Charity's pride after donating picnic tables to KGH

Charity's pride after donating picnic tables to KGH KGH staff, patients and visitors can now take a break outside after a health charity donated 22 picnic tables.

The Northamptonshire Health Charity handed over £10,000 to pay for the tables after a funding request from the hospital’s health and wellbeing group. Northamptonshire Telegraph

The distribution of doctor quality: evidence from cardiologists in England

The distribution of doctor quality: evidence from cardiologists in England There is widespread and unexplained variation in the outcomes of similar patients across place and providers in all developed health systems. This paper provides new evidence on the role senior doctors play in determining patient outcomes. It exploits within-hospital quasi-random assignment of patients to senior doctors following a heart attack to estimate the effectiveness of individual doctors, and to estimate returns to experience for these doctors. Institute of Fiscal Studies

Investigation into the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd

Investigation into the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd Government had to move very fast at the start of the pandemic to increase testing capacity, but did not document key decisions adequately when awarding a contract to Randox Laboratories Ltd (Randox) for COVID-19 testing services, according to a report from the National Audit Office.

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UKHSA has published the latest epidemiological overview for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

It shows that as of 8 August 2022, there are 2,914 confirmed and 103 highly probable monkeypox cases in the UK: 3,017 in total. Of these, 2,883 are in England. UK Health Security Agency

UK heatwave: Four-day extreme heat warning issued for parts of England and Wales

UK heatwave: Four-day extreme heat warning issued for parts of England and Wales The Met Office has issued a four-day amber extreme heat warning, meaning vulnerable people's health could be impacted and travel could be disrupted.

The warning applies to southern and central England and parts of Wales from midnight on Thursday until Sunday. BBC News

What we know so far about ‘Langya,’ the new virus discovered in China

What we know so far about ‘Langya,’ the new virus discovered in China Less than three years after the discovery of the Covid-19 virus, Chinese scientists say that they have discovered a new virus that may potentially be fatal to humans.

Thus far, the Langya Henipavirus, known as “Langya,” does not appear to be as deadly or spreading as quickly as Covid. According to data from Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC), though the virus has already infected 35 people, none have become seriously ill or died. The Independent

See also:

• Langya virus: Warning as brand new virus is detected in China The Daily Mail
• Newly identified Langya virus tracked after China reports dozens of cases The Guardian
• China discovers potentially fatal new virus passed to humans from shrews The Independent

Obese patients ‘being weight-shamed by doctors and nurses’

Obese patients ‘being weight-shamed by doctors and nurses’ Doctors and nurses often “weight-shame” people who are overweight or obese, leaving them feeling anxious, depressed and wrongly blaming themselves for their condition, research has found.

Such behaviour, although usually the result of “unconscious weight bias”, leads to people not attending medical appointments, feeling humiliated and being more likely to put on weight. The Guardian

Half of people with possible signs of cancer wait six months to contact a GP

Half of people with possible signs of cancer wait six months to contact a GP Half of people with possible cancer symptoms in the UK do not contact a GP for at least six months, potentially reducing their chances of survival, research has found.

Poorer people are less likely than the better-off to see their family doctor once they have eventually sought medical help, a survey by Cancer Research UK found. The Guardian

See also:

• Help seeking: Why isn’t it as simple as it might sound? Cancer Research UK

Six in ten stroke patients waiting dangerously long times to be seen, study shows

Six in ten stroke patients waiting dangerously long times to be seen, study shows Six in ten stroke patients face dangerously long waits to be seen in a specialist unit, a study found. 

Just 38.3 per cent were admitted within the recommended four hours of arriving in A&E during the first three months of this year. 

The figure was down ten percentage points on the same period in 2021. The Daily Mail

NHS to launch 'Super September' to cut down backlogs in time for winter

NHS to launch 'Super September' to cut down backlogs in time for winter Patients in England are set to face longer waits for routine check-ups as NHS bosses order hospitals to see those who are yet to have their first appointment, in a fresh bid to hack down backlogs.

The plan, dubbed 'Super September' by health chiefs, will see those who have been in the queue the longest prioritised for appointments over those who are waiting for routine second consultations. The Daily Mail