Covid-19: Vaccine minister 'confident' of supplies

Covid-19: Vaccine minister 'confident' of supplies Supplies of vaccines are "tight" but the UK is confident it will receive enough doses to meet its targets, the vaccine minister has said.

Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast that manufacturers were "confident" they would deliver for the UK amid warnings of production delays.

It comes as the EU said it might tighten vaccine export controls. BBC News 

See also: 

• Covid: Virus deaths top grim milestone of 100,000 BBC News
• Hancock: 'Difficult to put timeline on exiting lockdown' BBC News
• Moderna vaccine appears to work against variants BBC News
• Covid vaccines: Why some countries will have to wait until 2022 BBC News
• Scientists will begin testing vaccine that can be given as a NASAL SPRAY The Daily Mail
• Heavy smokers face nearly DOUBLE risk of dying of COVID-19 compared to people who have never smoked The Daily Mail
• I told the woman in the next bed she'd be ok - she died hours later The Daily Telegraph
• Vaccine hesitancy: what is behind the fears circulating in BAME communities? The Guardian
• What are Boris Johnson's options to stop Covid variants from abroad? The Guardian
• Why are people still flying into the UK despite Covid rules? The Guardian
• Covid vaccine failing to reach older people cared for at home, UK firm says The Guardian
• Matt Hancock fires coded warning at MPs calling for lockdown easing The Guardian
• NHS has half the ‘empty’ beds available to non-covid patients than previously reported HSJ
• ‘Stretched to limit’: NHS intensive care dealing with record number of Covid patients, warns Hancock The Independent
• Men working in care, leisure and service jobs three times more likely to die from Covid, ONS says The Independent
• ‘Completely incorrect’: AstraZeneca denies its Covid vaccine is less effective among elderly The Independent

Air pollution exposure could increase risk of irreversible sight loss, study suggests

Air pollution exposure could increase risk of irreversible sight loss, study suggests Exposure to air pollution could increase the risk of developing a form of irreversible sight loss in older age, researchers have claimed following a large-scale observational study. The Independent

See also:

• Association of ambient air pollution with age-related macular degeneration and retinal thickness in UK Biobank (open access) British Journal of Ophthalmology 

Duty Calls: Frontline Northampton nurse shares how her patients, her team and sheer grit get her through each day

Duty Calls: Frontline Northampton nurse shares how her patients, her team and sheer grit get her through each day In a new series of interviews, the Chronicle & Echo will be talking to the front line staff of Northampton General Hospital who are fighting the pandemic amid the worst rate of infections and recorded deaths yet so far. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Northamptonshire residents who refuse coronavirus vaccine are endangering those around them Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Scientists warn those who refuse Covid jab won’t be protected by herd immunity - this is why Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Thousands to be treated a week at vaccination centre set to open in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Kettering Covid test centres closed due to health and safety in icy conditions Northamptonshire Telegraph
• 'Never say never': KGH boss still can't rule out Skylark move to Northampton if cases rise Northamptonshire Telegraph
• What is a ‘reasonable excuse’ to go out? A reminder of Covid lockdown dos and don'ts in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Three hospitals criticised for not vaccinating vulnerable inpatients Sky News

Student nursing numbers: good news at last?

Student nursing numbers: good news at last? There have been a number of changes to how student nursing courses are funded over the past 10 years, which have impacted on the NHS in different ways. The two main changes were a reduction in the number of places funded by the government in 2011 (this was intended to prevent an oversupply of nurses, but ironically contributed to the shortages we now see), followed by the removal of the nursing bursary in 2017 (a move intended to remove the cap on the total number of nursing placements). The King's Fund

General practice and the Covid-19 vaccine

General practice and the Covid-19 vaccine Rolling out such a vast vaccination programme is a quite remarkable achievement. While there are three routes of Covid-19 vaccine delivery at the moment – in hospitals; local vaccination delivery through GP-led sites and most recently mass vaccination hubs. The King's Fund

RCN calls for higher level precautionary PPE and tells government to ‘stop dragging its feet’

RCN calls for higher level precautionary PPE and tells government to ‘stop dragging its feet’ Amid concerns from members that standard personal protective equipment (PPE) may not provide adequate protection against highly infectious strains of COVID-19, the RCN is demanding NHS staff be given the higher grade of PPE (FFP2/3) as a precaution. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• Doctors need enhanced PPE now BMA
• Government can no longer ignore calls for PPE review BMA
• Covid-19: Nurses call for better masks to protect all staff BBC News

Community Champions to give COVID-19 vaccine advice and boost take up

Community Champions to give COVID-19 vaccine advice and boost take up Over £23 million funding allocated to 60 councils and voluntary groups across England to expand work to support those most at risk from COVID-19 and boost vaccine take up. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance on the new variant of COVID-19 in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: NERVTAG paper on COVID-19 variant of concern B.1.1.7 Department of Health and Social Care
• Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam opinion piece in The Sunday Telegraph Department of Health and Social Care
• Detailed guide: The R number and growth rate in the UK Department of Health and Social Care

South Africa coronavirus variant: 77 cases found in UK

South Africa coronavirus variant: 77 cases found in UK The UK has identified 77 cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa, the health secretary has said.

Cases are linked to travellers arriving in the UK, rather than community transmission, Matt Hancock added.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr cases were under "very close" observation and enhanced contact tracing was under way. BBC News

See also:

• Top doctors want 12-week Pfizer vaccine gap halved BBC News
• Infection level 'very, very high' and 'extremely precarious' - Prof Whitty BBC News
• Covid: Number of patients on ventilators passes 4,000 for first time BBC News
• Covid: New virus variant on the rise in UK nations BBC News
• New UK variant 'may be more deadly' BBC News
• Covid: Vaccinated people may spread virus, says Van-Tam BBC News
• 'Record number' of Covid intensive care patients transferred BBC News
• TikTok: GP posts videos to tackle vaccine fake news BBC News
• Frontline workers at Covid testing centres are NOT being offered vaccine yet The Daily Mail
• Doctors accuse ministers of botching Covid-19 vaccine strategy over second doses The Daily Mail
• Exclusive: Half a million fewer vaccines being supplied to NHS next week The Daily Telegraph
• What is the R rate, and how does it compare across UK regions? The Daily Telegraph
• UK vaccine adviser says delay of Covid second dose will save lives The Guardian
• Doctors call for shorter gap between Pfizer Covid vaccine doses in UK The Guardian
• UK lockdown lifting a long, long, long way off, says Matt Hancock – video The Guardian
• Rachel Clarke: ‘NHS staff are burning with frustration and grief at this second wave’ The Guardian
• Listen to NHS trust leaders. We know it is too soon to loosen Covid restrictions | Chris Hopson The Guardian
• Foreign NHS workers could be denied Covid vaccine in England The Guardian
• Councils to get £23m to encourage high-risk groups to have jab The Guardian
• More than one million people in England had coronavirus last week, according to ONS study The Independent
• UK records 1,348 more coronavirus deaths The Independent

The fight for recovery from a lifelong eating disorder

The fight for recovery from a lifelong eating disorder The Guardian’s Jenny Stevens struggled with an eating disorder throughout her 20s. When she was able to finally access the treatment she needed, she began a slow recovery – which she is still coming to terms with.

Carers kept a mother's disabled son locked up for a year to avoid Covid

Carers kept a mother's disabled son locked up for a year to avoid Covid For almost a year now, Anne Shepherd has been barred from seeing her son Sam, who lives in a care home. It has been agony for both of them – a scenario familiar to thousands of families who've suffered in similar ways throughout the pandemic.

Sam, 42, who has severe learning disabilities, is confined to a handful of rooms, where he has taken to biting his hand, shouting and banging doors and furniture, unable to otherwise express his despair. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Learning disability vaccine plea: 'Don't leave us to rot' BBC News

NHS delivers 55,000 Covid jabs in six weeks across Northamptonshire

NHS delivers 55,000 Covid jabs in six weeks across Northamptonshire Northamptonshire's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is being extended to over-75s.

NHS officials today revealed staff have already delivered jabs to 55,000 Northamptonshire folk in six weeks — an increase of 10,000 on the figure announced last Friday. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Three-quarters of Northamptonshire's over-80s have had their first Covid vaccine Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Duty Calls: Northampton nurse who came out of retirement to fight pandemic shares reality of Covid Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton care home defends 'strong encouragement' for workers to get coronavirus vaccine after criticism Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Interactive map reveals 938 Northamptonshire folk who succumbed to Covid and the area where they lived Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Temporary mortuary re-opened as winter deaths rise in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Pubs and restaurants should stay shut until May - what scientists are saying Northamptonshire Telegraph
• A technical issue may have allowed ineligible people to skip the Covid vaccine queue Northamptonshire Telegraph

'Deaths of despair': A tale of two countries

'Deaths of despair': A tale of two countries In episode 4 of the Health Foundation podcast, Dr Jennifer Dixon speaks to Professor Sir Angus Deaton and the FT’s Sarah O’Connor about the stalling life expectancy in the US and UK.

Chart of the week: The rising tide of Covid-19 infections in our overcrowded prisons

 Chart of the week: The rising tide of Covid-19 infections in our overcrowded prisons Each week we present analysis of data in chart form to illustrate some key issues and invite discussion. This week, with new data showing that coronavirus infections rose more rapidly across the prisoner population in December than they did across the general population, Dr Miranda Davies and Eilís Keeble look at this worrying trend in context and consider the burden the pandemic is placing upon this already vulnerable population. Nuffield Trust

NEWS2 evaluated for prediction of severe COVID-19 outcome in large international study

NEWS2 evaluated for prediction of severe COVID-19 outcome in large international study In the first systematic large-scale evaluation of the UK National Early Warning Risk Score (NEWS) 2 as a scoring system for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients, researchers at King’s College London have found poor-to-moderate accuracy for identifying patients at risk of being transferred to intensive care units (ICUs) or dying after 14 days of hospitalisation. Accuracy of predictions in short-term (three days) showed moderate success. 

See also:

• Evaluation and improvement of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) for COVID-19: a multi-hospital study (open access) BMC Medicine
• NHS algorithm used to spot which Covid patients are most at risk of dying isn't accurate The Daily Mail

Digital public services: what's next?

Digital public services: what's next? This Report provides recommendations for the government going forward to help the public sector on its digital transformation journey. It calls for a cross-government digital skills strategy with a clear focus on retaining digital leaders and recommends that the government should review the limits on resource spending on technology which hampers public sectors ability to buy newer pay-per-use technology such as the cloud. Reform 

Health charities and the NHS: a vital partnership in peril?

Health charities and the NHS: a vital partnership in peril? This report highlights the crucial services and leadership that health care charities provide for the NHS, both of which have been shown to be critical throughout the current pandemic. It sets out the pressing need for better recognition of and healthy engagement with health care charities by policy makers, and the benefits that this would bring. National Garden Scheme

UK vaccination policy

UK vaccination policy This briefing provides an overview of UK vaccination policy. It includes an introduction to the science of vaccination and covers UK vaccination programmes, as well as considering the response of the government to the UK's loss of the World Health Organization's measles elimination status. House of Commons Library 

Research and analysis: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers

Research and analysis: COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers Genomically confirmed case numbers for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation. Public Health England

See also:

• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 21 January 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS Test and Trace meets new year surge in demand with faster turnaround times Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS delivers COVID jabs from cinema and mosque NHS England
• Guidance: COVID-19: enhanced surveillance of cases in vaccinated individuals Public Health England
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England
• Any suggestion ‘precious’ vaccines should be thrown away should be dismissed, says RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners

Covid: Nearly 2m people got first Covid vaccine in last week

Covid: Nearly 2m people got first Covid vaccine in last week Nearly two million people in the UK have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine in the past week, government figures show. 

By the end of Tuesday 4.61 million people had received their initial jab, up from 2.64 million the week before.

Matt Hancock told MPs: "We're giving 200 vaccinations every minute". BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: Scientists challenge 'flawed' lateral flow tests report BBC News
• Vaccine volunteers: 'It's felt good to fight back against Covid' BBC News
• Covid: How a £20 gadget could save lives BBC News
• Wuhan lockdown: A year of China's fight against the Covid pandemic BBC News
• Number of critical care beds occupied is 70% higher than last winter, NHS data reveals The Daily Mail
• NHS chief says jumping Covid vaccine queue is 'morally reprehensible'  The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Herd immunity may not be achievable even if ALL vaccinated The Daily Mail
• The priority list for the Covid vaccines - and how you will be contacted The Daily Telegraph
• 'We're being asked to do too much': NHS staff on fighting the second wave The Guardian
• English care homes 'sitting ducks' as GPs refuse Covid vaccine at infected sites The Guardian
• North-east and Yorkshire vaccine supply cut to catch up lagging regions The Guardian
• Care homes face devastating results of losing England's Covid jab 'lottery' The Guardian
• UK records 1,290 new Covid deaths The Independent
• Lockdown could last until summer, No 10 warns as experts say early relaxing of rules could lead to new Covid wave The Independent
• This lockdown is far from over if we really want to protect the NHS The Independent

Surviving cardiac arrest: what it's like to come back to life – podcast

Surviving cardiac arrest: what it's like to come back to life – podcast Last year the Guardian’s Jonathan Watts underwent a lifesaving operation following a cardiac arrest. He tells Anushka Asthana what it taught him about life and death.

NHS England confirms 17 more coronavirus deaths at Northamptonshire hospitals

NHS England confirms 17 more coronavirus deaths at Northamptonshire hospitals NHS England today confirmed 17 more coronavirus deaths since Friday at Northamptonshire's hospitals with the sobering total heading towards 1,200. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19 in the East of England: Your questions answered BBC News
• KGH children's ward moves to temporary home as Skylark becomes Covid ward Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Pfizer Covid vaccine could increase antibodies up to 20 times - and may stop transmission Northamptonshire Telegraph

Political leaders consider lobbying for new hospital for Northampton

Political leaders consider lobbying for new hospital for Northampton The leaders of both main political parties in Northampton have said they want to lobby for a new ‘additional’ hospital for the town. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Never Events: analysis of HSIB’s national investigations

Never Events: analysis of HSIB’s national investigations This national learning report examines the findings of the investigations previously carried out by HSIB concerning incidents classified as 'never events'. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• Safety watchdog says NHS ‘never event’ mistakes are not yet truly preventable The Independent

Health on the high street

Health on the high street This report argues that town centres where shops and offices fall vacant should be used to establish new “health hubs” combining GP surgeries, health and social care services and gyms. The report profiles examples where local authorities and healthcare bodies are already developing such hubs, which it suggested could be a model for other areas in future. Social Market Foundation 

NHS Discharge Medicines Service – essential service: toolkit for pharmacy staff in community, primary and secondary care

NHS Discharge Medicines Service – essential service: toolkit for pharmacy staff in community, primary and secondary care This toolkit supports cross-sector implementation of the NHS Discharge Medicines Service as an essential service in all NHS community pharmacies in England. NHS England 

Guidance on return to work for people with long COVID

Guidance on return to work for people with long COVID The Faculty of Occupational Medicine has published guidance for healthcare professionals to assist them in facilitating the return to work of people who are unable to work due to long COVID. 

Asymptomatic testing to be rolled out across the country starting this week

Asymptomatic testing to be rolled out across the country starting this week Community testing offer to be expanded across all local authorities in England to test people without symptoms. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Official Statistics: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: January 2021 interim results Department of Health and Social Care
• January 2021 findings from COVID-19 study published Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: 'No evidence' virus levels decreasing in England

Covid: 'No evidence' virus levels decreasing in England Scientists tracking the spread of coronavirus in England say infection levels in the community may have risen at the start of the latest lockdown.

Infections in 6-15 January were up by 50% on early December, with one in 63 people infected, Imperial College London's initial findings suggest.

Swab tests from 143,000 people indicate 1.58% had the virus during in early January - up from 0.91% in December. BBC News

See also:

• 21 January - REACT-1 round 8 interim report: SARS-CoV-2 prevalence during the initial stages of the third national lockdown in England Imperial College London
• Covid: Israel vaccine fears 'out of context and inaccurate' BBC News
• Coronavirus UK: Vallance says masks may be needed outdoors on crowded streets and in markets The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Daily death rate hits 1,820 peak though infections fall The Daily Mail
• Super-infectious Kent Covid strain has spread to at least 60 countries The Daily Mail
• Two NHS trusts in the Midlands 'will start rolling out 24/7 Covid vaccines from TOMORROW' The Daily Mail
• Lateral flow tests 'could be used to detect most infectious Covid cases' The Daily Telegraph
• Priti Patel says she wanted UK borders shut last March The Guardian
• Just over half of British Indians would get Covid vaccine, survey shows The Independent
• Coronavirus: Vaccinators could lose their licences for giving second doses prematurely The Independent

Neil Greenberg: hospitals must give staff better 'psychological PPE'

Neil Greenberg: hospitals must give staff better 'psychological PPE' The consultant psychologist and trauma specialist on how NHS staff have been damaged by the battle against Covid and need more support.

Listening to Prof Neil Greenberg, consultant occupational psychologist and forensic psychiatrist at King’s College London, you might think he is describing the psychological conditions of a war zone, not the NHS in 2021. The Guardian 

Mental healthcare needs an overhaul, and legislative tinkering is not enough | Dan Poulter

Mental healthcare needs an overhaul, and legislative tinkering is not enough | Dan Poulter Reform of the Mental Health Act will make little tangible difference. As a psychiatrist, I know what the real challenges are. The Guardian 

Rheumatoid arthritis: thousands set to benefit from drug after NHS approval - iNews

Rheumatoid arthritis: thousands set to benefit from drug after NHS approval Thousands of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are set to benefit from a drug that has been approved for NHS use which could halt the disease before it is too late and irreversible damage is done. iNews

Exhausted hospital staff caring for more Covid patients in Northamptonshire amid 'fake news' claims by virus deniers

Exhausted hospital staff caring for more Covid patients in Northamptonshire amid 'fake news' claims by virus deniers Exhausted front line NHS staff are battling on dealing with the impact of Covid-19 in Northamptonshire...amid a wave of claims of "disinformation" and "grossly misleading figures" on social media. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Seven-month police probe into Covid-hit Kettering care home ends with 'no further action' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Up to 1 in 5 UK care home workers could be refusing a Covid vaccine
• Recognise your local Covid heroes on the university of Northampton’s Power Tower
• Police warn youngsters as vulnerable woman raises concerns about Covid 'violations' at Northampton skatepark
• Popular skatepark in Northampton set to be fenced off in bid to prevent Covid spread
• Northamptonshire's care homes see 300 per cent rise in Covid cases and a dozen deaths in a week Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering care home leads the way in Covid vaccination drive Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Talking can spread coronavirus as much as coughing - according to a new study Northamptonshire Telegraph

New scheme launched to support domestic abuse victims

New scheme launched to support domestic abuse victims The Home Office is implementing a new scheme to help victims of domestic abuse access support safely, and is encouraging community pharmacy teams to get involved.

The ‘Ask for ANI’ scheme has been developed by the Home Office to provide a simple and discreet way for victims to signal to pharmacy staff that they need help accessing support from the police or other domestic abuse support services. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

Working for babies: lockdown lessons from local systems

Working for babies: lockdown lessons from local systemsThis report summarises the impacts on babies of Covid-19 and the Spring 2020 national lockdown. The report also explores how local systems responded to the challenges presented by Covid-19. It seeks to understand the factors which have shaped the response by services which support babies and their families. Most importantly, the report seeks to ensure that lessons are learned for the future of service provision for this age group. First 1001 Days Movement 

Brexit and beyond

Brexit and beyond Brexit is done. The formal negotiations are over — even though the Trade and Cooperation Agreement paves the way to many further negotiations between the UK and the European Union. Understanding what Brexit means in practice is just beginning. The contributions in this report underline the scale and scope of the agenda that confronts the United Kingdom and is meant as a guide to the issues that will loom large of the months and years to come. It includes sections on: 'Health' on pages 28-29, and 'Social care' on pages 40-41. UK in a Changing Europe 

Publicly funded hospital care: expenditure growth and its determinants

Publicly funded hospital care: expenditure growth and its determinants Understanding the drivers of growth in health care expenditure is crucial for forecasting future health care requirements and for the efficient use of resources. This report considers total hospital admitted care expenditure in England between 2009/10 and 2016/17. Centre for Health Economics

More than 4 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK

More than 4 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK More than 4 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of the largest vaccination programme in British history. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Supply chain workers crucial to vaccination programme to receive jabs Department of Health and Social Care
• Social care sector to receive £269 million to boost staffing levels and testing Department of Health and Social Care
• #CovidEmergency NHS Employers
• Guidance: Daily contact testing in schools: statement from PHE and NHS TT about next steps Public Health England

Covid: UK records new daily high of 1,610 deaths

Covid: UK records new daily high of 1,610 deaths A further 1,610 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid test - the biggest figure reported in a single day since the pandemic began.

It means the total number of deaths by that measure is now above 90,000.

A total of 4,266,577 people have now received the first dose of a vaccine, according to the latest government figures. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Positive antibody tests doubled since autumn BBC News
• Rollout of daily testing of close contacts paused in schools BBC News
• Birmingham and Nottinghamshire trusts offer 24-hour Covid vaccines BBC News
• Covid: Hospital children's unit moved to free up adult beds BBC News
• Schools may reopen region by region, says medical adviser BBC News
• Covid: 'Sharp drop' in heart-attack hospital admissions BBC News
• Covid smear-test delays prompt calls for home HPV tests BBC News
• Likelihood of severe and long Covid may be established soon after infection The Daily Mail
• 54 cases of South African variant have now been spotted in Britain The Daily Mail
• Don't hug your grandchildren yet, scientists warn amid fears vaccinated will abandon rules The Daily Telegraph
• GPs raise alarm over low uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in BAME patients GPonline
• For Britain's vaccination success, we must thank our universal healthcare system The Guardian
• Rapid coronavirus testing scheme ‘may increase rather than decrease’ cases in schools, experts warn The Independent
• New 'iron lung' to help NHS patients breathe could be ready this year The Independent
• Covid-related deaths up by 46% in England’s care homes, figures show The Independent
• Pfizer vaccine likely to provide protection against UK coronavirus variant, new research shows The Independent
• COVID-19: Health Secretary Matt Hancock self-isolating after being 'pinged' by NHS app Sky News

Motor neurone disease: Edinburgh scientists reveal breakthrough

Motor neurone disease: Edinburgh scientists reveal breakthrough Scientists are a step closer to being able to reverse the damage caused by motor neurone disease (MND).

University of Edinburgh experts have found a problem with MND patients' nerve cells which could be repaired by repurposing drugs approved for other diseases. BBC News

Tory MPs rip out NHS protections from trade bill

Tory MPs rip out NHS protections from trade bill Conservative MPs have ripped out an amendment to the government's trade bill to prevent the NHS being sold off or undermined by the government's trade deals with other countries.

The House of Lords had last month inserted a clause banning any agreement that “undermines or restricts” the UK's ability to provide “a comprehensive publicly funded health service free at the point of delivery”.

The amendment also restricted “the sale of patient data” and the government's ability to control drug prices. The Independent

Bullying on NHS maternity units and poor training a risk to safety, MPs told

Bullying on NHS maternity units and poor training a risk to safety, MPs told Doctors and midwives working in maternity services face higher levels of bullying than any other part of the NHS, MPs have been told.

According to the General Medical Council, trainee doctors in maternity services report more than twice the level of bullying seen in the rest of the NHS while the Nursing and Midwifery Council said midwives were also more likely to be bullied. The Independent

Gender identity development service for children rated inadequate

Gender identity development service for children rated inadequate The UK’s main gender identity development service for children is leaving thousands of vulnerable young people at risk of self-harm as they wait years for their first appointment, according to a highly critical report.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) took immediate enforcement action against the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust when it completed the inspection in November, which rated the service overall “inadequate” and highlighted overwhelming caseloads, deficient record-keeping and poor leadership. The Guardian

• Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust Gender Identity Service inspection report Care Quality Commission
• NHS child gender clinic rated 'inadequate' by inspectors BBC News

Second Sainsbury's warehouse in Northampton hit by Covid-19 outbreak

Second Sainsbury's warehouse in Northampton hit by Covid-19 outbreak Sainsbury's declined to give the specific number of confirmed cases, but it is believed three per cent of the 450-plus employees have tested positive at the site. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Nearly a third of Covid patients return to hospital within 5 months - new study explained Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Epidemiology of post-COVID syndrome following hospitalisation with coronavirus: a retrospective cohort study (open access preprint) medRxiv
• Police end rule-breaking Wellingborough house party with birthday boy handed fine Northamptonshire Telegraph

Cost of constipation still rising in most English regions

Cost of constipation still rising in most English regions The Cost of Constipation report published by the multidisciplinary organisation, the independent Bowel Interest Group, reveals that the cost of avoidable emergency admissions to hospital because of constipation is rising year-on-year in most English regions.

Useful resources on implementing best practice bowel management can be found here. 

Saving lives, improving mothers’ care: lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2016-18

Saving lives, improving mothers’ care: lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2016-18 This report examines the care received by women who die during or up to a year after pregnancy and covers all pregnancy-associated deaths involving UK women between 2016 and 2018. The results indicate that whilst maternal death is still rare in the UK, there are some important actions identified to prevent women from dying in the future. MBRRACE-UK

See also:

• Perinatal Confidential Enquiry: stillbirths and neonatal deaths in twin pregnancies MBRRACE-UK

Why £2k would make us stay: UNISON survey of NHS staff

Why £2k would make us stay: UNISON survey of NHS staff The survey was launched on 11 December 2020 and ran for a month, gaining around 10,500 responses from staff directly employed in the NHS across the UK. The survey was conducted as part of ongoing work to inform UNISON’s campaign for a minimum £2,000 pay rise for all NHS staff. 

See also:

• The net Exchequer impact of increasing pay for Agenda for Change staff London Economic
• Pay rise immediately would reassure undervalued staff to stay in NHS UNISON
• Government would recover 81% of cost of pay rise for NHS England staff – report The Guardian
• Government must ‘gift exhausted NHS staff pay rise,’ unions say The Independent
• Health union puts pressure on PM to speed up pay rise for Northamptonshire's NHS heroes Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Coronavirus: long Covid

Coronavirus: long Covid This briefing provide an overview of long Covid, the impacts of this condition and the development of clinical guidance and services for those affected. It also provides links to further reading and Parliamentary material. House of Commons Library 

NHS COVID jabs available at rugby ground, racecourse, food court and cathedral

NHS COVID jabs available at rugby ground, racecourse, food court and cathedral NHS staff will start delivering COVID vaccinations at a rugby ground, racecourse, food court and cathedral as the biggest immunisation programme in health service history grows. Ten new large-scale Vaccination Centres, capable of jabbing thousands of people a week, are opening their doors in every health region across the country. NHS England 

Covid-19: Lockdown restrictions could relax once 'top 4 cohorts' vaccinated

Covid-19: Lockdown restrictions could relax once 'top 4 cohorts' vaccinated The government said that the UK could begin to reopen from the beginning of March, once the top 4 risk groups are protected from Covid-19. 

But Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi told the BBC that there were still a "number of caveats" to reopening, and that we don't yet know the impact vaccination has on the transmission of the virus. BBC News 

See also:

• Covid vaccine: WHO warns of 'catastrophic moral failure' BBC News
• Did we see a Christmas coronavirus spike? BBC News
• Military medics to help in Shropshire hospitals due to staff shortages BBC News
• Covid-19: New variants may mean vaccines need regular updates The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Boris Johnson criticised amid 'vaccine postcode lottery' The Daily Mail
• UK coronavirus: Mutations mean lockdowns needed as vaccine rolls out The Daily Mail
• Analysis: Why the second Covid wave is nothing like the first The Daily Telegraph
• Rare inquests into UK Covid deaths raise concerns over care failings The Guardian
• As many as six in 10 UK care home residents still awaiting Covid jab The Guardian
• Coroner's Covid findings stoke calls for inquiry into pandemic policy The Guardian
• Coronavirus: NHS critical care beds could reach their limit this week as hospital admissions continue to rise iNews
• How to find your NHS number: Where to get the 10-digit code, and why you don't need it to book Covid vaccine iNews
• UK leading world in getting vaccines to poorer countries, insists Hancock after WHO warning The Independent

Oxford research tackles threat of antibiotic resistance

Oxford research tackles threat of antibiotic resistance Oxford University is opening a new research institute dedicated to tackling resistance to antibiotics.

The university says this is one of the the biggest rising threats to global health, already causing 1.5 million deaths per year worldwide.

The institute will be funded by £100m donated by the Ineos chemical company. BBC News

One in four young people ‘unable to cope with life’ since start of Covid pandemic, study finds

One in four young people ‘unable to cope with life’ since start of Covid pandemic, study finds One in four young people feel they have been “unable to cope with life” since the start of the pandemic, with the unemployed more likely to feel anxious and depressed, a new study suggests. The Independent

See also:

• Young people "unable to cope with life" since pandemic Prince's Trust
• Lockdown mental health: Tips for helping your child BBC News

Hospitals in England told to keep performing urgent cancer surgery

Hospitals in England told to keep performing urgent cancer surgery NHS bosses have instructed hospitals to keep performing urgent cancer surgery despite Covid pressures, after a growing number cancelled procedures because they did not have enough intensive care beds or available staff.

They have told England’s regional directors of cancer to ensure treatment of people who need cancer surgery within four weeks gets the same priority as care of patients who have Covid. The Guardian

Northamptonshire reaching "breaking point" as NHS confirms 15 more coronavirus deaths

Northamptonshire reaching "breaking point" as NHS confirms 15 more coronavirus deaths NHS England has confirmed 15 more coronavirus deaths registered by Northamptonshire hospitals in the last four days.

Friday's daily bulletin revealed ten previously unrecorded deaths at Northampton General Hospital since Monday and a further five at Kettering General Hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Covid-19: Nursing Covid patients 'a harrowing experience' BBC Northampton
• Children's ward at Northamptonshire hospital to be used as Covid-19 ward from next week Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Only a matter of time before Northamptonshire community pharmacists are giving out coronavirus vaccines Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Police dish out 400 Covid fines during first nine days of lockdown in Northamptonshire Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• KGH chief promises children's ward relocation will be internal - but cannot rule out NGH move if cases rise Northamptonshire Telegraph
• These care home residents in Northamptonshire have received the Covid-19 vaccine in the comfort of their own home  Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Anti-mask, anti-lockdown, anti-common sense: Kettering protest planners warned by police Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Police to start spot checks on car-sharing workers on Northamptonshire industrial estates Northamptonshire Telegraph

Five traps to avoid in a new round of NHS legislation

Five traps to avoid in a new round of NHS legislation Long read: With proposals having been made for a significant legislative overhaul of the English health service, in this long read we look at both history and current trends to highlight the traps that need to be avoided if any reforms are to be successful. Nuffield Trust 

Measuring mortality during Covid-19: a Q&A

Measuring mortality during Covid-19: a Q&A With another lockdown underway for most of the UK, Sarah Scobie answers some key questions on how mortality figures are collected and measured during the pandemic. This explainer was originally published last May, was updated again in October, and has now been updated further to reflect the latest data. Nuffield Trust 

Support for staff following patient safety incidents

Support for staff following patient safety incidents This report explores feedback from national investigators around positive efforts identified in the support of NHS staff by their organisations following patient safety incidents. It describes the literature around NHS staff support to attempt to identify areas of best practice and the impact of any interventions. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch 

Communications toolkit for local maternity teams to improve communications with Black, Asian and minority ethnic women

Communications toolkit for local maternity teams to improve communications with Black, Asian and minority ethnic women This toolkit aims to provide helpful suggestions about how to communicate with women of different backgrounds, about the extra support that is available to them, as well as signposting to currently available publications, messaging, insights and templates. NHS England 

New Every Mind Matters campaign

New Every Mind Matters campaign The new campaign launches to support the nation’s mental health, as half of adults say they are more worried during this current lockdown than in March 2020. Public Health England 

Stepping up: the response of stop smoking services in England to the Covid-19 pandemic

Stepping up: the response of stop smoking services in England to the Covid-19 pandemic This report, written in partnership with Cancer Research UK, examines the performance of stop smoking services in England during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. It finds that the Covid-19 pandemic forced local authorities to reconfigure their stop smoking services at an unprecedented speed. Many found that smokers welcomed remote methods of engagement such as telephone consultations. The impact of the pandemic on the NHS meant that NHS providers of stop smoking support could no longer offer the same level support. Many specialist stop smoking services and lifestyle services were able to pick up the demand that could not be met in primary care. Action on Smoking and Health 

Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond: Government response to the Committee’s second report of session 2019–21

Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond: Government response to the Committee’s second report of session 2019–21 This report finds that the Covid-19 response has greatly accelerated the use of digital technology, has mainstreamed remote consultations and similar effects are being seen for remote monitoring. There has been greater flexibility and resilience in the workforce, as well as improved decision making and access to information through the better use of data and simplified information governance guidance. It concludes that these changes should be embedded and extended to support the health and care system’s recovery from the pandemic and ongoing resilience. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee

COVID-19 vaccines rolled out to people aged 70 years and over from today

COVID-19 vaccines rolled out to people aged 70 years and over from today Millions of people aged 70 and over and those clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 will be invited to get their vaccinations from today (Monday 18 January) as the NHS begins roll out of the vaccines to the next 2 priority groups. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• AI at the forefront of efforts to treat coronavirus patients Department of Health and Social Care
• British public urged to play their part in historic vaccine roll out Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: Liverpool COVID-19 community testing pilot: interim evaluation report summary Department of Health and Social Care
• Transparency data: Coronavirus cases by local authority: epidemiological data, 14 January 2021 Department of Health and Social CareNHS Test and Trace reaches one million people over new year, as record numbers test positive
• Transparency data: NHS Test and Trace (England) statistics: 31 December 2020 to 6 January 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Social care sector to receive £269 million to boost staffing levels and testing Department of Health and Social Care
• A&E visits 50 per cent higher in December than April COVID peak NHS England
• Docs and cops warn on COVID-19 cons NHS England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variant from South Africa identified in UK Public Health England
• Official Statistics: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports Public Health England
• More than a third of over 80s vaccinated against COVID-19 Public Health England

Covid-19: England delivering 140 jabs a minute, says NHS chief executive

Covid-19: England delivering 140 jabs a minute, says NHS chief executive People in England are being vaccinated four times faster than new cases of the virus are being detected, NHS England's chief executive has said. 

Sir Simon Stevens told the BBC that 140 people a minute were now being given the jab, usually the first dose of two.

But he said the NHS had never been in a more precarious position, with 75% more Covid patients than at the April peak. BBC News 

See also:

• Covid-19 vaccinations done 'four times faster' than people catching virus BBC News
• Covid-19: Vaccination rollout begins for over-70s in England BBC News
• Covid: Intensive care patients transferred from London to Newcastle BBC News
• Covid-19: Early signs of lockdown restrictions working BBC News
• Covid-19: Can you catch the virus outside? BBC News
• Covid: 'Convalescent plasma no benefit to hospital patients' BBC News
• Coronavirus doctor's diary: Karen caught Covid from the hospital - and took it home BBC News
• Covid UK: One-in-eight 'recovered' Covid patients DIE within 140 days The Daily Mail
• Covid: Brazilian 'super strain' already in the UK, scientist reveals The Daily Mail
• Care home Covid cases TRIPLE in a month: MOST outbreaks are among elderly residents The Daily Mail
• Thousands of doses of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine 'could be wasted' The Daily Mail
• UK faces delays in delivery of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine The Daily Telegraph
• Inside an NHS hospital at the peak of the coronavirus crisis The Guardian
• Doctors in UK and Ireland face 'ongoing distress' from Covid first wave The Guardian
• NHS in most precarious position in its history, says chief executive The Guardian
• NHS crisis in charts: how Covid has increased strain on health service The Guardian
• Public confidence NHS can cope with Covid at lowest ever level – poll The Guardian
• UK 'nowhere near' looking at lifting Covid lockdown restrictions The Guardian
• Hospitals told to free up beds ahead of influx of patients as ‘toughest part’ of pandemic looms The Independent
• NHS doctors 'told to throw out leftover Covid vaccines' Metro

'Being sectioned felt like a punishment'

'Being sectioned felt like a punishment' Black people are four more times more likely than white people to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act, according to NHS figures.

When Antonio Ferreira was sectioned he says he felt he was discriminated against because of his skin colour.

Now a student at Essex University, he hopes to improve police understanding of mental health problems. BBC News 

Migrant healthcare workers on Covid frontline angry about deportation risk

Migrant healthcare workers on Covid frontline angry about deportation risk Migrant doctors and other healthcare professionals who have contracted Covid-19 while caring for NHS patients sick with the virus say they are devastated that a parliamentary bill that would have given them the right to remain in the UK has been postponed.

The healthcare workers said they were holding out hope that the second reading of the private members’ bill – which had been scheduled for 15 January and is now cancelled – could give them immigration security if passed. The Guardian 

Rise in youngsters with eating disorders is yet another distressing cost of the Covid lockdown

Rise in youngsters with eating disorders is yet another distressing cost of the Covid lockdown The UK’s leading eating disorder charity, Beat, has seen an 81 per cent increase in calls to its helpline since March. In the same period, hospital admissions for bulimia, which involves periods of compulsive eating and purging, rose by 75 per cent. Across the UK, referrals for treatment are up roughly 40 per cent – an increase typically seen over the space of two years. The Daily Mail

Hospital boss' emotional plea after 117 coronavirus deaths since Christmas in Northamptonshire

Hospital boss' emotional plea after 117 coronavirus deaths since Christmas in Northamptonshire The boss of one of Northamptonshire's two main hospitals issued an emotional plea after NHS England revealed 75 coronavirus deaths in the county already during 2021.

Today's official bulletin added 19 to the sobering toll — 11 at Northampton General Hospital and eight at Kettering General — between January 8 and January 12. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

See also:

• Corby: Task force to probe town's 'concerning' Covid rate BBC Northampton
• Warning to residents after pensioner offered coronavirus vaccination by stranger in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton Aldi customer 'shocked and appalled' by number of customers and staff not wearing masks properly Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• 'A living nightmare': the sobering reality of life inside KGH's intensive care unit Northamptonshire Telegraph
• All England care home residents and staff will get Covid jab within next 10 days ‘at the latest’ Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHFT to hold a free online mental health event to support those struggling in Northamptonshire

NHFT to hold a free online mental health event to support those struggling in Northamptonshire The Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is holding a free online event on Monday January 18 from 2pm to 4pm to provide wellbeing advice and mental health support to those struggling across the county. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Northampton and Kettering General suspend home birth service under Covid pressures

Northampton and Kettering General suspend home birth service under Covid pressures Both of Northamptonshire's general hospitals have suspended their home birth services.

Northampton and Kettering General will be unable to send midwifery teams into the community for expecting mothers. It is not known when the service will resume. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

Brexit and the end of the transition period: what does it mean for the health and care system?

Brexit and the end of the transition period: what does it mean for the health and care system? On Christmas Eve 2020 a new EU-UK trade and co-operation deal was agreed. This long read sets out the key changes for the health and care system and what their immediate, as well as potential long-term, implications might be. The King's Fund 

To solitude: Learning from other countries on how to improve compliance with self-isolation

To solitude: Learning from other countries on how to improve compliance with self-isolation The Covid-19 vaccination campaign brings much hope, but it’s clear that for the foreseeable future we also very much need to control transmission. One key way to do so is effective self-isolation, but data suggests that adherence in the UK with self-isolation rules is low. Sarah Reed and Billy Palmer look at the possible lessons from abroad on how to improve compliance. Nuffield Trust 

Investigation into the housing of rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Investigation into the housing of rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic The National Audit Office (NAO) reports that through its ‘Everyone In’ campaign, the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (the Department) swiftly provided emergency housing for rough sleepers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the response raised issues that need to be addressed if government is to achieve its goal of ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament.

We must bring the Mental Health Act into the 21st century

We must bring the Mental Health Act into the 21st century The Health and Social Care Secretary spoke to Parliament about the publication of the Mental Health Act white paper. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Open consultation: Reforming the Mental Health Act Department of Health and Social Care
• Open consultation: Changes that the government wants to make to a law called the Mental Health Act (easy read) Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine roll-out

Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine roll-out This research briefing addresses commonly asked questions about the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine. It includes links to resources and guidance on the Covid-19 vaccine programme published by Public Health England, the NHS and other health bodies. House of Commons Library

Past COVID-19 infection provides some immunity but people may still carry and transmit virus

Past COVID-19 infection provides some immunity but people may still carry and transmit virus People infected with COVID-19 in the past are likely to be protected against reinfection for several months, a Public Health England (PHE) study has found, although experts cautioned those with immunity may still be able carry the virus in their nose and throat and therefore have a risk of transmitting to others. 

See also:

• Policy paper: UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan Department of Health and Social Care
• Research and analysis: COVID-19: reported SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England Public Health England

Covid-19: Packed hospitals raised death risk by 20%

Covid-19: Packed hospitals raised death risk by 20%  Covid-19 patients in England's busiest intensive care units in 2020 were 20% more likely to die, University College London research has found.

The increased risk was equivalent to gaining a decade in age.

By the end of 2020, one in three hospital trusts in England was running at higher than 85% capacity. BBC News

See also:

• A national retrospective cohort study of mechanical ventilator availability and its association with mortality risk in intensive care patients with COVID-19 (open access preprint) MedRxiv
• Past Covid-19 infection may provide 'months of immunity'
• Johnson: 24-7 Covid-vaccine hubs as soon as supply allows BBC News
• Covid-19: High Street chemists start vaccinations in England BBC News
• Covid: UK reports record 1,564 daily deaths BBC News
• Covid-19: 'More needs to be done to support people shielding' BBC News
• No10 vows to trial 24/7 Covid jabs as GPs in parts of the UK are having to PAUSE vaccinations The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus UK: 12-week vaccine dose gap could be widened further The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: AstraZeneca says it can deliver 2m vaccine doses a week The Daily Mail
• Mass trial of repurposed MS drug for Covid begins at hospital in Hull The Daily Mail
• Covid hoaxer who falsely claimed NHS beds were empty fined £200 The Daily Mail
• No benefit in masks outside or 'three-metre rule', says Jonathan Van-Tam The Daily Telegraph
• Mixing of COVID-19 vaccines 'extremely unlikely', NHS England tells MPs GPonline
• GPs in England say inconsistent supply of Covid vaccine causing roll out issues The Guardian
• Outrage as people in Coventry offered Covid jab over 100 miles away The Guardian
• 'A huge loss': tributes to victims of the UK's Covid second wave The Guardian
• AstraZeneca ‘imminently’ scaling up to 2 million vaccine doses per week The Independent

More women than realised suffer pain from being conscious during caesareans, study finds

More women than realised suffer pain from being conscious during caesareans, study finds More women may suffer pain due to being conscious while undergoing caesareans or other pregnancy-related surgery under general anaesthetic than realised, a troubling new study has found. The Independent

See also:

• Incidence of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia in obstetrics: a multicentre, prospective cohort study (open access) Anaesthesia