Chart of the week: Substantial deterioration in A&E waits, even for youngest

Chart of the week: Substantial deterioration in A&E waits, even for youngest Last month, the then Health Secretary acknowledged the issues that exist around ambulance handover delays, patients being delayed when ready to leave hospital, and variation in waiting times across the country. But what about variation by age group? Jessica Morris takes a closer look at the data, which reveal very interesting findings. Nuffield Trust

What influences the organisation of nurse staffing in intensive care?

What influences the organisation of nurse staffing in intensive care? Nurse staffing in intensive care is typically based on the number of nurses per patient (nurse to patient ratio), with more nurses needed to care for the most unwell patients. New research showed that many other factors influence how nurse staffing is organised. The mix of nurses’ skills and experience, the layout of the ward, and the availability of other professionals in the team, all had an impact. The potential impact on patient safety and nurses’ wellbeing was considered. National Institute for Health and Care Research

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK.

A number of Omicron variants are currently circulating in England, many of which have acquired mutations which may produce a degree of immune escape. Omicron sublineages BQ.1 and XBB have been given UKHSA variant designations to facilitate continued studies. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern.

See also:

• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency

Concern over flu and RSV as Covid stays level

Concern over flu and RSV as Covid stays level Covid infections remain fairly stable across the UK, but other viruses such as flu, norovirus and RSV are increasing, latest data shows.

The flu season has started early and some children under five are ending up in hospital, health officials say.

They are also reminding parents that all two and three-year-olds can have a flu nasal spray vaccine.

Another common winter virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also on the rise in young children. BBC News

See also: 

• US is suffering 'worst flu outbreak in 13 YEARS', CDC report warns The Daily Mail
• Health bosses are now officially tracking pair of Omicron splinter strains The Daily Mail
• UK scientists created mutant Covid strains in 'high-risk, low-benefit' lab experiments The Daily Mail
• Scientists in furious row over 'lab-made Covid' claims The Daily Telegraph
• Plea to vaccinate children against flu as hospitalisations rise in England The Guardian
• Two new Covid variants found in UK with hundreds of cases detected The Independent
• Flu infections rise again with young children worst affected - but COVID situation continues to improve Sky News

Croydon Hospital: Patient tells PM to pay NHS staff more

Croydon Hospital: Patient tells PM to pay NHS staff more Rishi Sunak has been told he needed to "try harder" over plans to give pay rises to hospital staff.

Visiting Croydon University Hospital, the prime minister spoke to in-patients, including Catherine Poole, aged 77.

After telling him he needed to pay medical staff more, she rejected his answer over his efforts, and told him he was "not trying". BBC News

See also:

• 'I wouldn't bring a member of my family to this hospital,' says medic BBC News
• Hospital patient challenges Rishi Sunak over nurses’ pay The Guardian
• NHS staff ‘forced to choose between rent and childcare’ as pay fails to meet soaring cost of living The Independent

NHS yet to see ‘a single penny’ of promised £500m emergency fund

NHS yet to see ‘a single penny’ of promised £500m emergency fund Hospitals and care homes have not received a single penny of a £500m emergency fund promised by the government to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed this winter, the Guardian has learned.

Ministers announced they were injecting the cash into the health and social care system last month, to help get thousands of medically fit patients out of hospital into either their own home or a care home as soon as possible in an effort to better prepare the NHS for the coming months. The Guardian

‘This cannot go on’: rise in under-18s on adult psychiatric wards in UK

‘This cannot go on’: rise in under-18s on adult psychiatric wards in UK Services struggle to meet the needs of children with mental health issues as adult units see 30% more admissions of younger people

A growing number of children with mental health problems are being treated on adult psychiatric wards as services struggle to cope with a surge in demand following the pandemic, the NHS watchdog has warned.

There were 249 admissions of under-18s to adult psychiatric wards in England in 2021-22, according to data provided by NHS trusts to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), up 30% on the year before. The Guardian

More jabs needed to halt second wave of monkeypox despite number of infections falling

More jabs needed to halt second wave of monkeypox despite number of infections falling The UK could be hit with a second wave of monkeypox cases if efforts to vaccinate against it are not improved, experts have warned.

While the number of infections has fallen, doctors believe this is due to changes in sexual behaviour rather than the success of the vaccination campaign.

Just over half of those eligible for the jab, which provides strong protection against the painful blistering disease, have come forward. The Daily Mail

NHS patients first in the world to benefit from gentle electric shock that calms racing heart safely

NHS patients first in the world to benefit from gentle electric shock that calms racing heart safely NHS patients are among the first in the world to benefit from a ground-breaking treatment for a racing heartbeat. 

The technology, which uses pulses of electricity to reprogramme the heart’s rhythm, is gentler than current methods – reducing the risk of complications.

It involves an electric probe which is fed into a vein in the thigh and then steered through the body until it reaches the heart. The Daily Mail