Covid: MPs to vote on England's one-month lockdown

Covid: MPs to vote on England's one-month lockdown MPs will vote later on the government's month-long lockdown in England, amid growing unease among Conservatives about its economic and social impact. 

The restrictions will come into force just after midnight if approved, and will last until 2 December. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: The things we’re not being told as lockdown looms BBC News
• Covid in schools: How risky are schools? BBC News
• Coronavirus: Living with children 'no increased risk' BBC News
• Covid: Destructive rules only current option, says Chris Whitty BBC News
• Is the UK's NHS Covid-19 app too private? BBC News
• Women who are pregnant are three times more likely to fall severely ill if they catch COVID-19 The Daily Mail
• What non-essential shops are closing? The full list of essential businesses allowed to stay open The Daily Telegraph
• Lung damage found in dead coronavirus patients may shed light on 'long Covid'
• Deciphering the quirks of England's second Covid lockdown rules The Guardian
• Blaming Covid 'rule-breakers' is a distraction: support is needed, not fines | Stephen Reicher The Guardian
• Patients unable to get help to eat on dangerously understaffed NHS wards at centre of second wave The Independent
• Coronavirus: NHS to be on standby for potential vaccine rollout in December Sky News

Stillbirth rise during pandemic leads to safety review

Stillbirth rise during pandemic leads to safety review A rise in stillbirths between April and June, at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, has prompted a national review by a patient safety body in England.

During that period, there were 40 stillbirths after labour began, compared with 24 in the same period last year.

The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch will release its report in 2021. BBC News

NHS pays out 'two multi-million pound settlements a week' for maternity failings

NHS pays out 'two multi-million pound settlements a week' for maternity failings The NHS is settling around two multi-million pound payouts every week for failings in maternity care, its head of complaints has told MPs. The Daily Telegraph

Vulnerable care home patients are wrongly denied hundreds of thousands of pounds in NHS funding -, report finds

Vulnerable care home patients are wrongly denied hundreds of thousands of pounds in NHS funding -, report finds Vulnerable care home patients are wrongly being denied hundreds of thousands of pounds in NHS funding, a damning report has found.

It means thousands of families may be needlessly selling their homes to pay for care. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS continuing healthcare failing to provide care for most vulnerable, says Ombudsman Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

PM's lockdown announcement came as a shock to Northamptonshire health chiefs

PM's lockdown announcement came as a shock to Northamptonshire health chiefs Boris Johnson's lockdown announcement came as a shock to health chiefs in Northamptonshire.

The county's Director of Public Health, Lucy Wightman, confessed she did not think the Prime Minister was about to make such a dramatic move. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire Healthcare Trust records first Covid-19 death in weeks Buckingham Advertiser
• Wellingborough MP puts PM on the spot over ditching local Covid-19 plans in favour of national lockdown Northamptonshire Telegraph

Co-ordination and divergence: devolution and coronavirus

Co-ordination and divergence: devolution and coronavirus This report warns that poor communication and a failure to share information have led the four governments of the United Kingdom to make decisions without considering the impact of their actions on other parts of the UK. Politicians must be sure that they do not forgo the potential benefits of co-ordinating their divergence – in terms of lives saved – because they are unwilling to reach consensus on the best way forward for the whole of the UK. Institute for Government

Performance tracker 2020: how public services have coped with coronavirus

Performance tracker 2020: how public services have coped with coronavirus This report analyses the disruptions in hospitals, general practice, adult social care, schools and criminal courts, and the changes made in response. It finds that coronavirus has resulted in backlogs across public services and calls for reviews of the impact of remote general practice and hospital appointments. Institute for Government

Liverpool to be regularly tested for coronavirus in first whole city testing pilot

Press release: Liverpool to be regularly tested for coronavirus in first whole city testing pilot Everyone living or working in Liverpool will be offered COVID-19 testing, whether they have symptoms or not. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• 500,000 daily testing capacity reached in ongoing drive to boost test and trace Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Accessing government-secured flu vaccines: guidance for NHS providers Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: PM warns UK faces 'medical and moral disaster' without action

Coronavirus: PM warns UK faces 'medical and moral disaster' without action The UK faces a "medical and moral disaster" unless tough action is taken now to stop the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Deaths 10% higher than normal as virus deaths rise BBC News
• Covid: 'We are hanging by a thread' - hospital doctor BBC News
• Coronavirus: Liverpool to pilot city-wide Covid-19 testing BBC News
• Mask exemptions must be clearer, rape campaigner says BBC News
• Covid: Target 'hit' for 500,000 tests a day in the UK BBC News
• Government scientific adviser warns keeping secondary schools open means lockdown could be LONGER The Daily Mail
• Number 10 could have saved 'thousands of lives' if it followed SAGE advice, scientific adviser says The Daily Mail
• The lesson of lockdown 2: never again run down England's public health defences | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
• Fault in NHS Covid app meant thousands at risk did not quarantine The Guardian
• How the link between racism and Covid is being ignored | Ciaran Thapar The Guardian
• Coronavirus: UK vaccine programmes face ongoing threat of cyber attacks by hostile states The Independent
• Coronavirus: New rapid tests to be trialled in Liverpool are 99.9% accurate, says government scientist The Independent

Basildon maternity unit handed 'urgent' safety deadline

Basildon maternity unit handed 'urgent' safety deadline An NHS hospital where a woman bled to death in childbirth has been given an "urgent" deadline to keep patients at its maternity unit safe.

A letter seen by the BBC reveals the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found unsafe staffing levels at the unit at Basildon Hospital throughout August.

The CQC said the trust that runs it had until next Monday to implement appropriate measures. BBC News

IVF treatment: 'Grieving for the child you can't have'

IVF treatment: 'Grieving for the child you can't have' A campaigner for NHS-funded IVF has said she "reached crisis point" after discovering she was infertile.

Amber Izzo, 26, and husband Marco, from Peterborough, have been trying for a baby for about six years and have had two unsuccessful cycles of IVF.

She has shared her journey on Instagram and YouTube, gaining more than 5,000 followers and subscribers. BBC News

£45m deal for NHS masks collapses amid fraud claims

£45m deal for NHS masks collapses amid fraud claims Exclusive: millions of respirators missing as medical company sues its supplier in US

Millions of medical masks purchased by the British government for £45m are missing after a major PPE deal collapsed amid accusations of fraud, the Guardian can reveal.

The Department of Health and Social Care paid its supplier Purple Surgical upfront for 5m FFP3 respirator masks, which were supposed to have been flown into Birmingham international airport by June. The Guardian

Here's what the new lockdown rules will mean for Northamptonshire

Here's what the new lockdown rules will mean for Northamptonshire After months being warned about the threat of a local lockdown and two weeks on from being placed in the lowest tier of the Government's National Covid Alert System, Northamptonshire will shut up shop along with the rest of the country from Thursday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• We must "turn off the tap" of Covid patients to protect Northamptonshire's NHS, warns Public Health chief Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton's Covid-19 infections are higher than some areas now being put into tier two  Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Two Northampton venues punished after one had groups standing and another had customers on site after 10pm Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Boris Johnson announces four-week national lockdown for England - the key points Northamptonshire Telegraph

New National Restrictions from 5 November

New National Restrictions from 5 November Information on the new national restrictions, including what they mean for working from home and business closures, why they are being introduced and the financial support available. The Cabinet Office

See also:

• NHS Test and Trace managing record number of cases Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 30 October 2020  Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS response to the Prime Minister’s announcement 31 October 2020 NHS England

Covid: PM warns of virus deaths 'twice as bad' as spring

Covid: PM warns of virus deaths 'twice as bad' as spring Covid-19 deaths could be twice as high over the winter as they were in the first wave of the pandemic, PM Boris Johnson is expected to warn MPs later.

In a Parliamentary statement he will say there is "no alternative" as he seeks to win support for the planned four-week lockdown across England. 

But Mr Johnson will explain he was "right to try every possible option" before ordering people to stay at home. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: England faces four-week lockdown restrictions BBC News
• Covid: What will the England lockdown achieve? BBC News
• Covid spreading faster in England than 'worst-case prediction', documents show BBC News
• Covid: Anti-masker who caught virus had 'worst two weeks' BBC News
• Coronavirus: Imperial College study says 1.15% patients die The Daily Mail
• 'World-beating' Test and Trace missed almost 25,000 positive cases The Daily Mail
• Could schools close again if Covid-19 cases continue to rise? The Daily Telegraph
• New Covid lockdown rules for England: what you can and can't do from Thursday The Daily Telegraph
• Hospitals may be forced to move Covid patients elsewhere The Daily Telegraph
• Routine operations will be cancelled despite England lockdown, doctors say The Guardian
• Doubts over 'rapid turnaround' Covid tests pledged by Johnson The Guardian
• Analysis: Fears for the NHS and widespread deaths forced Johnson to act The Independent
• Coronavirus: Confirmed UK cases pass one million The Independent
• Tens of thousands of NHS staff off sick because of Covid-19, data reveals The Independent
• Six graphs that led to the new Covid lockdown for England ITV News

NHS 'refuses' medical cannabis for children with epilepsy

NHS 'refuses' medical cannabis for children with epilepsy The NHS has repeatedly refused to fund medical cannabis for children with severe epilepsy, families have said.

Three prescriptions are thought to have been written for "whole plant cannabis" oil since it was legalised two years ago, campaign group End Our Pain say. BBC News

North Northamptonshire records hundreds of excess deaths

North Northamptonshire records hundreds of excess deaths Deaths have increased significantly in north Northamptonshire during 2020 compared to the previous five-year averages and suggesting there have been hundreds of excess deaths, a special investigation has shown.

The Northamptonshire Telegraph has analysed the number of deaths registered in Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northants so far in the 42 weeks of this year compared to the five-year average up to the same date.

Using research to prepare for a post-pandemic world

Using research to prepare for a post-pandemic world This year has been dominated by COVID-19 and its impact on all aspects of our daily lives, from where we work, to how we spend time with our loved ones. And the role of research – often only of interest to academics and funders – has been thrust into the limelight, as people begin to understand the magnitude of the pandemic and our need to mobilise research and innovation to respond to the challenges it poses. The Health Foundation

Overcoming short-termism in policymaking after COVID-19

 Overcoming short-termism in policymaking after COVID-19 The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has shown clearly why governments need to prepare for an uncertain future. Could the pandemic be a redefining moment for how the UK government prepares for uncertainty, plans for the long term and thus builds resilience? The Health Foundation

Investigation into COVID-19 transmission in hospitals

Investigation into COVID-19 transmission in hospitals This report charts a four-month patient safety investigation that was launched following concern that patients were contracting COVID-19 after being admitted to hospital. It presents the voices of those working across the health service, from strategic national planners to hospital porters. It also captured experiences of patients and families, providing further insight into the challenges of managing the transmission of COVID-19. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

Local COVID alert level update: areas moving to 'high'

Local COVID alert level update: areas moving to 'high' More areas will move from local COVID alert level 'medium' to local COVID alert level 'high' from 00.01 Saturday 31 October. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS Test and Trace managing record number of cases Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS COVID-19 app updates across England and Wales Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid: Are we heading back into a full lockdown?

Covid: Are we heading back into a full lockdown? There's no stopping the second wave of coronavirus, it seems, despite a bundle of new rules designed to do just that.

Infection rates are rising rapidly, with estimates suggesting up to 100,000 people a day may be catching the virus. Across the Channel, France has admitted its regional approach is not working, by announcing a new national lockdown. Germany, to a lesser extent, is also planning one.

Wales is in the middle of a short "fire-breaker" lockdown, in which bars, restaurants, churches and most shops have shut for a fortnight.

So is a full-on UK-wide lockdown only a matter of time? BBC News

See also:

• NHS Covid-19 app to issue more self-isolate alerts  BBC News
• Coronavirus treatment: Experimental drug in trial phase BBC News
• Boris Johnson has been told NHS may be at maximum capacity a week before Christmas The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Deaths are EXCEEDING SAGE 'worst case scenario' The Daily Mail
• Tier Two lockdowns announced for 16 areas of England The Daily Mail
• Tier 4 lockdown: what would the rules be, and what UK areas could be affected? The Daily Telegraph
• The greatest tragedy of England's second wave is that it wasn't inevitable | Charlotte Summers The Guardian
• National lockdowns should be backup plan on Covid, says WHO envoy The Guardian
• Priti Patel refuses to rule out second Covid lockdown for England The Guardian
• Coronavirus: NHS leak shows London hospitals starting to feel second wave pressure The Independent
• Coronavirus: 10,000 UK patients now in hospital with Covid-19 The Independent

Delays in discharging patients adds pressure on hospitals amid coronavirus second wave

 Delays in discharging patients adds pressure on hospitals amid coronavirus second wave Delays in discharging patients from hospitals is making pressure on the NHS from the second wave of coronavirus worse, hospital chiefs have warned.

Some hospitals are already reporting almost all of their beds are full with patients as the number of coronavirus cases continues to surge with more patients needing hospital care every day.

Doctors have told The Independent the lack of discharges means fewer beds are free and some hospitals are seeing long waits in A&E for beds to become available.

Call for action over lack of NHS prescriptions of cannabis treatments for children with severe epilepsy

 Call for action over lack of NHS prescriptions of cannabis treatments for children with severe epilepsy There have been only three NHS prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines to treat children with severe epilepsy, two years after the government changed the law to make it easier for doctors to prescribe the drugs, campaigners claim. The Independent

New Zealand votes to legalise euthanasia in referendum

New Zealand votes to legalise euthanasia in referendum New Zealanders have voted overwhelmingly to legalise euthanasia, according preliminary referendum results released on Friday.

The referendum was held on October 17, alongside the general election that returned Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to power with a landslide majority, and another vote on allowing recreational cannabis. The Daily Telegraph

NHS confirms two more Covid-19 victims at Kettering General Hospital

NHS confirms two more Covid-19 victims at Kettering General Hospital NHS England today confirmed two more Covid-19 patients have died at Kettering General Hospital in recent days.

Figures revealed in a daily bulletin showed the fatalities at the Rothwell Road site on Sunday and Monday this week. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Increased number of fixed penalty notices issued by Northamptonshire police for breaching covid-19 legislation Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• New peak for coronavirus cases in North Northants tonight Northamptonshire Telegraph

Two treasured Northampton General Hospital nurses to retire after 40 years of service each

Two treasured Northampton General Hospital nurses to retire after 40 years of service each Two nurses who have dedicated more than 40 years of their lives to caring for others are due to retire next month.

Both Linda Pratt and Denise Eglis will leave Northampton General Hospital in mid-November to retire, after long careers in the nursing field. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The Spending Review and public health: the need for certainty in the shorter term and social value in the longer

The Spending Review and public health: the need for certainty in the shorter term and social value in the longer The Spending Review this autumn comes at a critical point in the pandemic, and in the economic cycle that has been rent asunder by it. This means the Spending Review has to do two things if it is to support public health: in the short term it must provide much greater certainty for critical budgets, and in the long term it must expect more from departments on social value creation and do all it can to protect against poverty and long-term unemployment. The King's Fund

Access to new medicines in the English NHS

Access to new medicines in the English NHS Have you ever wondered how new medicines are developed, approved and priced? This explainer outlines the long journey from the discovery of a new drug to when it becomes available on the NHS. The King's Fund

Coronavirus infections rising rapidly in England, REACT study shows

Coronavirus infections rising rapidly in England, REACT study shows Swab tests on more than 85,000 people across England have shown an increase in R and that coronavirus infections are growing nation-wide. 

An interim report led by Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI, which includes tests taken between 16th and 25th October, shows that the prevalence of infection has more than doubled since the last round of testing, with 1.28% infected. Imperial College London

See also:

• High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 swab positivity and increasing R number in England during October 2020: REACT-1 round 6 interim report (open access preprint) Imperial College London
• Covid-19: Nearly 100,000 catching virus every day BBC News
• Nearly 100,000 people in England catching Covid-19 every day, 'worrying' Government-led study finds The Daily Mail

Working together for a healthier post-Covid future

Working together for a healthier post-Covid future This report, commissioned by the Healthier Futures Academy in the Black Country and West Birmingham, illustrates the effects that a COVID-driven recession could have on population health. It frames a discussion about how the NHS, with other local organisations, can more effectively address the causes as well as the effects of ill health. The Strategy Unit

Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area

Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area The areas in England listed as local COVID alert level high and local COVID alert level very high. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19: 'Too early to say' what Christmas rules will be says minister

Covid-19: 'Too early to say' what Christmas rules will be says minister "It's too early to say" what Covid rules will be in place by Christmas, the environment secretary has said.

George Eustice warned people "may not be able to get together in the larger groups that they normally would".

Opposition parties have called for coronavirus rules to be the same across all four UK nations this Christmas. BBC News

See also:

• Becoming a new mum during the pandemic BBC News
• British contact-tracing apps to share data BBC News
• One in six working-age adults hospitalised with coronavirus work for the NHS, finds study The Daily Mail
• Around 1.4% of Covid-19 patients will suffer a stroke, scientists warn The Daily Mail
• No10's publicly-available coronavirus statistics are 'disparate', top scientists warn The Daily Mail
• Hospitals 'could be treating 25,000 Covid patients by the end of November' The Daily Telegraph
• Hundreds of GPs a month seek mental health support as COVID-19 pressure bites GPonline
• 'Like 7/7 but for a month': NHS teams during Covid – in pictures The Guardian
• 10% of England's population could be tested for Covid-19 every week The Guardian
• How teenagers ended up operating crucial parts of England’s test and trace system | George Monbiot The Guardian
• Covid hospital cases in UK ‘could pass spring peak in November’ The Guardian
• Without a trace: do virus tracking apps really work? The Independent
• NHS to target risk of Covid outbreaks on wards after watchdog investigation The Independent
• NHS worker punched and thrown from Tube train after confronting passengers for not wearing masks The Independent

Covid pressure on health visitors puts generation of babies at risk, charities say

Covid pressure on health visitors puts generation of babies at risk, charities say NSPCC and others urge government to fund rebuilding of struggling support service

A generation of babies born during the Covid-19 pandemic may be at risk because they and their parents are not being fully supported by health visitors in the weeks and months after birth, a coalition of children’s charities has said.

The NSPCC and nine other early-years charities say restrictions to the service and redeployment of health visitors could mean thousands of families do not receive checks they are entitled to. The Guardian

See also:

• Government is at risk of failing babies and parents during the coronavirus pandemic NSPCC

'I needed to fix myself for my kids': breaking the cycle of domestic abuse

'I needed to fix myself for my kids': breaking the cycle of domestic abuse Families with complicated lives are being helped by a project that supports both parents during their child’s first two years

When Jess was 11 weeks pregnant, she got into an argument with her boyfriend, Robbie, who lashed out and hit her. Jess had suffered a previous miscarriage and was terrified of losing another baby. The Guardian

Ninth Covid-19 patient dies at Northampton General Hospital during 'second wave' of pandemic

Ninth Covid-19 patient dies at Northampton General Hospital during 'second wave' of pandemic NHS England confirmed another patient who had tested positive for Covid-19 has died at Northampton General Hospital.

Figures revealed in a daily bulletin showed the fatality at the Cliftonville site on Friday (October 23). That takes the total to nine at NGH since a 'second wave' of the pandemic began to hit the the county and cases started rising sharply last month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire councils given below-average £14.48 per person in new emergency coronavirus government grants Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Which areas of Northamptonshire saw biggest rises in Covid-19 cases in the last week Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Tier 4 Covid restrictions could be brought in if infection rates don’t drop - the rules explained Northamptonshire Telegraph

Northampton student wins Nurse of the Year award in the learning disabilities category

 Northampton student wins Nurse of the Year award in the learning disabilities category Northampton University student, Lauretta Ofulue, was one of this year’s Student Nursing Times Award winners who were revealed today (October 27) during an online virtual awards ceremony. Northamptonshire Telegraph

590 people’s stories of hospital during Covid-19

590 people’s stories of hospital during Covid-19 In partnership with British Red Cross, this report reviews the experiences of 590 people after being discharged from hospital. The research shows significant numbers of people are not receiving follow-up support under new policy to switch to a ‘discharge to assess’ model in March 2020 (introduced to cope with demand at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic), leading to unmet needs. It calls on the NHS to address these issues coming into the busy winter period amidst growing pressures of a second Covid-19 wave. Healthwatch

Is there a doctor in the house? Averting a post-pandemic staffing crisis in the NHS

Is there a doctor in the house? Averting a post-pandemic staffing crisis in the NHS The UK ranks 27th out of 36 OECD countries for number of physicians, and around 30 per cent of doctors on GP and specialist registers are over 55 years old. The UK relies more heavily on foreign-trained physicians than comparable countries – but within a decade it could become increasingly difficult to meet demand this way. While population growth and ageing have increased demand for doctors, such demographic factors could mean a staffing crisis is on the horizon. This briefing suggests a range of cost-effective solutions to plug doctor shortages once the Covid-19 crisis has passed. Institute of Economic Affairs

An avoidable crisis: the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities

An avoidable crisis: the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities The Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, appointed Baroness Doreen Lawrence to lead this review into how those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were being impacted by Covid-19. The report makes both immediate and long-term recommendations to protect those most at risk and tackle structural inequalities in several key areas including the machinery of government, health, employment and in the education system. Labour Party

Largest COVID-19 antibody testing programme publishes findings on antibody response over time

Largest COVID-19 antibody testing programme publishes findings on antibody response over time Findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show the number of people with antibodies fell by 26.5% over 3 months. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Declining prevalence of antibody positivity to SARS-CoV-2: a community study of 365,000 adults (open access preprint) Imperial College London
• Official Statistics: REACT-2: real-time assessment of community transmission – antibody waning Department of Health and Social Care
• Coronavirus antibody prevalence falling in England, REACT study shows Imperial College London
• Covid: Antibodies 'fall rapidly after infection' BBC News
• Just 4% of England has antibodies now, government study finds The Daily Mail

Covid: How busy are hospitals as the second wave rolls in?

Covid: How busy are hospitals as the second wave rolls in? The second wave is placing an ever greater toll on UK hospitals. There are more than 1,000 Covid admissions a day - 10 times the rate at the end of summer.

Hospitals have started cancelling routine treatments, as happened during the first peak, with hospitals in Leeds this week following others in announcing some treatments will have to stop.

But just how busy is the NHS? And how much Covid can it take? BBC News

See also:

• Covid has thrived on racial discrimination, says Baroness Doreen Lawrence BBC News
• Coronavirus: Europe's daily deaths rise by nearly 40% compared with last week - WHO BBC News
• Syria: Inside a refugee camp where Covid is spreading BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: 367 deaths and 21,331 new cases in daily toll The Daily Mail
• Britain's Covid-19 deaths rise by 55% in a week with 761 victims recorded in latest seven-day spell The Daily Mail
• Eli Lilly ends antibody drug trial early after it failed to help patients recover The Daily Mail
• Self-isolation row as No10 confirms it IS looking at halving it to SEVEN days The Daily Mail
• 10,000 people a day could receive false positives in Operation Moonshot, researchers say The Daily Telegraph
• Seven months of Covid: reflections from healthcare workers in England The Guardian
• Dashboard designed to chart England's Covid-19 response finds major gaps in data The Guardian
• NHS hospital forced to postpone cancer operations as Covid spreads on wards The Independent
• First coronavirus vaccines 'may not prevent infection', UK task force head warns The Independent
• Coronavirus: Government throwing ‘lit match into a haystack’ by discharging Covid patients to care homes The Independent

Don't hold home firework displays, urge doctors

Don't hold home firework displays, urge doctors Plastic surgeons fear there will be a big increase in injuries from DIY firework displays this November.

Public events have been cancelled due to Covid, meaning many people may decide to host their own Diwali and bonfire night displays at home. BBC News

See also:

• BAPRAS urges caution regarding firework displays at home British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons

Therapy patients blackmailed for cash after clinic data breach

Therapy patients blackmailed for cash after clinic data breach Many patients of a large psychotherapy clinic in Finland have been contacted individually by a blackmailer, after their data was stolen.

The data appears to have included personal identification records and notes about what was discussed in therapy sessions. BBC News

After scandals like Winterbourne View, why is basic decency still remarkable?

After scandals like Winterbourne View, why is basic decency still remarkable? Children with learning disabilities and their families need support that is kind, compassionate and thoughtful

In late July 2019, I tweeted asking families with autistic or learning disabled children to share their experience of “sparkling” actions by health and social care professionals. I was writing a book about how professionals could make a difference in the lives of children and their families, and the manuscript was woefully negative. The Guardian

High court condemns lack of provisions in UK for suicidal teenager

High court condemns lack of provisions in UK for suicidal teenager Judge forced to send 16-year-old girl to unregulated placement due to lack of available NHS psychiatric intensive care beds

Not a single secure bed was available anywhere in the UK last week for a suicidal teenager, according to a high court ruling that highlights the chronic shortage of accommodation to support the country’s most vulnerable children. The Guardian

We are still at a "tipping point" over rise in Covid-19 cases, warns Northamptonshire health boss

We are still at a "tipping point" over rise in Covid-19 cases, warns Northamptonshire health boss Official figures will show 785 Northamptonshire residents tested positive with Covid-19 in a single week when the county council and Public Health officials hold their weekly press briefing on Friday.

Data from October 12 to October 18 October shows the latest spike in cases, up from 701 the week before. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• NHS tells hospitals not to cancel operations this winter unless 'absolutely unavoidable' The Daily Mail
• Government could put Northampton into tier two within 24 hours despite reluctance, warns council leader Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Police issue six fines in three days after bus users found without masks in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton Labour group raises concerns over shared homes as coronavirus cases rise Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public Health chief prompts Northampton school children and parents to meet in parks and not friend's houses during half term Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public health chief reminds Northamptonshire parents "if we don’t mix, we don’t spread" Covid-19 Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Eighteen Covid-19 in-patients at KGH as hospital boss says numbers are 'well below' first wave peak Northamptonshire Telegraph
• There's 63 Northants people who knew they had Covid-19 but won't tell test and tracers who they might have passed it on to Northamptonshire Telegraph

Health service use in the last two years of life

Health service use in the last two years of life This series of reports describe the health services that patients use in the last two years of their lives. Reports are available for the Midlands region as a whole and for each of the 11 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships or Integrated Care Systems in the region. The reports contain important insights into: how the patterns of service use change as patients approach death; differences in experience by ethnicity, deprivation and cause of death; the costs of hospital treatment at the end of life and how this varies by STP; levels of non-beneficial treatments; and the additional hospital capacity that may be required to accommodate the projected increase in deaths over the next decade. The Strategy Unit

RCEM outlines actions needed to tackle ‘dangerous’ crowding as it returns to A&Es

RCEM outlines actions needed to tackle ‘dangerous’ crowding as it returns to A&Es The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has called for action after a survey found that over half of A&Es across the UK are caring for patients in corridors due to a lack of beds.

See also:

• RCEM CARES during the coronavirus pandemic The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• What to do if your ED is becoming crowded again after the initial COVID period The Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• Three-quarters of A&Es unable to maintain social distancing due to overcrowding The Guardian

Almost half of UK women do not check their breasts regularly for signs of breast cancer

Almost half of UK women do not check their breasts regularly for signs of breast cancer Almost half (47%) of women in the UK do not check their breasts regularly for potential signs of breast cancer.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now, one in 10 women have ‘never checked their breasts for new or unusual changes’. Meanwhile, a fifth (19%) of women check their breasts ‘once every six months or less’, while 13% do this ‘once a year or less’.

Asked what stops or prevents them from checking their breasts more regularly, almost half (46%) of women said they ‘forget’. This is concerning when most cases of the disease are detected because women have spotted new or unusual changes to their breasts.

See also:

• Almost half of British women do not self-examine for breast cancer The Guardian

Emergency contraception, coronavirus, and confidentiality: a mystery shop of pharmacy access during the pandemic

Emergency contraception, coronavirus, and confidentiality: a mystery shop of pharmacy access during the pandemic This briefing finds that one third of pharmacies are unable to provide emergency contraception in a confidential and Covid-secure way due to current licensing restrictions. It calls for emergency contraception to be reclassified by the Secretary of State for Health as a general sales list medication which would enable women to purchase this safe and effective medication directly from the shelf, without placing their health or confidentiality at risk during the pandemic. British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Independent report: Independent review of NHS hospital food

Independent report: Independent review of NHS hospital food Findings and recommendations of the independent review of NHS hospital food. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

Press release: New blueprint for better hospital food Department of Health and Social Care

Prue Leith: NHS can serve 'delicious' food on a budget BBC News

NHS staff 'ashamed' they can't serve good food to patients The Daily Telegraph 

Quarterly report on progress to address Covid-19 health inequalities

Quarterly report on progress to address Covid-19 health inequalities This report summarises the work undertaken by the Minister for Equalities and government departments on Covid-19 disparities. The current evidence shows that a range of socioeconomic and geographical factors such as occupational exposure, population density, household composition and pre-existing health conditions contribute to the higher infection and mortality rates for ethnic minority groups, but a part of the excess risk remains unexplained for some groups. Race Disparity Unit

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

Guidance: COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Public Health England

See also:

• Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person Public Health England

Coronavirus: 14-day quarantine for Covid contacts could be reduced

Coronavirus: 14-day quarantine for Covid contacts could be reduced The two-week quarantine period for contacts of those who test positive for Covid-19 could be cut to 10 or seven days, amid criticism of Test and Trace. 

Writing in the Telegraph, Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said a "vacuum of leadership in Test and Trace" was affecting compliance.

Tests could be offered to people after a week of isolation, the paper said. BBC News 

See also:

• Coronavirus doctor's diary: 'We blame Eat Out To Help Out for our tragedy'  BBC News
• Covid nurse: 'I thought I wasn't going to make it'  BBC News
• Covid: The NHS workers 'still recovering' as second wave looms BBC News
• Coronavirus: Inside Europe’s most infected area BBC News
• Boots to offer 12-minute Covid nasal swab test BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Oxford vaccine works perfectly by safely triggering an immune response The Daily Mail
• Covid risk factors for ethnic minorities 'can't be changed overnight' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: SAGE warns against letting young 'go back to normal' The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: Seven NHS trusts treat more patients than in April The Daily Mail
• US coronavirus cases hit record high as Donald Trump promises to 'quickly end' the pandemic The Daily Telegraph
• NHS short of over £1bn for Covid second wave and onset of winter The Guardian
• NHS denies elderly people were refused care during early Covid The Guardian
• NHS short of over £1bn for Covid second wave and onset of winter The Guardian
• Neil Ferguson says easing Covid rules for Christmas is 'a political judgment' The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Mounting fears over burnout among NHS staff as second wave intensifies The Independent 
• NHS staff put on standby for Covid-19 vaccine scheme 'in weeks' as jab safety stamp imminent iNews

Mother and baby units: 'It's our job to keep them safe'

Mother and baby units: 'It's our job to keep them safe' "Women may be suicidal or want to die. They may have thoughts about harming their baby. It's our job to keep them safe until they can keep themselves safe," says Debbie Sells.

She manages a mother-and-baby unit in Nottingham which supports a small group of new mothers and pregnant women with serious psychological problems. BBC News

Down's syndrome: 'In all honesty we were offered 15 terminations'

Down's syndrome: 'In all honesty we were offered 15 terminations' Ninety per cent of women whose unborn babies are diagnosed with Down's syndrome choose to have an abortion, which is legal right up until birth. But campaigners say expectant parents are routinely given outdated advice and encouraged to have a termination. We hear from three mothers who want the system to change. BBC News

Mass cancellations of NHS operations inevitable this winter, say doctors

Mass cancellations of NHS operations inevitable this winter, say doctors Exclusive: NHS England criticised for ordering ‘near-normal’ non-Covid care during pandemic

Mass cancellations of routine operations in England are inevitable this autumn and winter despite an NHS edict that hospitals must not again disrupt normal care, doctors’ leaders have said.

Organisations representing frontline doctors, including the British Medical Association (BMA), also criticised NHS England for ordering hospitals to provide “near normal” levels of non-Covid care in the second wave of the pandemic, and demanded that fines for failing to meet targets be scrapped. The Guardian

NHS bosses accuse Boris Johnson of 'structural discrimination' against mental health

NHS bosses accuse Boris Johnson of 'structural discrimination' against mental health PM ‘more interested in shiny new hospitals’ than tackling mounting toll of psychological problems

NHS bosses have accused Boris Johnson of “structural discrimination” against mental health and ignoring the huge psychological damage being wreaked by the pandemic.

A decade of progress on mental illness has come to a halt under a prime minister who seems more interested in building “shiny new hospitals” than tackling the mounting toll of debilitating ill-health, they say. The Guardian

Four more deaths among patients who tested positive for Covid-19 at Northampton General Hospital

Four more deaths among patients who tested positive for Covid-19 at Northampton General Hospital NHS England confirmed four more patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 have died within the last week at Northampton General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Maternity boss at Northampton General Hospital explains why birth partner restrictions at scans remain in place Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton to host one of 14 plasma donation centres to help coronavirus patients Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'Work with us', pleads East Northants health boss as Covid cases rise Northamptonshire Telegraph

Chart of the week: The number of medicines that were hard to access grew during the first national lockdown

 Chart of the week: The number of medicines that were hard to access grew during the first national lockdown Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. This week, Miranda Davies considers the difficult issue of the NHS's ability to get hold of basic drugs for patients who need them - and how the pandemic may be affecting this. Nuffield Trust

RCP survey uncovers years of discrimination against black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors

RCP survey uncovers years of discrimination against black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors are consistently disadvantaged when applying for jobs, according to the RCP’s latest survey of clinicians within a year of medical certificate completion of training (CCT) holders.

The RCP analysed data from 8 years’ worth of annual surveys reporting on the experiences of, and outcomes for, clinicians within a year of passing their CCT. The findings provide consistent evidence of trainees from BAME background being less successful at consultant interview. Royal College of Physicians

See also:

• Medical CCT class of 2018: 2019 survey results Royal College of Physicians
• Racial discrimination widespread in NHS job offers, says report The Guardian

The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment

The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment There is a growing body of research on the links between volunteering and wellbeing. This review and accompanying briefing  (co-published with Spirit of 2012, and in partnership with the Institute of Volunteer Research) brings together the most relevant studies. It focuses on the experience of adult formal volunteers, and looks at the key factors involved in improving wellbeing through volunteering. What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Patients not passports: learning from the international struggle for universal healthcare

Patients not passports: learning from the international struggle for universal healthcare This report focuses on the set of policies introduced as part of the government’s Hostile Environment immigration policies – which restrict access to public services and criminalise everyday activities – to expand border enforcement into the NHS and restrict access to healthcare. To understand what might happen if the government continues to restrict access to healthcare in this way, the report explores what can be learned from international practice, describing levels of migrant access to healthcare across Europe and the impact of different policies and practices. New Economics Foundation

Children and young people’s mental health review: findings from a questionnaire to health and wellbeing boards on local actions

Children and young people’s mental health review: findings from a questionnaire to health and wellbeing boards on local actions This report  contains an update on work carried out in 2018 looking at the quality of mental health services for children and young people, as well as the access to these services. It sets out the findings of a 2019 independent follow-up self-assessment questionnaire, to find out the extent to which health and wellbeing board areas in England had progressed with implementing the local recommendations made. Care Quality Commission

Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020: Wave 1 follow up to the 2017 survey

Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020: Wave 1 follow up to the 2017 survey This is the first in a series of follow up reports to the Mental Health and Young People Survey (MHCYP) 2017, exploring the mental health of children and young people in July 2020, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and changes since 2017. Experiences of family life, education and services, and worries and anxieties during the COVID-19 pandemic are also examined. NHS Digital

See also:

• Response to NHS figures on children’s mental health Children's Commissioner
• Survey presents a worrying picture of children's and young people’s mental health The Health Foundation
• Lockdown made life worse for two in five children, NHS report says BBC News
• One in six children aged 5-16 in England 'likely to have a mental disorder' The Guardian
• 'Scarred for life': Sage experts warn of impact of Covid policies on the young The Guardian
• Figures lay bare toll of pandemic on UK children's mental health The Guardian 

Workforce flexibility in the NHS: utilising Covid-19 innovations

Workforce flexibility in the NHS: utilising Covid-19 innovations This briefing argues that speed at which workforce innovations and flexibilities have been implemented in the NHS since the outbreak of Covid-19 has been both impressive and encouraging. It explores and makes recommendations on six key areas of change: staff wellbeing; flexibility in staff deployment and roles; cross-organisational working and regulation; technology; making use of new roles; and funding. NHS Providers

Over 13,700 more nurses working in the NHS

Over 13,700 more nurses working in the NHS The number of nurses in the NHS in England increased by 13,718 compared with last year, and the number of doctors has risen by 7,810, figures to the end of July show. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS workforce shortages still a big risk even as nursing numbers grow NHS Employers

Sewage signals early warning of coronavirus outbreaks

Sewage signals early warning of coronavirus outbreaks Government-led programme is providing an early warning of coronavirus outbreaks by monitoring sewage and sharing data with NHS Test & Trace. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: Full list of local COVID alert levels by area Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England

Covid: Why is coronavirus so deadly?

Covid: Why is coronavirus so deadly? A simple virus has brought life as we know it to a screeching halt.
 
We have faced viral threats before, including pandemics, yet the world does not shut down for every new infection or flu season.

So what is it about this coronavirus? What are the quirks of its biology that pose a unique threat to our bodies and our lives? BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Sewage sites to test for traces of virus BBC News
• Covid: US gives full approval for antiviral remdesivir drug BBC News
• Wales 'fire break' lockdown: what are the new rules? The Daily Telegraph
• Sweden loosens Covid lockdown rules for elderly and vulnerable due to mental health impact of lockdown The Daily Telegraph
• Study finds that plasma of recovered Covid-19 patients is of limited use as a treatment The Daily Telegraph
• 'It has been a trauma': nurses on 'shambolic' 111 Covid-19 clinical service The Guardian
• Nightingale to reopen as Liverpool sets new Covid patient record The Guardian
• England test and trace reaching fewer Covid contacts than ever The Guardian
• Room for improvement with test and trace, says Patrick Vallance – video The Guardian
• NHS leak reveals true impact of coronavirus second wave on hospitals The Independent
• Coronavirus: More than half of British public don’t ‘fully understand’ current rules The Independent

The experts who created a new form of PPE to restart surgery for deaf children

 The experts who created a new form of PPE to restart surgery for deaf children With so many operations put on hold when the pandemic started in March, surgeon Douglas Hartley and a team of medical veterans got to work pioneering new types of protective equipment. The Independent

Number of coronavirus patients in Northants hospitals rising quickly as county cases soar

 Number of coronavirus patients in Northants hospitals rising quickly as county cases soar The number of Covid-19 patients being admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals is rising fast, leading health bosses to warn other services could come under threat if covid admissions continue to rise. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19: Northamptonshire schools close and 3,500 pupils sent home BBC Northampton
• Third death in one day confirmed among Covid-19 patients at Northampton General Hospital Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Public Health Northamptonshire has ‘no plans’ to shut more schools after string of closures announced Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• University of Northampton makes care packages for isolating students Northamptonshire Telegraph

Failings at Northampton mental health ward set up for women with eating disorders

 Failings at Northampton mental health ward set up for women with eating disorders Inspectors have scolded a ward set up to treat women with eating and personality disorders at a Northampton mental health hospital during the pandemic in a new quality report.

The Spencer South ward at St Andrew's Hospital was established in April 2020 to take weight off the NHS after fears arose that patients with eating disorders (ED) would be at risk during the pandemic. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review

Out of sight – who cares?: Restraint, segregation and seclusion review This report looks at the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for people with a mental health condition, a learning disability or autistic people. Care Quality Commission

See also:

• CQC report: Care of people with learning disabilities 'inhumane' BBC News

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review

Health and wellbeing interventions in healthcare: a rapid evidence review NHS Employers commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to investigate the evidence-base of health and wellbeing interventions used in healthcare and their implications for wellbeing outcomes. The findings in the report add to current knowledge about wellbeing interventions that are commonly implemented, if there is any evidence of their efficacy, and what future research still needs to be undertaken in this area. Institute for Employment Studies

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life

Minds that matter: understanding mental health in later life This report looks at the life events and circumstances that can affect people's mental health in later life, including bereavement, loneliness, ill health and caring responsibilities. Focusing mainly on anxiety and depression, the report also describes people’s mixed experiences of seeking support from GPs, therapists and other services. It highlights the common barriers and makes recommendations for what needs to change to improve support for older people and ensure they can live a mentally healthy later life. Independent Age

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health

The impact of Covid-19 to date on older people’s mental and physical health This research finds that some older people are coping with the pandemic, but a sizeable minority are finding life incredibly tough. Those who are not very well and have long term health conditions were particularly likely to report that this is an extremely challenging time for them. The research was made up of a survey of older people, their friends, families, and loved ones (promoted across the Age UK social media channels for two weeks in August 2020 and completed by 569 people) and representative online polling of 1,364 people over the age of 60, conducted by Kantar Polling in September 2020. Age UK

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff

NHS strengthens mental health support for staff NHS staff will get rapid access to expanded mental health services that are being rolled out across the country as part of efforts to deal with the second wave of coronavirus. NHS England and NHS Improvement will invest an extra £15 million to strengthen mental health support for nurses, paramedics, therapists, pharmacists, and support staff. NHS England

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released

Health Secretary warns of long-term effects of COVID-19 as new film released The Health Secretary is urging the public – and especially young people – to follow the rules and protect themselves and others from COVID-19, as new data and a new film released today reveal the potentially devastating long-term impact of the virus. Department of Health and Social Care

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism'

Ethnic minority Covid risk 'not explained by racism' A scientist advising the government on ethnicity and Covid says "structural racism is not a reasonable explanation" for black and south Asian people's greater risk of illness and death.

An earlier report by Public Health England said racism may contribute to the unequal death toll. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: UK on course for 'tens of thousands' more deaths BBC News
• Covid: No safety concerns found with Oxford vaccine trial after Brazil death BBC News
• Long Covid: Who is more likely to get it? BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: 26,688 new cases and 191 deaths in daily toll The Daily Mail
• One in ten under-50s will be struck by 'long Covid', data shows The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson's three-tier lockdown system is 'the worst of all worlds', SAGE member warns The Daily Mail
• Parents struggle to get help for mentally ill children during pandemic The Guardian
• Warning of tens of thousands of deaths in England from Covid-19 second wave The Guardian
• Coronavirus: Scientists identify human protein ‘which makes Covid highly infectious’ The Independent
• Coronavirus: Test and trace forced to bring in untrained workers as system is overwhelmed by second wave, leaked email reveals The Independent

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing'

Anne Marie Rafferty: 'Covid should be circuit breaker for the ills plaguing nursing' The pandemic is an opportunity to reset policy to tackle the “chronic, enduring problems” that nurses face, according to Anne Marie Rafferty, professor of nursing policy at King’s College London and president of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

“If I can use this phrase, Covid should be the circuit breaker for many of the ills which have plagued the profession for many years: let’s make that happen.”Rafferty, who received a damehood for services to nursing in the Queen’s birthday honours list earlier this month, wants to see tangible recognition of the contributions that frontline nursing colleagues make. The Guardian

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs

Social care in England needs input of at least £7bn a year, say MPs Full cost of adequately funding sector is likely to run into tens of billions, committee says

A cross-party group of MPs have called for an urgent multibillion-pound injection into England’s crisis-hit social care system to address rising levels of need among older and disabled people and to improve pay and skills for care workers.

The health and social care select committee said ministers should invest at least £7bn a year in the care sector by 2023-24, though it said this was only a “starting point” and that it would not address unmet care needs nor improve access to care. The Guardian