Northamptonshire hospitals dealing with more Covid patients ahead of end to free testing

Northamptonshire hospitals dealing with more Covid patients ahead of end to free testing Health chiefs are warning Covid has not gone away after a 19 percent rise in virus patients in Northamptonshire hospitals in just six days. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Northampton memorial event held to honour Covid care staff BBC Northampton
• Major changes to UK Covid travel rules come into effect Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Dozens of tuberculosis cases a year in Northamptonshire, figures reveal

Dozens of tuberculosis cases a year in Northamptonshire, figures reveal Dozens of people a year contract tuberculosis in Northamptonshire, figures for recent years suggest. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

How can the UK COVID-19 Inquiry bring about meaningful change?

How can the UK COVID-19 Inquiry bring about meaningful change? The announcement of a statutory public inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is welcome, as no other type of investigation has greater power or independence. But the Hallett inquiry faces a daunting task that will involve difficult decisions about priorities.  The Health Foundation

The state of ageing 2022

The state of ageing 2022 This report includes analysis of public and government data sets and shows that prospects as we age are getting much worse amidst a steep rise in pensioner poverty. A further 200,000 people of pension age fell into poverty in the last year, data shows. The report finds that the number of people aged 65 and over in England is set to increase by over 20 per cent over the next ten years. Centre for Ageing Better

Digital boards: two years on: digital transformation in practice

Digital boards: two years on: digital transformation in practice The NHS Providers’ Digital Boards development programme is delivered in partnership with Public Digital and is designed to support boards in leading the digital transformation agenda. The programme is commissioned by Health Education England as part of their Digital Readiness Education Programme and is supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement. Digital Boards aims to build board understanding of the potential and implications of the digital agenda and increase the confidence and capability of boards to harness the opportunity that digital provides through board resources, webinars, peer learning and free board development sessions for individual trusts. This briefing looks at what has been achieved through the programme and what is still to come. NHS Providers

Government to improve protections for people deprived of their liberty

Government to improve protections for people deprived of their liberty The Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Justice have launched a consultation to ensure freedoms and human rights of people lacking mental capacity are better protected.

NHS to begin spring booster vaccinations this week

NHS to begin spring booster vaccinations this week Hundreds of thousands of people will be invited to book a Spring COVID booster this week as the NHS vaccination programme, the biggest and fastest in health service history, enters a new phase.

Eligible groups for Spring boosters include care home residents, people who are 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed aged 12 and over. NHS England

See also:

• Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination: spring booster resources UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
• National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers UK Health Security Agency
• Research: Consensus statements on COVID-19 UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Rise in UK infections driven by BA.2 Omicron variant

Covid: Rise in UK infections driven by BA.2 Omicron variant Covid cases have continued to rise in the UK, with an estimated one in every 20 people infected, figures from the Office for National Statistic suggest.

All age groups are affected, including the 75s and over, who are due a spring booster jab to top up protection.

Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe cases, say experts. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Is the world ready for a great re-opening? BBC News
• Covid trapped me at home for more than seven months BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Spring booster jab launch for over-75s and high risk BBC News
• Covid: Positive tests rise but critical care stable BBC News
• Omicron vs Zero-Covid: How long can China hold on? BBC News
• Meet the 'boho yoga mums' who are spreading dangerous anti-vaxx myths online The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Daily cases rise a quarter in a week to 90k while hospital admissions and deaths creep up The Daily Mail
• Covid's now more prevalent in England than it was before Xmas when lockdown was on the cards The Daily Mail
• WHO warns that increasing Covid cases across globe are just the 'tip of the iceberg' The Daily Mail
• New AstraZeneca drug that slashes Covid risk is approved The Daily Telegraph
• Public health measures are key to curbing Covid in UK, say scientists The Guardian
• Covid immunity declines steeply in care home residents in England – study The Guardian
• Covid hospital admissions in England up by 26% as UK cases soar The Independent
• Study finds Invermectin is ‘not clinically useful’ against Covid The Independent

Menopause: The Bedfordshire NHS clinic that is "changing lives"

Menopause: The Bedfordshire NHS clinic that is "changing lives" The menopause comes with more than 40 common symptoms ranging from anxiety, irregular and heavy periods to anger and problems with memory and concentration. Many women experiencing what is commonly called "the change" can feel lost, alone and unsure of where or how to get help. I should know, as I've been there. Might dedicated clinics and workplace menopause policies offer women the support they need? BBC News

NHS told to double efficiency in 'crackdown' on 'wasteful' spending

NHS told to double efficiency in 'crackdown' on 'wasteful' spending The NHS has had its efficiency targets doubled in a Treasury “crackdown” on “wasteful” spending.

In an announcement over the weekend, Chancellor Rishi Sunak committed to reducing “wasteful” spending across all public sectors. Nursing Notes

See also:

• New efficiency drive to cut £5.5 billion of government waste HM Treasury

Women died after ‘gross failings’ by scandal hit mental health trust

Women died after ‘gross failings’ by scandal hit mental health trust A young woman died following “gross failings” and “neglect” by a mental health hospital in Essex which is also facing a major independent inquiry into patient deaths. The Independent

‘Betting against the NHS’: £1bn private hospital to open in central London

‘Betting against the NHS’: £1bn private hospital to open in central London US-owned Cleveland Clinic London is in talks about providing care for NHS patients but critics fear moves to two-tier health system

A new 184-bed private hospital is about to open in London, the second-largest in the capital, where patients will enjoy views of Buckingham Palace and will be treated by doctors understood to be paid up to £350,000 a year. The Guardian

NHS approves 'game changing' lung cancer drug

NHS approves 'game changing' lung cancer drug NHS drug watchdogs have today approved a 'game changing' drug for lung cancer patients.

Mobocertinib tablets will be given to patients battling a rare and aggressive form of the disease, Britain's biggest cancer killer.

Roughly 100 people will be eligible to take the drug every year, with doctors set to start to dishing it out within weeks. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS fast tracks new ‘gamechanging’ drug for lung cancer NHS England

Social media 'is pushing cowboy Botox on women' and causing irreversible damage, MP warns

Social media 'is pushing cowboy Botox on women' and causing irreversible damage, MP warns Social media hype is pushing young women to use cowboy Botox providers who are preying on their insecurities and causing irreversible damage, an MP has warned.

Laura Trott, who is leading a campaign on the issue, said young people are being inundated with aggressive adverts for unscrupulous providers on platforms such as Instagram. The Daily Mail