New Covid variant 2023 symptoms: Government issues warning as Eris variant spreads across UK

New Covid variant 2023 symptoms: Government issues warning as Eris variant spreads across UK A new variant of Covid named Eris has emerged as figures show a spike in hospital admissions this summer. The new variant is a descendant of Omicron, and is known scientifically as EG.5.1.

Eris was first classified as a UK variant on July 31 but is now thought to account for one in 10 Covid cases, making it the second most prevalent in the country. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid Eris symptoms: All we know about new variant driving surge in cases The Independent
• Everything we know about the Covid Eris variant as infections rise in the UK Metro

The NHS in crisis: evaluating the radical alternatives

The NHS in crisis: evaluating the radical alternatives What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of the 'radical' alternatives to the NHS? Charlotte Wickens and Toby Brown explore the main options and if they could solve problems in the health and care system. The King's Fund 

Beyond ‘bad admin’ exploring what great admin looks like and how it can be achieved

Beyond ‘bad admin’ exploring what great admin looks like and how it can be achieved Most of us know what ‘bad’ admin looks like in the NHS – appointment letters arriving late, not being able to make or change an appointment, or a referral getting lost. But what does ‘great’ admin look like? Great admin is often hard to see and tricky to describe. It's designed to be invisible – often operating behind the scenes – smoothing the processes that enable patients, staff, information and equipment to all be in the right time and place. Great admin just works, and it works for everyone. The King's Fund

NHS England fit and proper person test framework for board members

NHS England fit and proper person test framework for board members This framework was produced in response to recommendations made by Tom Kark KC in his 2019 review of the FPPT (the Kark Review). This also takes into account the requirements of the Care Quality Commission in relation to directors being fit and proper for their roles. NHS England

Guidance: Elective recovery taskforce: implementation plan

Guidance: Elective recovery taskforce: implementation plan A plan to turbocharge recovery of the COVID-19 backlog in elective care by leveraging the capacity across the whole system and empowering patients to choose where they are treated. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Health Foundation comment on Elective Recovery Taskforce Health Foundation
• Interactive case study map for elective recovery NHS Confederation

UKHSA unveils VDEC in ‘step change’ for UK’s growing vaccine capabilities

UKHSA unveils VDEC in ‘step change’ for UK’s growing vaccine capabilities The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today unveiled its world-leading Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC), which is building on its pandemic legacy and helping develop life-saving new vaccines for the UK and worldwide.

The centre is situated at the UKHSA’s Porton Down site, where it is co-located with other services delivered separately by partners including the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

See also:

• Porton Down: Can this laboratory help stop the next pandemic? BBC News
• British scientists are primed to create the next pandemic vaccine in 100 days as super-lab Porton Down develops prototypes to tackle 'Disease X' The Daily Mail
• Scientists at Porton Down super-lab are preparing for bird flu to jump to humans - as secretive site is 'getting the tools ready' for an outbreak of deadly H5N1 bird flu The Daily Mail
• Huge vaccine centre opened at Porton Down to bolster UK's pandemic preparedness Evening Standard
• New vaccine research centre in UK to help scientists prepare for ‘disease X’ The Guardian
• Huge vaccine centre launched to bolster UK’s pandemic preparedness ITV News
• Inside vaccine development centre at Porton Down Sky News

Mother awake for 60 hours as son's care breaks down

Mother awake for 60 hours as son's care breaks down Families of people with complex medical needs are warning the NHS system that funds their care at home is struggling to provide sufficient support.

Despite recent significant increases in spending on Continuing Healthcare, experts say staff shortages and rising prices mean families are lacking help.

Some say at times they are so exhausted from providing care, they worry about the safety of their relatives.

The government says it has invested billions into health and social care. BBC News

US approves postpartum depression pill

US approves postpartum depression pill The US has approved the first pill for postpartum depression.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said zuranolone, sold under the brand name Zurzuvae, has been approved as a once-daily pill taken for two weeks.

Until now, treatment for postpartum depression (PPD) was available only as an intravenous injection, the FDA said. BBC News

See also:

• FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression US Food and Drug Administration
• Effect of Zuranolone vs Placebo in Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial (open access) JAMA Psychiatry

NHS must embrace robotics and AI to be fit for future, surgeons warn

NHS must embrace robotics and AI to be fit for future, surgeons warn Some NHS trusts have embraced state-of-the-art surgical robots, while others are trialling more novel solutions like androids to transport medicines. Surgeons say the health service needs to fully embrace robotics and AI to be fit for the future. Sky News

See also:

• AI cuts waiting times for cancer patients in NHS first Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Two-thirds of sexual assault support centres in England branded inadequate

Two-thirds of sexual assault support centres in England branded inadequate More than two-thirds of England’s specialist support centres for victims of sexual assault or abuse have been found to have flaws in the care they offer in their most recent full inspections, the Observer can reveal.

Almost half were found to be breaching their minimum legal obligations to victims in their last full inspection, with problems ranging from a failure to deal with suicide and self-harm risks, cleaning so bad it risked contaminating forensic evidence collected for criminal cases, and failures to do adequate background checks on the staff working with victims.

Rishi Sunak warned of concerns over NHS private sector partnerships

Rishi Sunak warned of concerns over NHS private sector partnerships Rishi Sunak has been warned his plan for more private sector partnerships with the NHS in England to cut waiting lists will amount to “reshuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic” without addressing deeper structural issues with staffing.

The recommendations of an elective recovery plan, published on Friday, were broadly welcomed by opposition parties and health experts, but said to be overdue. Critics also said they only addressed a fragment of the much wider capacity and staffing issues across the whole of the country’s health systems. The Guardian

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to DHSC announcement of 13 new community diagnostic centres The King's Fund
• New NHS and independent diagnostic centres welcome but unintended consequences must be considered Nuffield Trust

Patients risk plunging into debt by signing up to 'buy now, pay later' private healthcare

Patients risk plunging into debt by signing up to 'buy now, pay later' private healthcare Patients facing long NHS waiting lists for scans and tests are plunging themselves into debt by signing up for 'buy now, pay later' private health care deals.

In exchange for rapid treatment, patients face years of paying off debts on instalment for their medical treatment - including MRI scans, X-rays, routine surgery and hip replacements.

Firms such as MRI Plus, which offers payback deals tells patients 'Why wait in pain? Slash your waiting time for treatment on the NHS', and 'book now and pay later'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Buy now, pay later medical loans on rise as desperate patients go private amid NHS backlogs The Guardian

England's 'disgraceful' cancer crisis laid bare

England's 'disgraceful' cancer crisis laid bare England's burgeoning cancer crisis was today laid bare by MailOnline's dossier of 'disgraceful' data.

Armed with our sobering catalogue of statistics, renowned experts and MPs from across the political spectrum have demanded urgent action to tackle the unfolding catastrophe, calling for a 'seismic shift in our approach to cancer care' to save thousands from dying prematurely.

The dire numbers – packaged into a searchable tool so you can see exactly how your NHS trust performs – come amid growing fears of a cancer timebomb. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The real victims of the 'disgraceful' cancer crisis: Sufferers tell of 8-week waits for treatment and being given 2 years to live for disease 'I should not have' The Daily Mail