Socially excluded older people and their access to health and care services: insights from professionals

Socially excluded older people and their access to health and care services: insights from professionals In this report Age UK and the Salvation Arm, together with people who are socially excluded and key professionals, explore some of the challenges older people face when accessing support. Themes the research highlighted are: older people who are socially excluded are living with complex health challenges; existing support services often don't meet the needs of older people; unhealthy behaviours present a greater risk as we get older; and older people face certain attitudes and stereotypes.

Shared decision making

Shared decision making This guidance advises that shared decision making should be part of everyday practice across all health care settings. It sets out ways for health care professionals to work with people using services to make decisions about their treatment and care, and to ensure this is best practice at an organisational level. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Funding boost for young people’s mental health services

Funding boost for young people’s mental health services Children and young people will benefit from a cash injection to mental health services which includes addressing the increasing demand for the treatment of eating disorders.

An extra £40 million has been allocated to address the COVID impact on children and young people’s mental health and enhance services across the country. NHS England

Data strategy to support delivery of patient centred care

Data strategy to support delivery of patient centred care The way data is used across health and care sectors is set to be transformed, giving patients control of their health data and enabling staff to save more lives through improved care and treatment.

The draft strategy ‘Data saves lives: reshaping health and social care with data’ published today by NHSX builds on the ground-breaking use of data during the pandemic with privacy and security of data at its core. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Government publishes NHS patient data strategy BBC News
• UK patients to have greater control over healthcare data Health Europa

Covid-19: Matt Hancock hopes to scrap isolation for double-jabbed contacts

Covid-19: Matt Hancock hopes to scrap isolation for double-jabbed contacts Plans to ease Covid restrictions in England on 19 July are "looking good", the prime minister has said.

Boris Johnson said that was based on the efficacy of vaccines against identified variants.

But he warned there could be a "rough winter for all sorts of reasons", including a resurgence of flu. BBC News

See also:

• Covid booster vaccine plan to come in a few weeks - Matt Hancock BBC News
• Covid in Scotland: Sturgeon to confirm delay to lockdown easing BBC News
• Covid: Vaccines running out in poorer nations, WHO says BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Why are Australians cancelling AstraZeneca jabs? BBC News
• We'll be having Covid jabs for the next 10 YEARS, predicts Chris Hopson from NHS Providers The Daily Mail
• Flu could be a bigger problem than Covid this winter because immunity is so low, advisor warns The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson pours cold water on easing Covid rules early The Daily Mail
• Fourth lockdown: Is UK likely to face new restrictions? The Independent
• Thousands of asthma sufferers failed to receive Covid vaccine on time, estimates show The Independent

More than 300 NHS workers attempted suicide in Covid pandemic as charity warns of mental health crisis

More than 300 NHS workers attempted suicide in Covid pandemic as charity warns of mental health crisis More than 300 NHS workers attempted suicide as they responded to the coronavirus pandemic last year, according to figures showing the scale of the mental health crisis facing the frontline.

iNews can reveal that a six-month study by the Laura Hyde Foundation (LHF), which supports emergency workers, found that 226 nurses, 79 paramedics and ambulance staff members and 17 medical students attempted to end their lives in 2020. It warned that a mental health pandemic is on the horizon.

Calls to change the law due to fears patients are being deceived by unqualified ‘nurses’

Calls to change the law due to fears patients are being deceived by unqualified ‘nurses’ The government is being urged to make the term “nurse” a protected legal title amid fears the public is being deceived and put at risk by people masquerading as qualified nurses.

A petition calling for the change has already attracted almost 14,000 signatures and was prompted by the recent case of anti-vaccine activist Kate Shemirani, who was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council last month. The Independent 

Infected blood scandal: Ex-pupil tells inquiry he did not know he was in a trial

Infected blood scandal: Ex-pupil tells inquiry he did not know he was in a trial A man who was one of scores of pupils infected with contaminated blood products at a specialist boarding school has told a public inquiry neither he nor his parents were told that he was taking part in medical trials.

Out of 89 haemophiliac children who attended Treloar College in Hampshire in the 1970s and 1980s, less than a quarter of former pupils are still alive, the public inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal heard on Monday. The Guardian

Scientists unlock secret of how people die from a broken heart after tests reveal stressful life events increase levels of two key molecules in heart cells

Scientists unlock secret of how people die from a broken heart after tests reveal stressful life events increase levels of two key molecules in heart cells Scientists have identified why people sometimes die from a broken heart after grief or relationship breakdowns.

They found stressful life events increase levels of two molecules in heart cells which play a crucial role in the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy – or ‘broken heart syndrome’. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Circulating microRNAs predispose to takotsubo syndrome following high-dose adrenaline exposure (open access) Cardiovascular Research
• Broken heart syndrome markers could help identify those at risk Imperial College London

More drop-in jabs available at Northamptonshire vaccination centre

More drop-in jabs available at Northamptonshire vaccination centre Northamptonshire’s Covid vaccination centre is running three days of more drop-in sessions.

Anyone eligible for their first dose of vaccine — that's all over-18s — can get a jab without an appointment at the Moulton Park centre in Summerhouse Road. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Hopes for lifting lockdown on 5 July rise as Covid jab bookings top 1 million in 2 days Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Weekend washout prompts Northamptonshire health chiefs' reminder about keeping Covid safe indoors Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Northamptonshire hospitals 'incredibly busy' with more than just Covid so don't go if you have hayfever, boss warns

Northamptonshire hospitals 'incredibly busy' with more than just Covid so don't go if you have hayfever, boss warns People are being reminded not to go to either Northamptonshire hospital unless it is absolutely necessary as they are extremely busy.

While there are only four coronavirus patients at Kettering and Northampton hospitals, including one in intensive care, other wards are in high demand. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Mum angry after baby was born at Northampton General Hospital with a hole in her head - and no one noticed

Mum angry after baby was born at Northampton General Hospital with a hole in her head - and no one noticed A baby was born at Northampton General Hospital with a hole in its head because of a midwife's error during labour.

But no one realised until a few days later when it had become infected so the little girl had to spend even longer in hospital. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

The most expensive breakfast in history: Revisiting the Wanless review 20 years on

The most expensive breakfast in history: Revisiting the Wanless review 20 years on 20 years on from the Wanless report, we look back at its origins, methodology and impact, highlighting the learnings that can be applied to the pandemic recovery. The Health Foundation 

#NotOK: filling the gaps in mental health support for young people with cancer

#NotOK: filling the gaps in mental health support for young people with cancer This report finds that young people with cancer are unable to access specialist mental health support in parts of the UK, putting them at risk of life-long trauma. It reveals that more than a third of young cancer patients who felt they needed it, have had no, or reduced access to a psychologist in the six months prior to being surveyed, due to inadequate access in parts of the UK. It also highlights the frustrations of psychologists due to the high demand and ‘limited resource'. Teenage Cancer Trust 

Supporting people with arthritis waiting for surgery

Supporting people with arthritis waiting for surgery This report calls on local health systems to implement a package of support to improve the experiences of people with arthritis who are waiting for surgery. Those surveyed emphasised the importance of getting the right support to manage pain, distress, physical health, wellbeing and finances, as well as the need for good communication from health professionals. Versus Arthritis 

Breaks or breakdown: Carers Week 2021 report

Breaks or breakdown: Carers Week 2021 report This survey report found that carers lost, on average, 25 hours of support a month they previously had from services or family and friends before the pandemic. It also reveals that 72 per cent of carers have not had any breaks from their caring role at all. It calls on the UK Government to provide £1.2 billion funding for unpaid carers’ breaks, so that those providing upwards of 50 hours of care are able to take time off for their own health and wellbeing. Carers Week 

New data strategy launched to improve patient care and save lives

New data strategy launched to improve patient care and save lives Millions of patients are set to benefit from a revolutionary use of technology and life-saving lessons learned during the global coronavirus pandemic, as a new draft data strategy will be published next week ahead of public and stakeholder consultation. Department of Health and Social Care 

Over one million jabs booked as NHS vaccine programme opens to all adults

Over one million jabs booked as NHS vaccine programme opens to all adults More than one million jab appointments were booked since the NHS vaccination programme opened for every adult in England. People rushed to book 1,008,472 appointments in just two days – an average of more than 21,000 every hour, or six every second – on Friday and Saturday. NHS England

See also: 

• Guidance: The R value and growth rate Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS App reaches over 6 million users Department of Health and Social Care
• Leading social media platforms unite to support COVID-19 vaccine drive Department of Health and Social Care
• Deliveroo to boost government efforts to tackle variants of concern Department of Health and Social Care

Covid vaccine: We need answers on autumn booster plan, say NHS leaders

Covid vaccine: We need answers on autumn booster plan, say NHS leaders Plans for a Covid booster jab programme will be published "in due course", a senior government source has said.

"Extensive" research is being conducted into the effect of different vaccine combinations, the source said.

It comes after doctors and NHS trusts said planning for the autumn rollout must start now - as it will involve bigger challenges. BBC News

See also:

• UK Covid infections rise as Delta variant dominates BBC News
• Public Health England: 'UK learning to live with Covid' BBC News
• Covid: Hospital visits ban soul-destroying, says patient BBC News
• Ros Atkins On… How the Delta variant took hold in the UK BBC News
• Care homes should come out of lockdown more slowly than rest of country on July 19, SAGE says The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: ONS survey sees Covid cases in England rise 8% to 105,000 The Daily Mail
• Working from home set to stay as Government insists it will not force people back to offices The Daily Telegraph
• NHS app gains 2.7m users as people rush to show Covid vaccine status The Guardian
• Government ordered to release secret pandemic planning files The Guardian
• UK pushes for fully vaccinated to be exempt from Covid self-isolation The Guardian
• COVID-19 variants could force UK to revaccinate over next 2-3 years warns CMO GPonline
• Covid: Minister doesn’t rule out winter lockdown after PHE expert says ‘we may have to’ reimpose measure The Independent
• Sick and disabled people denied medical treatment and facilities in hotel quarantine ‘in breach of law’ The Independent

Contaminated blood inquiry: The school where dozens of pupils died

Contaminated blood inquiry: The school where dozens of pupils died A public inquiry will this week hear from students and parents after more than 120 pupils at a school for disabled children were caught up in what has been called the worst treatment disaster in NHS history.

From 1974 to 1987, those children were offered treatment for haemophilia at Treloar's College.

At least 72 died after being given a drug contaminated with HIV and viral hepatitis. BBC News 

‘A sustained threat to patient safety’: Hospitals across the country swamped by record numbers in A&E

‘A sustained threat to patient safety’: Hospitals across the country swamped by record numbers in A&E Hospital emergency departments across the UK are at breaking point with record numbers of patients swamping A&Es, raising fears that lives will be lost, The Independent can reveal.

Some hospitals have been forced to declare major incidents in the last few days because of the swelling numbers of patients. 

Dido Harding wants to make 'NHS less reliant on foreigners'

Dido Harding wants to make 'NHS less reliant on foreigners' Baroness Dido Harding is vowing to end England’s reliance on foreign doctors as part of her application to become the next head of the NHS, it is claimed.

The Tory peer, who hopes to succeed Sir Simon Stevens, is believed to want to challenge the “prevailing orthodoxy” in government that it is ‘better to import medical professionals from overseas’, according to the Sunday Times. iNews

See also:

• NHS would not survive without the contribution of overseas healthcare workers BMA
• ‘Diversity in the NHS enables us to help people’, says Afghan doctor Channel 4 News
• Dido Harding 'vows to end NHS reliance on foreign doctors and nurses' if she becomes head of the health service - despite Matt Hancock previously urging a 'new Windrush generation' to fill jobs The Daily Mail
• Dido Harding’s bid to lead the NHS is symptomatic of a grim populism iNews
• Potential new NHS chief’s pledge to make the ‘NHS less reliant on foreigners’ met with backlash Nursing Notes

Kent hospital trust fined £733,000 over failures that led to baby’s death

Kent hospital trust fined £733,000 over failures that led to baby’s death A hospital trust has been fined £733,000 over serious failures that led to the death of a week-old baby, in a groundbreaking prosecution brought by the NHS care regulator.

East Kent hospitals university NHS foundation trust was handed the fine at Folkestone magistrates court on Friday over lapses in how its maternity staff treated Harry Richford and his mother, Sarah. The Guardian 

Exclusive: Further delay confirmed to process for new nurse pay deal

Exclusive: Further delay confirmed to process for new nurse pay deal The timeline for a new pay deal being agreed for nurses in the NHS has fallen even further behind schedule, Nursing Times has learnt.

The NHS Pay Review Body had been asked by the health and social care secretary to provide a report to government at an already delayed date of early May.

But it has now emerged that the body is still compiling the report and is not set to make its recommendations to the government until sometime this month. 

New national nursing uniforms could be rolled out by next summer

New national nursing uniforms could be rolled out by next summer New national uniforms for nurses and other healthcare workers in England could be rolled out by next summer, according to the NHS Supply Chain.

Currently, staff uniforms vary significantly between NHS organisation leading to confusion from patients and some healthcare workers. A survey of the public undertaken before the consultation revealed that 88% of patients think that the same uniforms should be worn nationally with 55% claiming they were unable to easily identify senior members of staff from their uniforms. Nursing Notes

First Covid death in nearly two months confirmed at Northamptonshire hospital

First Covid death in nearly two months confirmed at Northamptonshire hospital Northamptonshire s first Covid-related death for almost two months has been confirmed.

NHS England confirmed the a patient with Covid died at Kettering General Hospital on Monday (June 14) four days after being admitted.

It is the first coronavirus-linked fatality at KGH or at Northampton General Hospital in 52 days, since April 23. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Urgent appeal for volunteer stewards at NHS coronavirus vaccination centres in Northampton Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby man's Covid death is first at KGH for almost two months Northamptonshire Telegraph
• 'This announcement is fantastic news': No more isolating for Northamptonshire care home residents after visiting loved ones Northamptonshire Telegraph

‘We’re a lifeline’: Northampton charity urgently appealing for more voluntary drivers to take residents to medical appointments

‘We’re a lifeline’: Northampton charity urgently appealing for more voluntary drivers to take residents to medical appointments A Northampton charity that provides medical appointment transport for elderly and vulnerable residents is urgently seeking more voluntary drivers.

Northampton Community Transport takes people who are unable to drive or walk to bus stops to medical and wellbeing appointments. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Carl Holland: The success of front door triage in Northamptonshire

Carl Holland: The success of front door triage in Northamptonshire It’s been over two months since Northampton General Hospital started using Consultant Connect’s Referral Triage service. In this blog article Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Carl Holland shares how the project started and is now performing. National Health Executive

Moral distress and moral injury: recognising and tackling it for UK doctors

Moral distress and moral injury: recognising and tackling it for UK doctors This pan-profession survey report of UK doctors survey found that 78 per cent of respondents said they could identify with the term ‘moral distress’. This can be understood as occurring when ‘institutional and resource constraints create a sense of unease among doctors from being conflicted about the quality of care they can give’. British Medical Association

Long Covid: the NHS plan for 2021/22

Long Covid: the NHS plan for 2021/22 A five-point plan including advice for clinicians and information for patients, post-Covid assessment clinics, and specialist online rehabilitation support was published in October 2020. This plan outlines ten key next steps to be taken to support those suffering from long Covid. NHS England and NHS Improvement

NHS to invest £52 million to fast track online maternity records

NHS to invest £52 million to fast track online maternity records Every mum to be will be able to access their maternity records on their smart phones, England’s Chief Nurse announced today.

Speaking at the NHS Confederation Conference, Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, said “bulky paper records would soon be banished” and pregnant women will be able to access information on their pregnancy at their fingertips on phones or other electronic devices if they choose to. NHS England

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England releases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK.

Covid: All adults able to book coronavirus vaccination in England

Covid: All adults able to book coronavirus vaccination in England Covid: All adults able to book coronavirus vaccination in England People aged 18 and over in England are being invited to book their first Covid-19 jab in what the NHS has described as a "watershed moment".

About 1.5 million texts are due to be sent to people aged 18 to 20 on Friday.

PM Boris Johnson said the speed of the programme was "one of our country's greatest collective achievements". BBC News

See also:

• Fewer than 1% of all patients who fall severely ill with COVID-19 are later reinfected The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: Signs of UK's Covid surge 'levelling off' The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 vaccines do not cause lower sperm counts and could actually increase sperm, study says The Daily Mail
• Covid England: Outbreaks growing in 90% of areas but rates SHRINKING in Indian variant  hotspots The Daily Mail
• Nearly 16,000 people in England have caught Covid twice The Daily Telegraph
• Scotland was eight hours from running out of some PPE in Covid first wave The Guardian
• Home quarantine in UK for travellers not working, experts warn The Guardian

Covid: Disruption to surgery 'will affect millions'

Covid: Disruption to surgery 'will affect millions' Disruption to surgery in England and Wales during the pandemic will continue to affect millions of patients for many years, researchers say.

Hospitals completed 1.5 million fewer surgical procedures in 2020 than would be expected from trends in previous years, a drop of about 33%, they say.

The NHS says the shortfall was "because fewer people came forward for care". BBC News

See also: 

• Surgical activity in England and Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide observational cohort study (open access) British Journal of Anaesthesia 
• Hospitals undertook 1.6m fewer operations last year because of Covid The Guardian
• Covid-19 pandemic 'led to 1.5 million NHS operations cancelled or postponed' iNews

Former Test and Trace boss and Tory peer Baroness Dido Harding applies for NHS top job

Former Test and Trace boss and Tory peer Baroness Dido Harding applies for NHS top job The former boss of the government’s coronavirus Test and Trace programme has applied to become the next head of the NHS.

Conservative peer Baroness Dido Harding, who is the wife of Tory MP John Penrose, formally entered the running to become the top boss of England's healthcare system on Thursday. Sky News

See also:

• Ex-Test and Trace boss Dido Harding applies to become head of NHS England The Daily Mail
• Dido Harding to head the NHS? Her position would be untenable The Guardian
• Ex-Test And Trace Chief Dido Harding Has Applied To Run The NHS Huffington Post UK
• Dido Harding applies to become next CEO of NHS England The Independent

Health chiefs recall dozens of batches of common blood pressure pills

Health chiefs recall dozens of batches of common blood pressure pills The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of drugs used in Britain, said the affected batches contained azido-tetrazole. The Daily Mail

See also:

• MHRA recalls contaminated Irbesartan and Losartan batches as precautionary measure Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Northamptonshire's Moulton drop-in jab centre now open to ALL over 20s

Northamptonshire's Moulton drop-in jab centre now open to ALL over 20s Northamptonshire’s COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Moulton Park is running its first ever drop-in sessions this week – where anyone eligible for their first dose of vaccine can get one without an appointment. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Northampton care homes 'working with staff to get vaccinated' amid reported plan to make jab mandatory Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Shoppers urged to continue wearing face masks after Northampton centre sees high rate of customers ignoring advice Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Here's which Northamptonshire MPs voted against the Government over Freedom Day delay Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Millions of people could get ‘default’ right to work from home under new proposals Northamptonshire Telegraph

Starting the conversation: UCAS report on student mental health

Starting the conversation: UCAS report on student mental health Over the last decade there has been a significant shift in the willingness of students to talk about their mental health – the number of UK applicants to UCAS that shared a mental health condition has increased by 450% in this time, yet today’s report shows there is still more work to do to smash the myths and stigma around mental health, and to highlight the support available to students in higher education. UCAS 

Locked out: digitally excluded people’s experiences of remote GP appointments

Locked out: digitally excluded people’s experiences of remote GP appointments This report investigates the barriers to accessing digital and remote care, drawing on the experiences of people who experienced digital exclusion during the pandemic. This included older people, people with disabilities, and people with limited English. It finds that people can be digitally excluded for various reasons including digital skill level, affordability of technology, disabilities, or language barriers. The report suggests the need for a programme of investment in digital literacy and online access while emphasising the importance of maintaining face-to-face methods to ensure no one falls through the gaps. Healthwatch England 

The Case for Change

The Case for Change This report sets out the urgent need for a new approach to children’s social care in England. Our children’s social care system is a 30-year-old tower of Jenga held together with Sellotape: simultaneously rigid and yet shaky. There have been many reviews and attempts at reform since the landmark introduction of the 1989 Children Act and though each has ushered incremental progress, we are now left with a high stack of legislation, systems, structures, and services that with their sheer complicatedness make it hard to imagine something different, let alone address foundational problems. The Independent Review of Children's Social Care

See also: 

• Care services too focused on investigating families in crisis, says review BBC News
• Children’s services in England shaky as Jenga tower, says review lead The Guardian
• Social care in England is 'a tower of Jenga held together with Sellotape', independent review warns Sky News

Strengthening NHS board diversity

Strengthening NHS board diversity An independent taskforce asked to examine the diversity of healthcare leadership has said that NHS organisations can create a "sustainable pipeline" of senior leaders that properly reflect the diversity of their staff and communities by refreshing their processes for appointing chairs and non-executive directors (NEDs). The report, based on the feedback of taskforce members including NHS chairs, NEDs and chief executives, found that while there are pockets of innovation, the current NHS appointment process for NEDs would benefit from a standard, more transparent procedure. NHS Confederation

£36 million boost for AI technologies to revolutionise NHS care

£36 million boost for AI technologies to revolutionise NHS care Thousands of patients and NHS staff will benefit from dozens of new pioneering projects awarded a share of £36 million to test state-of-the-art AI technology. The projects will help the NHS to transform the quality of care and the speed of diagnoses for conditions such as lung cancer. Department of Health and Social Care

Everyone working in care homes to be fully vaccinated under new law to protect residents

Everyone working in care homes to be fully vaccinated under new law to protect residents Care home residents will be better protected from death and serious illness, following confirmation people working in care homes will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The new legislation means from October – subject to Parliamentary approval and a subsequent 16-week grace period – anyone working in a CQC-registered care home in England for residents requiring nursing or personal care must have 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a medical exemption. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Consultation outcome: Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: REACT-1 study of coronavirus transmission: June 2021 final results Department of Health and Social Care
• More than 30 million people vaccinated with second dose Department of Health and Social Care
• 21 and 22 year olds to be offered COVID-19 jab from today NHS England
• Thousands of lives to be saved by health MOTs at NHS vaccination services NHS England

Covid: Epidemic growing across England, says study

Covid: Epidemic growing across England, says study The Covid epidemic in England is growing - with much of the growth being driven by younger age groups not yet immunised, a study suggests.

The analysis, from the React-1 study, looked at the period 20 May to 7 June.

But tentative signs in the latest daily data suggest growth may be beginning to slow. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid: Children aged 12-17 unlikely to offered vaccine in UK BBC News
• Covid: Deaf campaigner takes legal action over No 10 briefings BBC News
• Scientists develop low cost COVID-19 test strips that work similar to diabetes test strips The Daily Mail
• Britain's daily Covid cases hit 9,000 for the first time since February The Daily Mail
• A FIFTH of asymptomatic coronavirus patients develop 'long Covid' conditions The Daily Mail
• Four men barred from every hospital in England over Covid 'hoax' broadcasts The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock confirms plan to require care staff to have Covid vaccine The Guardian
• Matt Hancock says Delta variant accounts for 96% of new UK Covid cases – video The Guardian
• Cummings texts show Boris Johnson calling Matt Hancock ‘totally hopeless’ The Guardian
• Matt Hancock says he 'doesn't think' he's hopeless The Independent
• Covid: R rate could jump as high as 7 without any lockdown restrictions, warns PHE The Independent
• NHS goes door to door encouraging people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in underserved areas iNews

Living with obesity: 'My genes mean I’m hard-wired to store fat'

Living with obesity: 'My genes mean I’m hard-wired to store fat' Specialist health professionals say it is time for obesity to be regarded as an illness caused by genetics, biology and how we live today.

New research adds to growing scientific opinion that "healthy obesity" does not exist. The findings show those who are significantly overweight have a 66% higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, compared with those of a normal weight.

Many people with obesity say not only do they have to live with prejudice and stigma, but they struggle to find treatment. BBC News

See also: 

• Obesity Without Metabolic Abnormality and Incident CKD: A Population-Based British Cohort Study (open access) American Journal of Kidney Diseases

NHS mental health trust fined £1.5m over care failures that led to 11 deaths

NHS mental health trust fined £1.5m over care failures that led to 11 deaths An NHS mental health trust has been fined £1.5m over serious lapses in care that led to the death of 11 patients who were found hanging.

Mr Justice Cavanagh, the judge who imposed the fine, said a “litany” of failings in safety standards had been identified at Essex Partnership University NHS foundation trust (EPUT) over many years, which meant that it had failed to “prevent suicides”. The Guardian

More than one MILLION deaths were linked to fossil fuel combustion in 2017

More than one MILLION deaths were linked to fossil fuel combustion in 2017 A shocking new study shows how the sluggish transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy 'continues to sicken and kill people'. 

Researchers performed a comprehensive analysis of the sources and health effects of air pollution for more than 200 countries for 2017.

They found 1.05 million deaths would have been avoidable globally – including around 10,000 in the UK – in 2017 by eliminating fossil-fuel combustion. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Source sector and fuel contributions to ambient PM2.5 and attributable mortality across multiple spatial scales (open access) Nature Communications

"Disappointed, but not surprised" is Northamptonshire health chief's view on 'Freedom Day' delay

"Disappointed, but not surprised" is Northamptonshire health chief's view on 'Freedom Day' delay Northamptonshire's health chief says she is "disappointed, but not surprised" by the delay in easing Covid-19 restrictions. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

A call to action on ethnic health inequalities: how can the NHS accelerate change?

A call to action on ethnic health inequalities: how can the NHS accelerate change? Black women die during pregnancy or in the year after at a rate four times higher than white women. This is just one example of the health inequalities experienced by people from minority ethnic groups. 

Understanding and addressing these inequalities – which are complex and have multiple overlapping causes – has (on paper at least) been a focus for the NHS for some time. The King's Fund 

Investigation into NHS-funded fertility care for female same-sex couples

Investigation into NHS-funded fertility care for female same-sex couples BPAS Fertility releases the results of an investigation into NHS-funded fertility care for female same-sex couples, highlighting the additional, hidden financial burdens they face.

Fertility services in the UK, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), are provided by a mixture of NHS and private services. 

NHS-funded care is commonly given to heterosexual couples once they can demonstrate they have tried to conceive naturally for 2-3 years. However, female same-sex couples are required to establish their “fertility status” by self-funding several rounds of artificial insemination (AI) privately, at considerable cost.

See also:

• Lesbians face 'illegal and discriminatory' barriers to getting IVF on the NHS iNews

Guidance for the transfer and remission of adult prisoners and immigration removal centre detainees under the Mental Health Act 1983

Guidance for the transfer and remission of adult prisoners and immigration removal centre detainees under the Mental Health Act 1983 These good practice guidance documents set out the process for transferring and remitting patients in England to and from prisons, immigration removal centres and mental health, learning disability and/or autism inpatient services. They outline the timeframe for completing the assessment, transfer and remission of individuals detained under the Mental Health Act to and from mental health, learning disability and/or autism services and replace the Department of Health’s Good practice procedure guide 2011. The accompanying consultation report sets out the engagement activity which has helped to inform these guidance documents. NHS England and NHS Improvement 

Patients with type 1 diabetes to get artificial pancreas on the NHS

Patients with type 1 diabetes to get artificial pancreas on the NHS An ‘artificial pancreas’ designed to revolutionise the life of people with Type 1 diabetes will be provided by the NHS, 100 years after the discovery of insulin, health service chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced. NHS England 

More than 30 million people vaccinated with second dose

More than 30 million people vaccinated with second dose More than 30 million people in the UK have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures published today (15 June) show, as the vaccination programme continues at unprecedented pace and scale. Department of Health and Social Care

Another life-saving Covid treatment found

Another life-saving Covid treatment found Exactly a year on from the discovery that a cheap steroid drug prevented Covid deaths, researchers say they have found another life-saving therapy.

It is expensive - a potent intravenous infusion of antibodies to neutralise the virus, rather than dampen the body's inflammatory response to it.

Results from the Recovery trial suggest it could help one in three of those in hospital with severe Covid. BBC News

See also:

• Covid jab 'compulsory' for England care home staff BBC News
• What are the Delta variant symptoms? BBC News
• England needs to speed up vaccine rollout by 12% to meet targets for July 19, analysis shows The Daily Mail
• Covid survivors say they experience 'bizarre' tastes and smells months after clearing the infection The Daily Mail
• One in three patients admitted to hospital during first Covid wave received DNR orders, study shows The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: SAGE warned Covid admissions could spike past 7,000 a day with Indian variant The Daily Mail
• Britain has Europe's WORST Covid outbreak as Indian variant sees nation overtake Spain The Daily Mail
• Mapped: The hotspots for the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the UK The Daily Telegraph
• Compulsory jabs for NHS and care staff to be announced The Daily Telegraph
• All adults in England able to book Covid jabs ‘by end of week’ The Guardian
• Why is Israel lifting Covid restrictions as England extends them? The Guardian

Mental health patients turned away by NHS under controversial scheme

Mental health patients turned away by NHS under controversial scheme NHS whistleblower says that he had to refuse care to a woman who attempted suicide on multiple occasions, because of rules adopted by mental health trusts. iNews 

Care watchdog downgrades two more NHS maternity units over safety concerns

Care watchdog downgrades two more NHS maternity units over safety concerns Maternity services at two hospitals run by the same NHS trust have both been downgraded by the care watchdog after whistleblowers raised the alarm over unsafe staffing levels and a poor culture. The Independent 

'Menopause revolution': England must make hormone replacement therapy free of NHS charges, MPs say

'Menopause revolution': England must make hormone replacement therapy free of NHS charges, MPs say  England must “follow the lead” of Scotland and Wales and make Hormone Replacement Therapy exempt from NHS prescription charges, MPs have warned.

The majority of the 3.4 million women between 50 and 64 in the UK will be experiencing symptoms of the menopause – with these ranging from heart palpitations to hot flushes, vaginal pain, anxiety and depression. The Independent

Adult social care services face ‘deluge’ of requests for support

Adult social care services face ‘deluge’ of requests for support Adult social care services are facing a “deluge” of requests for support from vulnerable and older people as society starts to open up after the pandemic, according to council care chiefs in England.

There has been a big increase in people needing help after their condition deteriorated while waiting to be admitted to hospital for treatment, as well as a surge in those needing support after being discharged from hospital. The Guardian

Boris Johnson ‘confident’ lockdown restrictions will end in England on 19 July

Boris Johnson ‘confident’ lockdown restrictions will end in England on 19 July Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is "confident" that no further delay to the lifting of remaining Covid restrictions in England will be necessary, and will come to an end on 19 July. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Full list of everything announced by Boris Johnson as June 21 lockdown lifting is delayed Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid rule-breaker hit with £800 court bill for not wearing a face covering in Northampton barbers Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Naming the issue: chronic excessive workload in the NHS

Naming the issue: chronic excessive workload in the NHS The Health and Social Care Committee’s report on workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care is unequivocal. Chronic excessive workload is damaging staff health, patient care and staff’s long-term ability to provide high-quality and compassionate care for people in their communities. In a context of inadequate resources including unsatisfactory levels of staffing, equipment, training and supportive leadership, workload is the number one factor predicting ever-increasing levels of staff stress. The King's Fund 

Guidance on community mental health services: promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches

Guidance on community mental health services: promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches This guidance provides a detailed description of person-centred and human rights-based approaches in mental health, examples of good practice services around the world and recommendations for integrating such services into national health and social care systems and services. The guidance is accompanied by a set of seven technical packages focused on specific categories of mental health services and guidance for setting up new services. World Health Organization

Outsourcing as a threat to public health: the case for insourcing public sector cleaners and facilities management

Outsourcing as a threat to public health: the case for insourcing public sector cleaners and facilities management The evidence cited in this report suggests that outsourced health facilities management services pose a threat to public health. This represents a major weakness in the UK’s ability to cope with subsequent waves of Covid-19. As a matter of public health, this paper recommends that: the government should launch an urgent and independent inquiry into the outsourcing of key workers, including cleaners, to assess whether, as the literature suggests, there is a link between outsourcing and higher rates of infection; and as a pandemic precautionary measure, all local authorities and NHS Trusts should immediately assess their portfolio of healthcare facilities management and sanitation workers, and examine opportunities to bring them in-house. New Economics Foundation 

Mind the gap: a policy report on how people are disadvantaged by digital exclusion

Mind the gap: a policy report on how people are disadvantaged by digital exclusion The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed a devastating overlap between digital exclusion and social exclusion, social exclusion and poverty, and then in turn, poverty and health inequalities. This report acknowledges digitalisation brings both huge benefits for many but also great disadvantage for some and looks at the experiences of local people based on evidence brought to the attention of Chesterfield Citizens Advice workers. The report sets out measures to ensure that services are `fair by design`, that they are accessible for vulnerable people who cannot use digital and that suitable alternative provisions are always in place to meet their needs. Chesterfield Citizens Advice 

Discharge to assess: the case for permanent funding

Discharge to assess: the case for permanent funding This Community Network briefing sets out the case for permanent funding to support the ‘discharge to assess’ model based on cost effectiveness for the taxpayer and improved outcomes. NHS Confederation 

NHS sets up specialist young people’s services in £100 million long COVID care expansion

NHS sets up specialist young people’s services in £100 million long COVID care expansion The NHS is setting up specialist long COVID services for children and young people as part of a £100 million expansion of care for those suffering from the condition.

The 15 new paediatric hubs will draw together experts on common symptoms such as respiratory problems and fatigue who can directly treat youngsters, advise family doctors or others caring for them or refer them into other specialist services and clinics. NHS England

PM statement at coronavirus press conference: 14 June 2021

PM statement at coronavirus press conference: 14 June 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement at the coronavirus press conference on the delay of easing lockdown restrictions. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

See also:

• Statement to Parliament: Oral statement on easing of coronavirus restrictions Department of Health and Social Care
• Sir Richard Sykes appointed chair of Vaccine Taskforce Department of Health and Social Care
• Vaccines highly effective against hospitalisation from Delta variant Public Health England
• Guidance: PHE monitoring of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination Public Health England

Covid-19: 'Immunisation moving us to a better place everyday'

Covid-19: 'Immunisation moving us to a better place everyday' Prof Adam Finn has said that despite uncertainties around Covid variants, continued immunisation "is moving us to a better and better place everyday".

A member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), Prof Finn said he understood why people needed dates to hold on to but "this is a process".

His comments came after it was announced that the government was delaying many aspects of easing lockdown restrictions in England planned for 21 June. BBC News

See also:

• 21 June: What will delaying the full unlock achieve? BBC News
• Covid: Lockdown easing in England delayed to 19 July BBC News
• Covid-19: Vaccine booster study begins in Cambridge BBC News
• Headache and running nose linked to Delta variant BBC News
• Proof jabs WILL protect NHS from Indian variant: PHE study finds vaccines more than 90% effective The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus: How worsening data have spooked No10 into delaying the end of England's lockdown The Daily Mail
• UK doctors urge public to get fully vaccinated as Delta variant spreads The Guardian
• England’s Covid lockdown lifting: is a four-week delay enough? The Guardian
• Covid-19 will ‘be with us forever,’ warn Whitty and Vallance The Independent
• England’s Covid case rates climb to highest level since early March The Independent

Self-harm warning signs can appear decade earlier

Self-harm warning signs can appear decade earlier Early warning signs of self-harm can appear in children almost a decade before it starts, say researchers.

The team at the University of Cambridge found two distinct groups that were more likely to harm themselves.

The first included those who struggle to control their emotions, and the second featured youngsters more willing to take risks than others their age. BBC News

See also:

• Two Pathways to Self-Harm in Adolescence (open access) Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Serco and G4S order NHS test-and-trace suppliers to clean up act on tax

Serco and G4S order NHS test-and-trace suppliers to clean up act on tax The outsourcing companies Serco and G4S have ordered the recruitment agencies that they rely on to provide workers for the NHS test-and-trace system to clean up their supply chains, after a Guardian investigation prompted concerns over tax dodging.

Serco confirmed it had passed information on some of its suppliers to HM Revenue and Customs, after evidence emerged that agency staff were being paid via controversial “mini-umbrella companies” (MUCs), which are often used to fraudulently dodge national insurance contributions. The Guardian

Why aren't patients being told truth about electric shock therapy? Leaflets on the treatment contain at least one inaccurate statement about safety and effectiveness, investigation shows

Why aren't patients being told truth about electric shock therapy? Leaflets on the treatment contain at least one inaccurate statement about safety and effectiveness, investigation shows Results of a Freedom of Information request to hospital trusts for a copy of their ECT patient information leaflet. 

This audit, published exclusively in the Mail, revealed that the leaflets — including one produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists — contained at least one inaccurate statement about the safety and effectiveness of ECT, such as there being no risk of long-term memory loss. The Daily Mail

More gay and bisexual men able to donate blood after new rule change comes into place

More gay and bisexual men able to donate blood after new rule change comes into place New rules have now come into place which mean more gay and bisexual men will be allowed to donate blood, platelets and plasma. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Permanently closed Northampton community library could become pregnancy clinic

Permanently closed Northampton community library could become pregnancy clinic Plans have been submitted to convert a Northampton community library into a antenatal clinic just months after it was shut for good. 

Despite a furious response by residents, Far Cotton Library was permanently closed this year after the county council ruled there was 'no viable business plan' in place for volunteers to run it. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering General Hospital highlight EDI initiatives

Kettering General Hospital highlight EDI initiatives Kettering General Hospital (KGH) NHS FT have been highlighting initiatives aimed at improving the working lives for BAME staff at their trust. To do this they promoted their BAME Staff Network, and increased the membership from 7 to over 250 last year, after launching several projects to encourage engagement. National Health Executive 

Patients and machines: does technology help or hinder empathy and person-centred care?

Patients and machines: does technology help or hinder empathy and person-centred care? New technologies in the fields of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and communications hold vast potential for improving health care. But their increasing use in patient-facing contexts could have significant implications for patient experience – in particular, for the ‘human dimension’ of health care. The Health Foundation

Learning Disability Mortality (death) Review annual report 2020

Learning Disability Mortality (death) Review annual report 2020 This annual report from the University of Bristol provides information about the deaths of people with a learning disability aged four years and over notified to the programme. NHS England

See also: 

• LeDeR Action from Learning report 2020/21 NHS England
• LeDeR Action from Learning case studies NHS England
• Learning Disability Mortality (death) Review programme NHS England
• Call for urgent action to prevent learning disability deaths BBC News

New right to work guidance announced

New right to work guidance announced The Home Office has published new guidance for employers on how to ensure new EU, EEA and Swiss national staff have the Right to Work in the UK after the EU Settlement Scheme closes on 30 June 2021. NHS Employers 

Covid: Boris Johnson to announce whether 21 June easing to go ahead

Covid: Boris Johnson to announce whether 21 June easing to go ahead Most coronavirus rules will remain in place in England for another four weeks after the planned 21 June unlocking, government sources have told the BBC.

Senior ministers have signed off on the decision to delay the lifting of all legal restrictions on social contact.

That could mean capacity limits for sports, pubs and cinemas will remain, and nightclubs would stay closed. BBC News

See also:

• Covid-19: 'We will have a substantial third wave' BBC News
• Covid: Is there a limit to how much worse variants can get? BBC News
• Vaccinating children against Covid-19 BBC News
• Unvaccinated most at risk from Delta variant BBC News
• G7: World leaders promise one billion Covid vaccine doses for poorer nations BBC News
• Over 60% of COVID-19 patients who die have muscle inflammation, German autopsy study finds The Daily Mail
• Woman who was bedridden for an entire year due to long-haul COVID symptoms tells her story The Daily Mail
• G7 billion vaccine pledge not enough to stop Covid from spreading 'like wildfire', says UN The Daily Telegraph
• England’s R-rate highest since January The Daily Telegraph
• UK health inequalities made worse by Covid crisis, study suggests The Guardian
• Ministers warned of more disruption in English schools as Covid variant spreads The Guardian
• US warns against use of particular lateral flow test UK is buying in bulk The Independent
• Covid: Delta variant cases treble in a week, new analysis reveals The Independent

Tourette’s Syndrome: ‘I don’t want people to think I’m a bad child’

Tourette’s Syndrome: ‘I don’t want people to think I’m a bad child’ Deaglan McCallion is 10 years old and has Tourette's Syndrome.

He said: "When I was younger I noticed I was making a lot of noises and shouting out a bunch of words and thumping my chest.

"I just want people to know that I'm not a bad child, I just have Tourette's and can't hold that back."

Tourette's Syndrome is a neurological condition that can cause verbal and physical tics. BBC News

Why I back the NHS patient data-sharing plan

Why I back the NHS patient data-sharing plan | Polly Toynbee The benefits could be immense – just look at the Covid vaccine. But this proposal needs cast-iron assurances

Who would trust Boris Johnson to keep their deepest secret? Would you dare lend him something valuable, and trust him not to flog it off when he needed the cash? These sort of questions are why citizens may balk at giving the prime minister the keys to their GP records, revealing who has addictions, dementia, psychosis, sexually transmitted diseases, has suffered domestic violence or had an abortion. The Guardian

See also:

• GP Data Saves Lives NHS Digital
• Collection of GP Data for Planning and Research to go ahead on 1 September 2021 NHS Digital
• NHS Digital defends new data system that campaigners claim could mean patient data is passed to US tech giants iNews

Why is Corby lagging behind in Covid-19 vaccination race?

Why is Corby lagging behind in Covid-19 vaccination race? Health chiefs admit they are concerned by Corby lagging behind in the Covid-19 vaccination race.

Experts fear a below-average uptake of jabs could leave areas more vulnerable to fast-spreading variants. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• Why is Northampton lagging behind in Covid-19 vaccination race? Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Boris Johnson ‘considering delaying June 21 lockdown easing by a month’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Tell-all dementia podcast created by Northamptonshire mother and daughter nominated for national award

Tell-all dementia podcast created by Northamptonshire mother and daughter nominated for national award A podcast which aims to reduce the stigma associated with dementia created by a Northamptonshire mother and daughter has been nominated for a national award. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

NHS performance summary: April-May 2021

NHS performance summary: April-May 2021 Today, NHS England published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for April and May of this year. Here we show some of these statistics and how they compare with previous trends. Nuffield Trust

See also: 

• Health Foundation calls for investment and innovation as waiting list hits 5m for first time ever The Health Foundation
• 'Covid-19 has redrawn the scale of the challenge facing the NHS' The King's Fund
• Non-covid demand growing rapidly as NHS staff work hard to dent troubling waiting list Nuffield Trust
• Number of people on England’s NHS waiting list tops 5m for first time The Guardian
• Fixing NHS waiting times could cost £40bn, leaked No 10 estimates show The Guardian
• ‘It’s been real mental torture’: one woman’s wait for vital surgery The Guardian

Comparing G7 countries: are excess deaths an objective measure of pandemic performance?

Comparing G7 countries: are excess deaths an objective measure of pandemic performance? League tables are popular. Rankings are satisfying and, at their best, help us to compare performance – understanding who is best, who is worst and, most importantly, why. COVID-19 comparisons are no different and, as we emerge from pandemic and the Prime Minister prepares to host the G7 summit this weekend, academics, politicians and journalists are increasingly comparing how countries have fared. The Health Foundation 

Delivering a Smokefree 2030: The All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health recommendations for the Tobacco Control Plan 2021

Delivering a Smokefree 2030: The All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health recommendations for the Tobacco Control Plan 2021 This report calls for further regulations, increased funding levied from the tobacco industry on a polluter pays principle and investment in the communities where smoking has the biggest impact. All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health 

NHS ahead of target in recovery of elective care, and mental health services back to pre-pandemic levels

NHS ahead of target in recovery of elective care, and mental health services back to pre-pandemic levels Operations and other routine care are ahead of ambitions set out in April with mental health services back at pre-pandemic levels, NHS figures show today. NHS England

See also:

• Three in four people with a learning disability receive NHS annual health check NHS England

Consultation on the appointment and operation of the Patient Safety Commissioner

Consultation on the appointment and operation of the Patient Safety Commissioner This consultation seeks views and any comments from those who may be affected or have a particular interest in the set up and functions of the new Patient Safety Commissioner for England. It closes on 5 August 2021.  Department of Health and Social Care

UK and US agree new partnership to fight future pandemics and tackle health inequalities

UK and US agree new partnership to fight future pandemics and tackle health inequalities Landmark partnership agreed by UK Health Security Agency and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen global response to future pandemics. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Transparency data: Coronavirus England briefing, 10 June 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Public Health England
• COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report published Public Health England

Five things Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs

Five things Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has answered questions about his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in front of a committee of MPs. BBC News

See also: 

• UK to donate more than 100m surplus vaccine doses, says PM BBC News
• Covid-19: Vaccines minister says a 'big effort' is needed to vaccinate the world BBC News
• Covid-19 UK: Britain DID simulate a coronavirus pandemic but health chiefs WON'T say how it went The Daily Mail
• Coronavirus is detectable next to the beds of COVID-19 patients - but surface transmission is rare The Daily Mail
• COVID-19 vaccines ARE effective in cancer patients: Study finds 94% of patients developed antibodies The Daily Mail
• Covid UK: Indian variant now makes up 91% of all cases, Matt Hancock warns The Daily Mail
• Matt Hancock pledges to hand over any advice on discharges to care homes The Guardian
• Hancock tells MPs: Cummings’ lack of evidence is ‘telling’ The Guardian
• Fingered for failings he’d forgotten, Matt Hancock wriggles free The Guardian
• Eleven pandemic exercises were carried out before Covid, government admits The Independent
• NHS told to identify patients actually sick from Covid-19 separately to those testing positive The Independent

Monkeypox: Two cases identified in north Wales

Monkeypox: Two cases identified in north Wales There have been two cases of monkeypox identified in north Wales, health officials have said.

Public Health Wales (PHW) said the initial case was acquired overseas and both cases were identified in two people from the same household.

Monitoring and contact tracing is taking place and the risk to the general public is very low, PHW added. BBC News

See also: 

• Monkeypox: What is disease detected in UK and what are the symptoms? The Independent

England is on track to completely ELIMINATE the transmission of HIV by 2030, research suggests

England is on track to completely ELIMINATE the transmission of HIV by 2030, research suggests England is on track to have completely eliminated the transmission of HIV by 2030, a promising new study has revealed.

The annual number of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in England fell from 2,770 in 2013 to 854 in 2018, according to the new research. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Tracking elimination of HIV transmission in men who have sex with men in England: a modelling study (open access) The Lancet HIV
• England on track to achieve elimination of HIV transmission by 2030 as model shows sharp decrease in HIV incidence University of Cambridge

The unlikely beginnings of the 'radical' rainbow NHS badge – and why LGBT+ allyship is still sorely needed in healthcare

The unlikely beginnings of the 'radical' rainbow NHS badge – and why LGBT+ allyship is still sorely needed in healthcare As far as symbols go, there are few more powerful than the Pride flag – but the iconic blue and white lettering of the NHS certainly comes close. Pink News