How many bereaved families whose loved ones caught Covid-19 in Northamptonshire county care homes could sue government after High Court ruling?

How many bereaved families whose loved ones caught Covid-19 in Northamptonshire county care homes could sue government after High Court ruling? Families of more than 140 people who died after catching Covid-19 in Northamptonshire care homes could sue the government after a landmark High Court case. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Chart of the week: How serious is the fall in job satisfaction among midwives?

Chart of the week: How serious is the fall in job satisfaction among midwives? The recent NHS staff survey showed worrying results across all staff groups, but it was midwives who reported the sharpest decline in how satisfied they are in their work. Lucina Rolewicz takes a closer look at their responses to the survey, and emphasises the importance of improving the situation. Nuffield Trust

Health and care for older adults during the pandemic: What The Commonwealth Fund’s 2021 international survey reveals about the UK

Health and care for older adults during the pandemic: What The Commonwealth Fund’s 2021 international survey reveals about the UK The Commonwealth Fund’s 2021 International Health Policy survey asked 18,989 older adults across 11 countries about their health and health care between March and June 2021. This included 1,876 people in the UK. The Health Foundation reports on the findings from a UK perspective.

Consultation draft of revised good medical practice

Consultation draft of revised good medical practice The regulator has today launched a 12-week consultation on the content of Good medical practice. The guidance, last updated in 2013, outlines the professional values, knowledge and behaviours expected of doctors working in the UK. Included for the first time is a duty for doctors to act, or support others to act, if they become aware of workplace bullying, harassment or discrimination, as well as zero tolerance of sexual harassment. The draft guidance also responds to calls from doctors for greater clarity on their use of social media. A new duty makes clear that they must not use digital communications channels to mislead, and they should ‘make reasonable checks’ to avoid doing so. The consultation runs until 20 July 2022. General Medical Council

Health and Care Bill granted Royal Assent in milestone for healthcare recovery and reform

Health and Care Bill granted Royal Assent in milestone for healthcare recovery and reform The Health and Care Bill has received Royal Assent by Her Majesty The Queen, enacting the most significant health legislation in a decade into law.

The Act introduces measures to tackle the Covid backlogs and rebuild health and social care services from the pandemic, backed by £36 billion over the next three years through the Health and Care Levy. It will also contain measures to tackle health disparities and create safer, more joined-up services that will put the health and care system on a more sustainable footing. Department of Health and Social Care

Vaccine Taskforce Director General will harness lessons from pandemic to address HRT supply chain issues

Vaccine Taskforce Director General will harness lessons from pandemic to address HRT supply chain issues Vaccine Taskforce Director General Madelaine McTernan has been appointed to spearhead a new HRT Supply Taskforce to identify ways to support the HRT supply chain and address shortages some women face on a limited number of products. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Madelaine McTernan named as new HRT tsar BBC News
• Head of Covid vaccine taskforce to lead new unit for HRT shortages The Guardian

Exercise is good for joints with wear-and-tear arthritis

Exercise is good for joints with wear-and-tear arthritis Exercise is good for people with wear-and-tear joint arthritis and should be a "core treatment", new draft guidelines for the NHS advise.

It may hurt to begin with, but can then ease pain and help individuals with osteoarthritis stay supple, healthy and slim, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Scans aren't needed to diagnose it and strong painkillers are not recommended. BBC News

See also:

• Healthier lifestyle can help to ease osteoarthritis symptoms NICE
• Osteoarthritis: care and management draft guideline NICE

E-scooter ambulance callouts double in a year

E-scooter ambulance callouts double in a year The number of ambulances called to deal with e-scooter accidents nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021.

The emergency services attended 713 accidents in 2021, compared with 392 in 2020, although it is not known how many more scooters were on the road.

NHS Ambulance Trust data also showed a 40% rise in e-scooter riders being taken to A&E in the same period. BBC News

NHS boss's husband drove her to A&E with suspected stroke amid concern over ambulance delays

NHS boss's husband drove her to A&E with suspected stroke amid concern over ambulance delays An NHS boss's husband drove her to A&E with a suspected stroke after he'd heard her "lamenting ambulance delays".

In a series of tweets, Deborah Lee, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust, said she had recovered but warned the government that urgent action is needed. Sky News

External blood oxygenation saved hundreds of Covid-19 sufferers – study

External blood oxygenation saved hundreds of Covid-19 sufferers – study Scores of severely ill Covid-19 sufferers survived because they were given the NHS’s highest form of intensive care in which an artificial lung breathes for them, a study has found.

Patients in the UK who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were more likely to survive than those who did not have the treatment, according to the research. The Guardian

See also:

• Survival benefit of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe COVID-19: a multi-centre-matched cohort study Intensive Care Medicine
• Vaccine makers see off push to share Covid know-how BBC News
• UK Covid hospital admissions plunge to another two-month low The Daily Mail
• First Covid nasal spray vaccine developed by UK scientists enters trials before vaccinating poorest countries iNews

GPs ‘pushed to breaking point’ as hundreds of doctors leave NHS and appointments soar

GPs ‘pushed to breaking point’ as hundreds of doctors leave NHS and appointments soar Hundreds of doctors and nurses are leaving GP surgeries with union leaders warning staff are being pushed to “breaking point.”

A total of 369 fully qualified GPs and 140 fully time practice nurses have left the profession since March 2021 as the government continues to fail against its target to recruit 6,000 more doctors by 2025. The Independent

See also:

• Latest consultation rates show GP teams are 'working exceptionally hard' in difficult circumstances Royal College of General Practitioners
• 'Real threat' general practice will end up like DENTISTRY unless staff crisis is fixed, warns chair of Royal College of GPs amid fury over 'unacceptable' plans to cut down opening hours The Daily Mail
• GPs: A third of appointments are with actual qualified doctors in parts of the country The Daily Mail
• GP appointments surge by 4m as NHS loses hundreds of GPs GPonline
• Most GP face work-related mental ill health as campaigners warn of suicide risk GPonline

Nottingham maternity scandal: Families slam NHS over 'silence' following no confidence vote

Nottingham maternity scandal: Families slam NHS over 'silence' following no confidence vote Families impacted by the Nottingham maternity scandal say they have been left in “limbo” following silence from NHS England in response to their concerns over a major review, as 50 more come forward. The Independent

See also: 

• Twin baby died following ‘neglect’ after hospital ‘failed to provide basic care’ The Independent

Climate change could spark the next pandemic, study warns

Climate change could spark the next pandemic, study warns While the UK and US are only just out of the 'pandemic phase' for Covid-19, scientists are already looking ahead to the next global health crisis – and say it could be sparked by climate change.

Researchers from Georgetown University claim that rising temperatures are forcing animals to relocate to more populated areas of the globe, increasing the risk of a viral jump to humans. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Climate change increases cross-species viral transmission risk (abstract) Nature

How to tell a more powerful story about health

How to tell a more powerful story about health Almost every aspect of our lives influences our health – our jobs, homes, access to education and whether we experience poverty or racism. These factors – the wider determinants of health – are often left out of public debate around improving health or are poorly understood.  

To address health inequalities, we need to change the way that we communicate about the wider determinants of health to increase public understanding and build space for policy change to improve health. The Health Foundation

MPs urge radical reforms to negligence compensation system that costs NHS billions each year

MPs urge radical reforms to negligence compensation system that costs NHS billions each year The Government should remove the need to prove clinical negligence from NHS compensation claims when things go wrong in a radical overhaul of a system which last year paid out £2.17 billion, say MPs.

In a wide-ranging Report on NHS litigation reform, the Health and Social Care Committee finds the current system for compensating injured patients in England ‘not fit for purpose’ and urges a radically different system to be adopted.

See also:

• Failing NHS negligence system must change, say MPs BBC News
• £2billion-a-year NHS compensation payout scheme needs radical overhaul and to move away from costly 'culture of blame', MPs say The Daily Mail
• MPs call for radical overhaul of NHS compensation system The Independent
• NHS compensation scheme 'not fit for purpose' and reform is long overdue, new study shows Sky News

Supporting people who provide unpaid care for adults with health or social care needs

Supporting people who provide unpaid care for adults with health or social care needs This brief guide, aimed at social care practitioners, highlights some of the ways support can be provided to carers. These include offering training and advice, support to remain in work, training or education, and regular breaks. Free registration is required to access this guide. Social Care Institute for Excellence

Covid: Discharging hospital patients to care homes 'unlawful'

Covid: Discharging hospital patients to care homes 'unlawful' Government policies on discharging untested patients from hospital to care homes in England at the start of the Covid pandemic have been ruled unlawful by the High Court.

The ruling came after two women took Public Health England and the health secretary, then Matt Hancock, to court.

Dr Cathy Gardner and Fay Harris said it had caused a "shocking death toll". BBC News

See also:

• Covid inquiry should include 'any rule breaking by rule-makers', bereaved families say The Daily Mail
• Daily Covid admissions hit two-month low, deaths plunge 40% in a week and just 17,500 cases The Daily Mail
• Doctors condemn government as COVID-19 care home discharge policy ruled unlawful GPonline
• ‘Thrown to the wolves’: Covid care home ruling is bitter victory for relatives The Guardian
• Experts who warned over Covid risk to care homes were told they were ‘too risk averse’ The Independent

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust warned by CQC over failures

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust warned by CQC over failures An NHS mental health trust that has been the worst performing in England has been warned it must improve after failing another inspection.

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has been rated "inadequate" in the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report.

The CQC said it had served the trust with a warning notice that it had to act on to improve patient care. BBC News

'The thought of running out of HRT is terrifying'

'The thought of running out of HRT is terrifying' A shortage of specific types of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) has left women struggling with untreated symptoms of the menopause. Demand for prescriptions has more than doubled since 2017 - partly because of work by campaigners to extend access - but supply of some products has not kept up.

Women have been telling BBC News about the impact on their lives.

See also:

• Women are risking 'serious side effects' in desperate efforts to source HRT, UK's top GP warns The Daily Mail
• Women warned not to swap HRT drugs amid supply issues The Independent
• ‘HRT gave me my life back – I’m afraid of losing myself again without it’ The Independent

‘As a cancer survivor you’re expected to feel grateful’: Laura Fulcher’s campaign for better care

‘As a cancer survivor you’re expected to feel grateful’: Laura Fulcher’s campaign for better care She had agonising symptoms for 15 months before she was finally diagnosed with bowel cancer, then received little support after her treatment. So Fulcher set up a charity to help cancer survivors and to campaign for faster diagnoses. The Guardian

Kellogg’s to challenge new UK rules for high-sugar cereals in court

Kellogg’s to challenge new UK rules for high-sugar cereals in court Kellogg’s, the owner of brands from Coco Pops to Special K, has launched a legal action against the UK government over new junk food rules that will ban some cereals from being prominently displayed on supermarket shelves. The Guardian

See also: 

• Kellogg's in court battle over new rules for high-sugar cereals BBC News
• Kellogg's launches legal challenge against new government food rules for high-sugar cereals Sky News

Scientists find genetic cause for autoimmune disease lupus

Scientists find genetic cause for autoimmune disease lupus Scientists have found a genetic cause for lupus, the autoimmune disease which affects around 50,000 people in the UK.

Experts carried out whole genome sequencing on the DNA of a Spanish girl called Gabriela, who was diagnosed with severe lupus when she was just seven.

Such a severe case in a young child is rare and indicates a single genetic cause. The Independent

See also:

• TLR7 gain-of-function genetic variation causes human lupus (open access) Nature

World faces ‘perfect storm’ for measles outbreak affecting children, WHO warns

World faces ‘perfect storm’ for measles outbreak affecting children, WHO warns A spike in the number of measles cases around the world has sparked concerns over the potential for serious outbreaks this year.

Almost 17,338 measles cases were reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9,665 during the first two months of last year – which represents a rise of 79 per cent. The Independent

Now Japan and Canada probe mystery hepatitis in children as global outbreak spreads

Now Japan and Canada probe mystery hepatitis in children as global outbreak spreads Suspected cases of the mysterious hepatitis sweeping the world have now been detected in children in Japan and Canada.

Canada's Public Health Agency yesterday revealed it was 'aware of reports of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin' in the country.

And Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that a patient under the age of 16 was hospitalised with hepatitis on April 21. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Global mystery hepatitis outbreak spreads to Asia and Canada The Guardian
• What’s behind the mysterious global rise in childhood hepatitis? (podcast) The Guardian
• Nearly 200 cases of mystery hepatitis strain found in children around world The Independent

Northamptonshire review finds 'significant failings' after child had arms 'taped'

Northamptonshire review finds 'significant failings' after child had arms 'taped' A severely neglected 17-month-old child was taken into care only after a contractor reported seeing them in a cot "with their arms taped up", a report has found.

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) found "significant failings in care by professionals". BBC Northampton

See also:

• Child Au - Child Safeguarding Practice Review Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
• Parents who tied up baby with electrical tape left her in agony for three days with a broken arm before going to Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• ‘We are sorry’: Northamptonshire safeguarding officials admit they failed severely neglected baby Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northamptonshire Children’s Trust chairman warns more independent reviews ‘in the pipeline’ after disturbing baby neglect case Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northamptonshire baby had 'arms taped up' in the cot as report finds care failings Northants Live

International Health Care Outcomes Index 2022

International Health Care Outcomes Index 2022 A major new comparison of global health systems places the UK second to bottom across a series of major health care outcomes, including life expectancy and survival rates from cancer, strokes and heart attacks.

This comparative study ranks the performance of the UK health care system with that of 18 comparable countries since 2000 or the earliest year for which data is available. It covers the level of health spending, overall life expectancy, the health care outcomes of the major diseases and the outcomes for treatable mortality and childbirth. Civitas

See also:

• NHS near the bottom of world healthcare league table as UK risks becoming the sick man of the world The Daily Mail

National diabetic foot care report

National diabetic foot care report The national diabetes foot care report presents data for England on lower-limb amputations and hospital admissions for diabetes-related foot disease. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

See also: 

• Fear over high rates of diabetes foot amputations BBC News
• Diabetes patients more likely to have feet amputated if they live in poor areas The Independent

The public’s experience of monitoring their blood pressure at home

The public’s experience of monitoring their blood pressure at home People with high blood pressure are increasingly being asked to monitor their condition at home. The NHS programme ‘Blood Pressure @Home’ (BP@Home) enables people with high blood pressure to measure and share their blood pressure readings with their GP from home. This report evaluates that programme to see how it is working for patients and how GPs use their readings, and suggests steps the NHS can take to improve support and outcomes for people who monitor their blood pressure from home. Healthwatch England

Summary of the results of PSNC’s 2022 Pharmacy Pressures Survey

Summary of the results of PSNC’s 2022 Pharmacy Pressures Survey England’s community pharmacies have played a vital role in the government’s Covid-19 pandemic response, including staying open throughout to provide critical face-to-face healthcare services and advice to patients and the public. This has brought with it significant additional pressure, which is being worsened by rising operating costs, and by a workforce crisis enveloping the sector. This briefing summarises the results of PSNC’s Pharmacy Pressures Survey, which heard directly from a wide range of pharmacy teams and businesses about the impact that the ongoing pressures are having on them and on patient care. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

Enablers for success: virtual wards including hospital at home

Enablers for success: virtual wards including hospital at home NHS England and NHS Improvement are asking all integrated care systems (ICSs) to extend or introduce the virtual ward model. This guidance supports ICSs with their strategic and financial decisions on virtual ward planning and implementation. Designed for ICS leadership teams, but will also be helpful for provider organisations as they plan together to implement this model. NHS England

Asthma: Women at higher risk of attacks than men, charity says

Asthma: Women at higher risk of attacks than men, charity says Women with asthma who are going through puberty, pregnancy or are menstruating, are at higher risk of severe asthma attacks, a charity report says.

The study - conducted by Asthma and Lung UK - highlights that female hormones can trigger asthma flare-ups.

It calls for more research to examine the sex-related differences in the common lung condition. BBC News

UK health agency to cut 800 jobs and halt routine Covid testing

UK health agency to cut 800 jobs and halt routine Covid testing The flagship public health body set up by Boris Johnson to combat the pandemic is in turmoil, with plans looming to cut jobs by up to 40% and suspend routine Covid testing in hospitals and care homes to save money.

Whitehall sources have told the Guardian that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), led by Dr Jenny Harries, is in a state of disarray, with morale at rock bottom and concerns it is not funded to cope with any resurgence in the pandemic. Public health experts warned that the “alarming” cuts could cost lives. The Guardian

See also:

• UK pandemic response agency launched by Matt Hancock to cut 800 jobs and halt routine Covid testing The Daily Mail

Daily UK Covid admissions drop 18% in a week and deaths fall 6% as pandemic pressure eases

Daily UK Covid admissions drop 18% in a week and deaths fall 6% as pandemic pressure eases Just 16,500 people tested positive for Covid in the past 24 hours while daily deaths and hospital admissions continued to fall.

Latest Government dashboard data — which is becoming increasingly unreliable now that free testing has been scrapped — shows there were 16,579 new cases on Tuesday. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid booster vaccines may not be needed every year, scientists say The Daily Mail
• 'Shielding' the vulnerable from Covid would have been worse than lockdown, study claims The Daily Mail
• UK records 16,579 more Covid-19 cases as infections plunge - but daily deaths rise to 451 Evening Standard
• Lack of Covid testing leaves researchers blind to evolution patterns, WHO warns The Guardian
• Women await ruling after challenging Government pandemic care home policy The Independent

Male contraceptive pill could enter human trials in just two months

Male contraceptive pill could enter human trials in just two months A male contraceptive pill could be tested in humans in just two months, scientists say — after it showed promise in trials on mice.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota, who invented the drug, say it could enter clinical trials as early as this July. The Daily Mail 

Is the NHS on track to recruit 50,000 more nurses?

Is the NHS on track to recruit 50,000 more nurses? In its 2019 manifesto the government pledged to increase the full-time equivalent number of nurses working in the NHS by 50,000 by March 2024. The latest data suggests that the NHS is on course to hit that headline target. However, England’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Ruth May, has publicly noted that, despite the increasing number of nurses, there are still substantial shortages. The King's Fund 

Staggering difference in life chances for those in poorest areas of England

Staggering difference in life chances for those in poorest areas of England 'Data released by the ONS shows the uneven impact of the pandemic with greater falls in life expectancy in the poorest areas of England compared to the wealthiest. It also highlights that in the most deprived areas, people are living more of their life in ill health. Girls born in the poorest areas of England live 19 fewer years in good health than those born in the wealthiest. A staggering difference in life chances. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Health state life expectancies by national deprivation deciles, England: 2018 to 2020 Office for National Statistics

Adenovirus probable cause of mysterious child hepatitis

Adenovirus probable cause of mysterious child hepatitis Health officials say there is mounting evidence that a common virus is linked to rare cases of hepatitis that have been occurring in some young children.

Globally, there have been 169 cases recorded, and one death.

In the UK alone, 114 children have become ill and 10 have needed a liver transplant. BBC News

See also:

• Research: Acute hepatitis: technical briefing  UK Health Security Agency
• Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation UK Health Security Agency
• Alarming outbreak of children's hepatitis may have been brought on by Covid lockdown weakening immunity, health chiefs say as two more children need liver transplants in UK and dozens are sick The Daily Mail
• Deadly outbreak of children’s hepatitis linked to lockdown The Daily Telegraph
• Ten UK children require transplant amid surge in hepatitis cases The Guardian
• Could Covid lockdowns be behind hepatitis surge in children? The Independent
• What is Adenovirus and what are the symptoms as doctors investigate spike in child hepatitis cases The Independent
• Hepatitis: What is causing the mysterious rise in liver disease cases in children? ITV News

MPs launch survey on body image and mental health

MPs launch survey on body image and mental health A survey looking at the effect of body image on physical and mental health has been launched by MPs in England.

It also asks whether people have used the NHS to deal with body image issues and how successful services have been.

The Health and Social Care Committee will use the survey as part of its ongoing inquiry into the impact of body image. BBC News

See also:

• Does the perception of your body image affect your health? (survey) Health and Social Care Committee
• MPs launch survey on body image and access to NHS services Health and Social Care Committee

Private mental health hospitals repeatedly criticised for unsafe care

Private mental health hospitals repeatedly criticised for unsafe care The main private mental health hospital chains that treat NHS patients have been criticised by coroners and inquest juries dozens of times over the last decade for providing unsafe care.

The Priory, Cygnet and Elysium have been censured at least 37 times for mistakes and lapses in care that were involved in the death of a patient, including several children. The Guardian

 

See also:

• These shocking stories show mental health is still not being taken seriously in England | Owen Jones The Guardian
• ‘How did I let her go there?’: mother laments daughter’s private hospital death The Guardian
• The Guardian view on mental health privatisation: unsafe spaces | Editorial  The Guardian
• Priory hospital failings contributed to death of man, 23, killed by train after he fled The Independent

‘It’s looking bleak’: how HRT shortages have affected women in England

‘It’s looking bleak’: how HRT shortages have affected women in England Shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products in the UK have forced women to resort to the private sector, ration their doses and procure supplies from abroad.

Although the last five years have seen the number of prescriptions double in England, shortages of HRT products have been a problem for several years, with shortfalls blamed on manufacturing and supply issues. The Guardian

See also:

• Sajid Javid is told to tackle HRT shortage himself as TWO-THIRDS of pharmacies face daily shortages The Daily Mail
• The shortage of menopause drugs isn't a niche feminist issue The Daily Mail
• As outcry over HRT supply crisis grows, audit reveals many women are being let down The Daily Mail
• How HRT prescriptions have DOUBLED in five years The Daily Mail
• What is HRT and why are there shortages in the UK? The Guardian
• Manufacturers struggle to keep up with soaring demand for HRT The Guardian
• Pharmacists call for urgent law change to deal with acute HRT shortage The Independent
• Hormone replacement therapy tsar to be appointed as drug shortages leave women feeling suicidal Sky News

‘Staggering rise in the number of people with stroke-inducing heart condition’

‘Staggering rise in the number of people with stroke-inducing heart condition’ There has been a “staggering” rise in the number of people living with a stroke-inducing heart condition, a new study suggests.

Cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) – a dangerous heart rhythm condition and major cause of strokes – have increased by up to 72% in England over the last two decades, the research has found. The Independent

See also:

• Temporal trends and patterns in atrial fibrillation incidence: A population-based study of 3·4 million individuals (open access) The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

Nottingham maternity scandal: Families ask newly appointed review chair to step down

Nottingham maternity scandal: Families ask newly appointed review chair to step down Families impacted by maternity failings in Nottingham have rejected NHS England’s newly proposed chair for the review and asked them to decline the offer.

In response to the appointment of Julie Dent as new chair for the NHS’ investigation into poor maternity care in Nottingham, bereaved families say they were left “distressed” and “traumatised” following the announcement on Friday afternoon. The Independent

UK's daily Covid cases hit just 15,000 a day as wave continues to recede

UK's daily Covid cases hit just 15,000 a day as wave continues to recede Britain is now recording just 15,000 daily Covid cases, according to official statistics that illustrate how the latest wave is still retreating.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data covering the weekend shows another 45,077 Britons tested positive over the last three days, while 341 virus deaths have been logged.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• Beijing kicks off mass testing after spike in Covid cases BBC News
• GPs tell how coaching helped them manage practices during COVID-19 GPonline
• Only 29% of UK Covid hospital patients recover within a year The Guardian
• Covid travel restrictions were ‘disproportionate, confusing and damaged industry’, say MPs The Independent
• GPs asked to remind clinically vulnerable Covid patients to use NHS lateral flow tests Pulse

Adults who exercise for 75 minutes a week are 18% less likely to have depression

Adults who exercise for 75 minutes a week are 18% less likely to have depression Walking at a brisk pace for just 75 minutes every week could cut your risk of depression, a new study finds.

The World Health Organization recommends everyone should exercise for at least two-and-a-half hours every seven days.

But researchers at Cambridge University, England, found adults who got half as much were a fifth less likely to have depression, while those who did the full time had a 25 per cent reduced risk. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association Between Physical Activity and Risk of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (open access) JAMA Psychiatry

Council 'publicity stunt' £600 bonus a 'kick in the teeth' for Northamptonshire carers

Council 'publicity stunt' £600 bonus a 'kick in the teeth' for Northamptonshire carers Carers who were promised a £600 bonus for their incredible efforts throughout the Covid pandemic say they have not yet received any money in their bank accounts despite council promises. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Provider collaboratives: explaining their role in system working

Provider collaboratives: explaining their role in system working This explainer looks at provider collaboratives in England, the opportunities they provide and the unresolved questions to consider when thinking about their role in the changing health and care landscape. The King's Fund

Inquiry into women’s health and well-being in prisons: Briefing One

Inquiry into women’s health and well-being in prisons: Briefing One Prisons are unable to address the physical and mental health needs of women and in fact make them worse, an inquiry by an influential cross-party panel of MPs and peers has found.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the Penal System (APPG) has uncovered alarming evidence of poor living conditions, rising self-harm and practices that compound the victimisation of women in prison, the majority of whom have experienced violence or abuse prior to their imprisonment in a new report.

Ambulance pressures taking a significant toll on staff

Ambulance pressures taking a significant toll on staff Increasing pressures on ambulance services are leaving workers “overwhelmed” and struggling to shake off work stress when they finally finish their shifts, according to a new UNISON survey.

See also:

• Ambulance workers overwhelmed because of pressures they face – report The Independent

Government aims to eradicate modern slavery from NHS supply chains

Government aims to eradicate modern slavery from NHS supply chains The government has tabled a landmark amendment to the Health and Care Bill aiming to eradicate the use of goods and services in the NHS that are tainted by slavery and human trafficking. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus levels continue to fall across the UK

Coronavirus levels continue to fall across the UK The number of people who currently have coronavirus in the UK is continuing to fall, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It suggests around 3.76 million people were infected in the week ending 16 April - roughly one in 17 people.

This is a fall of about 15% on the week before - when the figure stood at 4.4 million, or around one in 15 people. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Tain family ends more than two years self isolation BBC News
• Covid 19: Vulnerable patients denied £800 anti-viral jab unless they go private The Daily Mail
• Recipients of Paxlovid report symptoms returning and even testing positive for the virus again The Daily Mail
• At least 70% of people have had Covid in England, official data shows The Daily Mail
•  ‘Living with Covid’ should not mean letting people go to hospital alone, says NHS chief The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock to publish tell-all book on government’s handling of pandemic The Guardian
• What does a faint line mean on a lateral flow test? The Independent

Women asked if bladder drug should be available to buy

Women asked if bladder drug should be available to buy A pill to help treat an overactive bladder - which affects millions of women - could soon be available to buy in the UK without prescription.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) wants women and doctors to submit their views.

Aquiette tablets treat the "urge to pee" condition which can cause frequent toilet trips and distressing accidents. BBC News

‘Woeful scarcity’: NHS psychiatrist decries lack of mental health beds

‘Woeful scarcity’: NHS psychiatrist decries lack of mental health beds As a psychiatrist, I reserve admission to a mental health hospital bed for only the most unwell patients, whose mental health has collapsed. But despite my very best efforts to keep as many patients as I can out of hospital, bed pressures pervade every aspect of my daily work. The decision about whether or not we can admit a patient with a psychotic relapse who is not eating or drinking, for example, must first be agreed by the trust’s bed-management team. The woeful and worsening scarcity of NHS mental health beds forces psychiatrists to make very difficult judgments about a patient’s need for care and the risk they pose. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS paying £2bn a year to private hospitals for mental health patients The Guardian

Sajid Javid plans review of impact of gender dysphoria treatment

Sajid Javid plans review of impact of gender dysphoria treatment A review of the long-term outcomes for children treated for gender dysphoria is being drawn up by ministers, following warnings over how little is known about children who later regret the treatment.

Sajid Javid, the health secretary, wants to hand new legal powers to an existing review into NHS gender identity services for children, granting it greater access to crucial data on the experiences of patients who have undergone treatment. The Guardian

See also:

• Sajid Javid to review gender treatment for children BBC News

At least one child has died due to mystery strain of ‘acute, severe’ hepatitis, WHO says

At least one child has died due to mystery strain of ‘acute, severe’ hepatitis, WHO says A severe hepatitis disease of unknown origin found in 12 countries has led to the death of at least one child, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At least 169 cases of the acute viral hepatitis disease have been reported in children aged from a month to 16 years old in countries including the UK, the US, Spain, Italy, and France, the UN health agency said. The Independent 

Next flu season could be worse than before pandemic, GPs warned

Next flu season could be worse than before pandemic, GPs warned Flu cases could rise to higher levels than before the Covid pandemic next season, the Government’s annual flu letter has warned.

It said that flu levels were ‘extremely low’ globally in 2020 to 2021 thanks to Covid measures such as mask-wearing and reduced social interactions and travel and ‘continue to be low’.

But the 2022/23 flu letter, published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, stressed that this may cease to be the case. Pulse 

Sajid Javid confirms West Northamptonshire's adult social care will stay under council and NHS control in integration plans

Sajid Javid confirms West Northamptonshire's adult social care will stay under council and NHS control in integration plans Sajid Javid has confirmed that West Northamptonshire's adult social care will stay under joint council and NHS control in new health and social care integration plans. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Will the rising cost of living be paid for by our health?

Will the rising cost of living be paid for by our health? This year households across the UK are facing the biggest squeeze in living standards since the 1950s. Most of us will feel the impact, but poor households are being hit the hardest. We know that poverty and the stress of debt harms our health in the short and long term.  

One role of the state is to provide a welfare safety net. After last month's Spring Statement, what should the government do now to support those experiencing the worst effects of rising costs? What impact on households and health are we already seeing? And what more can be done to help?  Podcast from The Health Foundation

Commitment and growth: advancing mental health nursing now and for the future

Commitment and growth: advancing mental health nursing now and for the future This report contains a range of recommendations to develop the mental health nursing workforce. It outlines eight system-wide recommendations addressing issues including career progression and encouraging nurses to remain in the profession. Each set of recommendations is broken down into action points for areas of work - analysing where and how changes can be made, to guide future policy. Health Education England

Integration and innovation in action: provider collaboration

Integration and innovation in action: provider collaboration This report looks at how collaborations between providers at neighbourhood, place and system level are making a positive impact on patient care. It explores different types of collaboration between providers at neighbourhood, place and system level. Based on interviews with leaders and clinicians, it identifies a set of common principles that underpin effective partnership working. NHS Confederation

Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season

Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. UK Health Security Agency

Longest Covid infection lasted more than 16 months, tests show

Longest Covid infection lasted more than 16 months, tests show UK doctors believe they have documented the longest Covid infection on record - a patient they treated who had detectable levels of the virus for more than 16 months, or 505 days, in total.

The unnamed individual had other underlying medical conditions and died in hospital in 2021. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Isle of Man sewage testing to give early warning of spread BBC News
• Britain's decision to space Covid vaccines by 12 weeks was right: Wider gap generated nine times more antibodies, study finds The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 deaths registered in England and Wales continue to rise The Independent
• Third of over-75s in England get 'spring booster' in campaign's first month The Independent
• COVID news latest: More than 20% weekly drop in global coronavirus cases and deaths Sky News

NHS to ban products of slavery after PPE concerns

NHS to ban products of slavery after PPE concerns The NHS in England will be barred from using goods and services linked to slavery or human trafficking under a law to be introduced by the government.

It would prevent the health service buying equipment worth billions from parts of China where it is claimed forced labour is used in supply chains. BBC News

Doctors suggest adenovirus link to child hepatitis cases

Doctors suggest adenovirus link to child hepatitis cases Health officials are now investigating 108 cases of sudden-onset hepatitis - or liver inflammation - in children in the UK since the start of this year.

They say it is increasingly likely a virus which causes flu symptoms, known as adenovirus, could be the cause.

Officials are examining 79 confirmed cases in England, 14 in Scotland and 15 across Wales and Northern Ireland. BBC News

See also:

• Increase in hepatitis (liver inflammation) cases in children under investigation UK Health Security Agency

Study reveals clues to cancer causes and potential for personalised treatment

Study reveals clues to cancer causes and potential for personalised treatment Analysis of thousands of tumours has unveiled a treasure trove of clues about the causes of cancer, representing a significant step towards the personalisation of treatment, a study suggests.

Researchers say that for the first time it is possible to detect patterns – called mutational signatures – in the DNA of cancers. The Independent

See also:

• Substitution mutational signatures in whole-genome–sequenced cancers in the UK population (abstract) Science
• Cancer: Huge DNA analysis uncovers new clues BBC News
• ‘Mindblowing’ gene discovery brings tailor-made cancer treatment a step closer The Daily Telegraph

Eating-disorders hospital ‘gave patients unsafe food and staff comments hampered recovery’

Eating-disorders hospital ‘gave patients unsafe food and staff comments hampered recovery’ Patients at a hospital for people with eating disorders were at risk of physical and mental harm because they were given “unsafe and unacceptable” food, a watchdog has found.

Inspectors said they were also concerned about numerous ligature points at the Schoen Clinic York, and patients were not always treated with compassion or respect. The Independent

Priory hospital neglect contributed to death of patient, jury finds

Priory hospital neglect contributed to death of patient, jury finds The death of a 23-year-old man who ran away from a Priory mental health hospital and was killed by a train was “contributed to by neglect” on the part of the institution, an inquest has concluded. The Guardian

Women struggling to ‘sleep and work competently’ amid England’s HRT shortages

Women struggling to ‘sleep and work competently’ amid England’s HRT shortages Women are being left unable to sleep or work competently because of the shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products used to treat symptoms of the menopause, the former cabinet minister, Caroline Nokes, has said.

Millions of women go through the menopause every year, with many experiencing symptoms that can be severe, such as low mood, anxiety, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping, and have a negative impact on everyday life. The number of prescriptions for HRT in England has doubled in the last five years to more than 500,000 a month. The Guardian

Barriers ahead in race to integrated health and care system

Barriers ahead in race to integrated health and care system Barriers remain in the drive to move to a more integrated, prevention-focused health and care system

In a speech in March, health secretary Sajid Javid made a commitment to improve preventative care. “Not only do we need to put the power of every part of the NHS behind prevention, we also need to put the power of the NHS budget behind it too,” Mr Javid told the Royal College of Physicians. Local Government Chronicle 

Patients wait average of 11 weeks for treatment at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital as pressure on NHS hits 'unacceptable levels'

Patients wait average of 11 weeks for treatment at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital as pressure on NHS hits 'unacceptable levels' Patients were waiting an average of up to 11 weeks for routine hospital treatment in Northamptonshire during February, according to latest NHS England figures.

The King's Fund think tank says another national record for numbers of people on waiting lists shows the strain on the NHS is reaching “unacceptable levels.” Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital sees worst performance since records began Northants Live

Kettering: PM pressed over plans for delayed hospital

Kettering: PM pressed over plans for delayed hospital Boris Johnson has promised a meeting between the health secretary and three MPs about the delayed rebuild of Kettering General Hospital.

The hospital was awarded £46m for a new urgent care hub in 2019 and a further £350m for redevelopment.

The money has yet to be awarded and the town's MP, Philip Hollobone, said it was "the number one local priority for residents". BBC Northampton

See also:

• KGH rebuild funding discussed at Prime Minister's Questions Northamptonshire Telegraph

Ageing, inequality and ethnicity: evidence cards

Ageing, inequality and ethnicity: evidence cards This set of downloadable 'evidence cards' aim to highlight the contributions of and inequalities experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups approaching retirement age. The authors found inequalities in terms of health, wealth and life circumstances. They call for better paid work, more affordable and better housing, and targeted measures to reduce ill-health. Centre for Ageing Better

Managing cross-border travel during the COVID-19 pandemic

Managing cross-border travel during the COVID-19 pandemic Government has an opportunity to learn lessons from its experience of implementing cross-border travel measures during the COVID-19 pandemic should such measures be needed in the future, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

See also:

• UK quarantine hotels cost taxpayer £400m, watchdog finds The Guardian
• COVID-19: hotel quarantine scheme cost taxpayers almost £400m despite being estimated to break even - government's own watchdog finds Sky News

Covid: Woman caught virus twice within record 20 days

Covid: Woman caught virus twice within record 20 days A 31-year-old healthcare worker caught Covid twice within 20 days - the shortest-known gap between infections, Spanish researchers have claimed.

Tests show the woman was infected with two different variants - Delta in late December and then Omicron in January.

This shows that even if you have had Covid before, you can still be infected again even if fully vaccinated, the researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Omicron sub-variant causing havoc in the US is already in Britain The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases plunge by another third as hospitalisations and deaths fall again The Daily Mail
• £500million wasted on useless Covid PPE at start of pandemic 'could have paid for a brand new hospital' as officials admit they would avoid using a 'VIP lane' again in future
• Nearly half of those recovering from coronavirus infection endure ‘long Covid’ symptoms, study finds The Independent
• Healthcare worker catches Covid twice in less than three weeks The Independent
• Government fraud investigators probe PPE contracts, MPs told The Independent

Father calls for overhaul of 'flawed' suicide assessments

Father calls for overhaul of 'flawed' suicide assessments A father whose son took his own life in July 2020 is calling for an "urgent overhaul" of the way some counsellors and therapists assess suicide risk.

His son Tom had died a day after being judged "low risk", in a final counselling session, Philip Pirie said.

A group of charities has written to the health secretary, saying the use of a checklist-type questionnaire to predict suicide risk is "fundamentally flawed". BBC News

Urine bugs may be a sign of aggressive prostate cancer

Urine bugs may be a sign of aggressive prostate cancer Scientists say they have identified urine bacteria which are linked to aggressive prostate cancer.

The discovery might provide new ways to spot and even prevent these dangerous tumours, experts hope.

It's too soon to say if the bacteria might cause the cancer, rather than just be a helpful marker. BBC News

See also:

• Microbiomes of Urine and the Prostate Are Linked to Human Prostate Cancer Risk Groups (open access) European Urology Oncology
• Discovery of bacteria linked to prostate cancer hailed as potential breakthrough The Guardian

NHS waiting lists drive more Britons to pay for medical treatment

NHS waiting lists drive more Britons to pay for medical treatment Growing numbers of Britons are paying for private medical treatment because of the record delays people are facing trying to access NHS care, a report has revealed.

They are using their own savings to pay for procedures that involve some of the longest waiting times in NHS hospital, such as diagnostic tests, cataract removals and joint replacements. The Guardian

See also:

• Private Healthcare Self-Pay UK Market Report 4ed LaingBuisson

Suicide rates twice as high among patients with terminal cancers, heart disease and COPD

Suicide rates twice as high among patients with terminal cancers, heart disease and COPD Terminally-ill Britons are twice as likely to commit suicide as healthy people, official data shows.

A first of its kind analysis by the Office for National Statistics found the risk spikes sharply after the devastating blow of a diagnosis but slows over time. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Suicides among people diagnosed with severe health conditions, England: 2017 to 2020 Office for National Statistics

Antidepressants DON'T make people any happier, major study claims

Antidepressants DON'T make people any happier, major study claims Antidepressants are no better at making people feel happier than taking no medication at all, a study claimed today. 

Patients on the drugs did not have a significantly better quality of life compared to depressed people who were not on the pills, the analysis found.

Researchers looked 17.5million US adults with depression over 10 years, with around half on medication and half not. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Antidepressants and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with depression: Analysis of the medical expenditure panel survey from the United States (open access) PLOS One

In the poorest parts of England, life expectancy for women is lower than in Colombia, Latvia and Hungary

In the poorest parts of England, life expectancy for women is lower than in Colombia, Latvia and Hungary New analysis by the Health Foundation has revealed that life expectancy for women living in the poorest 10% of areas in England is lower than overall life expectancy in any OECD country, except for Mexico.

Women in the poorest 10% of areas in England can expect to live on average 78.7 years – significantly below the average of 83.2 years for the whole of England and less than the overall life expectancy for women in countries including Colombia (79.8 years), Latvia (79.7 years) and Hungary (79.6 years), as well as others. In Mexico, which has the lowest life expectancy at birth of any OECD country, women live on average 77.9 years.

Chart of the week: What is the scale of the race equality challenge in the NHS?

Chart of the week: What is the scale of the race equality challenge in the NHS? The recent workforce race equality standard report described how staff from a Black and minority ethnic background are less well represented at senior levels of the NHS, and that they have worse day-to-day work experiences and face more challenges in progressing their careers. In this chart, Billy Palmer shows how stark some of the differences are. Nuffield Trust

A response to the Race and Health Observatory (RHO) rapid evidence review into ethnic inequalities in healthcare

A response to the Race and Health Observatory (RHO) rapid evidence review into ethnic inequalities in healthcare This report looks at the NHS Race and Health Observatory (RHO) as a case study and its work to ‘identify and tackle ethnic inequalities’ in health. The RHO exists to bring about equality of outcomes in health care and calls for radical action, but makes calls for more research to find out precisely what that entails. Central to its recent report, Ethnic inequalities in health care: a rapid evidence review, was the role of racism - those who are not white are treated worse, given the wrong treatment, and avoid getting help for ‘fear of racist treatment from NHS healthcare professionals’. This report analyses rapid evidence review and questions the assumptions and conclusions contained in this work. It questions why the RHO exists and if it is achieving its aim of ‘equality of outcome’ for different ethnic groups. Civitas

The business of health equity: the Marmot review for industry

The business of health equity: the Marmot review for industry This report examines the evidence of how businesses affect our health, and what they can do to improve health equity. Businesses can affect health, for good or ill, through the pay, hours and conditions of work they provide for employees; through the products, services and investments that they offer customers and clients; and, more widely, by their influence on communities and wider society. The report encourages all businesses to use this influence to promote good health and a more equitable society. Institute of Health Equity

Adult social care: why it has even lower public satisfaction than the NHS

Adult social care: why it has even lower public satisfaction than the NHS In March, a witness told the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee that he avoided contacting his local authority because he feared it would be used as an excuse to reduce the amount of social care support he receives. Andy McCabe, who has spinal muscular atrophy, said: ‘When I contact social care because I need a review, advice or support, I always have a worry, a concern and fear that my budget will be cut. Just by contacting them, and them getting more involved in my life, suddenly things might start getting pulled away.’ The King's Fund

Health experts share priorities for Women's Health Strategy

Health experts share priorities for Women's Health Strategy Health experts have called for a greater focus on care for older women and improved support services for people experiencing pregnancy loss to help shape the government’s first-ever Women’s Health Strategy for England.

A total of 436 organisations and experts in women’s health – including from the charity sector, academia, professional bodies, clinicians and royal colleges – responded to a call for evidence to inform the government’s approach to tackling gender health inequality. Department of Health and Social Care

Hundreds of people diagnosed with cancer early through life-saving NHS lung checks

Hundreds of people diagnosed with cancer early through life-saving NHS lung checks Hundreds of people have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier through NHS mobile trucks, as part of the biggest programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis in health service history.

Thanks to NHS teams who are making it even easier for people to get a Lung MOT in travelling trucks visiting different areas across the country, 600 people have been diagnosed earlier. NHS England

Social distancing scrapped in waiting rooms in England

Social distancing scrapped in waiting rooms in England Patients in waiting rooms in England are no longer required to socially distance.

The new "stepping down" rules apply to NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and emergency departments.

People will still be encouraged to wear face masks and practise good hygiene. BBC News

See also:

• Pregnant women 'afterthought' in Covid jab rollout BBC News
• Partygate: Which Downing Street parties have resulted in fines so far? BBC News
• Scientists develop an app that can detect whether you have Covid-19 with 92 per cent accuracy The Daily Mail
• GP practices told to scrap 'physical distancing' despite COVID-19 workforce pressures GPonline
• Omicron XE: More than 1,100 cases of new Covid variant found in UK The Independent
• What is Omicron XE? Symptoms of the new Covid variant as hundreds of cases found in UK The Independent
• NHS social distancing rules for GP and hospital waiting rooms scrapped in England iNews

Hepatitis cases detected in children in Europe and the US

Hepatitis cases detected in children in Europe and the US Health officials say they are now investigating unexplained cases of hepatitis in children in four European countries and the US.

Cases of hepatitis, or liver inflammation, have been reported in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the US, health officials say.

Last week UK health authorities said they had detected higher than usual cases of the infection among children. BBC News

Psychedelic frees up depressed brain, study shows

Psychedelic frees up depressed brain, study shows Psilocybin, a drug found in magic mushrooms, appears to free up the brains of people with severe depression in a way that other antidepressants do not, a study has found.

The results, based on brain scans of 60 people, mean the drug could treat depression in a unique way, the researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression (open access) Nature Medicine
• 'I felt more joy than I thought possible' BBC News

Disruption to diabetes care during Covid threatens thousands, charity warns

Disruption to diabetes care during Covid threatens thousands, charity warns Thousands of lives are being put at risk due to delays and disruption in diabetes care, according to a damning report that warns patients have been “pushed to the back of the queue” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are 4.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK, and almost half had difficulties managing their condition last year, according to a survey of 10,000 patients by the charity Diabetes UK. The Guardian

Third of GPs in England want to quit within five years, survey finds

Third of GPs in England want to quit within five years, survey finds A third of GPs in England say they want to quit within five years, according to a regular survey which warns that clinical doctors are especially unhappy with the number of hours they work.

The survey of 2,195 GPs undertaken in 2021 found 33% planned to leave “direct patient care” by 2026. The Guardian

See also:

• Eleventh National GP Worklife Survey 2021 NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Systems and Commissioning
• Official GP work/life survey paints dire picture as one third consider quitting Pulse
• A third of GPs plan to quit within five years, finds survey University of Manchester

Half of small GP surgeries have shut in a decade with patients sent to 'soulless' alternatives

Half of small GP surgeries have shut in a decade with patients sent to 'soulless' alternatives Half of England’s small GP surgeries have closed in less than a decade – with more patients forced to travel to ‘soulless’ mega-practices, figures show.

Health leaders warned the move threatens the treasured doctor-patient relationship as patients are less likely to see the same medic each time. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'Soul of general practice' at risk as small practices decimated since 2015 GPonline

One-year cancer survival rate continues to increase in Northamptonshire – but early diagnosis lags behind

One-year cancer survival rate continues to increase in Northamptonshire – but early diagnosis lags behind Survival rates of cancer patients in Northamptonshire one year after diagnosis are still on the rise, new figures show.

But it comes as early diagnosis rates lag behind Government targets for 75 percent of cancer cases to be detected at stage one or two by 2028. Northamptonshire Telegraph