Building back cancer services in England

Building back cancer services in England The pandemic has severely disrupted cancer services in England. While Covid-19 might not have caused our health service to ‘collapse’ rapidly, it has forced us to take previously unthinkable steps like cancelling cancer treatments. There have been widespread disruptions across the cancer care pathway – screening, referrals, diagnostic and treatment services have all seen reductions in activity.

Unmitigated, the consequences will be severe. Institute for Public Policy Research

See also: 

• Covid: Cancer backlog could take a decade to clear BBC News
• 'Thousands will die' over the next decade because of a huge cancer care backlog, report reveals The Daily Mail
• ‘A system on its last legs’: NHS forced to deny chemotherapy for cancer patients The Independent
• Clearing NHS cancer backlog could take over a decade – report ITV News

Rebuilding our NHS: the case for capital funding

Rebuilding our NHS: the case for capital funding This briefing highlighting what trust leaders need from the comprehensive spending review, based on a survey of trust and foundation trust finance directors across all sectors. NHS Providers

See also: 

• NHS chiefs want another £1.5bn a year extra to improve buildings The Daily Mail

The recovery challenges for NHS hospital services

The recovery challenges for NHS hospital services This month’s Insight report looks at how NHS trusts are planning for people’s care while tackling a backlog of treatment caused by COVID-19.

In May and June 2021, we asked 73 trusts about their approaches to longer waiting lists and how they are considering people’s care in a fair and equal way. We wanted to know about their assessments of the challenges. Care Quality Commission 

Covid-19: Life expectancy is down but what does this mean?

Covid-19: Life expectancy is down but what does this mean? Life expectancy for men in the UK has fallen for the first time in 40 years, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.

Life expectancy at birth in the three years to 2020 was 79 years for men, falling back to a level last seen in 2012-14.

Female life expectancy was virtually unchanged, at just below 83.

Normally, life expectancy in the UK and around the world increases over time - and falls are rare. BBC News

See also: 

• UK Covid vaccine rules cause hesitancy - Africa health chief BBC New
• Britain's Covid cases rise by over a THIRD in a week to 36,710 The Daily Mail
• The true toll of Covid on the NHS: 18MILLION fewer appointments were carried out in 2020 The Daily Mail
• Covid? What Covid? Moderna boss expects pandemic to be done in a year The Daily Mail
• Moderna vaccine more effective against COVID-19 infection at 96% compared to Pfizer shot at 89% The Daily Mail
• Emails emerge of ‘VIP route’ for UK Covid test contracts The Guardian
• More than 100 countries face spending cuts as Covid worsens debt crisis, report warns The Guardian
• Nearly 125,000 deaths prevented by Covid vaccines in England, figures suggest The Independent

Woman with Down's loses abortion law fight

Woman with Down's loses abortion law fight A woman with Down's syndrome has lost her High Court challenge over a law that allows abortion up to birth for a foetus with the condition.

Heidi Crowter, 26, from Coventry, brought the case against the government in July, saying the legislation did not respect her life.

Her legal team had argued the rules were unlawfully discriminatory.

The government maintained there was no evidence the law discriminated against Down's. BBC News 

England set to eradicate HIV by 2030, research suggests

England set to eradicate HIV by 2030, research suggests England is set to have diagnosed 95 per cent of people living with HIV within the next four years, making it likely that the country will have eliminated transmission of the virus by 2030, according to a new study.

This places England on course to meet the ambitious global target set by Unaids for ending the AIDS epidemic by the close of the decade. The Independent

See also: 

• Trends in undiagnosed HIV prevalence in England and implications for eliminating HIV transmission by 2030: an evidence synthesis model (open access) The Lancet Public Health

Undisclosed private companies analysing facial data from NHS app

Undisclosed private companies analysing facial data from NHS app Undisclosed companies are analysing facial data collected by the NHS app, which is used by more than 16 million English citizens, prompting fresh concern about the role of outsourcing to private businesses in the service.

Data security experts have previously criticised the lack of transparency around a contract with the NHS held by iProov, whose facial verification software is used to perform automated ID checks on people signing up for the NHS app. The Guardian 

National insurance hike to hit NHS and care staff with £900m tax bill

National insurance hike to hit NHS and care staff with £900m tax bill Boris Johnson’s national insurance hike to fund health and social care will hit NHS and care workers with a £900m tax bill, the Guardian can reveal.

The prime minister announced this month that contributions are to increase by 1.25 percentage points to tackle the NHS backlog and pay for social care reforms. 

Work starts on national NHS uniform for England after nurses back plans

Work starts on national NHS uniform for England after nurses back plans Nurses have given the green light to plans for a national NHS uniform for England, with improved professional identity and patient safety cited as reasons for making for the move. Nursing Times 

Safety inspectors give GPs the okay to return after Northampton surgery struck by car

Safety inspectors give GPs the okay to return after Northampton surgery struck by car Doctors displaced by some dodgy driving are back behind their rightful desks just a day after having to decamp from their Northampton surgery. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Freak accident shuts Northampton doctors surgery affecting 10,000 patients Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Watch as DAY TWO of three-month major roadworks sees more traffic CHAOS around Northampton General Hospital

Watch as DAY TWO of three-month major roadworks sees more traffic CHAOS around Northampton General Hospital Traffic was CRAWLING through Northampton AGAIN Tuesday, September 21 due to major roadworks taking place at a busy junction. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England This long read examines ethnic differences in health outcomes, highlighting the variation across ethnic groups and health conditions, and considers what’s needed to reduce health inequalities. The King's Fund

Record number of children and young people referred to mental health services as pandemic takes its toll

Record number of children and young people referred to mental health services as pandemic takes its toll Record numbers of children and young people are being referred to mental health services for crisis and non-crisis care, as the toll of the pandemic on the country’s mental health is revealed in a new analysis of NHS Digital data by the Royal College of Psychiatrists

See also: 

• Record-breaking 2,000 children are referred to NHS mental health services EVERY day The Daily Mail
• Children’s NHS mental health referrals double in pandemic The Guardian

Good for you, good for us, good for everybody: a plan to reduce overprescribing to make patient care better and safer, support the NHS, and reduce carbon emissions

Good for you, good for us, good for everybody: a plan to reduce overprescribing to make patient care better and safer, support the NHS, and reduce carbon emissions This report contains the findings and recommendations of the national overprescribing review led by Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England. The review sets out a series of practical and cultural changes to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their needs while ensuring clinicians’ time is well spent and taxpayer money is spent wisely. This includes better use of technology, how to review prescriptions more effectively, and how to offer alternatives to medicines where they would be more effective. Department of Health and Social Care

First UK manufactured rapid tests deployed across England

First UK manufactured rapid tests deployed across England The first UK-manufactured rapid tests – otherwise known as lateral flow devices or LFDs – are being rolled out to universities across England.

As the government continues to back companies and technologies working to help break chains of COVID-19 transmission, these new tests will bolster efforts to detect asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, and support more than 370 jobs in the Midlands. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: How can missing five million be persuaded to have the jab?

Covid: How can missing five million be persuaded to have the jab? The Covid debate has recently centred on whether teenagers should have the vaccine and when the most vulnerable will receive booster jabs. But a third group is of real concern among scientists and politicians - the five million or so adults yet to have a first dose. BBC News

See also: 

• Covid-19: New allergic reactions to hair dye reported BBC News
• Covid: Immune therapy from llamas shows promise BBC News
• Ivermectin does NOT fight Covid and scientific reviews heaping praise on de-wormer drug are flawed The Daily Mail
• Covid-19 UK: Professor Chris Whitty warns almost ALL unjabbed youngsters will get infected The Daily Mail
• Covid may be an occasional trigger of rare Guillain-Barré syndrome The Daily Mail
• Anti-viral drug remdesivir reduces risk of hospitalization in high-risk COVID-19 patients by 87% The Daily Mail
• Covid variant that originated in Japan should be watched closely, expert says The Daily Mail
• Only 20pc of people wearing masks on public transport since July 19 The Daily Telegraph
• State of a Covid nation: why this winter could push the NHS to breaking point The News Statesman 

Is 'the worst cold ever' going around?

Is 'the worst cold ever' going around? You've probably heard a lot more sniffles around if you've gone out recently or got on public transport.

Perhaps there's that one person on the work call who's not muted and starts a coughing fit before a meek: "It's not Covid, I've been tested!"

Or, maybe you've been ill and agree with people saying that what's going around right now is "the worst cold ever." BBC News 

Health service has experienced its 'toughest summer' says NHS England boss

Health service has experienced its 'toughest summer' says NHS England boss The NHS has experienced its toughest summer ever, the head of the health service in England has said as hospitals prepare for the autumn and a likely inevitable winter crisis. The Independent 

No trans under-17s referred for hormone treatment in the last nine months after gender clinic approval

No trans under-17s referred for hormone treatment in the last nine months after gender clinic approval Not a single person under the age of 17 seeking treatment from a hormone specialist through England’s NHS trans youth service from December last year has been referred, i can reveal.

No-one approved for treatment by the Gender and Identity Development Service during the last nine months has been given an appointment with an endocrinologist, who assess and approve puberty blockers and cross-hormones for patients aged up to 17. iNews 

NHS App 'storing facial recognition data with private tech company'

NHS App 'storing facial recognition data with private tech company' The NHS app is reportedly collecting and storing facial recognition data under a contract with a private tech company – sparking concern among privacy campaigners.

Biometric verification company iProov was awarded a contract by NHS Digital in 2019 to manage user verification on the app. Digital Health 

Eight in ten Britons want an 'in-person' GP appointment

Eight in ten Britons want an 'in-person' GP appointment The Daily Mail's campaign to win the right for all patients to have face-to-face care from their family doctor has received a tidal wave of public support.

Some 85 per cent of Britons believe they should be entitled to an 'in-person' appointment with their GP – and not be fobbed off with a remote consultation by phone or video. 

Schools fuelling surge in cases as Kettering overtakes Corby as country's Covid hotspot

Schools fuelling surge in cases as Kettering overtakes Corby as country's Covid hotspot Kettering has overtaken Corby as England's Covid hotspot with positive tests in schools fuelling a surge in cases.

Daily government data released at 4pm on Tuesday September 21 showed 171 out of 597 new positive tests countywide were people living in the former Kettering borough. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also: 

• University of Northampton urges new students to use drop-in clinics to get a Covid jab Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Covid tickets worth £140,000 brought fines of £780 in Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Telegraph

Three more reports of drink spiking incidents confirmed in Northampton nightlife venues

Three more reports of drink spiking incidents confirmed in Northampton nightlife venues Three more incidents of drink spiking in Northampton venues have been reported, a police spokeswoman has confirmed. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Northampton nightclub working with police over drink-spiking BBC Northampton
• Detective's warning over fears women's drinks were spiked in Northampton nightclub Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Watch traffic CHAOS at Northampton General Hospital on the first day of THREE-MONTH major roadworks in the area

Watch traffic CHAOS at Northampton General Hospital on the first day of THREE-MONTH major roadworks in the area There was traffic CHAOS at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) Monday as the first day of major roadworks in the area began. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Directors of public health and the COVID-19 pandemic

Directors of public health and the COVID-19 pandemic Directors of public health continue to play a critical role in responding to and recovery from COVID-19. It is vital that we learn from their experiences in order to strengthen the role of public health and directors of public health for the longer term. The Health Foundation 

Welfare facilities for healthcare staff

Welfare facilities for healthcare staff This guidance, developed by the NHS Staff Council’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group, aims to support NHS organisations to improve their provision of staff welfare facilities. NHS Employers 

Independent report: National overprescribing review report

Independent report: National overprescribing review report The findings and recommendations of the national overprescribing review led by Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England.

The review sets out a series of practical and cultural changes to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their needs while ensuring clinicians’ time is well spent and taxpayer money is spent wisely. This includes better use of technology, how to review prescriptions more effectively, and how to offer alternatives to medicines where they would be more effective. Department of Health and Social Care

See also: 

• Government pledges to reduce overprescribing of medicines Department of Health and Social Care
• College hits back at anti-GP media coverage on prescribing Royal College of General Practitioners
• We welcome review into overprescribing Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Overprescribing of medicines must stop, says government BBC News
• Government review finds 10% of drugs dispensed in England are pointless The Guardian
• Ministers to crack down on overprescription of medicines on the NHS The Independent

New strategy launched to improve patient safety through digital technology

New strategy launched to improve patient safety through digital technology NHSX in collaboration with NHS Digital and NHS England and NHS Improvement, has published the first ever Digital Clinical Safety Strategy to help the NHS provide a safer service for patients.

NHSX’s new strategy, builds on the national NHS Patient Safety Strategy. It sets out a clear vision and recommendations to make care safer for patients, use digital to improve safety and expand staff access to digital safety.

See also: 

• Digital Clinical Safety Strategy NHSX
• Speech: Using the power of technology to make the world a safer and healthier place Department of Health and Social Care
• Digital Clinical Safety Strategy adds to NHS patient safety plan Computer Weekly
• First of its kind strategy to ‘mainstream’ digital clinical safety Digital Health
• NHSX launches strategy to improve patient safety through digital technology Healthcare IT News

Severe mental illness: inequalities in cancer screening uptake

Severe mental illness: inequalities in cancer screening uptake This report presents analysis of differences in the uptake of bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening in England between people with and without severe mental illness (SMI).

Based on a large sample of primary care data, the report is part 1 of an assessment of SMI and cancer screening. It is also part of a larger ongoing exploration into the causes of high premature mortality among adults with SMI. Public Health England

New NHS clinical leadership to support post-COVID challenges

New NHS clinical leadership to support post-COVID challenges Leading clinicians from across the health service have been appointed to new national clinical roles to help lead action on post-COVID challenges facing patients and staff.

The five new clinical leads – covering urgent and emergency care, elective care and long COVID – will provide expert advice to the NHS Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis, and to the programme teams working to support local NHS teams improve services for patients in these areas. NHS England 

Long NHS waiting lists have led to a dangerous explosion in opiate use

Long NHS waiting lists have led to a dangerous explosion in opiate use A hidden and worrying aspect of the rapid growth in NHS waiting lists is the 40 per cent rise in use of drugs like tramadol, codeine and dihydrocodeine compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Researchers uncovered this startling increase in patients waiting for hip and knee operations. This type of surgery is a useful barometer as these are the most common surgical procedures carried out in the NHS, although much of this bread and butter work is subcontracted to private health providers. The Independent

Britain's daily Covid cases rise again by nearly a fifth in a week and deaths climb 10%

Britain's daily Covid cases rise again by nearly a fifth in a week and deaths climb 10% Department of Health bosses posted 31,564 new coronavirus infections today, up 18.5 per cent on the 26,628 recorded last Tuesday. Cases had been falling for the nine days prior to Saturday. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Covid vaccine: India to resume vaccine exports from October BBC News
• Covid vaccine stockpiles: Are 241m doses at risk of going to waste? BBC News
• Covid was the THIRD leading cause of death in England last month The Daily Mail
• Tories slam No10 over 'perverse' move to give over-12s Covid vaccines The Daily Mail
• Fix ‘grotesque’ vaccine inequity, campaigners tell world leaders The Independent

Number of parents using surrogates in England and Wales has quadrupled in a decade

Number of parents using surrogates in England and Wales has quadrupled in a decade Almost four times as many parents in England and Wales are using surrogates now compared to a decade ago, it was revealed today.  

A report by Kent University found there were 413 babies born to surrogate mothers last year, compared to just 117 in 2011. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Surrogacy on the rise in England and Wales BBC News

More people seek mental health support in Northamptonshire

More people seek mental health support in Northamptonshire More people were using NHS mental health services across Northamptonshire in July than at the same point last summer, figures show. Northamptonshire Telegraph 

Green shoots: creating the conditions for health care innovation to flourish

Green shoots: creating the conditions for health care innovation to flourish During the hard days of the pandemic, many people have found it restorative to look for ‘green shoots’ in their surroundings, both literal and more metaphorical. In the context of health, we might see such green shoots in the impressive COVID-19 vaccination programme and the discovery of innovative ways to provide high-quality care – the rapid rollout of the COVID Oximetry @home and COVID virtual ward programmes, for example. These are just some of many green shoots that provide hope for the future amid the devastating impact of COVID-19 on lives and livelihoods. The Health Foundation 

National survey of malnutrition and nutritional care in adults

National survey of malnutrition and nutritional care in adults This report outlines the findings of a survey that aimed to take the temperature on the status of nutritional care across all health and social care settings in the UK. The survey found that 40 per cent of patients were at risk of malnutrition but also that the majority of patients had a nutritional care plan in place, particularly for those who were at medium or high-risk of malnutrition. British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) 

Action to ensure all women receive safe, effective, and personalised maternity care must be prioritised to prevent future tragedies

Action to ensure all women receive safe, effective, and personalised maternity care must be prioritised to prevent future tragedies A new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlights continued concern about the variation in the quality and safety of England’s maternity services - prompting the regulator to call for improvements to be prioritised to ensure safer care for all mothers and babies.

See also:

• Troubled maternity wards still jeopardising patients, watchdog warns The Guardian 
• Revealed: Unsafe maternity care has cost the NHS £8.2bn in 15 years The Independent

Folic acid to be added to flour to prevent spinal conditions in babies

Folic acid to be added to flour to prevent spinal conditions in babies Folic acid will be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour across the UK to help prevent life-threatening spinal conditions in babies, the government and devolved administrations announced. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid vaccination begins for UK 12 to 15 year olds

Covid vaccination begins for UK 12 to 15 year olds The rollout of Covid vaccines to health 12 to 15-year-olds has begun in England and Scotland.

Invites are also being sent out in Wales this week, while in Northern Ireland the teen vaccinations are likely to be offered from October.

It is part of the drive to get more people protected ahead of winter as the pandemic continues. BBC News

 

See also: 

• Pfizer/BioNTech jab safe for children aged five to 11 BBC News
• Why we need to get Covid booster jabs... but other vaccines last a lifetime The Daily Mail
• Is this the first sign of the back to school wave? UK's daily Covid cases jump by 17% in a week The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson refuses to rule out Christmas Covid disruption The Guardian

Children face 'agonising' waits for mental health care

Children face 'agonising' waits for mental health care Children struggling with mental health problems during the pandemic are facing "agonisingly" long waits for treatment, a BBC investigation has found.

Data from half of England's specialist child mental health services found one in five youngsters seen since Covid hit waited longer than 12 weeks for care.

The numbers still waiting also appear to be rising sharply. BBC News 

Early baby therapy could reduce autism diagnoses

Early baby therapy could reduce autism diagnoses Training parents how to respond to babies showing early signs of autism could reduce by two-thirds the number of three-year-olds meeting the criteria for diagnosis, a small study suggests.

Improvement on this scale has never been shown before, the UK and Australian researchers say. BBC News

See also:

• Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis (open access) JAMA Pediatrics

Young cancer patients in UK face ‘inequality of fertility provision’

Young cancer patients in UK face ‘inequality of fertility provision’ Children and young people with cancer face a postcode lottery for services to preserve their fertility, a damning report has revealed.

Treatments for childhood cancer have improved dramatically over the past 50 years, and more than 80% of patients will live for decades. However, one in five are likely to experience fertility problems as adults as a result of the disease or treatment. The Guardian

See also: 

• Inconsistencies in fertility preservation for young people with cancer in the UK (open access) Archives of Disease in Childhood

Use of 10p statins in organ donation ‘could save thousands of lives’

Use of 10p statins in organ donation ‘could save thousands of lives’ Exclusive: NHS launching large trial of approach that could boost number of transplants and their success rate

Thousands of lives could be saved globally by giving patients a 10p statin before transplants, doctors have said, as the NHS launches the world’s largest clinical trial in organ donors. The Guardian 

Northampton General's new Paediatric Emergency Department gets the royal treatment

Northampton General's new Paediatric Emergency Department gets the royal treatment The Princess Royal has officially opened Northampton General Hospital's new Paediatric Emergency Department.

Before visiting the new £2.9m new facility, Princess Anne met senior hospital leaders, clinicians and volunteers who had been part of the county’s Covid-19 response. ITV News

See also:

• Princess Anne opens Northampton General Hospital's new £2.9 million paedriatic emergency department Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• IN PICTURES: Princess Anne's visit to Northampton in September 2021 Northamptonshire Telegraph

Blood test delays in Northamptonshire as tube shortages continue to blight NHS

Blood test delays in Northamptonshire as tube shortages continue to blight NHS More blood tests are being rescheduled at Northampton and Kettering Hospitals as a shortage in equipment continues.

A shortage in blood tubes, which is forcing a reduction in tests across the UK, have been felt throughout the NHS for several weeks. Northants Live

Inside a GP surgery: 'There is not enough time or space in the day'

Inside a GP surgery: 'There is not enough time or space in the day' Not only has the Covid pandemic put GP surgeries across England under immense pressure, it has also caused significant backlogs of work they are now trying to clear. The BBC has spent the morning inside one NHS practice to hear how staff and patients are coping.

The Harborough Field Surgery near Rushden, Northamptonshire, has nearly 13,000 patients on its roll. BBC Northampton

Making maternity services safer: nurturing a positive culture

Making maternity services safer: nurturing a positive culture According to this report, poor working cultures must be tackled if UK maternity services are to be made safer. It describes how a positive working environment is needed, where multi-disciplinary teams work and train together and are better equipped to deliver good quality, safe care for women and families. Royal College of Midwives

Research: Health Profile for England: 2021

Research: Health Profile for England: 2021 The fourth annual profile combining data and knowledge with information from other sources to give a broad picture of the health of people in England in 2021. Public Health England

Barriers to wellbeing: migration and vulnerability during the pandemic

Barriers to wellbeing: migration and vulnerability during the pandemic This report reveals that refugees, asylum seekers and migrants reported higher levels of bad health and inadequate housing during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as difficulties registering with a GP and accessing remote health care services, suggesting significant unmet health care needs. Doctors of the World

Drawing light from the pandemic: a new strategy for health and sustainable development

Drawing light from the pandemic: a new strategy for health and sustainable development Over the past year, members of the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development have reflected on what worked and, more often, what did not work in the Covid-19 response and in previous crises. This report makes a series of recommendations with the aim of achieving seven key objectives to prevent a catastrophe on the same scale from happening again. World Health Organization 

Public spending during the Covid-19 pandemic

Public spending during the Covid-19 pandemic This briefing looks at the very high level of UK public spending on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, including how the money was spent and where it came from. House of Commons Library

Thousands of patients to benefit from life-saving COVID-19 treatment

Thousands of patients to benefit from life-saving COVID-19 treatment Thousands of vulnerable NHS patients in hospital due to COVID-19 are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new antibody treatment, the government has announced. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Research: DHSC and ONS: Direct and Indirect health impacts of COVID-19 in England - long paper, 9 September 2021 Department of Health and Social Care
• Speech: The hidden costs of COVID-19: the social backlog Department of Health and Social Care
• New system for international travel Department of Health and Social Care
• Over one million invited for COVID booster jabs this week NHS England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England

Ronapreve: 'Most vulnerable' to get new Covid drug

Ronapreve: 'Most vulnerable' to get new Covid drug The UK's "most vulnerable" hospital patients, who are unable to build up an antibody response to Covid, will be offered new drug Ronapreve from Monday.

The new Covid treatment, approved just last month, uses a pair of laboratory-made antibodies to attack the virus. BBC News

See also:

• First Covid booster jabs given to NHS staff BBC News
• Covid calculator spots people vulnerable despite jabs BBC News
• Sajid Javid: 'We need to avoid unsustainable pressure on the NHS' BBC News
• Covid: Vaccine volunteers sought for children's second dose study BBC News
• Long Covid less common than feared - ONS study BBC News
• People with Down's syndrome are most at risk of death after having two Covid vaccines, study finds The Daily Mail
• Covid Delta variant 'will hunt down anyone who's not had jab', scientific advisers warn No 10 The Daily Mail
• NHS aims to deliver over 1m daily Covid and flu jabs in race against time The Guardian
• No 10 accused of sidelining behaviour experts on latest Covid measures The Guardian

Folic acid to be added to UK flour to help prevent birth defects

Folic acid to be added to UK flour to help prevent birth defects Folic acid is to be added to UK flour to help prevent spinal birth defects in babies, the government will announce.

Women are advised to take the B vitamin - which can guard against spina bifida in unborn babies - before and during pregnancy, but many do not.

It is thought that adding folic acid to flour could prevent up to 200 birth defects a year. BBC News

Sickle cell: 'Did our son have to die to change things?'

Sickle cell: 'Did our son have to die to change things?' Sickle cell disease is the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK but some feel the illness, which mostly affects black people, isn't taken seriously.

Nurse Gildé Nsianguana has the condition and has interviewed the parents of Evan Nathan Smith for Radio 1 Newsbeat.

After being denied oxygen, Evan called 999 from his hospital bed but died shortly after. An inquest found that if hospital workers had a better understanding of the condition his life might have been saved. BBC News

Culture of bullying and racial discrimination found at NHS trust

Culture of bullying and racial discrimination found at NHS trust A culture of bullying and racial discrimination has been found at a hospital trust, according to an inspection report.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said there was a bullying culture across Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust, with many staff too frightened to speak up.

The trust has been told it requires improvement as a result of the report. BBC News

Operations at risk from CO2 shortages unless ministers 'prioritise NHS', hospitals chief warns

Operations at risk from CO2 shortages unless ministers 'prioritise NHS', hospitals chief warns NHS surgery is at risk from the gas shortages unless ministers make it their top priority, a health service leader is warning.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in some operations, as well as to freeze meat and in the brewing and nuclear power industries – potentially putting the NHS in the firing line if shortages worsen. The Independent

Appeal court overturns UK puberty blockers ruling for under-16s

Appeal court overturns UK puberty blockers ruling for under-16s The court of appeal has overturned a controversial judgment that children under the age of 16 considering gender reassignment are unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs. The Guardian

See also:

• Puberty blockers: Court of Appeal rules under-16s can use gender reassignment aid as NHS trust wins case iNews

Most NHS staff vote to oppose 3% pay rise as union warns workers ‘fed up’

Most NHS staff vote to oppose 3% pay rise as union warns workers ‘fed up’ NHS staff have voted overwhelmingly to oppose the government’s 3% pay rise as Britain’s biggest health union warned thousands of workers are “fed up of being taken for granted”.

Publishing the results of a consultation exercise that ran over the summer, Unison said the majority (80%) of health staff were not happy with the pay increase and want to challenge the government. Only one in five (20%) found it acceptable. The Guardian

See also: 

• UNISON health members deliver damning verdict on government’s 3% increase UNISON

Growing toll of illnesses missed by 'remote' doctors fuels concerns over healthcare appointments

Growing toll of illnesses missed by 'remote' doctors fuels concerns over healthcare appointments Family doctors must carry out more appointments face to face, the Daily Mail demands today.

A string of deaths has heightened fears that cancers and other illnesses are being missed because of the rise of phone and video consultations.

Before the pandemic around 80 per cent of GP appointments were in person. But the figure was just 57 per cent in July despite life returning to normal.

See also:

• GPs and patients are ‘on the same side’ over face to face appointments – but chronic GP shortages make it hard to guarantee safe care, says College Royal College of General Practitioners
• Media depiction of virtual appointments irresponsible and causing unnecessary concern, warns College Royal College of General Practitioners
• Pandemic caused a plunge in numbers who saw a GP and this year is set to be worse than last The Daily Mail
• Backbone of the NHS... so why DO so many GPs avoid patients? The Daily Mail
• Dr ARUN GHOSH: Why it's crucial we save this life-saving human touch The Daily Mail
• DR MAX PEMBERTON: GPs who won't see patients are hurting the NHS The Daily Mail

Our blog will be taking a short break...

Due to annual leave the health news blog will be taking a short break. 

We'll be back on Monday the 20th of September.

Don't forget you can also follow us on Twitter for more health related updates.

Covid-19: Clubbers urged to get tested in Corby as rate rise

Covid-19: Clubbers urged to get tested in Corby as rate rise People going to nightclubs in the area with the highest Covid case rate in England have been urged to take regular lateral flow test to curb infections.

Corby, in Northamptonshire, had 623 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 4 September, a 23% week-on-week rise.

Health officials said the increase might also be partly caused by some Corby schools returning in mid-August. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Covid-19 testing site at University of Northampton to permanently close this weekend Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• NHS ‘will be at breaking point by November’ without masks and social distancing Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Northampton man accused of wasting police time for lying about positive Covid-19 test Northamptonshire Telegraph

Between 275 and 279 people in Northamptonshire died while waiting for social care in last three years

Between 275 and 279 people in Northamptonshire died while waiting for social care in last three years Between 275 and 279 people in Northamptonshire died while waiting for social care over the last three years, analysis of NHS data has revealed.

The figure, found by sister site NationalWorld, is made up of those who applied for adult social services from their local council between April 2017 and March 2020 died before they received any support. Northampton Chronicle and Echo 

What will the end of the Universal Credit uplift mean for areas of poor health?

What will the end of the Universal Credit uplift mean for areas of poor health? The end of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit in October 2021 has the potential to further widen health inequalities and leave some areas further behind the average for living standards. 

Areas with a higher proportion of the population receiving Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit also tend to have lower healthy life expectancy. The Health Foundation 

Thousands of Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff in mental health trusts experience harassment, bullying, or abuse at work, new analysis finds

Thousands of Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff in mental health trusts experience harassment, bullying, or abuse at work, new analysis finds Thousands of ethnic minority staff working in mental health trusts are subjected to harassment, bullying, or abuse at work from members of the public, colleagues, or their managers, new analysis of NHS data has found.

The analysis of the NHS annual staff survey was carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

See also:

• Third of BAME staff in NHS mental health services face racist abuse at work The Guardian

Home For Good: Successful community support for people with a learning disability, a mental health need and autistic people

Home For Good: Successful community support for people with a learning disability, a mental health need and autistic people The Care Quality Commission’s Home for Good report celebrates examples of successful community support provided to people with complex needs.

The report includes eight stories of people who have previously been placed in hospital settings, often called Assessment and Treatment Units and how all are now thriving in community services across England.

Is Manchester greater?: a new analysis of NHS integration

Is Manchester greater?: a new analysis of NHS integration The government is embarking on the most significant NHS reforms for a decade, with the aim of improving collaboration and integration across health and social care. However this analysis of existing pilot schemes finds no compelling evidence of overall improvement. This report finds that in Greater Manchester, where integration is most advanced, results have been generally poor. Centre for Policy Studies

NHS appoints national director of learning disability and autism

NHS appoints national director of learning disability and autism NHS England has announced the appointment of Tom Cahill as the national director for learning disability and autism.

Tom, who has been chief executive of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust since 2009, will join NHS England to build on progress already made in providing people with a learning disability or autism with care in the community, rather than in inpatient settings. 

Consultation on mandatory vaccination for frontline health and care staff

Consultation on mandatory vaccination for frontline health and care staff The government is seeking views on plans for staff in health and care settings in England to be required to have COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect vulnerable people. 

The consultation, running for a period of 6 weeks, looks at whether requirements should apply for health and wider social care workers: those in contact with patients and people receiving care. It would mean only those who are fully vaccinated, unless medically exempt, could be deployed to deliver health and care services. The consultation will also seek views on whether flu vaccines should be a requirement for health and care workers. Department of Health and Social Care

Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

Weekly national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. Public Health England

See also: 

• Research: COVID-19 vaccine surveillance reports Public Health England

Covid: Boosters not needed for all, says Oxford jab creator

Covid: Boosters not needed for all, says Oxford jab creator Giving booster jabs to everyone is unnecessary, says the scientist behind the Oxford vaccine, as she calls for doses to be sent to countries in need.

Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert told the Daily Telegraph some vulnerable groups would need boosters but immunity was "lasting well" in the majority of cases.

"We need to get vaccines to countries where few of the population have been vaccinated so far," she added. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca approved as booster vaccines BBC News
• Covid England: PHE data highlights how vast majority of people being hospitalised are unvaccinated The Daily Mail
• Covid cases in England rose 9% last week as schools went back The Daily Mail
• Covid cases in Israel fall sharply amid mass booster vaccine rollout The Daily Mail
• More than 8,000 people in hospital with Covid in UK The Guardian
• Ministers hoping vaccines watchdog will back mass rollout of booster jabs The Guardian
• NHS 'faces breaking point by November' without masks and social distancing as Covid cases rise iNews

Record 5.6m people in England waiting for hospital treatment

Record 5.6m people in England waiting for hospital treatment The number of people in England waiting for hospital treatment has reached a new record high.

A total of 5.6 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of July, according to figures from NHS England. This is the highest number since records began in August 2007 and includes those waiting for hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS performance summary: July-August 2021 Nuffield Trust
• Long waits for ambulances continue in England BBC News
• One in 10 people in England now on NHS waiting list, figures show The Daily Mail
• Spire reports £4.7m profits on back of long NHS waiting lists The Guardian
• Johnson’s hopes of banishing NHS backlog likely to remain wishful thinking The Guardian
• NHS waiting list hits record high, new figures show The Independent

Johnson’s hopes of banishing NHS backlog likely to remain wishful thinking

Johnson’s hopes of banishing NHS backlog likely to remain wishful thinking Analysis: Persistent understaffing and ageing estate means drive to slash waiting lists will be very hard to achieve

Every day brings reminders of how permanently under-resourced the NHS is: a ward closing here because there are too few nurses, a queue of ambulances – each with a patient in the back – stuck outside an overstretched A&E there. The Guardian

See also: 

• Raising the levy: will the new health and social care tax work? The King's Fund
• Additional funding alone not enough for momentous recovery task ahead for health and care services Nuffield Trust
• Minister defends social care bill reform wait BBC News
• Don't kid yourself tax rises will fund a better NHS The Daily Telegraph
• Left in its current state, the NHS will squander every penny of Boris' windfall The Daily Telegraph
• Nearly half of all NHS staff have no medical qualifications The Daily Telegraph
• I don't want NHS managers to be paid 'unacceptable' salaries with health tax funds, says care minister The Daily Telegraph
• NHS will run out of extra cash promised by government in two years, IFS analysis shows The Independent

Remote GP calls may have contributed to five deaths, says coroner

Remote GP calls may have contributed to five deaths, says coroner Remote GP appointments may have been a contributing factor in the deaths of five people who did not see their doctor face to face, a coroner has concluded.

Alison Mutch, senior coroner for Greater Manchester South, said important information missed in telephone appointments may have been acted on if they were seen in person. The Daily Telegraph

NHS trust AI pilot prompts 80% drop in admissions of vulnerable patients

NHS trust AI pilot prompts 80% drop in admissions of vulnerable patients A pilot at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust has shown that predictive artificial intelligence improved care for vulnerable people and reduced hospital appointments by 80%.

Data from the MySense pilot between May 2020 and April 2021 showed that it also significantly reduced unnecessary burden on GPs and other healthcare workers. Public Technology

Vaccine centre's first drop-in sessions for 16-year-olds as Northamptonshire's jabs total passes ONE MILLION

Vaccine centre's first drop-in sessions for 16-year-olds as Northamptonshire's jabs total passes ONE MILLION Northamptonshire’s 16-year-olds can now 'grab a jab' at the county's Covid-19 Vaccination Centre as the number of doses delivered in the county passed ONE MILLION.

The centre at Moulton Park is running its first drop-in sessions for those aged 16 and 17 from 5.30pm on Thursday (September 9). Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also: 

• Consultation on mandatory Covid vaccination for health and care staff begins Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Sword swallower who reached Britain's Got Talent final has a new job with Northamptonshire's Covid jab army Northamptonshire Telegraph

Revealed: The best and worst trusts to be a junior doctor

Revealed: The best and worst trusts to be a junior doctor HSJ analysis of data from the latest General Medical Council national training survey has revealed the top and bottom trusts for overall experience for junior doctors.

Northamptonshire Healthcare features in the top five best trusts to be a junior doctor. Health Service Journal 

The NHS Long Term Plan and COVID-19: Assessing progress and the pandemic’s impact

The NHS Long Term Plan and COVID-19: Assessing progress and the pandemic’s impact This analysis looks at progress on the main pledges in the NHS Long Term Plan and the impact of COVID-19 on their delivery. 

The NHS Long Term Plan remains the blueprint for the NHS’s evolution, but the pandemic has dealt a huge blow to both the NHS and social care. In this report, we provide a narrative of what was achieved before the pandemic, assemble the evidence of how the pandemic has affected progress against the plan’s major commitments, and identify implications for the future as the NHS and government plans its recovery from the pandemic. The Health Foundation

Cancer nursing on the line: why we need urgent investment across the UK

Cancer nursing on the line: why we need urgent investment across the UK UK cancer services are slowly recovering from the devastating blow caused by Covid-19. The pandemic has both laid bare and exacerbated the terrible strain the cancer workforce has been under for many years. 

When the pandemic hit, some services were forced to pause, whilst others had to quickly adapt and many have still not ‘returned to normal’. Some cancer nurses were also deployed to care around the clock for the half a million people admitted to hospital with coronavirus. The practical and emotional impact of this disruption on people living with cancer has been profound. McMillan Cancer Support

See also:

• Nurse shortage ‘delaying treatment for 21% of UK cancer patients’ The Guardian
• NHS staff shortages led to failings in my cancer treatment, says patient calling for more specialist nurses iNews
• COVID-19: Cancer and heart patients say they felt 'abandoned' and 'anxious' after NHS treatments repeatedly cancelled and disrupted by pandemic Sky News

An ever-growing NHS budget could swallow up all of this week’s tax rise, leaving little for social care

An ever-growing NHS budget could swallow up all of this week’s tax rise, leaving little for social care This week saw major announcements on health and social care funding. Outside of the usual Budget or Spending Review process, the government announced around £12 billion of additional spending for the Department of Health and Social Care for each year between 2022−23 and 2024−25, alongside a corresponding tax rise. Institute for Fiscal Studies

See also: 

• 'If NHS needs money, there's less for social care' BBC News
• NHS could ‘swallow up’ all the money raised by new tax rise, says IFS The Guardian

Innovation and new technology to help reduce NHS waiting lists

Innovation and new technology to help reduce NHS waiting lists Local surgical hubs, new technology to speed up diagnosis, and innovative ways of working will help the NHS to tackle growing waiting lists and treat around 30% more patients who need elective care by 2023/24.

Backed by a new £36 billion investment in health and social care over the next 3 years, ‘doing things differently’ and embracing innovation will be the driving force to get the NHS back on track. Department of Health and Social Care 

4 in 5 people aged 16 and over vaccinated with both doses

4 in 5 people aged 16 and over vaccinated with both doses Four in 5 people aged 16 and over in the UK have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures show.

A total of 43,535,098 people have received 2 doses (80.1%) and 48,292,811 people have received one dose (88.8%).

More than half of all teenagers aged 16 to 17 in England have already received their first jab, just over 4 weeks after the green light was given for this age group to be offered the vaccine. Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: Consultation on mandatory jabs for frontline health staff

Covid: Consultation on mandatory jabs for frontline health staff Compulsory Covid and flu jabs for frontline NHS and care workers in England are being considered in a government consultation.

Plans are already in place to make it mandatory for care home workers in England to be fully vaccinated.

But some unions and care organisations have warned that making the jabs mandatory will lead to staff shortages. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Boris Johnson concerned over unvaccinated hospital patients BBC News
• Covid England and Wales: Weekly deaths rise 17% to 668 as virus now behind one in 15 fatalities The Daily Mail
• Covid vaccines do NOT increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women, two new studies find The Daily Mail
• 'Frustrated' doctors reveal Covid patients STILL not being given Regeneron's antibody cocktail The Daily Mail
• PHE says it has spotted 53 cases of 'Mu' variant in UK which is feared to be resistant to vaccines The Daily Mail
• People refusing Covid jabs should not work in social care, minister suggests The Guardian
• WHO asks rich countries to delay Covid booster jabs for rest of year The Independent
• Covid-19 booster vaccines will start being given to older groups in the next fortnight under NHS plans iNews
• Doctors and nurses say NHS needs 'firebreak' as staff struggle with demand of Covid cases iNews
• Unvaccinated frontline NHS staff to be redeployed Nursing Notes

Will Boris Johnson’s plan for the NHS work?

Will Boris Johnson’s plan for the NHS work? Boris Johnson chose to visit a hospital he knows only too well to highlight the new funding package for the NHS in England.

He spent anxious days in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital in central London in April 2020, seriously ill with Covid.

The pandemic continues to cast a long shadow over the NHS and that's because of uncertainty over how case numbers and hospital admissions will develop next year. BBC News

See also: 

• Health Secretary opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph Department of Health and Social Care
• Boris Johnson on need to address NHS wait times BBC News
• Social care tax rise: Boris Johnson wins Commons vote  BBC News
• Social care: Will people still have to sell their homes? BBC News
• Now NHS wants to hire £270k bosses: Recruitment drive fuels fears over where extra cash raised by social care reforms will be going The Daily Mail
• ‘Misleading’ social care cap does not cover care home food and accommodation costs The Daily Telegraph
• UK care homes say funding shake-up threatens their viability The Guardian
• Social care backlash grows after MPs vote through tax plan The Guardian
• Social care funding in England: your questions answered The Guardian
• UK lawmakers back tax hike to pay for health, long-term care The Independent
• MPs back National Insurance hike to tackle NHS backlog and fund PM's care changes Sky News

Transport noise linked to increased risk of dementia, study finds

Transport noise linked to increased risk of dementia, study finds Exposure to noise from road traffic and railways is associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to the largest study of its kind.

Research has consistently linked transport noise to health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and obesity, but studies on transport noise and dementia were scarce and small, and findings inconsistent. The Guardian

See also: 

• Residential exposure to transportation noise in Denmark and incidence of dementia: national cohort study (open access) The BMJ

GP surgeries in England told to provide face-to-face appointments

GP surgeries in England told to provide face-to-face appointments Sajid Javid has told nearly 1,000 GP surgeries to provide more face-to-face appointments — after they were found to be failing to meet basic patient needs.

The Health Secretary said that while online and phone consults can be convenient for some, they 'are not right for everyone'.  The Daily Mail 

Two in five 16 to 17-year-olds in Northampton receive first Covid jab

Two in five 16 to 17-year-olds in Northampton receive first Covid jab Two in five 16 to 17-year-olds in Northampton have received a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, figures reveal.

It comes as pupils across England return to school after the summer holidays, amid a warning over a potential rise in cases. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid-19: Low jab rate 'a factor' in Corby's high case rate BBC Northampton 
• Northampton Covid-19 testing centre staff not paid for three weeks continue working due to 'human spirit' Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Kettering drugs overdoses linked to hazardous substance

Kettering drugs overdoses linked to hazardous substance Police have warned that a "potentially dangerous batch of crack cocaine and heroin" has led to four overdoses in a town in a few days.

Northamptonshire Police said "lifesaving interventions" have been needed in a number of incidents in Kettering.

It believed "a very hazardous substance - possible isotonitazene or fentanyl - has been used as a cutting agent". BBC News

See also: 

• Police issue warning over dangerous batch of Class A drugs Northamptonshire Police

Record £36 billion investment to reform NHS and Social Care

Record £36 billion investment to reform NHS and Social Care The Prime Minister today set out responsible, fair, and necessary plans to tackle the Covid backlogs, reform adult social care, and bring the health and social care system closer together on a long term, sustainable footing.

£36 billion will be invested in the health and care system over the next three years, to ensure it has the long term resource it needs. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Social care cap a bold step forward but funding won't ‘fix’ social care or tackle the NHS backlog The Health Foundation
• The King's Fund responds to the announcement of a health and social care levy The King's Fund
• Care providers, care users and workers will feel short-changed by proposed health and social care levy and reform Nuffield Trust
• Why the cap on care costs is not all it seems BBC News
• MPs to vote on health and social care tax rise BBC News
• Boris Johnson outlines health and social care tax to pay for reforms BBC News
• Nursing sector bosses hail plan to fund social care reforms but fear NHS will hoover up billions The Daily Mail
• Levy will ensure our NHS can cope with this unprecedented challenge The Daily Telegraph
• Funding social care is 'permanent new role for Government', says Rishi Sunak The Daily Telegraph
• Boris Johnson raises taxes by £12bn a year to fund NHS and social care – video The Guardian
• More money for the NHS is overdue, but there's not nearly enough to fix social care | Andy Cowper The Guardian

Four in five people aged 16 and over vaccinated with both doses

Four in five people aged 16 and over vaccinated with both doses Four in five people aged 16 and over in the UK have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures show.

A total of 43,535,098 people have received two doses (80.1%) and 48,292,811 people have received one dose (88.8%). Department of Health and Social Care 

Covid: No plans for October lockdown, says government

Covid: No plans for October lockdown, says government The government has denied newspaper reports that it is planning an October lockdown in England.

The i newspaper said plans had been drawn up to extend the school half-term holiday, if the number of hospitalisations continue at the current level.

The i said a full lockdown was unlikely - but the government could introduce some rules as part of a "firebreak". BBC News

See also:

• Cases of the Mu variant begin to rise, experts fear the variant could be more contagious than Delta The Daily Mail
• COVID-19: AstraZeneca boss says booster jabs may not be needed for everyone and widespread rollout could put extra pressure on NHS Sky News

Sexually transmitted infections fall during pandemic

Sexually transmitted infections fall during pandemic Cases of newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are down by a third in England, data reveals.

Experts say the drop is partly due to people changing their behaviour during the pandemic but also because fewer tests have been done.

With few Covid restrictions remaining, people are now being warned not to swap social distancing for an STI - and to get checked if they have risky sex. BBC News

See also: 

• STI rates remain a concern despite fall in 2020 Public Health England
• Official Statistics: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables Public Health England
• STI rates plunged by a third last year as Covid lockdowns forced 'changes in behaviour' The Daily Mail

Thousands of cancer patients could qualify for 'effective and valuable' treatment

Thousands of cancer patients could qualify for 'effective and valuable' treatment Some 8,000 people in England with hormone-sensitive or hormone-relapsed prostate cancer will be eligible for apalutamide treatment after it was recommended by a health watchdog. The Daily Mail