Northamptonshire health officials urge a return to mask wearing

Northamptonshire health officials urge a return to mask wearing Public health officials in an area with rising rates of Covid-19 have urged residents to "return to mask wearing" in public indoor spaces.

Councils in Northamptonshire warned increased mixing during the summer holidays could increase case numbers.

The directors of public health in the county said they were concerned about rates in over-60s and pressure on health services. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Northamptonshire's health chiefs 'strongly recommend' return of face masks in shops, public transport and entertainment venues Northamptonshire Telegraph

A tale of two hospitals: the pandemic and its aftermath in Berlin and London

A tale of two hospitals: the pandemic and its aftermath in Berlin and London The pandemic challenged every health care system in the world. But what can we learn from one another in the way we responded, and how we might improve for future threats? 

In this episode we look up close at the experience of two large academic teaching hospitals embedded in two different health care systems – the Charité in Berlin, Germany’s largest teaching hospital, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, one of the UK’s largest. 

How do these two health care systems compare when dealing with the pandemic and its aftermath? And what can we learn? (podcast) The Health Foundation

Menopause and the workplace

Menopause and the workplace Employers' lack of support for menopausal symptoms is pushing 'highly skilled and experienced' women out of work, with knock-on effects on the gender pay gap, pension gap and the number of women in senior leadership positions. In a new report published today, the cross-party House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee calls on the Government to act, amending the Equality Act to introduce menopause as a protected characteristic, and to include a duty for employers to provide reasonable adjustments for menopausal employees.

See also:

• Working women need greater menopause rights - MPs BBC News
• 'Menopause leave' for women at work? Ministers told to step in as many receive 'little support' The Daily Mail
• Menopause should be ‘protected by law just like race and religion’ The Daily Telegraph
• MPs call for menopause to be protected characteristic in UK Equality Act The Guardian
• Lack of support for menopausal women driving them out of jobs, warn MPs The Independent

NHS leaders warn that social care workforce crisis risks patient safety

NHS leaders warn that social care workforce crisis risks patient safety NHS leaders across England say staffing gaps and a lack of capacity in social care are putting the care and safety of patients in the NHS at risk.

Almost 250 NHS leaders responding to an NHS Confederation survey say that patients are being delayed in hospital much longer than they should, with the knock-on impact resulting in higher demand on A&E departments and longer ambulance response times.

See also:

• System on a cliff edge: addressing challenges in social care capacity (report) NHS Confederation

Accelerating the pace and scale of action on health inequalities and population health

Accelerating the pace and scale of action on health inequalities and population health The NHS Confederation and Novartis UK have engaged a range of leaders from across integrated care systems (ICSs) in England, with a focus on accelerating the pace and scale of action on health inequalities and population health.

Guidance: Public health impact of drought: advice for the public

Guidance: Public health impact of drought: advice for the public Information on the potential health impacts of drought in England and the measures that people can take to stay healthy during these events. UK Health Security Agency

Fourth patient seemingly cured of HIV

Fourth patient seemingly cured of HIV A man who has lived with HIV since the 1980s seems to have been cured in only the fourth such case, say doctors.

He was given a bone marrow transplant to treat blood cancer leukaemia from a donor who was naturally resistant to the virus.

The 66-year-old, who does not want to be identified, has stopped taking HIV medication. BBC News

See also:

• 'City of Hope' patient, 66, is cured of HIV after receiving dangerous stem cell treatment The Daily Mail
• Oldest patient yet cured of HIV after stem cell transplant – researchers Reuters
• Fourth patient in history seemingly cured of HIV after stem cell transplant Sky News

Guy's and St Thomas': Hospital in meltdown over IT issues - whistleblower

Guy's and St Thomas': Hospital in meltdown over IT issues - whistleblower A whistleblower has warned a London hospital is "literally in meltdown" after its IT system was knocked out during last week's heatwave.

Operations at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in Lambeth were cancelled after its IT servers broke down in 40C (104F) temperatures on 19 July.

A doctor told the BBC "poor planning" and "chronic underfunding" meant issues remained a week later. BBC News

See also:

• Some systems back online but Guy’s and St Thomas’ IT issues continue Digital Health

Health Secretary Stephen Barclay issues plea for blood donors as supplies run low

Health Secretary Stephen Barclay issues plea for blood donors as supplies run low An urgent plea for blood donors to come forward has been issued by the health secretary as stocks required to carry out critical operations run low.

Steve Barclay said the NHS is running on three-and-half days' worth of blood reserves - whereas it normally aims to hold six days. Sky News

GPs to refer long Covid patients to 'one-stop-shops' under NHS England plan

GPs to refer long Covid patients to 'one-stop-shops' under NHS England plan An action plan to support patients with long Covid symptoms within six weeks – while reducing related GP workload – has been announced today by NHS England.

The plan, promised by a health minister for spring, will allow GPs as well as specialist long Covid clinics to refer patients for tests and checks at local one-stop-shops and mobile clinics, and is intended to prevent people having to go back to their GP practice for multiple different tests. Pulse

See also:

• UK scientists take ‘promising’ step towards single Covid and cold vaccine The Guardian
• Covid study finds millions have long-term smell or taste problems The Guardian
• Number of Covid-19 hospital patients in England shows signs of falling The Independent

Dental checkups to become less frequent in England and Wales

Dental checkups to become less frequent in England and Wales The decades-old routine of visiting an NHS dentist for a six-month checkup is being scrapped across England and Wales for most adults as part of changes designed to address the dire lack of access to dental care for many people.

Wales has announced that most adults now only need to see their dentist once a year, which the government in Cardiff says will free up NHS dentists’ time and allow them to take on more than 100,000 extra patients annually. The Guardian

How is YOUR hospital faring in NHS's busiest ever summer?

How is YOUR hospital faring in NHS's busiest ever summer? The ailing National Health Service's worst ever summer crisis was today laid bare by a forensic trust-by-trust breakdown of waiting lists, A&E pressure and bed occupancy by MailOnline.

It reveals that up to six in 10 patients in the queue for routine surgery at England's busiest trust have been waiting a shocking 18 weeks — and a fifth have been waiting over a year. The Daily Mail

Eating too much junk can give you dementia! Another study says ultra-processed foods harm the brain

Eating too much junk can give you dementia! Another study says ultra-processed foods harm the brain Gorging on too much junk food can also increase your risk of developing dementia, scientists say.

The study tracked more than 70,000 middle-aged for a decade to try and tease out the effects of a diet heavy in ultraprocessed snacks.

Although the study doesn't prove a bad diet causes dementia, it adds to the ever-growing pile of evidence linking the two together. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption With Risk of Dementia: A Prospective Cohort (abstract but available through OpenAthens to trust staff) Neurology
• Ultra-processed food ‘increases risk of developing dementia’ The Daily Telegraph