Tens of thousands of people in Northamptonshire estimated to have long Covid, according to NHS England figures

Tens of thousands of people in Northamptonshire estimated to have long Covid, according to NHS England figures NHS England estimates show tens of thousands of people in Northamptonshire are likely to be suffering with long Covid — and many won’t even know it. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The parallel pandemic Covid-19 and mental health

The parallel pandemic Covid-19 and mental health This report, produced together with the northern National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaborations (NIHR ARCs), shows that a parallel pandemic of mental ill health has hit the North of England with a £2bn cost to the country at the same time as the Covid-19 pandemic. Mental health in England was hit badly over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. But people in the North performed significantly worse in their mental health outcomes compared to those in the rest of the country. Northern Health Science Alliance

How can NHS anchors support communities to create health: learning from the community response to Covid-19

How can NHS anchors support communities to create health: learning from the community response to Covid-19 This report provides real-world insight into how NHS anchor institutions are working in partnership communities, capitalising on both their strengths to address health inequalities. Health Creation Alliance

Likely cause of mystery child hepatitis outbreak found

Likely cause of mystery child hepatitis outbreak found UK experts believe they have identified the cause of the recent spate of mysterious liver problems affecting young children around the world.

Investigations suggest two common viruses made a comeback after pandemic lockdowns ended - and triggered the rare but very serious hepatitis cases.

More than 1,000 children - many under the age of five - in 35 countries are thought to have been affected. BBC News

See also:

• Adeno-associated virus 2 infection in children with non-A-E hepatitis (open access preprint) medRxiv
• Genomic investigations of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children (open access preprint) UK Research and Innovation
• Scientists find culprit behind child hepatitis outbreak: Combination of two usually-harmless viruses The Daily Mail
• Hepatitis outbreak in children linked to surge in common cold cases after lockdowns The Daily Telegraph
• Childhood hepatitis surge ‘probably linked to two common viruses’ The Guardian
• Likely cause of hepatitis outbreak in children revealed by doctors The Independent
• Mystery child hepatitis cases linked to previously 'harmless' virus New Scientist 

Covid pandemic births: Mothers 'pitted against midwives'

Covid pandemic births: Mothers 'pitted against midwives' Women have spoken to the BBC about the "nightmare" of giving birth during the restrictions imposed because of Covid.

The London Assembly was told a de facto maternity ward ban on partners meant new mums often got very little support.

Campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed said elective Caesareans spiked, as women tried to find a way to have their partner by their side. BBC News

See also:

• Covid 19: 'Giving birth in 2020 was isolating and lonely' BBC News

Pandemic drinking could cause thousands of extra deaths and hospital admissions over next 20 years, NHS says

Pandemic drinking could cause thousands of extra deaths and hospital admissions over next 20 years, NHS says Excess drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic could end up leading to thousands of extra deaths and hospital admissions over the next 20 years, health experts have warned.

Research from NHS England and the University of Sheffield shows that while lighter drinkers reduced their intake during the pandemic, heavier drinkers ended up consuming more and may never return to the level they were at. Sky News

See also:

• The COVID Hangover: addressing long-term health impacts of changes in alcohol consumption during the pandemic (report) Institute of Alcohol Studies
• Modelling the impact of changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic on future alcohol-related harm in England (report) University of Sheffield 
• Shifts in alcohol consumption during the pandemic could lead to thousands of extra deaths in England University of Sheffield 
• Alcohol deaths from pandemic drinking are predicted to rise BBC News
• Heavy drinking during the pandemic may add £5.2billion to our NHS tab and lead to 25,000 deaths The Daily Mail
• Lockdown drinking increase could cause 25,000 excess deaths in England The Guardian
• Increased pandemic drinking ‘will lead to 1000s of extra deaths’ The Independent

UK doctors ‘less likely’ to resuscitate the most seriously ill patients since Covid

UK doctors ‘less likely’ to resuscitate the most seriously ill patients since Covid Doctors are less likely to resuscitate the most seriously ill patients in the wake of the pandemic, a survey suggests.

Covid-19 may have changed doctors’ decision-making regarding end of life, making them more willing not to resuscitate very sick or frail patients and raising the threshold for referral to intensive care, according to the results of the research. The Guardian

See also:

• How is COVID-19 changing the ways doctors make end-of-life decisions? (open access) Journal of Medical Ethics

Time-lapse maps show how 'most contagious Covid variant yet' has taken off in the UK

Time-lapse maps show how 'most contagious Covid variant yet' has taken off in the UK Covid's most contagious variant yet now accounts for more than eight out of 10 cases in England, official figures suggest amid growing calls for the return of mask mandates and free tests. 

A total of 82.2 per cent of virus positive swabs examined in the week to July 16 were the BA.5 version of Omicron, according to figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest surveillance sites. That figure is expected to have risen since. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid hospital admissions reach record high in Australia as country battles 'twindemic' with flu The Daily Mail
• Covid: Professor warns of two new ‘telltale’ symptoms as cases rise The Independent
• Long Covid causes erectile dysfunction and hair loss as symptoms list widens The Independent
• Hair loss and sexual dysfunction join list of long COVID symptoms Sky News

'Game-changer' blood test is even better at finding early breast cancers than a mammogram

'Game-changer' blood test is even better at finding early breast cancers than a mammogram A simple blood test that promises to be better at spotting early-stage breast cancer than a mammogram has been hailed as a ‘game-changer’ for women’s health.

The Trucheck test, which highlights cancer cells circulating in the blood, correctly identifies 92 per cent of breast cancers – around five percentage points higher than mammography. The Daily Mail

Patients to automatically access GP record in NHS app from November

Patients to automatically access GP record in NHS app from November 

NHS England will switch on automatic access to patient’s prospective GP record via the NHS App in November, following a delay due to ‘safeguarding’ concerns.

In a letter to all GP practices sent last week, NHS England primary care medical director Dr Nikki Kanani and primary care director Dr Ursula Montgomery confirmed the launch date, which will include practices using TPP and EMIS systems. Pulse