Northamptonshire health boss received Covid-related hate mail

Northamptonshire health boss received Covid-related hate mail A public health director has revealed how she received hate mail and had her address placed on a police watch list as she worked to tackle Covid-19.

Lucy Wightman was speaking ahead of leaving her Northamptonshire role for a similar job at Essex County Council.

Ms Wightman has faced high profile Covid challenges including an Omicron outbreak and a factory closure after hundreds of workers tested positive. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Scammers 'smishing' with fake NHS Covid texts cost Northamptonshire people £500,000 in two months Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Covid's not gone away' warning from health chiefs as deaths, hospital cases and positive tests rise in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Thrill seekers invited to abseil down the colossal Northampton Lift Tower in aid of NHS

Thrill seekers invited to abseil down the colossal Northampton Lift Tower in aid of NHS Tackle the iconic Northampton Lift Tower and raise money for a ward of your choice at Northampton General Hospital or Kettering General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

One-third of A&E patients waited more than four hours for treatment at Northampton General Hospital last month

One-third of A&E patients waited more than four hours for treatment at Northampton General Hospital last month More A&E patients had to wait longer to be seen at Northampton General Hospital last month despite fewer people going through the doors. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

NHS Performance Summary: January–February 2022

 NHS Performance Summary: January–February 2022 Today, NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for January and February 2022. Here we show NHS performance against some key targets, including some of those set out in the latest planning guidance released last month, as well as other indicators of patient safety and care. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Why is the NHS really under 'record pressure'? The Health Foundation
• Analysis: March release of NHS performance statistics NHS Confederation
• A move in the wrong direction for Covid-19 threatens NHS recovery plans Nuffield Trust
• NHS waiting times for cancer care in England now longest on record The Guardian

Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: interim report

Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: interim report This interim report represents the work of the independent review of NHS gender identity services for children and young people to date. It does not set out final recommendations - these will be developed over the coming months, informed by a formal research programme. The role of this review is to consider how to improve and develop the future clinical approach and service model. It finds that the rapid increase in the number of children requiring support and the complex case-mix means that the current clinical model, with a single national provider, is not sustainable in the longer term. It uncovers a lack of routine and consistent data collection as well as an absence of consensus and open discussion about the nature of gender dysphoria and therefore about the appropriate clinical response. The Cass Review

See also:

• Children's gender services need transformation - review BBC News
• NHS gender identity service for children can’t cope with demand, review finds The Guardian

Virtual wards

Virtual wards This report discusses virtual wards, an innovation due to be implemented at scale in the NHS as a method of addressing patient waiting lists. With the help of remote treatment options and supported by technology, patients are monitored and cared for, in their own homes. The report lists the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Institute of Health and Social Care Management

The Covid-19 vaccination programme: what comes next?

The Covid-19 vaccination programme: what comes next? Well, there’s a first. Not quite literally. Given what it does, it is incredibly rare for the National Audit Office (NAO) to judge that a government programme has been value for money.

But that is the NAO’s verdict on the Covid-19 vaccination programme in England, complete with a warning that the challenges are far from over. The King's Fund

One hundred million cases in one hundred week: working towards better Covid-19 outcomes in the WHO European Region

One hundred million cases in one hundred week: working towards better Covid-19 outcomes in the WHO European Region This report showcases the work of WHO/Europe’s Covid-19 Incident Management Support Team (IMST) – the mechanism activated to deal with emergency situations – from its establishment in early 2020, as the first cases of Covid-19 were being detected in the European Region, to 2022. It also includes insights into the work of the operational teams during this time as they supported some of the Region’s Member States in dealing with the challenges of a global pandemic. It details the work and the impact of its Covid-19 responses across various functions, including surveillance, public health and social measures, risk communication and community engagement, clinical and health interventions, essential health services, and vaccines. World Health Organization Europe

Policy paper: Changes to member contributions in the NHS Pension Scheme

Policy paper: Changes to member contributions in the NHS Pension Scheme The report sets out why the Department of Health and Social Care proposes to make regulations to amend the amount that members contribute to the NHS Pension Scheme.

See also:

• Consultation outcome: NHS Pension Scheme: proposed continuation of temporary easements Department of Health and Social Care

Ukrainian children brought to England for cancer treatment

Ukrainian children brought to England for cancer treatment 21 Ukrainian children will receive lifesaving cancer treatment in England after being brought over by the UK government with the support of Polish authorities and clinicians. Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 11 March 2022

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 11 March 2022 In England, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) increased in the week ending 5 March 2022; we estimate that 2,073,900 people in England had COVID-19 (95% credible interval 1,992,700 to 2,155,900), equating to 3.80% of the population or around 1 in 25 people. Office for National Statistics

See also:

• NHS booster bookings open for most vulnerable 12 to 15 year olds NHS England
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights Office for National Statistics
• Research: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants: technical briefings UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest UK Health Security Agency
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2021 to 2022 season UK Health Security Agency

Covid infections rising again across UK - ONS

Covid infections rising again across UK - ONS Covid infections are increasing across the UK with about one in 25 people infected, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A sub-variant of Omicron, called BA.2, is now thought to be the most common strain in most of the UK. BBC News

See also:

• Covid inquiry's public hearings to begin in 2023 BBC News
• Covid deaths probably three times higher than records say BBC News
• Zoe Covid-tracking app loses government funding BBC News
• UK Covid inquiry draft terms of reference set out BBC News
• NHS chiefs mount last ditch attempt to stop Boris Johnson's bonfire of Covid rules The Daily Mail
• Pfizer vaccine reduces risk of Covid infection for children aged 5 to 11 by 31%, CDC report finds The Daily Mail
• 'Deltacron' is NOT outcompeting any Covid strain yet The Daily Mail
• No10's Covid inquiry will probe if NHS's lack of capacity was to blame for lockdown The Daily Mail
• Covid has slipped from the headlines – but with restrictions eased, cases are rising The Guardian
• WHO Foundation chief ‘very concerned’ over UK dismantling Covid testing as pandemic ‘isn’t over’ The Independent
• Crack on' with fourth Covid jab early for over-75s and vulnerable GPs told as hospital admissions rise iNews

Reproductive coercion: 'I wasn't allowed to take my pill'

Reproductive coercion: 'I wasn't allowed to take my pill' Reproductive coercion is a lesser-known type of abuse. It's when someone uses pregnancy, contraception and sex to control a person.

Examples vary, but can include forcing someone to have an abortion they don't want, damaging or hiding contraceptives and pressurising someone not to use condoms.

To find out how common it is, the BBC commissioned a survey of 1,000 UK women aged 18-44 - and found that 50% said they had experienced at least one type of reproductive coercion. BBC News

Rosacea: 'Your skin doesn't define you'

Rosacea: 'Your skin doesn't define you' Rosacea is a common but misunderstood condition that is thought to affect millions. It is incurable, and those who have it must often endure a sustained treatment regime, restrictions on what they eat, drink and do and, in some cases, judgements or jibes from others. But a growing community and statements from high-profile sufferers have shown that they are not alone. BBC News

Would-be paramedics hit with £27,500 bill to retrain for vital service

Would-be paramedics hit with £27,500 bill to retrain for vital service Professionals who want to retrain as paramedics are facing tough financial decisions after discovering they are barred from government funding.

Many who were inspired by the pandemic to join the NHS say they are being treated as second-class applicants because an outdated policy has excluded them from loans and grants available to almost all other mature healthcare students. The Guardian

All 400,000 type 1 diabetic Britons to be offered high-tech implant

All 400,000 type 1 diabetic Britons to be offered high-tech implant All 400,000 Britons with type 1 diabetes will soon be offered a high-tech implant that monitors their blood sugar level in real time, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The small gadget had been restricted by the NHS because of cost, and made available only to those most in need. The Daily Mail