Running hot: the impact of the pandemic on mental health services

Running hot: the impact of the pandemic on mental health services The mental health sector has seen a surge in demand during the pandemic, with levels of need vastly increasing from 2020 to 2022. Approximately 1.6 million people in England, or one person in 35, are currently on the NHS waiting list for specialised treatment, and a further eight million people, or one person in seven, would benefit from support. NHS Confederation

Redesigning orthopaedic outpatient assessments

Redesigning orthopaedic outpatient assessments To support orthopaedic patients waiting for elective care, Dorset County Hospital redesigned its outpatient clinic assessments, opening a new assessment clinic in just five weeks. By doing so, the hospital has shortened waiting times, increased capacity and improved patient experience. NHS Confederation

Policy paper: People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper

Policy paper: People at the Heart of Care: adult social care reform white paper This white paper sets out a 10-year vision for adult social care and provides information on funded proposals that we will implement over the next 3 years. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Social care reform: government response to Lords Select Committee report Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Social care reform: an independent review by Baroness Cavendish Department of Health and Social Care

Prime Minister sets out plan for living with COVID

Prime Minister sets out plan for living with COVID Vaccines will remain the first line of defence against Covid-19 as the Prime Minister sets out the Government’s plans to live with and manage the virus. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

See also:

•  COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 Cabinet Office
• Government response: Health Secretary statement on spring COVID-19 booster vaccinations Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation statement on COVID-19 vaccinations in 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Living with Covid-19 strategy neglects the most vulnerable BMA
• RCN calls for protection of nursing staff as PM announces end to COVID-19 restrictions in England Royal College of Nursing

Covid: Chris Whitty urges people to continue to self-isolate if positive

Covid: Chris Whitty urges people to continue to self-isolate if positive England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has urged people to continue to self-isolate if they test positive for the coronavirus in the coming weeks.

From Thursday, people with a positive test will no longer need to self-isolate under law, but will still be advised to stay at home.

After 1 April, people with Covid symptoms will be asked to "exercise personal responsibility" in their decisions over interactions with other people. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: England ending isolation laws and mass free testing BBC News
• Covid: An axe has been taken to testing - does it matter? BBC News
• Extra Covid booster in spring for over-75s and high risk BBC News
• Boris Johnson reveals No10 will keep gold-standard Covid surveillance project The Daily Mail
• SAGE psychologist accuses No10 of 'abdicating responsibility for looking after the public' The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases fall to lowest level since NOVEMBER in 8% drop The Daily Mail
• All you need to know about the end of Covid rules in England The Guardian
• ‘Living with Covid’ strategy could do more harm than good, say businesses and unions The Guardian
• Tory row over testing casts shadow over PM’s Covid announcement The Guardian
• 'Pandemic is far from over': NHS leaders issue warning over government's 'living with Covid' plan The Independent
• Covid: Lateral flow tests already being rationed as government winds down free scheme The Independent
• Living with Covid: Too early to lift restrictions, scientists tell Boris Johnson after announcement The Independent
• What will 'living with COVID' mean when coronavirus restrictions end in England? Sky News

Millions in England face ‘second pandemic’ of mental health issues

Millions in England face ‘second pandemic’ of mental health issues Millions of patients in England face dangerously long waits for mental health care unless ministers urgently draw up a recovery plan to tackle a “second pandemic” of depression, anxiety, psychosis and eating disorders, NHS leaders and doctors have warned. The Guardian

NHS patient data breach could have big implications

NHS patient data breach could have big implications Personal data from tens of thousands of people has been leaked in a massive NHS patient data breach. The sensitivity of the breached data, which includes details of medical procedures for patients including children, mean the incident could lead to criminal proceedings, experts told Tech Monitor.

Patients miss out on genetic cancer testing due to NHS rules, researchers warn

Patients miss out on genetic cancer testing due to NHS rules, researchers warn Half of patients who could benefit from genetic cancer testing are missing out due to ‘complicated’ NHS rules, a new study suggests.

Experts from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have said NHS should widen out its guidelines on which patients can receive tests that can detect genetic mutations linked to cancer, after a study found half of patients carrying “harmful” genes would have missed out on testing. The Independent

See also:

• Half of germline pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants found on panel tests do not fulfil NHS testing criteria (open access) Nature Scientific Reports

Shingrix vaccine with 90% effectiveness set to be offered to over-70s in the UK

Shingrix vaccine with 90% effectiveness set to be offered to over-70s in the UK A highly effective new vaccine to protect against shingles will soon be offered to over-70s in the UK.

The jab, Shingrix, is widely available in the US and is far more successful at preventing the painful viral skin condition than the vaccine currently offered on the NHS. The Daily Mail

600,000 eye care patients are still waiting for treatment as NHS backlogs pile up

600,000 eye care patients are still waiting for treatment as NHS backlogs pile up Britain is spiralling into an eye care crisis, experts are warning, with thousands suffering sight loss that could have been prevented due to record delays for treatment.

Waiting lists for an initial hospital eye appointment have ballooned to more than 600,000 – a third more than before the pandemic. The Daily Mail