State-of-the-art dispensing robots arrive at Northampton General Hospital

State-of-the-art dispensing robots arrive at Northampton General Hospital A cutting-edge robot system has been installed at Northampton General Hospital by leading health and safety consultancy, Acorn Safety Services.

The Northampton-based company installed the robot, which features a fully automated system to deliver drugs from the hospital’s main pharmacy safely and effectively. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

State of Black Britain Report

State of Black Britain Report New comprehensive research from the Black Equity Organisation brings to life the lived experience of Black people in the UK and the racism that they still experience – as well as their resilience.

The research, conducted by market researchers Survation reveals:

• 65% of Black people said they had been discriminated against by healthcare professionals because of their ethnicity
• Over 60% said they had been passed over for promotion or employment due to their ethnicity
• 59% said they or someone close to them had experienced stop and search or wrongful arrest
• 42% said they or someone close to them had experienced stop and search more than once
• 50% of parents with children under 18 said their children do not see themselves represented in either the teaching workforce or curriculum materials uses

People first: a response from health and care leaders to the urgent and emergency care system crisis

People first: a response from health and care leaders to the urgent and emergency care system crisis This resource was designed and developed: using outcomes from CQC's urgent and emergency care workshop, held in May 2022; and by members of the CQC National Emergency Medicine Specialist Advisor Forum. It recognises the unscheduled care pathway as a continuum, with solutions required across the artificial divides between primary, secondary, community and social care. It aims to: support the design of person-centred urgent and emergency care services; and encourage innovation across integrated care systems. Care Quality Commission

Stoptober launches to give smokers the confidence to quit

Stoptober launches to give smokers the confidence to quit Smokers in England are being urged to stub out the habit as part of the annual Stoptober public health campaign launching next month, as latest statistics show smoking costs the NHS £2.4bn a year while causing at least 15 types of cancers, including lung cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia.

Stoptober – now in its 11th year – aims to empower people to give up smoking during October, as evidence shows people are five times more likely to quit for good if they can make it to at least 28 days smoke free. Department of Health and Social Care

Second vaccine doses to be offered to those at highest risk from monkeypox

Second vaccine doses to be offered to those at highest risk from monkeypox The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced that second doses of the smallpox (Jynneos) vaccine will be offered to people at highest risk from monkeypox, in order to maximise protection against the virus.

This targeted approach is also supported by modelling published in today’s technical briefing 8 which suggests vaccinating 25% of the groups most at risk could significantly reduce the risk of transmission.

NHS delivers 2.1 million Covid autumn boosters

NHS delivers 2.1 million Covid autumn boosters The NHS Covid vaccination programme is off to a ‘flying start’ with 2.1 million autumn boosters delivered in just over a fortnight, and 1.35 million last week alone.

NHS chiefs are urging people to get vaccinated without delay ahead of a potential ‘twindemic’ of Covid-19 and flu this winter. NHS England

Covid: First rise in infections in UK since July

Covid: First rise in infections in UK since July Covid infection rates have increased in the UK for the first time since the middle of July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

One in 70 tested positive, with the largest rise in secondary school children in the week to 14 September.

Infections increased in England and Wales while rates fell in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The ONS says it will closely monitor the data to see the impact of schools returning over the coming weeks. BBC News

See also:

• How many cases in your area? BBC News
• Covid bounces back: England's outbreak grows 8% in a week The Daily Mail
• UK’s autumn Covid wave could be worse than the last as cases rise The Guardian
• Study of 9 million Swedes shows rapidly declining effectiveness of COVID vaccines against Omicron News Medical

Can the NHS learn from Germany’s health system?

Can the NHS learn from Germany’s health system? We love the NHS. We clapped for health workers and carers in the first wave of the pandemic. A large majority of us want to keep an NHS which is free at the point of use for all.

But public satisfaction with the service has fallen to its lowest since 1997, according to a recent British Social Attitudes survey, and increasing numbers are not happy with the standards of care provided.

Therese Coffey this week became the latest health secretary to pledge improvements for England, but are quick fixes possible, or is root-and-branch reform needed, and could other countries provide an answer? BBC News

NHS eating disorder services forced to ‘exclude’ patients and ‘ration care’

NHS eating disorder services forced to ‘exclude’ patients and ‘ration care’ Patients are being excluded from life-saving eating disorder treatment as services are severely underfunded, experts have warned.

Adult eating disorder services are so severely underfunded and understaffed that they are having to employ rationing measures and turn away patients, leading psychiatrist Dr Agnes Ayton told The Independent.

See also:

• The alarms should no longer be ignored: A Survey of the Demand, Capacity and Provision of Adult Community Eating Disorder Services in England and Scotland (open access preprint) PsyArvXiv Preprints

NHS staff shortages are 'biggest' sepsis risk this winter, charity warns

NHS staff shortages are 'biggest' sepsis risk this winter, charity warns The looming NHS staffing crisis could lead to more patients dying from sepsis, a major UK charity has warned.

Doctors have told the UK Sepsis Trust that staff shortages and high numbers of patients to treat are two of the most common factors preventing them from following national sepsis guidance. The Independent

Almost 90 more people died at home every day than expected in past year

Almost 90 more people died at home every day than expected in past year Almost 90 more people than expected died in private households every day in Great Britain in the past year as more end-of-life patients shunned hospitals in favour of a home death, Guardian analysis shows.

This year so far, almost 22,500 people more than usual died in private homes from all causes in Great Britain, opening new questions about the resources and treatment available for end-of-life care. The Guardian

Vaccination chiefs revive plans to give chickenpox jabs on the NHS at same time as MMR shot

Vaccination chiefs revive plans to give chickenpox jabs on the NHS at same time as MMR shot Vaccine chiefs are considering offering all babies jabs to protect them against chickenpox – after discussions to introduce the plan were abandoned at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

Normally a harmless illness, the virus can in rare cases lead to serious complications, including sepsis, pneumonia and brain damage.

Every year, more than 20 people die due to chickenpox in the UK and hundreds of babies are hospitalised due to severe symptoms. The Daily Mail