Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital bring back face masks and visiting restrictions following rise in Covid cases Bosses at Northamptonshire’s two main hospitals have told anybody entering the hospital to wear facemasks and there will be restricted visiting hours following a rise in Covid cases.
New measures from Thursday (October 6) follow data from NHS England which confirmed the number of patients being treated for Covid more than QUADRUPLED at Northamptonshire General Hospital in a week from 13 to 64 by 8am Wednesday (October 5). Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Friday 7 October 2022
Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital bring back face masks and visiting restrictions following rise in Covid cases
Aids charity’s concern at fewer HIV tests being done in Northamptonshire
Aids charity’s concern at fewer HIV tests being done in Northamptonshire Aids charities are concerned that HIV testing rates in Northamptonshire dropped by nearly a third since before the Covid pandemic.
Every year, thousands of people in the UK are infected with HIV, a disease which attacks the immune system. Northamptonshire Telegraph
No more targets or risk damaging public confidence in the NHS, warn health leaders
No more targets or risk damaging public confidence in the NHS, warn health leaders Health leaders are urging the Government to introduce a ban on new targets for the NHS unless they are backed up by additional investment and capacity.
With the NHS facing a real-terms cut to its funding due to rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures, local services are already in need of at least an additional £4 billion this year alone. This includes ongoing Covid costs that were not budgeted for, soaring energy bills, and a gap of £1.8 billion following the unbudgeted pay increase for NHS staff that was awarded in July. NHS Confederation
See also:
- NHS bosses’ plea to politicians: no more targets The Guardian
A framework for NHS action on social determinants of health
A framework for NHS action on social determinants of health There is growing interest in the role of health care systems in influencing the social determinants of health. Social determinants include income, employment, housing and other social factors, which interact to shape the conditions in which people live. These factors play a major role in shaping health and health inequalities – and are influenced by local, regional and national policies. The Health Foundation
The cost-of-living crisis is a health emergency too
The cost-of-living crisis is a health emergency too For the second time in 2 years, the UK is in the midst of an economic and health crisis. The rising cost of living risks many being unable to afford essentials to maintain their health, and bringing increased stress and anxiety as families try to make ends meet. The Health Foundation
Tackling cardiovascular disease: why the urgency?
Tackling cardiovascular disease: why the urgency? Between the 1970s and early 2000s, there were dramatic falls in the number of people dying from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) globally, a result of lifestyle changes and medical advances. This has driven unprecedented improvements in life expectancy. The number of people dying of CVDs in the UK fell by almost 70 per cent between 1980 and 2013. Given these spectacular declines, some consider the subsequent slowdown in the rate of improvement as inevitable. But does this mean the job of tackling CVDs is done? The evidence suggests not by a long margin and The NHS Long Term Plan identifies CVDs as ‘the single biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years’. The King's Fund
Five point plan for county and unitary councils: point three
Five point plan for county and unitary councils: point three With a year to go until the introduction of flagship reforms in adult social care, England’s largest councils today call for a delay – warning that the system is under so much pressure care services could be worsened if they are introduced too soon.
From October 2023, reforms to protect people from catastrophic care costs and make more people eligible for state support with their care costs come into force. These include a more generous means-test and a cap on care costs of £86,000 – two policies which are supported by the County Councils Network (CCN).
But the CCN warns that the system is under serious pressure currently, with councils facing a ‘perfect storm’ of financial and workforce pressures that mean the government should push back their introduction to October 2024.
The call comes in a new report released today by the CCN. The document is Point Three of the network’s Five Point Plan for County and Unitary Councils, designed to influence the policies of the new government.
See also:
- Social care: Delay cap on costs to ease crisis, councils warn BBC News
- Social care: 'Jo's care will cost £1.5k a week - the system is broken' BBC News
- Social care reforms should be delayed for another two years to avoid making 'perfect storm' worse, council chiefs warn The Daily Mail
- What are ‘the five pillars’ for social care reform? Home Care Insight
UKHSA and ONS release estimates of excess deaths during summer of 2022
UKHSA and ONS release estimates of excess deaths during summer of 2022 A joint report by UKHSA and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the effect of this summer’s record temperatures on excess mortality. UK Health Security Agency
See also:
- Excess mortality during heat-periods: 1 June to 31 August 2022 UK Health Security Agency
Independent report: RAPID C-19 Oversight Group report: review of Evusheld
Independent report: RAPID C-19 Oversight Group report: review of Evusheld summary of the evidence on efficacy of Evusheld as a prophylactic treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19) considered by the RAPID C-19 Oversight Group. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- Research: COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 40, 2021 to 2022) UK Health Security Agency
- Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk UK Health Security Agency
- National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published UK Health Security Agency
NHS set to boost GP workforce ahead of winter
NHS set to boost GP workforce ahead of winter Thousands more staff will be recruited to new roles in General Practice, so family doctors’ time can be freed up to see more patients during winter, the NHS has announced today.
More than one thousand GP assistants will be recruited to practices from this month to offer more admin support with the roles already proven to reduce the time GPs spend on tasks such as writing letters by more than two-fifths.
GP assistants will be trained to do blood pressure checks, heart rate and blood tests as well as arranging appointments, referrals and follow-up care for patients. NHS England
See also:
- High street pharmacists treat thousands more people for minor illnesses NHS England
- Recruitment of ‘GP Assistants’ a positive step, but they are not a substitute for GPs Royal College of General Practitioners
- NHS will hire 1,000 recruits to carry out basic checks and give jabs to tackle appointments backlog The Daily Mail
- GP assistants are no solution to the workforce crisis in general practice, warns RCGP GPonline
- Podcast: Surge in GP vacancies, a plan for GP retention and how summer demand matched a pre-pandemic winter GPonline
Stem cell patch surgery to mend spina bifida in the womb
Stem cell patch surgery to mend spina bifida in the womb US doctors say they have successfully carried out surgery on babies in the womb to repair harmful spine defects using a special, therapeutic stem cell patch method.
Experts hope the pioneering research at UC Davis Health could help others with spina bifida - when the spinal cord and spine do not develop properly.
Three of the babies in the trial have now been born.
The team will monitor them for at least six years. BBC News
See also:
We must challenge 'doctor knows best' attitude, bereaved mother says
We must challenge 'doctor knows best' attitude, bereaved mother says Merope Mills, an editor at the Guardian, has questioned doctors' attitudes after her 13-year-old daughter Martha's preventable death in hospital.
Martha had sustained a rare pancreatic trauma after falling off a bike on a family holiday, and spent weeks in a specialist unit where she developed sepsis.
An inquest concluded that her death was preventable, and the hospital apologised. BBC News
NHS England could face £7bn budget shortfall next year, finance chief warns
NHS England could face £7bn budget shortfall next year, finance chief warns GP services, cancer care and mental health treatment may face cuts because of an NHS budget shortfall of up to £7bn next year, the health service’s finance chief has said.
Waiting times could increase and overstretched A&E units could face even greater challenges in dealing with the surge in patients needing medical attention, he added. The Guardian
Emergency 999 call operators set to walk out for first time in strike over BT pay
Emergency 999 call operators set to walk out for first time in strike over BT pay Emergency 999 call handlers have gone on strike with colleagues from BT - which runs their phone lines - in a row over pay.
Hundreds of operators were set to walk out on Thursday, with the union behind the action warning there could be disruption to emergency services as a result.
The Communication Workers Union said it was the first time 999 call operators had gone on strike. The Independent
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