Review of neonatal assessment and practice in Black, Asian and minority ethnic newborns: Exploring the Apgar score, the detection of cyanosis, and jaundice

Review of neonatal assessment and practice in Black, Asian and minority ethnic newborns: Exploring the Apgar score, the detection of cyanosis, and jaundice Tests that indicate the health of newborns, moments after birth, are limited and not fit-for-purpose for Black, Asian and ethnic minority babies, and need immediate revision according to findings from the NHS Race and Health Observatory.

Neonatal assessments, including the Apgar score, a quick observation test used to assess babies minutes after birth was developed in 1952, and is now considered out of date by many healthcare professionals. Based on a score of 1 to 10, with a high Apgar score indicating good health for babies, minutes following birth, the assessments are used as standard by healthcare professionals regardless of a baby’s skin tone and can give misleading scores.

See also:

• Concerns over focus on skin colour in newborn checks BBC News
• Tests to assess newborns health not effective for BAME babies in UK The Guardian
• New NHS Report Reveals How Racial Biases From The 50s Are Still Impacting Newborn Care Huffington Post UK
• Babies could be put at risk due to ‘skin colour tests’ – report The Independent

Fear and futility – what does the staff survey tell us about speaking up in the NHS?

Fear and futility – what does the staff survey tell us about speaking up in the NHS? We have published our analysis of the questions relating to speaking up in the 2022 NHS Staff Survey.

While the results have improved since Freedom to Speak Up guardians were first implemented, the results show a fall in NHS workers’ confidence to speak up. Of particular concern is the marked fall in how safe people feel to raise a clinical concern. National Guardians Office

See also:

• Review finds decrease in workforce confidence to speak up NHS Employers

NHS steps up battle against life-threatening infections following successful world-first pilot

NHS steps up battle against life-threatening infections following successful world-first pilot The NHS has launched plans to expand pioneering subscription-style drug contracts to develop lifesaving antibiotics of the future.

It comes as data shows more people are contracting drug-resistant superbugs than ever before, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) predicted to cause 10 million global deaths each year by 2050 if no action is taken.

NHS England is building on its world-first pilot to incentivise the pharmaceutical industry to develop new antibiotics that could be offered to NHS patients when they need them the most. NHS England

NHS shingles vaccine will be offered to almost one million more people

NHS shingles vaccine will be offered to almost one million more people Almost a million more people (900,000) will become eligible for a shingles vaccination from September, the NHS announced today.

Anyone who is severely immunosuppressed and over 50 will be able to get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine – currently the vaccine is only available to those over 70.

From 1 September 2023, those turning 65 and 70 will also be able to get the vaccine after their birthday, in addition to those already aged 70-80. Patients will be contacted by their GP practice when they become eligible.

Eligibility will then be expanded to include those 60 and up by September 2028. NHS England

See also:

• Shingles vaccine extended to vulnerable over-50s BBC News

Former surgeon wants NHS MeToo movement for sexual harassment

Former surgeon wants NHS MeToo movement for sexual harassment A former breast cancer surgeon has said the NHS needs a MeToo movement because of sexual harassment in hospitals.

Dr Liz O'Riordan said she experienced sexual harassment from colleagues on a weekly to monthly basis in some of her jobs as a junior doctor.

The 48-year-old retired in 2018 after her own breast cancer diagnoses. BBC News

Almost half of hospitals forced to close wards due to floods, power cuts and maintenance issues

Almost half of hospitals forced to close wards due to floods, power cuts and maintenance issues Almost half of NHS hospitals in England have been forced to close wards and vital services due to flooding, power cuts and structural problems, ITV News has discovered.

Our investigation has found entire accident and emergency departments, maternity wards and paediatric units at NHS hospitals have been temporarily shut in the last three years due to maintenance problems.

Some hospitals have had to permanently close entire wards because they are no longer structurally safe.

A Freedom of Information request to 95 NHS Trusts in England found 42% of those who responded have had wards, departments or services temporarily or permanently closed to due structural or repair issues since 2020.

In the last three years, 171 incidents were recorded at 27 NHS trusts.

See also: 

• Almost HALF of NHS hospitals have had to shut wards because of flooding and power cuts The Daily Mail

Big drug firms accused of 'ripping off' NHS with £12bn excess profits

Big drug firms accused of 'ripping off' NHS with £12bn excess profits Some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms have been accused of “ripping off” the NHS by making billions of pounds in profit on just a handful of cancer and other drugs.

NHS England has spent £13bn on the treatments in the past 10 years, with the drugs companies making up to £12.6bn through “extreme profiteering”, according to research by Global Justice Now, STOPAIDS, and Just Treatment. iNews

NHS hospitals in England serve meat with chemicals feared to cause cancer

NHS hospitals in England serve meat with chemicals feared to cause cancer Scores of hospitals are giving patients meat cured with chemicals that scientists and food safety experts increasingly fear may cause cancer.

Sixty-one NHS trusts in England are serving meat in their hospitals that may contain nitrates or nitrites despite growing evidence internationally implicating them in the development of cancer. The Guardian

Mindfulness really does work, study rules

Mindfulness really does work, study rules It may be dismissed by some as mumbo-jumbo, but trendy mindfulness could help to boost mental health for at least six months.

People who join in-person mindfulness classes are less likely to experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, analysis of 13 scientific studies suggests.

Mindfulness typically involves paying close attention to your body and surroundings in the moment, rather than being distracted by future worries - which is supposed to lead to feelings such as gratitude for being alive and greater calmness. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing mindfulness-based programs for mental health promotion (open access) Nature Mental Health

National Cancer Research Institute shut down amid future breakthrough fears

National Cancer Research Institute shut down amid future breakthrough fears A leading cancer research organisation which helped thousands of patients access life-saving new drugs has been forced to close after Cancer Research UK slashed its funding.

Last week it was announced that the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) will disband – a devastating blow to future research and trials of vital new treatments to combat the disease.

The NCRI said the closure was due to a lack of funds but did not provide further details. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NCRI is winding down after 22 remarkable years National Cancer Research Institute
• National Cancer Research Institute to close in “another blow” to UK research community The BMJ
• Expert reaction to letter from the Chair of the National Cancer Research Institute with news that it is closing down Science Media Centre