rules and Covid passes end in England BBC News
• Covid vaccines: The unvaccinated NHS workers facing the sack BBC News
• Small period changes after Covid jab seen to be short-lived BBC News
• Long Covid expert says the world is in 'deep trouble' and millions may suffer debilitating issues The Daily Mail
• Two Pfizer or Moderna vaccines HALVE the risk of getting 'long Covid', official UK data shows The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid hints that controversial 'no jab, no job' rule for NHS staff in England is under review The Daily Mail
• Anti-vaxxers storm Covid vaccine centre in Ealing to demand site is shut down because it's a 'crime scene' as they accuse staff of 'genocide' and harass members of the public getting the jab The Daily Mail
• COVID jab mandate 'under review' as 77000 NHS staff unvaccinated GPonline
• BA.2 variant: Everything we know about the new ‘stealth Omicron’ Covid strain The Independent
• COVID-19: Restrictions eased today as England moves out of Plan B and back to Plan A Sky News

Government 'consultation' on disability strategy unlawful, High Court rules

Government 'consultation' on disability strategy unlawful, High Court rules A survey of disabled people, used to inform the highly anticipated National Disability Strategy, has been ruled "unlawful" by the High Court.

The UK Disability Survey gained 14,000 responses but was found to have failed to consult with people effectively. BBC News 

England's NHS workforce education budgets delayed by merger

England's NHS workforce education budgets delayed by merger The budget used for educating and training NHS staff, including nurses, in England has not yet been set for the year ahead, an influential committee of MPs has heard, sparking questions about the future of the workforce. Nursing Times 

Ministers urged to act as GPs in poor areas ‘have less funding and staff’

Ministers urged to act as GPs in poor areas ‘have less funding and staff’ Ministers have been urged to act after a report found people living in poor areas face worse GP services with less staff and funding compared to more wealthy parts of the country.

GP services in poorer areas are underfunded, under-doctored and have worse-quality outcomes, according to a report shared with The Independent from the Health Foundation. 

About 300,000 in UK have potentially deadly aortic valve condition, study finds

About 300,000 in UK have potentially deadly aortic valve condition, study finds Almost 300,000 people in the UK have aortic valve stenosis, a potentially deadly heart condition, according to the first major study to estimate its prevalence.

The NHS would struggle to cope with the sheer number of people needing treatment for this over the next few years, with the number set to rise further, the researchers warned. The Guardian

See also: 

• Uncovering the treatable burden of severe aortic stenosis in the UK (open access) BMK Open Heart

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Navigating local health and care services

MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Navigating local health and care services Patient engagement in the provision of Health and Social Care is a legal requirement.

Good communication is paramount in any walk of life and more so in the provision of health and social care. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

How better use of data can help address key challenges facing the NHS

How better use of data can help address key challenges facing the NHS This long read explores how the NHS in England can better use routine health data to help address current challenges, including winter pressures, the ongoing coronavirus response and the growing elective care backlog. The Health Foundation 

Time for local NHS leaders to take a first step in tackling poverty: pay staff the real Living Wage

Time for local NHS leaders to take a first step in tackling poverty: pay staff the real Living Wage The NHS England framework for tackling health inequalities turns the spotlight on the 20 per cent most deprived communities within each integrated care system. They are the core group in the Core20plus5 approach. Recognising that 12 million people – a fifth of the population – live in relative poverty, the majority of them in working households, it is impossible to tackle health inequalities without alleviating poverty and its consequences. The King's Fund 

Health and care bill: joint parliamentary briefing

Health and care bill: joint parliamentary briefing The NHS Confederation, NHS Providers and The King's Fund share concerns about the erosion of NHS independence as a result of the Health and Care Bill. They support the premise of the Health and Care Bill, and believe that the future of health and care in the England must be based on collaboration and partnership working at a local level. However this joint briefing covers two specifics aspects of the Health and Care Bill and amendments they believe would better ensure people across the country have access to the best possible care in their local community. 

Community pharmacy workforce survey 2021

Community pharmacy workforce survey 2021 This survey report and accompanying data set, commissioned from the Centre for Pharmacy Workforce Studies at the University of Manchester, provides a snapshot of the community pharmacy workforce in spring 2021 and will help inform future planning and investment decisions. Health Education England 

Two-thirds with Omicron say they have had Covid before

Two-thirds with Omicron say they have had Covid before Two-thirds of people recently infected with the Omicron variant say they had already had Covid previously.

The findings come from a large, continuing study, React, swab-testing thousands of volunteers in England.

More work is needed to know how many are true reinfections - but the results reveal the groups that appear to be more likely to catch Covid again. BBC News

See also:

• Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission findings (REACT) Imperial College London
• One in eight pupils out of school as Covid worsens BBC News
• NHS staff have duty to be vaccinated - Javid  BBC News
• Pfizer and BioNTech start trials of new Omicron-specific jab BBC News
• Mayo Clinic Expert predicts COVID-19 will be around until NEXT CENTURY The Daily Mail
• Home births in England may be denied if midwives without Covid jab lose jobs The Guardian
• Covid: Cases of Omicron sub-variant increasing in many countries, warns WHO The Independent

Hymen repair surgery and virginity testing to be banned in UK

Hymen repair surgery and virginity testing to be banned in UK The government is planning on banning a cosmetic surgery called hymenoplasty across the UK.

It attempts to recreate a woman's hymen, which in some cultures is linked to virginity, and has been described as a form of honour-based abuse.

The procedure will be criminalised, as will virginity testing. BBC News 

Ovarian cancer death rate falls 17% in five years, study finds

Ovarian cancer death rate falls 17% in five years, study finds Deaths from ovarian cancer in Britain will be 17 per cent lower this year than in 2017 amid increased use of oral contraceptives, according to new research.

A study published in the Annals of Oncology also predicts death rates from the disease will be seven per cent lower across European Union (EU) nations. The Independent

See also: 

• European cancer mortality predictions for the year 2022 with focus on ovarian cancer (abstract) Annals of Oncology

A worker in winter: the hidden life of a GP – angry patients, anti-vaxxers, extreme goodwill and exhaustion

A worker in winter: the hidden life of a GP – angry patients, anti-vaxxers, extreme goodwill and exhaustion n the first of a new series on the under-pressure workers holding the UK together in this difficult winter, doctor Laura Mount reveals how staff sickness, spiralling waiting lists and political pressure have left GPs on the brink. The Guardian 

Vaccination centre marks first birthday by closing in on 300,000th Covid-19 jab for Northamptonshire

Vaccination centre marks first birthday by closing in on 300,000th Covid-19 jab for Northamptonshire Northamptonshire's Covid-19 vaccinaction centre is one year old on Tuesday (January 25) and closing in on 300,000 jabs.

NHS staff and volunteers at Moulton Park have already given more than 285,000 doses — an average of nearly 800 a day — since it opened in the peak of pandemic's second wave. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Corby school closes for week as a third of staff self-isolate Northamptonshire Telegraph

Campaigners ramp up fight to keep GP surgery in Byfield as thousands sign petition

Campaigners ramp up fight to keep GP surgery in Byfield as thousands sign petition Organisers are urging people to make their voices heard when the decision to save the surgery goes to planning on Wednesday, February 9.

If it's turned down by West Northants Council when the meeting takes place in the Council Chamber at 6pm, Byfield will lose the surgery. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Elderly disabled man with dementia forced to wait 18 hours in A&E for bed at Northampton General Hospital

Elderly disabled man with dementia forced to wait 18 hours in A&E for bed at Northampton General Hospital A 71-year-old dementia sufferer from Northampton was forced to wait 18 hours for a bed at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) after taking a nasty fall at home. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Is the NHS overmanaged?

Is the NHS overmanaged? This long read examines the question of whether the NHS is overmanaged. Key points are: NHS managers make up circa two per cent of the workforce compared to 9.5 cent of the UK workforce; in recent years the number of managers has been cut, at a time when the NHS is facing its biggest challenge; and the NHS as a whole is under, not over, managed. However, persistent and misleading media headlines continue to claim that the NHS is overmanaged. NHS Confederation

Mapping the joint venture relationship between private healthcare companies and NHS medical consultants

Mapping the joint venture relationship between private healthcare companies and NHS medical consultants This report examines the growing importance of joint venture businesses between NHS medical consultants and private healthcare companies in the delivery of for-profit healthcare in the UK. Centre for Health and the Public Interest

See also: 

• Hundreds of England’s NHS consultants have shares in private clinics The Guardian

Health and social care near the end of life: can policies reduce costs and improve outcomes?

Health and social care near the end of life: can policies reduce costs and improve outcomes? This briefing reviews the evidence on health and social care needs and expenditures at the end of life. End of life costs are the main reason for high per person spending levels observed at older ages in many European countries. However, there is huge variation between individuals, with estimates suggesting that just ten per cent of people near the end of life are responsible for over 60 per cent of total end of life health and social care expenditures. High-cost individuals tend to be frail people with multiple chronic illnesses who use considerable hospital and social care services. The briefing suggests that a skilled assessment of patients’ needs, as well as support for them and their families, can improve experiences and may reduce costs of care. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 

Pandemic Pressures and Public Health Care: Evidence from England

Pandemic Pressures and Public Health Care: Evidence from England Delays to cancer referrals and treatment times have led to an estimated 32,000 missing cancer patients that should have already started receiving treatment. Meanwhile, pandemic pressures have adversely affected the quality of care received by non-Covid patients resulting in at least 4,000 additional deaths that could otherwise have been avoided in England. 

New research measures the short- and long-term impacts of these challenges on non-Covid-related healthcare services in England. CAGE Research Centre, University of Warwick 

Public urged to sign-up to world-first COVID-19 antiviral study

Public urged to sign-up to world-first COVID-19 antiviral study Adults over the age of 50 or with an underlying health condition who test positive for COVID-19 are being urged to sign up for a world-first COVID-19 study which is providing life-saving antivirals to thousands of people. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• UK open for travel with all restrictions removed for eligible vaccinated arrivals Department of Health and Social Care
• ‘Jab cabs’ and ‘jabs with kebabs’ to get thousands more their vital vaccines NHS England

Back on the Covid wards: How is the NHS coping now?

Back on the Covid wards: How is the NHS coping now? Plan B Covid restrictions in England are due to be lifted later this week, in a move the government hopes will gradually see the country move beyond the pandemic.

The World Health Organization's special envoy on Covid-19, has said that "light is at the end of the tunnel" for the UK.

But British officials remain cautious because of the high number of unvaccinated people, estimated to be around five million. BBC News

See also:

• Thousands needed to try new Covid antiviral treatments BBC News
• Long Covid: Ipswich Hospital worker says it has changed her life BBC News
• Birthday celebration for PM sparks new party row BBC News
• Downing Street party: When will Sue Gray's report be published? BBC News
• Covid travel tests to be axed in England for double vaccinated BBC News
• WHO chief warns that it is 'dangerous' to assume that Omicron is the 'endgame' variant of Covid The Daily Mail
• UK's Covid cases tick up again after a fortnight of Omicron fizzling out The Daily Mail
• 'No plans' to scrap Covid jab NHS mandate: No10 doubles down on move The Daily Mail
• Having his cake and eating it! 'Upset' Cabinet minister refuses to 'defend' Boris's June 2020 birthday 'party' in No10  The Daily Mail
• A full list of alleged government Covid rule-busting ‘parties’ The Guardian
• Boris Johnson attended indoor birthday celebration during lockdown, No 10 admits The Independent
• Boris Johnson had birthday bash during lockdown ITV News
• COVID-19: Vulnerable patients being missed off eligibility lists for drugs to fight virus, charity warns Sky News

NHS England plans dental ‘treatment blitz’ to tackle appointments backlog

NHS England plans dental ‘treatment blitz’ to tackle appointments backlog Hundreds of thousands of dental patients in England are to be offered weekend and evening appointments under NHS plans to tackle the backlog exacerbated by the pandemic. The Guardian

See also:

• Hundreds of thousands more dental appointments to help recovery of services NHS England

Can a sick note make you better? Dr Gavin Francis on the power of convalescence

Can a sick note make you better? Dr Gavin Francis on the power of convalescence After serious illness, busy lives mean a proper convalescence is now a rarity. But a full and proper recovery takes time. GP and writer Gavin Francis reveals why a sick note can be a ‘powerful prescription’. The Guardian 

GP complaints treble in a year: 'majority' of concerns over patients struggling to make appointment

GP complaints treble in a year: 'majority' of concerns over patients struggling to make appointment Complaints about GPs have almost tripled in a year with the 'vast majority' of those coming from people who were unable to book an appointment due to surgeries prioritising the booster rollout. The Daily Mail 

Dementia patients who see the same GP are 10 times less likely to be admitted to hospital

Dementia patients who see the same GP are 10 times less likely to be admitted to hospital Dementia patients who regularly see the same GP tend to be in better health, a study suggests. 

University of Exeter experts found dementia sufferers enjoyed a raft of benefits over their peers if they consistently saw the same doctor.

They also had a better chance of getting medication that was a good match and less likely to cause side effects.  The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Continuity of GP care for patients with dementia: impact on prescribing and the health of patients (open access) British Journal of General Practice

Covid vaccine chief's plea to Northamptonshire's missing 67,000 to get boosted

Covid vaccine chief's plea to Northamptonshire's missing 67,000 to get boosted Around 67,000 people across Northamptonshire are still to get a Covid-19 booster jab after a slump in demand since Christmas.

The county's vaccination programme director fears public messages about the Omicron variant 'not being that serious' may be hindering the rollout. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Hundreds more people died in Northamptonshire during Covid-19 pandemic than in normal years, according to Public Health England Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid pandemic reaching ‘endgame’ - but shouldn’t be treated like flu Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northamptonshire dementia patients missing out on 'vital' care reviews, figures reveal

Northamptonshire dementia patients missing out on 'vital' care reviews, figures reveal People living with dementia in Northamptonshire missed out on potentially vital care reviews they were entitled to last year, figures suggest. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

For whose benefit? NHS England’s contract with the private hospital sector in the first year of the pandemic

For whose benefit? NHS England’s contract with the private hospital sector in the first year of the pandemic This report analyses the government’s use of the private hospital sector to alleviate the burden on the NHS during the first year of the COVID pandemic. Under this strategy, NHS England purchased access to practically the entire private hospital sector at the outset of the pandemic, in a series of contracts that would run between March 2020 and March 2021.

However, this research shows that none of the goals outlined for the deal were achieved to a significant extent. Centre for Health and Public Interest 

Richard Meddings CBE confirmed as new Chair of NHS England

Richard Meddings CBE confirmed as new Chair of NHS England The government has confirmed today that Richard Meddings will be the new Chair of NHS England, following a fair and open competition.

Mr Meddings previously served on HM Treasury’s Board and as Chair of TSB Bank, and is a non-executive director at Credit Suisse. Department of Health and Social Care 

New weight loss support on the high street

New weight loss support on the high street People struggling to lose weight will now be offered help from their local high street pharmacy as part of the NHS’s radical action to tackle rising obesity levels and type 2 diabetes.

Community pharmacy teams can now refer adults living with obesity, and other conditions, to the twelve-week online NHS weight management programme. NHS England 

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 designated as a variant under investigation (VUI)

The Omicron variant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated a variant under investigation ( VUI-22JAN-01) by the UK Health Security Agency

See also: 

• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 therapeutic agents: technical briefings UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 3, 2021 to 2022) UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers UK Health Security Agency

Call to delay compulsory Covid vaccines for NHS staff

Call to delay compulsory Covid vaccines for NHS staff The deadline for health workers to have a Covid vaccination should be delayed to prevent staff shortages in England, the Royal College of GPs has said.

NHS staff must have a first jab by 3 February and be fully vaccinated by 1 April to continue in frontline roles. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Wales could recruit non-jabbed English NHS staff BBC News
• Covid-19: 'We'll be second-class citizens if self-isolation rules go' BBC News
• Covid cases are already rising again among primary school children, official data shows The Daily Mail
• UK health chiefs are now officially keeping tabs on 'stealth' version of Omicron The Daily Mail
• Anti-vax bomb hoaxer jailed after sparking school evacuation and NHS major incident The Daily Mail
• 'Several thousand' NHS staff still set to lose jobs even if vaccine mandate delayed, warns health service chief The Daily Telegraph
• Forcing NHS refuseniks to have the jab will make matters worse The Daily Telegraph
• Mandatory Covid jabs policy divides NHS leaders in England as deadline nears The Guardian
• Long Covid: nearly 2m days lost in NHS staff absences in England The Guardian
• ‘It’s not an exact science’: In defence of the Covid-19 modellers The Independent
• Attacks against Covid modellers undermine future pandemic response, say Sage scientists The Independent

Severe shortage of nurses in UK children’s intensive care units

Severe shortage of nurses in UK children’s intensive care units Britain’s sickest children are being treated in intensive care units that are struggling with severe shortages of the specialist nurses needed to look after them, a report says.

The shortages in the UK’s 30 paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are so severe that healthcare assistants are covering the work of nurses in an attempt to ensure that staffing levels are maintained. The Guardian

See also:

• Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network Annual Report 2021 The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

Calories on menus ‘may not be helpful’ in drive against obesity

Calories on menus ‘may not be helpful’ in drive against obesity Campaigners say compulsory menu labelling could put too much emphasis on calorie counting

A Big Mac has 508. Wagamama’s hot chicken katsu curry has 1,089. And a large mixed grill with chips at Wetherspoon’s has 2,052. But will knowing how many calories are in a restaurant meal help make a difference to the UK’s obesity epidemic? The Guardian 

'Don't be Covid complacent' warning as Northamptonshire cases rise despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying they're falling

'Don't be Covid complacent' warning as Northamptonshire cases rise despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying they're falling Northamptonshire health chiefs are warning against Covid complacency after Boris Johnson announced plans to lift Plan B restrictions.

The Prime Minister's claimed that Office for National Statistics data show 'clearly that infection levels are falling' yet the number of new coronavirus cases in the county reported daily has risen sharply during the last three days. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Seventy per cent of KGH Covid patients are unvaccinated Northamptonshire Telegraph

Mental health: trends in the quality of mental health care

Mental health: trends in the quality of mental health care In this QualityWatch update we look at a range of mental health service performance measures, and data on patient experience and outcomes, to give a view of how services have fared in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Nuffield Trust

How does the health and care system hear from people and communities?

How does the health and care system hear from people and communities? People's lived experience is a powerful tool to improve existing services and identify new and better ways to meet their needs. This explainer looks at how the health and care system can listen and learn from the people and communities they serve and the sources of information available to them. The King's Fund

Debt and health: Preventing ‘problem debt’ during the pandemic recovery

Debt and health: Preventing ‘problem debt’ during the pandemic recovery There is a two-way relationship between debt and health: debt problems can lead to deteriorations in mental and physical health, and health problems can be a trigger for increasing debt. 20% of people in problem debt in Great Britain report ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ health, compared with 7% of those not in problem debt. The Health Foundation

Health and Care Bill: ensuring we have enough staff to meet demand

Health and Care Bill: ensuring we have enough staff to meet demand A coalition of almost 90 health and care organisations – including NHS Providers – calling for stronger provisions on workforce planning in the Health and Care Bill has issued a briefing ahead of committee stage in the House of Lords in January 2022. An amendment has been tabled by Baroness Cumberlege to mandate the regular publication of independent assessments of current and future health and care workforce numbers. This briefing outlines the principles that the coalition believes any other amendment or clause tabled for this purpose needs to meet. NHS Providers

See also:

• The Health and Care Bill: House of Lords, Committee of the whole House: clauses 35-67 and Schedule 6 NHS Providers

NHS cancer checks at record high with quarter of a million in one month

NHS cancer checks at record high with quarter of a million in one month Record numbers of people are coming forward for cancer tests, with almost a quarter of a million referrals in one month according to the latest data, the NHS said today.

The figures show that 246,000 people were checked for cancer in November – three times as many compared to the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020, when people were reluctant to come forward. NHS England

See also:

• Public told not to delay cancer check-ups BBC News
• Minister defends Government cancer record despite treatment delays and spiralling diagnostic waits The Daily Mail
• NHS hotline set up for people worried about cancer symptoms The Independent

Covid: NHS in push to vaccinate the final four million

Covid: NHS in push to vaccinate the final four million More than four million adults in the UK have not yet had a first Covid jab and 16 million have not had their booster. This winter, NHS vaccine teams have been out on the streets trying to win over those hard-to-reach groups who might have struggled to access health services in the past. BBC News

See also:

• Was South Africa ignored over mild Omicron evidence? BBC News
• 'Brain fog' caused by Covid could be a result of how the virus affects a person's spinal fluid The Daily Mail
• Daily Covid cases fall just 1.6% in a week as Omicron curve begins to level off The Daily Mail
• Schools defy Boris Johnson as they insist face masks must stay in class The Daily Telegraph
• NHS England Covid absences fall amid signs staffing crisis is easing The Guardian
• Covid rule changes leave clinically vulnerable as ‘collateral damage’, charities warn The Independent
• ‘Game-changing’ X-ray technology can diagnose Covid within minutes The Independent
• COVID-19: Decision to lift Plan B rules is 'disaster' for healthcare which is 'at proper low' - NHS doctor Sky News

Moorfields Eye Hospital gives woman, 88, UK's first 'bionic eye implant'

Moorfields Eye Hospital gives woman, 88, UK's first 'bionic eye implant' An 88-year-old woman from east London has become the first UK patient to receive a pioneering eye implant to help partially restore her vision.

The surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital involved inserting a 2mm wide microchip under her retina by surgically creating a 'trapdoor' in which the chip rests. BBC News

Stop caging people with autism and learning disabilities, says Robert Buckland

Stop caging people with autism and learning disabilities, says Robert Buckland Ex-Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland is calling for changes to mental health laws to stop people with autism or learning disabilities being detained in hospitals for long periods.

Last year, the BBC found that 100 people with learning disabilities and autism had been held in hospitals for at least 20 years. BBC News

Ministers and NHS bosses clash over surgery waiting list targets in England

Ministers and NHS bosses clash over surgery waiting list targets in England Publication of ‘elective recovery plan’ delayed as hospital bosses say targets to clear backlog must be realistic

A “very tense” behind-the-scenes row over how quickly hospitals in England can be expected to reduce the massive backlog of surgery has broken out between NHS bosses and ministers. The Guardian

Rates of short-sightedness across the UK skyrocketed by nearly 50% in three decades

Rates of short-sightedness across the UK skyrocketed by nearly 50% in three decades A study of more than 100,000 Britons by University College London found one in five born during WWII went on to develop the condition, with two-thirds of cases diagnosed in childhood. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Temporal trends in frequency, type and severity of myopia and associations with key environmental risk factors in the UK: Findings from the UK Biobank Study (open access) PLOS One

Army arrives at Northampton and Kettering hospitals as figures show ambulances queuing more than an hour for A&E

Army arrives at Northampton and Kettering hospitals as figures show ambulances queuing more than an hour for A&E Nearly one in five ambulances carrying A&E patients were forced to queue for more than an hour outside Northampton General Hospital (NGH) during the first full week of 2022. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Chart of the week: Are a greater proportion of NHS hospital beds being occupied this winter?

Chart of the week: Are a greater proportion of NHS hospital beds being occupied this winter? Winter presents a period of significant pressure on the NHS – there are more illnesses and deaths, and individuals’ existing conditions often get worse. One clear marker of that pressure is the percentage of beds available in hospitals that are occupied by patients. In this chart, Liz Fisher looks at how the bed occupancy rate so far in English hospitals this winter compares with previous winters. Nuffield Trust 

Ethnic minority-led GP practices: impact and experience of CQC regulation

Ethnic minority-led GP practices: impact and experience of CQC regulation Providers led by GPs of an ethnic minority background have raised with us concerns that they do not receive the same regulatory outcomes from CQC as providers led by GPs of a non-ethnic minority background.

To investigate and respond to these concerns, we started a programme of work in February 2021. The focus of this has been on how our own regulatory approach affects ethnic minority-led GP practices and how we can improve our methods to address any inequalities we identify. Care Quality Commission 

CQC publishes new survey showing the impact of lockdown on mental health and dignity

CQC publishes new survey showing the impact of lockdown on mental health and dignity New research published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries a stark message on the challenges faced by health and social care services in England and has highlighted the importance of feedback for improving care. 

New plans to boost veterans employment launched

New plans to boost veterans employment launched New programmes to make better use of the unique skills and experience of military veterans, including as prison officers and the uniformed and health services, have been launched.

The programmes are part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan, which will launch a range of measures to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran. The Cabinet Office 

England to return to Plan A following the success of the booster programme

England to return to Plan A following the success of the booster programme The government has announced that England will fully return to Plan A on Thursday 27 January thanks to the success of the booster programme, with ministers urging anyone who has still not had a top-up jab to come forward and Get Boosted Now. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Health Secretary statement from COVID-19 press conference Department of Health and Social Care

Covid infections falling across the UK, says ONS

Covid infections falling across the UK, says ONS The number of people infected with coronavirus in the UK is showing the most significant fall since the start of the Omicron wave, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.

In the week to 15 January, 3.5 million people tested positive - down from 4.3 million the week before, it says. BBC News

See also: 

• PM announces end to Plan B Covid measures BBC News
• FactCheck: tens of thousands of NHS England staff face dismissal over compulsory vaccines Channel 4 News
• Machine learning process can predict which Covid patients will recover from the disease The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Common blood thinner can spare virus patients from severe lung damage, study claims The Daily Mail
• Free lateral flow Covid tests to be scrapped by JULY under No10's 'Operation Rampdown' The Daily Mail
• Covid lateral flow tests don't work as well on children The Daily Mail
• The NHS doctors picking 'no jab' over a job The Daily Telegraph
• Work from home and and mandatory mask rules to be dropped as England moves back to plan A – video The Guardian
• Plan A: what are the new Covid rules in England? The Guardian
• Sajid Javid’s axing of all Covid restrictions draws warnings from NHS The Guardian
• Removal of Covid rules in UK risks premature signal of victory The Guardian
• Dropping Plan B will not ease pressure on NHS, nurses warn The Independent
• No Covid lockdown rules needed says NHS boss with severe cases stable Metro

Millions are dying from drug-resistant infections, global report says

Millions are dying from drug-resistant infections, global report says More than 1.2 million people died worldwide in 2019 from infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics, according to the largest study of the issue to date.

This is more than the annual death toll from malaria or Aids.

Poorer countries are worst affected but antimicrobial resistance threatens everyone's health, the report says. BBC News

See also:

• Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis (open access) The Lancet
• Antibiotic-resistant superbugs killed 1.2MILLION people in 2019 - more than HIV or malaria The Daily Mail
• Antibiotic-resistant infections killing more than HIV or malaria, major study shows The Independent

Patients 'wait two years' for check-ups as dentists drop NHS work

Patients 'wait two years' for check-ups as dentists drop NHS work NHS dentistry is "hanging by a thread" with some patients facing two-year waits for check-ups, the British Dental Association has said.

Department of Health data analysed by the BBC shows almost 1,000 dentists working in 2,500 roles across England and Wales left the NHS last year. BBC News

Changes will give NHS patients 'quicker access to new medicines'

Changes will give NHS patients 'quicker access to new medicines' Changes to the way medicines and devices are assessed for NHS use in England will give patients “better access to life-changing medicines”, experts have said.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has proposed a raft of measures changing the way that it assesses new medicines and devices for NHS use. The Independent

Ex-banker NHS chair must ‘get up to speed’ on social care, MPs warn

Ex-banker NHS chair must ‘get up to speed’ on social care, MPs warn The new chair of the NHS must get up to speed on social care, MPs have warned as they approved the banking chief’s appointment.

The appointment of Richard Meddings as new chair of NHS England has been approved by the government’s Health Committee, following an interview on Tuesday. The Independent 

Northamptonshire health boss says major Covid incident not over

Northamptonshire health boss says major Covid incident not over An NHS chief executive has said a county which declared a major Covid incident "is still in the teeth of it" despite a fall in staff absences.

Northamptonshire made the declaration on 7 January, with critical services facing staff shortages.

The number of staff absent at the county's two hospital sites has since fallen from 910 to 694. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Boris Johnson to give update on lifting Covid Plan B rules today Northamptonshire Telegraph

Care home staffing crisis leaves Northampton and Kettering hospitals facing bed-blocking jam

Care home staffing crisis leaves Northampton and Kettering hospitals facing bed-blocking jam County NHS hospitals are dealing with 300 patients who could be discharged but have nowhere to go because of crippling staff shortages in care services. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Collaborating on the wider determinants of health

Collaborating on the wider determinants of health The Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry highlighted how deep-rooted issues – poor health, financial insecurity and strained public services – left the UK more vulnerable to the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. I am struck by how clearly COVID-19 has amplified the stark health inequalities within our society, underlining the need to look beyond health care and improve the many wider determinants of health – from welfare and housing to employment and transport. 

CQC Insight: Issue 15

CQC Insight: Issue 15  This report looks at the data on staff vacancies in care homes, and the quality of ethnicity data recording for mental health services. Care Quality Commission 

Covid: Boris Johnson expected to ease England's Plan B measures

Covid: Boris Johnson expected to ease England's Plan B measures Boris Johnson is expected to announce an easing of England's Covid rules when he makes a statement on Plan B later.

The cabinet will review the latest data before Mr Johnson addresses Parliament in the afternoon.

A government spokeswoman said the decision was "finely balanced" but the latest data was "encouraging", with cases falling since early January. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: WHO warns pandemic not over amid Europe case records BBC News
• Hong Kong to cull 2,000 hamsters and small mammals over Covid case BBC News
• Government should 'pause' mandatory vaccination of NHS staff, says RCN Channel 4 News
• Covid: 52000 unvaccinated NHS staff in England at risk of losing jobs Channel 4 News
• A QUARTER of all Covid 'deaths' are now patients who died WITH the virus The Daily Mail
• Pfizer's antiviral Covid pill shows effectiveness against the Omicron variant in lab tests The Daily Mail
• Health department warning over vaccine mandate for NHS staff in England The Guardian
• More than 900 Covid deaths recorded in England and Wales in first week of January The Guardian
• ‘I put my arms around her’: doctor’s story captures anger at No 10 parties The Guardian
• Government wins appeal over contract for firm linked to Dominic Cummings The Guardian
• How has Boris Johnson responded to claims of Covid rule-busting parties? The Independent
• When does the NHS vaccine mandate start? The rules on staff Covid jabs explained and how many are unvaccinated iNews
• Downing Street parties: NHS nurse tells of wards like ‘battlefields’ as Dominic Raab defends No 10 iNews

Depression rise at Christmas linked to stress over Covid

Depression rise at Christmas linked to stress over Covid Feelings of depression and anxiety rose sharply over Christmas, especially in young people, according to a survey led by University College London (UCL).

Despite fewer restrictions than last Christmas, many still said they were worried about high levels of Covid-19 and the risk to friends and family.

Happiness and life satisfaction also dipped in people of all ages. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19 Social Study: Results Release 42 University College London

Should bad science be taken off social media?

Should bad science be taken off social media? How do you solve a problem like bad information?

When it comes to understanding science and making health decisions, it can have life-or-death consequences.

People dissuaded from taking vaccines as a result of reading misleading information online have ended up in hospital or even died. BBC News

See also:

• The online information environment The Royal Society
• How misinformation affected the perception of vaccines in the 20th century based on the examples of the polio, pertussis and MMR vaccines (literature review) The Royal Society
• Harmful misinformation shared online should NOT be removed because it could 'exacerbate feelings of distrust', experts warn The Daily Mail

NHS hospitals given fresh warning over 'vulnerable' blood stocks

NHS hospitals given fresh warning over 'vulnerable' blood stocks Hospitals in England have been sent a fresh warning over national blood stocks and urgently need donations of a rare blood type, The Independent has learnt. 

Waiting six hours in A&E before being admitted can raise your risk of dying, study warns

Waiting six hours in A&E before being admitted can raise your risk of dying, study warns Waiting at least six hours in A&E before being admitted to hospital can raise your risk of dying by almost 10 per cent, a damning report suggests. 

NHS targets state 95 per cent of patients should be seen within four hours when they attend casualty units. However, the health service has continually failed to meet its goal. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Association between delays to patient admission from the emergency department and all-cause 30-day mortality (open access) Emergency Medicine Journal
• Doctors warn hospitals ‘not coping’ as study links A&E waits to deaths The Independent

Incoming NHS England chair Richard Meddings admits he has used private healthcare

Incoming NHS England chair Richard Meddings admits he has used private healthcare Former banker Richard Medding, 63 - who is Sajid Javid's pick to chair the NHS - revealed he chose to use private health care 'late last year' when being treated for deep vein thrombosis. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Prospective NHS chairman used private healthcare in 2021, MPs hear The Independent

Addressing vaccine hesitancy in different ethnic communities

Addressing vaccine hesitancy in different ethnic communities Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership used insight gained from a four-stage programme to understand the impact that COVID 19 was having on ethnic minority communities, and work with the different communities to understand the causes of the vaccine hesitancy. This programme of work, which entailed partnership working between multiple agencies as well as with the various communities, led to a significant increase in vaccine uptake in just four months. NHS Confederation 

NHS 111 mental health triage service

NHS 111 mental health triage service NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), worked with partners, including people with lived experience, to develop a seamless, single point of access to mental health crisis support using mental health nurses working in NHS 111. The new service provides easy access to support for patients, takes pressure off the rest of the system by reducing attendance at A&E, and enables people to get mental health support before a problem becomes a crisis. NHS Confederation 

Specialist mental health unit failures exposed by patients

Specialist mental health unit failures exposed by patients There are serious concerns over the standards of specialist care being provided to patients with the most complex mental health needs, a BBC investigation has found.

Patients sent by the NHS to stay in mental health rehabilitation units say they have been placed in unsafe environments, often far from home, with untrained staff. BBC News 

Self-harm guidance to include advice for schools and prisons

Self-harm guidance to include advice for schools and prisons Staff in schools and prisons in England and Wales are for the first time to be included in draft guidance on how to identify people who have self-harmed.

The experts behind it said everyone was responsible for tackling the growing problem of self-harm - not just mental health professionals. BBC News

See also: 

• Self harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence. Draft guidance consultation. NICE

NHS pilots genetic testing to predict risk of heart disease

NHS pilots genetic testing to predict risk of heart disease A world-first pilot of predictive genetic testing aiming to identify those at high risk of cardiovascular disease is under way in GP surgeries in the north of England.

The NHS pilot, called Heart, is offering genetic tests to 1,000 healthy volunteers aged between 45 and 64 years old to give more accurate predictions for their risk of heart disease and stroke. The Guardian 

One in four NHS doctors tired to the point of impairment, survey finds

One in four NHS doctors tired to the point of impairment, survey finds One in four doctors in the NHS are so tired that their ability to treat patients has become impaired, according to the first survey to reveal the impact of sleep deprivation on medics during the coronavirus pandemic. The Guardian

See also:

• Sleep deprived doctors concerned about patient safety Medical Defence Union
• 'Running on empty': one in four GPs warn extreme tiredness is affecting patient care GPonline
• Sleep deprived NHS doctors: ‘I realised my error when the patient collapsed’ The Guardian

7000 doctors and nurses may quit NHS by March unless pension penalties are suspended

7000 doctors and nurses may quit NHS by March unless pension penalties are suspended NHS staff may retire en masse come March as workers try to avoid pension penalties. Quilter has called for an extension of Covid rules for NHS workers who gave up retirement to help out throughout the pandemic. iNews

Sajid Javid plans 'academy school' style NHS revolution in bid to reduce hospital waiting times

Sajid Javid plans 'academy school' style NHS revolution in bid to reduce hospital waiting times The Health Secretary is planning to set up academy style hospitals to tackle post-pandemic waiting lists.

Under the re-organisation, Sajid Javid will give more freedom to well-run hospitals that manage to treat patients quickly.

But he will come down hard on failing NHS trusts in an attempt to deal with the 'huge' variation in performance across the health service. The Daily Mail

SAGE adviser hopes UK will have a 'flu-type' relationship with Covid by 2023

SAGE adviser hopes UK will have a 'flu-type' relationship with Covid by 2023 Britain could have a 'flu-type' relationship with Covid by the end of 2022, one of the Government's scientific advisers said today.

Dr Mike Tildesley, who sits on an influential modelling sub-group of SAGE, warned the country 'was not there yet' because hospitalisation levels from the virus are still 'relatively high'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid: 'Fussy eaters' could have smell and taste disorder BBC News
• Retired GP broke Covid rules to hug bereaved woman at clinic BBC News
• Covid infection can cause debilitating brain condition that causes more damage than Alzheimer's The Daily Mail
• Covid outbreaks now shrinking in 96% of England's neighbourhoods The Daily Mail
• More than 80,000 unvaccinated NHS workers face the sack The Daily Mail
• Health chiefs extend shelf-life of Pfizer Covid vaccines by TWO WEEKS The Daily Mail
• Thousands of unvaccinated GP staff face dismissal notice from February GPonline
• Schools rejecting offers of air filters that limit Covid spread, say parents The Guardian
• Lords watchdog launches inquiry into Michelle Mone over ‘VIP lane’ contract The Guardian
• ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ in fight against Covid in UK, says World Health Organisation The Independent
• About 12000 students to be deployed across NHS to tackle pandemic The Independent
• Tens of thousands have died at home without adequate care during pandemic, charity warns The Independent

Carry on testing! Health chief's plea as Northamptonshire's Covid cases fall for first time since October

Carry on testing! Health chief's plea as Northamptonshire's Covid cases fall for first time since October Northamptonshire health chief Lucy Wightman is warning people to beware of new rules about cutting short Covid-19 self-isolation.

Ministers announced this week that those who have tested positive can end their quarantine after just five days instead of ten — but only after TWO negative lateral flow tests (LFT). Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Major change to Covid self-isolation rules takes effect from today Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• ‘Encouraging’ signs Covid rules will lift this month as cases plateau Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid booster jabs to be offered to 16 and 17 year-olds from Monday Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Corby cancer patient left without Covid antiviral drugs - despite being on high risk list Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Healthcare staff face sack without exit payments under Covid jab plans Northamptonshire Telegraph

A&E at Northampton and Kettering 32 percent busier than 12 months ago, according to official figures

A&E at Northampton and Kettering 32 percent busier than 12 months ago, according to official figures Fewer patients visited hospital A&E at Northamptonshire hospitals last month – but numbers were still nearly one-third higher than over the same period last year, figures reveal. Northampton Chronicle and Echo