East Midlands Ambulance wait times are rising and bosses warn things could get even worse during this weekend's heatwave

East Midlands Ambulance wait times are rising and bosses warn things could get even worse during this weekend's heatwave NHS chiefs are warning people may have to wait longer for ambulances in Northamptonshire or even be told to make their own way to hospital this weekend.

East Midlands Ambulance Service says the public needs to “take responsibility for keeping themselves well during the hot weather” to keep crews free to attend the most seriously ill. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Fronting up to the problems: what can be done to improve the wellbeing of NHS staff?

Fronting up to the problems: what can be done to improve the wellbeing of NHS staff? The NHS is not in a place where it can lose staff, but many workers in the health service have faced almost unimaginable difficulties during the pandemic. How worried should we be about NHS staff health and wellbeing? Nuffield Trust

NHS Oversight Framework 2022/23: what you need to know

NHS Oversight Framework 2022/23: what you need to know The NHS Oversight Framework describes NHS England’s approach to oversight of integrated care boards and trusts for 2022/23. It builds on the approach outlined in the NHS System Oversight Framework 2021/22. This briefing contains an overview and analysis of the framework and highlights the main changes for 2022/23. NHS Confederation

Better care for people with a learning disability and people with autism

Better care for people with a learning disability and people with autism People with a learning disability and autistic people will receive better and more focused community care as part of plans to reduce the number in specialist inpatient care.

The Building the Right Support Action Plan, published 14 July 2022, brings together in one place commitments from across government and public services to ensure there is suitable community support available for people with a learning disability and autistic people. This supports government plans to reduce reliance on mental health inpatient care. Department of Health and Social Care

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Surveillance indicators suggest that, at a national level, COVID-19 activity has increased in several indicators in week 27 of 2022.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) increased in England to 537 in week 27, compared to 504 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency

One in 20 has Covid in the UK

One in 20 has Covid in the UK Covid infections have continued to climb across the UK, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

Nearly 3.5 million people, or one in 20, has the virus - that's up from 2.7m, or one in 25, the week before.

The rise is being driven by fast-spreading sub-variants of Omicron, called BA.4 and BA.5. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Sore throat now top symptom that could be the virus BBC News
• 3.5MILLION Britons had Covid last week as cases rose by another THIRD The Daily Mail
• Coronophobic Britain locks ITSELF down: Three in 10 Brits are staying at home to avoid virus The Daily Mail
• Covid omicron variant is 'troubling' because 'people aren’t responding to vaccines', warns expert The Daily Telegraph
• How the UK’s rising Covid cases compare to other countries The Independent
• Summer COVID spike is less severe - but relentless pressure on emergency departments is taking its toll Sky News

Heatwave: Met Office issues highest extreme heat warning

Heatwave: Met Office issues highest extreme heat warning A red extreme heat warning has been issued for the first time by the Met Office for parts of England next week, meaning a risk to life is likely as temperatures could hit 40C (104F). BBC News

See also:

• Extreme weather warning extended to Tuesday BBC News
• UK heatwave: NHS braced as minister says temperatures could hit 40C The Guardian
• Heatwave rail disruption warning as ministers say NHS is braced for 'surge' The Independent

UK skin cancer deaths higher in men than women

UK skin cancer deaths higher in men than women More men are dying from melanoma skin cancer than women in the UK, Cancer Research UK is warning as the country's heatwave continues.

Rates of the cancer, which can develop in sun-damaged skin, have been rising in both men and women in recent years.

Late diagnosis may be part of the reason why men are faring worse. BBC News

See also:

• Skin cancer death rates in men risen dramatically in the last 50 years Cancer Research UK
• Skin cancer death rates have TRIPLED in men since 1970s The Daily Mail

Ambulance services branded on brink of collapse

Ambulance services branded on brink of collapse Ambulance services are under intense pressure, with record numbers of callouts and the most urgent, category-one, calls last month.

BBC Two's Newsnight programme spent from 08:00 to 20:00 on Monday at six hospitals with the longest delays handing patients over from paramedics to accident and emergency staff. BBC News

See also:

• 34,000 patients harmed over ambulance delays in June The Independent
• ‘Chronic crisis situation’ as ambulance delays worsen amid record demand The Independent

NHS doctors’ strike is ‘inevitable,’ says new BMA chair

NHS doctors’ strike is ‘inevitable,’ says new BMA chair A doctor’s strike is “inevitable” and will expose how dangerously threadbare the Conservatives have left the health service, the profession’s new leader has said.

In his first interview since taking over as the British Medical Association’s chair of council, Prof Philip Banfield warned ministers that doctors will take the fight to them by using a pay dispute to tell the public patients are dying as a direct result of government neglect of the NHS. The Guardian

Patients less satisfied with GPs as NHS waiting lists hit new high in England

Patients less satisfied with GPs as NHS waiting lists hit new high in England The number of people waiting for NHS treatment in England has increased every month for the past two years, reaching another record high of 6.6 million patients in May.

It comes as the latest GP patient experience survey, also published on Thursday, shows patients putting off booking appointments because they find it too difficult and a declining satisfaction with family doctors. The Guardian

See also:

• GP patient survey reflects ‘overstretched’ service working under intense and unsustainable pressure Royal College of General Practitioners
• England's GP crisis laid bare: A QUARTER of sick Britons have not seen a doctor in a year The Daily Mail