Thursday, 8 June 2023

Northamptonshire included in first ever heat-health alert issued by Government and Met Office as temperatures set to rise

Northamptonshire included in first ever heat-health alert issued by Government and Met Office as temperatures set to rise The first ever heat-health warning has been issued – and Northamptonshire is included.

The warning from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, is in place for six regions - including the East Midlands – from 9am Friday (June 9) to 9am Monday (June 12). Northamptonshire Telegraph

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RCR launch 2022 workforce census reports

RCR launch 2022 workforce census reports Today sees the launch of our clinical radiology and clinical oncology workforce census reports for 2022. We secured a 100% response rate with every single cancer centre head and clinical director of radiology departments completing our survey – representing some of the most authoritative reports into the current state of diagnosis and cancer care in the UK.

The reports demonstrate the scale of workforce shortages in diagnostic and cancer departments across the country and the devastating impact on cancer patients. Royal College of Radiologists

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Our position on complaints in the NHS and social care

Our position on complaints in the NHS and social care When people have concerns over any aspect of their care or the actions or decisions of any NHS or social care body, they have the right to make a complaint. Read our position on how health and care services should manage complaints, and our work on this issue. Healthwatch

Only 2% of carers receive financial support from local authorities

Only 2% of carers receive financial support from local authorities Recent analysis from the Health Foundation revealed the high personal and financial cost shouldered by unpaid carers; 1 in 5 report feeling socially isolated and 4 in 10 report financial difficulties because of their caring role.

Although carers have a right to an assessment to see whether they are entitled to financial support from their local authority, only a small number actually seek help. In 2021, only 8% of carers in England applied for financial support from their local authority and, of those who did, only 1 in 4 (2% of the total number of carers) ended up receiving support.

Cross-government action announced to champion carers

Cross-government action announced to champion carers Minister for Care, Helen Whately, held a reception at No 10 and announced a cross-government roundtable to meet the needs of carers in all aspects of their lives. Department of Health and Social Care

Successful NHS programme to recruit care volunteers

Successful NHS programme to recruit care volunteers Following the success of the NHS Volunteer Responders Programme scheme over the pandemic, the government has announced it will expand it into social care to form a joint NHS and care volunteering programme and allow care providers to recruit volunteers to help people in their local areas. Department of Health and Social Care

England on track to end new HIV transmissions by 2030

England on track to end new HIV transmissions by 2030 New HIV transmissions in England have fallen by almost a third since 2019, while fewer people remain unaware of their HIV status as a result of increased testing across the country, according to an update on the HIV Action Plan for England published today. UK Health Security Agency

Thousands of new HIV and Hepatitis cases identified thanks to NHS testing pilot

Thousands of new HIV and Hepatitis cases identified thanks to NHS testing pilot lmost 2,000 people living with HIV and Hepatitis who were previously undiagnosed have been identified by the NHS over the last year, thanks to a new testing pilot.

Under the NHS programme, people visiting an A&E who are having blood taken as part of their visit have an extra sample of blood taken, which is screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

If the test comes back positive for HIV or Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, the patient is offered specialist support and a treatment plan is agreed with them. NHS England

NHS backlog plan 'is working', health secretary insists - after missing target to end 18-month waits

NHS backlog plan 'is working', health secretary insists - after missing target to end 18-month waits The health secretary has insisted the plan to reduce the NHS backlog "is working" despite missing a key target to eliminate 18-month waits.

Steve Barclay admitted the goal to eliminate year-and-a-half waits for hospital treatment by April had been missed "by a very narrow margin". Sky News

Senior doctors plan 48-hour strike for July in England

Senior doctors plan 48-hour strike for July in England Hospital consultants who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) in England will go on strike on 20 and 21 July if medics vote for action.

The 48-hour walkout will affect routine services, but emergency care will be covered after the BMA promised to provide a Christmas Day level of cover.

The result of the ballot is due on 27 June, but the BMA said it wanted to give the NHS notice of the strike. BBC News

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Covid inquiry: What is it investigating and how will it work?

Covid inquiry: What is it investigating and how will it work? The public inquiry investigating the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic will hold its first public hearing on 13 June.

Meanwhile the Cabinet Office has launched a legal challenge against the inquiry's request to see unredacted messages sent between former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and colleagues. BBC News

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Climate change is harming my mental health

Climate change is harming my mental health Until two years ago Jennifer Newall was working at the forefront of climate change research.

Her PhD on melting ice sheets and changing sea levels had taken her to Antarctica, Scandinavia and the USA but it was while leading a workshop for primary school children in Glasgow that she began to question what she was doing.

Jennifer is one of a growing number of people who have experienced "eco-anxiety" - a chronic sense of hopelessness and fear of environmental doom. BBC News

Astonishing new research shows heart condition can be reversed

Astonishing new research shows heart condition can be reversed Three men who had heart failure caused by the build-up of sticky, toxic proteins are now free of symptoms after their condition spontaneously reversed in an unprecedented case described by a team at UCL and the Royal Free Hospital. 

The condition, a form of amyloidosis affecting the heart, is progressive and has until now been seen as irreversible, with half of patients dying within four years of diagnosis. Royal Free Hospital

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Fertility rates plunge to decade low as researchers find biggest dip in female graduates

Fertility rates plunge to decade low as researchers find biggest dip in female graduates Female graduates have delayed having babies later than less-educated women, University of Oxford research has found.

Women of all backgrounds had fewer children over the past decade and did so later in life than in previous years.

But a study published today in the journal Population Studies found the decline was particularly sharp among mothers with well-educated parents and who themselves went to university. The Daily Mail

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